SonicJobs

In a recent interview, Emily Lou a career coach with over 10 years of experience shared her views on unemployment and some tips to deal with it positively. For most of us, working is part of our identity and we tend to feel lost or anxious when we are made redundant. It doesn’t have to be that way and we are here to tell you that it is okay!

😅 THE BLAME GAME

As a career coach, Emily Lou’s advice is to give yourself some days or a week to process what happened. She further shares that you need to accept that some things are beyond our control especially in the current economic environment. Don’t blame yourself for a situation that millions of people are facing around the world right now!

 💪 LOSE THE EGO

You need to ask yourself if there are “no jobs available?” or “no jobs that you want available?” Emily Lou points out that sometimes you need to consider “bridge jobs” which will let you pay your bills. It doesn’t have to be a permanent solution but just a temporary one to keep the pressure off even if it means applying for a job you are overqualified for. 

🔎  CATEGORISE YOUR INTERESTS

One good way to go about it would be giving yourself 2-3 hours of detailed research. Researching various industries and categorising by themes of what kind of jobs you might like will be a useful exercise to do.

For example, if you have a theme called customer-facing jobs then list down jobs that might be available which are customer-facing. You can find several career options on our SonicJobs app!

🗣 TALK TO PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY

Start communicating with people in the industry. Your goal here should be asking for more information about the industry and getting advice on what steps can you take to be a part of it.

💰 SIDE HUSTLE

A side hustle gives you a good idea about career choices as it lets you determine whether it’s something you see yourself doing full time. Further, a side hustle doesn’t need your full commitment, therefore, it may be an easy way to figure out career options and earn some extra money. 

You can find several options on our SonicJobs app, apply now!

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!

Chapter 2: Content

Hey Sonic people 🙋‍ Welcome to Chapter 2 of CV Creation: Content!

Did you know that, on average, a hiring manager will only look at your CV for 6 seconds?!

So how do you get the hiring manager’s attention?

Step 1: nail your structure (see previous chapter)

Step 2: nail your content!

Let’s take a closer look at how you can perfect your content to make your CV stand out…

👉 Summary

You want your summary to highlight your most relevant experience in 2-3 sentences, using 2 or 3 keywords from the job advert. Avoid using cliches and instead summarise your unique experience.

Ask yourself: could my summary be referring to just anyone? Or does it specifically relate to me? Is it relevant to the job I’m applying for?

👉 Experience

If you remember anything, remember this: keywords make the CV pop!

Tailor your CV’s work experience to each job you’re applying for, using keywords from the job advert – if the job ad mentions ‘attention to detail’, make sure you mention how you demonstrated ‘attention to detail’ in past jobs!

Write 3-6 bullet points per job, only using 6 for the most important jobs.

👉 Education

Remember from chapter 1, you only want your CV to be 2 pages long. So, instead of listing out each individual GCSE, save space by writing it like this:

Wistow Secondary School, Manchester, 2002-2007

9 GCSEs grades A-C including english, maths and science.

👉 Hobbies

Avoid being generic here and instead let your personality shine💫

Instead of just writing ‘Reading and art’, you can be more specific:

Reading – I love personal development books. ‘Miracle Morning’ by Hal Elrod is my favourite.

Art – I enjoy painting landscapes with water colours

Sounds better, right?!

Once you’ve written your content, you’ll be ready to move to the next chapter which is all about transferable skills!

Good luck!

Chapter 1: Structure

Hey guys 🙋 Welcome to Chapter 1 of CV Creation: Structure!

Structure is how your CV looks, how it’s presented, and how easy it is to find information.

I get it, applying for jobs these days is hard. You’re lucky if you even hear a response, right? That’s why you really need to make sure you nail the structure of your CV before you even think about sending it off.

Sections to include 👉 Personal details, Summary, Key skills, Experience, Qualifications, Education, Hobbies

Length 👉 No hiring manager has the time to read your life story, especially in this market. Recruiters suggest that the ideal CV length is 2 pages.

Font 👉 Keep it simple. Pick Times New Roman or Arial font, text size 11, and PEN. IN. BLACK 🕴🎶 (sorry, couldn’t resist 😔)

Experience 👉 List your jobs starting with the most recent. 

Job headings 👉 Write your job headings in bold and make sure these are laid out the same pretty way for each job. Example:

Sales Assistant, Marks and Spencer, Leicester, Sept 2018 – March 2020

Job descriptions 👉 Avoid writing long paragraphs🙏 Use 3-6 short bullet points per job, only using 6 points to talk about the most relevant positions!

No images 👉 As beautiful as you all are, in the UK you shouldn’t have any images on your CV. No word art, and no headshots.

Gaps in CV 👉If you have any gaps in your CV for longer than 6 months, you should explain why e.g. ‘Caring for a relative, March 2019 – Oct 2019’

In the next chapter, I’ll be going into detail about how to write the different sections… so make sure you have your CV structure ready to go before then!

Good luck and I’ll see you in the next chapter!

Love Julie 💜

Sorry to hear you’re struggling to find a job. The truth is, we’re living in a very difficult time and a lot of people are in the same position.

Let’s take a quick look at the math… 

The number of vacancies in Q2 dropped by 62.7% in comparison to 2019. The same research is also showing that the number of applications per vacancy has risen by 106% 😱

It’s quite clear that the UK job market is fierce right now and it’s likely to get even fiercer once the furlough scheme ends in October.

What this means is, you’re simply going to have to up your game with your job applications.

Simple Tips

👉 Turn on SonicJobs notifications to hear about the latest vacancies

👉 Make sure your SonicJobs profile is up to date!

👉 Make your CV public and subscribe for notifications on all job boards

👉 Apply for multiple jobs daily – the more the better!

👉 Tailor your CV and attach a cover letter to every application

👉 Update your LinkedIn profile and write ‘Seeking new opportunities’ in your heading

👉 Contact companies that aren’t advertising via phone, email, LinkedIn

👉 After every application, try to call the hiring manager to let them know you’ve applied!

Industries currently doing the most hiring:

🏢 Public Sector

💜 Social Care

🚚 Driving

🍓 Agriculture

🤒 NHS

💸 Supermarkets

📦 Warehousing

🖥 IT and Digital Technology

💧 Cleaning

I know this is a frustrating and disheartening time, but just remember that you’re not in this alone and that we are with you.

The key is to keep being proactive and keep persevering! Every ‘no’ is one step closer to getting that ‘yes’! I’m rooting for you🌱

————-

How are you getting on with your job search? Comment below to share your experience with the rest of the SonicJobs community, or even let us know what content you’d like to see👇

With today’s job market being so competitive, you really can’t afford to apply for a job without attaching a cover letter. 

49% of hiring managers have rated cover letters as the second most important aspect of an application!

So, are you ready to nail this skill and elevate your applications? Let’s get started…

👉 General Dos and Don’ts

✅ Address it to the hiring manager (find out their name)

✅ Get a friend to proof-read it

✅ Use keywords from the job ad

❌ Don’t include pictures / word art

❌ Avoid clichés like ‘I think outside the box’

❌ No fancy fonts – pick Arial or Times New Roman

👉 Paragraph 1

State the position you’re applying for and where you saw it advertised:

I’m writing to apply for the full-time position of Administrative Assistant in your Belvoir Street office, as advertised on the SonicJobs App.

👉 Paragraph 2

Give an overview of your background, qualifications and key skills:

As detailed in my CV, I have 3 years experience working in office-based roles that involved significant administrative tasks including virtual and paper filing, data entry and consistent use of all Microsoft packages.

👉 Paragraph 3

Get specific about a relevant and measurable achievement that improved an organisation you recently worked for:

In my most recent role as an Admin Officer, I took pride in having modernised the company’s paper filing system by creating a virtual filing system that stores confidential customer data in compliance with GDPR. Not only did this improve the efficiency of the central administration team, but the virtual filing system also gave the organisation a more reliable way of protecting its customers.

👉 Final paragraph 4

Express final interest in the role:

I am confident that I can support AdminCORP in its mission to become the UK’s leading office stationery supplier, and would appreciate the opportunity to demonstrate this in an interview. Thank you for your time and consideration.

——————————

As always guys, please get in touch by commenting below this post  and ask me anything you need help with!

Good luck to you all! I’m rooting for you👍🏽

Love Julie 💞

This is a topic that lots of people are concerned about since returning to work.

Many of you have had time to focus on yourselves during lockdown…which is great!

But the last thing you want to do is lose your new sense of wellbeing because you’re going back to work, right?

Well, self-care will look different in a workplace environment. It requires a little more effort because there are way more distractions, but it is possible.

Here are my top tips to help you maintain your sense of wellbeing when at work:

🍲 Meal Planning: it’s no secret that the food you eat has a strong influence on your mood and energy levels. Save time and avoid junk food by batch cooking your lunch on a Sunday and planning your evening meals for the week.

🌞 Miracle Morning: don’t let work consume your life. Take 30 minutes each morning to do some things for yourself like exercise, reading, meditating.

🎧 Enjoy Your Commute: on average, Brits spend 65 minutes a day commuting. Why not feed your brain by listening to an audio book or podcast?

🖥 Revamp Your Workspace: clear desk = clear mind. Switch your clutter for a plant and family photos.

🌳 Get Out Of The Office: it was shown in a survey that a whopping 66% of respondents eat their lunch at their desk! Commit to taking a stroll outside on your lunch.

⏰ 40 Minute Rule: it’s been shown that stretching for just 30 seconds every 40 minutes will improve your spinal health. Set a timer and get your spine moving!

📝  Set Personal Goals: task yourself with something non work-related each week like finishing a book or attending 3 yoga classes.

SUBMIT A QUESTION💡 What would you like to read about? What will help you with your career? Please get in touch with your questions emailing me at CV@sonicjobs.co.uk and I’ll continue to reach back out to you! 💞

You can totally land a job in retail… even with no experience. Retail is an industry that hires largely on your soft skills and potential.

So how can you bag yourself an interview in retail with no experience?

Start by scanning the job advert for keywords 👀 and include these words in your CV. These are some of the most common skills found in retail job adverts:

📢 Customer service

📢 Confidence

📢 Team-work

📢 Communication

📢 Hard-working

Next, carefully write your CV summary in 2-5 sentences using the key words.

Example summary:

‘I’m a confident person seeking work in a fast-paced role working in retail. I enjoy working as part of a team and going the extra mile to deliver excellent customer service.’

What experience should you include in your CV?

👉 Any work experience, even if it’s not in retail.

👉 Volunteer work

👉 Hobbies that demonstrate your key skills

👉 Personal achievements such as academic projects, sports achievements, talents

👉 Key skills and examples e.g. 

Team-work – worked as a team of 4 to produce final year university project over a 6 month period

Leadership – captain of the local football team for 1 year

Communication – regular public speaking presenting projects to peers and lecturers

Finally, include a cover letter!

This is your chance to go into more detail about why you want to work in retail and what you can bring to the company.

Structure your cover letter in this way:

📌 Paragraph 1 – purpose of the letter, position you’re applying for

📌 Paragraph 2 – what skills and experience you have that’s suited to retail

📌 Paragraph 3 – why you want to work for that specific employer

Good luck with your applications and remember…I’m here to help you find the right job. 

You can use your Sonic CV created on our app on other job boards and career sites. Just click on ‘My Sonic CV’ and then Download CV. 💕

 I can help with this! What’s THE most frustrating thing you can hear when you’re really trying to move into a new sector in which you have zero experience and no formal qualifications???

“We’re just looking for someone with a bit more experience.”

GREAT 😑

But don’t worry! You don’t necessarily need a degree to change career paths these days. 

In fact, a recent survey showed 58% of U.K. employers hire based on potential rather than experience or qualifications.

So how can you stand out without having the quals or experience?

Well, how about taking matters into your own capable hands and completing a quick and affordable online course?

Search Udemy.com for their fantastic online courses

💻 Admin – the most important skill you’ll need to land an admin job is good working knowledge of all Microsoft packages, starting with Excel!

🚑 Care Work – most care work doesn’t require experience, but you can take an online course in Safeguarding to show the employer just how committed you are to becoming a care assistant.

💸 Payroll – over 1 million U.K. companies use Sage payroll software, so you’ll never be short on companies looking for this skill. Taking an online course on Sage will be a great way to get your foot in the payroll door.

📷 Marketing – digital marketing is an essential part of any modern day business. Why not take a course in digital marketing or something more specific like Adobe Photoshop, Google AdWords or SEO?

Remember you all, although you might not have any experience, taking an online course will give you the basic skills AND show you have the drive & passion to succeed💥

Did you know that hiring managers will only spend around 6 seconds reading your CV?! Yikes! That’s why it’s so important to carefully build your CV to give it the best chance of standing out from the crowd.

Let’s get straight to work with my top tips for a standout CV 🌟

#1 👉 Size matters – 91% of recruiters said in a survey that CVs should ideally be no more than 2 pages long.

#2 👉 Summary – this comes at the top of your CV and employers really value your summary.  Write a few sentences to highlight your qualities, any relevant experience, and the nature of the work you’re looking for e.g. full-time, in a busy customer-facing role.

#3 👉 Layout – next comes Career Experience, listed in date order starting with the most recent. Hobbies, Skills and Education should sit at the bottom.

#4 👉 Bullet points – hiring managers don’t have time to read long, fancy paragraphs in your CV. They want short bullet points that get straight to the point!

#5 👉 Tailor your CV – use the keywords that are in the job advert like ‘excellent customer service’ or ‘working to deadlines’, and remember to highlight the duties that relate most closely to the job you’re applying for.

#6 👉 Save space – save space by writing ‘references can be provided upon request’ instead of listing your reference contact details. Any GCSE qualifications can simply be listed as ‘10 GCSEs A-C including maths and English’. 

#7 👉 Hobbies – don’t be generic by listing ‘travel, cooking, running’. Instead, make it personal to you e.g. ‘Travel: 6 months backpacking in Asia’.