News – Page 10 – The Work Place – Resources for Job Seekers & Employers in Grande Prairie, AB

The Power Of Social Networking For Job Seekers

January 30, 2019

If you’re looking for employment, networking is one of your most powerful strategies. When it comes to connecting in the online world, LinkedIn is the most used tool for job seekers to reach out to colleagues, past and present, as well as potential contacts and employers.

LinkedIn gives you access to job postings. You can set preferences for occupations and ideal location(s), join groups and find articles related to your career. LinkedIn enables users to give and receive recommendations from peers and supervisors. Members can also follow major companies and influential speakers.

Using LinkedIn allows users to post profiles, resumes and portfolios. You can also upload articles and make posts for comment.

If you’re unemployed or underemployed, staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can help eligible individuals – see www.gpworkplace.ca for details – with their LinkedIn profile and other job search support.

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.

The links below provide tips and advice on how to maximize your LinkedIn experience. Overall, remember this social media platform is for professional use. It is not meant to be used like Facebook or other personal social media site. Upload an appropriate photograph and take care uploading your profile information, just as you would a resume.

Don’t set it and forget it. Check regularly for messages from people you’ve connected with. Job postings are generally active for three to four weeks.

A good engagement practice is to capitalize on notifications for birthdays and career advancement/job changes of your contacts. This is a great way to start conversations and to ensure ongoing contact with people in your network.

http://careerimpressions.ca/blog/2018/12/linkedin-benefits-for-executive-job-seekers/#sthash.z8BF0KHg.cPO2yxF3.dpbs

https://www.prdaily.com/9-steps-to-a-better-linkedin-profile-in-2019/?utm_source=RDH&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=RDH+(2019-01-08)&utm_content=article+title&utm_term=14

https://www.themuse.com/advice/dont-want-to-be-rejected-by-a-stranger-on-linkedin-read-this-first

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.

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.

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 Alert – Business Services Coordinator

January 17, 2019

Community Futures Grande Prairie & Region is seeking to hire a full-time, permanent Business Services Coordinator for its operations located in 214 Place, downtown City of Grande Prairie, Alberta.

The successful applicant will:

Be currently unemployed
Be confident working with computers and other electronics
Provide enhanced administration support to Community Futures staff and Incubator Business owners and staff members
Effectively greet and assist Community Futures and Incubator Business clients
Provide excellent customer service assistance both in person, by telephone and email
Assess and provide solutions to office challenges and problems
Use software such as Microsoft 365 to effectively manage document, spreadsheet and client management
Arrange meetings, take minutes and book rooms
Cross train with CF staff to become familiar with all services to ensure clients are referred to correct service provider
Maintain all aspects of office coordination from scheduling to supply orders

Skills & Attributes:

People focused
Enjoy working with the public
Able to organize, prioritize, create and follow procedures or processes
Strong work ethic, dependable
Confidence to communicate and problem solve
Flexible and adaptable to a changing work environment

This position is full time and you must be UNEMPLOYED. The hours will be Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm.

To apply, please submit a Cover Letter, Resume and 3 Employment References via email to: gpinfo@albertacf.com by January 25, 2019, Attention: Holly Sorgen, Executive Director.

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.

Transition to Employment Services Information Sessions Underway

January 2, 2019

The start of a new year is an excellent time to bolster your job search skills. If you’re unemployed, check out an upcoming Transition to Employment Services information session at The Work Place in Grande Prairie as part of your plans.

Transition to Employment Services offers supports to assist unemployed individuals gain employment. Information sessions are every Tuesday and Thursday at 11 a.m., resuming Thursday, Jan. 3 at #105, 9840 97 Avenue, Grande Prairie, Alberta.

The service is focused on those who are:

Unemployed and looking to gain a competitive edge with their job search;
Lacking workplace and occupational-related skills to find their next job; and
Thinking about making a change from one occupational field to another.

Components include

Employment and job search support, access to funding for short-term training, employment supports and referrals to employers/opportunities.

For more information, contact The Work Place at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca

New Year Great Time To Review Resume

January 2, 2019

“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten.”

This quote attributed to Tony Robbins speaks to everyday life and it certainly applies to your job search tools.

Is your resume multiple pages long? Does it look like it was composed on a typewriter? Is it chock-full of irrelevant personal information? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, you should be heading into 2019 with an upgraded document.

If you’re unemployed or underemployed, staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can help you modernize your resume and cover letters and coach you in contemporary job search skills (see contact information below).

When you’re crafting your resume, consider that most job openings result in hundreds of responses. As well, remember that many companies now use application tracking systems to assist recruiters and hiring managers sort through applications. Therefore, it’s more important than ever that key, relevant information stands out.

Help the reader hone in on key details with examples that illustrate your accomplishments.
Above all, remember that your resume is your professional brand statement to help sell you to prospective employers. If you think of yourself as a product that you’re promoting, what are your selling points?

Here are some things to consider with these points in mind:
• What distinguishes you from other applicants with the similar experience?
• What is the greatest value an employer can gain from you?
• What have you consistently achieved during your career?
• What initiatives have you developed and implemented that helped companies increase revenue, profitability, sales, safety, performance levels, productivity or satisfaction?
• Did you generate new business, bring in new clients, or forge profitable partnerships?
• Did you save companies money or increase competitive edge?

This article will help you with other tips to update your resume: http://careerimpressions.ca/blog/2018/10/outdated-resume-tactics/#sthash.s6R4whlP.qzh5CfqX.dpbs

This post provides some insights on preparing your overall job search game plan for 2019: http://careerimpressions.ca/blog/2018/12/kick-start-career-success-in-2019/#sthash.8sEPSjbA.9CGmlpcv.dpbs
You’ll also find this chart useful:

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

We’re located at #105, 9840 97 Avenue, Grande Prairie, Alberta.

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 News

Next Job Fair Nears – Be Prepared

Are Cover Letters Necessary?

The Changing Job Search Landscape

Job Alert – Business Services Coordinator

Job Search Requires a Multi-pronged Approach

Tips for Applying For Jobs Online

Transition to Employment Services Information Sessions Underway

New Year Great Time To Review Resume

Get a Head Start on Your 2019 Job Search

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