Career Management Job Hunting Resources (adapted for the IEEE Hamilton Section region)
Basic Job Hunting:
1. Update your resume. See your local public library for available resume classes or seminars.
2. Gain expertise in English language skills.
3. Look for jobs on websites:
Job boards such as monster.ca, workopolis.ca, and job board aggregators such as indeed.com.
Job Aggregators:
Local jobs (e.g., Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton):
For IEEE Members:
o IEEE Job Site - Has some Canada-Ontario postings from time to time.
4. Understand the new economy [1]:
o sharp transitions
o high churn rate
o intense competition
Intermediate Job Hunting.
1. Get a mentor.
o Within the Halton Region, there is:
Halton Mentoring Partnership
Antony Vadakkanchery
Program Coordinator
905.845.9430x8134
o The IEEE has a mentor program (see the ieee.org website.)
2. Job Hunting Training.
There are public programs to help specific groups of people with job hunting:
o The Centre: Skills Development and Training
What: Assessments for Career Planning: Aptititude and Interest, SkillScan, Entrepreneurial Assessment.
Funding: Government of Canada.
o Experienced Workers Program Halton
Applies To: workers 45 years and older seeking work.
Where: The Centre for Education and Training, 860 Harrington Court, Burlington. Bay Area Learning Center, 2nd floor.
Contact: 905.681.3356
Funding: Government of Canada.
o Happen
3. Put your profile on Linkedin (linkedin.com).
4. Upgrade your technical skills. Take courses at colleges, universities, etc.
5. Think about career management, rather than a "job".
o set up your career transitions so they're under your control [1]
6. Understand your "value proposition".
And your "30 second commercial". For more details, google these.
Advanced Job Hunting.
1. Networking.
It is generally quoted that some 70% of job hunting is found through networking, the remaining through recruiters and internet.
Local networking groups include:
o happen.ca (Mississauga/Burlington Executive Network). Weekly meetings.
o IEEE Hamilton Section has networking meetings from time to time
o ghvf.org Connecting investors and entrepreneurs. Meet about once every 3 months in Burlington.
Tips:
o help people (contacts) when you don't need anything in return
o stay strategically in touch with your networks
2. Do volunteer work.
For Entrepreneurs
MARS (downtown Toronto, ON): http://marsdd.com/ "We match qualified entrepreneurs with MaRS advisors."
RIC Center (Mississauga, ON): http://www.riccentre.com/ "RIC Centre provides commercialization support to new entrepreneurs." and seasoned business people to take the next great idea to market in advanced manufacturing, aerospace, life sciences and emerging technologies sectors.
Golden Horseshoe Venture Forum (GHVF, Burlington, ON): http://www.ghvf.org/ "a volunteer-run, non-profit organization aimed at fostering the growth and success of entrepreneurial ventures by creating an environment for them to network with the financial, professional and technical communities."
Xerox Centre for Engineering Entrepreneurship and Innovation (McMaster University, Hamilton, ON): http://xceei.mcmaster.ca/
Angel Investors: TBD
Canada's Venture Capital & Private Equity Association: http://www.cvca.ca/\
Toronto Venture Group (Toronto, ON): http://www.tvg.org/ Is it still active?
Vengrowth Capital Partners: http://www.vengrowth.com/ "VenGrowth is a Tier One venture capital management group, widely known and respected in the industry. Since it began operations in 1982, VenGrowth's accomplished team of seasoned venture capitalists has invested over $722 million in more than 130 companies."
[1] Pam Lassiter, "The New Job Security", Oakville Public Library 650 .1 Las
Last Updated: August 31, 2010.
