The economy is pessimistic at the moment and many people are worried. Whether you are looking for entry or professional opportunities, the community is worried that the price of goods will outpace the amount that can be earned in the job market. This reality creates a whole host of both problems and openings, causing people to feel fatigued and losing their drive. While Indeed is the primary gateway to employers, this means that you will have to compete with applicants from all over the world. This can create recruiter exhaustion, making the process difficult for everyone involved.

How Many Applicants?

Some employers obscure the number of applicants due to the likelihood that some potential applicants will be dissuaded by “the math”. This figure can vary, ranging from 10 competitors all the way to 10k and up. This figure is often revealed after applying, perhaps in a follow-up email of sorts. I cannot tell you how many people that I have talked to, telling me how much time they put in, and how devastated they felt afterwards. This can have a devastating effect on future effort, causing some to develop depression as the unemployment period continues on. I believe that self-esteem comes from one’s ability to provide for themselves and our families. 

Who Am I?

My name is Jeremy Golan and I am a chaplain and registered Ontario wedding officiant. I serve a diverse community and two days are not the same. Some days I am helping students prepare university applicants and others I am leading a critical thinking/debate course. Whether it be teaching ENG4U (or counselling a child about a recent family death), I have seen it all. I hold a variety of degrees from Canadian and Israeli universities and my passions are Biblical texts and languages. I believe that everyone is made in the Image of God and are afforded certain rights and responsibilities. If you are looking for a job in Toronto, please click on the hyperlink contained in this sentence.

What Should I Do?

As a matter or principle, the more “kush” the job the more applicants. There will be tons of people who want to work from home but not everyone wants to work in the Albertan oil sands. Taking this in mind, employers use the applicants as a database to draw on, preferring more rather than less. This can make it difficult to stand out on the platform but it can be used in another way. After finishing all of the steps needed, go onto the company’s social media and engage all of their posts. Show that you are not only supportive but extremely knowledgeable about the industry. Everyone (myself included) is super concerned with keeping our social media pages engaged, signalling to Musk and Zuckerberg that we are both “high quality and highly relevant”. In other words, companies have an interest in engaging with the public, regardless if it is managed by the owner or a designated person (or team). 

What Should I Say?

It is highly situational and needs to be crafted perfectly. No one will be impressed with spam messaging the same thing over and over. If they find that you sent the same message to everyone then they will assume that you are either a bot or someone who is not serious about any one specific company or industry. Put simply, the more value that you bring to the post the more likely that you will stand out and be sought out. Do not mention that you applied right away, let some time go by with some natural engagement. After a couple weeks of the company getting used to your name and content, kindly inform them that you have applied to their job on Indeed. Assuming that you do everything right, they will look you up (perhaps out of thousands of applicants) and connect your resume to the “relationship” that has been built. 

1. I think that it is awesome that you opened up a new Italian restaurant right next to my university. I can’t wait to come and check it out!
2. This has to be one of the biggest legal wins of the year. It is the veracity-and heart-of your firm that first inspired me to attend law school. 
3. Like seriously, has there ever been a car this sweet? I would come in for a test drive but I would leave upset because there is a backorder for this model. 
4. My wife and I think that French immersion is the only way to go. We are thinking of sending our son to your school because we hear amazing things from the other parents. 
5. I totally disagree with this person. I went and got my haircut at their salon last week. I was completely blown away. I went to hairdressing school and their quality is on point. 
6. I really appreciate how much your organisation stands up for human rights. I was doing my thesis on Toronto’s homeless crisis and I used you as my case study. It takes brave people to advocate on behalf of the disadvantaged.

Landing A Job in 2023

In the old days people used to go “door-to-door” handing out resumes. This is the likely advice from many people who have not kept track of modernity. It is not that these people mean harm, they are simply offering the tools that they personally used. Like everyone has a general understanding of the internet, few people understand the niches and nuances of the current situation. In other words, the only people that truly understand are the ones that are either personally looking for jobs or those who are there to support them. 

If you are looking to get a job, any job, you will need some tools. 

The world has become much more competitive and you will need to stand out. 

Even if you want a stupid job at a burger joint, there are many other people who want the same.

1. Business card with all of your social media contact
2. A website that discusses their skills, interests and values
3. Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn
4. “Brand” colours, themes and graphics
5. Positive social engagement from others

וִיהִ֤י ׀ נֹ֤עַם אֲדֹנָ֥י אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ עָ֫לֵ֥ינוּ וּמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יָ֭דֵינוּ כּוֹנְנָ֥ה עָלֵ֑ינוּ וּֽמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָ֝דֵ֗ינוּ כּוֹנְנֵֽהוּ׃ {פ}

May the favour of the Lord, our God, be upon us;

let the work of our hands prosper,

O prosper the work of our hands!