1. Do you know what type of job you want?

It will really help to focus your search if you know exactly what type of job you want.   If you don’t, you might want to talk to your Adviser about a Careers Advice session – so you can talk through your options with someone else and generate some fresh ideas.  Perhaps consider new types of work or an apprenticeship?   Whatever you decide, if you know what kind of role you are looking for, you can focus on only those types of jobs and concentrate your search on websites, jobs boards, specialist recruitment agencies or sites, social media etc.

2. Travel to work

Particularly during the Covid19 pandemic, you should consider your journey to work and how far, and by what means, you are prepared to travel.  You can then include this in your job searching criteria – for example, only searching for jobs within 5 miles of a certain postcode. This will inevitably narrow your jobsearch but will avoid the disappointment of the perfect job role appearing but being too far to travel to.

3. Getting help

Apart from your Adviser or Work Coach, talk to your friends, family, previous work colleagues etc about the sort of work you are looking for.  They may know about local job vacancies or they may know someone who is recruiting and may be able to recommend someone or something to you.

4. Your CV

Your CV needs to be updated and ready.  You should talk to your Adviser about your CV if you don’t think it has all the latest information about you.  For instance, have you been volunteering during the lockdown?  Then make sure this is on your CV.  You should be continually adding things and amending your CV – this way it will be ready to submit to an employer when you find that perfect job and you won’t lose time.

5. References

Although you may not need your References straight away when you apply for a job, you should have your Referees’ details to hand, ready if you are asked.  This means you should get in touch with your Referees and make sure you have all their latest contact details and they are still happy to give you a work reference.  This will not only save time if and when the employer asks you, but it will also make you look prepared and well organised.

6. Make time for job search

Searching for a job can often be like a full-time job itself. So it’s important to set aside specific time for job searching when you know you have good internet access and can concentrate fully. Speak to your Adviser or make an appointment to come into the Southwark Works office and book a job search session.

7. Getting Job alerts

Ask your Adviser to show you how to sign up for job alerts.  This is a way of registering your interest in certain job roles and then receiving emails when a new relevant job vacancy comes up. This will save you time and also ensure you don’t miss opportunities.

8. Social media/ LinkedIn profile

You can use social media for jobsearching and platforms like LinkedIn to help make connections. For instance, you can ask for help from your connections: create a status explaining what you’re looking for and asking if anyone knows of any opportunities in your area. You can connect with employers or employees in a specific organisation who might be able to offer you some advice or tips about a job role or application.  You can send direct messages to introduce yourself and explain the sort of work you are looking for.

9. Follow-up

Because employers are busy and may be dealing with a high volume of applications, they may not always respond to your application straight away.  It’s fine to send a polite follow-up email if you have not heard back from an employer for a few days. Your adviser can help you to put a polite email together if you are unsure how to word it.  Getting confirmation of the status of your application is helpful, even if you’ve not been successful – at least then you can get back to your search for a job straight away.

Good luck with your search.  Speak to your Adviser if you need any help or support to look for a job.