Job Search Strategy

This fourth module will provide the tools to create a new search strategy.

The core set of documents you should now have:

• CV/Resume
• Skills and Benefits Document
• Cover Letter
• Educational Certificates
• Personal Statement (optional)

You will also have:

• Online presence, including an online portfolio if appropriate
• Good LinkedIn profile
• Clean Social Media accounts

What you do with these, how often you apply, and what you do to follow up with recruiters will all determine where you go next.

As a part of this program, you will have been listed on our site, which will allow potential employers to match you to an open role they have. The method of listing people is not the norm in the recruitment industry. We are disrupting what has gone before, so this strategy also means for the best visibility, you will also need to apply for roles on job boards, even if you know that a large number of them really neither exist nor will reach out and respond, which can be soul destroying if you let it. So a thick skin is a part of this strategy; expect little, and everything will be a win. The proper role and fantastic employers are out there. It is now time to be found or find them; either way, create a match, and if you receive nothing back, move on to the next one.

The strategy is a plan. You have covered the basic steps to create a brand and an online presence. You have the correct documents, which you can tailor to every application.

Now is the time to plan how and where you will search. What are you going to search for? Identify key industries and analyse some job descriptions to see where you fit. 

Note the following:

• What qualifications are employers listing for the roles you are looking at?
• What skills are they listing? Do you have these skills listed in your documentation or LinkedIn profile?
• Decide the job profile or title you will be looking for.
• Are there any other job profiles or titles you may be open to?
• Think about your skills and where they could be transferred; this may expand your list of job titles.

The next stage is to plan when you will be ready to start searching. If you are chosen for an interview, when will you be able to either interview on the phone or attend in person? You may find this a strange step in this process, but I have heard of so many cases of people making an application the day before leaving for a two-week holiday and then not being able to speak to them from the beach in Spain!

Finally, the time has come to research the best places to find the type of role you are looking for. Experience has shown us that paying for some of these services to get better listings does not yield better results than the free sites. Be warned.

It is worth looking across multiple job boards where you will see the same role advertised. Each may have slightly different information, like the job poster's name or salary expectations. Doing so may give more information, which will help in the search. 

The following is a list of job boards with their respective benefits.

Indeed

• One of the largest and most popular job sites globally
• Adds approximately ten jobs every second
• Offers comprehensive search and filtering options
• Allows CV uploads and easy application processes

Reed

• One of the UK's oldest and largest online job boards
• Offers a wide range of sectors and job types
• Provides additional resources like courses and career advice

LinkedIn Jobs

• Combines job listings with professional networking
• Allows for easy connection with recruiters and companies
• Offers insights into company culture and employee experiences

Totaljobs

• Features an extensive database of job listings across various sectors
• Offers tools for career advice

CV-Library

• One of the UK's largest job sites with around 250,000 live job listings
• Allows for easy CV uploads and job applications

Specialised Job Boards

Glassdoor

• Combines job listings with company reviews and salary information
• Provides insights into interview processes and company culture

CWJobs

• Specialises in technology and IT job listings
• Offers tools to improve employability

CharityJob

• Focuses on paid and volunteer positions in the charity sector

Workingmums

• Specialises in family-friendly and flexible job opportunities

Guardian Jobs

• Offers a range of positions from graduate to senior roles
• Provides career planning tools and job alert services

You can employ Boolean search techniques (AND, OR, NOT) on all these sites to refine your job search queries and find more relevant results. Don't fall into the trap of applying for everything and anything that comes up in a search. On-site in Halifax will not suit you if you live in South East London.

Create job alerts on various platforms to receive notifications about new openings that match your criteria. The sooner you apply, the better your chance. Don't get fooled that there are already hundreds of applicants. Many recruiters say of the first 500 applicants 450 did not match the skills or expertise. Half of them lived abroad for a role required two days a week in the office. So the pool can be much smaller than you think.

Measuring the results of your job search is essential to evaluate your progress and refine your strategies. Here are some key methods and metrics to track your success:

Key Metrics to Track

Time Spent on Job Search Activities

Track the hours you dedicate to researching companies, tailoring resumes, applying for jobs, networking, and preparing for interviews. Use tools like spreadsheets or time-tracking apps to identify areas where you can improve efficiency.

Number of Applications Submitted

Monitor the number of applications you send out and compare this to the responses received (e.g., interview invitations). A low response rate may indicate a need to improve your  CV/Resume, cover letter, or targeting strategy.

Response Rate

Calculate the percentage of applications that lead to responses or interviews. This metric helps assess the effectiveness of your applications and whether you’re applying to suitable roles.

Interview Conversion Rate

Measure how many interviews result in job offers. A high conversion rate indicates strong interview performance, while a low rate may suggest areas for improvement in interview skills or cultural fit. Not all job offers are acceptable, so be prepared.

Satisfaction Level

Reflect on how confident and motivated you feel during the process. This subjective measure can help you identify whether adjustments are needed in your approach.

You can use several tools for tracking job applications or building your tracker:

Carrreflow.ai has an excellent tracker tool; there are some areas you can use for free, but it has a premium service.

Clickup.com can create a KanBan board for free in which you can track your progress.

Monday.com

Other premium tools are:

Smartsheet 

Pipedrive.com

Excel

Module 5 is upon us. Here, we will understand how to increase our chances by networking and increasing our touch.