The Net Works!
Lifelong learning is about finding and using the information and the tools you need to improve upon your existing skills and level of knowledge, or to acquire other skills and learn new things. The Quebec Learners’ Network helps people engage in lifelong learning over the Internet or with the help of other learning technologies. In this section, you’ll find out about some of the many ways in which people like you are using the Internet to do everything from finding a job to finding their ancestors. We’ve asked several people who use the Internet—some in quite unique and interesting ways—to help us by sharing their expertise with us and with you. They’ve included links to web sites that they’ve found useful, as well as some tips and suggestions for making searches for information easier, faster or more fruitful. The one thing they can all say about their personal and community projects is that, for them, the Net works!
Every Family Tree has Roots: Doing Genealogical Searches on the Internet
Finding a Job on the Net
Finding a Job may seem like a daunting task. How do you know what jobs are available? How do you know where to find them? Traditionally, job-seekers used the newspapers’ career section or want ads to find work. They may have used employment agencies or career centres and counsellors. They may have posted an advertisement themselves in the work wanted section of the newspaper. Today, however, in addition to all of these methods of finding work, job seekers can use the Internet to find work, to learn how to write resumes, to learn how to succeed in job interviews, or even to discover what sort of work they might be best at doing. And since the Internet knows no borders, you can find employment just about anywhere in the world.
Before you begin your job search, you’ll need to know what sort of job you want and what you need to supply potential employers in order to be considered for the position. What you want to do will determine where you should go on the Internet.
| What do you want to do? |
Where to go on the Internet |
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| 1. Do you know what job you want? |
Compare the job sites on the web Use a jobsearch portal Use a job board (and “career manager”) |
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| 2. Do you know who you want to work for? |
Find any newspaper Research by company, city, industry Use business portals |
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| 3. Do you want to explore career options? |
Subscribe to newsletters
or join discussions |
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| You’ll need these tools to get started |
Where to go on the Internet |
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| 1. You need an email address |
Free email http://www.emailaddresses.com http://mail.yahoo.com |
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| 2. You need a cover letter |
200 sample cover letters http://www.careerlab.com/letters |
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| 3. You need an electronic resume |
Create an electronic resume |
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Some Other Useful Employment Resources
http://www.CareerOwl.ca
(Great site. You can program a career "agent" to send jobs
that match your criteria to your e-mail account)
http://www.canadiancareers.com
http://www.jobbank.gc.ca
A government of Canada site. Lots of student jobs here
http://Prospects.SkillNet.ca
Articles about jobs futures with links to job postings
http://jobs.gc.ca/jobs/index_e.htm
Jobs with the Public Service Commission i.e., Government of Canada
http://www.merx.com
For small and medium sized businesses, this site allows you to search
tenders put out by the federal government. The search is free, but to
apply for any of these, one must register with MERX (on-line) and this
will cost about 6 or 7 dollars per month.
http://www.charityvillage.com
Excellent site for those looking for paid opportunities in charitable
and non-profit/not-for-profit organizations
http://www.jeffgaulin.com
Excellent site for communication/media people in all areas—tv,
radio, film, magazines and newspapers. Even public relations and marketing
jobs here
http://www.playbackmag.com/careers
For people with skills in the television and film industry
Every Family Tree has Roots: Doing Genealogical Searches on the Internet
It is amazing how many people are using the Internet to search for long-lost living relatives or to gather information about ancestors and family history. One such Canadian man did extensive genealogical research using the Internet and, in the process, amassed a large amount of information, including copies of the birth records and marriage certificates of his ancestors. He then discovered that he had enough evidence to show that he was, in fact, also an American citizen! Here are some of his favorite web sites and a few search tips that you might use to discover some family history of your own.
Tips and Tricks
Search engines support simple and complex search queries. To locate an ancestor, use both simple and complex search terms on Google (search engine: http://www.Google.com). For example:
early New Jersey marriages
lycoming county PA john smith
Two words that lead to successful searches: patience and collaboration.
Why work alone when there may be dozens of people out there looking for
the same or similar information? Many genealogy sites allow for e-mail
postings (such as http://www.geneology.com) where you can
simply describe what (or who) you are searching for, and also offer some
information that you’ve found. You may be pleasantly surprised to
find responses from the descendents of your relatives who had lived hundreds
of years ago!
Learning Languages on the Web
For many people, learning a second or third language is forever on their ìwish list.î They want to take the time to learn, but classes never seem to be on the days or at the times that are convenient for them. For others, classes may be too expensive, or too formal or informal, or simply too far away. Fortunately, there’s an alternative. More and more, people are finding the language courses they need on the Internet. Taking a course on the Net can be much more convenient: it’s close to home (for many, right in the home), it can be accessed at a time (or day) that is convenient for the learner, and many of the courses are free of charge. Furthermore, discussion boards, while not formal lessons, are often the best way to learn a new languageóand possibly make a new friend at the same time.
Web-based Resources
Free language
learning on the Net
This site is a great place to start. It is a non-profit site that
helps you link to a large number of language sites from Afrikaans to Zulu
- Excellent library of bilingual texts
- Free translation service
- Free language help
Try out the links (there are good and bad ones) and bookmark the ones you find useful. Revisit often and check for new links.
Teaching
sites (free)
Chinese, English as 2nd Language, French, German, Hebrew, Italian,
Japanese, Latin, Russian, Spanish
- Very good site. You can subscribe to a weekly newsletter.
- Links to chatrooms and newsgroups
- Penpals
If a site offers a newsletter, subscribe. You’ll have your lessons delivered to your mailbox. Very good for the not-so-disciplined!
Newsgroups
Newsgroups are discussion boards on which you can ask and answer questions,
enter into or start a discussion on language issues. Unfortunately, there
are not a lot of newsgroup topics specifically on languages, so it may
be difficult to find the one you want. However, one way in which you can
use discussion boards to your advantage is by finding newsgroups in other
countries whose topics are related to your interests and hobbies and simply
join in on the discussions in their language! If you have never used Newsgroups,
get instructions from your Internet service provider on how to access
their news server. If you are using Netscape, the newsreader is part of
Netscape. If you are using Microsoft products, you can access newsgroups
from Outlook Express.
Women’s Networks
Why the Internet is a good
networking tool for women in rural areas
A personal tale by Linda Sparks, Former Webgrrls Outaouais
Chapter Leader.
When I was almost finished taking my introduction to computers class, myself and two of my fellow classmates wanted to stay in touch, improve our skills and find employment. But how where we to accomplish these goals, when we lived in different areas and had growing families to care for?
We decided to network and start a Webgrrls Outaouais Chapter. We would meet to discuss current issues about the Internet, technology and the new media. We would encourage our members to “go forth into the brave new world”.
We started to e-mail other women; at home moms, working moms, self-employed women, artists, web designers, graphic designers and programmers. Some of the women, were new to the Internet, others were veterans. When we did get together, our talks revolved around solving problems, exchanging rÈsumÈs and “leads” to employment.
We developed our own web site; we did the work ourselves with the involvement of many wonderful volunteers who were eager to test their newfound skills. The women were becoming confident and experienced in using traditional skills in regards to the Internet and the new media.
The networking, contacts, experience and hard work paid off for many of the women.
I myself wrote the content for our web site, from this experience, I gained a better understanding of web sites, of marketing, promoting and developing my writing skills. The Webgrrls Outaouais Chapter lasted for about a year, after that, the founding members moved on to demands of the working world.
Today, I am a freelance writer and I write a weekly column in the West Quebec Post.
I keep in touch with my editor and other writers; I do my research and query letter writing on line.
The Internet is the best networking tool I have ever used and still use to advance my writing career, my knowledge and understanding of our changing world.
The World Wide Web is a network, a network of challenges, new ideas and inspiration to all of us women who live in rural areas, women who need to get out and make contacts and have the support of other women.
I encourage you to take that step, into the brave new world of the Internet.
Here are some Canadian Women’s Networks on the Web:
- http://virtu-elles.org/english (Rural Resource Network in the Outaouais)
- http://www.digitaleveottawa.com/bin/index.cgi (Technology, Communications)
- http://www.cdnbizwomen.com (Business Information for Women)
- http://www.stdioxx.org (Women Artists Network)