Finding a job in January

Ainekav

Hi Everyone,

I'm back on the jobhunt after finishing temporary christmas work in a shop.

Ideally I would love a job in the following areas:
Arts/Arts management - nothing out there bar internships as far as I can see
Education - already teaching one day a week in an adult education setting, have a postgrad in community arts education, which included multiple modules in community/adult education
Event/Project Management - pref in the arts/cultural sector
Community Development/voluntary sector - comes from the type of art I do
Social Enterprise

I know that is a lot, but they are all tied together a bit.

Anyway, I was working sporadic/temporary jobs from June - Dec, and then around Xmas a lot of things wound up and other things fell through completely.

I am looking for advice on how to go about looking again - alternative perspectives. I've been doing this for ages,but its good to get a fresh view on things. Bear in mind, in most of the areas I've mentioned, it's a lot about who you know.

So...
Is sending out CVs to organisations even if they might not be hiring a good strategy?
I am scouring all the relevant job websites daily, but I think I need to branch out beyond just the jobs that are advertised. Anyone got any advice?

Also I gotta mention that I am willing to work in any sector at all, in most jobs. Admin, food and beverage, retail etc. I've experience in all of these areas as well as the 'ideals' listed above.

I'm gonna email a few people in the industries and ask them to keep an eye out for me. Good idea or not?
I tailor my CV's and cover letters for each position aswell and if they give a choice of posting or emailing an application, I will email. Is this the best thing to do?

Any other tips?
As I said, you would think that I would be a dab hand at this by now, but it never hurts to get some more feedback.
Thanks!!!

Mrs OBumble

Network, network and network some more.

If it's someone you know, don't email a CV. Take 'em out for coffee, hand 'em a copy if it's appropriate, and follow up with an email.

Ainekav

Thanks, had my first coffee yesterday and I'm having another one hopefully this week.

With the people I know, I have just sent a short note saying - hi, how are you, I'm looking for a job, could you keep an eye out for me?

These would be people that I've worked extensively with in the past, who I would have proven myself to, and who would know my track record.
So I'm kinda thinking that I don't need to woo them...

But of course, anyone I only vaguely know, I need to impress

Thanks for the tips
A

davemc6832

Hi Aine,

Sorry for jumping in on your post. Have you been to City Artsquad before in the liberties college? CE Scheme therefore you'd need 6 - 9 months unemployment etc before you could get on. Not sure what your situation is.

Also, I've considered applying for the community arts postgrad myself this year. Would you recommend it? I know it'll be difficult to find work after it of course, but from an actual learning point of view did you get much from it?