Getting Started with your Job Search
Category: Tips and Advice
Publish date: 09/06/2016
Beginning your job search can be a daunting process, but by approaching it with structure and organisation, you'll make the best of your time. Your job search is a project, and all projects can benefit from a clear plan. To get you started, myPlan - your personal area of the CTP website - allows you to create your own Personal Resettlement Plan (PRP) as well as produce checklists and track your progress in achieving your resettlement goals. It can be hard to look for a job at the same time as doing your current role but by setting yourself realistic goals for each week/month, you can manage your resettlement and find that perfect opportunity. MyPlan also has information on courses, workshops and briefings that can help you prepare for coming out of the military.
MyPlan also has C
areer Assessment activities. These are extremely helpful in pulling together the information about your skills. Before you go to market with employers it’s important to know what your strengths and weaknesses are – what your unique selling point is and to be clear on what you want in the next phase of your career. You can always talk these points through with your CTP Career Consultant too.
Research the job market
If you are not due to leave the Service for some time it is still a good idea to review the job opportunities on the employment market so that you can gather intelligence about what skills employers are looking for and then use this intelligence to do training to enhance your employability.
Think about when to start applying
Most employers are looking for people to start relatively soon, and usually won’t want to push the start date beyond a month from when their offer is made and accepted. Sometimes this can be negotiated for a few weeks beyond that, but it’s really unlikely that you’re going to find an employer willing to wait for months for an opening they wanted to fill now.
However, it’s not as simple as saying don’t start looking until two to three months before you will be available as sometimes the hiring processes can take a long time — often months. You could apply for a job in March and not get an offer until August. But most processes are faster — you could apply for a job in March and get an offer before April. It really depends on the individual employer. To overcome this it is a good idea to attend company presentations and live chats whilst Serving to enable you to network with these companies and ask these questions.
It’s important to find an organisation which matches your values and approach to work, because this is somewhere you will want to stay and potentially progress. Researching companies is an essential part of finding that next career and the CTP has great information on industries and some major employers who are interested in your skills and experience. The CTP website has
Industry Sector Guides as well as articles about companies and current opportunities, along with
designated company pages to help you research and prepare your targeted application.
Get networking
Networking is an essential part of finding a job. You will have many friends and colleagues working outside of the military and they are all part of your network to help you successfully transition in to civilian life. By letting them know what you are looking for in your next job they may be able to offer advice, contacts or even introduce you to a prospective employer.
Use CTP RightJob; our online job finding site with thousands of live vacancies specifically for ex-Forces personnel
Along with the wealth of online job sites available, ensure
CTP RightJob is part of your job search: login regularly to view opportunities advertised by employers specifically seeking the skills and experience offered by ex-military personnel. Plus, ensure your profile is correctly filled out and up-to-date to ensure you don’t miss out on tailored notifications to match your requirements.
Good luck with your job hunting and remember you are not alone; CTP is here to support you.