Top Ten Job Hunting Tips

Tip 1 -  Think about your key strengths
Work's much more interesting when you're doing something you’re good at. Take time to think about your key skills and attributes and how you could use them at work.

Tip 2 – Decide what kind of job to look for
The first decision you’ll need to make is what you’re looking for. What type of work are you looking for? It's a good idea to consider whether you’re looking for full or part time work.  

Tip 3 - Get your Curriculum Vitae right
Your CV is the first step in marketing yourself to potential employers. Many companies receive lots of applications, so it is vital that yours stands out from the crowd.
-Keep it short and simple
-Tailor your CV to the job
-Write about your achievements
-Sell yourself, but be honest and factual
-Never send a CV without checking spelling and grammar.

Tip 4 - Increase your Information Technology (IT) skills
IT skills are important in most jobs these days. Word, Excel and PowerPoint still dominate. Being able to use these skills gives you an advantage. They can be straightforward to learn and become good at. Internet and website skills continue to grow in importance. The ability to use the web to access information is vital.

Tip 5 - Practice your communication skills
Employers note that good written English, a positive attitude and good common sense all contribute to being a good employee.

Tip 6 - Think about what kind of organisation you would like to work for
Your search for work will be easier if you have an idea of what kind of organisation you want to work for. Do you want to work for a small, local company or a multinational corporation? Would you rather work in the private or public/non-for-profit sector?

Here are a few questions to help you make your decision:
-What will the prospects for career progression be like?
-What training will offered?
-If it's a large organisation, will I have the opportunity to shine?

Tip 7 - Think about how much do you want earn
Be realistic, but don't sell yourself short. Try and work out what salary you should be looking for and be prepared to look for jobs paying slightly below and slightly above that rate. If you're offered a job, you’ll usually have the opportunity to negotiate your salary to some extent.

Tip 8 - Think about where you want to work
Make sure you consider how you're going to get to work –there's no use applying for a job the other end of the country unless you're prepared to relocate. Think about transport links, how long you're prepared to travel to get to work and what kinds of services you'll want nearby when you get there. 

Tip 9 - Practice your interview technique
Think about: before the interview, the day of the interview, the interview itself, and potential questions to ask the interviewer.

Tip 10 - Be aware of the "hidden market"
A lot of vacancies available aren't advertised. Approaching companies directly can often mean that your odds of gettng the job you want can be dramatically increased.