Checklists and Tips to maximize your job search
Make a Plan & Set Your Job Search Goals
- Know your interests, skills and experiences
- Identify your career or job search goal
- Network; let people know you are job searching
- Research potential employers
Resumes
- Is your resume free of spelling and grammar errors? No handwriting?
- Is your Skills Summary positive? Does it include hard* and soft** skills?
- Did you use bulleted points instead of paragraphs?
- Has unrelated information been removed?
- * Hard Skills: Skills you have learned or trained for (for example a Business Diploma, equipment operation)
- ** Soft Skills: Skills you use day-to-day (for example organizational abilities, problem solving, communication skills)
References
- Create a list of people who would present you positively to a prospective employer
- Preferably choose people who can discuss your work habits
- Ask permission from your references prior to giving a potential employer their name and contact information
- Give your references a copy of your current resume so they can be aware of your work history and the type of work you are looking for
Cover Letters
- Explain why you are sending the resume
- Emphasize information you would like to bring to an employer's attention
- Always personalize your letter to the employer to whom it is addressed
- Match your qualifications to the job requirements
Interviews
- Always find out about the company before your interview
- Know your resume inside and out so you can answer questions with confidence
- Always arrive early and greet everyone in a friendly manner
- Thank the interviewer for the time spent with you and follow-up with a thank you letter or card
Follow Up
- Shows your interest and enthusiasm for the position
- Can be a phone call, a letter, card, e-mail or a visit in person
- Be concise and brief in all written correspondence with no spelling or grammar errors
- Hand-written thank you notes are acceptable, especially if you want to make them seem more personal
Networking
- Make a list of people you know, and then let them know you are looking for work
- Describe the type of work you want and how your skills relate
- Be brief and to the point when calling people you don't know
- Always thank your contacts for their help
Informational Interviews
- This is your chance to interview the employer and gain valuable information about the company and your chosen career field
- Complete at least one informational interview for each career area of interest
- Can be good preparation for real job interviews
- Can help you develop networks to follow-up with for future job opportunities
How To Carry Out a Successful Job Search
A Clear Job Objective!
Identify your goals
When identifying your job goal...
- Be specific and maintain focus
- Know your interests, skills and experience
- Recognize your needs and limitations - can include child care, drivers licence, specific education or training
Having a job goal can help you save time during your job search. Being specific in your job search will help you focus on jobs you are interested in and targetting employers you would be interested in working for.
What Are My Skills?
- Identify your strengths and abilities, work / volunteer experience, education, personal / professional accomplishments
- Need help to identify your skills? Take part in our how to identify your skills interactive online workshop
- Use your skills as selling points to employers
What Are Employers Looking For?
Employability Skills 2000+
- Communicate
- Manage Information
- Use Numbers
- Think & Solve Problems
- Teamwork Skills
- Work with Others
- Participate in Projects & Tasks
- Personal Management Skills
- Demonstrate Positive Attitudes & Behaviours
- Be Responsible
- Be Adaptable
- Learn Continuously
- Work Safely
The skills you need to enter, stay in, and progress in the world of work - whether you work on your own or as a part of a team.
From the Conference Board of Canada
Where Should I Look For Jobs?
- Internet Job Boards / Job Banks
- Company or Organizational Websites
- Government websites - Municipal Provincial, Federal
- Newspapers and Classified Ads
- Hidden Job Market
- Yellow Pages
- Informational Interviews
- Cold Calling ( Definition )
- Your Network - for more ideas on expanding your network, take part in our online networking workshop
What Do I Need?
To complete a successful job search you will need...
- A Positive Attitude - Your attitude can be everything when job searching. A good attitude towards your job search and job prospects will come across to potential employers when you write your cover letter, interview and even when you are hand delivering resumes.
- A Strong Resume - A targeted resume, highlighting your relevant skills and accomplishments to potential employers is the first step to securing an Interview. Copies should be crisp and clear, without handwriting, stains or wrinkles to ensure a professional and favourable first impression.
- A Dynamic Cover Letter - Creating a strong and favourable first impression can go along way in a successful job search. A cover letter and resume are sometimes your only opportunity to meet a potential employer. Therefore, being positive and ensuring you have taken the time to research the company and learn the name of the Hiring Manager, will help to show initiative and your interest in the job you are applying for.
- Interview Skills - Research, Rehearse, Relax! The key to a successful interview is being prepared. It is often said the most prepared, rather than the most qualified often lands the job. Why? Well it is always easier to make a great impression and express your thoughts and skills clearly to prospective employers. When we are not properly prepared, we tend to be nervous or on edge, can forget important points we would like to say or get tongue tied and miss the opportunity to really show what we can bring to the job.
- Don't forget to Follow-up! - Once considered a nice touch, sending a Thank-you letter or message to an employer after an interview or informational interview is now becoming common place. It is a great opportunity to express your continued interest in the position, and highlight or clarify any points you may have missed during the interview.
For more information on any of these topics please checkout our other interactive online workshops or stop by your local Employment Resource Centre. We would be pleased to assist you make your job search a success.
Why do Employers Turn Down Job Applicants?
A few key reasons some job seekers are not successful in their job search
- Poor personal appearance or hygiene
- Not looking like a potential employee - for example, dress too casual, a poor attitude
- Makes excuses or is critical of past employers
- Late to an interview without a good reason
- Over-aggressive "know-it-all" attitude
Successful Job Search Checklist
1 Labour Market Research
2 My Skills
3 My Job Search
4 My Resume
5 My Cover Letter
6 My Interview Preparation
7 My Follow-up Plan
Bookmark / Send to a Friend
Email Workshop Notification
Newsletter Signup
Job Search Quick Links
Social
The Resume
If the job interview is the Red Carpet Event, then the Resume would be the formal wear. You better make sure it is neat, clean and up to date.
Belleville ERC
183 Pinnacle Street
Belleville, Ontario K8N 3A5
Phone: 613-969-7423
Fax: 613-969-9593
E-mail: Belleville ERC
Napanee ERC
72-A Dundas Street East
Napanee, Ontario K7R 1H9
Phone: 613-354-1166
Fax: 613-354-2588
E-mail: Napanee ERC
Picton ERC
Unit 1A, 206 Picton Main Street
Picton, Ontario K0K 2T0
Phone: 613-476-4261
Fax: 613-476-5195
E-mail: Picton ERC
