Monthly Archives: November 2011

Women are still struggling globally to gain parity with men in the workplace

November 28, 2011   Resume Solutions   No comments

Though women have made signicant progress in workplace over the last half century, there is still a very long road to travel. According to The Economist

SINCE 1970 the proportion of women in the workforce across the rich world has increased from 48% to 64%, a sharp rise but one which nevertheless leaves women in rich countries underemployed compared with women in China. There are large variations from country to country, but the broad trend in most places is still slightly upwards. Yet while women have made big strides in all kinds of careers they find it harder than men to bag the most senior jobs. Just 3% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women. And despite sheaves of equal-pay legislation, women still get paid less than men for comparable work. This week’s special report explores the reasons why progress seems to have stalled and what can be done about it.

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Tips on how to get a pay raise

November 22, 2011   Resume Solutions   No comments

Resume Solutions President Surranna Sandy was recently interviewed in the Globe and Mail for an article on negotiating a salary increase

The first thing you want to dispel is the notion that anyone is entitled to a raise simply for doing his or her job. “I tell my clients, ‘Don’t be [just] competent’,” says Surranna Sandy, president of Resume Solutions in Toronto. Ms. Sandy says it’s important to emphasize what you have added to the company: Have you brought in a big client, introduced an effective cost-cutting measure, increased readership?

 

and

Even if you are a huge asset to you company there is still a chance that you won’t get a raise, in which case remember that the ball is still in play. “If there is no money, you can ask about other forms of compensation like paid vacation time, one day a week working from home, or maybe your company will consider paying for training that will make you more suitable for promotion,” Ms. Sandy says. Post-rejection, it is also important to remain professional and positive. Say something along the lines of, “Thank you for considering my request. I appreciate that you can’t give me a raise right now. What can I do so that you would be willing to reconsider in three months?” This will let your boss know that you mean business, and establish a time frame. Follow up immediately with an e-mail.

 

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6 Personal Traits Will Accelerate Your Influence at Work

November 22, 2011   Resume Solutions   No comments

Today’s employee wants to engage in a more meaningful and purposeful way.  They want to throw titles and corporate speak out the door.  They want a more genuine environment where people can share their concerns about the business, their personal struggles and ways to collectively solve problems.   Workplace silos, the politics of leadership and the fight for recognition make it difficult for these employees to be productive.

We all experience similar challenges in the workplace, just in different forms. Everyone is hurting, but most are scared to share it because they believe this will disrupt any momentum they have.     The trick is to connect with your colleagues in ways that promote transparency and unity.  People must learn how to feel comfortable about sharing more about themselves; their personal selves.  More

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The Rise Of The Female CEO And The Folly Of Men Who Just Don’t Get It

November 21, 2011   Resume Solutions   No comments

This is an interesting article on the perception of women corporate world.

The next point is that men are incapable of taking women seriously in the office and are only focused on women’s appearance. I find this to be an insult to the many serious, professional men I have worked with over the last 23 years. Not that I am naïve to human nature and a bit of normal banter (and by the way women occasionally notice men’s hot or not-so-hot appearance) but I do believe we’ve been mostly past this for years. And to the extent it is present, we should treat this behavior as an unacceptable aberration not to be accepted.

The corollary to this point, which the author makes later, is that “men can also get away with more stupidity.”  Note to any men reading this…NOT. Check in with several recently former Fortune 500 CEOs to verify. More

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How your gender affects your networking skills

November 20, 2011   Resume Solutions   No comments

Interesting article that explores the different ways men and women network and the strategies that both genders could use to make right impression – both offline and online – and get the connection.

“Men tended to be very transactional in their networking and women tend to be a bit more relational,” he told me. “Women said it’s better to focus on the relationship. But when it came to the question whether it’s better to focus on business and build the relationship later, men really felt is was better to focus on the business first.” Women show more interest in their person they’re speaking to than in closing a deal, and this approach works: more women than men said that networking had helped their business. More

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Generation Jobless: Students Pick Easier Majors Despite Less Pay

November 09, 2011   Resume Solutions   No comments

At Resume Solutions, we  meet a lot of students who are very very successful in their chosen majors, with many of them choosing competitive, demanding programs. However, we have meet many who chose a major just to get by and graduate, others chose majors based on what they like to do, not based on earning potential.

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Using LinkedIn to track down your dream job

November 08, 2011   Resume Solutions   No comments

The globe and mail  has a great article on how LinkedIn could be a key element in your job search arsenal:

Whether you’re using LinkedIn to find a job or to build a network, it’s important to have a complete profile, said Danielle Restivo, manager of corporate communications at LinkedIn Canada. Members with at least one past position listed on their profiles are 12 times more likely to be found by employers. And adding a photo to their profiles increases their chances sevenfold, Ms. Restivo said in an interview.

“Your LinkedIn profile is your chance to showcase your skills and talents and help the right people and opportunities find their way to you,” she said.

In addition to keeping your LinkedIn profile up to date, Ms. Restivo offers these tips:

Even if you’re already employed, having a strong network of people you know and trust is essential. You may be able to use those connection for references and job leads in the future. And get recommendations:A good word from those who know your work highlights your strengths, so reach out to past managers and colleagues for references you can include in your profile.

Highlight your skills

By adding relevant skills to your profile, you’ll come up in search results when employers need someone like you for a project or job. Skills pages will also tell you which groups on LinkedIn you can join to learn more about that skill and jobs that require that ability.

Keep tabs on companies

When you follow a company page on LinkedIn, you’ll be able to see updates on new hirings, promotions and job opportunities. By connecting with recruiters and hiring managers in your area, you’ll be top-of-mind when positions open. Find connections you have in common and, if appropriate, ask them to introduce you, Ms. Restivo said. Read more here

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Co-Workers Provide Valuable Insights into Employee Departures

November 08, 2011   Resume Solutions   No comments

This is an interesting article from Business News Daily:

Rather than conduct exit interviews with employees leaving for another job, new research shows businesses may actually glean more information on the reason for the departure by talking with the workers’ colleagues instead.
Gathering information on why employees leave a business can help employers identify major problem areas, reduce turnover rates and improve morale, but a study from the Personnel Decisions Research Institutes raised questions about the validity of such surveys — which often are conducted by chatting with the exiting employee, who may or may not provide accurate information regarding the decision to leave.

The research, conducted by PDRI research scientist Elizabeth Lentz, found that speaking with the employee’s office peers may be more beneficial. Specifically, the research revealed co-workers often have a deep understanding about exiting employees’ decisions, and are able to provide accurate and valuable information regarding the motive behind the exit.

Lentz conducted exit-style interviews both with employees who were leaving a business and their colleagues, and said she was surprised at how similar their answers were. She said that proved co-workers’ ability to provide quick, accurate details regarding the employee’s departure

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Resume Solutions Matthew Domville Earns CARW Designation

November 08, 2011   Resume Solutions   No comments

Matthew Domville of Surcorp Group, Resume Solutions, has been awarded international certification as a Certified Advanced Resume Writer (CARW) by Career Directors International (CDI). Matthew has demonstrated his superior knowledge and experience in resume writing and career development through an intensive examination, professional writing and professional development process to assess and demonstrate his industry knowledge and resume writing skill.

 

“At Resume Solutions, we keen on developing our employees’ expertise and I am extremely proud of Matthew’s accomplishment” says, Surranna Sandy, President of Surcorp Group, Resume Solutions. Recognition as a CARW sets Surcorp Resume Solutions and Matthew apart from the competition and distinguishes the high calibre of both his and the organization’s credentials in assisting clientele with professional resume and career coaching services. Resume Solutions, a division of Surcorp Group offers expert resume writing, personal branding and career coaching services to entry-level through executive clientele in the global  marketplace. Their expertise is in empowering clients who wish to transition either within their existing career fields or to another industry.

 

The Surcorp team of certified resume writers, career coaches and counselors offer industry leading résumé writing, interview, career coaching and counseling services for clients with diverse employment backgrounds across 60+ industries. Visit www.resumesolutions.ca to view a full roster of Surcorp’s coaching and writing services.

Career Directors International is an international association that provides proactive resources and assistance to empower its Members in contemporary career development, resume writing and employment

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Too Old for The Job? 5 Strategies For 55+ Job Hunters

November 06, 2011   Resume Solutions   No comments

Age discrimination is for real. It’s illegal for employers to discriminate based on age, but any older job-seeker knows it’s a fact of life.

At a November 17th meeting in Washington, DC, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, heard testimony that age discrimination is causing the nation’s older workers to have a difficult time maintaining and finding new employment, a problem exacerbated by the downturn in the economy. read more here 

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Is Freedom 55 for Canadian Baby Boomers Now A Pipedream?

November 02, 2011   Resume Solutions   No comments
executives

Freedom 55? This notion may be an old dream for many older working Canadians as new data from Stats Canada shows that workers today who are in their 50s will be working 3.5 years longer than workers in the mid-1990s. According to the Stats Canada measurement index, an employed 50-year-old in 2008 could expect to spend an additional 16 years working, an increase from 12.5 from the mid-1990s.

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