TipTopJob Blog

Our latest findings reveal that most jobseekers go shopping and buy a whole brand new outfit before they go for an interview. 

40% of respondents say that they would go to the shops in order to purchase everything new. 24% go out to buy a few new things. Interestingly, 36% reuse their wardrobe.

Some people re-using their wardrobe may have already bought a new outfit for recent previous interviews therefore not needing to buy everything brand new. Some may already be smart in their day to day life so have suitable and appropriate clothing anyway.

First impressions count and by turning up looking the part, you will be off to a better start than if you turn up in scruffy jeans and a cap. If that requires a visit to the shops, then so be it - you will not regret it!

Do you think it is important to know the background of your company? Do you even care? Or are you one of the 67% of people who DO know the history!

When applying for a new job and you are invited to an interview, it is hugely important to research the company, its owners, history, growth, changes, staff, its industry and anything else you can find out. An interviewer could well ask you questions surrounding the topic so it is good to have the knowledge for this reason but also because if you are applying for a new job there, you probably should have the desire to know what kind of company you could potentially be employed by.

Researching this kind of information helps to give you an insight into the culture, values, ethos, mindset, vision etc so can be useful in deciding whether it is the kind of company that would suit you!

33% of employees DO NOT KNOW their company background but what exactly does this mean? Does it mean they are bad at their job? Not necessarily. Maybe the culture, staff, values etc do not matter to them and they can perform their job without having to know anything more about the organisation itself.

Knowing the history of the company is definitely more important to certain industry sectors and employment levels, such as, Managing Directors, Project Managers, Account Directors and such like. 

We would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. What job do you do and do you know your company's history? Comment below.....

If you are currently putting together your CV but struggling to know where to start, we have a great article to read over in our Career Centre, titled "How to write a good CV".

A well-presented CV is vital in your search for a new job. It will not get you the job, but a good CV makes the difference between getting an interview and your application being thrown in the bin. With your CV being one of many, recruiters will only read it for a short space of time, so it is extremely important that it is structured clearly, with your best selling points presented in a logical manner and the most relevant information readily identifiable. 

Everybody writes and presents their CV as they like, there is no right or wrong way. However, with these words of advice we will help you produce a clear and concise CV that will increase your chances of being invited for an interview. 

The first part of the article addresses the Content of the CV. To begin, prepare a list of your key competencies and skills that your employer will be looking for. Be analytical about yourself and identify your main selling points that differentiate yourself from competitors. Head over to the article here, to see the list of content areas.

Then it goes onto the Structure & Presentation of the CV.

We hope it is a useful article for you and at least helps you get started on putting it together.

Do let us know if you would like to see any specific career-related articles from us.

We are really excited to share our guest blog on Jobmob that went live yesterday. We have written an article for them entitled "How To Overcome These Awkward Job Interview Moments". 

We look at some of the funny, awkward moments that you may have experienced yourself and what you can do to overcome them. 

Why not have a read over on the Jobmob blog.

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.

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.