I've never looked for work in BC before so maybe I am doing something wrong, any ideas on how to get call backs?
I've cleaned my resume up and got it down to 1 page, and its focuses on my skills and experience vs just job history.
I've been using online job sites but they seem to focus mostly on more skilled work, and going to companies in the area to drop of resumes.
I've gotten about 50 resumes out now, 1 interview and 3 emails saying I am too far away from their location, they were all under 70 minutes away, not far in my book, I've done longer commutes before.
Today I am taking my search south of the border to Bellingham to see if I have any luck there.
I am concentrating mostly on retail since my experience 5 years is mostly in airlines and I've applied at all the ones I can find that fly into Vancouver and about a 1.5 years in hotels.
I am in Ontario having the same issue. I have been looking for a job since June 17th and I have only gotten 2 call backs. I would say I have applied for about 87 jobs. I am just hoping that the summer is slow, as I have been told. Because I am getting very frustrated! :) But I am trying to take advantage of my time off, hopefully come Sept, the job market will be better.
Jennifer
I've also been told that summer is really slow. I'm in Ontario and I have been job-hunting seriously since June 1st and just got a job. Not the best, but at least something. I read "What color is your parachute", which focuses mainly on US job hunt, but still has great advices. You can probably can find it at your local public library. :) Local employment centre have mock interview and resume clinic which could help. Hope this help, and hang in there I'm sure you will both find something soon.
Not sure what your profession is, but my best advice is get a headhunter (recruiter). I got interviews with about 6 businesses after I signed up with one, unfortunately, I am still ineligable for work in Canada.
my suspicion - there is a perception out there that employee loyalty is about zero because the labour market is hot. If the wage range is under $20, and you are having to drive over an hour to work, (right or wrong) an employer may have the notion that you will quickly determine it is too much driving for the money and quit.
have you considered the construction trades and an apprentice program?
Delicia Wrote:Not sure what your profession is, but my best advice is get a headhunter (recruiter). I got interviews with about 6 businesses after I signed up with one, unfortunately, I am still ineligable for work in Canada.
I dont really have a profession. I spent 5 years at an airline after high school, then 6 months in retail, then 2 years doing nothing in Canada, then the past 9 months I worked in a hotel.
Joohliya Wrote:my suspicion - there is a perception out there that employee loyalty is about zero because the labour market is hot. If the wage range is under $20, and you are having to drive over an hour to work, (right or wrong) an employer may have the notion that you will quickly determine it is too much driving for the money and quit.
have you considered the construction trades and an apprentice program?
The Fraser Valley lacks jobs, and we dont want to live out here, so we need work closer to the city to move to the city. I just can't beleive I've only gotten 1 interview and at Future Shop of all places, but they didn't hire me, they wanted more sales experience.
To be honest I dont think I could do construction, I am willing but I am clumsy and akward and lack any sort of mechanical skill and I am worried about causing anymore damage to my body, my knees are already screwed up.
I do have an appointment tomorrow at a career center to see what tips they might have.
What did you do at the airlines? Have you thought about a temp agency? They are good for the temp to perm positions.
Delicia Wrote:What did you do at the airlines? Have you thought about a temp agency? They are good for the temp to perm positions.
I started off loading planes then moved to lost luggage, then to lead ramp agent, then weight and balance/operations and then passenger service. I've done pretty much every airport job an airline has other then management.
I've applied at several temp agencies but they see to mainly deal with more skilled workers, admin etc.
I got a job today at a hotel, the pay sucks though but its a job to get some money coming in.
you realize that you are you are your own worst enemy. You talk yourself out of opportunities without first exploring the possibilities. Not all construction jobs require eye-hand dexterity. Do you like big machines? Can you drive? Can you paint? Construction gophers are making $16-20 and hour!
Come on... think outside the box. Go to manpower and see if they might put you on a training course.
You might want to check in with your doctor too, you sound really down.
Joohliya Wrote:you realize that you are you are your own worst enemy. You talk yourself out of opportunities without first exploring the possibilities. Not all construction jobs require eye-hand dexterity. Do you like big machines? Can you drive? Can you paint? Construction gophers are making $16-20 and hour!
Come on... think outside the box. Go to manpower and see if they might put you on a training course.
You might want to check in with your doctor too, you sound really down.
I wouldn't doubt that he is. I think we already know that living in BC wasn't the best situation before, and Edmonton may look better in the rear-view mirror.
Yes, sometimes it's easy to talk yourself out of possibilities. I'm interviewing in a field I never thought I could do (providing support for people with disabilities) because of my physical limits, and finding there is more room for me there than I expected, even without driving a car. Would I have even tried it if my partner hadn't worked for an agency, mentioned my qualifications, and gotten them interested in me? Probably not. I would have talked myself right out of it. And that agency is seriously considering me for a management position, which is pretty nice to contemplate. Pay still isn't what it should be, but better than piecing full-time work together from several entry-level positions. Part of the reason so many places are interested is that I volunteered in the field before looking for employment. "If you do it for free, then you must really care" seems to be the mindset.
I'm an advocate of the social services field. If you have any inkling of desire to help others, the field can be wide open. And it's something so many people don't even think about looking into.
Just another thought....
I am looking into trying to get into school next fall, just need to do some upgrading of high school courses that I didn't take in high school and some other requirements for the program.
Biggest issue will be tuition and the commute to Burnaby for classes but I think I can find a way around those.
I've always been interested in the medical field and thats where I think I'd be happy, I was gonna do nursing but I think medical lab. technician would be more suited to me, it was one of the jobs that a vocational test came up with that I took last year and I have thought of doing it before.
I personally enjoyed Edmonton, my wife however didn't so I compromised and came back to BC.
Now there's some options for you. I can't help but think there are ways around the money issue, even though I haven't explored it yet. Of course in Edmonton you could have gotten nursing assistant training paid for, which might have gotten you in some doors. I'll see if anything comes to mind on medical lab technicians--so do you take blood, or do you just process it? Yeesh!!
yup, now you are talking! look at BCIT.
don't settle for anything but the best, my friend. Life is too short not to reach for the stars.
Whistler! The job market here is crazy! I think the payscale is low for the work, but the lifestyle makes up for it I guess.