Searching for a job has become more accessible with multiple apps and websites that just require a quick click and resume upload. That may give the illusion that you’ll hear a “yes” from many more employers, but is not always the case. Sometimes you don’t land the job, even after polishing your resume and proving you’re qualified and incisive in the interview. That can leave individuals feeling hopeless, frustrated and angry; but by changing your mindset, rejection can be seen as one step closer to your dream job.

Don’t let rejection rear its ugly head and destroy your confidence, here’s how to handle it like a professional and get back on track:

Be Aware of the Negative Thinking and Combat It

Our minds naturally harp on the negative events that occurred instead of the positive. By becoming aware of your negative and inaccurate thinking, you can challenge it by responding in a more practical, effective approach. Just because you were not selected for the position does not mean you failed. For example, the company may have decided to hire internally or maybe they discounted their job search and didn’t hire anyone at all. Overgeneralizing what occurred won’t do you any favours, so just continue to improve yourself and prepare for the next call for an interview.

Get Accustomed To the Word “No”

You may have applied to several jobs that you felt could not reject you. You possess all of the desired skills, training, education and work ethic. How could they say no? According to research found by career coach, Orville Peterson, the average job searching individual faces rejection by 24 employers before they finally get a “yes.” The job search is no easy task, and being overconfident or expecting to get hired solely based on your resume will do you no favours. Remain resilient and keep applying online, making phone calls and handing physical copies of your resume out everywhere.

Reflect On Your Interviews And Find What To Improve On

The downfall of many is adopting one interview style and using it every time, even if it is not effective. After each interview, ensure you’re reflecting on all aspects of it from went well to what did not and the reasoning for both. Ask yourself what kind of message you’re conveying to the employer both nonverbally and verbally. If you’re able to determine what’s failing you, you can correct them for your next interview opportunity. Practice your approach, answers to potential questions and your confidence earnestly and frequently. Do active research on the company’s values, history and additional facts to prove to the employer just how insightful you are.

You do not have to go through this arduous job searching process alone. Trades Labour Corporation is one of the best recruitment agencies in Canada to assist you in this journey. Let TLC help you find employment for either temp jobs or positions that can turn into long lasting positions at a successful company. Submit your application on our website today, or visit one of our convenient branch offices to allow TLC to get started on your employment search!

Temporary or contract jobs are on the rise in Canada. Part-time positions are perfect for both interns and the unemployed to showcase their skills or enjoy flexible hours. Millions of contract employees work for staffing companies in North America now. Several agencies recruit and train temporary workers to hire out to employers. The workers are paid by the hour in such situations.

However, full-time job seekers tend to stay away from temporary jobs. Part of the reason is just that: they are temporary. Once the project ends, it’s hard to look for another appropriate position right away. Sometimes, it’s a challenge to find something that matches the skill and experience level. But temporary jobs come with several advantages too that you may want to consider.
Check out the many ways they can help:

• Temporary jobs may not offer top dollar but they do help you pay your bills.
• Working in a string of temporary jobs helps you develop skills in a broad range of businesses that may help you open more than one professional door in the future. Your resume looks richer and you will always have an edge over other candidates applying for the same position with added skills to your credit.
• If you are unemployed, it’s better to work part-time than not at all while you are hunting for a permanent position. This way, you can make money and learn new skills instead of not getting paid at all.
• If you love the variety and flexible hours, temporary jobs may work out better than a full-time one where you are bound by fixed hours. A couple of temporary jobs are quite likely to provide the compensation of a full-time job or come close to it.
• For a parent with a baby or toddler under their care, temporary jobs keep you connected with the professional market and offer a work-life balance.
• Temporary jobs help you grow your network, no matter what you do. It helps you build your experience and best of all, you will never get bored of doing the same thing every day. If you don’t enjoy your work, it’s easy to leave and look for another.
• If you love travelling, temporary jobs are best. Once your contract is over, you can set off for a holiday without worrying about a limited leave period. Once you are back, you can hunt for another temporary job to earn back what you spent and save for your next vacation.
• A long gap in your resume may work against you. If you have been unemployed for several months, it’s better to be part of the gig economy than be out of work for too long.
• It’s the best way to “test-drive” a job, an employer or a company. Not all temporary jobs come with no benefits. Some companies throw health insurance too. Sometimes, temporary contracts lead to permanent positions so give it all you got.

Trades Labour Corporation
Interested in a temporary position? For over 20 years, Trades Labour Corporation has been a leader in the temporary staffing industry. We are happy to help you look for the perfect fit.

We specialize in providing you with the best staff for the Construction, Manufacturing, and Warehousing industries. Whether you’re an employer looking for reliable personnel or a worker looking for employment opportunities, give us a call to fill temporary placement needs. We have several locations in the Pacific Northwest and throughout Western Canada. Browse through our website to know more.

At its best, a cover letter helps job-seekers stand out. At its worst, it can make promising candidates seem like uncreative copy-and-pasters. Unfortunately, the majority of cover letters read the same with rambling sentences and repetitive words. Most hiring managers do not want to read these to the end.

While the Internet is full of tips and tricks for writing a cover letter, many of them offer obvious information. Here are the golden rules for writing a cover letter that people will actually want to read.

Don’t Repeat Your Resume
Many people write cover letters as if they are meant to be paragraph-form resumes. The fact is, your cover letter will be in the same email as your actual resume, so you can safely assume that it will at least be glanced at and likely with a keener eye than your cover letter even. Instead, use your cover letter to show your personality and an interest in the field you are applying for.

Use Google to look up the history of your field or the company you are applying for and sprinkle your cover letter with some of those facts or even use it as a lead. For example, if you are applying for a job in tech, you could talk about how thrilling it is to see Moore’s law transform technology and how thrilled you are to be a part of that transformation. Every field has a hidden history that you can use to showcase your expertise and interest.

Keep It Short
Less is more. Your cover letter should be no more than three paragraphs or half a page, tops. You can skip lengthy explanations and jump right into something juicy instead.

Address No One
You may find that you don’t know exactly who you should be addressing in your letter. If that is the case, nix the generic and dull “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Hiring Manager” salutations. If you don’t know who you should be addressing, don’t address anybody at all. Simply jump right into the body of your letter instead.

Send it as a PDF
Not every office computer can read .pages or .docx files, but practically everyone can open a PDF file without having to convert it. Forcing the recipient of your cover letter to perform a file conversion is bad for two reasons. Firstly, they are likely not even to bother and move to the next applicant. Secondly, conversions can cause formatting errors. PDFs also can’t be easily tampered with like other file formats, giving you more control over how it appears on somebody’s screen.

The Phrase You Should Always Avoid
“My name is (), and I am applying for the position of ().” They already know this information, so there is no need to say it and including it makes you seem inexperienced.

Close Strong
Finish off by briefly explaining how your experience or skills will help you with this position. The key to nailing your cover letter is having a short but memorable and relevant closing. Aim to do that in just one to two seconds because if it goes on any longer than that, and you are rambling.

If you need assistance crafting a cover letter that will get you hired at a temp or contract job, Trades Labour Corporation can help. Please call or visit one of our convenient locations for more information.

We also help our client companies from Vancouver to Toronto, as well as south of the border, parse through dozens of potential hires to find the best people for the jobs they need filled.

At TLC, we deliver labour™!

If you have ever gone on a job hunting frenzy, the chances are that you may have contacted several career councillors, recruiters and mentors. And almost all of them would have said the following sentence at least once: Tailor your resume for the job you are applying to. While it seems like an obvious thing to do, you may be surprised to know that at least 67% of candidates do not tailor their resume as per the job that they are applying to. Many candidates are left confused about what exactly needs to be done when it comes to tailoring your resume for a specific job. Here are our top tips to make sure that your resume looks relevant to the job you are applying to.

There are two main ways to tailor your resume – Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and quick scans. Both these methods comprise of a keyword scan and the only difference between the two is that one is done by a human and the other uses a technology supported R2D2 scan. You will be surprised to know that 70% of companies use R2D2 to scan resumes. One way to get selected in both kinds of scans? Tailor your resume to include related keywords or phrases.

The first step to tailoring your resume is to mark all the keywords and write them down in a separate document. Use these keywords all through your professional summary, job skills and experience outlined in your resume. You can start by making a master list of all skills and list even skills that you may not think are relevant to your job, like calligraphy even when you are looking for a job as a foreman, for instance. Once you have written down all your skills, rank them. Starting with your strongest and most valuable skills. This list will come in handy when you have to compare identical skill sets and have to choose only a few skills to highlight.

Now refer to the specific job posting again and highlight the common skills. Once you have all the common job skills, put them down in your resume. To place them appropriately, start by finding a couple of offers similar to yours. Then go on to LinkedIn and snoop around for professionals who work in a similar job title that you are applying for and see which skills they have prioritized.

To make sure that you include all the skills and in the right priority, categorize the skills as “job-related,” “transferable” and “adaptive.” Job-related skills are usually technologies you know, platforms you have worked on, etc. Transferable skills are skills that can be transferred from one professional to another (like efficient communication) and adaptive skills are skills that describe intangible abilities like being detail oriented, for instance. Once you have listed all the skills, highlight job-related skills on the top and follow with the rest throughout the resume.

If you have more questions regarding resume building or are looking for jobs, contact Trades Labour Corporation to learn about the best way to land employment in industries such as construction and more. TLC can help you find work in most major cities in Canada and the Pacific Northwestern United States

Finding the right talent is one of the most critical aspects of any business. It is hard to find personnel with the right skill set and qualifications for a specific position and here is where a staffing agency or employment agency comes into the picture. There are many times when your business may be skyrocketing and you suddenly find yourself struggling to find the right people to fulfill your client demands. Whether it is a temp job or a highly skilled and qualified requirement that you are looking to fill, the struggle can get real. There may be some other times when a big chunk of professionals left your organization leaving you scrambling for new and qualified talent. Irrespective of the cause, employment agencies can prove to be quite resourceful in such situations.

The chances are that you may have already tried to post ads and fill in your vacant positions but they may not necessarily be your best bet. In most cases, it makes sense to partner with an employment agency to find the most suitable candidates for your business. Here are the top three reasons why hiring an employment agency can be extremely beneficial for your business:

Saving and better workforce
Yes, you heard it right. Although employment agencies will demand a certain percentage that you may have mutually agreed on if you choose the candidate they sent, it is important to regard that they are potentially saving you a lot of time, money, and effort. As they do the job of shortlisting and choosing candidates from thousands of profiles, they save your HR team the effort and pain of reading through endless resumes. Some of the best recruitment agencies in Surrey also conduct preliminary screening interviews before sending the candidate to your office for an interview, keeping the candidate profile more targeted and consolidated. This helps to improve the quality of the workforce that you are hiring.

Fill up vacancies quickly
One of the most obvious benefits of a staffing agency is getting your vacancies filled quickly. Your HR department may already be swamped with a series of HR-related processes that they need to take care of. This includes processing payments and benefits of existing employees, arranging office activities and coordinating for paperwork within the department. This leaves them with almost no time to find people to fill in multiple vacancies. With a staffing agency on board, the entire effort of shortlisting candidates and scheduling interviews can be passed on to the agency.

Trying before hiring
When you are working with an employment agency, you can choose to hire employees on a trial basis. This helps you to try out the employees before actually hiring them on a permanent basis. Many employment agencies offer a temp to perm kind of hiring where you can hire employees on a temporary basis and then make them permanent if you are convinced with their performance.

It is best to hire an employment agency if you are looking to fill up a number of vacancies in a short time with the right talent. Reach out to one of our many Trades Labour recruitment agencies for any kind of temporary or permanent resource requirement. We have locations in Surrey, Vancouver, Victoria, Penticton, Kelowna, Vernon, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto, Seattle and Auburn.

Job hunting usually feels like an uphill battle, but it does not have to be. There are small things you can do with minimal effort to improve your chances of landing your dream job quicker. If you are just starting your job search or have been looking for a while, consider these tips:

Use Your Network

You might have a bigger network of people to turn to than you realize. Telling everyone you know or come across can infinitely increase your chances of landing a job. Even your hairdresser might know someone that is looking for a new hire with your skills and experience. Turn to your connections and see if anyone works at a company you are interested in. Explain why you think you would be a good fit and see if they have any ideas of how you could fit in.

Apply Directly to Companies

Think of companies you would want to work at and apply directly to them either by email or through their careers page. Do this for companies even if they do not appear to be hiring. Your odds of hearing from a company that is not currently hiring are lower but, if they do happen to show interest in your background, you will have hardly any competition. They could call you if they were planning on hiring soon or are growing quickly and want more talented people in general.

Make sure when you apply that you do your research and mention something you know about the company. You should also highlight in your cover letter what you want to do next in your career and why their company suits that. Each resume and cover letter you submit should be tailored to the job you are applying for. As long as you do your research and do not rush the process, this can be one of the best ways to find a job online.

Quantity Over Quality

A quick way to find jobs online is through LinkedIn. There, you can apply to jobs directly, which eliminates the need to create custom resume cover letters and a login and password for various job portals. Simply build a resume with the same keywords as the job you want and submit it to the job posting. You can send a high volume of applications this way and schedule job interviews quickly. You should not rely on this method alone, but it can help get your resume in front of more hiring managers, which can help you get hired faster.

Which Method?

You should spend your time at first consulting your network but, if your network is on the smaller side, you will likely need to rely on the last two methods. Start by spending half a day with the previous method by applying to about 30 jobs in one day. Then, move on to the second method by targeting specific companies. Splitting your time between method two and three while also checking in on your network will be your best bet to land a job.

Recruiting Agency

If these methods seem like too much of a time commitment for you or they have not been working, contact Trades Labour. We can help match people with jobs that suit them so that they can get back to work quickly.

One of the most nerve-wracking things we all have to do at some point in a job interview. Even the most well-prepared people can mess up. Making a lasting and positive first impression is imperative for an interview to lead to a job. Here are the best ways to perfect a job interview:

Research the Business

Taking the time to do your homework about the company you are interviewing with will ensure you go in prepared. Look at their website, blog, social media accounts, and what is said about them on job sites. You should also research their competitors to find out what makes them different.

Research the Interviewer

Cultural fit goes a long way with most hiring managers and how you come across is a big deal. Research the people conducting your interview and prepare accordingly. Have as clear an idea as possible about how to relate to the people at the company.

Prepare Insightful Questions

Asking your potential boss where they see their company in five years is a useful question sometimes, but other times it might compromise your credibility. The person conducting the interview might be looking for an expert in their field so they do not want someone asking about what daily activities will be like. Use your questions as a way to highlight relevant experience and skills.

Bring Extra Resume Copies

Plan to have a copy of your resume for every person you are meeting. They may not have a copy or even had the chance to look at it beforehand.

Look and Act the Part

Whether you need to wear a suit or not will depend on what kind of job you are interviewing for. Try to check online for clues as to how people at that company usually dress. You do not want to over or underdressed as you want to convey that you will fit in with the company culture. You should also give a firm handshake and remember to maintain proper posture and eye contact. Nod occasionally to show that you are listening and have a positive attitude. Using a healthy amount of hand gestures will reinforce that you have adequate communication skills.

Ask When to Hear a Decision

If you are interviewing several people, ask the hiring manager or the last person you met with when you can expect to hear an answer. How they respond could also tell you quite a bit about how they felt the interview went.

Send a Thank You Note

Before the end of the day of your interview, send a thank you email. Be sure to keep it short but personalize it to the person you met. Say a small detail or mutual interest you discussed. You can impress them even more by mailing a handwritten card.

Follow-Up

If you do not hear back in about a week, it is acceptable to follow-up with the hiring manager. Keep the follow-up brief and try to provide value instead of coming off pushy.

For help finding a temp job, contact Trades Labour. Our experienced recruitment agency specialists will find work that suits your experience and skill set.

Any business needs to be prepared for unexpected staffing shortages during all times of the year. Seasonal increases with workload could cause your company to fall behind and leave your current employees disgruntled. A temp staffing agency can help fill gaps in your workforce and keep productivity at optimal levels. Here are some benefits you will notice using a staffing agency.

Fewer Overtime Costs

Hiring temporary workers to fill holes in your workforce means you can cut down on the amount of overtime you pay your permanent staff. Besides the cost savings, reducing or eliminating overtime hours will reduce the chances of your employees becoming irritable. This means they are less prone to making costly mistakes and you do not have to worry about damaging employee morale.

Efficient Recruiting Process

Interviewing and hiring new people can take up valuable time and resources. With a temp agency, you do not have to waste money placing ads, sorting through piles of resumes, or conducting interviews and skill assessments. If you just need help for a few shifts or a few months, doing all that labour is likely not worth it. A temp agency can do all that work for you, and they can find workers well in advance of when you need them. They are backed by experience in the industry and already have a large pool of qualified and skilled workers to draw from. This is especially helpful if you require workers on short notice.

Reduced Training Expenses

Depending on how lucky you are with the new hire you decided to take a gamble on, training can be a lengthy and costly process. If you are just hiring someone for a few shifts, it may not be worth it to go through with the process, especially if they are not as fast of a learner as their resume stated. Much of this training is done for you when you use a staffing agency. They will do it during the screening process and filter out people who take too long to acquire the necessary knowledge and skill set. This way, a temp worker can get up to speed with permanent staff quickly and seamlessly fit in with the team.

Prevents under and overstaffing

Workloads fluctuate throughout the year and while you can ask your permanent staff to take on more work during busy times, doing so can cause issues. Tasks can get overlooked, overworked employees can become cranky and tired, which can decrease morale and increase your turnover rate.

If you hire permanent staff for extra hands during the busy season, you could end up with too many when business slows down again. This can lead to wasted money on labour and termination costs. A temp staffing agency can help you assess your staffing needs and provide adequate coverage when needed.

Flexible Workers

A temp staffing agency gives you access to a flexible workforce at your fingertips. When you do not need extra workers anymore, you can simply return them to the agency. Temp workers also have more availability than permanent workers, making them ideal for less popular shifts like overnights and weekends.

If you are looking to fill vacancies at your construction job site, contact Trades Labour. We help business across Canada, from Calgary to Winnipeg to Surrey, find skilled workers in trades fields.

Investing in a temporary worker can be mutually beneficial for both the employee and the employer. Temp positions fill gaps permanent workers cannot fill and they bring in a source of income for people seeking work for a limited time or who need a job ASAP. Temp positions should be taken just as seriously as permanent positions because they could lead to a steady job and the employer can act as a reference. To make the best impression during your tenure as a temp worker, focus on embodying these qualities that every employer looks for.

Enthusiasm

An enthusiastic attitude is contagious and will rub off on the permanent staff you work with. People are drawn to positivity and will quickly enjoy your company – even if you are only there for a short while. Employers love an enthusiastic temp worker because it can boost employee morale. Something as simple as a warm smile can make a world of a difference for your boss and coworkers.

Reliable

Showing up to a shift and showing up on time are obvious criteria employers expect for every employee. Some fear that hiring a temporary worker means those expectations might not be met. Prove those people wrong by being punctual to a temp job. Being reliable also goes beyond showing up – it also means arriving early and being ready to work before your shift starts. Another part of reliability is finishing assigned tasks within the agreed-upon deadline, which also means following through with direction.

Communication Skills

The nature of temporary employment means that temp workers have to adapt to different work environments in a short amount of time. This can only be done if they can communicate effectively with their employers so that they have a clear understanding of the tasks involved. You do not have to assume that just because you did a similar job one way for a company that the expectations are the same for the next. Employers like when a temp worker is not afraid to ask questions.

Temp workers should also be upfront about availability, which means communicating honestly with the temporary staffing agency. Being open about this will ensure everyone is on the same page and prevent misunderstandings.

Flexible

One of the main reasons employers choose temporary workers over permanent staff is because of the benefits of a flexible workforce. Temp workers may be called in on short notice, which is why it is essential for them to be flexible. They may be brought in to work unpopular shifts like overnights or during busy hours. Beyond availability, flexible workers will also venture outside of their comfort zone and take on unfamiliar tasks. When hiring a temporary worker, employers look for people who are eager to learn and take on whatever duties are asked of them.

Employers want to invest in a temporary worker that is enthusiastic, a good communicator, hard-working, flexible, and reliable so that they can be sure they made a wise decision. If you are looking for temporary work, contact Trades Labour Corporation, and we will match you up with a job that suits your skill set.

Most companies experience workload fluctuations throughout the year, making some seasons busier than others. Retaining a seasonal workforce can be an excellent way to accommodate this increase in demand. It gives you help when you require it without having to pay for employees that are not needed during the slow season. Because this type of hiring tends to be more complicated than recruiting permanent staff, a temp agency can help make the on-boarding process seamless.

Who does a seasonal workforce benefit?

For most businesses, the holiday season tends to be when they see a spike in sales that requires more workers. Companies in the hospitality, retail, and warehousing and distribution sectors find themselves most in need of a flexible seasonal workforce.

Challenges of seasonal workers

It can be tricky trying to find the right number of seasonal workers and the right types of workers. Many businesses become too preoccupied with filling open positions and miss out on workers that would be a better fit. They also have to determine whether they are better off hiring full-time, part-time, contract, or temp workers. Several significant variables need to be considered.

Using a temp agency to hire seasonal workers

A seamless transition

Training new employees can be a costly and lengthy process. It is usually not worth it to hire people to cover just a few shifts. A temp agency can train seasonal workers during the screening process, relieving your company of the burden. During the recruiting process, the temp agency will perform various skill assessments to determine which candidates would be the best fit for the job. They can also provide seasonal workers with additional training to make sure they have the necessary skill set for the position. That way seasonal workers can seamlessly join your team.

Find the right balance

A temp agency has experience finding the correct number of workers for various sectors. They can ensure you have enough people for your busy season so that critical tasks do not get overlooked and year-round staff do not become overworked and irritable. Because a staffing agency also has experience matching people with jobs, you will even notice a lower turnover rate and employee morale will be positively impacted.

A flexible workforce

Hiring permanent staff for short-term needs can cause your company to become overstaffed. This, in turn, can cost you more money than you make during even your most profitable quarters. A temp agency allows you the convenience of a flexible workforce when you need it most without worrying about slower seasons. Simply return seasonal workers to the temp agency when you no longer need the extra help.

Savings

Some companies mistakenly think a temp agency costs more than doing the hiring themselves. On the contrary, the services of a temp agency can save you money in the long run. Time spent recruiting, training, and doing paperwork for new hires is time spent away from other responsibilities. A temp agency is an investment in your company that will save you time, money, and give you peace of mind.

Do not waste any more time hiring seasonal workers. Call Trades Labour Corporation to have your staffing needs taken care of smoothly and get back to focusing on your business.