Tips and tricks about how to find the IT entry-level job in Toronto
Tips and tricks about how to seek the IT entry-level job in Toronto as help desk support position
Hi guys, this is Trevor. I was an IT guy from China. I have two years career gaps as a supermarket staff, and also my language skill is far away from perfect. Those two weakness definitely limited my career.
I started looking for IT job in July, got an IT job In September. job position target is help desk support, It is a entry-level job in IT field.
The past half year was a difficult time for me, but I have come over it, Thanks for my family, my instructor and my friends, they gave me a lot of help.
I would like to share some tips and tricks I used it, maybe will give you some new ideas for your job seeking.
All of those tips are base on my experience, so understand my background and my job position target can help you get the point.
The suggestion is only for IT entry-level desk help support job, some of high level position the things will be different.
The job search process in Canada
The job search process in Canada, It has a clear structure, It is more like a process.
you need follow it up step by step.
1.Resume
1.1 Determine the position you want to apply, check 15 job position online, find out the common requirement, create one resume can cover more than 80% requirement at job requirement. Use this resume to apply this position. As my suggestion, there is no need to repeat the modification.
1.2 Contrast job requirement with the skills you have. If you find any gap, go to get it.
common gap:
Certification
G License
Own car
Tech knowledge Gap
Hands-on work experience
1.3 As IT entry-level position, the common tech skills requirement:
Desk help/Network administration/Windows system administration/ office suits administration.
Installing/maintaining/repairing
Hardware/software/PC/laptop/printer.
Maintaining/troubleshooting network.
memorize those tech key words. Check out the tech details. Fill up the tech knowledge gaps.
1.4 Ask people to help you to modify your resume.
2.Apply for job
2.1 Apply for job on indeed or LinkedIn with cover letter as message, set the indeed/ LinkedIn job post email remind, make sure you can get remind at first time and apply it at first time.
2.2 Remember apply on company official website too after applying on job board.
2.3 Try to get company's HR email from website, send application and cover letter (as email message) to HR's email.
2.4 Narrow down for location scope, apply for the company nearby your location. It will increase your chance.
2.5 Record the application and company name you have applied.
3. Phone-call interview
3.1 If you apply more than 30 job applications but still not get any phone-call interview, that means your resume have some problems, please back to modify your resume.
3.2 Know who will interview you.
Usually HR will interview you. They may not have IT background, but they are all familiar with IT, they will also check your language skills, tech background. Communicate them with positive language to show them you have enough work experience, passion with IT, and good tech skills.
3.2 Working on the job description.
Working on the job description. Make sure any term in job description you can tell them some thing or give a explain.
Memorize some tech terms. Memorize some
Common software(with version) who used in this position, use those key words to answer the questions.
some key words / terms:
Install/Maintain/Troubleshoot/Repair/Config
directory activity/DHCP servers/dns servers
TCP/IP/Cisco router/Cisco switch
3.3 Be prepared for an phone-interview.
If you consider yourself not good at interview, write down the common questions and question answers they may ask.
Write down five top skills you have and five top job duty in your preview job(based on job description).
Let your resume go with you at any time. Pick up the phone or call back as soon as you can when you miss the phone call.
Make sure you have professional voice mail.
3.4 Phone-call interview common questions.
HR is very busy, will not give everyone too much attention, they will just spend 15 mins at most to interview candidates. Make yourself look professional is the key.
common questions:
Tell my about yourself
Why we need hire you
Tell my about your preview job
Why you leave you preview job
What's your salary expectation
Answer those questions without story, make it as concise/professional as you can.
3.5 Follow up does't mean anything now, but you still need do it.
4.in-person interview
4.1 What you should show to the interviewer
Passion in IT
Have enough IT knowledge
Have enough work experiences
Have job-ready soft skills(language/presentation/communication)
4.2 Seize the initiative
Prepare some demo to demonstrate point 4.1
IT knowledge
IT Certification/Your IT Blog/Your Website/YouTube Channel/Your Learning Note
Work experiences
The project you have done in your previous job/The home Lab you have/The project you are working on.
Job-ready soft skills
4.3 The documentations I prepared in my blinder.
1. Three copy of resumes.
2. Cover letter (the reason why i am quality, that is bullet point, it's not just a cover letter, is more like sum up, list all advantages you have)
3. Job description and company detail(not for interview, just for preparation)
4. The network Lab Topological graph
5. The graph of home camera I have installed and tools
6. My windows AD servers home LAB topological graph
7. My windows AD servers home Lab practice record and learning note
8. One of the project i have done before (network environment)
10. The project I am doing now (CyberRookie)
11. My tech blogger website
12. My English Learning RoadMap
13. Reference
14. Certification
4.4 Cover letter
In my cover letter, I list the eight reasons why they need hire me.
1.I am royal employee.(tell a story)
2.I have passion in IT/Life(show demo).
IT is part of my live.
I keep learning IT new knowledge and English all the time.
3.I lives in Mississauga, have own car ,can respond within one hours.
4.I have good learning skills(show demo).
5.I am good understanding IT knowledge(certification).
6.I have enough hands-on work experience(show demo).
7.I have certifications.
8.I get well along with my boss and colleagues(reference).
If you like to see more details about those documentations, you can send me the email at qc.trevor.shi@gmail.com, I will share you more details about it.
4.5 In this step, follow up is very important, send the email to interviewer, show them more details what you have and what you good at.
4.6 Keep on, Keeping on. Never stop. Nothing is impossible.
Fill up your gap, practice your interview skills, Live outside your comfort zone.
You dream will be come true.
Good Luck!
Trevor Shi
2019.09.19
Hi guys, this is Trevor. I was an IT guy from China. I have two years career gaps as a supermarket staff, and also my language skill is far away from perfect. Those two weakness definitely limited my career.
I started looking for IT job in July, got an IT job In September. job position target is help desk support, It is a entry-level job in IT field.
The past half year was a difficult time for me, but I have come over it, Thanks for my family, my instructor and my friends, they gave me a lot of help.
I would like to share some tips and tricks I used it, maybe will give you some new ideas for your job seeking.
All of those tips are base on my experience, so understand my background and my job position target can help you get the point.
The suggestion is only for IT entry-level desk help support job, some of high level position the things will be different.
The job search process in Canada
The job search process in Canada, It has a clear structure, It is more like a process.
you need follow it up step by step.
1.Resume
1.1 Determine the position you want to apply, check 15 job position online, find out the common requirement, create one resume can cover more than 80% requirement at job requirement. Use this resume to apply this position. As my suggestion, there is no need to repeat the modification.
1.2 Contrast job requirement with the skills you have. If you find any gap, go to get it.
common gap:
Certification
G License
Own car
Tech knowledge Gap
Hands-on work experience
1.3 As IT entry-level position, the common tech skills requirement:
Desk help/Network administration/Windows system administration/ office suits administration.
Installing/maintaining/repairing
Hardware/software/PC/laptop/printer.
Maintaining/troubleshooting network.
memorize those tech key words. Check out the tech details. Fill up the tech knowledge gaps.
1.4 Ask people to help you to modify your resume.
2.Apply for job
2.1 Apply for job on indeed or LinkedIn with cover letter as message, set the indeed/ LinkedIn job post email remind, make sure you can get remind at first time and apply it at first time.
2.2 Remember apply on company official website too after applying on job board.
2.3 Try to get company's HR email from website, send application and cover letter (as email message) to HR's email.
2.4 Narrow down for location scope, apply for the company nearby your location. It will increase your chance.
2.5 Record the application and company name you have applied.
3. Phone-call interview
3.1 If you apply more than 30 job applications but still not get any phone-call interview, that means your resume have some problems, please back to modify your resume.
3.2 Know who will interview you.
Usually HR will interview you. They may not have IT background, but they are all familiar with IT, they will also check your language skills, tech background. Communicate them with positive language to show them you have enough work experience, passion with IT, and good tech skills.
3.2 Working on the job description.
Working on the job description. Make sure any term in job description you can tell them some thing or give a explain.
Memorize some tech terms. Memorize some
Common software(with version) who used in this position, use those key words to answer the questions.
some key words / terms:
Install/Maintain/Troubleshoot/Repair/Config
directory activity/DHCP servers/dns servers
TCP/IP/Cisco router/Cisco switch
3.3 Be prepared for an phone-interview.
If you consider yourself not good at interview, write down the common questions and question answers they may ask.
Write down five top skills you have and five top job duty in your preview job(based on job description).
Let your resume go with you at any time. Pick up the phone or call back as soon as you can when you miss the phone call.
Make sure you have professional voice mail.
3.4 Phone-call interview common questions.
HR is very busy, will not give everyone too much attention, they will just spend 15 mins at most to interview candidates. Make yourself look professional is the key.
common questions:
Tell my about yourself
Why we need hire you
Tell my about your preview job
Why you leave you preview job
What's your salary expectation
Answer those questions without story, make it as concise/professional as you can.
3.5 Follow up does't mean anything now, but you still need do it.
4.in-person interview
4.1 What you should show to the interviewer
Passion in IT
Have enough IT knowledge
Have enough work experiences
Have job-ready soft skills(language/presentation/communication)
4.2 Seize the initiative
Prepare some demo to demonstrate point 4.1
IT knowledge
IT Certification/Your IT Blog/Your Website/YouTube Channel/Your Learning Note
Work experiences
The project you have done in your previous job/The home Lab you have/The project you are working on.
Job-ready soft skills
4.3 The documentations I prepared in my blinder.
1. Three copy of resumes.
2. Cover letter (the reason why i am quality, that is bullet point, it's not just a cover letter, is more like sum up, list all advantages you have)
3. Job description and company detail(not for interview, just for preparation)
4. The network Lab Topological graph
5. The graph of home camera I have installed and tools
6. My windows AD servers home LAB topological graph
7. My windows AD servers home Lab practice record and learning note
8. One of the project i have done before (network environment)
10. The project I am doing now (CyberRookie)
11. My tech blogger website
12. My English Learning RoadMap
13. Reference
14. Certification
4.4 Cover letter
In my cover letter, I list the eight reasons why they need hire me.
1.I am royal employee.(tell a story)
2.I have passion in IT/Life(show demo).
IT is part of my live.
I keep learning IT new knowledge and English all the time.
3.I lives in Mississauga, have own car ,can respond within one hours.
4.I have good learning skills(show demo).
5.I am good understanding IT knowledge(certification).
6.I have enough hands-on work experience(show demo).
7.I have certifications.
8.I get well along with my boss and colleagues(reference).
4.5 In this step, follow up is very important, send the email to interviewer, show them more details what you have and what you good at.
4.6 Keep on, Keeping on. Never stop. Nothing is impossible.
Fill up your gap, practice your interview skills, Live outside your comfort zone.
You dream will be come true.
Good Luck!
Trevor Shi
2019.09.19
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