Career Tips

A Short Collection of the Silliest Career Moves I’ve Seen in the Last 15 Minutes (as Told by an Employment Specialist)

May 22, 2018 By The Career Foundation

Silliest Career Moves - Coffee spills from a mug that's been tipped over. Work papers, magazines and other paraphernalia are shown stained with coffee.

Of all the social service capacities, “Employment Services” feel like the mid-point where people from every walk of life and experience come together for a common purpose. As an Employment Specialist, I’m involved in assisting clients through a myriad of career-related options to enhance and develop their overall potential. This includes self-marketing activities like résumé and cover letter writing, to methods one can use to access the Hidden Job Market, as well as skills enhancement through retraining programs (e.g., Second Career). It affords me the privilege of meeting many fantastic people with as many far-ranging experiences. It also affords me a firsthand look at the disastrous – if sometimes comical – mistakes many job seekers make.

The following list, through tears of merriment and exasperation, was jotted down over a single 15-minute period as I assisted my colleagues in reviewing applications for a Hospitality Hiring Event.

Failure to read the job posting and/or tailor your application to it

For one, the hospitality sector is unrelated to hospitals and mechanical engineering. A strong job search requires the job seeker to read the details of a posting and tailor their application as closely as possible. Moreover, hospitals are very competitive work environments to enter. If your goal is to work in a hospital, one needs to know what hospitals generally expect. If you can’t see the difference between ‘hospitality’ and ‘hospital,’ you are wasting more than just your own time.

The same applies to engineering. Even if you’re an engineer looking to change career paths, a mechanical engineering résumé will not assist you in applying for work in hotels, restaurants, or tourism. For this, you need to craft a skills-based résumé to show that you have the transferrable skills to enter an industry in which you have little to no experience.

Refusal to consider logistics

A “willingness to relocate” is an attribute many employers will appreciate. However, the Hospitality Hiring Event I’m referencing was set to take place in less than a week’s time. If an event is taking place in Toronto and you live in Calgary, a conservative estimate puts the drive to Toronto at 33 continuous hours across 3,419 kilometres (and that’s with taking a route that crosses the American border). It’s certainly a much shorter flight, but is it really worth it – especially if you don’t end up getting a job offer?

For those applying outside of Canada, you need to factor in the visa requirements of working in Canada if you are neither a citizen nor a permanent resident. Has this been factored in, along with the cost of a flight, accommodations, food, and the duration of your travel? Unless plans to relocate are directly addressed in an applicant’s cover letter, the employer will likely assume that out-of-area applicants don’t actually know or understand what they’re applying for.

Questioning employer antics (or simply being rude)

We’ve probably all had that dream where we’re at school giving a speech or taking an exam on a subject that we know nothing about. It’s terrifying. However, with regards to job search the best advice is quite simple: if you don’t know why someone is calling you, play it safe and remain polite at all times. It’s fine to ask polite, proactive questions as needed. I was taken aback at the number of applicants I called who became hostile because I was calling them at school, at work, or while they were sleeping (it was around 10:30 a.m., for the record). This anger seemed exacerbated by those applicants who also had no idea why I was calling them, despite my simple straightforward introduction.

Hostility within a job search is wrong at every level! It’s not the employer’s responsibility to keep a record of your job search – that’s your responsibility. The world is small, and burning bridges anywhere is ill-advised. Remain courteous at all times and keep a list of all your applications, including the employer’s name and address, the position applied for, and the date of your submission.

Using the wrong name and/or wrong phone number on your résumé

Just don’t do that. Use your name on your résumé. If you have more than one name, you should make life easier for the employer (and you) by using the same name on your résumé and in your email address. The same philosophy applies for your phone number. This includes having a clear voicemail message with your name in it and no one else’s. Many companies, banks in particular, have strict privacy policies regarding messages left on voicemail that do not clearly state who the recipient is. A simple, clear, and friendly message with your name is the best policy for job seekers. This is a simple yet highly important rule to follow.

Lack of attention to detail, practicality, courtesy, and common sense seem to be an Achilles’ Heel for more than a few job seekers! However funny these mistakes seem, they are really and truly only fun to giggle at when you are employed. So take a breather, adapt to the best practices, and brightly move forward! You’ve got this (We hope…)!

Jason Douglas Smith is a Training Application Coordinator with The Career Foundation, and has successfully directed clients in not only developing personalized job search strategy plans, but in circumnavigating the rigorous demands of applications for provincially-funded retraining. When not working, this self-professed Futurist can often be found reading, writing and barbecuing in his native Burlington.

Complicated Basics: 5 Things an Employer Needs to Know About You in an Interview

March 2, 2018 By The Career Foundation

Want to know how to answer interview questions? For one, keep the word "loyalty" in mind.

No two interviews are ever the same.

You can prepare for an interview for hours or days on end, but it still won’t fully prepare you for the potential quirks or spontaneous inclinations that might cause an employer to delve deeper on any given subject. Outside of the technical specifics and vocational skill-set related to the position you’re being interviewed for, there are 5 key areas you should aim to cover while answering interview questions.

1. I Can Complete the Tasks Assigned as Needed, But Better than Others Can

To quote Canadian rock icons The Tragically Hip, “it’s a monumental big-screen kiss; it’s so deep it’s meaningless.”*

Avoid the trap of using fanciful, hyperbolic wording at all costs! Use direct specifics to answer how you will do your job. Explain what tools and programs you will use and how you will meet the requirements and goals of the position. Specific examples from the past are good, as long as you can make it relevant to the role at hand and you have a logical plan. Use key words from the job posting and reiterate that you understand what is needed to be done. As a bonus, add a simple short truth that quantifies how you can do all of this fast and accurately. If you can show (not tell) why you will never have to be told to do something twice, you’re on the right track!

2. I Am Easy To Correct and Instruct— I Am Teachable

In an era when retraining and constant learning is a part of every position, employers need to see clearly that you are easy to correct and comfortable being instructed; that you are adaptable because you are teachable. This can include both direct statements related to your education and training as well as subtle comments on taking the initiative to learn more than what your role requires. Specific examples including computer programs and additional courses and certifications are also great examples, so long as you ensure that the employer understands that you did this for your work and not simply as a means unto itself. Indicating that you like feedback and can take criticism well — along with specific examples where you happily and quickly handled additional responsibilities and change — help to solidify yourself as a teachable candidate.

3. I Am a Loyal Employee

Regardless of your future plans and ambitions, all of your interview answers concerning the future need to reflect a commitment to that company. When asked about your future don’t be the applicant who a.) names another position in a company elsewhere, b.) lists the school and program they’d like to attend, c.) shrugs their shoulders and/or d.) declares, “I WANT YOUR JOB!” The latter does indicate both gumption and long-term company interest, but it’s been done before. You’d be better suited to researching the company and knowing what its long-term interests are and how you could contribute to that. Equally advisable is matching your personal traits with the company culture, and then indicating how you see your position evolving within that culture and the changing demands of the labour market. Knowing the company’s history and complimenting it in a sincere way will also help.

4. I Can be Creative When Needed

In terms of expressing creativity in an interview, the objective is less to do with demonstrating a genesis of pure original thought and more towards marketing your initiative, spontaneity, and interest in what the company does. Come to the interview with an idea – a pitch, if you will – that separates yourself from other applicants. A “pitch” is a small idea; a tiny business plan that would drive company profits and/or objectives. Remember that during the interview process, the employer has likely seen other candidates. Therefore, it’s likely that most candidates have come looking for a job opportunity and have spoken solely about themselves. It stands to reason that if you bring ideas that correspond with the employer’s business plan, the role you’re applying to, and the overall ‘big picture’ of what the company is looking to achieve, you’ll stand out. That’s exactly what you want. Remember that the goal is not to reinvent the wheel, but rather to demonstrate your energy, your initiative, and your ability to bring value to the employer. This is not a contest of creativity but a tool to serve yourself – to self-market your talents.

However, if you ARE hired and you DO become the company’s next Picasso, that’s fine, too.

5. I Am an Agreeable Person

Put simply: experience, education, and competence won’t help you ace the interview if you’re an irritable jerk. An employer is hiring someone they will likely see every day. They want someone they can critique and instruct without fear of moodiness, or even worse, retribution. They also want someone they can share lunch space with. A warm smile topped with genuine active listening is almost enough. Add to your pleasant demeanour the ability to avoid defensive posturing at all costs. It’s also a bonus during an interview to demonstrate your willingness to offer to help and be involved at every level as often as possible. In some interviews employers can strategically place stress tests during questions. A carefully timed yawn or a deliberate delay at the onset of an interview might be used to see how you really feel when things don’t go your way.

Think Like a Business: Promote Yourself with a Personal Website (Guest Blog)

February 20, 2018 By The Career Foundation

Decades ago you were able to get a decently-paying job straight out of high school. If you went to college or university, you had even greater prospects. I wish that were still the case.

I know I’m preaching to the choir here. We all know that it’s harder than ever to find work. You’re up against steep requirements and fierce competition. There’s no quick fix, but there is one big truth: you need to stand out. What does Google say about you?

Have you searched for yourself on Google recently? What comes up? Is it good? (Is it bad?) Is it something that you have control over?

These are the same questions I’ve been asking small business owners for the last ten years. So many of them still don’t have a website, and they’re missing out on a ton of potential growth because of it. The same is true for the rest of us who aren’t running a business. We’re missing out on growth. The only time we promote ourselves is when we’re hunting for a new job.

But what if we thought of ourselves as more than only candidates for a position? What if we thought of ourselves as businesses? What if potential employers were our potential customers? Think of yourself as a business. There are a lot of parallels between running a small business and developing your career.

Let me explain.

Many small businesses are a single-person operation, e.g. freelance designers. They’re responsible for every aspect of their business. They do their own marketing; their own sales; their own product or service development. They’re up against stiff competition: other freelancers, larger companies, and alternative solutions.

You’re in a similar position. You’re responsible for your own career. You have to get on the radar of potential employers. You have to prove that you’re the right choice for the company. And if you land the job, you have to deliver on the work. And you’re also up against competition, e.g. new hires, outsourcing, and automation.

So what can we learn from small businesses that we can apply to our own career development?

Let’s start from the beginning.

How do businesses find new customers?

There’s a framework I’ve been working on for the last few years called Reach Teach Sell. It’s a way of thinking about how businesses find and keep their customers.

It’s seven steps, and it goes like this:

Reach your ideal customers where they already are.
Teach, entertain, inspire, or inform them to build your reputation & credibility.
Sell them something useful by understanding their goals & challenges.
Support new customers with a great onboarding experience.
Keep customers by delivering value over time.
Refer your customers to others and encourage customers to refer others to you.
Reward your customers for their loyalty and ongoing business.

Now, you might be looking at that and wondering how it applies to career development. So, let’s make some tweaks:

Reach your ideal employers & colleagues where they already are.
Teach, entertain, inspire, or inform them to build your reputation & credibility.
Sell them on your ability to meet their goals & overcome their challenges.
Support your new employer & colleagues by getting up to speed on your role.
Keep your position by delivering value over time.
Refer your employers & colleagues to people and resources that help them.
Reward your colleagues for their support.

The Reach Teach Sell framework, in this case, is all about finding and keeping your ideal job. Potential colleagues and employers replace potential customers. Getting hired replaces making sales. Keeping your job replaces keeping customers coming back. (You get the idea.)

Where does the website come into play? A business website promotes the business.

Your personal website promotes you.

Reach your ideal employers and colleagues by joining online communities and participating in discussions. Showcase your projects and publish blog posts that show what you’re all about. If a potential employer likes what they see, give them a way to reach you, e.g. through a contact form.

Here’s the thing: Customers research businesses before they buy from them. Employers do the same. A personal website that covers this information is a goldmine for recruiters. It provides a level of context and depth that a cover letter and résumé never could.

In other words: Make it easy for potential employers to find you!

A personal website is a long-term investment in yourself.

Your personal website is a collection of your greatest hits. You have total control over what gets published. Even when things go wrong, you can turn those experiences into stories about what you’ve learned.

And the hits keep on coming.

If you’re early on in your career, your website will reflect that. Your content will focus on what you’re learning and doing. As you gain experience, your website starts including more advice and stories. Unlike Facebook or LinkedIn, your personal website is actually yours. You don’t have to worry about something beyond your control changing or happening to the platform.

Which leads me to the next point: how do you actually build a personal website?

It’s easy to get started. Here’s how you do it.

Building your personal website in 3 steps:

1. Register a domain name. Everything starts with your domain name. You’ll use it for your professional email address and for your website. Try to grab your full name if you can. But if you have a long name that’s often misspelled, you may want to come up with a variation or abbreviation of it. For example, my last name “McIlwain” is often misspelled. So, I’ve used the abbreviation “andymci” for years. It’s easier to remember. The annual registration cost will depend on the domain extension you choose, e.g. .COM or .NET or .CA. On average you’re looking at something around $20 to $30 per year.

2. Set up your email address. I recommend setting up an email address on your own domain name. It’s far more professional than a free @gmail.com or @outlook.com email address. And you can change your email provider without changing your address.

The cost of professional email will depend on the service you use. On average you’re looking at something in the ballpark of $5 to $10 per month for Office 365 or G Suite.

3. Set up your WordPress website. This is the final part of the personal website hat trick. I recommend WordPress because of its massive library of free plugins and themes. This gives you more flexibility than anything you’ll find on a website builder service.

The cost of web hosting varies depending on the plan you choose. For a personal website on basic hosting, expect to spend between $5 to $10 per month.

All told, you’re looking at a total investment around $250 per year. This covers your domain name, email, and website.

Keep it going.

After you’ve built up your website, you need to give people a way to find it, and a reason for them to keep coming back.

Aside: You may have heard of the term “search engine optimization”. It’s another beefy topic beyond the scope of this post. If you’d like to learn more, check out the beginners guide to SEO from Moz.

For your personal website, there are a few small actions you can take that don’t need a lot of effort:

Connect your website to your social media profiles. Link to your social media profiles from your site, then link back to your site from your profiles. This cross-linking helps other people find your website. It also gives Google a better idea of your presence on the web.

Update your site once a week. Your website isn’t a one-and-done project. It should be growing and changing all the time. Your site updates could include a new blog post, a new portfolio entry, or even a minor tweak to your site’s design. The important thing is that you get into a habit of keeping your website fresh.

Share your site updates on social media. You’ve given people a reason to visit your website by making updates. Now you need to let people know about it! Make some noise on social media. Ask for feedback and suggestions from your friends, family, and followers. You never know – their comments could spark new ideas for you to build on.

The bottom line? Your website is a valuable asset.

Think like a business and promote yourself with a personal website. For a business, a website is like an employee that works 24 hours a day for 365 days of the year. It’s helping them with sales and marketing (and more). Wouldn’t it be great to have that kind of support?

Get out there. Build your website. Control how you show up in search engines. Give potential employers an easy way to find you and learn about you. It’s one of the best investments you can make for your career.

Andy McIlwain has spent the last 10 years helping people get online through his work in web development, training workshops, and community groups. He currently wrangles technical content and special projects for the GoDaddy blog. You can find Andy on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and his personal website.

Interview Etiquette (According to Our Favourite Bands & Singers)

February 2, 2018 By The Career Foundation

Close up of a microphone on a stage.

If you’re like a lot of job seekers out there, you’ve probably spent endless hours sending out your résumé and waiting (im)patiently for a call. It seems like a losing battle at times, but just as you’re about to give up, you get the call you’ve been waiting for. Congratulations! Finally, someone has taken the time to recognize your skills.

The job interview is the most crucial part of the hiring process. This is where the employer assesses you in almost every way imaginable. It’s also where most people stumble due to a lack of proper interview etiquette. Sure, answering interview questions well is important, but if you don’t use proper etiquette you likely won’t get hired … no matter how strong your answers are!

There are many resources out there to help improve your interview manners, but admittedly they aren’t very fun. Let’s liven things up a bit and look to our favourite musical artists for inspiration and advice.

Don’t just stand there, let’s get to it, strike a pose, there’s nothing to it.

Vogue – by Madonna:

Clearly, attending an interview is not a fashion show by any means. But it’s crucial to always dress your best. Remember to always dress for the job you want, not the job you have. If you’re not sure about the company’s dress code, it’s always better to overdress. No matter the position you’re interviewing for, it’s probably best to avoid wearing jeans, flip flops or running shoes … unless the employer, company or industry specifies otherwise.

I’ve never seen you looking so lovely as you did tonight, I’ve never seen you shine so bright.

The Lady in Red – by Chris de Burgh

The employer will make a decision about you within five seconds of meeting you. It’s true: first impressions count. If you look messy, inappropriate or unorganized, an employer’s first thought might be that your work will be the same.

Shine bright like a diamond, shine bright like a diamond.

Diamonds – by Rihanna

We’re talking about the literal meaning, here. Big dangly jewelry, bright makeup, or neon nail polish may be appropriate accessories for a night on the town, but not for an interview. If anything, these items will be distracting to your interviewer(s). Keep it simple so the employer can keep focussed on what you have to say.

It’s too late to apologize (it’s too late!)

Apologize – by Timbaland feat. OneRepublic

Don’t be late! If you’re on time, you’re late! The right time to arrive is 10 minutes before the scheduled interview. When you’re late, you give the impression that you don’t respect the employer’s time. Map out your route in advance and do a trial run to figure out how long it will take you to get to the interview. This may seem like unnecessary work (and we agree — it’s time consuming) but this can make all the difference in the world. If you’re late, chances are you won’t get the job.

I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire, ’cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar!

Roar – by Katy Perry

Don’t look down and mumble during your interview. Unless you’re a child, mumbling and looking down at your shoes as if you’re in trouble isn’t particularly endearing. Not maintaining eye contact or talking too quietly indicates a lack of confidence. If an employer thinks you lack confidence in your answers and body language, they may think you will lack confidence in your work. Remember, you have been selected for the interview; therefore, the employer saw something in you that piqued their interest. They already think you can do the job – don’t deflate on them now. Stay strong, look them in the eye, and tell them why you are the best person for the job.

Ladies leave your man at home…

Jumpin’, Jumpin’ – by Destiny’s Child

Don’t bring your spouse, kids or pets to an interview. If for some reason someone needs to drive you to the interview, make sure they wait for you outside and not in the reception area. Whoever is accompanying you may not be professionally dressed, and even if they are, it’s not appropriate to bring an entourage with you.

What do you mean (oh, oh) … When you nod your head yes, but you wanna say no?

What Do You Mean – by Justin Beiber

Keep your answers relevant to the question. Be concise and provide brief examples to strengthen your point. If the interviewer looks confused, you may not have answered the question. In this instance, simply ask the interviewer, “Have I answered your question?”

Interviews are both exciting and nerve-wracking. It’s important to remember that as much as the employer is assessing you and your skills, you are also assessing them and the work environment. Be confident in yourself. Practice makes perfect, so recruit a friend to practice your interview techniques. Research the company prior to your interview so you come across knowledgeable and interested in the organization.

Cher, the singer. And in the event that you don’t get hired, you can always look to the almighty Cher for inspiration …

‘Cause I’m strong enough
To live without you,
Strong enough, and I quit crying
Long enough, now I’m strong enough
To know … you gotta go!

Vicki Sahar is a Senior Employment Specialist at The Career Foundation, and spends much of her time connecting job seekers with employment opportunities in the GTA. She is an avid fitness lover and frequenter of local sushi restaurants, and enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Labour Market Information For the Year 2117 (Predictions for the Future!)

January 2, 2018 By The Career Foundation

A screenshot from the 1985 fantasy/science fiction film, Back to the Future

Before reading below, imagine a partially-robotic female narration that sounds eerily like the voice of Orson Welles:

It’s the year 2117. Humans have discovered that they are no longer alone in the universe. This revelation unifies humanity in a way that has never been achieved before. While out-of-this-world contact was limited and conducted over thousands of hours and hundreds of light years through the principals of mathematical binary coding, Earth has finally made contact! Humanity has been introduced to its new neighbour – and a most evolved species, at that. They are called the “Wai-Kouk-Gan” and they are equally happy to make contact with us.

Solar-Sail quantum physic principals still to be worked-out; our neighbours may even visit us someday. As an elder civilization among the stars they are a species of peace. Their only warning is to heed the mistakes they made with their own ‘soft blue planet’: Share and protect your natural resources at all costs. Needless to say, this heroic advice along with the actual discovery of the “Wai-Kouk-Gan” has brought with it an abundance of changes to the way humans have restructured their economies…

The Career Foundation, in keeping with being a forward-thinking Employment Ontario Service Provider, is pleased to present the following employment opportunities and labour market information from the next century! These excerpts are from The Burlington Post “Classifieds Level Four Augment,” originally uploaded on December 20, 2117.

The Following Positions Have Multiple Vacancies
Required for Both Terra Firma and Exoplanet Duties

Oceanographers – Duties include but are never limited to: coral rehydration and cross-flora networking with iridium DNA processing; plastics collection and recycling; fauna documentation analysis; and rehabilitation project proposal writing. A strong knowledge of binary processing and audiometry will be an asset.

Farmers – Plant and Soy specialists with additional training in Bio-Engineering and Nano-Soil regenerative properties experience an asset, as is the ability to speak another language. Current fields are tractable and based on multi-level platforms. As such, a Working at Heights Safety Certification Level 3 will be required.

Linguists – Linguists will be required at every level of the ongoing Environmental Rehabilitation Initiative (ERI). However, this cannot be their only discipline. A linguistics background must also be complemented with certification in one of the following disciplines: Physics, Bio-Engineering, Mechanical-Engineering, Nano-Interface, and Zoology. Preference will be given to those candidates who also specialize in and/or have worked in online energy transference. A strong knowledge of binary processing and audiometry will be an asset.

Variant Atmospheric Specialists – Job description is considered classified information. Formal security clearance will be required for access. Only qualified specialists with 5+ years of experience may inquire within.

Waste and Recycling Processors – Please note that these positions are available in both Standard (university degree) and Advanced (MA + Charter Certificate) Standings for the available entry-level positions.

Actors and Performers – Actors required for roles to be shot locally for the upcoming three-part film production of Lucasfilm’s reimagining of The Sound of Music. Applicants should include in their Augment Cover Video which of the following roles they are auditioning for: Captain Von Trapp, Maria Von Trapp, Liesel Von Trapp, Kurt Von Trapp, Gretl Von Trapp, Sister Margaretta, Herr Zeller, Rolfe (in all 5 incarnations), and Hannibal Lecter.

Except for listing #6, those in possession of a Level One Pilot Licence currently in Good Standing with the Terran Aerospace Defence and Rescue Command (TADRC) will be given application priority and are advised to note this in their Augment Cover Video. The Hiring Process will begin in the New Year. Wishing you and your loved ones a bright and burnished Solstice.

It may be well advised to not only consider what your career is, but what it will need to become.

FYI: in the future, electricity will be shared and naturally harvested; passed from dwelling to business to public infrastructure via the cables that are currently used to power the Internet. This will be called online energy transference. Just know that.

Labour Market Information - To be continued

How to Survive Holiday Parties When You’re Currently Out of Work

December 19, 2017 By The Career Foundation

Staff Celebrating the Holidays at Lawrence Square

It’s the holiday season, which means your cash flow may be running low — especially if you’ve recently been impacted by a layoff or you’re currently looking for work. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have any fun! Other then avoiding “BYOB” parties, there are plenty of other things you can do to stay on budget while decking the halls.

Here’s a few suggestions to keep you on track:

1. Go with a friend and offer to split the “gift,” then skip on the bill because that’s what friends are for, right? Just kidding! If you do that you’re sure to get a lump of coal from Santa!

2. Bring something handmade or re-gift (just make sure you remember who gave the original item or things could get awkward).

3. Offer to help with cooking or other tasks before the other guests arrive.

4. Ask if the host or hostess would be open to an “exchange” party, such as a cookie exchange. That way you won’t have to cook as much and waste money on expensive ingredients, plus you’ll get a variety of cookies to munch on. Just watch the waistline!

Mitigating the Mingling

How do you counter the most common and potentially awkward introduction question of all? (You know the one: “What do you do?”) For starters, you don’t have to answer with, “I’m unemployed” or “I’m out of work.” Instead, you can always say: “I’m in between jobs” or “I’m working on some leads,” which should be enough to satisfy a stranger’s curiosity. If you’re taking classes or upgrading your skills you can mention those, too.

But how about taking it up a notch and giving an answer that’ll really get the conversation started? “I’m pursing/looking at new opportunities in my field” — or even better: “I’m exploring and open to change.”

These answers will open up the conversation (if that’s your intention), so you can talk about your skills and what you’re specifically looking for, which will sound much more proactive and positive. It may even open up some doors for you if the person happens to be well-connected. Now who doesn’t like to party with someone like that?

So grab the eggnog and have some fun – the New Year is upon us!

This blog was written by Elaine Logie, Program Manager of the General Carpenter Pre-Apprenticeship Program for Youth.

3 Reasons I’ve Loved Working in the Skilled Trades

November 26, 2017 By The Career Foundation

If you have a mental image when you see the word “arborist”, it’s probably not a mental image of me. For those who don’t know, an arborist is a skilled tradesperson who specializes in cultivating and managing trees and woody plants – sort of like a specialized lumberjack. I’m 5’7”, I’m smallish by most standards, and I couldn’t grow a beard to save my life, so archetypal lumberjack I am not. I have ended up with a career in the skilled trades, however, and would recommend anyone who likes working with their hands to give the skilled trades a shot.

The major impetus for me happened in fall 2012, when I spotted an ad for The Career Foundation’s Arborist Pre-Apprenticeship program, to which I applied for, was accepted and successfully completed. When the General Carpenter Pre-Apprenticeship program at The Career Foundation started in early 2016, I encouraged my brother, Will, to apply, and neither of us have looked back.

What has working in the trades done for me?

1) CONFIDENCE

Learning to safely use, maintain, and repair a chainsaw changed me, and not just because it’s one of the coolest power tools out there. Before I got into the trades, I’d probably held a drill once or twice, hammered a few nails, and would have looked for someone else to do anything more involved than putting together Ikea furniture. The first few dozen times I used a chainsaw, the uncertainty of whether I’d be able to get the thing to start put a knot in my stomach.

Fast forward a few years, and I’ve been in more situations than I can count where I had the most training and experience with tools on a job site, and was best prepared to tackle a job safely, or troubleshoot a problem effectively. Beyond the obvious practical applications of having gained this level of skill, it also made me realize that, just because something is an enormous challenge at first, doesn’t mean I can’t overcome and eventually master it. That feeling is infinitely transferable to other tools, to sports, to hobbies, and to challenges at work and in life.

2) EMPOWERMENT

With a couple major exceptions, most of the skilled trades have traditionally been male dominated. (Kudos to chefs and hairdressers!) Today, the world is changing. Every day I know that by showing up for work and being a professional in my field, I am setting an example: for my bosses and coworkers, for other women, for other skilled trades companies, for clients, for the public.

I really believe that tapping a broader pool of talent is beneficial: for individuals faced with a wider range of options, for industry, and for society. Working in a male-dominated field as a woman certainly has its challenges, but I do so with the knowledge that I’m helping to pave the way for non-traditional demographics, including women, people of colour, and LGBT+ people, to take a shot at this really rewarding career.

3) RESULTS

Working in the trades, there is never any question at the end of the day as to what you’ve accomplished. Your achievement is right in front of you, whether it be a tree pruned, a section framed, or a pipe laid. As a tradesperson, you have made a measurable and tangible contribution to society by the end of every day at work. In many cases, it will be a contribution that you’ll be able to physically show your children and grandchildren.

Kate Raycraft currently works as Pre-Apprenticeship Project Assistant with the General Carpentry Pre-Apprenticeship program at The Career Foundation’s Hamilton office. For anyone interested in our General Carpentry Pre-Apprenticeship program, please visit our website.

Navigating a Networking Event: 8 Tips That Will Make Even a Shy Person Comfortable

November 18, 2017 By The Career Foundation

For some of us, walking into a room full of strangers can be intimidating, especially if you’re one of the quiet types. With every step, the lump in your throat gets more constricting and your stomach feels like it could bottom out at any moment – much like climbing Mount Everest, I assume. While you can live happily-ever-after never having climbed Everest, networking is something you can’t really avoid if you want to make connections with the “Who’s Who” of the business world. Being able to network effectively is a great tool to have in your arsenal for career success.

Here are eight tips to help you step out of your comfort zone and network like a boss:

Research

If you’re attending a networking event, do a little investigating beforehand. Find out who the host is and search their name on Google or LinkedIn. They could be an old schoolmate or maybe they recently achieved a milestone. A quick search can help you find a way to break the ice with the host of the event.

Dress like a boss

Ensure you are dressed professionally. Iron everything!

Just do it

Take a deep breath before walking into the room. Keep your head up, shoulders back and stand up straight. Stepping into a room full of strangers gets easier each time.

Perfect you elevator pitch

No matter what you do or the purpose of the event, always come prepared with strong talking points. If you’re a job seeker networking with potential employers, ensure you’re able to convey how you would be an asset to the company. If you’re a business owner, who knows your business better than you?

Be prepared to talk about yourself or your business if the occasion calls for it. Keep your pitch short and to the point – no more than 30 seconds.

If you’re simply trying to make connections, go with casual talking points; something current or newsworthy like a new book or movie release will do. Try to steer clear from politics and religion.

And don’t forget to bring your business card if you have one!

Don’t go alone

Go with a colleague or friend. Having someone you know in the room can help calm your nerves. However, don’t treat your buddy like a crutch – be sure to mingle on your own as well.

Ask for an introduction

If you know the host of the event, ask them to introduce you to some of their guests. Don’t be afraid to ask someone you know to introduce you around.

Focus on the person standing alone

You might be a nervous wreck, but you’re not the only one. There’s usually someone standing in the room by themselves, likely just as nervous about networking. Make eye contact with him or her. Smile and introduce yourself. Find something to compliment, such as their shoes, briefcase, watch, and so on (but keep it professional, of course!)

Practice

Use your colleagues as guinea pigs! Don’t shy away from work events and staff meetings. Practice your networking skills by talking to people from different departments. This will help you get comfortable speaking with people and will also help improve your conversation skills.

Practice makes perfect, so implement some of the tips above to help you navigate any networking event.

PS – Keep in mind that a lot of people like to talk in general, so you’ll often find that sometimes all it takes is a smile, friendly introduction, and quick icebreaker to steal someone’s attention – and ideally lead to the next stage in your career!

Jodi Darby is a Business Developer with The Career Foundation’s Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG) Program, and has successfully navigated her way through dozens of nerve-racking networking events over the past few years. Connect with Jodi on LinkedIn.