Blog – Page 2 – Instant Recruit

The top 10 soft skills you must have on your CV

6Sep By Kristina JonesNo Comments

Blog, CVs

The top 10 soft skills you must have on your CV

Knowing which soft skills to demonstrate on your CV could be the key to success. But if you don’t know what a soft skill is, then you could be missing out! What is a soft skill? Unlike a specific skill – computer programming or speaking 5 languages – a soft skill relates to a more common and generic trait. A soft skill is what enables a worker to perform their daily tasks – interaction, communication, time management, and so on. Injecting lots of relevant soft skills into your CV helps present the employer with an indication of how well you could perform for them. Provide as many examples as possible that cover the most relevant to your career, which will boost your chances of getting an interview. Here are the top 10 soft skills you must have on your CV if you wa...

The 4 things you must bring to job interview

17Jun By Kristina JonesNo Comments

Blog, Job interviews

The 4 things you must bring to job interview

If you turn up to an interview without anything else, there is no reason why you won’t give a great interview and get the job. However, there are some things you can do which will make a difference and boost your chances of success. Here are the 4 things you must bring to a job interview if you want to make a great first impression. Notepad and pen You should always bring some paper and a pen with you to a job interview, as you never know when you might need to make a note of something important. Not only that, it will also make a great impression as it shows you’re serious about the role. Copies of your CV Print off three copies of your CV to take to the interview. If you are catching the bus or train to the interview, you can swot up on your CV beforehand. You are obv...

4 essential traits an employer looks for in a professional

17Jun By Kristina JonesNo Comments

Blog, Career

4 essential traits an employer looks for in a professional

Your work ethic and personal traits in the workplace directly affect your performance and those around you. Remaining professional at all times is essential if you want to succeed in a career, but how does one go about that? To help you understand what an employer looks for in an employee and how to be classed as a ‘professional’ at what you do, here are 4 essential traits… Effective working habits Depending on the role, this could describe lots of different working habits. But the most common ones come down to punctuality, organisation, time management, team working abilities, and a high level of competence. Someone who excels at their job is someone that can be trusted and relied upon to deliver the goods. To be classed as a professional this would be a mandatory require...

4 great questions to ask at a job interview

17Jun By Kristina JonesNo Comments

Blog, Job interviews

4 great questions to ask at a job interview

A job interview is typically all about answering the employer’s questions, but that doesn’t mean to say you shouldn’t ask some of your own. If done at the right time and with the right questions, it can be a very effective way of impressing the interviewer. Asking questions in a job interview can help ease your nerves, but more importantly it will show the employer that you care and are clearly passionate about the role. If this is something you’ve never really thought about and would like to know more, here are 4 great questions to ask at a job interview. Importance of Questioning During an Interview Can you tell me more about the daily tasks and responsibilities of the role? This is the perfect question to ask as it demonstrates you are interested in the job. It isn’t en...

3 things you should bring to a job interview

18May By Kristina JonesNo Comments

Blog, Job interviews

3 things you should bring to a job interview

So you’ve made it to the final stage of the hiring process – the job interview. Nerves are running high and you can hardly contain your excitement. You’ve already left the house nice and early and are dressed smartly to impress the employer. Is there anything you’ve forgotten? Most job seekers turn up to interviews with nothing but themselves and a firm handshake. Whilst this is quite common, if you want to make a better impression you should take a few things with you. Here are 3 things you should bring to a job interview: A pen and paper Taking a notepad and a pen with you to an interview shows how dedicated you are to the role. It makes a great first impression, and the interviewer will see that you are taking it seriously. If there is anything important during the i...

3 reasons why your work history is letting your CV down

18May By Kristina JonesNo Comments

Blog, CVs

3 reasons why your work history is letting your CV down

The work history section of a CV is one of the most important parts. The employer is going to be reading this section very closely to see which skills can be used within their company. However, if you choose to go down the traditional route of listing all your previous roles along with the daily tasks and responsibilities, you are making a big mistake. Here are the 3 reasons why your work history is letting your CV down… No indication of performance One of the main reasons why an employer reads the employment section of a CV is to find out how that person performed. If you only list your tasks underneath each role, this won’t provide any indication of performance. Anyone can list the tasks they conducted on a daily basis, but that doesn’t mean to say that individual exc...

17May By Kristina JonesNo Comments

Blog, CVs

Why should you care about ATS?

ATS is a buzzword that's being bantered around many a careers office - but what's it all about? Simply, it's software that is now being used by a lot of larger organisations to vet candidates before a human reviews their CV. The software scans submitted CVs for keywords which relate to the requirements of the job such as particular skills, qualifications and experience. Those candidates that appear to meet the requirements are then reviewed by a person. Large firms receive innumerable levels of applications for some of their positions, so ATS software saves them a lot of time. It filters out applicants that don't meet the job spec but have applied nonetheless. On the downside, ATS software filters out some applicants that DO meet the job spec by accident. 62 percent of ...

31Mar By Kristina JonesNo Comments

Blog, Career

The value of experience

I have been here for over two months, and I have thoroughly enjoyed getting stuck in to my new role here. I can honestly say though that I would not be here if it wasn’t for the year out I took at university, where I worked for the year … unpaid. I swan dived into the world of copywriting, SEO and social media marketing not fully knowing what I was letting myself in for. I applied for the job thinking it was to become an advertising copywriter, a misunderstanding which hit me like a cold fish when I was plonked in front of a computer with briefs for a memory foam mattress, garden office and work wear companies. This was a major mistake on my end, however a couple of months into my year of copywriting and I had found my calling in this world. I had gained something invaluable in the...

31Jan By Kristina JonesNo Comments

Blog, Career

The improbability of indispensability

Indispensability; it’s the Holy Grail of employment, isn’t it? You work yourself in to a position where you can’t be fired, where your company simply can’t function without you, or would lose so much - perhaps in terms of productivity, value to the business or staff morale - with your exit through the front door that it wouldn’t even be considered. Sounds great, right? Hmm… Different types of indispensability Let’s clarify what we mean when we talk of someone being indispensable, as it’s commonly misdiagnosed. There’s a huge difference, for example, between being indispensable and being taken advantage of at work. Likewise, you may be one of those people who just can’t say no at work. You may also be a bit of a drama queen, a huffer and puffer, constantly proclaiming that ‘this ...