Job Search Strategies
Your Guide to Finding a Job
Funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick through the Canada-New Brunswick Labour Market Agreements.

How do I find a job?
Preparation

1. Seek out good, qualified advice. 

Visit your nearest office of the WorkingNB and set up an appointment to speak with an employment counsellor. An employment counsellor is a qualified career professional who can provide you with the resources and advice you need to begin your job search.  An employment counsellor is also an important advisor to have if you have questions or run into any difficulty in finding a job.

2. Get informed.

Use resources such as this one (www.careersthatwork.ca) to prepare for your job search, see what resources are available to assist you in your job search and career planning. Visit your local Work Room Career Resource Centre and speak to a coordinator.

3. Establish your employment goal.

What is your ideal job? What company or industry would you like to work for? These are questions that require an answer BEFORE you begin your job search.

If you have a goal in mind, you are more focused, more confident and better equipped to develop an effective job search strategy to support your goal.  DO NOT conduct your job search with the idea that you will "take anything". This will result in you applying for jobs you may be over/under qualified to do (increasing your frustration because you are not a good fit for the positions) and lead to unfocussed interviews that will usually have a negative outcome.

This does not mean that you shouldn't be flexible and open to opportunities that may not be an exact fit, but any job you accept should benefit you not only financially but provide you with experiences that can enhance your overall career development.



Marketing Strategy

1. Develop professional marketing tools 

Your marketing tools include things like a cover letter, résumé, a professional introduction (pitch) and in many case, a portfolio that showcases your skills. These tools help you to effectively communicate your professionalism to an employer.  Think of it like a product advertisement.  If you have an enticing ad, an employer may be interested in you.  If you have a generic ad that doesn't stand out (or worse, conveys a negative impression) you will not get to the interview phase.



2. Get organized.

To save from getting discouraged and burnt-out from your job seeking, you must have an organized system and stick to it. There are some easy ways to get an effective system in place and maximize the return on your efforts.  



3. Know where to look for employment

Posted job ads are only part of the picture of an effective job search, but you do need to know where the job postings are to cover all your bases.  





Networking

1. The "hidden" job market

Have you heard the saying; "It's not what you know, but WHO you know"?  There is some validity  to that statement.  While people have to have the skills to be able to do a job, they frequently get their opportunity to be hired based on someone referring them to an employer.

Your strategy should be to network with as many people as you can to make sure employers get to know you. You should strive to be not just another faceless resume or application that is undistinguishable from all the others.

Seek out the managers and business owners who make the hiring decisions and get to know them.  Drop by their places of business with your resume, cold call, and email them.  Show that you are eager to work with their company.  Be persistent, but always professional.

2.  Enlist your allies 

Let your friends, family and former employers know that you are in the market looking for work.  They can be your best source for leads and job recommendations. Secure great references from people who are familiar with and can speak positively about your work.

Ask your allies to ask their friends and employers about job opportunities.  


3. Stick to the plan

DON'T GIVE UP!  The job search process is a full time job in itself.  Many people fail because they are either not prepared properly, do not put forth the effort required and/or give up too soon.

You will find employment but it does take time.

If you are really having difficulties, don't forget there are resources through the Department of Post Secondary Education Training and Labour that can help you.  Make sure you track your job search activities (where you went, who you spoke to, when you followed up, etc) as this information will provide an employment counsellor with vital data they can use to troubleshoot and devise alternative strategies for you.

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This section of the website contains a complete, no-nonsense approach to finding a job.

Three key things you need are preparationa good marketing strategy and a network of people you can count on to help you secure employment.
INTRODUCTION
JOB SEARCH TIPS
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