Exec-U-Talent Blog: Insights on Solid Career Moves

Career Move Checklist

As your career develops, you’ll find that there is a lot at stake. Should you stay with your current employer for a few more years? Should you look for your next career move today? Finding your next career move is a time-consuming process that requires thorough research. Whether you are looking for a career move within Northern Ontario, within Canada or if you're looking for international opportunities, it is important to know what you want before signing on the dotted line. When looking for career opportunities in Ontario or across Canada, here are some things you should do in order to find employment as quickly as possible. 

Tweak Your Resume, but be Honest

Don’t over exaggerate your contributions to your current employer or lie about your education. This seems like common sense, but when you’re applying to a high-ranking position, the temptation to fabricate your credentials is there. Just ask Scott Thompson, CEO of Yahoo, who claimed to possess a degree in Computer Science; unfortunately, Yahoo didn’t realize that he didn't possess this degree until after Thompson was hired. Make sure that your resume truly reflects your skillset.

Look at examples online and ask for advice. Tailor your resume for the job you're applying for. Employers will look for related experience and skills on your resume. Find someone to proofread your resume. These tips may steer you towards your dream job and advance your career.

Access the Hidden Job Market with Recruiters

An executive recruiter is your portal into the hidden job market, as most of those job openings are not open to the public. Submit your resume to an agency like Levert Executive Worldwide and communicate clearly your career goals and your abilities. These are experts at finding ideal candidates for specific positions, so take advantage of this service since it could lead to a thriving career. In addition, executive recruiters become your advocates to the HR managers of major corporations: the good word that recruiters can give about you can make or break your chances of getting the job offer. 

Network            

Many jobs are obtained through people you know. Make sure you talk to friends and family about the possibility of finding a job in your field. Whether you are trying to find mining jobs in Ontario or management careers in Ontario, networking is important. You’ll get to know the key companies and people in your industry. Talking to the right person may be the key to finding a job. Remember that social networking also plays a large role in the job search process. Ensure a professional presence online and leverage on the power of social media, starting with LinkedIn (click on the link to download a free whitepaper about LinkedIn).

Research

Before heading to an interview, do your research! Make sure you are familiar with the company you are being interviewed by. Show the interviewer that you have done your homework.  It also gives you a better sense of what their core values and goals are. Preparation is key to a successful interview.

Know What You’re Looking For

Before you make the leap and commit to your next career move, you need to know what you want out of this strategic decision. Consider the following factors and communicate your needs to an executive recruiter:

• Location and lifestyle: Within Ontario, within Canada, or would you be open to international career opportunities?
• Family needs: If you have a family, their needs will also be a major influence on your next career move. Are you and your family open to relocation now or in the future? Or are you 100% certain that you need to stay where you are?
• Choose a sector: Whether you choose mining, industrial, oil and gas, construction, engineering, forestry, senior management…the possibilities are endless. Choose to stay in your current sector or to explore job opportunities in other sectors.
• Work environment: At this point in your career, is it to your advantage to move to a smaller company with more responsibilities to develop your work experience? Or would you be more comfortable working in a multi-national corporation, where potential of going up the corporate ladder is greater? What are you comfortable with?

This process may be a long one, but keep in mind that it will be worth it once you find the career move that suits your professional and personal needs. Whether you want to stay in Ontario, work within Canada or explore careers abroad, you need to know the needs of you and your family in order to choose a career path that will make you happy.  

Posting by: Liane Lebelle & Tim Yeung

Things to do in 2012: Using Social Media to Attract Recruiters

According to Dr. Martha Roberts, director of research at MiHR:  

"The key element that has not changed in the ten-year outlook is that the workforce continues to age and half of the mining workforce are eligible to retire by 2021, shown by cumulative hiring requirements of 75,280, 112,020 and 141,540 under contractionary, baseline and expansionary economic scenarios, respectively" (CanadianMiningJournal.com).

For candidates that are keeping an eye out for their next career move, you need to think about how you could attract better recruiters with better career offers. Your social media presence plays a key role in attracting the best positions to you.

Most of you will be passive jobseekers. According to LinkedIn, 83% of its survey respondents were not actively looking for a career move (LinkedIn). Obviously, LinkedIn would carry a bias in making such statements, but any experienced executive recruiter will tell you that working with passive candidates is part of the field.

Here’s a short checklist to ensure that you’re easily accessible to recruiters and HR professionals, who will eventually lead you to your next career move.

LinkedIn

Companies pay top-dollar to access your resume on LinkedIn, which serves as a keyword-based resume database for recruiters and HR people. Likewise, it is a tool that most executive recruitment professionals heavily depend upon. Make sure that you’re Unlocking your LinkedIn Potential.

Facebook

It is common-sense, but it is important to remind candidates to make sure that their Facebook profiles are reasonably free of PG-rated content: remove the drunk birthday photos and don't make any public statements that will be contraversial or offensive. Facebook is one of the first tools that employers depend on to find out mroe about potential candidates, especially BEFORE interviews are even scheduled. In 2009, 45% of employers admitted checking Facebook before hiring; 35% were rejected (CenteredLibrarian Blog). The percentage is naturally going to be higher today.

More importantly, social media is an important tool for candidates to harness. Participate and initiate discussions that are industry-worthy. Use the social-networking capacities of Facebook to encourage a good social presence that employers will be impressed by. Here are a few ideas:

• Update your status: show off your expertise about the industry news. Post updates about the latest technological innovations in mining engineering. Let your friends and family know each time you're attending a career fair or a networking event. Let your contacts know what you think about the prices of minerals in 2012. The key is to using the social networking aspect of Facebook to promote yourself as an 'expert' in the sector.
• Post photos: a photo speaks a thousand words. In addition to credentials and work experience, employers also want to know if you would be a 'good fit' to the existing work culture. Post photos of you at career fairs. Take photos with your contacts at industry events and put them online. In fact, tag your contacts. Make the professional association between you and those that you know in the industry clear and visual, so you appear to be well-connected. More importantly, post photos of you in social settings that are not related to work. If you run marathons or play baseball, post photos of yourself doing just that. Let your future employers know that in addition to being a working professional, you also have a life outside of work. Convey your personality to your potential employers before they schedule an interview with you.
• Communicate! Use Facebook to communicate with people on a professional and social basis.

Which social media to use?

Whether it is LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, or other social media outlets, it is important to choose carefully and update regularly. If you sign up for every website under the sun but fail to update consistently to develop your personal brand, then your hardwork will be pointless. If you're just starting with social media, choose 1 community and establish your brand there. If you already use LinkedIn and Facebook, then develop and strengthen your budding personal brand. If you're a Twitter-fan, then tweet away and develop a strong following. Consistency is key.

At the end of the day...

You have the upper-hand. The natural resources sectors (mining, geology, industrial, oil and gas, etc.) need people and you know it. But you still need to make a consistent effort at personal branding through social media that you already use (or 'should' use). By developing a strong personal brand on Facebook and LinkedIn, you will surely attract higher quality career opportunities through recruiters who are actively looking for you.

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