Welcome to our career advisory centre …

Moving up the career ladder is not just about finding the right position – it's also about knowing how to make the best approach.

That's why we've put together the LEGAL & ACCOUNTING RECRUITMENT career advice centre. We hope you'll find some useful tips and advice here that will help you develop your career to its full potential. The following pages provide you with advice that ranges from writing the initial application letter, presentation of your CV and succeeding at the interview, to preparing for your new role.

We hope you find the information useful. Do let us know what you think. Your comments can help us improve our service, so please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Your Career

Understanding your needs

More time is spent at work than in doing any other activity. But what is it about your current job that makes you happy or unhappy? Are you on the career path that is right for you? And if not, what can you do about it?

These are important questions that you need to ask yourself. So here are six steps designed to help you consider your career.

Step one

Ask yourself 'Am I happy in my current job?' If the answer is 'No', then ask yourself the following questions:

• 'Why not? What do I like and dislike about my current job?'
• 'What do I expect from my next one?'
• 'What motivates me?'

Talk to friends, family and trusted colleagues and get their opinion, too.

Step two

Carry out your own personal SWOT analysis. What are your:

• Strengths
• Weaknesses
• Opportunities
• Threats

What are your unique selling points? How marketable are you? Are your expectations realistic?

Step three

Analyse the market.

• Where are you prepared to work geographically?
• What career opportunities are there for you (and for your partner)?
• Which firms can offer you the kind of work you want?
• What kind of environment would you like to work in?
• What are your salary expectations?

Step four

Which firms provide the best fit? Having focused on your own requirements, expectations and limitations now prepare a list of target firms and market yourself either directly or through a consultant at Legal & Accounting Recruitment.

Step five

Choose your method of approach. You can:

• Apply online to firms directly or, if confidentiality is required, apply to Legal & Accounting Recruitment and talk to one of their consultants.

Step six

Whichever way you chose to apply, be prepared. If you have taken the time to follow the previous five steps you will already have done a great deal of research. You will also have a clear idea of your objectives.

• Put together a concise CV that accurately reflects your experience.
• Research the firms you have interviews with thoroughly.
• Read Legal & Accounting Recruitment's interview tips.

And remember: you are interviewing the company as much as they are interviewing you.

Application Details

Applications and covering letters have one purpose and one purpose only - to get the recruiter to read your CV! So how do you do that? Quite simply, you make it obvious that the recruiter will be missing out if he or she does not read the full CV.

Here are nine guidelines for writing a successful application whether it be an email or a formal letter:

Keep your letter short and to the point – this is especially important when sending an email application where you want to grab the recruiter’s attention in the first couple of lines.

1. The first paragraph should provide a brief introduction, covering where you saw the advertisement, the position you are interested in and the fact that you are enclosing a CV.
2. The second paragraph should contain a sales pitch to get the recruiter to read your CV. Think about how you can match your skills and experience to the requirements of the job. Bullet points can help highlight any key selling points.
3. End the letter on a positive note, asking for feedback on your application and perhaps a chance to talk further – make sure you provide a land line number as well as a mobile number.
4. Ensure that you have full, correct contact details. If you are applying to a job from LEGAL & ACCOUNTING RECRUITMENT, this information is included on the website.
5. Always give your letter the date of the day you intend to post or email it.
6. Each job advertised on LEGAL & ACCOUNTING RECRUITMENT has a reference number and job title. Include these at the start of your covering letter: the recruiter will thank you for it later. He or she receives dozens of CVs every day, so help make their task of sifting through them easier.
7. Only include your current salary details if asked to. You want to leave discussions on this until later.
8. Don't forget to keep a copy of your letter to refer back to when preparing for the interview.

Writing your CV

Make an impression and win an interview

Imagine the scene. Your CV hits the desk of a potential employer or recruiter and you have exactly 10 to 30 seconds (if you’re lucky) to create that all-important, interview-winning impression.

That is what a CV is all about – getting your name on the interview shortlist. Present a clear and concise document that encourages the reader to take a close look at your skills, experience and key achievements, and paints you in the best possible light so that they want to pick up the phone and arrange a time to meet with you.

Guidelines

You must be familiar and totally confident about the contents of your CV as the interviewer is going to ask you questions about the content – believe us, there is nothing worse than seeing a candidate squirm because they couldn’t remember what they had written on the CV (the Hobbies and Interests section would be a good example!)

Here are a few LEGAL & ACCOUNTING RECRUITMENT guidelines to help you gain an interview:

• Use a minimum font size of 11 points.
• Keep the layout professional and uncluttered.
• Don’t justify the text. A justified document looks mass-produced. An un-justified document is easier to read and more visually interesting.
• Limit paragraphs to five or six lines.
• Use bullet points to add clarity.
• Avoid awkward changes in tense and use the past tense where possible. It gives the impression you have actually completed something. Goals have been achieved.
• Use short sentences. Short sentences are easy to read. Short sentences are more powerful.
• Use a spell checker. Spelling mistakes signal you are inattentive to detail.
• Be positive. This is a selling document. Use words that have impact: 'managed' is stronger than 'supervised', 'negotiated' is stronger than 'facilitated'.
• Be honest. You might be asked to explain or justify any aspect of your CV. Make sure you can. If you can’t, all credibility will be lost and you can say goodbye to that job offer.
• Employers are interested in your most recent experience, so start with it. Pay attention to the dates of your employment and education. Avoid gaps.
• Don’t include your salary. The best time to talk about this is at the end of the selection process when the employer wants you. Negotiate from a position of strength!

Interview Tips

Succeeding at interview

Prepare some questions and answers – Frequently Asked Interview Questions

• Take time to consider questions you might be asked and practice your responses.
• Prepare a brief career overview in response to that popular kick-off question 'tell me something about yourself'. Be ready with plenty of examples to illustrate your skills and how you could contribute to the company.
• Think about questions you would like to ask – Questions to Ask Your Interviewer. Those which invite thought and comment are more memorable to the interviewer than those which request specific detail. This is also an excellent opportunity to illustrate your understanding of the company.

Find out the format of the interview process:

• How many interviews will there be and how long are they likely to take?
• Does the company carry out psychometric testing?
• Who will be conducting the interviews?

Other Useful Tips

• Be clear and concise. Always use positive language. You're in control of what you want your interviewer to know, so take responsibility for answering the three key questions from the start.
• If you tend to fidget, keep your hands apart and don't hold a pen or copy of your CV.
• Practise a comfortable sitting position that feels natural to you.
• Be aware of your voice. Pace, tone and intonation all contribute to your success in an interview. If the role demands energy and enthusiasm, show some!
• If you are being interviewed by more than one person, engage the whole panel when responding.
• Although you've thought about the salary side of things, always allow your interviewer to initiate discussions. This often won't occur during the first interview. Negotiate as late as possible: you will have most influence when the recruiter wants you.
• Even if doubts are setting in, always remain positive throughout the interview. There will be time to discuss concerns later. You want to be able to make the final decision.
• At the end of the interview, always be positive if asked about your interest in the job. It's worth making notes immediately afterwards on what you thought went well, what didn't and what you'd do differently next time. Experience always enhances performance, so make the most of the meeting.
• Finally, follow up with a brief thank you letter or email, reiterating your interest in the position. If you have any additional information which might help the company make a decision in your favour, offer it here.

Frequently Asked Interview Questions

• Tell me something about yourself.
• What brings you to the job market at this point in your career?
• Why would you like to work for this company in particular?
• What attracts you to this role?
• Tell me about a major achievement in your career.
• How would members of your team describe you?
• What important points came out of your last appraisal?
• Describe your management style.
• What do you look for in a manager?
• Describe your toughest client.
• What do you want from your next role?
• What does success mean to you?
• What are the key things that drive or motivate you?
• What really winds you up in the workplace?
• Describe your greatest work challenge so far.
• Describe a difficult work scenario and how you managed it.
• Where do you see yourself in two to five year's time?
• What are your career aspirations?

Questions to Ask Your Interviewer

• How has this vacancy arisen?
• How would you describe the company culture?
• What do you see as the key challenges of this role?
• How do you differentiate yourselves from your competitors?
• What are the organisation's major business objectives in the coming year?
• How are employees measured in terms of performance?
• What processes exist to support employees in their career development?
• What key issues currently face the organisation?
• What can I expect to be involved in during my first six months of joining?

Preparing for Your New Role

Job seeking is often compared to house hunting. When you finally agree a price and start talking completion dates, you retire to bed elated, relieved and generally over the moon. Only to wake up the following morning thinking 'Is this really the one… what if that other one I was meant to see this afternoon is better... Accepting a new position at work can also invite a mix of emotions.

Allowing yourself some preparation before moving can only smooth your transition. So here are some practical tips to help you on your way:

• Think about what you want your new colleagues to feel about you by the end of the first week, month or first three months. What actions of yours will they need to see?
• Ease into the first few days by setting realistic goals which focus not only on working results but also on building positive relations with those around you.
• Try and clarify your own role and responsibilities and how your performance will be measured.
• As you learn more about the organisation, think about your own style and the impact you create. 'Perception creates reality...' so the early impressions your colleagues make will form the building blocks of future expectations.
• Finally, think strategically. Construct a list of key objectives of where you want to be one, three and six months into your new position. Think about the previous times you've changed jobs. What worked well, what got in the way and what would you do differently this time?

The watchword is, as ever, be prepared. Make it happen and good luck with your new job!