My top 9 tips for finding a new job

Is your job search off to a slow start or has it been a while since you were last on the market? Job hunting can be exhausting and time consuming, but it doesn’t have to be if you approach it the right way. The advice I have listed in this article applies to candidates in any industry – I hope you find them useful. 

1. Keep your LinkedIn profile up to date Your LinkedIn profile is an extension of your CV and a profile with up to date work experience and plenty of relevant keywords is more likely to be found by a recruiter (and we use this a lot for headhunting!). Click here to find out what a good LinkedIn profile looks like. 

2. Register with a reputable recruitment agency A good recruitment agency will help you every step of the way when seeking a new role, which takes a lot of pressure off you. When I’m representing a candidate I will for example help them prepare for interviews, negotiate their salary and follow up to make sure they are enjoying their new job. At Four Seasons Recruitment we also have exclusive access to many job opportunities which means that they are not advertised anywhere else. 

3. Get notifications to your email Why not let the jobs come to you? If you are seeking new opportunities in luxury retail and fashion you can set up job alerts here. 

4. Upload your CV to job boards Submitting your CV to relevant job boards will make it immediately accessible to both internal and agency recruiters, who will then contact you when they have a role that matches your experience.

5. Research your ideal companies Before meeting with a recruiter it is a good idea to research your ideal companies. This will give me a good understanding of your preferences and could speed up the process. You can also approach potential employers directly, which is a good way to bypass the crowded job boards. Just bear in mind not every company you approach will be hiring so you might end up spending a lot of time and not getting much back. 

6. Get organised Make sure you are keeping track of every application you’ve completed. That way you can follow up and avoid answering a phone call about a role that you can’t remember applying to. Create an Excel spreadsheet with company details, date applied and the status of your application. 

7. Save templates You will need to customise your CV and cover letter to every role you apply for, so having templates ready to edit will be a time-saver. 

8. Request feedback If you are rejected after a job interview, always ask for constructive feedback. This can help you to learn from the experience and improve your interview skills going forward. 9. Stay positive! Competition is fierce and job ads sometimes generate hundreds of applications daily, so try not to take it personally if you are rejected. Be resilient, keep applying and you'll eventually land the perfect job for you.