Saturday 28 April 2012

The Graduate Job Seeker: Where Do I Start?

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Are you a graduate or graduating this year and seeking a publishing career?
With the job climate tough, the industry competitive and many graduates out of work, it is no wonder that seeking your first job has become a daunting prospect. Perhaps some of you are even thinking of staying in education because of the slim chances of getting a job. However, quitters never win and winners never quit. Securing your first job will be difficult; you will have to be motivated, proactive and willing. Set yourself up with the graduate jobseeker pointers below.

1) Create a wish list of companies and roles
Initially this could be a mental or physical list of the companies that you would like to work for once you graduate. These could be companies like Conde Nast, The Guardian or Random House. Try to have a list with more than six companies on it because the shorter your list is the more limited your job search will be.
The next task will be to figure out what role/position you would ideally like e.g. marketing assistant. Create your top 3 or 4 positions in preference order. This way you’ll know exactly what vacancies to keep an eye on.

2) Set up accounts
Now that you have your lists, set up your social media accounts to reflect them. This could mean setting up an account on Twitter and following the companies on your wish list. Make sure that you have an online presence; this will probably include having a profile on LinkedIn.

3) Speculative applications
With the contacts that you have (if any), compile a speculative cover letter and CV for each of them. Don’t miss out on using your contacts because they could have a vacancy now that isn’t advertised on their website, or one that will arise soon after. Make sure employers know that you are looking for a job.

4) Collate bookmarks
Utilising the company list that you have created in task one, find the ‘career opportunities’ page for each company and save them all as bookmarks. A good way to organise and collate these would be to devise a ‘job seeker’ folder on your bookmarks bar. This will give you easy access to the company vacancies and the ease of simply clicking on these bookmarks will save you a lot of time in the future.
Additionally, add job seeker companies to your bookmarks. For example, if you’re interested in journalism or PR jobs then Gorkana should be on your list, or if you’re interested in book publishing jobs then The Bookseller should be on your list.

5) Research
In your spare time in between applications, you should be staying proactive and doing some of your own research. This could be related to work applications or interviews etc. There is a wealth of information about everything and anything you need to know on the Guardian Careers website.

A couple of things I have read that you may like to read-
-How graduates can prove they have the skills an employer wants: http://careers.guardian.co.uk/cv-graduate-skills
-Job seeking: what to do when you keep getting rejection letters http://careers.guardian.co.uk/careers-blog/keep-getting-rejections

Alternatively, for those that prefer listening-
-Career talk podcast: How to use Twitter to find a job http://careers.guardian.co.uk/audio/using-twitter-to-find-a-job

There are many more on The Guardian website, and the rest of the web too, so make sure you take the time to do some research – you could even incorporate it into your everyday routine. Remember that being persistent, patient and proactive will pay off in the end. You can make your own luck. 

Tuesday 24 April 2012

Intern Opportunities: 24th April 2012

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Intern Opportunities
I have teamed up with UK Fashion Intern (@ukfashionintern), who has carefully selected this week’s intern opportunities.

Marketing and PR
PR marketing interns! interested in vintage clothing, band music, events and doing some stuff from home? Check this ow.ly/1KYfzu
Marketing and PR Intern sought by a busy fashion boutique and online retailer based in central London.ow.ly/1KYe1K
Manchester based Fashion PR internship ow.ly/1L1QC5

Journalism
JoJo magazine is looking for a fierce fashion writer to join it's team ow.ly/1KZsLh

Do you want a flexible internship?
Love writing about fashion? Looking to build your blogger profile? This may be interesting for you ow.ly/1L3iU0

Are you looking for your first job?
Yours Magazine is looking for a Features Assistant to work in their Peterborough offices. To find out more or to apply visit: http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/Templates/Public/Bauer/Job/View.aspx?JobID=25063.

Friday 20 April 2012

Guest Post: Key Ingredients of a Successful Cover Letter by Graduate Recruitment Bureau

If an employer requests a CV to apply for a graduate job vacancy you should always include a graduate cover letter. What’s this? Well, this is your opportunity to introduce yourself and explain your suitability for the role - preferably on one A4 page. You must take time over this document and adapt it for each role because this is your one and only chance to impress, so make sure that it is immaculate. With over 80 applications per graduate job, creating a compelling cover letter married to a tailored CV should increase your chances of going onto the next round.

In order to create a successful cover letter the advice below should to be taken into account for each job you apply for. Not to mention, getting into this frame of mind will make tailoring your CV a lot easier. So if you’re wondering how you can go the extra mile, show you are the person for the job and beat the competition, then think about these five key successful ingredients below:

1) First impressions count

It’s not an option to just send a CV – a cover letter is mandatory – and a great opportunity to sell yourself so use it! The first impression you make is key, and firstly you should pay attention to the layout. Make it easy to read so no more than 3-4 paragraphs. Remember selectors spend less than 40 seconds scanning cover letters and CVs, so good presentation is vital. Use a business typeface like Verdana and keep the font size no less than 10. (If your handwriting is neat maybe consider this for your letter as this is a really good way to stand out plus it can be posted which add to its impact as no-one posts anything anymore!)

2) The Job Reference number

An obvious one but sometimes overlooked. A reference number is there for a reason so make sure it is bold and clear to see, otherwise the employer won’t immediately recognise which job you are applying for. If there isn’t one refer to the job title or scheme. If you are applying speculatively then leave this out as your tailored letter will take a different tone. After all, you are asking them to create a job around you so you better have done your research!

3) Addressed to a person not Sir/Madam

You need to have your cover letter read by the selector not a junior so, check before who this person is by looking at LinkedIn or calling the reception. It is a basic marketing rule that you must personalise your message to the correct addressee. It shows you have made the effort and done the research - It’s the little things that count, right?

4) Mention where you saw the job advert

This is important for the recruiter to know as they will record how all the applicants came about and they will be able to trace it back to certain marketing initiatives and see if it was money well spent. An appropriate place for this ingredient is in the initial opening lines.

“I wish to apply for the post of Graduate Retail Management Trainee as advertised in the Manchester Evening News on 27 October 2011. At present I am completing an honours degree in Management and French at the University of Manchester.”

Reiterating this will keep you focussed on the purpose of your cover letter and the role that you are trying to secure.

5) The middle paragraph is the most important

Get this right and you can guarantee a call. Before this you’ll have your introduction stating why you are interested in the role, and after, in your concluding paragraph you’ll finish positively by looking forward to an interview. Therefore, the middle paragraph is the heart of your cover letter. This is where you summarise and highlight your skills, qualifications and major accomplishments - the essence of your suitability. Pay close attention to the job description so you know precisely what skills to talk about, bearing in mind that you are not repeating what is already on your CV. Most importantly, explain why your qualifications and the job requirements are a good match to fit the role.

6) End with a call to action

Finish off your cover letter by saying you look forward to hearing from them and will call during the next 10 days for their response to your application. This shows your enthusiasm and reiterates your interest in the role. It leaves the door open to make another impression on them with a phone call.

Finally below is a check-list of some of the important dos and don’ts of a cover letter. Make this your check-list and use it before hitting send!

Do

· make your graduate cover letter tailored to the company and to the role.

· make it concise.

· make it persuasive and eye catching.

· proof read. Read it once then read it repeatedly. If possible get someone else to read it for you, this will ensure you catch every little typo or grammatical error.

· use an appropriate format; it must look professional i.e. for business purposes.

Don't

· make it generic.

· waffle! Think about what is relevant to the company and particularly the actual position/role.

· make it more than one side of A4.

· leave errors that will make it easy for the company to reject your application.

· forget to put the address of the company at the top of the cover letter and to sign it with you name. It is a formal letter so it must be in the correct format.

We hope that this helps! Click the links for more information on graduate cover letters and graduate jobs.

Tuesday 17 April 2012

Intern Opportunities: 17th April 2012

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Intern Opportunities

I have teamed up with UK Fashion Intern (@ukfashionintern), who has carefully selected this week’s intern opportunities.

Journalism

Luxury womenswear brand is looking for a journalism graduate or experienced copywriter. Deadline 18th April http://ow.ly/ahGdt

Style News are offering an editorial and stylist internship. Assist on shoots and work with editors to create content ow.ly/1Krqfp

PR and Fashion

Alberta Ferretti and Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti are looking for a PR intern http://ow.ly/1KsLZL

Una Burke is looking for a PA & admin intern for PR & sales http://ow.ly/ahGMI

EDITD is offering an internship for a runway trend assistant http://ow.ly/ahHKQ

Meli’ Melo’ is an accessories label looking for a fashion PR student intern http://ow.ly/1KCHiB

Marketing

Craig Lawrence is looking for a marketing intern http://ow.ly/ahHVJ

Marketing showroom intern sought by Fount - newly launched contemporary womenswear label.http://ow.ly/1Krqyt

Saturday 14 April 2012

Interview Preparation: What to Do When You Can't Answer a Question

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Interviews are all about questions and answers; whether it is your question to the interviewer or a question that they are posing to you. It is a simple process in those terms. However, I want to discuss what happens when you can’t answer one of the interviewer’s questions (or at least not straight away). In an interview, I was once asked ‘I want a red ladder, not just any type of red ladder, but one that is a certain red colour e.g. crimson. How would you get one?’ I wasn’t expecting a question like that and my initial thought was that I wasn’t sure how I would – under pressure I said the first answer that came into my head. Had I of done my interview preparation I would have been able to give a better answer to reveal my competence. Therefore, being nervous in an interview and having the added pressure of answering all the questions, and to answer them well, can be a daunting experience. So I’m going to provide a few tips below to help anyone who may land themselves in the same situation I was in.

Why is the question difficult to answer?

Firstly, you need to establish why can’t answer the question, do you not understand what the interviewer means. For example, I could have asked ‘What do you mean by red ladder?’ as it is important to fully understand the question in order to give a good answer. A good answer will consist of multiple answers to show off problem solving skills, ‘I would buy a ladder from B&Q and paint it red, alternatively I would check out company contacts and connections, failing that I would a colleague what they would do. Therefore, don’t worry about asking questions like ‘What do you mean?’ if it means you can you can provide a better answer.

How can I buy myself more time to answer a question?

You can understand a question and still not know the answer. It is not recommended to answer your interviewer with ‘I don’t know’, because you will look incompetent. Instead, if you buy yourself sometime you may be able to produce a good enough answer.

Simple ways of doing this would be to ask the interviewer to repeat the question. In doing so, they may as well elaborate on the question, giving you more of a chance to think. Furthermore, don’t be afraid of taking a few seconds to think about your answer before you reply. Nerves can sometimes get the better of you in situations where you may feel under pressure. So keep calm and take a few seconds to think before you respond.

What is the best way to deal with questions I initially can’t answer?

  • Quickly establish why you can’t answer the question.
  • Remain calm and don’t feel pressured to respond quickly.
  • If you believe it will help, you can ask the interviewer at the start of the interview whether you can take notes. This may help you either to understand the question or to have a reminder of the question when you’re giving your answer.

For more advice on interview answers, check out my previous blog post on how to give STAR answers - http://diaryofapublishingintern.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/competency-based-interviews-star-q.html

Tuesday 10 April 2012

Intern Opportunities: 10th April 2012

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Intern Opportunities

Recently I have teamed up with UK Fashion Intern (@ukfashionintern), who has carefully selected this week’s intern opportunities.

Marketing and PR

Chris&Tibor is offering work experience in Fashion Marketing for an intern http://ow.ly/1KhfjF

New PR company is looking for a fashion intern to fill places in their new London offices. http://ow.ly/1KfYC9

PR internship. This is one for fashionistas in Cheltenham. Fashion Week http://ow.ly/aaUcp

Liz Black is looking for a student/graduate studying fashion journalism, communication, pr or marketing http://ow.ly/1KfFFf

Schön! Magazine is looking for a PR intern. http://ow.ly/1Khiod

Olivia Rubin is offering a wide range of experience for a PR intern http://ow.ly/aaVN9

Handmade in the UK lingerie company are seeking an intern to help with marketing, social media and PR http://ow.ly/1KfGYz

Fashion designer Cristina Sabaiduc is looking for a communications intern http://ow.ly/1KhhrO

Sales and Research

Scottish fashion internship: Bibaloo.com is looking for a sales intern http://ow.ly/aaSHh

Trendstop are offering an internship in Menswear Trend Research, shadowing a senior team memberhttp://ow.ly/1Kg6IE

The Fashion Goodie Club is coming soon. Are you interested in helping with its conception? Looking for a research intern http://ow.ly/1KhgLG

Journalism

PAID beauty journalism internship for Sofeminine Deadline: 22nd April 2012http://ow.ly/1KfZS1

Are you looking for your first job?

Rare opportunity for a fashion grad to become a showroom manager for a top PR agency in London £20,000 to £25,000 http://ow.ly/1KfQeU

Saturday 7 April 2012

Interview Preparation: Asking the Employer Questions

Over the last couple of months I've been receiving reader responses for upcoming posts. Job interviews was one of the recurring topics that came up, hence this week's blog post. Instead of doing some simple do’s and don’t's I’ve decided to create a series of blog posts called ‘Interview Preparation’, in order to cover this substantial topic.
The first post in this series is ‘Asking the Employer Questions’, this is an area I’ve been bad at in interviews and some of you may have overlooked it before too. Thus, have a read of the prompts I've created below.

Should I ask my interviewer questions?
This may sound slightly obvious considering the title of this post, but in short, yes you should ask the employer questions. This will reveal the full extent of your job interview preparation. Having no questions to ask the interviewer may give off negative impressions such as, incompetence and ill prepared.

Have your questions already been answered on the company website?
Saying that, you should make sure that your questions aren’t easy ones that the company website already answers. Instead, try to be a bit more original by asking questions like, how do I need to perform in order to be successful in the desired role.

Are your questions good?
Furthermore, once you’ve prepared your questions (this could be up to 10 or more), then decide whether the question is of a good enough standard to ask the interviewer. For example, your questions should be open ended and not closed (typically a yes or no answer is achieved through a closed question). You can get out of asking closed questions by using words like ‘how’ or ‘why’.
Once you’ve done that you can filter your questions down even more by removing the less useful ones. This may include questions that are hypothetical e.g. 'what if...' and so on.

What shouldn’t I do?
Don’t ask the interviewer anything irrelevant or personal. I know a lot of people research their interviewer before the interview – fair enough – but make sure you use any knowledge gained from this to your advantage. For example, are they on YouTube presenting a work-related presentation? Then can you apply this knowledge to one of your questions? There is no point just throwing in a statement highlighting the fact you have researched them – unless you think it’s necessary and/or want to look like a stalker.

I hope you've found this post useful as I’m sure that many of you are in the same position I am in now, and will be undertaking numerous interviews come summer. Good luck with those and keep reading my future posts about interviews!
For inspiration of what questions to ask the employer, visit http://www.krantcents.com/20-interview-questions-to-ask-employers.

Tuesday 3 April 2012

Intern Opportunities

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Intern Opportunities

Recently I have teamed up with UK Fashion Intern (@ukfashionintern), who has carefully selected this week’s intern opportunities.

Where? London

What? Editorial

Fashion Editorial - http://t.co/NKIq18dY

Do you want to edit a fashion magazine? - http://ow.ly/1JHAFQ

Fashion Copy Writing Internship http://ow.ly/1JFydW

Journalism Internship http://ow.ly/1xDU7C

Where? London

What? PR

Online Communication and PR Internship http://ow.ly/1JGPg7

PR Internship http://ow.ly/1JGQlq

Where? Manchester

What? PR

Press and Social Media Intern http://ow.ly/1JHroc

Are you looking for your first job?

Random House is recruiting an Editorial Assistant for Bantam Press. Deadline 4th of April. Please follow the link for information and to apply http://www.careersatrandom.co.uk/rhc_vacancies.asp.

Please remember that most the vacancies are on my Twitter profile page - @steff_lever