Spread the word

Make sure that people know what you are aiming for, so that they will be able to connect you with job openings, refer you to someone in their network, or come to think of you when an opportunity comes up. 

Prepare your CV, cover letter and job interview

When you have come as far as actually applying for a position, you will have to write or re-write your curriculum vitae (CV), and compose a cover letter. Remember to match both the CV and cover letter to the specific position you are applying for! Try to take on the perspective of the employer – what are they looking for, what are their needs and how can you fulfill them, while, of course, being truthful and authentic.

When asking different recruiters you may get different answers on what a CV should look like and what to include. However, a few rules always apply, such as a nicely structured layout, spell-checking, up-to-date contact information and highlighting things of importance at the beginning of the CV.

You also need to prepare for a job interview. Make sure that you are well prepared for common interview questions such as: 

• Tell us about yourself.
• Why are you interested in working for us?
• Tell us about a time when you set and achieved a specific goal.
• Tell us about a challenging situation and how you solved it.
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Learn all you can about the company/organisation and position before showing up at the interview. 

Read articles about managing your career, how to write a CV and interview tips at jobs.ac.uk’s career advice section.

Behavioral interviewing is a popular approach to assess a candidate’s fit for a position, by learning how that person has handled situations in the past. Getting familiar with the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) will make you better prepared for these kinds of interview situations.

How to use the STAR interview technique in interviews (article at Indeed website)