How to prepare for an interview when you already have a job

There’s no doubt that trying to schedule interviews whilst you’re still employed can be tricky. You want to land a new role, but at the same time you don’t want to shoot yourself in the foot and have your current employer find out! It’s important to be discreet and strategic.

Don’t sweat it – as always, we’ve got you covered. Follow our tips for preparing for an interview whilst you’re still employed:

  1. Choose tactical timing
  2. Be transparent with the interviewer
  3. Use annual leave or flexi time
  4. Pick a quiet period
  5. Keep it to yourself
  6. Be selective
  7. Keep up your work ethic
  8. Use email
  9. Prepare outside office hours

How to arrange an interview when you’re still in a job

Choose tactical timing

When arranging your interview, avoid scheduling it in the middle of the day. This will cause the most disruption and attract the most attention. Ideally, you’ll arrange an interview for either early in the morning before office hours or in the evening after office hours. That way, you won’t even have to take any time off work and you won’t have to make any excuses to your colleagues!

Be transparent with the interviewer

Always be transparent with the interviewer and let them know you’re currently employed. It’s perfectly okay to share this information with them and explain that you appreciate anything they can do to facilitate an interview out of office hours to avoid drawing attention to yourself.

Use annual leave or flexi time

If you need to attend the interview during office hours, don’t go down the route of ‘pulling a sickie’. Use your annual leave or take advantage of any flexible working arrangements. This will help to not raise any suspicion from your manager and will prevent you from having to spin a web of lies.

Pick a quiet period

Try to pick a time and day when your workload isn’t heavy and you’ll be least missed. Again, this just helps to not draw attention to yourself. Don’t pick a day where you know you’ll be in demand or you’ve got important meetings scheduled.

Keep it to yourself

Don’t make your job search known to your colleagues. Keep it to yourself otherwise you risk the whole office (including your manager) finding out. Even if you have good friends at work, it’s best to keep this information to yourself until you’re ready to hand in your resignation.

Be selective

Even if you’re offered 6 interviews, you don’t necessarily have to accept them all. Choose carefully which roles you give your time to. Remember, you don’t want to draw attention to yourself unnecessarily – so only attend the interviews where you have a genuine interest.

Keep up your work ethic

Even though your priority has shifted to landing a new role, it’s vital you keep up your image and work ethic in the office. If managers sense you’ve lost motivation and see you’re taking time off, they could put two and two together!

Use email 

Where possible, always try to use email when corresponding with other employers. You don’t want to find yourself running out of the office to take calls. This won’t go unnoticed by your colleagues. It’s best to keep all communication to email and to take any calls out of office hours.

Prepare outside office hours

When it’s time to prepare for your interview, make sure you do all preparations outside of office hours. That means printing your CV at home, and looking up the most asked interview questions on your home computer, not on the office one. Always keep any preparations separate from your job!

Discreetly does it

When it comes to arranging an interview whilst you’re still in a job, just remember this piece of interview advice: be. discreet. Always try to keep your preparations under the radar. This will take the pressure off yourself and avoid uncomfortable conversations with your current employer.

Are you preparing for an interview? Be sure to check out more of our interview tips!

How do I negotiate a better salary?

You’re at a point in your career where you’ve mastered your current role and are providing more value than your salary reflects, and so it’s time to ask for a salary increase. Asking for a pay rise can be one of the most nerve-wracking employee experiences and takes great courage. While you can’t guarantee you’ll get the outcome you’re looking for, there are steps you can take to drastically improve your chances of success.

Read our guide to negotiating a better salary:

  • Don’t go in blind
  • Be factual
  • Compile recent accomplishments
  • Carry out a salary comparison
  • Be realistic
  • Don’t make demands
  • Cross-sell yourself

When to ask for a pay rise

Timing is everything. Although you may be impatient to get a raise, it’s important to get the timing right. Here are a few good circumstances to ask for an increase:

Performance reviews

Performance reviews are a great time to address your salary. Employers won’t be taken by surprise, and all your achievements will be at the forefront of their mind.

After project completion

When you’ve successfully completed a project, you’ll be in your manager’s good books and can make a strong case for your raise.

When your manager is happy

Ensure you’re not asking for a raise when your manager is stressed and dealing with several problems. Pick a time when things seem to be running smoothly and your manager is upbeat.

8 ways to improve your chances of getting a salary increase

Asking for a raise is a big moment in your career. Make sure you prepare to the best of your ability using these steps:

1. Don’t go in blind 

First things first, preparation is key. Don’t wing it – take the time to prepare and rehearse out of office hours so you can present a structured case for your request.

2. Be factual

Keep your argument factual and not based on your emotions. Use data, facts and figures to show where you’ve excelled – this will create a more compelling case.

3. Compile recent accomplishments

To strengthen your case, make a list of your recent accomplishments. Think about how you’ve improved the company or excelled in your role, including any project work, new skills or initiatives you’ve introduced.

4. Carry out a salary comparison

Make sure you use a salary checker to compare the average UK salary for your role in your area. This will help you to decide what a reasonable pay rise is, and will also help your manager to understand how your salary compares.

5. Be realistic

Make sure you’re realistic with your salary expectations. Don’t just go for the highest possible figure, but really think about whether the amount fairly reflects the value you’re bringing and is comparable to your experience.

6. Be upfront

When speaking with your manager, don’t be afraid to be clear about the salary you think would be a fair reflection of your worth. There’s no point in having the conversation if you’re not going to be upfront about your expectations.

7. Don’t make demands

Although you may feel your pay rise is justified, never make demands. Try not to show any frustrations you have with your salary. Instead, keeping your tone upbeat and professional will make your argument more persuasive.

8. Cross-sell yourself

Figure out what other skills you can offer or duties you’d like to take on, and incorporate this into your argument. This will show your employer they won’t just be dishing out more cash for the sake of it, but they’ll actually receive something in return.

What to expect

  • Challenges: When asking for a pay rise, your boss will likely challenge you and get you to further justify your request. This is normal, so handle all objections professionally and factually.
  • Negotiations: You may have to negotiate on your salary. If your employer suggests a lower salary, justify why you think you’re worth the higher salary. If you’re still unsuccessful, be prepared to come down a little or compensate with other benefits such as annual leave or bonuses.
  • Rejections: You might be unsuccessful in your quest for a pay rise. If that’s the case, work out a structured plan with your manager to achieve your raise. Find out exactly what you need to do and when you can review your progress. If a pay rise just isn’t on the cards, it may be time to consider a new role.

Shoot for the stars

Don’t shy away from asking for a pay rise. If you feel you’re underpaid, you deserve a higher salary. Just remember to time it well, and prepare a strong case for your increase in advance. You might not achieve the outcome you want, but asking for a raise will get the ball rolling in the right direction!

Got an upcoming interview? Read our article on asking about salary expectations!

Is it okay to ask about salary expectations in an interview?

Bringing up salary expectations during an interview is one of those awkward conversations you’d rather avoid – but it’s necessary! Many candidates worry they’ll come across as greedy or money-oriented by asking about salary. And while that is possible if you don’t ask in the right way, you’re doing the job in exchange for a salary at the end of the day – so the discussion can’t be avoided.

How to ask about salary expectations in an interview

1. Research competitor salaries

First things first, make sure you research competitor salaries or check the average UK salary for similar roles before going to your interview. You don’t want to price yourself too low or too high, so this will give you a good indication of what the market rate is and will be helpful when justifying your salary expectation to the hiring manager.

2. Leave room for them to bring it up first

In an ideal world, the hiring manager will bring up the topic of salary expectations so you don’t have to. So don’t be so hasty to dive straight in for the jugular. Instead, wait until the end of the interview. If the hiring manager still hasn’t broached the subject, it’s time for you to raise it!

3. Get the timing right 

There’s a time and a place to ask about salary expectations, and it’s not during the telephone interview. Save salary conversations for later in the interview process when things are heating up! Discussing it too early in the process can give hiring managers the wrong impression.

4. Don’t be too specific

Salaries are usually a two-way street and a certain degree of flexibility is needed from both parties. So it’s best to steer clear of naming a specific amount you’d like, but offer a bracket you’d be happy with. If the employer has already stated a potential bracket for your salary, let them know if you’d expect your salary to be in the upper or lower part of that bracket.

5. Be fair 

It’s important to reflect on your worth critically – don’t just go for the maximum amount. Think about your level of experience and whether you’re able to do the entire role or need training in certain areas. Use this reasoning to justify the amount you’re looking for to the hiring manager.

6. Prepare set phrases

Whether the employer asks you about salary expectations or you have to bring it up yourself, it’s a good idea to prepare some set phrases to make sure you don’t get caught out under the pressure. 

How to bring up salary in an interview:

Example 1

“I love the sound of the role and personally feel I’d be able to hit the ground running. I’d be keen to learn a little more about the salary for the role. Do you have a salary bracket in mind?”

Example 2

“I’m really excited at the prospect of working for the company. Could you please tell me a little more about the salary. What criteria are you using to determine people’s salary?”

Example 3

“From my point of view, everything about the role sounds like a perfect fit. I would be grateful if we can cover salary expectations to check we’re on a similar page. Would you mind me asking what budget you have allocated to the role?”

How to answer questions about salary in an interview:

Example 1

“I understand the bracket for the role is between £X and £X. Given my level of experience, I would expect to be in the upper/lower bracket.”

Example 2

“I’ve done a little research with competitor salaries and feel somewhere between £X and £X would be a fair reflection of my level of skill.”

Example 3

“I’m really excited by the role and feel confident in my ability to deliver given my past success in similar roles. As such, I would be happy with a salary between £X and £X.”

Know your worth

It’s perfectly okay to discuss salary expectations during the interview process. Just remember to do your research and preparation in advance, and to always put forward a bracket to show you’re willing to be flexible.

If you’re preparing for an interview, be sure to check out our interview tips and most common interview questions.

How to handle rejection after a job interview

Believe it or not, learning how to handle job interview rejection is actually an essential step in finding a new job. Unless you’re one of the lucky ones, you’re bound to face rejection at some point in your job search with more than half of candidates facing rejection at the first stage. It’s a natural part of the process, so knowing how to deal with it is an important lesson.

“Don’t let rejection plummet you into paralysis. You’ve got to keep moving.”

7 practical ways to deal with job interview rejection

Reflect

Don’t just bounce from one interview to the next without finding lessons in each interview. Although you didn’t get the outcome you wanted, there are valuable lessons in every situation, and interview rejections are no exception.

Find a quiet space to reflect on your interview, and write down what you did well, and where you think you fell short.

Gain feedback

One of the most effective ways to bounce back after an interview rejection is to ask the interviewer for feedback. They’ll likely be able to offer you insights you weren’t even aware of, and can suggest ways you can do better in your next interview.

Create a development plan

Gaining all this feedback is no good if you don’t put it to good use. Once you’ve established where you need to improve, create a plan to fill the voids. If you’re lacking a particular skill, see if there are any courses you can take or, if you’re still in a job, perhaps you can pick up these skills by taking on more responsibilities.

Revise your answers

Every interview includes those common interview questions, but most interviews also include questions you didn’t expect… and some of these questions might leave you at a loss for words! So be sure to note these tough interview questions down and prepare answers to them for your next interview.

Refine your search

What did you learn after this interview? Perhaps it made you realise that you’ve not got the right skill set for this role, or perhaps you need to go for a less senior position. Maybe you liked the role but you weren’t too keen on the company itself. Either way, use each interview to help you better define what it is you’re looking for.

Hop back on the wagon

Don’t let rejection plummet you into paralysis. You’ve got to keep moving. The more interviews you can arrange for yourself, the better. Try not to put all your eggs in one basket as this will only cause you to feel more pressure. The more interviews you line up for yourself, the less of a loss it will feel if you get rejected.

Don’t take it personally

Most importantly, don’t take rejection personally. It’s not a reflection on your potential or work ethic. It’s simply not the right time or opportunity for you, and everyone goes through this rejection at some point in their careers. So get into the flow of attending and enjoying interviews, trusting that you will land the right role at the right time!

Love your journey

Success is never a straight-forward journey. It’s full of ups and downs, triumphs and mistakes. Remember that each rejection has the power to give you more wisdom and will only make you stronger if you use each experience as an opportunity to learn.

Can you ask for feedback after an interview?

Job hunting can feel like a slog, especially if you’re faced with rejection after rejection. But what if you could make the whole process more efficient by asking for feedback? Many people feel uncomfortable asking for interview feedback and are worried they’ll look too bold or even make the hiring manager uncomfortable. But perhaps they’re missing a trick…

“Asking for interview feedback takes great strength of character as it shows you’re not afraid of criticism. From a manager’s point of view, this is an incredibly attractive quality in a candidate.”

Is it okay to ask for interview feedback?

Yes, it’s a good idea to ask for feedback after an interview as it enables you to understand both your strengths and weaknesses, all through the eyes of an employer. Since interviewers see an average of 6 candidates per vacancy, they’re able to provide you with invaluable advice about how you can improve.

How to ask for interview feedback

There are a couple of different ways you could ask for interview feedback. Firstly, you could be bold and ask the interviewer for feedback at the end of the interview before you leave. 

The second way to ask for interview feedback is to wait for the call or email to hear if you’ve been successful. Chances are, if you’re asking for feedback at this point then you probably haven’t been successful. 

Not all interviewers will be comfortable with the face-to-face option and would prefer to give interview feedback over email or phone, so it’s down to you to gauge their level of comfort. 

Examples of asking for interview feedback

Asking during the interview:

  • ‘I’ve really enjoyed the interview and hope I’ve come across well. Before I leave, could you tell me if you have any doubts about my ability to succeed in this role?’
  • ‘I understand there are other candidates and the competition is strong. Are there any areas I’m lacking in in comparison to the other candidates you’ve seen?’
  • ‘I understand you provide training. But if I was to be successful with this role, are there any areas of the job you think I’d struggle with currently?’

Asking after the interview:

  • ‘I really appreciate the opportunity and would be grateful if you’re able to share some feedback with me about where I performed well, and what I could have done better.’
  • ‘Thank you for the opportunity. I understand the other candidates were stronger. What would you have needed to see from me to hire me?’
  • ‘I really liked the company and the sound of the role but understand I’m not quite right for it at the moment. If I was to reapply in 6-12 months time, what difference would you like to see in me?’

5 benefits of asking for feedback after an interview

You show strength of character

Asking for interview feedback takes great strength of character as it shows you’re not afraid of criticism. From a manager’s point of view, this is an incredibly attractive quality in a candidate. Managers like to work with people who are open to learning and taking feedback on board. It also shows you’re not afraid of having uncomfortable conversations – which may be a huge bonus if customer interaction is part of the role.

Allows you to address any concerns

What happens if you leave the interview whilst the interviewer isn’t sure if you’re the right fit for the role? You’ll probably end up getting rejected. But if you ask for feedback while you’re still in the interview room, you have the opportunity to address any concerns with the hiring manager and convince them you’re the right person for the job!

You can gauge the interviewer’s management style

Asking for feedback will give you a small insight into the interviewer’s management style. Perhaps they’ll deliver feedback very clearly and constructively, pointing out both the positives and the negatives. Or perhaps they’re a little too direct and hard on the criticism. This gives you a good glimpse into how you’ll work together on the job.

Develops your self-awareness

Receiving feedback from others is a great way to develop your self-awareness. Very often, other people pick up on things about you that you’re not even aware of. This brings the unconscious into the conscious, and allows you to start working on that area to improve it.

Allows you to improve next time

Whatever the feedback, it can be used to improve your interview performance next time. Interviewers spend a lot of time assessing different candidates, so they’ll be able to offer you valuable advice about how you can take it up a level next time.

If you’re currently applying for jobs, don’t forget to check out our top interview tips.

Are remote jobs the future?

Now that the dust of 2020 is beginning to settle, you might presently find yourself at a crossroads in your career, wondering if remote jobs are here to stay and whether you should pursue one. Since lockdown restrictions first came into play, the number of work from home jobs in the UK has tripled since January 2020, with the vast majority of businesses having some sort of remote working policy in place. So it’s clear that online jobs have had a huge surge. But what does the future hold?

Let’s take a look at how the world of remote working has transformed so you can decide if it’s right for you!

“Experts predict that by 2025, 70% of the workforce will be remote.”

How has remote working developed in 2021?

Before the pandemic, companies had toyed around with the idea of remote working, but it wasn’t that common. If you found a company that offered remote working, it was like you’d struck gold! But the ‘stay home’ orders in 2020 forced businesses to close their office doors and consequently birthed a whole new way of working – and it looks as though it’s here to stay with a massive 74% of companies planning on making remote working permanent even after the pandemic.

Which companies are offering remote working options permanently?

By the looks of things, remote working is here to stay. Not only that, experts predict that by 2025, 70% of the workforce will be remote. Here’s a list of just some of the companies who have adopted a permanent approach (whether it be optional or hybrid) to remote working already:

  • Shopify
  • Quora
  • Fujitsu
  • Hubspot
  • Pinterest
  • Microsoft
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • REI
  • Dropbox
  • Nationwide
  • Salesforce

What are the best jobs for remote working?

With all the hype around online working, it’s important to understand which jobs and industries will be rich in remote working opportunities – because not every job is suited to it! But it’s not so much about the job title, but more about the tasks associated with the role. Research shows that if you want a work from home job, your best chance is if you find a role which involves one or more of the following tasks: 

  • Updating knowledge and learning
  • Interacting with computers
  • Thinking creatively
  • Communicating with and guiding colleagues or clients
  • Processing, analysing, interpreting information
  • Performing administrative and organisational tasks

Which jobs don’t support remote working?

There are some tasks that don’t tend to support remote working because you simply need to be onsite to do the job properly. Take a look at these tasks to avoid if you want to work remotely:

  • Controlling machines and mechanical equipment
  • Handling and moving objects
  • Assisting and caring for others
  • Measuring products or surroundings
  • Selling to or influencing others

Advantages of working from home

Let’s take a peek at some of the reasons to love remote working:

  • No commute stress – gone are the days of having to spend hours crawling in traffic, whilst worrying you’re not going to make it to work on time
  • Not spending money on travel – remote working allows you to save money as you spend less on fuel and travel
  • More time since no commute – when you work from home, you can take your mornings a little slower since you only have to travel to your home office
  • Comfortable clothing – say goodbye to suits and tailored clothing, and say hello to your favourite sweats
  • Better work-life balance – with no long commute home, you have more time to spend doing the things you love whether that’s exercise or just having extra time to spend with the kids

Disadvantages of working from home

It’s important to understand that remote working isn’t all rainbows and sunshine. Here’s why:

  • Not the same team culture – there’s no doubt that team culture isn’t the same when working from home. You could feel isolated from others and a little lonely at times
  • Lack of recognition – when you work from home, your boss can’t always see how hard you’re working which can cause you to feel underappreciated
  • Distractions – there are plenty of distractions at home like pets, kids and the TV, so you need to be super disciplined to stay on track
  • Delays in communication – communication between colleagues can be delayed with online working which can make simple tasks more complicated
  • Poor wifi – if your WiFi isn’t in tip top shape, it can be disruptive to your work. What’s worse is that it’s down to you to fix, not your employer

The world is your oyster

There’s no doubt that the future of remote working is looking bright – but it’s not for everyone. Some people prefer to be in vibrant office environments surrounded by other team members, whereas others thrive working alone in a home environment. The good news is that you pretty much have your pick of the bunch since there are plenty of opportunities both on-site and remote.

If you’re still figuring out your next steps, don’t miss our blog on defining your dream job, and if you’re ready to start applying for jobs, read our CV writing guide.

How long should you stay in a job?

One of the most difficult parts of looking at a career change is knowing how long to stay in a job and when the right time is to leave. You’re keen to progress your career, but at the same time you don’t want prospective employers to think you’re a job-hopper, right?

As a general rule of thumb, you should stay in a job for a minimum of 2 years before carrying out a new job search. This shows employers you’ll stick around long enough to make an impact, and aren’t likely to hand in your notice within the first 6 months.

But it’s not always so black and white. Read on to find out more about this topic:

  • How long should you stay in a job?
  • How long do people tend to stay in jobs for?
  • Valid reasons to find a new job
  • Questions to ask before handing in your notice
  • How to explain short tenure in an interview

How long should you stay in a job?

Generally speaking, 2 years is a long enough tenure to spend at a job but every role is different. During your tenure, you want to allow enough time to settle into your role, master your responsibilities, learn new skills, and make a positive impact on the company. You may also feel it’s time to move on once you’ve achieved your personal goals like gaining a promotion or taking a sideways move into a new role, and there’s simply nowhere else for you to progress.

How long do people tend to stay in jobs for?

The average tenure for employees is 4.1 years. This tends to be higher for older employees (aged 55 to 64) who have an average tenure of 9.9 years, whereas workers aged 25 to 34 tend to spend 2.8 years at a job before moving on.

Having said that, your tenure is going to be completely unique to you and your circumstances. If your job is no longer fulfilling you and you need a new challenge, or perhaps you’re working in an environment that’s damaging your health, these are valid reasons to leave and you should make every effort to change your situation!

Signs it may be time to find a new job

As mentioned, there are many valid reasons for quitting your job. Here are just a few of them:

  • The work isn’t challenging enough
  • Negative office atmosphere
  • You’re not aligned with company’s values / culture
  • No training provided
  • No career progression opportunities
  • Poor relationship with your manager
  • You’re overworked and underpaid
  • The work is no longer fulfilling

Questions to ask yourself before resigning

Deciding when to leave your job can feel very daunting. You may even be second guessing your decision. Try asking yourself these questions to help the decision-making process:

  • If my company was to alter my role, would I stay?
  • What is my current role lacking?
  • What have I enjoyed about my current role / company?
  • How long have I been feeling like this? Is it temporary?
  • Will my CV look strong enough to land the role I want?

How to explain a short tenure

Sometimes things don’t go as planned and it ends up being necessary to leave your job before you’ve hit that 2 year point. If you’re leaving your job after less than 2 years of being there, expect employers to probe you on this during their interview questions. 

Acknowledge the elephant in the room

Acknowledge that your tenure was short. The best thing to do is to recognise that you didn’t stay at the company for as long as you would have liked, and explain the reasons why you needed to move on.

Be transparent but positive

Talk honestly about your reasons for leaving your job but don’t dive into any details of ‘he said, she said.’ Keep it as professional as possible and avoid showing any feelings of frustration about your old workplace. 

Talk about the skills / experience you gained

Always finish off your answer by talking about your achievements in the role and the skills you gained, even if you were only there for a short time. 

Dream job pending

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to leaving your job. In general, 2 years is a solid tenure, but what’s right for you may not be right for someone else. If you’re certain you want to leave your job, make your next career move count and take the time to define your dream job before launching your job search.

How to write a CV – stand out from the crowd

Writing your CV isn’t exactly the most popular task in the world, but it is one of the most important parts of your job hunt. On average, recruiters and hiring managers will only scan your CV for 6 seconds before deciding whether to continue reading or skip to the next. So spending some time perfecting your CV really should be at the top of your list of priorities!

Read on to find out the answers to your most burning CV questions:

  • What is a CV?
  • How long should a CV be?
  • What sections should you include in your CV?
  • What are the top skills to include in your CV?
  • Should you include your references?

How to write a CV in the UK

What is a CV?

A CV, or Curriculum Vitae, is a document outlining your professional and academic experience. This document is sent to hiring managers as part of the job application process. Hiring managers will then use your CV to decide whether to progress your application to the next stage of the process.

How long should your CV be?

Your CV should be as concise as possible, and most recruiters agree that your CV should not exceed 2 pages in length. The aim of the CV isn’t to give every last detail of your life story. You need to make the hiring manager’s job easier by condensing your experience down to the most relevant parts. You can provide more details in your cover letter or in the interview.

Sections to include in your CV

To make your CV easier to read, divide it up into clearly labelled sections.

  • Personal details
  • Personal statement
  • Work experience
  • Education
  • Hobbies

Personal details

At the top of your CV, include the following personal details: 

  • Full name
  • Address
  • Email address
  • Contact number

Personal statement

Below your personal details is your personal statement. This should be 2-4 eye-catching sentences that captivate the hiring manager, and give them a reason to want to read the rest of your CV. Include some key words from the job description here, and outline your most relevant work experience.

Work experience

  • List your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent job first. 
  • Title each job with the job title, company, location, and dates
  • List 2-5 bullet points per job (use 4-5 bullet points only for the most relevant jobs)

Education

List your education in bullet points, stating the qualifications and grades you achieved. Don’t worry about listing each individual GCSE. You can simply write ‘9 GCSEs grade A-C including english, maths and science.’ This will help to save space!

Hobbies

Your hobbies section gives you the chance to display your personality. List 3 hobbies, but make them interesting! Instead of simply writing ‘Travel’, you could write ‘Travel – 6 months backpacking in South East Asia’. Similarly, instead of just writing ‘Sport’, you could write ‘Sport – local tennis champion’.

What are the top skills to include in your CV?

Your CV should be tailored to each job to reflect the skills that are described in the job advert. Highlight all the key skills from the job advert and incorporate as many of these as possible into your CV to grab the hiring manager’s attention. This should mean your CV skills will look slightly different for each job you apply to!

Should you include your references?

You can omit your references from your CV to save space. The tendency is for people to write ’References can be provided upon request’, but even this sentence is unnecessary since it is generally implied that you’ll be able to provide references.

Bonus tips

  • Bullet points – bullet points make your CV easier to read. So avoid long paragraphs and just use bullet points to describe your work experience.
  • Uniformity – presentation is important in your CV as it says a lot about your attention to detail. Make sure all your jobs are titled in the same way.
  • Bold text – Write all of your headings in bold font to make your CV easier to scan
  • Font – use a professional font in size 12 like Arial or Times New Roman

Create a CV in minutes!

Ready to create a professional CV but don’t know where to start? When you download the SonicJobs app, we create a CV for you for free in minutes. So head over to the app store and install our app to get started!

Got an interview coming up? Don’t miss our top interview tips!

How long should a cover letter be?

When done right, cover letters can play a vital role in the success of your job application. But let’s be honest, it’s not exactly everyone’s favourite job to do, is it? When you’re writing a cover letter, you’ve probably got a thousand questions spinning round in your head like ‘What should I include?’ and ‘How long should it be?’.

As a rule of thumb, cover letters in the UK should be no more than a page long, and should include 3-4 paragraphs. Hiring managers lead busy lives, so you want your cover letter to be short but concise. Your cover letter should expand on the main points from your CV, and provide more examples and detail about your most important achievements. 

How to keep your cover letter to one page

Only talk about your most relevant experience

You might have a lot you want to highlight from your experience but cover letters aren’t the place for that. Cover letters should include only the most relevant and impressive parts of your background and experience in relation to the job description. Everything else should wait until the interview. You want to get across your point as quickly as possible – and only the most relevant experience is going to grab the hiring manager’s attention.

Don’t use lengthy sentences

Your cover letter isn’t the place to write descriptively. Keep it simple and use as few words as possible. Yes, use sophisticated and professional language, but don’t mistake sophistication for long sentences.

Get the right font size and spacing

One of the most practical ways to save space in your cover letter is to make sure you’re typing in a size 11 font (Times New Roman or Arial) with just single spacing between lines. 

Use 3-4 paragraphs

A good rule is to only use 3-4 paragraphs in your cover letter. Each paragraph could contain somewhere between 2-5 sentences, but try not to write any more than that.

Cover letter layout

  • Paragraph 1: Introduce your reason for writing the letter, which position you’re applying for and where you found the vacancy.
  • Paragraph 2: Give a brief overview of your most relevant skills and experience. Create a compelling argument as to why you’d made a great candidate for the position by drawing on your past achievements.
  • Paragraph 3: Talk about why you want to work for them specifically and what draws you to the role.
  • Paragraph 4: Thank them for their time and let them know you look forward to hearing a response.

What NOT to include in your cover letter

Duplicate information

Make sure your cover letter isn’t simply echoing your CV. You want to provide new and persuasive information in your cover letter that supports the information in your CV, but doesn’t duplicate it.

Images

Your cover letter should include text only. There should never be any images of you in your cover letter (or your CV for that matter!)

Word art

Don’t use any fancy word art in your cover letter. This looks unprofessional, takes up space, and makes the page look more busy. Just stick to classic black font text! 

Short and simple does the trick

It’s important not to over-complicate the cover letter process. In a nutshell, you want your cover letter to prove that you have the key skills and experience listed in the job description, and to convince the hiring manager that you deserve an interview. Don’t run away with the writing – hiring managers don’t have time to read long essays. Keep it short and to the point to maximise your chance of getting an interview!

If you’re writing a cover letter, make sure you head over to our article on what to include in a cover letter.

Bagged yourself an interview? Don’t miss our tips for standing out in an interview!

What should you include in a cover letter?

Writing a cover letter is one of the most powerful ways of propelling your job application into the interview process. When you take the time to thoughtfully craft your letter, you can bump yourself up to the front of the interview line.

But how do you write a cover letter? What’s the winning formula? Allow us to take you through all the steps you need to take to grab the hiring manager’s attention:

  • What is a cover letter?
  • How to write a cover letter
  • What are the 4 parts to a cover letter?

What is a cover letter?

A cover letter is a document addressed to the hiring manager that supports your CV and job application. The aim of the cover letter is to capture the hiring manager’s attention, and show them why you deserve an interview in as few words as possible. You don’t want to duplicate what’s written in your CV, but instead provide additional information and detail that helps support your application – information that perhaps didn’t fit into your CV.

How to write a cover letter

Use the hiring manager’s name

Ideally, you’ll find out the hiring manager’s name and address your cover letter to them directly. You may have to do a bit of digging on the company website or call reception to find out, but taking this step shows you’ve put a bit of extra care into the letter instead of just addressing it to ‘Sir/Madam’.

Send as a PDF document

Cover letters should be written up as a separate document, rather than as part of an email. To make life easier for the hiring manager, attach the cover letter as a PDF. This way, the hiring manager doesn’t have to worry about converting the document into a different format for readability. They can simply download the attachment and read your letter!

Follow a format letter layout

You want your cover letter to be as professional as possible so remember to follow the layout of a formal letter.

Aspects of a formal cover letter

  • Hiring manager’s name and address
  • Your name and address
  • Date
  • Subject
  • Letter signed off with ‘Yours faithfully’ if you know the hiring manager’s name
  • Signed with your full name
  • Stick to one A4 page (check out our blog on how to keep your cover letter to one page!)

What are the 4 parts of a cover letter?

Generally speaking, your cover letter should contain 4 parts or paragraphs: the first paragraph lets them know your reason for writing; the second introduces your background and skills; the third states why you want to work for them and feel you’re a strong candidate; and the fourth thanks them for their time.

  • Paragraph 1 – introduction
  • Paragraph 2 – key skills and experience
  • Paragraph 3 – why you want the position
  • Paragraph 4 – close with a thanks

Paragraph 1

The opening paragraph should be no longer than 2 sentences. It should state why you’re writing (to apply for a position), what position you’re applying for, and where you found the vacancy advertised.

Paragraph 2

In this paragraph, you’ll want to dive straight into your key skills and experience. This isn’t about listing all of your skills – remember to keep it relevant to the role. If you’re not sure which skills are relevant to the role, scan the job advert to find out.

Paragraph 3

So now that you’ve demonstrated your key skills and experience in the previous paragraph, you can use the fourth paragraph to explain why you want to work for this company specifically, and in this particular role. Perhaps the company is a market leader, or their values and mission align with yours. Either way, this is an opportunity to really tailor your cover letter and let the hiring manager know you’re talking specifically to them.

Paragraph 4

The final paragraph should round off your letter, thanking the hiring manager for considering your application. Leave them with a call to action, and let them know you look forward to hearing from them soon.

Prepare for takeoff!

Each cover letter you write will be different for each job you apply to. Yes, this means more work for you – but this is what you need to do to land that dream role and stand out from the other candidates! Just remember to make your cover letter stand out with impressive examples of your achievements.

Once you’ve landed yourself an interview, don’t forget to practise the most common interview questions!