Easy steps to recharge your job search
With the economy in recovery mode, recruitment is booming. However if your job search is taking longer than anticipated, it’s easy to become demotivated. Here Barry Whelan outlines some tips to re-energise your search and get your career goals firmly back on track
Print23 March 2016
We’re out the door busy; recruitment is back in full swing. After the last couple of years of recovery, we are now lifting off! Companies are recruiting and candidates are moving jobs at a faster rate. What does this mean for your job search?
The number of job openings has increased and workers, feeling more confident about job conditions, have more confidence to move, so it is a competitive market both for employers and the talent.
The figures show that the market is ripe for a job switch, but gearing up for a hunt can be daunting, especially if you’ve already been looking for some time.
We can get stuck in a job search rut, especially if it has been going on for a while. However it’s important to be persistent and revisit our strategies periodically to see what is helping and what is failing.
Here are some easy ways to help reboot a job search that has gone stale.
Have a plan and know what it is
It’s important to clarify what you are looking for. Is it a specific role in a certain company or a type of job in a certain industry? Knowing what you’re looking for is half the battle and narrowing your choices will make it easier to start the hunt, which otherwise can seem daunting. Visualise where you would like to move to next and then plan how to get there.
Tell everyone
All too often we get caught up in going it alone during a job search and Ireland is tiny. It is the easiest place in the world to network. We Irish love to talk and with only 4.5 million of us, word gets around fast. Instead of operating in stealth mode, tell friends, family and former colleagues about your job hunt. They may be able to introduce you to members of their professional networks, review your cover letter or CV and provide support.
Meet other professionals in person at local career fairs or professional associations in your field and make sure you connect with people in your industry via LinkedIn groups. Jump in on the conversations. People will reply to your messages and can become people you can connect with.
Use social media
The benefit of social media is two-fold when looking for a job. First, many companies and recruiters post their job openings via social media. Second, employers search for candidates using social media, so build up your reputation there. Tweeting, blogging and commenting about things you know builds up your credibility online.
But be careful of social media. Employers use social networking sites to research job candidates, so think carefully before posting anything.
Make sure your social media profiles are accurate, complete and up to date. Delete any inactive accounts. Set more social platforms like Facebook to the highest privacy settings; employers will Google you.
Have an outstanding CV
First, update the information and focus of your CV. Don’t list responsibilities; instead, spell out your achievements and mention specifics.
Don’t fall into the one-size-fits-all trap. Target each CV you send out to the job or company you’re sending it to. When you have a single CV document that goes out with every application, you miss the opportunity to tell each employer how you meet their unique needs.
CVs are starting templates. Incorporate any advertised needs or qualifications, using the terminology the employer used to describe the position. And before hitting send, have someone in your field review your CV.
Better yourself
As you continue your job search, build new skills and stay engaged. That could mean taking on volunteering positions, especially those that use your particular job skills or returning to education to further your qualifications. Alternatively you can join industry associations. Try to continue to better yourself to show continual improvement on your CV.
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