Between March 15 and April 7, the number of claims for Canada’s employment insurance program and the federal government’s new emergency workers benefit combined had surged to 4.26 million — which is more than 11 percent of Canada’s entire population and around 21 percent of its workforce, this according to Politico.
Statistics Canada releases it’s Labour Force Survey today. If you’re unfamiliar with this report it measures the current state of the Canadian labour market and is used to calculate the national, provincial, territorial and regional unemployment rates.
If you’re a Canadian experiencing sudden career loss, here’s the best advice I can offer from a career professional perspective:
- Allow yourself to go through the grieving process. You’ve lost your job, maybe your workplace community and the income used to support your family. It’s a lot to take in all at once.
- Sit down and assess your financial options. These may include benefits from your employer, your province and/or your country. Assess and weigh your options before you begin designing the way ahead. Knowing where you stand financially is an important factor to consider before moving forward with your job search.
- Begin to consider how you’ll conduct your job search. For now, think in terms of small manageable pieces. This is not a race. Remember, Quality over Quantity wins the day.
Here are some resources I’ve shared with job seekers looking for information on how to process job loss, where to turn for help and how to make sure they are moving in the right direction.
Resources for Jobseekers
What to do immediately after you’ve lost your job
Video 1 | Dealing with job loss
Video 2 | Job Search Foundations
In-demand Soft Skills | 2020
Resume Fodder | Paying attention to your strengths
Video 3 | Research. Collecting your data
Before you apply online video | Applying online. What works and what doesn’t
Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) | Are you eligible?
Video 4 | Telling your career stories
The Government of Canada created the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) to support Canadians financially in these initial weeks.
Unfortunately, numerous scams and frauds have been reported to the Government. The Anti-Fraud Center has therefore created a section of its web site dedicated to COVID-19 related scams. I highly recommend you give it a few moments of your time. It may stop you from sharing your personal information with people posing as Government of Canada officials online and on the phone.
Wherever you get your information, be sure you check the source. These are the Government of Canada sites I’ve been following and sharing for the most up-to-date information.
Government of Canada LinkedIn sites
Government of Canada Websites
- Anti-Fraud Center
- Canada Revenue Agency
- Department of Finance Canada
- Employment and Social Development Canada
- Mental Health Commission of Canada
Canadians in need of job support
If you are a Canadian who recently lost your job, know you are not alone. There are career professionals across the nation ready to assist you. I encourage you to learn about the work we do to support Canadians.
Related Categories: Job Search
About The Author
Maureen McCann is an award-winning career coach, master resume writer, and master certified interview, employment, and career strategist whose clients include C-level executives, managers, and professionals in all industries including the Canadian banking, oil and gas, healthcare, IT, and government sectors.