One of my pet hates when helping clients in their job search is the distinct lack of transparency regarding salaries.  Job advertisements invariably invite you to click the "Apply Now" button and you're expected to upload a targeted CV, cover letter and perhaps answer detailed competency questions - all before you even know whether the job is in your salary range.

Another of my pet hates is when employers ask you to specify your salary expectations.  Why?  Is it so that they can save money if your expectation is lower than theirs?

To compound it further, candidates then expend considerable effort preparing for interviews where they are still kept in the dark on salary level.  Certainly in the UK, it's not considered de rigueur to raise the important issue of salary during the first interview; it's something you discuss at second interview or, worse, you wait until they make an offer.  So you could go to a huge amount of time and effort only to learn, ultimately, that the salary is not even in your ball park.

In my opinion, this lack of transparency contributes to pay inequality - especially since there is a general consensus that women often underestimate their value and ask for less than men. 

So, instead of the government pushing for audits to establish disparities in remuneration, why don't they push for transparency in job advertisements with salary levels being disclosed at all levels?  If they could just do this simple thing, which would take no effort at all, it would save candidates, recruiters and employers from wasting time reviewing applications and conducting interviews when they're all on different pages anyway.

Salary transparency... let's have more of it please.

Barbara Patrick, Professional CV Writer and Career Coach
Compelling CVs, Berkshire, UK

To set up a call, please email: mail @ compellingcvs.co.uk

Always happy to talk.

In today's madly competitive job market, it's a great achievement to secure an interview, but sadly you've only just cleared the first hurdle.  Now you have to shine at the interview and perhaps at 2nd and 3rd stage interviews, depending on the role and how thorough the recruitment process is.

If you asked for our 3 top tips for interview success the answer would be very simple...  Prepare, Prepare, Prepare!

Interviews are a two-way process.  Not only is the employer assessing you, but you are assessing them too!  So use the interview to glean as much information as possible.

• Read the company's website and their annual report.
• Read up on their marketplace and competition.
• Read the job description thoroughly.
• Use this information to generate informed conversation and to prepare some interesting questions to ask at interview.
• Stay off the alcohol the night before, and have a good night's sleep.
• Make sure you know EXACTLY where you are going for the interview.  Allow plenty of time.  Don't arrive late, but don't arrive too early either.
• Take a copy of your CV with you and don't be afraid to refer to it if you need to check dates, etc. It's worth taking a spare for the interviewer too.
• Take the job description and any other information with you. Read it en route and make a note of any questions you would like to ask.
• You may be asked to produce ID - passport or driver's licence.
  
• If you've been asked for any other documentation (qualification certificates, etc), remember to take them with you in a clean folder.
  
• Don't be afraid to take notes during the interview.
• Don't be negative about your present or past employers.
  
• If you are a smoker, don't smoke before-hand, however nervous you may feel. All business premises are non-smoking nowadays, and you will carry the smell of cigarettes into the interview with you - not attractive.
• Make sure you are presentable.  That includes hair, teeth, shoes, fingernails.  People notice the smallest things and you don't want to be remembered as the candidate with dirty fingernails.
• Turn off your mobile phone before you enter the business premises, and don't turn it back on again until you are well out of earshot.
• Stand up when you greet the interviewer and give a firm hand shake - not too limp and not too bone-crunching either.
• If you're offered a drink, stick to water.  Avoid coffee and biscuits - less potential for making a mess.
  
• Position yourself comfortably on the chair, not on the edge. Sit up straight and stay focussed.  Make lots of eye contact, but not so much that you freak out the interviewer! 
  
• Make sure you answer the actual questions.  Listen carefully, consider the question and then answer it directly and concisely.  Try not to answer "yes" or "no".  Expand a little, but don't waffle.  If you don't know the answer, don't lie; perhaps admit that you haven't come across that before but you'd be interested in learning more about it.
• Try to establish a rapport with the interviewer but don't be over-familiar; keep it professional.
• Be nice to the receptionist and/or secretary. They play a very important role within the company and could become your greatest ally.

We could give you many more interview tips but at the end of the day, the interview is a sales pitch.  You are selling yourself.  If the interviewer doesn't like what they see and hear, they won't buy.  It's as simple as that.

Interview preparation is key so remember our three top tips...  Prepare, Prepare, Prepare.

Good luck!

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We recently conducted some video-interview skills training for a client, in preparation for a video-interview for a graduate training programme in London.

Video interviews are becoming increasing common as recruiters and hirers begin to recognise their value and convenience - especially during the early stages of the selection process.  They are especially useful where distance is a problem, for example where candidates are overseas.

Basically, video interviews are conducted via the candidate's own computer and webcam. Recruiters use specialised software into which any range of interview questions can be programmed, together with with variable timings for questions and answers. Each candidate is sent a link to the video interview with a specific time window during which they can log in and complete the video interview. 

When the interview starts, the candidate will see the first question on the screen.  The video recording commences and the candidate gives their response into the webcam.  Response time permitted for each question may vary and will be limited by the software programming.  Some questions might allow just 1 minute to answer, others 90 seconds or 2 minutes.  The recruiter decides.

The process repeats for each question.

Candidates should treat video interviews as they would any other formal interview, and should consider the following:

• The video interview should take place in private - away from interruptions from family, friends, pets or any other noise or disturbances.