Employment Tips Archive

Think about what you want to tell potential employers when you drop off your resume. Consider what the employer would want to know about you. And don’t forget to have a pen and paper handy when you meet potential employers.

Festive parties are a great way to make contacts and talk about job possibilities!

Prepare for your informational interview. Research as much as you can about the industry, company and occupation prior to the interview. Make sure you know what information you would like to obtain during the informational interview.

Information Interview: After the Informational Interview DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Record all the information you gathered and don't forget to send a thank you note within 2 –5 days after the interview. It can be an e-mail, card or letter.

Always get someone to proofread your resume for errors, before you print off a stack and hand them out.

Speak confidently about the skills you have to offer. If you don’t, who else will?

Informational InterviewIt’s easier to start with a list of people that you know–friends, relatives, co-workers, classmates. Once you feel more confident you can call a business and ask for the name or the person who is in charge of the unit, department, or the occupation that you want to find out about.

When it comes to the interview, if you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.

Google Yourself! Google yourself to see what comes up -- and what potential employers will see if they do the same. If you don't like what you find, it's time to do damage control.

Don’t forget, employers can research you too. Ensure your profile on social networking websites, such as Facebook, Myspace and bloggers, are clean – some employers use what they see on these sites to make hiring decisions.

If you are nervous about talking to strangers about a job, tame your fears by dressing up. People often feel better about themselves when they are cleaned up and dressed nicely. This even works when you are nervous about calling people on the phone.

Make sure to research the companies – Google them. Try to find out some background information about the company and the advertised position. Check their preferred method for accepting applications.

When visiting prospective employers or dropping off an application, avoid their busiest time of the day.

Networking: It's not what you know, but who you know. Who do you know?

Make a clean first impression without any resume typos – proofread, proofread, proofread! Then get friends to proofread, too!

Mature workers are often concerned about dates on their resumes. Place the dates on the right side of the page so that less emphasis is brought to them.

Don’t let your generic resume end up in the employer’s waste bin. Target each resume to each job you are applying to.

Send in your job application as quickly as possible. As the saying goes: “Early birds get the worm.”

Try asking about jobs when you are out. Let’s say, if you want to work at your favourite clothing store—make a point of asking the cashier about job possibilities when you are shopping.

Use social networking websites, like Facebook to ask for job leads. Just change your status message or add a blog or Twitter entry – let your network know that you are looking for a job.

More and more companies are posting wanted ads online. So check out either the company’s human resources webpage or the various general job postings websites for opportunities.

Think of how your skills fit within the growing green sector. Contribute to environmental sustainability while sustaining your future!

Always exercise caution with online job postings.

Looking for work is a full-time job, but don’t forget to take breaks and care for yourself. Take the weekend off, you deserve it!

Always Provide Examples: It's one thing to say you can do something; it's another to give examples of things you have done. Arrive at your interview with a toolbox of examples of the work you've done.

Most employers start looking for seasonal workers around 2 months ahead. When looking for a summer job for May, start in early March. For a job in the winter, start in early October.

With electronic applications, be sure to repeat keywords from the job posting. Sometimes, employers run these applications through a word-filter program to narrow down the candidate pool.

Access the hidden job market through your existing personal network. Does your network know the skills you offer?

Informational Interview: Dress appropriately. Wear the same thing that you would for a job interview. Arrive on time, be polite and professional. Have all the questions prepared and respect the other person’s time. If you asked for 15 – 20 minutes, do not stay there for 1 hour.

The easiest way to get a job is through a referral. So ask everyone – parents, siblings, extended family, friends and friends’ parents – someone might have a job lead that you can use.

Cover Letters: Your address and phone number should appear at the top of your cover letter. Next, write the employer’s name and company address. If you don’t know who to address the letter to, check their website or call the company and find out.

Google Yourself: Search your name on the internet to see what comes up -- and what potential employers will see if they do the same. If you don't like what you find it's time to do damage control.

Use the holiday season for networking to help your job search!