Five job hunting tips that can help YOU land a role in just one month – including ‘9 before 9’ rule

BRITAIN’S jobs market is in dire straits – and landing a new role has become a mammoth task. Job vacancies are at their lowest level since the pandemic and are continuing to dip, official figures released this week show. The jobs market may be in dire straits but our top tips will help you land a new role Credit: Getty There are still hundreds of thousands of new jobs up for grabs Credit: Getty But although the number of open roles are falling, there were still over 700,000 vacancies between May and July this year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). While competition is fierce, there are still plenty of things you can – and should – do to get ahead. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! Here are five job-hunting tips that will help you land your next role – whether you’re out of work or looking for a new opportunity. Boost your CV with free training Learning new skills can help you stand out during the application process Credit: Getty You don’t have to rely on your employer or go back to school to learn new skills – you can easily upskill for FREE. LinkedIn Learning, for instance, has a library of over 21,000 free courses that can help you get one up on other jobseekers. “Take a course in an area that will support your career – it shows you are ambitious and gives you something to discuss in interviews,” says negotiation expert and award-winning author Tim Castle. If you’re interested in project management, for example, why not take the course on “Foundations of Project Management”? The Government also pays some people to take courses for free to help them find a job or get paid better. Most read in Money You can apply to do one of these level two or level three qualifications if you’re aged 19 or over and earn less than £25,750 or are unemployed. You can use the National Careers Service course finder to see which courses are available in your local area. Small Business Britain, Enterprise Nation, and Help to Grow also offer free training courses. Follow the ‘9 before 9’ rule Try and apply for nine roles before 9am Credit: Alamy It can be hard to work up the motivation to get started with your job hunt – but negotiation expert and award-winning author Tim Castle has a trick that may help. Apply to nine jobs, or contact nine people enquiring about possible vacancies, before 9am strikes. “Be first in their inbox, DMs or on the phone, even if they aren’t advertising for a specific role right now,” he says. “Whatever it takes to move from unknown to someone to meet with.” Over 50? Age-scrub your CV If you’re over 50, you may be finding it harder to land a job than your younger rivals – even if you’ve got way more experience. The average age of someone who becomes undesirable to recruiters is 55, according to research from the not-for-profit Centre for Ageing Better. If you’re finding things tough, try scrubbing all evidence of your age from your CV. So, remove your date of birth and when you attended school or university. “A CV should lead with what you can do now. Focus on recent results, current skills and the problems you solve,” says Lyndsey Simpon, founder and CEO of 55/Redefined. Have a LinkedIn makeover Update your LinkedIn with relevant skills and experience Credit: Alamy LinkedIn is just as important as your CV when it comes to job hunting. Over half of hiring managers look at social media sites to vet candidates, according to research from recruitment agency Robert Walters. Before you start getting serious about your search, give your LinkedIn some TLC. Make sure your profile picture is professional, list your relevant skills, and make sure your experience is up to date and matches what you put on your CV. Ace your interview Your interview can make or break your application so it’s important to get it right Credit: Getty When preparing for an interview make sure to thoroughly research the company to avoid looking unprepared. Nearly half of hiring managers said they are put off by applicants who lack knowledge about an organisation. Make sure you fully understand the role you have applied for and confirm that it matches your skills and experience. It’s also important to practice interviews with a friend or family member so you feel confident. You could ask AI to come up with a list of possible interview questions based on the job title and description. It’s also a good idea to prepare a few questions about the company to show you are interested. For example, you could ask about the company culture or dynamic in the team. Comment now