Tips for when you’re actively looking for an opportunity

Whether you’re a graduate or an industry professional with years of experience, it’s never easy to actively look for new opportunities.

There are the typical routes of trawling through job boards and seeing what’s on offer, but that isn’t being proactive about really looking for the opportunities you want – it’s only looking at the opportunities which are being advertised.

If you’re serious about hunting for your ideal opportunity, you would have sat down and really thought about what you really want from your next opportunity, whether it’s a specific company, more responsibility, more freedom or a better package – knowing what you want will make searching for the right opportunity a lot easier!

You want to work for a specific company

Do you want more responsibility or a better package?

Be enthusiastic and excited about looking for new opportunities

Bounce back



You want to work for a specific company

Do you have an ideal company that you want to work for? Have you researched them extensively and are a fan of their products or services?  You’ve been waiting for them to advertise a position which would be right for you, but that hasn’t happened.  What should you do?

You could keep waiting… for something that might never happen. Or you could be proactive and contact the company.  Introduce yourself – any company that is continuously growing will be continuously thinking about the talent they might hire now or hire in the future, and with you at the forefront of their minds, they are sure to be open for a discussion.

By making it known that you want to work for this specific company, you are planting a seed – and there is nothing to say this company isn’t hiring just because they aren’t advertising the role.

Have a discussion with the company, and if they’re willing to meet you, go along as though it’s an interview for an open position. 

Do you want more responsibility or a better package?

Nothing can stop you if you have goals and know where you want to be! Yes, you may experience hurdles along the way, but no amount of rejection can stop you from getting to where you want to be. It’s a matter of hard work and the right time. 

There is only one way to explain why you’re looking for a new opportunity without meeting someone – and that is through a cover letter.

So many people don’t include a cover letter when applying for new roles – why? because they’re lazy!

Cover letters don’t take long to construct, so take the time to write one to accompany your CV.

Cover letters give you a chance to introduce yourself, your needs and your wants from a new role before you meet anyone.  They instantly show you want the role because you have taken the time and effort to explain why.

Explain in detail why you’re looking for a new opportunity and why their role would be right for you.

Don’t be afraid to be open!... it gives you an instant advantage over all the other applicants who haven’t included a cover letter.

Be enthusiastic and excited about looking for new opportunities

Looking for new opportunities should be exciting – it’s a new start, an opportunity to thrive and better yourself – so show you’re excited. Hiring managers and company owners are only going to be excited about someone if they’re genuinely excited about the opportunity and they show it.

Be enthusiastic when talking to people, and show off ideas about the role and about yourself. You are never going to bore anyone into hiring you.

Bounce back

It is likely that at some point during a job search you’ll be faced with rejection. Whether you’re a casualty of the recent layoffs or didn’t quite get the job you wanted, these simple tips will help you bounce back and be as ambitious as ever! Don’t see rejection as a failure; see it as not being the right fit for you now.

Although rejection can be disheartening, the key to overcoming rejection is to learn and carry on; however, there are a few extra tips on getting over rejection.

Be positive

Keep a positive mental attitude! Don’t let rejection demotivate you – learn from the situation, make the right changes and get back on track. Wallowing in self-pity will get you nowhere – stay positive and keep working towards where you want to be. 

Have a goal

Nothing can stop you if you have goals and know where you want to be! Yes, you may experience hurdles along the way, but no amount of rejection can stop you from getting to where you want to be. It’s a matter of hard work and the right time. 

Don’t take it personally

Rejection is not a measurement of your self-worth. When someone rejects you, it’s because you weren’t right for the company or the role you applied for isn’t the right fit. 

Don’t overthink

Don’t torture yourself over what you could have done differently. Being rejected is almost always the pathway to something bigger and better! 

If the door doesn’t open – it’s not your door! Remember these four tips:

• You can be the best and still not get selected

• If you were rejected, it wasn’t meant for you

• Your value does not decrease based on someone’s inability to see your worth

• Keep going!
  

Don’t be afraid to jump right in and be proactive about role-hunting.  It shows initiative and willingness to get exactly what you want.  So next time you’re looking for new opportunities, take a different approach and contact companies directly rather than focusing time on open roles in companies you don’t want to work for.