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Step 1 – making a start

What sort of job do you want – your job goal

If you’re planning a journey, you need to have a destination in mind. It’s the same with a job.

Ask yourself:  what sort of job do you want? Write it down. That’s your job goal. Having a clear and realistic goal will help to keep you motivated and focused.

Think about:

  • which industry or sector you want to work in, for example, hospitality, construction, retail
  • what type of role are you looking for, for example, customer service, management, office support
  • where do you want to work, that is, what location – how far can you travel
  • what hours do you want to work
  • do you want a permanent or temporary job
  • what pay / salary do you want

Of course, things can change, so you will need some flexibility, but you have your starting point.

When you are thinking about looking for a new job, there may be other things you need to consider, such as:

  • Would you need childcare? A range of support with the cost of childcare is available. Find out more on our Help with childcare costs page
  • If you look after another person, is support available to help you balance work and caring? More information is on our Work and Caring page
  • Could you get there on time?  If you use public transport to get around, find out your options. Get hold of timetables to see what’s possible
  • Do you have a health condition or disability? If you have, support may be available to help you into work. You can find out more on our Help for disabled people page
  • Do you have access to the right IT? A lot of job search is done online.  If you don’t, ask your local library about booking some computer time

What are you good at?

Make a list of what you are good at and the things you enjoy. This a great way to start thinking about what you can offer a future employer and it’s also a reminder to yourself of all the things you do well. Things to think about include:

  • Your qualifications – at school, college, university and at work
  • Work-based skills – the skills and experience you gained in previous jobs will be of interest to employers. These could be specific technical skills or ‘transferable’ skills that most employers would value, such as team working, communication, adaptability and time management
  • Outside work – everybody picks up skills through their day-to-day lives or hobbies. For example, time management and organisational skills are important for parents and carers; and any hobby can require skills in things like IT or teamwork

Go to next page ‘Step 2 – boost your chances’

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