Looking for a new position, particularly if you’re still employed, can be a daunting and time-consuming task. Application to hiring is generally around a 6-week process and that’s not even including the time it takes to write your CV and refine it for each role you’re applying for. This means you are most likely additionally putting in an extra 2 – 4 hours per week completing application forms, liaising with hiring managers, interviewing and following up!

Taken into account, that’s actually a significant portion of your leisure time spent trying to find your next dream role. How disappointing then, when you’ve been for interview, they’ve offered you the job but actually, the salary or benefits or location aren’t actually quite right, and you know you have to turn it down. This is why below we’ve listed some important factors to inform a potential new employer of during the application process.

1. Why are you looking to leave your current role? This could be a few lines in a covering letter or simply stated next to the job on your CV. This will give hirers the opportunity to see if what they’re offering, will be enough to entice you away from a current position and give you the job satisfaction you’re looking for.
2. Be frank about what it is that you’re after. If you’re looking for a role which can provide you with flexibility to pick children up from school, a higher salary, a better work-life balance or clear progression routes, you could include this in a covering letter or in a brief, introductory email directly to the hiring manager when you send your application.

Doing this will enable you to have a clear understanding in your own mind of what you’re really looking for and what you’re willing to accept, meaning less leisure time wasted on meaningless applications for roles which actually, probably aren’t right and give employers full visibility of what you’re seeking and if it’s worthwhile booking you in for an interview.

Once you know exactly what you want in a new role and employer it’s important to ensure you stand out from the rest. Make sure your CV is up to date, reads well and lists duties and responsibilities from previous employment, don’t forget contact details and education too, particularly if you’re a junior candidate. Boost your application by sending an email directly to the employer, detailing why this role appeals, key skills you hold to help you excel in the position and ask for a chat to discuss in more detail. This is a discreet way to ensure your applications get noticed but can also help you build valuable relationships for future career opportunities.

Of course, the simplest way to find a new role is simply to register with JR Personnel who can do all of the hard work for you. Registration simply consists of filling in our short registration form followed by a brief video call with a recruitment consultant. If you’re interested in registering with us to hear about the roles we have available, please send your CV in to [email protected].

Writing a CV is a task I don’t think anybody truly enjoys; it can be difficult to recall all the minute details such as dates of education and employment, recalling in enough detail the duties and responsibilities of your previous job roles but not too much detail that it goes over the recommended two pages of A4 paper! As an agency we see a large array of CVs, some good, some bad and some outright bizarre. Below are some tips to help you not forget the basics, which are most often, the most important parts of making a good CV.

Location: this doesn’t need to be your address, it could be the town or county you live in, if you’re looking to work elsewhere or happy to travel to different areas daily for work, state this on your CV too.

Contact details: so many people miss off telephone numbers off their CV. Yes, an email will suffice but us recruiters and hiring managers LOVE to talk and in the modern world of recruiting, you have to move quickly so a telephone number is essential and in case you can’t answer, make sure you have a voicemail inbox!

Transport: do you drive and have your own transport? Is your driving licence free of any points? This is integral, particularly when recruiting for roles in remote locations or which require you to travel for work.

Start and end dates of employment: Particularly important if you haven’t moved around an awful lot and have stayed in positions for a significant amount of time – if you have carried out lots of temporary assignments, make sure you state that your assignments have been temporary.

If you need further help constructing a CV please feel free to call the office or email [email protected], we have several templates readily available.