The Process for  Job Seekers

There are a number of programs funded by both the federal and provincial governments that can help you during difficult times. Each program is catered to helping in specific ways for specific populations, so you should take time to look into each program to see which will best suit your individual needs.

Ontario Works (OW) is a provincially-funded program that helps those in financial need cover the cost of basic necessities. Eligibility is based on individual financial circumstances and willingness to actively search for employment.

The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) is another provincially-funded program that assists those with a disability who are in financial need to cover the cost of necessities. Applicants must prove that they are in financial need and meet the program’s definition of a person with a disability.

Employment Insurance (EI) benefits are available to those who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own and are willing and able to return to work, but are unable to find another job. Applicants for EI must also have worked the required number of insurable hours in the last 52 weeks in order to qualify for this program. Recipients must provide proof of an active job search to continue receiving these benefits. EI can be received from 14 weeks up to a maximum of 45 weeks. The amount of financial assistance provided is based on an individual’s average insurable weekly earnings up to a maximum amount.

The amount of time it can take to find a new job is dependent on many different factors. Due to this, it is very difficult to say how long it will take any individual to find work. The best way to get a better idea of what to expect is to research local labour market trends. Ontario’s labour market webpage offers monthly updates regarding the labour market in Ontario. This is broken down further into the amount of jobs created for people at various levels of education and within various fields of employment. Using this resource will give you the most up-to-date information so that you know what to expect in your job search.

Whether you are looking for work or are already working with an employer, it is important to know what your rights are within these contexts. Both the Ontario Government and Government of Canada websites offer information on labour standards, workplace health & safety, and human rights in the work context. However, it can be difficult to interpret the legislation just by reading it. To address this issue, Steps to Justice is an excellent resource that puts Ontario’s legislation into plain language to better help you understand your rights within many different contexts. This is an excellent resource if you want to know more about the law as it applies to you.

Starting a new job search can be a very daunting task and it is easy to get overwhelmed when you don’t know what your options are. If you don’t have much experience with writing a resume, completing a job application, or doubt your interviewing skills, attending an employment agency is a great place to start. Services at ReStart are catered to the individual needs of anyone that comes in looking for help. By assessing and listening to clients to develop individualized service plans, we are able to touch on the issues that are most pressing to each individual client.

If you would prefer to start your employment search on your own, there are a number of resources that can make your search easier. There are job boards available through the Ontario Government and Government of Canada that you can use to search for jobs based on field and location. Using these sites as a starting point is beneficial as they also provide information on the labour market in relation to your chosen career. Additionally, sites such as Indeed.ca provide a very broad set of jobs available based on your location. Sites such as these are readily used by employers, so they are a good way of getting a general sense of jobs available in the area and make applications very easy. 

Finally, it is important to consider often-overlooked ways of searching for employment. Individual employers, especially larger corporations, usually have job boards posted on their sites. Researching employers you are interested in is an incredibly useful way of directing your job search more effectively. Also, it should be noted that using people in your network such as family and friends is the best way to get information about jobs that may not be posted online. The more people know that you’re looking for work, the more people are able to help you in your search!