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

Older Workers: Tips for using your age to your advantage!

Embrace your life experiences:  You’ve experienced great triumphs, successes and failures throughout your life; use these experiences to your benefit when job searching and interviewing!  Great success is practiced and built on learning from bad experiences.  Think about lessons learned and how you excelled in experiences that were trying.

Update your look:  You don’t have to entirely reinvent your personal style; but you want to make sure that you look is not outdated!  Get feedback from friends about your current look and what you can do to update it.  Try reading business magazines geared for your age group and look for styles that you would be comfortable with.  A new hairstyle, some new clothes, and simple make-up application can go a long way!

Regain confidence:  Be confident in your abilities and let that confidence shine during your interview; even if you are interviewing with someone who is younger than you.  Holding a grudge about a generation younger than yours will not get you very far.  Remember, you had to start somewhere too.  Your life lessons, extensive work experience and knowledge will no doubt benefit the employer.  Show them what you've got!

Get with the times:  In today’s world of technology, there are many skills that you can be updating to increase your employability!  Try taking an online or classroom course to update your computer skills, learn about social media and networking, read articles relating to the industry that you are in and learn about any changes that you could be making.

~Sunny & Sassy

What Not To Do While Job Searching

A good way of determining whether or not your job search is working – is if you have found a job, right?  Wrong! You want to ensure your job search is working through self-evaluation! 

We have compiled some pointers of "What Not to do While Job Searching."  If you are doing several things on this list – you may want to re-vamp the way you have been approaching your job search.

Updating social networking sites with inappropriate content that may offend potential employers

We’ve said it before, and we will say it again – what’s posted on the internet, stays on the internet.  You need to ensure you are 100% professional on all your social networking platforms – even if you have set your privacy settings to allow only your “friends” to access your information.  Be sure to think before you post, this includes status updates – what is funny to you, may not be funny to others and this includes potential employers!

Not fixing errors on your cover letter and resume.

It is imperative to fix every mistake on your cover letter and resume; even the smallest mistake in spelling and/or grammar can move your resume from the “go” to the “no” pile.   Have a friend proof-read your documents – or even two friends! Do not depend on spell-check alone!

Having an inappropriate or hard to read email address.

Email addresses can tell a lot about a person’s personality and professionalism.  If your email address is outdated; for example, you created it when you were 16 years old and in love with the words “bebe” or “stud” – it's time to update your email address.  Make sure that it's easy to read – if there is an underscore in your email address, it may not show up on your resume properly.

Not tailoring your resume to the specific job you are applying for.

This is another one that we write a lot about!  Keep in mind – the job you are applying for probably has hundreds of other applicants as well.  Your resume needs to stand out!  You need to market yourself to the employer and show them that you have what it takes to do the job – a generic resume will not do this. Keep a master copy and tailor your resume each time that you apply for a job.

Addressing your cover letter with “to whom it may concern” and not putting in the effort to find out who to address it to.

These days, finding out a contact person is quite simple – so when you don’t take the time and effort to do so, it demonstrates to the employer that you are not taking initiative.  Contact the company directly and ask who is in charge of hiring, have a look at the company website, and even double-check the job posting for the name of the person doing the hiring.

Not having a clear objective on your resume. 

Stating in your objective or sending unsolicited resumes for “any job” will not do!  An employer wants to hire someone who has an interest in the company/position that they are applying for.  When you put that you are willing to do anything, no enthusiasm and commitment is displayed.  And honestly, do you really want to do “any job”?  Be proud of your successes and your skills and use them to land the job a job that you are truly passionate about!
Depending on the position, it may not be necessary to put an objective. For instance, in some cases, the objective is obvious and need not be stated.

Utilizing only one method of job search
If you are only applying on-line and not including other job search strategies such as networking, cold calling and dropping off your resume to targetted potential employers, then you need to step outside of your box and expand your job search strategies. Depending only on the internet to land you a job will lead you to a big black hole - in cyberspace.

Neglecting to follow up after a job interview
Waiting for the employer to call is okay when the employer has given you a specific amount of time before the hiring decision will be made however, there comes a point when it is crucial to follow up with a phone call or email. Following up not only indicates you are interested in the position but also demonstrates that you have initiative.


Remember, reviewing these pointers and making sure that you are on track with your job search will lead you to the light at the end of the job search tunnel!

                                                                                                                                    -Sunny + Sassy

Job Search Burn-Out

As we have written about in several blog posts, job search is a job in itself.  Countless hours are spent revamping resumes and cover letters, browsing job boards and newspapers for the perfect job posting, submitting online applications, preparing for job interviews, networking, and the list goes on.  Eventually, Job Search burn-out can happen.  It can leave you feeling emotionally drained and exhausted (much like typical job burn-out), de-motivated and wanting to just give up. 

We have compiled a few tips to hopefully help to bring you back to a motivated and upbeat feeling about your job search:

Admit Defeat – let yourself feel the symptoms of burn-out; do not try and run from them.  This is not to say give up on job searching completely; because as we all know, most things in life are just not handed to us, they are worked hard for!  Let yourself feel the emotion of loss of motivation and then shake it off and hit the pavement running in a more refreshing frame of mind! 

Take a Step Back – give yourself a break and an opportunity to look at all of the positive things you have done  throughout your job search;  determine what is working and what isn’t, and take some time to re-energize through doing things that you love to do (like taking a walk, hobbies and interests). 

Manage Stess - feeling stressed can contribute to feelings of de-motivation and burn-out.  When feeling overwhelmed or hopeless about your job search, incorporate tools to reduce your stress level; deep breathing, time-outs, exercise, laughing (watch a funny movie), journalling, talking to a support person etc. are all ways to alleviate stress.  

Simple Reminders – reminding yourself why you are going through all of this in the first place is a good step in the right direction.  The obvious is that being employed is a goal most of us have, but also that finding the perfect job that aligns with your way of life, values and passions is why you are working so hard!

And remember, with determination and perseverance you will see the light at the end of the job search tunnel!
                                                                                                                                                        -Sunny & Sassy

Labour Market Information

Did you know that Labour Market Information (LMI) is useful for your job search? Although some people feel that researching this information can seem time consuming and redundant, it actually lets you see trends, forecasts, job descriptions/requirements, salary ranges and even related occupations to the occupation you are seeking (perfect for the person looking to make a career change using their transferrable skills).

In Canada we have incredible websites to use as a resource for LMI research.  We have compiled a list of our favorite websites below.

Labour Market Services: www.labourmarketservices.gov.bc.ca

Working in Canada: www.workingincanada.bc.ca

NOC – Working in Canada Tool: http://www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/NOC/English/NOC/2006/Welcome.aspx

Work Futures:  http://www.workfutures.bc.ca/

BC Labour Market Report: http://www.labourmarketsolutions.ca/

To get the most out LMI – try using the list below to guide you in your information discovery process.

Occupation: _________________________________________

1.     Industries that employee this occupation

2.     Trends & Forecasts (by province and city)

3.     Educational Requirements

4.     Skills/Abilities required for occupation

5.     Responsibilities/Job Duties of occupation

6.     Related Occupations

7.     Salary Range

8.     Industry Outlook  

Taking the time to research occupations and labour market information may seem overwhelming, but it will pay off in the long run and you will see the light at the end of the job search tunnel! 

~Sunny & Sassy

Getting reacquainted with your Values

Sometimes when job searching , we tend to forget our values and just accept the first job that is thrown your way regardless of whether or not the company and/or the position are a good fit to us.  This can result in more stress because we are then in a position of unhappiness with our workplace.  It’s best that you take the time to interview the employer and research the company before accepting any job offers. 

Use the checklist below to get reacquainted with your values and know yourself better!  Select the items that are highly important to you.

 

□      Family

□      Friendship

□      Reliability

□      Trust

□      Harmony

□      Competitiveness

□      Self-Expression

□      Creativity

□      Loyalty

□      Freedom to do

□      Material gain

□      Open-mindedness

□      Hard work

□      Independence

□      Success

□      Perseverance

□      Commitment

□      Personal growth

□      Faith/spirituality

□      Helping others

□      Making an impact on society

□      Practicality

□      Adventure

□      Respect

□      Solitude

□      Continuous learning

□      Being challenged

□      Low-stress

Make a list of your top 5 values and keep these in mind while you are interviewing potential employers and researching companies. 

Remember: your job takes up a huge part of your day – make sure you are happy with what your doing and who you are working for!  Don’t surrender your values just because you need employment right away.

Goal Setting

Everyone has goals in some form or another but reaching your goals can at times be difficult.  This may be due to a number of factors such as not thinking of the steps to reach your goal, distractions that interfere with reaching your goal, having too many goals at once or not a clear enough goal.  You can sometimes feel overwhelmed and your goals fall out of sight.  Developing a plan can help you stay on track and reach your goals!  A useful tool when making a plan to meet your goals is the SMART system that is demonstrated below.

S        M        A        R        T

Specific – when you set specific goals you are more likely to reach them; don’t be vague, set what your aim is.  For example: “my goal is to find a job” vs. “my goal is to find an office administrator job”

Measurable – set up a system to show the progress of reaching your goal.   This will allow you to visually see the steps and the work that you have put into obtaining your goal.  For Example:  develop a tracking system to record your job search activities ie: networking events, jobs you have applied for through email, etc.

Achievable – when setting your goals, remember to think about whether or not your goal is achievable.  Record the barriers that may stop you from achieving your goal and determine whether or not you have the tools/support necessary to overcome those barriers

Realistic – ensure that your goal is realistic.  For example: If you set a goal to become a doctor, do you have the educational background to become a doctor?  If you do, do you have the funds and time to attend university to become a doctor? 

Timeframe – determine a specific timeframe that you want to achieve your goal by.  This will help you to stay on track and the steps it takes to reach your goals.

Setting goals is important in order for us to move forward in our lives.

 

It’s important to remember that if you do not achieve your goal in the timeframe that you have allotted yourself, this is not a failure.  You can be proud of the steps that you have taken to work towards your goals and extend your timeframe if you are on track.

Goals will change as people are constantly growing and changing throughout their lives.  It is ok to adjust your goals to fit you current situation and changes that may have impacted your life. 

When developing your goals, make sure that they are just that…your goals.  Sometimes influences from partners, parents, children, co-workers can affect what you see as your goals.  Spend sometime with self-reflection and really think about what You want and develop your goal list from that. 

A helpful chart to use:

I want to [insert goal] by [insert timeframe] and I will reach this goal by

Step 1______________________________

Step 2______________________________

Step 3______________________________

And so on.

Keeping your goal and your plan with you is also a good idea; this allows you to keep your plan in action at all times.  Set up alerts in your phone or calendar that remind you when you must perform a step for reaching your goal.  Create a vision board that shows you reaching your goal and post it on your refrigerator.  Do whatever helps you keep that goal fresh in your mind.

Persevere and keep on track with your job search goals by using the S.M.A.R.T. system and before you know it, you will see the light at the end of the job search tunnel!

                                                                                                                                    -Sunny & Sassy

Comment from Jenna in Seattle

“What do you suggest if someone is lost as far as which career direction to go in? I don't have a problem with the confidence part - I've succeeded in every field I've tried, so I know I have a valuable skill set. However, it's been very difficult to know which direction to send resumes out, or how to tailor them if I'm not certain what career I want” – Jenna in Seattle

Hello Jenna in Seattle:

Thank you for your comment on our blog.  It sounds like you have explored some options for your career and that you have not found your passion yet.  The career exploration process can take time; we think you are right on track with trying out different fields.  Since you have a varied skill set that can also work in your favor as you will most likely be able to work in various fields and already have transferrable skills and experience.  Its best to start by looking at your values, talents and what makes you the happiest and then work from there.  We would like to direct you to read our blog post “Exploring your career options” (the links are provided below).  There are links to various career exploration websites online (free) that can help you determine your interests and explore options.

http://jobsos.blogspot.com/2011/04/exploring-your-career-options-part-1.html

http://jobsos.blogspot.com/2011/04/exploring-your-career-options-part-2.html

This website also has some career tests/assessment links: http://www.helpguide.org/life/finding_career.htm 

Once you have determined the occupation/industry that you want, it should be easier to determine what companies to send your resumes too and how to tailor your resume to fit those companies/positions.  If you need any assistance in doing this, please feel free to contact us via email jobsearchsos@gmail.com

Good luck during your exploration; it is an amazing thing once you determine what really makes you tick and try to do it for a living!!

~Sunny & Sassy

Effective Communication Tips

Increase your Self Esteem with these 5 simple things

Spend some time with yourself – by yourself!  Take the time to spend a few minutes alone each day and reflect on the positive things about yourself and your life that you love the most. 

Experiment with your style!  This doesn’t mean going out and buying a new wardrobe.  Go through your closet and try to match different things to make a new outfit – or style your hair in a new way than you typically do.  Have a beard?  Try shaving it off and seeing what you look like!  

Make a list of your greatest Accomplishments!  Grab a notebook, a cup of tea and a cozy seat and brainstorm a list of your greatest accomplishments that are important to You.  Try to only focus on what you feel is important – leave out the things that you thought would make your spouse, children, family and friends happy and just focus on what you did that truly made You happy.

Take Stock of the People in your life!  Reflect on those who make you feel the happiest, who make you smile and laugh and give you guidance.  Remember those people when you are feeling out of esteem; call them up for a laugh.

Read an old time favorite!  Reading can relax and recharge your self-esteem by allowing your mind to be creative and take a journey into the world in the book.

Preparing to Break back into the Workforce after Raising your Children

Job Searching is difficult….job searching with limited skills/experience or outdated skills/experience is even more difficult!  Rest assured that there are a few things that you can do to prepare yourself for your job search and make yourself more employable after returning to the workforce from raising your children. 

It’s important to remember to acknowledge your feelings about returning to work and acknowledge the stress this situation may put on your and your children.   Ensuing that you are including your children in the childcare decisions and talking to your children about the upcoming separation will help both you and them cope with this change.


You will need to consider things such as whether or not you will work part-time or full-time, the type of childcare you will require and whether or not you want to work in the same industry as you previously did. 


In order to keep your skill set fresh, it’s a good idea to find a volunteer position relating to the industry that you are looking for work in.  This will allow you to expand your network and learn about new skills in your industry.  Volunteering is also a good way to ease your children into the daily routine of not having you around all the time.


Ensure you are keeping contact with your social network!  Update your status on LinkedIn to say that you are seeking employment/volunteer opportunities and connect with groups/companies using Twitter or LinkedIn to keep in tune with the employment world.


Make sure that you explain your absence from the work world in your cover letter when applying for positions; that way the employer will not jump to conclusions if they see a gap in work experience on your resume.


During the job interview; ensure the employer knows that you have childcare arrangements and back-up arrangements.  Even though it's not right, some employers will judge a working parent and may think they will have to take a lot of time off work – its best to prove to them that you have it covered!

~Sunny & Sassy

Struggling with Self Confidence

A lack of self confidence can ultimately sabotage your job search.  It’s not uncommon to lose self confidence and feel rejected while job searching, especially if you are not moving forward as quickly as you would like; however, its important to keep an eye on your struggling self confidence in order to remain productive. 

When struggling with low self confidence, people will often create barriers that prevent them from reaching their full potential.  Remember your strengths and successes – jot down what makes you shine in your career, what you have been complimented on in the past and what makes you a success in your industry.  Its easy to lose sight of the things that we do the best, especially when we are feeling low on ourselves and our accomplishments.

Keep active and participate in the extra curricular activities that you enjoy doing in order to keep yourself in a positive light.  The more down on ourselves that we get, the worse our confidence will suffer.  Staying connected to friends and family and the things that we enjoy in our lives will help prevent job search burn-out and feelings of doubt. 

It's important try and avoid being too hard on yourself.  It's ok if you make a mistake; life is about making mistakes so that we learn from them.  During your job search, you may not be chosen for every opportunity that you apply for but if you take the time to reflect on the interview that went wrong or the resume that was not tailored well enough, then you will learn for the next experience. 

~Sunny & Sassy