Your Canadian networking toolkit

How to effectively introduce yourself to recruiters

“Opportunities don’t float like clouds in the sky. They’re attached to people.”

PATH TO CAREER SUCCESS
How to Introduce Yourself to Recruiters

Starting your career in Canada is exciting yet challenging, particularly in a competitive job market. CNBC Make It highlights that attending networking events can give you an edge, but they also caution against a common mistake many make.

Don’t do this:

Ask recruiters vague questions
“What does your company do, and what are you recruiting for?”

Do this:

Introduce yourself
“Hi, I’m [Your Name].”

Show interest in the company
“I’m really interested in your role in X, Y, and Z…”

Highlight your fit
“Here’s how my experience might be a good fit for that.”

💡Why?

Asking the recruiter vague questions like "What does your company do?" can indicate a lack of preparation and force the recruiter into a repetitive response. On the other hand, introducing yourself clearly, demonstrating interest in specific roles, and highlighting your relevant experience shows that you’ve done your homework, which will encourage a more meaningful and engaging conversation.

CAREER COACH Q & A
Navigating New Horizons with Expert Guidance from a Seasoned Career Coach

How can I effectively build a professional network in Canada if I don’t know many people yet?

LinkedIn is a powerful tool for building and maintaining professional relationships. Start by sending personalized connection requests to people in your field. Include a brief message like:

"Hi [Name], I saw your post about [topic] and found it really insightful. I’m new to Canada and working on building my network here—I'd love to connect!"

After connecting, make sure to maintain the relationship by engaging with their content. Regularly liking, commenting, or even sharing relevant posts helps keep the connection alive and meaningful over time. Building a strong network isn’t just about making connections—it’s about nurturing them.

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LEARN THE LINGO
Networking Language You Should Know

Navigating your career in Canada involves more than just skills—it’s also about mastering the language used in professional settings. Understanding common phrasal verbs and idioms can greatly enhance your communication. Here’s a quick guide to help you grasp the difference:

  • Phrasal Verbs: These are phrases that combine a verb with a preposition or adverb, which alters the meaning of the original verb.

  • Idioms: These are fixed expressions where the meaning isn't obvious from the individual words.

Phrasal Verbs:

  1. Reach out (to) – To initiate contact or communication.

     "I reached out to my former colleagues to see if they knew of any job leads."

  2. Follow up (with) – To check back or continue communication after an initial interaction.
      "I made sure to follow up with a thank-you email after meeting someone at the networking event."

  3. Get in touch (with) – To contact someone.

    "I’ll get in touch with her to discuss potential collaboration opportunities."

Idioms:

  1. Hit it off (with someone) – To immediately get along well with someone.

     "I hit it off with the speaker at the conference, and we started discussing future projects."

  2. Put yourself out there – To make an effort to be visible and take risks in making connections.

     "I decided to put myself out there by attending industry events and joining professional groups to expand my network."

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