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Top 10 Job Application Blunders to Avoid

Last updated : 31 January 2019

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When completing a job application it is very important to ensure that you get the application just right and not make any unnecessary mistakes that could ultimately reduce or lose your chances of getting that role.

Job Application Blunders to Avoid

#1 Poor Grammar in your application

This is very important, it shows how closely you have checked your application form and also will show how you come across. Try and get someone to double check it for you to make sure that it is written correctly and comes across exactly how you would like it to.

#2 Not reading the job properly

Make sure that you have read the questions properly for answering, maybe even do a copy of the application so that you do it right and do the final version as you want it to be. Make sure that the job you are applying for is one that you can do and you can demonstrate this well in your application form.

#3 Not answering the questions properly

Some people go off on tangents answering questions that were not asked in the first place, this will not go down well with someone reading an application form. Read and re read the application form to ensure you know exactly what the question is asking from you.

#4 Failing to do any associated tests

If as part of your application you are required to attached documents or do certain tests and attach then it is important that these are done in conjunction with the form as it all forms part of the application process.

#5 Not having good referee details

Ensure that before putting down your referee details that you have checked that this is ok to give out the contact details and that you can be certain in your own mind that you are going to get a good reference when they are approached.

#6 Missing out dates of your employment

If your application form doesn’t add up in terms of when you started and finished jobs or college or courses etc then it will leave the recruiter thinking why. Make sure you double check all your dates in an application form to ensure that they add up.

#7 Not explaining any periods of being out of work

If you have been unemployed for any period of time or purely taken a gap year, make sure that you explain this in great detail what you were doing during this time and for how long and what else you did during this period where possible. It allows the recruiter to think to know that if you have been looking for work that you have been trying all options.

#8 Giving false details you cannot back up

Never lie on an application form, it will always come back to haunt you. Make sure that you state employment details and any information that you are giving in true and clear form so that the recruiter doesn’t question it. For example if you make out that you were Director of a company and now applying for a Sales Manager role, they will be asking themselves lots of questions which could open a can of worms.

#9 Giving the wrong telephone and contact details

Don’t write down the wrong contact details by mistake and sit wondering why you never heard from a company. Make sure especially when typing an application form that you have double checked your contact numbers and email address so that it is clear.

#10 Not emphasising the skills that the job requires

Missing out this opportunity to emphasise through an application form why an employer should choose to interview you will not get you very far. Make sure you maximise this and at any opportunity re visit the questions and ensure that you relate your answers specifically to them.

Top 10 Tips for Unemployed Job Seekers

Last updated : 31 January 2019

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Being unemployed is a tricky time for most and sometimes you just need pointing in the right direction. The below is a few pointers on things that you could do to prepare yourself for returning to work.

Tips for Unemployed Job Seekers

#1 Search job adverts

Fairly obvious to some but not everyone knows the best places to look for jobs. Try searching newspapers and online adverts as well as local job boards. Employers these days usually do a mixture of online advertising and advertising in the local newspapers.

#2 Update your CV

Update your CV so that you have got your latest job and any new skills or purely given it a bit of a makeover or change around. Seek advice on how best to present your CV.

#3 Get help writing a covering letter

Before applying for any roles you need a good covering letter which you can adapt to each role and make sure it is tailored specifically for an individual role. Ensure that you sell yourself early on in the covering letter as this is what will get a potential future employers attention to read on.

#4 Visit recruitment agencies

Go round your local recruitment agencies that specialise in work that you could do. Make sure you get to see a recruitment consultant and take your CV with you. Depending on the roles you are looking for, you may be required to do some tests. Use this visit as a practice interview ensuring that you sell yourself to them.

#5 Speak to the job centre

If you don’t already, make an appointment to see your local job centre and seek free advice from them in terms of what jobs they have on offer, if they can help you with any skills updates, courses, your CV and covering letter etc.

#6 Drop your CV and covering letter off at potential places of work

Get your covering letter and CV ready and drop it off at local places that you could work at, be it your local shop, restaurant, take away, bar, office etc. Make sure that you look presentable when dropping your CV off and ask for it to be given to a Manager who deal with recruitment.

#7 Get some interview advice and experience

As said previously use any opportunity you can to practice your interview skills, even if you do it in front of a friend or the mirror. Search online for any advice you can find and make notes on the best advice you find and try to put it into practice. It’s essential before going to any interview that you are prepared and feel comfortable with what you are talking about.

#8 Update your interview and work wardrobe

Another part of before going to an interview is sorting out what you can wear when you get an interview. Update your wardrobe. If you don’t have a suit and cannot afford one, try buying a shirt/blouse and a skirt/trousers and combining with a tie for male people and a cardigan or scarf for female candidates.

#9 Practice

Practice, practice, practice. There is no point going to see anyone be it a recruitment consultant to talk about opportunities or dropping your CV into a company speculatively or attending an interview. You need to know your CV and your skills inside out so that you can answer any questions that they wish to know about you.

#10 Do some voluntary work

If you can you could give your skills a boost by doing some voluntary skills then this would be very beneficial. This could be from helping out serving teas and coffees to cleaning to admin support, it will depend on the venue but worth updating your CV with new skills.

Top 10 Job Search Tips for Recent Graduates

Last updated : 31 January 2019

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Finding work when you have just finished your Degree at University can be a daunting task and after the years of studying can leave you wondering where to start.  It is an important time of a graduates life applying for what could essentially be their career position and therefore it needs to be well thought out and below are some tips that could be helpful when beginning the job search.

Job Search Tips for Recent Graduates

#1 Work Experience

It’s important to see what work experience you have done throughout your studies and if you have had any part time jobs or done a year out for example. Any experience that you have had that shows that you have done some work as well as studying is always good for an employer to see what you are capable of.

#2 Your CV

Having a good CV is essential as this is the document that will be the initial decider for a company to see if they want to interview you so ensuring that you have the right amount of detail and tailor this to the specific role that you are applying for is key to getting your foot through the door.

#3 References

As you are fresh out of university do you have good references that people can refer to, from your University Lecturer or any part time jobs that you have done whilst you have been at University. Anything that can state what work that you have and it will show to employers what other people think of you to give them an idea of your skills and what you could do for them.

#4 Expectations v Realistic

Make sure that you expectations are realistic. When leaving university its easy to come out with a set knowledge about what you should be earning in the job world. In actual fact most jobs are not at that level and at lot about getting a first role is about making sure that you do something related to your degree, something that you want to do and also to make sure that you gain as much professional experience as possible in your chosen career and the way to do this is through work.

#5 Skills and experiences

Have you had a look at your skills and experiences and do they match what you are hoping to apply for? To be taken seriously and to match against what an employer is looking for then it is important to have the right skills and experiences so that they can compare your skills to the position they are trying to fill.

#6 Register with recruitment agencies

Go and visit the recruitment agencies, see what they have to offer? Find one that specialises in Graduate recruitment in the sector of your choice and help them to find you a role. You can help them through research and any job knowledge you have through your friends, word of mouth, scouring the papers or internet etc.

#7 Get your CV online

Register your CV on line through various websites so that employers looking for candidates can search directly and find someone with your skills.

#8 Recommendations

Follow up any recommendations that you have from people as some of your friends may be applying for a job but they may not be well matched to that particular role where as you may have better skills or some direct experience which gives you an advantage.

#9 Speak to your tutor

By speaking to your tutor, he or she will be able to advise you on the correct path. Universities usually have careers departments that are specifically there to help graduates when finishing their degree and giving them advice on finding a job, help with CV, where to apply etc. As a free service it is well worth while.

#10 Where are your friends applying?

You will all (if on the same course) be looking for similar jobs in probably similar areas so can you share that information, help each other? I know its competition but its healthy competition with you all in the same boat and it shortens your research time if you can all group together in a search.

Can you relocate?

Are you restricted where you can move to at this time or are you flexible about where you can live? If you are flexible then you have more opportunity to go where the big companies are who take graduates on graduate schemes, this could be an idea worth thinking about.

Wilkinsons Assessment Centre Interview

Last updated : 3 November 2018

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Wilkinsons assessments take place at their Head Office which is located in Worksop. To start with you will have a taster day where you will be able to question a panel of senior managers and staff. It is very important to have a good selection of questions ready for this. Bear in mind that they may be several of you asking questions, so have a long list in case your get asked before you get the opportunity to say anything. Try to have some original if you can, but also make sure that they reflect your enthusiasm for the job and the company. Therefore avoid asking about salary or benefits and more about the opportunity to make a career in the company.

wilko interview

The selection centre will take place on a different date. This will involve a selection of exercises. You will need to prepare by making sure that you have a good knowledge of the company and of the store. Know what they sell, what the customers are like and what types of promotions they tend to have. It can be hard to prepare for exercises when you do not know exactly what is involved. However, you could think about what they might ask you to do. It might be that you need to role play or problem solve. Think about retail situations and how you might react, such as dealing with customer complaints and things like that. There are many practice exercises online which generally help with this sort of interview situation and so these could be well worth a try as well.

It is also worth taking a look at the company values and history and remembering these. Consider their values as well as what they want from a candidate and try to show that you have those skills when you are carrying out the exercises.

Some of interview questions you might be asked during your assessment centre:

Give one example of how you have delivered exceptional customer service
Explain a time when you worked in a team
Have you got any management experience?
How many hours you would be willing to work?
Tell me about yourself
Name a time you gave good customer service
How did you deal with a difficult customer in the past?
What do you know about us?
What is your flexibility?
Tell us about yourself – what are your hobbies?
CV related questions – Explain what you did in this work place?
Did you ever have to work in a team?
Tell us a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer/person and how you resolved it
Tell us about a time when you received great customer service
Why do you want to work for Wilko?
Have you ever worked under pressure?
What is your flexibility?

Good luck with your interview.

Next Assessment Centre Interview

Last updated : 3 November 2018

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The sessions at the Next assessment centre tend to last half a day and are based in the Leicestershire head office. It is likely that you will have to do a fifteen minute presentation. You will have time to prepare for it in advance. It is important to make sure that you come across as confident and speak positively about yourself. However, this will depend on the position that you have applied for as some do not have a presentation at all and are told they do not need to prepare.

next assessment centre

It is always wise to prepare even if you are told not to. Find out as much as you can about the company and visit some stores to become familiar with the product line. Even if you shop in Next, you should try to look at it again, examining all products, as you may only shop in certain departments and may not look at it from the point of view of a potential employee. Bear in mind that they also have a catalogue and sell online and so it is worth taking a look at that as well, so that you can answer questions or voice an opinion on it.

The hardest questions to answer can be when asked for improvements. It means that you will seemingly have to criticise what they are doing. However, there are ways to answer without doing this. Think about the positives and reasons why they might be doing things the way they are and explain why you think changes should be made and how you feel that will benefit the company and their customers.

It can be nerve racking, visiting an assessment centre. However, it is important to keep calm. A few nerves are expected but you still need to be able to think and behave with a clear head. Therefore make sure that you try some relaxation exercises and are well prepared so that you are more confident.

Next Recruitment Process

If you were successful at the online job application process then there will be 4 more stages waiting for you to complete. The whole recruitment process can take up to 4 months however some schemes like Trainee Buyer may take even longer due to its popularity.

Here are the 4 stages :

Online Ability Testing

The company will send you an email invitation to complete the test. You have 3 weeks to do this test.

Video Interview

If you have been successful at your online test then you will let know by an email and there will also be an invitation for a video interview. This is not a live interview so you have 5 days to record your answers and upload it to Next career site. It will take 4-6 weeks for them to review your videos and get back to you.

Telephone Interview

If you have passed the video interview stage then Next will contact to you arrange a telephone interview. Telephone interviews takes about 30 minutes to complete.

Assessment Centre

And finally if you have been successful at all the previous stages then the last step is Assessment Centre. These Assessment centres takes about half day and take place at Head Office of Next in Leicestershire

Interview Questions

Why Next?
What do you know about Next?
What makes you different than other candidates?
What motivates you?
What are your strenghts?
What is your weakness?
Why should we hire you?

Good luck with your interview.

New Look Assessment Centre Interview

Last updated : 3 November 2018

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Often at a New Look interview you will be asked to pick an outfit. This might be for a celebrity or for a typical customer such as a 20 year old girl’s work outfit. It is important to be very familiar with the stock that is currently being sold and the prices. You would want to pick an expensive outfit to make the company more money. You will also want to accessorise it, so include a bag, jewellery, shoes and maybe a cardigan or coat as well. You will have limited time to do this.

new look assessment centre

You will be asked about the company and why you want to work for them. Make sure that you compliment their products as well as company ethos. You can found out about both of these by visiting their website. Make sure that you know this information backwards as it can be harder to recall things like this when you are nervous, as you are likely to be at the interview.

It is possible that you will have to do a group exercise as well as having a 1 to 1 interview and there may be an ice breaking exercise as well. It is so important to work as hard as you can to stay relaxed, let your personality come through but not be over bearing. This is not easy and you will need to stay focussed in order to do it.

It can be difficult having the 1 on 1 interview at the end of the session as you could get tired by then. Try to keep your energy levels up, eat well before you go and try to stay calm as stress can be draining and sap your energy. Try to smile a lot, but not too much, be friendly, polite and remember to interact with the other candidates as well as the interviewers.

Interview Questions

Tell me about yourself Why should we hire you?
What do you expect from a supervisor?
Describe a typical work week?
How do you handle stress and pressure?
What are you passionate about?
Why do you want to work here?
How do you evaluate success?
Give some examples of teamwork

Good luck with your interview and let us know how it went!

Tips For Passing Pre-Employment Tests

Last updated : 3 November 2018

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So, you have you applied for a job, and as part of their application process, you have asked to take an employment test….

This brief article will help you prepare for your test or tests.

Type of test?

pre employment tests

There are four main types of pre-employment tests – Aptitude Personality Specific Skills Job knowledge Aptitude Tests

Numerical, Verbal & Diagrammatic tests are types of aptitude tests used by recruiters and employers offering graduate & professional opportunities. Numerical tests require the candidates ability to deal with numbers quickly and accurately, and contain questions that assess knowledge of ratios, percentages, cost and sales analysis, rates, trends and currency conversions. Verbal tests require  a short passages of writing to be read then asks questions assessing the comprehension of the text. Diagrammatic questions are designed to assess logical reasoning ability. The questions measure the ability to understand a set of rules from a flowchart or sequence of diagrams and then to apply those rules to new circumstances

Personality

A personality test will ask a set of questions  to assess the way you think and how your personality is displayed in your employment choices.  These are usually used in settings such as employment agencies and careers offices to assess which type of job to 8apply for.

Specific Skills and Job Knowledge

These will depend on the type of job being offered. This could be ‘fix a part of a car for a mechanics job’ or answering industry related scenario-type questions.

Relax

Tests are designed to help provide a fair method of comparing job applicants. So if you’re asked to take an employment test, don’t get angry. Even senior executives at the biggest  companies in the world are often asked to take pre-employment tests.

If your prospective employer sees you are nervous or upset at being asked to take a test, they may be concerned about how you will handle the normal day-to-day job stress, so try to relax and you will actually test better.

Take your time

Pre-employment tests can be issued on site or web-based tests at home.  Depending on the type of test or tests, you may need a few minutes or several hours. ..

Find out how much time you will need and make sure you take the test in a location that is free from distractions to ensure you can give it your full attention.

If you are taking a test from home, ensure that friends and family know not to come to visit, and that you turn your telephone off. It may also be a good idea – if possible – to complete the test when children are at school or with relatives.

Read the instructions – twice!

The most common mistake made when taking any type of test is rushing through the instructions. It is very important to read the instructions carefully and make sure you understand them. Sometimes instructions contain information about how the test is scored.

Example, on some aptitude tests you may be told that there is no penalty for incorrect answers. In this case, if you are running out of time you should start guessing.

Another common mistake is contained in multiple choice questions – for example, it may offer you the option to select three possible answers, but you only select one as the previous questions asked for one.

Do not be scared of failing

Pre-employment tests only form a small part of the application process, so being unsuccessful may not be solely responsible to the result of your test – there may have simply been a more experienced candidate.

Do not let it put you off of future tests!

All tests can be daunting – but remember that it will show off how suitable for the job you are! So relax, take your time and…..

Good Luck!

Tesco Assessment Centre Interview

Last updated : 3 November 2018

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If you are called to an assessment centre for Tesco, then you may find it quite difficult to prepare, as the activities that you are expected to do may vary, not only depending on the role that you are applying or but also on the assessment centre itself. You will be likely to have an interview, role-play and some group exercises to take part in.

tesco assessment centre

During the interview stage you are likely to be asked why you want to work for Tesco and why you have chosen to apply for that particular role. You will be considered in light of the values of the company and so it is important that you know what these are beforehand. You also want to consider the skills that you have and how you will demonstrate those in the interview.

The group exercise may involve making a sales pitch presentation. You may need to work against someone else in trying to make your product sound the best. Think about the benefits to the customer and focus on those.

It is likely that you will know what the presentation will be on beforehand so that you can prepare. Make sure that you work hard in demonstrating both your knowledge of the company, the role and showing how your skills fit in with those. Preparing beforehand can sometimes make it more worrying, because you will be expected to do some work. However, see it as an opportunity to show off your research and preparation skills and make sure that you put in a lot of time. If you cannot free up time, then there will not be an opportunity to make excuses or do it at another time, so you need to put everything on hold to get this done.

Some of the interview questions you might be asked during your assessment centre:

What makes you different from other candidates?
Describe a time when you helped someone
Descibe a situation that you found difficult and how you overcame it
Are you sure this is the right amout of money you have to give back?
What is your current salary?
Give an example of when you have had to keep a piece of information confidential
Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it
Tell me about yourself?
Why Tesco?
Why do you want to work for Tesco?
Why should we hire you?
What were you able to negotiate? What advice would you give others considering an offer?
How fexible are you around working unsocial hours?
Name a time when team building was essential in something you have done
What Tesco brand would you be and why?
Do you have any experience in sales?
When have you last helped someone?
What is your biggest strength?
Why do you want this job?

Good luck.

Argos Assessment Centre Interview

Last updated : 3 November 2018

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At the Argos assessment centre you will get the chance to meet staff who work at the company. There will be a selection of group and individual activities to take part in. Some you will have to prepare for beforehand. It will be useful to make sure that you get as much information as you can ready, especially if you know what to expect from your day. It is also wise to get general information too. You want to find out as much as you can about Argos, visit local stores and look at their website in general. It is also important to know exactly what the job is and what skills are required for that.

argos assessment centre

It can be difficult to get over your nerves, take part in a group or individual activity and also try to behave naturally but show off your relevant skills. However, it is possible for you to do this if you prepare well and practice. It is well worth having a look at the types of activities you might be expected to do or the types of questions you may be asked. Think about them and consider how you would answer them. Try out some examples yourself. In other words actually talk out loud in the way that you would at the assessment centre. It is best to practice in front of other people to get a better idea of what it would be like in front of someone on the actual day,. Try to take it seriously so that you get a proper chance to practice.

There may be the chance to practice helping customers, answering queries and dealing with complaints. It is always good to consider any previous retail experience when considering how to deal with this. This could be whether you considered it to be successful or not.

Team Leader Assessment Centre

Objective

Identify two opportunities to improve the operation at Basildon that you would make your priority once your induction was complete. Please include what the challenges would be, how you would approach the improvement and why you selected these issues.
 
Resources
 
You will be given room to work from, flip-chart paper and a 30 minute slot with three individuals who have a specialist view of the operation.  You may use the 30 minute slots however you wish but please remember that if you wish to walk around the warehouse then you must bring safety footwear with you (hi-vis vest will be provided).
 
Output
 
You will be asked to present back your findings during a 10 minute presentation, after which you may be asked to answer questions from the team.

Tips for the interview

Argos wants you to have list of questions to ask at the end of the interview. The company thinks that asking questions to Argos is a great way to impress them.

What to wear

Smart business wear should be just fine for the interview. Looking good will mean that you are the one for the job for Argos.

Don’t be late

Make sure that you are on time for your interview. Check directions, parking and arrange your transport. It’s always wise to be at the centre 10 minutes before to avoid stress.

During the interview

Be careful about your body language! relax and keep smiling.Being nervous is ok as long as you don’t exaggerate it.Making eye contact with all the interviewers will give you confidence.Speak clearly and don’t forget that you have plenty of time so take your time.Ask clarification if you didn’t understand any question from the interviewers.Don’t criticise current or previous employers of Argos.And finally, this is your chance so sell yourself!

Interview Questions

Tell me about yourself
Why Argos?
What makes you different than other candidates?
Why should we hire you?What are your weaknesses?
What are your strengths?
What salary expectations do you have?

Good luck with your interview.