Finding a job can be a difficult process for anyone, especially during lockdown. However, here are some useful tips that may help your job hunting process.
1. Take some time to understand your skillset and what you have to offer. What has your degree given you? Have you done anything outside of this whilst at university? Have you ever volunteered or been part of a group or society? Do you have personal interests which have helped you to develop in one way or another? How could you stand out from others on your course? Our virtual careers centre can help you to reflect.
2. Look further than job search sites – This is particularly the case if you’re struggling to find relevant opportunities. Remember that you can always submit speculative applications to companies, even if they are not currently advertising. It’s probably best to call ahead first to see if they would accept such an application, before spending a lot of time tailoring your CV / cover letter. Keep an eye out on company social media pages, and let friends and family know that you’re looking.
3. Make the most of LinkedIn – This can be power pool tool in developing your presence and network. Let people know you are looking for work! You can update your ‘headline’ to explain your current situation and what you are looking for. Make sure you’ve got a suitable profile picture as not having one will put others off connecting with you. Get further tips on our LinkedIn info page here.
4. Tailor your application or CV – Whilst it’s tempting to just send the same CV for every job that you apply for, this unfortunately won’t give the best impression to your potential employer and they will see through this. Employers want to see that you’ve understood what they are looking for, and tried to make it easy for them to see how you would be a good fit.
5. Keep developing yourself – Applying for jobs doesn’t need to mean that you stop all other activities, or stop building your skillset. Why not take a look at packages such as LinkedIn learning? Ever thought about voluntehttp://www.sheffieldvolunteercentre.org.uk/i-want-to-volunteerering? You could see if you could volunteer from home in the current climate. Looking at job adverts may help you to see which skills you want to develop?