Job Search Information Booklet

Transcription

1 Job Search Information Booklet

2 National Careers Service Job searching has changed dramatically over the last 10 years. The vast majority of jobs are now either advertised online, or you need some level of digital/it skills in order to apply for those jobs. 78% of companies advertise on their own website 75% of employers won t offer you an interview if you aren t confident with IT 49% of companies accept applications 92% of advertised vacancies require IT skills to apply 32% of companies have online application forms (Source: Jobcentre Plus 2016) Do you have the right skills to job search effectively? Do you understand the labour market well enough to make good choices? Help, advice and support on all aspects of careers and job searching is available through the National Careers Service: Face-to-face One-to-one or group workshops with a Careers Adviser, available to adults aged 19+ (or 18 if a Jobcentre customer). Call to book an appointment. Website Skills Health Check Answer questions about your Personal Skills (what motivates you), and your Activity Skills (how you work with written information, numbers, mechanical, abstract information). Your answers are taken in to account in a personalised report with a list of careers that might suit you. Job Profile Section - You can find information that explains all about the careers that interest you or were identified in your Health Check. The job profile sheet will give you typical working hours, earnings, entry requirements, training, skills, opportunities, and includes links to professional organisations that can give further help and advice and lots of helpful job search links, too. Find a Course - Once you know what training you need, this section can help you to find a course in your local area. Enter the postcode and course title and a list of courses will be provided. Job Searching where to look for work When you're looking for work, it's a good idea to spread your search as wide as possible. There are many places to look and there's lots of help available. Job Search Information October of 10

3 Jobcentre Plus Find a Job Once registered with Find a Job website you can: Create alerts to receive the most recent jobs Favourite jobs so you can apply for them later Keep track of your job search activity Uploads CVs and apply for jobs on Find a Job Recruitment Agencies Recruitment agencies are a useful source of job vacancies both permanent/long-term and short term contracts. Some employers only use agencies to recruit staff, so signing up can give you access to jobs that are not advertised elsewhere. Choosing an agency Most agencies display current vacancies on their websites, which can be a great starting point when deciding whether to register or not. Find out which companies they usually deal with and how many vacancies they have in your line of work. What happens when I contact an agency? Your consultant will start by finding out what kind of jobs you are looking for and which skills you have. They will ask for an up-to-date copy of your CV, which will help them decide if they can place you in a job. Only put yourself forward for jobs you re confident you can do. Most agencies handle both temporary and permanent vacancies. Even if you're looking for permanent work, consider putting yourself forward for both if you perform well in a temporary job, it can sometimes lead to a permanent position. If you re going for a job, you may be asked to complete a skills task (e.g. typing), or bring in evidence to prove you hold particular licenses or tickets (e.g. CSCS). Agencies are in the business of finding you a job and are paid by their clients if they fill a position. Be aware that most do not charge any fees unless they specialise in areas such as modelling and acting. Job Search Information October of 10

4 Can I sign up with more than one agency? There is nothing to stop you using more than one agency. In fact, this way you'll get access to more jobs. It is also a good idea to sign up with agencies that specialise in the type of work you are looking for. You can find recruitment agencies on the Recruitment and Employment Confederation website: You may also find agencies advertising the sort of vacancies that might appeal to you in newspapers, trade journals or on Find a Job website. How can I get the best results from using an agency? Once you ve registered with your chosen agencies, it is important to build a relationship with your consultant. Don't be afraid to give them a call regularly to find out how they are getting on with finding you suitable vacancies. They'll have lots of people signing up every day. Being proactive will remind them you are keen to work. Most reputable agents will notify you before they send your CV to a company, but it is always worth asking them to do this when you first sign up. Word of Mouth / Face-to-face Networking Many employers still fill vacant posts through word of mouth. In order to find out about these hidden vacancies, you will need to do some networking. What is networking? You network every day, whether you realise it or not. When speaking to a friend you might recommend a film, a hairdresser or a good restaurant. Just as you network in your personal life, you can use your contacts to help with job searching. Why network? It's not always about asking for a job. Networking is a great way to learn more about a particular career. You could talk to someone who's in a job that you want about how they got there, or what a typical day is like. Inside information like this is invaluable in your job search, and you'll find people are usually willing to share their experiences. Job Search Information October of 10

5 Why are so many vacancies unadvertised? Advertising is expensive, and it takes a lot of time to sort through application forms and CVs, and interview candidates. Employers can work around this by promoting from within or employing people who've approached them directly. Some organisations actively encourage their staff to refer friends with suitable skills. Where do I start? It's natural to be a little nervous about networking if you've never done it before. But if you take an organised approach you'll soon gain confidence. Try following these steps: Make a list of who you know including what position they hold/held and who they might know Identify existing networks check out industry conferences, events and forums; join professional networking sites like LinkedIn Plan your approach if you're networking by phone or at a jobs fair, have a clear idea of who you want to talk to, why you're interested in the organisation and why you're approaching them Know your stuff when approaching an organisation, be sure to research what it does and what your contact's role is, and get to know the type of language they use in their line of work Focus on what you can offer before setting up a networking meeting, think about what you can do for the organisation Tailor your communication if you send out speculative CVs make sure they're tailored to the organisation and show how your skills are relevant don't send out the same version to all organisations Get organised keep a book of contacts listing everyone you've spoken to, their contact details and their position this can be invaluable if your contacts get in touch at a later date Be yourself you don't need to be an extrovert, just politely persistent! Who should I contact? If you're just gathering information and advice you could chat to professionals on web forums, contact human resources departments and talk to contacts you already know, including friends and family. What if networking doesn't come naturally to me? At first you might feel a little uncomfortable with the idea of making contacts to 'get something from them'. Try to look at networking as a two-way process you can offer your skills and abilities in return for support and information. What if the contact isn't helpful? Job Search Information October of 10

6 Everyone gets knocked back at some stage. The contact you speak to may be pushed for time or not hiring at the moment. Thank them for their time anyway and ask if they can recommend anyone else that might be able to help. If you're new to networking and don t get the positive response you re hoping for, try to think about how you could adjust your approach for future networking opportunities. Social Networking Social media is websites and other online means of communication that are used by large groups of people to share information and to develop social and professional contacts There are two key aspects to Social Networking relating to job searching. Firstly, 60% 1 of employers are using some form of social media to attract candidates to apply for positions in their organisations. We can expect to see an increase in the level of recruitment that is carried out using social media alone. Recruitment companies and head-hunters also use social media as a means to search for appropriate candidates to introduce to their clients. LinkedIn is currently the most popular platform, followed by Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Google+. As your careers adviser for further information about Digital and Social Media Awareness group workshops run by the National Careers Service available in your area. Secondly, employers are increasingly screening applicants using social media sites. Job applicants are often unaware that their social networking pages are being used by employers as part of a screening process before offering interviews. We recommend that you review your Privacy Settings to ensure that you control who can view your personal information. Here are some tips for using social media in your job search: 1. Clean up your online presence Have you Googled yourself lately? What would a prospective employer find about you? Does it represent a professional image? You can set up Google alerts to keep you updated if something is posted about you online 1 Stepstone Solutions 2013 Job Search Information October of 10

7 2. Like, Follow and Join Like pages on Facebook, follow people on Twitter and join groups on LinkedIn. Get involved in professional discussions or just keep up to date with companies you would like to work for. 3. Time is of the essence If you want to post updates regularly and across several different platforms but don t feel that you have the time then there is a solution link your accounts. The Twitter help desk gives info on how to link to Facebook and LinkedIn to Twitter After your accounts are linked you can use various third party sites such as or (other programmes are available) to set up automatic feeds for your social networking sites. Spend a few minutes putting what you want to say in a queue, link your accounts and you will be giving your friends, followers and connections regular updates. 4. So many contacts, so little time Don t add too many people, it can be difficult to keep up to date you might like to watch this video by Dr Zella King at YouTube 5. Don t just ask for a job Asking everyone in a company for a job is not likely to land you your dream job. Successful social networkers create relationships. A good relationship should be a two way process, so think about what you are saying - is it interesting or relevant to someone you want to work for? 6. Don t rely on one approach Social Media can be a great tool for looking for work but make sure you integrate it into your job search approach and when the opportunity arises, network in person attend events and make new contacts. Company Websites If you want to work for a particular employer you may want to have a look at their company website for vacancies. Most organisations have their own website, and many will use it to advertise current vacancies. Some larger organisations also have a facility where you can register your address to be alerted when any suitable vacancies are available. Job Search Information October of 10

8 You can use to help you narrow down your search of companies or locations. Professional or Specialist Journals Jobs are also advertised in journals or trade magazines for your area of work. Subscription is often free if you're already in the industry. Large newsagents and libraries stock these. As well as carrying job vacancies, they include news on which companies are expanding and which have won new contracts. Even if they aren't actually advertising vacancies you might like to approach these companies to make a speculative application. Have a look on the National Careers Service website to find out titles of the trade journals in the Jobs profile section Newspapers Local and National You may have noticed that there are fewer jobs advertised in printed newspapers this is not because there are fewer vacancies out there, but largely due to companies embracing online technology as a means of communication advertising online either with Jobcentre Plus, through recruitment agencies or on their own websites. Print-based advertising is still very expensive, and most companies nowadays will look to reduce costs wherever possible. However, you can find job adverts in a wide range of publications from national daily papers such as The Times and The Guardian, and in local and regional daily or weekly papers. You'll also find regional jobs papers. Ask your local newsagent to find out which papers are available in your area. Newspapers (printed or online) can also be a very useful way of finding out what s happening in your local area, for example, which new companies are opening up, and may need staff. Seasonal Recruitment Be aware that different sectors tend to recruit a different times of year, for example: Summer recruitment will tend to start in March/April e.g. catering, leisure, travel/tourism, horticulture Christmas recruitment will tend to start in September/October e.g. retail, catering/hospitality, logistics Job Search Information October of 10

9 Job Fairs Follow social media to find out what job fairs and employer events are going on in your area. Consider your alternatives With the impact of the economic recession, slow growth, public and private sector cuts, many more people are facing the prospect of becoming redundant, or have recently been made redundant. However, there are jobs out there for people at all levels to consider applying for, but you may need to think differently about which jobs you are prepared to apply for. Many jobs now advertised may be long term temporary positions or fixed term contracts, depending on the business needs of the employer. Taking up a temporary or fixed term position can sometimes lead to a more permanent role within the company, so it is worth considering as a positive option. Even if it does not lead to more permanent work, you will still be gaining valuable work experience. Similarly, you may find that the jobs that are advertised do not pay as much as you would like, or are part-time. If this is the case you could consider taking part-time work, and looking for additional contract work, or even self-employment, to supplement your income. Being flexible in your approach to the jobs market and being realistic in your salary expectations will ensure more success than sticking rigidly to one goal. Understanding your skills is key to maximising your opportunities in the jobs market. You will have developed skills through your work, education and life experiences that will be attractive to employers. These are your transferable skills. Examples may include time management, numeracy, IT skills, and communication skills. You know what you are good at, and you do not need to limit your job search to the sectors you ve always worked in previously. If there are gaps in your skills, you can speak to a Careers Adviser about opportunities for updating or learning new skills. Useful Website Examples General National Recruitment Agencies Public Sector, Health and Education Job Search Information October of 10

10 Graduates Apprenticeships psearch Voluntary Sector Job Search Information October of 10