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May 16, 2003
The how-tos of landing a job
Employment networking fair at JCC provides labor market information.
CYNTHIA RAMSAY SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN
Looking for a job? Want a change in career? Then leave your preconceptions
about the work world behind, make an action plan, work hard, network
and dream big. These are some of the lessons that participants took
home from Gateway to the Community, an employment networking fair
held at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver (JCC) last
week.
The JCC's Wosk Auditorium was packed with people – both employers
and job-seekers – wanting to learn about labor market trends,
effective hiring practices and, of course, networking techniques.
The first event of its kind held in the Vancouver Jewish community,
Gateway featured three speakers: economic consultant Dr. Roslyn
Kunin, principal of Roslyn Kunin and Associates Inc.; Rob Bergida,
acting director of human resources at the Justice Institute of British
Columbia; and Leni Chauvin, professional success coach and principal
of BRE Business Referral Exchange.
According to Kunin, there will be an overall increase of 18 per
cent in jobs in the Lower Mainland between now and 2010. By that
time, the service industry and the finance, insurance and real estate
industry will provide 185,000 and 25,000 new jobs, respectively,
but prospects are not promising in such areas as manufacturing,
transportation, utilities, public administration (government) and
resource-based industries, she said. With respect to specific jobs,
Kunin said that most of the growth from now to 2010 will be in self-employment,
sales, accommodation and food services and, if you like being on
the road, truck drivers will also be in great demand.
When considering educational options, Kunin advised job-seekers
to "play that graduate game." Imagine you have a particular
degree, then look through the Classifieds/Careers sections of newspapers,
search the Internet, speak to employers. Is there a demand for people
who have that degree? If the answer is no, then most people should
consider a different route, with one exception, said Kunin. If you
really want to do something and are willing to work really hard
at it; if you are in the top 10 per cent in any field, chances are
you'll do OK, she said.
Kunin listed five steps to a successful career in the 21st century.
First, say goodbye to any preconceived notions about what a career
should be; there is no one career for life anymore. Second, you
need certain skills: basic English literacy, numeracy, computer
(word-processing, number crunching, Internet) skills, people skills
and technical know-how, such as how to fix a computer or fluency
in a second language. Third, network with people outside of your
immediate work or personal sphere, and keep in mind as you do so,
what you have to offer people, rather than what they may have to
give you. Fourth, work hard. And, lastly, dream big.
Bergida spoke about strategic hiring – how employers should
do it and how potential employees should prepare for the interview.
Poor hiring decisions can be expensive for an employer, totalling
as much as two times an employee's annual salary, he said, taking
into account recruitment costs, lost productivity, and the impacts
on customers and the rest of the staff of having the wrong person
in a job.
Bergida recommended that employers do two things to minimize hiring
costs: behavioral interviewing and reference checking. Behavioral
interviewing, said Bergida, is based on the idea that the best predictor
of future performance is past performance. The employer asks applicants
about their actual experiences: Give an example of when you worked
as part of a team, for instance. In these types of interviews, applicants
should not simply answer that they are a team player, said Bergida,
but they should explain in what ways they are a team player and
provide concrete examples.
Employers' hiring processes reflect on their company, concluded
Bergida, so they should understand their needs, communicate them
clearly, treat applicants with respect and be inclusive.
Chauvin rounded out the presentations with a lively talk about why
and how to network. She said that networking is important because
some 70 per cent of jobs are not advertised, because businesses
don't have the budget, staff or other resources to do so.
Networking is all about giving, said Chauvin, about opening doors
for other people. Don't simply hand someone your resume and expect
to be called for an interview, she said. Networking is about forming
and maintaining relationships, and there are plenty of opportunities
– coffee, lunch, dinner, etc. – to connect with people.
Chauvin advised job-seekers to think figure out who they know and
who they need to know. Into the first category fall the people to
whom you are related or married plus the people that you encounter
in your daily routine such as your hairdresser or the bus driver.
These people form what Chauvin calls a primary network. All of these
people know people, and these friends of friends or acquaintances
of acquaintances form a secondary network.
Once these networks are known, job-seekers must determine what job
they want and who they need to meet in order to procure it. Be prepared,
said Chauvin, even make a list of questions to ask people in your
networks. Her biggest piece of advice was that people should never
abuse their networks – never use the people in them.
In addition to the featured speakers, several organizations were
on hand at the fair to introduce participants to the services offered
by the Jewish community. The May 8 event was sponsored by the Jewish
Family Service Agency, the Yad b'Yad Coalition on Poverty and the
JCC. VanCity provided funding and the dinner was prepared by Community
Kitchens, a co-op-style volunteer program.
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