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Contents contributed and discussions participated by colinsarkany

colinsarkany

CanadianCareers.com - 0 views

  • These days, it is expected that you'll be asked to submit your resume electronically.
  • Attachments can also sometimes get messed up when the receiving computer tries to decode the information in a different way than your system coded it.  In other words, there are many reasons to learn how to create effective formatted ASCII resumes.
  • Tips for ASCII and scannable resumes: do not try to use bold, italics, underlining, or special fonts as these do not appear in ASCII text (try using capital letters for emphasis instead); keep things simple do not use tabs (use the spacebar if necessary) don't use bullets (you can use asterisks or dashes if you want) left justification is standard; use hard carriage returns to insert line breaks and make sure lines are no longer than 65 characters in length use nouns instead of action verbs to describe your skills and experience consider putting a skills/keyword summary section near the beginning proofread to make sure everything looks right after saving it to ASCII text
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  • In other words, keep it simple!
  • If in doubt, call the company and ask
  • If you are sending attachments, consider putting only your resume in an attachment and putting your cover letter in the body/text of the e-mail message.  Whatever you do, don't leave the body of the e-mail blank.  Otherwise the end result will be something like sending a photocopied resume; it will look like you though extra effort wasn't worth it (you don't really want a job with them; you just want any job).
  • The reason for this is that all information submitted gets stored into their database for easy retrieval later, automated e-mail replies, etc.  Much of the information you will enter can be copied and pasted from your regular word-processed resume but do read the forms carefully and be sure to provide the information they ask for.
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    This article is a set of tips for handing a resume in online, which is how many employers request their information with the increased reliance on technology!
colinsarkany

Job Market Trends and News - Job Bank - 0 views

  • Following labour market events is key to helping job seekers understand where the opportunities (short, medium and long-term) might be in a local community and elsewhere in the country.
    • colinsarkany
       
      Local careers highlighted by this great government resource, specifically the SAIL store that opened just off Hespeler Road (Hwy 24) in Cambridge. It's great to see something so up to date, and be locally relevant!
  • The University of Windsor will be constructing a new, additional building for the School for Arts and Creative Innovation at the former Tunnel Bar-B-Q site downtown. The $12.8M development will begin in early 2015 and completed by August 2016. Construction Job Creation ON
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  • SAIL, an outdoors superstore, opened in Cambridge creating over 130 jobs Retail Trade Job Creation ON Kasabonika Lake First Nation received an estimated $12M from the Government of Canada to upgrade the community's diesel generating station. Con-Pro Industries Canada Ltd. was awarded the contract and will begin construction in spring 2015. Construction Job Creation ON Atelka Inc. is adding 25 bilingual customer service agent positions at its call centre in Cornwall Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services Job Creation ON Quebec-based clothing retailer La Maison Simons will open a store at the Rideau Centre in Ottawa in August 2016 Retail Trade Job Creation ON Highbury Canco Corporation is planning to expand its product line, which could result in 15 new jobs at its food processing plant in Leamington over the next few months. The company took over the Heinz plant in the summer 2014. Manufacturing Job Creation ON Cogeco Data Services Inc. is adding 20,000-sq.-ft. to its centre in Barrie by early 2015 Professional, Scientific and Technical Services Job Creation ON Construction began on the Advanced Composites Fabrication, Repair and Test Centre at Canadore College's Aviation Technology Campus in North Bay. The $6M facility is expected to be open by summer 2015. Construction Job Creation BC Northern Iron Corp. is expected to begin dewatering the former Griffith Mine North Pit in the Red Lake mining district at the end of April 2015 to determine the quality and quantity of iron ore remaining Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction Job Creation ON Retailer Reitmans (Canada) Limited will close its 107 Smart Set stores in Canada over the next 12 to 18 months, about 76 of which will be converted to other banners of the company. The total number of jobs affected in Ontario is currently unknown. Retail Trade Layoff ON
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    This government of Canada resource is a search tool focused on large scale work-related events that are up-to-date within four weeks! This resource outlines what industry is in demand or what is up and coming, and has breakdowns and search features for each province/territory. This resource is a great place to find inspiration in a job search, as it helps focus in on various industries. 
colinsarkany

Self Marketing | What is Self Marketing? - 0 views

  • An increasing amount of skilled workers are competing for a shrinking pool of jobs
  • This is made worse by the fact that the world now has a globalized labor market, forcing United States workers to contend with highly qualified candidates from other countries seeking lucrative jobs and contracts.
  • It gives candidates more opportunities to effectively communicate their values, skills, experiences, and vision to potential employers. Successful self marketing helps employees separate themselves from the hundreds of other applicants who may be competing for the same job
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  • Today's workers must use the tools of the Internet and marketing techniques to frame their skills and experiences in the best possible ways to avoid losing themselves in the pack
  • Freelancers are the second group of people who must aggressively market themselves.
  • There are two groups of people who are most interested in self marketing, inluding those candidates who are seeking jobs, looking for promotions, or trying to switch jobs
  • These independent contractors will need to self market continuously to keep clients aware of their brand, their abilities, and their reputation..
  • job seekers must identify what kinds of jobs they want, what their biggest strengths and weaknesses are, and how they are perceived professionally
  • The process of building a personal brand is labor intensive. Job seekers must constantly update blogs, respond to emails, maintain correspondence, and refine their overall image. Their self marketing plan should describe in clear language a systematic approach to the job hunt. It needs to identify daily tasks, key contacts, ongoing projects, and new networking opportunities, giving potential employees a clear sense of when, where, and how they will promote themselves.
  • At the outset, the self marketer needs to set goals for themselves.
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    This short article from a marketing school resource outlines key themes for self-marketing and the need for skill mastery in the changing workplace. While also providing more general advice to job-seekers everywhere in the form of how to put yourself out there. 
colinsarkany

Free-Trade: America's Big Bet - Business Insider - 0 views

  • the realm of geopolitics. America and China are pursuing three separate tracks towards trade pacts that would help define the future of trans-Pacific commerce. One of the three does not include China, another excludes the United States. The third is still pie in the sky.
    • colinsarkany
       
      I know this is a news article, but "pie in the sky" is filler, and tells you nothing, except that maybe its a lofty goal? but the article hasn't even explained what a potential goal or arrangement this covers. 
  • The furthest advanced is the American-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), in which China plays no part. On a parallel track, though further behind, is the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which covers only Asian countries and includes China, plus several countries that are also negotiating the TPP.
  • Nearly 50 years after it was first proposed, it is gaining traction due to the emergence of RCEP and TPP initiatives and the continuing stalemate in global trade negotiations."
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  • the TPP is the most ambitious in the short term. It is dominated by America and Japan and also includes Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. Together these countries account for about 40% of global GDP, making it one of America's biggest potential free-trade agreements (FTAs).
  • the TPP is not just aimed at dismantling tariff barriers. It is also meant to tackle tough issues such as intellectual property, services, government procurement, labour and environmental standards. Since its members include economies such as Vietnam and Malaysia whose supply chains depend on cheap labour, negotiations were always likely to be tricky
  • TPP failure would be a disaster
  • There is still time for him and Mr Abe to rescue the trade talks. But unless Mr Obama leads from the front, America's own leadership in the Pacific will seem less convincing than he has repeatedly promised.
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    This is a recent article published on "Business Insider" in regards to current free-trade negotiations in the Pacific. 
colinsarkany

Why do so many Canadian businesses fear cloud computing? - The Globe and Mail - 0 views

  • Many Canadian executives are confused about what cloud computing is, and are worried it’s not a safe way to store important company information, even as the technology promises competitive benefits for flexibility and cost cutting
  • only 10 per cent of the 476 Canadian executives polled said they were familiar with cloud computing, and of that sliver, only 45 per cent could correctly define cloud computing
  • cloud computing is “a general term for anything that involves delivering hosted services over the Internet,”
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  • Microsoft says that many businesses could save money by running programs in the cloud and they can make starting a technology business cheaper, since many services are pay-as-you-go.
  • Microsoft said that almost every business already uses one cloud-based service, whether it’s e-mail, a collaboration system or data storage
  • It’s a challenge of awareness.
  • Businesses have been bombarded with cautionary tales of data security breaches at companies such as Target, Home Depot and JPMorgan, and that’s contributing to a climate of uncertainty and trepidation around privacy.
  • cybersecurity is a real threat, there is a lot of unfounded fear in the market over the risks of cloud computing
  • revenues from commercial cloud services were up 128 per cent from the same time last year in its first quarter earnings on Oct. 23
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    This is a short article from the Globe and Mail addressing the concerns of "Cloud Computing" in the business world, which is relevant as one of Friedman's flatteners. It also links to chapter three through the second topic in terms of horizontal business where you are able to do more yourself, the same principle is true with cloud computing - more can be done in-house with its use limiting the need for other tech/people.
colinsarkany

What Does "The World Is Flat" Mean for Education?: A Closer Look at Our Educational Glo... - 0 views

  • events that have leveled the global playing field. He refers to ten "flatteners": things that have enabled us to connect with the rest of the world much more easily than ever before. Events such as the fall of the Berlin wall, Netscape going public, and the new world of "technologies on steroids" -- cell phones, wireless devices, always being connected, and so on -- have made our world a new place.
  • if you had the choice between being born a B+ student in Brooklyn or a genius in Bangalore, India, you'd rather be born the B+ student in Brooklyn, because your life opportunities would be so much greater in Brooklyn, even as a B+ student. Today, you'd much rather be born a genius in Bangalore, because when the world is flat, and you can plug and play, collaborate and connect, just like you can from Brooklyn, your life chances and opportunities hold more potential than ever before.
  • "what we learn today in school will be outdated by tomorrow, and therefore, the most successful people in the 'flat world' will be those who can adapt and learn quickly
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  • In recent years, many political and socioeconomic barriers have slowly been removed, and huge technological advances have been made.
  • I'm exhilarated by what this means for me, the teachers in my building, and the students we teach. We have the power to make great strides with what we're given. The challenge will be how to take advantage of all this in the educational setting, and try to make sure our classrooms are flat."
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    This article is part review and part thought-provoker in relation to education and Friedman's Flat world. The article primarily reviews the flattening forces, in very little detail, but throws a twist in at the end as it talks specifically about the education system. It is suggested that classrooms become "flat" as well so that everyone is given the same chance to be involved.
colinsarkany

High-Stakes Testing: Policies in the U.S., Finland, & S. Korea | Globalization101 - 0 views

  • The recent decision by the College Board to completely revamp the SAT by 2016 has sparked a national debate on the merits of the SATs, ACTs and standardized testing in general. Some believe the current SAT hurts poor students since many are not able to afford the expensive test preparation courses
  • The new exam will try to help those who cannot access expensive preparation courses by better aligning the test to skills gained in high school courses, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, data analysis, evidence-based reading and writing and analysis of primary documents.
  • The new SAT seems to align with the Common Core, which focuses on building the same skillset
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  • Changing the test does not address other inequities in the U.S. education system, which result in real difference in college performance
  • Nor does Finland use standardized tests to compare and contrast primary and secondary school students and their schools. Assessment is carried out at the local level. Teachers determine the design and timing of the exams, which are used to monitor student progress
  • Furthermore, teachers are selected from the top ten percent of college students and teacher education students get funding to receive a free master’s degree from a Finnish university.
  • South Korea uses high stakes testing to determine high school and college admission. Social status, marriage eligibility and work prospects are all determined by the test outcomes. So, preparation for this test often begins at preschool. (Dalporto, South Korea’s School Success, n.d.). The testing culture is so intense that suicidal thoughts are high amongst low scorers on the exams (Wang, 2013).
  • Some believe that middle class South Koreans are emigrating to the U.S. to avoid this high stakes testing culture. Others believe the low birth rate in South Korea is also tied to the high stakes testing culture as well (Choi, 2009).
  • The steps that the College Board is taking to improve the SAT to align more with the common core seem to be a step in the right direction. At the end of the day, there needs to be emphasis placed on school equality and teacher quality as well because an improved test will not fix a broken school system.
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    The website Globalization101 is a vast resource covering many topics regarding the globalization phenomenon. The article High-Stakes Testing in particular looks at different educational systems, and how US admissions are undergoing reform, while being compared to other educational system styles. The major link between this article and the first chapter of the World is Flat is the focus on skills, not job titles or location. The new standardized admissions tests will focus on skill development opposed to grades which may level the playing field for people to find internationally connected jobs. 
colinsarkany

Half of Toronto-area workers have fallen into 'precarious employment': study - The Glob... - 0 views

  • The widely held belief that employment leads to economic security and social well-being has become out-of-step with an increasing number of people in today’s work force.
  • Everyone else is working in situations that are part-time, vulnerable or insecure in some way. This includes a growing number of temporary, contract and on-call positions. Jobs without benefits. Jobs with uncertain futures. This significant rise in precarious employment is a serious threat – not only to the collective prosperity of the region, but also to the social fabric of communities
  • precarious employment is hurting everyone
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  • many workers to piece together year-round, full-time hours by working multiple jobs. In addition, working conditions are more uncertain
  • being precariously employed is worst when you’re living in low income, our research confirms this increasingly is an issue that affects people at every income level
  • job insecurity is about more than just poverty. Its impacts are far-reaching, affecting all parts of our lives, redefining how we contribute to our economy, give back to our community and interact with our families. Precarious work can make it more difficult to make ongoing volunteer commitments and donate to charities
  • Trends that have caused nearly half of our work force to engage in insecure employment show no signs of slowing down
  • Training and education models with a life-long learning focus can help workers build the skills to continuously improve their employment prospects.
  • What we need today is a renewed public policy framework that will be supportive of those in precarious employment and responsive to the challenges associated with this shifting labour market
colinsarkany

Labour Market Bulletin - Ontario: January 2014 (Quarterly Edition) - 0 views

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    This website provides quarterly updates on Ontario's Labour Market Information. It covers topics including: job gain/loss percentages, unemployment rates. It also breaks job information down by Industry covering employments rates, good produced, and various related services. This resource is beneficial as it covers regional trends within Ontario and provides you with graphs and charts so that the data is presented in an easier to understand manner. It also provides the sources of the data and the links to the source documents if available allowing for more in-depth research to be done on a particular number presented.
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