Job hunting is time-consuming, so any shortcuts you can make to the more mechanical aspects will free your time up for research and interview preparation.
Here are some ways you can outsource or automate:
Work with recruitment consultants
Who else outside the organisation itself has such intimate knowledge of the hiring needs, culture and application process? A recruitment consultant who has developed a relationship with a client can give you insider knowledge and application advice – or even suggestions of other organisations where your skills would be welcome.
Make it easy for recruiters to work with you by being clear on your strengths, background and career aims. Sign up with specialists operating in your field rather than every single recruiter going.
Set up alerts
Let Google do the searching for you. You can create Google alerts by typing the sort of job or vacancy you want into the search query box.
You'll get an email when a vacancy is advertised. How often depends on the settings you choose. Don't forget to delete the alert when you're no longer searching.
Also sign up for alerts on any job boards you use, so you're getting the most up-to-date vacancies sent to you.
Create a master CV
Employers expect a CV tailored to the role and to their organisation, but creating a CV from scratch each time is labour-intensive.
Instead, create a master CV document which contains anything useful you might ever want to include in a CV. A master CV will save you time and effort, which you can then spend on writing a great cover letter that encourages the hiring manager to open your CV. You can include: all the jobs (paid or otherwise) that you have done; all the skills you have developed (along with examples of how you've used them well); all your qualifications and career highlights.
Then go into greater detail. For each role, make a note of your responsibilities. What or who did you manage? What were your successes, and can you quantify these? What sort of impact did you have on the organisation as a whole? Note promotions and occasions when you went beyond the scope of the role. You might also want to include some quotes from performance reviews as evidence of how other people perceive you.
When you come to apply for a role – especially one which is different from your current one – you can now select only the most relevant and interesting details that match the specific requirements (don't send the master CV itself).
Establish an efficient tracking method
Keep on top of your job search activities. Effective job searching involves many different elements, from researching and networking to following up on leads. If you don't have a method to track all these, you can easily duplicate your efforts and waste time.
Whether you use a calendar or an excel spreadsheet, make sure you're noting down how people are connected, when you contacted them (and when you said you'd follow up), and deadlines for applications.
Set yourself tasks so you can easily see the progress you're making. Make sure that these tasks are varied: ideally you should have a good mix of online and face-to-face activity.
That said, a lot of your job search can't be outsourced. Only you can really decide what sort of job or employer best matches your skills and career aims. It's also up to you to work out how your career history should be presented, and what needs to be highlighted for a potential employer. Ultimately, the success of an interview will also come down to your preparation, performance on the day, and whether you're a good fit for the organisation.
This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. To get more content and advice like this direct to your inbox, sign up for our weekly update and careers ebook.
