Career and Job Search Help Blog

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!

                     
      

Need Help Starting your Own Business? Come to a Business Inc. Course Orientation for more info!

 

Starting a business is both an exciting and overwhelming experience. Whether you intend on starting a business within the next six months, or would like to accelerate the growth of an early-stage business, Business Inc. could be just what you need to boost your plans.

There will be 3 locations offering the program, enrolment is limited to 20 participants per location (60 participants total). Applications are available online as well as at the branches where the program is being offered, they are due by Friday, September 28, 2012. The applications will be reviewed for: attendance at the orientation session, opportunity for business growth and a potentially viable business idea.

All branches participating will be having Business Inc. Orientation Sessions about a month prior to the start of the actual program, where you can find out more information. You can register for the Orientation sessions either online, via email (businc@tbdc.com), or telephone (416)-345-9437. I'll provide the links as well as program dates and details below:

North York Central Library Branch - Mondays, October 15 to December 10, 2012. 6:30 - 9:30pm. North York Central Library Online Orientation Registration

Cederbrae Branch - Tuesdays, October 16 to December 11, 2012. 6:30 - 9:30pm. Cederbrae Library Online Orientation Registration

York Woods Branch - Wednesdays, October 17 to December 12, 2012. 6:30 - 9:30pm. York Woods Library Online Orientation Registration

Business Inc. is a 9 week business program offered at Toronto Public Library in partnership with the City of Toronto and the Toronto Business Development Centre which is an independent non profit, non government organization dedicated to nurturing the growth of new and emerging businesses. Upon completion of the program you will receive a Business Seminar Series Certificate of Completion and you'll be eligible to apply for a small business loan ranging from $5,000 - $30,000.

Each week different business modules are covered:

• Week 1 - Taking the leap to entrepreneurship
• Week 2 - Market research for your business
• Week 3 - Resources for researching your business
• Week 4 - Developing a powerful marketing strategy
• Week 5 - Launching your business online
• Week 6 - Creating an operating framework for success
• Week 7 - Building blocks for financial management
• Week 8 - Financing for business growth
• Week 9 - Making your pitch

The program costs $100 + HST per participant ($113), the value of the program is actually $700 - this program is generously supported by the Toronto Public Library Foundation. During the program you will have the opportunity to: prepare/update your business plan, access a business advisor and network with other entrepreneurs.

If Business Inc. isn't what you're looking for don't forget this October is Small Business Month at Toronto Public Library. There are free small business programs happening at libraries all across Toronto in the fall.

Will Networking Help Me Find that Perfect Job -- or ANY Job?

 Will networking help me find that perfect job -- or ANY job? The answer is "Yes." Now you are going to ask what I mean by "networking" and do you have to go online and open Twitter and LinkedIn accounts.

 

There are all types of networking, some online, some in person. Did you see the movie or read Loretta Lynn's book, The Coal Miner's Daughter? It describes how she and her husband drove from town to town, visiting all the radio stations they could and persuading the DJs to play her first recording and interview her on the radio. This was a form of "networking." Her song became a hit and Loretta Lynn, singer and composer, became a star, starting at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.

 

Just talking to friends, people at social events and parties, the person next to you in a line-up, the clerks where you shop or bank--all of this is networking. Let people know you are job hunting. Tell them the type of job you are looking for.

 

A friend of mine knew I was looking for a job in a library, heard about an opening and told me about it. I applied and was hired. Another friend got to know the manager at her bank. The manager liked her and when a position became available, suggested she apply. She has been working at the bank a couple of years now.

 

Take courses and attend seminars related to the work you are interested in. Talk to people you meet there. Ask if they are working in that field and what they can tell you about it. You might find it is not exactly what you expected or wanted--or that you need more training before applying. Join groups or associations. People working in the field often hear about openings before they are advertised, giving you the opportunity to be "in the right place at the right time." They can also give you tips and suggestions to help you succeed in finding the right job.

 

The online social media, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and others work similarly. They are tools  you can use to "get the word out" that you are looking for a job. They also have online groups in various fields. You can join several groups in fields you are interested in, make connections with people online, ask about the work, what to expect, and get tips and suggestions, and hear about job openings. I get emails from LinkedIn and Twitter, suggesting groups for me to join, groups of people with similar interests to mine.

 

Here are some other books you can look at:

 

                        

 

                              
  

Boomers' Kids in a Job Squeeze: What To Do?

In conversation with a friend the other day, I heard that it's been difficult for young people in the 15 - 24 age group to get a job. The Conference Board of Canada indicated that the unemployment rate is around 14%, double of the jobless rate for the workforce as a whole.

Part of the problem is the cyclical weakness in our economy. During the 2008 recession, youth jobless rates crept up to nearly 2.5 times the average. Another factor is that people are working longer. They are in better health than those of the previous (pre-WW) generation and they have more money. Baby boomers, now 47-65 years old, are taking longer than expected to retire. Baby boomers, especially, have lost some money in the recent economic downtown. At the same time, the echo boomers (children of the boomers) have been graduating and entering the workforce in droves, adding to the unemployment rate.

But there is hope yet! Some experts say that this bottleneck will soon ease, perhaps as early as 2015. Fewer people were born in the 1990s, says David Foot, famed demography, economist and author of Boom, Bust and Echo.

     

 

How to be as Productive as you can on your Coffee Break

 

Coffee Break?

We all pretty much agree that taking a little break away from work is helpful and actually makes us more productive when we come back to work. We're encouraged to use our break times to disconnect -get our mind off of working. Our breaks are not supposed to be job related i.e., talking about plans for the weekend, speaking to a relative, taking a short walk outside - then you come back to work feeling revitalized - right?  According to an article in the Harvard Business Review (you can read this magazine in the North York Central Library's business Depatrment  by Charlotte Fritz:

     "The only time people showed an increase

in vitality was after they took short breaks to do

 work-related things."

Fritz - an assistant professor in industrial/organizational psychology at Portland University did a series of studies on the way people unwind from work from short breaks to long vacations. The one study she did on short breaks showed that small breaks unrelated to work had no statistical relationship to more energy, sometimes they were even associated with more fatigue. However, breaks which were work related boost energy.

So, according to the study it seems that in the middle of work, you'll do better when you focus on work. This doesn't necessarily mean to work all day without taking a break, here are a few suggestions - I know that I unintentionally do some of these things on my breaks:

• Write a to do list for the day - I know for myself, when I write a to do list between working it also helps me to focus and prioritize my tasks for the rest of the day.
• Praise a colleague -altruism almost always makes you feel better too!
• Try to learn something new related to your field - sometimes, I'll go through some of the magazines in my department - 4th floor Business Department. 
• Set a new personal career/job goal.

So, although I understand the points made in the article I still can't help beleiving that taking your mind off work for a short period of time does revitalize you. Also, I know that going outside and stretching your muscles, unfocusing your eyes from the computer screen gives me an energy boost, especially in the summer.

A great deal of research does show that, the more time you spend in your chair the less productive you may be. Some companies even implement physical activity into workdays by having eliptical machines in front of computer screens, stability balls as chairs, or even complimentary yoga classes at lunch - the company Forbes has a gym on the 9th floor where employees can do a variety of physical activities.

   


Magnetrainer Mini Exercise Bike       Stability Ball as an office chair                 Stretch at your desk

                                                                                                                  (even in heels!)

So all in all, I think I like my coffee breaks and my outdoor breaks, but I do see how doing light things related to work could make you more productive too. What do you think?

- Miss Spencer

Looking for Job Postings? What websites should I check?

There are a lot of job postings out there, but where do you find them?

Here are a few suggestions for you to investigate:

eluta.ca - The Search Engine for New Jobs in Canada

bajobs.ca - for Business Analysts - and you can select links to other types of jobs, such as retail, tech jobs, accounting, and many more.

careerwomen.com - you can narrow the search by location, full-time, part-time

Work Directory - you can narrow the search by location and choose from numerous job categories, ranging from accounting to construction to entertainment to medical to telemarketing, and many, many more.

poss.ca - you have to register for an account (free), login, and click on "Job Boards" - you will find a list of career fields ranging from Arts & Design to Business to Customer Service  to Science & Technical to Skilled Trades, and more.

Working in Canada - you can go directly to job postings, or you can check out wages and job outlook for various occupations first.

            

Ontario Ministry of Labour's Website: A Go-to Source for Workplace Safety and Employee Rights and Responsibilities

Now that the summer is upon us, many people are working in new jobs. Whether you are new to your job or in the case of many young people, new to a summer job, it's a good idea for you to become familiar with your rights as an employee. I remember a few years back, there were a plethora of ads from the Ontario government about young people who had accidents at work, in some cases, the accidents were fatal. They were asked to use eg. heavy equipment for which they had no training.

You should know that an employee can't be disciplined for refusing unsafe work. If that happens to you, this disciplinary action is considered a reprisal and is banned by the Ontario Occupational Health & Safety law. Lots of good information touch on the topics of what can a worker do about unsafe conditions at work, does Ontario have a 'working alone" regulation, and information aimed at new and young workers

Job Fairs Summer & Fall 2012

When are the next Job Fairs or Career Fairs? It's summer and I'm planning ahead. How should I prepare for a Job Fair?

Here are some articles with hints and tips to help you prepare:

Guerilla Tactics for Job Fairs

Job Fair Success: College Grad Job Hunter

Ten Keys to Success at Job and Career Fairs

 

Here are a few Fairs for the summer and fall:

City Career Expo

Friday, August 17, Saturday, August 18, &  Sunday, August 19, 2012, 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Scarborough Town Centre, Centre Court, 300 Borough Drive, Scarborough, Ontario

 

NAPP Canada Job Fair & Training Fair

Thursday, September 6, 2012, 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 18, 2012, 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (Apprenticeship & Trades Career Expo)

Scarborough Community Centre, 1250 Markham Road, Scarborough, Ontario

 

Friday, September 14, 2012, 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Woodbine Mall, 500 Rexdale Blvd., Etobicoke, Ontario

 

Thursday September 20, 2012, 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe Street, Toronto, Ontario

 

Wednesday, October 24, 2012, 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Mississauga International Center, 6900 Airport Road, Mississauga, Ontario

 

Hire Canada

Wednesday, September 19, 2012, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Mississauga Convention Centre, 75 Derry Road, West, Mississauga, Ontario

 

New Grad Career Expo

Tuesday, September 25, 2012, 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 255 Front Street West, Toronto, Ontario

 

Study & Go Abroad Fairs

Friday, September 28, 2012, 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., free seminars 2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, September 29, 2012, 12:00 noon - 6:00 p.m., free seminars 12:00 noon - 6:00 p.m.

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

 

Healthcare Career Fairs

Sunday, September 30, 2012, 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Monday, October 1, 2012, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Hyatt Regency Toronto, 370 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario

 

National Job Fair & Training Expo

Tuesday, October 16, 2012 - Wednesday, October 17, 2012

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

For more information, check their website: National Job Fair & Training Expo

 

Here are some books to help with your resume:

           

 

Summer Internships: How to Make the Most of them

Last year, a friend's son got a summer internship at the Ministry of the Environment. He worked in the laboratory. At the end of the summer, he knew that lab work was not his interest nor his forte. He has since switched to computer science and is loving it! Summer internships are a great way to gain work experience, make valuable contacts, and help you decide whether you would truly like doing a particular job or working in that specific environment.

If you land an internship, try to make the most of it! Some things to keep in mind:

1. Be on time, in fact, be early for work and all meetings. At the risk of sounding redundant, do a trial commute during rush hour before your first day of work. You do not want to be late on your first day of work.

2. Be proactive. If all you've been given for the past few weeks is filing responsibilities, talk to your manager and inquire about different tasks. Be realistic about what you should/shouldn't do in terms of tasks. Don't complain - complete your tasks professionally and with enthusiasm.

3. Ask questions. Don't assume that you know. Internships are two-way streets. Your manager expects certain things from you and you can expect to learn about the job/company. If you feel you have good ideas, bring them forward. Don't wait to be asked.

4. Be friendly (network!) and professional. After all, the employees are more or less working towards a common goal - the well-being and profitability of the company. Take all opportunities to build a professional relationship with your co-workers. Agree to any invitations to attend clients meetings, conferences, etc.

5. Try to have regular meetings with your manager; but, don't meet just for the heckofit. This is important for you because you want to get feedback and offer progress reports.

6. Make a list of goals. What do you want to accomplish by the end of this internship? Is it learning about the industry, new skills, networking within the company and industry, creating a portfolio? Write down your goals as well as the steps/milestones associated, and review them regularly. If you create anything - reports, documentation, and/or receive commendation, be sure to save a copy for your portfolio.