13 ways that The Great British Bake Off is like your job search

13 ways that The Great British Bake Off is like your job search by Michael Cheary So, another year of the Great British Bake Off is upon us.And with so much uncertainty about the next series already (#TeamBerry), it seemed like a perfect time to look back and see what weve learned from the last few years. So, to mark the occasion, were taking a break from bringing you the latest CV tips and interview advice, to see how the some peoples experiences from their time in the tent  can be applied to our own.Here are 13 ways the Great British Bake Off is like your job search (tenuous links and soggy bottoms on standby):1. When you finally sit down to update your CVHow to write a CV2. When  you try and use your old CV as a template, but its all just clip art and Comic Sans  Free CV template3. When all you can think of for hobbies is ‘I enjoy socialising with friends’ Should I include hobbies and interests in my CV?  4. When you read it back to yourself for the first time Five lines that are killing your CV  5. When you put the effort in, fina lly get your CV done, nail your cover letter and bag yourself that first interviewPre-interview checklist6. When it’s time to get ready for the interview How to prepare for an interview7. When you walk in one minute late for the interview 12 things you should never do at an interview8. When you try and do something different to stand out from the crowd Job interview nightmares revealed9. When you’re asked: ‘Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?’   How to answer common interview questions10. When the recruiter starts using the word ‘leverage’. A lot…   Revealed: The 10 most annoying office phrases11. When you can’t think of any questions to ask at the end of the interview Interview questions: What you should be asking12. When you sit and wait by the phone all weekend, anxiously waiting for it to ring  Why havent they called? Asking for interview feedback13. When finally, you get offered that dream job: How to start a new jobThink weve missed any? Share them with us on twitter @reedcouk  using #GBBO.Still searching for your perfect position?  View all of our current vacancies nowImage credithttps://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1200675/p02y7lkd.jpgFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Features

Women in Technology - Invaluable Perspective and Experience

Women in Technology - Invaluable Perspective and Experience It’s not easy being the only woman in the room, but in technology, it’s something you have to get used to. According to the US Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration, only 24 percent of women work in tech and it’s unlikely to get better in the near future. The National Center for Women and Information Technology predicts that by 2026, even fewer women will study computer science than today. The latest statistics from the Center show only 18 percent of computer science graduates are women. More women are needed in technology because we bring a unique perspective and experience to product development. As traditional as it may seem, women lead the household and buy groceries for the family. We account for nearly two-thirds of all grocery shoppers, according to The Time Use Institute. Our time in this role helps us brings new knowledge and a new perspective to technology and products that we use everyday. A Mother’s Perspective in Tech My advice to women is be proactive when looking for opportunities to help move the organization forward and grow. When you observe opportunities to contribute to the greater good of the people you serve and the organization, take it. I read an article a while back that reported how the average woman speaks about 20,000 words a day, while for men the average is a mere 7,000. That’s fewer than half the number of words. Generally speaking, this commonly gets attributed to women being more evocative in their communication style. We have different priorities, as well as different processing and behavior patterns. For example, a couple of key differences I have noticed during my time in a typically male-dominated workplace/team are as follows: Why Women in Technology Makes Sense When working with female colleagues and counterparts, our conversations and rhetoric for working through a given process will tend to build off various discussion points. By contrast, when in similar situations in a male-dominated workspace, the focus tends to be more heavily skewed on statistics. Furthermore, I have a sense that women tend to be more open to offering help. We see this as a sign of care for the individual and the success of the broader task. Meanwhile, I’ve known a number of male colleagues who have struggled to ask for help as they have (incorrectly, in my opinion) believed such a request to indicate an inability to achieve. Generally speaking, I think that women tend to be more detail oriented, while men are more goal oriented. I try to keep all this in mind on a daily basis…although, of course, on some days I do better than others. Most importantly, in my opinion: find a champion, male or female, who is willing to help you break through any glass ceiling. The right leaders advocating for you can help you be successful even in a difficult situation. Women in Technology My Own Experience I’m using my experience as a mother to develop a mobile app that will revolutionize the way all consumers shop for their groceries. It’s a Personalized Wellness engine that I’ve been working on with an intense focus for the past 18 months. We are aiming to make it available to ScriptSave WellRx members (at no cost) in stages over the course of this year. The average grocery store might carry in the region of 50,000 items, making it difficult for consumers to know which products are healthier. We’re not talking about the obvious things here, like fresh fruit and veg â€" most people have a handle on those. However, when it comes to the thousands of packaged goods (generally scattered all over the center section of the store), often times it can be far too overwhelming for people to find the right and best products based on their health. For those consumers with health conditions like diabetes or heart disease, compiling the ‘right’ grocery list can make a huge difference to quality of life. However, knowing where to start or figuring it out in a hurry can be a huge barrier. Mother of Invention Literally! Our technology will provide personalized grocery guidance based on a person’s health. It’s like having a nutritionist with you every time you go to the grocery store. As with most mobile apps and tech platforms, the build-process for Personalized Wellness will be iterative. I’ve got our development team at ScriptSave focused on our first step at the moment â€" something we’re calling (at least for now), “My Healthy Foods.” We anticipate pushing this feature live in late June or early July, setting in place the first piece of the much bigger puzzle. We operate in the healthcare space (specifically, retail pharmacy and prescription medications) and, as such, the focus for “My Healthy Foods” is more than just pushing out healthy eating tips. It starts by identifying the individual’s health condition or disease state, and then helps align grocery purchases with those conditions and/or dietary preferences. Members who opt in and create a user profile will receive grocery guidance based on the preferences they select, including a “General Health Wellbeing” preference for members who are simply looking to shop more healthily. Moreover, where available, ScriptSave’s Personalized Wellness plug-in can deliver savings information and coupons for healthy retail grocery purchases â€" all at no cost. How it works For example, if your child is pre-diabetic and you’re buying high sugar, low nutrition cereals (the kind that most kids love, but which may not be best suited to their condition), our personalized wellness engine might steer you towards an alternative cereal that’s better suited. If there are coupons available, the app will make them available for clipping so you can save and shop the healthier choice at the same time. While there are many apps designed to help steer people towards more general eating habits, the Personalized Wellness functionality that we’re releasing to ScriptSave WellRx users will be somewhat of a first â€" providing feedback that is personalized based on specific health concerns. As a patient visiting a doctor, we get prescribed specific medications that relate to the health condition in question. Now, with ScriptSave WellRx, the same patient is able to match their food selections to their health condition as well. It’s a concept that has been attracting a lot of favorable attention from grocers and pharmacists alike. Needless to say, I’m proud to be leading the charge on this initiative, bringing female perspectives and real experiences into the technology and health realms. This guest post was authored by Jane Schmitt   Jane   is a technical product manager at ScriptSave WellRX, collaborating with cross-functional project teams to address issues and create logical and innovative solutions. She has previously worked as a project coordinator at Anchor Wave Internet Solutions and Easter Seals Blake Foundation.

Budget Essentials To Make The Most Of Your Monthly Income

Budget Essentials To Make The Most Of Your Monthly Income Heading out to work each day isn’t everyones idea of fun. But for many of us we don’t have a choice, our jobs provide a much needed income each month to live and enjoy our lives. But how do you make that money go further? We could all do with a little extra in our pockets every now and then. This is why I thought I would share with you some budget essentials to ensure you make the most of the monthly income and money you have at your fingertips. I hope these suggestions offer you some savings. Compare prices for energy providers After a rent and the food bills perhaps, our energy bills can be a huge expense we pay out each month. However, for many people, you could be paying more than you need to. Often people think that remaining loyal to a company will provide them with the best offers, but in most cases it isn’t rewarded as much as it should be. Many new customers will get better rates or costs, as they want to entice people into their brand. This is when comparing energy prices regularly could save you quite a bit each month. You may also want to consider your own usage. Try switching things off at the mains instead of leaving things on standby, or changing light bulbs to energy savings ones. Lot’s of small changes can add up to huge savings in the long term. Reduce your debt Multiple debts in different locations can be quite costly when it comes to those interest rates. It could seem that you end up paying more in interest than you do to reduce your actual debt. There are a number of things you can do but in the long term you want to aim to eradicate these debts once and for all. A great place to start would be to check your credit history and see if you can consolidates your debts into one payment. This means one interest payment and a better chance of reducing the debt. Or it might be worth considering other debt management solutions to reduce your outgoings and get you back on track. There are some great websites online and you can check out their guide for more details. Consider reducing your food bill The food bill each week can be quite costly, especially when not managed right. However, thankfully there are plenty of things you can do to keep those costs down. Consider meal planning and writing a list to ensure you don’t buy what you don’t need. You could also consider changing where you shop. Looking online to see where the best deals are or how much you can save in different supermarkets is a great way to ensure you don’t spend more than you need to. Check over your statement for rogue debits               Finally, spend some time looking over your bank statements to see if every debit is accounted for. Too often people sign up for things like gym membership or subscriptions and forget about them. But yet those debits will still be leaving your account each month. Make sure you keep tabs on what leaves your account, so you only pay for what you need to. I hope these tips help you get your budget back on track. Image credits. Main.   Debt.

How to Answer the Top 10 Interview Questions

How to Answer the Top 10 Interview Questions You can never be 100% prepared for a job interview, as theres no way know knowing exactly what your interviewer may ask you; however its highly likely that you will be asked some of the usual suspects. By giving some of the most common interview questions some thought and planning out answers, you can enter the interview feeling confident that you are can do your best and articulate some well thought out responses. Vet Tech have identified the 10 most frequently asked interview questions, which can often prove a bit of a challenge; so here are a few examples of the best way to answer them. 1) Why should I hire you? Use specific  examples to demonstrate what you can do for  them and real life examples of what you have done in previous roles that could  benefit you and your potential employer. 2) What salary do you think you deserve? Do your research before the interview to find out the average salary for someone in that sort of role. For the best chance of getting the salary that you want, aim higher than average and then negotiate. 3) Give an example of a time when you showed initiative? Think back to your time in your previous jobs and identify examples of when you took action and achieved a positive outcome from it. 4) Where do you expect to be in five years time? Try to answer this in relation to the company you are interviewing with. They dont want to hire someone who looks like theyre going to jump ship as soon as something else comes along. Be specific, rather than making generalities. 5) What other companies are you interviewing with? This is a tough one and can feel like a bit of a trick question. They probably already know that you will have been applying for other roles, so be honest and tell them that you are exploring other positions in the industry to find one that fits your skills. 6) What motivates you? Let them know how you keep yourself productive at work. This is your opportunity to stand out, as you can discuss any extra curricular activities, work experience or hobbies that you have undertaken to get where you are in your career. These will prove that you are passionate about the industry and are driven to achieve your goals. 7) How do you manage your time and prioritise tasks? Employers want staff who are organised and can manage their workload effectively, so prove that you are capable of this and explain how you have successfully achieved this in the past, for example to do lists, etc. 8) What is your biggest weakness? This is a difficult one, you dont want to highlight anything which may make your interviewer doubt your ability, however claiming you do not have any flaws can come across as arrogant. Try to choose something that was once a weakness and you have overcome or an area where there is room for improvement and you are working on. 9)  Have you ever had a bad experience with an employer? Its important not to bad mouth an ex-employer or colleagues as you never know who your interviewer might know and it doesnt reflect very positively on you. Instead, you should share how you resolve conflicts and approach issues at work. 10) Why do you think you will be successful in this job? Ahead of your interview, make a list of your skills and then match them up with those asked for in the job description. You should then elaborate on the skills that will benefit you and your employer in the role and how you will use them to excel in the job. Image Credit: Shutterstock How to Answer the Top 10 Interview Questions By: Jennifer Kumar This was the 3rd most popular blog post of 2013.  See the rest of the top 15 here. We all know that good  preparation is the key to success at interview. One aspect of this is thinking through the type of questions you are likely to be asked and having a killer answer up your sleeve. To get you started, we have compiled a list of the top 10 most common questions asked at interview and some pointers on the kind of approach you could take to answer them. 1)  Tell me about yourself Here, your ability to think on your feet is being tested with a deliberately vague and open ended question. Simply outline several of your strong points and accomplishments and don’t be disconcerted if the interviewer remains silent when you  pause.  If you get really stuck think how your best  friend would describe you! If you are relatively new to the job market, tell them about your  educational achievements. Excellent grades, academic prizes or winning a scholarship are all good qualifications. Extra-curricular  activities can also be selling points for some jobs. When you’ve run through your strong points, briefly sum them up then stop talking. If  the interviewer continues to pause,  stay silent and patiently wait for the next remark. He or she may be mulling over what you’ve said,  or be testing your reaction to stress. 2) What qualifies you for this job? Employers are looking for a fluent description of your background. To impress the interviewer with your quickness and intelligence memorise the key facts and dates on your CV, then prepare some success stories for each and drop them in casually as though they were spontaneous  thoughts. Always make your opening line your most major achievement it is often what makes the  biggest impression. 3) Why do you want to work for this organisation? Being unfamiliar with the organisation will spoil your chances with 75% of interviewers, according to one survey, so take this chance to show you have done your preparation and know the company inside and out.  You will now have the chance to demonstrate that you’ve done your research, so reply mentioning all the positive things you have found out about the organisation and its sector etc. This means you’ll have an enjoyable work environment and  stability of employment etc everything that brings out the best in you. 4) Why do you wish to leave your present job? By: Mathieu Bouchard Never say anything negative about your  present employer and don’t mention money as a motivator either. The interviewer will reason that  if you’re prepared to leave one organisation for money, you might leave his/her company if another  waved a bigger pay cheque in front of you. The safest track to take is to indicate a desire for greater  responsibility and challenge, or the opportunity to use talents you feel are under-used. Make sure  your abilities are relevant. 5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time? Replying ‘in your chair’ is dangerous! A few managers might be intrigued or  amused but many will be annoyed by your arrogance or intimidated by the fact that you may  be right. Mentioning any specific goal can be risky as it may not fit into the career path in that particular organisation, or may cause concern that you’ll be discontent  until your goal is achieved. Instead, frame your reply along these lines: I would hope that by then  my hard work and enthusiasm would have led to increased recognition and responsibility within the  organisation. 6. What sort of salary are you looking for? When you’re talking about money, never describe your salary demands as what you actually need but rather as what the job is worth. Always give a range (e.g. £40,000 to £45,000). If you’re unsure of what the job should pay give your current salary and state but money isn’t my motivation for changing jobs. Since organisations use your current salary as a guide line as a basis of what to offer remember to include bonus, annual raises if you are about to receive one etc. 7. What are your weaknesses? The best weaknesses are disguised as strengths, such as I dislike not being challenged at work. Another good approach is to mention a weakness that is irrelevent for the job or one that can be overcome with training.  Try to keep these to one weakness, explaining why you think it is a weakness and what you are doing to overcome the problem a well thought out  strategy you have developed to deal with the issue will turn this potentially  tricky question into a positive. One common variation on this question is to  ask about any problems or failures you’ve encountered in previous positions. In describing problems, pick ones you’ve solved and  describe how you overcame it. Show yourself to be a good team player by crediting co-workers for  all their contributions. To distance yourself from failure, pick one that occurred earlier in your career  when you were still learning. Don’t blame others simply explain how you analysed your mistake  and learned from it. 8. What’s the worst problem you’ve ever faced? Here the interviewer is offering you the two ways to trip yourself up: First of all, the question doesn’t confine itself to the workplace, so there is temptation to reveal a personal problem. Don’t! Restrict yourself to employment matters only. Second, you are being asked to reveal a weakness or error again. You must have a good response ready for this question, one which shows how well you reacted when everything depended on it. Always show a problem you have solved and concentrate your answer on the solution not the problem. 9. What are your strengths? Your answer should highlight the qualities that will help you succeed in this particular job. (Back up each point with something specific). Give examples and quantify how your strengths benefited your previous employers. You should also demonstrate reliability, and the ability to stick with a difficult task yet change courses rapidly when required. 10. How would you describe a typical day in  your current job? You are eager to look good but don’t make  the common mistake of exaggerating your current position. Mentioning some of the routine tasks in your day adds realism to your description and show that you don’t neglect important details such as paperwork. Put yourself in the interviewer’s place as your answer. When you’ve been doing a job for years it becomes second  nature to you, and you must be aware of all the tasks you undertake. You should spend a few days  making notes of your activities at work to regain an outsider’s perspective. Try to show that you  make good use of your time, that you plan before you begin your work and that you review your  achievements at the end of it.

7 Annoying Habits of LinkedIn Users CareerMetis.com

7 Annoying Habits of LinkedIn Users â€" CareerMetis.com https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/most-annoying-office-habits-world-bernard-marrIf only LinkedIn had an “Annoying” Button….Facebook recently unveiled its plans to start rolling out the Dislike Button , or perhaps this is a rumour. Reddit other web communities have a downvote button.I am wondering if LinkedIn should start rolling out an Annoying Button. Or even a Dislike Button.evalIf you are like most active LinkedIn users, you probably spend a good chunk of your working day on the Professional Networking Platform LinkedIn. Yes, LinkedIn is supposed to be a “Professional” network. And the habits of a few LinkedIn users are just plainly stupid and annoying.I wanted to share some Habits of LinkedIn users that drive others crazy.This post might come across as abrasive to some of my LinkedIn connections users â€" but someone has to say something. I am just echoing the sentiments of most LinkedIn users.Posting SelfiesYes, I have seen many selfies or mugshots on LinkedIn. Go to yo ur Home Page and you will see at-least three a day. And then you have 3 or 4 commenting and sharing these selfies.I have no issues with selfies, but LinkedIn is not the place. Sites like Facebook,Instagram are perfect places to upload your numerous selfies ; and I am sure you will have raving fans over there. But please for the love of your career and the sanity of other LinkedIn users â€" STOP this Habit.. now..2. Unprofessional updatesRecently I noticed on my home feed that a LinkedIn user shared a religious meme How is this helping someone advance their career or business? I commented on that post and respectfully requested them not to post such updates. I was not offended by the post “Great job opportunity for an experienced Accountant, I thought you might be a great fit for this role….”.And you noticed that along with yourself another 27 people I often, get emails from individuals whom I have never talked to â€" yet they send me a 5 page email on why their business is awe some should buy their product..I once had a guy send me his restaurant’s menu through LinkedIn. Seriously? I wonder how many of his LinkedIn connections showed up to his restaurant.6. I endorsed you, so please endorse meThe Skills section on LinkedIn is a place where you can showcase your expertise core-skills, and others Thank you very much for that. I appreciate your gesture Dear Stranger!!.Then , they turn around and send you a note asking for your to endorse all their skills. It is a the social version of “I scratch your back, so you scratch my back”. I personally find this unethical, I am uncomfortable endorsing someone I have not worked with. I feel cornered when people endorse me and then ask me to endorse them.7. Posting Links Announcements on LinkedIn PublishingRecently I read that LinkedIn Publishing now has more than 1 million writers. More than 1 million out of the total 380 Million users are now writing blogs, publishing articles,and sharing their wisdom with t he rest of the LinkedIn Ecosystem. This is great news â€" LinkedIn has truly democratized publishing.However, some users post things that do not have any value or relevance to the readers . For example, some users post an advertisement of their products. LinkedIn Publishing is not an advertorial. Give people value first.Some just post links or URLs as Long-posts. Although, I admit that the information is useful â€" the users should consider posting them as updates rather than posts.Some even post their resumes or job status on LinkedIn Publishing. I recently saw an user post that she is looking for a job. I have mentioned before that LinkedIn is a great avenue for job-hunting, however posting it on the Publishing section makes it unprofessional and even desperate.What are some other Habits of LinkedIn Users that you find annoying? Feel free to share if you found this article resourceful!!