Where to Look & How to Apply

1. Where to Look & How to Apply

2. Pinpointing Your Direction • As you begin researching employers and potential job postings, consult your list of values and goals to get a better idea of where you would like to work. • What exactly is your long term goal? • Where do you see yourself starting? • Are you willing to try different things? • What’s more important: Money or Experience? • Where do you plan on living?

3. Occupation Research • Without doing research on the job you THINK you want to do, how can you be sure if you actually want to do it? Several questions should be asked: • What occupation do you want? • What are the skills you’ll need to do it? • What do these people do day-to-day? • Do they make enough? • Can you see yourself being happy in that role?

4. Occupation Research 5241 Graphic Designers and Illustrators • Human Resources & Skills Development Canada • Working in Canada

5. Industry Research - Regional • Researching your desired field is as important as knowing yourself and what you have to offer. Before you research a specific organization, acquaint yourself with the larger industry. • Do you know what the job market looks like? • How easy is it to get a job? • How easy is it to move up in the industry? • What are the working standards?

6. Saint John Labour Market Population 15+ (000’s)…………………….. 106.6 Labour Force (000’s)……………………….. 72.0 Employment (000’s)……………………….. 66.6 Unemployment (000’s)……………………. 5.4 Unemployment Rate………………………. 7.5% Participation Rate…………………………… 67.5%

7. Labour Force by Occupation

8. Community Indicators - ICT • Over 30 ICT businesses residing within five blocks of each other in an urban campus that’s gaining steam – one of the many reasons why Saint John as also been named one of the word’s Top7 Intelligent Communities. • We have some remarkable people doing best in the world things from our city. Our community’s most recent success is Radian6, founded in 2006 and sold to SalesForce.com in 2011 doe $326,000,000. • Within a 1.5 hour drive, Saint John has access to five University campuses offering curriculum in both of Canada’s official languages in programs that feed the ICT sector, such as engineering, business, and computer science. We also have four Community Colleges offering IT and business programs. • Bell Aliant has invested over $60,000,000 in the region to become the first in Canada to cover an entire city (70,000 homes) with Fibre to the Home (FTTH) technology. They’ve also launched FibreOp for SMEs in NB.

9. Community Indicators – Health & Life Sciences • The Saint John Regional Hospital is the largest hospital in New Brunswick. • Primary centre for acute care, Trauma centre for the province, Pediatric and adult oncology, Cardiac surgery & cardiology services. • Emergency room expansion underway recently completed ($30+ million) • Through a partnership with the Province of New Brunswick – a partnership with Horizon Health, University of New Brunswick, New Brunswick Community College, Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick, Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation, Saint John Board of Trade, and Enterprise Saint John to create investment opportunities for research and development in the Health & Life Sciences Sector. • Raising $15 million to create a Research Chair in Occupational Medicine to promote training, research, and development in workplace risk management and occupational medicine.

10. Community Indicators - Tourism • 1.5 million people visit Saint John every year • The Port of Saint John is the 4th busiest port in Canada hosting cruise ships. • Saint John hosted 71 cruise ships during the 2011 season with 198,668 passengers. • Four new hotels have opened within the past few years and there are additional new hotels planned in the Saint John region.

11. Community Indicators - Retail • Atlantic Canada’s largest Costco store • $13 million interior renovation to McAllister Place Mall recently completed • Plazacorp has developed approx. 100,000 sq. ft. of new retail space in West Saint John including a new Sobey’s, Bulk Barn, Reitman's and more. • Lancaster Mall recently completed a $14 million renovation • New Canadian Tire Store/Marks Work Warehouse recently opened in West Saint John • Resurgence of independent Uptown retail

12. Community Indicators – Energy & Advanced Manufacturing • Irving Oil Refinery; Canada’s largest and most advanced oil refinery • Canaport LNG – Canada’s first liquefied natural gas receiving and regassification terminal • Brunswick Pipeline – transporting LNG from Canaport LNG to Maine • Point Lepreau – Atlantic Canada’s only nuclear power plant; currently undergoing over a $1.4 billion refurbishment • Potash Corp Mine Expansion - $1.75 billion project – Sussex • Province of NB issue RFP for Millstream Potash Deposit • Natural Gas Exploration – Sussex • JD Irving – Irving Pulp & Paper Limited, Irving Paper Limited, Irving Tissue Company, Irving Wallboard • NBCC Centre of Excellence for Energy & Construction under construction • One Mile House Highway Interchange Project to provide better access to industrial area in East Saint John under construction • Potential for Northeast Energy Corridor and related investments

13. Places to Work in the Region • SMEs, Corporations, Agencies, etc.(JD Irving, Radian6, Revolution Strategy, etc.) • Game Companies and Development Houses (Gogii) • Not for Profits and Charities (United Way) • Freelancing & Contract Based Work

14. Job Banks & Boards • Indeed.com - Indeed includes millions of job listings from thousands of web sites, including company career pages, job boards, newspaper classifieds, associations, and blogs. Job seekers may also search job trends and salaries, read and participate in discussion forums, research companies and even find people working for companies of interest through their online social networks • JobBank.gc.ca - Home page offering the different options available on the site for employers as well as job seekers • CareerBeacon.com - Job listings, corporate profiles, monthly newsletter, free career matching and job searching services, news, and success stories. • Kijiji.ca - Free classified and 'wanted' advertising, also offering the ability to make contacts, seek advice, search for work, and exchange thoughts and ideas. • Social Media (Twitter & Facebook)

15. Creating A List of Possibilities • Take the time to target companies instead of sending numerous resumes everywhere. • Choose your companies based on what the media has said about them (100 best companies to work for), their market standing, what their employees are willing to tell you, and their opportunities for growth. • Ensure the values of these companies is going to fit with yours and that there is room for career opportunities and professional development. • Focus only on the companies on your list until you decide to shift your focus to other opportunities.

16. Researching a Company • What are the major products or services provided by the organization? • What are the organization’s goals and values? • What is the history of the organization? • What are the organization’s community interests and involvement? • Who are the organization’s major competitors? • How large is the organization? Where is it located? • What negative things are being said about it? • Does it seem like there are opportunities for advancement?

17. Researching a Company’s Position • Researching the position you are applying for can help you prepare your CV and cover letter as well as anticipate the type of questions you’ll be asked in an interview. • In a ‘good’ interview, you should be able to communicate your interest in the job and its impact on your career goals. In preparation: • Research the general tasks and responsibilities of the position • Research other aspects of the job that will have an impact on your decision (travel, overtime, shift work, etc.) • Research salary ranges and other benefits

18. Assembling Your Toolkit • It is important to have the right tools for any task. The tools needed for a job search are a CV, cover letter and possibly a portfolio of your work. Take the time to develop these to clearly convey your strengths and experience. A few tips: • Think about the type of resume you need. Usually a functional resume, which highlights your abilities rather than work experience, is a good choice for first time job seekers • Focus on accomplishments and results you have achieved, rather than simple descriptions of excrescences • Use action words on your resume and cover letter to describe your experiences, such as “initiated”, “produced”, and “managed.” • If you’re low on practical work experience, look to your part-time experience, volunteer activities, and extra-curricular activities to demonstrate your skill sets.

19. Building Your Brand • Building a professional brand can is necessary in this competitive job market. Job seekers need to have a professional online presence that can easily be found by hiring managers & recruiters. • LinkedIn – Manage your professional identity. Build and engage with your professional network. Access knowledge, insights and opportunities. • VisualCV – A free online multimedia resume. • Website or Online Portfolio • It is also important to ensure that your online presence elsewhere isn’t jeopardizing your likelihood of being gainfully employed.

20. Trying New Things • By definition, relevant experiences can take many forms – from summer and part-time work, internships, and academic experiences to volunteering, extracurricular activities, and international experience – the important thing is to getting involved and develop your skills. • Engaging in new experiences also gives you the chance to “test drive” different career paths and enhance your knowledge, making it more likely that you’ll find a satisfying career path. They also look great on a resume.

21. Applying • Most people think that the application process is pretty straightforward (simply applying online), but sometimes you can make a better first impression by reaching out to employers directly. • By asking to see the recruiter or hiring manager in-person for an introduction, you can pique their interest in you as a candidate and make a stronger first impression. • Keeping in mind that not every employer will be interested in going out to coffee with you.

22. Networking • One of the most important tasks in any job search is networking. Take advantage of any connections you have, including your school’s career placement, friends who have graduated before you, friends of parents, former professors, and neighbors. • Send emails to your connections asking for help, pass your resume around whenever possible, keep business cards on your person, and attend networking events whenever possible. • FusionSJ holds regular networking events that typically attracts recruiters, hiring managers, and even CEOs.

23. Playing The Part • If you want to join the professional world, you need to act – and look – the part. • Wear business or business casual clothing to your interview (depending on the corporate culture of the organization you’re applying to • Ensure your email address and voicemail greeting are appropriate • Be prepared for a phone interview (it could be scheduled or happen any time) • Always be friendly, eager, and positive when interacting with an employer.

24. Follow Up • It's important to follow up after an interview by thanking everyone you met with. Also reiterate your interest in the position and remind the hiring manager why you're an excellent candidate for the job. • Even if you have been passed over for the position, be sure to thank them for their time and maybe even ask what you might have done wrong. • Also, keep in mind that not every employer will ‘regret’ you for a position. Don’t be discouraged if you lose contact.

25. Don’t Give Up • The real world can be a real challenge. Set realistic expectations and recognize that you will probably have to start at the bottom and work your way up. • You will likely face rejection as you start looking for your first full-time job, but everyone goes through it. Just remember to be proactive, be persistent and remain confident. • If you need help applying, networking, or beefing up your presentation, be sure to reach out.

26. Trent Seely tseely@enterprisesj.com Labour Force Development Officer Enterprise Saint John