Flexibility, tenacity & creativity needed by job seekers in 2012

Expert Register Press Release

Tuesday, 3 January 2012

As widely reported, the private sector is patently unable to “soak up” all the newly redundant state workers coming into the employment market. Nor can the private sector be relied upon to continue to create new jobs unless there is definite need for additional resource. Recruiters in most, if not all, sectors can afford to be far more discerning and are far less likely to have to compromise now with the available supply of good people in most disciplines far exceeding demand.  That said, there are businesses currently hiring. With hard work and flexibility, good jobs can be found.

So what do serious job seekers need to do to market themselves and be put forward for key opportunities ?  

Here at ExpertRegister ™, a small niche recruitment consultancy working in the multi-channel retail field, we advise all applicants to treat the task of finding new employment as a full time marketing & communications role and offer the following advice.  

1)    It is a time to draft and continuously refine all aspects of your CV because a good CV and covering letter, even sent speculatively one at a time and personalised to well targeted contacts, can open doors.  Treat every approach as a serious proposal. You are not selling bags of beans, you are marketing your services in order to achieve a contract worth hundreds of thousands of pounds over time.

2)    It is vital that applicants put themselves into the recruiters’ shoes and take time to thoroughly understand what a recruiter is seeking via its recruitment ads so as not to charge in with an application that is completely off-centre.  Too many job seekers expend enormous amounts of time and energy chasing roles that, in truth, they know they are completely unsuited for.  Aim for quality rather than quantity. You’ll reduce the number of rejections you receive as well as gain more free time to focus on making polished, well targeted applications that fully emphasise the experience you can bring to each specific role.

3)    Evaluate what you really want out of your working life.

 

a)      Are you tied to one geographic area or might you be willing to relocate or become a long distance weekly commuter ?

b)    What size of business can best use your skills and do you derive more satisfaction from ?

c)     If you are client side – might a supplier role involving customer pre-sales or support be a new challenge – or vice versa – what skills you have developed as a supplier would benefit any client company that employed you ?

d)     Think outside the box as well as within your initial comfort zone. Would working less than full time hours be practicable/desirable for you ?

e)     Might you be more “marketable/affordable” for more potential employers on a 3 or 4 days week basis than full time ?

f)      Could you work for more than one employer ?

g)     Do contact recruitment consultancies that specialise in your particular field and work to build a relationship with those most likely to be connected with the kind of businesses you want to work for. Most will be receptive and willing to have an initial chat with and/or meet with you even if they do not have an immediate current assignment  in mind. Be sure though that your CV will not be touted around or submitted to any company without your express prior consent.

h)    It is a time to be serious about research. To study target companies via as many resources as possible. To build your own mini-database of contacts and make direct intelligent contact with them. Check the jobs sections of target employers’ websites. Register with job boards. Regularly check the media that services your sector. Be alert to every potential opportunity.

i)       If you have worked in a role that brought you into contact will well connected suppliers – then don’t shy away from asking those contacts if they’ve heard of any potentially suitable openings. Leverage your relationships with past colleagues. Don’t be shy of asking for help.

j)       Step up your use of social sites like LinkedIn  ™, add comment to topics under discussion; join groups that represent your discipline and/or sector, make it known that you are available – there is no shame in being a proactive opportunity seeker.

k)     Register and visit the trade shows you would have attended when employed; use them to network with former colleagues and past suppliers. Keep your name and your face on the sector’s  “radar”.

l)       Consider whether you should be marketing yourself as an interim executive or as a consultant. If yours is a high demand skillset you may find businesses which would be interested in accessing your skills for specific projects or to cover for periods of high demand or cover for permanent incumbents. Many interim roles lead to further assignments via word of mouth. They also ensure too that your CV shows growing experience with a wider number of companies.

m)  Above all, don’t give up.  

Finally, as a footnote, ensure that potential recruiters will not find glaring anomalies when comparing your CV with, for example, your LinkedIn & other social media profiles. Be honest and open about past roles. These days all recruiters have so many reference tools at their fingertips and will often reject candidates out of hand if they find anything at all that doesn’t stack up.

 

ExpertRegister ™ is a subsidiary of Synergy Partnership Ltd., a business which has served the national & international multi-channel retail sector for over two decades.

For further information contact Richard Jones on 01271-864944 – Richard@expertregister.net