10 tips to help you get a job FAST

Sometimes, despite no fault of your own, you end up with a P45 and changing your LinkedIn profile to ‘currently seeking new challenges’. Here are 10 tips to help you find a new job fast if you’re a lawyer, accountant or consultant I’m Heather Townsend, author of Poised for Partnership and co-author of How to Make Partner & Still Have a Life. I’m the leading global expert in what it takes to move from senior fee earner to partner – and when you get there, stay there (5 ways to work with me) 1. Make contact before sending your CV Before you send a CV to anyone, aim to have a face-to-face meeting, or if that is not possible, a phone call, before you send across your CV. You are more likely to find a job with an employer, if you are a person to them, not just a faceless CV. 2. Systematically target prospective employers Make lists of companies who you would like to work for, and work towards gaining a face-to-face meeting with someone in a decision making position for every company on the list. 3. Be specific about what you are looking for Pretty much everyone wants to help someone looking for a new job. The more specific you are with what you are looking for, the more likely people will be able to help you. 4. Network systemically Draw up a spreadsheet of all the people in your personal & professional network. Aim to contact them all regularly, by phone or in person if possible, and keep a brief record of the conversation and next steps from the conversation. Do follow up on any offered introductions! 5. Keep a record of all your conversations Keep a record of who you contact, what version of your CV they send to you, and how you were introduced or came to meet them. 6. Don’t rely on job adverts 80% of all job vacancies are not openly advertised. The most efficient ways to finding your next role are to uncover these job vacancies. This can by either asking people in your network if they know of any suitable vacancies, targeting specific companies etc 7. Ask people, ‘who do you know who can help me…’ As science has frequently demonstrated there are a maximum of seven degrees of separation between us all. This means that someone within the network of your personal or professional network, may know the right person for you to talk to. The only way you will find that out is to ask the question… 8. Never turn down the offer of a coffee There is always an element of luck when it comes to job hunting. Never turn down the offer of a conversation, you may never know where it may lead to. 9. Find a support group of other job hunters You are statistically more likely to find your next job quicker if you work together with other job hunters, for example sharing leads and contacts. 10. Maintain a presence on LinkedIn – Have you updated your LinkedIn profile recently? Your LinkedIn profile is your shop window to recruiters and potential employers, and the first place which potential recruiters will look when they are considering contacting you. Read more about how LinkedIn can help with your job search here. I’m Heather Townsend, author of Poised for Partnership and co-author of How to Make Partner & Still Have a Life. I’m the leading global expert in what it takes to move from senior fee earner to partner – and when you get there, stay there (5 ways to work with me) Start working on your own career progression  sign up to receive my How to Make Partner weekly tips here and you’ll find out what you need to be working on in your career development, building your client portfolio and your business case to progress your career all the way to partner in your firm.