Introduction
Your first part-time job is crucial because it teaches you critical skills and reveals the type of work you love, which may serve as a guide for the remainder of your career. It’s difficult for everyone to begin finding a job. The endeavour might appear much more difficult if you have no prior employment experience, have never participated in an interview, and have no idea where to begin when creating your first CV. The people you work with and the acquaintances you establish are frequently more significant than the money you earn. Since you may develop connections to higher-paying employment in your first job, it’s a beautiful location for the network. Additionally, it exposes you to the novel consumer, inventory, and even specific computer system circumstances. Adding experience from your first work can help you stand out from the competition when applying for jobs in the future.
How to start the job-finding process?
Take into account your existing relationships when looking for jobs. Consider the friends or relatives you have who could be willing to recommend you for employment with a small business or another local firm. Consider the talents you may have gained via volunteer work, community service, or membership in a civic group. Although you may not have been paid for these positions, your experience there probably helped you land a job with the organization. Think about your hobbies as well. For instance, start at your neighbourhood inns if you want to work in the hospitality industry. Finding a job that aligns with your professional objectives or may put you on the right road is highly doable.
Steps to get your first part-time job in Canada
Research and decide your goals and expectations
You must first identify the sort of work you are looking for before you can begin searching the numerous sites and places for one. It would be best to look at entry-level employment and roles that don’t demand prior experience because this will be your first job experience. Jobs with higher salaries frequently call for more education and experience. Consider starting your career with positions in fast food, sales, retail, or other entry-level industries. Due to the high demand for these professions among teens and young adults, they are frequently competitive. However, there are many options for you because these places of employment always have openings.
Start seeking opportunities that match your preferences
- Look online: Several career search engines can assist you in finding part-time work. Monster, Indeed, and CareerBuilder are the most widely used job search engines. These websites provide job searching by various criteria, including area, wage range, and others. Make your account on these websites, search for a job which perfectly matches what you are looking for and apply using the documents required.
- Check newspapers: Local employment openings might be found in the classified sections of your local newspaper. The classified advertising section of most newspapers includes job listings, and some also regularly publish employment supplements. You may frequently discover anything here if you’re seeking for general job. Most regional newspapers offer “want ads,” in which businesses list job openings. If you don’t subscribe to the newspaper, Sunday is often the day when it posts the most job openings.
- Contact companies on your own: Reach out to a firm you are interested in by email or phone to see if they are seeking to hire someone with your credentials and expertise or if there are no suitable opportunities listed on their website. You might not hear back from a firm if it is not currently hiring for your job, but they might keep your information on file in case a position opens up. Since the hiring process is expensive, if a potential employer hears from you before advertising a job, they could choose to hire you rather than investing time and resources in finding other applicants. List the businesses you are interested in working with and contact information. Please make a note of their open positions on your list as well.
Create or polish your resume
Unless the work is an internship, you usually won’t need a CV for a simple first part-time job. However, preparing a paper to highlight your experience will be helpful as you network with connections or do in-person prospecting meetings with businesses. Employers like to read highlights of your work history rather than lengthy listings of the positions you’ve held, and Canadian resumes are formatted traditionally. Instead of sending the same generic resume to every job post you see, think about customizing your CV for each position you wish to apply for. Consider volunteer opportunities as well since they offer an equivalent experience to a paid career. For instance, if you volunteered at a soup kitchen, mention that in your CV and your expertise in food preparation, customer service, and other areas. Highlight any instances where you demonstrated your devotion, discipline, and desire to work hard. Teenage employers will look for signs that you are responsible and mature for your age. Employers are particularly drawn to leadership roles in school groups and character-building volunteer work in your community.
Start networking
Networking is always advantageous, whether you are just starting your career or are close to the halfway mark. Inform your loved ones, near acquaintances, and classmates that you are looking for work right now. Friends or other students may be able to recommend you at a neighbourhood eatery or have links to family-run companies. Your chances of getting the job are greatly enhanced if you feel a connection to it—request introductions to any potential candidates. Young individuals who endorse a reliable person are significantly more comfortable being hired by employers.
Make a list of places and jobs you want to apply to
Since you have figured out which places have positions you want open, now comes the step where you choose the best ones to apply to. Of course, you may also consider employers without whom you have any connections. There are many other ways to discover employers besides using websites dedicated to offering part-time employment for teenagers. You can stroll your town’s accessible areas looking for “help wanted” signs. But remember that not every company seeking staff will display a “help wanted” sign in the front window. Make a list of all the locations you think would be enjoyable to work at, then apply for those positions. The best course of action is frequently to stroll in when the company is not very busy and request to talk with the manager.
Prepare to give interviews
When you apply for a job in person, you can be requested to interview right away or given the option to return at a later time. You never know when you’ll be doing an interview, so it’s always a good idea to give yourself plenty of time to be ready. Your appearance sets the tone for an interview. Dress professionally to demonstrate that you take this organization and yourself seriously. Don’t worry too much about the colours you should wear or whether a jacket would complete your look. If you must have a virtual interview, dress professionally and position your computer so that the upper half of your body, rather than just your head, is visible. Maintain your interest in the discussion and try not to spend too much time considering your next move. When you tune out of the conversation, recruiters can tell. Employers aren’t searching for candidates who have all the correct answers. Instead, they’re searching for outgoing people who are experts in their fields and eager to advance the business.
Learn to face rejection
It would be best if you got ready for rejection before submitting applications. Nobody’s employment application is approved everywhere they offer it. As a first-time job applicant, you must be prepared to be rejected. When a manager or owner of a company tells you that they don’t need you, there are appropriate and inappropriate ways to reply. If you obtain a “No, I’m sorry, but please give me a call if you do require assistance in the future. You’ll find a copy of my résumé below. I appreciate your time.” This demonstrates to the management that you are serious about finding work and can follow through.
Make sure you follow up
The most crucial aspect of landing a job is following up after an interview. Employers seek applicants who can follow up because it demonstrates a want to participate and a sense of responsibility. Always call the potential employer again or contact them in some other way. It’s usually better to wait about a week before calling, and when you do, try your best to speak with the person who will be hiring on the phone. If you genuinely want to work there, don’t be scared to see them again in person. You might express your desire for the position while mentioning that you are reaching out to inquire about the status of your application.
Conclusion
The position of your dreams is waiting for you, but it can take some time to get it. Do not lose heart. Updating your résumé, networking, and applying for new jobs might take several hours each day. Give your job hunt your full attention and commit to studying Canadian workplace customs as much as possible. Finding a new job in Canada might take a while, but the effort is rewarding. You will adore calling Canada your ideal home since it is full of incredible possibilities and people.
FAQs
How to show your commitment to your employer?
Most part-time jobs have a high turnover rate since many workers leave quickly after finishing school or obtaining a full-time job. Some companies favour applicants seeking part-time work over those who do so temporarily as they look for a permanent position. Use this to your advantage by emphasizing that you prefer part-time employment in your cover letter and during the interview.
How can one inquire at staffing agencies?
If you want to locate employment more quickly, joining a staffing or recruiting agency can be a good idea. You may register with several staffing agencies in most locations. Some are industry-specific, while others cover a broad range of sectors. You may be required to take exams to demonstrate your typing speed or industry expertise. You’ll probably need to provide copies of your certificates and credentials and your résumé. Initially, some agencies might only work with temporary and short-term contracts. Getting a quick job with a firm and impressing them with your performance may not be exactly what you were looking for, but it may result in a permanent position. Additionally, it allows you to network and gets referrals by getting to know individuals in your business.
What can one wear for a formal interview?
When you step out the door, ensure you are well-groomed and dressed correctly. You don’t have to wear a suit, but you should still show yourself well. Wear neat clothes. Ensure your footwear is professional, too, so avoid flip-flops, sneakers etc. Also, ensure your phone is silent while you are giving the interview.