Finding a Job

While there will be variations from employer to employer, the typical recruitment process looks something like this:

Step 1 – Application Review

After submitting your resume to a position, your application will be reviewed by an Human Resources (HR) representative or an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software.

Step 2 – Phone Interview

If you are flagged as a potential candidate, often a Human Resources representative will conduct a short phone interview to assess your qualifications, communication skills and interest in the job. If you are successful, your resume will be passed on to the hiring manager.

Step 3 – First Interview

The hiring manager then determines which candidates to invite for a formal face-to-face or virtual interview. This interview will generally consist of common and behavioural questions to assess your skills, personality, fit with the position / company culture, and interpersonal and judgement skills.

Step 4 – Second Interview

Often, the hiring manager will then narrow down their choice to 2 – 3 candidates to invite to a second formal interview. This interview will help them get to know your working style and character even further.

Step 5 – Job Offer & Decision

Once a final decision is made, the Human Resources representative will make an offer to the successful candidate by providing them with a formal job contract to be signed. A decision from an employer can take anywhere from 1 day to a month. After receiving your job offer in writing, you are able to ask for 24 – 48 hours to review the offer details and make a decision.

Resumes

Your resume is your most important job search tool. It is typically your first point of contact with potential employers and is the main document that interviewers use when comparing candidates. Your resume needs to present your skills and experience in a way that demonstrates how you are the best fit for the job.

To understand what Canadian employers are looking for in your field, find 5 – 10 job postings for your targeted job goal and make a list of the most common qualifications, job specific skills (also known as technical or hard skills), and transferable / soft skills that you see. Also, make note of common industry terminology used in these postings. Use this information to create a tailored resume for your field. Learn more about the difference between hard skills and soft skills.

The Canadian resume format may differ from what you are familiar with. We recommend using a simple template, like the one linked below, to ensure your format is simple and acceptable for ATS software.  

• Begin by downloading our Canadian resume template.
• See sample resumes for your program on Experience Centennial (Login by clicking on Students/Alumni, use your myCentennial user name and password).

Cover Letters

A cover letter is a one-page letter that if often included with your job applications. It allows you to explain more about who you are (as a worker), convey passion for the position / company, and to demonstrate your knowledge about the position / company.

Some job postings will ask you to include a cover letter with your application, while others will only ask for a resume. We always encourage you to include a cover letter with your job applications as this helps to strengthen your application.

• Begin by downloading our Canadian cover letter template.

Resume Screening Software

Known as Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), these Human Resources software process job applications to rank and filter candidates. The goal of ATS software is to make the work of hiring managers and recruiters easier. For this reason, it is important to customize your resume to each job posting.

Learn more about how ATS systems work. 

Having a LinkedIn profile is an important part of your job search strategy.  Recruiters and hiring managers use LinkedIn to search for and screen potential candidates, while job seekers use the site to find job opportunities, and research companies, interviewers, hiring managers, and recruiters before applying to positions and interviewing.

If you are not actively job searching right now, you can still use LinkedIn to connect with classmates, professors, former colleagues, and other people you meet in Canada and to begin researching your field to prepare for your future job search. 

Build your LinkedIn profile using this checklist.

There are many strategies that can be used for a successful job search.  We recommend trying a variety to decide which strategies work best for you, and the field / jobs you are targeting.  Here are some examples:

• Networking
• Email campaigns or cold calls
• Job postings on Experience Centennial
• Company websites
• Job search sites
• Job fairs
• Social media
• Employment centres / staffing agencies
• Professional associations

Many jobs that are available are not widely advertised online.  These jobs are referred to as the hidden job market.  To access the hidden job market, you will want to go beyond just applying to public job boards, and instead, use other strategies that may expose you to the hidden job market, such as networking or cold calling / emailing companies directly.

Be sure to keep track of the positions you’ve applied to, and to save the job postings in case you need to refer to this information in the future.  This will be useful to follow up with employers and for interview preparation. To track this information, use a job search log. 

Find links to job search sites, professional associations and staffing agencies on Experience Centennial.

Job scams take advantage of people looking for work by offering fraudulent opportunities, often to gather personal information or funds from that individual.  Fake job scams have been on the rise, particularly now during the pandemic. 

Follow these tips to protect yourself, your personal information, and to avoid becoming a victim of a job scam:

• Do not provide personal or sensitive information in your resume or in interviews, such
  as your Social Insurance Number (SIN), date of birth, driver's license number, health card number, or any banking or financial information. 
• Legitimate Canadian job ads will not ask for your SIN and banking information on the posting or before a job offer has been made by the employer.  Some of this information may be collected by an employer after an offer has been made. For example, the employer may request banking information to set up direct deposit of your pay.
• Research every "employer" by looking up their address, phone number, contact person's name online to make sure they are legitimate. Do an internet search with the employer’s name and the word ‘scam’ to check if any reports come up.
• Beware of common job scams involving receiving and forwarding money. Do not send money or gift cards to the "employer", and do not cash a cheque on their behalf.
• Do not answer or reply to calls, text messages or emails from unknown numbers or suspicious addresses. Do not click on any links in text messages or emails from contacts you do not recognize. 
• Never pay someone who says they will find a job for you for a fee.
• Beware of work-from-home, mystery shopping or secret shopper positions that involve receiving and reshipping packages, as these are very likely job scams.
• If you are given a job offer without a job application and a job interview, it is a red flag and highly likely a job scam.
• If a job posting seems questionable, contact the job site where you found it. If it seems too good to be true, it is.  
• Keep an eye out for these red flags indicating a potentially fraudulent employer: no address or contact information can be found for the company, no website for the company, website is simple and lacks depth, no online / social media presence.

If you suspect that you may be a target of fraud, or if you have already sent funds to a fraudulent employer, report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and to BBB.org/scamtracker.

If you are unsure whether you have spotted a job scam, or were a victim of a job scam and are not sure of your next steps, contact Career Services at careerservices@centennialcollege.ca.

Learn more about job scams and see examples of common job scams. 

Your ability to perform well at a job interview is essential to your career success. It is rare for someone to be offered a job without being interviewed first. Preparation and practice are key to improving your interview skills.

Through Career Services, you have free access to a tool called Big Interview, where you can learn and practice your interview skills. To access this tool, you must sign up using your myCentennial email address.

Check out Experience Centennial for other interviewing related tip sheets on topics like: virtual job interviews, sample interview questions, interview attire, reference lists, thank you emails.

A professional reference is a recommendation from someone who can vouch for your qualifications for a job.  You often will be asked by an employer for a list of references before a job offer is officially made to you. The employer will contact the references you provide to them to ask them questions about your character, skills, work ethic, and professionalism. 

A professional reference should be someone who knows you well enough to speak positively about you.  Typically, this is a supervisor or manager, but can also be a co-worker, a professor, a coach, or another contact that you know in a professional capacity.  A professional reference should not be a family member or personal friend. 

You should have at least 3 references on your list, and always get their permission before using them as a reference. 

You can list references from outside of Canada; however, Canadian references are usually preferred.  To build up potential future references, you are encouraged to get involved in activities on and off campus throughout your time as a student, for example through part-time jobs, volunteering, and other extra-curricular activities.  Participate actively in all of your classes so that your professors get to know you well enough and increases the likelihood that they agree to be your reference when you are ready to job search.

Download a sample reference list.

Working part-time while studying has many benefits to your career, including gaining essential skills and experience, learning about the Canadian workplace and employer expectations, building your network and references for future jobs, and of course, the financial benefit of earning money.

Managing your time effectively is critical if you are working part-time while studying. Some students choose to focus on their studies in the first semester, and work part-time the next semester. This can help you better understand the time required for academic studies. Learn more about managing your time while attending full-time school and working part-time.

Common Part-time Jobs

There are many different options for part-time jobs in Canada, here is a list of some common positions:

• Retail Stores - Customer Service Representative, Cashier, Sales Associate, etc.
• Restaurant / Fast-Food / Coffee Shops – Barista, Bartender, Server, Cook, Kitchen Help, Customer Service, Cashier, etc.
• Call Center – Inbound Customer Service Representative, Outbound Sales, Telephone Interviewer, etc.
• Services – Tutor, Pet Care, Driver, Housekeeping, etc.
• Security Guard, Lifeguard, etc.
• General Labour - Warehouse Associate, Assembly, Landscaping, etc.
• Administrative / Office Assistant, Receptionist, Office Clerk, etc.
• Bookkeeper (for business students)
• Healthcare – Personal Support Worker (for PSW, RPN students)
• Childcare – Daycare Assistant, Early Childhood Assistant, Lunchroom Support (for ECE students)

Note that there is often an increase in seasonal hiring before and during holiday seasons. For example, for retail positions before the Christmas holiday in December, or for childcare and recreation positions during the summer months.

Are you curious about working on-campus? Find jobs posted here:

• Experience Centennial
• Centennial College Student Association
• Centennial COLTS
• Centennial Library

Tips for Applying to Part-time Jobs

Prepare a 1 page resume that emphasizes job related skills, particularly transferable skills (e.g., communication, customer service, time management, teamwork, computer skills, willingness to learn, punctuality, flexibility, etc.)

Here are two sample resumes suitable for part-time job applications for your reference: Sample 1 and Sample 2. 

• Apply to jobs using a variety of methods, including online postings, company websites, networking with classmates / friends / family, attending job fairs, making phone calls, sending emails, and doing walk-ins.
• Include the key word “part-time” when searching on common job search websites, such as Indeed, LinkedIn, or Eluta.
• Consider opportunities with local businesses that you frequently visit or in your neighbourhood (e.g., movie theatres, electronics stores, clothing stores, bakeries, coffee shops).
• If you are walking in to a business to drop off your resume, identify an appropriate time to go in outside of peak/busy hours. Dress appropriately and walk-in with a copy of your resume in hand. Find an associate and ask if you can speak with a manager. Introduce yourself professionally; share key skills and experience that you possess and why you are interested in a part-time position with them.
• Follow up on any applications you have submitted approximately 1 – 2 weeks after applying.

Like part-time work, a summer job has many benefits to your career, including gaining essential skills and experience, learning about the Canadian workplace and employer expectations, building your network and references for future jobs, and of course, the financial benefit of earning money.

Common Summer Jobs

During the summer semester, May – August, there are many seasonal job opportunities that become available. Here are some examples:

• Summer camp or childcare / daycare positions
• Lifeguarding at a community or outdoor swimming pool
• Coaching or assisting with a sports team
• Gardening or landscaping positions
• Amusement / theme park staff or event centre staff (e.g., Canada’s Wonderland, The Toronto Zoo, The Rogers Centre, museums, etc.)

Government Summer Jobs

Jobs with the government can span a wide variety of industries, look great on your resume, and are a great way to build your experience and skills. Recruitment can start as early as December for some of these roles, and positions do not stay open for long, as they are in high demand. Here are some sites you can use to search for jobs with the government:

• Ontario Government
• The City of Toronto
• Region of Durham
• York Region

Tips for Applying to Summer Jobs

• Prepare a 1 page resume that emphasizes job related skills, particularly transferable or soft skills (e.g., communication, customer service, time management, teamwork, computer skills, willingness to learn, punctuality, flexibility, etc.).
• Include the key word “summer” when searching on job search websites, such as Indeed, LinkedIn, or Eluta.
• Begin looking for summer jobs early; some employers begin recruiting as early as December for their summer roles!

It is important to be aware of your rights at work. For easy-to-read fact sheets on this topic, including about minimum wage, visit the Worker’s Action Centre. 

• Am I legally able to work in Canada?
• How many hours am I allowed to work on-campus?
• How many hours am I allowed to work off-campus?
• How do I apply for a Social Insurance Number?

Find answers to these questions.

For any other immigration related questions, please visit the International Student Advising Services page.

Career Services is a team of employment advisors, a career counsellor and peer career coaches.  We support students and graduates in developing confidence and tools for career success, from first semester to graduation.   

Through Experience Centennial, our job and resource portal, we offer:

• Drop-ins and appointments to support you with any stage of your job search and career planning, including resume / cover letter review, LinkedIn review, job search planning, interview preparation and practice, and more.
• Downloadable tip sheets, resume and cover letter templates and samples for your program.
• Access to job postings and exclusive online tools to help with career planning, interview practice and networking.

Learn more about Career Services.

Can I receive job search support from Career Services after I graduate?

Yes, you can continue to use Experience Centennial to access job postings and resources, book appointments with an Employment Advisor, and attend all events even after you graduate. In fact, we encourage and highly recommend it! 

Accessing Experience Centennial 

1. Go to Experience Centennial
2. Click on Students/Alumni.
3. Sign in using your myCentennial user name and password.