What to know
- Printed resumes and in-person networking still open doors in a tough market.
- Online, tailoring your application matters.
- An expert says diversifying your approach and building relationships get results.
Content creator and recent university grad Cassidy J. sent hundreds of resumes online and printed off 300, handing them out across Toronto just to land two restaurant jobs. Her hustle serves as a reality check on Toronto’s job market.
While studying at Lakehead University, Cassidy used her school’s career services to get resume help and be ready to start applying for jobs post-grad.
Despite taking steps to be as well-prepared as possible post-grad, Cassidy spent 10 months sending job applications — without actually getting hired.
“I sent 10 jobs a day for 10 months, on and off, and I was feeling very discouraged,” Cassidy J. told Now Toronto.
Cassidy put herself through school by working as a full-time content creator — and applied for roles with brands she’d been an influencer for, thinking it would give her an “edge.”
But nearly a year later, she advanced to the third round of interviews for three different jobs and didn’t get hired.
“My one-year anniversary of being out of school came up and I was like, ‘No, no, no, it can’t be a year of applying to jobs,’” she said.
That’s when Cassidy decided to switch up her way of applying. Instead of being “just another number” on an online posting, she decided to book a ticket to apply for jobs in person.
An $800 flight later, Cassidy left her hometown of Thunder Bay and arrived in Toronto.
Her plan: give out printed resumes and meet employers in person.
“I stayed in an Airbnb with random people, went on the streets and I handed them 300 resumes. I handed out 40 resumes the first day, and then just kept handing them out,” she said. “Going in person actually made me feel like I was moving the needle.”
She explained that going in person renewed her emotional energy and positive attitude.
So, how did she do it?
In her move to Toronto, she applied to restaurant jobs to get her foot in the door.
“I knew the ball game would be different. I knew that I would have to utilize my strengths… What are my achievements? What have I done in person?” she shared.
So she would treat every meeting with a restaurant manager as an elevator pitch that showed her personality and passion.
She would start by explaining that she was selected by Marc Jacobs Fragrances to represent them for the national launch of a perfume as the influencer face two years ago.
By pitching an achievement, she showed credibility and her ability to represent brands in a high-end professional environment.
Then she’s given her resume and mentioned her degree. Through this strategy, she felt her impression landed better.
300 resumes later… Where is she now?
Cassidy has been very public about her journey online, inspired by her experience as a full-time content creator.
She’s shared an Instagram Reel update: she found not one but two restaurant jobs!
Since then, presidents of companies and agencies she’s previously applied to have started reaching out, some saying they remember her.
“This literally forged me through the flames to take on the next journey, because I had to be on the streets every day, and I’m still pushing. It’s not like it doesn’t end at restaurants,” she said. “I want more, but it’s a shift needed for character development.”
A career strategist weighs in
Leadership, Team Coach, and Career Strategist Jeanet Lamoca walked Now Toronto through how she would write a resume.
She’d start with a profile summary to highlight, “This is what I bring and who I am,” Lamoca shared.
Then she continues with skills, followed by professional history (including volunteerism in that same section) and ending with education.
She specified that you should always tailor your resume to keywords and demonstrate that you’re the best candidate for that organization.
It doesn’t need to be a page, but it should be relevant to whatever you’re applying to, and it should be no more than a decade old, she recommended.
She explained that the job market is challenged by both what’s available and by technology.
With the rise of AI, organizations are really struggling to vet resumes, but job seekers also often aren’t clear enough about why they’re seeking a particular position, how they qualify, and how they can contribute to the organization’s needs.
Using generic resumes and over-relying on job postings are the number one mistakes job seekers make, according to Lamoca.
Instead, they should reach out, use their network, cold-call, and make introductions via email. “[Try] to build relationships that lead to referrals, introductions and conversation,” Lamoca told Now Toronto.
But Lamoca suggested following Cassidy J.’s strategy and “absolutely” apply in person when you can.
“Use a variety of approaches… I’ve had clients reach out [to organizations] and say, ‘I like what you’re doing. Your company is impressive, and I’ve been in this field for [this long],” she told Now Toronto.
In the meantime, she recommends networking. Upon hearing about Cassidy J.’s situation, she suggested attending PR events, marketing events, and conferences.
