Career Blog
The professional world has evolved considerably over the last 18 months, a vast array of virtual networking, recruitment and meeting technologies have come to play a crucial role in the way we research industries, built career relationships, apply for jobs, interview, and get hired. As you are about to embark on your very first hybrid academic term, filled with both in-person classes and virtual events, we want to (re)introduce you to the 4 key platforms/apps you need this fall term (and beyond) to reach your career goals.
1. Highered EFMD
What it is: a convenient, online job platform loaded with internships as well as graduate and full-time opportunities from around the world. Know that you can access the platform right now with your uOttawa email at https://telfer.gethighered.global/vevents.
What it does for you: it features a global job board (with a separate site specifically dedicated to jobs in China!); access to virtual careers fairs (including Telfer Connects Virtually 2021, on September 23); and country guides and employer profiles; masterclasses, and more.
Is it for you? Do you want to:
- Connect with employers across different sectors (finance, entrepreneurship, international organizations) from across the world?
- Learn about the job search process and legislation for specific countries?
- Discover about employers who are hiring?
- Watch content on various topics, including how to maximize your job search, succeed at your online interview, and negotiate your salary successfully?
- Want to attend Telfer Connects Virtually 2021 on September 23 (register through Career Launch)?
Yes? You need Highered EFMD in your life.
2. Grammarly
What it is: a Chrome extension and app that acts as a spell checker and grammar editor for everything you write online.
What it does for you: It flags spelling and grammar errors on any website where you type text: a Facebook post, an email, a Google document, etc. and gives you customized tips to improve your communications.
Is it for you? Do you want to:
- Communicate professionally and make a good impression on contacts/colleagues/employers/recruiters?
- Avoid being overlooked/rejected as a potential candidate simply because of avoidable typos?
- Learn to become a better self-editor?
Yes? You need Grammarly in your life.
3. LinkedIn Job Search
What it is: an app that combines all the tools you need to find your dream job through a location-based search.
What it does for you: It automatically notifies you with job postings that fit your searches. It syncs with your LinkedIn profile, which allows you to apply with a few taps, see your connections at organizations you have applied for, and follow the status of your applications.
Is it for you? Do you want to:
- Find a job locally that suits your profile?
- Save time and make your daily commute more productive (find job postings on the train!)?
- Make the most of your LinkedIn account and leverage your network?
Yes? You need LinkedIn Job Search in your life.
4. Career Launch
What it is: a one-stop-shop platform that enables Telfer students and employers to gain direct access to all the Telfer Career Centre programs, services, events, and resources.
What it does for you: It allows you to browse the Calendar of Events and sign up for myriad career-related activities; gives you access to current job postings (check out the Job Board); connects you with career experts at the Career Centre (think resumé critiques and career testing, among other things); allows you to sign up for the Career Development Certificate, etc.
Is it for you?
If you are a Telfer student, you need Career Launch in your life.
Want to build a solid foundation for your career? Get the right tools, right now.
Wishing you a successful back-to-school season!
Preparing for an interview can be a stressful process. If you do, do it right: it could make a huge difference in your performance. Here are a few tips that could help you to ace your next interview.
Anticipate the questions
Go over the job posting word by word and highlight the keywords. Find out the key skills the employer is looking for, then list out your qualities that fit the interviewers’ expectations. Try to integrate these qualities in your answers. Start with the generic, ubiquitous questions such as “Tell me about yourself” and “What skills and abilities do you bring to this job?” Then move on to more specific questions related to the employer and/or the position.
Show enthusiasm
This means much more than simply smiling at the interviewers. It is also important to research the organization’s background, culture, and recent initiatives (creep their media page). Make sure to read their vision and mission statements as well as their career page. Find out some points that interest you and make sure to bring them up at the interview.
Prepare your own questions
Interviews are not only meant for interviewers to ask you questions and find out if you are the right candidate. They are also an opportunity for you to determine if the position in question is the right opportunity for you and if the organization is a good fit for you as a candidate. Asking the right questions is also a great way to demonstrate your knowledge of, and interest in, the field. Make sure to ask 2 or 3 thoughtful questions at the end of your interviews and use this opportunity to learn more about the organization’s culture, expectations, and development plans.
Want to receive expert advice on you to prepare for job interviews? Book an appointment on Interview Preparation and Techniques with the Career Centre Professional Development Coordinator through Career Launch.
It can be scary to think about the future, especially when you are surrounded by fellow classmates who are all obtaining amazing job opportunities that they have always dreamed of. To help put your nerves at ease, consider the following five tips to start you on your journey to getting your dream job.
1. Perform a self-assessment
Assess your skills, interests, and values. This means developing a list or a mind map of the key skills you currently have, what kind of job you are looking for and how it would match with these skills, and what you would like to accomplish through that job. For example, you may be a master at public speaking and a job as a news anchor could benefit from this skill. You also value integrity so providing an honest representation of current events while captivating your audience would match the skills required. As you create this list, you will be able to see where you lack knowledge and then be able to research for opportunities to improve on these weaknesses. To aid in this process, meet with the Career Counsellor at the Telfer Career Centre through Career Launch.
2. Do not be discouraged by a seemingly irrelevant work experience
If you have worked as a cashier at a retail store for the past few summers, you may feel that this puts you at a disadvantage compared to other candidates. However, your customer service experience has likely provided you with the ability to communicate effectively with various people, perform in a team environment, and develop strong leadership skills. Make sure to include this on your resumé. Your various volunteer experiences, hobbies, and extracurricular activities may even have allowed you to gain useful skills. Map your resumé around what these opportunities have taught you, and not on what you are missing. To learn how to craft impactful skill statements for your resumé that will wow recruiters (yes, even for a barista summer job), book an appointment for a resumé critique with the Professional Development Coordinator at the Telfer Career Centre through Career Launch.
3. You may not get it the first time
Your first job might not be your dream job and that’s okay; your first job may not even be in the right industry. Start small. If your dream job is working for the Bank of Canada, maybe starting in an office setting, or working as a teller, are both steps in the right direction. As you hold more positions, you will expand your knowledge and develop your resumé towards the exact career and employer you want. Everyone starts somewhere.
4. Start planning NOW
Start thinking about your future now. It is easier to move positions early on in your career when you do not have as many financial or family responsibilities. The Telfer Career Centre holds various networking events for professionals, in addition to career workshops that can help you identify your abilities and market yourself effectively. Use these networking opportunities to talk to professionals in your area of interest and collect their business cards so you can follow up with them to answer any outstanding questions.
5. Be realistic
No job is perfect. For every job, there are going to be good and bad factors to be considered. You must be realistic: you cannot expect your dream job to be without any drawbacks. Most importantly, you must focus on the positive points, because they can outweigh the negative ones. For example a collaborative and supportive work environment, flexible work hours, and interesting projects to work on, can more than make up of the occasional long hours.
Go get that dream job!
Source: www.monster.com/career-advice/article/6-tips-for-landing-your-dream-job-hot-jobs
Many think that keeping all the information to showcase all their experience on their resumé is a good strategy to impress recruiters. In fact, it only makes it harder for hiring managers to find exactly what they need. While it is important to provide a good amount of relevant information about yourself, it is equally important to stand out quickly in a tall stack of resumés. Here is a little tip: hiring managers much prefer a resumé that is easy to read. Here are a few tips on how to declutter your resumé.
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Take out any irrelevant or short jobs
If your temporary jobs showcase the necessary skills required for your target job, then keep them on your resumé. You don’t want to seem like a job hopper or like you are not able to commit to a position for too long. If a position you had is completely irrelevant to what you are applying for, it’s taking up unnecessary space on your resumé and it should be taken out.
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You don’t always need an objective
In the past, objectives were a staple part of resumés, and it was one of the first things hiring managers would look at. Today, it can be seen as unnecessary, because your objective is made explicit in your cover letter. Instead, you can choose to replace the objective with a summary of your qualifications. If you decide to put a professional objective, however, make sure it is concise, yet detailed, and tailored to the posting.
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Don’t get too personal
Your resumé shouldn’t include details about your personal life such as your full address (city and province should be enough), your previous salary, new salary expectations, why you were terminated or laid off from a previous position, and don’t include photos either. It’s unnecessary, and if your resumé happens to get into the wrong hands, it could create further issues for you down the line.
Getting just the right amount of information on your resumé to find a job can be tricky. Hopefully, these tips will help you save space on your resumé, so you will have room for what’s necessary. When in doubt, don’t hesitate to book an appointment for a resumé critique with the Professional Development Coordinator through Career Launch.
You are a marketing student struggling to find a position in your field? Or you want to find a job but need to develop your skills first? Or perhaps you just entered the world of marketing and hope to find somewhere to start? Either way, there are many ways in which you can gain valuable experience and develop new skills in marketing without having any formal work experience.
Marketing is a very diverse field: it encompasses everything from keyword research to social media management. So why not build your skills across different areas by familiarizing yourself with marketing tools and platforms? This is the easiest way to develop a practical knowledge of marketing, hone your skills and gain experience, all without a formal work setting! Here are excellent free tools and platforms to get you started.
1. Canva ─ Basic Graphic Design
Canva is great for exploring your creative side! You can design almost anything such as social media content, brochures, business cards, and presentations. With free graphics and photos free for commercial and noncommercial use ready at hand, you can easily design to your heart’s content while gaining valuable experience.
KEY ADVANTAGE: Canva is free! There is a premium account available, but you can get easily by with a free account. It’s perfect for someone who wants to learn and explore basic design creation, typography, colour theory, and more!
2. Instagram and Facebook Creator Studio ─ Social media
If you are into the “social media” side of marketing, why not create an Instagram / Facebook account to learn about the inner workings of the platforms first-hand? Find something you’re passionate about, make a social media for it, and experiment with different social media techniques to your liking!
KEY ADVANTAGE: Instagram and Facebook Creator Studio are perfect as a beginner’s step because they allow you to schedule posts and get insights. With the free scheduling platform, you can learn how to keep your content on a consistent posting schedule.
3. Medium.com ─ Copywriting
Interested in copywriting? Build your writing skills with Medium.com. This platform lets you share any of your writing samples with a large, interactive community. This way, you can practice writing for different audiences and perfect your copywriting skills.
4. Google Analytics ─ Research and data
Rather than being creative ─ maybe you want to explore the “numbers and data” side of marketing. Google Analytics is the perfect platform for doing just that.
KEY ADVANTAGE: The Google Analytics Certificate is free, and you can learn skills that are in demand.
With these tools and platforms, getting your foot in the door as a marketing student has never been easier. You can explore your interest in marketing and build your knowledge, all without formal work experience.
Want to explore more?
The Telfer Career Centre is open for students to get advice on how to advance their careers! Book an appointment now through Career Launch to see how you can boost your career development as a marketing student!
We often neglect our personal growth for the benefit of our career development. However, what many of us don’t realize is that personal growth is actually a key ingredient in reaching important professional milestones. Here are three personal growth tips that will also boost your career development.
Tip no 1: find your interests
It’s not always easy to identify one’s centres of interest, whether it is due to a lack of self-knowledge, a reluctance to change or the mind-boggling number of possibilities, which is in fact a blessing. Fortunately, the Telfer Career Centre offers an array of activities that allow students to pinpoint their interests and preferences. Moreover, these activities count towards the Career Development Certificate.
Tip no 2: focus on continuous learning
A Bachelor’s Degree. An MBA. A Ph.D. Society tends to judge us based on our level of education. However, to evolve as a professional and develop a better “sense of self”, it is imperative to learn beyond the classroom. Striving for excellence, challenging oneself and learning new things ─ even if they have no obvious professional utility ─ is essential. Also, to broaden your horizons and enrich your intellectual capital, why not take elective courses from other faculties? It will sharpen your judgment and help you make better decisions in your projects as well as in your career path.
Tip no 3: give back to your community
What better way to grow personally and professionally than to volunteer? In addition, community involvement is very well perceived by employers, as it allows candidates to know themselves better, gain skills and expand their network. The University of Ottawa also provides students with numerous ways to get involved in their community. As a Telfer Career Centre ambassador, I’m part of a team of volunteers who actively engage with Telfer students 3 to 4 hours a week. This experience has allowed me to know more about my preferences and career goals.
There are numerous ways to develop a strong professional sense of self, and the Telfer Career Centre offers you a wide variety of activities to help you in this field.
Check out the Calendar of Events on Career Launch, and don’t hesitate to sign up!
So, you’ve been applying to numerous jobs, all of which you truly believe you are qualified for. Then why haven’t you been getting any positive feedback from employers? Chances are your resumé needs an upgrade! Here are a few simple ways to make sure your resumé impresses employers.
Spice it up!
Employers often receive hundreds of resumés for one single job posting. As you can imagine, going through them can get boring. By adding some colour to your resumé and choosing a simple, yet professional-looking design, you will stand out from your competitors. Nothing too crazy, as fancy formatting can get in the way of applicant tracking systems (ATS). You’re simply adding a dash of your personality into your resumé. If you need a good resumé template that will work with ATS and wow recruiters, check out the various resumé templates offered on the Telfer Career Centre website.
Add variety
Another great way to upgrade your resumé is to add athletic, extracurricular and volunteer activities that show employers you are a well-rounded person. Were you an assistant coach on a sports team? A Telfer club executive? A fundraiser for a non-profit organization? These activities are all worth mentioning on your resumé, especially if you did them for a long period of time. They allow employers to get a glimpse of your loyalty, determination, and work ethic. Not sure how to present them on your resumé? Book an appointment for a resumé critique with the Professional Development Coordinator at the Telfer Career Centre through Career Launch!
Keep it up to date
If you truly want to update your resumé, make sure it stays up to date: nobody wants to know about the science project that got you first place in back in 9th grade (although, it is indeed a great achievement, good job!) You can only go back so far on your resumé and so by making sure everything included is relevant and worth mentioning, it will definitely help narrow things down for you.
Keep it concise
Although we would all like to display the many great things that we have accomplished over the years on our resumé, we need to make sure not to go overboard. It has been found that employers only spend six to seven seconds reviewing a resumé. Hence the importance of a short and concise resumé! To receive the best tips on how to make your resumé as impactful as possible, book an appointment for a resumé critique with the Career Counsellor at the Telfer Career Centre through Career Launch!
Good luck, and if you ever need anything at all,
the Telfer Career Centre is always here to help!
Sources
What is Indeed?
How Long Do Hiring Managers Look at a Resumé?
A potential co-op employer has finally reached out to you and asked to schedule an interview. But there’s just one catch: it’s virtual… and you never actually had a virtual interview.
The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed not only the way we learn but also the way we work. Instead of the face-to-face interviews we’ve all been accustomed to, we were quickly introduced to virtual interviewing. Virtual interviews are just like in-person interviews: nerve-wracking, anxiety-ridden, and stressful! But they come with the added spice of camera malfunctions, uncontrollable background noises, and the classic internet troubles. Don’t worry, however: here are 3 quick tips to knock that upcoming virtual interview out of the park!
Tip 1: dress to impress
You want to impress your employer? The easiest way to do so is by dressing to impress. Wearing business professional attire will portray professionalism and respect towards the interviewer. In addition, it will help you focus and feel more confident. So just because the employer might not see the bottom half of your body, it is still suggested to at least put on a pair of pants (clarification: actual pants, not the pyjama pants you’ve been wearing all week).
Fun tip: Darker colours stand out better on camera!
Tip 2: own your technology
Technology plays a huge role in the success of a virtual interview and now is the perfect time to take control of it. Master the software in which your interview will be conducted, whether it’s Google Meet, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Skype. There are tons of online resources to help you learn and understand all the functionalities of these platforms. Practicing turning on and off your camera, muting and unmuting yourself, and using the chat function will allow you to take control of the situation in the case of a technological malfunction. And don’t forget to test your internet connection and assure you have all the necessary hardware (this may include a webcam, a headset, or a microphone).
Fun tip: If something does go wrong don’t worry, just be honest, patient and do your best to troubleshoot. We’ve all been there.
Tip 3: be prepared and have fun!
Your next interview might be conducted from home, but you must treat it with the same level of preparedness and confidence as you would with a regular interview. This includes showing up on time and since handshakes are now out of the picture, making sure you can confidently introduce yourself at the start of the meeting. In addition, prepare the questions you have for the employer beforehand and practice making contact with the web camera and not the screen.
Fun tip: This is our new reality, so try to smile, laugh, and enjoy your chat with your potential future employer!
Need some extra practice? Book an appointment for a Mock Interview with the Career Counsellor at the Telfer Career Centre through Career Launch, and get customized advice!
Now go ace that interview!
Imagine your career development as a construction project. Before you start building, you need to know the result you seek. Is it a skyscraper? A house? An apartment? In order to reach your final decision, you have to assess your end goal, determine if you have the right tools, and list all the needed adjustments. The same idea applies to career development. Here are three steps that further explain how self-assessment contributes to your career development.
Step 1: laying the foundation
So, what is your dream job? The answer to this question is what I consider the start of one’s career development, as it helps you identify your interests. For example, when a child decides to become an astronaut, it is often after discovering a strong interest in space exploration. By identifying your interests, you are establishing a great foundation for your career development.
Meet with a pro: Book a self-assessment and career testing appointment with the Telfer Career Centre Career Counsellor through Career Launch to receive expert advice and tools on self-assessment.
Step 2: taking in the inventory
Once you have identified the career you want to build, the second step is to determine the skills you need to get there. This means taking stock of the ones you already have, and identifying the ones that should be further developed. If your career is a construction project, your skills are the tools, equipment, and materials you will use to build the end product.
Step 3: Bracing oneself for the journey
Great builders always meet challenging situations. As you take on the journey, know that there will be ups and downs. Self-assessment will indeed shed light on your strengths and weaknesses. But knowledge is power. As a third step, use your strengths as deciding factors for work and look for ways to turn your weaknesses into strengths. Having the right mindset will help you anticipate and overcome potential difficulties.
Meet with a pro: Book a resumé critique with the Telfer Career Centre Professional Development Coordinator through Career Launch to learn how to best highlight your strengths on your self-marketing tools.
Did you know? The Telfer Career Centre presents a workshop called “Who am I: Self-assessment and Career Testing.” This workshop is one of the 10 activities that make up the Career Development Certificate. Check out the Calendar of Events on Career Launch, and see the Mentorship and Development Programs tab for more information about the certificate.
Start your career development journey now with an improved sense of self and take advantage of the many resources the Telfer Career Centre has to offer.
Q: What do you like most about Telfer?
A: “The flexibility and wide range of the programs available to Telfer students is so unique and one of my favourite things about the school. Throughout my time at Telfer, I have been able to pursue not only accounting, but also business analytics when it became a field of interest for me during my second year. Telfer’s commitment to allowing students to learn in all fields of business, not just their specialization, has been a great benefit to myself and my peers alike.”
Q: How did you decide on which career you would like?
A: “I chose a career in accounting based on the process of elimination! Throughout high school and my first year of university, I was exposed to a wide range of courses (from the sciences in high school to mandatory first-year courses) which helped me clearly see what I liked and disliked. As of right now, accounting courses seem to always be the most interesting and engaging for me, which is why I have decided to pursue a career in accounting.”
Q: What has been the biggest challenge so far?
A: “Learning to code in my business analytics courses has been by far the biggest challenge for me. It is so satisfying when it works, but it ever so rarely works for me!”
– Katherine Hall, 3rd-year Accounting with Option in Business Analytics, and Treasurer, Residence Association of the University of Ottawa (RAUO)
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.