So, you’re looking for work for the first time. And, you know that employers won't come knocking at your door. But, how do you go about finding a job
A good way to start is to think about how employers actually fill job vacancies.
The way that employers look for workers varies, depending on the size of the company and the industry it works in.
In general, the main methods employers use to find workers are:
1 Word of mouth or personal contacts
Some employers manage to find new recruits just by letting their workers, and their other personal contacts, know that a vacancy is coming up.
This is why developing your own network of contacts - family, friends, neighbours, people you’ve worked with and people who know you socially – is so important.
A lot of people find work this way. The first step is to let your family, friends and other contacts know that you’re looking for a job, and what type of work you’d be interested in. Ask them to get in touch if they hear about a job coming up with their employer, or any other company (you can ‘weed out’ the jobs that don’t interest you).
A third of small businesses say that ‘word of mouth’ is the most important way they find employees. And, 75% of jobs aren’t advertised.
Often employers don’t advertise their jobs at all, especially small companies. Many big companies advertise their vacancies internally before they advertise – on their website, notice boards and employee newsletters. They ask employees if they know of anyone suitable for the job. Some companies even have official ‘employee referral’ schemes, where employees can recommend someone they know.
Take every chance you get to build up your network of contacts. Go along to career and job fairs, or career exhibitions.
Here’s the kind of information you could get from your network. They might be able to tell you:
- about jobs that are available
- about someone leaving a job
- about new companies moving to your area
- the name of the person who deals with recruitment in their company or organisation.
Remember to include your work experience contacts!
If you had a successful work placement through school, you could write to the company and ask them if they plan to recruit, and also let them know you would be interested in any vacancies that come up in the future. Address the email or letter to a particular individual within the company, and mention your past experience with them (give dates).
2 National and local newspapers
This is another popular way for employers to advertise vacancies.
· All the main national newspapers carry job adverts, usually on the same day each week. Most of these adverts are for national and international companies, but in the case of the Scottish press, most of the jobs advertised will be located in Scotland.
· Many national newspapers also have related recruitment sites, for example www.s1jobs.com (Herald, Sunday Herald and Evening Times).
· Local daily and weekly newspapers also carry job adverts. Smaller companies in your local area will tend to use local newspapers. There are also some free publications that concentrate only on job vacancies.
· Your local library will have copies of local and national newspapers.
· Specialist magazines and trade journals, for example the ‘Maritime Journal’ or the ‘Scientist’, tend to be more useful for experienced job hunters than for first-timers.
3 The Internet
About 75% of companies, mainly larger employers, now recruit through their own ‘corporate’ website. This definitely applies to Scottish local authorities, so if you are interested in working for your local council, keep a close eye on their website.
And, about one in eight employers advertises vacancies on online recruitment sites.
Some employers may ask you to apply online or email them your CV. See the section on ‘Applying for work’ for information on applying online.
There are lots of different commercial recruitment sites. Some have information on all types of vacancies. Others focus on vacancies in specific industries or for specific groups of job seekers; for example there are lots of sites for graduates.
Here are some of the most popular general recruitment websites:
There are also specific sites for Modern Apprenticeship recruitment, like the MappIT website at www.mappit.net
You don't have to choose between full-time study and full-time work. With a Modern Apprenticeship you’re an employee; you can earn a proper wage and get recognized qualifications. Modern Apprenticeships usually last for three years, are available all over Scotland and provide a way into a wide range of careers, from accounting to woodworking.
And, if you are interested in apprenticeship training, also take a look at Sector Skills Councils’ (SSC) websites. Sector Skills Councils represent UK employers on skill issues in different industries or areas of work. They don’t advertise vacancies as such, but you will find information on how to get an apprenticeship or training in their industry. You can get a list of the councils, and their websites, on the Alliance of Sector Skills Council website at: www.sscalliance.org
Things to watch out for when using the Internet to look for work:
- being swamped by too much information
- being distracted by other sites
- protecting your own personal information (never give out any personal information about yourself without checking for a statement that the information will be secure)
- charges or fees for services on some commercial sites. (In general, avoid these. The employer normally pays to advertise the vacancy online.)
First things first
Get access
If you don’t have internet access at home, find out where you can get free access. Try your local library, Careers Scotland Centre, Jobcentre Plus office or local economic initiative office. Even if they can’t give you free access they should be able to tell you who can.
Avoid going to internet cafes where you have to pay as you go. You need to be able to browse for as long as you like, and perhaps apply online, without being cut off because your money has run out.
- Plan your search before you go online
Think before you surf; it saves time and energy! Write down:
- the names of the jobs, or type of job, you are looking for
- the industries you want to focus on
- the level of job you want to go into (for example, junior, trainee, apprentice, technician)
- the names of any specific companies you’d like to work for.
And, remember to keep track of your ‘favourites’.
4 Jobcentre Plus
This gets a special mention because it is the most popular choice for many employers!
The Jobcentre Plus website handles around 400,000 vacancies in the UK each week.
Check out the vacancies on the Job Centre Plus website at http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/.
Alternatively, you can use their telephone job-matching service, Job Seeker Direct, to find a job in your area (Tel: 0845 6060 234). You can also visit your local Jobcentre Plus office and use the Jobpoint touch screens to look for vacancies.
5 Contacting companies
You already know that employers won’t be beating a path to your door. So, why not try beating a path to theirs!
Some companies don’t hold on to speculative or ‘on spec’ applications, but many do.
Contacting local companies on the off chance that they might have a vacancy is often worthwhile, even if they haven’t advertised.
Try using the internet to find out about local companies. If they have a website, click on ‘Contact’ to find their email address, telephone number and postal address. Some websites also have an ‘About us’ page, which might tell you the name of the person dealing with recruitment.
If you can't find the company on the internet you may find it, and other similar firms, in the telephone directory. The Yellow Pages phone book is especially useful as companies are listed by industry.
You can approach employers in your local shopping centre, industrial estate or business park, or target a particular type of company.
Look at the sections on ‘Applying for Work’ for ideas on how to phone or write to employers ‘on spec’. These ideas will also help you if you call on an employer in person.
If you are approaching employers speculatively, focus on the type of company you are really interested in. It’s also a good idea to try to find out a bit about the company before you approach it. Employers will be much more impressed if you know a bit about what they do.
After sending in your ‘on spec’ application, including your CV, you may hear nothing! Lots of companies won’t even acknowledge that they received it. So, one or two weeks after you’ve posted it try phoning them to check that it has reached the right person in the company. Don’t take it too much to heart if they aren’t interested, keep on going!
6 Employment agencies
Many employers use employment agencies, and not just for ‘temp’ work.
Some agencies specialise in recruiting for particular industries – for example, the catering industry or temporary office work. You can get yourself placed on their list of people they contact about vacancies. There should be no charge for this.
In some cases the agency might test you, for example to establish your typing speed and accuracy, before accepting you.
Once you have registered with an agency you should keep phoning them up or visiting them so that they keep you in mind.
7 Careers Scotland (Skills Development Scotland)
Careers Scotland no longer places young people into jobs or training places, but they can help you look at the opportunities that may be available in your local area.
The Careers Scotland website is a useful source of information when making career decisions. It also has information on what employers look for in employees, and gives you information on the career planning and employability support your local Careers Scotland Centre offers. Check it out at www.careers-scotland.org.uk/.
8 Job fairs and career exhibitions
Careers Scotland, local authorities and other organisations run job fairs so that employers have the opportunity to promote jobs in their company or organisation. Look out for posters advertising these events and make the effort to go along if you can. At the very least, you might make some useful contacts!
Check how much you can remembered about where to look for work by trying the ‘Looking for jobs’ quiz.
You’ll find it on the PlanIT Plus website at http://www.planitplus.net/ (see Career Zone–Career Planning-Moving On).
Looking for work
Things to think about
- In Scotland, 97% of companies are small or medium sized (less than 250 employees). About a third of these recruit school or college leavers. 55% of all job vacancies will be with small firms. Don’t narrow down your hunt by looking for work only with big companies.
- For small companies, recruiting new staff can be expensive and time-consuming. They don’t recruit in the same way as bigger firms, which have specialist personnel (human resource) staff to organize recruitment.
- Many first time job hunters have high expectations of employers and how they will respond when you send in your CV or ‘on spec’ letter, only to find that in many cases you get no reply at all. Don’t let this stop you. It’s frustrating and annoying, but it happens.
- Big companies and public sector organizations, such as local authorities, use their own websites to recruit new staff. The internet is becoming the first choice for lots of firms. You’ll need to learn how to search for work online.
- Some of the apprenticeship recruitment campaigns run by larger companies, for example BAE Systems (an international defence and aerospace company, with bases on the Clyde in Glasgow), accept online applications only.
- A job isn’t always a full time, permanent job for life. These days few people end their career in the same firm they started with. There are still long-term permanent jobs out there, but the job market is changing. Even public sector jobs (such as local authority and civil service jobs) don’t come with a ‘life’ guarantee. So, be prepared for the reality of short-term contracts or freelance work. Freelancers are self employed and usually take on a set piece of work for an agreed rate.
- Qualifications are important, but they’re not enough on their own. More than anything else, especially for school or college leavers with limited or no work experience, employers want workers with what they call ‘soft skills’ (see the section on ‘Identifying your skills’) or the potential to pick these skills up.
- As a young applicant, with less experience, you’ll have to think of ways to prove that you have potential. Employers tend to look at your activities in and out of school, and at any work experience you’ve had (no matter what it is) for proof of potential. So, it’s worth getting off the PlayStation and into a part-time job or people-related activity, team or club. Voluntary work is good too!
Worksheet 1: Internet job search log
Access details
You may find it useful to note some basic details about your Internet session, especially if you are not using the Internet at home.
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Date |
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Place (for example Library) |
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Log in time |
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Log out time |
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Job search details
Write down the names of the jobs you are looking for (for example hairdresser/hair stylist/hairdressing junior), the type of industry or sector of work (for example ‘hair and beauty’), any specific firms you’d like to work for (such as Vidal Sassoon) and the level of job you are looking for. Think about the areas you’d prefer to work in and how far you are prepared to travel.
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Job name/s |
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Job group or industry sector* |
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Company name/s (if relevant) |
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Level/s of entry |
Unskilled or semi-skilled |
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Skilled/Trade |
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Technician |
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Professional |
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Area/location/distance |
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Search words (for example, junior, assistant, trainee, apprentice) |
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Pattern of work
Full-time permanent part-time temporary
Website details
Note the names and addresses of the websites you plan to use.
* The Jobcentre Plus website uses the following ‘Job Groups’
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Admin/Office |
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Information Technology |
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Animal Care |
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Leisure/Tourism/Arts/Media |
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Armed Forces |
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Managers |
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Bar/Hotel/Food |
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Professional |
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Childcare/Health/Care |
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Retail & Sales |
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Construction |
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Security and Safety |
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Factory/Process |
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Skilled Trades |
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Finance and Legal |
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Transport/Vehicle |
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General** |
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**‘General’ covers all sorts of things including: agriculture/horticulture, goods/warehouse, hair/beauty, labouring, leisure/catering, postal/delivery, general factory work and funeral services.
Watch out for jobs turning up in several groups! Garage trades appear under ‘Vehicle Trades’ in the ‘Skilled Trades’ group and under ‘Repair/Fitting’ under the ‘Transport/Vehicle’ group.
Vacancy details
You should be able to print out the details of the vacancies you find online. However you might want to note down the basic details for your own records.
Job 1
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Job Name |
Reference Number/Code |
Closing Date |
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Employer |
Job Description |
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Hours |
Wage |
How to apply |
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Job 2
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Job Name |
Reference Number/Code |
Closing Date |
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Employer |
Job Description |
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Hours |
Wage |
How to apply |
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Try having a few practice sessions to help you to get used to using the different websites.
Finding out about companies and employers
You might want to find out about employers for two main reasons.
- You might want to work for a particular employer, or type of employer, and want to get in touch to find out about vacancies.
- You might be applying for a vacancy with the employer, and want to find out more about their company before you telephone them, fill in an application form or go for an interview.
Where to look?
- The internet
- Yellow Pages and Thomson Local directories (if you are looking for contact information)
- Yellow Pages online at www.yell.com
- Your local library
- Kompass at: www.kompass.co.uk (UK online business directory)
- Your Careers Scotland centre or college careers service
- Trade directories, journals and publications
- Your local Chamber of Commerce (you can find more information on the UK website at: www.britishchambers.org.uk)
- The company itself.
What kind of information do you need to know about companies?
- Who owns it?
- What does it make or do?
- Has it been operating a long time?
- Is it large? Is it growing? How many people work there?
- Who and where are its customers?
- What is its reputation?
- Does it operate only in the local area, or nationally?
Find out as much as you can about the following three companies.
1. Greggs (the baker)
2. Boots (the chemist)
3. British Telecommunication (BT)