Aberdeen Careers and Development Guide
Chapter 3 - Job Search
3.1
Employment agencies
3.2
Government job centres
3.3
Newspapers
3.4
Websites
3.5
Local networking
3.6
Employment with Shell
3.7
Career counselling
3.0
Job
search
There are
several places in which to look for jobs:
3.1
Employment Agencies
There are
a large number of employment agencies in Aberdeen, all
listed in the Yellow Pages, which will have details of
jobs available within the city. There are employment
agencies which specialize in particular types of work
e.g. secretarial, finance and accountancy and
engineering jobs and you will need to invest some time
in ringing and visiting a few before you find one which
you feel best meets your needs and skills. You will need
to have a CV available to take with you or send to them.
If the agency feels that you are the type of candidate
which they can place with one of their clients they will
invite you for an interview before putting you in their
database. The services of employment agencies are
generally free to prospective employees; it is usually
the employer who pays the agency when they have found a
suitable candidate to fill a position. However, it has
been known for agencies to take a percentage of your
first year's salary, so please make sure on the first
visit what the terms and conditions of being registered
with them are. The agency may have temporary or
permanent positions available. It is a good idea to ring
the consultant you are dealing with at the agency every
couple of weeks, just to remind him/her that you are
still searching for jobs and to keep you fresh in
his/her mind. When you register with an Agency they will always ask you to bring in your passport for identify purposes and also to confirm that you have the right to work in the UK. They may also you to bring in your original qualifications documents for verification and copy.
In the
Appendices at the back of this guide there is a list of
some of the agencies categorised by type, which was
obtained from Careers Scotland. This list is not
exhaustive, but highlights some of the better known
agencies in each field.
3.2
Government job centres
Job
Centre Plus is part of a network of public Employment
Services that belong to EURES. Job Centre Plus is a
government agency supporting people of working age from
welfare into work and helping employers to fill their
vacancies. Job Centre Plus can help you find full time
or part time, temporary or permanent jobs. See their
website at
www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
3.3
Newspapers
Newspapers advertise jobs on different days. Both The
Scotsman and Herald have a job section on Fridays and
The Sunday Times has a large section for executive jobs.
The Financial Times has a separate job section on
Thursdays for nationwide jobs in finance and banking.
For local jobs one of the best sources is the daily
paper The Press and Journal. On Fridays this paper
includes a separate supplement called 'Your Job' which
not only contains many pages of job advertisements, but
also interesting features on topics relevant to the
local job market. It also contains notices of local
Careers Fairs and dates of University Open Days. The
Press and Journal is heavily used by the local health
service for advertising medical and nursing jobs, and by
the local council for jobs in local government offices
and all teaching and other jobs in local schools. Major
oil companies also advertise their local vacancies in
this supplement.
3.4
Websites
Some
organisations advertise their jobs on their own
websites. Some of the biggest locally include:
3.5
Local networking
This is a
great way of finding employment. Networking is not about
'asking people you know for a job', but about finding
out what other people know and who they know. You also
need to be comfortable with talking about yourself and
what you can do to others in a way which is positive,
but not 'pushy'. If at first this sounds daunting,
especially when you move to a new location, think about
the circle of people you come into daily contact with.
Start with the other parents waiting at the school gate
or at playgroup or the new neighbours. Maybe you can
join a local group or class where you will be able to
engage others in conversation or agree to do some
voluntary work where you will have the chance to
integrate with the local community. If you don't have a
job, but do have a field of specialism such as the law,
or teaching or accounting, see if you can attend the
local events of your relevant professional body, such as
lectures, social evenings and so on.
On a more
practical level, keep your eyes on local noticeboards
for opportunities such as giving music lessons, language
tuition or babysitting. Noticeboards are often located
in small local shops, some of the larger supermarkets or
in the library.
3.6
Employment within Shell
A number
of partners have found work with Shell. You can post
your CV in the company website at:
www.shell.com by going to 'Jobs & Careers'.Outpost
Aberdeen
also keeps partners informed of job opportunities within
the local offices that they are advised of. Make sure
you ask to be on the partner database to receive these
notifications.
3.7
Career Counselling
Whether
you have left a previously well-established career to
move to Aberdeen, spent some time away from work or
study, to raise a family, or feel it's time for a change
of direction, there are sources of help at hand:
3.7.1
Careers
Scotland
Located at 377 Union St, Aberdeen, tel:
01224 - 285200. Careers Scotland offers free vocational
guidance to those of you who feel you would like to
ëreinvent yourself' but are not quite sure how to go
about it. They can advise on study opportunities or
careers which suit individual needs and circumstances.
If you wish to use this service please call them and ask
to make an appointment to see an adult counsellor. They
also have a helpful website at
www.careers-scotland.org which details the services
they offer, including an online 'CV Builder', on-line
'self test' questionnaires and interview hints and tips.
3.7.2
University and College
Careers Guidance.
If you are already a graduate you can use
the University of
Aberdeen Careers Service.
You can contact them either by telephone (01224 -
273601) or email (careers@abdn.ac.uk). To see more on
the services they offer look at
www.abdn.ac.uk/careers.
3.7.3
Aberdeen College
The college offers advice to prospective
students on study and career options. They can be
contacted either by using the main College telephone
number 01224 - 612330 or via the website
www.abcol.ac.uk selecting Student Services.
3.7.4
Outpost
Aberdeen
At Outpost we offer one-to-one
counselling on a confidential basis. We can help you
write or re-write your CV, talk to you about your career
aspirations and offer interview practice and general
support as you try to find work in the area.
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