Location: POD 60 Phone: (416) 979 – 5177 Email: career@ryerson.ca Hours: Mon – Thu 8:30 am – 6:30 pm/Fri 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Career Development Workshops

Get Ready Know yourself and what you

want

Get Set Present yourself with style

GO Make your move

• Discover Your Career

Passion

• The “Wow” Factor: Resumes

& Cover Letters that stand

out

• Job Search Strategies that

Maximize Results

• Pinpointing Resources for

Career Planning

• Interview Techniques that

Land the Job

• Leveraging Social Media for

Your Job Search

• Grad School Application

Essentials

• LinkedIn: Developing Career

Connections & Effective

Profiles

• Keep It Pro: Business

Etiquette & Dress

• Make it a Breeze:

Transitioning from School to

Work

• Don’t Slurp the Soup! Tips

for Dining Etiquette Success

• Showing Achievements:

Crafting an Engaging

Portfolio

Agenda

1. Introduction • 2 truths about jobs

2. Reactive vs. Proactive

3. Conducting a

Proactive Job Search • Company Research

• Networking

• Cold Calling

• Information Interview

• Social Media

4. Summary

Introduction

People get: People: • Promoted

• Fired • Sick • Injured • Contract / work term ends

• Quit • Move • Retire • Die • Go back to school • Go on leave (medical,

parental, vacation, sabbatical)

New jobs are being created each month!

2 fundamental truths about jobs:

Truth #1 – There are always jobs available

Introduction

2 fundamental truths about jobs:

Truth #2 – Finding a job depends on what methods of

job search you are using

Reactive vs. Proactive

Most job seekers use the following methods to look for work:

Job postings on the Internet

Job ads in newspapers, journals, binders, bulletin boards, etc.

Employment agencies/headhunters they are interested in

Send resumes to companies/organizations

Networking and social media (LinkedIn, FB,

Twitter, etc.) , cold calling

Reactive

Proactive

Reactive vs. Proactive

Employers tend to use the following methods to find applicants:

Look for internal/known candidates

Seek recommendations from trusted friends/colleagues and social media

(LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc.)

Use employment agencies/recruiters

Refer to unsolicited resumes or those identified by ASP

technology

Ads on Internet,

newspapers, journals, etc.

Conducting a Proactive Job Search

Target Your Search

• Identify your job target

Focus On:

• You, your needs, goals

• Behaviours, personal beliefs,

values, interests, personality

• Skills, aptitudes, work styles

Conducting a Proactive Job Search

• Company Research

• Networking

• Cold Calling

• Information Interview

• Social Media

Company Research

Company Research

Conduct Research

• Research 50-100

organizations/ companies/

businesses

• Focus on where & who

you want to work for

• How employers fit with

your career path

Company Research

Evaluate:

• Advancement opportunities

• Corporate climate

• Future growth of organization

• Company philosophy / vision

• Company reputation

Company Research

• Company websites

• Career Resource Centre

(POD 60A)

• Directories and

almanacs

• Workshop

• “Pinpointing Resources

for Career Planning”

• www.yellowpages.ca

• Search “By Proximity”

Resources:

Networking

"It's not what you know, but who you know!"

Networking

Key purposes of networking:

• Information

• Advice

• Guidance

Networking

• Meetings

• Professional associations

• Trade shows

• Job fairs

• Conferences

• Chamber of commerce

• Networking events

Contacts can be made through:

Activity: Elevator Pitch

Who you are

• Name, present status / situation

What you have to offer

• Brief skills / strengths / experience

statement

Next steps

• Link to next step in hiring or ask

question regarding opportunities /

advice

Your personal ‘commercial’ needs to inform and

persuade. Include:

Elevator Pitch

1. Who you are

I am a ______________who has _______years experience with (or

in) _________. If it is relevant to mention your education, do it here.

2. What you have to offer

My main areas of study (experience, knowledge) are:

1. _____________ 2. _____________ 3. _____________

3. Next steps

Close with an open-ended question

30 Second Presentation:

Elevator Pitch

Example:

• “What are the most immediate needs your company may have that I

can help you with?”

• “Based on the skills and knowledge I’ve shared with you, what

would you look for career wise if you were me?”

• “Do you know of any companies I could approach that may need

people with my background?”

• “Based on the skills I’ve just shared with you, what might you do?”

(USE IN AN ADVICE CALL ONLY)

Ask an open-ended question to end your presentation

Cold Calling

Cold Calling

• By phone

• Through e-mail

• In person

• To find out who to speak to

Cold Calling can be done:

If you get turned down, don’t take this as a

personal rejection!

Cold Calling

Caller: Hello my name is ________. I am conducting some labour market

research to determine the qualifications required for me to work as a(n)

________. Can you please tell me the name of someone I can speak to?

Receptionist: That would be Mr./Ms. ________.

Caller: That’s great! One more question, does Mr./Ms. ___ have a direct line?

Receptionist: Yes. #### OR No. You have to go through the main #

Caller: Thank you very much. Could you transfer me to Mr./Ms.________?

Getting past the gatekeeper (receptionist / secretary)

Cold Calling

When you have reached the Contact:

Hello my name is _____ and I am conducting some labour market

research on the field of _________.

I have a background in _________ Mention 2 or 3 of your top

skills_________, and would like to know more about the qualifications or

training required for this career.

What qualifications... Ask open-ended question

Getting past the gatekeeper (receptionist / secretary)

At the end of the call, remember to thank the person

you have been talking to!

Activity

In groups of 2:

• Practice your elevator pitch within the context of a

cold call

• Discuss alternative strategies for getting past a

“gatekeeper”

Information Interviews

Information Interviews

• Career planning

• Work search

• Developing connections

• Gaining industry insider

knowledge

Useful for:

Types:

• In-person meeting

• Telephone

• Online

Information Interviews

• Occupational outlook

• Educational background

• Possible opportunities

• A specific company

• An industry

• Salary

Ask about:

Information Interviews

• What is a typical day like in this occupation?

• How did you get into this field?

• What do enjoy the most about your work?

• What are some of the frustrations?

• Where are the best places to look for work in this field?

• What job opportunities are available?

• Where can I go from here?

• Would you be able to recommend another person to talk

to? Recommend a school? A program?

• What else should I know?

Sample Questions:

Information Interviews

1. Research the profession, career, work

2. Research companies in that field

3. Identify a contact person and make contact!

The process:

Information Interviews

• Arrange meeting date / time

• Be accommodating / flexible

• Decide: What information do I need to

make a decision?

• Decide: What questions will I ask?

Before the interview:

During the interview:

• Be true to your intentions!

• Confirm if ‘okay’ to take notes and/or record session

• Be mindful of time After the interview: • Evaluate your session

• Thank your Interviewee!

Social Media

Attend our LinkedIn and/or social media workshop!

www.whoplusyou.com

Keeping a Record of Your

Job Search

• Binder/Paper

• Excel spread sheet

• Online: My Job Cards (Facebook), Jibber Jobber

Summary

Increase your likelihood of employment opportunities

by using a variety of job search strategies and being

proactive with your approach!

Resources

Career Resource Centre – POD60A

Connect With Us!

Contact Information:

Location: POD 60 Phone: (416) 979 – 5177 Email: career@ryerson.ca Hours: Mon. – Thur. 8:30 am – 6:30 pm Fri. 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

www.facebook.com/RyersonCDEC www.twitter.com/RyersonCareer www.youtube.com/RyersonCareer

www.ryerson.ca/career