Job hunting can take up a lot of time, from deciding which opportunities suit you best, preparing your CV and then interviewing, it’s understandable that people use phrases like, “job hunting is a job in itself”! The good news is that by getting organised and having a plan, you can make the task feel less daunting.

Read on for our thoughts on how to launch your job search strategy this summer…

1. Having the right mindset

Job hunting begins with your mindset, as having the right attitude towards the process will help you approach the process with resilience. Job hunting does take time, so don’t beat yourself up if you don’t secure your ideal role quickly – be prepared to keep the job search going and look for the right opportunity for you. You can also book an appointment with LSE Careers and talk to a careers consultant if you’re finding job hunting challenging and need any support.

2. What are you looking for?

When you’re on a mission to get a job, it can feel tempting to just apply for lots of roles but it’s important to put time into each application.

Start by reflecting on:  What are you interested in? What are you most passionate about? What skills do you have and also enjoy using? What kind of work environment do you want to be in?

The more thought you give to this part of the process, the more likely you are to enjoy success in your next role. Keep a note of your reflections. You can also check out LSE Careers’ planning tools to help with this part of the process.

3. Know your chosen sector

Once you have an idea or two in mind, get to know as much as possible about the sector. What kind of roles exist that match your skills? Which organisations and employers impress you? Get to know sector trends and look at job adverts, this gives you an idea of what employers are looking for. It will also help you understand how the organisation recruits and the timeline they are working to – all sectors vary so this is an important part of the process. Resources like Prospects and Vault offer great guides to industries.

4. Making connections

A lot of students and graduates find speaking with others already working in their chosen field really helpful. Chatting to others already working in roles offers insight and can also lead to opportunities. Use LinkedIn or LSE’s Ask an Alum tool to reach out and ask questions. Informational interviewing, as it is known, means you get to ask open questions that give you the information you need to help know if it’s the right role or sector for you. You can check out our guide to informational interviewing to understand how to make the most of it.

5. A good toolkit is important

Getting your CV ready and keeping it updated, along with building your knowledge of what makes a good cover letter, will put you in a stronger position. As we mentioned earlier, job hunting isn’t simply about volume of applications! It’s important to tailor your CV and cover letter. Yes, that does take time, but it’s worth it. You can create a master copy that you keep safe and work from each time. CareerSet can be a good place to start when it comes to checking how clear and effective your CV might be.

6. Skills, skills, skills!

In putting your CV together and looking at job adverts, perhaps even getting started with applying straight away, it can often highlight a skills gap. Doing a skills audit is a great way to check how you match up to job descriptions – after all, the more you match the criteria the employer is looking for, the more likely you are to be called for an interview! If you spot any gaps, think about ways you might be able to address these. There are plenty of ways to upskill.

7. Talking tactics

There are different ways to find roles and apply for them. Most people know about looking for advertised roles and this is always a good starting point.  But it’s important to use a range of different approaches to maximise your access to opportunities and chances of success. We talked earlier about getting to know the sector and this is really valuable when it comes to applying for roles – how do your preferred organisations recruit? Company websites, jobs boards, specialists sites and LinkedIn, are some ways to find openings. Could a direct or speculative approach be helpful? This links us back to the value of making connections, as you might be able to reach out to a contact directly.

8. Tidy up your social media

Ensuring all your social media accounts are free of anything controversial is important, as we know employers check these! LinkedIn is the platform most associated with job hunting and it’s a good idea to check your profile is clear and professional. Is it clear to potential employers what your areas of expertise are and what skills you’re offering?

9. An interview is on the horizon

It can be hard job hunting, when you’re waiting to hear on an application and you don’t know what exactly is around the corner and when! Have faith that an interview will be on the horizon. With this in mind, understanding the interview process and preparing will put you in a stronger position when the time comes. LSE Careers has a range of useful resources to help you prepare.

10. Be organised

The final tip is perhaps the most important of all. As we’ve said, it can take time to job hunt and reach your end of goal of securing a role. In the process, it will help to keep track of your applications, companies you are interested in, and who are you applying to. Having a spreadsheet of the roles and upcoming deadlines, for example, can help you keep on top of things, especially if you’re being called by recruiters! Being organised can also mean using your time well, you can’t job hunt 24/7. Look at the time you have and dedicate a specific amount of time each week to job searching and applying. This will help you make the most of your time and allow for the other important things in life. Ultimately, maintaining a balance will also help your wellbeing and resilience.

Explore what else is coming up as part of our summer offer – Your future. Your way.