It’s only older, more traditional businesses that still entertain speculative job applications now, but it’s still worth the effort. If you’re out of work, you probably have the time to spare to collect some email and physical addresses of likely employers. The internet and Yellow Pages are the perfect tools for this, and a little work can get you a long list of possibilities. Don’t restrict the list to employers who you haven’t seen job advertisements ...

For the vast majority of jobs out there, the only way to get them is to apply in the standard manner. Having a polished CV, great covering letter and selling yourself the traditional way. However, if you have niche skills, there are other ways of being noticed. Here are some examples of people who took their fates into their own hands and got themselves noticed. First up is a video game enthusiast who got himself noticed by ...

There are a few basic rules for writing a great covering letter whether it’s on paper or online. We’ll cover some of them here. Always address the letter to someone. If a name wasn’t provided, get one. Email or telephone the agency, or company. It’s a small point, but an extremely important one. Keep the letter concise. It should be around 300-400 words, or a single side of A4 paper. It should be relatively formal, without being ...

A video CV is designed to work with a traditional document, but provide more exposure on the internet. You still need a killer CV, but you should also consider making a video version too. There are some points to consider when planning one though, and we’re going to cover some here. If you haven’t made a home movie before, these will make the difference between success and failure. Consider the picture. To make an effective video CV, ...

Writing CV’s is a formulaic exercise. There is a prescribed format, and it’s wise to stick with that. Unless you’re a graphic designer going for design jobs, keep it plain, keep it simple. That means no fancy layouts, no images, and no unusual file formats. While Word can be a bit bland, agencies certainly prefer to receive CVs in .doc format. They don’t like PDF because they can’t copy and paste properly to add you to ...