A recent study by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills has revealed that workers across the UK are more stressed than ever. Results show that 60% of employees feel they work under tight deadlines for the majority of the day and one in four are afraid of becoming unemployed and losing their job.

It’s thought the introduction of more technology in the workplace could be a contributing factor to stress levels, with many employees receiving work emails during out of office hours on their smart phones. So what can you do to feel less stressed at work? Check out these stress-busting tips below.

Time Management

One of the best ways to combat stress at work is practicing good time management. Arranging your work tasks, managing your time and prioritising your work load can help you to feel more organised and less stressed. Write a to-do list at the start of your working week, keeping tasks with high priority at the top of the list. Then structure your day – plan your tasks for the first few hours of the morning. Plan secondary tasks for after lunch and then finish the day with any admin responsibilities. Having a clear plan in place will help you to keep focus and ticking off the to-do list will help you to keep motivated. It will also enable you to see exactly what work you have completed and you can keep a check on the status of some tasks and increase your work rate if necessary.

Socialise

Socialising with work colleagues and attending networking events can be an effective way to keep your stress levels down. Talking with work colleagues, taking regular lunch breaks, attending staff social events and going to industry networking events can help you to break away from the stress of 9-5 and can help you to assess your work goals.

Arrange Meetings

If you are concerned about your work or job then you should try to arrange regular meetings with your manager. Voicing any concerns to them will help you to create a clear career path and regular meetings will also help you to check that you are on target. It is also gives you the opportunity to check with your manager as to whether there’s anything you should be doing more of.

Take Time Out

Working too hard on a project or spending countless late nights in the office can lead to stress and tiredness. It is crucial that you take regular breaks and spend time away from your desk to keep your motivation and concentration levels high.

Offer Help

If you feel you are handling your work load well, you should let your manager know that you are willing to take on extra work and help out with extra projects. Offering this help will demonstrate to the employer that you are keen to progress in the organisation and that you are efficient in the workplace. This should help when it comes to feeling secure at work.

The post How to Combat Stress at Work appeared first on CV Surgeon.

If you are preparing to attend a networking event you may be feeling nervous about speaking to people you have never met before. But networking events provide you with a great opportunity to meet others working in your industry, to publicise the company you are working for and to find out about new opportunities. But what do you talk about at a networking event? Here are some ideas to help you get chatting.

Your Expertise

Don’t be shy when it comes to talking about your expertise and work experience. When you are networking with people you should let them know what you specialise in and let them know what your current role is. Not only will this create conversation, but it will allow you to publicise your knowledge and expertise which could be beneficial when looking for work. If you network with others in your industry and they are aware of what you do, it could lead to job opportunities in the future.

Your Achievements

When you are talking to people at a networking event, the chances are you’ll be trying to drum up business and promote your services. One of the easiest ways to do this is to talk about your past achievements, successes and clients. Obviously only talk about this if it’s appropriate – don’t just do it to brag. If there is an opportunity to talk about your work experience and career successes then you should as it could gain you new customers.

The Industry

One of the best ways to create conversation at a networking event is by talking about the industry you work in. If you are attending a networking event for work, it’s likely that you’ll be surrounded by other people working in your industry. So talk about your own experience and encourage others to share their industry stories.

News

If you are struggling to create conversation you can always focus on the news. Bring up anything that relates to the industry or the networking event to get others talking.

Ask Questions

The best way to keep your conversation flowing is asking questions. Think of some questions before you attend the event as you’ll feel more prepared.

The post What Do I Talk About at a Networking Event? appeared first on CV Surgeon.

If you are currently searching for a job then you may have contacted a recruitment agency to help you find employment. If you have contacted, or you are thinking about contacting, a recruitment agency, then there are a few things you’ll be required to do – including sending in your CV and having a telephone interview with a Recruitment Consultant. A telephone interview will give the agency the opportunity to find out more about you as a candidate, to identify your key skills and to get to know you before they start sending out your CV to employers. If you are about to speak with a recruitment company then check below for three essential things you should be telling them.

Be Honest About Your CV

The recruitment consultant will have your CV in front of them when they call you. They will be using it as a reference point and will be asking you questions based on its content. Not only should you know your CV well, so you look prepared, but you should also assess your CV content before you send it off to a recruitment agency. When writing a CV you should be honest about your work history, experience and key skills – as it’s this information that will enable the agent to find you employment. If you lie about qualifications or your experience then you may find yourself being put forward for positions that you aren’t qualified for. When writing your CV and preparing to send it out ensure you re-read it, include all of your most recent experience and highlight your key skills and expertise. You should also ensure you spell check it as sending your CV out with mistakes won’t give off a very good first impression.

Location

One of the questions a recruiter will ask you is how far you are willing to travel for work and whether you would be willing to relocate. Although you may think it will increase your chances of finding employment to say you will travel long distances, there is no benefit from telling the recruiter you will work somewhere you don’t want to work. Refine your location requirements, be precise with how far you are willing to travel and remain realistic to ensure maximum chances of finding a job.

Expected Salary

Most recruitment consultants will need to know your salary bracket – the lowest salary you would take and the ideal figure you are looking for. You should assess your salary requirements before you speak to the consultant. How low can you go? Will you accept a lower salary if there are other benefits like flexible working? Refine your salary bracket and ensure you give an accurate figure to ensure your CV is only sent to relevant employers.

The post Three Things You Should Tell a Recruitment Consultant appeared first on CV Surgeon.

Working in the printing industry can provide a variety of job opportunities and career progression opportunities.

Guy Bosworth has worked in a variety of roles within the industry and is now Commercial Director at LPC Printing. In this interview with CV Surgeon he explains what types of jobs are available in the industry and shares his CV writing tips.

Tell Us About Your Career Background?

I left school without many qualifications and started work at a local engineering company who recruited trainees to work around various departments over a two year period. During that time I spent a few months in the internal printing department which I found that I enjoyed so applied for a permanent position which I held for 5 years. I decided that the only way that I might progress in the printing trade was to join a commercial printing company so successfully applied for a position as a Guillotine Operator at LPC (then Lyndhurst Printing). I was at LPC for 10 years working through various positions from Guillotine Operator up to works manager. My final year was spent in sales which was something that I wanted to try. Again, in order to gain more experience, I decided to move to a different organisation and over the next decade moved to a few companies before returning to LPC as Commercial Director.

How Did You Progress to Commercial Director?

I have held various positions in various companies including Inplant Printer, Guillotine Operator, Bindery Foreman, Factory Foreman, Works Manager, Sales Representative, Sales Executive, Sales Manager, Account Manager, Client Services Manager and now Commercial Director – so it definitely takes time to progress.

Can You Share Some Career Progression Tips?

It has been my experience that in each company where I have worked I have enjoyed good relationships with my peers and colleagues, worked hard, gone the extra mile when required and promotions/rewards have followed. When I have moved to different companies I have sometimes had to take a step back to take a step forward too.

What is a Typical Day at Work Like?

A typical day involves ensuring that our customers receive the best possible service that we can offer through our Estimating Team and Account Managers and also looking after a proportion of our customers. This is a mixture of reacting to customer requirements and taking a proactive approach to winning business. Although most customers conduct business via email and over the phone there are some who need to be visited regularly and reviews are conducted regularly for our larger customers.

What Skills Are Required to Work in the Printing Industry?

The skill set varies depending on the nature of the job. Production staff have to be practical, skilled in machine operation and also physically fit as some of the jobs are physically demanding – shifts tend to be 12 hours long. Office based jobs need people who understand the production processes, are computer literate and able to exercise commercial expertise in most things that they do and they also need to be good communicators internally and externally.

What’s the Hardest Part of the Job?

The hardest part of the job is to make the company profitable. We operate 24/7 362 days of the year, keeping productivity in the manufacturing process as high as possible so that we can utilise the capacity that we have therefore achieving maximum return on investment. There is then a very fine balance between having too much or too little work. Reinvestment is also difficult as the capital outlay for machinery can easily run into £millions.

What Makes a Candidate’s CV Stand Out from the Crowd?

I receive quite a few CVs that are sent by recruitment consultants who are incapable of using correct grammar and spelling, unfortunately this does not give their candidates a chance as the CVs are discounted. Some are equally poorly presented which does not make a good first impression. Information must be clearly laid out in a logical order containing all of the information that an employer would want to take into consideration before interviewing the recruit. Finally the background and experience must be relevant to the job that has been advertised assuming that we are seeking an experienced employee.

The post Industry Spotlight: Working in the Printing Industry appeared first on CV Surgeon.

Have you always wanted to ditch the 9-5 desk job and work outside? Well a career as a Watersports Instructor could be for you.

Tez Plavenieks is a fully qualified Windsurfing and Surfing Instructor and now works as a Content Manager and Copywriter in the watersports industry. In this interview with CV Surgeon he tells us about his earlier career as an Instructor and shares some tips on how others can find a job in the industry.

What Made You Want to Become an Instructor?

I started surfing when I was five and when I got older I decided I wanted to be involved in watersports as a career so opted for the coaching path. I enrolled on a four month Professional Watersports Coaching Course which takes students of all levels, gets their personal skills up to an adequate level and then puts them through the relevant coach assessments. Chances are, as with me, if you’re going to invest the time and money in a venture such as this then you’ll already be involved with one or more of the sports featured on these types of courses. As already mentioned, I could surf to a high level, I could dinghy sail, had dabbled with windsurfing and tried kayaking. My course tutors spent much of the time focusing on my lower level skills of the sports I didn’t participate in regularly, getting me tuned up ready for assessment.

Do You Need Any Previous Qualifications to Become an Instructor?

No, not even prior experience. Some critics don’t like this fact but anyone can train to be a Watersports Instructor. All you need is the desire and some get up and go.

What Are The Courses Like?

The actual instructor courses are around five days and within the assessment you have to be able to demonstrate enough personal skills to be slightly better than your students, have the relevant theory/knowledge under your belt to be able to pass on to students, understand safety issues and hold relevant safety certificates (something else the four month course trains students for) and display the correct teaching methods as laid down by each sport’s national governing body. Having completed these tasks you will hold basic coaching qualifications which will open up employment opportunities within a variety of teaching establishments. Some candidates choose to stay in the UK and set up their own school, some work for UK based private coaching companies, some end up working for outdoor activity centres while the majority, myself included, usually head overseas to work for one of the many watersports holiday companies – in my case Neilson. Once placed you then spend roughly 8 months delivering week long coaching courses to holiday makers from all walks of life. You do get to mix it up and cross over disciplines but I opted to stick with windsurfing as that’s what I enjoyed the most. During your season there will be the opportunity to gain advanced level qualifications, which I did, and after a few seasons I ended up specialising and just coaching advanced level students. I also helped out with staff training in my latter years as a coach and also ended up managing the overall beach operation of two of Neilson’s busiest resorts. During one of my summer seasons I was persuaded by a friend to sign up for a winter – previously winters had involved Caribbean stints. I did the ‘necessary’ and applied for a winter role which placed me in the Three Valleys region of the French Alps. All in all I did seven years as a seasonaire before moving back permanently to the UK.

What Personality Traits Do You Think Someone Has to Have to Succeed as an Instructor?

Patience/tolerance is needed as is an outgoing personality. You need to be able to listen and be perceptive. Spotting self consciousness, exhaustion, dehydration etc especially in adults is key. Being a team player helps as well.

What is a Typical Day at Work Like?

Being a coach is definitely NOT 9 – 5. Basically you are on duty any time you are in front of guests – which is a lot! However, that’s not to say you can’t have fun. In fact most guests will love the fact you’re enjoying life. You’ll start early and finish late and only have one day off per week. Everyone is expected to get stuck in on socials and end of week BBQ’s/last night meals etc. However, this should be seen as a chance to relax and really get to know your students. It’s actually super fun!

What Is the Toughest Part of the Job?

Tiredness, burn out, dealing with difficult guests and obstructive suppliers. It all just adds to the mix. Making sure you avoid injury, where possible, is also key. Tropical climates and cuts don’t mix…I nearly lost my leg after getting blood poisoning.

What CV Advice Can You Share?

Candidates should play on their communication skills, willingness to learn and openness towards new challenges. Qualifications obviously play a major part but ultimately companies look at personality traits first.

Have You Got Any Tips on Finding Work Abroad?

Most Watersports Centres are established and known. Once you complete your initial training, your course tutors will have access to this type of information readily. A search online will also give plenty of good results. The main watersports holiday providers in the UK start advertising jobs around Christmas for the new summer season and around July/August for winter. With such a large catalogue of resorts there are plenty of positions to be filled. ‘Going it alone’ is slightly trickier but is still feasible, it may just take a few more emails before you get a response.

If Someone is Looking to Become an Instructor, What Advice Would You Give to Them?

Go for it! You’ll pick up so many different life skills and if you choose to head overseas then you’ll learn more about the big wide world than any classroom can teach. In many cases becoming a Watersports (or Snowsports) instructor is the ‘making of’ many people.

To find out more about this career follow Tez on Twitter and check out his blog:
Tez Plavenieks
@TezWoz

Photography: Julia Toms

The post Industry Spotlight: How to Become a Watersports Instructor appeared first on CV Surgeon.

The Apprentice is back on our TV screens and during the next few weeks we’ll be treated to tears, tantrums and some finger pointing in the board room. This year’s candidate line up seems extra competitive as each person is battling it out for a £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar to invest in their start-up business. So what skills are the candidates going to need to display during the coming weeks in order to secure investment?

Sales Skills

This is arguably the most important skill to show during The Apprentice. Every year we see candidates taking part in tasks and travelling around London trying to sell bulk stock and a variety of products. Last night’s show, the first in the new series, saw the candidates try to sell items in bulk to retailers in London. The items included bottles of water, high-vis jackets, cat litter and a lucky cat ornament. The aim of the task was to sell all of the stock and the team that made the most amount of profit won. Sales skills were obviously essential here – the candidates had to sell these items in large volumes whilst trying to secure the best price. So in order to get to the final, candidates will need to keep showing their sales skills and ability to negotiate with possible customers.

Team Building

Although most of the candidates are in it for themselves, there is definitely an element of team building required in order to make it to the final of The Apprentice. The winning team each week is safe from being fired and therefore candidates need to work together to avoid being in the board room with Lord Sugar.

Innovation

As the winning candidate will be going into business with Lord Sugar, innovation and creativity is essential in order to create a business that is unique. Lord Sugar has already mentioned that the candidates’ CV writing has included terms like ‘think outside of the box’ but they’ll have to really prove this during some of their tasks.

The post What Skills Do This Year’s Apprentice Stars Need to Succeed? appeared first on CV Surgeon.

The weather in the UK has been heating up and summer is well and truly on the way. If you are studying at university or college, you may be starting your summer job search now in order to ensure you earn some extra cash during your break. So if you are looking for a summer job check out these three tips to help you secure one!

Start Early

One of the keys to finding a summer job is starting your search early. Thousands of students all over the country will be doing the same as you – sending their CV out to companies in their hometown in the hope of securing work. Therefore, with competition tough, you should start your job search early. During your evenings and weekends start searching the internet and networking with friends in your hometown to find out about work opportunities and start sending out applications. If you visit home regularly you should also consider taking in printed copies of your CV to local employers.

Update Your CV

Although you may not have finished your studies, you should update your CV with relevant content and grades to ensure the CV you send out is current. Ensure you include any work experience or internship positions and update your CV content with any voluntary work or projects you work on outside of studying. This will not only make your CV current but it can show your versatility and skill set.

Demonstrate Flexibility

Most summer jobs require you to be flexible and to work random hours. The chances are you’ll be applying for a job in retail, supermarkets, seasonal positions, catering or temping work. Most of these jobs will need weekend and evening work so showing you are flexible is essential to your job interview chances.

The post Three Ways to Secure a Summer Job appeared first on CV Surgeon.

With the vast majority of organisations now investing in the web to find and attract business, there seems to be more demand for candidates that specialise in online content creation. Many companies now use websites, social media and video to engage with customers and therefore there is a need for candidates who can both deliver content and interact with customers online. So how can you secure a job in this field? And what qualifications do you need?

In this latest career interview CV Surgeon talks to Kevin Bradford, a Content Producer, to find out some tips on how to break into the industry.

Tell Us About Your Career Background?

I was lucky enough to know the field I wanted to work in from a fairly early age, which enabled me to focus my career choices from the start. Having graduated with a BA (Hons) degree in Journalism, I spent more than three years at a series of local and regional newspaper titles and affiliated websites in London. After achieving all of my goals in what was a fantastically challenging working environment, I decided to move to Australia hoping to pursue new adventures in the media industry here. I spent six months as a Senior Producer at ninemsn, often responsible for managing the content and agenda for the country’s most popular news website. In August 2011, I took a job as a Content Producer at Australia’s largest online appliance retailer, a role that I have adapted to incorporate a greater amount of digital content production, including video filming and editing, alongside written material.

What Made You Want to Work in Content Creation?

I wanted to work in content creation because I love having something tangible to show for my everyday efforts. Whether it is a by-line in a newspaper or a video on YouTube, it is possible to see the fruits of your labour. In my current role, there are people who monitor the analytics associated with the videos or stories I have produced. Results showing a greater engagement with the audience and customers give me a real buzz, and keep the pressure on to maintain high standards.

Tell Us About Your Main Responsibilities?

I was initially writing a lot of product copy for the website but suggested to the boss that I could help with video that may help engage with customers a lot more. He loved the idea and gave me the autonomy to purchase the equipment and arrange my own filming schedule with the aim of producing content covering the AV and appliance industry. I am responsible for organising the workflow for the video team, as well as producing, filming, editing and uploading the content.

What’s the Hardest Part of the Job?

The hardest part of my job is maintaining intensity each day. I run an almost wholly autonomous operation. I am contracted to the company, but it is similar to being self-employed. I often have to set my own agendas and deadlines for myself and my colleagues. Falling short of those would often not impact on many other people, but the desire for satisfaction and pride from my work keeps me focused.

What Was It Like Relocating and Finding a Job in Sydney? Do You Have Any Tips?

Relocating to find work in Sydney was a huge gamble. I had never tried to work abroad and was fairly unaware of the job market. Luckily, I was able to find a fair number of job opportunities to apply for via recruitment websites. My skills and experiences from the UK were looked upon favourably in Australia, and I was offered several positions. I put this down to having the confidence to apply for roles I was experienced enough to fulfil, and not settling for short-contracted ‘backpacker’ positions. Job markets are always changing though, and I did take a risk in coming over rather unprepared. My advice would definitely be to research the job market, have an idea of what you want to do, and get an understanding of what is out there. If you are relocating for work rather than just to travel, it may be worth delaying until the market is more suited. You can be living a long way away from friends and family, and there is nothing worse than feeling lumbered with a job you are unhappy in. Also, try to understand any differences between the markets, and find a way to relate your experiences from back home to what you want to do abroad. What can you bring from your old role that may not have been picked up in the country you have moved to? Another thing is to trust in the strength of your CV. If you are skilled enough to do a job you love back home, it will probably translate abroad. Send it out to any job you want to do, without the fear of thinking you are not prepared for it. If you believe you have done well previously, it will be recognised. And simple things like follow-up phone calls to make sure the CV has been received work the world over. Finally, understand your visa stipulations, what you need to work there, how long it lasts, and what your short/long term options are. When you go into an interview, you need to be able to explain your position. Make it easy for the potential employer, as they will not want too many questions hanging over you when you walk out.

What Do You Think Makes a CV Stand Out?

The simplest thing you can do to put yourself ahead of the opposition, is to have a simple CV. Make sure it is laid out clearly, with sections such as employment history, education, hobbies and interests, simply marked with headlines and bullet points. Don’t overwrite the CV either. Ensure there is plenty on there of interest and relevance, but enough scope to lead the interviewers into questioning. For many jobs in the media industry, it is about being concise, accurate, and punchy – where better to prove that early on than in the CV? Don’t worry about pictures, pretty colours, florid text or hyperbole. Grab their attention with the facts.

The post Industry Spotlight: Finding a Content Producer Job appeared first on CV Surgeon.

First Choice has been searching all year long for a new candidate to join their team as their Water Slide Tester and the winner of the post has just been anounced. Although it sounds like a lot of fun in the sun, we examine below what it takes to be a real Slide Tester and whether it really is the best job in the world.

Person Specification:

• Like the sun. This is a must for anyone wanting to be a Slide Tester. We doubt there are water slides in cold, freezing climates so liking the sun and wanting to be outside in the heat is essential.

• Like bold colours. Bright and bold swimsuits are the uniform for this position. Forget the shirt and tie – in this role the candidate will be wearing bold prints and bright swimming costumes all day long so therefore liking bright colours is essential.

• Sociable. Wondering around a water park all day and queuing for rides makes being sociable a vital attribute. There will be a lot of talking with the general public and building rapport with water park staff so therefore the candidate will need to be sociable.

• Approachable. Water park staff will need to approach the candidate throughout the day so this is essential.

• Enjoy swimming as a hobby. If you don’t enjoy swimming, you won’t enjoy this job! We think the winning candidate for this job must have had this on his CV template.

Key Skills Required:

• Flexible. As well as being flexible enough to ride on water slides, the candidate needs to be able to work flexible hours. Weekend and evening work will probably be required!

• Versatile. Small water slides, winding water slides, indoor water slides, kamikaze slides…there are a lot to test so versatility is sure to be a desirable skill for this position.

• Computer literate. There will definitely be a need to write/blog about the experience as a Slide Tester so basic computer skills will no doubt be required.

• Video production. With so many companies using video and multimedia to reach customers, First Choice will probably be looking for the winning candidate to vlog about their experience in the job so video production and presenting skills will be desirable.

The post What Does It Take To Be a Water Slide Tester? appeared first on CV Surgeon.

Banking firm HSBC has announced it plans to cut over 3,000 jobs in the coming months.

The plans, which are in an effort to reduce company costs, could see up to 3,166 jobs lost throughout the UK.
HSBC, which employs almost 50,000 people in the UK, have been deploying cost cutting efforts during the past few years and the staff cuts are one of the ways the company plans to save money. Last year during the same bid HSBC cut 2,200 jobs and this year more look set to follow.

It’s not yet known where the job cuts will be made although it’s thought the wealth management division of the company will be affected.

Although the company apparently plans to make job cuts this year it’s said some staff members will be positioned in different areas of the business and therefore the job cuts won’t be as drastic as first reported. Although HSBC plans to cut over 3,000 positions it’s thought over 2,000 new roles in different departments will be created and that many of HSBC’s existing staff will be re-positioned. The estimated number of roles being axed is therefore more likely to be closer to 1,000.

Some changes to the business, including in the wealth management division, are set to come into action by June this year.

Apparently since 2011 12% of HSBC’s staff have been lost globally. Cost cutting efforts continue to be made as part of the company’s three year revival plan.

The post HSBC Set to Cut More UK Jobs appeared first on CV Surgeon.