Don’t Quit Just Yet: How To Make a Bad Job Better

Lori Franze

It happens. You take a new job and it never becomes the dream job you thought it would be or something changes at work and the place where you spend at least 40 hours a week becomes less than ideal. There are a few things you can do before throwing in the towel and finding a new job.

In 5 Ways to Resuscitate a Bad Job, Katie Simon offers some tips to resuscitate your job if it is boredom that has put it on life support. Having used some of these myself I can attest that they can add new life in to your workday!

A coffee once a month to check in with someone who you respect and can speak openly with can be a huge help.

1. Raise your hand for additional projects and activities

You don’t have to stay within the description of your job, if you are doing that role well. Ask for more, volunteer to lead projects, maybe the department needs a social committee or someone to organize Health Week. If you are bored in completing your daily tasks and have the time, raise your hand for a little more. It won’t go unnoticed.

2. Find a mentor! Be a mentor!

Depending on your level of experience and tenure in the company you might find great satisfaction in being a mentor at your organization. If you are more junior and/ or new to the company you might want to join your company’s mentorship program or seek out a mentor for yourself. It doesn’t have to be a formal program either. A coffee once a month to check in with someone who you respect and can speak openly with can be a huge help. Continue reading →

Reaching Your Full Potential: Tips From A Stanford Psychologist

Neil Wadhwa

Let’s get this out of the way: you’re talented. How far you tap into your inborn talents, however, all depends on the attitude and mindset you bring to your creative work, and how you choose to work with those around you.

Psychologist Carol Dweck, author of Mindset: The New Psychology for Success, believes that if you feel your talent can grow based on the amount of effort you put in, your potential is limitless.

Providing feedback is an easy way to facilitate growth in your co-workers – as long as you focus on the process.

The term for this is “growth mindset,” and is just one of the topics she discussed when she sat down for an interview with Jocelyn Glei. Here’s what else Carol has to say about the relationship between a growth mindset and your personal prosperity.

A “Fixed Mindset” Will Hold You Back

As children, we’re fearless. We believe we can do anything, and our creativity knows no bounds. But at a certain age this slows down, and even stops, as we begin to think of mistakes as failures.

This fear of failure permeates all aspects of our lives, and results in a “fixed mindset,” which is Carol’s term for people who believe that they only have a certain amount of limited ability. People with a fixed mindset are concerned with appearing “smart” at all times, and believe that talent comes naturally – and if they don’t believe they’re smart or talented, they won’t step out of their comfort zone to try and learn or develop. They effectively put a cap on their growth.

Having a “Growth Mindset” Means Embracing the Struggle

Have you ever pushed forward with a project in your personal or professional life in which you had no previous experience? It can be challenging at times, but with a growth mindset you embrace the effort required, understand that it may not come easy, and move forward. You’re determined to succeed, and no challenge can stop you.

This is the core difference between having a growth mindset and a fixed mindset. Those with a fixed mindset approach the same project, question their ability, and stop before ever getting started. Continue reading →

New Marketing, Creative, Design Jobs In Canada – July 18th, 2014

FreshGigs.ca Team

Manager of Inside Sales – Stephen Thomas Ltd – Toronto

Communications Officer – The Office of the Ontario Ombudsman – Toronto

Account Manager, Produce Sales – Fresh Direct Produce – Vancouver

Marketing & Events Coordinator – Petcurean Pet Nutrition – Chilliwack

Sales & Marketing Coordinator – Usability Matters – Toronto

Search Marketing Specialist – Graphically Speaking – Vancouver

Web Graphic/UI Designer – Graphically Speaking – Vancouver

PowToon Production Artist – Factors Group of Nutritional Companies, Inc. – Coquitlam

5 Bad Career Tips – Time to Toss These Out

Neil Wadhwa

We often hear helpful advice on ways to advance in our professional careers. How you can make your resume stand out, be more productive, and enhance your communication skills are just a few examples we’ve discussed in the past. Now we need to take a different approach: it’s time to retire outdated advice that’s still floating around.

In 6 Career Tips You Should Put In The Shredder, author Molly Cain shares career advice that you should avoid at all costs. Let’s take a look at what you should hang in the rafters immediately.

Attempting to stay at one company forever also presents a plethora of other issues. You only understand one type of company culture, one type of technology, one organizational structure, and you’re trained in only one kind of pay scale.

“Your Resume Should be One Page”

If you’ve been working long enough, you know how hard it is to list all your work experience, accomplishments, and education on one page. If you start to delete important information, manipulate font sizes, and use slang, it may be time to embrace the second page.

On the flipside, if you’ve been working for a few years but don’t have enough for the second page, don’t panic. Forcing your resume to look bigger by adding false information or “fluff” is only going to make your resume look weaker to potential employers. You’ll eventually reach the second page given more time and experience.

“Find a Company You Can Stay at Forever”

Working at one company for the rest of your life may have been possible 30 years ago, but in today’s economy you can’t handcuff yourself to one company forever. “It used to be safe to put all your faith into one company for your entire life,” says Cain, “but it’s not anymore.”

Attempting to stay at one company forever also presents a plethora of other issues. You only understand one type of company culture, one type of technology, one organizational structure, and you’re trained in only one kind of pay scale.

“Don’t Negotiate”

The first offer is the first offer. If you’ve been offered a job or a promotion and aren’t satisfied with the terms, you can, and should, negotiate and counter-offer. You know what you’re worth and what you can bring to the company; by accepting without negotiating, you may be settling for a lowball offer. Continue reading →

How to Identify a Bad Boss Before it’s Too Late!

Lori Franze

I think everyone has a story or at least knows someone who has a story about a boss who totally deflated their motivation and robbed them of their passion or even went as far as making them ill with their poor leadership skills and typical behaviour. There is nothing worse than landing that dream job only to find out that your boss is a far cry from the coach, leader and mentor you were hoping for.

Now, there are some ways you can test the waters in the interview stage before you accept a role that can help you “smoke out” a potential bad boss (cause they obviously aren’t going to come out and tell you!)

Trust your gut! You know you best and if you feel that after meeting this person that it might be a bad fit with them or the environment then it may be necessary for you to do more research.

In 3 Ways to Spot a Terrible Boss in a Job Interview and How to Spot a Good and Bad Boss in Your Job Search authors Jaquelyn Smith and Lynn Taylor (respectively) give us guidance on what to look for

We’ve taken the best from both of them along with our own experience to give you 5 things to look out for.

1. Your left waiting in the lobby with the receptionist
You arrive 10 minutes early like every good candidate should and then wait and wait and wait some more. Now of course emergencies happen and people are busy but if you are waiting out in reception and not a single person has come by or called the receptionist to explain the delay and apologize then there may be a lack of respect coming from that individual. If this does happen and you eventually get called in gage the attitude of the apology before giving them the strike.

2. There is no “u” or “I” in team
Listen carefully to how the prospective boss refers to the work you will be doing and his or her team and their role in it. Do they take credit personally for the role in the team? Is everything “you, you, you”? Like you will be handed the responsibility and be on your own without guidance and mentorship? Of course there are questions that will be answer with “you” or “I” but just make sure they aren’t the ones that should be answered with “we” or “the team”.

3. They can’t put their smartphone down
It is great to know that if you ever need this person that they will be easy to get ahold of but not so great when you are trying to have a conversation with them. Of course we are referring to the person who can’t look away from the screen of the phone. Not only is it rude and disrespectful to you but it is also an indicator of how they will be in meetings with you and others. And if the interviewer answers the phone while interviewing you I’d look elsewhere!

4. They struggle with the hard questions
Of course you’ve prepared some questions for the interview to assess if this role is as good as it sounds on paper and the team is a fit for you; pay attention closely as to how these questions are answered and what is said. Does he/she struggle to answer them? Are they avoiding the real answer and skirting around it? Continue reading →

The Secrets To Staying Motivated On The Job Search

Lori Franze

Searching for a job is a job within itself and if your working in your current position while looking for a new role you are doing double duty! It is an exhausting roller coaster that can make you feel on top of the world one moment and then down in the gutter the next. Staying motivated and focused on the end game can be a challenge if you’ve been searching for more than just a couple weeks.

In 5 Ways to Stay Motivated While Job Hunting Julia Corbett writes that if you focus more on what you want and make some simple changes to your approach that you can revive your motivation.

Get past your motivational slump with these tips.

You will come back refreshed and ready to tackle the next cover letter if you allow yourself some time to enjoy doing something you love that does not involve searching for job postings online and practicing interview questions.

1. Write down your goals – big and small

Putting everything you want to accomplish in the near and far future down on paper will force you to think about what you’ve already accomplished, what goals you are closing in on and those you need to work on. Don’t just look at what job you want and where you want to be at in 10 years but what you want to accomplish each day and week.

This exercise should excite you and help you start to put the plans in place on how to achieve each goal. Keep this list handy for when you need a boost!

2. Reach out to your career role models

Find people online who are doing what you want to be doing. How did they get to that role? What path did they take? Spending thirty minutes with someone who is where you want to be in 5 years, 10 years or right now is a great way to not only stay motivated but also gather intelligence on how to achieve your big goals. Continue reading →

Stepping Out From Behind Your Computer: 6 Tips for Effective Meetings

Lori Franze

The idea of a face to face meeting may terrify you in this digital era where all of us have made friends and connections with people we have never met in person but are connected on Linkedin, Twitter and Facebook. While for some it is a scary proposition, a coffee meeting can open so many doors and lead you to a dream job or project.

In 10 Tips for an Awesome Coffee Meeting author Sean Blanda shares details some great tips to almost ensure a successful coffee date. Let’s review some of that key advice.

Nothing ruins a first impression like showing up late to a meeting when someone is busy and taking the time from their day.

1. Be Clear and Be Prepared
When you set up the meeting be specific about why you want to meet with them and once you have it booked do your research on the person you are meeting. Read their Twitter, their Linkedin, check for press releases about them and then devise a list of questions you plan to ask. Go above and beyond what you can find online and tie it back to your original request.

2. Tardiness is a No-No
Now this one should be an obvious tip but needs to be stated. Nothing ruins a first impression like showing up late to a meeting when someone is busy and taking the time from their day. Leave early, check the traffic. It is better for you to be there early and waiting than for you to be late and your date sitting there waiting for you. Being late will get you started on the wrong foot!

3. Pick up the Tab
There is a value exchange happening in this meeting. The person you meet is giving you their time (and remember that their time is more valuable than money) and you are going to buy them a beverage of their choice. Ask them when you are in line and pay for the tab. It is the least you can do! Continue reading →

5 Quick Tips for Good Communication Skills

Neil Wadhwa

Between Twitter and text messaging, the emphasis placed on strong communication skills has taken a hit over the past few years. But this doesn’t mean you can carry over the same relaxed approach in professional settings. In face-to-face situations, nothing can make you stand out more than the way you effectively communicate with those around you.

Great communicators ask questions, explore other’s ideas, and make an effort to understand all sides of an issue.

(Unless, of course, you’re Gregg Popovich.)

Don’t let your message get lost in a wave of “uh’s” and “umm’s”. Let’s take a closer look at a few points outlined in 5 Habits of Effective Communicators that will make you a killer communicator in no time.

1. Just the Facts

“Good communicators stay rooted in facts,” states article author Leo McLeod. Adding pieces to the conversation that aren’t based in reality only compound the existing difficulties with communicating effectively.

Instead of telling people that, “she has it out for me,” get to the root of the problem and refrain from adding the unnecessary colour commentary in your conversations. By sticking with the facts, you can also help separate the terrific ideas from the terrible.

2. Strategically Use Silence

Conversations may become diluted as each person talks, but neither takes the time to really listen. You can build better dialogue by leveraging moments of silence – absorbing and thinking through what’s being said before responding.

Allowing for moments of silence also helps the speaker organize their thoughts without feeling rushed, and shows them that you value their ideas and conversation.

3. Actively Engage the Other Point of View

To become a great communicator, you need to understand that people come from different walks of life, and their experiences have shaped their point of view. In some cases, these experiences and indicators may not be physical (e.g. beliefs, assumptions, and cultural influences), making the barrier to effective communication even more difficult. Continue reading →

Stopping Career Autopilot: 5 Steps to Finding a Job You Love

Mitzi Figueroa

Do you feel unsatisfied and uninspired at your job? Do you feel restless and disengaged with your daily duties? Have you often wondered, “How exactly did I get here?”

For some people, it takes a major transition moment, like getting laid off or moving to a new city, to spark that thought process. For others who may be caught up in the day-to-day grind, they might not realize their career is on autopilot until many years in. Regardless, at some point, you may find yourself wondering if what you’re doing is really what you want to be doing.

Given that we spend most of our day at work, it’s important to think about how our work makes us feel.

Serena Kappes, author of Finding a Job You Love: How to (Really!) Do it, recommends undertaking regular career check-ins, even while you’re employed, to help you set out some career goals. “You may come to the determination that the job you have isn’t really utilizing all your strengths or the goals you had earlier in your career may no longer be the ones you have now.”

Here are five tips to help you figure out if your current job is in line with what you really want to do:

1. Identify your goals and values

Identifying your goals and values will help you figure out why you may be unhappy or unfulfilled with your current job. This may seem like a daunting task but it is invaluable when it comes to discovering your ideal career path. Take the time to consider a few important questions and write out a personal vision statement:

What kind of people do you want to work with?
What makes you feel engaged and happy?
What kind of impact do you want to have?
What do you need to do to align your work with what you care about?

If, when writing your vision statement, you begin to recognize that your current job is misaligned with your values, then it might be time to consider making some changes. If you’re working in a profession or workplace that doesn’t align with your values, it’s likely that you will feel unfulfilled and unsatisfied.

2. Visualize and plan out the steps you need to take to reach your ideal career vision

Once you’ve set up some goals, outline specific steps and micro-goals that you would need to reach in order to make your ideal career vision a reality. By breaking down your larger career vision into several smaller action steps, you will feel more inspired and you’ll be setting yourself up for success. “You want to be SMART about setting goals—that is, goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely,” says Kappes.

Ask yourself what kind of experiences you would need to equip you to reach your goals. For those considering a career change, this can sometimes involve an educational experience or further training. Ask yourself what kind of relationships will help you reach your end goal. Start networking and develop relationships with those who can help you get to where you want to go.

3. Figure out what you’re good at

It’s easy to focus on the negative aspects that need improvement but rarely do we lead from our strengths. Some people don’t even know what their strengths are because they take them for granted. Stop and consider what tasks or jobs in your daily work that come easy to you. Are you able to whiz through emails and admin tasks easily? Or, perhaps you’re good at project management, sharing a vision, or connecting with others. Once you’ve identified these skills, seek out opportunities to utilize them and flex those muscles. Continue reading →

A Creative’s Guide to Toronto’s Best Cafes to Spark Creative Work

Mitzi Figueroa

For those juggling freelance work, the temptation to roll out of bed at noon and work from your couch in your pajamas is daunting. But we all know that this doesn’t really lead to a productive day. So when your couch or your home office isn’t inspiring creative thought, there’s no better place to set up shop than at a local coffee shop.

We’ve selected our top five favourite Toronto coffee shops to find free wifi, ample working space, and the perfect ambient coffee shop buzz.

Apart from the free wifi and a healthy caffeine fix, studies show that moderate ambient noise–like that found in a coffee shop–can boost your creativity. In fact, the background noise actually encourages people to think more imaginatively, according to a recent survey published by the Journal of Consumer Research.

Here at FreshGigs.ca, we understand how important it is to nail down the perfect place to spark your next big idea so we’ve selected our top five favourite Toronto coffee shops to find free wifi, ample working space, and the perfect ambient coffee shop buzz.

1. Early Bird Espresso & Brew Bar

We’ve all been there. You pack up your laptop, power cord, and every other necessary element you need to set up your mobile office only to discover upon your arrival, that there’s no room for you to actually sit. This shouldn’t be an issue at Early Bird Espresso & Brew Bar. The large café offers plenty of seating including lots of two-seater tables and enough communal tables to keep things interesting. The free wifi, large windows, and friendly baristas, make this café a hard one to beat.

2. Boxcar Social

If you didn’t know it was there, you might just miss Boxcar Social, a quaint spot located in the Summerhill area of Younge. The renovated two-story café has enough hustle-and-bustle on the main floor to keep you motivated and energized. But the real draw to this unique space is the second floor. A juxtaposition to the main floor, the second floor has enough nooks and crannies to get lost in. The large, open room has great lighting and might be one of the most peaceful shops in the city where you can get some serious work done. The café is also run by a few of the most pleasant and outgoing baristas in town so be sure to give them a warm welcome when you arrive. Continue reading →