Being unemployed is a tricky time for most and sometimes you just need pointing in the right direction. The below is a few pointers on things that you could do to prepare yourself for returning to work.
#1 Search job adverts
Fairly obvious to some but not everyone knows the best places to look for jobs. Try searching newspapers and online adverts as well as local job boards. Employers these days usually do a mixture of online advertising and advertising in the local newspapers.
#2 Update your CV
Update your CV so that you have got your latest job and any new skills or purely given it a bit of a makeover or change around. Seek advice on how best to present your CV.
#3 Get help writing a covering letter
Before applying for any roles you need a good covering letter which you can adapt to each role and make sure it is tailored specifically for an individual role. Ensure that you sell yourself early on in the covering letter as this is what will get a potential future employers attention to read on.
#4 Visit recruitment agencies
Go round your local recruitment agencies that specialise in work that you could do. Make sure you get to see a recruitment consultant and take your CV with you. Depending on the roles you are looking for, you may be required to do some tests. Use this visit as a practice interview ensuring that you sell yourself to them.
#5 Speak to the job centre
If you don’t already, make an appointment to see your local job centre and seek free advice from them in terms of what jobs they have on offer, if they can help you with any skills updates, courses, your CV and covering letter etc.
#6 Drop your CV and covering letter off at potential places of work
Get your covering letter and CV ready and drop it off at local places that you could work at, be it your local shop, restaurant, take away, bar, office etc. Make sure that you look presentable when dropping your CV off and ask for it to be given to a Manager who deal with recruitment.
#7 Get some interview advice and experience
As said previously use any opportunity you can to practice your interview skills, even if you do it in front of a friend or the mirror. Search online for any advice you can find and make notes on the best advice you find and try to put it into practice. It’s essential before going to any interview that you are prepared and feel comfortable with what you are talking about.
#8 Update your interview and work wardrobe
Another part of before going to an interview is sorting out what you can wear when you get an interview. Update your wardrobe. If you don’t have a suit and cannot afford one, try buying a shirt/blouse and a skirt/trousers and combining with a tie for male people and a cardigan or scarf for female candidates.
#9 Practice
Practice, practice, practice. There is no point going to see anyone be it a recruitment consultant to talk about opportunities or dropping your CV into a company speculatively or attending an interview. You need to know your CV and your skills inside out so that you can answer any questions that they wish to know about you.
#10 Do some voluntary work
If you can you could give your skills a boost by doing some voluntary skills then this would be very beneficial. This could be from helping out serving teas and coffees to cleaning to admin support, it will depend on the venue but worth updating your CV with new skills.
