This information is designed to help new entrants to the job market
and is a basic guide only.
Forming a plan of action
The most essential ingredients for your job search are a
positive attitude and a plan of action. There is a lot that you can
do to help yourself in your job search.
Assessing your skills
If you have had experience in another field of employment, you
may find it useful to evaluate the skills you have developed and
assess them in relation to personnel work. This will also be useful
when tailoring your applications for personnel or training
posts.
You may want to approach a careers consultant or local careers
service. They will help you review your skills and assess your
suitability for a career in people management and development. Note
that there may be a charge for this service.
If you are new to the job market
Be prepared to start at the bottom of the ladder. Most people
management and development professionals begin their career in
junior roles.
If you can't find personnel/training work straight away, decide
which industry or sector interests you and apply for jobs within
that area. If you are looking for a training post, update your IT
skills as this is a growing sector of the training market.
You may also want to broaden your knowledge of current training
legislation. The Skills and Training Handbook (Kogan Page, ISBN: 0
7494 3770 7) will be useful, and should be available at your local
library.
Also, consider taking another position with a view to moving
into a people management and development role at a later date. Any
job can provide you with useful experience and give you the
opportunity to observe human interaction, which is at the centre of
people management and development.
Searching for vacancies
Vacancies appear in a number of places, including several
personnel and training journals. Our magazine, People
Management, published fortnightly, is sent to all those
professionally qualified in the field of people management and
development. Although many of the jobs advertised in it are at
middle and senior levels of responsibility. It gives a good
indication of current jobs and salaries. Also, you'll get an idea
of what employers are looking for and what career progression is
possible.
Entry-level posts are more likely to be found by looking through
local magazines and newspapers.
Your local job centre and high street recruitment agencies may
advertise personnel or training vacancies.
If you are a recent graduate, your university careers service
may have a list of job vacancies available. They will also offer
advice on interview techniques and putting together a good CV.
If you are a member of the CIPD, take advantage of your local
branch meetings. Many vacancies do not get as far as the advertised
stage - they are filled via word of mouth. Let other members know
that you are looking for work and ask them to bear you in mind.
You may also want to consider writing speculative letters to
companies. Use The Personnel Manager's Yearbook (A P
Information Services, ISBN: 0 902202 37 6) and The UK Directory
of Executive Recruitment Consultants (Editor: Helen Barrett,
The Executive Grapevine, ISBN: 1 903 550 06 8) to help you.
If you are interested in a career in training, you may find
The Training Manager's Yearbook (A P Information Services,
ISBN: 1 902202 38 4) a useful source.
Your local library may also hold reference copies of these
publications. Your local careers centre may also have some
information about local companies you could contact.
Gaining experience
Work-shadowing (accompanying a practising professional every
day) is an alternative way of gaining experience.
Your local careers service may have some information on
organisations that run these schemes. You can also ask members of
your local branch if there are any work-shadowing opportunities
within their organisations.
Tailoring your application
When completing an application form, check the information the
company has sent very carefully. If a job profile has been
included, tailor your application to it. Do some research into the
company. Look at company results over the past five years and try
to get a feel for the company culture by reading through any
available reports and documentation. Also, take time to understand
the application form.
Getting your CV up to scratch
Make sure that you have an up-to-date CV. Ask a friend or
relative to look at your CV before sending it out. This may save
you embarrassment later.
Preparing for the interview
Be prepared for the interview. Think of situations where you
have had to work under pressure, in a team, used your own
initiative, etc. This helps when you give examples when asked. As
you may have had little or no people management and development
experience, this may make a big difference to your chances of
success. Here are some tips from recruitment agencies that you may
find useful in preparing for an interview:
- dress appropriately
- remember your interview is with another human being, not an
ogre
- know what questions you want to ask
- do some research into the company beforehand - if necessary
contact their marketing department anonymously for information
- make eye contact within the first two minutes of the interview,
and use it to stress points during the course of the interview
- don't answer questions you don't understand - ask for
clarification
- make sure you answer the question and do not be tempted to
waffle
- speak clearly using positive words such as 'enjoy' and
'enthusiastic'
- be prepared to ask questions about training opportunities,
promotion prospects and when the final decision will be made about
the appointment
- have a firm handshake
- be on time - allow for possible delays
- do a practice run of the journey or at least know exactly how
to get there
- smile.
Specialising
If you want to specialise in a particular area, such as employee
relations, make sure that you are up to date with current
trends.
Look at broadsheet newspapers, journals and periodicals for
relevant articles over the past 12 months. Your local library may
be able to help you with this. If you are a CIPD member, our
library can do a search for you.