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Finding a Job

Legal Knowledge (3)>Employment (1)>Finding a Job (1)

About this section

Finding a job can be time-consuming and stressful because it is a process that often involves rejection. You want to find employment which suits your wants and needs as well as providing you with a regular income to suit your lifestyle.

It is not always an easy task; in 2008, the employment rate for people of working age was just 74.7%.

There are various ways to find employment. The most common ways are:

Local and national newspapers
Jobcentres
The internet
Job recruitment agencies
Specialist magazines
Advertisements outside business premises
Contacting employers directly

Newspapers

Many local and national newspapers have a section devoted to job vacancies. They are usually at the back, located in the classified section.

Jobcentres

Jobcentre Plus is a government agency which helps find employment for people of working age. It is part of the Department for Work and Pensions. If you visit a jobcentre you can use their ‘jobpoints’ which are touch screens that allow you to search for jobs suitable for you.

Personal advisors are also available to help you find job vacancies, as well as offering information on government training schemes open to you. They will take into account:

Your work experience
Your skills
Your qualifications
Whether there are any suitable training opportunities or courses for you
Any help you might need, such as child care or health care
Any special help you might need, for example if you have a disability

Alternatively you can ring Jobseeker Direct on 0845 6060 234. This is a phone service where the advisors offer details of job vacancies, send out application forms and arrange interviews with you and a prospective employer. The service is available weekdays between 8.00am and 6.00pm, and on Saturdays between 9.00am and 1.00pm. All calls are charged at local rates.

The Internet

The internet is a good source to use to look for employment. Most large organisations have details of vacancies on their websites. You can also find job vacancies by visiting online job agency websites. Popular sites include:

Job recruitment agencies

Job agencies recruit and fill vacancies on the behalf of employers. Recruiting staff is a time-consuming process, so some companies pay job agencies to do it for them. When you contact a job agency, they will usually invite you for an interview to find out what kind of work you are looking for and what skills and previous experience you have. They may ask you to send in your CV beforehand. If you are looking for a job which requires specific skills, you may be asked to take a test to give an indication of your ability. For example, they may wish to test your typing speed or IT skills. Depending on the type of job, the recruitment consultancy may interview you themselves, or arrange an interview with the employer. Recruitment agencies usually offer temporary and permanent vacancies.

Specialist magazines

If you are looking to work in a particular job sector, you should subscribe to any magazines or journals which deal with that field of work. They will have sections dedicated to job vacancies in your sector.

Advertisements outside business premises

Some businesses, particularly those in the retail sector, advertise job vacancies on signs outside their premises.

Contacting employers directly

If you are dedicated to a particular career path, an effective way of finding out about job vacancies - as well as making your face known - is to contact the employers directly. You can send them a letter or email, or go to see them in person. Give them a copy of your CV, and outline why you want to work for the company and what you can offer them. Even if they have no current vacancies, the company might keep your details on record for future positions.

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