Want a new job but not sure where to start? Don’t be overwhelmed – follow these tips

If you’re currently employed, studying, running a household, looking after kids or just plain busy, then you’re like the rest of us – short on time.

Unfortunately, hunting for a new job is a complex, time-consuming process. Here are some tips to help you plan out your search strategy for a new job, find your next job opportunity, and apply for it.

1.  Decide what you want in a new job, and find out about it. Spend 20 minutes a day, for at least a week, researching current jobs and advertised positions.

2.  Set up an email account dedicated to your new job search. Keep it professional, simple and straightforward, ideally including your name. Avoid using slang, inappropriate language or too many numbers in your email address.

3.  Dedicate one hour over a weekend to set up accounts for your new job search and register your details with careers websites, online job boards, and recruitment company websites. This is repetitive and may be boring, but it’s quicker and easier to register your details in multiple places at once. Keep your requirements consistent, make sure your details such as phone number and email address are accurate, and sign up to receive new job opportunities sent to your inbox.

4.  Research and identify recruitment companies, especially those who specialise in the field or industry that you are looking for a new job. Break this process down into small daily activities – during your lunch break or morning coffee break, call one company and ask to speak to a recruiter who specialises in your area. Set up a time to meet with them.

5.  Making time to meet with recruiters is important. If you work full time, you may want to consider taking a day off from your work commitments. Alternately, many recruiters will meet clients after hours for new job interviews.

6.  Make sure you have an intelligent, persuasive resume to give to recruiters and use for new job applications online. Your resume should profile you accurately, highlight your expertise and achievements in measurable terms, and ensure you stand out from the crowd.

7.  Networking, online and offline, is a key part of searching for a new job. There are a certain percentage of jobs that aren’t advertised, and the only way to access these opportunities is to network. Write a concise profile on LinkedIn and actively seek connections, join a professional group focused on your sector, and make an effort to attend conferences. You can also network through taking up classes or getting involved in volunteer work. Decide which activity appeals to you most, and make a commitment to sticking with it for at least a month.

If all this makes sense to you but you still feel overwhelmed and rushed off your feet in your new job search, contact your nearest Successful Resumes branch. We’ll help you get that resume and cover letter ready to send off, provide advice and interview coaching, and even create networking tools for you to use in your new job search such as an optimised LinkedIn Profile or our exclusive Pocket Resume.

Are you passionate about something? Have you ever wished you could turn your hobby into a dream job or career, but felt reluctant to let go of your ‘day job’?

The good news is, there are practical ways you can turn your passion or interest into a dream job or new career path, no matter how young or old you are.

1. Know what you want to do

Some people know exactly what they enjoy doing, others only know what they don’t like doing (and that’s often what they have to do for 8 hours a day, 5-6 days a week, while at work!).

Take the time to explore what you’re good at, and what you enjoy. Your dream job could be something creative, like photography or cooking. Or it could be working with children, training at the gym, or gardening.

2. Identify opportunities for a dream job

There are a number of ways you can combine your interests with your career. You may want to utilise your current skills and work experience in a new capacity – for example, if you’re an administration officer but love working with children, your dream job may be in a new role in administration in a child care centre or school. If you’re a nurse but like to travel and don’t like being in a hospital environment all day, your dream job might be in a nursing job where you visit patients in their homes.

Alternately, you may want to get out there in a brand new career, not just a change of scenery. This is a huge commitment, but it can be done. Decide what sort of dream job role you would like, and what type of organisations you’d like to work for.

3. Experience, experience, and more experience

On the job experience is a key component of your resume. Think outside the box when you want to change careers and move on to your dream job. Spend some time working in a voluntary role in the area you’re interested.

4. Up skilling and training

You may not need to go back to university for four years and get a new degree to change your career and move on to your dream job, but vocational training, online education and short courses are all great ways to develop new skills to make you more employable for your dream job. Just some of the options available include Open Universities, your local TAFE or college, and the Centre for Adult Education. Studying doesn’t have to be a full time commitment – you can even take up a class one night each week after work.

5. Develop and focus on your transferrable skill set

There are skills, especially soft skills that transfer well when looking to move on to your dream job. The key is to ensure that your resume explains how you use those skills, so that a new employer will recognise how you will be able to add value to their business.

6. Don’t be afraid to sell yourself for your dream job

Be confident, and remember that someone who is passionate about what they do is often far more interesting to a potential employer compared with someone who’s been doing the job for 20 years but doesn’t really care about it. Demonstrate that this is more than just a pay cheque for you, and your dream job is something you care about. Because a job you care about is a job well done.

This blog post was written by Tanaz Byramji, Branch Principal of Successful Resumes North West Metropolitan Melbourne