Seven ways a career coach can recharge your job hunt

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If you’re having trouble identifying your career goals, why not try speaking with someone who specializes in the industry you want to pursue? No, not a mentor – a career counsellor! S/he can advise you on potential jobs in your area of interest, and recommend you to employers where there is a right fit. Michelle Bogle explains.

Job loss is a real punch in the gut. It’s a feeling that I remember quite well when my career came to a grinding halt after my long-tenured position was eliminated. It was a tough time filled with a range of raw emotions – shock, disbelief, outward anger, inner self-criticism and fear. My self-confidence took a hit and my wheels were spinning when it came time to shift my job search into gear.

That’s when I decided to hire a career counsellor – and I’m so glad that I did! Continue reading →

The cult of personality: how to deal with difficult co-workers

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In many ways, the workplace is just like high school. A bunch of people who would never ordinarily choose to be in close proximity are expected to work together on shared goals, for long hours in often stressful conditions. It’s not surprising that sometimes we don’t get on. Writer Fiona Tapp has advice on how to keep your cool – and your job.

According to the Globe and Mail two-thirds of Canadians are working more than 45 hours a week. And love it or not, you spend a lot of time at work. Often with people you like even less, so it’s worth thinking about how to cope with the worst offenders.

Who: Time-wasters

These people turn up late every day, they never meet deadlines, they ask you to help them with tasks, they steal ideas and manage to have an air of entitlement all the while. Continue reading →

Got looks? You’re hired: a tale of frustration and discrimination

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Age discrimination is against the law, but it happens every day. Doubtful? Have a look around you…when last did you see a beautiful woman in the unemployment line? Conny Manero sounds off.

A few years ago, I was working for an investment company when one of the admin assistants was promoted, and thus a vacancy opened up.

A temp agency was contacted, and the next day a woman in her forties showed up who barely stood five feet tall. By the end of the day, her assignment was terminated.

The second temp had all eyes on her because of her flamboyant appearance. Her long, straggly grey hair was in sharp contrast with her bright orange blouse, ankle long green skirt, and multi-coloured fringed shawl. She was given her walking papers by lunchtime. Continue reading →

How to include your boss in your career plans

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You just landed a great role with a company you love. Your success will be defined by your ability to manage the objectives of your role, but your long-term happiness will be influenced by your development and growth. A good insurance for career happiness starts with a thoughtful career development plan. Writer Dayton English explains.

If you’re a superstar, or showed potential, you’d better believe that a hiring manager is going to want to maximize the ROI that comes with hiring you. What does this mean? Quite simply, to keep you happy and productive, if you provide them with a plan that encourages your commitment to supporting the company, they’ll likely do everything they can to help you honour that commitment. Continue reading →

Need-to-know basis: The personal information your boss should be privy to (or not)

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No boss knows everything there is to know about their employees. It’s impossible – unless of course, your boss doubles as a secret agent on the weekend. Writer Anna Goode explains.

So what is a boss allowed to know about you anyway? Can they ask if you’ve been ever been fired? They sure can. Can they ask if you’ve ever been arrested? How about whether or not you’ve been blacklisted.

In short, yes, no, and yes. So how do you handle these and other “hot seat questions” if they ever come up? Here are a few pointers to get you started. Continue reading →

Nine reasons why co-working is awesome

Guest Author

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With remote working becoming increasingly prevalent, employees and contractors alike have more options when it comes to getting work done outside of the office. Working from home is nice, but it can get boring or lonely. Working from a coffeeshop is fine, but sometimes the din can get distracting. In cases like these, Michelle Bogle likes co-working – and has a bunch of reasons why you might, too.

If you’re relatively new to freelance life, like me, you’ve likely considered joining a local coworking space. But, for those of us just starting out, it may seem like an added expense that you – or your business – are not ready to shoulder. After all, working out of your home or even your favourite coffee shop is “free” – if you don’t count all of those Americanos or iced coffees.

For me, coworking is definitely on the horizon for my freelance business. In my quest to find the right coworking environment to transition into, I’ve learned of a number of benefits along the way. Continue reading →

Exhausted? 7 Pick Me Ups That Are Better than Coffee

Emma Bullen

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Can we all agree that there are days when coffee doesn’t cut it? Don’t worry — we’re not going to tell you to and give it up, or meditate, or even exercise! Writer Emma Bullen has seven things you can do to give yourself a boost when you’ve hit a brick wall.

Look, it’s not that I don’t like meditation, deep breathing, and going for long walks in the country. I actually like all of those things. But seriously, if one more person tells me I need to do some visualization to boost my energy levels, I’m going to throw my natural deodorant at them. Continue reading →

What your body language says about you during a job interview

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For job seekers, few things are more frustrating than going on interview after interview and not getting hired. They have the perfect resume and cover letter reflecting their education, qualifications and experience, yet for some reason they don’t get the job. Could it be that there is something wrong with their body language? Conny Manero explains.

If you’re the perfect job candidate on paper but haven’t managed to get yourself hired, you might want to take a closer look at your body language. Or, ask a friend to help you with a mock interview and to give you some feedback.

According to Daisy Wright, author of the book Tell Stories, Get Hired, “An interview is a form of story-telling. You need to capture your audience’s attention and convince the hiring manager to choose you.” Continue reading →

Use these 7 tactics to handle any challenge at work

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It’s natural to feel a little nervous when taking on an unfamiliar task, but doubting yourself can seriously hinder your career growth. Whether you’re taking on a project that’s completely outside your comfort zone or starting a new job, fearlessly face new challenges head-on with these tips.

View the Challenge Positively

You’ll never wake up one day to find you’ve magically acquired a new skill. You need to push the envelope in order to develop, so rather than being stressed or fearful of a new challenge, accept it as an opportunity to grow and improve your skillset. Continue reading →

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Who: Time-wasters

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View the Challenge Positively