First off, it’s important to decide on a direction. What exactly is it that you want to do? (Trust us, it’s ok if you don’t know the answer to this one.) If you’re not sure what your next step should be, there are a few things you should consider. What are your interests? Do you have any specific skills, or what are you good at? Are you destined for work in the construction industry, maybe you can see yourself on a building site using your hands, or fancy being a bit more behind-the-scenes site management? Or perhaps the booming security industry is more up your street with its flexibility and great career prospects? Make a list and decide what you fancy doing.
Are you qualified?
The job role you might be looking at requires certain qualifications. Have you got them? And if not, how can you get them? Depending on your personal circumstances, there are loads of ways you can get qualified, potentially without it costing you anything. It’s best to speak to a local job centre or training provider, like us at Bright Direction Training, to see if you are eligible for any funded courses. Some jobs will offer to train you up on the job, so it’s worth applying for roles where training is provided. You can of course pay to enroll on a course to get that all the important knowledge and expertise needed to progress in your career.
Update your CV
If you’ve got one already, you need to get your CV up to date. Add any of your new qualifications and make sure it’s showcasing you in the best light. Check out our guide to writing a CV here. You can also use our handy template to make sure you get the layout and content right. Your CV is your first impression, so make sure it’s a great one!
Finding a role
Now you know what you’re looking for, it’s time to find those all-important roles. But where do you look? There’s a whole sea of job boards that you can search by industry, job title and location – so narrow down those roles and apply to those you think you fit the bill for. It could be, you know where you want to look and can apply directly to the company, even if they don’t have any roles advertised it’s worth writing in as they are likely to hold cvs on file. You can also register with a recruitment agency that can match you up to your ideal role and work with you to find a suitable position.
Check out our courses to kick start your career
We have a wide range of courses across many sectors. Make that CV really stand out by gaining knowledge that can help you to get ahead.
Tailor your CV to each vacancy
It may be tempted to just send the same CV and letter off to all the roles you’re looking at, but it’s worth taking a moment to tailor your CV to each application, highlight the skills that match their requirements so you can show them you’re the person for the job.
Don’t give up
If you don’t hear back, it can be disheartening, but with some companies, recruitment can be a long process, so it could just be their timeframes. But if you’re looking for clarity, don’t bombard them with emails, but if appropriate you can send a follow up email ask for clarity and feedback. Try to get feedback if possible as any feedback is good feedback – it’s all great experience, plus it can help you with tips for the next application.
Don’t miss other opportunities too. If you’ve applied for a few jobs and are waiting to hear back, keep looking for other roles in the meantime. You don’t want to miss that perfect role while you wait.
Got an interview?
Congratulations, now is the time to get prepped. We’ve written a great blog on “How to prepare for an interview”, so head over and check it out.
