Distance Job Search Tools
Looking for work out of town?
Here's the lowdown: You'll want polish up your resume, and your other online profiles. Bookmark your favourite job search engines and company websites for job leads and remote gigs & don't forget about recruitment agencies—they can be your extra set of eyes and ears for opportunity. Network like your next job depends on it (because, well, it sort of does). Attend virtual events, connect with folks in your industry, and stay in the loop.
Get comfortable with using technology and be prepared for video interviews—they're the new normal. And don't be shy about reaching out to people who've rocked a successful long-distance job search in the past for some tips. Keep it real, stay organized, and it will all come together.
To ace a long-distance job search, equip your search toolkit with all the right tools. You'll want to have a telephone or have a dependable contact number & message system set up, a computer with reliable internet access, an updated resume, and some good digital skills.
Now, about digital skills & computers. Here's the thing, there is really no way around being able to use a computer of some kind today. If you don't know how to do the basics on a computer yet, there are resources out there that can help you get you started.
Whether you use a desktop setup, a laptop, a cell phone, or a tablet, here are a few things you might want to know how to do on a computer when you are looking for work:
- how to send and receive email
- how to find, review, and respond to online job postings
- how to create or update your resumes and cover letters, and how to target them to specific jobs and employers
- how to use the internet to do your research
- how to participate in virtual interviews
Using the Phone
When you are doing a job search, use the phone like the professional tool that it is.
A few pointers:
Get comfortable with talking a little more business-like on the phone. That means, go beyond "Hey" when picking up the phone. Also, consider starting with a simple hello and identifying yourself.
Pick your times to use it. Be sensitive to time changes across the country. You don't want to be making a phone call to an employer or answering the phone (with your next employer possibly on the line) when you are already distracted by howling puppies or crying little ones, or be calling a prospective employer at their peak business times when they really don't have time to talk with you.
Have voicemail account or message service in place. Be sure to record a friendly and professional message. (Stay away from clever or witty messages, they rarely land as well as we hope, and your future boss may not be amused").
Get used to leaving messages, if you don't leave one, you just lost out on an opportunity to start making that connection. Prepare a brief message to use before you start making calls so you don't freeze up once you are on the phone and just hang up.
Be persistent and consistent and follow-through on your calls by making them when you say you will. Schedule them into your day and let others in the house know that you are making business calls.
Have your resume in front of you, along with a pen and a paper. Write down the name of the person you talked to, their phone number and what the two of you decided was the next step.
Using Fax Machines
Yes, you read that right...fax machines might be considered a bit of a tech dinosaur by some people, but they are still in very much in play in big business.
Estimates are that about 75% of large companies still use fax machines in 2024 for any number of reasons, security being first and foremost. There are no dangers of any widespread data losses or virus corruptions when you transmit information via fax vs over the internet.
Fun Fact: Fax machines are used extensively in the health care sector.
More fun fact: T-Rex could not have carried those heavy fax machines with their tiny little arms
Here's some pluses about sending documents via fax:
- The appearance and content of your resume, letters, certificates, etc. stays the same compared to sending it online where software incompatibility could be an issue
- You don't need access to a computer or the internet, just to a fax machine that is hooked up and ready to go
- It's easy to work so you don't need to be too technically inclined
- You can use the same pieces of paper over and over to send to different employers (until they get dog-eared and jam the machine, but you're going to want to catch that before it happens and grab yourself a fresh copy. Trust us...it's for the best for everyone involved. You get to finish sending out your faxes sooner rather then later, and we don't have to try and dig little tiny pieces of paper out of the fax machine using only a paper clip, magnifying glass, and piece of tape).
- Fax machines are often used to send copies of original documents like certificates, diplomas, or tickets
Challenges
- You have no control over the quality of the appearance of your resume on the other side as it depends on how good and how clean the employers' fax machine is.
- You have no guarantee that the person it was directed to received what you sent - unless you phone back and check.
- Fax machines are often in 'public' areas of an office so employee can use them and faxed documents may pass through several hands before it gets where it's going
- Operator error - it is easy to misdial the numbers or worse, dial up the company's phone number rather than the fax number by mistake (anyone else remember picking up the phone and hearing that awful high-pitched fax sound ringing in their ear - yikes. And it's even worse if you make that mistake when you are using a fax machine that keeps re-dialing until the end of time).
What you need:
- Access to a reliable fax machine/telephone line.
- The fax and phone numbers of who you are trying to send it to
- A cover sheet/mini cover letter
Need to use a fax machine? Drop by our office in Campbell River or Port Hardy. Never seen one before or not sure how these things work anymore? Ask a team member, they'd be happy to help!
Tips & Resources
Remember, persistence and adaptability are key to an effective job search, whether it's a local search or a long distance one. Stay proactive, keep refining your approach, and you'll increase your chances of landing that perfect gig from Vancouver Island to wherever in the world you set your sights.
Here are a few more tips & resources that can be helpful in your long distance job search
- Many companies post job opportunities directly on their websites. Identify your target companies and regularly check their career pages. Do not rely only on the big job boards!
- Speaking of big job boards, be sure to check out popular job boards like Indeed, Monster, and Workopolis
- Explore websites specifically focused on remote work, such as Remote OK, FlexJobs, and We Work Remotely.
- Connect with recruitment agencies that specialize in your field.
- Leverage platforms like Meetup, Eventbrite, and LinkedIn events to virtually attend industry meetups, webinars, and conferences.
- Download job search apps to receive notifications and browse opportunities on the go. Apps like Indeed, LinkedIn, and Glassdoor offer mobile versions.
- Join relevant professional associations in your field. They often have job boards, and networking with members can open doors to hidden opportunities.
- Use online tools like Numbeo to calculate the affordability of different cities in Canada.
- Familiarize yourself with video interview tools like Zoom, Skype, or Microsoft Teams. Many interviews are conducted remotely, so being comfortable with these platforms is crucial.
- Keep track of time zones to schedule interviews and follow-ups efficiently. Apps like World Time Buddy can help coordinate across different regions.
- Stay organized by creating a spreadsheet to track your applications, deadlines, and follow-ups.
- Resume and Cover Letter Templates: Tailor your resume and cover letter for each application. Have templates ready to save time.
- Update your professional references and recognize the value of recommendations on platforms like LinkedIn.
- Consider enhancing your skills through online courses or certifications. Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, or LinkedIn Learning offer a variety of options.
Using Email
E-mail or online submission can be the fastest way to get your resume to an employer. A well crafted e-mail message also can serve as a cover letter when done properly. When you send your resume via e-mail you have two choices, either putting all your resume information in the text box of your email or attaching your resume as a separate document.
A note of caution… with all the spam and computer viruses out there, many people only open e-mail messages, and especially attachments, when they know who is sending it and what it is about. Be sure to follow the directions for applying in the job posting that you are responding to, and follow up with an employer to ensure they received your application.
Advantages of Email
- Can send quickly to an employer.
- It goes directly to whoever you intend to see it and does not have to pass through other people's hands.
- It saves on costs.
Challenges of Email
Challenge: People may hesitate to open emails from email accounts that are unfamiliar to them because of potential computer viruses.
Solution: Make sure the employer knows you are going to be sending your resume by e-mail
Challenge: Software incompatibility can your documents unreadable to the viewer
Solution: Send your resume as a PDF
What you need:
- An email account. Don't have one? There are lots of free email programs out there including Gmail.
- A computer with Internet access.