How to help yourself when looking for a new job this year

Our job as recruiters is very rewarding, we get to speak to people all day and we even get to help some of them find work. Whether it’s someone about to take the next step in their career, helping a seasoned consultant find their next exciting project or maybe someone who wants to return to work after a leave of absence (maternity/paternity leave or otherwise), helping with each one of these scenarios is a rewarding experience. There’s no better feeling than delivering an offer. My candidate is over the moon, I know I’ve done my job properly, and the client knows it too.

If we could help everyone we come into contact with, we would. Unfortunately, that’s not always possible. What I mean by this is, I may not have access to or have time to work on every role and with every firm in the market. So let me just be honest with you:

If I can, I will help you find a job that is the right fit for you and your career, and likewise you will be the right fit for my client. It’s not in anyone’s interest for us to aim for anything less than that.

It’s important to realise candidates can play a bigger role in their job search to get the best results. This may sound obvious, but there are some things candidates can do to help them achieve their goal of a new job.

Here are a few suggestions for you when looking for a new job:

Contact several recruiters

Speak to as many of us as possible. There are plenty of great firms out there and we will all be working on different roles. This will increase your chances of finding something suitable for you.

Talk to your own network

Get in touch with an old colleague you enjoyed working with and let them know you’re looking. Chances are if you enjoyed working with them, they enjoyed it too and they’ll be happy to help you.

Speak to HR

Don’t be afraid to reach out to HR If you really want to work at their firm. Find out who is the best person to contact and introduce yourself. Let them know what you’re doing and why you want to work at their firm. If you end up having a call then prepare a script/agenda - treat this like a phone interview. They might tell you to send your CV across or suggest you get back in touch later down the line. Either way you’ll know pretty quickly if there’s an opportunity for you.

Rewrite your CV

A good recruiter will review your CV and discuss with you how improvements can be made. If you’re working in financial services, then I would suggest a simple and organised layout. Your summaries should be straight to the point. Make sure you spellcheck. Your CV is a representation of you, don’t let it let you down.

Improve your LinkedIn profile

This is usually the first stop for HR and recruitment personnel. If you come across as professional and organised on your profile you’ve passed the first test. First impressions count. Some tips for LinkedIn:

• Use a professional picture with a clean background (avoid selfies).
• Summarise the responsibilities and achievements of your existing role. Do this for all relevant positions held.
• List your education and professional qualifications.
• Limit your extracurricular activities to those which are important to you and employ desirable skills (e.g. leadership).
• People will contact you on LinkedIn, make sure you are regularly checking messages and invites.
• Don’t be dismissive of recruiters, you never know when you might need one. “Thank you, but I’m not looking right now” is a good response. If you can, take this one step further and specify a date as to when you might be looking again, as this will avoid the inevitable follow up question. You can always re-approach that recruiter earlier if needed.
• Expand your network. If you only have 300 connections, you have limited your visibility on LinkedIn and less people will see you. Send a message with your connection requests explaining that you are trying to expand your network and give thanks in advance. Join relevant groups too.

And finally…Keep track of your applications

If you’re serious about finding a new job, then you need to be organised. It's easy to forget where you’ve sent your CV, when you sent it and who you spoke to. Start building a spreadsheet so you won’t have to remember all the details. The act of actually doing it will improve your chances of remembering things. I’ve created a template which can be viewed above and on my profile. Send me an email if you want a copy for yourself ([email protected]).

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We hope you have enjoyed this article.

Canbury Partners is a specialist recruitment firm operating in the Compliance and Financial Crime market. We are committed to delivering helpful insights to the industry.

We're not just recruiting for your market, we're invested in it.

T: +44 203 916 0131 / E: [email protected]