Where do I start?! Looking for a job? It sounds easier than it is! If you are looking for a job for the first time it can feel like you're trying to get somewhere without a map! Hopefully, you will have read the articles about self assessment and action plans. If you have, then you will be in a great place to start looking. There are lots of different things that you need to think about when finding job vacancies. Here are a few to get you thinking!

Where will I find job vacancies?

There are loads of different places where you can look through job vacancies. Some of them, you have to leave the comfort of your sofa for and some of them you can check out from your room! It's always best to have a good look at a few different sources (different places where jobs are advertised) because it it's like buying a CD. If you buy one bands latest album you will only be able to listen to their music, but if you buy a compilation CD you can listen to the latest music from lots of different bands. In other words…….the more sources……the more choice you have!

Here are some of the most likely sources you can have a look at :-

• Local Newspapers
  Your parents probably already have it delivered. Most newspapers have a particular day of the week when jobs are advertised. Find out which day and then make sure you have a good look each week. If you're skint and can't afford a paper, then go to your Connexions Centre, or local library where there should be copies for you to look at.
  
  
• Connexions Centre
  Most centres will have a vacancy board in their windows and a website. Many employers who are looking for young people as trainees or who have jobs that would suit younger people, will advertise here. You can have a look and also go and talk to a member of staff for further advice about the vacancies you are interested in. Remember, they will also have local and national newspapers that you can look at for FREE!
  
  
• Employment Service
  You might here this place mentioned as the Job Centre. You can look at lots of vacancies on the display boards and some centres have their vacancies on computers that are easy to use and can help you search for jobs that are more suited to you, which could save you time! You can also talk to advisers and discuss things that might be affecting you whilst you are looking for work, such as housing and benefits etc. You may find that they, like Connexions advisers can point you in the right direction for further help.
  
  
• The Internet
  Have a look at the article Cyber Jobs. It has some useful tips on how you can use the internet to help you find those vacancies and get that job!
  
  
• Other ideas
  You could also try writing to companies to see if they have any vacancies. If you can send a good letter they may well put it on file and let you know when something comes up!
  Look in shop windows, many smaller companies/businesses advertise their vacancies by a poster outside their building.
  Journals / trade magazines are often used for specific areas of work where an employer would expect candidates to be looking. Your Connexions Adviser can give you information on the publications that you might want to try.
  
  Don't forget your friends and families. They might hear about a vacancies where they work, coming up before they are advertised. I'm not suggesting you raid the building with bribes for the manager, but you could request an application form and ask your friend to help you when filling it in. It still gives you a head start and helps you to once again, open up more chances of finding out about the job vacancy.
  

When to be careful!

When you are looking for vacancies don't get distracted. There will be many adverts which go something like this………….Earn £1000 a week from your home, no qualifications required, training given. Sounds great doesn't it! But think about it, why would people go to the bother of getting qualifications and starting on training schemes etc if they could earn a fortune without leaving their sofa? Simple…. Its extremely unlikely that this job will do what it says it will. Many sales companies with advertise these positions, they are usually commission based (if you don't sell, you don't earn) and can be very hard jobs to make money from. So be wise! Look for jobs adverts where you can see that it is genuine, the company name, a job description, some will have Investors in People and equal opportunities information included. Usually there will be a contact name and number for you to call for further information, so that you can check out exactly what is involved. This way you can make sure where you are applying to and what you will be expected to 'do' and 'have' in order to apply.

Get hunting

It is difficult and can send you on a bit of a downer. Some weeks you might find 10 jobs to apply for and some you might find none at all. Keep trying and get as much help and advice from the people mentioned in this article. There will be the right job for you…you just have to keep trying until you find it!

Links

Career / Connexions services

Good Luck
Jennie Glitherow

At school or college? Look out for Jennie's future articles which we'll have here for the first Monday of each month, and which we'll link to the best sites we can find on the Web. Why not bookmark us now?

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