It’s ‘cuffing season’ for job hunting! Expert reveals why searching for a new role is just like DATING – and what you should be doing in every interview

• Jill Cotton is a career trends expert at Glassdoor, which reviews companies
• Said October is ‘job-cuff’ season, where people seek to secure work for winter
• She has suggested eight key tips to help people secure a job for this season
• And she said many companies are struggling to fill their vacancies post-Covid 

The term ‘cuffing season’ usually refers to dating – when we find a mate to ‘cuff’ ourselves to during winter months.

But economic experts have now said that the trend is happening within the job market too.

According to company review site, Glassdoor, October is the key month that people search for a new job. 

And now an expert has revealed her eight top tips to help Britons secure their dream role this winter – and the things they should be doing in every interview.

Jill Cotton, career trends expert at Glassdoor, the worldwide leader on insights into jobs and companies, told FEMAIL job seekers should ‘imagine they’re already in the job’ and ‘always follow up’. 

According to experts from Glassdoor, now is the best time to secure a new role before vacancies dry up until the Spring (stock image)

Jill explained that in the UK, there has been a huge spike in job searches, with people trying to secure a role before Christmas.

This may be to secure a higher salary or better work-life balance, or simple to see them through the cost of living crisis.

Either way, now is the time to nail that job before opportunities tail off in November and don’t rebound until Spring. 

She revealed: ‘Job cuffing may sound like a fun term, but the reality is much more serious.

‘In fact, our research found that 1 in 4 job hunters are worried about finding a role that will support the increased cost of living.

‘And for companies, with job vacancies still at historic highs, there’s increasing pressure to find enough people to fill their roles. 

‘In reality, half of hiring managers say that attracting and retaining staff is now more difficult than it was pre-pandemic.’

Here Jill reveals the top tips to help you win at job cuffing this October. 

Tips to win a job this job-cuffing season include making sure you sell yourself properly, know about the company and follow-up after the interview (stock image) 

1. KNOW WHAT YOU WANT    

You won’t get far if you take a scattergun approach to job hunting. Instead, take time to focus on what you want from your next role and the skills you will bring to it. 

And look at a range of job adverts to identify the strengths that will be valuable in your job search. 

Hiring managers will quickly suss if you don’t really understand the position they have on offer or if you aren’t clear on what you want from your next role.   

2. SUPERCHARGE YOUR CV 

CV’s have been around for 600+ years but are still the first port of call for many hiring managers. 

3. DO YOUR HOMEWORK 

‘What do you know about us?’ is a common interview question and should be seen as your opportunity to shine. 

So before stepping into the interview room, do as much research as possible on the employer. 

Check out what current and past employees say about working at the company, and scour the website for insights into its values and culture. 

And don’t forget to check out the latest news section on the website too – it’s a brilliant resource to understand how the company wants to present itself to the world and discover its recent achievements.

Avoid any temptation you have to cut and paste your CV and cover letter from one job application to the next. Instead, always customise materials to clearly show how your skills and experience match what the company needs. 

A generic CV or a cover letter full of mistakes will quickly end up on the rejection pile. 

And remember, your CV is simply the tool to secure your interview, so don’t try to make it overly clever. Simple and impactful is often best.

4. KNOW HOW TO SELL YOURSELF  

Interviews are a lonely experience; no one is on hand to fill in the blanks if you don’t clearly explain why your skills are relevant to the job. 

The hiring manager needs to understand why they need you, and you alone, for the role. So practice selling yourself and your expertise. 

Rehearse your answer to the inevitable ‘tell me about yourself’ question, and draw upon whatever caught your eye about the company and role to explain why you are the perfect candidate. 

If you are confident in your abilities, the hiring manager will be confident that you can deliver on the role.

 5. LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEWER’S QUESTIONS   

You’ve done your homework, prepped your talking points, and are clear on what you want to say to secure the job of your dreams. But there’s no guarantee that the hiring manager will ask the questions you want to hear. 

Competency and behavioural-based questions are commonplace in interviews to understand how candidates react in real-life work situations. 

Show you are engaged in the discussion by answering with relevant examples to the interviewer’s questions, rather than focusing on points you want to get across.

 Prepare to be flexible with your responses and make the interview a genuine conversation that the hiring manager will want to continue. 

6. DEMONSTRATE YOU ARE RESILIENT TO CHANGE  

7. IMAGINE YOU ARE ALREADY EMPLOYED 

If you can picture yourself in the job you are interviewing for, it will be easier for the hiring manager to see you in the position. To do this, arm yourself with short and long-term actionable ideas that you can roll out should you be hired. 

Talk about yourself as though you are already in the position by describing how you would move the role forward. And be clear on the value you will bring to the company. When they think of this job, they need to think of you.

There have been few constants in business over the last two years, and the companies that have thrived are those who have been quick to adapt to the change. 

Be ready to explain in an interview your resilience and prepare examples of your adaptability to make your skills stand out from the crowd. And demonstrate your enthusiasm to be part of the future vision of the company.

8. ALWAYS FOLLOW UP 

A surprisingly large number of candidates are silent after interviews and wait for the company to make the first contact. 

If you want to stand out, take the initiative and send a follow-up email after every interview stage – and ensure it goes to the right person. A small thank you for the hiring manager’s time will go a long way. 

And writing to show appreciation is a good excuse to remind the interviewer why you are suitable for the role. 

Don’t be shy; bullet anything relevant that came up in the interview and express your eagerness to progress to the next round, and ultimately into the position, in a short and sweet way. 

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