Whatever your personal circumstances – applying for jobs can be a difficult time for anyone. There are lots of opportunities and options out there which can be confusing and overwhelming, however, there are lots of tips and techniques to help you get the most out of the process. Although you may have to apply for several positions before you are offered a job, do not lose hope - you will find something that's right for you. Employers value the energy, enthusiasm and fresh perspectives of young employees.

Being care experienced does not mean you are less capable of achieving your goals, or working in a particular field. Being care experienced can mean you have a strong sense of resilience and independence. It is important that you identify your strengths and areas you would like to improve so that your prospective employee can appreciate the skills and attributes you can bring to the workplace. We all have areas we can improve in - and for different reasons – these are not failings, they are the things that we can identify in ourselves that we struggle with or need more support with so that we can improve our skills and gain confidence in the areas that we lack it.

One of the most important things when applying for jobs is to set some time away each week to dedicate to job hunting – how much you can dedicate is up to you. You should give yourself some specific tasks and steps to take such as:

• Contacting employers
• Looking on job vacancy websites
• Subscribing to job searches
• Updating your CV

You should keep track of what you are applying for and when and note the closing date. The best place to look for jobs is online – there are many websites that have email alerts that alert you when new jobs are posted. You can also attend job fairs – where you can meet employers face to face. You can also ask around – many people acquire jobs through word of mouth and networking. Some jobs may require a CV but many do not. Many jobs will require an application form and a cover letter.

If may be helpful for you to have a word document with all of your details and generic information including:

• Your qualifications (if any)
• Personal details – name, address, contact numbers
• Contacts for references
• Employment/training/volunteering experience

Keeping these details in a document can help you save time and apply for positions efficiently as you can copy this info into your application if required.

Here you will find support and help for writing a CV, applying for jobs and much more.

There is also helpful resources for understanding your strengths and interests and what steps to take to get ahead in the field you are interested in.

You can search for jobs through google by typing jobs and the area that you reside in. You can also use job search websites such as:

• Indeed
• S1jobs
• Goodmoves
• Totaljobs

These are just some suggestions and there are lots of ways to search for jobs depending on what you are looking for and where you are based.

If you are comfortable with revealing your care experience – there will be specific opportunities and provisions available to you to support you during this process.

Here you will find opportunities for one on one support mentoring to help you into employment.

Here you will find more information on care leavers covenant – a commitment by employers to support care leavers and care experienced people through opportunities, placements and help to find employment.