Getting a job

What To Do...

• Tell your Connexions Personal Adviser that you want to apply for jobs and register for vacancies placed with Connexions. Ask for a copy of Connexions ‘A Guide to Job-hunting’. 
• Remember to check for jobs on a regular basis. If there are certain companies you are really interested in, write to them asking for information on vacancies they might have.  
• Have a back up plan in case you are unsuccessful in getting a job.

Job hunting plan of action

If you're still at school, you can start preparing the 'Tools of the Trade' before Christmas of the year before you leave school.

These are your Record of Achievement or Progress File, CV and application letters.

Complete your Record of Achievement or Progress File

Include qualifications, certificates, evidence of awards e.g. Duke of Edinburgh, ASDAN Award Scheme.

Complete your personal statement. 

Produce an up-to-date CV

• CV is short for curriculum vitae.  
• This will be your chance to tell employers about yourself. 
• The purpose of a CV is to get you an interview.  
• Many companies now ask you to apply for jobs by sending in your CV.
• It is also useful for speculative job applications (see below).

Draft letters of application / CV covering letters

You will need to prepare two basic letters. 

The first is a general letter to send with your CV when replying to a job advertisement. 

The second is for speculative job applications.  A speculative application is when you contact a company to ask if they have a vacancy for the type of work you want to do.

Once you have these two types of letters ready, you can change the details depending on what you are applying for. 

Build up a list of potential employers

• Collect job adverts that you find interesting;
• Use business directories such as Yellow Pages or Thompson Local Directory to find possible companies;
• Use the internet to search for information on employers; and
• Look through the Job Book (available at all of our Connexions Centres)

Start applying for jobs

• Reply to specific job adverts
• Send speculative letters
• Call in or telephone employers
• Register with Connexions and employment agencies.
• Search on company and employment agency websites. 

Keep a record of your job hunting activity including feedback and questions

Keep a list of companies you’ve sent your CV to and a list of jobs you’ve applied for.  Keep copies of completed application forms.

Write down your own thoughts about any interviews you have and ask for feedback from the employer.

Put together a list of interview questions and possible answers you could give.   

Keep active

You could consider voluntary work or short courses while you are job hunting.