Discover how artificial intelligence and digital tools can support a smarter, more effective job search. Learn to use AI responsibly for CV improvement, cover letters, interview preparation, job research and career planning. Explore online recruitment trends, applicant tracking systems, digital skills and the limitations of AI-generated content. Careers Springboard provides practical guidance to help UK jobseekers use modern technology confidently and effectively.

Looking for Work? Protecting Your Mental Wellbeing During a Job Search

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Searching for a job can affect much more than your finances.

When work suddenly disappears, so can some of the structure, routine, social contact and sense of purpose that came with it.

You may feel frustrated, anxious, isolated or less confident than usual.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

Give your job search some structure

Without a workplace routine, days can easily become unstructured.

You might spend hours searching job boards, checking emails and scrolling through LinkedIn only to finish the day feeling that you haven’t achieved anything.

Try creating a simple routine.

For example:

Morning: job-search activity and applications
Midday: exercise, lunch or time outdoors
Afternoon: networking, learning or interview preparation
Evening: switch off from job searching

Your routine doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.

It simply needs to give your day some shape.

Don’t measure your progress only by applications

Sending 20 applications isn’t necessarily better than sending five carefully targeted ones.

Set goals you can control.

For example:

  • Contact two people in your network.
  • Research three target organisations.
  • Improve one section of your CV.
  • Practise interview answers.
  • Attend a career webinar.
  • Spend time developing a useful skill.

These are all genuine steps forward.

Stay connected

One of the most difficult parts of unemployment can be losing the everyday contact that comes with work.

Make an effort to stay connected with friends, former colleagues and professional contacts.

And don’t underestimate the value of talking to people who understand what you’re going through.

Careers Springboard’s meetings, networking opportunities and member community can provide a place to meet people, exchange ideas and keep connected during your search.

Get outside

A change of environment can help break up a difficult day.

Go for a walk. Meet someone for coffee. Spend time in a park. Take part in a local activity or volunteer.

You don’t have to turn every activity into a career-development exercise.

Sometimes you simply need to step away from the job search.

Be kind to yourself

Not every application will succeed.

Not every recruiter will respond.

And sometimes you will do everything right and still not get the job.

Try not to turn a rejection into a judgement about your worth.

A job application is a decision about a particular role, at a particular time, against a particular group of candidates.

It isn’t a measurement of your value as a person.

Know when to ask for help

If you’re struggling with persistent anxiety, low mood, stress or feelings that are becoming difficult to manage, don’t try to deal with everything alone.

Talk to someone you trust and consider speaking to an appropriate professional or support organisation.

Careers Springboard members can also access confidential support through our counselling service.

Your job search matters but so do you

Finding your next role is important.

But protecting your wellbeing while you search is important too.

Build a routine. Stay connected. Keep moving. Take breaks. Ask for help when you need it.

You are more than your current employment status.

Mock Interviews: Why Practice Can Improve Your Interview Performance

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You can prepare for an interview by reading the job description.

You can research the company.

You can prepare your questions.

But there is one thing that many candidates don’t do enough:

Practise actually answering the questions.

That’s where a mock interview can help.

What is a mock interview?

A mock interview is a practice interview designed to replicate the real experience as closely as possible.

You answer questions.

Someone observes how you respond.

You receive feedback.

And you get another opportunity to improve before the real interview.

1. It makes the unfamiliar feel familiar

Interview nerves often come from uncertainty.

What will they ask?

Will I remember my examples?

Will I talk too much?

Will I freeze?

Practising doesn’t eliminate nerves, but it can make the experience feel more familiar.

2. You discover where your answers need work

You may think an answer is clear until someone else hears it.

Perhaps you give too much background.

Perhaps you don’t explain the result.

Perhaps your example doesn’t directly answer the question.

Perhaps you undersell your contribution.

Feedback helps you identify these things.

3. You learn to tell better examples

Good interview answers usually need evidence.

Instead of saying:

“I’m a good leader.”

Give an example.

What was the situation?

What did you need to achieve?

What did you do?

What happened as a result?

Practising helps you turn your experience into clear stories.

4. You become better at listening

Interviewing isn’t just about having good answers.

It’s about answering the question that was actually asked.

A mock interviewer can highlight when you’ve gone off track or answered a different question.

That can be one of the most valuable pieces of feedback you receive.

5. You can practise difficult questions safely

What happens if you’re asked:

“Why did you leave your last job?”

“What’s your biggest weakness?”

“Why should we hire you?”

“Why have you been unemployed?”

“Tell me about a time something went wrong.”

These questions can be difficult when you’re under pressure.

A mock interview gives you the opportunity to work through them beforehand.

6. You can test your interview setup

For online interviews, your preparation should also include the practical details.

Check:

  • camera position
  • microphone
  • lighting
  • background
  • internet connection
  • notifications
  • surroundings

Don’t discover a technical problem five minutes before the real interview.

Don’t wait until you have an interview

One of the biggest misconceptions about mock interviews is that you need an interview booked before you can practise.

You don’t.

If you know the type of role you’re targeting, you can practise around that type of interview.

Then, when the real opportunity arrives, you are better prepared.

The goal isn’t perfection

A mock interview isn’t about producing robotic, memorised answers.

It’s about becoming more confident and natural when talking about your experience.

You want to be prepared enough that you can listen, think and respond.

Careers Springboard members can access mock interview support

Our mock interview service gives members an opportunity to practise with experienced volunteers and receive constructive feedback.

Don’t wait for the real interview to find out what you need to improve. Practise first.

Stop Applying for Jobs for a Moment: The People You Need to Talk To

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When you’re looking for work, it is easy to fall into a routine.

Search job boards.

Apply.

Wait.

Apply again.

Refresh your inbox.

Repeat.

But what if one of the best things you could do this week is stop applying for jobs for an hour and start talking to people instead?

Job boards matter. Government guidance recommends using job boards, alerts and the GOV.UK Find a Job service as part of a job search.

But they should not be your entire strategy.

Your next opportunity may start with a conversation

Think about the last few jobs you’ve had.

Did you discover every opportunity by finding an advert online?

Probably not.

Perhaps someone contacted you.

Perhaps a former colleague mentioned something.

Perhaps you met someone at an event.

Perhaps a recruiter approached you.

Perhaps someone recommended you.

That is the power of networking.

Networking is not about collecting hundreds of LinkedIn connections.

It is about building relationships with people who know you, understand what you do or work in areas you are interested in.

You don’t need to be a natural networker

Many people hear the word “networking” and immediately feel uncomfortable.

They imagine walking into a room full of strangers and trying to sell themselves.

Forget that image.

Good networking is much simpler.

It is a conversation.

Ask someone about their work.

Be interested.

Share your experience.

Listen.

Stay in touch.

And, where appropriate, help each other.

You don’t have to ask:

“Can you get me a job?”

Try:

“I’ve been exploring opportunities in this area and would really like to understand how the market is changing.”

That opens a conversation rather than putting someone under pressure.

Start with people you already know

You don’t need to begin with complete strangers.

Make a list of 20 people you already know.

Think about:

  • former colleagues
  • managers
  • clients
  • suppliers
  • professional contacts
  • university contacts
  • recruiters
  • friends
  • former classmates
  • people you have worked with on projects

Then ask yourself:

Who could I have a useful conversation with?

You might be surprised how many people are only one message away.

Use LinkedIn as a networking tool not just an online CV

Your LinkedIn profile is important, but networking is where LinkedIn becomes much more powerful.

Don’t just connect with people.

Engage with them.

If someone in your target industry posts something interesting, comment.

If a former colleague changes jobs, congratulate them.

If someone shares useful industry information, add something meaningful to the discussion.

Over time, people begin to recognise your name.

That matters.

You are no longer just another CV arriving in an inbox.

You become a person they have seen, spoken to or interacted with.

Target companies, not just vacancies

Here’s another change worth making.

Instead of asking:

“What jobs are advertised?”

also ask:

“Which organisations would I like to work for?”

Create a list of 10–20 target organisations.

Follow them.

Research their strategy.

Identify people working in relevant departments.

Understand what challenges their industry is facing.

Then start building relationships.

You may find that your target company has opportunities before you ever see a vacancy.

What should you say?

You don’t need a complicated networking script.

Keep it human.

For example:

“Hi Sarah, I noticed you’ve moved into the technology sector. I’m exploring my next move in operations and I’m particularly interested in how operations roles are changing with automation. I’d really value hearing about your experience.”

That’s it.

No hard sell.

No desperate request.

Just a genuine reason to start a conversation.

Give before you ask

One of the best networking habits is to think about what you can offer.

Could you introduce two people?

Share an article?

Recommend someone?

Offer useful information?

Congratulate someone?

Make a connection?

Networking becomes much more natural when it is not entirely about what you want.

And remember: you don’t have to be employed to be valuable.

Your experience, knowledge and professional relationships do not disappear because you are between jobs.

Make networking part of your weekly routine

Try this simple approach:

Monday: Identify five people you want to reconnect with.

Tuesday: Send two genuine messages.

Wednesday: Comment on three relevant LinkedIn posts.

Thursday: Research one target company.

Friday: Follow up with someone you spoke to earlier.

That’s five small actions.

Over a month, you could have dozens of meaningful professional conversations.

And that is very different from simply sending dozens of applications and waiting.

Your network is bigger than you think

The goal isn’t to know everyone.

It is to make sure the people who matter professionally understand:

who you are, what you do and what you’re looking for.

That takes time.

But it can also make a difficult job search feel much less lonely.

At Careers Springboard Gerrards Cross, networking is part of our approach because job searching works better when people have the opportunity to exchange ideas, experiences and support.

So this week, before you send another application, try something different.

Send a message to a person.

You never know where the conversation might lead.

Lost Your Job? 8 Practical Steps to Help You Move Forward

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Losing your job can be a shock.

Even when redundancy is expected, the reality of suddenly having no job can affect your confidence, routine, finances and sense of direction.

You may be asking:

“What do I do now?”

There isn’t one correct answer.

But there are some practical steps that can help.

1. Give yourself time to process it

You don’t have to launch straight into applications the next morning.

Redundancy can bring frustration, disappointment, anger, anxiety or uncertainty.

Those reactions are understandable.

Talk to people you trust and give yourself some space to think.

If your mental health is becoming difficult to manage, seek appropriate professional support rather than trying to deal with everything alone.

2. Understand your financial position

Money worries can quickly increase stress.

Work out what you have coming in, what needs to go out and what changes you may need to make.

Knowing the numbers is usually less frightening than avoiding them.

If necessary, seek independent financial or benefits advice.

3. Don’t rush into applying for everything

When you’re unemployed, it can feel as though any job is better than no job.

But taking time to understand what you want next can make your search more focused.

Ask yourself:

  • What type of role do I want?
  • What skills do I want to use?
  • What industries interest me?
  • What salary range is realistic?
  • Where am I willing to work?
  • What type of organisation suits me?
  • What did I enjoy or dislike about previous roles?

Clarity makes your job search more effective.

4. Understand what you offer

Before updating your CV, make a list of your strongest skills and achievements.

Don’t just list responsibilities.

Think about results.

What did you improve?

What problems did you solve?

What did you save, increase, reduce, build or deliver?

These examples become powerful evidence for your CV and interviews.

5. Update your CV and LinkedIn

Your CV should reflect the roles you’re targeting.

Your LinkedIn profile should tell a consistent story.

Don’t simply copy your CV onto LinkedIn.

Use your profile to show your professional interests, experience and the value you can bring.

If you’re unsure where to start, ask someone you trust for feedback.

6. Build relationships, not just applications

Job boards are useful, but don’t make them your entire strategy.

Reconnect with former colleagues.

Talk to people in your industry.

Attend networking events.

Join professional groups.

Speak to recruiters.

Research organisations you’d like to work for.

A conversation may not produce an immediate vacancy but it can lead to information, an introduction or an opportunity later.

7. Practise before the interview

If you haven’t interviewed for several years, don’t wait until the real thing to practise.

Prepare answers to common questions.

Practise your “Tell Me About Yourself”.

Think of examples demonstrating your achievements.

Research your target organisation.

And consider doing a mock interview.

Practice isn’t about memorising perfect answers.

It’s about becoming comfortable talking about yourself.

8. Build a routine and keep going

Job searching can easily consume your entire day.

Set realistic goals.

Take breaks.

Stay active.

Meet people.

Continue learning.

Review your progress each week.

If something isn’t working, change your approach.

Most importantly, remember:

Being unemployed is a situation. It isn’t your identity.

Your experience, skills and potential haven’t disappeared because one job has ended.

This is a difficult chapter.

It isn’t the whole story.

You don’t have to navigate it alone

Careers Springboard provides free job-search support for professionals, managers and graduates.

From CV advice and networking to coaching and interview preparation, our aim is to help you move forward.

Your next chapter starts with the next step.

Gain support to secure a new job – Spring events

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Start the new year with the support you need to help you secure a new job. Careers Springboard is a charity which supports unemployed professionals in their job search.

We’ve got a great programme of events lined up for Spring 2022.

All workshops are virtual and start at 7:30pm. You’re welcome to join the session at 7 pm for networking.

Mon 10th Jan Transferable skills
Mon 17th Jan LinkedIn
Mon 24th Jan Creating a winning CV
Mon 31st Jan Values and Anchors
Mon 7th Feb Preparing for Interview
Tue 15th Feb Recruiter insight
Mon 21st Feb At the interview
Mon 28th Feb Members Choice – tbc
Mon 7th Mar Making the right impact: How to perfect your elevator pitch
Mon 14th Mar You secured the job! Mastering the first 90 days
Mon 21st Mar Networking
Mon 28th Mar Past Members Experience
Mon 4th Apr 4 pillars to job search success

If you’re an existing Careers Springboard member, keep an eye out for e-newsletter with the Zoom link to the events.

I’m not a member, how do I join?

If you’re not currently a Careers Springboard member please register. You’ll be invited to attend a virtual induction, where we’ll tell you a bit more about Careers Springboard and how to access our free services. Induction sessions take place on Mondays at 7pm, just before the main meeting. You can then stay for the workshop.

How To Improve Mental Health

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Good mental health is a key influence on finding and remaining in a job. However, unemployment has a detrimental impact.

  • In January 2021, 43% of unemployed people had poor mental health. This was greater than for people in employment (27%) and for people who were on furlough (34%).
  • Moving into employment from unemployment helps reduce poor mental health. However, this is not true for all forms of work. Moving from unemployment into poor quality work can lead to a deterioration. (The Health Foundation – Unemployment and mental health. April 2021)

At Careers Springboard we recognise the impact that unemployment can have. Redundancy can be a shock, you can lose your sense of status, social network, financial security, confidence, self-belief and it can have an impact on your home life. This can lead to stress, depression, anxiety and low self-esteem.

Mental Health Awareness Week

Mental Health Awareness Week (10th – 16th May) is an annual event about starting conversations around mental health. This year’s theme is Nature. During the pandemic 45% of people reported being in green spaces had been vital for their mental health. Being in nature is known to be an effective way of tackling mental health problems and of protecting our wellbeing.

Ideas to increase your time in nature

What can you do to help others?

  • If you’ve not heard from someone for a while send them a message or give them a call. Listen to how they’re feeling. Just be there to listen. Here’s some great advice about how to listen using the acronym SHUSH which Samaritans use.
  • Do you live near to other Careers Springboard members? If so, arrange to go for a walk, or meet up outside for a coffee.
  • Help them to build connections. Our weekly webinars and coffee mornings are a great opportunity to build a supportive network of others who are facing similar challenges. Sometimes people need a nudge to attend, so send them a message beforehand asking if they’re attending, or saying you’re looking forward to seeing them.
  • Remind them that Careers Springboard funds counselling services for its members. Details can be found in the members section of the website. If you’re not a member please register for free.

Mental Health Resources

Every Mind Matters – includes a free Mind Plan with tips to help you deal with stress and anxiety, improve your sleep, boost your mood and feel more in control.

Samaritans – Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.

Lindengate is a Buckinghamshire-based registered charity that offers specialised gardening activities to help those with mental health needs. Their approach has been shown to promote health and wellbeing, facilitate social inclusion and offer participants opportunities that can help them gain in self-confidence and self-esteem.

 

 

 

 

Morning habits: Start your day in the right way to get the best results

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One of our speakers Alison O’Dornan, a high performance coach and NLP practitioner, shares why great morning habits are so important.

If there was one piece of advice you’d give to people trying to adapt and thrive even, in this time of unexpected change, what would that be?

The way you start your morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. Exceptional results and happy lives are the result of consistent daily choices and nowhere is this more apparent than in your morning routine! Even in the situation you find yourself in right now, there is a choice. I read a post on Linked-in just yesterday from a friend who had just lost his job. It was about how he remembered his father losing his job many years ago, and thinking it strange that his dad still got up every morning at 6am and dressed in his suit. He did this, not because he was pretending to himself or his family, but because he understood the importance of how he saw himself, how he visualised his future and how he felt deep down in his heart. He understood the importance of the small actions, of the routines and the morning habits he implemented each day.

What you do each morning is an indicator of how you will approach the entire day – and thus also your entire life.

Do you know those days when you just don’t seem to be able to get your act together?

You skip the shower, or your morning exercise routine. Prioritise checking the news, turn on social media, read an “important” article, tidy up a little, answer some emails, and before you know it, half of the day is gone. Now, you are too busy being angry with yourself, wallowing in guilt to get anything done. Then you become even more angry about being angry and so on… Once this negative feedback loop is initiated, it becomes increasingly difficult to stop it and get back on track that very same day….

The most effective way to avoid that problem altogether is a fixed morning routine because it gives your day a structure right from the start.

Don’t let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use. – EARL NIGHTINGALE –

Adhering to a daily regimented morning routine reduces measurable stress parameters for the rest of the day and at the same time serves as a long-term benefit for your well-being.

Three of my morning habits, which I recommend to clients:

  1. Setting your mindset – for me this involves listening to some Isochronic meditative music, and then spending up to 5 mins visualising 3 things I want to get done that day that will make me feel good by bed time..
  2. Physical Movement. – I love an app called Seven, it’s a seven minute HIIT routine that really does only take seven minutes, it leaves you with your heart pumping, your endorphins flowing and a sense of achievement before you have even started your day.
  3. A cold shower – yup I did say that. Although before you now dismiss everything else I have said and label me as a ‘freak’. I am not hardcore, I do have a hot shower first, but then I gradually turn it down until it is on full cold. I start with it on my chest, then put my face in and then my whole head under. It is reputed to improve the way you manage stress, it makes you feel refreshed, gives you even more of those great endorphins and as an added bonus you will never leave the shower desperately hunting for your towel because you are freezing again!

Is this easy? Yes.

Can anyone do this? Yes.

Will everyone do this? No

You can connect with Alison O’Dornan via LinkedIn.

You might also like: How To Deal With Losing Your Job

If you’re not currently a Careers Springboard member you can join for free, to access job search advice webinars, coaching, counselling, mock interviews, networking and more.

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Virtual Networking Advice – To Help You Secure Your Next Job

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Virtual networking has become the norm for most of us over the past few months and it looks like it’s here to stay. However, it requires some different skills to face to face networking, so here’s our virtual networking advice to help you.

At Careers Springboard we emphasize the importance of networking as part of your job search. With 15 – 30% of jobs never being advertised networking is a great alternative to the highly competitive job application route.

Virtual networking advice

  • Attend as many free webinars, online conferences etc. as you can that are relevant to your sector.
  • Introduce yourself in the chat, mentioning your target job title and your LinkedIn url. It’s best to wait until everyone has joined the event, so you don’t miss potential contacts.
  • During the call engage with people in the chat.
  • If you’re put into breakout rooms engage fully, ask people questions, give advice, support or positive feedback. People will remember you as being helpful.
  • Suggest that people share their LinkedIn url’s so that you can connect with each other and benefit from everyone’s network. Remember to follow up. If you’re sending an invitation to connect via LinkedIn remember to personalise it with a message.
  • If someone mentions something they need during a conversation and you know someone who could help, connect them. You’ll be remembered by both parties for helping them solve their problem.
  • Join virtual sector based groups e.g. on LinkedIn, Facebook and engage in the group, commenting on people’s posts, or sharing content.
  • Sign up to a course and build rapport with the attendees. If you can connect with the tutor via LinkedIn do that and thank them for the course. Or write a post about it on LinkedIn tagging them.
  • Make sure that you have a great LinkedIn headline, as whenever you comment, or post on LinkedIn this is what people will see. A great format is “I help X achieve Y by Z”  You can then add some keywords that are relevant to what you do e.g. Project Manager | PRINCE2 qualified | Change Management

Practice your “Tell Me About Yourself” response

Tell me about yourself (TMAY) is one of the most common interview questions, but it’s also a question you get asked in everyday situations. Virtual networking is no different. At the start of a meeting, you’ll often be asked to introduce yourself. This is your chance to make an impact, so make sure you get it right.

At Careers Springboard we run free webinars on how to perfect your TMAY. If you’re not currently a member register for free now.

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How To Deal With Losing Your Job

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Whether you’ve been made redundant, or lost your job for any other reason unemployment can be difficult to handle. The fact that many people are losing their jobs due to the impact of Covid-19 on the job market doesn’t make the feelings any easier to deal with. Your mindset is a really important element of finding a new job, so here are some tips and resources to help you take control of your situation.

1. Become self aware

After losing a job you can go through denial, you may feel confused or in shock. This could turn to anger, frustration and anxiety about your situation. You might struggle to find meaning and not know what route to take next. For some people it may lead to depression, a feeling of helplessness, or being overwhelmed. Finally you may start to accept the situation and start to explore your options, putting plans in place to move forward.

You may not go through all of these stages and they are not linear, but it’s worth just being aware of how you may respond and being kind to yourself. All of these feelings are a completely natural and understandable response to losing your job.  We recommend talking to your partner, family and friends as they can be a useful support network. If you’re suffering with depression or anxiety please don’t struggle alone. As a Careers Springboard member you can access our free confidential counselling service. It’s provided by external qualified counsellors.

2. Take control of your situation

Assess your finances

Losing your job is tough, but it’s even harder if you’re in financial difficulty. To stop the problem escalating and becoming overwhelming assess your financial situation before you do anything else. The Money Advice Service has a checklist of things you should do if you lose your job.

3. Build your confidence by being job search ready

Understand what sets you apart from others

If you’re aware of who you are and what you can offer it increases your confidence. Before you start applying for jobs gain an understanding of your strengths, skills and values. You have a unique combination of these which set you apart from anyone else. It’s important that you know what they are so that you can articulate them in your CV and at interview. We run free webinars which cover how to identify your transferable skills, values etc.

Practice your elevator pitch

Once you’ve done this you can develop your elevator pitch. One of the most common interview questions is Tell Me About Yourself. It is also a question you might get asked by people you meet socially, or at networking events. So if you have a succinct, impactful response you can make the most of any situation to build your network.

Focus

If you randomly apply to lots of roles without a clear strategy you’re unlikely to be successful, leading to self doubt. Before you start applying spend time thinking about what kind of role you’d like. How much do you need to be paid? Where does it need to be located? Due to Covid many roles are now remote, giving you greater flexibility. What kind of company culture is important to you? Do you want to manage staff? Think about previous roles you’ve had, when were you at your happiest? What were you doing? Were you working strategically or operationally? These kinds of questions will help you to focus your job search.

Review your CV

Your CV helps to get your foot in the door. It’s your first chance to make an impression, so make it count. Spending the time reflecting on your achievements to develop your CV can help build your confidence. If you’re not sure where to start, or are going around in circles don’t panic. As a Careers Springboard member you can access our free CV review service. Our advisors will help you to quantify your achievements and pull out your key skills. Find out how to give your CV the best chance of being shortlisted by applicant tracking systems.

4. Be efficient in your job search

Use the full range of job search options

Plan your time effectively so that you’re not solely focusing on applying via job application websites. In many cases you’re unlikely to receive feedback if you’re not shortlisted, due to the number of applicants. Mentally prepare yourself for the lack of feedback and try not to take it personally.

Apply for jobs using the full range of job search options e.g. direct application, via recruiters, using LinkedIn, networking. Make sure you tailor your application, CV and covering letter. Whilst sending off lots of applications may make you feel productive it’s better to apply for a few jobs and do it well.

Networking

There is a significant hidden job market, of roles which are never advertised. Particularly for more senior roles this is likely to be your most successful route into employment. As scary as it may seem it’s vital that you spend your time building and nurturing your network. If the situation was reversed you would want to help people in your network, so take a deep breath and give them a call, or send an email. The worst that can happen is that they can’t help you, so you’re no worse off than you were before contacting them. Don’t ask for a job though, this puts the other person on the defensive. We run regular free webinars about how to manage job search networking.

Branding

When you’ve lost your job it can be hard to think of yourself in a positive light. However, you are the solution to someone’s problem. When you buy a product you are often trying to solve a problem in your life. Companies recruit staff because they have a problem to fix. For example, they need someone to transform the way they deliver services, source new business, or sell their products. Think of yourself as a brand.

So when you’re posting on social media think about what skills and strengths you have that enable you to do just that. Promote yourself by commenting on relevant articles, sharing your own content, commenting in industry related LinkedIn groups etc.

5. Reflect and Review

Take time to critically review the actions you’re taking. Job hunting is hard work, so make sure you celebrate your small successes. Set yourself clear goals of what you want to achieve in a day or week. Reflect on what’s working and what’s not working so well.

Are you reading lots of job specifications and thinking they all sound interesting but not applying for any? Do you read the job description and discount yourself as you don’t think you match the full criteria? As a Careers Springboard member you can book free coaching sessions, which can help you build your confidence and focus on which direction to take.

Are you applying for roles but not getting shortlisted? Maybe your CV needs tweaking. If you’re a Careers Springboard member book a free CV review.

Are you being shortlisted but not succeeding at interview? If you’re a Careers Springboard member you can book a free mock interview to improve your technique.

By constantly reviewing your approach and making it better you’ll be increasing your chances of success.

6. Build a support network

When you lose your job you often lose friendships and social networks which were part of your workplace. By joining Careers Springboard job club you can build new friendships. Login to the weekly meetings at 7:00pm to meet people in the networking rooms, or join one of the free virtual coffee mornings.

Volunteering is also a great way of building new relationships. It will boost your confidence and help you to fill a gap on your CV.

Unemployment affects your whole family so keep talking to each other. Our members section of our website includes some advice for partners which might be useful to share.

It’s a tough job market, but there are roles out there. Make the most of our free services. We look forward to seeing you at our webinars.