Now that you have your resume, cover letter and references, you can begin targeting businesses or organizations that you'd like to work for.

Apply for jobs at places that interest you - even if they are not advertising a job. Many jobs are never advertised, and even if employers aren't looking for someone at the time, they may keep you in mind for future openings.

So expand your job-search and call businesses where you would like to work.

Did You Know....?

50 to 75% of good jobs come from friends - and friends of friends - by word of mouth. Apply for jobs at places that interest you - even if they are not advertising a job. Many jobs are never advertised, and even if employers aren't looking for someone at the time, they may keep you in mind for future openings.

Find out who is responsible for hiring - get their names and their job titles. This is called tapping into the hidden job market. You could land a job by being at the right place at the right time and by making a good impression.

Be flexible and willing to take on casual work, any job that lasts five days or less, to gain experience while earning some money. Casual work can lead to full-time work or, at the very least, contacts who can steer you towards other opportunities.

Kinds of Jobs

There are 5 main areas in which young people with little or no work experience can often find jobs:

• Hospitality - hotel, restaurant, tour guide
• Office work - typist, receptionist, clerk
• Labour - construction, warehouse, landscaping
• Retail - grocery, retail outlet, cashier
• Recreation - camp counsellor, pool attendant, childcare

Networking

Put some feelers out. Get in touch with people you know who are working at places you're interested in or are in a career that appeals to you. Let them know you're looking and see if they can help you - even if it's just giving you the names and phone numbers of people you can call.

Volunteering

This is a great way to get meaningful work experience while learning new skills, meeting different people and contributing to your community.

Contact organizations that need volunteers. Try to find volunteer work that will add to your existing skills set or help you explore different career possibilities.

Co-op Opportunities

Consider participating in the co-op program offered at your school. In addition to gaining practical work experience, you can get a feel for whether a career interest is worth pursuing.