Job Hunting Resources

A KPI Recruitment Jobseeker Guide

Job Hunting Advice from KPI Recruitment

We have conducted extensive research on the Internet to bring you this information. It is combined with our own personal experiences as recruiters and HR Consultants. We hope it will bring you luck!

Searching for Vacancies

There are two main places employers advertise new positions: in the press and on the internet.

Newspapers

Vacancies are advertised in both the national and local press and also in specialist publications and journals. Consult your local newsagent to find out which papers have the best range of jobs in your area. Another way to find vacancies is on the web. Most newspapers have a website and you can view the latest jobs on these.

It is important to subscribe to journals and trade magazines. Journals can be an extensive source of information about companies within your industry giving you up to date information about your potential employers, as well as advertising the latest vacancies. The Food Industry has it's own journals and employers see these as an excellent way to find professionals. These are often only available by subscription, but they can be a great investment when looking for jobs.

Vacancies advertised in the national press often attract many applicants, so it is important to concentrate on other avenues as well as these.

When replying to an advertisement, make sure that you include everything in your CV and cover letter which has been mentioned.

We strongly recommend that you do not include salary details, photo and references unless requested.

Ensure that your cover letter is no longer than one side of A4 paper and use an A4 envelope.

Web

There are many places to find the latest vacancies.

There are thousands of job sites online which you might want to try, like CV-Library.co.uk. In addition to job sites, the companies you are applying to are likely to have a website. Use this to gain a greater understanding of the company as this will help you when you get to the interview stage.

Search engines are a great place to find vacancies - try typing in a 'job title' with 'location' - you are likely to be surprised with the results.

In many cases, when you apply on line, the process can be lengthy. Generally you will be asked to attach your CV and complete an online application form. We suggest that you take your time when doing this, and if possible even fill out the form 'offline'.

Advertising on the web is less expensive than advertising in the papers and companies can include far more detail on a website than in a newspaper. The additional advantage to the web is that it is instantaneous. Jobs can be advertised and recruiters / employers can expect to get hundreds of replies and fill their roles very quickly.

There is also a section of the Internet known as Newsgroups. These Newsgroups can bring you into contact with employers, employees and many potential contacts. Many search engines offer access to newsgroups as do email packages. Newsgroups can also provide extensive information about a certain industry or company, so take advantage of the free information.

Another great way to make new contacts is by joining on-line business forums. Quite a good networking site is Ecademy

Recruitment Consultants

There are over 50,000 recruitment companies in the UK. Choosing the right one can be a daunting process. Recruiters can assist in your job-hunting venture, but you should not rely on them to find you a job. Caution is recommended in terms of which recruiters you work with, not everyone in the industry operates ethically.

Agencies can be found in the Yellow Pages and through searching on the web. Don't send your CV without contacting them first and try to visit a few to gain some more information about your industry and the job market. Agencies should always ask your permission before sending your CV and you should check that no two agencies put you forward for the same job.

Speculative Applications

This is another way to find jobs, especially if jobs in your industry are often unadvertised. There is usually a low response rate with speculative applications, but if an employer is looking for someone with your skills, the competition should be lower.

Networking

The wider you network, the more often you use it, the better it works. Always ask friends, relatives and colleagues (if appropriate) if they know of a suitable position. This will help you discover jobs that are not advertised and put you one step ahead of the field. It is important to maintain your network of colleagues, past employers and like-minded people. You never know when you may need them!

General Advice Let as many people as possible know that you are looking for a new job, they may know of a vacancy.

Set a target for yourself, for example, send at least three applications per week.

Set aside time to job hunt. It's a big investment, but should be worth the time involved.

Start a file and keep records of all applications If you are turned down, ask for feedback and use it in your next interview Join any local business clubs, especially your local Chamber of Commerce.

This may provide you with local business contacts and directly assist you in your job search.

Join professional associations. This may provide you with leads from your professional colleagues.

Attend training courses run by your local college or university. These will teach you additional skills and give you the chance to meet new people.

Contract, temporary or part-time work may lead to an offer of permanent employment.

If you are highly qualified and experienced in your field you might want to consider organising and running training courses. As well as providing you with a source of income, this can be a good way of meeting people from the sort of companies you want to work for.

Don't rely on one method of job hunting. Consider developing a job skills portfolio. Make sure a potential employer can contact you. Provide your home phone, mobile and email. Make sure that your voicemail and user name for email is professional.

Hidden Vacancies

Many vacancies (up to 70%) are not advertised. They are filled by word of mouth, headhunters or CVs on file. It is important to make sure that you do not miss out on these opportunities by being unaware that they exist.

Speculative applications can be useful with these types of vacancies. Companies can keep your details on file for future reference.

Headhunters find suitable candidates through referrals, recommendations and networking, therefore, maintaining relationships with your own network of contacts can be crucial if you want to have the chance of being headhunted.

Job-hunting takes time and the right job for you may not be easy to find. Keep trying and make sure that you spend enough time searching in the right places - Good luck!

You can find more information on how to get a job at CV-Library.co.uk.