People often ask me how long should my job hunt take?
There is no set answer.
It is dependent on so many factors such as the amount of time you put into your job search, the amount of places and where you search for a role, your employability level, the type of company you are applying for and whether there is a labour surplus or shortage in the area you are looking at.
One thing is clear however, there are things you can do to help speed up the process which I will discuss in this post.
1. Have a CV and cover letter ready to send
When you see a role that interests you, the sooner you apply the better so having a CV ready to send is always a good option. Simple tailor the CV and cover letter to suit the current application each time.
2. Ensure you are looking in the right places
Cast a wide net when looking for a role to ensure you open up all the options available to you. This can also help keep you motivated when job searching. There are a lot of companies out there – you do not have to stick to the big names only. Some highly successful businesses are not household names but are great places to work.
It would also be an option to look to different industries – a lot of businesses now focus on core competencies and transferable skills over straight industry specific experience as they have seen the value in creating a dynamic workforce.
3. Be ready for interview
Have your interview skills prepared so that should you be called at short notice, you can still put your best foot forward. You’ll find dozens of interview articles that I have written in the interview advice section of this blog. If reading is not enough and you would like a 1:1 coaching session, then hire a professional to assist you well in advance of an interview – ideally at the job search stage. This gives you time to practice and perfect your answers without being under pressure.
4. Place your CV in the IrishJobs.ie CV database.
The top employers in Ireland not only advertise their roles on IrishJobs.ie they also sign up to search the CV database. You need to upload your CV so you can appear on their radar. Only companies who are clients of IrishJobs.ie can search through the secure database and you decide whether to let them find you or not. You can add your CV to the secure database when you create a free job seeker account. This free job seeker account will also give you access to a range of online tools that will help you manage your applications and apply for roles swiftly and with a minimum of fuss.
5. Register with a number of recruitment agencies
Find recruitment agencies who deal with your industry and register with them. They can advise you on your CV. You can get valuable interview preparation for free also. They can keep you in mind for roles and work your CV for you. Keep touching base with them so they don’t forgt you!
Finding a new role can be stressful. The key to success is the pre work you put in. It can make the entire process less stressful and increase your success rate.
Good luck!
Gillian Knight is the MD of Kala Management Solutions and has extensive experience within the field of HR. She has assisted thousands of people write job winning CVs as well providing one to one interview coaching to job seekers.