Manage Your Career

Any transition in work life can be very stressful. The information and activities provided in the Job Seekers Guide can help you through this stressful transition. The purpose of this Job Seekers Guide is to provide you with a step-by-step process that can be started at any time in your transition.

Managing your career is a process, and it can be different for each person. This handbook has been separated into five sections that reflect each step in the Manage Your Career wheel. Below are brief descriptions of each step to help you determine with which step you would like to begin.

Step 1: Assess Yourself
How do you know where to go if you don’t know where you are? This step helps you discover and organize all of your skills, interests, and values that are necessary to explore the world of work and present yourself to a potential employer. It is a good idea to do this step every now and then in your life, even if you have a job, since you may have gained new skills, or your interests and values may have changed.

Step 2: Explore Careers
Can you name all 900+ occupations that exist in the world of work? Neither can we. In this step you will learn how to take all the information you learned about yourself in Step 1 and explore occupations that fit the person you are today, without reading through all 900 occupational descriptions. You will learn how to research the educational requirements, tasks, outlook and growth, average salaries, and skills necessary for occupations that interest you.

Step 3: Create a Plan & Set Goals
So, you want to be an underwater welder? Now that you have narrowed down the direction you want to go in, setting goals and making a plan will improve your chances of getting there.

Step 4: Expand Skills
Do I need to know how to swim to get scuba certified? Yes, you do! In this step you will list the skills you need to learn and where to get them before you start the job search.

Step 5: Find a Job
Are you ready? You are going to need an updated resume, a winning cover letter, and in some situations a portfolio of samples of work. You will also need to know how to use your contacts to tap into that hidden job market. This step will provide you with information and activities to really make you stand out.

Don’t forget that we are always here to help you in your process. Contact us at JVS Toronto.