Best Foot Forward

Whether the new year has prompted you to look for new career opportunities or you are still feeling Covid’s impact on the job market, starting your job search journey can feel a little daunting. We understand that it’s easy to feel discouraged or overwhelmed with the current moment—but there is hope. Covid has forced industries to pivot and with that there has been a shift in the types of jobs that are available. 

So how can you make your resume stand out from all the rest?

We talked to Cori Foged, director of career education and coaching in the MBA office to give us expert job seeking strategies that are sure to impress. 

The Journey Begins 

Know Yourself 

Sure you may have daydreams of that sweet corner office but do you know which of your skills will help get you there? Or what kind of organizational culture you need in order to flourish?

One of the biggest mistakes a jobseeker can make during a job search is to not understand what they bring to the table in terms of their talents, skills and motivators. 

“The foundation of any successful job search is knowing yourself,” said Foged. “Students and jobseekers don’t often know what’s important to them or what they are looking for in a good organizational fit.”

According to Foged, jobseekers who know themselves well will be better equipped to understand what their skill level is in regards to the position and whether or not there will be an alignment in terms of organizational values and culture. To help with this, examine the job posting carefully and look for specific phrases and skill sets the organization is emphasizing to ensure that there is an alignment between the skills you have and what the organization is looking for. 

Tailor Made, Custom Fitted

While it’s tempting to “spray and pray” by sending as many generic resumes and cover letters out as possible, the truth is, the odds are actually stacked against you when you take this “one-size fits all” approach. 

“Sometimes a candidate might get lucky playing a numbers game—perhaps sending out 100 generic resumes and receiving two interviews in the process—but I encourage job seekers to be a bit more efficient than that.”

In efforts to make a job application stand out, Foged advises job seekers to put the effort and time into customizing resumes for ten jobs they feel qualified for. “Spend time making the argument in your cover letter as to why you should be hired and then provide the supporting evidence in your resume.” 

Digital presence is important 

“When I receive applications or consider potential applicants, I immediately go to LinkedIn,” said Foged. “I check if the profile is up to date and if it reflects who they are."

To fully optimize your LinkedIn profile, Foged suggests making strategic use of the by-line under your name by adding a bio that aptly captures what you’re about and using the About section to include a conversational profile about who you are. 

LinkedIn is also a great way to build your network, however, be sure your profile is up to date and strong before you start making connections. 

Establish Relationships

Another big mistake students tend to make when looking for opportunities is to reach out to a potential employer before any relationship has been established. 

“Relationships are key,” said Foged. “It’s about harvesting not hunting. Imagine you are planting a seed. You want to plant and nurture the seed long before you need to harvest it.” 

So rather than sliding into a hiring manager’s DMs or inbox, do the research. Perhaps you were both at the same conference. Or maybe the hiring manager wrote an impressive paper that you could congratulate her on. Find a way to establish a connection with the hiring manager that can make the introduction but does not require a request. 

Apply for the job

Sometimes when job postings are being created, organizations aren’t quite sure what they are looking for so they create a posting for their most ideal candidate. However, that combination of ideal skills and experience may not actually exist. 

“If you have about 75% of what the posting is looking for you should apply for the job,” said Foged.

Sometimes those bullet points that outline ideal skills can deter people from applying for the role, she adds. However, if you have the majority of skills listed, once you get to the interview stage you can have a conversation with the organization and figure out how much they actually need that skill. Start a conversation about your skill sets and which skills may be transferable and beneficial for the role. 

Interview Preparation

Research: Think PESTLE

You received the call for an interview. Great! Now what? According to Foged, most of the interview is already won or lost before the interview even begins—so you've got to be prepared. This is where research comes in. 

“Doing research to understand the current problems an industry or organization is facing immediately elevates the level of the interview, because now you can position yourself as someone who can provide the organization with solutions,” said Foged. 

When researching an organization think: PESTLE (political, economic, societal, technological, legal, environmental), the external factors that may impact or influence an organization. Consider each factor and how they relate to or challenge the organization. By presenting yourself as someone who understands the current landscape and suggesting possible solutions, you will have an undeniable advantage—but it all begins with research. 

Practice, Practice, Practice

The question that we all know is coming, “Tell us about yourself.” You can bet your bottom dollar that this question (or some variation of it) will be asked at the interview so practice, practice, practice. 

“Think of lawyers who have to make compelling opening and closing statements,” said Foged. “In an interview, you will be required to do the same and both have to be really strong.” 

What you say at the beginning of an interview indicates your area of expertise and frames what you want to talk about. To help with your opening statement, develop an elevator pitch, a concise and persuasive introduction that can be communicated in the same amount of time as riding in an elevator and practice it repeatedly. 

Also be sure to know what your strengths and weaknesses are, as you will most likely be asked about them. Red flags can arise when candidates are unable to answer what their weaknesses are, or worse, they say they don’t have any. “Being unable to answer these questions shows me that the candidate hasn’t done any self-reflection or analysis,” says Foged. The more you understand yourself, Foged adds, the easier your job search will be and your career path will become clearer.

Ask good Qs at the end 

Job seekers often forget that the purpose of the interview is to also determine if they fit within the organizational culture, so Foged suggests asking questions that will help ascertain fit. Use what you know about yourself and the research you conducted earlier to help formulate questions that can best determine if this is a good fit for you. 

Another good question to ask the interviewers is how you can best follow up after the interview. By asking this, you are reiterating your interest in the role and you know the best way to deliver the all important post-interview follow up. 

Post-Interview 

Gratitude in your attitude

Let’s be clear, thank you notes matter. They may be the smallest (and most under-utilized) item in your job search toolkit but they make a mighty impact. Sending a note of thanks within 24 hours of the interview, not only reiterates interest in the role but it can also tip the odds in your favour or open up doors to other possibilities. 

“I don’t receive many thank you notes but the ones I do receive stand out,” said Foged. Even if the candidate isn’t hired for that particular role, Foged said sending a thank you note keeps the candidate top of mind should another opportunity arise. 

In crafting your thank you note be sure to keep it concise and strategic. Consider the note as another opportunity to highlight why you are the ideal candidate for the role or briefly elaborate on something raised during the interview. You may not receive a response in return, though rest assured the gesture was appreciated and noted.  

Feedback Loop

Sometimes things don’t work out and you don’t get the job—that’s okay. The job search is a long game and more opportunities will come. In the meantime, feel free to ask for feedback as to how you could improve for next time. You might not receive a response, but it never hurts to ask. If you are lucky enough to receive a response, then consider that invaluable feedback as to how to move forward for your next opportunity. 

Furthermore, Foged suggests reflecting immediately after an interview ends. Write down the questions that were asked and recall how you responded to them and how you can improve your answers for next time. 

Connect with the Master’s Career Management Centre

The job search journey can be a rollercoaster—luckily the Master’s Career Management Centre is available to help. Staffed with professional recruiters and ICF certified coaches, the Master’s career office is focused on helping Master’s students build their brand, understand who they are, and how they fit in with the workplace. 

Additionally, the office provides personalized coaching for full and part-time MBA students and information on different funding bodies such as MITAC and work placement programs for students. 

“We know our students are bright and we want to empower them with the tools they need to get where they are going.”