Job Hunting During the Recession
Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at 9:26AM *JAPAN RELIEF UPDATE* We have reached about a little more than $100 to be donated to the Salvation Army's Japan Relief Efforts. I'm really pumped for those that have contributed and will probably be ending the drive this weekend. So there's still time (use that DONATE button) and I know we fell a little short of the $5000 but I know that every bit helps :)
Trying to find a job is difficult at the best of times, but looking for employment during a recession is one of the most difficult things you will ever do, because for every job you apply for, there will be at least fifty other people going for the same job. Job hunting can be especially difficult if you’ve been out of work for a few years, whether it was to study, to have children, or even to take a sabbatical of sorts, such as going travelling around the world.
Getting back into work is something that is naturally daunting, and as there will be lots of other people looking for work at the same time as you, you will need to find a way to stand out from the crowd, which will make sure your application or your CV is read, and also get you invited to an interview.
When it comes to looking for a job, one of the first things you have to do is look at your CV. Is it up to date? Is the information in it accurate? Have you spelt everything correctly? Go over your CV with a fine tooth comb; this is the very first indication that a potential employer will get of you as a person, your experience and your goals. While this may sound obvious, it’s very important that you put your name at the top of your CV, so the person reading it will know who you are straight away. Putting the words ‘Curriculum Vitae’ at the top of your CV, is a waste of time, the person reading it knows what it is already, so don’t use any CV template that uses this format.
Tailor your CV so that it fits the job that you’re applying for, so if you have a lot of management experience, then put that on your CV if you’re going for a management position. When you write your ‘About Me’ section, try to let you personality shine through, you want to come across as responsible, hardworking, but also good fun, so list your interests, and try to sound like you’re very passionate about what you get up to during your free time. If you’re applying for a very specific job, such as banking jobs in London, make sure you include any experience in finance that you have on your CV and in your cover letter.
When it comes to the interview, make sure you’re prepared. Thoroughly research the company, and if you know who’s going to be interviewing you, find out everything you can about their employment with the company, and where they’ve worked before. Follow the company on Facebook or Twitter to keep up with the latest news, and come prepared with lots of questions for your interviewer. Employers look for a candidate that can prove they want to stay at the company long term, so make sure you have an answer to the question, “what is your long-term plan?” This is also a question that you can ask your interviewer; show that you have an interest in the company, and you will go far. Also, never try and bluff your way through a question, be honest about your abilities, your interviewer will appreciate your honesty. However, the most important thing you can do in an interview is smile, be friendly, be confident, and above all, let your personality shine through.
During a recession, as you already know, the market will be very competitive, especially in popular industries and cities, such as accounting jobs in London. Try not to get downhearted if you aren’t successful the first time round, just keep applying for jobs, make the employers want to hire you by following the advice above to help you stand out from the crowd, and you may find that finding a new job during the recession could be a lot easier than you previously thought.
Economy, Employment, Jobs, London in Employment 
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