How to find a job in a tough market

1. Applying for jobs

So you see an advert, you like the look of it. You follow the link to apply, attach your CV and hit send. And then you wait… and wait. Suddenly you get a response! But it's an automated one that tries to say politely: “Got your CV, you may be great, but you may not be, we haven’t checked yet, so don't think badly of us if you don't hear from us ever again...”  And that's it… your carefully crafted CV has disappeared and taken the perfect job with it.
To be fair to agencies, what more can they do? One group I worked with received 100,000 CVs every month. Yes that's every month. They were mostly duplicates and updates, as you'd expect, but all the same, with such a high volume of candidates, it's virtually impossible for agencies to be more personal in their initial response. 

2. Get personal

So you need to get personal. First of all, personalise your application. Rather than just following the “apply” link, try to find the email address of the consultant advertising the role, it's often there somewhere, and send your CV to them directly as well. Start the note “Hi John” or whomever, and they are more likely to open it if they use Autopreview in Outlook. Include your covering note and ask them to call you to discuss it further. They may or may not, but still ask.
After sending your CV, call them. They’re busy people so might be unavailable, but keep trying. If it's early days, they may well have a brief chat and then tell you they will respond with a yes or no in due course. But make sure you tell them why you think you're good for the role all the same.
Ok, you're still waiting, but you're already more memorable than the other 341 in their inbox. If you don't hear from them soon, call them again. It's their job after all, so don't feel you're being a pest; if they're good, they won't mind.

3. Covering letter

However you send your CV, always include a covering letter. Many CVs I receive have no covering letter at all, or even worse, one that relates to an entirely different application. Always avoid generic covering letters; they stand out very clearly as such and you are missing an opportunity to sell yourself. 
So rather than saying: “I'm a highly experienced HR director with a broad range of skills from a variety of public and private sectors”, also pick out elements of the advert and refer back to them.  “Your advert asked for knowledge of the telecoms industry; I worked for 5 years as HRD for Joe Soap Telecom”.

4. Becoming memorable with recruiters

If you are not applying for a specific role but just want to register with a recruiter, the same principle applies. You have to stand out somehow, and sending your CV to their “Send us your CV” link on their website will often mean you’ll disappear onto their database along with everyone else.
In my embarrassingly long career as a recruiter, there is one consistent thread that runs through just about every single job that I have filled. When I pick up a vacancy I immediately think “who do I know for this?” The people that spring to mind are always those that I have a strong recruiter/candidate relationship with… the candidates that for some reason are memorable.
If they're not advertising, good recruiters nearly always fill senior jobs this way. They have their own little database in their head, and you need to make sure you're on it.
So you have to become memorable, which means you have to build relationships with recruiters.

5. Choose the right executive search consultant

High quality executive search consultants can make a tremendous difference to your chances of success. Their unique viewpoint of the client and candidate’s perspectives means they can advise you accurately on market conditions, expedite the recruitment process, and even identify potential roles that previously didn’t exist.
However, the success is often a reflection of the relationship you develop with the consultant. You must feel that the consultant understands your needs and quickly engenders your trust in handling your career properly. Are they capable of making things happen? If not, use someone else.

6. Agree a personal plan with your consultant

It's important to agree a plan of action with your consultant, with regular reviews. Do not allow a situation to occur where CVs are being sent out without your consent. The implication of your CV going to another part of the group for which you currently work, cannot be overestimated.

7. Keep abreast of activities

Your consultant should ask you what other options you are currently pursuing. Be honest and keep them informed, but insist on regular updates in return. There should never be a point in the process when you don’t know exactly what is happening and what to expect next.

Agree times of the day when you know you can talk freely, rather than attempting awkward calls from your office. Your consultant should happily be available to talk to you in the evenings and at weekends.

8. Use job boards carefully

There are hundreds of thousands of jobs advertised on job boards at any one time, so using the best boards can be difficult. The quality of the job board usually reflects the quality of the recruiters that advertise on them. So use your instinct; if the job board feels slick and professional, it will probably be expensive and so only agencies willing to invest in a quality board will be using it. Before you send your CV, look for sites where you can see a profile of the agencies advertising.

9. Check the small print

If you respond to adverts on the internet or in the press, look beyond the name of the recruitment agency running the campaign. Many are part of large recruitment groups, so while you applied for one particular job, your CV could easily be circulated to hundreds of consultants within the group.
Most agencies are reputable, so this may be acceptable to you, but be prepared for your CV to be put onto a database to which access is uncontrolled.

10. Keep people informed

It's entirely your prerogative to change your mind at any stage in the process, however it's important that you relay any such changes to your consultant and ensure they pass these on to the client. Inform people of any planned absences at an early stage such as holidays, hospital appointments etc. The earlier they are told, the less of a problem it will be.
If you are progressing one avenue quicker than the others, keep all parties aware of this as surprises at any stage are not well received. Aim to leave a positive impression with all clients with whom you have contact, however brief…you never know when you might want to approach them for a position in the future.

11. Finally...

Stay positive and don't appear desperate. There is a job out there for most people; it might take a little longer to find it, but have faith in your abilities and conviction in your approach, and you will be remembered.

http://www.changeboard.com/content/2996/how-to-find-a-job-in-a-difficult-market/