In this post, we share 10 thoughtful tips to help you streamline your job search process, present yourself in the best possible way and find the right opportunities that match your ambitions. Whether you already have a clear goal or are still exploring what suits you best, this advice will give you a solid foundation to stand on. Let’s take the step towards your next dream job!
10 tips for finding a new job
1. Define your career goals
For both those who are considering a change of job and those who are actively looking, it is crucial to spend time carefully reflecting on your future career goals. Start the process by systematically analyzing your priorities. Identify the tasks that you find meaningful and that bring you job satisfaction. These reflections are of utmost importance as working life requires a significant time investment. Searching and choosing a workplace that has the potential to fulfill your career goals is therefore a strategic process that should be attributed more energy than the “first best” job.
2. Evaluate your skills
Before updating your CV, you should take the time to carefully evaluate your skills. By systematically mapping your competences, you will gain a deeper understanding of how your knowledge, skills and experience can be best applied.
Work-related competences: Reflect on the competences you have acquired from previous work roles, such as project management, budget responsibility, coordination, specialized knowledge in specific areas/projects or system knowledge.
Education: Make sure your CV includes your educational background, including relevant courses and in-house training.
Personal qualities and motivation: Sit down and consider your personal qualities, strengths and weaknesses, and think about the type of work environment and company culture that best complements your abilities.
3. Optimizing your CV
Once you have clarified your career goals and carefully evaluated your skills, it is time to update your CV. If you identified several different job roles that interest you, consider creating several customized versions of your CV that highlight the relevant skills for each specific role. If in doubt, study different job advertisements to highlight the skills in demand.
4. Optimizing your LinkedIn profile
After updating your CV, it is wise to also review your LinkedIn profile. Many employers and recruitment agencies use LinkedIn as a primary source to identify candidates. When updating your profile, make sure it is detailed and includes descriptions of your previous job roles. Use the ‘About’ section to provide a brief summary and describe your future plans. During your active job search period, use features that show you are open to contact and provide your contact details for easier communication with recruiters and employers.
5. Active search for vacancies
Job searching can be time-consuming, and it is wise to prepare yourself to make the process less stressful. Once you have clarified your career goals, updated your CV and LinkedIn profile, it is time to actively search for vacancies that match your interests and skills. Use different websites and job search portals to search for relevant jobs and consider creating alerts to stay updated on new opportunities.
6. Implement a structured work process
To effectively manage your job search, consider creating a structured approach. A useful tool is to use an Excel sheet with the following columns:
- Company
- Job title
- Description of tasks (if the application link is no longer available)
- Responsible recruiter and contact details
- Application link
- Deadline for applications
- Date of submission of the application
- Response (rejection or invitation to interview)
- Other comments
This structured approach helps you keep track of the jobs you have applied for, the responses you have received and the applications that are still open.
7. Managing your credentials
Carefully consider who you can provide as references in the event of an interview and ensure that they are willing to act as references when required. If you are called for an interview and asked to provide references, make sure you inform your references about the specific position you are applying for and that they can expect to be contacted shortly.
8. Researching companies that attract interest
Take the time to explore companies in your area that could potentially offer jobs relevant to your career goals. Follow their activities on social media platforms or subscribe to their newsletters as job ads are often posted on these channels.
9. Send spontaneous applications
Many job vacancies (in the private sector) are filled without public advertisements. Therefore, it can be useful to identify companies you are interested in and send unsolicited applications directly to department heads, the HR department or other relevant people based on your CV. In smaller companies, there may be no HR department, and in such cases it is often the individual managers who handle the recruitment.
10. Network with recruitment agencies
In addition to sending unsolicited applications to different companies, it is also beneficial to establish contacts with recruitment and staffing companies that specialize in filling similar roles you are looking for. By visiting their websites and learning more about the types of positions they typically handle, you can register on databases of companies recruiting the type of roles you are seeking. Recruitment agencies are often proactive in matching candidates with suitable positions, and they may actively search for profiles in their databases that match the positions they are recruiting for.
We wish you the best of luck in your job search!
