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

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

Michele

You are not alone in not being able to find a job. I must have applied for near on 70 jobs in the 10 weeks I have been here. It is so hard to get a foot in the door, I have also tried all the big job agencies here in Calgary and although I have been 'banked' not a job in sight.

You have just got to ask in every shop you go into if they are hiring and don't expect to get the same type of job that you had in the UK, dumb down that resume.

All the best

The Ross Family

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

For any immigrant or would-be immigrant, I think it's important to ask yourself the following questions:

• What skills do I have that would make me stand out from a Canadian applicant ? (assuming you've no Canadian work experience, which in the eyes of many employees may make you a riskier proposition).
  
• Am I willing to take a lower paid job, just to get Canadian experience?
  
• Am I meeting the right people that might be able to influence a decision, or recommend me to an employer? (the importance of networking).

If you're not having any luck, attend public events in your local community - local forums, business seminars, volunteer events etc etc. Expand your social circle as much as possible and make your face and skills known.

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

I've been looking for work for 1/2 year now, no interviews at all in 2009. My local unemployment is 12% and pretty much nobody is hiring in town right now, and those that are get a huge amount of resumes.

What your experiencing right now is the norm in many areas of the country.

If you current skill set isn't working for you, maybe look into going to school and gaining a new set or improving your current set until the economy starts to recover.

I threw in the towel in looking for work and just became a fulll-time student, and living off government student loans for now.

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

To OP, you are sitting in a University town, University admin dept's are short on budget and high on staff turnover, it might be an idea to volunteer in one of the depts (they will not turn you down), then when an opportunity does arise - you have a foot in the door. Just a thought..

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

Apply for 30-50 you having a laugh. What is the point in that? Your wasting your time doing that. You should only apply for jobs that meet your criteria and fits in with your skills and experiences in the circumstances she is in.

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

Have you ever tried getting a Job in Canada?

Read the posts above and you will see that basically your idea of 'pinpointing' 'your' job search is TOSH.

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

Michelle - we have been here since Dec - I am a fully qualified (UK) urban Planner and an aerobics instructor- I have recently started working at the bakery department of the local IGA Market Place - not ideal BUT - i am getting out and meeting people!! -

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

I have never failed a job interview in my line of work. Outside that I have. 6/6 for me. I have only ever failed at 4 job interviews i n my life. And here is why...

So this is my advice when applying for job in another country:

- Only apply for the ones that matches your skills and experience. Don't waste your time with jobs that are way out your scope, your wasting your time because you haven't worked for a year and you are not Canadian so they may be more inclined to hire a Canadian who understands the nature of work in that country - not saying you don't but they might not look at that. Just because you have 30-years experience in another country doesn't mean that is worth anything in another. Once you have a job you can then start applying for jobs within other sectors or more senior roles.

- Don't look at your CV for 2 days and then pick it up pretending your looking to hire the perfect candidate. You have looked through 50 CVs and yours is next, what do you like about it, what stands out, what doesn't stand out, what needs to be changed etc. Your friends say your CV is good, they may well be correct, but no CV is perfect and make sure it is within what employers want. What I mean by that Canadians do not like reading more than 2 pages and if I'm correct they prefer just one page.

- Tailor your CV to the job role you are applying for.

- Have you done a cover letter? I'm not sure if you need this in Canada but if you do this is very important that it is perfect. Its needs to be the best piece you have ever written. Let me know if you need a hand with this.

- Contact employers, build up a repoir. Call them before hand to get more info on the job, talk to the manager if possible. From what I've read Canadians like to be contacted by phone or met in person. They prefer putting a face to an application form. No harm in popping round to the company you are applying for and meeting up with the manager. You need to stand out above everyone else. I do that all the time, I email all the employers I am applying for and talk to the human resource department so that they will remember me when I submit my application form. If I was in Canada (which I'm not) I would be calling them for sure and even consider popping round.

- Practice your interview techniques. Practice, practice, practice. This pays off without a doubt. The more interviews you get the better you will be at it. Plus you will get an idea of the questions you will be asked. I always write down answers to questions they may ask me at an interview before hand and revise it. Then I practice on my partner and get her to ask me questions. This helps heaps because I have an excellent record in my sector. But I sometimes get told my references win the job for me so it perhaps isn't just about the interview.

- If you get asked to respond to a job description, wow them with your answers. When went to Australia I got in contact with a company months before going over, built up a relationship and applied for a relief position. I had to respond to the job specification and it was 18 pages long my response. The director was so impressed when I went for the informal interview I got the job straight away and was even considering to offer me the managers position. Wow them!

I hope this helps and good luck with everything.

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

Applying for that amount is ridiculous. Its a waste of time. It doesn't matter on the quantity its the quality of the application that matters. Applying for pointless jobs does not help self-esteem or confidence. I have a 100% record in my sector so I know for a fact applying for that amount of jobs monthly is over the top.

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

hmm wish I was that perfect!

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

LOL, me too. (BTW I have got every Position I interviewed for in Canada)

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

Congrats on getting a job pal. Well done. When I talked to employers last year in Canada. I contacted one by phone in Edmonton because I was interested to know the job market. He said it doesn't matter what qualifications I have in the UK it is up to the employer if they will accept it or not and 9/10 he told me they don't because it is not a Canadian qualification. He said to me that you need to talk to employers and wow them over first. Anyway I hope it works out for you and you get your dream job :thumbsup:

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

Actually me too- only had 1 interview - for the bakery!!

oh and the other one I had - interview / audition - I got that too - but club doesn't open til Oct so wont start teaching til then !!

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

Well done. Good stuff. Perhaps you can give some advice then to the OP on how to get a job instead of giving pointless comments.

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

That's not giving the OP much confidence is it. Saying I got 1 first time and there she is struggling. Help her out by giving some advice on how you got it, what you did to get it etc. :thumbsup:

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

I walked in said god I need a job!! :eek: right place right time!

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Body Pump?

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

:thumbup:

That's better ;)

Perhaps the OP can try that. Like I said going into the employer and speaking to them helps a lot. I had to do this in NZ and OZ.

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

Yeah - Pump & Combat!! Goodlife fitness is FINALLY coming west!!

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

You know something, I'm starting to smell goat, or is it coming from under the bridge????

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

INdeed !!

It may have been the strange leer or the hysterics that got me the bakery job!! or the pleading on my knees - or maybe just that they needed staff!!

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

Come on girls stop acting like a 5-year old. Keep to the topic of the thread. Either give some constructive feedback to the OP or go somewhere else!

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

No - I really was practically hysterical - really needed to get out of house or would have been on next plane home!! luckily I met the IGA owner walking my dog when I was having a sad moment - she needed staff and could see I needed work!!

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

is that what they call networking?

Re: Looking for work - aargh!!
 

Definitely right time right place. Unfortunately the OP has a kid so it shard for her to be at the right place. The way applying for jobs in Canada is similar in NZ where you have to actually meet or call the employers before applying. Its like a double interview.