A Guide To Finding Seasonal Work

The Christmas season is fast approaching and hiring has already started by major local employers. Finding seasonal work can be a great way to “get your foot in the door” and make a lasting impression on employers. If you’re thinking about applying for seasonal work, don’t delay and apply today! By the time that the season is in full blown Christmas mode, the majority of hiring will have been exhausted. Here are some tips for landing seasonal employment:

ü  When you’re thinking of places to apply for seasonal hiring, think of the places you go to do your Christmas shopping such as bookstores, large retail “box” stores, grocery stores, gift and card shops, clothing stores, jewellery stores, toy stores etc. If you shop in these stores chances are many other people do as well! These stores will need to hire to accommodate a larger customer base. Also think of other store locations that have looked busy during past seasons, perhaps they will need to hire extra help too! Think of every store you pass as a potential employer!

ü  When you submit a resume and a cover letter for the position, tailor your resume and cover letter to the store, and to the position. Try to get the name of the hiring manager for your cover letter and avoid stating “to whom it may concern.” This additional touch makes the application personal.

ü  Apply in person! Some stores specify that you need to apply online and if that is the case, follow the instructions and apply online. However; take the resume in person as well for that extra touch. It helps to make you memorable.

 

ü  Dress the part! If you are applying for retail work, especially in clothing retail, pay attention to the style of the store. For instance, the way someone would dress for an interview at Northern Reflections, Stiches and People Jewellers should all be different because each store is unique and has its own style.

Be sure to visit VCCS during your job search! We can help you find and keep work.

Preparing Your Sales Pitch!

As the holiday season approaches there is a buzz in the air about increases in seasonal and sales/retail type work. Whether you think you’re cut out for sales or not, applying some of the keys of retail can help you in your job search – KNOW YOUR PRODUCT, KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER AND GOOD MARKETING.

Job searching is very similar to a sales process.

As job seekers you are selling a ‘product’ – YOU! How much do you know about your ‘product’? Self-awareness plays a huge role in whether you feel comfortable selling yourself or not. Developing a strong resume and portfolio gives you the opportunity to think about your skills, experiences and accomplishments. Come into VCCS and speak to a counsellor about what values or interest(s) assessments may help you identify your strengths. A counsellor can also help you create a skills inventory – which is a great way of proving your skills. 
Have you ever thought about potential employers as your customer? How much do you know about what they are looking for? It’s important to do your company research and ask questions! Are you ready to answer – “Why do you want to work here?” and “What do you know about our company?”. Consider finding out how old the company is, how big is the company, what are its products/services, who are its customers and major competitors, is there a mission or vision statement, what type of training do they offer, and what type of people excel there. Counsellors at VCCS are more than happy to help you prepare for interviews. Remember to think of your resume, cover letter, portfolio and online profiles as your own personal marketing materials. Make sure to spend an appropriate amount of time and effort customizing your materials to each individual ‘customers’ needs.

Drop into VCCS for help preparing for your next sales pitch!

EMPLOYER PRESENTATION

Telecon - Employer Presentation!

Balancing Act

The question that I pose in our blog today is for students who are trying to balance work and school with life. What do you find is an appropriate school/work/life balance? I question this because recently at VCCS we had a client who had the world at his feet. He was just accepted to attend a full time College program and had an employer who wanted to hire him for full time work. It was really time to sit down and decide what was next in this new and exciting venture.

This got me thinking about how much work/school is too much and on the other hand how little work/school is too little. This seems to be a balancing act for many. I remember the days of my College career, which were full time studies. I started College and within my first semester I was working 5 hours a week. I found myself becoming bored and lazy. I wasn’t feeling overly challenge based on the school and homework load and didn’t feel busy enough with work. Within the next semester of school my work hours changed from 5 to 20 hours a week. This was great. My energy was boosting again, I was feeling pretty busy and life was good. Second year of studies came around. I was still working 20 hours a week and my marks were okay. An opportunity came up working at the College and my 20 hour work week became a 35 hour work week. Things were good but becoming a little too stressful at times. I was trying to balance homework while keeping my marks up, and since I was working for three different employers at this time I was trying to balance my work schedules too. I did this for the next year, but I can’t say it was easy all the time. In my third year of College I was still working 35 hours a week but then I also had to complete a placement for school. The placement was typically 8 hours a week but there were times when I was working upwards 20+ hours a week. This resulted in a 50+ work week on-top of school and homework. I was so busy I often thought, is this experience of school and meeting new people passing me by and am I too busy to truly enjoy it. It was time to seriously evaluate my schedule and my goals.

In talking with other students at this time they mentioned that they were working so diligently in school and on homework that they really didn’t have time to work. What I am trying to get at is that everyone’s situation is different and requires some self-reflection and thought. For some work may be required for financial assistance during school. Others may have a high workload required for school and may not be able to balance school and work. It important to ask yourself a few questions:

1. What are your goals
2. Why are you attending school and how does work compliment or hinder the experience
3. Do you find that you work well under stress or, not so well under stress
4. What do you realistically need to do for financial support while attending school

If you’re reading this I would love you to help answer this question. If you were a past student what worked for you? Maybe you’re a VCCS client and you may be starting school in September or January, I want to hear from you! What do you think works or what questions do you need to ask yourself when dealing with this balancing act? Please comment below, I look forward to reading your thoughts!

If you have any questions about this blog or the services offered at VCCS Employment Services please feel free to contact me directly at amiddleton@careerservices.org or 705-328-0180.

Until next time,

Amanda Middleton

Job Developer, VCCS Employment Services

705-328-0180

 

EMPLOYER PRESENTATION!

WHY AREN’T YOU GETTING CALLED BACK???

As an active member of LinkedIn, logging in daily, I come across a variety of interesting articles that lead me to ponder further. The article that I read yesterday was titled “5 reasons why you never hear back after applying for a job.” (Meghan M. Biro, Glassdoor) This article mentioned many points and in some cases I agree with what the writer identified, and in some cases I don’t fully agree. Below are a few highlights and thoughts pondered...

REASON NUMBER 1 – WHY YOU AREN'T GETTING CALLED BACK:

You Really Aren’t Qualified:

The article stated that job seekers should not apply for work if they don’t meet the qualifications outlined in the job advertisement and I don’t fully agree with that. Yes, I agree not to apply if an employer is looking for a Master’s Degree with 10 years’ experience, and you’re a recent Degree/Diploma graduate with no work experience however; don’t always judge the qualifications outlined in the advertisement to determine if you should apply for a job that you really want. Apply for positions where your skills match the key responsibilities outlined in the job advertisement. If you are a recent graduate and the job calls for 2-3 years’ experience, still apply! You might just get your lucky break. Also, be aware of the language used in the job advertisement. If you see "University Degree, College Diploma and/or relevant years of experience" STILL apply! If you have 3-5 years of experience in the field, and no Post-Secondary education, you still meet the qualifications. The employer is asking for education OR relevant years of experience.

REASON NUMBER 2 – WHY YOU AREN'T GETTING CALLED BACK:

You haven’t keyword-optimized your resume or application:

This is a tricky one that I love and hate all at the same time. For those of you who know me, you know that I have a creative flare and love to use it. Keywords can hinder this creativity, if they are not used properly. However; they prove to be very beneficial in the recruitment process. Quite often, when a job seeker submits a resume, a Management teams reviews the documentation or the Human Resources Department would do this. The review of the resume is what you have to offer based on the job advertisement, hence the keywords. If the organization is extremely large in nature, all resumes could first go through a scanning device. If you resume matches an appropriate number of keywords a human being may actually look your resume in detail. If your resumes do not match an appropriate number of keywords the scanner sends your resume to a documented location based on other keywords, in case a position more suited to your resume and skills becomes available. My best advice here is to learn to utilize keywords and become familiar using them. Your resume should be targeted and modified for each position you apply for. I know this can be confusing, so come visit VCCS and we can certainly help you with this! 

REASON NUMBER 3 – WHY YOU AREN'T GETTING CALLED BACK:

Your resume is not properly formatted:

To ensure that an employer can review your true attention to detail your resume must be consistent and properly formatted. Ensure that your resume is not coming up “jumbled” on the employers’ computer database and that if one employment title is formatted to bold, that all employment titles are bold. Just stay clean, neat and consistent. A good idea may be to put your resume in PDF format before you send it to an employer, so that your margins and formatting don’t become “wonky” when the employer opens the file. If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, come visit VCCS or send me an e-mail. I can take you through the steps on how to send a resume as a PDF file.

REASON NUMBER 4 – WHY YOU AREN'T GETTING CALLED BACK:

Your resume is substantially different from your online portfolio:

The online portfolio that the writer is talking about here is your LinkedIn page or your Facebook page. Make sure that the dates of employment, education etcetera match what’s on your resume. Sell your skills on social media! Always make sure your profile is appropriate! Employers are looking!!

REASON NUMBER 4 – WHY YOU AREN'T GETTING CALLED BACK:

Your company received 500 resumes for one job posting and yours was #499:

Apply on the first day of the posting whenever you can! Some employers receive so many resumes that they only look at the resumes collected within the first day of the advertisement going external! The early bird truly gets the worm. While in some cases resume number 499 of 500 is still considered as much as resume number 001, it is best not to test that theory and just apply as soon as you can.

To read the full article visit http://www.businessinsider.com/top-5-reasons-you-never-hear-back-after-applying-for-a-job-2012-7

For more information, questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact me, Amanda Middleton, at amiddleton@careerservices.org

Until next time, take care and good luck with you job search!

"2012 May Be A Good Year For Markets"

Today when glimpsing through the Business and Careers section of the Toronto Star I read an article titled "2012 may be a good year for markets."  While reading through this article I was assured that the optimism I carry about the Canadian Economy and more particularly our job market, was justified. As an Employment Counsellor one of the things I hear are the frustrated comments from job seekers as they ponder how many jobs are really available in the City of Kawartha Lakes. I have high empathy because well, I have been there too. I remember the countless days of sending resumes to any posting on the local job board. I soon realized that I was stuck in my comfort zone of blasting 50 resumes a day…by e-mail. I was making no face to face contact with employers. It was time for a change. I too was lacking optimism in my job search until I heard the words “you’re hired!” While I empathize greatly with the frustrated job seeker, I do see our community full of opportunity. The VCCS job board is full, so much so that I have to pick what to put on based on the interest of our clients. At this same time last year, we were working with half of the employers that we are now, as we help them advertise jobs and make their lives easier while recruiting for a new employee. In short, our job board is booming! I fully believe in that article titled “2012 may be a good year for markets” and will put my own spin on it “2012 may be a good year for employment.”

Amanda Middleton, Employment Counsellor

VCCS Employment Services

amiddleton@careerservices.org

WHAT'S YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION?

Do you talk with a lot of hand gestures?

Are you often running late for meetings or appointments?

Do you often feel tired and run down?

Do you feel the need to always bring your phone with you or check it often?

Do you find yourself talking negatively about people, past work experiences, events or employers?

Do you find yourself feeling disinterested with other peoples lives or experiences?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, talk to an Employment Counsellor today! 

EMPLOYER PRESENTATIONS!

TUESDAY JULY 10TH

BRING YOUR RESUME!

Two employers are attending VCCS Employment Services on Tuesday July 10th and they are both hiring for full time positions!

SYKES - 10:00am

-Paid training!

-Vacation during the first year!

-Performance incentives!

-Dental Benefits, Vision Benefits, Medical Benefits, and Group Insurance Benefits!

MISTO RESTAURANT - 2:00pm

-A variety of positions including cook, culinary staff and servers

-Apprenticeship opportunities!

-A brand new restaurant opening in Lindsay

-Learn from a world class Master Chef!

-Join a dynamic team environment dedicated to quality service!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS! http://careerservices.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Sykes-and-Misto-Pres-NEW1.pdf

ACING A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW

http://www.colleenclarke.com/Free_Career_News_Letter/default.aspx

IS YOUR RESUME MAKING THE CUT?

Have you been job searching for over 2 months?

Is your resume coffee stained or crinkled?

Is your phone number, address and/or email address out of date?

Has it been more than 6 months since your resume was updated?

Is your resume missing "references available upon request?"

Do you only have a hard copy of your resume?

Do you keep your resume the same for every job you apply for?

IF YOU ANSWERED YES TO ANY OF THE QUESTIONS ABOVE TALK TO AN EMPLOYMENT COUNSELLOR TODAY!

VCCS Employment Services

370 Kent Street West

Lindsay, Ontario K9V 6G8

(705) 328-0180

So, your resume was received by a recruiter. What are they thinking about now?

As a job seeker have you ever wondered what goes through the mind of a recruiter when they see your resume? As an employment counsellor who reviews a multitude of resumes for a variety of positions each and every day, let me help you understand the first thoughts of a recruiter. These thoughts wont reflect the way every recruiter feels however; they will give you some ideas of what happens during your application for employment.

WHO SENT THE RESUME?
Most resumes that I receive come in an email. My first initial thought is “who did the e-mail come from?” Most times, it came directly from the candidates e-mail address. However; there are other times when a parent or maybe a spouse or friend will forward the resume for the candidate. I prefer to see the e-mail coming directly from the candidate so I know the candidate saw the job posting, and it was the candidate’s decision to apply because of interest….not the interest of someone else. This factor won’t make or break my decision to forward a candidate resume to an employer in any way, because I recognized that sometimes it may have still been the candidates decision to apply but hey…first impressions count for a lot!

ARE YOU ORGANIZED, AND CLEAR?
There are times when a resume will come to my attention for a position but, I won’t know what position the candidate wants to apply to. When I am pre-screening for up to ten different employers, all with different positions, it needs to be clearly identified what position you are interested in. It also pays to be very organized in your job search. Everyone makes mistakes but the less you can make during your job search the better. Ensure that when you apply for a position that you forward the right resume, with the right job objective. There’s nothing worse than having to e-mail the recruiter back explaining that you sent a resume that you used when applying for a dental hygienist position for a customer service position. Like I mentioned before, everyone makes mistakes. I have absolutely made mistakes in my job search but, the more organized you are, the less likely this is to happen.

HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS
The first section I review on an actual resume are highlights of qualifications and quick easy to read bullet points. If you can use any type of number, that will grab my attention. For instance, it is okay to say you possess many years customer service experience BUT it is more eye-catching when you can say you possess 15 years’ customer service experience. If your highlights of qualifications or quick easy to read bullet points are related the job specifically, and are clearly identifying your knowledge, skills and abilities I will read through your resume and covering letter thoroughly. However; if your highlights of qualifications are not related to the job specifically or, are based on your character personality traits I won’t be paying much attention to your resume. As an employment counsellor I truly recognize that while you may not have experience with resume writing or job search, you may have wonderful knowledge, skills and abilities that apply greatly to the position you are applying for. I will read every resume and cover letter that is forwarded to me to ensure that I capture the data I need for assessment. However; it is important to be honest with job seekers and to help ensure you can learn from past mistakes so you can land your perfect job. I will read a resume and cover letter more thoroughly if I am impressed immediately with the knowledge, skills and abilities you have to offer and if they are clearly highlighted to the best of your ability.

If you are a job seeker or an employer who has any further questions or who would like the support of VCCS to find and keep a job or, find and keep a new employee please feel free to contact me. I would be happy to help you.

Amanda Middleton, Employment Counsellor
VCCS Employment Services
amiddleton@careerservices.org
(705) 328-0180 ext. 256

10 Industries most in need of skills workers

A great link to see where skilled workers are needed!

http://blog.resumebear.com/changing-careers/resumebear-10-industries-most-in-need-of-skilled-workers/

Tell me about yourself?

"Tell me about yourself." This is one of the most common interview questions. Do you know how to answer it? Visit VCCS employment services today to learn some of our top interview tips!

What Really Happens to Online Applications?

After reading an article lately on recruitingblogs.com titled “what really happens to online applications” I started to ponder how job seekers view these on-line applications. I have heard from job seekers in the past that they feel as though when they submit an online application it goes into cyber space and the employer never actually reads what skills and qualifications the job seeker has! Other opinions are that the online application, being as long as it sometimes can be, may scare away job seekers. I am sure that there are many other opinions not yet brought to my attention… What I can speak to in regards to on-line job applications is that there are some benefits to both the job seeker and the employer.

The first benefit is that it allows employers to easily compare the knowledge, skills and abilities of the candidates who apply for a specific position. When the application is received all of the information processed is in the exact same order, format and structure so every application, by every candidate, looks the same and therefore it is easier to compare what the candidate can provide to the employer.

A benefit to the job seeker is that online applications may be set up by the employer so that information about candidate qualifications is inputted into a database for easy referral. This means that while some candidates may not meet the qualifications required for a specific position, the employer may need to search the online application database if they are required to fill another position within their organization. As a job seeker, if your name, skills and qualifications are already inputted into that database from prior job application this could mean that there may be a chance the employer reviews what you have to offer again.

 As a job seeker you may also wish to note that on some online applications you can sign up to receive job alerts. This is an alert to you when a new position becomes available within the field of work that you are looking for. These job alerts may become a nice surprise in your e-mail inbox during your search for employment.

If you have any further questions about online applications or if you wish to speak to an Employment Counsellor please feel free to e-mail me at amiddleton@careerservices.org or call me at 705-328-0180 ext. 256

Good luck with your job search!

Amanda Middleton, Resources and Information Counsellor
VCCS Employment Services

Targeted Initiative for Older Workers (TIOW)

Targeted Initiative for Older Workers (TIOW)

The next Targeted Initiative for Older Works (TIOW) program will begin on May 14^th! This program is for individuals over the age of 50 who are unemployed, and lack the skills necessary to integrate into new employment. Visit VCCS Employment Services today and speak to an Employment Counsellor about this rewarding program!

370 Kent Street West, Lindsay Ontario K9V 6G8 (705)328-0180

Hear what others had to say about the TIOW Program:

“Insightful, Rewarding and full of clues.”  G.W.

“Comfortable setting, real confidence booster.”  W.B.

“Well worth the time.”  H.L.

“Very organized.  A pleasure to be here.”  N.V.

                   

What are your salary expectations?

Most candidates are nervous in an interview to begin with but nerves can rise when a potential employer asks “What are your salary expectations?” Here are a few tips to consider when answering this question:

1. Be prepared! Go into an interview with an understanding of a low and high pay range for the position. Keep in mind that the employer’s location will play a factor in what the average pay of the occupation will be.

2. Do your research! This is all part of having a plan. It is best to research average salary expectations for the position so you are prepared for the interview. Once researched you can state “Research shows that the low and high pay rate for this position within our area is $12.00-$17.00 per hour. With the experience that I have to offer I believe that an appropriate pay rate would be $14.00 per hour. Could we discuss this more together?

To do your research there are many online tools you could use. A user friendly tool is the Workopolis salary calculator

http://www.workopolis.com/work.aspx?action=Transfer&View=Content/Common/ResourceCentre/RCSalaryGuideView&lang=EN
3. Don’t state what your salary expectations are in the interview, unless you are asked the question! Stating your salary expectations in the interview without being asked the question by employers can come off as demanding. It is best to wait until an offer of employment is provided or, until the employer asks you what you salary expectations are.

Visit VCCS Employment Services today for more interview tips!

One of our Employment Counsellors would be happy to help you!

VCCS Can Help With That!

Workopolis posted a new article titled "Having a successful career without a Bachelors Degree." The second point is "Ask for Help." VCCS can help to review your resume and interview skills! Visit us today at 370 Kent Street West, Lindsay ON, K9V 6G8 (In the Whitney Town Centre, beside Wild Wings)

http://www.workopolis.com/content/advice/article/2109-having-a-successful-career-without-a-bachelor-s-degree

Using LinkedIn for your Job Search



LinkedIn can be a useful tool for a job seeker. It can help to build and maintain professional networks and it’s a great self-marketing tool! If you are going to use LinkedIn for your job search here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Use your profile like a professional resume. Make sure your profile is professional in nature while highlighting a summary of yourself, past employment and education and a sample of your skills and expertise.

• Make sure you keep your information up to date and that you are logging into LinkedIn on a regular basis. Social media is only effective if it is used regularly. You need to use LinkedIn at least a few times a week, if not every day.

• Keep track of who is viewing your profile. You can see who has viewed your profile on the LinkedIn homepage. It’s a great way to see if any possible employers have looked at your profile and could lead to further networking opportunities.

• Keep track of your contacts and other contacts that you may know. Send a personal message to say “hi” to those you haven’t talked to in a while.

Keep your profile active, up to date and keep in touch with your contacts!

Have fun on LinkedIn!

Smart Serve Certification 2012

New Smart Serve Courses: May 12, June 2 and June 23 from 9:30 to 1:30 pm. Must register for these courses. A payment of $25.00 is required upon registration.

Summer Hours & Dates for 2012

Saturday Summer hours for 2012 are:

9:00 am to 3:00 pm

May 5, May 12, May 26

June 2, June 9, June 16,

June 23

Youth Gain More Than Just A Job

Original article at MyKawartha.com.

March Break Student Workshops

CALLING ALL STUDENTS!

Are you looking for something to do over the March Break?

VCCS Employment Services has a great line up of

Workshop for you!

Tuesday March 13^th, 2012

Resume Writing 101 from 10:00am to 12:00pm

Summer Job Search from 2:00pm to 4:00pm

Wednesday March 14^th, 2012

Myers Briggs from 9:00am to 12:00pm

Career Cruising from 2:00pm to 5:00pm

Thursday March 15^th, 2012

Interview Preparation from 10:00am to 12:00pm

Workplace Orientation from 2:00pm to 4:00pm

Friday March 16^th, 2012

Smart Serve from 9:00am to 3:00pm

*a fee of $25.00 applies for Smart Serve and must be paid at time of registration

Pre- registration is required.

Please call 705-328-0180 to register today

Employer Presentation

Telecon Canada Ltd. Click here for more information

Employer Presentation - SYKES

Click here to learn more....