November 1st, 2011
Special thanks to Doug Lacombe of communicatto, for giving us permission to modify and republish his blog post.
Job-hunting has gone from door knocking and networking to apply now buttons to multimedia presentations of one’s self and portfolio. Not that door knocking and networking went away, social media has added a layer of presentation to the whole exercise. In her article “4 Digital Alternatives to the Traditional Resume” on Mashable.com, Sharlyn Lauby suggests video resumes, a visualCV, a social resume, or your LinkedIn.com profile as possible alternatives or companions to the old chronological resume.
Another Mashable article “How to Spruce Up a Boring Resume” features an infographic by Colorado Technical University that provides great tips on digital techniques to modernize your resume. From screen-friendly fonts to video, social media and hyperlinks, it’s a great at-a-glance guide to upgrading your resume for the digital age.
On the human resources side, recruiters need to convert from passive advertisers to publishers and syndicators of jobs, with strong search engine and social media skills, particularly on LinkedIn. The reliance on paid media will no longer cut it, especially in the age of owned media. HR folks accustomed to “renting eyeballs” now have to publish job posts in a way that attracts eyeballs - a brand new game.
With the labor shortage we have looming in Canada both sides need to adapt and get better at this. Our standard of living and way of life depend on it.
Doug Lacombe is president of Calgary social media agency communicatto. His resume is now a Google search of his name; just ignore the guy from Louisiana.
Tags: LinkedIn, networking, social media, social network
Posted in Career building tips, Employment opportunities | No Comments »
October 3rd, 2011
With the tightening job market, organizations are requiring new or different outsourced HR services. The war on talent is definitely heating up and internal HR teams are challenged with shifting priorities and strategic workforce planning issues.
Over the past several months, BOWEN has been researching workforce trends. Through our findings, we’ve recognized that many organizations need help with retaining and attracting employees, and we’ve responded! Our Outsourced HR division is providing transactional HR services to organizations, allowing their internal HR professionals to move into a more strategic role and focus on larger company priorities. Our experienced team will conduct reference checks, exit and stay interviews, and can help fill in gaps where required.
Companies need to maximize their internal resources, manage costs and deliver results. Most importantly, organizations need to ensure that their fingers are on the pulse of their workforce so they can retain existing employees, while being competitive in attracting new top talent. BOWEN’s Outsourced HR professionals can help internal HR teams ensure they have the flexibility and skills to respond to the changing labour market and conditions, and achieve optimal results.
Please contact Marilynn Balfour (mbalfour@bowenworks.ca), Director of Outsourced HR, for more information.
Tags: career resources, employee management, employee retention, human resources, workforce planning
Posted in Career building tips, HR Management | No Comments »
August 4th, 2011
Over 150,000 Canadians were employed through temporary services in 2010 (Stats Canada). That’s an incredible number! While temp work is on the rise, there is still a misconception that temporary workers can only fill clerical or administrative positions. It is true that support in these areas is common, but at BOWEN, we have found our temporary candidates being considered for mid- and even senior-level positions.
The increase of temporary workers in higher positions is a result of the diverse candidate skillset currently available, as well as a somewhat cautious economic recovery. Whether it’s an administration, accounting and finance, IT, industrial, or a project management position, temporary workers can satisfy a wide range of staffing needs. And sometimes, temporary work fills an immediate need that can lead to permanent employment.
Whether you are looking for job flexibility, an opportunity to gain experience, a temporary means of income while you look for a permanent role, or simply like the variety of working for different companies in different industries, temporary work is a great job solution.
Tags: career resources, employee management, employment, human resources, temporary
Posted in Career building tips, Employment opportunities, HR Management | No Comments »
July 29th, 2011
Temporary work is a great fit for individuals who want - or need - flexible work hours, while still earning a competitive wage. The definition of a temporary employee is someone who works for a company on a non-fixed term basis. From the employer perspective, hiring temps is also a cost saving method that serves business purposes for the company:
• meeting seasonal customer demand
• coping with surges in work flow
• covering employees absences due to vacation, sick time or maternity leave
• ramping up staffing resources slowly as the economy continues to recover
For the candidate, temporary work is a great way to gain experience and also learn about many different industries. It allows an individual to manage other commitments and strike the right work/life balance they need. Work only during the summer, take the summer off, or take a break altogether. Either way, if you are a temp, it’s your choice!
Check back for part 2 in this blog next week!
Tags: Add new tag, employment, foreign recruitment, hiring, job search, temporary
Posted in Career building tips, Employment opportunities | No Comments »
July 7th, 2011
After a brief hiatus, I am pleased to be blogging again! The past few months have been incredibly busy at BOWEN. As I mentioned in previous posts, we moved offices, launched a new logo and created our Shine Fund, which is dedicated to helping families in need and creating a community where everyone shines. Of course, during this time, all of our day-to-day business operations have continued on at their regular fast pace. The Calgary job market is definitely on the upswing and we are seeing an increase in optimism and opportunities.
Our work at BOWEN is really all about connecting people. I think our new tag line of “Bright people. Bright futures.” nicely sums up our team’s purpose. We want to connect high-calibre candidates with the right job opportunities, and at the same time, introduce our clients to Western Canada’s top talent. Of course, we do much more than that through our other services such as Flexible Workforce Management and Outsourced HR. However, at the core, we want to create and build connections that create success for everyone, whether it is an individual, corporation or one of the amazing non-profit organizations that are dedicated to making our community a better place.
With Stampede starting tomorrow, there will be plenty of opportunities for networking, building connections and of course, having fun. Have a look at my July 9, 2010 blog post for some tips on how to make the most of your Stampede events. Feel free to contact the BOWEN team if you’d like to learn more about how great connections lead to greater career success.
Tags: corporate social responsibility, Economy
Posted in Economy, Employment opportunities, General, Seasonal | No Comments »
March 9th, 2011
With our frigid weather, it may be difficult to imagine that spring - and even summer - are not that far off. For post-secondary students, this means that it’s not too early to start you summer job search. Thankfully, the job market is stronger than the previous two years, and trends indicate more opportunities will be available.
Before you start looking, make sure that you have a look at your resume with a fresh set of eyes. Are there new accomplishments or experiences that you need to include? What about volunteer activities? Invite a couple people to review your resume and offer feedback. Have you included important key words that will resonate with the job type and industry you are interested in? Remember, it is your calling card and the first step in opening the door to that next great job.
Next, let your contacts know that you have started to look for the summer. Also, make sure that you are utilizing all the social media channels available, especially Linked In and Facebook, which are great ways to connect professionally. Start checking out job boards and companies that may offer summer intern programs. Register with a staffing company like BOWEN. Think about potential interview questions and how you would respond. Get your references confirmed so that when that next job comes up, you are prepared.
Be open to the possibilities and good luck with your search.
Tags: employment, hiring, summer job
Posted in Career building tips, Employment opportunities, Seasonal | 1 Comment »
