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For questions, comments about the blog, or to submit a question for the Ask an Employment Specialist column, email the Editor, at klewis@jvstoronto.org.
Recently, a former client of mine anxiously called me. Her present employer of two years had begun restructuring. Some staff and a manager had already been laid-off. The company rumour mill said that her job was next. Understandably, she asked my advice on how to handle the rumours. Unfortunately, job security is an on-going concern in today's labour market regardless of any imminent threat. Taking these important steps will give you a plan and a sense of control in your career. My first suggestion to my client was to reach out to her supervisor and address the issue directly. This private conversation allows you to ask if changes are coming? How would those changes affect my position? What can I do to protect my job? In situations like this, be prepared for vague responses. Management are often asked to keep such details confidential, or have not been provided with the details. It may be that various manager positions will also be affected. In my client’s case, her manager did not deny the rumours but did not have any details. However, my client was reassured that her performance was not an issue and was encouraged to continue to do her best. Opening up communication with your manager will put the rumours into context and reinforce your commitment to your company. If you work in a unionized position, in addition to your manager, you can also approach your union representative about the rumours. Your goal at this stage is to understand the nature of what may be happening. If you find that rumours of company restructuring are true, consider this advanced notice as an advantage. While you still don’t know if your position will be affected, you can take positive action with a back up plan. I advised my client to update her resume, review and update her LinkedIn profile, and discreetly gather references. At this point, you may want to invest in upgrading any outdated skills. For example, my client discovered that her software skills are outdated and she decided to pursue a Salesforce training course in the evenings. During times of uncertainty, and while you're still working, take these proactive steps: You may consider starting a job search to see how competitive the job market is. This will give you a sense of job vacancies earning potential, and what updated skills you will need to be more employable. Of course, employers prefer employed candidates, so if you feel you are at risk during a company restructuring, you can take this opportunity to look for work while you are still working. Taking action will ease your mind during uncertainty in the workplace. Examine your financial situation. Figure out whether you be eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) if you were laid off, how much you might be able to collect, and whether you could live on that income. That will help you decide when to start a job search. Keep in mind that if you find a new job while you are working, even if you have received a lay-off notice, resign the job, you will not be eligible for EI or a severance package. During a lay-off, you will be given notice, usually through a meeting and a letter, outlining your termination notice. This is outlined in the Employment Standards Act of Ontario, and for unionized positions, in the Collective Agreement between the union and the company. This will outline what you are eligible for in terms of notice, pay in lieu, vacation pay and other benefits. Your employer will issue you a Record of Employment, that will indicate the reason you left the company. You will need this to apply for Employment Insurance. This is also the time to gather reference letters from your current employer. Importantly, work as hard as you can to end your job on positive terms. The benefits of this are especially important for your job search by informing the next employer that, despite being laid off, you have a positive relationship with your former team members. If your plans for 2019 include a new job, now is a perfect time to prepare a new, carefully-planned job search strategy. While it is true that there are many job seekers out on the hunt for a new job, most of them do not conduct their job search in the best way possible, so your challenge for the new year is to conduct the best possible job search. We put together some useful advice to help improve your search and make sure you get noticed by employers. RESOLUTION #1: I A resume that appears outdated or incompatible with today's technology may give an employer the impression that you might not be ready for a new job. New Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) demand that resumes are formatted to be processed and selected by a computer before ever being read by a hiring professional. A poorly formatted resume might never be picked no matter how qualified you may be. To help you write the best resume possible, I surveyed the highly experienced employment staff at JVS Toronto, and put together a list of the ultimate tips for writing an excellent resume. It includes tips for layout and format, such as style, bullet points, spelling and punctuation, font, margins and alignment, as well as resume content, language, and grammar. For those who are struggling with gaps in their employment history, we also put together these tips on overcoming resume gaps. If you would like to write a resume from scratch, or review your resume in detail, check out our free online resume writing clinic. RESOLUTION #2: As a job seeker, it is important to ensure that you are easily found online, where potential employers are most likely to look for you. More importantly, employers have to like what they learn about you. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is complete and updated. Updating your skills on LinkedIn will attract the right employers. In addition to LinkedIn, consider using Twitter to gather information, networking and tips. RESOLUTION #3: In today's tech-savvy world, the pressure to have up-to-date skills grows. Even if you think your skills are up to par, in 2019 your skills and experience will appear a year old (at least on your resume). Consider it a challenge to engage in an activity which will enable you to add "2019" to your resume. It might be a course (such as updating your computer skills or CPR certification). Courses can be found at your local community centre, community college (look for the continuing education courses, for part-time options). Another possibility is to volunteer in a meaningful role. If you live in Toronto, there are many opportunities to volunteer; Canada-wide, you will find your local volunteer centre here. Make sure to add your newly acquired RESOLUTION #4: This goes back to that old truth about finding work -- it's not only about what you know, but who you know. You already have a network – put the people you know to work for you and leverage your network to get job referrals. It's a great time to reconnect with old contacts and make new ones. LinkedIn might be the best way to start the process -- see who you know, and figure out who you would like to get to know by asking for an information interview. Go out and meet with people face-to-face; ask questions, get support and guidance and make sure they know that you are looking for a new opportunity. RESOLUTION #5: Many job search sites allow users to set up job alerts, which will send them emails with jobs that match their specific criteria. We have a detailed list of job boards, where you can search by keyword and location, and save an Email Alert or RSS Feed. In 2018, Google set up a job alert system, which probably offers the broadest coverage of online job opportunities. 2019 could be the year that you Many candidates ask questions in interviews simply because it’s expected. However, interviews are a two-way process. Both you and the employer have a decision to make. It is worth your time to think about what you’d like to know about the company in order to make the best decision when an offer is made. This can include the company structure, services and culture; and job challenges, opportunities and expectations. You may want to highlight your expertise and areas of interest that fit with this role. During an interview make a strong impression by preparing to ask questions like this: Check out this blog post for more on this topic. Prepare more questions than you need. Consider having five questions prepared and select two or three of the most suitable questions to ask based on information you’ve learned from the interview. Bring a copy of the questions with you. Trying to memorize them in advance will just add more stress before the interview. Take notes during the interview and form questions based the notes if needed. Take the initiative to ask questions during the interview. This can make the interview more conversational. Take cues from the interviewer. For example, if the interviewer is very formal and is progressing through their questions without an opportunity for you to speak beyond providing a response, save your questions until the end. Carefully chosen, well-informed and appropriately timed questions can have a competitive advantage in an interview, leaving a positive impression that can go a long way to influencing the final decision of a potential employer. LinkedIn is a unique way for employers to find you based on the skills you offer. Often underused by job seekers, adding your best skills in your LinkedIn profile increases the chances that employers and recruiters will find and connect with you. Job postings are a good source for ideas on skills to highlight. When searching on job postings sites, or through LinkedIn, review the qualifications listed in the postings you are targeting. If these skills line up with your experience, then add them to your profile. You will notice that as you add skills to you profile, LinkedIn will suggest others based on your profile. Use these prompts to identify further skills to add. LinkedIn also has a directory of all the skills added to the site. Skills are categories into Industry Knowledge, Tools and Technologies (computer skills), Interpersonal Skills and Other Skills. In addition to emphasizing hard skills on your LinkedIn profile, also include your soft or transferable skills such as organizational skills and interpersonal abilities. Online tools such as the online Employability Skills Assessment can help you evaluate your abilities, determine skills you are most confident in, and those you might want to improve. Other helpful resources include LinkedIn’s article, The Skills Companies Need Most in 2018 – and the courses to get them and the Employability Skills reference guide published by The Conference Board of Canada. Starting from scratch Revising existing skills It’s thrilling to accept a new job and finally meet your job search goal. You’ll be earning an income and stepping into the professional world again. But starting a new job has its challenges. You may feel doubts about performing all the job duties as required, or have concerns about getting along with your new colleagues and clients. And then there’s the challenge of establishing new routines like commuting and family and home responsibilities. Adjusting to a new job is stressful! Here are some strategies to ease the stress when starting a new job. Think back to all the people who helped you get the new position, like the person who referred you to the vacancy, your references and professional network. These people are valuable connections you’ll want to keep. Start by sending a personalized thank you message to each to acknowledge their support, and then maintain contact through LinkedIn. The most successful way to learn your new duties is by listening, observing, asking questions and taking notes. You’ll learn a great deal about a company by watching how tasks are approached, the preferred types of formal and informal communication, and the daily interactions between colleagues. This is especially true to understand your new company culture and organizational structure. Don’t wait for introductions from others. Introduce yourself to your peers as you go and join others for lunch or for coffee. Smile and make eye contact as you meet people. Treat everyone the way you’d like to be treated. You never know who you’ll need on the job. Continue to build your network and invite your new colleagues to connect through LinkedIn. Follow the direction you’ve been given during any training. Ask questions, especially if you’re unclear about anything. Ask for procedures so you understand routines and schedules. Even if you are provided with reference material, there may be some informal practices that are followed. Build a rapport with your co-workers who can be additional sources of information about company processes. When your work load is low, ask to help with a task (no matter how small) or to attend a meeting or activity to observe and learn. This will show a willingness contribute and be part of a team. It will also pave the way to contribute your ideas and possible improvements later in the job. As you learn your new job, be aware of your progress, areas you need to deepen your knowledge on, and opportunities for future professional development. This will keep you focused on growing in your role and ensure you maintain positive performance levels. Getting the job is only the first step. Starting your new job with a planned approach will help you integrate into the company and set you up for long-term success. The Commission require employers to make hiring decisions without violating the Ontario Human Rights Code. In their publication, Human Rights at Work , under Interviewing and Making Hiring Decisions the OHRC details what employers should avoid asking; this includes questions based on: What should I do if asked a question that is discriminatory in nature? Job seekers facing this question in an interview can consider these options: Keep in mind that how you answer a question will make a big difference to the employer’s decision to keep the interview going. Using the right tone of voice and phrasing can also keep the interview moving in a positive direction. Start by giving the employer the “benefit of the doubt” and they didn’t realize that their question could be perceived as discrimination. Try something like : “You might not know this, but that question violates the Ontario Human Rights Code. I am sure you’ will understand if I prefer not to answer it. I can assure you, though, that my (health/family situation/life circumstances) will not impact on my ability to do the job. You are welcome to speak to my references who can speak to my high work ethic and dedication.” When the lack of Canadian work experience comes up in the interview, consider: As a job seeker, know your rights that are outlined in the Ontario Human Rights Code, understand the role of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, and what to do if you believe your rights have been violated. Need more help? JVS Toronto provides specific employment programs for immigrants and newcomers to Canada to help them navigate the challenges and be successful at securing a job. Find out more: Newcomer Services – Prior to Arriving in Canada Newcomer Services – after arriving in Canada. There are many factors to consider. Would this career choice allow you to earn enough to support your financial goals? Are jobs plentiful in this field? Will the job be fulfilling and meaningful? Are there opportunities for promotions and career growth? Will it allow you the work-life balance you need? Not only are there multiple factors, but the question is whether all these factors really matter to you equally. Perhaps work-life balance is more important to you than salary or career growth, whereas others might prioritize earning potential. Given everything involved, it isn't easy to make a rational choice. The Decision-Matrix Method, or Pugh Method, is a weighted decision matrix, allowing you to weigh the factors that are important in your decision against each other when making your choice. Thus it can help you think more rationally through all the factors you need to consider. This is how it works. Try it for yourself. Is it what you expected? If not, why? Still stuck? JVS Toronto offers Career Exploration Coaching. Our certified counsellors will identify your skills and interests, and uncover the career path that will make you feel happy, successful and fulfilled. But I think it is still needed. First impressions do count. Employers often get a huge number of applications to the jobs they post, so they have to be picky and quick to exclude applicants that haven't made a proper effort to apply. As employers sort through applications, they are hoping to find those candidates that appear well qualified, likable and competent enough to be invited for an interview. Cover letters give employers a chance to gather that information and learn more about the personality, writing style, language and grammar of the applicant. A candidate who can show that they have carefully read the job posting, and express how they meet the requirements outlined, is also showing employers how well they pay attention to detail and follow instructions. A cover letter is a brief, one-page document that accompanies a resume, introduces the candidate, and motivates the employer to read the resume and consider the candidate for a position. It should help employers see how their needs (their described "qualifications" on the posting) are matched by the candidate. In effect, it's a way of saying to the employer: I have the skills, experience and personality that you are looking for. You can do that by indicating that you have read the job posting and understand the expectations of the employer: Cover letters should accompany almost any resume, whether it is in response to a posting, is solicited (i.e. the employer asked you to send them a resume), or even unsolicited (i.e. you are sending the resume to employers, in case they are hiring). For samples of cover letters, check out some of my favourite websites such as Workbloom, Monster.ca and The Balance -- Careers. It is worth investing time and effort to write a high quality letter which conveys your enthusiasm and shows the employer the exact reasons they should consider you for the position. Capturing the interest of the employer can be a deal breaker -- if your cover letter does not impress, the employer will probably not read your resume or call you for an interview, whereas a well-worded, thoughtful letter can go a long way toward helping you get that next great opportunity. Of course, the only way to deal with this anxiety is by preparing; work on some of the commonly asked questions. In addition to preparing answers to questions, you should be ready to talk about yourself by sharing examples of your achievements from your past jobs. These will serve to demonstrate your skills and prove your competency. It will help the employer to picture you in the workplace. When an interview has concluded, it is likely that candidates will most be remembered by the interesting stories or anecdotes they shared. To identify your best stories, think back to your past jobs. Think of accomplishments or events which challenged you or which gave you an opportunity to demonstrate your abilities. Consider including the feedback you received for these achievements. Keep in mind that stories do not have portray you as perfect – situations are more likely to be believable and credible if they include times when you made mistakes and learned from them. Keep in mind that to sustain the listener’s attention and be memorable, you need to plan your stories carefully. Make sure that examples are clearly structured with a beginning, middle and end: These stories have to be short, but should include enough detail to allow the employer to visualize the situation. Most importantly, make sure they are directly relevant to the position for which you are interviewing. Write up and practice saying your stories out loud. Ask an employment professional or even a friend for feedback; let their impressions and questions guide you to improve the length, clarity, details and relevance of the story. Once they are complete, try figure out which skills each story demonstrates. Each example may demonstrate a number of skills such as your ability to make decisions, work in a team, solve problems, take initiative, be responsible or flexible, and many other skills. Identify those which you would like to “show off” to employers. A good anecdote can often demonstrate multiple skills or strengths, and can be told differently depending on what you are trying to demonstrate. If you are able to talk in a relaxed and comfortable way, storytelling can become a very effective tool to market yourself. You will be demonstrating your communication skills, as well as having an opportunity to show the best of what you have achieved in your work history. Read this guide for more ways to develop your storytelling abilities. Make sure to watch this excellent video included in the post for more tips on effective story telling in interviews: Dear Employment Specialist: 14 years ago, I left my job as a Medical Office Administrator to take care of my newborn son with special needs. After years of caring for him, I have finally found him a full time program, where he is happy and stable. Now, for the first time I feel like I can start planning for my own career, but I am really worried how I could do that after being away for so long. I am really worried about the fourteen year gap in my resume. I did do some volunteering at his school and at a local community program, but until now, I needed to be available all day to go to his school when there were problems. How do I explain what I have been doing all this time without sharing too much personal information? Do I have to tell employers everything? How do you think they’ll react to my resume? Please help me think through what I need to do to get back to work. Thank you, Signed: Returning Mom ____________________________________________________________________ Dear Returning Mom, It sounds like you have had a busy and demanding fourteen years since the birth of your son. Congratulations for getting to the point where you can now start planning for yourself and your own future. In terms of the challenges that you face, there are many things that you can do to help employers understand your situation without compromising your privacy too much. Remember – many parents face and successfully overcome the challenges of going back to work after taking time to raise children. It’s a matter of figuring out for yourself what you want to share and how to tell your story in a way with which you are comfortable. Here are some of the issues to consider: 1. Seek some job search support. I recommend that you get some professional employment support to help you sort through all the challenges you will face. An agency such as JVS Toronto is well positioned to help you navigate the demands of a job search. Most Canadians will be able to fund publicly funded services such as ours near where they live (such as our partners on the Employment Ontario site). 2. Your resume will need to be updated. It is better to find a way to explain what happened in the last 14 years, rather than to just leave a gap in the resume. There is always a big debate about whether parents who have taken time off to care for children should tell employers. In my experience, different people deal with it differently and it is important to do what works for you. Some of my clients have decided to simply update their work history on the resume with term "family responsibilities’, coupled with the dates. Some have also added a mention of it in the Profile Summary, as well as in the cover letter, stating something such as “Experienced Medical Office Administrator, with over 10 years’ of working in a busy medical practice. Presently enthusiastically re-entering the workforce after taking time to deal with family responsibilities. Skills include advanced Microsoft Office (…and so on...)”. Note that the time away from work is not the first thing mentioned on the resume – it is simply mentioned in a matter-of-fact, confident way later on. Also, using the work “enthusiastically” is meant to reassure employers that you are not ambivalent about going back to work. Also, include your volunteer work under the employment section of the resume -- it will help to fill the gap. Of course, you should mention that it was volunteer work, in brackets (no need to mention that it was your son’s school that you volunteered at, though – simply name the school and detail what you did there). Don’t forget to include anything else you might have done, including training or courses you might have taken. Obviously, you do not need to mention your son or his special needs. You simply need to communicate confidently that you chose to take time off work for family and that you are now pleased to return. Remember – there are many more women in the workplace now than ever before – many of them have probably faced similar concerns. 3. Prepare for your interviews. Write out the script for how you would like to answer the inevitable “what have you been doing for the last 14 years?” question that will arise. Work with an employment professional to find a way to explain what happened without disclosing the information you don’t want to share. Remember that you are not legally obligated to share anything about your personal situation that does not impact on your ability to do the job. Find the wording that makes you comfortable and practice saying it. You will be asked this question often – in job interviews, and when you network; make sure you are comfortable answering the question with confidence. Put yourself in the employer’s position and think about what concerns they might have about you as a candidate. That will help you prepare what you need to tell an employer about yourself. Employers concerns might include questions such as: Make sure to pre-empt these concerns when you talk about yourself to employers. To help you update your knowledge about the job market, consider signing up for Google Job Alerts for jobs in your field – start reading through the job postings in your field and learning about what employers are looking for. 4. Network, network, network. In my experience as an Employment Counsellor, the best way to make these difficult transitions back into the workplace is through networks. Update your LinkedIn profile and start reaching out to former colleagues and employers. Take them out to coffee if you can, and share your enthusiasm about going back to work; ask for advice and tips, as well as ask them to keep an eye out for any job leads they might have. Consider volunteering with an employer in your sector. Maybe a local hospital or community health centre could use a medical office volunteer. Offer to spend a day per week and make sure to get to know the staff. Show them what you can do, tell them about yourself and make sure they’re looking out for jobs for you, as well. 5. Update your skills. Make sure that employers know that you just updated your CPR or software courses by adding it to your resume and mentioning it in interviews. This will go a long way to reassure employers about your ability and motivation to make the transition back into the workforce. Best of luck with your next big challenge. I am sure you will find your way back into the world of work. Summer is here. The days are long, the city is buzzing with events, and laid back chatter flows from outdoor patios. It's getting harder to focus on the job search, even more so when employers seem to be posting less jobs and taking longer to reply to applications. It's tempting to take a break and restart your job search in September. But is that a good idea? Not necessarily. One reason to continue job seeking is precisely because job seekers often opt out of the job search in summer: competition for jobs is reduced and you might be able to snag a good opportunities. Another reason is that jobs do continue to be posted. Some employers simply need to hire regardless of the season. Often hiring is urgent and employers are quick to grab the next available candidate. Sometimes, employers are even beginning to line up opportunities for the December holidays. Another advantage of job searching in summer is that employers are often more relaxed and receptive to chatting about what the next year may bring. Use this opportunity to connect with your targeted employers to gather information about the company, upcoming job requirements. and their hiring process. Having this information before jobs are posted gives you an edge over other job seekers. You will know what jobs are coming up, when they are accepting applications, the hiring process, and who is doing the hiring. If you are lucky and resourceful, you may even secure someone on the inside who can pass your resume on for you. People have a little more time to chat and may be open to longer discussions on potential opportunities. However, you don't necessarily have to continue job search at the same pace. Everyone needs some time off to relax, regroup, and recharge. Just don’t stop. You may miss out on some great opportunities. So, use this time of year to your advantage. After all, this is your job search and you will get out of it what you put in. So how do you deal with the recent gap on your resume? First, think through what you will tell the employer in the interview. Generally, it is better to be as truthful as possible. Employers will often be impressed by an honest explanation, simply told. However, you obviously do not need to disclose personal information that might be prejudicial, such as a health issue, or your family situation. Often the explanation can be told in broad strokes: “I took time off to attend to a family/health issue”. It’s also helpful to mention that the issue was temporary, otherwise the employer might worry that the issue might be an ongoing concern that could impact on your ability or availability to work: “the issue is now resolved and I am ready and excited to get back to work”. Remember that you don’t have to explain every gap. One way to minimize gaps is to eliminate the months from the dates of your jobs and simply list the years. You should be prepared to specify the months in the interview, though, if asked. Also, if the gap isn’t recent, you don’t really need to explain it – employers tend to be more concerned about your recent work history, than what you did more than 5 years ago. If the gap is recent and longer than a couple of years, consider explaining it briefly. Some people insert a line such as “temporary leave of absence to resolve a personal issue”, “family responsibilities”, or “immigration and resettlement”, with the dates (e.g. 2015-2018). It helps to insert an end date, so that it is clear that you are ready to move on to the next stage of your career. Start thinking of what you will tell potential employers, network contacts, and your references regarding your absence. Also, as soon as you can, start getting involved in various activities that you might be able to add to your resume: Volunteering can be an effective way to fill resume gaps and get yourself back into the routine of work. Any volunteering in the community or at your child’s school can be included in your resume and social media profiles as part of your experience. Add it to your list of jobs on your resume (make sure to specify that it was volunteer work, though – you don’t want to misrepresent your experience). Describe the skills and qualifications that you learned while volunteering, such as “Participated in a planning committee for a fundraising event”, or “set up classrooms and prepared materials”. Ideally, try to find volunteer work in a position or in an organization that is related to your ultimate job goal; that way you can keep your resume and experience fresh, as well as build your professional network. You could also use draw on your volunteer supervisors as a source of references, which is another challenge often facing job seekers with a gap in their resume. Rebuild your professional network. Most jobs are found through contacts. Once potential employers have met you and been impressed by you (or been told about your assets by a referral), they will be less concerned with your resume gap. Use social media and information interviews to seek out and meet successful fellow professionals in your field. Identify the professional associations, conferences, trade magazines, organizations and events relevant to your career goal. Participate in their activities. Consider seeking out former colleagues, and reconnect with them on LinkedIn (or even Facebook). Research the labour market. In some sense, you are in the same boat as a new graduate. Learn as much as you can about your field and profession as well as its leaders, the requirements, the shortages and the education required. Assess whether you need to update your skills, recertify or learn new technical skills. Identify target companies where you would like to work, visit their websites, analyze the job openings and speak to as many professionals in your field as possible. Explore training options. Adding recent education or training to your resume can be a highly effective resume filler. It does not have to even be full time education – you can do it on a part time basis (it isn’t necessary to specify whether a course is full or part time on the resume). Courses may be online, at community centres, local colleges or continuing education courses at the local community college. A growing resume gap isn’t an unsurmountable barrier. The sooner you realize that there’s a potential gap growing in your work history, start planning your strategies for addressing it. Take initiative to start filling the gap, and think through what you want to tell employers in interviews, on resumes and on your LinkedIn profile. Your headline is the first line of text a potential employer reads on your profile. It plays a marketing role -- it's your opportunity to tell them what you want them to know about you, your professional skills and experience. Avoid simply using your job title as your headline, and don't use the default LinkedIn one. Use this valuable opportunity attract attention and impress the reader. Try adding some relevant descriptive keywords to your job title. You can use multiple short terms to describe yourself, combining professional and personal terms: e.g." Administrative Assistant | Microsoft Office | Customer Service | Committed to Excellence" or "Accounting Clerk | Bookkeeper | Advanced Excel | Detail-oriented". LinkedIn tells us that “great profile photo (…) can get you up to 21 times more profile views”. But profile views are not enough; to make an impactful and positive impression, a photo which communicates information about the your professionalism and confidence is best. There’s no need to pay someone to take a professional photo. LinkedIn offer some good tips on taking your own “work selfie”: Your LinkedIn Summary is an opportunity to further introduce yourself, explain your employment history, and give potential employers an opportunity to learn what makes you unique. It can be less formal and more wordy than a resume profile — just make sure that the tone is appropriate for your industry. You can include in your profile: For ideas on what to include, read through job postings you are planning to apply for and identify the qualifications listed by the employers. Use them as your guide — try to echo the employers' priorities. A background photo can brighten up a profile. It shows that you’ve made an extra effort to make the profile stand out. The ideal photo would be of you at your workplace or job – even better if it’s one of you doing your job. Remember that regardless of what photo you use, you should have permission to use the photo. If you search for an image, make sure it is labelled free for re-use. Google offers clear advice on how to find such photos. One of the features that distinguishes a LinkedIn profile from a resume is the ability to add links or media, such as PDFs, videos and slide shows, Word documents or images, to the summary and to each job. Use this function to share video clips or photos of you at work, slideshows that you have produced, newsletters where you were mentioned, or samples of your work. For ideas and inspiration to spruce up your resume, use the LinkedIn search bar to find profiles of fellow professionals in your field and review their profiles; find the ones that look impressive and look at their photo, headline, summary, media and background photo, and learn what you can from them. Try something new. Remember, you can always change things up if it doesn't feel right -- no one will judge you for trying new things. That's the advantage of social media. The best part of the function is how simple it is: just use the usual google search bar, by entering a job title and the word “job”. Here’s how you use it: Open your Google search page and enter the job title in the search. You can specify a location (e.g. “Toronto”) and/or a level (e.g. “entry level”). If you don’t specify location, it will search near your current location, within a range that you can specify. Google will searches multiple career sites such as Monster, ZipRecruiter, LinkedIn and Glassdoor, as well as agency sites and others. Click on the blue box to open a full page and view the search results, and sort through all the jobs. Options are available to narrow the jobs by Title, Location, Date posted, Type (e.g. full time or contract), Company type (i.e. industry) and Employer. Next to the job title there is an option to save a job for future reference, and return to it at a later date. You will be able to do so only if you have a Google account and are logged into it. If you find that the search results are useful, you can get set up an alert system to email you whenever jobs are posted that match your criteria. (Google Alerts are useful for any topic – you may use them to be alerted whenever their own name or a subject of interest is mentioned anywhere on the internet). Alerts can be edited or cancelled as needed. Google will direct you to sites where the job posted and you can take it from there, as you would usually when you find a job online. What do recruiters do? Recruiters work for the employer, not the job seeker. They help collect resumes, screen applicants, and conduct job interviews, either for one company or via an agency. Recruiters are most useful if you work in a field where there’s a large demand for your skills, experience and expertise -- often more senior staff, who might work in larger companies. Recruiters also hire temporary staff. There are two different types of recruiters: in-house and agency. In-house recruiters are employed by a specific company to hire employees. Agency recruiters work for an employment agency, to help multiple companies find employees; they get paid when they fill a position – often a percentage of the salary paid to the candidate. Recruiters use multiple methods to find, connect with, and monitor potential candidates, including online job boards (such as this), recruitment agency boards (such as those listed here), company websites (such as this), as well as LinkedIn. How do agencies work? To get a job through an agency, applicants need to register either via a posting found on a job board such as Monster.ca or Indeed.ca, or directly on the agency's site. If the agency is a reputable one, candidates who register will be contacted by a recruiter for a brief discussion about their eligibility for the position. Suitable candidates will get called into the agency to be interviewed and possibly skill-tested. References will be called. Candidates might be placed in full-time or temporary jobs, many starting on a temporary basis first before considering them for full time employment. For candidates, it’s important to treat the recruitment agency interview as you would any job interview: be prepared to speak about yourself clearly, confidently and honestly, to build a trusting relationship with the recruiter. Remember that it is the recruiter’s job to represent you to an employer, so give them the information they need to do so effectively. Candidates are not limited to only one agency. It is well worth registering with multiple agencies, to access a variety of jobs in your area. Recruiters won’t necessarily refer every candidate to a position, no matter how well qualified they may seem. Recruiters may have their own personal preferences which impact on their choices. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that candidates can’t apply for the job independently, according to some recruiters: “Sometimes a company will be more willing to hire you without the recruiter’s fee attached.” Connect with recruiters on LinkedIn: Communicate with the recruiter: While recruiters can be a source of good job opportunities, don’t rely on them exclusively to find your next job. They are only one tool in a job seekers toolkit. Do what you can to reach out and be available, but keep looking for work independently.Worried about being laid-off? Here are some strategies.
Clarify the situation.
Create a back up plan.
Evaluate your finances.
If you are laid off...
5 New Year Resolutions to Help You Find Work in 2019
Job Search
Resolutions:
will update my resume.
I will improve my online presence
I will enhance my skills
skills and experience your resume and LinkedIn profile.
I will grow my network
I will find new sources of job information
secure that job you always wanted. Follow through on these 5 resolutions and
watch it happen.Happy new year from all of us at JVS Toronto!
Read MoreThe Best Questions to Ask at a Job Interview
You’re in a job interview. You’ve done well so far – smiling, making eye contact, and answering questions confidently. The interview is ending, and you start feeling that sense of relief that comes when a grueling task is over. Then the interviewer says, “Do you have any questions for us?” This can be a make or break moment. Be prepared to take this opportunity to ask questions. What asking questions tells the interviewer
Questions that make the best impression
Be prepared
Timing is everything
Attract Employers with LinkedIn Skills
What skills should I emphasis on my LinkedIn profile?
Where else can I include my skills?
Now that you’re prepared to share your strongest skills, here’s how to add them into your LinkedIn profile.
You’ve been hired! Make the most of your new job.
Say thank you before you start
Listen carefully
Introduce yourself
Be enthusiastic and proactive
Set goals
Remember
How do I deal with the lack of Canadian work experience during a job interview?
The lack of Canadian experience is the most commonly identified barrier identified by newcomers as they pursue meaningful work in their new country; many report that they continue to face this challenge even after two or more years of living in Canada. In response to complaints about these demands from job seekers, in 2013 the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) added requirements for Canadian experience to the Ontario Human Rights Code as a discriminatory practice. The Code covers a range of hiring practices, including asking about race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, record of offences, marital status, family status or disability.
Struggling to make a career decision? Try this helpful tool.
Making a career decision is difficult at any stage of life. When you are finishing school and have to decide, it’s hard to sort through all the options and possibilities. But it is even more difficult when you are an adult, possibly with family responsibilities, perhaps in the new country where you still don't have all the information you need, and facing the financial pressures that come with having to settle into a new place.Draw a table with up to seven rows and six columns, like this:
Next, complete the following steps:
When you've completed this last step, the option with the highest score will be your best choice.
Are Cover Letters Really Needed?
Job seekers often tell me that writing a cover letter is the most tedious aspect of the entire job search process. Maybe writing letters just doesn't come easily for people, because it isn't something we often do anymore. Even worse, employment professionals such as myself keep telling job seekers to write individualized (non generic) letters, so it takes extra time and effort to prepare one.How to write an effective cover letter?
Check your cover letter against this checklist of "do's" and "don'ts":
Impress Employers with Well Prepared Interview Answers
Facing an employer in a job interview is often described as the most stressful and intense moment in the process of finding work. When asked what they fear most about interviews, job searchers often say that they worry that they may get overwhelmed by anxiety and forget what they wanted to say, or that they may not be able to answer a question properly.Your stories might include a time when you:
A reader asks: How do I re-enter the workforce after a long gap?
It may be well worth upgrading your skills through continuing education courses, such as those offered at your local community college, community centre or adult education. Many colleges offer online courses, as well. You might also be able to teach yourself software when you volunteer.Is it Worthwhile to Job Search During the Summer?
Strategies for Overcoming Gaps in your Resume
One of the biggest challenges a job seeker can face is a large and growing gap in a resume. You may find yourself out of work for a long stretch of time for many reasons that are often beyond your control, including childcare, caring for an ill family member, or dealing with your own health challenges. Sometimes, people choose to opt out of the job market to travel, go to school, or even immigrate to a new country. Getting back into the workforce after a long absence is often more difficult than you expect it to be, and it is stressful to watch the gap on your resume keep growing.In the interview
On your resume
When you start job searching
Spruce up Your LinkedIn Profile with these 5 Steps
With a reported 11 million unique jobs posted on the site, LinkedIn has become a key source of opportunities for its over half a billion users. The social media platform provides users a myriad of ways to be noticed by recruiters and potential employers. And if you are going to be noticed, you need make sure that your LinkedIn profile is in as good a shape as possible, especially in these five key elements:1. Career Headline
2. Profile photo
3. Summary
– your professional title, years of experience and expertise, e.g. “Over 10 years’ progressive HR experience working in the non-profit sector”
– relevant educational achievements and/or professional designations, e.g. “University educated and a Certified Human Resource Professional (CHRP)”
– core skills and achievements, e.g. “Skilled negotiator, having successfully handled and resolved union disputes; knowledgeable on issues regarding payroll; designed and implemented professional staff development training”
– work values and principles, e.g. “Strong commitment to inclusive non-discrimination hiring practices”
– relevant personal characteristics, e.g. “Highly energetic, enthusiastic and confident”
– knowledge such as relevant languages and computer software4. Background photo
5. Media
Get to know Google’s new Job Search Feature
Google has launched a job search feature to help users find job postings without having to leave the search engine. This function has the potential to be much more effective than using a specific website to find jobs, in that it scans for the job title throughout the internet, rather than being limited by known sources. You might even discover new, unknown sources of jobs in your field.1. Search:
2. Sort through the results:
3. Save jobs for future reference:
4. Create an Alert:
5. Apply:
How recruiters can help you get hired
My clients often ask me how to connect with recruiters to help find a job, and whether it is worth the effort. There isn’t one simple answer to this question – it depends on the profession, the job seeker and on the demand for their skills in the job market. For some job seekers, recruiters can be very useful when looking for work.