The top companies hiring in November 2016

The top companies hiring in November 2016 by Michael Cheary November â€" a month synonymous with fireworks, facial hair, and…jobs? You don’t have to love Roman Candles, or be able to grow a full Fu Manchu, to make the most of the penultimate month of the year. Some of the UK’s top employers are still on the lookout for their ideal hire, and with over 275,000 different jobs available, Christmas could come early for anyone on the lookout for a new opportunity.To help you get your spark back this November, here are five of the top companies you could be working for right now:CoralFor some people, sport is a game of life and death. For other people, it’s a career…At Coral, they’re as mad about sports and gaming as their customers. And whether it’s working in one of their 1800 stores across the UK, in their Gala bingo halls, or in their head office, you’ll get a chance to put that passion into good use â€" every single day.They’ve got a wide range of open positions across the UK, and as full training is provided as you progress, many of them require little or no experience to get started.What they’re really looking for is people who can connect with their customers, and provide an excellent experience every time: win, lose or draw. And with a competitive salary and good career progression on offer (see also: excellent tips), your game isn’t the only thing likely to get raised.Feeling lucky? Apply for a job with Coral today.Locations: Throughout the UKView all jobs with Coral nowDisneyBored of your career? Let It Go…The Walt Disney Company are currently on the lookout for Financial Analysts to work in the happiest place on earth. And by happiest place on earth, we mean Hammersmith.Analysis not your thing? Other available roles in West London include Post Production Support, as well as Programming Planner for the Disney Channel. Which, at the very least, means you’ll finally be able to get your campaign to bring back Lizzie McGuire off the ground.And for anyone looking to tra vel, they’re also recruiting English Language Teachers to work across China, helping children learn a new language through the universal medium of Disney.This life-changing position is perfect for people looking to TEFL, although the lucky applicant will need to have patience in abundance (and/or a complete immunity to Disney songs).Hakuna Matata…*Locations: London and Shanghai.View all jobs with Disney nowMencapFact: an estimated 1.5 million people in the UK are affected by learning disabilities.Mencap is the leading voice for people dealing with these difficulties on a daily basis â€" whether it’s the sufferers themselves, or their families, friends and carers.Their vision is simple: a world where people with learning disabilities are equally valued, listened to and included. And to help them reach that goal, it’s absolutely vital that they’ve got the right people behind them.They’re on the lookout for passionate people all throughout November, in roles ranging from pr oject management and administration, through to service management and support work.Because learning disability has been invisible for too long â€" but you can help make sure it finally becomes impossible to ignore.Looking for more than ‘just a job’? Make a difference with Mencap today.Locations: Throughout the UKView all jobs with Mencap nowMullerLight on experience? Career got you Cornered? Other, incredibly witty Muller-related references?OK, there’s more to working for the one of the world’s best-selling yogurt brands than making a few dairy-based jokes. Muller pride themselves on their people, and whether you’re working in an operational role, driving and delivery, or in production, hard work and dedication is all part and parcel the role.In other words, only the cream of the crop need apply.Currently, they’ve got roles available right across the UK, with opportunities to suit all skillsets and levels of experience. Just make sure you’ve throughouly read the job d escription before applying. Because Muller make Corners â€" they don’t cut them.N.B. Yogurt puns not an essential part of the jobLocations: Throughout the UKView all jobs with Muller nowRoyal MailSome careers don’t just sound great. They actually deliver.Royal Mail is the UK’s designated Universal Postal Service Provider, making sure over 29 million addresses get their post delivered straight to their door, six days a week.With Christmas around the corner, they’re about to get even busier, meaning their current recruitment drive is focussed on finding people to fill the gap over the festive period. There are also a number of permanent positons on offer, if you’re looking for something a little longer term.And as many of the positions are based in their warehouses and sorting offices, you’ll be directly responsible for spreading Christmas cheer across the country (AKA cards, presents, and other glad-tiding-type things).Basically, it’ll be kind of like that scene out of Elf. Although, hopefully with a lot less ‘syrup’.Royal Mail jobs: signed, sealed, delivered â€" they’re yours.Locations: Throughout the UKView all jobs with Royal Mail now*It means no worries.  Still searching for your perfect position?  View all of our current vacancies nowFind 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. Features

How to Write a Professional Resume Cover Letter Example

How to Write a Professional Resume Cover Letter ExampleIt is important to have a resume cover letter that is professional and fits the requirements of your intended employer. Your application letters should be updated with your career goals, current skills, achievements and awards. If you have any past or future endeavors, this will also help give an overview of your abilities.For instance, a cover letter example that shows a strong understanding of statistics and grammar is more likely to get a response than one with errors in spelling and grammar. All employers prefer people who are literate and well educated. Your cover letter should be informative and helpful to the reader, not boring and difficult to understand.A resume cover letter should exhibit professionalism as well as a professional appearance. This covers a lot of bases. A letter which contains errors or an offensive manner could reflect poorly on you. The information should be brief and to the point.The outline should be legible and short, but there should be enough room to display a picture or a few paragraphs if the needs arise. A resume cover letter should be appealing and pleasing to the eyes. They should be concise and to the point, including details that the reader should see immediately.The structure of a resume cover letter example is very important. There should be an introduction at the top followed by a thank you paragraph and the conclusion. Your summary should match the situation and they should be relevant to the job being offered.In addition, there should be a bullet list at the end of the resume cover letter example. This will help your cover letter stand out from the rest of the pack. The rest of the resume should consist of your contact information such as the name, address, phone number and email address.Once your resume cover letter example is finished, the rest of the information is up to you. You can add in more information, but it is always nice to have a professional resume that shows off your skills and abilities. You should also provide in depth information about your hobbies and personal interests.Your resume cover letter example should be professional, clearly written and understandable. If you follow the guidelines listed above, you will be on your way to landing that dream job.

Answering The Tough Interview Questions

Answering The Tough Interview Questions Lets face it.  When youre unemployed, looking for a job, facing interview questions is stressful enough.  Even if you already have a job and are just looking for something better, or you are unexpected questions can really throw you off.  And there goes the opportunity as you stumble through an answer. We all learned long ago that preparation is critical.  Over-prepare, some experts even say.  Even so,  what do you do when youve made it to third base in the interview, and the interviewer throws a curve ball?   Preparation is still key, but being able to quickly adapt your rehearsed responses is what makes the difference.  Weve assembled these resources of the best tips, tricks, and responses to help you ace the interview.  Here they are: Hit Me With Your Best Shot Whats the worst they can throw at you?  Apparently, there is no limit, and nothing is out of bounds.  Part of the reason that you might hear  really bizarre interview questions is that they want to see how well and how quickly you can handle unexpected situations.  That said, here are some actual recent questions thrown at applicants: Would you rather fight 1 horse-sized duck, or 100 duck-sized horses?  When a hot dog expands, in which direction does it split and why?  What would you do if you found a penguin in the freezer? Yes, believe it or not, those questions were really asked.  GlassDoor  lists them and several others along with who the offending company was.  How to handle them?  A Better Interview says: Get creative and have fun. This is your chance to break the interview mold and have some fun. At the end of the day, there is no right or wrong answer to any of these interview questions; it’s all about your reaction, which we discussed above. Keep your responses positive and stay away from anything negative. As we already shown you above in the examples, while it is okay to think, “what a stupid question”, do not say it! Refer to the above approach. Have fun with it and tell a joke maybe. Don’t shrug your shoulders. Next to the negative response, saying “I don’t know”, is just as bad. This is interviewing 101. Never say, “I don’t know” to any question ever! Check out even more oddball questions and coaching on answers at A Better Interview. Exam Prep 101 Lets step back a minute.  Sometimes, it helps to re-frame whats going on.  Weve all prepared for some pretty tough exams in our lives.  The SAT, ACT,  and LSAT were not exactly the casual Friday pop quiz.  But we did well because we prepared. The internet is full of lists of the top ten, twenty, or twenty-five interview questions.  Prepare with those, and youll likely get a passing grade.  Which, in todays competitive job world, isnt good enough.  So why approach the job interview with any less fervor than you did the college entrance exams?  If youve found the job you really want, study and rehearse all the questions until you can give an oscar-worthy answer. The most extensive list Ive found is Winning Answers to 500 Interview Questions, which was published in 2014.  Its a couple years old so the latest in the interviewers arsenal may not be there.  Just published (May 2016) is 101 Job Interview Questions Youll Never Fear Again by James Reed.  He breaks possible interview questions down into classic, career goal, character, and competency categories.  More importantly, though, he gets into the nuts and bolts of the interview.  What makes the interviewer tick and what his or her motivations are.  Even though he presents fewer questions, the thoughtful insights are extremely valuable in preparing for virtually any interview and any set of interview questions.  Its a must-read. Ace the Test: Anticipate the Interview Questions Think about how much time the average person puts into interview preparation compared to prep for a college exam.  Its crazy when you consider that college is four years . . . and your professional life spans decades.  Why not put in the time and effort to be at the top of the applicant heap and finally land that job youve dreamed of? Oh, and if you already landed that dream job, and now you are in charge of media relations, its just as important to be prepared! Images: Penguin Popofatticus   Interview Room Bill Strain

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Job Loss You Could Be Next

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Job Loss You Could Be Next If youre feeling a little uptight about your job these days, youre not alone. And if youre not feeling a little uptight, you should be.Thats because the employment figures released last week werent so hot. Those lost jobs the first time thats happened in four years comes on the heels of a lousy housing market and continuing costly overseas military actions.Of course, the more optimistic among you will cite the good retail sales figures and the strong corporate profits as signs that things will again be good, and that youve got no reason to be worried.Are you absolutely sure about that? Well, if so, then continue on your merry way and dont worry about tomorrow. But for those of you who are concerned that your job may be threatened (remember, companies keep those profits high by using employees as commodities), then its time to take stock and prepare.While Ive covered some of these in my What To Do When You Lose a Job posting, Id like to beef it up a bit. Even if you feel like your j ob is safe, youd be foolish to turn your nose up at these opportunities that will not only benefit your job now, but help you should the pink slip be in the next paycheck:1. Attend the next professional event. Youve been putting this off because, frankly, youre so exhausted after work the last thing you want to do is talk business and eat stale pretzels while trying to remember some guys name you met a year ago. Go to the next event and not only should you learn everyones name, but come away with at least three new contacts. Is your industry vulnerable to the ripples going on now in the economy? Are other companies already making noises about layoffs? What are other professionals in your industry seeing at their companies?2. Do some snooping. Get to know the bosss executive assistant if you dont already. Get friendly enough to take him or her to lunch or meet for a drink after work. Is this assistant hearing anything about the boss being told to tighten the budget? Is the boss or t he bosss boss thinking of jumping ship? What departments are scheduled for new training, and who is being cut off from decision-making?3. Start blogging. Make sure its OK with your company policy first, but this is a good chance to set yourself up as an expert in your area. Post important information from other sites, and refer readers to other places for information. Even if you arent allowed to blog about your job, find other bloggers in your industry and post comments. This is a good way to become known for your knowledge and expertise.4. Know whats being said about you online. You want to make sure that what is being presented about you online does not give a company the excuse its looking for to get rid of you. Remove anything questionable, and ask friends to remove photos or descriptions that make you look or sound like a total moron or dangerous human being.5. Know where the jobs are. Make sure you understand not only what youre worth, but what areas of the country (or world ) are hiring people with your skills and abilities. Constantly assess your network and how up-to-date you are on current trends, how fast you could hit the ground running for a new employer. If youre lacking in an area, dont wait get the training either through your company or on your own.Remember, you want to make sure youve got a game plan in place before you see someone from security standing by your desk with a cardboard box. Waiting until you and everyone else from your company is filing out the door with those boxes could mean that you should have heeded this warning in the first place.

How to Choose a Resume and CV Writing Service

How to Choose a Resume and CV Writing ServiceIf you are looking for a resume and CV writing service, there are many choices available to you. The market is flooded with a variety of companies who claim to be able to meet your CV needs, but it can be difficult to know which company to turn to.To make sure that you hire the best provider for an effective CV writer, you should follow a few steps. You should identify the goals you have for your professional future, and the services you would like to attain from a writing service. Following these steps will help you find the CV writing service that is best suited to your requirements.One of the most important factors to consider when selecting a company is their experience. The experience of a CV writing service is often measured by their experience with applying for positions in the past. By conducting research on the work history of a company, you can ascertain whether they have previously provided services to other clients. On the othe r hand, a company's reputation is also a critical factor. A writer with a good reputation will be able to deliver what you need.Check if the writing service has a history of giving the type of service you are seeking. There are several sites on the Internet that provide detailed information about a particular writing service. Conducting a thorough research will help you to know the kind of writing service you require.Once you are clear about the kind of service you need, then you can move ahead to select the best CV writing service from among those who are listed on the site. Comparing CV writers is very important, as this will enable you to choose the one that can meet your particular needs and expectations.Another important feature to look for in a CV writing service is whether or not they provide customisable letters. This is a feature that is particularly advantageous to professionals who will be applying for top-level executive positions. It makes sense to contact a CV writing service that offers customised letter services.A number of CV writing services offer services such as editing and proofreading for a fee. Therefore, you can combine your writing needs with editing services. The CV writing service will edit your work and provide you with the results you need.You can search the Internet for a CV writing service that provides services such as editing and proofreading. Make sure you conduct research to ensure that you hire the best writer who is willing to work with you to meet your expectations.

Get More Productive Using Sound

Get More Productive Using Sound Having high levels of productivity are important when you are trying to reach goals at work, as well as staying focused on those goals.Sound can directly affect your levels of productivity â€" both positively and negatively. Yet, if you can find the right types of sound, you will be able to tap into your most productive state so you can get stuff done.Science of Sound and ProductivityevalWhen you are trying to focus on a task at work, environmental sounds are often the most distracting. This type of sound distraction is where many people find they begin to lose their productivity.evalWhen your focus is interrupted by copy machines, office traffic and chit chat, ringing phones, You should also find a pair of headphones that properly fit. Stopping to adjust your headphones or the headphone cords can be just as distracting, if not worse, than the background noises you are trying to block out in the first place. Fussing over your headphones is bound to decrease your focus and therefore y our productivity so be sure to find a comfortable and suitable pair of headphones.Have you recently started to use sound as a way to increase your productivity? What sounds do you find help you the most?Let us know which sounds help keep your focus and productivity levels at their highest by commenting below. Sharing what works for you may help others find what they need to keep their focus and productivity.

How to Ace a Competency-Based Job Interview

How to Ace a Competency-Based Job Interview Competency based interviews are an increasingly common type of interview where the interviewer asks questions about your approach to work, rather than your actual experience. This can feel very counterintuitive â€" particularly if you have substantial experience of working within a field â€" but answered well these questions provide you with a lot of opportunity to showcase your strengths and share your successes. Ed Mellet failed employers’ assessment tests over and over before securing the job he wanted. From that experience, Mellet, now an entrepreneur and careers professional, launched PracticeReasoningTests to teach job applicants to successfully complete the reasoning tests they are likely to face. I asked Ed for his recommendations on taking competency-based interview tests. What is a competency-based test? In a competency-based interview each candidate will be asked the same questions, in the same order, and the interviewer will usually assess the candidate’s responses against a set of specific criteria. This makes the competency-based interview fairer and more predictive of future workplace success than a traditional unstructured interview. Typical questions might be something like: Tell me about a time when you worked collaboratively with others Tell me about a time when you had to manage a number of conflicting deadlines Tell me about a time when you had to influence someone Why are they used? Competency-based interviews are based on the idea that the best predictor of future behaviour/performance is how the individual has behaved/performed in the past. These interviews help assessors understand how candidates are likely to approach particular situations and to explore whether that approach is likely to be successful within their organization. They are particularly effective for distinguishing candidates who, on paper, all appear to have the ability to do the job. They are also useful for jobs where candidates may not have a lot of experience in a similar role, such as graduate schemes, as they allow candidates to share examples from all areas of life. What are competencies? A competency is an ability to do something, like communicate effectively or work with others. For example: Competency: Decision Making Definition: The ability to make sound decisions, drawing upon relevant information, in a timely manner. Competencies are then turned into interview questions and specific behaviours or success criteria are identified. For “Decision Making,” the question might be: Question: Tell me about a time you had to make a difficult decision. Success Criteria: Makes use of available data to inform their decision Considers the pros and cons of a number of options Arrived at a logical and sensible conclusion Consulted with others Was prepared to be responsible and accountable for making the decision Made the decision within an appropriate timeframe How should I prepare? In some ways competency-based interviews are relatively easy to prepare for because they required you to talk about your previous experiences. They do not try to catch you out or ask questions that are not relevant to the role. However, to set yourself up for success, it is still important to prepare properly, here are some ideas for how you can do this: -Find out what competencies you will be assessed against. If you know what competencies you will be assessed against you can start thinking about these in advance. The best way of doing this is to look at the Job Description for the role and identify likely or explicit competencies they contain. It might also be worth contacting the HR team and asking them if they are able to provide a list of the competencies and definitions for the role. -Familiarize yourself with the concept of competencies and explore how competencies tend to be defined and assessed. The best way of doing this is to do a google search. This is particularly effective if you know what competency you will be assessed against. This should provide you with a number of examples of competencies, an idea of what the success criteria might look like, and even examples of good and bad responses to typical questions. You should tailor your response to try to meet these success criteria. -Explore what poor examples might look like. Often, the marking criteria for competency-based interviews include examples of both good and bad responses. For example, for the competency “working with others,” a good response might include “asking others what they think and proactively seeking to involve others in the discussion,” while a bad response might be “dominates the conversation, unwilling to allow others to speak, and dismissive of their contributions.” This will give you an idea of the sorts of things you need to avoid in your answers. -Make a list of all of your major successes. Competency-based interviews are great because they allow you to talk about the things you’ve done well in the past. Make a list of these â€" ideally you should be able to create themes around the competencies you identified earlier. Remember, the example needs to show your thought process and how you approached the situation, and while ideally the more impressive the scenario the better, don’t discount smaller, more everyday examples if they allow you to demonstrate the competency. Where possible, these should be within the last two years because this means you will remember enough of the details. -Practice. The more you practice the better you will perform. Ask a trusted friend or family member to quiz you around your examples and make sure you are comfortable talking them through. Tips for interview success: Use the STAR technique to structure your answers. This stands for Situation, Task, Action and Results. This ensures you deliver a sequential, structured, and concise response that is clear for the hiring manager to follow. Create a hard copy of your list of successes and take it with you. This competency-based interview is not a test of memory and there is nothing worse than going blank and being unable to think of anything to say in response to a question. Having your list there to refer to will help you perform at your best. Expect probing questions. The assessors will ask probing questions to get a greater level of insight into what exactly you did. For example, “why did you do that?” or “what were your considerations?” You should expect to be quizzed in greater detail about anything you might mention. Watch for cues. Watch your assessors to get a feel for how the interview is going. If the assessor has stopped making notes that tends to be a bad sign. If the interviewer is trying to say something, make sure you let them â€" you may have gone off track and they are trying to help you out. Ask “did that answer your question?” Make it clear what you did. Avoid talking about “we” and emphasise your contribution and approach. Remember to prepare for other aspects of the selection process. Often, competency-based interviews are only part of an assessment processes that might also involve assessment centres or psychometric tests. Don’t focus on the interview and lose sight of these; practicing psychometric tests is important too. Join Dana Manciagli’s Job Search Master Class ® now and get the most comprehensive job search system available!

Questions You Should Ask During Your Job Interview

Questions You Should Ask During Your Job Interview Most of the time, a job interview will consist of you answering questions. But most interviewers will also ask if you have any questions, and its a good idea to be prepared to ask the right kind. You dont have to use my phrasing, but think through why these questions are good to ask and how you can ask something similar: The job description cites these responsibilities. How are those responsibilities filled in a typical workday? This gives you an idea about the work load and expectations involved. What do you hope to see this position accomplish for your company? A question like this gives you an opportunity to hear what their goals are for this particular job and get an idea of the long term plans you will be a part of. Is there any reason you think I might have trouble accomplishing your goals for this job? This is a scary question to ask, but it will let you address their concerns and possibly correct misconceptions they may have about you. I see from the mission statement that you value creativity. How does this position employ creativity in meeting that goal? This is a sample questionwhat matters is your display of knowledge about the company and their goals. You can use recent press statements, mission statements, or anything that shows you cared enough about the job to learn more about it and think about how you will do it. Is this a newly created position or one that has been in place?  An established job description for a position that has been in place usually has a lot of support in place, too. Theyve figured out what works and you just slip into the spot and carry on. You can ask if the previous worker moved into another position, if you will be part of a team, etc. But a newly created position is fuzzier because the bugs havent been worked out yet. You can ask what the problems were that led to the creation of the position and how flexible the job description will be as you work on fixing them, for instance. If the idea of asking questions like these fills you with fear, consider something like our career coaching services  to help you prepare. You can choose a packaged deal or a la carte coaching and use the investment to gain the confidence to interact with ease. A coach helps you learn what you need to know and improve the skills you already have to be the best candidate for the job you want.