The Hardest Part of Job Searching: Getting Noticed Recently, I was asked, “Nick, what do you feel is the hardest part of job searching? My answer, without hesitation: “Getting noticed.” Prior to 2005—I am ballparking—applying for jobs and sending thank-you letters involved fancy resume paper, matching envelopes, and plenty of stamps. Answering a job ad required effort akin… Read More »
On July 5th, Mark Zuckerberg launched the Twitter (now ‘X’) clone Threads seemingly as a stab at X/Twitter’s new owner and his nemesis Elon Musk. I can only surmise Zuckerberg saw X/Twitter as a “sinking ship” that he could take advantage of. Backstory: 15 years ago, Zuckerberg wanted X/Twitter. Apparently, he tried purchasing the bird app several times.… Read More »
The answer is “Yes,” however, the existential question is, “Can you live without social media?” How social media works: Me: “I prefer mangoes to oranges…” Random Person (hiding behind an anonymous account): “So basically, what you’re saying is that you hate oranges. You also failed to mention pineapples, bananas, and grapefruits. Educate yourself!” You can never win on… Read More »
When interviewing candidates or meeting someone at a professional event, I can tell how involved they are in managing call centres. How? By the words they use. Specifically, I am referring to terminology call center professionals use, such as AHT (Average Handle Time), ASR (Automatic Speech Recognition), CTI (Computer Telephony Integration), and SLA (Service Level Agreement). Code-like acronyms,… Read More »
Outside of you, nobody really cares about your “whys.” Therefore, an effective way to build a relationship with someone is to show them you care about their whys. The ability to cultivate strong bonds with others is a valuable skill that will significantly enhance your personal and professional life. A job search and life tip: When you meet someone… Read More »
Undeniably, having solid and proven skills and abilities (e.g., technical, project management, problem-solving, communication. sales) are essential for landing a job. However, there is a personality trait, a soft skill that can be learned, that is of far greater importance than your hard skills; being likeable. Being likeable is critical because the foremost question running through your interviewer’s… Read More »
“Change doesn’t always mean progress, but the status quo is not always the best result, either. It is merely the most convenient.” – Harsha Bhogle, Indian cricket commentator and journalist. 102 candidates are running to be Toronto’s 66th mayor. Which of these candidates… Looks like a mayor? Talks like a mayor? Listens like your neighbour? It may be… Read More »
“There is no such thing as not voting: you either vote by voting, or you vote by staying home and tacitly doubling the value of some Diehard’s vote.” ― David Foster Wallace, Consider the Lobster and Other Essays. Despite a field of 102 Toronto mayoral candidates, last night’s election was a two-candidate battle—proving the need for rank-balloting—between Ana Bailão… Read More »
Based on my interactions with those under 35, I have made the following generalization: Young people today are increasingly eschewing meaningful friendships, intimate relationships, having a steady job, and being connected to a religion and a community in favour of spending a lot of time on social media. It is well known that a healthy eating habit is… Read More »
Networking Can Be as Comfortable as Having a Garage Sale When I hear someone say, “I hate networking,” I wonder why anyone would dislike something that offers many benefits, most notably more job and business opportunities, broader knowledge, faster career advancement, and higher status. Generally, people who make networking a daily habit have an easier time finding employment.… Read More »