When searching for a new job, knowing where to start can be difficult, especially if you’re new to the jobs market or you haven’t applied for a position in a while. To help you kickstart your search, here are some of XCL Group’s, top tips for job hunting.

Make a plan

Making a plan for when you’ll update your CV, setting goals and identifying the steps you need to take to reach it will give you direction and make what can be quite a daunting task, feel a lot easier.

Be realistic when setting your goals - you probably won’t be able to submit 10 high quality job applications everyday - so plan out what you can practically achieve each day.
E.G. your goal for one day might be to find and register with a recruitment agency, such as XCL Group, that specialse in your sector.

Identify your USP - UNIQUE SELLING POINT

Think about what your main strengths and weaknesses are, and what makes you a cut above the rest. Carrying out a self-assessment and getting a better understanding of your abilities and what you excel at will give you your USP and help you identify an opportunity that you will truly excel at.

Apply for multiple vacancies

This is especially important if you work in a particularly competitive field, but for any vacancy, the company will likely have many suitable candidates to choose from. So, while you should still be selective in the roles you apply for, putting yourself forward for a number of vacancies and getting your CV in front of multiple hiring managers will increase your chances of being successful.

Tailor your application

Depending on the vacancy you’re applying for, you may be required to complete an application form, or it may simply be a case of submitting a copy of your CV and a covering letter. Either way, make sure your application stands out and doesn't get lost in the crowd.

Here at XCL we truly believe in our candidates and work closely with each person to ensure that the position is the correct fit for their skillset and always push to follow up on each and every application.

Develop anecdotes

Develop a set of anecdotes from your past jobs (or if you don’t have a lot of work experience, from school or volunteer placements) that clearly demonstrate your skills and accomplishments.

It’s likely that during a job interview you will be asked to “tell us about a time...” or “give details about some of your key skills and experience”

If you have a set of solid anecdotes already in mind, this will help you effectively communicate your experience and help you feel more confident talking about yourself.

To keep your stories focused, follow the STAR method:

Situation: Describe the context, what challenge did you face?

Task: Your responsibility in the situation. What did you need to do?

Action: How you achieved your task. Focus on what you did, not what other people did.

Result: Explain the outcome of your actions. What did you learn?

Searching for a new job doesn’t need to be stressful, so by creating a plan and working with your recruitment consultant at XCL Group to identify the roles that best suit you, can make the process much easier.

XCL Group specialise in the construction, automotive, engineering, production and office & commercial sectors and we are here to support you in your job search and help you find the right role at the right company and opportunity.

If you’re daily goal is to register with a recruitment agency, you can do this by clicking on the link in the top right hand corner of this page, to book an appointment with us here at XCL Group.