Job search advice, interview tips, resume best practices and more, we have the information you need in order to be successful at work!
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.
Failure isn’t just a bump on the road to success — it can be a prerequisite. A recent study followed professionals over the course of decades and found that those who experienced setbacks early on in their careers were not only successful later, but they were actually more successful than those who had an easier time: “early career setback appears to cause a performance improvement among those who persevere.” Of course, not every failure will automatically lead to success. The study found that simply trying again isn’t going to make you better at the task: “what matters is how people fail, how they respond to failure and where those failures lead.” Trying again only works if you learn from your previous mistakes. Successful people are able to critically review their failures, learn from them, and quickly change their actions accordingly. The ability to act swiftly was identified as a key predictor of future success. People who wait too long between attempts at a task were less likely to be successful at achieving their goal. The faster you fail and move on, the better your chances of success. We know that for every job posting, only one candidate will be hired and those who apply and are rejected may experience a sense of failure. Every job seeker knows that the search for employment can be challenging and finding a new job rarely happens quickly. Unfortunately, disappointment is inevitable but there are things you can do to build your resiliency. Expect to fail. Be ready to learn from it. There are many opportunities to get feedback on your resume, LinkedIn profile, or job search strategy. An organization such as JVS Toronto, which offers a range of job search support, can give you objective and knowledgeable feedback on all aspects of your job search. You may also consider asking someone in your network — especially professionals in your field — about what you could be doing better or ask an employer for feedback on your performance after an interview. The goal is to be able to reflect on and evaluate your job search. Be open to new ways of doing things and be ready to pivot quickly if you are unsuccessful. Don’t take it personally. Remember, failure isn’t just something to overcome. It is actually a necessary step on the road to success. So confidently face your failures, learn from them, and being willing to try a different approach. Practice makes perfect. Imagine you are happily working at your job when you receive an email from your HR department notifying you of an exciting new job opening at your company. The position matches your skills and experience, and most importantly, aligns with your long term career goals. You are interested in applying for the position but worried about risking your current employment. Will your manager be supportive? Will they think you’re unhappy in your current role? If you apply for the new role and don’t get it, will it negatively impact your working relationships? Employers will often send out internal job postings to announce open positions and encourage current employees to apply. By doing so, employers create a workplace where employees feel they have the opportunities for career growth – one of the five most significant factors that employees want from their employer – thus contributing to employee retention and engagement. After all, it’s more beneficial for a company to promote from within rather than spend the time and effort recruiting external candidates. If an internal job posting gives you the chance to grow your skills and experience, here’s how to apply without risking your current job. Not all companies require employees to notify their managers when applying for an internal position. In fact, most require the manager be notified only if the employee is selected for an interview. Whether or not you are required to tell you manager, it is best if they find out from you in order to maintain a positive working relationship. If you have a supportive relationship with your manager, speak with them about the possibility of an internal move before the opportunity arises. Your current boss is be a valuable source of advice on the matter. If you have a tense or unsupportive relationship with your manager, make sure to follow your company’s protocol and inform them when you are required to do so. If a position has become available before you have had a chance to broach the subject with your manager, ask to meet with them privately and share your interest in the position. Make sure they understand that your desire to apply is not about leaving your current role, but rather the opportunity to work at something new that is more inline with your carer goals and your future within the organization. Consider who in the company might be a good source of advice and information. For example, colleagues who have successfully gone through the internal application process may be able to coach you through the experience. You will also need to gather references from colleagues and managers. If possible, discretely reach out to the person who is acting the position you want and ask for tips or even a referral. And, of course, your manager can be an excellent source of support as well as a possible reference. Treat this as you would any job application. The job posting should explain the application process. Make sure to follow it exactly as described. Update your resume with your current position as outlined in the original job description and highlight what you have accomplished while in the role. Don’t assume that the hiring manager knows exactly what you do and how well you do it. Pay attention to any transferable skills that may be useful in the new role. When writing your cover letter, show appreciation for your current employment in addition to your interest in the new position. You want to show enthusiasm for the new job but also your desire to stay in your current role if you are not selected. Lastly, review your LinkedIn profile and make sure it is up-to-date and professional. If you’re not connected already, invite some of your colleagues and managers into your network. Like the application process, prepare for the job interview as you would any other. If you get the job, ensure that your work is ready to be transferred to a new person but don’t let it interfere with your productivity. As you prepare to leave your current role, continue to do your job as you always have. Prepare yourself for the possibility that you might not get the job. If that happens, avoid recriminations or hard feelings. Often someone else might get the position for reasons that are beyond your control. Ask for feedback from the interviewers about how you performed during the entire application process. This will demonstrate that you are open to critique and will give you an opportunity to learn something new about yourself. Maybe you’ve handed in your resignation letter or maybe your contract is almost over. However, it happened, your job is officially coming to an end. This is the time when your employer may invite you to an exit interview. An exit interview is a closing meeting between an employer and the employee leaving the organization (either voluntarily or through termination). It is an opportunity for employers to gain feedback from exiting employees in order to evaluate the company’s practices, retain employees and reduce turnover, and improve the organization. While it might be unnerving to meet with your soon-to-be previous employer and you may be tempted to decline, don’t turn down the invitation. Since you are leaving the position, you have nothing to lose and plenty to gain! It helps to be prepared to fully maximize the opportunity and end the employment relationship in a positive note. If the interview was initiated by the employer, then they set the agenda. Be ready to answer questions such as: Do your best to answer the questions as honestly, constructively and as tactfully as you can. Employers who conduct exit interviews genuinely want to learn from your experience, so don’t be shy about offering helpful feedback. Your opinions might benefit the colleagues you are leaving behind. At the end of the interview, make sure to thank your employer for the opportunity to give your feedback and for any you received in return. Offer your gratitude for the employment experience. Many employees dislike exit interviews, describing the experience as awkward or uncomfortable and without any benefit for the employee who is leaving. However, you may be surprised how useful exit interviews can be. 1. Reference Letters and Networking Contacts: Assuming that the job ended on relatively collegial terms, exit interviews are a chance to secure a strong reference. It’s a simple as asking who would be available to provide a reference for you. Keep in touch with your colleagues and supervisors, especially those who you want to keep as networking contacts. Make sure you connect on Linkedin. Job hunting is an unpredictable process and you never know when you may learn about a new employment opportunity from former supervisor or co-worker. 2. Evaluating your Skills: Before the interview ends, make sure to ask for time to address a few questions of your own – things you really want know about. Consider asking for: If the job ended on negative terms and you’re still dealing with anger and resentment, it may not be a good idea to participate in an exit interview. Expressing your anger with an employer will only end your chances of a reference and may ruin your professional reputation. If you have a legal or human rights cause with your employer, discuss it with your union, lawyer or the Ministry of Labour; don’t handle it on your own at the exit interview. While first impressions are powerful, so are final, lasting impressions. Ending a job on a positive and constructive note will benefit both you and the company well into the future. Employers have been known to ask some difficult questions during a job interview, such as “What is your biggest weakness?” or “What salary do you think you deserve?” But have you ever been asked to talk about a time when you faced conflict on the job? What did you say? It can be tempting to pretend you never had a conflict or tell part of the story and leave out all the negative stuff. Job seekers worry their answers may reflect poorly on them and decrease their chances of getting the job they are interviewing for. While it isn’t easy to talk about criticism or conflict in a job interview, you need to have an answer that is truthful and professional. And the best way to do that is to handle criticism properly when it happens. Dealing with criticism is a challenge for all of us. We all want to have the respect of our colleagues and to think that we are doing our job well. So being told that you are doing something badly can be painful to hear. It is easy for us to see criticism as an attack in which we might “fight back” - response defensively, confronting the critic or throwing accusations back at them - or we may “flee” where we sulk or perhaps complain to others. Either way the issue is not resolved and neither response is good for our working relationships. 1. Take a moment to process. 2. Be aware of your tone. 3. Clarify and acknowledge. Then acknowledge the other person's point of view. If you think that their feedback is rational and reasonable, then acknowledge that. This deescalates the situation for both you and the critic allowing them to expand on their thoughts and/or offer solutions once they understand that you are listening. Even if you do not agree with the criticism, you can still acknowledge what the other person is saying. Example: Supervisor: Your desk is such a mess. Why are you so disorganized? Employee (calmly): You’re saying that I am disorganized because my desk is mess. Looking at my desk right now, I can see why you’d think that. 4. Offer a solution. Example: I will have it done by the end of Friday. I would also like to meet with you at some point to discuss how I can better stay on top of this paperwork. 5. Explain (if necessary). Example: I can see why you would think that my desk is a mess. I need to do something to make sure that it doesn't appear that way. However, I am actually in the middle of preparing document packages and have spread the papers out so I can sort through them. 6. Set boundaries. Example: Also, I’d like to discuss how you gave this feedback. In future, I would prefer it if you would speak to me privately if you have a concern. Like any difficult interview question, preparing your answer ahead of time is key. Prepare for this question by thinking back to a time when you received feedback at work. Ideally, you want to tell the interviewer about a time where you handled the conflict gracefully and rectified the mistake immediately and with efficiency. Give enough detail so it sounds authentic but don’t dwell on the mistake. If you haven't deal with a conflict well, you can simply acknowledge that. It may impress an employer to hear that you realize that dealing with criticism is something you need to work on (That’s true for most of us, if we were honest with ourselves). Follow it up with how you would now handle it differently. Tip: Stay away from recriminations against the person who offered the criticism. You want to show the interviewer that you are able to consider the validity of the criticism and arrive at a solution. Example: Interviewer: Tell about a time you faced criticism on the job. How did you handle it? Candidate: I try to always work on handling criticism better. I think I've improved a lot over the years. In my last job, my supervisor walked my cubicle and was very critical of how messy it was in a very public way. She expressed concern that I was disorganized. I was able to respond calmly to her initial comment, promising to tidy up, and we made a time to meet and discuss concerns I had about paperwork in the office. We were able to devise a system that enabled me to stay on top of the paperwork. Interviewer: Is your desk less messy now? Candidate: It's not perfect but I have definitely improved now that I have some systems in place. I was pleased to deal with the issue openly with my supervisor. Remember, the reason employers ask this question in the first place is that they want to know whether you have the capacity to evaluate yourself and accept critique from others. You are allowed to be imperfect. Showing that you are honest and dedicated to self-improvement makes you a more interesting and valuable employee. Making a career decision is never easy. It’s a complicated process and there is no shortage of (often contradictory) advice. As job seekers, we are often told to “follow your passion” or “do what you love and the money will follow.” We hear these types of sentiments from celebrities, motivational speakers or in graduation speeches. It may sound simple and even inspirational, but following your passion is much more complicated than it sounds. In his podcast series WorkLife, Organizational Psychologist Adam Grant explains the challenges faced when trying to follow your passion. In the episode "The Perils of Following Your Career Passion", Grant suggests that following your passion might be some of the worst advice that you will ever get. “The reality is that many people don’t know what they love to do—and even if you do, most passions don’t translate neatly into careers… For many people around the world, passion at work is a luxury, while income is a necessity.” He adds “Most of the time, our early passions are not the best guide to our later careers.” For our employment specialists who work with both students looking for their career paths and adults who may want to change careers, these challenges sound very familiar. 1. You may not know what you are passionate about. Angela Duckworth, author of Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, compares career decisions to choosing a life partner and suggests that decision makers need to “date” to try out different career options. “Career passion is rarely love at first sight…. When you’re considering career paths, you shouldn’t cling to your old ideas of what your passion is. Don’t pursue the job that your past self thought would make you happiest. Follow your curiosity into the job where you think you’ll learn the most, where you can gain mastery over useful skills, and build your passion over time.” In simple terms, keep an open mind. 2. You may have more than one passion. Research shows that the search for a calling can be uncomfortable and confusing. People often get too focused on only one passion which can result in narrow tunnel vision where the decision maker fails to consider multiple interests or passions. Urging people to find their passion may lead them to put all their eggs in one career basket. There also is evidence that being too focused on following a single passion means people are unprepared for challenges, more easily frustrated, and likely to give up when facing difficulties on the job; often assuming that since challenges exist, this must not be the right career path for them. 3. Passions evolve over time. Passion isn’t something that is just waiting to be discovered — it’s something that takes time to figure out and develop. Grant says, “Passion is a consequence of effort,” pointing to studies following the career paths of entrepreneurs over time. Their passions became stronger the more time and effort they invested into their start-ups. “Their passion grew as they made progress,” noted Grant. “So, the problem is, the advice to ‘follow your passion’ reflects a fixed mindset: it assumes that your interests are stable. So if you don’t immediately enjoy a field or a task, the writing is on the wall; this must not be your passion, but that’s a mistake. You don’t want to quit the moment you don’t like a job, because passion can grow over time.” 4. Career paths, like passions, require exploration. In previous generations, workers seemed able to map out their careers early on and pursue a linear employment path. That isn’t true for the new economy. In fact, according to Workopolis, only 30 per cent of people stay in any one job for over four years. Job hopping is the new normal. In today’s job market, careers are much more fluid and workers are have to be flexible when responding to a fast-changing economy. So instead of the old straight forward “plan-and-implement” strategy, it may be more effective to consider a “test-and-learn” approach. Think of yourself as a scientist running experiments on your career; you have a hypothesis that a job might be a good opportunity and you try it out to see if it’s a good fit. 5. You won’t always love everything about your work. Expecting to love every aspect of your work can set you up for disappointment. You may be left wondering whether there’s something better out there which will leave you with dissatisfaction and, ultimately, regret. Chasing happiness can chase it away. Grant points out that when you start a job at the bottom of the career ladder, you will be disappointed if you think it is going to be all fun -- “most entry-level jobs aren’t designed to be fun.” If you start your career with realistic expectations, you are more likely to push through the more challenging aspects of your job and eventually move into more satisfying roles. 6. Sometimes it just isn’t realistic to expect to fulfill your passions at work. Not everyone is going to find personal fulfillment at work. Many people have other callings—passions they pursue outside their careers. Some are perfectly content to follow their passions through volunteer work, side businesses or as hobbies in their leisure time. “So when you’re thinking about your career,” advises Grant, “the best place to start is not to follow your passion.” Follow your curiosity into a job where you think you’ll learn the most, gain useful skills, and then build your passion over time. Quoting some useful advice from Oprah Winfrey “Your job is not always going to fulfill you… and the number one lesson I could offer you where your work is concerned is this; Become so skilled, so vigilant, so flat-out fantastic at what you do that your talent cannot be dismissed.” 7. Consider some expert advice. Career exploration services, such at those offered at JVS Toronto, can help you build a clear picture of what will make you feel happy and fulfilled in your career by identifying jobs that align with your interests, skills, personality and values. Whether you’re still in school or already working, it’s never too late to put yourself on the path to a career you love. To know if you could benefit from Career Exploration, contact us at 416-649-1600 or pave@jvstoronto.org. Whether you are looking for a new job, networking with colleagues, or giving a presentation, there will be many times throughout your professional life where you’ll be asked to “briefly introduce yourself.” However, finding those few words to describe yourself isn’t an easy task. The challenge is to describe your professional skills, accomplishments, and personality in simple, yet compelling terms that will catch the attention of those who might be in a position to help you with your career goals. Your bio shouldn’t be just be a list of job experiences; that’s what your resume is for. Instead, it should show the person behind the accomplishments. Keeping your skills up-to-date is vital to every job seeker. Whether you are a newcomer to Canada, recently lost your job, a mature worker, trying to overcome a gap in your resume, or changing careers, enhancing your skills is a worthwhile investment of your time. You may want to brush up on your programming or computer knowledge, language skills, management or any number of other skills that could improve your chances of being selected for an interview. Finding training courses that are credible, affordable, and accessible isn’t an easy task. While Googling “courses in Toronto” will give you pages and pages of results, it can be difficult to determine which of these courses are worth your time (and money). The City’s workshops and training programs are available to all Toronto residents – many at little or no cost. Recipients of Ontario Works benefits may qualify for a variety of employment-related training programs in areas such as: The City also offers a training series for Community Frontline Workers who work with vulnerable youth. Workshops include Employment for Youth with Criminal Records, Conflict Resolution & De-escalation, and Outreach with MVP Youth. Tip: Not in Toronto? Check your own city’s website for training courses and other educational opportunities. Many public school boards offer adult education opportunities including Literacy and Language Training, Computer Skills, Personal Support Worker training, and other workshops for licensed professionals: Across all locations, the Toronto Public Library offers training classes that can be accessed either in person or online: TPL also offers free to access lynda.com – a leading online learning platform that helps anyone learn business, software, technology and creative skills to achieve personal and professional goals. Tip: Markham residents can find JVS Toronto Employment Skills workshops at a variety of library locations. Check out our online calendar for more information. Many Private Colleges offer a wide range of Continuing Education opportunities. However, for some job seekers, these classes can be prohibitively expensive. And for those who work full-time or have family obligations, attending in-person classes can be next to impossible. Fortunately, there are a growing number of opportunities to study online which allows for greater flexibility and often lower (or no) costs. Some excellent online training sources include: Publicly funded post-secondary schools also offer a wide range of Continuing Education opportunities both in-person and online; many of which are quite affordable. In addition, through Continuing Education departments at colleges and universities, job seekers can earn certificates in their area of study that will demonstrate their expertise when applying to jobs. Whether you are looking for a certificate or just a few specific courses, check out the websites of Toronto’s colleges or universities for their continuing education course listings: Tip: Whatever education or training you choose to pursue, remember to add your new skills to your resume and LinkedIn profile. Happy learning! For job seekers, email is still the most popular way to sent a resume for a job opening, ask for an information interview, or network with a potential employer. According to researchers at Carleton University, working people send and receive an average of 111 work-related emails a day. It’s no surprise that job seekers struggle to get their emails noticed amongst the volume of messages in an employers’ inbox. What can you do to increase the chance that prospective employers read your email? Here are a few tips from our experts. Subject line: Pay attention to what you write in the subject line. It should clearly summarize the main point of the email, such as, Application for Accounting Manager – Jane Smith or, Seeking information about real estate industry. Most importantly, Hello is not a helpful subject heading! Opening: Get to the point quickly. Introduce yourself by telling the reader only what they really need to know such as mentioning who referred you to the employer. Ensure you have an email signature set up to avoid the need to mention your name. More about that below. Body: Be clear about why you are writing to the recipient up front. Keep it simple and focused. The reader is much more likely to respond if they know, at a glance, why you’re reaching out to them. Closing: End with the details of what you are asking for such as dates, deadlines or the next steps. Make sure the reader knows exactly what’s they need to do. Sign Off: Your closing line can vary depending on the formality of the email and the relationship between the sender and recipient: Signature: Create a professional signature for your emails. Include your name, occupation, phone number and a link to your LinkedIn profile or your online portfolio/website, if applicable. Do keep the email short. Focus the key points and convey key information. Each paragraph should be no more than three to five sentences. Don’t make the reader work too hard trying to figure out what you want. Avoid phrases such as, I am writing this email to inform you that…, or In response to your job posting of January 15th… Use the subject line is for this. Do keep your resume easy-to-read. Use italics, bold or highlighting sparingly. It can look messy and not all email applications are set up to read such complex formats. Do watch your grammar. Emails may be more conversational than other forms of correspondence, but try to maintain a professional tone. It is acceptable to use contractions such as I’ll, it’ll, we’ll, but avoid common “text” abbreviations such as plz, lol, thx, etc. And don’t use ALL CAPS or excessive exclamation marks!!!!!! Don’t make jokes. Jokes are don’t always read as intended. Written correspondence doesn’t convey sarcasm or tone well, so you might be misunderstood and end up looking unprofessional. Do be polite. If you are asking for assistance with your job search, remember to be courteous. Here are some terms you can use to make a request in a professional manner: Remember to say thank you and express your appreciation. Never underestimate the power of gratitude! Never send an email too hastily. Take time to proofread your message keeping the above tips in mind. Make sure that any relevant documentation is attached to your message before sending. A well-written email that is thoughtful, spell-checked, and professional can go a long way when presenting yourself to a potential employer. Finding yourself out of work can be a devastating experience. Unemployment is widely acknowledged as a significant stressor that directly affects physical and mental health. The Canadian Association for Mental Health states, “Unemployment can be, and often is, a shock to your whole system. You can experience some of the same feelings and stresses that you would if you were seriously injured, going through a divorce, or mourning the loss of a loved one.” As with other traumatic events, we rarely expect to be out of work and are often unprepared and overwhelmed by the road ahead. Common reactions when facing unemployment vary. You may find yourself struggling with denial, anger, and sadness, which can lead to avoidance and a sense of isolation. Preparation will help you to overcome these emotions and return to the workforce as soon as possible. Take stock of your finances. Figure out how long you can afford to go without a new source of income and develop a plan. Many job seekers have had to compromise their choice of jobs when they found themselves strapped for cash. Ask yourself, “What can I do if I don’t have a job by my target date?” Consider what compromises you can make to speed up landing a job. This can include adjusting your job search to include a few types of positions, locations, and salary range. Once you receive your Record of Employment, apply for Employment Insurance as soon as possible. Service Canada states, “If you delay filing your claim for benefits for more than four weeks after your last day of work, you may lose benefits.” When applying for Employment Insurance using the online service, you will need your employment start and end dates. Keep in mind that finding a job often takes longer than expected. Establish your goals. Though you may not have been expecting it, this is an opportunity to reassess your employment goals. You may want to learn about other industries, consider a career change, or potentially go back to school. If you wish to stay in your current industry, make a list of companies you would be interested in working at. Start with a minimum of five and focus your efforts there. LinkedIn company pages are a great tool that provides job seekers with access to detailed in-depth information about potential employers. Revise your resume. Update your resume with your work history details, and highlight the skills and experience most relevant to your employment goals. Search job postings online for the keywords and skills employers are looking for and include them in your resume. For those with long careers, include the last 10 years of employment with focus on key responsibilities and accomplishments. Seek out free employment centres, such as JVS Toronto Employment Source, to help you with resume preparation, interview techniques and other job search tools. If you’re resume updating skills are rusty, try our free online resume writing clinic. Update or learn new skills. After updating your resume and looking at job postings, you may find that your skills are out of date, or you’ve come across a software program you don’t know that would open up other opportunities. You may want to brush up on your product or service knowledge, presentation skills or any number of other skills that could improve your chances of being selected for an interview. Adding or enhancing skills is a worthwhile investment of your time. There are many resources offered online, such as Lynda.com with courses in software development, business, design, websites and more. Also check out the Continuing Education programs offered at your college or looks for classes at your local community centre or library that are low cost or free. Reconnect with your network. Job loss is something more and more people are facing in today’s economic climate. You are not alone in needing to find work. Reach out to your social and professional circles for job search tips and leads. Use social media to reconnect with friends, former colleagues or classmates during your job search. Not only will you gain information, identify skills you may need to improve and other resources, these connections will help with feelings of isolation often associated to those facing unemployment. Consider making new connections by volunteering or attending industry or professional association events. You’ll meet people, hear about opportunities, and if volunteering, gain references and new work experiences to add to your resume. Use social media to make these connections. Keep in mind that most jobs aren’t formally advertised. Employers use their trusted networks to find candidates for vacant positions. Don’t do it alone. All Employment Ontario-funded employment centres have free resource areas that provide those looking for work with computers, telephones, faxes and photocopiers, including JVS Toronto’s nine Employment Source locations. Conducting your job search in an employment centre like this reduces loneliness and provides you with direct access to various employment specialists, workshops and other services, all for free! A little planning and effort can go a long way towards making the best of your situation and staying in control of a process, which can otherwise be daunting. For those readers living in Toronto or York Region who need job search support, contact JVS Toronto at 416-787-1151 or at services@jvstoronto.org to access our free job search workshops, hiring events, and career exploration programs. With unemployment levels at a “40-year low” in Canada, employers are under increasing pressure to find suitable candidates from a diminishing pool of job seekers. However, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario states that of the discrimination in employment claims received in 2012 to 2013, 15% were for age discrimination. The Human Rights Code safeguards against discrimination in employment noting that, “Every person has a right to equal treatment with respect to employment without discrimination because of 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.” Discrimination in employment can occur at any time during the employee-employer relationship. During the recruitment process, for example, age discrimination could occur through the tools used during recruitment. Jobs advertisements posted on social media targeting a specific age demographic – the topic of this CBC article –potentially violate Canadian Human Rights laws. The article explains that the wording in advertisements do not mention age but the digital settings target who sees them. This could eliminate the mature worker age range. According to this New York Times article, recruitment practices affect a wide-range of ages, sometimes discriminating against job seekers in their 40s and 50s. The article reports that older job seekers receive fewer responses to their applications, especially when applying to positions such as janitors, administrative assistants, and retail sales clerks. Notably, there are more women in many of these roles and research reveals that older women experience discrimination at an even higher rate than older men do. Once an older worker has lost their job, getting back into the job market can be very challenging. Interviewers can be much younger and may see older candidates as lacking in technical skills and ability to adapt to the culture of today's companies. Mature job seekers have received feedback that they are overqualified, not a cultural fit for the company, or that their experience commands a higher rate of pay than the company can afford. It is important to remember that older workers are often hired. The key is to focus on your strengths and present yourself as the skilled, sharp, professional expert you are. Update your Skills Make sure your skills are up-to-date especially in-demand tech skills. There are many resources offering courses online, such as Lynda.com with courses in software development, business, design, websites and more. The Toronto Public Library is a great place to free Internet access for this type of web-based learning. Be sure to highlight your updated skill set on your resume and LinkedIn profile. Tailor your Resume Highlight your most important and in-demand skills and experience. It’s not necessary to go back too far. Ten years is the standard length for Employment History. However, if you have impressive experience that goes back further. Consider listing it without the dates under the headline Previous Relevant Experience. Tip - Describe your experience in your profile summary as “extensive” rather than quantifying it with “X number of years”. Establish an Online Presence Make sure your resume is Applicant Tracking System-friendly. (Applicant Tracking Systems are online computer software used by hiring managers to sort resumes.) Use common key words and phrases found in the employer’s job description, keeping the formatting simple, and clean. Then establish a professional up-to-date LinkedIn profile using these tips. Network, Network, Network Your extensive work history and professional reputation give you an advantage that younger workers do not have -- a network of former colleagues, employers, and clients who know and respect your work. Reach out to them. Take key people out for a cup of coffee and share your journey with them. Ask for tips and leads. Consider your Career Options Some older worker take their years of experience and leverage it into a consulting business providing start-up companies with leadership, advice and expertise. If you feel that ageism is affecting your job search, you are not alone. The evidence is clear that younger employers do prefer candidates in their own age bracket. However, you have some unique assets. Be sure to leverage and display them proudly. Remember, the employer who eventually hires you will be the one who truly appreciates everything you have to offer. When reading job search blogs, it’s easy to think that employers are no longer using resumes; that resumes are being replaced by platforms such as LinkedIn and Applicant Tracking Systems. So, do job seekers still need resumes? Employers tend to regard your resume as a simple and clear summary of your most important skills and experience. They assume that more information will be available about you on sites such as LinkedIn. So think of your resume as a brochure, a self-promotional tool. It should be brief (no more than two pages) and written in concise, formal language (without first person pronouns). It’s expected. The majority of employers still ask for resumes to be sent via email or uploaded to the company’s web site even when using LinkedIn to promote job openings. Resumes are easily shared. Potential employers can read your resume on a computer screen, email it to colleagues and hiring managers, and print it out to refer to at a later point in time. Resumes are adaptable. Job seekers can tailor their resume to highlight those qualifications that best match the employer’s needs. Update your profile summary and work history using keywords found in the job posting. This will increase your chances of getting your resume past any Applicant Tracking System and get it in front of the hiring manager. A LinkedIn profile is quite different. It is a living, dynamic record of you and your career. LinkedIn provides you with a chance to tell your story using a range of media such as text, slideshows, photos, work samples, websites and video. The summary portion of your profile is an opportunity to introduce yourself, explain your history and let potential employers know what makes you unique. It can be less formal than a resume profile -- just make sure that the tone is appropriate for your industry. LinkedIn allows for longer, more detailed work history than the standard 10 year span of a resume. If you have worthwhile professional experience that goes back more than 10 years, share it on LinkedIn. It’s popular. We know from surveys conducted that 87% of recruiters regularly use LinkedIn to review potential candidates. It is a secure way of sharing information. Resumes typically include your email address, phone number and street address, whereas LinkedIn does not require you to share such information without your permission. Unlike a resume, LinkedIn provides space to list your interests. Choose what you share carefully. Consider listing interests that relevant to your industry and reflect the values and culture of the companies you are engaging with. The goal of LinkedIn is to make you stand out to employers as not just well-qualified, but as an interesting, accomplished and impressive person. It’s a tie! Resumes and LinkedIn serve very different purposes. Resumes function best as internal documents that employers and hiring managers will use to determine if you have the right qualifications for the position you applied for. Whereas LinkedIn is a promotional tool that job seekers can use to market their personalities and highlight experience and skills that traditional resumes don’t allow. Tip: As a job seeker sending out resumes to potential employers, make sure that your LinkedIn profile reveals something new about you. You want them to be impressed by who you are and your personality, as well as your expertise and professional background. It’s job fair time once again! Every spring, employers and crowds of job seekers congregate to discuss job opportunities. Job fair events feature a maze of employer stalls with long line-ups and lots of noisy chatter. Presenting your best self at a job fair can be stressful, and there is no guarantee of being hired. So what is the point of a job fair? A job fair as a way to build a professional network of employers in your field, learn about job openings, workplace culture, and the nature of sector. The few minutes that you interact with an employer gives you a great opportunity to “look” and “sound” like a potential employee. Usually only your resume speaks for you when you apply for jobs. A job fair gives you a rare chance to sell yourself before any formal interviews take place. Some employers even have an on-the-spot interview for certain positions. While job offers don’t typically happen at a job fair, you can make progress towards that offer, or be considered for other opportunities. For employers, job fairs are a chance to meet face-to-face with candidates before any formal interview. Think of it as an in-person screening process. Candidates can sell their hard and soft skills and employers can quickly evaluate fit. The goal is for employers to identify candidates for interviews. Use Google to search for job fairs in your area. Find job fairs notices on websites such as Eventbrite, Peter’s New Jobs and Jobs Canada Fair. Register for the event. Sign-up on job fair organizer websites so you receive notices for upcoming events. Look for registration instructions and register, or obtain an entry ticket. Note that some job fairs ask you to submit your resume when you register. Not every job fair requires registration and just show up. Find the companies attending. Job fair advertisements include participating companies and the types of positions they are promoting. Visit company websites to understand more about them, who they hire and available positions. Search online for company news and check out their social media posts. Follow the companies you’re most interested in. Take notes about their mission statement, products and services. Consider applying for positions listed on their website and bring a record of the application to show the employer at the job fair. Be ready to market yourself. Prepare your elevator pitch to introduce yourself and the skills that would benefit the company. Have an idea of what you would like to emphasize to each company based on your research and the positions they are filling. Think about what you want to tell the employer about your last job, how it ended (stay positive!), and what you have been doing since. Find a way to tell them how your journey brought you to this company and their jobs. Make sure you have suitable clothes to wear at the event. Think of it like dressing for an interview, with the exception of wearing comfortable shoes that are still suitable for an interview. You can get a sense of each company’s attire from the photos used on their website. Make sure your resume and LinkedIn profile is up-to-date. Expect employers to look your profile up. Include your LinkedIn profile address on your resume as well. Have multiple copies of your resume to hand out. Think of questions to ask. Prepare specific and open-ended questions to understand or clarify details about the company, positions, sector news, etc. Company representatives will remember your conversation if they feel engaged. Job fairs are very busy, so be concise, professional, friendly and mindful of those waiting in line. Present yourself professionally. Arrive early, neatly dressed, with resume copies, notepaper and questions in a folder. Make sure you have a pen. Speak and act professionally. Offer a firm handshake when you meet company representatives and make eye contact. Silence your cell phone. Avoid asking about salary or benefits at this stage. Job fairs are busy, noisy and fast paced so don’t go into too much detail and be aware of time restrictions. Take care of yourself while you’re at the event. Bring water and snacks. Take short breaks. Stay focused and calm. Schedule a follow-up appointment, if possible. Some companies prefer making an appointment following the job fair; this is an opportunity to have an in-depth conversation with the employer, which is difficult to do at larger events. If the conversations went well, considering asking to meet with the employer after the event to continue the discussion. If they refuse, this may not be their protocol during job fairs. Gather business cards of employers. Write a brief email to the employers you met to show appreciation for their time and emphasize your interest in the company. Lastly, job fairs are an extraordinary opportunity to meet employers who can offer you your next career move. Taking the best effort you can during a job fair will increase your professional network and lead to positive opportunities in the future. Addressing the salary question isn’t easy for a job seeker. If the salary you ask for is too high, the employer might choose a more affordable candidate. If it’s too low, you might be selling yourself short or be seen as less qualified or valuable. So, what is a job seeker to do? Before tackling this question, it helps to do some research. Take a careful look at your budget and identify the minimum that you can afford to earn. Of course, you will try to do better than the minimum, but there are reasons to take a job that are not financial, such as an opportunity to start a new career, fill a gap on your resume, or perhaps the job is an opportunity to start at a company you really want to work for. Do you know how much employers are willing to pay you, given your particular skills and experience, and their given salary structure? It isn’t easy to figure out the going rate for a specific job. There are many variables to consider, including: Resources are available online to help calculate your potential salary, but be cautious; it doesn’t always give an accurate estimate of how much you might be able to be paid, considering your unique skills, experience and circumstances: The current job market is also the best source of salary information: Salary negotiations do not need to be adversarial or aggressive. If you are clear about how much you need and have a sense of what is being paid in the market, then you are in a good position to ask for what is realistic. Some salary negotiation tips: Job seekers may underestimate the power of sending a simple, well-written thank you letter after a job interview. Some think that employers don’t expect or appreciate a thank you and wonder whether it is worth the effort. Apparently, employers disagree. A recent survey of 300 employers shows that 80 percent describe the thank you messages they received after an interview as either somewhat or very helpful; yet, only 24 percent of candidates bother sending a letter. Some people embrace the practice of expressing gratitude with a few well chosen words whether by letter, email, by LinkedIn message or endorsement. It can be an effective way of making a lasting positive impression and reminding people of your thoughtfulness and likability. During the job search process, there are many opportunities to express gratitude. Acknowledging a helpful administrative assistant, a resourceful network contact, a referral to a job, or even your employment counsellor can be a valuable way of solidifying a relationship that may serve you for a long time into your career. Thank you notes are almost always a good idea. Whether the interview went well or not, whether you got the job, or even whether you don’t want the job, that should not impact your decision to write a thank you note. If a person has dedicated time and effort to help you with information or spent time considering you for position, send them a note. That includes the person who conducts the pre-screening interview on the phone. Think of it as paying it forward; feeling appreciated is a powerful force that strengthens your ties to others in your network. For more tips on writing thank you letters, as well as links to samples, check out this blog post. I recently came across an interesting opinion on networking that might make many job seekers happy; Networking, as many employment professionals describe it, might not work for most. Networking is the process of reaching out to professionals in your industry, that you may not know personally, in order to make connections and gain job referrals. And when I describe it to job seekers, I can see the concern on their faces – not everyone feels comfortable marketing themselves so directly to potential employers. Many candidates worry they are not qualified enough and are concerned their self-promotion may appear desperate. The question is whether networking is worth the effort and time required to make it work. For many job seekers, it is well worth it. For others, the anxiety it provokes and its lack of short-term returns might turn a job search into a stressful process that causes avoidance and frustration. The good news is that there isn’t just one way to find work. Keep in mind that the often-quoted “hidden job market” isn’t so hidden anymore. The vast majority of jobs are easily found online on job boards, social media and on company websites. Of course, having good network contacts can help a candidate stand out, but that often isn’t enough – candidates have to be able to compete equally with a highly talented pool of job seekers. Having a strong network cannot replace qualifications, experience and competitive skills. Sustainability matters. Connections have to be meaningful, not just plentiful. Networking works much better if you already have recognizable achievements. Networking cannot replace achievements. Access and opportunity do give certain people an unfair advantage. It is key to work on recognizing and publicizing your achievements. It's not all about making connections. Focus on making an impact through interesting, innovative and impressive activities.Is Failure the Secret to a Successful Job Search?
What factors make some successful while others struggle?
What can job seekers learn from this?
Don’t expect to find your next job immediately. Recognizing that it is a process that can take time might allow you to bounce back more quickly when setbacks happen. Be prepared to reevaluate and adjust your job search as needed.
If you are sending out multiple resumes and not getting responses or are struggling to get past the first interview, ask yourself the following questions:
An unanswered email or a rejected job application does not reflect your worth as a person or a professional. Think of these setbacks to be stepping stones to better things. Be willing to talk about your struggles openly… even in job interviews. Remember employers want to know more than just your career history. They want to know who you are as a person. Don't avoid talking about the struggles you might have had. If you can frame it in terms of what you learned from failure and how you adapted, you might be able to make a positive impression.How to Apply for an Internal Position in your Company
Approach your manager.
Seek information and advice.
Apply for the position.
Prepare for the interview.
And be prepared for any outcome.
Make the Most of Your Exit Interview
What to expect in an Exit Interview
What you can gain from an Exit Interview
Tackling Difficult Job Interview Questions: “How do you handle criticism on the job?”
The Emotional Side of Receiving Criticism
Tips for Handling Criticism
Don't respond immediately. Set aside your initial reaction and take the time to think about the criticism objectively before responding. You may need to find a quiet space to contemplate or discuss it with a trusted colleague or friend.
For criticism to be productive, both sides must express themselves calmly and respectfully. One of the most effective things you can do in dealing with criticism is to keep control over your tone of voice.
The first step when responding to criticism is to clarify what was said. Make sure you understand what you’ve been told.
People are much more likely to accept an apology if it comes without excuses. If the criticism is reasonable, simply acknowledge your part in the mistake and offer to change it. If you require assistance in order to fix the mistake, then ask for it.
Once the issue has been acknowledged, and if you think it is necessary, calmly explain your side of the story.
You might feel the need to address the way the criticism was given, e.g. if the criticism was done in a public space or in a way that you believe was unfair. Also, if you genuinely think the feedback was unwarranted, you could express that. Use this moment as an opportunity to treat others the way you would like to be treated -- without anger, and in a clear and direct way.Answering “How do you handle criticism on the job?” in a Job Interview
Is “follow your passion” the best career advice?
Here are some of the challenges that make finding your passion so difficult:
How to Write Your Professional Bio
Top 5 Resources for Quality Training Courses in Toronto
Here is our selection of quality resources to learn new skills and boost your employability.
1. The City of Toronto:
2. Public School Boards:
3. Public Libraries:
4. Private Colleges:
5. Public Universities and Colleges:
How to Write Emails That Get Noticed
Consider each part of your message.
Email Dos and Don'ts.
Proof read your email before you send it.
Lost Your Job? Here’s six steps to get you back to work
Six Steps in Taking Control
Dealing with Age Discrimination
What does age discrimination look like?
So what can the more seasoned job seeker do?
Bottom line:
Resumes vs LinkedIn. Which is better?
The Benefits of Resumes
The Benefits of LinkedIn
And the Winner is…
How to use Job Fairs to Find Your Next Job
Finding job fairs and hiring events.
Before the Job Fair
At the Job Fair
Follow-up is important. After each conversation or meeting with a company representative, take notes and ask for a business card. If this is not available, get the person’s name, company, job title, and email address. Ask permission to connect with them on LinkedIn.After the Job Fair
Answering the Salary Question in a Job Interview
How much do you really need to earn?
How much can you expect?
At the interview:
Read MoreThe Power of a Thank You
Expressing gratitude is a highly effective strategy
Writing thank you letters during job search as well as after interviews
Tips for writing a thank you note after an interview
Is Networking overrated?
Here are some interesting insights from the New York Times:
“It’s true that networking can help you accomplish great things. But this obscures the opposite truth: Accomplishing great things helps you develop a network.” Networking tends to be more effective if you are already accomplished and have an established credibility in your professional circle.
“Achievements don’t just help us make connections; they also help sustain those connections.” Networks need to be sustained, and that can only happen if your accomplishments are visible.
”Networking alone leads to empty transactions, not rich relationships.” While it is a good idea to connect to as many people as possible, it is even more important to build your existing relationships and get to know your contacts.
“It’s remarkably hard to engage with those people unless you’ve already put something valuable out into the world. That’s what piques the curiosity of advisers and sponsors. Achievements show you have something to give, not just something to take.” Share your achievements on your resume and on LinkedIn. It will make you a much more interesting to others and a valuable professional contact.
“The best way to attract a mentor is to create something worthy of the mentor’s attention. Do something interesting, and instead of having to push your way in, you’ll get pulled in. The network comes to you.” Work on making an impact, whether it is in your volunteer work, your current interim job, or in a training course.
It is important to acknowledge that networking is much more challenging for those who are new to a country or a career. In those situations, job seekers may have to rely on transferable skills to market themselves. “It’s dramatically easier to get credit for achievements...if your pedigree is full of fancy degrees and prestigious employers, and you come from a family with wealth and connections. But if you lack these status signals, it’s even more critical to produce a portfolio that proves your potential.”
“Accomplishments can build your network only if other people are aware of them. You have to put your work out there. It shouldn’t be about promoting yourself, but about promoting your ideas. Evidence shows that tooting your own horn doesn’t help you get a job offer or a board seat, and when employees bend over backward to highlight their skills and accomplishments, they actually get paid less and promoted less. People find self-promotion so distasteful that they like you more when you’re praised by someone else — even if they know you’ve hired an agent to promote you.”
“The best networking happens when people gather for a purpose other than networking, to learn from one another or help one another.”