Career Blog
Whether you’re just getting started in the field of HR or wanting to take charge in your new role, you may be asking yourself this question: how to navigate the world of HR? If you want answers or maybe some motivation to start your day, here are five resources that will enrich your knowledge.
1. What it Takes to Be Successful in The New World of Work?
James Fulton, Chief Learning Officer at Goldman Sachs, dives into the new world troubles of HR. He states that “There has been a shift in HR; executives have realized that diversity and agility have become front-row players in the workplace.” As 2020 comes to an end, executives say goodbye to the old, separated workplace culture and hello to small group focus sessions where employees not only connect as teams but on a personal basis.
2. Burnout to Breakthrough
“Burnout is the true occupational hazard”, claims Eileen McDargh, Chief Energy Officer at The Resilience Group. She highlights that wise leaders must now ask themselves: “What value is the work we give bringing to our employees and our business?” Leaders and employees must begin to rethink business processes to make them more effective.
3. Goal Setting and Performance Management
Robert St-Jaques, Director of Customer Success at 7Geese, focuses on HR transformations. He has been changing the traditional system of yearly goal setting and employee feedback. Companies must start breaking down objective timelines and feedback into pieces. Employees want achievable expectations. With timely feedback and shorter objectives or goals, it is easier to catch up or if they are ahead they can start on the next pieces of the big puzzle, measuring what matters.
4. Experience Rise Above 2020
Samuel Isaac, Head of global marketing and strategy at Neeyamo, touches on the uncertainty of how long COVID-19 will continue to affect HR Management, how can forward-looking organizations tackle these new challenges? Organizations must continue to retain customer centricity through device programs, change management, communication, and stop being afraid to change commercial operating models. He states there must be agility in being able to adapt and change, just as fast as the world around us changes.
5. Re-Skilling the Workforce and Community Building
Robotizing the workforce? Enrique Rubio, Founder and CEO of Hacking HR, touches on how to combat the looming threat of tech advancements and talks about creating a blend of quantitative and qualitative skills. The way to remain relevant does not only rely on better understanding technology but understanding how to be better humans through empathy, cultural understanding, and collaboration.
With many uncertainties ahead, it can be clear that HR Management will be met with some challenges. I hope that you have been inspired to be a part of the new generation of successful HR Management.
HRchat Podcasts - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Swgoe9gy5b9ftJd1obBZa?si=0CL41LowS5WHfBBrmJUJgQ
HR Leaders Podcasts - https://open.spotify.com/show/2W0e5BGna5KHJUTrITcs3o?si=ikUFkpVSTg6JCBhbY2i2qg
“The greatest thing Telfer helped me realize is that there are always ways to make connections and to create opportunities for yourself.
You are more than capable in turning small, seemingly meaningless interactions or experiences into tangible, career opportunities.
Finding a job never really ends, ultimately everything you do- from the LinkedIn invite to a recruiter, to frequently attending professor offices hours, or introducing yourself to a stranger in a class— broadens your network.
You never know who could end up referring you to a job, introduce you to a hiring manager, or even hire you for your first co-op placement!”
– Helen Wang, 3rd-year accounting student
Inspired by Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York, this weekly feature of the Telfer Career Blog will contain photography of individuals from the Telfer School of Management community and a corresponding narrative that gives us a glimpse into their lives.
Are you familiar with soft and hard skills? While hard skills concern an employee’s ability to complete specific tasks, soft skills concern the way in which the employee goes about to complete them. Even though all soft skills are useful and can be applied in various positions, some are much more in-demand than others. Below are top three most in-demand soft skills according to LinkedIn and ways you can improve them.
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Creativity
Creativity, or the ability to turn imaginative ideas into reality, is the most needed soft skill by employers of all industries. Creative employees bring new ideas and explore new techniques, helping their employers to optimize their current business processes. Want to strengthen your creativity muscle? Start to use it every day by asking yourself a simple question: “Is there anything in my daily work routine that I could do differently to reach better results”? Your answers could surprise you. Discuss them with your boss.
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Persuasion
The second most in-demand soft skill, persuasion, is the ability to influence others and convince them to follow a specific course of action. It is especially important for business professionals and can make a big difference in an employee’s performance. Feel like persuasion is not your strongest skill? The good news is that it improves with practice. There are a vast number of excellent resources online that can help you. Make a point of applying a new persuasion technique every week, and notice what works for you best.
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Collaboration
It is no surprise that collaboration skills have made the top three of the list. How well employees can work in a team is one of the biggest factors contributing to a business’s success. Collaboration skills are improved through team projects and activities; this is the reason why you have to complete so many group cases in most of your business classes. As you go through your group projects, be mindful of how you communicate with your peers, offer them support, follow up with them, suggest solutions and accept theirs, etc.
Not sure how to highlight these soft skills on your resumé? Log in on Career Launch and book an appointment with a Career Centre advisor for a resumé critique. You will receive key advice on how to build these skills and show employers that you possess them.
“Hello. My name is Samuel Lainez, and I am a 2nd-year Finance student at the Telfer School of Management. I am also in French immersion.
The best thing about Telfer is that it offers so many opportunities for students to grow professionally and personally. No matter what specialization you are in, Telfer has a club or subsidiary organization that can appeal to anyone.
I am a Director of Finance for the Telfer Student Council (CéTSC). This opportunity has helped me expand my knowledge of the finance industry and professional workplaces.
Through Telfer I have been able to make many long-term friendships and strong networks that I could never have imagined.”
– Samuel Lainez – 2nd year Finance student
Director of Finance for the Telfer Student Council (CéTSC)
Inspired by Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York, this weekly feature of the Telfer Career Blog will contain photography of individuals from the Telfer School of Management community and a corresponding narrative that gives us a glimpse into their lives.
When creating your resume, there are so many appropriate skills you could include. It’s only natural that a few things will be overlooked. Here are 6 crucial skills that too many candidates forget to include.
Skill no 1: attention to detail
When you’re on the job, you need to follow instructions to complete your work in a timely and efficient manner. Attention to detail is important in any role, as it indicates that you can catch little mistakes or faults in any project you undertake.
Skill no 2: emotional intelligence (EI)
Emotional intelligence is the ability to manage one’s emotions as well as the emotions of others. In a work environment, EI helps you to remain level-headed in good and bad times and make important decisions rationally.
Skill no 3: willingness to learn and eagerness to grow
Whether you’re sending your first or 10th job application, your willingness to learn and eagerness to grow are still crucial, as you will always need to master new skills or new ways to perform a task. They show that you wish to expand your skill set and evolve as a person. And don’t forget: recruiters are often looking for candidates that WANT to flourish into better and more well‑rounded professionals.
Skill no 4: critical thinking
Critical thinking is the ability to think rationally and thoughtfully through any problem. It showcases that you can examine the task at hand and pinpoint the best possible steps to complete it or design a new, more effective action plan.
Skill no 5: flexibility
In today ever-evolving work environment, flexibility is paramount. Your resumé should demonstrate that you can adapt to any situation: competing, fast-approaching deadlines, a sudden lockdown, a transition to a virtual environment, or a change in the way you must perform your daily tasks!
Skill no 6: teamwork abilities
Did you know a surprising number of candidates still forget to include this! Your resumé should show that you can collaborate efficiently and get along with your colleagues, in collective projects as well as in daily office tasks.
To conclude, it is pretty easy to forget one or two things on your resumé whether it is a valuable skill or a relevant volunteer experience. If you want to double-check with an expert, book an appointment with a Career Centre professional through Career Launch!
“Joining the uOttawa volleyball team as a Finance student at the Telfer School of Management was made possible through the different programs and services offered by the University, such as: the Peer Mentoring Program, the Student Academic Success Service (SASS), and, obviously, my 3rd‑ and 4th‑year volleyball teammates. From my very first year, they provided me with books and advice to facilitate my integration at Telfer. By going through the Co-op process, I received useful advice. If I had one piece of advice for students who are going through this process for the first time, it would be this: fewer jobs will be available due to the COVID-19 pandemic: be proactive.
Being a Finance student, I always wanted to experience real-life financial situations and the financial market, learn how to make better pitches and, finally, being able to graduate from the Telfer School of Management with some useful knowledge and experience. After looking at what was offered by the School, my classmate and I realize that the Capital Market Program was limited in terms of investment opportunities. Therefore, I was asked to be a member of the Investment Club created by my finance classmates. Within this club, we get to meet every Tuesday, pitch companies, and decide together whether we want to invest in a company or not.
I encourage every student who wants to learn about the investment club and what it can offer to join us every Tuesday during our weekly public meeting. Check out our Facebook page: TFS Investment Group.”
– Mathew Gaerke, 4th‑year Finance
Inspired by Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York, this weekly feature of the Telfer Career Blog will contain photography of individuals from the Telfer School of Management community and a corresponding narrative that gives us a glimpse into their lives.
Do you ever discover a great song and start hearing it everywhere you go, in the most unlikely of times and places? Me too! While some people might suggest that this is all a happy coincidence, science proves that in the same way you were able to attract that song over and over again, you are also able to attract and boost your professional success.
So, how do these things work and how could it help me boost my professional success?
1. Like attracts like
We’ve all heard such sayings, and that applies to everything you can think of from a song to professional success. That is why it is extremely important not to underestimate the power you hold in your thoughts, whether you’re consciously aware or not.
2. How can what I think become what I live?
“Everything is energy and that’s all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want, and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way.” According to Darryl Anka, everything in life is made up of “vibration” or “energy”; and because all things are attracted to each other, you can attract to your life anything you want.
3. The law of attraction explained
This theory advocates that to attract the good things into your life, you need to higher the energy in your thoughts to match the “frequency” of whatever you’re asking for. Wealth, success, and love are examples of things you could attract by constantly having positive affirmations.
4. Today’s thoughts are tomorrow’s circumstances
It is crucial for you when applying the law of attraction to deeply believe in your thoughts: this is key to making them happen. With every positive affirmation, you are putting more energy into your thoughts, hence focusing on your goal. “Every thought is either an investment or a cost”, explained T. Harv Eker. You attract what you believe. Doubt, fear, procrastination, and struggle are all forms of “resistance” to the good that is about to happen.
5. 10 very helpful positive affirmations
Here are example of possible positive affirmations that might help you boost your positive energy and better attract success:
- I have limitless potential
- I see myself in my dream job
- I have what it takes to be a successful “…”
- I have the drive and ambition to achieve my goal
- I allow myself to grow and learn
- I am a great user of my time and talents
- I am confident in my ability to reach my ambition
- I am capable
- Everything is going to be ok
- If I can dream it, I can do it
6. Never underestimate the power of your thoughts
To conclude, if you’re getting one thing from this blog, remember this:
Never underestimate the power you hold in your thoughts; because whenever you look back, you see that the circumstances you live in right now are the result of your thoughts and beliefs. The average person has about 60,000 thoughts a day, thoughts that shape their future maybe without them knowing; might as well make them motivating thoughts and positive affirmations!
“Telfer has given me the competitive advantage to thrive inside the classroom as well as in my daily work life. My favourite memories at Telfer so far would be Mad Marketing, hosted by the Telfer Marketing Association (TMA), and 101 Week, hosted by the Telfer Student Council. I met many amazing employers and made meaningful connections. I was able to promote myself and learn how to network effectively. 101 Week is how I met the majority of my friends. A year later, I still appreciate the fact that I still connect with all of them (virtually, of course).”
– 2nd‑year Public Policy and Economics,
VP External Affairs, TMA
Inspired by Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York, this weekly feature of the Telfer Career Blog will contain photography of individuals from the Telfer School of Management community and a corresponding narrative that gives us a glimpse into their lives.
Whether an employer wants to get to know you in an informal and more personable setting, or if you want to reach out to a professional you admire to acquire more information and advice, coffee chats are for you! They provide you with a setting where conversation can flow organically and each party can learn more about the other. Remember however that coffee chats still require you to prepare. Job opportunities are possible at any time, and you must be prepared to impress a prospective employer. Due to the current circumstances, virtual coffee chats are more and more common. Here are some tips and trick to help you master either your next virtual or in-person coffee chat:
Tip #1: LOOK PRESENTABLE
It is hard to find the motivation to look presentable when we are at home. Yes, coffee chats are meant to be casual. Yet, the dress code remains business casual. This will also allow you to put yourself in a professional mindset and of course will allow the other person to see you in a professional light.
Tip #2: DO YOUR BACKGROUND RESEARCH
No matter the circumstance, if a professional is giving you the time to speak with them, make sure you have done your research. Review their LinkedIn profile, or research their organization. You should familiarize yourself not only with their professional accomplishments but also with their personal side. This will allow you to be able to build a trusting connection and find common ground.
Tip #3: PREPARE QUESTIONS
It is completely normal to be nervous for coffee chats as it is often your first time meeting this person. This will not be like a typical interview. Think of a coffee chat as an exchange of information. They will ask you questions, while giving you answers to your questions and vice-versa. Try maintaining an organic flow. It is extremely important to have a few questions or topics listed to mention during your coffee chat.
Tip #4: DON’T FORGET YOUR COFFEE
You may not be at your local Starbucks, but nonetheless, it is still a coffee chat. So don’t be afraid to bring your favourite coffee or beverage in your favourite mug. Remember, employers do want to see your personable and fun side as well!
Tip #5: FOLLOW UP AFTER YOUR MEETUP
In order to maintain a professional relationship with the employer or professional you spoke to, follow up with an email, or LinkedIn message as a thank you for taking the time to meet through the coffee chat. Show them that you are either interested in a certain position or in maintaining a professional mentor‑mentee relationship. Keep the message short, simple, and to the point!
Hopefully these tips have eased you a little for your upcoming virtual coffee chat, or have given you some insight into a different means of networking! Good luck :)
“What I love about my work at Telfer is that every day, I have the privilege of helping young professionals to grow and see themselves differently from a professional standpoint. I get to guide them in a career development process that strengthen both their confidence and self-esteem.
One of the lessons that I have learned over the course of my career is that to do something great, we must let go of our obsession with absolute perfection. No one is required to reach perfection!
If I could go back in time, I do not think that I would do anything differently, as each step of my career, even a layoff, has led me to something greater. As a woman, however, I think that I would try to have more confidence in my abilities.”
– Véronique Bélinge
Translator and Professional Development Coordinator
Telfer Career Centre
Inspired by Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York, this weekly feature of the Telfer Career Blog will contain photography of individuals from the Telfer School of Management community and a corresponding narrative that gives us a glimpse into their lives.