Are you having difficulty finding employment?

This brochure is
designed to help you develop the tools you will need to complete
your job search and find the job that is right for you.

1: GETTING READY
This section will help you develop the tools necessary to begin your job search, including a résumé and a
cover letter.

Building your résumé

When you are writing your résumé, think of commercials or ads. The ones that really grab your attention are often
short, to the point, and provide relevant, positive information. With your résumé, you are creating a commercial
about yourself. A good résumé will sell you to employers.
There are many resources available to help you build a résumé. For example, the Government of Canada’s Job
Bank (www.jobbank.gc.ca) offers Résumé Builder, a résumé building tool for job seekers. This free tool is available
to all visitors who register on the website. You can use it to create and save online résumés to assist you in your
job search. The tool also offers résumé writing tips and sample résumés to help get you started.

Developing your cover letter

A cover letter enables you to provide a first impression to employers. It is essential that your cover letter
demonstrates your organizational skills, ability to summarize, interest in the company or organization, and
career goals.
For cover letter tips on how to make a great first impression, visit the Youth Canada website
(www.youth.gc.ca). The website provides samples to assist you when writing follow-up cover letters for job ads,
phone calls to potential employers, and unadvertised jobs.
Planning your career
Still not sure how to proceed? Determining what you like to do is the first stop on the way to your dream job.
Resources to assist you with this process include:
• Looking for a Job, a publication available from Service Canada. This publication is designed to help you get
to know yourself better by outlining your interests and skills. To learn more, visit Service Canada (www.
servicecanada.gc.ca) and search by keywords.
• CanLearn (www.canlearn.ca) provides information and services designed to help individuals save, plan and
pay for their future. This online resource can help you discover your strengths, learn what careers suit your
interests, and explore careers, employment requirements and hiring prospects.
• Career Cruising, a free online career resource available through New Brunswick Public Library Services and
your local career information centres. Visit http://er-re.gnb.ca and have your user card on hand or drop by the
career information centre in your area and start cruising today.

Having trouble with a particular aspect of your job search? There are many other job search
resources available from your local career information centre and regional employment
development office. To find the locations nearest you, please visit www.gnb.ca/training.

2: SEARCHING FOR WORK

This section will help you identify potential jobs, tailor your job search, and better understand the labour market needs
in your area.

Identifying potential jobs/employers

Are you looking for work, but do not know how to find job offers? Employers looking for employees may use a
number of methods to advertise their job offers and attract the best candidates. A job search can be done by
telephone, mail, computer, or in person. It is important to use a variety of sources in your search. A job search is a
full-time job, plan to commit at least 30 hours per week.
By consulting career, job search, and recruitment websites, you can search for job offers based on a variety of
criteria. Online resources include:
• NB Jobs (www.nbjobs.ca) offers a listing of current job opportunities throughout New Brunswick.
• The Government of New Brunswick website (www.gnb.ca) provides information on job opportunities with
New Brunswick’s public service.
• The Working in New Brunswick, Canada Tool
(www.workingincanada.gc.ca/newbrunswick-nouveaubrunswick) provides province-specific occupational
and career information including job opportunities, educational requirements, average wage rates and
salaries, current employment trends and outlooks.
• Careers in the federal Public Service (www.jobs-emplois.gc.ca) offers a listing of current job opportunities
with the federal public service.
In addition, many municipal websites list available job opportunities. If you are interested in working for your
community, visit your local municipal website for more information. Often, company websites will also post job
offers that you can apply for directly. Visit the websites of organizations and businesses that interest you, and
check your local Yellow Pages to find companies and employers who hire in your field.
 The job that you want should meet your needs and expectations, but do not forget that
sometimes you may also need to review your choices and be a bit more flexible. Conducting a
job search alone can be difficult. An employment counsellor can help you define your goals and
assist you in making your career plan. For more information, please visit www.gnb.ca/training.

Learning about the labour market

To be successful in your job search, it is important to be well-informed about the labour market in the region in
which you wish to work.
Labour market information can help you understand the context of a job opportunity and its working conditions,
tailor your résumé and cover letter, and job search.
Labour market information can also help you determine:
• what a person in a certain occupation does (occupational profiles);
• range of pay rates for occupations;
• educational requirements for different jobs;
• areas of the economy that are expanding; and,
• companies and organizations in your field that are hiring.
The Internet is a valuable source for up-to-date local and national labour market information. Several online
resources include:
• The Working in New Brunswick, Canada Tool
(www.workingincanada.gc.ca/newbrunswick-nouveaubrunswick) identifies the names of occupations in
Canada and provides detailed, province-specific labour market reports.
• Labour Market Information Monthly (www.gnb.ca/labour) provides a monthly analysis of labour market
trends throughout New Brunswick.
• Human Resources and Skills Development Canada’s Labour Market Bulletin (New Brunswick) provides an
analysis of local labour markets, as well as assessments of local employment-related events. To learn more,
visit Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (www.hrsdc.gc.ca) and search by publication name.

If you find labour market information a bit of a mystery, the staff at your local career information centre
and regional employment development office can help. Contact your local career information centre or
regional employment development office today or visit www.gnb.ca/training.

3: FINDING A JOB
This section will help you prepare for an interview, determine if a job is right for you, and agree on terms of
employment.
If the idea of a job interview makes you nervous, rest assured that you are not alone. With some preparation, you
can make a great impression on an employer and have confidence in yourself as you outline why you are the
right person for the job.
An employer will often interview several qualified applicants for a job. It can be a simple, informal meeting
between you and your potential employer, or it can be a formal interview between you and a group of people
with set questions. Remember that the interview is your chance to find out if the job is right for you.
• To learn tips about what to do before, during and after an interview, visit the website section for job seekers
within the Working in New Brunswick, Canada Tool
(www.workingincanada.gc.ca/newbrunswick-nouveaubrunswick).
• Effectively demonstrate your skills by following the outline for interviews available within the website
section for job seekers and workers on the Job Bank website (www.jobbank.gc.ca).
• Prepare for your interview by following the steps outlined in Looking for a Job, a Service Canada publication.
To learn more, visit Service Canada (www.servicecanada.gc.ca) and search by
publication name.

4. UPDATING YOUR TRAINING AND SKILLS

Are you still not confident that you will be able to reach your employment goals? Perhaps you
need to update your training and skills. The Government of New Brunswick offers programs and
services to assist those who are unemployed or underemployed acquire the skills and employment experiences
necessary to secure full-time employment. Programs and services include:
• employment counselling services such as career decision-making and planning, job search techniques,
labour market information, and work preparation;
• post-secondary education and training opportunities for eligible residents;
• work experience opportunities for unemployed individuals who require a job placement to overcome
barriers to employment;
• academic upgrading programs that focus on updating reading, writing, oral communication, documentation
and computer skills;
• preparatory courses for the General Education Development (GED) diploma; and,
• support during the initial start-up phase of a business including financial assistance, coaching and ongoing
technical advice.

Contact your regional employment development office today to learn if you are eligible for available
training or educational programs. For more information, please visit www.gnb.ca/training.

Developed in partnership with the Canadian Career Development Foundation with support from Human Resources and
Skills Development Canada. Funded by the Government of Canada and the Government of New Brunswick through the
Canada-New Brunswick Labour Market Agreements.