August 1, 2016 Leave a Comment

Ask the Employment Specialist: What to do when nothing is working

Dear Joanna,

Nothing is working with my job search. I’m not getting any interviews, my networking doesn’t lead to any jobs and needless to say, I’m stuck and feel like giving up. I’m doing everything in my powers to look for work including meeting the employment support staff, participating in the workshops and attending job fairs.

What is wrong with me?

Signed: Stuck in the Search (SS)

Dear SS,

One of the most painful experiences of being a job developer/job coach is working with job seekers who are seriously engaged in their job search but for whom none of the available employment support services seem to work. Consider reflecting on the excellent insights offered by blogger Louise Fletcher, where she presents advice on how most people “get the job search process all wrong” and make mistakes. You can explore her solutions on this site as well.
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July 25, 2016 Leave a Comment

Ask the Employment Specialist: Apologizing at work

Dear Joanna,

I am a new immigrant who is an internationally trained Java Developer. Within a couple of months after I arrived, I secured work in my field at a small boutique IT company. I am part of a team of 10 with a project manager and employees from other related professions. Many of the employees are constantly apologizing. This is opposite from the workplace culture that I come from. “I am sorry” seems to be a common phrase. My boss says it is typical Canadian cultural way of communication.

Maybe I too should be apologizing. Am I missing the cues? Please can you guide me with this intercultural communication issue.

Signed: Sorry is never too late (SNL)

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July 11, 2016 Leave a Comment

Preparing for Your First Employment Performance Review

A client who I helped secure her first job after graduating from university, called me a couple of months after starting with a concern: she had been told by her manager to prepare for a Performance Review. “Is this a good thing?“, she asked, “what do I do to prepare?“, “Can I use the opportunity to ask about an increase?”

A performance review is defined as “The process by which a manager or consultant (1) examines and evaluates an employee’s work behavior by comparing it with preset standards, (2) documents the results of the comparison, and (3) uses the results to provide feedback to the employee to show where improvements are needed and why. Performance appraisals are employed to determine who needs what training, and who will be promoted, demoted, retained, or fired.” (Business Dictionary)

In other words, it is the opportunity for the employer to regularly evaluate the employee, according to a set of standards.

Employees, however, do have some influence on the process. The better prepared, self aware and able to respond to criticism the employees are, the better they will do in the process:

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July 4, 2016 Leave a Comment

Ask the Employment Specialist: Behind the scenes of creating a job posting

Dear Joanna,

The job descriptions that I have been applying to for a Business Analyst position in IT are so confusing to me. The list of qualifications, skills, requirements and “must-haves” for some of seems like these jobs are impossible for any human being to fulfill or perhaps the recruiters have someone in mind already?

Can you explain to me how the recruiters write these job descriptions?

Signed: Confused BA (CBA)

Dear CBA,

The process of crafting a job posting is best described by expert ‘diversity and inclusion’ and recruitment leader, Anita Sampson Binder, who is Vice President of Recruitment Strategy and Delivery at ARES Staffing Solutions, a leading IT and technical recruitment firm. She applies four steps in the process when working with the hiring manager (her “client”) to develop the content of the position:

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June 27, 2016 2 Comments

Ask the Employment Specialist: Why employers hate functional resumes

Dear Joanna

I’m an accounting clerk with less than a year of work experience with strong accounting software skills. I’ve prepared a functional resume recommended by the employment counsellor due to my lack of relevant professional experience.

I have applied for tons of jobs. I know that I am qualified for the position. But have not received one interview! Could the functional resume be the problem?

Signed: Extinct Format (EF)

Dear EF

In an interview, Raffi Toughlouian, VP at IFG – International Financial Group, a leading financial recruitment firm, as well as renowned recruiter and Subject Matter Expert (SME) in this field over the past 13 years, confirms that the functional resume is generally not preferred by most recruiters for the following reasons:
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