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Job Search WorkshopInuvialuit Career

Centre

April 2006

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Agenda • Market the Product - YOU• Where Are The Jobs?• Types of Work• Job Search Techniques & Tools• Work Search Plan• Follow-up Activities• Additional Help at the Inuvialuit Career Centre

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The Product is You • What are my skills, interests, knowledge?• What are my strengths?• Past achievements … you have many!• What do I have to offer an employer?• What makes me unique or different?• Anticipate employer rejection or resistance – how do you handle your emotions?

Know your product – know you!

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Where Are The Jobs? Time to Do Some Labour Market Research

• Target specific companies and industries that interest you …

• Or target key decision-makers in the department in which you would like to work

• Send a personalized cover letter and resume to this person … but before you do ask yourself

“Do I have all the required qualifications”• Follow up with a phone call

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The Visible Job Market

Did you know that only 20% of job opportunities are publicly advertised?

• Newspaper Classifieds, • Job Banks, Job Boards• Employment Agencies• Professional Associations• Career Centres like the Inuvialuit Career Centre

So where are the other 80%?

CLASSIFIED Help Wanted

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The Hidden Job MarketRepresents 80% of the jobs not being advertised

elsewhere.

Reach them by:• Networking• Targeted employer networking• Informational interviews• Volunteering • Trade journals/Publications/Libraries• Business directories

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How Employers Prefer to Hire

Most Employers Start Here

Adapted from: Nell Smith Career Services & Richard Bolles “What Color is Your Parachute?”

Ads

Employment Agencies

Cold Calls/Walk-ins

Existing Resumes

Friends of people they know

People they know/colleagues

Most Job Seekers Start

Here

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Types of WorkFull-time Work

• More than 30 hours per week

Part-time Work

• Less than 30 hours per week

Job Sharing

• When two people share one full-time position

Temporary Work

• Often obtained through

an agency

• Can be the first step to a full-time position

Contract Work

• Contracting to work for a specific period of time or for a specific

project

Casual/On Call

• Filling in when needed, often on short notice

Seasonal Work

• A season of steady work followed by a period of

unemployment

Telecommuting

• Working from home using technology

Volunteering

• Offering knowledge, time and experience without

repayment

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Networking

• Put together a list of your personal and professional contacts

• Let them know about your job search and ask for referrals to anyone they know who may be able to help

• Start with a letter or e-mail and follow up with a more personal call or meeting

• Cultivate your network throughout your career

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Targeted Networking

• Target specific companies and industries that interest you

• Target key decision-makers in the department in which you would like to work

• Send a personalized cover letter and resume to this person

• Follow up with a phone call

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Volunteering

• Donate your time, knowledge and experience to an organization

• Opportunity to network• Explore a new field of work• Many organizations offer training for

volunteers – learn new skills• Get work experience and references

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Informational Interviewing

• Arrange a time to talk with people who work in your field of interest. The goal is to get valuable information for your work search – advice, contacts, leads

• Remember, you are not asking for a job, but merely exploring options

• Do your homework

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Informational Interview Telephone Call

Good Afternoon ___________________.

My name is ____________________, I am in the process of exploring my work options and right now I am seeking advice and information on ___________________.

I would really appreciate any time you can give me to answer my questions. If this is possible, when would be an appropriate time for us to get together?

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Work Search Plan

Identify what you need … and then decide what tools you will use for a successful job search?

• A cover letter & resume• A daily/weekly work search plan• And an employer contact list

Job Search

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Today’s To Do List

Monday Create an employer contact list

Place 2 information calls

Write some customized cover letters and resumes

TuesdaySchedule informational interviews

Practice what I’m going to say

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Job Finding Tips

Use a variety of methods to locate work possibilities

If you are unemployed consider your job search to be a full time job

Let EVERYONE know about your job search

Watch and listen

Visit the Inuvialuit Career Centre

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Job Search Success

Your success for job search requires:

Time Effort

Creativity Positive Attitude

Patience Training

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Don’t Give Up But Do Your Share!

Did you know that the most qualified candidate doesn’t always get the job …

It’s usually the person with the best work search skills!

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Additional Information

• Online Inuvialuit Career Centre Links

• NWT Careers Homepage (Career Development, Employment & Labour)

• Service Canada

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Thank You

April 2006