Sorry it has been a while but I have been so busy working (not a bad complaint) I have ignored to update how I am getting on in Vancouver.
So I passed the 6 month mark last week. I must admit it has taken me longer to feel settled than I thought but I have learned some valuable lessons along the way .
The big one is NETWORKING - getting out there and meeting people and using facebook or twitter is a valuable tool for finding work. So you mention to someone you are looking for work in a particular area and they know of someone who has a job going in their place and well you get the idea.
Employers here are keen to take a look at your resume if you have been referred by a friend, I have even helped some friends myself find some work.
So how do you meet these people, it can be tough moving to a new city and maybe not knowing many people or anyone at all, getting involved in any social activities like sport or events organised is a great way to meet people.
Check out the Irish in Vancouver page (I am sure there is an equivalent for other countries), Moving2Vancouver, Swap facebook page etc.
I have been lucky through my job to meet some newcomers to Vancouver and offer some advise on getting settled in Vancouver. If people are interested maybe we could organise a night out to get acquainted and make new friends.
For those going down the route of recruitment agencies, ask people what ones worked for them and get an idea on how to prepare for the interviews - some are less formal but I think its always important to dress for success. One of my previous blogs gives you some tips on recruitment agencies :)
I have asked some people in business here how they look for staff and it comes up again and again networking, a large amount of people they hire is from referrals, not adverts on craigslist or websites, if I had known that when I arrived I may have taken a different approach to my job search.
Check out volunteering websites, some volunteer jobs lead into paid work and it looks good on the resume.
Also try carry a copy of your resume with you, you could be in the right place at the right time and meet someone who is hiring. Recently I met with a woman from back home to discuss employment opportunities for me and a friend of hers happened to be a customer in the same coffee place, 2 minutes later I am handing over my resume and discussing what kind of work I want to do.
Good luck with the job hunt.
Tracey :)
