Job Search

1
Job Search Networking for International
Students

• Lynn Walsh, Career Advisor

2
Steps to Finding Employment

• Learn about your work permit issues
• Self-evaluation
• Choosing the path that is right for you
• Open job market search
• Hidden job market search
• Research employers of interest
• Up to date job search tools
• Extra info
• Follow-up

3
Learn about your work permit

• Be sure to have completed the application for Off
  Campus Work Permit.
• If your study permit is expiring before your
  program is due to finish, you must apply for an
  extension of your work permit.
• This will allow you to apply for an Off Campus
  Work Permit.

4
Self Evaluation

• Ask yourself about your likes and dislikes
• Evaluate your qualifications for the job you want
  
• What skills have you acquired through work,
  school, etc?)
• Transferable Skills
• Youve gathered these through various jobs,
  volunteer work, hobbies, sports, or other life
  experiences
• Examples are Communication, Research, Planning,
  Human Relations, Organization, Management,
  Leadership, Language
• Identify short and long term goals

5
Choosing the right path

• Match interests and qualifications with
  requirements and rewards in specific careers
• Explore the Campus Career Centre, HRDC offices,
  local libraries and the Internet for specific
  info on various opportunities
• Take internships, part time employment, summer
  employment or volunteer in your field
• Do some Labour Market Research and talk to people
  in your field of interest
• www.jobfutures.ca
• www.labourmarketinformation.ca
• http//salary.monster.ca

6
Search the open job market

• Open Job Market This is the easier way to search
  for work
• Classified ads in local and national newspapers
• Online job listings (including jobs sent out on
  ISA list serv!!)
• www.monster.ca
• www.careerbeacon.com
• www.jobbank.gc.ca
• On campus career fairs
• Attend campus employer information sessions
• Check out the Calendar of Events on
  www.mun.ca/cdel
• MUCEP GradSWEP on campus work each semester.

7
Search the Hidden Job Market

• Hidden Job Market
• This is a little harder requires you to network
  research
• Majority of jobs are not advertised, so you have
  to network
• Develop a list of friends, family, past
  employers, professors etc.
• Talk to these contacts and let them know you are
  looking for work
• Make contact by telephone, face to face or
  networking letters

8
Research companies of interest different career
planning techniques

• Research the employers you are interested in
• Explore resources in the CCD
• Review organization websites that have employers
  as members
• The St. Johns Board of Trade website (membership
  directory). www.bot.nf.ca
• NATI the NL Association of Technology
  Industries. www.nati.net
• Review career planning
• www.careercruising.com
• Username memorialuni
• Password stjohns
• www.labourmarketinformation.ca/

9
Effective Resume and Cover Letter

• Target the position and employer you are
  interested in pursuing
• Make sure to critique the cover letter résumé
  before sending it out
• No spelling errors
• Bold your degree and job title
• Keep your cover letter to one page and write
  about your skills and qualifications for the job
  give specific examples. Resume shouldnt be any
  longer than 2 pages
• Do not include personal information on the résumé
  or cover letter
• Focus on your school, previous work experience,
  skills and interests
• In North America, a résumé and curriculum vitae
  (CV) are different.
• A résumé is used for job search
• A CV presents a complete picture of the breadth
  and depth of academic experiences you have
  accumulated.

10
Networking!!!!

• The key to the hidden job market
• 85 of jobs are never publicly advertised, they
  are discovered through networking
• Talk to everyone, let them know you are looking
  for employment
• Talk to people already working in your field of
  interest about careers in that area
• Attend career fairs and campus information
  sessions given by recruiters

11
Networking Contd

• Ask those that you talk with if they can suggest
  someone else to contact
• Participate in mentoring programs or job
  shadowing opportunities
• Volunteer
• Community Services Council
• http//www.envision.ca/
• Document those conversations and contacts you
  have made
• Identify those who have helped you and thank them

12
Extra info differences about Job Search in Canada

• Employers may expect you to use more direct
  speech than you are accustomed to
• May feel comfortable being modest dont want to
  sound arrogant but it is ok to be/sound
  confident
• May feel more flexible with time than your
  interviewer
• Try not to keep interviewer waiting
• Some people in Canada may feel that being
  professional means keeping your private life
  separate
• Dont bring too much personal info into resume,
  cover letter, interview or conversation with an
  employer.

13
A couple of other things to keep in mind

• Silence in conversation may feel more comfortable
  to North Americans than to other cultures
• Dont worry about this, sometimes people are
  taking notes or trying to comprehend what you
  have just said
• It is better to focus on what you can offer to
  the employer than always talking about how great
  they are and how they can benefit your career
• Keep focused discuss your skills, abilities and
  good qualities
• Small talk and chit chat is very important it
  may sound like nothing, but it is not
• Even when networking, all conversations are
  important

14
Points to Consider

• If you have any questions or concerns about job
  search please stop by and I can help
• Keep a notebook to record the contact youve made
  and the jobs you have applied for
• Be prepared! Always have a copy of your resume
  on hand
• Explore the CCD website for great tips on job
  searching and career planning (www.mun.ca/cdel)
• Dont just look for any job the more specific
  you are the easier the search.

15
Contact International Student Career Advisor

• Lynn Walsh
• Centre for Career Development/International
  Student Advising
• p 709-737-8167 or 737-8895
• lwalsh_at_mun.ca
• Office Hours
• Mon., Tues. Fri. (9am 5pm) Centre for Career
  Development (CCD), 4th floor of UC
• Wed. Thurs. (9am 445pm) ISA Office, Corte
  Real