Job hunting this new year? Refresh your strategy with these 8 tips

January is a very popular time to look for a new job. But, that can mean a crowded market, with lots of applications for every job available.

If you’re looking for the first time in a while, or even if you’re a contractor used to regularly moving roles, it’s still worth thinking about the job-hunting process and how to maximise your chances of success.

Here are a few tips and hints to help you find the perfect job in 2024.

1) Have a plan

Job hunting can be a time-consuming activity. Making a plan, with goals and objectives, is a good way of tracking progress, moving forwards and staying focused. Time is valuable, you don’t want to waste it. 

Treating job hunting like a job can help you maintain momentum and discipline, feel motivated and, ultimately, succeed. Use tools to track your job applications and interviews, learn from each experience and adapt the plan accordingly.

2) Only apply for jobs you’re qualified for

The biggest waste of time when job hunting is applying for roles which just aren’t suited for you. Worse, you will repeatedly be left without a response or with a pile of rejections, which will knock your confidence and leave you dejected.

OK, it’s fine to apply for a job where you don’t tick every box on the list, but you do need to have the qualifications and experience needed.

Be honest with yourself. Look carefully at the job description and think about whether you are really able to do the job and add value to the organisation. If it’s not for you, move on and apply for something that is.

3) Work with a specialist recruiter

There are a lot of recruiters out there! It’s important to find one that works specifically on roles which fit with your skills, experience and market sector.

A recruitment consultant can help you work out what you are worth on the talent market, if your skills are easy to find or in demand and advise how to present yourself to potential employers. Good advice can help to boost your confidence and provide you with a competitive advantage.

Workling with a good recruiter can maximise the success of your job search As well as guiding you through the application and interview process for jobs they have available, a good recruiter will also pro-actively introduce you to clients for roles they know are coming up.

4) Focus on your CV and LinkedIn profile

These are essential tools for the first step of any job application. Always review your CV before applying for a role and if you have time, tailor it for every job to ensure you are selling the skills that match the job description. This will also result in your CV containing the right key-words to be found by recruiters.

Your LinkedIn profile should talk about you, your skills, past experience and achievements. Think about what a potential employer is looking for in an employee and sell yourself. A full and informative profile that also gives a sense of your personality and value-add will help – any potential employer is likely to check it out. 

The role of the CV is to get you on the shortlist, and then in front of the employer, so spend some time on it.

5) Get your CV out there

Most job searches – and candidate searches – start online. To be found by employers and recruiters searching online, through LinkedIn, general job sites and niche job boards you need to be on there. 

Not all jobs will be on all jobsites so do some research first to avoid wasting time.  Look for sites with jobs that match your skills and what you’re looking for.

And when you’re creating a profile, be honest about what you’re looking for. If you want a remote job, make that clear. Worried about a long commute? Be specific about the location. This will help to filter out messages from employers and recruiters about roles that are not for you and avoid wasting your time.

6) Leverage your network

Make sure you’re using your contacts. Connect with old colleagues, university mates, follow influencers in your field and join the conversation around hot topics in your sector. And of course, that includes your recruitment consultant.

Let your network know you are looking for a role and ask them to keep a look out. People like to help!

7) Stay positive

This is really important. It’s easy to feel despondent if you are getting rejections, or worse, hearing nothing back at all. 

Remember, employers and recruiters alike can get hundreds of applications for each job. Aside from the automated response, it’s not possible to personally reply to all of them. It’s not a reflection of you, it simply means that they managed to find a lot of good, qualified candidates.

As part of your job search plan, structure your day to include breaks and exercise to help keep motivated, focused and improve your mental health.

Above all, put disappointments behind you, keep going and don’t give up.

8) If all else fails…

If you feel like you’re not getting anywhere, there are still things you can do.

• Consider contracting for a while – it can add skills and experience to your CV
• Look at options for training – add new skills and qualifications
• Take on voluntary work – you could learn something new, meet valuable contacts and plug a gap in your CV
• Expand your contacts – join a networking group, attend industry events and Meet-ups
• Make sure you’re supported – talk to friends, family and your network.

We wish you good luck in your job search!

If you are looking for work and have skills that are relevant to one of our practice areas, get in touch and work with one of our recruitment consultants.

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