Steps to take when thinking about  a new job

As we all know, looking for a new job can be a challenge, but with proper planning and preparation, you can be ahead of the curve and give yourself the right start to build your job searching on.

When looking for a new job, it is important to give yourself steps to follow, so the process is simpler for you to initiate. We’ve put together a simple overview of how you could structure this plan, as planning for a new job is the difference between being prepared for the road ahead or not, all the way up to securing the job.

Step 1: Build an understanding

Before you can start looking for a job, you have to understand where you currently are in your career, so take the time to build a list of the things you’re looking to avoid in a job role and the things you like and would want to keep in a job. This will help you understand the criteria you’re looking for businesses to meet, by knowing this you’re prepared to look out for red flags and early warning signs of those same criteria that made you think of starting a new job in the first place.

You’ll want to build an understanding of the logistics and any details about work life balance you want for your new job. To establish the logistics of your new job means to figure out distance, travel method and time used in the commute,  this you will want to figure out what is acceptable to travel in terms of distance, method of travel and time used to get there as it will matter in live practice.

Step 2: Being up to date

When you have figured out the direction you want to go in, you’ll be ready to start updating your details to match this. You will want to start by updating your CV, using this time to reflect on what experience you will be using to pursue this new career. By looking at what transferable skills you have picked up from other jobs you will start to see where you can put these skills on your CV and how they help you find a new job.

You may also want to update your Linkedin to boost your chances of finding new work. Many business professionals are using Linkedin to stay up to date on their markets and recruiters use it too, boosting your chances by exposure and presence in these moving circles is how modern job hunters find work with ease.

Step 3: Renovating social media’s

\you’ll find that Linkedin has a very corporate, inoffensive appeal to it, the reason for this is due to how we associate our selves as professionals with our presentation, with social media being so prevalent in the business world now, it’s important to make sure you’re keeping your social media accounts in a suitable standing for the industry you’re trying to get into, this will show that you’re a professional person even in your casual life.

To better your chances of being picked, with even job searching becoming a multi faceted endeavour, you’ll want to use your Linkedin account to follow relevant faces and businesses within the industries you’re looking to get into. This is how to stay informed with your desired industry and to let employers know that you mean it when you say it’s an industry you want to work in.

Step 4: Deciding how to apply

By now, your CV is updated, you’ve got a good understanding of the industry you want to break into and you’ve got the background and online presence to do it, now you just have to decide on how. By this we mean how will you apply, whether that is through a recruiter or through the businesses own recruitment portal. The decision depends mainly on how you will be applying, as some industries are more known for going through agencies, whereas some handle their own recruitment. This can come with it’s own benefits.

An agency may be able to negotiate with the business for things like additional benefits or adjustments, negotiate salary and even be a sounding board to act in your interests if you’re perticularly unsure about a business or role. However going for a role through their own system does allow for a more direct communication with the business, allowing you to pursue those activities yourself if you’d prefer, this is why you must decide which way you’ll apply first, instead of switching between agencies and own applications, which can be very exhausting.

Step 5: Begin applying

Now that you’ve covered everything you need to, from your CV to your method of applying, you’re ready to to begin searching for work. At this time you will want to remember your criteria that the job must meet, like the distance to commute, benefits and pay. Keep in mind the type of industry and availability of those roles, this will be important to run against your criteria, because you may find that you’re in a position of compromise or not when it comes to applying.

You’ll want to consider other methods of finding work, many recruiters are on Linkedin, many agencies too and even businesses will run their own recruitment through Linkedin. Try to go through reputable websites for job applications, the government has a reputable site for job applying, alongside many other websites centred around helping people find work.

Step 6: Attending Interviews

However long it may take, you’ll end up with interviews to attend that you can use to help practice on your vital communication skills and presentation. Attending interviews will be significant, regardless of result, for the practice built up from interviewing, it’s important to build on this skill at any opportunity and live practice is the best setting. You may find that halfway through an interview you’re hit with the realisation this role isn’t for you, don’t worry, consider the interview practice, or if it is seriously not for you, leave, the practice isn’t worth sitting through discomfort. Remember that the point of your interview is to build up confidence in presenting yourself in a good professional light.

Step 7: Offer stage 

You may find yourself at a point where you’ve been offered a role, it’s a common step in securing a job and worthy of thinking over, so by first declaring that you’re grateful for the offer but that you may need time to think it over, this gives you the time to think it over and really consider if this is the right next direction.

You may even find yourself at points where you have various offers, this is why you want to give yourself time at the offer stage, as you may end up receiving the call back that you were hoping for.

Step 8: Accepting the offer

After careful thought and consideration, you will have made your choice. This is when you begin communications with the relevant parties, such as your current employer and recruiter or hiring manager, informing them of your approved offer and start date. You will have discussed during the interview about your availability, this is when that comes in to effect. You may begin your last 2 or 4 weeks at your current establishment, this is where you’ll get to say your goodbyes to colleagues and finish up, ready to move on to new things.

Accepting a role will also come with additional steps dependant on the industry. You may be expected to do a lot of travelling or a training sessions, so be prepared for these types of events to come up.

Step 9: Resignation

Once you’ve established your notice period, you’ll begin the resignation process, where you’ll be beginning to end your activities with this current business. Use it as an opportunity to gain any knowledge or information you think will be vital to go forward with. Alongside remembering that you’re going to have a few smaller duties to finish up throughout this time and that you may even receive a counter offer, we’ve written about how to navigate a counter offer before which may prove effective to know. Essentially you’ll be going through a very transitional period, one that will be handled best be preparing for the new role.

Step 10: New start

As it gets closer to the start date. You’ll be ready to get down to business and start creating great work, this is the easiest step, as it really just involves waiting for that date to role around. You’ll want to make sure you’ve tested the route you’ll be using to make the commute to and from work, getting a feel for what that’s going to demand is better handled before you start.

When you’ve started your first day, the business will begin the onboarding process, the structure where they show you what your duties are and how you’ll be expected to work. This is the ideal end result of all the planning and applying that any talented job hunter is looking to achieve.

HtE Recruitment News & Insights

This news and insights page has been written by Josh our Recruitment & Marketing Coordinator.  HtE Recruitment take no responsibility for this post.