Impressions
What image do you want to project? What impression do you want a potential employer to have of you?

First impressions are very important and can only be made once, although the legacy, whether positive or negative can last a long time.

You need to ensure whatever communication you have with potential employer - whether it is by telephone, face-to-face or written - it gives the correct impression.

For this reason we recommend you consider very carefully the structure, style and content of your CV and also your strategy, preparation and approach to any interview.

Preparing your CV
Many people can make the mistake of thinking that the layout and content of a CV is unimportant. There is no single right way to put one together but there is a wrong way.

Your CV is your marketing document and often the first contact you will have with a prospective employer.

We see many examples of poorly presented CVs - they contain spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, are too short or too long and often leave the reader having to 'fill in the gaps' because information is missing.

We recommend that you prepare a good base CV and then tailor it to suit the role for which you are applying.

There are quite a few websites available that offer guidance on how to prepare your CV.

Interview hints
All you need is a basic marketing strategy that anyone can use; find out what the prospect (the interviewer) really needs; then package your product (your experience, qualifications, skills and ability) to meet those needs.

This approach involves more than simply listing the virtues of your product (which you really do when you prepare your CV). It means that you must evaluate all of your past responsibilities and accomplishments in terms of the position to be filled.

We recommend that you visit the Miller Group website and the websites of each of the operating companies. These websites will help you research the company and provide you with a good understanding of our business.

For more guidance on preparing for and on attending interviews and writing CVs the following link will prove useful: www.prospects.ac.uk