Page 36 - James Caan - Get the Job you Really Want

If you are returning to work after some years away, take
time to adjust to the changes that have happened in the
meantime: the impact of technology, the change in presenta-
tion – no more power dressing.
But, as always, be realistic. The team at webrecruit, an

online recruitment company I invested in, have noticed a trend
for overqualified candidates to apply for any role, regardless of
salary, to secure work. They tell me it’s commonplace to hear

from senior-level candidates who are frustrated because they
are not getting any interviews.
Don’t view being overqualified as a negative, inhibiting
factor. I imagine you will have spent much of your working
life developing skills, so finding a role that suits your aspira-

tions is the common-sense thing to do. From an employer’s
perspective, they’re probably worried that if they ask you to
take on a job at an apparently lower level, you might leave

in a few months’ time for a role better suited to your career
aspirations.
Consider other options. Flexibility in the workplace is an
advantage. If you have senior management experience, there
is a demand for experienced interim managers, brought into

a company for a fixed period to see it through a specific short-
term problem, a re-structuring or nursing a company through
the recession.

If you are searching for part-time work, have you considered
registering with a temping agency? Less obviously: consider
home-based, commission-only roles. If you’re already out of
work – what’s the risk?

24 get the job you really want