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Looking for a job in a downturn

OS Magazine, Career Clinic, November 2008

I have been in my present role for quite a while and have been thinking about looking for a new job for the last few months. I know the timing isn’t brilliant because of the current market, but what can I do to set myself apart from the crowd in my job search?

Poppy Arnold


Dear Poppy

You are not alone. We’ve had the same conversation dozens of time recently with others in your situation.

Even in economic downturns, organisations still need people, but you’re right to think that standing out from the crowd is more important than ever.

At Gordon Yates we meet every candidate personally so that we can judge their potential, even if it’s sometimes hidden. Some people have far greater instant impact than others and it’s worth considering why this is.

First of all, they look the part. It may be shallow but first appearances count, particularly in the job market. You don’t need film star looks, but making an effort makes all the difference.

They clearly feel the part. Confidence is as important as appearance. People who ooze self-confidence, energy and a sense of purpose leap out from the crowd.

Their CV reflects how they look and feel. An applicant’s CV increasingly guides organisations. It must be sharp, well thought out, written positively and with confidence, but without waffling!

Think about your own strategy for standing out. In today’s crowded global markets, marketing is often far more important than the product and the same applies to job hunting. Marketing in your case means understanding who you want to work for, what excites them and how to reach them. 

Increasingly, marketing is an internet challenge. Some of our people at Gordon Yates spend all their time scouring the leading jobsites for the best CVs. We also invest heavily in job advertising online to attract CVs. 

I asked Katy Irvine and Sarah Norton, resourcers at Gordon Yates, what it is about a CV that makes them sit up and take notice.  They said that if they’re looking for a highly specific skill-set (say fluent French, written Mandarin and Sage Payroll skills, to imagine an extreme example!) then the rest of the CV is less important. In virtually every other case, however, presentation is all. If the CV is well laid out, free of spelling mistakes, typos and waffle, then it stands out and shows that the sender has made an effort.

Your first step is to identify the companies you’d like to work or and find out which jobsites they use. Then make sure that your CV is as sharp and impressive as possible. Where the jobsite allows, a brief well-worded cover note can add enormous value to your CV. If you’re responding to an ad, a covering email succinctly explaining your interest is equally valuable. 

Check you look and feel great, and you’re ready to be outstanding. I wish you the very best of luck!

Richard Grace
Joint MD, Gordon Yates

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