Written by PAUL STRICKLAND
Citizen staff
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Friday, 02 January 2009 |
“Success in being hired often depends on how well the job seeker understands the industry they are approaching,” says job coach Francisco Cahanas. (Citizen staff photo)
"People really looking for work will have success even in these tough conditions," Francisco
Cabanas said this week. "Some clients are successful because they really do their research. They're really knowledgeable and are able to talk to employers on the basis of being really well prepared.
"Success in being hired often depends on how well the job seeker understands the industry they are approaching."
Job applicants should look at what fields are still important and what products are still in demand even in a recession, he said.
"One of the promising areas is security and policing, for jobs like sheriffs and RCMP constables," Cabanas said. "They're really looking for people."
Another area to look is health care.
"There is a huge spectrum of opportunity there -- from someone with less than Grade 12 who becomes a care aide up to brain surgeon requiring 10 years of university," he said. "There are all sorts of careers from clerical to nursing and a whole range of opportunities in between.
"There are a lot of opportunities in that field for good students."
People might think that in an economic downturn no one would be hiring. However, a number of sectors of the service industry are hiring for less-skilled people, Cabanas said.
"We're talking about basic clerking jobs at a store or gas station, or at entry-level restaurants," he said.
Many retailers are not hiring many people because they are past the Christmas season, but some retail outlets, such as Home Depot, have a different cycle than others and may have to hire more people at a different time of year.
Call centres like those run by Telus and ACS may still have openings. "All their clients are U.S.-based," Cabanas noted. "They're doing better because a lower Canadian dollar makes it attractive for them to hire here."
People may be spending less, but they are still spending for things like entertainment and clothing, he said.
"Think about who will be the employer at the places where these customers go to -- areas where there still may be a lot of job growth," he said. "Also look for jobs in stores in areas of the city where there recently has been a lot of new housing constructed.
"Take College Heights, for example," he said. "The stores in that area still look busy.
"We still have a strong economy because of the university -- a major source of jobs in the community and also a reason why the service industry is still doing reasonably well."
Jump On Board, funded by Service Canada, provides job search assistance to young people between 15 and 30. Clients don't have to be on EI, but just need to be looking for work and unemployed or working less than 20 hours per week. The agency is located at 1550 4th Ave. and can be reached at 564-9325. Six employment counsellors/job coaches and a program manager are available to help in a young person's job search or in connecting them to other programs they work with.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 02 January 2009 )
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