April McGinnis, Empowerment Coach

  If you click the link, it will take you to the course I developed to help you learn how to write a killer resume.  Yes, it is easier to have someone write your resume for you.  It's also more expensive , especially if you want a professional resume that will land interviews ! Using my method that you will learn in my online course, you can do this yourself , even if you've never written a resume before ! Why learn how to write your own resume? You need to be ready to quickly and easily identify your key skills and explain what you can do for an employer in a concise way in interviews You need to customize your resume for different applications for positions you desire You will need a cover letter for each application, and that letter also needs to be customized to address the needs and requirements of the employer  In previous posts, I have provided some advice on reading and replying to job postings.  It is VITAL that you understand what the employer is...

  Today we wear pink shirts to remind us that bullying is wrong. It reminds us to speak up and stand up. But we often think of bullying as a thing between children.  This is far from the truth.  Workplace harassment, systemic racism and homophobia, and sexual harassment exist everywhere. As a job seeker, do your research. Check out the places you apply to. Do they have a diverse workforce? What is the culture like? How might you be treated if you are black, gay, indigenous, female?  Interviews go both ways.  The employer is checking you out and seeing if there is a fit. Do the same - is this the right employer for you?  And remember to help stop bullying - step up, stand up, be nice - whether you wear a pink shirt or not

Job searching is a full time job!  However , even when we are working, we do not spend every waking moment of our lives at our jobs.  I saw a post on social media that suggested ways to improve yourself and thought that it not only provided some great things to do but also some excellent ways to network and improve your resume ! Stay up to date with current trends Perform interim work (consult, temporary job) Participate (groups, seminars) Take classes or a course Volunteer It's ok to let people you meet know that you are looking for work . It's even better if you've done the work and have your elevator pitch ready that will help them to help you! Your pitch should be a brief introduction to what you are looking for and what makes you worth something to an employer - but it can also help you let people know you are safe to refer to others!  With online options found on Meet Up or other platforms, there are still opportunities to meet people and participate.  There's ...

Believe it or not, despite the challenges of the pandemic, there are still jobs to be filled. The reality is, though, that there are  a lot of job seekers out there competing for those jobs. Don't lose faith!  You can be one of those job seekers who goes the extra mile and lands one of those jobs! I can feel your eye-roll from here...but trust me, you can find work. The first vital thing to understand is that you must find the work . Don't expect the work to find you. Second, you must make your job search your job right now. Success won't come from searching random job postings, half-heartedly completing online applications and hoping for the best. The first thing you can do is to take control of your schedule. Do a time audit. Record everything you do from the moment you wake up until you go to bed. Take stock of how you spend that precious commodity - time.  Evaluate how you spend your days. Then determine what needs to change . Do you do your job search in the dayti...

  Like all skills, resume writing, interviewing, networking, and creating an effective LinkedIn profile need to be learned and practiced. There are options out there to help.  You can hire a resume writer to produce a resume for you. There is still some work involved, though. But it can be quicker and easier than struggling to write one on your own. How can I help? If you aren't eligible for free services, don't have a big budget, but don't know where to start or are frustrated that you seem to have stalled in your job search - I can help with several options.  I have worked as an employment counsellor, job skills counsellor, facilitator, and job search coach. Teaching adults and developing customized training for smaller workshop groups has also helped me develop the skills to help others! I have done training in helping people adjust to change and how to move them closer to their goals. I have training in crisis management and intervention. I've worked with older adul...

Let's be honest, we all have self-doubt.  Job searching is hard! It can erode your self-confidence! It can create self-doubt that can sabotage your efforts! So, what can you do today to inoculate yourself against self-doubt? 1.Take inventory Make a list of your best qualities, both professional and personal. Then prioritize these best qualities in order of what means most to you and what makes you most proud 2. Consider what things sow seeds of self-doubt in you Make that list too Which of these things can you control?  3. Now look at these lists together.  Your first list will help you remember what makes you, YOU! These qualities are your BRAND! Maybe you are analytical, or an empathetic listener, or a competent decision-maker, or you serve others.  Your second list are the things you must throw in the trash - empty them from your mind. When they creep in, remind your inner critic that they mean nothing. There is nothing you can do about them because you do not co...

  "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail" Ok, but I know you're wondering what planning has to do with job searching! There are a couple of plans I would like to share with you that will help you, especially if you're feeling stuck. 1. Plan a schedule for every work day I realize you are not working at the moment, however, staying in work mode by keeping a schedule is         very helpful. It helps you to motivated. It helps to keep you focused. It helps to keep you in a routine.  It forces you to stay in the "work" frame of mind. It is difficult to return to this frame of mind if you let it slip.  Your job search IS YOUR JOB right now. 2. Plan for the interviews, the screening calls, the chance meetings, the informational interviews/networking opportunities  Plan by knowing yourself and developing your unique message to help potential employers know you too.  Do your PAR/CAR/STAR statements, or what I refer to as A...

Let's face it - we all have "those" days. We are tired, discouraged, frustrated and feel as if we'll never reach our goals. We haven't heard from any of the recent applications we've submitted. We feel like giving up. You are not alone. You're dealing with a pandemic and lockdowns; it's winter here in Canada so it's cold and often dreary; you feel isolated and miss working; your money is tight and it feels like you're stuck. What to do now? Maybe it's time to take a day off from the job search. Get some rest. Regroup. Meditate. Reflect on gratitude and seek out the positive things about you and your progress. Take a walk outdoors if you can. Do something creative.  Restart your job search process. Plan a schedule for the week ahead. Schedule in everything: your meals, your exercise, your meditation practice, your job search activities. Then implement that plan and follow the schedule as closely as possible. I guarantee you will feel better ...

SCENARIO: You've decided to search through Indeed or another site to see what jobs are out there in your field. You find a couple that look interesting. You scan the job description, if there is one, and you review the qualifications required.  Myth #1:     Employers know that it is unlikely they will find that "perfect" candidate that can tick every           box on their wish list.  Truth:          When they brainstorm for the posting, employers will list all the qualities they wish they could find. If they happen to find someone with all of the qualities, then they hit the jackpot! They will tend to list the most important qualities they are  looking for first in their list. This may not always be the case, but it is very common. Truth:           Often employers are adding some expectations that a lot of people feel will disqualify them. Sometimes th...

 Like the movie, every day you wake up and go through the routine. Check the job postings on Indeed. Scroll until you find something interesting. Read the job posting. Decide you don't qualify (maybe the employer is looking for 3 years experience and you recently graduated, or they have a wish list that is long and unachievable). Or perhaps you find a couple of postings you want to take a chance on. You send in the same resume you've been using for months. You use a cover letter template that you feel is good enough but you rarely change it up. You wait. No calls come for interviews.  Or, like the actual ground hog, you wake up, see your shadow, and go back to bed to wait for spring. It doesn't have to be this way!  The first thing to change is the way you read a job posting.  Remember that most postings contain a wish list. Like when you think about your dream car - maybe you want a red, sporty convertible with a booming sound system so you can play your favourite m...

Resumes are so hard to do! How do I format it? How do I know what to put in it? How do I know how to use my resume to get an interview?! You're not alone if you have ever asked these questions. Resume writing is a skill. It's not an automatic thing for anyone. It's hard work. You can hire someone to write it for you, I prefer to teach you how to write it yourself so that you have control over your own marketing of yourself! No one knows you better than you! Learning the basics takes some time but the return on your time investment is well worth it. Plus, you'll need to tailor your resume and cover letter for each job you apply for, so doesn't it make sense to learn how to do this right from the start? I have developed an online course for job seekers who want to learn the basics and I will share some tips from that course here in upcoming blog posts. If you want to check out the course, you can check it out here  Job Search Help . The first tip I will share with yo...