Friday, September 05, 2008
New to Canada?
The Job Application Process
There are several steps to applying for jobs in Canada.
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Research companies that hire staff with your technical training, knowledge and skills and identify those companies that have job postings.
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Carefully read the posting to make sure you meet the qualifications they are asking for, and that the job is at a location you can get to, or would move to.
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Review your resume to make sure it details information about yourself that includes the knowledge, skills and abilities relevant to that job. (See Targeting Your Resume tips)
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Write a cover letter that expresses your interest in this particular job. (See Cover Letters tips) Sometimes, employers will ask that you include your salary expectations in your cover letter. That means you need to do your research on what a reasonable salary range is for that job in that geographic area. (See Negotiating Your Salary tips)
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Sometimes, employers will ask for a transcript from students or recent graduates. You can request an unofficial transcript from the Registration Centre. (It takes about 10 days.) Sometimes companies will ask that your References be sent with your cover letter and resume. (See References tip) Once you have created your cover letter and resume, have at least 2 people proofread them before you forward them to the company. They need to be 100% error-free! They are viewed as examples of your work.
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If the company wants you to come in to their office for an interview, they will contact you by telephone or email, or by regular mail. They will offer you a date and time for your interview, and let you know the location. This is not usually negotiable. Interviews are set at the employer's convenience. (See Interviews tip)
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At an interview, you need to be able to talk about yourself, your knowledge, skills and abilities, including your education and work experience. 1 person, 2 people, or a panel of people may interview you. Some companies have 2 levels of interviewing, so you may be called back to a second interview.
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You can create a career Portfolio to keep all your career related information in. You can take a Portfolio to interviews and to job evaluation meetings. (See Portfolios tips)