Despite the fact that Saskatchewan had a 2.9% increase in jobs in March over the same time last year and despite the fact that it has the lowest unemployment rate in the country, the headlines still focused on the negative and reported a growing unemployment rate. It is often tough to sift through to find the good news in today’s economy but it is there.

In the early 1900’s there were those who left Ontario to pioneer in Saskatchewan. They made their mark and then returned home and so our history has continued to evolve, much the same today as it was in the past, in this vastly diversified country. Canadians have been encouraged by the many opportunities available, relocating across the country to reap the benefits offered by the oil sands of Alberta or B.C.’s forestry or Ontario’s automotive industry. And often, when those jobs begin to decline, those affected move back home. The influx of people moving back to certain areas contributed to an exaggeration in jobless rates, as the number entering the job market exceeded the number of jobs available. The good news is still an increasing availability of  jobs in some places.

Manitoba’s employment has remained steady, attributable to their well-diversified manufacturing base. Alberta and Ontario have experienced the highest job loss rates in the country but some of those jobs provided exceptional opportunities, experience and the highest of remuneration for many people over a significant number of years in a job market that has been evolving from a lifetime employee tenure to 20 or 30 years and today is approximately 2.5 years. 

Statistics Canada reports August unemployment rates at 5% in Saskatchewan, 5.7% in Manitoba and 9.4% and 7.4% respectively in Ontario and Alberta. The full impact of significant job losses across our country is still yet to be seen and there will be some devastating consequences for many. However, there will also be those who will look back on this year and attribute it to a positive change in their lives. Possibly the loss of a job that made them miserable, the opportunity to further their education, an introduction to a new career, a new city, new friends, the start of a new business or cherished memories of time spent with family that would otherwise have been consumed by work. So read beyond the bad news headlines and make a conscious effort to look for the positive.

Take advantage of a free resume critique, http://aneliteresume.com/. Keeping your resume up to date is in your best interest! 

For many people not involved in the manufacturing industry, our current ecomomic state is somewhat of a shock. I’ve been asked, “How can we suddenly be in a recession?”. The following statistics from Statistics Canada will provide a better perspective on where our economy has been heading for the past nine years.

The last time we saw any growth in employment in the manufacturing industry was from 1998 to 2000. 2001 to 2004 was a period of stagnation and from 2004 to 2008 job losses reached 322,000! In just four years, one in seven manufacturing jobs disappeared and one in five manufacturing jobs were lost in Ontario alone!

Statistics Canada further reports, “ These trends are not unique to Canada — manufacturing has been declining in most Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. The situation in Canada was noticeable for being somewhat delayed, with manufacturing jobs beginning to decline only in 2004, while other countries, notably the United States, had already registered significant job losses for several years.”

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business has been lobbying at the federal, provincial and local levels of government on behalf of small and medium sized businesses, (SME’s) for over 35 years and provides the following statistics:

Small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) are essential to Canadian society and its economy. SMEs play a role in shaping local communities, creating new jobs and serving consumers. Collectively, they generate close to half of Canadian GDP, according to a CFIB estimate based on National Accounts data. Small and mid-sized establishments, with fewer than 500 employees, represent 97 per cent of all Canadian businesses and employ 56 per cent of all workers.

Prior to our last Federal Election, the CFIB sent a questionaire to each of the party leaders to assess their level of support for entrepreneurs and small business. Despite the significance of SME’s, which account for the employment of six out of ten Canadians, no response was received from the Conservative Party of Canada.

If you have been have been affected by manufacturing job losses or are considering a career transition, call today for a free resume critique.

As a former police officer, I have to agree with councilman D. Michael Collins of Toledo, who is also a former police officer and says, “This is absolutely irresponsible, and the mayor has no idea what the consequences will be to the city”. Mr. Collins is referring to the proposed layoff of 75 police officers!

It is understandable in today’s troubling economy that cutting costs is at the forefront of every business, every community and every individual. However, no decision should ever be considered that compromises the safety individuals!

Martin Buckland

Dear Mr. Smith
I came across your resume and was impressed. While I don’t work in your area, some colleagues of mine do and may be able to help you with your job search, and more importantly, help you assess your marketability. We are part of a network of agencies that work strictly on behalf of high-quality management and executive level professionals.
Would it be alright if I forwarded your information and suggest they call you? If so, just reply to n.martin@martinagencies. com with attached resume.
Let me know and good luck!
Sincerely,
N. Martin
Nicholas Martin
www.martinagencies. com

If you have posted your resume online, you’ve probably received this exact wording in an email. For further information go to www.ripoffreport.com.  If an organization is a reputable ”executive recruiting” agency, they will never ask you for money because they are paid by the company. It is always in your best interest to seek out credible references and if you are paying for a specific professional service, verify the related credentials of the individual you will be working with prior to hiring them.

Organizations such as HAPPEN, Canada’s Largest Executive Network, provides an excellent venue for job seekers to share information and request references for those companies promising to find you the career of your dreams. Other reputable job search organizations are Monster and Workopolis. ExecuNet is a senior executive networking organization facilitated in Canada by Martin Buckland of Elite Resumes for those interested in advancing their careers. None of these organizations will ask you for thousands of dollars.

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, Job Scams: The Recession Turns Ugly, written by M. P. McQueen reports consumer-protection and law-enforcement groups and better-business bureaus are reporting an increasing number of phony job recruitment and work at home schemes coinciding with the rise in unemployment. Incidents include, identity theft, money laundering, phony executive search firms, bogus work at home opportunities, own-your-own-business schemes and illegal pyramid schemes disguised as multi-level marketing programs.

If you choose not to take heed in the old adage, “If it sounds too good to be true…”, check for verifiable references prior to  providing personal or confidential information and certainly before you hand over any of your hard earned money!

Waterstone Human Capital has provided some interesting findings from their extensive research with 340 senior Canadian executives representing Canada’s top 500 corporations which was used to determine Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures.

82% of those executives surveyed said culture has a strong or very strong impact on their organization’s performance, 81% said that their current leadership has led to the creation of their organization’s culture and 80% defined corporate culture as leadership’s behaviours. When surveyed on Skills versus Fit, 62% said that cultural fit is more important than necessary skills, in the hiring of new talent.

Extensive criteria was used in the final selection from the nominated organizations, including vision and leadership and corporate social responsibility. Included in the 10 winning organizations of this prestigous award were Boston Pizza, Four Seasons, Intuit Canada, McDonald’s, Purolator, RBC, Shoppers Drug Mart, Tim Horton’s, West Jet and Yellow Pages.

50 of the best employers in Canada have been published in the Globe & Mail ReportonBusiness.com Magazine for the 10th year.  Hewitt Associates, a global HR outsourcing and consulting firm designed and conducted the study, involving over 100,000 employees, 1200 leaders and 200 organizations.  Strict guidelines are followed to produce results including a concept called employee engagement, researched and developed by Hewitt Associates, which measures three elements, say, stay and strive described as follows:
“Speak positively about the organization to co-workers, potential employees and customers.  Have an intense desire to be a part of the organization. Exert exta effort and are dedicated to doing the very best job possible to contribute to the organization’s business success.”

Of the top 50 employers in Canada, three have been on the list for the past five years, one for the past seven years, Keg Restaurants Ltd. and one for the past nine years, Chubb Insurance Co. of Canada.

The following are the top five employers:  EllisDon Corporation, London, ON; PCL Constructors Inc. Edmonton, AB; Bennett Jones LLP, Calgary, AB; Edward Jones, Mississauga, ON and CIMA+, Montreal, QC.

Sponsors of this study also include, Queen’s School of Business and study partners, Canadian Council of Human Resources Associations, Workopolis and LA PRESSE.

The countdown to 2009 was fraught with a barrage of forecasts, especially those related to future employment.  Unfortunately, much of what we are hearing is bleak.  Whether you work in Canada, the United States, Dubai or China, layoffs are the top news stories. Challenger, Gray & Christmas published their Work Place Trends Outlook for 2009 and predict an increase in unemployment throughout 2009 and believe we will not see employment growth associated with a healthy and expanding economy before 2013.

Although unsettling, to say the least, we are fortunate to have been part of a stable or booming economy for many years.  It is now time to initiate the changes that are necessary in an extremely competitive global marketplace and get through the expected lengthy economic recovery.  The best resources available today are online.  Online resources not only allow you to keep abreast of current affairs, personal and professional networking websites are soon to be the number one tool used by both employees and employers.  You need to stand out, ONLINE!  Research and find information on those industries that are not affected by this global economic downturn.  Search employment sites around the world and consider relocating. Review opportunities available to further your education, improve skills, increase your marketability or begin a second career. Keep on top of new government initiatives that provide funding for further education or job creation projects.  Web sites offer world wide information and it’s free.  If you don’t find what you are looking for, ask us ONLINE!

Randstad, a job placement agency, surveyed 6,600 employers and found 53% of managers feel that the search for employees is more difficult than it was in 2007.  According to Statistics Canada,  this trend will reach a turning point in 2016 when the number of people leaving the job market will be greater than the number of people entering it.  In response, companies will have to devise ways to attract new graduates.  Generation Y is showing expectations of good salaries, benefits and a respectful environment that  considers employees as partners rather than mere employees.

Randstad also reports close to 80% of jobs are not advertised and 94% of those asked, found their jobs through networking.  Sebastien Girard, regional manager for Randstad says, “We advise our clients to spread the word about their job search to as many people as possible” and he comments on the importance of Facebook as well as other social networks, newspapers, professional association websites, job search sites and job placement agencies.

For valuable tips on effective networking online and off check out Networking and Your Job Search.

Wallace Immen provides some insight into business owners and how they are responding to this frightening economic downturn in his article, Scary times?  Try being on your own, in the Globe and Mail.  Amy Casson, Principal of Polished Image Inc. says she is wrapping up contracts and finding potential new sources of business unwilling to make any commitments.  With  three children to feed, she’s pulled out her resume and is actively seeking a full time job.  Ms. Casson is one in seven; one in the more than two million people in Canada who are self-employed and finding themselves at a career crossroad with the current decline in business.  The services, projects and programs that have been available to many working on their own, are being eliminated by companies in an effort to cut costs.

Despite current market trends, a recent survey from The Association of Management Consultants found 75% of self-employed remain optimistic expecting as much work in six months as they have today.  The industries that have significantly slowed employment of independent workers include mining, manufacturing and retail and those fields seeing little effect so far are health care, utilities, energy, education and environmental consulting.

Robert McCulloch, President of management consultancy CYOR Inc. in Toronto and chairman of the Canadian Association of Management Consultants said, “I thing you’re going to see extreme reactions to the economic downturn. At one extreme, projects are being put on hold, budgets are frozen and consultants are being terminated or asked to take a pay cut”.  On the other, “there will be some companies that will decide to downsize permanent staff and bring in contractors that are easier to let go if things get even tougher”.  Considering the uncertainty, Ms. Casson says, “I’m not going to give up my own business because I’ve trained for it and I have a track record.  I plan to keep up my presence on the Internet and keep networking with clients letting them know I am available as a self-employed coach”.

Career Coaches, Paul Copcut and Nina Spencer, offered tips to survive in tougher times, which included, market yourself, work your network, prospect for opportunities, focus on your expertise, offer added value and create a buzz, to name a few.  Paul Copcutt is the founder of Square Peg Solution and says organizations may be reigning in expenses but they still need solutions for their problems and will invest in those who can offer them.

In a recent Globe and Mail article, Sabitry Ghoshi interviewed Malcolm Gladwell about his latest book, Outliers, The Story of Success.  Gladwell clearly states that “success” is narrowly defined in his book as he had no interest in happiness, but in the “occupational success in the work that we do”, saying, “This book is squarely about what happens when you go to work in the morning”.

Malcolm Gladwell says it requires at least 10,000 hours to become an expert on anything and attributes his success as a writer and reporter to his 10 years with The Washington Post.  This experience, “deliberate practice”, as he refers to it, is the key to becoming an expert, or a “success” in a profession.  He credits a practical side not a high IQ to high achievers and most importantly, opportunity.  Even your date of birth can result in a missed opportunity!

Becoming successful in your profession is related to some common elements such as, the opportunity to work harder than your peers, to see things that others can’t see and a good fit between your cultural legacy and what you chose to explore, according to Malcolm Gladwell.  But he also says, ” much of it is outside of our control”.