“The devil is in the details” is an idiom highlighting how small details can significantly affect the outcome of something and that attention to detail is the difference between something good and something great. This phrase captures the essence of job search success. A misplaced decimal point on a financial spreadsheet will result in inaccurate reporting. It only… Read More »
You know what’s cheap to give in abundance? Criticism. Hence, the idiom “Everyone is a critic”—magnified by everyone having a smartphone—and why no statues have been erected in honour of critics. Social media platforms, intended to encourage sharing and interaction, have turned us into keyboard warriors, relentlessly expressing unsolicited opinions and tearing others down. Whether it’s your grandma… Read More »
Recently, while waiting in my doctor’s office, I found myself scrolling through my Facebook feed. I stumbled upon a meme that read, “All this arguing over my invisible man is more important than your invisible man.” It struck me how social media has amplified our access to a wide range of opinions, judgments, and conspiracy theories, which entangle… Read More »
Across Canada, in coffee shops, at kitchen tables, on radio call-in shows, when speaking with neighbours and work colleagues and of course on social media the angst-ridden talk is… Tariffs are coming! Tariffs are coming! Tariffs are coming! American politics tends to be characterized by theatrics; showmanship often takes precedence over substance. Donald Trump’s threats, which aim to… Read More »
Many job seekers become frustrated and angry because they believe employers should take a chance on hiring them. Most job seekers fail, or refuse, to grasp that hiring is a critical business decision involving an investment of their time, money, and trust—the stakes are high. Great hires can propel a team forward, while bad hires can create setbacks,… Read More »
Imagine you’re an executive at a major Hollywood studio. You’re meeting with two producers you’ve worked with before. They’re pitching a screenplay set in 1870s Oregon about unrequited love. Your interest is piqued. As you skim through the script, you ask, “Any thoughts on who should lead this? Pitt? Hemsworth? Butler? Pascal?” “I can see DiCaprio playing Heathcliff,”… Read More »
Job hunting is a ‘winner takes all’ competition in which you’re compared and judged against other applicants. Putting in an application for a job is no different from entering a baking or short story contest. However, there’s one difference: there’s no second place—silver medal—nor does “everyone wins for doing their best,” hence why giving participation trophies does a… Read More »
2024… that’s a wrap! It was fun watching social media continue to evolve rapidly, especially in shaping how businesses and consumers interact online. This past Black Friday, shoppers ditched the mall in favour of shopping online. U.S. retail stores reported a modest 0.7 percent rise in sales this year versus a 14.6 percent rise for e-commerce. 2024 showed… Read More »
In the late 90s, I was interviewing for a call centre management position with a well-known insurance company. Karl, my interviewer, and I clicked. Small talk revealed we shared a love of golf and agreed that Rhum Corner makes the best mojitos in Toronto. Karl seemed impressed by my STAR stories and experience creating incentive programs that drove… Read More »
Most job search advice is cookie-cutter. The advice you’re following is almost certainly the same advice other job seekers follow, making you just another candidate following the same script. In today’s hyper-competitive job market, standing out is critical, a challenge most job seekers struggle with. Instead of relying on generic questions recommended by self-proclaimed career coaches, which often… Read More »