Holiday’s over, time to find a new job
September is the busiest month for people seeking new roles, so get ahead of the mob with these top tips
Now that you’re sadly making your way back from a well-deserved holiday on the beach, maybe it’s time to start thinking about how to kickstart your career?
Of course, a major problem you face is that there are literally hundreds of thousands of other people doing exactly the same thing at the exact same time. Competition for available jobs is fierce so you need to do whatever you can to boost your employability.
Knowing where to start can be tricky, but follow these top tips and advice and you’ll be firmly on the right track.
Killer CV
First, you need to make sure that you have a really strong CV. It sounds obvious – but it’s not as easy as it sounds.
CVS these days are so much more than just a dry, boring list of jobs and job descriptions. You need to focus on your achievements. You need to prove what you’re capable of. You need to quantify wherever possible (numbers and figures can often speak louder than words). And you obviously can’t neglect the visual side of things either. Modern CVS are much more likely to make use of colour, graphics, logos of previous employers, etc – all of which help to make your CV more attractive, more eye-catching and less likely to end up in the “No” pile (also known as the bin!)
Soft Skills
So what are these “soft skills” that are apparently becoming increasingly important when recruiters evaluate potential candidates? And how do you get them? Soft skills tend to be social and communication skills that benefit people not just in the workplace but in their personal life too.
However, it is not enough to say in your CV that you are an outstanding team player or that you have excellent problem-solving skills. You need to provide an example that proves it. So rack your brains for hard evidence of these so that you can include them in your CV in the best way possible.
Tailor-made
When it comes to actually putting all these skills and experiences into your CV, think carefully about what you include and what you leave out.
The best CVS are those which are carefully tailored to a specific job role. Read the job description and person specification carefully, identify the types of skills that the recruiter is looking for and make sure you can clearly demonstrate these. If you are sending a cover letter with your CV, even more care should be taken to ensure that this is also tailored to the job you are applying for. Check, check and check again.
One final consideration when writing your CV and cover letter is to make sure you avoid spelling and grammar mistakes –research conducted by my company, Cvcentre. co.uk, has shown that a staggering 60 per cent of the CVS received by them contain at least one spelling, grammatical or typographical error.
It takes a matter of seconds to run a spell check of your CV but there is no substitute for reading it through from start to finish just in case there are mistakes that a spell checker will miss. If you want help writing a killer CV visit www. Cvcentre.co.uk.
Networking
Another top tip is to build your network as fast – and as far – as possible. The old saying “it’s not what you know but who you know” is so true when it comes to finding a new job – and the Linkedin website provides the perfect tool to help you manage your connections.
Everyone you meet – within reason – should be added to your Linkedin network: recruiters; people who interview you; people you were at school or university with; people you talk to at jobs fairs; friends and family. It could be through any one of these connections that you land your dream job.
Using Linkedin
Linkedin is an incredibly valuable tool – if you actually use it properly. The more active you are on Linkedin, the more connections you will make and the more visible your profile will become.
But use it wisely. If you are going to contribute to discussion groups and forums, make sure your contribution is relevant and professional. Comment on issues that are important to you and share interesting articles with your connections.
Above all, keep it professional: For example, your photo should be a professional head shot on a plain background, if possible, not a picture of you out on the town. And, as with the CV, make sure there are no spelling, grammatical or typographical mistakes.
Social Media
Establishing an online presence for yourself can be risky if you are not careful. We strongly recommend that you use someone else’s device to Google yourself. That way, you won’t be automatically signed into your accounts and you will be able to see exactly what content other people find when they search for you.
See what comes up on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, etc. and take steps to remove some of the content if necessary.
You are, of course, allowed a life outside of work – indeed, recruiters like to see that there is more to you than just your qualifications and work experience – just make sure that your “digital footprint” doesn’t contain anything that could be potentially damaging to your career.
And remember, it is never too early to start thinking about your next job. Do try to get ahead of the crowd – because, trust me, by September there will indeed be quite a crowd. September is boom time in the recruitment sector. Start getting ready right now and you will in the best position to apply for your dream job as soon as it is advertised.