8 Questions
to Ask Yourself Before Paying a Career Consultant
When I arrived in Canada, I had never seen such an overwhelming number of so-called "job search professionals" targeting the Ukrainian audience as I do now.
Honestly, it feels like there are more of them than actual job seekers.
A year ago, I was literally blazing the trails — relying solely on myself, and it never even crossed my mind to pay someone to write my résumé or “prepare me” for a job search. I looked for authoritative Canadian experts in this field, read their articles, attended webinars, listened to podcasts, and borrowed a whole stack of job search books from the library.
I felt like the heroine from The Wild Swans, the fairy tale where she had to remain silent and weave stinging-nettle shirts at night to break the curse on her brothers.
That’s exactly what I was doing — silently building my knowledge, filtering out what I read and heard, taking only what truly applied to me.
And it really did feel like weaving with nettles because for the longest time, nothing worked. I stubbornly clung to my job search strategy and my résumé — a beautiful, attractive one.
The one that just didn’t fit into the Canadian puzzle...
Eventually, after each rejection, I reworked it and rewrote my cover letters… every single day.
Metaphorically, I was reshaping my mindset — identifying and cutting away unhelpful beliefs. But that’s a story too big for one article*.
One thing is certain: CV, LinkedIn, cover letters, and all the rest — they’re just tools. Until we change ourselves, until we adjust our mindset to the reality we’re in, no job search service package will help.
Yes, of course, I have a significant advantage — I’ve worked in HR for many years, and over the past two years, I’ve changed jobs twice in different countries.
But that’s not the whole story.
It all circles back to that infamous, often overused term — critical thinking — and the realization that no one else will land a job for me. Even with a flawlessly crafted “Canadian résumé,” if my mindset doesn’t shift, it simply won’t work.
And, my god, résumé isn’t even the main thing. The real challenge is getting to the right point and the right person who will actually want to read it.
And even getting there is no small feat.
At least, not for newcomers. It wasn’t for me.
Following a webinar I helped organize and several recent meetings with Ukrainians seeking job search help in Canada, I really want to share some serious warnings.
I’ve already encountered multiple cases of:
“I paid for a résumé, but no one is inviting me to interviews.”
“I trained with professionals, but I still can’t find a job.”
And every time I come across another ad for “all-inclusive job search preparation in Canada,” I check the links and see that the person who wants to teach me how to find a job (for my money) has… no certifications, no LinkedIn, no work experience, no recommendations — just a bunch of generic “professional” statements and hundreds of “satisfied clients.” And the only contact details? An email like sisikpisik@gmail.com, an Instagram page filled with morning meditation rituals and spiritual enlightenment methods, and five different payment options.
It's no surprise that the number of "experts" keeps growing, yet job seekers continue to struggle just as much.
Someone recently told me I was just jealous because these people are my “competitors.”
Hah.)))
To anyone who reaches out to me for advice, I always say: I don’t consider myself a job search professional in Canada. What I have is personal experience and results — hard-earned through trial and error, face-planting into the pavement. That’s just my path.
And on top of that, I already have a full-time job that takes up a huge chunk of my time. But
I also genuinely want to help Ukrainians.
So I’m constantly stuck in this dilemma.
Below are some observations and recommendations to help you navigate this bottomless ocean of “expertise.”
As always, let’s use my favorite formula:
Form + Content = A Complete Portfolio Picture.
I’m deliberately leaving these questions unanswered. If you answer them for yourself, you’ll see whether you’re dealing with someone who really walks the talk — or just another guru cashing in on immigrants and refugees.
(Not that making money off them is necessarily bad, you just gotta know how to do it properly. 😏)
Content.
What certifications, education, results, and work experience does this person have? How long have they been doing this? How many recommendations do they have? Are they real people? Have you spoken to them? How does the “expert” react when asked for references?
How does this expert manage their LinkedIn? How is it structured? How active are they?
Can you see the person behind the profile — an actual human with experiences, insights, and a unique voice? Is their profile engaging, authentic, and easy to navigate?
What conclusions can you draw from their approach, and how does it influence your perception of their expertise?
(And if you think LinkedIn isn’t necessary for a job search abroad — maybe… but only if you’re that ultra-high-level C-suite executive that recruiters are already chasing through forests and fields, and you just can’t fend them off).
Where does this so-called expert work? What’s their own professional history?
How do they continue learning? What books are they reading? What courses have they taken recently, and why these ones?
Form.
If they don’t have LinkedIn but they do have a website, how is it designed? Does it look like it was slapped together overnight, or is it a fully developed blog with detailed case studies and results?
How are their services structured? Are the terms and conditions clear? Is there a money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied?
Is there a clear work plan and division of roles and responsibilities? What will they do, and what will you do?
What will be considered a successful result of your collaboration?
One of my favorite sayings:
You can’t be taught — you can only learn.
You can be as "prepared" as possible for a job search — someone can craft your résumé and cover letters, advise you on what to say in interviews, or even manage your LinkedIn profile for you…
But in the end, it’s still YOU sitting across from the interviewer, presenting yourself.
So, here’s an unsolicited but heartfelt piece of advice from someone who’s had their head smashed against the Canadian job market:
Sit down. Think. Write out what’s holding you back from finding a job and how you can change it.
And then — go to the consultants.
*More about How to Switch from Immigrant Mentality to an Expat/Growth Mindset read on the following articles starting from this From Immigrant Mentality to a Growth Mindset. INTRO.
May 15, 2023.