Category Archives: career

Administrative Professionals Day

Posted on April 19, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Next week is time to celebrate Administrative Professionals Day / Week. This is a great time to observe the importance of administrative professionals in the workplace.

Joe Fortes Restaurant is celebrating by offering a complimentary lunch for administrative professionals during the week of April 23-27. See the details here.

The Vancouver chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) will host their annual breakfast event on April 25th at the Vancouver Convention Centre West.

Doors open at 7:00 am and a plated breakfast will be served at 7:30 am, when Michelle Ray, founder of Lead Yourself First Institute, takes the podium.

The theme of the 2012 Administrative Professionals Week and Day is “Admins, the Pulse of the Office”.

Download the Administrative Professionals event info with event details and registration info.

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Job Hunting Using Social Media

Posted on February 22, 2012 by | 2 Comments

Ask anybody how they got their last job, and the typical answer would be  networking. That definition can be blurred now, from offline networking to online networking. As we know there are many useful tools out there for job seekers to help in their pursuit of new employment. This infographic from Jobvite shows some interesting statistics about the social network job search.

click on the image for a larger view
source: Jobvite

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Do you love your job?

Posted on February 14, 2012 by | Leave a comment
Author: Bagande

Image via Wikipedia

Research shows that people who are happy at work, are better performers, have strong relationships with colleagues, and open communication with their managers. All of this leads to high employee retention, work satisfaction and a healthy corporate culture.

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we ask you one quick question…

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Dear Facebook: help me get a job

Posted on December 15, 2011 by | 1 Comment

More and more savvy job seekers are using social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to help them find a job. Most people associate LinkedIn with job searches more than Facebook, but this infographic shows some interesting statistics that may surprise you.  MBA Online have put together this intriguing infographic on Social Job Search – Can Facebook Get You a Job?

How did you find your last job?  Feel free to share in the comments below how much of a role social media played in your last job search.

                        Click on image to enlarge

Social Job Search
Infographic courtesy of  MBA Online

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Job discrimination and ethnic names

Posted on October 16, 2011 by | 1 Comment

A recent study shows if you have a non-english sounding name it can make it harder for you to a land a job.

Sarah McNeill talks with Global TV about job discrimination and ethnic names:

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Back to School

Posted on September 7, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Those 3 dreaded words. Do they still give you the shivers? As children, we never wanted summer to end.  As a parent, I am now observing how my children feel about going back to school this week.  All is good. They had a fantastic summer, and they are looking forward to seeing their friends again,  getting back into a regular routine, and starting a new year.

I like the freedom that summer brings, but I also like the regular routine that the new school year brings back. I look at the Fall as being the start of a new year. I am ready to take on some new projects at work, and that excites me. It feels after some time of rest during the summer that I can now focus my energy and give these projects my full attention.

We took a poll last year, on what September means to you, and 65% felt that September is like the start of a new year. To me, September will always feel like a new start. What does this time of year mean to you?

~ Jessica Rozitis

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Facebook friend or foe

Posted on July 20, 2011 by | 7 Comments

799 friends on facebook – Wow! Sounds sort of like an accomplishment doesn’t it?

But, who do you really know out of those 799 people? Guess who is reading the resume you just submitted to that huge advertising firm you really want a job with? Remember Ryan, that older guy from high school? Ryan has you on facebook (you never spoke in high school besides that one time you accidentally walked into him) and he is now searching your profile and notices all the party pictures, that not so friendly page you “liked”, and your recent status update of having a few double caesers on your lunch break.  Now flash-forward to the recycling bin – your resume is in it. Who knew that Mr. Ryan would be the person who received your resume? Think about that every time you apply for a job. The people you added on facebook, and never think about could be your next boss, or friend of your next boss!

As a Gen-Yer I am very active on the social media platforms. How can I not be? It’s part of what my generation does. I go on my laptop and iPhone more than I watch TV. I check facebook more than I check my mailbox. I update my facebook more than I update my closet. I have found out some of the most intimate details from some of my “friends”, or should I say “acquaintances”, on facebook just by their photos and statuses. Who had a baby, who got married, etc.

It’s very easy for me to assume that everyone in my generation is partaking is some form of social media. If my Gen-Z nieces and my Baby Boomer mother is, then you better believe that all the Gen-Yer’s sure are! Which is where I get confused. Why are Gen-Yer’s, fresh out of university and looking for that career job, posting party pictures and joining controversial online groups? Does my tech savvy generation have no clue how easy it is to Google someone? All a future employer needs is your name and POOF! Your entire online life is at their fingertips.

Sure, I have pictures I wouldn’t want seen by my employers, but guess what? I know my way around privacy settings. And let’s not forget about your friends’ privacy settings. Are they open? If so, it may be time to do an audit of their party photos which you’ve been tagged in. A future employer could judge your character by the people you choose to friend with.  And if it’s an absolute must for you to add that racy picture or join that not so PC group, hide it from the ones that matter or could matter. Or, use the fail proof option of just-not-posting-it.

The simple fact of whether or not you get hired for that dream job, regardless of your experience, can be based on your facebook, Twitter, or blog.  So watch out Gen-Y and all other generations for that matter. Technology has made employers smarter than you think, and it’s the very social platform you’re using that will be your demise.

~ Lindsey Ulaszonek

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Job Seeker Safety 101

Posted on May 12, 2011 by | Leave a comment
wagner51's own temporary SIN card, scanned and...

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So, you’ve uploaded your resume to various job board websites, created online social media profiles for all industry leaders to see, and applied to every opportunity that interests you.  You’ve managed to be accessible to almost all the employers out there.  “This must lead to a new job!”, you might think.  That might not be all it leads to….

Not only have you made your work history and educational background available to hiring managers, you’ve made your personal information readily available to scammers.  On the surface, it looks like you are just going through the common job search process.  Fact is, potential employers only really need your name and phone number or e-mail address to be able to contact you.  Providing them with your street address, apartment number, and worse – Social Insurance Number is just plain dangerous.

As a recruiter with McNeill Nakamoto, I view countless resumes online and a surprising number of them have personal information included that makes identity theft too easy for criminals posing as potential employers.  Scammers have been known to simply use the information you provided on your resume or online profile to access your banking information, make duplicate government documents, and much more.

There are more complex tactics that every job seeker should be aware of… Some con-artists pose as hiring managers and email applicants who submit their resumes to legitimate job postings.  By hacking into a hiring manager’s email account, they can respond to applicants – confirming that they have won the position, and then ask the unsuspecting candidates to provide personal information, government ID numbers and banking information.  Read This! Job Seeker Identities at Risk

Moral of the story – Think twice before sharing personal information online.

~ Alana Savage

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Are you at the top of your game?

Posted on February 25, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Professional training and development make the difference. Teams on top of their game are more engaged.

Developing your professional skills is an excellent idea in any economy but particularly important when the labour market is highly competitive. With more players on the scene, those who continually invest in their own skills and talents have significant advantages.

One of the most common errors in training is to look for ways of improving weaknesses rather than developing areas of strength. Imagine you’re a top-producing sales professional but profoundly dislike documenting your monthly expenses. Will a workshop on organizing and filing help? Face it: You’ll probably never be an organizing whiz. As long as your weaknesses don’t detract from the quality of your work (remember, you’re a sales professional after all!), forget about overcoming your weaknesses.

Instead, think of training as a way of boosting your strengths and passions so that you can anticipate the highest return on investment. Say you’re a successful business professional aiming at an executive-level position. You may need some graduate education, possibly an MBA. If you’re an aspiring accountant, proper licensing and professional credentials are key to senior roles.

Whatever your profession, leverage your interests and existing abilities to take your career to the next step.

Training and professional development require the investment not only of money but also of time and energy. A few ideas to help you be a smart investor and achieve the highest return:

Public speaking events and conferences: Attend speaker events and relevant conferences to update your knowledge of developments in your area. Extend your network at these events.

Do your homework: Get the latest business books that apply to your field. Subscribe to relevant publications: blogs, email newsletters, podcasts, business publications and magazines or scientific journals.

Get the most from your industry association: Most professional associations provide in-depth literature lists and compile overviews of the latest research done in their fields. They often offer valuable seminars and workshops to members.

Find a mentor: Life lessons frequently offer more value than theory. Talk to an accomplished professional in your field ideally about 15 years your senior. Build a mentoring relationship, learn from his or her experience and bounce off your ideas.

Talk to your employer: Most employers understand that continuing education give their staff and ultimately their companies competitive advantages. They may offer financial support or pay for time taken off for studying.

~ Dennis Wolff

photo: cliff1066™

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Lessons Learned While Trail Running

Posted on February 3, 2011 by | Leave a comment

I had an epiphany while doing my trail run yesterday that some of the lessons I’ve learned (and continue to learn) this winter while exploring the many trails of Vancouver’s North Shore can also be applied to my professional life.

1) Take no step for granted – the moment you start assuming, the trail will remind you to stay fully present

2) Accept an unknown higher purpose – small barriers on your path may be there to assist you – when the trail gets snowy or icy, those small stones, sticks and tree roots provide much needed footing

3) Be prepared for sudden changes – the path you’re following may contain an obstacle that you need to move around quickly for safer footing

4) Yield – allow others to go around you if they’re faster, or step aside if it’s narrow and someone coming from the other direction wants to cross first

5) Read the signs – if it says ‘icy conditions’, know that this message is there for your highest good

6) Ask – if you’re unsure where the trail you’re on is leading, ask those you encounter for help rather than just blindly running on

7) Come prepared – if it’s cold, dress for it, if you’re going to be doing a long one, bring water or food

8 ) Follow your intuition – changing course, exploring a new path, turning back when your “Spidey Senses” start tingling are all allowed if it feels right at the time.

9) Focus – the most important step is this one right now.

10) Give thanks – when it’s icy, for every stick, bit of sand or pebble that provides you with safe footing, for every bridge that has been built for you, for every sign that has been placed to guide you.

11) Clean your shoes – if you step in poop, don’t assume it will work its way off of your shoe, clean it right away or it will haunt you.

12) Realize – the uphills are necessary to give you the pleasure of the downhills.

13) No short cuts – taking what seems to be an easier way can compromise the integrity of the trail for others, can be dangerous or can loosen rocks that might hurt someone below you.

14) No unsolicited advice – no one likes a ‘know it all’. Give answers when asked but otherwise, zip it.

15) Stop every now and then and just go “WOW”! – this is just self-explanatory

photo credit: lululemonathletica

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