How to find jobs
With fewer vacancies available due to the recession, finding a new job is a tough business. But don't give up before you've even started - follow our guide to finding jobs, whether they're advertised or not.
Elika explains her top tips for job hunting
Produced by Lifetracks
After being made redundant from her job, Elika was forced to get herself back on track and find a new employer. Here she highlights some useful tips for job hunting.
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"Don't take it personally if you're getting rejections – it happens to everybody, especially when the economy is slow."
Where should I start?
The local Jobcentre is a good place to start. Because it doesn't cost an employer anything to advertise (unlike newspapers or the internet), a high number of employers use job centres to find new staff for both part- and full-time jobs.
The most traditional way to find out about jobs is to look in your local newspaper or industry magazines. Most regional papers will have their jobs pages on a certain day each week, whilst the national newspapers generally have set days for certain types of vacancies.
Many jobs advertised in this way result in hundreds of people applying for the same post, so you need to write a strong covering letter and create a good CV.
Why is a CV so important?
The purpose of a CV is to get you an interview. It's the first impression your potential new boss will get of you, so it needs to be good. Your CV is one or two pages that show your work experience, education, skills that are relevant to the job you are applying for, and your interests and hobbies.
The most important thing when writing your CV is to check your spelling and grammar and make your achievements relevant to the role you're applying for. Employers see lots of CVs when they're recruiting, so careless mistakes – like spelling errors – mean they just end up in the bin.
Can't I just use a recruitment agency?
Agencies will often have access to a large number of jobs that may never get advertised. Some specialise in particular types of work, such as sales, IT or catering. Others will be more general and cover several roles from administration and customer service positions to driving and warehouse jobs.
Bear in mind the agency earns a fee from the client if you get the job. So put as much effort as you can into making yourself the ideal candidate and they'll do the same in return.
You can register with as many agencies as you like – no agency should charge you a penny, even if they find you a job. For added security, look for a trade registered agency.
What about the internet?
There are endless websites advertising jobs, so the trick is to find the ones most relevant to you. If you subscribe (either through an email list or an RSS feed) you'll always know when a new job matching your criteria is added to the site.
The larger job websites let you add your CV so employers can search for potential candidates.
Popular sites include:
Can I find work through social networking sites?
Social networking sites, like Facebook and Bebo, are now prime job-hunting locations. On a simple level, if you make people aware you're looking for work they'll let you know of vacancies they hear about. But if you're friends with any of your current colleagues this might not be a wise option; it's best to be discreet about your quest for a new job until you have the offer signed and sealed.
Make sure there's nothing on your profile to harm your chances – like that picture of you sprawled on the pavement at 3am. More than one in five employers admit to checking an applicant's Facebook or MySpace profile before making a job offer.
Other sites, like Linkedin, are specifically aimed at professionals who want to connect online. Join groups relevant to your type of work to do some online networking to find out about jobs. Or search Yahoo Groups for similar networking opportunities.
I just keep getting rejected, what am I doing wrong?
Probably nothing. Remember that looking for a new job is a job in itself. Don't take it personally if you're getting rejections – it happens to everybody, especially when the economy is slow. See it as a learning experience and be persistent. In the meantime, follow our tips below to make sure you're doing everything you can.
By Paul MacKenzie-Cummins
What next?
- Write your CV. Follow Lifetracks' guide to writing the perfect CV and use free How to write your CV templates on sites such as Monster and Reed to get it right.
- Watch the Lifetracks video on job hunting for loads more tips on how to find your ideal job.
- Visit your local Jobcentre or go online to see what vacancies they have in Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland.
- Find out which recruitment agencies near you advertise the jobs you are interested in.
- Ask your friends, family, people at your sports club, former workmates and neighbours if they know of any jobs going where they work or in their industry.
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