Stuck in a rut job hunting?
Katy Andrews
Helping you as a woman over 30, heal from your narcissistic wounds, to make peace with the past and rebuild your confidence ready for life you truly deserve
I often get asked by job seekers for tips on how to find a role so I figured I would put my tips in an article and I hope they are of use to many of you.
I know it can be tough out there, trust me I know from experience. During lockdown in March, hardly anyone was recruiting and this was the start of my job search.
Job searching has never been a walk in the park, there is always competition, sometimes many hoops to jump through and during a crisis situation unfortunately it will be no easier.
Before working through the tips below try and be mindful of the current situation as this will make rejections easier to handle. If you follow as many tips as possible and still get rejections then this may not be because of you.
Do not forget that many many people will also be applying and for the hiring manager it is not just about skills and experience it is about organisational fit. As much as I hate to admit it, it is rather like dating. Just bear in mind that they need to fit you and your needs, just as much as you fit there's.
Get someone to check your CV
There are many people on Linked In that would be happy to cast their eyes over your CV and not charge you a thing. Take advantage of that and perhaps offer some support in return.
Just keep in mind though that your CV is about you and whilst it is good to have an opinion it still needs to be personal to you.
You never know they may leave you a review on your Linked In profile, which can only be a good thing.
Remember that your CV is the first insight a hiring manager has into you, who you are and whether you are the right fit.
Try and stick to 1-2 pages, with key points, keywords (so you are selected on the ATS system).
Your CV is never complete, it is a continual working document, review it regularly.
Have a short paragraph as a personal summary within your CV. This is a chance to sell yourself but be honest.
Ensure your CV highlights your achievements and removes the day to day tasks. Businesses are interested in the outcomes, not just the daily grind.
Ask for interview feedback
I know how it feels you spend lots of time applying for a role, you secure and complete an interview and then nothing, completely ghosted.
It can be frustrating however you can still follow up and ask for feedback on your interview.
If you get the feedback then try and view it constructively as you need to learn from it and do better next time. Dwelling on the negatives will not help you.
If despite your efforts you still do not receive feedback then ask yourself whether the company really is for you and is aligned with your values. Perhaps you have had a lucky escape.
If you completely disagree with the interview feedback then do not be afraid to challenge further. If you need further clarification or the feedback is completely alien then use your interview notes to challenge.
Upskill - check out reed.co.uk
One of the key things that I did during lockdown was to upskill myself further. I used the website above to find courses that were affordable (some even free) that could be done from the comfort of my own home and I could do as little or as much as desired.
This is possibly my number one tip especially at this current time as the competition is completely fierce and you, yes you need to stand out.
It also gives you that sense of achievement that you are taking steps towards your goal and it helps to remotivate you as let's face it, it has been a tough year.
This is just one site I have used, if you are open to apprenticeships and student loans etc then all of that may be accessible to you. The National Careers Service is a good place to start, complete the skills assessment. You need to weigh up all of your options.
Do not give up.
Easier said than done at times, trust me I do know!
It is important to persevere, keep showing up every day (including weekends) snd having a plan of action.
As hard as it can be sometimes, keeping a positive mindset should increase your chances of landing your ideal role as the law of attraction is a thing right.
Remember you are not alone in this, try and surround yourself with other job hunters so that you can share ideas, support one another and feel you are all in it together.
Linked in profile
If you do not have a linked in profile, get one as it is one of the most widely used 'business' social platforms that are out there right now.
If you do have a profile then view it in the same way as you do your CV.
My profile is not perfect (I doubt anyone's is) but I have a professional photo for starters and this is important. I have seen some photos that are not good quality or even have parts on show that you would not show an employer in an interview situation. Think before posting!
Make sure that everything on your CV is on your profile and ensure your personal statement comes first.
There are many companies out there charging for this type of service before you pay if you have some well-known connections on Linked In then why not ask for their opinion?
Look for roles outside of your industry
Have you worked in the same industry for a very long time or have you just not taken the leap yet into other industries?
I am not suggesting that you apply for every role out there possible as I am a strong believer that any role should utilise your current skills and provide an opportunity for new ones.
The role has to interest you and perhaps stacking shelves is not really your thing but you are reacting to the situation out of sheer panic.
I do understand that it is human nature to panic sometimes especially when times are tough but please think of the long term.
If you know that stacking shelves will bore you and not give you the stimulation you need then you will be job searching again before long and putting yourself through it all again.
Think of all of your skills and areas that they may transfer to, you may be surprised and find that they transfer to lots of other interesting sectors. If you have a pal in Recruitment then ask them for a heads up if you are unsure.
Consider a temporary pay cut
This is going to be a controversial one I know but bear with me.
Sometimes in life, it may be necessary to take a few steps back in order to take a few more forward.
Life is never plain sailing as we know, it is full of bumps and turns as we go but as long as we never lose sight of the end goal we will get back there.
Some people later on in life use opportunities such as this lockdown situation to re-train into something new.
For some this may mean an apprenticeship for example on a basic, lower-wage with the view to a higher salary once the course is passed.
Prepare for interviews
This may be obvious to some but I can imagine not everyone does it or does it in a methodical manner.
Use the job description as a framework for preparation, in particular, the key skills section as sometimes competencies questions will be related to these.
Prepare, but do not over-prepare as this will just stress you out, overload you with information and that is never a good thing.
Always ask the panel questions as interviews are a two-way thing and you need to ensure they are the right fit for you and your needs.
Be yourself, relax, smile and always check your tech beforehand to ensure there are no issues on the day.
Try and imagine that they will throw some curveball questions as you will not already have the answers for everything. When the curveballs come, breathe and take time to answer.
Smartworks
If you are on benefits and living in the UK then this one will apply to you.
Ask your DWP work coach to refer you to Smartworks. They are a charity that supports people with smart, hardly worn work clothing to boost confidence when interviewing and heading back into the world of work.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness can be anything from enjoying your favourite food in peace and quiet, five minutes closing your eyes, reading a magazine, or listening to reiki music and rubbing shakra crystals.
Just try and do something (or do nothing) for a short period of time and this will help re-set your energy and get you back to your most productive.
For those of us that sometimes burn out or get very close to, this is an important one for you. You are of no use to anyone unless you are of use to yourself.
Add value
Put out some great content on linked in, show potential employers what you are capable of.
By all means, do reach outs to recruiters or hiring managers to let them know you are on the hunt for a new role too.
Make new connections every day and offer to support them, you never know they may connect you with your future employer.
Job Fairs
Given the current situation, these are being held online so you can attend from the comfort of your own home.
These fairs can be useful if you would like a wider picture of employers and the roles that may be available now or the near future.
Find a mentor
Think about your long term goals, what do you want to achieve both now and in the future.
Work with a coach or mentor so that they can hold you accountable and keep you focused when the going gets tough.
Not every mentor or coach will want to charge you. Some will offer support for free or at a bare minimum cost. Some people are experienced professionals or business owners that just want to give back and support others.
Take risks - life is a gamble
We all know that life is never plain sailing, it does not always go to plan. Given this then why not take some risks that are within your control?
If there is a role that you would love to do but your unsure whether you will get it then apply or reach out to the hiring manager. What is the worst that could happen?
Do things differently
Do you tend to apply for roles of a weekend? No? Then apply for roles.
If there is something that you would not normally do then try and do it.
We have to push ourselves, we have to be prepared to do things that some other people would not think to do.
Get ahead of the curve and be steps ahead of the competition at all times.
Glassdoor
This is a useful site for doing your research on a potential employer prior to an interview.
Try and keep a lookout for trends in the reviews. For example is there a trend that there is a poor culture, if so you may want to think twice.
Try and take a balanced approach, if there is a mix of reviews perhaps give them a chance.
Reflection
This does not always come naturally to everyone. I am lucky as it is as natural as breathing for me!
Whether it is during and after the job process always take time to reflect and evaluate.
If you are finding very little jobs on one job board then find another. If you are getting no interviews ask yourself why that could be.
Whatever is, or is not happening for you in terms of the job search you need to try and establish why otherwise months will pass and you will be no further on.
I saw a post the other day where someone has been searching and applying for roles for 9 months with no interview. All that time wasted when they could have been establishing why.
These are just some of my top tips and I am sure you will have tips that work for you.
The bottom line is to always be visible, never give up, keep showing up and stand out from the competition.
Be consistent with all of the above and your time will come. Do not lose sight of the end goal however hard it is.
If any of these work for you I would love you to tell me about any job successes.
Good Luck!