JVS Toronto

DONATE

Leave a Comment

Of Greetings and Gratitude: A CanPrep Success Story

Man typing on a laptop

Each year our CanPrep program helps hundreds of newcomers start preparing for employment before arriving in Canada. Our Employment Specialists guide each participant through how to conduct a job search in Canada, participate in online mentoring, learn about their specific industry, connect with employers and apply for jobs.

Internationally trained professionals who enroll in the CanPrep program arrive in Canada well-prepared to find positions that fully utilize their skills and education.

Tasneem, a Marketing Specialist from Bangladesh, participated in the CanPrep program. Here is what he has to say about his experience.

Isn’t it remarkable how time flies? I have now spent four seasons in Canada. [I wanted to] thank you for the greatest gift of all in my first year here. You listened to my story and shared your views on the industry and job market here. I feel indebted to you for sharing knowledge with me; each [step of the CanPrep program] has contributed to making me the person that I am today.

The last year brought with it the challenges expected with moving to a new country. After 11 years of [short term] marketing roles in different countries, I was “between jobs” for about 5 months. But I came across the term “up-skilling”, and then made the most of it during summer. I got Google AdWords certified, completed an online diploma in digital marketing, earned an email marketing certification, learned basics of UX design, HTML & CSS, and built a portfolio. My short term contract was replaced with a permanent account management role.

Tasneem accessed the following resources through our program:

  • One on one sessions with CanPrep Employment Specialist through Skype and Email
  • Canadian job search advice and support based on individual needs
  • Resume building tool
  • Employer Connections – job board connecting to job postings that match candidates’ profiles
  • Self-directed e-learning courses

What was the lasting result of Tasneem’s participation? He says “I have started to find my feet in Canada. Thanks to you.”

For more information about CanPrep or to see if you’re eligible, please contact Iliana Tzekova at canprepreferrals@jvstoronto.org

Leave a Comment

Ace the pre-interview telephone call

Woman holding several phones and smiling - business reference

There comes a moment, after having written and submitted your resume to many jobs, when the phone finally rings. The caller informs you that they are calling to have “a quick conversation” regarding your application, and to determine whether you will be invited to an in-person interview.

Pre-interview telephone calls are becoming an increasingly popular way to help employers sort through the many qualified candidates that come their way. The problem is that call can come on your cell phone at any time and at any location, completely unexpectedly and out of context. At that stressful moment, when you know that your reply could be the deal breaker, you want to be able to answer the employer’s questions in the best way possible, and not sound as if you were caught off-guard, or are unfocused and unprepared.

To prepare for the pre-interview call, consider the following:

Who is the caller and what do they want?

Listen out carefully to who the caller is – their name and title. Note it. The caller might be the Administrative Assistant to the employer, who’s been given a short list of quick questions to ask, but they also might be the Hiring Manager who will be in the position to make the final decision about who is hired. Another possibility is that it’s a Recruiter preselecting candidates for the employer, and who might be in a position to consider you for other positions, if this one doesn’t work out.

Don’t underestimate any of these people – all three are important, including the Administrative Assistant who might be asked for their opinion about how well you handled yourself on the phone. Frontline administrative staff might be able to offer you extra information or tips, if they like you, or remember who you are when you call to follow up. They can be the gateway to the Hiring Manager.

Keep in mind that the caller might not necessarily have a lot of time, so take your cue from them in regards to how much can be said at that moment. On the other hand, they might want to use this time for a more indepth interview, and might not be in a hurry. Listen carefully to how they speak, and ask how much time you have to answer a question (or how much detail they would like), if you are not sure.

How to prepare?

While you cannot be perfectly prepared, it would be best if you have a list of the jobs you have applied to, so that you can identify the employer when they call. However, that is not always possible – there’s always the possibility of hearing from employers who you do not recognize, if you are using LinkedIn properly — you might get a call from a recruiter who was simply impressed by your profile.

  1. Keep track of your job search. Have the details of when, where, and for what positions you have applied accessible, either electronically (online, even), or on a hard copy. Some job seekers keep a spreadsheet of the jobs they have applied to, and use it to track dates they receive replies, when they had an interview, etc. There are some useful online tips on how to do this, including apps and websites that can help.
  2. Have your resume easily accessible, both for you to review when they call, and to be able to email them if they request it (if you were found on LinkedIn, or via a referral). It may sound strange that I am telling you that you might want to review your own resume while talking on the phone, but sometimes it helps to have a reminder of your exact dates and job titles at that moment the phone rings unexpectedly.
  3. Be ready to talk about yourself. This is a skill that will be vital throughout your job search process – think through what you want to say when asked “tell me about yourself”: what does the employer need to know about you that can be said concisely and yet be interesting enough for them to be impressed? Write it out, and practice it until it comes naturally. You can use your Profile/Summary of Qualifications on your resume for inspiration, and make sure to address typical employer requirements. Be ready to detail and describe your skill levels, if asked — especially in regards to technical skills such as software or the languages you speak.
  4. Think through what you want to ask. Don’t ask too many questions; there usually isn’t a lot of time to talk about the job on the phone – save that for an in-person interview. But you do want to make sure that you get all the details you need for the interview if they invite you one.
  5. Have your calendar/day timer quickly accessible. One of the main reasons for the call, is to book an appointment. Be ready to do so immediately.

How to deal with the call?

The physical space in which you have the telephone conversation can impact an employer’s first impression of you. If necessary, politely ask the employer if they can wait a quick moment while you find a focused place to talk.

Find a quiet, undistracted place, and – only if possible – quickly retrieve your records (resume, calendar, job application records).

Some people report that it is better to talk standing up, if you can (people tend to be more focused when they’re standing or walking).

It is most preferable that you do whatever you can to take the call, but if it’s an impossible circumstance (you’re dealing with a screaming child, driving, or in with your doctor, for example), apologise and explain to the caller that they called at a difficult moment. Ask if you can call them back. Be very specific about when you will call (or when you are available for them to call you) and make sure to adhere to that time absolutely. Try to make that happen as soon as possible – preferably on the same day.

Finally

End the call by expressing your gratitude for the call and your enthusiasm about the position. Don’t gush – just be professional, yet eager. Ask for the necessary details – the name and contact details of the person you spoke to, as well as the interview specifics. If it turns out that you are not the right candidate for the interview (perhaps you don’t have the specific software skill needed), ask the employer/recruiter to keep you in mind for other possible positions that may arise.

Leave a Comment

Increase your job referrals by conducting effective information interviews

Two women sitting at a table talking

No matter how many technological tools are available to job seekers, the most effective way to be noticed by employers is — and always has been — to meet in person. LinkedIn can help to introduce you to people, but ultimately, if you want to leave the kind of impression on employer that will make them think of you when job opportunities arise, you have to meet face to face. This was confirmed by a study from the Federal Reserve Bank, cited in Forbes Magazine that found “referred candidates were twice as likely to get interviews and 40 percent more likely to be hired than other candidates.” How do you get that referral? Ask for an information interview.

What is an Information Interview?

The meeting does not need to be long; 20 minutes is all that you need to ask for. Think of it as first step in a long-term process of forging a meaningful connection. It’s simply intended to meet, gather information and develop rapport, with no pressure for employment.

How do you go about meeting with a potential employer face-to-face?

Step 1: Identify your networking target.

Job seekers often make the mistake of targeting their networking efforts at Human Resources managers, who are often not the final hiring decision makers. The best and most credible referrals often come from the person who does the job you would like to do (a potential colleague, perhaps) or a department manager. LinkedIn’s company pages, or the contact lists of your contacts, maybe can be useful to identify your target person. If you don’t have any connection and cannot get an introduction, try joining those LinkedIn groups whose members may be worth meeting.

Step 2: Connect on LinkedIn, if possible.

Try to connect via LinkedIn with your target person. Make sure to send personalised note with your invitation to connect, and thank them, once they agree. Work on establishing rapport, through commenting on their updates once in a while (not too often).

Step 3: Plan your meeting.

Think through what you want to discuss. Review their profile and think about questions regarding their job, company, education or career. Think through how you will introduce yourself and your career path. Prepare a script of your self-introduction. Call your contact from a quiet room; have paper, pen and your calendar ready.

Step 4: Pick up the phone and set up the information interview.

  • Introduce yourself briefly
  • State the purpose of the phone call (or email): you are researching careers and would like to set a date for a short meeting
  • Explain your reasons for wanting to meet: to gain information about the person’s occupation and benefit from their insights and advice
  • State clearly that you do not expect them to have a job for you or to know of any job openings, rather you want to be in a more informed position before you pursue a career direction
  • Ask for 15-20 minutes of their time, preferably within the next week, for the interview.
  • Set a date, time and location of the meeting. (Should the person decline to meet with you, check if he/she has time for some questions on the phone either now or at a later date and ask for additional names you could contact).

How to conduct an Information Interview:

  • Arrive ahead of time, dressed neatly (although it does not need to be quite as formal as an actual job interview)
  • Bring a folder containing a list of questions and information you have already gathered
  • Have your business card available (if you have one), as well as a copy of your resume – don’t offer your resume; you may want to ask for feedback about it, if appropriate, as well as provide it if they request a copy
  • Express appreciation for their time and remind them that 15-20 minutes is all you expect
  • Re-state the purpose of the meeting – information, advice, no expectation of a job
  • Introduce yourself: describe your background, experience, skills, interests, objective
  • Bring the person up to date on your research so far – concisely so that new information will be added
  • Ask three or four essential questions that you have prepared and take notes
  • Ask for suggestions and other areas to be explored
  • Ask for referrals to other persons in specific occupations in the other areas suggested; ask about their background, and request permission to use the referring person’s name when calling
  • Thank them and express your appreciation for their time

Make sure to follow up:

Send a thank you letter as soon as possible. In the letter, thank them for their time, mention a point of interest from your discussion. Inform them of your next steps.

In the long term, keep in touch with those with whom you connected. Send a holiday greeting card, comment on LinkedIn and update them about your progress.

Developing a life-long practice of networking is useful for all those involved. Successful networkers know that in addition to the rewarding feeling of making a positive impact on others’ careers, the time and effort spent on helping another person will surely benefit them in the future, in return.

Leave a Comment

How to be easily discovered by recruiters on LinkedIn

LinkedIn icon on smartphone

A recruiter friend recently suggested that LinkedIn has made him, in his words, lazy. LinkedIn has changed how he recruits candidates, making it much easier to find new candidates, using the search bar. LinkedIn allows recruiters to easily search through thousands of potential candidates, regardless of whether they are actively seeking a new job or not, to identify the most suitable candidate and reach out to them.

As a candidate who is hoping to be easily found by recruiters, there are certain things that you can do to make yourself more discoverable:

  1. Strengthen your profile:

Most importantly, make sure that your profile is complete. Fill in all the sections, as recommended by LinkedIn, until the profile is rated as All-Star. The important sections include the photo, summary, your jobs and education, as well as skills and, if possible, any recommendations you might be able to get. Don’t underestimate the value of obtaining recommendations and skill endorsements. Recruiters will make a special effort to review any recommendations you might have, especially if they are about the important jobs in your profile.

  1. Grow your network:

Make sure to have a large network, especially in your own field. It’s important to have a large number of contacts, preferable over 500, but it is also important to have professionals who are specifically in your field.

Connect with recruiters, whenever you can. You will find them mentioned on job postings. Recruiters can also be found by searching for them on the search bar. Remember that recruiters search for candidates from their own profile, which means that the more contacts you have in your field, the more likely you are to share 1st or 2nd degree contacts with a recruiter, and therefore, the more likely you are to appear in their search results.

  1. Include the right keywords:

Once your profile is found by a recruiter, you want to make sure that they can immediately see how well matched you are to jobs in your field. To do this, you need to include all the important keywords in your profile – in your job title, your summary, in the various job descriptions, as well as in the skills for which you are endorsed.

Remember, also, that recruiters search for candidates by skills, so if you don’t have those skills on your profile, you are less likely to appear in a search. To identify the most important skill keywords, conduct a job search and review which words are chosen by recruiters and employers to describe the qualifications and characteristics of ideal candidates. Add those terms to your LinkedIn profile, as well as to your resume.

  1. Search for jobs on LinkedIn:

Utilize the job search tab to look for jobs. Use it fully by searching for jobs, as well as saving and applying to jobs. You can also check the ‘Jobs You May Be Interested In’ and ‘Jobs In Your Network’ sections on the Jobs page, as well as set up email alerts for new postings in your field.

Recently, LinkedIn introduced an exciting new option, titled Career Interests, which allows you to flag yourself to recruiters and thereby make yourself more visible. It allows candidates to specify to recruiters exactly what and where are the jobs that they are seeking. This function is active for 3 months at a time, allowing you to update it every three months and keep it current and in line with your interests.

  1. Participate in Groups:

Recruiters have been known to browse through LinkedIn Groups of professionals in the sector for which they are recruiting, to identify potential candidates. Join groups and take an active role. Remember also, that if you share a group with a recruiter, you are more likely to appear in their search results.

To be more likely to be discovered by recruiters on LinkedIn, make sure to present the best possible, most focused, coherent and easy to understand profile. Growing your contact list, using the job search function, signalling your openness to recruiters and participating actively in groups will also help recruiters find you and be impressed by what you bring to the workforce.

2 Comments

Use LinkedIn company pages to improve your job search

Laptop Screen with JVS LinkedIn Business pageMost people think of LinkedIn as just a useful way of marketing skills and experience to employers. There are however, many other uses for the platform, including the ability to target specific companies, for the purposes of networking, job search and to gain company information.

What are LinkedIn Company Page and what do they include?

LinkedIn’s Company Pages are a useful tool for you to learn more about your targeted companies. For companies, this is an opportunity for greater online presence to market their brand, as well as a place to announce news and recruit candidates.

LinkedIn company pages include:

  • A detailed description of the company
  • Regular updates from the company (news items, products announcements, developments)
  • Detail about company staff, including details on how you are connected to them and the opportunity to connect with staff
  • A searchable jobs database which includes an opportunity to sign up for job alerts
  • An opportunity to follow the company and receive their updates
  • Some pages include insights into the company, which include items such as languages spoken, causes the company and staff support

To find company pages, type the company name into the search bar and click on the “company” option.

Uses of LinkedIn Company Pages for job seekers

Long before social media, Employment Counsellors such as myself have encouraged job seekers to not rely on advertised jobs, and instead to invest time in networking, because, as many job seekers have experienced, the best jobs come from people you know.

LinkedIn Company Pages can be an excellent tool for job seekers to:

Identify target companies: Use the search bar to search for companies near you that hire certain skill-sets. You can enter the skill set into the search engine (e.g. mechanical engineer or P.Eng) and click on the “companies” option for a list of companies that hire for that skill-set. Follow the company and sign up for job alerts.

Prepare for Interviews: When preparing for an interview, LinkedIn company pages can be an excellent source of detail about the company.

Build your network in the company: Identify potential contacts in your companies of choice. Don’t necessarily go for senior management or human resources contacts – it may be even more effective to connect with people who do the work that you want to do. People who work in jobs like yours are often be the best source of information, tips and referrals to jobs, once they get to know you. Consider reaching out to them, to ask questions and conduct information interviews.

JVS Toronto

For general inquiries, contact:
T: 416-787-1151
E: services@jvstoronto.org

Find a Location

More Information

Follow Us

Imagine Canada Trustmark JVS Toronto is accredited under Imagine Canada’s national Standards Program dedicated to operational excellence.
Imagine Canada Trustmark