Let's talk about what it takes to land a great job in Canada?
It goes well beyond submitting online applications and we have the 5 step formula to get your Canadian job:
Step 1 is about POSITIONING YOURSELF FOR SUCCESS. This is about having complete clarity around what job, type of company, and industry you are best suited for. It's about making sure you are focusing on the right aspects of your experience, matching it with the needs and requirements of employers. It's about filtering and translating your experience in ways that will draw employers to your profile. It's about identifying and focusing on a specific area of expertise.
The biggest benefit of getting it right is that you know exactly what your target is so that you can focus all of your efforts in the right direction. It gives you more confidence because you will feel like you know what you are doing.
What happens when this is done right? You will come across as overqualified, underqualified, or a mismatch. If you fall into any of these categories, it will hinder your success.
If you are not sure how you fit in the Canadian job market and how you can tailor your experience to succeed, book a career consultation now
Step 2 is about conveying your value through your RESUME, COVER LETTER, and LINKEDIN PROFILE.
It's about the quality of the information you are providing. It's NOT about listing tasks and responsibilities. It's about proving HOW you can value by clearly and concisely articulating achievements, results, and skills that match the needs and requirements of employers. It's about customizing your resume and cover letter for every job you apply for, waiving in the right keywords and industry terms.
But this may not be enough. As a newcomer, we encourage you to go above and beyond to SHOW your value. Think outside of the box and offer samples of your work whenever possible. Are you an 'Excel Ninja' and advanced excel skills are required for the job? Send along a sample of an automated spreadsheet you created using the advanced features of the tool! This is just a simple example of a thousand ways you can stand out from the crowd.
Step 3 is about getting exposure through RELATIONSHIP BUILDING and NETWORKING efforts.
How many times have you thought to yourself: "Come on...I just need ONE chance"?
Well, you can have many chances to show your value when you go out there, and start talking to people. When you do that, you give others the possibility of getting to know you, your background, your work...It's the personal connection that will lead to results, a lot more than random distribution of resumes.
Target specific companies, map out people who work for those companies and start talking to them. Be curious about their work, and do not ask them for a job right away. First, you need to build a genuine, authentic connection so that they can get to know you, and maybe proactively connect your skills with a job vacancy they have.
There are many things to take into account when building connections with a specific goal in mind (land more job interviews through referrals).
Step 4 It's about being fully prepared while remaining flexible to adapt at the moment, rather than following a script.
It's about having an active role in persuading and influencing the perception of the interviewer. It's about doing a lot of groundwork, reflecting on your experience, skillset, and career plan beforehand, and articulating this in a clear, structured, and assertive way.
It's about being fully conscious of what you choose to say, how you say it, and also what you don't say. You want to give the interviewer only the information that is relevant to him/her.
Step 5 is about MONITORING PROGRESS and MEASURING RESULTS.
Do you keep sending dozens or maybe hundreds of resumes, and waiting for a positive response? We know how frustrating this can be.
But here is the thing, you have to recognize when it's time to try different approaches and methods. You can only know for sure what's working and what's not when you keep track of your efforts.
Use Microsoft Excel spreadsheets to keep track of the jobs you are applying for (job title, source, company, date of the application, etc.) as well as the contacts you are making, and the steps you are taking towards advancing those relationships. Take note when of any relevant information or advice people give you when networking. You will start seeing the patterns and this can give you insight on how to adjust your approach in order to achieve your goal.
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