Career and Job Search Help Blog

It's That Time of Year Again! Revisiting Your Career Plans! (Part 2)

I've long since spent all my money on Christmas gifts. For months, I was beavering away at my Christmas list, buying, wrapping, writing, mailing. Now I'm looking at a new project - ME!

In a recent post, we visited the idea of taking a introspective look at your career. Jobsites such as Monster.ca also has a number of interesting career-related articles. One of them provides unique tips on how to refresh your career.

Here too are some books on the same topic:

     

Distractions at work? Learn how to stay focused

 

(http://www.businessinsider.com/fancy-hands-2012-8?op=1)

I read an excellent article in the Globe & Mail Why you won't finish reading this article at work

Did you know?

• That office workers are interrupted roughly every three minutes? And, once thrown off track, it can take 23 minutes for a worker to return to the original tasks, according to Standford  University Research.
• Reading and processing 100 email messages can occupy more than half a worker's day?
• Open plan offices meant to foster collaboration, subject workers to a non-stop stream of chitchat

Wall Street Journal

And then, bosses wonder why it is hard to get any work done. Maybe you feel like you have bad time management skills, or that you have problems concentrating or getting distracted. But, could it be partly the fault of your own company's modern workday set up? Modern day workers are struggling to get their real work done while they spend most of the day going through internal emails, attending meetings, interrupting themselves with social media urges, listening to co-worker's stories, working on collaborative projects, telling their own stories to coworkers etc. The "real work" which needs to be done often requires deep thinking, which is quite hard to acheive with little everyday, office distractions.

The reality is that often managers push their employees to do more with less, especially with our multiplying screens (see picture above) and increased digital demands/distractions. Maybe you work with multiple screens, or have coworkers who do - it isn't as easy to multitask as you may think, I actually heard on the radio last week that people who believe they can multitask are actually the worst at it.  How does it make you feel? I know that when I'm multitasking, I feel flustered and need to write things down more often so I can remember them.

Some companies are experimenting with different ways to keep workers focused, some are trying to reduce the amount of internal emails while others try to reduce the number of projects workers do simultaneously. At Abbott Vascular , a health care company,vice president, Jamey Jacobs and productivity consultant, Daniel Markovitz realized that the majority of employees were using email to communicate the majority of their issues whether they were serious or mundane. Employees weren't really using the office telephone (I know I'm guilty of this, I think that it is faster to send an email rather than make a phone call), so they told employees to assess the importance of their messages, if it was urgent and complex - use the telephone, email was to be reserved for non-urgent messages. I know that if I did that with my work, it may make my life easier and my work more efficient. I think that emails have a tendency drag out an issue, and have a large potential for miscommunication. Whereas phone calls tend to me more direct and issues can be dealt with faster.

The company Atos, which is just outside of Paris, specializes in global IT services. After an internal study, they found that workers spent about 2 hours a day just managing their email inboxes. This company decided to completely get rid of internal emails. Now, workers can use email to communicate with external customers but they now use an internal social network to communicate with colleagues. 

The reality is that there will always be distractions at work, and they will probably increase as we venture deeper into the digital age. We should also remember that distractions and working under pressure aren't all bad. A little bit of pressure and urgency can actually motivate you to accomplish tasks faster, but it does increase your stress levels.

Check out these books about productivity at work:

                                   

                                                (also available as an ebook)


   

Have a happy, healthy and productive day at work!

 

 

 

 

 

Careers in NGOs

By Ra

There's always a lot of talk about the merits of working for a for-profit organization; but, what about non-profits? “A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a not-for-profit, voluntary citizens’ group, which is organized on a local, national or international level to address issues in support of the public good. Task-oriented and made up of people with a common interest, NGOs perform a variety of services and humanitarian functions, bring citizens’ concerns to Governments, monitor policy and program implementation, and encourage participation of civil society stakeholders at the community level.” (Trinity Western University)

If you are interested in working in the non-profit sector – for an NGO or an international organization like UNICEF, have a look at these sites that advertise jobs and provide additional information.

1. NGO Careers: Provides information gleaned from interviews with people currently working in ngo's. Also lists jobsites, internship sites and links to international ngo's.
2. Career in NGOs/Civil Society Organizations: Links to many international and domestic organizations that are seeking either volunteers or full term employmees. Also provides information on the work environment.
3. NGO Recruitment: With two decades' experience in recruiting staff for this sector, this company is a specialist recruitment company. They recruit executive staff for local and international clients.

Books:

   

To further explore our collection of books on NGOs and Nonprofit sector, use our catalogue. 

A New Year - A New Career?

A new year is approaching--is it time for a new career? Have you been thinking about a new job? Or maybe a different aspect of your current job--maybe upgrading and advancing? 

Do you like your current job but feel you can't advance? Look into upgrading your skills and training.

Perhaps there aren't enough opportunities with your present employer. Speak to your boss, your Human Resources department, co-workers, and network with people in similar companies to see what you need to move ahead. You might want to move out on your own, become an entrepreneur and start your own business.

Maybe you want something completely different. If you know what you are looking for--you have always wanted to be a chef, an architect, a designer--research it. What credentials, training, education do you need? What is the job market? Do you want to specialize in a particular aspect--not just a chef but a pastry chef or specializing in Spanish cuisine; a designer of kitchens? If starting your own business, is there a demand or market for your services or products? What is the competition?

How do you know if you will like this new career? Speak to people doing it. Network. Volunteer. Try it out. I worked for some temporary agencies and got experience in banking, accounting, and other types of companies--actual work experience--and found some I enjoyed and others I didn't. You can do the same.

The library has books, databases, and programs that can help you. Check out the Careers & Training area of our Job & Career Help section of our website, as well as the Business & Personal Finance section if thinking of starting your own business.

              

 

       

 

So you want to get into House Flipping? Come and Learn!

Entrepreneurship is booming right now in Ontario, there are all sorts of paths which people choose, including real estate investments. People have been investing into properties in order to make a profit for a very long time. Now people are taking it further and completely overhauling broken homes, renovating them, re-selling them and making a nice profit! There are so many shows about house flipping like Flip That House, Flip This House, Flipping Out, Property Ladder etc. The problem is most of the shows are American and in Canada the rules are a little different. I enjoy watching them and dreaming of flipping a house myself too!

 

Come join us Next Monday for our last program in our Small Business Series From Renos to Riches: The Canadian Real Estate Guide:

Join Ian Szabo, expert house flipper, and author of the only Canadian title in the field of investing in renovations - From Renos to Riches: The Canadian Real Estate Investor's Guide to Practical and Profitable Renovations. He will discuss how to assess the scope of a renovation project and make wise renovation investments for maximum returns. Learn how to attract and keep tenants, improve cash flow, keep maintenance to a minimum, and how to really flip a house!

 

Hope to see you there!

 

 

How do I Prepare for that Job Interview?

My cover letter caught their attention; my resume was great. Now I have an interview! How do I prepare? I don't want to blow it!

Some things to consider:

Be prepared. Research the company ahead of time--that can give you an edge in answering their questions and also a heads up in knowing what questions to ask them. They will be impressed, knowing you were interested enough in working for them that you took the time to learn about them.

Dress to impress--appropriately to get the job you are applying for. A construction worker, artist, entertainer, business consultant, engineer, architect, actor, health care worker, accountant, teacher all have different skills and job requirements. The first impression can set the tone for the interview.

Appear confident and self-assured. This will inspire confidence in your abilities. I once made the mistake of appearing too confident and too relaxed. We all enjoyed the interview and laughed a lot, but I didn't get the job. Remember, they are not your friends, but potential employers. Even if applying for a job working for a friend, they want to know you are sincere.

Bring several copies of your resume with you. The interviewers will probably have a copy with them and may refer to it. I suggest several copies in case there are more than one interviewer and they don't each have a copy--but YOU are prepared.

BE ON TIME! Make sure you know how to get there and give yourself plenty of time. You never know what may happen on the way to the interview--you may take a wrong turn, run into traffic or delays on the TTC.

Do some practice interviews beforehand, with a friend acting as the employer. If possible, tape these. Then you can see how well you do or where you need improvement.

The library has some books, audiobooks and e-books that may help you--and with a lot more ideas than I have given you. And don't forget the library's Find Your Way to Job & Career Help. There you will find lists of databases, books, and websites to help you be successful in getting the job you want.

Check out some of these:

             

                 

                        

 

Ever Consider a Career in Politics? Learn from the late and great Lincoln Alexander

 

Lincoln MacCauley Alexander (January 21, 1922 - October 19, 2012) - who was affectionately called "Linc" by close friends and family - even his children, was a man who was first to do so many things in his political career:

• His biggest first was in 1968, when he became the first black member of parliament (MP) - he ran as the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada candidate in the Hamilton West electoral district.
• In 1979, he became the first black Canadian cabinet minister, he was minister of labour
• In 1985, he became the first black Canadian, 24th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario where his main focus was: education, youth and racism and youth. He served from 1985 - 1991
• In 1992, he was appointed companion of the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario
• After leaving Office he became chancellor at University of Guelph - he served 5 terms, the longest serving Chancellor in their history

Many people think that in order to have a successful career in politics, one has to be wealthy. Although, it is true that campaigns can be quite costly - amongst other things, it is possible to have a career in politics without having to "come from money". Lincoln Alexander came from fairly humble beginnings. He was born in Toronto to Mae Rose a Jamaican immigrant who was a maid and Lincoln Alexander Sr. an immigrant from St. Vincent and the Grenadines who was a porter for the Canadian Railway. After his mother had a violent dispute with his father, they moved to Harlem with his older brother. He had an immense capability to connect and network with people while making a long lasting impact - I guess that's why people called him "Linc".

 

Lincoln Alexander - Royal Canadian Air Force WW2

 

During the second World War he enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Once the war was over he focused on his education, finished high school in Hamilton, completed his undergraduate degree at McMaster in Economics and HIstory, and graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1953. His love for education was lifelong and widely recognized he also earned honorary degrees from:

• University of Toronto, 1986
• McMaster University, 1987
• University of Western Ontario,1988
• York University, 1990
• Royal Military College of Canada, 1991
• Queen's University, 1992

In his honor, he also had several schools named after him: Lincoln Alexander Public School, in Ajax, Hamilton and Markham, Lincoln M. Alexander Secondary School - Mississauga and Lincoln Alexander Hall at the University of Guelph. In November 2006 his autobiography Go to school, you're a little black boy: the Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander, a memoir was published. This memoir helps to illustrate how this charismatic and influential man fought to make such an impact from very early on. We have a lot of copies of the book at the library, I actually just put a hold on it for myself, you can too, if you click on the book below:

Also, if you're thinking of a possible career in politics here are a couple titles which may help:

 

       

 

Lincoln Alexander died peacefully in his sleep on October 19, 2012 at the age of 90. He was honoured with a state funeral, where hundreds of people lined the streets and thousands attended. This is how his granddaughter who spoke at his funeral remembers him, as a man who was devoted to his family despite all his public commitments:

"You achieved more than most people could imagine, you have done so much for all of us."

- RIP Lincoln Alexander.

 

Careers in Healthcare

When you think of careers in the healthcare field, what comes to mind immediately are nurses and doctors; but, there are so many other careers that you and I might not think of immediately. For instance, in the hearing health field, you can study to become a Hearing Instrument Practitioner. They provide services such as hearing assessment using an audiometer (or other methods)  to identify hearing issues and select, prepare, alter, adapt, verify, sell and distribute hearing instruments. Audiologists - they provide assessment, treatment, rehabilitation and preventive measures. In the medical imaging diagnostics field, you can become a radiologist. This physician specializes in interpreting the results of imaging exams; some are known as interventional radiologists. They are responsible for the delivery of image-guided procedures and therapies.

According to Statistics Canada, health care and social assistance added 20,000 workers in June of this year. This industry's employment level was virtually unchanged from 12 months earlier.

To find out more about these and other healthcare careers, check out our Career Cruising Database. And don't forget our books!

Job Search - Market Yourself

You are in the Career and Job Search Help blog, but have you checked out the Job and Career Help pages on the Toronto Public Library's website?

It is broken down into sections -- Job & Career Help; Market Yourself; Job Searching; Career Training; Success -- each full of helpful tools, links, online sources, books, and many other resources to help you in your job search.

In the Market Yourself section, for example, there is a listing of New Job Interviewing titles now available in the library. You can place your cursor over the picture of the book you want, click on it, and be taken right to the library's catalogue where you can place a hold on it.

Below that there is a listing of current blogs, such as this one, but related to resumes and cover letters, in other words, "marketing yourself." 

In the column on the right, there is first a listing of Online Tools. Through the library's website and with your library card and pin number, you have free access to online versions of Scott's Business Directories Online, Business Writing, Financial Post (FP) Advisor, and Associations Canada from anywhere in the world.

Below the Online Tools, there are some Recommended Websites and links such as Cold calling: a time-tested method of job-hunting and a Guide to Interviewing Resources from quintcareers.com, The interview game: illegal questions from careerlinkbc.com, and The Riley Guide: Prepare your resume for email and online posting from rileyguide.com.

 

 

CV (Curriculum Vitae) writing tips - Do I need one?

Your CV (curriculum vitae) is similar to a resume and cover letter, almost like a combination of both but more detailed. It is a complete profile of your academic achievements, degrees, research, scholarly interests, your thesis or dissertation description, associations or boards you may be in, references and any publications you may have. You use it to promote yourself like a personal advertisement - it should highlight the things that are most interesting and impressive about you.  It is mainly used for those applying to graduate school or academic/research positions; especially ones with multiple applicants or graduate school. It should show all that you have done and plan to do, unlike a resume.

It is a lengthy process, so you should make sure you start early.  The U of T Career Center has an excellent CV Resource which outlines the 5 basic steps of creating your CV.

1. Review your academic and scholarly profile and conceptualize how to order your CV.
2. Draft the document.
3. Work on the formatting, style and appearance.
4. Get your CV critiqued by either a placement officer or faculty member (and other people you trust).
5. Work on additional drafts, and incorporate the feedback you received from your critiquers in order to eventually produce a final copy.

There really isn't a template for a CV because it really depends on which sector you're applying to, you can always look at sample CVs for a better idea. Your CV should always be neat and typed using a legible font (something like Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri, Verdana etc.) about size 10 - 12. Your name should appear on the header of each page of your CV. Make sure that there are absolutely no spelling mistakes! Spelling mistake highly reduce your credibility for your CV, resume or cover letter and are a top reason why employers don't hire people. Also, just like your resume and cover letter, your CV should be tailored specifically to the job you're applying for - make sure your CV matches whatever the employer is looking for.

It can be very difficult for people to articulate their own skills, achievements, values and interests - we're used to being modest in everyday life - but this is your chance to gloat! McGill University also has a very detailed and comprehensive CV guide from their career planning department. One of the hardest things about writing a CV, resume or cover letter can be listing all of your achievements, they suggest using the S.T.A.R. technique:

Situation -Provide a brief overview of the situation.

Task - Outline the specific task or responsibility you were asked to accomplish.

Action - Explain the action or activities you took and why.

Result - Describe the positive result or outcome of your actions.

Here are a few more quick tips for your CV:

• Include a profile or objectives section in the beginning of your CV.
• Only list the past 10 years of experience.
• Spell out any acronyms you use - don't assume the employer will understand.
• Try to use bullets when you can - remember that recruiters scan hundreds of CVs, bullets can really help them identify your main points quickly.
• Don't use jargon or slang, just clear simple English.

As always, you can always find some more information at the library. Check out some of these books to help you write your CV - good luck!