Job Search Help for New Immigrants in Canada

[Kanamen]

CANADIAN JOB INTERVIEW

Preparing for an Interview

1. Research and Planning - Find Information about the Employer & Community:

What You Should Know About the employer
* What is their vision statement?
* How large are they? What is the enrolment of the school district and/or school? How many teachers are employed with the school district?
* Where are they located?
* Who the person responsible for hiring?
* Who is the school district's superintendent?
* How many school trustees are there?
* What general/specific requirements does the employer require of all its personnel? i.e.: belonging to a local teacher's association or union and/or do you require a criminal check?
* What and where are their priorities in providing education in their communities?
* What special programs or projects are the school district committed to?
* What are their past, present, and predicted growth patterns?
* Where is the community? What is its socio-economic make-up and situation?


2. Presenting & Preparing Yourself:

Many people form their opinion of others based on their first impression. These opinions can be very difficult to change. This makes it imperative that you deliver a positive first impression since you will not have a second chance.
Dress for Success
* Dress for the occupation; wear to the interview what you would wear on the job. You may even want to dress one step above that depending on the position.
* If you are still unsure, visit the organization and observe what others in similar positions are wearing.
* Be careful not to overdress and especially not to out dress the person interviewing you.
* Pay attention to personal grooming; neat hair, clean and manicured nails, etc.
* Make sure your clothes are neat, clean, pressed, conservative, and your shoes are polished.
* Jewelry should be simple and conservative.
* Avoid heavy fragrances.
* Sit down after getting dressed. If you are uncomfortable and feel you will tend to "fidget" during the interview,change into something more comfortable.

Other Consideration for Women:
* Wear tailored suits, classic dresses (rule of thumb: the higher the position, the darker the outfit).
* Shoes, bag, and belt should be coordinated in a conservative manner.
* Avoid miniskirts, heavy make-up, shoes with worn or very high heels, large purses, and clanking jewelry.

Other Consideration for Men:
* Wear conservative suits in dark colours or a thin pinstripe, white or light coloured shirts, and conservative ties in red, blue, grey, etc.
* Shoes should usually be leather, black, and polished.
* Avoid dark shirts and shirts with crests, logos, or trademarks.


3. Be Punctual:

* Arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the interview. The interviewer assumes the interview is the best you will ever act so arriving late indicates a trend that will only worsen when you start working.
* If you are unsure of the exact location of the interview, take a trial run to determine how best to get there, how long it takes, where to park your car, etc.


4. Be Friendly and Courteous:

* It is important to be friendly and courteous to all people you meet. You have to be able to fit into this organization's "team" so many times receptionists and others are asked for their opinion of you.
* Smile, give a firm handshake, and keep a positive attitude

 

[Kanamen]

Communicating & Answering Questions Effectively

Because a job interview is a communication process, your skills will become more polished over time. It is helpful to remember the following:

* You can prepare for the actual interview once you know something about the employer.

* You should be able to anticipate some questions that will be asked in the interview. Practice answering them aloud with someone else to see how you sound. However, do not memorize your answers since employers will notice it. Click here for examples of questions you may encounter during an interview.

* If you answered particular questions poorly in the past, practice them to better prepare yourself in case you are asked them again.

* Be prepared to answer the tough questions (i.e. What are your weaknesses?). For questions to expect visit: Sample Interview Questions.

* Speak clearly and enthusiastically about your experiences and skills. Be professional, but don't be afraid to let your personality shine through.

* Listen carefully. You will want to remember what you learn about the job, and you will certainly want to be answering the question the was asked.

* Be positive. Employers do not want to hear a litany of excuses or bad feelings about a negative experience. If you are asked about a low grade, a sudden job change, or a weakness in your background, don't be defensive. focus instead on the facts (briefly) and what you learned from the experience.

* Pay attention to your nonverbal behavior. Look the interviewer in the eye, sit up straight with both feet on the floor, control nervous habits (cracking knuckles, drumming fingers, etc.), and smile as you are greeted.

* Don't be afraid of short pauses. You may need a few seconds to formulate an answer. The interviewer may need time to formulate an appropriate question. It is not necessary to fill up every second with conversation.

 

[Kanamen]

Your Role in the Interview

Throughout the time of the interview it is imperative the you pay attention and listen to the interviewer(s). During the interview your conduct is as important as appearance and qualifications. Use some of the following tips in order to demonstrate to the employer your interest in the available opportunity.

* Sit up straight, maintain good eye contact with the employer and answer questions with short, crisp, smooth answers. Be careful not to ramble.
* Do not talk too much. A good rule of thumb is to talk for about 50% of the interview.
* Say positive things about past employers and previous situations.
* Demonstrate your flexibility by stating you are a team player yet have handled working independently in the past.
* If you are being interviewed by more than one person, make sure you maintain good eye contact and pay equal attention to each person in the room.
* Above all, DO NOT LIE

At the end of the interview, employers will almost always ask if you have any questions for them. This is your opportunity to impress the employer by showing your interest in, and knowledge of, the organization. This is a very important component of the interview that people often do not take seriously. The employer is expecting you to have some questions. If you do not, they may assume that you do not have the desire and interest they are pursuing.

There are good and bad questions to ask an employer. Good questions relate to tasks, priorities, development, employee education, department, and growth opportunities. Questions that are generally bad to ask are self-centered and revolve around salary, benefits, and job security. These questions should be saved for the negotiation phase of the job offer.

Good Questions to Ask an Employer:

* What would be the primary duties initially? How will these duties change overtime?
* How would you describe the management style of the company as a whole?
* Tell me more about how this job fits into the whole picture?
* What is the most difficult or challenging part of this job?
* Why was this position created?
* What opportunities are there for employee education or professional development?
* What growth opportunities are there in the organization?
* When will you be making your decision to fill this job?

 

[Kanamen]

Tips for attending Job Fairs

* Register Early
* Review Employer Attendance List Ahead of Time
* Research Companies and Employment Trends
* Prepare Questions to Ask Employers and........Practice !

In addition ....

* Come Prepared
* Dress in Professional/Interview Attire
* Bring Plenty of Well-Organized, Error Free Resumes
* Highlight Relevant Skills and Accomplishments

Don't forget to ....

* Network Effectively
* Convey Confidence and Interest
* Talk with a Variety of Companies - Despite Positions Posted
* Listen and Ask Relevant Questions
* Establish a Proactive Follow-up Plan

and finally ....

* Follow-Through
* Contact/Maintain Network with Employers
* Always Send Thank You Letters After Interviews!

 

[Kanamen]

JOB FAIR

A job fair is an organized event in which different career fields are displayed. People can be recruited and also apply for different jobs at a job fair. They can also gather useful information for certain fields they might be interested in.
At a job fair there are several companies that will be there and they will have their own stations set up to take applications from people and you can have the opportunity to showcase yourself for a possible interview.

 

[Kanamen]

http://canadajobexpo.com/

 

[Kanamen]

Career Coaching Tools

The Canadian job market may be quite different from the job markets in the countries where you have previously worked.

In order to secure a job in Canada, it's important to understand what is expected of you from Canadian employers - from your CV, to your cover letter, to your interview skills, and your work attitude.
http://www.canadavisa.com/career-coaching-service-foreign-workers-canada.html
Canadavisa Career Tools

* Canada Job Search Tool: Start your job search now!
* Work in Canada FAQ: Frequently asked questions about working and finding a job in Canada.
* Canada Resume Builder: Build your Canadian Resume and store it in the Canadavisa Resume Bank.
* Canada Salary Calculator: Obtain a Salary Report for different areas of Canada.
* Canadian Labour Standards: Learn about the minimum standards for wages and conditions of employment in each region of Canada. Rules on such issues as hours of work and overtime pay, vacations and pregnancy leave are all set out in this feature.
* Job Interviews: A summary of what may and may not be asked by Canadian employers as part of the employee selection process, and general information on how to ask questions in a non-discriminatory fashion.
* How to Write a Resume: Tips about how to tailor your resume for the Canadian job market.
* Canadian Salary Survey: From Cooks to Information Technology Specialists, find out what your education and experience are worth in Canada.
* Canadaworkvisa.ca: If you are not a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident and wish to work in Canada, you will require a Work Permit issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).

 

[Kanamen]

How to get a good job in a bad economy

Job hunting is tough right now, but absolutely not impossible. The key to finding and keeping work in tough times is the same as in good times: action. The more positive action you take, the better your chances of landing a great gig. Here are 7 tips, and I promise many more in the coming weeks and months.

1. Be smarter, faster and better. I wish I could offer you a magic piece of advice about job hunting and working in a bad economy, a piece of wisdom that I’ve been saving for this type of situation. However, my best advice is to use all of the same job hunting and career management tips I always advise, but do them smarter, faster and better

Being smarter, faster and better means:

* Updating your resume to include examples of how you thrive in challenging times, how you excel at stretching a budget, how you can bring in new clients and new revenue right away.
* Making 5 calls a day to networking contacts, rather than making 5 a week.
* Attending one networking event a week, rather than one a month.
* Following up immediately after you meet someone or learn of an opportunity. Return calls right away, send a thank you email the same day you have an interview, send in a resume as soon as you learn of an opportunity.

In any situation, ask yourself, “What would be the smartest, fastest and best way to handle this situation?” and do just that.

2. Try new strategies. We all get into ruts — going to the same networking events, talking to the same people at our association meetings, setting up the same keywords on the same employment websites, writing the same phrases in every cover letter.

STOP!

The same old stuff will no longer cut it. As Albert Einstein said, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.To get a job in a bad economy, you have to cast a wider net and be more creative than ever. Try some new and different keyword searches as you look for jobs online. Challenge yourself to attend networking events in totally new industries, towns or social circles. Start looking in the newspaper if you’ve never done that before. Look for jobs at small companies if you’ve always worked for big corporations (and vice versa).

3. Find ways to make some extra money so you aren’t desperate and panicky. Potential employers can smell desperation and it isn’t attractive. If you are totally stressed out about paying the rent, you won’t be in the best frame of mind to conduct a proactive job search. One great way to make some extra cash without working fulltime is tutoring (for high school courses, college application essays, SATs, GMATs, etc. You can apply to tutor for Kaplan, Princeton Review or advertise your services on Craigslist). Bootstrapper has a list of 77 more ways to make money on the side so you can stay afloat while you look for your next career move.

4. Freelance full-time. You may find that your “on-the-side” gig turns into a new career. That’s actually how I started my own business as a writer and speaker. It happened during the difficult economic period following 9/11. My dot-com job had disappeared and, while I was networking with former clients and colleagues, I started receiving offers to complete small projects for them. I said yes to anything and everything — I wrote marketing plans, nonfiction book proposals, nonprofit grant proposals, resumes, bios and newsletter articles for an hourly rate. I spoke to high school students, Girl Scouts, Rotary clubs and chambers of commerce. As the months went on, I eventually created business cards, a website, a portfolio and a one-pager about my services. That was in 2002 and I’ve never worked full-time again.

Freelancing, consulting and self-employment are not for everyone, but if you’ve been considering entrepreneurship, now might be the time to make the leap. My favorite “starter” books on this subject are Six-Figure Freelancing and Getting Started in Consulting.

5. Move to a city with jobs. If you’ve been thinking about relocating, you might want to consider a place that is thriving despite the economic downturn. BusinessWeek.com has a list of the best places in the U.S. to “ride out the recession.” I don’t necessarily advise uprooting yourself for the potential of a good job, but if you’ve been thinking about moving anyway or have some very strong leads in a thriving city, it could be a smart decision right now.

6. Move to an industry sector with jobs. If you don’t want to move to a new city, pay attention to the industries the BusinessWeek.com article highlights as growing: healthcare, education, law, energy and government. HRWorld offers its own list of top 25 careers to pursue in a recession and Career Hub shares a ranking of 72 recession-proof industries. Consider expanding your job search into one of these industries. For instance, if you’ve been applying to finance jobs on Wall Street, consider applying for finance jobs at a pharmaceutical company or a university. If you’re interested in management consulting, think about a firm that specializes in healthcare or energy consulting. If you’ve thought about teaching, do it!

p.s. If you own your own business or work for a small company, these recession-proof industry lists will help you determine where to pursue new clients and customers.

7. Help other people. Now is the time to be extra generous in helping other people with job leads, event invitations, networking contacts, advice and moral support. When you see a job listing that’s perfect for a friend, forward it with an encouraging note. Call up a fellow job seeker and invite him over for a cup of coffee and a chat. Barter your strengths (editing, public speaking, outfit coordination) with a friend who has strengths that you don’t. “Paying it forward” makes you feel good and it’s bound to come back to you in kind.

Good Luck

 

[SATDXB]

How to get a good job in a bad economy

Job hunting is tough right now, but absolutely not impossible. The key to finding and keeping work in tough times is the same as in good times: action. The more positive action you take, the better your chances of landing a great gig. Here are 7 tips, and I promise many more in the coming weeks and months.

1. Be smarter, faster and better. I wish I could offer you a magic piece of advice about job hunting and working in a bad economy, a piece of wisdom that I've been saving for this type of situation. However, my best advice is to use all of the same job hunting and career management tips I always advise, but do them smarter, faster and better

Being smarter, faster and better means:

* Updating your resume to include examples of how you thrive in challenging times, how you excel at stretching a budget, how you can bring in new clients and new revenue right away.
* Making 5 calls a day to networking contacts, rather than making 5 a week.
* Attending one networking event a week, rather than one a month.
* Following up immediately after you meet someone or learn of an opportunity. Return calls right away, send a thank you email the same day you have an interview, send in a resume as soon as you learn of an opportunity.

In any situation, ask yourself, “What would be the smartest, fastest and best way to handle this situation?” and do just that.

2. Try new strategies. We all get into ruts — going to the same networking events, talking to the same people at our association meetings, setting up the same keywords on the same employment websites, writing the same phrases in every cover letter.

STOP!

The same old stuff will no longer cut it. As Albert Einstein said, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.To get a job in a bad economy, you have to cast a wider net and be more creative than ever. Try some new and different keyword searches as you look for jobs online. Challenge yourself to attend networking events in totally new industries, towns or social circles. Start looking in the newspaper if you've never done that before. Look for jobs at small companies if you've always worked for big corporations (and vice versa).

3. Find ways to make some extra money so you aren't desperate and panicky. Potential employers can smell desperation and it isn't attractive. If you are totally stressed out about paying the rent, you won't be in the best frame of mind to conduct a proactive job search. One great way to make some extra cash without working fulltime is tutoring (for high school courses, college application essays, SATs, GMATs, etc. You can apply to tutor for Kaplan, Princeton Review or advertise your services on Craigslist). Bootstrapper has a list of 77 more ways to make money on the side so you can stay afloat while you look for your next career move.

4. Freelance full-time. You may find that your “on-the-side” gig turns into a new career. That's actually how I started my own business as a writer and speaker. It happened during the difficult economic period following 9/11. My dot-com job had disappeared and, while I was networking with former clients and colleagues, I started receiving offers to complete small projects for them. I said yes to anything and everything — I wrote marketing plans, nonfiction book proposals, nonprofit grant proposals, resumes, bios and newsletter articles for an hourly rate. I spoke to high school students, Girl Scouts, Rotary clubs and chambers of commerce. As the months went on, I eventually created business cards, a website, a portfolio and a one-pager about my services. That was in 2002 and I've never worked full-time again.

Freelancing, consulting and self-employment are not for everyone, but if you've been considering entrepreneurship, now might be the time to make the leap. My favorite “starter” books on this subject are Six-Figure Freelancing and Getting Started in Consulting.

5. Move to a city with jobs. If you've been thinking about relocating, you might want to consider a place that is thriving despite the economic downturn. BusinessWeek.com has a list of the best places in the U.S. to “ride out the recession.” I don't necessarily advise uprooting yourself for the potential of a good job, but if you've been thinking about moving anyway or have some very strong leads in a thriving city, it could be a smart decision right now.

6. Move to an industry sector with jobs. If you don't want to move to a new city, pay attention to the industries the BusinessWeek.com article highlights as growing: healthcare, education, law, energy and government. HRWorld offers its own list of top 25 careers to pursue in a recession and Career Hub shares a ranking of 72 recession-proof industries. Consider expanding your job search into one of these industries. For instance, if you've been applying to finance jobs on Wall Street, consider applying for finance jobs at a pharmaceutical company or a university. If you're interested in management consulting, think about a firm that specializes in healthcare or energy consulting. If you've thought about teaching, do it!

p.s. If you own your own business or work for a small company, these recession-proof industry lists will help you determine where to pursue new clients and customers.

7. Help other people. Now is the time to be extra generous in helping other people with job leads, event invitations, networking contacts, advice and moral support. When you see a job listing that's perfect for a friend, forward it with an encouraging note. Call up a fellow job seeker and invite him over for a cup of coffee and a chat. Barter your strengths (editing, public speaking, outfit coordination) with a friend who has strengths that you don't. “Paying it forward” makes you feel good and it's bound to come back to you in kind.

Good Luck

Great job buddy...

God Bless!


Cheers...

 

[salmanahm]

Nice tips

 

[fariza]

How to get a good job in a bad economy

Useful tips and guide mate. Thanks for sharing

 

[Kanamen]

Accounting jobs
http://www.learn4good.com/jobs/language/english/list/accounting/canada/

 

[Kanamen]

Agriculture Jobs
http://www.find-a-job-canada.com/agri-jobs.html

 

[Kanamen]

Good work CANADA

http://www.goodworkcanada.ca/gw.php

 

[Kanamen]

How do I create a Canadian-style résumé?

While Canadian résumés come in many different formats, they share some standards that you should know about.
Keep it Short

Keep your résumé short. In Canada, most people have a résumé that is 2 pages long. Keep it to 1 page if you finished school recently or do not have a lot of experience.
Include Volunteer Work

You should include your volunteer experience in the section on work experience. It is important to talk about what you have done. It does not matter if it was paid or unpaid work.
Use Keywords

It is important to use keywords in your résumé. Employers do not read every word on each résumé. Keywords describe skills and qualifications. You might see them in the job posting that you are answering. Help your résumé stand out by using as many keywords as you can. But, do not make up experiences, just to use keywords.
Change Your Résumé for Each Job

Adapt your résumé for each job you want. For some jobs, you can change a few sentences to focus on certain skills and accomplishments. For others, you may need a completely new résumé.
Look It Over

Look over your résumé before you send it. Make sure that you put the right company name and job title on your résumé, for each job that you are applying to.
Headings Help

Use headings to organize the information in your résumé. Common résumé headings are:

* Highlights of Qualifications
* Professional Experience
* Education

Formatting Hints

Use formatting tools such as bold and bullets to make important information stand out.
Sample Résumés

There are 2 common types of résumés:

* Chronological
* Functional

You can find samples of these types, below. You can use these samples as guides. Career experts recommend that you customize each résumé you create. Do not rely on samples or templates to create a good résumé.

These are general samples. In some fields, employers will expect to see a résumé with a specific format, which may be different than these samples.
Chronological Résumé

A chronological résumé is time-based. It is organized by the positions you have held, in order of time. You list your most recent position first. These résumés are best if you have a lot of experience in your field. They are also better for people who do not have periods of time when they were not working.

This is an example of a Canadian-style chronological résumé:

* Chronological Résumé Sample [PDF]
* Chronological Résumé Sample [.doc]

Functional Résumé

A functional résumé is skills-based. It is organized by skills that you gained in your previous work. Functional résumés are best if you:

* Are a recent graduate
* Have major time gaps in employment
* Are changing careers

This is an example of a Canadian-style functional résumé:

* Functional Résumé Sample [PDF]
* Functional Résumé Sample [.doc]

Many settlement or employment agencies can give you information and advice about your résumé, and how to create résumés for specific fields. To find help in your area, go to Services Near Me.
For More Information

* Possibilities – Find toolkits to help you with your résumé, cover letter, interviews and tools for entrepreneurs.
* JobStar Central - Good examples of the chronological and functional résumés. There are also cover letter samples.
* Monster.ca Résumé Centre - Many tips for creating great résumés.
* eRésumés & Resources - Information on posting and sending your cover letters and résumés electronically.
http://www.settlement.org/sys/faqs_detail.asp?faq_id=4001064

http://resume.monster.com/

http://www.canadavisa.com/canadian-employment-resume.html

http://www.cvtips.com/resumes-and-cvs/canada-resumes.html

http://www.onestopimmigration-canada.com/resume.html