Job hunting is almost a job in itself and even since the internet, where everything is faster and can be send out in the click of a mouse click, job hunting takes time and should be considered with lots of care.
Today, there are many different ways to look for a new job but each way should be considered carefully and sufficient time allocated. Never forget that when you send out a CV and/or a cover letter, it is an individual who will receive and examine it, not a machine and consequently the care you put into these 2 documents will be fundamental.
First step when job hunting is to have a proper CV, it should have immediate impact and be mistake free. If you are not too sure how to write a good CV, it is best to turn to a professional CV writer who can help you. It may sometimes be seen as an unnecessary expense but I can guarantee that the return on investment will be high if you get the right job!
Once you have your CV ready, make sure that you have a good cover letter too. The cover letter is usually the first contact between the employer and you and particular attention is paid by the recruiter to what you have been doing and why are you an interesting candidate.
Armed with these 2 fundamental documents, make sure you have a clear idea of the type of role you are looking for and the reasons behind your choice. You may be interested in different positions but make sure that you are not going in too many directions or you will not appear convincing enough during the interview stage.
List the types and potentially the names of organisations that have the type of role you are looking for or where you would be happy to work (for example, multinational organisation, specific industry related to specific interest and/or experience, etc.). Search their website where you can also usually apply for jobs and if nothing fits your profile, you can surely leave your CV as spontaneous application. If there is no option to send your CV by email, ring the company reception and find out to whom you should send your CV (HR Director, Managing Director, etc.).
Use your network to learn about new opportunities within different companies as you stand a better chance to be recommended for a position by an ex-colleague or ex-manager and competition may be limited if your application arrives before the position has been advertised. Networking is a very powerful tool in the job hunting process and is too often neglected. Write down a list of people you know, where they work and give them a ring to find out what it is like to work in their organisation.
The internet is obviously a very good tool to use to hunt for the right job. You have lots of websites advertising a wide range of jobs and browsing the web will help you find quite a few. You can leave your CV online and send it to several different positions.
Last but not least, do not neglect more traditional channels such as newspapers, specialised magazines and employment agencies where you can find a wide range of jobs advertised.
Note: this article is mostly applicable to junior up to senior manager positions. For executives positions, please refer to the executive job hunting article that will illustrate slightly different strategies.
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