The end of a year is a great time to re-evaluate your current situation, and if you're not happy in your current role why not get the ball rolling?
Get a head start on the new year and take a look at our top tips to find a new job and advance your career.
Finding a new job – Our Top Tips
In the spirit of the New Year cliché, and everyone’s favourite Linkedin post material, we’ve found some inspirational quotes to accompany our top tips to find a new job this year.
1. Take stock, and set your goals
“The better you know yourself, the better your relationship with the rest of the world.”
Toni Collette, Will’s Mum in About a Boy, cemented firmly in my top 5 films of 2002
Remember; no man is an island
Take stock of your experience, skills, strengths, and weaknesses. Compare these to your aspirations and goals. This will help you spot any barriers to entry, enabling you to be realistic or take steps to improve your position, whilst identifying your main selling points.
Your goals should be realistic, taking account of what you’re looking for in your search for a new job, what you would like to achieve, and how soon you want to achieve it. Once you have these, make a simple plan of action utilising our advice.
Top Tip: Update and tailor your CV and professional profiles such as LinkedIn towards your goals.
If you’re struggling with your CV, read our advice on writing a successful CV here where you can also find a free CV template!
2. Research the market
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.”
Sun Tzu, Chinese Military Strategist, 500BC
Trying to find a new job may seem like an uphill battle, but there are many things you can do that’ll make it seem like a walk in the proverbial park.
Research is key, as is staying in touch with your market. Try to understand the level of demand for a candidate with your skill set, what experience will be required, and what the best way is to gain entry into your chosen market. Utilise resources such as industry publications, company websites, social media and LinkedIn, as well as a mass of other specialist sources such as expert Recruitment blogs to aid you.
Top Tip: Further engage with these, following company pages, joining groups, and participating in discussions, and you’ll quickly build up your knowledge whilst becoming recognised as someone active within the field.
Follow our company page on LinkedIn for advice blogs, market commentary, and much more.
3. Work your network
“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”
Dale Carnegie, author of How to Win Friends and Influence People which Warren Buffett credits as one of the factor’s to his success, 1936
The quick way to achieve the above is by a steady stream of Jordan Belfort quotes on Linkedin. Or, you could be Toby Young.
We’ll be honest. Remember being told it’s all about who you know? It’s often true.
Many of our positions here are filled through referrals, with companies across the spectrum of sectors utilising the same technique, and at times, not advertising a position at all.
Be proactive: make professional connections by reaching out to contacts and old colleagues, attending networking events, engaging with professionals online as discussed above, and providing value to others (they’ll remember you). Recruitment consultants are able to further provide access to an excellent wide, industry-specific network whilst offering a variety of opportunities. Not only do they know their industry and the people within it, they are there to help you find a new job (and will do so in confidence!).
Top Tip: Ensure you protect your current position and reputation when networking to find a new job by being discrete.
The best way to get to know a recruitment consultant and discuss their knowledge and how they can help is simply to get in touch. Contact us here.
4. Stand out from the crowd
“You have to learn the rules of the game. And then, you have to play better than anyone else.”
Albert Einstein, popularised MC decades before U Can’t Touch This was ringing in our ears, 1905
Made it this far? You probably already stand out in your search to find a new job, but there is more that you can do.
In the technological age, optimising your CV and professional profiles for things such as SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), can ensure you are found. This means including key words / phrases such as crucial skills, job titles, industry-specific terms, and more across your CV and professional profiles.
Additionally, you should ensure you have an online presence, with at least a LinkedIn profile in active use. Build on this by joining the world of twitter, posting about your interests, and showing your engagement with your chosen industry. Employers will check this, so remember to keep it professional!
Remember to build upon your career and industry research and find out more about the company you plan to apply to, personalising each application in turn. But most of all, dare to be different and let your personality shine through.
Top tip: Have someone read over your application and do a mock interview when finding a new job, ensuring a polished process when it comes to the application and interview stage.
We’ve prepared a number of useful resources free to use for you in order to find a job successfully:
- Things to consider when writing your CV
- How to prepare for an interview
- Questions You May be Asked in Interview
- Questions to ask in an interview
5. Aim High
“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”
Walt Disney, you’ve probably seen a film by his company, 1938
Know your own value, and be open-minded when you want to find a new job, but remember to set your sights and aim high. Have confidence in your abilities and remember your goals, working your way towards achieving them. You will be more successful with the right company, working in a job that you enjoy!
Top Tip: Stick it out. Trying to find a new job can be time-consuming, tough, and hard work, but if you put the effort in, follow our top tips, and keep at it, you’ll soon find a new job this year, reaping the rewards in the process.
Good Luck!