Career ED Student Portal - Job Search Resources

Job Search Tips

Here are some helpful tips for a successful job search:

Know Your Info: Keep all of the information you need to complete an application on hand, things like your address, phone number, school information, past work and volunteer experiences (if applicable) including dates, addresses and phone numbers.
Check Your History: Take a look at your social media profiles and make sure you are presenting yourself well online. Take some time to remove things you would not want an employer to see, and check your sharing/public/private settings.
Get Looking: Ask family and friends if they know of companies that are hiring, and look for help wanted signs in your neighborhood and other places you often go. Also use the online job search tools (posted below) to find out about available jobs- but apply in-person, not online!
Research: Look up the business where you want to work on Instagram, Facebook or their website to learn about it. Call and ask if they hire people your age. Some employers won’t hire people under 16.
Transportation: If you are planning to walk or ride your bike to work, only apply to businesses that you can walk or ride your bike to. Taking public transportation? Map out your route and make sure you allow enough time to get there before your shift starts. Going to drive? Drive there a few times to learn the traffic patterns and how long it will take you. You don’t want to be late to work! *Having a driver's license is an asset when looking for a job!
Recommendations: Create a list of one to three references that you can give potential employers. If possible, the list of references should include someone for whom you’ve worked or volunteered. Teachers and sports coaches also make great references. Your reference list should have names and emails and/or phone numbers. Ask your reference people ahead of time if you can use them as a reference with employers.
Fill out Applications: Most businesses have online applications but not all. Although many businesses will have applications online, it's even better to stop in and ask them for an app in person! Have your information read and be ready to write out your basic info like your address, phone number, email, school information, past work and volunteer experience (including dates you worked there, their addresses and phone numbers). Here is an exmple of a job application: Sample Job Application
Prepare for a Good Interview Practice interview questions with a family member or other adult. Make sure to talk about how you will show up, on time, and that you are excited to work and learn on the job. If an employer asks why you left a previous job, be honest but don’t say negative things about your past employer, instead say why the position wasn’t right for you at the time, for example “my class schedule got more difficult, so I needed to spend more time working on homework, but that won’t be an issue now.” If you have to talk about something negative, make sure you tell them what you learned about the situation. *More detailed interview tips found further down this page!
Stay Positive and Persistent: Apply for lots of jobs. Almost no one gets the first, second or third job they apply for. Keep trying and FOLLOW UP - anywhere you've applied, make sure you pop back in after a few days to see where they're at in the hiring process. This shows that you’re serious about finding a job and keeps you at the top of the employer's mind!

Answer Your Phone/Emails!! : You may not be a fan of answering unknown numbers that call you - if you're undergoing a job search you'll need to overcome this!! It seems simple, but many young people miss out on job opportunities because they don't answer their phones, listen to their voicemails, or check their email. Make sure this doesn't happen to you!

Job Search Resources

*As mentioned above, use these online job listings to find out what jobs are available but make sure to apply in-person. Many people apply online and their applications can get lost in the many other online applications. Applying in-person shows confidence and that you're serious about finding a job; it also makes you stand out by putting a face to the name on the application!

Indeed

Monster

ALIS - Look for Work

St. Albert Classifieds

Resume and Cover Letter

RESUME

Having a strong resume is an important part of the job application process. You may not have a lot of work experience yet, and that’s okay! Check this link for some Resume Tips and Examples for Teens

Once you’ve taken a look at some examples, you can write your own resume! There are a few ways you can do this!

Use this resume template (it will prompt you to “make a copy” - click the blue box), or
Use the resume tool on myBlueprint, or
Go to Canva and search “resume” in templates, then edit to make it your own!
Try Resume.org

COVER LETTER

For more info about cover letters and some examples, check out these links:

How to Write a Cover Letter

Sample Cover Letters

Sample Cover Letter: No Work Experience

A few ways you can write your own cover letter:

Use this resume template (it will prompt you to “make a copy” - click the blue box), or

Use the resume tool on myBlueprint, or
Go to Canva and search “cover letter” in templates

Interview Tips

*Provided by CAREERS

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

Research the company - Before your interview, take the time to learn as much as possible about the job and your prospective employer. You can look at their website, social media, LinkedIn or even just a quick Google search!

Things that may be helpful to know:

• What they do

• Where they are located/where they work

• The company’s mission and values

• Current and past projects

• Awards and/or industry recognitions

PREPARE FOR THE INTERVIEW ITSELF

Prepare questions for the employer because at the end of an interview, employers may ask if you have any questions for them. This is your chance to show them that you are prepared and eager to learn more about them/the role. Questions could be related to the position, the company, or something mentioned in the interview.

Potential questions:

• What is the company culture like?

• What is your favourite part about working for this company?

• What are the day-to-day responsibilities for this job?

• What is different about working here than anywhere else?

• What metrics of success will you use to evaluate my performance?

• What are the next steps in the hiring process?

Practice common interview questions with a friend or family member. Here are some common interview questions that you can prepare for, along with examples of the best way to answer them. Practicing questions is a great confidence builder.

1. Tell me about yourself?

The interviewer wants to know why you're an excellent fit for the job. Try to answer without giving too much, or too little, personal information. You can start by sharing your education, what motivates you and your interest(s)/career goals. You can even share some fun facts and showcase your skills and personality to make the interview a little more interesting. Remember to keep it professional!

2. Why should we hire you?

Are you the best candidate for the job? The hiring manager wants to know whether you possess the qualifications you are looking for. Be prepared to explain why you're the applicant who should be hired. Make your response a confident, concise, focused sales pitch that explains what you have to offer and why you should get the job. TIP: If you do not have a ton of experience, focus on the skills that you can bring to the job!

3. What is your greatest strength?

Employers ask this question to determine how well you are qualified for the position. When you are asked about your greatest strengths, it's important to discuss the attributes that qualify you for that specific job, and that will set you apart from other candidates.

4. What areas do you believe you can improve on?

Another typical question interviewers will ask is about areas that you can improve on (i.e. weaknesses or skills/knowledge that you can grow from). Do your best to frame your answers around positive aspects of your skills and abilities as an employee, turning seeming “weaknesses” into strengths. You can also share examples of skills you have improved, providing specific instances of how you have recognized a weakness and taken steps to correct it.

5. Are you currently working? If so, why do you want to change jobs?

The interviewer wants to know why you want to work for their company. If you are currently working and asked about why you want to move on from your current position, stick with the facts, be direct and professional, and focus your answer on the future.

6. Why do you want this job?

This question gives you an opportunity to show the interviewer what you know about the job and the company, so take time beforehand to thoroughly research the company, their services, culture and mission. Be specific about what makes you a good fit for this role, and mention aspects of the company and position that appeal to you most.

7. What are your goals for the future?

This is another opportunity to highlight career goals and interests. This question is designed to find out if your goals and interests align with what the company/position offers. Keep your answer focused on the job and emphasize to the interviewer that the position aligns with your long-term goals.

Behavioral/Situational Questions

Interviewers will also often ask situational questions or questions that require you to speak about how you handled a similar situation in the past. This is a common practice because they believe your past behavior can predict your future actions. For example, how you responded to a particular situation helps show your analytical skills, creativity, how you solve problems and how you might use your skills under similar circumstances, etc. Behavior questions normally start with:

• Tell us about a time where you...

Tell me about a time where you had too many things to do and you had to prioritize your

tasks?

• Describe a time where you...

Describe a time where you had to use team work skills?

• Give me an example of...

Give me an example of a time where you dealt with a difficult coworker?

• What would you do if...

What would you do if you felt unsafe during a work situation?

• How would you handle...

How would you handle a stress and working under pressure?

A helpful way to answer these questions is using the STAR Method, a structured manner of responding to behavioural/situational questions by discussing the Situation, Task, Action, and Result of the situation you are describing.

SITUATION - Describe the situation and problem you faced

TASK - Explain what you had to do, why you had to do it, and any challenges involved

ACTION - Describe the action you took

RESULT - Explain what happened as a result of your efforts

PLAN FOR THE DAY OF

Dress code

• First impressions matter in an interview so don’t forget to dress professionally! It is not necessary to wear a suit/tie and a dress but paying attention to hygiene and having appropriate attire is important.

Examples: Slacks, clean jeans (no rips), dress pants, a nice shirt (i.e. polo shirt, golf shirt, solid t-shirt with no logos), dress shoes/clean shoes, no hats!

Timing, transportation, and other important information

• Ensure you know the location, time, and person you are going to meet with for your interview

• Prepare to arrive on time. Plan your commute and decide how you will get to the interview.

• It is recommended to arrive a minimum of 10 minutes before your interview time.

• It can be helpful to bring a copy of your cover letter and resume to the interview

OTHER HELPFUL TIPS

Familiarize yourself with the role you are applying for

• It is a good idea to review the job posting one more time to familiarize yourself with the roles and responsibilities/qualifications. This can also help you prepare for the interview as you determine how your qualifications fit with what they are seeking.

Have realistic expectations

• Remember that you are probably applying for an entry level role, so your responsibilities and duties will likely reflect this

• You should be aware that you will need to prove to the employer that you are willing and capable of taking on more challenging tasks each day.

• Start with always showing a positive attitude, consistently showing up to work on time, performing all tasks to the best of your ability, and not being afraid to ask questions

Prepare portfolio

• If you have pictures or samples of projects from school/home, achievements and/or certificates, transcripts, or other awards that you want to show the employer, you can prepare a portfolio. This may not always be applicable or required but can be a helpful in making you stand out.

References

• It can be a good idea to bring a copy of at least 2-3 references to provide the employer, if asked. Make sure to get approval from references prior to the interview/including them.

Good luck!! Feel free to have a chat with Mrs. Pearson about any of this if you need help!

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