If you are looking for a new job opportunity or a change of direction in your current career, then you need to think about how you are going to do this. Here are some suggestions on how to launch a successful job search to help you in your goals.
Firstly, you need to have an up-to-date resume, which should be well organized and list all relevant experience tailored to the types of jobs you are looking for. You should list your key skills and include a mission statement outlining your career goal. Be sure that your contact details are current and correct.
Make sure that you are around to pick up phone calls from prospective employers. If you miss a call then make sure that your voicemail message is clear and professional and free from amusing, quirky musical messages or jokes which can be off-putting to busy HR departments.
Once you begin the job hunt you should make sure that you use your existing contacts to check if they know of any opportunities. Check in with family and friends, as there may be a vacancy somewhere you hadn’t thought about before. Put the feelers out and ask around and make sure you have a resume at hand so that your contacts can pass this on to the relevant job lead. Many positions are not even advertised so it really makes sense to let everyone know that you are on a mission to find work.
Use employment agencies offering temporary positions as a foot in the door. Often these positions can give you a chance to work in a range of different environments without making a permanent commitment and if the place suits your needs, then employers see that you are actually doing the job, so you are in the perfect position to apply for this if a permanent post arises.
Job search engines are a good way of checking out the positions for large companies or for looking for recruiting in a specific field such as education. Sometimes companies have recruiting events and careers fairs, and these are good ways of building connections and finding a way into the company. You can register with many job search sites and they will send you updates by email of any positions that become available.
Websites are useful too because they can advertise current positions at the company so just randomly checking the sites of places you would like to work can yield positive results. Always have your resume at the ready so that you can apply at the time. Another useful tip is to have a template cover letter that you can tailor to meet the needs of the job you are applying for.
If there is nothing advertised on the site, then be assertive and contact the HR department directly. Letting them know you are looking for work will show initiative and they can keep your resume on file should a job come up in the future.
Following these steps will help you to launch a successful job hunt. Being alert and open to opportunities can help you succeed.
