jobpostings Magazine (November/December 2010)

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Social enterprise start-up

&

NuRSE of tHE NoRtH

Healthcare in rural areas

tHE pR BEHiNd tHE tHRoNE NucLEAR MEdiciNE cAREERS iN iNSuRANcE BuSiNESS ScHooL RuNdoWN

gay is it OK to be

at work?

november/december 2010 | 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

november/december 2010

who’s

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.

9 11 11 13 13 20 22 27 OBC

College Pro RBC Insurance SGI Canada Hydro One Revera Kingston General Hospital West Park Healthcare Centre Sun Life Financial Home Depot

yay! more school IFC 28 28 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 IBC

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Humber, The Business School (Undergraduate) Humber, School of Media Studies and Information Technology Queen’s University Brock University Canada’s Automotive School of Business, Georgian College Centennial College Conestoga College Fanshawe College Ithaca College Queen’s University Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry Sheridan College Trent University Humber, The Business School (Postgraduate)

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Image:Hemera/Thinkstock

Insurance Institute of Canada BioTalent Canada Ace Certified General Accountants of Ontario

stufftobuy 7 18 25 31

Rogers Wireless Lipton Brisk Fisherman’s Friend Excel

jobpostings.ca | November/December 2010

It seems that every company has a diversity department these days. But what is PR and what is practice? And how can coming out affect your career?

2 4 6

interviewsmarts

This month: Difficult co-workers and your interpersonal skills.

Editor’s Note Holiday Detox Guide Success Story: Nicholas Wallat.

Brought to you

careercupid

It’s Not You... It’s Me (and my fear of hiring Jenna Maroney from 30 Rock)

by Rogers Wireless

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edu-ma-cation Business School

getsmarter 3 5 13 14

is it okay to be gay at Work?



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oneonone

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DaveGoodman

Elizabeth Scharpf on the pleasures and sorrows of social enterprise.

Rundown

32

joblife Riding out The Stress

Putting post-grad credentials to work for charity.

industryinsiders 21 Northward Bound: Nursing in Rural Canada 23 Looking Within: Nuclear Medicine Technologist 24 Soundbites, Speeches, and Spin: PR in Politics 26 Underwriting Success: Careers in Insurance 1

W e

H u

editor’snote

W

W th

Jason Rhyno

Sometimes, you can become so bogged down in the day-to-day operations and projects at work that you forget why you wanted to work at Awesome Company in the first place. The employer-employee relationship can become stale, much like romantic relationships (see this month’s Career Cupid for a much more thorough analogy on careers as relationships). You get in a rut, stop trying as hard as you did when you first started, and begin to question why you are here, with this person (employer). The magic has dissipated.

Involving yourself with associations, attending events, and joining groups of like-minded people are great ways to combat the ebb of passion for your work. Recently, I was lucky enough to attend an event titled “State of The Magazine Nation: The Future of Magazines,” and I haven’t felt this intellectually nourished in months. My neurons were firing like Neo, in The Matrix, and I couldn’t seem to get my thoughts on paper fast enough. The ideas and conversations were inspiring, and I now find myself brandishing a renewed confidence in my choice of industry and my very own career path. It’s like I fell in love all over again, and I’m bringing that love to this magazine. The magic has returned.

Joining associations and groups can not only re-ignite your passion, but they are also a fantastic way to stay up to date on industry trends and gain access to resources typically unavailable to the general public. Associations will commission studies, write a report, and then disseminate that to their members. If your job entails presentations in front of co-workers or attending meetings where you must argue in favour of your ideas, this information is invaluable. There is nothing more convincing than backing your ideas with up to date studies from industry experts, and to your boss, there is nothing more respectable; it says that you’re passionate about your work, that you are forward-thinking, and that you’re bringing that to the team.

Good job, here’s your promotion!

Attending events often put on by these associations will put you in touch with like-minded people, another invaluable resource. Conversing on relevant topics with people in your industry is a fantastic way to learn; you’ll discover how one of your peers is tackling a problem you’ve been

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wrestling with, hear industry speakers talk on relevant issues, and get loads of free muffins and coffee. The one on one sharing of information and ideas is priceless, and it’s through these conversations that you’ll discover original ideas and solutions. But these conversations don’t just have to be about work, they can also be the basis for other groups.

I was fortunate enough to interview some interesting people for this month’s feature story, all of whom are passionately devoted to diversity in the workplace. They all have memberships or connections with national, regional and/ or local groups advocating for diversity. Many of those groups began at the workplace then exploded to include other companies and non-profit organizations. They help individual members, and provide mentorship as well as a plethora of very, very important initiatives. They do good, needed work — and it all started at work!

 our favourite quote this month: “If you don’t see your dream job in the database, consider creating that job for yourself ” Elizabeth Scharpf, CEO of SHE (Sustainable Health Enterprises) in this month's One on One (page 6).

Research and join these associations now, while you are still in school. You’ll connect with great people, become engaged with industry trends, and develop a network of support outside of the office. And, yes, having these associations on your resume will look fabulous — but you shouldn’t do it for that reason.  November/December 2010 | jobpostings.ca

S p

A o

To e b

Y e a

Where do you want your education to take you?

Sara Runnalls Broker

“A college diploma or university degree in any subject is helpful for entry into the profession, although those who have

Here’s a career path with unlimited potential.

What are you looking for in a career? Earning potential? Security?

Whatever you've learned in school and in life, you’ll have the chance to use it in the insurance industry.

It’s hard to imagine a career choice where you’ll have the opportunity to use more of your skills than insurance. Why? Because insurance is already a part of everything you do. It protects homes, jobs, cars, property and the continuity of lives. And because insurance is all around us, the industry has a wide variety of careers to match your education and amazing flexibility to change directions along the way.

Broker / Agent

You’re a people person and a great communicator Insurance brokers and agents help consumers find the right coverage to protect their cars, homes, businesses, boats and belongings against loss through accident, fire or theft.

While brokers usually represent several insurance companies, agents are more likely to sell policies for just one. These are the entrepreneurs of the insurance industry with many of them working for themselves or for small independent firms.

Gavin Mascarenhas Loss Adjuster

There are more than 110,000 Canadians working in the property & casualty insurance sector. It’s an industry that reflects the face and the values of Canadian society and has a constant need for talented, creative, motivated people.

“The best advice is to specialize in law or business-related courses.”

Are you a people person? Brokers work with clients to create a strategy to protect their assets.

Gifted at math? You could thrive as an actuary.

Good at listening? As a claims professional, you’ll help people who are coping with an accident, fire or theft.

Strategic thinker? You could work as an underwriter and develop the products that keep people protected from unforeseen loss.

As your career in insurance progresses, every day can present interesting new opportunities, new challenges, and the flexibility to pursue new goals.

Loss Adjuster You’re part private investigator and part therapist The loss adjuster is responsible for ensuring that those who have suffered a loss receive the compensation and assistance they are eligible to receive. Whether employed by the insurance company or working as an independent contractor, the loss adjuster investigates the accident, arranges medical treatment if necessary and negotiates the final settlement to restore policy holders to where they were, as closely as possible, before their loss.

To find out more about where you might fit in with your post-secondary education, please visit our Web site at www.career-connections.info. You may be surprised to find that insurance isn’t what you think. It’s a whole lot more.

Your interests and your experience may add up to a great career in insurance.

mathematics or business would have an advantage.”

Michelle Snowdon Underwriter

“For a greater advantage, and the highest placement value, I would recommend courses in law as well as successful completion of a business or insurance program.”

Underwriter You’re a relationship developer and decision-maker Underwriters accept or reject risk on behalf of insurance companies. They assess the kind of insurance required by organizations as diverse as a shopping mall, a professional sports team, a manufacturer, a city government or a construction company. Underwriters examine every facet of the organization’s operation and its request for insurance, then decide what the insurance company should cover and how much it should charge.

from our blogs

by Sarah-Lyn Amaral Plan on stuffing yourself this holiday

holiday

season? We all know the holidays are a wonderful

time of year to spend with loved ones but it can also be a time of some major food overload!

Don’t get me wrong, I love food and nothing beats good old-fashioned home cooking over the holidays, but you’ll know you’ve overdone it when you’ve fallen into a state of hibernation and can barely move off the couch that you collapsed onto days ago. And school, well, let’s just say school will probably be the last thing on your mind during this time.

My suggestion to help kick that lethargic state of being: a food detoxification week after (or during) the holidays packed full of healthy fruits and vegetables.

detox strawberry + greens salad: On a bed of brown rice or salad add: spinach, carrots, broccoli, tomato, yellow peppers, strawberries, walnuts, and your favourite dressing (can be served warm).

The easiest way to do this is to create simple meals and snacks consisting of healthy salads, with lots of greens, vegetables and fresh fruit, all served raw. That’ll really clean out your system if you know what I mean.

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 circulation & production:

When all else fails, drink plenty of water or tea throughout the day to help your digestive system and overall good health. Cheers!

Amy Kappus akappus@jobpostings.ca interns:

Austin Bahadur, Michelle Holden national account managers:

Sarah-Lyn Amaral, Lori Blanchard, Mary Vanderpas, Kathi Wood

Here are a few salad suggestions I’ve made: turkey leftovers salad: On a bed of lettuce or spinach add: chopped tomato, cucumber, mushrooms, green apple, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds and your turkey meat leftovers dressed with your choice of dressing.

trio salad: Bed of lettuce with shredded carrots, cucumber or zucchini, red pepper and a few cherry tomatoes on top; enjoy with your favourite dressing.

Published by Passion inc.

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

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. Good luck on the interview!

on the cover: © iStockphoto.com/pinkpig

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November/December 2010 | jobpostings.ca

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For the Love of Uncertainty Name Nicholas Wallat Company Nexen Inc. Position Long Lake Reservoir Engineer Length of employment 3.5 years Degree Bachelor of Applied Science (Mechanical Engineering)

Where did you go to School? What program did you attend?

What is the most challenging aspect of your position?

I attended the Bachelor of Applied Science (Mechanical Engineering) Program at the University of Waterloo in Ontario.

Establishing SAGD theory and working with a new recovery technique is the most challenging aspect, but at the same time, it’s exciting because I get to work with cutting-edge technology.

What drew you to your current field?

I heard a lot of positive feedback about the oil and gas industry from other co-op students.

My experience as a technical summer student at Nexen also drew me to my current field. I attended lecture series to learn new aspects of the energy industry, went on a geological field trip and even took an introductory course on welllogging. After my experience with Nexen, I decided to come back when I was finished school.

How did you find your current position?

I researched online and found Nexen’s New Grad Program. The program guides new employees through their first career, allowing them to gain experience from various departments by rotating roles before deciding what area they want to stay in. Engineers in the program work on three different teams for about 18 to 30 months at a time.

Tell us a bit about your responsibilities.

I am a phase one reservoir engineer for our Long Lake asset. As a reservoir engineer for Long Lake, I help with the long-term optimization of a quarter of our Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) wellpairs. I work with production engineers and geoscientists to optimize steam injection and bitumen production from the wellpairs. I also help create and execute our subsurface capital programs to maximize value from the asset. Over the past two years, I have also spent roughly two months per year recruiting for technical students and new grads.

Sponsored by

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What is the most rewarding part of your job?

My primary role is establishing a legacy asset, which is essential to the company and is satisfying to me because my work significantly contributes to the development of that asset.

What skills have you learned through your work experience?

I have learned to appreciate uncertainty. We never have all the information, but we have to make decisions and think strategically.

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

You need to have strong communication skills – both written and verbal. You will be judged by the quality of your emails, presentations, proposals and documents.

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

I am most proud of being on site for the start-up of Phase One of Long Lake.

What are your future career aspirations?

I would like to integrate my technical knowledge with the business side of industry by completing a CFA or MBA program.

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

Be willing to travel because some of your best experiences will come from the field.

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interview smarts Q. A.

David Meister Campus Recruitment @ Suncor Energy

Give an example of a time when you had to work with someone who was difficult to deal with. Why were they difficult and how did you handle it?

When I ask this question in an interview it always seems to change the mood and candidates struggle finding examples. Why does this happen, if we know that dealing with difficult people is a common situation? We’ve all had a time where we had to deal with someone who was difficult or challenging either at work, school or even in line for a coffee. Managing how we deal with these situations is going to differ depending on the situation, the personalities involved, and the type of relationship we have with this person.

We all want to leave a positive impression, particularly in an interview. You may worry that you will be seen as causing the difficult situation. As the interviewee, you need to look past this. Many people respond with “I’ve never had to deal with a difficult person, I get along with everyone.” The reason interviewers ask this question is not to identify how easygoing you are, but to understand how you manage through challenging situations. Are you able to stay focused on the end

goal? Are you able to come up with an acceptable resolution? What we are looking for are conflict resolution skills.

To prepare for the question, think of a time when you had to deal with a problematic individual. Practice describing the situation; why you considered this person “difficult,” and what the goal was in your interaction. Then describe the action you took to resolve the issue or reach your goal and finally, prepare to discuss the result of your action. An example of a well-rounded answer could be: “I was the leader of a group project in a second year class and a team member disagreed with all my suggestions for completing the assignment. After continued negative responses to my alternative ideas, I decided to speak with him after class and told him that although he disagrees with my ideas, we have to work together to finish the project on time. He agreed and although he still didn’t like some of my ideas, we worked together to get the project done on time.”

So you screwed up in the interview, huh? They asked the ol’ “What’s your greatest weakness” question and you responded with “bladder control,” hoping to get a laugh. That’s 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 agreed to explain why they ask what they ask, and what the best answers are. It’s like a cheat sheet, but for the real world.

Good luck!

Remember: your answer should not focus on the situation in itself, it should be about the way you were able to describe how you handled yourself.



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November/December 2010 | jobpostings.ca

cAREERcupid

it’S Not you… it’S ME (ANd My fEAR of HiRiNg JENNA MARoNEy fRoM 30 RocK)

by Christine Fader, Career Counsellor @ Queen’s University

What about a bad interview? If you buy my analogy that finding a great career is a lot like the process of finding a great romantic relationship, then you’ll probably agree that the road to “happily ever after at work” is bound to be littered with at least some bad interview “dates.”

Case in point: the physician candidate who left me with a $6,000 bill after a three-day visit.

Or the candidate who fainted in the middle of her interview.

Or the candidate who threw plastic bugs at me and my colleagues (it was a metaphor gone wrong). So many interviews. Sooo many ideas to send in to the writers of 30 Rock.

If you think this is sounding remarkably like a recent conversation you had about your crazy dating life, that’s exactly my point: interviewing is a lot like dating. And, just like in dating, all the hair gel in the world won’t help you if you forget some important principles during the big event.

doN’t tRASH youR foRMER fLAME Even if your summer job was mind-numbingly boring or full of sadistic people in stilettos, you’ll want to think of some bits (however small) that you can honestly describe with some enthusiasm. If you’re having trouble, try to think back to the heady days of job-infatuation when the whole summer stretched wonderfully in front of you with endless possibilities. Because, if you trash Job-YouHad-last-Summer during your interview, New Job will get very skittish. It might even get up to go to the bathroom and never return.

fAKiNg it WoN’t gEt you WHAt you WANt let’s face it, everyone acts a little better on a date than they do in everyday life. You dress a little better, you smile a little more toothily, you act more enthused in the other person’s interests about mixed martial arts or designer shoes than you actually are. The same goes for interviewing.

But, you also hope to work there for a while, and faking it in the interview sets you up for a bad fit with the organization and the work. Not to mention, you’re going to have to keep sounding enthused about mixed martial arts or designer shoes. And that could get ugly.

tMi iS… WELL, icKy You need to help them understand how you do things but too much information (TMI) is a trap that’s easy to fall into.

Just like on a date, you want to

tell interesting but appropriate stories that show you in your best light. Confidence with a good dose of humility is the line to toe here. Honesty is important too (because after all, you’re also trying to suss out if you want to keep this thing going beyond a first date), but use restraint. This is probably not the time to tell them that you text your mother eight times a day and that you once won a burping contest at the CNE. Too. Much. Information.

VAguE = SuSpiciouS On the other end of TMI is uni-bomber. Help them know that you are easy to work with and motivated to contribute. use specific examples from your past experiences to help them see you in action. If you generalize too much when they ask you questions, they will fill in the gaps themselves and presto-bongo, before you know it, they’re imagining all sorts of conspiracy theories. Think: creepy person your roommate dated that time. Yep, that’s who the employer thinks you are now, even though they like your shoes. You’re creepy person with nice shoes which generally means stylish, but far too scary to hire.

AVoid tHE WANdERiNg EyE Oh sure, the employer knows you’re seeing other people, but just like your date, they still want to feel that today, they are the most interesting. Think about what interests you about them and ask them questions that help them see you have things in common, and that you’re seriously considering spending some time with them in the future. Sincerity is important here. Dating folks (and employers) are notoriously skeptical and can spot a phony from way off. like, from over in the next building where they’ve ditched you for someone who’s actually asked them a few interested questions.

Just like in dating, employers are afraid of getting stuck with a psychopath or someone who will be “high maintenance” or who will make them want to stab their hand with a pencil if they have to spend one more second with you at a meeting. But, hey. With fainters, thieves and plastic bugs flying around, you can reassure yourself that with a little prep and sticking to some dating rules, you’ll do just fine. 

+ Author of “Career Cupid: Your Guide to landing and loving Your Dream Job.” careercupid.com

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November/December 2010 | jobpostings.ca

Image: iStockphoto/Thiunkstock

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Used under licence.

jobpostings.ca | November/December 2010

11

oNE on oNE

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.

Elizabeth Scharpf, CEO of SHE (Sustainable Health Enterprises), holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, an MPA in international development from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and a BA from the University of Notre Dame.

“I think there need to be more women’s voices speaking to young people. I didn’t have that.” iN RWANdA, A pAcKAgE of SANitARy pAdS costs about a day’s wages for most local women. This lack of access to affordable sanitary supplies means millions of women and girls in this and other underprivileged regions are missing up to 50 days of work and school every year. Since women reinvest 80 cents of every dollar earned back into their families and communities – as opposed to just 30 cents per dollar by men – the economic impact of this disparity on women, their families, and their communities is staggering.

Enter Elizabeth Scharpf, a healthcare start-up veteran who’s worked with the Clinton Foundation and the World Bank in South America, Asia, and East Africa. She spoke to us on her way to catch a flight to Rwanda, where SHE’s award-winning initiative SHE28 is helping local women start their own sustainable, community based businesses crafting sanitary supplies from locally-sourced, ecofriendly banana fibers. The new pads cost 65 percent less than the big brand alternatives – “a sustainable, market-based solution, PERIOD.” Interviewed by Emily Minthorn

Is social entrepreneurship very different from starting up a for-profit enterprise?

It’s similar, actually. You have to do the same thing every entrepreneur does, which is to try and make some magic happen with very limited resources. You have to believe in something more than anyone else does. You have to be able to weather the questions and the funny stares that you get from your loved ones, the looks from your family and friends that say ‘Are you crazy?’ Motivations are also similar: you want to do something different, you want to have flexibility in your life, you want to do something that no one else has done. The only big difference would be your motivation to make social profit versus financial profit.

How do you balance the business’s bottom line with your social profit goals?

In that sense, the social profit space can be a lot more challenging than a strictly for-profit model. First of all, I encourage everyone interested in social profit enterprises to absolutely include an income-generating revenue stream in their model. You do have to make money, and you have to make social profit. Whenever we have a decision to make, I have to ask myself, “Will this take us closer to our social profit mission?” If it doesn’t, you have to prioritize, and maybe decide to go down a different path.

That’s how I try to negotiate all the different factors going on: through prioritization.

Were there any mentors who helped you early in your career?

Skill set wise, I had a mentor in my first business job: Gordon Perry. He’s a phenomenal thinker and problem solver. On the social profit

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side, even though I didn’t know her very well, my grandmother. She was from Ireland, and like many immigrants she had to make magic with very few resources. look to your family and the people who are close to you and you might be surprised how inspiring they’ve been in your life, whether you know it or not.

Do you think being a woman in the business world has afforded you a unique outlook?

The majority of start-up entrepreneurs are men, and yet the most untapped asset in the world is, arguably, girls and women. In order to catalyze those groups of people, it’s helpful that I can put myself in their shoes more easily – although I think an African woman would be even better suited, which is why I have a fantastic COO, Julian Kayibanda. I also think it’s very important to have different perspectives in general. Better decisions are made with diverse perspectives. Our board includes a man, we have men on our technical team as well as community health workers.

What career advice do you have for students and new grads?

If you don’t feel like you want to jump up out of bed every day to do this, then maybe it’s not the right time for you to do it. I really encourage young folks to learn tangible skills. Project management, decision making, prioritization, managing people, raising capital, project implementation. Setting out and developing some tangible skills early on is really, really important; tangible, transferable skills. Things that you know, that you can apply now and later.

You can learn more about SHE28 and other projects at sheinnovates.com

November/December 2010 | jobpostings.ca

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jobpostings.ca | November/December 2010

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g

is it OK to be

gay at work?

It’s difficult to answer ‘No, it isn’t okay to be out at

Image: © iStockphoto.com/pinkpig

work’ when many of the world’s largest companies are devoting mass quantities of money, resources, and people to, not only sexual diversity, but diversity in general. And they are proud of this fact, raising a vibrant rainbow flag underneath their own logo. From accounting firms to technology companies, our big corporations are marching in the parade.

Even CSIS dropped in at this year’s Pride Parade in Toronto — and they weren’t even undercover.

jobpostings.ca | November/December 2010

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

Its making sure that

everyone has the ability to succeed and that there aren’t things getting in the way. 

Y

et it’s also difficult to answer ‘Yes, it’s okay to be out at work’ when there is still an unnerving amount of gay youth suicides; when a New York (New York?) candidate for governor remarks that he doesn’t want children “…brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option — it isn’t.” Not to mention a homophobic Tweet from an Olympic gold medalist, or the ‘discharge’ of First Lieutenant Dan Choi, a former infantry officer in the US Army, after he came out during a news interview. At the time of writing this article, a federal US judge deemed ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ unconstitutional, ordering an injunction stopping the enforcement of the policy; a policy which the former US soldier pointed out directly conflicts with the Honour Code soldiers are taught at military academy: don’t lie.

‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ forces you to lie, he said in an interview, and “hiding and lying aren’t army values.”

Aspects of our culture seem to say one thing, while the policies of democratic institutions say another.

Individuals are equally confused about the subject. During an editorial meeting when discussing this story, a colleague said, “Oh, I don’t think that belongs at work.” This was odd, especially considering that this was the same person who, weeks before, pointed out that when people say ‘That’s so gay,’ what they really mean is ‘That’s lame.’ After asking what, exactly, she meant by ‘doesn’t belong at work,’ she responded by asking, “Well, why is it important?” It was a good question. And a good place to start.

“From an organizational perspective, we as employers are looking for our people to be as engaged in their work as possible,” explains Michael Bach, Director of Diversity at KPMG. “There are lots of studies that show engaged employees are more productive and therefore organizations are more profitable. It affects so many aspects of the way we function as organizations when our people are engaged, and there are many studies that show if somebody has to leave something at the door – and that can be anything, but specifically their sexual

jobpostings.ca | November/December 2010

orientation or gender identity or expression — if they have to deny that in any way, then they are not engaged in their work. So really, it’s ultimately about our productivity.”

For companies, everything ultimately comes down to the bottom line, and having a strong image as a champion of diversity, especially here in North America, allows companies to be seen as open and welcoming, making them all the more attractive to young grads. But it begs the question, how much of this is simply PR?

“If you’re thinking about how you’re going to have to lie when you’re at work, and you’re there for 80 percent of your day, it’s going to be extremely stressful on you and your life.”

Bach, who is frequently asked by other companies to consult on diversity strategies, and maintains a blog titled “Diversity Dude”, acknowledges that “there are some organizations that it is lip service, but I can also say there are an equal number of organizations where its not. I’m a firm believer in making sure that the culture is up to speed before we start talking about it externally.” For Bach, if an organization hires a contingent of people from diverse backgrounds without ensuring that their culture is open, it will backfire. “Make sure your culture is open and inclusive and welcoming, and then go to market with it.

But until you do the work internally, you should not try to broadcast something that’s just not true.”

Xerox has maintained an LGBT group for the past 20 years, called GALAXe. Marc-Antoine Saumier, president of GALAXe’s Montreal chapter, says that the message of inclusivity is voiced internally as well as externally.

This is important as “if there is any discrimination to any LGBT employees, you have to talk about it. If you don’t talk about it, the policies have no way of being applied.”

Xerox uses an internal website to foster conversation by posting information on Pride Month and other diversity initiatives. “They are sharing information with the general public at Xerox about why diversity is important and why we have these policies.”

17

速 - Unilever Canada Inc. Used under license

LGBT groups like GALAXe and pride@KPMG not only spread knowledge to other employees, they also provide a host of other services, like mentoring programs, scholarships, leadership programs and networking opportunities. For Lucy Zhao, president of Out on Bay St., an organization created by MBA students, networking was one of the main motivators for her to become involved, but it also helped fill the gap between graduating and working. “I was in marketing at the time so it was a really good fit, and I was really enthusiastic about exploring the community, especially as a woman in the corporate gay world. There isn’t that many of us, and I wanted to build up that community and show that there are lesbians in the corporate world — we don’t all do social science!”

More to the point, however, these organizations create a space where people can be themselves. “If you’re thinking about how you’re going to have to lie when you’re at work, and you’re there for 80 percent of your day, it’s going to be extremely stressful on you and your life,” says Zhao. This type of stress can lead a closeted person to have health issues, cautions Bach, and it hinders career progression. “You’re not going to be engaged and because you’re not engaged, there’s a chance you’re going to miss out on opportunities,” he warns, “because people won’t see you as connected to the job.”

While Saumier was never closeted, he did avoid breaching the subject at work. “My career at Xerox was working very hard but not talking that much about my personal life, up till about 2006, at which point I participated at a conference in Montreal during the Outgames called Out for Business. That really opened my eyes, hearing other companies and executives talking about their experiences being out, and I said ‘this talks to me and I should be out at work, as well.’” He discovered that his colleagues never had an issue with him being gay, just that they didn’t know how to ask about it. “That’s also another thing that is very important: people don’t talk about it because they don’t know how to ask the question.”

“It’s a message and conversation that many straight, white male employees have a hard time accessing. I think that a lot of straight, white, able bodied men don’t understand the privilege that they’ve experienced in their lives,” says Bach, who encourages straight, white, able-bodied men (SWAMS) to ask the stupid question or say the stupid thing, and not be embarrassed by it. “If someone says something that is inappropriate, I don’t chastise them, I don’t get angry. I think it is an opportunity for me to help someone understand better.” Saumier agrees, adding that “we can take it in our own hands to share, and it is not to impose it on them, but it’s to include them in our conversation.”

Bach also points out that “when you look at the word ‘diversity’ in the dictionary, it simple means ‘different,’ it doesn’t mean ‘different from straight, white, able-bodied men’. So, in the grand scheme of things, and this is my approach, it’s about everybody. Its making sure that everyone has the ability to succeed and that there aren’t things getting in the way.”

by Jason Rhyno

jobpostings.ca | November/December 2010

So

is

it

Okay

to be Out at Work?

Yes, but there are still geographic areas and sectors that are catching up to the current cultural make-up of society. The important thing is to do research, advises Paul Bowman, a career counsellor at Queen’s University. He recommends taking a look at Canada’s Top 100 Employers, published annually in The Globe and Mail.

But, he says, “There is the official party line of inclusivity and diversity and equality in the workplace; then there is actual practice.” LinkedIn is a great resource to connect with people in those firms because often there will be an LGBT employee group within that firm. Get the names of the HR people and contact them directly, and ask them about their programs or for the names of people you can potentially contact for an informational interview. This, stresses Bowman, is a critical piece of the research, so don’t be shy.

You can also contact groups like Pride at Work or Out on Bay St., which often have campus reps, and respond quickly to emails (we know first hand). Check with your school to see what resources are available. And remember, as Marc-Antione Saumier says, “Once you are comfortable, be yourself, everywhere.”

19

A Thousand Ways to Enjoy Life!

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can help.

Exclusive info on top employers. New education programs.

Interview smarts. Expert career advice.

And, yes, tips to make your resume nothing short of remarkable.

Whatever you need to build your dream career, jobpostings.ca is here | careers. education. ideas. all of it.

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November/December 2010 | jobpostings.ca

industryinsiders

northward bound nursing opportunities are abound

in northern areas

If you’re about to graduate from a nursing program, you might want to take the road less travelled and consider looking north for a dynamic and rewarding career. There are numerous jobs offered by Health Canada that not only offer an adventure to a unique part of Canada, but also give you the opportunity to earn great money and build a career supporting a worthy community.

First Nations Needs Canada has the second largest proportion of Indigenous people of any country in the world, representing 4 percent of the Canadian population. There are over 600 distinctive First Nations communities, and almost half of the First Nations people are living in rural and remote locations on reservations.

According to the Health Council of Canada, First Nations people currently have a health status that is well below the national average. These reserves offer a great opportunity to put your skills into practice. With the median age of First Nations people at only 25 years old, the health prevention and awareness programs put into place can seriously impact and shape a healthy future for the community.

Image: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

by Lisa Charleyboy

jobpostings.ca | November/December 2010

21

Positions and Postings Janet Currier, director of Nursing First Nations and Inuit Health in BC, says that Health Canada has many opportunities for both Registered Nurses (RNs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) who are interested in this type of posting.

“The nursing positions that are available in remote and isolated areas are at nursing stations, and in rural areas at health centres,” says Currier.

In the nursing stations, most nurses are the sole health care provider in that area and are often the first point of health care for most of the residents.

“In the rural area health centres, the nurses will work Monday to Friday from 9-5, and recent graduates are supported by a more experienced nurse,” says Janet Currier. These positions dialogue with the community to understand what the health concerns and priorities are so that you’ll be able to anticipate the best use of your time and skills.

If this type of work interests you, but you’re not sure you’re ready, have no fear, Health Canada offers great support to their nursing staff. “Once they are hired they do an extensive orientation.

There is a fair bit of time spent on the scope of practice, their work role, and the community that they are going to,” says Currier.

The benefits of these postings also extend to a regular 37.5 hour work week with compensation for overtime work. Your salary can range from $67,000 to $108, 754 for those with advanced education degrees. Added incentives include a recruitment, retention, and isolated posting bonus.

Also, the breadth of experience that you’ll gain from working in this area will prepare you for all types of health care opportunities. “They’ll have a lot of community health experience, and advanced assessment skills,” says Currier.

First Hand Knowledge Virginia Childforever, an RN graduate from the Native Nurse Entry Program at Lakehead University, really enjoyed her positions in northern Ontario. “There’s such a variety of nursing that you can do in one day,” she says. “There’s so many expanded skills that you can learn.”

Jan Frith, a community health nurse who works with First Nations people in northern Alberta also likes the breadth of services she provides. “It’s community work in public health so you’re dealing with prevention, you’re developing programs specifically for communicable diseases and maternal child health, as well as

pre-school and infant immunization,” Firth says.

“But there’s so much opportunity for input into developing programs toward illness prevention, which is where healthcare has to go.”

The Final Wrap With the need for nursing in the north, institutions like Lakehead University offer bridging programs for Native students interested in pursuing their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN), in order to help fulfill this growing demand. Sandra Cornell, manager of the Native Nurses Entry Program at Lakehead, says their graduates are eager to go work in First Nations communities that are more remote and rural.

Jan Frith changed her direction after leaving a small town hospital to begin servicing northern Alberta communities and hasn’t looked back.

After 2 years, she says that it “continues to provide me with wonderful experiences and appreciation for the land and its people.”

“There’s a lot of autonomy and lots of support… Health Canada is a really good employer,” Jan Frith says. “Treat it like an adventure and learn as much as you can because it really is an adventure. It can be a really fun learning experience.” 

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We are looking for clinical and non-clinical professionals to compliment our high-functioning teams.

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Our highly dedicated teams ensure that quality care and best practices are not just rules – but are standards to live by every day.

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If you are committed to making a difference, have a passion for helping others, and are looking for a place to contribute and grow, then we would like to talk to you!

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westpark.org 22

November/December 2010 | jobpostings.ca

industryinsiders

EVEN IF YOU’VE NEVER

been on the receiving end of an exam, there’s a good chance you’ve at least passed by a hospital’s medical imaging wing. To some of us, the daunting looking machines are mystifying and maybe even a little scary, but to others they’re engaging evidence of our medical progress. Nuclear medicine deals with the identification and treatment of interior body ills by introducing radioactive substances into the body and then capturing images of the body’s nuanced reactions with sophis-

As you might expect, it’s involved business being on the administering end of radioactive drugs. “Nuclear medicine is a rapidly evolving discipline with ongoing research and developments in radiopharmaceuticals, hybrid imaging technology and molecular imaging applications,” says Lorie Fisher, Program Head of the Nuclear Medicine Technology department at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. It’s a specialized discipline, but there’s ample opportunity to move, literally and figuratively. While an accredited graduate might seek work in Canada, the States, or even worldwide, says Fisher, “each country has its own certification and licensing requirements. People appreciate the standards of practice here in Canada, and many gravitate back here.” Jordan Holmes, an assistant professor of Nuclear Medicine at The Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences in Toronto, adds, “nuclear medicine departments exist in hospitals in most city centres throughout the world. In rural settings, a department in a regional hospital will typically service a wide geographical area. In Canada and the United States, private clinics are also an option.”

The starting salary for a new grad can fluctuate depending on region and institution, and ranges between $2530 an hour. “Advancement opportunities vary, depending

by Kevin Nelson gist for their whole career, but others choose to branch out,” offers Holmes. “Some go to work for pharmaceutical companies or imaging equipment manufacturers like GE, Phillips or Siemens. Still others move on to work in education, or become involved with our federal regulatory board, The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.”

If you’re thinking of entering the field, there are a couple things to keep in mind, beyond the obvious need for accreditation and certification. “People who get into this field are responsible, dependable and effective communicators,” says Fisher. Alongside all of the intense mental requirements of the job, including the safe handling and administering of radiopharmaceuticals and efficient imaging processing and study, she notes that there’s also a strong physical component to the job. “Technologists are physically active and must be able to move heavy objects and perform patient transfers safely and spend long hours on their feet.”

In Holmes’ estimation, “it’s important to have the ability to multi-task, and to have an analytical perspective,” but there’s also a need for the human touch. “A big part of our job is gaining the trust and cooperation of patients, physicians and co-workers,” he muses.

“To do that, one needs to be comfortable communicating with people and have the capacity for empathy.” The trick is learning to leave the baggage at work. “When I was practising in a hospital,” he continues, “I found that the hardest part of the job was keeping an emotional distance from the patients.”

i fouNd tHAt tHE HARdESt pARt of tHE JoB WAS KEEpiNg AN EMotioNAL diStANcE fRoM tHE pAtiENtS. ticated instruments. If you’ve got a steady hand, an inquiring mind and a healthy dose of compassion, maybe a career as a nuclear medicine technologist is for you.

on site-specific circumstances, an individual’s strengths, advanced education, initiative and willingness to relocate,” says Fisher. Just as there’s a variety of avenues for practice, there’s also a lot of doors that a background in Nuclear Medicine could open, in regards to career advancement. “Many people choose to work as a technolo-

LooKInG

WITHIn Image: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

Nuclear Medicine Technologist

jobpostings.ca | November/December 2010

The day-to-day work of a Nuclear Medicine Technologist is variable. “We’re looking at the function of a wide array of physical processes, ranging from the supply of blood to the heart to how well the thyroid is processing iodine,” says Holmes. “That makes it unlikely that each day will be the exact same routine.” Fisher agrees, adding that, “technologists typically rotate responsibility for different areas of practice. They may be managing the operations of a radiopharmacy, including the preparing and administering radiopharmaceuticals to patients, or they may be responsible for performing patient imaging studies and operating gamma camera digital imaging systems.”

To Holmes, the job’s satisfaction lies in its nuances. “Working as a nuclear medicine technologist is a combination of science and artistry,” he suggests. “Getting a good set of images requires great attention to detail, and there’s nothing like the pride one feels when both the patient and the reporting physician are happy with the exam.”

23

industryinsiders

&s p i n

Whether it’s managing the story or staying on message, political PR is all about communication and creativity — and a career path unlike any other.

The fictional portrayal of

public relations workers can be unflattering, and is rarely accurate; the Nick Naylors and CJ Creggs of the real world aren’t Machiavellian manipulators or cynical schemers, but rather dedicated professionals on par with their media counterparts. In the political sphere, these jobs can take the form of representing elected officials, non-partisan ministries, or even NGOs, all in the name of facilitating greater understanding and ensuring that the public is aware and informed. Increasingly, specialized PR programs have begun appearing at post-secondary institutions, ranging from the University of Regina’s professional certificate to Mt. St. Vincent’s bachelors and masters degrees.

Anne Skelding, a graduate of York University’s theatre program and a student of Ryerson’s certificate in public relations, says that the value of additional academic preparation is crucial. “If you had no experience in [the field] you weren’t going to get a job,” she explains, adding, “Or if you were going to get a job, you weren’t going to be able to move up without some extra training.” Whereas the public relations workers of the last few decades have come to the trade from diverse and sometimes indirectly related academic backgrounds and work experiences, the increased reliance on social media and the sheer variety of tactics has made specialized programs that much more appealing — and needed. “Recognize that the profes-

24

Two such professionals are Mike Storeshaw and Jesse Brady, who have each earned successful positions in PR despite distinctly contrasting backgrounds. Storeshaw earned a marketing degree from the University of Calgary, Brady has a Masters of English Literature; Brady has worked in media with the likes of the National Post and CBC , Storeshaw went straight from school into the office of the OLO (Office of Loyal Opposition) under Stockwell Day; Brady is press secretary of the NDP federal caucus while Storeshaw transitioned from serving as Jim Flaherty’s communications director to being an executive counsel for Ottawa-based PR firm Delta Media. For all their differences of political alignment and career path, the two agree on a number of tips for grads aspiring to follow in their footsteps. “Direct experience […] is quite valuable,” says Brady, mentioning his own volunteer work with various campaigns, something Storeshaw also emphasizes as being unmatched in terms of networking and hands-on experience. Both agree that it’s a tough and competitive field, with high stakes and little margin for error, using phrases such as “crisis communications” and “whim of the electorate.” Brady also stresses that an understanding of the limitations and expectations of the media is invaluable for those working opposite them; academic understanding is one thing, but a shared experience helps staff create more effective messages and also offers a more accessible career path than strictly PRrelated work. Sincere belief in your employer’s ideological points is helpful, if not strictly necessary, but it’s important not to burn too many bridges in the course of your career due to the close-knit nature of the political scene.

There’s no disagreement, from student to professor to professional — it’s a tough field.

PR workers need to anticipate new threats and come up with innovative strategies, and to be prepared for public blame while remaining an anonymous member of a behindthe-scenes team. It’s a stressful job with a steep learning curve, but the consensus is clear: “The worst day in political PR,” summarizes Storeshaw, echoing a similarly-phrased sentiment by both Brady and Emodi, “is better than the worst day in the private sector.”

by Austin Bahadur

November/December 2010 | jobpostings.ca

Image: iStockphoto/Thiunkstock

soundbites, speeches,

sion’s only about 60 years-old,” says Karen Dalton, executive director of the Canadian Public Relations Society, “[And] there was no PR training until, really, the early 1980s; so prior to that, everyone came from journalism, or human resources, or some other sector, [but] in the last 20 years there are now about 44 [accredited] programs.” Key to the success and value of these programs is an emphasis on versatile skill-sets and broad instruction, as well as opportunities for students to build their experience through internships and co-op placements. “The students that come to us and the students that leave us are vastly different,” confirms Barbara Emodi, a professor at MSVU with extensive experience in both the public and private sectors of communication and media relations. “They enter the job market with the resume of someone who works in that area,” she adds. Interested students who’ve majored in social sciences and liberal arts should take heart, as the strongest asset for public relations is having exceptional writing ability and creativity, explains Emodi, a sentiment echoed by other professionals in the field.

www.FishermansFriend.ca 速 Trademark of Lofthouse of Fleetwood Ltd.

Dist. by TFB & Associates Limited, Makham ON L3R 0E7

industryinsiders

Companies may crumble and consumers lose faith, but there will always be a market for peace of mind — and opportunities for insurance entrepreneurs.

As a student or new grad, breaking into that industry (or any industry, for that matter) is a daunting prospect. Though brokers seem ubiquitous and self-assured, a simple ‘Googling’ of insurance buzzwords won’t shed any light on the secrets of their success. Instead, aspiring insurers will be rewarded with a seemingly contradictory picture of the business; schools from coast to coast offer certificate programs, diplomas, and even degrees relating to the study of

unDeR– wRiTinG suCCess THRouGH CAReeRs in

insurance

insurance and risk management, but the only real requirements for licensing are determination and a passing grade on the respective exam.

Cyndi Hornby, the co-ordinator of Fanshawe College’s business-insurance programs, and BCIT’s associate dean of financial management, Tim Edwards, offer some insight into this. “[There are] a couple of things... they need to be a people person, they need to be motivated,” says Hornby, and Edwards agrees, adding that “[They] need to be focused on what they want.” Both describe the diverse backgrounds of their students, and the predominance of ‘second career’ training (students that have already achieved expertise in a different field), which is representative of insurance programs across Canada. As various fields suffer cutbacks and layoffs, professionals look to insurance as one of the few industries that remains strong and, perhaps more importantly, rewards individual effort and enthusiasm above all else.

Both Edwards and Hornby explain that the “typical or traditional student, right out of high school” is rarely seen in an insurance class, the majority being mature students, some of which have professional experience in blue-collar jobs rather than office work.

From this perspective, the academic paths in insurance and risk management aren’t exactly training programs so much as an incubator for individuals who possess the necessary entrepreneurial spirit. “[It’s] a matter of [having] an open mind, and [being willing] to learn what’s actually going on in our industry,” describes Hornby. Both Fanshawe and BCIT emphasize their program’s connections to regional insurance organizations and a comprehensive yet intensive approach to preparing grads to leap directly into employment. Whether interested grads possess a B.A. in English or a G.E.D. and a few years of customer service, the important thing is whether they’re willing to study up and start making connections.

As mentioned earlier, none of the academic programs on offer are strictly necessary to break into a career in insurance, though many fulfill the prerequisites of licensing. Armed with a few study guides, ambitious individuals able to pay the respective fees can become qualified within a few short weeks, assuming they prove sufficiently competent. Organizations such as the Insurance Institute of Canada, the national association of insurance professionals that provides oversight of the industry, offer a wealth of information independent of any single educational institution. However, the real value of enrolling in one of the accredited programs lies in the focused nature of their information delivery and the fast-track they provide for licensing. Edwards highlights the fact that while those who self-study are able to write exams at their own pace, this could easily take years, while a dedicated course ensures a more rapid entry into the workforce. Networking and generalized skills are highly prized, and college programs typically offer a co-op or internship with companies in the region. Through these connections and the emphasis on self-starting, says Edwards, “[We’re] trying to make a bigger pitch [for] entrepreneurism, to have people think entrepreneurially.”

The bottom line is that the insurance industry represents what so many are looking for in the wake of the recession: the opportunity to jump into a brand new career and still thrive. Hornby succinctly summarizes the field’s appeal to ambitious workers: “Insurance is a very lucrative career, because it’s secure. People always need insurance.”

by Austin Bahadur

26

November/December 2010 | jobpostings.ca

Image: © iStockphoto.com/James Pauls



The job market out there may look pretty grim, with the world economy in upheaval and too many grads looking at too few vacancies. This same chaos, however, particularly the ripples spreading from it as companies consolidate and liquidate, is actually a sign of corporate renewal, and the insurance industry is the best vantage point from which to observe the brave new world.

edu-ma-cation

Down to Business a rundown of some university programs Queen’s School of Business coast to coast Queen’s believes that

by Adam Grant

University of Manitoba – Asper School of Business At Asper, time is on your side. Students working toward their MBA have the ability to adjust their course settings so that they can complete their program anywhere between one to six years, allowing students with busy lives the ability to learn at a pace that’s comfortable to them. No matter how long you stay, Asper will focus on providing you with continual access to successful, real world business executives to ensure that when its time for you to graduate, you will not only have the classroom smarts, but the real-world boardroom experience, too.

teamwork and support systems are the key to future success. MBA students are instantaneously divided into Learning Teams of six or seven students from different walks of life, gender or cultural backgrounds, so that they can experience the diversity that most real workplaces have. Each team will have a Professional Team Coach to provide guidance throughout the duration of the program, while outside the classroom students will have continual access to a Personal Coach, Fitness Lifestyle Coach and a Career Coach. Furthermore, to make the transition into this program easier, Pre-MBA Warm Up courses in Accounting, Finance and Statistics are available before the first semester begins.

more

How many times have you worked a job and thought, ‘Man, I

should run this place.’ Chances are if you have ever had that thought, you never took advantage of the plethora of Business Schools across Canada.

It is in these classrooms where the future leaders and business wiz kids are taught, tested and then released upon the world.

Let’s get down to business now, shall we?

York University – Schulich School of Business One of the highest ranked business schools in the land, Schulich offers an enormous range of Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD, Post-Grad and Executive Education programs depending on where you’re at in your business studies. Rated highly as a school that does one of the best jobs at “preparing future business leaders for the environmental, social and ethical complexities of modern-day business” , Schulich assists in getting their graduates into the job market through Global Job Opportunities found on their Career Development Centre website. Combine that with the school operating satellite courses in China, India, South Korea and Russia, and it’s easy to figure out why Schulich’s international set up has led to 21,000 alumni working in 90 countries.

for y o

u at

Humber

HEC Montreal

University of Victoria Business

Having arrived in 1907, HEC’s vast history has resulted in 63,000+ graduates that have benefited from more than 35 bachelor, MBA and PhD programs designed to meet the needs of either new students or those in the business world that are looking to forward their careers through further education.

However, what makes HEC an even friendlier destination is its ability to meet the needs of a wide crosssection of students through its bilingual business library, not to mention the staff of 250 professors that have authored teaching manuals and spoken at professional and educational conferences. If you prefer changes of scenery now and then while attending classes, then it’s also worth checking out the Campus Abroad opportunities that take HEC students from Shanghai, to New York, to Paris.

UVic has been declared “the best in the west” and their Business program backs it up with a stat that any math professor would applaud: 95 percent of graduates annually find employment within four months. How does this happen you ask? UVic prides itself in smaller class sizes and three specialized MBA programs in Service Management, International Business and Entrepreneurship. What makes UVic extra special is its willingness to provide students from partner Universities across America, Europe, Africa and numerous other countries, with a desk in Victoria. Each year, the school participates in The International Exchange Program where 150 students abroad are brought to the UVic campus from these partner schools, while the same number hitch flights the other way.

What happens when inspiration strikes?

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If you’re in the right place, one idea – your idea – can have a profound impact in far-reaching and unexpected places.

Set your ideas in motion.

Consider graduate studies at Queen’s.

www.queensu.ca/sgs

CREATE AN IMPACT

www.mediastudies.humber.ca

28

November/December 2010 | jobpostings.ca

Image: iStockphoto/Thiunkstock

POST GRADUATE PROGRAMS: North Campus

graduate school directory

Brock University

Canada’s Automotive School of Business

Brock is a rapidly growing University,

The Canadian Automotive Institute at Georgian College has

offering 41 dynamic Master’s and PhD program within 6 academic faculties.

With our strong sense of community and personal investment in our students, Brock is a great choice for your graduate education.

proudly boasted over 90% grad placement rate for the past 25 years! If you are passionate about business and love cars consider our Bachelor of Business – Automotive Management degree or our Business Administration Automotive Marketing programs.

Visit us at today at Brocku.ca

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Centennial College

Conestoga College

Centennial College is committed to successful

Conestoga has been the number one rated

career education. The college offers more than 120 diploma, post-diploma and certificate programs in business, communication and media arts, community and consumer services, engineering technology, health, hospitality and transportation.

college in Ontario for nine of the last twelve years. Our graduates get jobs with a job placement rate of well over 90%! We have campuses in Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph, Stratford, Ingersoll and Cambridge.

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Fanshawe College

Ithaca College

If you want to hit the job market with

Located in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of New York,

advanced skills and stand out from the competition, check out Fanshawe’s Graduate Studies. In less than one year you could have the training you need. These programs complement your post-secondary education – so you land not just a job but a career!

halfway between Toronto and New York City, IC offers 20 graduate degrees, many of which can be completed in 1 year or less, leading to professional certification.

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Queen’s University

Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry

Queen’s 50+ graduate programs

The University of Western Ontario’s

provide students with world-class research opportunities and strong support to enrich your educational experience and advance your academic career. Expect an ideal environment to set your ideas in motion.

Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry provides state-of-the-art research facilities and mentorship by internationally recognized scientists. ZERO-TUITION incentive: find out how to get your grad degree for free.

www.queensu.ca/sgs

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Sheridan College

Trent University

Our one-year graduate certificate programs enhance your

Trent’s commitment to research excellence, innovation, and

diploma or degree with a blend of theoretical knowledge and work experience that fully prepare you to launch your career. Choose from more than 20 programs in the arts, business, technology and community service fields.

collaboration has earned us a reputation as a progressive leader in graduate education. Whether we are talking about disciplinary or interdisciplinary programs, Trent is known for nurturing a vibrant intellectual community and scholars who are engaged, critical thinkers.

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trentu.ca/graduatestudies

jobpostings.ca | November/December 2010

29

Dave Goodman BA from the University of Western Ontario, diploma in Sport and Event Marketing through George Brown College.

“

by Amanda Chajes

Dave Goodman, or

“Goody” to friends, is an outgoing 28 year-old whose work in the nonprofit sector has been markedly successful. In 2007, he founded Hoops for Israel, an annual two day basketball tournament raising money for at-risk youth and families living below the poverty line in Israel. To date it has raised over $350,000, and continues to grow every year. Goodman is back in school for the time being, studying Professional Development in Environmental and Carbon Finance at the University of Toronto, but his career in community involvement and philanthropy has not slowed down for a minute.

You’ve been to university, and to college. How did they differ for you?

My BA was important because it taught me to be an analytical thinker, an independent adult, and an ambitious person. College, however, helped me to narrow out my career path, and taught me the importance of networking.

How does networking play a role in your field of work?

Volunteer work and networking go hand in hand. Every person I have come into contact with has helped me and I have helped them in return. That’s the beauty of networking, and it’s applicable to all fields of work, not just mine.

Do you have any tips on where or how to network?

Be fearless. Introduce yourself to everyone. Mentorship is also a big element in networking. [Mentors] can show you the ropes, and they will help you develop a network that is beneficial to your future in many different capacities.

Hoops for Israel; where did you get the idea?

The idea was spawned from a project I initiated to raise money for the Canadian Diabetes Association. It only raised $900. In the following year (2006), I applied the same concept to a different charity, expanded my projections, and set higher goals. It went from $900 to $100,250, and has continued to increase every year.

What makes this tournament different than other fundraisers?

91 percent of total donations go straight to the cause.

Most other fundraisers in Toronto consume 20-40 percent of everything raised in order to host the actual event.

What personal character trait enables you to be successful?

30

Your first goal should not be about money. Be patient, because career success requires long term investment.

”

An ability to work very hard in combination with being passionate about what I do. Anyone is capable of running a huge charity event, spearheading a start-up company, but they have to be passionate in order to generate the working skills.

What is "Green Juice?"

Green Juice is a platform I’m building right now dedicated to environmental change. It is an advocacy and awareness campaign for resourceful lifestyles and practices aimed specifically at the younger 20-something generations.

Non-profit work can be tough why is it worth it?

It’s worth it because I have so many opportunities. I enjoy my work immensely because I’m working with great people, and because my work has purpose.

What about the monetary pay off?

I am not worried about money right now because I realize that what I’m doing is so important. One day my work will pay off, but for now, I’m thriving because I am helping others, and in this sense I am already a successful person.

What advice do you have for people entering the career world?

Your first goal should not be about money. Be patient, because career success requires long term investment.

If you could go back and change one thing what would it be and why?

I would have taken more business courses during my education. It could have given me a more refined understanding of the investment/return aspect of fundraising. [he pauses…] And also, I would have hit the gym more.

I’m pretty scrawny. 

November/December 2010 | jobpostings.ca

GOODBYE

ONION BREATH

go foR A coASt. AftER ALL tHAt StRESS, WHEtHER it WAS oNE WEEK oR Six, you NEEd to fiNd SoME tiME foR youRSELf. Deadlines are starting to loom, but for now take a look at the horizon, and get home on time to watch your favourite TV show.

family’s house in the woods and she sampled everything from their beds, to their porridge, and everything was either too this, or too that, or just right? You don’t have to break into any where, but I think if you look at the people you work with you’ll start to notice the same trend in the people around you: there are three types of people that stand out — the coasters, the workaholics, and the just-rights. Usually the workaholics are your boss or manager, usually the coasters are those people that have been there forever and haven’t really seen any upward mobility and spend a lot of time at home or waiting for Friday so they can get paid and party. And then there are the just-rights; just-rights find that work/life stability that gets them ahead not only in their careers but also in their personal lives. They’re not too much of a workaholic, and they’re not too much of a coaster — they’re just right.

So how do you become a just-right? Checks and balances.

In case you’re not a philosophy or poli-sci major (I’m not!), in most democratic governments there are three branches that all answer to each other so none in particular may reign supreme, upholding a country’s constitution: the legislative (Parliament), the judicial (Supreme Court), and the executive (the Prime Minister). You have three branches as well — the workaholic, the coaster, and the just-right.

Here are three tips to finding your own system of checks and balances that are good for your constitution.

work for it.

Find your inner workaholic. Sometimes you just have to get down to work. Projects come against deadlines, customers demand satisfaction, and the dishes need cleaning. You want to get ahead and management expects you to get the job done, so eat lunch at your desk and stay late a few nights this week (the episode you missed on TV will be on the internet anyway). Show them that you’re willing to work hard and put in some extra effort to get the job done, and that your job matters to you. Enjoy the thrill of being crunched for time and tired out of your mind. It won’t, and it can’t keep going like this forever; you’ll burn yourself out. And if it feels like it will keep going, remember that you also have to…

relax a little bit. Go for a coast. After all that stress, whether it was one week or six, you need to find some time for yourself. You worked late getting that project done on time, you satisfied your customers, and the dishes are done! Now it’s time to take a minute and browse the

32

JLifE

OB

internet for funny stuff (buzzfeed.com is what I recommend) while no one is looking. Ask your boss if you can leave early, and make sure this weekend you get some

by Ross Harrhy rest on Friday night, then party on Saturday night.

Yes, your work may start to pile up a little bit, and your deadlines are starting to loom, but for Developing your Own now take a look at the Checks and Balances horizon, and get home on time to watch your favourite TV show. Sit back and get some perspective. Have you ever surfed, or at least watched surfing? The kind with a board and an ocean — we already touched on the other kind…

tHiS MoNtH:

ride the wave. Get it just right. Surfing involves some serious work, but it also involves some serious floating. When you head out into a swell, you lie on a board and paddle your way, and then you wait. You float over the rolling ocean below you and get a perspective on what’s happening. Then you see that big wave and you know you’re going to have to work to ride it. You position yourself and you start paddling your arms hard with the wave, hit the break and jump up on your feet and work it as hard as you can. Then you relax, keep it steady and paddle your way back out onto the swell until you have to do it again. In your job life, you should aim for gaining that equilibrium that lets you just float at times, and then ride out the big moments when they come. Workaholics work and work, and as a result, yes, their careers might move up and up, but on the flipside their personal lives take a beating. Coasters focus on their lives outside of work, and while their social lives might be intact, their careers can become stagnant and simply a means to an end. Work hard when you need to, but take the time to sit back and gain some perspective, too. If it’s all perspective all the time you’re going to coast through, if you’re all work you’re going to crash. Ride the waves — find that balance. It’s good for your constitution. Just don’t go eating anyone’s porridge and sleeping in their bed — unless you’re invited.

November/December 2010 | jobpostings.ca

Image: © iStockphoto.com/Justin Ray

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