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Career Management Tips for Newcomers to Canada

August 4, 2014 by Martin Buckland Leave a Comment

© tashatuvango - Fotolia.com

© tashatuvango – Fotolia.com

While Canadians used to be more conservative than Americans in their approach to resumes and career management, today their habits are relatively interchangeable.

Canadian resumes

What people must adapt to the most when coming to Canada from other countries is how bombastic we can be in the way we sell ourselves. Here we are seen as a commodity. Recruiters and employers select based on performance – you continuously deliver, you surpass sales quotas, you drive the business, you’re innovative, etc.

Canadian resumes must tell stories that show how you achieve and deliver those accomplishments. I blend numerous metrics into the STAR resumes I write for clients (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

In North America, you’re in a street race and there’s only a trophy for #1. This is a huge distinction from the rest of the world, particularly Europe, where resumes are much more centered around job descriptions. They don’t tend to differentiate themselves as much as we do. In the UK and Ireland, on the other hand, the traditional CV format is evolving more into our style.

Finding work in Canada

In truth it can be very difficult for immigrants to secure jobs in Canada. Yes, they can secure a resume expert to write a Canadian version of their resume, and they can network tirelessly, but that is only part of the journey.

It’s the classic Catch-22: Canadian employers say they can’t hire you until you have Canadian work experience, but how do you get Canadian work experience if employers won’t hire you?

Often it means taking a job at a lower level than you had in your previous country. A vice-president may become a senior manager, and a senior manager may take a more junior or middle management position.

Be realistic with your goals, and patient with the process. Once you prove yourself, you can move up the ranks again. I’ve seen unbelievable cases of this happening very quickly.

To work in some professions such as medicine and engineering, newcomers require additional schooling and certification, and some simply aren’t willing to go through that. Instead, they take related jobs in other professions.

For example, I’ve known prominent medical professionals who’ve transitioned into academic research and hospital administration with much success. Was it their first choice? No, but they adapt.

The Government of Canada provides career resources for newcomers to Canada, and it would also be wise to engage the services of a career management professional who specializes in helping senior level executives.

Filed Under: Rejuvenate Your Resume Tagged With: Career Management

3 Simple Ways to Refresh Your Resume

July 21, 2014 by Martin Buckland Leave a Comment

Resume CategoriesYou never know when a tap on the shoulder is going to come, either in the form of a pink slip or a new career opportunity. In either case, it is imperative that your resume is up to date.

Even while you’re gainfully employed, review your resume regularly, paying particular attention to these three areas:

1. Contact information

Provide a personal phone number (many people make the mistake of leaving this out), mailing address and email address. Never use contact information from your current position. Your current employer doesn’t want you using work time and resources for career management, and prospective employers don’t want to think you’ll be doing that when you work for them.

Also provide links to your profiles on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Google+, and your personal blog, website, online portfolio and Skype address. For more tips, see my social media strategies for executives.

2. Personal brand

Be sure your resume reinforces your personal brand. Consider the overall look and feel, font choice and sizes, and the language and tone. Be sure to convey your unique promise of value. What differentiates you from others? What are your special areas of expertise?

Use the same font and heading styles in your resume, cover letter and any other marketing materials. Hint: Sans serif fonts such as Arial or Calibri are easiest to read both on screen and in print.

For more branding tips, see my top five branding mistakes to avoid during a job search.

3. Projective section

This is my own term for the top third of the page, where you seduce the reader to keep reading. It’s a combination of what used to be known as the Profile and Objective sections.

For a compelling Projective section, answer these four questions:

  1. What ONE WORD best describes you? Steer clear of the overused, cliché terms like passionate or driven. Choose a powerful, resonating word that will stand out and be memorable. Then be prepared to defend it in the interview with stories, examples and specific accomplishments.
  2. Describe your leadership style. We all lead differently. How do you make sure things get done? How do you help team members grow and develop? How do you make tough decisions? How do you manage your time and priorities?
  3. Describe your communication style. How do you cope with different personality types? How do you get your own point across while also understanding and accommodating another person’s point of view? How do you manage high-pressure situations?
  4. What are you renowned for? How do others describe you? What stands out most about you? How will hiring you benefit the organization?

By being proactive to update your resume on a regular basis, you’ll always be ready for whatever comes your way. That puts you squarely in charge of managing your own career.

Filed Under: Rejuvenate Your Resume Tagged With: Career Management

How to Establish Rapport on Social Media

July 8, 2014 by Martin Buckland 4 Comments

What value do you bring to your social network?

© Viorel Sima – Fotolia.com

I often tell executives, “If you’re not on social media you’re committing career suicide.” Yet how does one build rapport through a screen? It’s possible, but it takes effort.

Who you should be connecting with

It’s important to develop an audience built around your career goals and objectives. You need to start connecting with people who will bring value. Focus on the most obvious and direct links to the specific professions, companies and people related to your ideal job and target employer.

How to begin

Never use the generic one-click default LinkedIn invitation. Instead, click on the person’s profile and send a customized message about how you can help them. If someone sends you an invitation and they meet your criteria, accept and reply, thanking them for the invitation.

Yes, these steps are time consuming, but it’s the polite way to build a professional brand. People base their opinions on how you establish this opening dialogue.

If you don’t know the person or you’re not sure you want to connect, click on your Invitations page (desktop view only), open the drop-down menu next to the invitation and look for the option to “Reply, don’t accept yet.” From there you can open a constructive conversation about the value you will each bring to the relationship.

From the first invitation through all of your communications, aim to be open, honest and engaging. Like any other networking setting, it’s important to give before you take. Even if you’re in an active job search, don’t try to sell yourself the instant you meet. Instead, you could mention that you’re exploring opportunities at their company.

Similarly, don’t ask for endorsements or recommendations as soon as you connect with someone on LinkedIn. Wait until you’ve established more of a relationship and had a chance to provide value to them.

What to share

Whether you’re writing a direct message to one connection or posting an update for all to see, whatever you write on social media reflects your professional brand. Always be eloquent, polite and courteous, proofread carefully for typos, and avoid shorthand or acronyms.

Don’t post any compromising photos or links that don’t contribute to a professional dialogue. Social media gives you the chance to market yourself as an expert, so share industry or functionally-related information from external sources like trade magazines, newspapers, websites and blogs.

When to share

Be consistent; posting and sharing regularly is another way to establish trust and rapport. The opposite extreme would be going dark on social media as soon as you get a new job and then resurfacing three years later when you’re in transition again.

Use a tool like Buffer to sit down once and create a whole slew of messages for the next week or month. You can combine brief tips, quotes and links to valuable articles. Then check in daily for shorter periods to engage in conversation, reply to any comments, and build rapport and relationships with your connections.

When you’re on social media, in the back of your mind should always be the question, “What is the value I can bring?”

Filed Under: Personal Branding, Social Media Networking Tagged With: Career Coaching, Online Recruitment

7 Ways to Make the Most of Your First Two Minutes With a New Person

June 16, 2014 by Martin Buckland Leave a Comment

© lculig - Fotolia.com

© lculig – Fotolia.com

Do you ever find yourself in front of a stranger at a networking group, not really sure what to do next?

While networking events may go on for hours, these first few minutes with any one person are the most important. This is your chance to make a positive first impression and create the foundation for a long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationship.

Here are seven things that will get you over your nerves and on to a successful potential partnership.

  1. Start with a good handshake. Firm, without being a bone crusher. You definitely don’t want to be a limpy fish. Look the person in the eye and smile when you shake their hand.
  2. Speak slowly and face the other person. Don’t be looking around the room. They deserve your full attention because you’re trying to build a relationship with them.
  3. Give before you receive. Instead of instantly talking about who you are and what you do, encourage dialogue from the other person. Be inquisitive – nosy even – to ignite a spark that makes them feel comfortable to share more details with you.
  4. Hold back. What you should never do right away is shove your business card or resume into someone’s hands. That is not how to build a relationship.
  5. Be sensitive. Watch for cues from the other person so you don’t take them out of their comfort zone. For example, if someone is more introverted they may prefer to stay in a particular part of the room, or in close proximity to the people they came with. Be aware of personal space.
  6. Inject some humour. This can put yourself and the other person at ease, and can be as simple as a lighthearted comment about the weather. Alternatively, tell a joke if that feels natural to you.
  7. Repeat the person’s name a few times. People love to hear their own name, and it helps you remember it as well. (Hint: If you ever have trouble remembering people’s faces and names, make a few notes on their business card before you move on to meet the next person.)

Practicing these seven tips can improve your confidence and results at networking events. When you make the most of your first two minutes with each new person, those minutes add up and help you grow a stronger network.

Filed Under: In-person Networking Tagged With: Career Coaching, Career Management, Job Search

Top 5 Personal Branding Mistakes to Avoid During a Job Search

June 2, 2014 by Martin Buckland Leave a Comment

© Junial Enterprises - Fotolia.com

© Junial Enterprises – Fotolia.com

When you’re looking for a job, you want whoever you’re meeting to see you as a valuable addition to their team, company or project, or to immediately see the value you will bring to someone in their network of influence..

The process of marketing yourself is about creating a personal brand – a summary of what you’re known for, what you stand for, what you’re best at, what you value, and what people can expect from you.

Here are five personal branding mistakes that could sabotage your job search:

  1. Not having a LinkedIn profile photo, or using an inappropriate photo. Use a current headshot (head and shoulder view), where you are well groomed and professionally dressed. There should be no one else in the photo.
  2. Not completing or customizing your LinkedIn profile. Use the LinkedIn wizard that tells you what percentage you’ve completed, and aim for 100%. With a customized profile address (URL), you can easily add it to your resume, cover letter, biography, business card and any other job search marketing collateral..
  3. Dressing inappropriately for in-person meetings  – Dress according to the job you’re after. Conduct due diligence on the potential employer; stand outside the building and watch employees go in and out to see how they’re dressed. Power tip: Do this the day or week before your interview, when you plan your route and practice the drive to make sure you’ll be on time.
  4. Not being able to articulate your personal brand statement in person or over the phone. What makes you so special that the other person should be compelled to choose you? That is your unique promise of value. You get bonus points for a value statement that is 15, 17 or 19 words, since psychologists claim the mind picks up on odd numbers of words faster than even. Articulate this statement verbally and in all written materials.
  5. Showing negativity in conversations, both online and in person. Employers hire positive people; not negative people. If you’re struggling to cope with your anger, disappointment or fear about being out of work, share those feelings with a spouse, friend or coach so they don’t come out in meetings with your career influencers.

Your personal brand is the most important thing you bring to all of your job search activities, meetings and interviews. Avoid these common blunders to make the best impression and move ahead with your career goals.

Filed Under: Personal Branding Tagged With: Job Search

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