--- title: How to kick start your 2020 job search description: Lily Shippen shares her top four easy steps to set yourself apart from the crowd when looking for a new role in 2020. image: https://blog.lilyshippen.com/hubfs/job%20search-1.jpg --- - [VACANCIES](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/our-roles) [0161 711 0767](tel:0161%20711%200767) [020 3011 5283](tel:0161%20711%200767) [![Lily_Primary_cream](https://blog.lilyshippen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Lily_Primary_cream.png?width=8000&height=1702&name=Lily_Primary_cream.png) ![Lily_Primary_cream](https://blog.lilyshippen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Lily_Primary_cream.png?width=4500&height=957&name=Lily_Primary_cream.png)](https://www.lilyshippen.co.uk) - [Home](https://lilyshippen.co.uk) - Looking For a Job - [Private PAs](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/private-pa-jobs) - [Business Support](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-for-a-business-support-job-manchester-london) - [Human Resources](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-for-a-human-resources-job) - Looking To Hire - [Executive Assistants](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-executive-assistant) - [Personal Assistants](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-personal-assistant) - [Chiefs of Staff](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-chief-of-staff) - [Private PAs](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-private-pa) - [Business Support](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-executive-or-business-support-staff) - [Human Resources](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-human-resources-staff) - [Resources](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/resources) - [Job Descriptions](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/www.lilyshippen.co.uk/job-description-templates) - [LS Mentoring Programme](https://info.lilyshippen.co.uk/free-ea-pa-mentoring-programme-led-by-executive-professionals) - Recruitment Guides - [CoS Recruitment Guide](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/chief-of-staff-recruitment-london-manchester-birmingham-uk-guide) - [EA Recruitment Guide](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/lilyshippen.co.uk/executive-assistant-recruitment) - [PA Recruitment Guide](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/pa-recruitment-agency-hire-personal-assistants-uk) - [Reports & Whitepapers](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/resources) - [Salary Survey](https://info.lilyshippen.co.uk/salary-survey) - About Us - [About Us](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/about-us) - [Reviews](https://www.feefo.com/en-GB/reviews/lily-shippen) - [News & Blog](https://blog.lilyshippen.com/blog) - [Contact Us](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/contact-us) ##### [**EXECUTIVE SUPPORT**](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-executive-or-business-support-staff) - [Personal Assistants](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/personal-assistant-jobs) - [Executive Assistants](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/executive-assistant-jobs) - [Chiefs of Staff](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/chief-of-staff-jobs) ##### [**PRIVATE**](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-private-pa) - [Private PAs](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/private-pa-jobs) ##### [**OFFICE SUPPORT**](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-executive-or-business-support-staff) - [Business Support](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-for-a-business-support-job-manchester-london) - [Receptionists](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/receptionist-jobs) - [Temporary Recruitment](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-temporary-recruitment) - [Office Managers](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/office-manager-jobs) ##### [**HUMAN RESOURCES**](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-human-resources-staff) - [HR](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-for-a-human-resources-job) ##### [**EXECUTIVE SUPPORT**](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-executive-or-business-support-staff) - [Personal Assistants](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-personal-assistant) - [Executive Assistants](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-executive-assistant) - [Chiefs of Staff](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-chief-of-staff) ##### [**PRIVATE**](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-private-pa) - [Private PAs](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-private-pa) ##### [**OFFICE SUPPORT**](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-executive-or-business-support-staff) - [Business Support](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-executive-or-business-support-staff) - [Receptionists](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-receptionist) - [Temporary Recruitment](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-temporary-recruitment) - [Office Managers](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-office-manager) ##### [**HUMAN RESOURCES**](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-human-resources-staff) - [HR](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-human-resources-staff) ##### **[WHITEPAPERS & GUIDES](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/resources)** - [When is the Right Time to Hire an EA?](https://info.lilyshippen.co.uk/when-is-the-right-time-to-hire-an-executive-assistant) - [How to Hire a Personal Assistant](https://info.lilyshippen.co.uk/hire-a-pa) - [The Evolving Role of the Executive Assistant](https://info.lilyshippen.co.uk/evolving-executive-assistant) - [Will AI replace the role of an Executive Assistant?](https://info.lilyshippen.co.uk/will-ai-replace-the-role-of-an-executive-assistant) ##### **[JOB DESCRIPTIONS](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/www.lilyshippen.co.uk/job-description-templates)** - [Personal Assistant Job Description](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/personal-assistant-job-description) - [Executive Assistant Job Description](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/executive-assistant-job-description-template) - [Chief of Staff Job Description](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/chief-of-staff-job-description-template) - [Receptionist Job Description](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/www.lilyshippen.co.uk/receptionist-job-description-template) - [LS Free EA/PA Mentoring Programme](https://info.lilyshippen.co.uk/free-ea-pa-mentoring-programme-led-by-executive-professionals) - [Salary Survey](https://info.lilyshippen.co.uk/salary-survey) ###### 2 min read # How to kick start your 2020 job search By: [Emma Hulbert](https://blog.lilyshippen.com/blog/author/emma-hulbert) on Jan 6, 2020 12:48:00 PM [Careers](https://blog.lilyshippen.com/blog/tag/careers) ![Featured Image](https://blog.lilyshippen.com/hubfs/job%20search-1.jpg) January and February are two of the busiest months of the year for recruitment companies across the UK and internationally, as many companies begin 2020 by hiring new employees for their business and releasing their budgets. However, competition is fierce as it’s estimated that one in five people look for a new job in the new year. Lily, Managing Director of Lily Shippen, who specialise in recruiting personal assistants, executive assistants and office managers in Manchester, Leeds and London, as well as internationally, believes that there are four easy steps to set yourself apart from the crowd. #### **Keep your CV concise** “The average time an employer or recruiter spends looking at a CV is 5-7 seconds; therefore, it is crucial that your CV is easily digestible, has no spelling or grammar mistakes and is concise,” says Lily - Ensure that all fonts on your CV are consistent. - Aim to keep your CV to no more than three pages, listing responsibilities of your last three to four jobs in bullet point form. - Responsibilities should all be in the same tense, i.e. “managing, coordinating etc”. If you’re updating an old CV, be careful that it doesn’t have the present tense in previous jobs. - If you have any gaps in employment, detail what you were doing, whether it was job hunting, travelling or taking time out. #### **Register with the best recruitment agency for you** “There are hundreds of recruitment companies in the market and so it is crucial that you find the best recruitment agency for you. Do your research and find out how many quality jobs that match your criteria the recruitment agency has had in the past 3-6 months. You are better off registering with one specialist agency as opposed to several that only have the odd job that matches your criteria,” adds Lily #### **Update your social media profiles** According to CareerBuilder.com seven in ten employers (70 percent) use social networking sites to research candidates during the hiring process. “Updating your LinkedIn profile is easy and quick to do. All the dates should match your CV, as well as education grades. It helps adding a headshot to your profile, but steer away of pictures from a night out!” says Lily. #### **Brush up on your interview skills** “The best recruitment agencies will offer assistance when it comes to interviewing. Ask the recruitment agency what help they can give you, whether it’s advising you on the format of the interview, specific tips or role play scenarios. It’s also worth practicing talking through your CV concisely with a friend or family member,” adds Lily #### Lily Shippen specialises in recruiting Personal Assistants, Executive Assistants, Private PAs and secretaries across Manchester, Leeds and London – as well as internationally. For more information on how to kick start your job search, contact the team today. Image [Vectors by Vecteezy.](https://www.vecteezy.com/) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) #### Related Posts ### [How to survive redundancy Accounting firm KPMG UK announced last month that it has made plans to cut its administrative...](https://blog.lilyshippen.com/blog/how-to-survive-redundancy) ### [Business Support Jobs in South-West London South-West London is a fantastic place to build a career in business support. With a mix of...](https://blog.lilyshippen.com/blog/hiring-exceptional-business-support-talent-in-south-west-london) ### [Lily Shippen receives Feefo Gold Trusted Service Award 2020 Lily Shippen has won the Feefo Gold Trusted Service Award, an independent seal of excellence that...](https://blog.lilyshippen.com/blog/lily-shippen-receives-feefo-gold-trusted-service-award-2020) ##### Quick Links Quick Links - [Home](https://lilyshippen.co.uk) - [About Us](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/about-us) - [Resources](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/resources) - [Contact Us](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/contact-us) - [Blog](https://blog.lilyshippen.com/blog) ##### Looking for a job Looking for a job - [Vacancies](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/our-roles) - HR Jobs London - HR Jobs Manchester - [Personal Assistant Jobs](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/personal-assistant-jobs) - [Executive Assistant Jobs](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/executive-assistant-jobs) - [Secretarial Jobs](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/secretarial-jobs) - [Chief of Staff Jobs](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/chief-of-staff-jobs) - [Office Manager Jobs](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/office-manager-jobs) - [Receptionist Jobs](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/receptionist-jobs) ##### Looking to hire Looking to hire - [SUBMIT ENQUIRY](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/contact-us-looking-to-recruit) - [Hire a Personal Assistant](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-personal-assistant) - [Hire an Executive Assistant](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-executive-assistant) - [Hire for HR](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-human-resources-staff) - [Hire a Receptionist](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-receptionist) - [Hire a Private PA](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-private-pa) - [Hire Secretarial Staff](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-recruit/secretarial-recruitment-agencies-manchester) - [Hire an Office Manager](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-office-manager) - [Hire a Chief of Staff](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/looking-to-hire-chief-of-staff) ##### Locations Locations - London - Manchester - Remote - Cheshire - Leeds - Birmingham [![LS_Primary_cream](https://blog.lilyshippen.com/hubfs/LS_Primary_cream.png)](https://www.lilyshippen.co.uk) - [Legal Stuff](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/legal-stuff) - [Privacy Policy](https://lilyshippen.co.uk/privacy-policy/) Copyright © 2023 Lily Shippen Ltd ![Feefo_2022-1](https://blog.lilyshippen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Feefo_2022-1.png?width=1243&height=1245&name=Feefo_2022-1.png) ![ptrustedserviceawardwhiteout](https://blog.lilyshippen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ptrustedserviceawardwhiteout.png?width=1920&height=1920&name=ptrustedserviceawardwhiteout.png) ![Gold Trusted Service Award 2025 - Whiteout - 1x1](https://blog.lilyshippen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Gold%20Trusted%20Service%20Award%202025%20-%20Whiteout%20-%201x1.png?width=1920&height=1920&name=Gold%20Trusted%20Service%20Award%202025%20-%20Whiteout%20-%201x1.png) ![EIDA Membership Logo White on Coral .jpg.png](https://blog.lilyshippen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EIDA%20Membership%20Logo%20White%20on%20Coral%20.jpg.png.jpg?width=2000&name=EIDA%20Membership%20Logo%20White%20on%20Coral%20.jpg.png.jpg) ![dc_badge1](https://blog.lilyshippen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/dc_badge1.png?width=500&height=241&name=dc_badge1.png) ![Employee Wellness Awards Logo 2024 pdf](https://blog.lilyshippen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Employee%20Wellness%20Awards%20Logo%202024%20pdf.jpg?width=2000&name=Employee%20Wellness%20Awards%20Logo%202024%20pdf.jpg)