Job Search - The Voice of Job Seekers

The Canada Job Hunt, and Can You Ignore Facebook for Your Job Search

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Many ways of writing a resume is principally the same for foreign countries like Canada, but you should become familiar with the culture. Are you using Facebook for your job search when there are about 8 million jobs are found? Those are our topics today in another “can’t miss” episode!

Daisy Wright (@CareerTips2Go) is founder of The Wright Career Solution, and the author of No Canadian Experience, Eh? A Career Success Guide for New Immigrants,” first-of-its kind book dedicated to skilled professionals moving to, or are already in Canada and finding it difficult to navigate the Canadian job search landscape. Her work has been featured in several renowned resume and career books such as Interview Magic, Expert Resumes for Baby Boomers, Same-Day Resume, No-Nonsense Cover Letters, the Quick Resume and Cover Letter Guide, Resumes for the Rest of Us and No-Nonsense Job Interviews.

Here a few of the highlights of our discussion:

Understanding the differences in culture and the job search approach to the job market in Canada. Canadians are much more reserved in sharing accomplishments, as Americans and more comfortable with bragging about themselves
Recent laws in Canada resulted in changes of how employers may not use a lack of Canadian experience against an immigrant
There are spelling differences that will likely not be used against a foreigner (e.g. U.S. spell ‘behavior” versus Canada spells as “behaviour.”)
Daisy offers some resources and websites that people can check out for job openings

Joshua Waldman (@JoshuaWaldman) is the founder of Career Enlightenment, and the author of the best selling book, Job Searching with Social Media For Dummies. He is frequently quoted by Forbes, Mashable for advice on using social media to find jobs. He is also a speaker that has given more than 100 talks and trainings to organizations such as University of Southern California, Texas Christian University, and DeVry University.

Here a few of the highlights of our discussion:

Facebook cannot be ignored in using it to connect with other job seekers and employers. Facebook has posted more than eight million jobs and has a billion plus users
Many of the apps that Facebook once advertised are gone and it is up to the user to connect through updates, introductions
Hashtags are a very effective use that Joshua discovered in experimenting. Listen to how he started using hashtags and how it increased his reach by five times of any of his posts

Please don’t forget to leave an honest review in iTunes, so the show can increase its visibility. And don’t forget to sign up for the updates. I will be increasing them to bi-weekly instead of every six weeks, so you don’t want to miss any of them.

About Mark Anthony Dyson

I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers!" I offer compassionate career and job search advice as I hack and re-imagine the job search process. You need to be "the prescription to an employer's job description." You must be solution-oriented and work in positions in companies where you are the remedy. Your job search must be a lifestyle, and your career must be in front of you constantly. You can no longer shed your aspirations at the change seasons. There are strengths you have that need constant use and development. Be sure you sign up to download my E-Book, "421 Modern Job Search Tips 2021!" You can find my career advice and work in media outlets such as Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, Glassdoor, and many other outlets.

by Mark Anthony Dyson

5 Job Search Strategies You’ll Hate, But Results You’ll Love

The job search in 2014 requires you to be an expert at being you. Therefore, your job search will require you to encompass skill critical to landing a career that will lead to other future opportunities. This includes things that you hate to do, but there are benefits once you sort through the emotions.

1. Informational interviews
To achieve the best results from writing your resume, plan on doing a few informational interviews, then complete your resume.

You’ll hate: The cold calling (which doesn’t have to be if you are using networking contacts), and not begging for a job.
You’ll love: After getting the inside information to build your resume from the right people, you will receive more meaningful contacts that lead to interviews.

2. Writing cover letters
Yes, I also recommend writing a cover letter for each resume as many other career coaches do. In spite of the statistics indicating employers ignore the cover letter, it is an opportunity to tell why an employer should read your resume.
You’ll hate: There should be a story line that complements your resume, but does not regurgitate it. It is not easy writing a persuasive one page ditty about why you would fit the organization.
You’ll love: That a well told story leads to intrigue of your resume. It should be more personable and persuasive than your resume.

3. Interviewing like a consultant
This means you can’t hide behind canned answers although you want to practice, practice, practice!
You’ll hate: The extensive research that means more than looking at one blog or website for answers. Trying to find your potential boss, teammates, and the interviewer is tough and time-consuming.
You’ll love: That you can offer solutions and suggestions that solve problems than defending any lack of skill sets or experience. Then it is more of a business meeting and consultation instead of an interrogation

4. Timing your follow-ups
It is hard to apply the “less is more” rule because it requires patience that you may not have.
You’ll hate: Calling to ask if the employer received your resume. You’ll hate that they may not answer your question the first and second time. You’ll hate that the employer will probably not give you an accurate timetable to call back to follow-up. You may feel that you harassing someone, and that is natural, but necessary. Likely, they will think you are uninterested if you don’t follow-up. A week or two between calls is a good rule until they confirm receipt of your resume.
You’ll love: When you show patience and kindness, people will appreciate it when you call. There is not an exact science, but you can trust your instincts if these are your strengths.

5. The salary question
Salary questions are difficult to answer if you are unprepared.
You’ll hate: If you didn’t research the salary range for 2014, you would hate the silent rejection. Many job seekers do not include this part of research in his or her initial investigation of the position. Probably, you may hate the surprise of the question asked in a phone interview. Your answer will likely determine your fate.
You’ll love: Tools such as salary.com clarifies much of the value you want to bring and leverage. The more value you offer employers, the more respect you’ll earn. Salary isn’t the only thing you prepare to negotiate, especially since there is a life that you want to live.

What do you hate about the process? What are the results you love?

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About Mark Anthony Dyson

by Mark Anthony Dyson

Color Your Resume, and the Importance of Soft Skills

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Lea McLeod (@LeaMcLeod) is the founder of Degrees of Transition, and a contributor to The Daily Muse who recently published a resume help book, The Resume Coloring Book. Lea has been featured on many major career sites such as, The Daily Muse, SmartBrief, and LifeHacker, and ABC News. Lea and her blog have been named, 80 Must Follow Twitter Accounts for 2014 (Career Sherpa), Top 50 Blogs for Young Careerists 2013 (YouTern.com), and Top People to Follow on Twitter March 2014 (The Guardian, UK).

In this episode, Lea and discuss:

Her book and how easy it is for anyone to write their resume as it is color coded
Lea shares some advice with soon-to-be-graduates and how to refine their brand
What are the challenges that young people have in their job search?
The importance of “informational interviews” and the way it builds the resume
Lea mentions a tool called Strengths Finder and how it helps her clients find their career strengths

David Nicola (@Capt_Careerist) is the first repeat guest on the podcast. Just recently, he shifted positions from Career Services Director at Laurus College in California to Career Development instructor at the same college. David is still as enthusiastic about his new position as he was in episode 12.

David and I discussed :

What employers were saying when he was in Career Services about what they desire out of candidates
The difference in preparation for careers at his institution compared to a four-year college or university
His approach in teaching his students the skills and providing the resources
How important it is for students to have career orientation and career development upon their arrival

Now that you made it this far in the show notes, you want to send out this tweet to have a chance to win Lea’s book, The Coloring Book Resume. I will randomly pick one winner by midnight, Sunday, April 6 and announce it via Twitter Monday, April 7:

Win a copy of @LeaMcLeod’s book, “The Resume Coloring Book ” @MarkADyson “The Voice of Job Seekers.”

Click To Tweet

I want to thank both Lea and David for appearing on the show. Both provided great value for listeners and hope to have them back. This episode should motivate you to start your job search on the right foot, and find out what employers value and apply that to your job search strategy.