Do you know that over 60% of employers actually look at a potential employee’s social media profiles in order to help make their final decision? It is important that all job seekers know what is on their social media accounts and steps they can take in order to have their social media actually help with their job search. Here are some tips to keep in mind when updating your profiles.
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This article was contributed by Stevenson University.
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While you’re in high school, even just graduating seems like the biggest challenge you’ll face. Once you’re finished? It’s ‘where to?’ from here. Deciding on the right career path for you is all about balance. Be too impulsive and you might not find what you’re looking for; take the advice of others to heart? You risk choosing a profession you won’t enjoy.
Achieving a university degree, college qualification or short course certification doesn’t limit your career opportunities – it opens doors to them. Within every field is a diverse range of businesses, and in every business an even broader number of positions. Walking the path that’s best for you can be tricky at the best of times, so what do you really need to do? Follow the signs.
Sign 1: What are my strengths?
The first step to a successful career pathway is to stop thinking about careers. You’re still at the start of the track, so keep your focus on the journey rather than the finish line for now. Begin by taking inventory of your strengths – are you great at writing? Do you have a photographic eye? Is teamwork really not your thing?
Write down all of these in a notebook and you will start to see a pattern emerging. Our strengths are not only the tasks that we are good at, but also that we enjoy. They give us a sense of confidence, joy and pride to complete. So, naturally, they play an important part in developing your career.
Sign 2: What are my weaknesses?
Even more important than acknowledging the things you’re good at, is what you’re not. Do you struggle to concentrate for long periods of time? Are you easily overwhelmed when working with numbers? Your weaknesses are a strong indication of a career path that won’t suit you. But that doesn’t mean you should eliminate every job that has some form of administration to it.
Our weaknesses require hard work and dedication to overcome; they give you the opportunity to face a challenge. Without this motivation, at any job, you won’t learn and grow as a professional. This can end up being a worse scenario than facing a couple of simple equations in the long run.
Sign 3: Write a short list of industries
You should now have a list of close to twenty combined strengths and weaknesses. Take a closer look at these and the broader pattern that should be formed – do you have a creative streak? Are you interested in new technology? Maybe you don’t enjoy stepping into the limelight and taking control of situations? These attributes will help you to pinpoint the industries best suited to you.
Working with computer programs and numbers has endless possibilities, from information technology to accounting. For those with creative flair, the beauty and clothing industry is a global environment that excels in most cultures. As do the theatre and fine arts sectors. This isn’t the time to limit yourself – start listing every industry that pops into your head!
Sign 4: Now divide this into jobs.
Now that you have a fair idea of the different avenues available to you, let’s get specific. This phase is arguably the most research-heavy section of your career search. You want to read more than a job title and 100-word description. Ask yourself the following questions: what will you be doing day to day? What is the salary range and the workplace culture? Which countries does your career path thrive in?
Have a look through career resources and salary calculators alongside personal blogs and opinion pieces from professionals in that specific career. Once you have a list of the jobs that sound like a potential fit for you, it’s time to head to your local career counsellor and see if they can identify any further opportunities in that area. Keep cutting your list down until you get to ten or less – that’s the sweet spot.
Sign 5: What is most important to you in a career?
What are you in it for? Does the travel appeal to you or the money? The personal reward or the glamour? In this day and age, professionals choose their pathway for any number of reasons beyond financial security. There is no wrong answer here, but where possible, you should chase after your personal happiness before anything else. If you love getting hands on and building things, then choose apprenticeship training and work a trade. Don’t head straight to the law firm for that ‘promised’ six figure salary.
You’re by no means stuck in any career path you choose, but why not pick right the first time? While you take down all of the reasons to grab that profession pamphlet at the next career fair, see how they link up with your original shortlist of positions.
Sign 6: Now speak to trusted people.
Now is the right time to collate all of your research and speak to someone you completely trust; family or friends are great places to start. Choose someone who knows you well, but won’t tell you exactly what to do. The never-ending search for a career can be overwhelming and it’s tempting sometimes to give up altogether – an outside perspective will give you a welcome refresh.
You’re so close now to reaching that happy finish line! You know the one – where all your dreams come true and you never work a day in your life. The only person who can stop you from achieving this is you. And the only person who can get you there? You guessed it.
This article was contributed by guest author Caroline Schmidt.
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Leaving college and starting your first job is a stressful and confusing time for most of us. After four years of classes, internships, and exams, you’re finally ready to get out there and start a life of your own with your own job and making your own money.
But today’s workforce is a competitive place and if you’re not prepared, you won’t find success. If you want to make the most of your first job, here are four job search tips for today’s college grad:
1. Apply Creatively
With so many people fighting for the same jobs, you probably aren’t going to get noticed by just submitting a standard resume. Companies can get hundreds of applications for each job that they post, so if you want your name to stand out in the crowd you’ll need to get creative.
If you’re looking to get a job in TV, movies, or the film industry, create a cool video resume explaining what you can bring to the company. If you’re a marketer or graphic designer, show your skills by turning your resume into a neat infographic. Other creative options include creating your own interactive website or blog.
2. Apply Everywhere
Don’t allow your geographic location to limit your job search. Unlike the days of when our parents were hunting for jobs, the internet has completely revolutionized the way we do business. Because so much work can be done online, it isn’t uncommon for companies to hire individuals who live in different cities to work remotely. While this may not be an option for everyone and every company, it is always worth a shot.
By looking at new cities and considering the possibility of remote work, you expand your pool of potential jobs drastically, making it easier to get hired. If you limit yourself to only available jobs in the area that you live in, you may struggle to get hired. Obviously, this idea does not apply to jobs, such as those in the medical industry, where it is crucial you are meeting with clients or other individuals.
3. Be Ready for Drug Tests
With your years of partying in college behind you, you need to prepare yourself to be a reliable and responsible adult. While this doesn’t mean you need to push your bedtime back to 8:30 pm, you should be prepared for possible drug and alcohol testing when looking for a job. It is not uncommon for a potential employer to ask you to be tested before they consider hiring you.
Even after getting the job, random drug tests should be expected. There are some jobs and careers where frequent drug testing is more regular, but just about any employer can ask you to submit a drug and alcohol test whenever they wish. If you hope to be promoted, you may also face another drug test before you are given the job.
4. Be Alert on Social Media
While you have been warned about the dangers of what you put on social media in the past, you probably continued to use your Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to communicate with friends in a relaxed setting. After years of college, that could mean you have a whole timeline full of photos at parties or comments about being drunk. While these are all fun and games during college, they could actually cost you a job.
While you may think your employer will never find your social media pages, it is actually one of the first things they will look for when they consider bring you in for an interview. For most companies, it doesn’t even matter if the posts or images are years old. To get your profiles ready for hiring season, delete or hide any compromising posts or photos.
While it is stressful, there are ways to navigate the job market and get the job of your dreams. To make the most of your experience and ensure you don’t sabotage your own job search, keep these four tips in mind with each job that you apply for.
This article was contributed by guest author Melanie Nathan.
Image by Nick Rojas
This infographic was contributed by guest author Nick Rojas.
One of the simple ways to further your career is through networking. You need to know the right people and have the right contacts so you can identify opportunities that you would otherwise not have access to. How? Let’s take a look at some effective ways for you to network as a college student and enhance the odds of making it big in the industry. The job market is extremely competitive and getting a good job can be highly difficult if you do not network.
Remember who you meet: Throughout your college life you will come across several people who might be able to assist you in landing a job. From college professors, to people who come to visit for guest lectures – try to remember everyone you meet! If you are bad at remembering names you should write down names in a notepad or in your phone. Getting business cards is a good start. You should not be too aggressive in your approach, as there might be instances when professionals you meet might not be interested in talking or sharing their contact information with you due to personal reasons – you should accept that without question.
Get into internships or apprenticeships: Most colleges these days offer internship opportunities and you should try to gain as much experience from your internship or apprenticeship period as much as possible. One of the biggest advantages that an internship provides is that you get direct access to industry professionals and you can enhance your network during the time you work. There may be very influential contacts who can help you, and you need to be able to communicate efficiently to be successful in landing the right opportunities. Internships are not only about learning opportunities, but also opportunities that allow organizations to know if you are fit for the roles you apply for. You can also offer to work for free, and working on a short term project with an organization can benefit your job search greatly. It will allow you to identify networking trends at the workplace and how people communicate. The experience you earn can boost the odds of you getting a job and it’s one of the most effective ways to expand your network.
Use social networking websites: Ever since the introduction of LinkedIn, there has been a huge spurt in social media based recruitment. Platforms like LinkedIn allow organizations to get an overview of potential employees and they can easily shortlist people for job roles by going through the networks candidates are a part of, as well as their skill sets. Having a good network on LinkedIn is important and you will easily find top professionals you meet during your college life on the website. As soon as you build strong profiles on social media websites, you will be able to tap into the network and identify opportunities that can further your career.
Networking events: There are various events conducted by colleges to allow students to network and gain insightful knowledge from industry experts. Recruitment drives are also common in these networking events and you will find tons of booths with recruiters who share opportunities with students. You can walk up to any organization you are interested in and find out more. In most cases, HR professionals are present in these events who may even take on-the-spots interviews. These events can be greatly beneficial if you want to expand your network. Who knows, you might be able to land a job at the event! If networking events are not conducted by your institution you should actively join clubs and other societies in your college and be involved with them to gain opportunities to tap into. While networking, do not forget your classmates, as some courses have students from a wide variety of fields, and networking with them can open doors to multiple career options for the rest of you life.
Use your direct contacts: There is no harm in taking help from your friends or family in gaining a foothold in the industry. Many people are shy in approaching their parents or their friends to get jobs, but there’s no shame in doing so. Your parents can have reliable contacts, and even if your parents or direct contacts are not able to provide you with references, simply talking about their networking experiences can help you greatly by allowing you to identify how to network and go about with your job search.
Contact your faculty: College faculty and administrators can be very valuable for your job search and you should approach them in case they can refer you to job opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable to you. College professors and administrators are actively involved with the industry tie ups and will surely help you out in getting your first job.
This article was contributed by guest author Paresh Dhake.
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It’s that time of year again — if you’ve ever looked for a summer job before, you know what we’re talking about. Some start searching as early as October of the year before, and others start after the school year ends. Preference aside, winter and early spring are actually optimal times to start the hunt. Here are some tips that will hopefully steer you in the right direction for your summer job search:
If you can help it, make sure the job you are looking for suits your personality. Do you get restless sitting at a desk all day? If so, you might consider a job outdoors. Want to hone your writing skills? Try looking up internships for magazines, newspapers, or publishing companies. If you shape your search around your interests, it is likely you will be happy at your summer job.
There are of course a large number of ways one can find work, but this should be a good starting point for you. Have any personal experiences you want to share? Start the conversation on Facebook.
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Networking is primarily the art of connecting with peers and colleagues to further your career advancement and development through mutual and beneficial cooperation. Unfortunately, most recent grads ultimately fail to realize that networking is not about taking, but also about giving.
Networking is one of the most valuable tools in job searching, and unfortunately for most, does not come easily. LinkedIn is a valuable and accessible social networking tool, with over 300 million users worldwide, that all professionals and recent graduates should use to connect and interact with prospective employers. Here’s a list of five LinkedIn job search and networking tips:
LinkedIn is not just about connecting with professionals – it is also a career centre. As of right now there are over 76,000 Canadian job postings (you’ll see this number change on a daily basis). Job postings through LinkedIn are important because they give you more access to prospective employers – usually the job poster’s profile is attached to the listing. Take some time to do some research of not only the company, but also of the hiring manager or recruiter. This is valuable and insightful information that is often not available when applying through traditional job boards like Workopolis or Monster.
Don’t be afraid to make connections with senior management in your career field. LinkedIn is a perfectly acceptable method of introduction, whether it be through one of your existing contacts or not. For example: decide on an industry you want to enter, find a company you want to work for, do some research on the company, as well as its employees, and connect with HR managers by way of introduction through a mutual acquaintance or by approaching them yourself.
An example could be messaging the hiring manager of a small manufacturing company: “Hi, X. My name is Robert and I wanted to connect with you because I have an interest in working with your company. I noticed on your company website that you are looking for a production supervisor. I think I would be a great fit for this opportunity because of A, B and C.”
In the example above remember that networking is based on reciprocity; professionals do not connect with other professionals without a reason, or without the expectation that you can help one another. In this example you are connecting with someone because you feel you are a qualified candidate. You benefit by getting a job, and your connection benefits by potentially filling one of their roles. You’ve also stuck out from the crowd, made initial contact with the hiring manager, and skipped the queue all in one connection. I would also advise following up with a phone call the next day.
There are few professional social media outlets that let you browse your direct competition. Although job applications are confidential, LinkedIn does let you look at professionals similar to yourself. Use this to improve your profile and resume. Obviously do not steal people’s job description bullet points, but look at the professionals in your industry and see how you measure up, where you can improve, and what you are good at.
LinkedIn is a pool of wisdom if you’re willing to look for it. There are options on LinkedIn to “follow” (not connect) with “LinkedIn Influencers.” Use this to your advantage, and take note of what industry leaders have to say about a variety of personal and professional issues.
Join groups with other like-minded professionals in your field or location. There’s a mountain of wealth to be learned in LinkedIn groups, and they also provide a way to align your connections and network along your chosen career path. Job searching is increasingly turning to social media and online profiles, and professional groups are often where peers and colleagues congregate to discuss industry hot button topics, opportunities, market trends and more.
Read more on LinkedIn here:
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The best way to get to know someone is to communicate. Ask questions. Listen intently. Make direct eye contact. Ok, sounds simple – these are common techniques, but when attending an event, mastering these skills becomes an art form – better known as networking.
Read the description to make sure this is an event you’d like to attend. It may seem like a simple act, but look at the schedule, find the location to plan your trip accordingly and most importantly, research the event. What is the event about? Who is attending? This will give you a good idea about what topics will be discussed throughout the event, as well as the speakers and their backgrounds.
Take business cards, not resumes.
The follow up is one of the most important parts of networking – and one many students forget about. How are you going to connect with them in the future? If you got their card, great. If they have LinkedIn, connect with them and write a quick message, i.e. “You and I met at “__” where we spoke about “__”. I loved your view on “___”. I’d like to connect with you.”
Keep in mind networking opportunities don’t just take place during events. You can research potential companies you’d like to work for or intern with and contact the head of the department and speak to them over the phone. It is more personal, and your message won’t get lost among all the emails they receive. It isn’t being too forward, it is creating your own opportunities. Some sites such as Ten Thousand Coffees allow you to get to know someone in the industry and ask for advice. (Read our previous article on Ten Thousand Coffees here.)
Regardless of the event or the individual, keep these four things in mind: 1) Why are you attending the event? 2) What do you want them to know about you? 3) Who are you going to talk to? 4) What do you want to take away?
This ends the chapter on the guide to networking. Embrace opportunities or create them yourself. Put yourself out there and start the conversation.
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After graduating university I struggled for several months to find gainful employment. Unfortunately this is a sad reality for many recent graduates in Canada. However, through hard work and dedication it is possible to discover jobs and opportunities. This can be daunting for some recent graduates, who may not be used to networking and connecting with your peers and prospective employees.
Now, as an executive recruiter, it is my responsibility to pair business professionals with new opportunities that they may not be aware of. There are recruiters in Canada that specialize in recent grads, and using a recruiter has boundless advantages. Below are five reasons why I think you should consider using a headhunter.
1) They don’t cost you anything
Job agencies take a percentage of your wage to reimburse their expenses. Recruitment firms, however, are paid by the client (your potential employer). The candidate (you) is not required to pay any costs at all. If a head hunter approaches you and asks for money upfront you should not employ their services. In theory, headhunters are motivated to find you employment because that is how they are paid. They are also an important ally in negotiating compensation because their commission is based on your salary.
2) Your application goes to the top of the pile
Your resume bypasses other external candidates and goes straight to human resources and the hiring manager. If you are working with a reputable recruitment firm then chances are the client trusts that the presented candidates are top quality, and are therefore more likely to be reviewed. Furthermore, many job opportunities are not even advertised externally and often headhunters and recruiters are working exclusively for the client. Recruitment firms open the door to possibilities and opportunities that you may not have ever considered or heard of.
3) Insider knowledge about the job market and your field
As a headhunter I talk to a lot of people currently in the field. I ask questions that would normally be off limits – what their current salary is, for example – and I have a solid understanding of the industries that I work in. Headhunters are an important tool in job searching in order to understand the market, discuss what the job market is like in a certain field, and discuss what your value is in the job market.
4) They do all the leg work
Headhunters are most effective when they work with motivated and determined candidates. When you’re searching for employment, a phone call is worth a thousand emails. Candidates seldom choose a phone call over an email, but I always remember those who call because they are so few. This being said, headhunters help to relieve the pressure of job searching. They are rewarded when you find employment, so they want to present you in the best possible light. They will tweak and edit your resume and they will help promote your candidacy and resume. Headhunters liaise with clients and will sell you to their client to the best of their ability.
5) Networking
Effective job searching is about networking. Recruiters and headhunters rely on networking and their ability to form relationships with decision makers. Connecting with recruiters will help gain you access into their inner circle. Their ability to network and use existing contacts will prove invaluable in your job search or opportunity for promotion.
Remember
It’s important to remember that headhunters do not work for you – they work for their client. Though a headhunter has an investment in seeing you succeed, it is unlikely you are the only person they are talking to and submitting for an opportunity. Headhunters want to fill a job order for a client: they are not necessarily invested in making sure you get placed, but rather that the order is filled. Do not put all your eggs in one basket and rely on headhunters completely in your job search. Headhunters should be used as one of several tools when searching for employment.
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Throughout my business school undergrad, it was drilled into my head that an internship was mandatory if I wanted to get a full-time job right out of school. Marketing students were steered towards large consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies like Kraft, Loreal, and P&G. The goal of every student was to beat out their classmates to score an internship with one of these prestigious companies. I tried – albeit unsuccessfully – to be one of these students in first and second year. I knew by third year I had to get an internship.
I was an average student with a part-time job and some research assistant experience – but I didn’t have enough to make me stand out. As far as employers knew, I wasn’t the cream of the crop.
I went into fourth year with no real (read: marketing) work experience. As predicted, my friends with summer internships received full-time offers. They coasted through their final year with confidence that they’d walk into a job the next year as long as they kept their grades up. Those of us without internship experience struggled to apply for any jobs we could find. We’d all start with ones posted by our school’s career centre, and some of us went outside to sites like monster.ca in hopes no one else was looking there (which they obviously were). I started applying to companies I recognized – but only big ones. As the months went by, my stress level increased, and my “ideal job” criteria decreased. I applied to smaller companies I recognized. I researched websites for any companies I could think of and sent them a resume, even if they didn’t say they were hiring. Then I started applying to any job postings I could find that “kind of, sort of” related to marketing, whether I recognized the company or not.
The life-changer for me in my fourth year was obtaining a position on a conference executive team. I was VP Marketing for the year and put my all into it. One of my team members, two years younger than me (and who I likely wouldn’t have met if not for the conference), sent me a vague message near the end of the year saying that a friend of a friend’s cousin was looking to hire a recent marketing grad. I was given a first name and a phone number – no company name or job description. But I called, found out about the company, went in for an interview, and started working full-time just one month later.
Is my company a CPG? No. Does my job make me happy? Yes. Nearly four years later, I can’t imagine working anywhere else.
So, what did I learn from this experience?
Everyone will have a different experience on the job hunt; this is my own. Share your job hunt story with us on Twitter @StudentsDotOrg, or email it to us.
More tips for your job hunt:
A Student’s Guide to Attracting Recruiters on LinkedIn
5 Places to Start Your Internship Search
Do Extracurriculars Add Value to My College Experience?
The Best Time to Work For Free
7 Tips to Make Your Resume Stand Out
Doing Freelance Work to Pay for School
