Avoid the 'black hole of doom'. At all costs!

The black hole of doom might be a slight exaggeration, but it gets the point across. More correctly it might be named the black hole of frustration, self-doubt, anxiety, stress and depression...the list could go on I'm sure. What I am referring to is the endless time that goes seemingly wasted and unrecognized as job seeking individuals tirelessly search, tailor, update, refine and submit cover letter after cover letter, resume after resume, in search of new opportunity, income and a pathway forward.

Most of us have been there. The culprit to blame is a) yourself, and b) the Internet. The Internet, and technology more broadly, has helped us to more readily click and submit applications, but this is often not for our own good. It is exactly this process, and the ease of this process, that has led you down the "black hole of 'whatever,'" and fast.

What I see is that job seekers are getting desperate. Sorry, they are already fifty shades of desperate. The job market has been slowing for quite some time, real wages stagnant, and the situation has only been accelerated by the 2008 recession. Caught up in the media buzz of how dire the situation might or might not be, job seekers have lost touch we what really matters. What really matters is your mental sanity as you spend days applying to countless positions that are 'sort of'' what you are hoping to aspire towards, and positions that you 'sort of' have qualifications for. These 'sort of' applications that are more of a stretch then we would often like to admit to ourselves quickly find their way down the black hole of doom.

Firstly, in spite of the speed that the Internet brings, applying to positions that are not in some way aligned to 'the plan' you have in mind for yourself is not a good use of your time. Topic for an upcoming blog...get a plan.

More importantly though is that applying to positions that you do not have the minimum qualifications for, and we are not talking 'sort of' qualifications (i.e. they require insurance licensing, and you have an MBA; note: MBA's are not always the answer), but actual relevant qualifications that have been asked for, is a waste of the precious time that you do have, and which you are wasting on applying to positions that will never call you back. This only adds to your 'black hole' feeling, which is not a reflection of your lack of suitability of 'a' role, but it does reflect your lack of suitability for all the positions that are not right for you; or at least not right for you yet.

A few quick points on what to do and what to avoid when applying for the next position that is relevant to you.
Things to do:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter; take the time when time is deserving
- Reference the company by name, reference the position that is available at this company
- Include the appropriate contact person, if known
- Tailor the top section of your resume to speak to your 'highlights' that are referenced in relation to specific experiences and that demonstrate behavioural competencies and specified qualifications
- Tie your highlights to what you choose to speak to in the cover letter; make it connect
Note: When recruiting, I scan your resume first. If I don't see the minimum qualifications that have been asked, there is no chance I will take the time to read your cover letter. Don't waste your time, because I won't waste mine.
- Do provide your full contact information
- Include 'relevant' extra-curricular activities, hobbies or volunteering that add to or make up for any lack of "on the job" experience
Students take note: Build this as you go. A certificate, diploma or degree will not cut it. What else have you done? Get a part-time job. Now.

Things to avoid:

- Don't forget to kill your 'darlings' (i.e. fancy words that add no real value but take up space and sound sort of pretty). A wise man once told me this and they are words to live by, despite being difficult for many of us to accomplish. Not having qualifications but writing long winded and flowery sentences about your passion and self-proclaimed expertise, dedication, or whatever you are stating in the first and/or last lines of your cover letter, makes me think you are questioning my intelligence.
- Do not 'not' follow procedure. If the posting says apply via one email address and you choose to research, investigate and send your application straight to the CEO, I automatically do not like you. Not because I think your behaviour is obnoxious, but because you have now told me that training you to take direction will be a nightmare.
- If you have minimum qualifications, great, but do not make false claims. If you are relatively inexperienced to no experience (i.e. anything close to less than five years), do not proclaim your ability to bring strategic insight, enact change, solve world hunger, or anything else that if you were asked to deliver on you probably couldn't. The second part to this is that you will likely not be asked to deliver on this, even if you think you could. Know your place, understand organizational structure based on the industry and organization that you are applying to, and choose to add value in moderation. As an applicant you want to be somewhat matter of fact, confident, but humble, with a personality that will bring it all together. In the end of the day, it is all about the sales pitch. Give yourself the opportunity to get there.

That is what you should be aiming for, and unfortunately you will not be able to have those kinds of opportunities with half of the positions you are likely spending far too many hours applying for. It is better to know this now so that you can begin to reduce the self-doubt, anxiety and stress you might be experiencing and instead focus your time on 'making a plan' and hitting the payment (literally), to focus on the positions that will be a better and eventual 'right' fit for you.

Courtney Kidd BPAPM, MIRHR

HR Associate

ENGAGE Human Resources Solutions Inc.

 

My “Engage-ful” Experience

                Being a student who is fresh out of high school with limited professional work experience let alone HR experience, it is safe to say that I was terrified coming to ENGAGE as a summer student. However, I was lucky enough that I had the opportunity to work with extremely accomplished, talented, and funny people.  Over the last two months, each day has been a learning experience for me. I have learned that there is much more to the HR field than what is defined in the textbooks.  

Client satisfaction is ultimately put first at ENGAGE, even if that means staying in the office past 6:00 pm, the ENGAGE team works with extreme dedication and commitment to their work.  Even while working with such accomplished people I was always included in all the activities that went around the office and I was always given updates about the projects.  I was treated with respect and everyone had an open mind to my questions and opinions.  Regardless of knowing that I am a complete amateur, my seniors put a lot of trust and confidence in me and I truly appreciated that. It was because of this trust and confidence that I took each very day seriously and worked to my absolute best.  One of the best things about ENGAGE is that the team cares. This created more of a team feeling rather than a competition or race.  

Now that my time has come to an end, it is more of a bitter feeling than it is sweet.  Two months later I have come out of ENGAGE with priceless knowledge, an unforgettable experience and valuable relations with a group of amazing individuals and I cannot wait until I am back at ENGAGE!

ENGAGE HR Donates to Pakistan Flood Relief

ENGAGE HR has contributed to the Pakistan Flood Relief and would like to share with you the means to do the same. 

Please go to: http://www.redcross.ca/studentsforpakistan/ if you would like to contribute to the relief efforts.  The government is matching all monetary donations made to a registered fund.

In a recent update from the Canadian Red Cross Secretary- General Conrad Sauve - he spoke of the devastation and incomprehensible impact on the people of Pakistan:

"Regardless of the images we see on television or the statistics we read in newspapers, it is impossible to appreciate the scale of the physical destruction and human impact of the flooding. To put the devastation into context, one major river has swelled in width to from one kilometre to 60 kilometres. My mission took me to three of the most heavily-hit flood zones, where we passed by destroyed bridges, washed-out roads, newly-created lakes and kilometres of sodden ground. We witnessed families whose homes had been destroyed walking along roadways with their possessions in carts or on their backs. We visited camps where children and families continue to be vulnerable to malnutrition, dehydration and disease."

Contributions to the fund are being used to deliver water, food, shelter and other essential items.  It is estimated that emergency assistance will be required for at least another 6 months - at which time the long-term task of rebuilding the affected areas begins.

Please consider donating.  Thank you!

Summer Intern Insight!

As the ‘Summer Intern’ for ENGAGE HR I was introduced to the world of HR for the first time. I was unfamiliar with the industry prior to my internship and did not realize the extent of HR services available! Who knew there was a lot more to HR than simply payroll and recruitment?! I was quickly made aware of the complicated issues the ENGAGE HR Team deals with on a day-to-day basis – everything from answering the 24/7 Hotline for HR advice to implementing organizational changes. The team has extensive knowledge of everything HR and supports their clients in every way possible.

If I have learned anything during my time at ENGAGE HR it’s that effective HR Management is essential to any business. Many businesses do not leverage the potential of HR, unaware of the business capabilities it brings to the table.  In turning to ENGAGE HR for advice and support for any people-management issue, or to find out how to strategically optimize the HR department you already have in place, I have no doubt the team here will provide you with a customized and practical solution that suits your company. I have learnt that HR issues can be much more intricate than they appear, and that speaking with someone with the appropriate knowledge and experience - who will recognize all the sub-issues and complex elements - can be highly beneficial.

My time with ENGAGE HR is drawing to a close and I will be sad to leave all the amazing people I have worked with over the months. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the ENGAGE HR team! I wish you all the best!

Nicola Morland

HR Professionals: Are you ready to take on a world of business?

It may not be widely realized by the outside world quite yet, but I do hope all of you HR professionals out there will agree – Human Resources is an exciting field to be a part of! The ‘HR brand’ has been changing and is still evolving: HR professionals are winning the battle to internally brand HR as a key strategic player, as the value of strategic HR processes is being increasingly recognized, and the use of HR as a strategic tool is gaining momentum among organizations of all sizes and across all industries. With HR expanding in scope and depth – demonstrating its worth to those who have long dismissed it as nothing more than the traditional administrative function – those organizations taking a strategic approach to HR are finding the return on investment is high.

As HR moves up to the big leagues and steps up to the plate, HR professionals are responsible for ensuring they do not ‘swing and miss’. The HR field has been in an ongoing struggle to prove its strategic value, and now, as we are presented with the opportunity to do just that, it makes it even more necessary for those working in the field to have the business skills to turn an HR problem into a business solution, and a strategic HR plan into a sustained business advantage.

Is there any doubt HR is a key driving force behind organizational success? Not any more! Numerous studies have erased it, studies like those by Professor Dan Ondrack from the J.L. Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. Professor Ondrack’s study has shown that Best Employer firms outperform the competition in any given industry. It is no secret that having the right people, in the right place, driven to do the right things is the foundation for business success. What we need to ask ourselves is what do HR people need to do and what do we need to be really good at, to ensure that we hit that home run and leave the competition scrambling to get back in the game?

The answer? HR leaders have to have essential business skills, sound business knowledge, an analytical mind, the drive to succeed and the ability to communicate with their peers from other business fields. The reality is that HR has a larger role to play than perhaps even HR professionals realize. In a world where ethics and good corporate governance is no longer a ‘bonus’ but a necessity, HR has the opportunity to help the organization manage risk and enable and empower employees to do the right things and take the right steps. HR is responsible for creating levels of accountability, and for taking any steps necessary from a governance perspective to ensure that questionable business behaviour is not tolerated.

So, to all you HR Professionals, I ask you: Are you ready to take on a world of business?

Jennifer Roney
e: jenny@engagehr.com

Welcome to the EHR Blog!

Welcome to our new, and therefore entirely improved, blog! Here ENGAGE HR's team will try their hands at sharing their thoughts and offering advice on the world in which we all work. We would love to hear your comments, so please feel free to email us at any time on info@engagehr.com to provide us with your feedback!

I would like to take this opportunity to talk with you about our new website! This has been a work-in-progress for the past few months and it was with mounting excitement that we developed content, discussed design, made plans, discussed design again and added even more content until it was time to prepare for the launch. By that point I was just so thrilled I wanted to call back everyone that had ever seen our old site and say “you just HAVE to see the new one!” And while I have managed refrain, the eager-beaver in me, and in the whole team, has been right there with us the past few weeks as we have prepared for launch, because we truly want to maximize our clients’ experience and be able to provide quick and easy access to the information that visitors to our website are looking for. So now the website is up and we are hoping that it does just that! If there is anything you would like to see on the website that is not already included, or if you have any comments or enquiries in general, please feel free to call us on 905.306.8111 and we would be pleased to chat with you!

We would like to thank our wonderful brand and design consultants at Jump for their time, effort and support in helping us to put together our new website! Their patience, help and advice made the process a lot easier than we thought it would be – and we are thrilled with the outcome. Thank you!

Jennifer Roney
e: jenny@engagehr.com