Looking for work in 2022? Finding work following a global pandemic has been harder than ever! A lot of people were sadly made redundant as a direct result of Covid-19 on their place of work and certain industries may not be showing as much job security as you may have previously been promised.
Though we are being told that unemployment rates are decreasing, there are still a vast number of people applying for job roles throughout the UK and so it is a VERY competitive market out there. So how do you stand out? Well, it may not be as easy as previous years, but here are 5 simple tricks to ensure you get ahead of so many others…
1. Keep your CV active
The most important thing to do when looking for work is to remain active in your job search. If you’re spending 10 minutes a day looking at any new relevant jobs that have come live on the market through Reed, Monster, Indeed etc. then recruiters will see this and are 10 times more likely to phone you within the next 24 hours if they have a suitable position that you may be a great fit for.
You can even beat them at their own game and get phoning or emailing your CV directly with recruitment agencies. Don’t be afraid to get your CV out there, even if it means going straight to the employer yourself!
2. Getting in front of the decision maker
This sounds really daunting, but speculative letters and direct applications with employers is a great way of getting ahead of the crowd. Why, I hear you ask? Well, this is because they may not have been advertising directly for a role you’re relevant for yet, saving them time and money, but also if you bypass a recruitment agency then they have no agency fees to pay. This can be a vital factor in the decision making for choosing an applicant to employ in the later stages and not many people actually do this themselves. Just remember that if you have already been introduced to a company by a recruitment agency, the company legally have to pay for your fee if they hire you, so avoid sneaking around the bend.
3. Keep social
Stuck in the world of social media on lunch breaks or before bed? Use this time wisely to get active on LinkedIn. This social media platform offers a vast amount of potential for finding work, not just with recruiters and head-hunters, but employers directly! Stop just hitting the ‘like’ or ‘share’ buttons… influence and lead instead of follow! If you stand out on this platform, you’re going to stand out to potential employers.
LinkedIn is so valued by senior management as not only can they find great staff connections here, but they can also generate business leads and identify new trends through this platform. Therefore, it is important to stand out on your profile and in front of others. What can you post today that will inspire others?
4. Update your working history & qualifications
Obvious, I know, but you will be amazed at how many people haven’t updated their CV’s, job and LinkedIn profiles. Ensure you title your CV with the relevant year too if you save it with a date alongside it, as it will ensure it is up to date.
Consistency is key here, so make sure you check your newly updated CV with your LinkedIn profile and also upload it to your registered job sites. It is always best to run a mini audit across all of every quarter as you may have completed new training or been promoted to include new job responsibilities.
Of course, if you’re really struggling to write your CV to get it noticed, then we’re here to help with our professional CV writing service or LinkedIn profile services.
5. Never stop learning…
With the power of digital technology, there are so many fantastic opportunities to learn more skills online with accessibility to a vast number of short and long courses at a click of a button from the comfort of your own living room!
Top websites such as LinkedIn Learning future Learn offer free courses or trials, with some being accredited. Either way, these are fantastic opportunities to brush up on your relevant skills to keep them up to date. You may even want to learn something new if you’re looking for a career change.
So, there you have it! 5 simple tricks that will help you find work in 2022! Don’t forget, if you feel like your CV or LinkedIn profile may not be quite up to scratch and that it could be letting you down, we’re more than happy to take a look for you. It is completely FREE of charge for is to take a look for you. We only charge for the services we provide, so if we feel you don’t need to make any changes, we WILL say so! For more information simply get in touch via our contact us page.