Career and Job Search Help Blog

Annoying Phone Faux Pas

In this age of texting, email and the like, it's refreshing to hear someone's voice at the other end of the telephone line. The telephone can be a powerful marketing tool for you if it is used properly.

This brings to mind problems with the way some people use the telephone at work.

• Putting someone on speakerphone without asking them.
• Ignoring the customer standing right in front of you in order to deal with the caller who interrupts by phoning in.
• Working on the computer or something else while on the phone.
• Eating or chewing gum while talking on the phone.
• Speaking so quickly or mumbling when you're leaving a voice message that the recipient can't understand your name or telephone number.

So how can you remedy this?

 Before you call...

Get organized and be clear in your mind what you want to say to that person or in the voice message. Have ready any documents you may need to refer to.

Use the recipient's name and clearly state your name, company name. Don't run your last name into your first name. Then state the purpose of your call and say something positive like, "Is this a good time to discuss this?" not "Did I get you at a bad time?"

If you wish to put that person on a speakerphone, ask permission. Introduce anyone else who is in the room with you.

Don't linger on the phone. Conclude your business positively and distinctly.

If you're leaving a message...

Be succinct and articulate. Repeat your telephone number. If it's urgent that the recipient return your call within a certain time period, say so.

Wait a few days. If the person hasn't returned your phone call, then contact him again.

On your outgoing voicemail message...

If you're going to be away from the office for a length of time, indicate that; otherwise, your caller is going to wonder why you haven't returned his call and start becoming annoyed.

Leave your name on your voicemail. Many people won't leave a message unless they're certain they've reached the right person. You wouldn't want to miss a message from a recruiter or a new client, right? Some people will say, "Your call is very important to me and I'll try to get back to you within 2 hours."

 Lastly...

Just say your name when you answer the phone. Don't say, "Penelope speaking." That's redundant because the caller knows you're speaking. Truly professional people will merely say their full name in an upbeat fashion.

 When you pick up the phone, smile! It will come through in your telephone voice!

Check out Toronto Public Library's books on telephone manners.

 

 

Resume Resources @ Your Fingertips

So, we've all heard the saying "finding a job is a job in itself" - and it is. One of the most important aspects of this 'job' is your resume. The library has many many online resources which are great for research, but did you know that some of these databases can help you with career planning? Here are some of my favourites:

The Learning Express Library - this database  includes tests, courses and e-books and has a section called Job Search & Workplace Skills. There you can find 4 job resources:

1. Creating a Great Resume - during this course you will:
   • learn all about the 3 types of resumes; chronological, functional, combination and choose which one is best for you
   • compile all the information you need together to create your resume
   • at the end you can download your resume in PDF format which is then yours to print and potentially send to an employer
2. Creating Great Cover Letters - during this course you will:
   
   • learn every element of a cover letter
   • compile your own information to include in a cover letter
   • learn how to format your cover letter into a professional, well-written document and at the end you can download a copy for employers
3. Goof Proof Resumes and Cover Letters - in this e-book you will explore:
   
   • Current cover letter and resume formats, with samples
   • Instructions on how to best express your skills and assets.
   • Accurate and Up to Date on Electronic Resume submission
   • A fill in the blank practice session to allow you to practice
4. Resumes that Get You Hired- in this e-book you will explore:
   • vocabulary lists of power words and phrases
   • tips for selecting the correct layout; paper, format, font etc.
   • online career website directory and print resources
   • tips for preparing your resume so it doesn't scan with glitches

Business Writing - This database has interactive exercises which allow you to practice making your job application look tidy as well as practicing writing letters to ultimately polish up your own resume/cover letter  

Career Cruising - This is another interactive database which is specifically geared towards careers (the databases mentioned above have resources for other subjects as well). There is a Portfolio & Resume Builder, here any content you add to your Portfolio is updated in the Resume Builder. The content includes:

• Education
• Awards & Certificates
• Extracurricular Activities
• Skills and Abilities
• Career Objectives etc.

Your resume is one of the most useful networking tools you that you have as a job seeker. It is your first opportunity to showcase your wonderful skills, abilities and strengths. In fact, an effective resume should grab your reader's attention in the first 10-15 lines - which includes your resume objective. As you can see in the comic above, there is a fine line between showcasing talents and bragging about how great you are. Here are some key points to consider when a potential employer reads your resume.

• Will hiring you help the company in the long term/short term?
• Does your resume objective highlight the skills the employer is looking for?
• Is your resume in the correct format? It depends what the employer is looking for - unfortunately if the format is wrong your resume will be ignored or tossed. Remember if you're applying to a job online - all the lovely formatting from Microsoft Word (or whichever word processor you use - I like Open Office and Google Docs) will be destroyed; bullets morphed into strange characters, spacing goes wonky - I've seen it happen before. The Riley Guide recommends 4 formats:

1. Print Version
2. Scannable version
3. Plain Text version
4. E-mail version

• What sets you apart from the other applicants?
• What work experience do you have which directly relates to the job you're applying for?

Remember, to find the databases mentioned above from the Toronto Public Library homepage you can search in the grey search box at the top of the screen. Then, log in with your library card and pin and away you go.

All the best - and have a Happy Holiday!!!

 

 

 

 

Are there any JOB FAIRS in your future?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are there any Job Fairs in your future? A new year is just around the corner and  with it, maybe a new job, a new career, maybe a new future. One place to start looking for something new and exciting is at a job fair.

You can learn about potential careers, new companies, prospective employers. It is a great place to network, not only with other students and job-seekers, but with possible employers. Shake hands, talk, get to know a bit about them, take the opportunity to make contacts--and take a step toward that job you've been looking for.

Take advantage of any special attractions such as free resume critiques, speakers, free seminars, or career/job posting zones.

 

       

 

Some tips for the fair from Hire Canada:

• be prepared for possible interviews--have answers ready to common questions, such as type of position you are looking for
• prepare questions you want answered
• get familiar with the layout of the job fair by visiting the event website
• find out what companies will be there and research those you are interested in
• make a checklist of any relevant seminars offered

 

• dress professionally, as if going for an interview
• wear comfortable shoes
• bring resumes and business cards to hand out to selected employers and ask for theirs if/when appropriate
• keep conversations with exhibitors brief--don't hoard their time
• don't grab all the pens or bags at booths--this only reduces your appeal to potential employers

 

Some upcoming Job Fairs:

Canada Job Expo

Thursday, January 5, 2012,  10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

North York Civic Centre (Member's Lounge--Lower Level), 5100 Yonge Street

 

 New Grad Career Expo

Wednesday, January 25, 2012,  10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building, 255 Front Street West

 

Napp Canada Job Fair & Training Fair,  10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012,  International Centre, Mississauga, 6900 Airport Road

Wednesday, March 28, 2012,  Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe Street

 

Hire Canada 

Thursday, March 22, 2012,  11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Pearson Convention Centre, 2638 Steeles Avenue East

The National Job Fair & Training Expo

Wednesday-Thursday, April 4 - 5, 2012,  10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building, 255 Front Street West

Everything I Know About Career Success - I Learned in Elementary School

Remember when in elementary school, we had to be picked by team captains to be on their teams? We all waited by the sidelines in a group, hoping to be picked first. Now we're adults; but, plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose! (the more things change, the more they remain the same.) Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr

Who do team captains pick?

They pick people they know. That's why networking is so important when searching for a job. People hire those whom they know, because they are a known commodity.

They pick people who are winners. That's why it's important to highlight your major achievements in your resume and cover letter. Don't worry about coming off as a braggart. If you don't toot your own horn, who will? People always want winners on their side.

They pick people they want to be friends with. They want people with whom they can have a positive, likeable relationship. Chemistry counts, so in an interview, show your positive, friendly side.

They pick team players. They want people who can work well with others, after all, it is through working together that a team triumphs.

These four factors, networking, achievement, likeability and teamwork, can get you to your desired job; but, can also lead you to the top. Then you can be the team captain and pick players of your own!

Need to Find Licensing Exam Books to Land that New Job?

The Toronto Reference Library (that great, 5-storey brick building, under renovation, soon to have a  cafe, occupies a city block, one of the city's hubs at Yonge and Bloor...) has a collection of licensing and exam guides to help you pass your exam.  Other study materials are available also.  One of our wonderful users, gave us a large donation anonymously, to buy books to help new Canadians find a job.  Before this donation, the library could purchase one copy only for reference use.  But now we have extra copies for you to borrow.  Many thanks indeed to our benefactor!

You can find the Circulating Careers Collection at 789 Yonge Street on the third floor.

 

                   

 

                                                                                                                                       

 

How to Create a Terrific Cover Letter! (And Not Make It Suck!)

It seems like there's never enough said about cover letters and how to make sure they don't suck. Aside from the usual warnings like keep it to one page, ensure that it's flawless with no spelling/grammar mistakes, and specify the job that you're applying for, there're a lot of other things to be aware of.

• Follow instructions! Read the ad several times. Employers will tell you what to write in your subject line or whether you should write your cover letter in the body of the email or attach it as a word-processed document (usually MS Word). Don't send a Word doc. if they want a PDF. If it's an attachment, be sure to write a few words expressing your interest and stipulate the job that you're applying for and what you've attached. Make sure you send the right cover letter!

• Never address your emails/cover letters with "Dear Sirs." This shows you haven't done your homework and you've assumed that the recipient is male. Forget about "To Whom It May Concern" Both show you're not all that interested in working for that company. So always address your letter to the name of the person receiving it. If you don't know, phone the company and find out.

• Don't use your cutesy email address! You may think it's clever/cute/artistic but the truth is that most employers won't hire someone who goes by "pookypunkhair28." Create a professional email address.

• This is not a brag-fest. Instead of listing everything you've ever done since you could walk and were awesome at, highlight some key skils, achievements, and characteristics relevant to your desired position.

• Use the active voice, eg. "I lead a team of 10 engineers." Avoid using a long word when a short one will do, eg. "use" vs. "utilize". Long letters with complex words come across as being dry and complicated - just the sort of letters that employers don't want to read.

• Proofread x 3! Resist the urge to use your spellchecker. If your brain is on the fritz, save the letter and return to it later. Ask someone else to read it for you. Take your time, as long as you're not applying on the application deadline, which of course, you'd never do, right?