We have found a few unconventional tips to add to your preparation in finding a job in Canada. We hope that they help you!

1. Be vulnerable: When we are being interviewed we so often concentrate on proving ourselves worthy of being the right candidate for the job. By asking questions and asking advice you let your guard down and build a relationship with the person or persons interviewing you. There is nothing wrong with showing respect for their work and what they do in the company. Building a relationship prior to a job opening is also beneficial.

2. Don’t always follow your passion: An age-old piece of advice is “follow your passion” but that is not always true. Most people that love their job started out not knowing that much, but as they got better at their job, they grew to love what they do.

3. Create your position: Don’t sit around waiting for the perfect job to fall into your lap, create a position for yourself. Find one or two companies that you would like to work for and do a little research on them. Look through their social media or websites, look for ways to improve a certain aspect or situation. Share this with someone in the company but with no expectation attached to it.

4. Learn how to listen: So often when you are in an interview you have standard answers for the questions asked. Sit and listen to what the interviewer is asking and let them finish their question before you jump in. It is possibly the best lesson you can learn in life.

5. Start at the top and move down: We can learn from Chris Gardener (played by Will Smith) in the film Pursuit of Happyness. Why go to the HR department when you can go straight to the top? Approach someone in a top position and show them why you will be an asset to the company.

6. Build a relationship with the administrative assistant: Building strategic relationships within the company will only benefit your process. Often the administrative assistant is the only thing standing between you and the person you need to see. They know their schedule, their likes and dislikes, and possible position openings.

7. Don’t apply for a job as soon as you find it: When you first find a job posting you like, don’t apply for it immediately. Instead, research the company and find out whether it would be a place that you would like to work. Contact someone that works for the company and ask them for advice. Tell them that you respect their work and hope to work in the same field. Build a relationship!

8. Focus on body language: In the interview be aware of your body and what you are doing with your hands or how you are shifting around. You want to show confidence, not nervousness. Also, pay attention to the body language that the interviewer is giving off. Mirror the interviewer’s movements and make contact with them when you speak and when you listen. Don’t slouch or touch your face. These are a few simple tricks to focus on.

9. Don’t focus on finding a job you love now: Your first job is not going to be glamorous, but rather entry-level. But instead of being unhappy about that entry-level position, ask what the job would look like in five years’ time. This shows your commitment and the fact that you are willing to put in the time to gain experience and knowledge.

10. Become their greatest fan: Become a brand loyalist. Employers want to hire people that love their company and their brand. Show interest in what the company does and that you know what it is they do. Be knowledgeable about the company and what they stand for. In your resume indicate that you have researched the company by including examples.