July 24, 2024 Leave a Comment

Ask the Employment Specialist: Building your Career as a New Graduate

Dear Joanna,

It’s that time of the year. I am about to graduated with a Bachelors’ degree in economics. I’ve been working for a law firm as a filing clerk on weekends, holidays and the occasional evening during my schooling to make extra money to pay off my debts incurred from the tuition. I am now ready to start building my career in economics. I have started applying for jobs, but cannot seem to get an interview. The university’s career centre as well as the program offers the occasional job posting, but it’s so competitive out there. Please could you help me figure out how I can fit into this competitive labour market.

Signed: Career Hunter

Dear Career Hunter,

You are not alone. I worked on behalf of JVS Toronto at this year’s National Job Fair and met countless new graduates from Masters and Bachelors programs from local universities and colleges who were struggling to figure out how to fit into this competitive labour market with their education. The reality of the working world is quite daunting.

As Blaze Carlson illustrates about a chemical engineering graduate in her poignant article in The National Post on this topic, “The chemical engineering graduate, who has a second degree in bio-chemistry, was supposed to graduate from the University of Ottawa and begin a fulfilling career straight out of the academic gate — or so she hoped, expected, even. But her first professional job search has instead marked the first major false start of her adult life, ushering a painful reality check and a severe blow to her self-esteem.”

Further, the journalist points out a cultural shift and advises new graduates and their parents that “they should no longer expect a seamless school-to-work transition because a university degree is no longer the promised one-way ticket to a career. The on-ramp to adulthood is longer and twistier. Thirty is the new 25.”

But, don’t despair. There are several strategies to consider applying in order to start the process to building your career in your field. (Note the term “process” because this search requires the same amount, if not more, time, effort, dedication, and commitment which you engaged in your education, writing papers, preparing for exams and studying):

1. Start by conducting a targeted research for the job opportunities in your field of economics. Use social media, such as LinkedIn, to identify professionals who have an economics background and review their backgrounds, to get an idea of job openings as well as companies in your field. Identify current job descriptions which look interesting to you, to which you would love to apply one day when you have more experience. Also, identify the companies and departments where you would like to work one day.

2. Next, gather information about the skills, experience, qualifications and education required in these jobs.What kinds of departments in companies are involved in your sector? Notice the language used in the job postings, as well as in the content of the company websites. Notice the hard skills and experience required. Highlight all these information.

3. Develop a plan for targeting the companies and jobs you are interested in, using the following strategies:

Conduct Information Interviews – identify managers or executives in the companies which would likely hire you if you had the experience required, and set out to meet with them and get advice and referrals

Make a plan to volunteer – Unfortunately, it sounds like your course didn’t have an unpaid coop placement internship. So, now you might want to go and get this hard experience on your own. All those job postings and companies and departments which you identified in your research stages, are potential volunteer placements for you, especially in the non-profit sector (You will find a good list of recommended job boards for non-profit jobs on this blog here). If you’re feeling brave, cold-call the company’s president, and ask to see if you can volunteer. In a non-profit organization, call the volunteer department, and ask to volunteer in the department related to your field. Tell the volunteer coordinator that you will do the jobs which no one likes to do, such as cold-calling/fundraising (this will win every time – because nobody likes cold calling!), filing, photocopying, making coffee, whatever they need help with. This is no time to be proud; do whatever it takes to get your foot in the door and to start building a reputation that you are a “go-to” person. You will be surprised how word spreads quickly. Once you prove yourself to your supervisor and team where you volunteer, you can start asking for more related work in your field. This is a great strategy to network, secure some concrete and relevant experience on your resume, learn about your field, gain some references and be engaged in your field of choice and start building your career!

Join and contribute to associations, clubs, sector-specific groups, which can be very effective places to network in your field. Many of the associations charge fees to join, so research the ones which are appropriate for your sector and industry, call the Executive Director or the volunteer coordinator and ask to volunteer. Again, as with volunteering, once you prove yourself, learn more about your field of choice, you can gain references, solid and relevant experience for your resume, expand your network in your sector and perhaps volunteer at the industry conferences and trade shows with professionals and experts in your field. LinkedIn’s groups provide a similar forum to engage in all of the above. If you don’t see a suitable LinkedIn group, start your own.

Find programs that support new graduates, such as Career Edge, in which new graduates can apply for a paid internships. Keep in mind, however, that it is highly competitive and only if the job developers at this organization have secured a placement available in your field, you will have an opportunity.

Search for government-funded student placement programs, such as the government of Ontario’s Internship Program . This too is a very popular program, with more applicants than opportunities, though it is still worth applying.

Keep busy. Keep a structure in your daily life while you look for work.

I hope this is helpful. I really feel for you and your situation. You are bright, accomplished and lucky to have had the opportunity to have a fantastic education. However, education no longer gets people work. It’s icing on the cake. This misunderstanding of the labour market gets many job seekers in trouble. Notice that “Education” is on the last page of the resume. Relevant Professional Experience comes first – this is the priority in today’s labour market.

Joanna

July 24, 2024 1 Comment

Remote Work Skills: Do You Have What Employers Need?

You might worry that you’ve wasted 2020 by *merely* surviving a pandemic instead of learning a new skill in your supposed free time, but turns out that — without even thinking about it — you’ve acquired a whole repertoire of unexpected new skills that might come in handy for your next job. (Not that surviving a pandemic isn’t an admirable achievement on its own, of course.)

Think about it: whether you’ve been working remotely from home, or just using your computer to stay in touch with family and friends using video and social media, buying stuff online and so much more, you’ve mastered a whole new set of remote work skills in which an increasingly large number of employers are going to be interested.

Working from home brings a whole new set of challenges that most workers (and employers) never considered as we transitioned from the workplace to home in March 2020. In addition to the ongoing insecurity employers continue to face regarding the viability of working in the office in the short to medium term, they are also increasingly aware that there are clear ongoing benefits to remote work. This means that more remote opportunities will be offered, and job seekers should expect to be challenged by employers to convince them of their ability to successfully work remotely.

Assess Your Remote Work Skills

Working remotely requires a balance between both soft (personal) skills, and hard (knowledge and technical) skills. Employers are going to look for both, though they know full well that hard skills can be learnt, whereas soft skills are harder to teach.

Think through what employers would like a remote worker to be able to do. The best way to assess what employers expect is through job postings. If you use the keyword “remote” in your online job search, you’ll find something like this (adapted from an actual posting):

Remote – Phone Sales Representative

Are you a great phone sales person who is self-motivated, goal oriented and loves to work independently? We are only looking for talented and motivated Sales Representatives to join our booming Sales Team.

The job:

Enthusiastically present and promote our services to potential clients
Assess the requirements of potential clients and provide them with a solution that best fits their business needs
Develop creative sales strategies for potential clients and initiate agreement discussions
Participate in virtual sales meetings and remote training
Be organized and enter all relevant information and communications into our database
Perform all other related tasks based on the needs of the organization

Requirements and qualifications:

Windows computer/laptop with headset, webcam, minimum Processor Type i5, Four core/AMD A8 Quad Core, 16GB RAM, high speed internet, 30mbps download, 15mbps upload,
Phone sales experience, familiar with B2B sales
Perfect command of the English language
Strong sales focus and loves a great challenge
Demonstrates a competitive drive and a desire to succeed
Assertive, persuasive, and self-starter personality
Strong phone presence and conversational skills
Self-motivated to exceed all quotas and goals
Ability to handle stressful situations professionally and appropriately

Reading through posts such as this, certain generic skills can be noted:

Technology skills:

Able to operate and manage communication technology and related software
Enthusiastic and capable learner of new skills; able to master new tools with ease

Personal skills:

Self-motivated / self-starter
Goal oriented
Confident, enjoys a challenge
Works well independently
Organized and reliable
Skilled time manager – punctual, able to prioritize
Able to follow instructions, and respond quickly to requests
Independent, cool headed problem solver
Strong interpersonal skills (online these include maintaining eye contact, projecting your voice, speaking clearly)
Strong phone presence and conversational skills
Strong language skills
Flexible and adaptable
Able to handle stressful situations professionally and appropriately

Review these skills and add the ones that best describe you to your resume, cover letters and LinkedIn.

Make sure employers know that you have the skills they need

If you want to stand out from other candidates, it’s not enough to simply list skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile — you are going to have to be able to show your remote work abilities. These behaviours can be demonstrated through how you conduct your job search and what you talk about in interviews, as well as what references say about you.

Whether you have worked remotely or not, try to prepare thoughtful answers to questions about how you will handle the challenges of working remotely. Think through various scenarios that might arise, and how you would handle various situations. Whether you have worked remotely or not, try to prepare thoughtful answers.

Of course, it is always best to be able to draw from experience to answer interview questions, but otherwise think though how you would handle various situations. Remember that your virtual job search might be a source of examples.

Here are some of the scenarios you might get asked about:

Teaching yourself new software — Video conferencing software – Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, GoToMeeting, and scheduling, using a shareable calendar such as Outlook or Google Calendar
Organizational methods — systems for managing time, meeting deadlines and prioritizing, using tools, task tracking methods, lists, colour coding, spreadsheets
Staying focused and motivated — describe your personal challenges for keeping motivated and how you work to overcome them, such as balancing independent work with collaboration, teamwork and accountability, structuring your time
Handling challenges – independent problem solving vs consultative work; think through how you have/would handle teamwork challenges across distance, for example
Adaptability and managing changing demands – your philosophy, methods and experiences in working with colleagues and managers on their schedules with their preferred tools

Think through how you’d talk about these situations. Draw on examples where you have done this, if possible.

Demonstrate your **skills by how you handle the remote hiring process**

You will be evaluated based on how you conduct yourself in the remote interviewing process, so make sure you are prepared, following through, reliable and punctual, and that you have mastered the video interview and other tools.

We posted this blog about Acing the Video Interview in 2018 (we were ahead of the game, apparently!). It includes tips on ensuring you maximize the opportunity to be interviewed remotely:

Prepare your interview space:

Set up your interview space; the room should be tidy, well-lit and quiet
Position your computer so that doesn’t face a window; that way, there will be no reflections on the screen
Make sure that the room is silent; no crying babies, barking dogs or loud traffic

Make sure your computer (hardware and software) works:

Long before the interview, test your computer, camera and microphone with a friend
Bring the microphone near and test that the speakers are on
Test for sound; can you hear the person and can they hear you?
Set up the camera, make sure it works, and that you are not too close or too far
Set up the video so you can make eye contact. When you are being interviewed on video, you will want to look at the face of the interviewer, which isn’t necessarily where the webcam is positioned. Tip: to ensure that you are looking at the interviewer, resize and move the window with the person’s video image up or as close to your webcam as possible.

Plan what you are going to wear:

Prepare an outfit as you would for an in-person interview – simple and professional
Neat and clean (unwrinkled) clothes
No busy patterns (e.g. stripes) – they don’t always look good on video
Bright or dramatic colours also can become even brighter on screen (including black); grey, blue and pastels look best
Avoid sparkly dangly jewelry – it’s distracting and can make noise

Bottom line

Remote work has taken a huge leap forward in the last year, and we can expect employers to continue to want to employ staff who can manage such changes well beyond the pandemic. Make sure you are able to tell employers and demonstrate to them that you have these valuable skills and are available to adapt to change in a nimble and competent way.

July 24, 2024 Leave a Comment

A Video Resume: Do You Need One?

A woman appearing on a laptop top screen in a video

Recently, we have been hearing from job seekers that some employers are starting to ask for video resumes before considering them for an interview. Mostly, employers are asking for videos to be submitted as part of an application, often with the usual resume document.

This trend isn’t altogether surprising given the current context of increased use of remote technology in hiring, including video interviews. But it is quite a new trend—requests for video resumes are generally not that common as yet, with only 3 percent of employers reportedly asking for them. However, considering the pace of change in hiring technology, job seekers should not be surprised if asked to submit a video as part of the job application process.

Generally, it seems that video requests are primarily coming from employers in specific sectors—specifically, for sales and communication roles, which are the types of jobs where communication skills, use of video technology, and creativity might matter more.

In some cases, candidates choose to include a video with their resume, even when the employer does not request it, as a way to stand out, but this is not always a good idea, depending on the type of job to which they are applying and the nature of the industry.

What is a video resume?

Video resumes are an opportunity for the job seeker to present a short (up to about 90 seconds, or so), personal introduction of themselves to the employer.

The purpose of a video resume is not necessarily to replace a regular resume. It is often used as a screening tool to help employers select candidates — employers might request it with the resume so they can decide whether to invite you to an interview. Some employers might ask for a resume video or a pre-screening device before inviting candidates to send in their resumes. In rare cases, employers might even request a video instead of a resume.

Some risks with video resumes:

Considering Marshall McLuhan’s famous line that “the medium is the message,” candidates should use video resumes only if they deliberately tell the employer something they need to know. Generally, unless requested by employers, video resumes can be a risky option. Not all employers appreciate having to watch a video; this might depend on the culture of the industry or company or the tools and skills required for the job.

Making a video is a risky endeavour. A poorly made video can undermine an otherwise strong application – if you are going to make a video, make sure to do it well.

More importantly, video interviews could contravene labour standards, legislation, and human rights guidelines. The Ontario Human Rights Commission, for example, has been clear about the fact that asking for photos on application forms contravenes the rights of candidates to be protected from discrimination based on appearance or other irrelevant factors: “It has long been the Commission’s position that employers should not request photos of potential employees, since they may provide information related to a number of Code-related grounds, such as race, colour, sex or age.”

As far as we know, video resumes have not been tested in court or tribunals. Of course, with LinkedIn already enabling the posting of photos on profiles, sharing personal images of job seekers is already common practice. Based on this, it is possible that candidates would be well within their rights to refuse to share a video with a potential employer.

How to make a video resume

The challenge facing candidates is that the video must be high quality. It is worth investing extra time and effort to do it properly.

1. Get your script ready: what do you want to say?

Think of a video resume as a cover letter on video – a pitch for why the company should hire you. As you would with a cover letter, start with the job posting to determine what this particular employer is most interested in. Think through what you want to say and write it all out – you will sound more coherent and organized if you’ve thought through everything you want to say in detail. Then practice, practice, and practice some more. Be prepared to re-record the video a few times before you’re satisfied. Of course, putting care and attention into the video tells employers about your work ethic and commitment to excellence.

Use these guidelines to write out your script:

Thank the employer for the opportunity
Introduce yourself and your relevant background and qualifications
Describe why you are the best candidate for this position — skills, interests and unique assets
Explain what makes you a good match for the company — the match between the company’s and your values
Outline briefly your hopes for how you can contribute to the job
Thank them again, and express enthusiasm about the position

Think of how you want to do this. It’s better not to bore the viewer by sounding like you’re reading off a script, so either write out every word or practice it until you know it, or just have some talking points you can speak to. Avoid silly jokes or gimmicks—focus on being natural but professional.

2. Get your equipment ready

Choose the equipment that takes the best quality video – possibly your newest device (a laptop, cellphone, tablet or computer). Test it for sound and image quality. Make sure to stabilize it so it’s not shaky or moving around (don’t hold the camera).

Here are some good tips for preparing the video: https://youtu.be/BgUAlw4myrs—watch and listen to how the presenter speaks, in addition to his useful tips.

3. Get the space ready

Use a well-lit room where your face is in the light. If possible, make sure the background is tidy and not distracting and that no personal items are visible. If you must use your bedroom, ensure the bed isn’t visible.

Sit at a distance from the camera that shows your head and shoulders, where your face is visible but not too close to the device.

Find a quiet place without noises or distractions. Keep in mind that if you are applying for a remote job, it’s best to film the video in the space you will be using for the job so that the employer has an image of you on the job.

4. Get yourself ready

Your goal is to come across as professionally as possible. That means thinking through your appearance, including what you will wear, hair, makeup, etc. Keep it simple and neat – you don’t want to distract from what you are saying. Dress as you would for a job interview, which means dressing slightly more professionally than on the job.

Give yourself enough time to practice and re-record the video until satisfied. Be a perfectionist.

5. Get it done

Generally, a simple, clear presentation of you speaking for 60-90 seconds (1-2 minutes) is perfectly appropriate (and appreciated by employers, who are busily sorting through many applications). But, if your job requires creative or technical skills, the video might be an opportunity to showcase your skills using text, slideshows, music or other relevant media.

Some tips for a good video:

Make eye contact with the camera directly, as if you are talking to someone
Smile – make sure to look and sound enthusiastic
Project your voice clearly and consistently
Pronounce every word
Speak naturally – try to sound conversational
Keep it short
Check the video with friends and family

Tools and samples:

There are an increasing number of platforms online that help users make videos, such as https://animoto.com/, Biteable, Camtasia 2020, and https://vimeo.com/create/video-maker

Here’s a good sample of an effective and simple video: https://youtu.be/OZzEBa9cHN0

Remember:

A video resume doesn’t necessarily replace your traditional resume — you might still need a tailored 2-page resume and possibly even a cover letter if the employer asks.

While video resumes can help you make a great impression on the employer, a badly produced video can seriously harm your chances. So, if you decide to create a video resume, take the time to make a simple, professional, and appropriate video that communicates why the employer should hire you.

July 24, 2024 Leave a Comment

Staying Motivated During Difficult Times

i can't message being erased from a whiteboard

Even at the best of times, it would be rare for anyone to describe a job search as “inspiring” or “fun,” all the more during the rough times we are currently facing. During the pandemic, for example, job seekers were confined to their often busy, noisy homes, facing competing demands for their time and attention from children, roommates, and pets. This made it more challenging than ever to find a quiet, focused block of time to browse the internet for jobs, network on LinkedIn, or take an online course.

But finding time is just part of the challenge—harder still is finding the motivation, focus, and self-discipline to prioritize it and get it done. The resulting guilt and sense of failure only make it even harder.

Why is Motivation Sometimes so Hard to Maintain?

Being motivated is often more easily said than done – you know you need to get something done, but it’s not happening. Somehow, you just can’t dig up that willpower to even get going on — what should be — a simple task. Many of us have this idea that we are the only ones struggling to find motivation to do seemingly easy tasks, but the truth is that everyone faces motivational challenges now and then. We just don’t talk about our struggles because we think that it’s a sign of weakness or that we are the only ones dealing with this issue.

We know that motivation is much easier to find when we enjoy a task (for example, having a meal) or when we are doing something for someone else (such as attending to a needy child). However, motivation can become difficult when we do something that’s not enjoyable, not expected by others, or not immediately rewarding.

When the goal seems difficult to achieve, it’s even harder to muster up the motivation to achieve it—think of the struggles so many people face with fitness or weight loss, for example.

Finding work can feel unattainable for job seekers- especially when times are tough. Maybe you have been looking for postings and found nothing you could apply for, or maybe you’ve sent out multiple job applications, and no one has responded. Also, constant news about layoffs and increasing unemployment makes finding a job sound nearly impossible. So, for many job searchers, as they make their way through each day, it’s challenging to find the time and motivation to look for work — and many find themselves, instead, taking of others’ needs or just sleeping in, mindlessly watching TV or just generally feeling ineffective.

Feeling like you are just not getting things done can lead to a sense of failure, regret and self-loathing, which can, in and of itself, feel paralyzing. Soon, it can feel like a rut you are stuck in, watching days go by and feeling like time is wasted.

So, What Do We Know About Motivation?

What motivates us? Human motivational drivers are as diverse as we are from each other. We are driven by obvious forces such as finances, of course, but we are also driven to feel competent and creative, have a sense of purpose, and, very importantly, feel connected to others. When choices are limited, it’s harder than ever to meet all these needs, which makes finding motivation even harder.

One interesting scientific finding is that motivation is a limited resource. We all start our day with a certain amount of willpower, which eventually gets depleted as we face our personal daily challenges. A stressful multitasking day spent attending to the needs of others doesn’t leave you with the motivational reserves to do what is needed for yourself.

We also know that motivational challenges vary between people. For some, the challenge is getting through a long to-do list, and for others, simply getting out of bed and facing the day can be hard.

Finding the Willpower to Get Things Done

Self-help experts might tell you that “it’s all in your head” and “all about attitude.” They might tell you that you must “decide to act” to overcome your resistance. The problem is that even though you might have the best intentions and a carefully laid-out plan, it can sometimes feel nearly impossible to find the willpower to get it done.

It turns out that motivation isn’t simply a switch you flip on. Getting motivated is part psychological and emotional, but it is also, in large part, physiological—and it is also impacted by your physical ability to focus and persevere. If your health is compromised because of factors such as stress, isolation, poor sleep, lack of activity, or poor nutrition, getting things done is much harder.

Sleep is an important and often neglected factor.

Many doctors report that an increasing number of their patients are experiencing sleep issues. I certainly have struggled with that myself and have heard from my job-seeking clients about getting to bed way after midnight and sleeping in until the afternoon. The fact is that poor sleep has massive impacts on our overall health, impacting our ability to manage stress, focus, and, yes, stay motivated—especially when it comes to uninspiring tasks such as job searches. If you wake up exhausted, finding the energy to do things during the day will be difficult.

One interesting simple tip is to try to get to bed before midnight. According to the experts, a couple of hours before midnight is a key phase of sleep—it’s when your body is replenished physically, mentally, and emotionally. Make sure your room is dark, quiet, and not too warm. If sleep is a challenge, it might be worth seeking medical help.

Keeping a routine.

Many job seekers tell me that no matter how long they have been out of work, they continue to struggle with establishing a routine. We usually draw our motivation from extrinsic factors, such as a boss expecting you at work or a child needing to be dropped off at school at a certain time, which forces us to get up and get moving at a certain time of day. When these extrinsic factors are no longer there, it becomes harder to get those things done reliably.

Build job search activities into your calendar rather than just hoping you’ll find the time. Maybe daily is too much—perhaps you can give yourself one hour a day, every second day of the week, to get online and start applying for jobs. Taking small steps might feel less overwhelming than taking an all-or-nothing approach to getting things done.

Treat yourself the way you treat others: show some care and compassion.

Your mental health matters as much as your physical health. Permit yourself to do things you enjoy without guilt or self-recrimination.

Everyone has different needs. Some people might need quiet time alone to replenish. If that’s true for you, give yourself a block of time to watch your favourite television show, play with your pet, read a book, go for a walk, or do something creative. If you miss social connections, make a point of calling a friend or family member regularly and having a coffee together.

Build self-care into your schedule. Permit yourself to do it so that you can enjoy engaging in self-care, rather than doing it with a feeling of guilt.

Get support.

There are many resources available in your community to help. Social media is full of opportunities and groups of wonderful people who offer community members time, resources, and all sorts of support. Sites such as MeetUp.com offer multiple local free opportunities to connect with like-minded people.

Job search is much more effective and enjoyable if you can tap into supports and resources like those offered by JVS Toronto — it might be a huge help to have support to motivate you through the process. Having an Employment Counsellor who can help you up your job search game with a cutting-edge resume, an impressive LinkedIn profile, and access to jobs could make all the difference. Simply feeling accountable to someone else for getting those things done might get your motivational juices flowing. Contact us at 416-787-1151, or read up on our employment support here.

Motivation rarely comes easily in difficult times. Try to forgive yourself for not meeting the goals you might have set yourself and take small steps to get going again. Unemployment throws everyone off their game. People might not like to admit it, but most of us don’t use our time how we think we should. That can change with just a few careful steps in the right direction.

July 24, 2024 Leave a Comment

Celebrating Toronto Newcomer Day 2023

Join us as we welcome newcomers to Toronto.

First proclaimed in 2015, Toronto Newcomer Day is an annual event held in May that welcomes newcomers to Toronto, helps them understand and access a wide range of services, and celebrates their contributions to the city. The event features a number of activities including a formal stage program, a citizenship ceremony for new Canadians, a Newcomer Marketplace, and an Information Fair.

Look for JVS Toronto’s booth for information on all our newcomer employment services and bridge training programs.

Event Highlights

Entertaining performances
Colouring for children
Free Tim Hortons beverages
Food Trucks
Interactive activities
Information Fair
Newcomer Marketplace
Newcomer food fair
Prizes and giveaways
Henna artist
HistoricTO Neighbourhood Walking Tours

Date: May 25 from 10 am to 3 pm.
Location: Nathan Phillips Square

Visit toronto.ca/newcomerday for more info!

Joanna

Assess Your Remote Work Skills

Make sure employers know that you have the skills they need

Demonstrate your skills by how you handle the remote hiring process

Bottom line

What is a video resume?

Some risks with video resumes:

How to make a video resume

1. Get your script ready: what do you want to say?

2. Get your equipment ready

3. Get the space ready

4. Get yourself ready

5. Get it done

Some tips for a good video:

Tools and samples:

Remember:

Join us as we welcome newcomers to Toronto.

Demonstrate your **skills by how you handle the remote hiring process**