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6 Mistakes to Avoid When Helping Clients

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Helping Clients: A man is shown engaging with a client at his desk.

Imagine you have an issue and you decide to share your problem with a friend. How would you feel if the friend responded with any of comments below?

  • “Let me tell you exactly what you need to do.”
  • “That has happened to me and I did ________ to solve the problem.”
  • “Tomorrow will be a better day.”
  • “Everything happens for a reason.”
  • “You are not given more than you can handle.”
  • “Think of this as a learning opportunity.”
  • “Have you considered doing _______”
  • “There must be a lesson here for you.”

The list above includes a few examples of common mistakes that people in the helping profession use. At first glance, these responses appear to be helpful and are used when there is a problem to be solved. However, these comments don’t invite further conversation but rather discourage communication. The best approach is a collaborative one: helping the client define their problems and goals and assisting them in finding ways to solve problems and achieve goals.

According to Chang, Scott & Decker (2013), here are the 6 common mistakes professionals make when developing working relationships with clients.

Offering Advice

Offering advice is only appropriate once you fully understand the client, situation, and the challenges faced by the client. You should know the individual’s short- and long-term goals. Otherwise, offering advice prematurely “reinforces the practitioner as the authority and expert instead of demonstrating the belief that the client is able to solve problems and is the expert on his/her situation” (Chang, et.al. pp. 99).

Being Too Reassuring

Reassurance is not an appropriate response to someone’s concern. Saying “it will be OK” is not based in reality – unless you know for certain that it will be OK. Reassurance is offered to reduce someone’s pain. But the pain a client feels can also motivate them to solve the problem. Downplaying someone’s pain can make them feel misunderstood or disrespected. Comments such as, “Don’t worry!” are also ineffective as they minimize an individual’s concerns.

Offering Excuses

Offering excuses for a client’s situation may indicate understanding, but it doesn’t motivate a client to look for ways to solve the problem. It’s more productive to help the client set goals and find ways to achieve those goals.

Asking Leading Questions

Unless the client and helping professional have established clear goals, asking leading questions is like offering advice. The advice is embedded in the question, “Have you considered speaking in a calm voice to your child?” Leading questions do not lead to the client feeling a sense of empowerment (aka the Eureka effect), which should be one of the principal goals.

Dominating through Teaching

Communicating in a dominating way can create numerous detrimental reactions from the client. The client may feel ashamed, rebellious, defensive or argumentative. Teaching in a dominating or pushy way can appear as though there is only one correct solution. It does not stimulate the client to think for themselves and to search for their own solutions (Chang, et. al. pp.100).

Interrogating

Asking a client one question after another makes clients feel as though they are being interrogated. Helping professionals just starting in their careers tend to ask too many questions rather than listening and expressing empathy. “Why” questions can be problematic as they can be viewed as judgmental.

I found this information valuable, not only for professionals but for lay people as well. Regardless of who you are or what field you’re in, I believe these concepts can be applied to any and all relationships whether they are friends, family, colleagues, customers or clients. Next time you’re meeting with someone, try out some of these ideas and observe how it changes the conversation!

 

Reference:

Chang, Scott & Decker (2013), Developing Helping Skills: A Step by Step Approach to Competency. Belmont, CA. Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning.

Irma LeBlanc is a Business Development Specialist with The Career Foundation’s Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG) Program. 

5 Habits of Highly Effective Job Seekers

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5 Habits of Effective Job Seekers - A young male maps out his project plan using a whiteboard and sharpie pen.

When searching for the right job, you are competing against a sea of candidates. To set yourself apart from the competition, follow these five important habits.

Sell Yourself

Sell the employer on hiring you by being your own best sales representative. Oftentimes, we are taught not to boast about ourselves or our abilities. The job search is the one time when you can and should truly promote yourself.

Be convincing in the way that you present yourself and your skills. You can start by making a list of all skills, experiences, and certifications that you bring to the job.

Remember, the employer doesn’t know who you are and what you have accomplished. Be sure to share this information in a way that is relevant to your job role.

Be Visible

Show the company that you are interested in them through social media. A great way to do this is to promote the company and its activities through your own social media channels.

This includes the use of Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. It’s as simple as re-posting, sharing, or referencing a link to a corporate event, program, product, or news item on your channel(s).

You can even use a #hashtag that a company or organization is using through their social media. If they ‘like’ or ‘re-post’ your message, then this is a great sign that you are now visible to the company.

Even if you don’t receive a ‘like’ or ‘re-post’, rest assured that you’ll still remain on the company’s radar.

Make Friends

Network with the company through any opportunity available to the public.

Oftentimes, we don’t want to appear pushy when applying to a role. This often holds us back from reaching out to connections made, or from following up with an employer.

One effective way to connect with a company (without appearing too pushy) is to begin networking before receiving any offers. You could participate in events, conferences, seminars, launches, or other public avenues where the company is present.

Even if the company is sponsoring or exhibiting at a public event, it’s a good idea to introduce yourself. This will help you to build a relationship with individuals who work there.

When the right opportunity presents itself, reach out to your contact to let them know you’ve applied for a role. The personal connection will give you an advantage. It may even help you get selected sooner for an interview — or the job!

Know the Role

Know as much as you can about the job that you are applying for.

Knowing the role inside out means that you can effectively speak to the duties, responsibilities, and direction that has been outlined in the job description. Beyond this, you should begin to understand where the role fits within the company’s mission, vision and objectives.

Start by researching the company’s website, LinkedIn page, and any news related to the company. You can read any reviews available on the internet but be mindful that not all opinions online are reflective of company culture and work styles.

This is also a great time to learn more about your hiring manager and how your role fits within the objectives of their department or team. A simple LinkedIn search can tell you a lot about how your future manager leveraged their skills and experience towards the company’s goals and objectives.

5 Habits of Effective Job Seekers - A male smiles in front of his computer with a post-it note on his forehead. It reads: "Be Happy"

Get Excited

Passion and enthusiasm should be expressed throughout the job search. Be sure to introduce yourself and share your passion for the role, the industry, and the services or products being offered by the company.

After your interview, reiterate your interest and enthusiasm in the work (if your feelings are genuine). This interest and enthusiasm should continue throughout any interviews, when you accept the offer, and into your role on the new job.

Follow these habits and you will become highly effective at your job search – and at securing the right role for your career!

Rohit Mehta is the Youth Job Connection Program Coordinator with The Career Foundation. He is passionate about helping people to reach their full potential through skill building, mentorship and professional development. Rohit enjoys giving back to his community by serving as a volunteer on charity boards and supporting fundraising events.

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

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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.

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

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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

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Made in the Trades - Female student participating in The Career Foundation's Pre-Apprenticeship Arborist Program.

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.