Author Archives: Guest Author

On-board and onward: learning the ropes at a new job

Image of business people working and relaxing in a creative space from Shutterstock.

Do you get the first-day-on-the-job jitters? You’re not alone…But what is your new employer doing to help you through those early days? In today’s article, author Michelle Sklar writes about how companies are helping new hires circumvent first-day awkwardness and fit right in.

You met the criteria of the job description in spades, won over the hiring-manager-as-gate-keeper and wowed your prospective boss with your skills and experiences throughout your interviews. Now it’s the night before you start your new job – and the excitement, combined with anxiety is starting to mount as you wonder:

“What’s my first day going to be like?”

Although most organizations have a company policy binder or code of conduct for new hires to review, more progressive companies are ditching the staid HR Department model for People + Culture hubs, with the hope of demonstrating that real people, not anonymous human resources, are the heart and soul of their organizations. Continue reading →

How cold calling can lead to hot jobs

Guest Author

Image of businesswoman talking on phone from Shutterstock.

Few things seem as challenging as picking up the phone and contacting an organization you don’t know to see if there are any job openings. But in this day and economy, it certainly can’t hurt to try a new and different way of finding employ. While it may be tempting to just pick up the phone and start calling, a systematic, reasoned approach might garner the best results.

Make a list

Start out by making three lists: companies you really want to work for, companies you wouldn’t mind working for, and places you don’t want to work but they’re in the field you work in. Social media sites like LinkedIn, industry association websites and online job search hubs can help you with names Continue reading →

On the hunt with: Monica Chang

Guest Author

This week, we debut On The Hunt – a new series where we interview potential job-seekers (whether out-of-work or transitioning) and talk to them about what the challenges have been, what their goals are, as well as any advice or tips they may have for other job seekers to stay motivated. This week, writer Jennie Lovan talks to job hunter Monica Chang.

I watch as Monica Chang adjusts herself in her seat. She is accompanied by her shih tzu, Toby, who impressively jumps into her lap, and joins us on our skype conversation. Like many people out there, Monica is keeping herself busy through various jobs while searching for that job she can call her career. I had the pleasure of sitting down with her and having a virtual chat about her hunt for the “dream job.” Continue reading →

How to turn ‘no’ into ‘nothing personal’

Guest Author

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The working world is rife with rejection. From “we really like your work, but…” to flat out “no,” It can really keep you down. Author Victoria Carnaghan has tips on how to gracefully turn no into next time.

Whether you’re a graphic designer, copywriter, illustrator or other creative type lucky enough to produce your passion in exchange for a living wage, the delight of doing what you love comes with a downside: you have to put your heart on the line every time you present your work.

Unlike an accountant who’s submitted the wrong tax form, this was a piece of you, and you’re it’s being turned down. Rejected. Continue reading →

Where do ideas come from?

Guest Author

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Whether you write, design or work in marketing, we all need to find new ways to express fresh ideas. Author Lee Jones talks about finding that inspiration in the every day.

Several years back – while working at a fairly large ad agency – an intern was assigned to sit in my office for the entire day to watch me intently and observe where my ideas came from. I laughed at the notion of someone staring at me like an exhibit in a zoo, and told her, “You’ll know when I have an idea because the fluorescent lights will start to flicker.” Continue reading →

From full-time to freelance: easing the transition into a whole new (working) world

Guest Author

Image of stylish girl using computer from shutterstock.

The transition from full-time employment to freelancing can be pretty terrifying. Moonlighting with a job like writing or web design while holding down a 9-5 is challenging enough. But sometimes, life makes your decisions for you – and in an instant, you find yourself without permanent employ.

I recently became a freelance writer after my full-time career came to an end.

Fortunately, my departure from the technology consulting company I was working for was amicable; I’ve already collaborated with them on writing projects, and I hope to continue with it. The old adage about not burning your bridges rings true in my case…I’d already been writing part-time while I was employed, so I just hit the ground running when I “decided” to pursue a full-time writing career.

It’s not that easy for everyone, though. Continue reading →

You do what? A look into the trend of unusual job titles

Guest Author

Hi! I’m Claire Francis, Chief Creative Commissioner of claireshegoes.com.

How does that sound? Strange? Exciting? Could you automatically tell what I do, or were you confused? Some of today’s job titles are alternately eye-catching and corny, and I wanted dive in and explore this trend.

Martial Artists need not apply

As I began looking up these new workplace words, I was glad to learn that I’m not the only one who’s noticed a difference in how today’s professionals refer to themselves. Friends mentioned people who go by things such as Imagineer. Continue reading →

Remember to rock: 5 influence marketing tips that work

Guest Author

Image of businessman working on a laptop from Shutterstock.

If you are a marketer, or don’t live under a rock, chances are that you have heard of influencer marketing and seen it in action. We are talking about instances when instagrammers, youtubers, bloggers and twitter folks with a ton of followers tell you how amazing a product is and that your life – even though you may not realize it – is utterly incomplete without it.

The rise of this particular type of marketing is in part due to the social media revolution, where consumers look towards their counterparts for purchasing decisions, the more famous the better. Continue reading →

Five Things Friday: Emily Mills

Guest Author

Five Things Friday is a departure from the interviews and features we typically post. Part conversation, Part Proust Questionnaire – but with just five questions, Five Things Friday (hashtag alert! #5TF) shows the lighter (and sometimes sillier) side of our interviewees. We’ll be talking to everyone we can get our grubby little hands on; it’s our way of introducing you to the communications, marketing and creative cognoscenti who rock their respective industries. This week, writer Claire Francis picks the brain of Emily Mills – Senior Communications Officer at CBC and “sheEO” of How She Hustles.

You’ve gone from an independent journalist to your current position as a Senior Communications Officer at CBC. What first attracted you to working in the media?

I didn’t see myself reflected enough in media – voices like mine felt like the exception, not the norm. We still have a long way to go in our industry to reflect diversity – different cultures, perspectives and expertise. Not just in the spotlight, but also behind-the-scenes. So rather than just complain, I decided to become part of the change I wanted to see. I started writing about what mattered to me – from hip hop and race relations, to gender politics and the need for more diverse voices in media. As I matured, so did my interests in a variety of areas.

The transition from journalism to communications then happened organically over time. Continue reading →

How your clients’ online experience can give you a competitive advantage

Guest Author

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What does the online discovery journey of a new user/customer or user look like? You’ll usually find the answer to this question in any Digital-Marketing-101, but for those of us who find ourselves fully immersed in the world of online strategy, it’s always important keep yourself in the shoes of the end-user.

The online experience (for most people) looks something like this:

Land on website > Browse content > Share and/or make an actionable decision > The end.

Well, sort of. The journey from discovery to purchase is far more complex, and often happens over an extended period of time. Continue reading →