What type of Employment are you looking for? Short/Long term, Part/Full time, career specific OR something to pay the bills? What experience do you have? What experience do you want to gain? These are some of the questions you can ask yourself before your job hunt.
Before you start hunting
- Do you have a Social Insurance Number (Please check out our Identification Section for more information)
- Do you have a resume or a cover letter that you can use and edit?
- Do you need some assistance in looking for work?
- What are your job search strategies?
Advertised jobs
The traditional way to look for a job is to respond to advertisements and postings. You can usually find these in newspapers, community newsletters, online, or through employment centres. When you apply, be sure to read the instructions in the job posting.
Hidden jobs
Did you know that most job openings aren’t even advertised? Employers and managers often fill “hidden” jobs by asking people in their network if they know anyone who would be a good fit. This network could include co-workers, friends, and acquaintances.
Check out the links below on employment services and resources
Student/Youth Job bank:
Employment opportunities for students and young Canadians across the country http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/
Federal Student Work Experience Program(FSWEP):
Full-time students can post their résumé to apply for temporary student jobs within the federal public service
Service Canada Centre - 1-800-622-6232
www.servicecanada.gc.ca
Youth Employment Services (YES) - 416-504-5516
www.yes.on.ca
Gateway Café - 416-466-7489
www.gateway-cafe.com
Job Connect - 416-531-4631
www.ontario.ca/employmentontario
Check the things you would like in a job.
Working alone
Working with a team
Working outside
Working independently
Sitting/standing still
Using numbers
Helping people
Being accurate
Working with people
Working inside
Close supervision
Moving around
Using tools
Handling money
Solving problems
Talking on the phone
Career planning is looking ahead and deciding what kind of work you want to do down the road. You can get help with career planning from high school counselors, human resource centres and on the internet. Try www.hrsdc.gc.ca and search for "career planning".
How to Look for a Job
- It helps to find a job opening before you apply; however just applying can help get a job as well. Here are some ways to find out where the jobs are:
- Ask Around
- Ask people if they know of any job openings. Ask friends, family, youth workers, business owners. A lot of jobs are never advertised and are filled by word of mouth
- Look in the classified ads in newspapers. You can check out the papers at your public library or at a youth employment centre. Saturday's paper has the most ads.
- Volunteer
- You can help out with a community organization, or even work for free for a business for a while. It's an excellent way to get skills, experience and contacts that will help you find a job.
- Social Media!!! ie linkedIN
How to Get a Job
Once you've found a job you're interested in, you have to get the person hiring for the job interested in you. You have to help them see that you're the right person for the job. You may even have to do some training, or volunteer first, before they will even consider you for the job.
List four reasons someone should hire you! You should hire me because...
• Make a Resume
A resume tells people about you. In most parts of Ontario you can get free help making a resume. Look for Human Resource Centres in the Blue Pages of the phone book. Give them a call and ask them where you can get help preparing a resume in your area. You can also call Youth Employment Hotline in Toronto at 416-326-5656 for help. Here are a few important things to remember about resumes; be neat, no spelling mistakes, no more than 2 pages, use font size 12, and put your name at the top of the page.
• Write Cover Letters
Send a "cover letter" with your resume when you apply for a job. Keep it short (one page at the most). In the cover letter, you can add any extra info that is not in your resume. Make the cover letter as if you were writing a professional letter to someone and address it to the employer personally.
• Get References
References are people who will put in a good word for you when you're looking for a job. Employer's check references to make sure you are qualified. Try to get references that will have only good things to say about you and your work habits, like people you have worked for, teachers or youth workers. It is a good idea to have one personal reference. It's probably not a good idea to use your friends as references.
• Practice Filling Out Application Forms
Sometimes you need to fill out a form to apply for a job. The info you need to put on a form is mostly the same as what you have on your resume. Fill in the form carefully. If you make a mistake, ask for another form - don't make a mess crossing things out.
• Look Good
It might not be fair, but people will judge you by how you look. When you go out looking for work, make sure you are clean and dressed neatly – even if you're just picking up an application form. If you get an interview, try to check out how others look at the work place – then dress to fit in. Also, it may not be a good idea to wear cologne or perfume, as some people are allergic and it will take the focus off of you.
• Get Ready for Interviews
A job interview is a big step in your job search. The boss is taking the time to meet you and see if you're right for the job. It's up to you to make a good impression. Before the interview, think how to answer the questions the boss might ask.
An interview is also a chance for you to ask questions.
If the boss doesn't tell you about things that you want to know about, you can ask about it at the end of the interview. It's also ok if you don't have any questions.
You can practice an interview with someone you trust. Your friend is the boss and asks you questions just like in a real interview. Try to be serious but have some fun too! When you are done, talk about how the "interview" went. Asking others how they would answer these questions is also good; they may have good answers that you may not have thought about before.
Make sure you're looking good when you go to an interview. Take your resume and a list of your references and be at least 10 minutes early. It may be a good idea if you know something about the company and don't bring anyone to the interview. Remember to relax, make eye contact and smile and then go for it! It's your chance to shine.
How to Keep a Job
Getting a job is only half the deal. Once you've got one, you've got to keep it. Getting fired can feel bad. It can also make it harder to find another job. There are some basic things that you need to be successful in any job.
Check off the job skills you already have. It will pay to work on the ones you don't check.
- Being on time
- Following instructions
- Admitting mistakes
- Learning from mistakes
- Cooperating with others
- Dealing with frustration
- Getting things done
- Print List
- Your Rights
You have the responsibility to do a job well. You also have rights as a worker. For example, in most jobs in Ontario you have the right to make at least $11. 25 an hour (students under 18), as of March 31, 2010. General minimum wage is $11.25 an hour. In most jobs, you also have the right to breaks for meals and paid "coffee breaks", depending on how long your shift is. You also have the right to a work place free of racism, homophobia and sexual harassment.
To find out more about your rights as a worker, call the Ontario Ministry of Labour at 1-800-265-5140 or visit their web site.