Top 25 Tips For Finding a Better Job

Is a job change in order? Peruse the 25 most effective ways to job hunt. If it's time for new beginnings, and if you're searching for a job, it's a good time to make sure your priorities are in check. Begin with some basic soul-searching, move to creative networking, and conclude with the foremost ways to investigate prospective companies. These are all sure strategies for getting a competitive edge in the job market. But finding a job means more than being competitive. In the bewildering new world of technology-online boards, career centers, and growing numbers of complex web sites-it also means knowing your way around. Here are 25 tips to learn how to maximize your time, your effectiveness, and your chances of success in your next career search!

1. First and foremost-take a personal inventory. Job hunting gives you the opportunity to go back to "square one" and inventory all over again what you are all about, what skills and knowledge you have acquired, and what you want to do. Who are you? What do you want out of life? A job? A career? Where are you going? Do you know how to get there? Have you been happy in your work/career/profession? What would you like to change? An inventory such as this is the best job hunting method ever devised because it focuses your view of your skills and talents as well as your inner desires. You begin your job hunt by first identifying your transferable, functional, skills. In fact, you are identifying the basic building blocks of your work.

2. Apply directly to an employer. Pick out the employers that interest you the most from any source available (web listings, yellow pages, newspaper ads, etc.), and obtain their address. Appear on their doorstep at your first opportunity with resume in hand. Even if you don't know anyone there, this job hunting method works almost half the time, if you are diligent and continue your pursuit over several weeks or months.

3. Ask relatives and friends about jobs where they work. Ask every relative and friend you have now or have ever had about vacancies they may know about where they work, or where anyone else works. It may take a village to raise a child, but it takes an entire network to find a new job! If you tell everyone you know or meet that you are job hunting and that you would appreciate their help, you more than quadruple your chances of success.

4. Search hidden job markets. Networking is the "Hidden Job Market." Because every time you make contact with a person who is in direct line with your career interest, you set up the possibility that he or she will lead you to more people, or to the job you are seeking. People are connected to one another by an infinite number of pathways. Many of these pathways are available to you, but you must activate them to make them work to your advantage. Most of the available jobs are in the hidden job market. They aren't listed in the classifieds or placed with a headhunter. Find them through your network of contacts. This is your most valuable resource!

5. Ask a professor or old teacher for job-leads. No one knows your capabilities, dedication, and discipline better than a teacher or professor who had the opportunity to work with you in school. Since more people find their work through direct referral by other people than by any other way, this is a target audience you don't want to miss

6. Spend more hours each week on your job hunt. Finding a job is a job! Treat your job hunting just as you would a normal job and work a normal number of hours per week, at least 35, preferably 40 in the process. This will cut down dramatically on the length of time it takes you to find work. Did you know that the average person in the job market only spends 5 hours or less per week looking for work? With that statistic, it isn't surprising that it can be a long, tedious process. Improve your chances and demonstrate your discipline and determination. Devote Sundays to answering ads and planning your strategy for the next week. Don't spend precious weekday hours behind a computer. You need to be out there researching leads, networking, and interviewing. Work smarter for yourself!

7. Concentrate your job hunt on smaller companies. Most new jobs will come from smaller, growing companies, typically with fewer than 500 employees, not large, restructuring companies. Although larger employers are more visible, well known and aggressive in their search for employees, it is with the smaller companies that you may have the best chance of success in finding work. Pay particular attention to those companies that are expanding and on their way to prosperous growth...they are easier to approach, easier to contact important personnel, and less likely to screen you out.

8. See more employers each week. If you only visit six or seven employers a month in your job search (which is the average, by the way), you will prolong your search and delay your successful outcome. This is one reason why job hunting takes so long. If you need to see 45 employers to find a job, it only makes sense to see as many employers a week as possible. Determine to see no fewer than two employers per week at a minimum! Do this for as many months as your job-hunt lasts. Keep going until you find the kind of employer who wants to hire you! Looking for a job is a numbers game. The more contacts you make, the more interviews you'll get. The more interviews you have, the more offers you'll get.

9. Be prepared for phone interviews. Would you believe that over 50% of prospective candidates are disqualified after the first phone contact is made with them by an employer? In today's world, employers don't have time anymore to interview every possible applicant and are using phone calls as a less expensive, less time consuming way to weed out potentially unqualified candidates. The phone interview catches many people off guard. You might receive more than just one phone interview, and you have to pass them all. The interviewer usually makes up his or her mind within the first five minutes. The remainder of the time is spent just confirming first impressions.

10. Create a support group. It is easy to get discouraged, depressed and despondent (the three D's) in the job-hunt process. This can be one of the toughest and loneliest experiences in the world and the rejection you may have to face can be brutal, but it doesn't have to be. The key is in understanding that you are not alone. There are literally hundreds of thousands of people looking for work, and you can team up with one if you choose. Many job-hunting groups already exist, such as the local Chambers of Commerce and online support groups through the Internet. Find a partner, or a larger group, and support and encourage each other. The path to success is literally a phone call away.

11. Contact potential employers directly through professional associations. Professional associations provide excellent networks for your benefit. Almost all committed professionals are members of at least one or two professional networks. Usually membership includes a directory, which provides you with a direct networking resource for verbal contact and mail campaigns. Additionally, most professional associations hold regularly scheduled meetings, which provide further opportunities to mingle with your professional peers on an informal basis. Finally, professional associations all have newsletters that are a valuable resource for other trade publications, associations, and help wanted sections.

12. Post your resume online. In today's world there are numerous resume databases on the web. Job hunters can now tap into giant online databases when launching a search prior to interviewing. There are three primary ways to job search electronically or online: Joblines, Bulletin Board Systems (BBS), and the Internet. Many employers today have their employment opportunities accessible through a simple phone call. You can also use the advanced Resume Caster feature in ResumeMaker to post your resume to all of the top career centers on the web for thousands of hiring employers to review. You can also use the Job Finder feature to search from among more than 1 million online-listed job openings for a specific job title in the state you specify. The data is all there, waiting for you.

13. Promote yourself in unique ways. Promotion is creating an audience of potential employers and making them aware of your qualifications. There are many nontraditional ways to accomplish this task. For example, use electronic resume services to broadcast your resume. List yourself in appropriate trade association newsletters. Prepare 3 x 5 Rolodex cards that contain your name, address, and phone number on the front and your objective and skills from your resume on the back. Leave them behind wherever you go and give them to anyone who has reason to contact you later about a job.

14. Accept a temporary position or volunteer work. Be your own working advertisement by accepting a temporary position. This provides you with valuable experience, contacts, and references. Volunteer for organizations and activities with business sponsors and relationships that increases your visibility and personal contacts. Explore your possibilities and leave all options open. You never know which method may ultimately land you your ideal job.

15. Make cold-calls. Next to face-to-face meetings, the telephone is the most effective method available to find a job. Every call you make is an opportunity to sell yourself to a prospective employer, to pursue a new job opening, or to obtain a referral. Your technique in the initial telephone call can have a categorical impact on your chances to obtain what you want from the call. Complete at least 15 calls per day. You will be astonished at the results. Always be agreeable, gentle, and positive. Smile when you speak; the listener will hear it. Prepare a brief outline for each call and rehearse it. Create brief statements that outline how you can help your prospective employer accomplish their goals. Always, always, always ask for referrals.

16. Re-define your job hunt in terms of alternative possibilities. Successful job hunters always have alternative plans ready in the background and implement them at the first sign of difficulty. Prepare alternative ways of describing what you do, alternative avenues of job hunting, alternative leads and contact lists, alternative target organizations and employers to contact, alternative ways to approach prospective companies, and alternative plans to continue your job hunt through its successful completion. The jobs are out there-you just need to be sure you are using the right methods to look for them.

17. Seek career counseling or job hunting help online. Many service providers, through the Internet, are offering career counseling services, job hunting advice, and reference tools that you can turn to in your job hunt. Some of the best of these services are free, and the number is growing astronomically each year. Your first approach would be to visit the online career centers integrated with ResumeMaker and visit each site to determine what services they have to offer. There is a virtual community just waiting to hear from you.

18. Consider federal and local government sources. The federal government is a huge resource of potential job search information, available to you at little or no cost. Several Department of Labor publications, for example, can take you through your job search from beginning to end, and help with career counseling and industry research. Call your local employment office and take advantage of the services they offer.

19. Make sure you can survive financially between jobs. Budget for the time you will be looking for a job. It is always helpful if you can get an overall view of how your money will carry you through any work search or training you may need to take on. You will have enough worries and issues to deal with and do not want to have to be concerned about your finances.

20. Set and prioritize goals while job-hunting. You need to know what you want, or else you can't ask for it. There are literally thousands of jobs open around you. Determine what it is that you want, set your goals for achieving this, and prioritize the steps that you will ultimately need to take. The more specific you are about your goal, the better your chances of getting the job you want.

21. Zero in on a career position and research the market. Before you start meeting people, you need to know something about the industry or field you want to work in. The more you know, the better your conversations with prospective employers will be-and the more impressed they will be with you.

22. Interview others for information. Interview people whose occupations interest you. You can always find someone who has done something that at least approximates what you want to do. Find the names of such persons, and go see, phone, or write them. You will learn a great deal that is relevant to your dream.

23. Organize a job search campaign. Organize your job search campaign. Failing to do so is a common flaw in many people's job search strategy. Make a plan for your job search. This entails: planning and organizing your job strategy, setting up a base or operations center for your job hunt, preparing materials, and carrying out job search tactics.

24. Update your resume and be prepared. Update that resume! A resume is what nearly everyone you approach in your job search is going to ask for. Get your resume in top shape. Use a professional service or ResumeMaker to prepare a show-stopping resume!

25. Keep yourself dedicated, strong, positioned, and consistent. Job-hunting can certainly be one of life's most stressful experiences. You have more power to keep the pressures of job hunting under control, however, than you may think. The key is to focus your job search and stay strong, dedicated and consistent. One of the curious things about the human brain is that it focuses on only one thing at a time. So keep it focused on you-and finding a job!

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Career Advancement Tips for Freshies: 5 Quick Advice to Help You Grow Successfully

These career advancement tips are not instant solutions to your career challenges. They are work values you can practice to help you advance in your career.

You have just left college and started on your first job. Although you know what your role is at your work place, you are also eager to make an impression. Remember that when you practice these career advancement tips, the results are not immediate. You will only begin to see their values when you start to internalize and act upon them naturally.

1. Heart

If you want career advancement, then do everything fueled by the heart. While your brain provides the knowledge, your hands and legs provides the skills, and your heart provides the passion. Fuel every task with passion.

When you work full-heartedly, your quality shows. Someone who has the skills and knowledge but do not have the heart to complete the given task can only do a good job. To do a great job, you not only need skills and knowledge, you need heart.

Perfection comes when passion meets skills and knowledge. Approach your work with all your heart and you will advance in your career, successfully.

2. Heed

Many freshies I have come across and worked with are very excited to demonstrate what they know and learned in school. However, they forget that sometimes experience is needed to complement what is learned in the academic world. As a freshie in the workplace, you need to take heed of what your seniors and bosses advice you. Pay careful attention to what they are trying to tell you. Some things only experience can teach you. The finer points of any industry can only be learned when you take heed of advice from elders in the industry.

3. Hunger

Have the hunger to know more and learn more. Have the hunger to want to go further and do more. If you want to advance in your career, always be hungry for relevant skills and knowledge. Always be hungry for excellence in your work. One of my ex-bosses used to tell me, when you do a good job, you earn your salary and your current position. When you do an excellent job, you give me reasons to give you an increment and a promotion.

The hunger to want to do more and do better quite naturally makes you a competitive advantage in your unit. People will notice your constant pursuit of excellence and that will make them want you to work for them and keep you on the team. You increase your value to the company. This is one of the career advancement tips I continue to practice till today.

4. Hindrance

As a freshie, you lack experience at work and you will find a lot hindrances. These hindrances coupled with your eagerness to demonstrate your prowess at work will frustrate you. Some challenges and obstacles are real. It could be related to your lack of skills and knowledge to complete a task.

You may perceive yourself to know how to do the task but in reality you may not be equipped to do so. When faced with hindrances, seek help. Do not be egoistic to not do so. No one knows everything. When you seek help you learn a new skill.

Some hindrances are more people oriented. They can be difficult colleagues simply testing your patience. When I was a freshie, how I approached this hindrance was to see it as a rites of passage. They want me to give them a reason for respecting my input and my work. When faced with such colleagues, practice patience. In extreme cases, you can seek help from your immediate boss.

As cliche as it sounds, hindrances only serves to make you learn more if you view them positively.

5. Humor

To balance off the career advancement tips of heed, hunger and hindrance is humor. I can still remember some of my personal experiences related to these career advancement tips. Imagine how stressful it can be when they all happen together.

Imagine the stress of having to deal with this situation - You are supposed to take heed of advice and remember it, especially when it is due to a mistake. You need to be hungry for excellence. You get hindrances from colleagues because you are new. In addition, hindrance to complete some tasks due to the lack of experience. How do you deal with it?

One of the best ways to deal with all these is to have a sense of humor. Laugh at yourself a little. When the going gets tough, laugh. While you need to be serious with your work to increase your chances of career advancement, it does not mean you cannot relax. Sometimes you have to say - it's only work. Having a sense of humor allows you to minimise the stress at work.

These are the 5 quick yet important career advancement tips a freshie can practice at work immediately. With constant practice, you can make it a habit and it would seem effortless before you know it.

Long Yun Siang or Long

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Employee Recruiting Costs Versus Employee Retention

Recruiting Costs:

The costs of turnover are many. Direct costs include the paperwork necessary to separate former employees and exit interviews. The cost of recruiting new employees takes time and money; from advertising the open position to sifting through resumes and interviewing candidates, not to mention training; employee recruiting is tedious and expensive. In fact, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) estimates that replacing a single employee costs roughly one and half times that employee's annual salary. Finding a suitable replacement can take anywhere from three to six months. Now consider that most people only give two week's notice and the indirect costs become painfully clear.

Indirect costs of turnover are lost understanding, slower productivity, missed opportunities and running behind schedule. This does not take into account the dip in morale that occurs when employees begin to leave. People of course occasionally leave a company for a variety of reasons. However, several employees leaving at once is a clear signal that something is very wrong. This is especially true of long-term employees who are in good standing with the company. The exit of a few people could turn into costly a mass exodus if the underlying problems are not corrected.

Retaining Employees:

What can be done to improve employee retention and avoid the strain of recruiting costs? There are numerous books and articles available on the subject, but one message is apparent in all of them. Basically, do not take your employees for granted. The recent recession has caused many employees to step up and take on more work for the same, or in some cases, less money. Many of them might have been happy to still have a job, but that feeling will not last forever. Studies have shown that employee dissatisfaction is increasing across numerous industries on a grand scale. If there is no work-life balance and no extra pay to compensate for the added hours, it is just a matter of time before employees simply burnout or become bitter. Fear of losing a job will not motivate people indefinitely, particularly when they may be able to find better pay or a less demanding work environment.

Those in leadership often assume high performing employees are happy and subsequently do not take the time to communicate with them. High performers are reliable and productive, which translates to content, right? The answer may be no. Communication is the key to every successful relationship, and business relationships are no different. Problem employees demand attention, but high performers need attention as well. Acknowledge and reward them for their hard work and loyalty. If you do not then a competitor might do it for you.

Anyone can talk to employees, but it takes effort to truly communicate with them. Communication requires building trust and encouraging honesty. Some employees fear retaliation if they address concerns and keep their opinions private. Create a culture of cooperation and lead by example. Listen carefully to the ideas of employees and treat them like individuals instead of cogs in a machine. Morale and productivity improve when employees trust their supervisors.

Be honest and share information with employees. Many leaders are uncomfortable sharing important business and financial information; however, truthfully presenting the facts can prevent panic. Considering the years of layoffs and business closures, employees who are left in the dark tend to fear for their futures. Silence could send them job hunting.

Valuing employees will increase employee retention. Invest in employees by training them and providing them with opportunities for advancement. No one wants to do the same thing forever. Companies would do well to try to advance from within whenever possible, and challenge employees to try new and innovative ideas. They might come up with some cost saving devices of their own.

Work-life balance is important, particularly to younger employees. According to different research, Generations X and Y place a high priority on work life balance. They are also less likely to demonstrate loyalty to a company, especially one that does not understand their personal values. Businesses need to be flexible and help employees find balance. Allow them to take time off without complaining about what an inconvenience it is. Understand that taking time to recharge will actually increase productivity. Employees who manage to balance their jobs and personal lives will prevent burnout, stay motivated and feel a greater connection to their employers.

There is no arguing with the fact that retaining current employees is more cost effective than recruiting new hires. Taking the time to invest in employees and make them feel appreciated may not seem like a dire business decision, but over time the money saved will outweigh the time spent.

For more information on how Bridge Capital can provide accelerated cash flow solutions for your business in the Suffolk and Nassau area of Long Island, NY;

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5 Job Interview Answers to Avoid

You'd think that by now you'd know what job interview answers not to give, but surprisingly I've heard that a lot of you are still out there making the same blunders you always have!

So, you may think that the following 5 job interview answers that you should NOT employ are common sense, but you really need to drill them into your head. I don't want to have to tell you again! (wink ;-)

1. Avoid job interview answers that are too honest. If an employer asks you about why you left a previous position or why you want to leave your current one, you need to proceed with caution. You need to avoid job interview answers that make you sound negative or that put you in a negative light. This means no harping on how your old boss was a man-whore that hit on anything with legs or rode you till your knees bled (hopefully not literally!) Even if you despise your boss or where you worked, you have to act like you're always positive in your answers unless your goal is scaring away potential employers!

2. Avoid getting too specific in job interview answers. Of course I'm not telling you to act like an airhead that can't keep their facts straight, but you should avoid citing specific people or events that took place where you last worked. It's ok to say things like "we used to do something along those lines," or "we had a similar procedure," in job interview answers but a lot of companies want you to be confidential about their specific practices and especially employees. Don't make your interviewer think that you have loose lips with your job interview answers.

3. Avoid negative statements in job interview answers- everything should be a positive. Of course this is common sense, but again, I don't think I can say it enough. Job interview answers need to be upbeat and positive, never negative or depressing. You should show that even when faced with struggles and adversity, you're able to remain, positive, upbeat and that you continue to do your best and work toward a common goal.

4. Avoid too much eye contact when answering questions. Preaching tons of eye contact is the norm when it comes to what to do when giving your best answers, and it's true that some eye contact can go a long way. If you don't look an interviewer in the eye when you give your job interview answers you might end up looking more like a nervous criminal than a job candidate. Looking them in the eye a little bit conveys interest, honesty and integrity... but doing it too much by blatantly staring just says you're kind of a weirdo.

5. Avoid too many hand gestures accompanying your job interview answers. Of course I don't expect that you're going to flip off your interviewer while you're trying to dazzle them with your answers... but I for one, like to talk with my hands. I'm not even aware of it most of the time but I've learned that I need to keep it under control, especially when I'm trying to come up with creative and original answers because sometimes my hands tend to take on a life of their own. The best job interview answers come from the heart, which means that sometimes I'm moving my hands around like a crazed umpire at a baseball game. You might just end up freaking out your interviewer though if you're doing this too much, so try to keep it under control!

Like I said, these tips to follow when you're trying to give answers are pretty obvious and any fool should know to avoid them... However, I've seen many that fail to! Make sure you keep these mishaps in mind so you don't screw up your next job interview answers.

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5 Ways to Keep Your Career Moving Forward

by Caroline Potter, Yahoo! HotJobs


The old adage says, "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," and its wisdom is applicable to job seekers. It is usually far easier to find another job if you're already employed. But how can you ensure that the worst never happens to you -- that you're never left without a job and possibilities for your next opportunity?

Here are five suggestions from career coach Deborah Brown-Volkman:

Keep thinking positive.

It sounds deceptively simple, but try embracing the power of positive thinking when you're thinking about your career. Says Brown-Volkman, "When you tell yourself something bad will happen to your job, something bad will probably happen. If you tell yourself that you are marketable and confident and that you will always be working, your words can make this true."

Keep thinking ahead.

If you're not following trends within your particular industry, you could be caught off guard by a layoff. Is your position or division vulnerable to outsourcing, further automation, or elimination? Brown-Volkman, whose practice is based in New York, says, "If your job is being eliminated or outsourced, you will want to know about it before you are in the room with the human resources person telling you that your job is going away."

She urges professionals, "Look for trends and then train yourself in growth areas. Having the right skills at the right time ensures that no matter what is happening around you, you will be needed and employable."

Keep your resume ready.

Having your resume at the ready gives you confidence. You always know that if opportunity casually knocks, you're prepared to answer. Brown-Volkman reminds her clients, "Even if you are not looking for work, your resume reminds you of the contributions you make on a regular basis, something you can easily forget when you are immersed in the day-to-day. Whether you are looking for a job, or you already have one, an updated resume is essential for your career."

Keep cultivating your network.

Brown-Volkman, author of "Don't Blow It: The Right Words for the Right Job," believes networking should always be a part of your professional life. She states, "If you start to network only when you need something, you will have a lot of catching up to do." Instead of waiting until the 11th hour, she advises workers to network in some way every day.

"Wherever there are people, there is an opportunity to network." She also urges workers to network within their own workplaces. If coworkers understand what you do and your value, this could help safeguard your job in dicey times.

Keep your eyes and ears open.

You're up on the trends. You're networking. You've got a current resume. You're thinking positive thoughts. Now it's time to get creative -- by creating your own opportunities.

Read up on what your peers are doing and what you aren't. Consider how you might strike out on your own -- or on the side. Brown-Volkman adds, "Rather than thinking, 'It cannot happen,' believe that what you want is possible and is within your reach. Then, make it happen."

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Job Application Forms - How to Write Effectively and Successfully

Recent statistics have shown that over a third of jobseekers fail to secure an interview after submitting a job application form. An application form acts as a sort of self-introduction to a company: it shapes the first impression a potential employer will have of you. By following a few simple guidelines, it is easy to perfect your command of the written word and ensure that this first impression is a favourable one.

Speak in specifics, not generalities. The majority of job application forms comprise of competency-based questions. The employer wants to be provided with evidence of your capabilities. Showcase your good points not with forgettable lists of personal qualities, but with specific examples of situations which you have used them. When responding to a question, think in terms of SAS: a Situation in your personal or professional life, the Action you undertook, how this action led to Success. Detail makes for a more interesting read, and thus a lasting impression.

Use short, succinct sentences. You want to include detail, but you do not want to be convoluted in your answers. Each sentence should encapsulate a new point: do not waste time or space repeating yourself. Try to keep to one theme within every new paragraph. Remember that application forms are often read quickly. If a point is embedded too deeply in long sentences and long paragraphs, it may well be missed. Condensed and concise sentences make for greater ease of reading - vital when you're trying to impress the reader.

Consider the tone of your responses. You want to use your short and succinct sentences to be matter-of-fact, but not terse. Aim for a formal but friendly tone. Using positive and affirmative language (e.g. 'I am' rather than 'I think I am') will create an impression of competency and enthusiasm. A friendly tone and good readability (see previous point) will enable you to emphasise your good points without sounding arrogant. Do not be afraid of the occasional exclamation mark - when appropriately placed, they can lighten the tone and add an enjoyable sparkle to your answer! Case in point.

Check, check and check again. Before you submit the application, make sure your spelling and grammar are flawless. Clumsy errors are not only irritating for the reader but they immediately suggest a lack of care in your work, and you could be dismissed from certain jobs on the basis of this alone. It sounds simple, but make sure your answers are consistent and not self-contradictory: it is no good saying you are diligent while failing to fully complete a section of the form, for example. If you say you attach a CV, attach a CV! Ensure that the application is 100% complete before you send it off. Now is not the time for silly errors.

As with any skill, the completion of a job application form can be improved upon with practice and attention to detail. Unlike in an interview situation, you have the opportunity to take your time, reassess and make everything word perfect. Take advantage of this. Do not let yourself be part of that unlucky third who fail to progress further than the form. If you take into account the above advice, the all-important interview is bound to follow.

Xanthe Kershaw

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How to Undertake a CV Clean Up

A lot of individuals find the prospect of having to write a CV or Resume extremely daunting. And yet, most of us out there will at some point in our lives have to write a CV; for a job application, to support a job promotion, or to help secure a place on a further education course or postgraduate study.

The big mistake made is to then take that beautifully written, painfully crafted CV and file it away in 'Personal' or 'Other' in your electronic or physical filing system. And then leave it there, for years at a time.

Of course this is a mistake that we all make. We write our CV, send it off in hope of securing that dream job, win the dream job, and wash our hands of the CV. This is all very well and good but what happens down the line when you want to apply for a new role, or you want to put yourself forward for a promotion? You have to drag out that ages old CV and try to remember what you've been up to over the past 2, 5, 10 years. Let's be honest, no-ones memory is sharp enough to do justice to the recording of achievements gained 5 years ago. So as painful; as it may seem, in the long term it will pay you dividends to undertake a CV clean up every 6 months to a year.

Listed below are some top tips to help you with your bi-annual CV clean up:

- Start with your personal details. Have you been married or divorced in the last 6 months? Has your name changed? What about your address, telephone number or email address? Make sure these details accurately reflect your current circumstances.

- Now look at your education history as this is unlikely to change massively over the past 6 months. Add in any crucial courses or qualifications that you have received. Remember to remove old qualifications when they are no longer meaningful; such as GCSE results once a degree has been obtained.

- Update the working history of your CV. The first time you do a CV clean up you'll probably need to add in information about your current role. Add in your job title, place of employment, start date, current role responsibilities and achievements.

- Have a look at the rest of the working history section of your CV. You only need to include information about the last 10 years of employment. Can any older job details be removed?

- Update your personal profile last. Sense check it to ensure that it accurately reflects your current role, skills and abilities. Ensure it is tailored towards jobs in the industry for which you currently work.

- Finally have a look at the overall presentation of your updated CV. Does it still only sit on one-three A4 pages? Is the spacing ok? It the text justified?

- Once you've finished your CV clean up, save the document and re-file it with the current month and year so that you know it's the latest version of your CV.

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