TPL

Temporary Help Agencies: New Laws Come Into Effect

As of November 6th, there are new protections for workers who use temporary help agencies. The Government of Ontario says that the amendments will

• Make sure that workers are not unfairly prevented from accessing permanent jobs when agency clients want to hire them from agencies,
• Prohibit temporary help agencies from charging fees to employees for things such as resume writing and interview preparation,
• Guarantee that employees have the information they need about their assignments including pay schedules and job descriptions, and
• Require agencies to provide employees with information about their new rights under the Employment Standards Act.

For more information see the Ontario Ministry of Labour Information Bulletin on temporary help agencies.

Interpersonal Skills: Can You Change Who You Are?

You have always been able to easily make friends or get a date, but did you know that your great interpersonal skills can get you in the door of a company much quicker?

A survey developed by Accountemps, a specialized staffing service for temporary accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals, and conducted by an independent research firm confirmed that while industry-specific experience is important, personality or people skills reigned supreme as qualifications that were found to be most valuable. More than 270 CFOs from across Canada were surveyed.

When presented with accounting or finance candidates who possess similar qualifications, 34% of chief financial officers (CFOs) interviewed said applicants' people skills would tip the balance over such attributes as industry experience and software proficiency.

So this means that you should use the employment interview as an opportunity to showcase your people skills.

As one CFO put it, "Practising responses to interview questions will help candidates relax and make a good impression on the employer. Describing past experiences requiring strong teamwork, leadership and communication skills will give them a leg up on the competition as well."

Here is how the numbers stack up:

                                                2004        2009

Personality or people skills        1%            34%

Industry-specific experience        55            28

Software/technology knowledge    24           19

Certification/advanced degree       13            8

Multilingual skills                          2            5

International experience                4            2

Email and Online Job Applications

Just as we want to save time by emailing, so do employers. An added bonus for the company - they have your application in an electronic format that can be scanned for keywords, forwarded quickly and easily and saved. Or deleted. Here is some advice so that your email won't be ignored.

How do I apply for jobs listed on the Internet - An easy introduction to email attachments and formats.

Job applications: online, direct, email, samples, forms - A short tutorial on how to do it.

What to do and what not to do:

Applying by email - A short list of tips for a good emailed job application.

How to do it well! - Some of the worst mistakes and how to fix them.

A cover letter is not expendable: tips on sending cover letters by e-mail - Writing the cover letter for your email.

How not to email about a job  - Don't use txt spelling!

     

Cover Letters: Your Chance to Make a Great First Impression!

It has been said that it is easy to find a job; but, it is much harder to find a job that you love! When you do find a job posting at a company where you would like to work, it is well worth your time to prepare a dynamic application package - cover letter (yes, you really DO need one!) and a resume/curriculum vitae. Your cover letter allows you to demonstrate your intentions, qualifications and potential to a prospective employer in a succinct and appealing way.

Try these tips to enhance your cover letters:

1. Personalize it to the company. "To Whom It May Concern" does not cut it! Phone the company and find out the name and title of the person to whom you should send the application. State the reason why you want to work for this company. Mention company specfics such as a special project or a recent acquisition.

2. Make it clear and to the point. (More on this in a later post!) Mention the specific job title, and two  reasons why your experience would make you a good fit.

3. You may be wonderful person and never call in sick; but prospective employers really want to know practical reasons why they should hire you. Give them a bunch of reasons why. List some accomplishments you achieved on recent jobs. Brag a little! Eg. "I created and implemented new training programs which reduced staff turnover by 20%."

4. What makes you so different? Highlight your skills, talents, and experiences. Eg. if you are a manager who worked in an internationally-renowned firm and who has worked and lived in Europe and Asia and spoke several different languages - highlight that in your letter!

5. Do not include any negative information. Avoid mentioning any conflicts or sarcastic remarks, etc. If the interviewer senses/reads you bad-mouthing a current or past place of employment, she would be concerned that you would do the same to her company.

6. Be direct. State that you are available for an interview. Provide your home, work, cellphone numbers and personal email address where you can be reached.

Good luck with your new and improved cover letter!

Internationally Educated Engineers: Get Canadian Work Experience

How do you get Canadian experience when you have no Canadian experience?   That's the question we hear time and again, from the internationally educated Engineers who visit the Library.

Things aren't perfect yet.  But there is good news in the form of  bridging programs that are offered by non-profit and educational institutions.  These programs help internationally educated Engineers get the Canadian work experience they need.

First - Some background information 

The  Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration Access to the Engineering Profession in Ontario website states :  

Under Ontario law, you must complete four years of verifiable, acceptable engineering work experience, of which at least 12 months must be experience gained in a Canadian jurisdiction under the supervision of a professional engineer, before you will be granted your licence as a professional engineer. The mandatory requirement for Canadian experience ensures that you are conversant with Canadian engineering codes, legislation, technical standards and regulations as they pertain to engineering practice in your field.

Your engineering experience will be assessed against the following five criteria:

application of theory;
practical experience;
management of engineering;
communication skills;
awareness of the social implications of engineering.

 

Bridging Programs in Ontario to Help You Get the Canadian Experience You Need

Government Bridging Programs for Engineers   - Click here for a list of bridging programs in Ontario.

Here are some more programs to choose from.

Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) - Internationally Educated Engineers Qualification Bridging Program (IEEQP -  The Internationally-Educated Engineers Qualification Bridging (IEEQB) Program is offered by Ryerson University’s Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Science, in collaboration with Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO). The program is funded by the Ontario Government and the Government of Canada.  The program includes a four-month paid co-op work term in an industrial corporation, or in a public organization which employs engineers. 

Complete information is for this program is on the PEO site.  Click on Programs and Events in the left hand column of PEO's main page.  Then select Programs and click on Internationally-Educated Engineers Qualification Bridging Program.

ACCESS Employment.Engineering Connections Program - This comprehensive six-week program provides internationally trained engineers with essential knowledge and skills to help them to connect with employers. Participants learn and practice effective job search strategies, develop an understanding of workplace communication and employer expectations, learn about the engineering labour market in the province and the country at large, and gain important insights on professional engineering standards and professional licensing in Ontario. They also enhance their professional skills through workshops on project management, software for engineers and Canadian engineering codes and standards delivered by the Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning.

COSTI Job Connect - Internationally Trained Individuals -  This program is designed to assist and support newcomers who are seeking employment in their profession or trade through a continuum of service options. Flexible services are based on individual client need and can range from sector-specific information sessions to terminology and communication training to job trials in the workplace. Additional supports such as credentials assessments, language assessments, business attire and transportation costs as well as employer-subsidized work placements are available as required to facilitate employment. The Job Connect ITI program is suitable for professionals and tradespeople seeking employment in both regulated and non-regulated professions or trades.
 

Skills for Change - Engineering Your Future -- Engineering Your Future (EYF) is a program designed for Internationally Trained Engineers, Technicians and Technologists to successfully integrate into the Canadian workforce.  The program includes a training module on job development and work experience placement.

Related Posts

Internationally-Trained Engineers - Keys to Working in Canada

Internationally-Trained Engineers - Books for Exam Prep, Industry Standards & More

Visit us again at torontopubliclibrary.ca/jobhelp  or subscribe to our updates with your favourite RSS reader.

Search our blog archive with our Google search box.

Keywords in Resumes

Resumes are key tools for the job searcher. 

Many companies use scanning software to review resumes. Be sure to include keywords that the software and the employer will expect to find in your resume or your resume could be overlooked.

Research the company and the industry. The library has business directories and online magazines.

Check online forums, networking groups and trade magazines.

Review sample resumes in books and online

Check out job ads and

Get advice online.

 

Taping the power of keywords to enhance our resume's effectiveness

Resume tips - resume keywords

Build your construction resume with keywords

Developing keyword resumes  How to do it, where to find keywords

But don't overdo it! Use clear and professional language, not complicated essay style! Are big words better?

Click on the book cover to find out which branch has this new book.

Don't Be Caught By Employment Scams

Headline in Toronto Star:  Peel police issue fraud scam warning
Time Magazine: Job-search scams on the rise in the recession
Earlier this year, a man was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in jail for "hiring" people to be secret shoppers.

There are always people who will try to advantage of you. Fortunately, these are outnumbered by the good guys! 

You can protect yourself against those that might like to take advantage of you through information..Forewarned is forearmed!

Don't get caught by a scam:

The Ontario Ministry of Government Services cautions job hunters not to hand over their hard-earned cash to anyone who wants money in exchange for promises of employment.

Be cautious

• if you are asked to pay for specialized job training in exchange for guaranteed employment;
• pay an upfront fee to a job placement company to obtain a dream job;
• pay an upfront investment fee for a not-to-be-missed business opportunity.

Job scam examples  Look at these examples of typical scams.

More examples - scams & schemes in work and employment.services

Protect your privacy:

The Government of Canada Job Bank has these tips about privacy:

Do not provide personal or sensitive information in your resume, such as:

• Your Social Insurance Number
• Your age, marital status, date of birth
• Your driver's license number
• Your health card number
• Your banking or financial information, which includes credit card or bank account numbers and any Personal Identification Numbers (PIN)

Certain information may be discussed with a prospective employer, only after the hiring process has begun. If a job posting seems questionable, please don't hesitate to contact us.

For more information on privacy, safety and scams, see our web links in the Career Bookmarks.

Twitter Tip: Toronto Career Events

As I mentioned last month, I follow some job and career people on Twitter. Here's someone worth following!

Career Essentials don't have much content on their website but have great information on GTA job fairs and training in their tweets.

For example, they tweeted about two upcoming Second Career Information Sessions, a career info session with the TTC and an opening at Pieces of History practice firm, 

Very handy!

Business & Company Resource Centre: Need Another Source for Company Information?

If you are looking for companies and industry news and analysis that is international in scope, look no further! Have a look at Business & Company Resource Centre. This online database, which the Toronto Public Library subscribes to, brings together company profiles, brand information, rankings, investment reports, company histories, industry news and analysis, and chronologies and periodicals. Here you can find detailed company and industry news and information, as well as coverage of major business events and trends from 1980 to the present, 

To do a basic company search, type in a company name in the search box. To conduct a more advanced search, choose Company under the Additional Search Options and use one or more of these search boxes: company name or ticker symbol, SIC code, NAICS code, product or brand name or type, city, state or country. You can also browse the list of companies by clicking on Browse Companies under the company name search box.

To search for companies organized by industry, use the Company option under the Additional Search Options and enter the type of company, e.g. mining, or use the NAICS code or SIC code. If you do not know the code, look it up using the Browse SIC Codes or Browse NAICS Code.

To find industry information, click on the Industry icon under Additional Search Options. Again, you can search by SIC or NAICS code or search words for your industry (e.g. clothing). The results will depend on availability and the industry - they could be complete research reports, business encyclopedia articles or articles from newspapers, magazines, and trade journals, etc.

Also available are investment reports (over 1.5 million of them!) dating back 3 years. Use the Advanced Search feature and choose Investment Reports from the drop down menu. But you have to provide either the ticker symbol (e.g. goog for Google), SIC or NAICS code.

Lastly, the financial reports. Use these to analyze a company over time, compare a company's financials to its major competitors, or choose specific companies to compare. Reports going back 6 years or 5 interim periods are available. And the data can be exported in Microsoft Excel. Use Advanced Search and choose Financials from the drop down menu. Type in the ticker symbol, e.g. goog for Google. The results will default to Fundamentals Analysis. If you want to compare to major competitors or compare to specific companies, click in the radio button beside the choice and click on Update View to do the comparisons. If you click on Financial Dashboard, you will get company quotes as well as news, SEC filings, charts and historical data. You can also view market movers, world markets and more!

The beauty of this database is that it is available at all branches of the Toronto Public Library as well as from home, if you have a valid Toronto Public Library card. You can print or email the results to yourself. To retain any graphics that come with the article, chose the HTML format when you print or email the results.

If you are using this database for the first time, you may want to go to any one of the three Research & Reference Libraries (Toronto Reference Library, North York Central Library and Urban Affairs Library) for expert assistance.

Have fun!

Reminder: Community Connections Career and Job Fair in Etobicoke

Don't forget this free event in the west end of Toronto!

Meet employers, learn job search skills, use online application kiosks and find out about government and community employment programs.

Date:  Friday, October 16, 2009

Time:  10am - 3pm

Location:  Etobicoke Civic Centre, 399 The West Mall. 

Southeast corner of Burnhamthorpe & West Mall.
Take bus #50 West from Islington subway to West Mall.

Information Sessions:

10:30am   Interviewing Skills: Market Yourself Effectively    
11:30am   Labour Market Information         
12:30pm   Researching Employers             
1:30pm     Second Career and Training Options 

For more information, see this flyer:
CommunityConnections Job Fair Oct 2009

or telephone Answerline at 416-393-7131

This free event is co-sponsored by Toronto Public Library, Toronto Employment & Social Services, Humber College, VPI, JobStart and PTP with support from Employment Ontario and Microsoft.