UK JOB SEARCH: Finding a job takes time and effort – but keep your eyes on the prize as getting over the line could be life-changing. Here are a few steps to help you get organized and keep your job search moving in the right direction.

STEP 1 – MAKING A START

WHAT SORT OF JOB DO YOU WANT – YOUR JOB GOAL

If you’re planning a journey, you need to have a destination in mind. It’s the same with a job.

Ask yourself:  what sort of job do you want? Write it down. That’s your job goal. Having a clear and realistic goal will help to keep you motivated and focused.

Think about:

• which industry or sector you want to work in, for example, hospitality, construction, retail
• what type of role are you looking for, for example, customer service, management, office support
• where do you want to work, that is, what location – how far can you travel
• what hours do you want to work
• do you want a permanent or temporary job
• what pay / salary do you want

Of course, things can change, so you will need some flexibility, but you have your starting point.

When you are thinking about looking for a new job, there may be other things you need to consider, such as:

• Would you need childcare? A range of support with the cost of childcare is available. Find out more on our Help with childcare costs page
• If you look after another person, is support available to help you balance work and caring? More information is on our Work and Caring page
• Could you get there on time?  If you use public transport to get around, find out your options. Get hold of timetables to see what’s possible
• Do you have a health condition or disability? If you have, support may be available to help you into work. You can find out more on our Help for disabled people page
• Do you have access to the right IT? A lot of job search is done online.  If you don’t, ask your local library about booking some computer time

WHAT ARE YOU GOOD AT?

Make a list of what you are good at and the things you enjoy. This a great way to start thinking about what you can offer a future employer and it’s also a reminder to yourself of all the things you do well. Things to think about include:

• Your qualifications – at school, college, university and at work
• Work-based skills – the skills and experience you gained in previous jobs will be of interest to employers. These could be specific technical skills or ‘transferable’ skills that most employers would value, such as team working, communication, adaptability and time management
• Outside work – everybody picks up skills through their day-to-day lives or hobbies. For example, time management and organisational skills are important for parents and carers; and any hobby can require skills in things like IT or teamwork

STEP 2 – BOOST YOUR CHANCES

DO SOME RESEARCH

Find out about the employers and types of job you’re interested in:

• Research the industry or sector – find out more about a range of sectors on our sector page
• Take a look at the websites of companies you’re interested in – find out what it’s like to work for them, the sorts of jobs they have and the skills you need
• Follow key employers on social media – it’s an easy way to keep track of what a company is doing and big events they are involved in. They may also advertise vacancies on social media
• There are websites where you can see reviews of different companies and what it’s like to work for them

SKILL-UP AND BOOST YOUR CHANCES

By working out your job goals, outlining the skills you have and finding out more about the type of work you want, you should be ready to start looking and applying for jobs.

But you may have also discovered some areas where you have gaps in your skills or experience. Don’t worry, be honest about where you have gaps – nobody knows everything and filling the gaps might be straightforward. And it’s always good to invest in yourself and learn new things. Here are some options for ways you could boost your prospects:

• Develop your skills – take a look at our skills pages to get you started
• Think about volunteering to build your workplace skills and experience – find out more on our volunteering page
• Use your local Jobcentre – if you are claiming Universal Credit, your Work Coach will have information and advice on local opportunities for training, work trials and work experience. Find out more about Jobcentre Plus

STEP 3 – PREPARE YOUR CV AND COVERING LETTER

• Getting your CV right is a key part of the job application. Many employers will ask for a CV so it’s best to prepare one early.
• Some recruiters will ask for a covering letter for job applications. Even if they don’t, it’s good practice to provide one telling the employer why you are the right fit for the role.
• Take a look at our pages on CV writing and covering letters to get you started or, make the CV you already have even better.

STEP 4 – MAKE A PLAN

Looking for a new job takes dedication and time. Setting out your job search activities in a plan is a great way to organise your job search. It will:

• Help you to keep track of your progress, which is vital when you are applying for lots of jobs
• Make your job search more effective. By planning out what you need to do each day, you’re less likely to miss opportunities.

Here are some ideas on what to include in your plan.

• List all the job search activities you want to carry out each day. These could include:
  • Updating and tailoring your CV and covering letter
  • Looking at job websites, such as Find a Job (external link)
  • Registering with recruitment agencies
  • Sending your target number of job applications
  • Finding and doing work-related training
• Set out some timings, that is, how long you aim to spend on each activity. This will help you to organise and structure your days:
  • Pace yourself. Don’t try and do everything in a day.
  • Vary the things you do each day to stay fresh. For example, if you search some job sites in the morning, do a short training course or update your CV in the afternoon.
  • Build in some breaks. This is important to keep you alert and motivated.
• Set some targets. These can be daily or weekly, but they should be realistic and achievable to help to keep you motivated and active.

Check your plan regularly and keep it up to date. For example, when you’ve checked a job site or sent an application, log them on your plan. It will keep you organised and show your progress.

And for each target you meet, you can give yourself a reward!

STEP 5 – SEARCH FOR JOBS

There are many different ways and places you can look for a job. You may already know where you need to look to find the job you want, but if you don’t or you want to widen your search, here are some suggestions.

• Online job sites should be one of the first places you look for your next job opportunity. There are lots of online tools, they’re generally free and available 24/7.
  • Use Find a Job (external website). With Find a Job you can create a profile, upload your CV and receive email alerts about new and existing jobs.
  • There are plenty of other job sites available too. Try searching online for ‘jobs’ or make your search more specific to find the right vacancies for you, like ‘retail jobs in Leeds’.
• Employer websites – check company websites to see if they are recruiting – employers usually have a ‘Careers’ section on their website. Make sure you check in regularly or follow them on social media.
• Recruitment agencies – register with local agencies. Some agencies specialise in specific types of work or sectors, such as retail or hospitality. You can search for agencies through the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (external website).
• Social media – many companies now use social media for recruitment purposes, so using these platforms makes you more visible to employers. Here’s some things to try:
  • Create a LinkedIn profile. It allows you to connect with employers who advertise a broad range of jobs.
  • Follow organisations you’re interested in working for and sign up for email alerts.
  • Join online conversations in areas that you’re interested in working in. It could open the door to new contacts and opportunities.
  • Let your social media contacts know you’re looking for work.
• Networking events – look out for local jobs fairs (or careers fairs). Keep in touch with your local Jobcentre to see if they are running any.
• Newspapers – you can still find vacancies advertised locally and in some national papers, so it is worth a look.
• Employers – if there are particular companies you want to work for, contact them directly. It could be by phone or email at first. Or you can send them your CV and a covering letter. While they may not have current vacancies, you’ve made yourself known and you’ve added to your network of contacts.
• Local Jobcentre Plus – if you are claiming Universal Credit, your Work Coach can help you. It’s also worth following the Jobcentre on social media to find out about upcoming opportunities and events such as jobs fairs.
• Friends and family – let them know you are looking for work. They can often be a valuable source of information and support. For example, they may be able to give you inside information on when companies are recruiting or if they have any current job vacancies where they work. They may even be able to give you a referral to a company, or recommend you for a job, which will always carry some weight.

If you use any of these, make sure you keep a log of your activities in your job search plan, so you can keep track of where you’ve looked, what action you’ve taken and when you need to follow up or look again.

Support from Jobcentre Plus can help you prepare for, find and stay in work.