TipTopJob Blog

Our latest study found that just over a third of jobseekers believe they can write their CV/Resume themselves and do not need the assistance of a professional.

On the other hand however, 39% of respondents have used a professional CV/Resume writer. 28% of these individuals were also really impressed with the outcome, saying they were brilliant and would use the service again as well as recommend them. The other 11% were not so impressed but did use the services to help them in their job searching process.

A large proportion, 27%, said that they have not used one in the past, but would definitely consider it in the future.

The professional CV/Resume writing services around are a massive support for those who do not know where to start with updating and reviving their most invaluable tool when searching for a new job. Although it seems that many find this updating process easy and are self-able, many are not and therefore these professional services come in very handy to a large percentage of the population.

Here at TipTopJob, we value these services highly and have partnered with some professional CV/Resume writing companies. If you are based in the UK or in Countries that use a CV, you can link through to GetInterviewsUK or if you are based in the USA, there is GetInterviewsUSA where they focus on updating your resume. Get Interviews offer a FREE CV/Resume review to start with so why not give that whirl now? Do not forget to let us know how you get on and make sure you remember to upload your brand new CV/Resume onto your account on TipTopJob!!!!

Results of the survey are illustrated below....

We are pleased to announce that a number of new articles are now live on the National Hug Your Boss Day website. In our attempt to highlight relationship issues at work and resolve problems, we have written some advisory articles for you.

You will find articles for the managers/bosses and more for the employees.

Head over to the National Hug Your Boss Day website and click through to the "Motivational Articles" page. You will find articles on a multitude of topics, for example, "5 ways to manage your boss effectively", "How to deal with your employees office affair", "Clear signs that your boss is taking advantage of you", "10 things that really annoy your boss and solutions", "What behaviour is acceptable at work", "Sure signs you have a great boss" and more.

If you want to see something specific that we have not covered, please feel free to email us directly. We would love to hear from you. 

We hope we can help many of you out there to deal with relationship issues at work and make them better to allow your working life to be more enjoyable :) Let us know if we have helped you deal with or overcome anything.

You usually hear about the boss shouting at their employees but have you ever thought about an employee who shouts at their boss?

Our latest survey results reveal that 79% have NEVER shouted at their boss, which is a promising figure showing most of our users do respect their boss or have never had the need to express any negative emotions towards their leader.

Although the majority sit in this bracket, we do still have 21% who HAVE shouted at their boss in anger at some point in their career. Although we have not dug down into why, we can assume that it may have happened for a number of reasons.

Did the boss do something to provoke the attack and did the boss deserve it? Maybe the boss has shouted first? But even so, should the employee then shout back? How could this make the employee then feel after the action? Do they resign and leave or apologise and pretend it never happened? 

Whatever the reason behind shouting, it is not the best course of action, even if it is a reaction to a poorly behaved boss. Our advice is that if a boss has acted in this way to you, then remain calm and approach your boss with a professional attitude. Take some time before you speak to them to gather yourself and calm down if you need to. You do not want to make other employees uncomfortable and you certainly do not want to ruin your chances of a decent reference in the future.

You are sitting with your friends having a catch up when they start talking in riddles and using abbreviations or random words you have never heard before! Corporate jargon otherwise known as corporate lingo, workplace jargon, business speak to name a few is often commonplace amongst large corporate companies and especially those originating in the USA. For some, it can be frustrating to be lost amongst such language so we have collated some common terms and provided you with an explanation for each. There are many references to such jargon which include using abbreviations, nouns, verbs and adjectives. Here they are……….

Abbreviations

COB – close of business
CSW – completed staff work
EOD – end of day
FTE – full-time equivalent
FY – fiscal year
HIBBIS – heads in beds, butts in seats
KPI – key performance indicators
NDA – non-disclosure agreement
PCP – previous corresponding period
POS – point of sale
PQQ - pre qualification questionnaire
RFP - Request for Proposal
RFQ - Request for quote
RIF – reduction in force
SBU – strategic business unit
SME – subject matter expert
TCO – total cost of ownership
TTT - this time tomorrow
WC – week commencing
WE – week ending
YTD – year to date

Nouns

Blue sky thinking: Idealistic or visionary ideas
Cascade: Array of possible actions to take in response to a problem: protocol
Check in the box: complete the task
Flavor of the month: the current popular activity/person as directed by the company/client/management
Hub: an idea which other ideas are linked to
Joined-up thinking: Discussing the viewpoints of each organization and coming to an agreement or compromise
Kill two birds with one stone: doing one action will result in achieving two goals
Low-hanging fruit: Tasks that have the greatest positive effect for the least effort, used when promoting new projects to show the advantages
One belly button to push: Reduced number of suppliers
Raft of measures: A collection of proposals or schemes
Tent pole: the task or item most likely to delay a project or consume the most resources
Silver bullet: One solution for everything
Under-pinning: The foundations of an idea, which helps another related scheme or proposal
Womb to tomb: An idea or program that is killed before it has a chance to grow or flourish

Verbs

Baked In: Same as "included," in principle. Something which has been "baked in" is implied to be impossible to remove
Boil the Ocean: An effort or task which is perceived by the speaker to be impossible or impractical
Build Capacity: Take actions which produce no useful output immediately, but increase the amount of useful work which can be done in the future
Cover all directions of the compass: Try to make things acceptable for all stakeholders

Finish reading this article in our Career Centre.

We read yesterday that the Queen is currently recruiting for a new cleaner to help keep Windsor Castle clean and tidy.

The job would consist of making beds, polishing antiques and laundering linen and according to the newspapers, they would be required to work 6 days per week, 5 hours per day. There is no accommodation on offer and the chosen individual will need to be happy to undertake a range of activities.

The current salary offered is £27,000 per year for the job. Would you do this job at this salary? 

- Do you think you are not been paid enough? Not being valued at your company?
- Do you look at your pay slip and wish you had been paid that little bit more that you deserve?
- Do you think you have been particularly successful in your job? And gone beyond expectations?

...... If you have answered 'yes' to any of the above, then it is time to negotiate a pay rise. But how do you go about this and what are the best strategies in order to get the best rise?

Most companies will conduct quarterly or bi-annually pay reviews for their employee's, which if successful will result in a pay rise. However, as a hard working employee that is successful, you may feel it is justified to approach your boss to ask for a rise before your review is due.

Whatever your situation is, you will have already agreed this is in your contract and know when your pay review will be - and before your conversation with your boss, the key thing to remember is that you must prepare!

Before you ask
It is advisable to do some background work about salaries in your industry and role and plan your negotiations prior to approaching your boss. You can normally use salary analyzers or something similar on the Internet, or even phone around to ask recruitment agencies for the market averages for your role.

You need to really know what you are worth and what you have achieved recently, and why you deserve the pay rise. You will need to explain what skills and benefits you have brought to the company, how you have excelled in your role in particular and that you are a loyal employee. You will need to focus on your knowledge and experience you have developed and the way you have grown, learnt and developed whilst working for the company. You should note any expectations you have exceeded, any additional responsibilities you have incurred and any extra achievements you have made that stand out and you feel you deserve credit for. You need to be able to explain all of these points in detail, expand on any of them in detail and show that these are the reasons why you should be considered for a pay rise!

You need to show your commitment and express your desire to do well and tell your boss what you are trying to target and what you want to achieve.

Things that you need to consider what you have done when negotiating a pay rise:

· Projects you have managed, led, completed and have been noted as being out standing
· Any awards you have received
· Any procedures you have put in place that may have saved the company money
· Tasks you have been individually assigned to do due to your unique skills and abilities
· Additional tasks beyond what you expected in your current job role
· Anything you have excelled on and been praised for in the past

Also be clear as to what your current salary is, what the average is and what you ideally want!

How much to ask for?
It is a good idea to ask for more than you anticipate and that you give yourself room to negotiate. Expect your boss to propose a counter offer after you have asked for your pay rise sum. You should definitely bargain and you should expect it to usually end up in a middle ground figure so always go in high!

What if your boss says NO?
Just because you are going for a pay rise, you may not necessarily get it - but do not be disappointed if he says no. Firstly, there is always next time and from the feedback on this review you can work towards the next. You need to understand the reasons why he/she has said no and reflect on them. It is not the end of the world and it is not forever.

It may be due to the fact that you are still in the learning curve at work and still developing new skills, in which case, once you feel fully developed; it could be time to ask again.

Do not be afraid to ask for non-financial benefits as well, such as, a phone or extra holiday. You could ask for training and development and the company may be more inclined to pay for this, as you will be learning more and bringing more value to the company. Employees are an asset to companies that they work for at the end of the day!

If you really feel you deserve a pay rise and you are not happy working at the company, then you can always search for a new job that would be willing to pay you more. It may be that your current company is not suited to you and this is your sign to take the next step.

Result!
It is a great feeling if you manage to receive a pay rise! If you work hard and achieve great results, they do not often go un-noticed and you will no doubt be rewarded with what you deserve. A good confidence boost, self-satisfaction and self-affiliation will be the result!

Good luck!

You can also read this article in our Career Centre.

Following on from our latest article on the 10 top tips for women on how to dress to get the job, it seemed fair to offer the same advice to men. There are common benchmarks for all, but here the main 10 top tips for men attending an interview…

1. Suit
Always try to wear a matching two-piece suit that is a subtle colour of grey, blue or back. Lairy pinstripes and bold colours can often give the wrong impression so try to avoid.

2. Alternative
If you do not have a suit or if the employer has specified no suits, then dark coloured trousers (grey, blue, black) with a light coloured long sleeved shirt and tie looks professional and smart.

3. Ties
Ties are an important accessory and allows a little colour to brighten up the outfit but avoid any bright colours or over the top patterns.

4. Shirts
Again when selecting your shirt, avoid any bold colours that can be distracting and give off the wrong impression. Shirts should have a collar and ideally long-sleeved and match the suit or trousers.

5. Belt
You do not want to be pulling your trousers up or showing your underwear so a smart, leather belt is suitable.

6. Socks
Again avoid anything bold by keeping to the dark colours.

7. Shoes
Likewise stick with dark or maybe a brown colour and ensure you have cleaned and polished them.

8. Hair
Make sure you have had a haircut and it is styled in a smart way. Do not over wax or groom though.

9. Facial hair
Avoid over grown beards or moustache hair by trimming the hair down so you are as smart as possible.

10. Finger nails
It is normal for women to make sure their nails are manicured and painted nicely but often this is over-looked by men. Make sure your nails do not have dirt underneath them and try to manicure them down so they are not sharp or over-grown.

By following these straight forward tips, you should not go wrong. You can check out the 10 top tips for women as well on this page and some general pointers for all here.

Read the article in our Career Centre here.

Interviews are all about first impressions and the way you dress yourself has a huge bearing on this. If the interviewer sees that you have made an effort and that you take pride in your appearance, it will reflect on how you will take pride in representing their business. It is not about spending a fortune on new, expensive clothes but it is about taking care to present yourself professionally.

Although expected dress in businesses varies, especially from industry to industry and role to role, it is still expected that for an interview the same level of professionalism is taken.

There are some additional tips on how to best dress for both men and women that can be found in a separate article in our career centre but here are the 10 top tips for women: -

1. Skirt
If you are going for a skirt, avoid anything above the knee or a skirt that is too tight and uncomfortable to sit down. You do not want to be showing too much leg and distract the interviewer.

2. Suit
A classic suit is always a good option – particularly a grey, black or blue one as it will not be over bearing and always be a smart, professional option.

3. Shirt
If wearing a shirt, avoid anything see-through or short that may reveal any skin. You do not want to have any of your bra showing and particularly avoid wearing a black bra under a light coloured shirt.

4. Shoes
Your shoes should be smart but also comfortable. Avoid wearing shoes you are not used to walking in and find you waddle or trip up in.

5. Make-up
Your make-up should be neutral and not over the top. Avoid fake eyelashes, red lipstick or any brightly coloured eye shadow.

6. Hairstyle
Your hair style needs to be conservative and not over done like you are going on a night out. Sometimes having your hair swept back into a tight ponytail can stop any distractions with hair getting in your face and distracting the interview.

7. Jewellery
Avoid wearing any jewellery that clinks and clanks and can be over bearing, for example, large hooped earrings and heavy chunky bracelets. Keep it simple.

8. Tattoos
If you have tattoos and are able to cover them, try.

9. General
In general, do not be too flashy, sexy or over the top.

10. Colours
Try to match your colours and go for the elegant, sharp, professional and smart look.

If you can follow the above advice, then you will at least have eliminated any concerns the interviewer may have about your appearance. How you decide to dress is well in your control and can be planned in advance. If you have any queries about the dress, you can always ask ahead so as not to go wrong.

Read this article on our website in the Career Centre and more.

Deciding to leave your current career for life in the classroom can be daunting. Check out these top tips from education charity Teach First on retraining as a teacher and putting your industry experience to work in the classroom:

1) Know how to transfer your skills

You won’t be starting from scratch in a new career in teaching. Whatever your background the skills and competencies you have gained will be essential, especially for engaging and inspiring pupils. Over 20% of those who joined the Teach First Programme last year came from other careers, bringing a wealth of skills and experience into the classroom.

2) Prepare yourself for immediate responsibility

Moving into the classroom can be a challenge. Changing career through Teach First harnesses your experience and enables you transfer your skills, so be ready to demonstrate your ability to communicate and be a leader.

3) Tell us about you

Many people consider teaching as they want to give something back and share their knowledge and experience and become positive role models. Whatever your motivation be prepared to be open and transparent about your background, and don’t be afraid to ask frank questions about what teaching involves. Share your stories of leadership and overcoming challenges and communicate your enthusiasm for heading in a new direction. 

4) Look at your options

There are many different routes into the classroom. As a charity, Teach First offers a Leadership Development Programme which is focused on supporting pupils from low-income backgrounds. As part of this, our teachers are provided with a salary while they are training in schools over two years, as well as receiving a full teaching qualification (PGCE) and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) after the first year.

Teach First recruit on a rolling basis and have a team dedicated to supporting career changers through the application process. For more information, visit their website.

You can also find the current opportunities being advertised by Teach First on TipTopJob here.

Have you read the article in our Interview Advice section of the Career Centre around the most common interview mistakes? If you have an impeding interview, it is advisable to read this advice to ensure you do not make them....as they are quite easy to make.

Here are the Top 5 mistakes but you can click through to the article to read the rest .....

1..
Talking negatively about anything in the interview - this can be about yourself, your current job and giving negative answers.

2..
Arriving late!

3..
Mobile phone going off.

4..
Being unprepared - in terms of the answers to common questions, e.g. what are your strengths, where do you see yourself in 10 years etc and in terms of the questions to ask at the end of the interview.

5..
Forgetting to do any research and attending without any knowledge of the company, what job you are actually going for etc.

Find the article by clicking on this link here: Most Common Interview Mistakes.