Job Application Tips for UK

Since January 2023, Adrienn Prezenszki has been part of the Sartorius team in Royston, UK, as a Talent Acquisition Specialist. She's responsible for finding the right people to fill open positions at local sites. Her "secret tip" for a successful job application? A well-written and structured CV, because that's the key in the application process.

_{^{This article is posted on Sartorius Blog.}}

Adrienn, a well written CV is really important. What is the best way to structure and which information must be included?

The best way to structure a CV is to break it down into sections. It can be difficult to think about what to include in your CV and it is important to strike a balance in providing the key information while fitting it into two or three pages at most. It can be a good idea when considering specific roles to tailor your CV to the given position, so you may have two or three different versions of your CV, however the information still needs to be accurate about the skills you have to offer when you apply.

Start with the introduction:

This can be two or three sentences describing who you are as a person, what position you are looking for next, and a summary of your experience. Perhaps a sentence about transferable skills if you are looking for a career change.

Key Achievements:

This section can include results you have achieved over the years in a particular role and highlight the difference you have made within the organization and your role. Aim to be as specific as possible when it comes to examples.

Career History/Work Experience:

This must include each role you held at different organizations, with clear dates. Highlight sufficient information about the responsibilities and duties of your position and point out particularly these that might be beneficial for the advertised position. Here, you can underline specific skills you used in each role to show your capabilities.

Education/Training:

Include any qualifications, trainings, and certificates you have received that are relevant for the position you are applying for. It is also important to consider the type of industry you work in when considering what other information can be useful to show on your CV that could be considered a benefit for the role you are applying to. You may need to include industry-specific information. For example, if you are a graduate with a scientific degree, you may want to include your research projects and laboratory techniques you are skilled in. If you are a software developer, include all the programming languages you have experience with.

It can be a good idea when considering specific roles to tailor your CV to the given position, so you may have two or three different versions of your CV.

Adrienn Prezenszki, Talent Acquisition Specialist, Royston, UK

What about career gaps?

I believe there’s no harm including a sentence on the reasons for taking a career break or more so what you have been doing during this time (i.e.: traveling, discovering a new path, home renovation etc.). It is very likely that the question would be asked in an interview scenario to understand the bigger picture. If the break was for personal reasons, you may want to share this in an interview scenario rather than on CV.

What questions should candidates prepare for in the job interview?

You will generally be asked about your work and educational experience and what motivates you for this opportunity. Example questions: What achievements are you proud of in your most recent position? What did you most enjoy most about your studies? What led you to apply for this position at this company?

Ideally, you should also prepare for competency-based and behavioral questions. These questions allow you to elaborate on your experience and demonstrate your skills. Aim to think of specific examples from your career for these questions. The STAR method can be helpful in answering these questions, by giving structure to your answers. STAR stands for – Situation, Time, Action, and Result. Example questions: Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult situation and how you communicated this. How do you handle conflict? How do you prioritize your work?

You will be asked specific job-related questions to demonstrate that you meet the expectations of the position. Questions about your strengths and weaknesses that require you to think about how to answer.

What are the absolute no-nos in a job interview?

There’s a quick answer to this: Canceling the interview at the last minute or not turning up for the interview. Not being prepared, such as not having done your research on the company or its products. And finally, speaking negatively about your previous employer.

Find All Job Vacancies in the UK and Apply Today