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| by Human Resources Development Canada, |
Aug 20, 2001 |
Unless you've already got one, the first thing you need to do is get your Social Insurance Number (SIN). Next, you need to work out what your skills, interests, motivations and values are in relation to employment. The first task is a technicality; the second is key to getting the job that's right for you!Your SIN card is an important piece of identification, whether you're applying for a job or enrolling at a college or a university.
You can apply for the card at your local Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) office. There is no charge. To find the address of the office nearest you, look under "Human Resources Development Canada" in the Government of Canada blue pages of your telephone book.
To apply for a SIN, all you need is to complete an application form available in any HRDC office and provide a document that proves your identity and status in Canada (such as a birth certificate). Make sure the document is either an original or a certified copy. If the name on that document differs from the one you use now, be sure to provide a supporting document that explains why.
If necessary, you can also mail your application to the following address:
Social Insurance Registration
PO Box 7000
Bathhurst, NB
E2A 4T1
Your documents will be returned, along with your SIN card, by mail within six weeks.
If you have any questions, visit the SIN Web site.Did You Know?
Canadian workers change jobs or careers up to eight times in their lives.
What do you like to do? What are you good at? Which of your skills would you like to use in your job?
Knowing the answers to these questions will make it easier for you to define your career goals and look for jobs that help you meet them. It will also help you market yourself to potential employers — if you can't describe the skills you have and how they relate to the job at hand, you can pretty well bet that employers won't try to work it out for you.
Where Do Your Interests Lie?
Check out the activities below for ideas about what type of work you'd prefer to do. Don't limit yourself to one area — it's natural to be interested in a variety of things.
Working with People
- Caring for, helping or serving people
- Working as a member of a team
- Leading or supervising others
- Persuading people or negotiating
- Working with Things
Using tools, machines or equipment
- Maintaining or fixing things
- Finding out how things work
- Making things with your hands
- Working with Ideas and Information
- Solving puzzles or problems
Studying or reading
- Doing experiments or researching a topic
- Expressing yourself through writing, music or art
What Skills Do You Have?
We all have knowledge and skills we can take to the workplace. Even if you've never had a job, you've gained a variety of marketable skills through everyday living. Think about everything you've learned at school — through courses and extracurricular activities — or in your personal life — through television, volunteering, babysitting, books, hobbies, etc. — that might be useful in the kinds of jobs you're interested in.
Think in terms of two main types of skills: technical or specialized skills (like computer or math skills) and transferable, personal skills, sometimes called "soft skills" (like communication or teamwork skills). Employers often feel that soft skills are as important as technical skills, so it's worth taking the time to really think this through. (Take a look at Understanding What Employers Look For before finalizing this list.)
My technical or specialized skills are:
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
My personal, soft skills include :
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________Compare the qualities employers look for with the skills you listed earlier. Think about how your abilities and personal characteristics translate into skills and attributes you can market to potential employers. Consider the following examples:
| If you… |
You might want to tell an employer… |
Academic Skills - like people, are quick-witted and a natural at telling jokes
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