{"id":45,"date":"2016-12-14T14:38:18","date_gmt":"2016-12-14T14:38:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/careers\/?p=45"},"modified":"2017-12-11T09:04:48","modified_gmt":"2017-12-11T09:04:48","slug":"12-days-of-job-hunting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/careers\/12-days-of-job-hunting\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Days of Job Hunting"},"content":{"rendered":"

As another year draws to a close, you might be feeling it\u2019s time for a change in your job, it\u2019s time to get a job, or it\u2019s time to start looking for that dream graduate role. Whatever your job hunt goals for 2018, Fish4Jobs.co.uk<\/strong><\/a> have put together a very handy guide for you to be job-ready come New Year.\u00a0Follow their steps each day so you feel fully prepared to start your studies back at University in January, having accomplished something really useful over your Christmas break:<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On the first day of Christmas, my job hunt said to me\u2026 target your market!<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s essential that you have a career plan at the ready. Try to come up with a clear goal that you can work towards, otherwise you might find yourself unsure of where to start. Once you\u2019ve honed in on a specific area or field of interest, create a targeted list of companies you\u2019d like to work for, and positions that are relevant to your experience. You\u2019ll have a much easier time navigating the job market after identifying what it is you want to do and who it is you want to work for.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On the second day of Christmas, my job hunt said to me\u2026 revamp your CV and cover letter<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first tenet of a strong application is a short, snappy CV. Employers typically spend less than 30 seconds looking over your application, so you\u2019ll want to grab their attention from the get-go. You should also\u00a0cater your CV and cover letter\u00a0to the job at hand, in order to position yourself as the best candidate for the role.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On the third day of Christmas, my job hunt said to me\u2026 network, network, network<\/strong><\/p>\n

As you\u2019ve probably heard many times over, it\u2019s not what you know, but who you know. Try to identify groups of people who are key industry players; this can\u00a0include professional associations, peer groups, or university alumni. Networking with influential parties will give you a lead in the market, not to mention allows you to participate with some pretty interesting people.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On the fourth day of Christmas, my job hunt said to me\u2026 give yourself a social media makeover<\/strong><\/p>\n

Grow your presence on LinkedIn, and rid your Facebook\/Twitter\/Instagram of any questionable content. Your online persona can say a lot about who you are as a person (and an employee), so try to present yourself in a positive and professional light across all digital platforms.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On the fifth day of Christmas, my job hunt said to me\u2026 suit up!<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you haven\u2019t been to an interview in a while, it might be time to throw out that ill-fitting suit, and to replenish your career wardrobe. Make sure you have all the essentials \u2013 a suit (if appropriate), a nicel shirt, and smart shoes. Once you\u2019ve checked those off your list, you\u2019ll be ready for world domination.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On the sixth day of Christmas, my job hunt said to me\u2026 make the jobs come to you<\/strong><\/p>\n

Register with as many recruiters as possible, and\u00a0upload your CV\u00a0to all the main jobsites. Be sure to also\u00a0sign up for job alerts\u00a0that are catered to your search, so you\u2019ll be the first to know about the latest vacancies in your area\/line of work. Once you\u2019ve done this you can sit back, relax, and let the jobs come to you!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On the seventh day of Christmas, my job hunt said to me\u2026 mock interview<\/strong><\/p>\n

You might feel silly doing it, but it\u2019s best to have a few trial runs under your belt before the big interview day. Practice with a friend before the real thing, so you\u2019ll be well-versed in what you want to say. Be sure to also spend a bit more time on the tricky questions, that way you won\u2019t be phased if\/when they come up during the interview process.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On the eighth day of Christmas, my job hunt said to me\u2026 do your company and market research<\/strong><\/p>\n

Find out as much as you can about the companies you\u2019ve been invited to interview for. A good place to start is the company\u2019s history: this will give you a good idea of where they\u2019ve\u00a0been, as well as the direction they\u2019re going in. You\u2019ll also want to be up to date on the latest in company and industry news, as well as any recent developments within the sector. Finally, keep yourself informed on industry standards. This way you\u2019ll impress the employer with your preparedness and relevant knowledge.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On the ninth day of Christmas, my job hunt said to me\u2026 build your personal brand<\/strong><\/p>\n

Finding a job requires that you sell yourself to a potential employer. As such, it\u2019s crucial that you establish your online and offline assets. Some great ways to do this is by securing a domain name and website, creating a print or online portfolio, or even contributing to important projects. This shows the employer that you not only have the passion, but the skills necessary to do the job.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On the tenth day of Christmas, my job hunt said to me\u2026 follow up<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s always good practice to follow up after your interview. First be sure to send the employer a thank-you note; not only will they appreciate the gesture, but it will keep\u00a0you on the company\u2019s radar. Then try and sit tight until decision day. If you still haven\u2019t heard back by the agreed date however, then it might be time to put in a personable, professional call or email.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my job hunt said to me\u2026 keep applying<\/strong><\/p>\n

We know looking for a job can be a gruelling process, but don\u2019t let that dishearten you\u2026 your weeks of hard slog will inevitably pay-off! If you have yet to hear back\u00a0from the companies you\u2019ve applied for, keep in mind that most businesses are just getting back into the swing of things after the festive period. So keep your eye on the prize, and continue to apply for jobs and monitor listings.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my job hunt said to me\u2026 treat yo\u2019 self!<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a tough couple of weeks, but you\u2019ve finally reached the finish line. Maybe you were able to secure a job, or perhaps the hunt continues\u2026 either way, take a bit of time for yourself in order to de-stress. This could mean watching your favourite movie, taking a long nap, cooking a hearty meal, or even going out on the town. Whatever you decide, just make sure you kick back and relax for a little bit. As important as finding a job might be, it\u2019s the last day of Christmas. You deserve to have some fun!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Source: Fish4Jobs.co.uk<\/strong><\/p>\n

Updated 11\/12\/17<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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