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If you haven’t done so, now is the time to start thinking about your career and your future. A recent post by the Wall Street Journal highlighted the top four job skills needed in 2013. They suggest that you focus on:

• Clear Communication
• Personal Branding
• Flexibility
• Productivity Improvement

This is great advice for anyone – whether they are just starting out, or have many years of experience. In today’s economy, you need to stand out as someone who can handle challenges intelligently and professionally while maintaining a focus on helping the company achieve its goals. It is no longer okay to just have the job skills – you need to have the right mindset skills to be successful.

This is precisely where we focus on at Sprott Shaw in our adult learning environments. We believe that everyone has the ability to be successful and that with the right training AND mentorship, our graduates will enter their new careers better prepared for the challenges they will face. If you haven’t done so, contact one of our Career Advisors HERE to visit our campus and see why we are different.

We have all heard that the Health Care system is in need of qualified people across the board, but choosing a profession can be a little tricky. There are so many different careers within the Health Care sector and sometimes it is hard to distinguish between the different professions. So what exactly does a Health Care Assistants do?

Health Care Assistants (HCAs), also known as Resident Care Attendants (RCAs), can have many different responsibilities depending on where they work. Their tasks can include washing, dressing, feeding, and monitoring patients. They can help with bed making and setting up equipment. Also, they may even help with record keeping and preparing patients for therapy. As a HCA, you will have the option to work in both healthcare facilities and community agencies. Some roles that an HCA can take on include Community Health Worker, Resident Care Attendant, Nursing Auxiliaries, and Clinical Support Worker to name a few. As you can see, the work can be varied depending on your interests.
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Bimila Spencer from the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MFCD) gave a presentation on the Ministry to New Westminster Community Support Worker (CSW) students recently. She discussed; what the roles and responsibilities are of a MCFD worker, gave an explanation of what child abuse and neglect is and what are the warning signs, the duty to report child abuse what to do when a child discloses abuse, what happens after disclosure and the role of the child welfare worker and also the role of the police and the youth agreement contract, what it is and who it is for. The Students and Staff of the New Westminster campus appreciate Ms Spencer’s visit!

Sprott-Shaw’s Community Support Worker – Social Services program meets the growing need for assistance with pregnant teenagers, homeless persons, children with special needs, and those with substance abuse problems. Contact your local campus for more information.

Are you considering accounting as a career? You may be be surprised to learn that a considerable amount of their time is spent interacting with clients and employees. Here are some reasons why the accounting industry could be right for you:

• Generally good work/ life balance
• Work regular office hours
• Varied workload
• “Above average” projected new job openings
• Large amount of the workforce are retiring
• Considerable potential for advancement

Individuals that are self-managed, show initiative, and are willing to continually update their skills are the most likely candidates for promotion within this industry. Since a large portion of the current workforce is retiring, accounting professionals have been enjoying more opportunities for advancement within their organizations.
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Most people know about the importance of having a mentor, but the goal should be to get a sponsor. The difference is that a sponsor is someone within your organization or network that is part of upper management and can assist you in advancing your career. They have some sway in their field and can vouch for your abilities, which may help you land strategic assignments or positions.

A mentor is good if you are just starting out in your career and need some guidance. They can suggest training and give advice on ways to build on your professional competencies to move up in your industry. Mentors usually play more of supportive role than an advocate role. Sponsors usually keep an eye out for new opportunities for you to participate in such as volunteering, education, and projects. Also, they may even bring new job opportunities to your attention and refer you as well as introduce you to influential people.
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You went through the interview process and you didn’t get the job, now what? Most people just walk away at that point and don’t learn anything from the experience. However, what if there are only one or two things that you are doing unconsciously that is standing in your way from getting the job you want? Here are some ways to go about asking for the feedback and how to turn it into a positive experience.

1. Contact the interviewer and ask to have a short chat about the interview when it is convenient for them. This can be over the phone or in person, depending on what you are comfortable with. Remember that they are busy and follow up with them if they don’t get back to you within a week.

2. Make sure to ask for feedback in a positive way, such as what can I improve on to become a successful candidate in the future for a similar role or for a role within the organization. This will change the question from being negative, such as “why didn’t I get the job”, to something that will give you feedback that you can digest and work on.
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Finding Daycares that accept new full-time children are few and far between. The necessity and desire of both parents to work is increasing, which means childcare is needed more than ever. Currently it seems that the childcare system cannot keep up with the demand because of the shortage of Early Childhood Educators; this is mainly as a result of workers retiring, turnover, and the creation of new jobs.

Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) have many different responsibilities; although their main focus is on assisting our youth in developing good learning and social habits. ECEs develop daily activities for children such as reading stories, teaching songs, demonstrating the use of musical instruments, and preparing craft activities. Also, they take the children to local points of interest as well as assist children in the development of proper eating, dressing and toilet habits. They attend meetings and workshops to develop and discuss new teaching methods.
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There has been a lot of coverage in the media surrounding the job market and the high level of competition job seekers face. This is true in some aspects, although there are numerous employers looking to fill positions and new job opportunities are posted on the Internet every day.

Also, many industries are growing and employers are looking for qualified workers. Recently there was a CareerBuilder and CareerRookie.com survey, which revealed that “employers (54 per cent) reported they plan to hire recent…graduates in 2012, up from 46 per cent in 2011, 44 per cent in 2010 and 43 per cent in 2009”. This survey shows that grads and entry level employees are in demand for new hires. If you are currently looking for a job, consider the following tips:

1. Be proactive in all aspects of the job search. Many times this involves taking several approaches to find companies that are hiring, creating connections with those companies, and networking in person. This can include joining social networks, volunteering your time, blogging, and talking to your current connections to see if they can assist in some way.
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Employers often want their employees to have leadership skills regardless of the industry or profession. However, some individuals are still confused about what a good leader is or mistake leadership for being a manager. Then there are those who don’t even realize they are leaders in the making.

Leadership is demonstrated when a person guides others to obtain specific performance objectives or goals. This person will have the skills and personality traits to get people on the right track. Just because someone has the role of a leader doesn’t mean that they have the qualities required to get the results they are seeking. The “qualities of an effective leader include determination, vision, problem-solving ability, genuineness, independence, and flexibility” according to Career Options Magazine.
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Some reports are saying that there will be an increased demand for workers in the tourism industry by 2020 due to industry growth and “retiring baby boomers, according to a new Tourism Labour Market Strategy produced by tourism resource organization go2” [Source]. This will cause a surge in the need for more trained workers and hiring across the tourism industry.

There are many different areas in tourism, but some are expected to grow at a faster pace than others. The majority of growth in tourism will be new jobs in “food and beverage (43,410), recreation and entertainment (20,530), and hotels or other accommodations (18,920)” [Source].
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