Work Seeker, Part 3!

Beginning the processes....

This section will try to cover the two-fold essentials of both registering unemployed (for those losing jobs), and compiling that wonderful self-selling CV, so please bear with me as we wade through the parallel needs...

For those unfortunate people who have been served that awful notice to leave or have been made redundant, etc, once that die has been cast there is no time to lose with starting that registration with the Jobseekers' Benefit Agency, because if you don't manage to land a job immediately (to begin right after you finish working for your current employer - holidays excepted) you'll need to at least register as unemployed, even if you aren't going to claim Jobseekers Allowance. If you FAIL to register from the date of last employment, you will NOT be able to backdate that claim except in special circumstances - and believe me, you'll need a VERY good reason before they'll relent and grant that back-dated claim! This is a Government Department, after all...

The claim is best begun with a visit to the local Jobcentre Plus office in your town, to ask the best way to tackle a new claim. Tell the receptionist when you finish working, and that person will advise you when to start the claim/registration process and give you a form with a website address and telephone numbers (in case of no web access on the claimant's part) - but having just gone through that on-line process for a Jobseeker's claim I heartily recommend doing it via the web, as the telephone system is a nightmare chain of touch-pad option poking - it really is ultra-frustrating!

The web address on the form gives direct access to what is quite an easy process, provided that you have all your bank balances and details to hand (both your own, and your spouse, if claiming for a partner); work through it methodically and slowly, but beware that the process can timeout and drop ALL entered data if you wander off to make a cup of tea...and you're back to the beginning!

Once registered, take a headache pill (you'll probably need one or two, after that meandering marathon!), then relax and wait for either a telephone call or a text message in two or three days' time, which will book you with an appointment at the Jobseekers Plus office, which you MUST attend, even if you are only going to register unemployed - although it makes sense to make a proper Jobseeker's Benefit claim anyway; you're entitled to receive the benefit if you have paid your obligatory NI Contributions each pay-day and have total savings BELOW a current 2013-level of £16,000, because at the very least (even if you don't actually need the benefit) the Jobseekers payment will cover at least some of your travel and telephone costs while you search for a job...and that's principally what the money is for, anyway!

CV Time!

So, with that duty done (and if you haven't done so already), it is time to “tool-up” and prepare for the search, and whilst a good percentage of people who find themselves looking for another job will know current practices and terminology, many others will not. For the total beginner, the first encounter with today's job-hunting scene can be daunting - and perhaps even distressing for the unwary, as one of the first questions that people (IE: Companies, Agencies, etc) may ask of you is whether you have a "CV" to submit for their perusal…

If this is your first time out of work and you are unfamiliar with the term, you can actually feel a sense of real inadequacy, believing yourself “unqualified” without such knowledge…but, fear not! Help is at hand… 

In all honesty, the vast majority of people have either heard of - or have already compiled - a CV, and know what it’s about and how to update and present it. Those of you who are in that group can skip this section if you wish (although as mentioned before in a previous paragraph, there's always the slim possibility that you might just learn something useful by reading on), but for the ‘innocent’ amongst you who have never come across the term, a CV (or Curriculum Vitae, as it is fully worded) is plainly and simply a personal profile of yourself, designed to list your basic details, work experiences, education & qualifications, and usually your hobbies and interests; a document by which you ‘sell your soul’!

 

A well-constructed CV is a very useful ‘tool’ indeed, and can be the instrumental document that gets you that job without the need to fill in any other application forms at all - or it can be very beneficial in complementing job application forms when applying to companies, especially when filling in lengthy sections (you can attach a CV to such forms, and write comments such as “Please refer to enclosed CV” when faced with work history lists, etc); in other words, the CV is not a vital necessity for every job application, but can prove advantageous in most such circumstances… 

For those without the knowledge of what constitutes a good CV, don’t panic; you can either ask advice from your friends and/or family, or you could even ask an Employment Agency to help you compile one, although there is a likelihood that there will be a charge for such a service; this can rankle with some jobseekers, because the Agencies will then present that CV to their clients, and therefore can gain doubly [financially] from their CV compilation service; you pay your money, you take your choice (literally!), or you can follow some of the basic guidelines that worked for me (and a close friend) below… 

Personally, I prefer the home-brewed CV compilation; start by jotting down (in rough form) your main details (address, date-of-birth, etc), your work experiences, educational/vocational qualifications, your hobbies, interests, etc – it’s all useful, as you’ll need to manipulate and mould most of these into something presentable (and hopefully, professional-looking!), either the "old-fashioned" way with a type-writer, or (most likely) a little more up-to-date on a computer with - say - Microsoft Word, or similar. Don't go overboard with too much detail - preferably, use just TWO pages to cover as much base information as you can, to entice the interest of the prospective employer; any more than that, and you run the risk of overstating your case – and most employers don’t like overkill.

Once you’ve got the basics, it’s time to type/print it onto A4-sized good quality paper sheets (always useful to have several paper copies handy), and if you've used a computer, make sure you save a copy of it onto a USB memory "stick" to keep it safe and to carry around with you - more on both formats, later...

Obviously, those CVs created on computers will then be an e-mailable file attachment, so when you start trawling the websites and click on the "Contact Us" or "Apply For This Job" button, if the system pops-up your e-mail program for communicating with them, you use the body of the e-mail as your covering letter, and attach that CV file to the e-mail before you hit the "Send" button (I've forgotten to do that in haste a few times, necessitating a re-application - easy to explain-away as a "mis-link" at interviews!).

Jumping forward momentarily, some companies still ask the applicants to write letters and post them - a trend that once almost died-out, but is making a limited return as a small percentage of employers have been known to try to use hand-writing "experts" to give them psychological profiles of the sender. This quirky practice seems to have just been a 'fad' for many, but some hyper-sensitive career sectors like to play such 'games', although they have met with very limited success; for the majority of postal applications that I have submitted, though, I've always used a word-processor...and still gained work that way! That's obviously where paper copies of the CV work well - just add them to covering letters tailored to suit specific target jobs, bung a stamp on the envelope and post it!

And so, to the "nuts-and-bolts"...

On a basic CV, starting at the topmost line, you could just use the clear headline statement, ‘Curriculum Vitae ‘– or to make it stand out a little more, perhaps, you could instead use the word ‘Introducing… ‘ or perhaps flash-out your status, like "Executive Engineer"- it may seem obvious and perhaps superfluous to many, but once your CV is on an Employers’ desk, in a pile of other paperwork and CVs, that headline may peek out just enough to catch the eye again at the right moment of pile-shifting…and if a slightly-artistic (but not over-sized) font or typeset is used just for that headline, it will hold attention. 

Next, you might also like to consider adding a passport-sized photo of yourself (suitably attired), either by publishing one into the document (if using a computer), or simply (and neatly) glueing or stapling to the top corner, if  typing the sheets (though if the photo is a posed shot at a slight angle, ensure that it ‘faces’ the centre of the page; it’s more aesthetically-pleasing, and shows attention to detail – a small point that many employers will take note of!). The photo is not an essential accessory - just an option - an individual and voluntary choice .

Next, below that headline and in bold text, add your full name, address, date of birth, marital status, number of children (sometimes seen as a sign of stability), and a contact phone number; ensure that the first is a landline number, where applicable - mobile phones are best added as secondary contact numbers. 

NEVER, EVER add personal details like National Insurance numbers, etc - the only time that an employer will need such information from you is once you start working for them! Remember that your CV may be digitally copied and uploaded onto a national website database, and identity theft then becomes a possibility to hackers...

Underneath your basic details, begin your Employment History, followed by Work Experience (in blocks of text, bearing overall experience from every job you’ve ever had, cumulatively rounded-up into ‘X’-years of ‘this, ‘Y’-years of ‘that’), followed by Education (Schools, Colleges & certificates gained in each), finally finished off with any professional or vocational qualifications that you may possess. NEVER LIE about your qualifications - most employers will trust their candidates at appointment, but many companies will now check those certificates and passes from a myriad of databases - and if you're caught fibbing, you'll most likely be thrown out of that dream job without the chance to apologise or grovel, and it's a thin possibility that such cheating might just be reported onwards, if certain industry/business networks exist... 

With the ‘boring’ essentials out of the way, feel free to add your hobbies and interests, specifically if such interests may slant to the post(s) that you are seeking (though you might not go far if you are applying to join, say, the RSPCA, and you declare “Hunting, Shooting & Taxidermy” as favourite pastimes…); in other words, choose your declared hobbies carefully! 

You can see, then, that if you are multi-skilled and looking to diversify your field, you can therefore ‘angle’ each section by enhancing certain aspects and down-grading others to create flexible CVs to suit particular job markets, essentially to ‘market’ a specific skill-set relevant to that job – obviously, an easier task to set out if you can use a computer (even a typewriter can produce a professional-looking document, with patience!), but if you haven’t such skills or knowledge, or if your confidence is at a low ebb, ask a friend to help out  with the layout and composition. 

There are a great many variations on CV layout and content criteria and it can be as personal as the creator prefers, so rather than go into multiple examples in this main text, please refer to the Sidebar Menu where you will find a basic (humorously fictitious!) example, "Uplifting CV". If nothing else, it might raise a smile - that happy facial expression that often gets forgotten, between jobs...

Here, though, I’ll insert a small portion of a highly-creative “angled” CV generously donated by an old friend (thanks, T!), as an example of lateral thinking in terms of Job Title and promotion of skills that might not be ordinarily considered by a prospective employer; this was her own description of her most “Recent Occupation” – she was returning to work, having raised her family…:

 

             Position Held: DOMESTIC MANAGER

Duties:-
Co-ordinating, prioritising and coping with heavy daily workload, multi-tasking, tutoring in life and communication skills, identifying and arranging entertaining and educational pursuits, nurturing personal development, self-worth and social awareness, providing positive appraisal and support of elementary tasks and mediating between in-house disputes. Also ensuring the efficient administration of domestic responsibilities and accurate budgetary management…

 

That CV (in complete form) certainly worked for her – the lady gained a strong career as a direct result, as it appealed strongly to the good humour, foresight and appreciation of her future boss! So you can see, your tailored CV does not need to be overly formal – a hint of humour can be a nice touch in certain circumstances…and some jobs will require a good sense of humour! However, make sure that your basic CV is a flat, factual & formal affair, designed for general distribution, and leave the enhanced versions for specific target jobs, careers & companies. 

The example posted as a "Side-bar Entry" on the right of this Blog page is a slightly quirky item purely for general content and layout guidance (or perhaps inspiration, depending on your target sector!), and a few people may feel that it's understated or unimaginative, but the bottom line is that a CV is only what you make it - or more simply, all that you feel you require - so you can imitate, innovate, or ignore to your heart’s content; it’s YOUR CV that’s important now, not mine! 

However your CV turns out, type/print off as many as you feel sensible (don't forget to use good quality paper - it helps create a good impression!) – and if you have varied the contents toward different jobs, print a few of each version and keep them in separately-marked envelopes. Also, if your CV has (most likely) been produced on a computer, make sure all versions have been securely saved on a CD-R disc (or other digital storage means), and carry copies of the files in the afore-mentioned USB memory stick wherever you go – these little gadgets are always useful little tools in today's hi-tech world, as some contemporary companies can happily copy your CV from that memory stick! Some others still prefer the paper version for quick reading (and others still might ask for both paper and digital versions!), so it's also very handy to keep copies of your CV with you (if practicable - say, in the car, etc)  - but in any case, make sure you take a copy with you to that Jobseeker's Benefit registration interview, as you will usually have to register first with one clerk/officer, and then wait a short while for another..and that second clerk you'll talk to will be a Careers Guidance Officer, so make use of him/her and that CV at the same time!

 

The Covering Letter 

It should be remembered that whilst your CV will carry your pertinent personal details, you need to be able to help things along (certainly for postal or hand-delivered applications) with a covering letter – very simply, an introduction to that CV, the post for which you wish to apply, and usually a few platitudes such as “I have heard some excellent comments about ‘Bloggs & Co’ from friends, with regard to its respectful treatment of its employees and its strength in the market, and I wish to be part of that strong team” – or similar comments, designed to “butter-up” the Human Resources Manager and help to ease your foot into the interview room door. 

Sometimes all that is required is a quick note to state “Please find my CV enclosed, in application for the advertised post of… Hoping for a positive reply, Yours Sincerely, etc, etc” – as plain and simple as it comes, and quite likely to gain an interview for a basic role on – say – a factory production line, a warehouse, or perhaps an office junior role...but aim a little higher, be a little more elaborate and self-promotional, and you can open up higher possibilities. 

Whilst your target prospective employer may not have the time to read a five-page eulogy and might just ‘bin’ such wordy missives in impersonal fashion, he/she will most likely appreciate a concise background in no more than THREE medium-sized paragraphs, detailing any RELEVANT experience, even if only brief (or hobby) involvement, accentuated toward wishing to take such experience (or hobby) forward into full employment in that role - for example, I began in publishing by writing snippets for a Kart Racing magazine for fun, and eventually turned it into a reasonable income by contacting a good Editor on another magazine, using that ‘hobby’ as a springboard through trial into regular print; one of the few fields where enthusiasm and ability counted greater than qualifications and lots of experience.  

Obviously, if you are skilled, experienced and/or qualified in your field, you should feel more comfortable with your applications than an unskilled or inexperienced person, in which case you have the definite advantage and will be most likely to succeed in the right application for a specific role, but if you feel that the field you’ve been in is perhaps restrictive, or maybe that career-line is on ‘borrowed time’ (i.e., in an apparently ‘doomed’ industry) and you have a hankering to change into a career path that you’ve merely fancied before but only ‘tinkered’ with, there is no real reason why you shouldn’t at least try to steer that way, by highlighting your wishes and adapting your experience in other fields/hobbies toward that goal. 

In essence, once you know what you want to do and where you want to go, think of how you can adapt your knowledge and any abilities, and write a covering letter that will accentuate these qualities and impress upon the addressee how flexible and willing you are to adapt your skills and other knowledge to the advertised role, and state that you are willing to take any necessary training to achieve that end. 

Sometimes, prospective employers see that while experience can be very helpful, enthusiasm can often be more important to them, and it can go a long way toward securing an interview ahead of another applicant who submits just the requisite job application form, without even a basic covering letter – even if that applicant has worked in that field before! The job market is a strange and fickle place, but odd advantages do happen; sometimes, it really is like that old adage, “If the face fits…”; apparently unfair…unless you are the one that fits! 

Even if you don’t succeed with "this" particular application with "that" letter and CV right "then", the prospective employer will quite probably keep your details in the “Promising” file, so go ahead anyway, and submit that CV and letter!

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