Candidate Tips & Advice

Kickstarting Your Job Search

Searching for a new job can be a stressful time, but Cast UK are here to help.

Are you wondering how to kickstart your job search but not sure where to start? Luckily, as seasoned recruiters, we have compiled our advice on what you should be doing to secure your dream job in this blog post. From doing your research to drafting a cover letter, we've got you covered.

Read the full blog here.

CV Writing Tips

Your CV is your opportunity to impress a potential employer with your skill set and experience. When applying for a role, your CV creates an impression of your professionalism, intelligence, and attention to detail. It's your one chance to communicate any key achievements and professional attributes.

Check out our expert tips for writing the perfect CV here.

Social Media Tips For Professionals

Managing your online reputation is increasingly important, especially if you're actively searching for a new role in the job market.

With everyone active in the world of Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram, LinkedIn, and so on, you have an online footprint that follows you wherever you go and one that can, unfortunately, be detrimental to your professional reputation if you're not careful.

Take a look at our social media tips for professionals here.

Getting The Most From Your Recruitment Consultant

As recruitment consultants working with hundreds of job seekers every day, we are always surprised by how many candidates don't make the most of what their recruitment consultant has to offer. Our consultants want to be challenged and we take an immense amount of satisfaction in finding someone their ideal job or finding a client their next rising star.

To get the best out of your recruitment consultant we recommend following these simple steps.

Permanent Or Contact, Which Is For You?

You might not have given much thought to whether a permanent or contract role is the right role for you. But, you might find it useful to weigh up the pros and cons between permanent and contract employment before choosing which route suits you.

We've outlined the advantages and disadvantages of both permanent and contract roles in this blog.

Useful Interview Tips

Securing an interview is both a huge accomplishment and a nerve-wracking situation.

While it is completely normal to feel nervous, it is essential that you are as prepared as possible. Preparation will see that you are as comfortable and confident as possible during an interview, which contributes hugely to your success.

From pre-interview research through to the day of your interview, this guide has all the tips you need to be able to prepare and smash the interview process.

Make sure you read through our Useful Interview Tips.

Interview Questions: What You'll Be Asked & What To Ask

Successful candidates are not 'lucky', they spend time preparing for an interview.

Being able to put together strong answers to interview questions is key to landing your next role.

It's unlikely that you'll know exactly what questions will be asked of you in an interview, but having answers prepared for commonly asked questions is the next best thing.

Luckily, we've put together a list of the most frequently asked interview questions which you should think about how you answer ahead of your interview.

Check out our interview questions guide.

Preparing For An Aptitude Test

Psychometric aptitude tests, otherwise known as ability tests, are designed to measure your cognitive capacity, for example, numerical reasoning or verbal comprehension. 

Practicing this type of psychometric test will help improve candidates' scores. You can start practicing aptitude tests now by visitng www.shl.com

Before you do that, make sure you check out our top tips on preparing for aptitude tests and what to expect.

Preparing For Personality Tests

Personality tests, as opposed to aptitude tests, aim to measure character traits such as confidence, empathy, attitude to risk, and so on. 

They are called questionnaires because there are no right or wrong answers, however, the recruiter will be looking to see how well you fit with their organisation. 

It is not possible to wildly influence the outcome of personality tests because, to a large extent, you are who you are. Check out our tips on how to answer personality tests to the best of your ability here.

Managing & Accepting Job Offers

If you've stood out to one employer, it's likely you'll have impressed others too, and may have multiple offers on the table.

Here's how you can handle job offers in the most professional and effective manner with our guide to managing, negotiating and accepting job offers. Read the guide here.

Managing Counter Job Offers

Resigning from your job and accepting a new role are not decisions to be taken lightly.

It's likely you have taken lots of things into consideration before handing in your letter of resignation, so how could you possibly be bought back so easily by a counter offer?

It can be easy to forget why you were leaving when you're offered a nice pay rise, but here are a few reasons why you'd be mad to accept a counter offer.

Surviving Your First Week In a New Job

The first week of your new job can be daunting, getting to grips with your new role and what is expected of you is sometimes a scary prospect.

Firstly, relax... remember that your new employer has already decided you're the right person for the job. All you need to do now is make a good impression and get to know your new team.

Here's our top tips on how to get the best out of the first week in your new job.