Finding A JOB-My advice-My Experience as a Recruiter and Job Seeker

[HoneyBird]

HI Everyone,

I know many people despair over finding a job.

However, having secured a job in less than two weeks of applying, and having worked as a Recruiter for two months, I would like to give you guys Heads up on finding a job quickly.

1. Canadian employers do NOT care much for foreign qualifications/experience, YOU will have to start over at the bottom of your profession.

2. You are most likely to suceed at securing a temporary position than a permanent one. Thus you should focus on temporary positions, as they are more easy to hire than a permanent one.

3. Take any job position that you get. It may not be in your field-but take it. You need to build your Canadian experience.

4. Apply to temporary agencies...as many as possible. YOU need to take initative and call them every week to remind them that you are looking for a job.

5. APPLY on Craigslist. Thats how I got my first job and I am in the process of getting hopefully another one (I will know by tomorrow). Workopolis did not work for me, neither did monster.

6. Employers all have perceptions- you need to work past it. If your spouse has a canadian last name, you should take it. For example:- B. Punawatie, hubby is: Chris Smith, change your name to B. Smith. (made up examples), You will get more hits with B. Smith. Guaranteed.

7. They want to see accreditation (I have mine from UFT) and they want to see that if you are a professional, that you are pursuing the designation (I am writing my exams in May 2012). You should indicate this in your resume, and indicate that you speak english and can use computers as well.

8. I strongly advise you to take a few courses in Canada. It will build your resume. They 'trust' canadian school education. So if you can go to a reputable university. Yes, definitely do. I am gonna take some courses in September from Ryerson.

9. Don't assume that people know where your country is. I have had so many stupid questions asked...e.g. 'wow you speak english so good..where did you learn it?' Ummmmm...I am from an english speaking country! LOL. Hence my advice above.

10. Network. Network. Network. You have to integrate as much as possible. This weekend I got 2 job referrals. One from a family person and another from someone I met yesterday at a birthday party. Both really good positions. Both of them will forward my resume recommending me. Additionally, my friend spoke to her recruiter, writing him a letter of recommendation, and he called me friday to set up an interview. So network with your neighbour. friends. every single person....let them know you are looking for a job).

11. I have found that if i apply for companies that are known or runned by people of my birth country or region, the more likely I will get called for an interview. These people know of the experience that you have put on your resume. They can identify with the schools that you have been too. Thats how i got my first job. My boss parents where originally from my country. Thus identify which companies your friends/family work in, and send in resumes. Sometimes by the name alone on the posting, you can tell the recruiter's origin.

12. Do not give up. Take what you get. Even if its temporary/part time etc. You have to start off somewhere...

13. Simplyhired.ca is a great website. They pull all the ads from all the different postings and you can customise it to search certain key words every day.

14. Sending your resume> Apply for postings as soon as it hits online. Don't both with applying for jobs that have been there for days or weeks. Those are already filled or the recruiter has found potential candidates. You need to be on the ball.

15. I have found applying early in the morning when the posting is fresh the best. If a posting is a day old. Post your resume before 8 am to ensure that your resume is atop all the other emails that were sent previously.

16. For god's sake! Do not wear Black for an interview. Dress properly. Do not chew. Smile. Look and talk like you want the job. Know something about the company. Be on time. I came across people interviewing with shorts or wearing hats or one guy was itching all the time.

17. Do NOT talk about your health problems e.g. if you have ADHD or mental illness. OR if you left a job because you were unfit for work. This does not help you! Neither does says that you had differences with your last employer and was fired or if you had an altercation.

17.If asked about UNIONS. Please for the life of God do NOT say that you were 1. in a union or 2. that you strongly believe in unions.

18. Ensure that there are no mistakes on your resume.

19. Do not put email contacts like: BigNigga@hotmail.com. (yes I have seen this). Do not put a picture a picture of yourself. Do not have some stupid voicemail e.g.: There is a song on one voice mail that sounded like: 'I smoke weed and I get high'. Make sure you have a cell phone contact and voicemail. Nothing irks a recruiter more that having to call a home phone and get the answering machine. Yes I would leave a message. But by the time you call me back, I would have already book 10 interviews before you and most likely by the time you reach by me for an interview I already found the person I am looking for. AND it pisses me off when people do not have voice mail. Do you really expect the recruiter to call you a million times a day to see if you will answer? Nope. The recruiter has to book as many interviews as possible, time is money and they are not going to keep calling you. They move on to the other hundreds of resumes.

20. Do not despair. From my experience, By the time the person opens their mouth, I know if I am interested. Don't ever take anything personal. Its all about fitting into a culture. The recruiter will know. So if you wonder why even if you had the best of qualifications, its simply your personality won't fit in. Thus never take it personal. And don't bother to re apply to the company for any future positions. Recruiters have databases of all rejected candidates and once your name pops on a search, they will not bother with you.

21. Finding a job is all about being on the ball. Be prepared. Be proactive. Respond swiftly. You have no idea, but I will tell you that when there is a posting out there...hundreds of resumes come in on a daily basis. So I strongly advise sometimes that you call the company and ask if got resume and express interest. I have actually pulled those resumes out when someone reminds me that they applied or I do an on the spot telephone interview that leads to an actual interview.

Good Luck and Do not despair.

 

[HoneyBird]

Forgot to mention..

Do not when the recruiter is calling you on the phone with you, keep asking a million questions e.g. How much does it pay? What are the benefits? You are asking those questions too early in the game. I hate to be interrupted continuously when speaking to you.

 

[shamsia]

This is indeed very helpful. Thanks!

 

[CharlieD10]

Top notch post.

 

[dakonej]

No. 10 should be at the top!

I landed most of my jobs through Networking. A friend who knew someone who knew someone else who was in charge of hiring at his firm, etc. In fact, the most interesting, satisfying, well-paid jobs are found through networking, unless you are a top of the line, sought-after executive with tons of global experience in multinational corporations, but if that were you, you wouldn't be looking for jobs in this forum

 

[HoneyBird]

Glad to help!

 

[CrazyLucy]

Some good websites to find a job would also be, as you said Cragslist, Kajiji and Indeed.com

 

[rjessome]

I had to chuckle at some of these. I was a recruiter for 10 years and can see how Honeybird quickly developed some "recruiter rules" to get her job done. That's the way it is. It's a good list but we differ on some things. I never found the colour black offensive at all. Black dress pants, skirts, suits, etc. were all fine with me. And I will say that some industries, not many, but some will value your foreign experience. Hospitality and tourism is one. I also never had a problem with a person's last name. There were some that I couldn't pronounce but still got them a job. However, it sounds like Honeybird was more of a generalist whereas I was very niche oriented. The networking idea is brilliant and should be at the top of anyone's list. Look out for professional associations that you may join as well for networking opportunities. A couple of other points:

1. Do not wear perfume or cologne to an interview.
2. Be neat and clean. This includes your hair. Don't be outrageous in your make-up (don't wear too much), hair or clothes or FINGERNAILS! Some of the crazy things women do to their fingernails these days is quite off-putting in a professional environment. Be neutral. I want to look at YOU, not your tongue piercing or the decals you have pasted to the ends of your fingers.
3. Turn off your cell phone!
4. Do not chew gum. Pop a breath mint about 5 minutes before your interview.
5. Arrive at least 5 minutes early for the interview.
6. Shake hands and make eye contact.
7. Be friendly yet professional. Let the interviewer take the lead about small talk.
8. Spend at least 20 to 30 minutes before the interview going over your resume to prepare yourself for any questions that might be asked. If you are interviewing directly with the company, research them beforehand. They will like that you know something about them.

 

[leroadrunner]

Great list! Thanks for sharing"

 

[missmini]

really useful, i saved it separately, thank u HoneyBird

from my experience of sending CV's, going to interviews and talking to people around, me too i believe that ur last name matters, in the salary equality too

what i would like to add is that for Quebec, bilingual is a must (unless u have the job/interview through THE network); in general, even if u apply in an English environment and u'll never use French for ur work, u still need to be able to have a short French conversation at the interview

good luck to all!!

 

[mrandmrsromero]

Excellent tips. I have to say #19 made me laugh hysterically.

Networking is huge!!!

My boss was recently introduced to student at a charity function. The student impressed my boss enough in that brief meeting that he asked him out for lunch the following week. Unknown to the student, the lunch was basically a pre-screen for a job offer at a well known firm. The student came to lunch dressed well. After that it all went downhill. Apparently he drank too much at lunch, talked only about himself, dropped the f-bomb and chewed with his mouth open. My boss came back to the office after lunch and basically said even though the guy had excellent credentials; he basically ruined all chances in one lunch. Why? Because all my boss could remember about him afterward was that he didn't have the table graces to chew with his mouth closed!

And on that note, another word to the wise: gum is *always* a bad idea!

Moral of the story? When you are searching for a job, look at everyone you meet as a potential connection or employment prospect and put your best foot forward. The importance of common sense cannot possibly be overstated. ;D

 

[HoneyBird]

^^^^^the problem with young people these days is that they forget they are not talking to their peers!LOL.

On another note, I got the call back from the firm today on the job, they said they actually was thinking of another position for me (not the one I interviewed for) and asked if I was interested. I declined.

And I had another phone interview today, went well and I have a face to face interview tomorrow.

So Keep at it people!

 

[mrandmrsromero]

I am about to begin contacting recruiters for a move to Vancouver so will be keeping this list of tips in mind. Good luck with the job search everyone!

 

[HoneyBird]

WITH REGARD TO THE BLACK DRESSING AT THE INTERVIEW.

I am going to concede and say that yes you can wear black BUT NOT AN ENTIRE BLACK OUTFIT!

That is what I really meant to say. Black pants, Black top, Black shoes, Black purse. Its just too too much.

You must have some colour in there! K. Its just too much on the interviewer eyes when you are in 100% black attire.

 

[rjessome]

I agree. It would look like you were going to a Johnny Cash convention rather than a job interview!