The most effective way to find a job in Canada

According to the international business news portal CNBC, up to 70% of vacancies are not published on publicly available job search sites, and studies show that from 50% to 80% of jobs in modern companies are filled through networking. That is, in order to get access to a large number of vacancies, it is not enough to use the tools that everyone knows. You have to resort to networking, which is growing in importance as a job search strategy year after year.

According to PayScale, some experts say that 70% to 85% of North Americans find jobs through networking. It is one of the most reliable, popular and effective ways to find a job around the world and in particular in Canada.

What is networking

Networking is the process of establishing and developing connections with others in a professional environment. When you engage in networking, you build relationships with colleagues, meet new people and create a network of contacts. The main goal of networking is to create mutually beneficial relationships where you can exchange information, advice, help and work opportunities.

Through networking, you can learn about new job opportunities, get references, expand your knowledge and make connections that can be useful in your career. It is an important tool for job search and professional development.

Networking should not be confused with cronyism or nepotism. In the case of cronyism, you get a job simply because you are someone's friend or relative. In this case, your professional qualities often take a back seat, and the interests of potential or current employees, as well as the company itself, may suffer in such employment.

Networking is a chance to present yourself as a professional. So that if there is a vacancy in the companies where your friends work that suits you, they will let you know about it and can recommend you.

When a new vacancy arises in a Canadian company, the first thing employees and partners know about it. Recruiters and job sites are not approached immediately, often only when they have been unable to find employees through recommendations from colleagues and partners.

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If an employee or partner recommends someone for a position, he or she bears serious reputational risk and liability, often even more than the person being hired. Therefore, a recommender will only suggest someone he or she knows if he or she is sure that the person recommended meets the requirements.

That is, if in cronyism and nepotism the connection with the right people is an opportunity to get a job by acquaintance, in networking it is an opportunity to simply tell about yourself as a specialist, to prove yourself from the best side. That's why it's not your family or friendship ties that are important when applying for a job through networking, but your value as a professional.

Why networking is important:

• Improves your understanding of the industry you work in;
• Increases your visibility in professional circles;
• helps you create a "professional support system."
• provides an opportunity to receive mentoring;
• gives a chance to get constructive feedback from "peers";
• Provides access to additional information about the profession, industry and labor market;
• allows you to sharpen your communication skills.

How networking works

As we have already established, networking is about creating a circle of acquaintances who are professionals in the field in which you work. However, it is important to realize that it is not just about exchanging business cards and briefly talking about common topics at an event.

Exchanging contacts is an integral part of networking, but what's the point of having dozens of business cards in your business card holder if you don't keep in touch with those who gave you their numbers? The goal of networking is to establish constant communication with people with whom you share similar views on work, professional direction, and interests.

Your relationship should be one where you can call each other, exchange advice, consult, perhaps meet and chat about work and business. Ideally, meetings should lead to a long-term, rewarding and enjoyable relationship.

The importance of communication skills

Communication skills are critical in networking. You need to be extremely polite and respectful in dialogs. And here are some tips:

• Act sincere. Show what your true intentions are. In any relationship, people appreciate honesty and sincerity.
• Be a good listener. This is a real art: the interlocutor should feel that you are paying attention and showing genuine interest in their stories, not interrupting and taking an active part in the conversation.
• If you are approached with confidential information, do not disclose it to anyone without the consent of the person you are talking to. You will be valued much more if you know you can be trusted.
• Let go of fears and step out of your comfort zone. Networking can be a real challenge, especially for shy or insecure people. Try to overcome your fears so that you can actively participate in networking meetings and initiate new acquaintances.

How to create a network of contacts

According to a Statistics Canada study, immigrants in Canada have an average network of 41 contacts (which does not include relatives) compared to 49 for natives. Plus, these contacts are less diverse among immigrants. And those who are new to Canada may not have any connections at all. So how do you build your own network of professional acquaintances?

First of all, you should acquire the basic networking tools: make business cards, create a profile on LinkedIn and Facebook, write a resume and create a portfolio. After that, you can start attending networking events and informational interviews.

Networking activities are any events and places where you can find people with similar interests, including professional ones. According to the theory of 6 handshakes, on which the idea of networking is largely based, any 2 people on the planet can be connected through a chain of acquaintances consisting of no more than 5 intermediate acquaintances. So making professional acquaintances or finding contacts of people who work in your professional field is literally everywhere. But there are also profile events.

Examples of networking events:

• job fairs and information sessions;
• educational programs, conferences and seminars;
• regional professional associations;
• events of chambers of commerce and industry in different cities;
• volunteering.

'Informal' places where you can find useful acquaintances:

• hobby clubs (gyms, riding clubs, yacht clubs, etc.);
• cultural events (exhibitions in museums, theater performances, etc.);
• sporting events;
• church activities.

At these events, find opportunities to introduce yourself to people you might benefit from meeting. Be proactive: if you have a conversation with someone, offer to exchange business cards and meet for coffee or lunch. But don't confuse being proactivite and initiative with being pushy. If you see that a person doesn't really want to communicate with you, don't be pushy. Be tactful.

Informational interviews are interviews with employees and partners of the company or industry you are interested in to introduce yourself and obtain information about job openings, requirements for employees and job seekers, and corporate culture. These interviews can be conducted in person or over the phone. Unlike typical interviews, most questions are asked by the job seeker, not the potential employer or their representative.

Within a few days after an informational interview, it will be helpful to email or call the person you met with while the person's memory of your conversation is still fresh. To avoid losing established professional contacts, email people about every few months to stay in touch with them. LinkedIn is a good place for such communications.

Rules of networking

In networking, it's important to follow a few rules, whether it's planning to build a network of professional acquaintances or talking to people directly.

First, when networking, it is critical to communicate your value to others. To understand your strengths and weaknesses, ask yourself a few questions:

• What are your main strengths? This applies to your personality as well as your technical and professional skills.
• What makes you different from others? It is important to understand what makes you unique.
• What are your goals? Have a vision of your main life and professional goals in your head and be able to articulate it.

Secondly, approach networking strategically. If you are just planning to build a network of contacts, make a schedule of events you are going to attend, set yourself tasks and deadlines. If it's an interview or meeting, think through how it will go, what questions you will ask. In this business, everything needs to be clearly planned at all levels.

Thirdly, remember that networking should not turn into an attempt to get something only for yourself. On the contrary, see networking as an opportunity not only to take but also to give. So look for opportunities to also offer help to your new acquaintances. Don't become that person who shows up as soon as they need something and then disappears when the need is met.

Fourth, respect yourself, those with whom you are building relationships, your time and theirs. Do not allow yourself to be disrespectful to others. Be persistent, as this is very valued by employers, but do not be pushy. If you have arranged a meeting, don't be late, don't waste too much time on idle conversation.

Finally, be active and proactive. Don't expect other people to approach you or make appointments. Initiate meetings yourself, participate in events, and take the initiative to make new connections.

Networking and education in Canada

A great way to make useful professional acquaintances can be education in Canada. International students have more methods of networking available to them than those who come as immigrants:

• Students see and interact with a large number of peers and teachers, and curricula are responsive to labor market needs and often include work internships.
• Most post-secondary institutions in Canada have career centers that provide career counselling, workshops and webinars to which industry representatives are invited, organize job fairs, help with resume writing, and finding internships and jobs after graduation.
• During 1-2 years of study, students adapt to life in Canada and begin to understand the peculiarities of the Canadian labor market, including networking.

How to improve your chances of getting a job in Canada

How quickly you find a job through networking depends largely on your activity: the more events and interviews you attend, the larger your network of contacts, the better your chances.

Your chances of finding a job in Canada will also increase if you get all the information you need about working in Canada. You can get this information in our online course "How to Find a Job in Canada". The course offers access to video lessons and webinar recordings, electronic documents and links in your personal account, as well as a closed Facebook group.

Among the course topics:

• How to recognize an unscrupulous employment agency.
• What documents you need to look for a job.
• How to write a resume in Canadian format.
• How to prepare for an interview.
• Where to find networking events.
• How to create and grow your LinkedIn profile and more.

The co-facilitator of the course is Julia Plyushchenkova, a recruiter in Canada. She has more than 10 years of experience in recruitment, more than 10,000 interviews with job seekers, hundreds of individual consultations on resume writing and interviewing.

Purchase the course and start your journey to a successful career in Canada.