Office Manager/Executive PA looking for a job!
Aug 23rd 2014, 3:53 pm
#17
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 858
Re: Office Manager/Executive PA looking for a job!
I am not one who believes letters equates to competence tis all.
Aug 27th 2014, 11:21 am
#18
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 31
Re: Office Manager/Executive PA looking for a job!
Hello Sparrow 
I, too, worked in the UK as an office manager and had held executive positions for more than 20 years prior to coming to Canada. I also live in the Hamilton area.
I think you will struggle to gain employment in this field around this area, unless you are prepared to work in Toronto and even then you may find it very difficult. Canadians love diploma's and certification (recent) and without them you will be lucky to even get an interview. The competition for these positions is fierce, every college is churning out newly qualified and certified administrative assistants/officers and whatever experience we had in the UK really counts for nothing. It's like starting from scratch, all over again.
All I can suggest is that you ensure your resume is 'Canadianised' and perhaps register with some temp agencies. Be prepared to go in and do tests for up to 6 hours!
List of employment agencies (placement or staffing agencies) List of Best Employment Agencies in Hamilton ON
PeopleStore - Staffing Solutions Inc
http://ca.livejobs.recruitadvantage....TOKEN=27172473
Search Jobs in Canada, find the perfect job - Hunt Synergie
Find a Job in Canada, Job Board Canada
Provided the OP goes to Toronto, possibly. However, a Canadian woman I know who has all the certification you can imagine and over 20 years experience in similar positions struggled to find a job even there. It took around 9 months before she was employed, despite applying for every job going that she was qualified to do.
You are right christmasoompa, I applied for literally hundreds of jobs in the Hamilton area and secured 2 interviews in total. Prior to coming to Canada I had always been interviewed for any job I applied for and been offered the job, so this was a huge shock.
2 years on I still am not employed in office management / executive PA nor indeed ANY kind of office job and have given up. I now work as a remote freelancer for a UK company.
I, too, worked in the UK as an office manager and had held executive positions for more than 20 years prior to coming to Canada. I also live in the Hamilton area.
I think you will struggle to gain employment in this field around this area, unless you are prepared to work in Toronto and even then you may find it very difficult. Canadians love diploma's and certification (recent) and without them you will be lucky to even get an interview. The competition for these positions is fierce, every college is churning out newly qualified and certified administrative assistants/officers and whatever experience we had in the UK really counts for nothing. It's like starting from scratch, all over again.
All I can suggest is that you ensure your resume is 'Canadianised' and perhaps register with some temp agencies. Be prepared to go in and do tests for up to 6 hours!
List of employment agencies (placement or staffing agencies) List of Best Employment Agencies in Hamilton ON
PeopleStore - Staffing Solutions Inc
http://ca.livejobs.recruitadvantage....TOKEN=27172473
Search Jobs in Canada, find the perfect job - Hunt Synergie
Find a Job in Canada, Job Board Canada
Provided the OP goes to Toronto, possibly. However, a Canadian woman I know who has all the certification you can imagine and over 20 years experience in similar positions struggled to find a job even there. It took around 9 months before she was employed, despite applying for every job going that she was qualified to do.
You are right christmasoompa, I applied for literally hundreds of jobs in the Hamilton area and secured 2 interviews in total. Prior to coming to Canada I had always been interviewed for any job I applied for and been offered the job, so this was a huge shock.
2 years on I still am not employed in office management / executive PA nor indeed ANY kind of office job and have given up. I now work as a remote freelancer for a UK company.
So sorry it's taken me a while to respond, I was super sick with an aggressive cold. But I'm on the mend
Firstly thank you so much for the information you have provided I feel slightly better about the whole process.
I think you will struggle to gain employment in this field around this area, unless you are prepared to work in Toronto and even then you may find it very difficult. Canadians love diploma's and certification (recent) and without them you will be lucky to even get an interview. The competition for these positions is fierce, every college is churning out newly qualified and certified administrative assistants/officers and whatever experience we had in the UK really counts for nothing. It's like starting from scratch, all over again.
Yikes 6 hours tests?! I had no idea this could happen! What kind test have you experienced?
List of employment agencies (placement or staffing agencies) List of Best Employment Agencies in Hamilton ON
PeopleStore - Staffing Solutions Inc
http://ca.livejobs.recruitadvantage....TOKEN=27172473
Search Jobs in Canada, find the perfect job - Hunt Synergie
Find a Job in Canada, Job Board Canada
PeopleStore - Staffing Solutions Inc
http://ca.livejobs.recruitadvantage....TOKEN=27172473
Search Jobs in Canada, find the perfect job - Hunt Synergie
Find a Job in Canada, Job Board Canada
Sparrow x
Aug 27th 2014, 4:40 pm
#19
Bex in the city
Joined: Jun 2013
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 3,899
Re: Office Manager/Executive PA looking for a job!
Are you saying that you have to keep changing your resume for each job you apply for even if it's within the same sort of area?! (i.e. Office admin/Receptionist, bar server/ barista, outreach youth worker/residential youth worker)?
Aug 28th 2014, 6:14 am
#20
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 31
Re: Office Manager/Executive PA looking for a job!
This is what I don't get. I totally understand that covering letters need to be specific to the organisation and job you are applying for but I only have one resume for social care jobs and a different resume for bar/server jobs.
Are you saying that you have to keep changing your resume for each job you apply for even if it's within the same sort of area?! (i.e. Office admin/Receptionist, bar server/ barista, outreach youth worker/residential youth worker)?
Are you saying that you have to keep changing your resume for each job you apply for even if it's within the same sort of area?! (i.e. Office admin/Receptionist, bar server/ barista, outreach youth worker/residential youth worker)?
Changing my resume to mirror a job ad is something I have always done as well as a specific cover letter for each application. I'm not saying drastically change it each time or fake a qualification but just read what they want and tweak your resume so it almost matches the ad. They may look at the your resume and say wow he/she is exactly what we are looking for!
I also find when you are experienced or have a long employment history, your resume might be too long and full of too much information. By tailoring your resume to the ad/job description its helps you include more of what they want and less of what they don't want. Thus increasing your chances.
As I said, it's something I have always done, especially when I'll really what the job! I feel it will help me stand out or get their attention by being exactly what they need!
Sparrow (:
Last edited by Sparrow Clan; Aug 28th 2014 at 6:39 am.
Aug 28th 2014, 6:37 am
#21
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 19,879
Re: Office Manager/Executive PA looking for a job!
This is what I don't get. I totally understand that covering letters need to be specific to the organisation and job you are applying for but I only have one resume for social care jobs and a different resume for bar/server jobs.
Are you saying that you have to keep changing your resume for each job you apply for even if it's within the same sort of area?! (i.e. Office admin/Receptionist, bar server/ barista, outreach youth worker/residential youth worker)?
Are you saying that you have to keep changing your resume for each job you apply for even if it's within the same sort of area?! (i.e. Office admin/Receptionist, bar server/ barista, outreach youth worker/residential youth worker)?
You can get an idea of what employers look for by doing a search online for resume Canada, or pay a small fee to a resume writing company (such as this one that also has lots of hints and tips) to Canadianise and target your resume for specific types of job.
Aug 28th 2014, 8:35 am
#22
Bex in the city
Joined: Jun 2013
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 3,899
Re: Office Manager/Executive PA looking for a job!
Changing my resume to mirror a job ad is something I have always done as well as a specific cover letter for each application. I'm not saying drastically change it each time or fake a qualification but just read what they want and tweak your resume so it almost matches the ad. They may look at the your resume and say wow he/she is exactly what we are looking for!
Sparrow (:
How I have done this is concentrating on my cover letter and being very specific about what they are looking for in there and using the keywords in that.
It just seems like it is never enough so I'm going to Vancouver public library on Wednesday to one of their job search sessions to get this sorted. I completely at a loss with all this now :S
Aug 28th 2014, 8:44 am
#23
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Office Manager/Executive PA looking for a job!
Thanks I see what you are saying but I've never had to do this in the UK mainly because all the jobs I have gone for want an application form and for you to fill in the specific experience they want by using examples such as a person specification. I find that resumes are too generic and organisations should use these questions to filter out applicants, but obviously this is Canada so things are different.
How I have done this is concentrating on my cover letter and being very specific about what they are looking for in there and using the keywords in that.
It just seems like it is never enough so I'm going to Vancouver public library on Wednesday to one of their job search sessions to get this sorted. I completely at a loss with all this now :S
How I have done this is concentrating on my cover letter and being very specific about what they are looking for in there and using the keywords in that.
It just seems like it is never enough so I'm going to Vancouver public library on Wednesday to one of their job search sessions to get this sorted. I completely at a loss with all this now :S
I took 2 resume/job search courses last year, and each one taught totally different things, and the resumes they helped create got me 0 interviews, but the one I created based off google searches gets me halfway decent results.
Vancouver job market is weird, and some of these places get so many resumes, its impossible to even read them all. Example: I had a hiring manager last summer who left me a note asking me to pick 10 resumes from our file and leave on her desk. I just randomly picked 10, and those 10 got calls and 2 were hired, totally random, their resume just happened to be the first 10 in the file.
Aug 28th 2014, 9:14 am
#24
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 31
Re: Office Manager/Executive PA looking for a job!
Thanks I see what you are saying but I've never had to do this in the UK mainly because all the jobs I have gone for want an application form and for you to fill in the specific experience they want by using examples such as a person specification. I find that resumes are too generic and organisations should use these questions to filter out applicants, but obviously this is Canada so things are different.
All you can do is try and gather the info for resumes and go from there, at the end of the day for jobs that are not in high demand/hard to fill like service jobs, its more luck of the draw then anything else. I am not even sure cover letters are read half the time, and the other half of the the time the interviewer doesn't seem to have read the resume prior to the interview, let alone a cover letter.
Sparrow
Aug 28th 2014, 8:31 pm
#25
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Joined: Jun 2012
Location: Didsbury, AB, Canada
Posts: 87
Re: Office Manager/Executive PA looking for a job!
This is what I don't get. I totally understand that covering letters need to be specific to the organisation and job you are applying for but I only have one resume for social care jobs and a different resume for bar/server jobs.
Are you saying that you have to keep changing your resume for each job you apply for even if it's within the same sort of area?! (i.e. Office admin/Receptionist, bar server/ barista, outreach youth worker/residential youth worker)?
Are you saying that you have to keep changing your resume for each job you apply for even if it's within the same sort of area?! (i.e. Office admin/Receptionist, bar server/ barista, outreach youth worker/residential youth worker)?
Apparently employers don't like a "generic" resume based on a "generic" receptionist job description, this can been seen easily and usually lands you in the circular file.
I was also read that you don't necessarily need to do a cover letter if you have your resume tailored correctly for the specific position you are applying for; there can/should be an Objectives heading on your resume where you basically put what you would in your cover letter. SO now rather than 2 - 3 sheets of paper landing on someones desk, you are down to 1 -2 and are more likely to be reviewed.
To the OP. I used Monster to find the best style to write my resume and then had it tweaked by a career counsellor which ended up getting me my current job. I am based in AB so can't say if the same service is available there but here it is funded by the government and I got an hour with the counselor for free, plus use of computers, printers, fax machines etc. I could've continued to go if I hadn't landed a job so quickly afterwards.
Aug 28th 2014, 11:03 pm
#26
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Office Manager/Executive PA looking for a job!
I have zero interest in being in management, and have no use to be promoted up the ladder, much rather just obtain a specific in demand skill that pays well from the start, which is the route I am taking. I don't have the personality for BS corporate crap, or the desire to be wealthy, just want to make enough to bring modest comfortable life.
Aug 29th 2014, 12:01 am
#27
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Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
Re: Office Manager/Executive PA looking for a job!
I have read and been told that you should make minor tweaks to your resume for every job you apply for - even if you are applying for all Receptionist jobs.
Apparently employers don't like a "generic" resume based on a "generic" receptionist job description, this can been seen easily and usually lands you in the circular file.
Apparently employers don't like a "generic" resume based on a "generic" receptionist job description, this can been seen easily and usually lands you in the circular file.
I was also read that you don't necessarily need to do a cover letter if you have your resume tailored correctly for the specific position you are applying for; there can/should be an Objectives heading on your resume where you basically put what you would in your cover letter. SO now rather than 2 - 3 sheets of paper landing on someones desk, you are down to 1 -2 and are more likely to be reviewed.
I am not a great fan of objectives. An objective makes the resume about you. It should not be. It should be about the employer. The employer is hiring because they have needs. Your resume shows the employer that you are the best person to meet their needs.
Also, a bit of flattery never goes amiss. The more you make the resume an answer to the employer's needs the more it will stand out. Given two applicants with similar abilities the employer is more likely to choose the person who seems to want to work for them rather than just get any job.
Which is why generic resumes are unlikely to be successful.
If I advertise for a S**t Shoveler 90% of the resumes I receive with say, "my career objective is to shovel s**t for a progressive employer." They go on the liar pile. One resume comes with a cover letter that says, "I need a job and shoveling s**t is the best I can aspire to. I have a broad back, strong arms and a damaged olfactory nerve so I am bloody good at it." They have identified want I need and are likely to get the job.
Last edited by JonboyE; Aug 29th 2014 at 12:04 am.
Aug 29th 2014, 5:34 am
#28
Sawdust making harpy
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: Alberta
Posts: 11,291
Re: Office Manager/Executive PA looking for a job!
A crappy job with pay is better than no job and no money!
Aug 29th 2014, 8:44 am
#29
Bex in the city
Joined: Jun 2013
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 3,899
Re: Office Manager/Executive PA looking for a job!
With the generic resumes though, I suppose you will have to use this when applying ad-hoc for jobs that have not been advertised. I sent my resume to an organisation yesterday (previously I applied for a job with them and didn't hear anything), they got back to me and have asked me to contact them when I arrive to arrange a meeting - I seem to get a better response from these type of enquiries then applying for jobs.
I did apply for another job yesterday and did indeed tweak my resume slightly ( the job for for a youth worker in a centre) so rather then putting my residential job at the top, I changed it to my youth worker role and added to it and took bits out from the residential. I also wrote a covering letter including the key duties and responsibilities they have in their job advert (I'm guessing this is what you mean by keywords) all in all this took 1 hour to do (covering letter taking the most amount of time) fingers crossed I hear something back lol
- I seem to get a better response from these type of enquiries then applying for jobs.I did apply for another job yesterday and did indeed tweak my resume slightly ( the job for for a youth worker in a centre) so rather then putting my residential job at the top, I changed it to my youth worker role and added to it and took bits out from the residential. I also wrote a covering letter including the key duties and responsibilities they have in their job advert (I'm guessing this is what you mean by keywords) all in all this took 1 hour to do (covering letter taking the most amount of time) fingers crossed I hear something back lol
Aug 29th 2014, 9:54 am
#30
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 31
Re: Office Manager/Executive PA looking for a job!
With the generic resumes though, I suppose you will have to use this when applying ad-hoc for jobs that have not been advertised. I sent my resume to an organisation yesterday (previously I applied for a job with them and didn't hear anything), they got back to me and have asked me to contact them when I arrive to arrange a meeting - I seem to get a better response from these type of enquiries then applying for jobs.
- I seem to get a better response from these type of enquiries then applying for jobs. That's awesome! I did apply for another job yesterday and did indeed tweak my resume slightly ( the job for for a youth worker in a centre) so rather then putting my residential job at the top, I changed it to my youth worker role and added to it and took bits out from the residential. I also wrote a covering letter including the key duties and responsibilities they have in their job advert (I'm guessing this is what you mean by keywords) all in all this took 1 hour to do (covering letter taking the most amount of time) fingers crossed I hear something back lol
Good Luck!Sparrow
