4.41 Analyzing sectors

Become your own sector analyst - like Joe!

In our rapidly changing economy, you can't take your career development for granted. At some point, you may want to (or have to) look for work in other sectors, so you need to know how to research and analyze sector trends and changes.

Joe’s Story 

Joe graduated from college with a diploma in business, specializing in accounting. His first job was an entry-level position with a major forestry company in the Interior of British Columbia. He was laid off after two years because of the downturn in this industry and started looking at other sectors where he could use his skills. Joe wanted to move to Vancouver Island and started to research the communities where he thought he might want to work. He found out that tourism is a growing sector of the economy in this region.

After doing his sector and community research and getting his resumé in shape, Joe started looking for work, targeting the tourism industry. Within three months, Joe landed a job with a small but growing eco-tourism business on the west coast of the Island. In addition to accounting, he also does sales and marketing and he's learning to teach kayaking to tourists. 

Joe recognized that tourism is BC’s fastest growing economic sector. He was able to transfer his business skills from a declining sector to a growing one. It’s likely that as Joe builds experience in this sector, he won’t have any problems finding and keeping work. In fact, he likes the industry so much, he’s even thinking of going back to college to get a certificate in tourism management so he can start his own business.

Use the Net

The Internet provides lots of information about economic sectors in Canada. Use it to help you decide where you want to focus your work search. The Net will help you identify trends and changes in the sector and identify potential employers.

Learning about sectors will also give you solid information you can use in interviews. Impress employers with your knowledge of the business in which you want to work.