Spring Cleaning for your Job Search

The weather is gorgeous, trees are budding and flowers are blooming, spring has sprung! The first day of spring has arrived and many of us are thinking about the opportunity to get organized and start spring cleaning. Chances are that our homes are not the only place in need of some attention; the resume that you wrote a few months ago has probably become stale and your LinkedIn profile is showing gaps that may be turning off potential employers. Why not do a little spring cleaning for your job search?

TorontoJobs.ca Top 5 Job Search Tips

1. Create Professional Profiles on Social Networking Sites: Social Networking has exploded over the last few years. Many Recruiters are now using social networking sites such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook to recruit, network and to also do background checks on current candidates they may be interviewing. Social networking sites are a great way to follow and track company profiles. Following companies that you want to work for might increase your chances of being visible and being one of the first candidates to see their current openings.

2. Set Realistic Goals for the remainder of 2012: Write down a plan which should include goals, how these goals will be achieved and how often successes and progress will be tracked (should be every 2-3 months). Setting goals will not only keep your focus but will also increase self esteem and confidence as goals are achieved.

3. Develop a “Plan B”: Always keep the idea that “anything can happen” in the back of your mind. With uncertainty in the employment industry over the past few years it’s a good idea to be prepared. Get your resume up-to-date and have family members or friends review the document for accuracy, ramp up your networking, practice your elevator speech, research common interview questions, and apply to companies that you would like to work for even if they aren’t hiring.

4. Focus on Developing your Professional Network: Most career changes are as a result of networking. It’s a proven statistic that approximately 80% of jobs are found through who you know. Keep in touch with old friends and family members as you never know who might be able to help you down the road in your job search. Joining associations within your field will also allow you to develop relationships and gain contacts within your line of expertise.

5. Develop a Proactive Approach for Development: This might mean spending less time on personal activities such as shopping and hanging out with friends and spending more time on developing new skills, acquiring knowledge by participating in assignments (personal or professional), volunteering and reading industry related books and news articles.

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