Recently, Express Employment Professionals surveyed the unemployed in both the U.S. and Canada to uncover current job search activity and the mindset of the unemployed. More than 1,500 unemployed adults in both the U.S. and Canada were surveyed by Harris Poll, revealing what the jobless are doing to find work. From this research, we want to offer our Movin’ on Up readers three pieces of advice to improve your job search.

1. Work Full-Time on Your Job Search
   Looking for a job is a job in itself, and Sean Harry, writer for Careeralism, recommends your job search should take up about 30 hours per week. In our recent survey, 36% of unemployed Americans and 32% of unemployed Canadians spent five hours or fewer a week looking for work. Don’t just think about searching job boards online and sending in applications. Invest time into networking and building contacts within companies where you want to work. Jacquelyn Smith recently shared in a Forbes article that 80% of available jobs are never advertised. In this case, networking and personal connections are key.
2. Keep Your Search Wide
   For some job seekers, finding a job in your current location may be more difficult than if you considered moving. However, in our survey of the unemployed, 37% of Canadians and 44% of Americans are “not at all willing” to move to a new city/town for a job. If possible, consider employment opportunities outside your current area as a way to increase your opportunities.
3. Be Open To Learning
   64% of U.S. respondents and 51% of Canadian respondents “have no plans to go back to school to make themselves more marketable.” While the cost of education could be a deterrent, job seekers can explore vocational and apprenticeship programs as an affordable way to gain new skills.

Staying positive during your job search can be hard, so consider seeking help by applying through a staffing company such as Express Employment Professionals. Just 24% of the unemployed in the U.S. and 31% of unemployed Canadians are using an employment agency/temporary staffing agency to find work.
What job search activities do you find to be most effective? Share with us in the comments section below.

This research on the unemployed is part of an ongoing series by Express on the state of employment, and who gets hired and why. To learn more, visit America Employed and Canada Employed.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Congrats! Your job search is progressing and you’ve landed an interview. Your excitement and nerves are probably both in overdrive. Having a plan to prepare for the big day is one way to stay in control and set yourself up for success. Express Employment Professionals has your back. Here are four things to do the night before your interview.

1. Prepare Your Wardrobe
   It’s best to play it safe with your interview wardrobe. Even if the work environment is business casual, you should consider a more traditional business suit for your interview. Prior to the day of your interview, make sure the clothes you want to wear are clean and ready to go. Trying to locate your coordinating suit jacket or iron your shirt are stressors you don’t need when heading out to an interview. By laying out your clothes the night before, you’ve got time to swap items and make sure you are comfortable with your selection. For advice on best colors to wear to an interview and additional wardrobe tips, check out this article.
2. Do Your Research
   The unknown can be scary, so do your research to find out as much as you can prior to your interview. Here are a few things to dig for details on:
   • The company – Check out a site like Glassdoor to learn more about the company you’re interviewing with. The “About Us” section on the company’s website is a great place to learn more about the company. Look for for information like their products, services, goals, and values. Pay attention to recent press releases from the company to learn about company milestones or initiatives. Keep an eye out for any awards the company has received. All of these details can help spark your interview conversation, which will help you feel more comfortable.
   • The job description – Take time to really read through the job description. Develop a couple of questions to ask during the interview that will help you understand what the day-to-day job activity looks like. Be prepared to share a few examples of how your experience and education matches up with what they are looking for in an employee.
   • The person you are interviewing with – Use LinkedIn or the “Our Staff” section of the company’s website to learn a few facts about the person you’re interviewing with. Look for any commonalities that help you connect with the interviewer, like if you attended the same school or worked for the same company in the past.
3. Take Care of Yourself
   The night before your interview is not the time to pull an all-nighter. Get your rest and allow yourself time to prepare. An interview is a big opportunity, and you want to shine accordingly. You don’t want your appearance to be a distraction, so make sure you are clean shaven, your hair is modestly styled, and you’ve got fresh breath. It may sound silly to state the obvious, but we’re here to make sure you’re putting your best foot forward for a great first impression.
4. Plan Your Route
   The best case scenario is for you to actually visit your interview location a day in advance, so you can be sure you know how to get there, and if necessary, where to park and how to get in the building. At the very least, make sure you have clear directions and instructions on where to report. Don’t just rely on your GPS or map app to help you arrive; have a backup plan in case your service is down. Think of the little details, like having money for parking and allowing time for traffic. Of course you don’t want to be late, but your interviewer probably has a full schedule, so check in no earlier than 15 minutes prior to your scheduled time.

Landing the interview is a step along the way to your new career. Take time today to make sure you’re ready for the interview, and don’t forget to follow up afterwards.

Check out this video with two different takes before the interview. What ritual do you have to get ready the night before the interview? Share it with our readers in the comments section below.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

3 ways to get to the top of the stack.

Now that you’ve graduated it’s time to put that knowledge to use and get a job. But, with a degree and little to no real world work experience, you’re just a blip on a radar that is full of blips. So, how do you distinguish yourself from the rest of the graduates flooding the job market? Aside from picking out appropriate interview attire, having a strong resume is a must. Use these three quick tips to get your resume bumped to the top of the stack.

Googling isn’t just for cute cat videos.
Google and other search engines are great resources that can give you a massive advantage over the playing field. A little research will give you valuable insight into what you are applying for. Find out what you can about the company and the work they do. Look also for descriptions of the job you’re applying for. With a little knowledge on what you’re jumping into, you can tailor your resume to reflect the qualities you have that make you the best fit for the job.

Appealing or appalling?
According to Careerbuilder, 38% of hiring managers spend less than two minutes looking at a resume. That time may be even less if your resume is unpleasant to look at. A good place to start is to research best practices and find examples to emulate.  With a clean and well formatted resume, you’re professionalism and talents will shine through your lack of experience or skills.

Be discovered by your cover letter.
The dispute on whether or not cover letters are important anymore has been long fought. Regardless of its usefulness, having one isn’t detrimental to your efforts. Writing a good cover letter is a great way to get ahead of the competition. But, be sure you don’t write a letter that is generic and blast it all over the place as it’ll be a dead giveaway to a seasoned hiring manager. Be precise and write a cover letter with each specific company and position in mind.

There are no absolute fool-proof ways to guarantee an interview, but a little effort can go a long way when trying to convince an employer to take a chance and consider you. Always put your best foot forward and remember to brush up on your interview skills before rushing to meet with the face of your potential employer. If you have some tips to keep your resume from holding you back, let us know in the comments section below.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.