What type of job hunter are you?
How do you go about searching for your next job? We asked subscribers to The Appointment and users of InRetail.co.uk what methods they used when looking to change roles and the results turned up 10 different types of jobseekers.
Have a look and decide which of these types fits you best, then vote here!
A Jolly Job-Boarder?
Do you want to be able to quickly and easily see what jobs are in your industry in terms of location and salary? Big job boards can be useful; overall you're likely to find many more jobs in total on a generic board than on a niche site. However, unless you want to switch industries, a specialist job board will often be the most efficient course of action in terms of time and effort.
A Google Geek?
Do you want to see every option available to you before diving straight in? With an almost constant stream of new job boards appearing all over the internet, the question of where to start can actually be quite a bewildering one, so search engines can be a useful way to get started, armed with a few choice search phrases such as 'retail manager jobs' or even more specifically 'International Retail Buyer'.
A Brand Bloodhound?
Do you know exactly which company or companies you want to work for? If so, it's often worth checking out the company's own website, but bear in mind that they may not have a vacancy that is right for you for quite some time so you will have to check back regularly if you're adamant about working there.
A Social Media Butterfly?
Do you live on Twitter? Is your Facebook timeline filled to the brim?
Social media is fast becoming a great tool for recruitment, so you may want to get on board. Of the 'big three', however, LinkedIn seems to the most obvious fit for a career search. However, Twitter is increasingly becoming a useful tool for recruiters who are seeking candidates for a specialised role, perhaps one where people don't traditionally have time to sit down at a computer and conduct a wide-ranging job hunt, such as chefs.
Strictly Classified?
Do you want to step outside the conventional recruiting channels? You could try online or offline classified ads. In general, we would advise against using sites such as these to look for your next career move. Not only can they be time consuming to search, but most reputable companies will prefer to use either their own site or a job board in order to target their advert to relevant candidates and so won't generally choose these sites. Having said this, independent companies or recruitment consultancies do tend to use these sites, so feel free to have a look.
A Little Black Book-er?
Is your address book filled with great contacts? Growing your network online, as well as attending physical events relevant to your industry and keeping in touch with people you meet will give you the best chance possible to hear about specialist or highly desirable jobs that may not appear in any of the usual channels. Build your contacts and keep in touch; you don't know when you might need to call on them!
A Self-Starter?
Are you keen as mustard to move on? Sending a speculative or unsolicited application may be regarded as a time-consuming and haphazard method of job hunting but if you're serious about securing a specific job and have a company in mind, there is no reason why you shouldn't try your luck.
A Delegator?
Do you want to rely on expert recruiters to do the hard work for you, leaving you to concentrate on the more important things, like preparing for interviews? There is no question that you are considerably more likely to obtain your job through a recruitment firm. In fact, if you are thinking of putting yourself on the market you would be almost insane not to engage with at least one or two agencies. For more information, check out the recruitment directory on www.theappointment.co.uk
Keen to be seen?
Do you have excellent personal skills and really shine in face-to-face meetings? There is a lot to be said about careers events, trade shows and other expos where you can meet potential employers directly. One such event is Career Forums, held at the Marriott Hotel in London for two days from January 31st.
The Passive Massive?
You may not be looking for a job right now, but if you were flicking through the paper on your daily commute and happened to see a great job, would you go for it?
A large proportion of people out there aren't actively looking for jobs, but would consider applying if the right role caught their eye. This is why a lot of companies like to advertise in traditional print media. Sometimes this will mean national press such as newspapers or it may mean trade journals, which are specifically to a particular industry.
