This guide is one in a series that will help you find a job. It contains information about where
to find out about potential vacancies.
Understanding the job market
Trying to find a new job can be both exciting and rewarding. It doesn’t need to be hard work if
you know where to look and how to go about it. Every day hundreds of new vacancies
become available. The trick is to find out what’s on offer and respond quickly.
Employers recruit in a number of ways, and you may be surprised to learn that only one third
of vacancies are ever advertised. Consequently, to be successful at finding a job that suits
you, you need to use all of the usual channels but also look at other methods of finding out
about vacancies. Most Jobseekers look at newspaper adverts to find vacancies, so do this
but also go to your local Jobcentre and register with recruitment agencies.
Know what you want
Before you start looking for a job, take a little time to work out what you want and what you
can do. Consider your skills and experience. Doing this will save you a lot of time when you
begin applying for jobs.
Remember, you don’t always see your own strengths. Ask your friends, family and previous
work colleagues what they think your strengths are. Even if you’ve never worked before, you
will have qualities that employers will be looking for.
Make a list of what you want, including:
• Location
• Full time or part time
• Temporary or permanent
• Hours
• Training or opportunities to progress
• Pay
Next, make a list of your qualities:
• Skills
• Experience
• Strengths
• Qualifications
• Personality
Employers place a great emphasis on personality and attitude. If you’ve got a friendly
personality and a good attitude to work and responsibility make sure you show it.
When you review your lists you may feel you’ve set what you want at a higher level than the
skills and experience you’ve currently got. This isn’t a problem. In this case make what you
want your goal and look for jobs that will be the starting point for you to develop the
experience and skills you need to grow your career.
Check out the options
Once you have identified the type of job you want the next step is to look for suitable
vacancies. Let’s look more closely at the three main routes to a job and then at some of the
less well known options:
• Newspaper adverts: most newspapers, local or national, have jobs sections. The
daily papers usually have a special jobs day each week when most of the vacancies
appear. Your newsagents will be able to tell you which days these are. Remember,
you don’t have to buy the newspaper as the local library will have a reference copy
you can look through.
• Jobcentre: Jobcentres display a wide range of vacancies which are updated daily. If
you can it’s worth visiting the Jobcentre everyday so you can respond to opportunities
as soon as they are displayed.
• Jobseekers Direct: if you find it difficult to get to your local Jobcentre then you can
use the telephone job service line. For the cost of a local call, you can contact
Jobseekers Direct to find out more about current vacancies. In some cases, they
may be able to arrange an interview for you while you’re on the phone.
• Recruitment agencies/consultancies: it is worth registering with recruitment
agencies because they are paid a fee by employers for finding suitable candidates for
their vacancy. Consequently, the quicker they find you a job they quicker they get
paid. They are also a good place for getting advice on finding a job and they may
help you to prepare your CV and with interview techniques. It’s worth knowing that
some agencies specialise in specific industries or skills. Others are more generalist.
Shop around to find an agency that covers the type of vacancies you are interested
in.
If you are considering temporary work then compare agencies. The rates they pay
for the same type of work may differ. A good agency will give you a fair rate of pay
and treat you well. Don’t forget that working as a temp is often the foot in the door
you need to get a full time job. It gives you a chance to show potential employers
what you can do, so don’t rule out temporary work.
• Careers Advisory Services: If you are 16 -19 the Careers Advisory Services will
offer you advice about your career. They will help you identify the right training
opportunities and provide plenty of support during your search for a job. Their
contact details are:
England
• The Internet: there are a number of websites that advertise jobs. On most of these
you can register your details so that companies can view them when they are looking
for staff. If you don’t have access to the Internet, you can access it at your local
Library, usually free of charge or for a small fee. Using the internet is really easy; all
you need to do is type ‘Jobs Nigeria’ into a search engine
You can also look at all of the Jobcentre vacancies on line at www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk. All these websites are updated regularly throughout the day.
In addition to the specialist job and careers websites, many companies advertise
vacancies on their own websites. It is worth making a list of companies that might
have a vacancy that is suitable for you and visiting their websites. If they have a jobs
section you could visit the site on a regular basis.
• Careers and jobs fairs: an increasing number of job fairs are being held that cover
local jobs for local people of all ages and skills. Employers, particularly larger ones,
attend to promote their companies and find potential workers. On the day you will be
able to meet employers and also get specialist advice about finding a job. Some
employers may even take applications on the day. The fairs are usually held in hotels
or recreation centres will be advertised in your local newspapers.
• Networking: tell your friends and relatives that you are looking for a job. They may
hear about job opportunities that you can apply for and may even be willing to
recommend you to their employer.
• Work experience: joining a work experience programme has its benefits. Not only
will you be learning or developing your skills, you will also be getting valuable
experience by actually doing the job. It also gives you the opportunity to get your foot
in the door of a company where you can demonstrate your strengths.
• Teletext: some companies choose to advertise their vacancies on the text services.
These are updated throughout the day – the page number you need is:
Teletext, page 690 (Channel 4).
• Notices in shop windows or notice boards: more and more companies, especially
retailers, are advertising vacancies in this way. As there is no way of knowing when
these vacancies will be advertised, it’s just a matter of keeping your eyes open and
being quick to respond.
• Promote yourself: this option involves applying for vacancies that may arise within a
company. The ‘anticipating future vacancies’ guide will give you ideas on how
to promote yourself.
However, start by identifying 10 companies in your area that employ people in the
type of roles you are looking for. Read local business news to see if you can spot
any companies that are expanding or moving into the area. They may have a future
staff requirement so write to these companies, introduce yourself and ask to be
considered for any vacancies they may have. Attach your CV to the letter; there is a
guide in this series that can help you prepare one.
It’s always a good idea to phone the company to check if they have received your
details. If they have no vacancies available ask them to keep your details on file so
that you can be considered in the future.
Finally, keep records of who you have contacted and their response. If you do
happen to see them advertising a vacancy in the future that may suit you, call the
company and remind them they have your details.
The purpose of this guide was to help you identify the best routes to finding a job.
Points to remember:
• Understand the job market: only one third of vacancies are ever advertised.
• Know what you want: make a list of what you are looking for and match job
vacancies against it.
• Know your strengths: list your strengths, skills, experience and qualifications and
match them against what the employer is looking for.
• Use the channels: only one third of vacancies are ever advertised so use all the
options available to improve your chances of getting a job.
• Promote yourself: send your details to companies and ask them to keep them on file
until they have a vacancy that you could fill.
No comments:
Post a Comment