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Share Your Job Hunting Tips

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Discovered any sure-fire ways to get your foot in the door? Devised a master plan to increase your employment chances? Or simply have the voice of experience on your side? Whatever position you are in, if you have any helpful hints when it comes to job hunting and employment, share them here.

Contents

Share Your Tips

Job Hunting

What are the places to look and the best ways of looking for jobs? How can you maximise your chances of finding something suitable for you? If you have advice more specific for school students or graduates, share those in the relevant section.

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School Students

Username:happi_minnie

Comment:Just keep handing your cv in and pester them if need be! Not to a point where it seems you are harassing them :) Keep looking on the internet, most retail shops put their openings on their websites and sign up and put your cv up online. That's how I got my job at GAP.


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Graduates

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Utilising Agencies

Have any tips on how to make recruitment agencies work better for you? Share your tips so others can get the benefits...

Username: RA Comment: I think they can be professional and provide a useful service. I graduated in 2009 and panicked. I had no idea what I wanted to do so registered on job boards, kept in touch with Uni mates in case they heard of anything and registered with a temp agency. These were quick and easy to do and got the ball rolling. I then registered with a specialist recruitment agency for graduate jobs in Sussex and was pleasantly surprised. First of all it didn't cost anything which I thought it might but recruiters pay them to find grads. Anyway got my CV looked at, which helped, then a consultant took me under their wing and suggested jobs I could go for. I thought they would be quite pushy if I disagreed but in fact the person was actually a graduate and had been doing the job for about 2 years I think so understood my concerns. After I choose a job to go for they prepared me for interview and loads more. To stop me rambling, I'll cut to the chase - they got me a job. Agencies won't place every single person but the thing for me was by going through their process I suddenly realised what I wanted to do which gave me a massive confidence boost.


Username: JR

Comment: Remember that agencies have a lot of clients; you have to make yourself memorable to them so they think of you first. If this means calling or dropping in and asking to speak to whoever signed you up more often than you want to, so be it. Also, be aware that you don't have to accept every job they throw your way: not everything is suitable for various reasons - I've had to turn things down due to transport issues and things like that. Don't be pressured into accepting something you don't want to do. They're not the job centre and turning down an opportunity will not forfeit your entitlement to job seekers' for that period.

Username:JobRich

Comment: JR, you are absolutely right. I run a recruitment agency, in Derbyshire. Firstly I read a great many CV's, that's the first problem! The quality is very poor, sometimes with text speak or spelling mistakes. I bin these immediately! The basics are CV to be 2 pages, Written by YOU, No templates (use a template for layout, then change) When sending your CV by e-mail, list the reasons why your application should be considered, end your e-mail by saying "Please review my CV, I will be in touch soon. Follow up the e-mail with a phone call, engage the recruitment consultant (don't waste their time) Ask to go in and get registered with them (ask about their interview procedures) Arrive a little early Dress smartly Be professional, ask for their advice and ask them about specific jobs. When you have been to a few agencies, pick 2 or 3 who you feel that you would like to work with. Call them after a week, keep reminding them of your qualities (and your great communication skills) At the end of the day, it's all down to timing. Use a recruitment agency as part of your overall job search plan. Use Newspapers, friends, internet, yellow pages also.

It's hard work but be professional

Good luck Rich


Interviews

Experienced a number of interviews? Share your advice on how to make the best impression!


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CVs and Cover Letters

Nailed the writing process for CVs and cover letters? Share your writing tips here...


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See more Wiki Articles on...

Job Hunting

Interviews

CVs and Cover Letters


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