OUR BEST JOB SEARCH TIPS

Job hunting is one of those tasks that many of us approach with both trepidation and despondency. It’s hard work, it requires commitment and there’s a chance that it could take a while. Yet it seems odd that we don’t approach it from the other direction, with excitement and anticipation: job hunting could lead us to thrilling opportunities, new challenges and a more handsome salary.

At Property Personnel, we believe that being in the right frame of mind is a pre-requisite for successful job hunting, but there’s much more advice out there to help you secure the job of your dreams. If you didn’t see our Windows of Opportunity Advent calendar, with its 24 top job hunting tips, then allow us to share our insight with you now.

What is it you want?

We don’t all know what that next career move might be, so seek advice and do some research. Think about what you are interested in and what you want from a job, both on a personal and material level (there’s nothing wrong with that). Do you want to have influence over your earnings? Are you looking for a role that’s far away from the boring nine-to-five? Would you like to work with big name clients? Consider what is important to you before even starting that search.

Maybe you could ask your friends and family about what your strengths are – sometimes it’s hard to discern them for ourselves. You never know, their honest revelations could set you on an entirely different career path.

Get social

Social media is an essential tool in anyone’s job seeking armoury and it’s free, so you’d be a fool not to use it. LinkedIn is perfect for taking part in industry-specific discussions or joining groups, where you can start to get your name noticed by influential people. You could even reach out to them by asking intelligent questions. Twitter, too, can be used to participate in web chats, to identify people worth following or to publicise your own blog posts. You can also ensure you’re up to date with all the latest goings on in, say, the property sector – evidence of which, interviewers will love. There’s a wealth of valuable resources and contacts to be found online.

Consult the professionals

To really get ahead of the pack, register with an employment agency which deals in your particular area of interest – that way, you’ll have access to roles before they are posted on general job sites. Your consultant can appraise your CV, help you to emphasise your transferable skills, open up your job search and match you with roles that they think you’d be perfect for.

They can also advise you should your present employer make a counter offer in the hope that you won’t leave. They can offer assistance when planning your resignation and – here’s the big one – they can help you negotiate a salary which you deserve. Plus they’re always at the end of the phone line, happy to chat and help you find a new job.

The obvious ones

The old ones are the best and that’s no exception when it comes to job hunting. Refresh that CV so that you stand out from the crowd, write a tailored cover letter / email which expands on your experience and see if you can arrange to do some work experience with your chosen employer – it doesn’t matter how old you are. Dress professionally for any meeting, be it a quick chat via Skype or a face-to-face interview; we all know that first impressions matter.

The job market is competitive so it’s vital that you remain resilient, positive and can bounce back, so start to develop a thick skin and learn from any rejection. If you seem to fall at that last hurdle, interviews, then read up on how to answer those nasty questions and view interviews as though they are a two-way conversation.

Ultimately, you need to make your job hunting part of your daily routine; sign up for job alerts, check in with your recruitment consultant, tweak your cover letter and make changes when constructive feedback is given.

Know your worth

One of the most important pieces of advice we can leave you with is this: know your worth. Never settle for a lesser job or unfair compensation; challenge and question anything that doesn’t seem right or goes against what was offered in the earlier stages of the recruitment process. Be brave, polite and reasonable – there’s nothing you can’t do.

If you’re searching for a new job, bear these tips in mind, they will take you a long way. Best of luck!

Thinking about becoming an estate agent or looking for that next step in the property profession? Get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.