Goodbye Summer...Hello Fall...

As summer is quickly coming to an end, the fall semester is just around the corner. The Career Centre is getting ready for a great new year. We provide services for Loyalist College students, and Alumni, with their job search and career advice, free of charge. Student and Alumni are welcome to drop by at any time to get advice, speak to someone or pick up one of our handouts.

Our Services Include:

Resume and Cover Letter Development

Mock Interview

Job Search Advice and Assistance

Career Advising and Assessment

Online Job board

Portfolio Development

Career Development Certificate Program

Graduate Statistics and Labour Market Information

Community Resources and Brochures

What not to do at work…bad habits

Everyone is guilty of bad habits they have generated and brought to their place of work…So students beware of your bad habits and be careful using them in your summer workplace. See below for things that we are all guilty of and ways to overcome them.

Punctuality: Being late for work!: Try setting your clocks ten min fast..you will never be late to anywhere.

Procrastination: Prioritizing projects and tasks: Make a list of all your projects you are working on. Rank them in order of importance and what needs to be done first. Once you complete a project or tasks scratch it off your list.

Doing personal business at work: online banking, online shopping: Plan to do your personal business on your breaks..It’s that simple!

Social Items: Texting, checking facebook, msn, and personal e-mail: Shut your phone off, leave it in your car. As for facebook block the website and msn just don’t download it onto your computer. If it already there delete it.

Staying Focused..: Set goals to stay on task and once you have reached your goal reward yourself. Do that throughout your day..you will notice the amount of work you get done…but don’t get to caught up in rewarding yourself.

Keeping Cool Over the Summer!....or is it a Love/Hate Relationship?

Just some tips to keep in mind over the summer..!

•Do company business on company time.
•Get to know your co-workers. Take this as an opportunity to make friends or even a networking circle.
•Keep a log book when you learn something new. Keeping record could come in handy at a later date.
•Be neat, keep everything organized. People tend to associate neatness with good work ethics.
•Have fun! It is important to experience leisure activities, to balance out your schedule.

Try to make the most out of your summer job and have fun while you are at it!

You either love your job or really don’t like it. Here are some points to help you learn to love your job!

•Maintain a positive attitude
•Be proactive, set personal goals: what do you want to accomplish at the end of the week, what stage should you be in with your project.
•Be self motivated and friendly.
•Fine a mentor in your workplace.
•Don’t be shy speak up when you have ideas, be innovative.

Remember no job is perfect..if you truly tried everything to enjoy your summer job and it’s just not working, take it as a learning experience and for next summer.. research different avenues!

First Day of Work

The first day of a new job is very nerve-racking but is probably the most important day of a summer job. Here are a few tips that will help in leaving a positive first impression.

• Dress for success! It’s better to be over dressed on the first day then to be underdressed.


• You might want to ask your supervisor beforehand what they consider to be appropriate.
  


• Be early! Arrive 15-20 min before expected time.
  


• Pay attention, especially to polices, rules and regulations.
  


• Ask lots and lots of questions, don’t be shy ask for clarification if needed.
  


• Remember the names of people you were introduced to for future reference.

Survival of the fittest!

For the month of July, the Career Centre Blog will be full of cool summer tips to get you through your summer job.


Work Safety: When starting a new a job work safety is the number one priority, but many students feel the excitement and forget their rights and responsibilities. Workplace safety is extremely important, visit the link below for more information on your rights.


http://www.youngworker.ca/en/flash/yw_2008.aspx

Resume & Interview Tips

Resume Tips:

- Stay away from templates, employers will know plus they are very difficult to change
- Research different resume formats ( Chronological, functional, combination and find out when to use them
- Do use action verbs
- Have others read it
- Do not use the pronoun I’
- Do not use weak words
- Do not provide a job description
- Do not rely on spell check

Interview Tips:

- Know yourself and know what you want
- Know your resume and have examples
- Bring extra copies of your resume
- Research the company
- Have questions prepared
- Dress for success
- Follow up with a thank you (e-mail, thank you card, letter)

For further information on Resume and Interview Tips come in and see one of our Career Advisors. Practice makes perfect!

Electronic Resume?

Has anyone ever forgot to attach their resume to an e-mail or made a mistake in your cover letter but did not notice till later.....after you sent it? If anyone answered yes to either questions check out the links below, or come on in for a mini workshop with one of our great staff members. They can help you effectively send your resume and cover letter by e-mail.

Prepare Your Resume for Email and Online Posting - http://www.rileyguide.com/eresume.html

Resume Tips for New Graduates - http://www.gradresumes.com/blog/2007/email-attachments-when-you-send-your-resume-electronically-dos-and-no-nos.html

Top 10 Job Search Strategies

Having a hard time searching for a Job...? Try these tips!

Top 10 Job Search Strategies

1. Make a list of your knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA)
2. Define what your work goals are, remember they must be measurable
3. Searching for a job should be treated as a full time job. Create a job
tracking sheet to monitor who you have contacted and followed up with.
4. Ensure you have a clean neat resume and a reference sheet
5. Cover letter should be clean, to the point and error-free
6. Network, Network, talk to everyone see who is hiring
7. Fill out applications forms, send out cover letters and resumes
8. Prepare for interviews: know the companies you are applying to
9. Have a follow – up system: Thank you cards
10. Stay motivated..your job search with bring you victory!

Get To Know Yourself

Advice, student to students: How well do you know yourself and the skills you posses? Do you know what to offer an employer?

Your skills are broken into two different categories : Technical Skills and Personal Skills.

Technical skills are skills you learn in a past job, volunteer positions, life and school.
Example: Operating a cash register, overhauling small engines.

Personal skills (also known as transferable skills) are skills that are developed in every. These skills can be transfer from job to job.
Example: Sense of humour, organizing work.

Take some time and think about what skills you posses, and how they can benefit you when in search for a job.

Stay tune this month for Resume and Interview tips along with “Survival of the fittest”: how to survive that summer job!

Graduation Reflection.....Summer Employment

Graduation is a rite of passage, it’s a time when the world pushes forward and everyone takes a moment to stop and reminisce about their experiences and embrace their friendships they have built.

I would like to congratulate everyone for crossing the stage and taking the next step to start your career. Any question in regards to career counseling, job search, or you just want to get a jump start on your career contact us at the Career Centre (careers@loyalistc.on.ca) and we will ensure you have a successful experience.

If you are still looking for summer employment, check out the links below:
Canadian Heritage is the location for summer jobs and internships: http://www.pch.gc.ca/special/jct-ycw/index-eng.cfm

Federal Government Job Bank:
http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/Intro_eng.aspx

Why Network?

Why not take the opportunity to network with some Alumni at Graduation?

Networking is the process of developing and nurturing personal and professional contacts to obtain referrals, advise, information and support. Networking provides you with contacts/feedback, allows for opportunity to gain new experiences and knowledge, meet new friends and networking can help you help others.

Networking is a part of everyday life, it happens in all sorts of ways and with all sorts of different people...whether it is face to face interaction, phone calls, to chatting with a family member or old friend…you are networking.

Food for thought: Networking is an essential component of a job search since the majority of jobs are referred by word-of-mouth…interesting eh!

So why not start at graduation?

Erin’s RYLA Experience!

Positive Choices: Powerful Outcomes!

WOW! My experience at RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) was unforgettable. This program generated high personal satisfaction, in terms of receiving the tools and skills needed for me to grow as a leader.
Last week was extremely engaging, as we were constantly faced with new and exciting challenges. I must say it was an overwhelming experience but the friendships built and the knowledge gained to be an effective leader has initiated change in my eyes. Learning the different behavior styles and their key characteristics will improve the effectiveness of my interactions with others.

OK, so now for the fun stuff. During my week at RYLA we did lots of activities. One I want to share pretty much sums up everything I learned that week. It is called Blind Polygon (I think).

So there were 27 RYLA participants we are all in a circle blindfolded in the gym. Each person had to hold onto the rope with both hands and were not allowed to remove them. We were only allowed to drag our hands up and down the rope. Our task was to create a square blindfolded! Crazy eh?! Well once we were given the go ahead to start, we soon realized the rope was tangled and this was going to be harder than we thought.

Now you are probably wondering what the point of this activity was …..well we had to use all of the skills we learned about during RYLA: communication skills which include active listening (extremely hard for some behavioural styles), team work, controlling stress levels, reaction to change, and learn how to prioritize demands. This was the most challenging task of all. I am pretty sure everyone was extremely frustrated with one another by the end of this activity but it was a perfect example to best describe our learning of the week.
So that’s pretty much it for me. This was an experience of a lifetime and Rotary also offers many other adventures like this one, (i.e. University Exchange).

If anyone wants more information see previous post or contact me via careers@loyalistc.on.ca

Get involved, you can create change in anything you do!

“Leadership Begins With Me”

Hey Loyalist!

The Career Centre blog will be experiencing an overhaul. Next week I will be taking part in Ryla (The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) with two other fellow students Luc Fonurnier and Amanda Deeth. This program is designed for young individuals who are 19-22 years of age. This program allows the candidates to get to know themselves better and to cultivate the respect and trust of others. Individuals will also be able to identify their own leadership skills and determine ways to seek effective resources.

So the plan! This year Loyalist College has the opportunity to host The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. The three of us students will be taking part in small group discussions, recreational activities, simulated games, and leisure activities to build our leadership skills.

This wouldn’t have been possible without our local Rotary Club, district 7070. Thanks to our sponsors, we have been given this great opportunity to attend this leadership training course. Now I bet you all are wondering what Rotary is…well The Rotary foundation provides humanitarian services as well as helps build goodwill and peace in the world.

Seeking more information or wanting to get involved? Contact Geoffrey Cudmore (GCudmore@Loyalistc.on.ca) at Loyalist College. He is the coordinator for the student run Rotaract Club of Loyalist College.

Stay tuned for Ryla updates coming next week…….

Cheers,

Erin

Where in the world: Ireland

Location: Western Europe
Population: 4,203,200
Main Cities: Dublin, Belfast, Limerick
Language: English, Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge)
Currency: 1 EUR = 1.58825 CAD
Industry: Agricultural, Mining, Manufacturing, and Tourism
Documents Needed to Work Here
Valid Canadian Passport
Valid Work Permit

Where in the World: Brazil

Location: Eastern South America
Population: 198,739,269
Main Cities: Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro
Language: Portuguese, Spanish, English
Currency: 1.00 BRL= 0.55 CAD
Industry: Agricultural, Mining, Manufacturing, and Service Sectors
Documents Needed to Work Here:
Valid Canadian Passport
Valid Work Permit

Where in the World: Turkey

Location: Europe and Asia
Population: 76, 000, 000
Main Cities: Istanbul, Ankara
Language: Turkish, Kurdish, some English
Currency: 1 Turkey Lira=$.74 Canadian Dollars
Industry: Textiles, Tourism, Agriculture, Finance

Documents Needed to Work Here:

Valid Canadian Passport

Work Visa

Where in the World: Bermuda

Location: Caribbean
Population: 67, 000
Main Cities: Hamilton, Southampton
Language: English, Portuguese
Currency: 1 Bermuda=$1.23 Canadian
Industry: Finance, Tourism

Documents needed to work here:

Valid Canadian Passport

Valid Work Permit

Where in the World: Canada

Location: North America
Population: 33, 000, 000
Main Cities: Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Halifax, Calgary
Language: English and French
Currency: Canadian Dollars ($)
Industry: Agriculture, Automotive, Tourism, Oil, Manufacturing

Documents Needed to work here:

Social Insurance Number

Where in the World: Italy

Location: Europe
Population: 58, 000, 000
Main Cities: Rome, Naples, Venice, Milan
Language: Italian, English
Currency: 1 Euro=$1.63 Canadian
Industry: Tourism, Machinery, Textiles, Auto

Documents Needed to Work Here:

Valid Canadian Passport
Company Sponsorship

***Also extremely helpful to speak Italian***

Where in the World: South Africa

Location: Africa
Population: 49,000,000
Main Cities: Johannesburg, Cape Town
Language: IsiZulu, English
Currency: 1.00 Rand=$0.136 Canadian
Industry: Mining, Machinery, Tourism

Documents Needed to Work Here:

Valid Canadian Passport

Valid Work Permit

Where in the World: Korea

Location: Asia
Population: 48, 500, 000
Main Cities: Seoul,
Language: Korean, English
Currency: 1 Korean Won=$0.0009 Canadian
Industry: Communications, Technology, TESL

Documents needed to work here:

Canadian Passport

and

Valid Employment Visa

Where in the World: France

Where: Europe
Population: 64 Million
Main Cities: Paris, Lyon, Toulouse
Language: French
Currency: 1 Euro=$1.69 Canadian Dollars
Industry: Tourism, Agriculture, Health Care, Military

Documents Needed to Work Here:

Valid Canadian Passport

and

Temporary Secondment

or

Full Work Permit

Where in the World: United States of America

Location: North America
Population: 303,824,000
Main Cities: New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia
Language: English and Spanish
Currency: 1 US Dollar=$1.24 Canadian
Industry: Manufacturing, Agriculture, Tourism, Transportation, Military

Documents Needed to Work Here:

Valid Canadian Passport

H1B Visa or Company Sponsorship

Panamania: The Way of It

Just want to start off by saying sorry for the big time lapse since my last post. My last 4 days in Panama the Internet was out-at least at the hostel I was staying at and I have been busy playing catch up since I returned on Friday.
I want to take this last blog to talk about some of the realities of my trip to Panama, some things that I definitely needed to be aware of and wasn't.
First, I cannot state enough what an incredible experience this was-to have the opportunity to travel and learn abroad for this length of time was phenomenal.
I think that if any of you have any aspirations to get out and see the world-this is absolutely the best way to do it. Having secure funding makes life a whole lot easier when you're out and about.
I would definitely recommend researching thoroughly the destination you are heading to. I made the mistake of buying the Panama Guide Book and relying on the info in it as gospel-only to realize too late that the book was about five years out of date.
Another thing to be wary of, especially if you're travelling alone, is the culture you are going to be participating in. As a single female traveller with limited Spanish skills, I found myself in several uncomfortable situations along the way. I knew before hand the role of women in Panama but wasn't at all prepared for the treatment I would receive being one. It really takes a toll on your self confidence to be hissed at, honked at and oggled for 4 weeks solid (that was truly the biggest draw back of travelling alone).
I definitely appreciate the fact that I had the opportunity to learn some of the language before really heading out on my own. It made travels infinitely easier and also allowed me to interact with people I otherwise wouldn't have been able to. I will definitely make an effort to learn a few key phrases before I head to any other exotic destinations.
So I guess the big thing I am recommending is RESEARCH. Learn as much about the area as you can before you head out there-it will make things a whole lot easier in the end.
I am going to try to get an album up of my pictures so that you can have some good visuals of what life was like down there (I don't have many because my camera was stolen-another reality of the road).
If anyone has any questions about this trip or how to get in line for an opportunity like this send me an email and I'll hook you up with the right info.
It really was an altering experience-I think everyone should have a chance like this!

Panamania: Bocas Del Toro

Since I have reached Panama, it has become increasingly apparent that no trip here is complete without a pilgrimage to the Caribbean Ocean Side town of Colon, in the Bocas Del Toro Islands.
Practically every person I have met has made the journey by land or air at some point during their travels here. Who am I to go against the masses?
I chose to head to Bocas on a Friday and come back the following Monday. I caught a small bus and sat cramped for the 7 hours it took to cross the divide (mountains) and head down to sea level.
I really wonder why the Panamanian Government bothers to waste money on painting lines on the rode-my driver as well as all subsequent drivers, payed positively no attention to them, even in the face of oncoming traffic!
Pair this with the fact that a month before, huge portions of the rode had been washed away by several hundred mudslides and you have one of the scariest rode trips this side of the Equator!
Seriously, my driver was a maniac-I don't say this lightly. He was driving so fast that at one point he hit a goat which literally flew past my window at top speed-for real-stopped checked out his fender, laughed, hopped back in, cranked up the Reggaetone (Reggae) and kept going.
I was never so happy to reach the bus stop!
I was dropped off in a small coastal town-Almirante-and then took a water taxi for half an hour to the main Island of Colon. From there I took another water taxi to Bastiementos, a smaller island with a population of 1500, no cars and only one paved walkway for travel.
Bastiementos is distinctly different from the rest of Panama. The people here are of West Indies decent and therefore have a much stronger Carribean Culture. They also speak a wonderful form of creole english-sometimes hard to understand but beautiful to listen to.
I booked into a palm thatched Cabina for $18 a night and then hiked to to the local chocolate factory up a seriously muddy trail that wound through the jungle. The 'factory' is home to a Scottish family of Expats who make their living growing cocao and coconuts and making homemade products from them. It was absolutely wonderful to sit on a little terrace high up watching hummingbirds, drinking tea and eating chocolate.
From there I headed back down, only falling in mud once, and took a taxi back over to check out Colon. It is a very dirty, tourist town, but serves as a jump off point for some incredible beaches. My favourite beach would have to be Playa Estrella (starfish beach) where there are hundreds of starfish literally within a few feet of shore.
The rest of my time in Bocas was spent exploring beaches, hiking through the jungle and eating spicy Carribean food.
It was definitely worth the trip-ride from hell aside!

Panamania: Hiking the Divide

So I am not sure if I have mentioned this or not already, but Boquete is a great jump off point for some amazing hiking. I´d like to tell you about my favourite one, le Pianista (or the Continental Divide).
This hike is rated moderate to difficult and takes from 5-6 hours to complete. At the top, hikers are supposed to be able to view both the Pacific and Carribean Oceans at the same time.
On the day that we chose to hike, my friend, Kate-an Australian, and I booked a guide to lead us up the mountain at a cost of $20 per person. The guide´s name was Feliciano, a 45 year old Panamanian, who told me at least 5 times that day how much he LOVED Canadians
Feliciano picked us up at 7am and then went on to pick up 3 more hikers-Radek and Justine from Poland and Yaryi from Israel.
We headed to the trail head and Feliciano gave each of us walking sticks and coffee that he had grown from his own farm.
The trail started out in some farmer fields and we had to walk across (this is scary) a one plank bridge that is lined with loose hydro wires. Definitely not something you would find in Canada.
We gradually made it into the jungle where the path wound through rock cuts and hanging vines. Every so often the guide would stop and point out something that our untrained eyes had missed: a hummingbird perched on a branch, a snake curled between some rocks (ugh!) and numerous plants with medicinal properties.
As the trail started to climb,we began passing small waterfalls and wading through shallow rivers. The trail became very muddy and the rocks that we had to walk across, very slippery.
As we hiked, we all told about where we were from and what it was like back home. It was pretty amazing to have all of those different cultures represented in one small group.
After 3 and a half hours we reached the top and were rewarded with clouds. It was raining-hard- and the wind was intense. We were fully exposed and it was disappointing and exhilerating all at the same time. Feliciano brought cookies and tea for us and we sat for a few minutes to imagine what the view would be like on a clear day
We eventually headed down on shaky legs and were relieved as we came closer to the bottom to see the sunshine through the canopy.
I fell 3 times (I am definitely not known for my co-ordination) and then Feliciano took to trying to hold my hand to prevent¨injurious results¨on his tour. I eventually convinced him that I was ¨fine, really¨ before falling just one more time.
Radek and Justine and I made dinner plans for that evening and then Feliciano dropped us each off at our respective hostels-sopping wet, muddy and tired.
It was a good day.

Where in the World: China

Location: Asia
Population: 1.3 Billion
Main Cities: Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai,
Language: Main languages spoken are Mandarin and Cantonese
Currency: 1 Yuan Reminbi=$0.18 Canadian Dollars
Industry: Industrial, Tourism, Manufacturing, Business, Agriculture

Documents needed to work here:

Valid Canadian Passport

Approved Chinese Visa

Panamania: The Ruiz Coffee Company

Today I'm going to talk about one of the main industries here in Panama: Coffee Growing.

I took a 3 hour tour (which cost $30) and saw everything from start (the planting of the seeds) straight up to finish (the roasting and then brewing of the final product).

I learned a whole lot about coffee on this tour-probably more than one person ever needs to know in a life time (especially one that doesn't drink coffee!).

Some interesting facts (as told by my tour guide,Carlos):

-Coffee is the second most lucrative commodity in the world (next to oil)

-It originated in Africa

-The most expensive coffee in the world is Geisha (which is grown here and trades at peak price for $130 a pound in the USA)

-Coffee can have mucho, mucho (lots, lots) of smells (wet dog, chocolate, fish, soil etc). similar to smells that wine can give off

-There are many different classes of coffee from gourmet to premium etc. (there is even a class for foreign objects-this is where roasters put sticks, rocks- basically anything but coffee into the roasting pot)

-In Costa Rica there is a dark roast coffee that gets much of its colour from cows blood-you gotta wonder who gets up craving a cup of that in the morning!

-coffee farmers plant fruit trees to encourage birds and other small creatures to inhabit their fields in order to lower the amount of insects who can destroy the crop

The company I took a tour with is called Cafe Ruiz and has been going strong for a very long time. The owners have made a conscious decision to treat the workers here with respect and gratitude-they offer free accomodation, health care and have even opened a general store onsite so that families don't have to find their way to town for groceries.

Panama itself has very strict guidelines regarding coffee producing and must adhere to age restrictions (children under the age of 14 cannot be hired), growing standards and processing standards. These values have placed Panama's coffee in first place for the last 8 years in a row at the top Coffee Exposition in the world.