New Year, New Job: Making the most of your new job search

The new year brings the start of the job hunting season for many people.

If you’re thinking of looking for your next challenge in the gaming industry and have spent your nights re-writing your CV, what should you do next?

We asked Katie Edwards, gaming team leader at CV Bay, for some advice on how to maximise your chances of landing that dream role.

“It’s a good idea to team up with a specialist that deals with roles in the gaming industry every day,” she says. “They will be able to advise you on the marketplace and your CV, and guide you through the entire interview process.

“Be upfront about your requirements,” she continues. “Tell your recruiter honestly about why you are leaving and what you really want to do.

“Also remember that as your search progresses your requirements are likely to change. You may not have considered relocation before but might now, so be sure to communicate any change in circumstances with your recruiter. They may not have told you about your dream job because it’s further away than you could originally commute.”

What other advice did Katie have?

“Getting to know your prospective employer’s business, values and company ethos is paramount,” she states. “I cannot express strongly enough how important it is to do your research on the company and its values.”

Simon Miles, ex-head of recruitment at Codemasters, adds: “A specialist recruiter will understand their clients’ requirements and save companies time by sending suitably experienced candidates.

“The candidates I have interviewed will have done their homework before attending, and that allows us to get more out of the time we have together.”

Miles goes on to highlight the importance of finding the right support.

“The hiring process normally takes around two months – from when you actively start looking for a new role to when you will actually start your new job. It’s important to get off on the right foot and build a relationship with your recruiter. You need to trust that they are doing everything they can to help you.”

Check out all of our New Year, New Job 2016 content here.