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WE ALL KNOW HOW DAUNTING IT CAN BE LOOKING FOR A NEW JOB. IT CAN BE EVEN MORE DAUNTING WHEN YOU GET A CALL INVITING YOU TO AN INTERVIEW! STOP AND BREATHE. DON’T PANIC. IT WILL BE FINE. YOU WILL DO GREAT. WANT TO KNOW WHY? PREPARATION. It’s all down to that. If you go into an interview without knowing anything about the company or can’t quite remember precisely which job you’re interviewing for but just think you’ll wing it, that’s not the way it works and you will not leave the interview with a job. Spend a few days ahead of your interview preparing. Do your research on the company. Find out about their history, their teams, their clients. How long have they been running for? What’s the growth? What is their 5-year plan for the business? All of these questions are integral to knowing what you’re getting yourself in for. If you, for example, join a start up, then do they see themselves getting a couple of good clients and building slowly which will impact you with regards to hitting the ceiling pretty quickly. If the company has a 5-year plan and have factored in where your job will be in that time and the journey you’ll go on to support the business and yourself, then that sounds much more attractive surely. You’re well within your rights to do as much digging into a company as possible, the recruiter or head-hunter will be digging into your experience and what you can offer so pay it back! QUESTIONS. Most interviews are handled the same way so its key to be prepared for that. Go back through your previous jobs listed on your CV and pick out your ‘best bits’ to talk in depth about. What were your greatest achievements? What went wrong at each job and how did you fix it? Have you ever had any challenges that have helped develop you? Where do you see yourself in 2-5 years’ time? What are your goals? What do you struggle with? These are all pretty standard questions and ones you can very easily prepare for ahead of an interview for a new job. It’s all down to being honest. Everyone thinks that they must answer the ‘what went wrong’ or ‘what do you struggle with’ questions with a positive curve. Sometimes just being honest and saying ‘yes this went wrong’ or ‘I struggled with this’ isn’t a bad thing! No one is perfect! What you can’t prepare for, are the curve ball questions. I was in an interview once and was asked who I’d invite to my dinner party. This didn’t determine whether I’d get the job or not, but it did show the Hiring Manager my interests and my personality. I could only think of 3 people off the top of my head but be prepared for anything. Another common weird question is ‘What do you think of Garden Gnomes?’… don’t ask, I’ve no idea. Don’t be afraid to be the one to ask questions during your interview, you’ve done your research and you’re armed with your knowledge of the business. Be prepared with some questions around your knowledge – ‘I see you’ve recently won an award, tell me what was involved in that project and what went well?’, ‘You’ve had a 25% growth in the last six months, how much more growth and expansion do you see the business experiencing in the next year?’, ‘How do you continue to support staff with training?’. Any questions that are relevant to the business, its achievements, its staff, you are more than entitled to ask. Don’t feel you have to wait until the end of the interview. Add the questions into conversation throughout the interview so it appears to be less scripted. PRACTISE SPEAKING. I’m told I speak really fast, so I am now aware of that and slow myself down when talking. Ask your family or friends to do a practise interview or record yourself talking and watch it back. How are you holding and presenting yourself? Is your body language closed off or welcoming? DRESS CODE IS KEY. No matter what job or where, dress smart. Suited and booted is the only way and as a recruiter, it’s what I always told my candidates, regardless of what job or company they were interviewing with. First impressions count. FINALLY. Everyone is human, yes you’re interviewing for a job but don’t be afr

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WITH COVID-19 SADLY LOCKING DOWN THE NATION AND HAVING A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON QUITE A LOT OF THE WORLD, IT HAS GIVEN THE ENVIRONMENT SOME TIME TO HEAL.

Pre Covid there was lots of worry about how the world was to deal with a global crisis, but with lockdown meaning less pollution, less traffic, less rubbish, less everything – nature has had some time to recover. With this improvement, we thought we’d give you some help on keeping the world healthy and how to be sustainable in your job.

1) Awareness – Be aware of what you’re using. If you’ve left a room, do the lights need to be on? Do certain machines need to run?

2) Power saving – Screen savers use a lot of power – something so small and innocent uses lots of power. Turn it off, let your screen go blank rather than putting up a screensaver.

3) Re-usable Cups – Invest in a re-usable water bottle and coffee cup so if you go to a coffee shop, you can take them with you for a refill!

4) Re-usable Tupperware – As with the point above, take either some reusable Tupperware or take your own plate, bowl and cutlery into the office so you can use and wash up rather than buying food and eating out of boxes!

5) Print Mindfully – When you go to press the print button just ask yourself, do you really need this bit of paper to go from your computer screen to your desk. Will it just sit there and be used as a coaster or will it have a use? Save the ink, save the paper and save the trees. (also, it’ll save you money!)

6) Go Paperless – Can your policies, projects and deadlines be run on a computer rather than printed and laminated? Can you investigate free platforms to use for your to-do list?

7) Create a giveaway/free zone – Does anyone have anything laying around the house they no longer need or want and may be of benefit to someone else? Free up a section of the office and turn it into a giveaway corner. Any gifts from clients can also be shared through the corner!

There are so many more ways to go green and become more sustainable. You can do this at home and at work and continue to help our planet.

Just look into different ways of being green and give yourself a pat on the back for making positive steps to help the world. Head to www.myvirtualself.com for more information.

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How do you know when it’s time to move on?

SOME PEOPLE START AT A JOB AND STAY WITH A COMPANY FOR THEIR ENTIRE WORKING LIFE. THIS IS RARE BUT ISN’T UNHEARD OF.

Most people stay with companies anywhere between 3-10 years and then decide it’s time for a change. But how do you know it’s time to leave and start a new adventure?

Well you shouldn’t really give a job a lifespan, but there are some deciding factors to help you work out how long you’ll be staying in one place for. I was told never to stay at a job any longer than 5 years. 5 years at a job, you should have achieved most of what you set out to do, be ready for a new challenge, or just need a change and you won’t be too comfortable that you’re afraid to move on. But sometimes picking a time to leave is out of your control.

Everyone has a bad day, a bad week, or a bad month at work, but how do you know when it is really time to move on? There are a few key pointers and if you notice these in your job, then it’s a sign to reflect and consider packing up your desk!

Have you ever noticed any of these signs?

· You’re bored all the time and constantly lose focus.

· Your skills aren’t being used.

· Your employers goals and your goals don’t match up and you spend a lot of your working day feeling frustrated.

· You feel physically, emotionally and mentally exhausted all the time.

· You don’t trust your company.

· You dread Mondays.

· You’ve stopped recommending the company to friends.

· When asked about your job and how it’s going, you don’t want to talk about it.

This all sounds really negative and let’s be honest – it is! But when you find yourself counting down the hours until you get to go home. It’s time to leave.

The key question is – are you happy? We spend so much of our life at work that you can’t go to a job 5 days a week, 7.5 hours a day and hate it. That is not a great way of living and won’t leave you feeling all happy and warm inside, which we need to get through each day and want to go home and be that positive energy for our families.

If you experience one or more of these points, then it is time to start looking elsewhere. Obviously you don’t want to jump ship without a safety net, but you do need to think about your future and where you see yourself in a years’ time. Is it where you are now?

Remember not to leave anywhere on a bad note – the key is never burning bridges. You never know who may be recommending you to others to get you to a place that is good for you.

Becoming a member of My Virtual Self could mean that your dream job finds you when you need it the most. Head to www.myvirtualself.com for more information.

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Everyone wants to get far in life, we all dream of the mansion and the sports cars and the pools. But let’s be realistic. This isn’t in everyone’s future… sadly.

But what is in your future is finding ways to get yourself as far in your business as possible. Everyone wants to be successful and develop their skills and grow their personal value, so why stop now?

Is there a goal in mind? Do you know where you want to be in a year, two or five years’ time? What are you ambitions? Well, all of these questions can only be answered by you. What we can do is give you little hints and tips along the way to make you more aware of how to achieve these goals.

So what do you need to be aware of? What do you need to do? Firstly, it’s all about attitude. If you have the right attitude you will go far. In many businesses there is always a few moaners. These people will be assigned a task and just moan about doing it. Don’t be one of those people. Be the person who actively asks to help, who smiles when a task is assigned and completes efficiently and pleasantly. It’s down to skill who gets the promotion, but attitude plays a huge part.

What do you need to do to help yourself climb the corporate ladder?

Keep note of your accomplishments. You can communicate these as a way of selling yourself and proving your capability for the job. We’ve all done lots of great things at work, but can you remember all of them so if you are asked if you can handle something, you can say yes because I did xx.

Step up. No I don’t mean break into dance, I mean when you have got the moaners who make a scene about completing something, offer to take the task. Whenever a new task is assigned then offer to complete it (obviously don’t overdo it and risk dropping something!) Be positive, be welcoming and be eager.

Think and Act a level above your role. If you behave like a senior level of staff, then you’ll be treated like a senior. Make decisions, take risks, be proactive. There is a fine line between behaving like a senior staff member and overstepping the boundaries, so make sure you watch how you behave. Everyone else will be watching you.

Be a team player. Support other members of the team with tasks, be an ear, be an assistant. Everyone has a job to do but if someone is struggling, then help them. You’ll be earning the respect of your colleagues and they’ll be singing your praises.

Keep networking. Get yourself out there and noticed. Write some blogs and get some awareness online. Build professional relationships with clients or colleagues to get yourself noticed.

Keep learning. This one is key. Most people who get to a senior level think, ‘now I know everything I can sit back and not do much’. But, if the company needed you to do the IT, the set up, the client delivery, the customer interaction, could you? No one knows everything so be aware to never become complacent. There is always something to learn.

With all of these values and many more, you’ll be in line for that next promotion. It’s easy to get frustrated when you want a promotion but there’s nothing available. So keep your eyes peeled. If you can easily prove yourself with one company, then keep your eyes peeled for similar positions at similar companies to move into. Sometimes you do need to move to a new environment to get the promotion, but it’s all worth it in the end.

Keep yourself learning, keep yourself positive and keep being you. Head to www.myvirtualself.com for more information.

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It’s so easy to avoid going to the gym or going for a run. I come up with any excuse to avoid working out if I can help it! However, sitting at a desk all day can lead to some problems and to some sore muscles. The lack of movement doesn’t just affect your health. It can have a direct impact on your work performance and engagement, according to studies from the Burke Britain Financial Partners : · Workday exercise not only improves well-being, but participants noted a 72% improvement in time management and workload completed on days when they exercised. · Besides these health aspects, the number one benefit exercise has on your work is that it improves your productivity by allowing you to take regular breaks and clear your mind. With this in mind, and to stop you having the ready-made excuses of being too tired after a long day, we’ve given you some ideas of workouts to do at your desk or while working from home – you could even do some of these workouts whilst doing jobs around the house! Say goodbye to the excuses and say hello to a better mind! These workouts don’t need a lot of skill or talent – just patience and 5 minutes of your time! 1) Neck stretches – Have you got some tension in your neck? Stressed from all your emails – no fear! Close your eyes and roll your head from your left shoulder to your right shoulder. When you’ve done that 3 times, then roll your head in a circular motion keeping your shoulders still and careful not to raise them with each roll. Move your head clockwise 3 times then anti clockwise 3 times. Feel that stress leave your neck. 2) Seated Leg Raises – You can do these leg and abdominal exercises at your desk, in a meeting or on a conference call without people noticing. And the best part? They target your quadriceps (the front of your thighs), hamstrings (the back of your thighs), and glutes (the butt) — so you get a killer compound exercise without ever getting up. Sit upright in your chair. Straighten your left leg so that it is parallel to the floor and hold it in place for 10 seconds. Now, do the same thing with your right leg. Repeat both legs for 15 repetitions. Once you build up strength, try adding weight to the exercise by looping your purse or briefcase on your legs while you do the raises. 3) The Chest Opener – This is a quick and effective stretch for anyone who experiences (or wants to avoid) frequent shoulder pain. Sit on the edge of your chair, place both hands behind the lower part of the neck, move your elbows slowly in, and hold your chin down. Then, open up your chest and arms while holding your head high and squeezing your shoulder blades, and repeat. 5 to 10 repetitions should do the trick! 4) Walk and Talk – Unless you need to be sat at the computer whilst on the phone then why not use take the chance to stand up and walk around while you’re talking? Every extra step counts and it’ll be a welcome break for your body! 5) Back Twist – Relieve tension in your back by doing this great back twist. To start, sit in your chair and place your right arm behind your right hip. Twist to the right side and hold for 10 seconds then repeat on the other side. Aim to do 3 on each side. 6) Shoulder Raises – Raise your shoulders up to each ear, hold for 10 seconds and relax. Repeat 5 times. 7) Seat Squeeze – Believe it or not you can work your isometric glutes at your desk! To start toning, squeeze your buttocks, hold for 5-10 seconds and release. Repeat until you’ve finished the task you were working on or until your glutes are tired! 8) Secret Selfie Handshake – Sit on your chair with feet flat on the floor, clasp your hands together across the front of your body and pull! Resist your own strength! Hold for 10 seconds, release and repeat 5 times. 9) Pencil Holder – Time to work those shoulder blades, roll your shoulder back until your shoulder blades are pinched together, pretend your holding your pencil between your shoulders. Hold for 5-10 seconds, release and repeat 10 times. 10) Perfect Posture – Make sure your feet, hips and arms are at a 90-degree angle to the flo

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Starting a new job can be full of excitement and anticipation but also can be a little scary and daunting. Not only have you got to learn the new position, but you’ve also got to meet and work with new teammates. You are the dreaded but anticipated new person. I’ve worked in a few places where visitors and guests sit in the reception which everyone in the office can see and you do feel like you’re an attraction at a zoo for the first 10 minutes before you’re introduced.

It can be a bit daunting.

You’ve got the banter with your old team, you may have even made friends for life with your previous colleagues and starting again is tricky. Be yourself, be you and shine. It’s the same with life, you may get on great with some of your new teammates and there may be others that you don’t gel with. It’s something you can’t plan and can’t stop.

We’ve found the best way to fit in is to sit back and move slowly. You may find with some people are instantly welcoming and instantly friendly which is always great. They’ll take you under their wing, introduce you to everyone and even be your lunch friend. They’re the ones who make the first day, the first week and the first month of a new job and can be a huge deciding factor as to you sticking it out. People leave jobs very quickly if they don’t have a confidante or friend they can work with.

You spend 40+ hours a week at work – you need to make sure you have that strong relationship with other staff.

The people you need to sit back and move slowly with are the people who may be slightly stand offish. These people want you to prove yourself so all you need to do is just that.

Prove to them that you can do the job, prove you can finish the project, manage your time, manage a team or deliver the results. Take this opportunity to shine and be yourself. Show you can do your job and are more than capable. Be friendly, be attentive, learn and listen.

Every company has someone who has been working for them for years. That is the person you need to sit with and learn from as chances are, they will know a lot more than they’re letting on and will be able to pick up most tasks and do them. Utilise that knowledge, shadow them and use that experience to improve.

We can all be better and do better. So, any chance you get learn from your new team, accept the training, shadow them in their jobs so you have a better understanding on the company as a whole.

People learn from people, people buy from people and people talk to people. Go into a new team with a positive attitude and with the willingness to listen and learn. That will speak volumes to your team and show the company you are someone that will be with them for the long term.

My Virtual Self is an online recruitment platform that allows individuals looking for a job to create a free membership profile and allows businesses to subscribe to the platform and jump straight to a shortlist of suitable candidates. Head to www.myvirtualself.com for more information.

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Social media can either be your best friend or your worst enemy. And this is no different to the world of work.

Social media is a great tool for anyone looking for a new job. If you’re technically able and digitally savvy you can do your research on a business, the employers, the employees, read reviews and discover a whole host of information right at your fingertips. But the thing we all forget, employers can do the same to you!

Now we know how everyone has those posts, you know, the ones where we had a great night out or a boozy weekend away, the posts that created some controversy, the one where a prank may have gone too far when you shaved off Susan’s eyebrows, or the post where you commented on your job. All of this is visible to your friends and family, but it is also visible to your future boss and colleagues.

I mean, this isn’t a big brother scenario or like the Truman Show so you don’t need to cover up your webcams or keep your curtains closed just yet, but when companies are looking to pay an employee to work for them, they will want to know who they’re bringing into the family.

Maintaining your online presence matters

Having a squeaky-clean LinkedIn profile and an impeccable online reputation is so important in this day and age. You never can be too careful. When it comes to social media, the personal and professional are often intertwined. There is no real difference between your ‘professional’ posts and your ‘personal’ ones, they come from you and you represent that brand.

Before you put anything on a public space, just sit back and think whether it is something you would be comfortable saying in front of your boss or colleagues. If the content does not pass that test, then it is simple – don’t post it.

Even if your social media content isn’t relevant or applicable to your day-to-day job duties, UK companies are within their legal rights to take action if they feel your representation harms the company.

Professionalise your social media profiles. Taking the time to monitor your professional brand online matters. One bad post can not only stop you from getting a job, but it could lose you your current job too.

Go and take a look through your social media accounts and think if you were an employer, would you hire you? Head to www.myvirtualself.com for more information and ‘how to’ tips to get your CV noticed.

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With the impact of Covid-19, you or your team may be experiencing working from home for the first time. Working from home, if managed in the right way, has many advantages. When you discover the right routine that works for you, you may find you are more productive and can manage your workload around your lifestyle. Adopting this way of working can also increase employee satisfaction and retention.

When we start to return to normal it will be interesting to see how many businesses continue with this flexible working from home arrangement, and if it will become the new normal.

At My Virtual Self our business model is based around sustainability in the workplace, which means that all of our team members work from home.

We believe that businesses should contribute greatly to their impact on the environment and consider the need for all their employees to travel to one location on a daily basis. Reducing the number of team members that you have travelling to work, reduces the number of vehicles on the road which reduces your businesses carbon footprint.

We also believe very strongly in supporting our employees with their mental health and that their job should work around their lifestyle, rather than the other way around. The 9-5 office hours that we have come to adopt doesn’t fit with most lifestyles anymore and hasn’t moved on in the same way the demands and expectations our personal lives have.

Our remote working policy allows our team to be flexible with their working hours, in line with delivering against our client’s expectations. As an example, if a member of your team doesn’t have any support with the school drop off or pick up, that shouldn’t matter. Some of our team have adopted a working pattern that involves dropping their children off at school and then work during the hours until they pick their children up in the afternoon. They then spend the afternoon with their families and carry on working again in the evening once their children have gone to sleep. This is a far more efficient and sustainable way of working, rather than having to be at an office at 9 o’clock and can’t leave until 5 o’clock, or control what happens in between those hours.

Click here to view our Sustainability Policy and find out more about how we are reducing our impact on the environment.

Madelaine Cook

Founder & CEO

My Virtual Self Limited

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Covering all bases with your CV for potential employers.

Have you ever thought to yourself what do I really want to do? How does this look on my CV? What will people think of me as I’ve moved between careers and industries?

Ever heard the phrase ‘Jack of all trades and master of none’? Well Jack, now is your time!

Most people nowadays have moved between industries and have tried lots of different things to identify their favourite career, their passion and their drive.

You may have worked in retail, you may have experience selling cars in the automotive industry, may have gone into office work. What you may not realise is that you now are a very valuable team asset. You have experience dealing with a variety of different customers, working within different companies and different teams. You will have undergone quite rigorous training for all roles and probably learnt a lot more than even you realise.

Don’t get me wrong – some employers want people from the industry they’re in and will not look outside of that box and that’s ok. But eventually that pool of people will run out.

For employers and recruiters, if they are looking outside of their industry for new talent they will focus on the key point – how long have you been in each job for? As long as employers see that you were working at each company for a couple of years or more and can feel the passion for each role you’ve had – that is your unique selling point. Equally, some people have been working at one company for the majority of their working life and that is also equally as appealing to employers.

Employers now want people from all walks of life who have the experience that you might have, be it longevity with one company or experience within a few companies and industries.

With My Virtual Self you can create a profile and put in as much detail as you want to explain what you did in each position you’ve held. You don’t need to worry about the size of it as it’s a profile telling employers about you, what you’ve done, what you’ve achieved and much more.

Don’t be put off Jack – you are the master of the trades and now is the time to tell the world. Head to www.myvirtualself.com for more information.

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Finding the right career for you!

You know when you’re young and everyone asks you what you want to be when you grow up and you have no idea? How many of us can categorically say that now we’re *ahem* old-er… we know what we want to be doing?

I always wanted to be a librarian (don’t know why as I’d get removed for being the loudest in there!) Reality check – I started off as a receptionist and worked my way into Project Management. A bit far from the ‘dream’ eh? But guess what… I love it! I’m that keno in the office people mock because I want to be there.

Now, here’s the big question – have you ever taken the time to stop and think about what it is you really want to do? Have you utilised your time during the COVID-19 pandemic to reflect on your life, your career, your hobbies, your home and look to make positive changes?

I’m sure you’ve spent some time clearing through clothes, decorating, gardening, reading, relaxing and for the most part you’ve probably enjoyed all of those jobs. Surely, it’s time to look at your job or career path and think do I really enjoy this? Do I love what I do?

This comes at a time of great unknown based on the question – what will the world look like after COVID-19 has gone? If there is ever a time to be thinking of how to enjoy life – now is that time.

Make a list, talk to friends, look back through your career. Do you want a job that is just that, a job? Or do you want to be like superman every day and go and save your world? Jumping out of bed, being the first one in and last one out because you love what you do! Explore that qualification you want to achieve. Are you at your highest earning potential? How can you get to the next step within the business?

You want to enjoy life and surely your job comes under that category, right?

Becoming a member of My Virtual Self allows businesses to contact you based on the skills and expertise that you have detailed within your profile. If there is something that you really want to do, make sure you have the qualifications and expertise for that role so that a potential employer can find you. A potential employer may contact you when you least expect it and offer you a job you didn’t even know existed.

Don your cape and explore what is out there – it’s your world and only you can save it. Head to www.myvirtualself.com for more information and ‘how to’ tips.

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What will Recruitment look like post Covid-19?

SO 2020 WASN’T QUITE THE YEAR WE’D ALL ENVISAGED IT TO BE. IT HASN’T BEEN FULL OF MAGIC AND IT HASN’T BEEN FULL OF A WHOLE LOT OF JOY, INSTEAD, WE’VE ALMOST ENCOUNTERED WW3, BREXIT, A WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC AND NOW RIOTS IN AMERICA AND WE’VE STILL GOT 6 MONTHS LEFT!

The world as we know it will change, people have changed, businesses have changed. We need to make sure that we adapt and tailor life to these changes so we don’t get left behind.

So what will recruitment look like post Covid-19? Well, it will be very different. You probably won’t be invited for a face to face interview. If you are, you’ll have to adhere to a strict social distance and no handshake. But never fear!

The majority of companies will now be moving more towards Zoom/Skype/Video interviews (which means you only have to put a smart top on). I’m joking, obviously for any interview please ensure you get fully dressed to put you in the right frame of mind.

How to portray yourself during a video call:

Now I am sure you’re probably well aware of how to conduct a video call, but we’ve put together some pointers just in case:

Find a quiet area to have your call. If you do go out in public then make sure there are no background noises. Conducting calls with people in coffee shops are a challenge as you often pick up a lot of the noise around you – more so than your voice.

Make sure you have a good internet connection. You don’t want to be halfway through selling yourself and your achievements and you freeze and sound like C3PO.

Get dressed as if you were attending a face to face – you see all the virtual home interviews conducted on the news and all people are suited and booted – it really helps. It gets you in the right frame of mind to flip into professional mode. Even if you are going to put your activewear back on afterwards, get dressed for the call.

Scenery – your potential employer does not want to see you sat on an unmade bed or sat in front of any posters, mugs or washing. You are now more likely to ‘virtually’ let people into your home so make sure what they’re seeing is what you want them to see. Set yourself up at a desk, dining table, coffee table and be aware of your surroundings.

These are just a few ideas for you to be aware of so you can get to grips with this new way of interviewing.

As we said, 2020 seems to be a big year of change – make sure you aren’t left behind.

Head to www.myvirtualself.com for more information and ‘how to’ tips.

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Is the world ready for your CV?

You’ve sat there for a long time, written and re-written your CV, your eyes are blurring, your head hurts and there’s a host of other activities you would prefer to be doing. It can be a long job building your CV and believe me, the desire to send it out as soon as you’ve finished is overwhelming. But don’t. Just stop.

Have you finished? Are you happy with it? Are you sure?

I know you want to press send and submit BUT what you need to do is sit back and breathe, move away from your desk and leave it overnight.

There is a lot of competition out there, so you need to make sure you have an error free CV as this is your personal brand and you are about to showcase it to the world. Spelling mistakes means that some CVs are thrown out, grammatical errors and missing information means that some CVs are ignored. Don’t let this be you.

Proofread

You need to go back over your CV and look at it as if you were the employer. Would you hire you? Have you demonstrated all your skills in a logical and attractive way?

Read it back to yourself. Read it out loud. Ask a family member or friend to read it over. Print it out and take it in a different room or sit in the garden with it and leave the space it was created.

It’s very easy, after you’ve looked at something for a long time, to read a sentence in your head which looks great at a quick glance and realise you’ve missed out the word ‘and’.

As well as using fresh eyes to check for grammatical errors, spelling and punctuation, you need to check the message your CV is conveying:

Is your career goal clear? What do employers perceive your career goals to be?

Have you demonstrated your suitability to the job by the first half of page one?

Does your CV clearly show how you can help your target employer?

Do you easily display your skills and achievements?

Is the format consistent and visually appealing?

Is it easy to read, both in terms of skim reading and a deeper read?

Correct any mistakes and complete your final edit, then get ready to celebrate a job well done!

Your CV is your personal brand, it’s the opportunity for you to show and tell of your work achievements, of your ambition and your goals. Make sure you really resonate this information and you’ll appeal to a wider audience of employers.

Head to www.myvirtualself.com for more information and ‘how to’ tips to get your CV noticed.

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The benefit of having a strong personal brand!

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou

Having a strong personal brand is essential, particularly when you are trying to impress a future employer. People like to deal with people they can associate with and can buy into their personal brand and purpose.

From how you present yourself on your My Virtual Self profile to how you portray yourself on social media, all have a significant influence on your personal brand. According to a recent Glassdoor article, 70% of employers research candidates’ social media profiles before interviewing and hiring and a recent Monster article, states that 77% of employers Google potential candidates.

Have you ever thought about what would appear if someone Googled your name and how it could affect your personal brand? To find out what a potential employer can observe about you online, we recommend that you carry out your own search and make sure you are happy with how your personal brand is represented.

To do this, type your full name in to all major search engines (Google, Bing, Yahoo etc.) or ask a trusted friend or family member to search for you and see if they can find anything they think you should be aware of. If you have an account with any search engines you are using, you will need to log out of your account as results are customized for users.

When you are happy with how your personal brand displays online, the next important step is to make sure your My Virtual Self profile also demonstrates a strong personal brand. Becoming a member of My Virtual Self allows you to display your skills, expertise, education and career history, for future employers to review.

My Virtual Self is setting out to revolutionise the recruitment industry by working for both the employer and the job seeker.

Becoming a member of My Virtual Self allows job seekers to create a free online profile that showcases their skills and experience to potential employers. A member’s profile is free, easy to set-up and provides direction on what needs to be included, based on what our business subscribers can search for within each filter option.

If you are not already a member, you can sign up at https://www.myvirtualself.com/become-a-member/