How to search for a new job

When you decide it’s time to change jobs, evaluating your current position and researching all the available options are essential steps to achieving success in securing a new role. Consider what skills and experience you have developed in your current job and identify areas where you can still stand to improve.

Assessing your situation in these terms will leave you in the best position when speaking to recruitment consultancies and employers about what you want to achieve next.

Choosing a consultancy to register with

A recruitment consultancy can find roles you might otherwise have missed and help you to prepare for your interview to give you the best possible chance of landing the role. Make sure you find an established consultancy with a good reputation. Although it is often worthwhile registering with more than one consultancy, be aware that registering with too many may lead to your CV being sent to the same employers several times.

"It is worth considering the benefits of registering exclusively with one consultancy. A good quality agency will market your CV effectively to top employers, doing more to help your job search than registering with several less reliable agencies", said Sarah Owen, Director of Rober Walters Ireland.

Check how a consultancy operates and be selective with who you register with. If an agency works on an individual commission basis you may only hear about the handful of roles that your individual consultant is dealing with.

Networking                                                                           

Networking is a great way of discovering 'hidden' jobs, allowing you to apply for roles where you will be competing with far fewer candidates. Involve everyone who can help direct your job search, including past and present co-workers, bosses and business partners, as well friends and family.

Social media can also be very useful for expanding your contact network, with LinkedIn being the preferred platform for most professionals. However, don’t become overly reliant on digital platforms. Offline networking should also form a key part of your strategy, attending events and seminars related to your profession.

Going into events with this mindset will improve your confidence and help create goodwill among other professionals.

Do your research

Recruitment consultancies can offer insights about market conditions, which sectors are recruiting and how long the hiring process is currently taking, to supplement and guide your own research. Find out what the average salary is for someone with your skills and experience and sign up for job alerts.

"Start by identifying particular employers you are keen to work for and determine why they appeal to you", continued Sarah. "A recruitment consultant can use this information to identify opportunities that will suit you best."

Search job boards

Find online job boards that cater specifically to your target industry, as well as more generic platforms. Use their search engines to filter roles by title, salary and location. It is possible to create user accounts to upload your CV (for companies to find) but this can be a risky strategy as you have no idea whose desk it may land on.

At Walters People you can create an account to save your job searches and receive alerts when new jobs that meet your criteria are posted on our website.

Read the trade press

Make sure you stay up-to-date with leading trade publications to understand the key issues and opportunities in your profession. If you're looking at changing careers entirely, this will give you a flavour for the skills needed to break into a new industry.