The Service Canada Centre for Youth 165 King St East, Kitchener (519) 744-8151 Part of the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy Providing service.

The Service Canada Centre The Service Canada Centre for Youthfor Youth

165 King St East, Kitchener

(519) 744-8151

Part of the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy

Providing service toKitchener/WaterlooElmiraWoolwichWellesleyWilmotNew Hamburg

Helping local students with job searching, résumé and cover letter writing, and encouraging local employers to hire students

Newspapers (classifieds, newspaper websites, ads)

Job boards (ex. Lutherwood Employment Centre)

Connections through volunteer work

Networking (family, friends, teachers, etc.)

Word of mouth

Internet job sites

Company websites

Job fairs

Service Canada Centre for Youth!

www.jobbank.gc.ca

www.jobbank.gc.ca

Who can join?Any student aged 13+

What kind of jobs are available? Gardening

Childcare

Housekeeping

How can you join? Come down to or phone the SCCY today!

Painting

Construction

Field work

The Visible Job MarketJob vacancies that are advertised in newspapers, in

stores or on the Internet

Only about 15-20% of available jobs are ever advertised

The Hidden Job Market Job vacancies that are filled without ever being

advertised

Includes over 80% of job vacancies

These jobs are only found by networking—talking with friends and family and letting others know that you are looking for work

These jobs can also be found by self-marketing—going in person to employers and contacting employment agencies

Functions as a personal advertisement

Presents work experience, skills and abilities in a clear and concise format

Encourages employers to interview you

Contact information

Skills and qualifications

Employment experience

Education

Volunteer Experience

References – available upon request

Objective/Goal

Training and Certifications

Achievements

Memberships

Scholarships and Awards

Extracurricular Activities

Personal Interests

Technical skills

Social Insurance Number

Age, sex, birth date, or marital status

Citizenship or religion

Contact information of past employers

The word “résumé”

1 or 2 pages

Organized layout

Action verbs

Short descriptive sentences

Consistent style and format

Positive attitude

No repetition

Tailor your résumé to different positions

Have your résumé looked over and be open to suggestions

Display the most important information in the top quarter of the first page

Quantify your achievements

If you have limited work experience, you can underline your other valuable experiences…

School newspaper or yearbook

Internships

Student council or other committees

Clubs, associations, teams

Sports, coaching, tutoring

Babysitting and volunteer experience

Academic recognition

Ask for permission before you include someone as a reference on your résumé

Describe the position and the required skills and qualifications to your reference

Use a style and format that is consistent with your résumé

Provide at least three references

Put your references on a separate paper

Include your contact information

Provide the names of your references and state their relationship to you

Whether or not you get a job can depend on who you use as a reference!

Who are references? People who have seen you perform duties related to the job you are

applying for

People who have seen you in enough job or non-job situations to comment knowledgeably on your character

Can include: former employers, teachers, people you have volunteered for, youth group leaders, coaches, etc

Should NOT include family members

Should be easy to contact

References should know that you are looking for work… if they might get a call from an employer, you should call them first!

References must be able to say good things about you

References must be able to speak from their own direct experience with you.

Makes an effective first impressionIntroduces your résuméEmphasizes your value as a potential employeeSpecifies which position interests youCommunicates your message to employers

Paragraph 1: Introduction

Explain who you are and why you’re writing

Specify which position interests you or state your objective

State how you heard of the opening within the company

Paragraph 2: Development

Relate your skills and experience to the job description

Describe why you want to work for the employer

Prove that you are the ideal candidate

Paragraph 3: Conclusion

Announce what action you will take or request further action from the employer

State when and how you can be contacted

Thank the reader for his or her time and consideration

Ensure that all employer information is clear and accurate

Address your cover letter to a specific person — don’t use generic terms

Avoid grammar and spelling mistakes

Use positive and enthusiastic words

Learn about the employer

Think of possible questions the employer may ask during the interview

Dress accordingly

Take a folder that contains:

• A few copies of your resume

• Paper and pen for notes

• Letter(s) of recommendation

• Company information

Arrival Go alone to the interviewArrive at least ten minutes ahead of timeTake a few minutes to relaxBe friendly and business-like to everyone

During the InterviewGreet the interviewer and introduce yourself; be

ready to shake an offered handBe attentive to body language and maintain eye

contact. Avoid crossing your armsAsk when you can expect to be contacted regarding

their decisionState your appreciation for the interview

Be yourself and be sincere

Project a positive attitude

Answer simply, directly and to the point

Be professional and courteous

Only answer the questions asked

Take time when formulating your answers

Take notes

Never interrupt Don’t sit down until you are asked to do soDon’t let interviewers intimidate or discourage youDon’t focus on salary and benefits ahead of job

contentNever criticize former employersDon’t ask questions at the initial stage of the interviewDon’t answer questions with merely “yes” or “no”

answers- elaborate Don’t use slang even if the interviewer does

Tell me about yourself. Have you done this type of work before? Why do you want to work here? What are your strengths? Weaknesses? Why should we hire you? Do you prefer to work in a group or on your own? Tell me about a time when you set a goal and met it. Can you think of a situation where you set a goal and

achieved it or did NOT achieve it? What do you know about this position? What do you

know about this company? What are your future goals? Do you have any questions you would like to ask?

Good questions YOU can ask the employer:

What is the most challenging part of the job?

Can you tell me how my performance will be

evaluated?

What is a typical day in the office like?

NOTE: Make sure you don’t ask questions that have already been answered!

Know your rights this summer!

Many laws exist in Ontario and in Canada to protect workers. Knowing a little bit about the rules can help you

ensure you’re being treated fairly by your employer.

Three major groups of laws… The Employment Standards Act of Ontario

The Human Rights Act of Canada

The Occupational Health & Safety Act of Ontario

The ESA is the law that sets the minimum standards for fair workplace practices in the province of Ontario.

Minimum Wage $8.75/hour for workers aged 18 or older $8.20/hour for workers under 18

Minimum Age 14 years for offices, stores, arenas, restaurant serving areas 15 years for factories and restaurant kitchens 16 years for construction, mining 18 years for window cleaning, security No minimum for agriculture

Hours of WorkThe Canada Labour Code defines a work day as

any period of 24 consecutive hours The Canada Labour Code defines a work week as

midnight Saturday up to midnight of the following Saturday

Normal working limits for Ontario employees is 8 hours/day and 48 hours/week

An employer may be exempt from the standard work week if they have received a special permit from the Ministry of Labour (e.g. farm work)

The Human Rights Act ensures that all individuals can have an equal opportunity to make for themselves the lives that they are able and

wish to have and to have their needs accommodated.

The Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in hiring or management practices based on

Race, colour or ancestry Religion Age or sex Sexual orientation Marital status Disability

Are there any exceptions?

The OHSA’s main purpose is to protect workers against health and safety hazards

on the job.

The Ontario Ministry of Labour sets out the rights and duties of both employers and employees in the workplace.

The OHSA establishes procedures for dealing with workplace hazards and outlines consequences for breaking the rules.

In 2002, 107 young workers died in the workplace

Almost one third of all occupational injuries happen to workers between the ages of 15 and 29

On average, 42 young Ontario workers are injured, made ill, or killed on the job every day.

An average of four workers are killed every working day in Canada.

Every nine seconds, a Canadian worker is injured on the job.

Over-exertion

Fall from elevation

Fall on same level

Bodily reaction

Struck by an object

Struck against an object

Caught in, under or between an object

The most common activities that can result in injuries to youth:

Why are youth especially at risk?

Thinking that they are invincible

Stressed, not focused

Feeling under pressure to do things quickly

Not getting proper training

Showing off to each other or to new employer

Tired

You have the right to know

You have the right to participate

You have the right to refuse unsafe work

You have the right to be told about any dangers at the workplace

Your employer, according to the law, has to provide you with:

Training

Information

Supervision

Instruction

You have the right and responsibility to identify dangers in the workplace and to report any accident or illness immediately to your employer.

Find out if there are any:Health and Safety groups or

representatives at your work Health and Safety programs or

courses

You have the legal right to refuse any work that you feel is going to put you or anyone else at risk.

Report any suspicions that you have of dangers or potential dangers to your employer.

If that’s not possible, report this information to the Health and Safety committee or representative.

YOU CAN REFUSE TO DO UNSAFE WORK!

Provide a safe and healthy workplace.

Train employees about potential hazards and ensure employees are certified when required.

Correct unsafe acts and unsafe conditions.

Ensure personal protective equipment is available.

Report and investigate all accidents/incidents.

What are the general safety rules for this job?

When will I get health and safety or WHMIS training for this job?

Where are fire extinguishers, first aid kits, and other emergency equipment located?

Is there a worker health and safety representative, or a joint health and safety committee?

How do I report an injury?

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) symbols are used in many environments on a variety of products. If you are working with products labelled with these symbols, you

should know their meanings and the dangers associated with them.

Compressed Gas Oxidizing Material Biohazard Flammable

Long-term toxic effects

Dangerously Reactive

Immediate toxic effects

Corrosive