Employment in Toronto
I recently read an article in the newspaper talking about how the unemployment rate in Toronto has dropped, there was a big surge of jobs in June that took care of all our poor, unemployed schlubs. Except for me, that is.
I’ve been looking for work in the big city for two months now and haven’t found anything.
I’m forced to spend my days playing Zuma. Ok, sometimes it’s Half Life 2, or Painkiller, Doom 3 or Return to Wolfenstein, but most of the time it’s Zuma, because it’s faster loading and exiting. I’ve gotten pretty good at this game.
My point (yes there is one), is that it’s hard enough to get an interview, never mind the dreaded second interview. And I’m a basket-case on interviews too. Although I know my skills, I can never seem to sell myself to a potential employer.
And, in Toronto, they’ve got their pick of the possible 3 million unemployed others to choose from… why pick me?
Do you think that my newly-formed Zuma skills might help sell me?
It’s even worse for new immigrants without Canadian Experience. It’s a giant catch 22 that they have managed to get us perfectly in the middle of.
For the job I have now, I wouldn’t have it if not for the co-op placement I did here, while at college. The way most people get a job at my workplace, is to learn a job on their own time, ie volunteering, work freelance days when someone is sick or on vacation, and when a full time position opens up, they are likelier to be hired than someone off the street, because the company knows what the person is like already.
welcome to toronto metblogs! i definitely feel your pain. i’ve been a stay at home mom for 6 years. last year, i applied to a few jobs to try and re-enter the conventional workforce. you should see the interviewer’s faces when i tried to explain that i’ve been a SAHM all these years. its like having to reprove yourself all over again! sigh!
zuma rocks!
judy,
it’s somewhat annoying that SAHM’s get such a bad rap. when in reality, taking care of your kid(s) full time is probably one of the hardest jobs out there.
Yes, I agree with Shy. The full-time parent doesn’t get to take a lunch break away from the job, and it doesn’t finish at 5:00.
There’s no appreciation for that job, and I know that I was pretty happy when my maternity leave was over and I was heading back to work (it was much easier :).
How badly do you want a job?
I don’t know if I would find it overly productive to be standing downtown on a corner with a sign all day.
I would think that my chances are better searching the net on job search sites, going through the paper, and cold-walking into neighbourhood spots.
If you ever find an employer who appreciates your skill at the games you listed, tell them you know someone who got to level 13 of Zuma - LEVEL 13 MAN!
I’m also a pretty mean hand at Bejewelled 2, but there’s someone (who I can’t link to because her blog is on blogspot) who is much better than I sadly.
Holy crap! Level 13! I didn’t even know it went up to level 13… I’ve only gotten to Level 8-4 and then I die.
Level 13 goes into space! You have no idea what the course of the balls will be and it, shall we say, rather tricky :)
wow. i haven’t purchased the full version so i’m unable to get past level four.
i have, however, downloaded diner dash and might i add that i’m pretty good with it! :)
Level 13 is called SPACE.. You have to go through 12 each time in order to play 13 again. Its the best leevl since you don;t see the PATH (walls)
I consider myself pretty since I was able to finish the game in 2 weeks.
Good luck !