Bad Spelling: If you’ve seen my CV tips, you’ll already know I’m not a fan of spelling mistakes, and I can guarantee that potential employers aren’t either. Spelling mistakes are vastly obvious and are so easily avoided! Use a dictionary, use the spell checker on your computer and ask someone to check it. Don’t let something this easy be the reason not to get your dream job.

Lying: You might think that by showering your CV with A grades and made up skills will make you stand out from the crowd, but it is not worth the consequences. The main thing to realise is that you will always be found out, one way or another. Employers can check anything you write on your CV and even if you do secure that job, don’t expect to stay in it for long! If you have to lie, perhaps it’s worth asking yourself why, and doing something about it. If you feel let down by your grades, why not take a course? Remember there are always options without the need to be dishonest.

False References: Don’t pad out your CV with fake jobs with your friends acting as the management team. This is again something employers will check out, as referees can play a big role in the employment process. Companies asking for references will most likely expect a reply on headed paper or with a company stamp, so don’t make up your referees!

Review your contact details: What email address have you given as a contact? It may seem like a small thing but if you submit your CV, and ask to be contacted at lazyboy15@hotmail.com it doesn’t exactly give the right impression, does it?! If you don’t have an address without some embarrassing revelation about your personal life, then it will take you five minutes to create a new, free account with one of the web based clients.

Check out tomorrow's blog for the conclusion to my list of things to avoid on your CV.

Tell us a bit about yourself...
This will most likely be the first question you are asked at an interview. It gives you a chance to highlight your achievements and skills in both a personal and professional capacity. Give details of your educational and work achievements and also your reasons for pursuing this job role; what gave you an interest in the subject, as this will identify your passion. Don’t talk for too long but ensure that you are giving the employer a real insight into your strengths, as this is the perfect opportunity to shine. It is important to keep the job you are applying for in mind, and tailor your responses to the requirements of the job.

How would your friends/ co-workers describe you?
This question enables you to highlight the qualities about yourself that you are most proud of. Use positive words and phrases and if possible, tie them in to match the job you are going for. Things such as being a hard worker, reliable and trustworthy are all valuable skills that you could bring to a workplace.

Why do you want to work here?
‘I need a job’ may be the worst possible thing you could say at this point. This is your opportunity to show the employer you have done your homework. Find out as much as you can beforehand about the company, what their mission statement is, what values they uphold and what goals they wish to achieve. You should be able to find this information on the company website, especially the ‘About Us’ section. Tell the employer what you hope to achieve within the company, what you think you can do to help them achieve their goals and emphasise why you have the skills to be able to undertake this task.

What are your strengths?
Ensure that you give examples that are really relevant to the post you are applying for. Things such as ability to work well under pressure, being quick to learn new things, and particular computer skills you may possess are all useful strengths for any job. Be prepared to think of examples of when you have displayed these skills, as the employer may ask you to demonstrate an example.

What are your weaknesses?
There are two things to remember when approaching this question. The first, and most important fact, is to ensure that the weaknesses you discuss are not vital to the job in question. Try to identify a weakness that you are taking active steps to improve. For example, ‘I did not feel I was particularly competent using this IT software, but I have taken steps outside of work to improve this by researching and learning in my own time.’ This will show that you are capable of identifying your own faults but also emphasises your ability to self-improve.

Figures out this week show that graduates will face their toughest year yet, as unemployment hits over 2 million, according to statistics reported by the BBC from the ONS (Office for National Statistics).

Jobcentre figures suggest that for every vacancy they advertise, there are over 10 applicants for each position.

So what does the future hold for our next batch of graduates in the working world? Is this putting doubt in the mind of students everywhere about whether a University education is worthwhile?

The job market is a lot tougher for all jobseekers this year because of the economic downturn. With redundancies on the rise and businesses going into administration on a daily basis, it is a very competitive atmosphere.

The numbers of graduates admitted to graduate programmes across certain industries are in decline, and some employers are limiting their allocation of graduates to only the very top universities.

Although speculation always occurs that if you’re the last in, you’ll be first for the chopping block; this is not necessarily the case. It’s about skills, what you can bring to the job and how valuable you are for the company.

Before you start ripping up your degree in despair, check these out:

The Guardian reported that supermarket chain Aldi have significantly increased their intake of graduates due to the success of the low cost supermarket in the current climate. Recruits of Aldi’s graduate development programme can expect starting salaries of up to 40,000.

McDonalds actively publicised their 18 week management development programme for graduates at the start of January, emphasising that the fast food giants are not feeling the impact of the recession.

1 in 4 graduate programmes running in 2009 will pay starting salaries of 30,000 or higher.

Although graduates have suffered job scarcity in the private sector, the public sector is thriving. Civil servants, nurses, local education authority workers and teachers are all escaping the impacts of recession, relatively unscathed.  

The ONS stats suggest that whilst wages in the private sector are down, public sector workers are enjoying an increase of up to £14 in their average weekly earnings compared to January 2008.

The public sector is also continuing to create new job opportunities for people whilst the private sector has been forced to downsize the workforces in many industries.

What can you do?

‘The early bird catches the worm’- No matter how clichéd the phrase, it’s true! Get applying now; don’t wait until you graduate to line up your career. It might be the last thing you want to think about while you’re snowed under with dissertations and revision, but applying for jobs now will pay off. Don’t wait until after your exams or you might find yourself disappointed.

Review your CV and interview technique. Your University will undoubtedly have a great careers service; they will be able to give you advice, look at your CV and even give you a mock interview to see how you fare. So, instead of procrastinating from that Chaucer essay by watching Hollyoaks or surfing Facebook, get down to the careers office and find out how they can help you. And of course check out my blogs for all the advice you could ever need!

Being at University might have solidified your career decisions for you, but it doesn’t hurt to broaden your horizons. So you want to be a journalist, but have you thought about PR, Marketing, Online editing, copy editing? etc. The more areas you can apply to, the better.

Have you thought about further study? If you’re dedicated and passionate to a particular career, why not harness your skills even further by taking up a masters, teaching qualification, vocational course etc.

Although the media statistics seem bleak, this is not true for industries across the board. There will always be industries that are hit hard, and some that don’t feel the impact.

There are plenty of University courses that put students on year/half year work placements. This gives students the opportunity to network, explore career options and can often lead to job prospects upon graduating.

University is not only a great place for improving your qualifications; it gives you life experience, the opportunity to make new friends and have a lot of fun.

So don’t give up on University, there’s life in the old dog yet!

A few weeks ago the Comic Relief special whetted my appetite for the imminent arrival of the new series of The Apprentice. I enjoyed watching the emergence of the swap belt, those shiny little plastic figures waiting to be swallowed by many a 5 year old child. The cast of celebrities were amusing and surprisingly the conflicts were kept to a minimum, with only Patsy Palmer of Eastenders fame paying homage to her craft by throwing a temporary spanner into the works of the girl’s team.

I turned on the new series last night, and had to check I was on the right channel. Bickering, bitching and mindless questions about the use of a feather duster met my eardrums, and I had to check I hadn’t somehow tuned in to an episode of Big Brother by mistake.

The task at hand, a simple cleaning task, was undertaken with such lack of skill and forethought that I was left dumfoundedly goggling at my television set. Are you seriously telling me that out of 15 educated business men and women, with degrees and experience falling out of their ears, that not one of them can clean a car to an acceptable standard? And don’t get me started on the equipment debacle! The whole episode had the effect of making me want to bang my head against the wall with despair, at the future of the educated masses.

There was nothing innovative, clever or useful achieved by either of the teams, and their negotiating skills were downright appalling.

The whole show did get me thinking, as Alan Sugar repeatedly made reference to the repertoire of skills that had adorned their CVs. What these 15 candidates have proved, is the importance of a fantastic CV. But what they appeared to lack was the follow through. There’s no point indicating how business minded you are, how many years of experience you have, what you got in your degree; if you can’t show the employer any of this when in the job.

The Apprentice certainly didn’t provide me with the level of entertainment I had hoped, but what it did highlight is the necessity to be able to back up your skills with err, actual skills! So when you’re writing your CV and telling your employer how great you are, think of poor Anita, the first to be booted out of the boardroom- can you do all the things you say you can? And will you make a good impression on your first day?

Ok, so you’ve sorted out your CV and they want you back for an interview. Here at FreeMyCV.com we’ve rustled up some tips to make sure you look as good as your CV...

Research: It is important to research the company before you go to the interview. Find out about their history, what they believe to be their mission statement, how the company works and what exactly they do. This is a very common question in an interview, so do your homework!

Familiarise yourself with your CV: Make sure you know your CV inside and out; you should do anyway, but giving it some extra time will only make you more prepared. The interviewer will ask you about certain aspects of your CV so be ready to explain previous jobs, why you may have job gaps and any special qualifications in more detail.

Ask Questions: In the interview there will be an opportunity for you to ask the interviewer any questions you may have. Whatever you can find out beforehand that you might want to know is always useful, but don’t be afraid to ask questions. Think of a few insightful questions before you go in, and if they haven’t been answered in the interview, ask! It will show that you are interested and thinking ahead.

Body Language: You might feel like a bag of nerves, but you don’t have to show it. Eye contact is important as it emphasises confidence. Try and avoid sitting with your arms and legs folded as this creates a negative impression. It might be the kind of thing your mum would tell you but it is sterling advice, so sit up, don’t slouch and you’ll instantly look more professional!

Know your weaknesses: You should be able to reel off a list of your strengths but your weaknesses? Not really the kind of thing you want to admit to your new employer, right?! The key is to find things that are not directly related to the job you are applying for. You must be honest in identifying your weaknesses, but always emphasise that you have taken steps to improve on these things. If you tell your interviewer you have no weaknesses, they won’t believe you!
 

Remember, no amount of organisation is too much, if it means securing your perfect job!