If you’re here, you’re ready to launch your job search — congratulations on taking the first step! Whether you're re-entering the workforce after a break or aiming to level up your career, this guide is designed to help you succeed.
6 Proven Steps to Job Search Success
So, how do you get your CV to be the one that brings a smile to the recruiter’s face? You have to do the exact opposite of the ‘crisis-needs-action’ impulse. Jo Abbot’s approach is about setting yourself up for success with a strategic, thoughtful process.
Step One: Reflect on Career Goals
Don’t jump straight to updating your CV. Instead, think about what you want to do at work. Start by thinking about your career goals:
- What did you love in previous roles?
- What responsibilities or tasks would you prefer to avoid?
- Identify skills you’re proud of and areas you’d like to develop.
Create a table with columns like “What I Love,” “What I Want to Avoid,” “Skills I Bring,” and “Where I Want to Work.” Consider your ideal work hours, salary needs, location, and whether you’re open to remote or international roles. We have created this template to help you get started.
Download Step One Template: Reflect on Career Goals.
Knowing where you are heading will help you keep on track and avoid opportunities that are not right for you.
Step Two: Research Roles That Excite You
Avoid opening your old CV for now. Instead, search for job titles that align with what you enjoy. Start researching dream jobs, all the things you love on your list; look up dream jobs, e.g. you love making things happen on time; look up ‘Project manager jobs’ (and you can add a location too e.g. ‘project manager jobs cape town’). If you enjoy being out talking to people and selling things, look up ‘relationship manager and sales jobs’.
Your aim is to bring up job adverts and role profiles/job descriptions and read them from top to bottom. It is amazing how few people read the summary, the key responsibilities, the essential skills, the desirable skills, and the company information. Is this something you would love to do? Is this an organisation you would like to work for? If not, keep tweaking the job title for something more senior or junior depending on the skills needed or for particular sectors, e.g. ‘project manager for non-profits’. Keep going until you have around five jobs that you would love to do and are qualified to do, i.e. you meet at least half of the requirements; yes, tick them off one by one!
Another helpful tip is to paste your skills from step one into ChatGPT and ask it for job titles that match your skills.
Read: Jobs I Can Do: How Skilled Moms Can Find the Right Opportunities.
Start the Analysis. Copy the job adverts/descriptions into a Word document. Now, working online or with a printout, go through these jobs and highlight in PINK what you love about the job, and highlight in GREEN what you have that the jobs are looking e.g. qualifications, experience, skills, languages, etc. Highlight in YELLOW anything the jobs are looking for that you don't have. Now sit back and look across all the jobs and identify what’s common – in the requirements, the language used to describe the work, things you love about the jobs, gaps you may have. Get into the zone of what these jobs are all about and how you fit.
Step Three: Fill in Skill Gaps
This is the time to bridge any skill gaps. Consider taking short online courses if you notice specific skills or certifications repeatedly required in your target roles. Many free and affordable resources are available, which can make a significant difference in updating your skill set.
Remember to add gained certificates to your LinkedIn profile and CV.
Step Four: Tailor Your CV Content
Now is the right time to get out your old CV. Once you clearly understand your target roles, update it by incorporating the specific language from the job descriptions you gathered in step two, showcasing how your experience aligns with these roles. Focus solely on content at this stage, not the design. Recruitment agencies, like RecruitMyMom, use CV parsing software to create online profiles for job seekers so that a plain-text CV can streamline this process. Read: How to Get Shortlisted: Is Your Fancy CV Hindering Your Shortlisting Success?
Once the CV is ready, you can craft a generic motivational letter to pull information from when you write role-specific motivational letters. A generic one makes the application process faster and easier when you see the perfect job. This is the groundwork.
If you need extra assistance in crafting your winning CV, we have a couple of career coaches we recommend.
Step Five: Design Your CV
It is time to get creative. While the plain-text format is good for applicant tracking systems, consider a well-designed version that reflects your personality. Create a CV that is clear, visually appealing, and modern.
Here are some design tips:
- Highlight key skills and experience needed for the job.
- Use colours that are professional yet distinctive.
- Ensure readability and visual flow.
There are numerous ‘free’ CV-creating software programs on the internet, but before you spend hours creating the perfect resume, ensure that it does not ask you to pay just before you hit the download button. A couple of excellent tools include Canva, Microsoft 365 and Adobe. Note that not all ATS will be able to read well designed CV’s. This is where your plain text but still beautiful CV will be best.
Take the time to send the CV to friends or people in your professional network to get their input on it.
Step Six: Start Applying with Intention
Now it’s time to begin applying. Rather than applying to hundreds of roles, focus on a select few that are best suited for your skills and interests. Customise each application, demonstrating your understanding of the role and showing how your experience aligns with the job requirements. Schedule regular times each week to apply, and don’t forget to network with others in the field—many opportunities are found through connections.
3 Common Job Search Mistakes to Avoid
All too often, people fall into these job-search traps in their eagerness to get started:
- Dusting off an old CV rather than starting from scratch: Often, people simply update their previous CVs and apply to roles similar to what they used to do, hoping to land something quickly.
- Only skimming a job spec before applying: Applying for any and all jobs that might work can lead to missed details, mismatched expectations, and a less compelling application.
- Burnout and giving up: After sending out hundreds of applications without a response, many doubt their value, leading to discouragement and withdrawal from the search.
Does this sound familiar? The rush to send out applications often disconnects what recruiters are looking for and the information your CV presents.
Now, consider things from the recruiter's perspective. Recruiters often face an overwhelming influx of outdated CVs and generic cover letters that don’t match the job, creating frustration and wasting time. Recruiters and hiring managers are looking for candidates who can demonstrate a connection between the job specification and their skills, experience, and motivation. Most CVs may get a quick scan—opened and closed in 30 seconds—because they lack this essential fit. Of the many applications received, only a few may align with the role’s requirements.
Avoiding these mistakes will reduce job search fatigue and increase the chances of finding the right fit.
In Summary
Preparing to return to work may feel overwhelming at first, but by taking these strategic steps, you can approach your job search with a clear plan and renewed confidence. Rather than sending out a flurry of applications, take the time to reflect, research, and prepare. This process doesn’t need to take months; even dedicating a few days to these steps can position you for success. By aligning your application with the skills, experience, and motivation sought by recruiters, you’ll make a meaningful impact—and greatly increase your chances of landing a role that’s right for you.
This article is written by Dr Jo Abbot, career coach, owner of Horizons Coaching and working mom. Jo is passionate about helping women return to work after a career break. She has developed a course for women wanting to return to work, called Fresh Horizons. Have a look here to learn more about her back to work course.
