Professional development is critical part of everyone’s career, no matter what industry they’re in. Opportunities for professional development have been shown to benefit companies, and have been ranked as more important than pay for millennials. For people with certain professional designations, the completion of professional development activities is not only helpful, but it’s also necessary to... Continue Reading →
9 tips for successful informational interviews
Have you ever been on an informational interview? If you haven’t heard of them before, an informational interview is a meeting with someone who’s already in an organization, field or industry that you’d like to get into, which doesn’t relate directly to a job opening. It’s an opportunity for you to learn, grow your network... 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 →
Workday walks are a productivity game-changer. Here’s why.
Short walks during the workday are mentally refreshing and help me focus on my work. I try to pencil one into my calendar whenever I can, so much so that my healthy habit is known among my colleagues. I often can get a colleague or two to join me on a walk, which is good for relationship-building and... Continue Reading →
What’s behavioural finance and how can it help me save more?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzcw_02ZB1o A while ago, I watched this TEDTalks video by economist Shlomo Benartzi called Saving for tomorrow, tomorrow. Although it's a few years old, and is based on U.S. data, many points resonated with me and still do. Benartzi discusses how the general population's lack of saving is a result of behavioural challenges related to self-control, loss-aversion and immediate... Continue Reading →
Tips for working from home
Working remotely or from home can be a big perk of a job. In an earlier post, I shared some benefits of working from home. I’ve also been fortunate enough to occasionally work from home in my current role, which has been great for work-life balance. Whether you’re in a role that lets you work from home... Continue Reading →
How do I write a cover letter?
Once you've spent hours refining and proofreading your resume, writing a cover letter can seem like very challenging and time-consuming task. But, it doesn't need to be. It's important to remember that a cover letter is your first opportunity to build a relationship via a piece of paper (or email) with the person who's doing the hiring, as described... Continue Reading →
Digging up the truth about dogs at work
Having dogs at work can have a positive impact on a workplace’s culture. If a dog-friendly office is a good fit, it can be a great way to bring people together, reduce stress and add some fun to the everyday routine. Check out this recent article from the Huffington Post, which highlights some research on... 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 →