December 5, 2016 Leave a Comment

Ask the Employment Specialist: Are Calling Cards Helpful?

Dear Joanna,

I’m going to a career and job fair next week. It promises to be a fantastic event with lots of employers looking to hire. I am an experienced building maintenance manager with over 10 years experience in managing the operations of different properties for a mid-sized company.

Do I need to prepare and bring with me calling / business networking card?

Signed: Calling Card Case (CCC)

Dear CCC

I’ve observed how calling cards as a critical networking tool seem to be less important now that using social media, especially Linkedin, has become the more popular networking technique and as we move towards a paperless society.

However, JVS Toronto Employment Counsellors agree that calling cards still have some of the following benefits as a networking and branding tool:

It’s a portable marketing device.

You never know when you will meet someone who can help you with your job search. These cards allows you to leave your details with potential contacts whom you did not expect to meet. People will accept a card under almost any circumstances, whereas they may not accept your resume.

Attach it to an application form.

This technique could set you apart from other candidates. Attach it to a thank you letter after an interview as a reminder of your skills, or to a cover letter to introduce yourself. Post it on bulletin boards to market your services. It will encourage people to give you job leads, summarize your skills for your references and give out to businesses you may spot in passing. It will point out to others how to pronounce or spell your name.

Design and print networking cards.

It is an inexpensive tool. You can make your own calling cards using a publishing program, MS Office or on the web. Or, you can buy the card stock at a local print or office supply store, and print your cards off on your printer. Networking/calling cards are the same as business cards: they have your key contact information the way business cards do, but instead of listing a company and job title, a networking card focuses on your career or professional goal and highlights your skills and expertise.

Here is a sample:

Joanna

Joanna Samuels B.Ed. (Adult Education), M.Ed., CMF, CTDP, RRP is a certified Life Skills Coach and Personality Dimensions Facilitator who works as a Job Developer/Job Coach/Workshop Facilitator, as well as a part-time instructor of employment counselling with people with disabilities at George Brown College.

November 21, 2016 Leave a Comment

Use Project Management skills in your job search

Dear Joanna,

How can I boost my job search so that I finally receive a job offer as a project manager in the telecom industry? I’ve heard that it is so competitive that all job seekers would need is to have connections to secure employment in this field.

Do you have any advice for me?

Signed: Frustrated PMP (F-PMP)

Dear F-PMP

To respond to your great question, I have consulted with expert coach and facilitator Miguel Abascal, Project Manager, M.Fin, PMP at TD Canada Trust, who also volunteers to support newcomers as a TRIEC Mentor.

He presents eight project management tips that can be incorporated into a job search:

Initiate.

Using the mindset of a consultant or entrepreneur when looking for work is critical. Building your career and securing employment is a project that you are managing from beginning to end: you set the tone, the deadlines, the plan and the process. Set up a workplace at your home or in a local coffee shop until you find your new employer. Don’t forget that relationship building is everything.

Adapt To Change.

Flexibility, expecting the unexpected and identifying change opportunities are hallmarks of an effective Project Manager. They are always considering the possibility of changing plans, adapting documentation and thinking about how this impacts on a project. Job seekers can learn from that: evaluate your options and re-evaluate them again, if they are not attainable. Look at your resume and LinkedIn profile: are they working? If not, change. Listen to advice and be open to adapting what you do.

Know What You Don’t Know.

An openness to learn something new, a love of learning, an understanding your strengths and weaknesses and always looking to improve is fundamental to a project’s success Never be complacent; always strive to find better solutions to the problems in your job search. For example, if you keep applying to jobs and are not getting any interviews, it’s an opportunity to learn new techniques for your job search, such as updating your social media skills.

Lead With Purpose and Passion.

Follow the mantra of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®): “people will follow those who know what they are doing and who can generate results”. Nothing feels better than accomplishment. Make decisive, confident decisions, and demonstrate that in your job search.

Plan.

Create a detailed and thorough project plan. Identify the milestones you wish to achieve. As mentioned above, be prepared to change and adjust. Knowing where you are and creating a plan to reach your destination is 50% of the work. Your plan will be like a Blueprint or a Map that will help you see if you need to make any adjustments.

Execute.

Act on your goals, with an expectation of success. Keep practicing and preparing for job interview. Utilize approaches such as Information Interviews, which are the secret for networking success. Engage in targeted research of the companies, the industry and hiring managers that are relevant to achieving your job goal.

Monitor and Control.

Be very organized and keep meticulous records of your activities including job postings, applications, interviews, networking activities and any other relevant action. Organizational skills are important in the job search. Use tools such as Google Spreadsheets and Calendar, and keep a schedule of your interviews and any engagement with people.

Make sure that people experience you as organized and in control. As Maya Angelou said: “People will forget what you said, even what you did but they will never forget how you made them feel .”

Close

Before you say “yes” to the job offer, make sure you’re asking the right questions. Understand your value proposition, how you will help the company succeed, get to know the workplace culture, evaluate the offer including salary, benefits, hours, company holidays and start date.

Don’t forget: Treat the job offer like a business deal, in which, you, my friend are very valuable, because there is none like you!

Joanna

Joanna Samuels B.Ed. (Adult Education), M.Ed., CMF, CTDP, RRP is a certified Life Skills Coach and Personality Dimensions Facilitator who works at JVS Toronto as a Job Developer/Job Coach/Workshop Facilitator. Also, Joanna is a part-time instructor of employment counselling with people with disabilities at George Brown College.

November 14, 2016 Leave a Comment

Tips from an Employment Counsellor: What to do if you have started a job and found that it is not a suitable workplace

We asked our staff to share examples of the kinds of questions that clients sometimes ask, and the answers they offer. This question from a client came to Cindy Chen, an Employment Counsellor at JVS Toronto Employment Source Scarborough.

Clients often worry about what would happen if, when they start a new job, they discover that it isn’t what they imagined. What can they do?

Sometimes when you start a new job, things don’t turn out as you had hoped or imagined. This, combined with the stress of starting a new job, can make the new workplace seem intolerable.

It’s important to figure out objectively why you don’t like the job: what makes it so difficult: the tasks, the people, or both?

If it is the tasks, keep in mind that, on average, it takes about 3-6 months for new employees to really feel comfortable with the tasks or responsibilities of a new position. If it is the people, try to get to know your new colleagues better and work on giving them benefit of the doubt. Perhaps the atmosphere or work culture is different and it requires some time for you to adjust and find your own place within it. Try introducing yourself to colleagues and get to know them; small talk is sometimes very important and beneficial. Join lunches and other social opportunities. If you can find one person who is helpful and open to sharing, perhaps turn to them for support.

Once you have determined that you have tried your best and done all you can to fit in, but it still seems like a bad fit for you, start looking for a more suitable job. Try not to leave your current job until you have secured a new one. Do your best to schedule interviews at the beginning or at the end of the day, so you don’t disrupt your current work schedule.

Now that you know more of what is not suitable for you in a workplace, use that knowledge to find a more suitable workplace. Be sure to ask questions at the interview to find out what it would be like to work at that place, such as: how would you describe the work atmosphere here, how would you describe the management style at this organization? What’s a typical day like here? What aspects do you think will help an individual excel here or at this job?

When a new job seems to not be working out, it is important to be patient, yet decisive. Sometimes, once you have been there for a while, you might get used to, or find ways of dealing with aspects of the job that you initially found to be challenging. Hang in there, do what you can to make it work, but once you decide it is not for you, begin to look for something else. Use what you have learnt to secure a better suited job next time around.

Cindy Chen is an Employment Counsellor at JVS Toronto Markham Employment Source. She is trained as a Registered Social Service Worker (RSSW), and describes herself as an advocate of inclusion who is passionate about helping others.

October 24, 2016 Leave a Comment

Ask Our Employment Specialist: How to win at the online application screening game

Dear Employment Specialist,

I keep applying for teller/customer service positions at the banks. As recommended, I register on their website, post my resume and cover letter and apply for job opportunities as they come up. I have never received a phone call for an interview.

What am I doing wrong?

Signed: Online

Dear Online,

Did you know that many of the larger companies like the banks use an online software that is automated for screening of online applications? It is known as the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). To help figure out what needs to be done so that your resume and cover letter will be flagged for the recruiter or hiring manager on the ATS, I spoke to Michelle Edmunds, Founder and Job Search Coach at Focus Industry Consulting as well as Employer Outreach and Placement Coordinator at Ryerson University’s Chang School. She advised the following:

1. Category matching.

Did you notice how job descriptions have become more creative, with many new job titles, departments and roles that haven’t been seen before? Functions and roles contain fewer tasks and there is a bigger focus on outcomes. Companies are looking for specialists, not generalists.

Create a separate section in the top third of your online resume that captures your relevant specific category of expertise. For example, Client Relationship Management, Communications and Financial Analysis.

2. Resume keyword matching.

Focus on the priority keywords within the job description. Use the exact words and language in the posting. Don’t copy and paste those words exactly as is — instead, write your matching or relevant work experience with detailed examples, while still ensuring that you are capturing the key terms that are important — for example, if you are applying for a “Customer Service Representative”, and phrases such as “relationship management”, “analytical skills” and a “bachelors degree”, appear in the job description, these are mandatory qualifications.

Keyword matching shows the system that you understand the job requirements and that you speak their language.

3. Include your accomplishments.

This is your strategy to market yourself in both the online application and interview. It’s how you can stand out from the crowd. Your accomplishments should be unique, valuable and strategic, and they should match the job posting’s job description first, and then the listed requirements. The phrases need to be personal and real. Using the keywords in the job description, prepare these statements, so that they are well-received by the outcome based job lists on the ATS.

Based on the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action and Result), you can prepare these statements for the resume as well as to respond to the behavioural questions in the interview.

4. Limit your online applications.

Don’t spend all your time on the ATS. Build your professional network, meet as many people as possible in your field, engage in information interviews, use social media to research and network. Despite the proliferation of online tools, most people continue to get jobs through people they know.

Good luck!

October 10, 2016 Leave a Comment

How to be noticed on online job application systems

Increasingly, employers are turning to electronic methods to standardize recruitment and make resume screening more efficient. You may have noticed that when you apply to a job online, you are often redirected to a website that requires you to sign up, create an online profile, answer a long series of questions and then upload a resume before you are able to apply for the job. The goal of the employer is to gather more information from you, to allow them to pre-screen candidates, using keyword searches and make more objective decisions about whom they will call to an interview.

The programs used by employers to gather the data and sort through it are called ATS programs – Applicant Tracking Systems. They are online sites where job seekers can create an profile and apply directly to all the suitable jobs with a particular company. Candidates can upload a resume and cover letter, as well as give employers access to other online information about themselves (such as LinkedIn, blogs) as well as additional documents (such as proof of professional registration) as required by employers.

The advantages of ATS for candidates is that it enables them to set up profiles with each of their employers of choice, get notifications (or ‘alerts’) when jobs are posted, and — once the profile is completely set up — apply easily. It also enables candidates to share more information than the conventional emailing of a resume and cover letter.

But as most job seekers would testify, online job application sites are frustratingly difficult to navigate and full of technical bugs. They also can take a lot of time to set up. Many job seekers also find that despite setting up a profile and applying to many jobs to which they seem perfectly suitable, they are still not getting called for interviews.

To make sure that you maximize the odds of getting being noticed on an ATS system, here are some tips for using it:

Prepare an ATS optimized resume

The ATS will extract the relevant data from your resume to compare to other candidates. So while some employers might print out your resume before the interview, many admit to never looking at the document itself, which makes resume writing for ATS difficult for job seekers.

While it’s still important to prepare a resume that looks readable visually, it is even more vital to ensure that it is coherent and targeted resume, in terms of:

Spelling – make sure that the resume is error free; remember: misspelled words will not be picked up by the system

Keywords – edit the resume to use the keywords that the employer uses in their posting

Layout – keep the resume simple and cleanly laid out:

no tables, columns or text boxes, or formatting such as underlining
no fancy text, tabs or fancy spacing between letters
no graphics or unusual symbols — you can use a simple bullet (●), dash (-) or line ( | ) to separate items
no abbreviations or unexplained acronyms
don’t use creatively worded headings, or rely on bold or underline– rather stick to the standard headings (in capital letters, if you want it to be obvious that they are headings) such as PROFILE, PROFESSIONAL HISTORY, EDUCATION, etc
don’t use headers or footers
no need to number pages or title them
unless otherwise instructed, create a resume in Word format, not PDF (which often cannot be read on ATS)

Save the resume under a name that identifies you and the job (e.g. KarinLewisEmploymentCounsellor.doc).

Complete the online profile in full detail

Don’t take any short cuts when completing the profile. Complete all fields in the profile, even those marked as optional. Include your cover letter, resume and any other relevant documentation. When asked to explain an item, do so in full detail. Write full, clear and suitably detailed replies to all questions. Use proper punctuation and capitalisation in your sentence. Don’t rush through it — make sure it is as good as you can make it.

Check the profile carefully before submitting it

Don’t just upload a resume and assume it will fill the right fields – often the system misreads the resume. Check your profile carefully to ensure that all the resume details are properly captured.

The bottom line is to keep in mind that ATS is an increasingly commonly used method of prescreening candidates. Take some time and make sure you prepare your profile in such a way that you increase your chances of being noticed and contacted for an interview.

FINAL TIP: Don’t rely only on ATS to secure your next position. While it is true that many companies require applicants to apply online, that does not mean that candidates won’t benefit from networking with potential employers online on LinkedIn and in person. Do both — create a strong ATS profile and find ways to reach out to potential employers as well. Ideally, your target employers should be aware of your candidacy before they even set out to post a job, or call candidates for an interview.

Karin Lewis is the Blog Editor and a contributing writer. A senior Employment Counsellor at JVS Toronto, she presently balances the roles of Case Manager, Consultant to Toronto’s Jewish Family and Child, as well as Communications and Marketing (Social Media) Specialist.

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