6 Steps To Ensure A Successful Job Search After Losing Your Job
Normally starting a job search is something you should want to do not have to. But, the world we live in is anything but ideal so you cannot always start a job search because you want to.
So what do you do when you have lost your job and are forced to start looking for a new job? How do you ensure that your job search is successful and it doesn’t take too long to find a job?
Here are some useful steps to a successful job search after losing your job
1. Take a few days to think about your career path
Most people make the mistake of starting to apply for jobs immediately after losing their job. Unless you are 100 percent sure the career you are on is what you want to do for years to come, it is better to wait before you start applying for other jobs.
Before you start sending in your application, it is important that you take a few days to reflect and decide which career path you want to follow.
A career coach can also help guide you if you have no idea where to start. They will help you figure out what it is you truly want and give you tips on how to achieve it.
After you have decided what you want to do and where your career is headed then you can focus the job search process in terms of the positions to apply for and at what organisations.
2. Update your CV
When was the last time you used your CV? Because you have been working in the same organisation for a while you probably never felt the need to update your CV. It is important you focus on this now before you start your job search.
In order to apply for new positions your CV must be up to date and relevant. CV’s are very important when you are applying for a job. It is what determines whether you get shortlisted for an interview or not.
Because it is how you introduce yourself to the hiring manager, it is important that you put your best foot forward, you need to have a CV that showcases all your capabilities and looks professional. If you have no idea how to go about achieving this, you can get help from a professional CV writer.
3. Fix your LinkedIn profile
If you do not have one then this is the time to get a LinkedIn profile. Nowadays, most organisations are looking for candidates through LinkedIn. Having a profile then makes you visible to potential employers and increases your chance of getting a job.
How your LinkedIn profile looks is very important because potential employers will judge you according to what they see. Your profile should sell your skills to all potential employers in order to better your chances of landing the job.
4. Start looking for Jobs
After doing all the above, then you can start actively looking for open positions in your field of interest.
This is where you check what positions interest you and which ones you are qualified for without necessarily applying for any of them.
This will be a great opportunity for you to get a feel of what is out there and who is hiring in order to know how to go about applying.
5. Contact your networks
After you have figured out who is hiring for which positions, then it is time to reach out to the networks you made.
For example if you know an employee of a certain company that is hiring you can reach out to them and inform them of your plans to apply for the position.
This will better your chances because the person might recommend you to the relevant people and land you an interview in the process.
This is the time for you to take out your contact book and start chatting up your networks or start making new ones.
6. Apply
After ensuring that your CV is well written , your Linked profile is on point and you have done enough research on the position, you can go ahead and apply for the jobs you want.
All in all you should embrace this new chapter in your life and see this as an opportunity to better yourself. Just because you lost your job doesn’t mean you will never find another one. It is also important to remember that job search can take time and you should not give up if it doesn’t work out immediately.
