Common CV errors highlighted

A number of common errors associated with applying for jobs and creating CVs have been highlighted by one expert, who has given tips to sales recruitment candidates and other jobseekers.

Dan Hawes, co-founder of the Graduate Recruitment Bureau, said that including a photo with a CV is a strange, yet common, mistakes many applicants make.

The biggest one, however, is CVs which are too brief, as this fails to effectively sell the candidate to the hiring manager and is less likely to lead to an interview, he explained.

"We have seen CVs that are too brief, one page or even half a page, just talking about education for example. It doesn't say anything about the individual," he added.

Mr Hawes said that is fine for people applying for creative jobs to do creative things with their CVs, but others should stick to a proven template which is more likely to lead to employment.

Meanwhile, according to Neil Taylor, language expert at The Writer, there are many recurring problems in CVs – mainly silly and avoidable spelling and grammar mistakes, and these need to be addressed before anything else.

For some of the best CV advice and tips visit the career tools section of www.aaronwallis.co.uk. Stacked with hints, tips and advice the Aaron Wallis career tools section is the right solution for you.

Posted by John Oak

Eye contact ‘essential’ during an interview

People who fail to make regular eye contact during a job interview may as well not have turned up for it, according to a new survey of the top ten turn-offs for recruiters.

A poll carried out by CareerBuilder shows that body language plays a vital role during the interview process, with 83 per cent of companies saying they would be likely to turn down a candidate who refused to make eye contact.

Meanwhile, a weak handshake was cited by 54 per cent of recruiters as a turn-off, with a failure to smile and arm-folding putting off 48 and 41 per cent of interviewers, respectively.

Tony Roy, president of CareerBuilder EMEA, said modern employers are evaluating "the whole package" during job interviews, with non-verbal cues from job candidates being very influential on the recruitment decision.

"That's why it's so important to thoroughly prepare for anticipated questions and ask friends and family to provide feedback on how you are presenting yourself. Practice means more confidence in your delivery and less anxiety that can lead to mishaps," Mr Roy added.

It comes after Susie Ankrett, regional director for the West Midlands at the Institute of Recruitment Professionals, said a lack of preparation can all but guarantee that a job candidate will fail to land themselves a vacant role.

Aaron Wallis offers one of the largest resources of interview advice and career tools available to UK jobseekers.

Posted by John Oak

Fail to prepare ‘and prepare to fail’

A lack of preparation can all but guarantee that a job candidate will fail to land themselves a job, according to one expert who has highlighted the key things to remember during an interview.

Susie Ankrett, regional director for the West Midlands at the Institute of Recruitment Professionals (IRP), said that last week's The Apprentice final highlighted how applicants will be exposed if they have not done any planning ahead of any interview.

She said people can avoid embarrassment by first following some key points, such as dressing appropriately, switching off their phones and making sure they know what the company does.

Lisa Jarvis, the IRP's south-east regional director, said that with the jobs market being so competitive, it is important to think carefully about every stage of the application and interview process.

"The message is clear. It's essential that jobseekers take time to properly prepare so they can nail the opportunity that a formal interview provides," she added.

According to Denise Taylor, author of How to Get a Job in the Recession, people must stay upbeat during the job search process and use all the tools they can, which could include a recruitment agency, as well as resources such as interview and CV guides.

Aaron Wallis offers one of the largest resources of interview advice and career tools available to UK jobseekers.

Posted by John Oak