Career & Employment Resources

Career And Travel Information Night at the Central Library

rkburton — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 21:47:00 GMT

Ever thought of teaching overseas or traveling internationally as you follow your dream career? Calgary Service Canada is hosting a Discover your Passion Career and Travel Information night for youth at the Central Library on July 20th from 6:30 - 9:00 pm. For more information call 403-292-4001

Youth Summer Opportunity Expos

rkburton — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 20:31:00 GMT

Calgary Service Canada is hosting two Youth Summer Opportunity Expos:

Volunteer Fair

June 17 (2:00pm to 5:30pm)

220-4th Ave SE, Calgary (Harry Hays Building)

Have fun and contribute to your community
Gain invaluable skills and experience and increase your chances of getting awards and scholarships

Job Fair

June 21 (12:30pm to 5:30pm)

220-4th Ave SE, Calgary (Harry Hays Building)

Bring your resume and be interviewed on-site
Network with employers who want to hire you

For more information, visit the SCCY in the Harry Hays Building Rm. 280

Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, or call them at 403-292-4001

Email at sccy-cscj.calgary@servicecanada.gc.ca

Just released: Petroleum Labour Market Report

rkburton — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 17:14:00 GMT

The Petroleum Human Resources Council of Canada has released their latest Q1/Q2 2011 short-term HR trends survey results, which are now available online. The report provides a glimpse of current and short-term labour market issues and trends within the upstream petroleum industry. A total of 43 companies participated in the survey, representing at least 40,000 employees in the Exploration and production, Offshore, Oil sands, Pipeline and Services sectors.

Networking Events in Calgary

rkburton — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 22:11:00 GMT

Updated monthly, this list details networking events and venues throughout Calgary:

May June Networking Events:

More tips for networking events in Calgary:

1. Remember that if you have a LinkedIn account, you can go to the Events tab and then do a search with Calgary as a keyword. This will often give links to local networking events.

2. MeetUp is a fabulous website that provides links to local events: http://www.meetup.com/cities/ca/ab/calgary/

Should you send a thank you card after an interview?

rkburton — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 18:14:00 GMT

Given that the consensus still seems to be that thank you cards are a vital after a job interview, Calgary Public Library customers often ask staff for books or magazine articles that can offer guidance on how to write such letters. Books such as Hire Me, Inc: Interviews The Get Offers and The Advice of a Headhunter offer strategies for writing meaningful letters when "going for the close" in trying to secure a job. They also discuss whether email or hand written notes are the best options in trying to make your letter stand out from the crowd.

A recent article in the Globe and Mail had a nice summary of the four main elements you should include in your thank you letter. The author, a career coach, stresses that such letters should be much more than notes to say "Thank you for the opportunity to meet you."

Staying on the Radar After The Job Interview

Interested in work in Alberta's Supply Chain Industry?

rkburton — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:47:00 GMT

Looking for a Recruiter?

rkburton — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 23:01:00 GMT

One of the most critical elements of finding the right recruiter is to find one who specializes in your industry.Why? Because recruiters are networking for you, so it's in your best interest to stick to those who are well versed in your area of expertise and have valuable contacts in your industry.

According to Service Alberta, there are currently 237 recruiters in the City. So how do you narrow down your search? The Association of Canadian Search, Employment and Staffing Services is one site that allows you to search by industry area. Although it's not a comprehensive list, it can kickstart your efforts to identify specialists in your area.

Job Seekers: Finding a Staffing Company

The Calgary Public Library aslo has two print directories that list recruiters across Canada. The Directory of Executive and Professional Recruiters and the Directory of Canadian Recruiters are both available for reference (in library) use on the Central Library's Third Floor. The latter book was also written to provide a full understanding of the process, including what you need to do to make the recruiting experience successful.

You may also search the complete list of recruiters by using the Service Alberta site:

Search for A Business in Alberta

You can search by license type from the pull down menu, and you will get a listing of all employment agencies that are legally entitled to work in Alberta. The Alberta government has also a guide to using employment agencies that answers some frequently asked questions:

Using Recruitment or Employment Agencies

Phrases to Avoid on Your Resume

rkburton — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:02:00 GMT

A Human Resources professional here in Calgary shared a beef with us a few weeks ago. Her complaint was about overused or meaningless resume phrases. Her least favourite: outstanding communication skills. She was adamant that such language is never helpful to hiring managers unless it is accompanied by specific or demonstrated examples.

LinkedIn recently compiled a list of the top 10 most overused terms. In this tight job market, it may be helpful to review your resume and avoid such terms.

LinkedIn's Top Ten Overused Resume Phrases

Hot Off the Press: New Career Books for February 2011

rkburton — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 20:41:00 GMT

Resumes That Pop: Designs That Reflect Your Personal Brand, by Pat Criscito

This book shows job seekers exactly how to create distinctive resumes that reflect the unique personality of their owners, their strengths, their background and training, and their career goals

Cracking the Hidden Job Market: How To Find Opportunity in Any Economy, by Donald Asher

Career guru Donald Asher offers proven strategies for finding great opportunities in any industry, such as how find jobs that are never posted anywhere, or how to convince potential employers to give you an interview-even when they are not hiring

So You Want to be an Engineer? A Guide to Success in the Engineering Profession, by Marianne Pilgrim Calabrese

This book shows you how to save yourself the agony of on the job trial-and-error training and dealing with the various departments within the organization such as manufacturing, marketing and top level management.

The 6 Reasons You’ll Get the Job: What Employer Look For – Whether They Know It or Not, by Debra Angel MacDougall

Talent alone will not get you the job. The short list of candidates all have the ability to do the work, so what makes the difference? This book shows you exactly how to tailor your pitch and stand out from the crowd so that you get hired.

Creative Girl: The Ultimate Guide for Turning Talent and Creativity into a Real Career, by Katharine Sise

Emphasizing self-evaluation and the use of helpful worksheets, the author presents solid practical advice and encouragement through interviews with famous "creative girls."

The Complete Guide to Becoming a Firefighter, by Kory Pearn

This book provides countless tips, hints, suggestions, and details about how to successfully get hired by any fire department. This book covers everything from general knowledge about firefighting and is written from a recently hired firefighter's perspective.

Taking Charge of Your Career: A Guide for Library and Information Professionals, by Joanna Ptolomey

The author, a librarian and information professional, provides a guide for current and aspiring librarians with guidelines to design their own career paths and achieve their personal and professional goals.

Hiring: Kacz' Kids

JBrewster — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:46:00 GMT

Hiring: City Links

JBrewster — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 16:28:00 GMT

Hiring: Spherion Staffing Solutions

JBrewster — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 16:27:00 GMT

Trades Learning Corner

JBrewster — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 16:26:00 GMT

Networking is for Neanderthals

JBrewster — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 16:28:00 GMT

Hiring Opportunity in Fort McMurray

JBrewster — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 21:47:00 GMT