SELLING YOURSELF IN TODAYS JOB MARKET TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

SELLING YOURSELF IN TODAY’S JOB MARKET • TRANSFERABLE SKILLS • ‘DE-TRAVEL’ YOUR CV • INTERVIEW TIPS • Q&A LYNNE GRIFFITHS FIONA MACKENZIE

What are your transferable skills? Your Skills based CV De-Travel your CV Tailoring – what do we mean? Format

Employment History David Clare London M: 07808 168192 E: dave@tbta. org. uk Personal Statement The personal statement is key. This is your opportunity to open strongly and with as much relevance to the vacancy as possible. Use their language and key words, sell yourself – make your statement standout. Blah…………………………………………… Key Skills • Effective Communication - Able to communicate in a variety of ways, both verbally and written – demonstrated in various presentations as well as seminar and lecture contribution. • Creativity - Skilled in generating creative ideas and implementing them to meet strategic goals – as demonstrated during my time working a student journalist for the university newspaper. • Commercial Awareness - Able to understand utilise consumer behaviour to hit KPIs – as learnt in several modules, and in using my own blog to sell advertising space on a CPC basis. Transferable skills relevant to the job advert • IT & Technology - Intermediate user of Office applications, including Word, Excel, and Power. Point. Expert Zoom wizard. • Coaching – blah, blah………………. • Customer Service – Excellent customer service skills, always there for everyone – what a pleaser he is! • Business Development – can sell sand to a camel. • Leadership Skills - People love me, I love people, where I lead, they follow. Baa! • Etc… Publisher, The Business Travel Magazine, London Achievements and responsibilities: Jan 2019 – Present • Launched and established two marketing leading publications in the business travel sector, increased turnover by 65% and profitability 23% • Most recently I successfully launched and established the business travel magazine into the UK & Irish markets. The launch involved recruitment of an Publisher, The Business Travel Magazine, London Achievements and responsibilities: Nov 2001 – Dec 2018 • Launched and established two marketing leading publications in the business travel sector, increased turnover by 65% and profitability 23% • Most recently I successfully launched and established the business travel magazine into the UK & Irish markets. The launch involved recruitment of an Senior Sales Executive, Associated Newspapers, London Achievements and responsibilities: Oct 1992 – Jun 1998 • Headed up a team responsible for travel advertising within the newspaper • Launched and established two marketing leading publications in the business Mobile Sales Advisor, Avon, London Achievements and responsibilities: Oct 1987 – Sep 1992 • Headed up a team responsible for travel advertising within the newspaper • Launched and established two marketing leading publications in the business Education and Qualifications University of Life Glyn Grammar School Zoom Masterclass Black Belt Prince 2 Project Management Selling Skills Level 4 Relevant to the job advert 1984 - 1987 1979 interesting – 1984 Something to talk about Apr 2020 Jan 2020 details in footer Contact Mar 2010 Hobbies & Interests Pole dancing, golf, more golf and even more golf Page 1 David Clare M: 07808 168192 E: dave@tbta. org. uk Page 2

What are transferable skills? Transferable skills are ones that you can build on and develop throughout your career. They benefit both candidates and employers in a variety of different ways: Portability: The nature of transferable skills means they can be taken with you when you move jobs and even industries. As you progress in your career, the skills that you currently possess will improve and you will also gain additional ones as well. Flexibility: Your transferable skills will make you an attractive candidate for a range of companies in different sectors. Having a diverse skill set will help you stand out from the other applicants and demonstrate that you have greater flexibility. Employability: Although you may not have direct work experience in the industry you are targeting, your transferable skills will demonstrate that you can adapt to new demands, cultures and environments.

Identifying your transferable skills Identify your skills Your JD Look at your performance reviews Ask other people for feedback Check out job postings/adverts Hard Skills Knowledge & abilities learned through education and training, often proven through qualification e. g: foreign language, IT & Software skills, CRM, Microsoft Office, BA Fares, CIPD, Prince 2, Sabre, Amadeus etc Soft Skills (most transferable) Soft skills are non-technical skills and relate to how you work. Soft skills include interpersonal (people) skills, communication, listening, time management and empathy, negotiation, presentation, sales, among others.

Travel Industry Transferable Skills ü Initiative ü Customer service ü Complex problem solving ü Communication ü Organisational skills ü Change management ü ü ü Emotional Intelligence Interpersonal skills Team working Time management Attention to detail Ability to work well under pressure ü ü ü Negotiation skills Presentation skills Sales Composure Information processing/retention Adaptability/flexible approach

“De -Travel” Your CV • Explain briefly about your employers • Avoid industry jargon & acronyms • Generalise your job titles • Generalise your experience highlighting your transferable skills • De-Travel your personal statement

CWT Audley Travel Amex GBT Titan Travel HRG My. Travel Gray Dawes Group Hays Travel Reed & Mac. Kay Southall Travel Trip. Actions Best at Travel ATPi Broadway Travel Blue Cube Travelport BCD Travel Sabre Diversity Travel Amadeus Omega World Atriis Travel KDS Capita Travel Airplus Key Travel International

“De-Travel” Your CV • Avoid industry jargon & acronyms • BTA, ITM, TOD, GAL, TMC, IHG, HRS, GDS, GBT • Generalise your job titles • • • Generalise your experience highlighting your transferable skills • • Made travel reservations using GDS Business Manager, Account Manager, Client General Manager, Client Manager, Customer Manager Entertainment Consultant, Media Agent, Oil & Gas Consultant, Marine Specialist, Corporate Agent, Consultant, Customer Service Agent Answered telephone and email enquiries promptly, professionally and inline with customer expectations and service level agreement. Completed airline, hotel, rail and car reservations using advanced computer skills, high level of travel product and fares knowledge and exceptional customer service and communication skills.

“De-Travel” Personal Statement (Travel Industry) Personal Statement Experienced SBTC making travel reservations for music and entertainment clients using Sabre and Galileo. BA Fares qualified and competent with online booking systems. (“De-travelled”) Personal Statement Experienced business travel organiser, with excellent customer service and time management skills. Able to work to stringent deadlines in a fast paced pressurised working environment. Confident communicator, both verbal and written, at all business levels and utilising strong technology skills. Excellent attention to detail with a highly motivated work ethic.

Highlight Your Skills Key Responsibilities: Win and sign new customers Key Achievements: Won £ 10 m of new business Key Responsibilities: End to end sales cycle – sourcing own leads, qualify them, meet with prospect customers, complete RFP (request for pricing) process, presentations, negotiations, win and implement new clients. Key Achievements: Signed £ 10 m of new business against target of £ 8 m. Top sales achiever in team of 5. Typical client account size £ 500 k, total accounts won 17.

In Summary: • • Explain who you work(ed) for Explain what you do (did) Highlight your relevant transferable skills Highlight your successes Show them the evidence that you have the transferrable skills that they are looking for…. . they don’t know the travel industry so you have to tell them!

Tailoring • Invest your time • Research recruiting company: Identify the language; culture; values; any contacts • Understand what they are looking for • Adapt your CV to fit – honestly • AI / Automated CV scanning – make sure you pass!

Cover Letter • Format: well-presented; concise; to-the-point; easy to read font and nothing fancy; half a side of A 4 (or one page maximum) • Personalise – find out the name of who to send it to. • Structure: • Opening the letter – Why are you getting in touch? • Second paragraph – Why are you suitable for the job? Here is where you highlight your transferable skills!!! • Third paragraph – What can you do for the company? Show your research. • Fourth paragraph – Reiterate your interest and why you’re right for the job. Say you’d like to meet. • Closing the letter - ‘Yours sincerely’ (name) or ‘Yours faithfully’ (no name) followed by your name.

Linked. In • Your profile – a balance between your transferable skills and your travel industry experience • Update your skills on your LI profile – these will match job adverts & job applications • Use LI for job research & job searches (set up alerts) • Search jobs by your transferable skills not just job titles • Networking & using contacts – connect with people, follow companies you want to work for! • Ask for recommendations

Interviews INTERVIEWS Virtual Interviews Position yourself in a well-lit, quiet, clean space without a distracting background (blank or blurred). Make sure your face is well-lit (natural light from a window in front of you is best) so your facial expressions are clear Test your technology day before Mutual contact numbers incase of tech fail Virtual Interviews (cont…) Prepare thoroughly Dress appropriately something bright and different from background colour (not PJs) Look into the camera and not at the person on the screen Be yourself, smile, contained energy Send presentation in advance in case of tech failure Follow-Up • • Email the interviewer(s) – one email. Or send to the recruitment agency to forward. Ask for feedback if not successful

Types of interview questions • Classic • Career Goal • • • Character • Competency (or behaviour) • Curveball and creativity • • • Tell me about yourself; Why did you apply for this role? What are your weaknesses? Why is there a gap in your work history? Why do you want to work at this company? Where do you want to be in five year’s time? What’s your dream job? What motivates you? What are your core values? Who do you admire, and why? Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult person? When were you last angry, and why? Tell me about a time you’ve worked to/missed a deadline? Tell me about a big change you’ve had to deal with? Tell me about a time you supported a member of your team who was struggling? Give an example of a time you’ve had to improvise to achieve your goal? If you were an animal, what would you be? Every CV has one lie in it. What’s yours? Tell me about the last good idea you had? Sell me this pen!

Do you have any questions for me? • Can you tell me more about the day-to-day responsibilities of the role? • How could I impress you in the first three months? • I saw that your company has recently done X. Can you tell me a little more about this? • Where do you think the company is headed in the next five years? • Can you tell me more about the team I would be working in? • Are there opportunities for training and progression within the role/company?

The experience and skills you have gained working in travel will set you on a great path for opportunities outside of the travel industry. Good luck! Q&A lynne@sirius-cv. com fiona@sirius-cv. com info@sirius-cv. com +44 (0)1932 562007 www. sirius-cv. com