Finding a job can be difficult. Whether this is your first job search or your fifteenth, there are still new things to learn, new techniques to adopt, and new tools to use. The average person changes roles between 10 and 15 times over the course of their career, so even if you’re not looking for a job right now, chances are you soon will be.

 

Here Are Five Ways To Boost Your Job Search:

1. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is vital for modern job searching. A professional social network, LinkedIn allows you to make connections with other people in your industry. It allows you to create a profile which can act as a digital version of your CV. It shows a timeline of your career, what skills you have, and what projects you’ve been involved with. It also lets you search and apply for new positions and roles quickly: there are 11 million jobs posted on LinkedIn, which is incredibly helpful when searching for jobs in your specific sector. If you keep your profile up to date, you are 18 times more likely to be contacted by a recruiter on LinkedIn. If you don’t have an account, set one up today.

 

2. Professional Networks and Networking Events

Second on the list of five things that can help you get a job are professional networks. LinkedIn is a great example of a digital network, but don’t neglect your networks in the real world. Creating and maintaining links between colleagues and business contacts allows you to cultivate a rich group of people who can help you in your job search. This network also expands your understanding of your role, and of your position in the overall business landscape.

Beyond that, an endorsement goes a long way, and the right word from the right person will open doors for you. Networking events let you meet people you might otherwise never have met, so take advantage of them.

 

3. Friends

Your friends are another example of a network, and one that you’ve been building for years. Similarly to your professional colleagues, your friends will know of opportunities you might never hear of otherwise, and they’ll want to help you in your search.

Ask your friends to keep an ear out for any jobs or positions that might be of interest to you. You can also use them to practice interviews with, check your CV, and to keep you motivated with your job search. The phenomenal reach or a friendship group and quick access to further connections make your circle of friends one of the best things that can help you get a job.

How to Find a Job

 

4. Use A Recruitment Agency

Using a recruitment agency is one of the fastest, easiest ways to find a job you love. Having a dedicated expert in your sector working with you means that they understand what you’re looking for. Working with a specialist recruiter means you’ll be more likely to get ahead, being championed by someone who already has relationships with top employers in your field. Recruiting is on the rise, with over a thousand new agencies starting up in 2017 alone. More and more companies are outsourcing recruitment to these agencies, so you should take advantage of them.

 

5. A Professional Appearance

Last on the list of five things that can help you get a job (but not least!) is taking the time to cultivate a professional appearance. Your appearance can make the difference between getting a job and getting a rejection. Employers cannot legally discriminate against protected characteristics such as gender, race, religion and disability, but many employers will automatically judge someone wearing casual clothes to an interview or turning up to an event with an untidy appearance. Whether it’s at an interview or a networking event, a tidy, professional appearance communicates who you are, as well as your personal style.

 

For more information on how to get a job, check out words you need to be using in your CV, and these soft skills that will help you get a job.