Would you choose a can of food that did not have a label?  It might be a can of chocolate syrup, a can of soup, or it might be a can of spinach!  All are quite eatable, but each adds its own unique taste when put on ice cream.  My guess is you would probably prefer to know what you are getting and choose food that is properly labeled.

When you don’t take the time to put good, useful information in your accounts that you may set up on online job boards like www.educationcanada.com, www.educationamerica.net or www.australiateachers.com, that’s exactly what you are asking employers to do.  Just because you are looking for a teaching or other education related job does not tell potential employers anything about your background, education, or interest.  The most common complaint our customer service department hears from employers is that most of the accounts don’t contain enough information to interest them in the candidate. 

Just as you would not want to waste time and money opening unlabeled cans to find the chocolate syrup for your ice cream, employers will often just pass over job seekers who include little or no useful information.

Give Them Information They Can Use

Take the time to upload useful information.  So what are most employers looking for?

• A complete resume that shows past employment history and educational background.  Don’t neglect to include part-time jobs, volunteer work, and non-degree courses.  Sometimes the experience gained in these can be what separates you from another candidate for the position.
• Include college transcripts when possible.  Employers will usually contact the college you attended to request an official copy, but the people who provide a copy of their transcripts usually get interviewed first.  It’s OK to black out confidential info.
• Reference letters are also popular with employers.  Employers know you are not going to include any letters that are not positive, but they like to see that there is someone out there saying positive things about you.

Keep it Current

To go back to our food analogy, maybe you have two or three cans labeled “Chocolate Syrup,” but only one has an expiration date on it.  You are probably going to choose the can that you know has not expired.

The same is true of any of your online job board accounts.  Employers usually only look at candidates who have recently updated their account.  The second most common complaints our customer service department hears from employers is that most of the accounts are old, or that when they tried to contact the candidate the contact info listed was out of date.

Make a point to update your online accounts information monthly.  Even if nothing has changed, refresh your information so employers know you are still actively looking.  When they see an account that has not been updated in 2-3 months, employers often assume you have already found a job, or there is some reason someone else has not already hired you.

Remember, as a job seeker you are marketing yourself to potential employers.  A huge part of any marketing campaign is the packaging.  Be sure you are using the most current, complete, and inviting packaging possible!