Archive for the ‘jobs’ Category

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Jobs in Advertising

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

The advertising industry is one of the most competitive places to work.  Every year, many young graduates leave university wanting to get involved in this specialised area of marketing, and unfortunately, it is not possible for all of them to make it.

Like most other industries, there are numerous different types of position within advertising firms, including things like accountancy and administration, but it is the roles within the creative areas of the companies that are most sought after.

Getting involved in the advertising industry requires a number of skills, and people come to it from various backgrounds.  Here are some of the key skills and some ways that you might be able to display that you have them.

Creativity

You will need to show some ability to be creative.  Whether the advertising jobs that you are looking for require you to be a great copywriter or a superb designer, it will be important to put together a portfolio that shows off your work.  This needs to be built up over time, and is something that you absolutely must not rush.  You should showcase work that is honest to your style, as this is something that you will be more passionate about when you present it.

Sales Focussed

It is often overlooked by people who are simply driven to work in advertising that the ultimate goal of their job is not to sit in wine bars talking about how amazing they are.  The goal of advertising is to sell, and people who are unable to understand that are rarely successful.  Showing some experience of working in sales jobs is very useful when it comes to applying for more creative roles as they show that you are aware of the process of convincing a buyer of a particular message.

Analysis

If you want to be successful in any industry, you need to know what success is.  Depending on the media that you are working within, it can be difficult to provide the tangible results of a campaign – as Henry Ford said, you waste half your money on advertising, you just don’t know which half.

Modern companies want to know the benefit that they are getting for every penny they spend, so being able to dig into data and find trends or draw conclusions from it is a real boon when it comes to getting into more senior campaign level roles.

Sympathetic

You can be the most creative individual in the world with amazing analytical skills, but you won’t get anywhere in advertising if you don’t know how to communicate with people in a way that they understand.  If you are unable to deliver the message that the client wants in a way that emphasises the benefits that they want to suggest, then you will never run a successful campaign.  Knowing how to push people’s buttons in the right way will allow you to be much more direct in structuring advertising campaigns, and help you to deliver the kind of advertising that modern companies need.

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5 Ways to Make Yourself Indispensable

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

While job markets around the world are beginning to recover from the depths of the recession, many people are choosing to stay in their current position to avoid the uncertainty of starting a new job.  Of course, no job is 100% safe, but there are some ways to improve your status within the business where you work and make yourself almost indispensable.

Work Smarter

The chances are that you and your colleagues are all competing with each other for attention in the office.  A great piece of advice that will improve things for you is to work smarter.  If you spend time planning your day out before you start, and set specific goals of productivity, you will find that you often complete tasks more quickly.  This will free up time for you to take on additional work, and make yourself harder to get rid of.

Innovate

If you see processes within your business that could be made more efficient, don’t be afraid to tell your boss.  Put together a plan to implement your methods and present it in an appropriate way.  If you show that you are an intelligent thinker who is not afraid to change the status quo, then you put yourself in a position as a leader.

Take on Responsibility

If you can realistically take on additional responsibility, don’t be afraid to do so.  Quite often, it is the most junior people who find them selves losing out in a redundancy round, by showing that you are prepared to take on additional duties, you can make yourself more distinct from your colleagues.

Increase your Skills

Whenever you get the chance to improve your skills, you should take them on, if your company is offering any courses such as management, or additional skills such as making presentations.  If the company has invested money in you, they will be less keen to let you go.

Brag

Not everyone feels comfortable with talking about their achievements, but they should.  When you have got good results make sure that you and your line manager both shout about them.  It emphasises how good both of you are, and should also inspire your colleagues.  If you are recognised within the business as a person who gets good results, you become an asset who the company will want to keep.

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4 Ways to Calm Your Nerves Before an Interview…

Sunday, September 27th, 2009

…and one way not to

For many people, a job interview is a fairly traumatic experience, and the anxiety that they feel both before and during the interview can have a big impact on their performance, and ultimately act against them getting the job.

While every employer expects a little bit of nervousness during an interview, it can be a little bit off putting to have the candidate apologise for their nerves every two minutes, and use it as an excuse.  For me, one of the main qualities I look for in my staff is the ability to work well under pressure.  If a candidate comes into an interview and can’t handle the pressure, it doesn’t bode well, and I’m pretty unlikely to take them on.

It doesn’t need to be like this though, and there are a number of things that you can do to keep calm in an interview.

1: Arrive Early

If you are a nervy person, then it is important to minimise the number of opportunities that you have to get anxious.  Plan your journey to the interview in advance and take traffic into account – make sure you arrive 15 minutes early so you can freshen up – but don’t turn up at the office until around 5 minutes before your interview, otherwise you’ll have to spend a lot of time waiting around for the interviewer – and that is time when you will end up allowing your nerves to get to you.

2: Be Positive

If you’ve been invited for an interview, then you are half way to getting the job.  I don’t waste time on people who don’t have any promise, and neither does anyone else.  It’s not professional to get people in to laugh at them, and I’ve never heard of it happening.  If you have been invited to talk, treat this as a positive, and let it feed your confidence.

3: Take a Deep Breath

There are loads of relaxation techniques and many of them actually work.  One that definitely does is a deep breath.  Go to a quiet place, close your eyes, and take a deep breath in.  Then hold it. For at least half a minute.  Breathe out and open your eyes, you’ll naturally reduce your heart rate, and this will make you feel calmer.

4: Wear an Anti Perspirant

Anxiety tends to feed itself and make you more nervous.  When some people start to sweat they become very self conscious and this feeds back on itself to make you feel even worse.  A good anti perspirant will reduce the sweat and make you feel less self conscious, and take your mind of your nerves, allowing you to perform better.

One thing not to do…

Whatever you do, if you are going for an interview, don’t have a drink beforehand to settle your nerves.  There is no point turning up to the interview half cut, and there is no point lying to yourself that the interviewer can’t tell that you’ve had a drink.  They can.  Slurred speech, drifting answers to questions, and even falling asleep (it has happened) will not give the best possible account of you.  If you need to have a drink, stick to water.

The main thing is to be positive, and to remember why you want the job, that way you’ll be more positive.

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5 Great Interview Questions

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

Candidates can rehearse heir interview techniques and spend a lot of time on their CV to ensure that they turn up for their interview as well prepared as possible.  This can lead to problems for recruiters, as in some cases, a candidate who looks great in the interview turns out to be a disappointment.  Leading employers who look for a little bit more from their staff tend to ask questions that appear to be nonsense on the surface, but actually test the candidate’s ability to think and act under pressure.

When you ask these questions, you are not looking for a specific answer, it is all about how the candidate answers and structures their answer.  The questions are designed to unsettle the candidate and reveal their inner workings.

1 How many bubbles does it take to fill a bus?

2 How do they get the coating so smooth on an M&M?

3 How would you weigh the atmosphere?

4 What advice would you give yourself ten years ago?

5 Which animal most closely reflects your personality?

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7 Tips for Writing a Great Cover Letter

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

You put together the best possible CV, had all the right experience and qualifications that the job required, and yet you didn’t even get called in for an interview?

The chances are that your covering letter sucked, and the recruiter took one look at the few lines of misspelled words and hit delete rather than opened the CV and found out about all you had to offer.

The fact is, a covering letter is a chance to really sell yourself, and introduce your CV.  A chance to explain to the recruiter about what a great candidate you are, and how you are perfect for the role that they are advertising.  If you don’t put the effort in, and wow the recruiter, you are putting yourself at a disadvantage, and with the job market being at its most competitive for years, you want to make the absolute most of everything that you have to boost your chances.

Check out our 5 Tips for writing a great cover letter to help with your next job application.

1. Bespoke is Best

There is no point in using the same letter for every job you apply for.  Use the letter to tie your experience into the specific job that is being offered, and make your interest in the business clear.

2. Be Enthusiastic

…But not too enthusiastic.  You don’t want to come across as annoying, but you should at least explain why you are applying.  Think about using phrases like “Keen to work for a leading company” or “eager to learn more”

3. Be Unique

While a CV is a pretty formal piece of writing, your covering letter gives you an opportunity to express a little bit more of your personality.  By making your letter memorable, you will already have a better chance of getting an interview.

4. Put Some Effort In

If you’re applying for a bar job, the chances are that you won’t have to write a great covering letter – or even have to submit a CV for that matter, however if you are looking for something a little bit more demanding – and well paid – you should put in the work to get it.  If a job is worth applying for, put some effort into your application, and you’ll be more likely to be considered for it.

5. Be Brief

You don’t want to bore someone before you get into the interview.  Actually, you don’t want to bore them after you get into the interview either.  Keep the letter short, to the point, and positive.  Remember that the purpose is to sell you, not tell your life story.

6.  Be yourself

Make sure you remember that the letter is selling the real you.  If you get the job you will have to fulfil the promise that you put into the letter, so make sure it represents you accurately.

7. spel chek

If you want credibility, use your spell checker.  Mistakes will make you look like an idiot, and you’ll be more likely to be a joke than a serious candidate.

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More jobs in digital agencies

Monday, September 7th, 2009

The upswing in the jobs market seems to be picking up pace if the latest stories in NMA are to be believed.  According to this article on the industry news website, 100 top agencies are currently advertising jobs in a range of disciplines across many types of role.

Many commentators have argued that the better tracking and greater control offered through new media channels such as search and social media means that it provides a better solution for businesses during the downturn.

At Job@Twit, we are also seeing more SEO jobs being advertised at present, and this too is likely to be related to the overall economic conditions, with many more companies investigating opportunities that provide a better ROI and more attributable leads.

If you are currently working in traditional marketing, and struggling to find opportunities for the next career step, a move into digital is a great option.  In many cases you may need to take a step down from a current role if you do not have much experience, however candidates with sound marketing qualifications and a keenness to learn should find it easy to get advancement.

For more information, check out our recent blog post about getting into SEO, or read some of the introductory guides on websites such as SEO Book, SEOMoz, and Matt Cutts – a Google Engineer who frequently blogs about SEO issues, and provides a good overview of what Google consider acceptable practice.

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Returning to Work after having Children?

Friday, August 21st, 2009

Perhaps as a result of the recession, more and more women are choosing to return to work after taking a career break to raise their children.  Of course, the workplace has changed a great deal in the last ten years or so, and many women who have taken a longer than expected break from employment often find that they lack the standard IT skills expected by employers.

There are many highly qualified women who find themselves in a position where they are unable to return to office life at the same level they had previously, and instead of regaining roles within management, they are often relegated to junior roles with little chance of advancement.

Of course there are some women who do not want to return to a position of high stress and responsibility, however this is one of the greatest scandals in the modern workplace, and it not only robs women of the chance to return to work at the same level they were employed previously but also means that employers, who often bemoan the standards of staff available straight from school are wasting the talents of their staff rather than making the most of them.

If you are considering going back to work after a long career break, it is important to familiarise yourself with the kind of office software that is currently in use.  The de-facto standard in the office is currently Microsoft Office 2007, although many larger companies are still using the 2003 edition.  Beyond this, it is more or less expected that staff will be familiar with email and the web.

Taking a short office software course is more about confidence and competence than certification, and it is worth undergoing so that it can be added to your CV.  Courses are often available in local community centres, and do not always cost anything.

Another thing that is important to check when returning to work is that any professional qualifications are up to date and that any licence held is still valid.  People working in the health industry or law who are returning after several years away will need to read up on any recent developments in their industry such as new legislation or drugs that have been recently introduced.

Legislation applies to many different jobs from the automotive industry through to teaching, and it is important to check what changes have come in during any absence.

Some industries such as SEO or Web design can change enormously over a comparatively short period of time, and as such it is vitally important to catch up with the latest information.  Reading popular blogs in the run up to your return to work, and keeping track on industry news via services like Sphinn will provide plenty of insight into any changes that you need to be aware of.

The main thing to remember when returning to work after a long break is that while it may be hard to get back into the swing, the msot important thing is to be confident about your abilities.  Too many people who are comoing back into employment do so with fear, and this is often one of the main reasons why they are not given the respect that they should have.  People who are afraid to ask for a job that suits them will all too often find that they are not given the opportunity they need to get one.

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looking for a job in SEO

Sunday, August 16th, 2009

Search Engine Optimisation is one of the fastest growing areas of the online marketing mix.  Businesses all over the world who are facing a reduction in their marketing budgets are looking at natural search strategies to complement their PPC activity, and this has led to a boom in the number of SEO Jobs that are currently available.

We see an awful lot of SEO related jobs advertised through Jobatwit, although this is in part due to the way that this site is marketed through social media channels – we are likely to be viewed by an audience of web savvy Internet marketers, and as such, provide the ideal place for SEO Companies to advertise for new staff.

While there is a perception in many areas that an experienced SEO professional is able to command an enormous salary, this is only partly true.  Some of the top guys in the industry who run their own agency may well be able to pull in more than a million a year through conference work, their own campaigns and affiliate work, and contracts with other companies to provide consultancy advice, on the whole, the kind of salary that a regular SEO professional will be able to command is roughly in line with any other IT professional – somewhere between £25 to £50K per year.

Experience is everything for an aspiring SEO.  Many of the larger agencies in the UK such as Latitude, Big Mouth Media and ICrossing offer entry level positions and internships for students, and these are the ideal entry into the industry for people who are keen to learn.

There is an argument that the best people in SEO are self taught, and this is quite true.  People who take the time to learn what works and what doesn’t by trialling new things are generally more entrepreneurial and innovative than those who learn the ropes from an established SEO.

It is also important not to rest on your laurels.  Algorithms change all the time, and it is vitally important to keep track of the techniques that work best.

Important skills include some level of web development – php or asp, a knowledge of HTML and web standards, commercial awareness, a willingness to learn, and the ability to extract information from abstract data provided by various different analytics software such as Yahoo Analytics, CoreMetrics or Google Analytics.

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Want to Work In Travel?

Friday, August 14th, 2009

The travel industry is one of the largest and most diverse areas that you could choose, and offers people a wide range of different opportunities.

People come to work in travel and hospitality for many reasons, but one of the main ones is the opportunity to travel themselves.  Most companies will offer subsidised travel packages for their staff, and this is a great way of seeing the world for less.

Popular entry points into the world of travel include working in an agency.  Some of the larger companies such as Gold Medal or Kuoni are well known for their training schemes, which give staff a good grounding to move on into other areas.  These larger companies will often take on inexperienced staff at a junior level before giving them access to the various different industry qualifications that smaller specialist companies require.

Pay is notoriously low at a junior level in the travel industry, however as most staff will tell you, the fringe benefits are often well worth having.  Hotel staff will usually share in the tips that are paid, and cabin crew on aircraft will get the chance to break their journey in various destinations.

In many cases, the most important thing for staff to have is passion.  This is especially the case with tour operator staff and travel agents.  You will need an innate knowledge of the destinations that you are covering, and be able to communicate.

Skills that employers are looking for include the ability to sell, to be enthusiastic – particularly important for holiday resort reps – a genuine passion for customer service, and the ability to handle pressure well.

Many jobs in the travel industry tend to be seasonal, so it is important to have some contingency planning for the off season – very few resort staff will earn enough to rest completely during the winter, although good staff will often have the opportunity to transfer to other resorts around the world.

Airlines tend to recruit all year round, and many staff will work their way up from the no-frills carriers to better known airlines such as Emirates or British Airways.  Cabin crew can expect fairly tough hours, and little rest.

With so many different choices and roles to choose from, from basic seasonal work in hotels, through to working as a pilot, salaries can range from minimum wage up to several hundred thousand pounds per year, and the range of opportunities is diverse and fulfilling.  Travel is an industry that many people develop a real affinity with thanks to the fact that they are generally helping people to have a good time and get more out of life.

If working in travel appeals to you, why not register now with job@twit, and add your CV to our website so that it can be seen by thousands of potential employers.

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Quick Tips for Interview Success

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

Getting an interview for a new job is only one step in the process, and for many people, the actual interview itself is a really stressful event.  It’s pretty easy to get carried away with nerves, and ruin your chances of getting a job, so check out our quick tips for improving your interview skills.

Tip 1 – Be On Time

If you are desperately keen to mess up your chances of getting a job, then turn up for your interview late.  I’ve had candidates turn up twenty minutes late for an interview and then not apologised.  They didn’t get the job.  Plan your route to the venue, and gauge how long it takes.  Then set off with enough time to give you fifteen minutes of contingency before the time of the interview.  That will let you relax and prevent any added stress.

Tip 2 – Look Smart

OK, these days you’re probably not going to need to wear a suit for work every day, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t dress appropriately.  Have a shave, definitely shower, and check that your fingernails are clean.  if you turn up looking like you don’t care, the chances are that your interviewer won’t either, and you can kiss good bye to the job.

Tip 3  – Be Prepared

Read through your CV, as many questions will be asked about it.  You really should know the details of the company you have applied to, so visit their website and read up on their board and mission statement.   If you have been asked to prepare a presentation, then do that, and then rehearse it.  I’ve had people turn up and say that they thought that they would just talk.  Not a problem if they knew what they were talking about, but in the event they came across as idiots.

Tip 4 – Be Keen

Ask questions, show interest, give answers that show a bit of thought.  Easy.

Tip 5 – Get Something Out Of It

Honestly, no-one gets every job that they apply for, but it doesn’t mean that it’s a complete loss to you.  Provided you aren’t a complete arse about being rejected, no employer is going to have a problem giving you with  feedback about where you were good and where you weren’t so good.  Take the opportunity of getting advice, and it will help you next time.

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