Looking for Work
How do I start to look for work?
The internet is the most popular way to look for work - there are lots websites where vacancies are advertised. The whole application procedure, up to the actual interview, can now be done online. You will often need a CV in order to start to apply for jobs online.
LinkedIn Jobs (external link) is the world’s largest professional network with around 20 million users in the UK. You can search and apply for jobs, promote yourself to employers, participate in specific groups and gain endorsements from previous employers and colleagues.
A word of warning about your digital footprint - we know that a large number of employers check potential candidates social profiles before making a recruitment decision. Ensure your Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts remain professional or that you change your privacy settings to ensure that they do not see something that could compromise you getting the position.
Traditional ways of looking for work include looking in newspapers and specialist trade magazines, or visiting Jobcentreplus offices/Careers Centres. You can also cold-call employers that you are keen to work for and ask to speak to someone responsible for hiring staff (they often work in a department called Human Resources or HR).
Networking is using your network of people known to you and through word of mouth to find out about the many jobs that aren't advertised. By networking effectively you can find vacancies that aren’t advertised or you can build up contacts in areas of work that you are interested in. Offering yourself on a voluntary basis is also a good way of networking and getting known in a company or industry.
Recruitment agencies can act as the middle man between you and a new employer. They often specialise in specific sectors and can find temporary, seasonal and permanent work for you. They will often shortlist on behalf of an employer.
Useful Job-hunting websites
- GOV.UK Universal Jobmatch (external link)
- Total Jobs (external link)
- Indeed (external link)
- Monster (external link)
Twitter
Facebook
