Workology news from Metronews.ca

New year, new look, new life

Teresa Kruze, For Metro Canada — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:46:30 -0400

It’s a new year and new beginning for Metro’s Makeover Contest winner Lisa Airst.

The cancer survivor is about to start a new job as an educator with an organization that manages homes for people with mental health issues, and Lisa says the contest played a huge role in securing her new job.

“I believe I was determined before but sometimes I gave up. Sandy at NEXCareer didn’t give up on me. I learned to be even more determined and persistent.”

Lisa’s new wardrobe from Danier, the notebook from TechDirect, the Blackberry with phone service from WIND Mobile and mentoring from Robin Sharma International and eBranders all helped put her on the path to success.

She recently went to Donato Salon and Spa, and as you can see from her photo she has a beautiful new look to go along with her new job and outlook on life.

“I had a follow-up with my surgeon. I’m in remission and flying high. I feel positive about the future because I persisted right to the end and I didn’t give up.”

From all of us at Metro News, Congratulations Lisa!

Building from the ground up

Teresa Kruze, For Metro Canada — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 21:46:30 -0400

Four years ago, Tony Kokol sat in a Federal Penitentiary having Christmas dinner with his Mom and Dad.

A life of recreational drug use had spun into addiction and some bad life choices put him behind bars.

“It got to the point where I lost everything; my career, health, credit and relationship. I realized, ‘Oh my God, I’ve hit bottom.’”

Fresh Start Recovery Centre in Calgary proved to be a turning point in Tony’s life.

He cleaned up, got into the construction business and worked his way up to foreman on Fresh Start’s new facility. Now with the new building on the verge of being completed, Tony is training to become an addictions counsellor.

“My life is full and great. I’m blessed to be surrounded by people who have my back.

Every time I walk through our new building it validates the journey that I’m on.”

Tony recently went out for lunch with his Mom. As she reached out to hug her son he realized how far he had come since that Christmas in jail four years ago.

“I put a smile on my mother’s heart.”

From couch to class act

Teresa Kruze, For Metro Canada — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 20:58:09 -0400

Susan Sly is a ‘Have it All Woman’ and she’s even written a best-selling book about the subject. No one would guess that 11 years ago her life completely collapsed when she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

She lost everything; her health, marriage and business. She was $100,000 in debt with a three-year-old child and sleeping on a family member’s couch.

“I wanted to die but it was at that point where I had to make a decision. Do I want to fight or surrender?”

Susan began to heal her body and got into multi-level marketing. Today, the mother of four children is a millionaire, has written five books, is married to her high school sweetheart and is still competing in triathlons and marathons.

“I was supposed to be in a wheelchair but I’m still running. I get very emotional because I’m just so grateful and appreciative.”

Susan’s next goal is to empower one million women around the world. “I know what it’s like to live in desperation and not know what tomorrow’s going to bring. I really believe that we can transcend anything if we’re open. I really do.”

To give or not to give at work

Monica Weymouth, Metro World News — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:02:23 -0400

After spending 11 months as merely co-workers, the beginning of December heralds feelings of peace in cubicles and goodwill towards bosses. But before you make additions to your Black Friday shopping list, consider these tips from Lahle Wolfe, About.com’s “Women in Business” expert. “With everyone worrying about their jobs and the economy, the last thing people should have to worry about is spending money on gifts they’re unsure of,” she says.

The boss factor
Should you even give your supervisor a gift? It depends. “Assess it the same way as that aunt you see once a year,” advises Wolfe. “What’s the relationship? Can you name the things outside the office that your boss likes? If not, then you don’t know this person well enough to give them a gift.”
While Wolfe does recommend homemade gifts or baked goods for closer peers, she discourages them for bosses — these can be interpreted as either intimate or unprofessional, neither of which you're going for.

Beware of the gag gift
Increasingly, Wolfe sees offices encouraging gag gifts as part of “Secret Santa” or Pollyanna-style giving to alleviate pressure. But, she warns, this comes with its own set of problems. “A lot of offices do this, and it tends to make people uncomfortable and turn into teasing,” she says. “When you target gifts like this, stick with something very neutral. Go with something you might give a child, so that’s why it’s a gag.” Meaning, no cigars for the guy who is always on a smoke break, no watches for the co-worker who is always late, and no booze for the girl who can’t say no to happy hour.

On the wording
Wishing someone “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Hanukkah” is perfectly fine, provided you’re sure that’s what the person celebrates. If there’s a question, go with “Happy Holidays,” even if it can sound stuffy. “In an office environment, handle it like you would in a public school,” says Wolfe. “If you’re uncertain how to say something, ‘happy holidays’ is a great neutral thing to say.”

Never give ...
Wolfe is a fan of the iTunes gift card, where $10 can go a long way in getting someone through a long Monday morning. But whatever you do, don't give these:

Perfume and jewelry
“Perfume or jewelry are sort of intimate — it says that you’re paying attention,” cautions Wolfe. “If it’s something not generic enough that a guy or a girl could equally enjoy, it’s probably a little too personal.”

Scented items
Many people are allergic to artificial scents or are just very particular about which ones they like. Again, cautions Wolfe, some people could interpret these as conveying intimacy — scents are personal.

Anything religious
Generic holiday ornaments and greeting cards are fine, but stay away from anything that’s directly faith-related.

Don’t sit on the search

judy weightman, Metro World News — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:55:02 -0400

It’s no secret that college and university seniors are crazy busy. Unfortunately, there’s one more thing they need to consider: The job hunt. “It is critical that students prepare ahead of time, especially in a tough economy,” says Nick Schaefer, director of career services at Gwynedd-Mercy College in the U.S.

There are several elements to an effective job search, Schaefer explains. One of the most important is networking. “Networking is time-consuming and needs to begin earlier than later,” Schaefer emphasizes.

In order to network effectively, you’ll need to do some groundwork:

1. Put together your résumé and cover letter.

2. Talk to the people you’d like to serve as references and get full contact information. By doing so you’re letting them know that you’re actively looking in case they hear of a job you’d be a good fit for.

3. If you’re not on LinkedIn yet, create a profile. Look for appropriate groups to join, including professional groups, industry groups and alumni from your school.

With risk comes reward

Raman Battu, talentegg.ca — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 23:31:21 -0400

I was just about to complete my Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing from Ryerson University. I started looking for jobs a few months before graduation, but I wasn’t prepared for the problems I would face.

I quickly realized that employers didn’t care about the marketing courses I had taken, or my GPA. They cared about relevant work experience.

Fortunately, I had some prior experience compared to some graduates but even that was minimal.

With this small experience, I was able to get through to a few second interviews. However, I always heard the same thing when employers were making the final cuts: I didn’t get the job because I lacked experience.

It was so frustrating having to convince an employer to give me a chance! How else do they expect any new graduate to gain experience?

Employers can’t expect every graduate to be the complete package. We are young, motivated and full of fresh, new ideas!

Employers should take a risk and hire new graduates. It doesn’t matter if we haven’t worked in a large corporation or do not have a specific skill. We can learn! That’s what we have been doing our whole academic careers. Don’t undervalue a graduate by thinking there is no time to train them.

Career centres and schools also need to do more to help students by providing them with co-op experience while in school, regardless of their GPA.

Schools should also provide hands-on experience during class time. For example, case studies are a great way to practice new problem solving skills that employers are looking for.

Also, schools should constantly update courses to better assist students. When I graduated in 2010, I learned nothing about social media and its relation to marketing, a knowledge base that would have been highly useful upon graduation.

My recommendation to students would be this: find an internship or part-time position while you’re still in school so you can get your foot in the door.

TalentEgg.ca, Canada’s online career resource for students and recent grads, wants to hear your Student Voice. Share it at TalentEgg.ca.

Punch out, then rock out

Phoebe Ho, Metro — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 23:22:44 -0400

Bursts of drum roll, guitar and a powerful female voice rocking Tina Turner’s River Deep, Mountain High is seeping out of the soundproof room at the Rehearsal Factory.

The voice belongs to 52-year-old Mary Ann Weber, mother of two. It’s Wednesday night, which means it’s Weber’s opportunity to let loose and indulge in her one passion.

“I was at a point in my life where I was very busy with my kids and working full-time in pharmaceutical sales, I didn’t have any outside interests other than just working and raising my kids,” said Weber. “I don’t have that kind of frivolous life normally, so this is my night out.”

Singing at the top of her lungs while strutting and dancing around in performance mode, she jams with her band as part of a 10-week program at the League of Rock, where anyone who can sing or play an instrument gets a chance to find their inner rockstar, learn from the pros and record a CD.

“There’s this buzz of not knowing who’s in the band and really working through that challenge,” said League of Rock founder Terry Moshenberg. “But it’s not just a jam session, it’s a very creatively charged social experience.”

It’s only been three weeks since Weber first met her band, but they already have a routine going. The atmosphere is vibrant, fun and relaxed, says Weber. The night usually starts off with small chit-chats and jokes thrown around before they start rehearsing the three songs they’ve chosen to play in the live showcase concert at the end of the program.

“Singing is just a fantastic release. The added benefit here is that it’s more intimate,” said Weber. “It gives me a chance to meet people I would never meet, people who are musically talented and have a pretty high skill level.”

While still a little nervous whenever one of the professional musicians comes around to coach them, Weber says it pushes her to perform at her best.

“The performance aspect, that is totally what I want to learn,” she said. “I’m not pretending to be a rockstar, I’m not going on the road next week, I’m not quitting my day job, but this is an experience that I want to have and I want to do it to the fullest.”

College: There’s an app for that

Metro — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 23:14:52 -0400

Turns out, the best place to shop for back-to-school, could be your app store. From exam prep to finding delivery options at 2 a.m., your cell phone has become one of the most useful tools you can use at college.

“The evolution of the mobile phone and its encompassing apps has changed the game for the world at large.

In modern days, not only is a mobile phone the most personalized possession you own, but it's a digital backpack,” says Matthew Armendariz, an NYC-based web and software interface designer.

With his help, we’ve found some apps for iPhone that will help you both in and out of classroom. Relax, we know you’re on a budget- they’re free.

Check to see if your school has its own app. For example, NYUMobile features maps, event calendars and campus news.

Have a question but can't remember your professor's email address? This app even offers the student and faculty directory. It's great for any student, especially if you’re new on campus.

Connect with your friends through Fast Society. This app lets you share fun experiences with your friends by connecting through conference calls or recorded voice messages.

Or let your study group know where to meet by sending them your location in a mass text to a single number. It’s great for test prep, too.

“Use the phone's native camera app to take snapshots any pertinent notes. Take a picture of the chalkboard and you'll now have a long-lasting visual reference of the classroom discussion. This is especially useful if you missed part of a lecture, if you're handwriting is below par, or if you are a visual learner,” says Armendariz.

Need a little help choosing classes for your next semester? With Rate my Professors, you can read countless comments about more than 1 million professors at more than 6,000 schools across the country.

Submit your own rating right from the classroom. After all, your professors get to grade you, right?

Ways that the temp often rises

Metro — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 23:10:50 -0400

When you’re looking to start your career, it’s easy to skip over temporary job listings.

But before you set your filter to only full-time positions, consider the many possible benefits of temping.

“A lot of young people want to get their dream job right away, but it’s more of a marathon than a sprint,” says Andy Teach, author of From Graduation to Corporation: The Practical Guide to Climbing the Corporate Ladder One Rung at a Time.

“It’s something that everyone should consider, especially in this economy.”

Here’s why you may want to give temping a chance.

It can lead to a long-term position

Plenty of employers treat temp positions as an opportunity to test-drive a potential full-timer. But even if the project has a very limited time frame, you still have the chance to network with managers who may have openings.

“Find a company you really want to work for. If it’s a great working environment, it’s worth just getting in there,” says Teach. “You have to think long-term — you’ll be down the hall from the people you want to talk to.”

You’ll get an honest preview of the job

There’s nothing worse than making it through three rounds of interviews only to realize that the management structure is worse than the coffee.

“When you interview for a job, you never really know what’s waiting for you,” says Teach. “Temping can give you a priceless insight.”

There’s no commitment

If you settle for the wrong full-time gig, you’ll have to give notice — and hopefully not navigate a no-compete contract — if a better job comes along.

The same isn’t true for temporary positions. “If it doesn’t work out, you don’t have to worry so much about loyalty,” says Teach.

When your cubicle comrade becomes the boss

Drew Hinshaw, Metro Canada — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:19:16 -0400

It’s hard to say who to feel sorrier for: the co-worker who misses out on a big promotion, or the unlucky knave who gets it.

Officemates who watch their old friend move up a floor often lose hope, career counsellors note — as if their career is dogpaddling in place. But the newly-crowned boss? They lose friendships, embark on a life of solitary lunches without that exhilarating sprit of workplace camaraderie.

“Most everyone does it wrong, and it becomes a total disaster,” executive coach Cynthia Shapiro says. “You lose all your friends. It’s a serious issue and it’s very common.”

But it doesn’t have to be. Here’s how to handle that transition when one workplace pauper becomes the new company prince.

Going from Worker to Boss

New boss task number one, Shapiro says, isn’t to strongarm your old equals into respecting — or worse, fearing — you. It’s to make them comfortable with the uneasy arrangement.

“Don’t come in and tell them what to do — you’re not above them,” she cautions. “The first thing you want to do is ask ‘What can I do for you? What can be done better? What can I do to make your work better?’ Make sure they know you advocating for them.” That doesn’t mean, however, that you should get too chummy.

“You don’t want to be on either end of the spectrum,” says Meredith Haberfeld, founder of the Institute for Coaching. “Don’t be getting drunk after work with who used to be your peers or start acting like you’re above them. Be yourself.”

And don’t downplay your promotion, either, she adds.

“Fake humility is thin veneer, and people can see right through it.”

When Your Friend Becomes the Boss

Watching an old pal become your overseer can boil up a pot of resentments, Shapiro notes, but it really shouldn’t.

“Your friend is now the person in charge of whether you get a raise, what your job security is like,” he says. “That’s a great place to be.”

Make sure you express that, too, she adds.

“You definitely always want to say ‘I’m really happy for you,’ just so they know you’re not feeling threatened,” she states.

And if you are feeling threatened? Grow up.

“Keep your eye on the prize,” Haberfeld says. “Give yourself one weekend to go have a drink, be pissed off, talk to your family, and then wrap it up in a bow and leave it alone.”