A For Appointments

Candidate Services

 

CV Advice

 

When applying for a new position it is vital that a well written, concise CV is prepared in advance. All job seekers need to understand that CVs are a shop window to their skills; therefore, whatever is displayed attracts a prospective employer to that person. Alternatively the content could repel a prospective employer and the CV would be cast aside.

 

At A for Appointments we see thousands of CVs on a weekly basis. They could be sent in the post, via email or sourced in many of the job sites accessible on the internet. Our consultants are experienced in assessing the benefits of a superior CV; as such we like to pass on our expertise to applicants to enable them to give a first-class impression to our clients.

 

Here are some initial guidelines; however, we are always pleased to help applicants improve on their CV.

 

• Always check spelling and grammar, these mistakes should never be accepted on a CV.

• Keep the CV short, preferably to 2 pages, and use bullet points with short paragraphs, to enable ease of reading.

• Make each section relevant to the position you are applying for, especially if you have a wide experience of work.

• Do not include unnecessary detail in education, hobbies and duties.

• Always include a preliminary statement about yourself and your aims, however, keep it short.

• Think before you write about your hobbies, they reflect the type of person you are and can be a basis for a bonding conversation.

• Make sure full contact details are included (an obvious statement), as many people do not include a telephone number or email address.

• The font in which the CV is typed should be clear and easy to read such as Arial or Latha, using 12 point size.

 

Our consultants will read through the CV and explain how changes can be made to improve, thereby offering a more attractive package to a prospective employer.

 

Interview Advice

 

Another way of impressing a prospective employer is how you prepare and dress for an interview. Once again this should be obvious; however, many job seekers do not put enough effort into their preparation as would be expected by an employer.

 

An interview could last for 30 minutes or 1 hour, however, first impressions are crucial. Research shows that the first impression is made up of the following factors:

• 55% visual impact – relating to dress, body language and facial expression

• 38% tone of voice

• 7% what is actually said by the applicant

 

Visual Impact

 

The impact created at an interview is based on the visual and non-verbal presentation, here are some guidelines:

 

• How you dress/look – clothes are vital to a good presentation and need to be considered pre-interview. In most positions it is better to wear a suit or jacket, with a conservative shirt, accompanied by a tie for men. The relevant footwear to match the outfit should be considered and the volume of jewellery should be kept to a minimum.

• How you walk, sit, act – the way you sit in your chair can give the wrong impression. Slouching could relay a casual attitude, crossing your arms can appear defensive, excessive hand movements can be distracting and off putting. Your body language is very important as it can reflect your attitude.

• Eye contact – it is essential to have good eye contact as it reflects an interest in your interviewer and ultimately in the job itself. By maintaining eye contact you will be able to gauge the interviewer’s reaction to your comments and your answers to their questions.

• Your voice – try not to talk too fast, keep your tone of voice moderate but not monotone. It can be difficult if you are nervous, however, take deep breaths and if your nerves increase make sure you breathe slowly and deeply which will calm you down. Don’t use slang and be aware of any bad habits such as using ‘er’ or other insignificant words too often.

• Confidence – try to smile and relax your body otherwise it will affect your appearance.

 

An interview is all about deciding whether or not you will fit into the organisation and how well you can do the job. It is vital that you practice what you are going to say and establish a rapport with your interviewer.

 

Research

 

It is essential to know as much as possible about the company you are visiting. Carrying out research beforehand is vital to show that you have taken an interest in the company you have identified as a prospective employer. A for Appointments will guide you with this task.

 

Tutorials

 

A for Appointments utilises one of the most advanced skills testing systems in the country. As such we are able to test on over 800 subjects from data entry skills to German Excel, or from AutoCAD to computer technician skills. These tests can be set up for all applicants to carry out in the comfort of their own homes where they will not feel under pressure. Help lines are available for any queries and the results are automatically fed back to the consultant who interviewed the applicant.

 

In addition, we can offer various tutorials on over 25 subjects to help when a test has shown a deficiency in knowledge. The tutorials include Microsoft Access, Excel, Office, PowerPoint and many others.