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Job hunting can get expensive. Not only are you spending a lot of time applying for roles and attending interviews, but you’re also paying for additional assistance to better your chances.

This assistance could come in the form of a course enrollment, an interview coach, or a resume writer. Regardless, this help isn’t free.

For those of you who don’t have extra funds to take these steps, there are free options. Upgrading your skills is not a necessary aspect of everyone’s job search, but it is definitely recommended as an added benefit for your resume.

Review the job postings you’re applying for, are there specific technical skills listed that you are not proficient in?

If so, it’s time to upgrade your skills. Understandably you may be employed and don’t have the time (or the cash) to enroll in a certification course, but there are other options.

Attend webinars 

The number of online resources available at your fingertips is never-ending. You can easily find experts in the specific field or program, and at least a few of them will offer webinars.

We recommend signing up for their mailing lists to ensure you receive the notification as to when a webinar will be offered. You will be surprised at how much information you will soak in during a 30-45 minute webinar with an expert.

YouTube tutorials

Another great resource is YouTube. Using the search function on YouTube, you can find videos on almost anything.

If you are trying to gain skills in a new technical program, this is a great method. People with advanced level skills will walk you through what you need to know about the program, how to use it, and even provide screenshots to walk you through step-by-step.

Apart from technical programs and software, YouTube can also be used for tips and tricks in other areas – but we’ve found it to be the most useful for computer programs.

Read blogs

Whatever you do for a living (or want to do for a living), someone already blogs about it. Many of those people could be fulfilling mid-level roles, but many more are established professionals.

A great place to find blogs from professionals is through LinkedIn. LinkedIn features blogs and articles from “influencers” and industry experts on a daily basis. You can scroll through their selected list and find bloggers who relate to your field and industry.

Think of it like a free mentor that you can connect with at any time. The advice you will receive is literally priceless, and yet highly valuable.

Read books

Not just any books – books on career strategies from the experts. Professionals who have reached impressive levels in their careers will often publish books about their success and how they got there.

They will also publish books on their business strategies and tactics. This type of reading will provide you with inspiration and new ideas to bring into your next role. You may even be inspired enough to start your own business.

Though these free options to upgrade your skills will not add up to certification programs on your resume, they will still benefit your job search.

If you acquired skills in Microsoft Word by using the program on your own, you will list the skill on your resume. Under the same policy, if you acquired skills in Adobe Photoshop through YouTube tutorials, you will still list the skill on your resume. Formal training is a great option if you have the money for it, but keep in mind, it’s not the only option.


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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 will eventually lead us onto our career path. In reality, the very first step in your job search process should be to set your goals.

If you are unsure of where you want to go, how will you ever determine how to get there?

We have determined the four most important goals that you need to set right now. These goals will ensure that your job search strategy is equipped with a step-by-step plan to achieve success.

Goal #1 – Determine your dream job

You don’t need to know the precise title of your dream job, you just need to have a basic idea of where you want to end up in 30 years. For example, you may decide your dream job is to work in finance.

You may end up as a Senior Manager or you may end up as the Chief Operations Officer. Those are details that you can figure out later – the basics will do for now.

Goal #2 – Outline your academic requirements

In some instances, you may have already completed the basic academic requirements for a role.

Review job postings for your dream job. Understandably you are not qualified to apply for your dream job just yet, but you need to know what requirements you will need (specifically in the academic arena).

Will you need to pursue post-graduate studies? Is a college diploma enough or will you have to return to school for an undergraduate degree? These are questions you need to answer immediately, because going back to school is a huge undertaking that will take years to complete.

For those of you who have satisfied all academic requirements, take a look at the systems and program knowledge that will be required in your dream role.

Enroll in courses to gain skills in those areas so that you are prepared. Will you end up in a leadership role? Think about taking a course on Management. The options for continuous professional development are endless.

Goal #3 – Get into your field

You will have to start from the bottom, and the first step will be to get into your field. If your dream job is to become a teacher, you may have to begin as a tutor, camp coordinator, or montessori teacher.

Due to the fact that teaching can be a highly competitive industry, you can get your start in a related industry to build up your experience. You will still be practicing your profession within your field, but you will be one stepping stone away from your ideal industry.

Goal #4 – Get into your industry

It’s time for the last stepping stone to get onto your career path. Now that you’ve achieved the necessary academic requirements and built up your experience in the field, you can aggressively pursue your industry.

This is where your job search strategy will come into play as you will need to refine your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile and interviewing skills in order to be successful.

Once you’ve obtained a position within your field and industry, the work doesn’t end. You won’t get your dream job just yet.

Now it is on you to display endless hard work and commitment to the company in order to receive promotion after promotion. Though it won’t come easily, your dream job will be the ultimate reward.


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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. Now you just have to go in there, give the best possible answers to each question and you nailed it, right? Wrong.

Everything you’ve done is standard; these are things that almost every candidate will take the time to complete. Nothing about you stands out. Remember when you were tweaking your resume for this role, and you ensured that the information and format jumped off the page to grab the hiring manager’s attention?

It’s time to do the same thing, but for the interview process instead. It will take more than a good suit, winning smile, and perfect answers – you have to surprise them.

Take Notes

Along with your prepared resume, cover letter, reference sheet and samples of work that you should already bring to the interview, also bring along a pen and notepad.

Most often when you get into an interview, the Hiring Manager will introduce themselves and give you a brief synopsis of the company, the role and what they’re looking for.

Take notes so that you are aware of the different points to hit on during the interview. This will also show the Hiring Manager that you are proactive and that you are serious about the role.

Here at Resume Target, we are automatically impressed when a candidate pulls out a notepad during the interview process. It shows us that they are genuinely interested in what we’re saying.

Show Your Potential Contributions

You researched the company prior to the interview (as everyone should), but take it one step further.

Most candidates will focus on finding the company’s mission statement and “About Us” page. To give yourself an edge, research the company’s current projects and news coverage. Have they recently hit a roadblock? Do you have skills or experience that could help them resolve their issues?

Take this research and develop an action plan. If you can’t find any challenges or projects to focus on, you can create a mock business plan for a hypothetical situation.

This is a great way to show the Hiring Manager how your skills will benefit the company within specific situations. You will also prove your ability to take initiative and improve processes.

Ask & You Shall Receive

So often, interview subjects are nervous and stiff when they arrive for an interview.

If there is something that will help you feel at ease, simply ask for it. To get comfortable, ask if there is somewhere that you can hang your coat. Remember you may be talking for the next half hour or more, so a glass of water may be a good idea as well.

By politely asking for anything you may need to succeed in the interview, you will show the Hiring Manager that you are personable and also comfortable in your surroundings.

If the bitter truth is that you’re horribly nervous, crack a joke about it. Starting the interview with a bit of laughter between the Hiring Manager and yourself is a great icebreaker for both of you.


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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 skills, and specialist training in computer software, as well as many other opportunities. It’s possible to find free training courses in your area by looking at job fairs, training websites, colleges, and listings in your place of work.

In terms of job fairs, you can often find adverts for free and paid training courses; these might be offered alongside vacancies for apprenticeships, or through training providers that can offer you support towards a particular profession.

Signing up for these courses can be relatively straightforward, and often involve partnering with a local business or a college in order to complete a short qualification over a few days or longer.

It’s also possible to find many different training courses online; these websites can include specialist training providers that work with local businesses and other organizations, and include online registration and the chance to browse opportunities in your area.

You can also use business websites and college sites to learn about different qualifications, as well as information on upcoming job fairs and other training events.

If you’re attending a college, school, or university, you can find training courses advertised around campus or through a website; these can include short courses that can help you build your employability around your studies, and might cover office skills, languages, and other areas.

Educational institutions will often provide night and weekend classes, as well as openings during holidays, for people looking to take training courses.

Free training courses can often be found through your work, whereby an employer will agree to let you complete a short qualification while still receiving your salary.

In many cases, these courses will be related to your current role, and might represent a way for you to take on more responsibilities, or develop knowledge of your position. Also look for recommendations from colleagues, and email postings by managers sharing new opportunities.

There are many avenues to explore for finding paid and free training courses, which can provide you with invaluable skills for your career, or just a way to broaden your knowledge and awareness of what a particular job might involve.

In most cases, you will come out of a training course with a qualification, or units towards a qualification that can then be developed over a series of courses and written examinations to increase your competency within a certain subject.

Using your time when unemployed to complete these courses can represent an excellent investment in making yourself more appealing to employers.


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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 your employer to notice that you deserve a promotion, prove it to them.

We’ve developed a 5-step process to follow in order to get that promotion. If you’re not willing to put in the effort and take the initiative to achieve the promotion, then you really don’t deserve it at all.

1. Show that you want it

The number one way to tell your boss that you are interested in advancing your career, is by literally telling them that you are interested in advancing your career.

Ask for their guidance and advice on areas where you can improve, and areas where you can take on additional responsibility in order to prove your worth.

They can’t read your mind, so the best way to make yourself stand out from the rest of your colleagues is to outwardly express your interest and hard work.

Seeking advice from superiors on ways that you can improve shows that you are humble, and understand that your learning curve will never stop. These are great traits in an employee.

2. Put in work

If you are looking to advance your career, the notion of a “Nine to Five” job does not exist for you. A great way to show your boss that you are serious about your job, is by putting in extra hours.

This is especially important if members of the management team consistently work more than eight hours daily. If that is what’s expected of the management team, then you will show them that you fit the part.

Even if management doesn’t put in extra hours, if you show that you are willing to put in the extra effort to work ahead or to keep projects on schedule, this will be an added benefit in your skillset. Your commitment to the team and the company’s success will shine through.

3. Bring new ideas to the table

Review your daily tasks and responsibilities. Is there a certain task that takes longer than it should? Can you implement a process to increase the efficiency of that task? Your answer should be YES!

There is always a better and more efficient way to complete a task, so it’s your job to find it.

Notify your boss that you’d like to improve processes in order to increase efficiency within the department, and they will automatically be impressed.

However, make sure you do your research. Ensure that these processes can be improved in a cost-sensitive manner, in order to receive approval. Improving processes may not be in your job description, and that means you are going above and beyond to benefit the company.

4. Become a go-to resource

If you’ve been in the same role for over a year, you should be an expert in your daily tasks. You should know the programs inside and out, and you should know how to resolve problems when they occur.

These are the qualities you need to become a go-to resource within your team; all you need to do now is begin offering your help and advice.

When team members are experiencing difficulty resolving errors or are unsure on how to handle specific situations, jump in and offer to help. You will soon be regarded as a helpful resource and a great team player.

This display of your skills and knowledge may even lead you into a training role when new candidates are hired. You have now added value within the team, and created a compelling argument to explain why a promotion or raise is in order.

5. Review your performance with your boss

We’ve come full circle and come back to a step that is very similar to step one. Step one explained that you should tell your boss that you are interested in career advancement and seek guidance on how you can get there.

In the meantime you worked longer hours, brought new ideas to the table, improved processes and became a go-to resource within the team; now it’s time to have a follow-up meeting with your boss.

Come prepared with notes and examples of the improvements you’ve made within yourself and within the team. You have to bring proof that you deserve a promotion or a raise. You must also express why you are seeking additional responsibility and why you will succeed within an advanced role.

Follow these steps successfully, and you will surpass that roadblock in your career path. This isn’t the end though; you have to keep up all of that hard work because in a year’s time, it will probably be happening all over again.


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When professionals refer to networking to advance their career, many times they are simply referring to their use of LinkedIn.

Yes, LinkedIn has done a fantastic job of branding itself as the #1 method to grow your professional network, but let’s not throw away the traditional methods just yet.

Humans are more likely to remember an individual they’ve met in person, rather than a name they’ve viewed on a screen. Therefore, networking in-person will remain the most effective method to receive results.

But how will I meet professionals in my field or industry to build relationships with?

Believe it or not – there was once a time where the internet did not exist and the #1 method to build professional relationships started with a handshake. So for those of you who have forgotten, let’s revisit some traditional methods for networking in-person.

Industry events

From conferences to tradeshows, there are an endless number of industry events that you can attend to meet professionals. Equipped with your business card, you should head out to these events in order to establish relationships with your industry peers.

The best part – most other professionals in attendance will be there to network just as you are. The purpose of many tradeshows, etc. is to provide a professional environment for people to find new business partners, vendors, contractors, etc. You’ll fit right in.

Lunch dates with colleagues

Now many professionals already head out of the office at lunch time with a colleague or two, but these colleagues are generally those who you already work with on a daily basis.

If you are looking to move into a different department or into a higher level role, reach out to someone within your company that has already achieved that goal.

Establish contact with the person in question and ask if you two can meet for lunch or a coffee because you have a few questions about their role, and are interested in travelling down the same path. You can treat this colleague as a mentor and earn valuable advice on how to achieve your career goals.

At the same time, if a position becomes available in the department, the individuals is now aware of your interest ahead of time, and you may appear on the shortlist before you’ve even applied.

Get to know friends of friends

In the social media world, you can easily find out who your friends know, just by clicking a few buttons. So let’s use that information to your advantage.

If you have an old friend from college that is celebrating a milestone birthday, and you’ve noticed on LinkedIn that they are connected with an influencer in your industry, go to the birthday party.

Yes – you should really be there to simply celebrate your friend’s birthday, but you can be on double duty to network with the influencer in question.

Instigate a casual conversation and allow it to lead into your professional background. Once the influencer is aware that you are from similar career backgrounds, you can establish more of a professional relationship.

These are all great tips to guide you through in-person networking tactics, but don’t leave LinkedIn out of your networking process.

LinkedIn’s benefit is its ability to create transparency in your professional network. After meeting a professional in-person, there is no possible way to know a list of individuals that connect you to this relationship.

This is LinkedIn’s edge; the ability to immediately determine if you know someone who can introduce you to this individual, or find something in common to build the relationship upon.

A great idea is to combine the two methods of networking. Find potential connections and professionals through LinkedIn, and follow up the online connection with a personal interaction.

Now you’ve covered all of your bases and can ensure that you’ve established a great contact in the field/industry that may benefit you in the future.


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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 tell you about the appropriate style to maintain.

It’s true, many people don’t have a care in the world when it comes to being “stylish”, but that can also affect your career. We’re not talking about keeping up with the latest runway trends, we’re talking about maintaining a professional and put-together image as a successful employee.

Make the company look good

The better you look, the better the company looks.

After all, that is why they’ve implemented a dress code in the first place. They want to ensure that their image is one where employees are always dressed professionally for the industry.

Adjusting your personal style to fit with the corporate image shows that you are a team player. After all, you have evenings and weekends to add your personal flare to your outfits, but when you’re at work, stick to what the employer wants.

Attention to detail

When you are put-together, it automatically speaks to your work ethic.

Your colleagues and superiors will view you as someone who is organized, professional and pays attention to detail. After all, the way you look is an “image”. It may not speak to your actual work ethic, but it is important nonetheless.

Look the part

Looking the part does not necessarily mean wearing a suit. You should dress appropriately for the role and the industry that you are in.

If you are working in a client-facing role, then it is more important to maintain a professional dress code. If you are in a hands-on role, your attire will be focused on your safety – high heels are not appropriate where steel-toe boots are required.

Take tips from your superiors. If they maintain laid-back and casual attire in a fairly casual environment, then a suit is not necessary. However, if your manager wears a suit and tie on a daily basis and you don’t, there’s a problem.

Put in effort

You could be following the dress code to the tee, but you lack the effort. If you don’t put the effort in to maintain your professional image, then you might as well disregard the dress code as well. Ensure your clothes are fitted well and suitable for your body shape.

Apart from your clothing, also pay attention to your hair. Because your hair surrounds your face, it plays a major role in your professional image.

If your hair is dishevelled, uncombed, messy or greasy – it looks like you don’t care. Putting in effort doesn’t mean that you have to wake up an hour early to style your hair daily, it just means that you should keep it neat.

Your performance in the role is definitely more important than the way you dress, but don’t underestimate the impact your image has on your employer. Your employer may not even realize it, but it is human nature.

The effort you put into the way you dress for an interview should not diminish after you receive the role. The employer is expecting you to maintain a professional image, and you need to make sure you are meeting those expectations in order to continue advancing your career.


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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 position, they assume they didn’t have the skill level the employer was looking for, but the real reason may be that they broke some major interview rules.

When it comes to interviewing, most people are concerned about what they’re going to say while answering the employer’s questions. This is definitely a big part of the interview process, but there are many small details that you must also be aware of, in order to interview successfully.

Apart from your answers, the most significant details are in your body language, confidence and preparation.

1. Don’t look down

When it comes to your body language, there are many small details that will tell the hiring manager if you are a good candidate. A common piece of advice is to always maintain eye contact with the interviewer.

What candidates don’t realize is that in between their fierce eye-contact, they are looking down. Whether you’re looking at the floor, or your hands – this is never a good sign.

If you are referring to your resume and need to glance down to read a point, that is perfectly fine – this is just a glance. The problem occurs when you bow your head looking to the floor for no apparent reason. Always ensure you hold your head high to show your confidence.

2. Don’t lean back

You want to show the hiring manager how enthusiastic you are about the role, and leaning back in your chair does not send off that message. When you lean back you are telling the hiring manager that you are carefree, when you want to tell them that you’re eager.

A combination of leaning forward, maintaining eye contact, and folding your hands on the table will show that you are excited about the opportunity and holding onto every last word the hiring manager is saying. Pair this body language with some light nodding to acknowledge that you are listening to the hiring manager, and you’ll be sending the right message.

3: Avoid saying “umm”

You’re nervous, and that’s okay. It is completely normal to be nervous, but you don’t want your nerves to overshadow your skills and experience.

When answering a question in the interview, don’t break up your thoughts with “umm’s” or “uh’s” or “like’s”. This will tell the hiring manager that you were not prepared for the question, that you’re not quite sure how to answer it, and therefore not confident in your answer.

All in all – it’s a bad impression. When answering questions, ensure your answer is in one fluid sentence.

If you need a second to find a word or grasp your thoughts, don’t be afraid to take a short pause before answering. This will only show the hiring manager that you are ensuring that you provide the best answer possible, based on your former experiences.

4. Lack of targeted questions

At the end of the interview, the hiring manager will always ask you if you have any questions.

The questions you ask are just as important as the answers you’ve already provided. Don’t resort to using common questions that could be used for any interview scenario – ensure your questions are targeted.

This is where research will benefit you. If you’ve researched the company’s recent coverage in the media, you can discuss the situation or current challenges they are facing.

When discovering what challenges they are facing, you can offer your skillset to serve as a solution to these challenges. This will show the hiring manager that you are a team player and that you will take initiative to make a positive impact within the company.

5. Lack of documents

If you’ve entered an interview without a printed version of your resume, cover letter, references, and samples of work – you may have already lost the job. Walking into an interview without any prepared documents shows that you are not giving the position a high level of importance.

You want to show the hiring manager that you’ve taken the time to prepare documents to show your skills and what you have to contribute to the team.

The interview is the best time to convince the hiring manager that you are the right person for the job, and bringing these documents will offer proof of that.

6. Glancing at the time

Whether you are glancing at your own watch or at the clock on the wall, looking at the time will always send the hiring manager the wrong message. That message is saying that you have other places to be, that you are currently bored, and that you would like to get out of there.

Always avoid looking at the time. When you’ve scheduled an interview, clear your schedule for the next few hours.

You don’t want to be the candidate that has to rush out of a lengthy interview because they had somewhere else to be. You will definitely sell yourself out of the job with that attitude.

7. Arrive late or on-time

One of the most traditional rules when it comes to interviewing is to arrive 15 minutes early. This rule will never change.

If you arrive late or right on time, you have already told the hiring manager that you are not punctual, that you do not prepare for delays ahead of time, and that you are not eager for the role.

The world is an unpredictable place, if you really were stuck behind a massive car accident, call the hiring manager and let them know as soon as possible.

If you call them 45 minutes before the interview and let them know that you’ve encountered traffic delays or car problems, your story is far more viable. The hiring manager will have proof that you were on the road early with ample time to get to the interview, but that you were caught in an unfortunate circumstance.

When it comes to your body language, you may not even realize that you’re guilty of the above-mentioned points.

A tip for you – have a friend conduct a mock interview with you. Then take in their brutally honest evaluation of how often you look down, or say “umm”. It’s better to have a friend tell you now, so you can ace your next interview.


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A resume 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 first introduces the candidate to the employer. Let us explore about cover letters and their significance in the employment procedure.

Deciphering the Cover Letter

A cover letter is a formal note that is sent along with the resume. It is written in order to promote yourself to prospective employers, and complements the CV.

Since it is usually the first item that an employer comes across about the job seeker, it has to be grammatically correct and convincing. Your cover letter is meant to market you for the specific position and persuade them that you are perfect for the job.

The potential employers make use of this cover letter to filter aspirants. If you get through then it is followed by a long process of interviews and group discussions.

The cover letter need not re-phrase your CV, it has to offer more insight and new information about you as a professional. It should highlight your skills and portray you as apt for the job that you are applying for.

Scripting Cover Letter For a Resume

When applying for a job, it is always a good practice to accompany your resume with an interesting cover letter. The following steps will help you create a professional cover letter that will make a strong impact.

Sample cover letters

It is always advisable to go through a few basic cover letters before creating one on your own. This helps you get an idea about how particular information can be conveyed in the right manner and how to steer clear of industry jargon. The fundamentals remaining the same, your information can vary depending on what you want to display.

Include significant facts

While writing a cover letter, you must include information like your introduction, state the job position you have applied for, and clarify how you located the opening.

You must also elaborate as to why you are fit for the role and inform the employers that you are qualified enough for that position. You must also appeal for an interview and thank the company in the end added with your regards. Knowing the background about the company always helps you frame the letter in an appropriate manner.

Include job details

Always remember mentioning how you received news about the job availability – word of mouth, posting on a job portal, or classifieds. Then elaborate on the job position and why you want it. Most big companies provide a job number along with the position, in such a case include it in the letter.

Additional data

If the job posting requires you to specify additional information like amount of work hours a week or expected remuneration, make sure you answer it in the letter.

Customization

You can always personalize the letter in accordance with the work you are applying for. Additionally, it is better to address a cover letter to a particular person. Directing the letter to a specific person’s name and title improves the chances of response. However, you must ensure that the spelling of the name is right.

These tips will help you go a long way in the journey of your professional life. A brief and crisp resume cover letter will always add value to your CV.


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Open new career opportunities with our professional resume writing services.