Advertising

Advertising, search firms, social media and of course, your own networks are all sources of potential opportunities. It’s important that in your job search you cover as many options as possible. Seek.co.nz, trademe.co.nz/jobs and LinkedIn are still the main online sites to find job opportunities. Public sector roles can be found at jobs.govt.nz, and professional websites may also feature specialist roles. We’ve all read the ideal people descriptors employers use: expert in advocacy, excellent communicator, experienced leader, but you may still wonder what sort of person they actually want.

Ideally, a job advertisement should outline both the specific skills and experience a person needs, as well as information about the purpose of the role. There will often be a link to a full position description and the organisation’s website. LinkedIn can also be a good source of information about the organisation and the people who work there. If the description is not clear, contact key people listed on the advertisement. Be prepared with specific questions rather than launching into a ‘spiel’ about your suitability. If you have not received any communication within a week from a closing date don’t be afraid to contact the recruitment consultant for an update.

Networking 

Until you ask, people may not realise that you are looking for a new role and you may need advice, support, an introduction to others, or that they have information that could be useful to you. Get your network involved in your job search by asking for help. Think of people you know from former jobs, professionally, socially, and through your family. Think about the opportunities each contact could lead you to. Think about how you can approach them.

Do not assume someone in a non-executive role cannot be helpful. They can alert you to potential opportunities and can give you the names of relevant contacts in the organisation. Be sure to stay in touch with your contacts during your job search and afterwards and provide feedback acknowledging their help. Ensure you’re connected with your colleagues and contacts on LinkedIn. Posting and sharing regularly keeps you top-of-mind (see Social Media).

Top Tips

• Ask friends and contacts for the names of consultants they’ve found helpful 
• Use seek.co.nz and other job boards to identify consultants actively advertising related roles
• Understand some consultants work with a small group of clients or a specific sector, so you may need to approach a number of consultancies
• Send your CV and letter to recruitment consultancies. Approaches should be concise, detailing the type of position you seek. They may contact you for a chat or may just add you to their database:
  • be clear about what you are after in terms of a new position
  • seek advice on your CV and potential job prospects
  • try and build rapport with any consultants you connect with
  • ask how best to follow up and how often. 
• Be clear that they can only share your CV with your permission. Once you have sent in your CV, continue to monitor the consultancy’s website for specific opportunities.

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