If you’re reading this post perhaps you are employed and looking for a job or for whatever reason you are unemployed and in search of employment. Either way, if you’re in the market for a job, this post is for you. Looking for a job is hard work; some say it is a full-time job in itself which I totally agree with.
I have had to look for jobs several times in my life both part time and full time, permanent and temporary and whether the job is a retail one or a counsel/associate position the general concepts are the same. Of course, my most recent experience has been a job search as a professional but the tips and tricks I am about to share apply across the board.
Here are my top tips:
1. figure out what you are looking for
The very first step is to know your reason for looking for a new job and figure out what you are looking for specifically. If you’re just looking at making money then your standard will probably just be a reliable paying job. If you’re looking to advance your career you will need to know the trigger words that you need to be utilizing in your searches.
Once you have established your “why” you can begin creating a list of wants and needs from a potential opportunity. There are things that may be a “deal-breaker” for you and other things that you will be willing to compromise on. When contemplating this, I think you need to also prioritize. Salary is usually a very important consideration for people as it should be but there are also considerations that you need to take into account as well including work culture, expectations and fringe benefits (think medical and dental plans or RRSP contribution matching).
2. know where to look
You need to know where to look. This may look different for certain fields. Generally there are tons of job boards online that will often have a lot of overlap in terms of postings. If you are in the legal field here are my top suggestions for places to look:
Another place to check is the bar association website that you may be a part of that will usually post opportunities. In addition, there is an increasing volume of informal opportunities on various facebook groups that I have personally come across recently so this is another place to look.
I would also update your profiles on these platforms (especially Linkedin) Make sure the information is accurate and that you are making good use of the platform in terms of filling in all the information you can about yourself. Be active and upload a nice professional photo onto your profile (I feel like this really solidifies your legitimacy on linked in). Recruiters are often on LinkedIn looking for candidates with high quality profiles (this will include listing your complete work history, having an updated bio and a high quality photo).
3. begin networking
This is part of number 2 and another way you can come across some more informal opportunities. Building a strong network and expanding your network is so important. Utilizing your social capital is key to creating and discovering opportunities.
Reach out to coworkers and friends you have that may know someone who is hiring or work for a company that is hiring.
4. be ready at all times
Part of the search is being flexible. Sometimes you will have to do an interview last minute but it is so important to seize every opportunity even if you don’t know if you necessarily want the job (I mean you did apply after all). Interviewing is a valuable skill (much like pitching an idea or making submissions for any lawyers reading this), selling yourself is key to landing a position that you want. The only way to improve your interview skills is by practicing. Ask your friends to do mock interviews with you, take every interview as a learning opportunity, video yourself answering questions and watch the footage and practice in the mirror. Also, be prepared – research the employer you are interviewing with and be prepared for the questions that may be asked of you prior to the interview.
5. be patient
Looking for a job is a long process: it’s truly a marathon and not a sprint. You need to be prepared to play the waiting game. In addition, depending on the type of employer, sometimes with reference checks and background checks the time frame from the interview to the actual written offer may take a little longer than others.
Sometimes, you may get a call by an employer weeks after an interview. This may be a sign of something deeper: perhaps their original choice did not go through or the company needs various approvals prior to making the offer. Whatever it is, I would always encourage you to do what you can to get to the offer stage so that you know exactly what you are passing on (even if you are initially not interested – perhaps this may change upon receipt of the contract).
These are my top tips of what you need to be doing while looking. Good luck to everyone out there looking!
