Employment |
Infocentre |
|
| |
GlossaryCandidateThe term "candidate" is used to refer to a person who is looking for a job. Other terms include "Job Searcher", "Job Seeker", etc. Contract EmploymentContract employment refers to the increasingly common form of work whereby an individual or group of people are hired for a specific project or contract. The employment relationship is dissolved at the end of the contract period, although sometimes contracts are extended. Contract employees usually do not have the same benefits and compensation as full time employees. For more information, try the following links: The Contract Employee's Handbook - http://www.cehandbook.com/ Contract Job Hunter - http://www.cjhunter.com/contract/index.html Compensation PackageThe term "compensation package" refers to all of the salary and benefits an individual receives for a particular employment contract. In many cases, compensation packages include much more than just salary. For more on compensation packages and negotiations, try the following link: Salary and Job Offer Negotiation Tutorial by QuintZine Corporate ResearchResearching companies is a crucial component of a job search for a variety of reasons. First, you need to know what the company does and whether or not you will fit in there. Second, you will need to appear knowledgeable about the company when you are trying to gain internal contacts and at interviews. Third, you need to know if the company will survive. One of the best Web sites dealing with corporate research is: Researching Companies Online by Deb Flanagan Cost of LivingThe term "cost of living" refers to the monetary cost of living in a particular area. The cost of living in Canada is defined by Statistics Canada for all areas of the country. It is important to note that the stated cost of living in a particular area does not refer to living well, merely to surviving. The most accurate cost of living figures are available from: The Resources about the Economy Web site Cultural ConventionsThe term "cultural conventions" refers to "how we do things here". More specifically, the term refers to the behaviours and attitudes of individuals within a particular culture. Knowing the cultural conventions that operate both in Canada and in particular occupational areas is crucial for finding a job. For more information, try the following link: Etiquette and Ethics in Your Job Search by Richard I. Fein - an
excellent discussion of reputation and ethics in a job search with a lot
of cultural information in it Formal Application ProcessThe formal application process involves answering posted job ads by sending your résumé, being interviewed, and undergoing a background check (at a minimum). In theory, the formal application process is strictly based on merit and serves to guard against any possible discrimination. In reality, the formal application process may prove to be so unwieldy that many hiring managers will avoid it if possible. This avoidance stems not from any desire to discriminate against anyone, but from a) a desire to hire people who are recommended by people they trust and b) not wanting to have to go through hundreds of resumes. Since 2000, an increasing amount of the formal application process is taking place online. While the process varies from organization to organization, many organizations are using protocols for their online applications designed by the HR-XML Consortium. Formal Language TrainingIt is imperative that you be able to speak either English or French (or both) in order to find and keep a job in Canada. Citizenship and Immigration Canada sponsors the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada or LINC program which may give you formal language training at no cost. For more information on the LINC program, go to: Citizenship and Immigration Canada's Web site Full Time EmploymentIn Canada, most jobs are "full time". This means that you work a minimum of 35 hours per week (often more) and enjoy certain legal protections and, probably, also receive certain benefits as part of your compensation package. In Canada, legislation covering employment standards is produced by both the federal government and by the provinces. If you are interested in legislation covering labour in Canada, HRSDC has a Web site dedicated to labour, as do all provinces. Approximately 10% of employees are governed by federal legislation and the rest by provincial legislation. Hidden Job MarketThe so-called "hidden job market" contains between 75% and 85% of all job opportunities available in Canada (the figure of 80% is used by most researchers). The hidden job market is composed of three major types of job:
Some jobs are just not advertised by the hiring companies. This may be because of many different reasons: the need is not desperate, the company doesn't wish to be swamped with resumes, the hiring manager wants to hire someone they know, etc. Other jobs are in the process of being advertised, but that process can take weeks or, sometimes, months between discovering a need for a person and actually posting a job ad. This is the largest category of the hidden job market. In some cases, companies do not realize that they actually have a need for a person with particular skills. While this is the smallest category of the hidden job market, and often the most frustrating to access, it can also provide some of the best employment opportunities. Accessing the hidden job market relies on research and networking. For more on accessing the hidden job market, check out the following Web sites: Service Canada - Access the Hidden Job Market JobStar - Hidden Job Market J. Steven Niznik's article on accessing the hidden job
market, while somewhat out of date, has invaluable information InterviewsAn interview is a formal or informal examination of a candidate by a potential employer. Many employers engage in both. There are certain strategies that work well for interview situations in Canada. Check out the following sources for more information on interviewing strategies: The Interview Guide from CanadianCareers.com The Job Interview - Guide As with many other activities involved in a job search, interviewing is a skill that grows with practice. It is always an excellent idea to run through several simulated interviews before going to your first real one. Internal ContactAn "internal contact" is someone, whom you either know or get to know as part of your network, who is able to tell you about potential opportunities within a particular organization and, possibly, forward your résumé to a hiring manager. Since many companies offer internal referral programs that reward their employees for submitting resumes of people who are later hired, internal contacts may well be willing to forward your résumé if you approach them in the right manner. Job BoardThis is a generic term for Web sites that post job opportunities from different organizations and allow you to post your résumé. As of the start of 2003, there are approximately 10,000 job boards operating in North America. In general, these job boards may be divided by both their scope and their focus. ScopeThe scope of a job board defines the geographic limits of the job postings on the job board:
FocusThe focus of a job board defines the industries, economic sectors or stage of life of the job postings
Just because a job board exists, do not assume that it is safe to post your résumé on it. You need to be aware that a posted résumé may be accessed by almost anyone. For an excellent article on some of the dangers of posting your résumé on a job board, click here. Job SearchThe term "job search" is one normally used to refer to the action of looking for full time employment. While there are many models of how a job search should be constructed, one of the best descriptions is available at Service Canada's Web site. Job Search StrategyThis term refers to the basic strategy used by a candidate during their job search. Broadly speaking, there are four strategies that may be followed: broadcast, persistence, networking, and receptive. Each of these strategies is characterized by the methodologies employed in contacting potential employers. The broadcast strategy is characterized by the indiscriminate contacting of all potential employers. The persistence strategy is characterized by contacting a preselected series of potential employers over a long period of time. The networking strategy is characterized by first identifying potential employers and then contacting them after specific opportunities are identified. The receptive strategy is characterized by waiting for opportunities to present themselves. While the broadcast strategy has gained in popularity amongst many job searchers due to the ease of using the Internet to broadcast resumes, the effectiveness of this strategy is still limited and there are many privacy concerns. Since the start of 2001, the effectiveness of the networking and persistence strategies has remained constant even as job markets were in the process of restructuring. The latest version of the receptive strategy is to check each company's career pages every day for new jobs, and is as ineffective as just responding to newspaper ads ever was. Labour Market InformationLabour Market Information (LMI) is crucial to your job search. One of the best sources for Labour Market Information is Service Canada's Labour Market Information Web site Labour Market ValueThis term refers to the actual value of particular skills and competencies in a particular labour market. While the term is most often used in academic material, there are certain key factors that are known to change the labour market value of individuals, most noticeably foreign work experience and education. One article that may be of particular interest is: Immigrant Skill Utilization in the Canadian Labour Market: Implications
of Human Capital Research by Jeffrey G. Reitz It is important to note that the actual labour market value of an individual may be significantly shifted based on the presentation of their skills and experience. NetworkThe term "network" refers to a candidate's friends, relatives and contacts. One of the reasons for a candidate to establish a network is to help them obtain information that will help them in their job search. The best networks, of course, last well beyond a single job search extending into a network of friends. Networks operate by exchanging resources, including information, on a reciprocity basis (loosely "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours"). Individuals within a network have a reputation that determines how the other members of that network view them and what resources they will make available to them. The process of using a network to gain job search related information is called networking. NetworkingNetworking is the process of using a network to gain access to specific resources, including job search information. As an activity, networking can take place in almost any place. Effective networking requires that you know the basic cultural forms (i.e. how to act) in each type of networking situation. For example, in most face to face networking situations in Canada, you need to be open and friendly, but slightly "conservative" (click here for a good description of Canadian business culture). There are several excellent description of how to network on the Internet including: Networking on the Network by Phil Agre - while designed
for graduate students, it is very useful Netiquette by Virginia Shea - the "Miss Manners" of the Internet Etiquette and Ethics in Your Job Search by Richard I. Fein - an
excellent discussion of reputation and ethics in a job search OpportunityDespite its somewhat negative connotations, the term "opportunity" is still the best term to refer to an opportunity for work with an organization because the term includes not only full time employment opportunities, but also other opportunities (e.g. contract work, etc.). It is also useful to remember that while an opportunity may not be right for one candidate, it may be right for another candidate in their network. PortfolioA Job Search Portfolio is a tool that has been used in North America for years by graphic artists, architects and designers and has made a comeback in other trades and professions in since the early 1990's. The basic concept behind a portfolio is to be able to document and show your skills and talents to prospective employers. For more information, try the following articles: Your Job Skills Portfolio: Giving You an Edge in the Marketplace
by Randal Hansen Martin Kimeldorf has an excellent Portfolio Library Part Time EmploymentIn Canada, many jobs are "part time" (i.e. under 35 hours per week). Part time employees do not have the same legal protections as full time employees, although they may have similar benefits. Because of the economic restructurings taking place in Canada since 1969, part time employment is becoming increasingly common (along with contract work). Many people who have part time jobs find that they are not enough to support themselves, and will end up holding two or more part time positions. This situation is especially common in the retail sector, where most employees are part time employees, but it also appears in banking, call centres, the service sector and other areas. One important point to note is that people who have part time employment are
This means that while the unemployment rate may, at any given time, be low there are always people who are "employed" who are looking for full time work. Because of this phenomenon, there is very little stigma ("shame") attached to having held a part time position and employers will not consider it as a disadvantage. RegulatedA trade or profession were the practice of that trade or profession is governed by national or provincial government legislation. It is important to note that different provinces regulate different trades and professions and have different certification requirements. For more information, check out: The Work Destinations Web site ReputationYour reputation, meaning what others think and say about your, is crucial both to your job search and to how you are treated in a job. Your reputation is a major component of the information about you that circulates through your network. In many situations, your reputation is of importance equal to, or greater than, your credentials. For more on the importance of reputation in a job search, try the following article: Etiquette and Ethics in Your Job Search by Richard I. Fein - an
excellent discussion of reputation and ethics in a job search RésuméRésumés, also known as CVs, are a synopsis of an individual candidate's skills and experience. They should also be viewed as marketing materials. The crucial consideration is to match the résumé with the target audience, ideally a hiring manager. Salary InformationThe term "salary" refers to the monetary component of a compensation package. In many cases, the term is used synonymously with the term "wage", although there are differences. Technically, in Canada, the term "wage" refers to an hourly wage, as in "I will pay you $9.00 per hour", while the term "salary" refers to a specific amount of money received regardless of the actual number of hours worked. There are important legal distinctions between the two, usually in the provision of overtime pay. Salary information is usually reported as a range. Skills and CompetenciesThese two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, although there is an actual difference between them. The term "skill" refers to a particular ability or technical skill, especially if the ability may be quantified. The term "competency" includes "skills" but also includes the so-called "soft skills" which cannot be quantified, such as interpersonal skills. Most online resources relating to skills and competencies are industry or occupation specific. The best way to find a particular resource is to go to www.google.ca and type in the following search term – "skills and competencies" [occupation or industry] Canada – where [occupation or industry] is replaced with a specific occupation or industry. Make sure to keep the quotation marks in the search. Survival JobA "survival job" is a job, part time or full time, taken by a candidate in order to get enough money to live on rather than a job that they are actually qualified for or desire. While survival jobs are common amongst recent immigrants, they are also taken by many non-immigrants. There are various advantages and disadvantages to taking a survival job. A good discussion of some of these is available here. Temporary EmploymentWhile the term is frequently used to refer to a temporary employment visa for visitors to Canada, in the context of a job search it refers to taking on very short term contracts. Most temporary employment contracts come through staffing agencies and can range from 4 hours (1/2 day) to years in length. Temporary employment is an excellent way to quickly gain work experience in a variety of areas but, on the other hand, it has absolutely no security whatsoever. Since approximately 1985, temporary employment has been an increasingly common form of employment in both Canada and the United States. Temporary Employment in Canada by the Canadian Council on Social
Development (Executive Summary) The Temporary / Contract Employment Site - primarily American,
but with a good discussion of temporary employment and some excellent
links Although these sites may be informative and useful, the Centre for International Migration and Settlement Studies (formerly Research Resource Division for Refugees), Carleton University, does not maintain them and, therefore, cannot claim responsibility for their content. Même si ces sites pourraient être informatifs et utiles, le Centre d'études sur la migration internationale et l'établissement (anciennement la Division de ressources pour la recherche sur les réfugiés) de l’Université Carleton, ne les maintient pas et, par conséquent, on n’est pas responsable de leur contenu. Home | Before Arriving | Orientation | Preparation | Presentation | Closing Glossary
| |
 |
|||||||||||||
| Français | What's New | About This Site | Contact Us | Help | Search | ||||||||
|
|
|
Multimedia Centre