Finding a job

Here are some of the main ways to search for a job.

Job sites

GOV.UK has the best coverage of entry level jobs and features opportunities not found on other sites.

Find a job

You can also try searching these job sites:

• Indeed
• Reed
• Get My First Job

Advantages:

• easy to search for job roles in a certain distance from where you are
• quick and easy to create an account and put your profile and CV online for employers to see
• search for a wide range of job roles and you can often apply through the site

Disadvantages:

• employers receive hundreds of applications through job sites so it’s hard to stand out
• some job sites double up or advertise positions that have already been filled in order to boost their online presence

Company websites - direct applications

Search for jobs on company websites to find vacancies they are advertising. This is great if you know exactly what companies you want to apply to.

Advantages:

• going directly through the applications on their website shows that you are enthusiastic about joining that specific company
• fewer applicants come through this route so you are more likely to stand out

Disadvantages:

• smaller companies do not advertise on their website (in these cases they may advertise on social media or job sites so keep an eye out)
• you will have to register for each company separately so it can take longer to apply for a number of roles

Friends and family contacts

Make sure your friends and family know that you are job hunting and that they know how good you are.

Advantages:

• you may hear about something that has not been publicly advertised yet
• your application may be taken more seriously by having a personal reference

Disadvantages:

• some family and friends could be unreliable and forget to put you in touch with the right people
• it depends on timing and luck - so make sure you use other ways to look for a job as well

LinkedIn

Create a profile and add people who work in the company or industry that you want to work in. This can be a great way of raising your profile with a variety of companies and organisations.

Advantages:

• there are more than 130 million members on LinkedIn, so you can use it to connect with people from lots of different industries and companies
• it has its own job matching service and sends you alerts when relevant vacancies appear

Disadvantages:

• do not forget that employers may look at your LinkedIn profile as part of an application so make sure you present yourself as professional and capable

Social media

Having a profile on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok can be a great way of networking and finding out about local job offers.

Advantages:

• you can follow people like Job Centre Plus, Reed, and local businesses that will share when they have a job role available
• some companies have specific pages specifically for jobs

Disadvantages:

• companies may be able to see what you share on social media when reviewing your application - make sure you're always respectful on social media
• you may find old posts where a role has closed - make sure to check dates on any posted jobs

Recruitment agencies

You can ask a recruitment agency to work with you to find a job.

Advantages:

• these are usually free to join as the agent only takes a fee when they have placed you in a job
• you have someone to help you search
• they may have access to more opportunities than you because of their connections with employers and businesses
• you can join more than one agency at the same time

Disadvantages:

• recruitment fees are usually 'taken out' of your salary if you get a job through them – this means your salary will be lower than it could be if you had applied to the role individually (but this should not be a big difference)
• there is no guarantee that they will find you something and they will likely have quite a few others on their books
• you need to stay in touch and follow up regularly to make sure they're looking for you

Face-to-Face networking

Career fairs are a great place to network with local employers.

Advantages:

• meeting people face-to-face means you can introduce yourself and make a good impression
• you may meet someone who knows of a job role that would be suited to you or someone who could give you a new opportunity
• it's nice to meet others in your sector and get a feel for what the industry is like

Disadvantages:

• it's not likely you'll meet someone who's happy to offer you a job there and then