https://www.employmentsupport-wla.co.uk/preparing-for-work daily 0.75 2026-10-26 https://www.employmentsupport-wla.co.uk/preparing-for-work/Blog Post Title One-3zaa9-zlxng-fxrp4 monthly 0.5 2026-10-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a96b2a4688444493f42d298/1791894410517-CSTG7I525I173D3UFHJ3/unsplash-image-c-lUYtNjqxw.jpg Preparing for Work - Effective Job Searching - Top Tips for Job Searching Know what you want: Think about the type of work, hours and location that would suit you. Keep your CV up to date: Make sure your contact details are correct and highlight your most relevant skills and experience. Tailor each application: Use information from the job advert to show why you're a good match for the role. Apply regularly: Set aside time each week to search and apply for vacancies. Don't rely on one website: Look on job boards, employer websites, social media and through your contacts. Research employers: Find out what the organisation does before applying or attending an interview. Prepare for interviews: Think about examples that show your skills, experience and achievements. Stay organised: Keep a record of applications, interviews and follow-up actions. Use your network: Friends, family, tutors, support workers and previous employers may know about opportunities. Keep going: Job searching takes time. Every application and interview helps you build confidence and experience. Remember: The more targeted and consistent your job search is, the more likely you are to find the right opportunity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a96b2a4688444493f42d298/1791897055088-0WFS6JN8NBWAHFRJ9JP5/unsplash-image-0iKjge_aOVo.jpg Preparing for Work - Effective Job Searching - Activity Search for jobs that interest you and find: 1 job you could apply for today 1 job you could apply for within the next 6 months 1 job that you'd like to do in the future For each job, write down: The job title The employer What interests you about the role? Reflection After looking at the vacancies, ask yourself: What skills do I already have? What skills do employers keep asking for? What could I do to become a stronger applicant? Don't just look at job titles. Read the skills and qualities employers are asking for. This will help you understand what to include on your CV and what skills you may need to develop. Every vacancy is a source of information. Even if you don't apply, you can learn what employers are looking for and use that to improve your future applications. https://www.employmentsupport-wla.co.uk/preparing-for-work/blog-post-title-two-t5my5-k4xmd-8eamz monthly 0.5 2026-10-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a96b2a4688444493f42d298/7124023c-e442-4b70-a3f7-e1513bcbd7b4/imgg-f7f-pheezf33.png Preparing for Work - CV’s & Applications - Top Tips for your CV & Application Tailor your application: Read the job description carefully and highlight the skills and experience most relevant to the role. Focus on achievements: Explain what you achieved, not just what you did. Use examples: Support your skills with examples from: School or college Volunteering Work experience Hobbies and interests Sports teams Caring responsibilities Keep it clear: Use simple language, clear headings and consistent formatting. Use keywords from the job description: Many employers look for specific skills, qualities and experience when reviewing applications. Using similar words and phrases from the job advert can help show that you're a good match for the role. Check before sending: Review spelling, grammar and contact details before submitting your application. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a96b2a4688444493f42d298/e61f6d0b-8d23-482b-a71e-46529bd76c46/unsplash-image-s9CC2SKySJM.jpg Preparing for Work - CV’s & Applications - Activities #1 - Match the Skills Find a job advert that interests you. Write down three skills or qualities the employer is looking for Now think of one example that shows each skill. #2 - CV Challenge Look at your current CV or application draft. Ask yourself: Have I shown my strongest skills? Have I included examples? Does my CV match the type of job I want? What is one thing I could improve today? Make one small improvement before your next application. https://www.employmentsupport-wla.co.uk/preparing-for-work/blog-post-title-three-y3peb-4lwnz-2zwhj monthly 0.5 2026-10-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a96b2a4688444493f42d298/22f8f1b1-1e48-43d0-8ebe-2809e46984c7/unsplash-image-FAWfiEh096E.jpg Preparing for Work - Interview Techniques - An interview is your opportunity to show an employer why you could be a good fit for the job. It’s also your chance to learn more about the role, the workplace and the people you could be working with. Employers aren’t necessarily looking for perfect answers. They want to understand your skills, experience, attitude and motivation. Good preparation can help you feel more confident and make it easier to explain what you can bring to the role. Remember, interviews can take different forms. You might be interviewed face-to-face, online or over the phone, and you may speak to one person or a small panel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a96b2a4688444493f42d298/4ee4077e-dc15-43a0-a582-ab4a0e9e89b4/unsplash-image-6ie6OjshvWg.jpg Preparing for Work - Interview Techniques - Activities Activity 1: Build your STAR example Think of a time when you solved a problem, helped someone, worked in a team or achieved something you're proud of. Complete these four prompts: Situation: What was happening? Task: What did you need to achieve? Action: What did you personally do? Result: What happened? Example: At college, our group had a deadline for a presentation. One team member was absent, so I helped reorganise the tasks and took responsibility for an extra section. We finished the presentation on time and received positive feedback. Challenge: Can you explain your example out loud in around 1–2 minutes? https://www.employmentsupport-wla.co.uk/preparing-for-work/blog-post-title-four-lr658-tcthp-demly monthly 0.5 2026-10-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a96b2a4688444493f42d298/38760ea0-13a3-4347-a429-5d1f69260dc2/unsplash-image-QckxruozjRg.jpg Preparing for Work - Employability Skills - Top Tips for Employability Skills Communication: Listen carefully, speak clearly and think about how you communicate with different people. Teamwork: Be willing to help others, share ideas and contribute towards a common goal. Reliability: Turn up on time, keep your commitments and let someone know early if there's a problem. Problem-solving: Think about what you can do when something doesn't go to plan, rather than immediately giving up. Organisation: Plan your time, prioritise tasks and keep track of what you need to do. Positive attitude: Be open to learning, feedback and trying new things. You don't need to know everything on your first day. Digital skills: Being confident with everyday technology, such as email, Microsoft Teams, online forms and workplace systems, can be valuable in many jobs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a96b2a4688444493f42d298/9be4da4f-2f43-460a-b57a-81203d1cf585/Screen.jpg Preparing for Work - Employability Skills - Activity: Your skills check Choose three employability skills you think you already have. For each one, write down: The skill: What are you good at? Your example: When have you used it? The evidence: What happened as a result? Example: Skill: Teamwork Example: I worked with other students on a college project and helped divide up the tasks. 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