Job Search tips

 

Knowing where to look for new jobs is an important factor in your job search and can drastically affect how quickly you find that new role.

Conventional Methods:

Newspaper Ads

Many employers still advertise with classified ads. You can find various publications with classified ads both in print and online. Search your local newspapers, employment guides and magazines for job postings. Likewise regularly check their online listings for updates.

Career Fairs

Career Fairs offer a great way for you to speak with representatives, from many different companies about positions they offer. If you make a good impression with the company representative, that can put you a step ahead in the process when those feelings are passed on to the decision makers.

Employment Agencies

Many employers outsource their recruitment to employment agencies, especially if you are looking for work in a more niche industry. The advantage of going through an agency can be that they know of several companies recruiting which you wouldn’t have known about but the disadvantage can be that they don’t always have your best interests at heart, as the majority of them are paid on a commission basis. Therefore they may give advice and make decisions surrounding your job search accordingly.

Internet

Free career search engines contain a wide variety of jobs. With their automated systems you can apply to a number of jobs very quickly. You also get specialized sites for certain industries allowing you to target your search more efficiently.

Most companies these days have a corporate website. They can prove extremely useful when you are looking for a job in a particular company. Company websites can contain a large amount of useful information, including financial information, company structure, application procedures and current vacancies which will help you know the best way to approach them with your CV and cover letter.

Unconventional methods:

Networking

Even though it isn’t always the first method people think of. Networking continues to be one of the top methods people use to find employment. Whether you realize it or not, you network with people every day. Your next job opportunity could come from what you would regard as an unlikely source.

When looking for a position get in touch with old colleagues or other contacts you have in the industry (ones you can trust if current employers don’t know you are looking) let all your friends and family know, they could be the source for your next position.

Contacting Local Companies

Contacting local companies who may require someone with your skills, is a highly under rated method, yet highly effective way of finding work. You are doing the work of an employment agency but there is a strong likelihood that your enquiry will be well received, (which isn’t often the case for employment agencies) as the employer won’t be forking out agency fees and will benefit from a faster process due to cutting out the middle man.

You need to know who the relevant hiring manager is, their direct extension (if possible) all you need to do then is give them a call, introduce yourself, remember to make sure you highlight how you can fill their needs. Even if they don’t have any positions at that time make sure you stay in contact with them fairly regularly, as something may come up and they make a valuable addition to your ever growing network.

"Sign up to our FREE Job Seekers course, ongoing articles and tips"