Career Management Job Hunting Resources (adapted for the IEEE Hamilton Section region)
Basic Job Hunting:
1. Update your resume. See your local public library for available resume classes or seminars.
2. Gain expertise in English language skills.
3. Look for jobs on websites:
Job boards such as monster.ca, workopolis.ca, and job board aggregators such as indeed.com.
For IEEE Members:
o IEEE Job Site - Has some Canada-Ontario postings from time to time.
4. Understand the new economy [1]:
o sharp transitions
o high churn rate
o intense competition
Intermediate Job Hunting.
1. Get a mentor.
o Within the Halton Region, there is:
Halton Mentoring Partnership
Antony Vadakkanchery
Program Coordinator
905.845.9430x8134
o The IEEE has a mentor program (see the ieee.org website.)
2. Job Hunting Training.
There are public programs to help specific groups of people with job hunting:
o The Centre: Skills Development and Training
What: Assessments for Career Planning: Aptititude and Interest, SkillScan, Entrepreneurial Assessment.
Funding: Government of Canada.
o Experienced Workers Program Halton
Applies To: workers 45 years and older seeking work.
Where: The Centre for Education and Training, 860 Harrington Court, Burlington. Bay Area Learning Center, 2nd floor.
Contact: 905.681.3356
Funding: Government of Canada.
3. Put your profile on Linkedin (linkedin.com).
4. Upgrade your technical skills. Take courses at colleges, universities, etc.
5. Think about career management, rather than a "job".
o set up your career transitions so they're under your control [1]
6. Understand your "value proposition".
And your "30 second commercial". For more details, google these.
Advanced Job Hunting.
1. Networking.
It is generally quoted that some 70% of job hunting is found through networking, the remaining through recruiters and internet.
Local networking groups include:
o happen.ca (Mississauga/Burlington Executive Network). Weekly meetings.
o IEEE Hamilton Section has networking meetings from time to time
o ghvf.org Connecting investors and entrepreneurs. Meet about once every 3 months in Burlington.
Tips:
o help people (contacts) when you don't need anything in return
o stay strategically in touch with your networks
2. Do volunteer work.
[1] Pam Lassiter, "The New Job Security", Oakville Public Library 650 .1 Las
Last Updated: May 13, 2009.
