New Year Career Resolutions

New Year Career Resolutions New Year Career Resolutions 3 Jan 2019 Paul Buchan It's the beginning of a new year and many people up and down the country are thinking the same thing - time to get my life in order. We've pulled together a few new year career resolutions that will help you make 2019 the year you find your dream job. Sort out your social media Getting your social media presence (that includes anything that isn’t completely 100% private â€" Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Snapchat and so on) up to scratch should be the first thing on your 2019 resolution list. As our friends TalentSpark wrote in their very informative blog, your social media is now an extension of your CV. While the laws in the EU are different to the US, where social media checks are commonplace, these rules may not apply in the UK after Brexit and they’re generally good practice anyway. So keep all the pictures of nights out private and don’t put anything on Twitter that you wouldn’t say in an interview! Get your CV up to scratch Second on your list should be fixing up your CV. We have some handy tips here which can help you craft the perfect CV that’ll help us find you your dream job. A few more things to bear in mind; -                   Use a standard font such as Times New Roman or Ariel. Comic Sans has no place on a CV, or indeed on this planet. As much as you may want to let your inner graphic designer loose to show off your skills, we strip all of this away when we’re sending your CV to employers. It’s best to spend your time making sure the copy is spot on! -                   Don’t fudge it. We know it can be tempting to embellish your experience or achievements on a CV, but these sorts of things almost always get found out and come crashing down around you. A well-written CV won’t need any embellishments for the right job. -                   Make sure your CV is up to date. Include all your relevant work and academic experience and explain any gaps in employment. Practice your interview technique   Third on your 2019 resolution list is to practice your interview technique. We’ve written some advice for how to make sure you always put your best-self forward at an interview and some tips for competency based interviews. We know they can be nerve-racking and anxiety-inducing, but if you practice properly and rehearse effectively you’ll walk into the room as confident as you can be, and this confidence will come across in your answers. Craft your cover letter Your cover letter is the first thing an employer will read about you, which is why it is sitting proudly at number four on your to-do list. Read our advice about how to write a concise and effective cover letter and then start thinking about what kind of impression you’d like to make with (potentially) your future boss. Handling rejection This might seem a little dour, but learning how to handle rejection can be a major milestone in an effective job search. Not getting a job, learning from the experience, and taking on board the feedback can be just what you need to ace the next interview you get. One of our resident experts wrote a blog about how to make the most of a bad situation. Remember â€" if you didn’t get a job it probably wasn’t right for you! Make 2019 the year you land your dream job â€" upload your CV today (after following our advice!) and start your next adventure.