How to Find a Job: 30 Tips

A successful job search is the result of dedication and targeted strategies. Our tips on how to find a job will provide techniques — from personal branding to negotiating compensation —so you can begin the process towards your next career move.

Build your personal brand

1. Google yourself: Before getting your name in front of an employer of choice, take the time to run it through a search engine. Whether it’s haunting photos from the depths of your Facebook profile, or regretful tweet published back in the day, the internet has a way of storing your digital history — the good, the bad and the ugly!
2. Perfect your digital presence: Once the search is done, the clean-up can begin! Make sure each platform has a professional profile picture, check your privacy settings and be cautious of what you share online. Your digital presence can be a defining aspect of your job search. If done professionally, your online profiles can act as a digital portfolio, encompassing the attributes that could make you a company’s next employee.
3. Improve your LinkedIn profile: A strong LinkedIn account is a great networking tool, so be sure to create a profile that opens doors. To do so, select a professional headshot for your profile picture, write a headline that showcases your specialty and sets you apart from the competition, request recommendations that highlight your success and join groups relevant to your industry to show your engagement.
4. Share your knowledge: Use your digital presence as a platform to share your professional knowledge. Share content that’s tied to your profession to demonstrate your expertise in a field. However, be wary of where the content came from and only share articles, blogs or images from reputable sources. Try to share content regularly to help get your profile in front of potential employers.
5. Know your professional values: To truly achieve success in your next position, it’s not enough to find an opportunity that matches your qualifications. Rather, focus on finding employment that satisfies your career values. By identifying what truly matters to you within the workplace, you narrow your search and find greater satisfaction through your employment.

Find the right opportunity

6. Network, network, network: If you aren’t networking in your job search, you’re likely missing out on a huge market of unlisted positions. Take advantage of these opportunities by connecting with like-minded professionals via LinkedIn or networking events. Let it be known you are looking for work and see if your connections know anyone looking to fill a role.
7. Narrow your search: Searching for a broad job title may leave you filtering through hundreds of job postings. Instead, narrow the opportunities by searching your skill set. By tying your search terms to your skills and accomplishments, you’ll improve your results — identifying opportunities that are best suited to you.
8. Consider a contract: If your job hunt isn’t yielding the results you hoped and you need a job asap, a contract position may be your perfect option. Not only are temporary jobs a great way to narrow unemployment gaps, they’re perfect for gaining skills and workplace experience while you work towards finding your ideal permanent opportunity. Click here to learn the benefits of temporary employment and start searching opportunities.
9. Diversify your search: Relying on the same old online job boards and search portals can leave you spinning your wheels. To stay ahead of the curve, consider targeting your dream employers and contacting their HR department directly through a professional digital platform. Networking with people in your desired position can advance your job search.
10. Work with an agency: An agency is a great resource to help with your job hunt. Every day, an agency like Adecco receives new temporary, temp-to-perm and permanent opportunities. We work with many of the top employers in Canada and can provide the opportunities and advice you need to take some of the pressure off during your job search.

Create the perfect resume

11. Tailor your resume to each job: No two job postings are the same, which is precisely why a unique resume should be used for each submission. Tailor your resume to the position’s specs, clearly highlight how your qualifications match the job requirements and showcase your most relevant skills or experience by showcasing them at the top of your resume.
12. Incorporate keywords: Many employers rely on applicant tracking systems (ATS) to filter qualified profiles by using keywords. The position’s keywords will relate to must have requirements for the job. Embed keywords around your skills, abilities, credentials and qualities into your resume to improve your chances of being shortlisted for first round interviews.
13. Emphasise accomplishments: Feature the accomplishments that relate to the position you’re applying for. Include the benefit to the employer to identify how you can provide value to the organisation. Quantify your accomplishments by providing real numbers associated to cost savings, increased sales or improved efficiency to tangibly communicate success.
14. Include additional relevant information: Stand out from other applicants by including information that differentiates you, while promoting your skills and abilities. Include professional affiliations, languages, volunteer experience and technical skills.
15. Proofread your resume: A spelling mistake or grammatical error on a resume doesn’t exactly scream “wow”. To make sure it has the intended impact, ask someone to review your resume to catch any mistakes. They may even have an interesting perspective on how to improve your CV.

Prepare for your interview

16. Perfect your elevator pitch: Your elevator pitch is the way you sell yourself during the interview. To perfect your elevator pitch, reflect on the most important things you would like your interviewer to know about you. Make sure to keep it under one minute and cover your qualifications, expertise, goals and professional drivers. Be sure to include the details that would set you apart from other candidates.
17. Practice makes perfect: The interview process for many is uncomfortable, if not downright awkward. Overcome your interview insecurities by asking someone to help you practice. Provide them with standard interview questions and let them ask some of their own to. A little practice goes a long way in helping to fine tune your answers and increase confidence.
18. Research the organisation: Employers want to feel like you know them and have a genuine interest in the company, so don’t rely solely on their website to gather intel. Search their social media profiles, recent news articles and competitor websites. Arming yourself with a well-rounded understanding of their business news and industry trends is the perfect way to show your interest and prove how you can be an asset.
19. Compare your skills to the job description: Know the job specs inside and out. By arming yourself with an in-depth understanding of what the position entails, you can communicate how your skill-sets, experiences and achievements are relevant to the role and company.
20. Plan your route: There’s nothing worse than showing up late for an interview, so don’t leave the commute to chance. Before your interview, research and test your route and consider any elements that could affect you getting there on time.

Nail the interview

21. Dress for success: A first impression is a lasting impression. Your interview look should reflect the image you want to portray and mimic the company culture. When in doubt, “dress up” instead of down, take a conservative approach and put your trust in darker coloured clothing.
22. Be aware of your body language: Your body language speaks volumes, even when your mouth isn’t moving. Start the meeting with a firm handshake to exude confidence and refrain from fidgeting. Leaning back or slumping in your chair can give the impression that you’re disengaged or uninterested. Maintain eye contact when you speak and use subtle hand gestures to further engage the interviewer.
23. Prepare your own Q&A: Most interviews will include time for the interviewer to ask questions. To be prepared, compile your own Q&A by thinking from the perspective of the interviewer. Interviewers tend to ask questions to gauge your fit for the role and organisation, so when you run through your own Q&A prior to, try to form responses that would highlight your qualifications, experience and personality.
24. Ask the right questions: Asking questions is as important as answering them. Prepare questions that explore what management’s expectations would be of you, the different facets of your responsibilities, the company culture and next steps within the hiring process. These questions exemplify your interest in the position, organisation and the role you will play within it.
25. Mind your manners: Good manners leave a lasting impression. The hiring manager’s time is valuable so be sure to arrive at your interview on time (or early). As well, turn your phone off to avoid rude interruptions and be sure to thank them for their time after the interview. A follow up thank you email, or card, is always a nice touch.

Negotiate compensation

26. Know your worth: It’s more than your experience that makes you a valuable employee to an organisation. It’s a combination of experience, technical skills, affiliations and personality. Take the time to do your research. Compare your experience, education and unique skill sets to identify a realistic salary for the position’s requirements.
27. Don’t throw out the first number: Providing salary expectations can put you at risk of cutting yourself short of what they may be prepared to offer, or, scare off your potential employer if they can’t meet the figure. If you’re asked to provide your salary expectations, turn the table back to the hiring manager and let them provide their salary range. Be prepared to negotiate to close the gap.
28. Quantify your value and performance: Prove your potential value to the new organisation by talking numbers. Provide figures that support your worth to help with salary negotiations. The employer may be able to justify increasing the salary if you offer a high ROI. Be sure to discuss the figures you included in the accomplishment section of your resume and provide further details on how they were achieved.
29. Diversify your compensation package: Compensation covers so much more than a pay cheque, so when it’s time to negotiate be sure to have all your needs met. If the salary is firm, suggest occasionally working remotely to off-set costs associated to travel. Inquire about alternative compensation trends such as profit-sharing, health insurance and an increased vacation allowance to help narrow the salary gap.
30. Take your time: Don’t rush into accepting an offer you aren’t happy with. If the negotiation is over and the salary still falls short of your expectations, ask for some time to consider your options. When doing so, compare the offered salary to the market and confirm with the employer when you would be eligible for your first pay increase.