Job Search is a full time job

   

Content

Introduction

If you are unemployed or your current job is not as secure as you would like you need to approach your job search activity as if it where a full time job.

The following pages outline the advise I have been given, read or determined from the job search process over the years as a freelance contractor. Consider the job advise given here, it is free, hopefully common sense, and you don't have to sign up for any newletters or course that claims to offer a magic solution to job hunting - there isn't one.

You need to carefully consider

  • What skills and experiences do you have?
    These will forms part of your resume.

  • What you need from a job in terms of:-

    • income:
      Work out your budget by checking what you have spent over the past 12 months on food, clothes, entertainment, repairs, insurance, utilities  (water, gas, electricity) and travel costs (personal and business). These costs are met net of income tax and national insurance. Reduce expenditure as soon as you can. You may get a new job quickly, but could find that it is a long haul.

    • location:
      The travel time to work, availability of public transport and both the current costs and expected increases over the next 12 months. Can you relocate, and if you did, but the job does not work out, what are the prospects in the area?

    • role:
      What excites you about the job? What do you enjoy doing? What are you good at and comfortable at doing?

    • training:
      What skills are you lacking, or would like to gain? Can these be achieved through grants, work schemes or through voluntary work or work placement?

  • Your current finances.
    How are you going to cover your expenses? What benefits are you entitled to whilst unemployed? Make arrangements with credit card companies and mortgage lenders, now. Armed with your budget plan get agreement from your creditors to a reduce payment plan. Keep them informed, particularly if there are any changes in circumstances. It is in their interest to offer a repayment plan as the alternatives will cost them dearly in attending court.

  • If you have jointed the under-employed reading the UK document "State of the nation report: poverty, worklessness and welfare dependency in the UK" (2010) will not raise your hopes. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/410872/web-poverty-report.pdf or "Signed On, Written Off: An inquiry into welfare dependency in Britain" (May 2013) http://centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/UserStorage/pdf/Pdf%20reports/CSJ_Signed_On_Written_Off_full_report-WEB-2-%282%29.pdf

  • Links

    Career Advice and Personal Development by Open Colleges Blog http://blog.opencolleges.edu.au

    Careerealism because every job is Temporary http://www.careerealism.com covers many FAQ on the job search.

    8 Good Reasons You’re Still Unemployed http://www.careerealism.com/reasons-unemployed/#!bBJ39e

    Young And Unemployed? 3 Reasons Why You’re Not Getting Hired http://www.careerealism.com/unemployed-not-getting-hired/#608hjOQAhefkkPIV.99

    The Real Reason You’re Still Unemployed http://www.careerealism.com/unemployed-real-reason/#!bBKgln

     


 
     

 


References

Career News with past articles available online

Work / Life Balance


Last updated 27th November 2014