Maximize your Job Search

Develop a Plan & Set Your Job Search Goals

Know your interests, skills, experience and values.
Identify your career or job search goal and state it on both your resume and cover letter.
What job search activities will you use? When will you use them? Be specific and use dates.
Network… let people know you are searching. Who will you network with? Make a list.
Where are the jobs? Do some Labour Market Research to find out.
Research potential employers. Use the Internet, library, phone books, local directories, etc.
Match your current skills to those needed by employers. Make a list of your transferable skills.
Familiarize yourself with the current job application process…and get started!

Note: A log of your job search activities is a great way to track your progress.

The Application Process

Resumes – Make sure all information is current, accurate and organized. Make sure there is no handwriting, spelling or grammar mistakes.
Cover Letters – Personalize them to specific jobs. This is your opportunity to show off some written communication skills and some personality to the employer.
Application Forms – Print clearly and make sure they are error free. Use your resume as a guide to make sure you are putting down the correct information.
Interview Preparation – Anticipate questions, know what you want and what you are going to say. Research the company and develop questions you would like to ask. Practice, practice, practice.
References – Have excellent references ready to give an interviewer. Make sure your references are aware you are using them as such (get their permission) and they are all current and positive.
Follow-up – This is another opportunity to get your name in front of an employer. Include information you may have forgotten and thank them for accepting your application or interviewing you for the job.

Reasons Employers Reject Job Applicants

The following list is based on reports from the Personnel Offices of 153 companies & is not arranged in order of importance or priority.

Poor personal appearance or hygiene
Limp or lifeless handshake; lack of confidence and poise; nervous; ill at ease
Overaggressive; conceited; “Know-it-all” attitude; Failure to express thanks for interviewer’s time.
Inability to express oneself and/or fails to look interviewer in the eye
No purpose and goals for vocation; lack of life planning
Lack of interest, enthusiasm and humour; passive, indifferent
Too much emphasis on money; only interested in the best salary offered
Unwilling to start at the bottom; expects too much too soon
Makes excuses or is critical of past employers
Lacks knowledge of opportunities in the field in which trained
Late to interview without a good reason; Shows a high degree of indecision
No interest or knowledge of the company or industry and fails to ask questions about the job
Lack of tact or maturity; may be a name dropper stressing who they know in the community

Accessing the Hidden Job Market

Network – talk to friends, relatives, neighbours, former supervisors, co-workers, anyone you know about employment opportunities.
Go directly to businesses in your field and apply in person with an appropriate fieldrelated resume.
Check the financial pages and articles about new projects and developments in your local papers.
Contact former customers or suppliers you have maintained a positive relationship with.
Look through the yellow pages and business directories for employers in your chosen field of work.
Contact department heads of various firms in your field and arrange an informational interview.
Investigate specific companies on the Internet and respond to their job postings.
Contact school/college placement offices, present or former teachers/professors.
Respond to ads in Trade Journals.
Check the job boards at employment resource centres, hospitals, public buildings, and big companies.
Register with employment service agencies (temporary agencies).
Do some volunteer work. Contact your local volunteer centre for opportunities in your community.

Researching an Employer

Your research of an organization is a valuable way to show in an interview your interest and enthusiasm for the job. There are many different ways to conduct your research. You can start by reading local and national newspapers, accessing the Internet and business directories, contacting the company directly, and speaking to company employees.

For each organization try to find out the following information:

What services and/or products they produce
Who their competitors are
Age and growth pattern of the company
Media articles and reputation of the company
Divisions and subsidiaries, their location and size
Number of employees
Company sales, assets and earnings
New products or projects
Number of locations
Foreign operations and products

Portfolios

Portfolios are made up of items or work samples that demonstrate your skills, abilities and personal traits. They are generally organized/presented in binders or folders and prepared for interviews. Your portfolio should be as unique as you are and change as you change to emphasize the skills you acquire through new experiences.

Your portfolio may include:

List of references
Letters of recommendation, thanks and appreciation
Samples of work depending upon the type of work, i.e. reports, created ads
Photos of work depending upon the type of work, i.e. carvings, paintings, sewing
Positive work evaluation forms and memos from supervisors
Transcripts, diplomas, certificates, degrees, licenses, lists of courses in detail
Records of attendance, sales, services performed, surveys, i.e. customer surveys
Articles and/or newsletters in which your name/photo appears or you were involved
Awards, i.e. customer service, employee, and volunteer appreciation awards
Charts, brochures and reports you have created or that show results of your work
Agendas or programs featuring your name
Budgets, financial statements and annual reports reflecting your work

Once your job search has ended and you find a job, there are things you can do to make your working life successful.

Communication skills
Working well with others requires effective communication skills, which can be learned on the job. Listening well to what is being said and asking for clarification when necessary are two particularly important skills in the workplace.

People skills
Good people skills are essential in the workplace and take time to develop. Here are a few pointers to get you started:

Practise patience. In the workplace, you often have to depend on others to get the job done, just as others may have to rely on you. The modern workplace relies on teamwork, so you need to stay calm under pressure and respect your co-workers.

Learn to accept criticism. When your supervisor hands something back to you for corrections, or suggests a different way of doing something, don't get upset; constructive criticism is part of the learning process.

Give others space to do their jobs. Ask questions if you need to, but learn to trust in your own ability to make decisions. When first training for a job, everyone will understand if you have questions about how to do things. After you settle in, try to solve problems on your own before going to your boss. That will show the employer and the other employees that you have the resources and initiative to find things out for yourself.

Forgive the mistakes of others as well as your own. Everyone has days when things don't go the right way. Being able to forgive yourself and others when mistakes are made will make you a better team member.

Learning styles
When you start a new job, there is a lot to learn about the organization, your employer, other employees and your position. That’s why it’s important to know how you learn best. For example:

Are you more likely to turn a computer on and start playing with it, or would you read the manual first?
Do you learn best by hearing about tasks, reading about tasks or performing tasks?

Let your employer know how you learn best and ask for what you need if necessary. It’s also important to look at how you can add different techniques to your learning style, like slowing down before jumping into a task or asking someone to show you how best to perform a task.

The power of knowledge
Knowledge gives you more choices. The more you learn, the more valuable you become to employers. You may be able to apply for higher positions within your organization or to transfer into another job with more responsibility.

Return to Resources