In your job search, the challenge is to keep your own job goal in mind, while also trying to fit into what is available in the job market. This becomes more difficult as money starts to run low, and circumstances can often change your priorities as you search for work. Looking for a job in standard ways is not always the most effective way forward. Your challenge is to find the jobs that aren’t advertised – the hidden job market. Everyone else is applying for the advertised jobs, and the particular job and employer may not suit your job goal.

As you learn about potential employers, research is the key to staying proactive in your job search. Which local employers offer jobs that suit your job goal? If you have not spent the time detailing your specific job goal, this would be a good time to do so.

There are many ways to search out local companies – read newspapers, visit the neighbourhood of your choice, explore sector journals and newsletters, read job postings, ask friends and members of your network, ask for recommendations from acquaintances you meet. Develop and document your network to help make this research possible.

Visit local job boards and search for an employer of interest. Look at the jobs they post and the skills/qualities they are looking for in an employee. You can research through platforms such as Indeed.com for Ontario , LinkedIn, or FindYourJob.ca . At The Working Centre we can set you up with a Thrive account, a digital employment support platform that uses AI to match you to employers.

Before applying for a job, it is important to find out as much as possible about the company. This way you can customize your resume, cover letter and interview presentation to better show that you have what the employer is looking for.

A Working Centre employment counsellor can help you to detail your research criteria – which can include size of company, location, sector, pay levels, etc. We can also help you to determine when to change your research goals in ways that respect your situation – helping you to keep your eye on your main goals, and to make decisions between conflicting goals.

To book an appointment with a Working Centre Employment Counsellor email [email protected].