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It's that time of year again where office parties loom on the horizon. An event to look forward to and dread in equal measure, with colleague faux pas certain to be on the increase with alcohol added into the mix. Read our top tips on how to survive this festive season without getting your worst present yet; your p45.

Be in it to Win it.

The idea of spending an evening with your boss and your colleagues might seem like your worst nightmare, but it is always worth making the effort to attend. Your Christmas party might turn out to be the perfect opportunity to make new office allies, strengthen existing relationships and may even help patch up old war wounds between you and the one who always manages to wind you up in the office. If the event in question is really not your thing, find a reason not to stay too long and bow out early; your colleagues will appreciate the effort and you'll be seen as a team player.

Loosen up but don't Lose Control.

It is highly likely that you will be in the company of alcohol at your office party. Even more temptingly, it could be free flowing and free of cost. There's no harm in a little bit of indulgence but the key thing to remember is to avoid getting really drunk. Become too intoxicated and you run the risk of embarrassing yourself and behaving inappropriately; not something to do in front of your boss. Make Monday morning bearable, stay merry and know your limits.

Dress Appropriately.

Avoid unwanted attention at your work do by keeping exposed flesh to a minimum. Men: don't unbutton your shirts too far, while women should stay away from short skirts and low cut tops. Dress comfortably and appropriately for the occasion.

Avoid those Cringe-worthy Colleague Kisses.

Alcohol + Work Colleagues = the potential for alcohol-fuelled office flings ; this is certain to be a bad idea. Avoid making a move on a colleague, you may end up damaging office relationships and making your working life less enjoyable as a result.

Know the Social/Work Balance

It is important to remember the company you are keeping; no matter how friendly the banter and how relaxed you feel, these are your work colleagues and there are boundaries. Don't bitch about colleagues or other members of the business and avoid making controversial statements. Remember to conduct yourself in a way that would befit the office, rather than with the lads down the pub.

Most importantly, make sure to Enjoy Yourself. You deserve it after this year's hard work!

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Job seeking has gone mobile. I'm sure most people must have that memo by now, but what does it mean for job seekers and how can you use mobile job search apps to your advantage? Here are some of the basics to keep you at the top of your game:

1. Job Seeking on-the-go

So what's so great about job seeking on your mobile? Well frankly, what isn't? It's discreet; you only have to shield your mobile screen from prying eyes, which makes it a lot easier to do some sneaky job hunting on the sly. It's convenient; mobile apps use the power of your mobile data plan, meaning you are no longer confined to a computer or a train with Wi-Fi.

Best of all? It allows you to break up your oh so boring job hunting into manageable bite-sized chunks of time, so you don't go completely crackers. If you have a spare five minutes here and there, just tap, and away you go! If you're job hunting in those tiny nuances of time where you wouldn't normally be doing anything, it feels like a win; because we all know how exhausting job hunting can be, when you'd rather be doing ANYTHING else.

2. Save your Searches.

"So instead of having to get my head around jobs websites on computers, which can be confusing and unclear at the best of times, I now have the added trial of doing it in miniature; am I missing something here?!"

Yes, indeed angry job seeker, you are missing something. Everything to be exact. Mobile job search applications have streamlined the job seeking process so that a user will only be faced with things they truly need, namely, the job search. And what's more, the ability to save your searches means that you can keep your keystrokes to a minimum, just set up your criteria, and tap once to repeat. Simple.

3. Stay Ahead with Job Alerts

One of the key advantages to mobile job search has to be the ability to receive new jobs to your mobile. Different applications will handle this differently, whether offering you a 'push' notification service, which will make new jobs appear in your notification bar, jobs by email or perhaps even jobs via text; but the outcome is the same, you get the info you need as soon as it's available. If you're dream job gets posted, you'll be the first to know, putting you in a great position to prepare to apply.

4. Stay Smart with In-App Advice.

A good job search application will not only have created an all-singing, all-dancing job search for their users to enjoy, but they will also have added handy little features such as mobile job seeking advice. Use the mobile job advice section to ensure you feel confident about nailing that interview. If you're going to write a job application when you get home from work, why not browse the article on job applications whilst waiting for your bus?

5. The Cost of Job Hunting

"All this app business sounds expensive. I've just shelled out a small fortune for this whizzy 'Smart' phone and now you want me to spend even more money so I can find a new job?!"

The great news is, you can save all your pocket money for [insert popular paid for app here]. Job search apps like allthetopbananas.com are completely free to download and use, the only thing you will truly need to get started is a working mobile internet connection, so your app can find those all-important vacancies online.

Download a job search app today and go mobile!

Job Search Links:

For Android
For iPhone

Want to know what really grinds an employer's gears? FreeMyCV.com has been asking employers to name their biggest job application no-nos. Here are the top 5:

1.  Lengthy Covering Letters.

What we say: You're writing a covering letter, not the sequel to War and Peace, so our advice is keep it short and relevant to the job you are applying for.

What employers say: "Relevance is key when it comes to a covering letter, and a good application will closely reference details from the job advertised. Even a well written covering letter can be ruined by its length, so aim for no more than half a page of focused writing." 

2. 'Over-styling' a CV.

What we say: Nothing can irritate an employer more than over ambitious use of fonts and styling on a CV. It is important to relay the right message; adopt a sensible tone for your CV by choosing standard fonts such as Arial or Times New Roman and simple layouts. In the same way that you wouldn't write a work email in pink using Comic Sans, think about how your CV will be perceived when the employer receives it.

What employers say: "I once received a CV which was mounted on cardboard, it was cumbersome, completely irrelevant and just put me off before I'd read a word. There are far better ways to stand out than through unusual presentation gimmicks."

3.  Annotating a CV.

What we say: This is an oddly common occurrence for employers receiving CVs. Crossing out old mobile numbers or addresses and scrawling new ones will make a candidate look rushed or just plain lazy. If your details have changed, take the time to change them on screen and print a fresh copy. Your handwritten notes won't impress an employer.

What employers say: "One CV I was sent recently didn't have handwriting but it did use two styles of font; one standard and one that was meant to look like handwritten text. One example of this was next to the candidate's mobile number- the handwritten-style text read:  'If you like what you read, give me a call!'  Not only did it not add anything to the CV, but it actually took my attention away from the skills and experience on the page and gave me a bad feeling about the candidate."

4.  Keeping your CV too Brief.

What we say: Keeping your CV concise is something that is often advised when CV writing; anything longer than two pages could highlight that a CV has not been tailored to the job, and may mean the employer has to work hard to find the candidate's relevant experience. On the flip side, a CV with no elaboration, unexplained job roles and a lack of insight into a candidate's achievements will make it difficult for an employer to know whether the candidate is worth interviewing.

What employers say: "If a candidate doesn't want to tell me what I need to know, then it makes the decision really easy. A pile of CVs with clear, carefully eloborated points will always win over ones that leave me with a lot of questions. There is a fine line between being concise and too brief; make sure you say enough."

5. Irrelevant Hobbies.

What we say: A hobbies and interests section on your CV is not required, but if done correctly, may add value; especially if you haven't had much work experience. If you are going to include hobbies, keep them as relevant as you can, avoiding information like "I enjoy going clubbing with friends."

 What employers say: "An employer will never make a judgement based primarily on your hobbies, but it doesn't hurt to be selective. Think about the things you like to do and what impression that might give, if you can see any negative connotations surrounding your hobby of choice; leave it out."

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This idiom has been circulating around office workplaces since the dawn of clutter; as the tidy elite cast their judgements over the 'organised chaos' of office mess harbourers. So what exactly does it mean? The phrase refers to the claim by the 'superior' tidy people, that their organisation provides them in good stead for the working day, that tidiness prevails when it comes to productivity, allowing them to think straight, work efficiently and basically run rings around those workers with desks piled high with disorganised mounds of papers and rubbish.

Deskitis- As it has come to be known refers to the mantra of the clutterers: 'Dump Everything Seldom Keep It Tidy' and is a problem said to be affecting more and more workplaces...

The Verdict

So does a tidy desk really = a tidy mind? I put on my intrepid reporter hat and went to find out. After much stealthy detective work around the FreeMyCV office I finally found my subject: A serial mess junkie with an overdue date with a recycling bin. Here's what he had to say about his mess-making and its effect on productivity...

Me: Hi there, I can't help but notice the spectacular array of objects on your desk; it truly is an amazing feat, if you don't mind me saying.

Subject A: I don't know what you mean?! (The caginess and his frowny demeanour suggests that he is in one of the more advanced stages of deskitis, the defensive, protective-over-the-mess stage; this means it may be too late to save him...)

Me: I am conducting an office survey about the workplace and whether you are satisfied with your surroundings. Would you say that you can happily exist in the chaotic environment you have created from all of your rubbish, papers etc?

Subject A: Look, I don't know what you are getting at here, my desk isn't that untidy, there's only one piece of rubbish which was created about half an hour ago.

Me: Have you ever heard the phrase 'A cluttered desk is a cluttered mind?'

Subject A: Alright, that's it, I'm trying to work and now you're insulting my intelligence because I have a few wrappers on my desk?? And anyway an empty desk surely equals an empty mind. (The subject is beginning to become irate by my line of questioning; he clearly feels threatened by my tidy vibes...)

Me: Hmm that is an interesting twist on the old idiom, however incorrect. Would you mind if I tidied your desk up for you at lunch time? It wouldn't take me very long...

Subject A: Ok that's it... Are you serious? Sarah, I think you have a problem... (He's starting to get up, I think that's my cue to leg it...)

So there you have it, the scary world of the infected. But never fear, it isn't too late to stop deskitis in its tracks!

Top Tips for a tidy desk

1) Ditch the paper scraps!- If you constantly find yourself scribbling notes on bits of paper, which you then later lose, or have so many different doodled-on post its and paper scraps that you cannot function- put down the pen! Invest in a notepad to keep all of your notes nice and organised in one place. Mine has a monster on the front with googly eyes- it's great!

2) Too much paperwork. If you find yourself drowning under a mountain of papers on your desk, then this probably makes it tough to find what you are looking for. Find out who looks after the office supplies and request a folder or desk tidy- or if you have these things already, use them! Take the time to see what needs filing; what needs binning; what still needs your attention, so that you can be sure that nothing is being overlooked because you've lost it in some mound somewhere.

3) What a load of rubbish. If you look at your desk and see empty coke cans, 7 dirty mugs, and that Kit Kat wrapper from last week, then don't fret! There is still hope. Some clever person invented a bin that allows you to store all of your unwanted rubbish, which gets magically taken away by bin fairies. Pretty neat huh?


NEWSFLASH: DESKITIS has been known to spread from workers to jobseekers: you too, could be at risk!
So what can you do, before the clutter takes hold?!

1) Organise your workspace so you have a clear, tidy area to work in.

2) Make sure that if you have printed copies of your CV that they are all filed somewhere safe and that they are not dog-eared or crumpled.

3) Use a notepad to write down any addresses, company names, or information you need for job interviews.

4) Have a calendar handy so that you can mark on it the dates of any interviews, job application hand in dates, etc, so that you don't miss any important deadlines.

5) When job searching online, many jobs websites give you the opportunity to save your favourite jobs to a shortlist, that way they are all in one place for you to view and apply for whenever you get the time. So your computer can be super organised too!


Disclaimer: The tidy freak views and opinions expressed in this blog are not a reflection on the company as a whole, as many employees choose to live happily with their deskitis. If you would like to comment on this blog or any other, feel free to do so in the comments boxes below.