The task of trying to source new employment can be a really challenging time in a persons life. It can be a very daunting experience, from submitting your CV to phone interviews to face to face interviews and of course the dreaded rejection. Unless of course you are one of the lucky people that found themselves working in a high-demand career. It is possible to make the process a little easier on yourself if you form a strategy when it comes to looking for a new job. The tips that we have included in this little guide to find a new job can be applied by all jobseekers, from those you are just beginning their career path to experienced professionals that are just looking for a change.
1. Be Specific about what you want
Before you begin looking for your new job. Take the time to sit down with yourself and just reflect on your strengths and weaknesses. Think about the type of work that you enjoy doing. The better you know yourself the better chance you’ll have of securing a job that provides you with greater satisfaction. Ask yourself what do you want to get out of a job? What is your priority, money, title, promotion, location?
2. Research your target companies
Once you know what it is that you are looking for, it’s time to start researching the companies that you are considering applying for. You don’t want to start applying for positions blindsided, you must find what the companies you are applying for want. You can get a lot of information about a company simply by observing their website. Another method of investigating a company is by using a social media search. Use this to your advantage. In this day and age most businesses will have an active social media, whether that’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn. You can gain some valuable information by researching these platforms, whether that’s about the brand personality of the company, the people that work their or the company culture.
3. Tailor you CV appropriately
Your CV is one of your most valuable tools for a job search. Your CV is what represents you and your professional background before the employer ever gets a chance to meet you and speak to you in person. As harsh as it may sound an employer is going to judge you on your CV before ever deciding whether you are a suitable candidate for a particular role or not. Many jobseekers make the the same mistake of sending the same CV for multiple job applications. One of the best things you can do when trying to find a new job is to have an achievement-orientated CV that includes achievements that are relevant to a particular job. (Honest achievements, don’t just pull these achievements from the clouds. Obviously.) Make it hard for the business to deny that you deserve a place in their establishment. Make yourself an obvious fit. Analyse the terminology use in the job description and rephrase some of that, include these phrases in your CV. The recruiter should know within a few seconds of scanning your CV that you have the required skill set for the role.
4. Create a personal online brand
Believe it or not employers are utilizing social media to their advantage too. Employers are carrying out background checks on their potential candidates to see what type of person they are and to see if they will fit in well with the company culture. How you portray yourself online can really impact how employers perceive you as a potential employee. Ultimately, social media can be a great tool for you if you use it well, you can essentially create our own personal brand on social media. Building your brand simply means showcasing your expertise and passion online where employers can see it easily when searching the web. LinkedIn is probably one of the most frequently used online platforms for employers on the look out for new members of their team. LinkedIn is a great resource for finding people working at companies that interest you and also for positioning to be found by recruiters and hiring managers with relevant openings.
5. Build your network of contacts
Networking in person and online is key to your success in your job search. Reach out to people you know. The likelihood is that if you have some connections in a specific field of work they may be more than willing to help you with uncover particular job leads. It’s a simple way to help you get a good idea of what is out there so that you can be more strategic in your job search. If you know someone working at a company that is of interest to you, ask for a referral. In general employers prefer to interview people who come recommended to them before scanning through CVs arriving through a career site.
6. Don’t limit yourself to online applications
Throughout your job search if you rely solely on online applications, you could be waiting an extended amount of time before you hear anything back from the company. By the time you submit your application, the organisation may already be in the final interview stage, or the position might have already been fulfilled. Try and contact companies that interest you directly, you might get in touch with an internal recruiting agent for the company. It’s important to make yourself known to the people at the company, this might be a useful stepping stone to getting your foot in the door.
7. Develop stories that showcase your skills
People will remember stories. Before you attend any interview or networking event it’s always a good idea to have some stories up your sleeve that can show your skill set, experience and achievements that you have received throughout your career. It’s important to stand out and make yourself memorable. You must understand that some employers may have up to 10 interviews a day for certain positions. You need to figure out a way to make yourself distinguishable against the other candidates and stories are a great way to do this.
8. Prepare for all job interviews
Develop responses for common interview questions, and then practice them aloud. We have already covered a little article on some common and frequently asked interview questions, that might be worth looking at if you are currently preparing for an interview. It’s always good to get a friend to step in to act as an employer so you can stage a mock interview. The more comfortable and familiar you are with the interview process, the more likely you are to be successful.
9. Show gratitude after the interview
It’s always a good idea to show some gratitude to an employer after them taking the time to interview you. A simple email of thanks to emphasize your interest and fit with the job and the employer will not guarantee you the job in question but it will give you an advantage from the majority of other candidates that do not bother with the simple act of courtesy.
10. Expect the job search to take longer than you think
Yes, it happens some people can get a job offer in a really short period of time. However, the reality is that it might take months to find the right opportunity and get offered the position. You should prepare yourself for a long battle then in the event of a shortened job hunt you can be happily surprised you are one of the lucky few whose job search got cut short.
11. Be kind to yourself
As mentioned earlier job searching can be a long, challenging and stressful period. It’s important to to take some time to yourself to unwind and not get completely caught up in the process. Surround yourself with good people, having people around you to vent your frustration to when things don’t exactly go to plan will help the process.
Photo: Bright Owl