In a job search, your first impression can happen before you even meet with potential employers. Take Control of your First Impression – The Resume.

We are all familiar with the saying “First Impressions can last a lifetime”. In a job search, your first impression can happen before you even meet with potential employers. How you present yourself on your resume and how you portray yourself on social media can heavily impact your success if you are in search of a new career.

Take Control of Your First Impression – Part One: Your resume is your ticket in. You want your resume to portray your skills and experience as well as a more professional you. See the tips below to see if your resume follows suit:

• The email address you provide should be a professional one. Create a professional email address that contains your first and last name (I.E yournamelastname@noemail.com). An unprofessional email address, even ones that contain letters and numbers can hinder your first impression. An email address you created years ago with a funny nickname or your pets name will not have a positive impact for you – Instead, it shows carelessness and lack of awareness.
• The format of your resume should be visually appealing and consistent. Do your research on what is the best way to format your resume – the appropriate amount of pages, which side the resume should be justified on, and where the headings should be positioned. In addition, the type and the size of the font should be consistent. Again, inconsistency will show carelessness and lack of attention to detail.
• The descriptions on your resume should be summarized and to the point. When you are adding a description to your past or current experience, be succinct. The potential employer will want to know key details however this should be done when tailoring the resume to the role. General duties and responsibilities should be kept to a few lines or bullet points. Finally, keep the most important information at the top.

Your resume is a reflection of you on paper. By giving your resume a polished look, you will leave a good impression in the eyes of staffing specialists and potential employers.

Read more resume tips on the Fusion Career Services website.

Manraj is a Recruitment Consultant at Fusion Career Services, connect with Manraj at contact@fusioncareer.com or leave a comment below.

Be Prepared for your Job Search: Create a Checklist!

Searching for a new job, whether you are employed or unemployed, is a job on its own. Taking the time to plan, to prepare and to execute can be a long and arduous process. However, you can create a neat job search checklist for yourself to ensure that all areas of your search are being met and delivered.

Here are the top 8 items to review and update for a successful job search checklist:

1. Update/Revise Resume: Always take some time to update your resume, whether you are looking or not you never know when an opportunity will strike. Take some time to read it over, rewrite it and continuously try to reinvent yourself. Finally, review your contact information. Have a professional email address, and the best number that you can be reached on.
2. Update/Revise LinkedIn Profile: Staffing Specialists and potential employers will visit your LinkedIn profile. Ensure that all the information is up to date and polished to maximize your success. 
3. Have clear requirements for your search: When you are searching for the right opportunity create a list with clear requirements regarding what you are looking for. It is crucial to have a specific goal or target in order to ensure you are going towards the right opportunity. To help yourself out in this section ask yourself the following questions:
   • What is the role that I am looking for?
   • What are my expectations for my next role?
   • What duties/responsibilities am I willing / not willing to accept for my next role?
   • What are my goals for the next 5 years?
   • What is my minimum salary expectation?
   • What are my benefits and vacation expectations?
4. Tailor your resume: Each resume that is sent should be tailored according to the role, company, and industry. To save some time create a template where you are able to edit the content quickly and effectively.
5. Proofread: Take the time to read through your resume, not forgetting to have another set of eyes look at it as well. Another individual can offer their perspective on how your resume looks and how to tailor it based on the role.
6. Keep track of where your resume is: Create an excel spreadsheet to track where you have sent your resume. Track the employer’s name, the position you applied for and the date the resume was sent. This way, you are able to recall which position you have applied for and you will be prepared for a callback.
7. Schedule follow-up calls: Alongside tracking where you have applied, take the time to schedule follow-up calls in your calendar. Follow-up with Staffing specialists or employers one week after you’ve sent your resume to gage your level of candidacy.
8. Connect with a Staffing Specialist: Connecting with a Staffing Specialist can help you in all areas of this list. They will have access to opportunities not disclosed on the job market. They will assist you with revising and tailoring your resume with respect to the opportunity. A Staffing Specialist will ask you all the right questions and will offer you expert advice regarding your search. Finally, they will be able to track and follow up the status of your resume and provide you honest feedback.

This list covers all main areas of your search. Take some time to personalize your job search checklist, ensure all of your must-haves are on it. Read it over and check it twice! This will all help in keeping you prepared and organized and will maximize your success for a new opportunity.

Manraj is a Recruitment Consultant at Fusion Career Services, connect with Manraj at contact@fusioncareer.com or leave a comment below.

To Find a Great Job You Can’t Just Look Good…

A US study from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, points to 5 Skills that will be on the top of hiring managers’ lists in 2015. Employers are looking for employees who have these high demand job skills:

• think critically and solve problems,
• work well in teams,
• have a professional attitude and strong work ethic,
• have strong written and oral communication skills, and
• can apply their information technology skills to business applications.

Make sure you are building these skills in your current endeavors and can highlight your skills on your resume, cover letter and in a job interview.

It should come as no surprise that the career you choose to pursue today, may not be quite so in demand five, ten or even twenty years from now. As technology driven industries move to the forefront, some professional positions will diminish or disappear altogether. Looking ahead to 2020 just five years from now, the landscape will change and career options will vary drastically from what they are today. The future workforce will see what we first thought were trends, solidified as industries of the future, creating the jobs of the future.

Some of the biggest industries of growth and sustainability are information technology and healthcare, and they will continue to grow in the next twenty years. Both of these industries are fueled by two very separate and different situations – the aging population and the fact that technology is changing the way we live our lives.

Information technology came in with a bang and will continue that rapid progress for years to come. The growth of the internet for things like voice over internet protocol (VoIP), e-commerce and online auctions will continue to see phenomenal increases especially as users of the internet double in the next 20 years. Using the internet to communicate and for business transactions has seen major companies like Google, Amazon and Facebook become leaders in business. With this big change, professions such as programming, various engineering specialties and many more are expected to grow exponentially within the next ten years.

In terms of healthcare, our aging Canadian population will require the resources needed to care for them. An aging population will put healthcare workers such as doctors, nurses, physical therapists, home health aides and pharmacists in high demand. On the flip side it will also see the field of scientific research and development grow to accommodate an ever changing climate and environment.

Outside of the healthcare and technology industries, some of the top professions of the future include:

• Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
• Civil Engineer
• Structural Engineer
• Construction and trades
• Business Analyst

A future trend to beware of when carving your career path is the disappearing middleman. The middleman in many businesses will gradually vanish mainly due to better technology being introduced and competition. With these two factors growing side by side the added cost of a middleman is simply unwarranted. For instance, if you can purchase a new dress or DVD player over the Internet, why go through a car salesman.

It’s important to structure your career so that the job you want will be in demand for several years to come, not eliminated. To make sure this happens, proper education is crucial and carving a path based on both emerging and long-standing industries will help to secure that future. Career services organizations play a significant role in ensuring that professionals are aware of the changing trends and in helping organizations develop programs that transition their workforce through the changes that are sure to come.

Look for Entry Level Positions in Sales and Customer Service

If you are a recent graduate and are uncertain where to start your job hunt, you may want to consider positions in sales and customer service. A job in sales or customer service can provide a great starting point for a young persons career. A degree of selling is involved in almost every vocation, whether you are pitching an idea, vision, product, service or yourself!

Look for positions in an industry that you find interesting. Do your research. Find out about the company, their products or services and their customers.  If you are lucky, you may land a job working for a company selling a product or service you are passionate about. Sometimes it may be the company’s philosophy or leadership that you admire,  or maybe it is the chance to work in an emerging market that you find exciting. Finding a connection between your skills and interests and the company is a good starting point.

A good sales person needs to be able to:

• quickly and easily build relationships
• ask thoughtful questions
• listen – talk less, listen more
• identify needs, solve problems and demonstrate value

Landing a job will be similar to making a sale – you need to first “sell” the employer and persuade them that you are an ideal fit for their team. Good luck!

Check out the Fusion Job Board – we are currently looking for an entry level inside sales person in Toronto – new graduates welcome!