Frequently asked questions

General
What is career consulting? Why is it different from recruitment?

Career consultants work with you, whilst recruiters work for/with a company. Recruiters get paid when specific roles are filled. Hence, they might convince you to accept the offer even if it’s not your dream job. Also, recruiters can only get you a job within the limited number or companies they work with. Career consultants help you to figure out what you actually want and then train you to get there. All our consultants are ex-recruiters and trust us, it’s a much nicer thing to do!

Where is ep advisory based?

Although our main office is in London, we have career consultants in 5 different countries (UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland) and a fully remote team spread across the globe (Spain, Montenegro, Poland, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus).

What is the best way to start working with your consulting team?

We recommend starting with a 25-min initial call with one of our consultants. During this call, we will do the assessment of experience, skills and career goals, provide you with basic advice on your CV and LinkedIn and suggest the most suitable EP Advisory’s services and next steps.

How soon can i have my first consultation after i bought a package?

Our scheduling process is fully automated and you will have access to your preferred consultant’s calendar to book a day and a time that works for you. Your consultant will usually have the availability to conduct a session with you in the next 1-3 days after the purchase of the package. There are rare occasions when we are extremely busy and fully booked for the upcoming week. In this case, the waiting time can be up to 7 days.

What if i am late for my session? Can i reschedule?

As per our Cancellation or Postponement Policy, you may cancel or change the time of your consultation up to 24 hours prior to the session’s start time. If you cancel or postpone a pre-agreed session less than 24 hours before the scheduled time, or if you are more than 20 minutes late, the session will be cancelled and no refund will be provided to you.

Why skype/google hangouts? Can i have a face-to-face consultation?

All of our career consultations are conducted by Skype, Google Hangouts or Zoom. Although it is not possible to have a face-to-face consultation, you can meet us if attending one of our offline events!

All of our career consultations are conducted by Skype, Google Hangouts or Zoom. Although it is not possible to have a face-to-face consultation, you can meet us if attending one of our offline Thinkific!

Which guarantees do you give?

We guarantee to deliver all the services included in the package to the highest industry standards. We guarantee that our consulting team has the expertise to answer your toughest career-related questions. We also guarantee the best use of our resources and network to help you reach your career goals. 97% of professionals and 98% of students/graduates find new jobs, get work permits in new countries and change careers with our help. However, we cannot take 100% responsibility for the results of your job hunt, the responsibilities are 50-50. Or better to say 150-150. We give you 150% and expect 150% from you. If you don’t follow our advice, don’t prepare for the interviews or even worse – don’t show up to them, we cannot take responsibility for that.

Professionals
How can i use the hours of personalised consulting in my package?

The number of hours of personalised consulting in each package go in addition to the list of fixed deliverables (e.g. New CV, Updated LinkedIn profile, Cover Letter template) to better respond to your unique needs in preparing for every stage of your job search and application process.

To achieve the best result, we recommend that you divide the allocated hours of personalised consulting to:

  • Discuss your job options, employer types, visas etc.
  • Formulate the best job search strategy, including the use of LinkedIn
  • Prepare for interview and assessment centre training in English or German
  • Review additional cover letters, application forms, LinkedIn messages, email comms with a recruiter etc.
  • Get your documents proofread by a native English/German speaker
  • Cover additional questions, from visas to a job role, via WhatsApp/Email support

We track your time of personalised consulting – and you will always know how many hours you have remaining.

How long are the packages valid for?

Our packages are valid for 3 to 12 months from the date of purchase, depending on the package. Please see individual packages for the exact duration of validity. We would like to highlight that if for some reason you are unable to start working on the package straight away after the purchase, we will extend the validity of the package starting from the date of the first consultation as opposed to the date of purchase.

CV and linkedin writing – how does it work?

CV & LinkedIn writing service is performed in 4 stages.

1. CV formatting

We change the layout of your resume according to what employers want to see using our template that captures the best practice and years of our consultants’ experience.

2. Writing the compelling content

Wondering who actually writes the CV? We do. But to get from a blank page to a finalised document, we need your input and answers to our questions about your experience. First, we define your responsibilities and achievements, find correct job titles in English/German, highlight key competencies and add keywords to resonate with an employer in seconds. It then takes 2-3 rounds of iterations to produce a compelling CV.

3. Proofreading

Our native proofreaders check your CV for errors – your CV has to be mistake-free. We then send you the final version in a word doc format so you can adjust it to any relevant roles. Our clients often say, “I cannot believe that my experience and achievements sound so impressive!”

4. LinkedIn profile optimisation notes

Based on the proofread resume, we send you instructions on how to optimise your LinkedIn profile in English. The instructions cover every little detail, from URL and overall settings to every section of your profile. Once you have updated your LinkedIn profile, we will look through it again to make sure you did everything correctly and provide further improvement recommendations when needed.
In addition to your CV and LinkedIn notes, you will get a 17-page CV ebook, a 12-page LinkedIn ebook and a guide on how to adapt the CV for each role.

What is a cover letter template and why do i need one?

A Cover letter template is one of our most important deliverables that is essential to your job search and application process. We write a Cover letter template personalised to your positioning and job search strategy. You can then use this template as a starting point and key guide for your multiple job applications.
We make sure you fully understand how to work with your Cover letter template most efficiently when applying for different jobs. That’s why this service includes the following process:

  • We create a personalised template based on your experience and career goals.
  • You pick one live job ad and use our template to create a draft of a tailored cover letter.
  • We study the draft, make amendments if required, providing you with further recommendations (this can take 1-3 drafts).
  • Once we finalise your tailored cover letter to the job you picked, we send it to a native speaker for proofreading.
  • You then receive the proofread tailored cover letter you can use as an example for future applications as well as the template you originally received.
How long will it take to write my cv/cover letter/linkedin messages?

It largely depends on your schedule and how fast you reply to our consultant’s questions and return the drafts to us. Here is the usual timeframe:

  • CV & LinkedIn writing service (CV & LinkedIn profile optimisation) takes 5-7 working days.
  • Cover Letter writing and editing takes 3-4 working days per each cover letter.
  • LinkedIn message tailored templates creation takes 1 working day.
Do you prepare for interview for graduate schemes?

Of course! Our consultants Ksenia Goncharova, Elena Lvova and Andre Atallah have many years of experience preparing for interviews and assessment centres in the UK and Europe. They have already helped hundreds of our clients to secure a job at a large corporation or a graduate scheme.
Brainteasers, competency-based questions, video interviews and company-specific questions are just some of the assessment types they will train you for.

Will i work with only one consultant?

Not always. Even though you will have one lead consultant allocated to you, there may be other consultants involved in the process. For example, your CV could be written by someone else or we might suggest an interview training with a consultant specialised in a certain industry or country.

Students
What is the difference between fixed deliverables and additional hours of personalised consulting?

Every package includes written deliverables (CV, LinkedIn, Cover Letter, etc) and personalised consulting hours (2-12 hours, depending on the package). The number of hours of personalised consulting in each package go in addition to the list of fixed deliverables and are performed in the form of Skype consultations and email/messenger communications with you related to your job search. In other words, we will take as much time as needed to produce a final version of your CV or a Cover letter (even if it is 2-3 weeks) without deducting any time out of the hours included in the package.

What is the overall structure to your working process?

1. DIRECTION & GOALS

We start with an exploratory consultation via Skype to assess where you want to work and what you aim to do. In the consultation, we guide you through a list of questions on your experience, career options, employer types, visas etc. and help you figure out what’s most suitable for you. The consultation takes 30-60 min out of the total number of personalised consulting hours included in your package.

2. POSITIONING

We write an exceptional CV for you and optimise your LinkedIn profile based on the details of your experience you provide us with. At the end of this stage, you will also get additional ebooks & guides on how to adapt your CV for each role. This step takes 5-7 working days of your lead consultant and does not affect the package hours of personalised consulting.

3. STRATEGY

We book a strategy consultation via Skype and show you effective ways of approaching your dream employers in line with your updated positioning. This includes LinkedIn/Xing training, access to hidden job markets, introductions to potential employers etc. The consultation takes 30-45 min out of the total number of hours included in your package.

4. APPLICATION PROCESS

We create a personalised Cover Letter template and an introductory LinkedIn message template based on your positioning and career goals. After you pick a live job ad that you would like to apply for, we work together on adjusting your templates to it and provide you with recommendations on how to best use your Cover Letter and LinkedIn messages. This step takes 3-5 working days of your lead consultant and does not affect the package hours of personalised consulting.

5. INTERVIEW & OFFER

Based on your preference of a role at a company you’d like to work for, we hold a mock interview helping you prepare for the final part of your application process. One mock interview training takes 1-1.5 hours out of the total time of personalised consulting in your package.

What can i spend the remaining time of personalised consulting left in my package?

You can spend the hours of personalised consulting in your package on ongoing support and any questions you might have throughout the job search, application and relocation process, from visa options to cover letter reviews to editing your emails. Whatever you need along the way, we are always by your side – whether over the phone, in WhatsApp/email or via Skype.

What happens when the hours of personalised consulting in the package run out?

You will see it in your dashboard. We track your time of personalised consulting by recording time spent on Skype consultations, reviewing your cover letters or answering your questions in WhatsApp. You will always know how many hours/minutes you have remaining.

How do i know how much time of personalised consulting is left in my package?

You can also buy an unlimited amount of additional hours via our website

How long are the packages valid for?

Our packages are valid for 3 to 12 months from the date of purchase, depending on the package. Please see individual packages for the exact duration of validity. We would like to highlight that if for some reason you are unable to start working on the package straight away after the purchase, we will extend the validity of the package starting from the date of the first consultation as opposed to the date of purchase.

CV and linkedin writing – how does it work?

CV & LinkedIn writing service is performed in 4 stages.

1. CV formatting

We change the layout of your resume according to what employers want to see using our template that captures the best practice and years of our consultants’ experience.

2. Writing the compelling content

Wondering who actually writes the CV? We do. But to get from a blank page to a finalised document, we need your input and answers to our questions about your experience. First, we define your responsibilities and achievements, find correct job titles in English/German, highlight key competencies and add keywords to resonate with an employer in seconds. It then takes 2-3 rounds of iterations to produce a compelling CV.

3. Proofreading

Our native proofreaders check your CV for errors – your CV has to be mistake-free. We then send you the final version in a word doc format so you can adjust it to any relevant roles. Our clients often say, “I cannot believe that my experience and achievements sound so impressive!”

4. LinkedIn profile optimisation notes

Based on the proofread resume, we send you instructions on how to optimise your LinkedIn profile in English. The instructions cover every little detail, from URL and overall settings to every section of your profile. Once you have updated your LinkedIn profile, we will look through it again to make sure you did everything correctly and provide further improvement recommendations when needed.
In addition to your CV and LinkedIn notes, you will get a 17-page CV ebook, a 12-page LinkedIn ebook and a guide on how to adapt the CV for each role.

What is a cover letter template and why do i need one?

A Cover letter template is one of our most important deliverables that is essential to your job search and application process. We write a Cover letter template personalised to your positioning and job search strategy. You can then use this template as a starting point and key guide for your multiple job applications.
We make sure you fully understand how to work with your Cover letter template most efficiently when applying for different jobs. That’s why this service includes the following process:

  • We create a personalised template based on your experience and career goals.
  • You pick one live job ad and use our template to create a draft of a tailored cover letter.
  • We study the draft, make amendments if required, providing you with further recommendations (this can take 1-3 drafts).
  • Once we finalise your tailored cover letter to the job you picked, we send it to a native speaker for proofreading.
  • You then receive the proofread tailored cover letter you can use as an example for future applications as well as the template you originally received.
How is a bespoke cover letter different from a cover letter template?

Corporate and All-in-one packages include a Bespoke Cover Letter amongst other deliverables. Unlike the Cover letter template that provides a basis for multiple job applications, the Bespoke cover letter targets a specific job role that you’d like to apply for. The process includes the following steps:

  • We write a tailored cover letter from scratch for the open job of your choice, starting from thorough company research to providing details of your relevant experience.
  • We send you the first draft with comments/questions if there is any information missing. It usually takes 1-3 drafts to get it right.
  • We send the final version of your tailored cover letter to a native speaker for proofreading.
How long will it take to write my cv/cover letter/linkedin messages?

It largely depends on your schedule and how fast you reply to our consultant’s questions and return the drafts to us. Here is the usual timeframe:

  • CV & LinkedIn writing service (CV & LinkedIn profile optimisation) takes 5-7 working days.
  • Cover Letter writing and editing takes 3-4 working days per each cover letter
  • LinkedIn message tailored templates creation takes 1 working day
Will i work with only one consultant?

Of course! Our consultants Ksenia Goncharova, Elena Lvova and Andre Atallah have many years of experience preparing for interviews and assessment centres in the UK and Europe. They have already helped hundreds of our clients to secure a job at a large corporation or a graduate scheme.
Brainteasers, competency-based questions, video interviews and company-specific questions are just some of the assessment types they will train you for.

Do you prepare for interview for graduate schemes?

Not always. Even though you will have one lead consultant allocated to you, there may be other consultants involved in the process. For example, your CV could be written by someone else or we might suggest an interview training with a consultant specialised in a certain industry or country.

Online learning
When do the courses start?

The course materials are available immediately upon your purchase via our website. You will get a welcome email with a registration link to the learning platform and login instructions.

When do the courses end?

Our online courses are completely self-paced and are not attached to a specific start date or deadline. You decide when you start and when you finish.

How long do i have access to the courses?

You have 3 months after purchase to complete the course and access all the downloadable materials.

What are the software requirements for this courses?

We use Thinkific educational platform to provide you with a smooth learning experience. You will need access to the internet to view the course videos, presentations, download the course files and participate in the discussions. No other technology is required.

Payments
My payment didn't go through – what could be the reason?

Yes! We offer an installment plan for packages with a value of over £1500.00. It is a 2-payment installment plan, where you pay 50% immediately and the remaining 50% – after 4 weeks from the date of purchase.

If you are interested in our installment plan, please email us at info@ep-advisory.isite.app with:.

  • Your full name
  • Package you are interested in
  • Your billing address

We will then issue you an electronic invoice for the first 50% of the fee.

My payment didn't go through – what could be the reason?

Unfortunately, most declines are categorised by the card issuer as “generic” so it’s not always possible to know exactly why a payment was declined. First thing to do is to make sure that the postcode of your billing address matches the information that your card issuer/bank has on file for you. If you’d recently moved homes and haven’t updated your details, you may still have your previous postcode on file.

If all of the card information seems correct, it is best to contact your card issuer and ask for more information. For privacy and security, card issuers can only discuss the specifics of a declined payment with their cardholders – they cannot discuss this with us, or even with Stripe.

In addition, Stripe’s automated fraud prevention toolset, Radar, blocks any payments that we identify as being high-risk. Radar can help you most effectively combat fraud, with features such as rules that block payments if the CVC or doesn’t match the information on file with your customer’s card issuer.

VAT – how does it work?

20% UK sales tax (VAT) is added to the price at checkout as we are a UK-based VAT-registered business. However, if the billing address of the card you are paying with is outside the EU (e.g. in UAE, the USA, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Belaurus, etc) no VAT will be added.

How do i pay for a package or course?

Our website is fully e-commerce and we use Stripe as our payment processing platform. You can make a payment with all major debit and credit cards as well as Apple Pay. We do not currently support PayPal.

Contact

We are an online career consulting company, so you are welcome to contact us through the preferred means of communication, whether it is by email, via social media or a messenger.

Our social media accounts are:

• Instagram:
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• Telegram:
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For enquired related to packages and the way our consulting team works, please contact us at admin@ep-advisory.com

For collaborations, PR and marketing enquiries, get in touch with us at marketing@ep-advisory.com

If you have payment issues or questions or would like to get installment plan, feel free to reach out to us at info@ep-advisory.com

For the enquires related to webinars or courses, please message us on info@ep-advisory.com