Category: Featured Articles

In this very competitive marketplace, it seems that resume writing is getting more complex. Although there are no hard and fast rules, these points should make the process a bit easier.

Do’s:

• Put a title on top to indicate the position you’re applying for. Example: “Target: Junior Financial Analyst Position”.
• Tailor your resume for each advertisement. The one size fits all resume no longer works since hiring managers are looking for specific skills and experience.
• Include a professional profile that tells companies what you can do for them.
• List your technical skills and areas of knowledge.
• Use powerful verbs like “chartered”, “spearheaded” or “captured” to indicate what you did instead of the same old, tired verbs like “handled” or “managed”.
• Quantify your accomplishments, when possible. Instead of saying you made top sales, state the actual dollar amount.
• Include your education, courses or skilled trade training.
• Be consistent with your colour, bullets, headings and font throughout your resume.
• Check and recheck your resume to ensure no typos or grammatical errors slip by.
• Include page numbers. If you have a 2-page resume, format your page numbering as page 1 of 2 and page 2 of 2 so the recruiter knows how long your resume is.
• Put your name and contact information on all your resume’s pages in case a page gets separated from the rest.
• Include a cover letter with your resume to explain what you offer the company and why you’re an ideal candidate.

Don’ts:

• Explain why you left your last job. Save that for the interview only if they ask why you left.
• List obvious skills like Outlook or internet because almost everyone has these skills.
• Include confidential information on your resume.
• Use slang. You may think it sounds cool, but hiring managers think it’s unprofessional.
• Use clichés and buzzwords like “results-oriented” or “team player”. These words have been used too many times to be novel anymore.
• List controversial organizations or hobbies unrelated to the desired position.
• Include a photograph of yourself. Some cultures support this, but it’s not common in North America.
• Include a high school education if you graduated from university, college or a trade school.
• Put “References Available Upon Request” at the end of your resume. This is outdated and it’s understood that you’ll send references when asked.
• Use wacky fonts, garish colors or crazy designs. Stick to a crisp, clean look with a font that’s easy to read.
• Use your company’s email and phone number. It’s better to use your personal information even if your boss knows you’re looking.
• Include information that could be discriminated against such as age, marital status, gender, religion, race, color or national origin.
• Lie on your resume. Your sin will find you out, and you can get fired.

By keeping these points in mind, you’re well on your way to creating a professional resume for the job you want.

Giselle Mazurat received her designation as a Certified Resume Strategist from the Career Professionals of Canada. She also writes technical and business content for government and private companies.

Bibliography:

15 terms you must include in your resume and 10 things that will get it tossed
https://careers.workopolis.com/advice/15-words-you-must-include-in-your-resume-and-10-things-that-will-get-it-tossed/

42 Resume Do’s and Don’ts Every Job Seeker Should Know
https://www.themuse.com/advice/42-resume-dos-and-donts-every-job-seeker-should-know

185 Powerful Verbs That Will Make Your Resume Awesome
https://www.themuse.com/advice/185-powerful-verbs-that-will-make-your-resume-awesome

The definitive list of resume dos and don’ts. Don’t break these rules.
https://careers.workopolis.com/advice/the-definitive-list-of-resume-dos-and-donts-dont-break-these-rules/

The Do’s and Don’ts of Resume Writing
https://www.roberthalf.com/blog/writing-a-resume/the-dos-and-donts-of-resume-writing

With the workforce becoming more mobile, the labour market is shifting towards a gig economy. Coined as the “Hollywood Model”, companies hire people only for the term of a project in the same way producers hire actors for a film. According to a BMO Wealth Management study, 2.18 million Canadians are doing some type of temporary work – a number that has grown significantly in the past 10 years.

For those who hope for a long-term career with one company, the gig economy could be a scary concept. There is a misconception that as a gig worker you’ll end up toiling away in poorly paid, repetitive, and boring jobs. This does not have to be your experience if you prepare properly so here are some lessons learned from my personal experience as a gig worker:

Start by preparing your mind. Be open to new opportunities. I’ve been a gig worker since the late 80s, and I really enjoy working for different companies and clients. I get to know a lot of people in my field and learn new things to keep my skills sharp. As an established gig worker, I’m not only paid well, but I also choose my clients, set my own hours, and create a better work life balance.

Think like an entrepreneur. As an independent gig worker, you’re basically a business. No one is going to knock on your door and ask you to work for them. You need to go out there and get the work yourself. Identify the types of companies and clients you want to serve, and position yourself as an expert in a niche market. Professionals who are seen as experts tend to command higher rates and get better projects.

Learn to get along with others. People skills are a must for a gig worker because no matter how big your city, industries are like small villages where you meet the same people often. You never know who knows who, and bad news can travel quickly if you get fired for being difficult to get along with.

Manage your money. You may experience fluctuations in your income, especially when you’re starting out. As you make money, try to put some aside and avoid high debt to keep financial stress at bay when you’re searching for your next gig. Keep track of your spending and calculate the tax you expect to pay so you don’t get a nasty surprise at tax time.

Stay up to date on labour trends. Read industry publications, join a professional association, and network at business events. Engage in forums and LinkedIn groups that are relevant for your industry.

Find a mentor. People generally like to help others. Find someone experienced in your industry who is willing to answer your questions and share their knowledge.

Get the right skills and training. Do an inventory of your skills and identify the training you need. Many colleges and universities offer continuing education courses; but if you don’t have a lot of money, you may find affordable courses at Udemy or Coursera.

The gig economy is not necessarily bad for your career. With the right preparation, you’ll be in the driver’s seat – on your way to an interesting, profitable career.

Giselle Mazurat received her designation as a Certified Resume Strategist from the Career Professionals of Canada. She also writes technical and business content for government and private companies.

Bibliography:

4 Ways To Stay Up-To-Date on Industry Developments and Trends

7 ways to stay up to date in your industry

Canada’s gig economy ‘growing at a phenomenal rate’: BMO

Preparing Students for Future Work: What is the Gig Economy?

The gig economy is here – and we aren’t ready

These 4 Skills Are Essential To Succeeding In The Gig Economy

What is gig economy

For businesses, the information age led them to adapt the “if you can beat ’em, join ’em” mentality, and for the majority of them, it paid off. Still, there were companies who refused to embrace technological advancements by staying true to their bricks and mortar roots through and through. The result? Such companies went the way of the dinosaur, to say the least. A good case in point is HMV, which was once Canada’s largest chain for total entertainment experience with 102 stores nationwide at one point during its height. Now HMV is extinct.

Embracing the digital age is not only for businesses, mind you. An online presence these days is also a must for everyone who is on a job hunt because, sad to say, a resume—even a well-written one—is often insufficient. These days, a resume goes hand in hand with an online profile. So how exactly do you have an online profile that you can specifically use for your employment aspirations? Simple! Create a LinkedIn Profile.

What exactly is a LinkedIn Profile?

First things first, it would help to define what a LinkedIn Profile is to avoid confusion as we go more in-depth as to how it differs from a resume. So we go straight to the source itself. LinkedIn.com says that “Your LinkedIn profile is a professional landing page for you to manage your own, personal brand. It’s a great way for you to tell people who you are and what you do by displaying a general history of your professional experiences and achievements.”

Why do you need to establish your personal brand?

You might be wondering why it’s important to have a personal brand, especially since you’re a novice to the Canadian employment statistic or maybe have not even started out yet anyway. Well, as the adage goes, it’s always good to start early. You need to build your personal brand so you can stand out from the competition by emphasizing your skills and qualifications and the characteristics that make you, well, you. Remember, the days of being in the Cookie Cutter breed are over. You need to tell the world what sets you apart from the rest, and a LinkedIn Profile can help with that.

LinkedIn Profile vs. Resume

Now that you’re caught up with what a LinkedIn Profile is and how it helps boost your individual brand, let’s get on to the main show. How exactly does it differ from a resume? Just to be clear, a resume does share a few similarities with a LinkedIn Profile. Think of them as being cut from the same vein.

For instance, both should ideally focus on your accomplishments and include an impactful summary section. Another similarity is that ideally they should be both be short and succinct. Whereas it’s more difficult to have a quintessential resume kept at 2 pages to align with brevity objectives, keeping a LinkedIn Profile brief and to the point is a lot easier because of the limited number of characters that go with the website.

Now, let’s look into the other features that distinguish the two.

A resume is target-specific, a LinkedIn Profile is general.

Perhaps you know that it’s best to tailor your resume to the role that you’re targeting. For example, if you’re aiming for a position that calls for a great deal of accounting responsibilities, highlight your accounting experience in your previous jobs, for example, at a retail store where you handled the cash register or your volunteer experience for an animal shelter where you managed donations for events.

A LinkedIn Profile, on the other hand, is not something you can customize per job or it will eat a lot of your time. So it’s acceptable that you keep your duties in previous roles in a more general way. However, if you’re set on going for a particular industry, then you can prepare your LinkedIn Profile exactly to attract employers from that field.

A resume is formal, a LinkedIn Profile is casual.

A resume is always written in a professional tone and uses more active words or phrases instead of passive. It’s recommended as well for you to drop the pronouns like “I” when writing a resume. With your resume, you want to give the impression that you’re someone who relishes to don a suit and tie or something truly dressy.

A LinkedIn Profile, meanwhile, is more casual in tone, which means you want to give off the vibe that you’re easy to go along with and like to have a bit of relaxation and fun. In addition, it’s perfectly acceptable to use pronouns, so don’t be shy about using “I.”

A resume is show, a LinkedIn Profile is show and tell.

Listing your achievements is a must for both, but hiring managers may actually want more than merely relying on your word.

This is how LinkedIn profile differs because since it’s a networking site, your previous bosses or colleagues can actually validate the skills you’ve listed through the website’s endorsement feature.

We hope you now have a wonderful idea on how you can separate your resume from a LinkedIn Profile. Now, what are you waiting for? Sign up for an account and create your profile right away!

SOURCES:

https://www.themuse.com/advice/wait-dont-just-copy-and-paste-there-are-real-differences-between-linkedin-and-your-resume

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2018/06/08/the-importance-of-crafting-a-powerful-personal-brand/#578ca9056d52

https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/topics/6042/6043/15493/your-linkedin-profile-overview?lang=en

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140701163631-1001091-resumes-vs-linkedin-profiles-what-you-should-know

https://business.financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/hmv-canada-to-close-all-102-stores

Applying for a job can be an exciting experience, but not being successful can be very disappointing. You might already know how hard it can be not to get a job, but you might still have felt only part of the emotional rollercoaster that comes with a job search.

People have many reasons for choosing what kinds of jobs they want and where to apply. Sometimes, they choose jobs that they are unlikely to get because they have too few qualifications or because they are not suited to the job for another reason. A person with a degree in English literature, for example, will not be able to find a job as a doctor and an accountant could not be a science teacher. Still, people often have to deal with not getting jobs for which they are well qualified.

Many factors come into play when qualified people fail to get jobs. These days, hundreds of people might apply for the same job, but only one will be chosen. It can be very disappointing for the other qualified applicants not to get the job, but if the company can hire only one person, the others have to look elsewhere. Sometimes it has nothing to do with how qualified you are or if it was something you said or did; it just might be that you were not at the top of the pile of resumes. It can be that simple. Companies do not often have a lot of time to go through over a hundred resumes. In some cases, they will, depending on the weight of the job.

Another problem for job seekers is called phantom jobs. Sometimes, companies list jobs that do not actually exist, possibly because they need to post a certain number of jobs every month to keep their listing on job websites. If a job seeker never hears back from an employer about a position, it could have been a phantom job.

The interview process can make the difference between getting a job and going back to the search. Job seekers should try to research the company and to prepare for the kinds of questions the interviewer might ask. If the job involves working with plants, for example, the job seeker should try to learn enough to show an interest in the subject. If the company has some new projects, the job seeker should know at least a bit about that, as well.

Despite their best efforts, job seekers might not be able to get the work they want. Has that ever happened to you? If possible, you need to analyze what happened. Instead of feeling overwhelmed and fearful, you can ask yourself a few questions. Were you prepared for the interview? Was the job close to your abilities and training? How can you find a job that matches your skills and avoid past mistakes?

Sometimes, you might be full of hope when you apply for the job, knowing that you are well qualified and enthusiastic. When the job goes to someone else, you might feel depressed and unhappy, just like someone who has lost a job where they worked for a long time. It is important to take enough time to accept what has happened before moving on to other jobs- you might take that frustration and grief with you.

You might never know why one employer seems to ignore your application while another one offers you a job, but you can manage the emotional rollercoaster of the job search. Remember that even experienced workers often deal with the same kinds of situations. Be persistent and learn from your mistakes, and you’ll have a chance of getting a good job.

Bibliography:

Howell, Dave. Job Loss is an Emotional Roller Coaster.” https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/job-loss-emotional-roller-coaster-dave-howell/.

Monster.ca. “How to Ride the Emotions of Your First Job Search.” https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/how-to-ride-emotions-first-job-search.

The Undercover Recruiter. “Why Do Imaginary Jobs Exist?” https://theundercoverrecruiter.com/why-do-imaginary-job-openings-exist/

Workopolis.com. “The Number One Reason Why People Don’t Get Hired (and How to Fix it).” https://careers.workopolis.com/advice/the-number-one-reason-why-people-dont-get-hired/

For the first time in 40 years, Canada’s unemployment rate is lower than ever at 5.8 per cent as of October 2018.  This piece of good news means there are more opportunities for Canadians, motivating you more now take a stab at the job you’ve been eyeing.

The first step to landing that position is to ensure you have a well-prepared resume to submit to the hiring or Human Resources department. This is probably where you hit a stumbling block. Don’t fret because you’re not alone. Even those who have been working for with years and years of experience still struggle on how to have a well-written resume, so more so for individuals like you who are just starting out on their career path. The fact that you’re reading this article means you’re on the right track so that’s what’s important. So let’s get you started, shall we?

Know the essential components of a resume.

Ever heard of the term the “elevator pitch” that’s very common among salespeople? Well, the principle somewhat applies to a resume as well. Sure, a resume is a document that lists your objective, skills, education, and work experience, but it doesn’t need to be lengthy that it can fill out an entire text book. Like an elevator pitch, it needs to be short and snappy. So be sure to stick to the highlights such as your main responsibilities and your greatest accomplishments. For example, hiring managers don’t need to know that as a fill-in administrative assistant, you were responsible for opening and closing the office. The trick on knowing which to include or not? Well, it may be a blunt approach, but if the task seems like a monkey can do it, then it’s best to leave it out.

Create a profile summary that makes an impact.

Hiring professionals scan resumes that land on their desks or show up in their computer screens on an average of 30 seconds. This means that they may not have time to read through all the work experience and the skills you offer, so the best thing to do is provide a powerful and attention-grabbing profile summary or a summary statement right at the beginning of your resume. This will be a snapshot of what exactly you can offer them, and you can do this around 100 words or maybe even less. In just a few sentences, HR people can have a good idea of your skills and credentials and assess how you would fit into their organization.

Only mention the relevant and recent experience.

It’s exciting to prepare resumes as it gives a people a chance to sell themselves, which some may not be accustomed to doing. However, too much eagerness can lead to going overboard—they sell themselves too much and mention items that are not aligned with their job objective or are so far back in the past that the skill or education may not be applicable now. For example, you may be tempted to point out how you have an amazing work ethic, which is good, but this does not mean you’d need to bring up the Punctuality and Perfect Attendance awards you got during your entire middle school. Another instance may be that you were a prolific pianist in your elementary days, even having a recital every year, but you have not touched a piano in years—no need to mention that.

Be proud of your community involvement.

Most companies now are involved in community outreach programs or have committed to give a portion of their profits to a cause they believe in. Some organizations even have their own social responsibility departments. In line with this, don’t underestimate your unpaid volunteer work as this shows your civic-mindedness and can impress potential employers. List those experiences chronologically, from most recent to oldest, and when you can, add a short description of your duties.

Keep it simple.

A resume is not a good time to show off your graphic design skills—unless you are applying for a graphic designer opening. Remember to keep it simple—chose a basic font because readability is priority. Some good font types are Arial, Times New Roman, and Calibri. Use colours sparingly, or stick to the neutrals—black or white, light greys, and light blues. As for the font size, make it 10 if you’re having a hard time fitting everything to two pages. If you have lots of white space, keep it to 12.

The above are all good tips to keep in mind when you’re preparing your resume. In addition, always try to customize your resume for each job posting to ensure that you state the specific skills and qualifications for the position. Good luck!

SOURCES:

https://www.businessinsider.com/why-this-is-an-excellent-resume-2013-11#6-it-uses-keywords-like-forecasting-and-strategic-planning-6

https://www.careereducation.columbia.edu/resources/how-write-resume-profile-or-summary-statement

https://careerwise.minnstate.edu/jobs/resumecontents.html

https://www.monster.ca/career-advice/article/top-resume-questions

https://www.monster.ca/career-advice/article/resume-101-canada

https://www.businessinsider.com/why-this-is-an-excellent-resume-2013-11

https://www.roberthalf.com/blog/writing-a-resume/the-dos-and-donts-of-resume-writing

https://www.themuse.com/advice/42-resume-dos-and-donts-every-job-seeker-should-know

Every day, people use the brakes in their cars, appliances around the house, and other electromechanical devices. Have you ever thought of the people who put those devices together? Electromechanical equipment assemblers put machines like microwave ovens, refrigerators, and clothes washers together to help people in their daily lives.

Assembling a machine like a refrigerator can be complicated. The outside looks simple, but all of the different parts inside have to be put together correctly for the machine to work properly. Some of the parts are large, and electromechanical equipment assemblers should have enough physical strength to be able to lift them. Other parts are very small, and assemblers also need a high level of dexterity with their hands to be able to put these pieces together without dropping or breaking them. Being able to operate forklifts and other machines can be useful since raising a machine makes it easier for electromechanical assemblers to work on it.

Part of being an electromechanical assembler is being able to take machines apart to repair anything that has gone wrong. Assemblers also oil moving parts, put insulation in places where that is necessary, and generally make sure that the machines are working properly. They might need to read blueprints and manuals to find out how to put a machine together and to check for problems. Sometimes, they might work with shipping companies to pack the different parts safely so that they will not break on the way to their destination.

Like for many of the trades, experience is often very important. Usually, a high school diploma is enough to get a job in a factory that produces electromechanical equipment, but courses at a trade school can help people have a better chance of getting jobs and possibly moving on to another branch of the work. Salaries range from just over $27,000 per year to about $65,000 per year with experience. Becoming a supervisor can be a good career move, although it might involve extra education and a lot of experience.

Currently, job prospects for electromechanical equipment assemblers are not very good. Jobs are likely to disappear slowly in the next few years as some move to factories overseas and others get taken over by machines. If you want to get into this work, it is probably a good idea to have a plan for what to do if you lose our job and are unable to find another. However, there is some hope for cross-over careers ( explore JPD Trades profiles on the site for more details).

Still, if you are willing to move to a different city or province, you will probably be able to find work for many years. The experience that you gain will also be helpful if you want to get into another kind of factory work or even if you want to become an engineer.  Learning how to work with machines could also be very helpful in your own home if you have repairs to do and prefer not to call someone else to help.

Working as an electromechanical equipment assembler can be a good job. If it interests you, why not consider it, even just for a few years?

Bibliography:

Career Planner.com. “Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers.” https://job-descriptions.careerplanner.com/Electromechanical-Equipment-Assemblers.cfm.

Careers.org. “Occupation Profile for Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers.”

http://www.careers.org/occupations/51-2023.00/electromechanical-equipment-assemblers .

My Plan.com. “Electromechanical Equipment Assembler.” https://www.myplan.com/careers/electromechanical-equipment-assemblers/description-51-2023.00.html.

Payscale.com. “Electromechanical Equipment Assembler: Hourly Rate.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Electromechanical_Equipment_Assembler/Hourly_Rate.

Your mind and body are intertwined and working together in very complex ways. It is critical to take care of both in order to optimize your schooling, work, and relationships. Stress, anxiety, and depression all have negative physical repercussions, just as poor physical health is detrimental to your mental state. This balancing act is achieved through multiple various means, such as lifestyle and therapy. One powerful energy and mood booster that you can start incorporating into your life immediately is exercise.

Stress and poor mental health results in high levels of hormones within your body. This can result in high blood pressure, physical pains, and emotional lows. Depression and stress increase your likelihood of engaging in unhealthy habits. Exercise, whether aerobics or weights, helps you fight back against these issues. By engaging in activities such as swimming, running, or lifting weights, you are releasing endorphins into your body. This hormone has an extremely positive effect that both improves your mood and reduces body pain.

All it takes is half an hour of physical activity to see a change in your mood and energy level. You will not only feel a sense of accomplishment afterwards, but also relaxation both mentally and in your muscles. This calmness puts you in a better state to make more positive decisions and improve the overall quality of your life. That half hour can take place all at once or broken up throughout the day. It can be intense cardiovascular exercise that elevates your heart rate, as well as stretching or yoga that helps release negative emotions. It is important to listen to your body and know your limits, but to also push your body when you feel depression or low energy holding you back from such much-needed physical activity.

Making exercise a habit is a major roadblock for many people. Start by scheduling exercise into your calendar weekly, just like you would put in appointments, classes, and other reminders. Set specific days and times when you know you will be free. Try a variety of exercises, such as riding a bike, swimming, or weights, and gauge how your body responds. If you are finding it difficult on your own, try exercising with a friend or group. You can help encourage one another and make the workout more enjoyable. Try playing sports or joining fitness classes. If you are exercising solo, try doing so while listening to music or watching an episode of your favourite show. Use a fitness tracker or an app to keep track of how often and how long you exercise. Use those growing statistics as encouragement to push yourself to keep going.

Starting the habit of exercise is an uphill battle, but it is immensely rewarding once you find yourself working out on a regular basis. You will see and feel the difference in your mood, energy, and overall quality of life. It will become easier to engage in physical activities on a regular basis. You will feel greater relaxation and a better mood. Your mind will be sharper and more prepared for school, work, and more. Exercise is a habit that can have a tremendous impact on your life, and it is one that you can start building right this very minute.

Sources:

Bupa. “Exercise to Reduce Stress and Improve Mood.” https://www.bupa.com.au/health-and-wellness/health-information/healthy-living/exercise/reducing-stress/reduce-stress-and-improve-mood

Helpguide.org. “The Mental Health Benefits of Exercise.” https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/the-mental-health-benefits-of-exercise.htm

Stibich, Mark. “Exercise and Improving Your Mood.” Verywell. https://www.verywellmind.com/exercise-and-improving-your-mood-2223781

Halloween is coming soon! It can be fun for all, especially if you’re having a party.  Here are some ideas for how to make your own Halloween fun:

Take care to accommodate your friends’ needs – is it too spooky? Are there food allergies you need to consider? Or is there flashing lights that would be too uncomfortable because of how quickly they would come on or because of a medical condition? Not everyone is comfortable with talking about what they’re scared about, so if someone asks, assure them of potential risks.   If you’re not sure, tell them your plans and let them decide for themselves.

First off, the famous phrase: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. For example, could you use that bottle of pop, decorate it with some paint and make a truly spooky skeleton? Are there items within your garage or recycling box that with a bit of imagination you could use again? In addition to that, you could consider fabric straps to decorate an item, which are also available in craft stores. Straps are enough of what you need instead of large amounts, if you are also considering a budget.

More so to this point, craft stores have so many ideas as well within their aisles so it’s a good place to start for how to make your own Halloween, especially something you may have seen for a higher price. (They do offer some decorations that are both creative and at a more decent price compared to big-box stores.) I would recommend making your own decorations are often much cheaper, and incredibly more rewarding because you accomplished it yourself.

There are good ideas everywhere: through the Internet, magazines and craft books available in your library as well. Cooking magazines, books and websites even have food options (such as decorations for snacks), which allows you to change things due to allergies or food sensitivities. There’s even multiple creative ways to use a pumpkin other than carving it, such as painting it so it’s no longer the typical orange; decorate it with a mini-costume of its own with glasses, a mini-hat or even a funny nose. You could even still carve the pumpkin, instead of a face, consider making a statement or another design. (This may be more advanced, but there are specialized tools that can help you achieve this.)

For the truly spooky, you could consider a home-made haunted house; restricting to a dark room/area – basement or kitchen, keeping light so guests can still see (but not too much), preparing a banquet of experiments conducted within that room with spaghetti as brains for example.  But nothing is scarier than a campfire (or a flashlight indoors similar to a campfire), discussing spooky stories of your own making, from the horror classics or making it a fun game where everyone says one word or sentence at a time; or even watching horror movies in the dark.

It’s easy to make your own Halloween celebration. The question is, what are you looking to achieve: A day party with your closest friends? A sleepover party? A party with little children? Once you know When and Who, you can plan How for a great time!

Nurses and doctors in a hospital aren’t the only medical professionals who might be involved in giving care when someone is sick.  Personal and home care aides are another tier of medically trained care providers who are instrumental in helping patients take care of themselves and remain in their homes while dealing with illness, injury, or disability.

Personal care and home care are two different services these aides can perform; some aides will only do one or the other, while some aides will do both.  It often depends on the company they work for, and the specific position they were hired for.

Personal care aides provide personal care within the patient’s home, such as assisting with hygiene and bathing, changing non-sterile wound dressings, dressing and undressing, reminding and assisting with taking medication or checking blood glucose levels.

Home care aides provide other types of care required by patients who are living at home while ill or injured, such as preparing and serving meals, feeding, washing dishes, doing laundry, changing bed sheets, and grocery shopping.

Most personal care and home care workers do not need to hold advanced nursing or medical certifications, however a college diploma or certificate in a Health Care Aide, Personal Support, Home Care or related educational program is required.  Some provinces may also require additional certifications, or registration with a licensing board or other regulatory body.

One of the key abilities of anyone working in the home care and personal support industry is a strong sense of compassion for others, and the desire to help people live a better, more dignified life no matter their physical or mental condition.  It’s important to keep in mind that this can be a demanding job for the care worker, as well, both physically and mentally.  However, it is also extremely rewarding.

Most home care and personal care aides start at minimum wage in their province when they begin their career, typically between $11 and $15 per hour. You can earn more depending on where you’re employed and whether you’re trained in any specialty care, such as caring for patients who have Alzheimer’s, specific disabilities or diseases, and children with cognitive or physical disabilities.  As care aides gain experience, you can earn wages up to $40 to $30 per hour, again depending on your province and specific job role.

As a home and personal care worker, you could be employed in a variety of ways, including working for a charitable or non-profit healthcare organization, as a live-in caregiver, a respite shift worker, or at a healthcare facility such as a hospital or nursing home.  Many care aides also work independently, and build their own list of regular clients for whom they perform care.  Independent aides will typically find work through word of mouth and referrals from existing patients and their families, and are responsible for managing their own schedules and maintaining their training and equipment.

Sources:

https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/skills/20674/ca

http://www.evergreencollege.ca/alberta/health_care_aide/

http://von.ca/en/services?search=&field_province_service_value=All&audience=All&category=122

Proficiency in technology has become critical in today’s workforce. Computers and devices are now attached to us all day long, and therefore jobs have changed to reflect that. But humans are still very different from computers. We are capable of using information in very complex ways, using that data for reasoning, and using strong creative abilities to come up with new ideas. These abilities can be combined with modern technology for many exciting and rewarding jobs.

A lot of work goes on behind the scenes to bring gorgeous looking websites to our laptop screens. Web developers and designers are tasked with creating websites for their clients that combine the right look with the needed features and functionality. Developers focus on the coding, using knowledge in HTML, CSS, Javascript, and more. Designers focus on the look and design, using skills such as graphic design and image editing. This can be for both computers and mobile devices. Also important are user experience designers, or UX designers. They use their creativity and knowledge to figure out how users will experience and use a website. Their research and creative powers help them to figure out the layout, buttons, and atmosphere for their client’s site. This means knowing about HTML and CSS, as well as understanding the minds of users and how to create graphics.

People are doing more and more online, which has meant problems for physical stores. But it is still important for products to be presented effectively for purchase on sites like Amazon or in large retail stores. Product and packaging designers have to figure out how to make an item look enticing to consumers, and actually convince people to hand over their hard-earned money to take that item home. This takes skills in art, knowing how packages are assembled, and an understanding in current popular trends. Yet products are no longer only physical. Digital product designers do the same things as product designers, but for apps, programs, and websites. They need to use their coding and graphic skills for everything from groundbreaking apps at startups to redesigns with major companies.

With newer technologies come new ways people can be entertained. This means many opportunities for creativity and technology to come together. Multimedia artists and animators use their digital art and computer animation skills to bring cartoons to television, film, and streaming services. They also create animations for video games, augmented reality, and apps. This takes collaboration with other creatives in tech, such as interactive media developers. These developers focus on the coding for video games, apps, and interactive media. They program the special effects and write the software code that brings a lot of our entertainment to life.

These jobs require a combination of logical thinking, analytical approaches to information, and creativity. They are just some of the many ways that advanced technologies and computers are being married with the creative power of the human brain. There are more opportunities than ever to pursue these types of jobs. You can enroll in college or university programs in campus or online. Before that, you can start studying coding and other skills on your own through numerous online sources. Creativity and technology will continue to come together in many exciting ways, and you can be a part of that journey right now.

Sources:

Browning, Randle. “5 Tech Jobs for Creatives (That Will Actually Make You Happy).” Skillcrush. https://skillcrush.com/2015/09/08/5-creative-tech-jobs-that-will-make-you-happy/

Puc, Samantha. “Super Creative? Check Out These 10 Amazing Tech Careers.” Skillcrush. https://skillcrush.com/2016/08/08/tech-design-careers/

Vancouver is Awesome. “4 tech careers for creative people.” https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/2016/03/21/4-tech-careers-for-creative-people/