Job Search and Interview Preparation Guide

A cover letter is short one-page note that you send when applying for a job accompanied with your resume. The letter should be brief and customized for each job that your apply for.

The general format of a cover letter consists of a header, opening paragraph, middle paragraph and closing paragraph. Below you will find some tips on writing effective cover letters:

In the header section, include your name and contact information as well as the recipient's name and contact information. This section also includes a salutation (for example, "Dear Sir or Ma'am").

In the opening paragraph, state your purpose of writing, mention the position you are applying for and how you came to know about the job opening.

In the middle paragraph, identify key aspects of your education, experience and skills that are relevant to the job opening and company in order to demonstrate that you are a good match.

In the closing paragraph, mention that you look forward to the opportunity of hearing from the potential employer to discuss further details of the job and how you can benefit the company. End with a closing like "Sincerely," and your name at the bottom.

Here are some quick tips:

    •   Always accompany your resume with a cover letter, unless mentioned;
    •   Address the letter to a specific person, whenever possible;
    •   Check your letter for proper grammar and spellings;
    •   Keep the letter concise and to the point;
    •   If emailing, remember to attach your resume.

CLICK HERE for sample cover letter templates.

As mentioned earlier, most Canadian employers and recruitment agencies post their jobs on online job boards. Listed below are some of the top online job websites in the Canada. Basically, you need to visit the sites, create a free account and build a profile (uploading your resume).

You can choose to make your profile public or private. Obviously, in this case, you would make your profile public so potential employers can access your resume if they find a fit. Also, you can search for jobs in their database that match your credential and accordingly apply online.

Sure Jobs Canada | GTA Jobs | Workopolis | Yahoo Hot jobs | Monster Jobs
Career Builder | Ontario Jobs

Now that you've got your resume and cover letter ready and have applied for jobs, you need to focus on preparing for the interview. Sometimes, before the face-to-face interview, you may be screened through a telephone interview. Therefore, it's important to be prepared and planning the process will help you stay ahead.

You get only one chance at making a first impression, so do your best to prepare yourself. Having said so, the information provided below will help you do exactly that.

During the interview, there are some common questions that most interviewers ask. So it's best to keep these questions in mind and rehearse the answers.

You can even create an interview script with most commonly asked questions and write the answers as they pertain to you and the job that you're applying for. The importance of rehearsing the answers to these interview questions is so you can keep them brief and to the point.

Before the interview, take the time research about the position and company you are interviewing for. Most companies have websites, so it's easy to obtain information about the company.

By learning more about the company and position, you will be in a better position to answer questions during the interview as well as ask relevant questions to the interviewer. This will also show the interviewer that you are really interested in the company since you took the time to do your homework.

Below is some of the information you should seek about the company and job:

    •   History of the company, including the founder, industry and products;
    •   Vision, mission and core values of the company;
    •   Company's management, customers and competitors;
    •   Company's reputation, strategic goals and recent changes;
    •   Community involvement and support of specific causes;
    •   Requirements of the job like qualifications, skills and experience;
    •   Opportunities for training, development and advancement.

There is no way to memorize answers to every interview question, but this 3-step process will help you answer any tough interview questions:

Step 1: listen carefully and understand the context of the question being asked;
Step 2: keep your answer concise and provide facts about your skills and experience;
Step 3: tie in the facts presented above as an advantage to the job/company.

Note: When answering the questions, do not sound rehearsed like a robot. Use a natural tone and pause if you need to, as you answer the question.

CLICK HERE for most commonly asked interview questions and answers.

Carry a portfolio case or folder to the interview that contains the following items:

    •   A few hard copies of your resume;
    •   Copy of the job description/posting you are applying for;
    •   A few copies of your reference list;
    •   Writing pad and pen;
    •   A list of questions you would like to ask the interviewer;
    •   A photo ID (if possible).

Making a good first impression will give you head-start during your interview. Here are some important pointers which will help you know what TO do and NOT TO do during a job interview:

       DOs
    •   Smile and greet the interviewer(s);
    •   Introduce yourself making eye contact with a firm handshake;
    •   Make sure to turn off your cell phone;
    •   If you don't understand a specific question, clarify before answering;
    •   Be prepared to ask a few questions at the end of the interview;
    •   It's ok to take a few seconds to gather your thoughts before answering questions;
    •   Display your sense of humor, but don't tell jokes.

       DON'Ts
    •   Don't talk about salary and benefits, until asked;
    •   Don't lie, answer questions truthfully;
    •   Don't act like you're desperate for the job;
    •   Don't slouch or fidget, sit up-right, but relaxed;
    •   Don't show that you're over-confident;
    •   Don't bad-mouth your previous employers or bosses;
    •   Don't chew gum during the interview.

What you do after the interview is equally important as what you did before and during the interview:

Thank You Note (Email or Letter)
One of the first things you should do soon after the interview is send a "Thank You" letter to the person(s) who interviewed you or through the staffing agency, if you don't have the contact details of the interviewer(s).

Sending a "Thank You" letter is a must because it portrays a professional image of you as well as gives you an opportunity to reiterate key points. It should be short, concise and sent no later than two days after the interview.

CLICK HERE for sample "Thank You" letters.

Reevaluate Your Interview
Another important aspect after the interview, is to reflect on what you think went right or wrong, how you could have answered specific answers in a different light, etc.

This information will help you prepare for future interviews and be better prepared.

Continue Your Job Search
Even though you managed to get an interview and based on your evaluation, though you think you did well, it's important that you continue your job search. Many job-seekers make the mistake on relying on that sole job opportunity to work out and put a freeze on looking any further.

The job may not 100 percent be yours, so it's imperative that you continue looking for other job opportunities and sending out your resumes to potential employers.

Follow-Up Phone Call
In case you were supposed to hear from the interviewer on a specific date and you didn't, then it's ok to call on that day to follow-up. Generally, if you didn't hear from the interviewer after a week of the interview, you should call to find out the status.

Don't call every couple of days because you will sound desperate for the job and you will come across as too pushy.

If you get "no" as an answer, it's ok to ask the reason why you were not chosen for the job. This important information could help you better yourself for the interviews ahead. You can even ask if there are any other opportunities that you can be considered for.

Stay Positive
It can be discouraging to get "no" as an answer after having gone through a rigorous interview process. Staying positive and motivated will help you continue your job search and stay the course.

Look at each interview as an opportunity to learn about various options available and as a learning process that can only better your prospects as you go along.

By continuing your job search, applying for other jobs and following up, you will keep yourself busy and your mind at work in a positive way. The right job is just around the corner, you need to stay focused and press on!

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence.
Updated: June 1, 2012