Finding a job can range from very easy to extremely difficult and everywhere in between. You could be at the start of your career; you could be near the end of your career. You could be looking for a better job, or you could have been laid off. Whatever the reason, you are looking.
This post is the most recent version of a presentation that I have done many times for job-finding workshops. I have presented to students and teenagers, older job seekers, and everyone in between.
A job search is very much an exercise in “survival of the fittest.” Only one person gets the job: everyone else has to start over. When looking for a job, you need to use your competitive advantages and apply them to show prospective employers that you are the best candidate for their organization.
Looking for a Job is a Full-time Job
In my experience, most people do not know how to properly look for a job. To succeed, you need to stand out: you need to show employers you are better than everyone else. One of the easiest ways to do this is to work harder than everyone else. Another way is to be better prepared. These two things are within your abilities to do, regardless of background or experience.
Experts say you should spend 80% of your time “prospecting and presenting.” This means networking through friends, family, teachers, former associates, former employers, community groups, and “pounding the payment”. The rest of your time (20% of it) should be spent following up on leads.
Everyone you know should know that you are looking for work. People you have helped and who believe in you will WANT to help you.
Searching for jobs, doing cold calls, learning or upgrading your skills, making connections, and volunteering are all parts of standing out, out-working, and out-preparing yourself. Looking for work is a full-time job.
Learn to STAND OUT
Standing out from everyone else in positive ways really makes a difference. Whether academically or in the marketplace, always be developing your reputation.
Academically, the easiest way to stand out is to answer questions by putting up your hand. Unfortunately, high school (and society) seems to force conformity from a very early age. Look at the enthusiasm of a child in kindergarten and look at the same child in grade twelve; little kids always put their hands up, but it is a rare person in high school (or and adult) that will. The fear and stigma about volunteering and being wrong is hard for some people to overcome, but the cost of not trying is much higher.
In your job or career, what you accomplish is entirely up to you. Good experiences or bad experiences are all learning experiences if you have the correct attitude. Take chances, be the first one to volunteer, and become known as the person “who gets things done.”
Also, whether academically or professionally, always do each job to the best of your ability. Your reputation is a key competitive edge.
Don’t limit your job search
It is tempting to rely only on sites such as MONSTER.CA; INDEED.CA, LINKEDIN, WORKOPOLIS. Just remember that everyone else is looking for work using the same tools.
Networking and “cold calling” are just as important and there is far less competition because far fewer people make use of these methods.
Always be learning
Many experts, like motivational speaker Brian Tracy, say you should read or listen to the equivalent of one book a month on developing your skills. According to those same experts, only 10% of people will ever attend a self-help seminar or lecture, of those less than half actually use what they learn.
Finding, learning, and applying knowledge will give you another important competitive edge. Virtually everything that has ever been written is available to you and much of it for FREE, whether in books, magazines, webinars, digital books, podcasts, or seminars.
A KEY TO YOUR SUCCESS, LIES IN YOUR ABILITY TO EXECUTE! – Everyone has access to the same information: be one of the few that takes advantage of what is available.
Read job postings carefully but take chances
Job postings are created to describe the “perfect applicant” rarely do employers find that person. As a general rule, the person who is hired is the best possible match that is available. If there is a job that you don’t have all the skills listed, but you have most or the important ones, apply anyway; you may have the best skills available.
If the posting asks for references ensure that you have them as part of your application. If you are filling out an “on-line” application, ensure re you address as many the skills that you have to match their requirements.
Your resume and cover letter are important.
Everyone looking for a job or career is in sales; you are “selling your skills and experience.” Keep your resume current and always be improving it. There are plenty of free resume clinics and great samples online. If the advertisement doesn’t say to include a cover letter, make one anyway.
Cover letters are a great way to highlight your specific skills and should be tailored for each particular job posting.
Submit your application as soon as possible
Small and medium size organizations that post jobs, HAVE AN IMMEDIATE OPENING. It is not uncommon for these employers to pick the first person they feel is qualified if they are desperate to fill the position. Do not assume that they will wait until the cut-off date. Larger organizations and governmental entities will wait, until the due date.
References give you an edge
The risk of hiring an unknown person for any organization is huge. Having the ability to check references reduces that risk. If you do not have your references listed on your resume, make sure you at least have them available to include or present during an interview.
Ask for permission from your references before putting them on your resume and list them in the order of importance: your interviewer may not call all of them. Also, your references will want to help you, if they get called my multiple people they will not mind.
Include all of your jobs
This will change as your experience grows; however, some younger people don’t like to use McDonald’s type organizations because they don’t make the connection to what they did and the job they are applying for. McDonald’s provides a space to learn responsibility and accountability at a very young age and that is a strong competitive edge. Volunteer positions and roles in community groups and youth organizations are also useful.
If you choose not to list a job, realize that time gaps may need to be explained. For older applicants, you may only want to show jobs from the past 15-20 years to prevent unconscious age bias from happening.
Have another person check your spelling and grammar
Having a great resume and cover letter can be wasted by failing to proofread and correct mistakes that you might not see. It’s especially important to spell names correctly, whether of the company or the person doing the hiring: the importance of these details cannot be overstated.
Cold calling
This is the most difficult way of finding a new job, but perhaps the most effective. Organizations might be thinking about hiring, and if you preempt their search with many of the skills that they seek, you could save them having to go through a lengthy posting and interview process.
Cold calling has to be prepared for: practice, refine, and acknowledge that it might take approaching twenty companies before you find one that will talk to you.
Cold calls are done in person: calling or emailing just doesn’t cut it. Ask to speak to the person who does the hiring or the manager. Prepare some questions in advance and stay calm.
Prepare when applying and before interviews
Visit companies and/or use their social media sites to learn about who they are and what values they have. Learn about all of the different types of jobs that they might have available. For example, furniture companies have: sales associates, drivers, helpers, office associates, service people, janitors, accountants, buyers, advertising and promotion people, and managers. As a basic rule, if you have a twenty-minute interview you should do forty minutes worth of research prior.
Be positive, upbeat, and smile
Whether you are dropping off your application, speaking on the phone, emailing, cold calling, or coming in for an interview, try to maintain a positive and upbeat attitude. Expect interviewers to notice your attitude and the way you treat their associates. If you are grumpy, you may disqualify yourself without realizing it.
Maintain good eye contact, relax, and stay focused.
Expect to be quizzed
Many organizations use timed quizzes or questionnaires (on-line or in-person) to screen applicants. Read the instructions, stay calm, and do your best.
It’s a good tool to see how applicants react to unexpected situations and to see how they think under pressure. The ability to successfully accomplish this represents is a key competitive edge.
Avoid
When writing your resume, be careful not to include anything that can be perceived as potentially negative. For example: DOB, marital status, number of children, sexual orientation, religious belief, etc. People are not allowed to discriminate but it happens.
Follow up
After an interview, follow up.By touching base in a friendly manner, you will draw attention to yourself positively. Even if the job has been filled, be careful not to “burn any bridges”, let them know that, if something changes or the person doesn’t work out, you would still like to be considered for the position.
Dress for an interview like you already have the job
People make their impression of you within four seconds of meeting. Pay attention to personal grooming – comb your hair, shave, and remove any major facial piercings (unless appropriate for the position). Don’t underestimate how the failure to take personal hygiene into account will hurt you. Watch your posture: sit up and lean forward slightly to show your interest in the interview through your body language.
You can find out what is appropriate usually by their social media presence or visiting the location, if possible, prior to your interview. If in doubt, always overdress.
Avoid dumb mistakes
Don’t chew gum or eat anything when talking to an interviewer. Use appropriate language, never wear a hat, and never bring a coffee!
Time and place
When you have an interview, always be early (15-20 minutes to relax and prepare) and always know exactly where you have to be. Trust me: it’s important and easier to forget than you might think.
“The money” Question
Do some research prior to applying on what an appropriate wage is to avoid wasting time. You need to be affordable to the employer and you need to be able to live. Online sources like Indeed are helpful and display a range of wages and salaries.
Questions that don’t have a right answer
Many interviewers like to ask questions such as “Is accuracy more important than customer service?” or “If you were an animal, what would you be?”
The specific answer isn’t important; how you answer the question and how you explain your answer is.
What can you do for them?
Many applicants make the mistake in interviews of only talking about how the job or company will help them, rather than how they can bring skills and experiences to help the company.
Social media footprint
Your social media is not private and prospective employers will check what you have posted. What was funny ten years ago may not be now, consider purging potentially embarrassing content.
Role-playing
Job searching is not something most people do very often or well, but with practice you can. Job searching is a learned skill, practice “cold calls”, practice interview questions, and remember to take advantage of the FREE help that is available from local employment services.
Finally: Be prepared, relax, smile, and keep good eye contact
Be confident in yourself, be prepared to answer questions, and practice good answers that only help you, not that will hurt you inadvertently. If you are being interviewed by more than one person, make sure you talk to each of them.
Try not to memorize answers: Instead, take a moment consider the question and then do your best.
DANGER QUESTIONS:
What is your greatest weakness? -> Really is “Why shouldn’t we hire you?”
What did you hate about your last boss or job? -> Always stay positive and avoid blasting your last place of work.
Why should we hire you? -> Summarize the main points from the posting and tie them to your skills and experience.
Why did you leave your last job? -> Always frame it positively.
What would your former employer say about you? -> Emphasize your positive attributes.
Good luck,