Maximize your Job Search with Strong Networking

Are you still job searching by using only old school methods?  You know the ones, scouring on-line for hours looking at job search websites and trying to find job postings.  While this method should definitely be a part of your job search activities, it shouldn't be the only part of your job search activities.  Networking is the key to maximize your job search!  Here are a few tips to get you going:

Create A List – Compile a list of friends, family, old co-workers, the cashier at the supermarket that you speak to all the time, etc.  This is your network.  All the people in your life that you know either by acquaintance or very well, they are your network.  Keep connected with these people regularly (but not over regularly) and let them know you are seeking employment and to keep you in mind if they hear of any openings at their companies.

Keep in the Good Books – don’t burn bridges or speak negatively about past employers.  It’s a small world out there and the chances are someone in your network could potentially be connected to your former employers in some way.  If you speak negatively or burn bridges, a potential job offer could be impacted by word of mouth.

Use Social Media – I know it’s big and scary to some people; however, this form of networking is important for your job search.  Update your LinkedIn profile to include that you are seeking opportunities and use the job search functions of this great tool.  Ask a trusted friend to review your profile and provide feedback.  Update your Facebook status that you are seeking employment – you never know who knows of a job out there that may fit you perfectly!

Create a Business Card resume – Create a business card with your name, contact details and a few lines about your expertise.  When you are out and about you can quickly and easily pass these cards on to your network to keep on hand.  Great self-marketing tool!  

Making a Career Shift

Making a Career Shift

Over the past few months I have found myself wavering with my current occupation and researching alternatives. I had a few interviews and declined job offers ultimately because it scared the heck out of me to say goodbye to the profession I have been in for almost 11 years. I found myself questioning if I could and would be good at anything else besides employment services. I would argue with myself back and forth that I would be great at this and that, or maybe I wouldn't. I am comfortable in my occupation where I have developed in-depth knowledge and expertise… why would I ever move on to something unknown? Then it hit me – I was not happy in my occupation anymore, I wasn't learning anymore and I was disconnected with it. Fearing change and unknown is normal. It’s a feeling of fright and excitement all wrapped into one. So I dove in head first and accepted a great new role and new adventure! Honestly, I am terrified right now, but those feelings are nowhere close to the excitement that I am feeling about this new opportunity.

Through this experience, I have learned:

Embrace Your Fears – Acknowledge your feelings of fear while making a career shift or any decision making. Embrace your feelings and know that it’s okay to be scared of the unknown – but don’t let the unknown stop you from diving into something great.

Get to Know Yourself – The best part of making a career shift is that you can get to know yourself better.

• Apply for positions that interest you; if you get an interview you can learn more about the position and whether that type of occupation is a good fit.
• Do some real career soul searching. There are plenty of free career decision making tests and resources online that assess your current skills/experience and interests and offer suggestions for occupations that may be well suited to you.
• Research occupations; perform informational interviews with employers/employee’s to learn more about the positions

Take the Leap – If you have been offered a position that is different from your career direction and it has all the signs of a good fit – go for it! Sure, you will be out of your comfort zone for the first bit while you are learning your new role, but you will eventually learn your new role. Have confidence in your decision! If you end up not enjoying the position, there’s nothing to say that you can’t move on from it.

Tips for a Successful Job Search

Develop a strategy.

What occupation are you seeking?  What employers will you target? How will you get yourself noticed?  These are all questions that you must ask yourself and be able to answer for a productive job search.  Don’t just create a resume and email it off to every job posting you see; make a plan – who do you want to work for and what do you want in a job?

Target your Resume.

Once you are sure of what you want and who to apply to, you need to create a targeted resume that outlines your skills/experience that would be relevant to that particular industry/company/occupation.  Your resume is a marketing tool and needs to be able to show a potential employer that you are what they need!  Don’t create a general resume and use it for every job that you apply for.  You will get what you put into your job search!

Don’t skip out on Networking.

It’s a known fact that the majority of jobs are found through word of mouth; if you are not networking and keeping yourself open to options, you may not hear about a wonderful opportunity that is perfect for you!  Keep connected with old co-workers, friends, family – let them know that you are seeking employment and if they hear anything to let you know.  Get connected with social media; Linkedin can open many doors and introduce you to important people that could potentially be the lead to your next job. 

Take time for Yourself.

Don’t neglect your well-being and let your job search consume all of your time.  In order for you to be successful, you need to think about self-care.  Take time to continue the activities that you love; modify these activities if you can’t afford them at the moment or pick up a new hobby.

Be realistic.

Times are tough; there is no doubt about that.  Make sure your goals are attainable; review your salary requirements, your job objectives and the skills/experience that you have to offer.  Are you passing up opportunities because the wage seems too low?  Perhaps that company has a stellar benefit plan that supplements the lower wage.  Keep your eyes open and don’t live in the clouds.  

INSPIRATION

During your job search connect with people who inspire you; past and present.  Being around them will provide you with the motivation that you need to keep pushing forward with your job search.  Ask their honest opinion about your job search approach, they may be able to offer you constructive feedback and give you some new ideas and strategies! 

It's important to break the isolation if you have been job searching for a long time.

Consider volunteering if you are lacking in connections. Volunteering provides opportunities for networking, improves skills, demonstrates good character and develops valuable relationships which may be used for future references.

Keep connected, network, stay positive and do whatever it takes to increase your self confidence. And you will find the light at the end of the job search tunnel!

Sunny & Sassy

LinkedIn - the world of online networking!

LinkedIn is a great resource for professional networking online.  Since networking should be a huge part of your job search, connecting on LinkedIn is both beneficial and a necessity in today’s job search toolkit!  If you don’t already have an account, you should definitely get one!  The website is easy to navigate and setting up your profile is easy because you can upload your current resume and edit from there.  Technology is becoming a crucial part of our lives, be assured, potential employers will check out your online presence and being on networking websites will benefit you.

Cool things about LinkedIn:

·         Your resume is online for potential employers to view; this includes a summary of your skills/experience and chronological information about work history and educational history.

·         You can request recommendations from former co-workers/managers, etc.  These recommendations are posted directly on your profile.

·         You can see who has viewed your profile and there is a chart showing the number of views per month; this allows you to see if an employer who you have submitted your resume to has checked you out online!

·         You can connect with a ton of people that could potential be your next boss or know of job leads!

·         You can connect with people who can provide you useful information about various industries, hiring practices, and other information.

·         You can connect with groups related to your profession for tons of information sharing and advice.

·         Get up-to-date information about various companies and what jobs they have available.

·         View others profiles that are in your same/related occupation and see what type of training/skills they have that you may require to enhance your employability!

·         Get introduced to professionals that may assist you with your job goals (ie: HR department recruiter) through your own contacts

·         Access the Learning Centre at any time to answer any questions about the website, navigation, how-to, etc.

Strengthening your Employability

With spring-time right around the corner, why not freshen up your employability!

While you are unemployed, its a great time to take advantage of any workshops, seminars, short-term training and classes that may be available to you to strengthen your employability and give you that edge above other candidates. There are many tools on the internet that allow you to view occupations and the requirements for working in those occupations.  Its a good idea to make sure that you are up-to-date on any professional development that will make you more employable. 

In our segment about Career Exploration we provided links to websites that assist with exploring occupations.  These websites are also useful for determining the skills/experience needed for certain occupations and you can use these sites to research the newest professional development, skills and qualifications needed for employment in your specific industry.

~Sunny & Sassy 

Job Search Planning

Developing a plan for your job search is crucial.  Remember, this plan will be altered as you move through your goals and meet them.   In order to develop a strong plan for success, follow these steps.

Determine your career goal.  It can’t just be to get a job.  Seriously think about your skills, experience, career desires and financial needs.  Just because you have been in one occupation for a while doesn’t mean that you don’t have the transferrable skills to do a different occupation.  Investigate some career options and determine a suitable path for yourself.

Investigate Companies.  Browsing job ads online and in the newspaper is fine; however, you will also want to include researching companies that you would like to work for.  Have a look at their values, products, visions and career section of their websites.  Try and schedule an informational interview with the Human Resources department (or another person in the company) who can tell you a bit more about the position you would like to get into.

Set a schedule.  Develop a daily schedule of job search tasks.  Arrange time to do online job search, research companies, social networking and in-person networking and tailoring resumes and cover letters.  Keeping to a schedule will make your job search far more productive, increase motivation and is good practice for when you are back at work! Try and do something everyday that is relevant to your job search and that will move you forward.

- Sunny & Sassy