Contact Us
Foundations Executive Search,
86-90 Paul St,
London, EC2A 4NE
+44 (0) 208 167 37 37
DEI Policy
Sustainability Policy
Privacy & GDPR
One of the most daunting experiences in a candidate’s career can be trying to re-enter the job market after an employment gap. Regardless of the reason – whether you have been made redundant or just taking time off work, it is perfectly normal to feel apprehensive.
We have put together a few pointers to help you get back out there and into the role that is right for you:
Decide where your focus is
When looking to re-enter the job market you have a great opportunity to really have a look at what direction you want your career to take. Just because you were on one path before doesn’t mean that that’s the route you have to continue down.
Choose where you want to focus and make sure to read the job descriptions properly and match your skills to what is needed.
In today’s world a lot of roles require skills that are transferable, so although you may not have the exact qualifications listed, if you are honest with yourself and believe you are well suited to the position, go for it!
Streamline and consolidate your CV
You may currently be happy with how your CV looks and the information inside, there is always room for improvement.
If your CV is hard to read or the hiring manager needs to sift through lots of unrelated information to work out if you have the relevant skills and experience you are already putting yourself at a disadvantage.
Consider the role you are applying for and adjust the emphasis within your CV to highlight the specific skills required for the role. This shows that you have taken the time and effort to read and understand the job description properly and will make it easier for the hiring manager to identify your capabilities and give you a better chance of gaining an interview.
Done forget your social media and online presence
This can make a crucial difference in how successful your application is. With most people having a substantial online footprint these days many companies will use this to their advantage to get a better understanding for the candidate and use what is on your social media to determine if you are a good fit for the company.
Take the time to go through your social media sites and tidy them up, removing embarrassing posts or photos or anything else that may be viewed in a negative light. You can also make your profiles private but this doesn’t always affect tagged photos etc so it is well worth double-checking.
Consider stepping stones - short term roles
Of course, most people are looking for that long term dream job, but if you have been out of work for a while or looking to change the direction your career is going, considering applying for shorter-term roles as well.
This may allow you to gain some new and relevant experience in the field while also making you known to important people within the hiring process and to the companies you want to end up with.
Taking on a short-term role isn’t a defeat, it is a stepping stone to your final goal and may even help you negotiate a better salary when you do.
Don’t get disheartened
Finding a job can take time and a lot of dedication, and it is all too easy to become frustrated or disheartened when you don’t hear back from your applications.
First off it is important to understand that this is perfectly normal. No one finds applying for a new job easy, but you can help yourself through it by staying organised and focusing on where you want to be.
Of course, this is also where we at Foundations Executive Search come in – While applying for as many jobs as possible and seeing what does come back to you is one option – We help you work through your CV, discuss your suitability for the positions, and work with you to build an effective route to the job you want.
We only put you forward for select roles, focusing yours and our where we believe you have a good chance of success, and remove the anxiety and burden that can come with handling a large number of applications on your own.
For more information on how Foundations Executive Search can help you
take that next step in your career see more of our Latest Insights,
check out our Current Vacancies, or Contact Us directly.