Stand out from the crowd and nail that dream interior design job interview

Posted on by employbx

Interior designer

Whether you’re newly qualified or have years of experience, competing for your dream design job can often be challenging. For every job, there are potentially hundreds of candidates battling against you. If you’ve got the abilities and the best mindset, you are worthy of that job – so let us help you stand out with our top tips for acing the interview process. We worked with Careers in Design, specialists in recruiting for interior design jobs to put together these tips to help you prepare.

Be prompt

It might sound obvious, but showing up late to a job interview gives a bad impression, and excuses about late-running trains or traffic jams just will not impress anyone. Clear enough time in your schedule that you’ll be there in excellent time and without sweat pouring off you. The day before your interview, why not do a test run and time how long it takes you to get there, then add a little extra time for any unexpected delays. If you’re unable to do a test run, head to Google maps and see how long it predicts your journey will take using your chosen method of transport. While there, you can even bring up street view so you know EXACTLY where you’re going.

Do your research

This is the most important thing to do when preparing for an interior design job interview, but is all too frequently forgotten. If your reason is you ‘didn’t have time’ then you do not want the job enough and your potential company will know immediately. Take a close take a look at the company’s website and browse the press for stories about them. Make sure you’re fully prepared for the interviewers favourite question of “so, what do you know about the company?”.

Do not be modest

One of the most common errors in interviews is when a candidate soft-pedals their work.  You need to be very vocal and confident about your work, your skills, and your accomplishments.

Dress to impress

How you show up and present yourself is essential. The best and safest way to do this is to look smart and professional. Choose clothes that feel the most comfortable, this will help you to feel more confident during your interview. As you’re a designer, adding a bit of personality to your outfit will help to show who you are and possibly start a conversation that will help you stick in the interviewers mind. From a fab piece of modern jewellery to some statement shoes, you can’t go wrong – just keep it tasteful and don’t overdo it!

Interview clothes

Sell your skills properly

Companies are always searching for people who can offer something new to their business, but not at the expense of what they really want you to do. Dont’ focus on selling your additional abilities before you have actually reassured the interviewer that you’re capable of doing the particular job you’re talking about. Rather, save these extra abilities until later in the conversation as an excellent way to include value to business in future.

Remember your resumé and portfolio

Even if the company interviewing you has actually seen your resumé, do not presume that part of the application procedure is over. You might well be asked to talk through your resumé in the interview, so ensure you bring several copies with you (you might be interviewed by several people), and acquaint yourself with what you say you’ve done and what you’re able to do. You will likely be asked to talk through your portfolio, so the very same applies to that. (more…)

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Why You Shouldn’t Bother Lying To Employers

Posted on by employbx

About a third of people have admitted to fabricating details in their job applications when they’re trying to secure a new position. If you consider yourself an honest person, this may be quite alarming, especially if you’ve ever missed out on a position or a promotion to someone you think is under-qualified.

It’s important not to think that because lying is surprisingly common, that makes it somehow acceptable or a good idea. In fact, even though people may occasionally get ahead in the short term as a result of exaggerating their skills, this will tend to reveal itself later and there may be serious consequences.

For one thing, lying on paper is one thing, but you have to be able to back it up. There are several hurdles during a typical recruitment process designed to trip up anyone who is stretching the truth a little. When asked to provide evidence of your claims, you’re probably going to fail, especially if this is in an interview situation. People who aren’t nearly as confident in person as they sounded on their application are usually a red flag.

Even for people who so make it as far as getting a job after lying on their CV, the danger is that you’ll get caught out later as it slowly becomes clear that you aren’t really up to the task. To be in this position isn’t desirable, since you could end up getting fired (there’s never a good time for that to happen) and have a gap on your CV when you next apply for jobs. Depending on the extent of your lies, you could even be prosecuted in some cases.

Recruiters are finding it more easy than ever to find out the real trust about their prospective employees. When a candidate applies for a job and things they mention on their application seem suspicious, it’s very easy to snoop around and work out the truth in a lot of cases. Social media, references and other past employers might give employers the evidence they need to disprove your story, so it’s not worth the risk. Instead, we’d advise you to spend time developing your skills and earning a job that you’re better suited for.

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Government Help For Getting Back To Work

Posted on by employbx
Government Help For Getting Back To Work

The majority of people receiving unemployment benefits in the UK are doing their utmost to find work, but it can be difficult to break into a career path when your skills or qualifications may be limited or you face other barriers in your life. Fortunately the government is constantly working to improve its facilities for helping people move from the UK welfare system to paid work. As someone currently claiming JSA (Job Seeker’s Allowance), there are many things you can do to help yourself make progress.

Firstly, you need to get all the support you can from your local job centre, which you will most likely be attending on a regular basis already. At Jobcentre Plus, the government’s main partner in helping unemployed people in the UK, you can investigate all the avenues available to you and get personal advice from your work coach. One of the main things they will ensure you’re comfortable with is searching for jobs, primarily online using services such as Universal Jobmatch, the government’s official careers search engine. There are many more places to look for job opportunities both online and offline, which you will be able to learn more about at your assigned Jobcentre Plus. (more…)

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Training for Jobseekers Over 50

Posted on by employbx
Training for Jobseekers Over 50

Jobseekers may often be imagined as younger people, many of whom have perhaps only just left their education behind them. However, there is an older generation of out-of-work people that mustn’t be forgotten. People over 50 who have previously left work for whatever reason are finding it harder than ever to get back onto a career path later in life. If this situation sounds familiar, there are a few key areas you can focus on.

Confidence –

A key issue for jobseekers of all ages, this is particularly prevalent among older adults who might have delayed their return to work or simply feel a little “rusty” when it comes to serious employment. Taking up hobbies and actively working on other projects before going back to work can really help build up confidence again.

Qualifications –

Of course, qualifications matter just as much for most jobs whether you’re 18 or 60. Older people who specialised in fast-moving industries earlier in life may find their qualifications are out of date, or they may potentially need to learn a whole new area in order to succeed. Specialised courses for older adults can be a great help with this situation. (more…)

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Going Back To Work After Being A Full-time Parent

Posted on by employbx
Returning to work after being a fulltime parent

For some people, even today, having children means the end of their working lives as they knew them before. For those who can afford to, it’s great to have the option of focusing on bringing up children full time, although in reality the majority of people do have to think about going back to work and continuing their career path. This can be tricky, but there are things you can do that will help you tackle it step by step.

Firstly, of course it’s necessary to decide when to take the plunge. For many parents, it’s difficult to say when it might be a good time to return to work, and you almost certainly wouldn’t know for sure until you start the experience of parenthood for yourself. Taking care of children is generally unpredictable, but it does generally require some balance and consistency, whatever you choose to do. Once you have achieved this and you have a sensible plan for taking care of your children while managing a career, you can start planning. (more…)

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Is An Apprenticeship Right For You?

Posted on by employbx
Apprentice

Practical new ways to get into new careers are always welcomed by most young people, and fortunately there are opportunities coming up all the time. Apprenticeships continue to grow in popularity, especially in the UK, and can offer some fantastic benefits for people who have struggled to get into work through different methods, or simply want to change their career path or develop new skills and confidence.

Many people struggle with school and college throughout their education, and by the time they reach 16 it is common for young students to become disengaged with the process and take more of an interest in starting work as soon as possible. Apprenticeships are a great way to develop new skills and learn in a completely different way to traditional education. The fact is that academic study is not for everyone, and some people can learn much faster and develop their skills better through the kind of practical experience you gain as an apprentice.

Some professions lend themselves particularly well to apprenticeships, including trade industries focused on delivering a particular specialised service. This could include builders, decorators, plumbers, electricians and so on, since practical knowledge and experience is highly valued in these trades. The range of subjects available is no longer limited to these traditional vocations, however; apprenticeships may be available in fields like digital marketing, media production, finance, engineering, sport, IT, hospitality, healthcare and many more. (more…)

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Finding hair and beauty jobs in London

Posted on by employbx
Hair and beauty jobs

For many different people, getting into the beauty industry is an ideal career choice. The UK has experienced a huge rise in demand for beauty products and services over the past few decades, and supply has increased too, with professionals developing their skills in new areas that didn’t even exist until recently. Of course, our capital city has become home to some of the most respected businesses in the field, and hair and beauty jobs in London are much sought after. But how do you go about finding them?

First of all, it helps to have an idea of the direction you want your career to go in, and imagine where you would ideally see yourself in a few years’ time, or even decades in the future. Perhaps you’d like to manage a chain of hair salons, invest in the latest high-tech skin treatments, or even create your own cosmetics brand.

Whatever your ultimate goal may be, or even if you don’t have one yet, you might that the job you take when you first come into the industry may be completely different to what you end up succeeding at in the long term. Here are some examples of jobs that might get you into the right sector of the hair and beauty job market… (more…)

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What employment help is available to me if I have a disability or health condition in the UK?

Posted on by employbx

An office worker in a wheelchair

Many people with disabilities want to work and are capable of doing so with proper support in place. There are a number of programs that can provide services to people with disabilities to help them find and maintain employment

This article will discuss the Access to Work program in the United Kingdom, which provides support to people with disabilities who want to work. We will discuss eligibility requirements, the types of support that are available, and how to apply for the program.

Who Is Eligible For the Program?

To be eligible for the Access to Work program, you must:

  • Have a disability or health condition that makes it hard for you to do your job
  • Live in England, Scotland, or Wales
  • Must be at least 16 years of age

What Conditions or disabilities are eligible for assistance under the Access To Work Program?

The types of conditions or disabilities that are eligible for assistance under the Access to Work Program can vary depending on your individual circumstances. However, in general, the program can provide support for people with physical, mental, and sensory disabilities.

Some examples are:

  • Blindness
  • Deafness
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Down syndrome
  • Muscular dystrophy
  • Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder
  • Temporary Conditions for example a broken leg

What Types of Support Services Are Available?

The types of support services that are available through the Access to Work program can vary depending on your individual needs. Through Access to Work, you may be able to apply for a grant for practical support in the workplace or to pay for communication support at job interviews or request advice about managing your mental health.

Here are some additional examples of the types of support that may also be available through a grant:

  • Personal support workers
  • Job coaches
  • Sign language interpreters
  • Assistive technology
  • Specialized transportation

How Can I Apply for the Program?

If you are interested in applying for the Access to Work program, you can apply here or contact the Access to work helpline on 0800 121 7479 or textphone 0800 121 7579. If verbal communication is difficult for you, you can request that all your communication be done by email. Whatever your situation, the staff at the Access to Work helpline are eager to help you and answer any questions you may have.

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Why your CV is getting rejected

Posted on by unemploymentben

cv

Grammatical Errors

These mistakes take the value of the resume away and may give an impression that you are not keen on detail. Keep in mind that subject-verb agreement, tenses, and punctuations matter. Not unless you’re applying for a graphic artist position, labourer, or a non-desk job, having these errors make an impact on your application. Have someone proofread your work or write your resume using software that has spelling and grammar checks. Also, be mindful of the dates, company names, and other keywords as it could be annoying for a recruiter to have to correct it for you.

Not Well Formatted

Hiring managers are gauging individuals with how their resumes appear professional. Remember that most of the time, your resume gets to meet the manager before you do and just like what they used to say, the resume is just as good as the applicant. Hence, remember to format it well with regular font style, consistent capitalizations, and avoid using different sized fonts as the text will look uneven. While there are many downloadable resume formats online, make sure your resume doesn’t look borrowed. A customised composition with skills and experiences highlighted well enough to fit the position applied for will earn you a higher chance of getting the job.

Appearance

Worn out wrinkled and papers almost take the resume into the bottom end of the stack. These are the types that get recycled as scratch papers. Resumes should always be kept clean, wrinkle-free, and crisp. Keep your most valued piece protected in a folder while in your bag to avoid getting it crumpled before it reaches reception.

The content is too long

While your experiences matter, the number of pages in your resume won’t necessarily equate to your skills or talent. A hiring manager will often only be interested in reading the first two pages. So make sure you’ve tried to keep your details as brief and precise as possible. If there’s one paragraph about your roles and responsibilities that can be switched into a bulleted format or paraphrased, do so. If the spaces between one line from the next are too far, optimize them to just the right readable distance from each other. It’s utterly ridiculous to have a 4 to 5-page resume wherein all there is are spacing, huge fonts, and unnecessary images like your old company’s logo. Keep your resume short yet concise and precise.

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Tips for Job Hunting with Disability

Posted on by unemploymentben

People with disabilities go through different challenges every day. If you’re someone with a disability, you may feel limited with your condition, especially when it comes to job hunting. However, you don’t have to let your disability from getting in the way of your career goals. Finding a job for anyone is already a challenging pursuit, and for someone with disabilities, it’s even more difficult and daunting to look for a job. To help you with your job search, below are tips you can apply when you’re job hunting.

Confidence

When landing an interview, you may feel worried about being judged on your disability. If you’re concerned about this, you can find ways to feel confident before an interview. Remind yourself of your skills and any previous accomplishments that you can think of, no matter how small. By doing this, you will realise you’re inner confidence, and you’re more likely to perform well in the interview.

Be resilient

The process of job hunting can be stressful, and you may get a lot of rejection. Understand that this also applies to anyone. Even if you get rejected or may have been looking for a long time, it’s important not to give up hope and be resilient during these times. Staying motivated and positive will eventually help you land the role you’re looking for.

Educate yourself

There are various companies and groups that provide support for people with disabilities when it comes to career search. For example, an organisation like Access Rating helps students with disabilities get work placements or apprenticeships. If you’re looking for work experience, this would be an excellent opportunity to join. Other sites provide many information and support for anyone with a disability struggling to find work.

Highlight your strengths

When going on an interview, it’s important always to highlight your strengths. List all your strengths, skills and experience and practise delivering them on an interview. Interviewers are looking for someone who can demonstrate their strengths through previous experiences. This is your chance to let your interviews know why you’re the right person for the job.

Government support

In the UK, there are laws that protect people with disabilities when looking for employment. They provide training programmes to help people increase their skills and experience. If you require extra support, you can head over to your nearest jobcentre, and they will be able to show you what support is available.

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How to choose a career

Posted on by employbx

career

After graduation, many students will have to decide which career path they wish to pursue. Choosing a career can be daunting, especially when you don’t have an idea on which career you want to pursue. To help you make the right decision, follow our simple steps below.

Self-assessment

The first step is to carry out a self-assessment by listing everything about yourself, including your interest, skills, personality traits, and so on. There are many self-assessment tools online that you can use to help you get started. Alternatively, you can hire and work with a career developer to help you with this part.

Explore different careers

Find and list all of the careers you’re interested in and find out more about them by looking at their roles and skills requirements in detail. Exploring other careers is ideal as this provides you with more career options that you haven’t heard of before.

Shortlist

After listing and exploring careers, it’s time to narrow down your list by removing all careers that don’t interest you. When you have a shortlist, the next step is to carry out more research on jobs that matches your interest and skills.

Choose a career

After the research, it’s time to choose a career. At this point, choose a career that you like the most. Remember that you can change your career later on if you change your mind or realise it’s not the one for you.

Career goals

Now that you’ve chosen a career, it’s time to write your career goals. All professions require different qualifications and skills. It’s important to have the requirements when applying for a job as this will give you an advantage during the application.

Plan of action

To reach your career goals, you’ll need to have a plan of action. Having a plan of action will keep you motivated and focus on achieving your career goals. Ensure your plan is realistic and has a time frame.

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How to get a job with no experience

Posted on by employbx

job hunt

We’ve all been there, trying to find a job even though we haven’t got the experience yet. We all have to start somewhere. If you’re in this position, it’s still possible for you to land a job with zero experience. To get you in the right path, we’ve provided some useful tips below on how you can still find and get a job you want even if you don’t have the experience yet.

Find job opportunities

Many job seekers will be looking for a job listing online or locally, which means there is much more competition when you apply this way. To get ahead of everyone, you may contact companies that you ‘re interested in and see if they have an upcoming position available. By following this tip, you may be able to get a head start above everyone else or better yet, you might get yourself an interview on the spot. Companies are always looking for new staffs or looking for ways to expand, which means they may require more employees.

Find a connection

If you don’t have the required experience, you can tailor your resume by relating your current skills or previous educational or life experiences with the current role. For example, if you’re applying fora position in the travel industry, you may relate your interest in travel or connect your travel experiences and showcase your passion for this role.

Referrals

Ask your friends or family if there’s any job position available in their current workplace. They’ll be able to refer your application to their manager, and you’re more likely to get accepted as the referrals coming from someone they already trust. If you’ve just graduated and you know a friend who has landed a job, you can ask them and see if there’s more position available with their current employer.

Linked In

Polish up your Linked In profile and make use of their ‘easy apply’ system to find a job you’re interested in. The Linked In system will help you save time when applying for jobs. The method is easy and doesn’t require a lot of connections.

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How to work towards a leadership role

Posted on by unemploymentben

leadership

Did you know that many businesses would rather hire someone within the company who may have the potential to be a leader? Hiring someone externally for a leadership role is not always ideal for many business owners as it can be quite challenging. For example, a new person coming into the company will require time to learn and adapt to how the system and culture work within the business. Hiring someone internally is more beneficial as the current employee would already know the ins and out of the company.

If you’re like one of the many employees looking for that leadership role, you may want to look into improving your leadership skills to land the role. You can take a course on a leadership role, or you can work on the skills on your own. Below are some tips on how you can work on improving your leadership skills.

Finding solutions

Leaders are known to be great with finding solutions when a problem arises. They are also strategic when it comes to finding a solution to a problem. You’ll need to apply this kind of mindset to work every day. Another thing that you can do is to do your research when finding solutions.

Handle stress

A leadership role is not an easy job. It involves a lot of managing and decision making. This kind of work can be stressful at times. As a leader, you need to be able to handle the stress at work. It means being able to stay calm and positive when something goes wrong.

Inspire and motivate

Leaders work closely with a group of people. Being able to manage everyone in the team requires skills and communication. One of the important part is also being able to inspire and motivate everyone within the group. It’s also important to acknowledge the hard work of others as this can drive them to work harder.

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Self Employment

Posted on by unemploymentben

Self employment

Self-employment is when an individual decides to start and run their own business. In this digital age, anyone can easily set up their own business and become self-employed. Many people are simply taking advantage of this as there are plenty of tools online that you can use to start your own business. Some people may also decide to go on self-employment due to a lack of sustainable job in the industry while others want to earn more than a minimum wage. But what are the advantages and disadvantages of becoming self-employed?

Advantages

One of the benefits of becoming self-employed is that you are in charge of everything in your business including your time and money. It means that you are your boss and you make the rules. It’s also one of the many reasons why an individual would want to become self-employed.

Being self-employed means you have more flexibility with your time. You will have more time for your family and work on your other passions. You can also work as many hours as you want or take some time off depending on your business.

Disadvantages

When you become self-employed, there’s a higher risk of losing your money. So for example, in case the business isn’t doing well, it’s a possibility that you can end up with no money at all. Overall it is a bit risky, but it depends on your situation. You may want to assess your financial capabilities before venturing to self-employment.

Although you are in charge of your time, you may need to work longer hours to get your business up and running and ensuring you are making a profit by the end of the month. It means working for months until you’re in a position where you are earning enough money and profit from the business.

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Top employability skills

Posted on by employbx

employment

Companies are looking to hire applicants with skills that will help improve the productivity of their business. With so many applicants looking for jobs, it’s critical to acquire skills that companies are looking for. For job seekers, it’s important to be aware of these skills. To increase your chance of employability, you’ll need to acquire the following skills below.

Self-motivation

Employers love to hire people who are self-motivated as they have the skill to carry out the job without being told what to do. They already have the drive to work hard which means they don’t have to be pushed to work hard at their job. This kind of skill is applicable and transferable to any jobs.

Problem-solving

Businesses will always face issues and problems along the way and having someone who can suggest ideas and solutions is an asset to the company. It helps businesses move forward.

Communication skills

Small to large size companies will have a team of people working towards the same goal. In this case, you’ll need to be able to communicate well and effectively with the rest of your team workers.

Adapting

Employers are always looking for people who love to learn and can adapt quickly. People who can adapt easily are more likely to grow and learn faster at their job.

Management skills

No matter what kind of job you’re in, knowing how to manage anything is a great skill to have. Knowing how to handle your tasks in a day to day job shows that you can self-manage without being told what to do.

Initiative

Having an initiative means knowing how to think independently without seeking answers from others. You’ll need to know how to be independent without relying too much on someone else.

Positivity

Employers are looking for people who have a positive outlook on life. Positive people tend to be energetic and enthusiastic.

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Different types of jobs in aviation

Posted on by employbx

pilot

With the recent upsurge of travellers each year, the aviation industry has experienced a massive growth all over the world. One of the foremost beneficiaries of this growth is the UK’s aviation sector, which is second to the U.S.A. In 2002, there are about 200 million travellers who have passed through the UK airports, and this is expected to double by the year 2020 and in the year 2030, projected to reach 500 million travellers.

The UK’s government has set out a 30-year framework to accommodate this growth in the aviation industry. Also, this growth has opened the many opportunities for aviation jobs, providing a bright future for those who are undergoing flight training or aviation training.

• Pilot and Co-pilot

It is the duty of pilots to fly passengers and cargo during long or short haul flights. An aircraft is usually manned by two pilots, the captain and the supporting officer or co-pilot. It is the captain’s duty to look after the safety of his passengers and to operate the aircraft in a safe and efficient manner. In the past, pilots used to get flight training from the military. Nowadays, a majority of newly-hired pilots have earned a university degree and have undergone aviation training from a school that is FAA certified. Some even take type rating courses so they can fly certain aircraft models.

flight crew

• Flight Crew

Flight attendants look after the needs of the passengers, bringing them meals and the newspapers, among others. They explain and demonstrate the standard safety procedures. They also make sure that the plane is clean before and after use. Individuals who are interested in this job should have a secondary education, with good grades in Math and English.

• Aerospace engineer

This is the perfect job for those who are passionate about aircraft. In order to qualify, you need to have excellent skills in Math and IT. You should have the ability to use manufacturing software and computer-aided design. You should also have good technical knowledge. Generally, you should have a degree in Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) or Higher National Diploma (HND) in an engineering subject. If not qualified, there are many apprenticeships and engineering jobs which can get your career to a start, part/ full time, as a degree can be a lengthy process. Having some experience in this field will be a huge advantage over other potential employees.

• Air Traffic Controller

Air traffic controllers have several different duties. For this reason, they usually specialise in one job. They direct planes while on the runaway, control and monitor air traffic, give instructions to pilots before take-off and landing. They monitor entrance and exit of the aeroplane. Therefore, this high paying job entails a high degree of concentration. To qualify, you need a degree in Air Traffic Management and enrol in programmes, which are certified by FAA.

aircraft maintenance

• Aircraft Maintenance
This is another high paying career that requires the applicant to have good technical skills and leadership to head his team. You must be knowledgeable in the brick and mortar of aircraft mechanism and composites including gear engineering, bevel gear design, and precision worm gears. You will also liaise with various suppliers for pilot provisions, aircraft parts, and heat oven treatments for aircraft components. This professional sees to it that his team performs regular maintenance and will strictly follow regulatory guidelines. This maintenance manager, usually, hires and trains his team.

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