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Ask the Employment Specialist: Is there a skill expiry date for job seekers?

Drawing of a typewriter with the words "Dear Employment Specialist"Dear Joanna,

I’m looking for work as a QA Tester/software developer but haven’t worked in my field in about three years due to family management issues. I’ve had numerous telephone interviews for developer positions but unfortunately, all these recruiters say the same thing – my skills are out of date – and they don’t even test me! Please can you help me with this horrible feeling of being expired?

Signed: IT Expiry dates (ITED)

Dear ITED,

It is critical that you keep your technical skills current and up-to-date in all fields, and even more so in the Information Technology (IT) industry, senior recruiter and leading HR professional at IT firm QA Consultants, Gavriel Levy, advises. Levy offers the following advice that can help you return to the labour market in your profession:

Continuous learning.

In the IT industry there is, generally, a two-year expiry date for a skill being current and marketable. It is imperative that you are always up-to-date with the latest and newest software and technology out there in your field. Learn it and use it even if you are not working, or even if it’s not directly related to your exact career goal. All new technology impacts your job and career; in this knowledge-based economy, it’s critical to keep learning and growing.

Create your own projects and practise the new skills.

Find online courses that can teach you the technology. Try to find a training course online or a manual or guide video on YouTube. Sometimes you can download the software for free for a one-month trial. Play with the new tools until you learn them. Add this project and skill set to your resume as soon as possible, even if you are developing for your friends or family. Until you are proficient with the new skill, you can write “Familiar with ERP software,” for example, in the technical skills section of your resume.

Use social media.

Go online to find the latest technical knowledge and skills required in your field. Join groups on LinkedIn. Target companies and people to follow on social media so you can keep current with the latest and greatest. Engage in dialogue in these groups. Follow companies and people on Twitter. Create Google Alerts so you always gathering current information in your field.

Keep building your professional network.

Even when you find a job, as with learning, networking is continuous; it never stops. Continue meeting professionals in your field at work or outside. Conferences, trade shows, associations and trade magazines are other sources for keeping current, and for building your network.

Be honest.

Don’t oversell or undersell your technical skills in the resume, or in the interview. You will be tested. Be specific with your areas of expertise and let the employer know that you will be able to learn any new technology quickly. If your technical skills are outdated, it’s an opportunity for you to prove to any interviewer that you have excellent communication skills by stating that you are a self-directed learner and that most of your technologies and skills, were learned independently. This is a great marketing feature and benefit for any hiring manager who values communication and interpersonal skills above and beyond the technical skills that need upgrading.

Joanna

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Ask the Employment Specialist: Talking politics at work

Drawing of a typewriter with the words "Dear Employment Specialist"Dear Joanna,

With all of the hype in the media on Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, climate change, and political unrest around the world, I am so tempted to talk politics at work in the lunchroom with my colleagues and managers. I’ve been warned politics are a taboo topic for the workplace. What do you think?

Signed: Talking Politics (TP)

Dear TP,

There are many perspectives on this issue: to discuss or not to discuss?

Susan Milligan from The Society for Human Resource Management warns employers about finding that delicate balance: on one hand, it is wrong to ban political discussions at the workplace, but one the other hand, free speech can easily turn into bullying; sometimes these conversations can even turn into one party feeling harassed. Milligan stresses that employers have a responsibility to make sure all staff feel comfortable in the workplace. Milligan cites a CareerBuilder poll conducted during the 2012 mid-term elections found that 42 percent of respondents said they avoided talking about politics at work. Another 44 percent said they talked about it, but shut down the conversation when it got heated, and 14 percent said they engaged in lively political debates at work.

Here are some ideas to consider before deciding when and to whom to talk politics at work:

1. Know the company policy: check out your company policy regarding this topic; find out if there are any policies about what you post on social media.

2. Company and workplace culture: be very sensitive to the personalities and differences of your co-workers, your managers and the entire company culture. If you are working in a quiet environment, I would suggest that if you express yourself loudly, you could be seen as a fanatic and in a negative way by your coworkers, managers and company in general. If you are working in an organization that supports your political views, then go for it. But in the wrong environment, you could damage your career if you are too loud with your opinions. Some managers might not hire or give promotions to employees whose political views differ from their own. I would also be careful what you post on your social media sites especially Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

3. Remember your customers/company public relations: your customers/clients could be “put off if an employee espouses a strong political view.” Be mindful of the audience. Listen more than you talk, in general, and especially with the customers. You could upset a person easily. I would never talk politics to a customer or client. I can safely say that this is a taboo subject. Keep to the business and professional relationships with your clients/customers. After all, they are supporting your paycheque.

4. Communicate face-to-face (“in-person interaction” states Milligan) rather than by email with staff on political issues. Often the tone and content of an email can be misinterpreted. Talk politics directly to the person. Personally, I would only share my opinions with good friends whom I trust.

5. Keep political battles out of the workplace. If you see that your opinions or the way you express them will turn into a negative experience, and even harassment, then change (better yet avoid) the subject.

Joanna

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Ask the Employment Specialist: Handling Bullying in the Workplace

Tired waitress reading notes at the end of working dayDear Joanna,

I’m an accounting clerk who is getting bullied by one of my co-workers with whom I work together on different projects. When I complained to the boss, he said that I need to suck it up and stop complaining. He did nothing about it. I hate going to work, although I have a passion for my field and like the other people on my team. I’m afraid to go to HR for fear of backlash. I am so stressed and cannot afford to quit.

I understand workplace bullying is considered illegal. What can I do about this work situation?

Signed: Bullied Victim (BV)

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JVS Toronto draws on 69 years’ of experience to help Syrian refugees find employment

 

The weather was unseasonably warm on December 10, 2015 when the first planeload of Syrian refugees landed at the Pearson International Airport in Toronto.

Canada has welcomed 24,008 Syrian refugees since November 4, 2015. With 12,667 refugees landing in Toronto, Ontario quickly exceeded its pledge of receiving 10,000 refugees.

Refugee settlement needs were urgently addressed through the Government of Canada involving hundreds of communities from coast to coast. Settlement and community integration involves numerous agencies and proudly, JVS Toronto is one of them. With extensive newcomer employment programs already in place, JVS Toronto was well-positioned to quickly initiate employment supports for those Syrian refugees ready for active job search.

Through a proactive call to the Armenian Relief Society, who is accepting around 200 Syrian refugees a week, JVS Toronto started providing employment orientation sessions to promote all the employment services available in Toronto.

Connecting Syrian refugees to jobs in Canada

Two Employment Counsellors, one fluent in Armenian, allowed JVS Toronto to provide one-on-one employment counselling at the Armenian Relief Society. This work has identified the general profile of Syrian refugees: of Armenian descent, families made up of two and three generations, well educated, some former business owners, some trades people, very motivated to work and open to any survival job opportunities.

Through our EMETemployment program, employers were contacted about the advocacy of hiring Syrian refugees. So far, we’ve had five refugees receive job interviews with two of those being hired! This is a great achievement in four short weeks of extending employment services to Syrian refugees.

We are now looking at providing additional employment activities and building other partnerships to meet the specific needs of this population.

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Ask the Employment Specialist: Evaluating your job interview

Drawing of a typewriter with the words "Dear Employment Specialist"Dear Joanna,

I just finished an intensive one hour interview with a large telecom company for the position of project manager on a large change management project. I feel that I did a fantastic job. The interviewer said he will get back to me in a week. I couldn’t be more excited on one hand; but very worried on the other.

Is there an objective way to rate myself on how I did on the interview?/span>

Signed: Rating Reviews (RR)

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E: services@jvstoronto.org

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