Tips for a Successful Job Search in the UK

Don't ever be the "I should have cared more" person. I can't even begin to tell you how many candidates I have spoken with that not just half-assed a conversation with me, an initial recruiter, but on interviews. They get rejected and then say: "Wow, I really liked that role; I wish I had done some research beforehand." ❇️ The single most important advice for someone looking for a new job is to thoroughly research and understand the company and the position you are applying for. This encompasses several key aspects: 1. **Company Research:**  Learn about the company's mission, values, culture, products or services, and recent developments. ↴ ➡ Deeper than a quick website scan, understanding the company's background and goals will enable you to tailor your application and interview responses to align with what they are looking for in a candidate. 2. **Job Description**  Read the job description carefully to identify the specific skills, qualifications, and responsibilities required for the role.↴ ➡ This will help you tailor your resume to highlight your relevant experiences and abilities. 3. **Customize Applications**  No one wants to keep entering the same application info each time. But you should avoid sending generic applications to multiple companies. ↴  ➡ Instead, customize (within reason) your resume and cover letter for each application to demonstrate your genuine interest in that particular role and how you can contribute to the company's success. 4. **Interview Preparation**  Prepare for interviews by practicing common interview questions and crafting thoughtful responses that showcase your skills and experiences. ↴ ➡ Also, be prepared to ask thoughtful questions about the company and the position during the interview to demonstrate your genuine interest. 5. **Showcase Your Value** Focus on showcasing the value you can bring to the company rather than solely emphasizing what the job offers. ↴  ➡ Employers are interested in candidates who can solve their problems and contribute to their organization's success. 6. **Positive Online Presence**  Ensure your online presence, including social media profiles and professional platforms like LinkedIn, represents you positively. ↴ ➡ Many employers and recruiters research candidates online before making hiring decisions. Yes, we do look at your profile for consistency, not content. 7. **Patience and Persistence**  Job hunting can sometimes be lengthy, so be patient and persistent. ↴ ➡ Stay positive, keep applying, and continue refining your approach based on feedback and experiences. 👉 By diligently researching and understanding the company and position, you increase your chances of making a solid impression on potential employers and finding a job that aligns with your skills and career goals. 🏆 If you require some personal Career Therapy, hit me up, and we can have a quick, free intro chat! #jobsearch #careerdevelopment #jobsearchadvice

Traditional employment paths are becoming tougher to navigate. Here's how to cut through the clutter. 👉 The context? Roles often go to internal candidates or referrals. Over 40% of positions filled internally and networking outweighs direct applications 7:1 in final hiring choices. As an applicant, you'll get lost in robotic Applicant Tracking Systems. As a hiring manager, it's tough to manage the noise. A better approach would involve using contextual data to match candidates' skills/past successes with real corporate needs, focusing on job context and performance-based requirements. Until then, if you're looking for work, navigate the hidden job market with these steps: 1. Clarify Your Brand: Your resume and LinkedIn act as gatekeepers. Keep your resume is concise, achievement-focused, and tailored. LinkedIn should represent your professional identity, highlighting skills, experiences, knowledge. 2. Find Your Voice: Amplify your presence on platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, or even TikTok. Share industry insights and original thoughts to boost visibility and establishing expertise. 3. Network: Engage in local events, professional groups, and discussions. Networking is about genuine connections, not just adding contacts. 4. Direct Outreach: Use tools like LinkedIn SalesNavigator, OctopusCRM, Apollo for targeted outreach within your industry or desired companies, expressing interest. 5. Networking Calls: Use them to uncover 'business pain' and align your past achievements to solving these challenges. 6. The Art of Follow-up: Persistently follow up with those who engage, expressing thanks and interest, to maintain momentum. 7. Master the Interview: Learn techniques like STAR and behavioural interviewing to align your experiences with job requirements. 8. Resilience is Key: Expect rejection, including ghosting and offer withdrawals. Stay positive and learn from each setback. Adopting these strategies isn't just about finding a job; it's useful in building a career. Reach out if you need guidance. I will help. What's worked in your job search? Share your strategies.

The job market has evolved, and with it, the strategies for finding employment. 1. Resume Formatting: Simplicity and clarity in a resume cannot be overstated. A well-formatted resume that's easy to read can significantly impact the first impression you make on potential employers. 2. Tailor Your Resume: Customizing your resume for each application is crucial. Using tools like Jobalytics to match your resume to the job description is a smart, way to increase your chances of getting noticed. 3. Behavioral Interviewing: Understanding and preparing for the SOAR (Situation, Obstacle, Action, Result) or STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) methods can greatly improve your performance in interviews by clearly demonstrating your competencies and how they apply to the job you’re applying for. 4. Networking for Interviews: The value of networking cannot be overstated. Getting a referral or even just a mention can significantly increase your chances of landing an interview. It's about who you know, as much as what you know. 5. Engage Recruiters and Hiring Managers: A proactive approach shows initiative and interest. Shooting them an email or hitting them up on LI with a concise message highlighting your application and why you’re a great fit can set you apart. 6. Network, Network, Network: Networking is indeed key. The more people who know you're looking, the higher your chances of hearing about opportunities. Both online and offline networking events can be beneficial. The Open to Work banner works! 7. Be Proactive and Adaptable: If your current strategy isn't yielding results, it's time to try something new. This might mean exploring new industries, considering temporary positions, or enhancing your skills. 8. Prioritize Your Mental Health: Job hunting can be stressful and draining. Taking breaks and ensuring you're mentally and physically well is crucial for maintaining the stamina needed for a successful job search. 9. Stay Active on LinkedIn: Engaging on LinkedIn by posting updates, commenting on posts, and liking content can significantly increase your visibility on the platform. This activity can lead to more connections and possibly even job offers. Being active also shows potential employers that you're engaged with your industry and up-to-date with current trends and discussions. 10. Use the "Open to Work" Feature: LinkedIn's "Open to Work" feature allows you to publicly or privately signal to recruiters and your network that you are seeking new job opportunities. Using the the banner can attract more attention to your profile and demonstrates your interest in exploring new opportunities. While there's some debate about the public visibility of job-seeking status, many find it useful for signaling openness to a wide range of opportunities. Incorporating these strategies can help broaden your network, increase your visibility to potential employers, and lead to more opportunities.

TIPS FROM A JOB RECRUITER: How do you find jobs to apply to? Based on the poll in my last post, 55% of the responses voted "finding jobs to apply to" as the most difficult part of their job search. Here are some of my tips: 1. Find a recruiting agency that specializes in the industries you're looking for jobs in and check the jobs they have posted, reach out to their recruiters about opportunities (i.e. DSJ Global specializes in end-to-end supply chain roles, Selby Jennings specializes in finance roles, etc.) 2. LinkedIn has filters to target your job search by things like industry, job title, experience level, location, etc. Use them to get more relevant results. 3. Do some research into companies in your industry that you'd be interested working for and go to their company page on LinkedIn and their website to check what jobs they have posted and apply in. You can also reach out to the recruiters posted on the job posting or if there are no relevant jobs posted at the moment, you can network with their employees and talent acquisition teams. 4. Attend job fairs/industry conferences and join networking groups in your space. Networking really does make the world go round- use these opportunities to leave a good impression on employers who will keep you in mind for future job openings. 5. Keep you LinkedIn detailed and updated and your voicemail box clear to keep you open to recruiters messages and calls about relevant opportunities.

Things I wish that I knew during my job search: Many companies (even big ones) lack dedicated recruiting departments, leaving managers to juggle recruitment alongside their daily responsibilities. Simplifying the hiring process for them is crucial. Please, take the time to edit your resume! Long, unfocused resumes often end up in the discard pile. Highlight relevant keywords from the job description to stand out. Your resume shouldn't be a laundry list of every job you've ever had. Create a section for "other positions held" to include irrelevant roles. If you have time to apply to numerous positions, you have time to tailor your resume to the few that truly match your skills. Networking is key! Build relationships before you need a job; don't just reach out to strangers asking for employment. Let's discuss: How many job posts do you apply to? Do you customize your resume for specific positions? #Recruiting #JobMarket #ResumeTips #Networking #CareerAdvice #OpenToWork #Hiring