It can be tough to get a job right now - especially if you’re not prepared.
There’s more competition out there for less jobs, so job seekers will benefit from doing everything they can to make their application stand out.

We’ve got professional writers working with us to rewrite or proofread your existing resume to make sure you catch the employer’s eye immediately. We’ll also provide a targeted cover letter if you’ve got a specific job in mind (this can be on our site or elsewhere). Employers are busy people. If your cover letter doesn’t provide the information they are looking for, they probably won’t take the time to read your resume, so a great cover letter is a must!

Our resume and cover letter writing service is an add-on feature. Though our service for job seekers to list their resume and apply on-site will always remain free, we do have a small charge for this service. We provide a great low-cost bundle, with both a resume and cover letter for $150. These are professionally written by writers and managers who know exactly what employers are looking for in a job application.

You can also upload or send a custom cover letter to each job you apply for on our site. This is a new feature that we’ve had lots of requests for, and we encourage all our job seekers to use it. You’ll get even better results.

Let us know what you think of the new features, and please get in touch if you need any extra help.

We’ve got a lot going on behind the scenes here at Sherwood Park Jobs.

Luckily, we’re in a sharing mood. Here’s a little sneak peek at what’s coming:
You might have noticed the new red tab on the homepage. We’re in the process of creating a Professional Services listing which gives Service Providers and Contractors a way to market their services in the community. We’re hoping to help out those people who are looking for projects or contracts rather than jobs. They’re still looking for work, just not in the same way. This portion of the site is a work in progress, please check back over the next few weeks; we’ll let you know when it’s ready!

BONUS: We’re giving away a free three month professional services listing to to the first ten people who email us, letting us know why they deserve a free listing!

You may have received an email if you are a Chamber of Commerce member. If so, please feel free to contact us for other available discounts.

We’re also creating the functionality to allow job seekers to send a cover letter with their applications, allowing employers to find out a bit more about them before they get in touch.

If there are any other features you’d like to see built in to the site, we’re open to suggestions. Let us know by replying here or sending us an email. We look forward to your feedback!

Fast forward to today.  All over the news the dreaded “R” word has taken the headlines; the tables have turned.  Employers can once again afford the luxury of choosing the best candidate for the position.  As lay-offs sweep the oil industry and unemployment grows, you as a business owner are at a distinct advantage.  Qualified workers are desperate for steady employment and will do what ever it takes to keep bread on their family’s table.  The service industry especially will benefit from this as retail and restaurant (to name but two) employers will be in a position to demand higher standards from their employees and be able to generate increased revenue as a result.  This foreseeable increase in standards only bodes well for your customers as better service results in repeat business.

So, where does Sherwood Park Jobs fit into this equation?  With a rapidly growing jobseeker database, we can help get you the staff you need.  You are able to view resumes and make contact with your ideal candidates right on the site. We take the hard work out of employee searching so that you can use your time more effectively. As a nod to the economic downturn and increased financial pressure businesses are facing, we have, effective immediately, lowered the price of posting a job to make it easier for employers and jobseekers to connect with one another.

Posting with Sherwood Park Jobs is easy and now more affordable than ever!  With packages starting as low as $150.00 per month, which is a fraction of the cost of posting through traditional media, we hope to make your employee search as quick and as painless as possible.

Best of luck through the spring,

John

Get back to basics

Make sure your resume is head and shoulders above the rest. The stakes are higher so you have to stand out. When you list as a job seeker on Sherwood Park Jobs, you have the opportunity to enter your details into our system which formats them into a well-organized, visually pleasing resume template for employers to view. You can also copy & paste this template once it’s finished into your favourite word processor and make changes or print if you are applying for jobs outside of the site. Try to keep your resume short and to the point but make sure you provide all necessary information. It is frustrating for employers to be interested in you and then find you haven’t taken the time to prepare a good resume

Network

Chances are, you’ve been hired before because you knew someone who worked for the company. You likely have people around you now that can help with your search. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or contacts. If you can work up the guts to talk to people about your search, they’ll know you are serious and be more willing to recommend you to colleagues and friends. Networking can be a huge help to your job search but it can also be nerve-wracking. Keep in mind that everyone has to start somewhere and it won’t be so scary. Make a good impression on everyone you meet; you never know who might be the key to your next great job.

Keep your expectations in check

That dream salary that might have been available to you this time last year might not be on the cards now. Many companies are tightening the purse strings, and for the next little while, this will have an effect on the kind of wage you can expect. Be realistic and fair, and know that the lower your salary requirements, the more opportunities open to you

Be open to alternatives

You may be looking for employment in a field that’s just not viable right now. Be open-minded and aware of other related industries or positions with companies which could lead to your ideal position down the road. Just because you have been doing the same type of work for a number of years doesn’t mean you have to continue. Think creatively - what skills and experience could you adapt to other positions? You may find a job you never realized you would enjoy.

Do your research

When you apply to work with a company, make sure you know who they are and what they do. A search on Google can give you some information to go on so that when you get an interview, you can show the employer that you are genuinely interested in the job and are serious about the position. You could also set up a Google Alert for your chosen company or industry, so that you can keep up to date with the latest news.

Volunteer

Non-Profits and charity organizations are always looking for extra helping hands. Help out a cause you care about and it could open doors for you. Volunteer positions look great on your resume too

Follow up

Most job seekers miss this step in their job hunt. If you apply for a job, follow up a couple of weeks later with a phone call to make sure your application was received. Don’t be pushy, just check in and see if they need any more information from you. That way, they will be reminded of you and likely make a point to have a look at your application.

Stay positive

It might take a while but your job search will pay off. Be patient and stay positive. Go into every interview with your head high and a friendly personality and you’ll have a great job in no time!

The Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) is Alberta’s answer to the growing demand for tradespeople. In Sherwood Park, you can work with the program through Careers: The Next Generation. Provided with 1000 hours of work experience towards the first year of an apprenticeship, students get a head-start in their career of choice, even before they have a high school diploma in hand. They even offer a $1000 scholarship to participants.

RAP students earn a salary, and up to 40 high school credits - nearly half of the required amount for graduation. Over 50 trades are involved in the program, including: Welder, Motorcycle Mechanic, Autobody Technician, Electrician and Hairstylist.

The RAP program has its share of success stories. Edmonton native Dustin Thomson, 20, was profiled this summer in Edmontonians Magazine’s Sizzling 20 Under 30 for his achievements. A fourth year apprentice, Dustin completed high school six months early, and now runs his own company subcontracting himself - and his own rebuilt service truck - out to Ledcor, and earning close to a journeyman’s wage in the process.

All of the local high schools can administer the program, so visit your career advisor to see what the RAP program can do for you. Many Sherwood Park companies are more than willing to help high school students get their hands dirty in the trades before graduation; take advantage of the opportunity!

There’s no word limit!

Take advantage of the fact that you have the space to explain exactly what you’re looking for. We’ve all seen job descriptions that have nothing but a name and a phone number, and we’ve all passed them by. Give job seekers a reason to take the time to respond to you.

• Write an attention-grabbing job title so that your post sticks out. Think about what would make you want to read on.

• Tell a little about your organization - Why should a job seeker want to work for you? What perks are there to the job (flex hours, relaxed environment, telecommuting etc.)

• Describe the job. Help them imagine themselves in the position. What will their duties be? What is their role as part of your team?

• Outline the qualifications that you require. What is absolutely imperative, and what is nice-to-have? How much experience is necessary? Be as specific about skills as you can so that you can avoid getting applications from unqualified candidates.

The internet allows interactivity - use it!

Put a link to your website in the posting, and any other links you think will help the candidate learn about your company and the position.

Consider the medium

Writing for the web is very different from writing in print, so don’t just re-hash your last newspaper ad. Write in list format or use another method that will help job seekers can scan your post quickly. Make sure that everything you are asking them to read is relevant.

Use keywords

Consider the words a job seeker would put into a search engine like Google to find your job and use them in your description. Search engines and our internal site search will check titles as well as wording in the posts so give details that make it easy for the job seeker to find the posting. The more directly a job seeker can get to it, the more likely they’ll take the time to apply

Avoid jargon

Consider that you are targeting someone outside of your workplace. Stay away from complex language and insider slang. To make sure that your wording is clear, have someone outside of your office read through it.

Indicate a salary range

Give applicants an idea of what they’re getting in for, and weed out the ones who aren’t interested in that pay scale in the process. If you are offering benefits, state that too. Job seekers are more likely to skip over your post if you don’t include these details.

Post a logo

It’s easy to include a logo on our site. Doing so will establish credibility, especially if your brand is a recognizable one.

Check, and re-check!

Your post is likely the job seeker’s first impression of your organization so check spelling, punctuation and grammar. Don’t write the post in all capital letters, it makes for very difficult onscreen reading.

Include contact details

Your details will appear in the job description, but let potential employees know who they should respond to and by what means. If you’d like them to apply straight away on the site, they can do so, but if you’d like to meet them in person, ask them to stop in with a resume, or give you a call. It’s up to you!

Remember, the more targeted your description is, the more likely you are to get the right person applying for your position. Taking a moment to post the job well will save your time in the future by making sure the applications you receive are relevant and that the applicants are motivated and suited to you.

We’re a new site, so we’ll hope you’ll bear with us while things get going around here, there are lots more employers and job seekers to come! Let us know if there’s anything on the site that needs our attention, or if there are extra services you’d like to see.

We’d love to know what you think of the site - please leave us a comment!