The Student Guide to Job Hunting: Paths to Success

Genevieve Cherwinski is a co-operative education teacher in St.
John’s, Newfoundland.

The recent recession has led to a proliferation of guidebooks designed
to advise job seekers on how to get the best possible employment. Much
of what appears in this one is obvious: the need for job hunters to
analyze their own personalities, values, skills, and interests to
determine the most desirable source of employment; the value of
effective résumé and letter writing; filling out application forms;
and conduct during the much-anticipated interview. Among the book’s
strengths are an upbeat tone, humorous contents, and a wealth of
practical tips. One particularly useful section takes potential job
applicants systematically through questions they should be able to
answer during an interview. In the appendix, there are forms for readers
to complete outlining what they’ve learned about themselves and the
progress they’ve made in searching for a job.

The guide is somewhat out of touch with Canadian realities. For
example, job applicants are advised to tell prospective employers that
references will be provided upon request. Given the current surplus of
job hunters, would not applicants be better advised to indicate
references up front to save employers the trouble of making contact?
Furthermore, the book minimizes the importance of volunteer work, which
has enabled large numbers of entry-level applicants to get their first
and only taste of employment, especially in less-industrialized regions
of the country. Finally, Cфté’s proposal of self-employment as a
viable alternative is unrealistic for newcomers to the labor force who
have large debts and little access to start-up capital. Unskilled
workers and students with little work experience who are seeking their
first “real” employment are advised to seek out additional
information.