Job Seeking Tips: Who, What, Where, When, and How

You come across a job posting for a position that sparks your interest, but what’s next? Read about the 5W’s of job seeking, Who, What, Where, When and How. 

Before you even start, set some goals for yourself and make a plan. Take some time to think and write about where you are today ...and where you'd like to be. What are your hopes, values and dreams? What would you like to be doing if anything was possible? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Roles you've enjoyed, not enjoyed, would like to develop further? Set some specific, achievable goals that will set you off in the right direction. 

Who is in your radar? 

In the most recent jobs I’ve had, I’ve realized that when finding a job, sometimes it is not about what you know, but who you know. If you are looking for a job, you should tell your contacts that you’re open to working as they could connect you with mutual career contacts. Networking is an effective way to finding a new job and employers actually prefer receiving a referral from a trusted member of their staff. Many jobs are filled internally with referrals before they are even advertised so it’s important to talk to the right people and build relationships so you can get as many referrals from within your network as you can. 

What do you want and what to prepare 

Before starting your job search, take the time to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses and the type of work you enjoy and don’t enjoy doing. The better you know yourself, the more likely you are able to find a new job that provides you with greater satisfaction. So figure out what you want in a job. What is most important? Is it the title, money, promotion, the work itself, location or company culture? 

Then you are able to take the time to prepare materials for your perfect application. Brush up on your resume, research the companies and tailor a cover letter for each job you’re apply for. The resume is the most important tool in a job search. When writing a resume for a new job, focus on having an achievement-oriented resume that includes the quantifiable achievements that are applicable to the job you’re applying for. Also check our our 5 Resume Tips That Will Get You Hired and How to Comprehensive Cover Letter blog stories for some extra tips! 

Where to look

The best place to start looking for openings is using a job search platforms to power your search. If you want to apply for a large number of jobs quickly and efficiently, Indeed is a great place to start. BCjobs.ca is a large job board in Western Canada that connects local talents with employers. You can search jobs by skill, location or keyword to find the jobs most suited to your skills. You can also get social on LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional community for career advice and opportunities. On LinkedIn, you can set up a profile and upload your resume to create a personalized profile and online presence. Building a targeted LinkedIn network with industry peers and colleagues can advance your job search and help you be seen by target companies. 

When to look 

Every industry and position is different, so there isn't a universal hiring season. However, according to Business News Daily, experts believe that the best time to look for a new job opportunity is at the beginning of the year, not only because companies complete budgets around October/November and post openings based on budget, but many people often reflect on their current roles and responsibilities at the end of the year and make resolutions to find new opportunities in the new year. When people leave for new endeavors, it creates even more job openings for applicants.

A challenge of choosing when the best time to look ; when looking for a new position, the sweet spot for timing your new job search is around 1-3 months in advance of your employment start date. Two months is the most ideal as one month could feel rushed and three months could limit the number of opportunities. 

How to stand out from other applicants

In a sea of applicants for one single job position, you definitely want to get noticed. You want to stand out as the best applicant the hiring manager/committee has ever seen. You know you’re the perfect fit for the job— and you want them to know that too. The fastest way to an interview is by having a referral that can give you a recommendation. As we move toward having a greater digital presence, there is no harm in curating a presence for yourself online as well. We talked about limiting your resume to one page but you want to be able to give extra information about yourself by putting it on an online profile or blog. Don’t be afraid to take the extra mile to win over an employer! 

I hope these few tips will help you in securing your next perfect job!

By: Karen Shen