The pandemic has certainly changed how people are job hunting, but how have they changed. 

Pre-Covid, employment gaps were often questioned but now employers are no longer as concerned that you took time off to look after your children, care for a loved one or lost your job, no matter when it happened.  So rather than trying to hide that gap, just say why you were not working. 

Covering letters mean so much more now, with some surveys suggesting 48% more covering letters are read post-Covid.  Before writing your covering letter, research the company and explain why you are the best fit for the position and include keywords from the job advertisement.

 Many interviews are still being conducted via video call, so if you are invited to a video conference interview, make sure you know how to use the software in advance and find the most suitable place to do the call.  You still need to make an impression so still wear your suit or smart clothes as this get you in the mood for the interview too.

In a world that is shifting online more and more every day, many people are starting to wonder, what is more important to keep up to date, your CV or LinkedIn? Job hunting can be a long and arduous process full of long hours filling in applications on top of submitting a Cover Page and CV. One tends to become quite frustrated with having gone through the process of updating their CV and have that gleaming, to then also having to fill in an application that is basically exactly what your CV has on it!

Many career consultants are now recommending that you spend more time on LinkedIn and ensuring that your profile is updated and optimised when job hunting. There really is only so much you can squeeze into a CV but with LinkedIn you can put so much more and there is always the chance that a job could come straight to you! There are loads of recruiters out there that use LinkedIn to find exactly the type of people they are looking for, instead of going through the long process of putting job vacancies out to the public.

If you are job hunting or could potentially want something new in the near future, work on optimising you LinkedIn profile and who knows, that perfect job may just come straight to you.

Many of us find it incredibly difficult to try and sell ourselves effectively through the writing of a CV. Throughout the years the manner in which to write a CV has also changed. So what areas are the most important to make an impact?

A good CV should begin with a profile or personal statement that highlights qualifications, achievements and experience that will encourage the reader to continue further. Following should be your core skill section which will give a snapshot of what you have to offer. You would then want to expand into your job experience, even in voluntary roles with bullet point details, which should also include any achievements. To finish off, a more detailed list of any education or qualifications that you have, is important to include.

Finally, it is always best to cater the CV to the company you are applying to and what particular skills they seeking. Sending a generic CV is a big mistake. CV’s do not have to be incredibly fancy in the way they look or incredibly lengthy and it is often best to keep it simple. The most important thing is that you promote your skills, knowledge and achievements.

When choosing a career or planning a career swap, one big consideration is the pay. Whilst this is not the main reason one should decide on a career, it does not hurt to know what to expect.

1. Attorney- graduate jobs in the legal sector typically have high entry-level salary and incredibly high potential salaries, on average £102,000.

2. Director of Operations- graduate jobs in operations are moderate, around £23,000 but the salary can quickly rise to an average of £100,000.

3. Marketing Director- graduate marketing jobs typically start around £23,000 with potential earnings nearer to £100,000, they average around £92,000.

4. General Practitioner- junior doctors can expect to earn an average of £27,000 and expect a potential average of £88,000 or more.

5. Geologist- a graduate typically starts around £28,000 with a potential earning of around £82,000.

6. Recruitment Consultant- due to commission, recruitment can be a lucrative career choice with graduates starting at £23,000 and possibly reaching a potential of £80,000 as a basic pay with commission added to that.

7. Creative Director- entry-level creative careers can start quite low but can potentially reach a competitive salary of around £80,000.

8. Investment Banker- starting graduate salaries are usually £27,000 and reach around £78,000 at a senior level.

9. Airline Pilot- entry-level pilots earn approximately £36,000, following a large amount of training and as a senior pilot expect an average of £64,000.

10. Data Scientist- graduate usually take home around £27,000 and can reach a potential £61,000, or more in some companies or due to seniority.