The Ultimate Jobseeker Guide

Hunting for a job isn’t easy. You might hear stories of friends landing their dream job straight out of university, or being picked up by a headhunter before they’ve even left their current job. The truth is that those friends have probably put in a lot of work behind the scenes to make those opportunities happen. In the end, any job search comes down to the same two things: planning and perseverance. Maybe you’re thinking of a career change, looking for your first postgraduate job, or after a step up in your career. Whatever your aim, starting your search with a well-structured plan will go a long way to making your job hunt more focused and of course successful.This Ultimate Jobseeker Guide has been created with just that in mind. Follow these seven steps to:

prepare your search
make use of all the resources here at JobLookup (which you can find in our Jobseeker Guides section)
ace that interview
and stay motivated

With our help, you can dive into the metaphorical ocean of jobs and land your ideal role.

1: What Do You Want? Decide on a Job, Location, and Working Conditions

Before you begin your job search, it’s good to take a moment to decide what you’re looking for. If you’re planning a new career path, have you got all the qualifications you need to get a foot in the door? Are you looking for a part time job while studying or seeking something temporary? How far are you willing to travel for work and what location are you focusing your search in? Are you interested in flexible working hours to fit around your home commitments? Do you need a particular salary or work benefits? These are just a few of the questions that are worth asking before you get your job search underway.

If this is your very first time looking for work, or you’re not really sure what kind of job you want, then you should definitely dive into research at this stage. A good place to start is our career index, where you can find a list and overview of all kinds of jobs, as well as the requirements you need to kick off a career in your chosen profession. Start thinking about what skills and qualifications you already have, and what profession those skills are best suited to.

Overall then, these are the important things to think about before starting any job search:

The industry, sector, or profession you want to work in. For example, agriculture, renewable energy, or data analyst.
Your most up to date skills, qualifications, and experience.
Where you want to work in terms of location and how far you’re willing to travel.
Do you want, or even need, to work from home or on a hybrid basis?
Are you looking for full time or part time work?

2: Create Your CV/Resume

Probably one of the most important tools for any jobseeker, your CV/Resume is what will make you stand out from the crowd. Spending the necessary time to get it right is well worth the effort. Don’t worry though, we’ve got everything you need to get started on creating a slick, concise CV/Resume in no time at all. Just follow the simple steps below, and make sure to read our guide on creating a top notch CV too:

Step 1: Get the Facts Right

Make sure you’ve got all the relevant information ready. Don’t use an old CV/Resume as it is. Instead, take a few minutes to read through and answer the following questions:

Are all your skills represented and up to date?
Have you added your most recent qualifications, training, and experience?
Is your CV/Resume relevant to the type of job you’re looking for?

Remove any excessive or outdated information. Double check that your contact details are correct so that an employer can easily get in touch.

Step 2: Make your CV/Resume Searchable

Making sure that your CV/Resume is visible to employer and recruiter search engines is essential. You can upload your CV/Resume here at JobLookup, meaning potential employers can easily find you using a CV/Resume search. Before you do that, however, make sure your CV/Resume is as searchable as possible to get you the maximum exposure. Read our guide on making your CV search friendly to find out which keywords to use and how often to use them.

Step 3: Decide on a CV/Resume Design

When considering your CV/Resume layout, it’s best to keep things simple and easy to read. Ideally, you don’t want your CV/Resume to be more than two pages long, so make sure that all your key information is in short and snappy segments that contain the important details. If you don’t already have a CV/Resume template, or simply want to design a new one for your most recent job search, then try out the JobLookup CV Wizard. Learn how to use it with our handy CV Wizard guide.

Step 4: Upload and Save

Now your CV/Resume is ready to go, it’s time to upload and save it. You can upload as many additional CVs/Resumes as you like and save them to your profile. This can be useful when you want to make adjustments for different job applications. If you’ve used our CV Wizard, then you can also download a PDF copy of your creation.

Remember to fine tune your CV/Resume every time you apply for a new role. This will help you stand out at the early stages of a job application and increase your chances of landing an interview.

3: Set up Email Alerts

Time is at a premium for all of us these days. Having a roundup of the latest relevant jobs delivered straight to your inbox can be a huge timesaver. When used alongside an uploaded CV/Resume, regular job searching (both on and offline) and registering with agencies and websites will greatly improve your chances of finding the job you’re after.

Using email alerts, you’re less likely to miss out on jobs because you’ll be notified about new roles that fit your preferences straight away. Being one of the first applicants for a vacancy will help employers and recruiters notice you more quickly.

Setting up an email alert is very similar to doing a job search. You can find out about the basics in our email alert FAQ. You can even choose to set up multiple alerts for different roles or focus the alert on a specific area. Read more in our advanced email alert guide.

4: Search for Jobs

Now you know what job you’re looking for, your CV/Resume is primed and ready to go, and your email alerts are set up, it’s time to start hunting for that ideal role. To get the best results from your job search here at JobLookup, we recommend that you register and create an account. That way, our site can remember the kind of role you’re looking for and give you an overview of the most applicable jobs every time you login.

Basic Search

Basic searches on JobLookup let you choose the keyword (sales person or administrator, for example) and the location (Manchester, Liverpool, New York, Boston, etc). This kind of search is great for temporary roles, as well as jobs with fairly simply titles. Searching for ‘Marketing Manager’ or ‘HGV Driver’, for example, will normally net you good results. If you’re still not finding the kinds of jobs you want, then you can try an advanced search instead.

Advanced Search

For more detailed results, you can use JobLookup’s advanced search. Learn more about how to use it in our advanced search guide. This tool lets you be much more specific with your keywords and location. It’s a good option if you’re looking for a specialised role because you can search for industry specific keywords, which is one way of getting more accurate results.

Other Resources

Don’t limit your search just to websites though. It’s always worth contacting and registering with recruitment agencies too. The more places you can upload your CV/Resume the better, but once you’re on a recruiter’s radar, they can contact you directly about roles that you’re an ideal fit for.

Take a little time to find out what a recruitment agency does, before signing up with them. Some specialise in media, IT, catering, temporary roles, and so on. Signing up with the right kind of agency will instantly expose you to the right kinds of roles. Depending on what you’re looking for, it can also be helpful to check the local and national papers. Many broadsheet papers, like The Times and The Guardian, have their own printed jobs sections, and most local papers include job listings too.

5: Apply for a Job (or Two)

You’re certain to have found suitable jobs on JobLookup by now, especially if you’ve followed all the above steps. Make sure to save the jobs you’re interested in, so you can apply later if there are more than one that catch your eye.

Whether the job advert asks for it or not, you should include a cover letter with your application. This is a summary of why you think you’re a good fit for the role and can be for a great way to strengthen your application. If you haven’t written a cover letter before (and even if you have), have a look at our guide on crafting a compelling cover letter.

Once you’re ready to apply for a role, go through this checklist step by step:

Pick out any skills, qualifications, and experience that are essential for the job as described in the job advert and description.
Make sure your CV/Resume and cover letter highlight why you’re the best choice for the role. This means tweaking your skills list, work experience, achievements, and personal statement to make them as relevant to the job as possible. Do this for every job application you make.
Double check everything! One typo or spelling mistake could lose you the chance to interview.

Keep in mind that while you should apply for as many jobs as you can, it’s best to take time and care over each individual application. Sending ten applications off in one day might seem like a good idea, but speed often comes at the expense of quality. Any applications that don’t demonstrate your suitability for the job or include mistakes may leave a less than favourable first impression. It’s much better to send fewer job applications that have been thoroughly checked.

6: The Interview

Interviews are rarely easy. You’re put on the spot, probably feel nervous, and are expected to sell yourself to the interview panel. But being prepared for an interview is half the battle won. You’ll instantly reduce your stress and anxiety if you can build an idea of what to expect. As soon as you find out you’ve got an interview, start to prepare. Consider what you’ll wear, your travel arrangements, and how you’ll fit the interview into your working week. Researching the company in advance so you’ve got a good understanding of what they do is an absolute must and will give you plenty of inspiration for interview questions too.

Interview Questions

How you answer interview questions can tell a potential employer a lot about you as a job candidate. While it’s totally normal to feel anxious about the question and answer part of an interview, there’s plenty you can do to help yourself. Consider the most common interview questions you may face and practice answers. Think up a list of questions that you can ask the employer. Find out more about how to handle this part of the interview in our guide to interview questions.

Interview Follow-up

A common mistake that many applicants make is failing to follow up after an interview. Whether you think things went well or not, you should always thank the company for giving you the opportunity to be interviewed.

If you don’t get the job this time around, then ask for feedback from the interviewers. Anything they have to say can be valuable. Perhaps they didn’t feel you had enough experience, for example. In that case, you can look for roles that are a better fit for your experience range, or highlight skills that could make up for a perceived lack of experience. Maybe nerves got the better of you on this occasion and the interviewers thought you weren’t enthusiastic enough. If so, brush up on your interview technique and spend more time preparing for the next opportunity.

7: Refine Your Search and Stay Positive

It only takes one rejection to make you feel like your job search will never end. But the reality is that you will find the job you’re looking for sooner or later, especially if you follow all the steps in this guide to maximise your chances. Staying positive and proactive will help and here are five ways you can do this:

Structure your job search. Set aside a certain amount of time to search, apply, and research. Stick to this plan and follow it every day. This clear routine will help keep your search consistent and productive.
Go back to step one of this guide from time to time to check whether your wants and priorities have changed. Alter your CV/Resume and job search as necessary.
Make sure that you’re actively applying feedback from recruiters and employers where possible.
Do some additional training while you have the time. Short courses or qualifications gained while you’re looking for a job could add that extra bit of oomph to your CV/Resume.
Check that you’re getting all the financial support you can from the DWP (UK) or DOL (US), and any other sources that are available. Making sure that your basic living costs are covered while you’re looking for work can remove a huge amount of stress from your shoulders.
Keep up with employment trends and recent news. You might spot the ideal job opportunity, just by staying informed.

Now you’re as prepared as you can be, finding the role you deserve should only be a matter of time. Remember to check back here often as we update this guide with new information. In the meantime, make sure you’re registered with us, or sign in and get job searching. Good luck!