There are many benefits to completing training courses – including the chance to boost your employable skills, whether you’re looking for work, or improving your standing within your existing company. Types of training courses can include first aid skills, leadership…
No one likes standing still when it comes to their career. If you’ve been fulfilling the same role for over a year without any additional responsibility or additional income – you’ve hit a roadblock. Don’t sit around and wait for…
When professionals refer to networking to advance their career, many times they are simply referring to their use of the social networking site LinkedIn.com. Yes, LinkedIn has done a fantastic job of branding itself as the #1 method to grow…
Just because you’re following the dress code, that doesn’t mean you are dressing acceptably for the company image. A dress code is a simple guideline to ensure you maintain the most important aspects of the company image, but it doesn’t…
I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve heard the statement – “If I can get the interview, then I’ll get the job”. Many people tend to be very confident about their interview skills. When they don’t get the…
A résumé or curriculum vitae (CV) offers an overview of a professional’s work experience and other qualifications. It is the first point of contact that a potential employer has with the job applicant. Technically, it is the cover letter that…
It’s a cruel, cruel world out there. Students need practical experience to land a job in their field, and no one will hire them without that experience. Here’s the conundrum – how are students supposed to get experience if no…
You can call it an embellishment, exaggeration, or a fib – but at the end of the day, it’s a lie. A big fat lie on your resume to make you look like a more desirable candidate. We’ve all been…
LinkedIn now has over 225 million users worldwide, and most of those professionals have chosen to stick with the free account. There have been rumblings that LinkedIn is limiting the visibility for users with free accounts, but does that mean…
Although it is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, English is also known as one of the hardest languages to learn. Those of us who were lucky enough to learn English as a toddler growing up…
They say that making a good first impression is everything when it comes to winning over the affections of a new acquaintance. Make the wrong first impression – especially in a recruitment environment – and you could lose that job…
You should realize by now that resumes are more than just words a page. Hiring managers are examining your format to gain an understanding of your technical skills, they are reviewing your grammar and sentence structure to gain an understanding…
We often tell you in this blog that your resume is terrible. Now that is most likely the case for most of you, but for those of you who really think that you have a great resume and you really…
The employment market is tough. Anyone looking for a job will tell you that. Think about this: hiring managers sometimes receive thousands of applicants for the few jobs they post. Are you wondering why you’re not getting noticed? It’s highly…
We often mention the concept of a job search strategy on our blog, because it really sums up all of the avenues you need to travel down in order to land a new position. However, it has come to our…
When attempting career transitions, one of the most difficult aspects is explaining to an employer how the skills from your current job can apply to your new one. Since many employers are looking for people with exactly the right skills…
Finding a job is hard enough as it is, but what many of you don’t realize is that you are often making it harder for yourself. Many of you probably have a great value statement that is catching the Hiring…
We can all thank search engines like Google for the heavy importance that keywords carry in all aspects of the electronic world. Resumes are no different. Gone are the days of printing out your resume on fancy “resume paper” and…
Now most of you aren’t in professions where you view resumes on a daily basis, so just take our word for it – the majority of resumes out there, are terrible. We hear the same sentiments from recruiters and hiring…
Getting hired is hard work; that is no secret. Not only do you have to work hard in your current role to prove that you add value to your team, but you also need to show your inherit value to…
We tend to focus a lot on LinkedIn, when it comes to professional networking to benefit your career. This makes the most sense because LinkedIn was developed for this exact purpose. Many other social networking websites are just that –…
Any recruiter will tell you that they are signed on to LinkedIn.com every single day. Why? Because recruiting has taken on the saying of “out with the old and in with the new”. When LinkedIn came onto the scene, the…
For most industries – numbers are the most important part of your resume. Now this may be obvious for a sales resume or a management resume, but really numbers apply to everyone. They quantify each of your accountabilities and achievements,…
Our standard advice here at Resume Target has always been to get creative with your content and not with your format. The reasoning behind this advice is that creative resumes are often difficult to navigate and comprehend, and therefore ineffective….
When it comes to the introduction of your resume, we’ve already explained that an objective statement is not the best method. Everyone should embrace the alternative – and highly effective – value statement. As you can imagine, a value statement…
Filling out your contact information at the top of your resume may seem like the easiest step in the resume writing process, but you should never downplay the importance of it. Yes, there are the obvious reasons (1) the hiring…
Once upon a time, in a high school classroom about ten years ago, we were all taught that objective statements were the best way to begin your resume. If you are still following this strategy, this is the number one…
Did you know that 29% of professionals find networking offline to be the toughest part of the job search? Our recent poll found that: 29% of respondents voted “Networking Offline” to the question “What is the toughest part of your…
The first major change to the traditional job search process occurred with the advent of the internet. Job seekers no longer had to personally hand-in or physically mail-in their resume and cover letter; the documents could be submitted with the…
The benefits of having a solid and effective resume can greatly improve the chances of employers noticing your attributes as a potential candidate, and also get you called in for an interview. But how do you get your resume noticed…
Did you know 72% of professionals do not include ‘References Available Upon Request’ at the bottom of their resumes? Our recent poll found that: 72% of respondents voted “no” to the question “Do you write ‘References Available Upon Request’ at…
Contrary to popular belief, effective resume formats are not unique and creative; they are simply professional. It’s all about following that old acronym that we’ve heard time and time again – KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). Outlining what makes you…
2013 is a very special year for LinkedIn…the company started the new year off by breaking the 200-million member mark. Now while that’s great news for the company and its shareholders, as well as many of its business-owner members, it…
A tribute to the Olympic Style Career Seeker! As with most Olympic sports, the margin of error in finding a job can be so slight that it often feels as if we had no control over the final call. In…
The usual – and often correct – assumption is that visibility is credibility. On LinkedIn this is still true to some extent, but…and that is a very large BUT, only if you have optimized your profile. Make sure you have done…
Things used to be a lot simpler. You could stroll into an office, resume in hand, and plop yourself down in front of the boss with a dapper pin-striped suit and winning smile. A well-timed quip about the weather, the…
You’ve finally found that dream job that you’ve wanted your whole life, all you have to do now is send in your resume and hope for the best. But you don’t want to hope you’ll get it, you want it….
Did you know the attention span of recruiters and Human Resources (HR) managers is declining, due to the overwhelming volume of candidates applying for the same job? If you have ever seen the Old Spice commercials, you might understand why it…
In the MaRs Discovery District atrium, men and women of all ages are abuzz and conversing while they sip on wine and snack on things like ahi tuna on crackers. People from all walks of life are gathered today…
What steps do you take to make yourself stand out from the masses? It’s clear, times are changing, people are becoming more tech savvy, and millions of social media networks are popping up everywhere. In this new age, even job…
Have you been promised a promotion or salary increase? Have you been told that the fresh challenge you’ve been craving – and worked hard for – is just around the corner? More importantly, is it now six months or a…
Often, potential employers will post jobs on Workopolis, Careerbuilder, Monster, Craigslist, Kijiji, and other job boards/sites anonymously. Even if the job description looks perfect for your skill-set, this can pose several problems for an application. Firstly, any job-seeking professional knows…
Voters suggest cultivating networking, resume writing and interview skills A recent survey done by ResumeTarget.com on LinkedIn confirmed what entry-level professionals already know when looking for a job and going to job interviews: the biggest problem breaking into the market…
As CEO, Steve Jobs built a strong, innovative and remarkable personal brand that has become bigger each day. The company’s new CEO, Tim Cook, is quoted as saying that Jobs’ vision and leadership “guided Apple to its position as the…
Would you expose your boss’s wrongdoings if you were treated unfairly? In the new comedy film Horrible Bosses starring Jason Bateman, we can all learn a thing or two about being mistreated in the workforce. It’s not a topic we…
Some key insights to help you prepare & ace your phone interview. When it comes to job-hunting, phone interviews are tests. Everyone has them. They are sometimes the standard first step in the hiring process. If you pass, you’ll be…
Whether you’re starting out on LinkedIn for a job hunt, a strategic partnership or a way to open up a new opportunity, you need a strong professional network (think quality over quantity). Without this online rolodex, it is much more…
There’s a lot of saturation in the job market these days. The attention span of hiring managers has dropped from 20 seconds to around 9 seconds. As such it’s increasingly harder to get their attention – in a good…
Behavioural interviews use probing questions to illuminate your past behaviours and to identify your similar future performances. This question pierces right to the core. It may be difficult to maneuver your way around as you strive to remain genuine and…
Job interviews can often be terrifying. There’s a huge difference between reading someone’s qualifications on a resume and meeting them for the first time. And so, there are a lot of helpful tips out there on what kind of questions…
You’ve just breathed a sigh of relief. Coming out of the office following an interview, you thought you did well. You’ve marketed yourself well. You kept your answers short and sweet. And you looked the part. But this first step…
I will spare you an intro…here is your no nonsense guide on how to maximize your job search. Have a Great Compelling Resume I know this seems like a given, but most people do not take the time to sit…
“Just do it”, “Impossible is nothing”, and “I’m lovin’ it!” Can you guess the corresponding brands of these popular advertising slogans? That’s right; these slogans belong to Nike, Adidas and McDonalds. If you’re wondering why they’re popular, it might be…
LinkedIn has become a significant part of your job search strategy. So, we tried to write a lot about it, especially in the last few weeks. But this is an interesting question regarding how people make use of this increasingly…
You know that popular saying, “don’t judge a book by its cover?” In this case, that’s exactly what employers do when fishing for new talent. Resumes are the first thing employees see of your potential character. While this is true,…
On the surface, it may appear that job-searchers are struggling in their job hunt. But, as we approach the warm summer months, it looks like the job market is warming up too. I was exceptionally pleased when Statistics Canada released…
Job-hunting is a funny business. The first glimpse employers have of you is a one-to-three-page document. That’s why resumes are often the make or break part of your job search strategy. They’re the first thing employers see of your characteristics….
I once wrote that LinkedIn is when Facebook and Twitter meet for coffee. I explain LinkedIn to my clients and friends in one sentence: “LinkedIn is Facebook for Professionals only”. It’s a social networking tool designed specifically for business professionals,…
Have you ever had to leave your job for an interview at another company? It happens, and it’s a tricky situation to be in. You want to show up for the interview at the time your potential employer requests, but…
For anyone who is looking to build a stronger presence on LinkedIn and utilize the site to forge new opportunities. LinkedIn is home to over 200 million professionals. Enhancing your profile can give you an advantage so that recruiters, consultants,…
ABRACADABRA! Getting hired or headhunted is not a magic trick – all it takes is hard work and the right formula to position yourself as a candidate in demand. In my six years of headhunting top talent through LinkedIn, I…
As an executive recruiter and head hunter, let me start by saying that I have helped clients use just about every means of social media in their quest for a fulfilling career. It is the modern-day job fair that never…
Just like your cover letter, resume and job interview, social networking sites have also become an important component in which employers base their decision to hire you or not. Preserve your professional image by always being cautious. For the very…
Of the many important documents that will make or break your job search, the resume is the most important of all. While it may be enough to come up with a winning resume, you should realize that your resume is…
*Earl was a recent graduate and unemployed software engineer. He began developing a job search strategy by applying to websites, including Monster, Beyond and CareerBuilder, and by connecting with members in his network. Earl managed to receive a phone interview…
In this article, I will provide a rather unique approach to ensuring that you stand out from the other applicants applying for the same position. It requires only two things from you: a bit of research and about four to five very, very important and well-prepared open-ended questions. That’s all!…
Rely on this one thing: knowledge. Before going into the interview, educate yourself on what goes on in employers’ heads and think of ways of making things easier for them—and yourself. In other words, don’t just be you; be the person they are looking for!…
While most people know not to use scented paper, graphics and colours, here are a few more additional tips on how to write a resume…
It is sink or swim out in the job market today. Here are my 3 top tips on how to float above the rest of the talent pool – this is key for getting the career you want….
An important part of the job search process that is often overlooked, is goal-setting. Goal-setting is a skill we are taught early in our academic careers. We set goals for what we plan to achieve academically and how these goals…
It’s interview day. You’ve got your best suit on, you arrived early, and you brought your resume with you. You practiced your best smile for about ten minutes this morning, and you blended the perfect combination of friendly and professional….
Amos Tayts is
the co-founder of
Toronto-based staffing and recruiting companies ResumeTarget and MedcareStaff. Amos has developed talent acquisition strategies for numerous Fortune 500 companies, including GE, IBM, Google, Microsoft, Siemens, and Toshiba.