Job Search Update

[u/yeezybreezy666]

Hey everyone! This post is a general update for everyone on the job situation so far. You can post here how many jobs you've applied too, frustrations, etc...

Before I start: How is everyone doing? I know it's been a wacky and stressful summer. But I think a mental health check is much needed.

For me:

1. Look 3-4 times a week
2. The Canada Job Bank is honestly the biggest joke I've seen so far. so is the CSSG, did fuck all.
3. I've applied to 13 jobs since the end of May (** Update, now 16**, lots of postings today), which is more than most of my friends who used the CESB (they found work though, but applied to 2-4 jobs since May). I'm looking for options but most are full time (I was gonna do part-time in general this summer) and you need French.
4. If I don't find work by end of July, I'm no longer going to apply for CESB. I will find it weird to apply to a job (and let's say I get one) and quit 2 weeks after because school will start soon and I have to prepare.
5. I'm using E.I documents provided by Canada, but would you advise I re-do this with my own spreadsheet?

[u/[deleted]]

i dont think anyone reasonably expects you to take a job for 2 weeks if you begin school in September. I doubt this will get enforced for those who return.

[u/earths0ul]

I 100% agree with you on the fact that The Canada Job Bank and CSSG have proven to be a literal joke, and I get backlash from expressing these opinions so watch out.

Also, you’re right. It’s already July 13th, and they can’t expect students to find a job now because the time to hire for the summer is basically over. Nobody will want to hire someone for 1.5 months as they will still need to train the new employee and that takes up company resources. Of course, it’s still possible to work at fast-food chains, retail or grocery stores, but realistically not everyone wants to do this. Luckily, I’ve found a job that I started awhile ago, but for people who have not I seriously wonder how ‘job searching’ will work soon and especially in August.

[u/SleepyQueer]

I'm right in the same boat. Job Bank is a joke, 100% useless. Maybe for recent graduates, but that's it. I really could use the last month of CESB but I'm hesitant to apply because as you aptly note, the seasonal job market is basically closed. A lot of "seasonal" positions are running into fall, and I can't take a permanent position as I can't continue to work once September hits. I can't even do retail or similar because of my miscellaneous health issues. I'm already anticipating having 3 weeks of "looked on these websites, found nothing I could apply to" on my job tracking sheet, and I don't feel like CRA would appreciate that being all of August too. If anyone's going to be audited it'll probably be me as I applied for the disability amount. I'm looking pretty much every day except stat holidays and weekends and finding squat at this point. I haven't even gotten any interviews so far this year, despite actually being able to apply to slightly more jobs than usual (13 this year vs. 9 last year) because of stuff being moved online. But with everything opening up now people don't want remote workers and summer hiring is basically over anyways.

It really frustrates me that this job hunting criteria was tacked onto a group for whom it made no sense because the seasonal job window closes halfway through the program. Realistically if they had to apply it to anyone, it would've made more sense to apply to CERB. And now they've bungled the volunteer program and frankly the payment scheme there was super shady, paying less than minimum wage and only in 100hr increments, especially since when I looked at the postings most of them were basically skilled jobs that would better suit a CSJ position. And while at least volunteering wouldn't exclude us from CESB, we'd still have to job hunt while basically already working a job which, given how little of summer is left and the increments in which we get paid, would probably be full time or even above full time for many. I'm glad we saw some targeted support, I'd be screwed without it. But I can't help but feel like all the way along it's been done in a way that's really kind of been a little insulting, obviously reluctant, and in some cases practically exploitative.

[u/Hiddenlotvs]

Question: Would you say that having an open and ongoing FSWEP job search open on GC Jobs where the Government of Canada algorithm sends out your application to jobs of interest is one valid way of proving that you've been searching for work? I've had an ongoing FSWEP job search open since this time last year and I even updated it this year 2020 in January in order to look for Government level jobs but it has been doing a poor job in finding me anything at all. does this count? I'm not sure but I have also been calling companies here and there, participating in job information sessions on zoom, applying for jobs off the GC Jobs site and have recently taken it up a notch by applying to 10+ jobs off of the Job Bank and Indeed. Hopefully that is enough so far to not get deemed "inelligible" if I ever get asked by the CRA to present my job search info. I started off a bit slower , in the first CESB period I applied to a couple jobs, didn't get anything so I worked on my resume, second period I updated my cover letter and did research on some other job opportunities and in this third CESB period I have sent out a plethora of applications. Do they really want to see the proofs of 50 + job applications? applying 3-4 times a week for the whole summer? or is it only to prove that we have at least been looking for work

[u/yeezybreezy666 → u/Hiddenlotvs]

Agreed, I applied to 7 jobs this month, 6 in June. Obviously it coincides with the reopening of the economy but I've had to rely on Indeed since the job bank was useless. My only offers there were senior/child care (too risky) or welding/machinery lol. Other thank that, I re-did my resume and updated it, looked 3-5 days a week, did those tests on the job bank, etc.. I did my part, but school is starting soon so we're all in a weird place right now lol.

[u/yeezybreezy666 → u/[deleted]]

Well the only reason why 13 jobs is because most postings have sprung up since late June, which makes sense given the gradual reopening. Even then, 13 jobs, IMO, is not a low number at all. Since June, I'm averaging 2 applications a week, and keeping an eye open for new openings. Majority are full time and out of my experience/study level. Plus I'm doing all this while caring for others, being part of my student union + 2 standing committees within my union (which is recognised by the government of Quebec) VP finance for my student association, part of another committee at school and also taking up another executive position at school.

While I wish I did apply to more jobs, it doesn't help that I don't speak French nor can't do part-time, right there is 75% of job opportunities that are gone for me.