Are you tired of applying to jobs and never hearing back? Do you feel like your CV is lost in a sea of applicants? Fear not, as career coach Laurie Macpherson has valuable advice for job seekers. In a recent Q&A session, Laurie shared her expertise on CVs, interviews, and job offers.
One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is having a CV that is too long and generic. Laurie advises job seekers to keep their CVs short, relevant, and tailored to the specific role they are applying for. Instead of using generic phrases, job seekers should focus on specific examples and achievements showcasing their skills and experience level.
For those looking to make a significant career change, Laurie suggests thinking about what you want and why. It’s important to identify the gap between where you are now and where you want to be and to have a clear idea of what you want to do once you’ve made the change. Laurie emphasises the importance of finding a low-hanging fruit to get started, such as doing some TEFL tutoring or working for a company.
Regarding interview preparation, Laurie recommends researching the company beyond their website and values. She suggests looking up recent news and developments to gain insight into the company’s direction and potential impact on the role. Laurie also advises job seekers to know their own stories and be able to convincingly share how their experiences have led them to where they are today.
Laurie’s advice on negotiating salary is also valuable. She suggests focusing on your worth as an employee and doing your benchmarking to determine an appropriate salary. She emphasises the importance of being confident and clear when discussing salary expectations and knowing your worth in the market.
Overall, Laurie’s advice is practical and actionable, helping job seekers navigate the job search process confidently and successfully. If you’re feeling lost in your job search, take some time to listen to Laurie’s advice and apply it to your own. Who knows, it may just lead you to your dream job. And don’t forget to check out the Investing in Women job board to find flexible, part-time and work-from-home jobs that may be perfect for you.
For more career and CV advice, check out this LinkedIn Live replay with Laurie, where we discuss ‘How to Write a CV That Sells‘.
Timestamps:
Common CV Mistakes [00:00:53] Laurie discusses the most common mistake people make on their CVs, which is making them too long. She advises keeping it short, relevant, and tailored to the specific role.
Career Change Advice [00:04:04] Laurie advises those looking to make a significant career change, urging them to think about what they want and why. She suggests reframing the transition as a “repositional cruise” and finding low-hanging fruit in related fields to gain experience.
Presenting Skills on CV [00:02:54] Laurie emphasises the importance of tailoring your CV to the specific role and highlighting relevant skills and achievements. She advises against using generic phrases and encourages you to include specific numbers to demonstrate your experience level.
Transitioning out of teaching [00:07:01] Advice on transitioning out of teaching, including finding low-hanging fruit opportunities, building a network, and taking courses or doing voluntary work.
Preparing for an interview [00:11:06] Tips include researching the company beyond its website, knowing your own story, and anticipating questions based on the job description.
Investing in yourself [00:10:00] The importance of investing in yourself before expecting others to invest in you, including taking courses or getting qualifications to gain experience.
Preparing for an interview [00:13:15] Tips on how to prepare for an interview, including being able to tell your story and why you want the job.
Tackling tricky interview questions [00:14:31] Advice on handling difficult interview questions, such as discussing employment gaps or weaknesses.
Addressing self-employment during an interview [00:17:18] Tips include discussing skills gained and being willing to trade flexibility for stability.
How to address a potential issue in an interview [00:19:42] Laurie MacPherson advises job seekers to address any potential issues, such as whistle-blowing, at the beginning of an interview to avoid panicking later.
Tips for negotiating salary [00:20:55] Laurie McPherson suggests avoiding the cost-of-living crisis when negotiating salary and advises job seekers to know their worth, benchmark the role, and be confident in stating their desired salary.
Effective follow-up after an interview [00:24:11] Laurie MacPherson recommends sending a follow-up email to the interviewer to express gratitude and inquire about the decision-making timeline. She also shares a success story of a candidate who followed up after forgetting an answer during the interview.
Career Coaching Services [00:26:22] Laurie MacPherson discusses her career coaching services, including digital courses, guides, and one-to-one services.
Links in Show Notes [00:26:58] The host mentions that all the links to Laurie MacPherson’s career coaching services will be included in the show notes.
Thank you for Joining Us [00:27:03] Elizabeth Willetts thanks Laurie MacPherson for joining the Q&A session on job searches and career changes.
Show Links:
Connect with Laurie on LinkedIn
Connect with Elizabeth Willetts on LinkedIn
Investing in Women Flexible Working Job Board and Recruitment Site