The Career Foundation

Developing Human Potential

Job Search

4 Changes You Can Make When Feeling Down in Your Job Search

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How to combat your unsuccessful job search: A man is shown looking frustrated while he uses his laptop at a coffee shop.

Job searching is one of the most stressful parts of life, especially when you’re not having any luck. Below are four key recommendations from The Career Foundation’s career counsellors on how you can take your unsuccessful job search by the horns and start making progress.

1.) Be Self-Aware

You need to be realistic about your skillset, as well as what your actual potential in the current job market is. According to our counsellors, one of the most common problems they encounter is tunnel vision. Job seekers struggling to find work might be picky and only apply to jobs in a specific field. It might be painful at first, but examining your own qualifications and the job market, itself, is vital to your success!

If you don’t have much experience in a given field, the chances of getting a job in said field are extremely slim at best. If you do have a lot of experience but most or all of it took place outside of the country where you’re applying, it’s unlikely that you’ll get the job you want off the bat. And even if you do have enough domestic experience, the number of available jobs in many specialized fields fluctuates.

It comes down to: if you really need a job, don’t set your sights on just one! Every opportunity should be treated as a positive opportunity. Your ambitions are important, and you’ll get there with time. Broaden your horizons and be open-minded.

2.) Be Willing to Change

It will almost always be necessary to adapt somehow to an employer’s needs. That isn’t to say that you need to overhaul your entire personality — if that’s the case, then the job isn’t right for you — but be willing to change your personal or work habits in order to better serve them. In job interviews, employers will be reassured knowing you’re not set in your ways. Emphasize that you’re always grateful for constructive criticism and always eager to improve.

It’s not enough to ‘talk the talk,’ either. Once you get a job, a huge part of being retained is taking constructive criticism well and making subsequent changes to yourself and your work. Don’t let criticism deter you or throw you off, and don’t take it personally. Accept that you’re not perfect and listen thoroughly to what employers say and suggest: they’ll appreciate knowing you’re someone who can maturely take and respond to criticism.

3.) Put in the Effort — A Lot of It

It seems obvious, but a job won’t just fall into your lap. Clicking ‘Apply’ on as many postings as you can and hoping for the best is not effective if you actually want results. Creating a persuasive, viable application takes both effort and time. The age-old tips for applying to jobs are true: research the company, read the job posting thoroughly, and tailor your résumé and cover letter with key words from the posting and experiences or skills that are specifically related to the job. It may seem like a labourious process when you’re applying to multiple jobs in a row, but employers will value your effort.

Counsellors also recommend branching out from broad, general job boards like Indeed. While they may be simpler to use and appear to have more postings, industry-specific jobs boards will have postings that are much more related to your search if you want a specialized job. Looking for work in a non-profit? Try Charity Village. Maybe media is more your thing? Try Mediabistro. You can keep looking on Indeed, but make sure you’re actively searching on industry-specific boards and company sites as well.

4.) Learn to Accept Failure

Counsellors often see job seekers who “shut down” as soon as anything negative happens during their search — it could be a bad interview, a typo in a cover letter, or anything in between. If someone has a bad experience interviewing for a finance position, they may lose confidence or become angry and not look as hard or even give up their search for finance jobs out of fear, frustration or even embarrassment. Don’t let that be you.

Failure is just par for the course during the job hunt. You may not want to fail; however, you should become more comfortable with the idea of failure. It might feel difficult, but all failures lead to learning experiences. Stay positive and keep motivated. The best is yet to come!

Blythe Hunter is the Participant Services Representative with The Career Foundation’s Completing the Circle-Mississauga Program. 

4 Lessons on Attaining and Retaining Employment – As Taught by Indiana Jones

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A screen grab of Indiana Jones in action.

To mark the 37th anniversary since the release of Lucasfilm’s cinematic opus, Raiders of The Lost Ark, we decided to look at the significantly pertinent, if unrealized, career advice that the good Doctor Henry Walton “Indiana” Jones Junior offered us. We’ve broken these teachings into four easy categories … But you’d still be well-advised to watch the movie!

1.) The Right Education and Training

Career dreams don’t work unless you do, and before any idea can be put into motion, a plan must be made. Part of any job search plan is researching the credentials and education needed for any said profession. Indiana Jones could not have become an archaeologist without post-secondary training. He not only studied archeology, but he chose his institution precisely; attending the University of Chicago where he would eventually be mentored by Abner Ravenwood. Aside from dating, then dumping, then rescuing (over five times by my count), then marrying Ravenwood’s daughter, Indiana learned from the best. This was not only a wise move in terms of where he studied, but the networking contacts he met there.

2.) Match Your Vocation and Passion to the Current Labour Market

Indiana’s father was also an archaeologist. It was a shared family passion. That was perhaps all the self-assessment needed. Keep in mind, however, that the first Indiana Jones movie took place in 1936. This was the era of The Great Depression. Working as an archeologist would have been neither gainful nor full-time. Thus, Indiana adapted what he learned and loved to also become a part-time professor at Marshall College. While this was not what he really wanted to do, he adapted his passion and vocation to the current labour market – rather than expecting the labour market to adapt to him.

3.) Dress Correctly and Adapt as Needed

It was the 1930s and even in the middle of an economic sandstorm, people generally dressed as formally as they could. As a professor, Dr. Jones wore a proper suit. As the swashbuckling archeologist in the field he dressed down; however, he was still adaptable in that he could easily respond to changing weather conditions, formal encounters with dignitaries, tarantulas, and a lot of dust and sand. And that hat is, well, legendary!

4.) The Right Temperament is What Employers Need

A paralyzing fear of snakes aside, Indiana made it work. The snakes are worth mentioning because Indiana (despite his fear of said reptiles) never let that part Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark movie poster.of the job prevent him from working and doing what needed to be done. The lesson here is simple: no job is perfect, but you need to adapt. The job doesn’t adapt to you.

No matter the position, many employers want similar characteristics in their employees. While brash at times, Indiana Jones was as equally as patient and perseverant. He was technically astute, while remaining both an independent and loyal team player. He was also never afraid to roll his sleeves up and get dirty (assuming he still had sleeves). Employers crave these qualities.

It’s also worth pointing out that perhaps the most heroic employability quality to the personality and appeal of Indiana Jones was his ability to innovate. Whether it was using a statue to go through a wall, cutting down the bridge he was standing on to get off said bridge, or using a rubber life raft to escape a crashing airplane, Indy was never afraid to take a risk by looking at things differently. The ability to accomplish goals by thinking outside the box (or in this case the Ark of the Covenant) is not only a key trait in being hired but staying hired and being promoted.

Last we saw him, Indiana was promoted at Marshall College to associate dean. For his lucky students (if they can keep up with him), valuable life and employability lessons would seem to be aplenty.

Jason Douglas Smith is a Training Application Coordinator with The Career Foundation, and has successfully directed clients in not only developing personalized job search strategy plans, but in circumnavigating the rigorous demands of applications for provincially-funded retraining. When not working, this self-professed Futurist can often be found reading, writing and barbecuing in his native Burlington.

5 Habits of Highly Effective Job Seekers

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5 Habits of Effective Job Seekers - A young male maps out his project plan using a whiteboard and sharpie pen.

When searching for the right job, you are competing against a sea of candidates. To set yourself apart from the competition, follow these five important habits.

Sell Yourself

Sell the employer on hiring you by being your own best sales representative. Oftentimes, we are taught not to boast about ourselves or our abilities. The job search is the one time when you can and should truly promote yourself.

Be convincing in the way that you present yourself and your skills. You can start by making a list of all skills, experiences, and certifications that you bring to the job.

Remember, the employer doesn’t know who you are and what you have accomplished. Be sure to share this information in a way that is relevant to your job role.

Be Visible

Show the company that you are interested in them through social media. A great way to do this is to promote the company and its activities through your own social media channels.

This includes the use of Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. It’s as simple as re-posting, sharing, or referencing a link to a corporate event, program, product, or news item on your channel(s).

You can even use a #hashtag that a company or organization is using through their social media. If they ‘like’ or ‘re-post’ your message, then this is a great sign that you are now visible to the company.

Even if you don’t receive a ‘like’ or ‘re-post’, rest assured that you’ll still remain on the company’s radar.

Make Friends

Network with the company through any opportunity available to the public.

Oftentimes, we don’t want to appear pushy when applying to a role. This often holds us back from reaching out to connections made, or from following up with an employer.

One effective way to connect with a company (without appearing too pushy) is to begin networking before receiving any offers. You could participate in events, conferences, seminars, launches, or other public avenues where the company is present.

Even if the company is sponsoring or exhibiting at a public event, it’s a good idea to introduce yourself. This will help you to build a relationship with individuals who work there.

When the right opportunity presents itself, reach out to your contact to let them know you’ve applied for a role. The personal connection will give you an advantage. It may even help you get selected sooner for an interview — or the job!

Know the Role

Know as much as you can about the job that you are applying for.

Knowing the role inside out means that you can effectively speak to the duties, responsibilities, and direction that has been outlined in the job description. Beyond this, you should begin to understand where the role fits within the company’s mission, vision and objectives.

Start by researching the company’s website, LinkedIn page, and any news related to the company. You can read any reviews available on the internet but be mindful that not all opinions online are reflective of company culture and work styles.

This is also a great time to learn more about your hiring manager and how your role fits within the objectives of their department or team. A simple LinkedIn search can tell you a lot about how your future manager leveraged their skills and experience towards the company’s goals and objectives.

5 Habits of Effective Job Seekers - A male smiles in front of his computer with a post-it note on his forehead. It reads: "Be Happy"

Get Excited

Passion and enthusiasm should be expressed throughout the job search. Be sure to introduce yourself and share your passion for the role, the industry, and the services or products being offered by the company.

After your interview, reiterate your interest and enthusiasm in the work (if your feelings are genuine). This interest and enthusiasm should continue throughout any interviews, when you accept the offer, and into your role on the new job.

Follow these habits and you will become highly effective at your job search – and at securing the right role for your career!

Rohit Mehta is the Youth Job Connection Program Coordinator with The Career Foundation. He is passionate about helping people to reach their full potential through skill building, mentorship and professional development. Rohit enjoys giving back to his community by serving as a volunteer on charity boards and supporting fundraising events.