黑料不打烊

Exploring Career Options

If you are more of a do-it-yourself person, here is a list of resources that will familiarise you听with the potential applications of each major in the job market.

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Sometimes, figuring听things out on your own听can be difficult. A new perspective from an advisor can听help you make the right decisions to find your career path. They听will also help in orienting you towards a career path that fits your interests and skills.

Perfecting Your CV听& Cover Letter

When it comes to CVs and cover letters, one size does not fit all. In today鈥檚 competitive job market,听 CVs and cover letters need to be tailored听to targeted industries or jobs.

If your CV and cover letter directly address the job鈥檚 requirements and showcase how well you can meet them, your chances of getting an interview invite increase dramatically. But many students struggle with the issue of how to focus on different aspects of themselves on different CVs and cover letters.

Here are some resources that will help you improve your job searching tools:

Developing听Interview Skills

Comprehending Interviews

Once you have received an interview invitation, you must听prepare.听Many job applicants spend little time preparing for an interview, leading听to poor results. Thorough preparation will improve听your confidence,听performance, and job prospects. The resources below will provide you with a sense of this process:听

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Fortifying Your Interview Skills

Practicing your Interview in French

Many听interviews are conducted entirely or at least partially in French听in Quebec. Depending on your area of studies, fluency in French may have an impact on an employer's decision to hire you.听听

Many international students are not prepared for this situation, as they have never听experienced interviews in French. Attending the workshops below will help you听learn the strategies for a successful interview in French.

Please note that intermediate to advanced level听of French is听required in order to attend some of the workshops.

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Mock Interviews

A听mock interview听is a听conversational exercise resembling a real interview听for the purpose of providing an experience for a job candidate. Mock interviews听help a听job applicant听understand what is expected in a real interview. They also help听an applicant improve their听self-presentation.听

Building Your Professional Image

In Canada and many other job markets, self-presentation and self-promotion matter!

This includes actions to be taken in addition to听drafting your CV and cover letter and can be done听both on and听offline.

More and more employers refer to LinkedIn profiles to know their candidates. And many vacancies are filled through contacts in your field. These two听types of recruitment听-听one so publicly accessible听and the other much more hidden -听both involve presenting your most professional self at any time.

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Establishing a Presence on LinkedIn

CaPS provides feedback听regarding your LinkedIn profile during 20-minute听drop-in sessions.听

There are also plenty of chances around campus where you could even get a free professional LinkedIn headshot!听

Introduction to Networking

Networking is an important part of any job search, and particularly here in Quebec. It is the process of establishing contacts for the purpose of gathering information, communicating your career goals, seeking advice, and obtaining leads on jobs. Unsurprisingly, the larger your network is, the more likely you are to be successful.

Unless you put effort into building your network, this could be one of the weak spots for many international students. But there are ways to compensate, and the following resources can help you on that path:

Mastering the Market

Where to Start Looking for a Job

In addition to traditional, published vacancies, one of the most important and often neglected ideas behind job searching is the "hidden market". Many听vacancies are filled by candidates with an internal reference, meaning they are听never publicly advertised. This shows the importance of networking. It is that in Quebec, "hidden" vacancies make up 30% of the job market.听

Have a look at the following resources to learn where to look for a job:

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Getting familiar with the Canadian labour听market

One of the biggest issues presented to international students might be the lack of knowledge of the local labour market. For example, what field is in high demand at the moment?听Where should one start to search for jobs? What are the reasonable expectations of salary? What is expected of you when you enter the labour market?

Check out these workshops and online tools to help you understand Canadian and Quebec labour听markets:

Securing Essential Documents to Work When You are a Student

SIN

The Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a nine-digit number required to听work (and get paid) in Canada.听Employers must ask for the SIN听of all new employees as soon as they are hired. You may apply for a SIN before you start working, or up to three days after your start date. A SIN听is also required for taxation purposes.

• ISS Information on how to apply for a SIN
• 听- the government agency that issues SINs

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Do I need a work permit?

Find out if you need a work permit for your part-time jobs, summer jobs, or internships.

• CaPS+ISS Workshop: Finding Jobs in Canada听(under the tab 'Targeted Workshops')
• ISS information on the requirements for on-campus work, off-campus work, and co-op or internships

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A newly created website from IRCC that goes through the various steps that students should follow from studying, working, all the way to citizenship.

Knowing your Workplace

Are Unpaid Internships Legal?

Unlike some other countries, there are few laws in Canada defining or regulating internships directly.听 Each province has its own employment standards legislation, regulations, and/or guidelines that may apply to interns.听

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Integrating into your workplace

Once you鈥檝e been hired, you鈥檒l feel much more at ease in your professional environment if you are conscious of work values in Quebec and what is expected of you.

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