Career Professionals of Canada News Feed
By Daisy Wright. Are you being bypassed on LinkedIn? Are your invitations being rejected? If you are a manager or emerging executive who is not attracting influential contacts, or who is not on the radar of recruiters and decision makers, you are probably being ignored on LinkedIn because of these blunders: You have chosen to keep the ghost-looking blank box. Without a professional headshot, hiring managers, recruiters and potential contacts assume you are invisible or that you don’t exist. People are more inclined to accept your invitation if they can…
By Sharon Graham. Canada’s economy is dependent on a productive and versatile labour force. Our youth are the key to our nation’s future. If they make thoughtful career decisions today, they can position themselves for success in years to come. Unfortunately, many are not prepared to make informed educational, occupational, and employment choices. This “youth disconnect” might be one of the most important strategic challenges for the prosperity of our country and its people. Statistics Canada’s publication on Employment Instability Among Younger Workers suggests that there is a “growing pool…
By Sharon Graham. Shifts in the Canadian economy drive our labour market and the compensation that employers are willing to offer employees. The recent recession has caused a downward pressure on salaries and benefits. As a result, negotiation has become trickier than ever. The compensation negotiation is an inevitable part of the interview process. To secure a job offer, every candidate must be able to negotiate confidently and effectively. Yet many dread the prospect of negotiating a salary. No doubt, your next client will encounter the question, “What is your salary…
By Sharon Graham. According to Statistics Canada, our workforce is aging. A growing number of people in the labour market are choosing to work rather than to retire. Yet, new research says that across Canada we find deep-rooted societal and cultural discrimination against older workers. A recent Revera Report on Ageism said that despite an aging population, ageism is the most tolerated form of social discrimination in Canada. As career practitioners, we need not stand aside on this growing concern. We must become advocates for our older clients. The evolving…
By Sharon Graham. The Canadian Labour Market may finally be poised for a modest turnaround. Despite all the recent difficulties for the US and Europe, the Canadian economy continues to moderately outperform many other countries. Of course, it is impossible to predict the future with complete certainty, but current trends suggest that certain Canadian career, employment, and business opportunities will be opening up soon. This year, Statistics Canada is reporting that our economy is returning to modest growth. In the last year, Canadian employers opened up more than 300,000 new full-time…
By Sharon Graham. I enjoyed Career Professionals of Canada’s recent Telenetworking Session on future trends tremendously. It was invigorating to share labour market information with knowledgeable professionals from across Canada. Predictions for shifts in regional, economic, and industry futures were eye-opening. There is no question about it. The labour market affects our clients’ job search and their career development outcomes. Yet, as coaches, counsellors, and consultants, we can only advise clients in areas where we have direct knowledge and training. We cannot fully understand all positions and industries. Nor can…