Whether you are new to job hunting, have been made redundant or are refreshing your job search here are some handy tips that could help you in your search for a new job this year.
- Think outside the box!
What job are you doing at the moment, what do you actually want to do and what can you do? Are your skills transferable to other roles? Just because you have been doing one particular role, don’t think you are pigeonholed in to that role for the rest of your career. There are plenty of roles that can use transferrable skills, so if you are looking to change careers or industries look at the job descriptions and see if you have the relevant skills and what you can offer. Be sure to send a covering letter listing them when applying for the job so the company can see what you have to offer and why they should short list your application.
- Networking with friends, family, and ex colleagues
Networking is not to be underestimated, recommendations of places to work and open job opportunities through word of mouth is a great way to hear first hand what companies are like to work for and could give you a foot in the door and fast track your application process. Think about friends or family that work for companies that you would like to work for or get in touch with ex colleagues to see what they are doing now; likelihood is that you may have similar backgrounds and the company they work for may suit your background too. Job/Career fairs and company open days are a great way for companies to showcase what they do and you can get an idea of the people they recruit and meet some of their employees, some companies go as far as doing a mini interview on the day so make sure you look the part and have your CV ready to distribute on the day.
- Target and research companies you would like to work for
Get to know the companies in your area and industry by searching on the internet or walking the local areas. Research them online, do they have roles available? If not, you could always send your CV speculatively to see if they have anything in the future. Some companies recruit seasonally so make sure you know when they are recruiting so you don’t miss out, if you miss the timing be sure to make a note so you are ahead of the game next time.
- Recruitment agencies
Approach Recruitment agencies in your local area, they will be actively working with companies with open vacancies, have a look at the agency websites, are they recruiting for the type of roles you are looking for? If so, contact them and see what they have to offer. If they are recruiting in the same industry but nothing appeals to you, contact them anyway, they may have some ideas you haven’t thought of or know something that is coming up.
- Job sites
Use keywords to search for the type of role you are looking for or the skills you have to see available jobs online and sign up for job alerts so you don’t miss anything. This will give you an idea of the types of roles around and the salaries on offer to see if you are pitching yourself correctly in the marketplace.
- Volunteering
If you are looking to completely change industries or have been out of work, volunteering work is a great way to gain additional skills and move industries whilst getting your foot in the door and make a difference at the same time.
- Temporary Work
If you want flexibility, are unsure what you want to do, would like to try different roles or need a stop gap for the time being, temporary work is a great way to try a role before you commit long term. The role could be a week long assignment or long term, they vary in length as do the roles and the industries. Some companies will advertise temporary roles directly or speak a recruitment consultancy who, if they have a temporary division will be able to discuss suitable opportunities with you.
- Social Media
Social media is becoming more attractive to stay in touch and also job search, be it LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc, not only are they great ways to stay connected it is also an opportunity to research companies and find open roles that may be of interest. Ensure you have refreshed your social media presence, make sure it is up to date and professional and if a potential employer does look you up, there won’t be anything on there you wouldn’t want them to see.
