Organising your job search

Looking for a new position is a stressful and time consuming process. In today's market, professionals seeking a new position may be surprised at the number of interviews they receive, and at how quickly the job search can progress.

You can empower yourself during your job search, and reduce your stress, by keeping track of your agencies, interviews, and contacts.

Another way to improve the effectiveness of your job search is by taking the time to communicate with the agencies who have your CV. This article discusses ways to organise yourself and how to keep the flow of information open with the recruitment agencies you are using.

Job Search Organisation Strategies

Organising your job search may seem complicated, but it is based on one simple idea - making sure all your job search information is kept in one place. The quickest way to organise your job search is to keep a folder dedicated to it and its progress. This folder can contain copies of your CV, cover letters you have sent out, advertisements for specific positions you have applied for, cards of recruitment agency representatives who have your CV, and cards and notes from your interviews. It's good to note which agencies and companies received your CV, and when you sent it to them, on a sheet of paper or on your computer.

Working with Recruitment Agencies

Another part of organising your job search is working with recruitment agencies in a professional, courteous manner. Being clear, but discreet, with your different agencies helps them send your details to clients, without wasting your time or violating corporate confidentiality. When you're working with a recruitment agency, you usually have a contact at that agency that represents you. Your contact person specialises in your recruitment area, and is the person at that agency best equipped to help you. If you want to get in touch with an agency, focus on your contact person.

Avoiding double representation

When you're working with multiple recruitment agencies, keeping yourself organised can help you avoid one of the worst breaches of job search etiquette; contacting the same employer twice, through two different recruiters, for the same position.

Always insist on an agency telling you who their client is that your details are being forwarded to.  Don’t accept “major manufacturer in the Midlands”, ask them for a company name.

If one agency puts you forward for a position, you should not mention the position or company to another agency, UNLESS that other agency asks if you want to be put forward for the same position. When that happens, you should inform the second agency that you are already under consideration for that position. It would make a negative impression on the interviewing company if you knowingly allowed yourself to be put forward twice.