Ever been on the hunt for a job? I have. Many times. And even though I have a great job currently, I still consistently look around to see what the world has to offer! I know I’m not the only one. How come? Well for one, contracts are the name of the game for many employers in the current economic climate; let’s face it, we’d all prefer something longer term with a bit more stability. So, we search elsewhere. Second, because so many of us are craving nearly-instantaneous growth in a company (like, now!) we often don’t have the patience to stay with one company and put in our time before we rise to the top. So, we search elsewhere. Third, we were just plain fired or laid off from a beloved company. So, we search elsewhere. Fourth, we could just hate our job and want to run out of there right away! So, we search elsewhere. Whatever our reasons are for joining the hunt, there is nothing wrong with searching So, how do you search?
Professional Networks – Joining a network is a great way to make contacts, learn more about trends in your field, keep up-to-date on practices and just generally stay in “the know”. Personally, networking is not my forte. I cannot make small-talk for the life of me, but I do appreciate the value of networking. To learn more, I suggest hitting up Facebook (the ultimate networking tool…) or LinkedIn to seek out the details. Your former college or university may also have some recommendations on networks to join. Networks often come with a membership fee, but it can be well worth it to meet professional connections and have the opportunity to get your beautiful face out there. One easy way to dip your toes into the world of Professional Networking is to create your own account on LinkedIn – what could be easier than networking from the comfort of your own couch?
Online Job Boards – The Mother of all ways to Job Search. My highest recommendation is Indeed.ca (or Indeed.com for any US readers!), which is a massive amalgamation of most Job Board sites. I highly recommend avoiding Job Boards on sites like Craigslist or Kijiji – I just don’t want to find a job on the same site that I’m using to get rid of an old couch, but hey, that’s me!
Social Media – Employers know whats hip with the millennials these days, and to them, that means they must advertise career opportunities on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. I have nothing against this, just be sure to do your research on the job before you apply!
Newspaper – Please tell me if this is a medium that you use for your job search! I know that jobs are still listed in the Classified section, and I am a fan of print media myself, but I constantly wonder how this market thrives. Share your thoughts and experiences with me below!
There are certainly more than the four ways I have just mentioned to look for a job. In fact, for the longest time my siblings and I relied only on verbal suggestions from my dad (ha ha?). The Internet has forever changed how we look at our job-search and I am looking forward to seeing how job-searching will continue to evolve in the coming years.
Soon, I’ll share some suggestions on what you should or shouldn’t ask when applying to a job. We’ll also start to look at how to match your cover letter and resume to specific job-postings – there will be no mass-resume sending on my watch! Happy Job Searching!
Recruiter Confidant 