CareerBuilder has a great article by Selena Dehne on the impact your social networking profile could have on getting hired or fired. She suggests that many people have no idea, or maintain an, “it won’t happen to me” attitude when it comes to posting derogatory statements or lewd photos that may cost them the job of their dreams. Also […]
Is A Professional Resume Writer Worth It?
Is a professional resume writer worth it was the question Jason Alba answered without any doubts by sharing his personal experience on Jibberjobber, My Number One Resume Problem. He says, “I forfeited thousands of dollars of income. Just a few hundred dollars, invested in a resume writer, could have changed that.” Retaining the services of a Certified Professional Resume […]
Global Employment Outlook
According to Manpower’s Global Employment Outlook, hiring across the globe is down significantly, as reported in Forbes magazine article, World’s Worst Places To Get A Job. Hiring in the U.S. grew at 18% in the fourth quarter last year and is expected to drop to 9% for the same period this year. Even China will see a […]
A Few Seconds Is All You Have!
The importance of how your resume looks and how it is written may be better understood if you are aware that the person reading it will spend an average of 30 seconds to do so. Even a skilled speed reader would be hard pressed to take in every word in your resume in a matter […]
Online Posting and your Reputation
Want a job? Scholarship? Watch what you post! This article written by Andrea Gordon for the Toronto Star provides a wealth of information for the whole family on the potential perils of online activity and sharing. A study produced by Pew Internet & American Life Project found 93 percent of kids ages 12 to 17 used the […]
What is Career Coaching?
Career Coaching is a methodology available to help people achieve job and career satisfaction. If compared to career counseling, coaching is more results oriented, less structured and more guided by the clients’ agenda. While similar to consulting, which focuses on solving problems through providing the right answers, coaching focuses on asking the right questions. Unlike therapy, which deals […]
Investing in Soft Skills
How much time and money have you invested in your soft skills? Developing soft skills and hard skills are equally important in moving forward in your career. Despite this fact, you’ve likely invested a great deal more in your hard skills. Investing in hard skills, such as a university degree, is an important element in your career. Your hard skills will be impressive on your resume […]
Your Job Interview – Will you receive an offer?
The job interview is over and you would love to know how you did. You may already have a good idea that you will receive an offer, or not. If you really are not sure the following questions may provide you with a little better insight. Did the interviewer provide you with a specific date or timeline for when a decision will be made? Were […]
Beware of Distractions
Recently I had a discussion with a colleague about a blog I had written, Job Interviews and Tattoos and was surprised that the feedback I received was their belief that most potential employers have a negative perception when it comes to tattoos and body piercings. It is highly likely that many of these people are also sporting tattoos and possibly body […]
Teamwork
Teamwork really is a critical key to success whether in the workplace, at home or on the football field. Last night, at the first ever regular-season NFL contest played on Canadian soil, the Buffalo Bills showed everyone at Rogers Centre how it’s done. Their confidence, talent and most of all their teamwork led them to a victory of […]
Google Job Search
Your online job search is likely to be focused on job boards such as Monster or Workopolis but there is a tool that you likely use every day that is also one of the best job search resources in the world. Yes, it’s Google! Willy Franzen has an excellent post, How to Use Google to Find a […]
Personal and Professional – Women in Business
HEART Business Journal for Women has just launched their premier edition which offers tools to guide you in your personal relationships and professional career. Their “men allowed” philosophy is further to their research and a survey of men, which resulted in the majority stating that this magazine would act as a resource to help them better connect with the females in […]
Bizarre Behaviour in a Job Interview!
In a recent survey, OfficeTeam asked executives to recount the most embarrassing job interview moments they had heard of or witnessed. Yes, in a job interview, the time you really want to put your best foot forward. The opportunity you are given to present an exemplary first impression! The following are just a few of the responses: “The candidate […]
Professional References
You have presented an impressive cover letter, an enticing and professionally written resume and you are contacted for the job interview. Once there, you are nothing less than brilliant during your interview in front of a panel of three! So why was that the last time you heard from them? One of the most common reasons a highly qualified job applicant is eliminated as a […]
Working While On Vacation….
….Planning vacations while working! According to a new online survey of visitors to Monster.ca, only 43% of 1439 Canadians said they “do not work at all” during vacation. “Many Canadians seem to be missing the point when it comes to taking holidays”, said Monster Canada vice-president of sales and general manager Peter Gilfillan, noting that […]
Social vs. Professional Online Networking Sites
LinkedIn, Naymz, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, VisualCV and the list goes on and on and on. Studies, reports, polls and surveys on the subject of social vs. professional online networking sites are as prolific as those on work-life balance or the skills and talent shortage! In a recent Globe and Mail poll, 84% of over 5000 respondents said they would not […]
Resume vs. Online Info
Despite our world of online networking and the information found in electronic mediums, Human Resource Directors say the resume is alive and well, although no longer the only source of candidate information. This, according to a recent article, Resume the Resume, “Reports of the death of the plain paper document have been greatly exaggerated”. In […]
Job Interviews and Tattoos
“Tattoos can mark a career”, a recent article in the Toronto Star says Toronto employers advise job candidates to “be sensible” when meeting a prospective boss for the first time, and that includes hiding any tattoos or body piercings in order to make a good first impression. Marc Belaiche, president of TorontoJobs.ca says most employers […]
Cover Letter Survey
One of my recent posts, “You Need a Cover Letter!” was based on personal experience and knowledge. If you had any doubts of the importance of a cover letter or are one of many job seekers who believe a formal cover letter is no longer neccessary, read on. A new study conducted by an independent research firm and […]
Famous Quotes – Career, Success and Choices
“I’ve been in the twilight of my career longer than most people have had a career.” — Martina Navratilova “Don’t drive people working under you; inspire them.” – J. Donald Walters “The decisions you make about your work life are especially important, since most people spend more of their waking lives working than doing anything else. […]