Cathy Dyos, regional managing director, Reed Specialist Recruitment
 
The challenge for most people when job hunting is where actually to begin but the most important thing to remember before starting out is to plan ahead.

There are several important questions to consider: What kind of job would suit you? Where do you want to work and who is your ideal employer?  What kind of working environment suits you best such as private or public sector? Which industry excites you and how far are you prepared to commute? Where do you see your career going and what career prospects are important to you?

All these factors should be considered even before putting together a CV as they focus the mind and make the whole recruitment process easier.  You should also approach a recruitment consultant who specialises in your key area of business so they will be able to give you the advice you need about the industry and the prospects within it. Additionally, you will be able to more clearly brief them about your requirements so they can begin immediately to work on your brief and find that perfect job for you.

The next step is to update your CV, but make sure you tailor it carefully to each job and highlight your strengths for the specific role – this will greatly increase the likelihood of your CV making the right impact and for you to be short listed for an interview.

Brush up on your IT and office skills and ask your recruitment consultant if they offer any free training on software package, as this can help you hone these skills and ensure that you are confident in your new job from day one.

Also, use your recruitment consultant to help you prepare for the interview. They should be able to provide a list of typical interview questions, ideal answers and practice them with you to ensure you put your best foot forward when you are in the interview.

Some recruiters can now offer psychometric testing which will help you understand what kinds of roles are best suited to your personality. However nervous you might feel on the day, this preparation will stand you in good stead.

On interview day, presentation is everything – dress to impress for your interview, provide a firm hand shake and remember to smile. Employers want happy staff and so many people forget that this smiling is essential in creating good rapport.

Another important factor to remember is to convey your passion for the role – this can be the deciding factor for any potential employer and will help them decide if you are the best candidate for the job, even if you might not have all the skills they require at the time of interview. An employer will be looking for someone with potential, who will be a good hire over the long term. If you show that you are passionate and enthusiastic about their company and by the role they are offering it will really help you win the job.

If the interview goes to plan and you accept the subsequent job offer, take some time out if you can between jobs. If you have holiday entitlement to use up before you leave, or can take some time to yourself without pay, it can be a great time to relax and get yourself prepared for your new role.

Plan your outfits for the first week. If you do have a few days off, you can take everything you need to the dry cleaners or tailors and be brand spanking clean and new for your first week. 

Lastly, plan your journey. When you went for an interview, chances are it wasn’t during rush hour. Consider making allowances for heavy traffic, train delays and even bad weather, all of which can and will try to prevent you from getting to work on time! 

With a clear plan of action and by remembering my tips, everything should run smoothly.