Where should you begin looking for work? What approach will work best in today’s job market? How can you develop a resumé and cover letter that will get you noticed?

For answers to these and many other job search questions, you’ve come to the right place. This section will connect you to the tools and resources you need to map out a winning strategy for success.

Before You Start

If you’re unsure of your career direction or your skills and abilities, visit our Career Planning section. You can also use our Labour Market Research section to find out which occupations are expected to be in demand in the future.

A Helpful Guide

Confident that you can search for work independently? Take a look at the B.C. government’s Independent Work Search Toolkit. It can help you:

• plan your search,
• craft your resumé,
• find potential employers, and
• land an interview.

The toolkit is designed to help people who are receiving income assistance in B.C. to meet their work search obligations. However, its job search information can help any job seeker.

Finding Job Postings

Use the following online tools to identify jobs you may want to apply for.

Job Banks and Search Engines

Job banks allow you to search through and apply for job openings online. Job search engines broaden the field. They allow you to use one site to access job postings from many different job banks and/or company websites.

On the Workapedia website you’ll find several job search sites recommended by employment practitioners. They include both types of sites.

Visit the national Job Bank to find vacant jobs available in B.C. or anywhere in Canada. The Youth section advertises summer employment opportunities for students and youth.

Government Job Postings

Interested in a job in government or other place of public service? You can explore job sites for all three levels of government.

• See BC Public Service employment opportunities for province-wide postings.
• Access local government postings at CivicInfo BC.
• Discover national jobs at Careers in the Federal Public Service.

Other Job Sources

Professional Associations

Professional associations post current jobs on their websites. For a list of national and provincial associations in Canada, visit the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials. Look for associations related to your field.

Employer Websites

Most employers advertise positions on their careers, employment or human resources webpages. Such employers include business, institutional, government and large non-profit organizations.

Employer Directories

You can also discover new employers and expand your job horizons by using employer directories. Two examples:

• BC Chamber of Commerce directory of local Chambers of Commerce. Each Chamber provides a directory of members, which can range from small businesses to major corporations.
• BC Manufacturers’ Directory list of more than 4,000 B.C. manufacturers.

Industry Associations

Some B.C. industry associations feature job boards on their websites. The WorkBC page B.C. Industry Association Job Boards is geared for employers. However, job seekers can view postings on the job boards.

Resume and Interview Help

In today’s competitive labour market, you need to show that you have the right skills and experience for the job.

When you apply for a job, you’ll likely use a resumé and cover letter. You might even create a portfolio to display a selection of your work. The information you present about yourself is your first formal opportunity to make an impression on a potential employer. You’ll want to make the most of this opportunity to win an interview.

UBC’s Job search skills page can help you do just that. The site provides strategies and expert advice on how to enhance your resumé and cover letter. For more help writing a winning resumé and cover letter, check out Okanagan College’s Writing Your Resumé.

When you’ve landed a job interview, use UBC’s Interviews page. It can help you sharpen your interview skills and make the most of your opportunity. To further expand your interview know-how, see Okanagan College’s Preparing for Job Interviews.

Get Help in Your Job Search

Expert support may help you land a job sooner. You may be eligible to receive help from an employment service. See Get Help in Your Job Search.