Top Tips & Advice for Job Seekers in 2022
The past couple of years have seen many employers struggling to fill their roles with the right people. A range of industries are lacking essential skills and talent is in demand, especially within freight forwarding and logistics. Even so, there are things jobseekers should do to set themselves apart from the competition.
Midas is the trusted partner of some of the largest names in freight forwarding and logistics. We support the recruitment journeys of leading employers, and match talented jobseekers up with the right roles for them.
In this blog, we provide some top tips for finding a job in freight forwarding and logistics in 2022 and beyond.
Know Your Goals
Before you get started, take some time to think about what you want. Is it a job with a better salary, or a career which provides you with better job satisfaction?
Narrowing down on the position, location, salary, workplace culture and benefits you are seeking will help you keep your job search specific and focused. Think about where you want to get to in a new opportunity, not just what you want to get away from in your current role. With so many job options in freight forwarding and logistics, homing in on your desired job will block out the noise and keep you focussed on what you truly want.
Know what you want already? Find out how we help jobseekers here.
Think About Career Path
As with the previous point, taking the time to understand your ideal career path will enable you to choose roles with an eye on the future. Think about where you want to be in 5 years – that age-old interview question!
More importantly, what kind of organisation, career progression, and development opportunities do you need to make that happen? Not only is knowing where you want your career to go invaluable when it comes to the job search, but it will also come in handy during interviews, demonstrating to potential employers your determination to succeed and commitment to a career within the company.
If you want to get a better idea of where you could end up, see our article on the best paying jobs in freight forwarding and logistics – here we provide a sense of which jobs provide clear progression, and the best salaries!
Assess Personal Brand
Another thing to consider is your personal brand. How you present yourself to employers is important – first impressions really do count!
Beyond looking presentable, how do you come across online? In our digital age, employers can gain insights into who you are from your social media presence and other online sources. This isn’t necessarily something to be worried about; social media can enhance your professional image and provide numerous networking opportunities. But it’s vital you keep your social media clean, with nothing on public view that could get in the way of your career goals or affect your reputation.
Consider How You Search
Searching for vacancies takes time if you don’t know where to look. Job boards can be helpful, but there may be some great opportunities out there which are not listed. In fact, especially within freight forwarding and logistics, many recruiters don’t advertise their best roles. That’s why instead of relying only on job boards, you should start amassing a list of businesses you would like to work for and regularly checking their careers pages and social media for vacancies, as well as speak to recruiters directly for the best roles.
You should also think about networking. From reaching out to people on LinkedIn to speaking to people you already know and asking for referrals to attending industry events, forming industry connection can be invaluable – providing opportunities down the line even if there isn’t a role available right now. Of course, registering with a recruiter also means you’ll get inside access to the latest roles and dedicated support.
Search our current vacancies in freight forwarding & logistics >
Tailor Resume
Employers want to know that you want their job, not just any job. As a result, it’s important to tailor your CV to the organisation and role you are applying for. An untargeted, broad-brush approach may cause a hiring manager to turn you down, even if you do have highly relevant skills.
Not only will tailoring your CV show your commitment and enthusiasm for the company in question, but it will also help busy employers immediately understand how the skills and experiences you have are relevant to their role. For example, even if you don’t have direct experience in logistics, your skillset and previous placements may lend themselves well to the environment.
Keep CV Updated
To extend the previous point, it’s also vital to keep your resume up to date with your most recent accomplishments and skills. If you haven’t given your CV a once over in a while, take the time before you start your job search in earnest to refine and refresh what’s there. Not only is this an opportunity to showcase your latest talents and achievements, but few recent entries in your resume might raise concern. Moreover, it might be time to take an entry off your CV if it’s outdated and no longer relevant.
Organise Your Search
We all want to apply for our dream job, get accepted, and for the job search to be over as easy as that. Sadly, this is not always the case, and sometimes a job search can take some time. To keep yourself organised, why not make a spreadsheet of the jobs you are going to apply for, the jobs you have applied for, and the outcome of these? Doing so will allow you to keep track of progress and help you stay motivated and positive about the process.
More than that, it will help you identify areas to work on. For example, many rejections at enquiry stage may indicate your cover letter or CV needs finetuning. Alternatively, regularly being invited for interviews only to be turned down might suggest you need to develop your interview skills.
Of course, the best way to stay organised and get helpful feedback is to work with a specialist recruitment agency – just like Midas! With a dedicated recruiter working with you, you’ll get tailored advice at every stage of your journey, and all the logistics taken care of. With a consultant handling everything, you can simply focus on your interview skills…
Prepare for Job Interviews
Speaking of interviews, preparation is everything. Research common interview questions for your chosen role and develop the perfect responses. This might include using the story method to showcase your skills and demonstrate how you have learnt from the past. Think about freight forwarding and logistics, and how any of your previous experience or skills play into the industry.
Once you have spent some time thinking through what you will say and comprehensively researched the organisation and role in question, enlist the help of a family member, friend, or network contact and practise, practise, practise!
Keep Up to Date with Technology
Whether it’s the latest industry software or the trending social media platform, keeping up to date with digital is important. With the skills gap in full force, many employers are on the hunt for digital skills – in fact, 92% of businesses cite basic digital skills as critical to their organisation, and 4 in 5 vacancies ask for them (source). If your job search is taking a while, consider taking a course to develop new skills that will aid you in your desired role. Not only will these new skills come in handy, but they will demonstrate your commitment to continuous development – something that may set you apart from other jobseekers.
Use A Recruitment Agency
Working with a recruitment agency can be a great way to approach your job search. Doing so will take the pressure off and provide you with access to vacancies not listed on job boards. More than that, there are many recruitment agencies out there that specialise in particular industries. Here at Midas, we dedicate ourselves to the dynamic, ever-changing world of freight forwarding and logistics, helping reams of talented jobseekers achieve the career of their dreams. Your recruitment agency will also help you prepare your application, provide feedback if things don’t go to plan, and help negotiate terms and salary when they do!
Searching for a new role can be a full-time job in itself; if you want to take the pressure off, access exclusive vacancies, and find your perfect fit, Midas is here to help. Register with us or search our latest jobs today!
Why Not Choose a Career in Recruitment?!
Our final tip is to choose the right role. Working in recruitment can be a highly rewarding career for people with a drive to succeed and a passion for helping talented jobseekers find and achieve their perfect opportunity. The fast-paced world of recruitment is exciting, with no two days the same. It also often comes with a host of benefits.
At Midas, we provide our staff with unlimited holiday, a competitive salary, a 30% commission scheme with no upper threshold, and access to regular L&D opportunities. More than that, we cultivate an environment of mutual support and encouragement. We look after our employees, because when you work hard, you should get rewarded.
Your Dedicated Freight Forwarding & Logistics Recruitment Agency
If you want access to the best opportunities in freight forwarding and logistics, Midas are here to show you the way. Some of the most exciting employers in the industry trust us to match them up with fresh talent. We can seek out vacancies that fit your personal requirements and skills, and support you through every stage of the application process. Together, we’ll set you up for a fulfilling career in 2022 and beyond. Let’s find your dream opportunity.
Search our latest jobs here or register with us to stay in the know!
See more: What are the Best Paying Jobs in Freight Forwarding & Logistics?