Career building tips « BOWEN BLOG

Social media and your job search – help or hindrance?

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

There is no doubt that today’s digital world is both a help and a hindrance to a job search. On one hand, there is a world of opportunities at your finger tips. You can research specific companies, look at industry trends or visit a wealth of job sites all from the comfort of your own home, instead of pounding the pavement like the “old days”.

Yet potential employers can also learn more about you than ever before – and perhaps more than you would like them to! A simple Google search can be revealing and anything posted on the Internet is essentially public domain. When you post information online, be it through Twitter, Facebook, Linked In or on a blog, you are sharing personal info that perhaps would be better kept private. Make sure that you are aware of the privacy settings on these social media sites, and if you are in a job search, perhaps you need to edit your content and postings in the event that potential employers do their on research on you.

Here are a couple links that offer a bit more information on privacy, job searches and social media:

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/jobsearchblogs/a/privacy.htm

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/jobsearchblogs/a/jobsearchblog.htm

The bottom line is, when in doubt, don’t post. In today’s tough job market, it is better to err on the side of caution and be a strong candidate for that coveted job, instead of risking it all with photos and a recap of what you did on the weekend!

Tags: job search, professional profile, social media, social network
Posted in Career building tips, Employment opportunities, Work / Life Balance | 1 Comment »

The value of Outsourced HR

Friday, February 19th, 2010

A bad hire can cost companies a lot of money. However, for small- to medium-sized businesses, it is often difficult to manage the expense of a fulltime HR professional. Outsourcing Human Resources duties can make a lot of sense, both financially and from a staff resources perspective.

Outsourced HR can include services like pre-employment screening, reference checking, education verification, background checks and recruitment support. Whether it’s retaining the workforce you have, or building for the future, Outsourced HR can fill in the gaps with a company’s current HR team, or offer specific expertise for small companies without a designated HR person. Now that is good business!

It’s always important to understand the business you are in. Employing, managing and supporting our people is essential but it may not be critical that these expertise are held in-house. Do you need a compensation expert as part of your staff or only during salary reviews? More and more companies are looking for alternate solutions to manage costs and resources. As we consider demographic realities one might argue how we staff and currently see HR will likely have to change as we have so many retiring from the HR community and so few with similar expertise to replace them. Outsourcing may be a big part of a future solution. To get a sense of the quality of HR consultants in the market see our group of affiliates at HR Works.

Tags: background checks, career resources, hiring, human resources, recruitment support
Posted in Career building tips, Economy, HR Management | 1 Comment »

Making the transition back to the workforce

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

I am often asked by stay-at-home parents re-entering the workforce how to begin looking for a job, especially if they’ve been at home for a number of years with small children. First of all, I must say that for anyone who thinks that staying at home with young kids is “not working” is dead wrong! As a mother of two active young girls, I know how much energy, resourcefulness and wisdom is required to be at home with children. Stay-at-home parents are amazing (as are working parents who are also doing a juggling act)!

Here are a few tips that can help get you started:

Try to reconnect with former colleagues. They can become your new network.
Join a professional association related to your career so that you make new contacts and get on top of industry trends and issues.
Update your resume! Don’t forget to look at the volunteer work you may have been doing and how these skills can transfer to valuable experience.
Register with an agency like BOWEN and talk to a recruiter about any additional training you may require to be current in your field.
Frequently search online. There are a wealth of job postings on-line. Target companies that you are interested in, check out professional associations and job boards too.
Tell people you are looking for a job because you just don’t know who might know someone who is looking to hire.

Most of all, believe in yourself and what you have to offer. Don’t apologize for taking time off to raise a family. Be proud of this accomplishment and be honest about why you are going back to work.

Tags: employment, human resources, job search, networking
Posted in Career building tips, Employment opportunities, Work / Life Balance | No Comments »

Where is your blue sky?

Friday, February 5th, 2010

I firmly believe that with every dark cloud there is a silver lining, and as we begin another year, many will use this time to think of their goals for the future. Regardless of your current reality – and even more importantly if you are in a difficult situation – it’s important to do some “blue sky” thinking.

Wiktionary.org defines blue sky thinking as “thinking that is not grounded or in touch in the realities of the present; open-minded thinking (i.e., as wide and clear as the blue sky)”.

Are you where you want to be in your career? If not, what can you do to get yourself moving in the direction of your dreams? Do you need to join a networking or professional group? Go back to school? Start looking at other opportunities? Find a mentor?

You are the person who can change your circumstances. It may not happen overnight but by taking those first steps in a new direction, you can create a different path.

Tags: human resources, life balance
Posted in Career building tips, Economy, Work / Life Balance | 2 Comments »

Get out there! Job Seekers Tips!

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

As we start to experience slow growth in our economy, more jobs will become available. Employers are going to be cautious and potential employees should be aware of this mind-set going into interviews and negotiations. Here are a few tips to help you navigate the new job market:

Be reasonable in your expectations. Know what current salaries are for your profession. Salaries have gone through an adjustment in the past year. Don’t expect a big signing bonus - it’s not the climate for employers to be offering these as an incentive right now.
Do your research. Know the company! The job market is very competitive with lots of skilled and experienced people looking for work. Research will help you shine and also shows your initiative and interest. And take some time to prepare some meaningful questions about the company to ask at the end of the interview.
Make yourself stand out in the crowd. Shine the spotlight on how you have delivered results in previous roles. Take the time to match your previous skills to the specific needs in the job you are applying for. Make it clear what you have to offer.
Be prepared to sell yourself. Now is not the time to be humble. You need to make it clear why you are the best candidate for the job.

Think of it as a sales opportunity! You are the product and your need to market yourself to open up new opportunities.

Tags: employment, hiring, human resources, job search, networking
Posted in Career building tips, Economy, Employment opportunities | No Comments »

What do the jobless numbers really mean?

Monday, October 26th, 2009

The most recent Statistics Canada report indicates that Calgary’s unemployment rate is on the way down. Our unemployment rate fell from 7.1 per cent in August to 6.9 per cent in September. Are things finally starting to turn around?

AT BOWEN, We are noticing a slow and gradual improvements. As my colleague, Ken Vinge, Vice-President of Corporate Development, stated in an Oct. 10 Calgary Herald interview, “…in the last two weeks we’ve started to see an upswing in terms for requests for staff.”

Yet earlier this month, we were also hearing through the media that younger people, ages 15 - 24, were particularly hard-hit by the recession, and unemployment for this demographic was 12.8 per cent in September.

So what does this all mean? How do you make sense of it? The reality is that as the job markets pick up and different industries begin to hire, those individual with experience will likely have an easier time transitioning back into the workforce. Employers are able to choose from a broader base of experienced candidates so they will likely consider those who have the education, training and experience first.

That doesn’t mean that younger people won’t be hired. It’s just that trends show that in the shorter term, it takes this demographic longer to find work after a recession or downturn.

What do you do in the meantime? Volunteer. Keep networking. Keep looking. Experts say that recovery is on the way - it just takes time.

Posted in Career building tips, Economy, Employment opportunities | No Comments »

The Power of Persistence

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

A couple weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending a fundraiser for Inn from the Cold featuring keynote speaker Christopher Gardner, the inspiration behind the movie “The Pursuit of Happyness”.

It was truly a remarkable evening and he is one of the best speakers I have ever heard! Many of you are probably familiar with his story , as portrayed in the movie, of being homeless on the streets of San Francisco. As a parent, I was deeply touched by the sacrifices he made to try to shield his son from their hardships and give him as normal a life as possible.

Chris was working during their period of homelessness and had a burning desire within to become successful in the field of finance. After earning a spot in the Dean Witter Reynolds training program, Chris began to pursue his dream of becoming a broker. He talked about how he would make 200 calls a day in hopes of building his “book” or business.

Think about it! 200 phone calls a day! He joked that his finger was permanently crooked from dialing the phone!

I can’t help but think there is a lesson in his story - particularly as it relates to having the persistence to overcome tough situations. He was willing to start at the bottom, work hard and set big goals. Through persistence and a whole lot of hard work, he has exceeded beyond even his wildest dreams.

Each day at BOWEN, our recruiters meet with unemployed candidates who are discouraged by the soft job market and who have knocked on a lot of doors to try to find a new opportunity.

I use the Chris Gardner story as an illustration to encourage anyone who is currently looking for work or wanting to better their current work situation to keep trying. Keep calling, sending resumes, following up with your network and talking to people. Don’t be afraid to start at the bottom. With persistence and a belief in yourself, the doors will open and you will create a new opportunity.

Posted in Career building tips, Economy, Employment opportunities, General | No Comments »

Take a page out of Marketing 101!

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

Technology has definitely opened the door to new ways to look for work. Social media in particular gives job seekers new and expanded networks that can sometimes lead to that perfect job.

According to an article in today’s Calgary Herald, Facebook, Linked-In and Twitter are exploding with millions of users everyday. It’s also a way for potential employers to check out potential hires, so be aware of what you are posting, tweeting or putting out there!

Looking for a job is really about undertaking a marketing campaign - just for you. And like any good marketer will tell you, it’s about using traditional and new avenues to get your name out there! Think of your job search as a campaign to get your name and resume in front of your key target audiences in as many effective ways as possible. Be innovative and creative, and you can make yourself stand out! Think about positioning and what makes you unique from other job seekers, or your competitors. Approach your job search like Marketing 101!

Posted in Career building tips, Employment opportunities | 1 Comment »

Interview & Resume Hints & Tips

Monday, August 10th, 2009

Over the past few days, there have been several news stories about Alberta’s increasing unemployment numbers, the difficulties some people are having in accessing employment insurance, and the challenges many are facing in finding work and making ends meet. It’s not an easy time and even with some cautiously optimistic reports that the economy may be starting to slowly pick up, it will still take time before we see job opportunities increase.

In the interim, job seekers continue to look for work. Building on the previous job search tips we’ve posted, I asked our BOWEN recruiters for some suggestions, and here are a few more tips:

Resumes

Use a chronological resume to make the recruiter’s job as easy as possible. Be prepared to explain any gaps in employment.
Provide a brief description of the companies you’ve worked for so recruiters understand the nature of their business.
Focus on your accomplishments and think about what will make you stand out from other candidates. Talk about results!

Interviews

Arrive on time and make sure you turn off your cell phone.
Wear professional business attire. Greet your interviewer with a handshake and maintain eye contact throughout the interview - it shows confidence!
Know your resume and highlight your previous roles, related experience and accomplishments.
Have your references ready.
Research the company by visiting their website in advance.
Know the position you are applying for and talk about what interests you and what you have to offer. Don’t focus on compensation and benefits in the interview.
Act professionally. Speak positively of current and form employers, and don’t get too personal in the interview!

Posted in Career building tips, Economy, Employment opportunities | 1 Comment »

EI Soars to New Heights (Sadly)

Friday, July 31st, 2009

The news today isn’t good. A record number of Albertans are currently collecting Employment Insurance (EI) premiums. In fact, according to CBC, the number of Albertans collecting EI soared faster than any other province, with a stunning increase of 16.8 per cent to 57,000 in May 2009.

While there may now be faint glimmers of hope for an economic recovery - and rebound in jobs - on the horizon, it is still in the distance. For those who are looking for work - and there are many people on the job hunt, here are a few tips to help out with your job search, relating directly to applying for jobs:

Make yourself stand out - make sure your resume is well written and highlights your skills and experience; cover letters provide the opportunity to tell them something about yourself that the resume does not convey so make sure you tell them why you would be great for this job and how much you want it.

Connect the dots for the person reviewing the applications - when you are reviewing stacks of resumes you don’t want to have to be digging to figure out if the person is suitable. Align your resume and cover letter with the specific requirements of the job to make sure they know what skills and experience you have in relation to their business needs.

Prepare for that interview - make sure you have your story prepared of what you have to offer and why you want the job. You only have one opportunity to make a good impression so don’t blow it!

Be enthusiastic - attitude goes a long ways towards impressing people.

Follow up with a thank you card, e-mail or phone call following an interview. It shows you are interested.