Cover Letters

Job Fair Next Week – Are You Ready?

February 22, 2019

In our January 28 blog – https://bit.ly/2GDgs74 – we discussed how to be successful at a job fair and the next one in Grande Prairie is on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

There were tips on how to dress, what to take, job fair etiquette, and how to set a strategy for approaching employers. In this blog, we feature two videos to provide some ideas on how to make the most of your time once you get to meet company personnel at their booth.

We’ve also provided a link to some general job fair advice.

The Grande Prairie Job Fair is on Feb. 26 from noon to 6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn (South of the GPRC), 9816-107 St. For more information, check out www.gpjobfair.com. The list of participating businesses is posted on the website in advance.

If you’re unemployed or underemployed, staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can help eligible individuals (see www.gpworkplace.ca) to ensure they’re prepared for this event, including assistance with resumes and cover letters.

Once again, preparation, including research on participating companies, will help you make the most of your time at a job fair.

https://globalnews.ca/video/2897828/how-to-stand-out-at-job-fairs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI_WmATfgFg

https://www.jobscanadafair.com/category-s/1147.htm

If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97^th Ave., Grande Prairie.

We also help employers find qualified candidates.

What Would Your References Say About You?

February 21, 2019

Employment counsellors always encourage clients to emphasize relevant skills on their resumes and how they’ve been used to make a difference in the workplace. Job seekers are also advised to continue adding to their capabilities through courses or workshops.

The link below outlines five valuable attributes that may be challenging to describe on your resume. If you possess them, however, your references will gush to a potential employer about why you would be a great asset to their company.

These elements boil down essentially to how you approach your work and those around you. How would peers describe your attitude in team situations? Are you seen as respectful?

How would supervisors describe your outlook? Would they say that you focus only on your job description or do you show initiative? Would they say that you think both big and small?

While your resume and cover letter highlight accomplishments, do you demonstrate perseverance? Are you a doer?

Staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can help eligible unemployed or underemployed clients (visit www.gpworkplace.ca for details) with suggestions on how they approach success on their next job.

Our staff can also assist you with your resume and cover letter and ensure you’re using all the resources available to you, including accessing potential training opportunities (see contact details below). Updating or acquiring new skills may be part of your action plan.

Check out this article to see if you stand out as a unicorn employee: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-signs-youre-unicorn-employee-ryan-holmes/

If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97^th Ave., Grande Prairie.

We also help employers find qualified candidates.

Learn more about our programs and services at www.gpworkplace.ca

Manage Your Online Reputation

February 15, 2019

If you’re involved in a job competition or are being recruited for a position, you can be assured the potential employer will check you out online.

The first link within this article notes this effort is more directed at confirming details in your resume than digging up dirt. However, you don’t want to lose opportunities because what your online reputation reveals.

That means you should ensure your job search documents – paper and digital – and online professional presences such as LinkedIn are factual. It’s also important you review your social media profiles and posts to make sure they do not raise red flags.

Staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can guide eligible unemployed or underemployed clients (visit www.gpworkplace.ca for details) on how to go online to see what prospective new managers would find. They can advise you on how to develop a professional online presence.

Things to review online include photos showing you engaged in activities that could be deemed as immoral or illegal or making racially, sexually or religiously insensitive remarks. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be politically active. There’s a provincial election expected in Alberta this year and a federal vote will also be called. It’s just wise to avoid dropping F-bombs into your content.

Have you ever tried Googling yourself? It’s a good idea to take this step as part of your job search process, just in case something from years ago is online and you have the opportunity to remove any questionable content.

If you’re in job search mode, think before you post. If in doubt, leave it out – on any social media platform, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Also be aware images you’re tagged in can cause you grief.

The old adage was that if you don’t want to see it in the newspaper tomorrow, don’t do it or say it today. The same principle applies in the digital age – but much more so. It also should be noted that individuals have been fired from a job when questionable content has come back to haunt them.

The first link offers more advice on managing your online reputation. The second discusses the downside of not being truthful on your resume.

How your online reputation affects your career

Lying on Your Resume Can Kill Your Career Chances

If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97th Ave., Grande Prairie.

We also help employers find qualified candidates.

Learn more about our programs and services at www.gpworkplace.ca

Interviews – Closing the Deal

February 11, 2019

In our December 17 blog – https://bit.ly/2WAJSaP – we discussed preparing for the interview. It’s great to do mock interviews and stand in front of the mirror to practice like you were in front of the hiring personnel. It’s also important to focus your efforts on your opportunities in the process and how you will avoid missteps.

In this article, we delve further into how to increase your prospects of success in job interviews.

For example, how you capitalize on time allotted for your questions is important. Not having any questions to ask the interviewer is a lost opportunity to learn about the work culture or training possibilities.

Of course, there are also questions not to ask, which are highlighted in the links below, along with pointers on potential errors that can occur.

Staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can guide eligible unemployed or underemployed clients (visit www.gpworkplace.ca for details) on how to prepare and make a great impression at the interview.

They can also assist you with your job search tools and ensure you’re using all the resources available to you, including accessing potential training opportunities (see contact details below). Your strategies may include updating or acquiring new skills.

The bottom line is to be prepared to answer questions from the interview panel as thoroughly as possible with good examples of when you’ve demonstrated your skills. Think of interviews as learning opportunities. You definitely want to be offered a job if the position speaks to you and the situation is the right fit for you, now and in the future. However, interviews may also be the time to learn that the job or the workplace is not for you.

Check out these links for further advice to increase your chances in your next interview.

http://careerimpressions.ca/blog/2018/10/how-to-confidently-close-an-interview/#sthash.kMjIpBTo.Ku8WgeUQ.dpbs

https://www.businessinsider.com/question-never-ask-job-interview-2018-2

http://careerimpressions.ca/blog/2018/09/easily-avoidable-interview-mistakes/#sthash.fCaxpynr.oWjUVFDv.dpbs

If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97^th Ave., Grande Prairie.

We also help employers find qualified candidates.

Next Job Fair Nears – Be Prepared

January 28, 2019

If you’re busy applying for employment in the Grande Prairie area, job fairs should be part of your strategy to find a new position. The next multiple employer event is just around the corner.

The upcoming Grande Prairie Job Fair is on Feb. 26, from noon to 6:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 9816 107 St, Grande Prairie. Recruiters from a range of companies will be on hand. For more information, check out www.gpjobfair.com. The list of participating businesses will be posted closer to the event.

This is a great opportunity to connect with hiring personnel from a variety of companies under one roof.

The articles we’ve included below offer numerous tips on how to maximize your opportunity. The key is to be prepared, just as if you are going to an interview.

Don’t attend the event as if were one of many errands on a Saturday afternoon. Be well rested, nicely groomed and present yourself with attire appropriate for the workplace. Check out the list of employers ahead of time and determine which ones fit your career path. Do research on them and their key staff.

Ensure you have plenty of resumes and even cover letters if some of the companies are of high interest. Be prepared to take notes so take paper and pen. If you have business cards, be sure to have a good supply.

There may be lineups at some booths. Be patient. When your turn comes, be polite, ready to promote yourself and have questions prepared. Ensure you collect contact information to follow up. If you’re planning to reach out to your new connections on LinkedIn, remember to send a personalized note.

Ensure your phone is on vibrate so you’re not interrupted during a conversation with an employer.

https://ca.topresume.com/career-advice/job-fair

https://www.monster.ca/career-advice/article/six-job-fair-etiquette-tips

https://ywcavan.org/blog/2018/05/10-tips-succeed-job-fair

https://career.berkeley.edu/Fairs/fairsTips

If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97^th Ave., Grande Prairie.

We also help employers find qualified candidates.

Are Cover Letters Necessary?

January 22, 2019

In today’s world of recruiting companies and Applicant Tracking Systems, are cover letters still required?

Some surveys suggest only about 50 per cent of hiring personnel read cover letters. The resume truly is the document everyone is interested in and some managers say that’s where they get all their information. Others, however, say they won’t even look at a resume without a cover letter.

It’s best to continue including a cover letter as part of your job search tools, unless a specific company tells you it won’t be needed.

If you’re unemployed or underemployed, staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can help eligible individuals fine tune resumes and cover letters – visit www.gpworkplace.ca for details. Our staff ensure clients are using all the tools available to them, including accessing potential training opportunities (see contact details below). Updating or acquiring new skills may be part of your job search plan.

While it’s recommended you continue to prepare cover letters, it’s also important that you make yours stand out – just as you would a resume – focus on relevant information and use it as an opportunity to profile accomplishments and strengths.

Make sure your cover letter contains key words from the job description you’re applying to and you have a consistent header to your resume. Keep it short and engaging so that the reader can’t wait to check out your resume.

As well, if you’re applying through an online job platform, such as Indeed, remember that you still have the opportunity to include a cover letter, e.g. in the “message to the employer” section.

Here’s an article with some tips on how to modernize your cover letter: http://careerimpressions.ca/blog/2018/09/do-employers-read-cover-letters/#sthash.STFSpwig.bnYnSDCz.dpbs

This video is another great resource:

If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97^th Ave., Grande Prairie.

We also help employers find qualified candidates.

The Changing Job Search Landscape

January 18, 2019

Seeking employment is just like anything else in our fast-paced world – you need to keep abreast of the trends and tools. If you haven’t looked for a job recently – whether because of circumstances or choice – relying on methods you used to find positions in the past, may leave you frustrated.

If you’re unemployed or underemployed, staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie will help you fine tune your resume and ensure you’re using all the tools available to you, including accessing potential training opportunities (see contact details below). Your tactics may include updating or acquiring new skills.

Unless you have just had your resume professionally prepared, yours will likely need a refresh. The one you’re using may have outmoded phrases like “references available upon request” or “a strong leader” and be chock-full of dated, irrelevant information.

In the past, people used vague details to demonstrate a fit to the job. Employers and human resources professionals now look for examples of how you put your skills to work to assist the employer – how you made a difference in the workplace through tangible results or process improvements to create efficiencies.

With the evolution of Applicant Tracking Systems, you need to ensure your resume contains key words in the job description.

You may also not be using LinkedIn effectively as a networking, job search and portal for relevant articles in your field.

When some people begin pursuing a new job, they turn to their stack of business cards. While you want to stay connected with contacts new and old, LinkedIn is there to find potential new colleagues and will ensure you have the latest details on your current network.

This article provides some ideas on how to invest your job search time effectively: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/job-hunting-first-time-years-how-spend-your-wisely-virginia-1f/

Find that next job can be frustrating. If your search for new employment is taking longer than anticipated, check out this article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/reasons-why-your-job-search-taking-longer-than-erin-kennedy/

Here’s an article with tips on how to avoid recruiters from ignoring you: https://www.fastcompany.com/40489349/7-things-that-will-drive-recruiters-away-from-you

If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97^th Ave., Grande Prairie.

We also help employers find qualified candidates.

Job Search Requires a Multi-pronged Approach

January 14, 2019

Whether you’re unemployed or under-employed, getting that next job may be as easy as applying for the first opening you see. However, it’s more likely a full-fledged job search is required to find the right fit.

That means employing several tactics in your job search toolbox.

Staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can assist you with your job search tools and advise you on tactics to be most successful in your job hunt, including possible referrals to low- or no cost ways to improve your skills (see contact information below).

With the unemployment rate in Canada hitting an all-time low in late 2018, it’s more important than ever that you’re doing more than churning out resumes and hoping for the best. Applying to specific opportunities with relevant and detailed information on your resume is just a start.

While most vacancies are widely advertised, often on popular job sites, many are found in the hidden job market or are advertised in limited forums such as social media – Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter.

Many employers continue to rely on employee referrals. Have you cultivated your network within companies where you’d like to work? Have you discussed your employment situation with colleagues and contacts, in general? Professional and social gatherings are great opportunities to promote yourself.

Is your LinkedIn profile up to date, including your volunteer experience and testimonials? Are you continuing to upgrade your skills in key areas while conducting your job search?

The start of a new year is an excellent time to review your tactics and focus your priorities for the year. Ensure that you have paper resumes ready for an interview and that you have references who can speak to specific accomplishments and outcomes.

This article provides an array of job search tips to consider: https://www.hiretheyouth.org/job-search-tips/

If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97^th Ave., Grande Prairie.

We also help employers find qualified candidates.

Tips for Applying For Jobs Online

January 9, 2019

Employment counsellors constantly encourage job seekers to have an updated resume that’s detail oriented with relevant information. Applying for openings at most larger employers now also involves being ready to apply online.

This means submissions must be compatible with an Application Tracking System (ATS). While these systems enable you to upload your resume and cover letters, there are some steps to keep in mind to ensure your documents are received effectively.

This includes being aware of the required file format and potential issues with fonts and images. Follow directions carefully.

As well, it’s more important than ever to tailor your resume to a specific opening. The ATS will be scanning your documents for key words found in the job description.

If you’re unemployed or underemployed, staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can assist you with your job search and provide you with advice on applying for openings online.

This article provide help guidance to ensure your online job application experience goes smoothly. http://careerimpressions.ca/blog/2018/05/simple-dos-and-donts-of-applying-to-jobs-online/#sthash.JFkwt08A.Xf1P9pQz.dpbs

Be sure to click on links within. You’ll find a checklist to support your application tracking system success.

Remember to have paper copies available to hand out at interviews.

If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97^th Ave., Grande Prairie.

We also help employers find qualified candidates.

Get a Head Start on Your 2019 Job Search

December 31, 2018

The holidays are an important time to rejuvenate while enjoying visiting with family and friends. It’s also a great opportunity to get a head start if you’re in job search mode going into the new year.

While there’s a lull, review what has and hasn’t worked in your pursuit of new employment. Take time to do any outstanding follow ups.

The key is to be ready! Does your resume need a new look for 2019? Have you defined your ideal position and set salary expectations? Do you have an idea of the kinds of companies where you’d like to work?

If you’re unemployed or underemployed, staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can assist you with your resume, cover letter and questions about seeking employment (see contact information below).

Here are some other things to consider as you conduct a job search over the holidays.

It’s a great time to connect with former colleagues and other contacts to let them know you’re in the hunt for new opportunities. This could be as you reach out making Season’s Greetings or as you attend social and professional gatherings. Remember, many jobs are filled through referrals.
While you’re taking time to network, make sure your Linkedin profile is up to date, including your volunteer positions, and you’ve reached out to relevant contacts.
Many of your peers will be in holiday mode so there could be less competition for openings early in the year.
The first couple of months every year are traditionally peak hiring times.
Expand your horizons beyond traditional job boards. Many positions are now advertised on social media.

Here are two articles expand on these tips:

http://careerimpressions.ca/blog/2018/11/7-things-to-get-ready-for-a-job-search-in-2019/#sthash.t42Pp7oa.6ztJpUKW.dpbs

http://careerimpressions.ca/blog/2018/12/kick-start-career-success-in-2019/#sthash.8sEPSjbA.Q6lecMGE.dpbs

If you are unemployed or underemployed and want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97^th Ave., Grande Prairie.

We also help employers find qualified candidates.

All posts in Cover Letters

Job Fair Next Week – Are You Ready?

What Would Your References Say About You?

Interviews – Closing the Deal

Next Job Fair Nears – Be Prepared

Are Cover Letters Necessary?

The Changing Job Search Landscape

Job Search Requires a Multi-pronged Approach

Tips for Applying For Jobs Online

Get a Head Start on Your 2019 Job Search

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