Career Growth Through Smart Platforms
Real stories from professionals who figured out where they belonged. Not everyone's path looks the same, and that's fine.
Helena Crane
Platform Strategy Mentor
Started teaching after spending eight years bouncing between recruitment platforms. Learned what works through trial and error — mostly error, honestly. Now helps people skip the frustrating parts.
How We Actually Teach This Stuff
Pattern Recognition Over Rules
Every platform has quirks. LinkedIn rewards consistency differently than Indeed. Workopolis has its own rhythm. We show you patterns that repeat across industries so you're not memorizing steps — you're understanding systems.
Real Profile Reviews
You bring your actual profile. We look at what's working and what's not. Sometimes it's tiny things — a headline that's too vague, or missing keywords recruiters actually search. Small fixes often create the biggest shifts.
Strategic Check-ins
Most people don't need daily coaching. They need someone to look at their progress every few weeks and point out blind spots. We schedule regular reviews throughout fall 2025 sessions to keep momentum without overwhelming your calendar.
Platform-Specific Walkthroughs
Canadian job platforms work differently than American ones. We cover regional platforms like Job Bank alongside global ones. Understanding where Canadian employers actually post makes a real difference in response rates.
Questions People Actually Ask
Organized by when they usually come up. Your concerns change as you move through the process, so we've grouped answers by stage.
Before Starting
- Which platforms matter for my field in BC specifically?
- Should I be everywhere or focus on two platforms?
- How much time does maintaining profiles actually take?
- What if I don't have recent experience to showcase?
- Can I use the same profile content across platforms?
During Program
- Why am I getting views but no messages from recruiters?
- How often should I update without looking desperate?
- What keywords actually work for Canadian searches?
- Should I reach out first or wait to be contacted?
- How do I handle outdated skills on my profile?
After Completion
- How do I maintain visibility without constant posting?
- When should I update my profile to reflect progress?
- What's the best way to stay connected with recruiters?
- How do seasonal hiring patterns affect platform activity?
- Should I keep applying through multiple channels?
Common Problems and What Actually Helps
These come up repeatedly. We've seen them enough times to know what tends to work and what wastes your time.
Getting Lost in Search Results
Your profile exists but recruiters never see it. You're on page five when they stop looking at page two.
- Add location-specific terms like "Greater Vancouver" not just "Vancouver"
- Use job titles from actual postings rather than creative descriptions
- Update at least one profile section monthly to stay in recent activity
- Complete every profile section — partial profiles rank lower in searches
Messages That Go Nowhere
You send connection requests or applications but rarely get responses. The silence gets frustrating fast.
- Personalize every message with something specific to their post or company
- Keep initial messages under four sentences — long paragraphs get skipped
- Ask one clear question instead of making vague networking requests
- Follow up once after a week if it matters, then move on
Time Disappears With No Results
Hours disappear scrolling and applying. You feel busy but nothing's actually moving forward.
- Set specific time blocks — 30 minutes for applications, 15 for profile updates
- Focus on quality over quantity — five tailored applications beat twenty generic ones
- Track what's working in a simple spreadsheet instead of applying everywhere
- Batch similar tasks together so you're not constantly context-switching
No Idea What's Actually Working
Some weeks feel productive, others don't. But you can't tell what made the difference or what to repeat.
- Check platform analytics weekly — most show who viewed your profile and how
- Note which headline or summary changes increased profile views
- Track response rates by platform to see where your energy pays off
- Review quarterly to spot patterns you miss checking day-to-day
Platform-Specific Approaches That Work
Different platforms need different strategies. What works on LinkedIn falls flat on Indeed. Here's what we've seen succeed across major Canadian career platforms.
