Blog » 15 Top tips to finding your next job from the JobFinder’s Fairy Job Mother

15 Top tips to finding your next job from the JobFinder’s Fairy Job Mother

19th December 2016

With Christmas quickly approaching, and the New Year now only a matter of weeks away, we’ve enlisted the help of our Fairy Job Mother to provide some great tips to get you ready for the New Year job hunt. Here’s 15 tips to finding your perfect job for 2017.

15 Tips to finding a new job in 2017

1. Keep your CV up to date

The most important thing when looking for a new job is to ensure you have an up to date CV and LinkedIn page, as this is often the first thing that new employers will go to. If you are making changes to your LinkedIn profile, you may wish to turn off notifications so that your current colleagues and employer won’t see the updates being added. You can get advice on setting up your CV here.

2. Create multiple CV’s and cover letters

Once you have mastered your CV, use it as a template for creating multiple CV’s, each one specifically tailored to the different jobs you are looking at. Not all job descriptions and personnel specifications will be the same, so be sure to tailor your CV for every job prospect you find.

3. Create your NI JobFinder account

Take the hassle out of looking for a new job by setting up alerts for your industry. Simply create an NI JobFinder account today by visiting the ‘my jobs’ section. Not only can you save job searches and get email notifications of jobs, you can also manage your CV and any applications through here. A must use for those of you considering searching for a new job in the coming 12 months.

4. Set up job alerts

Now that you’ve created your own NI JobFinder account, be sure to set up job alerts for your industry and the type of jobs you are after. This way, you’ll get updates on the availability of the type of job you really want, not just the type of job you feel you ‘have’ to take.

5. Weekly visits to NIJobFinder.co.uk

Be sure to regularly check websites like NI JobFinder, and other channels like LinkedIn to see what jobs are currently available that would suit you. Make this a weekly check to ensure you don’t miss anything. If you have a particular company in mind that you’d like to work with, be sure to regularly check the jobs section of their website (if one exists).

6. Grow your network

Maintain and grow your professional and business network through warm connections and introductions. You never know when these wonderful people will come in handy in the future for recommending you for your next job or endorsing your skills. Where there is kindness, there is goodness and where there is goodness there are opportunities! So, create new contacts through LinkedIn, and get chatting to your peers as and when you can.

7. Think before you post, tweet or snap

The web is a scary place, so be sure to be very careful with what you post on your social media channels. Employers will often look to channels like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to try and get first impressions from prospects. Either set your accounts to private or think very carefully before you begin to share some personal opinions that could likely divide opinion.

8. Sign-up to company newsletters

If you know the type of company you’d like to start working for in the coming year, why not start to become familiar with them by signing up to their online newsletter. If they send out a regular email, chances are you’ll find out about any upcoming jobs.

9. Be proactive in your hunt

Don’t just sit about and wait for something to happen. If you have made up your mind that you want to look for a new job, start sending your CV to companies that you want to work for. Highlight your experience, showcase your previous work and talk about why you’d be a great fit for them. If nothing is immediately available, at the very least, they will be aware of you. Who knows, they might even decide that you are a must hire and will add great value to the company, thus offering you a role on the spot.

10. Stand out from the start

If you have an opportunity to be creative when applying for a job, DO IT! This can really make you stand out from other applications and bog standard CV’s. Think of what you can do to really stand out when it comes to looking for a new job. Different stands out!

11. Carry out a self-assessment

Before you begin your new job search, take time to really reflect on what you can bring to an organisation. What are your strengths and weaknesses and what benefit would you bring to a new employer? Take the time to get these questions right to make it easier to find the job that is perfect for you. You’ll also find out that you’ve probably answered some of your interview questions by taking the time to assess your own qualities and areas for improving.

12. Be interview ready

Making it to the interview process is just the beginning. Now the fun really begins. Be sure to do your research and even do a dummy interview with a friend or someone you might know working in the same industry. Swat up on those common interview questions and consider the more challenging questions which are designed to get you thinking (here’s 23 to get you started). Visit our interview advice area for more information on preparing for interviews.

13. Be patient

You might not always be lucky in the job hunt and strike lucky first time out. If you are looking for a new job in the coming 12 months, be prepared to bide your time to find the right job. This might mean a longer job hunt, and more than one interview, but it will all be worth it in the end. Don’t just rush from one job to another if you are unhappy. Take the time and find what’s right for you.

14. Have your references in place

If you’ve been lucky to find a job that is perfect for you, and navigated your way through the interview process, be sure to have some reliable referee’s in place. Make sure at least one of these is someone you have worked with recently (perhaps an old manager), who can talk about the benefits you will bring to your new company.

15. Don’t get lazy

Above all else, if you want to find a new job in 2017, don’t get lazy. Be proactive in your job hunt and apply for jobs in a timely fashion. Don’t leave it to the deadline to try and update your CV and draft a cover letter, as you’ll just rush it and this will usually be easily seen by the prospective employer. When the clock goes by your deadline, your application won’t be accepted, and if there’s one thing the NI JobFinder’s Fairy Job Mother knows about, it’s deadlines.

Start your job hunt today

If you would like any more help in finding your next job, check out our range of ‘How to’ guides, to get you started.

If you have any more top tips for the Fairy Job Mother, share them on our Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn pages.

BEGIN YOUR NEW JOB SEARCH TODAY

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