Job Hunting in London

Job hunting in London may seem like a daunting task but can turn out to be a positive experience if you put your mind to it.  Below are some useful tips for finding a job in London.

Use LinkedIn

LinkedIn is like social media for professionals and many companies and recruiters use it to find prospective employees. You can also search for industry-specific vacancies via the platform, or find available positions within a specific company. You will greatly increase your chances of finding a job if you have a LinkedIn profile that lists your previous job experiences.

Even if you are fresh out of college, you can set your LinkedIn profile up to showcase any skills you may have or awards you have received throughout your academic career. If you held a part-time job while studying, add it to your profile. If you did charity work over weekends, add that as well. If you captained your school's chess team… Well, you get the point. A prospective employer will almost always look you up on LinkedIn before inviting you to an interview, so keep your profile up to date and make it look professional.

Search online

This might seem obvious, but conducting an online search for jobs in London is probably the best way of finding open vacancies in your area. Most recruitment agencies are fully operational online and allow you to filter your searches according to location, job type, level of experience, salary, and so forth. Typically, you can also create a candidate profile on their platform so that companies in search of employees can find you.

Best of all, all of this is usually 100% free! Signing up for as many job agencies as possible will increase your chances of finding a position that matches your needs. It will also allow you to stay informed on salary and benefit trends so that when the right job comes along, you know that you're getting paid what you deserve.

Build a network

Although the majority of your job hunt will probably take place online, personal relationships and contacts can still play a big role in finding a job. Employers will feel much more at ease inviting you for an interview or offering you a job if you share mutual connections. Therefore, it is extremely important to maintain good relationships with past employers and colleagues where possible.

Also, don't take family and friends for granted when it comes to job connections. Start a conversation and let people know that you are in the market for a new job - you never know, someone in your close circle might know someone, who knows someone, who is looking for new employees. Start connecting with people and maintain your past professional relationships. Networking is key to a successful job hunt.

Revisit unsuccessful applications

After an unsuccessful job application, the last thing you probably want to do is stay in touch with the person or company that rejected you. Still, maintaining contact with these employers might pay off in the long run. When you've been rejected after an interview, ask the interviewer for some constructive feedback on why your application was unsuccessful. Furthermore, ask them to keep you in mind for future vacancies and give them permission to keep/share your resume with their professional partners.

Apart from possibly receiving useful information and tips for future interviews, you will always be in the employers' records whenever a new vacancy opens up. If you've gained new experience or skills since your unsuccessful application, do not hesitate to send an updated resume and let them know that you are still interested in a position. This is another great way to network and ensure that you stay connected within the job world.

Keep working on your skills

It is easy to lose hope when a job hunt turns into a lengthy process, and waiting for responses can be a nerve-wracking experience. It is, therefore, a good idea to keep yourself busy while you are between jobs. Instead of binge-watching every series Netflix has to offer, invest in your career by improving your skills and updating your resume throughout. There are tons of free online courses available in almost every industry out there.

You can learn while you wait and make yourself even more employable in the process. If you can't find a suitable course or means to improve your skills, do charity work or enrol in a learning programme if your financial situation allows it? All of these things will look great on your resume while showing prospective employers that you are innovative and constantly improving your skills.

Whether it takes three days, months, or even more, the most important thing in finding a job in London is to not stop trying. Set up a resume, start connecting, and build on your skill set throughout. Keep your head up - your next job might be around the corner!