How to Create an Online Presence (And Stay Present) with Meredith J. Powell

Emma Bullen

Simon Sinek tells us we’re addicted to our phones and it’s ruining our relationships. So how can we create a strong online presence, without spending every passing hour maintaining our social media feeds? Is it even possible to create and maintain a healthy online/offline balance? We asked Vancouverite, serial entrepreneur, and strategic advisor Meredith J. Powell for her advice.

In his book, Leaders Eat Last, Simon Sinek talks about how we’re all becoming dopamine addicts — getting that rush of endorphins every time we get a new email or a text message. When you’re building an online brand, that chemical imbalance can start creating problems in our personal life. But it is possible to build a brand without it taking over our live.

Be Authentic

Creating and maintaining a strong online presence takes energy. Being authentic is key to maintaining balance. It’s important that your brand is intuitive and natural to any company, founder or individual. A great example is fellow Vancouverite Sunny Lenarduzzi. You meet Sunny, and she truly radiates positivity, embodying her online presence and messaging. Continue reading →

7 Secrets for Getting that Hot New Job in 2017

Emma Bullen

Image of people focused on their goals from Shutterstock.

Ah, 2016… or 20-suck-steen as it’s been called in our house a few times. Can’t wait to see the back of it? Us too. Many people are starting the New Year with the goal of finding a new job. If you are, you’ve come to the right place. Make it your best year yet, with 7 secrets from FreshGigs that will help you land a new job, and plan for future career happiness, to create a kick-ass 2017.

Clarify what you want from life

Feel like you’re spinning your wheels, but not getting what you want? Or are you focused on material things, but still feeling empty? Getting caught up on the wrong details can lead you away from what’s meaningful in life. So, before you go chasing the next big opportunity, take time to set the right goals and you’ll create a bigger impact. Continue reading →

Happy Holidays from FreshGigs!

Emma Bullen

It’s that time of year, and we’re wrapping up a busy and productive 2016 here at FreshGigs.ca

We want to take a moment to show appreciation, say thank you, and send warm wishes to all of you in the community or as we refer to you all internally — “the FG Familia”.

This is a special time of year — a chance to take some time for yourself to review, plan, reflect, and spend time with loved ones.

Give yourself permission to just slow down a bit and do the things that make you feel great and fully recharged.

We are truly grateful for all of you and will continue to work very hard in 2017 to make FreshGigs.ca the best place in Canada to find marketing and creative jobs and for employers to find that very special talent.

Here’s to a happy new year, holiday season, and a great 2017!
Michael, Sam, Vincent, Emma, and the whole team at FreshGigs.ca

Be Proud of Your Work

Emma Bullen

Image of two coworkers discussing a project on a laptop from Shutterstock

Do you feel like a failure when you don’t get the feedback or success you’re looking for? A few words from entrepreneur Evan Carmichael on how getting caught up in the numbers game can distract you from what matters—personal growth.

I think there’s a real danger in judging the success of your work only by the results that it gets you.

We’ve talked a lot about this on the channel, that it’s not just about the outcome, it’s not just about the goal, it’s about the process. That how you get there is way more important than the fact that you got there. And I think, again, a lot of people think that because they put a lot of work into something, but it doesn’t get that success that they’re looking for, that it was a failure. Continue reading →

Creative Cultures: SapientNitro has the DNA for Transformation

Helen Bullingham

In our Creative Cultures series, writer Helen Bullingham spends a day inside companies to learn how hiring, onboarding, and company culture play a role in employee happiness. From start-ups to design firms and all in-between, we’re pulling back the curtain on what it’s like to work in inventive and productive environments. Today, Helen is at SapientNitro in Toronto.

SapientNitro was everything I thought it was going to be and more. Much more. The ‘new age agency for the always on customer’ is in the business of delivering Digital Transformation for clients. But with the nearly scientific approach they take to every aspect of employee hiring, onboarding and engagement, another kind of metamorphosis is enabled; the personal and professional transformation of staff. Continue reading →

Creative Cultures: O2E Brands

Crystal Henrickson

In our Creative Cultures series, we spend a day inside companies to learn how hiring, onboarding, and company culture play a role in employee happiness. From start-ups to design firms and all in-between, we’re pulling back the curtain on what it’s like to work in inventive and productive environments. Today, writer Crystal Henrickson is at O2E.

O2E: it stands for Ordinary to Exceptional, and their first brand, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? has paved the way for other home services brands like WOW 1 DAY PAINTING, You Move Me, and Shack Shine. You might be thinking this is the least sexy place to build a career, but there are plenty of reasons why Brian Scudamore’s home services empire, has become one of BC’s most desirable employers. Continue reading →

Brand YOU: Serious about self-promo? Go digital

Liz Da Ponte

Image of branding concepts via Shutterstock.

The second in a two-part series, writer Liz Da Ponte explains the ins and outs of self-branding. In part one, Liz gave pointers on how to define your personal brand. This week, she advises that in order to kick ass at self-promo, you need to be sure your tech game is on-point.

Is your personal brand top of mind yet? If you’ve got a few technical skills under your hat and are okay with spending some money, you may want to check out the options listed below.

In the first post about getting started with your personal brand , we looked at Wix, Tumblr and Branded.me as free options to get your own site up and running. Now, let’s check out some paid options. Continue reading →

Surviving the bad interview blues

Guest Author

Image of serious businessman from Shutterstock.

Most companies seem not to have updated their recruitment practices since the 1980s. Unfortunately, that doesn’t change the fact that job seekers need, well, a job. So how do you gracefully endure those painful interviews? Writer Melissa Ligertwood‘s got the scoop.

Interviews are stressful at the best of times. Besides finding the perfect outfit to simultaneously convey confidence and humility, there’s the mental preparation for infinite interview questions and scenarios.

And that’s not all. You are expected to do homework, too. Continue reading →

Clarify what you want out of life

Guest Author

Image of people focused on their goals from Shutterstock.

Do you feel like you’re spinning your wheels but not achieving your goals? Or are you aspiring to material things – yet still feeling empty? Are you focused on all that glitters – but not your goals? A few words from entrepreneur Evan Carmichael on how getting caught up in the wrong details can lead you away from what’s truly meaningful in life.

I think people focus on the wrong things in life – or just in general.

Yup, People focus on the wrong things.

Like, you’re attached to, let’s say…a Porsche, right. You want the Porsche. Why do you want the Porsche?

Is it because you want the excitement? Maybe you just want it as a status symbol. So many people have these goals – like, I want to make X amount of dollars, or I want to go on that vacation, or I want to buy that car, or get a house – because it’s a status symbol, because they feel it’s some kind of sign. Continue reading →

If you brand it, they will come

Guest Author

Image of brand sketch on notebook from Shutterstock.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a single-owned small business, or multi-national conglomerate, your brand is your face to the world. And all good brands have a great style guide – or at least, they all should. A simple document that outlines everything from the specific colours and type to logos and taglines used by a brand and where.

Admittedly, not everyone cares about such detail (fewer still actually get excited about it). So how do you get people fired up over branding? Simple. You make an event of it. Josh McInerney, Manager of Design and Creative at Ryerson University and self-professed design nerd, explains.

I love brand guideline booklets. If you’re a design nerd like me you’ll know what I’m talking about. Continue reading →