jobpostings magazine: january 2013 vol 15. no. 4

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JANUARY 2013 | VOL. 15 | NO. 4 JOBPOSTINGS.CA REINVENTING YOURSELF THE NEW YEAR’S ISSUE YOUR NEXT CAREER AS A MARINE ENGINEER BECOME KING OF YOUR SCHOOL plus SPECIAL REPORT A CAREER IN MINING HOW TO START CONVERSATIONS WITH ANYONE & EVOLVING WITH THE CULTURE IDEAS. ALL OF IT.

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Canada's largest career lifestyle magazine for students. In this issue, we include a special mining report, the secret to successful networking, and why you should be active in student associations and clubs

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Page 1: Jobpostings Magazine: January 2013 Vol 15. No. 4

JANUARY 2013 | VOL. 15 | NO. 4 JOBPOSTINGS.CA

REINVENTING YOURSELFTHE NEW YEAR’S ISSUE

YOUR NExT cAREER AS A

mARINE ENgINEER

BEcOmE

KING OF YOUR ScHOOL

plus

SPEcIAL REPORT

A cAREER IN mININg

HOW TO START cONVERSATIONS

WITH ANYONE

&EVOLVINg WITH

THE cULTURE

IDEAS. ALL OF IT.

Page 2: Jobpostings Magazine: January 2013 Vol 15. No. 4

1 - 3 YEAR DIPLOMA PROGRAMS

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

ACCOUNTING

ADVERTISING - MEDIA SALES

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

COSMETIC MANAGEMENT

ESTHETICIAN/SPA MANAGEMENT

FASHION

FINANCIAL SERVICES

LAW CLERK

MARKETING

PARALEGAL EDUCATION

PROFESSIONAL GOLF MANAGEMENT

11

12

DIPLOMAS WITH ATTITUDEFIND YOUR EDGE IN ANY ONE OF OUR BUSINESS PROGRAMS AND GET ON THE PATHWAY TO SUCCESS.

BUSINESS.HUMBER.CA/DIPLOMAS

Page 3: Jobpostings Magazine: January 2013 Vol 15. No. 4

TABLE OF cONTENTS

01

JANUARY 2012 | JOBPOSTINgS.cA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Whether you need advice on how to get a stel-lar reference letter, how to manage your social media image, or how to act at the upcoming recruitment fair, we show you how to shine in all aspects of your school life.

BECOME A STAR

JOBPOSTINGS.CA

ThE hIddEN SKILLS OF BAs A BA—that’s a bachelor of nothing, right? Wrong! And those jokes ain’t so funny when you’re deep in student debt. Your degree is wor-thy; there’s plenty of skills you’ve earned, it’s just a matter of identifying them.

hOw TO BREAK INTO PR

On the topic of BAs, did you know that it can lead to a career in PR? Yup! Your BA has given you excellent written communication, critical thinking, and research skills. Arts graduates are also creative, innovative, and inquisitive, making them an excellent match for a career in PR.

ThE ART OF CUSTOMER SERVICE To really succeed in customer service, you have to love people, and love what you do. You’re not in the business of products; you’re in the business of people. If you’re the type of person who loves to engage, build relationships, and help others, you might just fit in nicely.

dEGREE PAIRINGS You’ve heard of wine and food pairings. Just like a buttery camembert perfectly compliments crisp apples, earning an extra diploma (or a master’s) can supercharge the degree you’ve already earned.

Jobpostings is canada’s leading career lifestyle magazine for students and recent grads—but since you’re holding a copy, you probably already knew that. But did you know we’re also canada’s biggest job board for entry-level, internship, and co-op opportuni-ties? No? Well, now you do. Find your next job at Jobpostings.ca!

MINING SPECIAL REPORT38 SO YOU wANT TO BE A MINER? What to expect when you enter min-ing: the myths and realities of the job.

39 FINd YOUR TRAVEL AdVENTURE ThROUGh A CAREER IN MINING Hands-on skills, contacts in the industry, and a leg-up on the competi-tion—why trade schools help land you a job in mining.

40 dIG dEEPER There’s increased opportunity for women who aren’t afraid of a little coal.

INdUSTRY REPORTS34 EVOLVING wITh ThE CULTURE Jobpostings examines the evolution of workplace norms so you know what to expect when you enter the workforce.

42 BLOwING hOT (ANd COLd) AIR Mother Nature’s temperamental ten-dency ensures that heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) experts are in high demand.

45 MARINE ENGINEERING Math, science, and adventure lovers are welcome! Marine engineering is a life of travel and job security.

LEARN ABOUT07 CRUNChIN’ NUMBERS We give you the skinny on how to beat the New Year’s Resolution stats and ac-

complish your self-improvement goals.

O8 SUCCESS STORIES Lesley Van Slingerland shares how she was able to turn her two passions, teaching and sales, into a fulfilling career as Xerox’s national sales instruc-tor. Sponsored by Rogers Wireless.

1O INTERVIEw SMARTS When interviewing potential employ-ees, Jasmine Konsorada, manager of the audit and assurance group at PwC, wants you to turn your chal-lenges into accomplishments.

12 START-UP Kira Talent: interviewing just got a whole lot more interactive.

14 BECOME KING (OR qUEEN) OF YOUR SChOOL Ever wonder how the student council president made it to the top, or how your classmate manages to be involved in six clubs while pursuing their double major? We give you insider tips on how to be extracurricular royalty.

25 hOw TO START CONVERSATIONS wITh STRANGERS Five scenarios to help you practice and achieve the gift of the gab.

36 PROFESSIONAL dO’S ANd dONT’S Three professional habits you should make and three professional habits you should break for the new year.

46 EdU-MA-CATION The world is becoming more global, so why don’t you? Consider a post-grad education in international business.

Page 4: Jobpostings Magazine: January 2013 Vol 15. No. 4

JOBPOSTINgS.cA | JANUARY 2013

Published by Passion Inc. 25 Imperial Street, Suite 100 Toronto, ON m5P 1B9

jobpostings.ca 1-877-900-5627 ext. 221

MASThEAd

Jobpostings magazine is published eight times in the school year. Issue dates are September, October, November, January, February, march, April, and may. copies of jobpostings are distributed to over 105 universities and colleges across canada. contents of this publication are protected by copyright and may not be reprinted in whole or part without permission of the publishers. “A New Year’s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.”

PUBLIShER Nathan Laurie [email protected]

ASSOCIATE PUBLIShER mark Laurie [email protected]

EdITOR & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER David Tal [email protected] @DavidTalWrites

ART dIRECTOR Anthony capano [email protected]

wEB EdITOR mark Teo [email protected]

wEB dEVELOPER mishraz Ammad Bhounr [email protected]

CONTRIBUTORS Allison mitchell, Kiera Obbard, mary michaela Weber, michelle Hampson, Rebecca Spence, Rasheed clarke, Samuel Dunsiger

NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER mary Vanderpas

EdUCATION ACCOUNT MANAGER Shannon Tracey

INTERNS carly Brown, James Ellis, Kim Wolfshout, Patrick Erskine, Rebecca Feigelsohn

Search for your next job atBRANdEdCONTNET22 The Home Depot How to kick butt at customer service

SChOOLINdEXIFC Humber, The Business School (Undergrad)

26 Humber, The Business School (Postgrad)

46 Humber, School of Media Studies and Information Technology

46 Centennial College

47 Brock University

47 Niagara College

47 Queen’s University

47 Ross University

47 American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine

47 Sheridan College

47 University of Lethbridge

GENERALAdSOBC Canada’s Luckiest Student

05 Insurance Institute of Canada

09 Rogers Wireless

37 Mining Industry Human Resources Council

whOShIRING02 Starbucks

03 Target

06 KPMG

11 Sun Life Financial

13 College Pro

18 Enterprise Rent-A-Car

23 The Home Depot

24 SGI

24 CBC Radio-Canada

33 BMO Capital Markets

37 Nav Canada

37 Domtar

41 Kinross Gold Corporation

43 ABB Inc.

43 Talisman Energy

44 Aecon

IBC CSIS

starbucks.ca/careers

Opportunityto be more than a employee.

to be a partner.

Page 5: Jobpostings Magazine: January 2013 Vol 15. No. 4

© 2012 Target Brands, Inc. Target and the Bullseye Design are registered trade-marks of Target Brands, Inc.

Join our team. Expect the best.

target.ca/careers

There’s lots of excitement in storefor you as Executive Team Leader.We’re getting our Store Leadership team in place and are seeking ambitious people

who can create the best shopping experience for our guests. If you have a passion for

developing dynamic, sales-driven teams and are looking to grow your career, we can’t

wait to hear from you.

120808 JobPostingsTargetFiona ByrneJobPostings

8.125 ’’ x 10.75 ’’

120808 JobPostings.indd 1 8/8/12 4:00 PM

Page 6: Jobpostings Magazine: January 2013 Vol 15. No. 4

JOBPOSTINgS.cA | JANUARY 2013

EDITOR’S NOTE

04

For years growing up, I was the shy, awkward kid. Maybe it was because I was an only child, maybe it was because I was smaller than some of the other guys at school, or maybe it was because of the turd munchers who used to pick on me. What-ever the reason, I grew up with a real fear of meeting or talking to new people, trying new things, or even just taking risks and putting myself out there.

I’m sure I’m not the only one; all of us go through similar experi-ences growing up. Unfortunate-ly, my severe shyness followed me from middle school to high school and into university. It was a difficult monkey to shake off my back.

Luckily for me, I connected with a special group of friends during uni who pushed me to try new experiences and take more risks. Slowly, I began meeting more people, being active in more stu-dent organizations, and taking on high profile roles (like starting two student magazines). Over time, my comfort level grew and my appetite for putting myself out there grew in step. I wouldn’t say I’m super outgoing today, but being an introvert definitely isn’t a limitation for me anymore.

Since then, what I’ve learned is people don’t realize that shyness isn’t so much a product of their fear of what others may think of them, it’s actually a reflection of what they think of themselves. By building confidence in your-

self and your abilities, your sense of your self-worth will grow in step. From this, not only will the opinions of others stop matter-ing, but the greater your feeling of freedom will become.

And that’s the key: Freedom. Outgoing people and other forms of “go-getters” aren’t born with any magical powers, they simply don’t care what others think and thus act in their best interests and those they work with.

In the end, whatever personality type you belong to is perfectly fine. But when you let certain aspects of your personality limit your potential, you should make a change in yourself in order to grow past your psychic limita-tions, and reinvent yourself.

EdITOR’S NOTEREINVENT YOURSELF

dAVId TAL

In the pages to follow, we’ll share tips on how you can grow past your limits. We’ll offer insights on how you can become a star: in class, online, during your ex-tracurriculars, at recruitment fairs, and in job interviews. And for the extra ambitious ones out there, we also have a feature that explains how you can rise to the top of your student club or even become student council president of your school. These tips and skills will support you throughout your career, so as al-ways ...

Read on, friends.

Email us your thoughts on this issue by emailing Jobpostings at: [email protected]

Business case: companies adopt diversity and inclusion initiatives because of the fiscal benefits.

Legal case: companies are bound by legislation to follow certain guide-lines for the diversity of their employees.

moral case: companies include policies and initiatives for diversity and inclusion because it’s the right thing to do.

34 EVOLVING wITh ThE CULTURE 14 BECOME ThE KING OF

YOUR SChOOL 27 REINVENT YOURSELF ANd BECOME A STAR 38 SPECIAL REPORT: A

CAREER IN MINING

Diversity is important to businesses: According to marky Stein of monster.com, “A formal study of hiring managers in more than 400 companies, by the San Jose mercury News, concluded the average employer makes a hiring decision within 15 seconds of meeting you.”

canada’s mining industry accounts for approximately 1 in every 46 canadian jobs, and employed 363,000 people in 2007.

Studies show that, overall, students who are involved in student clubs and activi-ties are likely to perform better in class than students who are not involved in any extracurriculars.

Page 7: Jobpostings Magazine: January 2013 Vol 15. No. 4

Where do you want youreducation to take you?

Here’s a career path withunlimited potential. What are you looking for in a career? Earning potential? Security? Having the chance to face a new and different challenge every day? Whatever you've learned in school and in life, you’ll have the chance to use it in the insurance industry.

It’s hard to imagine a career choice where you’ll have the opportunity to use more of your skills than insurance. Why? Because insurance is already a part of everything you do. It protects homes, jobs, cars, property and the continuity of lives. And because insurance is all around us, the industry has a wide variety of careers to match your education and amazing flexibility to change directions along the way.

There are more than 110,000 Canadians working in the property & casualty insurance sector. It’s an industry that reflects the face and the values of Canadian society and has a constant need for talented, creative, motivated people.

Are you a people person? Brokers work with clients to create a strategy to protect their assets.

Gifted at math? You could thrive as an actuary.

Good at listening? As a claims professional, you’ll help people who are coping with an accident, fire or theft.

Strategic thinker? You could work as an underwriter and develop the products that keep people protected from unforeseen loss.

As your career in insurance progresses, every day can present interesting new opportunities, new challenges, and the flexibility to pursue new goals.

To find out more about where you might fit in with your post-secondary education, please visit our Web site at www.career-connections.info. You may be surprised to find that insurance isn’t what you think. It’s a whole lot more.

Your interests and your experience may add up to a great career in insurance.

Michelle SnowdonUnderwriter

Sara RunnallsBroker

Gavin MascarenhasLoss Adjuster

“For a greater advantage, and the highest placement value, I would recommend courses in law as well as successful completion of a business or insurance program.”

UnderwriterYou’re a relationship developer and decision-maker

Underwriters accept or reject risk on behalf of insurance companies. They assess the kind of insurance required by organizations as diverse as a shopping mall, a professional sports team, a manufacturer, a city government or a construction company. Underwriters examine every facet of the organization’s operation and its request for insurance, then decide what the insurance company should cover and how much it should charge.

“A college diploma or university degree in any subject is helpful for entry into the profession, although those who have studied finance, management, mathematics or business would have an advantage.”

Broker / AgentYou’re a people person and a great communicator

Insurance brokers and agents help consumers find the right coverage to protect their cars, homes, businesses, boats and belongings against loss through accident, fire or theft. While brokers usually represent several insurance companies, agents are more likely to sell policies for just one. These are the entrepreneurs of the insurance industry with many of them working for themselves or for small independent firms.

“The best advice is to specialize in law or business-relatedcourses.”

Loss AdjusterYou’re part private investigator and part therapist

The loss adjuster is responsible for ensuring that those who have suffered a loss receive the compensation and assistance they are eligible to receive. Whether employed by the insurance company or working as an independent contractor, the loss adjuster investigates the accident, arranges medical treatment if necessary and negotiates the final settlement to restore policy holders to where they were, as closely as possible, before their loss.

Where do you want youreducation to take you?

Here’s a career path withunlimited potential. What are you looking for in a career? Earning potential? Security? Having the chance to face a new and different challenge every day? Whatever you've learned in school and in life, you’ll have the chance to use it in the insurance industry.

It’s hard to imagine a career choice where you’ll have the opportunity to use more of your skills than insurance. Why? Because insurance is already a part of everything you do. It protects homes, jobs, cars, property and the continuity of lives. And because insurance is all around us, the industry has a wide variety of careers to match your education and amazing flexibility to change directions along the way.

There are more than 110,000 Canadians working in the property & casualty insurance sector. It’s an industry that reflects the face and the values of Canadian society and has a constant need for talented, creative, motivated people.

Are you a people person? Brokers work with clients to create a strategy to protect their assets.

Gifted at math? You could thrive as an actuary.

Good at listening? As a claims professional, you’ll help people who are coping with an accident, fire or theft.

Strategic thinker? You could work as an underwriter and develop the products that keep people protected from unforeseen loss.

As your career in insurance progresses, every day can present interesting new opportunities, new challenges, and the flexibility to pursue new goals.

To find out more about where you might fit in with your post-secondary education, please visit our Web site at www.career-connections.info. You may be surprised to find that insurance isn’t what you think. It’s a whole lot more.

Your interests and your experience may add up to a great career in insurance.

Michelle SnowdonUnderwriter

Sara RunnallsBroker

Gavin MascarenhasLoss Adjuster

“For a greater advantage, and the highest placement value, I would recommend courses in law as well as successful completion of a business or insurance program.”

UnderwriterYou’re a relationship developer and decision-maker

Underwriters accept or reject risk on behalf of insurance companies. They assess the kind of insurance required by organizations as diverse as a shopping mall, a professional sports team, a manufacturer, a city government or a construction company. Underwriters examine every facet of the organization’s operation and its request for insurance, then decide what the insurance company should cover and how much it should charge.

“A college diploma or university degree in any subject is helpful for entry into the profession, although those who have studied finance, management, mathematics or business would have an advantage.”

Broker / AgentYou’re a people person and a great communicator

Insurance brokers and agents help consumers find the right coverage to protect their cars, homes, businesses, boats and belongings against loss through accident, fire or theft. While brokers usually represent several insurance companies, agents are more likely to sell policies for just one. These are the entrepreneurs of the insurance industry with many of them working for themselves or for small independent firms.

“The best advice is to specialize in law or business-relatedcourses.”

Loss AdjusterYou’re part private investigator and part therapist

The loss adjuster is responsible for ensuring that those who have suffered a loss receive the compensation and assistance they are eligible to receive. Whether employed by the insurance company or working as an independent contractor, the loss adjuster investigates the accident, arranges medical treatment if necessary and negotiates the final settlement to restore policy holders to where they were, as closely as possible, before their loss.

Where do you want youreducation to take you?

Here’s a career path withunlimited potential. What are you looking for in a career? Earning potential? Security? Having the chance to face a new and different challenge every day? Whatever you've learned in school and in life, you’ll have the chance to use it in the insurance industry.

It’s hard to imagine a career choice where you’ll have the opportunity to use more of your skills than insurance. Why? Because insurance is already a part of everything you do. It protects homes, jobs, cars, property and the continuity of lives. And because insurance is all around us, the industry has a wide variety of careers to match your education and amazing flexibility to change directions along the way.

There are more than 110,000 Canadians working in the property & casualty insurance sector. It’s an industry that reflects the face and the values of Canadian society and has a constant need for talented, creative, motivated people.

Are you a people person? Brokers work with clients to create a strategy to protect their assets.

Gifted at math? You could thrive as an actuary.

Good at listening? As a claims professional, you’ll help people who are coping with an accident, fire or theft.

Strategic thinker? You could work as an underwriter and develop the products that keep people protected from unforeseen loss.

As your career in insurance progresses, every day can present interesting new opportunities, new challenges, and the flexibility to pursue new goals.

To find out more about where you might fit in with your post-secondary education, please visit our Web site at www.career-connections.info. You may be surprised to find that insurance isn’t what you think. It’s a whole lot more.

Your interests and your experience may add up to a great career in insurance.

Michelle SnowdonUnderwriter

Sara RunnallsBroker

Gavin MascarenhasLoss Adjuster

“For a greater advantage, and the highest placement value, I would recommend courses in law as well as successful completion of a business or insurance program.”

UnderwriterYou’re a relationship developer and decision-maker

Underwriters accept or reject risk on behalf of insurance companies. They assess the kind of insurance required by organizations as diverse as a shopping mall, a professional sports team, a manufacturer, a city government or a construction company. Underwriters examine every facet of the organization’s operation and its request for insurance, then decide what the insurance company should cover and how much it should charge.

“A college diploma or university degree in any subject is helpful for entry into the profession, although those who have studied finance, management, mathematics or business would have an advantage.”

Broker / AgentYou’re a people person and a great communicator

Insurance brokers and agents help consumers find the right coverage to protect their cars, homes, businesses, boats and belongings against loss through accident, fire or theft. While brokers usually represent several insurance companies, agents are more likely to sell policies for just one. These are the entrepreneurs of the insurance industry with many of them working for themselves or for small independent firms.

“The best advice is to specialize in law or business-relatedcourses.”

Loss AdjusterYou’re part private investigator and part therapist

The loss adjuster is responsible for ensuring that those who have suffered a loss receive the compensation and assistance they are eligible to receive. Whether employed by the insurance company or working as an independent contractor, the loss adjuster investigates the accident, arranges medical treatment if necessary and negotiates the final settlement to restore policy holders to where they were, as closely as possible, before their loss.

Page 8: Jobpostings Magazine: January 2013 Vol 15. No. 4

POTENTIALOPPORTUNITY

CAREER

SUCCESS

TAXAUDIT • DEVELOP

RECOGNITION

EXCELLENCE • TAX

ADVISORY

ADVISORY

ENTERPRISE • DEVELOP

CHALLENGE • DEVELOP

RELATIONSHIPS • ENTERPRISE

PASSION

LIMITLESS

COMMUNITY •

DEVELOP • MENTORSHIP • COMMUNITY

POSSIBILITY • DEVELOP • AUDIT • GLOBAL

MENTORSHIP • GLOBAL • DEVELOP

DEVELOP

MENTORSHIP

GLOBAL • POSSIBILITY • DEVELOP

LEARN •

GLOBAL

DISCOVER • PASSION

GROWTH • CAREER

© 2012 KPMG LLP, a Canadian limited liability partnership and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

You andKPMG.

Page 9: Jobpostings Magazine: January 2013 Vol 15. No. 4

JANUARY 2013 | JOBPOSTINgS.cA

cRUNcHIN’ NUmBERS

07

CRUNChIN’NUMBERS

The holiday binge—eating, drinking, and lazing around—has left you feeling sluggish and not terribly motivated to hit the books and get off your couch. Don’t worry! We, at Jobpostings, have gathered the tips, tricks, and facts to help you tackle your New Year’s resolutions and improve your mind, body, and soul | By Rebeccca Feigelsohn

Julius Caesar was the first to establish January 1st as the

beginning of the New Year in 46 B.C.

To make sure luck will be on your side, avoid eating unlucky foods this

New Year’s Eve, such as lobster, they move backwards which could

lead to set backs.

HERE’S SOME GOOD NEWS!The younger you are, the more likely you are to reach your goals. Studies show that 39% of those in their twenties

achieve their New Year’s resolutions.

2013

TRYING TO IMPROVE ONESELF IS TOUGHResearch shows that after 6 months, less than 50 % of people who

make New Year’s resolutions stick to it; and after 1 year, that number declines to about 10 %.

JANUARY 1ST, 2013 JUNE 1ST, 2013 DECEMBER 1ST, 2013

PUT PEN TO PAPER People who declare their resolutions are 10 times more successful in making changes than those who try to make changes without a declaration.

3 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOR STUDENTS:

LEARN A NEW JOB-RELATED SKILL

Take a web development course or join the debate

club for a competitive edge.

BUILD EXPERTISE IN YOUR FIELD Read industry

publications and attend conferences

to expand your knowledge.

DEVELOP A 5 YEAR PLAN

Think about where you want to be in

five years and what you need to do to

get there.

The history of making New Year’s resolutions began with the Babylonians approximately

4,000

YEARS AGO

Sources: psychologytoday.com, steveshapiro.com, helpingprofessions.kaplan.edu, examiner.com, epicurious.com

Page 10: Jobpostings Magazine: January 2013 Vol 15. No. 4

JOBPOSTINgS.cA | JANUARY 2013

SUccESS STORIES

08

What drew you to your current field?

The urge to travel drew me into teaching after university, and then the pull for more income took me to sales. Now I’m a sales trainer and it’s the perfect mix of my two professional passions—teaching and sales.

How did you get your current position?

When I joined Xerox, I was enamoured by the gifted facilitators who trained me as a new rep. They shared their stories of success and lessons learned the hard way. They asked questions that made me con-sider how I wanted to sell and what type of mark I wanted to leave behind in the accounts I sold to. I was inspired. It was an ah-ha moment! I knew I found the role that I would work towards.

Tell us about your responsibilities

There are three fundamental aspects of the work I do: I develop, deliver, and manage training programs for sales representatives.

What is the most challenging aspect of your position?

Balancing training deliveries, content development, and overseeing a program, all the while keeping in mind what’s most relevant for the learner. You’re constantly trying to balance the needs of the learner against what the corporate direction is, and

keep both sides happy. Adding one more stakeholder to that equation: the end client. My training content should shape Xerox Canada’s customer experience. A sales person should come to my sessions and take away something they will share with their client. The messages need to be clear, compelling, and aligned with the interests of sales, the corporation, and the client. There are a lot of stakeholders whose needs must be met.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

The opportunity to stand in front of an engaged group of people who see our class and the discussion coming out of it as important to their success is so reward-ing. There’s an energy transfer in a room like that, it’s addictive and empowering for everyone. Getting positive feedback, such as sales people saying my training gave them new insights into doing a job they thought they had down pat, charges me up! Devel-oping the skills of sales people puts more money in their pockets, creates a win for their client, and in the end, our company wins with them. It’s the feeling of being on a winning team.

What skills have you learned through your work experience?

Where do I begin! A range of skills are required to create, support, and reinforce

knowledge transfer and reinforcement forti-fication. Some of the highlights include cur-riculum development and project manage-ment, where you pull off a smooth learning event for 30+ learners that requires a lot of details and logistics. At times, you can feel like an event coordinator in this role.

Is there one accomplishment you are most proud of to date?

With each new role I take with Xerox, I ob-serve for the first month or two and look for a process or program that’s not working as well as it could. I then make it my mission to completely reconstruct it. I’ve done this with the medium for our new hire training to our feedback methodologies.

What are your future career aspirations?

I aspire to run Xerox’s learning and de-velopment organization, or begin my own consulting business.

What advice do you have for students looking to land their first job?

Separate aspiration from inspiration. Don’t choose your first career role based on what you’d like to be. For example, I’d like to be better at math so I’m going to take a role in finance—that’s backwards and unpro-ductive. Instead choose a job that’s aligned with your strengths.

COMPANY: xerox canada Ltd.LENGTh OF EMPLOYMENT: 9 yearsdEGREE: carleton University, Bachelor of Arts: mass communication, Schulich School of Business, master’s certificate in Adult Training & Development

LESLEY VAN SLINGERLANd

SUCCESS STORIES

Page 11: Jobpostings Magazine: January 2013 Vol 15. No. 4

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Page 12: Jobpostings Magazine: January 2013 Vol 15. No. 4

JOBPOSTINgS.cA | JANUARY 2013

JASMINE KONSORAdA cA, mANAgER, AUDIT, AND ASSURANcE gROUP, Pwc

So you screwed up in the interview, huh? They asked the ol’ “What’s your greatest weakness” question and you answered with “cupcakes,” hoping to get a laugh. Awkward. Lucky for you, we have friends on the inside—recruiting friends (the people who’ll be interviewing you). It cost us a few favours, but they finally agreed to explain why they ask what they ask, and what the best answers are. It’s a cheatsheet for interviews. good luck!

Tell me about a time when you faced a con-flict and how you overcame it. I always find this a tough question to answer because you have to dis-cuss a time in your life when you were struggling. However, if answered carefully and thoughtfully, you can also highlight your strengths and leadership qualities. As a student, you should draw upon all of your life experiences, including examples from your volunteer opportunities and extracurricular involvements. If I was posed this question, I would respond in a way that would highlight my skills and not my weaknesses. It’s also helpful to highlight a conflict that was caused by externalities (such as weather), rather than an issue that could have been avoided.

In school, I was the president of the Business Students Association (BSA), an umbrella organization to all of the associations and confer-

ences within the School of Business, my team and I were the repre-sentatives to all of the business students on campus. The BSA holds an annual year end beer-gardens fundraiser and one year we had an unfortunate spring snowfall two days before the event and the univer-sity threatened to cancel the event due to the weather.

As president and leader of the BSA, I knew I had to step up and take the lead to address this conflict and solve it. I had the commit-tee chair call meetings with the university and I worked with them to think outside of the box and come up with reasons as to why the event should proceed. I also met with the university facility management and brought up our concerns and opinions on how we could approach the issue. After several hours of negotiations and detailed discussions, they agreed to a solution and the team was on damage control.

Throughout this challenge, the entire BSA worked as a team to keep the event going. As a leader, I acted fast, I prepared, and I worked with others to ensure the event ran smoothly. I managed this conflict successfully, and it turned out to be a record year for the BSA in profit. The university was happy with the event, and thousands of students enjoyed themselves on the last two days of university. In order to make this happen, it was critical to assess everything clearly and develop plans. The chair of the beer-gardens committee trusted me as his leader to ask for help, and together, we executed an ex-tremely successful event.

INTERVIEw SMARTS

INTERVIEW SmARTS

10

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JOBPOSTINgS.cA | JANUARY 2013

TEAm KIRA

12

TEAM KIRA

GIVING INTERVIEwS A 360 APPEAL

I NEVER REALLY LIKED THE cONcEPT THAT SOmEONE ELSE cOULD DIcTATE HOW FAR I cOULD gO IN LIFE”

“I took a little bit of a different path,” says Geoff MacGregor, 25, an Ivey business grad from West-ern. “After going to school, I knew I wanted to become an entrepreneur, but I wanted to spend some time in the corporate world first to build up my skills. ... But with all the programs like the Next 36 and some of the great advice we got from our advisors and our mentors, it really took away a lot of those barriers, making it easier to get started as an entrepreneur much earlier.”

This feeling of having entrepreneurship in your bones is shared by Geoff ’s coworkers (and company founders), Emilie Cushman, 22, and Konrad Listwan-Ciesielski, 20, Windsor (busi-ness) and Waterloo (math and computer science) grads, respectively. Both of these Next 36 grad-uates got their itch through experiences like run-ning a non-profit social enterprise and grinding out a 100+ page business plan at 4 a.m. for a high school enrichment program.

It was from these experiences that Emilie and Konrad created a start-up called Kira Talent. “I guess you could call it a social video, kind of interaction platform,” says Emilie, “one that al-lows employers to record video questions and send them out to their list of applicants. Essen-tially, as soon as applicants see the video ques-tions they can reply back through video. The whole thing is timed. Applicants can’t stop, start, or redo anything. And on the employers’ side, they get back this short video that they can share with anyone on the team, comment, and give them a score. They can also combine the video with the candidate’s social profile (Linkedin), as

well as their résumé and application. So it gives you a 360 view of your applicants and keeps ev-eryone on the same page.”

So far, keeping everyone on the same page has paid off. MBA programs like Rotman School of Management and the Ivey HBA have begun to use Kira Talent, as well as accounting firms like Ernst & Young. “We provide our customers with a noticeable ROI,” says Emilie. “We’ve talked to a lot of hiring managers before putting this to-gether. It’s really a platform we’ve developed to be incredibly intuitive.” Konrad agrees, saying that, “In the world of enterprise software, a lot of it is bulky, has too many features, is overly compli-cated and outdated. With Kira Talent, we do our best to keep our product simple and easy to use.”

But being your own boss isn’t always smooth sailing. The Kira team shared that when they first started out, they were initially afraid to fail. But through the help of their mentors, they learned that failure is okay, as long as it’s as fast as possible—that’s because failing fast lets you learn and rebuild faster. They also learned the value of being aggressive; when you’re trying to make that sale, making one phone call or email

By: David Tal

won’t cut it, you have to be persistent.

When asked what still kept them excited about running their own business, Geoff explained that “the victories we get day in and day out are ours, and you can really see the direct correla-tion between all the work you put in and the out-comes you get out.” For Emilie, “I never really liked the concept that someone else could dic-tate how far I could go in life. And I think with entrepreneurship you can really wake up every morning and think ‘today I’m going to actually have an impact.’”

With big success just around the corner, the Kira team were quick to share a bit of advice that was close to their hearts. “Surround yourself with very smart people,” says Emilie. “There’s a famous quote that says you’re the average of the five people you spend most of your time with. And when you’re young and you have very little experience or knowledge of the industry you’re working in, you really need all the help you can get. For us, we were very fortunate to be sur-rounded by outstanding mentors that we we’re on the phone with everyday pointing us in the right direction.”

LEFT TO RIgHT: KONRAD LISTWAN-cIESIELSKI, REBEccA PANJA, gEOFF mAcgREgOR, EmILIE cUSHmAN, KAVI KISTNASAmY

Page 15: Jobpostings Magazine: January 2013 Vol 15. No. 4

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Page 16: Jobpostings Magazine: January 2013 Vol 15. No. 4

BEcOmE KINg OF YOUR ScHOOL

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JANUARY 2013 | JOBPOSTINgS.cAImAgES: © ISTOcK.cOm

HOW TO gET INVOLVED, cLImB THE SOcIAL LADDER, AND mAKE THE mOST OF YOUR ScHOOL ExPERIENcE

BECOME

KINGOF YOUR SChOOLor queen

You could feel the energy. Thousands of students clad in blue and gold packed into the Thunderbird Stadium, screaming with excitement, wav-ing towels above their heads. But when the University of British Colum-bia’s (UBC) president began to speak, a hush fell over the crowd. “Ladies and gentleman, I give you your university Alma Mater Society president, Matthew Parson.”

As Parson walked on the stage, the building was once again flooded with a roar most Canadians only experience at hockey games (even if the home team hasn’t won the cup since 1967). The lights shone brightly in his eyes as he approached the podium and prepared to speak. The crowd grew silent once more as Parson delivered his speech, capturing the attention of over 7,000 first-year students.

By: Patrick Erskine

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JOBPOSTINgS.cA | JANUARY 2013 ImAgES: © ISTOcK.cOm

“For the first few sentences, I was speaking a bit faster than I would have liked,” recalls Parson. “But eventually my heartbeat slowed down and I fell into my groove.”

Most university or college students will never get the chance to speak in front of an audi-ence that large, but Matthew Parson isn’t your average student. As president of UBC’s Alma Mater Society (AMS), he’s responsible for over-seeing the general operations and management of all the businesses and projects that fall under their jurisdiction (the AMS even owns a few bars and food outlets on campus). All this is in addition to pursuing his biology degree with a minor in economics. Despite his humble de-meanor, some would argue that he’s kind of a big deal. However, he isn’t some special breed of student, just someone who one day decided that he was going to step out of his comfort zone and meet some new people.

Whether the idea of delivering a speech in front of thousands of students excites you or makes you want to curl up into a ball and weep while Bobby Vinton’s Mr. Lonely plays softly in the background, extracurricular involvement during your university or college stint is unde-niably one of the best ways to invest your time. The different types of involvement are limitless

and the benefits are equally so. There’s enough clubs out there to suit every interest, personal-ity, strength, and skill set you can think of. And if you think you’re not the type of person who should pursue extracurricular activities, well … you might just want to reconsider.

Whether you want professional business experi-ence or you’re eager to join a Quidditch league, there’s a club for it at your school. According to Parson, there are over 350 student clubs at UBC, with new clubs being constituted every week, and that number doesn’t vary much from school to school. These clubs are as integral to your experience as anything else, and if you manage not to drown in the sea of school spirit during frosh week, you’ll have some great op-portunities to connect with them.

Matthew Friesen, who now works at the Great -West Life Assurance Company, and is the ex-ecutive vice president of the Canadian Associa-tion of Business Students, was heavily involved in many clubs during his time at the University of Winnipeg. Friesen says that the most impor-tant thing to do is to be receptive of people and hear what they have to say. It’s likely that some clubs will be as interested in you as you are in them, if not even more so. “It’s about a party in the first week, I get that. But take an hour out

of your day and see what everybody’s got to offer. Because, honestly, they’re really going to be foaming at the lips for a first year who wants to get involved. They’re going to absolutely love it and tell you everything about the events they have. You can come out to the events and they’re going to remember your face next year, and that will lead to opportunities. It’s smooth sailing from there,” says Friesen. And it’s those opportunities that you’ll be glad you sought after when it finally comes time to look for a career.

A CLUB CAN hELP PUT YOUR CAREER INTO FOCUSIf you want a chance of standing out when looking for a career, you’ll want to set yourself apart while you’re still in school. Even some of the biggest university or college campuses pale in comparison to the amount of people out there looking for jobs. Although it’s intimi-dating, there’s no other place that can give you the same resources that a university or college can offer. So while you’re there, it’s worthwhile to do some things that will help separate you from the pack.

Kathryn Farrell is a recruiter with the David Aplin Group in Calgary. Farrell typically works with junior candidates with less than five years of work experience and new grads who are looking to get into the engineering and tech-nical workspace. “I connected with nearly 500 candidates per year. This would include phone interviews, as well as face-to-face interviews. And that’s out of—I would say—thousands of applicants,” says Farell. But there are a few things that make your résumé different from the rest. “Being involved in extracurricular ac-tivities, specifically clubs or organizations on campus that relate to a career path, helps you get noticed.”

Brittney Hoving knows firsthand that club par-ticipation plays a pretty big role in catching the attention of employers. Hoving, co-president of the Human Resources Management Stu-dent Association at Guelph, already has a job lined up for when she graduates with her bach-elor of commerce degree. “In the interview, they really loved the extracurricular stuff and that’s what they were asking me a lot of ques-tions about,” says Hoving. “When you put your résumé into those databases with hundreds or thousands of résumés, if everybody else has just a degree, it’s those leadership roles outside of the classroom that stand out to employers.”

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JANUARY 2013 | JOBPOSTINgS.cA

dEVELOP SOFT SKILLS ThAT ROCKYour club activities aren’t just words on a ré-sumé. Sure, sometimes it shows that you’re an outgoing person who likes to be involved, but what employers are really interested in are the soft skills you gain through your experience. It’s not enough just to be the keener at the front of the class anymore.

“The theory is good. You need the theory in certain scenarios. But 80 percent of the time, the soft skills that you’re going to learn through networking, through being involved, through actually trying and failing, those are the things that an employer wants to see,” says Friesen. “The degree itself just shows that you have mo-tivation, dedication, and that you can pursue something and complete it.”

Soft skills is a buzzword that lots of people like to throw around, but it’s essentially another way of saying people skills. How you carry yourself and interact with others holds a lot of weight in the professional world. If you think you’re awkward around people and that it disqualifies you from certain things in life, you’re wrong. Interpersonal skills, like all skills, are something you must develop. This is where extracurricular involvement can give you a major head start.

Ervin Cheah found plenty of opportunities to become a better people person while he was the director of marketing at the Rotman Com-merce Marketing Association at the University of Toronto. “The reason why I like being in-volved is because we do get a lot of opportuni-ties to develop our interpersonal skills, commu-nication skills, and presentation skills. There’s a lot of … stuff you do in the workplace that we’re learning how to do in school. So we do develop a whole different set of skills.”

Friesen also had the chance to gain practical leadership experience that would help him later in his career. “The student association gave me a chance to run a mini-company. It wasn’t putting in a full amount of time neces-sarily, but I had 20 ‘employees’ on our student association. We operated with a decent budget and threw about ten events throughout the year. We produced three magazines and had a pretty successful website. I would never have been given that much control or authority if I didn’t get involved.”

But … I don’t have the time.

You may be wondering how on earth it’s pos-sible to take part in all these extracurricular activities while maintaining your university

lifestyle. It definitely doesn’t make life easier for you, but here’s the secret to success: time man-agement. And that is one of the most invalu-able skills you can develop.

In a typical week, Jasmitaa Chhabra does more than most people accomplish in a month. Not only is she pursuing a double major in mar-keting and finance, she’s the president of the Ryerson Marketing Association too. Chhabra is also the vice-president of marketing with a group called Ryerson Students Offering Sup-port, which sends students to South America to build parks and schools. Oh, and she also does a bit of acting on the side.

No, she doesn’t have Hermoine’s time turner. But she has learned to develop her time man-agement skills to a point where she’s always able to get a full night’s sleep at the end of the day. “I can’t function if I don’t sleep, so I do need my five to six hours a night,” says Chhab-ra. “I know people who do it on two to three hours of sleep a night and I don’t know how they do it.”

Learning how to say ‘no’ is also an important skill you learn very quickly. “The power of no is huge by the way. Someone once said, ‘you can do anything but not everything,’ and that was a really powerful quote to me because it summed up my life. I was always trying to do everything—especially as president—and it was draining,” says Friesen.

If you’re afraid of giving up your social life, don’t be. Chhabra was actually able to build a community through her involvement which she may not have been able to do otherwise. The RMA helped introduce her to an entire net-work of likeminded people. “These are things people enjoy doing. They want to be there, but they don’t need to be there (like in class). It really gives you the opportunity to meet like-minded people,” says Chhabra. “With Ryerson being a commuter school, I felt really distant in first-year. Everyone came to school, went to class and left. There was no sense of commu-nity or belonging here.” Chhabra was able to create that community by plugging herself in.

Friesen has definitely not sacrificed his social life. Like Chhabra, he was able to find plenty of social activity within his clubs. “I’ve met some of my best friends who will probably be around for the rest of my life through getting involved. Some of the best conferences I’ve ever gone to, and some of the best parties I’ve ever attended, were because of my involvement,” Friesen says. “Work hard, play harder.”

Yes, even you can do it.

ImAgES: © ISTOcK.cOm

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Page 20: Jobpostings Magazine: January 2013 Vol 15. No. 4

Erin MarsdenTalent Acquisition Manager

[email protected](416) 284-4805

Follow a career path?Or blaze your own.

THE CHOICE IS CLEAR. After all, the Enterprise Management Training Program is where you’ll unleash your management potential and hone your sales abilities. You’ll learn how to run a successful business and lead a team of professionals. And, since we have locations across the country, you can build your career where you want to build it. There’s a reason why BusinessWeek magazine has repeatedly named us to their list of “Best Places To Launch A Career.”

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Go with a team that sets a high standard when it comes to employment equity. Go with Enterprise Rent-A-Car. We actively encourage applications from qualified men and women, including Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, and members of visible minorities.

Erin MarsdenTalent Acquisition Manager

[email protected](416) 284-4805

Follow a career path?Or blaze your own.

THE CHOICE IS CLEAR. After all, the Enterprise Management Training Program is where you’ll unleash your management potential and hone your sales abilities. You’ll learn how to run a successful business and lead a team of professionals. And, since we have locations across the country, you can build your career where you want to build it. There’s a reason why BusinessWeek magazine has repeatedly named us to their list of “Best Places To Launch A Career.”

YOUR PATH IS WAITING. GO.go.enterprise.com/canada

©2012 Enterprise Rent-A-Car. D02031.10/12

Go with a team that sets a high standard when it comes to employment equity. Go with Enterprise Rent-A-Car. We actively encourage applications from qualified men and women, including Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, and members of visible minorities.

Page 21: Jobpostings Magazine: January 2013 Vol 15. No. 4

Erin MarsdenTalent Acquisition Manager

[email protected](416) 284-4805

Follow a career path?Or blaze your own.

THE CHOICE IS CLEAR. After all, the Enterprise Management Training Program is where you’ll unleash your management potential and hone your sales abilities. You’ll learn how to run a successful business and lead a team of professionals. And, since we have locations across the country, you can build your career where you want to build it. There’s a reason why BusinessWeek magazine has repeatedly named us to their list of “Best Places To Launch A Career.”

YOUR PATH IS WAITING. GO.go.enterprise.com/canada

©2012 Enterprise Rent-A-Car. D02031.10/12

Go with a team that sets a high standard when it comes to employment equity. Go with Enterprise Rent-A-Car. We actively encourage applications from qualified men and women, including Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, and members of visible minorities.

JANUARY 2013 | JOBPOSTINgS.cA

EXITING ThE COMFORT zONEMaybe you think you just don’t have it in you. You’re not an extrovert, so the extracurricular schmoozing doesn’t quite appeal to you. You’ve got a Michael Cera vibe going on, and feel like you just don’t have the personality to take on these roles. Don’t be fooled. This isn’t an extrovert’s world, and it’s okay to be nervous. That just means you’re stepping out of your comfort zone. And when you’re out of your comfort zone, that’s where you really start to grow.

As president of the Alma Mater Society at UBC, Parson felt a little detached from the student body. In order to fix this, he pioneered an idea he called the 1,000 Ambas-sadors Initiative. His plan was to have a personal con-versation with a thousand students about their opinions and issues with the AMS during his term as president. As someone who doesn’t identify as a true extrovert, this was a hard step to take. “The biggest obstacle was myself. It’s always difficult to talk to strangers,” says Parsons.

“I’d say within my exec team the majority of us are intro-verted. I’m comfortable enough in a networking scenario, but I’m not fully in my element I would say. There are things that you can learn and skills that you can develop. Things like forcing yourself to constantly interact with people you might not be entirely comfortable with. You develop a comfort level with that. Just like public speaking. If you have a fear of speaking in front of large crowds, the best way to get over it is to put yourself in a situation where you have to do it a lot and channel that anxiety into more of a driving force.”

Chhabra wouldn’t identify as a strong extrovert either, but she notices the growth people experience when they push themselves. “I feel like a lot of people that I’ve worked with who have come in as introverts leave as extroverts. There’s that transformation for sure. So I’ve seen people who have been very afraid of public speaking, who don’t want to speak up during meetings, and who are not very confident to state their opinion and tell someone they’re wrong. But throughout the course of the year, the team evolves and people do come out a little bit more outgoing, loud, bold, and more confident.”

That’s not to say that introverts must continue to do things that make them feel uncomfortable until they are funda-mentally changed. In recruitment, Farrell recognizes that there are just as many important roles for introverts as there are for extroverts; and they’re every bit as important. “I would say 80 percent of the individuals you meet in accounting or finance are typically quite introverted. Are those people typically the ones out there doing the public relations for the clubs? No. Are they doing bookkeeping and finances? Absolutely. So there are definitely opportu-nities for introverts out there, they just don’t come in quite a loud sparkly package,” says Farrell. “Now with all sorts of social media, you can be an introvert and network and connect with people and get good career advice without actually physically meeting people. It’s not only a face to face networking world anymore.”

ImAgES: © ISTOcK.cOm

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JOBPOSTINgS.cA | JANUARY 2013

hOw dO I GET STARTEd?Getting involved at your university or college is incredibly easy. Clubs are desperate for your participation, and they will go out of their way to make sure it’s accessible to you. Though it’s encouraged that you do your homework before you sign your name on any dotted line. Make sure you have a thorough understanding of what the club is all about, and what a leadership position might realistically look like.

“Go talk to your elected officials within your university (or college) to get an appreciation for what the job is actually like,” advises Parson. “A lot of professions or positions are sometimes idolized a bit. You don’t want to pour your heart and soul into something and then find out it might not be what you thought it was.”

It’s never too early to get involved, and it’s never too late—as long as you’re still in school. Whether you’re a first year or a fourth year, there are opportunities to join clubs at several different capacities. Whether you’re looking to do a little bit of marketing, or your goal is to sit on the board of directors, there are opportunities for students in all years.

If you’re on the fence about checking out some clubs, just go for it. You have nothing to lose by going to a club meeting, attending an information session, or checking out an event. You might have the chance to network with some people you’d otherwise never meet. You

could develop friendships that will last the rest of your life. You could learn the skills that will get you hired a few years down the road. You could discover the strengths that will help you succeed later in life, and the weaknesses you have the chance to develop now. “There aren’t a lot of other opportunities in your life that will come about when you don’t have any other commitments, or when you have the amazing support systems around you like in university (or college),” says Par-son, who has already experienced the benefits of stepping out of his comfort zone and taking a chance.

Parson navigated through the rest of his speech on autopilot. After re-hearsing it so many times, he probably could have performed it in his sleep. All he had to do was make it to the end without letting his voice crack. Like a train moving forward over which he had no control, his only option was to make it out the other end of the tunnel. Accord-ing to Parson, it’s those kinds of moments that take you to places you never thought possible. “Something like that actually is quite pow-erful because there’s no backing out. It’s something you’re going to find extremely difficult, but an acceptance and full commitment to accomplishing it and doing it successfully can be really transformative because you may end up doing things you have never thought you could.” Parson had no intentions of being any kind of president in first-year. All it took was a simple decision to get involved.

ImAgES: © ISTOcK.cOm

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JOB HUNTING ISN’T JUST A PASTIME.

IT’S AN OBSESSION. WE’RE HERE TO HELP. EVEN BEYOND OFFICE HOURS.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION.

find our group jobpostingsTV jobpostingsca @jobpostingsca

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JOBPOSTINgS.cA | JANUARY 2013

HOW TO KIcK BUTT

22

how to

KICK BUTT AT CUSTOMER SERVICE

SPONSORED BY THE HOmE DEPOT

“I saved Christmas.”

And no, that ain’t an exaggeration. That’s a direct quote from Dean Cumming, a product placement coordinator with The Home De-pot Canada. He isn’t talking about the time he foiled the Grinch—he’s referring to a time when, in a customer service role, he went above and beyond the call of duty.

“It was Christmas eve, and there was a won-derful elderly woman who needed a stove de-livered immediately,” he says. “But our regu-lar delivery guys couldn’t get it to her that soon. So we had it delivered to the store, and myself and a manager installed it that day, so she could prepare Christmas dinner for her family.”

Heartwarming, right? But there’s a lesson to be learned here: awesome customer service can be a game-changer. Yet the basis of great customer service—the type that The Home Depot Canada says is their cornerstone—can be devastatingly simple. In fact, great custom-er service boils down to one action: Listening.

“It’s about developing solutions that you’d appreciate as a customer,” adds Amber Knight, a kitchen designer. “They key is to listen to what people are asking you, and be

honest—no one would expect you to know everything. Then, people start opening up to you. They treat you more like a friend than a staff member.”

And customer service skills can take you way, way beyond the sales floor. Both Cumming and Knight, who’ve worked with the compa-ny for two and eight years respectively, now coordinate orders, handle office administra-tion, and take on public relations duties—in short, they’re working in managerial-esque positions. And that should tell you two things: First, at places like The Home Depot Can-ada, retail jobs can bloom into larger roles. Second, learning customer service skills can benefit you in the long-term.

How, you ask? Simply add these four career-enhancing (and potentially Christmas-saving) skills to your résumé.

1. Professional skillsOr, in other words, people skills. “When someone’s spending $30,000, they want to feel like they’re not just handing money over to some juvenile person that doesn’t know what they’re doing,” says Knight.

So along with being knowledgeable at her job, Knight says she learned world-class

presentation and teamwork skills with The Home Depot Canada. “I’ve always been personable, and being pleasant is important. But I’ve learned to conduct myself in a pro-fessional manner, and use the staff here, or our vendors, as resources. If I don’t know an answer, I can rely on them.”

“Building rapport is really important,” says Cumming. “A lot of customers will come in here saying, ‘I need a tool to somehow do this.’ A big part of customer service is under-standing what people want to accomplish—whether it’s installing a bathtub or building a deck—and then focusing an entire project. Take the time to know your customers and work them through the entire process.”

2. Organizational skillsWorking at The Home Depot Canada re-quires plenty of skills: you’ll have to learn about plenty of products; answer questions from customers; manage large-scale projects. In short, you’ll have your plate full and you’ll learn to prioritize your tasks. Plus, prioritizing is a huge part of multi-tasking (a skill that just about every job asks for).

3. Communications skills.At places like The Home Depot Canada, great service equals great communication, and that means being transparent with cus-tomers, co-workers, and bosses—a trait that’s beneficial, no matter your role in a company. “If I don’t have an answer, I call and let cus-tomers know I’m working on it. A big thing is keeping those lines of communication open, so people don’t feel like they’re being ignored.”

4. PersuasivenessDon’t underrate the power of persuasion. Sure, it’ll net you a sale, but your negotiation abilities will also help you while writing cover letters, interviewing for a job, or negotiating that pay raise. And, says Cumming, you can learn plenty about persuasion when dealing with tough customers—in fact, converting grumpy customers can be the most rewarding part about customer service positions.

“The most satisfying part about customer service is working with difficult customers,” he says. “Working with people who are dif-ficult, and having them return to you, is the greatest challenge—and a challenge is what you should strive for. Most customer service people won’t be able to deal with these peo-ple—but you’ll develop the strongest bonds with them.” | By: Mark Teo

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Because working here is about more than helping customers choose the right product. It’s about making a difference in our customers’ lives and their homes. We call it “unleashing your inner orange” and it’s my ability to tap into my inner potential to help them create a space worth calling home.

The first thing I do when I greet a customer is smile. It lets them know I’m there to help, and that I’m confident in my ability to make a difference in their projects—no matter how large or small, I know that my customers value my product knowledge and that drives me to go above and beyond to help them complete their projects. Through extensive training, tuition reimbursement and more, The Home Depot gives me the support I need to build a promising future.

– Ashley, Home Depot Associate

A variety of part-time and seasonal opportunities are available for college and university students.

We are committed to diversity as an equal opportunity employer.

Successful projects start with serious know-how. And a warm smile.

Apply online at homedepotjobs.ca/6469.

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A CHALLENGE?DO YOU LOVE

The “Media Engineering” group, part of the CBC Media Operations & Technology team, is responsible for planning, designing and implementing all of the CBC’s Television, Radio and New Media production facilities across the country. These facilities include studios, control rooms, mobile production vehicles, and digital archives.

We are seeking Engineering & Network System Designers to join our team.

As a Systems Designer you would be part of a multi-functional project team to develop technical solutions and conceptual engineering design specifications that meet customer requirements for complex media broadcast and networking systems.

Your role would involve designing, developing, testing, commissioning and project management of media broadcast system projects.

Iris Singh, Senior Administration Manager, [email protected], 416-205-2370

CONTACT

Do you love to work behind thescenes with leading edge technology?

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JANUARY 2013 | JOBPOSTINgS.cA

HOW TO START cONVERSATIONS

25

ThE LINEUPWe are constantly waiting: at traffic lights, in stores, in school, in cafeterias, and at restau-rants. Try commenting on something around you to the stranger next to you. They may be wearing great boots you can compliment, or you may just simply point out something of interest around you, and you can laugh together for a moment. You don’t need to put an ad on Craig-slist for ‘missed connections’ for these kinds of friendly conversations—it’s just another way to practice breaking the ice. Striking up a conver-sation instead of idly playing a game on your cell phone while you’re bored in a lineup can not only improve your conversation skills, but also improve your mood.

With these suggestions in mind, it’s important for you to be prepared to fall on your face sometimes. Being afraid is normal. Mistakes are normal. But the more you try to strike up a conversation, the more you’ll discover interest-ing people, and your confidence will improve as well. | By Mary Michaela Weber

Mary Michaela Weber is one of Canada’s top com-munications consultants, known for using wit and a smart sense of strategy. Her company, Voice Empow-erment Inc., brings her background of over 20,000 hours of training to CEO’s and Executives in Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies, Ivey League Uni-versity professors, and up-and-comers across North America and the Caribbean.

ThE BARISTA OR BARTENdERFirst and foremost, these interactions include conversation and banter already, so you’re not ‘cold calling’ or doing anything out of the ordi-nary. I like to turn my neighborhood stores into a quasi-village by making a point of knowing the shopkeepers well.

Think of one question or one compliment you can ask the person who quenches your thirst. Make your comment general, and not too per-sonal or invasive, since you don’t know them well yet. If they’re ‘slammed’ with a mob of cus-tomers, make your comment short and sweet—a quick compliment will do, and your reward may be a smile or thank you. If you get nothing, you’ve still achieved your objective, which is to practice. Keep trying this with various people or situations, and notice what works best for you at opening doors to conversations.

RANdOM ACTS OF KINdNESSGoing out of your way to help a stranger is not only a nice thing to do, it’s also an opportunity for you to engage with someone you don’t know. Help someone carry their shopping bags, of-fer money to someone who is short of change in line, or pick up the glove you saw someone drop. These good deeds will give you an excuse to strike up a conversation and once again, prac-tice makes perfect.

Once I stopped for a bite at a local coffee shop,

Here are five scenarios in everyday life where you can test, apply, and work on your conver-sational skills and increase your confidence in opening conversations. Once you get people chatting, they love to talk about themselves, so all you have to do is get the tongues rolling.

It’s important, however, to always operate within your own sense of personal safety; listen to your instincts. Once you’re comfortable in one set-ting, try applying that confidence to a workplace situation, and then to more ‘serious’ topics.

and made a joke to someone ahead of me in line that I’d get this big delicious looking dessert if I could give them half of it. I actually didn’t want to eat the giant bread pudding by myself, so it was genuine. We bantered a bit, and ended up splitting our respective lunches with one another and having a great conversation.

The “tone” matters in how you address a com-plete stranger. Be respectful, but don’t be afraid to be playful. Enjoy a lighthearted conversation with no expectations or hidden agendas.

UPGRAdE AN EXISTING CONVERSATIONNext, challenge yourself with a goal to enhance your existing communication with a service provider, barista, or shopkeeper. Instead of just making small-talk, make people laugh, or ask follow-up questions from previous conversa-tions. Make it your goal to learn something new about them or challenge yourself to get a free upgrade on a service or product.

dEAd zONESWe all have those people in our lives that we see routinely, either at the grocery store, the library, or walking in the neighbourhood, that we know nothing about. Find something simple to say to them, as it is likely these run-ins will remain rou-tine. A simple ‘hello, how are you?’ will suffice and will help you practice ‘breaking the silence.’ Who knows, maybe these daily run-ins will turn into something more.

how to start CONVERSATIONS wITh STRANGERSFIVE PLAcES YOU cAN PRAcTIcE YOUR SPEAKINg SKILLS

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business.humber.ca/postgrad

1O WAYSTO LAUNCHYOUR CAREERFIND YOUR NICHE WITH A POSTGRAD IN BUSINESS.

Advertising – Media Management

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Event Management

Fashion Management & Promotions

Financial Planning

Global Business Management

Human Resources Management

International Development

Marketing Management

Public Administration

Page 29: Jobpostings Magazine: January 2013 Vol 15. No. 4

business.humber.ca/postgrad

1O WAYSTO LAUNCHYOUR CAREERFIND YOUR NICHE WITH A POSTGRAD IN BUSINESS.

Advertising – Media Management

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Event Management

Fashion Management & Promotions

Financial Planning

Global Business Management

Human Resources Management

International Development

Marketing Management

Public Administration

By now you’ve probably returned from your winter holidays, relaxed, refreshed, and ready to take on that giant list of New Year’s resolutions you’ve written for yourself. But before you put the finishing touches on

that list, how about adding a new goal to it.

A new year can mean a new you, so why not make it your mission this year to become a more attractive candidate to your future employers or grad school admissions boards. We’ve done the legwork to show you how to impress your professors, manage your online image, be an extracurricular all-star, rock your

elevator pitch, and be one step ahead of your interviewer. Now all you have to do is follow our lead.

BECOME A STARBy: Rebecca Feigelsohn

BEcOmE A STAR

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JANUARY 2013 | JOBPOSTINgS.cAImAgES: © ISTOcK.cOm

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IMPRESS YOUR PROFESSORSBe a go-getter, not a brown-noserIt’s the age-old rule that nobody likes a kiss-ass and that tenet isn’t limited to your classmates’ opinions. “It’s really easy to tell when someone’s being genuine about wanting to learn more about their professor … and when they aren’t,” says Stephen Charko, a marketing lecturer at McMaster.

Charko got his teaching position in part from being on good terms with pro-fessors and administrative staff. He believes having the foresight to “evaluate the courses and professors you have, right at the beginning of the year, and making an effort (to learn about them) from day one,” makes all the differ-ence when trying to build a legitimate relationship.

Frank Daley, who has taught at Seneca and Ryerson, and is the author of the Daley Post blog, and is starting a new business called Self Knowledge College, believes that making a good impression is simpler than that: “Show up. Be on time. Don’t disturb the class. Stop chewing gum. Stop using your electronic devices.” He notes that a surprising amount of students don’t follow Woody Allen’s advice that “eighty percent of success is showing up.”

Sometimes though, the twenty percent effort that goes beyond showing up to class and taking good notes can make a monumental difference in the way a professor perceives you. “Show a genuine interest in the course material, always be prepared, always be willing to answer questions, and do it in a genuine and professional way,” says Charko. Attending office hours, Daley says, “shows the professor you’re engaged, that you’re connected with the subject, and that you want to go past the lecture or the text. Most students don’t do this.”

Once you’ve developed and fostered your relationship with a professor over the course of a semester—distinguished yourself from another nameless face in the classroom—asking for a reference letter or recommendation will be a breeze. “In terms of the direct ask, it’s always easier for someone to play editor than it is coming up with something themselves,” says Charko. If you provide the professor with some direction as to what you’re apply-ing for, what you’re interested in, and your résumé, you’ll be sure to get an authentic recommendation that can be the difference between a job or a spot in a graduate program.

A gOOD HEADSHOT PHOTO cAN RESULT IN mORE ‘HITS’ Your LinkedIn profile photo can give future employers a good sense of who you are, so you want to select a photo where you look professional and approachable. Elizabeth garone of the Wall Street Journal’s “At Work” writes that “LinkedIn profiles that include a photograph are seven times more likely to be viewed than those that don’t, according to company stats.”

ThE TOP 3 MUST-hAVES FOR YOUR LINKEdIN ACCOUNT

A cATcHY TAg LINE “most people use [the tag line] to put in their current job, and by doing that you’re actually limiting yourself quite a bit, because you want to have something that conveys a bit of your personality,” says Don Power. Sean Nelson of Social media Sonar blog, writes, “Titles tell people what you are. Tag lines can tell people what you can do for them.” By default, LinkedIn selects your current job title as your tagline, so if you haven’t already customized this feature, make sure you do.

STRONg REcOmmENDATIONS HELP, BUT TOO mANY REcOmmENDATIONS cAN HINDER Recommendations are “other people singing your praises, rather than you,” says Power. Because recommendations are mostly solicited, “Recruiters and hiring managers do read recommendations and take them into account, though it’s unlikely that a recommendation would make or break a LinkedIn member’s chance of getting hired,” writes Forbes’ Susan Adams. genuine recommendations can add value, but non-specific ones can be off-putting for potential employers.

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GOOGLE YOURSELF

Manage your online image so future employ-ers see the ‘best’ youIn the age of the interweb, Google is the go-to destination when wanting to learn more about anything … including people. But how many of us have Googled ourselves? Well if you haven’t fallen prey to a vanity search yet, do yourself a favour and Google websites, images, and videos to see what comes up when someone searches for you. If you have a common name, it might be more challenging to find the real you (be sure to put your name in quotes for a more accurate search), but once you do, you might be surprised at what you find.

Perhaps you accidentally changed your Facebook privacy settings and that shameful photo from frosh is now online? Maybe that staff member you worked with over the summer is bad-mouthing you on their blog? Or may-be not, you’ll never know until you Google.

According to backgroundcheck.org’s “Google-Yourself-Challenge,” 79 per-cent of recruiters and hiring managers screen candidates by reviewing their information online; so you should be sure that what they find they’re going to like. But don’t get too worried, we’ve got your back. Here are some of the ways to successfully manage your online image so people see the best you.

Don Power, who lives and breathes social media on a daily basis, is a social media consultant and professional speaker. Point-blank, he urges people

to “avoid anything that can paint a negative picture about you.” This in-cludes, but isn’t limited to, photographs of you drinking, comments about drinking, anything derogatory, racist, or any use of profanity. His advice is that “people’s profiles should be open, a word we use in the industry is transparent, and that allows you to organically link to other profiles that you have to carry on the conversation from one medium to another.” How-ever, he warns that if you’re going to use Facebook for personal matters, use your privacy features effectively to ensure that only family members and friends can see your activity.

In order to use social media to your advantage, Power says, “You should have a profile on at least the major platforms … for career building purposes: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and to a certain extent Youtube.” However, he does recognize the challenge of keeping up all of these different profiles, “I think it’s very, very difficult to maintain more than one or two, where you’re active enough that you’re actually using it as social media was meant to be used for, and that’s to network, interact, and build relationships with people. So pick one that really floats your boat, that you have a passion for, because doing that will allow you to make it sing for you.”

Another emerging social media site that’s worth exploring is About.me—sometimes referred to as an online business card—this personal webpage can be used to link visitors to all of your other activity online, and includes a personalized photo along with a paragraph about what you’re passion-ate about. This tool can be particularly useful for someone who maintains multiple platforms and wants to ensure a common linkage between all pro-files. About.me “allows you to own your identity and determine how you’re portrayed to potential employers,” says Laura Gluhanich, who works at About.me. With over one million users currently using the service, having an About.me webpage is an opportunity to show more of your personality and showcase your talents and accomplishments.

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BE AN EXTRACURRICULAR ALL-STAR

Balance is key We all know that getting involved in activities outside of the classroom, having school spirit, and giving back to the community makes you look like a well-rounded, philanthropic, do-gooder, but other than the intrinsic satisfaction these extracurricular activities give you, what other benefits can you gain? “Lots,” says Josh Bovard, a recent McGill grad with a whole lot of experience under his belt and a résumé that bursts with soft skills and leadership experience.

Bovard’s long list of accomplishments include his role as former president of the residence coun-cil, a role that involved working with representa-tives from different residences, as well as some administrative staff; past president of McGill Students for Right to Play, an on-campus club that fundraises for the organization that seeks to improve the lives of disadvantaged children through sport; former vice president external for Red Thunder, a sports club that aims to increase school spirit; and previous global health care coordinator for the Montreal World Health Or-ganization (MonWHO), aimed to raise student awareness about world health issues. Bovard was also a peer tutor for the Science Undergraduate Society (SUS), an organizer of frosh events, and was a part of the management carnival com-mittee, if his other accomplishments weren’t enough already.

“University isn’t just an academic experience, it’s a social experience. You need to learn to bal-ance your personal life, with your social life, with your academic life, with your extracurricular life. And all of them are important and valuable aspects of your experience,” says Bovard.

His extracurricular involvement gave him time management, leadership, and organizational skills that are extremely marketable qualities to any career path he chooses to pursue in the future. “I think the most important [skill] I learned was really how to work with a team and understanding the team dynamic,” he says. “It all starts with learning to be a leader, but also learning to be led, because both are desirable skills for any team.” Getting involved in univer-sity also opened doors for Bovard, he was able to establish contacts with people he would have never met otherwise, and participate in things he would otherwise have not. “You never know where you can meet someone, and then all of a sudden you have a connection,” he says. “And you never know when that connection can turn

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JANUARY 2013 | JOBPOSTINgS.cA

STANd OUT dURING RECRUITMENT FAIRS

Rock your elevator pitchRecruitment fairs can be a challenge for the shy types—not only do you have to ‘sell yourself ’ to future employers, you’re also up against the best students in your faculty who are all competing for positions at top firms. What’s an introvert to do?

Inna Royz, current staff accountant at Ernst & Young Toronto, who par-ticipated in McGill’s accounting recruitment and thereafter obtained a summer position at Ernst & Young Ottawa, believes these students should practice being in unfamiliar circumstances. “Put yourself in situations where you can practice speaking to people you don’t know—you can do this at bars, on campus, or in the classroom” she says. “Knowing how to appropriately and politely join a conversation is the key.”

An elevator pitch, which is a concise, practiced, thirty-second pitch for you to “tell your story,” can also be a helpful tool for nervous students. Meant to convey key information in a short amount of time, an elevator pitch is helpful for recruitment events because it’s a targeted statement that’s meant to be memorable. An elevator pitch isn’t meant for you to list off your résumé, but is an opportunity for you to be engaging and tell a potential employer what your strengths are and how your goals fit with the organiza-tion you’re interested in being employed at. Preparing this pitch in advance is essential, but be wary of sounding too stiff and rehearsed, if you sound like you’re reading a script it will seem unnatural.

To prepare for the accounting recruitment fair at McGill, Royz met with advisors, spoke with older students in her faculty, and conducted research online in order to get a sense of how to cater her application to what the firms were looking for. Before the formal interview process, there were a series of informal networking events where Royz felt that her strengths included being “friendly, outgoing, mature, and that I asked thoughtful questions that couldn’t be answered by information online.”

As conversations were rarely one-on-one and more often with a firm’s rep-resentative and a group of eager accounting students, Royz says, “It’s not about dominating the conversation, it’s about having a conversation with everyone, including your peers.” In order to stand out amongst this crowd, however, Royz speaks to the importance of being yourself, presenting your-self as a future employee, and the value of personalized follow-up emails. “I emailed everyone I had a conversation with,” she says, and “I continued the impression I had already made at the event.” She did that by referring to the conversation they had and ensuring the tone was professional but also appropriate to the relationship she had already built.

into something more.”

For this extracurricular all-star, finding balance is essential, something Bovard didn’t accomplish successfully until his final year. But the drive and desire to help members of his community is something Bovard has con-tinued to have since graduation. Since moving back home to Vancouver, Bovard started a peer mentoring service at his old high school to improve students’ math skills. “By being active and involved in the community at university, I came back with that same attitude. I said ‘I see something that can be improved, and I want to be active, I’m going to get involved.’”

His final words of wisdom to students is to “Make your own involvement; you don’t necessarily have to wait for an opportunity to come up.”

how to dRESS ThE PART

Attending a career fair or a job interview is like a first date, you want to make an impact and you want them wanting more. First impres-sions are important, and how you look is often how potential employers judge your capabili-ties as a candidate; you need to dress the part.

BE wELL-GROOMEd make sure your hair is freshly cut and conserva-tively styled, beards are trimmed or shaved, and makeup is applied lightly – no trying out your new smoky eye technique.

COLOUR SChEME Stick to black, grey,

or navy for widest appeal. That baby blue suit you wore

to prom has no place here.

STANdOUT PIECE Whether it’s an

interesting tie for men, a handbag, or unique pair of

tights for women, you should have one

accessory that will help distinguish you

from the pack.

ShOES 5-inch stilettos are a no-no, as are sneakers, combat boots or moccasins. make sure your shoes are clean and well-polished.

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IMPRESS AN INTERVIEwER

Stay one step ahead your interviewerNow that you’ve secured an interview, either at a potential job, intern-ship, or for admission to a graduate program, you’re probably in major need of guidance.

David Perry, managing partner of Perry-Martel International Inc. and co-author of Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 3.0 has insider tips that will help you prepare, succeed, and be remembered at an interview.

Perry suggests reading the organization’s annual report, particularly the CEO or president’s message before your interview. “It outlines the ob-jectives for the upcoming year. Refer to the piece during your interview and ask how the organization faired against the deliverables,” he says. This is a step beyond what most people do before interviews, and will distinguish you from your competition who merely read the “About Us” page on the company website.

You should also look up your interviewer on LinkedIn to understand their background, their previous jobs, and their education. Ask why they left their old job and took this position, notes Perry. “That will stop them in their tracks and force them to sell you on the company and the role. No one else will do this. You will be remembered.”

Interviewees should also use all available resources at their disposal, including the company blog and industry website. “Be able to discuss where the company fits in their industry and how the megatrends are going to or are affecting its growth and profitability,” says Perry.

During your interview, be sure you’re prepared to tell the interviewer why you’re interested in the organization and how working there fits into your career plan. Perry believes, “The clearer you are with the inter-viewer about why you’re there and how you can contribute, the sooner you’ll land your dream job.”

Perry suggests avoiding colloquialisms at all costs, phrases such as: like, you know, and gotcha, have no place in the interview room. He also says that asking questions that could be answered on the company website shows that you’re lazy and didn’t do your research, so there is such a thing as a stupid question.

Lastly, the follow up. “You need to send a thank you note. It’s great op-portunity to demonstrate ‘project completion’ as less than 1% will both-er,” Perry urges. An email will do, but a hand-written note will show that you’ve gone above and beyond your call of duty.

What do you say …If you’ve been paying attention, then by now you’ll know how to get a rockin’ reference letter from your professor, ensure your online image portrays you in your best light, beef up your résumé and gain essential skills, impress the heck out of that recruiter you just met, and be remem-bered after your interview. You’re welcome.

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32BEcOmE A STAR

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® Registered trade-mark of Bank of Montreal

®

Turn your potential into performanceBMO Financial group is committed to an inclusive, equitable and accessible workplace. By embracing diversity, we gain strength through out people and our perspectives.

Hiring opportunities for People with Disabilities:

Summer and Full Time roles

Customer Service Representatives

If you are a person with a disability, please email your resume and cover letter to [email protected] and include Job Postings in the subject line.

Visit bmo.com/careers to discover other opportunities with our team today.

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EVOLVINg WITH cULTURE

34

“The difference between behaviors that were tolerated in the eighties and what’s accepted now are immense,” says Wendy Cukier, founder of the Diversity Institute at Ryerson University. “People had sunshine girls all over the walls, they would comment on your body parts and other women’s body parts, and there was no re-course. You simply sucked it up.” Thankfully, after decades of striving for equality and diver-sity in the workplace, we’ve come a long way.

As Canadians, diversity is as much a part of our culture as politeness, toques, and Tim Hor-tons. According to the 2012 Forbes Insights report, our country is ranked seventh on the global diversity index, which reflects the diver-sity of our workforce, which has significantly grown over the years. While there’s still a lot of room for growth and progress, we’ve definitely made some impressive strides.

Human resource departments love to use terms like diversity, inclusion, and tolerance, but what do they mean for employees? In order to en-sure diversity and inclusion is put into prac-tice in your workplace, it’s important to have an understanding of these terms. “Diversity refers to the idea that we see real or perceived differences between people based on certain characteristics,” says Dr. Ron Ophir, assistant professor at the School of Human Resource Management at York University. “They can be demographic characteristics, identity-based, or more functional. It’s very broad, while in-clusion is about how different people feel they have a voice and impact on decision making in the organization.”

Dr. Ophir also notes that, while the terms diver-sity and inclusion definitely belong in the same camp, they can mean very different things.

“Inclusion deals with being a real full fledged member, compared to diversity which in gener-al doesn’t [necessarily] take that into account.”

This idea of diversity and inclusion in the workplace didn’t just pop out of thin air. Sever-al historic moments in Canadian history have played a role in paving the road for equality in the workplace. In 1919, women were given the right to vote, which brought us a step closer to gender equality. In 1960, non-enfranchised aboriginal people were given the right to vote. The civil rights movements during the 60s also played a huge role in the advancement of gen-der, class, and race equality. These moments in history helped lay the foundation for what would become the Employment Equity Act in 1986 (and later revised in 1995). The act is meant to encourage equal opportunities in the workplace for women, people with disabilities,

EVOLVING wITh ThE CULTURE A HISTORIcAL LOOK AT DIVERSITY AND INcLUSION AT WORK

1919Women in Canada are given

the right to vote

1960Non-enfranchised aboriginals

given the right to vote

1982Canadian Charter of Rights and

Freedoms (kind of a big deal)

1986The introduction of theEmployment Equity Act

2005Accessibility for Ontarians

with Disabilities Act

2005The introduction of

the Civil Marriage Act

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35EVOLVINg WITH cULTURE

aboriginal people, and visible minorities.

Michael Bach, the director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at KPMG, notes that we’ve ar-rived at a good place more recently. “If I look back, the eighties were about exclusion. There was blatant discrimination going on. The nine-ties was the ‘I treat everyone the same’ genera-tion, where phrases like ‘I’m colour blind’ came about. Whereas, in the 2000s and beyond, there’s been the recognition that differences ex-ist—though not all employers actually do this.

“It’s really been a game changer because now we’re saying ‘Okay, we need to talk about the different cultures people come from, their ex-pectations, and their work style.’ It’s become a much more complex situation, but it’s also be-come a more valuable conversation,” says Bach.

Though admittedly complex, these are the types of conversations organizations are more than willing to have. That’s because of the business case, which “takes a financial, cost ef-fective look at diversity and says that there are a variety of reasons for why having a diverse workforce will be good for the organization,” says Ophir. “A diverse group has the potential of reaching better solutions to problems and identifying those problems sooner. So there’s

the benefit of having multiple points of views from people coming from multiple different backgrounds.”

The fact that businesses now view diversity as an asset is indicative of how far we’ve come with equity in the workplace. It’s also a sign of our changing culture in Canada and how busi-nesses must adapt in order to breed success. “Demographics are changing, the marketplace is changing, the workforce is changing, so com-panies need to take advantage of diversity and inclusiveness,” says Janet Naidu, the president and founder of HR Diversity Solutions Cana-da. “These terms are important because with-out them it’s like a melting pot, which is not what we’re about in Canada. Canadians value their cultural identities—and all identities as a matter of fact. So these words act as pillars that corporations continue to enshrine in their mis-sion statements.”

Although Canada has made leaps and bounds towards greater diversity and inclusion in the workplace, we still have a ways to go. “We’re comprised of people from different back-grounds and it’s part of our source of pride. And rightfully so! But that does not mean that all issues of discrimination have been resolved,” says Ophir. “We’re sadly far from it …. It’s not

intentional, but adverse impact happens when we have seemingly neutral policies or practices on how we treat people, but we actually are not aware of the discrimination that happens as a result of that.”

So where do we go from here? Bach, for exam-ple, would like to see the Employment Equity Act to be updated to include the LGBT seg-ment of the population. Naidu says that simply to have these policies isn’t enough, they need to be brought alive by engaging the employees. “Create a diversity day, create affinity groups …. Have some sort of awareness session for employees. Without engagement, you lose the whole message that you have in your mission statement on diversity and inclusion.”

We’ve progressed from a time when policies on diversity, inclusion, and equality in the work-place didn’t exist, to a time when these policies are actually important to a company’s growth and success. The important thing to remember is that worthwhile change always takes time. “We’re talking about a cultural and societal change in many of these situations, so they don’t happen in a vacuum and they don’t hap-pen in one day,” says Ophir. When working towards positive change, all we can do is take it one victory at a time. | By: Patrick Erskine

1919Women in Canada are given

the right to vote

1960Non-enfranchised aboriginals

given the right to vote

1982Canadian Charter of Rights and

Freedoms (kind of a big deal)

1986The introduction of theEmployment Equity Act

2005Accessibility for Ontarians

with Disabilities Act

2005The introduction of

the Civil Marriage Act

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 60 65 70 7555

Women in the federally regulated private sector grew from 4.7% to 25.9% from 1987 to 2007

Representation of visible minorities in the federally regulated private sector rose from 5% in 1987 to 15.9% in 2007

From 1999 to 2007, employed men with disabilities grew from 48% to 56%

80 85 95 10090gROWTH (%)

1995 - Revision of Employment Equity Act

Sources: hrsdc.gc.ca, statcan.gc.ca,

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36PROFESSIONAL DO’S & DON’TS

hABITS TO MAKE ANd BREAK TO AdVANCE YOUR CAREER It’s the beginning of a new year and there’s no better time to do some professional self-reflection. It’s an important exercise in the path to career growth and development, and should be done regularly. But this process should not be confused with making New Year’s resolutions, which are done once per year and are often unrealistic and prone to fail. career self-reflection, on the other hand, should be done regularly and goals should be realistic.

Part of evaluating your professional self is looking for improvements that you can make, including assessing your professional habits. Here are some suggested habits to form and ditch in order to help your career progress.

PROFESSIONAL hABITS TO MAKENETwORK, NETwORK, NETwORK

I cannot stress the importance of networking enough. Network-ing will increase the number of connections you have; the more

people you know, the more opportunities you’ll have to expand your knowledge and find work in your chosen field. Your networking

strategy should include being active on social media sites; however, you should also be present at networking events and talk with people

who are in your field. Meeting someone face-to-face will leave a much better impression than simply connecting with them online.

REVIEw YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE FREqUENTLY Update your professional networking sites, as employers will use sites like LinkedIn to search for talent and get more information about candidates, so your profile should match your résumé. But ensure that your privacy settings are activated on your personal

social media accounts, so that information about you is accessible only to those who are given access. Finally, stalk yourself ! Search for yourself online. Some employers will do a comprehensive search of

you; you should be aware of what they will find.

BE OPEN MINdEd TO OPPORTUNITIES When graduating from university or college, you might not be able to find an opportunity that’s exactly what you’re looking for, so you need to keep an open mind. Rather than focusing on whether the

opportunity is the perfect role, focus on whether the opportunity will give you some experience in your field and/or other skills that can

be transferred.

Assessing your habits from time to time is important for your continued professional development. When evaluating yourself, make note of the areas that you would like to improve on and create a plan for making those improvements. We’ve reviewed three professional habits to make and three pro-fessional habits to break. consider these habits, but also review others that might help in your career development. good luck! | By: Allison Mitchell

PROFESSIONAL hABITS TO BREAKdEPENdENCE ON ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION

Although texting, tweeting, and emailing is easy and readily available, it’s important that people are able to communicate face-to-face or over the phone in the workplace. Communication is a fundamental skill in any career and is a skill that needs to be continuously improved on.

Face-to-face communication is especially important when you’re build-ing new relationships or resolving conflict; it can be hard to know the meaning or tone of a message in electronic communication. The next time you find yourself communicating via electronics, try walking to

the person’s desk or picking up the phone and talking with them.

hELICOPTER PARENTS Some parents want to be very involved in your academics and the early stages of your working career, but it’s important for potential

employers to see that you’re independent and in control of your own life. Parents should not call employers to request interviews for you

or check up on the status of an interview. Employers are hiring you, not you and your parents as a team.

NOT KNOwING whAT YOU wANT When applying to jobs, listing your experienc and educational

background, and asking the employer which roles you should apply to gives the impression that you lack focus in what you really want to do. The hiring managers and HR representatives are not your

career counselors. Instead, do research and talk to the employer only about the roles you’re suitable for and interested in. This approach will show that you’re knowledgeable about their company and have

the drive and passion they are looking for.

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POST-SECONDARY STUDENTS WANTED!

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JOBPOSTINgS.cA | JANUARY 2013

SO YOU WANT TO BE A mINER?

38

In the mining industry, gone are the days when knowing someone in the mines guaranteed you a job—nowadays, you need technical skills, theoret-ical background, and a good work ethic to make it in mining.

“We’re typically looking for at least one year of post-secondary before we have people come into the organization,” says Heather Bruce-Veitch, director of external relations for the Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) in St. John’s, New-foundland. “[It gives you] a higher level of skill and more flexibility for us in terms of moving you throughout the [company].”

With this trend in the industry, trade schools can be a great place to prepare you for a career in mining.

“A great many [mining jobs] require a technical skill set,” says Katherine Bruce, program coordi-

SO, YOU wANT TO BE A MINER?

Special Report on Mining

TRADE ScHOOLS cAN HELP YOU gET THERE

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JANUARY 2013 | JOBPOSTINgS.cA

mININg OVERSEAS

39

Source: canadianminingJournal.com

nator and professor of Mining Engineering Tech-nology at Cambrian College in Sudbury, Ontario. “That isn’t to say that we throw the theoretical part of it out the window, but it’s a smaller component.”

Not only are technical skills and theory impor-tant, but soft skills like attention to detail and working well with others are becoming crucial to getting hired.

“Having a good working ethic is becoming more of a requirement than even the technical skills—and we get that straight from industry,” says Bruce. “In our evaluations for each course, we’ve allotted a percentage of marks based on our observations of the professional conduct of students.”

Small class sizes help create an interactive envi-ronment—at Cambrian College, labs are capped at 20 students—and many programs partner

closely with industry to help students be better equipped to find jobs after graduation.

“We have a program advisory committee at Cam-brian College … made up of industry persons who act as advisors [and provide] suggestions on what we can do to improve the outcome for our students,” says Bruce. “As far as employment goes, [our faculty, recruiters, and employment office] have very strong ties to industry and we utilize our personal contacts from industry to secure posi-tions for our students.”

Jacob Viitamaki, a recent graduate of the Blast-ing Techniques program at Sir Sandford Fleming College notes the benefits of the practical experi-ence gained at trade school.

“In the program you actually get to practice what you study, handling explosives and the devices to monitor explosions,” he says. “[It’s] helped me be prepared for a job as a blaster or even a blasting related industry, such as monitoring.”

Once you’re working, trade school can also be a great way of getting additional training. Paul Au-dette, a construction and maintenance electrical apprentice in Gogama, Ontario is currently en-rolled in trade school to get his red seal electri-cal ticket. “Now that I’m working out in the real world, I can apply what I’m learning to what I’m doing at work,” says Audette.

There are many summer positions available for students in mining programs. According to Bruce-Veitch, every year IOC hires between 120-150 post-secondary students at a base rate of $26 per

Travelling to places like Russia, Kazakhstan, Ar-gentina, Brazil, and Nevada isn’t common place for most people, but Stephen Ball has been to them all, thanks to his job.

He came across the mining industry “by fluke” while talking to an administrator of the mining program at the British Columbia Institute for Technology. “I just sort of gravitated towards (the mining industry),” says Ball. It was “the allure of this whole other world that I wasn’t aware of.”

After completing a technical diploma in mining from BCIT, Ball studied mining engineering at the University of Montana. Since his gradua-tion in 2005, the Calgary native has worked in six countries over the past seven years.

While mining is a global industry that involves se-rious opportunities for overseas adventures, some jobs within the sector offer more travel time than others. Ball’s excessively stamped passport proves that mining engineers get their fair share of glo-betrotting.

James Leader, an instructor of the Mining and Mineral Exploration Program at BCIT, says “both junior and senior engineers might be as-signed to a company’s overseas operations for periods of time ranging from a few months to several years.”

The lifestyle they experience depends on how well-established or large the mine site is, but the majority of the time mines are in very remote places with few luxuries. Geologists also have travel opportunities, but they are more likely work on exploration projects that require shorter trips. Lifestyle-wise, geologists are more likely to be working in a camp-setting during an exploration.

For both roles, “The challenges can be numerous, from fighting off nasty insects that bite, to the dif-ficulties of working in a foreign language and a culture where things aren’t done the same way as in North America or Europe,” says Leader.

However, the challenges of working and travelling in the mining industry are also the perks. While adjusting to new cultures can be difficult, it can also be a rewarding experience. “For me, the op-portunity to go all over the world has been a great experience that I wouldn’t change for anything,” says Ball.

Those in the mining industry often spend large amounts of time, about six weeks straight, work-ing at the mine site. This is followed by a several weeks off, when you can choose to fly home or stay

FINd YOUR OVERSEAS AdVENTURE ThROUGh A CAREER IN MININGTHE UPS AND DOWNS OF mININg

hour. These positions can help students transition into the workforce after graduation.

The industry has also become much more inclu-sive, and operational roles aren’t just for manual labourers anymore.

“Trades have changed significantly over the years,” says Bruce-Veitch. “A lot of businesses have engineered methods and technology to try to reduce or alleviate things like heavy lifting or heavy manual work.”

According to Bruce, operational roles can open up countless opportunities. “If you want to work in South America or in the Arctic, or if you want to go to Africa or Mongolia, then mining is for you,” she says. “To make that happen, you’re going to need a credential, and a great place to get that credential is going to be a technical school.” | By: Kiera Obbard

In 2009, the mining industry was ranked the second safest industry in Ontario

2NdSAFEST INdUSTRY

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DIggINg DEEPER

40

When you think of mining, you probably pic-ture headlamps, coal, and men with pickaxes. With advancements in technology and a diver-sifying workforce, however, the mining industry of today is much different from the past.

Although women represent 14 to 16 percent of the industry, and fill mostly administrative roles, opportunities for women in mining are growing.

“MiHR estimates that about 112,000 people are going to be needed in the mining industry by 2021,” says Melanie Sturk, director of Attrac-tion, Retention, and Transition with the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR). “Women can work in any position in the mining industry, and there are actually over 120 differ-ent occupations in the sector.”

Employment opportunities range from admin-istrative, technical, or operational roles, to fi-nance, human resources, or executive positions. Not only are there many opportunities, but the number of women in the sector is rising as well.

“We’re seeing more and more women join Gold-corp and join the mining industry in general, in roles from truck drivers, to trades to engineer-ing to geology,” says Jenine Ellefson, director of Talent and Recruiting at Goldcorp a senior gold producer with headquarters in Vancouver, B.C.

To enter the industry, the education and train-ing needed depends on the type of job you’re looking for, but in general, grade 12 education is required. Students should also consider intern positions to expose them to the industry.

“The mining industry sees work experience as incredibly important,” says Sturk. “Not only that, but joining professional associations like the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) and Women in Mining (WIM) is a great way to network. Also, MiHR has a virtual mine mentor program that can connect students with workers in the field before they graduate—all of these things are important on a résumé.”

Trista Dobratz, a recent graduate from North-ern College in Porcupine (Timmins), began working in the Underground Department at the Dome Mine for Goldcorp Porcupine Gold Mines (PGM) as a student in 2009.

“I loved my job from day one,” says Dobratz. “I found the environment so intriguing and I was constantly learning something new.”

Changing perspectives on women in mining, says Dobratz, is one of the greatest benefits to working in the field. “The compliments I receive from my coworkers and management are reas-surance that it’s possible to change the stereo-type that mining is just for men.”

Dobratz cautions, however, that working at the operational level may not be for everyone. “In production and development mining, you have to be physically fit,” says Dobratz. “The job is very physically demanding and requires a cer-tain amount of strength.”

But if you’re a critical thinker, want to make a difference in the community, and enjoy travel-ling, you might be suited for a career in mining.

“The mining industry is a global industry. At Goldcorp we have 18 sites that are located all across the Americas,” says Ellefson. “So there are many diverse job opportunities and the op-portunity to explore different locations as part of our training and development programs.”

Once inside the industry, there are a number of training opportunities available.

“We’re very supportive of on-going education and career development,” says Ellefson. “On-the-job-training, as well as in-house training are available for a broad range of activities …. Con-tinuing education is a must in technologically ad-vanced businesses, such as mining, so we’re very supportive of development activities that help support our position as an industry leader.”

Going forward, emphasis will be placed on at-tracting more women to the industry as job op-portunities increasingly become available.

“It’s not like mining of the past where you need-ed to be swinging a pickaxe all day,” says Sturk. “People may have thought traditionally that women may not be a good fit for the sector, but things have changed and there’s no reason why women can’t take on any role in the industry.”

So if you’re considering a career in mining, use the resources you have at your disposal. Sign up for MiHR’s virtual mine mentor program, join an organization, or apply for a student position. After all, in such a diverse industry, the possibili-ties are endless. | By: Kiera Obbard

dIGGING dEEPERFOR WOmEN IN mININg, THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE ENDLESS

MINING CONTRIBUTIONS TO CANADA’S GDP (2010)

(in billions)

mineral extraction

metal production

mineral processing

manufacturing

$2 $4 $6 $8 $10 $12

$8.3$10.3INCLUDING

$5.1$11.9

BILLION Canada’s mining industry accounts for approximately 1 in every 42 Canadian jobs.

Source: The mining Association of canada

in the area and make it a vacation. Companies will often pay some of your expenses during this time off too. Exploration geologists may spend most of their time working, but can often linger and explore the region after their work is done.

Unlike most other industries, you get to the ex-citing part fast. Many mining companies have programs to give recent graduates travel expe-rience right away. For example, Kinross Gold Corporation has New Graduate and Student Job programs, including one called Generation Gold. Every year, 10 recent graduates are ad-mitted to the four-year program that puts them at a different location each year.

“We’ve got people in the desert of Africa, at a high-altitude mine at 55,000 metres in Chile, and in far east Russia,” says Colleen Gillis, man-ager of Global University Affairs at Kinross. “The program allows students to get on-the-job training. It allows you to learn new languages and get very specific mentorships from people in those locations.”

She says Kinross looks for people who are adaptable, flexible, and involved in their com-munity. Some previous work experience, such as summer exploration projects, co-op experience, or internships are important as well.

Working at several mine sites around the world can really boost your career too. Ball, who has been managing mines for the past two years, took an engineering professional development course to demonstrate that he’s keeping up with the industry. “What it really boils down to is: what are your experiences and what kind of sit-uations have you been involved with? I’ve been quite lucky to be involved in some world class projects around the world. Those experiences are what employers really look at,” he says.

Travelling on its own is a pretty big perk. FYI, Ball recommends Brazil, the weather is more agreeable than Russia. | By Michelle Hampson

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(Open to residents of the United States)This three-year program offers students the ability to stay in their home country and move throughout different mines and projects. Each of the two work assignments are located in the U.S. This program is open to candidates with a degree in Mining / Engineering / Geology / Environmental / Metallurgy (or related).

Each year, Kinross hires students for intern positions at our offices and mines throughout the world. This is an opportunity to gain on-the-job mining experience and jump start your professional career.

Over the course of this four year international program, students will work in four different global locations. You will receive training and mentorship, work with exciting people, contribute to real-world projects and be immersed in different cultures and languages. This program is open to candidates with a degree in Mining / Engineering / Geology / Environmental / Metallurgy (or related).

There is a growing need for exploration geologists in mining. This four year international program offers students a way to focus on this specialty.

KINROSS BELIEVES IN PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST.

Find out more about these exciting programs and explore your potential with careers at

Kinross Gold Corporation is a Canadian-based gold mining company with mines and projects in Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Ghana, Mauritania, Russia and the United States. We currently employ over 8,000 people worldwide.

Our core purpose is simple; we aim to lead the world in generating value through responsible mining. With this focus we have managed to transform ourself from a junior mining company into one of the most respected top-tier gold mining companies in the world.

Launching a career in mining can be a life changing experience. Kinross Gold Corporation offers opportunities to students and new graduates in all areas of mining. You will gain hands-on experience, learn from industry experts, and equip yourself with the leadership skills to take on any role, anywhere in the world.

Which program is right for you?

DISCOVERTHEKINROSSWAY.COM

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BLOWINg HOT (AND cOLD) AIR

42

Imagine living through the Canadian winter without a furnace, or endur-ing a summertime heat wave within the concrete confines of a building without air conditioning. You could invest in an axe for chopping fire-wood, or in several packs of batteries for a portable fan, or you could get a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) expert on the scene. HVAC technicians install and service the systems that keep places toasty during cold snaps and breezy through scorchers. And these climate-con-trolling workers are in demand.

“There has been additional demand for these [HVAC] jobs because the work force is getting older,” says Glenn Walsh, chief instructor of the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Technician Program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. “Plus, people are getting used to air conditioning in their cars, and perhaps wanting it in their homes. Refrigeration and air conditioning is prevalent everywhere, so more units, more demand, and more maintenance.”

The demand for heating and cooling systems, and the required main-tenance work to keep them humming, have grown across the country despite the global economic slowdown. Governmental regulations and in-centives to create more energy-efficient buildings have spurred a healthy demand not only for new construction projects, but also for retrofits. Buildings both old and new need trained HVAC workers to install and service heating, ventilation, and cooling systems, and it’s work that lets you boast both your brains and brawn.

“You get to do all sorts of work with your hands, since HVAC is a pretty broad field,” says Royce Rapozo, who graduated from Toronto’s George Brown College with a diploma in heating and refrigeration in 2009. “You end up servicing different equipment, but you also have to be able to trou-bleshoot in different situations and solve new problems every day.”

Rapozo is currently completing an apprenticeship that he secured with the United Association of HVAC and Refrigeration Pipefitters, Local 787. He admits that the work can at times be demanding on the body.

“There can be a lot of physical work, but if you’re doing mainly service jobs there’s usually less labour, but a lot more troubleshooting. If you get into construction, there are a lot of installations and more physical work.”

In addition to the hands-on work, a lot of travel could be thrown into the mix. HVAC service technicians can have up to ten calls a day, and those requests can be scattered across a city.

If testing your mind and body daily doesn’t provide enough satisfaction, there’s always the positive feeling of knowing that at the end of the day, you’ve helped people. “You get a sense of satisfaction in fixing people’s problems, and for mechanically inclined people, it’s a chance to make a good living,” says Eric Montford, operator of Northwest Residential Heating and Cooling in Winnipeg.

New HVAC workers’ salaries range from $35,000 to $40,000 a year, de-pending on the company and the type of work being done. As with most careers, earning potential increases with years spent on the job, and expe-rienced technicians can warrant $55 an hour for their services.

There’s also room for advancement into the roles of business owner, proj-ect manager, or estimator.

“Those management-type jobs would have lots of office work, less work in the field,” says Montford. “Constant updating with new technology is always needed to advance, but just using the Internet is a great way to stay up to date.”

If you’re a technically inclined problem solver with a physique that can handle travel and manual labour, check out a HVAC training program at a local college to help you establish the fundamentals needed to break into the HVAC field. | By Rasheed Clarke

BLOwING hOT (AND cOLD) AIR

YOU ALSO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TROUBLESHOOT IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS AND SOLVE NEW PROBLEmS EVERY DAY

SEASONAL ExTREmES mEAN A DEmAND FOR HEATINg AND cOOLINg TEcHNIcIANS

ImAgES: © ISTOcK.cOm

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Talisman is a global oil and gas company focused on making investments where it matters most: in energy, in people and in the communities

where we work.

www.talisman-energy.com/careers

investing in people

Every year, Talisman employs more than 100 students globally from a variety of

educational backgrounds. We offer students meaningful work experience and exposure

to industry leaders.

Walker, a geologist, joined Talisman as a student in 2006.

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

HR Ad-Engineers.pdf 1 12-12-11 11:36 AM

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BUILD YOUR FUTURE WITH USAs the largest, publicly traded construction and infrastructure development company in Canada, Aecon is a beacon for new and soon-to-be graduates focused on building their careers with an industry leader. We offer challenging work, diverse opportunities, the latest technologies, and a culture of continued learning to feed your career development. As a Best Employer

to none. If you are an Engineer (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical) or an Industry Technologist (Engineering or Construction), visit our website today to learn more about joining Canada’s best at Aecon!

aecon.com

// MINING// OIL & GAS// TRANSPORTATION// POWER// UTILITIES// SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE

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JANUARY 2013 | JOBPOSTINgS.cA

A “SUBmERgINg” INDUSTRY

45

Captain Peter Buell is the director of the Great Lakes International Ma-rine Training and Research Centre at Georgian College, his son is a re-cent program alumnus and is now a 4th class marine engineering officer. After passing his exams, Buell’s son sent out four résumés the Thursday following his graduation. The next morning he had two job offers.

Marine engineering officers are a hot-ticket item in Canada, “There’s no question that engineers are needed, we can’t make enough right now,” says Buell. As a marine engineer, you’re in charge of operateing and maintaining all the technological systems needed on the tanker, cruise, tug boat, coast guard, or supply ships—from the air condition-ing to the sewage system.

With 64.3 percent of engineer officers aged 45 to 64, according to Service Canada, baby boomers will likely be retiring soon and creat-ing increased labour demand. Openings are also readily available due in part to the marine industry’s silence; the multitude of career oppor-tunities available to young students hasn’t been effectively advertised.

“It’s an engineer’s market right now,” says Russell Oye, lecturer at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) Marine Campus and appointed chair of the Vancouver branch of the Canadian Insti-tute of Marine Engineering. “If all the maritime institutes in Canada were to graduate 100 percent class loads, they’re worried that we wouldn’t be able to meet the demand.”

To support this, a recent study conducted by Strategic Directions Inc. reports that “Access to marine career opportunities must be enhanced to meet the future marine transportation and offshore oil and gas in-dustry needs in Eastern Canada.”

“It’s fair to say we have something of a modest shortage on both Ca-nadian coasts and the Great Lakes,” says Jeffrey Smith, the elected

chair of the National Council of the Canadian Institute of Marine Engineering and former chief engineer in the Canadian Navy. “It is a good job market in Canada, better than the job market currently.”

Now that you know there’s vast opportunity, here’s the benefits: you’ll have a rewarding career, the opportunity to travel, great pay (averaging between $52,000 and $74,000 a year and increasing with rank, accord-ing to the Canadian Coast Guard), and nine months of working for 12 months of rewards. Are you thinking “sign me up?” We certainly are.

But first you have to make the cut. Programs tend to focus on math, so if you two are B.F.F. and you get along with chemistry and phys-ics, you’ll be a good fit. According to Smith, you’ve also “got to be a person who is confident with working in the unusual environment that working with machinery and with other people at sea can be.”

There is one drawback. Though it might be appealing for students with loose ties to home and a sense of adventure, becoming a marine engineer requires extended periods of travel and lots of time on the water. So make sure you have your sea legs before committing and know you’ll be leaving family and friends behind.

Not ready to jump-ship? The easiest route to become an engineering officer is to enroll in a college that offers a cadet training program (see Transport Canada for a list of certified marine engineering institu-tions). The programs are three to four years and include “sea going” terms, letting students pay for their education as they train, allowing them to graduate with little or no debt. The goal is to move up the ranks to become a 1st class engineer, though the way to the top is not short. “Between the entry level, which is the 4th class engineer, up to a 1st class engineer you need to acquire at least 36 months of sea service. But everyone knows that no one is going to sail continuously for 36 months, so it may take up to lets say, five years, probably,” says Bruno Duguay of Transport Canada.

There’s a sea of opportunity out there for eager and hard working graduates, all you have to do is climb on deck. “They have these [en-gineers] that can retire at any time, but they don’t have anybody in the wings,” says Oye. | By: Rebecca Feigelsohn

A “SUBMERGING” INdUSTRYmARINE ENgINEERINg OFFERS ADVENTURE, TRAVEL, AND HIgH PAY

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EDU-mA-cATION

46

As the Canadian market becomes increasingly globalized, acquiring a post-graduate education in international business management can give you the tools and knowledge you need to do business overseas.

“The benefit of a program like this is that it reflects today’s global business environment, whether it’s in the product, service, or non-profit sectors,” says Janice Brown, coordinator of the international business management program at Seneca College, in Toronto.

From masters’ degrees to college certificates, students have several post-graduate opportuni-ties to specialize in international management. “Having many different options out there is great,” says Dr. Pedro Márquez, dean of the fac-ulty of management at Royal Roads University (RRU) in Victoria, B.C. “If a student wants to go to China for three years, they can. Programs have been designed to send people overseas. There are also programs that focus less on the people side, and more on international law and putting together marketing campaigns.”

RRU offers a one-year master’s program in global management, combining the business competencies with cross-cultural management. “It focuses on the business aspects, including fi-nance and marketing,” says Dr. Márquez. “But there’s also a heavy weight in the people side.”

Recent alum, Marc Tassé, found the cultural component the most beneficial. “It isn’t just busi-ness practices, like you would learn in an MBA,” he says. “We learned finance, economics, and business strategy. But we took those concepts and learned how it’s happening in North Amer-ica and how it’s happening in other countries.”

Seneca’s program also combines both elements.

“Seneca’s program is very collaborative, with subjects that are ‘managerial-oriented’; from ‘digital business applications’ to ‘global trade research and analysis’ to ‘consulting across cul-tures,’” says Brown.

Consider the post-graduate certificate in inter-national management, offered by Fleming Col-lege in Peterborough, Ontario. “Our program is focused on international business than cross-cul-tural management,” says Russell Turner, coor-dinator of the program, who adds that students get a taste of marketing, finance, accounting, management, and importing and exporting.

Students can enter these programs from differ-ent backgrounds, says Dr. Márquez. “There’s no particular discipline (needed). A bachelor of commerce would be a great idea, since they learn about the business aspect. But a bachelor’s degree in sociology or geography would be great as well, since they appreciate different cul-tures. What we need are people who are highly interested in learning about international busi-ness and travelling around the world.”

One of the program’s greatest benefits is also the greatest challenge, which according to Tassé, is the cross-cultural teamwork. “(It’s) a very team-based program,” he says, adding that RRU’s program consists of about 50 percent domestic

students and 50 percent international students. “You’re mixed up with people of different cul-tures and different backgrounds. When you get people from China, Russia, and Canada, work-ing together, everyone has different mindsets.”

Some programs offer internships, while others have applied research projects, to create hands-on learning experiences. “Students are solving real business issues,” says Turner.

Upon graduation, students can find an array of opportunities and earn anywhere between $85,000 to $100,000 a year, Dr. Márquez es-timates. Brown notes that “Seneca graduates have found work in a wide variety of fields, from financial planning to marketing (non-profit and for profit) to overseeing logistics for large inter-national firms.”

Tassé is now entertaining two job offers—one at a pharmaceutical company and one at an Aus-tralian biometrics company expanding to North America. He says a need exists for domestic companies looking to expand beyond Canada’s borders and companies abroad who are ex-panding in North America. “It’s not necessar-ily someone who wants to work overseas, but someone interested in other cultures and other places. It’s for someone who’s looking for that bridge between cultures.” | By: Samuel Dunsiger

BECOME TOMORROw’S GLOBALIzEd BUSINESS LEAdERAN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS POST-gRAD cAN BUILD YOUR cROSS-cULTURAL mANAgEmENT SKILLS

YOU’RE mIxED UP WITH PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT cULTURES AND DIFFERENT BAcKgROUNDS. WHEN YOU gET PEOPLE FROm cHINA, RUSSIA, AND cANADA, WORKINg TOgETHER, EVERYONE HAS DIFFERENT mINDSETS.”

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Page 49: Jobpostings Magazine: January 2013 Vol 15. No. 4

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Brock UniversityBrock is a rapidly growing University, offering 41 dynamic Master’s and PhD program within 6 academic faculties. With our strong sense of community and personal investment in our students, Brock is a great choice for your graduate education. Visit us at today at Brocku.ca

Sheridan CollegeOur one-year graduate certificate programs enhance your diploma or degree with a blend of theoretical knowledge and work experience that fully prepare you to launch your career. Choose from more than 20 programs in the arts, business, technology and community service fields.sheridaninstitute.ca

Ross University RUSM is a provider of medical education offering a MD degree program. Over 9,000 graduates have chosen RUSM because of integrated curriculum, outreach opportunities and well-earned reputation for providing the education that enables our students to pass their US and Canadian licensing exams and obtain excellent residencies

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American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC)AUC has provided a quality medical education to more than 5,000 graduates and provides a US-model education beginning with two years of medical sciences taught at the St. Maarten campus, followed by clinical education in affiliated hospitals in the US and UK. AUCmed.edu.

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JOBPOSTINgS.cA | JANUARY 2013

THE CRAIGSLIST EXPERIMENT

WTF!ONLY

8%INCLUDED WRITING SAMPLES

HOW HARD IS IT TO LAND A JOB IN CANADA’S MOST COMPETITIVE JOB MARKET? JOBPOSTINGS PUBLISHED A JOB POSTING TO TORONTO'S CRAIGSLIST FOR A BASIC PUBLISHING INDUSTRY POSITION.

WITHIN A TWO WEEK SPAN, HERE'S WHO APPLIED. Data: Rebecca Spence | Design: Anthony Capano

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGEBACHELOR’S DEGREEMASTERSPHD

LEVEL OF EDUCATION

25%ONE IN FOUR

APPLICANTS HAD INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE

AFTER24HOURS42%

IN THEFIRSTHOUR07%

AFTER48 HOURS60%

IN THEFIRSTWEEK91%

WE RECEIVED 190 APPLICATIONS IN THE FIRST WEEK. AND THE

SECOND, YOU MIGHT ASK? 19

60%

40% OF THE 209 APPLICANTS RECEIVED, 83 OF THEM WERE MALE.

FEAR NOT, WE WON’T MAKE YOU DO THE MATH. 123 WERE FEMALE.

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