Career and Job Search Help Blog

The Start of a New Year - A Good Time to Review Your Career Plan

Every year, our department reviews our yearly departmental objectives - they're either updated, dropped, or supplemented in some fashion. I personally have my own set of career objectives, although this is not required by our manager or department head. It's important to have a career plan and re-visit it on an annual basis, whether you are currently working, or looking for employment.

Things to remember:

• Set realistic goals and objectives for the year. List the steps you would take to achieve them and how you will measure your success (via quantifiable milestones).
• Have a clear direction. What is your ideal job, position, or set of responsibilities?
• Establish a professional presence on social networking tools like LinkedIn. Join groups, stay active on whatever sites you participate in. Many recruiters/potential employers will do background checks. Follow companies that you want to work for.
• Brand yourself. This is a derivative of the traditional "Job Objective" statement that I've seen appearing on the top of a cv/resume. In a short paragraph, state who you are, what audience you serve, what's unique about you.
• Stay positive! Difficult, I know, especially if you've been looking for your ideal job for awhile. Create a balance between looking for a job and taking care of your personal life. Exercise your body and mind. Eat healthily. Indulge in a passion or two!

Have a look at this and additional books:

  

So You Want to Open Your Own Restaurant? Do Your Research First!

Have you always dreamed of opening up your own restaurant but don't really know where to start?  You are definitely not alone. Expect to never have a dull moment if this is your dream - there are new and exciting challenges you'll face. The future does look bright for this industry, however a tough reality is that many (not all though!) restaurants fail within the first year - mostly due to lack of business planning. One of the most important steps of your planning is creating a business plan. There are many online resources which can help you with business plans. A restaurant entrepreneur needs to do a great deal of business research whether its a cafe, deli or Indian buffet.

The Canadian restaurant and food service industry makes a tremendous contribution to our economy. According to research from the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CFRA) the Canadian restaurant industry employs more than one million people and generates $60 billion in annual sales - accounting for 4% of the Canadian economy and apparently dining out is one of the top three tourist activities in Canada. To my surprise 64% of restaurants in Canada are independent, and 36% are chains (CFRA) - which is reassuring if you'd like to open up your own small restaurant.

I was reading an article about how to start a restaurant from entrepreneur.com which gave an interesting marketing perspective. Many entrepreneurs may strive to please 100% customers which is an unrealistic expectation - it is more feasible to focus on smaller target markets who all have different needs. Age is an easy example - you could focus on groups such as: Baby boomers, Generation X/Y, Traditionalists, etc.

For some inspiration join us next Tuesday, February 21, 2012, at North York Central Library, the Business department is hosting a program called Harlem Underground: Secrets of A Successful Urban Eatery.  Join speaker Carl Cassell, owner of the Harlem Underground, which has 2 locations in Toronto as he discusses his experiences starting and running a restaurant chain.

Also, come visit the library for some books on starting up your own restaurant :

                      

 

Thanks for reading, please feel free to share any comments!

 

 

 

Which Canadian Industries are Top Employers?

While on the topic of top employers (companies), I thought it would be interesting to check out which industries in Canada are top employers. Lo and behold, it turns out that the retail industry is the country's largest employer - employing 12% of Canada's workforce. All right - let's go shopping!

Business services such as real estate, communications, and financial services also employed just as many Canadians. Other large employers can be found in this Canada FAQ.

 

Want a Job but you're over 40? over 50? a Boomer?

You are looking for a job but you are no longer the new kid on the block. Will employers appreciate your skills and experience? Will they see your excitement, vibrancy, commitment, and dedication? Or will your age be a barrier, denying you a good job and the employer a terrific employee?

 Don't be intimidated. Jobs and job search help are out there. Let your experience work to your advantage. Be proud of who you are and what you have already achieved and accomplished. Don't try and hide your age, but update your image so you appear self-assured and confident. Wear clothes that are neat, clean, well-fitted, and contemporary. Get a new hairstyle and perhaps some colour or highlights.

A 40 or 50 year old can blow an interview by trying to look twenty years younger and ending up looking comical. I've seen people like that, and I'm sure you have also. I remember a friend who was always in the height of fashion. I hadn't seen her for twenty years--and she was still in the height of fashion, but it was the fashion of twenty years ago! Another person I knew, went to the opposite extreme. He styled his hair and dressed in clothes more suited to a much younger man. The idea is to be modern, current, and to be yourself.

Check out some of the articles on Job Resources for Mature and Older Jobseekers at the Quintessential Careers website. There are tips and suggestions for your search, your resume, your interview, and other points of interest.

 You can also look at some of these titles available in the Careers section at the Toronto Public Library.

              

 

      

 

 

English Names on Resumes

Juliet said in her famous soliloquy, "What's in a name? that which we call a rose, By any other name would smell as sweet..." (Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene II) This makes me think of some of the memorable and unusual names I've come across: Moon Unit Zappa (daughter of musician, Frank Zappa); Charles Adolphe Faux-Pas Bidet, Commissaire de Police, Paris, France; Positive Wasserman Johnson (The Wasserman test looks for antibodies to syphillis.) and Mrs. Belcher Wack Wack (Miss Belcher married Mr. Wack and then married his brother.)

Many people have names which are not anglicized - it's a pride thing - you know, my name is just as good as anyone else's. It's uniquely me, and I like it! When we moved to Canada, it was suggested to my parents that they provide me with an English name. Don't get me wrong - I love "Elle" - just like I love my other name, because it means "bright star". My anglicized name would, reportedly, allow people to remember me a little easier, etc. Now this dilemma has once again reared its ugly head.

In a report released in October 2011, two University of Toronto researchers, Philip Oreopoulos and Diane Decheif, found that resumes featuring English names were more than 35-per-cent more likely to receive a callback than a resume featuring Chinese, Indian or Greek names. The researchers sent dozens of employers identical resumes - changing only the names of the applicants. They found that employers across Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver significantly discriminated against applicants with common Indian and Chinese names relative to English. The callback rate differences were larger in Montreal, while smaller in Vancouver. Recruiters were also interviewed to explain why they believe name discrimination occurs. It turns out that productivity concerns cannot explain name bias. Rather, recruiters said that employers often treat a name as a signal that an applicant may lack language or social skills. And in this time & resources-pressed work environment, employers are wary of  applicants with foreign names, hence foreign background and possible lack of adequate English-language and social skills for the Canadian marketplace. However, the researchers also suspected that recruiters are afraid of making a "bad hire", especially during these tough economic times.

So what can you do? Since one of the skills desired by most employers is strong communication skills, make sure you make it clear to the recruiters/employers that you have this desirable skill - call and talk to the recruiters. Take public-speaking and writing courses. Consider adding an anglicized name.

What's your opinion? Do you have an Anglicised name? If so, what is the rationale behind it?

The Right Province for You; The Best Companies to Work For

Always on the lookout for trends in the workplace, I recently read an article about the best province to work in, based on your career. This, in addition to the best companies to work for, will prove worthwhile if you're looking for a job or a new job.

Rather than just sticking a pin on a map of Canada, choose the province as it relates to your career.

If you want to work in...                    Choose...

• automobile industry..............Ontario
• finance................................Toronto
• technology.........................B.C., Quebec, New Brunswick
• agriculture.........................Prairies, Manitoba, Ontario
• dairy farming......................Saskatechewan
• Manufacturing.....................Ontario
• Government.......................Ottawa (Federal) or provincial capital cities
• oil and gas.........................Alberta, Saskatchewan
• hospitality and tourism.........every region
• arts and culture....................bigger cities like Toronto or Montreal
• journalism..........................Ontario
• Healthcare..........................anywhere
• lumber...............................B.C., New Brunswick
• your own business..................anywhere    
• mining...............................B.C., Manitoba, Newfoundland/Labrador, Northwest                                                     Territories,Yukon

Now for the best companies to work for - a staple in many job seekers' list of job search tools is this book that we (Toronto Public Library) used to be able to purchase annually - it's called Canada's Top 100 Employers. The current edition is available on the publisher's website. There, you can view the full list of 100 employers, or the regional lists, for Greater Toronto, Nova Scotia, etc. In 1999, a competition was announced. The aim was to single out the employers that lead their industries in offering exceptional working conditions and progressive human resources policies. Winners are announced each October in The Globe and Mail newspaper. The annual list is organized by Mediacorp Canada Inc., a specialty publisher of employment-related periodicals.

Employers are evaluated on eight criteria:

• Physical Workplace
• Work Atmosphere & Social Environment
• Health, Financial & Family Benefits
• Vacation & Time Off
• Employee Communications
• Performance Management
• Training & Skills Development
• Community Involvement

Employers are compared to other organizations in their field to determine which offers the most progressive and forward-thinking programs. Any employer with its head office or principal place of business in Canada is eligible for the award. Employers of any size may submit an application, whether private or public sector.

 

Annoying Phone Faux Pas

In this age of texting, email and the like, it's refreshing to hear someone's voice at the other end of the telephone line. The telephone can be a powerful marketing tool for you if it is used properly.

This brings to mind problems with the way some people use the telephone at work.

• Putting someone on speakerphone without asking them.
• Ignoring the customer standing right in front of you in order to deal with the caller who interrupts by phoning in.
• Working on the computer or something else while on the phone.
• Eating or chewing gum while talking on the phone.
• Speaking so quickly or mumbling when you're leaving a voice message that the recipient can't understand your name or telephone number.

So how can you remedy this?

 Before you call...

Get organized and be clear in your mind what you want to say to that person or in the voice message. Have ready any documents you may need to refer to.

Use the recipient's name and clearly state your name, company name. Don't run your last name into your first name. Then state the purpose of your call and say something positive like, "Is this a good time to discuss this?" not "Did I get you at a bad time?"

If you wish to put that person on a speakerphone, ask permission. Introduce anyone else who is in the room with you.

Don't linger on the phone. Conclude your business positively and distinctly.

If you're leaving a message...

Be succinct and articulate. Repeat your telephone number. If it's urgent that the recipient return your call within a certain time period, say so.

Wait a few days. If the person hasn't returned your phone call, then contact him again.

On your outgoing voicemail message...

If you're going to be away from the office for a length of time, indicate that; otherwise, your caller is going to wonder why you haven't returned his call and start becoming annoyed.

Leave your name on your voicemail. Many people won't leave a message unless they're certain they've reached the right person. You wouldn't want to miss a message from a recruiter or a new client, right? Some people will say, "Your call is very important to me and I'll try to get back to you within 2 hours."

 Lastly...

Just say your name when you answer the phone. Don't say, "Penelope speaking." That's redundant because the caller knows you're speaking. Truly professional people will merely say their full name in an upbeat fashion.

 When you pick up the phone, smile! It will come through in your telephone voice!

Check out Toronto Public Library's books on telephone manners.

 

 

Resume Resources @ Your Fingertips

So, we've all heard the saying "finding a job is a job in itself" - and it is. One of the most important aspects of this 'job' is your resume. The library has many many online resources which are great for research, but did you know that some of these databases can help you with career planning? Here are some of my favourites:

The Learning Express Library - this database  includes tests, courses and e-books and has a section called Job Search & Workplace Skills. There you can find 4 job resources:

1. Creating a Great Resume - during this course you will:
   • learn all about the 3 types of resumes; chronological, functional, combination and choose which one is best for you
   • compile all the information you need together to create your resume
   • at the end you can download your resume in PDF format which is then yours to print and potentially send to an employer
2. Creating Great Cover Letters - during this course you will:
   
   • learn every element of a cover letter
   • compile your own information to include in a cover letter
   • learn how to format your cover letter into a professional, well-written document and at the end you can download a copy for employers
3. Goof Proof Resumes and Cover Letters - in this e-book you will explore:
   
   • Current cover letter and resume formats, with samples
   • Instructions on how to best express your skills and assets.
   • Accurate and Up to Date on Electronic Resume submission
   • A fill in the blank practice session to allow you to practice
4. Resumes that Get You Hired- in this e-book you will explore:
   • vocabulary lists of power words and phrases
   • tips for selecting the correct layout; paper, format, font etc.
   • online career website directory and print resources
   • tips for preparing your resume so it doesn't scan with glitches

Business Writing - This database has interactive exercises which allow you to practice making your job application look tidy as well as practicing writing letters to ultimately polish up your own resume/cover letter  

Career Cruising - This is another interactive database which is specifically geared towards careers (the databases mentioned above have resources for other subjects as well). There is a Portfolio & Resume Builder, here any content you add to your Portfolio is updated in the Resume Builder. The content includes:

• Education
• Awards & Certificates
• Extracurricular Activities
• Skills and Abilities
• Career Objectives etc.

Your resume is one of the most useful networking tools you that you have as a job seeker. It is your first opportunity to showcase your wonderful skills, abilities and strengths. In fact, an effective resume should grab your reader's attention in the first 10-15 lines - which includes your resume objective. As you can see in the comic above, there is a fine line between showcasing talents and bragging about how great you are. Here are some key points to consider when a potential employer reads your resume.

• Will hiring you help the company in the long term/short term?
• Does your resume objective highlight the skills the employer is looking for?
• Is your resume in the correct format? It depends what the employer is looking for - unfortunately if the format is wrong your resume will be ignored or tossed. Remember if you're applying to a job online - all the lovely formatting from Microsoft Word (or whichever word processor you use - I like Open Office and Google Docs) will be destroyed; bullets morphed into strange characters, spacing goes wonky - I've seen it happen before. The Riley Guide recommends 4 formats:

1. Print Version
2. Scannable version
3. Plain Text version
4. E-mail version

• What sets you apart from the other applicants?
• What work experience do you have which directly relates to the job you're applying for?

Remember, to find the databases mentioned above from the Toronto Public Library homepage you can search in the grey search box at the top of the screen. Then, log in with your library card and pin and away you go.

All the best - and have a Happy Holiday!!!

 

 

 

 

Are there any JOB FAIRS in your future?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are there any Job Fairs in your future? A new year is just around the corner and  with it, maybe a new job, a new career, maybe a new future. One place to start looking for something new and exciting is at a job fair.

You can learn about potential careers, new companies, prospective employers. It is a great place to network, not only with other students and job-seekers, but with possible employers. Shake hands, talk, get to know a bit about them, take the opportunity to make contacts--and take a step toward that job you've been looking for.

Take advantage of any special attractions such as free resume critiques, speakers, free seminars, or career/job posting zones.

 

       

 

Some tips for the fair from Hire Canada:

• be prepared for possible interviews--have answers ready to common questions, such as type of position you are looking for
• prepare questions you want answered
• get familiar with the layout of the job fair by visiting the event website
• find out what companies will be there and research those you are interested in
• make a checklist of any relevant seminars offered

 

• dress professionally, as if going for an interview
• wear comfortable shoes
• bring resumes and business cards to hand out to selected employers and ask for theirs if/when appropriate
• keep conversations with exhibitors brief--don't hoard their time
• don't grab all the pens or bags at booths--this only reduces your appeal to potential employers

 

Some upcoming Job Fairs:

Canada Job Expo

Thursday, January 5, 2012,  10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

North York Civic Centre (Member's Lounge--Lower Level), 5100 Yonge Street

 

 New Grad Career Expo

Wednesday, January 25, 2012,  10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building, 255 Front Street West

 

Napp Canada Job Fair & Training Fair,  10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012,  International Centre, Mississauga, 6900 Airport Road

Wednesday, March 28, 2012,  Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe Street

 

Hire Canada 

Thursday, March 22, 2012,  11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Pearson Convention Centre, 2638 Steeles Avenue East

The National Job Fair & Training Expo

Wednesday-Thursday, April 4 - 5, 2012,  10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building, 255 Front Street West

Everything I Know About Career Success - I Learned in Elementary School

Remember when in elementary school, we had to be picked by team captains to be on their teams? We all waited by the sidelines in a group, hoping to be picked first. Now we're adults; but, plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose! (the more things change, the more they remain the same.) Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr

Who do team captains pick?

They pick people they know. That's why networking is so important when searching for a job. People hire those whom they know, because they are a known commodity.

They pick people who are winners. That's why it's important to highlight your major achievements in your resume and cover letter. Don't worry about coming off as a braggart. If you don't toot your own horn, who will? People always want winners on their side.

They pick people they want to be friends with. They want people with whom they can have a positive, likeable relationship. Chemistry counts, so in an interview, show your positive, friendly side.

They pick team players. They want people who can work well with others, after all, it is through working together that a team triumphs.

These four factors, networking, achievement, likeability and teamwork, can get you to your desired job; but, can also lead you to the top. Then you can be the team captain and pick players of your own!