July 25, 2016 Leave a Comment

Why You’re Never Too Young To Be Your Own Boss (Part 2)

JVS Toronto Helps Students Turn Their Passions into Summer Jobs

Last week we introduced you to Jonah Haber, a young videographer learning to market and sell his talent for filmmaking through JVS Toronto’s Summer Company program.

Participants like Jonah, and other Toronto-area high school and post-secondary students, get up to $3,000 of provincial funding to develop their own business through workshops and one-on-one mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs. Each year, JVS Toronto provides 20 students the opportunity to launch their own business.

Meet our Summer Company entrepreneurs and find out their inspiration for starting a business.

Rashanna Miller

Inspired by her mother’s entrepreneurial spirit from a young age, Rashanna taught herself to make wigs and hair extensions. Her hobby turned this George Brown student into accomplished blossoming entrepreneur. Through JVS Toronto’s Summer Company, Rashanna is refining her business management skills to expand her customer base.
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July 18, 2016 Leave a Comment

Why You’re Never Too Young to Be Your Own Boss (Part 1)

From Handmade Clothing to Music Video Production, JVS Toronto’s young entrepreneurs are brimming with ideas.

Not many students get to start a company this summer unless they’re participating in JVS Toronto’s Summer Company, funded by the Ontario Government. Toronto-area high school and post-secondary students have a unique experience developing their own business through workshops and one-on-one mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs.

Participants learn the nuts and bolts of running a successful business including:

Writing a business strategy and practicing their sales pitch
Identifying their target market and learning about customer relations
Developing their financial literacy and learning bookkeeping and invoicing
Taking advantage of networking opportunities and selling their brand

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April 18, 2016 Leave a Comment

Ask the Employment Specialist: Sourcing the hiring manager’s name

Dear Joanna,

I’m trying so hard to build my professional networking. My biggest challenge is how to find the contact details of the hiring managers that I have targeted to contact for an information interview. It’s the only way I can cold call and hopefully meet my next boss one day soon!

Please can you give me some suggestions on how I can locate this information.

Signed: Cold Caller (CC)

Dear CC

Dr. Katharine Hansen offers the best ideas on how to locate that hidden hiring manager who typically do not want to be bombarded with hundreds of applicants can be found on the Quint Careers blog:

Make a phone call. Call the company’s main switchboard number and ask the name of hiring manager for the job in question. If the receptionist won’t tell you or they pass you on to Human Resources staff, get their name just in case you need this for later. Phone after or before business hours, and try to get the name of the hiring manager or at least the exact title so you can listen for it through the employer’s automated directory and then punch it in.

Ask for help. Dr Hansen quotes Steve Levy, Principal of outside-the-box Consulting, who suggests calling the main number and saying, in a calm, soothing voice: ‘Hello, maybe you can help me out for a second?’ The person on the line will almost always respond by saying, ‘Sure. How can I help you?’ It is a normal human reaction when someone asks us for help is to offer it. Start the conversation but be cognizant that the receptionist is probably busy with the switchboard of calls. Ask for the email if you can’t get the telephone.

Tap into your network. Networking is one of the most important parts of your job-search efforts. If it is working, you may find it relatively easy to get names. Joining professional organizations is one of the fastest, easiest ways to learn names of hiring managers in your target companies. Use social media like Twitter and LinkedIn to find profiles of hiring managers that are relevant to your career or job goal.

Become a proficient researcher. Learn as much as you can about the companies that you have targeted. Follow them on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Explore their website and subscribe to their news feed. Find media coverage and published articles to find names of people being interviewed from the company. These are names you can begin to contact to search for that hiring manager. Get help from the reference librarian at your public or university library. You can also conduct research directly with the employer by calling the company’s public relations or investor relations department to ask questions that may lead you to the name of a hiring manager.

Try a “Top Down” approach. One trick that has worked for many job-seekers is to contact the president of the company directly, since that name can almost always be found out. Then, follow up.

Find the company Website. If the job posting gives only an e-mail address, use it to lead you to the company Website, which will probably have a phone number. For example, the job posting gives the e-mail address HR@CompanyX.com. Type www.CompanyX.com or simply CompanyX.com into your browser, and you will probably get to the company’s site.

Put on your detective hat, and set out to work!

Joanna

October 19, 2015 Leave a Comment

Ask the Employment Specialist: 4 key steps for conducting a successful information interview

Dear Joanna,

I am currently working as an inside sales representative at an IT company. I’m getting positive feedback on my performance from my manager and team members. But this is not my dream job. I would love to someday work as a project manager in my company or elsewhere.

How can I pursue my dream career while working full time?

Signed: Dream Job (DJ)

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October 12, 2015 Leave a Comment

Ask the Employment Specialist: 6 key tips for professional networking

Dear Joanna,

I have been following your employment advice over the past few years regarding professional networking. I’m using social media, volunteering in my field, active in the associations, as well as attending as many professional events as possible. Something is wrong. I definitely need to improve. I have met a ton of people in my field, and my tireless efforts have not led to employment.

Please can you give me some suggestions on how to improve my networking.

Signed: Tireless Efforts (TE)

Dear TE

There is a fantastic article on this topic on Forbes. Here are some tips and tricks to improve your networking from the authors, as well as from my own professional insights.

1. Forget that you’re working.

Whether you are introduced to someone at an industry event or you initiated the conversation, engage with people in a professional manner. Talk shop. Talk about the business. Listen. Make sure you know about your business and industry. Learn from the other person about the latest trends. Think about building a new relationship, with give and take.

2. Set goals.

Don’t focus on getting the job. Set small and attainable goals. For example, if you go to an event, set a goal of getting five business cards or set up 2 coffee dates with new contacts for next week, or even just adding two new LinkedIn contacts.

3. Mind your manners.

Don’t straight ask for a job or sound desperate about your job search. Don’t ask for anything from the strangers that you are meeting. Listen more than you talk. Be thoughtful in your interactions and generous with your time. Don’t complain. Be positive, optimistic and upbeat when you are meeting new people. Ask permission to connect with the person on LinkedIn; and ask for the business card. Build relationships before you ask for anything from a network contact.

4. Elevator pitches still matter.

Be prepared to sell yourself in casual way. Don’t be pushy or forceful. Be able to articulate what you do, who you are and why it’s relevant if asked. Practice ahead of time in front of a mirror. Like a resume, elevator pitches need updating.

5. Follow up.

Always follow up with people you meet with a by email. Connect with them on LinkedIn (ask permission – see above). Research the person online and if relevant, follow the companies, join the groups and influencers that they follow on social media. Engage in social media dialogue. Keep in touch by emailing updates and current events that would interest the person.

6. Keep track.

Being organized in key in order to remember who you met, the nature of the activity, and then plan ahead. Google Documents, Google Tools, Jibberjobber and Outlook are some of the online tools you can use.

Even when you find employment, you will need to continue building your professional network at your workplace, and in your industry.