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 […]

By Sharon Graham. If you’re a career practitioner or resume writer, I’m sure you’ve heard the latest hype about QR codes. Some evangelists swear that they are the “next big thing” in job search strategy. Others believe that this is just another fad that will completely disappear into the fog of technology past. As an innovative professional, you’re likely curious about all the buzz. If using a QR Code can be beneficial to a job search, you don’t want to be left out of the loop. I don’t proclaim to […]

By Karen Siwak. Interim management – bringing in heavyweight executives to manage an organization during a period of crisis or transition – is a staffing strategy that began in the Netherlands in the early 80s in response to stringent labour legislation that made it costly to hire and terminate permanent employees. The concept has since been adopted in the UK, Germany, Belgium, and Australia as a strategy for bridging short-term management needs, and is becoming increasingly popular in North America. I had the chance to talk with Carmen Jeffrey, a […]