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What Can Students Do Now to Prepare for the Future Job Market?
This blog is written primarily for students entering (or returning to) university or college—and for their parents. Your university and college years should be a time to learn, have fun, and make new friends. Regardless of what you study, it’s never too early to start preparing yourself for the job market, you will be entering…
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What Does it Mean When an Employer Says You’re Not the Right Fit?
When employers interview candidates for jobs, they are trying to answer three questions: 1) Do you have the necessary technical skills to do the job? 2) Is your previous experience suitable for the job? 3) Are you the right “fit” for their organization? The first two are easy to evaluate. Your resume and the interview…
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The Seven Habits of Highly Successful Job Seekers
Some people are more successful than others in their job searches. It is not just by chance or because they have better qualifications. It is about how they manage the job search process, even if they’re not actively looking for a job. I’ve had the opportunity to interview thousands of job candidates. Here are seven…
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Can You Leave a Job Off Your Resume?
Here is my thinking … Resumes are essentially marketing documents. Their primary purpose is to present your relevant experience and qualifications to an employer that (hopefully) will get you to the interview. Resumes—first and foremost—must be truthful and should not mislead the reader in any way. Having said that, I do not believe you have…
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The Best Questions to Ask the Interviewer
Near the end of an interview, the employer will often ask if you have any questions for them. If you say ‘no’ your chances of getting the job offer will decrease. That’s because the employer could conclude you are either not prepared for the interview or not interested in the job. You’ve also lost a…
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I Won the Lottery
No, I don’t mean Lotto 649. I won the birth lottery. What do I mean by that? It means I was lucky to be born in Canada, a peaceful, free, and democratic country. It means I was lucky to be born white and male, which has granted me many advantages throughout my life and career.…
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6 Ways Guaranteed to Impress Your Boss
Let’s face it: most bosses are bad at giving feedback—whether it’s positive or negative feedback. This lack of feedback can be particularly unsettling if you are new to a job and looking for direction. So, how should you perform if you receive no feedback from your boss? Here are six actions that are guaranteed to…
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How to Impress a Potential Employer
When job searching, one activity you should consider is targeting specific organizations of interest to you. Ideally, you have someone who can ‘open the door’ for you. But if you cannot find anyone to give you a referral, you will have to take it upon yourself to make the first contact. Instead of randomly sending…
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What Happens When You Don’t Get the Job
Finding out you did not get the job can be disappointing, especially if it was a job you really wanted. The news can be even more disheartening if you’ve been looking for a job for a long time and received several rejections. Most people will tell you to “accept it and move on,” which is…
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7 Behaviours That May Harm Your Career
Have you ever felt angry at being passed over for a promotion? Or felt the disappointment of not receiving the raise you wanted? And when you feel these emotions, do you look for someone else to blame? If you’re like most human beings, your first inclination is to blame your employer. After all, they are…