How to find a job

If you are either unemployed, want to change jobs or you are a recent graduate, the day will come when you must ask yourself the dreaded question: How do I start to look for work? Not knowing where to start the search for new employment is a very common feeling, but nonetheless terrifying.

Although currently, there is a great range of possibilities to find work, the possibilities to find paid work are scarce due to the weak economic situation. The high rate of unemployment discourages many when it comes to looking for work, but it shouldn’t. Finding paid work may take a while but it can be done.

In the find work section of Joblers you will find a series of advice, resources and tools that will help you greatly when it comes to searching for a job. Remember that if you want to find work abroad, you can consult our special section for information on specific countries with detailed tips and advice for each destination.

How to Start Searching for Work

To find a job and not become infuriated by the process it is very important to plan and take on board the following steps below. The following plan to search for work, can help you to organise your search, and although it won’t guarantee success because securing employment depends on many factors, it will help you to address your demand for a job in a positive and organised way.

Establish your professional profile

Start by having an in-depth knowledge of the professional that you are. Make a list of all the things that you know how to do, of your experience and skills.

Also ask yourself where you are prepared to work and what geographical availability you have. For some job positions it is necessary to travel or transfer completely to another city, so bare in mind the lengths you are prepared to go to (literally!) to find work. Your geographical mindset is an indication of where you should start searching for job offers. Take into account that the more geographical availability that you have, the greater the possibility of employment.

Once you have a clear idea of your professional profile and what you can offer to companies, the next step to finding work is to analyse the labour market.

Analyse the labour market

The first thing you should check before starting an active job search is knowing what the market tendencies are, what job offers are in your sector, and what types of candidates are the most in-demand.

The current labour market is very dynamic, so you must be on the ball and understand that changes are likely to happen.

By now you will have analysed your skills and the labour market, so it is now time to be clear of your following objectives.

Take note of your aims for finding work

Write down some temporary aims, which are not true objectives. You shouldn’t write down an aim such as “find work in one week”. The selection process takes time, sometimes even months depending on the job. Your aims should be realistic and attainable.

Set aside a fixed period of time dedicated to the active job search. The better you organise your time, the better your results will be.

Write a good CV and a good cover letter

A job search process is comprised of three key elements: the CV, the cover letter and the job interview. The better your cv and cover letter, the better will be your chances of successfully overcoming the job application process and being called back for an interview.

Spending a lot of time creating your cv and carefully writing your cover letter is an essential step in the search for work. For both, you must put a lot of thought into what you want to include, what sections you are going to highlight or change depending on the particular job offer and what design you are going to use.

Be aware of all the places you can find work

When you have your cv and cover letter perfectly written, it is time to search for job offers. But where to find work? There are many places in which you can find job offers, such as newspapers, social networks, employment agencies…

Bare in mind that if you belong to a professional network then you can turn to your connections, specialised websites, or employment sites to find a job offer that suits the kind of work you are looking for.

Analyse your strategy for finding work

When a month of searching for a job has passed, you can stop and analyse what you have done. Review your aims, what you have fulfilled and what you have not. If the search for employment has not been fruitful as yet, revise your strategy, the way in which you have carried it out, and return to an analysis of the labour market.

If you see that you have fulfilled your initial aims, create some new objectives and with time review them as well.

Other options for finding work

Search for work abroad

Many people opt to search for a new job opportunity in another country. Preparing yourself for a a foreign job search requires extra planning and research, not only of the labour market in the country that you want to work in, but also of the working conditions, the culture, and the living conditions.

Consult our special section about working abroad, in which you will find all the information that you need about working and living in another country.

Entrepreneurship

Many people opt to create their own business, employing themselves and in many cases, reinventing themselves professionally. Being an entrepreneur has becomes one of the most popular options. So, if you have a business idea that you can make reality, think seriously about doing it and creating your own job.

Don’t forget that being an entrepreneur comes with risks, so be prepared when you embark on a journey to create your own business.

Back to Job Search