You've got a SIN and you've created your resume. You're ready to enter the Canadian job market, confident about the skills you've acquired and willing to learn more.
The question is, how exactly do you enter into the job market? Where do you go to find a job?
If you're in school and looking for a job, you should start by reaching out to your guidance counselor. They'll have resources and advice for you. If you're about to graduate, or are not currently in school, read on to see what other options you have.
How do I find jobs to apply to?
The easiest way to start the job hunt is by browsing the Internet. There are many websites that allow employers to advertise jobs online:
- LinkedIn is the world's largest professional network. It has over 20 million jobs, over 600 million users and is used in over 200 countries. To tap into its wealth of resources, you'll have to create a profile that will serve as an online resume. Share your employment history, showcase your skills, and start building your own network.
- Indeed is another site where employers can post positions they need to fill and job hunters can upload their resumes to apply for them. It gives job seekers free access to search for jobs, post resumes, and research companies.
- Charity Village is Canada's largest and most popular online resource for jobs in the not-for-profit sector. There's a wide variety of opportunities but all of them are exclusively within charitable organizations.
- Jooble is a job search engine that helps users look for jobs on major job boards and career sites across Canada. You can filter to customize your results according to posting date, salary, job type, and location.
You can also go onto different companies' websites and look for a "Careers" section to see if they're hiring.
What government resources can help me get a job?
The government of Canada's Young Canadians page is a central source of information about programs and services available to you as you search for jobs. Use the website to explore careers, find training for work, and even discover cultural programs.
Provincially, the government of Ontario has created a list of resources for youth looking for employment, including links to apprenticeships, internships, entrepreneurship, and summer jobs.
Finally, take advantage of the Job Bank to browse jobs, get alerts, and help you prepare for employment.
Other than online, where else can I look for jobs?
Printed sources: Take a trip to your local library! Libraries are a great place to study, but they are also a place with lots of information (books and resources) about finding work. Also, take advantage of your daily newspaper and search for jobs in their “Classifieds” section. A directory of newspapers across Ontario can be found here.
Tap into the “hidden job market”: The “Hidden Job Market” is a term used for the jobs that are out there, but more difficult to find. Your skills, abilities, and knowledge are the most important things you need to get a job, but sometimes employers may choose not to advertise the jobs they need to fill. So how do you find out about these jobs? You need to get active about your job search, and start reaching out to the people you know. Another word for this is “networking.”
The Job Readiness Tool
Here at OCASI, we've built a Job Readiness Tool to prepare newcomers for employment in Canada.
The website contains a series of quizzes that job seekers can go through to test themselves on their knowledge of the job market and what it takes to prepare for it. At the end of each quiz, you get a custom report with relevant resources to improve your chances of getting hired.
Use the Job Readiness Tool to get job ready!