A new city, a new life. That’s the thinking in coming to Toronto, Canada’s biggest city and the financial centre of the country. With my LinkedIn profile up-to-date, a polished up CV and a new suit, I have ‘put myself out there’. As a job hunter I can say there are three priorities when seeking employment: 1) Work your network; 2) Strategically attend events; and 3) Use LinkedIn wisely.

Work your network

While one may not be working, the best first step is to get in touch with friends and colleagues from previous positions to ‘test the market’. Hear from them on where they think opportunities may lie, some of their perceptions of the job market and insights into agencies, companies and leaders in different sectors in which they work. If you’re interested in a particular company that they either work at presently or previously, ask about the people, the culture and various positions at the firm. Enquire as to how they landed their job, whether they know any good headhunters, and even if they’re aware of any organizations looking for specific talents and experience.

In effect, you’re interviewing those in the market about opportunities that may be available. It is a strategic way to capture ‘on the ground’ information and if an opportunity does manifest itself, receiving a first-hand recommendation (ideally face-to-face or on an email) via a friend, is the most powerful way to have your name elevated among considered candidates. Such ‘insider recommendations’ are alway useful, so pay attention to this feature on LinkedIn (see below).

Strategically attend events

This is also a tactic to learning about the local market, but in a way that could payoff handsomely. If you look for events in your industry or at least industries and/or trends of interest, sign up and go! Sometimes events are free but generally there is a nominal cost to network and learn. And once you’re there, make the most of it, talking to strangers, from the organizers to the attendees to yes, even the speakers/panelists.

Face time and a handshake are often underestimated in their impact. Make yourself memorable with smart questions, a passion for the focus of the event, and a coherent understanding of who you are and what you’re looking for. Whether you meet an industry expert or a student new to the sector, be friendly, engaging and curious. Apart from being polite, you never know who that person knows…but you won’t unless you open your mouth and bother to say something. And if you end up landing an interview, make sure you reference attending events relevant to the interviewer (i.e. those that may show your interest in a particular industry or expertise in a certain trend).

Use LinkedIn wisely

The #1 platform for work-related networking is a very useful tool, but only if it is ‘employed’ to its potential. A few tips to make the most of it:

- Follow industry leaders and companies of interest and post on your feed your insights and comments about content they may be sharing. Even better, write an original post and share your own content, tagging in those you’re like to notice, like and share it.

- Sign up for LinkedIn Premium. It gives great insights and you can always downgrade when you’re employed. While ‘between jobs’, invest in this tool to see in which jobs you’re the top applicant (based on your profile), view a detailed breakdown of salaries by (per industry, company size, education level and field of study), and analyze hiring trends and employ-relevant stats from different companies.

- Take some courses on LinkedIn. While they are a relatively new feature on the platform, there is a diverse array of topics to study while you’re looking for a job. As you complete courses and learn new skills, put them on your CV and/or LinkedIn profile. Lifelong learning is mandatory if you’re going to get ahead - let alone keep up - in today’s economy. Pick up important terms and equip yourself with knowledge and insights that may set you apart from other candidates.