In one weekend, everything starts to change.

As our tans gradually fade, so is our serenity.  Labor Day weekend has passed, marking the demise of the bikini season. Although the New Year theoretically begins in January, September tends to feel like the launch of a new chapter.  A feeling of nostalgia has been known to weaken us, as mementos of our grade school days cloud our memories. Picking out your pencils, rulers and duotangs is now comparable to prepping our CV’s for the dreadful grown up job hunt.

With the unemployment rate skyrocketing, the staggering jobless twentysomethings need have reason to worry.  According to Statistics Canada, the Canadian economy trimmed 9,300 jobs in July raising the unemployment rate eight percent from 7.9 per cent the previous month.

My fellow Generation Y’s and I sit comfortably in an age-bracket known to be more civic-minded, opinionated and interested in work-life balance than generations before us.  However at our worst, we are slammed as spoiled, demanding and in little hurry to grow up.   We were primed and poised by our professors and sent out into the real world with impractical concepts of reality, but it is not long until the packs of recent graduates are deflated and feeling tremendous heartache.

Summer licenses us to disregard and surround ourselves with diversions, however fall marks a time to hang up our bad habits and switch on the serious mode.  So if you haven’t yet decided to flee to Europe, jumping from hostel to hostel with only pennies in your pockets, these job-hunting tips may come in handy:

Set a career goal: Whether it is a new interest, or a goal you’ve set in the past, research the kind of training, skills and education necessary to achieve this job.

Attain this by applying to numerous positions each week.

Work on resume building: If frequently updated and polished, a CV can be your golden ticket. However, if your resume does not rise to the top of the pile or jump out to the eyes of the beholder, then it will find itself filed away deep or tossed for recycling. Using much patience and diligence, turn your strengths into selling points. Whether you are unseasoned or a veteran in the field, be sure to include all related practices and achievements. Research shows that individuals with a professional resume are more likely to obtain an interview than someone more qualified with an unpolished resume. So whether it is perfected with job skills or splashed with a touch of color to stand out, ensure your CV suitably represents the best you.

Research jobs and company: Carefully research the type of job you are looking to apply for. Ask yourself whether this goal is realistic and if this is a job you can handle. Why do you think so?  With a strong comprehension of the corporation or business, a cover letter can be created and be exclusively geared towards the job.

Make a strong first impression: According to Statistics on First Impressions, a first meet and greet is based 55 percent on appearance, 7 percent on the words we use and 38 percent on the tone of our voice.  Which means it is time to cover up our bare tanned legs, tidy up our beach waves and oust the warm weather wardrobe. In today’s tight job market packed with several qualified contenders, it is imperative that positive differentiators detach you from the pack.  In this case, employers will judge a book by its cover.  So lose the too-tight skirt, the tie that distracts, and the coffee stained blouse, and opt out for a look that’s groomed, sleek and professional.

Your Online Image:

If a prospective employer researches your name online, what will come up?

Since the arrival of social networking sites, we have been enjoying the perks of The Information Era.  However, with the overflow of so-called personal photos, beliefs and past-times floating on strangers’ computer screens, one would argue that that this Too-Much-Information Era is harmfully affecting our image.   Last night’s party pictures or a tasteless status update can potentially become accessible to anyone, including employers, thus damaging his or her impression of a job candidate. Applying for a new job means turning over a new leaf, both on screen and off screen.  So, if you wouldn’t show it to your boss willingly, then take it down!

As for e-mailing employers, be sure to generate a professional account. I would dare say that no certified employer would return your email at hotgirl67@me.com.

Finally, ensure you have record a professional greeting on your answering machine. Drop the suave recording and opt out for something established with necessary detail.  An infantile and uninformed message can leave your potential employer moving on to the next contender.

Job Search Networking: The vast majority of job openings are seldom publicized through advertisements or on job search engines, rather through the word-of-mouth or networking, also known as the “hidden job market”.  By generating a broad list of sources you have met through social and business functions, you are able to use these relationships to help draw upon job leads, offer encouraging counsel or introduce you to others to help extend employment information. 

Maintaining a Positive Attitude: With a high degree of uncertainty about job prospects, we begin to familiarize ourselves with feelings of hopelessness and a lack of direction.  However, a successful job search is often a matter of attitude.  For the benefit of your emotional being, as well as the impression you give to potential employers, it is imperative that you keep your chin up and acquire a positive stance.