Looking for a new job at any time can be a stressful event. In the current pandemic times, it can feel extra daunting. If you feel it is time to move jobs then this blog will share some tips for you.
First, think about why you want to change jobs. Are you leaving because of the lack of opportunities, or you don’t get on with your boss, or are you just not feeling satisfied? It may be one of these reasons or one of many more. It is worth thinking about what you like and don’t like about your current job. This is the time to really think about what you would like to see in your next job and what you don’t want to see. Take some time to list what you do enjoy and what you don’t enjoy and this will give you a clearer idea of what you want from your next role. For further self reflection, I would recommend that you reflect on which work values are important to you and use that as a guide when looking for a new company or role.
Next, research. Research what is happening in your industry. As a key point this will make you ready to think about salary and prepare you for salary negotiations. Also, it will let you know what is going on in your industry and inform you of trends and changes so you are prepared and also can reflect if the changes match what you expect. I recommend reading some of the UK salary guides from Morgan McKinley or Reeds.
If you are thinking about doing something different, then look at where there are occupation shortages for some inspirations or which jobs are most in demand from Glassdoor or LinkedIn. If you do want to think about doing something new, then speak to friends, peers or colleagues to ask what they think you might be good at. It is interesting to hear what other people think you might be good at and it will hopefully give you some inspiration.
Other research is needed in terms of looking at what companies are recruiting, and to do this you need to look at the websites and make some notes on their recruitment opportunities but also their people strategies and values and make sure it is in line with what you would like to see. Keep notes as you go through, as this will help you with interview preparation.
Next area for research is to look on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is an amazing resource for job searching, obviously you can see job vacancies and make yourself available so that recruiters can contact you, but you also have access to millions of peoples CV’s. If there is someone working at a firm that appeals to you or doing a role that you like the sound of, then look at their history. What training have they done? What have their previous roles been? What networks are they a member of? What skills have they listed? You can find out so much, and reach out to people and ask them about their role.
Now you have thought about the companies or roles you would like to work within, it is time to get yourself ready for the job search.
- CV – get your CV up to date. There are loads of templates online to use. Get a few people you know to review yours and ask for advice. If you can afford it, pay someone with experience to look over it for you. Make sure it is up to date – I see a lot of people who haven’t used their CV for a long time, still have details that aren’t really best practice now, such as DOB, a picture, marital status. There are loads of great resources on CV’s so do check out a few such as Robert Walters or jobs.ac.uk. Write a summary about yourself, and list your key achievements. I know these are areas that people find difficult, so try and get someone to talk this through with you and make notes as you share some of your successes – a lot of people find this way easier than trying to think about themselves when on their own.
- LinkedIn – get your profile up to date. If you haven’t used LinkedIn, then you are missing out on a valuable resource for your job hunt. Some companies now will expect you to send in your LinkedIn profile as part of the application so it is worth getting ready. If you haven’t been active on LinkedIn, then maybe it is worth doing a bit of training. Again there is so many resources to do this from LinkedIn or from many experts such as science of people. My easy advice is to look at other people’s profiles that you admire or like and see what they have done. If you know someone in your network that is active on LinkedIn, then reach out and ask them what they do and what advice they have?
- Training – do you have any skills that you would like to update to help you for your new role? Maybe your current company can offer some training or development. If you are being made redundant, then ask about support for re-training as it is often available. For upskilling then check out national careers service or LinkedIn learning. There are so many free courses available, and I know when speaking to people who have managed a career transition, they have benefitted from such a wide range of free courses.
- Networking – do you like networking? Are you finding networking difficult whilst trying to do it virtually? You are not alone! But, networking can be one of the easiest ways to find new work. The more specific you can be, then the easier it is for people to help you. If you just say, I would like a new job, then people may not be sure what to recommend. If you say, I am looking for a leadership position in financial services then people may be able to suggest possible vacancies easier. Don’t forget, a lot of companies are relying on their employees to provide recommendations for new recruits (and will reward them) so people will be keen to recommend you if they see a good fit. To improve your networking, be specific about who you want to contact and why, and be brave and reach out. Check out our blog on top tips for networking.
- Research the recruitment process so you can prepare. Most companies will want to interview you which will more than likely be online these days. For any interview, practice, practice, practice… try and prepare your questions. Research the company and the interviewer. Get someone to run through your questions and answers and provide some constructive (And kind!) feedback. If you feel anxious or nervous, then get some coaching to help you feel as confident as you can. We love sharing this video with people to watch before interviews.
Best of luck with your job hunting. There is so much support out there and do be kind to yourself, as it is a stressful process.
If you are not sure about another occupational role, then there are also opportunities for self-employment, gig working, portfolio careers etc. There are so many ways of working these days especially if you are thinking about your longer-term career plans. We will be covering all these areas in future blogs so do keep an eye out.
If you are in need of some coaching to help you through this process, Clare is an accredited coach and can offer you some advice. To book in a chat with her, email [email protected] or call +447594946166.
