Employment action planning

In today’s fast-changing world, shaped by new technologies, shifting economies, and cultural changes, traditional career paths aren’t always clear or predictable. Whether you know exactly what career you want or you’re exploring different options, using modern career planning approaches can help. Taking time to research your strengths and interests, and how they fit into different contexts, will help you make informed choices and adapt as you navigate a complex and sometimes uncertain job market.

Skills For Success 

What are skills for success? The Government of Canada has identified skills needed to participate and thrive in learning, work, and life. They include skills that are foundational for building other skills and knowledge and are important for effective social interaction. These skills overlap and interact with each other and other technical and life skills.

To learn more bout the skills click here.

Resume and Cover Letter for Today

Paying careful attention to the job description and matching your qualifications with the responsibilities in the role is referred to as “targeting your resume”. This allows a potential employer to see how you would be a good fit for the position.

Resume

Makes sure your resume is easy to read:

• avoid using busy templates
• ensure your contact information is clear and current
• carefully check for typos and grammatical errors

Consider including a summary statement. This is a concise paragraph that highlights what makes you an ideal candidate for a position.

Emphasize skills and volunteer experience as well as certification or training.

Cover letter

A cover letter complements your resume and is a place to highlight your unique skills and abilities that make you a good fit for the position you are applying to. 

Creating a cover letter requires more customization than resumes, however it is just as important to tailor it to match the requirements of the desired job posting. This will significantly increase the chance of getting shortlisted for an interview. Here, you can story your skills and experiences, demonstrating your that are relevant to the position makes it more likely you will be invited for an interview, and demonstrates to employers your attention to detail. 

For further information on crafting resumes and cover letters, contact careerhub@coastmountaincollege,ca

Job search skills

There are multiple ways a student or recent graduate can search for employment. We recommend to:

1. Network with instructors, educational advisors, employment advisors, industry liaisons, peers and networks about local employers and how they are related to your studies.
2. Set up automatic email notifications on job boards such as Indeed, LinkedIn or industry-specific career websites.
3. Conduct daily or weekly visits to each employer's career web pages.
4. With some preparation, conduct informational interviews to find out more about open positions. Remember to ask employers about positions specifically for active students.
5. Be inspired by exploring wild opportunities such as Youth Canada, Career Launcher, Government of Canada's Youth Internships, and Jobs & Work Abroad Programs.
6. Volunteering in your field of study can often lead to a successful employment opportunity.

Interviews

Preparing for your interview will help you achieve your employment action plan. Here are some essential tips:

• Carefully read the interview request and follow all instructions.
• Confirm the address, room/building, time, number of interviewers, and format.
• Review the job posting and match your skills to what the employer wants.
• Practice sharing examples of your skills and handling conflict.
• Bring:
  • A copy of the job posting and your application
  • Qualifications, licenses, or credentials
  • Work or study permits if needed
  • Government-issued ID (e.g., Driver’s License)
  • An updated list of references
• Arrive at least 10 minutes early.
• Dress appropriately and check personal hygiene.
• If you must cancel, contact the employer immediately and ask to reschedule, expressing your regret for any inconvenience.

Online job boards

Coast Mountain College has a digital student job board. Here, you can search for job opportunities from employers throughout the region the college serves. CMTN also subscribes to a national job board Outcome Campus Connect. Here you will be able to search jobs available across the country. You will need to create an account using your Coast Mountain College email credentials.

In addition to the CMTN student job board and Outcome Campus Connect, there are four types of online job boards to consider: common, government, specialized and company sites. Here are some examples to start with: 

Need further assistance?

For assistance in advancing your employability skills reach out to Careerhub