Finding a new job can feel like a full-time job in itself! But with the right approach and some planning, not only will your chances of finding a new opportunity increase, you will be able to balance this with ‘having a life’ at the same time.
What, why, how?
First off, you need to think through what your objectives are for applying for a new job. Is it about the money or are there other reasons for looking? These can range from wanting more career development opportunities, needing to balance work with other commitments (from childcare to part-time study), a desire to work with an employer who shares your values or because you are moving area. Understanding why you are looking will influence how you approach your job search. For instance, if you are relocating, it’ll be essential to research local employers and travel links.
Applying to advertised jobs is an obvious first step. There are numerous generic vacancy websites like Indeed, Adzuna and totaljobs. These can be worth a look at, partly to check out salary expectations and job requirements. But don’t just rely on these; there are more specialist sites that relate to specific sectors or occupational areas, for example Countryside-Jobs has a range of conservation roles and NHS Jobs focuses on healthcare opportunities.
If you are applying for an advertised vacancy, read the job specification in detail. You don’t need to meet 100% of the requirements – aiming for about 70% is a reasonable figure! And if there is a chance to speak to someone involved in the recruitment process, doing this will really help you to focus your application on the opportunity and make you stand out.
The hidden job market
There are a lot of jobs that aren’t advertised. This is often called the ‘hidden job market’. So how do you access these opportunities? Firstly, you need to research organisations that offer the sort of vacancy you are seeking; this can be a lot broader than you might immediately assume. Once you’ve identified some organisations you’d like to work for, check them out on their websites, social media accounts, Glassdoor and LinkedIn. This will inform you about the organisation, their success stories and values. It will also help you ‘shape’ your CV and covering letter/email by showcasing why you would be worth talking to, from an employer’s point of view. If you can identify some individuals in the organisation to contact, that will help you reach the right staff.
Accessing this ‘hidden job market’ can be tricky and time consuming but, as with applying for advertised vacancies, it is far better to send in a few well-targeted, quality applications than ‘knocking out’ lots of CVs.
Top tips
- Think broadly about which organisations will have the type of opportunities you are looking for.
- Organisations are run by people, so try to build connections with members of staff.
- Reflect on the skills and experience a job role will need. Have you got any gaps you could address in the short term to improve your chances?
- Research each opportunity and organisation to help your application ‘mirror’ what the organisation is looking for.
- Make sure you adapt your CV and covering letter or email for each vacancy.
- Use your ‘network’ to find out about opportunities that haven’t been advertised.
- Keep track of what you have applied for and when – you can then follow up at a later date.
- Finally – get someone (like a careers adviser) to look at your applications to check for accuracy, see if there’s any ‘sparkle’ you could add and to ensure you have been as positive about yourself as possible.
© Mark Yates
- Navigating the Job Hunting Process - 3rd March 2025