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Fast track your job search |
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Many newcomers to Canada sing a refrain that's heard all too often:
"Why can't I find a job? I've posted my resume at five different job
sites, responded to dozens of newspaper classifieds, and yet... the
best I get is a form letter thanking me for applying."
Well, there can be a number of reasons for this (read the other
job-related articles on this site), not the least of which is the lack
of Canadian experience. There are other issues working against you as
well.
Let's take career openings advertised in the newspaper, for starters. A
classified ad in a national newspaper typically attracts hundreds of
applications. Unless your resume shines through like a beacon, the
chances of being shortlisted for an interview diminish in proportion to
the number of applications received.
It gets worse when you talk about posting your resume online at a job
site. There are reputedly millions (yes, you read that right) of
resumes posted by job-seekers on the major work sites. Which is good
news for employers who can pick and choose the best, but not so good
for most job-seekers.
So what does a new immigrant do?
The answer, quite simply, is that to land a job, you don't necessarily have to work harder, but work smarter.
By all means, go ahead and respond to job ads that seem a good fit for
your skills, but don't waste your time on others where you just know
you don't stand a chance.
Instead, focus on the numbers. The fewer the people in the race, the
better your chances, right? So here are five great tips to improve your
chances:
1. Be pro-active. That means do your research, and find companies where
your skills may be useful. Find out the name of the manager of the
department you'd like to work in, then mail a polite letter along with
your résume. Follow it up with a call. Chances are, if there is an
opening coming up, you might be there competing against a few, rather
than a few thousand.
2. Post your resume on company websites, not job websites. Many
companies either post job openings on their websites or offer
job-seekers a chance to post resumes for future consideration. Posting
here shows interest in a particular company and improves your chances
of getting a call.
3. Think niche. Everyone has an interest or a skill in which they are
particularly good at. Look at niche job sites in your field of
interest. There are sites for just about every industry and profession
you can imagine. Search the local job sites. There are many sites that
cover only a specific geographic area.
4. Think small. Instead of focusing on responding to ads in national
newspapers, look at the Help Wanted section in the community papers
distributed in your town or suburb. Many of these papers are available
for free.
5. Set Up Job Search Agents. Instead of merely posting your resume at
the major job sites (see Jobs, Jobs, Jobs ), set up job search agents on
all the sites you visit. That way you will receive the latest openings
as soon as they are listed. Go online and search the job sites daily.
The search agents may not send you every listing and you want to be
among the first to apply for every potential job.
Good luck with the job hunt!
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