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. […]
Future Trends in the Workplace
Emerging Technology, globalization and demographic changes continue to have a significant impact on our workplace. In a recent article in the Baltimore Sun, John A. Challenger, chief executive of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a Chicago outplacement firm identifies some workplace trends of the future that could transform office culture. He begins by saying, “Teleconferencing could end business travel.” Audio, video and Web […]
Little Evidence of 2000 Bell Canada Managers Online
According to a Financial Post article, BCE insiders say more than 2,000 people out of approximately 15,000 managers will lose their jobs during a “100-day plan” unveiled by new chief executive George Cope, to change the public image of BCE’s main unit, Bell Canada. Despite this announcement, I am surprised to see, or I should say, […]
Work and Family
Managing the work-family conflict by Judith Maxwell, and published in the Globe and Mail adds to the thousands of blogs and articles verifying the ever increasing acknowledgement of the importance of a healthy balance between work and family. And I continue to follow up further to previous blogs, “Employee’s looking for work life balance” and “Bummed out at work?” Barack […]
First Impressions
We have all heard it so many times before but it is a reminder that needs to be said again and again, “You do not get a second chance to make a good first impression”! Your look, your information, your voice, your words; everything you say and do creates an impression and if you want the job you […]
Retirement or Career Transition?
Most of our grandparents and parents reached the age of “retirement” and did just that, they retired. But today the trend is changing and it is becoming more and more common for those reaching retirement to continue working, negotiate alternative working arrangements or embark on entirely new careers. An increased life expectancy is only one of many factors contibuting to this trend. Although […]
Privacy and Your Online Presence
Recently I posted, Social Networking Sites and Your Job Search. Basically, I wanted to caution job searchers about being somewhat discrete with the personal information they choose to share online since it could have a negative impact on their job search. Today, I’d like to talk about the information that you had better be willing to share or you will be wasting […]
CEO’s Responsible for Crimes against Humanity
“Earth near tipping point, climatologist warns” , a Toronto Star article, says James Hansen is back to warn that the Earth is nearing a tipping point, to call for a national carbon tax and to say that CEO’s of energy companies may be guilty of crimes against humanity and nature. In 1988 James Hansen, a leading […]
Women in IT Careers
A recent ariticle, Why women quit technology careers, by Kathleen Melymuka relays some startling research from this month’s Harvard Business Review. Women, between the ages of 25 and 30 are excelling in the science, engineering and technology fields making up 41% of the young talent with related credentials. Unfortunately, 52% of this talent drops out, most significantly […]
Inspiring Quotes
Are you inspired or motivated by quotes? Recently, I purchased a coffee from Starbucks and enjoyed quote #283 printed on the cup just as much as I enjoyed the coffee. It read, “The most important thing in life is to stop saying “I wish” and start saying “I will”. Consider nothing impossible, then treat possibilities as probabilities.” –David […]
The Purpose of Your Resume
Yes, your resume is all about you, but the purpose is to sell yourself in a way that shows the interviewer/organization that it is all about them and that you will be a valuable asset to them. When perusing your resume or during an interview, there is one important question on their mind, “Is this the person who can solve my […]
Employee Productivity
In a survey found in Trans-Logic Executive Search Group’s May Issue, 100 senior executives were asked, “In your opinion, on which day of the week are employees generally most productive?” If their opinions are correct, everyone might as well take Friday off as it was listed as the least productive at 2%! Thursday was close at 3% and Monday […]
Body Language and the Job Inteview
You will not get a second chance to make a good first impression in a job interview so you will want to be conscious of your body language. Here are a few tips to keep in mind: When you walk into a room, look confident and as if you belong there. At the end of the interview, avoid exiting the room […]
Company Perks
Companies are offering more and more “perks” in an effort to retain and attract employees. Beer Friday, a massage two times a week and a games room! According to an article in the Seattle Times, the employees at F5 enjoy a variety of team-building activities and company perks all contributing to a happy workforce. Here are a number of other company perks […]
Networking and Your Twitter Bio
Twitter.com is being described as “micro blogging” – a cross between instant messaging and blogging – because you’re allowed only 140 characters. We all understand the importance of Networking when searching for a job and Twitter is one more tool that is available. Kevin Donlin recently wrote, “How to Get Found By Recruiters” by using Twitter. Getting noticed by […]
The “Talent Shortage”?
“Talent Shortage Emerges as No. 1 Employer Concern” “Our population will begin to shrink and our workforce will dry up.” “Schools in peril across Ontario” “Census Points to shrinking households” “Retirement of baby boomers may reverberate in workplace”, “Enrollment Shrinking, says education minister”, “The Talent Shortage Myth”, The Immigration Squeeze” These are only a few of […]
Are you a Twitter-er?
Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that allows users to send “updates” (or “tweets; text-based posts, up to 140 characters long) to the Twitter website, via short message service (SMS), instant messaging, or a third-party application such as Twitterific or Facebook. Like most social networking sites, what you type or twitter can […]