SonicJobs

Hey, Julie checking in 😊 We’re still in the midst of winter, and you’re probably feeling a little blue, right?

Research has shown that winter can have a negative impact on your mood. But couple that with the fact you’re looking for work, plus you’re in lockdown… times are hard! And we’re all feeling it.

So what can you do about it?

Let’s focus on the solutions!

Feeling isolated? 🥺

I feel you! Life in lockdown can be a lonely place. But remember, your friends and family are just a phone call away.

Going stir crazy?🌪

Commit to taking a walk once a day come rain or shine. Walking in nature is a proven way to release endorphins.

Demotivated after getting rejected from job applications? ❌

Don’t let your job applications consume you. Get into the routine of applying for a few jobs each morning, and spending the rest of the day on other productive tasks.

Money worries? 💰

Remember, financial support is available from the government (https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/worker-support ). But to earn some quick cash, why not have a clear out and find things to sell on Facebook marketplace?

Generally fed up? 😞

I hear ya – give yourself something to get excited about! How about learning yoga? Or doing some DIY? Or learning a new skill on YouTube like drawing?

It’s been a long winter, but spring is just around the corner 🌞 Hang in there guys! What are you doing to help yourself get through the winter? Share your tips below 👇

Sending love your way,

Julie 💜

Hey – it’s Julie 👋 Are interviews your worst nightmare? Do you feel like your nerves are holding you back?

Well, you’re not alone. Interviews can be an extremely daunting experience.

BUT, there are ways you can calm yourself and come across more confident!

🌟Deep breathing – deep and controlled breathing calms your nervous system. Practise deep breathing before leaving the house, before entering the building, and when you’re in the waiting room.

🌟Smile when speaking – it’s easy for your nerves to kick in and all of a sudden you end up looking like a rabbit in headlights 🐇 But you want to radiate positivity. Smiling when you’re talking is a great way to do that… even if it feels unnatural, you’ll be coming across as confident.

🌟Don’t put all your eggs in one basket – try to schedule several interviews for the same week. This will take the pressure off and help you get into that interviewing flow!

🌟Write down your questions – there’s nothing worse than getting stage-fright and drawing a blank. Before your interview, write your questions down so you can refer to them.

🌟Keep your hands on the table – fidgeting with your hands is a sure sign of nervousness. Keep them on the table to show you have composure.

🌟It’s okay to pass – ever gotten stuck on an interview question? If this happens, it’s okay to ask the interviewer to come back to it later.

What other interview tips do you have? Let me know below 👇

I’ll be waiting for your reply!

Julie 💜

Hello! It’s Julie 😄 I know you’ve been going crazy trying to think of a great personal statement for your CV. So it’s time we knuckled down on this, agreed?

💥Keep it personal

It’s called a personal statement for a reason. Everything you write should describe your specific experience and career aspirations.

💥Avoid cliches

Steer clear of describing yourself as ‘friendly’ or a ‘hard-working’. This won’t help you to stand out… because most people write the same thing!

💥Keep it relevant

Depending on the jobs you’re applying for, you might need to tailor your personal statement to draw on different parts of your experience.

Personal statement formula

1️⃣1 sentence on background / qualifications

2️⃣1-2 sentences on relevant duties / achievements / skills

3️⃣1 sentence describing what you’re looking for

Example: Customer service

I have 3 years’ experience working in customer-facing roles both on the phone and in-person. In previous roles for Natwest and Aviva, I have achieved weekly sales targets and taken pride in providing customers with in-depth product knowledge. I am looking for a full-time position in customer service that provides room for progression.

Example: Graduate job

I’m a recent graduate of Marketing, specialising in social media marketing and research. Key projects include creating social media branding for a tech startup, and analysing the results of different marketing methods such as email and paid ads. I’m seeking a graduate role with a core focus on digital marketing.

🌟Ready to rock your personal statement? Head over to the ‘Profile’ tab and edit your ‘About me’ section.

You’ve got this!

Julie💜

Hey! It’s Julie 😄  2020 has been a tough year for a lot of us but guess what … 2021 is just around the corner! 

So let’s get down to some serious career goal-setting to make sure your 2021 is a year to remember… for all the right reasons!

Food for thought 💭

1️⃣ Career path

Are you happy on your current career path? Or do you feel like you need to switch gears?

2️⃣ Company

How do you feel about your current company? If you like it there – what opportunities are there for you to progress? If not, what sort of company would you like to work for instead?

3️⃣ Skills

What skills are you going to need to further your career? Is it something you can learn in your current job or will you need to gain these skills independently? What courses could you complete?

Motivation

Everyone starts the new year out feeling super enthusiastic, and then by March the enthusiasm seems to filter out. If you’re going to achieve your goals, you’ll need to need to keep yourself motivated

What acts can you do on a daily / weekly basis to keep up your motivation levels?

👉Read a motivational book

👉Listen to a podcast

👉Find a mentor

👉Attend webinars

👉Pin your goals to your wall

👉Use a daily planner

Don’t forget, a goal without a plan is just a dream. Make sure your plan includes a timeline for when you want to hit each of your objectives!

THANK YOU for being with SonicJobs throughout 2020 – we can’t wait to see you flourish in 2021.

Happy New Year,

Julie 💜✨
P.S. Employers LOVE to hire in January so be sure to check in daily for new vacancies!📲

Welcome to Chapter 3 of CV Creation: transferable skills!

With the rising number of redundancies and low number of vacancies, it’s no surprise that many of you are having to switch careers into industries where you don’t have any experience. 

But how do you get an interview in a job you’ve not worked in before?…

Well, you talk about your transferable skills!

Let’s take a look at some of the transferable skills you may have gained in different jobs:

Admin Assistant 🖥

Organisation | Attention to detail | Computer literate | Microsoft packages | 

Data entry | Team work

Receptionist 📞

Customer service | Multi-tasking | Computer literate | Communication | Attention to detail | Listening | Microsoft packages | Independent | Reliable

Waiter/Waitress / Sales Assistant 💷

Customer service | Communication | Attention to detail | Working under pressure | Team work | Prioritising | Admin | Health & safety | Working to targets | Numeracy | Time management | Problem solving | Listening

Warehouse Operative 📦

Organisation | Attention to detail | Team work | Quality control | Health & safety | Working under pressure | Data entry | Working to targets | Following processes

Healthcare Assistant ❤️

Communication | Health & safety | Safeguarding | Time management | Relationship building | Flexible approach to work | Listening | Problem-solving | Multi-tasking | Organised

Driver 🚚

Reliable | Organisation | Independence | Admin | Planning | Working to deadlines | Concentration | Customer service | Communication

TOP TIP💡 Instead of simply listing skills in your CV, give examples of how you demonstrated these skills at work.

I want to remind you that although the job market is tough, people are still getting hired everyday. Jobs are out there, you just have to keep persevering! 💪

I’ll see you all in the next chapter!

Hey, it’s Julie 👋 Newsflash: self-care is just as important as your career!

I get it, mornings can be rough. But whether you’re working from home, from an office, or are unemployed, you’ll be able to benefit from these morning mood lifters.

1️⃣Listen to uplifting music 🎶

Music has been proven to improve your mood and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. When you wake up, pop on some calm and uplifting music.

2️⃣Listen to a podcast 🎙

Whilst you get ready for the day ahead, use a podcast to motivate yourself.

3️⃣Do a 10 minute workout 🏋️‍♀️

Doing just 10 minutes of exercise in the morning is the perfect way to get the serotonin flowing around your body.

4️⃣Put on some essential oils 😌

Whatever your mood, there’s an oil for it. Essential oils have a subtle way of uplifting your mood.

5️⃣Tend to your houseplants 🌵

Taking time in the morning to rotate and water your plants is a great way to ground your energy for the day ahead.

6️⃣Journal 📓

Putting your thoughts down on paper helps to stop them from aimlessly circling round your head all day.

7️⃣Do something selfless 💜

Selfless acts – gotta love ‘em! It could be making a cup of tea for someone or texting a friend to brighten up their morning.

8️⃣Enjoy a hot drink ☕️

Instead of rolling out of bed and rushing around, honour yourself by taking 10 minutes to sit with a hot drink in the morning.

9️⃣Don’t check your phone ❌

I dare you to wait 30 minutes before checking your phone. Your eyes and mind will thank you for it!

So then, which of these morning mood lifters will you be trying? 👇

Speak soon,

Julie💜

On average, 4-6 people will make it to the interview stage but only 1 will get hired… so you can never be too prepared when it comes to interviews. 

Employers love to throw in tough interview questions to really put you to the test…

Will you crumble… or will you fly?! 😰

Let’s take a look at 4 tough interview questions and how to prepare for them💪

📌 Tell me about a time when you failed.

Whether you view it as failure or not, employers want to hear when something didn’t go as planned. The key is to explain what went wrong and how you’d do it differently to show that you have good self-awareness and that you grew from your mistakes.

📌 What are your weak areas?

Don’t be generic and say ‘I’m a perfectionist’. Get real and honest about your weaknesses and how you overcame them! For example, maybe you’re forgetful and unorganised, but to rectify this you use checklists religiously and update your to-do list 3 times a day.

📌 How’ve you shown initiative in the workplace?

Employers want to know you don’t need to be spoon fed every last detail. Can you think of a time when you decided to do something on your own accord because it was for the greater good of the business?

📌 Why are you leaving your current role?

Don’t bad-mouth your old boss in an interview. Instead, focus on the professional benefits that this new employer can offer. Are there better career prospects? More training? Perhaps the work is more varied?
Remember💡 prep for your interview by thinking of example-based answers. If you haven’t prepared for a particular question, it’s perfectly reasonable to take a moment to THINK before answering.

Hey, it’s just Julie dropping by again 👋 When it comes to looking for a long-term job, it’s just as important for you to find a good employer as it is for an employer to find a good employee!

So what makes a good employer? How can you tell if they’re going to be a good company to work for before you accept the job offer?

Let’s take a look!

👉Structured training

A good employer should be able to talk you through what training you’ll receive once you start, and what ongoing training opportunities there are for permanent employees.

👉Career development

If you’re looking for a long-term career, you’ll want to see room for yourself to progress. Look for a structured career path… it’s also a very good sign if their management team has come from internal promotions!

👉Company values

Any company can say they have values, but asking an employer how they represent those values on a daily basis is a great way to bring them to life and gain a better understanding of what it’s like to work there.

👉Employee recognition

You want to work for a company that recognises you for your efforts and achievements, right? An employer might use awards or even Employee of the Month to recognise its employees.

👉Great benefits

It’s always a good sign when a company offers interesting benefits for its employees. Here are a few of my favourite company perks:

🌟Employee discounts

🌟Cycle to work scheme

🌟Performance incentives

🌟Social events

🌟Flexible working

Remember, when you’re looking for a new long-term career, you want to make sure you’ve found the right employer before accepting a job offer!

Good luck with your job hunt!

Julie💜

P.S. We add fantastic new job opportunities every day and you can apply with 1 tap of a button! 📲

Hey, it’s Julie 🙋‍♀️ So you applied for a job, haven’t heard back, and are wondering if you should follow up?

The answer is YES! Follow up on your applications! Just because the hiring manager hasn’t contacted you, doesn’t mean all hope is lost.

👉When should you follow up?

43% of HR Managers recommend following up on a job application 1-2 weeks after applying.

👉Who should you contact?

Contact the hiring manager. Find their details on the job advert, company website, LinkedIn, or in your SonicJobs messages.

👉How should you follow up?

If it’s been 1-2 weeks with no response, you should follow up with a polite email. If you still receive no response, try a phone call.

👉What should you say?

When it comes to writing a follow up email, less is more. The hiring manager is busy enough as it is, so don’t overwhelm them with a long email.

Example:

Dear Mr Jones,

I applied for a position as a [JOB TITLE] 10 days ago, and would like to know if you have had a chance to consider my application?

Although I am currently applying for other positions, this is my ideal role and I would be grateful to have the opportunity to use my [SKILLS] to contribute towards [COMPANY AIMS].

I have re-attached my CV and cover letter for your consideration.

I look forward to your reply.

Kindest regards,

[NAME]

[Phone number]

Sometimes all the hiring manager needs is a little nudge before progressing your application.

🌟TOP TIP If you ever received a message from an employer on the SonicJobs app, you can follow up by replying to them directly on the app💫

Good luck with your follow ups!

Julie 💜

Hey, it’s Julie 👋 I know you’ve been wondering what jobs are available in the warehousing space, so I thought I’d fill you in!

Well, the first bit of good news is that there were 40,000 live vacancies for supply chain roles (including warehousing) in September which is way more than at the start of the pandemic (only 13,700 in April).

The second bit of good news is that more than half of these roles were for entry-level positions. This opens the door for you to find work in the industry even if you’ve got no experience. Winner winner!

So what sort of jobs are we talking about?

📦Warehouse and Supply Chain

You could find a job working in a warehouse helping to prepare products for delivery.

Job titles to search👉 Picker packer / Warehouse Operative / Order Picker / Forklift driver

Before I forget… we’ve got plenty of warehouse jobs available under the Amazon section of the app! 📲

🚚Logistics

In logistics, you’re more involved with transporting goods from one place to another, rather than being in the warehouse itself. This could be long-distance travelling, or perhaps local delivery drops for parcels.

Job titles to search for👉 HGV 1 driver / HGV 2 Driver / Delivery driver / Van driver / Multi-drop driver

Some jobs will require experience but, as mentioned before, over half of the jobs in September were for people with zero experience!

Good luck!

Julie💜
Looking for a job? Don’t forget to whizz over to our Amazon jobs section and make the most of our 1-tap applications! 📲