Going round in circles The latest London Marathon is upon us once again, where a whole group of sweaty people spend an average of six hours getting around the city of London (which is about the same on the Circle Line during the rush hour). Who’ll win this year? Usually it’s Paula Radcliffe, but watch out for that man in the Gorilla outfit – he’s coming on in leaps and bounds. Now then, in the M word this week we talk about how to apply for jobs on spec. It’s not like a usual job application where you just bash in your CV and hope for the best… you have to do all the running and really sell yourself. But it can pay off. We also tell you how to determine what your USPs are so that you can use them to impress at your next interview. And don’t despair if you haven’t got the charm of Alan Sugar or the telephone manner of Jonathan Ross, your very own USP might simply be the fact that you make a great cuppa! Lastly, check out the new Monster Book Store and get hold of all the latest and greatest career guides. Who knows, you could be the first person to read your way to the top. Don’t just wait for that dream job to become available. Send a speculative application. If you do it right there’s a great chance you’ll be successful. And the right way to do it? Yes, you’ve guessed – it’s to read our article. Read more Very few of us highly reserved Brits think of ourselves as having unique selling points. But our article shows you how to pull out your USPs and sell yourself to a prospective employer. Read more Book yourself a great career via the Monster Book Store, where you can order all the latest blockbusters to inspire and boost your career. Read more Want to find out about jobs, career opportunities and see salary comparisons in your UK region or local area? Then check out our Local Job Guides tool. You’ll find all the latest employment information, including salary data, house prices and local job vacancies right where you live. Check it out now Your Newsletter: Your Views The M word will be even more useful with your thoughts and input. Tell us what you’d like to read more of, or what we could do better. Plus if you have any experiences or views about the jobs market, share them with us. If you like us – subscribe now! If you’ve received this week’s M word from a friend and want to receive it regularly, subscribe by opening a My Monster account and opt-in to receive communications from us. If you would no longer like to receive emails from Monster.co.uk, please >unsubscribe here. Subscription to job search agent alerts will remain unchanged. Hide and Seek Making your CV searchable means that employers looking for skills like yours can find you easily. Upload it now and it goes to the front of the queue! Graduate Football Trader, London Kicking goals This is without doubt a fantastic opportunity! One of the UK’s leading gaming firms is looking for a bright, football enthusiast for a junior trading role. The role covers most European soccer leagues so you must have a strong all round football knowledge. The successful candidate will have a good understanding of the dynamics involved in trading and a strong academic background preferably with a math or stats based degree. Are you ready to take the bet? Receiving the latest news and views on current issues in your industry is one click away! Just add your industry to your profile. Too busy to be always checking your email for job alerts? Monster has the solution with free Target SMS job notifications, giving you the latest relevant job opportunities direct to your mobile. Click here to subscribe.