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The employment gaps on your CV do not have to be a deal breaker during job interviews.

Learn how to account for them by following the tips below.

1. Be prepared to talk about it.

Having gaps on your CV will not necessarily prevent you from getting a new job. However, potential employers will expect an explanation.

Take time to practice how you would address the gaps in a way that projects confidence and positivity.

2. Be honest, but keep it positive.

Be truthful without going into unnecessary detail. The key is to candidly present the facts without letting the discussion turn negative.

Instead, refocus the discussion on what you learned, and how you plan to use that knowledge in the future.

3. Pivot to the present.

Overall, you want to strike a balance between clarifying your employment gaps, and pivoting into a follow-up discussion about why you want the job.

There’s no perfect answer but try to shift the focus off why you were out of work and back to the present.

4. Remember to connect.

The secret to nailing a job interview is not just about having a ‘strong’ CV or giving the ‘best’ answers to questions.

The winning candidate is often the one who connects the most with the interviewer. Bear this in mind as you address any employment gaps.

Wondering why your job applications do not seem to be yielding results?

Today, we highlight some likely reasons the interview invites are not forthcoming.

1. Your CV contains only your duties and not your achievements

2. Your CV is not well-structured

3. You have long employment gaps on your CV

4. You are not tailoring your application for each role you apply for

5. You are not applying for roles that fit your skills and qualifications

6. You do not follow the application instructions

Over the next few weeks, watch out for ideas on how to address these areas to help increase your chances of securing an interview.

After a job interview, it is important to understand the process of following up.

If done wrongly, it could affect your chances of landing the job. Here are a few tips on how to follow up in a professional manner.

1. Note the recruitment timelines. Go over the job posting again before the interview, paying attention to the timelines.

You could also ask about the next steps in the recruitment process at the end of your interview. This will help you determine the best time to follow up.

2. The thank you note. A day after your interview, you can send an email thanking the interviewer(s) for their time. Keep it short and simple.

This note is not an opportunity to add more content to your interview, but to show your appreciation and continued interest in the role.

3. The follow up note. If you have not heard back from the organization by the stated timeline, do not send a note right away. Keep calm.

Give them a few days before contacting them again. Tell them you are looking forward to hearing from them soon.

4. The feedback note. If you were not offered the job, you can send an additional note to ask for feedback on your performance during the interview.

Thank the interviewer once again for their time. Ask what you can do better for future applications. Be brief!

5. The decline note. Lastly, if you are offered the role but are no longer interested, remember to decline politely while thanking them for the offer.

Never ignore the offer or respond rudely. You never know what the future holds for you with that interviewer or organization.

When asked to provide #references for a job application, many candidates get confused. Today we tackle this question and provide some useful #tips:

Who is an ideal referee?

Some people think that the best person to provide a reference is one who is popular or highly placed in an organisation. While that may be good, an ideal referee – for any application at all – is someone who can provide a STRONG REFERENCE to your abilities and skills.

They are usually someone you have worked closely with (often, as a subordinate) or studied under. Try to stay clear of someone who will provide a generic reference. A good reference should highlight your strongest qualities and describe you in way that catches the #recruiter’s attention.

By the way, have you ever wondered if it’s a referee or reference who writes the reference letter?

British English: Referee, but also accommodates ‘reference’

American English: Reference

 #hr #recruitertips #tgif #reference #recruitment

When a recruiter or potential #employer says, ‘Tell me about yourself’, they are seeking to get a feel of who you are. They are not asking for personal details such as your state of origin, your number in the family hierarchy or your favourite food. Trust us!

When answering this question, keep these points in mind:

1. Give a succinct summary of your work & education history especially as it relates to that job.

2. You may include information about your childhood, hobbies and interests IF they relate to the job. E.g the role involves working in – or travelling to – a town/city where you grew up; or requires strong numerical skills, and you crunch numbers for lunch ? etc.

3. The goal is to put your best foot forward and spark up further discussion that you can handle. But don’t overhype yourself.

4. Bear in mind that this is an introduction so make it powerful. But even if you feel you didn’t give a strong enough answer, don’t sweat it, remember you have the rest of the interview to wow your interviewer.

We know interviews can be nerve-wracking, but #practicing your answer to this, and other typical interview questions can help lessen the #anxiety and improve your confidence.

1. Know your WHY: This is a key motivator, especially if you ever want to give up. Be clear on your reasons for learning a particular skill – hopefully not because everyone else is doing it. ?

2. Set a deadline and stick to it: Deadlines help you prioritize. Have a clear, time-bound goal and stick to it.

3. Start with the basics: First things first – the #foundation is very important. Learn 1+1 before attempting 5x+4y-3z ?

4. Stay focused and committed: As you progress in your learning, it may become more challenging. Give more time to difficult tasks, avoid distractions.

5. Practice, practice, practice! Repetition aids retention, so test yourself often to see how well you’re progressing.

Have you picked up a new skill recently? Share with us in the comments

#career #learning #personaldevelopment

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work you had to do on some days?

Ever wished for help, especially with those seemingly mundane, yet necessary admin tasks we all ‘love’ so much?

We’ve been there … which is why we created Temploy Nigeria – a unique service that simplifies temporary employment for organisations and busy people while matching you with the right talent.

We provide skilled staff for wide array of jobs such as data entry, research, transcribing, document digitization etc. on an affordable pay-as-you-go basis.

The Temploy Advantage enables you as a temployer (temporary employer) to:

•      Save time and money by getting quality temployees (temporary employees) for short periods e.g. one day, one week, one month – or longer.

•      Eliminate the hassle of finding the right talent to carry out tasks

•      Meet staffing needs in response to changes in workload.

Our mission is to provide #goodpeople with #goodwork for #goodpay.

#staffing #recruitmentsolutions #temporary #employment