Job Search

Job Seeking During COVID-19

March 23, 2020

“Should I keep looking for a new job with all of this going on?”

If this thought has crossed your mind at some point since the coronavirus pandemic began, you’re not alone. In the midst of all the economic uncertainty, it is normal to wonder if you should put your job search on hold or keep looking.

Now is not the time to stop. We do not have a crystal ball to predict how things will change in the next few months. However, we can provide career and employment supports so that you can develop more skills, confidence, and direction regarding your career path.

What The Work Place can help with:

Assistance to develop/fine tune your job search skills: resume, cover letter, interview skills (including digital interviewing), LinkedIn Profile, and networking.

Resources/assessments to identify and/or develop your work-related skills.

Career planning

Website links to updated government and community information.

The Government of Alberta has directed us to cease in-person services; therefore, our office doors are closed until further notice. The Work Place will continue to provide employment support services to job seekers by phone and/or other technologies.

For more information about Transition to Employment Services, contact Joyce Black, Transition to Employment Services Employment Consultant at 780-539-5477 or email joyce.black@gpworkplace.ca

If you would like information about Job Placement Services, please phone 780-539-5477 or email info@gpworkplace.ca

Our website is www.gpworkplace.ca

The Alberta Health Services webpage provides overall COVID-19 information, including how to adjust your home and workplace to address the pandemic:

https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page16997.aspx

The Work Place is privileged to serve you and is committed to providing employment supports during this time of uncertainty. We will continue to keep you updated with information regarding our services.

Denise Carlson and The Work Place team

Service Delivery Adjusted During COVID-19

March 20, 2020

The Work Place continues to offer services to job seekers and employers.

While countries across the world continue to navigate the uncertainty of COVID-19, The Work Place is committed to supporting your job search needs and provide continuity of service. We want you to know that the health and safety of job seekers, staff and our community is of utmost importance.

The Government of Alberta has ordered us from providing in-person services; therefore, our office doors are closed.

The Work Place will continue to provide employment support services to job seekers by phone and/or other technologies.

For more information about Transition to Employment Services, contact Joyce Black, Transition to Employment Services Employment Consultant at 780-539-5477 or email joyce.black@gpworkplace.ca

If you would like information about Job Placement Services, please phone 780-539-5477 or email info@gpworkplace.ca

Business As Usual At The Work Place

March 13, 2020

At The Work Place, we are closely monitoring the ever-changing events related to the COVID-19 outbreak and are taking a cautious, yet sensible approach to our response at this time.

We are very grateful that we are in an area where the risk is still considered low. However, we believe it is our responsibility to reduce the risk. In addition to our regular cleaning and sanitizing routines, we have increased the amount of times that multi-touch surfaces are sanitized.

Our current services are operating as usual while incorporating enhanced health and safety expectations. If things change, information will be posted on our website and Facebook page.

We are continuously monitoring the situation, and will provide updates as new information become available.

For additional information on COVID-19, please refer to the following website

https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page16997.aspx

Upcoming Phone Interview?

February 26, 2020

Preparing for an upcoming job interview can be daunting enough without any variation in the expected format.

Most meetings with a prospective employer occur in-person, usually with two to three people asking questions. However, in today’s ever-mobile workforce and fast-paced business environments, you may be asked to participate in interviews that are not in-person.

In our August 29 blog, we provided advice on how to prepare for a video/Skype/Zoom interview: https://bit.ly/2SWZUf6. Here, we will provide some guidance on how to succeed with a phone interview.

Jessica Hernandez, CPBS, CSBA, Executive Resume Writer, in the Jacksonville, Florida area, is a great resource for job search and career advancement advice.

In a recent LinkedIn post, she provided the following guidance and related infographic:

“One of my favorite tips to help with phone interviews is to create a “talking points” outline.

These are key points you want to cover in the interview. This can include: – Position and industry-specific accomplishments. – Unique assets you possess as an employee. – Information about the company that you learned from your research that ties into your skills, abilities, and qualifications.

Here are a few other tips to help you with your phone interview:

Anticipate the conversation — think about the questions you might be asked and the key points to include in your answers.
Prepare a list of questions to practice for the phone interview.
Prepare questions ahead of time that you will ask in the interview.
Tape record the practice call so you can identify areas to improve. Practice speaking concisely and clearly. Many people are surprised to hear how they sound on the phone.
Convey your enthusiasm during the phone interview — which can be done through your voice pitch, tone, and volume.”

Here’s a great article on preparing for a phone interview: https://globalnews.ca/news/4048287/phone-interview-job-tips/

And here’s more great advice: https://www.monster.ca/career-advice/article/mastering-the-phone-interview-canada

https://www.randstad.ca/job-seeker/career-resources/job-interviews/tips-for-telephone-interviews/

https://www.bcjobs.ca/blog/8-things-remember-your-phone-interview/

Staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can guide eligible unemployed or underemployed clients (visit www.gpworkplace.ca for details) on how to update their resume and cover letters and participate in an interview of any kind.

They can also assist you with your other job search tools and ensure you’re using all the resources available to you, including accessing potential training opportunities (see contact details below). Your strategies may include updating or acquiring new skills.

Although phone interviews have their own nuances, the basics are the same. In addition to doing your research and having your own questions prepared, though, you’ll want to be sure you have a quiet space and a charged phone – ideally you’ll have a landline to avoid distractions.

Essentially, you want to treat this interview just as you would an in-person meeting. Make sure your personality comes through and that you’re ready to wow your prospective next employer.

If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97^th Ave., Grande Prairie.

We also help employers find qualified candidates.

Explaining A Job Loss

February 24, 2020

Becoming unemployed either through termination or a layoff can be difficult enough without your job status being raised in an interview with a prospective employer.

In this blog we discuss how to respond to questions about why you were dismissed from your previous position.

In either case, you want to remain positive while demonstrating your value and interest in being successful in a new workplace. Long gone are the days where people stay in a position for a lifetime; job upheaval is expected.

However, it’s also important to be up front about your situation without getting into any unnecessary details. A lack of honesty is likely to come back to haunt you.

If a mistake caused your dismissal, own it and recognize what you’d do differently next time. If there was a conflict with a supervisor, your tact should be about your interest in finding a good fit. Don’t badmouth a previous employer.

If you were laid off or restructured, you will likely have a document from your former employer that explains this.

Even before getting to the interview stage, don’t leave your previous employer cited on your resume as if you are still employed there.

This article discusses how to deal with questions of why you were terminated. As well, it outlines proactive steps employees can take to help them if they’re let go suddenly (for additional advice be sure to see the comments at the bottom of the article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/explaining-you-were-let-go-andrew-seaman/

Here’s advice on how to deal with scenarios of an employee being fired or laid off:

https://www.fastcompany.com/90221526/fired-or-laid-off-heres-how-to-talk-about-it-in-your-next-interview

https://www.best-job-interview.com/answer-job-interview-questions.html

https://www.zsa.ca/dealing-with-past-terminations-in-your-job-search/

Here’s advice specifically related to an employee being fired and how to respond to questions: http://careerbuilder.ca/blog/2018/11/19/how-to-explain-being-fired-to-potential-employers/

This article addresses how to deal with job termination on your resume and cover letter https://www.monster.ca/career-advice/article/job-termination-and-your-resume-canada

Regardless of the circumstance surrounding leaving your last job, your focus needs to be on finding a suitable new position. This can be challenging, particularly if you were blindsided by a layoff or dismissal beyond your control.

Take any steps necessary to help you cope with any lingering stress so that you’re ready to take on that next great position. Then be ready to put your best foot forward for that next great job.

If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97^th Ave., Grande Prairie.

We also help employers find qualified candidates.

Have 2020 Foresight In This Year’s Job Search

February 10, 2020

The Christmas tree and decorations have been put away. You’re working to reduce those extra pounds and bills that built up over the holiday season. How’s that New Year’s Resolution to make a career advancement in 2020 coming along?

Early in the year is a great time to get your job search back on track. Many companies operate on annual budgets so hiring often happens in January and February.

It’s also a great time to pull out the calendar and look at what networking opportunities are coming up. Are there any job fairs or Chamber of Commerce mixers to attend? Speaking of networking, is your LinkedIn profile up to date? Do you have a current resume? Have you spoken to your references lately?

Now that the reality of a new year has set in, it’s also important to review your goals for the year and beyond. Has anything changed since you last examined your career path? Are there training opportunities to consider? Have there been changes in your workplace that have created new possibilities for advancement?

This video discusses the importance of a fast start early in the year if you’ve got a career advancement in mind for 2020: https://bit.ly/2ObLo0s

This link provides tactics to assist your 2020 job search: https://prepcan.ca/6-tips-to-kick-start-your-job-search-in-2020/

Here are some websites that will help your research: https://careersherpa.net/best-websites-for-2020-job-search/

This link offers some great resume tips for 2020: https://careerimpressions.ca/20-resume-tips-for-2020/

Here is some generic career advancement advice, keeping in mind some of it has an American context: https://thevoiceofjobseekers.com/20-job-search-tips-to-navigate-2020-to-get-more-money/

Staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can guide eligible unemployed or underemployed clients (visit www.gpworkplace.ca for details) on how to launch a successful job search.

Ultimately, a job search requires commitment and consistency. It’s a job in itself. It’s important to develop a schedule and to be accountable to yourself. If what you’ve done in the past to find new employment hasn’t worked for you, examine new tactics to add to your toolkit.

If you’re ready to make a move in 2020, you can do this!

If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97^th Ave., Grande Prairie.

We also help employers find qualified candidates.

Transition to Employment Services Information Sessions Resume

December 20, 2019

The start of a new year is an excellent time to bolster your job search skills.

If you’re unemployed, check out an upcoming Transition to Employment Services information session at The Work Place in Grande Prairie as part of your plans.

Transition to Employment Services offers supports to assist unemployed individuals find job opportunities.

Information sessions are every Tuesday and Thursday at 11 a.m., resuming Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020 at #105, 9840-97 Avenue, Grande Prairie, Alberta.

The focus is on those who are:

Unemployed and looking to gain a competitive edge with their job search;
Lacking workplace and occupational-related skills to find their next job; and
Thinking about making a change from one occupational field to another.

Components include:

Employment and job search support, access to funding for short-term training, employment supports and referrals to employers/opportunities.

For more information, contact The Work Place at 780-539-5477. You can make enquiries at info@gpworkplace.ca.

Restructured? What next?

December 4, 2019

Right-sizing, restructuring, re-organization, company relocation.

All of these R words can mean you have found yourself out of a job. In this blog, we provide resources on how to adjust to your situation and take the next steps.

The most important thing is to take care of yourself. Airline travellers are always reminded during safety demonstrations to put themselves first before assisting anyone else should the air mask drop during the flight. Similarly, there are steps to take to take to manage your situation.

You may have feelings of anger, bitterness and a sense of loss, particularly if you’ve been caught off guard. It’s natural to feel a sense of despair and feel hurt.

You may have worked for an organization for a long time and been a loyal employee. When companies restructure, it is not about individual employees. There’s a change in direction and staff are reorganized accordingly. Don’t take it personally.

There are immediate steps to take once you’ve received your severance. Do you have the ability to obtain medical and dental coverage? Did you have a pension that needs to be addressed?

How is your personal and/or family financial situation impacted? If you have an investment advisor, it’s important to determine how best to manage any severance and if you have financial reserves, how can they be accessed, if need be.

If your former employer provides you with transitional assistance, such as career coaching, we recommend you access these. Seek out community resources should you find you’re having difficulty coping emotionally.

On a professional level, take time to assess your situation. Are you looking to return directly into the workforce? Is this a time to explore new training and education opportunities? Would you consider relocating?

If you plan to make an immediate return to the workforce, are your job search documents in order? Is your LinkedIn profile up to date?

It’s important to establish a normal routine. Seeking employment is a job in itself. Develop a work plan that includes networking.

If you’ve been restructured, here are some resources to assist you. In some of the posts, reference is made to executives. Recommended steps are generally universal:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/four-things-do-immediately-after-youve-lost-your-job-maureen/

https://findingclarity.ca/blog/bouncing-back-after-being-restructured-out-of-a-job/

https://reimer.ca/leading-edge-so-you-have-been-restructured-originally-published-in-mmd/

https://www.monster.ca/career-advice/article/your-legal-rights-following-your-canadian-job-loss

Perhaps there’s been a restructuring at your workplace, but you find yourself still employed. If you find yourself in this scenario, we recommend you review this article: https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-best-moves-to-make-if-you-hear-your-companys-restructuring

If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97^th Ave., Grande Prairie.

We also help employers find qualified candidates.

How Often Do You Change Jobs?

December 2, 2019

Should I stay or should I go?

It was a question posed by the rock band The Clash in the 1980s. It’s also one people contemplating their current job situation ask.

In this blog, we explore job turnover, average employment tenures and things to consider in determining when it’s time to change jobs.

A March 15, 2018 article in the Canadian HR Reporter quoted a LinkedIn study which showed annual turnover rate in Canada is 16 per cent, fourth highest in the world behind France (21 per cent), the United Kingdom (17.6 per cent) and Australia (17.5 per cent). The United States was 13 per cent.

In 2014, Workopolis examined 7,000,000 resumes in their resume database and determined that working-aged Canadians would work an average of 15 jobs in their careers: https://careers.workopolis.com/advice/how-many-jobs-do-canadians-hold-in-a-lifetime/

According to Statista, a statistics portal for market data, market research and market studies, the average tenure for employees in Canada is 8.5 years.

This ranges from management occupations at (12.6 years) to sales and service jobs (6.2 years) to health positions (9.5 years) to trades, and transportation and equipment operators and related occupations (8.2 years). See full 2018 analysis here: https://www.statista.com/statistics/439028/multiple-jobholders-canada/

The statistics in Alberta vary from these, according to the March 2018 issue of the Alberta Government’s Labour Market Insights newsletter: “The average job tenure in Alberta has increased in the last three years, from 88.2 weeks in 2014 to 91.4 weeks in 2017 (essentially 1.5 to almost two years). The increase has been concentrated in young (those aged 15 to 24) and prime-age (aged 25 to 44) workers.

“Since 2014, job tenure among young workers and prime-aged workers has risen in Alberta 2.2 weeks and 5.4 weeks, respectively, while tenure for older workers (aged 45 and over) has been virtually unchanged.”

These are interesting figures. For all of us, the question is how often should you change jobs? There’s always that thought of the dream job awaiting us. On the other hand, you don’t want to be seen as randomly hopping jobs by prospective employers.

When considering a career move, are you doing so for greater learning opportunities, more responsibility or additional training possibilities? Is better pay motivating your job search? Have you found you are stuck in a rut or in a challenging or toxic work environment?

Having several jobs over a short amount of time does not send up the same red flags it once did. Employers recognize that we have an increasingly mobile workforce that may involve one member of a couple being transferred or being attracted to a job in another community. Layoffs, restructuring or downsizing can all lead to more frequent job changes.

While job hopping may not have the same stigma attached to it, we encourage you to consider how a new position fits into your overall career strategy.

Here are some resources discussing the pros and cons of job searching and how to address career gaps on your resume.

https://www.randstad.ca/job-seeker/career-resources/job-search-tips/evaluating-your-career-should-you-stay-or-should-you-go/

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/does-job-hopping-help-or-hurt-your-career-678856113.html

https://www.hcamag.com/ca/specialization/recruitment/employers-reveal-how-they-really-feel-about-job-hopping/130262

https://talentegg.ca/incubator/2018/12/18/job-hopping/

https://www.monster.ca/career-advice/article/resume-writing-tips-for-jobhoppers-canada

Staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can guide eligible unemployed or underemployed clients (visit www.gpworkplace.ca for details) on how to address career gaps in your resume.

Adrienne Tom, an award-winning resume writer, interview coach and job search strategist in Calgary also covered the top of job hopping in a recent blog: https://careerimpressions.ca/job-hopping/

The blog links to a discussion on LinkedIn. Here are a few of the responses:

“I think it completely depends on the generational perspective you’re coming from. I have found that many folks in the older generation still view job hopping as a risk, but millennials align with the idea that changing roles can result in higher negotiations. At the end of the day, there’s no one RIGHT answer, but something that my Dad said when I was first starting my career has stayed with me: “A company will only be as loyal to you as what makes financial sense for them.” So yes, be loyal to an extent – but ultimately, you have to look out for your career. Because if you won’t, who will?” – Jena Viviano, Career Coach & Strategist, Franklin Tennessee.

Adrienne responded: “I think you’ve nailed it Jena Viviano – a person needs to look out for themselves. A successful career isn’t up to an employer, it is up to each individual. For some, this may mean staying with a right-fit employer who rewards and compensates accordingly. For others, this may mean exploring new roles that offer new opportunities, skill sets, or challenges.”

Jeanine McNulty, an HR executive in Houston Texas added, “I think there are many factors related to job hoppers that not all recruiters or hiring managers take into consideration (and I am a hiring manager, so I like to have the conversation with the applicant). Often times, the job hopping is out of their control: layoffs, closures, relocation due to spouse or other family circumstances as has been the case in my own career.

“I also see employees leaving not just because of pay but because organizations fail to promote their value within the organization through providing educational opportunities, advancement within the organization, mentoring programs, providing recognition and respect-it’s often times not about leaving for more money it’s about new challenges and opportunities for growth and being valued.”

Amir Muradali, a career and leadership coach, trainer, author and speaker, in Calgary, responded: “This is a complex topic because yes, some companies still value loyalty, and also yes, companies can see your job changes as a positive sign of ambition. Further yes, changing jobs can mean you earn higher – although that isn’t a guarantee. And yes we are in a new volatile environment with a lot more frequent layoffs, so that candidate who appears to be a job hopper from their resume isn’t by choice.”

Ana Lokotkova, Career Advisor, LinkedIn Personal Branding, Interview Coach in Calgary, commented: “Very interesting topic! I think a lot depends on the specific situation. Employers do value loyalty, but, as you mentioned, times are changing. Someone who may have been labeled as a job hopper in the past wouldn’t be labeled so today, because there is more and more project-based work, and people don’t always have a linear career progression.”

Ultimately, there are many factors to consider as you consider various job opportunities. A good question to ask yourself is whether you are looking for another job or is it a career move?

If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97^th Ave., Grande Prairie.

We also help employers find qualified candidates.

Don’t Put A Ho-ho-hold On Job Search During Holidays

November 29, 2019

The stockings are all hung by the chimney with care. Decorations fill your house with light and glitter. The presents are all neatly wrapped under the tree. Are you giving yourself the gift of a potential job opportunity in the New Year?

While the festive season is an important time to take a break from the daily grind and visit with family and friends, your job search doesn’t need to go on a complete hiatus.

There is no doubt that recruitment slows down late in the year after the rush to fill temporary seasonal retail positions is complete. However, companies never stop the hiring process. You may be able to get a leg up on competitors who let their job search go into full vacation mode for a few weeks.

Consider even smaller steps such as tuning up your resume or taking some time during holiday parties to update your colleagues on your career interests.

Speaking of networking, is your LinkedIn profile up to date?

It’s a good time to examine what’s worked well in your job search and review your goals for the year ahead.

As this article points out, it’s vital to recognize the recruitment cycles throughout the year: https://www.monster.ca/career-advice/article/understand-recruitment-cycles-ca

The importance of maintaining your job search even during the holidays is discussed in this post: https://www.vpi-inc.com/2019/11/18/keep-your-job-search-going-this-holiday-season/

In this article, you’ll learn more about how the festive season is great time to look ahead and focus on your career: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/holiday-season-time-focus-your-career-maureen/

You can sign up for a free Holiday Guide to Job Search here: https://www.jobsearchsecretweapon.com/

Staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can guide eligible unemployed or underemployed clients (visit www.gpworkplace.ca for details) on how to update their resume and cover letters.

Our office is closed between Dec.24 at noon and Jan. 2, 2020.

Kamara Toffolo, an Ottawa-based resume writer, LinkedIn consultant, job search strategist and speaker, produced this video for the 2018 holiday season and the points remain valid: https://bit.ly/2L2rVhe

Kamara creates videos directed at job seekers and shares them every Tuesday on LinkedIn. Consider following her or subscribing to her videos.

You own your career and your job search. It’s important to renew acquaintances as we head into a new year. If you’re serious about a job change in the coming months, though, we recommend you take some down time to get a head start in some way.

If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97^th Ave., Grande Prairie.

We also help employers find qualified candidates.

All posts in Job Search

Job Seeking During COVID-19

Service Delivery Adjusted During COVID-19

Business As Usual At The Work Place

Upcoming Phone Interview?

Explaining A Job Loss

Have 2020 Foresight In This Year’s Job Search

Transition to Employment Services Information Sessions Resume

Restructured? What next?

How Often Do You Change Jobs?

Don’t Put A Ho-ho-hold On Job Search During Holidays

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