Do A Proper Job Search...

...and find 80% more jobs!

This section of the Snag A Job Guide will help you carry out an effective job search. There are many ways to find work.

• Searching online
• Sending speculative cover letters and CVs
• Looking through job pages or adverts in local and national papers
• Using a Recruitment Agency
• Visiting employers in person
• Cold calling by phone
• Attending job or career fairs

Should I prepare before looking for work?

Whatever your situation, taking some time to prepare before starting your job hunt is time well spent. Ask yourself:

• Do I have a professional, up-to-date CV or resume?
• And if I'm interested in multiple jobs, do I have a separate CV or resume for each?
• Do I have draft cover letters to hand, one for advertised positions and one for speculative enquiries, if required?
Note: if you decide to job hunt exclusively on-line, some companies will build you a good CV AND cover letter, so you just need to gather relevant details and be able to answer YES to the next question!
• Have I approached the right people about providing references?

If you're job hunting the 'traditional' way (i.e. not online), and can't answer "yes" to these questions, we recommend you go back a step and read about:

Sample Resumes Cover Letters If you can answer "yes", you're ready to start job hunting... read on..

Ready to begin?

With an estimated 17,000 new jobs posted each week in the UK alone, and with between 40-80% of employers now searching for candidates online*, searching the web for a job is possibly one of the best ways to invest your time job hunting, so, if you like, we'll start here.

Or, if you prefer, use these links to explore your job hunt options:

• Searching online, including why we think Monster.com is the No.1 search engine for jobs and why Yahoo! HotJobs is No.2.
• Sending speculative cover letters and CVs.
• Looking through job pages or adverts in local and national papers.
• Using a Recruitment Agency including the pros and cons of recruitment agencies and 9 Top Tips for employment agency success.
• Visiting employers in person including 9 Top Tips for success and what outcomes to expect and how to handle them.
• Cold calling by phone.
• Attending job or career fairs including 7 Top Tips for job fair success.

*(source: Job Searching Online for Dummies by Pam Dixon)

Getting The Answers YOU Need