Is it who you know, on-line networking or more traditional methods that are best to find out about vacancies?

Here are top ten tips that harness all three approaches.

Ten Top Tips

1. Work out what you can offer to employers and design your personal brand statement

Your personal brand statement needs to possess three qualities according to Career Distinction: Standing Out by Building Your Brand by William Arruda and Kirsten Dixson

a.     It consists of just one sentence

b.     It can be easily understood by a 12 year old

c.      You could recite it from memory at gunpoint

Following are two personal brand statement examples from Arruda and Dixson:

“Sitting at the intersection of technology and business, I use my passion for communication to help IT professionals in Fortune 100 companies express themselves in ways that are understood by business people”.

” I inspire and activate high achieving sales people in health care organisations through my focus on motivation, positivity, empathy and competition”

2. Keep positive, remember you only need one job

When job-hunting you only need to find one role and it is unlikely to be the first opportunity you go after.

3. Don’t box yourself in with a job title, keep it fluid and attractive across sectors

There has been a proliferation of job titles and levels and many people have jobs, which do not fit, easily into a box. Describe your work without a job title to grab the imagination of the employer.

4. Identify potential employers and check their corporate websites for vacancies

The latest CIPD Employer Outlook survey found the most popular way for employers to attract candidates is through the corporate website (78% employers)

5. Contact past colleagues and employers and let them know you are looking

They are the people that know your standard of work and who will refer you more readily and authentically

6. Use your professional organisations to find jobs and network

Build strong referral networks professionally and outside of work.  People can often feel embarrassed to exploit their networks. At the gym or sports club, talk to people about work and possible opportunities

7. Attend conferences or trade events to network and keep up with current trends

Where better than to meet the people in your industry and make strong face-to-face connections

8. Be prepared to ring the decision maker in the organisation but first think about what you can offer

This can reflect positively showing enthusiasm for the company and make you stand out above the competition.

9. Take a systematic approach to cold calling and see it as an opportunity to get ahead of the advertisement

Connect to your purpose for making these calls e.g. “I’m making useful connections and gathering information with each call,” rather than seeing them as a chore

10. Use business networking sites like Linked In to look for jobs and to let people know you are available.

Use Linked In Groups to build up your profile. HR Directors use their contacts on Linked In to see if someone knows a good candidate for hard to fill roles

To discuss careers and job search in more detail, please contact please contact Fiona Biggins (Career Coach and Career Preparation Expert)