If you are one of the 1.56 million unemployed in the UK, you would be forgiven for believing the authenticity of every job posting, hoping that an offer may come to fruition. However, when it comes to applying for jobs and sending your CV to recruiters, you should be vigilant. Fake job postings are commonplace and are often used for CV harvesting. Not only will you waste your time with applications and perhaps even raise your hopes, but you could also expose your details to scammers. 

What is CV Harvesting?

Your details are on your CV, including your address and telephone number, which may be used for activities such as phishing schemes, and identity theft as well as many other scamming techniques. Unfortunately, resume harvesting doesn’t just happen on obscure job sites, it can occur on some of the most popular job boards, such as LinkedIn and Indeed.

Fake Job Postings

Although one of the reasons for fake job postings is for CV harvesting, there are other reasons. Recruiters may use fake job postings to gather a database of candidates for future roles or to make it appear that they’re growing. Recruitment agencies may use CVs to try and gain new clients. Although this in itself is not a scam, it is immoral.

How to Avoid Fake Job Postings

You can never be sure that a job posting is legitimate unless you receive a response to your application. However, there are some things you can look out for to try and identify fake job postings. 

Lack of Details

A fake job posting will have little information and may look generic. It might not mention the company or any specific aspects of the role. You should check any links to ensure they are a genuine company, and look for contact details on the job posting.

Exaggerated Benefits

If the salary is well above the market rate and there’s a load of other benefits associated with the role, this may indicate a fake job posting. 

Direct Offer

If the job advert states that you only need to apply to receive a job offer, it is probably a fake job posting. Genuine jobs will require an application and an interview before considering an offer.

Spam Links

Be aware of links that take you to external sites, as they may cause viruses on your computer. In addition to your CV, scammers can also try to acquire information through external links. Avoid clicking on any that you are unsure about as it may be a fake job posting.

Spelling Errors

You won't find a professional organisation that would publish job adverts with spelling errors in them. If the advert is littered with errors, or poor English or it just doesn’t sound professional, it may be a sign that you have discovered a fake job posting.

Dealing with Fake Job Postings

There is no point in wasting your time on lengthy applications only to discover that the job posting is fake. If you are concerned about a job posting but are extremely interested in the role, it may be worth reaching out to any contacts mentioned in the job advert to discuss it. This will give you a better idea of whether the job exists.

You can increase your chances of success with your job search if you have a professional CV. At Inspired CVs, we can provide you with a CV in either traditional or graphic form, as well as support you with career consultations. Order your CV today or contact us to find out more about our online appointments CV writing services. We offer top rated CV writing services.

When you have your finished professional CV, your next step is applying for jobs. You might not know where to start with your job search, or you may be applying for jobs without success. We offer one-to-one consultations for our CV candidates to help improve their career prospects. As we have been on the CV journey, we understand what you need and how to help you. These are some features of our one to one consultations.

Informal Meeting

We will meet up with you at your location choice for an informal initial meeting (and a coffee of course!) to discuss your needs in more detail and to get more information on the progress of your job search and what you have been doing to find a role. We will advise you on what you can do to improve your job search prospects, including sending marketing emails, advice on job boards, and how to ask for feedback. Our consultants are personal and friendly, and everything we discuss during the one to one consultations will be confidential.

Ongoing Outreach Support

Our one to one consultation service will also include ongoing outreach, where we will utilise our contacts to try and find opportunities for you, together with targeting new contacts to advise on your skills and expertise. This is an ongoing service until you secure a new role.

Email Service

You can email us any time if you have any questions about applying for jobs, interviews, etc and need one to one guidance. We will also provide the email service for an unlimited time and aim to always be on hand when you need any assistance. There are no silly questions, we are open to hearing any of your queries.

Mock Interviews

We understand that an interview offer is exciting, but also extremely daunting. If you wish to meet up to practice the interview and get honest feedback, this is also part of your one on one consultations. If time is limited, we can do this online, or if you prefer in-person, we can also arrange this.

Further Meetings

As part of your one to one consultation, you may want further meetings to catch up and discuss your progress. We are happy to do this, either online or face-to-face. We do not have a time limit for meetings, and there will be no further costs after paying your initial fee.

If you would like to arrange a one to one consultation or to take advantage of our CV writing services, you can contact us or order your CV here.

Around 1.48 million people are working in temporary employment in the UK, according to data from Statista. The thought of taking a temporary role might send shivers down your spine. The uncertainty of a temporary job can feel like a daunting prospect, together with the notion of going into various workplaces and having to settle into the environment as quickly as your backside hits the seat. If you are currently on the job market, it may be worth considering temporary employment for various reasons. These are some benefits of temporary employment.

Financial Benefits

Unless you have savings that can last for an unlimited period, temporary employment can keep you ticking over while you look for a permanent role. It is also often the case that you get a higher hourly rate as a temporary worker, although you may not be entitled to the same overall benefits. The additional earning capabilities is one of the benefits of temporary contracts.

Prevent Gaps

One of the main benefits of temporary work while looking for a permanent job is that it will prevent gaps in your CV. Gaps on your CV may concern employers, especially if you haven’t embarked on anything during your time off. A temporary role, albeit a short-term option, will save you from having lengthy gaps on your CV, as you keep your employment up to date.

Greater Flexibility

With temporary employment, you can pick and choose when you work. You might want a short-term contract for four weeks, with a one-week break in between. With the nature of temporary employment, you have much greater flexibility than you would with a rigid full-time permanent role. The flexibility is one of the most important benefits of temporary contracts for many candidates.

New Skills

When you work in a permanent role, doing the same tasks day in and out, it can be difficult to gain any new skills, unless you embark on additional training. However, with temporary employment, you will be working in different environments, in a range of roles where you can acquire skills that can help you with your future career. Developing new skills is one of the benefits of temporary work.

Potential Permanent Role

Candidates often scoff at the idea of taking on temporary employment, without seeing the bigger picture. When you are in a temporary role, and a permanent job arises, you are likely to be first in the queue. Temporary work can lead to bigger and better things, so don’t discount it without careful consideration. The potential opportunities that can arise from temporary work is an important benefit of temporary contracts,

If you are looking for a permanent job or temporary work, the first step is to ensure you have a professional CV. At Inspired CVs, we can provide you with the best professional CV writing service UK to help you secure a new role. You can order your CV here, or contact us to find out more about our professional help with CV writing.

Continuous Professional Development, or CPD, is the process of undertaking training to develop skills. It may include training completed internally, or outwith the workplace. CPD enables you to gain skills that might help with future jobs or help you improve in your current role. It is crucial to update your professional skills regularly to continuously improve both in your role and in your future career. According to statistics by Gallup and Workhuman, over half of upskilled workers did so to help them perform their job more effectively.

These are some of the benefits of continuous professional development.

A Leader Within Your Field

We all want to be the best we can be in our jobs, and by dedicating time and effort to your CPD, you will always stay ahead of the curve. Even if you can spend 30 minutes daily on continuous professional development, you will be ahead of most, which shows the importance of continuous professional development.

Greater Success

If you want to progress your career and enjoy more success, continuous professional development can help you achieve this. With CIPD, you can gain new skills that will allow you to move into a better job or perhaps even a complete career change. New skills are one of the benefits of continuous professional and personal development.

Attractive CV

When you are dedicated to continuous professional development, your CV will look better and you will become more attractive to potential employers. Employers like to recruit candidates with the desire to improve themselves and their skillset. A CV that gets responses from employers reflects the importance of CPD>

Increase Confidence

We all know that to perform well in our jobs, we must be confident in our abilities. When you acquire more skills and knowledge, your confidence will also increase and you will feel more able to perform well in your job. An increase in confidence may make you more likely to want to seek out better opportunities and enhance your career prospects.

Career Change

If you are fed up with your current career, you may need a career change. When you focus on continuous development, you can acquire skills that will help you switch to a new career. Many skills can be transferable to other careers.

At Inspired CVs, we can create a professional CV that will help you with your future career goals. You can order your CV directly here or contact us to learn more about our professional CV writing services.

There are two main types of interviews: formal and informal interview. If a recruiter invites you to an informal interview, you would expect it to be a more relaxed approach rather than a structured panel interview. According to a survey by the recruitment agency Hays, only 18% of candidates feel that an interview consisting of three rounds is acceptable, and only 6% will wait over a week for an interview decision. An informal process is preferable to candidates, but if you are invited for one, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare for your interview. It is just as crucial to prepare for an informal interview. as it is for a formal interview.

Reasons for an Informal Interview

There are many reasons why an employer might choose an informal interview instead of a more formal process. These include:

Culture Fit 

It can be easier to determine if the interviewee is the right cultural fit through a relaxed conversation instead of a structured interview process. Relaxed conversations tend to flow easier, and therefore, can enhance the insight obtained from the interview.

Build Relationships

Formal interviews tend to be more practiced than informal interviews, therefore it can be more challenging to build a genuine relationship between the interviewer and interviewee. Connections are important when hiring a new person into the business, especially if the interviewer will be their direct manager.

How to Prepare for an Informal Interview

There is a tendency for candidates to think that an informal interview means that they don’t need to prepare. Although you can expect a more relaxed approach, you should still prepare for the interview. These are some ways to get ready for your informal interview.

Informal Interview Dress Code

The suggestion of an informal interview doesn’t give you the credence to wear your favourite jogging bottoms to the interview, as comfortable as it might feel. An informal interview still requires professional dress. Although there is may be no standard informal interview dress code, you should dress as you would for a formal interview. It will show the interviewer that you are taking the interview process seriously.

What to Say in an Informal Interview

Although you don’t want to look like you are stalking your interviewer, you might want to spend some time researching the interviewers so that you can build some rapport with them. You might be able to find some information on LinkedIn by searching for the interviewers. If you can find some common ground, this would be worth mentioning during your interview.

Relax and Enjoy

The prospect of an informal interview can feel less daunting than a formal interview, and although you need to prepare for it, you can also relax. Although maintaining professionalism is paramount, you can view this interview more like a conversation than an interview. In this way, you can enjoy it more. Informal interview questions and answers may differ from a formal interview, in that they are likely to be less structured than a formal interview, making it easier to have a relaxed chat.

If you are interested in one to one interview support or an interview workshop for your business, contact us today and we will be happy to help. We offer one to one interview coaching, as well as professional help with CV writing. You can order a professional CV directly from our website.

It is common to experience anxiety at some point in your life. In fact, around 37% of women and 30% of men experience high levels of anxiety. However, high levels of anxiety can affect important parts of your life, such as your ability to gain employment. If you experience high anxiety during interviews and are continuously being rejected for your jobs, it may that the two are related. Feeling anxious about job interview is common, so you are definitely not alone.

Interview Anxiety Symptoms

Most people will experience anxiety about a job interview, and interviewers will expect a level of nervousness, and will account for this. However, if you are suffering from severe interview anxiety, it can portray itself in ways that could affect the outcome. These are some signs that anxiety is affecting your interview.

Ability to concentrate

If you are unable to focus on what the interviewer is saying and struggling to decide how to respond, it may be an indication that your anxiety levels are extremely high. Although interviewers will have a degree of sympathy about interview nerves, this may come across as disinterest or lack of preparation. Severe interview anxiety can cause you to lose your train of thought, which can make it difficult to be succinct during an interview.

Oversharing

Nervous interviewees may end up sharing too much during an interview due to anxiety. For instance, going off on a tangent about issues which are unrelated to the job or the question. As you would expect, this could be a red flag to interviewers. Oversharing is one of the most common interview anxiety symptoms.

Fidgeting

Constantly playing with your hair or moving on your chair are signs of anxiety which may be off-putting to someone at the other side of the desk. It shows them that you are feeling anxious about job interview and may make them uncomfortable too.

The good news is that no matter how challenging your interview anxiety may be, there are ways to overcome it so that your interviews can be more fruitful.

How to Reduce Interview Anxiety

Plenty of Preparation

The more prepared you are, the easier the interview will be. Make sure you have adequate knowledge of the company and the role you are being interviewed for. Take time to practice the answers to common questions you may be asked. It is also worth asking someone to do a mock interview with you. This can also include the practical side of the interview, including eye contact and body language. You are less likely to display interview anxiety symptoms if you are prepared for the interview and are equipped with plenty of knowledge.

Avoid Stimulants

You should not try and overcompensate a lack of sleep by downing gallons of coffee or energy drinks. These stimulants will only make your anxiety worse. It would be much better to have green tea before an interview so that you are feeling calmer and will help you learn how to deal with interview anxiety.

Slow Down

An interview is really just a conversation. It is a conversation where you are getting to know each other. It is important to be professional but also to consider this. The interviewees want you to perform well, as much as you do. Slow down, relax and the conversation will be more likely to flow.  You will also be less likely to display interview anxiety symptoms.

At Inspired CVs, we not only help support you with professional CV writing services. We can also help improve your interview skills through our job interview workshops and one to one consultations. To find out more, contact us today or alternatively, you can use our resume cv writing services by ordering your CV here today. We offer a quick, responsive service!

Redundancies are a last resort for businesses and are usually a consequence of downsizing, financial issues or a company takeover. When employees are notified of a redundancy, they will feel all kinds of emotions, including stress, worry and anxiety. They might worry about paying their bills or finding another job. According to Statisa, there were about 112,000 redundancies in the UK within a three month period to November 2024. This was compared with 99,000 for the three months previous. When employees are facing redundancy, it is important to support them as much as possible. These are some ways you can support your employees facing redundancy, in addition to the usual redundancy process you would follow.

Financial Advice

The main concern employees will have is their finances. They may have a family to feed or live on their own with no support in paying bills. Naturally, this is a huge worry to have, especially if the redundancy news comes out of nowhere. If your employee is concerned about money throughout the redundancy process, you might want to offer them the support of a financial professional to help guide them through their finances and how they can support themselves until they find new employment.

Days Off

Employees facing redundancy may require redundancy time off for interviews. To support employees, you can offer flexibility for these purposes, allowing them to actively look for new roles. Employees will be keen to secure a new role before they finish up, so they don’t end up in financial trouble. You can discuss this throughout the redundancy consultation and advise on the options.

Alternative Options

You should always suggest alternative employment options for those facing redundancy, even if they might not be an exact fit. For instance, if you are downsizing the accounts department, but there is a vacancy for an administrator, you should suggest this option to the employee during the redundancy process. They are not under any obligation to accept it, and would usually still need to go through an interview process to check if their skill set matches the job profile.

Job Seeking Support

There are all kinds of job seeking support services you can use to help employees facing redundancy. These include CV writing services UK and interview guidance. You can use external CV writing services near Glasgow for this, if you don’t have the capability inhouse.

Counselling

If possible, you should suggest or offer counselling services during the redundancy consultation to those that might be extremely worried or stressed about finding a new job. It will be particularly difficult for those employees that have been in the job for a significant time. It is not always easy to find a new job, particularly for older employees who might not have long left in the workplace.

Additional Meetings

You should be following a redundancy process which is in line with the employment law, but also be prepared to offer additional meetings to those who might need it. Some employees will require more support than others.

If you are looking for a CV workshop or interview skills workshop for your business, our professional careers advisers and CV writers can support your employees. You can contact us today to find out more about our interview workshops or CV workshops.

During your job search, you should utilise as many resources as possible. Over 50% of job seekers will use job boards, with some of the most popular being Indeed, Monster, Total Jobs, and CV Library. To achieve success with job boards, it is important to be strategic in your approach. Here are some methods of how to use online job boards effectively.

Identify the Best Job Board

Job boards will vary in their main specialisms, with some being specific and others more general. You should identify the best job board to suit your target jobs before you get started. For example, if you are looking for a role within engineering, you might choose The Engineer Jobs or JustEngineers. The most used job boards UK include Indeed and Total Jobs, and these are less specialist. If you are looking for freelance work, your best options would be job boards such as UpWork and PeoplePerHour.

Filter Your Search

Job boards allow you to target your search based on the type of work you are looking for, location, and specific keywords. You can use the job search function to filter roles to ensure they tick all the boxes, making it easier to find the right options based on your career desires. There are job boards advantages and disadvantages but one advantage is being able to search using your own criteria.

Use Job Alerts

When you are looking at how to use job boards, you can set up job alerts for the job boards based on your ideal criteria. You will receive an email when any jobs match your criteria, ensuring you won’t miss any opportunities. Some jobs are urgent, and without using job alerts, you might find they are filled before you’ve even had a chance to view them.

Track Applications

You should always try to track your applications. Keep track of the jobs using a spreadsheet with the date of application, company name, and date applied. You may also want to store the job specs so that if you receive an interview invite, you have all the information you need to hand in. It can look unprofessional if you keep applying for the same role or if employers contact you and you do not remember the job. Tracking applications is an example of how to use online job boards efficiently.

It is crucial to have a professional CV before you start applying via job boards. At Inspired CVs, we can provide you with traditional and graphic CV options tailored to suit your needs through our CV and resume writing services. You can contact us to discover more about out online CV writing services or order your CV directly now.