Calibration4U - Calibration & Metrology Resource - Jobhunting Checklist

By David Denny www.topcv.biz
Do you really have an idea of where and when to look for work and how to go about it? This article is written as a checklist of what you should be doing and where you should be looking if you're serious about finding employment. Take a look now!

The simplified format below is equally applicable whether your 16 or 65. (OK if you're 65 you ought to be thinking about escaping work not chasing it, but you know what I mean) The detail may be different, you may have to seek our specialist sources, agencies or journals for example, but the idea is the same.

To make the best of your job search you need to concentrate on the following, plan your search, plan your job search.

There's a well-used cliché that looking for work is a job in itself, and it IS. The more that you put into your job search in terms of research, time, effort and planning the more likely you are to succeed.

HIDDEN AND VISIBLE VACANCIES
A common misconception about job hunting is that all vacancies will be advertised somewhere or at least you, as a job hunter, will be able to find them visibly.

WRONG!
As much as 70% of vacancies are not advertised or visible. These vacancies are known as hidden (believe it or not). Employers with these vacancies will not have advertised, traditionally fill them by word of mouth, head hunt or have potential candidates on file.......candidates who are switched on to the fact that these vacancies exist, like you should.

GETTING YOUR JOBSEARCH RATIO RIGHT
Another common mistake, based on the above is that job seekers spend the majority of their time chasing the 30% of visible vacancies, where thousands of others are also concentrating their time. This makes the visible vacancies more competitive than hidden vacancies, with less chance of you getting the post.

In a nutshell, the serious job hunter gets the ratio of time spent chasing hidden and visible vacancies right, spending more time on the hidden and less competitive vacancies that do exist.

So where are all these jobs? How do I get to them?

VISIBLE VACANCIES

Where To Look

Jobcentres
Love them or hate them these places are packed with vacancies. These are VISIBLE VACANCIES. Jobcentres provide vacancies boards for all types of work. They change quite frequently and it's worth visiting them regularly. The staff can arrange for interviews for suitable vacancies and offer support and advice. Not all visible vacancies are here.
NOT forgetting the NEW DEAL OF COURSE!

Where To Look

Careers Centres
Careers Centres deal with people up to 21 years age, although some now offer advice to adults. What they do have are vacancies for younger people that job centres do not normally advertise. Most careers centres will also put you on a register as looking for work, and will let you know if suitable vacancies come up. They also submit young people to training vacancies, such as National Traineeships and Modern Apprenticeships, many of this vacancies may not be notified in the press. See our article on Training For Young People. (HL)

You must go to a Careers Centre if you are between 16-18 and hoping to claim any type of benefit. They are normally listed in the Yellow Pages or other local directories. Where To Look

Newspapers
Many jobs are advertised in local and National Newspapers, many in free papers, and others in job hunting papers any quick glance along a large newsagents shelves will reveal the local job hunting papers, some of these are printed on a regional basis, with vacancies within commuting distance. Others are national.

The national press often carries vacancies for a particular occupational area, e.g. the Guardian has Educational Vacancies on Tuesdays, with other professions and Occupational areas on other days of the week. This is equally applicable to other papers -

TIP: Most of the tabloids have web sites, and some carry vacancies online. Use a search engine to locate them, or try http://www.NEWSPAPERNAME.co or COM, it works most or the time.

Many employers will advertise in local and national papers, but not in the Jobcentre, so it is a good idea to keep looking at these too.

Public libraries will keep most local and many national papers and it can be costly to but them all - check the specific days when they carry job adverts as many will only include vacancies on a specific day of the week.

Where To Look

Professional Journals and Magazines
Many professions have their own journals, periodicals or magazines. Employers will often go to these for the best chance of employing a professional. Many can be seen on the magazine shelves, many are by subscription only. So if you're a professional looking for work and not subscribing it may be worth it now. If you’re a recently graduated student, then subscribe to a professional journal, they often have reduced rates for student members and it will considerably increase your job hunting prospects.

Where To Look

Employment and Recruitment Agencies
Much local work, is handled my local Employment Agencies (not government organisations) They cover all types of work. Employment Agencies are listed under the Yellow Pages and in local directories like the Thompson Directory. If you are 18 or under you must visit the Careers Service before employment agencies can, by law, offer you any work.

Employment agencies can often work in two ways, they employ and pay you while you work on a contract hey have with an employer or they fill a vacancy for an employer who will then employ you directly. These vacancies can be permanent or temporary and there are agencies that specialise in specific occupational areas.

Its not unusual for 'temps' to find full time work through agencies, employers may well treat a temporary contract as a 'probationary' period. Of course for some employers and employees alike, temporary contracts give them both flexibility.

Where To Look

Employers’ Premises
Many employers still have vacancy boards on their premises. Large stores such as food retailers and DIY companies use internal notice boards as these are seen by thousands of customers, and there is often no need to go to the expense of advertising as suitable applicants can be attracted through these notices.

It is also common practise for these types of companies, whose staff continually changes to provide application forms even when they have no vacancies. Ask at customer service desks.

Some larger factories still use vacancy boards by their main gates.

Where To Look

The WEB
The WWW is a great resource for jobs. Again its one of those visible vacancy areas for the most part. Employment and recruitment agencies use it a great deal having their own websites and carrying vacancies, not only nationally but also internationally. There are also local community sites that will carry local vacancies.

Most sites are well marketed through search engines, so a search there is a must. Do a little reading on how to make the best use of each engine, how to combine words effectively, it will save time making specific searches for example for graduate recruiters or specialist occupation agencies, rather than trawling through hundreds of thousands of search results!

Once you've found your sites you will find vacancies, with on line directions on how to apply. With others an added feature will be a CV posting service, very useful speculative approach to those hidden vacancies.

THE HIDDEN VACANCIES

As we said earlier getting your ratios right can mean spending more useful time chasing more vacancies which might not be as sought after as the visible vacancies - is some cases you may be the only applicant.

Where To Look

Employers
Many employers may not be advertising, but still have work available or they may even create a post for the right applicant.

It's often worthwhile contacting companies to ask if they have work. It is usually a good idea to ask to speak to the Personnel Manager, Recruitment Manager or Human Resources Department.

You can either phone them or visit them in person. If you do the latter, dress as if you where going to an interview. Sometimes going in person can be the best way of doing this as you can make a good impression and show that you are keen to make an effort.

You can also write 'on spec' rather than phoning or visiting. If you do this remember to include a copy of your CV and a covering letter. If they don't have work, ask for them to keep your details in case of they have vacancies in the future. Don't forget past employers. They know a lot about your record as an employee and often more willing to take on someone whose work record they know than someone they don't know. Some companies still advertise vacancies outside their premises. Many big stores have notice boards inside e.g. D.I.Y. Warehouses, Supermarkets or any big stores.

Where to Look

Graduate Recruitment Sources

Many vacancies for graduates are advertised through the usual visible means, but a significant number are not. Graduate recruiters target universities, in some instances specific universities, or specific graduate press or media.

Common examples are careers fairs and the annual 'Milkround'. In addition university vacancy bulletins often receive vacancies the press does not.

So university careers offices are useful sources of information, and can often continue to send vacancy information after you've graduated. If you move away from the University you studied at there are arrangements for you to receive support after graduation from your local university.

The moral of the story however is to make the best use of your universities careers facilities when your are there, no matter how distant the idea of getting a job appears. Don't leave it until you graduate the other issue being that your degree does have a 'shelf life' in employers’ eyes.

Where to Look

The 'NETWORK'
The wider you NETWORK, the more often you use it, the better it works. At a low and broad level friends, relatives or people you meet occasionally, may know where there are jobs that are not advertised. Always ask them, as their employer may be looking for staff. This search method cannot be under valued.

On another level your NETWORK may include fellow professionals, past employers or similar people. NETWORKS need to be maintained regularly (even when you're in employment) to get them to work effectively for you.

Ask friends and acquaintances who's looking for employees. This item may be last in the list, but it is one of the most fruitful sources of information.

PLAN - YOUR SEARCH, GET ORGANISED
To make the best of your job search you need to concentrate on the above, plan your search, plan the time you spend in the visible and hidden job markets. There's a well-used cliché that looking for work is a 'job in itself' and it IS. The more that you put into your jobsearch in terms of research, time, effort, and planning the more likely you are to succeed in finding those vacancies.

Copyright 2003 David Denny

David Denny has been providing Career Guidance and CV Solutions on the www for over 7 years and non digitally for over ten. He is a full Member of the Institute of Career Guidance and registered with the British Psychology Society as an Occupational Psychologist. He holds the Diploma in Careers Guidance and has spent time in recruitment training and staff development.

He provides free CV appraisals and CV advice as part of his CV Writing Business at www.topcv.biz