Employment

One of the biggest changes in the employment market these last few years is undoubtedly the arrival of the Internet as a tool to find and apply for jobs.

Do you remember all the hours spent looking through small job ads in your local newspaper? Your job search just got easier! Now with just the click of a mouse, you can have access right from your computer to thousands of jobs. Not only can you search ads that match your profile and get e-mail alerts whenever a job matching your requirements is posted, but you can also apply to jobs online, post your resume to job boards, and email your resume directly to recruiters and HR.

The Internet not only allows you to gain access to more ads while making the entire process fast and as easy to 1-2-3 but also to save on printing paper, envelopes and stamps.

If your home doesn't have Internet access, the best and cheapest alternatives are to either go to public libraries or to state employment centers.

A resume is not just a list of your employment and education paths. It should be a selling document that shows that you are highly skilled and an excellent candidate for the job.

The format of your resume mostly depends on your industry and level on the corporate ladder. For example, sales resumes might include graphs while executive resumes might be longer than the usual one-page limit. In terms of content, a resume shouldn't just mention where you've worked, but showcase your achievements and responsibilities in each company.

Because most recruiters and HR professionals now use resume scanning software, your resume should include relevant keywords that will assure it will get read by a human being. Not only can you use industry lingo, but you can use phrases that are common to most job descriptions in your field.

Also, you should make sure to include additional information about your computer skills, language skills, your level in these areas as well as any certification, award that might be relevant.

Finally even though resume writing is one of the most important factors in your job search, don't overlook accompanying documents such as cover letters and thank you letters. Use these letters to make you stand out from the crowd and offer important information that may not have fit in a strict resume format. A cover letter will often be the first impression a recruiter will have from you before meeting you, so don't blow it.

An interview is a meeting that gives a company the chance to put a face on the resume. While a resume lists your experience and education, an interview assesses if you and the company are a good fit for each other.

Because getting invited to an interview usually means you are qualified for the job, how well you behave will be the key to getting the job. There are several aspects you should consider to be ready for an interview:

Do your homework: learn about the company by looking at their website and read the bios of the people that might interview you, if they are available.

Prepare your answers and questions: Make sure to prepare what you want to say to "sell yourself". There are always recurrent questions in interviews such as "what's your biggest achievement?" or "what are your weakest points?". Do not hesitate to prepare your answers in advance, to rehearse them, making sure to turn everything into a positive note (even your weaknesses).

Regarding the dress code, because you should make a great first impression, the rule is to dress conservatively - suits for men and dresses for women - unless you work in industries dealing with the Internet, entertainment, construction, etc ... Also, it might sound obvious but you should also be well groomed, hide tattoos, piercings, be clean and smell good.