Career and Job Search Help Blog

Job Interviews--What will they ask? What should I answer?

Your resume was great and now you have the interview. What questions will they ask? What questions CAN they ask? Is that a LEGAL question? You ask yourself, "How do I prepare? How should I answer? What should I wear?"

Research the company. Find out as much as you can about it. Speak to people already working in the same field. You already did some of this when first applying for the job. The more you know, the better prepared you are.

First impressions can make or break an interview.

I heard of someone going for interview after interview and not getting the job. She couldn't understand why. She was well-prepared, had a good resume, and was "dressed for success"--or so she thought. Finally she asked someone in the same field if they could find out what she was doing wrong. It turns out she was a member of a mystery book club and wore the club pin, a skull and cross-bones, to her interviews to show her interest in books and reading. She thought it would HELP her get the job. The interviewers saw the skull and cross-bones and thought, "Hmmmm. I don't think I want this person working for us." They didn't know about that book club!

The pin might have helped her for a different job--something to do with Halloween, buccaneers, pirates, mysteries, or horror shows. It even might have helped in these interviews if she had mentioned the pin and what it stood for! Make your first impressions count--but in the right way.

The library has books, ebooks, DVDs, and recommended websites that can help you prepare for your interview. On the Toronto Public Library home-page, check out Find Your Way to Job & Career Help and click on Market Yourself. There you will find some of our newest books and helpful links such as the Guide to Interviewing Resources, from Quintessential Careers, and The Interview Game: Illegal Questions, from Career Link.

For more titles in our catalogue, you can search subjects such as Employment interviewing and Employee selection. You can narrow the search down by applying a date-range or other limiters. Some of the titles you get may be about questions the employer should ask. You can take a look at these as well, to get an idea of the answers the interviewer might be looking for.

Don't forget to practice! Get a friend to role play with you and practice being interviewed. Film it if you can. You can--then you can see how you're doing.

Here are some books you can take a look at:

                              

 

Apprenticeships - Earn as You Learn!

An apprenticeship is an agreement between a person who wants to learn a skill and an employer who needs a skilled worker. For the majority of apprenticeships you receive most of your training on the job from other more experienced workers - actually according to Employment Ontario 90% of most apprenticeship training is provided in the workplace. However, you also are required to complete some classroom instruction at an educational institution for a theoretical foundation.  One important thing to know is that there are two categories of trades; for some you must get a Certificate of Qualification- meaning that you must pass a provincial exam to prove you are indeed skilled in your trade, and the others certification is voluntary. The education component of apprenticeships prepares you for certification.

If you are the type of person who enjoys working with your hands, you feel like you couldn't see yourself sitting in an office, or you prefer to learn by "doing" rather than listening then maybe an apprenticeship is for you. Actually, my partner is one of these people - he has a knack for fixing things, problem solving, hates to sit still and is a mechanic. When he graduated from high school he started working right away in at an auto-shop and did one three month term a year in school. Eventually, he went on to work as a truck mechanic and even went up to Yellowknife to work on the famous and dangerous Ice Roads - in Yellowknife the salaries tend to be higher.  One good think about careers in the trades is that you are eligible to work in many provinces across Canada. Actually, there is something called the Red Seal Endorsement, which permits skilled workers of elgible trades to work anywhere in Canada.

There is a high demand for skilled workers in the current industry. Industries need to stay up to date with technology which is changing at a rapid rate in order to keep up with the global economy. According to the Ontario Business Report by 2020 Ontario will face a shortage of 190,000 skilled workers due to retiring baby boomers. So, right now the province is really trying to attract people to skilled trades. You can apply for a $1,000/year tax dedcutible apprenticeship incentive grant which will help to pay for books, transportation, tutition, tools etc.

There are over 150 trades to choose from ranging from steamfitters, cabinetmakers, arborists, hairstylists, automotive painers and many more. The trades are divided into four categories:

1. Construction
2. Service
3. Industrial
4. Motor Power

There are so many different paths you can choose when you graduate from highschool; university, college, or even working right away. When you're doing an apprenticeship you are a worker, so you earn as you learn.

Below are some helpful links:

Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities

George Brown College Apprenticeships

Youth Canada - Apprenticeship programs

Canadian Apprenticeship trades

 

 

 

Searching for a job, try a "Job Search @ Your Fingertips" workshop

Are you looking for a job, and need some more resources for your search? The library is a good place to start. Every month North York Cental Library has a workshops called Job Search @ Your Fingertips usually on a Thursday afternoon from 2:00 - 3:30. Registration is required, you can register in the business department on the 4th floor of North York Central Library or call 416-395-5613. In these workshops online career resources are discussed, using the library website. Career related databases are also explored, such as:

 

Business Writing 

Core skills for business writing including letters, reports, emails, etc. This is a good resource for assisting with grammar especially for resumes and cover letters. This database is available anywhere with a library card.

 

Scott's Business Directories Online

Canadian company information by product, type, location, exports, demographics, contact information. This database allows you to search for companies across Canada by geographic region and many career categories. The database provides company information such as: executive names and email addresses, company websites, yearly estimated sales, company size etc. You can find companies to contact in your field for employment. This database is available anywhere with a library card.

 

Canada Employment Weekly

Canada's Largest Career Newspaper which lists full time occupation for thousands of jobs for over 80 occupations every week. Online access is available only at North York Central and Toronto Reference Library - you can ask library staff to help you.

 

 

Other libraries have many other Career & Job search related programs such as:

Resumes and Cover Letters that get Results,

Access the 80-90% of Hidden Market Jobs 

Ontario Works Information Session.

 

Click the link for other Career & Job Search programs at a branch near you.

 

Do You Want to Make a Career Change?

By: Jean

Are you unhappy with your current work situation? Or were you laid off during
the recent economic downturn? Perhaps you have been raising your family and
want to re-enter the workforce after a few years at home. Or perhaps you would just like to
find a better paying job.

It is estimated that people will change careers several times during their working
lives. As the population ages, and there are less younger workers available, the number
of years people can expect to work is increasing. We may well be contemplating a career
change in our 60's or 70's!

Making a career change can be scary, especially if you are over 40. Luckily, there are many
good resources to help you through the transition. The Toronto Public Library has books on

• assessing your interests, values and skills
• identifying and researching new careers
• how to develop new skills
• researching the hidden job market
• creating targeted resumes
• mastering the interview process
• developing internet and computer proficiencies

Have a look at these books!

       


Also, check out these websites:

Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
Service Canada
Job Bank
Working In Canada
How To Find a Job

The Power of Social Media...use it to find a job!

 

There’s no denying that the Internet can be quite intimidating, they call it the world wide web - and it is indeed wide! Sometimes when you mention social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter or MySpace people cringe and think about privacy issues or scandal - have you seen The Social Network? You’ll understand why.

However, don't underestimate the power of these sites. They aren't just for meeting and chatting with friends - they can be excellent resources especially for job seekers. Networking is one of the most important parts of a job search and social media not only makes it easier to manage contacts who can potentially help you find a job - jobs are also posted on these sites.

Recently, I was checking my email and there was something from LinkedIn which is a professional social networking site which connects you to a larger network of professional contacts and allows you to post your resume. The email said to try their new tool "Job Seeker - to get the edge in your job search". When I went in to my account  I realized that you can search for jobs and internships using keywords and even your postal code! If you don't have a LinkedIn account as a job seeker you should get one.

Twitter is a social networking and microblogging tool that is used by thousands of people every day. You have 140 characters to share a message (tweet) on your profile page, and you can "follow" other users by subscribing to read their tweets. A lot of job recruiters are now posting their profiles on twitter, and often "tweet" job postings. As a job seeker you can create a professional profile which briefly outlines your skill and use twitter to find a job.  A friend of mine who works for a law firm recently tweeted a link to a job for an admin assistant at her firm. I’ll admit that before I got a Twitter account, I was wary of all these people tweeting away staring at their smartphones- now I understand and tweet too - I've even tweeted President Barack Obama! 

So, it is important to remember to protect your privacy and if you are using these social networking sites for a job search and ensure your profiles are professional. Finding a job isn't always easy. That's why they say - looking for a job is a job in itself but using social media can help you!

Here are some books which may help:

 

 

 

 

Employment Search Engines and Job Posting Websites

There are a lot of job post websites with different features.

• Some require employers to pay to be displayed
• Others harvest jobs from a variety of job posting sites, including company career pages.
• Some have fresh still-available jobs and some have older jobs that may no longer be available.
• Some require you to apply through them and others direct you to the individual employer.

Check out these employment search engines and job posting sites to see which ones are the best for you.

Employment search engines are particularly useful. These meta search sites harvest jobs from other  websites and usually, company career pages.

They save you time and give you a broader search. Searching company career pages is an especially valuable feature.

Downsides? You may still have to search some of the specialist or important job sites as well.  And you might miss out on some features like resume posting and job searching tips that regular job posting sites offer.

Employment Search Engines

CareerJet - Searches other job posting sites. You can limit search results by Contract Type - permanent, temporary, volunteer, part-time, etc.

Eluta - Searches company career pages. Can search by postal code.

Indeed -  Searches major job boards, newspaper sites, associations and company career pages or company websites. Use Advanced Search if you want to exclude staffing companies. Use keyword telecommute to find work-at-home jobs.

Simply Hired  - Job listings from major job boards, newspapers and company career pages or company websites. Search limiters include years of experience and educational level.

Wow Jobs -  Searches more than 500 job boards, classifieds and company career sites across Canada. You can eliminate recruiters by refining the search results.

TwitterJobSearch - Searches tweets from Twitter. You can refine your search by salary, job type, etc. Some job sites tweet their jobs on Twitter.

Job-Rapido.ca  - Claims to search all jobs posted on all career sites in Canada. Includes LinkedIn, Kijiji, other employment search engines, employment agencies and company websites.

Job Posting Sites

Job posting or job advertising sites list jobs for employers.

Careerbuilder - A huge international site. The link goes to the Toronto area search page.

Charity Village  - For non-profit jobs.

CraigsList - This site does not charge employers so it is a good source of jobs with small companies or service jobs. However, be cautious. Read their personal safety tips and information on avoiding scams.

Jobboom - Includes Toronto Sun classifieds.

JobServe -  A nice feature - limit search results by salary. Incorporates JobShark.

Monster Canada  - Use the limiters to refine your search - industry, education level, salary, years of experience, job type (contract, etc.)

Service Canada Job Bank - Free job posting service for employers so a good source of entry level or service industry jobs.  Job match and other services. Youth area and summer jobs service.

Service Canada - Other Job Sites - More job sites, including employment search engines and sites for specific careers.

Working.com -  Career resources, advice and more. Includes summer jobs for students.  A Canada.com site.

Workopolis - Canada's largest site. Sections for specific careers and for professional and trade association boards. Career resources, advice and more. Includes site for students and entry level jobs.

WorkDirectory  - A reader recommended this one just as I was working on this post. It is particularly useful if you want to find jobs in a specific area of the GTA. Take a look.

Features Worth Looking For -

• Check freshness of the job openings. Have there been jobs you would want listed on the site in the last few days?
• See whether you can restrict the search to jobs closer to home.
• Check for and use features like RSS feeds or email alerts to keep you up-to-date easily.
• Check to see what you can do with search results. Email them to yourself? Save them? Can you get all the information you need to apply? Can you apply online for the job?
• Look for privacy options if you post your resume online. Can you post your resume without your name? Or hide your resume from your current employer? Can you hide your resume from staffing firms?

And don't forget to look for specialist job sites - sites that list jobs for a particular industry or occupation.

Job-Rapido.ca

Yesterday when I was looking at some job websites, I came across a list of job search engines. It included a website that was new to me - Job-Rapido. Their claim is that they "search through all jobs posted on all career sites in Canada".

I am impressed with the breadth of the search. Job-Rapido does kick up some ads but it retrieves a huge range of job sites, such as Workopolis, Kijiji, LinkedIn, and Service Canada job bank.

• Search by type of industry - for example, retail.
• Job title - accountant
• Search by skill. Here's a search for WordPress.
• Search by company name - Research in Motion, the BlackBerry people.

I found some irrelevant results from my searches because it  looks for your keyword anywhere in the record. Compare this search for CMA in Job-Rapido with Indeed.

But perhaps, there is enough to make the site worthwhile. It also identifies some interesting job search sites that you could search directly.

I have added Job-Rapido.ca to this blog post featured in the Find Your Way to Job & Career Help. 

Any comments? Do you find this job search engine useful? Does its comprehensiveness make up for its failings? Check out other job posting websites in Recommended Websites in the Toronto Public Library website.

Summer Jobs 2011

Yep, it is that time again. The government and some other employers are starting to post summer applications and deadlines. For most, you can apply online.

City of Toronto Recreation:
Work as a part-time recreation worker. Next round of job applications is due February 14, 2011.

Canada's Wonderland:
Now hiring for the 2011 season.

Ontario Place:
Apply from January through to August.

Ontario Public Service:
Student jobs will be advertised February 21, March 7, March 21 and April 11. Most positions will only be advertised for six calendar days; some positions may be extended to eleven calendar days, depending upon application volumes.

Young Canada Works:
For students and recent graduates.

Summer Company:
Deadline is May 9, 2011 or sooner if capacity is reached. Start your own business!

More Ontario jobs:
See this list from the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

Employers, the deadline for funding for summer students is set - the application period is February 1 - February 28, 2011. See the Service Canada website for information and application forms.

For more websites, check out these recommended websites on the Toronto Public Library website.

 

RegionalHelpWanted.com

RegionalHelpWanted.com contains a network of over 350 geographically focused internet job boards from across the U.S. and Canada.

You can check local job boards in Canada by clicking on Local Job Boards, Our Canada Sites. Select your city, i.e. Toronto.

Then view jobs by category or by city.

RegionalHelpWanted.com, Inc. is a subsidiary of onTargetjobs, the parent company of HEALTHeCAREERS Network, BioSpace and JobShop.ca and Hcareers. So check out these boards too:

• Hospitality, Restaurant, & Hotel Jobs in Canada from Hcareers
• Biotech Jobs from BioSpace
• Healthcare Jobs from HEALTHeCAREERS


 

Job Resources By Industry and Occupation

Looking for job searching help for your particular career or profession? Check out these websites that list employment search resources and job posting sites for specific careers or industries.

Toronto Public Library Website, Recommended Websites

• Use the filters on the left to limit the websites to your occupation.
• Check out the general sites in the list too.

Service Canada offers a list of sector specific job websites.

Workopolis has two tools for you

• Niche Network lists more than 100 association-supported job boards in Canada and the U.S. For some, you must be a member of that association.
• You can also browse jobs by occupation in Workopolis.

Skills for Change has a handy list of resources for specific occupations.

If you know of some other good lists, please use the comment form to tell us about them!