The easiest and most efficient job search tool has become the internet. For many youth that do not have the confidence to go and network with employers, it is a very “impersonal” way of obtaining employment. The writer has cited on many different occasions that the internet is the best way to find work if you have the following: An outstanding resume, the most experience and the most education. For the majority of job seekers that do not meet those criteria, I would strongly suggest that you go and meet employers face to face, but for those of you that feel you must use the internet, then here are some easy tips, do’s and dont’s.

There are a many number of different websites and it is hard to navigate through all of them to condense your job search. Four websites can meet all of your needs.

Do’s!!!!!

1. http://www.indeed.ca This website is the “Google” of job search sites. Indeed will sift through all of the various job search sites that are on the internet to find what you are looking for. Click on the advanced search to look for more specific items.
2. http://www.simplyhired.ca This website has the same function as Indeed, it is just another point of reference for job seekers.
3. http://www.eluta.ca This website will search positings from “companies” websites as apposed to the “job search” websites. Just search the title and or  company that you want to work for and they will be available for you.
4. http://www.civicjobs.ca Civic Jobs is a website that advertises for the local municipalities all across Canada. If you have ever wanted to work for the city, then this is the website for you. On the left hand side, you can search by Province and by municipality.

Dont’s!!!!

The only don’t that the writer would emphasize is to avoid conducting your job search on “Craigslist” This website is great if you need to buy a used IPOD or some office furniture, but not good in seeking employment. It does not seem to be good due to the fact that the “employer” will rarely tell you who they are.

Customer Service / Design Rep. (Delta)

When working in the Hospitality/Tourism Sector:
A Quick Wit, not Education is the soup de jour!

One time I had lunch at a bistro in Vancouver and as we pleasantly sat down waiting to order, the waitress finally came to our table to ask us how we were doing and what we would like. I made an anecdotal comment that seemed funny, but the waitress did not seem to think so. Almost embarrassed, I kindly asked her what the “soup de jour” was and she politely answered, “The soup of the day”. After almost bursting out into laughter, it struck me that I don’t always necessarily eat at a restaurant for the food, but for the service. Up to that point, I did not realize the importance of a funny and quick-witted server. That experience led me to believe that the Hospitality and Tourism sectors are the perfect medium for youth trying to break into the labour market, without having to worry about an education. Now I am not saying that education lacks importance, having an education whether it is school-based or street based, allows the individual to form an opinion, thus feeling empowered. Being an Employment Counsellor in today’s recession provides a very practical and lucid knowledge of how hard people have been affected; especially the youth.

Reading job descriptions for the hospitality and tourism sectors almost on a daily basis, I have yet to see one that is dominated by education; in fact most of them omit any educational requirement. Now do not start thinking “would you like fries with that” because we are speaking in terms of those positions that could and will facilitate a career if so desired. Fast food or to be politically correct “good food quick” restaurants are the perfect place for someone to have their first ever job but will they really learn from it? I don’t think so, because having worked at one of these chain restaurants myself when I was 15, my work ethic was purely based on the amount of girls working that night, if they were cute and available I worked harder to show off, if the shift was all boys and no girls, you do not want to know! Trust Me!

My knowledge of these sectors tells me that there is an enormous amount of turnover, which means that people are always coming and going. If it was not the nature of the business, then I would question the quality of the employer. So if you are loyal, hard working, quick on your feet and a good communicator what an opportunity to shine. Because there are so many people coming and going, there is ample opportunity to be rewarded by the employer just for sticking around. You will find then that the natural evolution of learning will intervene and you will gain experience, knowledge, great people skills and an honest feeling of fulfillment that you go to a job everyday that you love. And all of the above mentioned attributes do not come from education they come from you. Why not pick a career that is conducive to your personality? If going to school is a difficult task for you….then don’t go! The great thing about post-secondary education is that it is optional. Not like elementary and high school where you do not have a choice, you will soon realize that learning is a life-long endeavor and if anyone tells you otherwise, they are wrong. And being the author of your own life, if you want to attend and graduate from the school of Hard Knox, then so be it.

A sense of humor seems to be the lubricant for all society. No matter what the occasion, no matter what the environment, people that can find time to laugh will always be liked, will always succeed and will always be able to meet new people, so why not do it while you are making a living. The essence of hospitality and tourism is to make people feel welcome, to leave people with a lasting impression. When I go to a restaurant or stay at a hotel, my experience is solely based upon the people I meet. I do not think that at anytime soon, I will be staying at a hotel or eating at a restaurant where the walls are made of gold and there is a Kandinsky hanging above my toilet, so what else would make me or any customer come back……I hope after reading this that the answer is obvious.

Posted by:Tyler McAuley

In reading this article today about boss’s in the workplace, the writer cited some very important ideals ,but allow us to add another important one. When we are at work, especially in a competitive market we can become very selfish and self-serving trying to stay ahead of the pack. That too often causes us to loose the human side of things. This writer firmly believes that the sole purpose of work is “to fiance your life.” As an Employment Counsellor, I ask people to tell me about themselves and most people start off by telling me what they do for a living. My response is simple, thank you for telling me what you “do” but I am interested in “who”  you are. This is a very common and often disastrous mistake that people make.What you do for a living, is not who you are. This concept is about identity. We cannot identify ourselves with something outside of us. Let’s just say that you are an athlete and that is how you identify yourself. What happens when you break your leg and can no longer play sports of any kind? You end up feeling rudderless and without a purpose. That is where coping mechanisms come in and many of us have “unhealthy” coping mechanisms.

When competing in the marketplace or in your current occupation, in order to move up the ladder, we often have to step on other people. Given the fact that the sole purpose of work is to finance your life, why would you ever jeopardize or disrupt someone’s ability to feed themselves, pay the rent and put clothes on their back. Succeeding at the expense of others is uncouth and a horrible way of getting ahead. Why don’t you simply get ahead based on your merit or performance?

In the year 1651, Thomas Hobbes wrote a book entitled “Leviathan” and in that book he came up with the idea of a “Social Contract.” In there he stated that man is not naturally good. In fact he specifically stated “of the voluntary acts of every man, the object is some good to himself”. “As human motives were, in their natural state, guided by unenlightened self-interest, these could, if left unchecked, have highly destructive consequences.”

We need to collectively understand that everybody has a right to succeed and to live life on life’s terms to the fullest everyday. And in the workplace, stepping over somebody else to succeed is in gross violation of the Social Contract and may even be called flagrant…….for it is this ideal that will offer a solution for everybody to prosper in the work that they do, helping them finance their lives.

http://www.working.com/vancouversun/Boss+hypocrite/2370742/story.html

Posted by: Tyler McAuley

Tips for Youth: How to make an impact in the workforce.

The Three A’s are the key that open the door to success for the youth of today. Whenever anything breaks down, we must revert back to conducting things in their most simplistic form for one reason; the simple way is the easiest and most effective. The recession and unemployment are certainly no different. When a recession such as this one hits, it hits hard, and that is evident when speaking to the most vulnerable; the youth. Entry-level employment is one of the most important parts of our economy for a number of different reasons but is always the hardest hit in terms of lay-offs and cut backs. Oh, those stupid cutbacks, the one thing that has become obvious is that the rich people are now trying extra hard to stay rich so it begs the question; why can’t the CEO that makes 2 million dollars a year take a smidgeon of a pay cut (i.e. he or she would have just as a comfortable of a life making 1/3 of that salary) so that the lowest people in the company hierarchy can stay employed through the hard times. (Oh ya, I forgot, the gas is too expensive for the 4 Hummers that you own, so the notion of taking a pay cut is preposterous!!) Besides we have to send our children to pretentious private schools so that they can learn, because they are rich they are better than everyone. &@$& THAT NOISE!

I read a memo when I was very young, right about the time that I learned to read and is simply stated; life is not fair. Anyone who has yet to read that memo, I suggest that you do. Young people lack one thing that is of no fault of their own and that is experience. How much experience do we expect a 19 year old to have? You mean that there is more to life than texting, playing video games and chasing girls? I will save you the suspense; YES, furthermore feel free to ask me that question in about 10 years. It does not matter if you do not have years of experience because the three A’s can and will provide a remedy for the ailment of unemployment. Buckle your chin strap, because here we go!

Attitude is everything! This is a statement that I have been hearing most of my life and it is absolutely true. Job searching and attending job interviews can be a very ominous task for many youth today. Instead of doubting your ability and not knowing what to say, why don’t you just be yourself? If an employer asks you what kind of experience you have and if you do not have any, what do you say? Stay tuned for the answer. When an employer is hiring for a position with a current team, there is one thing that they are looking for and it is not experience. Employers want someone that can come into the current culture and environment without rocking the boat. This is where the positive attitude makes a huge difference. The good thing about having a positive attitude is that it not only helps you in employment, it will become part of your life. Attitude in this sense will always overcome experience. Unless you are looking for work that requires a specific skill set (i.e. Paramedic or Accountant, where the training is a requirement) everything is learned. Having a positive attitude will help you learn more and retain more information. To summarize the importance of a positive attitude I will offer two scenarios; if you were an employer what would you prefer an employee that has all of the experience in the world, but has the personality of my bellybutton lint? Or would the employer prefer a humble and willing employee that is a positive and effective team player? I hope that the answer is obvious.

Attendance what a concept! Attendance is the second out of the three A’s. This is more important once that you have secured the employment. Attendance unfortunately is not generally a strong point for youth but it can be fixed. Keeping in context with Attitude, there is nothing that an employer can do if attendance is a problem for you. When hiring youth of any age, employers know that there will be some challenges. Whenever anybody is learning something for the first time there will always be stress, but there does not have to be. If your attendance at work is poor, which includes being punctual by the way, then being late is a way of life for you, and that is where the problem lies. If it is a way of life then you become forced to change habits, like chewing your fingernails, it stays with you until you make a conscience effort to change. The major problem with attendance is this; the hand of the employer becomes forced when you are absent. Like the example above, you can have all of the education in the world and be the most experienced person, but if you do not attend then you are of little use to the company and they will seek someone else. Attendance equals accountability, and both of them in their most simplistic form can and will allow you to succeed in whatever you do.

Finally, the proven Ability to Learn is the answer to the burning question from above. A proven ability to learn will help anyone with little or no experience to succeed. This is where being yourself is the key and it rings true what we are told as children; no pain no gain. You are going to make mistakes, you are going to screw up, you are going to be late, you are going to need to ask for help, that is a certainty. This is your time to shine, when you make a mistake it is an opportunity to learn. People that learn from their mistakes are ahead of the game. Too many people blame others and defend themselves; it is rare these days to have someone fairly young identify where they fall short and where they excel. Once that you show an ability to learn on a continuous basis: you will succeed. You will earn more trust, you will gain more respect, not only from your employer but you will have a new found respect for yourself thus becoming a more confident and competent employee. As your career grows and you become more entrenched and emotionally attached to whatever it is that you do, you will soon realize that what we have talked about has nothing to do with a “hard” skills set but an assertive and profound work ethic consequently, you will come to find that an intelligent man learns from his own mistakes, but a wise man learns from other peoples mistakes.

Posted by: Tyler McAuley

Reflecting on the year that was 2009 provided some insight as to the direction that we as a program would like to endeavor for 2010. The country as a whole was hit with a mass drop in employment and the entry-level employment was hit the hardest. When speaking in terms of entry-level employment, we are hinting at the $8.00 to $10.00 per hour jobs that many of the youth without experience rely on for survival. We also have to consider the students that are working either in the summer or on a part-time basis to supplement their income while attending school. Working with at-risk youth, there are varying degrees of “at-risk” and over the past 12 months we have seen the gap close as to previous years. At the beginning of 2009 the majority of our participants that were considered “at-risk” were under-skilled, undereducated, and were suffering symptoms of growing up on the street or having some sort of disenfranchised upbringing. As the year progressed we were seeing a significant change in the skill set of our “at-risk” participants. Through the summer and the fall as the recession became more ominous the dichotomy had shifted. The participants had high school diplomas, some even a college or post-secondary education, long-term sustainable housing, young families and adequate amenities. Why the change? The recession had begun to take it’s toll and the youth that had little or no experience were either being laid-off, let go or just unable to compete. In the recession lack of experience was their enemy and like a malady had begun to permeate the labour market. The unfortunate aspect is that the 15-23 demographic lack experience simply due to their age. With the participants being more skilled then their predecessors in theory, the work experience placements should be less few and far between. That is of course if they can continue to work on the issues that are at the forefront such as addictions recovery, breaking through the stigma of a criminal record and lacking simple accountability. This amplifies the importance of the employers. We have had the support of many employers over the past 12 months and we look forward to continuing to build off that relationship to galvanize the the bond between the youth and the surrounding community.

In 2010 fundraising will be at the forefront of priorities for the Youth S.E.A.R.Ch program. We are having an inaugural golf tournament in June and we look forward to seeing you there. Fundraising is important at any level for a non-profit organization to help provide complimentary services to those which are already provided. Please continue to read the blog as it will be updated on our fundraising initiatives and how you can help.