Who says you can’t get out of the unemployment cycle? We’ve come up with 6 tips to help you out of the unemployment cycle and back into work.
Self Assessment
This isn’t always an easy one, but it might just help you asses where it could have gone wrong in the past and how you might change things moving forward. Taking some time away from your day-to-day life can really help you think and reassess where you want to be and what you want to be doing. Think about the pros and cons of the jobs you’ve had before, this can help you realise what you want from your next job.
Change of Direction?
If you have come to the conclusion that the job you’re in is no longer for you, then you need to do some research – there are plenty of opportunities out there that might not be exactly what you did before, but lends itself well to the skills you acquired while in that position.
Here’s an example of what we mean; part of our specialist recruitment areas here at Holt is recruiting for the Automotive Industry. As a growing company, we are always looking to expand our team. Now, let’s say you happen to come from a motor trade background, you’d be exactly the sort of person we would be looking for because even though you would be working in a completely new industry (recruitment), you have a unique understanding of the Automotive Industry – transferable skills!
Rejuvenate Your CV
Sometimes something as simple as making a few basic changes can make all the difference. First up, make sure your CV is consistently up to date and your details are correct (you’d be surprised how many people get this wrong). Also, make sure what you have on there is a professional reflection of you – your email address; jsmith.bh1@gmail.com, for example, looks far more professional then jonnyjojo@gmail.com – get what we’re saying here? Next up, look at it in a bit more detail. Are you selling yourself, your skills and work experience as well as you could? Perhaps try giving a bit more detail.
Remember, your CV is an opportunity to present a picture of who you are, not only in terms of the work you’ve done in the past but also who you are as a person.
Get In Shape
Laugh if you like, but since you have time on your hands you might as well use if for some good. More importantly, doing something with your time instead of lying on the couch feeling sorry for yourself can make all the difference. It creates a sense of accomplishment, develops self-esteem and turns downtime into valuable time!
Getting in shape doesn’t have to always be physical, it can be mentally as well. So if exercise isn’t your thing you can try volunteering for example. Getting up and out there doing something constructive with your time will make you feel good and you can add it to your CV!
Considered Temp or Contract Work?
Sure you want a permanent position, but in the meantime, it might be worth considering something more short term. There are several benefits if you think about it, it will help you fill gaps in your CV. You might land a contract position at a company where something more permanent can come up in the future and, to be honest, contractors earn good money. So even though it might not be the ultimate solution, it could be a pretty solid option in the interim.
We are here to help!
It might not always feel that way, but you certainly don’t have to go at the job hunt alone. Our consultants are here to help you get the jobs that you want. They have the skills and expertise to help you prepare for the interviews, meet potential employers and really assess what jobs are best suited to your skillset.
Get in touch with our team at Holt Automotive Recruitment, or Holt Engineering Recruitment and let us help you out of the unemployment cycle and back into work.