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Nov 8

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Salary Negotiation Tips for Your Next Job

Just about everyone knows their ideal salary figure when starting their job search, but does your work experience, position and location warrant that number? Finding a happy medium between your desired salary and what your future employer’s budget allows can be a complicated procedure. So how can you ensure your dream job comes with a competitive compensation package? Check out our guide to negotiating a fair salary.

The interview process is stressful but impressing an HR department to make a positive hiring decision is only half the battle. After all, getting the job means nothing if you aren’t fairly compensated for the new role and responsibilities. Read on for our salary negotiation tips to help ensure your dream job comes with a matching compensation package.

Facts are your friend

Getting what you’re worth can only happen when you know what that is. It’s not enough to have a number in mind; back it up by researching the salary ranges in your labour market as a good starting point.

Websites such as Payscale.com, Glassdoor and the Government of Canada – Job Bank will provide you with salary ranges of positions based on experience and location, often with a breakdown of comparable companies. This will give you a better understanding of industry pay standards to help guide your negotiation. Salaries will vary not only by industry and experience but also by size of company and region of employment. Make sure to consult the appropriate salary information for the job specifications.

Self-assessment

Be critical about your skills, experience and how you measure up as a candidate in the industry. Gaining a better understanding of whether you are above average, average or still developing will help you set realistic expectations in your field.

Check out our Salary Guide for salary ranges for your job, experience, company size and location. 

Negotiating at your best

Once armed with an honest self-assessment and reliable sources of data about salaries in your field and region, its time to put these tools to work to ensure you get what you’re worth. Rarely will you lose an offer by negotiating a higher salary, but if you absolutely cannot afford to lose a job offer, wait for them to discuss salary first and delicately suggest a higher number.

Stay flexible

Consider alternative compensation bargaining chips such as a signing bonus, vacation time, the option to work from home or biannual reviews. Not only does this give you the ability to negotiate a better compensation package that best suits your lifestyle, it also demonstrates your flexibility to your future employer.

Still nervous about how your potential employer will react to negotiation? Reiterate your enthusiasm for joining the company and the position. Use phrases such as “I am really excited to work here” and “I appreciate your offer” and follow up with a request to consider a higher salary based on your skills/experience or research of the industry.

Regardless of whether you are met with silence or pushback, don’t let your confidence or enthusiasm dissipate! According to an analysis by Salary.com, avoiding salary negotiations can cost employees big in lost wages over the course of your career. Which makes this the million dollar question: are you really going to settle for less than you’re worth?

Lēad Blog is part of Adecco and Roevin Canada. Find and apply to your dream job, or get more career advice from our experts.

 

Nov 5

Man at desk with 3D printer

The Growing Skills Gap in Additive Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing (AM) is set to enhance innovation while providing financial benefits and efficiency improvements across the engineering landscape. Yet, despite this vast potential, the skills gap in AM — and STEM more broadly — poses a threat to the competitiveness of Canadian organizations worldwide.

Additive manufacturing (AM) broadly describes the technologies that build 3D objects by adding layer upon layer of material. This includes 3D printing, rapid prototyping, direct digital manufacturing and layered manufacturing. A growing trend in engineering fields, AM is a cheaper, waste-minimizing form of manufacturing that gives designers improved control over components manufacturing.

As AM takes hold in manufacturing processes, it will become increasingly important for Canadians to learn and adopt these practices in order to stay relevant and competitive on a global stage.

Competing in a global arena

The Canadian government has already taken steps to promote AM within the Canadian marketplace. In the past few months, the federal government has invested millions of dollars into additive manufacturing facilities, creating more jobs for Canadians and protecting our global competitiveness.

The May 2018 announcement of a $14 million investment from the federal government plus an additional $7 million grant from the government of Ontario to advanced manufacturing company Burloak Technologies puts that company on the path for global AM leadership. Similarly, the announcement of up to $21.1 million for TEKNA Plasma Systems Inc. from the federal and Quebec governments will allow TEKNA to increase their manufacturing capabilities to remain competitive globally. The projects are set to create 295 and 170 jobs for Canadians, respectively, while promoting AM within the industry.

Overcoming the skills gap

For organizations to stay competitive within their field they must review their workforce structure to take advantage of new technologies and to ensure they’re not left behind. Unfortunately, as the additive manufacturing field grows, there is strong competition for a limited talent pool. Few candidates, paired with constantly evolving AM technologies, materials, and practice, mean employers face growing gaps within their workforce.

To stay competitive globally, and help bridge the skills gap, employers should focus on promotion — evangelizing the benefits of AM will help draw attention to both the innovation itself and the skills required by this new technology. Other ways to help find and develop the talent necessary to take full advantage of AM include:

Training/re-training – Promoting from within can be a great way to help boost colleague moral while bettering your workplace culture. Consider offering online training programs or providing existing employees with financial assistance to develop their knowledge of additive manufacturing technologies.

Education initiatives – Organizations may consider visiting local elementary and secondary schools to promote the STEM fields to today’s youth, and at the same time encouraging the next generation of workers to explore careers in additive manufacturing that they may otherwise disregard.

Apprenticeships – There are many benefits available to employers by partnering with post-secondary institutions to offer apprenticeships for students or graduates within STEM fields. Not only do apprenticeships yield a positive return on investment by creating employable, trained candidates, they also help your organization build a relationship with educational institutions and students in these fields, effectively pipelining new talent for future employment.

The lack of suitable candidates in this field highlights the increasing importance of education, training and skills as AM technology continues to transform many industries. Interested in a STEM position to join the revolution? Talk to your local Roevin office today!

Lēad Blog is part of Adecco and Roevin Canada. Hire your perfect team, or get more staffing advice from our experts.

Nov 1

Cluttered desk with large stack of papers in foreground

Coping Strategies for Your Department’s Busiest Times

How your business manages workplace stress can have a big impact on your productivity, employee engagement and even retention. During your busy season, when the demands on your department can peak, having a set of stress relief strategies ready to go will help you tackle your busy season with confidence. In this article, Doug Hamlyn, VP, Finance, of Adecco Canada and Roevin, describes some of the best ways to help your employees manage workplace stress.  

When I hear the word “stress,” I think of steel beams and concrete columns and the tests they undergo to make them crack. Though this definition comes from my early career as a civil engineer, in a very similar way, I view work stress as the mental or emotional strain that we are subjected to from difficult or demanding work situations.

I have spent most of my career working in finance departments where stress in its many forms typically happens during quarter-end, year-end or budget season. The usual suspect is the classic ‘having too much work and too little time,’ but can also come from those unexpected events that we hadn’t factored into our timelines. Now, with these unexpected audits or projects on top of an already-full workload, we have plans and priorities that don’t align and family and work conflicts where compromise may not be an option. And if you add to that a manager who isn’t solution-focused, you can get a perfect storm of workplace stress.

As managers, it’s our job to find a way to deliver the results our business requires with minimal stress along the way.  Here are some ideas to help alleviate the pressure of peak season stress:

1. Plan ahead

Stress often comes from not having a plan, so give your employees a clear idea of how they’ll get through the busy season. Use the deadlines and workload you already know to develop your plan. Ensure that you also include buffer zones for last-minute or unexpected demands. You should also factor in your employees’ external commitments to get as realistic and attainable a plan as possible. With proper planning and scheduling, you can give your employees that extra bit of confidence that their time and workload is recognized and accounted for.

2. Vacation blackout period

At the hiring stage, make sure to communicate that there are times of the year when employees cannot take vacation. By setting these expectations ahead of time, you help ensure that all resources are available for your busy period.

3. Remain flexible

Determine which deadlines are firm and which are flexible. You may even have some leeway with external audit dates if you ask and have a valid rationale for delay. In addition, make sure you’re flexible with how you allow people to finish their work in lieu of ‘burning the midnight oil.’ For example, allow your employees to finish their work at home, start earlier, etc.

4. Sharing resources

Use external temporary resources to manage routine tasks and free up senior staff to tackle budgets or year-end functions. Make sure all your resources are cross-trained so that they can share assignments for increased staffing flexibility.

Thinking about expanding your temporary workforce? Explore your options with Adecco.

5. Say no

No is a powerful word. While you usually can’t say no to your boss or to your company’s fixed deadlines, think about the discretionary requests that you can say no to, such as attending a meeting when someone can update you later or taking on a new task that would be a better fit for a different department. For non-critical requests that you’d like to take on but don’t have the time for right now, consider saying “not now” and setting a date for the future.

6. Celebrate

Recognizing your team’s accomplishments can go a long way towards diffusing stress. Even if it’s just taking your staff for a coffee when a deadline is met or ordering in lunch if you can’t get away, small celebrations help demonstrate your appreciation for your staff’s hard work. Plus, these much-needed breaks give your staff some breathing room to help them see the bigger picture (and the eventual return to normalcy).

7. Stay healthy

Encouraging your staff to take steps to prioritize their health will benefit everyone, which is especially true if your busy season coincides with flu season. Encourage your employees to maintain healthy sleep schedules and their physical fitness to ensure that they are ready to tackle their tasks head-on when they’re at work, and to improve their at-home lives at the same time.

As we continue to do more with less, managing through busy periods will always be a challenge. But if you engage everyone in setting a work plan that takes into account each person’s unique and important commitments and their normal working hours, you can minimize the stress they will endure during these periods.

 

Doug HamlynDoug Hamlyn, B.Eng. and MBA, is the Vice President, Finance for Adecco Canada and Roevin. With 10 years in large, multinational public and private staffing companies and experience in the Canadian, U.S. and South African markets, Doug brings senior financial leadership to Adecco’s executive team. Along with his Finance, Real Estate, IT and Occupational Health & Safety teams, Doug’s focus is on regulatory compliance, business controls, process improvements and client support.

Lēad Blog is part of Adecco and Roevin Canada. Hire your perfect team, or get more staffing advice from our experts.

 

Oct 25

Olivia hard at work on a computer
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A Final Reflection on My #CEO1Month Experience

In September, Olivia Poulin, Canada’s 2018 CEO for One Month winner, was selected as a top 10 finalist for the Adecco Group’s Global CEO for One Month competition. She traveled to London, England to participate in the 3-day Global Bootcamp with 9 other finalists from across the world — and eventually made it to the top 5! Here, she shares her final reflection on her Global CEO for One Month experience.

Selection Process

During the month I shadowed Adecco Canada President Gilbert Boileau, I also completed a series of weekly challenges for the global CEO for One Month competition. These challenges — including personality tests, preparing a competitor analysis report and presenting my innovation project — tested my skills and let me demonstrate some of the things I was learning. It was these challenges, plus an interview with the Adecco Global Team, that were used to select the top 10 finalists out of 47 country CEOs to participate in the global CEO for One Month Bootcamp in London, England.

The night before the announcement, I hardly slept. Watching the Facebook Live announcement with my family at 6:30 a.m., we anxiously waited for The Adecco Group CEO Alain Dehaze to announce the lucky 10. We held our breath as he said, “then we travel across the ocean to… Canada: Olivia Poulin”. We exploded with joy! You can check out the video here. I was in shock but thrilled — and I had just 4 days to prepare for my trip to England!

Bootcamp, Day 0 – September 17th, 2018

Yes, it’s called Day 0! On Monday, all the finalists started arriving at the hotel. The first person I met was Beatrice Partain from Sweden. We went to her favourite chocolate shop and explored the streets of London while we waited for the others. It didn’t feel like I was meeting anyone for the first time; I felt like I had known these friends my entire life! As everyone continued to arrive, we spent lots of time talking and getting to know each other better. Then, we gathered to be introduced to the jury (the team that would evaluate our challenges and decide who would become Global CEO for One Month), play some ice breaker games, and get an idea for how the week would work. We went to dinner as a group and I finally got to hear more about the incredible lives and experiences of my fellow finalists. What impressive people they are!

Get to know everyone with these CEO for One Month Bootcamp videos.

Bootcamp, Day 1 – September 18th, 2018

Showtime! On Day 1, we walked to a business incubator where most of our activities over the next few days would take place. Challenge 1 was playing a “game” on our phones that would judge our strategizing capabilities and emotional intelligence. Then we had an Adecco Group X session with a presentation by Christian Howes, a social media and big data expert. He brought a lot of energy to the room and taught us about how data is used to tailor media to specific consumers and how social media can be used to predict outcomes of real world events. After that, we participated in a virtual reality challenge using Google’s Tilt Brush program (basically Microsoft Paint, but for VR). In teams, one person wore the headset while the others described what they had to draw based on a photo they were looking at. It was tough listening to many voices providing instructions all at once, drawing in 3D and learning to use the system all at the same time, but it helped all of us improve our communication skills and teamwork.

After a quick lunch, we had 1 hour to prepare our innovation projects and 5 minutes to present to the finalists and the jury. Personally, I loved this challenge because I was so passionate about my idea for my innovation project and I enjoy presenting. I was super impressed by everyone else’s ideas too. It was then that I realized how influential my 9 friends would be to the future of the world and business. For our third challenge of the day, we were put into teams and tasked with solving a data breach crisis. We had to explain how we would respond and what we would say to stakeholders and shareholders.

Next, we walked to a “surprise” destination: the LinkedIn London Office building. We watched a presentation about new LinkedIn products not yet available, went on a tour where we saw their incredible themed meeting rooms (Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Candyland etc.) and workout facilities, and we learned about the culture of trust at LinkedIn.

It’s hard to believe that we managed to pack all of that into one day, but we did — and it was amazing. It felt like we had been together for a week already based on the strength of the relationships we had formed.

Bootcamp, Day 2 – September 19th, 2018

On Day 2, I had my first interview with the jury. It was certainly not like any other interview I’ve had: it was only 15 minutes and they asked us two very unconventional questions. After that we had some time for photos and videos, followed by a team lunch. Our fourth challenge at boot camp tasked us with pitching a startup by researching a new venture and giving a 5-minute presentation to the jury, Dragons’-Den-style. Challenge 5 was a roundtable discussion with David Malkinson, the Chief Marketing Officer of The Adecco Group for UK & Ireland. We discussed the role technology plays and would continue to play in the future of life and work.

After that, we walked to our dinner restaurant. We were shocked to see Alain Dehaze (Global CEO of the Adecco Group), Stephan Howeg (Global Chief Marketing & Communications Officer), Jake Schwartz (co-founder of General Assembly), Cynthia Hansen (Head of the Adecco Group Foundation) and others from the Adecco Group. We had the opportunity to talk with them and hear more about their work and wisdom, while also having the opportunity to tell them about our experiences. It was incredible to be in a room with such amazing leaders and people. Alain was there to provide input on who he thought should be in the top 5 in preparation for the announcement. After dinner, we returned to the hotel and waited for the CEO for One Month team to meet us. We gathered together in the dark room and anxiously waited to hear our names called for the top 5. My name was called first and I breathed a big sigh of relief while trying to contain my excitement! The other finalists were Miguel from Spain, Lisa from Germany, Yolian from the USA and Zoey from Singapore. As the final five, we were given instructions to prepare a 3-minute speech for the morning and told that we would have an interview with Alain Dehaze before the announcement. I returned to my room to FaceTime my family and share the exciting news. Messages of encouragement and support flooded in. It was amazing!

Bootcamp, Day 3 – September 20th, 2018

I woke up early to get ready and head to the final venue with Miguel, Lisa, Yolian and Zoey. We each had a 15-minute private interview with Alain Dehaze, and then had time to socialize with all who gathered for the final announcement. The event started and the final five had a few minutes to give their speeches and talk about what the program meant to each of us. It was a wonderful opportunity to address the group and show them the impact the program had on our lives. As Alain and Aly Sparks (Global Head of Talent Acquisition with the Adecco Group and President of the Jury) prepared to make the announcement, I stood with the other finalists on stage, eager to hear who it would be. Alain spoke highly of his selected candidate, and, when he announced the name of my friend Lisa Frommhold from Germany, I turned and gave her a big hug! I was so happy for her and believe she truly is so deserving.

While Lisa ran around London getting amazing photo and video shots for the announcement, the rest of the group used our precious few hours of remaining time in London to see the sights — Big Ben, the London Eye and Buckingham Palace. Our last dinner together was emotional; we were all sad that we’d have to leave each other the next day, so we made the most of the evening by going dancing and staying up late to savour every minute together. Syed, the UK CEO for One Month, also joined us, and it was amazing to meet yet another talented friend.

Post-Bootcamp – Returning Home

The morning after the big announcement, everyone had scattered departure times. My heart honestly ached as I said my goodbyes and walked away from them to head to the airport. In Canada, my brother and sister picked me up in Toronto to drive me home to Niagara Falls. That’s when I realized just how quickly everything had happened and that — just like that — life would go right back to normal. The only difference was that I had changed. The things I learned, the people I met, the experiences I had — these things will stay with me forever.

Other Thoughts & Lessons Learned

I was so incredibly impressed by how wonderful the other 9 finalists are. Their ambitions, experiences and wisdom taught me a lot in the few days we spent together. Many of them had travelled or lived in other countries, spoke multiple languages, were studying impressive subjects in school, and were passionate about their hobbies and culture. We grew so close and shared many challenging experiences that strengthened our bond and I truly believe that we will be friends forever. I can’t wait to see how they will have a positive impact on whatever they choose to do with their lives.

The collaboration exhibited by the finalists was also impressive. Though we were all technically competing for spots in the Top 5 and wanted to be selected as Global CEO, not once did I see any jealousy or anyone being “too competitive” to outshine the others. We all encouraged each other to do our best and use our strengths to work together.

In the spirit of honesty, I will admit that I assumed that if I wasn’t selected as Global CEO for One Month that I would feel like I had failed or would feel disappointed in myself. I couldn’t believe how much the opposite was true. I was SO happy and excited for my friend Lisa that I didn’t even have time to think about myself. Interacting with her throughout the boot camp was always enjoyable, and her warm heart and stable leadership style were outstanding. As I reflected on how I felt after all the chaos of the announcement, I realized that I was not sad or disappointed — I was still so grateful and happy for the things I experienced and the people I met. I was proud to represent Canada and make it to the top 5. I couldn’t have asked for more from the program!

The Adecco Group truly does live by its values. These values resonated very strongly with me and are what made me want to participate in the program. Entrepreneurship, customer focus, responsibility, passion and team work were exemplified by each person that represented The Adecco Group. It is a forward-thinking company that wants to improve lives and shape the future of work for the better. I’m grateful to have seen firsthand the positive impact Adecco has around the world.

My favourite quote has always been: “Every single thing that has happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.” I love this quote because it reflects the importance of the journey in getting to where you are. None of us woke up one day and just became CEO for One Month top 10 finalists. We all had experiences to draw on that led us to that very moment. Starting a company, holding leadership positions at school, public speaking at my Church, suffering a major leg injury with a yearlong rehab, winning case competitions, struggling through classes I didn’t enjoy, shadowing other senior executives — all of these things gave me experiences worth talking about that shaped who I am and put me in a position to learn from this program. All that, plus a little bit of luck and good fortune! It all matters along the way.

This program changed my life and I want to spread the word to students across the world: apply to the CEO For One Month Program. You will learn and experience so much. Yes, it might feel like a shot in the dark… but somebody has to be selected. Why not you?

 

Olivia can be found on Instagram (@poulin09) and Twitter (@oliviapoulin).

Oct 18

man reading resume

Top 5 Resume Mistakes to Avoid

There are several common mistakes that can send your resume straight to the rejection pile. It’s not exactly fair, but with some careful attention and the following examples of 5 things to avoid when writing your resume, you can increase your odds of being contacted for an interview.

1. Your resume is more than one page.

Regardless of whether you are just entering the workforce, or have been working for 15 years, your resume should never exceed 1 page. Be selective with the skills and experiences that best apply to the position at hand to keep your resume targeted to the job posting and easy-to-read.

With hundreds of resumes crossing their desks, recruiters must evaluate them quickly, spending an average of six seconds scanning a resume. Knowing that you have very little time to grab a recruiter’s attention, restricting yourself to a one page document forces you to present only the most relevant information.

Can I adjust the margins on my resume?

Sneaky tricks to beat the page count didn’t work in school and they definitely won’t work with a hiring manager. Not only will they see through the attempt to get more information onto the page, but exceptionally small page margins will also make your resume more difficult to read, and ultimately more likely to end up in the trash.

Resume format guidelines to improve your chances:

  • Keep margins at least 1 inch on all sides.
  • Keep font size at a minimum of 11 points.
  • Be consistent with punctuation and how you write the dates of each job.
  • Be concise: list your achievements and responsibilities in bullet-point format.
  • Be specific: use quantifiable examples of the success you achieved in each role.

2. You didn’t proofread your resume and cover letter.

Is “careless” the first impression you’re looking to make on your potential new employer? Even though mistakes happen all the time in the real world, a typo on your resume is a clear sign that you either didn’t bother to proofread, or that you did, but failed to catch a mistake. That kind of mistake isn’t encouraging for future employers who want to ensure they’re hiring someone whose work they can trust.

To avoid grammatical and spelling errors, make sure to recruit several people to proofread your resume. Friends or family will do, provided they are attentive and have a firm grasp of the English language.

And be sure to double check consistency in your use of past and present tense. Remember: present tense should only be used when describing the responsibilities of your current job.

3. You included subjective traits.

Have you used any of the following descriptions?

  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Team player
  • Hard worker
  • Results-driven
  • Detail-oriented

If so, prove it! Not only are these expressions overused, they’re completely subjective. Even if you really are a hard worker who is results-driven, unless you can provide quantifiable proof, the statement doesn’t belong on your resume. Stick to listing accomplishments with concrete evidence that proves these skills.

As so many people hold inaccurate perceptions of their quality of work, employers in general will disregard subjective claims on a resume. Looking to impress? Hit them with facts — hard numbers and supporting evidence prove why you’d be a great addition to their team.

Ask yourself: “what have I achieved that demonstrates the skills this hiring manager is looking for?” For example, a promotion may demonstrate your work ethic, while managing a large number of colleagues will prove your leadership skills.

4. You didn’t tailor your resume for each specific job you applied to.

Tailoring a resume may seem like a daunting task when applying to multiple jobs, but the added work is sure to pay off in the end. A generic resume lends the impression that you have blindly applied for a position that you may or may not be qualified for, thus limiting your odds of being contacted for an interview.

To start tailoring your resume:

Read and understand the job description: what responsibilities stand out about the position? Are any requirements repeated? Which duties relate to your experience at your current or past position?

Organize your resume based on relevancy to the position: regardless of whether it’s your education, a past job or a recent certification, make sure your most relevant experience is listed first. There’s no rule that says your resume must be in chronological order so it’s completely acceptable to organize your resume in a way that highlights your relevant experience for the hiring manager.

Align your past experience: how can your existing experience be revamped to better align with the requirements of the job? For examples of ways to alter your bullets to emphasize certain soft skills, check out this article by Muse.

5. You lied, exaggerated or misrepresented your work or accomplishments.

Lying or “padding” your resume is a common technique amongst job hunters to make them seem more qualified for a job than they truly are. Though it may seem easy to get away with, if your lie isn’t unveiled through social media or the interview process, chances are your references will call out your bluff.

Bottom line? Don’t pad your resume!

There’s a point of no return between “spinning” your skills and experience a certain way and falsifying your achievements. Not only do you risk being blacklisted from the company if you are caught lying, but you will also ruin your relationship with your references.

Your resume is the first and often only impression an employer will have of you. It can instantly make or break your chances of being contacted for an interview or disregarded for the position entirely. If you are looking to increase your odds in the hiring process, avoid making any of these common errors on your resume. You may be unable to control a hiring manager’s decision, but you can control your resume and how it portrays you as the best candidate for the role!

Lēad Blog is part of Adecco and Roevin Canada. Find and apply to your dream job, or get more career advice from our experts.

 

Oct 15

Woman in apron at café on phone using tablet

Small Businesses and the Growing Competition for Talent

Small and medium-sized business owners face many hurdles when competing against large corporations. Don’t lose that dream candidate to a major competitor! Let our tips help you transform your company’s team for future success.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often face considerable competition, and recruiting quality candidates is no exception. On-boarding and training new hires can be a costly endeavour and candidate attraction can be difficult with limited brand recognition. In celebration of this year’s Small Business Week, we’re highlighting some of the challenges that SMEs face when recruiting and offering our tips for finding success. Read more

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