Do the groundwork now to make a career move in the new year

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Matriculants and graduates are also entering the job market for the first time and will have to craft their CVs from scratch and more importantly, face their first job interviews.

With so many candidates vying for the same position, job seekers have to make a special effort to produce a professional CV and prepare for an interview.

To help job seekers with the process, career classifieds site Job Mail has compiled an e-book called the Jobseeker's Guide to Finding a Job in South Africa.

Job seekers registering on the Job Mail site will receive a personal dashboard that is designed to manage their job applications and from here they can download the guide as a free e-book. The guide is available in different formats allowing those in the market for a new job to download it onto their desktop, tablet or phone.

"Our guide offers practical advice and has helpful hints in every section. We created several versions so that job seekers can carry it with them on their phone or tablet and refer to it as they go through the different phases of securing a new job," says Angelique Robbertse, product and marketing manager for Job Mail.

Change can be stressful

Changing jobs can be stressful and entering the job market after being absent for several years can be just as terrifying. The guide offers valuable advice to candidates on sprucing up their CVs, networking online, applying for a job, telephonic and face-to-face interviews, the resignation process and how to tackle the first week at the new job.

"The modern CV is no longer an attachment that you email to a prospective employer. It has evolved from a document saved on your PC to include an online profile on professional networking sites," says Robbertse.

Sites such as LinkedIn and Who's Who Southern Africa are the perfect platforms for working professionals to network with leaders in their field and to improve their knowledge of trends and issues affecting the industry they operate in. These sites allow employees to connect with colleagues and friends and to expand their network by connecting with industry gurus.

Keep your CV up-to-date

"Remember to update your online professional profile to reflect your latest job and networks. The more connections you have the better your chance of being seen by a potential employer," she says.

The guide also offers recommendations on how job seekers can use social media to their advantage and how to clean up their digital footprint. A digital footprint is a trace people leave online and includes their social media activity, forums they've commented in as well as videos and images that they've uploaded. "Social networking sites are another tool you can use to search for a job and to interact with industry professionals, but be aware that your interactions leave an online trail," says Robbertse.

Recruiters know how to use the internet to scrutinise potential candidates' online profiles to get a sense of who they are and to better understand the person they want to employ.

Searching for a new job or conducting research to find out what positions are available before making a career change has become quicker and easier thanks to online job portals.

"Be a savvy job seeker by updating your traditional CV and online profile, being aware of what you post online, researching your potential employer before an interview and asking the right questions during the interview," she says.