1. Lesson One: Career Trends

• the world is constantly changing and therefore you will need to be adaptable to achieve success
• employment trends change continually
• post-secondary training can lead to more opportunities

The Alberta Government works in partnership with the government of Canada to provide employment support, programs and services.  On their website Alberta Alis, discusses the priorities in planning your career, taking into account changes in your life and in the economy in general. Please click on the link below and read about how career planning can help you.

Discover How Career Planning Can Help You

During the last decade, the workspace has undergone dramatic change. But this is nothing compared to how new organizational structures will impact the work environment towards 2020. Read the article below to find out about the trends that will have the biggest impact on our ways of working.

"The 4 Major Trends That Affect Our Ways of Working"

Here is a recent article from the CBC.ca website. If you read between the lines you will notice that it is so important to have an education!

Canada lost 129,000 jobs in January: StatsCan

Last Updated: Friday, February 6, 2009 | 7:29 AM ET Comments463Recommend229

CBC News

Canada's job losses in January surpassed anything seen during the previous economic downturns in the 1980s and 1990s, Statistics Canada said Friday.

With the economy staggering in recession, Canada's unemployment rate shot up by 0.6 percentage points in January to 7.2 per cent as 129,000 jobs were lost. Almost all of the job losses were in full-time work.

Since October, the battered Canadian economy has lost 213,000 jobs.

Between January 2008 and January 2009, overall employment across the country was down by 88,600 jobs.

The job losses far exceeded the drop of 40,000 that economists had been projecting. "Horrible" and "shockingly poor" were some of the words they used in reaction to the January jobless figures.

"Everybody is prepared for a pretty weak first quarter, but these numbers are probably surprising the more bearish views," said Royal Bank chief economist Craig Wright.

"Unfortunately we will see more job losses," said Sal Guatieri, a senior economist at BMO Capital Markets. "This is the start of a wave of job losses that will likely extend through the first half of this year."

BMO economists expect the Canadian unemployment rate to break through eight per cent by the end of this year. To combat the softening economy, the Bank of Canada is expected to announce another interest rate cut in March, BMO said.

Manufacturing meltdown

The manufacturing sector lost 101,000 jobs during January, the most on record for the industry. The bulk of January's losses in manufacturing were concentrated in Ontario, which lost 36,000 positions; Quebec, which lost 30,000; and British Columbia, which shed 18,000 manufacturing positions.

Losses in manufacturing were most pronounced in motor vehicle manufacturing. Employment also fell in January in the production of furniture; computers and electronics; appliances and components; and clothing manufacturing.

Employment also fell by 30,000 in transportation and warehousing, largely in truck transportation in Ontario, while employment in business, building and other support services declined by 22,000.

The health-care and social assistance sector continued to see strong job gains, as it added 31,000 jobs during the month.

Ontario plunges

Ontario lost 71,000 jobs last month, the largest monthly drop in more than three decades, Statistics Canada said. The drop pushed the province's unemployment rate up by 0.8 percentage points to eight per cent — its highest level since November 1997.

British Columbia shed 35,000 jobs as its unemployment rate also increased by 0.8 percentage points to 6.1 per cent.

Quebec's employment fell by 26,000 jobs, with all the losses coming in part-time work. The province's unemployment rate rose to 7.7 per cent. January saw large declines in public administration, following gains in December associated with hiring for the provincial election.

The news is full of stories about the importance of a college education. But why is a college education important to you ? Here are just a few of the reasons:

Learning increases earning

Years of studies show the more you learn, the more you earn. The federal and provincial governments support education to help individuals have a higher quality of life, to help the economy, and to offer opportunities for growth.

A Rewarding Career

But remember, money doesn't motivate everyone and earning more money doesn't necessarily equal job satisfaction. If you choose a career that doesn't suit your personal interests, abilities, and values you may end up dreading getting up every morning to go to work because you dont enjoy your work. However, earning more money does often help improve your quality of life so balance your decision by including the salary you will earn, the hours you may have to work, the type of work you will be doing, and your interests, abilities and values. There you will find self-assessment activities and links that will help you choose a career that can be personally rewarding to you.

Although it is not the major society topic that it once was, the problem of an elevated high school drop out rate is still a prescient one. The topic no longer gains the attention it once did, but the importance of getting a high school education is arguably more important than ever. With the future economy portending a future where technology and intelligence reign supreme, young people who abandon a high school education are poised to suffer. Here are a few reasons why you should finish your high school education.

1. The consistent income gap. Without a doubt, one of the most compelling reasons for finishing your high school education has to do with the growing and consistent income gap. Research has shown that there is a definite income disparity between high school graduates and those who did not finish their high school education. And it appears that this disparity is just becoming more pronounced.

2. Avoid having to study for your GED later on and finish your high school education now. Studies have shown that a significant number of those who dropped out of high school eventually had to go back and study for their GED. So avoid having to deal with the GED later on and finish your high school education now.

3. If high school is simply not working for you, seek out viable alternatives. Now more than ever, more high school students have choices when it comes to their educational pursuits. Speak to counselors about working out an alternative education. Or you can investigate options at charter high schools that are more geared toward your interests and talents. There are now charter high schools geared toward artistic students or students who wish to immerse themselves in technology. Choices abound now, which means that it is easier than ever to clear the path to your high school graduation.

 The global economy is bringing change to the way we work. You all are aware of this, I am sure. It is in the news all the time now. We will need to gain a global perspective to be successful in the next century. We will need to acquire an understanding of how technology, international competition, and communications affect the economy. I won’t be defining those issues today. I couldn’t possibly do that in 10 minutes. But, because of the effects of a global economy, change is inevitable. That is what I am here to talk to you about today. To thrive in a world where change is the only constant, we must become adaptable. To be adaptable, we must continually add to our skills by continually seeking education and training. David McNally, author of The Eagle’s Secret says, "The circumstances of our lives have as much power as we choose to give them." So, I am here today to challenge you to take charge of your life and make your own destiny in the new century.

Knowing our strengths, values, priorities, and how to apply skills productively is very important. But the most potent combination for personal and professional achievement is a sense of purpose and vision; the sense of purpose inspires us and the vision motivates us. I know this to be true from experiences with good and bad bosses. When my boss has been able to give me a sense of purpose and vision, I have had direction and momentum. If you think of people who you have admired most, chances are that the people you think of as successful contributed to the well being of others. So, to start with, to be successful, look around, find a need, and fill it!

Sound easy? Well, it may be for some; those who are analytical naturally, critical thinkers by nature. It will be very important in the next century that we continually assess the value we bring to those we serve, striving to increase our contribution.

Many have said that in the next century it will be more important than ever to live within our means, save, and invest. Others say it will be a survival of the fittest, that mentally, physically, and emotionally we must be in tip-top shape. David McNally claims that we must find a way to earn a living while drawing fully on our gifts, talents, skills, and abilities.

Some of you may think that making a living is just about putting in your time at work so that you can put food on the table and pay the bills. Work – you know that stuff you wouldn’t do unless they paid you! A lot of times, my son Travis, will come home from work exclaiming, "That place sucks! I have to find a new job. I hate work!". And I always answer him the same, "Of course you hate it; that is why they pay you to do it!" But we have to change our way of thinking. David McNally says that our best self should not be separated from how we make a living. He claims, "Through our souls we express ourselves spiritually, through our hearts we express ourselves emotionally, through our minds we express ourselves creatively . In the next century, to thrive, you will need a deep desire to be involved, to discover, to learn, to expand, to achieve, to enjoy, to laugh, to love, and to contribute.

What you are and where you are right now is a result of how you have thought and behaved to this point in your life. You will be what you will be and go where you go because of your willingness to adapt, to change, to learn, and to grow. My daughter’s class motto in high school was, "What I am to be, I am now becoming." I really like this saying but it can be a bit passive. We all have the power to say, "This I am today; that I will be tomorrow."

To help you understand the value you bring to the world you might want to read, Multiple Intelligences: by Professor Howard Gardner. He is a Professor from Harvard University who has identified 8 different intelligences. Being fully aware of your particular gifts and talents, the characteristics, aptitudes, and qualities that define you is critical for thriving in the new world of work.

Cooperation, collaboration, and respecting and honoring differences in others will be crucial to achieving success. The new contemporary leader will need to create an environment in which trust is dominant. There are four specific behaviors that do m ore to create trust than any others; Do what you say you’ll do, be straight-forward, be tolerant of other viewpoints, share information/your thoughts/your feelings openly. When people feel their intellect and skills are valued, their trust skyrockets. W e need to value and respect different ways of learning, hearing, and processing information.

What can you begin doing now to be ready for the next century?

Invest in yourself – Learn about globalization – take seminars or workshops to become aware of how you, your organization, or your country will be affected fiscally.

Expand yourself – Read foreign publications, watch the Learning/Discovery channel

Educate yourself – Learn about Asia, Africa, India – 50% of the population lives there. Learn a foreign language.

Enrich yourself – At social gatherings talk to people from other countries. Communicate via the internet with people from all over the world to help understand them and their cultures.

Incultrate yourself – (That was a new word for me!) Go to ethnic restaurants, visit museums and art galleries.

Inspire yourself – Many of us read inspirational books/articles but read books about people who changed the world like Gandhi, Madam Curie, da Vince.

Karen Lamb is quoted as saying, "A year from now you may wish you had started today." I challenge you to begin your journey into the next century by setting a goal to become a thriver, making it a priority to set yourself up to be adaptable for the perpetual changes that are coming.

2. Lesson Two: Workplace Attitude

• having a positive attitude will help you get and keep a job
• looking and acting like a responsible worker will help you become one
• being cooperative and friendly will make your job more productive

Employees need good skills and attitudes to be successful in the workplace. Employers value employees who work hard, stay organized, and cooperate with others and who have pleasant and positive attitudes. The learning activities below will give you ideas about how to be successful on the job.

Your positive attitude in the workplace determines how far you can go in your career. Have you thought about what are some of your positive attitudes in the workplace? Spend some time thinking about your work attitude if you are a newbie seeking career success.

Throughout my career I have had the privilege to work under some of the best people in my industry. Coupled with the numerous self-improvement books I read, one day I found myself asking, “How would I define my attitude in the workplace that will propel my career success?” Specifically, what would be my positive attitudes at work?

I nailed them down into 3 words that would be my positive attitudes in the workplace. These were Pride, Passion, and Belief.

However, as the years went by I realized that they are only part of the equation. To balance these attitudes there were another side. I was still a newbie seeking career success when I held these to be my guiding principles.

The other side of the equation was Skills/Knowledge, Direction and Action. These together with Pride, Passion and Belief became what I practiced as my positive attitude in the workplace. I believe these to be relevant for newbie seeking career success now, too. It is relevant to be used as anyone’s work attitude for positive results.

1. Pride and Skills/Knowledge
Pride in my personal definition as a positive attitude in the workplace is taken to mean self-dignity. It means the realization that everything you do has your personal signature on it. When you realize this, you give everything assigned to you your best shot.

However, there is a danger here. That danger is excessive pride without the necessary skills and knowledge is arrogance.

So, Pride – Skills/Knowledge = Arrogance

This equation of positive attitude in the workplace has to go hand in hand. It has to be in good balance. What about doing your work with just skills and knowledge and with no pride? Well, you end up with mediocre work. You get it right but it wouldn’t be the best. Is this your attitude in the workplace?

Hence, Skills/Knowledge – Pride = Mediocre Work

When you add this set of positive attitudes in the workplace together, pride and skills/knowledge – what do you get?

Pride + Skills/Knowledge = The Best Work Each Time

2. Passion and Direction
Passion as a positive attitude in the workplace is the burning desire and love for the work that you do, which will pull you through the tough times. It is an intense enthusiasm that all things worth doing are worth doing well.

However, like the previous set of positive attitudes in the workplace it needs to be balanced by another factor - Direction. Your enthusiasm and burning desire must be harnessed to focus on the objectives at hand for it to show positive results. Passion without direction would just mean wasted energy.

Passion – Direction = Wasted Energy

What about Direction without Passion? Well, what if you know where you want to go but do not have the fuel for it? It just means success takes longer to achieve, if ever.

Direction – Passion = Success Takes Far Longer, If Ever

When you add direction and passion as positive attitude in the workplace you get goals galore!

Passion + Direction = Goals Galore

3. Belief and Action
My last equation of positive attitude in the workplace involves belief and action. The more your personal belief is aligned to the organization you are attached to the better your chances for career success. A deep believe in yourself will create the vigor and force that fuels your journey of seeking career success.

This belief must be balanced with action. Action means making your plans work. It means doing. Working. A believe that is not backed by a plan of action is just fantasies.

Belief – Action = Fantasies

What if you work your plans without a belief? Anyone without believe in themselves and their dreams but continue to work their plans is a fool at work.

Action – Belief = Fool at Work

When you are able to synergize believe and action into one, your dreams come true!

Belief + Action = Dreams Come True

Positive Attitude in the Workplace
When you are able to harness the equation these 3 sets of positive attitude in the workplace into one – reaching for the star becomes a reality. In fact, as a newbie seeking career success – when you internalize this positive attitude in the workplace into your work attitude YOU ARE A STAR!

Taken from:

http://www.career-success-for-newbies.com/positive-attitude-in-the-workplace.html

By Dawn Rosenberg McKay, About.com

It is important that you make a good impression at work. If you make a good impression on your boss, he or she is more likely to give you more responsibility which can lead to promotions and raises. Here are nine ways to make a good impression at work.

1. Use Proper Office Etiquette

Using good manners will help you make a good impression with your boss and also your co-workers. Office etiquette includes everything from the proper way to use email to knowing when, where, and how to use your cell phone while at work.

2. Face Up to Your Mistakes

When you make a mistake at work, which everyone inevitably does at some point, face up to it. Don't ignore your error or place the blame on others. Take responsibility and come up with a solution to fix your mistake. Your boss may not be too happy about it, but she will at least be impressed with your response.

3. Know When to Call in Sick to Work

Do you think coming to work when you are sick instead of staying at home will impress your boss? Reasonable bosses know that a sick employee not only isn't productive, he or she can spread an illness around the office rendering everyone else unproductive. Call in sick when you need to.

4. Come Through in a Crisis

When the unexpected happens at work, who will make a better impression on the boss -- the employer who wrings his hands and does nothing or the one who springs into action? Of course it's the employee who deals with the crisis quickly and effectively.

5. Know What Topics to Avoid Discussing

Avoiding inappropriate topics may not help you make a good impression at work but it will keep you from making a bad one. Subjects that do not make for good workplace conversation include politics, religion, and health problems and other personal issues.

6. Manage Your Time Effectively

Your ability to complete projects in a timely manner will help you make a good impression on your boss. You should demonstrate that you know how to manage your time effectively by handing in projects when, or even before, your deadline.

7. Dress Appropriately

Make a good impression at work by wearing the right clothes. You should dress the right way for the "role you are playing." If you aspire to be a leader at work, dress like one.

8. Avoid Offending Your Co-Workers

Make a good impression or avoid making a bad one by not doing things that offend your co-workers. Always show respect towards your co-workers. The last thing a boss wants brought to his attention are the uncivil actions of one of his employees.

9. Represent Your Company Well at Business Meetings

When you represent your employer at a business meeting making a good impression on other attendees will in turn help you make a good impression on your boss. Dress appropriately, network on your employer's behalf, and bring back information.

3. Lesson Three: Workplace Problems

1. Determine what harassment in the workplace means.

2. Discover ways of dealing with harassment in the workplace.

Please go to the following websites by clicking on the link to take you to the readings for this lesson. 

1.Sexual Harassment 

Alberta human rights commission: What is sexual harassment

legal definition

This government website gives general information about what constitutes sexual harassment, who is responsible, and who to contact to file a complaint. 

sexual harassment in the workplace

2. Harassment and Discrimination

The Canadian Human Rights Commission has information about different types of discrimination and harassment and what you can do about it should you need to find solutions to a problem.

What is harassment

Solving Problems in the Workplace:

Seven steps to effective problem solving in the workplace

4. Lesson Four: Workplace Safety

• workplace safety is a shared responsibility between employee and employer
• some strategies for being safe at work
• how to deal with an employer that does not maintain a safe environment

Are you at risk at your job? Find out, using these common risk factors.

Check all that apply to you.

If you checked even one, a workplace injury could do more than ruin your weekend. The great thing is that you can change it - you can learn safety at work.

Did you know?

Over 50% of all accidents involving young workers occur during their first six months on the job. Make sure you get safety training - it's your right!

It’ll never happen to me!!

Here’s reality. Lots of people your age have been hurt while at work. They didn’t plan it, they didn’t
expect it. You too, could lose a finger, a leg or spend months or years in the hospital. You may
never be able to play your favorite sport again. Or go dancing. Or drive a car...
Still don’t think it could happen to you? It can.
In Alberta in the year 2000, 13 young people were killed on the job. That’s 13 funerals, 13 families.
We’re not talking about gang violence or drunk driving. These were kids who had jobs…kids who
were killed — at work.

Who’s important in your life? Who do you care about?
How would you feel if they didn’t come home from work one day? Or if they could no longer walk?
Real life, real people

Timothy Hamilton*, a 19 year old high school graduate, working to make money for college, was killed at work less than two months after he was hired. Tim was asked to raise a 28 foot (8.53 in) aluminum center pole from inside a large canvas tent.
Above the tent, where Tim couldn’t see, was a 14,400 volt power only 27 feet (8.23m) off the ground. Tim was electrocuted and died instantly. Even though the law requires employers to keep
workers 10 feet (3.05m) away from such live power lines, Tim was asked to do something dangerous. The company was fined $100,000 for failing to protect its workers. But that didn’t give
Tim his life back.

* used with the permission of Tim’s family 

Mel Camilli*

At 21 years of age, had every reason to enjoy life — a well paying job, a girlfriend, and a promising career in forestry. But, in a split second, his world changed. While doing a routine task, he was trapped by a 100 ton piece of machinery. His right leg was severed immediately and his left leg was amputated a few months later. “I knew there were things I would never do and things I would have to learn to do all over again. I resigned myself to never having a girlfriend or a wife,” recalls Mel. 

Instead of dating, playing sports, traveling, or any of the usual things his friends were doing, Mel was learning to live each day. Today, Mel is married with a family. He enjoys wheelchair basketball and hockey and works with computers by day. But, his life hasn’t been easy. So, if you’ve got questions,” Mel says, if you’ve got concerns for your safety — or for the safety of your coworkers — speak up.”

* used with the permission of Worker? Compensation Board of British Columbia

 A hazard is any situation that could result in injury disease, or death

Real life, real people

Nicole’s story*
I work part time at a small fast food restaurant in my town. Our specialties are burgers and fries but we have a lot of other stuff too, it’s a really busy place and we are always running to keep up
with the customers. We all share in the work when it comes to getting the fries cooking. Two years ago, when I was dumping some fries in the hot oil to cook, there was a big splash. The hot oil covered my left arm and splashed my body in a few other places. 

The pain was unbelievable. I received third degree burns to my arm. It took 14 months of skin grafts to get my arm to heal and
there’s a major scar that will never go away. I never dreamed that anything like this would ever happen to me.
* used with the permission of Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, Ontario

A department store hired a 16 year old to work alone after school as a cleaner. One of his tasks was to cram discarded cardboard into a compactor baler. His body was found trapped in the baler.

You work in a restaurant and your boss isn’t around much. The head cook is in charge and thinks its fun to throw knives to other workers in the kitchen. You know this is dangerous and puts
everyone at risk. You know you have a right to a safe workplace. What should you do?

Cindy’s story*
My older brother Scott was working for an electrical contractor. They were rewiring some machine on an assembly line in a factory. It was supposedly a small job. They were only supposed to be there for the morning. Scott started undoing the screws where the wires attach and he got electrocuted. He died almost immediately they said. We found out later that the electrical
connections hadn’t been locked out” but Scott didn’t know it. If the machine had been locked out, there wouldn’t have been any power in the wires. Scott used to talk about his job all the time. But he never, ever said anything about health or safety training. The investigation showed that Scott never had any kind of health or safety training for his job— even though it was his right I wish Scott had known about his rights. He would probably still be alive. I miss Scott so much. It’s so different without him around. I still can’t believe he’s gone.

*used with the permission of Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. Ontario

Rob’s story*
I know all about getting injured at work. It happened to me. I got a job last summer working with a homebuilder. We were putting the floor on a new house. I backed up a couple of steps and
BOOM! The next thing I know I’m laying in the basement of this place and my leg is broken. The pain was so intense. I was screaming. They took me to the hospital and put a plate and pins in my leg, just below my knee. The doctor says if I’m lucky, I’ll get the full movement back. But it’s already been a year. It is getting better but it’s really slow. Nobody ever told me that openings in
the floor should be barricaded to keep us from slipping through them. If only they had told me.

*used with the permission of Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, Ontario

Job shadowing/work experience

No big deal right? Wrong! Even if it’s only for a few hours or a few days doing work experience or job shadowing, ask your supervisor to explain the risks of the job site and how to protect yourself. Accidents have happened to students too.

10 Questions to ask your employer
Getting ready for a job interview or starting a new job Ask these questions. Find out how serious your boss will be about your safety.
1. What are the dangers of my job?
2. Are there any other hazards that I should know about?
3. Will I receive job training?
4. Do you have safety meetings?
5. Is there safety equipment I’ll be expected to wear? Will I receive training in how to use it? When?
6. Will I be trained in emergency procedures (fire, chemical spill...) When?
7. Where are fire extinguishers, first aid kits and other emergency equipment located?
8. What do I do if I get hurt? Who is the first aid person?
9. What are my health and safety responsibilities?
10. Who do I ask if I have a health or safety question?

How did your employer do?
You can check your employer’s answers with the facts below.
1. By law, your employer must tell you about any hazards at the workplace.
2. Not all hazards affect you right away. High noise levels, over time, lead to hearing loss. Working with radiation, dusts and chemicals can increase your risk of diseases like cancer. Your employer must tell you about these hidden hazards.
3. Your employer must make sure you have the skills to safely do your work. If you’re still learning, you must be under the direct supervision of someone who has these skills. Learn all the skills you need before you do a new job on your own or alone.
4. Safety meetings are not mandatory in Alberta but if your employer holds them, it’s a sign of their commitment to your safety.
5. Lungs and ears...The law requires employers to provide protective equipment where there is a breathing hazard or where legal noise limits are exceeded. However, your employer isn’t required to provide hard hats, safety boots, fire resistant clothing or eye protection. If safety equipment is necessary, your employer must make sure you use it.
6. You must be trained in emergency procedures — in case of fire, chemical spills, etc. If you’re working with chemicals, special training is required before you start work.
7. Your employer must control the hazards at your workplace by providing fire extinguishers and other special equipment. You must be told where this stuff is and how to use it.
8. If you’re injured, get first aid and report your injury to your employer as quickly as possible. The law says your employer must provide on-site first aid equipment. Most employers are required to have people present with first aid training.
9. You are expected to do your best to protect your own and your co-workers’ health and safety. This means if you’re asked to do something that may put you or your co-workers in danger, the law says you must refuse to do that task.
10. If you have a health or safety question, the first person you should ask is your employer, usually your supervisor, as they know your workplace the best. You can also phone the Workplace Health and Safety Call Centre. It’s a free, confidential call, 1-866-415-8690. Or you can go to the Web site at www.whs.gov.ab.ca.

Tough guy?
If you’re a guy age 15-24, you are more likely to be Injured on the job than any other worker.
The safety partnership
Your safety is a partnership between you and the employer. When the partnership is working well, it might look like this.

• Tells you there is a hazard / Listen up! Pay attention.

• Provides training / Take the training

• Hold safety meetings / Attend the meetings

• Provides protective equipment / Know where the are and how to use them

• Provides fire extinguishers / Know where they are and how to use them

• Provides trained first aid staff and kits / Know who and where they are

• Ignores safety / Talk to your employer about the benefits of workplace safety. Be involved in making changes.

• Asks you to do something dangerous / Don’t do it. Talk it out. Take a stand. Share the information on this page with them.

The law protects you
Each Canadian province has a law to help keep work sites safe and healthy. It’s called the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OH&S) in Alberta. These laws are a little different in each province. In Alberta, call the Workplace Health and Safety Call Centre at 1-866-415-8690 or visit the Web site at www.whs.gov.ab.ca. You don’t have to tell them your name.

Survival tips:
You may want to first ask the advice of a trusted co-worker. Then, try to work things out with your direct supervisor. Only speak with their boss if your supervisor doesn’t deal with your concerns. Don’t go over any heads first.
When you approach your supervisor, make sure your attitude is respectful and positive — it’ll show when you’re talking. Express your desire for doing the job right, doing it safely. Here are some examples:
• Politely ask your supervisor for a minute of their time. Then say...
“I really want to make sure I do this job right. What should I know about doing it safely?”
“I’d like to do this job but I think it could be dangerous. [say why] What do you think?”
“I need some training before I do this job. Any suggestions?”
Depending on the situation, a good supervisor may choose to:
• remove any hazards so the task is safe (if that’s possible)
• train you on-the-spot
• get another worker to do the task until you’ve received training
• arrange for you to learn by working with another worker who has experience.

The boss insists
If you’ve tried to talk to your employer and he/she still insists that you do unsafe work, here are some examples of what you can say:
“I’ve been taught that it’s against the law for me to do a task that I believe could be dangerous. I really like my job but I can’t do this task...
...until I’ve got training to do it safely
...until the equipment is working properly
...until someone holds the base of the ladder
…until I’ve got a respirator so I don’t get sick from the fumes
…until we’re both certain that I can do this job’ without getting injured.”
What if my boss wants me to do something right away and I’ve got a gut feeling that it’s not safe?
Trust your gut. If in doubt, don’t do it. Then use any of the survival tips above to deal with your boss. Or you may think of a better way. Remember, do it with respect, stay calm and you’ll be okay.

Keep your cool
Every boss will react a little differently. Most employers will be grateful for your input, but others may not be. You may express your concern once and everything may turn out great. Or, you may have to talk with your boss several times before things change. Your boss might get impatient or even angry, but things may still turn out okay — or not. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee for the perfect ending.

You can’t be fired!
Wait a minute. If I tell my boss I think a job is unsafe, I’ll get fired. Right?
Wrong! That would be illegal. The Occupational Health and Safety Act states: No person shall dismiss or take any other disciplinary action against a worker because that person did what this Act told them to do.

Tough choices
If you’ve tried to work things out with your boss and it’s not going great, you may decide to quit your job if your health or safety is at risk. Your life is more important than any job. It’s more important than your work ethic or your résumé. And, even though the law says you can’t be fired for refusing unsafe work, you could come across an employer who doesn’t handle things properly and lets you go. Of course, you’d have every right to take legal action and you may wish to report the employer. To get help, call the Workplace Health and Safety Call Centre at 1-866-415-8690 or visit the Web site at www.whs.gov.ab.ca.

5. Lesson Five: Types of Employment

• that there are many different kinds of employment available
• that there are benefits and costs to different kinds of employment
• how the career planning process can be useful throughout life
• how to use the career planning process
• that certain skills can be used in many occupations
• why it is important to plan ahead
• how to create a career plan

• there are many types of employment available
• there are benefits and costs to different kinds of employment
• self-employment can be a positive choice for some people

The Work Alternatives

There is nothing new about the work alternatives described in this section except that they are becoming increasingly common. You will likely recognize the descriptions that follow only some of the labels may he unfamiliar. As you read the descriptions, notice that they are described in order of the amount of risk involved in taking them on. Full employment is least risky entrepreneurship is most risky.

Part-Time Employment

Part-time work involves working less than 30 hours per week within a specific job for a single employer. As with full-time employment, part-time employment often carries with it the assumption of permanence or durability. People who want part-time positions usually have other non-work interests (e.g., children, hobbies, school) that are important to them.

Multi-Tracking

Multi-tracking occurs when an individual holds more than one job at one time. These jobs can be full- time and/or part-time. A full-time factory worker who moonlights by working some evening shifts at a restaurant is a multi-tracker. So is a person who holds a part-time position at a clothing store and a part-time position at a gas station. Multi-tracking allows people to pursue a variety of interests.

Job Sharing

Individuals are job sharing when two or more of them work within a single job description. Usually, a full-time position is shared by two or more people; when one goes home, the other takes over. Job sharing is attractive to those who want some predictability hut who do not want to work full-time.

Work Sharing

Work sharing is like job sharing with the exception that a function rather than a position is shared. Two or more people agree to get certain tasks done for an employer in a work sharing arrangement. For example, an employer may require an after-sales service system to make sure customers are happy with the products the have purchased. The employer could create positions to do this (e.g., Service Manager, Service Specialist, Quality Inspector), or the employer could have a team of people responsible for making sure that after-sales service takes place. The latter option involves work sharing. Work sharing is chosen by these who want diversity and flexibility in their work.

Talent Pooling

Individuals within a talent pool commit to each other to find work for members of the pool. Typically, informal arrangements among a group of people with common interests result in a talent pool. A group of people get together and agree to he each others’ marketer and referral source. For example, consider six people who have lost their oil patch work. Each person has different talents. These six people could form a talent pool in which all of them would seek work for their specific talents and for the talents of others in the pool. People choose talent pools in order to broaden their ability to find meaningful work. Also, talent pools allow individuals to say yes” to work for which they (10 not have the competence, hut for which one of the members of the pool does.

Agent

Agents are well known in the world of movie stars and athletes. They will become better known in other areas of work in the near future. Agents (sometimes called brokers) represent other people’s talents or products. They earn their income by taking a fee for linking people with talent to work that needs to he (lone. People choose to he agents when they enjoy selling and value the use of people’s talent.

Contracting

Contract employees are those who work for a pre set time period. Usually working full-time, these employees move from one contract to the next. The major challenge they face is to avoid having long gaps between contracts. Contracting usually comes with no benefits (e.g., dental, employment insurance), so contractors have to look after their own benefits. Contracting is an option for individuals who have confidence in their abilities and like a variety of work for different organizations or in different settings.

Consulting

Consultants work on a number of projects simultaneously. They are like a multi-tracking contractor. Consultants usually work on a number of time-specific and outcome-specific projects, often for a number of different clients, at the same time. For example, a carpenter who is renovating a basement for one customer, installing kitchen cupboards for another and repairing a fence for another is consulting. Consulting allows for a great deal of variety in one’s work life.

Self-Employment

People who develop, market and deliver a service or product are self-employed, if they do not employ others (when they also employ others, they become entrepreneurs). Many of the increasing numbers of home-based businesses are examples of self employment. The potter who produces and sells work from his or her home is self-employed. Self employment is a favored option for people who want to he independent and to he “their own boss.”

Entrepreneurship

An entrepreneur is a self-employed individual who also employs others. The potter whose operation becomes so large that additional people are needed becomes an entrepreneur as soon as someone else is hired to help out. A person who buys a franchise operation is also an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship is the most risky work alternative because commitments are made to others as well as to oneself. Also, entrepreneurs often invest significant amounts of money to get their operations started, However, entrepreneurs probably have the greatest potential to make money and to control their own destinies.

Who are shift workers?
They’re actors, air traffic controllers, pilots, flight attendants, radio personalities, bus drivers, cab drivers, Industrial cleaners and maintenance personnel, grocery clerks, restaurant workers, fire fighters, police officers, nurses—all kinds of indispensable people who work while the rest of us play, travel, go out for the evening and, yes, try to sleep.

They represent more than 20 per cent of our workers, and many people who would once have turned down this topsyturvy
life are living it because they have no choice. How do they cope with the rigorous demands of lives that are often upside down, and in which sleep needs are often much harder to fill than the sleep needs of other workers?

We talked to five shift workers to get an insight into the lives of people we all too often take for granted.

(1) Name: Tamara Stanners
Job: Cohost
of a morning show
Hours: On air 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday, plus prep tune, recording time and special appearances.
Schedule: up at 3 a.m. to breastfeed eight month old, nap for a half hour; up at 4am. to get to the station before start of show at 5 and Eat fruit snacks and drink a big cup of coffee, the only one all day, “but l really need that one!” At 9 am at shows close “we’re so ‘up’ and psyched! The show takes a tremendous amount of energy, and I feel so perky and then I just crash.” Home for a quick break, nap by 11a.m. and then spend time with the family, and watch TV to prep for next day’s show. In bed by 10:30 or 11:00 p.m.
Comments: “When I started this two years ago, I thought I’d matured enough to get up early and get through the day OK.
“Wrong! At first it was awful! 1 kept getting sick—my daughter was in day care, so we passed every disease available back and forth. Now, my second child never seems to sleep!” Stanners
says she gets “a maximum four hours of sleep at any given time.
“It’s a problem, but I get a job 1 re ally enjoy and also I get to be with my family. And I wouldn’t trade that for anything. I can be mom, we always do dinner together, and I give the kids their
baths and get them to bed and then I collapse.”
Sleep tips: “I meditate, do deep breathing and relaxation. Meantime, I just figure sleep is something I’ll get to do in 20 years.”

(2) Name: Kristen Griswold
Job: Surgical pediatric nurse at 5.C. Children’s Hospital.
Hours: As a “casual” employee, most of Griswold’s 12hour
shifts are callIns.
This means they can call her anywhere anytime and she could work three 12hour days in a row, take 24 hours off
and return to four 12hour shifts.
Schedule: unpredictable. “Sometimes’ I’ll work two night shifts, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., sleep for a day, and then start a day shift at 7 a.m. I sleep, go for a run or work out at the gym, go back to bed in the afternoon then it’s time to work again.”
Comments: “It’s hard to make plans and have a social life, but everyone’s very understanding.
“It’s hectic— but it does give you quite a bit of flexibility. You get days off during the week, and it does add some excitement and interest to things. I don’t mind the compromises. It all balances
out.” Most annoying moment? “If they page me while I’m skiing.”
Sleep tips: After work, make sure you unwind before you t to sleep. And before, “do something light, fun and relaxing, not high energy.”

(3) Name: Chris Lewis
Job: Millwright welder
Hours: 11:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Monday through Friday
Schedule: Lewis has worked lots of shifts, but says three solid years of graveyard were the hardest: After work, he’d get home by 7 or 8 a.m., have breakfast, and sleep until 3 or 4: get up at
that time you always feel as if you have a mild hangover.” Free time from 4 to 10:30 p.m. Back to work by 11:3O p.m.
Comments: “It’s a dark life. Especially In the winter, you never see the sun at all.
“The weekends were my only ‘day’ life. I’d stay up after work Saturday and keep going, or nap and get up later. I’d have Sunday, but after Monday chores I’d need a power nap to have free time and then go to work again.
“You can’t socialize during the week.
“I’ve lost some friends, and some times felt like a hermit My girlfriends been great though, she’s been a pillar.
Sleep Tips: Find something that feels psychologically healthy and gives you a real escape. Lewis says, just hopping on his Harley and going for a ride would “bring me back to reality.”

(4) Name: Vivianne St. Piarre
Job: Alarm monitor at Chubb Security.
Hours: Day shifts 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., afternoons 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., grave yards 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Schedule: Day shifts are early so you avoid rush hour traffic, and have free time later. On afternoons St. Piarre sleeps until everyone with a regular day shift is at work, and on graveyard
she has breakfast around 2 or 3 p.m., when her “day” starts.
Comments: “On evening and grave yard shifts, you can pretty. well say goodbye to your personal life. I work out, and do some work as a personal trainer— it keeps you focused and energized.
“This kind of work can be draining. Your eating and sleeping patterns change completely. Also, it’s a highstress
job where you have to be on the ball. Often you’re dealing with people’s lives.
“(Shift work) is difficult. Time be comes very precious. If you have a relationship, plan every moment, be structured and detailed, and be more selfish about your time and life.”
Sleep tips: “I have blackout blinds, lake vitamins and do relaxation and breath log, if you take time for yourself every thing else just falls into place.”

(5) Name: Const. Chris Campbell
Job: Beat officer with Vancouver Police Department, riding bicycles.
Hours: Shifts are 11 hours each: Days start at 7 a.m.; afternoons at 2 p.m.; late afternoons at 4p.m. (5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays) and nights 7p.m. Shifts in four days on, four days off.
Schedule: On a late afternoon shift, Campbell will get off work at 3 a.m., sleep in until 10:30 or 11:30 a.m., and have free time until 3 p.m. to prep for the 4 p.m. shift. Often his wife will take their
eight month old daughter out in the morning to let him sleep. “But sometimes I have to get up no matter what.”
Comments: “It’s tough to keep con tact with friends, and tough to do social things, but the advantage is you get to spend more time at home.
“For me, moving from nights to day is the hardest. On evenings and nights, you come home anytime between 2:30 to 6:30 a.m., but that’s when you have to wake up for day shift. You can
feel like a zombie.”
What keeps him going? “Coffee that’s the only thing. Also, talking to your partner. You can stay busier than if you are on your own.”
Sleep tips: keep the phone, answering machine and pager in another room. Also, family cooperation really helps.

What next? More than one successful business has been started by retirees with get-up-and-go to spare. You may also be looking for a home-based business to supplement your pension benefits.
Perhaps you’re at the front end of your working life and considering your options. Faced with a shrinking job market, you might well consider creating your own job. If so, you are likely to find plenty of encouragement. Governments at all levels are recognizing the importance of entrepreneurship in job creation. As a result, they are working with the business community to offer all sorts of programs to encourage young entrepreneurs — from Junior Achievement, and Career and Technology Studies, to “incubator” services that reduce overhead by pooling space, equipment and secretarial services.

Last, and most obvious of all, you might be one of those people who knew from your first lemonade stand you were going to be your own boss. As one successful young entrepreneur put it: “I like to run the show.”

What does it mean to be an entrepreneur? As it is commonly used, the word entrepreneur refers to someone who organizes, manages and assumes the risk to start a business or enterprise that ultimately creates jobs for others. This type of entrepreneur usually invests a high level of time, energy and financial resources to succeed in business. At the other end of the scale are people who choose self- employment in order to get out of the “rat race” and are content to make just enough money from self-employed earnings to support themselves. Throughout most of this booklet, we use entrepreneur to refer to anyone who is self-employed no matter where they fall on this scale.
Self-Employment: Aaah, This Is The Life, or Aaaugh, Is This Living?
Like any other career or lifestyle choice, self-employment has its bonuses and challenges. Here are some important factors to consider when deciding whether to go out on your own. Not all of them apply to all types of businesses. Not all of them are equally important to all potential entrepreneurs. Decide for yourself how important each one is to you.

Bonuses
• Satisfaction of creating your own job. Many self-employed people enjoy the sense of independence and accomplishment that comes from using their skills and experience to create their own work rather than depend on an employer for a job.
• Opportunity to follow your heart. Self-Employment offers the chance to work at something that not only provides a paycheque but also appeals to your passion. As your own boss you have the freedom to determine where to invest your time and energy
• Variety. No day is predictable. There are always new customers, clients and suppliers to meet, new problems to solve, and new projects to tackle.
• Feeling of control. Being self-employed gives you control over your schedule, working conditions, and how you do your work.
• Opportunity to use your creativity. Many entrepreneurs say they felt confined and their creativity thwarted in a corporate or government environment. Being your own boss lets you test your bright ideas and fulfill your passion for creativity,
• More tax deductions. Self-employed people are entitled to tax deductions on a wide range of things such as a car, home office, travel, professional development, and other items related to their business.
• Flexible work hours. If you want to spend time in your garden in summer or catch a child’s performance at school, you may be able to juggle your schedule to do so. And if you make up for it on evenings and weekends, it will be by your own choice.
• No dress code. Every day can be “casual Friday,” when you’re calling the shots. Home-based business operators, in particular, can enjoy dressing for comfort on days without meetings with customers or clients.
• Opportunity for a healthier lifestyle. Working at a home-based business can pay health dividends, according to a recent survey by Income Opportunities magazine. Among people who work at home, 45 per cent say they exercise more often than they did when they were employees.

Challenges
• Long hours. Anyone who goes into business thinking it will be easy street compared to being an employee will not last long. Self-employed people often talk of 12 to 16-hour days as the norm. Clients and customers can be demanding, and customer service can make the difference between success and failure.
• No benefits. A downside of self-employment is the loss of benefits such as health, dental employment and disability insurance. If you are used to having a benefits package as part of your employment, you can generally count on paying about 15 per cent of your former salary to replace those benefits when you become self-employed.
• Loss of structure. Being your own boss can be unsettling if you’re used to having an employer imposes a certain structure on your work day. There’s no “time clock” to punch, no set coffee breaks. It’s up to you to create your own structure, based on what’s needed to market yourself and your product or service and to get the work done.
• Isolation. As a self-employed person, you could miss the support of co-workers or the opportunity to socialize on coffee breaks, especially if you work from home.
• Paperwork. When you run your own business, you’re not only the president and marketing manager, but also the comptroller and bookkeeper. Of course, you can hire an accountant to help you set up your books and do your taxes. But you will still have to spend many hours doing the paperwork and record-keeping required.
• Unpredictable income. Until you get a new business off the ground and running smoothly, budgeting is vital. Even if you’ve done your homework and prepared a thoroughly researched business plan, your income won’t be as predictable as a regular pay cheque. Some new business owners take part-time or even full-time jobs during the first year or two to keep a steady income until the business takes off.
• Constant pressure to keep sales up or work coming in. Every day is a marketing day or a work search day for the self-employed. If you have employees, the pressure is even greater to bring in enough work to keep them busy and pay their salaries.
• Potential for loss. Starting any kind of business requires some financial investment at the outset. Even equipping a modest home office to perform a professional service such as accounting requires a minimum investment in such essentials as furniture, a computer, software, business telephone line, copier and fax machine. The capital required to start a restaurant or manufacturing operation can be substantial. Should your business fail, this investment may never be recovered.

What Motivates Entrepreneurs?
Most people who start businesses have worked as employees for other organizations first. Why would they give up their jobs to be self-employed? The following are some of the main reasons people give for starting their own enterprises:
• They feel they can do the job better than their boss.
• They seek the challenge of starting and nurturing a business from scratch.
• They seek variety and a sense of adventure.
• They want to make better use of their skills and knowledge.
• They want the freedom to work in their own way.
• They would get more of a sense of accomplishment from running a business.
• They prefer to reap all the profits from their work.
• They want to have more control over their career and their life.
• They want to recapture the feeling of working at something close to their heart.

Notice that money is not prominent on this list. For most successful business people, the prime motivation is personal fulfillment. Of course, money is important to them, but only as a means to do more with their businesses and their lives, not simply to acquire wealth and prestige.

In fact, anyone who goes into business for the money alone may be in for a rude awakening. Are you prepared to work longer hours and receive less pay than you did as an employee? That’s the kind of dedication it takes to get a new business up and running. But the rewards in terms of work satisfaction can be great. According to a 1996 Angus Reid-Royal Bank poll, 55 per cent of sell-employed people in the study reported they were very satisfied with their work, compared to 44 per cent of people who were full-time employees. Also, 77 per cent said their job satisfaction improved after they started their own business and almost as many said they were better off working for themselves.

Here is a fabulous website to explore on related topics:

http://www.careerccc.org/products/cp_00/home_e.cfm?yearid=7&sectionid=3&art_number=15

6. Lesson Six: Career Plan

• how the career planning process can be useful throughout life
• why it is important to plan ahead
• how to create a career plan

During this theme, you have explored different types of employment and you have begun thinking about and using the career planning process.

The following learning activities will help give you information necessary to create your own career plan in the assignment below.

·       What do you think you'd like to be involved in next year (such as sports, music lessons, other activities)?

·       What do you like about that activity?

·       Do you have a particular goal in mind for what you'd like to accomplish in doing that activity?

·       Who do you know that really enjoys their job?

·       What kinds of jobs seem interesting to you?

·       What makes them interesting to you?

·       What would you like to learn more about?

·       What do you like to do in your free time?

·       What kinds of kids do you like to hang around?

·       What do they do or say that makes you want to be with them?

·       Parents or the parents of a teen's friends can initiate experiences, such as trips to museums, special exhibits like an Auto or Home Show, or arrange for factory tours while on vacations

·       Ask a teacher or school guidance counsellor for suggestions of activities that you can do with your teen to develop readiness to provide help with career exploration

·       Biographies, autobiographies, movies and videos can all serve as "windows to the world of work"

For parents of middle and secondary students

(Even though this article is technically for parents, it has a ton of good information)

For students in secondary school

The 21st century offers today's young people opportunities unknown to previous generations. Their challenge is to develop the skills, knowledge and attitudes that will equip them to make the kinds of career/life choices required to achieve their personal goals and to make a contribution to society.

Be a 'guide on the side'

As a parent, it is your role to fully understand the career planning process and to assist your teen to work through it. Your role is not to provide the answers, but rather, to encourage your teen to ask the right questions and assist him to develop personally meaningful answers to those questions.

Use the career planning process

The career planning process is a lifelong and personal journey that seeks to find answers to four central questions.

Who am I?

• interests
• values
• learning styles
• personality
• multiple intelligences
• skills

What are my opportunities?

• secondary school courses
• extra-curricular activities
• community involvement
• fields of work
• occupations within fields of work
• education/training required
• post-secondary programs
• admission requirements
• costs

Who do I want to become?

• goal-setting (S.M.A.R.T.)
• decision-making
• managing/using information
• detecting bias
• fact vs. opinion
• rational vs. intuitive decisions

What are my plans to achieve my goals?

• a series of steps
• work backwards from the goal
• identify steps, resources, potential barriers, solutions
• the more detail the better

Remember the keys to success

• accept that change is constant
• focus on the process
• use your head, but 'listen' to your heart
• recognize the many pathways to destinations
• select a pathway that suits the individual
• look to the future (trends), not the past
• be flexible and revise plans as needed
• beware of the "Keep the doors open" myth
• access resources
• plan for lifelong learning

The following are opportunities and resources available to help students and parents in making decisions about appropriate post-secondary destinations:

Chart Your Course – Explore Your Future Direction
This common course calendar is available at www.peelschools.org. Look in the "Student Stuff" section.

Annual Education Plan (AEP)
See your teen's guidance counsellor for details.

Take Our Kids to Work Day is a one-day job shadowing experience available to students in grade 9.

Career Studies
Career Studies is a compulsory grade 10 course. Students develop the skills needed to effectively explore educational and career/life opportunities.

Work Experience
As part of a course, students are able to spend from two days to four weeks in a work environment.

Discovering the Workplace
This optional grade 10 course includes two short-term work experiences, an introduction to the Ontario Skills Passport and the opportunity for students to develop the essential skills important in any chosen career.

Co-operative Education
Co-op programs are available in all secondary schools. Students work at placements where they can apply and practice the skills and knowledge acquired in previous courses. Students may earn one, two, three or four credits. Information is available in the "Student Stuff" section at www.peelschools.org. 

www.makingmyway.ca
www.careercruising.com (see school for password)
www.ontarioprospects.info
http://jobfutures.ca/en/home.shtml
http://careermatters.tvo.org
www.osca.ca/cardev/htm
www.edu.gov.on.ca
www.apprenticesearch.com
www.tradeability.ca
www.ontariocolleges.ca
www.ouac.on.ca
www.careerparent.com

This tip sheet was prepared by Pat Evans, Instructional Resource Teacher/Experiential Learning, and John Lavelle, Instructional Co-ordinator (Guidance and Career Education).

7. Lesson Seven: The Job Search

• Success methods for a successful job search
• How to find a job that is right for you at the right time

With the cost of tuition continually rising, many college students will be looking for work during the summer. For the young person who is willing to do put forth the effort, there are opportunities out there in the work force that will not only provide some income, but also some life experience that will be beneficial down the road.

1.  Step 1

Consider your interests.

Think about what you enjoy doing. When you have spare time, what type of activities do you pursue? Is there something you would love to learn to do?

2.  Step 2

Consider your preferences.

Do you like working inside with controlled temperatures? Or do you prefer to work outside in the elements? Would you rather work alone or do you enjoy working while surrounded by people?

Watch this short video about work preferences: 

3.  Step 3

Consider your contacts.

Your friends, teachers, neighbours and relatives all make up a network of possible contacts. Get the word out that you are looking for summer employment.

4.  Step 4

Once you have thought through your interests, preferences and contacts, list potential jobs that coincide with your personal profile. If you are an inside-people person you might look for a job such as retail sales, secretary or office runner. If you are an outdoor-solitary person you may enjoy a job in areas such as landscaping, delivery or warehouse stocking.

5.  Step 5

Use the internet and local publications to see what jobs are available in your area. Start your summer job search in the spring to get the jump on all the last-minute applicants.

Before you even send out a resume or start looking through the want ads, there are some things you should consider that will help you save time and effort in your job search.

What Do You Want?

It's easy to get sidetracked by fancy job titles and attractive salaries. You must decide what kind of work you would like to do. Do you want a job in the field you are in now or do you want to try your hand at something different. Finding out what you really want is the key to finding a fulfilling job. Taking some time to figure that out before you job search will probably save you a lot of headaches later. If you have no idea what you want, how will you ever look for it or find it?

What Do You Need?

What sort of hours do you want to work? Are you looking for a temporary or a permanent job? Do you want to work part time or full time? What salary or wage is the minimum you will require? Does your new job need to be close to home? What's the longest commute you will accept? By figuring out what you need, you'll know where to put your efforts when you start looking for work.

LifeStyle Changes?

Are you ready for the change in lifestyle that your new job will bring you? Do you have daycare arrangements made if you are a new mother returning to the workforce? Do you have the support of your family? By having your family on board, you can make the transition to a new job easier. You should consider that many new jobs bring changes, whether they be changes in schedule, income, or location. Before you start looking for work, ensure that you have the support you will need.

Have You Got A Strategy?

How long do you think it will take to find a job? How long can you afford to be unemployed? You should have some idea of your employment goals. If you want to have a job in the next two weeks, you need to act quickly. You'll want to list all the possible places you could apply, make a list of networking possibilities, get your resume ready, and start applying right away.

Will you be handling your own job search or do you want to have a recruiting firm assist you? If you are currently employed, how will you fit your job search activities into your current job? How much notice do you need to give your current employer? These are all things that if sorted out before your job search, can help make things easier for you later. Deciding on a strategy will help you avoid wasted time and job search effort.

A job search takes time and effort. By being organized and planning ahead before you start looking for a job, you can help make the process easier for yourself.

Company Research - What You Need to  Know

By Canadajobs.com Staff

It's critical when you're looking for a job that you research the company you're applying for. It's a good idea in many ways and certainly worth the time investment.

Before You Send In Your Resume:

You've seen a position advertised by XYZ Company and the job sounds great. One of the first things you should do is research the employer. By having some knowledge about the company you are applying to, you'll have some idea if this is a company you are interested in. You'll also know if they are financially stable, how their business works, and what their business is. Then, you can make an informed decision as to whether or not you should apply for the position and whether or not you would seriously consider a job offer from this company.

At The Interview:

Want a better shot at answering those tough interview questions? Know the company you're interviewing for. Common interview questions like "Why should we hire you?" and "What do you think of our corporate culture?" are kind of hard to answer when you don't know anything about the company. If you want to come off more polished and prepared and give your interviewer answers with substance, take some time to research the company. Why should they hire you? Maybe because you've got extensive and direct experience dealing with the same type of products, vendors, and clients (if you do, of course!) How do you know what their major products are and who they deal with? You've researched it!

Finding out their corporate structure and how a company operates will help you decide how to answer questions by allowing you to place emphasis on those things the company views as important.

By having some knowledge of the company, your answers can be substantiated by not only explaining your past skills and experience, but by relating them to the company and its activities.

When you know a company's processes and hiring style, you'll also have a better idea of advancement opportunities and the potential for growth.

How To Research:

You can find information about companies virtually anywhere. Look for the company's Web site, put their name through a search engine, or talk to colleagues and relatives. If the company is public, you can find out financial information and reports on their Web site or by visiting a financial Web site.

8. Lesson Eight: Your Resume

• what categories belong in effective resumes
• that different resume formats serve different purposes
• the differences between good and bad resumes
• how to write an effective resume

You will need a well-written resume (pronounced "resuMAY") to be successful in your job search. A resume is a one or two page document that advertises YOU as a potential employee and that helps attract the interest of an employer. Your resume should accentuate your skills, experiences, education, and talents, promoting you as a special and noteworthy job candidate. Your resume can be attached to an application form, or it can be sent or dropped off with a cover letter.

Note: A resume is sometimes called a C.V. (for Curriculum Vitae, meaning "Course of Life")

The hardest part of writing a resume can be getting started. One method is to set a clear goal or career objective or job objective in the short term if you are a student, and make sure your resume reflects that objective. You don't necessarily have to state your objective on your resume, but write a summary statement to show how the particular job matches your career goals.

When writing your resume, remember to:

• Be truthful. State your abilities accurately.
• Target your audience. Highlight skills and activities relevant to the job.
• Keep it brief. Limit your resume to one or two pages, and use fewer words for scannability.
• Write and rewrite. Plan to write several versions of your resume before it feels right.
• Be professional. Print your resume on high-grade paper using a quality printer.
• Be accurate. Proofread your resume (and have a friend do the same) for any errors.
• Follow up. Call or send a letter to the employer to restate your interest in the position.

The first thing to do before you start writing your resume is to gather the information.

Consider following categories for gathering information:

1. Work Experience

Review all your work experience, from baby-sitting for the neighbors to planning the marketing budget for a Fortune 500 company. Remember, everything counts, whether it was part-time or full-time employment.

Responsibilities
Work on a brief description of your responsibilities, but don’t go into too much details – just consider your major functions and duties for each position. For example, if you’re a sales manager applying with a new company, your prospective employer will be interested in knowing:

• How many people your supervised.
• If you managed a budget and, if so, its size.
• How much revenue you were responsible for.
• The size of your sales territory.

All of this information gives employers and idea of the responsibilities you can handle.

Accomplishments
State your accomplishments in specific terms. What did you do on that job, and what were the results? Did you increase profits? Did you solve the problem? Did you exceed a goal? Did you improve product performance? Did you improve productivity or efficiency?

If you are having trouble identifying specific individual accomplishments, consider department or company-wide projects. Did your group supply the financial statistics that helped the research department determine whether the project would be a GO? Did you serve on the team that evaluated your company’s current compute system? Perhaps you found upgrading the systems would provide needed services and the company wouldn’t have to buy a whole new system. Did your evaluation save the company money?

Also consider any work-related award that might reflect your accomplishments. Did you win an employee achievement award and similar others.

2. Volunteer Experience

You don’t have to be paid for your work for it to provide valuable experience. For example, were you the president of the Parent/Teacher Organization or band boosters last year? Did you plan and lead meetings? Did you organize and supervise the annual carnival fundraiser? Did you coordinate 20-some volunteers? Did you secure sponsors to help defray costs? Did your fundraiser see a profit? Sounds like some pretty good resume material.

If you have little or no paid work experience, or if you’ve been out of the job market and are preparing to reenter, your volunteer service translates well into work experience and should be included on your resume, along with any of your accomplishments with those organizations. Be sure to write down the name of the organization, your volunteer service dates and your specific duties.

For example, did your campaign drive for the women’s symphony unit increase membership? How much? Did you serve on the committee that designed a community program on developing good parenting skills?
Then your entry might read:

• Recommended and organized new women’s symphony unit membership drive, which increase membership by 30%.
• Designed, coordinated and presented Developing Parenting Skills program to fill a community need. Program has evolved into 200 volunteers and nearly 700 participants and earned state and country welfare awards.

Don’t discount any contribution you may have made, even if you weren’t in a leadership role. Employers want to hire productive people. Your volunteer service will show that you are an active person and enhance your chances of landing in the interview.

3. Education Details

For the most part, the educational listing is fairly brief. You’ll want to include the name and location of the school, date of graduation and your degree or major area of study. Id you didn’t graduate, note the years you attended the school and the type of courses you completed. If you are a recent highs school, trade school or college graduate, you may want to list a few of the courses you completed, especially if you have little or not paid or volunteer experience.

Also, if you are short on work experience, play up your school activities and educational accomplishments. You may also want to note special circumstances, such as achieving a high GPA while working or playing a sport. This proves you are a hard worker and take your education seriously, and shows employers you’d be a productive employee.

GPA, Graduating with Honors
If you have been employed for several years, your high school and college grades really are insignificant to a prospective employer. After 10 or 20 years in the work force, your experience and accomplishments should speak for themselves and prove you’re productive and intelligent.

However, if you’re recently out of school/college and your grades are good, feel free to include them in the educational section. Be sure to include to scale on the GPA was registered. If you graduated with honors, mention it in your degree listing.

Internship and Co-op Work
Definitely include any internship, whether for pay, class credit or volunteer experience. Many students complete co-op work experience while still in college, include them here or in experience section.

4. Certification, Licensing and Special Skills/Training

Its important to list any certifications and licenses to show the employer you’re trained for the job, especially if you are in a skilled trade, such as airline mechanic or a dental assistant.

You also might want to mention any on-the-job or special job-related training you have received, such as completing a computer course. However, there is no need to mention professional or personal development seminars, such as those that explain effect team-building techniques or how to enhance your self-esteem.

5. Military Experience

Don’t forget to profile your military experience, if you have any. Your special training and accomplishments are valuable, especially if they relate directly to your chosen civilian career. Bu sure to list the following information for each tour of duty:

• Branch
• Rank
• Dates of service
• Duties
• Special skills learned
• Accomplishments (like awards, citations and medals)

6. Memberships and Activities

Here is your chance to list any memberships and activities you have already covered under work experience section of your resume. In addition, if you have several professional and/or social memberships, don’t try to include all of them. Just focus on the ones you think would show a benefit to an employer and those that are related to your career. Your activities will show that you are a well-rounded person with interests outside of work. In addition listing a few of your activities reflects your ability to manage a busy schedule.

Your listings in this section should be current and brief. Just include the name of the organization and any leadership positions you hold. Examples:

• Treasurer, Lion’s Club
• President, Board of Directors, ABC Theater

7. Awards and Honours

For the most part, you have probably detailed any work-related awards or volunteer honours as accomplishments in the work experience section of you resume. However, if you have received an award that you think the employer will view as a benefit, list it here. Though remember that employers only take about 30 seconds to review your resume, and may never even get to this section. If the honor is really important, you probably should move it to either work experience or volunteer experience section of your resume where it is more likely to get noticed.

SAMPLES

**American or Canadian, please note that the style of the resume is the same. Don't forget references. You include references on your resume so that the potential employer doesn't have to call you for your references.

Leila Charuth-Bell
15 Carlosa Ave., Ottawa
Ontario, Canada, K5G 0Y9
(613) 825-5876 -- leila@internet.com

BORN:
September 21, 1986, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.

EDUCATION:
Public School: Briargreen P.S., Ottawa, 1990 to 1998.

Middle School: Greenbank M.S., Ottawa, 1999 to 2000 (French immersion).

Secondary School: Sir Robert Borden S.S., Ottawa, 2000 to 2004 (French immersion).

EXPERIENCE:
Child Care: Have been babysitting children of all ages on a regular basis since 1999 in both the Ottawa and Montreal areas.

Travel: Have traveled internationally on a regular basis since I was an infant. Since 1998 I have journeyed unescorted each summer to and from India to visit relatives. Regularly travel unescorted by bus on weekends to/from Montreal to visit my Father.

Study Trip: In February 2003, participated with two teachers and 15 classmates in an eight-day "eco-excursion" to the tropical island, Belize.

Business: Since 1999 I have assisted my Father with various aspects of his business in Montreal, including marketing, bookkeeping, and financial management activities.

Retail: In 2000 and 2001, I worked as a sales representative for Tommy & Lefebvre Ltd., a local sporting goods and equipment store.

Volunteering: Two years as Camp Counselor for three weeks at Pinecrest Sports Day Camp (Ottawa) working with children from 4-years to 12-years old.

ACHIEVEMENTS:
Public Speaking Award: Briargreen P.S., 1999.

Graduating Class Valedictorian: Briargreen P.S., 1999.

Piano: Grade Four Royal Conservatory, 2000, 2003.

Track and Field: Competed successfully in preliminary meets and qualified for the Eastern Ontario finals.

Academic Honor Roll: Sir Robert Borden S.S., 2000-01, 2001-02, 2002-03.

INTERESTS:
Long-distance running, playing piano, roller-blading, travelling, creative writing, reading, viewing films.

LANGUAGES:
English is my first language. Am functional in speaking, reading, and writing French.

FirstName LastName
6 Pine Street, Arlington, VA 12333
home: 555.555.5555
cell: 566.486.2222
email: phjones@vacapp.com

Education

Arlington High School, Arlington, Virginia
2002 – 2006

Experience

Sales Associate, The Retail Store
June 2005 – Present
• Maintain and restock inventory.
• Provide customer service.
• Operate computerized cash register system.

Child Care
2002 - Present
• Provide child care for several families after school, weekends and during school vacations.

Achievements

• National Honor Society: 2004, 2005, 2006

• Academic Honor Roll: 2002 - 2006  

Volunteer Experience

• Big Brother / Big Sisters
• Arlington Literacy Program
• Run for Life

Interests / Activities

• Member of Arlington High School Tennis Team
• Girl Scout
• Piano

Computer Skills

• Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and Internet

PLEASE NOTE:

There are great templates for writing resumes in Google Drive.  If you click on start a new DOCUMENT, you can then click in the blue DOCS HOME.  From there, you can click on TEMPLATE GALLERY.  

9. Lesson Nine: The Cover Letter

1. Write a cover letter to accompany your resumé.

2. Identify key components of the cover letter.

Writing a cover letter often seems like a particularly daunting task.  However, if you take it one step at a time, you'll soon be an expert at writing letters to send with your resume. 

• Explain why you are sending a resume.
  Don't send a resume without a cover letter. 
  Don't make the reader guess what you are asking for; be specific: Do you want a summer internship opportunity, or a permanent position at graduation; are you inquiring about future employment possibilities?
  
• Tell specifically how you learned about the position or the organization — a flyer posted in your department, a web site, a family friend who works at the organization. It is appropriate to mention the name of someone who suggested that you write.
  
• Convince the reader to look at your resume.
  The cover letter will be seen first.
  Therefore, it must be very well written and targeted to that employer.
  
• Call attention to elements of your background — education, leadership, experience — that are relevant to a position you are seeking. Be as specific as possible, using examples.
  
• Reflect your attitude, personality, motivation, enthusiasm, and communication skills.
  
• Provide or refer to any information specifically requested in a job advertisement that might not be covered in your resume, such as availability date, or reference to an attached writing sample.
  

• Indicate what you will do to follow-up.
  In a letter of application — applying for an advertised opening — applicants often say something like "I look forward to hearing from you." However, if you have further contact info (e.g. phone number) and if the employer hasn't said "no phone calls," it's better to take the initiative to follow-up, saying something like, "I will contact you in the next two weeks to see if you require any additional information regarding my qualifications."
  In a letter of inquiry — asking about the possibility of an opening — don't assume the employer will contact you. You should say something like, "I will contact you in two weeks to learn more about upcoming employment opportunities with (name of organization)."  Then mark your calendar to make the call.

A cover letter typically accompanies each resumé you send out. Your cover letter may make the difference between obtaining a job interview and having your resumé ignored, so, it makes good sense to devote the necessary time and effort to writing effective cover letters.

A cover letter should complement, not duplicate your resumé. Its purpose is to interpret the data-oriented, factual resume and add a personal touch. A cover letter is often your earliest written contact with a potential employer, creating a critical first impression.

You must take time to plan your cover letter and resume. Prospective employers want information about you to see how you match the their needs.

Take a step back and think before you write. Ask: What can I offer the employer? You need to find the most relevant, specific accomplishments or skills you have to compel the employer to interview you. Your cover letter impress this information on the reader’s so you rise to the top of the list of prospective interviews.

So the first step is to draw up the specific content to use in your cover letter. The better you do this, the better the result and your chances of success.

A cover letter tailors your qualifications to the job on offer. You have the reader's attention for about 20 seconds—so keep it short and to the point. Write it so strongly the employer wants to offer you an interview before reading the details of your resume. The cover letter should work hard for you, covering the essential information and selling you as the best candidate for the post. 

Compare these two cover letter examples.

The standard letter is easy to write, but does nothing to get you an interview. The professionally drafted alternative is harder to write, but well worth it.

The following website was referenced: http://www.writing-cover-letters.com/write-a-professional-letterhead.html

10. Lesson Ten: Job Interviews

1. Identify and use the techniques presented in this lesson to conduct a successful job interview.

by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.

Here are the keys to successful job interviewing. Follow these simple rules and you should achieve success in this important phase of job-hunting.

• Do take a practice run to the location where you are having the interview -- or be sure you know exactly where it is and how long it takes to get there.
• Do your research and know the type of job interview you will be encountering. And do prepare and practice for the interview, but don't memorize or over-rehearse your answers.
• Do dress the part for the job, the company, the industry. And do err on the side of conservatism. Dress for success!! NO jeans! NO short skirts or inappropriate tops. NO t-shirts.
• Do plan to arrive about 10 minutes early. Late arrival for a job interview is never excusable. If you are running late, do phone the company.
• Do greet the receptionist or assistant with courtesy and respect. This is where you make your first impression.
• Don't chew gum.
• If presented with a job application, do fill it out neatly, completely, and accurately.
• Do bring extra resumés to the interview. (Even better, bring your portfolio from this course!.)
• Don't rely on your application or resume to do the selling for you. No matter how qualified you are for the position, you will need to sell yourself to the interviewer.
• Do greet the interviewer(s) by title (Ms., Mr., Dr.) and last name if you are sure of the pronunciation. (If you're not sure, do ask the receptionist about the pronunciation before going into the interview.)
• Do shake hands firmly. Don't have a limp or clammy handshake! Students, this is a particularly important point. Many of you do not have a good handshake. Practice your handshake so that it means something and it is not wimpy!
• Do wait until you are offered a chair before sitting. And do remember body language and posture: sit upright and look alert and interested at all times. Don't fidget or slouch.
• Don't tell jokes during the interview.
• Do make good eye contact with your interviewer(s).
• Do show enthusiasm in the position and the company.
• Don't smoke, even if the interviewer does and offers you a cigarette. And don't smoke beforehand so that you smell like smoke. And do brush your teeth, use mouthwash, or have a breath mint before the interview.
• Do avoid using poor language, slang, and pause words (such as "like," "uh," and "um").
• Don't be soft-spoken. A forceful voice projects confidence.
• Do have a high confidence and energy level, but don't be overly aggressive.
• Don't act as though you would take any job or are desperate for employment.
• Do avoid controversial topics.
• Don't say anything negative about former colleagues, supervisors, or employers.
• Do make sure that your good points come across to the interviewer in a factual, sincere manner.
• Don't ever lie. Answer questions truthfully, frankly and succinctly. And don't over-answer questions.
• Do stress your achievements. And don't offer any negative information about yourself.

• Don't answer questions with a simple "yes" or "no." Explain whenever possible. Describe those things about yourself that showcase your talents, skills, and determination. Give examples.
• Do show off the research you have done on the company and industry when responding to questions.
• Don't bring up or discuss personal issues or family problems.
• Do remember that the interview is also an important time for you to evaluate the interviewer and the company she represents.
• Don't respond to an unexpected question with an extended pause or by saying something like, "boy, that's a good question." And do repeat the question out loud or ask for the question to be repeated to give you a little more time to think about an answer. Also, a short pause before responding is okay.
• Do always conduct yourself as if you are determined to get the job you are discussing. Never close the door on an opportunity until you are sure about it.
• Don't answer cell phone calls during the interview, and do turn off (or set to silent ring) your cell phone and/or pager.
• Do show what you can do for the company rather than what the company can do for you.
• Don't inquire about your pay, vacations, bonuses, or other benefits until after you've received an offer. Be prepared for a question about your salary requirements, but do try and delay salary talk until you have an offer.
• Do ask intelligent questions about the job, company, or industry. Don't ever not ask any questions -- it shows a lack of interest.
• Do close the interview by telling the interviewer(s) that you want the job and asking about the next step in the process. (Some experts even say you should close the interview by asking for the job.)
• Do try and get business cards from each person you interviewed with -- or at least the correct spelling of their first and last names. And don't make assumptions about simple names -- was it Jon or John -- get the spelling.
• Do immediately take down notes after the interview concludes so you don't forget crucial details.
• Do write thank you letters or telephone a thank you within 24 hours to each person who interviewed you.
• Do follow up with an inquiry within 24-48 hours if you have not heard from the employer.

11. Assignment

12. Conclusion

The purpose of unit two was to explore the world of work.  You looked at career trends, work place safety and work place law.  By the end of the unit you also have a resume and a generic cover letter.