how to find a job.

Sounds like a no-brainer right? Wrong. You'd be surprised how many people seem to 'fall' into jobs without first putting some consideration into what would make them happy. Before you rush head first into your job search, take a moment to think about your career aspirations and goals, so that when you apply for roles you can ensure they are the right ones that will help your to achieve your dreams. Try to think about what you want your future to look like - here are some great questions to ask yourself:

• do you want to work in office, a building site or outside in the fresh air? 
• do you want to work as a contractor, part time or as a full-time professional? 
• what type of businesses would you like to work for - a small company with plenty of room to grow or a large company with financial security?
• how important is location to you -  do you want to be close to home, inner-city or are you willing to travel?
• what industry do you want to work - construction & engineering, information technology, government or an industry that is not only new but set to thrive?
• what job title / role do you want to apply for?

Having a clear understanding of what you want will help you to avoid roles that might turn out to be unsuitable in the long run, and it will also help you to articulate to your future employer or recruitment consultant exactly what type of jobs they should be connecting you to.

Sometimes, once you have gone through the process of working out exactly what you want, you may find that your current experience and skill-set may not cover your career aspirations. If you are unsure, search for a similar role online and you will be able to see in the list of 'requirements' in the job description what prospective employers are looking for. 

If you find that your skills do not match the role, don't be disheartened - with time and perseverance there are a number of ways you can achieve your career goals such as:

• upskill by enrolling in a training course
• volunteer to gain experience 
• sign up for a traineeship/internship
• find a career mentor in the industry

For many job seekers, one of the most daunting aspects of looking for a new job is working out how to write a resume that will catch the eye of a prospective employer - and ultimately help them to stand out from the crowd. A well written, eye-catching resume can mean the difference between landing your dream job, or having to settle for something second best. Read our article 'how to write a winning resume' to learn more.

Taking the time to write a cover letter provides you with the perfect opportunity to summarise specifically what makes you stand out as the number perfect applicant for the job you are applying for. Here you can outline to your potential employer what makes you a great fit for both the role and the company - where you can express your personality and give the hiring manager an idea about you as a real person, not just your skills and expertise. Read our article 'how to write a cover letter' to learn more.

Once you have updated your resume and have created your cover letter template, the next step is to search and apply for jobs. In the past, this meant the time consuming process of buying a newspaper, circling the ads, posting off your resume and then waiting around for a call - not anymore! We are blessed in the age of technology to have thousands of jobs at our fingertips simply by firing up the wifi. Check out Randstad's own jobs board today and search and apply for thousands of jobs across New Zealand.

Although online job search is a popular method of finding a job, it is not an all-encompassing process. The other thing you can do right now to increase your chances of finding a job is to register your details with a recruitment agency like Randstad. Our specialist consultants are experts in recruiting for jobs in your industry, and can connect you to jobs in your industry which may not be advertised. Read our article 'why you need a recruitment specialist' to learn more.

• cultivate your own personal brand: In an economic climate where the number of jobseekers vying for roles exceeds the number of available jobs on the market, it’s important to a competitive advantage over other eligible candidates. Developing your own personal brand can be the answer to setting yourself apart from other candidates who may have similar experience to you. Find out how to imprrove your personal brand.

• brush up on your interview skills: Does the mere thought of attending an interview start your palms sweating and fill you with a sense of dread? Don't panic - this is normal. Being interviewed doesn’t need to be an arduous experience, and with our interview tips and hints below, we'll have you feeling confident and ready to shine in no time at all! Read our article to learn more about how to shine at your next interview.

Lastly, keep in mind is that even if you start looking for a job today, there is no way to know how long your search may end up taking. Sometimes it can take months to find the perfect job, so make sure you put your job search at the top of your list of priorities. And remember, no matter what - perseverance pays off.