Desperately Seeking Employment

Ask blogTO appears every Wednesday. Email ask [at] blogto.com with your question(s).

Dear Ask blogTO,

I am currently unemployed and seeking employment. I know there are a variety of websites dedicated to job searches but with all the choices and listings it can be a little overwhelming. I don't want to have to search through the literal hundreds of listings yet don't want to miss out on anything that might just be right for me. Plus I keep hearing about the "hidden market" that is out there somewhere just waiting to be discovered. Also, I have heard that employment agencies can be helpful. Is there an easier way to navigate through all of this and is one necessarily better than the other?

- desperately seeking

Hey Desperately Seeking,

My first piece of advice to you (or anyone in any situation, for that matter) would be: Do NOT be desperate. Most decisions we make out of desperation are poor and not as well thought out as they might be should more time and less emotions are involved; especially with a decision like employment that will occupy a good chunk of your time and life.

Ok, so you're looking for work that will be meaningful and satisfying, that's also meaningful and satisfying financially. Sometimes, it ends up being a choice between one or the other. It doesn't have to be, but it can be a full-time job finding that ideal situation.

The easiest way to find a job is to have a referral or recommendation to a position, but that isn't always possible. That is more or less, the "hidden job market"". They are unadvertised positions usually filled through word of mouth or networking. Find out more at the Canadian government site JobsEtc.

But this may be an opportunity for you to cast as large a net as you possibly can. Try anything and everything. Friends, family, other contacts, online job sites like Workopolis and Monster, employment agencies, Google searches, check out books like Canada's Top 100 Employers and What Colour is Your Parachute?. It can go on and on.

While you are looking, employment agencies may be a good option to have temporary work while you search for a more permanent position. The best way to utilize employment agencies is to find one which specializes in the field in which you are looking and use the experience to make you more marketable for any future positions.

Also, do not consider posted qualifications as absolute law. They are there to rule out thoroughly unqualified people, but companies hire talent and people, not a list of requirements. So if you mostly fit the bill for a position, go ahead and apply. Most importantly, remember to always have confidence in yourself and the value you can bring to a potential employer.