Career Savvy Issue Twelve by Career Savvy

bumper birthday issue! Yes that’s right, it’s our birthday! One year on and we’re celebrating with our biggest ever issue (as well as cake and a few drinks). We’d like to offer a digital slice of cake to all of the awesome readers that have enjoyed our magazine so far, and raise a glass to all of the new ones jumping on board month in, month out. The past year has seen our coverage explode, giving us the opportunity to share more and more career tips from industry-leading professionals and behind-the-scenes snippets from some of the biggest recruiters out there. And there’s more than ever in this month’s edition.

Top tips include CV-Library’s ideas for making the most of your lunch hour and Jobsgopublic’s guide to knowing if a job is right for you. We’ll also show you how to use job board aggregator sites, share some CV formatting tips and even how to become a helicopter pilot. Add a splash of magic to your career by reading what it’s like to be a Disney character – if anyone has ever told you of your resemblance to Donald Duck or Goofy, this could be the perfect role for you. Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to work we go. DAVE MORGAN EDITOR

Regular features 4 sector insights

What’s your industry like?

6 MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR LUNCH HOUR

CV-Library’s run down of what you can achieve in just sixty minutes.

8-9 world’s most interesting jobs

If donning a costume is your thing, here’s an insight into Disney parade performers.

10 how to know if a job is right for you Jobsgopublic share advice on how to recognise the ideal role for you.

14 your stories

Cringeworthy experiences from the world of work.

15 skills you want to include in your cv ...But definitely shouldn’t!

16-17 a day in the life of...

Personal performance coach, Paul Burden MSc.

news 5 Industry update

The latest surroundng the hospitality sector and how to get in.

7 graduate vacancies skyrocket

Positive news from the world of graduate recruitment.

on the job hunt? 18-19 8 top career tips for freshers

Get a step ahead in your career before uni even starts.

20-21 become a helicopter pilot

Take your career to new heights with a range of helicopter pilot options.

22 easy tips for formatting your cv

It’s not all about what’s in your CV, make sure it looks the part too!

23 job board aggregators

What are they and what are the best ways to use them?

31 Rewarding Careers

All you need to know about becoming a counsellor.

32-33 how to get into...

Find out what the rewarding field of social care has to offer.

34-35 inside the hiring process at...

Super slick games development company Jagex. One of the world’s most iconic brands, Nike, and their suave HQ.

45 know your rights

What you’re entitled to when venturing from the office and claiming expenses.

50 how to...

Learn on the job - enhancing your career prospects and also your brain power.

52 moneymaker

Using online platforms to sell your work.

lifestyle 11 animals in the workplace

Why bringing your pooch to work could boost productivity.

12-13 moving to the city

Start spreading the news, opportunities in NYC are a plenty!

Developing Your Career? 38-39 break free from underemployment

How to keep your career progressing in your stop-gap job.

40 how to improve following your review Turn bad feedback into a positive thing and ensure you improve for next time.

41 dealing with competition at work How to stay ahead of the game in the workplace.

42-43 climbing the career ladder

Failsafe ways to bolster your career prospects and move up the ladder.

44-45 benefits of working in a small company

26-27 top 7 questions to ask in an interview

46-47 coping with workplace restructure

28-29 recent graduates - what next?

48-49 get carried away

Wow the interviewer with some winning response questions.

A guide to finding that all-important first graduate job.

30 What to expect after accepting a job Contracts and all the rest.

Click to read

36-37 coolest offices

24-25 top 7 questions asked in an interview The interview questions that you need to have an answer for!

Download issue 12 and read on the go

Big opportunities can be found in plenty of small companies.

When change is on the horizon, it’s essential to have an action plan in place. Essential arm candy for professionals.

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INDUSTRY UPDATE: hospitality This industry is the art of catering for people in some form. This could involve working with food, entertainment, accommodation, travel and more. The sector in general heavily revolves around customer service and the experience of the consumer.

2.7 million people

emp l oy ed in t he UK in hospitality & tourism.

10% 27.7% of the uk

The industry contributed

workforce this sector

are employed in

OF THE TOTAL UK JOBS GROWTH LAST YEAR.

You don’t necessarily need a degree to join the sector either as a wide range of entry-level roles are on offer in hotels, kitchens, restaurants and the like. Most colleges also offer vocational courses or apprenticeships on a range of subjects, including chef apprenticeships, hospitality services,

as well as courses in catering skills. Most UK universities offer relevant degrees that can lead you down a certain route, e.g. culinary arts, food technology or travel and tourism. However, other degrees can easily become transferable to this sector, such as business and management.

New Sharing Platforms Affect the Hospitality Sector Technical advances always signify changes to a wealth of sectors, and the hospitality sector is no exception. For example since the launch of Airbnb, which connects those with a spare room with those looking for somewhere to stay, users have been able to earn an average of £2822 per 33 nights of renting. Sites like these have changed the way traditional transactions are completed, allowing trade to excel for independent, small hospitality business owners. In fact, widespread internet use has generally spurred the hospitality sector to work differently as a whole. Most customers will check TripAdvisor prior to visiting a hotel or restaurant, and many will review it afterwards. This means the customer experience has become even more vital.

Hospitality Sees a Surge in Growth Following Olympics

Roles • Head Chef • Chef de Partie • Sous Chef • Restaurant Manager • Catering Organsier • Bar Tender • Event Organsier • Hotel Manager

As most sectors experienced more and more growth over the past 12 months, the hospitality sector also felt a surge in business – with 81-82% of London at the beginning of this summer being occupied. While figures haven’t hit their record level seen in the summer of 2012, 2014 is set to turnover more and bring in more business than the previous year. The largest hospitality job board, Caterer.com, reported an 8% rise in available jobs in 2013, a considerable rise compared to other sectors. They also announced that applications per vacancy fell by 5%. This could mean that as more vacancies arise, the population of jobseekers naturally spreads more evenly across the vacancies. It also suggests that more people are in roles and not applying for them.

• Receptionist • food & bevarage supervisor

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GET AWAY FROM YOUR DESK

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR LUNCH HOUR You’ve scoffed your sandwich down in next to no time and now you’re raring to go. Here’s how to make the most of your sixty blissful minutes, courtesy of top job board www.cv-library.co.uk. Do some exercise If you’re in a job which requires a lot of sitting down, you may feel like you have a lot of pent up energy by lunchtime. Going for a jog will release some of that energy and help you concentrate for the rest of the day. You could also look into organising a weekly boot camp or sports tournament, and getting colleagues involved. If you don’t have showering facilities at your place of work, simply taking a leisurely walk around the local area should be enough to at least stretch your legs. Meditate Meditation can be useful to clear your mind and relax your body, and we don’t just mean in the ‘sit cross-legged in your yoga pants while humming loudly’ sense. Setting yourself up somewhere calm – a quiet room or local green space – and taking deep breaths while focusing your thoughts can help replenish your energy after a busy morning. You could also sit and listen to your favourite music or podcast to unwind. Work on your hobby If you’re into photography, writing, drawing, or something completely different, that hour a day can be a godsend for keeping up with your favourite hobby. You never know, you might find some common ground with colleagues you were unaware of and form some new friendships as a result. Read Reading is a great way to relax. Whether you’re looking for something casual like a magazine or blog, or are keen to engross yourself in a great novel, it’s amazing how much richer your life can be when you read on a regular basis. Why not get some like-minded co-workers

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together and start a book group? Taking it in turns to choose a novel, you could meet one lunchtime a week to discuss your thoughts. Do chores It sounds boring, but if you spend lunchtime doing chores you’ll free up your evening to do something fun. Going shopping, ordering groceries online, completing paperwork or calling up to make that appointment means you don’t have to bother with these time-consuming tasks while you’re supposed to be relaxing after work with friends and family.

Graduate Vacancies

Skyrocket

Finally some good news for all you graduates out there! The past year has witnessed a significant rise in the number of graduate vacancies on offer, with a 17% rise compared with that of 4.6% in 2012-13. The government is satisfied that this surge signals a confidence boost in British companies. So what does this mean for your job prospects? These statistics are the results of a survey carried out by salary for graduates in professional positions (working the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR), who for non-AGR members), according to research by the question their members twice a year (predominantly Complete University Guide, is £21,702 in real terms. large graduate recruiters). The winter survey had already revealed a 10% increase in graduate jobs, and by Despite this increase in graduate vacancies, 23% of September this year, the number of vacancies the 189 AGR members asked reported unfilled is predicted to reach 22,076. Out of the roles at the end of 2013. This signifies that Starting 13 industries involved in the survey, 11 employers are struggling to find candidates salaries for of them are anticipated to hire more who possess the right skills for their roles. graduates are graduates in 2014 than last year. The This is why even though vacancies are on also expected to industry experiencing the greatest the rise, jobseekers must still ensure they increase growth is the banking and financial only apply for suitable roles for their skill services sector, with an expected increase of set and tailor their applications accordingly, 54%. So if you’re still unsure about which career as well as produce a CV that sufficiently displays path to pursue, then consider a role within this booming why they’re the best candidate for the job. Furthermore, sector. gaining relevant experience and highlighting this on your CV will help to reassure employers that you possess the As if a rise in vacancies isn’t enough, starting salaries for necessary skills to excel in their graduate role. graduates are also expected to increase according to the AGR survey. Findings suggest that the average starting So if you’ve recently entered the job market or you’re salary for those straight out of university is £27,000 per looking to apply for graduate schemes during your annum – that’s an increase of £500 from the previous final year of university, then it’s worth taking note of year. Once again roles in banking are experiencing the this positive increase in the number of vacancies and biggest rise, with the average starting salary for graduates allowing it to boost your confidence in securing a job. at £43,500 per annum. However, although the results of Good luck! the AGR survey are extremely promising, it’s important to note that the majority of AGR members are big Articles you may find useful: graduate recruiters, therefore their starting salaries are 10 Steps to a Winning Cover Letter likely to be higher than those offered to graduates in the Phrases in Your CV Employers Love job market in general. For instance, the average starting

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r o l d ’ s W e h T Interesting JobsMost Performer

All images © Disney News

isney films captured our hearts when we were young, but even in adulthood most of us love the magic that surrounds the stories, songs and characters of Walt Disney. Imagine being able to bring everyone’s favourite characters to life? Well as a character or parade performer at a Disney resort, you can do just that! If you have a passion for performing and/or a striking resemblance to a character, then why not don your dancing shoes and best smiles ready for the next auditions?

‘The audiences: all of them are packed, the kids are amazing and the adults are amazing as well. The smiles on their faces are unbelievable – they’re just so excited, it’s like they’re watching the movie all over again’.

Competition for these roles is fierce, with hundreds of candidates turning up to auditions in the UK every year. Due to these numbers it’s advisable to apply online first rather than just turn up to auditions, although this is permitted. Most auditions consist of height measurement, a short dance routine and an animation The roles of character and parade performer are exercise - if you pass through every stage without slightly different, with parade performers getting your number called. There are far requiring those who are more skilled at more opportunities at the resorts in The audiences: dancing and face characters calling America so if you’re desperate to achieve all of them are for look-a-likes. this dream job, you may have more packed, the kids are success attending auditions abroad. For amazing...The smiles As a character performer you’re audition requirements for parade and on their faces are required to remain in character at all character performers, see here. Salaries unbelievable. times, which includes wearing your vary depending on the resort you work costume and performing the correct at and the position you hold, but are rarely expressions/responses throughout the day. much more than the minimum wage. Look-a-likes have the added responsibilities of ensuring their facial expressions and speech are in-keeping with their character, their make-up stays intact and their perfect smile is maintained - unless they’re a villain of course! Furthermore, they will have to remember specific quotes spoken by their character in order to interact with visitors. Their training for this involves watching the relevant Disney films repetitively so they know their character inside out. They also learn how to sign autographs for any character in their height range; this includes how to sign blind because of full costumes restricting vision. If you’re involved in the parade then dance training can take six weeks to learn and perfect the routine. Days consist of conditioning, costume and make-up application and dancing throughout the whole parade. This part of the role is particularly rewarding as parade performers witness the faces of the crowd light up when they appear before them, inspiring them to sing and dance along. Michael, who plays Baker and Dancer for Beauty and the Beast at Walt Disney World Florida, explains why he loves the role in this clip:

“

So if you want to be a part of the magic then why not head to an audition? You may not be earning big money, but the happiness you bring to children around the world will provide you with a wonderful feeling. Plus, you get to dress up every day - could you ask for much more?

HOW TO KNOW IF A JOB IS RIGHT FOR YOU THE PUBLIC PERSPECTIVE Receiving a job offer is exciting, however, just because you are offered a job doesn’t mean that you have to take it. When considering a job offer it is essential that you establish whether the job is right for you: are you going to be happy there and does it suit your needs?

The basics Before accepting a job offer make sure you get all the basic information: • What is the salary? • What are the working hours and holiday entitlement? • What are the benefits?

the employees continue to develop their skills and the company gains a more skilled and experienced workforce. It is perfectly reasonable to ask what the next step up would be when applying for a position. You obviously don’t want to give the impression that you are going to immediately be looking for a promotion, however asking about the future shows that you are ambitious and also that you are willing to commit to the organisation for years to come. So before you accept that offer, take some time to think about the opportunity that is being presented to you and make sure that all aspects of it suit you and your needs. Accepting a new job is a big deal and you should be absolutely sure that it’s right for you before taking the plunge.

The people Before accepting any offer it is really important that you know who you’re going to be working with. This should, at the very least, involve an opportunity to meet your manager. Talking to your would-be supervisor gives you a chance to ask about the team that you’ll be working in and the professional relationships you’ll be exposed to. Starting a job without a proper idea of who you’re going to be teamed with and the environment that you will be entering is a risky move. Any organisation that isn’t willing to help you gain a good idea of these aspects should be treated with caution as they may well have something to hide.

The future You may well intend to stay in the job you’ve applied to for many years, however it is always important to think about the future. Organisations should actively invest in their employees and provide learning and development opportunities. This is a mutually beneficial approach as

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For all the latest public and not-for-profit sector vacancies, head to jobsgopublic.com More from jobsgopublic The Power of Transferable Skills

Benefits of

ANIMALS

AT WORK A

Lots of big companies, including Amazon and ccording to a study by the American Ben and Jerry’s, have begun to allow staff to bring Psychological Association, pet owners are in their pooches, providing they can be on their overall healthier, have greater self-esteem and are less lonely than those without pets. Pet owners, but best behaviour and employees clean up after them. Bringing dogs into work can also help combat mostly people with dogs, are also in better health, concerns surrounding leaving dogs alone during the mainly because they regularly exercise their day, and helps employees to focus more at dog, meaning they keep fit, too. If work, as they have less to worry about you work near to where you live, at home. you can pop home and walk Office the dog in your lunch hour, dogs are But it’s not all about dogs. The breaking up your day with becoming more folk at digital marketing agency a bit of exercise and fresh air. We’ve taken a look at and more popular and Gravytrain, based in Middlesex, have had a local cat visit their exactly how animals can more workplaces are office every day, who sits on lead to a happier life, and allowing employees employees’ laps while they how you can implement to bring work. Allegedly, he’s also a fan this into your workplace. of cardboard boxes, and is lucky dogs in. enough to work in an office full of cat Office dogs are becoming lovers. An office cat is more suited to a increasingly popular and more first floor office, where it can come and go as it workplaces are allowing employees to pleases. Bringing your cat into work may not work bring dogs into the office. If you’re granted the as well, as cats can be uncomfortable with different chance to do this, ensure yours can behave itself. If surroundings. your dog is territorial, very vocal or whiny, it can cause problems for other colleagues and become too much of a distraction. To help your dog feel more Overall then, it would seem that animals in the comfortable in your place of work, bringing its bed workplace and at home have a positive effect on or cushion in with you can help it adjust and feel it the happiness and well-being of employers and has its own spot to go to. employees alike. So why not suggest it to your boss?

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Moving to the City: new york T

he Big Apple has a soft spot in many of our hearts, with its distinctive skyline, historic brownstones and beautiful public parks. The city is made up of five boroughs where more than eight million people reside. In fact, New York is the most populous city in the United States and it’s well-known for its ability to satisfy any need, no matter the time of day. So if you’re very much someone who wants it all and wants it now, NYC could be the perfect place for you to settle down.

With the first and second largest stock exchanges in the world (The New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ) and more than 344,000 workers in the industry, it’s easy to see the importance of the financial sector to the city’s economy. In terms of New York’s employment income, the finance sector is responsible for over 35%. As Wall Street is the home of many of the largest forces in the world’s finance industry, the city is well established as an influential, financial location.

As one of the most powerful cities in the world, New York has many successful and dominant industries that are recognised globally for their prosperity. Most notably are the finance and media sectors, both of which hire thousands of people within the city.

The average rent for a one bedroom apartment in the city centre is $2,838 (£1,663) per month, increasing to $4,948 (£2,899) a month for a three bedroom apartment. Buying an apartment in the city centre will set you back $9,792 (£5,737) per square metre on average.

The Big Apple houses more multi-billion dollar media companies than any other city in the US, with 29 of them based in the city. This sectors hires more than 300,000 New York workers as well as generating $30 billion in annual revenue. The city has often been referred to as ‘the media capital of the world’ and it’s no wonder since over 200 newspapers and 350 consumer magazines reside in the city.

When picturing New York City, no doubt it’s the famous high rises of Manhattan that spring to mind. It’s no secret that this is the most expensive area of the city to live, with both rental and buying costs rising year on year. Its abundance of nightlife, entertainment and retail attractions makes it particularly popular with young professionals, who strive to afford picturesque brownstones and work in the heart of the city. For more

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if you’re “ someone who

wants it all and wants it now, NYC could be the perfect place for you

“

affordable options, consider areas such as Harlem, Inwood and Washington Heights. Although some resist moving to other boroughs once they’ve had children, most families succumb to the space and cheaper living costs on offer in Brooklyn. Its sense of community and attractive housing make it much more suitable for families and the fantastic Brooklyn Bridge means residents are a short distance from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan. In fact, this borough is more heavily populated than Manhattan! Park Slope and Windsor Terrace are particularly family-friendly areas.

Attractions: Famous attractions in NYC include the Empire State Building and its amazing views, to the iconic Statue of Liberty. Central Park is also a popular destination, with both residents and tourists flocking to the 843 acre park. Animal lovers can enjoy the fantastic Bronx Zoo, with 265 acres and around 5,000 animals. See more here.

Random Facts about new york

1 The first chewing gum factory was set up here in 1869, when inventor Thomas Adams discovered that chicle was enjoyable to chew. 2 Buskers in the subway must audition for a two week permit to play here. Those who succeed can regularly make $60 a day. 3 The Federal Reserve Bank of New York holds more gold in one of its underground vaults than any other location in the world, with more than 550,000 gold bars kept here. 4 4 The first electric Christmas tree lights were invented and displayed in Manhattan by Edward H Johnson in 1882. 5 5. 5 A year permit for a hot dog stand in Central Park can set you back more than $289,000 depending on its specific location.

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To recieve t

he next issu

Straight to your inbox

skills You Want to Include in Your CV 1

(But Shouldn’t!)

‘Can moonwalk for five to ten seconds before tripping over.’

‘Proven track record for waking up 15 minutes before work starts and still arriving on time.’

3 ‘Managed to eat two boxes of Fruit Loops in one day.’

4 ‘Consistently hit my target when throwing scrunched up paper in the bin. Average accurate shot rate of 80%.’

‘Expert in pretend martial arts since the age of six.’

‘Successfully managed and lead a team through a Call of Duty battle.’

7 ‘Experience in locating and sharing great cat videos throughout the office.’

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A Day in the Life of... Every day people around the world strive to be the best version of themselves. However, it can sometimes be tough to push yourself in order to reach your goal. Imagine how great it would feel to help people achieve success in their lives? Chloe Franchina spoke to Paul Burden MSc, a personal performance coach, to find out more about this rewarding career.

How did you become a personal performance coach? Did you need any specific training or education?

What personal qualities do you think are essential to be good at your job?

I started coaching in sport in my late teens, specifically in the traditional Japanese martial art of jiu-jitsu. I noticed that the performance of my students in competitions and gradings was not based on skill alone. During my corporate career building partnerships and alliances I noticed the same patterns and began to realise that skills alone are not enough to consistently perform well. That’s why traditional martial arts have a mental approach, enabling people to achieve what appear to be extraordinary things. For example, learning how to achieve mental clarity and emotional resilience will have a huge effect on when you can utilise other learnt skills, as well as your levels of confidence and motivation.

Fundamental personal qualities are commitment to excellence and continual learning, clarity and tenacity to get to the root of a problem, personal drive and flexibility to work with a broad range of different people and challenges. You need to handle clients’ concerns sensitively and effectively which requires empathy, the ability to create a safe space and listen without judgement. A good sense of humour really helps and the coach’s own resilience must underpin all of this.

“

I’m continually inspired by the forward-thinking professionals I work with

What’s been the most challenging part of your career so far? I felt trapped during my early corporate career, because I couldn’t see how to make the leap into what I really wanted to do. At the time I didn’t realise that each time you take a small step forwards your horizons change, bringing more of the journey and the goal into view.

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I work 9am-6pm Monday to Friday. My days are typically spent either face-toface with clients, or in telephone and email conversations with them. My clients are forward-thinking professionals in sport, the media, and business. We typically talk for one or two hours to identify how they create their successes and what’s holding them back or causing unresourceful states, such as stress and anxiety. Having identified these things, I guide my clients through transformational processes and new ways of thinking to unlock potential, enabling them to achieve what they want and enjoy the journey. I invest a lot of my time between sessions designing coaching programmes for those who really want to step up.

“

Coaching is not regulated regarding the qualifications needed. I invested in learning about the psychology of performance, taking a myriad of courses and certifications to develop my expertise. I’ve also done a lot of work on myself to develop my own clarity and resilience.

what does a typical day consist of?

What is the best thing about your job? Making a positive contribution to the success and enjoyment of others. I’m fortunate to be continually inspired by the forward-thinking professionals I work with. I love seeing the moments of realisation and change.

@paulxburden

Personal Performance Coach

PAUL BURDEN

What is the best advice you have ever received?

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

It was from my late grandfather who was a down-toearth, working class man and his words of wisdom were gold dust. I remember him saying: ‘Decide what you really want (not what you are prepared to settle for), then find the people who can help you make it happen’. I didn’t fully appreciate it at the time and now I do. He would have made a superb coach.

My profession is something I feel passionately about. I love that every day is an adventure, meeting new people and seeing existing clients transformed.

What would be your biggest tip for someone looking to follow your career path? Work on developing yourself, not just your skills. Learn how to develop your clarity and resilience so you can use more of your skills more frequently and be the person you really want to be.

If you could spend one day in a different career, what would it be and why? I have a deep sense of knowing I’m doing what I’m meant to be doing, so have no desire to experience a different career. I would love to know now what I will think the day I retire, looking back at how I’ve contributed and what I have created. I’m sure it would inspire me to reach higher and contribute even more.

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ER E R R A C O P F O T S

S R E P er I H e r T ES ur Ca FR on yo up ise r: W ree Ca

u Yo

For many of you, the start of university is just around the corner. This exciting time in your life is something to relish, and fresher’s week is the ideal time for memories to be made. Although you might view it as being a while off, the start of your career is closer than you think. So we’ve assembled some top tips that will enable you to be a career savvy student and make sure you’re ahead of the game.

up e isp er: u W e s Care i W on

u Yo

IDENTIFY YOUR INTERESTS

You may have an idea of what you’d like to do after university, or perhaps not. Either way, your degree is the ideal opportunity to figure this out. Using the skills you pick up during your studies, acknowledge the areas you enjoy and are strong at against the ones you struggle in. For instance, you could resent writing essays but love giving presentations and being involved in discussions, meaning your skills may lend themselves to a client-facing or sales role.

PLAN AHEAD

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To be career ready when you graduate, you need to take some time during your degree to add to your CV. The value of work experience cannot be underestimated, and many employers now expect graduates to have completed some while at university. As many graduates are aware of this, placements can be competitive and are booked up far in advance. This is why it pays to start locating and applying for opportunities as early as possible.

MANAGE YOUR WORK/LIFE BALANCE

Many of you will look for a part-time job during university to help pay for the cost of living. This is a good idea, as long as you can ensure it will fit around your studies. It is important that you don’t put pressure on yourself to take on too many hours and end up struggling with your course workload. If finance becomes too much of a concern, universities have student advice centres where you can seek the right help. Many will lend their students emergency loans with little (or no) interest – there will always be somewhere you can go for help.

GET INVOLVED

USE YOUR RESOURCES

There are a wealth of exciting activities and events going on at university outside of lectures, and a lot of them can help your career along too. Involvement in societies and volunteering is excellent for your CV. This experience can help you gain essential workplace skills, such as teamwork and organisation, expanding your knowledge and learning new skills. Fresher’s week is the ideal time to find out what’s on offer and what you can get involved with, as societies will be recruiting new members.

CREATE CONTACTS AND NETWORK

You may be less aware that there are often great opportunities during university for professional networking. Keep your eyes peeled for any kind of opportunity: attend talks from guest speakers and stay to the end to ask them questions. If you can connect with them on LinkedIn or Twitter, even better. Look out for and visit careers fairs or employment events on campus – they happen often and can be useful, even if the companies attending don’t seem like the type you might want to work for.

It’s surprising how many students don’t visit their university’s careers centre. The careers team are not just there for final year students and they can help you with a wealth of things, including CVs, interviews and assisting you with your career decisions. They will have contacts that you don’t have, and are contacted by companies looking for student interns or work experience which you can get involved with. All in all, they are a resource to be utilised to the max!

FIND A MENTOR

As a student, this is a great time to obtain a career mentor. You can speak to someone already in your desired industry and gain a valuable insight into how they got there, what their role is like and what kind of opportunities the industry holds. A lot of universities now run mentoring schemes, so you can talk to your career centre about this. Alternatively, you could locate a mentor yourself in the form of a tutor or lecturer. You could also find one online, on www.mentormatchme.com.

PREPARE YOURSELF

Don’t wait until you graduate to experience going for interviews, writing cover letters and perfecting your CV. These next few years are your perfect chance to become careerready. Do practise interviews to make yourself well-rehearsed. Also, get your university tutors or careers advisors to read your CV and cover letters and critique them for you. If you can nail the basics in plenty of time, the rest of the recruitment process becomes less daunting and a lot more manageable after you graduate.

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BECOME A

r e t p o c i l e H l a i c r e comm Take your career to new heights!

There are two types of flying for a professional pilot: • Commercial Air Transport - Defined as air transport that carries passangers or cargo for a fee. • Aerial Work - This covers other situations where a fee is paid, but in specialised roles such as search and rescue, load lifting, firefighting, etc. Within the above limits, the companies you could get involved with will fall broadly into three categories: scheduled, charter or corporate flying. Scheduled Flying This is a legal definition, describing services that run at predefined times with certain conditions imposed on them, which does not necessarily include holiday flights and oilfield helicopters. This form of flying is primarily done by large aeroplanes by what people normally think of as airlines. Charter If scheduled flying is similar to driving a bus, then charter flying is like a taxi service, which means you are on call 24 hours a day. This can be fun, with plenty of variety and challenge in the flying, but this is also where

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other personal qualities come into play; you will be very much involved with your passengers. As an airline pilot, you rarely see your passengers, whereas charter (or Air Taxi) is intensive, single-handed and can be quite intense. Corporate This is where you might fly an aircraft belonging to a private company. There are two types of licence required to do the above. The basic one, which requires the least training, is the Commercial Pilot’s Licence (CPL), but it only allows you to be in charge of aircraft up to a certain size. If you want to fly big jets or large helicopters, you need the Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence (ATPL). Naturally, this requires more training and more experience.

How do you break in? A common route is to find a flight school that does a so-called integrated course. Modular training is a little different, where you can more or less pick your own course and schools and mix and match. This can even be done in different countries – some students train in the UK, but take their exams in Finland, Germany, Poland, etc. There are schools that offer only flight training and there are schools that do solely classroom training – but there are others which provide both.

pilot

suggested training progression: • Achieve a Class 1 medical. This will cost a few hundred pounds, but it is required for a professional licence, and all the training in the world is no good if you cannot pass it. • Obtain a private pilot’s licence. Once you have this you are allowed to fly, but not get paid for it. • Start commercial flying training and studying for the exams. You can do both together, even from different schools, but you cannot take the skills test until you have passed all the exams. In Europe, there are thirteen for the CPL, and fourteen for the ATPL. So what happens next? The basic licence is not enough. Only 21% of the world speaks English, so learning another language can be an excellent way to boost your career prospects. Not so long ago, the average age of helicopter pilots in the Gulf of Mexico (where there are plenty of oil rigs) was around 57. By now, this is probably accurate for the rest of the sector. The problem this creates for the industry is that you cannot fly as a single pilot after the age of sixty, which means there are more opportunities for new recruits!

Want to find out more? For more imformation about companies that offer flight training, click on the following links. > Training with Caledonian > Training with Heli Air > Training with Elite Helicopter Training

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Easy tips for FORMATTING Sometimes the content of your CV is the easiest part. The layout and presentation of it can be tough, but it’s hugely important when securing yourself a job. So how can you ensure your CV looks the part and displays the vital information in the clearest fashion?

Font

Order

Using a sans serif, professional font is generally the way forward. Currently, the majority of recruiters will be reading your CV from a screen, where a sans serif font reads more clearly and is usually preferable over a serif font. Make sure you use a professional industry-standard font. Recommended ones are Arial, Helvetica and Verdana – they are considered to be the most ‘web-safe’ and universal. Do not use anything that could be difficult to read (i.e. too small and narrow) or anything big and bold. Also avoid anything decorative or childish such as Comic Sans. In terms of point size, ten is a good size for allowing you to fit everything in but is also big enough to read clearly.

There is no set 1. correct order for the 2. contents of a CV – 3. it may well depend on the type of role you are applying for or what you want to show off the most. Chronological orders are popular, starting with your education, leading on to experience and followed by any other skills and interests. However, this isn’t something you have to adhere to. If your experience is what’s going to secure you the job, put this at the top, with the most relevant roles first. Do what you can to make sure your CV works well for you. If your academic background isn’t strong, education can go further down in your CV. If you lack experience but have a good degree or qualifications, putting this at the start of your CV is a good idea. However, make sure you include a breakdown of the skills you have from this qualification that will help you succeed in the role.

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Layout A header containing your name and contact details is a good way of keeping this section separate from the main body of the CV. If you’re struggling to keep the layout of your CV neat and tidy, create a table in Microsoft Word. You can add rows for each item, with an explanation of the entry in the column beside it. For example, your place of education, followed by the qualifications you gained there in the next column. You can then make the grid of the table invisible once you are finished. To help break the information down, give each section of your CV a subheading, e.g. ‘Experience’ and ‘Education’. To make your headings stand out, embolden and/or underline them. Make sure you use the same format for all of your subheadings, headings and body text. This will help keep your CV consistent and make it easier to navigate.

Job Board Aggregators:

What are they &

why should you use them?

A job board aggregator is one that works like a normal job board, only it searches for vacancies across a network of sites. Think of it as a bit like a comparison site, finding results from several different websites and putting them in the same place for you.

Which sites should I use?

Why use them?

Check4Jobs This site works as a search engine, using the keywords you enter to scan an array of job listings. It searches for keywords rather than related jobs, so it’s worth entering a few different principal phrases for the same role. For example, search for web designer, front-end developer and so on.

Using an aggregator site will give you a more refined search than doing a Google search. For example, some will only bring up UK vacancies. Also, the results you receive will only be in the form of job postings, rather than other content from the web. You can also save yourself a chunk of time. You might have a job board that you prefer using all the time, but many recruiters only post across a few job boards rather than all of them. You cannot assume that vacancies on one will be the same as another. Using an aggregator site helps to combat this, speeding up your search but also allowing you to scan a bigger selection of vacancies.

1Jobs.co.uk A large search engine specifically for UK vacancies. It covers every type of role, industry and sector. Adzuna This site contains over 400,000 vacancies and covers all the major job boards. You can also use Adzuna Connect, which shows you vacancies available at companies your Facebook friends work at. This can be a useful tool for finding work in your area. Indeed A job search engine covering thousands of job boards and recruitment websites up and down the country. It is a popular choice for employers and recruiters because some listings are free.

Tips •

Aggregator sites such as these will throw up a large amount of results, some of which will be irrelevant to you. To narrow your search, type in a particular job title rather than the general role. For instance, ‘office administrator’ as opposed to ‘administration’.

•

Vacancies are updated daily so make sure you’re performing new searches every day.

•

Most job application traffic is at the start of the week, so some recruiters upload more vacancies on a Monday. This can be a good time to do most of your job searching.

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? Questions

to prepare for before

YOUR INTERVIEW

Wouldn’t it be great if we had a crystal ball that could tell us exactly what an interviewer was going to ask us? Well sadly we cannot look into the future, but together we do have a great wealth of experience, experience which can help prepare you for any interview. You cannot know exactly what you will be asked, but you can prepare for the type of questions most commonly posed. Clichés are there for a reason: failing to prepare really is preparing to fail, and practice does make perfect.

‘What is the main attraction of this career path for you?’

This is your chance to highlight your understanding of and passion for the industry. Show that you know about the position and the responsibilities involved, while remembering that companies want to hire people who are enthusiastic about what they do. Prepare a great answer for why you want to wake up to this job every day (and if you don’t, you should probably apply elsewhere). Identify a couple of key factors that make the role a great fit for you, then share why you admire the company.

‘Why are you interested in working for this company in particular?’

This question provides you with the opportunity to show that you’ve done your research. Drop in key facts about the company: what makes them stand out from their competitors and explain why this is of particular interest to you. Demonstrating that you know not only about the organisation, but its place in the relevant industry, is great brand awareness to show off. If you have made an effort to speak to specific people at the company, this is a good occasion to mention the feedback you were given.

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‘Why should we hire you?’

This question might sound daunting, but it’s the perfect platform from which to sell yourself to the hiring manager. You have three fundamental areas to cover. Firstly, you should demonstrate how you can not only do the work sufficiently, but excel in the position. Secondly, describe why you would be a perfect fit for the team/company culture. Finally, you need to show what makes you stand out: why are you a better hire than any other applicant?

‘What are your greatest professional strengths?’

Stick with the rule of three: be honest, relevant and specific. If you’re found to be lying you’ll be shown the door straight away. If you aren’t rumbled, you may be given duites you cannot handle. Share relevant and true talents, not just those you think the interviewer wants to hear. Finally, be specific. Don’t say ‘I have good interpersonal skills’, say ‘I’m great at building new and lasting relationships’ and give examples of how you’ve demonstrated this.

What is your biggest flaw?’

Your interviewer isn’t trying to find a red flag against your name, they’re just gauging your self-awareness and personal growth. Don’t pretend to be perfect, but don’t shoot yourself in the foot and say: ‘I cannot work in a team. In fact, I hate being around people’. The idea is to think of something which challenges you, but also explain what steps you are taking in order to improve.

‘What are your career aspirations?’

‘What motivates or inspires you?’

Interviewers who want to know more about you as a person will ask this to see whether you’ll fit in with the company culture. Your answer should be sincere, but also try to incorporate a few of your best achievements. Examples are still important because they demonstrate how you work; rather than just making unsubstantiated claims, you’re providing evidence to back up any claims. It’s equally important to keep making sure what you say is relevant to the job you’re applying for.

‘There’s no right answer here, but there are wrong ones! The interviewer will be looking for an honest version of your career aspirations to see whether they align with the company’s. You don’t have to pretend you want to work for the organisation for the rest of your life, but don’t say that in nine months you’re hoping to spend a year backpacking around Asia. Show how the position you’re applying for fits into the overall picture of your career development.

About the Author: Jack Shardlow is the chief editor of Interview Bull Blog. Interview Bull provides affordable and personalised online interview coaching, specifically designed for students and recent graduates. Interview Bull’s experienced HR experts coach ambitious students to get the jobs they want through success at interview. www.interviewbull.com

? Questions

you can ask your

INTERVIEWER

So you have navigated your way through an interviewer’s questions and, understandably, you’re feeling pretty chuffed - but don’t get carried away! There is one hurdle left and if you play your cards right, you can use it to springboard yourself to the top of the list of practically perfect candidates. It is time to ask the interviewer(s) some questions of your own. The last thing you say can still have a big impact: it’s not all about first impressions. Here are some examples to get you started.

DO Ask: 1. ‘What important qualities do you think are required for someone to excel in this role?’ Knowing how your potential employer measures their employees’ success and achievements can be vital inside knowledge to have. It can help you learn about the company culture and expectations so you can show that you are a good fit. 2. ‘What are your expectations for this role during the first thirty days/ six months?’ This is a sneaky way to find out what your employer’s expectations are for the person in this position. It can give you a deeper insight into what

the role will involve, more specific and comprehensive than the details in the job description, without having to ask: ‘What will I actually do?’ 3. ‘Where do you think the company is headed in the next five years?’ This shows you are thinking ahead and would be committed to the company’s future, a desirable quality to have, while also ensuring that the company is growing so you can evolve with it. 4. ‘What are the biggest challenges facing the company/department right now?’

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Uncover issues in the industry you may not have been aware of. You can reassess whether you still want the position and perhaps identify areas where your skills could help save the day. 5. ‘What are the next steps in the interview process?’ Demonstrate your confidence in your performance by showing you’re eager to move forward in the process. Even if you’re nervous, it will ease your anxious mind to know when you can expect to hear back from them. It will also help you gain important information about the timeline for hiring so that you can follow up appropriately.

Demonstrate your confidence in your performance by showing you’re eager to move forward

6. ‘Who will I be working under and alongside?’ Don’t assume that your interviewer(s) will be a potential supervisor or colleague. Asking this question can help clarify whom you will be reporting to and how many people you will be closely working with if/when you obtain the position.

7. ‘How do you think x, y and z will affect the company/role?’ Scour the news before your interview, see if there are any big stories which may affect the role/ company you’re applying for and think of a way to intelligently ask your interviewer about them. This shows great awareness and will make you seem like your finger is on the pulse of the industry.

Need more ideas? What are the company’s strengths and weaknesses compared to its competition? Could you describe your company’s working culture and management style?

DON’T ask:

What is the company’s policy on providing training so employees can keep up their skills or acquire new ones?

• •

What particular computer equipment and software do you use?

•

What the company does. About salary, hours or holiday. If you were successful.

How, by whom and how frequently will my performance be reviewed?

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Recent Graduates:

What Next?

It doesn’t seem like long ago since you donned that cap and gown and threw your mortar board in the air; and that’s because it wasn’t. It’s been a long, hot summer, but now it’s time to knuckle down and suss out what’s next on your career horizon. So where do you begin? Here are our top four suggestions to get you started.

Sort Your CV

Know Your Worth When you first place your foot on the career ladder, it’s important to have a vision of not only what you want to do, but what you have to offer. In order to sell yourself, you have to know exactly what you’re able to provide a company with. Embarking on your job search this way will give you a valuable perspective – tackling it from the eye of a recruiter, rather than just considering how a job will benefit you. Keeping this in mind when you write cover letters and applications will help you to present yourself as the missing piece that will fit in their puzzle.

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You’re a graduate now therefore you need a professional graduate CV. What is a professional graduate CV, you ask? It needs to highlight both your academic achievements and your experience. Alongside stating your degree and its classification, include the names of any modules you took which will help you in a professional scenario. It helps employers a great deal if you can give your degree some context, as it will enable them to envisage you in a specific role. When including your experience, put the most relevant first, such as any placements or voluntary roles you’ve completed. After this, include other roles you’ve had that may be less relevant.

Build Your Brand A big part of selling yourself, especially as a graduate, is about building your personal brand. This will always depend heavily on the type of industry you are looking to work in. If it’s corporate, everything you present must be smart, sleek and professional. This has to ring true from your CV down to your LinkedIn profile and Twitter page – i.e. a profile photo of you in business wear, not casual with a drink in hand. If you’re looking for a creative role, a more casual profile often suits, as long as it’s still sensible. Also be aware of your social media profiles: their content, how visible they are and how they may portray you to a recruiter.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR

Job Market Environment? Former professional recruiter, Career Codex founder and job market strategist Simon Gray unlocks the secrets to finding success in today’s competitive job market.

To get ahead in the job market it’s critical you understand your job market environment. The most important players in this environment are employers and jobseekers. Both are looking to connect – the employer wants to hire and the jobseeker wants a job. Many jobseekers rely totally on recruiters and job boards to find a job. They do this because it’s easier and it’s what everyone else is doing. But think about it - if finding success in the job market is about standing out from the crowd, how can just copying everyone else ever be a blueprint for real success? Success in your job hunt begins with a true appreciation of your job market environment so you understand: • The three conversations most employers have as part of any recruitment process and what this means for you.

‘Through understanding the job market environment, the right psychology, planning and process, you have the power to take proactive control of your job search today’. Hh

THE SUPER SECRETS OF SEEKER SUCCESSFUL JOB

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THE SUPER SECRETS OF

Not like that. As a jobseeker and a graduate, you need to make yourself and your CV as easy to find as possible. Maximise all opportunities by creating a well-maintained LinkedIn profile, running a professional Twitter account and uploading your CV on various job boards and databases. The more exposure you obtain the better. It’s a good idea to regularly upload your CV to job boards rather than just doing it once. This is because recruiters will often scan the most recently added CVs first.

• The existence of the ‘hidden market’ (a place where a high proportion of positions are filled before ever being placed with recruiters or job boards) and how to access it.

SEUCCCREESSTFSUL S

OF THE

Expose Yourself

JOBSEEKER

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subscribe! Career Codex is an employability education and training company, offering a unique and innovative approach to job market success.

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What to Expect

AFTER ACCEPTING

You got the job, congratulations! After you’ve accepted a job offer you can feel uncertain about the process which follows. There are several stages you must go through when you start your new role in order to fully understand your position and where it’s going to lead you.

UNDERSTAND YOUR JOB DESCRIPTION

DECIPHER YOUR CONTRACT

PROBATIONARY PERIOD

Your skills and experience evidently matched the requirements in the job description, otherwise you wouldn’t have been selected for the role. However, this doesn’t mean that the information provided in the description has now become irrelevant. Before you start your new role read through it again so you know what to expect in terms of your responsibilities, the skills you’ll need straight away and those you need to develop relatively soon. If there is anything you’re unsure about then it’s best to deal with this before you start the job, otherwise you could find yourself in some awkward situations. For example, if your computer skills are a bit rusty and the role involves some admin work, familiarise yourself with all the programs you’ll need to use. By getting to grips with what you’ll be confronted with during your first few days, you will reduce your nerves and feel more confident and prepared for your new role.

When your new employer presents you with their employee handbook and your contract you may be dreading the daunting and mundane task of trawling through them. However, it’s essential that you do so with care and precision. The handbook will provide you with important information on company policy and procedures so you can avoid making embarrassing mistakes once you start. You also need to be aware of your rights and what you’re entitled to, which is why reading your contract inside and out is essential. If there is anything you’re unsure of or don’t understand then it’s important to raise your queries with your new employer rather than just ignore them; this could lead to you breaking your contract without realising, causing you unnecessary hassle.

Most employers will place new employees in what’s termed a ‘probationary period’ in order to assess whether they’ve truly chosen the right candidate for the job. If you’re on probation then it will be stated in your contract, as will how this affects your position and what will happen if you pass or fail this period. The employer must still adhere to your statutory rights from the day you start, but during your probation they may have explained in your contract that you can be dismissed without notice or perhaps your holiday days are limited until you’ve completed this period. In order to survive this uncertain time, make sure you’re fully aware of the terms of your probationary period, including when it ends. Be on your best behaviour, perform well and no doubt you’ll pass with flying colours.

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Not sure whether to accept your contract? Here’s some advice on how to make your decision.

Rewarding Careers:

Counsellor For many the pressures of this world can become too much and they require guidance in order to cope with daily life. Counsellors are able to provide clients with the support and help they need to deal with any challenges they face or a particularly difficult time in their life. The rewarding aspect of the role is found in the improvement you witness in your clients.

Day-to-Day

Skills Required

You’ll establish relationships with your clients, encouraging them to both trust you and value your opinion. Discussions are organised with your client so you can decide on the issues you’ll address during your sessions. It’s your job to make them feel comfortable enough to share their thoughts and feelings, and to listen intently when they do so you can fully comprehend their situation. You’re not there to tell your client what to do, but instead to provide alternative perspectives and/ or help them to view their situation with more clarity. Depending on your role and preferences you’ll council clients individually, face-to-face, in groups and/or over the phone or internet. You may deal with a range of issues or choose to specialise in one area such as eating disorders, addiction or bereavement. You can work in a GP surgery, hospital or school/college depending on the focus of your counselling. Alternatively, you could work from home or for a private practice.

It’s vital to have the ability to relax your clients so you establish their trust, therefore your interpersonal skills must be exceptional, with listening being a key aspect of this. Patience is important as it can take a significant amount of time to reach the end goal with your client. Your attitude should be open-minded, with the ability to empathise and treat every case with compassion. Assessing your own thoughts and values will enable you to provide effective guidance. You must be able to work with people from a variety of backgrounds and have an effective approach to questioning your clients constructively.

What Makes It So Rewarding? This career gives you the opportunity to improve people’s lives for the better, giving them someone to talk to and helping them to overcome issues that may be holding them back. Neema Morjaria, a volunteer counsellor for those aged 13–24, revealed in an interview why she decided on this career: ‘I used to become angry when I saw media stories about the rise in youth crime and anti-social behaviour. But what we don’t see in those stories is any insight into their lives…I wanted to listen to these young people, to give them an opportunity to talk’.

Salary & Entry Requirements Significantly improve your chances of success by completing training offered by qualified professional bodies such as the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Accredited courses can be found at local colleges, training centres and universities offering various levels of qualification. To gain professional accreditation you’ll need to complete a minimum of 450 hours of formal training on top of 450 hours of supervised practice with clients – 150 of which must be after completing your diploma. Starting salaries for a counsellor are between £19,000 and £26,000 per annum. An increase in responsibilities can raise this to £30,000-40,000 a year.

Useful Links: www.bacp.co.uk www.therapytoday.net www.indeed.co.uk/Counselling-jobs

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How to get into Soci S

ocial care is a hugely rewarding field, with 96% of employees asked saying they feel their work makes a difference to people’s lives. It’s estimated that a further one million employees will be needed in social care by 2025. The area itself is quite large, with a range of different roles on offer. Social care is a very accessible field, and entry routes are available for school-leavers up to graduates. For schoolleavers, apprenticeships are a great option as they offer a mixture of work experience and formal qualifications, all while being paid. The levels of apprenticeships on offer vary in health and social care, including Intermediate (Level 2), Advanced (Level 3) and Higher (Levels 4 and 5). The higher the level, the longer the apprenticeship will last and the standard of qualifications gained will increase. To become a social worker or hold a more senior role, you do need to hold a degree approved by the Health and Care Professions Council. These are available at a wealth of UK universities. Work-based training and placements take up a large part of social work degrees, meaning that graduates are workplace ready. There are further graduate schemes on offer that lead to management and more senior roles within social care, such as the one run by the National Skills Academy.

every day is different from the next; an attractive aspect to anyone who wouldn’t enjoy working in a repetitive environment.

Challenging Social work isn’t often a walk in the park. Some cases can be difficult to resolve and you’ll likely face people who are difficult to help. For those who relish a challenge and are able to persevere, social work can be very rewarding and satisfying. When issues and problems are resolved, there is a great sense of achievement.

Roles Independent Living Advisor This role includes working with service users of all ages and disabilities, ensuring that they receive the support and help they require. It involves assessing different people and situations, helping to identify the correct assistance and guidance that should be provided.

Social Worker

Why Social Care?

Work involves managing individual cases with people who are vulnerable and experiencing difficulty. They often specialise in either child or adult care. Tasks involve: performing home visits, carrying out reviews and checking measures of improvement are in place. The typical starting salary is around £25,000.

Rewarding

Support Worker

Social work is one of the most rewarding careers around because it has a direct impact on people’s lives. Whether it’s an addiction, domestic issues or poverty, social care is about helping people out of desperate and difficult situations so that they can eventually be in a position to look after themselves or have a fresh start.

More of a caring role, support workers can work with people who are disabled, elderly or struggle with day-today life. This can involve preparing food, taking them out and generally assisting them on an everyday basis.

Diverse Social care cases can vary extremely and no case will be the same. As a result, a role in social care will mean

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Tenancy Sustainment Officer This involves visiting people who are struggling to maintain their tenancy and helping them to resolve the situation. It also includes helping people with their debts and arrears, enabling them to cope with these.

ial Care Transferable Skills

People Skills

Energetic

The most important part of social work is assisting and dealing with other people. If you are someone who is able to relate to others, empathise with them, listen to their problems and communicate effectively, social work will be ideal for you.

In some circumstances, cases can go on for years and progress can be slow and gradual. Also, the days can be long. Social work will suit you if you are an energetic person who can put a lot of effort into something for an extended period of time.

Organised Social care in general does involve paperwork and admin, as well as keeping to a schedule of home visitations, meetings, etc. It pays to be good at keeping track of your diary and quick at turning around paperwork, filling out forms and so on.

Find out more about caring professions: Speech and Language Therapist Employment Specialist Care Assistant

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INSIDE THE HIRING PROCESS AT...

Not only is Jagex the leading independent games developer and publisher in the country, but they’ve also won multiple awards for both the quality of work they produce and the environment they provide for their workers. Although Jagex recruits mainly for specialist roles, there are always graduate positions up for grabs too. Here’s a guide to their standard recruitment process, although this is often adapted to suit each role, thus your experience may differ slightly. Opportunities for junior/graduate, mid-level and specialist roles can be found in the following areas: • Featured Jobs • Art • Commercial and Executive • Customer Services • Design and Development • Technologies All applications are completed online and these are then screened and processed by the recruitment team. You will need to attach your CV and cover letter, both of which should be tailored specifically to the role you’re applying for. Some positions require additional information, for example, those applying for artist roles are expected to include their portfolio of artwork. Throughout the interviewing process you will need to display evidence of Jagex’s core values in order to better your chances of success. These include: Good judgement: Individuals must be able to use their judgement to make big calls. As they’re a very dynamic company, Jagex require people to take risks in order to achieve results. Flexible: Candidates need to be super agile, adapt to change easily and also use their problem-solving skills to

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work their way around all kinds of difficulties. Results driven: Employees with an entrepreneurial spirit are what drives Jagex’s innovative culture so they look for candidates who have generated results. ‘We want to hear from people who have a story to tell and are proud of a time they did x, y and z, took a risk and it meant the company generated x amount of profit’ - Peter Lovell, Head of Talent. If your application is successful you’ll encounter a first stage ‘culture check’ usually in the form of a phone interview. A recruiter or junior member of a department will have a chat with you without investigating too much into your skill set and specific requirements for the role. Instead, this is more of a personality and value-based chat with the aim of finding out whether you’re right for Jagex. If you pass the cultural check, then you’ll be invited to a first stage face-to-face interview which is more focused on your skills and their relevance to the role. Next is the final interview where you’ll meet and interact with peers, managers and stakeholders. The assessors will now examine your technical skills in more depth and once again they’ll check from all angles your suitability to the company. This will involve more scenario-based and informal psychoanalytical questions to ensure that

you match Jagex’s values and understand how and why you can make an impact to the organisation. They’ll also be determining whether you’re suited to work in a dynamic working environment as this is vital in order to excel in the company. If you’re applying for a technical role, an online technical assessment will occur between the cultural check and the first in-person interview. If you’ve applied for a customer services role, you will likely attend an assessment centre day where groups of 10-20 shortlisted candidates undergo an interview, a group exercise, a technical test, as well as a final interview and meeting with other peers. Candidates are tested on their communication style, drive to succeed and help the customer, in addition to their passion for gaming and the core values of Jagex. Jagex have recently made a pioneering hire with the introduction of a talent community coordinator role. Connor Thompson, who holds the position, explains why his job is so important: ‘I’m responsible for engaging with and attracting graduate, junior and indie talent to Jagex through games jams, social media and graduate outreach programmes. The role represents an evolution in the relationship between students and industry professionals. The importance of innovation in the games industry has never been more paramount, and the introduction of new ideas through graduate and indie developers will ensure this is achieved. This role will be responsible for bridging the gap between the grass roots of talent and business, benefiting the UK economy in the long term.’

EXAMPLES OF JAGEX INTERVIEW QUESTIONS: Tell me about a time when you had a very strict deadline and limited resources to pull together a large project. How did you go about completing it and what was the result? Based on your knowledge of Jagex and our industry, what do you consider to be the key challenges and opportunities of the role? Can you describe a time when you have had to liaise with staff at different levels, what the project was, how you handled this, and what the outcome was? When building your team, what characteristics and attributes would you look for in a potential staff member? Can you describe a situation where you have had to make a decision that involved a high degree of risk? How did it turn out? Why should we hire you?

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON JAGEX Check out their website: www.jagex.com Or follow them on twitter: www.twitter.com/jagexjobs

coolest OFFICES:

NIKE

Everybody loves a good sleek and sexy office. And we think we may have found the crème de la crème at Nike in London. Nike’s use of vibrant colours teamed with neutrals are what makes this office look and feel effortlessly cool. Aside from the slick white neon tick logo on the front desk, the iconic symbol isn’t plastered across the walls as much as you might expect. In fact, the walls are mostly decked with street artesque style murals, illustrations and typographic print, giving Nike’s HQ that extra edge. In amongst all the sleek is some woodpanelling, complete with a block lettered, giant waffle recipe printed on the wall. I think we all agree this should be a musthave in all offices. Other quirks include chalkboard walls where staff can make notes and large, detailed illustrations of Nike shoes (what else?).

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LONDON, U.K.

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BREAK FREE FROM

UNDEREMPLOYMENT Although underemployment may be preferable to unemployment, simply accepting the fact your array of skills are not being appreciated or put to good use is very damaging for your career prospects. While your current position may be helping you to pay the bills, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also limiting your career development as youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re prevented from exercising your skills and reaching your potential. Unfortunately, once you find yourself underemployed it can be difficult to rectify the situation. Here are five steps you can take to break free from underemployment.

ASSESS YOUR CURRENT SITUATION

First you need to ascertain whether you are truly underemployed, which involves deciphering your current job’s relevance to your career goal. For example, if your degree was in publishing your dream job may be an editor for a top magazine. If you’re working in a junior position for the local newspaper then you’re not underemployed, you’re simply working your way up the career ladder – everyone has to start somewhere. However, if you’re currently working as a sales advisor in a retail store then you are underemployed as you’re not reaching your potential in terms of the skills you’ve developed. Once you’ve identified your goal, create a plan of action on how you’re going to reach it.

FIND A MENTOR Now you’ve established where you are in your career and where you want to be, seek help from an expert in your field. A mentor or career coach can provide valuable advice on your action plan by giving their opinion and offering new ideas that could help you achieve the job you desire. Gaining an alternative, professional perspective can help you to see your situation more clearly and encourage you to reach your potential. www.mentormatchme.com is a useful resource.

EXPAND YOUR SKILL SET

The more you can develop your skill set while in your current role, the more you can add to your CV, which will help you significantly when you come to interviewing for that dream job. To improve or gain more skills related to the job you seek, research training courses that will help you to break into the industry you’re aiming for. For instance if you want a career in IT, take a relevant computer course to the specific role you’re looking to pursue. If you’re working part-time you may have time to complete a voluntary placement related to your industry, so you can gain a feel for the environment you wish to work in and determine whether it’s suitable for you. If you’re working full-time, consider volunteering for community projects outside of work hours, such as helping to organise local events.

EXCEL IN YOUR CURRENT ROLE

Once you’ve realised you’re underemployed it can cause you to do the bare minimum. However, this will see you displeasing your current boss which will not only put off a potential employer, but could soon see you becoming unemployed. Therefore it’s important to maintain a positive attitude in your current role while you search for a new job. Focus on developing transferable skills such as communication, organisation and problem-solving. When you come to interview for your dream job you can show the potential employer that although you were underemployed for a time, you gained as much as possible from the role.

NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK The more extensive your network, the more likely it will provide you with a contact who has just the role you’re looking for or the advice you need to obtain it. Connect with your colleagues and clients on LinkedIn so relevant connections can be made with their networks too. Tell your friends and family that you’re searching for work in a particular field; you never know who they might be able to put you in touch with. If you communicate regularly (without harassing) with those in your network, you’ll encourage your contacts to think of you as soon as a position of relevance arises.

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How to Bounce Back FROM A BAD REVIEW

If you receive negative feedback from your performance review, it can leave you feeling disappointed and deflated, so much so that you may start to worry about your job security. However, it’s important not to panic and know how to handle criticism effectively so you can use the feedback to your advantage, rather than letting it get you down. Here are some top tips on how to improve following a bad review.

CONTROL YOUR EMOTIONS

AMEND MISTAKES

When your work is criticised it’s tempting to follow your instincts by becoming defensive and reacting emotionally to your boss’s comments. You may feel like blaming mistakes on your colleagues or starting an argument with your boss, but this only shows a lack of maturity and can damage the situation unnecessarily. This is why it’s important to suppress your emotions for now and simply listen to the feedback. Try to view the criticism positively: your boss is actually trying to help you improve. Instead of responding impulsively, take everything on board and ask to discuss it at a later date once you’ve had time to process it.

If your boss gives an opinion about your work that you disagree with then it’s not wise to dispute this: you don’t have to agree but you must try to respect their viewpoint. On the other hand, if they make a factual error in relation to your work and progress, then it’s perfectly acceptable to highlight the mistake. If you don’t notify your employer your progress will not be accurately assessed and you’ll be judged unfairly. If you feel you’ve been mistreated in your review, then you have the right to report this: most companies have a specific process for such instances. However, make sure you’re not simply reacting emotionally to a comment which is in fact true; you must have evidence of clear, unfair conduct.

ENSURE YOU UNDERSTAND

CREATE A PLAN OF ACTION

There may be points your employer makes that you don’t fully understand and you may be afraid to ask for them to explain further for fear of more in-depth criticism. However, if you simply ignore these comments you will be setting yourself up for failure as you will not know how to improve for next time. The more information you can gain, the better your response can be to rectify the problem. Furthermore, if your boss makes statements such as ‘inadequate teamwork skills’ and you’re unsure how you’ve demonstrated this, ask for examples. However, make sure you do so in a respective manner rather than responding aggressively.

In order to improve and learn from your review, you must respond rather than just listen to the criticism that’s made. Your goal should be to amend all of the issues raised in this review in time for your next one. Make a note of each criticism and think of ways you can conquer them. For example, if you were pulled up for your lack of organisation, you can make an effort to buy and consistently use a diary, as well as revise your daily routine. You should discuss with your boss how your progress is going to be monitored between now and your next review so they’re aware of your efforts to improve.

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Dealing With

Competition

at Work Rivalry in the workplace is not always viewed positively, but the truth is, a bit of healthy competition can do wonders for your career. The trick is being able to handle it and use it to your advantage without taking it into dangerous territory and creating an unhealthy environment. Here are some steps you can take to ensure it helps you develop your career rather than damage it.

Recognise its necessity

Find a role model

Focus on you

Develop your network

Whether you’re a competitive person or not, workplace competition is something you will have to deal with at one time or another. Rather than letting it bother you, you need to understand and appreciate its value. For instance, it can seriously boost your motivation as you strive to stand out amongst your colleagues. Therefore you’re more likely to work harder and perform to the best of your potential. Competition also encourages you to challenge yourself every day to prove to your employer that you’re doing a good job and improve your job security. Furthermore, as healthy competition causes you to push yourself each day and boosts your productivity, you’ll find it also helps you come up with new and innovative ideas.

Is there someone you admire and/or possesses skills that you hope to achieve? It’s worth taking note of how they’ve achieved their success: perhaps you could even ask them to become your mentor/coach? They can share their experiences with you and offer advice to help you emulate their achievements and reach your own goals. However, although this form of competition requires you to compare yourself to another, be careful not to go too far with it. Thinking about what they are doing right will help you to identify how you can do the same, but don’t be down on yourself and the things that you haven’t achieved yet.

Related to the previous point, it’s important to recognise your own talents so you can compete with your colleagues in a healthy way. Finding a specialism and acknowledging your strengths can help you show your boss that you’re indispensable. Although you might be comparing your path to that of a role model’s, don’t do this with every single colleague as you cannot win every battle and this will start to bring you down. Instead, focus on your own path by recognising and building on your strengths, as well as making sure your employer is aware of your achievements. If someone else is experiencing some success then don’t automatically assume this means you are not.

Continuously adding valuable contacts to your network will enable you to strengthen your future prospects as they could be the key to your future if you decide to move on. This is why it’s important to develop relationships with both your colleagues, senior staff, clients and other relevant professionals. Doing so will see you being exposed to how others thrive in a competitive environment. You can then adopt those techniques in the context of your own role.

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Climbing the Career Ladder:

Where do I Start? We all want to progress in our careers at some point. But at times, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not always clear what the best way of doing this is. In order to really speed up the process and make sure your career is going in the right direction, i.e. an upwardly one, take a look at our top tips for climbing the career ladder.

Help Others

Show Innovation

Decide on your Goal Working towards your goal becomes a lot easier when you have a good idea of what it is. Ideally, you need to identify which role you would like to see yourself in within the next couple of years. This could be the natural next step up from the role you have now, but it could also be moving on to a slightly different role or career path altogether. If this is the case, you now need to start thinking about what transferable skills you are currently picking up that will help you move into a different role. Knowing not only that you want to progress but where you want to progress to allows you to set your sights on the end goal.

Take Control Sometimes, the best way to get a promotion is to ask for one. For some it will work straight away, for others it may be less successful. But regardless of the response of your boss, it will let them know that you’re serious about your role and want to make it into a career. Asking for a promotion on the spot may not always be the best tactic to take. A great idea to get the ball rolling is to make a plan with your manager, scheduling in when you will discuss promotion opportunities.

If opportunities aren’t arising for you soon enough, then you need to start creating your own. This could be in the form of starting your own business, which is a great idea if you have the knowledge and time to put behind it. However, you can generate opportunities for career enhancement without having to go it alone. Suggesting new projects and ideas in the workplace can lead to increased responsibility, as you will probably be put in charge of them. Don’t be afraid to share any ideas and suggestions that you have, showing how they will benefit the company and provide a return on investment.

Get Involved Sitting and waiting for opportunities to be offered to you is not a good idea. If your company offers training or leadership schemes you should definitely be putting yourself forward. Is there a new project on the go that you could volunteer for? Does your boss need an extra pair of hands for some work? Is there something you’ve spotted that needs doing which you can put yourself in charge of? Those who volunteer and get themselves involved on their own accord are usually noticed for any big opportunities that come up.

Helping other members of staff with aspects such as training, using particular equipment or anything that you can shed some light on is a great idea to help turn the wheels of career enhancement. Not only will it help you become more involved in working with other people, it will raise your profile considerably. If you can become well-practised in being supportive, it will put you in good stead for a management role. Employers like it when their employees can work harmoniously together, so providing evidence of proactively doing this will help you move forward in your career.

Change it Up While it’s great to have set goals, don’t be afraid to let the goal posts move, especially if it means progressing further. At times, people can be guilty of not taking chances or looking into alternatives because they’re reluctant to change their routine. If you feel career development isn’t going to happen for you in your current situation, the time to make a change could be upon you. This doesn’t have to be a huge one; it could be as simple as moving to a different department or asking to take on a slightly different role. Regardless of your current role, there are always other options for you.

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Benefits of working for a small company In 2013, the number of small businesses in the UK saw an increase of 127,000 from the previous year. With the economy set to grow further, the figure is due to rise to higher heights in 2014. While some employees and career enhancers might be put off by the idea of working for a small company, others are reaping in the benefits to be had and excelling in their careers. So how can you make the most of opportunities in a small company?

Small company, big opportunities

Better Pay and Conditions

A common off-putting factor or misconception of small companies is that the chances for promotion or progression are less than in their larger counterparts. Realistically, with a smaller number of staff, there will be less movement and smaller recruitment drives. However, when opportunities arise, the competition for them is greatly lessened. As a result, employees in a small company find themselves rising through the ranks a lot quicker than their peers working for large corporations. Big companies can have band systems, competency structures and policies that dictate how and when their employees can progress. Small companies often use a more subjective approach, and allow advancement when they think an employee is ready.

You may have heard tales of large Recently, BBC employees in companies and how they treat their Scotland expressed their frustration staff – fun team-building days, over having to call an office in generous holiday, healthcare, etc. England to open their electronic Small companies often offer benefits blinds, after the organisation for their staff too, outsourced the running of the A except they aren’t as building’s facilities to a small company well advertised. different company. While is defined as one This matter this doesn’t seem like which has up to fifty will therefore a major issue, it’s an employees. A medium always take some example of a modern-day company has up to 250 investigating. In frustration that seems employees. reality, you could to be occurring more and have great or poor more in large businesses. As benefits in either a small or most big organisations outsource at a large company. It is worth asking least some aspect of their business at interview stage what the benefits be it HR, IT support or blind control are of working for the organisation. - the chain of personnel that a task is Just be careful to make it clear you’re passed through becomes longer and not just interested in the holiday longer. This isn’t the best catalyst for allowance or salary. productivity. Plus, it’s much easier to just close the blinds yourself and have a chat with Dan from accounts on the way back to your desk.

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Ease of living

Know Your

Rights

travel expenses

When away for work, you are entitled to a minimum allowance for essentials such as travel, meals and more. To make sure you’re receiving what you’re eligible for, it’s important to know what your budget is before you set off.

Work Closely Similarly, a major benefit of working in a small company is the ability to work closely with your team and managers. When an issue arises that you need help with or a different pair of eyes to look at, the right person is often never too far away. Differing greatly from a large company, where the person you need could be on a different floor, building or even another country! Furthermore, working a bit more closely with your senior staff can have a great effect on your career prospects. It becomes easier for you to be noticed and therefore acknowledged for your efforts. It also helps to learn by osmosis, and when spending most days working with more experienced staff, it’s surprising how much you can absorb. All in all, working for a small company can be great fun, offering good opportunities as well as an enjoyable working life. So don’t be put off and give it a whirl!

The Law: You are entitled to Mileage Allowance Payments (MAP) when using your own vehicle to travel for work outside of your normal commute. The rate for these is 45p per mile for the first 10,000 miles and 25p per mile thereafter. £5 is permitted to workers for a meal when they have been away from their home and normal place of work before 6am (providing this is not their usual start time). Working away for over five hours also gives you a meal allowance of £5.

Working away for ten hours or more gives you up to £10 for a meal. When working into the late evening you’re granted a meal worth £15. This is if you have worked past your normal hours and after 8pm.

Advice Always check with your employer what you are entitled to before you leave for a visit, so that you can prepare should you need to bring anything extra with you.

COPING WITH RESTRUCTURE

IN THE WORKPLACE Whether your company is downsizing, your boss is leaving or the role of your department is altered, coping with change in the workplace can cause you a significant amount of stress. As youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re more than likely to face some form of restructuring at work at some point during your career, you need to develop a strategy for dealing with it effectively and take control during times of uncertainty.

DON’T PANIC

Unfortunately, when restructures occur they can take several months or even years to complete. As a result, you may be unsure about your job security for a significant period of time. If this is the case, it’s important not to panic and to use this time to think rationally about the situation. Whether the restructure affects you directly via departmental redundancies or a change of manager, or indirectly (redundancies/ downsizing elsewhere in the company), you need to assess how your role will alter as a result. If you panic then you will not be able to focus on taking charge of your career and where it’s going, which is important while your situation is unclear.

TALK TO SOMEONE It’s natural to feel unsettled by a change in the workplace. If you need some clarity on the details of the restructure then ask your employer for a meeting to discuss the likely side effects and how it may affect you directly. Furthermore, talk to colleagues with whom you have a good relationship with so you can both vent your worries and offer support to one another. If there are people who are taking the restructure particularly badly, stay well clear and instead find those who are remaining positive in order to avoid feeling worse about the situation.

CREATE A BACK-UP PLAN

When your company undergoes a restructure ASSERT YOUR REPUTATION it can make you feel nervous about the stability To remind both yourself and your employer of your job. Thus, even if your position is not directly just how important and exactly what your affected or it’s stable for now, it’s worth having a role is, make an effort to have your think about your career aspirations and what TO MAKE strengths and successes recognised you need to do to achieve them. Make THE MOST OF by those around you. You don’t a note of the skills you’ve developed so THE SITUATION YOU WILL NEED TO have to show off, simply keep your far in your employment and update your TAKE CONTROL OF boss aware of your achievements. CV. It’s also a good idea to improve your YOUR CAREER This will not only help you feel more LinkedIn profile by adding more skills, confident about the security of your getting involved in relevant discussions and role, but also encourage your employer to following relevant groups, as well as making recognise just how vital you are to the business. more useful connections. This will help you to get Furthermore, if more redundancies or reshuffling has recognised by people of importance in your industry. If to be made and you are moved, your new boss/employer the restructure does continue and/or your job becomes will be impressed by your impressive work ethic and unstable, you will not be left wondering what to do with accomplishments. yourself. Plus, if an opportunity comes your way you will be ready to seize it straight away.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES

If your company suspends their recruitment or senior employees move on/are laid off, the workload for those left behind can significantly increase. This may cause stress and anxiety at first, but there is certainly an advantage to this: you have the opportunity to prove yourself. More doors will open as projects and vacancies that would have automatically gone to senior staff or elsewhere will now be dealt with internally. You can volunteer to take on such projects or help other colleagues with their workload, which will help you to progress in your own role.

So don’t let restructure in the workplace unnerve you. Take control and make sure you’re always taking steps to progress further in your career, no matter the current situation. Your efforts will improve your employability: whether they are recognised by your current employer or potential employers, it will do wonders for your prospects. Related articles: New Boss, New Opportunities

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Get Carried

Away A R M ACC E S S O R I E S F O R H I M A N D H E R

Leather Satchel Debenhams

MEN’S

Satchel Next £30

Leather Bag Burton £75

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Zip Rucksack New Look £19.99

WO M E N ’ S

Metallic Rucksack New Look £14.99 Tote Bag ASOS £35

Quilted Backpack Cath Kidston £45

Camberwell Cross Body Bag Radley £129

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1. Ask Questions

3. Train

If some co-workers are discussing something around you that you don’t understand, or using terms you’re unfamiliar with, don’t sit there and wonder. Asking more questions will help you rapidly expand your knowledge. Don’t worry about outwardly showing you don’t know something – your colleagues will respect that you’re intrigued to learn.

Take the steering wheel on your own career. If there’s something you would like to gain further training in then don’t be afraid to ask your boss. If it means you can do your job better and more efficiently, providing you with training materials is a great return on investment for the company. There are lots of flexible options such as online courses you can do in your own time, or intense courses that might see you out of the office for a few days to attend.

How to: learn

2. research

Regardless of what field you work in, you should be keeping up to date with the latest industry movements, trends and news. Sign up to and tune in to as much as you have time to read. Start with specialist magazines, newsletters and blogs. You can also pick up a lot by following relevant companies and figures in your industry on LinkedIn and Twitter, who will often share useful content.

4. Utilise Your Colleagues Especially if you’re in a more junior role, there is bound to be someone within your organisation who has the know-how on a topic that you don’t. Approach them politely and ask if they’ve got any time to spend with you on a particular topic. If you don’t know of anyone who can help you, ask your boss if they can put you in touch with someone.

INSPIRING QUOTE

FORGET ALL THE REASONS

IT WON’T WORK &

BELIEVE the one reason that it will - UNKNOWN

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“

o most, the thrill of seeing wildlife in its natural habitat is one of the main reasons to travel the globe. Whether it be glimpsing a majestic tiger amongst the Sal forests of central India or spending time with the critically endangered mountain gorillas of central Africa – a wildlife encounter is often one of the most memorable experiences and perfect for that picture on the mantelpiece. But what if you could do more and go further than just viewing wildlife: what if you could do something really worthwhile? That is what The Great Projects is trying to achieve, with an ethos to create something ‘great’ and help save some of the planet’s most endangered animals through its volunteering projects and voluntours. Established in 2008 with the awardwinning ‘Great Orangutan Project’ in Malaysian Borneo, the company has now expanded to over thirty trips in not only South-East Asia, but also Africa, South America and Europe. What’s more, these projects offer the perfect escape for those taking a year off before or after university. Whether you dream of engaging in underwater ballet with a giant manta ray or tracking elephants throughout the vast and harsh Kalahari Desert, the adventurous roster of volunteer projects offered by The Great Projects will not disappoint!

These projects also offer students and young people the opportunity to learn invaluable new life skills, the chance to become completely independent and skills for your CV. Employers are always looking for stand out candidates, so being able to say that you have helped tackle a range of issues - including human-animal conflict, coral reef conservation and animal rehabilitation – is a real seller on the CV!

Get in touch Contact The Great Projects via their website. or Facebook profile. Email: info@thegreatprojects.com Phone (+44(0)208 885 4987)

rite

ou Our fav

tweets of the month

Money maker be quids-in while looking for work.

Bean @IMBeanz

When I’m really bored at work I like to write “I’m watching you” on the toilet paper a few squares in just to mess with people. David Brent @David Brent

If at first you don’t succeed, try to remove all traces that you even tried. FRIDAY @fridaycandy

At a job interview: “What are your strengths?” “I’m an optimist and a positive thinker.” “Give me an example” “When do I start?” Shweta Khare @Careerbright

Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal. ~ Hannah More #inspiration #quote John @sarcasticapple

It’s strange how wartime slogan “Keep calm and carry on.” became merchandising gold dust but “Save kitchen waste to feed the pigs!” did not.

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Online American selling platform Fiverr is the hot new place for talented individuals to make a few bucks for their skills. It allows users to buy and sell creative products and solutions, all for $5. Examples include voiceovers, logo designs, writing, blog posts, sketches, illustrations, social media and more. Joining Fiverr can see you selling your work easily and on your own accord. The price of the actual product is often lower than what you might sell it for if working freelance, but the level of interest and frequency of business you receive is higher. This is reassuring for anyone who finds freelancing a stressful way of making regular money. To really succeed on Fiverr or similar platforms, provide something that is really in demand. For example, if you’re a graphic designer, infographics are currently highly sought-after. Also, provide something that has a quick turnaround on the time it takes you to produce so that you can take on the maximum number of clients.

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