On the First day of job hunting…Be realistic Competition is fierce so you have to accept that you will be up against a lot of people for every role you apply for. These are tough times for jobseekers. Many of the companies who are not actively laying-off staff are freezing recruitment. That said, the fundamentals of the job market haven’t changed, even if the odds are a little longer. Vacancies are certainly scarcer, but this just means that you have to be better prepared.
On the Second day of job hunting…Target your niche marketIn the current climate it might be tempting to apply for every single job you are qualified for (and sometimes over qualified for) and just take whatever comes along first. You wouldn’t dream of being so unselective if you were house hunting so why do it when you’re job hunting? Instead of blindly sending out your CV’s to every Tom, Dick and Harry, target those in the know. Seek out agencies with consultants who a) really know what they’re talking about and b) have great contacts to ensure you get put forward for the jobs which best suit you before they even hit the market. Remember this could be an opportunity for life, not just for Christmas!
On the Third day of job hunting…Get ahead of the crowd Instead of wasting hours of your own time tracking down vacancies make sure you get the right jobs coming directly to you. Registering for job alerts will enable you to save your job searches, set-up email alerts to make sure you get the latest jobs, upload and save your CV and review your previous applications.
On the Fourth day of job hunting …Develop the perfect CVEvery job hunter needs an impressive CV that describes their educational and professional history. A well-prepared and individually tailored CV is invaluable and can greatly improve your chances of getting the job you want.
On the Fifth day of job hunting…Make sure you’re relevant It is surprising how many people send in CV’s that haven’t been tailored to specific job criteria. In order for recruiters to get through the bulk of applications received, they scan through the details, noting keywords, skills and specific work experience that match the details of the job ad. That’s why, to get yourself noticed, you need to concentrate on getting your CV to talk directly to the recruiter and in the language they understand. By adapting this, each time you apply to a unique job vacancy you can make sure you are telling them exactly what they want to hear.
On the Sixth day of job hunting…Get organisedMake sure you keep a record of all the roles you have applied for and use a spreadsheet to document all of your applications. Include contact details and make sure you follow up all your applications. It’s also a really good idea to log all your meetings and interviews in a calendar.
On the Seventh day of job hunting…Get expert help We’ve got 30 years worth of recruitment experience so why not take advantage of it? Our recruitment consultants work a niche, verticle market structure for each specialist division, giving unrivalled coverage and understanding. In this way, we offer a truly consultative recruitment service.
On the Eighth day of job hunting …Be patientBe prepared to accept that you could be looking at longer time scales than you might have expected a couple of years ago. A lot of recruiters are taking more time to make sure they recruit the best applicant and therefore it can be a much longer process.
On the Ninth Day of job hunting…Use technologyTo stand out from the masses, you have to be creative to get noticed. A well written CV and cover letter is only just the start. What about creating a blog to boast about your skills? Employers know that the most productive employees are those who take initiative and are excited about their work. By taking these extra steps, you’re positioning yourself as the talent that they’re looking for, not just another resume in a pile.
On the Tenth Day of job hunting…Get networking Whether you want to discover a better way to write your CV, find job leads faster or simply network better then using social media tools like LinkedIn and Twitter could really give you the edge. The bigger your network the more contacts (and potential employers) you will be exposing yourself to.
On the Eleventh Day of job hunting…Be resilientThere are many reasons that you might not be selected for a role and its best not to take it too personally. More often than not, there may be a ‘behind-the-scenes story’. Take any feedback on-board and work though any areas you might want to improve on. It may take time but you will get there in the end, with some careful thought and some good advice.
On the Twelfth Day of job hunting…Shine!So you’ve done your research, found the perfect role, written a spot-on CV and bagged an interview, now what? When it comes to landing that dream job, it is usually the candidate who performs best at the interview who wins. Even if other contenders have more impressive resumes, better qualifications and more experience, employers are invariably swayed by the person who has obviously done extensive job interview preparation and impresses most on the day. With all of that done, the dream job should be yours for the taking - good luck!
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