Leek Life March/April 2014 | Page 48

BLUE SKY CVS Once you have decided then you have to discuss this with the family and agree that between your working hours, which would have been your normal working day, for example, 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, this area is out of bounds, and so are you. Keeping to a structured day keeps your mind set in a good place and will keep you focussed. On the Monday morning when you start your first task should be how good is your CV? Does it need some work? You can always do some research on the internet or find advice from other sources. If you have received support from the company you have left you may already have a good CV but remember – it is always just a ‘work in progress’ never the finished article. When applying for jobs you should always ensure it matches what is required and highlight your skills to meet the job description. Never assume the reader will know you can do it just because you know you can. Have breaks in the morning and afternoon for tea or coffee and lunch at your normal time and ensure you move away from the environment you have chosen to work in as you would have done at work. This is very important! Charlie’s time-out was to walk the dog and when he came back he could read an advertisement with a fresh perspective and realise that actually he did have the skills set to meet the job description. He recognised the importance of tailoring his CV to demonstrate his skills better and that’s how he got his new job. He just needed a little help and direction to show him how to focus. In the afternoon look at networking. Who did you work with before, not just your last role but prior to that and where have they gone to work now. Research these companies. Many people when they are made redundant find it difficult to tell other people what has happened to them but if ® “ you left a good impression with former colleagues they are a good source of knowledge not only about you but for you. LinkedIn is a great social media tool for many in the professional market to keep in touch with former colleagues, learn how to use it. It may take you the whole of the week to do that, or even longer. Use the time. It could pay dividends and it has many more uses than just keeping in touch. Joining relevant groups and interacting with group discussions and forums keeps you involved in your ‘market sector’. This can be very useful when going to interviews demonstrating that you have remained interested in your area of expertise. It is also a very useful ‘tool’ to search for jobs and to be found by agencies and organisations who head-hunt using social media regularly so having a good profile is very important too. Networking could also include going out to meet with former colleagues, (which can count as part of your working day). It is useful to get out and hear what other people are up to and where others have either had interviews or found work. There is no shame in finding out if there are more vacancies at that company? Can you set up alerts for when they do have vacancies coming up? It is not just about having a chat but listening to what people are really saying and what those around you are talking about. Another day could be filled with searching ۈH[