Careers Advice

[peteyg]

Any recruitment consultants out there that can give me some advice about how to get a new job? Never used an agency before but need someone to give me some ideas and direction. Desperately need to get out of the one I'm in as it's having a negative effect on things but need another to go to. Lottery win still pending!

 

Pete

[softlips]

Not a recruiter but changed jobs many times over the years.

Are you looking to stay in the same industry? If so are there any companies you'd like to work for and could approach directly? I've got quite a few posts that way and sometimes roles have been created for me.

If not, get a profile on linked in and acquaint with people on there. Within weeks I guarantee you'll have recruiters emailing you (nearly all attractive young woman for some reason).

Register with recruiters who specialise in your Industry too, the good ones should help you out with fine tuning your CV etc.

[mr.oogieboogie]

I usually change jobs and industry on average every 5 years. Never found a good agency yet and i have been with the so called top flight agencys best off putting your cv on places like monster and people will find you.

All the best

[LazyDonkey]

I usually change jobs and industry on average every 5 years. Never found a good agency yet and i have been with the so called top flight agencys best off putting your cv on places like monster and people will find you.

All the best

 

Yeah that. 

 

LinkedIn is where it's at these days and where most of our (IT part of a large media company) recruitment is carried out.  Get your page updated, add everyone you've worked with and then get testimonials.    Also don't underestimate places like here or more local lotus sites to expand your network........even if it is scary what people look like in "real life".   Also join linked in groups for your specialism and start contributing. 

 

You will almost certainly have to use an agency at some point but don't be sucked into thinking they are your friend, they aren't.  Likewise don't assume they will share your CV round the office, if you're good they won't.   Finally if they call and ask how you've been getting on, been for any interviews etc say nothing.   If you say "oh i had an interview at company x" they will be on the phone as soon as you've hung up pitching other candidates to them.  I always had a vision that consultants would look at you and think "you'd be great at this" and then give you the advice to get you that dream job but the reality is far far far away from that and they are bascially looking for a quick turnaround on each job.  Basically they are the worst kind of sales people.  

 

However the single biggest mistake i see time and time again is that people send out blanket general CVs to a million jobs rather than being more selective and tailoring the cv to the job.  More than i few times I've thought "did they apply for this job by mistake?"   You'd be amazed how much impact yoru CV can have when the title is the job you'e going for ie.  "LazyDonkey - Software Engineer"   as you're immediately nailing your colours to the mast.    

 

Hope that helps and good luck.  

[peteyg]

Thanks guys. I'd heard that about recruitment agencies, that they're not really your friend. I'm kind of struggling with looking outside of the box and seeing what else I can do outside of the wine trade which is all I've done for the last 14 years. Happy to stay with it but need to start moving forward rather than sideways or backwards. Seems I've only been going backwards for the last few years and owning a Lotus isn't getting any cheaper! 

 

Appreciate the comments!

 

Pete

[Bibs]

 

I've worked in IT recruitment for 15 years and owned my own recruitment company for 8 years. And I know judo.... 

 

Call me if you want Pete, happy to give you any advice I can mate. 

[LazyDonkey]

looking outside of the box and seeing what else I can do outside of the wine trade which is all I've done for the last 14 years. 

 

I see this a lot with my guys (IT development) but you'll be amazed at the transferable skills you have.   I've no idea what you do in the wine trade but don't pigeon hole yourself........

 

EDIT : i'm sure bibs is the exception to the recruitment consultant rule

[Guest hosscartwri]

Network, network, network is the best advice I can give.

 

Compared to Linkedin this is the "old fashioned" way BUT it can be far more targeted and personal; additionally it demonstrates effort and commitment which companies look for. You have already started with this thread. Basically you talk to friends/contacts and ask them for suggestions as to who they know who may be able to help and you then make contact with those people - it helps if your contacts are happy for you to use their names when you contact the people they have suggested you get in touch with and so on as the network is created.

 

You are NOT asking contacts for a job but obviously you are hoping that one or more of the people in the network you are building up will be able to offer you a position. It is very important to follow up each contact meeting with a letter or email thanking the contact for their help/time etc a) because it is polite b) because it helps cement you in their memory c) it gives you an opportunity to emphasise any points that came out in your discussions which may be useful to them and/or it demonstrates that you have taken on board what they have advised you - again, this helps to reinforce their memory of you so that if a position develops that you may be suitable for, they are likely to think of you for it.  

 

You could look at this as being similar to pyramid selling - if each person you speak to gives you two new contacts, you very quickly build up a large network of people who know you are on the look out for a new position.  

 

A good CV is vital and it is worth finding someone who is experienced and very good at constructing CVs. 

 

There are different types of CV and if you are looking to change roles and/or area of commerce/industry then a properly constructed CV which illustrates your skills, knowledge and expertise without being too tied to a particular area of commerce etc. is vital. You should have a strong personal statement at the top of the CV which is no more than three lines long.

 

I am no expert on CVs but I have read a large number in my time (I'm quite recently retired) - ideally you will carve out your own role and will not be in competition but there is a good chance that you will be in competition. If a position has been advertised then there are likely to be quite a few candidates. Depending on the size of company that is recruiting, there is a good chance that your CV will have to make it through at least one general sort out of the CVs conducted by Human Remains before the CVs are even seen by the person/people who would be making the decision as to who to employ. If the company has employed the services of a recruitment consultant then your CV will have to get through their vetting process before it is sent on to the client company. So, you can see the importance of an excellent CV.

 

The individual(s) in the target/client company who are selecting who to interview may well be faced with quite a few CVs and may not have a huge amount of time to review each one. If the role in question is well sought after then the CV sifting process can be pretty ruthless again demonstrating the importance of the CV. 

 

I hope this does not sound too prescriptive or daunting.

 

Many many years ago I was given a piece of advice which stood me in good stead and that is to go in to an interview with a 'story' to answer questions on each of the key points on your CV. In doing so it is very important to construct this 'story' around the nemonic STAR ie: Situation (what was the situation you were addressing), Task (what it was that you were setting out to achieve), Action (what it was that you did which contributed to the success of addressing the situation/task), Result  (what the outcome was of what you did etc).

 

In answer to the question on their CV, most people only respond using S, T, R which misses out the most important differentiator ie: what Action(s) they actually undertook to contribute to the successful result.

 

Best of luck! 

[Chillidoggy]

I advertised a job a few years ago, and asked for interested parties to send in a C.V. One bloke wrote a letter to me, telling me he hadn't got a C.V., but if he got the job, then he'd get one done.

[peteyg]

Thanks Nigel, great advice!

 

Pete

[Bibs]

We send out the STAR advice with our interview tips, great way to answer questions well. 

 

Pete, if you'd like me to have a read over your CV, please feel free to pop it over