Whether it is in a social setting, networking event, or interview, your communication skills can help you succeed in or hinder your job search. This article will help you understand the different communication types and styles and how you can develop your communication skills to effectively and clearly market yourself during your job search.

DID YOU KNOW?

Employers rate communication skills a 4.7 out of 5 (extremely important) on qualities a candidate should possess. The recruitment process is a way employers test your abilities to communicate and comprehend. Regardless of your chosen occupation or industry, you will apply these skills almost daily working on teams, teaching and training colleagues, or conducting meetings. These activities are central to your employability and future job performance.

COMMUNICATION TYPES

Communication skills include non-verbal and verbal signals sent to a receiver. As one of the most important personal qualities sought by employers in evaluating a candidate, developing these skills is essential while in school, volunteering, and on the job.

Non-verbal communication

Non-verbal communication includes all unwritten and unspoken messages. Words seldom tell the whole story. In fact, some messages are sent with no words at all. The eyes, face, and body convey multiple meanings without a single syllable being spoken. Tuning in to body language and other non-verbal messages require that you be aware that they exist and that you value their importance.

• Eye contact—In North America, appropriate eye to eye contact signals interest, attentiveness, respect, and credibility. To the receiver, good eye contact reveals sincerity, confidence, and truthfulness.

• Body language—A person’s posture can convey anything from formality and self-confidence to shyness and submissiveness. Leaning toward a speaker suggests being alert and interested; pulling away may be perceived as fear, distrust, anxiety, or disgust. Crossed arms may mean defensiveness, withdrawal, or that the person is simply feeling cold.

• Listening—For many of us, listening is a passive, unconscious activity. We may not engage our minds to work very hard at receiving and processing sounds, and we don’t give much thought to what we are listening to. Good listeners are active listeners making a physical and mental effort to hear, process, and respond.

Did you know that 10% of the messages we communicate face to face occur through words we use; 40% through tone of voice; and 50% through posture and gesture.

Review the following tips on enhancing your non-verbal skills.

• Maintain gentle eye contact; consider noticing the other person’s eye colour.
• Show interest by leaning forward, sitting or standing straight, and looking alert.
• Don’t interrupt. Doing so indicates a lack of interest to the speaker. By allowing speakers to complete their sentences without interruption, you show respect and indicate that you are taking them seriously.
• Encourage conversation by using phrases like “Yes, I see” and “I understand.” Practice by paraphrasing or probing for more information to become skilled at engaging in active listening.
• Observe yourself on videotape or enlist friends and family. Ensure that your verbal and non-verbal messages agree by evaluating your conscious and unconscious body movements and gestures.

Verbal communication

Good verbal communication skills is the ability to clearly express or present ideas, opinions, and thoughts orally. While its importance is critical to your success, it is very often the skill we most take for granted or assume we have, since we have been speaking with people all of our lives.

Errors in grammar, or poor word choice can negatively affect your chances of being considered for employment. Always remember, these are opportunities for you to prove your ability to communicate effectively.

Here are some tips on maximizing your oral communication skills.

• Use plain language to express clear meaning. Avoid showy words or ambiguous expressions in an effort to dazzle. Communicate to express ideas not to impress others. Speak slowly and enunciate clearly.
• While it is a challenge to summarize and articulate your accomplishments, contributions, and personal uniqueness, try using the STAR technique to organize your thoughts. For example, in an interview, describe the Situation and Task, the Actions you took, and the Results achieved.

COMMUNICATION STYLES

Communication improves by more than 70% when you understand your personal style as well as others. Below are the styles based on Carl Jung’s idea of four temperaments. Most people incorporate all four in varying degrees but two usually dominate. Identify the styles in order that are most natural to you and consider how they may vary depending on the context of your situations and others’ style.

• Idealists are encouraging, sharing, patient, and relaxed. They have an introverted, casual, and informal style. They speak in supportive language to establish rapport. They focus on feelings and the impact on people. To communicate with idealists, be tactful and acknowledge their contributions. Under tension, they will withdraw or acquiesce. Their motto: Let’s do it in a caring way.
• Guardians value order, logic, and sound reasoning when communicating. They have an introverted, thorough, and formal style. They use logical language. To communicate with guardians, state facts and ideas logically, share feelings but don’t lose control of your emotions. Under tension they will withdraw or avoid. Their motto: Let’s do it right.
• Artisans are fact-based, driven, and results-oriented people. They have an extraverted, decisive, and business-like style. They speak in literal language and give detailed instructions. They can be seen as blunt, insensitive, aggressive, controlling, overbearing, and intolerant. To communicate with artisans avoid chitchat, be specific, and start with the details. Under tension they will dictate. Their motto: Let’s do it now!
• Rationals are outgoing, free-spirited, and flexible. They have an extraverted, personal, and spontaneous style. They focus on brainstorming and speak in global language, generalizations, and metaphors. To communicate with rationals, allow them to explore ideas and possibilities freely—don’t overwhelm them with too many facts. Under tension they will attack or be sarcastic. Their motto: Let’s do it together.

PRACTICAL STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TODAY

Get involved in classroom discussions, groups, clubs, and extracurricular activities that encourage you to speak more and communicate in a more organized and formal fashion. Apply for an internship, volunteer, or customer service position. In discussions with friends, family, and peers, practice using facts to support a point of view rather that just your opinion. Use these opportunities to develop your ability to express your ideas and build confidence.

Consider joining an organized club like Toastmasters International. For more information or to find a club visit

► www.toastmasters.org

FOR NON-NATIVE SPEAKERS OF ENGLISH

A heavy foreign accent and speaking too quickly can prevent listeners from understanding your message. The key to succeeding in your job search, interview, or networking, is not necessarily to eliminate your accent but rather reduce it and speak clearly.

To improve your oral speaking abilities try watching TV and observing the mouth movements of native speakers. Repeat what they are saying, imitating their intonation and pronunciation. Be mindful of other areas of speech that may need improvement like word stress and sentence rhythm where the weight you place on each syllable or word varies when you speak. Also, the words and phrases you choose (diction) will vary depending on different situations. For example: To a friend you might say “a mistake;” and to an employer “an oversight.” For more information, visit

► www.englishclub.com

Determining level of proficiency

When applying to college, university, or work, these institutions and organizations will often require English proficiency test scores for consideration. For more information visit:

Test of English as a Foreign Language™ (TOEFL®)

► www.toefl.org

Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks

► www.language.ca

Source:

http://www.careers.utoronto.ca/libResource/tipSheet/_CommunicationSkills.pdf

At Sheridan Convention Centre, Syerah Virani stood at the head of the room, giving a presentation to a group of almost 15 professionals on “Getting Things Done!” It was a seminar on how to get more done in less time. And the power point presentation displayed on the screen read “25 habits that will instantly increase your productivity.” It was a paradox because habits take a long time to develop, and, thus cannot result in instant increase in productivity.

In attendance was a lawyer, a journalist, a mortgage broker and his assistant, two insurance agents, a corporate developer, a recruiting agent and engineers.

Engaging and interactive as the seminar was, much of it was also on effective use of technology and making use of icons that mean nothing to most of us, and utilizing apps that our i-phones and blackberries have but don’t know how to use efficiently.

Syreah, the President of Network of Indian Professionals (NetIP), tips to “Getting Things Done” were divided into three categories: tools, behavior and attitude, and rewarding yourself.

1. Write it down! – Write down what needs to be done on a piece of paper, a business card or even a napkin if you have to remind yourself of what you need to do.
2. The handy-dandy notebook – Instead of writing things down on whatever, have a notebook always handy, a notebook where you can write down your thought freely.
3. Drop Box – Centralize your document – Drop Box is available free of cost online if you want to try and experiment with it.
4. Consolidate your contacts – Your work and personal contacts can all be at one place, resulting in better and effective communication with your family, friends, prior employers and work colleagues.
5. Smarten Up your Smartphone – Use apps that your phone has effectively!
6. Sync your calendars – Google gives you benefit of having one calendar rather than two or three separate calendars so you don’t miss any appointments or making conflicting meeting arrangements.
7. Customize with Templates – Though contradictory, many times what you have to say to most people is the same. By changing the beginning and end, you can use the same message many times, but with a personal touch.
8. RSS feeds – Online world is broad and vast. Instead of losing sight of what you need to do, get RSS feeds, so you don’t get distracted and lose time.
9. Audiobooks & Podcasts – Multi-task your reading – While cooking or cleaning or driving, listen to audio books to enrich your intellectual life.

10. The 3D Concept

11.  The 2-minute rule – If something takes less than 2 minutes to do, then do it yourself rather than assigning it to your  assistant.

12.  Delegate Authority – You can’t do everything, so assign responsibilities to your staff, or friends or family members.

13.  Defer for Days – If something can wait for 6 months from now, stop researching about it now to save time for more urgent and important things.

14.  Tackle the Unpleasant & the Difficult First – Instead of lingering on and on, deal with the difficult and unpleasant and be done with it!

15. Chunk it Down!

16.  Automate your Back-ups – Don’t wait for your computer’s hard drive to crash to learn a lesson. Have a backup ready. Go on to sites like www.mozy.com to save your files.

17.  The Power of PVR/TIVO – Record your favourite TV shows and watch them later by fast forwarding all those unwanted ads.

18.  De-clutter – Declutter both your work space as well as negative emotions for a co-worker or boss

19.  Economies of Scale – Cook more today when you have time and save for tomorrow

20.  Car pool – Leaving aside all environmental concerns and carbon footprints, car polling leaves you free to take care of your business while other person drives.

21.  Get a BHAG – BHAG (Big Hair Audacious Goal) is something you really really wanna do in the long run. Write it down and work toward achieving it one step at a time.

22.  Who’s got your back – If you’re accountable to someone, your productivity increases

23.  Join the 6’o clock Club – Waking up an hour earlier than you normally do leaves you to take care of a lot. By waking up early, you can ensure that you’ll work uninterrupted.

24.  Be Generous – A little bit of generosity goes a long way, so be generous in helping people when you can.

25. Well done! Reward yourself often.

MANY EMPLOYERS REQUIRE APPLICATIONS TO BE SUBMITTED BY E-MAIL or directly to their company website. To ensure your application is received in an easy-to-read document, there are steps you can take to ensure it is properly formatted. Typically, this involves preparing a plain text version of your application materials.

When applying by e-mail

Employers provide a variety of responses in terms of how they like to receive their applications:

• 87% preferred to receive résumés as attachments instead of in the text of an e-mail;

• 33% preferred the cover letter in the body of e-mail;

• almost 50% liked the cover letter attached (some said as a separate file from the résumé while others wanted it combined in one file with the résumé).

So how should you apply? You need to try to find out what format the employer wants by reading the posting carefully, checking the organization’s website or calling and asking. If you are going to attach your résumé it is recommended that you save it in a Rich Text Format (RTF) or as a PDF to ensure it can be opened by a variety of word processing programs. If you don’t know what format is preferred, experts say the safest action is still to send a plain text résumé in the body of the e-mail (see Creating a Plain Text Résumé below). This type of résumé is readable by all computers, no matter which program is being used.

Using online applications

Online forms automatically submit your application to the employer’s database. Often they include specific questions of interest to the employer. Have your plain text résumé  available when applying so you can copy and paste the information into the appropriate fields on the form. Employers may ask you to paste a cover letter into the form—so have that ready too. Enter all information carefully—you won’t get a second chance!

Helpful hints

• Ensure all your personal information is correct.

• Double-check your e-mail address. It will likely be the primary method of communication.

• Select a password that is polite and inoffensive, and record it in a place you will remember.

• Print a backup copy of each page of the questionnaire.

• Provide a narrative answer if requested—do not write See résumé. Employers use these answers as an indication of your communication skills and your ability to follow instructions. Try to prepare in advance; applications can sometimes be time limited.

Using résumé databases

Another online application alternative is posting your résumé on a résumé database, often found on job boards. Note that there are drawbacks such as privacy concerns. Consider using a service which offers some level of confidentiality such as Monster.ca or JobShark.com.

However, don’t expect your dream employer to start pounding on your door—the success rate using these sitback-and-wait methods to find work is quite low.

Creating a plain text (or text only) résumé

First open your résumé file in a word processor, then save your résumé as a text only document. Open your text résumé using a text editor such as Notepad and make any necessary changes.

Helpful hints

• Bold, italics, bullets, and various sizes of fonts will not appear in ASCII (the language of plain-text files). Instead, use capitals for headings.

• Most e-mail programs wrap text at about 65 or 72 characters. Therefore it is a good idea to put no more than 65 characters with a hard return at the end of each line (ie. press the enter key). If you don’t, any characters after this point may be dropped down to the next line and your résumé will appear disorganized.

• If your résumé contains page numbering, remove this information from the plain text version.

• Put key information at the top of your résumé. Don’t make the employer scroll to find it.

• Proofread carefully! An e-mail with a mistake will often end up being deleted.

• Do a test. Practice by sending an e-résumé to a friend (preferably one who uses a different e-mail

• Make your subject line informative, perhaps the title of the position for which you are applying.

Scannable résumés

If you are applying for a position and you know the employer will be scanning your application electronically into their database, there are certain steps you will want to take to ensure that your résumé will be scannable:

• Always apply online if given the option, then you won’t have to worry about whether or not your paper copy will be scanned clearly into the database.

• Use a standard 12 point font such as Helvetica, Arial, or Times New Roman, and substitute capital letters for fancy formatting.

• Avoid italics, underlining, graphics, bullets, columns, and shading.

• Print on the best quality printer possible using plain but good quality white paper and don’t fold or staple your résumé.

• You will also want to include keywords to increase the likelihood that your résumé will be found when the company does a keyword search. If you do, either put a separate section on the first page just after your name and address, or make sure you use keywords throughout your résumé. Keywords can include position titles, skills, education, industry terms—look at

the job description for ideas.

HTML or web résumés

A web résumé is one which contains hyperlinked, clickable text and images created in HTML. Create this type of résumé if you want to promote yourself on the Internet. A web résumé allows for greater creativity, but be careful—keep your résumé professional at all times, otherwise it is more likely to be a disadvantage rather than an advantage!

Suggested resources

Online recruiting methods keep changing, so it is a good idea to stay current with the trends in electronic résumés and cover letters.

Websites

• The Riley Guide ► www.rileyguide.com/eresume.html

• E-Resumes ► www.eresumes.com

Source:

http://www.careers.utoronto.ca/libResource/tipsheet.aspx?tr=dfd8ca7e087f4d66834607812b8c27a6

Labour market and industry research are a key part of career planning. During your decision-making process, use a broad understanding of the labour market to supplement your occupational research. Also, when preparing for an interview or writing a cover letter, this research can complement a solid understanding of the position and the organization.

WHAT IS IT AND HOW DO I USE IT?

Labour Market Information (LMI) can tell you about local economic activity, growing and declining sectors, and even potential employers. You can use LMI to determine what type of work is actually available in different industries in a particular location at a particular point in time, and make informed predictions about the future outlook.

An industry is defined by the kind of production (goods or services) its organizations are involved in such as education or telecommunications. Industry research targets these specific sectors of the economy.

A cautionary note…

Due to the dynamic nature of the new economy, LMI is time sensitive. It is important to remember that economic predictions are merely educated estimates and are not 100% reliable. Be sure to confirm your research by talking to professionals involved in your field of interest.

Also, remember that industry information is just one component of your career research. When researching possible careers, you must develop a strong sense of your own abilities and interests in order to select a career that is the best fit for you.

Step1- Identify work opportunities –

In this section, you will find current economic reports and Current and Cuture Trends binders which contain articles and reports regarding general trends in the labour market.

Industry specific titles

Be sure to check out some of our industry specific resources, including titles such as Get In The Game, Careers in the Game Industry, The Cultural Industries in Canada, and Biotech Career Guide — Career Opportunities and Educational Pathways in Canadian Biotechnology.

Vault Online Career Library

An encyclopedia of 35 industry profiles from Vault.com, contains information on industry trends as well as profiles of people working in the sector.

Associations Canada

Professional associations can be an excellent source of industry information — often producing industry periodicals or maintaining informative Web sites for their members. Associations Canada is a directory lists 20,000 associations in Canada.

Step 2-THE INTERNET

Try the following sites to get started. If you are not used to research and statistics, read Canada WorkinfoNET’s Using Labour Market Information Effectively to help you make sense of the information (link listed below).

The Alliance of Sector Councils ► www.councils.org

This site links to a variety of sector council sites in Canada, which can be an excellent source for

industry information.

Canada Newswire ► www.newswire.ca

A news database that is searchable by company name or industry sector.

Canada WorkinfoNET ► www.workinfonet.ca/cwn/english/index.cfm?cat=1

A national website with a detailed labour market information and outlook section. Includes information on how to use LMI effectively, communities and regions, Canada wide, world wide, as well as specific occupations and industries.

HRSDC Ontario ► www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/gateways/where_you_live/regions/on.shtmlSearch

for labour market and industry information by city and industry.

For an overview of Ontario labour market trends, please visit

► www1.on.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/ojf/ojf.jsp? lang=e&section=Overview &noc=0000

Jobs Etc ► www.jobsetc.ca/category_drilldown.jsp?category_id=128&crumb=12&crumb=42An HRDC site with job-searching information. Be sure to check out What Trends Will Affect Me and My Work?

Labour Market Information

► http://labourmarketinformation.ca

Labour Market Information across Canada and links to regional and provincial sites.

NewWork News

► www.newwork.com/

This site focuses on career and labour market news—updated daily. It also contains a broad variety of general links and articles.

Radical Change Workbook

► www.alis.gov.ab.ca/pdf/cshop/RadicalChange.pdf

This workbook from the government of Alberta features information on labour market trends and incorporates these into a well designed career-planning manual.

Statistics Canada

► www.statscan.caOffers

access to the latest economic indicators for the labour market, and much more.

Strategis Canada

► http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_indps/engdoc/homepage.html?categories=e_bis

Search Industry Canada’s business information site from the business information by sector page.

Surfing for Work

► http://surfingforwork.com/topic.htm?chapterid=31 &chapter=4

Although this online tutorial is focused on British Columbia, many of the research tips and resources are applicable Canada-wide.

WetFeet.com

► www.wetfeet.com/asp/industries_atoz.asp

WetFeet Press has a very detailed job information site with occupational, company, and industry insider guides. Although much of this US-based site is presented only in part, to urge you to buy the complete guide, the industry profile pages provide quite a bit of useful information.

Additional sites

There are a number of private organizations that conduct economic research, such as banks and employment agencies. Here are a few sites to get you started.

• Bank of Montreal ► www.bmo.com/economic
• CIBC ► www.cibcwm.com/research
• Manpower Canada ► www.ca.manpower.com/cacom/ index.jsp?language=en

STEP 3 — PERIODICAL INDEXES

Online periodical indexes can help you locate recent articles on industry trends. Look under the industry name and a list of references will appear if the subject has received media coverage. CBCA (Canadian Business and Current Affairs) or ProQuest are excellent starting points.

STEP 4 — MORE RESOURCES

Business Information Centre, Toronto Public Library

► www.tpl.toronto.on.ca/uni_bus_index.jsp Located in the Metro Reference Library (789 Yonge St.), the centre offers a range of current and historical material in a variety of formats.

Source: www.careers.utoronto.ca

CONTRARY TO BELIEF, GOVERNMENT JOBS ARE NOT ALL DESK JOBS —with a variety of departments across all levels of government, there is ample opportunity for career advancement. Furthermore, as a large number of employees in the public sector are reaching the age of retirement, opportunities are expected to increase.

Federal Government Careers:

To learn about careers in the Federal Public Service, check out ►http://itsmydaycestmajournee.gc.ca/itsmyday/home/index.asp.

The Public Works and Government Services website provides information on careers and creating a standout application

► www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/carrieres-careers/prof-eng.html.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) is the recruitment department for the federal government. In addition to opportunities for the general public (► www.jobs.gc.ca), check out some of their student programs listed below.

Post-Secondary Recruitment (PSR)

This is the main recruitment program for post-secondary graduates. Applicants are required to write a Situational Judgment Test — some positions require additional tests (samples and details online). Apply to specific job postings or submit your profile to the general inventory at

► www.jobs.gc.ca.

Check the site regularly throughout the year as some programs close as early a October. Other programs of interest for graduates include the Management Trainee Program (MTP) and the Accelerated Economist Training Program (AETP).

Federal Student Work Experience Program

This program is the primary vehicle to recruit for some 9,000 part-time and summer student jobs each year. There is no deadline for applying to the general inventory, but some departments hire early in the year. You must be a full-time student at an accredited institution and planning to return to full-time studies in the next academic term. Apply online

► www.jobs.gc.ca.

Departments that don’t use the PSC

Some departments hire only on their own websites including the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS)

► www.csis-scrs.gc.ca

and the Coast Guard,

► www.cgc.ns.ca.

For contact information for other departments and staff in the federal government visit

► www.canada.gc.ca/directories/direct_e.html.

Research Affiliate Program (RAP)

Get research experience in government facilities and meet course requirements in science ► http://jobs-emplois.gc.ca/srp-rap-par/index_e.htm.

Accent and Odyssey programs

Travel across Canada to teach English on a part-time (Accent) or full-time (Odyssey) basis

► www.cmec.ca/olp.

Working abroad

The Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) website ►www.international.gc.ca/jobs-emplois/categories.aspx provides information on careers with the Foreign Service. You can get paid international work experience through DFAIT’s International Youth Programs. They sponsor internships at Canadian embassies and consulate offices worldwide. Visit ► www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/123go/menu-en.asp. Some embassies abroad offer special student internships, for a list of embassies visit

► www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/world/embassies/menu-en.asp.

Provincial Government Careers

The Ontario Public Service (OPS) is the second largest employer in Ontario with over 25 ministries and special offices. Check out the Career Streams page to discover a variety of options you can pursue

►www.gojobs.gov.on.ca/CareerStreams.asp.

New jobs are posted every Friday so be sure to check the OPS site regularly at

► www.ontario.ca/careers.

Visit the Youth and New Professionals section for programs just for recent graduates and students.

To get to a list of ministries and agencies go to

► www.infogo.gov.on.ca/english/.

For temporary positions find out which employment agencies a particular ministry uses by contacting its human resources branch directly.

Ontario Internship Program

► www.internship.gov.on.ca

Recent grads from the last two years can apply for this two-year program for full-time work in areas such a policy development, HR and IT. Participants often continue on to permanent jobs in the Ontario Public Service. Applications are due the end of January. Throughout the hiring process candidates accumulate points from their résumé, cover letter, interview, and references. The candidate with the most points is offered the position. When preparing your application, look at the Job Spec(ifications) found on the Ontario Public Service website or call the ministry’s HR department for a copy. Use the keywords from the Job Spec to tailor your application and prepare for the interview.

Be prepared to face a panel interview consisting of at least three people: an HR employee, a manager, and a non-union representative. Key points to remember when

preparing for your interview:

• brush up on knowledge of Ontario politics, specifically the make-up of the Ontario government;

• demonstrate good communication skills and an intent to become bilingual (if not already so);

• be prepared to demonstrate how your strengths and education can be applied in the Ontario Public Service.

Ontario Legislature Internship Programme

Every year eight recent graduates are selected for this ten-month internship with backbench members of the legislature.

Applications are open to the end of February.

► www.olip.ontla.on.ca

Municipal Government Careers

For info on municipal governments visit these key sites:

• Listing of municipalities

► www.munisource.org/dal/siteupdates/state.cfm?state=Ontario

• Advertised postings

► www.ontariomunicipaljobs.com

• News and postings

► www.municipalworld.com

• For municipalities outside of Ontario

►http://tug.lib.uwaterloo.ca/gp/a_canadacities.html

The City of Toronto

The City of Toronto employs over 39,000 people in more than 4,000 types of work including social services, emergency services, and parks and recreation. ►www.toronto.ca/employment.

The City of Toronto phone directory provides contact information and profiles of elected officials and current staff members at ►www.toronto.ca/city_directory/corporatedirectory.htm#4.

Information on Toronto’s community, social, health, and other government related services is available in the Blue Book — Directory of Community Services in Toronto, available online ► www.211toronto.ca.

Additional government information The Canadian Sourcebook and the Government Index provide information on government and public services in Canada. The Metro Urban Affairs Library (ground floor, Metro Hall, 55 John Street) and the Metro Toronto Reference Library (789 Yonge Street) have collections of books on career paths at all government levels as well as materials on urban and municipal affairs.

Getting Started With The Government

Before starting any job search it is crucial to have a solid understanding of what you are seeking and what you have to offer. If you are interested in working for a particular department, go to their websites to learn about the work they do and opportunities they offer. Set up an information interview to determine if a career in this field would interest you.

Currently in university?

Acquire skills and experience now through volunteering and student jobs to increase your chances of getting hired full-time when you graduate.

Source: http://www.careers.utoronto.ca

There is more to getting paid for the work you do than just a salary. Depending on the industry, position, and level of experience, benefits packages can include bonuses and stock options, or other less tangible options that give satisfaction and happiness at work.

Base salary

Base salary is the standard compensation you receive for the job you have been hired to do. Because the labour market is comprised of organizations in different sectors – eg. self-employment, sales, small companies, e-businesses, etc., base salaries will differ accordingly.

Stock options

Stock options are becoming one of the more popular incentives to offer employees. This allows you to purchase company shares at a special employee price. Sometimes stock is simply given as bonuses. Organizations see this as a good opportunity to motivate their staff by giving them a vested interest in the overall success of the company.

Bonuses

Bonuses are becoming more widely used in the workplace. The more responsibility you have, the more likely your compensation will include bonuses. This ensures the organization that you will go out on a limb for them since you have a stake in their company. Profit sharing, gain sharing, instant incentives, and recognition awards all make up the types of bonuses available.

Benefits

Benefits affect your physical and financial health as well as your lifestyle. Employers give benefits because in some areas, it is required by law. In other cases, employers simply want you to be personally satisfied so you can give them 100% of your potential. Common benefits are health, vision, and dental coverage; pension plan; insurance; daycare; vacation; tuition subsidies; and memberships to health clubs.

There has been an increase in alternative work arrangements driven by the desire of employees to have more time for their families or to pursue other interests. Organizations that understand the importance of keeping good employees happy and thus have introduced programs such as telecommuting (a work-at-home program), flextime, functional dressing, and job sharing.

Finding Salary Information

Browsing the internet is the good place to start. If you still need more information, try contacting industry associations in your sector. They would know if a recent survey exists, and might be willing to answer a specific question for free. To identify organizations in your field, consult the Associations Canada directory.

Also, if there are any trade publications specializing in news coverage of your industry, they may mention or produce their own salary surveys. If the workplace is unionized, find out which union represents your category of workers and call them to find out about salary ranges.

Negotiating Salary and Benefits

Negotiating your compensation package can be a tricky process. Check out these tips to get started:

• Research your profession’s salary range as outlined above and negotiate based on facts — not just on your preferences.
• Determine a target salary range — having a specific objective can help you get close.
• Don’t initiate salary and benefits discussions. Wait for the interviewer to bring the subject up even if it’s postponed to a second interview. Typically, the best time to negotiate your salary is after you receive the offer, and before you accept it.
• When application forms ask for your salary and benefits requirements, say “They are negotiable” — without knowing the details about benefits and the position, you can’t accurately select a salary figure. If you are asked to provide current salary, write “To be covered during the interview”.
• Consider the cost of living if you are moving to a new area. If it’s higher, you can suggest that you be paid a differential.
• If discussing why you deserve a substantial increase, use examples of your accomplishments that prove your value, not merely your experience. Comparisons to your current salary are irrelevant and should be avoided.
• Always assume a firm’s first offer is negotiable and never accept an offer at the interview. Express your strong interest, tell your interviewers that you will contact them shortly with your decision. Analyse all the offers with a family member or a friend. You can also get an objective second opinion from an insurance, investment, or bank professional.
• Keep in mind that some components of your compensation package might be non-negotiable. Entry-level positions are often attached to job grades with preset salary ranges. If this is the case, focus on the aspects that might be negotiable including starting date, date of first salary review, mentorship, or education assistance.

Evaluating Multiple Offers?

Here are some tips from a recent employer survey:

• Consider both offers – determine which is better for you and negotiate with that institution before accepting. Don’t just focus on short-term items like signing bonuses – consider your fit with the position and the organization in the long-term.
• Be honest with the employers; indicate time pressures you may be under to accept an offer from someone else. You can ask for more time to consider your options – most employers will consider a short extension reasonable.
• If both offers are attractive, honestly let them know what it is that is appealing about the other offer.
• Do not play the organizations off against each other to leverage your salary – this is considered unethical and will reflect badly on your character. You could even have your offer rescinded.

Source: http://www.careers.utoronto.ca

The world of work may seem like a different planet to someone who is starting it for the first time, with a whole new set of rules to learn and new challenges to overcome. Whether you are starting a new job or wondering about managing workplace relationships, alternative work options, or career change, you need some direction to overcome these obstacles.

How to succeed in a new job

Starting in a new job usually means you will have to pay your dues—which means proving that you have what it takes to succeed. This may involve doing work less exciting

and less challenging than you would like, and doing tasks you would prefer not to do. This is normal— everyone who came before you had to go through the same process when they started out too!

It is important to approach this stage with a positive attitude to make your job easier, and to make a better impression on those senior to you. You will be seen as a team player who understands and is committed to the bottom line, and who is not afraid to work hard. Some important general tips to keep in mind are listed below.

• Listen more than you talk. Listen to what more experienced people have to say before you add your opinion. The best impression is created by those who don’t say much, but when they do, people listen.

• When you complete an assignment, ask for another or suggest one for which you feel you are qualified.

• Keep references to experiences with your previous employer to a minimum.

• Always meet deadlines.

• If you don’t know an answer or how to complete an assignment, either ask someone or research the answer. There is nothing wrong with admitting that you don’t know about something as long as you are willing to find out.

• Always arrive on time and don’t be the first person out the door at the end of the day.

• Don’t be afraid to make a mistake—we all make them. The key is to learn from our mistakes and to not repeat them.

• Make sure that you completely understand assignments. No one minds being asked questions to ensure understanding.

• Present solutions for problems and learn to be tactful and discreet.

• Have a vision. Know where you want to be in 18 months or in two years.

Know what is expected of you —

When starting a new position there are a number of things you will need to investigate early on. Be sure to clarify the organization’s policies and procedures (both formal and informal) regarding dress code, telephone use, hours of work, training, sick days, vacation, benefits, dealing with the media, and organizational hierarchy.

Print resources —

For more advice on succeeding in your new job, consult some of these resources online:

Online resources

• Build your network with a LinkedIn account and start

sharing ideas, knowledge, and opportunities with your

new contacts

• Seeking Success offers a variety of articles covering

subjects like mentors and success at work, home and

with family ► www.seekingsuccess.com

• Quintessential Careers offers excellent resources to

help with work-related issues ► www.quintcareers. Com

workplace_resources.html

Managing relationships

Interacting effectively with your supervisors and coworkers is crucial to your success in the workplace. Learning to effectively navigate office politics can be tricky, but is an essential skill, regardless of profession.

Mentors —

A mentor is typically someone who has more professional and personal life experience than yourself and can act as a guide, coach or adviser in helping you achieve your career goals. Often your mentor will be someone from your workplace, but in many cases, they can be a trusted friend, family member, previous supervisor, colleague, or teacher. Your mentor can assist you to assess your skills and interests, set goals, offer advice, and connect you with people who may help you move forward in your career.

What are your rights?

You may occasionally encounter behaviour or treatment from an employer or colleague that you feel is inappropriate or unfair. The best way to protect yourself is to know your rights and responsibilities.

Balancing work and personal life

In the first few months of your new job, it is normal to spend more time and energy adjusting to the new demands of your work. Once you feel more settled in your work, it is helpful to assess the multiple demands in your life and begin the process of managing them.

This process starts with an identification of the various elements in your life that are currently important to you.

These can include: work, volunteer work, social and professional clubs or associations, family, friends, interests, professional development courses, and personal time. Once you have created this list, prioritize in order of importance. Next, determine how many hours in a week are used for work and how many hours you have remaining for personal pursuits. Use this personal time to explore the items you have prioritized. While you may not be able to incorporate all of the personal interests you’ve identified, this process can prevent you from feeling overwhelmed and can effectively allow you to balance your work and personal interests.

• The Working Moms Refuge can be a place for career

moms to escape from their juggling act and find

support and advice on how to balance career and

family life ► www.momsrefuge.com/index.html

• For those struggling with time management, this

website can help you budget your time more effectively

► www.time-management-guide.com

Alternative work options

There are a number of alternatives to the traditional fulltime job, including telecommuting, job-sharing, and even starting your own business. Working Solo, Inc. is a website full of resources for the home-based telecommuter, consultant, freelancer, or business owner.

Find resources, information

tips, links, and more ► www.workingsolo.com

Personal financial planning

There are no hard and fast rules for financial planning since every situation and set of circumstances are unique. However, there are a number of general guidelines you may wish to follow.

Career change or job loss

Whether intentionally or not, the prospect of career change is something everyone has to deal with throughout their careers. In recent years, career changes have accelerated to the point where the average worker can expect to change careers at least five times. The key to dealing with change will be preparation, including a flexible career plan and well developed skills.

Online resources — For articles on career change, try

Monster ► http://change.monster.ca and Quintessential

Careers ► www.quintcareers.com/career_change.html.

The Changing Course website is designed to give you

the resources, tools, and inspiration you need to follow

your dreams of a more fulfilling life doing what you love.

► www.changingcourse.com

Source: Career Center University of Toronto.

So, you are out of university/college or you are new to Canada or you are thinking about a career switch and you start your search. During one of your highly demanding and hectic search sessions, you come across a company information session. Your first thought would be to over look that session because you think you won’t be hired by just attending one of those. But some wise person said, knowledge is power, and the more you  have it about a company the better chances there are for you to get hired.

As someone exploring the job market, it is essential for you to do a search of the company you want to work with.

Essentially the purpose of these information sessions is to promote the organization to potential employees. These sessions are designed to demonstrate the benefit, the advantage to and an opportunity available within an organization. It is a kind of an opportunity for the company to create a relationship with new and upcoming graduates and employees. It is sort of the first link in a chain as a recruiting process. Organizations want the attendess to come out of this session and say “Wow! This is an organization that I want to work for, that’s the team that I want to be a part of.”

To make these information sessions successful, the presenters follow  “what’s in it for me approach for attendees or for students.” They provide a high level intro to what the organization is all about. They try to highlight why their specific industry is exciting and dynamic. They explain the opportunities, career advancement and other advantages to be part of a large organization.

At these sessions, the companies are also looking forward to see you at your best behavior and be impressed. These sessions are designed as a part of their recruiting process. They look for attendees that are prepared. Maybe people who have done research on their products and who ask questions. We want you to come and stick around after the session and introduce yourself; maybe provide some contact information and look professional. They want to see attendees come with their best effort for.

Here are a few tipe for you to help make the most of company information sessions:

• Use this opportunity to learn more
• Ask yourself if this is the right company for me
• Do you see yourself working with this company in the future?
• Ask questions, take notes, listen and pay attention
• Use the information obtained to help fill out your cover letter of the application

Do NOT do the following things during a session:

• Don’t look disinterested.
• Don’t be disruptful.
• Orhanizations like to think that you come and want to learn about the information, about organization. They don’t want people to ruin that for people who really do want to be there.
• “Don’t look like that you are just coming for the free food.”

You have landed your first job—congratulations! Now that you’re in, what can you do to make the most of it and develop your career?

Even if it’s not your dream job, your first position is an opportunity to develop your professional reputation. This reputation will follow you to your next job and beyond. And, you never know where the skills and connections that you develop now may lead in the future.

Develop a good professional relationship with your supervisor

• Read your job description, and understand your responsibilities, both daily and long-term. If you aren’t sure about some of your responsibilities, it’s a good idea to ask questions, especially early on in the new job. And then, be prepared to contribute beyond the job description.
• Ask your supervisor how frequently s/he would like to meet with you and respect that decision. If you mutually decide on weekly meetings, save as many questions as you can for those meetings. Take notes to keep track of any decisions that are made and of things to add to your “To Do” list.
• When you go to your supervisor with questions/concerns, be prepared to offer ideas/solutions. This is one way to show initiative.
• Be respectful of your supervisor’s supervisor; however do not go over your supervisor’s head unless it’s absolutely necessary, such as in an emergency.
• Own up to your mistakes—employers understand that you are not perfect and you will be judged based on how you work to fix your mistakes, not on how well you make excuses.
• Accept constructive criticism without being defensive. This will allow you to maximize your on the job learning.

Leave a good impression with everyone

• Maintain a positive attitude. It’s important to be seen as productive, professional and willing to learn.
• Learn the corporate culture—the true dress code, workplace philosophy and political climate. Find a colleague on your team or in your department that you trust and learn from them. Make it a point to observe how things get done and who has expertise in specific areas.
• Be a good team player. This means offering to help your colleagues when they need it and delivering on any promises you make. It will also help you make a unique contribution to the organization.
• Be on time every day, or better yet, 10-15 minutes early. Don’t mentally check out 30 minutes before your shift ends—keep working until it’s time to go home.
• Turn your cell phone off or on silent mode. Avoid texting during working hours and never during meetings. If you need to make a personal call, do this on your official breaks.
• Use your business computer as a business computer—don’t surf the net, even if everyone else does.
• No job is perfect and no co-worker is perfect. It’s important to avoid bad mouthing your colleagues to “look good” and/or complaining about the work. Keep your workplace discussions constructive and nonpersonal. You also need to be careful about “venting” about work/co-workers/clients—if you’re not careful, you can quickly be seen as a complainer.
• It’s OK to have fun—appropriately. There will be times when you will be having informal discussions with your colleagues such as on breaks or first thing in the morning. This is a normal part of any workplace; however, it’s important to avoid discussions that are very personal, political or unprofessional.
• Do maintain your sense of humour and enjoy your job—work can be fun! Being able to laugh at yourself and keeping a light touch as you encounter problems can also help to smooth over difficult situations.

Consider your long-term career development

• Find a mentor in the organization. This is someone who has been with the organization for a while, understands the corporate culture, and is willing to provide you with periodic advice.
• Invest in ongoing training. Determine which skills are required to excel in your current job and the next job you want and find ways to develop those skills/qualifications through courses, networking, volunteering.
• Say yes to office committees/work teams. Many organizations have internal committees/events and need volunteers. These can be excellent opportunities for you to develop skills and to network. Be mindful of how many committees you join as you will still need to complete your daily tasks.
• Join a professional association and attend the events. Keep up with trends in your area by reading trade publications, books and online research.
• Stay active in your community with volunteering/extra-curricular activities.

Take care of yourself

• Your career is important but remember to take care of your health, both physical and mental.
• Make time for friends and family, too. They are a great source of support and strength.
• Enjoy activities outside of work such as getting together with friends, working out or creative endeavours. These pastimes can help you do your job better by remaining balanced and developing a broader life perspective.
• Exercise, eat right and try to get a good night’s sleep.

Source:

Ron Wener, Employment Coach with U of T’s Career Centre on the St. George campus

Have a great idea for a product or service? That’s exciting! Need help getting your business started? Want some tips on business registration, financing and taxes? Listed below are several great sources of information on these and other business topics.

The Basics:

• Starting and running a business can be a lot of work. Are you ready to put in the time and effort? Can you handle the risks that go with a business’ ups and downs?
• Do some research to find out if there is a market for what you have to offer. Who will your customers be? Where will you sell your product? Who is the competition? What will you offer customers to make them choose your products over someone else’s?
• Think about financing. Where will you get money to set-up your business, create your product, pay staff, build inventory, and do marketing and sales? Can you support yourself while building your new business?
• Learn more about what it takes to set up your business. Among other things, you will need to know important things about federal and provincial licensing, local safety and health regulations, environmental protection rules, liability, employee deductions and labour standards.
• How will you structure your new company? Will it consist of just you as proprietor? Is it a partnership? A franchise? Will you incorporate? Each of these options has advantages and disadvantages, depending on the type of business you choose to run.

Helpful Web Sites:

1. Use the Business Start-up Assistant to find key information about business planning, market research, registration, financing, taxation, hiring and labour standards, importing and exporting, managing and promoting your business, and a lot more!
2. While focused on business finance and services, the Business Development Bank of Canada Web site also offers tips on starting a business through its My project: Start a business section.
3. Use the Sources of Financing section of the Canadabusiness.ca Web site to locate traditional or alternative resources for financing your small business, plus an extensive directory of Canadian financial providers, information on different types of financing, and tips to help you secure the financing you need.
4. How will your business use the Internet? Learn more about starting and running an e-business in a global environment on Industry Canada’s e-biz.enable Web site.

Valuable information, tools and resources for small and medium-sized businesses are available on Industry Canada’s Small- and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) Direct Web site. Source:

http://www.youth.gc.ca:80/eng/topics/jobs/business.shtml