How to get a call back...

So, we’ve all been there, you’ve managed to secure an interview for a job and you think it’s gone really well, but you’ve not heard anything when they said they would ‘get back to you within the next few days’. As each day passes you begin doubting how well the interview really went.

Don’t panic! This situation happens to everyone, so just relax and make sure you follow these steps to try avoid these situations as much as possible…

·         Remember that interviewers have very busy schedule – especially when they’re recruiting. If you haven’t heard, chances are there’s not a decision yet.

·         To avoid this, ask at the end of the interview when you’re likely to hear. If they say ‘within the next few days’ then ask when it will be acceptable for you to follow up if you don’t hear by then.

·         Never assume that they’re going to call you back.

·         If you don’t manage to arrange a certain time then follow them up. Be pro-active, and push for a response – but gently.

·         Unfortunately, waiting is part of the job seeking process. It can be frustrating, but being patient is important – just not too patient!

 

Making application forms a breeze!

The vast majority of public sector companies ask candidates to complete an application form, rather than submitting a CV. This is primarily for equality and diversity reasons.

The essence of completing any application form is to express that you have the right skills and qualities for the position. They usually feature a range of different questions; from general questions about your personality and hobbies, to ones that focus on your education and past work experience. There will also be competency based questions. To help you tackle these forms in the best way possible, we’ve put together some advice…

1. When answering the more general questions, such as – “What do you do in your spare time?” – think about what the employer is looking for and how what you write may be perceived. For example, “In my spare time, I enjoy playing team sports and regularly play for a five aside football team” would demonstrate to the employer that not only do you work well in teams – but also that you pay attention to your fitness. Healthy staff = higher attendance rates.

Try to avoid phrases such as - “I enjoy socialising with my friends”. Most people do enjoy socialising with their friends, but chances are a recruiter would read through the lines and perceive you as unreliable.

2. Use questions based on education and past experience as an opportunity to highlight skills that you’ve developed as a result of these. For example, communication, time management, and leadership skills. If you lack similar experience, then be sure to indicate these skills as transferable.

3. Competency based questions – a lot of people struggle with competency based questions. People often over analyse the questions and think there is a right or wrong answer. The recruiter wants to see your ability to problem solve and use your initiative. Use this opportunity to show how you have resolved problems and what the experience has taught you. You should structure your answers using the CAR approach – context, action, result. Describe the context of the situation but try not to go into too much unnecessary detail. Focus on the action - what you did and what skills you used. Then explain the outcome, and what you learnt from the experience.

Here are some examples of competency based questions:

• "Please give an example of how you work in a team/how you have dealt with a difficult problem".
• "If your co-worker has missed a deadline, what would you do?".
• “Please describe a situation when you have used your interpersonal skills to help build relationships with others, shared knowledge and information to achieve the business goals.” 

Make sure you use examples, and focus on your own actions rather than that of a team. Use a variety of situations rather than focusing on one area – for example your studies or your previous job positions. Avoid any negativity and use power words such as "succeed", "committed", and "confident". Finally, remember to stay truthful throughout the whole application process.

Good luck!

Housing Jobs provides organisations with the tools to create a discrimination free recruitment process, including the ability to create on-line application forms and restrict viewing. For more information, or if you're a job seeker seeking a role with an organisation that promotes equality and diversity, please visit www.housingjobs.org.uk

It takes two to tango!

It's very well preparing answers for intervew questions, but a job interview is a two-way process. Preparing questions to ask at the interview will not only potray initiative, but also give you a more thorough vision of what the company are like to work for.

We've put together some examples that might come in useful...

• How would you describe the responsibilities of this position?
• How would you describe a typical working week in this role?
• How many people are in the team that I'll be working with?
• How would you describe the company culture?
• What are the prospects for growth and advancement with the company?
• Are there regular performance reviews?
• What do you enjoy the most about working here?
• Are there any other questions I can answer for you?
• When can I expect to hear from you?
 

Don't ask them all, and be careful not to ask anything that has already been covered in the interview - otherwise they'll think you've not been listening!

Good luck!

“Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

Research has found that 11am on a Tuesday is the most depressing time of the week. Monday is gone but you're still 3.5 days away from the weekend. You've caught up on all your e-mails, and now it's time to get down to the nitty gritty. So here at Housing Jobs, we thought we'd try cheer you up with some feel good quotes...

“Before I can tell my life what I want to do with it, I must listen to my life telling me who I am.” - Parker J. Palmer

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” - Calvin Coolidge

"Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same." - Francesca Reigler

And a more light-hearted one...

“Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?” - 

Edgar Bergen  

Who's in?

Ever thought about enhancing your CV through volunteering?

Searching for a new job can be frustrating. Hundreds of applicants, all applying for the same role. How do you make yourself stand out?

Research has found that volunteering can make you much more appealing to potential employers, as it shows that you aren't afraid to use your initiative and helps to develop leadership skills.

Volunteering is much more likely to enhance your skills and be more beneficial than doing work experience.

Becci Newton, senior research fellow at the Institute for Employment Studies, suggests volunteering.

"There's no doubt that young people are struggling in the labour market and there's no doubt that they'd benefit if there was somebody to offer them a bit of a reference about their abilities," she said.

"Volunteering is quite different in that young people have a greater opportunity to perhaps develop leadership skills than they might in work, because they are able to devise to a greater extent or suggest their own projects that they might take forward."

Not only will it improve your job prospects, but there's also the feel good factor of knowing you're helping a worthy cause!

How to get a job through Housing Jobs...

We've not updated the blog for a while, so we thought we'd give you an update as to how Housing Jobs can help you in your job search.

So, here are some hints and tips to help you find your dream role…

• Job alerts – Set up your job alerts on the Housing Jobs website, so any relevant vacancies get sent straight to your inbox as soon as they go live.
• Become a fan on Facebook – Take advantage of our Facebook page which features our new Housing Jobs application which allows you to search through all our vacancies without leaving the page itself.
• Check out our new clients – Sanctuary Housing have recently started advertising on Housing Jobs. Take a look at their current vacancies by clicking here

We hope that our help will assist you in finding the job you’ve always wanted. In the meantime, we’d love to hear from you if there’s anything you think we can improve on or any suggestions about our website. Drop us an e-mail at sophie.taylor@housingjobs.org.uk and we promise to take what you say on board!

Good luck!

The Housing Jobs team.