Get ready for the Hiring Fair!

Explore job opportunities at the upcoming Hiring Fair, hosted by the Career Centre on Friday, March 8th, from 12pm to 4pm at the Jensen Centre (BGC Parksville Child and Family Centre), 132 Jensen Avenue East, Parksville. Last year over 50 employers were present, providing a unique opportunity for job seekers to engage directly with businesses actively looking to hire. Stay tuned and keep checking back for additions to the list of employers attending in 2024!

To maximize your success at the job fair and in your job search overall, consider the following steps:

Step 1: Participate in a How to Prepare for a Hiring Fair workshop. Acquire networking strategies to ensure success during face-to-face interactions with employers. Gain insights into necessary preparations before, during, and after the Hiring Fair.

Step 2: Dress professionally for success, akin to attending a job interview. If you require interview attire, schedule an appointment with an employment consultant at the Career Centre for assistance.

Step 3: Research the list of registered employers beforehand. Get a competitive edge by researching businesses of interest, understanding their work culture and values. Prepare a set of questions to engage employers during the Hiring Fair.

Step 4: Bring multiple copies of your resume. Organize a folder with a list of target employers, several copies of your resume, cover letters (specifically addressed to certain employers), and letters of reference if available. Be ready to distribute extra resumes to employers not initially on your list. If you need assistance creating or updating your resumes, be sure to attend the Career Centre’s Resumes and Cover Letters Workshop prior to the Hiring Fair.

Step 5: Prepare for impromptu interviews. Craft a one-minute “presentation statement” highlighting your qualifications to effectively market yourself to potential employers. Attend workshops such as Branding “YOU” and Acing the Interview for additional insights.

Step 6: Network actively. Practice a polished greeting with eye contact to make a positive first impression. The Hiring Fair provides a valuable opportunity to connect with employers and fellow job seekers who can contribute to advancing your career.

Step 7: Collect contact information. Record the names and contact details of individuals and companies of interest or ask for business cards to facilitate follow-up.

Step 8: Send thank-you notes. Stay ahead of the competition by sending thank-you notes or emails to your preferred employers the following day. Ensure professionalism in your communication, avoiding jargon, abbreviations, or spelling mistakes.

The Career Centre’s Hiring Fair is a complimentary event for job seekers to engage with local employers. For details on upcoming workshops or to register, please call 250.248.3205.

We eagerly anticipate your presence on March 8th at the Hiring Fair from 12pm to 4pm!

WHY JOB SEARCH IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY?

Most experts agree, December and January are typically quiet months as most recruiting goes on a temporary hiatus. Managers may decide to put off their hiring goals until after the New Year. People are on vacation, celebrating with their families, and slowing down training and onboarding activities.

January and February seem to be the best time of year to land that job. Hiring managers have likely just received their budgets. Hiring continues after the holidays, and employees return to work rested and ready to perform. Using employers’ downtime to your advantage during the holidays, could result in a perfect new job!

It’s important to keep up your momentum and actively job search during this time. Here are some reasons to continue to job search during December and through January:

Fewer Competitors

Many job seekers take a break from job searching at this time. You may face less competition when applying for a job. There is a better chance of being hired for sudden opportunities.

Networking Opportunities

With all of the social and business get-togethers happening now, you have an opportunity to network with other professionals in your field. Consider attending some of the many events occurring in your area. Bring your business cards so you can easily pass on your information to all your new contacts.
(Pro tip: brush up on your networking skills with our Beyond the Postings workshop. Call 250.248.3205 to register.)

Secured Employment

It might be an even more enjoyable holiday season knowing you’re going into the New Year with a new job, salary and benefits. You could even spend a bit more on that festive budget!

Early Start to January Hiring

As we mentioned, a lot of businesses receive their new budgets in January. Making that connection now might make that manager’s hiring decision in January much easier.  Applying at this time of year allows you to connect with hiring managers before other candidates start applying in the New Year.

Potential for Seasonal to Permanent Jobs

Many employers hire temporary staff during the holidays. Some temporary employees can stand out and discover key timing for new opportunities. If you make a good impression, you might just land that permanent position.

Later Start Dates

Many companies take extra time off during the holiday season. If you want extra time before starting your new job, you can discuss options and negotiate a later start date.

Team Building during the Holidays

Many employers celebrate the holidays with outings, events and parties. Starting a new job during this time will allow you to bond with your new teammates and get a feel for the company culture.

Keep up your Momentum

Keeping up your job search efforts and schedule will help you maintain your momentum. Staying organized and ready for a last-minute interview can help develop good habits. Maintaining your motivation can make it easier to transition into January if you’re still looking for a new role.

Remember, sometimes the ability to feel motivated depends on how hopeful you are that you’ll find a job or how you feel about your interactions with potential employers. If you notice yourself becoming demotivated you may want to practice some positive self-talk and affirmations. Positive self-talk is thinking positive thoughts that make you feel good about yourself and your circumstances. This practice may help you feel more optimistic and motivated.

You can practice this as an inner monologue or vocalize your affirmations. Ask yourself what you might say to a friend needing encouragement and then say those same things to yourself.

• I have a strong and healthy body.
• I achieve my goals.
• I’m a hard worker, and my efforts are always rewarded.
• I’m being kind to myself today.
• I have an attitude of gratitude.

Are there any more that you can come up with?

However you find your motivation, the important part is that you try. Stay positive and keep putting your resumes out there, make connections, and have a happy holiday!

YOUTH WEEK AND LOOKING FOR A SUMMER JOB

BC Youth Week is a provincial celebration of youth held annually during the first week of May. It is a week of fun filled interaction and a celebration intended to build a strong connection between youth and their communities. Because of this, we decided to focus our May 2023 Tip of the Month on our young people and student job seekers.

Tips for Looking for a Summer Job

Working a summer job can help you gain experience and earn money. Working can be highly rewarding but sometimes challenging to find the right fit. If you are looking for a summer job, it may be helpful to learn more about strategies and tips you can use to make your job search as effective as possible.

What kind of work do you want?

To find a job that best fits you, start with thinking about your interests and values. Even if the position is temporary, you want to enjoy what you are doing. Consider topics that you enjoy and how your interests and values can transform into a summer job.  For example: if you like sports, you might want to apply at a sporting goods store, if you like reading you might want to apply at a book store.

Get your references ready

Put together a list of three references. These can be former employers, but if you’ve never worked before, or have limited experience, you can use volunteer references, coaches, teachers, neighbours, former coworkers and acquaintances. Ensure you ask your references for permission first and be sure to get a phone number and an email address for your list.

Check out your social media with a sharp eye. What would a potential employer see if they were to look you up? Do you seem trustworthy and professional? Would you want to hire you to represent your business? How are your privacy settings? If you think no one is going to look, you’re probably wrong.

Write a Resume and Cover Letter

For most jobs, you will need a resume and cover letter to submit to the employer. MS Word has templates and a quick google search will reveal many more great examples. Always have two people proofread your documents before you start handing them out to employers. The Career Centre has an online resume and cover letter workshop https://learning.careercentre.org/ and resume examples on our website.

 Get Help with a Summer Job Search

The https://www.careercentre.org/find-a-job/  and https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/youth  are great places to start looking for work. Most employers in the Oceanside area post jobs on the Career Centre website. If you’re a student, check with your school Career Education office and ask how they can assist you.

 Check out Summer Youth Employment Programs

Many organizations have summer programs that run between June and August. They are typically city, provincial, or non-profit agencies. Finding these positions may require a little digging, but this is another instance where an online search is your friend. The City of Parksville and Chambers of Commerce are good examples of this in our community.

 Network, network, network!

Networking really does work! It is an excellent way to tap into the hidden job market and it’s not all that difficult. Tell everyone you know that you are looking for work. Talk to family, friends, friends’ parents, teachers, coaches, anyone and everyone – and ask if they can help you or if they have any leads.

Networking is the best way to find a job and most people are glad to provide job leads and advice. For more information on the hidden job market, the Career Centre sends out news via JAM (Jobs and More), a bi-weekly resource containing up to date local information.

 Apply Online

Read application instructions carefully. You don’t want to be screened out because you submitted an application online without attaching your resume or showing up at the wrong time. Depending on the organization, you may need a resume and possibly a cover letter or there may just be an online application. Every employer has different criteria, be sure you know theirs.

Apply In-Person

Applying in-person allows you to make a personal connection and gives your potential employer a chance to chat with you. Some jobs require a resume, some require an application. Everyone could be different. Be sure to be neat, well groomed and appear “ready to work.” You may be interviewed on the spot!

 Good luck and happy hunting!

 

Hiring Fair news and more! Click here for your JAM update for February 28th