​Are you searching for a new job?

Whether you’ve found yourself looking for a new role through circumstances beyond your control, or feel it’s time for a change, here’s some advice to set you up for job search success.

• Update your CV– Obvious right? It’s good to do this before you start your search as it will get you thinking about any particular projects or matters you’ve been involved in so that you can really understand what skills/experience you’d have to bring into the next role

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• Once you’ve got your CV ready, you can tailor this depending on the position you are applying for. This doesn’t mean significant changes, instead tweaking it slightly to emphasise the skills you have that are most relevant for that role. Remember to be honest and not to overplay your experience or technical skills, as chances are you’ll get found out pretty quickly in an interview.

• Your CV must be well-formatted and structured. If you are unsure about this, there are plenty of online templates or seek the advice of industry experts like us here at BrightSpark.

• Get advice from an industry recruiter- Talk to an industry specific recruiter about the market and how in demand your skills are to get a feel for the type of options available to you. Even if you’re not actively pursuing a new role, this can still be useful, as a recruiter can keep you in mind for potential opportunities of interest as they come up. Timing is often critical in a job search, and if you’re busy, we can alert you to exciting opportunities so that you don’t miss out.

• Communicate your availability:Let your recruiter know if you have any upcoming holidays where you’ll be harder to contact or unable to interview. Also, let them know your notice period and how you’re placed in the next few weeks to meet any potential employers for an interview. That way, if you do get an interview, a recruiter can work that into your schedule.

• Identify 2-3 aspects in a role that will be most important to you- You may be looking to move into a larger team, a more challenging role, the chance to work with cutting edge tech, or maybe you’re looking for better work/life balance. By allowing a recruiter to understand your push and pull factors, it will help us focus your search and bring relevant roles to your attention. If you’re looking at a change purely for salary reasons, we would advise you talk to your current employer first to see if you can negotiate a pay rise.

• Be realistic about your goals and expectations– For example, if you’ve recently graduated, you’re not likely to be considered for an intermediate or senior level role. Likewise, if you’ve got many years of experience as a Senior Project Manager, you are not going to be selected to interview for a more junior PM opportunity, no matter how much you “just need a job” when the market conditions are less than favourable.

It’s important to apply for roles that are relevant so as not to get a reputation for applying for everything and anything. A good rule of thumb is to apply for a role if you know you fit at least 75-80% of the criteria, as this still leaves room for growth.

To save time wastage and disappointment, get some objective advice from an industry expert like us here at BrightSpark around what your realistic options are.