Finding a job in the UK is becoming seemly harder and harder for most people but if you have the option is it better to be looking for work in a city or in more rural areas?

In a city there is likely to be more positions available just because of the sheer size and population difference in a city as opposed to a more rural area, however, there is also likely to be more applicants applying for each role, therefore competition can be much higher.

Most inner city jobs will also come with a much more competitive salary as the cost of living tends to be higher also in a city with things such as transport costs and food prices averaging up to 40% higher.

Any jobs where travelling is required such as sales representative or account managers may benefit the applicant living close to main access routes so these roles may not be as suitable for those in rural settings.

For most people finding a job in a city can be easier than in the countryside as there is more choice and generally bigger companies that offer a wider range of working opportunities. However, city working life can be stressful so if it’s a more relaxed working style that you are after then a rural setting may be the best option for you.

If you are an employer looking to recruit for a new position, it may be that you struggle to write a job specification as the role is very new to the business. You need to try and cover what are the main job tasks that will be expected and also what skills, experience or qualifications you are looking for.

It may be worthwhile reviewing other company’s adverts to see how they are advertising a similar post and adjust yours accordingly.

When it comes to pay, it may be that this is dependent on experience. Always try and put a starting salary or a range of salaries as to avoid applicants that are looking for a lot more money, this will just waste everyone’s time.

In the interview, you will have the opportunity to expand more on the job role that the candidate is applying for and be able to discuss other responsibilities that they may have to undertake further on down the line.

When writing a CV it is important to ensure that all the information you put on the CV is true and accurate. There is no point stating that you have experience in an area you don’t or have achieved exams results which you didn’t. Doing this is setting yourself up for a fall and if you get found out you may find yourself out of a job quicker than it took you to get it.

It is also important to make sure that your CV is free from spelling and punctuation mistakes. Your Cv is likely to be the first impression a potential employer has of you, therefore you want it to be a good one. Sometimes all it takes is a quick re-read of the CV before sending it off and ideally getting someone else to look over it for you. There is not usually a need to add a photo to your Cv but if you do decide to do so then make sure it is a professional one not one of your latest holiday snaps.

From when I first started working at the age of 16, I decided that I wanted to gain as much experience in different areas within a job role as possible. Some people are happy to go into one role and stick at the same tasks day in day out but for me, I was constantly looking for the next stage.

May employers like to see members of staff that are willing to learn and get involved in new projects? Sometimes a company may be looking to expand and take on new staff. As an existing employee, you may have the opportunity to apply for internal vacancies prior to them being advertised elsewhere. If you have shown that you like to try new things and have already proved your worth in your existing job, then you have a good chance at being offered a job in the new role or a new department.

Many people ask if doing volunteer work will help their future job prospects. The truth is it depends on the job you are going for. If you have done volunteer work before you may find that there are more job opportunities open to you especially if you have gained experience in a number of different areas.

Often with volunteer work you may not get paid but may receive free meals or even accommodation allowing you to be able to do it without worrying too much about money.

Gaining as much experience as possible is always a good idea and will also give you the chance to find out what type of job you may want to apply for. Volunteer work can sometimes mean that you get to travel and work in other parts of the world and make new friends. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to learn about new cultures and how other people live.

It’s a sad case, but unfortunately, some industries in particular do take a massive interest in where a potential employee was schooled. We are not talking about the grades that they received, the actual school they attended.

This year again showed that privately educated students continue to dominate Oxbridge intakes, the government, and the media. This could be seen as discrimination against those students whose parents could not afford a private education, basically stating that they will not be as good. You can have an extremely bright and capable student that has attended a state school that would be as good as if not better than someone that attended a private school, surely it should be more down to grades and attitude?

Ways in which this can be measured and tracked to ensure that every pupil has the same rights is currently being debated so we will have to wait to hear the outcome.

Attending an interview can be a daunting thing. It may be that you are not sure if you have the right skills, qualifications or experience for the job and are worried as to if you are the right person they are looking for or even that you have everything you need to do the job but just struggle in an interview situation.

Even the most confident or people can struggle when it comes to being interviewed by a potential employer. The main tip I have is to spend some time prior to the interview running it over in your head. Go through your own CV and highlight any areas in which you think they may question you and also any areas in which you want to highlight to them (if you have completed a relevant training course or additional qualification, for example).

Once you have done this, you will feel a lot more prepared for what they may ask you and instead to feeling worried can take the interview as an opportunity to shine.

Following the recession, many people found themselves out of work for reasons that were beyond their control. Getting back into work can be tricky especially if you are lacking in skills or experience. Young people that had just finished education often struggle as they do not have any work experience that they can offer when applying for a new job.

The government have recognised this and have started up programmes to try and aid these people to be able to find a job. There are many incentives for employers to take on new members of staff, especially ones that have been out of work or that will start as an apprentice.

Work Together programmes are designed to allow people to do some volunteering work to build up the experience they need. Often the Job Centre will be able to offer these to you and you may also be able to get help with childcare costs and travel costs.

Many skills we learn are transferable between jobs even if they are in different industries. Good time keeping, organisation and people skills are required in nearly all jobs and once you have mastered the basics of these, they can help you quickly adapt to a new role.

If you have been in a previous job role and have come across a situation that was hard to manage, then you may have learned a new skill that helped you in the future. This skill may be needed time and time again in subsequent roles and therefore it is vital not to forget it.

If you are struggling with one or two particular skills then there is no shame in asking for help and advice. Many employers actually look fondly on employees that do this as it shows that they are evaluating their own work and performance and picking up on areas of improvement that are needed.

Online job boards are places that people looking for work can upload their CV, too. You usually create a profile and then upload a CV and possible an image to display on the website.

This website is then updated to show your details to potential viewers. Some companies sign up to have access to these job boards to help them find suitable candidates for jobs but often many recruitment agencies will use these boards to find potential employees for their clients.

Some job boards are free to register with and others will charge a monthly or annual fee. If they are asking you to pay to be added to the site, see what they are offering such as help with CV writing or advanced placement on the site and compare it to other job sites to see which one is best to register with. If you are contacted by a recruitment agency you may want to ask if they have been hired directly by an employer to fill a position or if they are going to put you forward for jobs that they are not currently responsible for.