1. Introduction
So, you have decided that it is time for a move, or perhaps you are just taking your first step on the career ladder. In either case, finding your next position can, at first glance, appear a daunting task. Fortunately, as this article is designed to demonstrate, with some planning and by making full use of the options available you should be able to quickly and effectively create an efficient and effective job search strategy.
The job market is continually evolving and similarly, the way in which vacancies are advertised and filled has also changed markedly over the past few years. Innovations such as the internet have made access to virtually any kind of information more straight forward…and information on available positions is no exception. By exploiting online information and a variety of more traditional job seeking methods, finding your next position may well be more straight forward than you had imagined.
2. Internet
As you are reading this article online, the chances are that you have already at least started to discover the many job related sites that the internet offers. Online recruitment is big business and there are many websites offering vacancy listings and information for job seekers. For both employers and potential employees, the internet offers several key advantages, notably speed of communication and cost effectiveness. Advertising costs are generally a fraction of those in traditional printed media, while vacancies can be posted, viewed and applied for in a matter of minutes.
Naturally, Monster.co.uk is an excellent start, but a few minutes exploration with an internet search engine and keywords that match your field of interest and location should unearth further relevant web addresses. As well as listing current vacancies, many sites also allow you to register your CV online and can be set up to e-mail you details of new opportunities that are relevant to you. Such features can save hours of searching and ensure that you are informed of the opportunities that will interest you as soon as they are posted.
As well as recruitment sites such as Monster, recruitment companies will also invariably have their own sites, listing the opportunities that they are currently handling, while increasingly individual companies and organisations will use their own corporate websites to list vacancies that they are seeking to fill.
In short, virtually all of the information that you could require on current job opportunities is probably online. The key is to identify the sites that are most relevant to you, make sure that you check them regularly and to make use of the full range of online recruitment facilities (such as e-mail alert services) that are on offer.
3. Recruitment Companies
Recruitment companies or agencies offer another valuable approach to anyone actively seeking their next move. Generally employers will use a recruitment company to save them the difficulty and time involved in recruiting staff themselves. A good recruitment company will work with their client to gain a sound understanding of their operation and requirements, employing consultants who have an excellent market knowledge and access to relevant candidates. This may be via a corporate database, networking, their own advertising or a targeted search and should allow them to quickly supply suitable candidates that match an employers requirements.
For job seekers, registering with a reputable recruitment company should give you access to suitable positions, some of which may not be advertised elsewhere. Although the market can appear crowded, talking to a recruitment organisation should allow you to quickly ascertain whether they have a track record and consultants that focus on the Scientific marketplace. It is critical that you feel that the company is working with you, is knowledgeable about their market and is prepared to take the time to understand your skills and requirements. Also check that they will always brief you on any vacancy before submitting your details, something that any reputable recruitment organisation will do as a matter of course. Having your CV arrive twice at a company that you have no knowledge of is something definitely to be avoided. However, working with a reputable company and recruitment consultant that you can trust, should be an integral part of any comprehensive job search.
4. Media
Although partly eclipsed by the growth of internet advertising, traditional media advertising remains an important source of information on job opportunities. Companies will often use an ad in a newspaper or trade publication to boost their profile as well as source suitable candidates and it certainly pays to keep an eye on the press. In Scotland, the Friday recruitment sections of the Herald and Scotsman remain the premier printed source of positions, while Nature and New Scientist offer comprehensive national scientific recruitment sections. In addition, more specific roles are often advertised in relevant journals associated with a particular institute or professional body.
Your own background and area of interest will determine which publications are most relevant to you, but again some research at the onset of your job search and ensuring that you check new issues regularly will make sure that you do not miss any positions that match your requirements.
5. Networking
Few things are as important as a job search as who you know, or even who the people who you know know. Colleagues, former colleagues, staff from your university, friends that you may have in the industry….all are potential sources of information on positions that are available, or equally importantly that may be coming up.
Hiring staff can be a time consuming, expensive business and few employers will turn down the opportunity to consider someone who is recommended to them by a colleague or friend that they trust. As someone who is looking for a new position, one of the most effective strategies available is to use the people that you know, who may well be able to help. Naturally, discretion should be applied, but careful enquiries to people involved in relevant areas, may well pay dividends.
6. It's up to you.
Finding your next position can appear a daunting prospect, but some background research, planning and effective use of the resources that are available should lead to positive results…..the very best of luck in your job search!
