Tips For Successful Job Search

During my working life I've spent many years helping people who were looking for jobs. For some this was their first job after leaving education. Others were looking for a change, maybe a promotion, or to move to a larger company, and sometimes a complete career change, either by choice or necessity.

I've advised on resumes and letters of application as well as the interview process itself. I've also been directly involved in conducting interviews for both public and private sector companies, written job adverts, long- and short-listed, interviewed, tested and assessed, and dealt with both successful and unsuccessful candidates.

Along the way I've picked up some useful tips for successful job search

In this article I'm concentrating on how to find out what jobs are out there. I'm assuming that you already have an idea of what type of work you're looking for, and have done some work on determining your skills and experience. If not, then read the article on Career Choice first.

If there is a particular organization you are interested in working for don't be afraid to pick up the phone and talk to someone in the Human Resources Department to find out how they recruit. Every company is looking for suitable people who want to work for them, so they'll want you to see their vacancies.

If the company tells you they advertise all vacancies in the press and don't accept speculative applications, don't ignore what you've been told and send in a speculative letter or resume. Sometimes these may be kept on file until a suitable opportunity arises, and you might then get sent an application form. But in many cases your hard work will end up going straight in the bin.

Newspapers, Journals and Bulletins

Job advertisements in local and national newspapers, company newsletters and specialist journals remain the backbone of recruitment and are likely to for a long time, despite the trend towards on-line communications. Any successful job search campaign needs to include these.

Most newspapers carry vacancies every day, sometimes specializing in different types of work on different days. Although it can seem tedious to plow through everything, don't ignore the smaller ads. Not every company can afford (or wants) to pay the high advertising rates charged by some newspapers. A small ad can still lead to a good opportunity.

If you're looking for work away from where you are currently living, local newspapers in your chosen area are ideal for successful job search. You'll often find the recruitment pages on-line, which makes it much easier.

On-line research into past editions of the newspapers is also useful. You could find companies who were advertising vacancies or had articles written about them, who you can contact to find out about their procedures and their possible future needs. In some cases if a company knows you're moving into their area and you have skills that are useful to them, they may offer a meeting even if they have no current vacancies.

Employment agencies and recruitment specialists usually carry regular advertisements in local newspapers. They need a constant supply of good quality candidates to put forward to employers. If you see an agency that covers the type of work you're looking for, it's okay to contact them even if they aren't advertising a suitable vacancy. They'll usually discuss your interests and keep your details until they receive an assignment that matches your profile.

If you're looking for work in a particular profession or clearly defined career area find out about any professional journals that support this, and check them out for recruitment advertising. Look on-line, or ask your local newsagent to order you a copy if they don't normally stock the publication.

Large public sector organizations like health and local government often have their own vacancy bulletins which are very helpful for successful job search. If the jobs are open to external applicants find out how to get a copy.

These bulletins often carry a mix of opportunities, some of which are only open to internal candidates while others may be open to anyone. Vacancies can be for any type of work the organization covers, so a local government bulletin in the UK can include vacancies for:

care workers...teachers...accountants...legal specialists...librarians...civilian personnel to work in police stations...fire fighters...debt counselors...housing officers...sports center workers...play workers...horticultural workers...catering staff...cleaning operatives...building crafts people...IT specialists...personnel professionals...administrators...and so on.

The opportunities are at all levels from entry to Chief Executive, and cover full time, part-time, permanent and temporary positions.

Large private sector organizations may have similar bulletins covering all types of opportunities at multiple locations within their company, or group of companies. Depending on their recruitment policies these may or may not be available to non-employees.

The organization's website may also feature their bulletin or a list of current vacancies.

On-line Research

Many organizations now use the internet as a part of their recruitment process but it's impossible to know who advertises vacancies — or takes online applications — without going and looking for them, so successful online job search can take some effort. If the company you are interested in doesn't appear to have vacancies on-line, try using their contact page to find out how to apply.

IT related companies such as web designers, internet service providers, telecommunications companies and technical support organizations will usually have an on-line recruitment process.

Recruitment and Employment Agencies

As well as putting people forward for vacancies they're handling, some agencies will actively market good candidates. This is especially the case if you've got skills that are in high demand, or scarce, and they know companies who need these skills. They can be a good contact for successful job search but make sure you check how they work. You may want to list any companies you don't want them to approach. You don't want your current employer finding out you're looking for a move — unless you're trying to get a raise to stay where you are (in which case the recruiter won't appreciate you wasting their time — find a different way to achieve your goal).

Most agencies now have an on-line presence, and there are many other websites that offer job search services without an off-line organization. If you plan to sign up for any of these services make sure you are clear about exactly how they operate. You may find some organizations promise lots but deliver little, having few opportunities in the area you are looking for.

The on-line approach can be too impersonal for some. Recruiters often short-list for their clients, and if all they have to use is your electronic form they may not present you as well as you might want them to. Opportunities for real communication, both about you and about any vacancies you're being considered for, can avoid wasting everyone's time.

Word of Mouth and Vacancy Boards

There are still a number of companies who advertise vacancies like this. And this doesn't just apply to low level jobs, I've seen a position for a company accountant advertised on a board outside the factory.

The benefit for the company is that if they're successful they save a lot of money. The down side is that they get a limited field of candidates — just those who saw the notice and were either looking for that type of job, or knew someone who was. It's unlikely this is their only method of recruitment, but it may be something that's tried before the expense of a newspaper advertisement.

So if you do spot something and you're interested you should do something about it quickly. And if you find the position has gone, you can always ask about sending a letter or resume in case they're looking again in the future.

Some companies ask if their employees know anyone who is looking for a new position, and may even reward employees for introducing new recruits. My partner worked for a telecommunications company who had a high turnover of customer service staff. The company offered an incentive program where anyone who introduced a candidate who was successful got a bonus.

Turning it round the other way, if you know someone who works for a company you're interested in, or does the type of work you want to do, there's no harm asking them to find out what the options might be. Networking can be very useful in successful job search, and you never know when you might find a company where someone's just given notice but they haven't gotten round to replacing them yet. You could save them the time and trouble!

Equal opportunities laws apply to recruitment processes. So even if you're told about a vacancy by a friend, you may find that you're still in a process with several other people who responded to a newspaper ad. You won't get preferential treatment, but you will have made sure that you didn't miss out on the opportunity. And you may be able to use your friend's help to learn as much about the company and the role as you can, in preparation for an interview.

Speculative Approaches

There's nothing to stop you making speculative approaches to companies you're interested in working for, but bear in mind what was said earlier: their recruitment procedures may not let them follow this up other than to explain their normal procedure to you.

And remember that the people you're writing to are busy. You want them to notice you, but don't expect them to wade through mountains of information. This isn't the time to send a copy of all your examination certificates, training course certificates and references.

A speculative approach should include a brief but succinct letter stating what type of position you're looking for, what skills you have to offer, and why you're interested in the company (don't waffle!). If you enclose a resume at this stage make it brief and focused, and offer a more detailed resume if they're interested in progressing things.

Follow up with a phone call to confirm receipt, but don't hassle or you could put them off.

Finding the job you want to apply for is the first step in your successful job search. You also need to be successful when writing letters,completing application forms, in interviews and selection processes