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Careers in Canada: Supply Chain and Logistics

Industrial port and container yard

Today’s globalized world has created a growing need for the fast and accurate shipment of commodities which in turn has created many opportunities for professionals with the right training in meeting these demands.

The Government of Canada has rated the employment outlook for Supply Chain & Logistics sector a solid two out of three stars for all of Ontario, observing that “employment growth is expected to be strong” and that “a large number of people are expected to retire.”

This webinar explores careers in supply chain and logistics in Canada. You’ll learn:

  • Labor market information & needs across Canada
  • Supply Chain & logistic career pathway
  • What are Professional Designations/ Certifications?
  • Advantages of having a professional designation in today’s Canadian labour market
  • Professional associations and perks of membership with them
  • Importance of networking for career progression in Canada
  • Steps to achieve CITT certification

[Read more…]

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Dealing with Age Discrimination

Mature male employee on the job
Flickr: Scott Lewis

With unemployment levels at a “40-year low” in Canada, employers are under increasing pressure to find suitable candidates from a diminishing pool of job seekers. However, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario states that of the discrimination in employment claims received in 2012 to 2013, 15% were for age discrimination.

What does age discrimination look like?

The Human Rights Code safeguards against discrimination in employment noting that,

“Every person has a right to equal treatment with respect to employment without discrimination because of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, record of offences, marital status, family status or disability.”

Discrimination in employment can occur at any time during the employee-employer relationship.   During the recruitment process, for example, age discrimination could occur through the tools used during recruitment. Jobs advertisements posted on social media targeting a specific age demographic – the topic of this CBC article –potentially violate Canadian Human Rights laws.  The article explains that the wording in advertisements do not mention age but the digital settings target who sees them.  This could eliminate the mature worker age range.

According to this New York Times article, recruitment practices affect a wide-range of ages, sometimes discriminating against job seekers in their 40s and 50s. The article reports that older job seekers receive fewer responses to their applications, especially when applying to positions such as janitors, administrative assistants, and retail sales clerks. Notably, there are more women in many of these roles and research reveals that older women experience discrimination at an even higher rate than older men do.

Once an older worker has lost their job, getting back into the job market can be very challenging. Interviewers can be much younger and may see older candidates as lacking in technical skills and ability to adapt to the culture of today’s companies.

Mature job seekers have received feedback that they are overqualified, not a cultural fit for the company, or that their experience commands a higher rate of pay than the company can afford.

So what can the more seasoned job seeker do?

It is important to remember that older workers are often hired. The key is to focus on your strengths and present yourself as the skilled, sharp, professional expert you are.

Update your Skills

Make sure your skills are up-to-date especially in-demand tech skills. There are many resources offering courses online, such as Lynda.com with courses in software development, business, design, websites and more. The Toronto Public Library is a great place to free Internet access for this type of web-based learning. Be sure to highlight your updated skill set on your resume and LinkedIn profile.

Tailor your Resume

Highlight your most important and in-demand skills and experience. It’s not necessary to go back too far. Ten years is the standard length for Employment History. However, if you have impressive experience that goes back further. Consider listing it without the dates under the headline Previous Relevant Experience.

Tip – Describe your experience in your profile summary as “extensive” rather than quantifying it with “X number of years”.

Establish an Online Presence

Make sure your resume is Applicant Tracking System-friendly. (Applicant Tracking Systems are online computer software used by hiring managers to sort resumes.) Use common key words and phrases found in the employer’s job description, keeping the formatting simple, and clean. Then establish a professional up-to-date LinkedIn profile using these tips.

Network, Network, Network

Your extensive work history and professional reputation give you an advantage that younger workers do not have — a network of former colleagues, employers, and clients who know and respect your work. Reach out to them. Take key people out for a cup of coffee and share your journey with them. Ask for tips and leads.

Consider your Career Options

Some older worker take their years of experience and leverage it into a consulting business providing start-up companies with leadership, advice and expertise.

Bottom line:

If you feel that ageism is affecting your job search, you are not alone. The evidence is clear that younger employers do prefer candidates in their own age bracket. However, you have some unique assets. Be sure to leverage and display them proudly. Remember, the employer who eventually hires you will be the one who truly appreciates everything you have to offer.

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Resumes vs LinkedIn. Which is better?

Interracial women holding icons representing Resumes VS LinkedIN

When reading job search blogs, it’s easy to think that employers are no longer using resumes; that resumes are being replaced by platforms such as LinkedIn and Applicant Tracking Systems. So, do job seekers still need resumes?

The Benefits of Resumes

Employers tend to regard your resume as a simple and clear summary of your most important skills and experience. They assume that more information will be available about you on sites such as LinkedIn. So think of your resume as a brochure, a self-promotional tool. It should be brief (no more than two pages) and written in concise, formal language (without first person pronouns).

It’s expected. The majority of employers still ask for resumes to be sent via email or uploaded to the company’s web site even when using LinkedIn to promote job openings.

Resumes are easily shared. Potential employers can read your resume on a computer screen, email it to colleagues and hiring managers, and print it out to refer to at a later point in time.

Resumes are adaptable. Job seekers can tailor their resume to highlight those qualifications that best match the employer’s needs. Update your profile summary and work history using keywords found in the job posting. This will increase your chances of getting your resume past any Applicant Tracking System and get it in front of the hiring manager.

The Benefits of LinkedIn

A LinkedIn profile is quite different. It is a living, dynamic record of you and your career. LinkedIn provides you with a chance to tell your story using a range of media such as text, slideshows, photos, work samples, websites and video.

The summary portion of your profile is an opportunity to introduce yourself, explain your history and let potential employers know what makes you unique. It can be less formal than a resume profile — just make sure that the tone is appropriate for your industry.

LinkedIn allows for longer, more detailed work history than the standard 10 year span of a resume. If you have worthwhile professional experience that goes back more than 10 years, share it on LinkedIn.

It’s popular. We know from surveys conducted that 87% of recruiters regularly use LinkedIn to review potential candidates.

It is a secure way of sharing information. Resumes typically include your email address, phone number and street address, whereas LinkedIn does not require you to share such information without your permission.

Unlike a resume, LinkedIn provides space to list your interests. Choose what you share carefully. Consider listing interests that relevant to your industry and reflect the values and culture of the companies you are engaging with.

The goal of LinkedIn is to make you stand out to employers as not just well-qualified, but as an interesting, accomplished and impressive person.

And the Winner is…

It’s a tie! Resumes and LinkedIn serve very different purposes. Resumes function best as internal documents that employers and hiring managers will use to determine if you have the right qualifications for the position you applied for. Whereas LinkedIn is a promotional tool that job seekers can use to market their personalities and highlight experience and skills that traditional resumes don’t allow.

Tip: As a job seeker sending out resumes to potential employers, make sure that your LinkedIn profile reveals something new about you. You want them to be impressed by who you are and your personality, as well as your expertise and professional background.

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How to use Job Fairs to Find Your Next Job

Illustration of a magnifying glass focused on one individual in a crowd

It’s job fair time once again! Every spring, employers and crowds of job seekers congregate to discuss job opportunities.  Job fair events feature a maze of employer stalls with long line-ups and lots of noisy chatter.  Presenting your best self at a job fair can be stressful, and there is no guarantee of being hired.  So what is the point of a job fair?

A job fair as a way to build a professional network of employers in your field, learn about job openings, workplace culture, and the nature of sector. The few minutes that you interact with an employer gives you a great opportunity to “look” and “sound” like a potential employee.  Usually only your resume speaks for you when you apply for jobs.  A job fair gives you a rare chance to sell yourself before any formal interviews take place.  Some employers even have an on-the-spot interview for certain positions. While job offers don’t typically happen at a job fair, you can make progress towards that offer, or be considered for other opportunities. 

For employers, job fairs are a chance to meet face-to-face with candidates before any formal interview.  Think of it as an in-person screening process.  Candidates can sell their hard and soft skills and employers can quickly evaluate fit.  The goal is for employers to identify candidates for interviews. 

Finding job fairs and hiring events.

Use Google to search for job fairs in your area. Find job fairs notices on websites such as Eventbrite, Peter’s New Jobs and Jobs Canada Fair. 

Before the Job Fair

Register for the event.

Sign-up on job fair organizer websites so you receive notices for upcoming events.  Look for registration instructions and register, or obtain an entry ticket. Note that some job fairs ask you to submit your resume when you register.  Not every job fair requires registration and just show up.

Find the companies attending.

Job fair advertisements include participating companies and the types of positions they are promoting. Visit company websites to understand more about them, who they hire and available positions.  Search online for company news and check out their social media posts.  Follow the companies you’re most interested in. Take notes about their mission statement, products and services. Consider applying for positions listed on their website and bring a record of the application to show the employer at the job fair.

Be ready to market yourself.

Prepare your elevator pitch to introduce yourself and the skills that would benefit the company. Have an idea of what you would like to emphasize to each company based on your research and the positions they are filling.

Think about what you want to tell the employer about your last job, how it ended (stay positive!), and what you have been doing since. Find a way to tell them how your journey brought you to this company and their jobs.

Make sure you have suitable clothes to wear at the event.  Think of it like dressing for an interview, with the exception of wearing comfortable shoes that are still suitable for an interview. You can get a sense of each company’s attire from the photos used on their website.

Make sure your resume and LinkedIn profile is up-to-date. Expect employers to look your profile up. Include your LinkedIn profile address on your resume as well. Have multiple copies of your resume to hand out.

Think of questions to ask.

Prepare specific and open-ended questions to understand or clarify details about the company, positions, sector news, etc.  Company representatives will remember your conversation if they feel engaged.  Job fairs are very busy, so be concise, professional, friendly and mindful of those waiting in line.

At the Job Fair

Present yourself professionally.

Arrive early, neatly dressed, with resume copies, notepaper and questions in a folder. Make sure you have a pen.   Speak and act professionally.  Offer a firm handshake when you meet company representatives and make eye contact. Silence your cell phone. Avoid asking about salary or benefits at this stage.  Job fairs are busy, noisy and fast paced so don’t go into too much detail and be aware of time restrictions. 

Take care of yourself while you’re at the event. Bring water and snacks.  Take short breaks. Stay focused and calm.

Schedule a follow-up appointment, if possible.

Some companies prefer making an appointment following the job fair; this is an opportunity to have an in-depth conversation with the employer, which is difficult to do at larger events. If the conversations went well, considering asking to meet with the employer after the event to continue the discussion. If they refuse, this may not be their protocol during job fairs.

Gather business cards of employers.
Follow-up is important. After each conversation or meeting with a company representative, take notes and ask for a business card. If this is not available, get the person’s name, company, job title, and email address. Ask permission to connect with them on LinkedIn.

After the Job Fair

Write a brief email to the employers you met to show appreciation for their time and emphasize your interest in the company.

Lastly, job fairs are an extraordinary opportunity to meet employers who can offer you your next career move. Taking the best effort you can during a job fair will increase your professional network and lead to positive opportunities in the future.

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Answering the Salary Question in a Job Interview

blond businessman holding one small piggy bank and one much larger piggy bank

Addressing the salary question isn’t easy for a job seeker. If the salary you ask for is too high, the employer might choose a more affordable candidate. If it’s too low, you might be selling yourself short or be seen as less qualified or valuable.

So, what is a job seeker to do?

Before tackling this question, it helps to do some research.

How much do you really need to earn?

Take a careful look at your budget and identify the minimum that you can afford to earn. Of course, you will try to do better than the minimum, but there are reasons to take a job that are not financial, such as an opportunity to start a new career, fill a gap on your resume, or perhaps the job is an opportunity to start at a company you really want to work for.

  • Use this tool to help you figure out how much you need to earn per hour, month, and year.

How much can you expect?

Do you know how much employers are willing to pay you, given your particular skills and experience, and their given salary structure? It isn’t easy to figure out the going rate for a specific job. There are many variables to consider, including:

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

Resources are available online to help calculate your potential salary, but be cautious; it doesn’t always give an accurate estimate of how much you might be able to be paid, considering your unique skills, experience and circumstances:

The current job market is also the best source of salary information:

  • Check with people you know; ask them about the salary range in their company for similar roles
  • Speak to recruiters and hiring managers
  • Check job postings; sign up for job alerts with sites such as Indeed.ca — many jobs will include salary expectations.

At the interview:

Salary negotiations do not need to be adversarial or aggressive. If you are clear about how much you need and have a sense of what is being paid in the market, then you are in a good position to ask for what is realistic.

Some salary negotiation tips:

  1. Wait for the appropriate time to discuss salary; it is better to impress the employer first with your skills and dazzling personality, and try hold out until later in the hiring process when the employer is more invested in your candidacy
  2. If salary has not come up yet, and you are ready to discuss it, ask the employer when they plan to discuss salary (instead of asking “how much do you pay?”)
  3. Resist throwing out the first number – ask the employer for the salary range they pay
  4. Take your time deciding, consider the possibility of playing hardball and saying no. Just make sure you can afford to do so.

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E: services@jvstoronto.org

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