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5 ways you can use power words to make your job application pop
For job-seekers
3 Dec 2021
There’s no silver bullet to land the job you want, but power words might be the closest thing. They are specific words and phrases that signal to an employer that you’re on their wavelength.
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Third sector careers: 5 tips for first-time applicants to the charity sector
For job-seekers
22 Oct 2021
Whether you're hoping to land a graduate role in an international organisation or find work in a local charity, competition for paid employment in the sector is fierce.
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How to respond to the ‘Talk me through your CV’ interview question
For job-seekers
17 Sep 2021
When interviewers ask you to talk them through your CV, they’re looking to quickly learn about your work history as well as your ability to communicate your individual story as it relates to the job you’re interviewing for.
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5 tips for working from home with your partner
For job-seekers
20 Jul 2021
Learning to work alongside our partners might have started as something of a novelty, but it rapidly presented some significant and enduring challenges. 
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7 ways to tell if an interview went well
For job-seekers
21 Jun 2021
The post-interview analysis can be as stressful as the event itself. Fortunately, there are a few clues that could indicate whether you've got this in the bag...
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4 ways to use Pinterest to help your job search
For job-seekers
24 May 2021
Pinterest is a social bookmarking site which allows users to save images, links, videos and files – like a virtual pinboard. Here's how we think you can use the platform to help refine and support your job search. 
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The rise of the fake job advert and how to spot one
For job-seekers
26 Apr 2021
Fake job adverts are on the rise, with Action Fraud reporting an increase of 300% in the past two years. It is useful as a candidate to be aware of the issue and how you can protect yourself and your personal data.
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5 red flags to look out for in job adverts
For job-seekers
29 Mar 2021
Most of us don't pay enough attention to job adverts, which only leads to disappointment down the line, either when you get a rejection or end up in a mis-sold position. Here are five of the biggest red flags to look out for.
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5 books that will help you with your job search
For job-seekers
1 Mar 2021
Aside from plumping up your CV with new skills, we think having a deeper understanding of your professional direction and greater clarity on your route to success is pretty fundamental too. Here are our favourite five books in mastering the art of finding the right job.
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How to write a great professional email
For job-seekers
1 Feb 2021
Whether you're looking for work, hoping to extend your professional network or trying to make a good impression in your current role, it's an essential skill in the digital age to be able to compose a succinct and effective email.
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5 questions to answer honestly about your job search in the New Year
For job-seekers
2 Jan 2021
Draw a big, fat line under 2020 and start your job search from scratch using these questions as a guide.
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Imposter syndrome: 5 ways to get over feeling like a fraud at work
For job-seekers
7 Dec 2020
Imposter syndrome can become particularly acute when you're job searching; questioning your qualifications, achievements, skills and abilities in relation to a job advert or person specification. So what can you do about it?
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Our favourite local, independent outlets for your Christmas shopping this year
For job-seekers
23 Nov 2020
As a small, independent business in Ripley, we are throwing our support behind our community at a particularly tough time for retail. We asked our families, friends, candidates, clients and networks to recommend some of their favourite places to 'shop small and shop local'.
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7 body language tips for your next interview
For job-seekers
9 Nov 2020
There are some simple ways we can convey the right messages in our non-verbal communication. Here are our top tips for your next job interview.
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Our graduate guide to job searching
For job-seekers
12 Oct 2020
We’ve been sharing a lot of advice and resources with recent graduates on the best way to approach their job hunt, so we thought it might be helpful to curate it all into a comprehensive guide for graduates.
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7 great questions to ask the panel in your job interview
For job-seekers
11 Sep 2020
Whilst most of us understandably focus our interview preparation on anticipating what we might be asked, it is so important to give some serious thought to what you want to know about them too. Here are a few of our favourite questions for an interview panel.
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5 things to check before you sign a new employment contract
For job-seekers
12 Aug 2020
We think these are the five most important things to check in your employment contract.
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How to apply for jobs that are above your experience level
For job-seekers
15 Jul 2020
This is about those all too common instances when a role seems just a stretch too far from our current position, so we simply rule it out and move on. But what if you went for it?
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The 5 key ingredients of your ideal job (Spoiler: They’re probably not what you’re expecting)
For job-seekers
19 Jun 2020
Park the ‘passion equals profession’ philosophy to job hunting for a moment, and take a look at these five ingredients for a refreshing ‘profession equals passion’ approach to finding your ideal job.
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A sneak peek behind the scenes at some of our lockdown adventures!
For job-seekers
22 May 2020
We thought it might be nice to share some of what we’ve been up to during these very unusual times with you too.
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Learning new skills to boost your CV during lockdown
For job-seekers
24 Apr 2020
There are plenty of ways you can power up your CV during lockdown so when the job market starts to pick up again you’ve got a whole new set of qualifications and skills to bring to the table.
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Looking for a job during COVID-19: A practical guide
For job-seekers
31 Mar 2020
There’s no doubt these are strange and troubling times, especially when it comes to our working lives. But the fact of the matter is that the majority of businesses need to continue because, quite simply, there is work to be...
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What to do if you dread going to work
For job-seekers
4 Mar 2020
Sharing some strategies for keeping the work dread at bay.
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Five ways to move on from a job rejection
For job-seekers
5 Feb 2020
We thought we’d share some of the best ways to deal with a job rejection so you can come back fighting for the next round.
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The top 5 things you can do to stick a rocket under your job search in 2020
For job-seekers
8 Jan 2020
You’ve polished off all the mince pies, wedged a small forest of wrapping paper into the recycling bin and slowly recovered from your extended festive hangover. As we settle back into those familiar daily routines after the Christmas break (a few pounds heavier and a few...
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To do, to leave and to frog (yes, you read that right): The three lists you need to make this week
For job-seekers
17 Dec 2019
If you’re anything like us, your inbox and social feeds are starting to fill up with advice on making New Year’s resolutions and how to plan for 2020. It can all be a bit overwhelming and demoralising – especially if you have a track record of making...
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Our guide to buying the best office Secret Santa present of 2019
For job-seekers
17 Dec 2019
It’s the first week of December. Sue from accounts has started playing Mariah Carey on repeat, John from legal has volunteered to organise the company do (because he plays in a terrible band that no-one likes - who will be headlining the event), Jane from admin has sent...
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Three reasons you should research a company’s CSR before you apply for a job
For job-seekers
20 Nov 2019
Before you apply for a job, you’ll probably do a bit of research on the company and find out what it’s like to work for them. But how often do you specifically look at their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) policy? We think it’s one of the best ways to get under the skin...
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How to get your job application noticed by an agency: Hints and tips from the Amber team
For job-seekers
1 Nov 2019
Researching and applying for jobs can be a gruelling and time-consuming process, and it’s often quite demoralising too. We thought it might be helpful to hear directly from our experienced consultants on what makes a candidate stand out to them. Nicola, Nicky and Bethany are...
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Beyond the job description: Six differences between large and small companies
For job-seekers
21 Oct 2019
When we’re looking for a new job, most of us will thoroughly read the job description and try to get a solid understanding of the duties and responsibilities of the role. We might also look up what the company does to see if it sounds interesting. But asking questions about...
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Six phone interview tips to get you through to the next round
For job-seekers
8 Oct 2019
Phone or video interviews are often used as a way of screening applicants for a role, helping to narrow down the number invited for an in-person meeting. They can also be useful when applicants are out of town during the interview period, or when recruiting to remote working
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How important is a degree to your career?
For job-seekers
25 Sep 2019
This is a subject that we're often asked about, and one that tends to stir up quite a heated debate! You can't argue that some jobs require a very specific, standardised set of qualifications to be able to perform in the role - doctors, lawyers, architects, engineers, vets,
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How to beat the September blues
For job-seekers
11 Sep 2019
Typically, we associate January with feelings of gloom and anxiety. It makes sense – Christmas is over, the routine of work is back with a vengeance, it’s cold and dark, we have no money and another long year looms ahead. But it’s surprisingly September that has the biggest
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Using social media in your job search
For job-seekers
28 Aug 2019
Love it or hate it, social media is firmly and unapologetically front and centre in UK culture. But aside from it being somewhere to share things with friends and family, it genuinely has the power to make or break your job search. If you’re only using social media to share photo
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The million-pound question: Which career is right for me?
For job-seekers
13 Aug 2019
Asking ‘Which job is right for me?’ is a daunting question for many of us – it’s one of the most important decisions we have to make, but one that we often feel quite alone and unsupported trying to explore.
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Dress codes: Deciding what to wear to work
For job-seekers
2 Aug 2019
What we wear is one of the first things people notice, and we're subconsciously judged on our appearance almost immediately. Whether your company has a formal dress code or not, deciding what to wear to work is a common preoccupation for most British workers.
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Mind the gap: How to explain gaps in your CV
For job-seekers
17 Jul 2019
Justifying gaps in your employment history is one of the biggest concerns we’re asked about when we’re supporting a person’s job search. There may be any number of reasons why people leave one role and have a gap, of however long, before starting another – from study leave
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How recruitment agencies work - and how to make them work for you
For job-seekers
3 Jul 2019
Our job is often a major part of our identity; reflecting and amplifying our personality, values, goals and lifestyle. It’s why ‘So what do you do?’ is one of the first questions we ask when meeting new people. Many people will spend more waking time in the office than at home
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Four steps to launching and loving a portfolio career
For job-seekers
17 Jun 2019
It might sound counterintuitive if you’re feeling unfulfilled at work to consider taking on an additional job, but that’s exactly what people are doing in their droves to improve their professional satisfaction. We’re meeting more people who are holding down a full or part-time
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Logging out and jetting off: How to leave the office behind and enjoy your holiday
For job-seekers
5 Jun 2019
You’ve booked your flights, packed your sun cream and gleefully set your ‘Out of Office’, but how well are you able to truly switch off when you’re on holiday? In a culture of digital accessibility with the expectation of a rapid response, most of us feel the pressure
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