How to Find a Job

Where should you start?

Looking for a job can feel difficult, particularly if you have not applied for many jobs before.

You do not need to know exactly what career you want before you start looking. Your first job can be a chance to gain experience, develop new skills and learn more about the type of work you enjoy.

Before you start applying, think about:

  • What type of work interests you?
  • What skills do you already have?
  • What experience can you use?
  • How many hours can you work?
  • Where can you travel to?
  • What level of pay do you need?
  • Do you have other commitments, such as university, college or caring responsibilities?
  • Do you need any reasonable adjustments to apply for or do the job?
  • What type of employment are you looking for?

Your experience does not have to come from previous paid employment. Volunteering, education, sport, societies, community activities, caring responsibilities and personal projects can all help you develop useful skills.

Where can you look for jobs?

Jobs can be advertised in many places, including:

  • Employer websites
  • Job-search websites, such as Indeed, LinkedIn, Reed and Jobsite
  • Recruitment agencies
  • University and college careers services
  • Apprenticeship services
  • Charities and voluntary organisations
  • Professional organisations
  • Social media and professional networking sites
  • Local organisations and businesses
  • Your own network, such as friends, family, former colleagues or people you meet through volunteering or education

If there is a particular organisation you would like to work for, check its website to see whether it has a careers section. You can also use the GOV.UK service to search for jobs.

Read the job advert carefully

Before applying, read the job description and person specification carefully.

Look for the difference between essential and desirable requirements.

Essential requirements are things the employer considers necessary for the role.

Desirable requirements are things the employer would like but may not consider essential.

If you do not meet every desirable requirement, this does not automatically mean you should not apply.

However, check whether there are requirements you must meet, such as a particular qualification, licence, right to work or level of experience.

If you are unsure whether you meet a requirement, you can contact the employer or recruitment contact and ask.

Think about whether the job works for you

A job needs to work for you as well as the employer.

Before applying, think about the practical side of the role.

Working hours

Check what type of working arrangement is being offered:

  • Full-time: You work the standard hours for the role.
  • Part-time: You work fewer hours than a full-time role.
  • Temporary: The job is for a limited period.
  • Fixed-term: You are employed for a set period or until a specific event, such as the end of a project.
  • Permanent: The job has no planned end date.
  • Shift-based: Your working hours are organised into shifts, which may include evenings or weekends.
  • Flexible: The job offers some flexibility around when or where you work. Check what this means for the specific role.
  • Zero-hours or variable-hours: Your hours can vary, and you may not have a guaranteed number of hours.

Think about whether the hours fit around your other commitments. For example, if you are studying, consider lectures, exams, placements and travel time.

Also check whether the advertised hours are guaranteed or whether they can change.

Location and travel

Think about the whole journey rather than simply how far away the workplace is.

Consider:

  • How long the journey takes
  • Travel costs
  • Public transport
  • Parking
  • Evening and weekend transport
  • Whether you can get home safely after late shifts

A job with a good hourly rate may not work financially if travelling to and from work is expensive.

Pay

Check how the advertised pay is shown:

  • Hourly: You are paid for each hour you work.
  • Weekly: The amount you earn is shown per week.
  • Monthly: The amount you earn is shown per month.
  • Annual: Your salary is shown as the total amount you earn over a year.

Also check whether the figure is before or after deductions.

Tax, National Insurance and other deductions can affect the amount you actually receive.

Do not assume that the advertised salary is the amount that will reach your bank account.

Employment status

Try to understand what type of working arrangement you are being offered.

You might be an employee, a worker or self-employed, depending on the arrangement.

Your employment status can affect your rights and responsibilities, so if you are unsure, get advice before agreeing to the arrangement.

What skills do you have?

You may have more relevant experience than you realise.

For example:

  • University or college may demonstrate organisation, research, teamwork and meeting deadlines.
  • Volunteering may demonstrate communication, reliability and working with different people.
  • Sport may demonstrate commitment, teamwork and discipline.
  • Part-time work may demonstrate reliability, customer service and time management.
  • Personal projects may demonstrate creativity, problem-solving or technical skills.

Think about what you have actually done and what you learned from it.

You do not need to describe yourself as an expert. Focus on the skills and experience you genuinely have.

Be careful with job scams

Most job opportunities are genuine, but scams do exist.

Be cautious if a job advert:

  • Asks you to pay money before starting work
  • Promises unusually high pay for very little work
  • Asks for sensitive personal or financial information before you have established who the employer is
  • Uses a suspicious email address or website
  • Pressures you to make a decision immediately
  • Asks you to receive or transfer money on someone else’s behalf

Research the employer and check that the job is genuine before providing sensitive information or sending money.

Looking for Work and Your Mental Health

Looking for a job can be exciting, frustrating and stressful, particularly when applications take time, or you don’t hear back from employers. Searching through vacancies, completing applications and attending interviews can take a lot of energy, and rejection can sometimes affect your confidence. Try to remember that not getting a particular job doesn’t mean that you aren’t capable or good enough. Employers make decisions for many different reasons, and finding the right opportunity can take time.

Think about what works for you

When looking at jobs, think about your wellbeing as well as your skills and interests. Different working environments suit different people. Consider things like working hours, noise levels, how busy the environment is, travelling to work, interacting with customers, working independently or in a team, and how predictable the working day will be.

If you experience mental health difficulties, think about what environments help you feel comfortable and what situations you currently find difficult. For example, if you experience social anxiety, working in a packed nightclub might feel particularly overwhelming, while a quieter workplace may initially feel more manageable. However, having anxiety doesn’t automatically mean you can’t do a particular job. Think about your individual needs, what support might help and whether the role feels like a manageable challenge rather than something likely to significantly affect your wellbeing.

Take breaks from job hunting

It can be tempting to spend hours searching and applying for jobs, especially if you feel pressure to find work quickly. However, job hunting doesn’t need to become your entire day. Consider setting aside particular times for searching or completing applications and then permitting yourself to stop. Taking a break isn’t being lazy – it can help prevent you from becoming exhausted and make it easier to concentrate when you return.

Try to continue doing things that aren’t connected to finding a job. Spend time with friends or family, exercise, play games, watch something you enjoy, get outside or continue with your hobbies. Maintaining other parts of your life can help protect your confidence and remind you that your value isn’t determined by whether you currently have a job.

Dealing with rejection

Most people experience rejection while looking for work, but that doesn’t mean it is easy. You might feel disappointed, embarrassed, angry or discouraged, particularly if you had spent a lot of time preparing or really wanted the position. Give yourself some time to feel disappointed rather than immediately forcing yourself to complete another application.

Try not to turn one rejection into a judgement about yourself. Instead of “Nobody will ever employ me,” remind yourself that this particular application wasn’t successful. If appropriate, you can ask the employer for feedback and use anything helpful when preparing for future applications.

Make the process manageable

Break job hunting into smaller tasks rather than trying to do everything at once. One day you might update your CV, another day search for vacancies, and another complete an application or practise interview questions. Keeping track of applications can also help you feel more organised and reduce the worry of forgetting deadlines or interviews.

If interviews make you anxious, preparing beforehand can reduce some of the uncertainty. Practise common questions with someone you trust, plan what you’re going to wear and work out your journey beforehand. Give yourself plenty of time on the day so that rushing doesn’t add additional stress.

Ask for support

You don’t have to navigate employment alone. Family, friends, teachers, careers advisers, employment services or mental health professionals may be able to help you search for suitable opportunities, look over applications or prepare for interviews. Depending on your circumstances, you may also be able to discuss adjustments that could make work more manageable.

Most importantly, try to find a balance between challenging yourself and protecting your wellbeing. Mental health difficulties don’t automatically prevent you from having a job or developing a career, but understanding what helps you function well can make it easier to find work that is sustainable for you.

Further information