Preparing to start your job search
For many HR professionals, the New Year feels like the natural time to start their job search. Others wait until Spring, when new budgets appear and a whole raft of fresh opportunities often hit the market.
Whatever the timing, deciding to explore your next HR move can feel both exciting and daunting. Where do you even start?
The natural first step is the inevitable CV update and of course, that’s important. However, it’s only part of the picture. Preparing for your next move is just as much about mindset, clarity and knowing how to position yourself well in a competitive market.
So, if you’re thinking about making a move, here are a few HRLife-style suggestions to help you get ready.
Why are you looking and what do you want next?
Not just an interview question but a question to ask yourself before you even start to apply.
Why are you thinking about moving on? Is it about progression? Culture? Leadership? Scope of role? Flexibility?
And just as importantly – what do you actually want from your next role? What’s your search criteria?
- What type of HR role energises you?
- What size and type of organisation suits you best?
- What are your deal-breakers vs your nice-to-haves?
This clarity makes things easier in a market where you can spend hours looking at on-line roles. It will help you select the right roles to apply and really tailor your CV. It also stops you applying for roles that look appealing on paper but aren’t right for you in reality.
We know that a tailored application that clearly links your experience to the brief will always outperform a scattergun approach. Being selective and intentional often leads to better conversations, better interviews and better outcomes.
Updating your CV
This is usually the first step but it's rarely a quick one. Block out some focused time and expect to come back to it a few times. Think of it as a working document rather than a one-off job.
A few points we see work well in today’s market:
- Lead with your most recent role and be clear on what you achieved, not just what you were responsible for
- Highlight impact, change and outcomes (not just tasks)
- Use metrics and data where possible (for example reduced attrition by X%, delivered restructure across X sites, increased engagement scores by X% )
- Be intentional about how you position yourself for your next role and highlight the experience that supports it.
- If you’re relying on AI to help write your CV, take the time to review every line. It’s surprisingly easy for tools to over-embellish skills that you’ll be expected to talk about in interview
With more CV screening now supported by tech and keyword matching, a clear structure and skills-led layout can really help your CV get traction.
Tailoring your CV and mirroring the language of the advert
Generic CVs are easy to spot and in a busy market where it’s common to have 200+ applications they’re easy to overlook.
Tailoring doesn’t mean rewriting your CV from scratch every time, but it does mean:
- Mirroring the language used in the job advert
- Pulling relevant experience to the top
- Reflecting the skills and behaviours the business is asking for
- Highlighting in-demand skills
Having a few core versions (generalist, specialist, interim vs perm) can make tailoring quicker.
Get a second opinion (and a recruiter’s eye helps)
We’re all too close to our own CVs. Ask a trusted colleague, old manager or HR peer to sense-check whether your CV truly reflects who you are and what you bring.
A specialist recruiter can also add real value here. They see hundreds of CVs and know what tends to land well with hiring managers. They’ll often spot gaps, overused phrases or missed opportunities to showcase your experience.
Check your online presence
Hiring managers and recruiters will look you up. It’s a given.
Make sure your LinkedIn profile aligns with your CV and reflects what you’re open to next. An up-to-date headline, recent achievements and a professional photo all help.
If you’re open to interim work, ensure that’s clear. And double-check contact details. You’d be surprised how often we see great candidates miss opportunities because profiles link to old email addresses.
Stay on top of HR and sector trends
Even experienced HR professionals can feel out of the loop if they’ve been in the same role for a while. Make time to brush up on:
- HR trends
- Your sector’s challenges
- The commercial context of the organisations you’re applying to
This will not only help you stand out in interviews but also sense-check whether a business is aligned with the type of environment you want to work in.
Network (online and offline)
You don’t have to become a LinkedIn super-user overnight, but staying visible helps. Follow companies you’re interested in, engage with relevant content and reconnect with your network.
Offline still counts too – industry events, breakfast briefings, local networking groups. We often hear that roles come from conversations long before they become adverts.
Practise your interview technique
Interviewing is a skill and like any skill, it gets rusty.
Practise talking through:
- Your career story
- Why you’re exploring the market
- What you’re proud of
- Where you’ve made a tangible impact (with examples and metrics)
And finally … be kind to yourself
Job searching can be emotionally draining, even for HR professionals who support others through change for a living. Try not to let it become all-consuming. Be focused, targeted and realistic with your time.
And remember interviews are a two-way process. You’re choosing them as much as they’re choosing you.
If you’re thinking about your next HR move and want a confidential chat about what the market looks like right now, we’re always happy to share what we’re seeing and help kick-start your search.
Simply contact the HRLife team.