8 jobs a month

1. Plan your search time.

To obtain a job in 30 days, Côté recommends organizing your search time and devoting 30 minutes every day to it. Nobody wants to spend a whole day revising their résumé. Be realistic and do a few activities each day.

2. Be clear about what you desire.

Ask yourself the following questions to help steer your job search: What do you dislike about your present position? What motivates you to change jobs? "This is when you pause and think long and hard about your beliefs, needs, and the sort of work environment that would fit you," Côté says. Also, keep in mind your ideal income, working circumstances, work atmosphere, and so on.

3. Highlight your abilities

Côté sees this as a critical step. Make a list of the abilities and characteristics that distinguish you from the crowd. "What distinguishes you?" Determine your primary abilities; you'll need them in the following phase.

4. Get your advertising materials ready.

Your CV, LinkedIn profile, and cover letter are all marketing materials for your product: you! Côté views it this way. "These tools should inform us how this individual built a name for themselves," she says. This is your opportunity to discuss your main accomplishments in each position you've had.

5. Develop a search strategy.

It's time to narrow down your job search now that you've established your job search objectives, the talents that make you a suitable applicant, and cleaned up your promotional materials. In other words, narrow down the sectors where you want to work: do you want to work for a small, medium, or big company? Is your job in the public or private sector?

6. Maintain an internet presence

Create a profile on LinkedIn, the world's biggest professional network, if you haven't already. With 12 million Canadians on LinkedIn, including employers, headhunters, and human resource experts, it's a must-do for every job seeker.

7. Make use of local resources as well as your own network.

People often overlook local job centers and job hunting groups. However, these organizations provide tools to help you with your job hunt. The same is true for your own social network. Conduct a discreet survey of the people around you, find individuals who work in the target industry you've picked, and make contact with top managers who work there. "A huge number of positions are never publicized," says Côté, "so you have to be creative."

8. Get ready for your interview

Conduct research about the organization, its important initiatives, and the individual you'll be meeting with. Many businesses prefer applicants who ask questions at the conclusion of the interview since it shows real interest and serious purpose.

9. Follow-up

When the interview is complete, they usually promise to contact you "soon." Don't allow evasiveness prevent you from reinforcing your interest and following up with your interviewer. Tell them how much you enjoyed meeting with them and how anxiously you anticipate their answer.

10. Continue searching!

Finally, Côté cautions that these steps may not succeed the first time. "You have to keep seeking; don't spend all your attention on a single job," says one job seeker. Your efforts will be rewarded in due course!