It's Not Just About The Interview...

It's shocking how many people believe that all they need to do to get a job is impress the employer on the day of the interview. Well, they couldn't be more wrong...you are selling yourself from the get go. Everything you do counts and trust me, employers notice everything. 

As a recruitment agency, we have a lot of people come and go. We see and hear a lot of things and over time, we have learnt just about everything their is to know about the recruitment process. When we created this blog, it was with you, our audience in mind. We want to help you when applying for jobs because lets face it, nobody wants to be unemployed.

So, with all of that in mind we have created a checklist for you to use throughout the application process to ensure you are the ideal candidate from the very beginning.

1. Applying online? Is your profile suitable?! - If you are applying for a vacancy through an online job board such as Reed, Jobsite or CV Library, please make sure your profile picture, username and email is suitable. No, we don't want to see you on a night out with your friends...and no, we don't want to see your hungover bedroom selfie. Will we be getting back to cheekygal01 ...no, we definitely won't be. We also won't be sending any emails to badboi@email.com. Seriously - keep it professional.

2. Is your CV up to date? - So you have to submit a CV. Is it up to date? Have you included all of your positions and a small description of your job roles? Are your contact details up to date?! Don't end up embarrassed and red faced in front of the employer because you've not updated your CV for the last five years and you no longer work for a corporate company but are unemployed. Dig out your 'CV writing cap' and UPDATE IT! Check out our blog post from the 12th August for more tips and advice!

3. Make sure you know what job you are applying for! - There is nothing worse than getting a call from an employer offering you an interview and not being able to remember which job its for. When applying, take down the job role, a contact number, the company name and the closing date. This way you'll have a rough idea who is calling and it won't leave you sounding confused and dazed over the phone.

4. Have you looked in the mirror? - Maybe you are applying for a job through an agency? If so, nine times out of ten they will require you to come in for an initial screening. You should treat this as an informal interview. Make sure you dress smart and present yourself well. Believe it or not, personal hygiene and appearance is important!! If you aren't using an agency, you will go straight to an interview with the potential employer. This leaves little room for error. First impressions are everything! Looking good will not only go down well with the employer, but it will make you feel more confident..it's a win win situation!

5. Are you available? - Stuck in a dead end job? Started applying for other jobs on a whim? Well, here at City Resource, we are all for finding someone a job that makes them happy! However, if you are applying for jobs whilst still at work, make sure you actually have the time to commit to interviews etc. There is nothing worse than giving someone a call wanting to offer them an interview to find out they don't have the time of day. If you don't have the time then please don't waste ours. Don't start applying for jobs unless you are fully committed.

Sounds pretty simple right? That's because it is! By bearing these five simple tips in mind when applying for jobs, you'll be the most desirable candidate out there. So, what are you waiting for? You have the materials, start making the product!

Job Of The Week - Reach Truck & Counterbalance Drivers

We are looking for Reach Truck and Counterbalance Drivers to work for our client in Peterborough. 

A minimum of six months experience is essential. 

Various shifts are available with pay standing at £7.50 to £8.75 an hour. 

You will be working in a cold environment. 

This is a temporary position but can lead to a permanent role for the right candidate. 

A Reach Truck and/or Counterbalance license is also essential. 

If this sounds like something you could do then call us on 01733 344382 to speak to one of our Industrial Consultants. 

We no wot were talking about...do u?

As recruiters, we have seen our fair share of poorly written CV's, cover letters and applications. One thing is for sure, it's very off putting. When applying for any job, you are effectively trying to sell yourself. You are convincing the potential employer that you are the best candidate for the job. Don't ruin that with a handful of spelling and punctuation mistakes.

To make sure you are going to stand the best possible chance of getting your dream job, we have put together a list of commonly made mistakes and how you can rectify them. So, when you land your dream job thanks to your outstanding CV...you can thank us later!

Wen something is wrote incorrectley it is hard to read, yes? More often than not it can put ppl of reading it. U dont have to be a spelling wiz to know tht this paragraf is not readable. So, ask urselv...do u prof read everything u rite? Should u? The answer is yes.

➳ Chances are, if you give your potential employer a cover letter, CV or application that they can't read, they won't bother. If you know that you aren't the best at spelling or grammar, then ask a family member or friend who you trust, don't leave it to chance!

THERE IS NO NEED TO TYPE EVERYTHING IN CAPITAL LETTERS. YOU ARE NOT SHOUTING, THEREFORE DON'T MAKE IT LOOK LIKE IT.

➳ Using capital letters for names, places and at the start of a sentence is appropriate. Using capital letters to type full words or putting them randomly in is not. Some applications may require you to write in capital (or block) letters however, if they don't specifically ask for it then don't do it! Using only capital letters can make your application look very messy and rushed not to mention it looks like you are screaming!

Not everything needs to be bold or italic. 

➳ We recommend using a bold font for your name, contact details and job titles. You don't need to use it when talking about your hobbies or job role. Bold font should be for important things only..not everything in between. And Italic? Just stay away from the italic font. Please!

Keep it consistent, simple and uniformed. 

➳ Make sure you use the same font, size and colour...preferably a black font throughout. A CV that looks like something Picasso made is not going to get you an office job. Being consistent means that your application remains professional, looks neat and is easy on the eye.

Don't, use, too, many, commas, but make sure you use some otherwise it can be a bit too much to read in one go.

 ➳ Make sure you know what you're doing with your commas and full stops. There doesn't need to be a comma after every word but don't forget about them completely. Commas are there to help you carry on a sentence but still give the reader a break. Use this to your advantage. This means you won't have a bunch of super short sentences which can look simple and not give much to the reader. But please don't forget your capital letters after your full stops!!

So now you have our five top tips on the little things to take into consideration when writing a CV, cover letter or application. Now, go and wow your potential employer with your fancy new CV. You're welcome...

City Resource Bake-Off

If you follow us on our Social Media platforms (which you should be) then you will know, that this week we have been busy with our very own City Resource Bake Off! We thought, we'd shake things up a bit from the normal weekly blog post and put together a picture post with all the pictures from this week! So sit back, relax and scroll through pictures of some delicious looking cake!

After a fantastic week, we finally have a winner...and some stomach aches. It's safe to say, we won't be in a hurry to make more cupcakes any time soon!

Without further ado....

In first place, was Andy with his jaffa cake City Resource cupcakes! Well done Andy! 

In second place, was Tom with his 'Tiger Terrific Tangy Twist' cupcakes! Extra points for the handmade sign and 'Eye of the Tiger' song which accompanied your presentation!

And finally, we have Emily in third place with her traditional chocolate and buttercream icing cupcakes! Well done Emily!

Thank you to all of our followers, old and new this week for getting involved. We have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and eagerly await our next competition!

Next stop, Great British Bake Off!

Finding A Job Through Facebook..

Nowadays, social media is the fastest way to get through to a company. Whether this be with a query, complaint or an employee compliment, using social media is going to get you the fastest response!

City Resource have put together a post showing you the best way to go about finding a job through Social Media. We are going to be looking specifically at Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.


Facebook - With 900,000,000 users a month, Facebook is the most popular social networking site. Companies are aware of this and utilise it to advertise things such as jobs, promotions and competitions etc. This is good news for you guys, the job seekers at it means, that you can find job openings quickly and efficiently! On Facebook, you can follow companies pages and sites to keep up to date with everything they post. This means, that by following recruitment agencies and job sites such as Reed, Jobsite, Monster etc..you are going to have regular job opportunities appear on your news feed. With regards to recruitment agencies and even some companies, you can even send them a message directly to find out whether or not they have any available positions at the current time. This is an easy way of job hunting without leaving the comfort of your own home! Not too mention its free, you can't go wrong....


Twitter - With 310,000,000 users a month Twitter is the second most popular social media site. Giving you 180 characters to get your thoughts across, Twitter has taken the world by storm. You can find just about anything on Twitter using the famous hashtag symbol '#'. By searching something as simple as '#jobs' you can get millions of results come up with all different job opportunities. Again, companies utilise this. For example, lets say you were looking for a job in London, you can search 'London Jobs' and get a ton of results. You will even be able to find recruitment agencies and job sites to follow and receive regular updates. Twitter even allows you to subscribe to get notified when a particular account posts a tweet. Sounds easy right? That's because it is!


LinkedIn - LinkedIn is now the third most popular social media site with 255,000,000 users a month, putting it above Pinterest and Google+! LinkedIn is purely business based. You create a profile, almost like a virtual CV and you can find jobs AND people can headhunt you! The good thing about LinkedIn, is that is finds jobs for you. Everyday on your news feed you will get suitable job opportunities come up based on your current and previous roles/experience! Again, like Facebook and Twitter you can follow companies and keep up to date with everything they post. Using LinkedIn is a fantastic way of making connections within the business industry, which eventually could lead you to your dream job! Just remember, the difference with LinkedIn is that it's purely for business - no one wants to know what you get up to at the weekend, so keep it professional!

So there you have it...easy as pie! Now you know how to search for a job online, follow us on social media to keep up to date with all the regular job opportunities we have!

Facebook: City Resource Ltd
Twitter: @PeterboroJobs
LinkedIn: City Resource Ltd