The first decision you’ll need to make is what you’re looking for. Here are the main things you’ll need to consider before you get started:
What type of work are you looking for?
There are three main types of work to consider: temporary, contract or permanent. There are, of course, benefits to each and you might not have a preference, but your job hunting will be easier if you know what type of work you’re looking for.
You’ll also have to consider whether you’re looking for full or part time work.
Find out more about the benefits of temping, contracting and volunteering.
What are your key strengths?
Work's much more interesting when you're doing something you’re good at. Take time to think about your key skills and attributes and how you could use them at work.
Try our self assessment tools to help identify the roles best suited to you.
Where do you want to work?
Make sure you consider how you're going to get to work –there's no use applying for a job the other end of the country unless you're prepared to relocate. Think about transport links, how long you're prepared to travel to get to work and what kinds of services you'll want nearby when you get there.
Use our local jobs page to browse jobs throughout the UK.
What kind of organisation do you want to work for?
No two employers are the same and your search for work will be easier if you have a good idea of what kind of organisation you want to work for. Do you want to work for a small, local company or a multinational corporation? Would you rather work in the private or public sector? Or you might want to consider working for a charity or not-for-profit organisation.
Each kind of organisation has its own benefits and there are a number of factors to consider. Here are just a few of the questions you might want to think about to help you make your decision:
How much do you want earn?
Be realistic, but don't sell yourself short. Try and work out what salary you should be looking for and be prepared to look for jobs paying slightly below and slightly above that rate. If you're offered a job, you’ll usually have the opportunity to negotiate your salary to some extent.
Use our Salary Calculator to check out the latest market rates.
Once you've decided what you're looking for, it's time to make sure your CV's up to scratch.
