Just starting your career? Not sure if you have what employers are looking for? You might be surprised—many of the most valued qualities are personality traits and behaviors you can develop and showcase every day.
Here are 10 characteristics employers look for:
Dependability – Show up on time, follow through on tasks, and be someone your team can count on.
Listening & Following Instructions – Pay attention, ask questions if you’re unsure, and complete tasks as directed.
Time Management – Use time and materials wisely and meet deadlines consistently.
Positive Attitude – Stay optimistic, even during challenges, and be open to feedback.
Teamwork – Be respectful, cooperative, and ready to work with people of different backgrounds and personalities.
Willingness to Learn – Show that you’re eager to grow and take on new challenges.
Professional Appearance – Dress in a way that’s appropriate for your workplace and role.
Flexibility – Be open to change, new responsibilities, or shifting schedules.
Self-Care & Reliability – Take care of your well-being and show up ready to contribute.
Strong Communication – Express yourself clearly, listen actively, and resolve issues calmly.
You don’t need years of experience to be a great employee. Employers appreciate people who take their roles seriously, show initiative, and work well with others. When preparing for an interview, highlight these traits—you already have more to offer than you think!
Gaining work experience is a great way for someone to explore occupations that might interest them in the future. (Working is also a great way for someone to figure out what they do not want to do!)
For people just beginning to think about life after school, part-time or weekend jobs are the most likely place to start. They might be limited in their choices by the opportunities available, but remember—even if a job doesn’t sound like the perfect fit, it can still teach valuable skills that will help them qualify for future opportunities.
Getting Started with a Resume
To begin, a person should have a resume ready to share with potential employers. A school guidance counselor can help, or if the person is not in school, local community resources and employment agencies are often available to assist.
Even without a “regular job,” include informal work like grass cutting, snow shoveling, babysitting, or running errands. These show responsibility and independence. Extracurricular activities can also demonstrate useful skills—sports, clubs, or volunteering are all relevant.
Don’t forget to keep the resume updated, especially if contact information or job experience changes. Also, consider certificates that improve qualifications—like babysitting, first aid, food handling, or swimming training. Include any awards or recognition to showcase accomplishments.
Use AI Tools to Build and Improve Your Resume
Free or low-cost AI tools like ChatGPT can help create or improve a resume. You can:
Get a resume template tailored to your skills or experience level
Receive suggestions for how to describe your work or volunteer activities
Ask for help writing a cover letter or interview answers
Review grammar and wording to make your resume more professional
If you’re not sure how to describe your past experience or skills, AI tools can help you put it into words—just type in what you’ve done and ask for feedback or suggestions. This can be especially helpful for youth, newcomers, or anyone writing a resume for the first time.
Leveraging Social Media and Creating a LinkedIn Profile
In today’s world, being online can help with finding work—especially for youth or job seekers looking to build a network.
LinkedIn is a professional networking site where you can:
List your work, volunteer experience, and skills
Connect with employers, agencies, and coworkers
Follow companies you’re interested in
Find job postings or be noticed by recruiters
A strong LinkedIn profile includes:
A clear, friendly photo
A simple “About Me” section (e.g., “Motivated worker looking for a job in retail or customer service”)
AI tools like ChatGPT can also help you write your LinkedIn bio, summarize your experience, or give suggestions on how to present your skills online.
Other social media platforms—like Facebook, Instagram, or X—can also be helpful:
Follow local businesses, recreation centres, or job agencies
Join local job groups
Watch for posts that say “We’re hiring!”
Be careful about what’s posted on personal accounts. Employers sometimes check public profiles. Keep it positive and professional.
Searching for Jobs
When looking for work, here are some ways to find opportunities:
Enrol with MyJobMatch – a platform designed for persons with disabilities to find employment
Look at community bulletin boards at rec centres, libraries, and grocery stores
Visit government employment centres or websites like Job Bank Canada
Explore job boards on municipal websites or Parks and Recreation departments
Talk to your school, support worker, or employment agency
Sometimes opportunities are right around the corner. A walk through your neighbourhood might lead to “Now Hiring” signs. Ask for applications at stores or restaurants. Even if they’re not hiring immediately, many keep applications on file.
If you’re volunteering or in a co-op placement, let your supervisor know you’re looking for paid work—they might be open to creating a paid position.
Networking and Word of Mouth
Ask family, friends, teachers, neighbours, or anyone in your circle about job opportunities. Most people are happy to help and may know someone who’s hiring. Let others know what kind of work you’re looking for and what you’re good at. Many jobs are found through word of mouth.
Keep an Open Mind
Your first job likely won’t be your last. Early jobs help build confidence, independence, and valuable work habits. Even a short experience in customer service, cleaning, or stocking shelves can help lead to a long-term opportunity.
Stay open to new experiences, be willing to learn, and remember that every job—big or small—is a step toward your goals.
How to Use LinkedIn to Boost Your Job Search: A Guide for Job Seekers and Supporters
For job seekers with intellectual or developmental disabilities—and the people who support them—tools like LinkedIn and MyJobMatch.ca offer a powerful way to explore opportunities, connect with employers, and build confidence. With over 27 million Canadians on LinkedIn, it’s become one of the most important places to be when you’re job hunting.
Step 1: Build a Strong LinkedIn Profile
Think of your LinkedIn profile as your professional landing page. It’s often the first thing employers look at, even before an interview. A strong profile includes:
A professional photo: A clear, friendly headshot goes a long way.
A headline: Use a simple phrase that explains what you’re looking for (e.g., “Motivated and Reliable Worker Seeking Customer Service Role”).
An About/Summary section: Write 2–3 sentences about who you are, what you’re good at, and what kind of work you enjoy.
Experience section: Add any jobs, volunteer work, school co-ops, or training programs you’ve completed.
Visual content: Include photos from events, projects, or job fairs if available.
Recommendations: Ask a teacher, job coach, or employer to write a short recommendation about your work ethic or skills.
Step 2: Keep Your Profile Updated
Just like a resume, your LinkedIn profile should be updated whenever something changes, like contact information, work experience, or new skills. It shows employers that you’re active and motivated.
Step 3: Post and Share Content
You don’t have to post every day, but sharing once or twice a week shows that you’re engaged. Some ideas:
Share a photo or story from a job fair or placement
Talk about what you’re learning on the job
Celebrate a milestone or a certificate you earned
Share a job-related article and comment on it
Use 2–3 hashtags to help others find your post (e.g., #JobSeekers, #InclusiveHiring, #CustomerService).
Step 4: Connect With Employers
The best way to grow your network is to engage with employers directly. Here’s how:
Search for businesses you’re interested in
Like and comment on posts by managers or company pages
Send a personalized message when you request to connect
Reach out to 5–6 employers a day to build momentum
This shows initiative and helps you stay top-of-mind when a position opens up.
Step 5: Combine LinkedIn with MyJobMatch
Use MyJobMatch.ca to apply for inclusive jobs that fit your interests and skills, and then use LinkedIn to:
Together, these platforms give you a strong online presence and a targeted job search strategy.
Step 6: Track Your Progress
Create a simple daily or weekly checklist:
Number of profile visits
Connection requests sent
Posts liked or commented on
Messages sent to employers
Tracking small actions keeps you focused and builds confidence as you go.
LinkedIn may feel intimidating at first, but with the right support and guidance, it can become one of your most powerful tools for building a career. Combined with MyJobMatch and your employment services team, you’re not just job hunting—you’re building a professional network, telling your story, and opening doors.
Looking for a job can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re trying to explain to someone why you (or your family member) would be a great fit. One thing we’ve found helpful is preparing for conversations with employers like it’s a sales pitch.
That doesn’t mean we’re trying to “sell” something. It means we’re getting ready to clearly and confidently explain what we bring to the table.
Here’s what we do:
We Get Clear on What We’re Asking For
Before reaching out to anyone, we decide what we’re looking for. Is it a paid job? A volunteer opportunity? A short trial? Being clear helps us explain things better and makes it easier for the person we’re speaking with to understand.
We Learn a Little About the Workplace
If we’re approaching a business, we try to find out what they do. That way, we can think about how our skills and interests might be helpful to them. For example, if a business deals with a lot of deliveries, we might mention that we’re organized and good at sorting.
We Talk About Strengths
Instead of focusing on challenges, we talk about what we’re good at — like being dependable, friendly, or good at routines. We give real examples to show how these strengths might help at work.
We Bring Something to Leave Behind
We often bring a short profile or resume. It’s one page that describes who we are, what we enjoy, and what kind of work we’re looking for. It shows we’re serious and gives them something to remember us by.
We Practice What to Say
Before we talk to someone new, we practice. This helps build confidence and makes it easier to speak up when we’re nervous. Sometimes we write out what we want to say, so we can review it ahead of time.
We’re Ready for Questions
We think about what someone might ask and try to prepare answers. If we’ll need support on the job, we explain that clearly and let them know we have a plan — they won’t have to figure it out alone.
We Believe in the Value We Bring
It’s not always easy to hear “no,” but we try not to let that stop us. We know we have something to offer, and we remind ourselves that work is about more than money — it’s about being part of the community, learning, and growing.
We may do things differently, and that’s okay. What matters most is showing up, being proud of our abilities, and helping others see our potential.
PRESENTERS: Cassondra Watkis, Community Support Worker, Lumenus
Lumenus’ skills building programs are no cost, 8-week sessions with a focus to empower and strengthen participants in targeted areas of their daily living. Registration, program suitability and detailed program content will be presented for both programs.
Lifeskills with Lumenus is focused on developing skills in the following areas: Community Skills, Healthy Relationships, Nutrition & Wellness and Cooking.
Independence with Lumenus is targeted to address areas of participant’s daily living including Employment Readiness, Cyber Safety and Financial Literacy.
Creating and exploring options for home is one of the more difficult aspects of future planning for people with a disability. Join us on Wednesday, June 11th at 7pm ESTfor the Creative Options for Home webcast, to learn about some of the innovative ways that families are supporting their family member in having a home of their own and one of their own choosing.
What’s in it for you?
Overview of the steps needed to develop a creative, individualized housing plan;
Stories from families who have implemented creative housing solutions;
Overview of the DSO’s housing toolkits and housing navigators;
A live Q&A session to address your questions.
Panelist
Kelly Casey With over 30 years of experience in the area of Developmental Services, Kelly’s extensive clinical knowledge in developmental services, dual diagnosis and autism have provided her with the skills to support individuals and families in the development and implementation of their person directed plans and individualized residential models.
Register using the link below – we look forward to having you there!
Community Living Toronto – Community Engagement Speaker Series – This month, we are pleased to announce an insightful session from the Katie Macdonald from the Ontario Caregivers Organization to share information on: Working Caregivers – Balancing Work & Care.
This presentation explores helpful strategies and resources for balancing work /employment and caregiving, including identifying their own needs, effectively communicating with employers, and accessing supports and benefits that may be available to them.
Are you a service provider in Ontario offering fee-for-service programs and services for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities or Autism? MyCommunityHub can help you efficiently manage your registrations for free.
PRESENTER: Spencer Marley, BSW, Transitional Support Worker, Griffin Community Support Network, Transitional Support Services (Adult)
Join us for a presentation and open forum discussion on the ways that sexual health education for adults with developmental disabilities can act as a form of harm reduction for sexual abuse. Learn about statistics, legal/ethical obligations for service providers, how we can overcome our own biases to provide the most appropriate care for service users, and more!
This month, we are pleased to announce an insightful session from the TTC to speak on various transit topics including : Wheel-Trans, Presto and fares, as well as the TTC Travel Training program.
The TTC provides safe and reliable transportation options for persons with temporary and/or permanent disabilities.
