Return to work interview tipsÂ

Return to work interview tips   by Amber Rolfe Ready to go back to work? Returning to work after a career break can often feel like a daunting experience. Not only do you have to get back to grips with your industry and role, you also have to refresh your CV writing and interview skills.We spoke to Deloitte, the largest professional services network in the world, to find out how to nail your interview after a career break:Do your researchIf you’ve been out of work for a long time, you may feel out of the loop when it comes to industry news or process updates â€" all of which are vital to know about if you want to stand out to recruiters.Luckily, getting yourself up to speed may not be as difficult as you think.Firstly, make sure you’re signed up to industry newsletters or blogs. Not only does this ensure you’re updated on the most recent events, it also means you can gain knowledge on a daily basis, in an easy-to-digest form.Following employers in your field on social media is another key way to ensur ing you’re in the know.Lastly, as with any interview, never overlook your research. With this information, you’ll be able to answer any questions that come up, and also demonstrate your passion and dedication to getting back into work.How to: Research a company before you applyHow to: Start work after your gap year  Get a (kind of) new CVCVs don’t last forever. They’re also never complete.This means you should always be updating, adding to it, and tailoring it to every job you apply for; and this is even more important for those who are returning to work after a career break.Not only is it essential to brush up on your knowledge of your previous experience and expertise, it’s also key to refresh your CV in accordance with the current year.This could include giving it a new font and layout, adding your most recent experience (including any courses or volunteer work you did during your break), removing any now irrelevant information, or (briefly) explaining the reasons for y our gap.Once you’ve refreshed your CV accordingly, make sure you actually know it. Refreshing your memory on what makes you a great fit for the role is key.Career break CV templateFive ways to tell if you need a new CV  Never underestimate the importance of a first impression Whilst it can feel daunting to re-enter the world of work after time away, it’s important to arrive at an interview with confidence.In addition to preparing for any questions that may come up â€" it’s equally vital to cover the basics. These include; figuring out where the interview is taking place, how you’ll get there, what time you’ll need to leave, and what you need to bring.Once you’ve planned your route (ensuring you leave extra time, just in case), make sure you have a copy of your CV, a pen and notepad, and examples of your work to hand.And if you’re running late due to mitigating circumstances, let the interviewer know ASAP, or pass on a message via other points of contact you may have.Ho w to: Prepare for an interviewFour things to take to a job interview  Figure out what you want to know about them An interview is a two-way conversation.Whilst they’re used to find out if a candidate is a good fit for the role, they’re also the perfect opportunity for you to find out more about the employer.This can be done by asking questions about everything from their company culture, working environment, and team dynamic, to your career prospects, the position itself, and the responsibilities you’ll take on.So before every interview you have, prepare at least three questions to help you gain more perspective. This not only demonstrates your level of interest and commitment  to the role, but also shows wider thinking (a great skill) about the field you will be working in.Just make sure any questions you ask are relevant to the role, team, company, and the industry you’ll be working in.Job interview questions for employersFive questions you should never ask at an interview  Final thoughts The interview is your one and only opportunity to prove your suitability to employers, so use it demonstrate your lasting commitment to your industry â€" and also to ensure the role you’re applying for is right for you.And no matter what your situation, never apologise for your gap. Speaking positively about your time away is a great way to demonstrate confidence in your ability to re-enter the workforce.After all, whether it was due to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. an ill relative or redundancy), or it was a planned gap â€" you’ll have gained a number of transferable skills (from commitment to self-motivation) to help you stand out to employers.What to do when you have a long career historyWhy work for Deloitte?Deloitte is the largest professional services network in the world, and one of the ‘big four’ firms (alongside PwC, Ernst Young and KPMG).As one of the most respected companies worldwide, they pride themselves in their ability to build talent, driv e performance, and move together towards a strategic goal. At Deloitte, part-time isn’t seen as part commitment; value is measured through the impact you make, not hours spent behind a desk.And with a number of roles available in their return to work programme throughout 2019, now’s the perfect time to get your foot (back) in the door.Here are a few reasons to consider Deloitte’s return to work programme:They have opportunities nationwideThey offer roles in everything from auditing and consulting, to financial advisory, internal, and tax servicesThey provide both part-time and full-time opportunitiesYou’ll be able to work alongside industry leadersYou’ll benefit from training and coaching delivered by professionalsYou could be selected for a career opportunity at Deloitte the end of your scheme  Ready to get back to work?  View all Deloitte return to work programmes  now.Deloitte  is the largest professional services network in the world, providing auditing, consulting, fi nancial advisory, tax advice and much more â€" to businesses in 150 countries across the globe.Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. 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How Valuable is your Cover Letter

How Valuable is your Cover Letter How Valuable is your Cover Letter? Many of us consider a cover letter nothing more than a standard piece of paper that goes with our resume or CV. It is also quite surprising that a vast majority of job seekers put minimal thought into creating a good quality cover letter, believing that most employers pay little to no attention to it. In fact, if you think this way, you couldnt be more wrong! Having a well-crafted cover letter can act to back up your resume, and can also give a prospective employer a bit more insight into your personality and the type of person you are. Your cover letter is a powerful tool that gives you an opportunity to introduce yourself to an employer that doesnt know you from Adam and can give you some recognition as an individual.The worst thing you can do is to slap together a very basic and generic cover letter and use it over again for each and every job application you go for. Your cover letter is your first step through the company door, so you need to realize just how important and val uable it is to your future success.Resume filtering softwareMany large companies who are up to speed with modern technology will more than likely use a resume filtering software also known as Applicant Tracking System  or ATS to process job applicants submitting their resumes and cover letters. In this age of digital technology, you cannot afford to miss out on a job opportunity by sending a generic cover letter that hasnt been revised and tailored to fit with individual employers.We all know that we should revise our resume to fit with each employer we approach, but not many job seekers realize that they should do the same with their cover letters too. Resume scanning software enables employers to sift through mountains of job applicants to filter out those that dont meet with the company requirements. What the scanning technology is looking for are those specific keywords and phrases within the text on your cover letter and resume that are important to the role on offer.The human touchKeep in mind that once your application passes the automated scanning process, it will be read by a human eye, so make sure that what you write is engaging. Your cover letter briefly explains to an employer about who you are, what you have achieved, and why you are suitable for the job. As this is the first piece of information about you that the employer will read, it is essential to make an impact here and write a narrative that encourages them to read on and look through your resume.So, what information should you include in your cover letter? Well, first of all, you need to keep your cover letter short and sweet because if you provide too much information, the employer may be put off reading the whole thing just because it can look too intimidating. Also what you need to bear in mind is if you are applicant number 198 of 250, how weary and tired of reading is the employer going to be?Lets take some time out and go back to the drawing board with your cover letter preparat ion. Firstly, carefully check the job description that the employer has provided. Look for any  specific keywords and desirable skills that on demand. Draw attention to any skills and experience you have that match their desires and highlight these in your cover letter using the same keywords or descriptions that they use.Establish an emotional connectionBriefly explain why the job on offer is appealing to you and how it would fit in perfectly with your own career goals. If you have had some history with the company, you can also weave this into your text, whether that is your passion for using the products or services they sell, or that the company ethos matches with your core beliefs and you would like to help the company to grow and reach their next milestone.Sing your own praisesYou dont have a lot of room on your resume to go into too much detail about your career achievements. This is why you can use your cover letter to expand and share more details, figures and statistics ab out significant events that you achieved that are in line with the role on offer. Say for example that you were applying for a marketing role, you can list the size of the budgets you have controlled, savings made, goals achieved and impressive ROI figures.You should only need to include short sentences or bullet-point information here. Remember that you dont want to overwhelm the employer with too much text. Instead, you should include valuable information that is relevant to the job, makes your point clear, and will leave them on a positive note wanting to know more.The employer wants to recruit dynamic candidates that are passionate about their work. You can use your cover letter to show them all these qualities and more. previous article Free Resume Template of the Week | Spring Mist next article Contrast Complete Resume Pack you might also likeTen Quick Tips to Nail The Cover Letter Format

S.M.A.R.T. Goals Dont Work Without Good Habits

S.M.A.R.T. Goals Dont Work Without Good Habits I’m sure you’ve read enough self-help books to get tired of the S.M.A.R.T goals setting formula. Yes, specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely are all important, only they are not enough! You see a couple of months after the exciting “big commitment”, chances are you’re still daydreaming about this career makeover/life change. Because let’s be honest â€" life gets in the way… Well, I have some good news and some bad news. Bad news: most of those big-dreams and aspiring S.M.A.R.T goals never get achieved. Ouch!   The good news though: you can do something about it. Systems are that name of the game. It’s easy to be overwhelmed with so many ideas and being stuck on how to actually execute them, so creating a structured process and committing to taking one step at a time to achieve your ultimate goal, is the way to make it all happen. Here are 5 practical things you can implement today to put a “go-getter” system in place: Declutter your Priorities. The word “priority” came into the English language in the 1400s, and it was singular. When we say that we have multiple priorities, what we’re essentially saying is that nothing’s a priority. Most of us have some great expectations from ourselves, and our New Year’s resolution list is a mile long… well this is really self-sabotaging! Now it’s time to decide what your true, single priority is and pursue that with all your power. Multi-tasking is the Enemy of Focus Modern society loves multi-tasking (and I’m as guilty as anyone). However, the myth of multi-tasking is that being busy is synonymous with being better. The exact opposite is true â€" having fewer tasks leads to better work. If you take a moment to study world-class experts in nearly any field â€" athletes, artists, scientists, teachers, CEOs â€" you’ll see this is true. One characteristic that runs through all of them is focus. If you want to actually achieve your career goal, instead of adding it to the list of diets to do, hobbies to pick up, languages and instruments to learn, and the like that you never actually finish, then practicing focus is the key. Photo courtesy Daniel Lobo Baby Steps Do what you can, with what you have from where you are today. Yes big aspiration is good, and yes we all want to see results, like yesterday. But, it’s only the small actions and consistency that are going to get you one step closer to the desired makeover. Positive Mindset Ever heard of “time flies fast when you’re having fun?” that’s because your mind attracts more positivity while you are already enjoying yourself. Pretty neat, yes? It seems that the word Mindset has become the buzz term nowadays, and it’s being thrown around all too often. For the success system framework, the meaning is merely being positive and focused on the accomplishments. When you appreciate your achievements, you become more confident, driven and â€" yes once again â€" focused. Start a gratitude journal today, and write down 3 things you’ve accomplished every single day. Accountably We live in a fast-paced, busy, loud world. It’s easy to see why things (even S.M.A.R.T things) get put off ‘til tomorrow way too often, and why there is always the bigger and shinier object waiting in line. Sometimes you need a kick in the pants to keep going, and that’s what your accountability partner is for! This can be a close friend, a neighbor, a colleague â€" someone you know and trust â€" who understands your goal, wants to see you succeed, and is willing to let you know when you should stop being lazy. Now, it’s super important that the terms and condition of this relationship are charted out, so you don’t end up ruining a friendship by being too pushy. Good Habits Everyone is on the lookout for tactics and hacks that can make success easier. S.M.A.R.T goals are a good start, the problem is that big goals often require A LOT of activation efforts and it’s easy to get lost on the way. In the beginning you might have the energy to get started each day because you’re motivated and excited about your new goal, but pretty soon (often within a few weeks) that motivation starts to fade and suddenly you’re lacking the energy you need and you begin to feel stuck and overwhelmed.  Good habits will propel you through all of that!

Workplace Drama Structure Similar to Hollywood Drama Screenplay - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Workplace Drama Structure Similar to Hollywood Drama Screenplay - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career A good friend of mine and former college roommate studied film and screen writing. Hes had a number of his screen plays picked up on option by hollywood producers over the years. So, when I began investigating drama in the workplace I reached out to him to learn about how dramatic movies are structured. He shared with me the basic three act structure writers follow in developing a screen play for a dramatic movie. Its a simple structure: Act 1 Setup: Characters are introduced and the plot develops Act 2 Confrontation: Rising action occurs as the stakes get higher and stress builds Act 3 Resolution: Crisis peaks, action comes down and comes to a resolution Workplace drama is similar. As I see it, it also has three acts. Unfortunately in most organizational scenarios Act 3 doesnt lead to resolution. Act 1 The Setup: Drama is introduced, usually by an individual or two, remains somewhat limited at the beginning Act 2 Drama Conflicts Grow: Drama accelerates and becomes more common place. Ineffective conflict grows and becomes increasingly distractive to the work environment. The time leaders need to invest in playing referee expands as they try to deal with the symptoms, putting out fires. Its often like playing Whac-A-Mole. Act 3 Toxic Workplace Develops: Unlike theatre and movies, workplace drama has no time limit and often is perpetually tolerated as leaders try to put out the fires dealing with symptoms. Left unaddressed the drama leads to a toxic work environment. Workplace drama requires a fourth act in order to move towards resolution. Few organizations get to this level. Pat Lencioni, author of The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team talks about his work in creating high-performing teams in the workplace with a term Id like to borrow for this workplace drama process as well. Lencioni calls it heavy lifting. Heavy lifting means participants in the process need to approach the situation with humility and vulnerability to work through the real issues and causes of the drama in the workplace. Some organizational leaders will need to look inside themselves to see how they may be contributing to it. Its a scary place for leaders to step into. Yet, the alternative is costing organizations billions. Gallup estimates workplace issues and lack of employee engagement costs between $450-$500 billion a year in lost productivity. Even the small percentage of that figure that would be allocated to traditional small business is real money that would make a difference in most bottom lines, dont you think?

The History of Descrbie Class - Writing History For Your Resume

The History of Descrbie Class - Writing History For Your ResumeDescrbie history is a fun and engaging way to learn about a past skill. Students will learn about their ancestors, their families, and their culture. This curriculum will encourage students to write an interesting story for their resumes.Descrbie teaches students how to write an interesting and complete history on the cover of their resumes. Students will be able to include family photos, events that had occurred within the past year, and other events such as jobs and dates of births and deaths. Students will be able to write a meaningful story about themselves and their lives.Descrbie also encourages students to think about what they would like to be known for. Students can choose to be remembered for a lot of different things such as bravery, courage, creativity, intelligence, or hard work. Some students may even decide to be remembered for being successful. These students can make a statement with a positive change in their personality.Descrbie also provides students with the opportunity to study old photographs and documents. Students can create a collage by collecting all of the information from each photograph. Once a student has created a collage, he or she can write a short story about the subject matter contained within the picture. Students can also write a longer story based on their findings.Students can choose to take a short description of the history. This short description will be followed by a paragraph that contains a summary of the events found within the photo. Students can use this description to describe themselves and their accomplishments. They can then write a short story using the information found within the photo.Descrbie lessons are very interactive. Students are encouraged to answer questions that they may have about the program. Some questions that students can expect to be asked include, 'What does it mean to be a Descrbie descendant?' and 'How would you like to creat e a personal history for your cover letter?'Students that are interested in participating in the Descrbie lesson will need to learn about creating an idea for a cover letter. Other course requirements include reading other people's letters and completing quizzes on writing skills and writing for resumes.In order to participate in the Descrbie program, students must first begin in the academic core curriculum. This includes taking online classes such as English composition, math, and science. After completing the core curriculum, students will need to attend an interview to get signed up for the Descrbie history class.

Fame, here I come -) - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Fame, here I come -) - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Im famous :-) This commercial is currently running on Danish TV and so far Ive been recognized from it twice. The ad is for a Danish union called Krifa, who distinguish themselves by focusing more on creating great work lives for their members and less on creating an adversarial relationship with employers. Translation for non-Danes: Our work lives change constantly, and we should be happy all along. In association with krifa, Ive created podcasts, trainings, an ebook and a film that you can use to create more happiness and better results. See the film on krifa.dk. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

What would make a happier society - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

What would make a happier society - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Richard Layard is the author of the excellent book Happiness, in which he argues, that most countries today overfcous on economic issues, and that it would be better to focus on what makes people happy. And what makes us happy is not increased spending but rather simple things like famliy, friends, health and values. Theres a review of the book here. Here are some notes from a lecture Layard gave called What would make a happier society?. A teaser: Not long ago I was asked to speak at a seminar in the Treasury and to answer the following question, What difference would it make if we really tried to make people happier? To my mind that is exactly the right question, so let me share with you my rather inadequate answer. In particular I want to bring out where it differs from the normal answers given by economists, especially from bodies like the OECD. My main message will be that happiness depends on a lot more than your purchasing power. It depends on your tastes, which you acquire from your environment and on the whole social context in which you live. So, when we evaluate policies which increase purchasing power, we absolutely must take those other effects into account. Good stuff! Is there a single western politician who subscribes to this philosophy and puts happiness above economic growth? Drop a comment if you know any Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related