Top Ten Tips to Reveal Hidden Opportunities

1. List your existing network of contacts; family, friends, colleagues, tutors, present and past employers…find out what career they are in and how they can help you in your job search and if they know anybody else who can help you. Ask people for an information interview.

2. Identify 2 or 3 people working in your chosen field seek an information interview. Ask how to research the market, who to speak to, where to find information and what questions to ask. Keep them informed of your progress.

3. Get as many people as possible looking for you. Sign up with recruitment agencies (find those relevant to your chosen field), let previous employers and current contacts know that you are looking for work and send out speculative letters.

4. Identify one or two sectors in which you would like to work and do market research. Look beyond the big names to their suppliers, distributors, customers and competitors. In particular, look at the small businesses growing within these sectors.

5. Scan your local paper for signs of growth, e.g. companies that are expanding, new developments, government tenders and awards. Make contact before new jobs are advertised.

6. Keep in touch with changes in your chosen field by keeping up with professional and trade journals, newsletters, electronic media - databases, internet,CD Roms

7. Look for work-shadowing opportunities Find out if companies have open day/visits. Use careers presentations (check careers service website www.wmin.ac.uk/careers/ for them), and employment fairs and conferences to find our what the job roles involve.

8. Volunteer to work unpaid or on a trial basis(especially useful in small business which see recruiting new staff as risky).

9. Get on the inside track by keeping in touch with people in your chosen field. Tap into their information networks, e.g. internal vacancy lists, newsletters, press announcements etc.

10. Draw up a list of organisations to target (link to 2(c)) from your chosen sector. Get names from Yellow Pages, (paper or electronic) trade association directories, professional journals, Chambers of Commerce, National Training Organisations and local business associations and surf the Internet

11. Get yourself out and about walk or drive round your local business park, office complex or local environment. Check all the business opportunities on your doorstep. Use them to make speculative contacts.