Different industries recruit in different ways, so it is worthwhile doing some investigating before you start to make sure you make the most of your time and end up using the most suitable job hunting technique. Industries such as politics, journalism and the arts often recruit through speculative applications and networking for example. To find out how the industry you are applying to recruits,
- See our ‘Getting into’ guides for industry specific information
- See the job profiles on Prospects for tips and advice
- Ask people in the industry where and how they recruit and how to start a career in that field. This can be in person at events, or online using LinkedIn or Twitter.
Get it right:
- Take time to plan. Just as you plan before starting an essay, make sure you use your time effectively when you job-hunt by using an organised approach.
- Know what you are looking for. It will be difficult to find suitable roles if you are not really sure what it is you want to do. See our information on making career choices and book an appointment to see a careers consultant to explore your options.
- Be proactive. Up to 60% of jobs never get advertised. Finding unadvertised opportunities by contacting employers you would be interested in working for, can be a very effective method of getting work. Success levels are greater is you have already built up contact with the organisation through networking.
- There are also ways to create your own work experience! This can be through volunteering, starting a blog, or taking a course for example - see the factsheet '10 ways to find a job'.
- Whilst you are job hunting, look at job descriptions for roles you are interested in to see what skills employers are looking for. Are there ways that you can develop these skills and experience in the meantime to improve your chance of success in the future?
If you are not finding the jobs you are interested in or aren't getting a response from recruiters, book an appointment to see a Careers Consultant.
