Whether you have just popped out of university or you are getting itchy feet at your current organisation, looking for (and landing) your next job can seem daunting. Handily you can make the process a bit less stressful by focusing on these simple tips!
1. Choose a sector you are interested in
Choose a sector that you are interested in working in, like think tanks or government. Read up on the various think tanks and look at their recent reports/events (Smart Thinking is a good place to start). Which ones really resonate with you? Is it their mission or the policy areas they work in that most interest you? Or both? Do you start to feel excited at the thought of working there and contributing to their outputs?
2. Sign up for job alerts
Sign up for new job alerts on jobs boards such as Charity Job, W4MP, Indeed and to the Smart Thinking weekly jobs newsletter. (insert link) Some roles are only live for a couple of weeks so you give yourself both a heads up when an opportunity at your dream think tank opens and also gives you plenty of time to craft that application.
3. Do your research
When you see a role that piques your interest, do your research. Dig deep into what the job entails, what skills and experience the organisation are looking for and use your CV / cover letter / application to really nail how you meet them in your examples. It goes without saying that you need to adjust your cover letter and CV for each role. And don’t rely on ChatGPT to do it for you. By the time a recruiter is reading their fifth AI–generated CV they can tell!
4. Soft skills are also important
Don’t forget your soft skills too. Communication, problem-solving and teamwork skills are in high demand and often neglected in applications.
5. Monitor those social media profiles
Keep your social media profiles professional and up to date. They will be checked.
6. Properly prepare for your interview
Interview preparation is key. Make sure that you have a good understanding of the think tank or organisation, it’s overall vibe and (crucially) why you want to work for them. You would be amazed how many interviewees don’t have a good answer for that!
7. Don’t delay!
A lot of jobs are filled on a rolling basis so if you are offered an early interview – take it!
Good luck!
