Looking for a job can
be tricky, especially if you haven’t worked for a while. We
can help you find jobs in your area and give you the best
possible chance of beating the competition and finding employment.
Below are our top tips for getting the most from your
jobsearch.
What to do before your
jobsearch
You need to think about what kind of job you
want, or what type of company you’d like to work for. List all the
jobs you think you could do with your skills and include any
companies you’d like to work for. Ask a friend to read over your
notes as they can give you a second opinion and jobsearch
advice from their own experiences.
We recommend spending around 16 hours each
week looking for a job. 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 with your
application. If you’re not confident about your CV then have a look
at our guide to the best way to write a CV.
Where to look
Local and national newspapers are a great
place to start. 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 want
to find jobs in your area then keep your search
local and check out the local paper and notice boards in your local
Jobcentre.
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. The
library is also a good place to find jobs in your local
area as many of them have notice boards where local
employers advertise jobs as well as information on training courses
in your local area.
You can register with employment agencies for
free. They have access to all sorts of jobs and can offer you
help finding work. You can register with as many
as you like but 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 as part of your internet
jobsearch.
Using the internet is a quick and easy way to
look for jobs and you can usually apply straight away online. You
can use specialist job sites or look up the companies you’d like to
work for and check out their ‘work for us’ or ‘careers’ section.
You can get an idea of where to start your internet
jobsearch 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 currently advertising
for people you can always call and ask if you can send your CV in.
This can be the best way to find a job at a
company you like because not many people do it. Make sure you send
your CV in as soon as possible 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 proactive and enthusiastic about
working for them.
If you would like help finding a
job, register your email address and we’ll send you
some more jobsearch advice.
Or you can call us free on 0800 917
9262 to meet one of our consultants.