• BE pro-active and use your initiative to get your foot in the door
• Look for adverts in the local, national, agricultural press, websites and through recruitment agencies/consultants.
• Keeping touch with former colleagues and employers is a great way to hear about positions and a good way to be recommended.
• Whilst being pro-active also be selective, remember if your CV arrives from a number of different directions you could look desperate.
  

• If you want to work in a particular area or think a vacancy might be coming up, send a speculative CV and covering letter or by email
• Don't just print off your standard CV and letter/email. Tailor your application according to the position for which you are applying
• The letter is your first contact with a potential employer, so get it right
• Refer to the job title and where and when the job was advertised
• Highlight your abilities and why they are relevant
• If you don't have all the skills required, explain how you will improve them
• Refer to the enclosed CV
• Make sure you have researched the company/employer to whom you are applying and know what the job entails
• Address the letter to a named person
• Convince them you will fit in well and conclude with a confident: "I look forward to hearing from you"
  

• The CV is there to give the basic factual information. This is a brochure about you and whilst you need to include enough information leave sufficient information out to ensure a prospective employer needs to see you at interview
• Start with personal details (name, address, phone number, home and mobile, current email address (if you use a university one also keep a hotmail account), date of birth
• List work experience, education, qualifications and skills relevant to the job such as marketing, CIM, FACTS, BASIS, AMTRA, City and Guilds, etc
• Include referees, one of whom should be your most recent employer
• Don't use "I", but include as many active words as possible - such as gained, initiated, supervised, etc
• Use headings, fonts, bolds and margins consistently
• Keep it under two pages (if possible)
• Ask someone to check for spelling, grammar and appearance.

• The secret of a successful interview lies in preparation, so spend time on your research before the big day
• Find out about the employer via websites, word of mouth and press.
• Make sure you know the location, time of interview, who you will be seeing and how long it will take to get there (use www.multimap.co.uk to find directions, distance and time it takes)
• Find out what the interview will involve
• Make sure you are comfortable in your interview outfit in advance and that everything is clean and in good repair
• Keep accessories, perfume and make-up to a minimum
• Be aware whether any positions advertised requires a phone call rather than a written application before an interview in person. You will need to be able to impress and sell your skills verbally
• The interview is the last chance to secure the job. First impressions are important and appearance and body language count
• Maintain good posture, speak confidently, clearly and do not fidget
• Smile and maintain eye contact and give a confident handshake
• If you don't understand a question, ask for an explanation. Be truthful if you really don't know the answer
• Try and imagine yourself as the interviewer and what questions you would ask. Now think through those questions with plausible answers
• Don't answer with yes or no, always explain your answers and use relevant examples as back-up
• Come prepared with questions - find out the company structure, facilities offered, exactly what the salary does/does not include - pensions, private health insurance, bonus, etc
• Don't condemn your previous employers
• As well as the potential employer finding out about you, the interview is a chance for you to find out if the job and employer live up to your expectations
• Take the opportunity to look around and speak to current employees if possible. You will quickly work out whether it is the right place for you
• At the close of the interview ask for timescale, what happens next, when will you be informed, what further they would like you to do to secure the position

Follow Up

• If the interview was arranged by a recruitment company call them and give feedback
• Always ensure you follow up on any agreed timescales with the company