At Inspired CVs, we are often asked about an ATS and whether or not our professional CVs will be written in a way that helps them pass through these systems. Some candidates have heard about the ATS but are still determining its significance. Hopefully, This blog will give you more information on an ATS and how we can help you get your CV through these systems.

What is an ATS?

An ATS (applicant tracking system) is software that helps to improve the recruitment process. When you apply for a job, and the employer has an ATS in place, the software will scan the CV to ensure you have the right experience and skills for the role. It will do this by using keywords from the job description. For example, if you are required to have Excel experience and have not included this on your CV, the chances are that your CV will be filtered out of the process. As you can imagine, this is frustrating if you know you have the right skills and expertise for the role.

Why do employers use an ATS?

Large organisations mainly use an ATS with a high number of vacancies. They may be receiving hundreds or even thousands of applications for each role, so the ATS allows them to quickly sift through the applications without having to do it manually. The remaining applications are those that will fit the basic criteria of the role, leaving the recruiters to go through these in more depth so they have a shortlist to invite to interview.

How to ensure your CV is ATS-ready

When we create CVs for our candidates, we always ensure they are ATS-ready. These are some ways we can help your CV pass through an ATS.

Relevant keywords

Most candidates don’t have a job they wish to apply for when they use our professional CV writing service - but they usually have a general idea. With our knowledge and experience in CV writing, we can adapt the CV to ensure it covers the main elements of the roles you will be applying for. Of course, you can always make minor tweaks when applying for roles to help improve your success.

Common job titles

Job titles come in all shapes and sizes, and with our professional CV service, we will adapt your job title to ensure it fits with the most common that an ATS will recognise. For example, if you are a ‘sanitation worker,’ we may change this to ‘cleaner’ to reflect a title the ATS will understand.

Clear design and layout

A clear design and layout of your CV are important both for aesthetic reasons and functionality. If your CV is not clearly laid out, the ATS may not be able to pick out the keywords it needs, and therefore, you may fail to pass through the system.

What else do you need to know

Although it is vital to ensure your CV passes through the ATS, we also write the CV in a way that ensures it relates to humans. After all, a human will always look at the CV at some point during recruitment.

If you need a professional CV, contact us to learn more about our services. Alternatively, you can order your CV here.

Your success in landing a job is not just about the skills and experience you offer, but also you as a person - your characteristics. Employers want to be confident you can do the job, but they also want to ensure you will work well within your team. As such, there are some personal qualities that are valued by employers and will help you make a good impression. You can highlight these personal qualities throughout your CV and ensure they stand out to a potential employer. These are some personal qualities employers look for when making hiring decisions.

Proactive

The employer wants to be sure that you are proactive and you can reflect this quality in your CV and during an interview. Someone proactive will present ideas to improve their success in the role; they won’t just wait for instructions. A proactive person will also ask questions when they don’t know the answer. You won’t just follow a tick-box exercise; you will be focused on continuous improvement, both professionally and personally. One way to show this in your CV and an interview is to provide examples of when you have gone above and beyond in your role. Also, showing a genuine interest in the role and the company will give the employer a positive impression of your ability to be proactive.

Supportive

Employers want to recruit people into the business who will support their colleagues. You can show your willingness to undertake duties outside your day-to-day job and provide examples of when you have helped your colleagues. It is particularly important for small businesses that need everyone to work together towards a common goal, regardless of their role within the company. They can’t afford to hire people who won’t be willing to help out their colleagues when required.

Positive Attitude

Attitudes are infectious, especially in the workplace, and it only takes one negative person to affect the entire business. Using positive language throughout your CV and during your interview will show the kind of positive person you are. People are naturally attracted to others with a positive disposition, and consequently, this can lead to increased productivity in a business and overall greater success.

Calm

Things change within a business, and employers want to recruit people with a calm demeanour and the ability to work under pressure. Adaptability is an important personal skill for any business, as is staying calm in the face of adversity.

Professional

Employers also value the ability to handle situations professionally, including challenges within the business. They expect you to be able to liaise with clients in a professional manner. Reliability is also imperative for any employer.

It is important to showcase your personal qualities on your CV, and at Inspired CVs, we can help you achieve this through our professional CV writing services. You can contact us to find out more or order your CV directly here.

If you were fired from your previous job, you might be worried about how to approach this during an impending interview. It might make you feel uncomfortable, as it does with most people, but you can approach this in a positive way - no matter the reasons for the termination. This blog will discuss how to deal with awkward interview questions when you have been fired from a previous role.

Reasons for Being Fired

Many different reasons can result in the termination of your contract, including:

• Unable to meet the requirements of the role
• Poor attendance/sickness
• Not fitting with the culture
• Negative attitude
• Gross misconduct

Honesty is the Best Policy

Regardless of why you were let go from your job, it will help if you are upfront and honest with the interviewer. These things can get out anyway, so it is better to be upfront. They will appreciate honesty and may see this as a sign of integrity and strength. Explain the situation and what led to you being let go. You don’t need to go into detail, but stating the essential facts is important.

Positive Spin

It can be easy to let negativity get the better of you when explaining why you were let go, but this won’t make a good impression on the interviewer. Instead, keep the conversation positive and resist the temptation to berate your previous employer. 

Explain Progress

“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” as they say - which is vital when discussing your termination during an interview. The termination might have been challenging, but you can explain what you learned from the experience and accept your own mistakes. People who take responsibility for mistakes are thought of much more highly than those who never take responsibility.

Example Responses during Interview

“After some time, we realised that my skill set was not right for the role, and they could not offer sufficient training. However, I liked the company and have since undertaken my own training to update my skillset.”

“We mutually decided that the culture wasn’t the best fit for me to be the best I could be in my role. Although I liked the people and the job, the company was very formal, and I prefer a more relaxed working environment.”

“Unfortunately, circumstances in my family resulted in many absences, which I understood was not sustainable. These circumstances are no longer an issue and will not affect future employment.”

If you are looking for a new job or career change, the first stage is to ensure you have a professional CV. At Inspired CVs, we provide high-quality CV writing services. You can buy your CV here or contact us to find out more.

Transferable skills are skills that can be transferred to another career or even multiple careers. As opposed to technical abilities that may be job-specific, your transferable skills can be carried around with you to a range of different roles. This blog will discuss transferable skills and how they can be used on your CV when looking for a career change.

Examples of Transferable Skills

If you want to change your career, you should focus on how you can use the skills you have accumulated throughout your career, especially if you need training on the technical side of things. These are some examples of transferable skills and how you might use them in your CV.

Customer Service

You may want to move from a call centre role to a role within retail. You may have no experience within the retail sector or dealing with customers face-to-face, so this is where your transferable skills come into play. For example, you have dealt with customer queries and complaints and may have been responsible for upselling products. These are all skills you can mention on your CV as transferable skills for a role within retail.

Teamwork

There are many roles where working as part of a team is integral to the role. If you decide to move from a freelancer to a permanent role, for example, you might be concerned that an employer will disregard you as they feel you won’t be able to work as part of a team. However, you can highlight transferable skills on your CV by discussing working with different departments remotely, juggling a number of clients, being part of team calls, etc.

Management

Regardless of the industry, the skills required in management are fundamentally the same. As a manager, you manage a range of personalities, manage a workload, and delegate responsibilities. Your key responsibilities are generally the same and should be highlighted on your CV.

Initiative 

Suppose you are changing careers to a role where you fundamentally manage your workload and schedule—from working as a school teacher to counselling adults. The role will be different, but you can highlight your ability to work on your initiative and manage your workload.

What to do next

It is a good idea to write down and list the essential skills you have developed throughout your career and the skills you will need in your next job. You can then understand the transferable skills you have and identify the skills you don’t have. You may be able to undertake a training course to help you gain those skills while you are applying for new jobs. Doing this will show employers you have transferable skills and undertake training to help you achieve the necessary skills.

At Inspired CVs, we can provide a professional CV that can help you make your career change. Our writers offer CV writing services to clients throughout the globe. If you’d like to make a career change, need assistance, or need a CV refresh, you can order your CV here or contact us to learn more.

Feeling anxious and apprehensive on your first day at a new job is perfectly natural. After all, you are going into the completely unknown. The first day sets the tone for how you will get on for the rest of your work tenure, and therefore, it is important to make a great first impression. Here are some ways to ensure you make a good impression at work.

Dress Professionally

You should dress professionally on your first day and wear an outfit that is in accordance with the company's rules. If you are going into a construction job, you wouldn't be expected to wear a suit on your first day, for instance. However, you should still ensure you are well turned out. The way you dress and project yourself says a lot about the respect you have for yourself, and this can help you make a strong impression on your first day at work.

Be Punctual

Aim to turn up 10 minutes before you are due to start on your first day. Good punctuation will set you on the right foot. If you are late on your first day, your manager may be concerned that this is a sign of things to come during your employment. If you are unsure of the exact location of where you are going on your first day, run a test before your start date to avoid mishaps.

Smile 

If nerves get the better of you on your first day, you may end up coming across as a little rude. When we are nervous, we tend not to smile and can be easily distracted. Try to be mindful of how you are coming across to people, smile, be friendly, and try to remember names. Sometimes, a first impression can be difficult to change. If someone initiates a conversation with you, converse back and show interest in them.

Socialise

If you suffer from anxiety, the thought of going for lunch with a bunch of strangers probably feels crippling. However, if you start off by rejecting offers to go for lunch with your colleagues, it will set you on the wrong foot at work. Once you are settled, you can do your own thing, but at least for the first day, show that you are willing to get to know your team.

Listen

The first day is more about listening and taking in information than doing work. It is unlikely that you will do any work on your first day. Try to absorb as much as possible, and show that you are actively listening. When nerves take over, it can be easy to get side tracked and forget to listen, especially with the volume of information you are given on your first day.

Observe Culture

Every workplace has its culture, and observing that on your first day at work is essential. You will get a good understanding of your colleagues' behaviours so you can replicate them to fit in with the culture. Of course, this can take a while to fully understand, but showing your interest in fitting in with the culture will help make your first day successful and enable you to make a good first impression.

If you are looking for a job and need a professional CV, we can help with our CV writing services in Glasgow. You can order your CV here or contact us to arrange a consultation.

Managing your workload effectively is critical to performing effectively at work. It can also help you manage your stress levels, and according to Statista, approximately 875,000 people in the UK suffer from work-related stress. If you have a heavy workload, it may feel impossible to manage it effectively, but there are steps you can take to do so. These are some tips to help.

Prioritise Tasks

The first step is to understand your workload and categorise your tasks into urgent and non-urgent. Start with your most urgent tasks and make them a priority. You can then label them in order of urgency. A large workload can seem more daunting if you have people chasing you all the time. Prioritising tasks can make your workload more manageable.

Delegate Where Possible

If you have a high workload, be realistic about what you can and can’t do. There is no point in burning yourself out if you can get some help—delegate, where possible, to your team members who can take on more work. 

Break Tasks into Steps

The next step is to break your tasks into steps. For instance, if your task is to create a social media campaign, your steps include setting up social media accounts, creating content, and compiling a schedule. You can also have deadlines to keep you on track and it will make even the most daunting tasks manageable.

Create a Routine

It is also essential to have a routine in place to keep you on track and motivated, especially if you are working remotely. There is nothing productive about working eight hours straight, as you’re more likely to end up in burnout. Your routine will include breaks, personal activities, etc. It is crucial to take regular breaks to manage your workload effectively.

Reach Out for Help

Reaching out for help is better than feeling overloaded with your workload. If you need assistance, don’t feel you can’t reach out.

If you are looking for a new job or a career change and need a new professional CV, we have experienced UK writers who will help enhance your experience and skills through our CV writing services. You can order your new CV today or contact us, and we will contact you to discuss your options.

Commission-only jobs are common within the sales industry, including recruitment, which means you are paid for what you sell rather than receiving a guaranteed income. For instance, in recruitment, you would be paid a commission based on the candidates you recruit for jobs, and for other sales roles, it may be based on products or services you sell. There are pros and cons of working on commission, and in this blog, we will delve into these so you know if a commission-only job is right for you.

Pros of Commission Work

If you have been offered a commission-only job, your first instinct may be to reject it. After all, you are not guaranteed an income. However, it is worth a few considerations. For example, are you experienced and have an excellent sales track record within the sector? Are the commission levels high enough to match your lifestyle? Before you even consider it, understand if it is feasible for you. Here are some of the pros of working on commission.

Motivational

If you thrive on working towards big goals, a commission-only role may be the right choice for you. The ability to work harder and earn more is an appealing prospect for many workers.

Higher Income

When you receive a standard pay package each month, there may be only one option to earn more unless you receive bonuses. Commission-only roles are usually much higher paid than other roles where a commission may be part of the overall package. If you are incentivised by money, a commission-only role can be a good option.

Flexibility

A commission-only role will offer you much greater flexibility. You will be able to work the hours you want and that you find to be most successful. For instance, you may prefer to get started early and finish early, or you may prefer to work in the evenings. The 9-5 schedule is only suited to some, so this can be a good alternative.

Cons of Commission Work

Although there are many advantages to working commission-only, there are also downsides to working on this kind of contract. These are some of the potential disadvantages.

Lack of Security

Working on commission can be risky, both in terms of job security and money security. Although there is a good earning potential, it is not guaranteed, which can make people feel uneasy about working in this manner.

Longer Hours

To earn a decent commission, you are likely to work much longer hours than you would with a regular 9-5 role. Longer hours suit some but not others, depending on how much time you will put into your working day. However, there is the bonus of working more and earning more.

No Holidays or Sick Pay

With commission-only roles, you will not receive holiday pay or sick pay. Quite simply, if you don’t work, you don’t get paid. It is one of the most significant constraints associated with working only on commission.

Whether you apply for a commission-only job or an alternative, you need a professional CV. Our professional CV services in Glasgow will help ensure you have the best chance of success when applying for a new job. You can order a CV directly here or contact us to learn more.

The HR industry has grown over the years, with a 42% increase between 2011 and 2021, which compares to only 10% for the general workforce. As a career, there are lot of options for progression. For example, you would usually start your career as an HR administrator, you can then move to an HR generalist role. You can then progress to an HR advisor and HR business partner. You may also decide to move into a more recruitment centered role. If you want to start a career in HR without experience, there are many options.

HR Qualification

If you have no experience in HR, one of the best options is to obtain an HR qualification. You can either do this at University, college or even find a course you can complete at home, such as those available from ICS Learn. An HR qualification will not only give you a good base of knowledge to kick start your HR career, but it will also show potential employers that you are serious about a career in HR.

Foot in the Door

Another approach to finding a job in HR without experience is to target companies that have a large HR function and get your foot in the door, even if it’s not in an HR role. Once you are hired into a company, it can be much easier to progress into different roles. For instance, a general admin role, receptionist, customer service or similar. You can then keep your eye out for HR roles or make it known that you are interested in eventually progressing into such a role.

Tailor CV

There is a high chance that you already have skills that are relevant to a role within HR. The key is to ensure you have a CV that is tailored to HR roles. You can use professional CV writing services to ensure your CV passes through an Applicant Tracking System for those roles you wish to apply for. The recruiter should be able to pull out some key information that makes you relevant to the role, even if you have no direct HR experience.

Increase HR Network

It is also worth linking up with people that might be able to help you find a role within HR. For instance, you could connect with relevant HR Managers/Directors on LinkedIn or join HR networking groups. If you reach out and let them know you are available for HR work, you never know what could happen!

If you need a CV that highlights your transferable HR skills, we can help at Inspired CVs, with our professional CV writing services in Glasgow.. You can order your professional CV here or contact us to learn more about our CV writing services.