How to survive life after redundancy: Are you careering out of control?

IN part 26 of a series exclusively for yorkshirepost.co.uk, Careers Coach Louise Lapish of Gatewood Consulting answers your questions and deals with the problems of life after redundancy.

Yorkshire seems to be basking in good news on the job front as well as sun this week, as many of those under threat have been saved at the 11th hour and the unemployment figures are still falling. With the financial markets as unpredictable as our continuing sunshine are we really out of the woods yet? Over the last week several Gatewood clients have secured interviews and are on the path to winning that next role. The use of the word winning is intentional, never before has the job market been such game. It is also a game of significant highs and lows.

We are someway behind out American counterparts where career advice is concerned. In the USA having a Career Coach is common place- how else is one to secure the American dream? There is focus from kindergarten on, what are you going to be, what will your extracurricular activities say about you? Will you be attractive to the best colleges and the leading organisations? When I think back to the career advice I was given at school it pales in to insignificance. I was asked to complete a series of questions and then was handed a computer print out with a list of suitable job titles. However, that was a major leap forward from the career advice given to those who came before me. I also remember there being nothing on the list that stood out to me. One of the boys from my class it doing ground breaking scientific works overseas, I’m sure that was not on his print out either. Were the schools trying to lower our expectations or basing it on the local job market and your best bet? One of my clients was given the advice that he should take a “none academic” route- he rebelled and is now Finance Director for a major player in the finance arena.

Career choices

Ask yourself, did you ever really have any choice about your career? The Oxford dictionary has two definitions of career the noun and the verb.

“an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person’s life and with opportunities for progress”

And “move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way”

Presented with both definitions it is unsurprising that most people choose the second option- uncontrolled. Was there ever any planning went in to where you wanted to end up 5, 10, 15 years down the line? There are very few people who join a company and expect to stay there until they retire. The job market has changed over the years and we expect to move around much more- in fact in our younger generation this is encouraged, they are told to be more aware of their commercial value and never get stale.

Career coaching is about taking control and putting an action plan in place. This action plan needs to be implemented if you have been made redundant, are at risk or redundancy or are gainfully employed. What happens next? I have several people recently tell me that they have never had to job search before, they have always been promoted internally or headhunted by organisations. They are unsure on how they can take control and go out there and make it happen.

Coaching is not just there for the bad times, it can help you improve your performance to get a promotion or your dream job or a role in a different sector. It can also help you decide if making the leap to self employment is the right one for you. We plan all other aspects of our lives but somehow fail when it comes to our careers. Working with Gatewood Consulting can help you set achievable goals and targets and ensure you are supported in getting to that new role.

Q. I’ve never had to job search. Where do I start?

A. Always start with the end in mind. Where do you really want to be? What do you really want to do? If you start by getting all of the options clear initially, you can then start to eliminate the ones that are the least realistic. Can you afford to re-train? Is there funding available? Are you simply reacting to a bad redundancy situation? Narrow down if you are going for a like for like job, the next step up or something completely different.

Q. I am still bitter towards my ex employer, it is unfair after all of the hard work I put in. What can I do now?

A. Being made redundant is a traumatic experience for many, many Gatewood clients have been on both sides of the fence too, making redundancies and being made redundant. How this is handled can really impact on how quickly people can bounce back. It is very common to feel bitter towards an employer we were loyal to, this is because we are looking at the situation as something personal. In most cases it is simply a commercial decision, the only answer. Did you really not see this coming, or were you looking at the world with blinkers on? Expect to go through a range of emotions throughout your job search, anger, worry and stress are all natural reactions. Too often people have defined themselves by the job they do and feel part of their identity is missing. It can take people several weeks even months to really feel that they can move on. My biggest piece of advice is to never take a redundancy personally, utilise your ex employer to get great references, network contacts and keep the bridges in tact! Be confident you have lots to offer and can take this in to a buzzing market place. Talk to someone about what has happened and then set yourself clear steps on how you are going to move on from it. Things do get better once we start looking at things more positively.

Q. How can I plan when I have never job searched before?

A. The market is awash with books, DVDs and Career Coaches that can provide step by step help as you progress on the job search. The programme I run is in clear stages, defining career goals, creating a CV to market your skills, preparing you for interview, understanding how to network effectively and then how the job market works. It is simply a game of buyers and sellers. Who would want to invest in your skill set?

Gatewood Consulting provides a free one to one career evaluation or CV evaluation for individuals looking to return to work or change career path.

PREVIOUS POSTS...

The news has been as bleak as the weather for the majority of April, double dip recessions, unemployment in Spain reaching 24% the only ray of light, Yorkshire! The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures reveal that Yorkshire saw the biggest fall in unemployment across the country between December and February. This has been supported by the number of Gatewood Consulting clients who have secured positions in the first quarter of 2012. Those who decided against a traditional “job” and have started their own businesses are also making a positive impact. Why do I think it is positive news for jobseekers that our clients are making it work and creating opportunity?

Market Trends and Future Innovation

In most cases Gatewood Clients are mid to senior level individuals who have been made redundant or are at risk and seeking a new challenge. They tend to be at the top of their game with proven track records in transformation, change or leadership- when they start securing new positions, it becomes obvious we are starting to see the green shoots of recovery and are looking to the future. When change is happening at the top it usually means great things as it cascades through the ranks of employment. Creation of more jobs, securing more investment and a rainbow with a pot of Gold rooted in Yorkshire.

Create a Job Search Strategy

The fundamental difference between someone who is job searching effectively and ineffectively often boils down to mindset. I often hear people say “I’ve looked online for hours, there are no jobs out there”. If a job hits the public domain, there is a good chance you have already missed the boat. How can captains of industry and our Senior Managers put complete trust in other people to create their job for them? Is this the way they performed in business or did they have to go out and win business and develop relationships?

Only a small amount of time spent job seeking online can ever bring results, it is a passive way to job seek. I often ask a client to monitor how productive their time is when they are online- are they distracted by links, adverts, Linkedin? All have their place but that should only amount to 25% or less of your daily job search activity.

75% of your job search time should be spent being proactive, identifying influencers who can utilise your skills, planning and executing approaches and taking back control. Treat your job search like a strategy, make a plan and ensure that you are not sidetracked. The list of household chores can wait, your time needs to be dedicated to creating your next opportunity. Proactive does not mean creating version 1001 of your CV or chasing recruiters for feedback- all too often a common mistake is to fill our time with tasks that feel like you are being proactive. Identify the tasks that are working and do more of those and less of the filler and time wasting activities.

Think Positive

Having worked with hundreds of job seekers, it is often easier said than done to keep positive, especially when the job search process is always about “not being the one”. Remember that you have secured positions before, been promoted, led teams. Think about the things you have done and the impact you have made. You have done it before and there is no reason why you will not be able to do it again, unless YOU tell yourself otherwise,

So I claimed the rainbow ended in Yorkshire with a pot of Gold, every human sees the colours of the rainbow differently. Therefore take that approach with the job market- be the person who sees the positive things happening, be the person out there having good business conversations and speaking to the right people. As soon as you take back the control of your job search the colours will seem a whole lot brighter.

• Gatewood Consulting provides a free one to one career evaluation or CV evaluation at www.gatewoodconsulting.co.uk.

SPRING is officially here and with the imminent changing of the clocks we can expect lighter evenings and new life- will the same be said of the UK job market? When I first meet a Gatewood Consultancy client who is seeking a new position following redundancy or looking to change their Career, they often talk about what they should have done, would have done, could have done, if they had been expecting redundancy. It seems we become so entrenched in our day to day roles that we forget that everything works in cycles and each position we are in will go through seasons too. Are you in the Spring of your role or are we heading towards Winter- it is crucial to keep an eye on what phase you are in. If we are always planning for change then it cannot take you by surprise.

How to spot the warning signs

How long have you been in your current position? Are you still breathing life into the role or are things stable? You could be busy battening down for the Winter of your current role. No matter what stage you are in you need to be thinking about when you start the cycle again. At an Executive level Redundancy is often predictable, movement in the upper ranks means new and fresh ideas can breathe new life into companies.

How can you put the S.P.R.I.N.G into your job search?

S. Skills Evaluation

Evaluate your skills so the you know what it is that you can offer a potential employer. Who are the buyers who would be interested in your experience. I work closely with Gatewood Consulting clients to think about the impact their experience has had on each and every organisation – how have you added value? As important as identifying your strengths is formulating a way to talk about them. An interviewer will not read between the lines and even if you think “you were just doing your job” you need to understand how to differentiate between you and another candidate.

P. Prepare an objective

If you are currently in a position it is important that even though you might just want to get out, it is crucial that you know what it is you are looking for, otherwise you might end up jumping from the frying pan into the fire. If you are not in work it is tempting to apply for each and every position that you see- this is commonly referred to as spraying and praying, sending out a CV to anybody and everybody, crossing your fingers and hoping that someone will offer you that ideal position. Knowing who your target market is, allows you to put a strategy in place and strategic job search campaign. This will increase your chances of success experientially.

R. Resume, CVs and job search tools

Once you know who your market is and what skills and experiences the buyer is looking for, you can present these is powerful documents that sell you. Review the CV as well as your Linkedin profile to ensure that your “shop window” is as attractive as it can be. Is your brand strong enough across all your portals – have you thought about what potential recruiters can discover about you through social media. Are you cover letters grabbing attention?

I.Interview Practice

Once you have the tools defined it is time to practice your interview techniques and master your elevator pitch. Having the perfect pitch can make or break an interview or network meeting. Think about the questions you will be expected to answer, you may be more used to be on the other side of the desk during interviews, use this experience to think about how you are going to sell yourself effectively. Then practice, practice, practice, there is no excuse for being unprepared.

N. Networking

Over 80% of jobs are in the unadvertised job market and these are accessed through effective networking, too many people neglect to keep networking when they are gainfully employed, or feel that it is asking people for favours and feel uncomfortable with it. The key thing is to think about the message you are communicating – can you promote your skills strongly enough? Are you developing strong connections that you can utilise during this job search and subsequent searches. Networking is not about harvesting contacts on Linkedin but developing strong relationships and continuing to feed your network. Networking for the job search in not about handing out business cards at events. At a recent Gatewood Consulting, “Networking for the job search” event several of the delegates were not utilising any networking in their job search. They had been stuck in the traditional style approaches and missed potential opportunities by not asking the right questions, burning contacts in the process. The answer is simple, create long term relationships.

G. Get Active

Now you have established who the potential buyers of your skill set , it is time to get proactive as opposed to being reactive. This is the only way you can create opportunity and take control of your job search. Plan your day, treat your campaign like a full time job and remember to follow up everything. Spend 80% of your time on the unadvertised job market and 20% on the traditional routes. Carry out business conversations with new and existing contacts at any opportunity. Keep positive as the journey will be one of ups and downs and learning how to handle the potential rejections will enable you to keep moving the strategy forward. Always remember you only need one job!

Gatewood Consulting provides a one to one career evaluation to help you start SPRINGing into action.

Developing a job search strategy

The dust has now settled after the New Year’s Resolutions have worn off and many of the passive job seekers have drifted back in to their rut or caught up in the day to day grind. They may have been full of good intention but without the impetus of “needing “a new position many wane in their efforts. Where does this leave those who are actively job searching? The clue is almost in the question, job seeking?

Are you job seeking or creating opportunity?

Many people are searching for an already defined opportunity in the advertised market. A role that we consistently hear will have had hundreds if not thousands of applicants. By the time a job makes it to the public domain, two things are clear. 1. The list of essential skills is equivalent to the characteristics of a super hero. 2. Getting hold of the recruiter is almost impossible. Difficulties with recruiters are cited as the number one frustration of my job seeking clients, including poor communication and lack of feedback. It was recently referred to as the “Job advert black hole.”

There is often a misunderstanding about the role of the recruiter, first and foremost they are a salesperson delivering a product (candidate) to the client (company recruiting), their role is not to act as a career coach or advisor. There are some good recruiters in the market place, who do assist candidates and guides on CVs and interview skills; however their main focus has to be keeping the client happy.

Are you a good candidate?

You the candidate must also take responsibility, are you presenting yourself in the best possible light? Does your CV demonstrate the impact you have made on an organisation, or simply list tasks? Have you done your interview homework? I certainly mean more than checking out the website. There are no surprise questions, put simply there are only badly prepared candidates. You should be preparing strong answers to potential interview questions.

Once you have your tools market ready you need to develop a proactive strategy to get yourself in front of as many potential employers as possible. Networking is the answer-developing strong business relationships and participating in meaningful conversations is the answer. Most people are caught up in the idea that networking is about attending events and handing out business cards- it’s not. In the “Networking for the job search” seminars I run the first question I get asked by delegates is, “How do I know what my message is and how do I know who to talk to?” Having a clear idea who are the buyers in your market is crucial. Networking is never about asking someone for a job!

Taking Control of your job search

Do your research and ensure that all your preparation has been completed-be interesting to talk to, network effectively. Spend time on your market preparation, ensure your CV is hitting the spot and you can walk the walk in the interview. If in doubt ask for help-practice your interview questions and increase your confidence. Always be proactive and in control of your job search!.

WAS finding a new position one of your resolutions for 2012? January is certainly proving to be an early spring in terms of job seeking for many- this week is the busiest in terms of job search activity Despite the doom and gloom of the unemployment statistics 2011/12 has certainly seen the job market come out of hibernation. If you have made the decision to change then now is the time to set about implementing a strategy that is going to work.

A high proportion of the clients I coached secured new positions in the final quarter of 2011-some had been unemployed for many months and others were new to Yorkshire as well as on or two taking the plunge and starting their own companies. The one thing they all had was a carefully prepared plan to ensure their success in a tough climate. I then canvasses local business leaders from both The Yorkshire Mafia and the Institute of Directors to get their thoughts on recruitment in 2012. I was astounded by how many of them had grown their teams in 2011 and were looking to carry on growing in 2012. Entrepreneurial spirit alive and well in Yorkshire.

Are you a reactive or a proactive job seeker?

January sees the rise of the reactive or passive job seeker. Thousands of people will upload their CV to various job boards thinking that they are being proactive. This approach to the advertised market should only be a small percentage of your job search strategy. Time is wasted having the obligatory conversations with recruiters, salary, location, notice period and then that exciting position they were recruiting for vanishes in to a black hole. The 9th of January is cited to be the day many of us break New Year’s resolutions and for many the job search will simply become a hassle.

If you are one of the people who needs to keep on job searching or you have been made redundant- ask yourself if you are as active as you think. Have your actions differed from those of the passive job seeker? Have you done more that use the internet to find your next challenge? Has your search brought you any results so far? If the answer is nothing then it’s time to go back to basics.

Step one Create a plan

What are your goals and aims? Based on your market research, does what you are looking for exist?

Put your business brain back into gear- think about your goals and what you are trying to achieve. Look at yourself objectively, what can you offer an organisation? What is it that sets you apart from other candidates? Who are your buyers? Where should your target market be?

Step Two Sell yourself

Once you have established your goals and target market tailor all of your documentation to maximise how your audience views your skill set. Does your CV sell you effectively? What does your online presence reveal to potential employers. Perception is everything and making sure you are making the right impression to secure interviews. People very rarely present themselves effectively assuming that their audience will read between the lines or they make the assumption that they “were just doing their job”. When we prepare a CV for a client they often comment that they “didn’t recognise themselves”- presenting your achievements in a clear way can greatly add to your confidence levels.

Know your market

How do you become an active job seeker? The unadvertised job market is quoted to be between 70 -80% of the job market. The unadvertised job market is not a mystery. It is easy to remove the smoke and mirrors – there are clear actions and methods to help you be one of these people that have networked or created a position. Do your research, know what is happening locally.

Network Effectively

The key to accessing the unadvertised market is networking. Are you a natural networker? Networking is not calling your closest friends and colleagues and asking them if they know of a position. Networking is a mutual exchange and not a “one hit” communication. Build time into your job search strategy to network – more importantly than that you must continue to network even when you have secured your next position. Networking should be like any other business conversation, do you research and set an agenda to ensure you keep on track.

Networking is the most difficult area for most our clients – it certainly takes most of them out of their comfort zone. It is how most clients secure their next position so the rewards outweigh the pain. In excess of 85% of our Northern clients networked their way to secure their next opportunity in 2011. It takes practice and our networking training sessions prove very popular to help people simplify this process.

Stay Positive

The job search can be one of the most negative experiences many people go through. It is all about not being right, being overqualified, too expensive, wrong sector experience. These “excuses” can be avoided by taking control and keeping to your plan. Try not to take things personally- keep your commercial brain in gear! There are jobs out there and you only need one.

THE Christmas campaign seems to be off with a greater vengeance than usual this year, perhaps the tinsel and baubles will detract from what is an otherwise seemingly grey landscape. The unemployment figures revealed this week were some of the worst yet-so how can you stay motivated if you are job searching in this current climate? The great news is there are still lots of people securing positions and creating opportunity. How can you make the most out of the Christmas period?

Christmas Jobs

Walking through a local shopping centre recently there was a large quantity of signs in windows offering positions. I thought back to the news report I’d heard about how terrible it is for job seekers and I wondered how this gap had occurred? It then led me to think about all of the opportunities that are created at this time of year. It then led me to think about how Christmas is the perfect time for jobseekers to create opportunity at a Senior level too. How market ready are you, when did you last spruce up the CV? Would you be prepared for interview if the phone rang tomorrow?

Making the most of the Festive period?

Every year the advertised job market becomes significantly quieter in December and those who have secure positions will be looking forward to a January start dates. Should you give up? December is the perfect time to plan your job search campaign, think about who would require your skill set and how should you best approach them?

Do you know your market?

When we are working we have little or no time to think about the industry we are in and the market we are targeting. The day to day tasks get in the way and we find the usual excuses of being too busy and meeting deadlines. Utilise your free time to gather all of the market intelligence you can. Knowledge is power and this ensures that you identify the people you should be talking to. There is no excuse for relying on recruitment companies to do this for you, understanding your industry or targeting new industries you are interested in, is the key to your campaign.

Christmas parties or networking opportunities

The biggest challenge for most job seekers is making themselves go out network and having business conversations with people they know. Fear sets in as we become concerned about asking our nearest and dearest for help. Are you confident that those around you understand what your role entailed, or are you simply a job title? Arm your family and friends with your elevator pitch to ensure you are maximising your opportunities. We are not asking for a position but simply to extend our network.

The festive period is the perfect time to network in a more natural way. We are usually much more social at this time of year, attending more events, parties and gatherings. Take the opportunity to talk to all of your contacts in a relaxing environment, a few moments to talk about what you are looking for and how they might be able to help. Expand your Christmas card list- there may be a few people you have let fall off the radar.

Stay Active

The world doesn’t stop turning in December, potential contacts are still ensconced in their office as are the recruiters. Take the opportunity whilst the market is quite to have some of those conversations you have been trying to have all year. Keep ahead of the game as the market will flood with passive job seekers in January- you need to be having those all important conversations now!

Enjoy yourself

Ensure you set time aside to enjoy yourself, set your list of tasks to achieve, updating the job boards, identifying target companies, chasing up recruiters and so on. Plan your activity for the New Year. Once you have ticked off all of your goals off then enjoy your sherry and mince pie. Sometimes taking a couple of days break from the job search can reenergise you.

Do remember to keep sending in your career questions.

• The UK job market was dealt another cruel blow when the unemployment figures were revealed to be at an all time high. This means that there are potentially more candidates ready to compete with you in an already flooded market. What do you do if you are one of the many who are seeking their next opportunity?

The common reaction of the average job seeker is to utilise the old job search methods including uploading CVs to various websites and job boards, trying to make contact with recruiters. Some people even give themselves the luxury of a few weeks off, time to get the list of jobs around the house ticked off one by one. However without having the routine we are used to when we are working all too easily the weeks turn in to months.

The biggest challenge many of my clients faced before they changed their approach was the day to day loneliness that comes hand in hand with the job search. Ask yourself how many hours have you spent in front of a PC without any clear direction or strategy? How frustrating is it to search for positions and find there aren’t any out there?

The question I always ask is, what would you do if this was a project you were running at work? No matter what sector you are from you would put together a plan and a framework that would ensure that the project is seen through to completion. A Sales Director is used to knocking on targeted doors, a project manager sets clear goals and objectives. Why would you treat your job search any differently? The simple answer is that most candidates are reactive in their approach rather than proactive. It’s time to take control of your job search

1. Set a clear goal

In a difficult economy making a career transition can be almost impossible meaning most people need to stay close to centre, focus on the industry they have been in and where their experience is strongest. Think about your key areas of strength, this should be the place to start. There is no point in applying for positions that you think you may be able to do. All of your tools have to be tailored towards this goal, your CV, your interview practice and your market research.

2. Prepare your job search tools

Once you have identified the market sector/ type of role you want to approach you need to devise a CV that reflects your suitability. Your CV needs to focus on your achievements, think about the skills that a potential employer would want to see from someone at your career level. Ensure that the CV sells you effectively; too many people undersell themselves hoping an employer can read between the lines. This can be a risky strategy considering that competition for positions is currently at an all time high. Your online presence also needs to reflect your status and ability, remember your presence on social media sites can make or break an application.

3. Plan your approach to the market

It is widely publicised that advertised roles only makes up 20% of the job market at a senior level. This consists of all online jobs, recruiters and the few that remain in the traditional press. The unadvertised market is created through effective networking and quality candidates having business conversations with like minded people. It is possible to create an opportunity where one didn’t exist before. How would you rate your networking strategy?

4. Practice your interview technique

Interviews are few and far between in the current job market meaning that when you secure one you have to be at your best. In a good market a candidate can expect to attend several interviews before securing their ideal position. In this market you have to make each interview count. Plan your answers in advance; what do you want to get across to the interviewer? It is still a two way process, you need to find out about the role and organisation too. Remain confident; there is nothing attractive about a candidate who seems desperate. Remember many people attend 10+ interviews before finding the right position.

5. Stay Positive

The job search is built on disappointment and rejection- be prepared to bounce back and keep bouncing back. Remove the emotion from the process-you are a product and they are buyers. Remember to take time out and relax too, all job search and no play makes it harder to remain positive and focussed.

5. Always keep your eyes on the job market

Once you have secured your new position you must remember what you have learnt on your recent job search journey. Keep networking, maintain your market intelligence and never allow yourself to coast in a position. Always plan your next move and keep one step ahead. This is not to say you always need to look outside of the organisation, you can create opportunity internally too.

• Have you ever taken a second to evaluate your job search and identify what is working and what’s not? Are you as active as you think, which have resulted in responses and which ones feel like a waste of time. What results has your job search brought so far and what were you expecting to be different? If nothing has changed since you first started job seeking then it is unlikely it will unless you do something different. Have you let yourself become side tracked because of school holidays or completing that list of household jobs?

Ask yourself

Who might be interested in you, who are your target market? What type of role do you want? You need to be clear in your goals to be able to work towards it. Are you applying for positions where you fail to meet the criteria, are you setting yourself up for needless rejection? Is the time you are spending in front of the PC producing anything other than frustration?

Get yourself market ready with a winning CV and Interview Technique

When did you last re-write your CV, not adding in a few sentences but going back to the drawing board and ensure that the document is pitching you at the right level. You would never try and secure a six figure deal with a poor quality proposal. Are you prepared to do the same with your job search?

Is the CV saying too much or too little? Many CVteam clients say they fail to recognise themselves when we create their new CV. This isn’t because anything is fabricated but they have undervalued their achievements. They honestly believed that everyone does their job in the same way and they have failed to recognise that it is the differences between you and another candidate rather than the similarities that get you hired.

Is your CV a life story, full of things interesting to you but not a potential employer? Are you telling them anything at all or is it simply a list of skills and responsibilities? Demonstrate why the person should hire you by developing quantified achievements-stand out from the crowd.

When did you last prepare for interviews? I don’t mean a cursory look at a company website or printing off a P&L, when did you really think about what you want them to understand about you. Practice answering the types of questions you may be asked. There are no excuses when it comes to being unprepared. Every time I complete the interview role play with my clients they say “I should have known that question was going to be asked”. If they had put time aside to think about it they probably would have been prepared!

Network, network, network

The key to accessing the unadvertised market is networking. we hear the term banded about but what does it actually mean? Networking is not calling your closest friends and colleagues and asking them if they know of a position. Networking is a mutual exchange and not a “one hit” communication. It takes time to build a network and you must be prepared to develop these relationships, as important, you must continue to network even when you have secured your next position. Ask your network contacts for things they can help you with, industry knowledge, additional contacts and advice. Networking is not about asking for a position.

Keep a positive attitude

The job search can be one of the most negative experiences many people go through. It is all about not being the right person, being overqualified, too expensive, wrong sector experience. These “excuses” can be avoided by taking control and keeping to a proactive plan and demonstrating why they need you... Avoid taking any of the rejections as personal and take feedback with a pinch of salt! Very few candidates receive honest constructive, feedback. Do remember never to burn your bridges; each person you meet on this journey may be able to help you in the future. There are jobs out there and you only need one.

• THERE seems to be a great deal of smoke and mirrors surrounding the unadvertised job market, statistics are banded about suggesting that anywhere between 70-80% is somehow hidden. Hundreds of my clients, over the years, have said; “I’ve never had to job search before, jobs have always found me.” If this is true, then why is it difficult for some people to believe that some jobs never make it in to the public domain? It is common place for a hiring manager to look internally first and then ask employees if they know someone who might be able to do the job. This is the common sense approach as it reduces advertising costs and cuts out the recruitment consultants. It makes perfect sense.

At the Executive end of the market it is commonplace for a new CEO or Managing Director to surround them with a team they trust. During mergers and acquisitions entire management teams can be replaced by the “trusted team”, again this makes perfect commercial sense. This type of move can often lead to people being displaced or made redundant in favour of a fresh set of eyes. We know these jobs were never advertised, there was no job spec to box tick. We can soon see how the unadvertised market takes shape and how this 80% hidden is no more than common sense.

Let’s look one step further at companies who are handling “sensitive “ situations these positions have to be kept under the radar, or perhaps they didn’t even realise they needed someone to improve things before they met you. The unadvertised market is alive and well and helping people secure their next position or contract. Do remember in difficult economical times there is no such thing as a permanent contract, simply a contract without an end date.

The unadvertised market is about leveraging your contacts and defining a proposition that employers need. Do your family and friends know what you do? It sounds a strange question we quite often know a person’s job title but are unclear as to what they do. When did you last take the time to consider your achievements? If you cannot clearly explain why a company needs someone like you, how do you expect other people to?

Q. When I was made redundant I called all of my contacts to let them know; now no one calls me back, why are they being so unhelpful?

A: This is a fairly common reaction and one that I hear more and more from people. The answer is fairly straightforward. What help were you expecting your contacts to be able to give you? Were you asking for something you realistically can expect them to fulfil? All too often job seekers go about their “networking” in entirely the wrong way. How would you feel if someone asked you for something you simply couldn’t give? Your contacts are unlikely to have a job for you at the exact time you might need one. However, they may know someone who does, IF they have a clear understanding of what you do.

Q. I know I should be networking but I find the prospect daunting, how can I get started?

Networking does not have to be hundreds of people in a room frantically swapping business cards. It can be a cup of coffee with an old contact or a pint with an ex colleague. Start with where you feel comfortable, some people prefer to do their entire networking one on one. What types of people are interesting to you at this time? Where might you find those people? Once you know where they are consider how you are going to approach them and what message you wish to deliver. Remember that a subtle message will get you further than asking for a job!

Q. All of my network contact has retired. Is there any other way?

A: Even when people retire they can be useful, their knowledge and experience is still valid and they will still know people. This is one of the common excuses I hear from job seekers who have failed to grow a sustainable list of network contacts. It is never too late to develop a network and once you realise their importance you will work hard to keep them! Your network should make it easier every single time you job search or seek a new contract. Stop making excuses and talk to people.

Q. Does networking really work?

A: The easiest thing to do here would be to throw a statistic at you; over the last 12 months 80% of my clients securing a position did so through some form of networking. It is simply about having good strong business focussed conversations with like minded people and potentially creating an opportunity for yourself. Those who are focused solely on the advertised market know that it leads to frustrations and the useless feeling of sitting in front of a computer. We need people and we need inspiration, where better than from our network contacts?

• Redundancy has become a fact of Yorkshire life recently with many of us being touched either directly or indirectly. Many more are still living under the threat of redundancy or have already had their position put at risk. It can be a traumatic time especially when it may come out of the blue. Some people have found themselves thrown in to the job search after 20 or 30 years with the same organisation.

How a company handles the redundancy process should be fairly standard and you should be informed at every different stage. The thing that some people are left unprepared for is how they are going to feel about being made redundant. So many of us are defined by the job that we do, when this is taken away we lose our sense of structure and in some case we feel we lose our sense of worth. An even greater challenges is bouncing back if the process has been handled badly. It is often impossible for people not to take the decision personally.

The job search is based on negatives rather than positives, you are under qualified or over qualified, you work in the wrong market sector, someone else was a closer fit and the list goes on. It can be difficult to get over the constant rejection that is a daily element of the job search. Here are some recently asked questions;

Q: I used to have a good relationship with recruiters, now they never call me back, what am I doing wrong?:

A: Your experience of recruiters will be different if you are an employer or a candidate. A company that served you well when you were recruiting for staff might not be the right one to find you your next position. Recruiters are sales people and their job is to find candidates that fit their clients job specification, not find you your dream job. Ask yourself the following questions;

How have you selected the recruiters you are targeting?

Is your CV pitching you at the right career level?

Are you selling yourself to the recruiter?

Does your experience fit the key job requirements?

Reduce the risk of getting rejected by not applying for things that are a vague match, ensure you make contact with the recruiter and ensure that your CV is selling you effectively.

Q: I have applied for hundreds of jobs online and I am not getting any response and I am on the verge of giving up. Is there anything else I can try?

A: Many people are unclear about how job boards (online job advertisements) work. The job board is an online version of the situations vacant column in the newspaper. Anyone can advertise a position on line, recruiters and employers place their adverts and the job board directs your application to the potential employer.

Ensuring your CV and cover letter looks professional and sells you effectively is critical. Having the right key words in your CV is also crucial to ensure that you get picked out. Many of the job boards have candidate scoring systems to see how closely you match the spec. Sometimes the sifting can happen before a human has even cast an eye on your CV.

Always keep track of the company that was advertising the position and be careful you are not applying for the same job several times. Different recruiters may advertise the same job, if in doubt try and speak to them before you apply.

Q: I’ve always been approached and have never really needed a CV. How do I know if my CV is good enough?

A: The CV has become even more important as technology has taken a bigger part in the job search process. I mentioned in an earlier answer that your CV may be scanned for key words and it has to stand out. Technology aside too many people simply add on to their CV each time they change position rather than thinking about what they are trying to achieve.

The higher up the career ladder one goes the more a CV has to demonstrate the quantified achievements within each role. The CV has to have the right level of gravitas and enable the reader to understand what you might do for their organisation. We only tend to see CVs of those in the career levels below us and have little or no understanding of what is required in an Executive level CV.

Do you have a clearly defined objective that will be easily understood by your target market?

Will the audience understand the impact you have had within your current role?

Are you confident that your skills and achievements are presented with sufficient gravitas?

Have you checked the formatting and spelling?

The simple answer to a number of these questions is that the advertised market should only make up a small percentage of your overall job search strategy. The Advertised market including recruiters, job boards and the press only accounts for around 20% of positions within the market place. These tend to be the positions we react to rather than proactively source. Focussing all of your attention on the advertised market will increase the chances of rejection and cause further frustration. Do remember to keep a positive attitude and be proactive.

Do you look for excuses not to job search or do they find you?

The nights are lighter the weather is better and suddenly a number of executive job seekers have better things to do with their time other than implement an effective job search. The garden needs sorting, no one is there over the bank holiday, the kids are off school and the list goes on. The thought of having to spend time in front of a PC sends them reeling. The period after the bank holidays is one of the most buoyant in the recruitment calendar and this is exactly why you should be making the most of this period.

The job search should be treated like a full time position, a small percentage of your time should be research on the internet, job boards a fraction of this time. The more valuable approach is to evaluate who is likely to be interested in a candidate of your calibre and prepare a target list. Who are the buyers in your marketplace, who might need you? I am not adverse to the great outdoors and making the most of the good weather by all means network on the golf course, take a wander to your local pub and get talking to potential contacts. The good weather tends to mean the opportunity to meet people increases significantly, attend all of the barbeques you normally avoid like the plague, after all you never know who you might meet.

I advocate networking to all of my clients as the most effective way of securing a new position, developing a contact list that can sustain you for the rest of your working life. Do remember that networking is a long term strategy rather than a quick win. The networking that you commence now may lead to the job you secure in 6 months or 6 years time. Many job seekers allow themselves time off before they begin their search again in earnest, perhaps not really understanding the length of time the process can take. A more fruitful approach may be to set a task list and run your networking plan alongside all of the other activities.

My most successful clients have always been the ones who establish targets and maintain them throughout the job search. When they achieve what they set out to achieve on a daily basis they can be free to pursue their own activities, as they did when they were gainfully employed. Plan job search free days in to the calendar too avoid “search fatigue”. Knowing you have done everything you needed to will enable you to free these days up and not have the nagging feeling of, I should be job searching.

There is a three month window between now and August to ensure that you are really penetrating the market. Have you filled the gap on the CV from when you were made redundant? When did you last update your CV? Were there people you meant to call but assumed they would be away for the Easter/Bank Holiday period? Break down your tasks to achieve into realistic amounts over the next 12 weeks to ensure that you are apportioning enough time to the advertised (20%) and the unadvertised (80%). Are you carrying out your job search with the same characteristics you displayed in your last position? Set yourself a plan and the results will start to snowball. After all everything gets better when the sun shines.

• CVs are often subjective with opinion split on everything from length, content even font. One of the issues that reared its head recently is whether or not to include personal interests on the CV. Is anyone interested in what you do when you are not working? Does this make it easier for a recruiter to assess cultural fit? Is it easier to see how you might fit in to a team? People on both sides of the job search were very much divided.

What is the aim of the CV?

The purpose of the CV is to demonstrate to a potential employer how you might make a positive impact on their company. Are you going to be someone who generates revenue, cuts costs, turns around underperforming teams? All too often a candidate lists all of the responsibilities they hold without thinking about what that means to the business. What skills are you selling and who might buy them?

Interests or no Interest?

This certainly proved a contentious issue when asked to a number of Yorkshire based business leaders and job seekers. Direct employers seem to lean towards adding hobbies and interests to the CV as it helped them evaluate if the person might fit in to the team. If the interests section was omitted, then it was still a key question asked at interview stage.

The clear message that came through was that even your interests are challenged by the interviewer. If you say you like reading, ensure you can talk about the last book you read, the same goes with theatre, live music and foreign languages! I have heard of candidates being asked questions in the foreign language they claimed to be fluent in, when they get to interview stage. Obviously very difficult if you simply wanted to exaggerate your interests and cannot speak a word. In the same way if a hobby is genuine shared interest of both you and the interviewer then it can help you connect on an entirely different level.

Are your interests appropriate? If you have any interests that may be politically difficult then it would be better to exclude them. However if you do not have much real experience interests can be the difference between securing an interview or not securing an interview. This is not harking back to the days of the old boys club and wondering which county you played for, it’s about demonstrating a different side to you in your CV. Non Exec Director for a charity looking for a transition is to the 3rd sector? This type of interest has to be included as it can support the goal you are trying to achieve. However a single line is enough, do remember that space is of a premium and giving the potential employer just enough so they want to meet you is the key.

Still no interest?

The CV is ship shape, it consists of two powerful pages that pitches you with the right level of gravitas. It demonstrates clearly and concisely to any potential employers exactly what return they will get on their investment. What happens if the phone is still not ringing, the interviews are not happening and there is no interest in your interests or any other element of your CV? Think about how you are trying to find your next position.

Who are you interested in working for and why would they be interested in you? Think outside the box, don’t rely on the advertised market, job boards, papers and recruiters alone. The advertised market only makes up 20% of jobs out there. The other 80% is up to you to uncover by effective networking. Networking is about being interested in people and the message they have to give. Isn’t that interesting?

• How would you rate your job search activity? My clients often come to me as they have been job searching for weeks, if not months with no results.

They may have spent time reading about what they should do, making alterations to their CV and chasing recruiters who never return calls, they get the same results from the same activity.

I always ask the question “What would you do if you were working and your project was not bringing results.” They always answer they would do something different, change the plan, take a different course, yet this is not something they implement into their job search strategy. Why is this? Invariably it’s because people don’t know what other routes they should be taking and those who do know are uncomfortable with the approaches. Are you demonstrating the behaviours an employer would look for if they were to take you on?

Is it time for you to assess your own job search? Firstly are you 100% committed to securing a new position? If you are in employment what would your ideal job look like? If you are unemployed then do you need a split strategy? Are you seeking income replacement as well as a new position? What return have you had on your job search activity so far? How many interviews have you attended? What has the feedback been? What message are you giving potential employers and network contacts? If you are answering the questions and realising that your strategy is not working then it is time to make changes.

The industry reports that 80% of jobs are unadvertised, are you only fishing in that 20% pool? What can you change to get better results. Perhaps your CV needs an objective overhaul, or your interview techniques need a polish or you simply need to do something different. Never be afraid to ask for help, ask your friends and peers for honest feedback. Think about your USPs and how you can stand out in the market place. It will always be the differences that make you stand out to a potential employer.

The most important thing is to remember you only need one job, it may be a roller coaster ride to secure it, this should make you better prepared next time. In times like these you should never stop job searching, keep an eye out for the next opportunity internally and externally. The only person who can make the change and secure that next position is you – make the changes to get the results you deserve.

There have been countless books written about how to find your next position and 1001 ways to write your CV.

Much of the advice is conflicting and the generalisations cannot take into account each individuals situation or the current economic climate. Job searching during the recession is creating many challenges to people at each stage of their career. One of the major issues faced by job seekers in Yorkshire is the time it takes from being made redundant to securing a new position.

Even in strong economic conditions it can take from several weeks to several months to find the right position at a senior level. For many people this might be one of the first times they have searched for a role at the senior and executive level.

These are a few things that job searchers need to know. You need to have a clearly defined plan of action – this needs you to take into account what you are trying to achieve and how you are going to reach that goal.

For many this is simply a case of thinking commercially and looking at themselves and their situation objectively. What product are you taking to market and what are the USP’s of this product? Ensure that you have canvassed a few objective opinions to make sure your plan is viable. Once you have a clear goal you can tailor all of your marketing documentation to give yourself the best chance of competing in the current market.

The unadvertised job market is quoted to be between 70 -80% of the job market although currently this figure may be higher with companies cutting back on advertising. The unadvertised job market is not a mystery – there are clear routes and methods to help you be one of these people that have networked into or created a position.

Not everyone is a natural networker and the thought of “asking for something” takes them out of their comfort zone. This is the first mistake most people make – networking is a mutual exchange and not a “one hit” communication. Time for networking has to be built into your job search strategy – more importantly than that you must continue to network even when you have secured your next position. Treat networking like any other business conversation, do you research and think about setting an agenda to ensure you keep on track.

The Career Practice find that their networking training is one of the most popular events as people understand the importance of doing it but don’t always have the knowhow. Encouraging clients to network with each other allows that valuable practice time before beginning to hit their own contacts.

Few people would complete a presentation without delivering a few trial runs yet not everyone takes the time out to practice their networking pitch. How might this person help you but more importantly how can you help them?

One of our clients, David an Architect was made redundant almost 12 months ago. He admitted that his strategy was all about scouring job boards and recruiters.

He had felt embarrassed about approaching key people in his network and assumed that these people would call him if they heard of a vacancy. Once he took control of his networking and started speaking to people he began having meaningful conversations which increased his confidence and his chances of securing a position.

The simple message has to be to keep thinking about what you want to achieve. This will ensure your strategy keeps you on the right path throughout your career.

Your Questions Answered

Q. I have a long career history and I find it hard to cut out irrelevant information. How can I prioritise what should be on my CV?

A. As outlined above the relevance of your experience depends upon the objective you are trying to achieve. You do not need to include detailed information on each role nor do you have to go back to every role you have ever held. Don’t allow your early career may take up valuable space if the experience was irrelevant. If the skills you want to highlight are not ones that you have gained in recent roles you can highlight them in a key skills section or use a functional style of CV to spotlight the focus areas. Identify industry buzz words and ensure they are included in your CV.

Q. I am worried that my CV is not getting the results it should and I find it difficult to find a balance between selling myself and underselling my skills.

A. Selling yourself on paper is one of the most difficult tasks. Putting together a good CV takes a lot of work. You need to identify the key achievements you have had in your career. Ensure that you are using powerful action words to best describe the impact your actions had. Each bullet point needs to be quantified so the reader can visualise the size of your achievement. Ask trusted network contacts for feedback on your CV and keep it objective.

Q. Is it ok to exaggerate the truth on my CV?

A. The simple answer is no – the CV must be factual. This does not mean that you can’t use powerful language to emphasise your skills. Your CV needs to be accurate. Organisations can and do check the facts on your CV and may terminate a contract if they discover these lies at any point.

Q. I have paid for a CV and I think it is representative of my skills but I still don’t seem to get interviews, what is going wrong?

A. The purpose of a CV is to help you get an interview. Quite often, even with very good CV’s they miss the mark because they are ‘selling’ the wrong skills. Take some time to think about the needs of the company and whether your CV describes the person the company are looking for.

Q. I have been made redundant from my last job after sixteen years and the recruiters are not interested in my CV. Why, when I have so much experience?

A. Recruiters are not interested in candidates. Companies are the customer not the candidate and recruiters spend nearly all their time attracting new clients (companies). When they discover a vacancy finding a number of candidates to put forward is easy, especially today when there are so many people out of work or looking. If you have been in your last company sixteen years you are probably not as used to job searching as someone who has changed roles more often. It sounds like you are just losing out to the competition.

Nothing strikes fear into our hearts like the word “interview”- everyone knows they have a short time to impress. The key thing to remember is that the best performer does not always secure the position – the candidate who portrays them self the best does. I asked a number of Yorkshire professionals what their worst interview experience has been.

Those who have been looking to employ staff have had some amusing and insightful experiences. Candidates have turned up with parents and girlfriends who have wanted to sit in on the interview. One common interview mistake is turning up in inappropriate clothing, unfinished suits, flip flops, shorts and less than ideal standards in personal hygiene. Give yourself the best opportunity of securing the position by dressing appropriately- this is your chance to make the right impression.

The other side of the coin is how a company can let itself down by being unprofessional or disorganised. Another issue that still raises its ugly head is people being asked inappropriate questions at interview on religion, sexuality or their likely hood to have children. One of my favourite stories is from Steve who was interviewed by a man who insisted on sitting on a raised pedestal and arranged the interview for the exact time the sun would light up his position in a transcendent glow.

A common theme seems to be Interviewers running late, forgetting candidates are attending, leaving the room without explanation and the biggest bug bear being obviously uninterested in what the candidate had to say. Andy actually had an interviewer fall asleep during his interview. How should candidates react in these types of situation? The biggest message I think anyone can take from this is if a company cannot get it right at interview stage- there is a good chance they are not the organisation for you, interviews are a two way process.

Give yourself the best opportunity to impress. The key things to remember:

Preparation – find as much information as you can on the company and the role. This will allow you to ask insightful questions and demonstrate your professionalism to the employer.

Practice – think about your skills and experience and how you can best portray these to a potential employer.

Presentation – dress smartly, even if the company has a dress down day. This is your chance to make the right impression and being well presented will increase your confidence.

Q: I attended an interview and have not heard back from the organisation or the recruiter, should I assume I have not secured the position?

A: Whenever you attend an interview you should follow up, it is a common complaint that recruiters do not provide feedback. I would try and chase this up and ask for feedback. It may be that this role has been filled but in future remember to chase things up.

Q: I always find it difficult to think of questions to ask at the end of the interview – would this be perceived as a negative?

A: You should always, always ask questions. The key to this is planning the questions in advance. It is fine to take a list of questions with you to refer to during the interview. As part of your research on the company you should identify areas you would like to know more about.

Q: I tend to ramble at interview and find it hard to keep to the point. How can I avoid this?

A: Prepare and practice! Identify the key elements of the job specification and think about how your skills match. Practice answering questions on each of these areas. There is only a finite number of questions you can be asked and investing time before the interview will increase your chances of success.

It is well publicised that between 75- 80% of the job market is hidden, which is not to say that there is a secret list of available opportunities, it just means they have not made it to the public domain.

These may be filled by people known to the business, or someone within the business. It’s well known that it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. This should not strike fear in to the hearts of those who feel “they don’t know anyone”, it simply means they need to meet more people.

Networking should form a key element of your job search strategy. Networking is not walking into a room full of strangers and showering them with business cards. Networking is about having useful business conversations, getting on the radar of influential people and keeping at the forefront of decision makers minds. The Career Practice run regular free seminars to inform people about job search strategy and take the fear out of networking. These are a great place to understand what else you could be doing to progress your job search. The following questions have all been asked at recent seminars.

Q) I have sent my CV to a number of recruiters and no one ever phones me back, Why?

The easiest answer is that a recruiter works for their client, the company who will ultimately pay the fee. In a tough market like this Recruiters are likely to be spending 95% of their time trying to secure new business rather than being interested in talking to candidates. You need to work harder to present yourself as a desirable candidate to ensure that recruiters recognise your talent. Only 1 in 10 jobs are filled by recruiters so they should only take up 10% of your time!

Q) I spend lots of time looking at job boards but when I apply for a position I don’t hear back. How can I improve the return?

The answer is to spend less time on the job boards and more time being reactive. The job boards should really be used to research who is recruiting rather than for making applications. If you apply for a role on a job board then you are relinquishing control of your search. You always want to be in control of your job search – the more time you are talking to people rather than sitting in front of your PC the better. Set up alerts on the job boards and be proactive.

Q) I have been looking for work for 18 months and have got nowhere, what am I doing wrong?

In any work situation if something was not working we would have no choice but to find another way of doing it – treat your job search like a full time position. If your strategy is not working then change it. If you don’t know how to change it then seek some guidance. If you keep repeating the same cycle it will not change and your job search will simply get more and more frustrating.

Q) My CV does not seem to be opening doors for me anymore but it has always worked in the past. What has changed?

The market has changed, there are fewer roles in the advertised market, papers and job boards and recruiters are filling less roles than they did previously. Take a look at your CV, ensure that it is selling you effectively – are you giving the right impression from your CV?

Q) My CV is getting me interviews but I just don’t seem to get to the next stage. I have always been able to secure final interviews and job offers in the past so what is going wrong this time?

The market is flooded with candidates, and looking to get worse with the public sector redundancies everyone is expecting to be announced soon. The choice companies have is greater and this might be part for the problem. You will need to be better at talking about your skills. This is a sales process and being able to sell your skills is not easy. My advice is to get some help looking at how you interview and how you come across to the interviewers.

Q) I have exhausted my network. I’ve called all the people I have kept in contact with and none of them can help but are now not returning my calls. The only thing is to continue with the internet jobs boards and recruiters.

Effective networking is all about drilling into people’s circle of influence. Asking the people you know if they know of any jobs is ineffective and unlikely to yield success. I suggest you get some networking training and plan your job search so you spend your time getting to the people who can help you.

Q, I have been trying to find a position for many months and I am now considering a change in direction. Is this possible in the current climate?

There are two schools of thought to job searching in a recession- 1) you need to stay close to centre and in a related field as this is where you will have maximum impact in the shortest time. In these times employers want people that can reduce costs and drive profit. If this is your area of expertise then you need to highlight it. 2) Change direction- redundancy can often provide the chance to try something new but you have to be sure that you are retraining or making a transition in to a market that is sustainable in this climate.

Q, I am a senior executive who has not been able to find a position at Director level should I start applying for lower level positions?

The difficulty for people who have been at a senior level is that they are deemed too experienced for lower level positions. If you start applying for these types of roles then the employer will simply think you will leave as soon as an appropriate position comes along. I would suggest that you need to change your approach and network your way into an appropriate role. Talk to decision makers who can create an opportunity for you.

Q, I am a graduate who then completed a Masters but I am now coming up against the work experience barrier, what can I do?

There are 2 things you need to do, one is start planning how you are going to secure an income. This may not be your ideal role initially however it will allow you live whilst developing a strategy to progress your career in the longer term. You can also consider intern programmes to break into your chosen market. Career planning is important at every stage of your career, ensure you do not fall into a role and then stop thinking about your next move.

Q, How do I know if my job search strategy is working?

Consider how long you have been job searching and how many business networking meetings and interviews you have had in this time. Most people attend many interviews and meetings before they secure a position. Only a small % of people at a mid to senior level secure their position through an advertised or online vacancy. You need to proportion your time accordingly – ensure you are not spending all of your time in front of a computer – set up alerts and check these for a few minutes each day. Your online time is better spent looking at news and sourcing industry information.

Q, I really hate the job I have but I am worried that this is not the time to start job seeking, should I wait until the market is better?

People are still securing positions, people still retire, go on maternity leave, emigrate and for a host of other reasons create gaps in the job market that need filling. Effective job searching does not mean putting your CV on a job board, it is identifying companies that could utilise your skill set and networking your way in. This is a long term strategy and my advice is to always be thinking about where you want to go next. This does not always mean looking outside of your current company either, internal vacancies may occur.

Q. Should I have a Social Media profile when I am job searching?

A. It’s great to have an online presence when you are job searching as long as it is one you can control. Check your privacy settings so you know who can view last weekend’s pictures. These might not put you in a good light with your potential employer. It is ok to have different sites you use for different things.

Q. I spend hours each day on Social Media sites with little return, what am I doing wrong?

A. The trick with using these sites is to limit the amount of time you spend on each one, in the same way we should limit the time we trawl the job boards. Identify the people you want to speak to and get out there and speak to them.

Q. Do people find jobs through facebook and Twitter?

A. How these different sites assist your job search will depend on where you are in your career. The ore senior you are the less likely that is to happen; however they can be utilised as part of an overall job search strategy if you are tweeting things of interest. Keep all status updates, tweets and so on positive at all times.

• Louise Lapish offers a free consultation to Executive job seekers to help them understand the rules of the job search and how to secure their next opportunity. She is Senior Consultant & Director of thecvteam.co.uk and has been in the Career Management and Recruitment Industry for more than 10 years.

If you would like to ask her a question for answer in a future column, please post a comment under this article, or email yponline@ypn.co.uk

• Email to a friend
• Print this page