Networking

Advertised jobs are the tip of the iceberg of available opportunities. To increase your chances of landing a role you really want, exploit the unadvertised job market:

• Ask family, colleagues, ex-colleagues, alumni, lecturers for leads
• Follow up, mentioning the contact who gave you the lead
• Send speculative letters that present you as a solution to a problem
• Secondments, shadowing and committee work increase your marketability
• Cultivate external clients to leverage at a later date

Online networking

With so many people using Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to advance their career, you need to stand out from the crowd:

• Use the sites’ on-line CV builders to pitch your skills and experience
• Include key words relevant to your role and industry in your profile and CV
• Activate testimonials - a powerful endorsement of your abilities
• Add a professional looking photo
• Contribute articles, advice and opinion on relevant forums to raise your visibility
• Don’t put anything on the net that could undermine your credibility