Job site: Job Bank
This well-designed, simple yet attractive site, provided by the Government of Canada, allows you to work out the site navigation at a glance.
The job search engine initially asks you to specify your geographical location.
A further screen then invites you to enter a keyword or job title, province and area. You can also specify if you want the results sorted by geography or date posted. The only drawback with this search engine is that its simplicity means that you need to be very careful with the keywords, as you will get either too many results, or results that miss many of the jobs you could be applying for.
Some resources are offered to support jobseekers. As you progress through a series of options, relating to Career Exploration, Training / Learning and Workers, you are taken to the jobsetc.ca website. Ultimately, this is a little frustrating, as each time you answer a question you are taken to another question.
Only a few sentences of advice are offered - eventually you are taken to a page of relevant links. While these are valuable information sources (for example, about the benefits you are entitled to if you are soon to be laid off), the process of clicking through so many pages is frustrating.
Register and you can build your resume on the site. The Job Match facility allows you to create your own profile and identify employers with the kind of jobs you seek. You can also take part in jobsetc.ca Career Navigator quizzes, which examine your Abilities, Work Preferences, Work Values, Learning Styles, etc.
These are mini-profiling tests that take about 10 minutes to complete. At the end of each, you receive a mini-analysis, suggested occupations and some sample jobs. If you have the time, these are useful self evaluation exercises to complete before writing your resume.
| URL for job seekers | |
| Type of site | Generalist |
| Specific job sectors covered |
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| Geographic coverage | Canadian Provinces |
| Number of jobs on the site | 96,000 |
| Jobs by email | Yes |
| Can you upload your CV / resume | No |
Information for Recruiters / Employers on JobBank:
Run by the Canadian Government ("Service Canada") this simple, straightforward site is nothing if not comprehensive. It claims to receive 30 million user sessions per year. Over 100,000 potential candidates visit the site every day, making it arguably the most popular Canadian recruitment web site among job seekers. For more information visit JobBank Employers
It carries an enormous amount of credibility, as it has no advertising objectives that might skew the service offered. This means there are restrictions too: the site will not accept the following: "advertisements from business or self-employment opportunities with or without a monetary investment, jobs from placement agencies that charge fees to applicants, volunteer opportunities, ads where there are currently no available openings, or if the employment is located outside Canada." Otherwise, the service is free to employers.
Your job advertisement will be posted on the Job Bank Internet site and through thousands of kiosks across Canada. The use of checklists and drop-down menu selections is encouraged. If you include large amounts of free text in your ads, they may take longer to be posted. There are special posting requirements for jobs located in Quebec, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories.
Jobs in Canada
