Leslie's adventure

Job-hunting教戰手冊
Resume/ CV (curriculum vitae)
   
    美式履歷和中式履歷非常不同，沒有制式的表格，身為working holiday的求職者的我們，也不需過度冗長，盡量是一頁搞定的簡歷即可。不需要註明生日、性別、身高體重，也不需要附上照片（國外非常小心性別與年齡歧視）。
    一份簡單的履歷表，大致上必須有這些內容：
 

Heading

個人資料、連絡方式（姓名、電話、地址、email）

Profile

個人特質描述，可在此加上語言能力

Education

簡述教育背景、學位、主修科系

Experience

工作經驗/ 擔任志工經歷，並用過去式的動詞，描述工作的職責

Certification

證照：CPR, EMT 等

Reference

推薦人

   
    教育背景的部分，我沒有過多的著墨，反正台灣的學校我想加拿大人也不會了解（當然若是應徵華人工作另當別論）；最重要跟最難寫的是經歷的部分。分條式的列舉工作或志工經驗，再用動詞描述工作職責或達到的成就（請看範例），這部分是最令人頭痛的地方。可以上網搜尋”resume action verbs”會出現各領域工作常用的動詞，可以讓履歷看起來更漂亮。要特別注意的是時態的部分，過去的工作所以都使用過去式為主，每一項經歷都用同樣的敘述模式撰寫。若用動詞開頭就一致地用動詞開頭，不要突然轉換其他句型，盡量抓住關鍵的動詞，清楚明瞭。
 
    推薦人在國外求職時是很有加分作用的。大部分的雇主不會一開始要求，通常是面試後印象不錯，會請應試者提供推薦人資料，以方便詢問。推薦人可以是前公司主管、朋友、同事，甚至房東、教會朋友，方便他們詢問你的人格特質。當然有工作上的關係最好，若沒有也可以試試親朋好友（順帶一提，當然是要會講英文）。在履歷的末端，可以附上推薦人的連絡方式，即使是台灣前公司的老闆也沒關係，附上電子信箱，也是可以的。前提是，請務必試先徵求對方的同意，因為主管真的可能會打電話、寫信去詢問，請推薦人屆時多留意；外國人非常重視誠信，萬一主管發了詢問信，對方卻忘了這回事，即使你的經歷再好，錄取的機會還是很渺茫的。也會有注重推薦人隱私或版面不夠的人，會在簡歷的最下面寫上”References are available upon request”，對方有需求時，才提供推薦人的連絡方式，這也是可行的，也多了緩衝時間可以去找適合的推薦人。
 
Sample Resume

你也可以這樣玩：不拿糖，就搗蛋！大孩子的萬聖節！
        十月中才開始上班，還沒有領到第一次的薪水，萬聖節就要來了！才一年的打工簽證，錯過了這次，明年不知道我還在不在這裡呢！當然不能放過！好好奇，國外小孩真的會挨家挨戶去敲門要糖嗎？每到這種節慶，我就格外興奮！出國本來就是要體驗的啊！十月一開始，賣場、商店都開始販賣萬聖節的服裝跟裝飾，有些還真的逼真得嚇人。我開始了解為什麼外國鬼片可以這麼血腥也不怕嚇壞人了，他們從小都是被嚇大的！如果你從小每年院子裡都可以看到骷髏頭跟吸血鬼或棺材，大法師那些根本嚇不了你的。萬聖節的costume從嬰幼兒可愛的小瓢蟲裝、青少年的恐怖吐血妝、到女性性感冶豔的鬼怪裝扮無奇不有！也有很kuso的漢堡跟熱狗裝，可不是只能變成蜘蛛人、蝙蝠俠而已！甚至有costume的專賣店，一整年只在夏天到萬聖節期間營業，其餘的時間，店門都是關的！可想而知，萬聖節服飾的利潤是相當可觀的！各種扮相的款式令人目不暇給，但相對的，對於低收入戶的我，自然是買不起了。

◎    萬聖節商店裡各種逼真又可怕的道具，到底是想嚇死誰？

Facebook Status

After seeing many guy customers come and buy gifts for their girlfriends in our store, I learn something. Even they are really embarrassed and not knowing which way to look as long as they step in, they try hard to please their partners. A guy came with a thong in his pocket on Tuesday just because he doesn't know his girlfriend's size so he stole one of her undies. Isn’t it cute? I just realized “Oh, good girls deserve all good treatments”. Then I found out why I’ve never received this kind of treatment. I’m too practical! I think too much! And I don’t like owing to others. I’m like an old mommy always trying to help guys save money. I should learn how to accept and believe I sometimes deserve something good and romantic, should love myself more. :)

Jakeà Yeah, boyfriend life is hard! Guys have to do a lot to please their girlfriends. Girls just sit and wait to be impressed.

Leslieà Come on, don’t go too extreme.

Joanaà You never know how you'll be treated, so instead of expecting somebody to treat u well, treat yourself well is much more realistic.

Laraà I'm so excited when I see..."A guy came with a thong" and disappointed to realize that's from his pocket....

Leslieà To Lara, you made my day LOL

Facebook Status

Hey, I feel down today. I was teased by my colleagues. Remember the girl who always thinks people who are not dressed up are sallies? She introduced me to the new girls by saying “Oh, that’s Leslie. All she knows is working hard.” Then they started to chat in the fitting room and asking me to do all the chores. I was so busy running in and out while they were laughing and chit-chatting. And I couldn’t say no cuz the new girls knew nothing so that they couldn’t run errands. Am I too Asian?

ALà I suggest you ask for help when your hands are tied. Should you talk to your supervisor if she refuses to help every time? If you can't figure out how to ask for help in this circumstance, then I think that's a bit Asian (if you like to call it this way). Cheer up!

Joanaà Dressing up makes u pretty, but working hard makes you truly beautiful. Your mean colleague maybe externally pretty, but not essentially.

Facebook Status

I thought saying “yeah”, “okay”, “good” is a polite way to answer people’s request, that’s what we do in Taiwan. But just realized today that I’m confusing everyone who is talking to me by giving this kind of ambiguous response. I learned a lesson! Usually when people ask for advice, we hesitate to tell the truth, especially to those we are not familiar with. Sometimes we try to guess what’s his/her preference, and give a “proper” suggestion which won’t hurt or criticize any of us feeling. We are too conservative. But people here don’t appreciate this kind of courteous. They are straight. I think I like it this way. J

Jamià You should have critical thinking!

Job-hunting教戰手冊 

二、履歷寫法範例
Cover Letter
   在國外或外商公司，除了履歷表之外，在最前面需要附上一封求職信，說明你是如何得知這個職缺，你的相關經歷及能力能帶給公司什麼，內容不需要像履歷表一樣贅述你所有的工作經歷，主要是說明你的條件和過去工作經驗，為何適合這份工作？能怎麼幫公司加分？一封好的cover letter能決定老闆是否要看你的履歷，所以一定要簡潔有力，有自信又不失禮貌。

Conversation Bubble

Leslie: Su, do you often register your email address when you go shopping?

Su: Why do you ask?

Leslie: It is supposed to be my day off today but I was called to work for the happy hours promotion.

Su: What’s that ”happy hours” thing?

Leslie: People who shopped and registered their email before got an extra discount for 4 hours today by showing the bar code on their email!

Su: Interesting. I’ve never leave my email address when I shop. I don’t want to receive junk mail.

Leslie: I can’t agree anymore. But now, I change my mind. An additional 30% off on the top of the reduced price, they just made me an offer I can't refuse! You can save a lot simply just by checking your mail box frequently!

Su: You mean always check your email and print the bar code before going shopping? That’s a lot of work!

Leslie: Nope. First, you have to check it every hour! That’s the trickiest part! They just notify you three or four hours earlier. People rush to the store from school or from work as soon as possible. Moreover, I think it’s a benefit for smart phone holders. You don’t even need to print out anything. Just show the email via your cell phone! People using stupid phones like me easily lose the chance.

Su: Oh yeah. And old women like me, either. We are not their target customers. Do they think we don’t need sexy outfits? That’s a kind of discrimination.

Leslie: Oh well……

Facebook Status

I feel so useless. We had a floorset after close today. And I acted like an idiot! Berle, our visual specialist, gave me pictures of the wall and tables, and asked me to do the mannequins. But what is a mannequin? I can’t even understand! I looked around trying to ask for help but everyone was busy on their own task. And they were so skilled that they just had a glance at the paper and started the action. Seemed very natural and they knew what to do. Nobody had any questions and no one talked. I tried to figure out myself by walking around and check what was left, that should be my job. And Berle noticed it, that’s so embarrassing. I had too many question marks in my mind and I didn’t dare to ask. I’m so scared that they might regret hiring a stupid girl like me.

LaraàI can imagine how embarrassing it is. Maybe ask for help by whispering when the manager turns around…..or ...hide a dictionary under the sexy panties :P

LeslieàThen I have to ask how to spell “mannequin” first. -_-“

Job-hunting教戰手冊
一、    怎麼找？當然是勇敢走進去呀！
      加拿大有很多求職網站（如後），也可以自行到喜歡的品牌或店家（如starbucks, gap, republic banana, tommy hilfiger等）官方網站留意徵才訊息、上網登錄，若有適合的職缺，系統會email通知，再按照一定程序去應試。但對於錢沒有帶很多的打工度假者，這個途徑有點太慢。在登錄後一兩個月之後才收到職缺通知也是有的，要不然就是會上job bank徵才的大公司要找的是長期的員工，一年的打工簽證，對於大公司來說是不夠的。從訓練到熟悉需要花好幾個月的時間，好不容易上手了，再幾個月簽證就到了，很划不來。在人口多的大都市如多倫多、溫歌華，要幫外國員工申請正式的工作簽證手續非常繁雜，為了保障國內就業人口，政府對幫外國人申請工簽的規定很多，因此很少有公司會願意做這樣的投資。所以某些很正式、比較辦公室層級的工作，不是打工度假者的主要目標。

Conversation Bubble

Leslie: Hi, there! How are you today?

Customer: Good~.

Leslie: Just wanna let you know we are having a promotion on perfectly me bras right now. They are two for 29.50. What a great deal, eh?

Customer: Actually, I’m looking for something particular.

Leslie: May I help you with it? What are you looking for today?

Customer: I’ve bought a bra from you guys a year ago. It’s a way too comfy and I like it so much! I’ve tried all the other bras in your store and I just like this particular one.

Leslie: Yeah? Do you know which collection is it from?

Customer: That’s the problem. I forgot the name. And I cut the label already.

Leslie: How about the material or style? Is it cotton? Front closure? Or double push up?

Customer: No, it’s not cotton. It’s very stretchy.

Leslie: Would you mind walking around and take a look at our products? I’m sure we’ll find it!

Customer: But I’m a bit in a hurry. I wear it today. I can show you and you help me check, ok?

Leslie: Sure. Please come with me. (Turn around and moving towards the fitting room.)

Customer: Hey, no worries. (Pulled her shirt up and shouted.) Look! Which collection does it belong to?

Leslie: Errrrrrr……

Facebook Status

I think most of my guy friends might envy me after knowing what had happened. I’ve learned how to measure a customer today! So exciting! It’s so different from what salesperson do in Taiwan. First I have to place the tape measure around under the ribcage underneath the customer’s bust to get the band size. That part is easy. But when it comes to get the cup size, it’s a bit awkward. I have to place the tape around the fullest part of the bust! That is at the nipple level! I didn’t realize how weird it could be when practicing. But then a customer came in later today asking me for bra fitting without wearing a bra! I think I accidentally touched her nipples at some point since I’m not yet familiar. LOL

 

AL --> Erm...this is a bit awkward for me to say how much I wish to part time your job right now. I am damn sure I will do it very well!

Conversation Bubble

CSL: Good afternoon, girls. This is Sasha. I’m your CSL for the next two hours. The total target for the day is $ 2360. That means we have to make $ 260 in this segment, and make extra $80 to make up for the morning. Let’s change a bit at your position now. Leslie is good at greeting the customers so you will be the brand ambassador. Please make sure customers know about our great deal. And also keep an eye for sallies(小偷的代稱).

Leslie: Got it! I’m moving to the front.

CSL: Mahsa and Jasmine will be the cashier for this period. Ask for emails before the transaction and get them involved to our prestige card. Just spend $10 and they can get 10% off even on top of any promotion for a whole year. Siena, please go to cotton area and replenish the panty table. Put five items for each size in the color flow.

Siena: How about the drawers?

CSL: Focus on the table first.

Laal: Who is going to take over here?

CSL: Laal, you did a good job in the fitting room and I want to keep you there. Don’t worry, I will help with the put-backs. I will be floating at the floor. Let me know if you need any check. Please don’t leave your zone.

Kitty: And I am at the back doing stock. I can also check for you.

CSL: Thank you, Kitty. Okay, girls, let’s make this segment!