applying-for-jobs articles in totaljobs.com career advice

CV templates

Not sure where to start? Make sure you get that all-important job interview with one of our CV templates.

Job application forms – what skills to include?

We take a look at what skills you should include when answering competency based questions on a job application form.

Where do recruiters find candidates?

How do you get noticed by recruiters? We've got a few handy pointers to help you stand out, from CVs to networking events.

Application form checklist

Before you sit down to write, make sure you've read through our handy job application form checklist.

Why application forms?

Your heart may sink when faced with an application form, because they can appear pretty impersonal. But don’t worry, there’s a technique for ensuring that your application form gets noticed.

10 CV mistakes to avoid

Read our guide to common – and easy – application mistakes that can make the difference between getting a job interview and having your CV put straight on the ‘no’ pile.

Funny CV mistakes: bloopers and mix-ups

These guys really weren’t thinking when they emailed over their CVs... We bring you our CV funnies - just don't make the same mistakes!

Cover letter templates

It’s all very well having a great CV but it won’t count for much if your cover letter isn’t equally dazzling. Our templates ensure that employers will find it hard to say no.

How to market yourself

There’s much more to the job seeking process than checking your CV and covering letter. So how can you ensure your job search is successful?

How can the over-qualified convince employers?

Worried you're too qualified for the job? Our simple guide will show you how to convince an employer, on paper and in person, that you're worth hiring.

Unemployed job application pack

Whether you feel like you’ve applied for HUNDREDS of jobs and not heard anything back from any of them, or if you’re newly unemployed and need to find a job fast, we’re here to help!

10 steps to a successful CV

We bring you our 10 steps to creating a CV that employers just can't ignore!

The art of writing a good CV

A CV is your chance to sell yourself to a potential employer and it has to be well written and positive. We show you how to clearly present your skills.

Get creative with your job application

Looking for inspiration on how to create a knock-their-socks off application? We show you how to wow...

First job: Sample CV and guide

So university wasn’t for you – who can blame you with the big debts. If you’re going straight from school or college into a job then it’s important that you get your CV right.

How can social media help your job hunt?

Social media can actually help you to find a job!

How totaljobs can help your job hunt

Totaljobs.com offer a great range of tools to make your job search as painless as possible.

5 ways to stay motivated in your job search

It’s no surprise that jobseekers are feeling down about their prospects at the moment. So, as the Government launches a taskforce to motivate UK workers, we bring you our own tips to staying motivated when job hunting.

Get more from the totaljobs.com mobile site

5 ways to get the most out of the totaljobs mobile site

Job hunting on the go? We bring you our tips to making the most of your mobile job search.

within miles

Did you know....

The ideal CV is no more than 2 pages long.
British employees work an average of 31.9 hours per week.
The average commuting time for workers in the UK is 45 minutes.
Our three biggest sectors for jobs are sales, engineering / manufacturing and IT.
Recruiters search our CV database 280,000 times every month.
The average cost of living for a family of four is £19,240.
We had 8,730 jobs in the West Midlands last month.
The ideal cover letter is between 250 and 300 words long.
The average cost of living for a single person is £13,400.
Recruiters spend an average of 8 seconds looking at a CV.
We had 7,274 jobs in Yorkshire last month.
We had 7,714 accountancy jobs last month.
UK workers spend an average of five years in a job.
We had 20,490 sales jobs last month.