How to Get a New Job This September

Know how to get a new job this September

By Selipha Kihagi

It’s a new month and it goes without mentioning that we are now three months away to the end of 2016. I bet that sends chills down your spine – or maybe it’s just me. So ask yourself this question; have you achieved what you set to in the beginning of the year? Did you already get a new job? In an earlier post we highlighted reasons you did not get a new job in 2015  and in another post this year we highlighted resolutions that would help you advance your career. Did any of these resources work for you?

If you have been having a hard time getting a job in the past months, this new post is here to challenge you. And if you are currently working but want to get a new job, then you too can benefit from this new post. The most important first step is having a professional CV to use in applying for jobs and the second one is interview preparation so you can pass the interview. But I will not dwell so much on these two as that is what we have been doing since the beginning of the year.

So, beyond a professional CV and passing the interview, how can you get a new job this September? The steps below will require you to be a confident, daring and determined job seeker.

5 Steps to Help You Get a New Job This September

1. Look back at what you have been doing

The first thing you have to do to get a new job is to review your progress so far. How have you been applying for jobs and to which positions have you been applying for? Is there something you have been doing wrong in the process? How about companies, how many companies have you applied to and how did you do it? Did you apply for the jobs on time or did you miss the deadline? Have you been applying to jobs you are qualified for or have you been testing your luck?

Going through these questions and evaluating your progress will help you realize any mistakes you made in the process. It will also give you a clear picture of how far you have gone in your job search. This will then give you an idea of what to do next. Hint: Whatever you do next should be different from what you have been doing. To get a new job this month, you have to change your approach and attitude towards your job search.

2. Look beyond job sites to get a new job

While career websites like Career Point Kenya, Brighter Monday, Fuzu, Kenyamoja and its ilk are a good start towards finding jobs, they are not enough. If these are the only places you have been frequenting in your job search, it is time to go the extra mile. How many recruitment firms do you know in Kenya? I bet you already know Corporate Staffing because you are reading this post. Remember that recruitment firms work on behalf of other companies. This to mean they will always post new jobs before the job sites you follow diligently.

Find another recruitment firm today, subscribe to their job alerts and if you find a role that fits your credentials, apply and make sure you follow up with the firm. Also, you need to identify companies you want to work for and keep checking their websites for when they have new positions. Sometimes job sites don’t get wind of new jobs as soon as they are posted, making it hard for you to get a new job. By following these websites and subscribing or registering, you put yourself at an advantage to get alerted whenever there is a new position.

3. Concentrate your efforts on making new connections

The reason you are reading this post is because you have tried applying for jobs but you are yet to get a new job, right? Well, this is the month to put all your focus on meeting new people and letting them know that you are looking to get a new job. If you see an event that could gain you access to potential employers, make sure to attend. If there is a family event and you know someone who could know someone in the employment field, make sure to attend. You may not get along with your relatives but sometimes you have to fake it to make it.

You need to get a new job and as such you must do whatever you can. Scan through Social Media and scout for networking events where you can meet people and make new connections. It is not a must that you have professional cards to pass around. What you will need is confidence to approach someone, find out where they work and sell yourself to them. You never know when you cross paths with someone looking for new talent or who knows of a new job opening somewhere.

4. Use LinkedIn like you never have before

Most people overlook LinkedIn and yet it is the one place you can make endless connections with employers and recruiters. In this earlier post here, we discussed how you can make recruiters find you on LinkedIn and also explored how LinkedIn can help you get a new job in this other post. Well, if you are yet to implement those tips you are doing yourself an injustice. Through the professional site you can talk directly with recruiters and even follow them so you know whenever they are scouting for new talent.

You can also follow recruitment firms and individual companies that you want to work with. Also, through LinkedIn you can get to know the right people to make connections with as their job titles are there for you to see. Make September the month you spend most of your time on LinkedIn by updating your profile, connecting with new people in your industry and engaging people until you have a lead on a new job. It has worked for many others, why won’t it work for you too?

5. Gather your new connections and follow up on promises made

Now that you have physically made new connections and done so online through LinkedIn and various websites, it is time to bring them together. You may not be used to documenting your every application but this month you are doing things differently. Write down every connection you made on a piece of paper or on your computer – whichever is easier – and include how your conversation went. Did they promise you that they will let you know when they have an opening? Did they ask you to send your CV but no response yet? Write the situation down and then start doing the follow ups.

Sometimes people miss out on opportunities because they assume too much. You may be thinking that a person is ignoring you and yet they didn’t receive the CV you sent. Or maybe they are trying to work something out but got caught up in a new project. This September, forget making negative assumptions and only focus on the positives.Are you afraid to reach out because you might be bothering the CEO? Well, you will never know until you make that phone call or send in that email.

For you to get a new job this month you must be willing to try no matter the fear. You also need to be ready for any rejection that comes your way because in the midst of all this, you will get a new job or learn of the mistakes you have been making. Either way you will end up a winner.

In order to get a new job this month, you need to do things differently. Make out a plan and get your CV re-edited, rehearse various interview questions and look beyond just sending in an application. Networking and making new connections is what will change things for you. Remember Patrick who took to the streets with a placard to get a new job, find your unique entry and go for it.

Did you find this article helpful? Let us know in the comments below.

30 Comments

  1. This is exceptional and so encouraging…. I’ve been a victim of circumstances but in due course, l’m changing my percepection…..

  2. its never easy to keep trying when you have no passion for what you are currently doing. quite encouraging insight.

  3. This article is very informative, helps alot especially with people who are looking for better jobs.Thanks and be blessed.

  4. Wow,this is very encouraging of you, we really appreciate your effort in helping people secure better job with better employers. Keep up and be blessed for the good work you’re doing.

  5. It looks like another new dawn for me once more. I am so excited about your site. I trust I will make it this time around. I have just sent in my CV to melody’s e-mail. It contains my number. Please get in touch with me on my phone. I will be happy to discuss these further with you including the charges. Kind regards.

  6. the tips are helpful but i need you can to help me on my cv and am sending the email and its says failed permanently please help me with the email i can use and get help.

  7. Thank you very much for this article. I have learned a lot.This months I have already started doing things differently to get a job.

  8. The article is extremely helpful. Job hunting requires one to be a little more aggressive.

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