JVS Toronto

DONATE
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Leadership
    • Our Funders & Donors
    • Annual Reports & Financials
    • FAQs
  • Find a Job
    • Employment Source
    • Workshop Calendar
    • Career Exploration
    • Disability Services
    • Jewish Community Services
    • Newcomer Services
    • Youth Services
    • Job Search Resources
  • Pre-Arrival
  • Employers
  • Assessments
    • Educational & Learning
    • ASD Assessments
    • Psychology Services
    • Vocational & Skills
  • Refugee Resources
  • Give Back
    • Donate
    • Send an E-Card
    • Volunteer
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Donate

October 6, 2020 Leave a Comment

How to stay on top of job searching by using organizational skills

Calendar, laptop and other organization tools

By Ligia Chiari

Organizational skills are essential to many jobs. If you are job searching, you probably have come across postings that require the candidate to be organized, good with time-management and multi-tasking. But these are skills you will need not only on the job but to actually help you find one. This is especially true if along with looking for employment you are also dealing with all the stress of immigrating amidst all the recent changes in travel plans due to the pandemic.

Looking for employment involves many steps like researching potential employers, finding open positions that meet your skills and preferences, tailoring your resume and cover letter, applying, networking online and in person, preparing for interviews and negotiating offers are just some of them. When you start applying to multiple jobs at the same time it’s easy to get confused and the lack of organization might make you miss opportunities.

So make sure you get organized, set your priorities and learn how to deal with all the multiple tasks involved from the beginning so you don’t feel overwhelmed. Organizing your job search strategy is a great way to manage stress and make sure you are actually getting things done. After all, that can be a new skill to add to your resume.

Here are a few tips on how to get started and achieve the success you are looking for:

  • Take it seriously. First and foremost, you have probably heard that “looking for a job can be a full-time job”, which means it requires dedication and commitment. Even if you already have a full-time job, the time you set aside for job searching should be focused, so avoid distractions such as social media feeds or answering unrelated e-mails at the same time.
  • Define your goals. Before you actually start applying for open positions, it is good to take some time to set your goals. Having a short-term and long-term goal will help you stay on track and set realistic expectations. Do your research and refine it as much as you can in terms of positions, industry, time frame, salary and other expectations you might have. It’s OK to be flexible with your goals, but knowing where you want to get to makes the path easier.
  • Commit time regularly. So maybe you are currently working full-time and don’t feel like you have a lot of time to commit. That’s the reality of most people who are in your situation and with many working from home it can be even harder to block out time for different tasks. Analyze your priorities and decide how much time you can commit to it, even if it’s a few hours a week, put that on your calendar and make sure you stay on track. 
  • Break down the job search into smaller tasks. If you set aside time for job searching in general, you may get lost and end up wasting the valuable 3 hours you had just browsing through different ads and websites. It’s easier to accomplish a goal if you break it down into actionable steps, such as: 
    1. Find one job posting that suits me. 
    2. Research the employer. 
    3. Tailor Resume and Cover letter to that Job Posting.
    4. Apply for that position. 
    5. Try to connect on LinkedIn with people from that company to expand my network… and so on. 

With clear steps like these, it is easier to stay on track and motivated.

  • Keep a log. Whether you are tech-savvy or not, develop your own system to keep track of jobs you applied for and responses you received. As most ads are online, saving these logs on your computer may be easier, but if pen and paper work better for you, that’s ok, as long as you have easy access to it. Don’t forget to maintain a record of which position you applied for, the employer, date, information from the job post such as salary or deadline and if you were contacted or not. This will come in handy when you receive a call from company XYZ and you need to quickly find out which position they are contacting you about.
  • Split your time wisely. Remember not to use all of your time just replying to job ads as this should take only about 20% of your time. Keep track of how much time you spend in other activities such as networking and upskilling yourself as well.
  • Take care of yourself. Job Searching can be stressful and even more in such uncertain times like these, make sure you add some time for yourself to unwind in the process. A walk outside, quality time with friends or family even if that’s virtually and meditating are some ways that can help you manage stress and keep a positive attitude.

If you are immigrating to Canada and have an approved Permanent Resident visa, contact Canada InfoNet and work with an Employment Specialist to develop your personalized Job Search strategy.

If you have any questions or topics you would like to see on our blog e-mail ligia.albuquerque@jvstoronto.org 

 

By Donna Chabot Filed Under: CanPrep, Career Voice: Blog

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Jump-start Your Job Search

Jump-start Your Job Search - Sidebar

Upcoming Events

May 25
10:00 am - 1:30 pm Recurring

Interview Skills

May 25
Featured Featured 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

8th Annual Toronto Newcomer Day

May 26
10:00 am - 1:00 pm Recurring

Job Search on the Internet

View Calendar

Sign up for our Career Advice Newsletter

Career Advice Newsletter - Sidebar

JVS Toronto Head Office

74 Tycos Drive
Toronto, ON
M6B 1V9

T: 416-787-1151
E: services@jvstoronto.org

More Information

  • Careers at JVS Toronto
  • Customer Service Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • JVS Insider Login

Follow Us

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • linkedin
  • youtube

Copyright © 2022 · JVS Toronto

IPLAN PRACTICE Eligibility Requirements
  • Open to Permanent Residents, Canadian Citizens, or Convention Refugees
  • High level of English-language proficiency (CLB 7/8). Enhanced language training is available to applicants, if needed, prior to starting the program
  • Degree in architecture from a university outside Canada
  • OAA Intern Architects eligible to write the Examination for Architects in Canada (ExAC)**

 

*Note:

  • The practice of architecture in Ontario is governed by the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA). All individuals who are internationally trained in the field of architecture, or who have held the status of architect in another jurisdiction must contact the OAA or visit the OAA website at www.oaa.on.ca for current information about licensing requirements and the licensing process in Ontario.
  • JVS Toronto is not a licensing body in Ontario.
  • The Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB) is the sole organization recognized by the architectural profession in Canada to:
    • Assess the educational qualifications of architecture graduates;
    • Accredit professional degree Programs in architecture offered by Canadian Universities; and
    • Certify the professional qualifications of Broadly Experienced Foreign Architects.
  • Architectural services may only be offered through a Certificate of Practice issued by the OAA.

**The content of this program has not been reviewed or endorsed by the Committee for the Examination for Architects in Canada (CExAC). The ExAC is an experience based exam. It is the practical application of knowledge acquired through education and readings that will support examination success. Taking this program without applying the knowledge gained through practice may not result in examination success.

TRIEC Mentoring Partnership Eligibility Requirements

You should sign up for the program if you:

  • Have 2+ years of international experience in your professional field
  • Have lived in Canada for less than five years
  • Are unemployed or underemployed and looking to use your professional skills in Canada