Searching for a new role can sometimes feel like a full-time job. Whether you’re in a job and looking in your spare time, or out of work and applying to jobs all day, you want to get the most out of your efforts.
These three tips might just save you some time, and help you cut through the noise to find your next move.
1. Make a plan.
As Antoine De Saint Exupery once said, “a goal without a plan is just a wish”.
Your search for a new job begins with a plan. Think about what you’re looking for in a new role, the type of company you’re interested in joining and why these things are important to you.
Start with your desired outcome, and work backwards – what do you need to do in order to get there? These things might include refreshing your CV, speaking with recruiters, committing to networking events or asking friends for advice. For some people, setting deadlines or a timeframe is an effective way to manage the process.
2. Do your research.
Now you know what type of company you’d like to be a part of, search websites such as Glassdoor, Jobbio and The Muse that give more insight into them. Use LinkedIn to look at their hiring trends and join relevant groups on sites such as Reddit to get a feel for the current market.
Targeted research will not only help to drive your job search in the right direction, and faster, but also reinforce what you’re not looking for. Rather than the scattergun, “spray and pray” approach, there’s much more value in identifying which companies and positions you’re interested in and narrowing your search. Remember that every business has its own unique values and every job has different advantages and disadvantages. Keep an open mind…
3. Go digital.
Long gone are the days when a CV was the be-all and end-all of a job search. Whilst your CV might still play an important part in the job-hunting process, there are many more things to take in to consideration. It’s time to think about your digital footprint.
Read our advice on how to create the perfect CV.
It’s not uncommon for employers to conduct their own investigations into potential candidates through their online presence. It’s well worth Googling yourself (ahem…) to see how much of your information is freely available, such as social media statuses, photos and videos.
Whilst you want some things to be private, there are certain platforms that should be as visible as possible. Depending on the type of job you’re looking this might be your GitHub, LinkedIn, an online portfolio or similar.
See our LinkedIn Tips that will get you the job.
4. Go Forth and Conquer!
So now, it’s over to you. The prospect of embarking on a job search might seem daunting, but if you put a watertight plan in place, things will start to happen. If you’re looking for a new position, get in touch with the team at Burns Sheehan and we’ll be more than happy to help you out, whether it’s timely advice or making introductions to our customers. Good luck, you’ve got this!
You can drop us an email here or give us a ring on 0203 206 1900
