If you’ve neglected your job hunt in recent months, then it’s time to get back on track. January is a great time to start searching for your next position, as double down on recruiting top staff. This means there will be plenty of new opportunities ready and waiting for you. You only have to look!
If you’re not sure how to get started, we’ve got your covered.
Spice up your CV and cover letter
Everyone puts a lot of effort into perfecting their CV and cover letter at the start of their job search. However, the key to success is keeping them updated throughout the process. This means ensuring that you tailor them towards every single job you apply for; especially when applying for positions in different industries, roles or organisations.
Don’t forget to do your research too. You need to be clued up on what’s going on in your chosen industry; as this shows you’re passionate about the role. It’s also important to know what your prospective employers are looking for in a new hire; so you can tailor your CV appropriately.
For instance, if your job search is in creative industries such as marketing, design and publishing; be sure to perfect the presentation of your CV. However, if you’re applying for jobs in engineering or scientific industries; it’s important to focus on factual and technical details as a instead.
One thing’s for sure, when searching for a job, try to include statistics to illustrate your abilities and achievements; regardless of the industry you want to work in. For example, avoid claiming that you ‘increased revenue for a company’. Instead, state that you ‘I increased month-on-month revenue by 20%, whilst leading a team of five’. This tells the employer that you’ve got statistics to back up your CV and sets you apart from other applicants.
Redefine your goals
It’s important that you have a clear idea of your future career goals when starting your job search. If you don’t, it’ll be difficult to find a job that will help you reach these aims.
When setting these goals, you’ll need to consider the type of job you want to do and the industry you want to work in.
It’s important that these targets are realistic. While can be a good strategy to apply for some jobs without the correct experience, it’s a risky approach and doesn’t always pay off. As such, it’s better to be practical and apply for roles which suit your current skill level; but still offer you good development opportunities.
Remember, the responsibilities of certain roles can vary wildly between industries, so do your research before your start your job search. Not only will this knowledge come in handy when interviewing; but it’ll help you narrow down which roles to apply for in the first place.
Do some fresh research
Once you know the industry you want to get into, you’ll need to keep an eye on emerging trends in that sector. You can use this information to add context to your answers during an interview; and impress the hiring manager throughout the process.
What’s more, you need to understand what’s happening in the companies that you’re applying for. After all, without doing some digging you may have missed some major changes, such as new career pages, different recruitment techniques or a new product/service launch. Do your research to put you in the best position to impress employers.
Whilst you are researching these opportunities, refresh yourself on the company culture and mission statements of the companies you’re applying to join. You can also use this information to tailor your CV and cover letter where appropriate. Researching before you begin your job search can be vital and a precursor for success. It pays to be prepared!
Get networking
While it may seem daunting, networking has great potential in helping you find a job.
We’ve all heard of the saying ‘it’s not what you know but who you know’. While it’s wrong to assume that knowledge and experience won’t give you a head start at all, networking can help you get in front of the right people. You might even find that people you network with have heard of different jobs being advertised or can put you in contact with relevant hiring managers.
Networking doesn’t have to take place solely at formal events or through interactions over social media. It can be as simple as visiting career fairs and striking up a conversation with recruiters to find out what they’re looking for in a candidate. Your job search will receive a significant boost if you already have a list of professional contacts to follow up with.
Are you ready to start your job search?
All in all, it’s important that you remain positive and patient throughout this process. The job hunt can sometimes be stressful and demanding so, it’s essential that you stay motivated. After all, 2020 could be the year to land your dream job with some hard work and forward planning.
Image: Stocksnap
