Job hunting tips anyone? (serious thread - well, I can hope)
Discussion
Having just been made redundant, I find myself back on the job market after nearly 5 years.
What is the "right" way to do things these days?
Apply online, wait a few hours and follow up with an email / phone call (when a number is available), or simply wait for a response?
I would imagine that recruiters have in the order of 100's of applications for some jobs given the current climate, so can't respond to everybody.
Any tips for a covering letter to make myself stand above the rest?
I'm searching for a job in IT if that makes a difference.
TIA.
What is the "right" way to do things these days?
Apply online, wait a few hours and follow up with an email / phone call (when a number is available), or simply wait for a response?
I would imagine that recruiters have in the order of 100's of applications for some jobs given the current climate, so can't respond to everybody.
Any tips for a covering letter to make myself stand above the rest?
I'm searching for a job in IT if that makes a difference.
TIA.
Monster is very good in my experience.
There's loads of these jobhunting sites on the internet now, which I guess is the only thing that has really changed in the past 5 years. Take advantage of these, send mountains of CV's off and eventually someone will bite.
Apart from that, keep an eye on the Jobcentre and local job agencies.
There's loads of these jobhunting sites on the internet now, which I guess is the only thing that has really changed in the past 5 years. Take advantage of these, send mountains of CV's off and eventually someone will bite.
Apart from that, keep an eye on the Jobcentre and local job agencies.
You can forget any help from Jobcentre Plus, only grief.
Agencies will only call you as a last resort, so even if they say they have your details and will contact you if something comes up, they won't.
You need to make a list of every job website you can find especially those specialising in your chosen industry and check all of them every day, sometimes twice a day.
Make a spreadsheet with all the details of jobs you have applied for and keep track of what you have applied for, when, with who and what the outcome was.
this will a, keep the job centre happy that you are doing something and b, allow you to chase up the agencies that have not replied to you.
Good luck with your search, and don't let the bastids grind you down.
Don't forget that you may also qualify for council tax benefit as well as JSA.
Agencies will only call you as a last resort, so even if they say they have your details and will contact you if something comes up, they won't.
You need to make a list of every job website you can find especially those specialising in your chosen industry and check all of them every day, sometimes twice a day.
Make a spreadsheet with all the details of jobs you have applied for and keep track of what you have applied for, when, with who and what the outcome was.
this will a, keep the job centre happy that you are doing something and b, allow you to chase up the agencies that have not replied to you.
Good luck with your search, and don't let the bastids grind you down.
Don't forget that you may also qualify for council tax benefit as well as JSA.
All of my jobs in the past 13 years or so have been found via jobserve so I recommend that site. I'm IT software contractor though so "your mileage may vary".
But - if you're in a competitive/saturated field then I would say apply for "the job" online, with a bullet point summary of your skills (where relevant to the job you're applying for) and then phone a few minutes later (10-15). Ask if they received your CV, ask if they think you're relevant/skilled enough for the role and take it from there.
Good luck!
But - if you're in a competitive/saturated field then I would say apply for "the job" online, with a bullet point summary of your skills (where relevant to the job you're applying for) and then phone a few minutes later (10-15). Ask if they received your CV, ask if they think you're relevant/skilled enough for the role and take it from there.
Good luck!
Landlord said:
But - if you're in a competitive/saturated field then I would say apply for "the job" online, with a bullet point summary of your skills (where relevant to the job you're applying for) and then phone a few minutes later (10-15). Ask if they received your CV, ask if they think you're relevant/skilled enough for the role and take it from there.
Do you apply via the online forms? I find it better/preferable to call the recruiter, have a brief chat at which point they ask you to pop your CV over (presumably to prove you're not another recruitment agent). Then they call you back, further chat, then CV off to the employer.Landlord said:
Good luck!
Seconded.[quote=hornetriderDo you apply via the online forms? I find it better/preferable to call the recruiter, have a brief chat at which point they ask you to pop your CV over (presumably to prove you're not another recruitment agent). Then they call you back, further chat, then CV off to the employer.
[/quote]I do, personally, but that's because there's often a load of jobs and I'm applying for them all (within reason). However, if there is a role I think it particularly attractive to me and I think I'd be to the recruiter, I'd do as you said and phone them, chat and then send the CV over.
I do think your suggestion is the better method but I'd say it depends on how many jobs you're going to apply for and how much time you have to make all of the calls.
Another thing with calling them is they may say "oh, I/my colleague has just had this role in that might be suitable..." giving you a chance to be considered before it goes "public" and you get lost in a sea of CVs.
[/quote]I do, personally, but that's because there's often a load of jobs and I'm applying for them all (within reason). However, if there is a role I think it particularly attractive to me and I think I'd be to the recruiter, I'd do as you said and phone them, chat and then send the CV over.
I do think your suggestion is the better method but I'd say it depends on how many jobs you're going to apply for and how much time you have to make all of the calls.
Another thing with calling them is they may say "oh, I/my colleague has just had this role in that might be suitable..." giving you a chance to be considered before it goes "public" and you get lost in a sea of CVs.
If you apply for a position through one web-site and you think you see the same job advertised elsewhere then apply for that one as well.
Some of the agencies are suspected of harvesting CVs by copying other legit job specifications. You don't know wether you have already applied through the right agency.
Some of the agencies have fairly coarse methods of selecting which CVs go forward and some junior may just bin your CV because he/she hasn't found the right mix of keywords. Another agency may have someone who can read the CV more thouroughly.
The aim of the game is getting your CV in front of the person actually at the employer who will make the decision to interview or not. Appliy directly if you can - but be aware that some employers also apply coarse filtering methods if they receive heaps of CVs.
Good Luck - Russ
Some of the agencies are suspected of harvesting CVs by copying other legit job specifications. You don't know wether you have already applied through the right agency.
Some of the agencies have fairly coarse methods of selecting which CVs go forward and some junior may just bin your CV because he/she hasn't found the right mix of keywords. Another agency may have someone who can read the CV more thouroughly.
The aim of the game is getting your CV in front of the person actually at the employer who will make the decision to interview or not. Appliy directly if you can - but be aware that some employers also apply coarse filtering methods if they receive heaps of CVs.
Good Luck - Russ
Girlfreind has just lost her job, my methods have always worked for me (preferably at a weekend imo, so those dirty recruiters hit it hard on the monday 
) :
- Update CV
- Update Linkedin
- Get as many qaulity reccomendations from Linkedin connections you can
- Register CV with largest job boards
- Apply for as many jobs as you think are relevant
- Monday - phone rings off the hook non stop for hours
- Hopefully those calls result in interviews and what not (depending on background) and the rest is history.
The above has played out to the letter with my gf today who lost her job on friday, if she hasn't sorted another in the next two weeks I'd be very surprised given the interest.
) :- Update CV
- Update Linkedin
- Get as many qaulity reccomendations from Linkedin connections you can
- Register CV with largest job boards
- Apply for as many jobs as you think are relevant
- Monday - phone rings off the hook non stop for hours
- Hopefully those calls result in interviews and what not (depending on background) and the rest is history.
The above has played out to the letter with my gf today who lost her job on friday, if she hasn't sorted another in the next two weeks I'd be very surprised given the interest.
We don't work in IT but have received lots of CV's over the years.
Do you know what, out of all those CV's we have received, I can safely say I can count on one hand where the sender has actually bothered to make a follow-up call.
Ok we aren't really in a position to take anybody on atm, but the fact some people think they can just send you a CV and not bother to follow it up speaks bucket loads in my book.
Good luck with the hunt
Do you know what, out of all those CV's we have received, I can safely say I can count on one hand where the sender has actually bothered to make a follow-up call.
Ok we aren't really in a position to take anybody on atm, but the fact some people think they can just send you a CV and not bother to follow it up speaks bucket loads in my book.
Good luck with the hunt
Edited by Westy Pre-Lit on Monday 6th June 22:14
Thanks for the advice and well wishes.
One thing I have noticed with a few of these job sites - they appear to be written specifically with Internet Explorer in mind....
I usually use a MacBook, however I have noticed that the Reed site in particular, fails when trying to apply for a job!
I see a niche in the market for a jobsite that will work on any platform
One thing I have noticed with a few of these job sites - they appear to be written specifically with Internet Explorer in mind....
I usually use a MacBook, however I have noticed that the Reed site in particular, fails when trying to apply for a job!
I see a niche in the market for a jobsite that will work on any platform
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