Your CV is the first thing an employer knows about you, so it must make a great first impression. Create your CV or use professional CV writing services to ensure it hits the spot. Whatever option you choose, your CV can make or break your job prospects. It is crucial that your CV is professional and shows that you have invested time and effort into it. Here are some tips for structuring your CV.

Contact details

It may seem obvious, but some candidates must include their contact details, or they may leave off their contact number or email address. You can't expect a recruiter to try to find you via other means, so ensure you have your email address and contact telephone number on the top of your CV. You may also wish to include your LinkedIn profile and portfolio.

Summary

A summary should also be at the top of your CV, including crucial information about your current profession and desire. It must only be a few sentences long and highlight your main career achievements. You want the summary to capture who you are so that the recruiter will instantly take notice.

Experience

The following section under your summary should include your experience. However, if you are a recent graduate with little work experience, education should be given before experience. In this section, you should include dates of employment, job title, and company name, together with the main duties of the role. There is no need to go further than ten years with your experience section and try to avoid copying from the job specs. Where possible, highlight and summarise any main achievements with facts and figures.

Education

If you are an experienced person, your education would usually be listed under your experience. However, if you prefer to highlight your education more, you can switch them around. Your education section should contain the subject, dates of course, and the education institution. If you completed courses at University or college, you can mention the other key details.

Achievements

It is always worth highlighting any main achievements in a separate section if they are relevant to the role you are applying for. Doing this will draw the recruiter's attention and, hopefully, impress them.

Inspired CVs can provide you with a high-quality, professional CV through our CV writing services in Glasgow. You can order your CV directly here or contact us to learn more about our services.

A common consideration when creating a CV or using professional CV writing services is whether to add achievements to it. The achievements section is part of your CV and highlights your contribution to the organisation. It can also set you apart from candidates who often just list their responsibilities. Your achievements can show the employer exactly what they can expect from you.

Where to put achievements on your CV?

You have various choices when incorporating your achievements into your CV. If space is limited (CVs should only be 2-3 pages long), you should incorporate them into your primary responsibilities. However, add a separate achievements section if you have space available.

Types of achievements

You might consider adding various types of achievements to your CV. It may depend on the role you are applying for, and you may tailor these to suit different roles. Here are some types of achievements you should consider.

Awards

If you have received any awards at work, such as ‘employee of the month,’ you should incorporate these on your CV—regardless of the role you are applying for. Awards and recognition show that you have excelled in your job, and therefore, it is key that you highlight these.

Achieving Targets

Your achievements or exceedances are particularly relevant if you apply for a target-based job, such as one in customer service or sales. Your targets should contain facts and figures. You want the recruiter to know exactly what you achieved and how long it took you to achieve these.

Examples:

Exceeded outbounds sales targets by 50% for three months consecutively

Increased social media sales by 100% from January to March through targeted Facebook marketing campaigns.

Reducing Costs

All employers want their costs to be reduced, and you can achieve this in many different roles. It may not be part of the job, but if you have shown the initiative required to support the business financially, it will be viewed positively.

Examples:

Reduced recruitment costs by 20% by enhancing recruitment strategy and recruitment agency usage.

It can often be challenging to decipher your achievements from your CV, and this is where our CV writing services in Glasgow can help. After a consultation, we will create a professional CV to help you get to the interview stage. Order directly today or contact us for a free consultation.

If you are taking the leap and moving into a management role or seeking a career change, you must understand your responsibilities to be successful in the role. A manager's role means you move away from the day-to-day tasks on the 'ground' and instead, you coordinate team members so they can successfully undertake these tasks. A strong team will work productively and happily.

The fundamentals of a good manager

Reports reveal that as many as 1 in 3 employees have quit jobs because of bad management; such is the importance of a manager's role. To be successful as a manager, your team should have adequate training to fulfil their role's demands; they should understand their goals and support to do their job successfully. Positive affirmations are also crucial for employees to be able to fulfil the needs of their job.

Tips for an effective team manager

The main issue with poor managers is that they have not received adequate training for the role. For instance, they may be knowledgeable about the employees' roles but might find it challenging to manage people. No one goes into a management role to be unsuccessful, but some managers don't consider how they will approach their role. These are some tips for being an effective team manager.

Positive Communication

Communication with employees should be positive, both individually and as a team. It is essential for new employees as they settle into the role. Negative communication can quickly deflate, demotivate, and affect productivity with employees. The last thing you want is for employees to dread speaking to you.

Clear Structure and Goals

Employees should know what is expected of them and their daily and overall goals. You must be transparent with employees to expect them to fulfil the role's demands. For instance, when they start, they should have a complete induction program, which includes their tasks and training for the first few months. Too many managers don't provide guidance and expect employees to hit the ground running as soon as they start.

Delegate and Trust

You should trust the employees on your team to get on with their jobs. Micromanagement will result in resentment and make the employee feel that they do not have ownership within their role. Employees shouldn't have to catch up with their managers every day; it should be based on whether the employee needs support from the manager or if there are any concerns.

Listen to Concerns

A manager and employee relationship is a two-way street, and listening to employee feedback and concerns is essential. For instance, if an employee is unhappy with how you speak to them or the level of support you provide, you should listen and take it onboard. The only way you will ever become a good manager is by listening to employee feedback. Ask for employee feedback so you can make positive changes to your leadership.

If you are looking for career progression and wish to move into a management role, the first step is to ensure you have a CV aimed at a higher-level role. At Inspired CVs, we provide CV writing services in Glasgow. You can order your CV directly here or contact us for information. Our CV writing services are available to candidates globally.

LinkedIn has 1 billion members, spanning across 200 countries and territories. If you are actively looking for work or interested in hearing about opportunities, you could be missing out if you don't utilise the platform. There has been a lot of conversation about the use of 'open to work' on your profile. If you're unfamiliar with it, 'open to work' is a green banner you can add to your profile image on LinkedIn to show others that you are open to opportunities. Some people feel this comes across as desperate, while others think it is simply a method of letting recruiters know you are open to chatting. Here are some reasons you might want to use the 'open to work' banner.

Find a Job

First and foremost, the 'open to work' banner is necessary for those who are unemployed and actively looking for a new job. For the most part, the banner's use falls within this demographic because some people don't want their employers to know they are interested in hearing about opportunities. Some recruiters will actively search for candidates with this banner, so if you are not using it and actively looking, you might miss out on job opportunities.

Ideal for Freelancers

If you are a freelancer, using the 'open to work' banner can show recruiters that you are happy to hear about new gigs. With the nature of self-employment being wholly uncertain, it is a good idea to always be visible to recruiters.

Career Growth

Even if you are not actively looking for a new job, the 'open to work' banner may be a way to improve your future career. If you don't use this banner, you could miss out on the opportunity to discuss roles that would take you to the next step in your career. 

Expand Network

The 'open to work' banner is a way to invite discussion. When a recruiter sees that you have this on your profile, it almost says, 'Hey, feel free to contact me!' Recruiters know that if they message you, you will be willing to hear them out. It can be an excellent way to start talking to others and grow your network. You always need to find out where conversations can lead.

Whether you are actively looking for a new job or not, the 'open to work' banner can only have a positive impact. However, if you are worried about the banner's impact on your relationship with your current employer, you can change the privacy settings. If you are looking for a new job and need a new professional CV services in Glasgow to help you reach the next stage, you can buy directly here or contact us for further information.

There are various reasons why you might be looking for a career change, although you should distinguish between being unhappy with your career and your current job. If you feel that you generally need more satisfaction from the fundamental duties of the role, then it might be time to look at other options. The average British person will spend 3,507 days in the workplace, so you must spend the time doing something you enjoy. These are some tips to make the transition into a new career.

Understanding Your Needs

The first step before changing careers is to understand what you want to do. It can seem daunting to change careers, especially if you are doing it later in life, but it is well worth it for job satisfaction. Whether you are looking for a career change at 30, or older, there is always an opportunity to make the switch. Firstly, list the aspects you currently enjoy in your job and what you dislike. Consider the activities you enjoy and relevant careers that allow for this. Search for jobs to understand what options are out there for you.

Consider Volunteering

Before embarking on a career change, it might be worth volunteering in a similar field or even testing out several options. Not only will this benefit your CV, but it can also help you better understand whether it is the right fit for you.

Undertake Training

There are many training courses you can find online or in person that will enable you to obtain the skills you need for your desired career. You may even want to try several of these if you have more than one career interest. A career change without experience can be difficult, so make sure you undertake as much training as possible when you find your ideal career.

Reach out to Network

Use your network when looking for a career change, as you never know what opportunities will arise. We benefit from professional networking tools, such as LinkedIn, where you can let your network know you are looking for work. You can also let friends and family know your intentions to change careers, as they may know of other opportunities.

Change Your CV

Your CV must be tailored to suit the role you are looking for rather than being focused on the career you want to leave. A quick glance through your CV should help any potential recruiter understand your career change,

At Inspired CVs, we pride ourselves on our professional CV writing services in Glasgow. We offer a quick turnaround on CV creation. Order today and get your new CV within just a few days!

We often consider bullies to be confined to the school playground but workplace bullying is also a huge issue within the UK. It is thought that around 9.1 million people have suffered workplace bullying in the UK. Workplace bullying does not necessarily mean that someone is name calling or being overly aggressive, it can be a lot more subtle than this. Unlike school bullies, most workplace bullies act alone and it is rare for a workplace bully to do it to individuals who sit above them in the food chain. In the majority of cases a line manager is the one bullying staff and it doesn’t even need to be for any particular reason. In this blog, we will look at the signs of workplace bullying.

Criticism

There is a big difference between constructive criticism and undermining someone’s ability to do their job. A workplace bully will criticise, without providing support. Consequently, the employee will feel ashamed and unworthy of the role. If someone states that they thought you were better than you’ve turned out to be (or something similar), when they haven’t provided any training or steps for progression - they are most likely a workplace bully.

Hostile Environment

If you feel that you walk into a room and there’s a hostile environment, when you haven’t done anything to merit it - it is mostly likely that someone has been speaking ill of you. This is a common sign of workplace bullying. Bullies within the workplace will usually go around speaking about others in a negative way. A workplace bully may focus on just one individual, or they may bully several people. Worryingly, they may not even realise their actions are a form of bullying.

Belittling

A workplace bully will make others feel that they are lower than them and not good enough for the job. Embarrassing and belittling others is a common act for workplace bullies. They tend to look down on others, especially those at a lower level than them.

Taking Credit

Workplace bullies often fail to offer any praise when the individual does a good job. Instead, they may take credit for the work themselves.

Dismiss Concerns

It is common for a workplace bully to be unable to take criticism onboard themselves. Genuine concerns are often not taken seriously and the workplace bully may even turn the concern back onto the other person. Workplace bullies usually have a way of making everything someone else’s fault.

If you have concerns about workplace bullying, you should speak to a manager or HR department. You mean even decide to find another job elsewhere. In this case, you can contact us at Inspired CVs to provide you with a professional CV. Our CV writing services in Glasgow will help you take the next step in your career. You can order your CV here or contact us to find out more.

We hear much about what to say and what not to say during an interview, but there is less focus on body language. You may not even think about your body language during an interview; understandably, you are thinking about what to say next. How you show yourself in your actions is as important as what you say during the interview. This blog discusses body language examples and what you need to know to reflect your best self in the interview.

Types of Body Language 

Your body language can be pretty complex and often happens naturally without much consideration. However, body language shows many things, such as how relaxed you are, how confident you are, and how open and receptive you are to others during the interview process. These are some types of body language and what to be aware of during your interview.

Shaking Hands

It is good etiquette to wait until the interviewer offers their hand, as some people don't like to shake hands. If offered a hand, ensure your handshake is strong but not so firm that the interviewer feels you are trying to break their hand off. A happy medium is always the sensible option when it comes to handshakes and body language.

Eye Contact

An interview should be a two-way conversation; no one wants to feel awkward and uncomfortable. If you constantly look down at the desk, you will be unable to build rapport with the interviewer as this is negative body language. Therefore, it is a good idea to be aware of your eye contact during the interview, especially if there are several people on the panel. Don't just focus on one interviewer when you answer a question; make eye contact with everyone on the panel, as ultimately, they will all be involved in the decision-making.

Smiling

Always bring a positive attitude to the interview. Smile at the interviewer and make them feel that you are happy and excited to be there. A smile can be contagious and will help you build rapport with the interviewer. It can also help you feel at ease if you are nervous.

Uncrossed Arms

Crossing your arms during an interview is negative body language, as it can suggest that you are on guard or defensive. Keep your arms relaxed and open so you don't look nervous. Instead, focus entirely on a relaxed and enjoyable conversation between yourself and the interviewer. 

Responsiveness

Show interest in what the interviewer is saying by nodding and smiling when relevant. Avoid looking around the room while the interviewer speaks, as this could make them feel you need to be more interested in what they are saying.

It would help to have a professional CV to get you to the interview stage. At Inspired CVs, we can provide you with a high-quality CV through our professional CV writing services.

You can order a new CV today or contact us to learn more about our services.

When you apply for a job, and the recruiter is initially interested in your CV, they will usually conduct a pre-screening call before they proceed to interview. The pre-screening call may be over the phone or via video, and it is usually a brief discussion to determine whether they feel you are a suitable applicant to take forward to the next stage.

How to Prepare for a Pre-Screening Call

Even though a pre-screening call is brief, you should still prepare for the interview questions and answers. Ensure you are in a comfortable, quiet area to take the call and have your CV in front of you. It would help if you also kept the job spec handy so you can answer any questions relating to it. The last thing the recruiter wants to hear is that you don’t remember what job you applied for. You should be confident and excited about the role, and your communication should be clear.

Examples of Pre-Screening Questions

There are many different types of pre-screening interview questions, and these are some of the most common.

Where are you currently working, and why are you looking to leave?

The recruiter will want to know why you are looking to move on. It is essential to be honest with this question. For example, if you are going through a disciplinary process, it is best to get this out in the open immediately, as it will come out at some point.

Where do you see yourself in the next few years?

If you are applying for a permanent role, the recruiter will want to hear that you’re there for the long term and wish to grow and develop. In contrast, if it’s a temporary role, they will want to hear that you’re happy with a short term role, and enjoy the flexibility of a temporary job.

What culture do you thrive in?

Every organisation is different in terms of culture, and it is essential to get the match right. Otherwise, no one will be happy. Be honest with this question, as there’s no point in starting a job you won’t enjoy. For instance, if you like to be left alone to get on with your job, you won’t be happy in a job where the manager is micromanaging you.

When can you start?

The recruiter may ask when you are available to start. If they ask this, it is usually an urgent requirement. If you have a three-month notice period, let the recruiter know and advise that you would happily negotiate this with your employer.

Do you have any questions about the role or company?

Asking questions will show that you have a genuine interest in the role and have not just applied for everything. Have some questions up your sleeve for the interview questions and answers, and make sure they are relevant to the company. Some interview questions to ask may include those relating to the size of the team or the future plans of the company.

Your CV is the gateway to the pre-screening stage, so it is vital that it is of the highest quality. At Inspired CVs, we pride ourselves on the quality of our professional CV writing services. You can order a new CV today or contact us to learn more about our services.