Prince Edward Island Employment Journey

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Top tips to successfully plan a career path and search for work

Career planning has many aspects, and one part of the process is the job search. Below are some tips to manage your career and your job search and information about how to connect with professionals in the community who can help.

Consider your talents, interests, values, education, training, and what work (paid or volunteer) you have done in the past.

Whether you are in high school, post-secondary, looking for a career change, returning to the workforce or looking for work in your chosen field, it is important to spend time developing a profile of who you are and what you have done. This will give you a better idea of what interests you and what steps to take next in managing your career path.

There are several ways to discover your interests.

Think about what type of problems you like to solve. Here is an article that will explain this concept further: SparkPath

Consider the people and places around you and how that translates into careers. Every experience gives you transferable skills and helps develop future plans. Read this article about a student who thought she wanted to work in one profession until she heard about a career that was brand new to her: A career detour

Attending job fairs and other career-related events is a good way to gather new information and to see if there is something that grabs your attention. By talking with a variety of people, organizations, educational institutions, and employers you are exploring and determining what your interests are. Check out Upcoming events

Another way is to meet with a Career Development Professional who can talk with you about your interests, help you sort through some of your ideas, and give you more options to consider. They can also help you with every career step along the way.

To connect with a Career Development Professional, drop in or contact agencies such as Career Development Services:

Visit cdspei.ca

And there are even more employment services in our community that are here to help: Check all Career planning services and programs on PEI.

An effective resumé will help you look at what you have done and can guide you towards many aspects of career planning.

Preparing a resumé tells you a lot about who you are, what you have done, and what other interests you might have. Putting it all on paper profiles your education, work (volunteered or paid), interests and abilities, awards, your contacts in the community, and more.

Whether you are looking for work, going back to school, applying for scholarships, doing volunteer or co-op work, an effective resumé is necessary.

It should clearly show how your education, abilities, and experience fit what you are applying for.

22 Resume Tips for 2023

When meeting with a Career Development Professional, take your resumé with you so they can give you more suggestions or ask them to help you develop a resumé.

It is important to be aware of employers you are interested in working for either now or in the future or industries you are interested in exploring.

To further narrow down some areas of interest, there are a few approaches to take.

Full-time, part-time, or seasonal work can provide an income while building your skills and giving you alternatives for the future: PEI job Opportunities

It is important to be aware of all your options. This page on the Employment Journey website has information about over 30 industries on PEI. Take a look and see if anything jumps out at you: Industries on PEI

Job shadowing, short-term training, co-ops, or internships with an employer can give you food for thought for your future. Connect with SkillsPEI to explore what options are available to help you connect with employers and industries. They can also explain your financial options for continuing your education.

Work PEI is a one-stop website that lists jobs available on PEI. On this site there is also a monthly Job Listings Report which gives an overview of the types of employment advertised on their website and what occupations are in high demand. This information will help you explore your career options and jobs that you may want to apply to immediately.

Volunteering is a great way to build your resumé, explore career choices, and even find work. Explore volunteer options on PEI

Talking with people you know who work in areas that interest you and getting information about their employer is a great way to explore your options.

Build on your knowledge of employers in your community by checking out Chambers of Commerce across the Island. You can do some research on their members and look for networking opportunities:

Connect with employers or industry leaders to request a meeting.

Calling or emailing employers and/or industry leaders to ask to meet with them is a great way to get your questions answered. This is called an Informational Interview and this method works.

It is a chance to find out more about the company or industry and the pathways employees took. It is also an opportunity to give the interviewee your resumé in person, and to find out when they tend to hire and the qualifications they look for. Often, people get hired on the spot because they connect at the right time. It is also very effective in determining your next step and building your network of people who can help.

For more about Informational Interviews, click here.

Career planning is a life-long journey

No matter what stage you are at in your career path there is always another step. It can get frustrating, confusing, or discouraging, but rest assured there are professionals in your community who are there to help, such as a Career Development Professional.

Looking for work can be a very challenging and stressful experience. Look for people who will encourage you and be sure to encourage others who are looking for work.

If there are other obstacles in the way and you don’t know who can help, the 211 system can give you the guidance you need. 211 PEI is a navigation service that quickly connects Islanders to critical human, social, community, and government services across PEI. Call 211, visit www.pe.211.ca, text 211 or email help@pe.211.ca

Job search tools and supports you need:

Develop a list of references and ask each one for permission to mention their names. Most references should be past educators, employers or supervisors.

Prepare cover letters and be prepared for job interviews and informational interviews. Career Development Professionals can help you tailor your cover letter to each position you are applying for. Also, they can help you practice and be ready for in-person and online interviews.

Be aware of all Resources & Services that help job seekers plan their career and find work and help employers find the right staff.

Find out about supports that help employers hire staff such as the programs available through SkillsPEI. Set up a meeting with SkillsPEI to see what programs you are eligible for and share this information with employers you meet with.

Register at workpei.ca as a job seeker. As a WorkPEI member, your online resumé will be available to many PEI employers searching the database.

Network to get work. Setting up meetings and meeting new people does not come easy and naturally for all of us. But this is one of the best ways to determine your next step. Hopefully this article will encourage you to find ways to meet others and build your network: You have to network to get work

For continuous career planning and job search leads, ideas, and information to help you take your next step, follow the Employment Journey on PEI and WorkPEI websites continuously.

To watch a video on career planning and job search tips, Click here