slide

Welcome to WorkZone

WorkZone provides a variety of free employment resources and services for anyone looking for work, assessing career options, or considering training or self-employment. Our six community-based employment service and resource centres are located throughout the South Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys....

slide

Our Knowlegable Staff

Our Employment Specialists and Facilitators are trained to assist you with all your employment needs: from information on the local labour market and energetic workshops to individual assistance tailored to getting you where you want to go. It's all about you.  ...

slide

Resources

Each office offers access to computers and the Internet; resume writing and career planning software; fax and photocopy machines, job postings, message boards; local newspapers; and a library of collected information on labour market trends and job profiles....

Organize Your Job Search

They say the hardest part is getting started…

Making a commitment and setting up a job-search schedule for yourself is essential.

They say that organized people are determined and determined people get ahead!

 

So let’s get started!

 

Essential:

 

  • Commit the time – make an appointment with yourself.
  • Block out time daily to devote to your job search.
  • Get organized!

 

1. Set specific goals based on a current situation.

2. Make a plan for the search – an absolute necessity in landing a job!

3. Prepare accurate, carefully considered resumes and cover letters that are tailored to each job.

4. Keep careful records of the people who can help you with your search. This is your network.

5. Stay on top of the search by following up regularly with active leads.

 

And that’s what lands a job!

 

 

Setting up your Job Search Headquarters

 

You will need a HQ where you can keep everything related to this project. That way you will know exactly where everything is.

  

So make sure you put some simple parameters in place:

 

  1. 1. Callers should be able to leave a message if you’re not in – so make sure your voicemail has available space... they may choose not to call back!

3.  Callers should be able to reach you or hear back from you within a few hours of their call.

4.  Make sure your voicemail message is appropriate and professional. Keep it brief and to the point.

5.  Make sure everyone in your home understands that answering the phone in a professional manner is essential.

6.  And ensure everyone in the family understands that all messages are to be passed on to you in a quick and detailed fashion. Pen to paper so all details are recorded.

  

Source: “Organize your Job Search by Ronni Eisenberg with Kate Kelly   
 
Interview Tips

Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse

 

What do you think about while waiting to be interviewed? Do any of these what-ifs cross your mind?


*What if I had spent a little more time getting ready for this inquisition? 

*What if I can’t remember the research I did on this company? 

*What if I go blank and can’t remember the interview’s name? 

*What if I go blank and can’t remember anybody’s name? 

*What if I can’t get the words out of my mouth – I’m no good at selling myself. Should I leave now? 

*What if I don’t get this job of a lifetime? What next?

 

You’re nervous. You’ve got butterflies, a queasy feeling, a mouthful of cotton, and a rapid pulse. You feel yourself sliding into brain fade and the curtain’s coming down fast. In short, you’ve got a galloping case of stage fright. Sound familiar?

 

Source “Job Interviews for Dummies” by Joyce Lain Kennedy

 

Well WorkZone has a new Interview Series of workshops just for you! You’ll learn the tools to polish your personal pitch, and spotlight your audience. Upon completion of this series you will:

 

√       Identify the different types of interviews, their purpose and success strategies.

√       Identify the steps involved in both preparing for and managing an interview.

√       Discuss and practice answering the various types of interview questions using identified guidelines and techniques.

√       List questions that can be asked of the employer during the interview.

√       Explain the importance of post interview self-assessment and follow-up.

 

Now all you need to do is:

ask your Employment Specialist to book you into these free workshops!
 
Five Key Words

Five Key Words that Can Help You Land the Job

 

An interview is a competition. How do you win? You have to sell yourself as effectively as possible. An important component of that sales pitch is the implementation of a few key words that will grab the attention of your interviewer.


Passionate:  Be certain to convey your passion for the position, mission or company. The last thing an employer wants is someone who is just working to "make a living" or "try something out."


Asset:  A job is not the same as an internship. An employer does NOT want to hear that you are applying to "learn." You better bring a unique skill set or perspective to the table that is going to greatly benefit the employer. Make sure to express WHY you are an ASSET to the company.


Communicator:  What's the No. 1 quality an employer looks for in an employee? Answer: The ability to communicate effectively. The ability to articulate your ideas and perspective to both fellow members of your company and the public is extremely valuable.


Quick Study:  You only need to be shown a task once to be able to do it well, and ultimately, come to master it.


Practical:  To reassure the interviewer that you will approach each assignment with practicality, logic and reason.


Do you require assistance to implement these key words into your Interview technique? WorkZone offers workshops, VIP services and individual supports through our employment specialists. We can help you ace that interview!
 
Gender Moves

When Michael Keaton starred in the Hollywood movie “Mr. Mom” in 1983 the concept of a stay-at-home dad and a working mom was comedic.  Over the last 20 years the stuff of fiction has become reality with large numbers of women taking over the financial responsibilities of the household.


According to Statistics Canada the number of men in the workforce dropped from 73% in 1976 to 68% in 2006 while 58% of women over the age of 15 had jobs (an increase of 42% from the previous records.) 

What accounts for the gender shift? In an article titled “Women Are New Men: Reviewing and Leveraging Women’s Bold New World of Work”, Katharine Hansen, Ph.D. suggests some trends that likely account for the change.

  1. Women tend to focus on continuing education.  Her research showed that 40 years ago, men had higher education than their spouses, but as of 2007 US statistics, only 19% of wives had less education than their husbands.  Statistics Canada reported that 75% of Canadian women with a university degree and 69% who hold college educations had jobs.  Higher education is directly proportional to employment.
  2. Women were less affected than men by job loss due to the economic recession. Construction and manufacturing sectors tend to be more male-dominated and it was those industries that were the hardest hit by lay-offs.  The service sector and health care fields tend to employ more women and were less affected by economic decline. The 2006 Stats Canada reports that 39% of women lost jobs as compared to 51% of men that year.
  3. Women in self-employment and executive positions demonstrate high levels of performance.  In 2008, a marketing professor at Pepperdine University, CA tracked Fortune 500 companies who promoted women to the boardroom and found that those with women in executive positions outperformed the industry medians by every measurement.
  4. Women in middle-management roles are rising quickly in the ranks in professional jobs. More women than men are employed in educational services, finance, insurance and real estate suggesting that women have cultivated strong leadership characteristics that are well-suited to management.

The world of work is in constant change.  In today’s world we are no longer shocked that a father stays at home with his children while the mother climbs the corporate ladder.  Both genders seem to embrace change while deciding which best approach to employment fits their lifestyle.


Resources:

Quintessential Careers. Katharine Hansen, Ph.D. http://www.quintcareers.com/leveraging_womens_work.html, accessed Aug.16, 2010
 
The Hidden Job Market

WHAT IS THE HIDDEN JOB MARKET? 
  

Did you know that there is a secret to finding a job in BC?
Did you know that the secret lies in the “Hidden Job Market”?

Did you know that WorkZone is your key to unlocking the Hidden Job Market?

 

So, what does this mean to you, the job seeker!!  Well, simply put, the majority of jobs, approximately 80%, are never advertised.  Most people focus on the open job market, relying on postings found in newspaper ads and internet job boards.  If you are using this approach, you are not only greatly limiting your options, but I’m sure have also realized that there is a lot of competition for those few good positions you’ll uncover.

 

The solution?  You need to access the Hidden Job Market .  How do you do this?  What is the secret password that will let you in?  The answer is WorkZone.  WorkZone’s Employment Specialists can assist you in a targeted job search, and help you build and develop your network so that you can successfully tap into the Hidden Job Market.

 

Networks are important. In todays market, employers do not want to take chances.   Employers want to hire people that are referred to them from someone they trust, and will usually hire through personal or professional networks.

 

Chances are you already have a network, you just don’t know it.  Your network is your family, it is the people that you know through previous jobs, people you went to school with or know from professional associations.   Your network is your friend’s friends, and their friends.  Your Network Starts with WorkZone!

 

Let WorkZone help you to explore and uncover your personal network.  A targeted network has huge benefits:  you gain insider information; you increase your job opportunities;  you make long-term business contacts; you advance your career goals; and you build trust and credibility amongst your peers.  Think about it…. and let WorkZone be your first step to job success!!

 

Get Connected with WorkZone!
 
More Articles...
<< Start < Prev 1 2 Next > End >>

Page 1 of 2