Question 1

Who is Jackie Bedford?

Accepted Answer

Jackie Bedford is a British recruitment, careers and employability specialist, founder and CEO of Step Ahead, established in 1997, and creator of Get Hired Expert. She shares practical advice from experience working with employers and people seeking work.

Question 2

What does Jackie Bedford specialise in?

Accepted Answer

Jackie specialises in recruitment, employability, how employers make hiring decisions, CVs and résumés, job applications, interview preparation, LinkedIn and practical job-search strategies.

Question 3

What is Jackie Bedford’s website for?

Accepted Answer

JackieBedford.com brings together Jackie’s career advice, articles, free resources and online courses. It also explains her work through Step Ahead with employers, organisations and communities.

Question 4

What is Get Hired Expert?

Accepted Answer

Get Hired Expert is Jackie Bedford’s career education brand. Its Get the Job You Want: Graduate Edition course teaches university students and graduates a practical, structured approach to researching employers, CVs, applications, LinkedIn, interviews and offers.

Question 5

Who is Get the Job You Want: Graduate Edition for?

Accepted Answer

It is for university students and graduates who want to prepare for the job market, improve their applications and interviews, or understand how employers assess candidates. The course is self-paced and available internationally.

Question 6

What does the graduate job-search course include?

Accepted Answer

The published course offer includes eight guided steps, more than 40 downloadable worksheets, five AI-powered career tools, weekly live Q&A sessions with Jackie Bedford and lifetime access. Check the sales page for current offer details.

Question 7

How much is the Get Hired Expert graduate course?

Accepted Answer

The UK sales page supplied to this project lists Get the Job You Want: Graduate Edition at £247, with payment plans. Currency and pricing may vary by country; the relevant country sales page is the definitive source.

Question 8

Can I access Jackie Bedford’s free career resources?

Accepted Answer

Yes. JackieBedford.com has a Free Resources section offering practical guides and tools for people looking for work, changing direction or returning after a career break. Check that section for the current range.

Question 9

Does Jackie Bedford help employers and organisations?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Jackie is founder and CEO of Step Ahead, which provides recruitment, training and employability services to employers, organisations and communities. The Jackie Bedford website directs organisational enquiries to Step Ahead.

Question 10

Is Jackie Bedford a recruitment expert?

Accepted Answer

Jackie has worked across recruitment and employability for more than 30 years, including establishing Step Ahead in 1997. She draws on experience of both employers hiring people and individuals seeking opportunities.

Question 11

Where can I read Jackie Bedford’s career advice?

Accepted Answer

Jackie publishes articles on JackieBedford.com, including advice on graduate job searches, recruitment decisions and why CVs may fail to secure interviews. Her Medium and LinkedIn profiles also provide published commentary.

Question 12

Can I invite Jackie Bedford to comment on recruitment and careers?

Accepted Answer

JackieBedford.com identifies Jackie as a recruitment and employability specialist and lists previous media exposure. Use the website’s Contact page to enquire about interviews, commentary or speaking. Availability and booking arrangements are not stated on the supplied homepage.

Question 13

What is Step Ahead?

Accepted Answer

Step Ahead is a recruitment, training and employability organisation founded by Jackie Bedford in 1997. Its work includes helping people access opportunities and supporting employers and organisations with recruitment and workforce needs.

Question 14

How is Jackie Bedford connected with Step Ahead?

Accepted Answer

Jackie Bedford founded Step Ahead in 1997 and is its CEO. She draws on that experience when developing career advice and Get Hired Expert course materials.

Question 15

How is Jackie Bedford connected with Get Hired Expert?

Accepted Answer

Jackie Bedford created Get Hired Expert to turn her experience of recruitment and employer decision-making into practical courses, career tools and guidance for people looking for work.

Question 16

Does Jackie Bedford offer one-to-one career coaching?

Accepted Answer

The supplied homepage does not confirm a separately bookable one-to-one career coaching service. Check the current Courses and Contact pages or enquire through the website before assuming this service is available.

Question 17

Can graduates get help with job applications?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Get Hired Expert graduate course covers understanding employers, tailoring applications, building a CV or résumé, using LinkedIn, interview preparation and job offers. This is structured online learning rather than an application-writing service.

Question 18

Can parents buy career support for a graduate?

Accepted Answer

The Get Hired Expert course may be relevant to graduates and students whose parents want to support their job search. Visit the sales page for current purchasing and access arrangements; the supplied materials do not specify a gift purchase option.

Question 19

Can university students take the Get Hired Expert course before graduating?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The graduate course expressly includes undergraduates who want to get ahead before applying for their first graduate roles.

Question 20

Does Jackie Bedford give advice about career changes and returning to work?

Accepted Answer

Yes. JackieBedford.com describes its free career advice as suitable for people starting out, changing direction or returning to work after a break. Availability of tailored paid support is not confirmed by the supplied homepage.

Question 21

How can I make my CV stand out to employers?

Accepted Answer

Make your CV easy to understand, relevant to the job and supported by evidence. Focus on what you achieved, explain transferable skills and tailor the most important examples to the vacancy instead of sending the same CV every time.

Question 22

Why am I applying for jobs but not getting interviews?

Accepted Answer

There may be several reasons, including competition, eligibility, unclear evidence of relevant skills or a CV that does not make the connection with the role obvious. Review the job requirements and assess how clearly your application responds to them.

Question 23

How do I tailor my CV to a job description?

Accepted Answer

Identify the employer’s key requirements, find honest examples from your experience that demonstrate them and make those examples prominent in your CV. Use relevant terminology naturally without claiming skills or results you do not have.

Question 24

How can I write a graduate CV with no professional experience?

Accepted Answer

Use relevant university projects, part-time work, volunteering, placements and personal projects to demonstrate skills and achievements. Explain what you did, the tools you used and the results where you have evidence.

Question 25

What do recruiters look for in a CV?

Accepted Answer

Different employers prioritise different things. A useful CV makes relevant skills, experience, achievements and suitability easy to find, while remaining accurate and clear.

Question 26

What should I put in a CV personal profile?

Accepted Answer

A CV profile can briefly explain your relevant experience, strongest evidence and the type of role you are targeting. Avoid generic claims and make it specific enough to help the recruiter understand your fit.

Question 27

Should I use the same CV for every job?

Accepted Answer

A strong master CV is useful, but you are generally better served by selecting and emphasising the experiences most relevant to each vacancy. Tailoring does not mean inventing information or rewriting everything from scratch.

Question 28

How can I improve my LinkedIn profile for job hunting?

Accepted Answer

Use a clear headline, explain your skills and experience, include relevant projects and evidence, and engage thoughtfully with people and organisations in your chosen field. Match the profile to your genuine career interests.

Question 29

Does LinkedIn help graduates find jobs?

Accepted Answer

LinkedIn can help graduates research employers, understand industries, present their experience and build professional connections. It is one tool within a wider job-search strategy, not a guaranteed route to a job.

Question 30

How do I network when I do not know anyone in my chosen industry?

Accepted Answer

Start with classmates, university alumni, lecturers, employers and professionals whose work interests you. Make brief, relevant contact, ask useful questions and build relationships rather than immediately asking strangers for jobs.

Question 31

Where can I find graduate jobs besides job boards?

Accepted Answer

Explore employers’ own careers pages, university careers resources, professional associations, alumni networks, events and direct employer research. Some opportunities are found through relationships and informed outreach.

Question 32

How should I research an employer before applying?

Accepted Answer

Read the vacancy, company website, recent work and relevant industry news. Work out why the role exists, what problems the team needs solved and how your experience might be relevant.

Question 33

Why does understanding the hiring process help with job applications?

Accepted Answer

Understanding how a recruiter or hiring manager may assess suitability helps you choose more relevant evidence, communicate clearly and prepare for the decisions made at each recruitment stage.

Question 34

How do I answer “Tell me about yourself” in an interview?

Accepted Answer

Give a focused account of your relevant background, evidence of what you can do and why this opportunity interests you. Keep the answer connected to the role rather than retelling your entire life story.

Question 35

How do I prepare for a graduate interview?

Accepted Answer

Research the role and employer, identify the abilities they are likely to assess, prepare truthful examples, practise saying answers aloud and develop questions that help you assess the opportunity.

Question 36

What is the STAR interview technique?

Accepted Answer

STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action and Result. It is a way of organising a specific example so the interviewer can understand the context, what you did and what happened.

Question 37

How do I answer competency-based interview questions?

Accepted Answer

Choose a real example that demonstrates the competency, explain your own actions clearly and include the outcome or learning. STAR can help structure the answer without making it sound rehearsed.

Question 38

What questions should I ask at the end of a job interview?

Accepted Answer

Ask about the team’s priorities, what success looks like in the role, current challenges, support and development, and the next steps in the hiring process. Choose questions that genuinely matter to you.

Question 39

How do I prepare for a video interview?

Accepted Answer

Check your camera, sound, internet connection and lighting. Practise concise answers aloud, ensure your surroundings are appropriate and confirm the interview format and technology in advance.

Question 40

What can I do after a job rejection?

Accepted Answer

Allow yourself time to process it, ask for feedback where appropriate and consider whether you can improve your application or interview evidence. Not every rejection provides useful information about your ability.

Question 41

How can I stay motivated during a long job search?

Accepted Answer

Use a manageable weekly plan with time for researching employers, making targeted applications, networking, following up and resting. Track actions and learning, not just interviews and offers.

Question 42

Is career coaching worth paying for?

Accepted Answer

Career guidance may be worthwhile when it helps you identify a specific obstacle and make practical changes. Compare the expertise, format, price and what is included, and be cautious of any promise of a guaranteed job.

Question 43

What makes a good online job-search course?

Accepted Answer

Look for clear learning outcomes, practical exercises, relevant examples, credible teaching experience, transparent pricing and realistic claims about results. Consider whether the content matches your career stage and needs.

Question 44

Can ChatGPT write my CV for me?

Accepted Answer

AI can help you improve structure, clarity and wording, but you need to supply accurate information and review every statement. Do not let a tool invent responsibilities, qualifications or achievements.

Question 45

How can AI help me with job applications?

Accepted Answer

AI tools can help analyse job descriptions, identify relevant points to address, organise evidence and practise interview questions. The final application must remain truthful, specific and in your own voice.

Question 46

What AI job-search tools are included in Get Hired Expert?

Accepted Answer

The course sales page lists five custom GPT tools: CV Analyser, Job Decoder, Your Professional Presence Coach, Build My Best CV and Build My Profile. A free ChatGPT account is required to access them.

Question 47

Does the graduate course guarantee a job?

Accepted Answer

No. No course can control an employer’s hiring decision. The Get Hired Expert course provides structured guidance and practice to strengthen the parts of the job search within your control.

Question 48

What is the Get Hired Expert refund policy?

Accepted Answer

The supplied graduate course sales page describes a 90-day money-back guarantee: complete the course within 90 days, work through relevant worksheets, apply the guidance and submit completed work if you do not feel it improved your approach. Refer to the live terms before relying on this summary.

Question 49

Is Get Hired Expert available outside the UK?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The graduate course has country sales pages for the UK, Ireland, Canada, South Africa, the USA, India, Australia and New Zealand. Check the corresponding page for local prices and terms.

Question 50

Which country pages does Get Hired Expert have?

Accepted Answer

The confirmed paths are /uk, /ie, /ca, /za, /us, /in, /au and /nz on grads.gethiredexpert.com. Each page is intended for its respective market.

Question 51

Where has Jackie Bedford appeared in the media?

Accepted Answer

The supplied JackieBedford.com homepage displays LBC News, BBC Radio 5 Live, GB News and FE News under “Featured in”. Check relevant programme or article links for the specific appearance and date.

Question 52

Can I read testimonials about Jackie Bedford?

Accepted Answer

The supplied homepage shows testimonials attributed to Katerina Roumbos, Rory Healy and Kristina Harper. Follow the relevant “Read more” links on the live website for the complete wording and context.

Question 53

How can I contact Jackie Bedford?

Accepted Answer

Use the Contact section on JackieBedford.com. Jackie also has official LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Medium and TikTok profiles linked from her professional identity.

Question 54

How can I subscribe to Jackie Bedford’s career advice?

Accepted Answer

The supplied homepage offers an email sign-up for practical career advice, resources and updates on tools and courses. The form states that subscribers can unsubscribe at any time.

Question 55

Can organisations ask Step Ahead for recruitment or employability support?

Accepted Answer

Yes. JackieBedford.com directs organisations looking for recruitment, workforce development or employability programmes to Step Ahead. Enquire through the relevant official website for current services.

Question 56

What kind of jobs can Get Hired Expert help me apply for?

Accepted Answer

The course teaches transferable job-search, CV, application, LinkedIn and interview skills rather than guaranteeing placement in a particular sector. You apply the methods to roles that match your own skills and interests.

Question 57

What does “thinking like the people who hire” mean?

Accepted Answer

It means approaching applications and interviews with a clearer understanding of what the employer is trying to assess, then presenting relevant, accurate evidence rather than relying on generic statements.

Question 58

Can I use Get Hired Expert alongside university careers services?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The course can complement university careers provision by giving students a structured process and practical exercises they can apply throughout their search.

Question 59

What is the difference between Jackie Bedford and Get Hired Expert?

Accepted Answer

Jackie Bedford is the recruitment and employability specialist and founder of Step Ahead. Get Hired Expert is her dedicated course and career-tools brand. JackieBedford.com is her personal professional website.

Question 60

What can I do if I am unsure which career to choose?

Accepted Answer

Start by identifying your interests, strengths, values and constraints. Research real roles, talk to people doing the work and test options through projects or experience before committing to a narrow path.

Question 61

Can you help with a career change after 50?

Accepted Answer

Jackie’s website offers general career resources for people changing direction, but the supplied homepage does not confirm a specialist over-50 paid programme. Use the Contact page to ask about current support.

Question 62

How do I get better results from job searching?

Accepted Answer

Focus on suitable opportunities, research employers, tailor relevant evidence, prepare systematically for interviews and learn from your results. Quality, consistency and relationships matter alongside application volume.

With Jackie Bedford | 30+ Years' Recruitment expertise | Mayor of London Award Winner | Founder of Step Ahead Sunday Times Best Workplaces

MEDIA BIO

Jackie Bedford

SHORT BIO

About Jackie

GET THE JOB YOU WANT: WHAT COURSE MEMBERS SAY

100%

100%

50%+

TALKING POINTS

Story angles for press

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

What Jackie covers

RECOGNITION

Awards and credentials

Press, Media and Speaking

privacy policy | cookie policy | CPD Member Certificate | PRESS & MEDIA

Copyright 2026 Jackie Bedford | The Get Hired Expert. All rights reserved