A lot has been going on.. or not! After the awesome experience I had at LVMH in Brussels, I kept failing in finding a job. First of all, I wanted to find a job that will not require me to travel at least 4h per day, restricting my job search to Antwerp only. At the moment I'm still searching for my dream job, or at least something that would make me happy! But surely along the way I learned how to deal with job interviews, job searching, networking and all that comes along. That's why I decided to share it also here :)
1. Update that CV
First and for all, update that CV (and cover letter ;) ). If you're coming from a recent job experience, make sure to include that in your CV. If it's an important job experience, make sure to make it stand out, without exaggerating (always be honest & realistic). A bit of sparkle never hurts ;) I would also recommend to check your CV layout & format - it might be outdated, so try to make it modern and attractive. I found the inspiration for mine on Pinterest! There you can find a lot of examples of professional CV's that do stand out. Lastly, do not forget to spell check!! :)2. Where do you want to go?
When my contract at LV expired, I really set my mind to continue finding jobs in the fashion industry. I was so in love with it that it kept me motivated and positive. That's why I created a list (actually they are more like website links) of companies where I'd love to work or others that interest me. In my case I really knew where to go. But, do YOU know where do you want to go? I believe that's what you should ask yourself before starting any job search. Do you want to continue working in the same field, or try something new? Are you passionate about certain companies? Write it down!3. Register to newsletters
From my experience I saw that the more I was trying to search, each day, on those same websites, same keywords, just drove me insane & stressed. I found quite some 'advice' on how to 'compulsively' check the companies you want to work for, work fields, etc. each how many minutes per day.. It drives you crazy! I believe that's the opposite of what you should be doing. On the other hand, I used technology! Literally, to every company/job website/social media I was interested in I subscribed to newsletters. Through company websites there is almost always a link where you can subscribe to get more information when a vacancy is up and through job websites/interims, I created my 'keywords' for which I get a daily reminder. Set up - click & go - directly in your email box! Easy as that :)4. Create a calendar and stick with it
In the long run I realised that daily compulsive job search ain't gonna work. So instead I set up certain days where I would dedicate some hours to more extensive job search and CV & cover letter improvement. For me that is Monday and Thursday, but you could do it more than twice. It also depends on the flow of vacancies, if there are not many, I do it once per week. This system allowed me to not get negative about job search and keep positive. It also means that you give yourself time to improve and get new ideas, which you don't if you'd be busy with it everyday.5. Don't mind those requirements!
Experience has taught me to be daring. Yes, that's right, daring! I thought to myself so so so many times: 'I'd LOVE that position, but I don't have the right requirements..' So what?! If you don't try, you'll never know! And indeed that's what you should do, just apply, the worst it can happen is that they don't give you a shot. But at least you tried, and that's what matters! Being daring brings confidence, something you really need when job hunting and especially when unemployed for a long time. So why not try? :)I hope you enjoyed my job hunting battle plan :) What is yours??
