There is a lot of advice out there for those job hunting, but these easy tips will help take some of the stress out of the search for your dream job and the next step in your career.
Get Prepared
Just one CV and one cover letter won’t do it these days. It’s important to tailor your CV for each application you make. Many organisations now use tracking systems which means that when you submit your CV, software will pick out any keywords that you have used that relate to the job advert. Review your CV and make sure that it highlights all the essential points that are listed in the job advert. You should tailor your CV and cover letter for every job you apply for, and make that anything relevant, from experience to qualifications, is listed.
Go Beyond Online Job Boards
Most people go straight online to job boards now, but don’t limit your options by only using this method. Jobs that have been posted online will get a lot of applications, meaning your application can easily get lost. A lot of organisations used agencies, so find ones that specialise in your field, such as Engineering Recruitment, and register with them. Good agencies will want to interview you themselves before they out your forward for roles. This is because they have worked to build relationships with their clients. It’s best for you and them if they only send you out for roles you stand a good chance of getting. When you meet the agency, it’s another job interview, and you need to make a good impression. Listen to the advice they give you. They’re experts, after all.
Take On Feedback
A lot of organizations don’t give feedback unless you get to the interview, but it’s worth asking. If the organization won’t, your recruitment agency might be able to give you some feedback. Take any feedback you get on board.
Make Friends With Agencies
The employer has a relationship with the agencies. They probably have a lot of candidates on their books too, so it can pay off to make sure that you are in the front of their minds. Don’t call every day, but do call to check in on a regular basis, especially if you have seen an advert for a job with an organization that you know you want to work for.
Go A Step Further
If you want to work for a particular organization, look for people who already work there and approach them for an informal chat. Tell them why you want to meet them. Remember that they may not have an influence, but they can give you an idea of what it’s really like to work somewhere.
Use LinkedIn
Most recruiters are on LinkedIn now. You can turn on career interests in your dashboard, which tells employers that you are looking for work, and lets you connect with recruiters, to get the search started.
Connect With Your Network
The LinkedIn feature that lets you hide updates is useful, but if you are looking for a job, you want people to know that you’re looking for work. People are often happy to help, so it’s a good idea to contact people who could be useful across your network. Most people will be happy to help.
Sync Your CV And LinkedIn Profile
Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date. It won’t help you if your CV is great, but your LinkedIn hasn’t been updated in five years. Update it on a regular basis. It’s important that the details match up too. Don’t be liberal with the details on your CV, assuming that employers won’t look at your LinkedIn.
Use Job Alerts
To ease up your job hunting process, you can set up alerts for suitable jobs on LinkedIn and on job boards. When you have searched for a job, you should see an option to sign up for alerts for similar jobs. This can save you a lot of time sifting through the boards or LinkedIn yourself.
Follow Companies That You’re Interested In
This is an easy way to make sure you know what’s going on in the company and can help you carry out some research if you get an interview with them. If you are serious about working for a specific company, follow them on social media, and make a note of any developments, so you can easily refer back to them.
Post Photos
The age we live in today is a visual one, so try to post unique photographs. Employers often check social media ahead of interviews, so make sure your posts are appropriate. If you went to a professional event, post some pictures of that, for example. Images like this work well on LinkedIn and are more interesting than most people’s long, text-only posts.
Look over all your social media accounts and remove anything that makes you look like you could be a liability for a company. If you have photographs or posts anywhere online that you wouldn’t want a potential boss to see, take them down. Be very careful to never criticize your past or current employers on social media. You may be in the right, but it’s offputting to potential employers.
Avoid Basic Errors
When job hunting make sure that potential employers can easily find your contact information. They might be able to message you through LinkedIn, but you can save them time by providing your email address or phone number.
Contact Recruiters On LinkedIn
LinkedIn messaging is very useful when job hunting. Do some research to find out who the hiring managers are in the company you want to work for. Unless they are using a recruitment agency, direct message the relevant person. You can connect with recruiters on LinkedIn too.
Use LinkedIn As A Search Engine
Search for something specific on LinkedIn, such as ‘HR recruiters’. Remember that recruiters can search in this way too, so make sure your skills and endorsements on your profile reflect what recruiters are looking for in your industry or area of specialism.