Now the kids are 'back to school', are you 'back to work'?

The good news is that there are literally thousands of jobs out there waiting to be filled, jobs across all industries and professions, with varying amounts of responsibilities and salaries to suit. The bad news is that this can make things very tricky when you are job hunting and trying to work out where to start. 

Engaging with a Recruiter can help to focus your search and prepare you for approaching potential employers, but even before you start talking to a recruitment partner, there are a few things you need to have a think about first:

What am I experienced in or qualified to do?
You might be contemplating re-tracing a previous career path, or maybe setting off on a new one altogether, but the important thing is to work out what experience or qualifications you have that make you the most likely person to get the job. If you want to try something completely new then consider what training may be needed, or what experience or talents you already have that you can put into practice.

If you had a career that you are considering returning to, then start thinking about what sort of position would you be willing to go back in at; what sort of salary you would want; and whether you have any old contacts that can give you insider info about opportunities.

Temp or perm...
There are benefits to both temporary and permanent work, and which one is right for you completely depends on what you are looking for in a job. If you relish routine, relative stability and long term prospects then a permanent role will fit the bill. If you are happier embracing new challenges, tasks and faces, then temp work could be perfect for you. Temp work can be well paid and fun, especially for those who are looking for flexibility.

How’s the CV looking?
It might be three pages or only a few sentences in length, but your CV is the first thing a potential employer wants to see, so it’s a must. If you haven’t got a CV or don’t think you’ve got much to put on one, then we beg to differ; it is surprising how much information you can put on a CV that is not just work-related - such as qualifications, life experience, interests and achievements.

Once your CV is up to date then you might benefit from registering it on a job board such as ‘CV Library’. These job boards will make your CV visible to potential employers and give them the facility to contact you and arrange a chat or interview if they like what they read.

Lean on the experts
Now that you have a decent CV and an idea of what role you are most suited for, then finding a trusted Recruiter who specialises in your chosen industry is a great way of exposing you to companies and jobs that you may not have been able to find by yourself. Recruiters have a number of partners that they dedicate their time to finding the perfect employees for, so you may just tick the box.

Do some research and find a Recruiter in your area who knows what they are doing, have partnered with some companies that you recognise and have lots of satisfied customers. Check out their online reviews and get a feel for how they operate, then give them a call to book in a chat. 

A good recruiter will also offer you some help with your CV and interview technique too, so make sure you utilise their extensive experience and valuable expertise in getting you successfully back into employment.