Job Search

Career New Year’s Resolutions

January 14, 2021

By now, some people who made New Year’s Resolutions to get in shape, quit smoking, to eat healthier, or to find a better work-life balance are already struggling to follow through on them.

If you committed to updating your resume, doing more networking, taking an online course, or applying to a targeted number of jobs, it’s important to maintain your momentum so your career-related goals aren’t derailed even before they’ve got underway.

Just as arising early to work out can become a struggle, it isn’t easy to stay on target with job search goals or a desire to advance in your career – especially as we near a full year since the pandemic began.

In this blog, we provide a range of resources to help keep you on target. In exercise terminology, you’ll find these ideas to be mostly low impact actions that are particularly suitable as we continue to feel the impact of COVID-19.

They do touch on activities such as reviewing resumes and networking along with steps you can incorporate into your daily life to serve as building blocks to career self-improvement.

There are also some good carryover suggestions from 2020.

Here To Serve You

At The Work Place in Grande Prairie, we are happy to help you get your 2021 job search off to a great start, whether you’re applying for a job you just saw advertised or you have some longer term career goals to discuss.

While our physical office is closed, we continue to operate virtually to assist job seekers with a variety of services at no charge.

One-to-one employment counselling services and workshops are available via phone, email or video-based technologies such as Zoom.

Staff can help unemployed and underemployed individuals assess how they can address career decision making, including new skills and training they may want to consider.

Enquiries can be made by calling 780-539-5477. One of our Employment Coaches will be happy to provide you information on our services. You can also email us at info@gpworkplace.ca. Our website is www.gpworkplace.ca

Check out these links to help maintain your 2021 career resolutions.

5 Easy New Year’s Resolutions for Your Career | The Muse

https://www.jobillico.com/blog/en/10-professional-new-years-resolutions/

https://ca.topresume.com/career-advice/17-new-years-career-resolutions-youll-be-able-to-keep

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/top-10-resolutions-for-your-possible-new-year-1918770

https://www.randstad.ca/job-seeker/career-resources/career-development/11-work-related-new-years-resolutions-to-try/

https://hiring.monster.ca/employer-resources/workforce-management/improving-employee-relations/useful-work-resolutions-for-employers-ca/

https://www.vault.com/blogs/general-articles/2020-new-years-resolutions-for-your-career

Keeping On Track

We’re here to help you wherever you are in your job search. You’re more likely to find success by being consistent in your actions, whether it’s tailoring your resume to specific positions, applying for openings on time, following up on leads, networking, or simply maintaining a schedule of activities.

If you’re seeking employment now, we’re happy to be a partner in your efforts to find that next great job.

Free Virtual Transition To Employment Info Session

January 12, 2021

Are you:

Unemployed and looking to gain a competitive edge with navigating your online job search?
Needing training and skills development to find your next job?
Wanting to access tools and information to make you more marketable?
Needing individualized career coaching and personalized direct job matching?
Thinking about making a career transition from one occupational field to another?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, plan to attend the upcoming Virtual Information Session to learn about components, eligibility criteria and how to register for services.

This 30-minute online Zoom session will be held on Thursday, January 14, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.

For registration information, enquiries can be directed to Joyce Black at 780-539-5477, press 3

Transition to Employment Services offers supports, at no charge, to assist unemployed individuals find job opportunities.

For more detailed information about Transition to Employment Services and The Work Place, visit our website at www.gpworkplace.ca.

The Province of Alberta is working in partnership with the Government of Canada to provide employment support programs and services.

Job Search Outlook for 2021

January 5, 2021

No one can predict the future with certainty, especially with a pandemic carrying forward into a new year.

We can be sure, however, that attributes and attitudes that helped employees weather the storm over the past few months will be of high value in the job market in 2021.

People often talk about being able to pivot. How did they handle working from home in 2020?

The phrase results-oriented is often found on resumes. How did those seeking employment produce tangible outcomes despite the pandemic? How well did learning Zoom go for anyone laying claim to being adept with technology?

In this blog, we look at trends job seekers can expect this year and provide some resources on how to answer the questions above and other enquiries they may face about adapting to a work year like no other.

We also look at other factors to consider as you seek new employment in the coming months.

Adrienne Tom, the president and chief executive resume strategist at Career Impressions in Calgary, is routinely referenced in our blogs.

She produced a recent blog addressing trends for executive job searches. However, the insights and advice are very transferrable to any job seeker. It also contains thoughts of several other employment experts in North America: https://careerimpressions.ca/executive-resume-trends-for-2021/

At The Work Place in Grande Prairie, we follow employment trends closely and are happy to help you adjust your resume and job search documents to meet changes in the job market.

While our physical office is closed, we continue to operate virtually to assist job seekers with a variety of services at no charge.

One-to-one employment counselling services and workshops are available via phone, email or video-based technologies such as Zoom.

Staff can help unemployed and underemployed individuals assess how they can address career decision making, including new skills and training they may want to consider.

More on Trends

Here’s an article from a Toronto recruitment agency that looks at job market trends for the year ahead: https://www.iqpartners.com/blog/5-hiring-trends-to-look-out-for-in-2021/

This article looks at job market developments, particularly from a technology perspective: https://www.hcamag.com/ca/specialization/hr-technology/hr-tech-trends-of-2021-four-key-areas-to-watch/241890

Check out this link for some factors to consider when you’re thinking of a job change during a tumultuous time: https://www.hays.ca/en/blogs/-/blogs/how-to-change-jobs-during-a-crisis

Job Search Tips For New Year

You’ll find these articles to be of interest for your overall job search preparation:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleystahl/2020/12/14/5-tips-to-find-and-land-a-new-job-in-2021/?sh=743c5f6d5d66

https://www.fool.com/personal-finance/2020/11/19/want-a-new-job-in-2021-do-these-6-things/

https://www.gobankingrates.com/money/jobs/things-to-do-get-jump-on-job-search-this-year/

https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/prepare-2021-job-search-002007226.html

Reviewing Your Resume

Here are some resources that specifically address changing your resume to fit the new year:

https://bit.ly/37nzDhB

https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/skills-on-your-resume-you-need-to-highlight-for-2021

https://www.offtheclockresumes.com/blog/21-resume-tips-for-2021

Looking ahead

These resources explore skills and jobs that will be in demand in the years ahead: https://www.trade-schools.net/ca/articles/careers-in-demand

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/in-demand-skills

Here To Serve You

If you’re currently in the job market, we wish you the best and look forward to helping you land that next great job.

All I Want For Christmas Is …

December 22, 2020

Is finding new employment atop your list for Santa this year? If so, you’re probably wondering if you should continue your job search over the holidays.

The answer is yes! In this blog, we provide resources to help you continue your activity.

While taking a break and family time are more important than ever in 2020 and COVID-19 restrictions rule out traditional in-person networking, you shouldn’t lose momentum in your efforts to land a new position.

Companies never stop hiring, especially if they are looking to fill a position before the end of a budget. You may be able to get a leg up on competitors who have gone into full holiday mode. Some may actually think there’s no point in looking for a job during the festive season because of the pandemic.

While there’s no doubt hiring slows down after seasonal positions are filled, there are several meaningful ways to keep active in your job search and many good reason to do so. These include anything from updating your resume to reaching out to contacts on LinkedIn or touching base with former colleagues via email and letting them your career plans.

It’s also a great time to reflect on what’s been working for you in terms of getting responses and what new tactics you might try.

We reference the work of Kamara Toffolo routinely. She’s an Ottawa-based job search strategist, resume writer and LinkedIn consultant who regularly shares timely videos on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Check out this video from earlier this month for some timely advice on job search tips for this holiday season: https://bit.ly/3mqRzfb

At The Work Place in Grande Prairie, we can assist you with questions about your job search now or at any time of year. While our physical office is closed, we continue to operate virtually to assist job seekers with a variety of services at no charge.

One-to-one employment counselling services and workshops are available via phone, email or video-based technologies such as Zoom.

Staff can help unemployed and underemployed individuals assess how they can address career decision making, including new skills and training they may want to consider.

Note: Our office is closed for the holidays starting December 24 and re-opening January 4.

Here are some other resources to help you in your holiday job search:

This link references physical gatherings which are not possible in Alberta, but offers other useful advice: https://careersherpa.net/pandemic-holiday-job-search-4-things-you-can-do/

This article has some good discussion on how to capitalize even more on LinkedIn at this time: https://www.vpi-inc.com/2020/11/30/3-holiday-job-search-tips/

You’ll find some great ideas in this link on activities you can pursue that will help you be better prepared for your job search in 2021: https://www.themuse.com/advice/5-productive-painfree-ways-to-job-search-during-the-holidays-without-turning-into-the-grinch

Here are more holiday job hunting tips, including volunteering as a way of skill building: https://ca.topresume.com/career-advice/how-to-search-for-a-new-job-during-the-holidays

https://ca.topresume.com/career-advice/how-to-search-for-a-new-job-during-the-holidays

As you can see, there is a little or a lot you can be doing to keep your job search going during the holidays, depending on your employment needs. If you’re more about testing the waters in the months ahead, this can be a time of preparation, research and updating your job search documents. If you’re looking to find a job soon, then there are steps that you can take to improve your chances right away.

We extend best wishes for your job search and look forward to providing services that help you find that next great job.

What Are Your Transferrable Skills?

December 15, 2020

If you’re in the job market today or seeking a career advancement, it’s more important than ever to identify and capitalize on transferrable skills.

In this blog, we’ll explore this topic and share resources on what this can mean for you as you look for a new employment or to find growth in your current workplace.

Essentially, transferrable skills are attributes that you use in your job now or have in past roles that can be transported to a related position or even a different industry or position altogether. Considering these types of skills will be key as you update your resume and cover letter and prepare for interviews.

Employers want to know what makes you stand out from others, particularly if they have to decide between two highly qualified candidates. Focusing on transferrable skills can broaden your mindset on what kinds of duties you can take on and even what work you most enjoy doing.

Some examples are:

Teamwork
Leadership
Organization and time management
Written and oral communication skills
Research, analysis and numeracy abilities
Flexibility
Adaptability
Relationship building and dealing with people
Problem solving

They can also be hard skills that are more tangible such as technology capabilities or competency in speaking multiple languages.

This first resource is very timely. It’s a recent article containing a video that’s particularly useful for anyone looking for a job as a result of COVID-19: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/transferable-skills

You’ll find many more examples of transferrable skills in the resources below and how to identify them.

Now of course, it’s crucial that you have strong examples of how you have put these transferrable skills to use. It’s not enough to say … I work well as part of a team. You’ll need to illustrate how your ability to collaborate with colleagues resulted in a success for your organization.

As with any statement you make about your abilities and abilities, having strong examples is key.

A good way of determining what transferrable skills will be important for you to highlight is reviewing recent job postings of interest. Don’t overlook experiences from past volunteer roles or your educational background.

At The Work Place in Grande Prairie, we can help you identify your transferrable skills and offer job seekers a variety of other services at no charge.

While our physical office is closed, we continue to operate virtually to provide services to clients.

One-to-one employment counselling services and workshops are available via phone, email or video-based technologies such as Zoom.

Staff can help unemployed and underemployed individuals assess how they can address career decision making, including new skills and training they may want to consider.

Check out these articles for more guidance:

Transferable Skills: A Job Seeker’s Guide | The Muse

https://www.skillsyouneed.com/general/transferable-skills.html

https://pwp.vpl.ca/siic/job-search-resources/transferable-skills/

https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/transferable-skills/

https://www.livecareer.com/resources/resumes/basics/transferable-skills-set

https://www.resumecoach.com/transferable-skills-resume/

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/transferable-skills-list-525490

If you’re seeking employment now, best wishes for your success. We look forward to helping you with your resume, cover letter or by providing any of our services or resources that can help you land that opportunity.

TRANSITION TO EMPLOYMENT SERVICES – VIRTUAL INFORMATION SESSION

December 4, 2020

Are you:

Unemployed and looking to gain a competitive edge with navigating your online job search?
Needing training and skills development to find your next job?
Wanting to access tools and information to make you more marketable?
Needing individualized career coaching and personalized direct job matching?
Thinking about making a career transition from one occupational field to another?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, plan to attend the upcoming Virtual Information Session to learn about components, eligibility criteria and how to register for services.

This 30-minute online Zoom session will be held on Thursday, December 10, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.

To attend, please register at: https://bit.ly/2JJLJIt

Registrants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Transition to Employment Services offers supports, at no charge, to assist unemployed individuals find job opportunities.

For more detailed information about Transition to Employment Services and The Work Place, visit our website at www.gpworkplace.ca.

Information enquires can be directed to Joyce Black at 780-539-5477, press 3, or joyce.black@gpworkplace.ca

The Province of Alberta is working in partnership with the Government of Canada to provide employment support programs and services.

Don’t Count Yourself Out!

November 19, 2020

Jennifer was excited to find a job advertisement on an employer’s website that suited her perfectly. She couldn’t wait to apply. However, within hours, the posting was taken down and Jennifer was discouraged.

She wondered what could have happened for the posting to get removed so quickly. Was this a legitimate opportunity?

Could the company have just been fishing? Did they just get enough qualified resumes in a short time and decide to close the floodgates?

Had Jennifer missed out on a great opportunity? What should she do?

Jennifer is a client of The Work Place in Grande Prairie. Our Employment Consultant recommended she call the company to see if she could still submit a resume.

Jennifer followed the advice. The receptionist spoke to the hiring manager to see if Jennifer would still be given the opportunity apply for the position. The answer was yes, and she submitted her resume immediately.

In these links, you’ll see there are several reasons that a job posting could be removed. It doesn’t mean reason for despair for someone who really wanted to apply for the position: https://www.quora.com/If-the-job-posting-was-taken-off-the-website-does-that-mean-someone-has-already-accepted-the-position

http://workcoachcafe.com/2015/05/13/why-did-they-take-down-that-job-posting/

At The Work Place in Grande Prairie, we can assist you with questions about the application process and offer job seekers a variety of other services at no charge.

While our physical office is closed, we continue to operate virtually to provide services to clients.

One-to-one employment counselling services and workshops are available via phone, email or video-based technologies such as Zoom.

Staff can help unemployed and underemployed individuals assess how they can address career decision making, including new skills and training they may want to consider.

Of course, it’s ideal to apply within the time frame specified in a job ad and not be in the habit of submitting applications late.

While you can say that you just saw the ad after it expired, it’s important to be on top of relevant job postings so you can be prepared for the entire process, including a call for an interview, which can occur before the competition has closed.

That being said, you don’t want to be in a ‘what if’ situation, forever questioning what would’ve happened if you’d applied late for a job opening.

Here are a couple of resources should you find yourself interested in a vacancy where the posting has either been up for a long time or expired.

http://www.prepary.com/apply-to-an-old-job-posting/

https://bit.ly/2HpJr0l

https://www.themuse.com/advice/can-you-get-away-with-submitting-a-job-application-late

Job seekers often wonder what they should do for follow up once they’ve submitted their applications. Here are some resources to consider:

https://careers.workopolis.com/advice/how-to-follow-up-with-hiring-managers-and-not-look-insane/

https://www.adecco.ca/en-ca/blog/2019/may/how-to-follow-up-after-an-interview/

If you’re currently seeking employment, we extend best wishes to you and look forward to helping you find that next great job.

Virtual Job Hub Focuses on Social/Community/Education Positions

November 17, 2020

Job seekers in Grande Prairie and area interested in working in the social/community/education sectors can gain a wealth of information about employment in these areas from local organizations by tuning into a free Virtual Job Hub.

The Work Place has partnered with Alberta Labour and Immigration to offer this online session on November 25 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. To attend, please register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0vcu6rrTkpE90JzD6ZbNMJK3s2NuMyL6Ei

Registrants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Sign up early for this event as attendance is limited to 30 people.

Representatives from four local employers will provide:

An overview of their organization;
Information regarding job areas within their company;
Details on the skills potential employees should have;
Specifics of their recruitment processes; and
Benefits of working with their organization.

Featured presenters include:

Mira Bolger, Human Resources Assistant, Grande Prairie Public School District
Jennifer Oliver, Employment Coordinator, Signature Support Services
Emma Halling, Human Resources Coordinator, Mountain Plains Community Services Society of the North
Lindsay Loset, Community-Based Health and STBBI Program Manager, Northreach Harm Reduction & HIV Support.

Information enquires can be directed to Nevin Bakir at 780-539-5477, press 5, or nevin.bakir@gpworkplace.ca

Handling Awkward Interview Questions

November 10, 2020

Hands up, who hasn’t been asked in a job interview where you plan to be in five years? How about, what is your greatest weakness? We all have!

Being well prepared for meetings with potential employers is important. You’re also well advised to be ready for enquiries that have little to do with what kind of fit you may be or that are directly related to your possible new job. Some may border on being irrelevant, inappropriate or even outright illegal.

As a job candidate, you want your interview to go smoothly and answer all the questions as accurately as possible. In this blog, we share some examples of interview questions which can trip you up and how to handle them.

Some interview questions can appear to be quite innocent and may be well intentioned, though are overused. For example, the enquiry about where you plan to be in five years could be meant to determine if you’re a goal setter. It can also be used to evaluate if you plan to stay in the company long term or even be directed towards family planning – the latter being a no-no.

At The Work Place in Grande Prairie, we can assist you with interview preparation. While our physical office is closed, we continue to operate virtually to assist job seekers with a variety of services at no charge.

One-to-one employment counselling services and workshops are available via phone, email or video-based technologies such as Zoom.

Staff can help unemployed and underemployed individuals assess how they can address career decision making, including new skills and training they may want to consider.

Here are some examples of tricky interview questions and how you can respond:

https://www.prdaily.com/the-worst-most-nefarious-interview-questions-and-how-to-answer-them/?utm_source=RDH&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=RDH+(2020-09-30)&utm_content=article+title&utm_term=3&oly_enc_id=6133H1706801F1A

https://blog.stafflink.ca/recruiting-tips/how-to-answer-the-most-awkward-interview-questions

https://www.randstad.ca/job-seeker/career-resources/job-interviews/how-to-ace-17-challenging-interview-questions/

http://www.sfu.ca/olc/stories/topic/dirty-dozen-interview-questions-part-i

https://www.best-job-interview.com/job-interview-answers.html

You may have encountered outright illegal interview questions. Here are some examples: https://www.monster.ca/career-advice/article/how-to-respond-illegal-interview-questions

This article is directed at career counselling professionals to advise their clients on how to deal with illegal and inappropriate questions: https://careerprocanada.ca/handling-inappropriate-interview-questions/

We reference the work of Kamara Toffolo routinely. She’s an Ottawa-based job search strategist, resume writer and LinkedIn consultant who regularly shares topical videos on LinkedIn and Twitter.

She presented a webinar on Oct. 17 with career coach, speaker and trainer Diana YK Chan on preparing for interviews. Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3oqi2fd

If you’re currently seeking employment or advancement in your career, we extend our best wishes for success and look forward to helping you find that next great job.

Another Resource for Job Seekers

October 26, 2020

The Work Place has added another resource to its toolkit of services for unemployed and underemployed individuals in Grande Prairie and area.

We’re now one of two locations in Alberta – and four in Western Canada – to join Northstar Digital Literacy, developed in response to the needs of job seekers who may lack the digital literacy skills required to seek, obtain, and retain employment.

Communication and accessing information is increasingly through Internet platforms, social media and mobile devices. Success in today’s work environment and everyday living is also heavily dependent on performing basic tasks on computers.

Joining North Star (https://www.digitalliteracyassessment.org/) allows us to proctor assessments for digital literacy and provide our clients with access to online training modules that offer basic skills in key areas required in today’s workplace.

Modules focus on three key areas:

Essential Computer Skills – Computer and Internet Basics, Email, Windows and Mac Operating Systems
Essential Software Skills – Word, Excel, PowerPoint
Using Technology to Accomplish Tasks – Social Media, Information Literacy (the ability to find and use relevant information), Employment Search Skills, and Your Digital Footprint (being aware of what you post online)

Participants receive certificates when proctored modules are completed.

This new offering is just one of the resources/assessments we provide to identify and/or develop your work-related skills.

The Work Place provides a wide range of services to clients at no charge via phone, video technology and email, including:

One-to-one employment coaching services are available via phone and/or Zoom meetings;
Access to employment-related workshops, including Employment Café (information on labour market trends, projects, and job leads) and Job Hub (connecting employers and job seekers);
Assistance to develop/fine tune your job search skills and documents: resume, cover letter, interview skills (including digital interviewing), online job search, LinkedIn Profile, and networking; and
Information on community resources in Grande Prairie.

Our Employment Specialist continues to work with employers to meet their immediate hiring needs and search out job opportunities for clients.

We regularly post blogs highlighting job search resources and upcoming job-related events on the What’s New section of our website, Facebook and Facebook accounts.

For information and access to employment services including Job Placement or Transition to Employment please call 780-539-5477 or email info@gpworkplace.ca

The Work Place is committed to caring for the health and safety of our clients, staff and the community while maintaining our dedication to provide quality employment services.

Our website is www.gpworkplace.ca

All posts in Job Search

Career New Year’s Resolutions

Free Virtual Transition To Employment Info Session

Job Search Outlook for 2021

All I Want For Christmas Is …

What Are Your Transferrable Skills?

TRANSITION TO EMPLOYMENT SERVICES – VIRTUAL INFORMATION SESSION

Don’t Count Yourself Out!

Virtual Job Hub Focuses on Social/Community/Education Positions

Handling Awkward Interview Questions

Another Resource for Job Seekers

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