November 21, 2016 Leave a Comment

Use Project Management skills in your job search

Dear Joanna,

How can I boost my job search so that I finally receive a job offer as a project manager in the telecom industry? I’ve heard that it is so competitive that all job seekers would need is to have connections to secure employment in this field.

Do you have any advice for me?

Signed: Frustrated PMP (F-PMP)

Dear F-PMP

To respond to your great question, I have consulted with expert coach and facilitator Miguel Abascal, Project Manager, M.Fin, PMP at TD Canada Trust, who also volunteers to support newcomers as a TRIEC Mentor.

He presents eight project management tips that can be incorporated into a job search:

Initiate.

Using the mindset of a consultant or entrepreneur when looking for work is critical. Building your career and securing employment is a project that you are managing from beginning to end: you set the tone, the deadlines, the plan and the process. Set up a workplace at your home or in a local coffee shop until you find your new employer. Don’t forget that relationship building is everything.

Adapt To Change.

Flexibility, expecting the unexpected and identifying change opportunities are hallmarks of an effective Project Manager. They are always considering the possibility of changing plans, adapting documentation and thinking about how this impacts on a project. Job seekers can learn from that: evaluate your options and re-evaluate them again, if they are not attainable. Look at your resume and LinkedIn profile: are they working? If not, change. Listen to advice and be open to adapting what you do.

Know What You Don’t Know.

An openness to learn something new, a love of learning, an understanding your strengths and weaknesses and always looking to improve is fundamental to a project’s success Never be complacent; always strive to find better solutions to the problems in your job search. For example, if you keep applying to jobs and are not getting any interviews, it’s an opportunity to learn new techniques for your job search, such as updating your social media skills.

Lead With Purpose and Passion.

Follow the mantra of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®): “people will follow those who know what they are doing and who can generate results”. Nothing feels better than accomplishment. Make decisive, confident decisions, and demonstrate that in your job search.

Plan.

Create a detailed and thorough project plan. Identify the milestones you wish to achieve. As mentioned above, be prepared to change and adjust. Knowing where you are and creating a plan to reach your destination is 50% of the work. Your plan will be like a Blueprint or a Map that will help you see if you need to make any adjustments.

Execute.

Act on your goals, with an expectation of success. Keep practicing and preparing for job interview. Utilize approaches such as Information Interviews, which are the secret for networking success. Engage in targeted research of the companies, the industry and hiring managers that are relevant to achieving your job goal.

Monitor and Control.

Be very organized and keep meticulous records of your activities including job postings, applications, interviews, networking activities and any other relevant action. Organizational skills are important in the job search. Use tools such as Google Spreadsheets and Calendar, and keep a schedule of your interviews and any engagement with people.

Make sure that people experience you as organized and in control. As Maya Angelou said: “People will forget what you said, even what you did but they will never forget how you made them feel .”

Close

Before you say “yes” to the job offer, make sure you’re asking the right questions. Understand your value proposition, how you will help the company succeed, get to know the workplace culture, evaluate the offer including salary, benefits, hours, company holidays and start date.

Don’t forget: Treat the job offer like a business deal, in which, you, my friend are very valuable, because there is none like you!

Joanna

Joanna Samuels B.Ed. (Adult Education), M.Ed., CMF, CTDP, RRP is a certified Life Skills Coach and Personality Dimensions Facilitator who works at JVS Toronto as a Job Developer/Job Coach/Workshop Facilitator. Also, Joanna is a part-time instructor of employment counselling with people with disabilities at George Brown College.

November 15, 2016 3 Comments

Why volunteering is essential to job search in Canada

A study published on Statistics Canada shows that only 39% of immigrants did some volunteer work during the course of the year as compared to 49% of the Canadian-born.

CanPrep program’s recent webinar on “Harnessing the Power of Networking for Professional Success ” covered Volunteering as a vital tool to build on your network as a newcomer to Canada. Volunteering gives newcomers an opportunity to start using your skills from Day 1 of arriving here and also to develop new skills. Some immigrants who need to brush up on their English or French skills can do so while volunteering. Volunteering will not only give you practical knowledge of Canadian workplace but also add valuable Canadian experience to your resume. Networking opportunities offered by volunteering helps you tap into the “hidden job market” which can represent as much as 80% of available jobs. You can learn more about the hidden job market in CanPrep’s eLearning modules on ‘Getting Hired in Canada’

This article published on our blog by Joanna Samuels discusses more reasons for why a newcomer should volunteer.

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, Working in Non-profit, 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.

How to prepare for volunteering before you arrive:

If you are an Internationally Trained professional and you understand that volunteering can be an excellent tool to give you a head-start into your career in Canada, here are ways you can start preparing even before you arrive:

Research organizations that offer positions in or close to your field
Establish connection with the organization to understand their needs
Few weeks before arrival write to the organization and inform that you are interested in volunteering as soon as you arrive

Resources to find Volunteering opportunities in Canada:

volunteer.ca

charityvillage.com

LinkedIn volunteer board

Canadian Volunteer Directory

United Nations Association in Canada

Idealist.org

Onlinevolunteering.org

November 14, 2016 Leave a Comment

Tips from an Employment Counsellor: What to do if you have started a job and found that it is not a suitable workplace

We asked our staff to share examples of the kinds of questions that clients sometimes ask, and the answers they offer. This question from a client came to Cindy Chen, an Employment Counsellor at JVS Toronto Employment Source Scarborough.

Clients often worry about what would happen if, when they start a new job, they discover that it isn’t what they imagined. What can they do?

Sometimes when you start a new job, things don’t turn out as you had hoped or imagined. This, combined with the stress of starting a new job, can make the new workplace seem intolerable.

It’s important to figure out objectively why you don’t like the job: what makes it so difficult: the tasks, the people, or both?

If it is the tasks, keep in mind that, on average, it takes about 3-6 months for new employees to really feel comfortable with the tasks or responsibilities of a new position. If it is the people, try to get to know your new colleagues better and work on giving them benefit of the doubt. Perhaps the atmosphere or work culture is different and it requires some time for you to adjust and find your own place within it. Try introducing yourself to colleagues and get to know them; small talk is sometimes very important and beneficial. Join lunches and other social opportunities. If you can find one person who is helpful and open to sharing, perhaps turn to them for support.

Once you have determined that you have tried your best and done all you can to fit in, but it still seems like a bad fit for you, start looking for a more suitable job. Try not to leave your current job until you have secured a new one. Do your best to schedule interviews at the beginning or at the end of the day, so you don’t disrupt your current work schedule.

Now that you know more of what is not suitable for you in a workplace, use that knowledge to find a more suitable workplace. Be sure to ask questions at the interview to find out what it would be like to work at that place, such as: how would you describe the work atmosphere here, how would you describe the management style at this organization? What’s a typical day like here? What aspects do you think will help an individual excel here or at this job?

When a new job seems to not be working out, it is important to be patient, yet decisive. Sometimes, once you have been there for a while, you might get used to, or find ways of dealing with aspects of the job that you initially found to be challenging. Hang in there, do what you can to make it work, but once you decide it is not for you, begin to look for something else. Use what you have learnt to secure a better suited job next time around.

Cindy Chen is an Employment Counsellor at JVS Toronto Markham Employment Source. She is trained as a Registered Social Service Worker (RSSW), and describes herself as an advocate of inclusion who is passionate about helping others.

November 7, 2016 1 Comment

Tips from an Employment Counsellor: Should a new graduate take a job that is not in their field, just for the sake of money?

A client who had graduated from Community College came to see me, after struggling to find work in his field for a while. He wondered whether he should you take a job that is not in his field, just for the sake of money.

Having just graduated from a program that you have invested time and money into, you are probably eager and ready to jump into the workforce and start practicing your craft. With the competitive job market out there, this can be more challenging than originally planned. Most job postings for even junior positions usually require a minimum of 1-2 years of relevant experience, what is a new graduate to do?

If you were enrolled in a program that had some form of field placement, such as co-op or internship then you can include that experience as relevant, however, if your studies did not include such practicum, it would be a good idea to start volunteering at an organization that you would like to be employed at. Market your time and talent as a valuable commodity and your presence will benefit the organization, as opposed to them doing you a favour by allowing you to gather experience there.

If money is an issue — chances are it probably is — and since you have just invested time and money, and now need to work and pay off your debts, perhaps taking the job that’s offered to you isn’t such a bad idea.

Make sure that the job is worth your while; factor in transportation time and cost, as well as the pay and hours of work. If all balances out, then the offer should be seriously considered. Remember that you can continue to search for employment while you are working; you might even conduct a better job search while you are working, since you won’t have pressure and desperation associated with unemployment.

Another benefit of taking an interim job, is that there are often transferable skills that you could pick up from the job that might be useful later on, such as customer service, communication, administration, or relationship building. It also demonstrates to future employers that you are not afraid of hard work.

Accepting the immediate job will help alleviate your financial stress, provide you with practical experience, opportunities for personal growth as well as a potential network to get to your next and more desirable job. You really will not know where an opportunity will lead until you take it.

October 31, 2016 Leave a Comment

Tips from an Employment Counsellor: How to get a promotion when your manager doesn’t support it

A client asked me how to get a promotion, even when the hiring personnel is not supportive of them moving up in the company.

Obviously, this is a very tricky situation: who would a job seeker go to, if the person that they are supposed to go to is blocking them?

Relationship building is such an important aspect of work and careers that many of us do not appreciate until we are boxed in. As the saying goes, “think outside the box”, if the box was the department or position that you are in and you feel stuck in it, there are creative ways that you could try to get out of the “box”.

Going back to relationship building, if you have been able to get along with mostly everyone at the office and were able to get to know other supervisors or managers, perhaps you could approach them and express your genuine interest to learn more about the roles in their department and maybe even help out with some of the tasks. If this is possible, approach your own supervisor and pitch the idea to them. It might be harder for them to say “no” when another supervisor has already said “yes”.

Some organizations have training or learning opportunities where you get to spend a day or so to learn more about other positions in the company. This might include informational interviewing or job shadowing. If this kind of opportunity exists, take advantage of it. The person that you spend that valuable time with might be able to advocate for you, once they see that you have the potential for the change.

If this is not an option, then perhaps suggest it to your supervisor. Pitch the idea as you wanting to broaden your knowledge and interest in the company, and perhaps your manager will see it as taking initiative and understand the beneficial aspects of it.

However, if all your attempts have still come to a dead end, then it might be time to reassess the situation and look for opportunities elsewhere. There is another saying, sometimes if you want to advance, “you have to move out if you want to move up.”