April 4, 2016 Leave a Comment

Ask the Employment Specialist: How to “decrypt” a job posting

Dear Joanna,

I found my dream job online. It is a job posting for a Sharepoint Developer. The job description is complicated, although I am positive that I meet at least 90 percent of the qualifications. How do I prepare a resume that will stand out and help me to get that interview?

Signed: Stand Out (SO)

Dear SO,

Before submitting your application, the first step in the process is to delve into a deep analysis of the job description. The best advice comes from Michelle Edmunds, founder/job search coach from Focus Industry Inc., and Employment/Outreach Coordinator at Ryerson University’s The Chang School, who recommends the following:

1. Understand the job posting.

Job seekers need to analyze the job description in detail, in order to grasp what the employer is looking for, and to prepare a resume and social media profile that could land them an interview. Read the posting like you would an assignment given to you by your boss. Remember, the more you understand something, the more confident you feel, the better you sound.

2. Break down the role.

Read and analyze the posting beyond just the qualifications and requirements. Highlight key words and responsibilities (especially the ones you are not sure about). Job postings usually tell the applicant what you will be doing in a specific role. If you send a general resume that does not directly address the posting, the employer will not be able to understand how you fit the role.

3. Fierce competition.

Applying for most jobs is like entering into a competition. Job seekers must create an outstanding resume that is customized to the job posting, so the employer who is reading the document feels confident that they could be a match.

You can do this by demonstrating your relevant skills, experience and education (if required) in a clear, articulate way in the “highlights” of the resume. It will be evident to the employer, after a two-second glance at the resume, if there is a potential fit for the position or not.

4. The Match Percentage.

Some counsellors suggest that you need to meet 70 percent of the qualifications; others argue 90 percent. Edmunds suggests that a 90% match isn’t necessarily good thing if you lack 10 percent of the requirements either, because this is impossible to learn quickly or at all.

It all depends on which skills you lack. For example, maybe you match 90% of the skills the posting asks for, but you don’t have the latest software knowledge, this might mean the employer will have to train you, which might not be feasible.

5. Research.

Before considering writing a resume, research the company. Read other job postings on the company’s web site and the “About Us” section, to get a better idea of the company’s work, accomplishments and projects. Research what you don’t know (acronyms, industry terminologies, software).

The bottom line is that you need to keep in mind that you simply cannot produce a customized resume without a full understanding of the job posting.

Joanna

March 28, 2016 Leave a Comment

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

Dear Joanna,

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

Signed: IT Expiry dates (ITED)

Dear ITED,

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

Continuous learning.

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

Create your own projects and practise the new skills.

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

Use social media.

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

Keep building your professional network.

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

Be honest.

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

Joanna

February 29, 2016 Leave a Comment

Calculate Your Salary

One of the more challenging aspects of applying for a job is responding to an employer’s request for salary expectations. This is a difficult question because no matter what salary you ask for, you might be at a disadvantage: if the salary you quote is too high, the employer might choose a more affordable candidate over you; however, if it’s too low, you might be undervaluing yourself, which can be perceived as a weakness.

So what should a job seeker do?

There are a number of considerations for job seekers when deciding what salary to ask for:

1. Calculate how much do you personally need to survive:

Calculate the minimum that you can live on. Make sure to include all the necessary factors. Figure out how flexible you could be (is it worth moving to a cheaper home, if it means more choices or opportunities?) and then calculate a reasonable number that, while not ideal, would be manageable. Calculate how much this is per hour, month and year.

2. Consider your last salary:

Using the hourly calculator, figure out how much you last salary was per hour/month/year. Remind yourself the nature of your previous benefits package. These could be useful points of reference when negotiating your salary.

3. Calculate the going salary rate in your field:

The going rate for a specific job is a difficult calculation, because there are many variables to consider, including:

The average salary in your profession
Your experience and skill level
Where you fit into the salary range in your profession: entry-level, average or senior
How salaries compare in your city to other locations

Calculating salary rates isn’t easy. You will find some sources online that will help, but be careful not to rely on them completely, because salary ranges can be wide and somewhat unpredictable.

Good sources for salary ranges include:

Reports from recruitment agencies such as Robert Half Canada’s Salary Guides
Salary sites, such as Payscale: Salary Data & Career Research Centre (Canada)
Canadian government sources, such as The Job Bank: Explore Careers by Wages and Statistics Canada’s Wages, Salaries and other Earnings reports

Probably the most useful source of salary data is from current jobs. Check in with people you know (ask them the salary range in their company), and job postings (sign up for job alerts with sites such as Indeed.ca for jobs in your field — many jobs will include salary expectations).

February 22, 2016 Leave a Comment

Ask the Employment Specialist: Evaluating your job interview

Dear Joanna,

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

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

Signed: Rating Reviews (RR)

[Read more…]

February 8, 2016 Leave a Comment

Tips for students looking for summer work

It’s only February, and even the groundhog doesn’t seem to think that summer is coming any time soon. So who’s thinking about summer jobs?

Employers are. Google “Summer jobs” and you will find a list of jobs and programs in your community with opportunities for youth and post-secondary students. You might even be surprised to find that some of those opportunities’ deadlines have already passed and been taken by a quick early bird.

Don’t worry, though. It isn’t too late. There are still plenty good opportunities out there to find something meaningful.

Why look for summer work?

Besides the obvious reasons for working (i.e. bringing in some much needed cash), a summer job might have some unexpected benefits which are even more beneficial than money in the long term, which may include:

Add some new experience to your resume
Network and meet new people, some of whom might want to hire you permanently or hire you again next summer
Make a good impression and gain a reference
Learn some new skills that you can take to your next job or help develop new business ideas.

First: make sure your resume is up-to-date and looking good.

Have a resume ready before you start looking for work. Don’t wait until there’s a job to apply for — you don’t want to rush this process.

Here are a few basic principles for writing a good resume:

Make it no longer than 2 pages
Use a simple, sans sarif font (Arial, Calibri, Helvetica)
Write it in 1st person, but without pronouns (No “I” or “my”)
Include:
- Your name and contact info
- A Summary/Profile which includes your skills
- Work history, with dates, job titles, company names, locations
- Details of some of your key accomplishments in each job
Don’t include:
- An objective
- Your personal info such as age or citizenship
- Your references (those can be presented at the interview)
Make sure to spell check carefully
Prepare a simple, short and well written cover letter, to accompany each resume, written specifically for each job.

Here are detailed instructions and samples for student resumes from some of my favourite sites:

Second: get online, search for and bookmark relevant job sites for leads.

There are lots of good resources online for work leads. Start off with a Google search and bookmark the sites that seem to lead to good opportunities. Check out some of the sites dedicated to summer or student jobs:

Third: seek out government programs.

All levels of government, including federal, provincial and municipal, have programs to help students look for and find work. These positions fill quickly, so don’t delay:

Fourth: look and ask around — tap into your networks.

Speak to family, friends, teachers and other community members about your job needs. Tell them about your availability and skills. Have your resume available to share.

Look around, there are often opportunities right nearby:

Local stores and services might be looking for help — walk in and ask if they’re hiring students. Offer your resume and tell them them that you live nearby, within easy access. Think of your bank, doctor’s office, local mall or supermarket
Check out websites for the local parks and recreation departments, as well as for summer festivals and events
Think about local summer camps, private and public, day camps and overnights. Think of your particular skill set — is there a local tennis, chess or art club that you could work for?

Bottom line.

Act fast: get your resume ready, go online and ask around. Good student opportunities are out there for those who act quickly.

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