August 27, 2015 Leave a Comment

Ask the Employment Specialist: Safe social media practices

Dear Joanna,

I am actively looking for work on countless social media sites. It’s also helping me build my professional network and keep current in my field. I have not posted my photo and I am worried about my privacy and confidentiality. How do I handle my fear of this important job search and career tool?

Signed: Social media phobic (SMP)

Dear SMP

Practising safe social media networking is the way around your concerns. Here are some suggestions from University of Chicago’s IT Services page in order to avoid unwanted attention as well as protect yourself from the “danger of having a false sense of anonymity and security.”

Do not post inappropriate material.

Be aware of who can see your pictures and comments. Think about the possible reactions of your potential employers, parents and relatives before posting. Always remember to look at the background of a picture too. Everything you write or post is permanent. Even if you can delete your account, anyone on the Internet can easily download or print the information or save it to a computer. Think carefully before posting your personal information (phone number, email address, home address, name and age). The web can make a strong first impression. Untag unwanted material from others, such as on Facebook. Use Google to search your name on a regular basis. Make sure there is nothing online that you don’t want others to see.

Always use the strongest privacy account settings.

All sites have this option to help you with confidentiality issues. Secure your personal information. Make your personal content on your Facebook profile viewable to friends only, and not to everyone in your network.

Be selective about who you accept as a friend on a social network.

Identity thieves might create fake profiles in order to get information from you. This is known as social engineering.

Be careful about installing extras on your site and delete unused widgets.

Many social networking sites allow you to download third-party applications that let you do more with your personal page. Criminals sometimes use these applications in order to steal your personal information. To download and use third-party applications safely, take the same safety precautions that you take with any other program or file you download from the Web.

Choose your social network carefully and only use sites with clearly stated terms of use.

Evaluate the site that you plan to use and make sure you understand the privacy policy. Find out if the site monitors content that people post. Read the terms of use, and make sure they can protect the actual blogs, not just the user accounts, with password protection. (Even so, it’s better to assume anyone can see it.)

As for your including a photo on your personal social networking pages, it is your choice. I would, however, recommend that you consider including a well-groomed, appropriate image of yourself on your LinkedIn page, as employers will expect to find it there.

Best of luck with your networking,

Joanna

August 20, 2015 Leave a Comment

Ask the Employment Specialist: Lying on the resume

Dear Joanna,

After three interviews for a job at the bank, the recruiter checked my references, education, resume, credit and did a criminal reference check. I didn’t get the job. I was informed that the dates on my resume were inaccurate and therefore the bank could not move forward with a job offer.

Are they allowed to withhold a job offer from me because of this minor mistake?

Signed: Mega Mistake (MM)

Dear MM

Lying on your resume is a big huge mistake. Misrepresenting yourself regarding your dates and any other information can block your success. This is especially true in the financial field, which requires employees to have an extra attention to detail and superior honesty.

It’s a shame that after all that work applying for jobs and going through the interviews, you lose the job offer because you made up the dates (or any other information for that matter) and possibly ruined any other chances of getting a job with that employer.

Take it from me: it’s just not worth it.

Moving forward with your job search, consider the following advice from both myself and blogger Liz Ryan at Forbes :

On the resume, state it clearly, if dates are approximated:

If you don’t remember the dates of your work history, then I would put an asterix sign (*) next those dates of which you are unsure and write a footnote at the bottom of the resume mentioning that the dates are approximate.

Be proud of your accomplishments on your resume.

Be specific. Be honest. Follow the 3 step method as taught in the job search workshops, when describing your accomplishments: Situation, Action and Results. Don’t spend too much time on the tasks and duties; anybody in the job would have done that stuff. Employers want to know how you performed your duties, what your part was in the project and your contribution to the team and company.

Don’t exaggerate or under-play your work, education and qualifications.

Don’t make up stories on your resume. You will be called on to explain your experiences in the interview. Lying will only get you so far. And even if you get hired, chances are you will be found out eventually and your reputation will be marred.

Don’t be afraid of your boss.

Don’t be too shy or modest — claim your accomplishments and “triumphs”, that you made in front of or behind your boss’s back, says Ryan. Perhaps your boss didn’t want you working on these projects but you believed they were good for your career and professional network. Add this to your resume. No employer or boss can take away your achievements and education. It’s yours, as long as it’s true.

All the best,

Joanna

July 6, 2015 2 Comments

Ask the Employment Specialist: The benefits of volunteering

Dear Employment Specialist,

I am a new immigrant and recent graduate looking for work in my field of environmental sustainability. Many employment counsellors have recommended that I volunteer as a strategy to build my career. How can I work for someone for free? I am over my head in student loans and dealing with resettlement issues.

What do you think?

Signed: Free for nothing

Dear Free

There are a tremendous amount of benefits of volunteer work in your search for employment in your field. If you didn’t have an internship or coop opportunity through your university, and lack a professional network and related work experience, volunteering can definitely help you. I am a big believer in volunteering; it’s how I got my job when I was involved in a career transition.

Here are some of the benefits you should consider:

Gain related professional experience.

Research and identify organizations that have legitimate volunteer departments, represent causes that are meaningful for you, and that have possible spots where you can gain work experience, learn and improve your skills and qualifications. Check out sites such as Charity Village, Volunteer Toronto, your relevant sector council or professional association as places to volunteer.

Build and Leverage Your Professional Network.

While you are volunteering, be dedicated and apply the same effort to your volunteering as you would as an employee. Always make sure your work gets done. Be as helpful as possible to others. Make an effort to have lunch with the team, and find other opportunities to start meeting other people at the company. Build a relationship with your supervisor because they may be able to refer you to a colleague for another opportunity.

Help others and help yourself.

Research reports that adults who volunteer may live longer and healthier lives and it increases empathy and compassion. It’s not good to isolate yourself when you are looking for work. Volunteering can help you get out of your home and get involved in positive experiences, as well as get the positive feeling that you are giving back to the community.

Bridge the gaps in your resume.

Add your volunteer experience to your resume and social media presence. Employers value candidates who make a difference in the community; it helps you answer the question “what are you doing right now?” It also covers the gap in your work history and keeps you busy while you are looking for paid employment.

All the best.

June 15, 2015 Leave a Comment

Ask the Employment Specialist: Looking for work when working on contract

Dear Joanna,

I’m on a six-month contract working at a local large law firm. My contract is winding down with three months left. Out of fear of being unemployed again once the contract ends, I started applying for jobs in other law firms. As you know, jobs are scarce and the competition is fierce. One employer has invited me to a job interview! Now I feel badly about applying now since I’ve developed a pretty good rapport with everyone at my present company.

If I were to actually be offered another job, do you think it’s okay to leave, say 2 months before the end of the contract?

Signed: Concerned Contractor (CC)

[Read more…]

May 18, 2015 Leave a Comment

Ask the Employment Specialist: Cultural fit and the job interview

Dear Joanna,

When I follow up with the interviewers to ask for feedback on my interview and why I have not been hired, I have heard everything including: “you are overqualified” to “under qualified” to “you need Canadian experience” to “you have too much Canadian experience” to “you are not a good fit”. I am confused because have all the experience, skills, education and qualifications required in the job description! What is wrong with me? What does “you are not be a good fit” even mean?

Signed: Fit and Ready

Dear F&R:

The JVS’ Toronto’s counsellors whom I consulted on this question emphasized the importance of understanding that each organization has its own culture. A company’s culture can make or break the hiring decision. As a job seeker and future employee, I would explore the following:

1. Study the company’s culture prior to the interview.

This will help you read between the lines of the interviewer, and better answer the questions. Each organization and company has its own culture, which includes the company’s norms, values, how they spend their money and budgets, how they hire, their interview style, right down to the design of the interior and exteriors of their offices or buildings.

2. Understand your own preferred working style.

If you thrive in workplace environments with structure and order, and you interview in one of those IT companies which are known for their creative atmospheres, which is completely opposite to your natural style, you might find it a challenging place to work. Most likely, the interviewers will pick that up.

3. Research the company on social media.

Use LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to learn about the company and connect with employees. Find out as much as you can about the culture and systems including the dress code, management style, and the history of the company. Read the company website and learn about other employees and company information on the website and LinkedIn. Follow the companies. Consider cold calling employees for an information interview on the phone or in person. Research any media coverage or newsletters on the Internet.

4. Drop in.

Visit the company office in advance. Observe the décor, the art work, the floors, the marketing materials, and brochures, if possible. See if the employees are happy? Are the phones ringing? How’s the bathroom? Is it clean? Are the offices messy? Disorganized? Is it a corporate environment? What kind of computer stations are there for the employees? Do people work from home? You can ask these questions in an information interview or through Twitter as well.

Joanna

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