Career Advice

5 top tips to make your CV stand out

Your CV is one of the most important tickets to opening doors in your job search. In an increasingly competitive market, using a variety of attention-grabbing tactics can increase the chance of your CV being noticed and your application being progressed to the next stage. It is believed that on average, it takes a recruiter just 30 seconds to scan your CV and form an opinion. Utilise the following CV tips to ensure you stand out from the crowd: Tailor your CV It’s important to alter your CV in line with the role that you’re applying for, using the job description and company information as a guide. This enables you to respond directly to the job description and explain exactly why you are the right candidate for the role. To find out more about tailoring your CV, click here. Include industry-specific keywords It’s a good idea to check the job description and company website for specific key words and phrases the employer may be looking for. Many companies are now using screening software to perform the first review of applications and check CVs. Including relevant keywords will help ensure that your application passes this first stage. Show your impact with facts and figures Many job seekers make bold claims in their CVs, but very few back them up with facts and figures. Demonstrating the scale of your responsibilities by including figures such as the size of budget you have managed or the cost-saving you achieved for your previous company will make sure you stand out from the crowd. Use bullet points to break up text To ensure that your CV is easy to read, use bullet points to break up the text. The first look at your CV will usually involve a skim-read of the main points, as recruiters are often pushed for time. Providing an enjoyable reading experience will grasp the recruiters attention and create a perfect first impression. Summarise your skills Including a ‘key skills’ section to your CV is another great way to show that you’re qualified for the job you are applying for. It’s useful to have it near the top of your CV, to show off your most relevant industry experience immediately. These quick and easy tweaks will improve the quality of your CV, differentiating you from your competition, and ultimately, improve your chances of securing the role you’re applying for. Now all that is left to do is to browse Morson’s fantastic job opportunities and register your CV to begin your search today.
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The best apps and tools to help you organise your job search

Searching for a new role can be a tough task and staying organised through the applications, interviews and paperwork is imperative to ensure you secure the right role for you. Whether you are looking to boost your job search or improve your productivity, read on for the best apps and tools to help you organise your job search. 1. JobTrack JobTrack helps you manage your applications effectively so that you can prioritise the right jobs for you. Using the dashboard, you can quickly see where to focus your efforts based on the job applications you’ve submitted and the job postings you’ve saved. It also enables you to proactively follow up by reminding you to send crucial follow-up emails after important events, such as phone calls and interviews. Perhaps the most unique feature of the website is that it gives you the ability to check on how your job search is going with helpful metrics. JobTrack provides you with visibility into what’s working well and what opportunities exist for improvement. An all-round great tool to organise your job search. 2. Evernote Evernote is a great tool to use, not only during your job search but all of the time! In simple terms, it is an app that assists with note taking, organising, task lists and archiving. It enables you to write notes and capture ideas at the touch of a button, on your computer, phone or on the web. In terms of your job search, it’s a great tool to use to complete your interview preparation and to store any important information relating to your application. The handy ‘clip page’ feature enables you to highlight text from a website and save to a document, this is especially useful when conducting company research before an interview. The possibilities are endless! 3. Glassdoor Glassdoor is a website where employees and former employees anonymously review companies, their management, their job role and their salary. When applying for a new role, it’s a good idea to have a quick look at the reviews on Glassdoor. Although you shouldn’t take this information as gospel, together with your discussions with the recruiter and/or manager, you should get a good idea if the company is right for you. 4. Huntr Huntr is an online platform that allows you to create colour coded lists of job applications including notes, dates, tasks, job descriptions, salaries, locations, company data and more. You can also use the Chrome Extension to save jobs from job sites such as Morson.com and pin to your dashboard to view them at any time. Another useful feature of Huntr is that you can quickly share your progress with your colleagues, friends or advisors simply by adding their email address to your lists. Now you’re organised, it’s time to start applying! Read our top tips on how to make your CV stand out from the crowd and register your CV to browse the latest opportunities in your field.
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Hinkley Skills Survey | What Opportunities Are Out There For Me?

Building Britain’s Future | The Hinkley Skills Survey Part 5 – Contracts With Clout, Hinkley Jobs Our whitepaper has already revealed how candidates are hungry for new opportunities across the country that offer the best rates of pay, lifestyle benefits and career opportunities. Another major attraction is projects with clout that provide prestige for your work portfolio. Of those surveyed, three quarters (75%) were eager to hear about Hinkley jobs. As the biggest project of its kind in Europe, the £18billion nuclear power station will demand skilled workers on a scale that hasn’t been seen in the UK for more than 25 years – since Sizewell-B, the last nuclear power plant was built. And inevitably, many of those workers have now retired or moved overseas. Hinkley Point C will need around 25,000 construction staff from specialist demolition experts to steel erectors, tunnellers, carpenters and glaziers, and it’s vital that these skilled people are in place to ensure successful delivery. Talent on demand is a popular choice, with the UK being home to a fast-growing army of independent flexible workers. Highly skilled, self-employed professionals can work on several projects for different employers in a single year or see themselves contracted long-term to deliver a major project. What’s clear is that the flexible working bug is spreading and the flexible workforce is now a significant driver in the UK’s current and potential economic growth. Want to know more? The full Morson Hinkley Skills Survey explores the importance of flexible workers in infrastructure. Based on the opinions of more than 2,500 independent flexible workers from across the UK, the Hinkley Point C Skills Survey provides a real insight into how to tackle the skills gap, why contracting is an increasingly popular working choice, how to encourage more diversity in engineering and what holds a flexible worker back from spreading their wings and seeking new opportunities in different sectors. In particular, this whitepaper draws attention to what factors attract flexible workers to a role and if they would consider relocating for work. This is especially pertinent with many major infrastructure projects, which require specific levels of locally-sourced skills. Click here to download your copy
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Making a Bold Career Change | How One Woman Swapped Languages For Nuclear Reactors

Making a bold career change can seem daunting, but Kim Vignitchouk is part of a growing trend of people who are turning their back on established careers in order to pursue a lifelong passion within a completely new industry. More than 10 years ago Kim made the move from linguistics and translation into the nuclear renaissance. Having lived and worked in China from 1988 – 1997 and fluent in Mandarin, it was time to pursue a career change and explore her real interest and passion, science, to which Kim then began studying a Physics degree at the Open University. Kim explains: “I always dreamed of one day becoming a scientist and I loved Physics at school. Unfortunately it was a career path that my parents weren’t keen on and they pushed me in the opposite direction. “After a successful career in linguistics and translation, I just thought enough was enough. Enrolling with the Open University helped me to connect back with everything that I loved when I was younger. I never dreamed at that point that I’d be able to build a new career and instead, was gaining a Physics degree just for me.” Now a contractor for Horizon Nuclear Power, Kim is part of a team in the UK and Japan helping to drive forward the new £10bn power station, comprising two nuclear reactors, at Wylfa Newydd in Anglesey. Adjacent to the former Magnox Wylfa Power Station, which is currently being decommissioned, the new nuclear power station will employ around 9,000 people at the peak of construction and once complete, generate around 2,700 megawatts of electricity – enough to power around five million homes. Having further upskilled her nuclear knowledge with a masters in Radiation and Environmental Protection, Kim is now working as an RP (radiation protection) engineer, where a typical day includes researching, reviewing and writing technical documents, answering technical queries and liaising with other engineers and contractors across civil, mechanical and chemical specialisms. Kim explains: “It’s our job to make sure that the nuclear power plant is being designed and built to UK and international standards so that it’s fully compliant and safe for people and the environment. “Nuclear is such an exciting and rewarding sector to work in, but there’s still a big misunderstanding in what a nuclear power plant actually does. The link between civil and military nuclear programmes also should be better managed as many people wrongly think they are one and the same. “There always seem to be a negative portrayal of nuclear power plants from the media as well, which leads to a negative public perception. Instead, we should be more transparent in showcasing what exciting careers the nuclear industry has to offer.” Kim has never struggled to find a role, even after previously being made redundant. Within the nuclear industry, there is no lack of exciting opportunities. New build programmes deliver a spectrum of roles across engineering, chemistry, environment and physics, which are also highly relevant for the decommissioning and maintenance of nuclear sites. Kim’s specific skillset in radiation and environmental protection is in huge demand across a number of sectors and careers, including medical, radiography and isotope generation for cancer care, which meant that she had already received a job offer before completing her masters. Kim continues: “Gaining my degree and masters were both career highlights as it completely changed my career direction and led me to where I am today. “I’m a firm believer in that you can achieve anything you set your mind to. Juggling a freelance interpreter career with my studies at the Open University wasn’t without its challenges and even at this time, my parents were still asking me when was I going to concentrate on a full-time job? Unfortunately they both passed away before I graduated, but they would have been so proud in where I am today. “My advice to anyone regardless of their age or gender is to pursue your passion, do what you want to do and don’t listen to anyone else. “Nuclear is a pretty hardcore industry but there are so many exciting pathways that can lead you to a very rewarding career, including apprenticeships and the university route. All you need to succeed is to work hard and be passionate about what you do.” Are you looking for a career change? Search hundreds of jobs here, or to learn more about adult apprenticeships with our training division visit www.morson.com/mvt.
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5 lessons to take from the sporting arena to the office

Through the partnership of our Brand Ambassadors, Morson has closely followed the careers of a number of sporting stars and experts during the past year. The ambition and motivation of these athletes is second to none and here at Morson HQ, we have identified that many aspects of their advice can be transferred from the sporting arena to the office. Here are 5 business tips from sport to help you enhance your career: EMBRACE TEAMWORK The importance of teamwork can sound like a cliché and we’ve all heard how working as part of a team can increase efficiency and quality of output. Bryony Frost: I don’t see it as my work, it’s our work. It’s a team, and my job is like the last piece of the puzzle if you like, and I have to make sure it fits. All the teamwork, all the preparation and the passion behind the horse to get him to even be at the racecourse let alone win. Teamwork is not only the act of working together but is a mentality which you can bring to foster success on even solitary projects. Watch our exclusive Cheltenham Press Day video here. YOU NEED COMMITMENT TO REACH YOUR GOALS To pursue his dream of becoming a professional boxer, Nathan makes a 100-mile round trip each day to train at Hatton Health and Fitness in Hyde. It’s a commitment the 21-year-old is happy to make as he looks to provide for his young family. Nathan Gorman: “Every one of the fighters in the gym is ambitious. They all want to strive for the top. There are no superstars in this gym, everyone’s grounded. Committing to a goal and acting on it is more likely to achieve results than simply waiting for things to change. Achieving a goal doesn’t just happen overnight, it takes hard work and sustained commitment. Find out more about Nathan’s ambitions here. INJECT A HEALTHY DOSE OF SELF-DISCIPLINE As a recently turned professional boxer, Ben Sheedy has to juggle training and working full time as a bricklayer to be able to pay the mortgage. This involves getting up at 5am every day to train before he goes off to do a full day of work. Ben Sheedy: “I boxed for a few years and then when the recession hit and work wasn’t as readily available in Manchester I was doing a lot of travelling to get to work so I couldn’t get to the gym. I was working in the Lake District and Wales, all sorts of places, so I had a few years out and then the minute the work picked up in Manchester and I could be back here regularly, I was straight back in the gym.” Self-discipline refers to your ability to focus on the set goal without submitting yourself to any distractions that come your way. He admits that “training and then going to work to lay bricks” is “not the easiest thing in the world” but he has the discipline to persevere in order to reach his goals. BE MORE AMBITIOUS A rewarding working life that ensures long-term happiness is certainly the aim of much of the working population. Keeping focused on your ambitions and goals, and asking yourself what it is you want from your career can keep you on the right track to achieving this. Bryony Frost: We talk about the stereotype of a lot of young girls being into horses at a very young age, but only a small number looking to pursue it as a career and a passion. “In any walk of life, going from hobby to career is a big step-up and it’s tough. You’ve got to go and grab it and know there’s probably going to be a lot of tears. Or you don’t do it and you pursue something that’s maybe a little easier and not quite so dependent on you might not make it.” Jockey, Bryony Frost understands that you don’t get to where you want to be without hard work and ambition, qualities in which she is definitely not lacking. To read more about overcoming the Gender Hurdle, click here. GET ORGANISED AND WORK ON YOUR GAME PLAN Ex England player and Sale Sharks legend Mark Cueto, who is now the clubs Commercial Director, attests to the similarities between the mindset of sportspeople and business people: “When you’re in rugby you have no idea how transferrable the skills that you’re learning are. A lot of it is really simple. For me, I worried that I wasn’t corporate enough to enter the business world, but a lot of it comes down to what you’ve learnt from rugby. You work hard, you set yourself goals and you have to work well with people – and this has put me in good stead” “When I’m going out getting sponsorship from the club it’s incredible the amount of businesses I speak to who don’t just want an advertising board, they want to be able to bring their staff down to Carrington for our players to give them tips on teamwork and organisation. Essentially marketing and sales strategies are game plans.” Cueto’s example just shows how important a sporting/team mentality can be in terms of succeeding in business and this knowledge is something that companies are actively trying to learn from sports teams. Mark also mentions that he’d love to go into business with Ged Mason, so our CEO needs to watch out for Cueto’s application! Click here to find out what our rugby stars’ futures look like after their sporting career. Stay up to date with our sporting stars and experts by following our dedicated Instagram page and reading our #careergoals blog where you can see exclusive interviews and the latest news.
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Back to Basics: Guide to Working with Recruiters

In the first episode of our Back to Basics series, Morson has put together a helpful guide to working with recruiters. Working with a recruiter to find your next role can be the most efficient way to find your next job. However, there are a number of points to consider to make sure you get the most out of the recruiter that you are working with. MAKE WHAT YOU CAN OFFER AND WANT YOU WANT REALLY CLEAR The first most important factor to get right is to explain where you currently are in your career and be specific about your next steps. Make sure the recruiter knows firstly what skills and experience you have in your field and secondly, what new role you are looking for. This includes details such as your salary expectations, the scope of the role, location and type of company etc. By making all of the above information clear from day one, you avoid the risk of wasting the recruiters and most importantly, your own time. GOOD COMMUNICATION Good communication during the recruitment process is key. Make sure you reply to all emails, return calls and keep the recruiter updated on your situation. You never know, that missed call may be the ticket to your new job! TRUST THEIR EXPERTISE Recruiters are job search experts, they know all of the tricks and have just the right amount of intuition to help you make a great connection. Many recruiters have been working in their industry for a long time and are therefore experts in their field. CV Recruiters look at hundreds of CVs every week so they know what to look for in a good CV. Trust their advice and consider any improvements that they suggest. INTERVIEW PREP A good recruiter will be there for you up until you secure your new job, so helping you prep for your interview is part of that process. Combined with your own personal preparation, listen to what they have to say and take their advice. Additionally, if you feel you need any further help, just ask! DOS AND DON’TS Overall there are some fundamental dos and don’ts to keep in mind when working with a recruiter: DO Communicate efficiently with your recruiter. Give feedback and expect to receive feedback. Have an idea of what you are looking for before you get in contact. Be open to their suggestions. DON’T Take constructive criticism personally. Waste the recruiters time. Don’t fabricate information about your experience and CV. Now you're ready to put these tips into practice! Register your CV to begin your job search today.
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Grasp Every Opportunity | 5 Minutes with a Morson Recruiter

Our new Recruitment Consultant, Kartik Masalawala has recently joined Morson, bringing with him a wealth of experience from a very interesting background. We sat down with Kartik to bring you 5 minutes with a Morson Recruiter… Kartik, I hear you’ve got quite a story to tell in regards to how you got into recruitment? Yeah, so I trained to be an accountant prior to working at Morson. I went through the full three years at Salford University and achieved my Accounting & Finance degree. Then, two years into my career as an Accountant and only three papers away from fully qualifying and I decided I wanted to become a recruiter! That’s quite a career change! What made you change your mind? If I’m honest, I used to look at recruitment roles and I didn’t think they were for me. I didn’t realise you could actually build a really successful career in recruitment and when I started to look into it, I realised how many opportunities there were out there. After 2 and a half years in accounting roles, I realised that sitting at a desk looking at spreadsheets all day wasn’t for me. So I thought, what else am I good at? I’m good at talking to people, negotiating, and I know the accounting market… recruitment! Once I started properly looking into the role I realised how much of a good fit it was; I could recruit accountants and have the inside knowledge of what it’s like to work in that specific role. It was the perfect fit. So what was your first taste of recruitment? I was speaking to a couple of recruiters who were trying to find me a new accounting job when I made the switch. One of them knew I wasn’t entirely loving the world of accountancy and said to me “you come across really well, if you ever decide you fancy a career change then let me know”. I’d actually already been thinking about recruitment so he arranged a couple of interviews for me. My first recruitment role was with a financial recruitment company based in Warrington where I recruited for practice accountancy roles. I knew straight away that this was the right job for me. What attracted you to Morson? I was contacted by Tom Wowk – Senior Recruitment Consultant who works at Morson and he said that he had been keeping an eye on me and that he would like me to come in to have a chat with some managers. Initially, it was the size of the company and the direction that it’s moving in. Morson offered me the progression I was looking for at the time. When I pulled up and saw the building, I thought “right okay… this is no small time company”, it was not what I was expecting at all. From the beginning of the interview, I could tell that Morson was the right fit for me. Have you transferred any skills from your time as an accountant and put them to use at Morson? Yeah definitely! A client will come to me and say “I’ve got an Assistant Account role I need you to recruit for” and they will list what requirements they have for the specific role. With my previous experience, I can almost predict what they are looking for, I understand the industry terms and know first-hand what it takes to work in accountancy. I’ve even helped some of my university course mates find jobs! Finally, your top tips for someone looking for a job in finance? Number one is always speak to a recruiter before jumping into a role as there are so many different routes to go down in a finance career. Recruiters can look at your situation and evaluate what path is best to take and how you can reach your goals in the most efficient way. Other than that you just need to graft! I’ve always been a great believer that if you put the work in, you get the results out. My biggest advice to school and college leavers is that if you decide to do a degree, do a sandwich degree. Three words – Experience means everything! Like the sound of becoming a recruiter? Morson has a range of internal vacancies available. Or, are you working in Finance and are looking for your next role? Browse our current professional services roles and register your CV to let our expert recruiters help you progress your career.
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Back to Basics: CV Tips and Advice

In the second episode of our Back to Basics series, Morson has put together some CV tips and advice to help you create that perfect CV and impress your potential employers. Your CV is one of the most important tickets to opening doors in your job search and is often the first opportunity you have to impress your potential employer. Make sure your CV stands out from the crowd and follow our CV tips and advice for success. GET THE BASICS RIGHT Make sure your CV is regularly updated and portrays you in the best light possible. Checking for missing skills, achievements or job roles is crucial as you could potentially miss off that new skill you have developed which would be the deciding factor to whether you get the job. Some suggested headings for your CV could include: Personal statement Contact information Relevant skills Work history and/or experience Education & Qualifications Achievements Hobbies & Interests References PRESENTATION IS KEY First impressions count and how you present your CV is just as important as how you present yourself. Badly formatted CVs with lots of borders or boxes can be distracting. Keep it simple, neat and remember to stick to no more than two pages in length. TAILOR YOUR CV Look at your CV, read it thoroughly. What does it say about your relevant experience or skills for this position? It’s important to alter your CV in line with the role that you’re applying for, using the job description and company information as a guide. This enables you to respond directly to the job description and explain exactly why you are the right candidate for the role. CAREER HISTORY AND REASONS FOR LEAVING To make the best impact you should always start with your most recent role, and then work backwards chronologically. By taking this approach, you ensure that a potential employer does not mistake your level of experience based on your very first role. It is important to reflect your reasons for leaving your current role in a positive manner. When a potential employee talks negatively about a past employer, regardless of the circumstances, you risk casting yourself in a negative light. If you are a contractor, then this is your opportunity to detail your contract durations. SUMMARISE YOUR SKILLS Including a ‘key skills’ section in your CV to act as a summary is another great way to show that you’re qualified for the job you are applying for. It’s useful to have it near the top of your CV, to show off your most relevant industry experience immediately. TOP TIP: Keep to the point and where appropriate make sure you can back up your claims with examples. Now your CV is up to scratch, you can you can register with Morson and create your unique candidate profile.
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Back to Basics: How to Write a Cover Letter

Many companies ask you to write a cover letter to accompany your CV when completing the initial stage of the recruitment process. A cover letter demonstrates your writing ability along with providing the recruiter or hiring manager the chance to find out a little more about you. In the third episode of the Back to Basics series, Morson has put together 5 top tips to consider when writing your cover letter: 1. DO YOUR RESEARCH Similarly to when you’re researching the company for the interview stage, you need to do some research to be able to write your cover letter too. Take some time to look into the company values and how they work, but also re-read the job description and person specification to help you understand exactly what kind of person they are looking for. 2. FORMAT In theory, your cover letter should be formatted like a formal business letter. You should use easy to read fonts such as Ariel, Calibri or Verdana and keep the font size between 10 and 12. Ensure you use sufficient paragraphs to make it easy to read but be sure to keep it to one page or less. In terms of structure, this is totally up to you. However, a good place to start would be: An introduction – a clear statement of who you are and the role you are applying for. Your current situation – a brief description of what you are doing now and any skills that match the role you are applying for. Why you want the job and why you should be hired – here you should sell yourself in the best way you can. Include your skills, qualities and anything else you think the hiring manager would be interested to hear. Conclusion – to sign off your cover letter you should include a section that states information on how to reach you and when you’re available for an interview. Be sure to thank the recruiter or employer for their time and consideration at this stage. 3. PROOFREAD Check for spelling and grammatical errors in your cover letter before you send it off. A misspelt word could seriously diminish your chances of you securing the role that you are applying for. It’s always a good idea to get someone else to give it a once-over before you send it off to the recruiter or manager. 4. WHAT TO LEAVE OFF YOUR COVER LETTER A cover letter must never be a summary of your CV, it should highlight the most relevant aspects of your CV and complement it. Make sure you keep it concise and focused. 5. SIGN IT OFF It’s up to you whether you decide to follow your cover letter up with a phone call or email. If you are, it’s always a good idea to state your intentions in the letter. In terms of sending your cover letter, if you are printing it out and posting it/handing it in, signing it by hand is always a nice touch. Morson has hundreds of great job opportunities available. Register your CV to begin your job search today. Or, for advice on how to write your CV, click here.
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Back to Basics: How to Write a Personal Statement

Writing a personal statement can seem like a daunting task as it is often the first few lines a recruiter or manager will read when looking at your CV. However, like many tasks, when you break it down into small logical points, it really isn’t anything to worry about at all. So we've put together some helpful tips to make sure you show yourself in the best possible light. STRUCTURE The first stage is to get your structure right, then the rest will come naturally. Ideally, it should sit at the top or near the top of your CV and you should aim for around 50 to 200 words. Writing it in the first person is recommended, i.e. ‘I am a Civil Engineer seeking…’ WHAT TO INCLUDE You can really write whatever you like in your personal statement, but we recommend you split it into three sections: WHO YOU ARE In this section you could write about what you are currently doing now and an initial statement about what you are looking for. Think of this section as setting the scene. WHAT YOU CAN OFFER THE COMPANY This is where you need to sell your skills to the reader. It’s always a good idea to check the job description at this point and pull out any key skills you may have that matches what they are looking for. You could include your achievements and anything else that you believe will help you stand out from the crowd. YOUR CAREER GOALS In this section, you can state what you are looking for in a new role which could read something like: “I am looking for a new role in a challenging and fast-paced environment”. TOP TIP: Using the headings above, bullet point the key points you would like to include in your personal statement, then begin expanding on them one by one. USEFUL THINGS TO REMEMBER Remember to not over complicate your personal statement, it doesn’t need to be an essay! Proof-read the whole document a couple of times checking for spelling and grammar mistakes. TOP TIP: It’s a good idea to get a friend to proof-read your CV to see how it reads from another person’s perspective. When writing your personal statement, think carefully about what the employer is looking for. You can use the job description to help with this. Don’t forget to add some personality! Remember, no one likes to read a boring CV. Register with Morson and create your unique candidate profile. Or, click on the following links for advice on how to write your CV or cover letter.
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Back to Basics: Interview Tips

The interview process is designed to challenge you, to assess your skills, experience and enthusiasm for a role. Because of this, it is a nerve-wracking experience for most candidates, so it pays to be prepared. Through the Back to Basics series, we have given you advice on how to work with recruiters and how to create a stand out CV, right through to how to write a personal statement to blow potential employers away in your first opening paragraph. Check our top tips for interview success below: GENERAL ADVICE Get a good night’s sleep. Have a good breakfast on the morning of your interview – brain food! Plan and/or practice your journey. Aim to arrive 15-20 minutes before the interview. PREPARATION IS KEY Researching the company, using their website and social media channels is key. The more you know, and the more up to date and relevant the information is, the better. Make sure you know exactly what the company is looking for in a candidate, ensuring you are able to explain why you are a great fit for the role. It’s also a good idea to research the interviewer to find out what position hold so you know their perspective on the role. TOP TIP: LinkedIn is a good tool to use for research on both the company and interviewer. MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION Research suggests that your opinion of a person is formed within the first 10-30 seconds of meeting them. To make sure you make a good first impression ensure you dress appropriately and be aware of your body language. If in doubt, wear a smart suit – it is always better to be too smart than too casual. TOP TIP: Take a notebook a pen into the interview with you, this will again show that you are prepared and forward thinking. QUESTIONS You never really know how an interviewer will approach your meeting, but there are a few standard questions that you can prepare for. STANDARD INTERVIEW QUESTIONS: Why do you want to leave your current role? Why do you want this role? Tell me about your current role? What are your strengths and weaknesses? How do you think you will fit in with our team? What is your biggest achievement? What is the most difficult situation you have ever had to deal with? PREPARE SOME QUESTIONS It’s very important to ask questions when given the opportunity as it demonstrates your interest in the business and helps you engage with the interviewer. Examples of good questions to ask could be: Can you tell me more about the day-to-day responsibilities of this job? What plans do you have for the business? What projects are coming up soon? What do you like best about working for this company? What are the next steps in the interview process? All that is left to say is, good luck! If you haven't yet got an interview, check out our top CV tips to get your job search off to a good start. Or, if you think you're ready to apply now, browse our latest job roles here.
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The 7 Second Challenge | How to sell yourself in 7 seconds

It is believed that on average, hiring managers spend just 7 seconds reviewing a CV. But how long does it take for interviewers to form an impression in an interview? Could you summarise your skills and experience in just 7 seconds? It is unlikely that you would be asked to do this task in an interview but it’s definitely something to think about and it is an excellent tactic to have up your sleeve. Morson shares some top tips on how to sell yourself in 7 seconds. Take the 7 second challenge … MAKE IT UNIQUE With the limited time, you pretty much have one sentence that you can fit into your pitch. It needs to be interesting and unique and something that will give a lasting impression. MAKE IT PERSONAL There’s absolutely no point reiterating what is already written on your application or CV, you need to make this statement personal. You could maybe tailor your pitch to revolve around something that you have learnt in life that you can bring to the workplace. KEEP IT CONCISE 7 seconds really isn’t a lot of time. Make sure you are fully aware of your time restriction and don’t miss out any important lines because you’ve accidentally run over at the beginning. THE KEY AREAS TO COVER ARE… If you brainstorm the following points initially, you can then break it down and refine it for your pitch How you define yourself. What benefit can you bring the company? What results can you deliver? USEFUL TIPS AND TRICKS When creating and practising your pitch it’s really important to time yourself. Pitch it to friends and colleagues to get their opinion. Tell a story and remember to keep it interesting! Eliminate the jargon, keep it to the point. Record yourself on video to practice your delivery. Stay tuned for a video where some of our recruiters put these tips to the test… If you would like tips on how to write a CV, personal statement or cover letter click here. You can also register your CV and create your candidate profile to begin your job search with Morson.
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Candidate Hub

Keep up to date with the latest career advice

5 top tips to make your CV stand out

The best apps and tools to help you organise your job search

Hinkley Skills Survey | What Opportunities Are Out There For Me?

Making a Bold Career Change | How One Woman Swapped Languages For Nuclear Reactors

5 lessons to take from the sporting arena to the office

Back to Basics: Guide to Working with Recruiters

Grasp Every Opportunity | 5 Minutes with a Morson Recruiter

Back to Basics: CV Tips and Advice

Back to Basics: How to Write a Cover Letter

Back to Basics: How to Write a Personal Statement

Back to Basics: Interview Tips

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