jobpostings Magazine (Vol. 13, Issue 7)

contracts when the † attack fine print How to read and understand an employment contract.

And what to watch out for…

†

the fine print

&

Environmental Professionals

Wine, Food, Business

The Mining industry needs you

Run your own restaurant

march 2011 | careers. education. ideas. all of it.

BUSINESS DEGREES BUSINESS DEGREES IN: Accounting e-Business Marketing Fashion Management Human Resources Management International Business Tourism Management

business.humber.ca

who’s

16

hiring

Hey. Did you know that these companies have lots of entry level positions? Visit their websites to see a full list of positions available.

The Fine Print

7 The Home Depot (Merchandising Execution Team) 9 Chair-man Mills Inc. 9 NAV Canada 9 Tim Hortons 11 College Pro 11 The New England Center for Children 13 The Home Depot (Part-time) 20 Sun Life Financial 23 Air Canada Jazz 23 Delta Hotels and Resorts 27 College Pro 29 Cameco 29 P&H MinePro Services

Employment contracts can be tangled, technical

knots to untie. Not to mention utterly boring to read. But before you sign on the dotted line, you should know the standard clauses and how they pertain to you.

yay! more school

IFC Humber, The Business School (Undergrad) 3 Humber, School of Social and Community Services 15 Humber, Accounting 30 Humber, School of Media Studies and Information Technology 30 Queen’s University 31 Brock University 31 Canada’s Automotive School of Business, Georgian College 31 Centennial College 31 Conestoga College 31 Fanshawe College 31 Ithaca College 31 Queen’s University 31 Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry 31 Sheridan College 31 Trent University IBC Humber, The Business School (Postgrad) OBC Humber, Global Business

Images: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

who else?

6

25 3

Insurance Institute of Canada Scholarships Canada Mining Industry Human Resources Council

stuff to buy 5 Rogers Wireless

jobpostings.ca | march 2011

Plus: When Contracts Attack! (p. 19)

4 Success Story

22

8 interviewsmarts — This

Covic on how to take advantage

Into the Frying Pan, Lovingly — Want to start your own

of unexpected change. Brought to

restaurant? Networking and pay-

have faced while working on an

you by Rogers Wireless.

ing your dues will get you there.

important project?

6

24

10 careercupid

From our blogs

— Danijela

— Travelling

Found in Translation — From

on the Company Dime.

financial institutions to govern-

30

ments, translators are in high de-

Edu-ma-cation

mand. Inside this often unappre— The won-

derfully awesome and practical

ciated, but highly lucrative, career.

uses of an Agricultural Econom-

26

ics MA.

Hard Science

32

fascinating and utterly important

JobLife — Lessons Learned: fail-

— The wildly

work of a pharmaceutical chemist.

ing a course paid for by the com-

28

pany. Whoops.

Getting in Step — The mining

month: What is a challenge you

— Does the

thought of networking make you want to hide under your bed?

You’re not alone.

12 oneonone

— From non-

profit to politics. We get some sage advice from Calgary’s Teresa Woo-Paw, MLA.

industry has plenty of opportuni-

14 startup — Milun Tesovic on

ties for environmental profession-

communication, running a com-

als: A look at the nature and im-

pany while attending school, and

portance of a growing profession.

song lyrics.

1

our favourite quote this month:



"Some people only want success and status, to work in a good restaurant or start their own without putting in the time to really learn the business, to learn the subtleties that make it the craft that it is, instead of a mere trade. It’s not enough to want it, you have to live it."

Jennifer Mooers, Into the Frying Pan, Lovingly (p. 22)

editor’snote Jason Rhyno

This past January I attended a conference called CANNEXUS,

the annual get-together of Canada’s career counsellors/ practitioners/advisors/consultants — basically anyone who

helps other people with their careers. Former Prime Minister Paul Martin stopped by on the last day of the conference to talk about the Martin Aboriginal Initiative; he explained the challenges they were facing implementing their

programs(mostly educational in nature), and the role of career practitioners in regards to education and career issues facing Aboriginals. He also threw some cold-water on our

inflated sense of Canadian do-gooderness. How can we, as

Canadians, wrap ourselves in our human rights flag, saddleup our high horse, and lecture other countries about their violation of human rights when we are home to some of the

world’s most impoverished communities (read: Aboriginal population)? It was the right crowd to talk to about this issue:

a collection of very passionate, very caring people. Martin’s speech, as well as the conference itself, got me thinking, and

not for the first time, about how much we can affect change in the world around us by simply having a job.

We can use examples like doctors, and teachers, and of

course electrical engineers (thanks for keeping the power on!) or food inspectors (thanks for keeping the salmonella

out!), but what about trades people? As Mike Holmes point-

ed out in a past interview with jobpostings, trades people construct the buildings where doctors operate on patients.

And what about those other jobs that really don’t get respect? Like retail or serving? Do we affect change by helping somebody find the right size of pants?

During my first year of post-secondary, I worked at a then-

growing retail outlet that sold clothes to teenage men. On

one very slow evening shift, a mother came in with her son. He was maybe 13 years old, a bit pudgy and very self-

2

conscious. “He’s going to a school dance,” his mom told me, “and needs some clothes.” As I started to pick out some clothes, the mother, to my surprise, said “I’m going to leave

him with you guys. I have some other shopping to do.” It was

jobpostings publisher Nathan Laurie nlaurie@jobpostings.ca

associate publisher Mark Laurie mlaurie@jobpostings.ca

editor Jason Rhyno jrhyno@jobpostings.ca

graphic designer Sonya van Heyningen svanheyningen@jobpostings.ca

web editor Emily Minthorn eminthorn@jobpostings.ca

contributors Christine Fader, Ross Harrhy, Naoise Hefferon, Rodney Larmand, Allison Mitchell, Kevin Nelson, Eleni Papavasiliou, Jeff Sebanc

editorial intern Andrew Williams

national account managers Sarah-Lyn Amaral, Lori Blanchard, Mary Vanderpas

a quiet night in the store, so myself and the other associate were able to give the boy lots of attention, and we dressed

him to the nines. Two weeks later, during a busy Christmas

rush, his mother popped in and dropped off a large gift basket. “The other kids loved his clothes, he’s been beaming for

weeks,” she said. “He’s got a girlfriend,” she said proudly, before thanking us for giving him the attention we did. See?

Change! While I didn’t topple a dictatorship, it was still visible change, albeit on a small scale — but I’m of the mind that there are no such things as “little things.”

Too often, I think we undersell the far-reaching implications

Published by Passion Inc. 25 Imperial Street, Suite 100 Toronto, ON M5P 1B9 jobpostings.ca 1-877-900-5627 ext. 221

of the work we do, only fully noticing it when we hear of oil

spills or the unethical decisions made by CEOs and politicians. If we can nearly destroy an entire ecosystem through our work, then can’t we do the opposite? If thousands of jobs are lost because we make a bad investment, can’t we

create a thousand jobs by making a good investment? In fact, I wonder: what would have happened had we dressed

that boy with only our commission in mind, loading him up with pricey clothes that didn’t fit his frame, and sent him off to that dance looking like a fashion victim?

We should never forget how, who, and what our work

affects. And by using our unique skills to help overcome

shared challenges such as Paul Martin using his skills as

jobpostings is published eight times in the school year. Issue dates are September, October, November, January, February, March, April, and May. Copies of jobpostings are distributed to over 105 universities and colleges across Canada. Contents of this publication are protected by copyright and may not be reprinted in whole or part without permission of the publishers.

Is spring here yet?

a politician to tackle education issues among Aboriginals,

and Mike Holmes building stable shelters for families in

New Orleans, we can (in our own little 9-5 way) change the world.



on the cover: © iStockphoto | Anne Clark

march 2011 | jobpostings.ca

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successstories Taking Advantage of Change Name

Danijela Covic

Company

Century Group Financial Solutions Inc. Sun Life Financial

Position Advisor

Time in Role 2 years Degree

Business Sales and Marketing

Where did you go to school?

What program did you attend?

What skills have you learned through your work experience?

I first attended Conestoga College where I received a diploma in Human Service Foundations. I then moved to Niagara on the Lake and received a diploma from the Business Sales and Marketing program at Niagara College.

Time management and organizational skills are the first two I have learned the most about.

Knowing how to organize your calendar is so important in this industry. The more organized you are the more work you will be able to get accomplished. Another important skill this job will teach you is troubleshooting. Things can always change in a split second, and through experience you can learn how to take advantage of those changes.

How did you find your current position?

After graduating, I decided to take some time and explore my options and see what careers were suitable to me and my education. During this time I had a meeting with my advisor to review my personal finances and that’s when he asked me about considering a career as an advisor. This was a career that I didn’t entertain entering into; however, since my initial interview, I have never looked back.

Tell us a bit about your responsibilities.

The biggest responsibility I have is ensuring that all “prospects” and clients are fully educated on the importance of having life and health coverage for their entire family, as well as having a well-versed investment portfolio.

What is the most challenging aspect of your position?

The most challenging aspect of my position is time management. While running your own business has many positives, it presents challenges. You have to be accountable for all of your clients and your office. So, delegating your time in a proper manner is very important. It takes time to get a system in place and get accustomed to it.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

The most rewarding part of this career is the feeling that you have made a difference in someone’s life. My clients trust that I will always do the right thing for them and their family. That is a very big responsibility but also a rewarding one to know someone believes in you that much to entrust their current and future plans to you.

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What do you think it takes to be successful in this career?

It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and honesty. You have to be prepared to work seven days a week if needed and love every moment of it. It’s not hard work if you love and believe in what you do.

Is there one accomplishment you are most proud of to date?

In my first full year as an advisor, I was able to achieve a company target goal to get invited to a conference in Hawaii. This was not an easy goal to set or even achieve, but I managed to accomplish it with a lot of hard work. This great success has allowed me to prove to myself that with the proper drive and tools you are able to achieve any goal, no matter how big or small it is.

What advice do you have for students looking to land their first job?

Make sure that you look at all of your options,.

Sometimes the careers that you don’t see in the limelight and that are not always the most obvious ones turn out to be the best ones. Also make sure that you walk into every opportunity with an open mind because until you fully understand what you are being offered, you can’t make the most educated decision.

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from our blogs | 01/21/2011

Q

Travelling on the

Company Dime I always wanted to have a job where the com-

This Sunday I'm flying to Ottawa to attend

to check emails, do some proofreading, and

pany flew me out to meet with clients, and

CANNEXUS, the national conference for career

prepare for the next day. And I have to keep

attend conferences. I thought, "Man, how cool

counsellors/consultants (and a few recruiters).

track of all my purchases, including receipts,

would that be?" Friends would ask me, "Hey,

Saturday I'll be working from home research-

for obvious company finance reasons. (Wanna

Jason, wanna get together this Monday?" and I

ing the conference (there's a ton of sessions

know how I keep track of all my receipts? I

would say, "No, sorry. I'm flying out to New York

each day, and I like to have a little background

stuff them into a ziploc bag and worry about

for a quick conference — I got important con-

knowledge on each subject), finishing off a few

them later.) Everyday is long, exhausting, and

nections to make, and deals to sign over a few

things I didn't get to this past week, and trying

requires excellent time management skills.

fancy-pants dinners, but I'll be taking the red-

to pack 50 copies of the magazine, my clothes,

eye back Wednesday so I'll meet you for squash

dress shoes, toiletries, and Jay Z's Decoded into

in the a.m." (In other words: I’m a big deal.)

one small carry-on bag.

Well, I finally have a job at a company that pe-

The first day will be a long day of sessions,

riodically flies me out to attend conferences,

broken up with brief phone calls back to job-

and it's great, but it's not as fun as I envisioned

postings' HQ as we are going to print while

it. In fact, it's actually serious work and kind of

I'm away, followed by a dinner with some ca-

takes its toll on you.

reer counsellors, and then back to the hotel

Still, though, I'm pretty excited... Just wish I had room to bring my skates. I can hear the Rideau Canal calling my name from here.

P

Image: Goodshoot RF/Thinkstock

by Jason Rhyno

march 2011 | jobpostings.ca

Unleash Your Vision Merchandising Execution Associates Are you a self-motivated team player with an eye for the details? The Home Depot, one of Canada’s top 100 employers, is currently hiring Merchandising Execution Associates (MEAs).

MEAs enhance the environment for our customers by executing merchandising strategies and ensuring products are displayed correctly in our stores. You’ll also provide product knowledge to store associates.

You bring the strong communication skills and experience of working on teams and we’ll offer competitive benefits including tuition reimbursement, health & dental plans and 70+benefits.

Travel to various store locations may be required.

Apply online at:

homedepotjobs.ca/Student1 We are committed to diversity as an equal opportunity employer.

So you screwed up in the interview, huh? They asked the ol’ “What’s your greatest weakness” question and you responded with “cupcakes,” hoping to get a laugh. Awkward.

Lucky for you we have friends on the inside – recruiting friends (the people who’ll be interviewing you). It cost us a few favours, but they finally

by Rodney Larmand

agreed to explain why they ask what they ask, and what the best answers

President

are. It’s a cheatsheet for interviews.

@ College Pro

Painters Canada

Good luck!

Q A

What is an example of a challenge you have faced while working on an important project?

smarts

First though, I’ll try to establish why the project was meaningful. I want to make sure this project was important to you because we all like to think that when you come work with us you’re going to find all the work you do to be very meaningful — or we hope so anyway! Throughout your professional life you will face setbacks, and when something is important to you and it isn’t going well, your emotions can really begin to get in the way of your performance. What I want to know is what does that emotional rollercoaster look like? How did you react in the situation? Were you able to control your emotions? Perhaps you flipped out but then moved on and still got the job done? Or did it take you several weeks to process and get over the issue?

We are all emotional beings, and as much as we don’t like to admit it, our emotions govern our behaviours. We are all going to have hard times keeping it together at some point — especially when we have a lot on the line — but some people are better than others at taking that stress, pushing it aside and still executing at a high level. You can see this in high level athletes in how they train with sports psychologists. For athletes, the difference in performance is often being able to deal with the stress of competition and pushing it aside so that they can go and execute at a high level. This ability to control your emotions in pursuit of a meaningful goal is one of the major traits I look for in a good candidate. 

8

march 2011 | jobpostings.ca

Image: © Andrew Williams

* interview

I like this question because it’s general enough that it makes you think of an example, process through it and then explain it back to me. You can bet I’ll be following up with lots of questions to learn the details of how you worked through the challenge.

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9

ing” and for some of us,

Don’t tell anyone, but I hate networking. Yes, I know that

Despite my aversion to net-

schmoozing comes more

I work as a career counsel-

working, I do understand

naturally than for others.

lor and I’m supposed to be

and agree with the notion

Personally, every time I

all “networking is the way

that one path to satisfy-

think about networking,

to success” but I personally

ing work — or any work at

I flash back to grade two

don’t like doing it.

all — is through connecting

when I spent what felt

with others in both infor-

like hours standing on

mal and professional situa-

my various neighbours’

tions, rather than exclu-

front steps, shifting from

sively through job postings.

one foot to the other, eyes

And, since most employers

downcast, stomach in

phrases that come from

tend not to advertise jobs if

knots, trying to sell Girl

that model such as “your

they can avoid it (expensive

Guide cookies. Networking

marketing documents” and

and time-consuming), we

certainly feels like sales to

“selling your skills” and

are much more able to offer

me — and sales are not my

even, “your 30-second info-

and consider opportunities

thing. But does networking

mercial.” No wonder many

if we are actively engag-

really mean schmoozing?

students would rather just

ing in conversations and

Or, has the good name of

hit the ‘refresh’ button on

building relationships on a

job search (and networking

GreatGigs.com over and

regular basis around topics

by extension) been sullied

over and over…

of mutual interest.

by the sales slant perpe-

Don’t get me wrong. I am a people person but

career cupid

I have residual shyness left over from my childhood and teenage years as a four-eyed, braces- and acne-endowed bookworm.

by Christine Fader

Walking into a room full of strangers and feeling as if I have to confidently

the wallflower’s reprieve

deliver a rehearsed “blurb” that sells my attributes to as many people as possible makes me feel nauseous.

And, even if I did manage to blurt it out, what if there

But, knowing that network-

was spinach in my teeth or

ing is helpful and actually

something? I’d rather pitch

wanting to do it are two

myself down an elevator

different things. Why is it

shaft than actually recite

trated upon it by career practitioners, recruiters, best-selling motivational speakers and authors?

So, speaking as both a victim and perpetrator of this sales mindset, let me recap. Instead of feeling like networking and job search

that I can comfortably talk

Cathy acknowledges that I

are competitive sales

the oft-touted-as-the-way-

for one and a half hours to

am not alone in my dread

situations where I have to

to-career-success “elevator

a room with 700 people in

and suggests thinking

schmooze, memorize and

pitch.” And, I’m more

it but I get clammy

about job search differ-

deliver an “elevator pitch,”

than a little certain that

just thinking about “work-

ently, using something

I can instead choose to

I’m not alone.

ing a room” full of 30

she coins, The Integrity

navigate through these

potential contacts?

Mindset. She proposes that

situations in a way that is

the entire process of job

authentic for me. Instead

search could be a lot more

of feeling pressured to

comfortable and rewarding

“work a room,” I can focus

if we chose not to adopt

on enjoying as little as one

the sales mindset and

naturally-occurring con-

instead, considered three

versation that is meaning-

pillars of a new job search

ful to me and the person

mindset: ethics, dignity

with which I’m having it.

and authenticity.

Hunh. Suddenly, network-

Cathy Keates, Career Counsellor and former Associate Director of Career Services at York University, delves into a possible answer. In her book, “Not for Sale – Why We Need a New Job Search Mindset” (Career Considerations, 2009),

ing feels a lot more com-

Cathy argues that in being

It’s a radical yet completely

traditionally encouraged

common-sense idea, and

to think of ourselves in

career counsellors might

the job search process as

need to be the first ones

“products” that need pro-

in line to learn this new

So, I’m ready to boldly try

motion and selling, we turn

way of thinking about job

this au naturel-networking

career communication into

search. After all, if you’ve

(my term, not Cathy’s) and

sales pitches — something

ever visited a career centre,

to recommend it to others.

that is uncomfortable, if

you have probably realized

I can handle this idea of job

not downright unfathom-

that, as a rule, we tend

search done the authentic,

able, for many people.

to be well entrenched

non-salesy way. But, I have

in propagating the sales

one question before I head

metaphor. Our advice and

into the fray: Is there any

literature is littered with

spinach in my teeth? 

Many people equate networking with “schmooz-

fortable and achievable for me — and for the students with whom I work.

Christine Fader works as a career counsellor at Queen’s University and is the author of, “Career Cupid: Your Guide to Landing and Loving Your Dream Job.” Visit her website at careercupid.com

march 2011 | jobpostings.ca

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11

mentor /' mentor/ 1 n. an experienced and trusted advisor or guide (who usually buys lunch, too). 2. Yoda 3. Or Mr. Miyagi (“wax on, wax off”). 4. Professor Dumbledore – he was a mentor. 5. So was Gandalf. 6. Morpheus! Nearly forgot about Morpheus! He was a pretty sick mentor. Man, how cool would it be to have Morpheus as your mentor? (Hey, why aren’t there any women mentors in pop culture?) 7. v.tr. act as a mentor to (a person). mentoring n. & adj. mentorship n.

oneonone When it comes to female representation in politics, Canada is 55th on the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s ranking system behind Rwanda,

Teresa Woo-Paw, Member of the Legislative Assembly in Calgary Interviewed by Eleni Papavasiliou

From non-profit to politics, how did you manage the transition?

Sudan, Iraq and even Afghanistan. The results are counter-intuitive

considering that comparatively, Canadian women enjoy more personal freedoms. Clearly, being a woman in a man’s world isn’t easy. So how does a female immigrant become a politician in Canada?

oratively and make compromises is essential. Being a good listener and

I never planned on a career in politics, but looking back, the non-profit in-

being empathetic are valuable skills too. Lastly, mastering the art of time

ed the Calgary Chinese Community Services Association in my basement

What are the major challenges facing women in politics today?

dustry laid the foundation for my present career. It started when I foundwhile raising three children. After years in non-profit and diversity management, I saw how my experience and resources could be used to give a voice for those who are never heard. Becoming a politician seemed like the obvious next step.

Have you experienced racism and/or sexism during your career?

Sexism was more subtle, while racism was more blatant. For example, people would ask me rhetorical questions like, “What kind of last name

is that?” Facing attitudes like “the yellow race is taking over” was typical.

My credibility was also undermined by people who believed I wouldn’t represent all of my constituents’ needs because of my race.

Non-profit equals Left, and Conservative equals Right. You’re both, huh?

Conservatism runs across a broad spectrum and where you stand depends

on how you interpret the ideology. Peter Lougheed [former Premier of Alberta] was a visionary leader who embraced fiscal responsibility and progressive social changes. Likewise, the non-profit world encourages you to live within your means. With these principles I merge the two polarities.

What skills are required to be an effective politician?

management is a given.

The lack of representation is the most damaging. As a result, we can’t

put forward any analysis from a woman’s perspective for major issues.

Currently, there is also a lack of willingness to work together across party lines to embrace our common ground.

Are politicians “married” to their jobs?

Yes. Regardless of whether you are a man or a woman, having young children while in office is very challenging. Fortunately for me, my children

are grown and my husband has always been supportive. Non-profit jobs are also very demanding so when I got into politics the impact on my

family was minimal; they were already accustomed to me being away from home.

Got any advice for those pursuing a career in politics?

Determine your guiding principles and stick to them, because it is both a

privilege and an opportunity to influence change. Demonstrate a commitment to public service, set goals and focus on building your networks

and credentials early. Your attitude will make or break you; always remain optimistic, even in the face of adversity.

Aside from committing to working long hours and remaining flexible,

people skills are crucial. The ability to find common ground, work collab-

12

march 2011 | jobpostings.ca

If you don’t know which paint dries faster, but you like helping people…

then we want to talk to you.

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Many positions available including: • Cashiers • Sales Associates • Department Supervisors

Apply online at homedepotjobs.ca/1924 We are committed to diversity as an equal opportunity employer.

Oh, by the way, the paint that dries faster is the latex paint. See, you’ve already learned something. jobpostings.ca | march 2011

13

Owner of MetroLeap Media Inc. Studying Business Admin at Simon Fraser U. (but currently taking a semester off), 25 years old. 2009 ACE National Student Entrepreneur Competition Champion

Can you tell me a little bit about MetroLeap Inc.,

what it aims to do, and what makes it unique both from a user perspective and a client perspective?

We’re a content based company, and our primary asset is metrolyrics.com — the third largest music website in the world and North America. We get

about 50 million unique visitors a month and we

serve over a billion ad impressions every month.

From an advertisers standpoint, we have a very large audience that’s closely related to the music

industry, so for any brands looking to penetrate the music market, or relate to the music market, we are a natural fit.

Milun Tesovic

As a company, we strive to be the most comprehensive and accurate lyrics database out there, and we add secondary content, such as music, news, videos and pictures to keep the users engaged and give them the entire music picture rather that just the lyrics. We’re making sure we provide anything

and everything about song lyrics; it’s really about encompassing the entire music experience around music lyrics, and bringing that to the user.

Interviewed by Jason Rhyno

You’re a student and a CTO. Can you describe an average day in your life, in terms of balancing the school books and maintaining your company?

Typically, I wake up between 6:00am and 6:30am.

The first thing I do is check my email — usually be-

fore breakfast — send off any important emails, then I head off to work or school. The way I schedule school is a maximum three hours a day, either

first thing in the morning or at the very end of the day, and night classes if possible. From the office, I

have an early morning meeting with all of the de-

everything in a meaningful way, you’re really not

velopers, make sure everyone is on track, and from there either go to school or catch up on the rest of

my emails. Studying is usually over the weekend, but what I find is key is paying attention in class. If you pay attention in class, you can spend half the

time studying and do equally well, if not better.

Once I clued into that, I didn’t have to study more than a couple of hours every couple of days.

So when the business started taking off, were you ever tempted to leave school?

School for me is not what school means for a lot

of other people. For me, it’s more about educating

myself and making myself better than a means to a career. I have my career, I have my job and I’m not looking for anything other than this. So I take a

different approach to school: ‘What am I going to

learn’ rather than ‘I can’t wait to finish so I can go out and get a job’.

Aside from confidence, what type of personality traits do you think an entrepreneur needs?

You need to be vocal, and you need to communicate your ideas the right way, and you need to have

leadership qualities. At some point in time it’s going to be more than just you. You’re the leader, and

if you can’t communicate a proper vision, if you

startup

can’t communicate the product, the values, and

setting yourself up for success. So communication

is being able to formulate your thoughts and connect with other people so they believe in you and the product as much as you do to help give the product the best chance of success.

Any advice?

One of things I keep noticing is that when I go to

different universities to speak, is one full seat, one empty seat. Not taking that opportunity to network

and start communicating early on, and building up your skills as a communicator, as someone who is

approachable and somebody who is confident in approaching other people, is a shame. School is an ideal place to do that, so start building your skills early on, and start getting that support group.

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15

The Print

by Allison Mitchell

You may have had a job before, but have you had to sign an

Employment agreements are meant to protect the employer

co-op work term, a summer job, or your first job after gradu-

ment. The obligations that each party has to the other, as well

employment agreement? As you embark on an internship, a ation, you may be faced with having to sign an employment

agreement. Signing your first employment agreement can be a daunting task. Instead of breaking out into a cold sweat and wondering what you are getting yourself into, you need to un-

derstand the different parts of an employment agreement so that you can anticipate what to expect.

and the employee by clearly establishing the terms of employas the benefits that each party will receive from the other should be clearly documented. Employment agreements dif-

fer from company to company in terms of format, length, lan-

guage and content. Companies may use a 1-2 page offer letter that includes elements of an employment agreement; some

may use thicker agreements that incorporate elements of an

march 2011 | jobpostings.ca

Fine t how to read and understand an employment contract

offer letter; while others will use a combination

and ask you to sign both an offer letter and an em-

ployment agreement. Some agreements may be very easy to read while others require a law degree

to understand. There are some common elements in employment agreements, however the content

will change depending on the company. So, what can you expect to find in an employment agreement? Read on‌

Title, start date, compensation, duties

and

responsibilities,

probationary period, and term

of agreement should all be

included in the offer letter and/or the employment agreement.

The compensation will include details about salary, benefits,

can’t ask your work friends to leave and join you at your new company. You’ll just have to make new work friends. † Intellectual Property Intellectual property is the product of the creations of the

mind, such as trademarks, designs, copyrights, slogans, etc.

Since a company’s success is dependent on its intellectual

property, it is important for companies to include this clause in the employment agreements. The degree of emphasis on

intellectual property will depend on the type of business that you are working for. Obviously, technology companies tend to have a strong emphasis on intellectual property.

bonus/incentives, and vacation.

† Termination Clause

A probationary period is a period of time following a start date

This clause establishes any period of notice that the employer

is meeting the employment requirements of the other. The

the employment relationship ends. This clause will also out-

nies, if there is one at all. If there is a probationary period, it will

ambiguity as possible.

where the employer and employee can ensure that each party

or employee needs to give the other party in the event that

length of the probationary period may differ among compa-

line the elements of termination for cause to reduce as much

most likely be between three and six months. Whether or not

† Other Clauses

there is a probationary period for a co-op term or internship will depend on the length of the work term.

The agreement should also specify if the position is a fixed-term assignment — meaning there is an end date — or is an indefi-

nite term assignment. For example, your co-op terms or internships will be fixed-term assignments as they are temporary. † Confidentiality Confidentiality clauses, also called non-disclosure clauses, are

a key part of any employment agreement. Companies need to protect their information in order to maintain a competitive

edge. These clauses generally include provisions for product

There are many other clauses that can be included in an employment agreement. Some other clauses that you may

encounter include a clarification clause stating that the com-

pany owns all customer lists, customers’ records, copyrights, patents, etc. This is often covered in the Intellectual Property clause, however you may see it separately.

The employment agreement should also outline the company’s policies. If they do not summarize the policies in the agreement itself, then they may reference the company policies and require you to abide by these policies. If you have any questions about the policies before you sign, then ask!

or service related information, client information (including

This list of employment agreement clauses is not exclusive;

because you are an employee. Most agreements will specify

agreement. When you are presented with an agreement, en-

to note that confidentiality clauses are not only in effect while

derstand the agreement so that you make an informed choice

Once you are no longer an employee, you will still be covered

agreement is okay to sign without careful review. Make sure

means that you cannot disclose any information deemed to

rately reflect what you understand the responsibilities of the

client lists), and other information that you acquire simply

there are other clauses that can be included in an employment

what is classified as confidential information. It’s important

sure that you take the time to read. It is important that you un-

you are an employee, but also after you leave the company.

as to whether or not you should sign it. Don’t assume that the

under the confidentiality clause of the agreement, which

that the duties and responsibilities in the agreement accu-

be confidential even after you are gone.

position to be. At the end of the day, it is going to come down

† Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation The non-competition clause means that you will not work for the employer’s competition during or after your employment

with them for a certain period of time after you have left, and

usually within a certain geographical region. The last thing

your employer needs is for you to take all of that confidential information and go work for the competition down the street.

Non-solicitation clauses mean that you are not going to solicit business or employees away from the employer during or after your employment relationship has ended. There is also a period

18

of time attached to this clause. In other words, if you leave, you

to what is written into the employment agreement and not

what you were told in the interview process so make sure that you are comfortable with the information that is written into the agreement. Some agreements will be easier to read than others. If you have questions or need clarification, then it is your duty to ask questions.

Remember that employment law will dictate certain minimum

requirements including minimum wage and the number of hours that you can work in a week, to name a couple. Agree-

ments can offer you more than the minimum stipulated in the applicable employment law (for example, more vacation march 2011 | jobpostings.ca

Image: © Getty Images/ Comstock/Thinkstock Images (Previous Page: Hemera/ Thinkstock)

† Job Related Information

…if you leave, you can’t ask your work friends to leave and join you at your new company. You’ll just have to make new work friends.

When Contracts Attack f

by Andrew Williams

Pets aren’t the only thing that might turn around and bite you.

Words on a sheet of paper could be just as dangerous when not properly leashed.

or more termination notice),

but it cannot offer less than what you would be entitled to under the appropriate employment law.

At some point in your career, you will be presented with

an employment agreement.

Don’t take signing an employment agreement lightly.

Ensure that you understand

or most jobs, at least those that pay you over the

table, you must sign on the dotted line before you can say “Show me the money!” But of course, wading through a contract’s tangled technical language might seem like translating Klingon. It’s also, well,

boring to read. So we skim through the sheets, glossing

over paragraphs, and sign our life away with no regards as to what we just did. Eventually, the-you-know-what hits the proverbial fan.

what you are signing before

“I see up to 500 clients a year,” says Daniel A. Lublin, an em-

to go through the agree-

half of those clients have a dispute concerning a contract in

you sign it. Ask the employer

ment with you so that you can ask questions along the

way. If you are not comfort-

able with the answers that you are getting, then take

At the end of the day, it is going to come down to what is written into the employment agreement and not what you were told in the interview process. the agreement to a lawyer to review. Before you put pen to

ployment lawyer at Whitten & Lublin LLP. “Approximately one form or another.” Here are just a few (kinda scary) ex-

amples that Lublin has shared with us where employer and employee have butted heads:

A 21-year-old landed a job with a large financial services com-

pany as a financial advisor. The heads of the company were thoughtful enough to conveniently bury some fine print

under pages of documents in her contract. Unbeknownst to

her, it stipulated that if she quit she would have to fork up the money it cost to train her, a small fee of $75,000 (which

I’m sure most would agree is completely reasonable). As luck would have it, she had to leave after a year and a half when the employer turned out to be less than diligent in meeting

the job conditions they had previously agreed upon. True to its not-so-obvious word, the company sued the young lady for the 75 grand, claiming she had “agreed” to it. “We are still

fighting this one in the courts,” says Lublin, who suspects the

employer will find it difficult to win. Companies have an obligation to bring clauses or unclear details to the employee’s attention for clarification, according to Lublin. “Courts do not

appreciate when an employer hides the language it later wishes to rely upon, especially from an entry level employee.”

paper to sign the agreement,

Another example tells of an employee who was talked into

are signing. Always remem-

him certain promises. After being told to sign a “standard”

any offer letter and/or em-

with the employer, but was slapped with one of those “ev-

you need to know what you

leaving one job for another after the hiring manager made

ber to get a signed copy of

employment contract, he tried to negotiate the conditions

ployment agreement.

eryone has to sign the contract, otherwise they couldn’t work

jobpostings.ca | march 2011

for the company” arguments. “He did what he felt was the only option and signed the contract,” says Lublin. Due to the

recent recession, he ended up losing the job shortly thereafter, but was denied any compensation for leaving his previ-

ous, secure job thanks to the contract he was made to sign, which had relegated him to a probationary employee. “Had he known what he was agreeing to, he would have never left his old job and would probably still be employed today.”

According to Lublin, the most common stipulations that are

a source of grief for employees are the contractual clauses

about termination. Also, if you’re planning on leaving that

dead-end job at the Beans & Chili Shack to open your very own Beans & Chili R’ Us, you might want to think twice.

“Clauses preventing past employees from working for a competitor or soliciting old clients or contacts cause a lot of conflict between employers and employees,” explains Lublin.

Lublin also dishes on what occupations and positions have the highest frequency of contract grievances. “Unfortunate-

ly, the average Joe and average Jane have the most lopsided

contracts, in favour of their employers,” says Lublin. “This is because they have less leverage in the negotiations surrounding that contract, and are often given little to no choice

but to sign what the employer asks. Executives tend to nego-

tiate contracts more and are often treated more generously upon termination, leading to a lower likelihood of dispute.”

So are employees and employers actually trying to screw

each other over, or are contracts just convoluted by nature with both parties genuinely trying to discern them fairly? “I would say that twenty-five percent of the time, the employer or employee is trying to take advantage of the other,” says

Lublin. “Twenty-five percent of the time, there is a general

misunderstanding. The remaining fifty percent is generally

ignorance of the law.” Obviously, I’m not saying you should

grab a law text book, study it day and night until you’re a legal consultant for Law & Order (though I won’t stop you).

Nonetheless, it’s important to be cautious of what you’re signing, and of course, understand what it entails. As I much as I hate to use clichés, prevention is better than cure.

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the list. Lorenzo was happy [working] at George and, having worked closely with Ted before, recommended him highly.

Now Teddy’s the Executive Chef of Everything at the ROM. He’s got the golden ticket — he’ll do whatever he wants when his contract is up.”

Carolyn Hogg and Teri Cordileone, owners of Three’s Company, a restau-

into the frying pan, lovingly.

rant, catering company and café trifecta, have over 30 years of experience between them in leading hotels and restaurants across Canada and in the Pacific Rim, and echo the need for experience across all areas of the business.

Wanna run your own restaurant? You’ve got some dues to pay first.

They recommend going everywhere and learning how it’s ALL done because, if there are 100 restaurants, there are at least 110 different ways of doing things.

The more experience, and the more var-

Jennifer Mooers and Joel Kechnie have had big

Jennifer’s partner, Joel, spent a time at Auberge du

ied experience, one acquires along the way, the

dreams ever since they met at The Stratford

Pommier, Toronto, ON before moving on to Har-

more valuable she will be as a chef or entrepre-

Chef School in 2004 but they have no intention

bour 60 where he continues to hone his front-of-

neur. Especially as general consensus dictates

of taking the culinary world by storm. Yet.

house career path. “I grew up in the service indus-

that a lack of experience leads to failed exploits.

try and, honestly, I just love helping people have

Carolyn underlines that there is no room for ego

positive experiences. Working in service to others

in restaurants. “No job can be beneath you and

is at the crux of this industry and it’s something I

you need to know how to do every job in your

find very fulfilling. That’s why we do it.”

restaurant better than your employees.”

cept to become the next Oliver & Bonacini. In an

Like fine wines and Anthony Hopkins, the chanc-

And whether aspiring to create the next Canoe

industry where countless more businesses fail

es of making Head Chef or Restauranteur Ex-

or just wanting to grow a local bistro, the require-

traordinaire only get better

“ It’s not enough to want it, you have to live it. with time. And for two good reasons, experience being And love food… and wine. A lot!” the first and most important.

If every kitchen

ments for success are the same: Impeccable

is a training ground, an opportunity to learn

“It’s not mysterious and there are really only a

than succeed, with both outcomes fuelled by

more from those who know more, clever culi-

few ways to cook it. It’s more important to be au-

vast amounts of blood, sweat and personal time,

naries will see the benefit of watching the epic

thentic, to be good at what you do, to cook the

there is little room for passing fancies and ego-

wins and staggering defeats of their co-workers

food you like than it is to try to come up with the

fed notions. “Cooking isn’t a job, it’s a lifestyle,”

without having to risk a penny. “It’s the best deal

[next big thing] just for the sake of being differ-

explains Jennifer, Sous Chef for C5 Catering at the

going — the longer you stay working for others,

ent.” Truly, we eat for nourishment and comfort.

Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) who cut her teeth

the more you walk away with, especially where

working at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Grateful

contacts are concerned.” And contacts are the

for the privilege of learning from the bottom up,

second must-have.

forgiving as it is rewarding and invigorating, but bright young sparks with heads full of hope will need more than a hefty backer and a clever con-



she is in no rush to get anywhere. “There is no such thing as a fast track. Some people only want success and status, to work in a good restaurant or start their own without putting in the time to really learn the business, to learn the subtleties that make it the craft that it is, instead of a mere trade. It’s not enough to want it, you have to live it. And love food… and wine. A lot!”

by Naoise Hefferon

22

service, exquisitely prepared food, and prowess — real prowess — in the business and your craft.

“People make food so complicated,” laments Teri.

So while it may be ideal to have a sizeable bankroll, experience and a hot idea to run with, humility and undying passion will be the fuel

Restaurants become make-shift families where

that drives your success. “You’ll always under-

members work under pressure in close quarters.

estimate how much money and time it costs to

The more eateries you work in, the more families

start up, and then once you start making money,

you are a part of, then the more support you’ll

something will break,” Carolyn warns. “But if you

have when and if you do venture solo. Such close

know your market and listen to your custom-

ties may just land you your dream job. Jennifer

ers, if you know your weaknesses and work with

muses on her boss’ experience: “When C5 was in

those who make you stronger, your odds [for

its early stages, Lorenzo Loseto was at the top of

success] improve.” And… love food.

industryinsiders march 2011 | jobpostings.ca

Image: © Getty Images/Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Thinkstock

The restaurant business is as relentless and un-

Canada’s second largest airline, Air Canada Jazz, currently serves 85 destinations in Canada and the United States with a fleet of regional jet and turboprop aircraft. We operate over 848 flights a day and carry approximately 8 million passengers each year. Headquartered in Halifax with an employee base of close to 5,000 people, Jazz offers a professional working environment and opportunities for individual career growth.

Air Canada Jazz is an Employment Equity employer.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

Deuxième transporteur en importance au Canada, Air Canada Jazz dessert actuellement 85 destinations au Canada et aux États-Unis grâce à un parc aérien composé de jets régionaux et d’avions à turbopropulseurs. Elle exploite plus de 848 vols par jour et transporte quelque huit millions de passagers annuellement. Ayant son siège à Halifax, Air Canada Jazz est dotée d’un effectif de plus de 5 000 employés et offre un environnement de travail professionnel ainsi que des possibilités d’avancement.

We are currently hiring for the following positions: • administration • customer service • operations • ramp operations

Air Canada Jazz pratique l’équité en matière d’emploi et invite les candidats qualifiés à postuler un emploi dans les secteurs ci-dessous : • Administration • Service clientèle • Opérations • Opérations de piste

Interested candidates may apply for positions online at www.flyjazz.ca under Careers.

Les personnes qualifiées sont priées de poser leur candidature en ligne sous « Carrières » à www.voljazz.ca.

We would like to thank in advance everyone who applies, as only candidates to be interviewed will be contacted. No telephone inquiries please

Nous vous remercions à l’avance de poser votre candidature. Nous communiquerons uniquement avec les candidats retenus pour une entrevue. Veuillez ne pas téléphoner.

Our guests aren’t the only ones who like to stay here.

With 44 hotels and resorts across Canada, Delta Hotels and Resorts excels at offering guests both exceptional service and value. We are looking for creative, bright and ambitious graduates to join our team. Come and grow with a company that values your skills, your determination and your goals. Check in at Delta.

www.deltahotels.com Delta Hotels and Resorts is committed to employment equity throughout all levels of the organization.

For more information about career opportunities, contact the Director of People Resources at your nearest Delta hotel or resort or visit deltahotels.com/careers jobpostings.ca | march 2011

23

industryinsiders

by Andrew Williams Although translator and interpreter may be used

“Major areas where there is work available [in-

interchangeably, there is a distinction. Transla-

clude] pharmaceuticals, law firms, accounting

tion involves converting a written text from one

and consulting, public administration, insurance

language to another. An interpreter, in particular

companies, big retail chains, anything,” explains

a conference interpreter, acts as an intermedi-

Barabé. Even exporters and supply chains need

ary between speakers. People who work in these

translators for their target countries.

fields typically need a BA in translation, offered

because the room for growth is absolutely huge.”

Among the financial services taking this into account is TD Bank, which has an in-house translation group. “Language skills are important when it comes to connecting with the customer,” says Anna Zec, a human resource representative at

According to Andrew Clifford, chair of the School

TD. “If you look at our customer base, it’s very

of Translation at Toronto’s Glendon College, most

multicultural. We have multi-language online

banks have translators, but lately have been of-

services and automated banking networks where

fering more work to freelancers. The type of in-

various languages are being used.” She explains

come you can receive in this industry varies. Free-

how reflecting the face of a community is always

Donald Barabé is vice president of the Trans-

lancers in the private sector can make anywhere

a priority when serving the customer. “When you

lation Bureau, a division of Public Works and

from $80,000 to around $120,000, provided they’re

think of our branch locations in various ethnic

Government Services Canada. The Translation

putting in a serious amount of work. Translation

communities, we would speak their languages,

Bureau has a staff of about 1,200 translators,

for the government would usually start around

and of course our advertising and marketing

interpreters, and terminologists in all major de-

$45,000-$65,000. Federal interpreters, on the oth-

material would correspond with their languages.”

partments of the government. He explains that

er hand, can expect $65,000-$85,000.

by a number of schools in Canada such as Glendon College’s School of Translation, in Toronto.

For interpreters, a Masters in conference interpreting is the minimum requirement.

the past decade has seen a staggering increase in

In Canada, Barabé points out that more services

Although we have a well-established infrastruc-

in Spanish, Chinese, and Punjabi are needed.

ture for French and English, Canada has been

“[Demand] varies from year to year, according

slow adapting to languages of immigration

to the relationships we have with specific coun-

and acknowledging indigenous languages. “In

tries at that point in time,” he explains. Although

Canada, French is king,” says Clifford. “Ninety

translators and interpreters are in demand, the

percent of the translating jobs out there are be-

supply is low. “The demand is for 1000 graduates

Most of the 9-5 jobs in interpreting are in the var-

tween English and French.” Clifford explains that

per year, and the output is around 300 per year.”

ious levels of the government. Staff interpreters

change is on the horizon, with Canada’s diversity

Barabé attributes this deficiency to competition

are used in the senate, the House of Commons,

encouraging growth in other language markets.

from more popular university and college pro-

demand for translation services. “Demand is actually doubling up every three to seven years,” he says. “And we don’t see any end in sight.” Barabé names globalization as one of the factors that accounts for this increase.

and parliamentary committees. Interpreters also work for government agencies, such as the Canadian International Development Agency.

Aside from those, there is also the International

Across the pond, Europe is already seeing the importance of translation and interpreting services for economic growth. “You go outside of Canada

grams. “You don’t hear about translation a lot,” he says. “You hear about business schools, med schools, law schools, things like that.”

and the story changes dramatically,” says Clifford.

Clifford explains that schools and organizations

“The European Commission works with 24 differ-

are taking steps towards building more opportu-

ent languages, so the situation is very different

nities for translators and interpreters, allowing

there. Sometimes I have students who say, ‘I’m

services to go beyond our two official languages

For translators there are plenty of options as

really interested in working in Europe.’” He also

and keep up with Canada’s accelerating diversity.

well. Like interpreting, many positions are with

notes that in Europe, knowing an Eastern Europe-

At the same time, there are a number of intern-

the government but there are a number in the

an language would really make you attractive to

ships and programs to help young translators and

private sector. CLS Lexi-tech is perhaps the larg-

an employer. “In Canada we have a lot of expertise

interpreters get off the ground. The Translation

est translation company in Canada, but given

in [translation and interpreting],” he continues.

Bureau itself works with 200 students per year.

growing population trends, the skills of transla-

“To take advantage of that and acquire more mar-

tors can be applied to just about any industry.

ket share, nationally and internationally, we need

Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a United Nations agency based in Montreal. Outside of these circles, most interpreters work as freelancers.

to get our act together and consolidate things,

For more information, check out this story online at jobpostings.ca

found ın translation 24

Image: © iStockphoto | Peeter Viisimaa

As diversity rises, so do language barriers. But those who serve to break these barriers are in short supply.

℞

Name

Bring hard science to the

Address

front lines of healthcare

as_a_Pharmaceutical_Chemist

What kind of person is attracted to the phar-

lotz says, of the average student — a graduate

programs in several Canadian universities

maceuticals industry? While still relatively

will need a masters or PhD degree. Because

enable students to undertake a three to four

new, the pharmaceutical chemistry program

the U of T program is still in its infancy (the

month internship in drug-discovery research

at the University of Toronto has been draw-

specialist program began in 2005) the program

labs. This is a great opportunity for students

ing in students who are anxious to speak the

coordinators have yet to see what positions

to get real life experience [in the] industry and

different “languages” of medicinal fields. Ac-

have been taken by graduates. “Quite a few…

improve their chances of being recruited into

cording to associate professor and current

graduates are actually in grad school now,” he

medicinal chemistry.”

acting program director Dr. Heiko Heerklotz,

explains. “However, since the first students

it “should be attractive for people who want to

graduated from this new program only a

learn and apply and contribute good interdisci-

few years ago, few, maybe none, [have] had a

plinary science to, ultimately, medical issues.”

chance to finish their PhD yet. That means it

Calling the pharmacist a link between the many aspects of the pharmaceuticals indus-

will take a few more years to assess the success of the graduates on the job market.”

Catherine Chiu, president of the U of T Pharmaceutical Chemistry Student Union, recently finished a co-op, or Professional Experience Year as U of T calls it, with Bayer Inc. A useful experience, she says, as she’s still in touch with former colleagues, keeping her

try, Dr. Heerklotz explains that “pharmacists

Unfortunately, according to Christopher Wal-

up to date with potential job opportunities.

have become primarily active in the dispens-

pole, executive director of medicinal chem-

However if you choose not to apply for this

ing, prescription and supervision of drugs.” As

istry at AstraZeneca Research and Develop-

optional internship, old fashioned network-

a result of being the proverbial gate-keepers

ment Montreal, job opportunities in Canada

ing within the school is the next best option.

to medicinal drugs, he says, “pharmacy edu-

are limited when compared to those in the

“Various professors… also have connections

cation must include a great deal of adminis-

United States and Asia. However, he says,

in the industry, so it may be possible to get

trative and legal matters, skills to deal with

“there are attractive opportunities in Canada

recommended that way if you’ve worked for

patients, et cetera. In my view, the pharma-

in pharma, biotech, and in contract research

the professor in their laboratory for under-

ceutical chemist is required to fill the gap that

organizations, which provide pharmaceutical

graduate or graduate research.”

has been created by this development. Drug

chemical synthesis, sometimes together with

discovery, development, and production have

biological screening, to pharma companies.”

become an interdisciplinary effort of physical

While pharmaceutical chemistry may naturally seem geared toward left brain thinkers,

Most job opportunities tend to concentrate in

Walpole praises the satisfaction of creative

the research-based pharmaceutical industry,

inventiveness that the job provides. He de-

he says, “both in major pharma and smaller

scribes his fascination in the business with

biotechs, as opposed to the generic-drug in-

obvious enthusiasm. “Medicinal chemists

dustry which engages in little research. In

design and create the molecular entity which

Canada, the research-based pharmaceutical

ultimately becomes the drug substance…

Dr. Heerklotz explains that understand-

industry tends to be largely concentrated in

Medicinal chemists possess the multidimen-

ing the many pieces of the pharmaceuticals

Quebec. Medicinal chemistry requires a very

sional skill-set which is needed to understand

machine “renders [the pharmacist] perfectly

highly educated workforce with most posi-

and translate desired properties, defined by

suited to coordinate and integrate an inter-

tions requiring PhDs or MScs.”

the profile of candidate drugs, to molecular

chemistry, organic chemistry, pharmacology, molecular biology and a grain of soft matter and chemical physics.” All of which, he says, should be the responsibility of the pharmaceutical chemist.

disciplinary research team and work in it in a broad variety of ways.”

While getting these jobs often isn’t as simple as heading to the local career centre and

As far as getting a high-profile research posi-

checking out job postings, there is another

tion in the industry — a typical goal, Dr. Heerk-

way to get that foot in the door. “The co-op

structures which can then be physically created, using synthetic chemistry, to deliver this profile as innovative potential drugs.”

signature

by Jeff Sebanc

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industryinsiders simple way, so you’ve got to keep mine person-

ging a big hole in the ground. Unlike the old days,

nel educated on environmental responsibilities.”

governmental regulations aimed at keeping

Coordinating and communicating with so many

mining operations in step with environmental

varied groups of people is also a complex task.

laws are enforced aggressively, and large firms

“A mining company must work closely with gov-

are taking care to distance themselves from the

ernment agencies during the permitting stage

ways of the past. Companies hire environmental

to make sure that everyone is on the regulatory

professionals to interface with regulatory bodies

path forward,” says Duquet-Harvey. “Working

and communities, and to ensure best practices.

with community groups through newsletters,

Getting In Step

While they may not be doing any of the actual digging, there’s no shortage of things for an environmental professional to do at a mine. “Duties

open houses and meetings helps provide information to all about the project and address any concerns of community members.”

can include permitting and approvals, which is a

Blake Schreiner worked as a chemical technolo-

large task when opening or re-opening a mine,”

gist for over 5 years before deciding to pursue his

says Nancy Duquet-Harvey, a 14-year industry

interest in Geochemistry in the mining industry.

vet currently employed as environmental co-

Currently, he’s in the midst of completing his

ordinator at Northgate Minerals Corporation’s

Geological Sciences degree at the University of

Young-Davidson Mine. “You could also be out in

Saskatchewan, but he’s already planning his en-

the field collecting samples and managing data

try into his chosen field. “The biggest advantage

in preparation for reporting results, or oversee-

I’ve obtained is from embracing opportunities

ing the implementation of permit conditions

like mentorship, scholarships and trade shows,

and ensuring compliance with rules and regu-

and becoming a part of associations related to

lations, and the training of the workforce.” To

the mining industry,” he says. He’s also been

add further variability to the job, the work may

helping his fellow students segue into the in-

change depending on how a mine matures. “At

dustry as well by sharing what’s worked for him.

this stage of the project, I’m heavily involved in

“There are a lot of ways to become familiarized

the permitting aspect,” she says of her current

with what you’ll actually be doing, like labs or

assignment. “It’s mostly paperwork and liason

classes with real scenarios you’ll encounter in

with aboriginal and community groups and

the field.” Of course, networking is also a key to

government agencies. As permits are received,

success. “Become involved with associations like

programs that include manuals, procedures and

MiHR, CIM and PDAC, regardless of your grades,”

training have to be created and implemented.”

he offers. “It’ll let you become aware of what lays

Linda Byron-Fortin is the director of Blue Heron Solutions for Environmental Management, Inc., and has been working in the industry for 21 years. Of her time as an environmental coordinator she remembers that, in addition to the

beyond the classroom through conversing with experienced people, and likely land you a summer job, which is a great way to gain experience before graduation. Many companies will hire you back year after year.”

paperwork, there was also a strong social com-

Numerous graduates enter the field with little

ponent to the job. “Some days might be spent

to no experience and expect to start earning top

being inspected by regulatory agencies or re-

wages. “In this industry, experience rather than

sponding to audit/inspection findings,” she says.

the number of letters after your name is more

“Some time is also spent conducting regular site

valuable,” cautions Byron-Fortin. “Volunteer for

inspections and doing emergency response drills

job-shadowing, or take a summer job as a tech-

to ensure environmental emergency plans are

nician,” she advises. “Be willing to spend time in

up to date and effective.”

the trenches.”

The challenges of the job can be as varied as the

Times have changed, and so has the mining in-

tasks involved. “The workload is a big challenge

dustry. “Mining is no longer about big, burly men

— there are pressures from regulators to ensure

working only with their muscles,” says Duquet-

compliance with their requirements; pressures

Harvey. “It’s sophisticated, high-tech, diverse,

from corporate office that all corporate stan-

challenging and fun.”

dards are being adhered to,” says Byron-Fortin.

“There’s an additional challenge in that the most

by Kevin Nelson

environmentally friendly way of doing things isn’t always the most inexpensive, efficient or

march 2011 | jobpostings.ca

Images: Both iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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careers. education. ideas. all of it.

edu-ma-cation

keep it real We often hear of organic farming

The highly practical world of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics.

and fair-trade coffee, but those are just a few causes célebrés in

the complex web of food produc-

tion. Economics can be baffling among us, which is why Agricultural Econom-

the tools of economics and statistical methods

agriculture — there’s a lot to deliver on to society,”

and Resource Economics — is such a misunder-

policies and examine how markets function.”

like the use of food for health; food sustainability

quickly becoming more renowned for its crucial

general field of Economics in a noteworthy way.

ics — increasingly known as Food, Agricultural

to identify market failures, analyze government

stood field. It is, however, a burgeoning field, and

And Agricultural Economics also differs from the

analysis of a significant issue.

“Our degree is significantly more applied and

focused on real-world problems and issues than

“The agriculture and food sector is the biggest

a straight economics degree,” says Ker. Vercam-

employer in Ontario,” says Alan Ker, giving some

men adds, “There’s less emphasis on theory and

perspective. As professor and chair of the Food,

more on institutions and data analysis.”

Agricultural and Resource Economics depart-

ment at the University of Guelph, he’s found that

A highly practical field demands highly practical

expanding exponentially, [in terms of] where and

question and think critically is very important. At

and how it’s sold, [and] is becoming of much

helpful,” says Ker. A touch of creative magic also

the discipline is blossoming. “The ‘food’ part is

students with sharp mental tools. “The ability to

how it is grown, how and where it is processed,

the graduate level, an affinity for math is very

greater interest to society,” he says.

doesn’t hurt. “Agricultural economists must be

creative thinkers,” says Vercammen, “because

As far as applied aspects of economics go, it

solving real-world problems is the central goal.

doesn’t get much more hands-on. “Agricultural

Students who are narrow and technique-orient-

Economics addresses a wide variety of real-

ed are less successful than students who learn to

world issues associated with food-production,

collaborate in disciplinary and inter-disciplinary

agri-food markets and marketing, as well as in-

teams, and who learn a variety of methods to

ternational trade and development, and natural

tackle problems.”

resources and the environment,” explains James

Vercammen, a professor in the Faculty of Land

With all sorts of looming issues surrounding food,

at the University of British Columbia. “We use

nificance of food — and of course its reliance on

the pressure can be tough. “Because of the sig-

and Food Systems and Sauder School of Business

more

for y ou a t

Humber

says Ker, before listing the significant challenges in a growing world; and the existence and sustainability of rural communities, to name a few.

As in any field with world-class issues to tackle,

there are opportunities to be had. “All of our graduates have jobs usually before the end of their

fourth year,” says Ker. “In fact, it’s difficult for us to recruit into our graduate program because of the opportunities students have coming out of

our undergrad program.” Vercammen’s experience is similar. “Students with a bachelor degree in agricultural economics tend to do well in the

job market because of their diverse and valuable

skill set and problem-solving approach,” he says,

although he’s quick to add that, “like many disciplines, the really good jobs are available to students with a masters — they’re routinely hired by

government agencies, NGOs, banks and consulting firms.” Ker notes that the opportunities are many and diverse. “Most students work in food or agricultural businesses, as well as government agencies, and these are very well-paying jobs with great opportunities for upward mobility.”

by Kevin Nelson

What happens when inspiration strikes?

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Lessons learned: Failing a course paid for by the company You’re ambitious. You’re self-motivated. You’re always open to opportunities to learn and get better at what you do. And a good employer will make sure you, as an employee, have the opportunity to learn, grow, and be a more valuable employee. I’m lucky and I work for a large com-

pany that is willing to invest in its employees' growth and excellence. I’ve taken day-long professional courses aimed at enhancing my abilities with Microsoft Office, I’ve been able to attend trade shows and conferences relating to my industry, and I’ve even been able to take university level courses to further my education. More and more companies these days are getting on this track; incorporating educational benefit pro-

grams for their employees in order to add value to their investment: you — and I encourage you to take advantage of those opportunities.

But let me tell you a little cautionary tale based on my own recent experience in furthering my education — I definitely learned something.

jlife

ob When I first got my job I was encouraged by my boss to take

when we’re talking university level, the price tends to go up,

skills available as soon as I could get into them. I jumped on

the tuition up front while I covered the other half, and to keep

me be more efficient in my job and help me enhance my boss’

tion of the courses. And so it began.

some of the single-day courses for computer and software

and so do the stakes. My company was willing to pay for half

the opportunity knowing that anything I learned would help

me motivated they would pay me the remainder on comple-

day out of the office each, and soon after took two more, and have since taken another two. They helped me do my job better, they expanded my skill set, they got me out of the office for a day, and best of all, they were paid for by the company!

little stunned. At roughly 600 pages each, I knew I was go-

ing to have to cut out reading the newspaper on my way to work every day. Soon, I was spending eight to ten hours at the

office, and then coming home and doing another two hours

ally) in the form of trade seminars, conferences, and panels.

were spent graphing and filling in dummy accounting led-

lower-on-the-ladder colleagues and get some great insider

workday was over and I made it home, all I wanted to do was

development started popping-up (and tend to occur annu-

of homework before going to bed. My weekend afternoons

These were great chances to head out with some of my other

gers. And then work got a lot more busy — by the time my

information, be a part of the bigger conversation in regards

clear my head and veg-out in front of the TV.

type of work at other companies.

A month passed. I tried to get back into the swing of doing

homework every evening. Work at the office wasn’t letting

I was getting comfortable enough with being out of the office

up, so my time for doing homework lessened. Suddenly, it

to yearn for a little bit more. I discovered that my employer

running out. I did a tally: I was 60% through the course work

here and there for the chance to educate myself, and I started

was time to start booking my exam because my time was

would pay for up to two courses per semester in a university or

for one class, 35% done for another. I wasn’t going to make it.

college program, and I figured I may as well take up the offer.

32

my textbooks for my new courses arrived in the mail I was a

Of course, other opportunities for growth and professional

to my trade, and also network with people doing the same

with Ross Harrhy

I work in a busy office, and I’m in a busy, busy position. When

In the end, I had overstepped my own capabilities. Since I

I come from an arts background, and knowing what my

wasn’t able to finish the course the company requested the

start working my way towards a business degree, starting

anything, but suddenly I was out $1500, and in my opinion

the idea to my boss, and she welcomed it, and next thing I

may pay to let the company treat you to a better education

through distance education (online). Now, taking a day long

ting yourself into, and know your own abilities before you

company wanted and needed, I thought it would be best to

first half of the tuition they had paid back. They weren’t out

with two basic Accounting and Statistics courses. I proposed

had only learned $50 worth of Accounting and Statistics. It

knew I had registered with a university to do the two courses

and higher skill set, but make sure you know what you’re get-

course is one thing the company will invest in no problem, but

end up learning a different lesson the hard way.

march 2011 | jobpostings.ca

Image: Andrea Chu/ Digital Vision/Thinkstock

perception of me. I started with two separate courses, one

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