We recently shared some tips on what to do when you are starting to look for your next job. If you missed it, make sure you take a look at our advice on Laying the Right Foundations before you read on! Whether you’ve decided it’s time to look for a new job or you find yourself unexpectedly unemployed, we hope these practical tips – that are best applied at the start of your job search – will reduce the time and effort involved in landing your dream job!
Get in touch with your referees now
In my recruitment career, it’s staggering the number of times a referee has said to me “I didn’t realise they were looking, I actually have a role they would be great for.” Can you imagine being on the job market, slogging it out month after month when there was an opportunity waiting behind a call to your old manager or colleague? Don’t let that happen to you – make the call today and stay in regular contact!
Network, network, network
The purpose of networking is to build relationships and connections. Despite all the job boards out there, it’s still very common for people to find their next role as a result of their own networks. It doesn’t always yield instant results, so you need to start early in your job hunt!
How do you get started?
LinkedIn is designed specifically for this reason. Start with your immediate connections, personal and professional, then branch out to their connections and so forth. Another strategy – particularly if you are dealing with individuals you don’t know directly – is to find some common ground. For example, you may have worked at the same company previously, have shared interests, or are part of the same professional group. Whatever it may be, some level of commonality will help engender trust and encourage them to connect with you.
Don’t forget networks can include online communities (think Facebook groups) and recruitment agencies as well. Speak to other job seekers and read Google reviews to find out who people’s favourite recruiters are. Having a good advocate can open doors and create opportunities for your next role.
Write a strong CV
You need a strong CV to apply for jobs or share with your network. You’ll know your CV is working for you if you are landing interviews and meetings. To assist with this, it’s important to tailor your CV to the job you are applying for and have an abridged version for networking. Tailoring your CV includes using the keywords from the job ad when describing your skills and experience. Avoid jargon: use common language and keywords. Nowadays most recruiters, both agency and internal, use CV parsing software that does keyword ranking before your application is even touched by human hands.
If you need help getting started, take a look at our previous advice on how to update your CV and how to write a CV that stands out in a way that you want.
Know your worth
Whether salary is a key motivator for you or not, it’s important to know what the current market rates for your skillset are. This ensures you are paid fairly for the work you do. That way, you can focus on the new job at hand, rather than letting the resentment and frustration of being underpaid build up over time, which could see you looking for work again soon.
Reach out of your network to help determine what is appropriate compensation. This could include family and friends who work in HR or people leadership roles aligned to your industry. Recruiters will also have up-to-date information. And they’ll know which companies pay above and below industry benchmarks. You can do your own research too. Salary information is available on job boards, in job ads, as well as via government, pay, and company review sites. Many recruitment agencies also publish salary guides. Clicks has IT-specific salary data available for over 200 different roles.
Some things to keep in mind:
- Review salary data from multiple sources
- Look for up-to-date data from credible sites and organisations
- Consider the niche or unique skills, experience, and knowledge you have. This could be related to industries, systems, and technologies. Combine this information with the current job market supply and demand. This helps determine where to pitch your salary expectations against industry salary averages.
Watch your branding if you are going to be active on social media
There are many ways you can brand yourself and increase your brand awareness – this topic is a whole blog in itself but here are a few simple tips to help you stand out in the right way.
- Select the right social media platform to share your brand messages – for most people it will be LinkedIn.
- Engage on your chosen platform on a regular basis (at least weekly).
- Most importantly, the content that you engage with (like or comment), share or create should mainly relate to your industry and role.
Some people fall into the trap of looking like a professional job seeker rather than a professional Project Manager (or whatever role they are trying to target), while others engage with such a broad mix of content that their brand is unclear and confused.
Instead, you can add value and demonstrate expertise by sharing industry insights or summarising relevant TED Talks. You can also create personalised brand messages in relation to your key skills and strengths. Remember to consider the platform – photos typically have better engagement on social media.
Some examples of what you can share:
- A course you recently completed along with a comment, such as the most interesting thing you’ve learnt
- A snap of a Project Plan or Kanban board you’ve created for your friend’s wedding including mapping out the critical path!
There are a number of fun ways to bring your professional and personal brand to life. Just remember to align it to the roles you are targeting.
More tips
For advice on other job seeking topics, check out the resources we’ve put together to help you land your next role.
