Finding a Job

Whether you have just left school, university or just looking for a new job, finding a job isn’t always easy. So, instead of focusing on how hard it is to find a job, focus on what you can do to make it easier. While it’s not going to happen over night, completing these steps could make you a much more attractive candidate.

What do you want to do

The first stage is to find a job that you actually want, and then you can make steps towards it. There are loads of resources and sites that you can use which have a lot of options available. If you have looked through these sites and you’re still not sure, there are tests online, or people you can talk to, that can recommend various industries that may suit you.

Some of the resources you can use are:

• Gov.UK’s Find A Job service
• Recruitment agencies
• Career fairs
• Job boards
• Social media
• University careers and employment services
• Industry specific websites

Searching through all of these resources, you should be able to find a job that suits you. As said before, if you’re still not sure about what job you may want, career aptitude tests could suggest careers to suit your interests. Click here to go to the National Careers Service careers aptitude test.

It’s tough out there so be prepared to apply for lots of jobs and send out many CV’s and covering letters. Keep various versions of your covering letter and CV to use as templates when applying in similar industries.

Experience

Once you have decided what career you want to pursue, it’s important to get experience. Having experience in the field can show that you are genuinely interested in the field. It will also show that you have skills relevant to the area as well, and therefore make you a better candidate. There are a few different ways you can get experience, including:

• Volunteering – If you have some free time, volunteering in the sector you want to work in can show a high level of commitment. You will also gain invaluable experience and contacts within the sector.
• Work Placements – Often, when you’re studying at university, or sometimes in college, you may be offered a work placement. If your course or subject doesn’t offer a work placement, you are able to plan your own. This can again give you fantastic experience as well as contacts in a certain industry.
• Internships – Internships can be between a few weeks up to several months. They are a fixed time period where you will work for a company to gain experience. While generally aimed at students and graduates, a wide range of people can apply for internships. Interns are classed as workers, and have to be paid at least the National Living Wage.
• Work Shadowing – This is where you observe a professional over the course of a few days. While you don’t gain any actual experience, you would get insights into what the job involves.

Networking

Using and exploring the network of professionals in the industry could help you find an opportunity. The phrase “it’s not what you know, but who you know” may spring to mind here. This is all about getting your name out there in the industry. This way, potential employers should keep you in mind if any opportunities open up. In some cases, you could impress an employer so much that they offer you a position then and there. When you’re trying to network, it’s important to be confident and positive. You don’t want to come across as nervous and intimidated. Remember, everyone you talk to will have been in the same position as you.

The first port of call should be friends and family. See if someone you already know has contacts in the industry you want to get into. From there, try going to career fairs and talk to as many people as possible. A good question to ask people is whether they have advice for how to get into the industry too. That way if they don’t have a position to offer, they could tell you what could help you. Also, don’t be afraid to ask if they can suggest someone to talk to. When you write to that person, you can then name drop the person who recommended you.

Professional platforms, such as LinkedIn, can also offer good opportunities to market yourself. You are able to connect with a wide range of people, so can find people in any sector. Employers often look at your LinkedIn profile as a sort of online CV, so make sure your LinkedIn is top-notch.

Get your CV right

Once you’ve found a job that you want to apply to, you have to make sure your CV is right. This is all about tailoring your CV to the job.

Here you want to prove that you are the best person for the job. So,  talk about any past experience you may have. If you are struggling to think of any work experience, then you can show how skills you have would help you succeed in the position. Make sure you thoroughly read the job description so you know what the employer is looking for. For more information about how to write your CV, go to the CV section of this guide. 

You should also write a cover letter to go along with your CV. This is what most employers read first, and is your way to introduce yourself. You need to grab their attention, so passion for the sector goes a long way. This is also where your research into the job and the company should be displayed. For more information on writing your cover letter, read the Cover Letter section of this guide.

Prepare for the Interview

If you have been successful with your application, then you may be offered an interview. But don’t panic! If you take the time to prepare, you will be able to walk into the interview confident you’ve done everything you can. You should be able to answer questions confidently, and show you’ve researched what the company is really about.

When you’re preparing for the interview, as well as researching the company, also look into the industry in general. Knowing what challenges that business faces, and how you can help solve them would show amazing initiative. Also researching the competitors of that company will show an interest in the wider industry. It’s also important to think of any questions you may want to ask the interviewer. This can show you are seriously considering what working for them may be like. 

For more information on Interviews, read the Interview section of this guide.

While finding and applying for a job can seem like a massive and impossible task, there are options available. Taking the time to widen your skill base and volunteer in the industry can massively increase your employability. You need to be able to evidence that you are passionate about the industry, so make sure you are making positive steps towards that goal. Completing a Career Aptitude test can also help you decide on whether a certain industry is right for you, or if you should look into other ones.