Job Hunting
If
you can, cast your mind back to the dark days before the invention of
the Internet... Searching for a new job could be a depressing, demoralising
and thoroughly exhausting process back then, involving endless hours scanning
jobs pages, traipsing around various recruitment agencies and posting
off numerous CVs to potential employers, most of which would never even
get a reply.
All
that has now changed, with potential employers and job seekers alike increasingly
turning to the Internet to satisfy their recruitment needs. However, despite
its increasing popularity, the Internet does have its disadvantages and
the more traditional job seeking methods are still favoured by many people.
Below is an objective look at a range of traditional and modern approaches
to job hunting to demonstrate that, no matter what your personal preferences
may be, there is a suitable job hunting method just for you.
Recruitment Agencies
Probably one of the most obvious benefits of going to visit your local
recruitment agency is the opportunity for you to have a face-to-face meeting
with an actual person - a person who is committed to helping you with
your job search and who can provide you with practical advice and expertise.
They should possess local knowledge and a good network of contacts across
local businesses. Some recruitment agencies will specialise in particular
industry sectors and will therefore be especially well placed to recommend
you to the most appropriate potential employer.
Generally,
the recruitment consultant you are assigned to will interview you in person,
to ensure they have an accurate understanding of your career objectives.
They will require an up-to-date CV from you and will both inform you of
any current vacancies that match your requirements as well as store your
details for future reference.
It
is advisable to register with as many recruitment agencies as you can
so that you are given the opportunity for maximum exposure in the area.
Just be sure that two different agencies don't apply for the same job
on your behalf - companies will not look favourably on this as it could
lead to complications when they have to pay their finders fee!
Job Adverts
Available vacancies are published in the national papers as well as in
local and regional press and industry-specific trade publications. There
are even dedicated recruitment papers published on a regional basis, and
you can subscribe to many of these. Trade publications are particularly
useful because they also include articles on companies in your field of
interest, which may highlight where possible expansions or recruitment
drives are anticipated.
Newspapers
are an extremely popular method of job hunting and, as a result, each
advert is likely to create a massive response, so be prepared to apply
for a number of adverts with a potentially poor response rate. Despite
that, it is still an extremely popular job hunting method and one that
is still used by many employers.
Speculative Contacts
This is another method that has a relatively low level of response but
it can be useful if your covering letter has been carefully written and
phrased. Although they may have no vacancies at the time of your initial
application, they may well do in the near future and, as long as your
CV and cover letter are professionally prepared to have maximum impact,
you should be remembered when a suitable position arises.
Networking, etc.
If you are able to build up a network of business and personal contacts
within your industry sector, you will find that you are better able to
keep abreast of any organisational changes which may result in a vacancy
becoming available. This first-hand information could enable you to contact
a company before anybody else thinks of doing so, thus giving you a potential
advantage.
The
key to successful networking is to make sure that you manage to speak
to the right person within the company and to be confident and clear about
your aims.
Other
traditional methods of job hunting include visiting your local Job Centre
as well as attending careers fairs, which enable you to speak directly
to representatives of companies in the area. Some fairs are industry-specific
whilst others target just graduate or executive job hunters.
The Internet
The Internet has rapidly become an extremely popular resource for recruitment
purposes and it is used extensively by employers and job seekers alike.
Indeed, all of the traditional methods above-mentioned now provide online
services as well, making it much easier for people relocating to a new
area to find suitable vacancies.
Most
high street recruitment agencies now have their own dedicated websites
offering a wide range of services that complement the work carried out
by their branch network, as well as enabling a job seeker to monitor their
progress at their convenience. The main national newspapers and local
press also carry job sections on their websites, enabling you to create
specific job searches. This reduces the need to read through irrelevant
job adverts, which can be time-consuming if you are reading a 'real' newspaper.
Networking
is also becoming increasing popular online, enabling you to make contact
with a broad range of individuals without actually having to travel to
meet them. Discussion forums and chat rooms are particularly common and,
although this may seem relatively informal, you should be very careful
to make all your online communication as professional as possible.
There
are also a number of dedicated job sites available on the Internet, some
of which specialise in particular industry sectors whilst others offer
a more general service. Both recruitment agencies and employers use these
sites to advertise their vacancies and they often include links for you
to actually submit an application online.
The
majority of major organisations also post any job vacancies on their own
websites, and these too often enable you to apply online, either by attaching
your CV or by completing an application form.
Selling Your Skills
Naturally,
you need to ensure that your CV and application forms are as effective
as they can be in communicating your skills and experience to potential
employers. If you would like to make sure that your CV and application
form are of the highest possible quality, please
click here to find out how The CV Centre, the UK's leading CV consultancy,
can help you.
