Latest news with #CVwriting
The Sun
02-08-2025
- Business
- The Sun
I'm about to go on an extended holiday – how do I make sure there isn't a mountain of work when I get back
APPRENTICE star and West Ham United vice-chair Karren Brady answers your careers questions. Here, Karren gives her expert advice to a reader who is looking for help on writing a CV. Q: I'm soon due to go on an extended holiday for almost a month, but I'm already worried about the mountain of work waiting for me when I get back. Although I'm part of a wider team, I largely work autonomously and don't have anyone I can hand my workload over to while I'm away. I'm trying to get ahead as much as possible, but there's only so much I can do, and I'm now starting to panic. I'm thinking about taking my work phone away with me so I can try to stay on top of things a bit, plus it will help keep my anxiety levels down, as at least I'll know what's going on. My friends say this is a bad idea, though. What do you think? Julia, via email A: Time off should leave you feeling refreshed, not like you've just been working remotely. Start by setting clear boundaries now, before you leave. Communicate early and openly with your manager and the wider team – share the dates you'll be out of the office and say you're happy to help tie up loose ends beforehand. Apprentice star Karren Brady terrified after burglar launched FOUR raids on £6m home in 16 hours taking designer gear Even if there's no direct cover for your role, see if any tasks can be paused or reassigned temporarily before you go. Set a detailed out-of-office reply with your return date and a contact for any urgent matters. Rather than having your work phone constantly on, consider gradually checking in during the final few days of your break – just 15-30 minutes a day could ease the transition without disrupting your rest. And finally, remember to plan for a light workload and meetings schedule on your first few days back to enable you to focus on clearing your inbox and updating your to-do list. Enjoy this time off – a month-long holiday doesn't happen very often, so make the most of it. Got a careers question for Karren?
The Sun
26-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
I'm a 50 year-old career changer – what advice do you have for me as I look for a new job?
APPRENTICE star and West Ham United vice-chair Karren Brady answers your careers questions. Here, Karren gives her expert advice to a reader who is looking for help on writing a CV. Q) I am 50 and have been at my current job for 24 years. Over the past few years, there have been a lot of changes at the company and I think it's time I moved on, and also look at a complete career change. I have excellent audio-typing skills and have recently completed a Microsoft course. But I haven't written a CV or cover letter in years, so I need some help with how to do this. I am also not sure if my age is an advantage or disadvantage when looking for a job. Do you have any advice? Name and address withheld A) First, congratulations on 24 years at your current company – it says a lot about your loyalty, hard work and professionalism. A career change now is a brave and exciting step, so well done on making this decision. Updating your CV might feel overwhelming at first, but start with simple and straightforward actions, such as listing your skills and achievements, like your Microsoft course and audio-typing skills. Focus on your transferable strengths, including communication, organisation and adaptability, and be sure to highlight any other recent training to show you're up to date and eager to grow in a new role. When writing your cover letter, keep the tone confident, clear and genuine. Tailor each letter to the specific job you're applying for by connecting the wealth of experience and skills you clearly have to exactly what the role requires. Focus on your achievements, rather than just responsibilities, and use keywords from the job description to help your application get noticed. Explain why the role excites you and finish with a confident invitation for an interview. As for your age, it's far from being a disadvantage – employers value experience! Got a careers question for Karren?
