If you’re seriously thinking about looking for a job it can be tricky knowing where to start, especially if you haven’t worked for a while. There’s lots of competition out there, whatever your circumstances. So here are our top tips for getting the most from your jobsearch.

Before you start
You need to think about what kind of job you want, or what type of company you’d like to work for. Get a notebook, and list all the jobs you think you could do with your skills. Ask a friend to help you – sometimes it’s good to get a second opinion. In the same notebook, write down any companies you’d like to work for.

We recommend spending around 16 hours a week job hunting. You can use your notebook to keep track of things like jobs you’ve applied for, jobs you like the look of, closing dates and company information you’ve found through research.

You should also make sure your CV is up to date, as some companies will ask you to send a CV in with your application. If you’re not sure where to start, have a look at our guide to getting your CV read.

Where to look
Newspapers, whether local or national, are a great place to start. The Guardian covers most jobs nationally, and local papers are just as good. You’ll need to check which jobs are covered on which days, and there might be tough competition for the jobs advertised as lots of people will have the same idea.

If you’re after a job in a specific field, like graphic design or construction for example, try looking in specialist trade magazines too. You can usually find a good selection of vacancies at the back. Your local library may well stock these types of magazines if you don't want to buy them.

You can register with employment agencies for free. They have access to all sorts of jobs, and you can register with as many as you like. It’s best to meet with them in person and take your CV along. Keep in touch on a regular basis to see if anything comes up that might suit you. You can search for local employment agencies using Yell.com.

Using the internet is a quick and easy way to look for jobs, and you can usually apply straight away. You can use specialist job sites or look up the companies you’d like to work for and check out their ‘work for us’ section. You can get an idea of where to start with our useful links.

Why wait?
If there’s a company you’d like to work for, why not let them know? Even if they aren’t advertising for people, you can always call and ask if you can send your CV in. This can be effective because not many people do it. But make sure you send it the next day, and try to call a couple of days later to check it arrived. It will make you stand out from the crowd, and they’ll think you’re keen.