With the current market flooded with candidates I am increasingly being asked “how do I get the next job quickly”.
Importantly don’t panic! Nothing turns people off more than desperation. We are finding it is taking people about three to six months to find the right opportunity. There are ways and means of speeding this up and below are some tips to ensure you secure your next role in this highly competitive market.
Keep the CV Simple. First and foremost a strong CV is not enough but it is your calling card and therefore very important. Succinct and achievement-based works. If it is full of jargon or gimmicky it will not get read. Photos and logos are a real turn off for some and you want to avoid pushing anyone’s buttons.
Take control of your CV. If you are using search agencies or recruiters ask them to tell you who they are sending it to. Basic advice I know but so many people happily send in their details believing they will be treated confidentially. You don’t want your CV ending up on the same desk multiple times as it will undoubtedly impact your credibility.
Think outside the box. Whilst the market is flat in one sector, there are some businesses which are experiencing an upturn. Skills are highly transferable so it is worth pursuing opportunities outside of your industry. Often clients are looking to add to the gene pool and agencies just send them the usual suspects.
Do the hard work. If you are targeting clients directly be thoughtful about your approach and explain why you believe your skills are relevant. Do your homework and put the effort in, most people are too busy to make the connection for you.
Don’t flog a dead horse. If you are networking in your own sector, identify the heads of lines of business as well as HR. However it is very important you network appropriately. If you don’t know people try and get an introduction. If you can’t, find a hook. If they have published an article or have been at a conference get in touch. With people’s digital footprint you should be able to find some common ground.
Offer flexibility. If you are out of work, interim projects can quickly establish you back in the workforce. At the moment, most agencies are so inundated, they are not accepting CVs so if this is a route you want to go down you will need do a lot of the leg work yourself, however it can be fruitful and a great way to stand out. Interim execs allow clients to avoid head count issues and they over-hire for specific projects. It is important that you ensure clients an interim role is of real interest to you — to build up skillset or change sector — rather than a last resort.
Be visible. Ensure you are on all the networking sites. Ask around how people are recruiting, job boards are increasingly less used as a recruitment tool so it is good to know what people use.
It is hard work finding a new role at the moment but we are still seeing lazy candidates who cannot be bothered to adapt their approach. Being thoughtful and positive will get you a long way.
(Pic: mundo resink cc2.0)
