Looking for work - aargh!!
 

Hi guys not posted for a while - life and stuff!! To cut a long story short I've been looking for work for over a year now, I must apply for 3-5 jobs per week and have had the total amount of 2 interviews!! My canadian friend has checked over my Resume and says it's great, so just wondering what the heck do I have to do to get a decent job. In UK I was an Admin Supervisor with over 20 years experience in all aspects of admin/salesand purchase ledger I can't even get a poxy office job and it's driving me crazy. :( Any tips, advice anything basically to help!! I'm at home all day with my son who's 3 so it's difficult to go knocking on doors - most of my job searching is done through the internet but am now at the point where I'm just about ready to crack up. Sure my hubby thinks there's something seriously wrong with me :D Look forward to your thoughts :)

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

1) Apply for 30-50
2) Think outside the box (if you arent already)

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

Must have applied for hundreds and hundreds so far!! Only problem is there aren't that many out there at the moment!

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

You will need to arrange some sort of care for a 3 year old anyway if you land a job, so maybe its worth considering leaving him with someone for a few hours while job seeking? Using only the internet will limit your chances, word of mouth and resumes on file already will usually fill a job here long before its posted online Im afraid.

Its not the easiest time to be looking for work...

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

Try talking to a recruiting agency, with a view to sitting down over a coffee with someone to see if you're doing something wrong. I found them to be quite open to informal meetings.

I suspect that your weakness is that lots of other people do what you do, and they've got experience in doing it here. You may need to dumb-down your resume.

I went through what you are going through for over two years. I never found a job with a Canadian employer.

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

I was being nasty Michelle :o

Just checked your location (properly) and I imagine if the reports of economic doom are even 50% correct there wont be many jobs around. I know the saturday job supplement in the Herald is way down now (3/4 pages down from 10+) and I honestly dont think things are THAT here, so yeah it cant be easy where you are.

Wish you luck. :fingerscrossed:

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

Thanks guys! Guess I'll just keep plodding on might look into doing some further education will keep you posted:)

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

I think there are a lot of us in the same boat as you at the moment. I have been looking for an office based job for 18 months, apply for just about everything that comes along but not so much as an interview yet. At the moment there aren't any even to apply for. Its frustrating and depressing but it's just the way it is so keep trying and good luck.

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

I'm unskilled worker in Canada and I can tell you it is very hard to find work. I think I apply for about 1500-2000 jobs all over the country this when there was tons and tons of employment. I gave up and made employment for myself. I stated an ebay business within 3 years I was doing the hiring. I've Never looked back since. The point I'm trying to make is to forget about what you used to be and start looking at what other jobs you can do. It could be supervisor at a Walmart or Working in coffee shop they must be other jobs that you can apply for and get a foot in the door. My trouble was I didn't have any Canadian Experience. That's what they were looking for. :)

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

How do you usually apply for jobs? Use the phone wherever possible, emails just get deleted. A temping agency is also a good way to get your foot in the door....

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

A long shot I know but have you ever thought of being a childminder? Maybe you want to escape the three yr old!!! BUT....So many people post on here about how hard it is to find good childcare....Could be a little buddy for your little one and plus you make some money....??

Not sure how you go about it in Ontario but here in Calgary it seems to be almost disturbingly easy!!!!

Good luck anyway
Lisa

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

Networking is the way to go - it's how a lot of people get to the interview stage.

I never got one reply when I sent out me resume a couple of years ago. I eventually got an interview through contacts. Got my job initially (mental health) on a 'casual' basis (another popular route here), then was asked to also work in their main office. 8 months later I successfully gained a staff position within the organisation :)

Good luck :)

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

You should have written that in much, much bigger typeface. The importance of networking cannot be stressed enough.

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

Definitely worth repeating:

The importance of networking cannot be stressed enough.

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

Id taken that as a given. I should stop presuming people have the sense to read the wiki before posting:sneaky:

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Canada...erent%21%21%21
http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Catego...Hunting-Canada