This document provides guidance on finding and securing an ideal job, including how to prepare for and conduct an effective job search and interview process. It discusses choosing a career path, what employers look for, self-branding and developing an elevator pitch. Interview preparation tips include researching companies, practicing responses to common questions, and creating the right mindset. The document also offers strategies for negotiating job offers, handling different types of interviews, and following up after an interview. The overall aim is to help job seekers optimize every step of their job search.

1. How to find and secure the ideal job
by Toronto Training and HR
September 2015

2. CONTENTS
3-4 Introduction
5-6 Making a choice
7-8 What are employers looking for?
9-10 Stages of the job search
11-12 Preparedness
13-14 Self-branding
15-16 The elevator pitch
17-18 Why do they want me to…?
19-20 Positive body language
21-22 Resumes
23-24 Turning an internship into a full-time job offer
25-28 Rules to bear in mind when negotiating a job offer
29-31 Effective interviews
32-34 Create the right state for an interview
35-36 Telephone and Skype interviews
37-38 Group applicant interviews
39-45 Strategies for responding to specific interview questions
46-47 The CAR technique for competency-based interview questions
48-49 Interviews; the four Bes
50-51 Conclusion, summary and questions
Page 2

3. Page 3
Introduction

4. Page 4
Introduction to Toronto Training
and HR
Toronto Training and HR is a specialist training and
human resources consultancy headed by Timothy Holden
10 years in banking
15 years in training and human resources
Freelance practitioner since 2006
The core services provided by Toronto Training and HR
are:
Training event design
Training event delivery
HR support with an emphasis on reducing
costs, saving time plus improving employee
engagement and morale
Services for job seekers

5. Page 5
Making a choice

6. Making a
choice
• Love it
• Leverage it
• Lose it
• Leave it
Page 6

7. Page 7
What are employers
looking for?

8. What are
employers
looking for?
• Ability
• Attitude
• Personality
Page 8

9. Page 9
Stages of the job search

10. Stages of the
job search
• Preparatory stage
• Active-extensive stage
• Active-intensive stage
Page 10

11. Page 11
Preparedness

12. Preparedness • What is preparedness?
• Elements of
preparedness
• Routine career renewal
• Coping strategies
Page 12

13. Page 13
Self-branding

14. Self-branding • What is a brand?
• What is self-branding?
• Components of
developing a self-brand
• Questions to ask
• SWOT
Page 14

15. Page 15
The elevator pitch

16. The elevator
pitch
• Who are you?
• What do you do?
• What are you
looking for?
• Why are you the
perfect candidate
for this position?
Page 16

17. Page 17
Why do they want me
to…?

18. Why do they
want me to…?
• Take notes during
the interview
• Want me to give a
presentation
• Want me to take part
in group activities
with other candidates
• Want me to do a test
Page 18

19. Page 19
Positive body language

20. Positive body
language
• Eye contact
• Smile
• Posture
• Gestures
Page 20

21. Page 21
Resumes

22. Resumes • First impression
• Layout and
appearance
• Format and
organization
• Job objective
• Qualifications
• Content relevance
Page 22

23. Page 23
Turning an internship into
a full-time job offer

24. Turning an
internship
into a
full-time
job offer
• Show off your social
intelligence
• Speak up, but know
your audience
• Don’t assume you’re
invisible to the
people at the top
• Send isn’t always
your friend
• Don’t join the wolf
pack
Page 24

25. Page 25
Rules to bear in mind
when negotiating a job
offer

26. Rules to bear in
mind when
negotiating a job
offer 1 of 3
• Don’t underestimate
the importance of
likability
• Help them understand
why you deserve what
you’re requesting
• Make it clear they can
get you
• Understand the
person across the
table
Page 26

27. Rules to bear in
mind when
negotiating a job
offer 2 of 3
• Understand their
constraints
• Be prepared for tough
questions
• Focus in the
questioner’s intent,
not on the question
• Consider the whole
deal
• Negotiate multiple
issues simultaneously,
not serially
Page 27

28. Rules to bear in
mind when
negotiating a job
offer 3 of 3
• Don’t negotiate for the
sake of negotiation
• Think through the
timing of offers
• Avoid, ignore or
downplay ultimatums
of any kind
• Remember they are
not out to get you
• Stay at the table
• Maintain a sense of
perspective
Page 28

29. Page 29
Effective interviews

30. Effective
interviews
1 of 2
• Before
• During
• After
• Follow-up
Page 30

31. Effective
interviews
2 of 2
• Research target
employers and positions
• Compile supporting
resources
• Prepare, practice,
participate and be
positive
Page 31

32. Page 32
Create the right state for
an interview

33. Create the
right state for
an interview
1 of 2
• Choose the right
language
• Physical preparation
• Have the right focus
Page 33

34. Create the
right state for
an interview
2 of 2
• Physiology
• Focus
• Language
Page 34

35. Page 35
Telephone and Skype
interviews

36. Telephone
and Skype
interviews
• Make sure your
surroundings are
professional
• Test your technology
• Have hard copies of the
organization’s
information, job posting,
the resume and cover
letter available
Page 36

37. Page 37
Group applicant interviews

38. Group
applicant
interviews
• Focus on why you are the
best fit for the
organization, not how you
are better than everyone
else in the room
• Listen to the answers
from other applicants,
and think about how you
can build on what they
have said
• Show eagerness when
answering questions
Page 38

39. Page 39
Strategies for responding
to specific interview
questions

40. Strategies for
responding to
specific
interview
questions
1 of 6
• Tell me about yourself
• What are your strengths
and weaknesses?
• Why are you leaving
your current job?
• Where do you want to
be five years from now?
• What kind of salary are
you looking for?
• How would you describe
yourself?
Page 40

41. Strategies for
responding to
specific
interview
questions
2 of 6
• What specific training
have you had for the
role?
• Why do you want to
work for the
organization?
• What type of work
environment do you like
best?
Page 41

42. Strategies for
responding to
specific
interview
questions
3 of 6
• In what ways has your
job prepared you to take
on additional
responsibility?
• What was your most
significant
accomplishment in your
last position?
• What was the greatest
challenge you faced in
your last job?
Page 42

43. Strategies for
responding to
specific
interview
questions
4 of 6
• What are your long-
range career goals?
• What do you think are
your weaknesses?
• When you have multiple
projects how do you
prioritize your work?
• Why did you leave your
last job?
• Why do you want to
leave your current job?
Page 43

44. Strategies for
responding to
specific
interview
questions
5 of 6
• Please give an example
of a time when you had
a problem with a
supervisor and how you
approached the problem
• Why should I hire you?
Page 44

45. Strategies for
responding to
specific
interview
questions
6 of 6
• STAR
• Decision making and
problem solving
• Leadership
• Team
• Motivation
• Communication
• Planning and organizing
• Customer focus
• Dealing with ambiguity
Page 45

46. Page 46
The CAR technique for
competency-based
interview questions

47. The CAR technique for
competency-based
interview questions
• Circumstance
• Action
• Result
Page 47

48. Page 48
Interviews; the four Bes

49. Interviews;
the four Bes
• Be positive
• Be a good listener
• Be honest
• Be consistent
Page 49

50. Page 50
Conclusion, summary and
questions

51. Page 51
Conclusion, summary and
questions
Conclusion
Summary
Videos
Questions