Searching for a job is a job in itself! We put hours into our resumes. We often think that this effort won’t go to waste, as many of us assume that the person who reviews our resume will spend lots of time doing so. However, a study of the people who screen resumes revealed that... Continue Reading →
Free career resources from the Toronto Public Library
It's been said that "the best things in life are free.” If you have a Toronto Public Library (TPL) card, this saying is true when it comes to ways to boost your career. TPL provides access to helpful resources for searching for a job, refining your resume, and updating your skills and knowledge. Career-related workshops... Continue Reading →
Stand out with these 3 traits
A resume can get your foot in the door when you’re looking for a job. But, oftentimes hiring managers want a new hire to fulfill criteria that can’t be expressed on paper. Why? These traits will help hiring managers ensure that the candidate will benefit the organization in ways that go beyond just fulfilling their... Continue Reading →
When searching for a job, what’s in a name?
I recently heard about a new process in Canada’s federal government that will help reduce bias around who is contacted following a job application in an interview on Toronto’s Metro Morning. Six federal departments are piloting a blind recruitment strategy with the goal of increasing equity and diversity in its workforce. This process will remove... Continue Reading →
Why I admire this student’s “dating resume”
Your resume is a critical tool for a job search. It’s usually one of the first impressions of you that a potential employer gets, so it’s appearance, and each word, is important. No surprise here! Based on resumes that I’ve seen – including my own – I assume that many professional resumes are in a... Continue Reading →
Google your way to a new job
If you’re like me, you use Google to find out pretty much everything you want to know. But, Google probably hasn’t been your go-to for one of the most important types of searches you can do – a job search. Well, there's good news! Google has created Google for Jobs, which is a new product... Continue Reading →
Should I start my career with an internship?
Last week, Bank of Canada head honcho Stephen Poloz recommended that unemployed young Canadians should take on unpaid internships to gain experience in their professional fields. The fact that top government officials accept that unpaid work is the only way to get ahead indicates that internships have become commonplace in today's economy. Further, the competition to... Continue Reading →
Setting SMART goals
I'm in the process of writing my professional goals for the next year at work. So, it's a good time to focus on some best practices for goal-setting. Rather than just shooting blindly for the stars, I'm going to set SMART goals so I can prove I've reached them during my annual review. What are SMART goals?... Continue Reading →
How to use the right keywords to get your resume past hiring software
In some organizations, hiring managers are looking for candidates for several different departments, looking to fill many diverse roles. It would take ages for them to review all of the resumes manually, and this would result roles not being filled in a timely manner. As a solution, a tool referred to as a human resources... Continue Reading →
“So, you want to be a pubic relations specialist?”
This question was asked to a fellow student by the career development course instructor at my public relations certificate program after the instructor reviewed a draft of her resume. A missed “L” in what was supposed to be the word "public" not only implied this student was looking for an entirely different career, but also earned... Continue Reading →