Looking for work can be challenging at the best of times. But with the job market suffering as a result of the pandemic, now more than ever it is important to go the extra mile to make sure that you stand out against the competition.
Anybody who has had to look for work before will know the stress and anxiety that filling out countless applications can have-especially when all of your hard work seems to go unnoticed and you don’t hear back from employers.
So why are you looking for work, what are some of the things you could be doing to make your CV stand out and to get that all-important interview? Keep reading to find out.
Network
Did you know that half of all the jobs available are not advertised? The hidden job market is an underground goldmine of jobs that are simply waiting for the right people to come along to fill them. Once you know about it, it’s about making your way in front of an employer to show them that one of those people could be you. If you’re looking for work the best thing to do is to start speaking to people you know as they could have just the opportunity that you’re looking for.
You may also consider using this opportunity to reach out to former co-workers and employees and asking if they know of any work going. If nothing else they may be able to provide you with a good reference either with your job applications or publicly via your LinkedIn profile.
Upskill
One of the best things you can do when looking for work is to use the opportunity to improve your skills. Even during the pandemic, many course providers have made their courses available online. One of the benefits of this is that you can complete the work in your own time and at your own pace–without having to compete with time constraints and the pressures of making it into a classroom. For example, Careskills Academy has a number of courses specifically for people who want to get CDC accredited courses for working in care.
There are countless courses available to support people looking to get in a wide range of industries from marketing to Teaching English and a Foreign Language. Being out of work could be the perfect opportunity for you to try out something completely new!
Take the Time to Scrutinise Your CV
Sending out CVs but never hearing anything back? After a while, you might start to be taking it personally, but if your CV is not selling who you are as both an employee and a person, then its no wonder you’re not hearing back. Recruiters will see hundreds of different CVs a day which means that those that are uninspiring or don’t match the standard employers are looking for will end up at the bottom of the pile.
Create a unique online career brand
Creating a brand simply means using the internet to showcase your passion, expertise, and training that you have received, like the Cultural Awareness Training. Most recruiters and potential employers often use LinkedIn as their primary search tool. Therefore, to show your professionalism, you should start using LinkedIn to your full advantage. LinkedIn is also a great resource that can help you to find people working in different companies that interest you
It’s hard to be able to identify your own mistakes on a document that you have likely looked at thousands of times. Ask somebody to look through your CV for you and pinpoint where you might be making mistakes and if in doubt–hire a professional.
