What Job Is Right for Me? Start With Your Skills, Not Just Your Job Title

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When you are looking for work, it is tempting to begin with a familiar job title.

You might search for “administrator”, “warehouse worker”, “care assistant”, “sales assistant” or another role you have done before. That can be useful, but it can also make your search narrower than it needs to be.

A better starting question can be:

What can I do, and which jobs could use those skills?

That small change can open up more realistic possibilities.

A Job Title Does Not Tell the Whole Story

A job title is only a label. Different employers can use the same title for roles with different duties, working environments and requirements.

Your previous experience may also have given you skills that are useful in other occupations.

For example, experience dealing with customers may have involved communication, problem-solving, handling information and managing difficult situations. Those abilities may be relevant to more than one type of job.

The important point is not to assume that one previous job automatically qualifies you for another. You still need to check what the new role actually requires.

Start With What You Can Do

Take some time to write down the things you can genuinely do.

Think about:

  • Skills – What are you good at doing?
  • Experience – What have you done before, whether paid or unpaid?
  • Interests – What types of work or subjects hold your attention?
  • Working preferences – What type of environment and working arrangements are practical for you?
  • Qualifications – What training, certificates or other qualifications do you already have?

You do not need to describe yourself in impressive language. Start with facts.

“Used a computer every day” is more useful than simply writing “good with technology”.

“Dealt with customer enquiries” tells you more than “good communication skills”.

The aim is to identify evidence you can later connect to real job requirements.

Use the National Careers Service Skills Assessment

The National Careers Service provides a free “Discover your skills and careers” assessment.

It asks questions about things you like to do or are good at, and uses your answers to identify what motivates you and suggest careers you can compare. The assessment currently contains 40 multiple-choice questions and takes about 5 to 10 minutes to complete, although it can take longer when using a screen reader.

That makes it a useful place to begin when you are unsure about the direction of your job search.

There are also National Careers Service career profiles for hundreds of occupations. These profiles provide information such as what the work involves, qualifications, salary, progression opportunities and typical tasks.

An Important Distinction

The assessment gives you career suggestions to compare. It does not establish that a particular career is suitable for you.

That distinction matters.

Your assessment result is one source of information. You still need to compare the suggested occupations with your actual skills, experience, circumstances and the requirements of the jobs available to you.

This is a supported inference from how the National Careers Service describes the tool: it is designed to help you understand yourself, consider your next step and compare career suggestions.

Compare Careers With the Reality of the Job

Once you have identified several possible roles, investigate them rather than choosing one immediately.

For each occupation, ask:

What does the job actually involve?

Read the National Careers Service profile and look at the daily tasks.

What skills are required?

Compare those requirements with the skills you have written down.

What qualifications or training are needed?

Check the entry requirements rather than assuming that previous experience will be enough.

Would the working arrangements suit my circumstances?

Think about location, working hours, travel and the nature of the workplace.

Are there vacancies for this type of work?

A career can sound attractive but still require further investigation before you make it your employment target.

The current UK labour market also gives reason to be deliberate. The latest Office for National Statistics release, published on 15 September 2026, estimated unemployment at 4.9% for May to July 2026 and around 702,000 vacancies for June to August 2026. These are UK-wide figures and do not indicate whether any particular occupation is suitable or available in your local area.

Look for More Than One Possible Role

You do not necessarily need one perfect career choice.

A more practical approach can be to identify two or three realistic job directions and investigate each one.

For instance, your experience might point towards several related roles rather than one exact job title.

This gives you room to compare the requirements, opportunities and practical realities before deciding where to concentrate your applications.

The purpose is not to apply for everything. It is to understand where your existing skills may have genuine value.

Your Location Matters

The National Careers Service is provided for people who live in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have separate publicly supported careers services.

In Scotland, My World of Work, provided by Skills Development Scotland, offers career information, job information and tools to explore roles based on skills, strengths and other factors.

In Wales, Careers Wales and Working Wales provide careers guidance, job-search support and tools for exploring careers and skills.

In Northern Ireland, the Careers Service provides impartial careers information, advice and guidance for adults, including help with career planning, transferable skills and job-search techniques.

So before using a careers service, check that you are using the service for the nation in which you live.

Your Practical Next Step

Take a sheet of paper and create four headings:

  • What I can do
  • What I have done
  • What interests me
  • Jobs that could use these skills

Then use the appropriate official careers service for where you live.

Complete the skills assessment where available. Choose two or three career profiles that appear relevant. Read them carefully and compare the actual requirements with your own evidence.

Do not ask only: “What job title do I recognise?”

Ask instead: “What can I realistically offer, and where could those skills be useful?”

That gives your job search a stronger starting point.

Official Resources

England: National Careers Service – Discover your skills and careers; Explore careers.

Scotland: My World of Work – career and job information from Skills Development Scotland.

Wales: Careers Wales / Working Wales – careers advice, skills and job-search support.

Northern Ireland: Careers Service – impartial careers information, advice and guidance.

Where Do I Start? A Practical Job Search Plan for the Unemployed

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Being out of work can make the job search feel larger than it really is.

You may be looking at several job websites, thinking about different types of work, updating your CV, answering messages, contacting employers and wondering what to do next. After a while, it can become difficult to tell whether you are making progress or simply spending a lot of time searching.

The answer is not necessarily to search harder. It is to give your search some structure.

Start by Accepting the Reality of the Current UK Job Market

The UK labour market is changing, and finding suitable work can take time. The Office for National Statistics reported an unemployment rate of 4.9% for May to July 2026. For June to August 2026, there were an estimated 702,000 vacancies, while there were 2.5 unemployed people for every vacancy in May to July. These figures describe the labour market as a whole; they do not tell us how quickly any particular person will find work.

That is why a useful job search should begin with a plan rather than with a random search for vacancies.

Decide What You Are Actually Looking For

Before opening another job website, write down the type of work you are looking for.

Keep it practical.

Think about:

  • the types of roles you could realistically do now
  • the skills and experience you can offer
  • the location you can reasonably travel to
  • whether you need full-time, part-time, temporary, permanent, hybrid or remote work
  • any circumstances that affect the hours or type of work you can take

You do not have to know exactly what your long-term career will be. At this stage, the aim is to establish a sensible employment target.

The National Careers Service provides tools to help people explore different types of work, identify existing skills and get help with applications and job searching.

Use Reliable Sources Instead of Searching Everywhere

You do not need to register with every job website you encounter.

The National Careers Service recommends several ways of finding vacancies, including job boards, employer websites, recruitment agencies and the government’s Find a Job service. It also explains that many job sites allow people to create vacancy alerts based on factors such as location, skills and experience.

Start with a small number of reliable sources that are relevant to your target roles.

One important source is the government’s Find a Job service. It allows you to search vacancies by factors including job role and location, and it offers email alerts.

Employer careers pages can also be useful because some organisations advertise vacancies directly on their own websites.

Make Your Week Manageable

A job search becomes easier to manage when you decide in advance what you will do.

Your weekly checklist could look like this:

  1. Review your target roles.
    Check that the jobs you are considering still match your skills, experience and circumstances.
  2. Search your chosen vacancy sources.
    Check Find a Job, relevant job boards and the careers pages of suitable employers.
  3. Save suitable vacancies.
    Do not apply simply because a vacancy exists. Read the requirements and decide whether the role is genuinely relevant to you.
  4. Prepare applications carefully.
    Give your attention to applications that match your experience and where you can provide relevant evidence.
  5. Record what you have done.
    Keep a simple record of vacancies considered, applications submitted, interviews, follow-up actions and anything you need to do next.
  6. Spend some time improving your position.
    This might mean reviewing your CV, identifying a skills gap, completing useful training or speaking to a careers adviser.
  7. Review the week.
    Ask yourself what produced a useful result, what did not, and what should change next week.

This is not a requirement to apply for a particular number of jobs. The purpose of the checklist is to create a repeatable routine that you can adjust to your circumstances.

Do Not Confuse Your Personal Plan With Your Claimant Commitment

If you receive Universal Credit and are required to look for work, you may have a claimant commitment agreed with your work coach. It records what you have agreed to do to prepare for and look for work, and it is based on your circumstances. Your work coach can help with job applications, training and looking for work in your area.

Your own weekly checklist can sit alongside those requirements. It should help you organise your job search, but it should not replace anything you are required to do under your claimant commitment.

Your circumstances matter. Responsibilities such as caring, disability, health conditions or other barriers can affect what work-related activity is appropriate, and GOV.UK advises people to discuss circumstances that make their agreed activities difficult with their work coach.

Where to Get Help

The National Careers Service offers guidance on exploring work, identifying skills, applying for jobs and deciding what to do next.

Jobcentre Plus can provide employment support, including help with job searching and training. The support available depends on your circumstances and eligibility.

The government’s Find a Job service provides an official route for searching current vacancies.

Your Practical Next Step

Do not try to organise your entire working life today.

Take one sheet of paper and write down:

The jobs I am looking for:

Where I will search:

What I will work on this week:

Applications or enquiries I need to make:

What I will review at the end of the week:

That is your starting point.

A structured job search does not guarantee a job. What it can do is give you a clearer way to decide what to do next, keep track of your progress and make better use of the employment support available to you.

Official Resources

National Careers Service — Get help applying for jobs: National Careers Service

GOV.UK — Finding a job: GOV.UK Finding a job

Find a Job — UK Government vacancy service: Find a Job

GOV.UK — Help with moving from benefits to work: Jobcentre Plus support

Why Your Job Search Isn’t Working And What to Change in 2026

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Applying for job after job but hearing nothing back? You may not need to work harder. You may need to change your approach.

Job searching can become exhausting surprisingly quickly.

You find a vacancy. You update your CV. You write a covering letter. You click Apply and then wait.

Nothing.

So you apply for another job. Then another. After a few weeks, you may start asking yourself:

“Is there something wrong with me?”

Probably not.

The problem may be your job-search strategy, rather than your ability.

At Careers Springboard, we see professionals, managers and graduates at different stages of their careers. One thing comes up again and again: people often spend too much time applying and not enough time being visible, building relationships and targeting the right opportunities.

Here are some practical changes that can make a real difference.

1. Stop treating every vacancy as an opportunity

It is tempting to apply for anything that looks remotely suitable, particularly when you have been searching for work for some time.

But more applications do not automatically mean more interviews.

A better approach is to become clear about the roles you actually want.

Ask yourself:

  • What type of role am I targeting?
  • Which industries or organisations interest me?
  • What level of responsibility am I looking for?
  • Which skills do I want to use?
  • What are my non-negotiables?
  • What am I prepared to compromise on?

The clearer you are, the easier it becomes to recognise a good opportunity and explain to someone else why you are a good fit.

2. Your CV should answer one question quickly

When someone looks at your CV, they should not have to work out what you can offer.

Your CV is not your complete career history. It is a marketing document designed to get you into the next conversation.

Look at the vacancy and ask:

“What problem is this employer trying to solve?”

Then make sure your CV shows evidence that you can help solve it.

Instead of simply listing responsibilities, highlight achievements.

For example:

Instead of:

“Responsible for managing a team.”

Try:

“Led a team of 12 and improved project delivery times by 20%.”

The second version tells the reader what you actually achieved.

And remember: there is no single “perfect CV”. Your CV should be adapted to the role you are targeting.

Careers Springboard members can also access our free CV review service for individual feedback.

3. Don’t make LinkedIn a digital CV graveyard

Having a LinkedIn profile is not the same as using LinkedIn for your job search.

If your profile simply says what you did in your last job, you are missing opportunities.

Think about what you want people to associate with you.

What do you know about?

What problems can you solve?

What type of work are you interested in?

Then start behaving like someone who is active in that professional space.

Follow relevant companies. Connect with people in your sector. Comment thoughtfully on relevant posts. Share useful insights. Reconnect with former colleagues.

You don’t need to become a LinkedIn influencer.

You just need the right people to know who you are and what you do.

Careers Springboard has specifically run sessions on using LinkedIn proactively to uncover opportunities, approach recruiters and increase professional visibility.

4. Networking isn’t asking people for a job

This is one of the biggest misconceptions about networking.

You don’t have to walk into a conversation saying:

“Can you get me a job?”

In fact, that’s rarely the best approach.

Instead, start conversations.

Tell people what type of work you are exploring. Ask about their industry. Find out what is happening in their organisation. Ask for advice or insight.

A conversation today may lead to an introduction tomorrow or an opportunity several months later.

And networking doesn’t have to mean attending a formal networking event.

It can be:

  • reconnecting with a former colleague
  • speaking to someone you know through your professional network
  • attending an industry event
  • joining a professional association
  • participating in a LinkedIn discussion
  • having a coffee with someone whose career interests you

Careers Springboard recently highlighted networking as a practical way of accessing opportunities that may never appear on job boards.

5. Don’t ignore the jobs you can’t see

Job boards are useful. They should not be your entire job search.

The UK government’s Find a Job service remains one useful source of vacancies, while the National Careers Service recommends combining job boards with vacancy alerts and other approaches.

But also think beyond advertised vacancies.

Make a list of 10–20 organisations where you would genuinely like to work.

Research them.

Follow them.

Identify people who work there.

Understand what is happening in their industry.

Then start building relationships.

This changes your approach from:

“What jobs are available?”

to:

“Where could I create value?”

That is a much more proactive way to approach your career.

6. Use AI but don’t let it replace you

AI can be extremely useful during a job search.

It can help you:

  • analyse a job description
  • identify skills and keywords
  • brainstorm interview questions
  • practise answers
  • improve the structure of a CV
  • research an industry
  • prepare questions for an interview

But there is an important difference between using AI to improve your thinking and letting AI do your thinking.

A generic AI-generated CV can sound polished while saying very little about the real person behind it.

Your experience, judgement, personality and achievements are what make you interesting to an employer.

Use AI as a tool.

Don’t allow it to turn you into one.

Careers Springboard has already included AI and career development in its webinar programme, reflecting how relevant the technology has become to today’s job search.

7. If you’re getting interviews but no offers, change the question

If you are regularly getting interviews but not receiving offers, your CV may not be the main problem.

Look at what happens after you get shortlisted.

Are your answers too long?

Are you giving examples rather than making general statements?

Are you answering the question that was asked?

Can you clearly explain why you want the role?

Can you demonstrate the impact you have made in previous positions?

And perhaps most importantly:

Are you practising?

An interview is not the best place to have your first attempt at explaining your experience.

A mock interview gives you an opportunity to practise, receive feedback and identify where you can improve.

Careers Springboard provides free mock interview support for members, including practice based around the role they are applying for.

8. Don’t measure your job search only by applications

This is a small change that can have a big effect on your mindset.

Instead of measuring your week by:

“I applied for 15 jobs.”

Try measuring:

  • meaningful conversations started
  • new professional connections made
  • companies researched
  • networking conversations completed
  • applications carefully tailored
  • interviews practised
  • new skills developed
  • feedback received

A good job search is not simply an application-production line.

It is a process of learning, improving and becoming more visible.

9. Build a job-search routine you can actually sustain

Looking for work can easily become a full-time activity with no boundaries.

You spend the morning searching job boards.

Then you check LinkedIn.

Then email.

Then another job board.

Before you know it, the day has disappeared.

Instead, create structure.

For example:

Monday: identify target roles and organisations
Tuesday: applications and CV tailoring
Wednesday: networking and LinkedIn
Thursday: interview preparation and skills development
Friday: follow-ups, review and planning

Your exact routine will depend on your circumstances.

The important thing is to have one.

And don’t forget to take breaks.

A sustainable job search is more effective than burning yourself out for two weeks and then struggling to do anything.

10. Don’t do it completely alone

Perhaps the most important lesson is this:

You don’t have to figure everything out by yourself.

A job search can affect your confidence, motivation and sense of direction particularly when applications disappear into a black hole and rejection starts to feel personal.

Talking to other people can help you see things differently.

At Careers Springboard, our approach is based on self-help and mutual support. Members can access Monday evening webinars, networking, CV advice, coaching, LinkedIn support and interview practice.

You don’t have to be an expert at networking.

You don’t have to have the perfect CV.

You don’t have to know exactly what your next career move is.

You just need to be willing to take the next step.

The 30-minute job-search reset

If your job search feels stuck, don’t start by sending another application.

Take 30 minutes and answer these five questions:

  1. What roles am I really targeting?
  2. What are the three strongest things I can offer an employer?
  3. Does my CV clearly demonstrate those strengths?
  4. Who could I reconnect with this week?
  5. What is one thing I can improve before my next interview?

Your answers will probably tell you more than another hour scrolling through job boards.

One final thought

Finding a job is rarely a straight line.

Sometimes the opportunity comes from an application.

Sometimes it comes from a former colleague.

Sometimes it starts with a LinkedIn conversation.

Sometimes it comes after an interview that you didn’t get but which taught you exactly what to improve next time.

So if your job search isn’t working right now, don’t automatically conclude that you aren’t working.

Change the strategy.

Review what you are doing. Keep what works. Drop what doesn’t. Ask for feedback. Talk to people. Keep learning.

And keep moving.

Need some support with your job search?

Careers Springboard is a registered charity providing free job-search support for professionals, managers and graduates. Members can access webinars, CV reviews, career coaching, LinkedIn support, mock interviews and other resources.

If you’re looking for work, considering a career change or simply unsure what your next step should be, register with Careers Springboard and take that next step with us.

21 Job Search Tips from the Pros: What Really Works

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Looking for a job can sometimes feel like a full-time job in itself.

You search job boards, update your CV, send applications, check LinkedIn, speak to recruiters and wait for replies. Some days you feel positive. Other days, after another rejection or another application disappearing into silence, you wonder whether any of it is making a difference.

The good news is that you don’t necessarily need to work harder at your job search.

You may simply need to work differently.

We have brought together 21 practical job search tips based on the advice and experience of career professionals, recruiters and people who have helped others successfully navigate career changes.

There are no magic formulas here. Just sensible things that can make your job search more focused, more effective and, hopefully, a little less stressful.

1. Know what you are looking for

Before applying for anything, be clear about the type of role you want.

What sort of organisation would suit you? What responsibilities do you enjoy? What skills do you want to use?

The clearer you are, the easier it becomes to recognise the right opportunities.

2. Don’t apply for everything

When you are unemployed, it is tempting to apply for every vacancy that looks vaguely suitable.

But quantity isn’t everything.

A smaller number of well-targeted applications can be more productive than sending your CV everywhere.

Ask yourself:

“Would I genuinely want this job, and can I demonstrate that I could do it?”

If the answer is yes, make the application count.

3. Give your CV a purpose

Your CV is not your autobiography.

It should quickly show an employer what you can offer and why your experience is relevant to the role.

Put the most useful information where it is easy to find, and focus on achievements rather than simply listing responsibilities.

4. Tailor your CV

One CV rarely works perfectly for every job.

Look carefully at the job description. What skills and experience is the employer asking for?

If you have those skills, make sure your CV demonstrates them clearly.

Don’t simply copy the job description. Show where you have actually used those skills.

5. Think about achievements, not just duties

Compare these two statements:

“Responsible for managing a team.”

with:

“Managed a team of 10 and introduced a new weekly planning process that improved delivery across the department.”

The second tells the employer much more.

Where possible, explain what you did, what changed and what the result was.

6. Keep LinkedIn working for you

Your LinkedIn profile should support your job search, not just sit there waiting for someone to find it.

Make sure your headline clearly explains what you do.

Keep your experience up to date and make sure your profile reflects the type of role you want next.

Then go beyond the profile.

Follow companies you are interested in. Engage with relevant posts. Connect with people in your industry.

7. Don’t underestimate networking

Many people hear “networking” and immediately think of awkward conversations and handing out business cards.

It doesn’t have to be like that.

Networking is simply building genuine professional relationships.

Reconnect with former colleagues. Speak to people in your industry. Attend professional events. Join relevant online communities.

You never know when a conversation might lead to an introduction, an idea or an opportunity.

8. Tell people what you are looking for

Don’t keep your job search a secret.

Let former colleagues, friends and professional contacts know what type of role you are looking for.

But be specific.

Instead of:

“I’m looking for anything.”

try:

“I’m looking for a project management role within financial services, ideally around programme delivery and transformation.”

People are much more likely to think of you when they understand what you are looking for.

9. Build a list of target companies

Don’t only search for vacancies.

Think about companies where you would genuinely like to work.

Create a list of perhaps 10–20 organisations and research them.

Follow their news. Understand what they do. Identify people who work there.

Then start building relationships.

Your next opportunity may not be advertised when you first become interested in a company.

10. Use job boards wisely

Job boards are useful, but don’t let them become your entire job search.

Set up job alerts for relevant positions and check them regularly.

But spend time on other activities too networking, LinkedIn, recruiters, direct approaches and professional contacts.

A balanced job search gives you more than one route into the market.

11. Make recruiters work with you

If a recruiter contacts you, be professional and responsive.

If they don’t have the right opportunity today, that doesn’t mean they won’t have one next month.

Keep your relationship professional and make sure they understand your experience, target roles and availability.

And remember: recruiters are not the only route to finding a job.

12. Prepare your “Tell me about yourself” answer

This is one of the questions people often dread.

It becomes much easier when you prepare.

Have a short, natural explanation covering:

Where you have come from → what you are good at → what you are looking for next.

Don’t memorise a speech.

You want to sound prepared, not rehearsed.

13. Prepare examples before the interview

Think about situations where you have:

  • solved a difficult problem
  • handled conflict
  • led or supported a team
  • delivered a result
  • dealt with change
  • made a mistake and learned from it
  • influenced someone
  • managed competing priorities

Having real examples ready makes answering competency-based questions much easier.

14. Research the organisation properly

Don’t arrive at an interview knowing only what is written in the job advert.

Look at the organisation’s website, recent news, strategy, products or services and competitors.

Think about the challenges they may be facing.

Then consider:

“What could I bring to help them?”

That changes the interview from simply asking for a job to having a professional conversation.

15. Remember that interviews work both ways

An interview isn’t only about proving that you are good enough.

You are also deciding whether the organisation is right for you.

Prepare thoughtful questions.

For example:

  • What would success look like after six months?
  • What are the biggest challenges facing the team?
  • How would you describe the management style?
  • What opportunities are there to develop?

Good questions can demonstrate genuine interest and help you make a better decision.

16. Practise before the real interview

You wouldn’t normally walk onto a stage without rehearsing.

Why treat an important job interview differently?

Ask a friend, colleague or career professional to conduct a mock interview.

Practising can help you spot answers that are too long, unclear or lacking in evidence.

It also gives you an opportunity to become more comfortable talking about your achievements.

17. Don’t take rejection personally

This is easier said than done.

A rejection can feel like a judgement on you.

But recruitment decisions are rarely that simple.

Another candidate may have had more directly relevant experience. The organisation may have changed its requirements. The role may have been filled internally.

Learn what you can from the experience, then keep moving.

18. Review what is happening

If you have sent 30 applications and had no interviews, don’t simply send another 30.

Stop and review.

Is your CV getting through?

Are you targeting the right roles?

Are you applying too broadly?

Is your LinkedIn profile helping?

If you are getting interviews but no offers, your interview preparation may need attention.

Look at the evidence and adjust your strategy.

19. Use AI but keep your human voice

AI tools can be useful during a job search.

They can help you brainstorm career options, analyse a job description, identify gaps in your CV, generate interview questions or improve the structure of a document.

But don’t allow AI to invent your experience or turn your application into something that doesn’t sound like you.

Your experience is the valuable part.

AI should help you present it more effectively not replace it.

20. Create a routine

Job searching without structure can quickly become overwhelming.

Set yourself realistic daily or weekly goals.

For example:

Monday: Research opportunities
Tuesday: Work on applications
Wednesday: Networking
Thursday: Interview preparation
Friday: Review progress and plan the following week

And take breaks.

Your job search is important, but you are more than your job search.

21. Don’t do it alone

Perhaps the most important tip is this:

Ask for help.

Speak to people who understand recruitment, career changes and job searching.

Ask someone to review your CV.

Practise an interview.

Talk through your career options.

Join a networking group.

Sometimes an outside perspective can spot something you simply cannot see yourself.

Your job search is a process, not a single application

Finding the right job rarely happens because of one perfect CV or one brilliant interview.

It is usually the result of lots of small things working together having a clear direction, presenting your experience well, building relationships, preparing properly and learning from what happens along the way.

If your current job search isn’t producing the results you hoped for, don’t automatically assume you need to send more applications.

Take a step back. Review what you’re doing. Change what isn’t working.

And remember that asking for support isn’t a sign of weakness.

It can be one of the smartest things you do.

Looking for practical job-search support?

At Careers Springboard, our members can access free support including CV reviews, LinkedIn guidance, interview practice, career coaching, networking and practical job-search advice.

If you’re between jobs, considering a career change or simply want some direction with your job search, find out how Careers Springboard can help.

September 2026: Is It Time to Reset Your Job Search?

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September often feels like a fresh start.

Summer is over, routines return, businesses get moving again and many people start thinking seriously about what they want to achieve before the end of the year.

If you have been looking for work for several weeks or months, this could be the perfect time to stop, step back and ask an important question:

Is your job search actually working or are you simply doing more of the same?

The UK jobs market has been challenging, but recent recruitment data is showing some cautious signs of improvement. That does not mean finding a job has suddenly become easy. It means there may be opportunities but you need to make sure your approach is working for you.

More applications don’t always mean better results

It is tempting to measure your job search by the number of applications you send.

“I applied for ten jobs this week.”

But applications are only one part of the process.

If you are sending dozens of applications but receiving very few responses, it may be time to look at the quality and direction of your search.

Ask yourself:

  • Am I applying for roles that genuinely match my experience?
  • Is my CV clearly showing the value I can bring?
  • Am I tailoring my application to each role?
  • Is my LinkedIn profile supporting my job search?
  • Am I speaking to people in my target industry?
  • Am I following up with recruiters and contacts?
  • Am I practising for interviews before they happen?

A strong job search is not just about applying more. It is about becoming easier for the right employer to find, understand and remember.

Give your CV a September MOT

Your CV should not be a historical record of everything you have ever done.

It should make it easy for an employer to see why you could be right for this particular role.

The National Careers Service recommends keeping a CV clear and concise and tailoring it to the job you are applying for.

Take 30 minutes this week and review:

Your opening profile: Does it immediately explain what you do and what you offer?

Your achievements: Are you describing results rather than simply listing responsibilities?

Your recent experience: Is the most relevant information easy to find?

Your keywords: Does your CV reflect the skills and terminology used in the roles you want?

Your outdated content: Is there information that no longer adds value?

Sometimes a few strategic changes can make a bigger difference than sending another 20 applications.

Don’t let LinkedIn sit quietly in the background

Your LinkedIn profile should work alongside your CV.
Think beyond simply having a completed profile.
Who do you want to be noticed by?
Recruiters? Hiring managers? Former colleagues? People working in your target companies?
Start engaging with the people and organisations relevant to your career direction. Comment thoughtfully. Share useful insights. Reconnect with people you already know.

You don’t need to become a social-media influencer.

You simply need to become visible and credible to the right people.

Spend more time talking to people

Some opportunities begin with a conversation rather than an application.

That could be:

  • a former colleague
  • a recruiter
  • someone working in your target company
  • a professional contact
  • someone you meet through a networking event
  • a person you have not spoken to for several years

Networking does not mean asking everyone you know for a job.

It means building genuine professional relationships.

A simple message such as:

“I’m exploring my next move in operations and would really value hearing how things are changing in your sector.”

can be far more natural than:

“Do you know of any jobs?”

Prepare before the interview arrives

If you have reached the interview stage but repeatedly miss out, don’t wait for the next rejection to tell you what went wrong.

Practise.

Think about the examples you could use to demonstrate:

  • leadership
  • problem solving
  • teamwork
  • dealing with difficult situations
  • delivering results
  • adapting to change
  • learning something new

And prepare questions for the interviewer.

An interview is not simply an examination. It is also your opportunity to understand whether the organisation and role are right for you.

Your September reset

You don’t need to completely rebuild your career strategy overnight.

Start with five actions:

1. Review your last 10 applications. | Look for patterns. 

2. Refresh your CV. | Make your achievements and relevant skills clearer. 

3. Review LinkedIn. | Make sure it reflects the professional direction you want to pursue. 

4. Reconnect with five people. | Have genuine conversations rather than simply asking for vacancies. 

5. Practise your interview story. | Be ready to explain who you are, what you offer and what you are looking for. 

Most importantly, don’t confuse activity with progress.

A job search can become exhausting when every day feels like another application.

Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is pause, review your approach and change direction.

You don’t have to do it alone

 At Careers Springboard, we know that job searching can feel very different when you have people around you who understand what you are going through.

 Our free member support includes CV reviews, LinkedIn support, interview practice, career coaching, networking and practical job-search guidance.

If September feels like the right time for a fresh start, make your next move a more strategic one.

AI Won’t Get You the Job But Knowing How to Use It Might

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Artificial intelligence has changed the way many people search for work.

You can now use AI to brainstorm career ideas, improve a CV, prepare for interview questions, research companies and practise your answers.

But there is an important difference between using AI to support your job search and letting AI do your job search for you.

And employers are increasingly interested in that difference.

The AI job-search trap

Imagine this.

You find a vacancy.

You paste the job description into an AI tool.

You ask it to write your CV.

Then you ask it to write a cover letter.

Then you use AI to create your interview answers.

It sounds efficient.

But there is a problem.

You can end up with an application that sounds polished but doesn’t sound like you.

Recruiters are looking for evidence of your experience, judgement, achievements and personality.

AI can help you communicate those things.

It cannot replace them.

So how should you use AI?

Think of AI as a career assistant, not a career replacement.

For example, instead of asking:

“Write my CV.”

Try:

“Here is my current CV and the job description. Identify the five areas where my experience most closely matches the role and suggest where I could make the evidence clearer.”

That gives you something much more useful: a starting point for your own thinking.

You remain responsible for the final CV.

Use AI to find the gaps

One of the most useful applications of AI is identifying gaps between your experience and a job description.

You can ask it to compare:

What the employer wants

with

What you can demonstrate

You might discover that you already have the experience but are not explaining it clearly.

For example, you might have:

“Managed a team of 12.”

But the vacancy is looking for:

“Experience leading teams through organisational change.”

Your experience may be relevant but your CV needs to explain the context and result.

That is where your human judgement matters.

Don’t let AI invent your achievements

This is one of the most important rules.

Never allow an AI tool to create achievements, qualifications, responsibilities or experience that you don’t actually have.

“Improved customer satisfaction by 25%” sounds impressive.

But if you cannot explain where that figure came from in an interview, it becomes a problem.

Your application must remain truthful and defensible.

AI can make you better at interviews

AI can also be useful for interview preparation.

Try giving it a job description and asking it to generate challenging questions based on the role.

Then practise answering them yourself.

You can ask:

  • Is my answer clear?
  • Have I actually answered the question?
  • Have I provided evidence?
  • Is the example too long?
  • What follow-up question might an interviewer ask?
  • But don’t memorise an AI-generated script.

Interviewers want to meet you, not a perfectly rehearsed chatbot.

The human skills still matter

The growing use of AI does not make human skills less important.

If anything, it can make them more valuable.

Employers still need people who can:

  • communicate clearly
  • build relationships
  • make decisions
  • solve problems
  • understand customers
  • collaborate with others
  • demonstrate judgement
  • adapt when circumstances change

AI can generate an answer.

You need to demonstrate that you know what to do with it.

Prepare for the AI question

You may increasingly be asked:

“How are you using AI in your work?”

Don’t panic if you are not an AI expert.

Think about practical examples.

Perhaps you have used AI to:

  • analyse information
  • improve a first draft
  • summarise research
  • generate ideas
  • automate repetitive tasks
  • explore different approaches to a problem

The important thing is to explain what you did, why you used AI and what judgement you applied.

Recent reporting shows that candidates are increasingly encountering questions around their use of AI and their attitude towards it.

The best AI advantage is still being yourself

AI can help you research.

It can help you practise.

It can help you identify gaps.

It can help you become more organised.

But your experience, judgement, relationships and personality remain yours.

So don’t ask:

“How can AI get me a job?”

Ask:

“How can I use AI to become a better candidate?”

That is a much more powerful question.

Need help with your job search?

Careers Springboard helps members develop practical job-search skills, including CV preparation, LinkedIn, interview practice, networking and career coaching.

Use AI as a tool.

Use people for perspective.

And make sure the final application sounds like you.

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.