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A resume that appears outdated or incompatible with today’s technology may give an employer the impression that you might not be ready for a new job.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!

December 10, 2018 4 Comments

The Best Questions to Ask at a Job Interview

You’re in a job interview. You’ve done well so far – smiling, making eye contact, and answering questions confidently. The interview is ending, and you start feeling that sense of relief that comes when a grueling task is over. Then the interviewer says, “Do you have any questions for us?” This can be a make or break moment. Be prepared to take this opportunity to ask questions.

What asking questions tells the interviewer

Many candidates ask questions in interviews simply because it’s expected. However, interviews are a two-way process. Both you and the employer have a decision to make. It is worth your time to think about what you’d like to know about the company in order to make the best decision when an offer is made.

This can include the company structure, services and culture; and job challenges, opportunities and expectations. You may want to highlight your expertise and areas of interest that fit with this role.

Questions that make the best impression

During an interview make a strong impression by preparing to ask questions like this:

What personality would be ideal for this position?
What are the challenges facing this position right now?
How would you describe the company culture?
What are the primary priorities for the company right now?
How do my qualifications compare to the ideal requirements for this position?
What do you think is missing from my resume for this position?

Check out this blog post for more on this topic.

Be prepared

Prepare more questions than you need. Consider having five questions prepared and select two or three of the most suitable questions to ask based on information you’ve learned from the interview. Bring a copy of the questions with you. Trying to memorize them in advance will just add more stress before the interview. Take notes during the interview and form questions based the notes if needed.

Timing is everything

Take the initiative to ask questions during the interview. This can make the interview more conversational. Take cues from the interviewer. For example, if the interviewer is very formal and is progressing through their questions without an opportunity for you to speak beyond providing a response, save your questions until the end.

Carefully chosen, well-informed and appropriately timed questions can have a competitive advantage in an interview, leaving a positive impression that can go a long way to influencing the final decision of a potential employer.

November 27, 2018 Leave a Comment

Attract Employers with Your Skills on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a unique way for employers to find you based on the skills you offer. Often underused by job seekers, adding your best skills in your LinkedIn profile increases the chances that employers and recruiters will find and connect with you.

What skills should I emphasize on my LinkedIn profile?

Job postings are a good source for ideas on skills to highlight. When searching on job postings sites, or through LinkedIn, review the qualifications listed in the postings you are targeting. If these skills line up with your experience, then add them to your profile.

You will notice that as you add skills to you profile, LinkedIn will suggest others based on your profile. Use these prompts to identify further skills to add. LinkedIn also has a directory of all the skills added to the site. Skills are categories into Industry Knowledge, Tools and Technologies (computer skills), Interpersonal Skills and Other Skills.

In addition to emphasizing hard skills on your LinkedIn profile, also include your soft or transferable skills such as organizational skills and interpersonal abilities. Online tools such as the online Employability Skills Assessment can help you evaluate your abilities, determine skills you are most confident in, and those you might want to improve.

Other helpful resources include LinkedIn’s article, The Skills Companies Need Most in 2018 – and the courses to get them and the Employability Skills reference guide published by The Conference Board of Canada.

Where else can I include my skills?

Your Resume – include your strongest skills here
Cover Letters – emphasis your strongest skills that match those listed in the job posting
Interviews – include key skills that match the job posting when describing your abilities
Show, don’t tell – use your best skills when conducting yourself throughout the recruitment process like your positive attitude, organization skills and interpersonal communication

Now that you’re prepared to share your strongest skills, here’s how to add them into your LinkedIn profile.

Starting from scratch

Go to the LinkedIn homepage
Click the Me icon at the top
Click on the View profile
click on the Add new profile section (located on the right)
Select Skills from the dropdown menu
Type the name of a skill in the Skill text box and select it from the dropdown list that appears. Once selected, this skill will be added to your list

Revising existing skills

Go to the LinkedIn homepage
Click the Me icon at the top
Click on the View profile
Scroll to the Skills & Endorsements section
Click Add a new skill. In the pop-up window, type the name of a skill in the text box and select it from the dropdown list. If your skill does not appear, type the full skill name in the field provided and click to add.

November 2, 2018 Leave a Comment

Benefits of Professional Associations and Designations: A CanPrep Webinar

Professional Associations can help you build your professional network and increase your chances of finding employment in Canada. Together with industry experts, Carmen Jacques, Student Recruitment Manager at Chartered Professional Accounts of Ontario and Husam Sha’ath, President at FORTE Management Consulting Inc. and CMC Project Management Instructor at U of T School of Continuing Studies, we offer more information on “Benefits of Professional Associations and Designations for Newcomers to Canada.”

In this webinar, you’ll learn:

Advantages of having a professional designation in today’s Canadian employment market
What do Professional organizations do?
Perks of membership
How to leverage their offerings for job search
Difference between “certificates” and “certifications” [Read more…]

October 30, 2018 Leave a Comment

You’ve been hired! Make the most of your new job.

Woman shaking the hand of a new colleague

It’s thrilling to accept a new job and finally meet your job search goal. You’ll be earning an income and stepping into the professional world again. But starting a new job has its challenges. You may feel doubts about performing all the job duties as required, or have concerns about getting along with your new colleagues and clients. And then there’s the challenge of establishing new routines like commuting and family and home responsibilities. Adjusting to a new job is stressful!

Here are some strategies to ease the stress when starting a new job.

Say thank you before you start

Think back to all the people who helped you get the new position, like the person who referred you to the vacancy, your references and professional network. These people are valuable connections you’ll want to keep. Start by sending a personalized thank you message to each to acknowledge their support, and then maintain contact through LinkedIn.

Listen carefully

The most successful way to learn your new duties is by listening, observing, asking questions and taking notes. You’ll learn a great deal about a company by watching how tasks are approached, the preferred types of formal and informal communication, and the daily interactions between colleagues. This is especially true to understand your new company culture and organizational structure.

Introduce yourself

Don’t wait for introductions from others. Introduce yourself to your peers as you go and join others for lunch or for coffee. Smile and make eye contact as you meet people. Treat everyone the way you’d like to be treated. You never know who you’ll need on the job. Continue to build your network and invite your new colleagues to connect through LinkedIn.

Be enthusiastic and proactive

Follow the direction you’ve been given during any training. Ask questions, especially if you’re unclear about anything. Ask for procedures so you understand routines and schedules. Even if you are provided with reference material, there may be some informal practices that are followed. Build a rapport with your co-workers who can be additional sources of information about company processes. When your work load is low, ask to help with a task (no matter how small) or to attend a meeting or activity to observe and learn. This will show a willingness contribute and be part of a team. It will also pave the way to contribute your ideas and possible improvements later in the job.

Set goals

As you learn your new job, be aware of your progress, areas you need to deepen your knowledge on, and opportunities for future professional development. This will keep you focused on growing in your role and ensure you maintain positive performance levels.

Remember

Getting the job is only the first step. Starting your new job with a planned approach will help you integrate into the company and set you up for long-term success.