A quick guide to job seeking

  • April 17, 2020
A quick guide to job seeking
 

Whether you’re looking for a change of scenery or you’ve unfortunately found yourself in a position where you're now job seeking, we’ve put together a quick guide on how to maximise your chances of finding the role you really want.

Updating your CV

Always the first port of call. It may be a bit of time since you last looked at your CV so it will most likely need updating. Don’t forget to read through it and see where it can be improved, along with updating any personal details such as phone number and address. Stonor offer a free CV checking service if you would like a professional to review it for you.

We recommend condensing your CV to a maximum of 2 pages, listing work experience from most recent and tailoring the qualifications or skills for the role(s) you’re applying for.

job applicationSeeing what’s out there

Although many companies have put their recruitment on hold, you can still find businesses who are hiring & onboarding remotely. If you feel that you have the skills that match available positions, then we recommend you apply with a brief (one paragraph) cover note. You can use sites such as Jooble who search various job boards and collate all jobs available in one place, filtering out duplicates and helping you save time in your job search. Don’t be disheartened if you don’t get the responses you’re hoping for, job seeking isn’t easy and you must be persistent!

Get your CV in front of as many people as possible

Once you’re happy with your CV, it takes no time at all to post it to the major job boards. We recommend, Indeed, Reed, CV Library and which ever specialist boards are most appropriate to your experience. Be sure to be clear about what your expectations are in terms of salary and locations you’re prepared to work in. The more specific you can be, the less time you will waste talking to recruiters about roles that don’t suit.

Online training courses

This is a great time to learn something new or brush up on existing skills. Try to pick courses that will make you more desirable for the companies you want to work for.

Research your target market

Ensure that you are keeping up to date with the industry you work/want to work in, this will be vital and set you apart from other applicants when you apply for your next role. Don’t be afraid to research the companies you think will benefit from your experience and contact them directly. You’ll usually find that the more senior the person is that you contact, the more likely you’ll receive a response, so aim high! Make sure you concisely explain why you’re interested, but also why you think the company would benefit from hiring you. What can you do for them?

video interviewPractice video interviews

During this time, companies who are hiring are doing so over video. Although this won’t be forever, we recommend practicing some video interviews. It’s worth recording an “elevator pitch” for yourself, 30 seconds on who you are, what you do and what you can do for them. Send it along with your application and you will find it helps differentiate you AND build your confidence.

Think outside the box

If you have been made redundant during the Coronavirus, you’re not the only one. Unfortunately, you will likely be up against some stiff competition. With this in mind, it’s important to think outside the box. Can you create a portfolio of your work, write a blog or even intern somewhere to gain experience? These things will improve your chances of being picked when you do interview. Anything that’s relevant to the role you’re applying for will be an advantage.

If you are looking for your next Marketing job, whether that’s in Creative, PR, Market Research or Digital - Stonor Recruitment can help! For more info contact one of our recruitment consultants on 01844 350131 or hello@stonorsearch.com.