by Laurie Dillman October 12, 2022
The purpose of this blog is to offer advice to folks who want to get a job but don’t know where to start. After interpreting these articles, the reader will gain new insights into the Canadian labour market system, in order to make better career and job application decisions.
Getting Organized
Starting a career is a little like baking a cake. There are some folks who can wing it, but the majority of us look for a good recipe before starting out. A good recipe is one that consistently works because it always turns out a favourable product. One recipe that I subscribe to as a job coach and employment instructor requires the job seeker to explore the big picture right from the start.
The Big Picture
The following is a list of Ingredients that are all part of the employment seeker's BIG picture within Canada's medium to large-sized labour markets:
· Labor Market Research
· Employer Research
· Self-Assessments
· Resume
· Cover Letter
· Job Posting
· List of connections (network)
· Editor
· Willing friend to practice with
Research shows us that roughly 20% of the people who are working in Canada were not born here. Since the Canadian Labor Market is a tricky system for most Canadians to navigate, imagine how hard it must be for new residents. Globalization and entrepreneurship are two key factors driving employment barriers for new and existing job seekers. Globalization has opened up the playing field; in addition, entrepreneurship is making it increasingly hard for local job seekers in medium to large communities to develop relationships with potential employers.
While it is exciting to think that living and working anywhere in the world is possible, navigating a new labour market system is always a tricky endeavour that requires a great deal of research and patience. As a volunteer job coach and employment strategies instructor, I have assisted many people with their job searches, both in and outside this community and country. I have learned to recognize the flaws in Canada’s labour market system and ways to assist people to leverage their strengths in ways that appreciate these flaws.
What is one flaw that you have found with your local labour market system and how does it impact how you approach applying for a job? Stay tuned for further articles on this subject.
Resources: https://www.statcan.gc.ca/en/subjects-start/immigration_and_ethnocultural_diversity/immigrants_and_nonpermanent_residents
Coming up: Conducting Effective Labor Market Research.
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