We have prepared a list of points to consider and things to think about when preparing for a career change. Preparation is the key to success. For more details please contact one of our consultants for a private and confidential discussion.

When you decide that the time is right to look at your career and future direction you should ask yourself a number of questions to help prepare for this change as it will impact your future.

• What do I like and dislike about my current employer including:
• industry, culture, size, career path, etc
• Be clear on why it is you want to leave your current employer as this will help you decide what you want to do next?
• What sort of work am I passionate about?
• Where do I see myself in 5 and 10 years time?
• What am I trying to achieve with a career move i.e. increase salary, change location, career progression, etc?

You also need to prepare mentally and consider the implications for example:

• You might have to take a drop in salary to find the perfect job
• It is unlikely that you will find a role that meets 100% of your objectives
• Be ready to step outside of your comfort zone
• You must be prepared to stay in your new role and with your new employer for at least 12 months
• The first few months of starting with a new employer are always difficult and you will question whether you have made the right decision, it takes time to settle in so don't jump ship!

Putting a resume together can be a daunting task, especially when it can make the difference as to whether you get the job or not.

We have listed below some basic points to help guide you through this process, however, please feel free to speak to one of our consultants for a more detailed and confidential discussion.

Be Concise and to the point

• CVs should be no more than 3 or 4 pages long
• Focus on the most recent 10 years and provide only basic summaries of everything preceding this
• Use bullet points and avoid lengthy paragraphs

Selling yourself

• Always bullet point your achievements and link them to your responsibilities
• Use facts and figures i.e. sales results, increase in profits, cost savings, efficiency gains etc.
• Provide evidence where you might have made a difference at a strategic and tactical level
• Note where you have successfully driven specific projects and initiatives and what the outcomes were
• Note $budget and people management responsibilities

Always make sure that you can back-up all of these‘selling’ points at an interview.

Things to Avoid

• Don't overcomplicate your resume with innovative layouts or unique style
• Avoid paragraphs or ‘personal statements’ as they tend to be subjective
• Avoid lengthy covering letters as this takes the attention of the reader away from the resume itself

In most cases the information prospective employers want to see is:

• Where you work and in what roles, both current and historic
• Your track history of career progression
• Specific achievements in each of your jobs
• Duration of each role
• Qualifications – professional and academic

The value of interview preparation is often underestimated, but in reality it can differentiate you from other interviewees. We will spend as much time as it takes to help you prepare for an interview, however, there are a number of things you can start to think about, such as:

• Company name and exact location of the interview
• Who you will be meeting and what their roles are
• Don't arrive too early
• Company structure, divisions and other locations / sites
• Know their range of products and services
• Know their competitors
• Check the website for financial history, press releases, new products, share price etc
• Have a think about the types of questions you will be asked in relation to the specific job
• Write a list of ‘selling points’ that provide evidence that you have the ability, experience and can deliver results
• Employers often use behavioural and example based questions to establish your suitability. Always give real examples to demonstrate your ability and answer in a concise manner
• Always have a couple of questions prepared to ask the interviewers at the end of the interview