Searching for job vacancies

There are plenty of jobs out there, but it involves research and good planning if you want to find the perfect job that will be well suited for you.

Looking for a job can be a bit over-whelming therefore it needs some careful preparation

Here are some tips:

Getting Started

Before properly getting into your search, make sure you have prepared a CV which will show off your skills and capabilities. If you are having trouble, don't be afraid to ask someone for some advice.
Before starting your job search think about the skills and work experience you already have and think about the jobs you may like to do. Think of skills that you may have gained such as:

• Have you worked as part of a team?
• Are you a good timekeeper?
• Do you have good IT skills?
• Are you good at following instructions?
• What qualifications have you got?

Looking for a job can be a bit over-whelming therefore it needs some careful preparation.

Where to look?

As there are so many different places to look for work, actually getting started and working out where you should look can get confusing. Here are a few suggestions:

• Jobcentre Plus- They have plenty of services designed to help school leavers. The job centre can also help you find a job, help you improve or update skills and offer advice and support.
   
• Recruitment Agencies - There are plenty of recruitment agencies across the UK whose job is to find you a job in a field that you're interested in. To register with a recruitment agency, you will usually have to visit the branch and see a recruitment consultant for a brief meeting, where you will tell them what you are looking for. Once you are registered don't forget to keep in contact with your consultant so that you can find out about new jobs.
   
• Newspapers - Job adverts are posted every day. Local newspapers are a great starting point and tend to list many entry level positions. Papers advertise jobs for different industries on specific days.
   
• Websites - Online searches have become an increasingly effective way to find jobs. There are plenty of job sites that offer thousands of jobs and allow you to search by area or even salary.
   
• Network- This is one of the most powerful tools for finding jobs. If you show people an interest in what you want to do then they may just be able to recommend you some places.
   
• Social Networks - Social networking has become very popular and many employers have now started using sites such as Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter as part of their recruitment processes.

It's important to be very organised when job hunting, as it can get very confusing so make sure you keep track of your progress and remember which companies you have approached and what responses you have received.