In today’s competitive job market, it’s important to promote yourself and make the best impression possible. Here are some tips to help you stand out:
- Network. Make friends, family, and colleagues aware of your job search. Use sites like LinkedIn to further your exposure.
- Search smarter. Sign up for daily emails from job-aggregation sites like Indeed or Neuvoo. They will search all job boards for all job postings in your area that match your criteria.
- Have a great resume. Research good resumes for your industry.
- Be precise. Focus on hard skills and experience in your resume. Use phrases like:
“Managed up to 6 employees”
“Improved revenues by 20% in my department”
“Ability to lift up to 50 pounds on a regular basis”
“Operated a forklift safely for 5+ years”
- Keep it simple. For most applicants, a resume should be no longer than 2 pages.
- Proofread your resume. Ask a friend or family member to read it over and check for typos.
- Check to see if your area has a Community Employment Resource Centre (CERC). These federally-funded resource centres can help you craft a better resume and provide helpful advice.
- Show enthusiasm. Let your passion show. Skills can be taught; passion cannot.
- Be punctual. Show up 10-15 minutes early for your interview. It’s considered disrespectful to be even a couple minutes late for an interview.
- Stay positive. When answering questions about your experience, never talk negatively about previous employers; it shows a lack of professionalism.
- Be personable. Remember, more than anything else, people tend to hire people they like.
- Build a strong list of references. Be sure to ask your contact if they would be able to provide you with a positive reference, before you supply their name.