Career Blog
Do you feel like everyone has a job except you? Have all your friends already gotten internships and CO‑OP placements? Have you been pouring your heart and soul into your job search, without any result? We often find ourselves asking these questions when we don’t hear back from a large chunk of employers. It can be discouraging… but there must be some sort of justification, right? After all, in our eyes, we are all skilled and talented candidates. Nonetheless, here are a few reasons employers may not be responding…
Reason #1: Your application is not tailored to the job description
Are you using the same cover letter and resumé for all your applications? Whether it’s your overall application, cover letter, or resumé, you must tailor them all. Today, applications are often screened by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). These systems match specific keywords from the job’s description to your application. If flagged by an ATS, your application is then reviewed by a Hiring Manager. In short, avoid the “copy/paste” approach: instead, submit tailored, key‑word-optimized applications.
Reason #2: You are not being proactive.
Have you been passively “downloading” applications? Or have you been: 1) posting on LinkedIn your professional story and success; 2) eagerly following up with your interviewers; 3) strategically networking with employers by either attending their events or interacting with their social media to stay abreast of industry trends? Those are just a few examples of what you should do to become visible to potential employers and gain a competitive advantage over the other hundreds of candidates.
Reason #3: “It’s Not You, It’s Them.”
Commonly heard in romantic relationships, the “It’s not you. It’s me.” also applies to job hunting! Very often, rejection is not about you, specifically. It’s business. With a plethora of applicants applying for a limited number of positions, you can’t possibly expect to get the first job you applied for. There may be someone more qualified; your application may fall into the wrong hands; there may be unconscious hiring bias. Whatever factor it may be, remember you are not alone in this process and that you must learn from your mistakes and try again.
We can all agree that job searching is about constantly learning to deal with rejection and trying our hardest not to take it personally. However, if you’re not hearing back from employers: remember to tailor your applications, search for jobs proactively, and don’t take every rejection personally!
Need some extra help? The professionals at the Telfer Career Centre can coach you on how to search for a job, build your resumé, hone your interview techniques, and so much more. Book your individual appointment now on Career Launch.
Now go and impress those employers!
Whether in your academic or professional life, reflecting on your progress can be key in making your aspirations come true. Reflecting can mean many things and is unique to each individual but setting new objectives can be extremely effective. Exploring various avenues of reflection will help you determine which method works best for you.
The ways to reflect
- On paper
Write down your objectives and revisit them from time to time to assess your progress. For example, when starting a summer job or an internship, create a list of things you would like to accomplish. At the end of the term, taking stock will be much easier.
- Digitally
There is no shortage of online resources that can help you set goals and monitor your progress. Websites like Goalscape can help you visualize and set goals; you can also use it on a mobile app.
The importance of reflecting
- Purpose
Reflecting on your progress gives you a sense of purpose, especially once your goal is achieved, as this leads in turn to happiness and productivity.
- Improvement
Learning from an unachieved goal means identifying the gap between where you are and where you want to be. It gives you an idea of what you need to do to improve in the future.
- Effectiveness
Taking the time out of your schedule to set objectives can be extremely beneficial in the long run, as it will allow you to better plan your tasks and find the best and most effective ways to complete them.
Goal setting is one of the many ways that can help you reflect on your progress in your professional and personal life. This reflection exercise in turn can help you achieve success and a richer sense of fulfillment and purpose.
You finally did it! You completed your LinkedIn profile:
Experience? Check.
Education? Check.
Licenses and certifications? Check.
Volunteers experience? Check.
Skills and endorsements? Check.
Profile Summary? Ignored.
Let’s face it. Writing a LinkedIn summary can be incredibly difficult. However, it is one of the essential steps in completing your LinkedIn profile. If you include your LinkedIn address at the top of your resumé, your summary may even be THE first thing employers see, and as we all know, you don’t get a second chance to make a good, lasting impression on recruiters. But don’t worry, you don’t have to be a professional writer to create an impactful LinkedIn summary.
Here are five easy steps to make your LinkedIn summary more impactful:
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Get noticed
What better place than your summary to “hook” your readers? Try to engage with them and grab their attention in the first three lines: this will compel them to click the “See more” button and explore your profile. You can do so by incorporating a personal hook such as a clever question, a strong statement, or an interesting fact about you.
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Stand out
A unique LinkedIn summary should make you stand out. However, an astonishing number of summaries start with a super-generic, borderline cliché profile that is neither relevant nor industry specific. A word of advice: avoid general sentences and overused phrases, as they dilute your message. Also, avoid overused buzzwords such as “experienced,” “motivated,” and “creative”, as they do not attract recruiters to your profile.
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Use “I”
LinkedIn being a social media platform, a personal touch is required. Using first-person pronouns in your LinkedIn summary (e.g., “I am resourceful”, not “Jessica is resourceful”) will make you seem more engaging and approachable.
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Organize your content
Just as every school paper (or resumé!) requires structure and organization, so does your LinkedIn summary. Make sure it is clear, focused, logical, and effective (a reflection of your mindset as a professional). Break up your information into clear and concise blocks while steering clear of long paragraphs. This will allow people to easily skim through your summary and obtain all the necessary information.
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Proofread like a pro
Lastly, learn to proofread. Make use of self-revision and spellchecking applications such as Antidote (free through uOttawa library services), Ginger (free) and Grammarly (free). Don’t let avoidable typos discourage employers from browsing your profile. Go the extra mile and consult your “peer-review committee” (a group of trusted classmates, colleagues, friends, or relatives with an eye for details), and kindly ask them for feedback. It’s always easier to spot mistakes in someone else’s text!
Need an extra hand? Book an appointment for a LinkedIn summary critique with the Professional Development Coordinator at the Telfer Career Centre through Career Launch, and get customized advice!
Good luck, and let’s see that summary magic!
The year 2020 has transformed the world of employment by destroying some business models while making other more efficient than ever. Recruiters have embraced not only new practices, but also a renewed vision of their ideal candidates. If you’re wondering how to best position yourself in a game governed by new rules, discover the three following trends that are currently changing the world of recruitment.
Trend no1: electronic recruitment or e-recruitment
Talent Soft defines e-recruitment as a dematerialized form of recruitment encompassing everything from email applications to endowment process management. It is therefore crucial for candidates to become familiar with practices such as virtual job interviews. For those who are more at ease with in-person interactions, the challenge is to demonstrate their talents and enthusiasm, but behind the camera. So, don’t forget: smile, you’re on camera!
Trend no2: out-of-area recruitment
It is no longer impossible to live in Ottawa and to work full-time in Toronto or even in Vancouver. And why not? One of the new trends we are noticing on the job market is out-of-area recruitment. With the integration of telework and e‑recruitment to most business models, distance is no longer an obstacle when it comes to endowment and job seeking.
Trend no3: digital and general skills
With the emergence of telework, the increased digitalization and the repeated lockdowns, it is no longer enough, to wow recruiters, to boast excellent technical skills: candidates must also be able to cope with stress and pressure, be organized and demonstrate autonomy. But the golden ticket, you’ve guessed it, is no other than digital literacy. Some employers are mainly looking for people who can use and share their talents virtually as well as physically.
Now that you know what employers are looking for, you need to gather the tools necessary to meet their needs and to strengthen your general and digital skills as well as your level of comfort in virtual interactions. Luckily, the Telfer Career Centre offers all the resources you need in that department, so don’t hesitate to reach out!
References:
Les tendances du recrutement en 2021
6 tendances de recrutement pour 2021
Qu’est-ce que l’e-recrutement ?
“Pulling a good network together takes effort, sincerity and time” – Alan Collins
Today, we cannot ignore the importance of networking when it comes to job hunting. The more you put into it, the more you will get from it. Your level of dedication to networking will determine the strength of your connections. That does not mean that you should not be authentic or natural. In fact, the more genuine you are, the more meaningful your connections will be. Here are 5 tips on how network naturally.
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Set a goal
When you can’t see the tangible results of your work, it’s easy to get discouraged. So, start by setting a goal for each event. It can be something as simple as meeting four new people. This will allow you to fully engage in each conversation and distract you from feeling anxious. It will also give you something to celebrate and measure your growth upon.
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Start with people you know
It can be very intimidating to walk up to someone you don’t know. Start with familiar faces. This will boost your confidence and make the conversation feel more natural. Why not bring a networking buddy: together, you can build each other’s credibility and give each other you a warm introduction, like a live testimony about you, which naturally puts you in a great light. That way, you won’t feel as pressured to make the next move or to ask questions.
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Prepare questions or ice breaker topics
This will help you make a long-lasting impression. Try to come up with genuine questions that are likely to interest your new contacts. For example, if you are a sport enthusiast, you can talk about a sports team the company sponsors. This approach will lead to a more natural dialogue. Thoughtful questions allow you to build trust and rapport, which supports your personal connection and expands your potential opportunities.
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Smile and use positive body language
About 93 percent of our communication is non-verbal. Therefore, maintaining a positive body language can send a powerful message. When we are extremely focused and/or a little bit anxious, it’s easy to forget a friendly gesture: smiling. There is nothing more natural and welcoming than a smile. Smiling makes it easier for people to connect with you because you seem more open; it also helps them remember you.
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Listen to and leverage follow‑up questions
The key to any successful connection is active listening. Many students get so caught up thinking what the next question should be that they become too distracted to listen to what is being said. If you are attentive to what the other person is saying, you can leverage follow-up questions. This shows the other person that you are keenly interested, which creates a memorable impression and a deeper connection.
When creating your resume, there are so many appropriate skills you could include. It’s only natural that a few things will be overlooked. Here are 6 crucial skills that too many candidates forget to include.
Skill no 1: attention to detail
When you’re on the job, you need to follow instructions to complete your work in a timely and efficient manner. Attention to detail is important in any role, as it indicates that you can catch little mistakes or faults in any project you undertake.
Skill no 2: emotional intelligence (EI)
Emotional intelligence is the ability to manage one’s emotions as well as the emotions of others. In a work environment, EI helps you to remain level-headed in good and bad times and make important decisions rationally.
Skill no 3: willingness to learn and eagerness to grow
Whether you’re sending your first or 10th job application, your willingness to learn and eagerness to grow are still crucial, as you will always need to master new skills or new ways to perform a task. They show that you wish to expand your skill set and evolve as a person. And don’t forget: recruiters are often looking for candidates that WANT to flourish into better and more well‑rounded professionals.
Skill no 4: critical thinking
Critical thinking is the ability to think rationally and thoughtfully through any problem. It showcases that you can examine the task at hand and pinpoint the best possible steps to complete it or design a new, more effective action plan.
Skill no 5: flexibility
In today ever-evolving work environment, flexibility is paramount. Your resumé should demonstrate that you can adapt to any situation: competing, fast-approaching deadlines, a sudden lockdown, a transition to a virtual environment, or a change in the way you must perform your daily tasks!
Skill no 6: teamwork abilities
Did you know a surprising number of candidates still forget to include this! Your resumé should show that you can collaborate efficiently and get along with your colleagues, in collective projects as well as in daily office tasks.
To conclude, it is pretty easy to forget one or two things on your resumé whether it is a valuable skill or a relevant volunteer experience. If you want to double-check with an expert, book an appointment with a Career Centre professional through Career Launch!
Times are evolving, and so are our ways of communicating. These new channels have also found their way into our professional life through the resume, which remains an essential part of career development. Simply put, your resumé allows employers to know who you are and what your skills are; it highlights your experience in an attractive manner. Why is it, then, that we have made it so complicated and clustered?
Over the years, multiple resumé formats have emerged, some more complex than others. Although convoluted, creative formats may seem attractive, we must remember that simpler formats also bring an array of benefits. But what exactly is a simple resume format? A simple resume format is designed to showcase your work experience, skills, and education in a neat and uncluttered fashion. Thanks to its basic style, it makes it easier for hiring managers to review your qualifications and experience.
Recruiters are looking for a clean, calming, and easy-to-read layout (remember that they might be reviewing hundreds of these). They are also looking for any reason to discard applicants (that makes the selection process easier). That means that your fancy font or inventive layout might be a deterrent for your reader, not an asset. In the short term, focus on the most important and essential information to put on your resume.
A classic, simple resumé is a direct way to say exactly what the employer wants to know. Many may find the idea of being so direct awkward, but remember that your resumé is not about what you think looks pretty, nor about what your think will stand out, nor about guessing what the employer wants from you. It is about telling the employer what you can do for them. Stop worrying so much about creating a fancy, uber-creative format, and start figuring out how to explain all the ways you have positively impacted your former employers.
After several months of confinement (and a very, VERY slow de-confinement), we are finally approaching our very first all-virtual back‑to‑school season. And just as virtual networking events and workshops have been a prominent feature of the Career Centre’s programming this summer, building relationships virtually is becoming a crucial strategy for just about any job-seeking student.
As you are about to take on a new challenge this fall, we thought we could inspire you with a set of five SMART virtual networking goals to achieve over the next term.
Goal no 1: Get a LinkedIn profile critique with a Career Centre staff
First things first. If you have created a LinkedIn profile, but have not taken the time to perfect it with the help of a career development professional, it’s time to bring this precious marketing tool to the next level. Get tips and strategies that will enhance your professional brand, increase your visibility, and optimize your job‑search efforts.
For a personalized LinkedIn profile critique, book an appointment with our Professional Development Coordinator at the Career Centre through Career Launch.
REMEMBER: Recruiters may jump to your LinkdeIn profile before they’re even done reading your resumé.
Goal no 2: Perfect and fine-tune your LinkedIn summary and your elevator pitch
Did you know?
- The About section on your profile is one of the components that generates the most views.
- Your elevator pitch is one of the most powerful networking tools you could have in your arsenal.
- You can hit two birds with one stone by working on both simultaneously.
To create a strong LinkedIn summary and an impactful elevator pitch, you need to ask yourself insightful questions:
- What do I do, and how to I excel at it?
- What am I passionate about?
- What kind of challenges am I looking for?
- What value do I bring to a team?
To convince others of your passion, fit and value quickly, you need to convince yourself first. Finding the answers to these questions and putting them into words may take time but trust us: it will make a huge impact on your confidence level and on your ability to attract job offers.
To receive guidance on how to know yourself better or on how improve your LinkedIn summary, book an appointment with our Professional Development Coordinator at the Career Centre on Career Launch.
Goal no 3: Figure out your top 10 employers… for NOW.
To hit your target soon, you need to focus now. By doing some research and figuring out where you would like to work, let’s say, in three, six, or 12 months, you will narrow your job search enough as to not waste precious time and energy on countless applications that don’t align with your current professional intentions.
To receive individual tips on how to tailor your job search, book an appointment with a Career Centre staff through Career Launch.
Goal no 4: Identify the right professionals in your industry
Now that you have a solid LinkedIn profile, an engaging summary, a powerful elevator pitch, and a curated list of potential employers, it is time to reach out to gather relevant information. First, research your top 10 organizations’ websites and LinkedIn to identify the key individuals (recruiters and others) from whom you could learn about the corporate culture, the recruitment process, the qualities needed to succeed in a specific career path, and so much more.
Goal no 5: Reach out and set coffee chats
When you have identified several key professionals to network with, it is time to reach out. For real. This means: 1) inviting them to join your LinkedIn network (don’t forget to provide them with some context); 2) asking them for specific information; 3) and communicating your value. Why not ask them for a 20‑minute coffee chat? The important thing is to be clear about your expectations.
To receive specific advice on how to prepare adequately for coffee chats, book an appointment with one of the Relationship Managers at the Career Centre through Career Launch.
Don’t forget to make your virtual networking goals
Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound!