December 16, 2019 Leave a Comment

5 New Year’s Resolutions to Boost your Job Search

A new year means new opportunities and chance for job seekers to rethink their job search process. As the old saying goes, if you keep doing what you’ve always done, you are going to get what you always got. So before you ring in 2020, take the time to review your job search strategies and set some new goals.

Consider these resolutions to boost your job search:

1) Update your resume

A resume that appears outdated or incompatible with today’s technology may give an employer the impression that you might not be ready for a new job. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) require that resumes are formatted to be processed and selected by a computer before ever being read by a HR. This means that a poorly formatted resume will not be selected, regardless of how qualified the applicant is.

Keywords are vital to getting your resume noticed. Update your profile summary and work history using keywords used by employers in their job postings. This will increase your chances of getting your resume past an Applicant Tracking System and into the hands of the hiring manager.

Tip: To make sure that your resume matches the keywords being used, try an online tool such as WriteWords or Jobscan to compare your resume with job postings.

Even a resume optimized for ATS should still be to be easy to read and pleasant to look at. When formatting your resume, pay attentions to things like punctuation/bullet points, fonts, and alignment. Print out resume and look through it. You can also ask for feedback from potential employers or network contacts.

Tip: For additional help with your resume, sign up for our free Resume Clinic email course or check out our Workshop Calendar for in-person resume writing classes.

2) Improve your online presence

Over 80 percent of employers use social media to screen candidates before hiring. Your social media presence can directly influence your employment prospects, and can impact on whether employers will find you, and whether they will consider you a good match to the job and the company when they do come across you in their search for candidates.

As a job seeker, you want to make sure that you are easily found online and that employers will be suitably impressed with what they see. A well-written LinkedIn profile will allow you to showcase your skills and make a professional impression.

Tip: Check your privacy settings. Make sure the content on your Facebook or other social media accounts is private and can only be viewed by your friends. Also, you may want to conduct a search of yourself online to see what employers might find. Don’t just look for web results, check the images as well.

3) Update your skills

Keeping your skills up-to-date is vital to every job seeker. Whether you are a newcomer to Canada, recently lost your job, a mature worker, trying to overcome a gap in your resume, or changing careers, enhancing your skills is a worthwhile investment of your time.

Listing courses completed in 2019 (or even better, 2020) on your resume will reassure employers that despite being unemployed, you are still ready to hit the ground running at your next job. You may want to brush up on your programming or computer knowledge, language skills, management or any number of other skills that could improve your employability. Don’t forget to add your newly acquired skills and experience to your resume and LinkedIn profile.

Tip: Check out our top 5 resources for quality training courses in Toronto.

4) Expand your network

You’ve heard it before; finding work is not only about what you know, but who you know. You already have a network of former colleagues, acquaintances and friends. Put them to work for you and leverage your network to get job referrals. The holiday season is a great time to reconnect with old contacts. If you can, meet with people in person; ask questions, get guidance, and make sure they know that you are looking for a new opportunity.

Tip: Start with LinkedIn. See who you know and who you would like to get to know better. Ask questions using LinkedIn’s Messaging tool and approach the more responsive contacts for an information interview.

5) Boost your job search strategy

It is important to examine how you look for job opportunities, companies you have applied to, and the responses you are getting. Develop a job search plan complete with weekly goals to keep you on track.

Goals can include:

Write a list of the top 10 companies that you want to work for and where they post their jobs
Set up alerts on sites such as Indeed so that you are notified when suitable jobs come up
Make sure the employers and recruiters you have had contact with have your newly updated recent resume
Create your job search “elevator pitch”

Tip: When you follow a company on LinkedIn, you will get notified when those companies post new job opportunities. If you see a job that you’re interested in, it is easy to apply for it on LinkedIn’s Jobs tab or the company’s LinkedIn page.

2020 might be the year you land the job you have always wanted. Keep these five resolutions and watch it happen.

For more personalized help with your job search, contact JVS Toronto or visit one of our nine locations across Toronto and York Region.

Happy new year from all of us at JVS Toronto!

December 31, 2018 Leave a Comment

5 New Year Resolutions to Help You Find Work in 2019

Image of 2019 with a clock and confetti. Celebrating a New Year.

If your plans for 2019 include a new job, now is a perfect time to prepare a new, carefully-planned job search strategy. While it is true that there are many job seekers out on the hunt for a new job, most of them do not conduct their job search in the best way possible, so your challenge for the new year is to conduct the best possible job search. We put together some useful advice to help improve your search and make sure you get noticed by employers.

Job Search Resolutions:

RESOLUTION #1: I will update my resume.

A resume that appears outdated or incompatible with today’s technology may give an employer the impression that you might not be ready for a new job. New Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) demand that resumes are formatted to be processed and selected by a computer before ever being read by a hiring professional. A poorly formatted resume might never be picked no matter how qualified you may be.

To help you write the best resume possible, I surveyed the highly experienced employment staff at JVS Toronto, and put together a list of the ultimate tips for writing an excellent resume. It includes tips for layout and format, such as style, bullet points, spelling and punctuation, font, margins and alignment, as well as resume content, language, and grammar.

For those who are struggling with gaps in their employment history, we also put together these tips on overcoming resume gaps.

If you would like to write a resume from scratch, or review your resume in detail, check out our free online resume writing clinic.

RESOLUTION #2: I will improve my online presence

As a job seeker, it is important to ensure that you are easily found online, where potential employers are most likely to look for you. More importantly, employers have to like what they learn about you. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is complete and updated. Updating your skills on LinkedIn will attract the right employers. In addition to LinkedIn, consider using Twitter to gather information, networking and tips.

RESOLUTION #3: I will enhance my skills

In today’s tech-savvy world, the pressure to have up-to-date skills grows. Even if you think your skills are up to par, in 2019 your skills and experience will appear a year old (at least on your resume). Consider it a challenge to engage in an activity which will enable you to add “2019” to your resume.

It might be a course (such as updating your computer skills or CPR certification). Courses can be found at your local community centre, community college (look for the continuing education courses, for part-time options). Another possibility is to volunteer in a meaningful role. If you live in Toronto, there are many opportunities to volunteer; Canada-wide, you will find your local volunteer centre here.

Make sure to add your newly acquired skills and experience your resume and LinkedIn profile.

RESOLUTION #4: I will grow my network

This goes back to that old truth about finding work — it’s not only about what you know, but who you know. You already have a network – put the people you know to work for you and leverage your network to get job referrals. It’s a great time to reconnect with old contacts and make new ones. LinkedIn might be the best way to start the process — see who you know, and figure out who you would like to get to know by asking for an information interview.

Go out and meet with people face-to-face; ask questions, get support and guidance and make sure they know that you are looking for a new opportunity.

RESOLUTION #5: I will find new sources of job information

Many job search sites allow users to set up job alerts, which will send them emails with jobs that match their specific criteria. We have a detailed list of job boards, where you can search by keyword and location, and save an Email Alert or RSS Feed.

In 2018, Google set up a job alert system, which probably offers the broadest coverage of online job opportunities.

2019 could be the year that you secure that job you always wanted. Follow through on these 5 resolutions and watch it happen.

Happy new year from all of us at JVS Toronto!

January 2, 2017 Leave a Comment

Find a Job in 2017: New Year Resolutions for Job Seekers

If your plans for the new year include finding a new job, the start of a new year is a perfect opportunity to launch a new, carefully thought through work finding strategy. Considering how many talented and experienced job seekers are unemployed and seeking new opportunities, it’s important to remember that those who will be successful will be not only those with skills and experience needed by employers, but job seekers who are easily noticed by them.

In the last year, we offered a range of tips worth considering when upping your job search game and be more easily noticed by employers.

What can you do to be best prepared to find your next great job?

1. Update your resume

An updated resume is obviously always important. The changes brought on by new technology make new demands on this document: resumes will be read on the computer screen, and are often preselected through a computerized Applicant Tracking System (ATS) before any person even sees the resume. For job seekers, this means that they need to carefully format their resume and choose the wording thoughtfully.

Our Employment Specialist has offered some good advice on this to a job seeker in a previous blog post about the ATS, and in another previous posts, you will find tips for dealing with resume gaps as well as a discussion about the resume formats preferred by employers.

2. Up your social media game

As a job seeker, it is important to ensure that you are easily found on Google, where potential employers are most likely to look for you. Most importantly to this end, make sure your LinkedIn profile is complete and updated. That includes ensuring that your LinkedIn Summary is the best it can be, since it is the first things employers read when they find your profile. In addition to LinkedIn, consider Twitter as a way of gathering information, networking and tips.

Social media is an excellent tool to help market your transferable skills. In the last year, we provided tips for how social media can be used to support the various changes in your career, whether you are making decisions at high school, making a career change or considering relocation.

3. Enhance your skills

Even if you think your skills are up to par in terms of employer expectations, it’s now 2017 and your skills and experience now appear a year old (at least on your resume). Consider it a challenge to engage in an activity which will enable you to add “2017” to your resume.

Another possibility is to volunteer in a meaningful role. If you live in Toronto, you can find volunteer postings at Volunteer Toronto, or Canada-wide, you will find your local volunteer centre here.

Make sure to add your newly acquired skills and experience your resume and LinkedIn profile.

4. Expand your Network

This goes back to that old truth about finding work — it’s not only about what you know, but who you know. Time to reconnect with old contacts and make new ones. LinkedIn might be the best way to start the process — see who you know, and figure out who you would like to get to know.

Go out and meet with people face-to-face; ask questions, get support and guidance and make sure they know that you are still looking for a new opportunity.

5. Look for new sources of job alerts to your email inbox

Many job search sites allow users to set up job alerts, which will send them emails with jobs that match their specific criteria. We recently posted a detailed list of job boards, where jobs can be found by keyword and location, and saved an Email Alert or RSS Feed.

That way, you can apply directly from your email box. Just remember to carefully choose your key words and set your location carefully (50 km range is too wide, and 5 km too close)

2017 has the potential to be a year of economic growth and new opportunities. Make sure that you are ready to benefit from these opportunities as they arise.

December 29, 2014 Leave a Comment

Find a Job in 2015: New Year’s Resolutions for Job Seekers

As we face the new year, it’s always useful to take some time to look back and evaluate, so that you can look forward and plan. The ever-changing nature of the labour market means that job seekers have to constantly ensure that they are tackling the job search process in the most up-to-date and effective way.

So, how has job search changed in recent years, and where is it headed in 2015?

The labour market is changing.

Job growth has been reported and is expected to continue in Canada in 2015, with 11 percent of companies reporting plans to hire in the new year, according to a Manpower Group Canada report.

The Manpower report found anticipated job growth in all 10 sectors of the economy, in the following order of strength:

Finance, Insurance and Real Estate
Manufacturing − Durables (defined by StatsCan as products made of Wood and Metal, as well as Machinery, Computers and Electronics, Electrical Equipment, Appliances and Components, Transportation Equipment and related)
Public Administration
Construction
Transportation and Public Utilities

Weaker hiring projections were reported by employers in the following sectors:

Services
Wholesale and Retail
Education
Manufacturing − Non-durables (products such as Food, Textiles and Clothing, Paper and Printing, Petroleum and Coal, Chemicals and Plastics and Rubber)
Mining

So, if you are thinking of a career change or considering new targets for your job search, consider focusing on the areas where growth is anticipated. Remember that these sectors hire a range of professionals, including Customer Service, Administrators, Project Managers, Finance and Sales, as well as experts in each of those sectors.

Job search is more competitive.

As optimism about the job market grows, more job seekers will return to looking for work. This means greater competition. In order to be noticed and have an opportunity to be considered for employment, job seekers need to be conducting the most effective job search possible.

Be prepared for digitization of hiring. One trend in hiring is employers’ increased reliance on Electronic Tracking Systems (ATS), which processes all applications through a computerized, standardized process, favouring certain keywords.

Mobile recruiting is becoming more popular — recruiters, employers and job boards are increasingly using mobile apps. Indeed Canada is a good example; even the Government of Canada’s Job Bank has developed a mobile app for job seekers.

But, as recruiting becomes less personal, concerns have been expressed that good candidates (up to 75 percent, reportedly) are being missed by employers. Ironically, to overcome this, it may be worth resorting to old-fashioned job search methods, such as setting out to meet employers in person, rather than relying on the passive online job search used by most other job seekers. Furthermore, you would do better targeting your job search — identify your top ten list of employers and go after them directly.

Social media continues to grow.

Employers are continually working on improving their social media strategies both for marketing and recruiting, using tools such as LinkedIn and other social media presence (Facebook, Twitter, blogs, YouTube). With the increased hiring anticipated in the market, we can assume that this trend will continue, as it has consistently in previous years. Jobvite, in its annual Social Recruiting Survey, found that 73 percent of recruiters intend to engage in social recruiting. Interestingly, they found that despite the fact that most (83%) job seekers turn to Facebook , LinkedIn remains recruiters’ top tool, with 94% using it for recruiting.

Employers also reported to Jobvite that they are scouring through candidates social media profiles, looking for information about candidates’ professional experience, length of professional tenure, industry-related posts, mutual connections, specific hard skills, cultural fit, as well as examples of written/design work.

What does this mean for job seekers?

Review your social media presence — look at all your online profiles as they would be perceived through the eyes of an employer
Make sure that your LinkedIn profile includes all the relevant experience you need, as well as showcasing your connections in the field, your hard skills and samples of your work
Review other profiles such as Facebook (66% of employers will check your profile). Make sure that it presents you well — as a thoughtful and interesting potential employee. Consider sharing posts publicly that showcase your professional and community interests and involvement.

2015 is promising to be an exciting year for job seekers. Make sure to face it with a clear plan, confidence and renewed energy.

We wish all our readers a happy and successful new year, and thank you for your support.

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