Finding Work

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• Finding Work
• in Tough Economic Times
• Co-operative Education Program and Career Services

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Co-operative Education Program and Career Services

• AGENDA
• Recession Myths and Reality
• Hiring Trends in Victoria, Vancouver and Calgary
• Action plan!

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Co-operative Education Program and Career Services

• Recession Myths and Reality

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Current Economic Climate and Trends

• The Current Recession
• How does it affect your ability to find work?
• What have you heard/seen in the media?
• Overall feeling/confidence level?

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Current Economic Climate and Trends

• The Results?
• Fear and Stress!!
• Unproductive behavior
• Or
• Productive behavior

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Current Economic Climate and Trends

• Be fearful when others are greedy and be greedy
  when others are fearful -- Multi-Billionaire,
  Warren Buffet
• "If you think you can, or think you can't, you're
  right.--Henry Ford
• The secret of getting ahead is getting started.
  The secret of getting started is breaking your
  complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable
  tasks, and then starting on the first one. Mark
  Twain

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Co-operative Education Program and Career Services

• Reality Check
• Historical Bear market cycle
• What areas are recession proof?
• Stay calm and focused
• Think logically and strategically

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Co-operative Education Program and Career Services

• (Very) Current Hiring Trends

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Co-operative Education Program and Career Services

• Western Canada (BC and Alberta)
• Areas of Job Growth and Stability
• I.T., Health Care, Private sector, Sales,
  Accounting, Legal, Admin
• Areas of Decline
• Pulp and Paper, Banking, Mining Exploration,
  Manufacturing

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Co-operative Education Program and Career Services

• February Labor Market Stats
• Victoria unemployment rate 4.7
• Vancouver Island unemployment rate 5.9
• BC Feb unemployment rate 6.7
• Canada unemployment rate 7.7
• (Anything under 5 is considered full employment)

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Current Economic Climate and Trends

• I was a little surprised at the numbers I was
  seeing.  I take a snap shot of our postings once
  a month to have a posting history.  I was
  comparing summer postings over the past several
  years.  Surprisingly, for the past 4 years for
  summer looking back at the number of postings in
  the system at the same point in time in different
  years show no significant changes that is,
  there appears to be no significant declines or
  gains.
• Andrea Giles, Assistant Director,
• Office of the Director
• Co-operative Education Program and Career
  Services

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Current Economic Climate and Trends

• Current Co-op Postings in Victoria
• Hiring Now (Government, Private, Non-Profit)
• BC Ministries (Energy, Small Business, Health,
  Advanced Education)
• Rogers Chocolates, Dockside Gifts, The Wave,
  Avenue Innovations
• Victoria Dragon Boat Society, Victoria
  Conservatory of Music
• NOT hiring as much now
• Major Banks / Mid-Market Hotels / Some Government
  Sectors

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Current Economic Climate and Trends

• Current Co-op Postings in Vancouver
• Hiring Now (Private, Not-for-Profit, Education)
• National Nikkei Museum, Burns Bog Conservation,
  Place Des Arts, Developmental Disabilities
• Canada Mortgage and Housing, Vancouver
  International Fringe Fest, Provincial Health
  Services Authority
• North Van Community Arts Council
• NOT Hiring as much now
• Manufacturing / Mining / Major Banks / Mid-Range
  Hotels

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Current Economic Climate and Trends

• Current Co-op Postings in Calgary (and Alberta)
• Hiring Now (Government, Private, Oil and Gas)
• Marks Work Wearhouse, Military Museum, Encana
• Community Futures Wild Rose, Agro
• Fortis Inc., Bow Valley College, Country Hills
  Golf Club, HeathGlen Golf Course
• NOT Hiring as much
• Larger Oil and Gas / Hotels /Major banks

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Current Economic Climate and Trends

• How does this affect me?
• Many companies still hiring
• LOTS of Co-op job opportunities in Western Canada
  (50 of them)
• They take work and effort to find (thank your
  Co-op Coordinator!)
• They require QUALITY applications and EARLY
  submission

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Current Economic Climate and Trends

• In Summary
• Two opposing trends
• Fear
• Opportunity
• Resist temptation to
• Give up and get drunk instead
• Apply for EVERYTHING out there
• Blame people, places, events
• Employing calm and step-by-step actions will get
  you hired

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Preparing for Action

• Okay What do I DO??

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Action Steps

• Accept that I will have to devote time to job
  search (1 hour per day)
• Option A
• Research 5 - 6 posted Co-op positions
• Focus on LEARNING not earning
• Bring completed Application to Co-op Coordinator
  3 days BEFORE deadline for editing assistance

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Action Steps

• OPTION B
• FIND YOUR OWN WORK OPPORTUNITIES
• FACT 80 of available work is NEVER advertised!!
• (If you begin practicing Option B along with
  Option A now, it sets you up for life!)

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Current Economic Climate and Trends

• Step 1 Identify Familiar Leads
• Talk to friends, family, profs, volunteer
  contacts, people you see daily
• Ask for their ideas of who to talk to in various
  organizations of interest
• People LOVE to be needed, want to help
• Record the company names and contacts on tracking
  sheet (see attached)

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Getting Organized

• Step 2. Identify Unfamiliar leads
• Set goal to find 5-6 Companies you might like to
  work for online searching is fastest and
  easiest
• Go to www.spectrumjobsearch.com

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Getting Organized

• Important
• Review list with Co-op Coordinator BEFORE
  contacting the companies
• Some employers already have agreements with UVIC
  Co-op
• Co-op Coordinator can help you get foot in the
  door

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
How to

• Step 3 Prepare 10 second Pitch
• Example My name is Jayn Steele, Im a 3rd year
  Business student at UVIC studying business
  development and I have experience in product
  sales in the IT sector. I was researching Marks
  Work Wearhouse online, and was impressed by your
  commitment to Ethical Sourcing. Would it be
  possible to meet for a 15 minute informational
  interview to learn more about your company and
  your role there?
• If no, Could you recommend anyone else there
  that may have the time for a 15 minute
  interview?)
• OR
• Example My name is Jayn Steele, Im a third
  year Business student at UVIC. I have completed
  courses in finance and financial analysis, and
  also have work experience in the both the public
  and private sector. I noticed you have a job
  posting for the position of junior financial
  analyst, and wondered if you might consider
  hiring for a 4 or 8 month contract term instead?

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
How to

• Fill in the blanks then practice reading them out
  in small groups
• (5 minutes)

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Action Steps

• Step 4. Make Contact
• Best times
• 930am - 11am and 2pm 330pm
• On phone Be prepared with 10 second pitch
• In person Be prepared with 10 second pitch AND
  your interview questions! They may meet with you
  right away

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Action Steps

• Step 5 Conducting the Informational Interview
• Have 5-6 good questions written down (see
  examples)
• Arrive and leave on time, as agreed (15 minutes)
• Bring TARGETED resume and ask for feedback on it
• DO NOT ASK FOR A JOB Wait to be asked!

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Getting Organized

• Step 6. Effective Follow Up
• Mail a thank you note to person you met with
  (see example of note)
• Mail it the same day you had the meeting

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Co-operative Education Program and Career Services

• Remember to

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Achieving Success

• Be realistic and dont panic
• Commit to investing 1 hour per day

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Achieving success

• 3. Remain both focused and flexible
• Whatever your long-term interest you need
• good computer/administration skills,
• interpersonal skills,
• organizational skills, etc.
• Focus on what you can LEARN
• Co-op terms are short - You can do anything for 4
  months ?

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Achieve success

• 4. Differentiate Yourself from Competitors
• Research and show off your research
• Show up at the company and ask intelligent
  questions about the company
• Take a tour of the facility, if they have them
• Volunteer to help out at an upcoming event
• Do informational interviews, write thank you
  cards

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Finding Work in Tough Economic Times
Achieve success

• 5. Action Equals Results!!
• Job searching is a skill that anyone can develop
• Follow the formula you WILL succeed
• It becomes FUN and puts you in drivers seat of
  your career path
• Come to my office for help (BEC 132) well do
  it together!

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Thank you!Co-operative Education Program and
Career Services