The end of December is a great time to reflect on your professional life and make plans for the year to come.

Did you accomplish the things you wanted to accomplish in 2015? Were you satisfied with your job and the work you were doing? Or, if you were hunting for a new position, were your efforts to find a new job successful or unsuccessful?

If you’re one of the many workers with plans to begin looking for a new job in 2016, here are our top 10 tips for successful job searching.

  1. Spruce up your resume.

Your resume is a reflection of who you are as a professional. It should change, grow, and develop just as you do. If you haven’t looked at it in a while, use this opportunity to update your resume.

  1. Network, network, network.

Everyone has a professional network. Past employers. Co-workers. Friends. All of the people you know and have good relationships with could potentially help you find a great new job. If you’re on the job market, let the people in your life know. Odds are they’ll be happy to help.

  1. Expand your search area.

Only looking for a job in your city or town? If you’re not having any luck, it may be time to widen your net. Start looking for comparable positions in other areas within driving/transit distance from your home.

  1. Improve your interview skills.

Sometimes job seekers are held back by poor interview skills. If you struggle to make a good impression in a job interview, it may be time to approach a professional staffing expert for some tips and tricks on how to improve.

  1. Put yourself out there.

Over 50 percent of available jobs are never posted. That means you can’t just wait for a job to fall in your lap. If you know of companies where you’d like to work, reach out to them directly. The worst that can happen is they keep your resume on file.

  1. Keep in touch.

Remember to keep in touch with all of your professional connections—especially those who work for companies you’re interested in. You don’t have to be talking all the time. But an occasional note to keep the communication channels open can be very valuable.

  1. Gain new skills.

The more skills you have, the more attractive you are to a prospective employer. If you have the means, taking a course or getting a new professional certification every few years is a very good idea.

  1. Back to school.

If you’re really struggling to find the type of work that you’d like to be doing, enrolling in a post-secondary program is always a good option. Check your local colleges to see what type of light industrial trade courses/programs they offer.

  1. Expand your search industry.

Similar to expanding your geographic search area, it’s often useful to expand your industry searches as well. You may think you’re only qualified for work in one particular industry, only to find out that other industries are also looking for workers like you. 

  1. Team up with a skilled staffing agency.

This is the best way to land a great job in 2016. Staffing agencies know your industry inside and out and have great relationships with local employers. They’re the first to hear about new job openings and they can also help you improve your job interviewing skills.

Need help finding a new position? We can help. We are a leading GTA and Southwestern Ontario staffing agency with offices in Toronto, Newmarket, Milton, and St. Thomas. Get in touch with us today!



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