Whether you’re frantically trying to land an elusive summer job, or you think having some extra change in your pocket with a part-time job during the school year might be nice, you might be scratching your head wondering where to begin.
Where do people find jobs these days?
Well, N3XT has compiled a list of frequent sources for finding a job . . . just for you (Aren’t we nice helping out like that?). Here’s where you can start to look:
- The local paper. Back in the ancient days before the Internet, many companies would post ads in the newspaper. Don’t scoff at this too quickly because some companies still do this. We find the Saturday and Monday paper to be the most job-filled, so if you are going to splurge for a newspaper, we recommend you do so on those days. Also, not every paper has an online version of their Classifieds section, so you’ll probably want to check out the real thing.
- Online job boards. Kijiji. Monster. Used(insert name of province here). Service Canada’s Job Bank. There are many online job boards you can scroll through, not to mention some companies prefer to advertise for jobs directly on their own website. There’s not really much you can do here but accept the fact that you’ll be spending a lot of your time wading through jobs. Oh, wait, there is good news! If you live in PEI, you can simply keep an eye on N3XT Job because we do all that work for you (the rest of you can commence giving us the stink eye . . . now). Here’s a helpful tip when scrolling through these boards: open a blank document and paste the url of every job you may be interested in. Allot a certain amount of time to simply searching. Then, switch gears and start applying. If you try to search and apply at the same time, you’ll find you are rushed to get through one application so you can move on to the next. It’s better to sate your curiosity about what is out there first and then dig in.
- Real-life job bulletin boards. Some places still have these, although they are becoming more rare. Seek out communal spaces (coffee shops, malls, office centres, schools, etc.), as that is where these are usually found. Bring along a notebook to jot phone numbers or websites down (or you can simply take pictures of the ads with your smartphone).
- Your parents’ friends. We know . . .groan! The simple fact is, you’re not likely to be overly connected yet with the business community, but your parents likely know someone who knows someone who could help find you a job. Even if it’s not an automatic in, but a heads-up on an upcoming position or the ability to get your name in for an otherwise unadvertised job . . . that’s super duper helpful. Don’t be embarrassed to use your connections. People do it all the time in the business world. Here, your connections just so happen to live with you.
- Your neighbourhood or phone book. Sometimes it’s just up to you and your ability to get around. Print off some resumes, put on something nice, practice your smile, and hit the streets. Even though much business is conducted online these days, you still can’t beat a nice face-to-face exchange and you might just be at the right place at the right time. If it’s raining out or you live in an area where there is virtually nothing (and you don’t have access to transportation), you can still achieve the same thing via a phone call. Don’t be too scared of the phone. Just remember to smile and have a copy of your resume nearby for easy reference. What’s the worst thing that can happen? You’ll be told no jobs are available, you thank them, and you carry on. Piece-o-cake.
It’s not easy finding a job these days, so you may find yourself using more than one of these sources to find work. Mixing it up will also prevent you from going a tad nutty too.
Happy hunting!
Photo credit: AngelaArcher
Find more job tips and search our job bank at N3XT Job
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