Career and Job Search Help Blog

Are You an Internationally Trained IT or ICT Professional? Free Job Assistance Program - Starts January 28, 2013

The Coaching to Career's bridging program offers Internationally Educated IT professionals an opportunity to launch their careers in Canada. The program has been developed by the Information and Communications Technology Council in partnership with JVS Toronto and One Million Acts of Innovation! The next intake begins on January 28, 2013.   On March 11th, another intake will begin.

Coaching to Career is funded by the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada and offered at no cost to eligible participants. Through this program, established ICT Specialists  will coach, guide, advise and support ICT professionals as they launch their careers in Canada.

Candidates: Ideal clients are ICT professionals in Canada, less than 3 years, who have finished education programs in Canada or job search programs sponsored by colleges, community organizations colleges. Participants must have a CLB language assessment of Level 8 or higher in 4 categories.

The following are ICT candidates who will be considered for this program:

• Computer Programmers and Interactive Media Developers
• Information Systems Analysts and Consultants
• Electronics Engineers
• Computer Network and Web Technicians
• Graphic Designers and Illustrators
• User Support Technicians
• Web Designers and Developers
• Computer and Information System Managers
• Software Engineers
• Database Administrators

Applications:  Starting Date: January 28, 2013

Cost to Client: Free

Location of In class Portion of program:  JVS Toronto ( Dufferin and Glencairn area of Toronto; subway and bus accessible)

Employment Resource Centres in Toronto

It's always been there for me - if I needed to find a legal clinic, look for a Registered Massage Therapist, or more recently, look for some employment resource centres. 211Toronto.ca is a directory of over 20,000 community, social, health and government services. I did a search for employment centres and was presented with a list of 27 centres from across the city - from Scarborough North to Etobicoke South.

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!

                     
      

CultureLink Free 5-Day Job Search Workshop for Newcomers, Fall 2012

There are two upcoming 5-day job search workshops, one in October and another in November 2012.

A career counselor will help newcomers who are Permanent Residents, Convention Refugees, or Live-In Caregivers with developing a professional resume, cover letters, job interview techniques, how to market your skills effectively, Canadian labour market information, networking/hidden job market, understanding work place culture, and other job search tools.

When: October 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26, 2012

           November 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30, 2012

Where: North York Central Library, Room 2/3

Time: 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Call 416-395-5613 to register

CultureLink Free 5-day Job Search Workshop for Newcomers

A career counselor from CultureLink will help newcomers who are Permanent Residents, Convention Refugees, or Live-In Caregivers with developing a professional resume, cover letters, job interview techniques, how to market your skills effectively, Canadian labour market information, networking/hidden job market, understanding work place culture, and other job search tools.

When: June 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15, 2012

Where: North York Central Library, Room 2/3

Time: 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Call 416-395-5613 to register.

More Upcoming Job Fairs for 2012, including Opening Doors to Your Future

Job fairs are a great way to network, gather information, meet employers, and cast your net to hook the right employer and job for YOU.

You might be new to Canada, a new graduate, have a disability, be looking to re-enter the job market, or to change your career. Job fairs can be exciting or intimidating. The key is to be prepared! Be confident! Be self-assured!

Come and join us Thursday, March 8, 2012 for the Career and Job Fair, Opening Doors to Your Future. The library will have a booth and we hope to see you there.

Where: North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge St.

When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Exhibitors include: Canadian Tire, InCharge Canada, Paragon Security, VHA Home HealthCare, and many, many more!

For more information, call Terruce Lau at 416-392-4107

Bring copies of your resume, print and electronic versions, and be prepared to "knock the socks" off potential employers with your professionalism. This event is sponsored by TESS, the Toronto Employment & Social Services (North York district offices) and the Toronto Public Library.

But wait! There are MORE!

 

Study and Go Abroad Fairs

Sunday, March 4, 2012,  1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Constitution Hall, Room 105 - 106, North Building, 255 Front Street West

 

The Career Fair for People with Disabilites

Thursday, March 29, 2012,  10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Hilton Downtown Toronto, 145 Richmond Street West

 

Engineering-IT Career Fair  AND  Banking-Finance-Insurance Career Fair

Tuesday, April 24, 2012, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building, 222 Bremner Boulevard

 

Remember to "Dress for Success!" Be neat, tidy, and not overdressed. Whatever your age, dress appropriately--don't try to appear older or younger than you are.

Here are some hints I picked up from Do's & Don'ts, an article by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D. If you want to read his article for additinal tips, click on the link.

• First impressions are important. A firm handshake and a warm smile are first steps to success.
• Dress professionally. Conservative is always a safe choice
• Bring enough copies of your resume, at least 25 for a large job fair, and different versions if looking for different types of jobs
• DON'T just drop your resume on the table and walk off--this is an opportunity to make a positive impression, show interest in the company, and stand out from the crowd. Build a rapport with the employer, but DON'T monopolize his time
• DON'T walk up to a booth and interrupt a current conversation
• Prepare to be interviewed on the spot--be able to summarize your skills and abilities in a few minutes or less
• Try and obtain a list of exhibitors. Research them beforehand so you will be prepared for such questions as, "Why do you want to work for our company?"
• Have a specific strategy for maximizing your time. Decide which employers you want to see first. You don't want to get so caught up with going to all the booths that you miss out on the ones you are really interested in
• Network with other participants--you may hear about additional job opportunities or benefit from the experiences the others had
• Follow-up after the job fair. Phone or e-mail the company representatives you met

 

                 

 

English Names on Resumes

Juliet said in her famous soliloquy, "What's in a name? that which we call a rose, By any other name would smell as sweet..." (Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene II) This makes me think of some of the memorable and unusual names I've come across: Moon Unit Zappa (daughter of musician, Frank Zappa); Charles Adolphe Faux-Pas Bidet, Commissaire de Police, Paris, France; Positive Wasserman Johnson (The Wasserman test looks for antibodies to syphillis.) and Mrs. Belcher Wack Wack (Miss Belcher married Mr. Wack and then married his brother.)

Many people have names which are not anglicized - it's a pride thing - you know, my name is just as good as anyone else's. It's uniquely me, and I like it! When we moved to Canada, it was suggested to my parents that they provide me with an English name. Don't get me wrong - I love "Elle" - just like I love my other name, because it means "bright star". My anglicized name would, reportedly, allow people to remember me a little easier, etc. Now this dilemma has once again reared its ugly head.

In a report released in October 2011, two University of Toronto researchers, Philip Oreopoulos and Diane Decheif, found that resumes featuring English names were more than 35-per-cent more likely to receive a callback than a resume featuring Chinese, Indian or Greek names. The researchers sent dozens of employers identical resumes - changing only the names of the applicants. They found that employers across Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver significantly discriminated against applicants with common Indian and Chinese names relative to English. The callback rate differences were larger in Montreal, while smaller in Vancouver. Recruiters were also interviewed to explain why they believe name discrimination occurs. It turns out that productivity concerns cannot explain name bias. Rather, recruiters said that employers often treat a name as a signal that an applicant may lack language or social skills. And in this time & resources-pressed work environment, employers are wary of  applicants with foreign names, hence foreign background and possible lack of adequate English-language and social skills for the Canadian marketplace. However, the researchers also suspected that recruiters are afraid of making a "bad hire", especially during these tough economic times.

So what can you do? Since one of the skills desired by most employers is strong communication skills, make sure you make it clear to the recruiters/employers that you have this desirable skill - call and talk to the recruiters. Take public-speaking and writing courses. Consider adding an anglicized name.

What's your opinion? Do you have an Anglicised name? If so, what is the rationale behind it?

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!!!

 

 

 

 

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!