We understand how dipping your toe into the recruitment market can feel overwhelming. Perhaps your hand has been forced through redundancy, or you have decided it is time for a change on your terms. Either way, it can be difficult to know where to start.
We would love to share our top tips to help you secure your dream job.
Understand your strengths and motivations – What are you good at? What comes easily to you? What gives you energy? We recommend you having a think about this and look for roles that can relate to you and your motivations. You are likely to find you are much more enthusiastic about applying for roles that match your strengths and motivations.
Apply to a few jobs well rather than lots badly – We recommend you put time into each application and as such to ensure a higher quality we recommend you put time and thought into the roles you are truly interested in.
Research the obvious – Before applying for a role, ensure you carry out your due diligence. Research into the organisation. Ensure you understand who they are, what the role entails, and how your skills and experience will relate.
Be flexible about size and location – We recommend you look for roles outside of just the big names. Look into smaller organisation and perhaps even locations outside of major cities – as long as you can get there of course. Jobs in smaller locations are likely to receive fewer applications and therefore give you a much higher chance of securing an interview.
Back up your application with a cover letter – If you are sending your CV, we recommend you also send a bespoke written cover letter to back up your application. Your cover letter will support your application and will explain in much more detail why you are interested in the role and how your skillset matches the job requirements.
Build your network – There are many live roles that aren’t actually advertised. By working with a Recruiter like Benchmark, or building your professional network you are likely to be exposed to lots more opportunities. Take every chance you can to meet with prospective employers in person or through online events.
Get it ‘write’! – It is very simple – correct spelling and grammar are essential. If your application is riddled with mistakes it’s unlikely you’ll be shortlisted. Remember to use good vocabulary – be mindful of your tone and remember to not sell yourself short.
Use the STAR method for impact – Use the STAR method when applying for roles. We would also recommend you use this method when answering interview questions. We would suggest you have 6-10 examples of your skills and achievements and describe them using STAR. The framework is as follows – explain the Situation you were involved in, the Task you were set, the Action you took, and the Result.
Achievements not duties – When describing work experience we recommend you don’t just focus on the duties, but also evidence of how well you carried them out. Describe what you achieved rather than what you had to do.
Don’t believe everything you hear in the media – There are lots of roles out there! With careful preparation, patience, and persistence you will secure your dream role.
If you are embarking on a job search and would like advice and support, please get in touch with our specialist team.