Tag Archives: applications

Could a difficult relationship with your boss impact on a future reference?

Applications No Comments

When applying for a new role we all hope that we will be given a positive and supportive reference by our current, or previous, line manager. However, even the most conscientious and easy going individual can have an occasional difficult working relationship. So, what do you do if you have not always seen eye to eye with your line manager?

A good first step is to talk to them. Tell them about your plans, your motivation for the roles you are seeking, and ask them what kind of reference they would provide for you. You may find that they are much more supportive than you expect. Asking them for a copy of the reference they will provide may also allay your fears. If they are prepared to focus on your strengths and achievements you will no doubt be reassured.

An alternative approach is simply to ask someone else to write a reference for you. This could be a colleague you have worked with closely either on a day-to-day basis or on a specific project. You may have plenty of people who could do this for you and would be happy to comment on you work ethic, professionalism, knowledge and ability.

Bear in mind that professional references do not have to be written by a direct work colleague. You could approach other industry professionals who know you well, or maybe even contacts from clubs or voluntary bodies in which you participate or volunteer. And, of course, don’t forget that you can also ask your academic supervisor who will have got to know you and watch you develop throughout your degree.

Regardless of who you decide to approach, ensure that they are clear about what you are applying for, why you are interested, and what makes you suitable for this role. You may wish to remind them of some of your most relevant knowledge, experience and skills. It can also be helpful to forward them a copy of your application.

Online Resources – Vault Career Intelligence

Careers resources Researching careers No Comments

In our last post featuring our online careers resources we discussed some of the occupational information www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/careers/explore/occupations available on the Careers Service website and how to use that information to inform your choices. This post, also from my colleague Janet Onyia, will focus on Vault which provides careers information and company intelligence worldwide. You can access Vault via the Myed Careers channel. Vault

 Vault is a popular international careers information resource that the Careers Service subscribes to so that you can benefit from free access.

Vault provides career, industry and advice guides covering a huge range of industry sectors including; law, veterinary medicine and animal care, medical equipment, computer software, wealth management, energy and much more. You can use these guides to research the sector which interests you and have a look at its structure, outlook and key trends.  You can also identify leading employers, explore specialisms, rankings and get up-to-date news. Vault guides are particularly helpful if you’re interested in US employers, job postings and resume advice; but the guides also cover the UK, Europe, Asia and Australasia.

The things I have found particularly useful are;

  • The search box

There is so much information on the site that it can sometimes be quicker to use the search box for what you may be looking for. In addition to that, I have often found a lot of resources I didn’t know Vault had (or that I was looking for) when using this feature, as the search returns related guides and other related material. Try it and see what you find!

  • The interviews section

Vault has a comprehensive section on succeeding in interviews – from behavioural to competence and strengths-based. It even gives you examples of the top interview questions asked by certain industries.

  • The Blog

 The blog is so interesting because it offers so much. From titles such as ‘Top 5 Skills Needed For a Job in Software Development’, ‘A Day in the Life of a Peace Corps Volunteer’ through to ‘Pushing the Curtain Aside for an Encore Career’, it makes an interesting read every time! Some of the information in the blog is North America based (i.e. top 50 internships) but on the whole the blog spans several regions.

These are the parts of Vault I find most useful but, but that may be entirely different for you. Get onto it, navigate through its various sections and decide for yourself the parts you find of most use.

Vault can be accessed from the Careers channel on MyEd.

Explaining gaps in your experience

Applications Interviews No Comments

Many of us have had a career ‘gap’ at some point in our lives. It is sometimes difficult to think about how to address these gaps when it comes to preparing a CV and attending interviews.  My colleague Lorna Cox shares some ideas on this below – Carol  

Employers can get suspicious of time gaps in your CV, so make sure you don’t let them jump to the wrong conclusions. Take control by briefly explaining the reason for the time gap and try to put a positive spin on it.

Time off to have children?

  • Emphasise your time management and organisational ability.
  • Give examples of how you maintained an interest in your career such as reading professional literature, networking or voluntary work.

Time off due to illness?

  • If appropriate, reassure the employer you have now recovered from the illness or show how well you cope with an ongoing condition.
  • Emphasise your resilience and determination to return to work.

Time off to go travelling?

  • Show what you gained while travelling eg. increased independence, planning and organising skills, resilience, communication in another language.
  • Convince the employer you are now ready to start/resume your career.

Time off to change career direction?

  • Explain the research you did to be sure the new career is the right choice eg. work shadowing or volunteering
  • Give examples of relevant skills you gained from your previous career.

Time off between courses?

  • Many graduates have a gap between undergraduate and postgraduate study to earn money, gain work experience, travel or volunteer.
  • Explain what you gained from this time gap and why this is relevant for the job you have applied for.

Good Luck!