BAGHDAD // Gunmen overran an Iraqi army checkpoint and fired on a trailer packed with policemen breaking their Ramadan fast, killing 14 in the country's volatile western Anbar province, authorities said yesterday.
The attack took place on Wednesday as the troops marked the end of the first day of fasting. It was the latest in a string of militant strikes that has killed more than 2,600 people since April.
Gunmen launched their assault on the checkpoint near the town of Barwana, which lies about 220 kilometres north-west of Baghdad. Barwana's mayor, Meyasser Abdul-Mohsin, said three soldiers were killed in the incident.
The attackers then made their way to a nearby trailer that is used by oil industry police assigned to protect pipelines. The men inside were seated for the iftar meal, Mr Abdul-Mohsin said.
The gunmen fired on the trailer and then set it on fire before making their getaway, the mayor said. Eleven police were killed.
Alsi in Anbar, security forces clashed with militants who tried to ram their explosives-laden car into a police station near the provincial capital of Ramadi. Two policemen and three militants were killed.
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
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- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
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