1. Searching for a job CV Structure Cover letter Social Media... 5

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2 Contents 1. Searching for a job CV Structure Cover letter Social Media Job interviews Preparing for a job interview A good first impression The interview Second job interview Accepting, negotiating, declining and resigning Accepting a job offer Negotiating a job offer Declining a job offer Resigning from your current job of 14

3 1. Searching for a job Searching and applying for another job can be exciting and challenging. That is why Octagon gives you advice on how to prepare your CV, cover letter and professional networks. 1.1 CV Structure Personal details Start with your personal details at the top of your CV. Ensure your details are kept up to date and include your first and last name, address, telephone number and address; Your nationality and date of birth is appreciated, but not obligatory. It is also good to add a link to your LinkedIn or Twitter account. Professional/work experience State your relevant work experience here. Start with the most recent job you have had and work your way back into history. Mention your job title, name of the company, start date and end date and add a description of your responsibilities and achievements. Education The same here: start with your most recent finished/doing education and work back in time. Mention your main subjects/specializations, thesis subject, any other information that you think would benefit your application. Languages Note your language proficiency here. Native/Fluent/Good/Fair. Skills Note your personal and IT (software skills, programming languages) skills here. It is also good to indicate your level of fluency in named personal or IT skill. For example, if you have advanced skills in Excel or mastery of Photoshop. 3 of 14

4 Profile Writing a profile is optional. This is a good place to shortly express your strengths, ambitions and hobbies. You can also mention your notice period and time/location preferences here instead of under personal information. It is also up to you to decide if to put this to the start of your CV or end. The generally accepted length of a CV is two A4 pages and the accepted style is Times New Roman 12 or Calibri 11. Justifying the edges gives your CV a more polished and professional look. If you d like to add a picture, that is also okay and you can place it next to personal information. 1.2 Cover letter A cover letter is your introduction to your CV and should complement it to capture the attention of the reader. Its purpose is ad a personal touch to your job application. Cover letter writing guidelines The items below should be included in every cover letter. Header with contact information Your Name Your Address Your Phone Number Your Date Name Organization Address Salutation Dear Dr./Mr./Ms. Last Name, Introduction Begin your introduction by stating what job you are applying for. Explain where you heard about the job (internet, contact). Mention how your skills and experience match the position and the company to give the employer an introduction of the rest of your letter. The aim is to get the readers attention for the following part of the letter. 4 of 14

5 Body In the body explain the following: 1. Why you are interested in the job. 2. Elaborate on how your qualifications meet the qualifications in the job description. 3. Use hard and measurable examples to convince you are suitable for the position. 4. Use paragraphs of five sentences to explain the above. Do not use bullets. Closing In the closing explain the following: 1. That you would appreciate to explain how your skills meet the qualifications in a job interview. 2. How and when you will follow up. 3. Show gratitude for the employers consideration. Signature Sincerely, Signature and or First Name Last Name 1.3 Social Media Your presence on social media can make a major impact on your job search. Social media can be used to brand oneself online and give recruiters insight into your values, skills and previous work experience. Below we have summed up the most key factors to help you stand out on the job market (especially on LinkedIn). Social profiles key factors - Recruiters and potential employers look at your social media profiles to get a first impression of you. Therefore you should be aware that your activity on social media always presents your best side. - All your social media profiles can help you brand yourself. Make sure your profiles are always up to date with your most recent contact details, skills, referrals and interests. LinkedIn profile Profile title - This is a very important tile of your LinkedIn page it is the only thing seen via the 5 of 14

6 Search function on LinkedIn and the first thing seen on your profile. It will show the quick summary of your current situation and while it is automatically created, it is customizable. For example, if you want to indicate that you are looking for a job currently, it is an idea to add Available for new opportunities or Looking for a next challenge instead of Position Currently held at Company XX. - It is very important to use true information, if you are looking to be found, as it will not look attractive for a recruiter if you do not show full information. - Adding a picture is definitely a bonus. If you have your profile built up nicely, a recruiter will not turn away if you do not have a picture, but it does definitely help with the overall impression and makes the profile look more complete. Summary You are quite free to write what you deem relevant in this section. It is common to add in a short overview of your past experience, your main qualifications and your career interests. Experience & Education These two usually follow summary, however you are free to choose the order of your entire profile. If you are a recent graduate with no or limited work experience, it is okay to put your education first, otherwise Professional Experience is good to continue with. As you are filling in the details for the job, the more detail you use the better: - Make sure to add in the companies you worked for if they have their own page in LinkedIn already the better! It allows the recruiter to directly see what the company was involved in and if it is relevant. - Keep your work-periods updated if you finish at one job, make sure to update that on your LinkedIn profile as well, so people would have the most up to date info. State the months you ve held a position and not only the year. - Description: here you should write down your responsibilities (keep to the same rules as writing a general CV, unless you want to attract specific attention to specific skills) and achievements per job. It is also acceptable to add in a short description of the tasks of your company or department. 6 of 14

7 Skills & Endorsements Here you should add your skills so your connections can endorse them. Volunteering This is a nice addition to your profile to show which volunteering activities you have been a part of and which causes you care about. Additional info Here you are free to add in your interests & hobbies and also advice for contacting you. You can add in your address and/or phone here (but this can also be found under contact details, when you allow that under your privacy settings). Groups & Following You can follow groups/people/companies to get updates on their activities and posts. These will show on your profile and they show how active you are on LinkedIn and portray what you might be interested in. 7 of 14

8 2. Job interviews Going for an interview is always challenging. That is why Octagon gives you advice on how to prepare for a job interview, give a good first impression and the do s and don ts during an interview. 2.1 Preparing for a job interview Good preparation is key to a successful job interview. Going for an interview can be a bit like going for an exam and could therefore make you nervous and give the wrong impression. To avoid this we have gathered a checklist to prepare you for the big day. Research the company Before you go for a job interview, be sure to research the company. What industry is the organization in? What are the vision and the mission? How large is it? It will help you prepare to both answer interview questions about the company and to ask the interviewer questions about the company. The interviewer will notice that you know certain specifics and this will make the conversation easier. Prepare questions and answers When researching the company you have probably noticed a number of things you may have questions about. List the questions and make sure to ask them during the interview. Try to ask debatable questions to keep the conversation going. Look up the interviewer on LinkedIn Look up the interviewer on LinkedIn to get a sense of the type of person you are meeting. This will help you feel more at ease with the person sitting opposite you. 8 of 14

9 2.2 A good first impression Your clothing, handshake and posture are important when giving a good first impression. Be sure to dress professionally, give a firm handshake and make sure you have a straight posture. Smile Smile, think positive and laugh when you think it s appropriate. Positive people get hired quicker. Good handshake Handshakes matter more than we think and are important when giving a good first impression. Below are some tips: - Give a firm, but not bone crushing handshake. - Make and hold eye contact. This gives the other person a confident impression. - Shake up and down for a maximum of three or four times. Over shaking may feel odd for the other person. Clothing Dressing well can increase your confidence and is incredibly important when making a good first impression. In general, it s important to dress professionally for an interview. A candidate dressed in a suit and tie is going to make a better impression than a candidate dressed casually. Depending on the industry, clothing expectations may vary. Dressing professionally or casually can depend on company and industry. The most important factor is not to be underdressed. 9 of 14

10 2.3 The interview Be confident in your skills and capabilities, make sure your posture is good and ask questions during your job interview. Good posture Non-verbal communication techniques are just as important as verbal communication techniques. Therefore, using appropriate body language during your job interview is essential for it s success. Sit upright and not to stiffly, relax and lean slightly forward towards your interviewer. Keep your hands loosely clamped on your lap or on the table. Keep eye contact for periods of 10 seconds before looking away to show interest in the interviewer. Ask questions Asking questions will help you and the interviewer determine whether you are suitable for the job. Asking the right questions will show your interest in the job and give the interviewer the impression that you are a professional. What questions should you ask? We have listed some examples below: - Is there space for career development/training opportunities? This question shows your career ambitions. - What does a typical workweek look like? With the answer to this question you can determine whether this role suits you. - What are the main challenges and opportunities for this organization? This will help you find out in what direction the company is going. - What should I accomplish in the first four months? Getting insight in the interviewers expectations will clarify the work pressure. There are many more questions you could ask, but this all depends on the type of conversation you are having. Most important advice: always ask questions. 10 of 14

11 2.4 Second job interview You passed the first job interview, congratulations! So what happens next? What can you expect? First round interviews are for screening candidates, whereas second round interviews are more in depth. You can expect more in depth questions about subjects discussed in the first interview. More questions about your skills, capabilities and even personal life, will give you the chance elaborate and tell more about your personal life and previous work experiences. Be creative by giving different examples and asking different questions. How to prepare for a second interview - Find out the discussion points for the second interview, so you know what to expect and how to prepare yourself. - Research even more about the company, the management and the interviewer. - Review the questions and answers you gave in the first interview. Make sure your answers are the same and elaborate further. - Be prepared to ask more questions and show the interviewer or future col leagues that you are the right pick for the team. 11 of 14

12 3. Accepting, negotiating, declining and resigning Accepting, negotiating, declining and resigning are situations you will encounter during your career path and it s not something one does on a daily basis. This is why we will advise you on how to handle when you are in one of these situations. 3.1 Accepting a job offer When you are the chosen one for the job and you are offered a job offer, you don t want to say yes immediately and take the job. When you receive a job offer, remember to thank the hiring manager for the offer and his or her time. You want to take the time to evaluate if the job offer is the right position and offers the right compensation package for you. If the job offer is a letdown and the offer is not what you were looking for, you may want to consider making a counter offer. After you have made the right decision for you, it is time to notify the company of your decision. Evaluation of a job offer If you want to take time to consider a job offer, always ask politely if you are allowed to take time to consider the job offer. Always express gratitude and your interest in the role and ask if there is a deadline for your decision. It s ok to take time to reconsider, but just remember if it takes too long the company might rescind your offer. When considering a job offer, take in account the entire compensation package; the hours, travelling, salary, the daily processes, company culture. You also have to evaluate if your personal circumstances are ideal for the job. 12 of 14

13 3.2 Negotiating a job offer If you really want the job, but feel that the offer you received is not what you expected consider negotiating. What is negotiable? Job title. Start date, Salary, Vacation, Reporting relationships, decision-making, stock option, budget management, terms of contractual relationship, laptop and other accessories such as mobile phone, travel expenses, working hours, bonus, relocation expenses etc. Note to negotiate in a friendly and polite way and also note that an employer can withdraw a job offer. Here are some tips to help you to negotiate your job offer - Explain why you deserve what you re requesting. - Do not only consider the salary, but the whole package. - Negotiate multiple issues individually, not serially. - Time is valuable. - Keep quiet and always wait for an answer. - Be rational and don t let your emotions take control. - Be confident. - Negotiate with the right parties. 3.3 Declining a job offer If the job is not a good fit or you do not feel the role is something for you, it is time to decline a job offer. When declining a job offer you can state in your or phone conversation that the organization impressed you, but you do not feel that the role could be a right match for you. This is a polite way of letting a company know that you are not interested. There are always other ways of declining a job offer but just remember to always be straight to the point and polite. Here are some tips you can use to turn down a job offer - Show your appreciation and let them know why it is not a right match for you. 13 of 14

14 - Always give a brief and suitable reason for example; the position seems like a great opportunity, I decided to go with another role that is more beneficial to me to pursue my interests in marketing for example. - Stay in touch, the job world is small, especially in certain sectors. 3.4 Resigning from your current job Resigning should always be done in a positive manner. It is always best to leave a company on a professional manner than to cause a scene and let the employer remember you as a bad one. It is always better to resign and keep the doors open for future opportunities. If you are resigning your job, without a new job available, make sure you have yourself financially covered; you might want to rethink your decision until you have found a new job. If you are in a situation that you are on bad terms with the company you work for, do not make bad decisions that you ll regret later. It is always better to act professionally and stay positive. Once you are ready to resign you can start setting up your resignation letter. You have to notify your boss and the same goes for Human Resources. Your resignation letter should be polite, positive and straight to the point. 14 of 14