Top 10 Things to Remember If You Want to Change Your Job

At some point in time people always change jobs for a number of reasons, it is important though to be prepared before doing so, so that you come out to a potential new employer in a good light.

See below for things you should be doing before changing jobs.

1 Update your CV

Updating your CV is probably the first most important thing you need to do before applying for jobs. If you have not updated your skills from your latest position and to what reflects the job you want to apply for then how can a future potential employer be able to see what are the skills they most want from you and what makes them want to employ you. Ensure that when updating your CV you use clear language concentrating on buzz words that you know will be of interest to a company you are applying for.

2 Perfect your covering letter

It is always important to tailor your covering letter to each job that you are applying for. Ensure that you use clear language explaining that you are applying for a particular role, using any job references if they have any so that it is clear to the person reading your application which job you are applying for. This is especially important if it is a big company and they could have a few vacancies at any one time.

Write your second paragraph of your letter about your skills that is relevant to the job advert or job description so that a potential employer can instantly see what you are able to offer them in line with what they are looking for.

3 Update your skills where necessary

It may be necessary to update your skills before applying for another job so that you have the latest skills that they are looking for. It’s very easy to be comfortable with your skill set and not do any further learning but sometimes it could be necessary to re visit this and see if there is anything that could be learnt or approved on.

4 Do your research before applying for jobs

This is a very important requirement before applying for any jobs. Ensure that at very least you have been through a company website and or information but depending on the role for example if it is within a shop, go along and pay a visit, pretend to be a mystery shopper and see what you can find out about how this company operates.

5 Make sure that you actually need to change jobs

Why do you want to look for another job? Do you want a fresh challenge or is there something that with a simple review from your Manager could give you a fresh pair of eyes to work towards? It sometimes seems the easiest solution to find another job but sometimes the grass isn’t always greener so it is worth bearing that in mind before leaving a stable environment.

6 Practice your interview answers

If you have gone so far as to get an interview then before you will get a new job you need to make sure that you have perfected your interview answers. Practice is key here. Although you cannot be sure to know what you will be asked, it is fairly obvious that you will be asked questions such as about your skills and how they are relevant to the job on offer, what you can bring to their team, what do you know about the company and why do you want to work for them. By focusing on these areas you can practice and plan in your mind what you would say if they question arises. It’s important to know your CV inside out to be able to demonstrate and explain your skills well to a new employer.

7 Documentation

Ensure that you have all the documentation you need to get a new job, your ID, previous pay slips in case you need to prove your previous salary and or bonuses plus your up to date CV, any research or presentation material you have been asked for, proof of driving licence if your job involves a car.

8 Practicalities of a new job & location etc

Getting a new job is always refreshing and keeps people on their toes with regards to their own skills and development but ensure that you have done your research and know where the role is based, how you will get there, how you will travel there etc, all the things that you take for granted but are important.

9 Get 2 good referees ready

Companies always want references so it is important to make sure that you have 2 contactable referees that you can provide the details for. Even if you have them pre typed out in letter form from leaving a previous employment it is still advisable to have their contact details for a future employer to contact them with.  Don’t hide anything that is negative though, companies have a habit of finding out which can be very awkward and embarrassing and may mean that you are unsuccessful.

10 Stand out from the crowd

Finally make sure that you always stand out from the crowd. What makes an employer want to choose you? Make sure that you are always presentable; you speak well and come across well. Make sure that you have done your upmost so far in your career and that you can demonstrate that you can be a good addition to their company.

photo by: personalwerk