Candidates: How to get found by employers

We take an in-depth look at the best ways to get found by employers when looking for a new job or seeking a promotion.How to get employers to find you

1. Make a lasting impression

How many times do people say ‘I never forget a face’? Make the most of careers and job fairs and do lots of talking (and smiling) to make yourself memorable. By getting out there as much as possible you’re more likely to make an impression plus provide a reference point when contacting employers in the future, I met your team at… employers are more likely to track you down if they remember you.

2. Social Media

Aside from optimising your social media profiles so that they stand out to employers and are easier to find, join in conversations and group activity on the relevant social media channels that belong to employers you would like to work with in the future. If you like the content they produce, share it and comment using your real name. Do this often enough and you may well get noticed by the hiring manager.

3. Vlogs and Blogs

One of the easiest outlets to impart your knowledge and opinions within your specialism is a blog. Take the time to understand which keywords employers are searching for, craft a content plan and get creating. Once you have established yourself as a regular blogger in your field, interact with leading influencers in your sector and offer to guest blog for reputable channels. Over time your work will begin to surface on the web and this will become a useful way for future employers to find you and recognise your commitment to your field.

4. Use a well-connected agency

When registering with a recruitment agency, be sure to enlist with a well-connected one. Do your research and you may only need to register with one good agency as they will have contacts at all leading companies. Get to know the consultants in your sector really well and they will be more likely to contact you when an opportunity matching your skill set comes up and be keen to hook you up with the right employer.

If you use jobs boards, again, be sure to do your keyword research to uncover all of the terminology used by employers to search for candidates matching the roles you are searching for and be diligent about including these in your profile summary.

5. LinkedIn

As an almost essential tool in the recruitment process, it is important that your LinkedIn profile is spot on. This means ensuring that the job titles you seek are input into your headline immediately after your name. This is one of the first bits of information employers will see and search for so it has to be right. Similarly, ensure that job titles for previous positions all accurately reflect your experience. Connections and recommendations are also visible to employers on LinkedIn so take the time to make these relevant and compelling too.

6. Get Recommended

As mentioned in point 5, obtaining recommendations on LinkedIn is a vital part of securing your dream role. Employers are often happy to interview purely on the basis of recommendation so contact previous employers, colleagues and project co-workers to build up your recommendations. People are time-poor so you could always draft an outline recommendation and ask them to approve it and publish it to your profiles. If you have business profiles on Facebook and Google+ too seek recommendations and endorsements here too.

7. Apprenticeships

There are numerous apprenticeships available in different fields. Securing one is an invaluable way to gain on-site experience, a professional qualification and with a high chance of full-time employment upon successful completion, is a great way for an employer to find you.

8. Volunteer

By taking on voluntary work you will gain vital experience and the chance to upsell yourself to potential employers. Without this exposure and experience it could be much less likely that an employer consider you for a position. Write about your voluntary work and experiences online and in social media to give yourself the chance of being found by future employers searching for people with your experience.

9. Get Quoted

If you are knowledgeable and experienced enough in your field to be a credible source of information, register with a site such as HARO. Connecting over 475,000 sources with around 35,000 journalists, HARO could enable your opinions to be quoted or published in leading publications. Once published or quoted your name is more likely to appear in search results to employers searching for expertise within their industry and if it does you will be that much more credible as a quoted professional.

10. Speak out

Speaker at a convention. If you consider yourself a thought leader in your niche and have some case studies or original data to share with your peers, then put yourself forward to speak at relevant networking events. These do not have to be large keynote events but establishing yourself in this way will mean employers are more likely to hear about you and peers recommend you.

11. Alumni and professional associations

Employers will often approach professional organisations and universities when seeking a specific candidate. Register with your alumni association and industry bodies with a keyword rich profile to help employers find you. Take the time to write articles or feedback for any associated publications to ensure your name and expertise is as visible as possible.
Follow the tips above and you will be giving yourself the very best chance at being found by employers rather than you having to do all of the searching for the right job yourself!

PSR International are market leaders in recruitment for the construction industry. We can assist with filling your vacancy or finding short and long term contracts for candidates of all levels. We have over 10 years’ experience in the UK construction recruitment industry and are committed to delivering the same exceptional service to our clients and candidates.

Please contact us to take your career in construction to the next level.

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