Getting the best out of outplacement

It might seem obvious to say it, but what you get out of outplacement has a direct correlation with what you put in.  it’s a bit like joining a gym. It’s not enough to sign up for it, you actually have to use the equipment, join the classes and focus on your nutrition too. OK, so we aren’t going to make you do 20 laps of the pool, but your outplacement Consultant is going to make you work!

Refocus on what you want

One of the great benefits of outplacement is that it gives you an opportunity to really take a step back and think about what you really want to do next. You might be perfectly happy looking for a similar role in the same sector as the one you have been working in. Equally, you might be delighted to take a totally different path. Whichever it is, your Consultant will work with you to identify what you need to do to enable you to achieve your dream.

It’s a full-time job

If you haven’t been job searching in recent years you might have forgotten just how much work goes into finding your next role. It’s not time off, you will need to commit to a number of hours each day to dedicated job hunting. The first step is all about sorting your CV to put you in the best possible position to find your next role, and updating your LinkedIn profile so that it reflects your CV. Once that is done the job search can get underway. However, this has changed considerably in recent years, so those hours might be spent catching up with your network – both online and in person – as much as they will be spent filling in application forms.

January rush

In the same way that the gyms are full in January and early February, so too are there often lots of people looking for a new role at the start of the year. However, having an outplacement Consultant working with you, will help ensure you stay focused and accountable, and that commitment to the search, will help you achieve the role that you want.

For more information on outplacement, contact Career Evolution today.

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Bringing your CV out of the 90s!

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When I started my career in outplacement in the 1990s, the CVs I helped people prepare looked a bit like the one above.  To call it inappropriate now is an understatement.  Printed on white paper, and produced in 12pt, Times New Roman font was the standard. And of course, contact details included home address and telephone number only – no mobile phone, email, or LinkedIn URL to be seen.

In the same way we see things constantly changing around us, so too is it important for your CV to adapt and develop – not only in terms of what is expected by today’s recruiters, but also how your own skills and experiences have grown and developed.

So, what does ‘good’ look like today?

  1. It’s incredible to think that date of birth, marital status, place of birth and health were the norms – hugely inappropriate and with legislation in place now to stop most of these being asked as part of application processes.
  2. Using the first half of the front page of a CV – the most important part – to outline anything that isn’t going to attract the reader and entice them to interview you shouldn’t be on there.
  3. As a starting point, you should create a strong personal profile establishing your level and capabilities.
  4. This should then lead into a section covering your key strengths, qualified with substantial examples to ensure the reader knows what you can bring to the organisation. Using the STAR acronym (Situation – Task – Action – Result) is the best way to convey these.
  5. Avoid hackneyed expressions and try and identify phrases that really mean something in relation to the role you are applying for.

In these days of over-communication, there is only a matter of seconds to pique somebody’s interest enough for them to read the whole of the CV, so craft it wisely.

Use your initiative

Don’t forget, if a job role calls for a CV and covering letter, you can tailor both to your specific skills and the requirements of the job.

The job market is busy at this time of year. So, spend some time making sure your CV is up-to-date and your LinkedIn profile reflects the messages you have shared. This should give you the opportunity to advance to the next stage, and the all-important interview.

Speak to our team if you are in need of our services.

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Let’s make 2022 a happy year

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A traditional toast is to ‘health, wealth and happiness’, three key elements to life for many people. As the clinking of glasses bringing in the new year fades into the distance, many people use this time as a fresh start and a time to set goals and make resolutions. Many of these focus around health and wealth, but what goals can we set ourselves to improve being happy?

Dr Anthony Clare, perhaps best remembered for presenting BBC Radio 4’s ‘In the Psychiatrist’s Chair’, devised his seven steps to happiness. And, as we start 2022, I thought it was a good time to share them.  Obviously, happiness is hard to quantify, but his tips might just give you something to think about.

Number one: cultivate a passion

I think this one is particularly important as if you have something you are passionate about, it helps you develop a positive mindset. This is very important, as it will help keep you focused on the good, when you are potentially facing challenges in other areas. Dr Clare also thought that to have something you enjoyed was a very important part in his model of happiness.

Number two: be a leaf on a tree

By this he means you need to be part of something bigger than yourself. A leaf separated from its tree has the advantage that it floats about a bit, but it’s disconnected, and it eventually dies. You have to be both an individual – to have a sense that you are unique, and you matter – and you need to be connected to a bigger organism – a family, a community, a network, a company. Building and maintaining your network – both from a personal and professional perspective is so important.

Number three: avoid introspection

The Christmas break is often a time of reflection and evaluation, and many people decide to start the process of a career change in the new year. However, Dr Clare advises on avoiding too much introspection, as people want to be around other people that are interested in things beyond themselves.

Number four: don’t resist change

Change is important. It is natural to be wary of change, but people who are fearful of change are rarely happy. Change can be positive and good for you. You need variety, flexibility, the unexpected because these things will challenge you.

Number five: live for the moment

Look at the things that you want to do, that you keep postponing. Dr Clare recommended doing what makes you happy. So, don’t postpone the things that you want to do, or what you think is worthwhile. Make them happen. From a professional point of view, think about what training you would like or what career move you want. What do you need to do to make this happen?

Number six: audit your happiness

We all find ourselves doing tasks that take time, but don’t necessarily provide benefits. Work out how much of each day you are spending doing things that don’t make you happy. If you find it is taking more than half of your time, then think about what you can do to change it.

Number seven: if you want to be happy, be happy

Act it, play the part, put on a happy face. Start thinking differently. If you are feeling negative, say, ‘I am going to be positive,’ and that can trigger a change in how you feel.

These seven steps won’t work for everyone, but being mindful of how you are feeling, specially as we head through January – often a tricky month anyway – may help you improve your happiness and approach the new year in a positive frame of mind.

Speak to our team if you are in need of our services.

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