Employment Unit

Aboriginal Employment Unit

How to be your own dream catcher

Job hunting giving you grief? Come on in and see how we can assist you with job hunting.

In need of further training? Come on in and see how we can help with determining what training you need, where you can access training and how you will “get by” while attending a training program.

There are employment officers to help you with your resume, cover letter, and interview preparation.

Come on in and see how we can help. Success can be yours through the Aboriginal Employment Unit.

“Make your dreams come true!

Training Options

¨ Targeted wage subsidies

¨ Training purchases

¨ Skills enhancement

¨ Employment support

¨ Mobility assistance

Services:

¨ Job search strategies

¨ Employment referrals

¨ Resume and cover letter writing

¨ Interview preparation

¨ Career coaching

¨ Action planning development

¨ Resource room

¨ Labour market information

¨ On-line job searching

Resume Critique Checklist

¨ Does your resume look original and not based on a template?

¨ Is your resume easy to read with clear sections and lots of white space?

¨ Does your resume look professional rather than like a simple typing job?

¨ Did you use bullets, bolding, and lines to guide the readers eyes through your resume?

¨ Is there a good balance between text and white space?

¨ Is the font and spacing consistent throughout your resume?

¨ If your is longer than one page, does the second page contain a heading?

¨ Are sections placed in the best order to highlight your strongest skills?

¨ Is your work history in chronological order with the most recent job first?

¨ Is your resume targeted to a specific career goal and not trying to be a one size fits all?

¨ Is your information relevant to the hiring manager’s needs?

¨ Is applicable information such as awards and affiliations included?

¨ Is personal information like martial status, age, and your SIN # omitted from your resume?

¨ Is the flow logical and easy to understand?

¨ Is your resume as perfect as possible, with no careless typos or spelling or grammar errors?

Build Your Job Search Skills

Your resume alone won’t get you the job you want. Here are some other job search elements you will need to look at:

Your Cover Letter

Your cover letter is the first thing an employer sees that is associated with your name. They won’t like it if it’s filled with spelling mistakes, grammatical errors and jargon.

“Your cover letter should be your story – what makes you unique, perfect for the job and someone a company should interview, says Brad Karsh, author of Confessions of a Recruiting Director and a former recruiter for advertising giant Leo Burnett.”

Your Interviewing Skills

A mock interview is a good way to practice your interviewing skills. Have an employment Counsellor or a trusted friend critique the way you carry yourself and answer questions when the pressure’s on. We can videotape your mock interview so you can see how you did.

“Would you even consider standing in front of people to sell them something without first doing some prep work? Asks Carole Martin, a former Monster contributor and author in Interview Fitness Training. “Of course not. So why do you think you could wing an interview?”

Your Appearance and Image

When you’re going to a job interview or a networking event, dress like you are going to work. Ask yourself: Do I speak clearly and intelligently? Do I have bad breath, body odor or a strange haircut? Do I have on too much cologne?

“If you don’t pay attention to the details of your appearance – with pressed clothes, proper attire, and proper hygiene – an employer can reasonably question if you will pay attention to the details and important elements of your work” says Pamela Holland, coauthor of Help! Was That a Career Limiting Move?

Job Search Tactics

Don’t be tempted to concentrate on on-line job searching. Include networking and relationship-building activities. Get involved in professional organizations, the more people who know you, the greater your chances of a successful job search.

“The numbers don’t lie: In a 2005 study by outplacement firm DBM, 64% of respondents said they ultimately landed new jobs through networking.”

Your Job Search Targets

Look for a job that’s a good fit with your education, experiences, skills abilities and interests.

Ultimately, it’s the employer who decides whether you are good fit or not. If you are applying for a position far above or far beneath your capabilities, you’ll be out of the running no matter how great your resume is.

122 East Street

Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Canada P6A 3C6

Phone: 705-256-5634

Fax: 705-942-3227

E-mail: info@ssmifc.ca