When UK Learns came into formation last April, our main aim was to help those facing furlough or redundancy to upskill and explore new career opportunities. Fast forward to today and our mission remains clear: UK Learns is here to prepare and empower all learners for the challenging world of work by providing access to a wide range of high-quality learning resources and affordable online courses and qualifications.

From how to write a CV to what questions to expect in a job interview, we’ve got all the resources you need to help you stand out from the crowd. Check out our toolkit and full list of courses below to get started.

 

How to find a job

It can be hard to know where to begin when searching for a job, so we’ve compiled our top tips and resources to help you get started.

• Identify the sector or industry you’d like to work in and research the different entry roles available in the field and the essential skills required. If you’re not exactly sure what you’d like to do, check out our range of BTEC Explorer courses, and gain valuable insight into a range of careers in various industries. From engineering to childcare, these courses explore different job opportunities, the skills required and what it’s really like to work in that role. Or, take our 20-minute online career quiz, and learn how to pursue a new career through a process of building self-awareness and auto-coaching.
• Sign up for job alerts from a range of sources and let the jobs land in your inbox. Take advantage of recruitment agencies, LinkedIn networking and social media to discover new vacancies, as well as the traditional job search websites such as the GOV job finder tool. 
• Want more guidance and direction to inspire your search? Build your confidence and set goals with our online personal development course, 10 steps to transform your life, and find even more tips for job hunting from Pearson.

How to write a CV

Recruiters receive hundreds of CVs a day and don’t have much time to read each one, so it’s important that your CV stands out and is clearly formatted. It also needs to be tailored for the role you are applying for to best show off your skills and experience. No matter your CV layout, it’s crucial you include the following sections:

• Personal details, including your full name, contact number and email
• Personal statement, summarising who you are, your key skills and what you’re looking for
• Job history, including your role, responsibilities and references and any unpaid work experience/volunteering
• Education and achievements
• Hobbies and interests that back up your skills and make you stand out
• Technical skills, including software you know how to use and additional languages you can speak

 

How to write a cover letter

A cover letter allows you to go into more detail about what you can offer a company and why you’re a good match for the job, so it’s crucial you write a new cover letter for each job application. Unlike a CV, you can elaborate on your skills and experiences in a cover letter, while also including the following sections:

• Personal address to the hiring manager
• The role you are applying for, where you saw it advertised and how soon you can start
• Why are you suitable, including qualifications that are relevant to the role and each of the skills listed in the job description
• What you can offer, including examples from your experience and why the company appeals to you
• Your availability for interview

Many job advertisers and recruitment experts offer tips on writing a cover letter, such as Reed and Prospects, and you can learn how to sell yourself and identify your transferable skills with our online career development course, Becoming career smart.

How to prepare for a job interview

So, you’ve been offered an interview, but how do you make a good impression? Prospects suggests the best techniques for leaving a good impression are: Punctuality, positivity and enthusiasm, body language and clarity, and we couldn’t agree more. While we can’t make sure the trains run on time on the day, let us help you prepare for the rest of the interview with our online courses and resources below:

• Show positivity and enthusiasm by increasing your self-confidence and perfecting your communication skills with our online courses that’ll give you the boost you need
• Prepare for a range of interview questions with Novorésumé, who have identified the most common interview questions and have expert tips on the specific way to answer each one
• Answer questions with clarity by registering for our online course, How to: Succeed at interviews, which explores the different types of interviews, from telephone and video interviews to non-standard interviews, and how to tackle them
• Understand the impact of body language and more with interview skills from Pearson, and be your best self in the interview

Network and grow

Networking is a crucial part of finding a job and advancing in your career. Sites such as LinkedIn allow you to connect with not only your colleagues and recruiters but with people and influential figures from other industries and companies. Find out the advantages of networking from Monster, and get started with our courses below:

• Effective networking
• Essential skills for your career development
• Managing your personal and professional development

How to bounce back from rejection

It’s no lie – finding a job in today’s market isn’t easy, and the competition is rife. No matter what stage in your career you’re at, you’ll undoubtedly face rejection from jobs you really wanted, and it may feel discouraging. You mustn’t give up though, as more jobs will come along and your ability to bounce back won’t go unnoticed. Boost your resilience with our online courses below, and explore how to turn negative events into positive learnings:

• How to see the positive
• Professional resilience
• Build your armour of courage

Keep the momentum

Head to UK Learns and explore our ever-growing range of online courses, from cross-sector professional skills that will get your CV noticed to industry-specific accredited qualifications that real employers value. There’s something for everyone at UK Learns.