The insider’s guide to job search strategies

Tough times call for direct and highly proactive job search strategies.

I have successfully worked with many candidates including graduates trying to get their first foot on the career ladder, professionals of all levels working in sectors that have been squeezed hard by the recession and individuals whose roles have just been erased in property and constriction and banking due to the current climate.

Candidates whose only strategy is to sit back and wait for the job section in the paper every week are the candidates who will be sitting back for many months, even years with this passive approach to job search.

There are lots you can do to increase your chances of finding and securing employment and here are my insider tips on how to do it.

Decide on Your Focus: What interests you, what are your skills and competencies, start to research careers and roles that fit with your needs and skills profile.

Revamp your CV: Update your CV, make sure the content is killer content not just filler, that it’s presented perfectly and that it’s aligned to the roles you are applying for.

Identifying all local job markets and Recruitment Agencies: Make sure you register with a wide range of agencies, submit your CV and talk directly to recruitment executives wherever possible.

Online job search sites: Register with NI Jobs.com and other key online job search sites, be sure to spend time and energy on completing great profiles on each and uploading your CV.

Seek out opportunities: Scan the business sections of newspapers researching who is doing well, recruiting and growing. Review online directories and web sites, attend business networks and events to expand your networks.

Build Skills: Identify appropriate work placements and voluntary opportunities to build your skills. This will also help you expand your networks as well as keeping you motivated.

Source Mentors/ industry advisors: Gain support from others in the sectors you want to secure employment within. People are often very willing to help so empower your networks so that they can help you with your job search strategy.

Online Social Networks: Reach out to people you know, or those you don’t, through professional online networks like LinkedIn who are already employed within your interested sectors. People love to talk about their jobs so don’t be afraid to approach them and gain valuable support for your Job Search strategy.

Direct Approach: Take the courage to make some direct approaches. Researching companies and organisations and then making a direct approach to HR/Recruitment personnel can produce surprising results.

Persistence and organisation: You need to be eternally positive and persistent to keep going to achieve the results you want. Establishing systems to organise your job search details is essential to keep track of contacts and opportunities so that you can follow up.

Persistence and a very proactive approach will give you the edge on sourcing and securing opportunities. So get stated now on your job search strategy!

Do you want to know more about charisma, interview tips and job market solutions? Contact Niamh Shiells for help with Career Progression, CV’s, Applications and Interview Preparation at www.advancecoach.co.uk or Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/advancecoaching?ref=ts

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Posted by Newry Times News on Mar 6 2013. Filed under Business, Features, Jobs & Careers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry