Job Discussion Forums

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

Maybe you should go to Korea to teach. They pay the flight. You are not a competitive applicant compared with most senior in high school for most jobs because you have no experience. Other options: construction (it's summer now), restaurant work (dish washer etc- many people's first job is as a dishwasher, but then many people's first job is when they are in grade 9), military (you could think about trying to get in part time and still be able to do your LINC volunteering. With a degree you can look into officer training).

When approaching any job hunt, try to look at it from the employer's point of view: they want the open position filled as quickly as possible because it is costing them man-hours to go through resumes and interview people, and any training that is required takes up more man-hours.

OTOH, you have an honours degree which tells employers that you won't be staying at any shelf stocking job for longer than you have to. People normally have about seven years worth of experience in retail / restaurant etc during high school and university but you have almost none, which means that not only are you showing up with a resume that screams 'I'm outa here as soon as possible' you're showing up with one that also says 'I haven't ever really worked before so I don't know what to expect from a job'. Put together that equals someone who has no proof of responsibility outside of school.

Maybe it sounds harsh, but that's the way it is. You have no experience and no proof of ability to do anything outside of school, but your school level itself isn't high enough to get you into a school related (ie teaching) job.

ETA if you've applied to over 2000 jobs in the Hamilton area then either you need to improve your resume, or your interviewing skills. If you go into any Starbucks or Second Cup in the greater Toronto area you'll find that over half the day staff have Humanities or Social Science degrees, and a few will have Science degrees. What that means is that you aren't overqualified. People may be using that as an excuse to avoid saying that there was something about you or your resume that gave them the impression that you THOUGHT you were overqualified, and that would be a bit demeaning to people (like many of the managers of retail places) who may be making their career in retail by working their way up through the ranks. They don't want someone on the staff who gives the impression that they think they're better than everybody else.

[iverin]

First off, I made a large mistake, I meant to say I've applied to 200 jobs in the area not 2000. I've redone my resume about three times with the help of the employment counsellor.

I've never given the impression that I'm overqualified in terms of thinking more highly of myself than a boss. Every job I have had has been bottom of the barrel entry level so I know about working up in the ranks. I'm not expecting to get a job at the top of the food chain just because I have a degree.

I think that your opinion about the Honours degree is correct. I think that because I have a 4 year degree everyone that I send a resume to feels that I plan on leaving to pursue school. While that is slightly true (if I could save enough money to get a TESOL cert and be guaranteed a job I might go back to school) but I'd rather find a job where I could survive salary wise and move up in the ranks to not have to go back to school. I've spent 18 years in school and would rather find a job where I didn't have to return to school. But in that way I'm too underqualified for jobs of that kind. I've looked into jobs like community workers (retirement, at risk youth etc) but even most of those now need a social work degree.

Thanks again for all your help, I just keep applying to the entry level and hope to get an interview so that I can prove that I in no way feel too qualified for the job. I'd be happy with any sort of steady work.

[Jetgirly]

EducationCanada.com has some job postings for Teaching Assistants. For example, the Almadina Language Charter Academy in Calgary is hiring six teaching assistants for next year. Northern Gateway Regional District in Alberta is hiring two ed assistants for next year. My school board submits final student enrollment numbers on September 30th and then receives funding based on those numbers; you might find more ed assistant job postings in October or November. Don't be afraid to apply for teaching assistant jobs that you're not qualified for; it looked to me like the least appealing job postings (like native reserves on the tundra and stuff) usually had the most requirements (and therefore the fewest candidates).

[cassava]

Iverin:

Since you live in Hamilton, there are a couple of jobs that you should be able to get. The first is the position of invigilator for the exams held at McMaster University in April and December. The fact that you are a university graduate amply qualifies you.

Other universities in the area such as Guelph and Brock also usually require external invigilators. I suspect that the University of Toronto and the University of Western Ontario use their own people as proctors. In any case, the last two might not be practical for you because of the distance from Hamilton. Mohawk College in Hamilton might be another worthwhile place to seek a proctoring job. I think that the Registrar's Office in all these institutions handle the application process.

In addition, you should be able to get a job as a marker for the literacy test given by EQAO to secondary school students. The marking, which usually takes place in April, is done at the Congress Centre in Toronto. I think applications are made to EQAO through their website or by going to Drake Personnel. Even though you would have to go to Toronto to do this particular job, you would not be out of pocket since EQAO pays for your transportation and also pays a decent salary.

I believe that if you make a monthly schedule and check the tertiary level educational institutions in southern Ontario, you might be able to find enough part-time work to keep you going. One of these jobs could even blossom into a full-time position.

[jdl]

Take jetgirly's advice and check out:

http://www.educationcanada.com/

It is the most widely used internet education job posting network in Canada since most school divisions and private schools subscribe. It also has international affiliates so some foreign jobs are advertised as well.

It is free and you can create your own 'job bots' where jobs meeting criteria you set will be flagged for you. It also has resume/cover letter features that are helpful.

It is a great place to start and saves you a whole lot of time.

As an employer in a Canadian system I gave up on the expense of 'paper ads' and have gone almost exclusively with internet recruiting.

Good luck.

[jdl]

P.S.

There are close to 350 jobs posted for Ontario alone with many of the employers outside the public school system. Worth a look. Good luck.

[iverin]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I had actually checked the education canada site before and will keep an eye on it now. When I checked before most of the job postings I found were for people with B.Eds or EA certs but I'll keep checking. I like the idea of invigilating exams I just always assumed that they hired internally. I still keep in touch with a professor and I'll ask her if she knows how to apply to be one once the school year starts again. I'd be willing to mark the EQAO as well, and again thought that was internal. Thanks for all the ideas, it gives me something to look into.

[efemmera]

This posting may be a month too late but I will share anyway!

Education Canada is a great resource for both admin and teaching jobs
http://www.educationcanada.com/

Have you considered preschool teaching? There is quite a demand in Alberta and the government there has a program where you can get basic certification while you work. There are also many admin jobs in colleges and universities.

The AUCC (Association of Universities and Colleges Canada) has a listing of their members so you don't have to search institutes one by one. Not every post secondary institute is on there, but its a good start.

http://www.aucc.ca/can_uni/our_universities/index_e.html

Your best bet at present may be Saskatchewan. Their economy is quite healthy. It is close to the beginning of the school year and there are still jobs posted.