In our recent webinar, Blake Curtis-Woodcock, Jack Lynch, and Ruben Tappel discussed all things job searching in 2021. From what to include in your CV to application tips, interview preparation, and how to stand out in a crowded job market.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the discussion: (view full recording here)
Positioning yourself for a job search
Find a recruiter/agency that are specialists within your market and build trust with them. They know the market inside out and are in the best position to help you.
Talk through your perfect opportunity with your recruiter. Let them know the things that are important to you and what the deal-breakers are. By doing so, you will open yourself up to more opportunities.
A lot of recruiters post their roles on LinkedIn daily, so make sure you are following them.
Be competitive, not pushy, there are more people on the market across all sectors, but clients are still looking for the same standard of candidates.
Utilising LinkedIn
The key to any social media is to be authentic. Portray who you are and what you would want recruiters/hiring managers to see.
Get connected with recruiters and increase your visibility. The more recruiters see you posting relevant content, commenting on posts, and interacting with your network, the more attractive you become.
If you are immediately available, utilise the open to work function on LinkedIn to indicate you are actively looking for a new opportunity.
Recruiters spend limited time on profiles, so make sure your profile is short and concise. Have one or two sentences under each job; what you focused on and what you achieved.
Remember, LinkedIn is not your CV. It should be an overview of your experience and up to date skillset.
Job application tips
Your CV should be clear and concise. Recruiters and hiring managers will only look at your CV for a couple of seconds, so keep it at 2-3 pages if you can, and highlight the key details.
Include your name, details, qualifications, and key achievements at the top of the page. Only include a couple of key bullet points under each work experience.
Include a two-sentence blurb about your experience and specialisms, and tailor this to each role.
Don't apply to everything, only what's relevant.
Tailor your resume to each position and make sure it is specific to your knowledge and the role.
Keep your CV simple, not too many colours, and avoid making it interactive.
Interview tips
Treat every video interview as a face-to-face interview. Look professional and dress as you would if you were interviewing in person.
Find somewhere comfortable, quiet, and with good lighting. Remember, first impressions count!
Work through the job spec and make notes on why you are relevant for the role. The benefit of a video interview is you can have multiple prompts around you if you need them.
To help you prepare, ask your recruiter to do a mock interview with you.
If you get nervous in the interview, repeat the question in your head to give yourself enough time to compose yourself.
Have a one-minute introduction prepped – this is who I am and what I do.
Keep up eye contact throughout the interview. If you have multiple screens, make sure you are looking at the right one, and if you get put off with your picture on the screen, cover it up with a sticky label.
During your interview, you want to portray you can work well both at home and in an office setting.
Give yourself as much time as possible for practical assessments. Either book a day off work or ask for it on a Friday, so you have the weekend to complete it.
Show you are interested in the role by having questions prepared for the end. Look at the company website, social media, and any blogs/articles to help you find good conversation starters.
Interviews are a two-way process. They are an opportunity for the interviewer to get to know you more and a chance to get your personality across and see if the culture fit is right.
Standing out in a crowded job market
Have a reference ready to go for when you need one.
Be open to change and remain adaptive.
With the increase in remote working, communication and presentation skills are more important than ever. If you have remote management experience, be sure to highlight this.
If you keep getting knocked back from interviews, take a step back and think:
How am I answering the questions?
Do I use the same answers?
Am I applying for the right roles?
Have I done enough research?
How can Oliver James help you with your job search?
We can provide an overview of the market.
Our consultants know their markets inside out and pride themselves on building great relationships.
We can provide interview feedback, CV, and career advice, helping you to highlight the best version of yourself.
We can give you pointers and insight into the hiring manager and team culture.
To find out more and to view the full webinar recording, click here. Need help with your job search? Contact us at info@weareoliverjames.com.
