How to prep for a job hunt in 7 days
Looking for a new job but don’t know where to start? Updating your resumé, scouring jobs boards, sending applications – the whole process can be daunting, especially if it’s been years since you last applied for a job.
Thankfully, being organised makes the search more manageable. Breaking down your job hunt into smaller tasks helps you make the first step, then the rest of the process feel more achievable.
Here’s how to get started with seven straightforward steps you can tackle one day at a time.
Day 1: Take time to reflect and plan
Set aside time to consider what you’re looking for in a new role, including your non-negotiables. “A job hunt starts with thinking about what you want to do and what your ideal role or company looks like,” says Matt Bown, Managing Director at Ethos BeathChapman. “In this market, you do need to have a bit of flexibility. But establishing your career goals and priorities can help you make more confident decisions, focus your search, and identify opportunities that are truly the right fit for you.”
Reflect on what’s important to you and what you’re happy to compromise on. For example, you might prefer flexibility over higher pay. Think about your existing skills, strengths and how you’d like to apply them, and if you’re interested in certain locations or industries. For a clear view of what skills are in-demand in your industry, look at the SEEK top skills tool.
Day 2: Update your resumé and SEEK profile
Next, update your resumé to reflect your recent work experience, education and skills. While it helps to tweak this for each job application, it’s useful to have an up-to-date basic version ready at all times. Use this to update your SEEK profile and make you as discoverable as possible.
Having an updated profile helps you get better job matches as it highlights your skills and experience to potential employers. The more you put into your SEEK profile the more chance you have of being noticed by the right employers.
AI is a handy tool, but Bown advises against relying on it too much for your resumé. “Whilst AI can give you some good starting points, you’ve still got to add your personal touch and be authentic,” he says. “In the last six months, we’ve seen people’s resumés starting to sound the same and use the same language because they’ve created it using AI.”
Day 3: Think about your job search strategy
Before you dive into searching for a role, consider your strategy and build out a plan. This approach will depend on your experience and the type of role you’re after. “For people looking for the next step up or a similar role to what you’re in, job boards are usually the best,” says Leah Lambart, Career Coach at Relaunch Me.
If you’re not a traditional job seeker – perhaps you’ve been out of the workforce for a while or are making a big career change – you might need to take a different approach, such as targeting specific organisations or contacting people in your network.
Then, come up with a plan that maps out the time involved, tasks and goals, for instance spending one hour a day searching or applying for three roles a week.
Day 4: Tap into your network
Reaching out to your network, whether past colleagues, recruiters, family or friends can uncover new opportunities and learnings, especially in a tighter labour market. “Using your network is more powerful than a blind job application at the moment,” says Bown.
“Use your network as much as possible. Think about the people that can introduce you to others – have a conversation and if you can, get a coffee with them,” he says.
This might not land you a role straight away, but it can uncover potential opportunities and help people remember you when they do come up.
Day 5: Start searching and set up alerts
When it’s time to start searching, get right into it – but work smarter, not harder, by using the tools available to make this process easier. On SEEK, you can set up filters to narrow down jobs by location, salary range, industry, or even specific keywords that match your skills and interests.
Then, turn on alerts so they’re emailed to you every day, says Lambart. This makes it easier to stay on top of relevant listings without spending hours searching. You can also adjust alerts as your search evolves, adding or removing filters, to make sure you’re only seeing roles that are a strong fit.
Over time, this approach keeps your job hunt organised, focused and more efficient, giving you more time to prepare applications and tailor your resumés to each opportunity.
Day 6: Practice interview questions
Landing an interview is exciting but also nerve-racking. It helps to be prepared so you’re not leaving everything until the last minute. Being one step ahead can alleviate some of the nerves
“Start by thinking about the types of questions you might be asked in an interview, along with good examples,” says Lambart. “You could even do mock interviews with friends or family to practice your responses, get feedback on your delivery, and refine your answers.”
Practising out loud helps you speak more clearly, reduces nerves, and ensures you present yourself in the best possible way. You can also prepare questions to ask the interviewer which is essential to show interest in the role and company, leaving a positive lasting impression.
Day 7: Practise positivity
Finding the right role often takes a little time and a lot of effort – alongside plenty of rejections. Be kind to yourself and remember it’s not necessarily that you’re doing anything wrong – it’s just the state of the market at the moment, says Bown.
“Try to stay positive, look to leverage your network, and just keep going and be persistent in your job search,” he says. “Ultimately, that consistency will pay off.”
Beyond this, remember to do things to support your wellbeing. Keep confidence levels up by surrounding yourself with supporters, says Lambart, or even talk to other job seekers going through the same thing.
While job hunting can be overwhelming, some preparation goes a long way. By breaking down the process into steps, using job-searching tools, leveraging your network, yand being persistent, a new role opportunity will eventually come your way.
