Top do’s and don’ts of job hunting

When you are looking for a new role, there are a lot of boxes you can tick to ensure you are suitable for a role and ensure your best chance of success.

Please read our Top Do’s and Don’ts to support you in securing your dream job!

DO be aware of the impression you make, for example, if you don’t show up to interviews or stop contact after being in touch with someone, they may not consider you for future roles as you would be considered unreliable, which is not a good situation to be in when your dream job comes up with a particular company or recruitment agency.

DON’T apply for anything and everything, even if you are open to a lot of things – if a particular company or recruiter notices this, it might make you look as if you are applying a bit randomly for jobs and not reading the description well enough. The best option is to be realistic on what job you would and can actually do and what boxes need to be ticked for you in your next role then apply carefully for appropriate roles.

DO be ready to move job – when recruiters contact you they are potentially offering you an exciting opportunity of a new role, if you are only just putting your feelers out it is not the right time to be applying as recruiters will expect you to know what you want and be prepared to attend interviews and commit to further stages.

DON’T forget to tailor your CV for the role – the average recruiter looks at a CV for 7 seconds, make it stand out and ensure it is relevant to the role, we recommend cross-referencing it with the job description and making sure you have covered key points across skills and background and also personality traits, whilst remaining authentic to what you can and cannot truly do.

DO ensure your CV is up to date and has all the relevant contact details on, this is to make it as easy as possible to contact you regarding your next opportunity and to demonstrate you really do have attention to detail.

DON’T ignore or not return calls and emails – a simple no thank you will always suffice and letting people know you are no longer available or no longer interested is courteous and shows professionalism and you never know, you may wish to work with them in the future.

DO be honest – if a job is starting to seem like something you would not be able to do, it is better to bow out at an early stage rather than let everyone down in the late stages and this is always best done via a phone call or an polite and concise email that explains why to keep your professional reputation intact and can therefore be considered for more appropriate roles in the future.

DON’T be late – even if it is an informal meeting or even a phone call, each step that you engage with a business or recruiter is noted and it can appear unprofessional or like you are not truly interested in a role.

DO let someone check your CV for you as another opinion can be useful and another person may have good feedback or notice something that you have not.

DON’T be negative, especially about a previous employer as although you may have had a bad experience which was not your fault, it is never how you should approach your next opportunity. The best idea is to find a way to word your issues with your employer in a diplomatic manner without laying blame so that your new employer can notice that you are able to make the most of a challenging situation.

DO prepare and research the company you are looking for as it can set you up for success in many stages of the interview process and can really set you up for your first day as you will go in feeling as if you can hit the ground running.

We hope our tips have been helpful and if you would like to speak to us and get some advice on how to secure your next role, why not get in touch and speak to one of friendly consultants today?

Call us on 01242 300228.

Email hello@hoorayworks.co.uk

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