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Everything you need to know to secure the right job and negotiate the highest salary in Investment Banking.


Step-by-step support from initial application to interview technique and final offer.

Showing posts with label Investment Banking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Investment Banking. Show all posts

Monday, 14 November 2011

The Importance of Your Transferable Skills

It’s important for you to identify where you add value. What can you offer an employer in return for your salary and benefits? In this competitive market, it’s important for you to stand out from your competition whether you are looking for an internal move with your existing employer or a new role externally.

Your transferable skills are what make you marketable and they will provide you with an advantage over your competition. Your transferable skills are essential to your career success and will ease your transition into a new role.

Transferable skills are the skills that employers look for when they are interviewing you so it’s essential for you to reflect on these and to be able to develop them, add to them and speak about them confidently at job interviews.

What is a Transferable Skill?

A transferable skill is a skill that you possess which can be easily applied and made use of in a number of different situations, hence, allowing you to apply it to a new job opportunity.

Why are Transferable Skills important?

Transferable skills are the job seekers greatest assets and contribute to career success.

Greater transferable skills = greater choice.

How can you develop your Transferable Skills?

Everyone has transferable skills which are developed throughout a person’s life from starting school through to college and university, personal and professional experiences and life in general. Once you have identified your essential skills you can then take them with you and apply in any situation, you can also build on these skills by further experience.

"The more options you can offer in terms of skills, knowledge and experience, the higher the probability of being in demand"

How do you identify Transferable Skills?

We can sometimes take our skills for granted without recognising that they are in fact what make us unique. Being aware of our Transferable Skills can help us to identify where we add value to our friends, family and within the work place.

Whilst there are a number of self-assessment tests on the market that allow you to analyse your own personal strengths and weaknesses, I would recommend that you explore your skills with the people who know you best.

Approach your boss or peers at work. Speak to your close friends and family, you might be surprise by their response as to how and why you add value to their lives!

Once you've identified your key skills then provide examples to support your experience.

Nikki Hutchison, founder of Chilli Pepper Global www.chillipepperglobal.com advising you on every aspect of the job seeking process guiding you step by step whether you are looking to move internally or externally.

Tuesday, 15 February 2011

Outperform Your External Competition When Looking To Move Jobs Internally

“Opportunity dances with those who are already on the dance floor”

A majority of internal applicants believe that they have a greater chance of securing an internal role as they already have their foot in the door…think again!

It makes sense for an employer to recruit internally before they consider external candidates. Providing existing employees with new challenges or promotions is great for company morale and having a high retention rate is a great achievement for any business. Other factors to consider include utilising the existing talent of individuals who have already bought into the company. These people already understand the systems and processes and are familiar with the company culture and the vision of the organisation.

Why then do so many internal applicants feel disheartened when they are not offered the opportunity within?

I have listed 5 key points as to how you as an internal applicant can ensure that you become your company’s preferred choice when hiring:

1. Preparation - Internal applicants can sometimes forget that they need to prepare in the same way as they would for an external interview. It’s important that you update your CV with the most current information and don’t assume that because you work for the firm that the interviewer will know all about you. One of the most common mistakes made by an internal candidate is to hold back on information about their skills and experience.

2. Promote Yourself - Whilst it can feel awkward to sell yourself to someone that you already know or have worked alongside it’s important that you promote yourself in the same way that other applicants will be doing. Provide the same amount of detail as you would for any external role.

3. Don’t Assume - The interviewer doesn’t necessarily understand your role fully on the basis that they work for the company, ensure that you provide all the details and leave nothing out, by providing limited information you may cost yourself the opportunity

4. Presentation - Dress to impress regardless of dress policies within the organisation. Make an effort and show that you’re interested.

5. Networking - Is the role really what you want? Utilise your contacts by networking internally, speak to your peers within that team and find out more about the person who will be interviewing you, what do they expect from their staff, what are their values within the department.

Please note that it’s important that you ask questions and show that you are interested in the role, always send a thank you note or email regardless to how well you know the person. Be enthusiastic and don’t be afraid to ask for the job if that’s what you want!

Nikki Hutchison, founder of Chilli Pepper Global http://www.chillipepperglobal.com/ London City Interview Performance Mentor, advising you on every aspect of the job seeking process whether you are looking to move jobs internally or externally.

Thursday, 20 January 2011

Kick Start Your Career In 2011

“The best way you can predict your future is to create it “

The New Year celebrations have faded and Xmas is a distant memory and already we are fast approaching February!

We are now 20 days into the New Year, so what ACTION have you taken to ensure that 2011 is the year that you shine, the year that you fulfill your career ambitions?

For many, the past two years (and this includes myself) have been difficult, however, I do feel some comfort knowing that I wasn’t alone. The recession has bought redundancy and uncertainty within the City and for those of you who have held onto your jobs then perhaps you have experienced taking on more responsibility or working harder to justify your existence within the workplace.

I read a very interesting article this week in the Evening Standard giving hope to those who are looking for new opportunities in 2011. The article predicted that there could be potentially 20,000 job moves within the middle and back office alone!

So, it appears that the City is optimistic which is great news for job hunters, however, don’t expect it to be easy…there is a lot of competition out there and companies want the best people on board.

With this in mind what ACTION can you take to stand out from your competition and ensure that 2011 is a successful year for you?

Below I have listed six important points to consider when looking for new opportunities either internally with your existing employer or externally for a new employer:

Adding Value – How can you add value to your existing or new employer? Being aware of your strengths and being able to talk about your key achievements to date is essential when interviewing.

CV – This is essentially your marketing tool, is it up to date? Have you included your key achievements for example how have you added value to your role by saving money or time for the company?

Telling Your Stories – It’s important that you have real life experiences / stories to talk about during an interview. Have you heard of the STAR technique? Whilst this is widely used in competency or behavioral based interviews it is also worth remembering that you can use this technique in any interview situation. The STAR technique will help you to focus on the answer without going off on a tangent.

Interview Preparation And Practice - “When you are not practicing, remember, someone somewhere is practicing, and when you come up against that someone he/she will win” If you assume that most people don’t prepare or practice then you can also assume that the odds in your favour start to improve greatly if you do make the effort and take the time.

One Minute To Win It –This is your sales pitch, your opportunity to impress. I recommend that you prepare a brief summary of your career and achievements. That’s it. Just your career – jobs you’ve held that relate to the position you are interviewing for. If you have relevant experience, this is the place to bring it up. If not, explain why the experience you have can help you in this role.

Networking – If you consider that 80% of jobs in the US are recruited via LinkedIn then it’s important for you not to underestimate the powers of networking.

Will you act NOW and get noticed or sit back and keep dreaming?

During the month of January I am offering a full CV critique including making the necessary adjustments to your CV for just £57, if you would like to take advantage of this offer then please contact me NOW!

Nikki Hutchison, founder of Chilli Pepper Global http://www.chillipepperglobal.com/ advising you on every aspect of the job seeking process guiding you step by step.