Surfing for Work ASPECT ECS
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Topics
1.0 Introduction
2.0 Topic List
3.0 Using the Internet
4.0 Research on the Net
4.01 The Labour Market
4.1 The BC Economy
4.2 Occupational LMI
4.21 Use with Caution!
4.22 Today's Skills
4.23 Essential Skills
4.3 Ed. & Train'g LMI
4.4 Sector LMI
4.41 Analyzing sectors
4.42 Canadian Sector Information
4.43 Sectors in British Columbia
4.44 Entertainment and Culture
4.45 Government
4.46 Health Care
4.47 Science & Technology
4.48 Tourism
4.49 Forestry-Wood
4.491 Building Our Tutorial
4.5 Community LMI
4.51 Creative Observation
4.52 Community LMI on the Net
4.6 Professional Associations
5.0 Online Job Search
6.0 Self-Employment
7.0 Special Groups
8.0 Career Self-Management
9.0 Feedback

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4.51 Creative Observation

Observe your community in new ways

Keep your eyes open as you travel around your community. You'll gain good insight into what economic activity is going on, what is changing in the economy, and where there might be work opportunities. Here’s some advice from the Job Search Canada website.

Take a drive around your city. What is happening out there? How much new construction can you find? New construction means more people who need more services and a strain on the local economy.

This is labour market information. Does it mean an opportunity for you? What else is happening in your town? Is the economy good where you are? How is the general pay structure for non-union employees? Are business owners willing to talk to you to provide the information you are looking for, or are they in a snarly mood? These are all indications of trends which indicate the types of jobs required now and in the future.

Ask questions

If you're looking for work, be sure to read your daily newspaper and pay attention to the local media (radio and television). This is a good way to keep up with economic trends in your community.

If you hear or read about new business start-ups, closures or government initiatives in your local newspaper, ask yourself some questions:

  • What opportunities does the announcement mean for the economy?
  • What local goods and/or services will be needed as a result of the announcement?
  • Will jobs be generated as a direct result of the announcement?
  • What secondary work will be generated (e.g. suppliers of goods and services to the development)?
  • What will the announcement mean for local competitors? Will there be work opportunities with the competition?
  • Are there any opportunities for self-employment?
  • Who can you contact to get more information about the announcement?
Open your eyes and ears. There are work opportunities all around you.

 
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Some thoughts about change . . .


"We must all obey the great law of change. It is the most powerful law of nature."
-Edmund Burke


"Change is unsettling; it’s disturbing; it puts us on edge. And it’s never going to stop."
-
Nuala Beck


"Who are you?" said the Caterpillar. "I hardly know, Sir, just at present," Alice replied rather shyly, "at least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then."
- Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland


"Progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on too long."
- Ogden Nash
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