As 2024 kicks off, we find ourselves inundated with ‘new year, new me’ posts. Ultimately, we have a brand-new chapter ahead of us, and the perfect opportunity to make a fresh start. If you want to prepare yourself for success in your personal and professional life, these are some actions you can take – right now!

Write down your goals

The first step is to understand exactly what you want to achieve from your year. When you understand your overall goals, you can start to take steps to break these down into manageable steps. For example: do you want a new job? Do you have a financial goal? Would you like to start a new business? Do you want to lose weight? It is important to be specific about these goals, as it will help you to understand the actions you need to take to reach them. For instance:

• Start a new job as a Financial Director
• Lose 3 stone
• Earn £100,000 per year
• Complete a 10K race

It doesn’t matter how ‘huge’ your goals may seem, just write down what you would ideally like to achieve from your year. You may even want to consider creating a vision board, where you can see your goals in front of you. This is often more effective than just writing them down.

Consider milestones

You will want to see progress throughout the year, which is why you might also set monthly or weekly milestones. If you are not achieving the milestones, then you may want to consider making tweaks to your plans. For example, if you have a particular career goal and you are applying for jobs without any success, you might want to look at professional CV writing services. If you are looking to lose weight but the pounds are failing to come off, you might want to add more exercise to your plan or look at your calorie journal in more detail. Most people lose inspiration if they set unrealistic goals without incorporating any milestones. It is unrealistic, for example, to lose 3 stones in a month, but if you set it as a yearly target, it is much easier to achieve.

Break the goal into steps

You can now break your overall goals into the manageable steps you can take to get there; as it is important not to just focus on your overall goal. It can be more enjoyable to pay more attention to the journey, than the overall goal. If we take the new career goal as an example, there are various actions that could be considered, for example:

• Do you have the necessary skills for the career, or do you need to undertake a course?
• Do you need a new CV?

If you take these actions and apply for roles on a regular basis, you will be setting yourself up for success.

Similarly, if you want to lose 3 stone, your actions might include:

• Setting and recording your daily calorie goal
• 45-minute exercise each day
• 10,000 steps or more a day

When you focus on the daily actions you can take, the overall goals will take care of themselves.

Take action

Most people fail with resolutions as they don’t take the necessary actions to achieve their overall goal. The goal may seem too difficult to reach or they might start taking steps and then get fed up with it. The main point to remember is that all you need to do is take the small, daily steps that will build up to helping you achieve your overall goal. If you take these steps, you are much further forward than most people!

Reward yourself

You may also want to consider rewarding yourself when you achieve your milestones. This can be an important way to keep yourself on track. Take yourself out for a meal when you hit a milestone or go out and buy yourself something nice. Recognition doesn’t have to come from someone else, be your own cheerleader!

If you are looking for a new job in 2024, we can help at Inspired CVs. Our professional CV writers can provide a high-quality graphic or traditional CV tailored to your individual needs. You can contact us to find out more, or order directly and we will arrange an initial consultation.

At the end of an interview, most interviewers will ask if you have any questions. It is important to be prepared for this question, as not asking anything may show a lack of interest. Interviewers expect you to be interested in them and what they do, so it is a good idea to ask something that doesn’t relate to the terms of your employment. It is crucial that you pay attention during the interview and don’t ask something they’ve already answered.

Interviews are a two-way street and asking questions can also help you make an informed decision on whether to accept the job, if offered. These are some potential questions to ask at the end of an interview.

What are you looking to achieve in the next 6 months?

This is a good question to ask as it shows that you have an interest in where the company is going and what the future aspirations are.

Is this a new role or am I replacing someone?

There are good and bad points about walking into a new role, versus a replacement. There is the opportunity to make the role your own when it is brand new, however, it may mean that there are no processes in place. It is crucial to get as much information as possible about the set-up of the business.

How long is the training process?

No matter what job you are doing and how experienced you are, there should be a period of training, usually at least 2-3 months. Companies that don’t offer any training are setting you up to fail. If this is the case, it would be a little concerning.

What is the team structure?

It is good to get an understanding of where you fit into the organisation, department, and the team.

What are the expectations of the person taking this role?

It is vital to understand what the expectations are before you start. It may be that the expectations are completely unrealistic and unachievable, and in which case, it may not be the right job. It will also show the interviewer that you are generally interested in how you can achieve the best results in the role.

What is the culture of the organisation?

A positive organisational culture will be one where your views will be encouraged and where you will feel valued and included. A good culture fit is important as it is the way you will achieve positive results in your role. Of course, you won’t get a full understanding of the true culture until you start but it can give you a little insight.

At Inspired CV’s, we can help you reach that important interview stage by creating a professional, high-quality CV. You can contact us or order directly and we will arrange an initial consultation.

Procrastination is when you constantly put things off until the last minute, and if you don’t get to grips with procrastination, it could affect your working life and prevent you from achieving success. There are many reasons why people procrastinate. It could be that you are suffering with mental health issues that prevent you from getting work done, or you may be worried that you won’t do your work well enough. If you have a busy social life, it may be that you are simply too busy to complete your tasks. It is less likely that you will procrastinate if working full time in an office. However, if you work remotely, or you are self employed, this can often be an issue. These are some tips to help you get back on track and to find your motivation for work.

Admit the Problem

One of the best ways to deal with procrastination is to admit you are doing it. Some people believe they are workaholics, but in reality, they don’t achieve much in a day. If in doubt, monitor how long you spend on actual work, versus time on your phone, social media etc. You will probably be surprised by the results. If you are spending less time on work and more time on other tasks – you are procrastinating.

Write a To-Do List

If you have a demanding job with a heavy workload, it may seem completely unmanageable and this can lead to procrastination. You will literally do anything to avoid the work. This is where the good old to-do list comes in handy. Every morning, write down the main tasks that you want to achieve for the day. Achieving a short list of tasks is much better than achieving nothing at all. You can always add more to the list as your motivation improves.

Set Deadlines

Make sure you have deadlines set for your all your tasks, so you prioritise them correctly. It will help you create your daily to-do list, and will help ensure you don’t miss anything important. Procrastination, particularly if it’s down to your mental health, can make everything feel like an uphill challenge. Understanding your priorities can help reduce stress levels.

Work at the Right Time

Not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to work when they want, but if you have some level of freedom in your job, it is a good idea to work when you feel most productive. If you are bright and chirpy in the morning, this is the best time to get your most challenging (or dreaded) tasks out the way. However, if you are a night owl, you may want to wait until later in the day to tackle these.

Reduce Distractions

If you are prone to procrastination, you will probably be very easily distracted. In this case, its worth removing any potential distractions. For instance, if you find that hours dwindle away when you browse social media, you may want to save this for your lunch hour or when you finish for the day. If you work in a noisy house, you may want to find a quiet space for a few hours to get your work done.

When you reduce procrastination, you can achieve more in your working day and enjoy greater success in your career. If you are looking to improve your career prospects, the first step is to ensure you have the best possible CV. At Inspired CVs, our experienced professionals will create a high quality CV to help you find your next job. You can contact us or order directly and we will arrange an initial consultation.

The effect a manager has on your enjoyment of a job can never be underestimated. In fact, two in five employees have actually resigned from a job because of their manager. The relationship between a manager and employee should always be a two-way street. It should not just be about the expectations the manager places on the employee, but also the way the employee expects to be treated. If you are having issues with your manager, you may be wondering if you are being unreasonable, or if you are within your rights to have concerns. These are the qualities to expect from a manager.

Good Communication

Managers should be strong communicators and they should be aware of the language they use when interacting with you. If they are unhappy with an aspect of your work, for example, they should ask how they can help you, instead of placing any blame on you. It is particularly important if you have not been in the job long. A manager should support you and interact with you in a positive, mindful manner.

Offer Autonomy

There is no point in being hired to do a job but everywhere you look, your manager is hanging over your shoulder. Managers should be there as support, but they should trust you enough to get on with your job.

Personal Interest

Although you don’t expect your manager to be your best friend, they should take some kind of personal interest in you. After all, you’re a person, not just a commodity! For example, you would expect them to recognise your birthday or understand your interests. Poor managers won’t take any interest in you, other than doing your job. As such, you won’t feel that they are invested in you as a person.

Motivation

You should feel that your manager is motivating you. If you dread speaking to your manager, this is a sign that your manager is not doing their job well. You should feel inspired and uplifted by the conversations you have with them. Unfortunately, many people feel the opposite way when conversing with their managers.

Recognition

There is a basic level of recognition that you should expect from your manager. Recognition doesn’t mean that they need to buy you a gift when you do a good job, but a simple ‘well done’ or ‘thank you’ can go a long way to helping you feel appreciated. Managers that consistently focus on what you haven’t done, rather than what you have, will eventually grind you down.

Accountability

If you are not performing as well as expected, your manager should have some accountability for this. There is a reason why football managers are sacked before the players. It is because there are expectations that the manager will inspire and motivate the team to perform well. The same applies to other industries. Your manager is responsible for ensuring you are happy, and that you have all the tools and support to perform well in your job. If they are constantly grinding you down, you are unlikely to perform to your full potential.

If you have a poor manager, it can leave you feeling discontented, even if you enjoy your job. In this case, you may decide that the best option is to move on. At Inspired CVs, we can help create a CV that will help you explore other job opportunities. You can contact us or order directly and we will be in touch to discuss your needs in more detail.

If you’ve been out of work for a while and get offered a new job, your instant reaction may be to bite the hand off the person offering you the job, and accept it straight away. However, by accepting a job that doesn’t suit you, you could end up miserable and back to square one. This is why it is imperative to ask some questions before accepting a job. These are some of the most important questions to consider asking.

1. What is the culture of the organisation?

We all have certain environments that we will thrive in, and others that will leave us heading to the nearest exit. For instance, you may prefer to work to strict guidelines/processes or alternatively, to work in an environment where your ideas and opinions will be taken on board. It is vital to understand the culture of the organisation before you accept the job.

2. What is your management style?

Another important question to ask is around management style. If you are used to working independently and your new manager is someone that will want to speak to you every day, it probably won’t work out. Ask about management style and tell the employer what you are looking for. There is nothing wrong with turning a job down for this reason, it is better to be selective than to end up being miserable!

3. Can I visit the office before I accept?

If your interview has been conducted online, you may want to visit the office before accepting, so you get an understanding and feel for where you will be working.

4. Is there any flexibility in the role?

Since Covid, many employers have offered greater flexibility in the workplace, with 60% having established flexible working arrangements. If flexibility is important to you, you should ask about this before you accept the job.

5. Is there training in place?

No matter how experienced you are, there should be some training in place before you get started. Make sure you understand what this looks like, so you know you won’t just be thrown in the deep end and left to sink or swim.

6. What are the expectations of this role?

Discuss what is expected of you before you accept the job offer so you know if it is realistic or not. For instance, if you are being offered a recruitment agency role and the expectation is that you have two hires in the first week, you are going to be put under excessive pressure. There should be no expectations until you are settled into the role and have had adequate training.

7. Do you pay expenses?

If your role will involve a lot of travelling, it is worth asking if travel expenses will be covered. The last thing you want is for your entire salary to be eaten up with work related travelling costs.

8. What are the opportunities to progress?

If you have aspirations to progress your career in the future, it is worth checking that there are places to go in the organisation. For instance, if you are joining a small business, there may not be immediate possibilities to progress, however, this may be a potential for the future. Find out what the plans are for future growth, if this is important to you.

9. Who are your key clients?

The clients the organisation chooses to work with will give you a good insight into their values and this can help you make a decision on whether you would like to accept an offer.

10. Are there any perks as part of the job offer?

You may want to find out what perks you get if you accept the job offer. For instance, good holidays, bonus package, commission or flexible working.

The first step in achieving success in an interview is to ensure your CV hits the right spot. We provide CV services in Glasgow, as well as throughout the rest of the globe. You can order directly here or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

It can be highly frustrating to attend an interview for a job you really want, only to fail at the first hurdle. It is particularly demoralising if you don’t receive any feedback, or the feedback is vague. Although your experience and skills are of course important, there are other traits that employers are looking for during an interview. Here are some best tips for interview success.

Show Enthusiasm

Employers are looking to hire people with enthusiasm for the company as they will have the ability to enhance the business. Smiling during the interview, and refraining from any negativity will instantly enhance your appeal. Even if you are unhappy in your current role, you should avoid getting into any negative discussion about your employer.

Refer to the Brand

The employer wants to hire someone who is passionate about their brand and wants to be there for the long term. Avoid general chat during the interview, try to keep the brand in mind when discussing your future desires and career objectives. For instance, instead of saying ‘I would like to achieve a management role in the next five years’, you could say ‘I really love the direction your organisation is going in and I would love to be part of the management team in the future.’ Always keep the company in mind with your answers – and do your research!

Avoid Interruptions

When the interviewer is talking, make sure you don’t interrupt them. This often happens when interviewees are nervous, but it can be quite off-putting. It can appear that you are not interested in what they are saying.

Don’t Make Demands

It is better to discuss the needs you have before you attend an interview than to talk about them during an interview. For instance, if you want to work on a hybrid model, ask if this is a possibility before you attend. Otherwise, you could be wasting both the interviewers and your own time. If you have specific needs, such as holidays at a certain time, wait until you are offered the job before you discuss this. The interview is not the time to start putting demands on the interviewer.

At Inspired CVs, we can provide you with our professional CV services to help support your job search. You can contact us or order online to give yourself the best chance of securing your dream job. If you need some interview coaching, our experienced career coaches can also help. If you are looking for the best CV writing services UK, we can help!

You have probably heard about people ‘ghosting’ in the dating world, but what about when it happens during the recruitment process? Ghosting means the same in both instances; it is a word used to describe stopping contact without any explanation. Throughout the recruitment process, you will deal with a recruiter, whether that is via a recruitment agency or an internal team. It can be highly frustrating when they initially seem keen but suddenly stop responding to emails or phone calls. So why does recruiter ghosting occur, and how do you handle it without taking it personally?

When Does Recruiter Ghosting Occur?

Recruiters may ghost you at any stage of the recruitment process. Most commonly, a recruitment agency will discuss a role with you and fail to get back to you, or you may attend an interview and hear nothing back. It is difficult not to take this personally. In an ideal world, the recruiter will keep you updated. However, there are many reasons why you might not hear back from the recruiter.

Unsuitable for the Role

A typical scenario is the recruiter desperately trying to get hold of you to discuss a role, only to disappear after you send your CV to them. The reasons for this are usually a result of a high number of applications and your CV being unsuitable. The recruiter may be too busy to contact unsuccessful candidates, or they may not want to give you any negative feedback. Feedback is important as you may need professional CV writing services or interview assistance.

Internal Issues

It is often the case that internal issues are the reason recruiters suddenly ghost their candidates. For instance, the company may have found someone internal to do the job or may have decided they no longer had a requirement. In addition, sometimes, a lack of funding can cause a role to be pulled.

Lack of Professionalism

A good recruiter will get keep their candidates updated – good or bad. It can be challenging to do this at the screening stage, but not responding to a candidate after an interview is unprofessional. In this case, you might be better off not working for this company.

Dealing with Recruiter Ghosting

Although recruiter ghosting might be out of your hands, there are some steps you can take to try and ensure this doesn’t happen.

Build Good Relationships

Recruiters are less likely to ghost you if you have formed a good relationship with them. It is important to stay in touch with your recruiter and build positive relations with them.

Understand the Timeline

Ask your recruiter about the expected timeline of the recruitment process and whether unsuccessful candidates will receive feedback. That way, you will go into the process with your eyes open.

Reach Out

If you haven’t heard back from the recruiter after your interview, for instance, reach out and request feedback. Tell the recruiter why you want the feedback and how it will help your career. Some recruiters don’t understand the significance of providing feedback.

Active Job Search

Don’t just give up on your job search because you have applied for a role you like or even if you have attended the interview. Don’t put your eggs in one basket; keep your job search active until you receive a job offer that you’re happy with.

At Inspired CVs, we can provide you with our professional CV services to help support your job search. You can contact us or order online to give yourself the best chance of securing your dream job. If you need some interview coaching, our experienced career coaches can also help. If you are looking for the best CV writing services UK, we can help!

When you have no experience and need a CV to apply for a job, the task can feel incredibly daunting. It might even seem like an impossible task. After all, how do you write a CV when you have no experience? To land your dream job without any work experience, you must make the most of your other assets. Here are some tips to help you overcome the worries of professional CV writing when you have yet to gain experience, so you get to that all important interview stage.

Open with a personal statement

CVs should always start with an introduction or personal statement, as it's often known, and this is even more pertinent if you have yet to gain work experience. The personal statement describes the attributes that make you an ideal candidate for the role. One of our CV writing tips for candidates without experience is to focus on your soft skills and qualifications.

Example Summary for school leaver applying for customer service role:

Highly organized, articulate A-level student with an A* in English and Communication. Able to communicate well and build strong relationships while thriving in a fast-paced environment. Passionate about helping to achieve business goals.

With the example above, the school leaver has yet to gain experience, but they want to demonstrate that they have the soft skills required for the role.

Transferable Skills

You may not consider the babysitting you did or the leaflet distribution at school that you undertook as 'real' jobs, but these can all provide you with skills to help you secure a role. Remember, employers will often consider transferable skills if you don’t have the exact experience they desire. There is something to be learned from any type of work, even if it is unpaid, so make sure you mention this.

Your Best Assets

What attributes do you possess that would make you an ideal candidate for the role? For example, are you someone who soaks up anything about creativity? Are you a great organiser and able to manage your time well? Consider what skills you possess that will make you attractive to an employer. Some skills to consider for your   CV include; communication, teamwork, leadership, and planning and organisation.

Highlight Education

If you have no experience to mention on your CV, ensure your education stands out and is situated under your personal statement. As part of our CV writing tips, we suggest that you emphasise the subjects you undertook and your final grades. If you are a recent graduate, you can mention any projects that interest the employer.

Consider Voluntary Work

If you want to give yourself the best possible chance of success with your job application, consider undertaking voluntary work to boost your CV. There are always plenty of organisations looking for a helping hand, which can be a great way to gain some new skills and meet new people.

At Inspired CVs, we aim to help you get the most out of your CV, with both traditional and graphic options to help your next role – with or without experience. Contact us today for a professional CV writing service or order a speedy CV service online.