24.02.21

How closely should I align my CV and LinkedIn profile?

There is no right answer here as ultimately it boils down to personal preference and what you are objective is. LinkedIn is making it far easier to be found and over the past 3 years has developed into a hive of recruitment activity.

Keeping an eye on the market has also become more common place in case you are made aware of “something interesting”. If you are inclined to hear about interesting opportunities when they come up, you absolutely need to be mindful of your profile. New certifications, employers, promotions, interesting and relatable projects that do not compromise any confidentiality agreements are all worth listing.

LinkedIn have made the application process far easier and more often than not, companies are accepting LinkedIn profiles in place of formal CV’s. It is also the first platform that more employers are first engaging with potential hires, so having a good shop window is recommended.

CV’s are still being used in most recruitment process – particularly for companies and people seeking more detail as part of the initial screen. But the gap between the two is closing.

How should I dress for a virtual interview?

The same way that you would for a face-to-face interview. Some organisations have created a different policy and are informing interviewees ahead of a meeting. If you have not been informed of any changes, treat the meeting as if it is an in-person meeting.

I have not worked since the pandemic broke out; how do I stand out in an interview?

There are many challenges that you will have faced and overcome that are greatly transferrable and demonstrate resilience, character, organization, and motivation.

Draw on the positive way in which you have overcome each challenge and combine that with your professional experiences. The things that we are doing or have done during this period will be in interview questions for years to come.

Is it worthwhile applying for positions in different parts of the country or different parts of Europe?

It depends upon the industry. Right now, the majority of Europe is working remotely and providing different ways of working. When things begin to normalize, not all industries will be able to continue remotely. Contrastingly others may move to a fully remote model. 

How many organisations will think about downsizing their office space or removing it completely?

There are many organisations who have already changed the way that they work, but it is difficult to predict whether this will be a short or long term stance. Some will move to fully remote, others will be full time in the office (or with clients), whereas most will probably create a hybrid model. Naturally this will impact decision making on office spaces and office working in the coming years.

Conduct your due diligence early in the process so that you are aware of the risk factors when choosing based upon a location, or interviewing with a company that has historically never supported remote working. The client will no doubt be conducting the same due diligence on you if their model has not traditionally been “work from home”.​