Becoming a successful jobseeker

When you have to move from full time employment to becoming a successful jobseeker, it can be difficult to know how to deal with the change. At Renovo, we encourage our clients to think more positively about redundancy and to look upon it as an opportunity, rather than a step backward.

Every jobseeker comes from a different background, armed with varied qualifications, experience and goals. Here at Renovo, we’ve helped more than 35,000 individuals through career transitions and back into work. These jobseekers range from executives to managers to those in entry-level positions. We have experience in assisting all types of jobseeker with their journey back into work – into a role that they’re suited to, that fits their career plan and that they enjoy. If your job search is wavering, perhaps a change in approach and attitude could bring you the results you’re after? In this article, our career coaches explore the traits that they commonly recognise in the most successful jobseekers. How many of these traits do you possess?

#1: Clarity and focus

Jobseekers with clear goals and defined career plans are much more likely to succeed than those with no plans at all.

All too often, those who have been made redundant immediately look to find a similar job elsewhere, but why not take a step back and consider whether the job you were in before is really what you want? If you are unclear which direction to take, or whether you are looking for a career change, it’s advisable to spend time on a personal self-assessment. Give yourself time to understand where to go from here. What is your long term goal, how will you achieve it? Assess your skills and experience and consider the environments and roles you would consider working in. What values are important to you, what are your priorities and what are your genuine interests?

Clarity is an important trait in jobseekers, as it enables a more targeted job search. Career coaches and recruiters are also given more to work with if they know precisely what the jobseeker wants to pursue. Even if you don’t have a career coach to help you out, knowing your aspirations is the first step towards identifying how you’re going to reach them – and what’s standing in your way. Maintaining this focus throughout the entire process is also important.

#2: Positivity

Unemployment is a daunting prospect and individuals who have been made redundant often go through a range of emotions including shock, anger and disbelief. However, if you allow yourself to harbour a negative attitude during this time, it will adversely affect your job search. As hard as it might be to feel optimistic at this point in time, it is important maintain positivity throughout every aspect of job seeking – when making applications, when attending interviews, and when setting your goals. If you give up, you’ll never find a job that you’ll be happy with. Remember that first impressions count and employers will look upon a positive and enthusiastic candidate much more favourably than a downtrodden candidate with no energy.

#3: Motivated

A successful jobseeker needs to actively seek out opportunities, not just through trawling through online job boards, but by utilising a variety of methods including contacting friends, colleagues and calling upon their professional network as well as by making direct approaches to target organisations. Hard working, motivated candidates will spend several hours a day finding potential opportunities, completing applications and cover letters, and maintaining an ongoing dialogue with recruiters and employers. Taking a committed, productive and proactive approach to the job search process will give you more of a chance of making it to more interviews and having the opportunity to really sell yourself to potential employers.

#4: Adaptable

The current job market is fiercely competitive. It’s particularly daunting to those who have not had to look for work in the new digital age, or with so few opportunities and so much competition. Our career coaches are used to providing constructive feedback to jobseekers. This may be a critique of their CV, LinkedIn profile or a realistic analysis of opportunities available to them with their current skillset. A successful jobseeker is willing to take advice and feedback and act upon it. They will be open to trying to a new approach, embrace new technology or to step outside their comfort zone. Candidates need to stand out in the overcrowded job market and only those willing to adapt and improve will survive.

#5: Prepared (and ready to secure the role!)

It’s no good finding the ideal role and then failing to even make it to interview. We spend a lot of our time with our clients perfecting their CV so they have a better chance of making the shortlist. Making an impact at interview is crucial and we work hard to help our clients prepare for each opportunity.

A successful jobseeker has done their homework on the organisation, the key staff, their business plans and know the role outline and person specification inside out. They have considered the questions they might be asked and have practised their responses (out loud). They know what they want to ask the interviewer and feel confidently prepared before they set a foot in the door.

Being able to sell yourself effectively is a skill in its own right. It requires confidence and self assurance. If you have fully prepared in advance, you will automatically feel more confident and in control and you will then have more chance of standing out at interview and going forward to the next round or to secure the role.

Taking the time to adequately prepare and practice before the interview really does make a difference. As the old adage goes, fail to prepare and prepare to fail.