Blog

By Canada InfoNet bilingual mentor Michèle Thibeau

As museums, hockey arenas, and shops open their doors and travel restrictions begin to lift between Canada’s provinces and territories, hope is in the air!

Many of us are standing on the precipice of change right now – that of heading back into the world of people and places, and being in close proximity to others.

It will be different; and, it will likely surprise us as we realize just how much we've missed: simple, daily experiences we previously took for granted. These experiences include the workplace, with its louder and quieter moments, from morning greetings and group lunches to focused work at our desk. We will be back together again, albeit with new daily habits and new colleagues.

I've worked with remote and hybrid teams for many years. Currently, I am part of a hybrid team, meaning that my colleagues and I are situated in different geographic places (as it was before the pandemic). That's part of our strength in our field of collaborative economic development.

What's interesting is that in many cases I have seen many of my colleagues (virtually) and connected with them more often since we all began working from home.

That's because we're now making much better use of the digital tools we have at our disposal. We are all in the same circumstances some of us were prior to the pandemic. This newfound opportunity to tap into conversations and share how we're coping has been a blessing for which I am grateful.

Outside of work, I have been able to enjoy many opportunities to connect despite being isolated for a year and a half. While my immediate world has been smaller in terms of people I have seen in person since March 2020, it has also expanded to include individuals from all corners of our planet; this continues to be such a meaningful gift.

As a relatively new volunteer with the Canada InfoNet program, I've met and learned from a handful of determined, talented individuals eager for the borders to open so they can get started with life here in Canada! It is such an amazing gift to meet each person and welcome their story. 

With the borders closed, conversations about finding employment in Canada before arriving were tough; few employers feel equipped to hire a new person when there’s no start date on the horizon. Instead, we worked on networking and taking time to discuss what kind of work in a given field was available – there are many employment opportunities across this country!

Once the borders are open, I look forward to continuing such conversations and focusing on using social media tools and local online programming to explore culture, workplace challenges and successes and vocabulary. The more we understand how to engage, the more successful we are in translating to an employer how we are the right person for the job!

These days, my motto is keep connecting with others and celebrating the small wins on the way to your destination and at every pause along the way. We cannot always see the progress we're making. It's through connection with others that we can reflect on just how far we've come.

After almost a year and a half of working from home after “pivoting”, “adapting” and find a way of getting things done in these “exceptional times”, many remote workers are facing the prospect of returning to the office. Creating a new routine and find ways to be effective remotely was a challenge; but now that employers are summoning us back, many remote workers are starting to wonder if we truly want our old “normal” back.

Since the pandemic was declared in March 2020, a third of Canadian workers found themselves unexpectedly working from home. Many of us were not ready. Workers had to adapt quickly – some had to create makeshift workspaces, setting up an old table in their bedrooms, kitchens or dining rooms, and some had to figure out how to cope with the challenges of getting work done while parenting and educating their school-age children at home. Often, more than one adult was working remotely in the home. It wasn't easy.

Now, more than a year after the pandemic began, you’d think we would be happy to return to the familiar, focused and social environment we knew before. Nevertheless, many workers have begun to reflect on what they have gained and to wonder whether we could keep some of the benefits of this new arrangement after the “new normal” returns.

Looking back at the last year of working remotely, many employees are realizing that not all of it was bad. While working from home, we discovered that we could save money on the cost of commuting. We learned to enjoy the benefits of having access to our home facilities during the workday; it’s also been enjoyable to have access to our pets, favourite foods, and even (sometimes) our family members during the day. Not having to dress to code (at least from the waist down) has been enjoyable. The ability to focus without interruption has been a gift to those of us who struggle to fight the distractions of noisy cubicles and chatty colleagues. Some workers have enjoyed not being under the tight scrutiny of our supervisors, maybe even surprising ourselves to discover how efficient and self-directed we can be when required.

Other benefits of the shift to working from home include learning new technology skills, as well as ways of using technology to make life easier. Many employees took the opportunity to engage in online learning, and have developed a passion for ongoing professional development that they hope to continue developing into their future.

On the flip side, many workers are struggling with isolation. Some have reported feeling unstimulated and less creative. We often underestimate how much we draw on creative ideas that come from casual chatter in hallways and around water coolers. Many at-home workers report that it is hard to set boundaries between work and home, with work stretching beyond designated work hours, and home life intruding on getting work done during office hours. Some people even miss their commute, which allowed them to change hats between home and work, as it were, allowing time to process and switch off work thoughts and refocusing on tasks at home.

What do workers want?

To gauge the thoughts of employees, we posted a poll on LinkedIn that asked readers for their expectations from their workplace after reopening. The results were striking clear: we want (70%) to be able to retain some flexibility to be able to work remotely, as part of our return to our much anticipated “new normal”.

Worried about going back to work? Consider these actions:

Your current employer is likely working on figuring out how to bring back staff safely. But that doesn't mean that staff shouldn't voice their concerns and opinions to employers in anticipation, to ensure their needs and thoughts are included in back to work planning.

Here are some of the issues that might be worth inquiring about: 

1. Safety measures and practices

Employers are obligated to ensure that workplace health and safety guidelines are established and enforced. The government of Ontario has posted guidelines about workplace safety on its website https://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-coronavirus-and-workplace-health-and-safety which details workers' rights, as well as measures taken by the ministry to increase inspection of workplaces.

The Province clearly outlines the fact that workers have a right to be in a workplace that screens people with symptoms and supports them to self-isolate (meaning enabling people to stay home from work if necessary), as well as to set up a workspace that enables physical distancing, ensures regular disinfection practices, and reduces in-person contact (for example, where reasonable, allowing for remote meetings instead of in-person).

Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, workers do that the right to refuse work that they believe is unsafe. If health and safety concerns are not resolved internally, a worker can seek enforcement by filing a complaint with the Ontario Health and Safety Contact Centre (reachable by toll-free phone at 1-877-202-0008).

2. Accommodations

It is reasonable for employees to expect assistance from employers to accommodate their needs regarding continued practical challenges such as family obligations and medical concerns, and for employers to set up a process for these issues to be addressed properly.

3. Speak out about ideas regarding reopening

Seek out an opportunity to speak to your colleagues to discuss your preferences and concerns about reopening, as well as ways to speak to your employer about them. Consult with your union if you have one. Find a way to connect with your team members (without managers around, perhaps), using a chat app, email or even video. Ask questions about how colleagues are feeling and check in on their thoughts and concerns about returning to the office.

Check this blog for tips on ways of advocating for remote work. It’s likely that if staff members present a coherent workable case for new ways of getting the job done, including options such as hybrid in-office/remote options, managers would be willing to listen. Help managers understand some of the benefits of such changes, such as reduced cost, improved service access and enhanced efficiencies.

To sum up

As challenging as it has been to shift to working from home, many remote workers have discovered the benefits of remote work flexibility and would like to keep them post-pandemic. Many also worry about the safety of returning to in-person work. Employers will likely be open to discussing and considering these concerns, and workers should speak out to make sure their concerns are heard.

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When the pandemic first struck, we assumed it would pass quickly; facing the flood of newly unemployed clients, employment counsellors expressed reassurance that this was short-lived and temporary, and that resume gaps would be barely noticeable. Frustratingly, though 2020 came and went, the pandemic kept resurging around like a never-ending hurricane, leaving in its wake an unanticipated economic crisis.

Many of my clients have described their resume as having a “hole” in it where 2020 should have been, worrying that with increased unemployment and fewer jobs it might be even harder to find work. Some have been forced to stay home during the pandemic, homeschooling kids, caring for vulnerable health issues in themselves and others, while others have taken survival jobs such as warehouse workers, grocery clerks or delivery drivers.

The question that matters most is what employers think: how are they responding to this gap? It is probably fair to assume that they are very familiar with this issue and are willing to look beyond it to consider candidates, so it might not necessarily prevent you from being called to an interview. However, it is very likely that the “what did you do during the pandemic?” question will come up in interviews – and job seekers should prepare a well-thought-through answer.

When preparing an answer to the gap question, keep these strategies in mind:

1. Prepare a clear and specific explanation about what exactly happened.

Think through how you would describe the specifics of what happened when you were laid off from your job. Keep in mind that even if you have been furloughed/temporarily laid off and are still considered to be an employee, an employer may still want to know about what you have been doing while at home. 

Be truthful – remember that many job seekers have been out of work and that it does not necessarily reflect on your ability or value in the job market. Everyone has been through the pandemic, and we all know someone who has taken parental leave or taken off time to care for a loved one or to deal with a health problem. Explain in simple clear terms – don’t dwell -- and move on to focusing on the future or present.

Your ability to talk about the gap with self-awareness and confidence can be impressive and can go a long way to convince employers that the gap has not affected your confidence or sense of self-worth.

2. Describe what you have been doing during the gap, focusing on what matters.

Make a list of the activities you have engaged in since the layoff, such as volunteering, homeschooling, survival work, hobbies/personal projects, online courses and job search. Focus on the activities that indicate skills that employers would value, such as initiative, collaboration, learning new skills. On the other hand, try not to exclude things such as caregiving, which might reflect on your values and resilience.

Think through everything you have done since the pandemic has hit. Adaptability and innovativeness are highly valued in this new economy. How did you adapt to the changes? did you set up a home office? Did you learn new remote job skills or job search skills? Show that you had some control during the time -- talk about what you DID during the time confidently and assertively, without sounding regretful or apologetic.

3. It's not too late to get active now if you can.

If you feel like you should have more to tell employers about what you have been doing, keep in mind that it is not too late to engage now in volunteering or work or to learn new skills/gain new knowledge online. Check out our blog about online learning opportunities. Consider volunteering – Volunteer Canada, for example, offers a list of COVID-related volunteer opportunities, as well as remote opportunities for those who need to stay home.

International Women’s Day celebrates women’s achievements and reflects on their challenges. This year’s theme is #ChooseToChallenge and this inspired us to showcase amazing women from our program who are mentors and alumni. They all immigrated to Canada themselves and have found success in their careers.

 In this video, you will learn about:

• Their successes and achievements
• Key impacts of immigration on their career and life in Canada
• Barriers they faced and successful strategies used to overcome them
• Tips on job searching during COVID

Panelists:

Olabisi Adesina – Mentor/ Program Alumni, Sr. Business Analyst & Solution Architect, SASKTEL
Nour Alsoori – Mentor/ Program Alumni, Senior Project Manager, City of Toronto
Veronica Seeto – Mentor/ Vice Chair at WINS Toronto
Notey Akpotive – Program Alumni, HR Partner at a leading global tech company
Hosted by: Sharvari Jois, Manager – Canada InfoNet, JVS Toronto

To learn more about Canada InfoNet, go to the link here: https://www.canadainfonet.org/​

The theme for International Women’s Day 2021 is #ChooseToChallenge. In recognition, we reached out to some of our mentors and former program participants to ask them what challenges they faced as immigrants, to tell us their achievements, and what they chose to challenge in honour of this day. We featured some highlights in our newsletter and here you can learn more about the journeys of these amazing women.

Veronica Seeto – Canada InfoNet Mentor
My immigration journey started in 1965 at age 13 with my parents and three other siblings. What is remarkable is that my father was 56 and this was his second migration to achieve his vision for a better education for his children. 

I was the first woman in my family to graduate from University. Some of my success can be attributed to inclusive and equitable policies in the Canadian educational system in the 1960s and 1970s. I had access to high school and entered the Innovative Co-op Math Program at the University of Waterloo. While being engaged in a full career in the IT sector, in 2005 I started mentoring IT professional immigrants to help them with their career transition to Canada. 

My #ChooseToChallenge is my leadership work with WINS Toronto to promote inclusive and equitable policies in the Canadian workforce. I appreciate how WINS aims to help immigrant professionals achieve greater success. Only by breaking down societally created barriers can we create an inclusive gender-equal world.

Olabisi Adesina – Canada InfoNet Mentor, Former Participant
As an immigrant woman who landed 4 years ago from Nigeria to Saskatchewan, it has been an interesting journey with highs and lows; I doubt any advice or training can prepare us immigrants; we just have to learn/adapt/evolve. While I did go for a whole day preparatory session in my home country, the euphoria of being a Canadian permanent resident made me deaf to all the predicted issues – weather, social, economic, professional, financial; the psychological shift and the huge adaptation required to navigate and thrive.

The major challenge I faced was psychological – the race to adapt to the new environment; I did not expect this challenge and the one I expected did not happen – professional/career. We watch movies and idealize Canada, we tend to think everything is so easy here, and arriving and seeing that there are challenges is a shock. For example, finding affordable childcare can be a challenge and that is a shock, it wasn’t something I had to worry as my kids are older, but it’s more challenging if you have little kids. The driving is different, the shopping, the daily life things are different. Not having extended family or community to help with that – we don’t expect the difference it makes. 

My biggest achievement is my ability to apply my professional experience in the workplace here with huge successes and adaptation to the corporate environment seamlessly. For example, in the job I am now I was the only woman, immigrant and black person in the group, after me they hired four more people, including two women. 

#ChoosetoChallenge –  Don’t let the gender inequality affect your goals and distract you from them; focus on being the best and doggedly choose to surmount. Do what you want to do, focus on that; don’t let anything hold you back.

Nour Alsoori – Canada InfoNet Mentor, Former Participant
I am originally from Damascus- Syria but I was working in Dubai as a Project Manager before coming to Canada. I landed in Canada in September 2018.

One of the challenges I faced was dealing with people who underestimated me or tried to take advantage of my situation. Some people have told me that I should forget about my ten years of experience and start from scratch, others wanted me to work for free in exchange for experience, and others promised to mentor me but never showed up to our meetings. It is very important not to let these negative voices take you down and to continue believing in yourself and your abilities. Today, I am a Senior Project Manager at City of Toronto, working on a couple of the City’s mega projects. Also, I recently started my second Masters at the University of Toronto. 

I #ChooseToChallenge prejudice against immigrant women's competence. Immigrant women are ambitious and motivated; They are willing to take risks and to prove themselves in every sphere of their lives, and that's what makes them so valuable.

Notey Akpotive – Former Canada InfoNet Participant
I currently work as an HR Partner for a global tech company. Almost 3 years ago, I moved to Ontario Canada, straight from Lagos, Nigeria where my family is from and began the journey of settling into life as an expatriate - what some people call immigrants - here in Canada. Prior to that time, I’d worked for about 7 years in Human Resources for General Electric in Nigeria.

I faced a lot of challenges as would anyone moving to a new country, new continent, new weather, new lifestyle. I was surrounded with so much newness, it was jarring. Thankfully, the language wasn’t new for me, though now I thoroughly empathize with anyone who moves to a new place and has to learn the language of that new place, because even though I speak fluent English, there are so many Canadian isms I’m still getting used to. The challenges I faced ranged from the seemingly mundane like getting lost the first time I was in downtown Toronto, failing my first Drive test to looking for a job that was going to help me build my career and dealing with the various stages of culture shock. These were all things I had read about and researched extensively on but was still difficult for me to live through day by day. Moving to Canada also made me realize visiting a place and returning “home” isn’t the same as relocating to that same place. 

I’m thankful for and celebrate the personal strength and courage it took for me to make the decision to move across the world. And the stamina that kept me going everyday through the small and big challenges I have faced. We focus so keenly on big milestones and while those are great, the self-discipline that comes with putting one foot in front of the other and staying hopeful everyday needs to be celebrated. That is part of what gives you the edge to achieve those personal goals you have set for yourself. 

I #ChooseToChallenge the ignorance and negativity that surrounds black immigrants moving to Canada from anywhere in the world, especially from Africa. We are living in a time with so much knowledge at our fingertips where everyone can research and learn and do better. Yet some of us continue to peddle stereotypes that are untrue, ignorant, or just plain hurtful. We all bear a responsibility to do better for ourselves and for our generations to come. I’d like to see that begin to change in my lifetime

We celebrate all the women in Canada, who are making their way besides all the challenges. May we all help reduce the inequalities and choose to challenge gender bias.

Irene Vaksman, Director of Newcomer Services at JVS Toronto, chats with Josh Schachnow, a Canadian Immigration lawyer and founder of Visto.ai. Visto is a free platform that helps skilled workers and international students move to Canada as quickly as possible by uncovering the most popular applications and programs needed to move to Canada.

Irene talks about how she got into newcomer services in Canada, her tips and suggestions for those relocating to Canada, and how COVID-19 has changed all of the above!

If you’re interested in coming to Canada, start by signing up for Visto's free immigration portal here. You’ll instantly get access to the Visto Portal that will get you started on the immigration process, and also give you the opportunity to join this community for even more benefits.

To learn more about Canada InfoNet, go to the link here:: https://www.canadainfonet.org/​

Even at the best of times, it would be rare for anyone to describe job search as “inspiring” or “fun”, all the more so now, during the rough times we are currently facing. Presently, job seekers are confined to their often busy noisy homes, facing competing demands for their time and attention from children, room mates, and pets. This makes it more challenging than ever to find a quiet focused block of time to browse through the internet for jobs, network on LinkedIn, or to take an online course.

But finding time is really just part of the challenge – harder still is finding the motivation, focus and self discipline to prioritize it and get it done. And the resulting guilt and sense of failure only makes it even harder.

Why is Motivation Sometimes so Hard to Maintain?

Being motivated is often more easily said than done – you know that you need to get something done, but it’s just not happening. Somehow, you just can’t dig up that willpower to even get going on -- what should be -- a simple task. Many of us have this idea that we are the only ones struggling to find motivation to do seemingly easy tasks, but the truth is that everyone faces motivational challenges every now and then. We just don’t talk about our struggles, because we think that it’s a sign of weakness or that we are the only ones dealing with this issue. 

We know that motivation is much easier found when we enjoy a task (for example, having a meal), or when we are doing something for someone else (such as attending to a needy child). Doing something that’s not enjoyable, not expected by others, or not immediately rewarding is where motivation can become difficult.

When the goal seems difficult to achieve, it’s even harder to muster up motivation to get it done – think of the struggles so many people face with fitness or weight loss, for example.

For job seekers -- especially right now -- finding work can feel unattainable. Maybe you have been looking for postings and found nothing you could apply for, or maybe you’ve sent out multiple job applications and no one has responded. Also, constant news about layoffs and increasing unemployment make finding a job sound nearly impossible. So, for many job searchers, as they make their way through each day, it's challenging to find the time and motivation to look for work -- and many find themselves, instead, taking of others’ needs or just sleeping in, mindlessly watching TV or just generally feeling ineffective.   

Feeling like you are just not getting things done can lead to a sense of failure, regret and self loathing, which can, in and of itself, feel paralyzing. Soon, it can feel like a rut that you are stuck in, watching days go by and feeling like time is being wasted.

So What Do We Know About Motivation?

What motivates us? Human motivational drivers are as diverse as we are from each other. We are driven by the obvious forces such as finances, of course; but we are also driven to feel competent, be creative, have a sense of purpose and very importantly, feel connected to others. Right now, with our choices being so limited by the pandemic, it’s harder than ever to meet all these needs, which makes finding motivation even harder.

One interesting scientific finding is that motivation is a limited resource. We all start our day with a certain amount of willpower which eventually gets depleted as we face each of our daily challenges. A stressful multitasking day, spent attending to the needs of others, doesn’t leave you with a lot of reserves to do what is needed for yourself.

We also know that motivational challenges are also different for different people – for some, the challenge is getting through a long to do list, and for others, simply getting out of bed and facing the day can be hard.

Finding the Willpower to Get Things Done

Self help experts might tell you that “it’s all in your head” – that it’s all about attitude. They might tell you that you need to decide to act and overcome your resistance. The problem is that even though you might have the best of intentions and a carefully laid out plan, it can sometimes feel near impossible to find the willpower to get it done.

Turns out that motivation isn’t simply a switch you flip on. Getting motivated is part psychological and emotional, but it is also, in large part, physiological – but it is also impacted by your physical ability to focus and persevere. If your health is compromised because of factors such as stress, isolation, poor sleep, lack of activity or poor nutrition, getting things done is much harder.

Sleep is an important and often neglected factor.

Many doctors are reporting that an increasing number of their patients are experiencing sleep issues. I certainly have struggled with that myself, and have heard from my job seeking clients about getting to bed way after midnight and sleeping in until the afternoon. The fact is that poor sleep has massive impacts on our overall health, impacting on our ability to manage stress, focus, and yes – stay motivated -- especially when it comes to uninspiring tasks such as job search.

One interesting simple tip: try to get to bed before midnight. Turns out that, according to the experts, the couple of hours before midnight is “a powerful phase of sleep because it is the period in which the body is replenished”, physically, mentally and emotionally. Make sure your room is dark, quiet and not too warm.

If you are waking up exhausted, finding energy to get things done during the day is going to be very difficult.

Keeping a routine.

Many job seekers are telling me that despite being at home for almost a year now, they are still struggling with establishing a routine. We usually draw our motivation from on extrinsic factors, such as a boss expecting you at work, or a child needing to be dropped off at school at a certain time, which forces us to get up and get moving at a certain time of day. When these extrinsic factors are lost, and routine is unpredictable (caused by changing school schedules for children, health issues etc), it becomes harder to get those things done reliably.

Build job search into your calendar, rather than just hoping you’ll find the time. Maybe daily is too much – perhaps you can give yourself one hour a day, every second day of the week, to get online and start applying for jobs. Taking small steps might feel less overwhelming than taking an all or nothing approach to getting things done.

Treat yourself the way you treat others: show some care and compassion.

Your mental health matters as much as your physical health. Give yourself permission to do things you enjoy without guilt or self-recrimination.

Everyone has different needs. Some people might need quiet time on their own to replenish. If that's true for you, give yourself a block of time to watch your favourite television show, play with your pet, read a book, go for a walk, or do something creative. If you miss social connections, make a point of calling a friend or family member on a regular schedule, and have a coffee together over a video call.

Build self care into your schedule. Give yourself permission so that you can enjoy engaging in self care, rather than doing it with a feeling of guilt.

Get support.

There are many supports available in your community to help. Social media is full of “caremongering” groups of wonderful people who are offering time, resources and all sorts of supports for community members. Sites such as MeetUp.com offer multiple local free opportunities to connect with like minded people.

Job search is much more effective and enjoyable if you can tap into supports and resources such as those offered by JVS Toronto. Having an Employment Counsellor who can help you up your job search game with a cutting edge resume, an impressive LinkedIn profile and access to jobs could make all the difference. Simply feeling accountable to someone else for the getting those things done might get your motivational juices flowing. Reach out to us at 416-787-1151, or read up on our employment supports here.

Motivation rarely comes easily in difficult times. Try to be forgiving of yourself for not meeting the goals you might have set yourself initially, and take small steps to get going again. This pandemic and the changes it has made to our lives has thrown everyone off their game – people might not like to admit it, but most of us are not “using our time” the way we thought we should. That can change, with just a few careful steps in the right direction.

Forbes magazine rates Canada as the best country in the G-20 for business. Canada’s overall tax rate on new business investment is significantly lower than that of many other countries. There are also great individual startup hubs and incubators which support new businesses.

Research has shown that entrepreneurial rate among newcomers is more than double the rate for people born in Canada. Immigrants are increasingly turning to entrepreneurship as a career option. It’s proven to be a great alternative during challenging times when they are struggling to find meaningful employment.

In this webinar, you will learn about:

• How to start a new business
• Benefits of having a business in Canada
• Funding a business
• Expanding your existing business to Canada
• Best Businesses in Canada for new immigrants
• Useful resources for Entrepreneurs

Read More

Recently, we have been hearing from job seekers that some employers are starting to ask for video resumes before considering them for an interview. Mostly, employers are asking for videos to be submitted as part of an application, often with the usual resume document.

Given the current context of increased use of remote technology in hiring, including video interviews, this trend isn’t altogether surprising. But it is quite a new trend -- requests for video resumes are generally not that common as yet, with only 3 percent of employers reportedly asking for them. However, considering the pace of change in hiring technology, job seekers should not be surprised if asked to submit a video as part of the job application process.

Generally, it seems that video requests are primarily coming from employers in specific sectors -- specifically for sales and communication type roles, which are the types of jobs where communication skills, use of video technology and creativity might matter more.

In some cases, candidates are choosing to provide a video with their resume even when it’s not requested by the employer, as a way to stand out, but this is not always a good idea, depending on the type of job to which you are applying and the nature of the industry.

What is a video resume?

Video resumes are an opportunity for the job seeker to present a short (up to about 90 seconds, or so), personal introduction of themselves to the employer.

The purpose of a video resume is not to necessarily replace a regular resume. It is often used as a screening tool to help employers select candidates -- employers might request it with the resume, so they can decide whether to invite you to an interview. Some employers might ask for a resume video a pre-screening device, before inviting candidates to send in their resumes. In some rare cases, employers might even request the video instead of a resume.

Some risks with video resumes:

Keeping in mind Marshall McLuhan’s famous line that “the medium is the message”, candidates need to choose to use video resume only if they are deliberately telling the employer something they really need to know. Generally, unless requested by employers, video resumes can be a risky option. Not all employers appreciate having to take the time to watch a video unnecessarily. This might depend on the culture of the industry or company, or the tools and skills required for the job.

Making a video is a risky endeavour. A poorly made video can undermine an otherwise strong application – if you are going to make a video, make sure to do it well.

More importantly, video interviews could be considered to contravene Labour Standards legislation or the Human Rights guidelines. The Ontario Human Rights Commission, for example, has been clear about the fact that asking for photos on application forms contravenes the rights of candidates to be protected from discrimination based on appearance or other irrelevant factors: “It has long been the Commission’s position that employers should not request photos of potential employees, since they may provide information related to a number of Code-related grounds, such as race, colour, sex or age.”

As far as we know, video resumes have not been tested in court or tribunals. Of course, with LinkedIn already enabling the posting of photos on profiles, the practice of sharing personal images of job seekers is already common practice. Based on this, it is possible that candidates would be well within their rights to refuse to share a video with a potential employer.

How to make a video resume

The challenge facing candidates is that the video must be high quality. It is worth investing extra time and effort to do it properly.

1. Get your script ready: what do you want to say?

Think of a video resume as a video cover letter – a pitch for why the company should hire you. As you would with a cover letter, start with the job posting to figure out what this particular employer is most interested in. Think through what you want to say and write it all out – you will sound a lot more coherent and organized if you’ve thought through everything you want to say in detail. Then practice, practice, and practice some more. Be prepared to re-record the video a few times before you’re satisfied. Of course, putting care and attention into the video tells employers about your work ethic and commitment to excellence.

Use these guidelines to write out your script:

1. Thank the employer for the opportunity
2. Introduce yourself and your relevant background and qualifications
3. Describe why you are the best candidate for this position -- skills, interests and unique assets
4. Explain what makes you a good match for the company -- the match between the company's and your own values
5. Outline briefly your hopes for how you can contribute to the job
6. Thank them again, and express enthusiasm about the position

Think of how you want to do this – it’s better to not bore the viewer by sounding like you’re reading off a script, so either write out every word or practice it until you know it, or just have some talking points you can speak to. Avoid silly jokes or gimmicks – focus on being natural but professional.

2. Get your equipment ready

Choose the equipment that takes the best quality video – possibly your newest device (it could be a laptop, cellphone, tablet or computer). Test it for sound and image quality. Make sure to stabilize it so it’s not shaky or moving around (don’t hold the camera).

Here are some good tips for preparing the video: https://youtu.be/BgUAlw4myrs -- watch and listen to how the presenter speaks, in addition to his useful tips.

3. Get the space ready

Make sure to use a well lit room, where your face is in the light. Make sure the background is tidy and not distracting, and that no personal items are visible, if possible. If you have to use your bedroom, ensure the bed isn’t visible.

Sit at a distance from the camera that shows your head, and shoulders, where your face is visible, but not too close to the device.

Find a quiet place where there will be no noises and distractions. Keep in mind that if you are applying for a remote job, it’s best to film the video in the space you will be using for the job, so that the employer has an image of you on the job.

4. Get yourself ready

Your goal is to come across as professionally as possible. That means thinking through your appearance, including what you are going to wear, hair, makeup, etc. Keep it simple and neat – you don’t want to distract from what you are saying. Dress as you would for a job interview, which means dressing a bit more professionally than you would on the job.

Give yourself enough time to practice and re-record the video until you are satisfied. Be a perfectionist.

5. Get it done

Generally, a simple, clear presentation of you speaking for 60-90 seconds (1-2 minutes) is perfectly appropriate (and appreciated by employers, who are busily sorting through many applications). But, if your job requires creative or technical skills, the video might be an opportunity to showcase your skills, using text, slideshows, music or other relevant media.

Some tips for a good video:

1. Make and maintain eye contact with the camera directly, as if you are talking to a person.
2. Smile – make sure to look and sound enthusiastic
3. Project your voice clearly and consistently
4. Pronounce every word
5. Speak naturally – try to sound conversational
6. Keep it short
7. Check the video with friends and family

Tools and samples:

There are an increasing number of platforms online that help users make videos, such as https://animoto.com/, Biteable, Camtasia 2020, and https://vimeo.com/create/video-maker

Here’s a good sample, using Biteable, the candidate created a clear, focused and straightforward video: https://youtu.be/OZzEBa9cHN0

Remember:

A video resume doesn’t necessarily replace your traditional resume -- you might still need a tailored 2-page resume, and possibly even a cover letter, if the employer asks.

While video resumes can help you make a great impression on the employer, a badly produced video can seriously harm your chances. So if you are going to use a video resume, take the time to make a simple, professional and appropriate video that clearly communicates why the employer should hire you.

You might worry that you’ve wasted 2020 by *merely* surviving a pandemic instead of learning a new skill in your  supposed free time, but turns out that -- without even thinking about it -- you’ve acquired a whole repertoire of unexpected new skills that might come in handy for your next job. (Not that surviving a pandemic isn’t an admirable achievement on its own, of course.)

Think about it: whether you’ve been working remotely from home, or just using your computer to stay in touch with family and friends using video and social media, buying stuff online and so much more, you’ve mastered a whole new set of remote work skills in which an increasingly large number of employers are going to be interested.

Working from home brings a whole new set of challenges that most workers (and employers) never considered as we transitioned from the workplace to home in March 2020. In addition to the ongoing insecurity employers continue to face regarding the viability of working in the office in the short to medium term, they are also increasingly aware that there are clear ongoing benefits to remote work. This means that more remote opportunities will be offered, and job seekers should expect to be challenged by employers to convince them of their ability to successfully work remotely.

Assess Your Remote Work Skills

Working remotely requires a balance between both soft (personal) skills, and hard (knowledge and technical) skills. Employers are going to look for both, though they know full well that hard skills can be learnt, whereas soft skills are harder to teach.

Think through what employers would like a remote worker to be able to do. The best way to assess what employers expect is through job postings. If you use the keyword “remote” in your online job search, you’ll find something like this (adapted from an actual posting):

Reading through posts such as this, certain generic skills can be noted:

Technology skills:

• Able to operate and manage communication technology and related software
• Enthusiastic and capable learner of new skills; able to master new tools with ease

Personal skills:

• Self-motivated / self-starter
• Goal oriented
• Confident, enjoys a challenge
• Works well independently
• Organized and reliable
• Skilled time manager – punctual, able to prioritize
• Able to follow instructions, and respond quickly to requests
• Independent, cool headed problem solver
• Strong interpersonal skills (online these include maintaining eye contact, projecting your voice, speaking clearly)
• Strong phone presence and conversational skills
• Strong language skills
• Flexible and adaptable
• Able to handle stressful situations professionally and appropriately

Review these skills and add the ones that best describe you to your resume, cover letters and LinkedIn.

Make sure employers know that you have the skills they need

If you want to stand out from other candidates, it’s not enough to simply list skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile -- you are going to have to be able to show your remote work abilities. These behaviours can be demonstrated through how you conduct your job search and what you talk about in interviews, as well as what references say about you.

Whether you have worked remotely or not, try to prepare thoughtful answers to questions about how you will handle the challenges of working remotely. Think through various scenarios that might arise, and how you would handle various situations. Whether you have worked remotely or not, try to prepare thoughtful answers.

Of course, it is always best to be able to draw from experience to answer interview questions, but otherwise think though how you would handle various situations. Remember that your virtual job search might be a source of examples.

Here are some of the scenarios you might get asked about:

• Teaching yourself new software -- Video conferencing software – Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, GoToMeeting, and scheduling, using a shareable calendar such as Outlook or Google Calendar
• Organizational methods -- systems for managing time, meeting deadlines and prioritizing, using tools, task tracking methods, lists, colour coding, spreadsheets
• Staying focused and motivated -- describe your personal challenges for keeping motivated and how you work to overcome them, such as balancing independent work with collaboration, teamwork and accountability, structuring your time
• Handling challenges – independent problem solving vs consultative work; think through how you have/would handle teamwork challenges across distance, for example
• Adaptability and managing changing demands – your philosophy, methods and experiences in working with colleagues and managers on their schedules with their preferred tools

Think through how you’d talk about these situations. Draw on examples where you have done this, if possible.

Demonstrate your skills by how you handle the remote hiring process

You will be evaluated based on how you conduct yourself in the remote interviewing process, so make sure you are prepared, following through, reliable and punctual, and that you have mastered the video interview and other tools.

We posted this blog about Acing the Video Interview in 2018 (we were ahead of the game, apparently!). It includes tips on ensuring you maximize the opportunity to be interviewed remotely:

Prepare your interview space:

• Set up your interview space; the room should be tidy, well-lit and quiet
• Position your computer so that doesn’t face a window; that way, there will be no reflections on the screen
• Make sure that the room is silent; no crying babies, barking dogs or loud traffic

Make sure your computer (hardware and software) works:

• Long before the interview, test your computer, camera and microphone with a friend
• Bring the microphone near and test that the speakers are on
• Test for sound; can you hear the person and can they hear you?
• Set up the camera, make sure it works, and that you are not too close or too far
• Set up the video so you can make eye contact. When you are being interviewed on video, you will want to look at the face of the interviewer, which isn’t necessarily where the webcam is positioned. Tip: to ensure that you are looking at the interviewer, resize and move the window with the person’s video image up or as close to your webcam as possible.

Plan what you are going to wear:

• Prepare an outfit as you would for an in-person interview – simple and professional
• Neat and clean (unwrinkled) clothes
• No busy patterns (e.g. stripes) – they don’t always look good on video
• Bright or dramatic colours also can become even brighter on screen (including black); grey, blue and pastels look best
• Avoid sparkly dangly jewelry – it’s distracting and can make noise

Bottom line

Remote work has taken a huge leap forward in the last year, and we can expect employers to continue to want to employ staff who can manage such changes well beyond the pandemic. Make sure you are able to tell employers and demonstrate to them that you have these valuable skills and are available to adapt to change in a nimble and competent way.

Although Canada is a big country most immigrants settle in the country’s biggest cities – Greater Toronto and Metro Vancouver areas. This has a big impact on cost of living and labour market which means settling in these cities comes at a significant cost.

It is important for new immigrants to understand that smaller cities in Canada have lower unemployment rates and can offer great job opportunities. Ageing population and other economic factors have created a great need for immigrant talent in these communities.

In this webinar, we bring you representatives from two such cities – London and Ottawa in Ontario. They will provide information on labour market and cost of living which are things new immigrants should definitely take into account when deciding in which community to build their lives.

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Are your skills considered valuable by employers in 2020 and into the future? Do you know what careers are most valued? What skills do you need to add and how? Questions about job trends are frequently asked of employment and career counsellors, and answering these questions is never easy. Right now, as we face an even more unpredictable and fast changing economic landscape, those questions have increased and become even more fraught.

Some of us might think that these concerns come mostly from high school graduates, but often they come from career changers of all ages and stages, facing concerns about job instability in a changing labour market, and their ability to adapt to it and stay ahead.

Canadian Job Trends

Finding the data necessary to answer these questions isn’t easy. To get a sense of labour market trends, present and future projections in Canada, the federal government has put together a Job Trend Analysis website that draws from sources such as the five-yearly census, annual taxes, and unemployment insurance claims. This site is part of Employment and Social Development Canada’s Job Bank, and is worth exploring for anyone who is rethinking their career or wanting to learn more about potential jobs.

However, the site does not necessarily present the entire picture -- the information tends to be a little behind the curve, as it takes time to compile and present the data; it’s also, of course, restricted to Canadian data, which is an important limitation at a time when careers and jobs are global and increasingly unbound by geographic limitations.

10 Most In-demand Careers

A new initiative by LinkedIn and Microsoft presents another useful perspective on this issue. Drawing on LinkedIn’s huge database of millions of users, companies, job postings, and skills on their platform, the career platform has compiled a list of the 10 most in-demand jobs in the current (2020) global market, which are most likely to continue to grow in the future.

Based on steady growth patterns in previous years, wages and whether the skills can be learnt online LinkedIn identified the following 10 jobs and skillsets:

1. Software Developer -- programming, storage, networking, security, and deployment; HTML, CSS, SQL, Javascript, Python.
2. Sales Representative -- negotiation, CRM, new business development, B2B, storytelling, social media.
3. Project Manager -- program management, process improvement, project performance.
4. IT Administrator -- manage systems, subscriptions, configuration, and identity; Windows Server, Active Directory.
5. Customer Service Specialist -- customer satisfaction, customer experience, data entry, CRM, admin analysis.
6. Digital Marketer -- social media, content strategy, SEO, marketing channels; Google Analytics, Google Ads.
7. IT Support/ Helpdesk -- troubleshooting, deployment; Active Directory, computer hardware, Microsoft Windows Server.
8. Data Analyst -- data analysis, analytics, visualization; Microsoft Excel, SQL, BI, Tableau.
9. Financial Analyst -- financial analysis, risk management, accounting, analytical skills, data analysis.
10. Graphic Designer -- design systems, layout, colour; Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop.

Best of all, with the limitations of the current pandemic in mind, LinkedIn put together 10 sets of Learning Paths, based on these careers, to offer free online video-based training to users (free until March 2021), provided by industry-expert instructors. Upon completion of each path, users receive a certificate of completion, to share on their LinkedIn profile.

Soft Skills

As we have mentioned in previous blogs, the focus is on a balance between hard and soft skills, including a focus on collaboration, change, diversity and inclusion. To that end, LinkedIn also provides a Master In-Demand Professional Soft Skills set of free online courses, including:

• Emotional Intelligence – for enhanced personal performance and effective work relationships
• Resilience – bouncing back from difficult situations
• Dealing with change -- keeping change in perspective and adapting
• Critical thinking – rational and effective decision-making, good argumentation and judgement
• Relationship building – personal and professional trust
• Teamwork – building healthy and productive teams
• Communication skills – effective use of meetings, email and presentations
• Listening – learning to listen actively
• Persuasiveness – being heard, having an impact and getting people to agree
• Writing skills – using simple, clear and plain written language to be understood  
• Creativity – learning to be more fearless and unleash creative thinking

Think through your target jobs and read through descriptions of them in job postings to identify the most valuable skills for your field. Pick a couple (two to three, perhaps) of key skills and focus on them. Remember to mention them in interviews, preferably with specific example of where you have used them in your past.

Other Sources for Learning Skills 

Skills training is increasingly available online often at low cost or even free for those seeking an opportunity to enhance their skills. Multiple sources of training, such as colleges, universities and private schools are now offering the flexibility of multiple start dates and greater course choices, as detailed in a previous blog I wrote earlier this year.

Make Sure to Show Off Your New Skills

Don’t forget to add these new skills to your resume, your LinkedIn profile and to mention them in cover letters, when relevant to a particular job.

Whether you’re still in school or already working, it’s never too late to put yourself on the path to a career you love.

Career counselling at JVS Toronto will help you identify your interests, skills, personality and values to build a clear picture of what will make you feel happy and fulfilled in your career. Find out more at jvstoronto.org/career-exploration

Newcomers often become easy targets to fraud and scam since they may not be used to how banks, companies and government work in Canada.

In this webinar, the team from the RBC Meeting Place will share tips and strategies for protecting yourself and your information from cyber fraud. Topics include:

• Cyber Crime/ Fraud in Canada
• Types of Cyber Fraud and how to look out for them
• Phishing scams, Job Scam, Mystery Shopper Scam, CRA scams
• E-Transfer fraud
• How to safeguard yourself from fraud

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By Ligia Chiari

Organizational skills are essential to many jobs. If you are job searching, you probably have come across postings that require the candidate to be organized, good with time-management and multi-tasking. But these are skills you will need not only on the job but to actually help you find one. This is especially true if along with looking for employment you are also dealing with all the stress of immigrating amidst all the recent changes in travel plans due to the pandemic.

Looking for employment involves many steps like researching potential employers, finding open positions that meet your skills and preferences, tailoring your resume and cover letter, applying, networking online and in person, preparing for interviews and negotiating offers are just some of them. When you start applying to multiple jobs at the same time it’s easy to get confused and the lack of organization might make you miss opportunities.

So make sure you get organized, set your priorities and learn how to deal with all the multiple tasks involved from the beginning so you don’t feel overwhelmed. Organizing your job search strategy is a great way to manage stress and make sure you are actually getting things done. After all, that can be a new skill to add to your resume.

Here are a few tips on how to get started and achieve the success you are looking for:

• Take it seriously. First and foremost, you have probably heard that “looking for a job can be a full-time job”, which means it requires dedication and commitment. Even if you already have a full-time job, the time you set aside for job searching should be focused, so avoid distractions such as social media feeds or answering unrelated e-mails at the same time.

• Define your goals. Before you actually start applying for open positions, it is good to take some time to set your goals. Having a short-term and long-term goal will help you stay on track and set realistic expectations. Do your research and refine it as much as you can in terms of positions, industry, time frame, salary and other expectations you might have. It’s OK to be flexible with your goals, but knowing where you want to get to makes the path easier.

• Commit time regularly. So maybe you are currently working full-time and don’t feel like you have a lot of time to commit. That’s the reality of most people who are in your situation and with many working from home it can be even harder to block out time for different tasks. Analyze your priorities and decide how much time you can commit to it, even if it’s a few hours a week, put that on your calendar and make sure you stay on track. 

• Break down the job search into smaller tasks. If you set aside time for job searching in general, you may get lost and end up wasting the valuable 3 hours you had just browsing through different ads and websites. It’s easier to accomplish a goal if you break it down into actionable steps, such as: 
  1. Find one job posting that suits me. 
  2. Research the employer. 
  3. Tailor Resume and Cover letter to that Job Posting.
  4. Apply for that position. 
  5. Try to connect on LinkedIn with people from that company to expand my network… and so on. 

With clear steps like these, it is easier to stay on track and motivated.

• Keep a log. Whether you are tech-savvy or not, develop your own system to keep track of jobs you applied for and responses you received. As most ads are online, saving these logs on your computer may be easier, but if pen and paper work better for you, that’s ok, as long as you have easy access to it. Don’t forget to maintain a record of which position you applied for, the employer, date, information from the job post such as salary or deadline and if you were contacted or not. This will come in handy when you receive a call from company XYZ and you need to quickly find out which position they are contacting you about.

• Split your time wisely. Remember not to use all of your time just replying to job ads as this should take only about 20% of your time. Keep track of how much time you spend in other activities such as networking and upskilling yourself as well.

• Take care of yourself. Job Searching can be stressful and even more in such uncertain times like these, make sure you add some time for yourself to unwind in the process. A walk outside, quality time with friends or family even if that’s virtually and meditating are some ways that can help you manage stress and keep a positive attitude.

If you are immigrating to Canada and have an approved Permanent Resident visa, contact Canada InfoNet and work with an Employment Specialist to develop your personalized Job Search strategy.

If you have any questions or topics you would like to see on our blog e-mail ligia.albuquerque@jvstoronto.org 

Emotional well-being during immigration, settlement & job seeking in Canada

Moving to a new country, adjusting to a new culture, and adapting to new employment realities are difficult transitions that can negatively impact your health, including your mental health. Change is difficult, but you can handle it. In times of change, learning how to support your mental health and how to get help if you need it, are critical to your ability to be resilient.

In this webinar, you’ll hear from Lawrence D. Blake, M.Phil, PhD(c), Canadian Mental Health Association and learn:

• What mental health is and how to talk about it
• How change and stress could impact your mental health
• How to recognize when you might benefit from support for your mental health
• Strategies to support yourself during stressful times

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