No matter what your qualifications are, you are bound to be looking for a job based on what you can do, and not on what you think you can do. We all believed at one point or another in our life that we could be astronauts, but to actually go out in space, certain qualifications are required. And that fact remains valid for almost any job.

So let’s say you have certain qualifications and you know what you want to do, but you are still asking yourself how and where to find a job. Thanks to the modern wonders of the internet, looking for a job has become a lot easier than what it was even a decade ago. Anyone who has ever played the video game “The Sims” can remember that if you wanted to find a job you simply had to send your “sim” to a computer, and a list of jobs would pop out. Amazingly, it now works the same in real life: certain websites work like search engines where you can search the job database and possibly find something you would be interested in.

Others provide you with ways to search for a job you would like but also allow you to post your resume and possibly find a job from someone looking at it. Edmonton’s official job opportunities website helps you apply to a list of previously created jobs. Whatever your choice, it is clear that finding a job by using online tools is rather easy and relaxing.

Some Edmonton Job Search Web Sites:
http://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/jobs.aspx
http://www.albertajobcentre.ca/
http://jobsearch.monster.ca/alberta+edmonton_12

This is where things may get a bit tricky, with so much choice you could be qualified for more than one position at a certain company, but you may apply to only one of them. Before you do, you need to realize what your interests are. If it is money, you should learn which position is better paid. Other than that, you might want to know who you would be working with, what’s the work environment like and most importantly will you enjoy working there.

No matter the job and no matter the qualifications you have, before you apply to any job, you need a really good resume. Now, if you have never written a resume, you should know some basic things that will make your profile stand out amongst others. These days there are hundreds or even thousands of applications to a certain job position, and to actually make the cut, your resume needs to stand out. Someone will have to go through this pile and find suitable candidates for the position, and even if you are the most qualified person for the job, because of a poorly written resume, you may end up being overlooked.

So how to correct, or write a good resume? First off you need to understand that a resume isn’t supposed to represent a history of your past but rather a tool to win an interview. It should serve as your advertisement where it would make the employer want to actually meet you and see what you’re all about. Some general ideas you should note:

• Your resume is your advertisement
• Your resume should not represent a history of your past
• Your resume should not be a personal statement of yours or serve as some sort of self-expression
• Focus on the needs of the employer not on your own
• Be specific and subtle in your writing

After you send your resume, based on your qualifications you may be invited to an interview. Interviews are basically the next, and possibly the final step in the path to your employment. Before even going to the interview the most basic thing you can do is visualize what may happen. Be objective, don’t think that you can get a job by simply showing up. Realize your weaknesses and be comfortable to talk about them, but be ready to point out your strong suits. And always be subtle about everything, never boast about anything.

Here’s a short summary of what you need to do in order to improve your interview:

• Do some research about the company
• Be on time
• Be calm
• Practice and rehearse

A lot of the employers may start off the interview with a question: “What do you know about our company?” Preparing for this kind of question is rather easy, and also very important. Imagine yourself being in the position of the employer, would you hire someone who knew nothing about the company he is supposed to work for? You can visit the company’s website or even Google the company to see what others are saying about it. The more you know about the company’s future plans and previous successes the more prepared for the interview you will be.

Maintain a calm attitude throughout the interview, don’t look or act nervous. Try to eliminate your ticks; tapping your leg on the floor won’t help you a lot. All employers are looking for confident, calm employees. You can achieve this by practicing your interview with a friend or in front of a mirror. The best scenario would be to invite a friend who knows about the job or the company over and to rehearse possible scenarios with him. Be creative and objective; let your friend improvise and ask you questions you weren’t preparing yourself for. Let him try and make you feel uncomfortable, because the worse you go during your preparation, the better you will be during the actual interview.

Combine all the above information and you will surely find yourself a new job in no time.