When you’re preparing for an interview, it’s easy to get caught up in thinking about your answers, what you’re going to wear, and making sure you turn up on time. One of the most important aspects of any job interview is your body language. It’s easy to feel nervous, especially at this stage of your job search. Your body language is something that often happens unconsciously. You want to impress your potential employer by appearing confident and assured in yourself while showing that you’re engaged in the interview process.

We’re sharing nine body language tips to help you impress at your job interview.

1. Walk in confidently 

Your body language is a vital part of forming the interviewer’s first impression of you. Most people form their opinion of you within the first 10 seconds of setting eyes on you. Walk confidently into the room, with your shoulders pulled back, and take even strides as you walk.

Look at the interviewer and walk directly towards them, keeping your body pointed in their direction while maintaining eye contact. But make sure you’re not staring, which can be off-putting. Try to hold eye contact for a few seconds at a time.

2. Sit straight in your seat

Nothing looks worse than when a candidate is slouching in their seat during an interview. Sitting up straight gives you a more confident appearance and shows that you’re alert and listening. You might start slouching in your seat out of habit, but this can create the impression that you’re not interested in what the interviewer has to say.

Sitting back in your seat can help keep your back straight and prevent you from leaning forward. If you find that you naturally slouch, pretend that there is a string pulling the crown of your head up to keep you straight.

3. Use your hands to speak

Your hands are one of your best communication tools. Speaking with your hands and moving them as you talk suggests openness. You want to avoid fiddling with your hands or waving them around too much while speaking, as this can come across as nervousness.

You might feel like you need to sit on your hands, but hiding them can often come across as distrustful. Fold your hands as the interviewer is talking, and then speak with your hands to articulate your point.

Open palm gestures make you appear trustworthy and can portray you as an honest individual. Part of the reason we shake hands is to see each other’s open palms. It’s a behavioural quirk tied to our survival instincts.

4. Smile

Whether you’re doing an interview in person or over Zoom, you want to stay positive throughout your meeting. Smiling shows that you’re comfortable with the interviewer. You want to avoid being too timid or over the top with your smile – keep it natural.

If the interview says something funny as an icebreaker, don’t be afraid to laugh. You want to use your body language as a way of signalling that you’re actively listening and engaging with what they’re saying.

5. Avoid moving around too much

If you’re nervous, you might be tempted to fidget or move around as you speak. When you squirm in your seat, it can look like you’re bored or growing impatient for the interview to finish. You should sit straight in your chair and fold your hands in your lap if you think you’re prone to fidgeting.

Be careful not to cross your arms or legs, as this can appear defensive and make you seem unapproachable. Relax your shoulders and face the interviewer. You want to use your body language to focus on the interviewer. It might take a little concentration to resist moving around in your seat, but staying still makes it easier for both you and the interviewer to concentrate.

6. Keep your feet on the ground

You want to keep your feet fixed firmly on the ground. Female candidates should avoid crossing their legs over their knees and instead cross their ankles. It’s easier to switch your legs around without being too obvious when you cross them at your ankles instead of your knees. Scientifically, it’s been proven that answering complex questions is easier when your feet are on the ground.

7. The mirror image trick

One of the greatest tips for body language during an interview is to become a mirror image of your interviewer. This advice doesn’t mean that you should imitate or mimic everything they do but rather copy their style of body language.

Your interviewer is the person who guides your interview, so you want to take your cues from them. Nod while they’re nodding and shift your posture as they do. You want to keep your body language professional throughout the interview.

8. Avoid touching your face

When you’re nervous, you may find yourself touching your face or rubbing your neck. Touching your face, messing with your hair or rubbing your nose can give the impression that you’re disinterested.

9. Take time and breathe deeply

It’s easy to get caught up in the moment and forget to breathe during your interview. Focusing on your breathing is one of the easiest ways to control your body language. When you’re asked a question, take a deep breath and speak on the exhale. A deep breath allows you to calm down and gives you a moment to think. Before you step into your interview, take ten deep breaths to reduce your heart rate and lower your blood pressure.

Final Thoughts

Your interview is the most significant step of your job search and can help you get on the employment ladder. Body language plays a crucial role in forming all-important first impressions. At Achēv, our Employment Ontario Services offers a wide range of resources to support your career and employment needs. Our employment centres are located across the Greater Toronto Area, including Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga and North York. Contact us today to register for our free employment services.

There are many reasons in a person’s life that they will undergo a career change. Some change careers because they need a new challenge, while others change career direction because the job outlook for their current career has become inadequate. While career changes may sound a little intimidating to go through, they are actually quite normal. Here are ten of our top tips for a successful career change.

1) Leverage your Network

One of the best places to start is to find out as much as possible about careers you are interested in. Reach out to contacts in your network to chat about topics such as the job market, their responsibilities, and hard and soft skills that are important in their career. If you don’t have anyone in your network to ask for career change advice, consider developing a wider network through activities such as volunteering with community organizations where you’ll meet a lot of different people.

2) Consider Job Shadowing

While it may be difficult to break into some industries, a great way to get some name recognition and experience is through job shadowing or volunteering. This helps you learn some of the roles and responsibilities while also making contacts that could serve as references or inform you about open jobs. This is an excellent way to gain experience and build your network.

3) Make a List of Your Passions

One of the greatest ways to achieve success in a career search is to seek jobs that you are passionate about. Think about not only your skills and talents but also the things that you value. There may be a way to incorporate some of your passions in a new career. Review the list and think about potential industries or jobs that would allow you to work in areas you’re passionate about.

4) Find a Mentor

One of the most useful things when seeking a new career is finding a good mentor. This is something you may find from someone you already know or when doing job shadowing. A mentor can help provide important advice about your job search and things to know about how to get started in new careers.

5) Sign Up for the Second Career Program

The Second Career program is an Ontario government initiative that offers skills training and financial support for eligible laid-off workers, helping them find employment in high-demand occupations in Ontario. If you have been laid-off in Ontario, you may qualify for up to $28,000.00 for costs including tuition, books, living expenses, child care, travel, transportation, disability supports, and basic living allowance (during skill training). At Achēv, we provide eligible individuals with free, one-on-one assistance in applying for the Second Career Program.

6) Develop Your Pitch

You’ve likely heard of the term “elevator pitch.” While you probably will rarely give these in an actual elevator, it is a great networking tool to introduce yourself in a short amount of time to someone new. You’ll want to be able to briefly highlight who you are, your skills, and why you are the best person for your new career. Practice this in front of a mirror to increase your confidence. Brevity is key, as a good elevator pitch should be about 30 seconds.

7) Highlight Transferable Skills

When you market yourself for a new field, you may find that you do not have many experiences that directly relate to your ideal new role. However, an important part of your job search is being able to illustrate transferable skills. Many jobs focus on skills such as communication, problem-solving, leadership, project management, and other key skills that are applicable in many different industries. Thus, think about the jobs you’ve done and how the skills you displayed could benefit your new career.

8) Know How to Explain the Switch

When changing careers, one question you are sure to encounter in the job search is why you want to change careers. Make this a positive moment for you by highlighting what draws you to the new industry, new challenges that you want to take on, and new opportunities for growth. This is a great way to answer the question while elaborating on your skills and abilities.

9) Leverage Job Boards

One excellent way to see options available near you is to peruse your local job boards. There are many job boards; however, one excellent option is this job board for the Greater Toronto Area. Checking job boards can help you find openings in your future career, allowing you to quickly apply in hopes of landing an interview.

Final Thoughts

Changing careers may seem like a huge step, but it does not have to be a difficult one and can really be very rewarding. However, practicing some of these tips will help you excel at your job search and find your new career quicker!

Want to get one-on-one support from a Career Counsellor to help you find the right career and employment opportunities? Contact our Employment Ontario services today!

Are you striving to turn a vision into reality? Are you tackling a small goal such as writing a cover letter or exploring a big goal such as returning to university to advance your career? Whatever size the vision is, job seekers always benefit from goal setting.

If you have already used Employment Ontario services, you might have been told about various goal-setting approaches. For example, the SMART goal method and the WOOP goal-setting technique are both very popular.

Recently Aydolu Simsek, the Resource and Information Specialist who works at the Achēv Parliament location, told job seekers about the GROW model for goal-setting. Aydolu develops and facilitates many of the job search webinars offered at Achēv and is always searching for new best practices to assist Employment Ontario job seekers.

The GROW model is a goal-setting method that was developed in the United Kingdom in 1992. What sets it apart from other methods is that it encourages job seekers to make changes according to current life reality. Since COVID-19 has changed the Canadian workplace, this reality is more important than ever before. The GROW model helps in overcoming fear, uncertainty, procrastination and hesitancy that might be encountered during a job search journey. GROW is a method that aligns goals with reality, outlines a plan of action to overcome major obstacles, and turns them into achievable options so job seekers can reach new opportunities.

Choices that might lead to opportunities for job seekers are always being made by recruiters and employers. For example, in a recent survey, employers confirmed that it is the resume that is the biggest obstacle when it comes to understanding who the applicant is and making a hiring decision. When asked about the best resumes, all employers agreed that the most impressive were the ones that were easy to read, told a compelling professional story, listed accomplishments instead of just tasks and responsibilities, and most of all did not use clichés.

Here is an example of how to connect the GROW goal-setting model to developing an exceptional resume:

1. G = Goal. What do you want?

The goal is to write a resume in order to impress employers by using fresh and relevant words instead of tired clichés.

2. R = Reality. Where are you now?

The current reality is that the COVID-19 lockdown is happening in Ontario, however Employment Ontario assists job seekers via remote services. Achēv Career Specialists support job seekers on a one-to-one basis with resume questions at Zoom meetings or during phone calls. Or you can attend a Resume Webinar conducted by a Resource and Information Specialist.

3. O = Obstacles and Options. What could you do?

By using the no-cost services offered by Employment Ontario, you can learn how to write a general resume and a tailored or targeted version for a specific job posting. Job seekers can discover what font size and style is best, what format to use, and how to change dull and over-used statements into descriptive announcements that illustrate accomplishments.

For example, “Excellent communication skills” can be transformed into “Presented information at in-person customer meetings using remote technologies and spoke to diverse audiences at college recruiting events”.

4. W = Way Forward. What will you do?

You can convert your options into action steps by thinking of the term “way forward” as an intention or commitment. Start today by contacting Achēv to register for a Resume Webinar or find out if you meet the eligibility to meet with a Career Specialist. Every year the Career Specialists, Resource and Information Specialists, and Staffing Specialists at Achēv assist more than 25,000 job seekers in the GTA. This is a statistic that you want to be part of.

In summary, if you are seeking a new approach for your job search try using the GROW model. By knowing your goal, understanding your current reality, acknowledging your obstacles and learning your options, you can pledge to follow through on your goal using willpower and determination.

Achēv Employment Ontario services are currently provided remotely at 6 locations across Toronto, North York, Mississauga and Brampton. Grow your job search by contacting Achēv today and learn more about how goal-setting can move you forward to employment success.

This blog was written by Lisa Trudel, Career Specialist, Achēv.

In a world so connected, we can still wonder how to connect. How do you meet the right people? Do you have to be in the right place, at the right time, to open that door to employment?

There was a time when job searching required you to know the right people or at least have someone introduce you to a person who could open that door for you, the door to a bigger professional arena or a new career path. While this still plays a crucial role in making the right connections for employment, fortunately, you also have a few new and effective ways to find a job.

It’s recommended that you connect with our Employment Ontario Services when you’re job searching. Our personalized employment services will give you the support you need throughout your job hunting process. However, when you’re looking for employment, using every tool in your toolkit is important.

This is where LinkedIn comes in. The platform has been around since 2003, but there can still be some confusion around exactly what its purpose is and how to use it. LinkedIn is a social media networking platform with a focus on business. It allows people and businesses from around the globe to connect with other professionals. The platform is designed to share information, market products and services, find employment and form business-to-business relationships.

Before we elaborate on these ten steps, it’s important to remember to authentically represent yourself. It’s not only about the content of the information. A well-represented and authentic profile delivered in a professional context can create more employment opportunities. Your LinkedIn profile is a powerful self-branding tool. If a recruiter within LinkedIn or outside of the network type your name into the search engine, you now have a personal brand showing in the search results.

Here are 10 tips for using LinkedIn to find employment opportunities:

1. Use LinkedIn As a Search Engine

It’s important to remember that LinkedIn is a search engine. With this in mind, you can use keywords to help your job search and narrow down the companies you want to work with. The ideal employment situation is just around the corner if you are willing to go looking for it. It’s also a great pre-interview company research tool. Use it to your advantage and rock that interview!

2. Create a Compelling And Up-To-Date Profile

It’s often referred to as a ‘living profile’. Make sure you’re constantly keeping it current and fresh with new content. Complete your profile as well! You want to stand out and get noticed. If you have an unfinished profile, even with a CV or resume uploaded, it won’t be enough to impress.

Bonus tip: This is also a great time to clean up your other social media accounts. Have your personal brand positively reflected no matter the platform recruiters land on.

3. Include a Profile Picture

This is often overlooked but a profile with a photo is clicked on 14 times more and contacted 36 times more than a profile without a picture. Keep it professional. It’s not required that you’re in a suit and tie but shouldn’t be a picture from the wild Christmas party last year. A well-thought-out professional headshot can make the right first impression.

4. Sell Yourself In The Headline

Spend some time thinking about what to write here. The headline is the first thing people see after your name! You want to avoid using terms like ‘Job Searching’, ‘Job Seeker’, ‘Unemployed’, etc. For some recruiters and hiring managers, there is a fine line between actively searching and coming across as desperate.

Instead, take this opportunity to use keywords to highlight your achievements and include a value proposition. Speak about who you are, what you’ve done and where you’re going, and direct it to your target audience. (Who do you want to notice you? What type of employment are you searching for?)

5. Make Your Summary Shine

This is your next opportunity to separate yourself from the crowd. You can let your accomplishments take center stage. Talk about your accomplishments, awards, highlight your skills and any other noteworthy recognition. Instead of using only bullet points, try weaving your successes into an engaging story (professionally, of course!). When done correctly, you’ll be memorable for all the right reasons.

6. Promote All Of  Your Skills (fill out all 50!) 

If you know anything about SEO, you know that keywords are crucial. A recruiter searching LinkedIn for their next hire could type in a skill like MS Office. If MS Office is listed as a skill, LinkedIn can find your profile as a relevant fit to what they are specifically looking for. This is why filling out all 50 available spots in important. This greatly increases your chance of being seen by a recruiter. There are over 700 million users on the platform but only a small percentage of those users are relevant to your job-search purposes. You need to make it as easy as possible to be found and noticed.

7. Reach Out And Make Connections 

Take advantage of LinkedIn’s real-time connection to professionals all over the world. With some guidance on how to make those first impressions, you can build lasting and valuable relationships.

8. Have Someone Vouch For You

Get endorsements and recommendations. The skills you’ve added to your page can be validated with endorsements from within your network. Reach out to your network or those you have worked with and request a written recommendation. This notoriety boost will help your profile stand out when your job searching.

9. Network Your Way Into Employment

The more people you have in your network, the more exposure you get. If Sally knows you have marketing experience, she’s 100% more likely to refer you to her boss when a job opens up if she knows you! Making connections and good impressions can go a long way in finding employment.

10. Engage In The Community 

LinkedIn groups provide a place for professionals and businesses to cultivate a valuable community. Professionals in the same industry or of similar interests can group together for quality interactions. It can allow you to establish yourself as an expert in your field in a group outside your immediate network. Be mindful of your activity (don’t overwhelm the forum with a post every 15 minutes), be professional.

Your job search should be a multi-faceted operation. You can leverage our free Employment Ontario Services to help you find you find your next job. We have Employment Centres located across the Greater Toronto Area including Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton and North York. You should also be leveraging your personal network to discover any potential opportunities there.

The most important and most effective strategy would be to maximize the platform that LinkedIn has built. By using these tips and bringing your best foot forward, you can find the ideal employment opportunity and end your job search with the dream job you are looking for.

Job searching is a multi-step process that requires problem-solving with insight and determination. Sometimes by diving in using outdated methods, results for job seekers can be misspent effort and errors that need to be fixed to produce positive outcomes.

The famous inventor of the first practical telephone, Alexander Graham Bell, is attributed to saying “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the one that has opened for us.” Job searching in 2021 can be like this for many job seekers. We encourage you to be mindful of the following three job search issues and take new actions so you can open new employment doors. These points should become part of your job search plan along with a dose of persistence and patience.

1. Spending too much time writing your resume.

Are you devoting the greatest amount of your daily job search time rewriting your resume? Are you trying to showcase your skills using current buzzwords so your application can pass applicant tracking systems? Do you rarely hear back from employers?

New Action: If your answers are “yes”, then it is time to connect with an Employment Ontario Career Specialist at Achēv. They assist job seekers with creating a general template and provide advice on how to mention professional milestones that a new employer might value. Our Career Specialists will encourage you to spend most of your time networking and following up on new contacts to increase referrals. One referral might become that special person who passes your resume to a hiring decision-maker so you can secure an interview.

2. Limiting yourself by answering job postings.

Answering job postings with a customized cover letter and resume is only a very small step in a job search plan. Statistics prove that there is only a 5% success rate of securing a job interview if you are a stranger answering a job posting.

New Action: Also, according to recent statistics, more than 80% of all jobs are never posted online. They are only available to people who network. Your Achēv Career Specialist supports job seekers by promoting the value of researching online networks and conducting informational meetings or coffee chats. By spending time developing professional relationships you can open new employment possibility doors, discover fresh ideas and overcome shyness.  Focusing on finding potential contacts is one of the best steps to incorporate into your job search plan and can turn limitations into helpful resources.

3. Creating a basic LinkedIn profile.

Did you create your LinkedIn profile a few years ago and has it just been sitting there ever since?  Is there no photo or banner background photo posted?  If you know your LinkedIn profile is lacking, you know what the next “new action” will be!

New Action: It is time to either add impressive words and photos on your LinkedIn profile or take it down altogether. How you present yourself on LinkedIn gives the potential employer an idea about your productivity, creativity and potential. LinkedIn is constantly adding new features to better showcase job seekers, so you need to keep current with this platform. For example, be sure to turn on the “#open to work” feature that goes around your photo. Experts state that if you do not plan on using a LinkedIn profile, it is better not to have one. To learn more about LinkedIn, attend a webinar at Achēv or speak to an Employment Ontario Career Specialist about how you can improve it.

In summary, if you are struggling with your job search and want to problem solve so new doors will open, be sure to consider these three new actions. They are only a few steps in a process that will always require persistence, patience, and a plan.

Achēv Employment Ontario services are currently provided remotely at six locations across Toronto, North York, Mississauga and Brampton. Plan to contact Achēv today to start shifting your job search in a positive direction.

This blog was written by Lisa Trudel, Career Specialist, Achēv.

Congratulations on entering the Canadian workforce! As a newcomer, it is a big step to complete the process from arriving as an immigrant or refugee to landing your first job! You’ve gone this far; now it’s time to make a great impression on the job. The best way to do this is by becoming accustomed to the Canadian workplace culture. Take the time and implement these tips when starting your new job.

1. Ask Questions

Being willing to ask questions is an important skill to develop. If you don’t know how to do something, ask. If you are unsure of the protocol, ask. You want to make sure that you are doing the best you can with the best information available. You may feel uncomfortable or self-conscious about putting yourself out there, but it is always better to ask and do it right than to remain silent and make a potentially costly mistake.

2. Practice Your Communication Skills

Being able to speak the language in the workplace is an essential skill to have. This will help you integrate with the other staff and your coworkers. Learning English or French can be difficult, and it takes practice to be able to communicate effectively if you are new to the language. This means practicing at home and on your off-hours. By being able to effectively exchange ideas and discuss with your managers and co-workers, you increase your chances of advancement and new opportunities at work.

3. Embrace the Non-Verbal and Subtle Cues

There are many resources available about the differences between Canadian culture and your home culture. It is crucial to grasp these differences so you can convey an approachable demeanor. You do this by learning and adopting the non-verbal and subtle cues of the Canadian workplace. This includes simple things like making eye contact, saying hello when passing someone in a hallway, and saying good morning and goodbye at the end of the workday. By doing these things, you will make your workday more enjoyable and productive.

4. Grow Your Soft Skills

In Canada, your soft skills are a critical part of your career advancement. These skills include the ability to work on a team, being flexible and open-minded, having a positive attitude, taking initiative, having good time management practices, etc. These skills in some aspects are even more important than your “hard skills”, which refers to your technical knowledge and skillset in a certain field. Soft skills speak to your managerial and advancement potential, which can be more important to your workplace than your other skillsets.

5. Don’t be Afraid to Take Initiative

When you arrived at the immigrant services desk, you probably spoke about taking initiative. Think of the initiative it took you to embark on the journey to come out to a new country! The Canadian workplace places a strong emphasis on the willingness of employees to take initiative in their roles.

6. Understand the Cultural Differences of the Workplace

This can be quite different from the culture in your home country. In many hierarchical type workplaces, initiative isn’t necessarily encouraged. Managers have a stronger presence and are more hands-on in the directing of staff. This may be the case at your new job, but it may not. Canadians have a more egalitarian type of workplace. The managers tend to encourage employees to suggest improvements and take their careers into their own hands. They may look for initiative as a determining factor for advancement. This is crucial to understand because you may work hard, but that may not equal a promotion.

7. Punctuality and Attendance

Canadian workplaces have policies around what is acceptable and what is not when it comes to punctuality and attendance. This can include how to arrange for a sick day or what to do if you will be late. There are also customs that may not be written but are expected to be followed. An expected standard has the same weight as a written standard in most workplaces. An example could be making sure that you are at work 15 minutes before your expected shift. This is when the staff may have an informal talk about the daily responsibilities. By understanding these customs, you can position yourself to advance in the company.

8. Commit to Personal Development

Personal development will grow the skills that help you not only adapt to the workplace culture, but excel in it. Committing to developing personally a little bit every day will teach you all the necessary skills to adapt and grow. Leadership skills, interpersonal skills, conflict resolution and empathetic listening skills will be some of the abilities you will develop by committing to personal growth. They will aid you in your work life as well as in the settlement process in a new country.

9. Be Open with Your Story

Your story is inspiring! Do not be afraid to share it with others. By explaining who you are and why you are here in Canada, you help people understand what your goals and aspirations are. This may lead to a mentoring relationship with a colleague. Even if it does not, you should be proud of your accomplishments thus far and be excited to accomplish more as you grow.

When you apply and use these tips, you will be able to effectively adapt to the Canadian workplace culture, giving yourself the best chance for success. If you are looking for immigrant services to help you successfully settle in Ontario, contact our Newcomer Information Centre today! If you are a newcomer who needs job search support, please get in touch with our Employment Ontario services.

Cold calling and warming writing are common job search methods that have resulted in success for many job seekers. They have similarities and differences. Which technique is best for you?

If you check Google, the definition of cold call states: “A verb. It is making an unsolicited call by phone in an attempt to sell services”. Warm writing is also a verb.  It is writing an email or a LinkedIn message to someone that you either know,  don’t know, or someone you have been referred to.

Cold Calling is:

1. a traditional job search method that was encouraged before COVID-19 changed communication processes. Cold calling has been affected by COVID-19 and the increase in scammers making cold calls.

2. a technique that is not for everyone. It requires an assertive, friendly and clear communication style.

3. an approach successfully used by experts in marketing and sales since making effective cold calls are the foundation of their job descriptions.

4. a process that requires effort, persistence and determination.

5. a system that is the same as prospecting without leads that involves preparation and research in order to target specific companies.

6. a job search method that might not get you an interview or a job, however it could land you a successful informational interview.

Warm Writing is:

1. a traditional job search method that has shifted over the years from print-based letters, to emails, and now to the LinkedIn message feature.

2. a process that is not for everyone. It needs advanced writing skills to express who you are, what you want, and what you can bring to the person you are warm writing to, all within a specific amount of character spaces.

3. an approach successfully used by job seekers who are experts in remote communication and social media platforms.

4. a process that requires effort, persistence and determination.

• a system that demands research and preparation. When reaching out to LinkedIn connections you might not really know, or to strangers that have a loose connection to you such as graduation from the same college or university, you need to warm write in a way that engages the person with relevant insights.
• a job search method that might not get you an interview or a job, yet could land you a successful informational interview via a phone or Zoom meeting because of your strategic planning.

If you choose warm writing using your LinkedIn message feature, leverage a trusted source. For example, are they a 2^nd degree connection? If they are, this means you have a mutual connection that you could mention in your message.

If you are reaching out to a stranger, make the person feel important and be reasonable by giving reasons. For example, your message could state “I was intrigued by your profile and your recent post was very informative. I would very much like to be in your network to continue learning”.

In summary, cold calling uses your voice and warm writing uses your writing skills.  Which is best for you?  Give both a try. If you need additional job search ideas, Achēv’s Employment Ontario services can provide you with assistance. Every year, our Career Specialists and Staffing Specialists assist more than 25,000 job seekers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). During COVID-19, our employment services are delivered virtually at six employment centres located across Toronto, North York, Mississauga and Brampton. Contact us today to learn more about all employment preparation essentials!

This blog was written by Lisa Trudel, Career Specialist, Achēv.

The world of work has changed forever, thanks to the pandemic. If you’re currently looking for a job, you’ll know some of the challenges both job seekers and employers are facing. Zoom calls and telephone conversations have replaced face-to-face interviews. While phone interviews have always been used, they’ve become even more essential during COVID-19.

It’s harder to make that all-important first impression through a phone call, but it’s not impossible. Employers use phone interviews as a way of narrowing down their list of candidates. Those who are shortlisted have the potential for a face-to-face or Zoom interview. Getting your phone interview right can help you get your foot on the employment ladder.

At Achēv, we’ve been hearing from the first-hand experiences of members in our community who are going through the interview process. Located across the Greater Toronto Area, our employment centres can help you find and maintain a meaningful job. Read on to learn our nine top tips for phone interviews to help you with your job search.

1. Don’t Underestimate Its Importance

One mistake job hunters make is by not taking their phone interview as seriously as a face-to-face meeting or Zoom call. Impressing during your phone interview can help you land a spot on the shortlist, or you might even be offered the job right away. Most employers use phone interviews as a way of narrowing down their list and eliminating applications. Every step in the process is important and shouldn’t be shrugged off as ‘just’ a phone interview.

Our employment services are here to help you through the interview process. We can answer your questions and help you understand what happens at each stage of the employment cycle.

2. Research the Company

One golden rule for anyone looking for employment at a company is to do your research. You want to show the interviewer that you have a genuine interest in their company. Some people fall short by being too generic during their job search. They send the same cover letter and resume to every company and give the same answer to similar questions. Interviewers are aware of this and want to see candidates who have done their research and have a genuine interest in working within their company.

3. Listen to Your Interviewer

Your communication skills are even more important in a phone interview. One danger with a phone interview is that you don’t get the same visual signals that the interviewer is about to speak. It’s easy for people to talk over each other on a phone call. These incidences are even more common during a phone interview when you’re naturally feeling nervous. Take a deep breath and wait until the interviewer has finished speaking before you start. Showing that you can listen and give a meaningful response will show the interviewer that you have the communication skills they’re looking for.

 4. Speak Slowly

Another thing you want to consider is to speak slowly. Phone connections are now always reliable, with your voice naturally becoming more muffled than in real life. You want to compensate for this by speaking slower to make sure the interviewer can hear you clearly.

5. Have Flash Cards

One benefit of a phone interview is that the interviewer can’t see you. Nothing is stopping you from having a cheat sheet of potential answers or points you want to raise. If you’re using this job search tip, you don’t want to rely on your cheat sheet too heavily. You want to glance over it to refresh your memory instead of reading directly from the sheet. It’s a backup for when you need a prompt to answer a question. Flashcards can help you organize the information and separate everything, so it’s easier to find what you need.

6. Get Rid of Distractions

We’re all guilty of getting distracted when we’re on the phone. It might be a notification flashing up on your desktop or a neighbour walking past the window. Avoid any distractions by finding a relatively empty room and sit away from a window. If you’re sitting at a desk or table, keep it clear to avoid fidgeting with anything that might be laying around.

7. Do a Practice Interview

If you’re someone who prefers to text instead of calling, it’s a good idea to have some practice on the phone. Ask a family member or friend to call you to conduct a mock phone interview. The main challenge posed by phone interviews is that you can often become too comfortable and feel like you’re talking to a friend instead of a potential employer. A practice interview will prepare you for having to remain professional throughout your interview. It’s also an opportunity to identify any issues with your speech. You might be someone who adds a few too many ‘ums’ and ‘ahs’ to their sentences. Having a test run can make you mindful of what to avoid doing or saying during your actual interview.

8. Use a Landline Phone Instead of  Your Cell

While it’s not possible for everyone, a landline can be more reliable than your cell phone. You won’t have to worry about someone else trying to call you and cutting into your interview.

9. Follow-Up with a Thank You Email

Finish off your interview by sending a thank you email to the interviewer. If you don’t have their specific email address, you can send a message back to your contact or the HR department at the organization. Sending a follow-up message can leave a lasting impression on the interviewer and show them your professionalism. If you’re short-listed with other candidates, it can be something as simple as a thank-you email that sets you apart from the competition. Don’t underestimate the importance of smaller acts to boost your employment potential.

At Achēv, we offer free and personalized Employment Ontario services to help people of all backgrounds achieve their employment and career goals. We have employment centres located across the Greater Toronto Area, including Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga and North York. Our employment centres are a one-stop-shop for anyone on their job search journey or thinking about their career options. Contact us today to register for our free employment services!