Nechells

THE HANDYGUIDE TO JOB

HUNTING

IntroductionThis short booklet provides useful information to help youin your search for work.

The first thing you should do is identify your skills and experience, and what jobsyou’re interested in

Start by working out what skills and experience you have. Then check you’ve got what you

need to go for the type of work you want. Get someone to help you do this – it’s useful to

get another person’s opinion of you. It could be quite different to how you see yourself.

1.

A. For example, you might think you’re really shy,but your friends might think you’re actually a good listener and a very patient person.

B. When it comes down to it, to get a job, youneed to sell yourself. And to do that you need toknow your product (i.e. you), who you’re selling to(i.e. employers) and how you’re going to sell tothem.

C. If you don’t have enough experience or qualifications to do what you want to do, you’llneed to rethink your options. You could either domore training or voluntary work to get the skills orexperience you need, or think about another lineof work.

D. Consider all the types of work thatyour skills and experience might berelevant for and try to keep an openmind about new job ideas.

E. Finally, be realistic – make sureyou’re going for jobs you have a reasonable chance of getting. But becareful not to undersell yourself.

2. Set yourself a deadline

When you’re trying to achieve a specific goal, such as getting a job, it can really help to set

yourself a deadline. As a guide, give yourself one month for every year since you last

worked. So if you last worked three years ago, give yourself three months to find a job. It

can also help to break your goal down into manageable chunks – for example, you could

aim to get your CV ready in the first week, register with five employment agencies in week

two, and so on.

Spend at least 16 hours a week job hunting

You need to make sure you’re spending enough time looking for jobs – 16 hours or two

days a week is a good amount to aim for. Some people like to treat job hunting almost like

a job in itself – setting aside allocated days to focus on it. Weekdays are best.

3.

Keep a job hunting diary

Keeping a diary can be really useful too. You can keep a record of who you spoke to,

when, closing dates for applications, your interview dates, etc. You might want to use

different coloured pens to highlight different results – i.e. use one colour for companies

you’ve had interviews with, one colour for those who’ve rejected you, another for those

who’ve kept you on file, and so on. You may find that looking through your diary later will

encourage and motivate you when you really need it.

4.

Apply for jobs

It may sound obvious but you need to apply for jobs to get one. Here are some tips on how

to go about your search. You can dramatically increase your success rate if you use tactics

most people can’t be bothered with or wouldn’t even think about.

Write down addresses and phonenumbers of companies you’d like towork for. Ten is too few, 200 is toomany in one go. Leave space undereach address. The Yellow Pages is agood place to start.

Have your note pad to hand andphone all the companies on your list.Introduce yourself and explain you’relooking for a new job and that you’reinterested in working for their company one day. Ask if it’s ok tosend your CV in case they have anysuitable vacancies in the future.(Most companies will say yes). Writedown the name of the person youspeak to and any comments youwant to make. Make sure you’re polite, friendly and not at all pushy.

Post your CV and covering letterwithin 24 hours to the person youspoke to. If you can deliver it in person, even better.

Three days later, ring the person

back and say something like: “Hello,this is …..... We spoke a few daysago and I sent you my CV. I hope youdon’t mind, I just wanted to checkyou’d received it.”

If they’re friendly, ask them if they’ve had achance to read it and if they think they mighthave any jobs in the future.

Six weeks later, and every two to three monthsafter that, call the companies that seem fairly positive. Explain that you’re still looking for theright job and that you’d like to work for them – otherwise, they may think you’ve found somethingelse. If you’ve done some extra training or gotsome more work experience, tell them and ask ifthey’d like an updated CV for their reference.

This approach is really effective because:depending on the size of the organisation, it’slikely you’ll be the only person that day to ring andask about jobs. This will make you stand out.

You beat the queue. Many companies look at CVsthey’ve got on file when they’re recruiting beforethey put an expensive advert in the paper. Ifyou’ve ru ng a couple of times, you’ll stand outfrom the other CVs just sent in the post.

Employers want people to work for them who arereally keen and don’t mind going the extra mile.By ringing them, you are beginning to showyou’re the sort of person they’re looking for.

5 .

Brush up on your interview technique

If you need help with this, there aresome helpful organisations listed towards the end of this booklet.

Review your progress

When you’re involved in something as serious asjob hunting you need to review your progress regularly. If you don’t seem to be getting anywhere, can you work out where you might begoing wrong? If you don’t try to identify this, anddo something about it, you may keep making thesame mistakes. Refer to your diary and use yourcommon sense – if you’re only applying for onejob a week, you won’t get very far very quickly.

If you follow these steps, and applyfor advertised positions as well,you should start getting interviewson a regular basis.

6 . 7.

Don’t use a standard computer CVtemplate

Many templates are American instyle, lack originality and employerscan spot them a mile off!  Take thetime and trouble to create your ownCV, keep it up-to-date and have itready to use for when you need tosend it off quickly.

Research the job role

Find out as much as you can aboutthe organisation and the job role before you send your CV.  Note anyspecific qualifications, skills or experience required.  Unless theseare essential to the job, don’t be putoff applying.

Adapt your CV to a specific job

You may need to modify your CV toa specific job so that the employercan match your skills and experience to the job advertised.Before you write your CV, take agood look at the job advert, andhighlight your relevant key skills,knowledge and experience.

Structure your CV so it is clear

An employer will initially scan a CV and will wantto pick out relevant skills and experience.  Makesure your content is clearly divided under the following headings: Personal details, Personalprofile, Key skills, Employment history, Professional qualifications, Education and qualifications, Hobbies and interests and References.

Make your CV stand out

There is no set format for a CV, however an employer will be looking for a CV that is well laidout, easy to read, has clear and complete information and grabs their attention. A CV shouldbe in font size 10-12 and in the same typefacethroughout and has no more than 2 A4 pages.Use bold to highlight headings and print it on goodquality paper.

Use accurate and positive phrases and words

It is important to think about how you will phrasethe content of your CV.  Words should be strong, positive and uplifting ensuring that all content ishonest and interesting. Try to avoid repeating

phrases such as ‘I did this’ and ‘I used to be’.

10 Top Tips for a Successful CV

Sell your skills and achievements

Make yourself different from the competition by focusing on your skills and achievements. Highlight the ones you are particularly good at andexplain how you have used them, and if possibleinclude evidence. 

Check your presentation and layout

First impressions count so it is vital that you checkyour CV before you send it out. As well as checking your spelling and grammar, make surethat your contact details are correct, that it flowsand there are no odd or unexplained gaps in your employment history, and also that it makes senseand is easy to read.

Make sure you get it right

Your CV is a marketing tool selling you! Spend asmuch time as you can to get your CV right, itmight take a couple of attempts until you are completely happy with it.  Even when you havefinished your CV, put it to one side and come backto it, read it through very carefully one last time.

Include a covering letter

It doesn’t matter if you are hand delivering, posting or emailing your CV, you will always needa good covering letter to accompany it.  Lettersshould be short (don’t waffle) but informative andinclude reference to the job you are applying for.

Organisations that can helpWhether you’re looking for full-time or part-time work, training, careers advice orbenefit “Better Off” calculations, these organisations can help.

Directgov job and skills page

http://jobseekers.direct.gov.ukThis should be your first daily port of call. All thenew positions at the Job Centre are posted heredaily in the morning along with links to trainingschemes and government-funded opportunities.Also available on Sky, Virgin Media, Freeview andTeletext.

Gumtree

http://birmingham.gumtree.comHundreds of new jobs daily, many of which don’t appear at job centres. A fair amount of spam to siftthrough – don’t be fooled by anything that lookstoo good to be true. This is often the site of choicefor firms looking for casual workers, warehouse-based jobs, bar staff and labourers. Plenty of vacancies in catering and hotels too.

JobRapido

http://www.jobrapido.co.ukVery useful source of professional jobs, as well asclerical and teaching/classroom assistant posts.JobRapido works with many employment agencies and can feature more than 1,000 newjobs daily. Fortunately, there is an effective searchsystem in place which can quickly narrow yourhunt by location, salary, job-type and hours required. You can subscribe to email alerts to notify you immediately of new jobs in your chosenfield and you can post a CV online to attract employers. Several sites offer a similar service,but this is one of the best.

Jobs Midlands

http://www.jobs-midlands.comThe largest job vacancy website in the region withgreat search options and friendly, simple to navigate pages. Closely linked to local papers, it’sworth subscribing to this site or checking it daily.

Help on the groundThe Government’s Enhanced NewDeal Scheme has resulted in a greatdeal of investment in Nechells andits neighbours, with the ward beingdesignated an unemploymentblackspot in need of help and investment. There are several newagencies which need to be accessed via a referral from your careers advisor.

Seetec Aston

Aston Cross Business Park, B6 5RQTel: 0121 380 4820One-2-one personalised careers advice and training with great resources and enthusiastic staff. Access to academic and vocationalcourses, advice and support.

Fourstar Aston

Unit 1 Meteor Park, Argyle Street , B7 5TE 0121 322 8950 Fourstar differs from Seetec by having dedicated building spacewhere clients can get hands-ontraining and experience in suchareas as construction, childcare andcatering, leading to a recognisedqualification. The company also hasclose ties with local firms and industries and has a high successrate of placing qualified clients withlong-term jobs.

Self-referral schemes

Prospects

Unit 1.07, Faraday Wharf, Holt Street, Aston Science Park, B7 4BB0121 503 8040Prospects offers some great opportunities for people who have been out of work for more than12 months in the Nechells area. One-to-one mentoring, personal action plan, links with supportservices to help you overcome barriers to work,CV creation, interview practice, exclusive vacancies and post-employment support, makethis one of the best and most successful agenciesof its type. Access to courses for fork lift truck drivers, childcare and security badge qualificationshave made this popular in the area.

JHP Employability

3rd Floor, Scala House, 36 Holloway Circus, B1 1EQ0121 665 6655Offers exhaustive Response to Redundancy programme with courses in skills needed to re-enter the jobs market, plus retraining opportunities. Your dedicated employment brokerwill assess your needs, help to fill any gaps inskills or experience and actively speak to prospective employers on your behalf. A highlyproactive approach with a high success rate.

PeopleServe

Chaplin Court, 80 Hurst Street, B5 4TD0121 666 5150Established in 1974, the opportunities at PeopleServe are second to none. No minimumunemployment history needed, you can sign uphere the day you are out of work. The companyexcels by having really strong links with employersand offers training and job placement schemestailored to the individual. PeopleServe has enteredinto partnerships with many private and third sector organisations, job centres, educational bodies and employers and because it’s well-established, offers a fast-track back into employment. They also specialise in helpingclients who are seen as the hardest to help, suchas those with disabilities or criminal records.

Pertemps

Nechells Baths, Nechells Park Road, B7 5PD0121 328 9076Benefits advice, confidence building,CV and interview preparation, gaining recognised qualificationsand one-to-one support with backingfrom Birmingham City Council, JobCentre Plus and the Learning SkillsCouncil. Local access point for theWorking Neighbourhoods Fundwhich offers enhanced support forresidents of Nechells.

free@last

2 Cattells Grove, Nechells, B7 5RA0121 327 5959Free confidential debt and benefitadvice. A 12 week back to work programme for young people aged18-25. Specific support and activitiesfor dads.

free@last has been working in Nechells since 1998. It is run by local people andour focus is purely on the people who live in our community.

free@last’s VISION

To improve the lives of the children and young people of Nechells.

MISSION

free@last is committed to providing opportunities, activities, mentoring and support for children and young people in Nechells, and to further their interests byworking with their families, other agencies and relevant professionals.

VALUES

Giving opportunities to all young people in Nechells without distinction.

The main priority of free@last is to build positive trusting relationships with localpeople. Through these friendships people allow us to become involved in theirlives and we can provide support for anyone who asks for it.

free@last offers a variety of support and projects that provide opportunities forpeople to come together and learn new skills, have fun and improve their quality of life. Please feel free to drop into the office in Cattells Grove or giveus a ring on 0121 327 5959 to see if we can help in anyway.