Steps to an Ideal Job Search
 Completed Pre-Test
 provided by your Case Manager
 Job Profile (OCC/NOC)
 provided by your Case Manager
 Copies of your Resume
How did you get your previous jobs?
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I want a job, but….
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I want a job that…
“People weren’t getting jobs
through their friends. They were
getting them through their
acquaintances.”
Malcom Gladwell The
Tipping Point
You’re likely to
find your next job
through someone
you don’t see
often or know
well!
OK, sounds like a
good idea! What
is the Hidden Job
Market?
Why would I
want to do
that?
Great!
How can I
do that?
80% Job Seekers
Open
Market
<20% jobs
Hidden Market
20% Job Seekers
>80% jobs
The “Open Market”
is the best place to
search in order to
LOOK like you’re
doing job search !
The “Screen Out” Process
and
The “Match In” Process
100 respondents
1 left standing
40 left
HIRED !!
2 – 5 left
8 – 12 left
Screen Out
Match In
Decision Makers
Screen for “ability”
&
Hire for “fit”
Employers expect it
Helps determine your “fit” with the
organization
Displays your seriousness and attention
to detail
Helps to personalize cover letters and
resumes
 Diversity/Inclusion Policies
 Mission and Vision statements
 Organizational culture
 Organizational goals and strategies
 Size, age, location, history, ownership
 Products or services
 Major competitors
 Recent developments
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Newspapers
Company Website
Alberta Business to Business Directory
Telephone book/Yellow Pages
Business Magazines & Trade Journals
Annual Reports of Companies
Associations
Labor Market Information Centre
Informational Interviews
Network Contacts
 Look for PEOPLE, not JOBS!
“Networking is making links from people we know to
people they know, in an organized way, for a specific
purpose, while remaining committed to doing our
part, expecting nothing in return.”
Donna Fisher and Sandy Vilas, Power Networking

Establishing goals. What is your networking
mission?
 Learn about jobs from those working in the field
 Make connections for jobs
 Enhance your professional knowledge through shared info

Analyzing the kinds of help you will need in
achieving your goals.
 Type of help depends on your mission
 Experts, versus mentors, versus those who are connected

Analyzing and developing your people skills
 Be a clear communicator, polished, engaging, grateful and
giving.

Building and cultivating your network accordingly
 Start early. Pace to your need. Don’t wait until you need
something.

A referral generates 80% more results than a cold
call. Job search smart!

75% of people get their jobs through networking.
(a.k.a. always leave a good impression)
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Remember! Up to 80% of jobs are not advertised!
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Friends
Family
Former co-workers
Former supervisors
Academic professionals of interest
Do not act like
a job seeker!
Do not tell
people you are
jobless when
networking
The AEI Calgary & Area Labour Market Report
(Second Quarter 2011) noted that in a survey of
medium-sized companies (50-99 employees):
The most commonly used recruitment method for
companies surveyed in Q2 2011 was word of
mouth/employee referrals, followed by walkins/unsolicited resumes, company website/internal
postings, and the internet.
Smile
 Approachable, friendly
Eye contact
 Confidence, engagement
Name
 Yours or theirs
Touch
 Handshake
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Not a Job Interview - researching a sector or
business
Appointment only please!
Be polite and poised; don’t waste time
Learn industry specifics, get pointers
Establish potential inroads
Send a thank you note
 How did you get started in …?
 What kinds of things do you like most about this
job?
 What sort of qualifications does your organization
typically look for in this type of position?

What personal qualities or attitudes help people
succeed in this work?

What are the greatest challenges in this type of
work?

From your perspective, what are the trends in this
industry and how might they impact this type of
role?

My research shows that the salary range for this
type of position is ________. Is that accurate?

Is there anyone else you know that I can talk to
about this work?

What do you think is the best way or place to get
training for ________ position?
Remember to send a Thank You card!
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Professional email address
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A 60 second elevator speech
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Cold Call/Follow-up Scripts
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List of Internet Search Sites
 [email protected]
 Save your favorite job search engines and company websites as bookmarks on your
Internet server.
 Spend the time to create complete profiles on key job search sites.
 Sign up for email announcements on your favorite job search engines when jobs
that match your criteria are posted.
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Social Media
 Create a presence on Facebook and LinkedIn

Purchase an expandable file or portable file box to
hold all your materials.
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Purchase file folders.
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Create folders for every position to which you apply.
 Contains your resume, cover letter, job description and
company research.

Label each folder by the company name and/or job
title so you can easily find and refer to your folders if
an employer calls.

Create a spreadsheet to track the company name,
job title and contact information for each job you
apply to.

Create a spreadsheet to keep track of your weekly
networking contacts.

Save all of your job search documents in one folder
on your hard drive.

Job hunt on the Internet using your saved job search
sites.

Research the Companies/Organizations

Customize and send out your resume and cover
letters for new jobs.

Make contact with 1-2 new people from your field.

Call companies to verify that last week’s job
application materials were received.

Follow-up with professionals you have met through
networking.
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Practice 1 - 3 interview questions.
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Make a cold call to 1-2 companies to request an
informational interview.
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Check online for upcoming career fairs.
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Update your LinkedIn profile.
Monday
Tuesday
Read
Newspaper
Read
Newspaper
Read
Newspaper
Read
Newspaper
Read
Newspaper
Research 2
companies
Practice 2
STAR stories
Cold call 2
companies
Career Fair
Internet
search
Apply to 1-2
companies
Networking
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Informational
Interview
Networking
Tweak resume Networking
and cover
letter
Create 2 STAR Research for
stories
upcoming
Follow-up
Interview
with contacts
Update social
media

Positive – about yourself, your skills, your search, past employers,
the future and what you can add to the job

Persistent – apply for other jobs at the company, keep watching
for openings, keep trying to improve while searching

Confident – believe that you will be successful in adding value in a
new position. Body posture = confident
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Prepared –research the company more than anyone else; know
yourself
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Resourceful – connect with people in your network/action is key!
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Relying on one strategy
Lack of focus/organization
Failure to identify and use network
Targeting only large employers
Failure to follow–up
Unprofessional materials/appearance
Impersonal approach
Underestimate time needed to search