poss.ca

Honing in on Career and Labour Info

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:05:00 -0500

KATHERINE O'BRIEN, Staff Writer

Say your idea of fun is wearing a veil, owning a smoker and making honey for living. Why? Because you just love bees, you want to invest in a hive and you can't wait to quit your accounting gig as soon as possible. But before exiting your stable but humdrum career, back up your dream with some hard facts: enter career and labour market information.

You can use labour market information (LMI) to find out about trends in the world of work, the demands for specific jobs, and the kind of businesses that are opening or closing down in Canada or in your community. (This kind of research (PDF) shows, for instance, that, horrors, almost half the number of Canadian beekeepers disappeared between 1993 and 2009.) Career information, on the other hand, can help you to understand the type of duties performed by various workers, the aptitudes and skills required, the training needed and the average salaries. (For example, you can learn that most beekeepers work out West, the wages aren't that great [$10 to $17/hour], the jobs are physically demanding with a lot of heavy lifting and the tasks, repetitive.)

When you consider the relatively low pay, the far-away location and the heavy lifting, honeymaking might not seem like such a hot job prospect after all. Collecting career and labour market info may not be as exhilarating as, say, collecting royal jelly, but knowing what the deal is can prevent you from getting stung by a new career that won't deliver what you really need.

Focusing on LMI
Start the LMI process by reading the business/career sections of local and national newspapers. Keep an eye on the businesses and industries that are doing well and the ones that are down for the count. Be sure to check out CBC.ca's Disappearing Jobs, which reports on factory work, fishing, coal mining, and more.

Your fact-finding mission should include learning about what sectors or industries are doing well. The Toronto Labour Market Monitor gives an overview of up-to-date economic activity in various sectors in the GTA. Workforce planning boards, such as the Toronto Workforce Innovation Group (TWIG), have super information on the local job market including reports and news items. TWIG's Routes TO Employment website, which is geared to internationally trained professionals, profiles Toronto's financial, health care and tourism sectors as well as six others. The Invest in Ontario website looks at 13 sectors in the province including digital gaming, clean technology, and the aerospace industry.

Many of Toronto's key industries, including food processing, tourism, and biotechnology have sector councils -- industry-led partnerships between workers, employers, educators and governments. The websites of some of these councils include helpful LMI; for instance, the Construction Sector Council puts out forecasts for the construction industry.

Your next step can be looking at career or business websites, trade publications and magazines like Canadian Business. Statistics and economic outlook reports compiled by financial institutions or the Toronto Board of Trade or The Canadian Chamber of Commerce can also give you a sense of what's happening in the labour market and the economy. And if you don't mind dry facts, Statistics Canada puts out a monthly Labour Force Survey with current data on national employment figures. The Ontario government also offers monthly labour market reports based on StatCan data.

Getting Up to Speed on Careers
Professional associations such as the Railway Association of Canada or the Canadian Institute of Actuaries sometimes provide good career information. So do some regulatory colleges, such as the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT), which delivers comprehensive studies of the employment patterns of new teachers. The above-mentioned sector councils, such as BioTalent Canada, may also provide decent career information. If you're the working-with-your-hands type, there are many sites, such as tradeability.ca or apprenticeship.com that talk about a variety of skilled trades.

You can also Google your career of choice to find job postings, which can give you a general sense of the duties involved, the pay and the educational requirements.

Occupational Profiles
If you're serious about researching careers, sooner or later you have to read occupational profiles. Once you find a field that catches your eye, look into the education and certification required. When deciding between various career options, you should also investigate salary, common work hours and working conditions. If you have already determined a career path, look at information about the employment rates in your field. Here are some questions to ask when looking at career options:

What are the long-term prospects of this career?
What is the average unemployment rate?
Where are most of the jobs in this field located?
How will technology affect the field?
What are the physical requirements of the job and the hours of work?

Top Career Info Sites
Canadian Sites
The National Occupational Classification (NOC), mainly focuses on job duties and educational requirements. It provides a standardized language for describing the work performed in the Canadian labour market, classifying occupations with a four-digit code according to skill type and level.

Although Working in Canada is a national site, it provides local reports on various occupations. In addition to outlining job duties, outlook and prospects, and information for newcomers, Working in Canada links to job postings.

Information on Ontario Job Futures is tailored to Ontario job seekers -- so be sure to make this one of your first career site stops. Other Canadian provinces have Job Future sites as well; so if you can't find air transport ramp attendants on the Ontario site, rest assured it can be found on Manitoba Job Futures.

Alberta Occupational Profiles gets a special mention because it contains such a wealth of career profiles. Bear in mind that some of the information on the site, such as educational requirements, is not relevant to Ontario readers.

Another Alberta-based website that deserves a look is Next Steps which delivers career profiles on everything from apiarists (yes, beekeepers!) to wildlife officers all based on interviews with the people who do the job.

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada's Essential Skills site gives ultra-detailed summaries of the skills needed (problem solving, working with others, etc.) in a sampling of occupations.

Career Cruising is an excellent career exploration site that contains a multitude of profiles including interviews with people who work in the field. (Although this is normally a for-fee site, members of the Toronto Public Library can access this site for free.)

PayScale Salary Calculator for Canada and Workopolis' Salary Calculator specialize in salary information.

It would be remiss for us not to mention Poss.ca, where we post a variety of engaging and well-researched career profiles.

U.S.A. Sites
The U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistic's Occupational Outlook Handbook contains comprehensive and detailed career information -- of course the salary, education and job prospects sections do not apply to Canadian readers.

O*NET Online, another comprehensive American site, contains information about the tools and technology used in occupations and the knowledge, skills and abilities needed.

The U. S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration's Career One Stop delivers a huge number of career resources from websites such as Wetfeet.com, which offers both career and industry profiles, or The Princeton Review.

The Wisegeek website is packed full of career articles. You can learn all about jobs from the mundane (grocery clerk) to the exotic (bullfighter).

Glassdoor.com posts anonymous reviews of companies from current or past employees (including Toronto companies) as well as salary info.

The Last Workplace Taboos

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:15:00 -0500

JOWITA BYDLOWSKA, Staff Writer

Admission: When I was researching this article, I had a strong desire to let everyone around me know that I had all those mental health pages up on my screen because I was researching an article, not because I was looking for mental help myself. And I work for a very understanding agency -- in fact, an agency that frequently deals with mental health concerns (Findhelp Information Services)! No matter: somewhere in the past I must've picked up the message that it's better to hide mental health issues, especially at work, and this is not a huge surprise since, according to a press release about a study released by The Conference Board of Canada, mental health stigma is still prevalent in Canadian workplaces. According to the press release, "Forty-four per cent of the employees surveyed reported they were either currently (12 per cent) or had previously (32 per cent) personally experienced a mental health issue. For this study the definition of a mental health issue was very broad and included: excessive stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, addictions and substance abuse, mania, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, among others."

The same survey revealed that most respondents would worry about promotion and their future success were they to speak to their manager about their issues. Which is probably a good thing as, "A full 44 per cent of managers have had no training on how to manage employees with mental health issues," according to the survey. Furthermore, despite the fact that "82 per cent of senior executives surveyed stated that their company promotes a mentally healthy work environment, only 30 per cent of employees who work in such occupations as service, labour, and production agree. Just 36 per cent of employees report that senior management openly discusses the importance of mental health."

Thankfully, the situation is not dismal and there are some solutions for people who struggle with mental health issues. The first and most important step to solving this type of disconnect is by gathering information, and there are organizations such as Mental Health Works (MHW) devoted to promoting workplace environments that are healthy and supportive. Below we give three examples of common mental health problems and suggest some solutions that may help.

Concern: Stress or Burnout
A temporary mental health issue such as stress or burnout can happen to anybody in any line of work. But when you're in the midst of it, you might feel overwhelmed and isolated to the point where quitting doesn't seem like such a bad option. Worse, because of stress you might even sabotage your work environment by procrastinating or acting out in a way that will get you noticed in a bad way or even get you fired. The Preventing Burnout article from Helpguide.org differentiates between stress and burnout in the following way:

"Burnout may be the result of unrelenting stress, but it isn't the same as too much stress. Stress, by and large, involves too much: too many pressures that demand too much of you physically and psychologically. Stressed people can still imagine, though, that if they can just get everything under control, they'll feel better.

Burnout, on the other hand, is about not enough. Being burned out means feeling empty, devoid of motivation, and beyond caring. People experiencing burnout often don't see any hope of positive change in their situations. If excessive stress is like drowning in responsibilities, burnout is being all dried up. One other difference between stress and burnout: While you’re usually aware of being under a lot of stress, you don't always notice burnout when it happens.”

Solution: The Preventing Burnout article says that the most effective way to fight job burnout is to stop doing what you're doing and do something else. The reality is that this may not be an option for a lot of people, so there are a few practical steps that will help you stay at your job while improving this situation:

Clarifying your job description is one of the steps suggested by the Preventing Burnout article. This means asking your boss for an updated version of your job description and pointing out things that you might be doing that are not included (things that may cause you to feel overwhelmed).
Trying something new is another useful suggestion from Preventing Burnout. It may not take much to change things up -- a different task, a different team or using a different machine to perform your work may be exactly the way to introduce some variety into the monotony that is causing you to burn out. This doesn't need to be a permanent change but it may provide a much needed break. For example, as much as I love writing these articles, I do appreciate being able to do outreach once in a while where I get to leave the office and talk to people face-to-face about the organization.
Identify stress factors and address problems actively. This means talking to your supervisor if changing these factors is not within your reach. The Talking to Your Boss Without Stressing Out article suggests sitting down with your supervisor, pinpointing together what the issues are. Although the article doesn't address job stress specifically, the advice is still useful: "For example, if it's taking you longer than expected to complete research for a project, your boss may be able to extend the deadline or provide you with additional resources that will make the task easier. Similarly, your supervisor may delegate some of your responsibilities to others or provide you with guidance on how to better manage your time. Often there are simple solutions that you and your boss can identify together."
Take a vacation. This Week's Wellness Challenge: Take a Summer Vacation suggests taking some time off to recharge. If this is not possible, consider taking a day or two off to do something that gives you pleasure -- going for a long walk or visiting a gallery or even staying at home and watching a bunch of TV shows back-to-back. Time off helps you to gain new perspective and removes you from the situation that is stressful.

Other Sources:

Advancing Healthy Workplaces - a variety of articles on stress in the workplace and how to deal with it.
Recovering from Burnout - some strategies on how to deal with burnout (as well as links to strategies used to avoid burnout).
Managing to Manage Stress (PDF) - an overview on workplace stress and strategies on how to deal with it.

Concern: A Psychiatric Issue Such as Depression or Bipolar Disorder
Psychiatric issues are such a vast topic that we won't be able to do them justice in this article but some of the most common ones, as identified by Hangin' in There (PDF), a booklet for working persons with psychiatric disabilities put out by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), are:

Anxiety Disorders - a persistent, strong anxiety that "interferes with a person's ability to carry on their normal routine."
Depression - having "feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness that last for long periods." Furthermore, according to the booklet, "[m]ost often, depression affects people in their working years between the ages of 24 and 44," so quite literally in their career primetime.
Bipolar Disorder - cyclical mood "swings" that can range "from periods of depression to periods of extreme excitement, hyperactivity, decreased need for sleep and inflated self-esteem."
Schizophrenia - a person with schizophrenia suffers from "confused thinking, lack of contact with reality, sensory delusions (seeing, hearing, or smelling things that are not there), mood changes and withdrawal from the outside world."

Solution: First of all, as a psychiatric illness is such a complex issue, the solutions aren't always the easiest, and there are many additional difficulties a person with such an issue may have to deal with, such as the mental health stigma mentioned in the intro. The good news is that many initiatives -- such as CMHA's Workplace Mental Health Promotion -- strive to fight this stigma. There's hope for all of us that we're going to start treating people with mental health challenges as valuable and important as anybody else in the workplace. People interviewed for the Hangin' in booklet gave mixed responses when it came to disclosing their psychiatric disability in a workplace. Some said it was not an issue; one person, however, disclosed her disability and was fired within the same week. At the same time, there are some benefits to informing your employer about your situation because "it can reduce the tension and worry about someone finding out through other ways." The booklet points out that having things out in the open may make it easier to ask for specific accommodations in the workplace (such as being able to take some time off to attend therapy sessions or to try out new medications that in the beginning may affect your sleep and day-to-day activities).

People interviewed for the Hangin' in There booklet responded that flex hours were what made longer term employment possible, for example, having the ability to start work later to help with the medication side effects.

Mental Health Works reminds that your mental health is not something you are required to tell anyone about unless "your employer has an absenteeism policy that requires you to provide a medical certificate if you have been absent for a prolonged period of time." You may also have to disclose your medical condition to your employer if you are claiming employee benefits and your company requires claims to be submitted to them directly.

Having a good relationship with a boss and being able to discuss a health concern is a definite bonus -- this, of course, is not always possible but if there's opportunity to develop a more friendly relationship with your supervisor don't shy away from it. MHW has some specific examples of how you can address your struggles with your boss, for example by providing your employer with information about your condition to help him/her understand it better.

MHW suggests additional steps before talking to your boss, such as providing "supporting documentation from a health care provider or other person in order to assist the employer in developing an appropriate accommodation." Additionally, an employee can work with human resources or the union (if the workplace is unionized) -- along with professionals that the employee already works with (mental health workers, social workers, doctors) -- to figure out the best accommodation in the workplace.

The Canadian Mental Health Association and the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work have some great suggestions and resources to help you deal with a work situation. Additionally, MHW offers some suggestions on how to talk to your co-workers about mental health illness. You should keep in mind, however, that it's absolutely your own comfort level that should drive this sort of talk, and, as MHW reminds, even if you've decided to take this step you don't have to tell them everything. For example, you can address your issue in a variety of different ways by saying it in more general terms: you have a disability, a medical condition or an illness, or by using more specific terms: a psychiatric disability or -- if you're absolutely comfortable -- giving a specific diagnosis such as "anxiety disorder." Whatever you decide to say, make sure that you talk to someone about it first, such as a mental health professional like a social worker, and consult some of the resources available.

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety lists a few organizations that may be able to assist you further in your workplace if talking to your boss is not be an option or if you need some extra support.

EAP programs are confidential short-term counselling services for employees with problems that affect their work performance. The services of EAP providers are often purchased by companies. Check with your human resources department (or equivalent) for contact information.
CMHA's programs are meant to ensure that people whose mental health may be or is endangered will find the help needed to cope with a crisis, regain confidence, and return to the community, his or her family and job.
The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) promotes informed debate on substance abuse issues and disseminates information on the nature of addiction and assists organizations involved in substance abuse treatment, prevention and educational programming. (This applies to our next section on addiction, specifically.)

Concern: Addiction
Perhaps the most misunderstood of all psychological issues in the workplace is addiction. In general, the debate on addiction still continues with many people believing that it's a question of self-control and moral failure rather than a psychological issue. There are experts who consider addiction a disease. Understanding Addiction: The Disease Model vs. the Choice Model explains some of these points of view on addiction, such as the social learning model as well. Whatever you believe, one thing is sure: addiction can have debilitating effects on a person's life, including their work life.

Solution: As with psychiatric illnesses and stress, it may not always be your choice whether or not to disclose your condition if it's affecting your work in an obvious way. If you're missing work, showing up under the influence or are unable to do your job, your secret will come out eventually. Incidentally, if you're trying to get help for your addiction you might have to talk to your boss about it -- especially if you're planning to go to a rehabilitation facility or leave work early to attend support group meetings. If you're not comfortable talking to your boss you could ask for a meeting with a human resource representative -- they have an obligation to accommodate your health issues and support your plan to get better. According to Workplace Mental Health Promotion, "Employees struggling with substance use problems cannot simply be pushed out of the workplace; alcoholism is recognized under employment law as a disability, so employers cannot terminate an employee suffering from alcoholism without first trying to help." The Ontario Human Rights Commission (PDF) states: "Drug and alcohol dependencies, as well as perceived dependencies are a form of disability. A person with a disability is protected under the Code against discrimination in the workplace."

You should also be aware that testing for drugs and alcohol testing as part of job screening is unlawful. The only time medical examination may be ordered is if there's a conditional offer of employment made in writing. "Drug and alcohol testing that has no demonstrable relationship to job safety and performance has been found to be a violation of employee rights."

So what happens when your addiction needs to be addressed in the workplace? I talked to two people who had to deal with this situation. Mark C. (not his real name), a web developer for one of Canada's largest advertising agencies, shares his experience of telling his employer about his addiction. He was re-hired by the company during a time he was sober but during the course of his work he relapsed. "I had no choice because I was missing a week of work at a time and at that point I wasn't even calling them to tell them I wasn't going to show up. My boss [called me into his office] and said, 'You're a great employee, what the hell is going on with you all of the sudden?' I was doing so badly. I told him what was going on, told him I had a problem." Asked what his employers said to Mark's revelation, he says, "They were fantastic, they set me up with an appointment with human resources, and I talked to them and said I need some time off to get myself to detox and maybe go to treatment." His employers activated his long-term benefits and set him up with EAP. Mark took some time off work. He says, "They didn't make any demands I go to treatment but they made it very clear to me that they wanted me to come back. They were wonderful through the whole thing, I felt very supported." Asked what advice he has for someone struggling with addiction affecting his or her job performance, Mark says, "Just be completely upfront if you think they're going to help you. There are confidentiality laws so nothing will get disclosed [to your co-workers]. For me the whole process was easy, people were just told I was leaving for a short time and that I was coming back." He reflects on how difficult it was to deal with the problem before he got found out, "Initially you don't want to say anything about it, I was ashamed of myself but [I realized] not one person reinforced these feelings, it was just me reinforcing them."

The story of Lisa B. (a pseudonym) is similarly touching and enlightening. She says, "My health started deteriorating and it was physically noticeable something was going on. And then my work started to suffer. I wasn't very dependable and at the time I was the office administrator of the company which involved reception, so when the receptionist isn't at the front desk because she's just not able to show up to work, people notice. I 'fessed up to my direct supervisor because our relationship was close enough that I could do so comfortably. She was supportive and offered to help however she could. She suggested that a leave of absence might be best, and my journey into recovery began."

Lisa says she took two sabbaticals, and the second one was used to go to treatment. Her supervisor supported her throughout her recovery and when Lisa came back to work things only got better for her. "I've regained the respect of co-workers, and moved careers within the same company, got promoted even! Which is pretty cool, because at one point, I was actually demoted," she says. She says it helped tremendously that people were supportive and didn't turn their backs on her when she was still struggling. She recalls a note she got from her CEO before going off to treatment: "Lisa, I saw you walking along Bayview Avenue on the weekend laughing and enjoying yourself with your friends. Whatever demons it is that you need to face, I hope you do so and find that happiness for good. I know we're not close, but my door's always open to you."

Other Sources:

Alcohol Abuse Screening Test
The Addicted Employee: After Treatment (PDF) - a booklet on how to deal with your return to work
Substance Abuse in the Workplace is a document that talks about "how substance abuse problems may affect the workplace, possible costs to a business, and how a business can address such issues."

A Lean Times Guide to Staying Afloat: Tax Benefit Programs

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:00:00 -0500

KATHERINE O'BRIEN, Staff Writer

Last month Poss.ca showed you the vast array of income support programs available in Canada and Ontario. This month -- with tax time fast approaching -- find out about tax benefit programs that can help out when the wolf is at the door.

Tax Benefits
Working Income Tax Benefit
The Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB) is a refundable tax credit intended to provide tax relief for eligible working low income individuals and families. Use this calculator to find out how much you would be entitled to.

Canada Child Tax Benefit
The Canada Child Tax Benefit, which includes a National Child Benefit Supplement that provides low-income families with additional child benefits, is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help with the cost of raising children under age 18. The amount you receive is based on your income, your place of residence and the number of qualified children you have and their ages. According to the National Child Benefit site, the maximum monthly CCTB (including the NCBS) for the July 2011 to June 2012 benefit year for families with net incomes below $24,183 is $290.41. The Child and Family Benefits On-Line Calculator can help you determine the amount of benefits you may be entitled to receive.

Child Disability Benefit
A monthly supplement to the CCTB, the Child Disability Benefit (CDB) is geared to families who care for a child under age 18 with a severe and prolonged impairment. (Note that the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) allows parents of children with disabilities to save for their future.)

Ontario Child Benefit
The Ontario Child Benefit is a non-taxable income-tested monthly benefit paid to low- to moderate-income families with children under 18. It is paid to all eligible recipients whether they work or not.

Ontario Child Care Supplement for Working Families
The Ontario Child Care Supplement for Working Families (OCCS) is a non-taxable monthly benefit paid to low- to moderate-income working families with children under seven, born prior to July 1, 2009. OCCS payments are reduced, in part or in whole, by the amount of OCB received.

Ontario Trillium Benefit
The Ontario Trillium Benefit (PDF), which will take effect in July, combines the Ontario Sales Tax Credit, the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit, and the Northern Energy Credit.

Ontario Senior Homeowners' Property Tax Grant
You could get up to $500 to help with the cost of your property taxes if you are an Ontario resident age 64 or older and you own a home.

To find out about refundable and non-refundable Ontario credits check out the Ministry of Finance's Credits, Benefits and Incentives page (scroll down). If you’re a person with a disability check out federal tax breaks.

Is it Worth It: Working to Support Your Art Habit?

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:10:00 -0500

JOWITA BYDLOWSKA, Staff Writer

Did you grow up dreaming of being an artist, say a rock star or an internationally recognized painter? What about becoming the next great writer or a designer? Me too. I mean, no. God, never. I grew up wanting to enter data into a computer and sell insurance on the phone or to clean food stuff from between people's teeth. While I have entered data into a computer I've heard horror stories about many, many sad people secretly putting all of their passions and energies into their art, often as soon as they'd punch out from their real job-job. Suckers! But then again, I don't blame them -- it's hard not to be lured into the world of you-just-might-be-one-in-a-million, is it? Especially if you're really passionate about doing something creative with your life and making a living out of it.

Plus, there are hundreds if not thousands of legends about famous actors who have done it before you, regular folks with regular jobs before they made it big. Some examples from Hardly Famous:

"Marlon Brando became a ditch digger after being expelled from military school."
"Halle Berry worked at Higbee's department store in the children's department."
"David Letterman was a stock boy at Atlas grocery store in Indianapolis. He also was a weatherman on the local news in Indianapolis."
"Marilyn Monroe was discovered while she was working on an assembly line at the Radio Plane Munitions factory in Burbank, California."

As for writers:

J. K. Rowling of the Harry Potter billion-dollar franchise, after having her daughter and separating from her husband, "left her job in Portugal, where she taught English as a second language, and returned to school to study for her postgraduate certificate of education so she could teach in Scotland. She completed her first novel while on welfare."
Nicholas Sparks: "After graduating from college the author of such best sellers as The Notebook, Dear John, and The Last Song tried to find work in the publishing industry and applied to law school but had no luck in either area. So he embarked on other careers, including real estate appraisal, waiting tables, selling dental products by phone, and starting a manufacturing business."

And fashion icons:

Nina Garcia, the fashion director at both Elle magazine and Marie Claire and the judge on the television hit Project Runway, "started her career in the public relations department of Perry Ellis and its then-designer Marc Jacobs. She moved on to Mirabella magazine and worked her way up the ranks until she became fashion director of Elle magazine, which is still her day job."
Ralph Lauren "studied business at Baruch College before dropping out, then served in the U.S. Army. He worked as a salesman at Brooks Brothers, and eventually was able to open a necktie store under the Polo label, using the financial backing of Norman Hilton. His career as a fashion designer really took off when the male actors in the 1974 film adaptation of The Great Gatsby wore his creations."

To honour the tradition of doing something else while you do something else creatively, we've asked three local artists to tell us about their struggles and accomplishments, and, most importantly of all, to tell us what it is that keeps them going. Gordon Foster, asked about his juggling act of work-vs.-career says, "This an all-in-one Pandora's box can of worms for me, actually, as I have so many anecdotes I could compile a pretty thick short story collection." (He mentions sculpture, painting, art direction for music videos, knitter of hats, set design, playwright, theatre tech, songwriter, guitarist, dancer/choreographer, filmmaker as some of his past and current endeavours.)

"The last art I made any money with was [the] MP3 CDs of my original music, which I burned and printed myself and sold for $10 dollars each through Facebook orders and in person. They had 120 songs, about six hours of music, on them and were quite well received. I earned enough to pay for more ink for my printer but haven't bought any yet so I have no CDs left to distribute. I did give quite a few away as gifts and thank-yous. My CD of instrumental guitar tracks impressed the music director for Nelvana but I had no idea what he was talking about when he asked me if I had anything 'out of the box.' A friend of mine who studied music production explained it to me but I didn't have the time, software or interest in dissecting my tracks into usable two and three-second clips.

I may do some live performances at small venues in the spring and attempt to sell a few more CDs but that would entail buying more ink. Teaching ESL is a lot more reliable with little initial investment."

Stacey Madden, writer (check out the last book review he wrote), says, "I work three part-time jobs, four, if I include 'writer.' (Yes, unfortunately I am only able to write part-time.) By day, I work at a media and event planning company. By night, I am a bookseller at a local independent bookstore. Seasonally, I am an exam invigilator at Humber College.

I try to squeeze writing into the cracks whenever possible. Often the most intense bursts of creativity come while I'm working one of my jobs, far from my laptop or even a scrap of paper, which is incredibly annoying. It would be easy to give up writing, but it's like an addictive drug -- even though it pains me, mentally and physically, to keep writing, I can't seem to give it up. Also, once you get a taste for success (my first novel, Poison Shy, will be published in fall 2012), you become something like a domesticated animal that has tasted blood: you want more.

I'm not sure what it would take for me to quit my other jobs and focus on writing full-time. Incredible financial success would be an obvious excuse, but at the same time, I love my other jobs the way you might love a bratty younger sibling. Despite all the stuff they put you through, there's something about them that's still a part of who you are. They have also provided me with writing material over the years -- both my jobs and my bratty siblings.

The advice I would give to an aspiring writer would be to take up writing only if you're deadly serious about it, not to mention a little crazy and masochistic."

Finally, a local designer of beautiful, unique apparel and accessories, G.H.(not even her real initials), has this to say, "Okay! First off I can't mention the name of my part-time workplace for obvious reasons." (Let's just say she's not crazy about her job). "I'm not sure I want this linked to my label mostly because not everyone knows I have gone back to working part-time and I wonder if that makes us (the label) seem unimportant. Personally, I love creating,making things, whether it's designing and sewing clothing or drawing. My education is in illustration (OCAD). My main passion is my clothing label, designing for it and all the day-to-day operations of running a small business, I love that it is my creation and my drive that propels it.

Currently, the label does not pay all of my bills because my living circumstances changed dramatically about a year or so ago -- suddenly I had to give up our rented design studio outside of the city and move back downtown. Rent became more expensive and that was accompanied by all the typical financial strain of divorce. Thus I am working evenings part-time at a call centre (coincidentally the place I worked before beginning my label). Working a 'McJob' right now also allows me the freedom to invest some of the profit from my label back into advertising and product development, which would be impossible if I had no other source of income at this time. If I am less worried about feeding myself or paying hydro then I can be more creative, or so I tell myself.

My advice for young artists is to do your research, make sure you know what job options exist for the medium that you love, and don't be afraid to make your own. If you love doing something, keep doing it until the world catches on. Passion is magnetic, people are drawn to its results. As artists we don't always operate on everyone else's clock, our obsessions might not be mainstream today but they sure might be next week. Take a course in financial management or hire a really good accountant early on -- even if you are freelancing, financial advisers can help keep you from making those bad decisions that can delay your career."

Will Travel for Money

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

JOWITA BYDLOWSKA, Staff Writer

Summer seems so far away. Especially in February. Which is why this may be the perfect time to think of jobs that will get you out of the winter's gloomy funk. If you like to daydream a bit but are not necessarily the traveling type and are still keen on learning about new places, don't worry -- we've got something for you. And those who are dying to change up their environment -- visa, backpack and all -- we have a couple of ideas for that as well.

Some facts about who works in tourism:

It's a 50-50 split between men and women.
The largest number of workers (42 per cent) are between the ages of 25 and 44.
Twenty per cent speak a language other than English or French.
Approximately 40 per cent people in this sector work part-time and many work only during the tourism season in their area.
Most jobs can be found in the food and beverages services group.
Salaries range from minimum wage in some frontline positions to high level executive incomes. Since many tourism jobs are service related, these employees also receive gratuities, commissions and/or discounted or complimentary products. Some positions offer room and board as part of a salary package.

Travel Agent
This is the type of a job that's definitely challenged by the magical world of the Internet. Many people can easily Google "last-minute-vacation" and once they do, it's links galore with huge access to very attractive deals. At the same time, working with a travel agent can ensure that you won't make mistakes that will cost you thousands of dollars (for example, booking a trip without buying an insurance policy, etc.).

As far as working as a travel agent, "opportunities for employment for this occupation are expected to be limited over the period from 2009 to 2013," according to Ontario Job Futures (PDF). Outside of people being able to book trips on their own via the Internet, this industry is also vulnerable to economic changes, international crises and health issues (remember SARS?). In the same manner, business-related travel is also affected since businesses are equally impacted by such changes. It's not all doom and gloom in the travel biz though -- niche services, such as traveling for specific groups (families, seniors) and trips to exotic, unique locations need agents who will be able to offer expertise that clients won’t be able to find anywhere else. A travel agent makes approximately $35,000 a year.

If you're thinking about becoming a travel agent, consider specializing in one of those niche areas and also keep in mind the following qualifications.

You'll need a college or vocational certification training in travel or tourism (check the Canadian Institute of Travel Counsellors' [CITC] Endorsed Travel Programs page to learn about programs' legibility).
You may be required to have certification with CITC -- you will become a certified travel counsellor after completion of courses, examinations and work experience.
You'll need computer knowledge to help with reservations, booking, information on destinations, etc.
Marketing skills are an asset as well since a lot of your success depends on how well you're able to sell your product (a travel package, for example).

A travel counsellor's job involves many skills and duties specific to working in this type of specialized customer service. You need to be flexible, for example, knowing how to accommodate a client's special requirements (for instance, finding out if a resort has babysitting services if the client travels with a child).

According to Working in Canada some other duties are:

Estimating prices of a trip based on the client's budget, needs and the most attractive options available
Scheduling itineraries for clients, taking into account time zones and transportation connections
Comparing the various price components of trip packages to ensure that the client will get the best price. (These comparisons may be complex since packages do not always have similar features.)
Referring to manuals for information on airline pricing and scheduling
Contacting the hotel and tour personnel directly to find out about space availability and pricing
Obtaining and analyzing information about destinations and flights received from travel salespersons, wholesaler representatives and travel companies
Comparing rates between companies to make the best choice for their clients

Tour Guide
It's hard to believe but Toronto is seen as travel destination for some people. (We're kidding! Toronto is wonderful. Just not in February.) And here's proof of our vibrant tourism sector: if you live here you might've seen the mighty hippo bus that not only drives around the city but also glides through Lake Ontario giving detailed tours of what's worthy of interest in our beautiful city.

According to the Discover Tourism site, if you're thinking of becoming a tour guide you’ll need excellent customer service skills and should be interested in travel, geography, history and the attractions of your city. "Good communication skills and presentation skills are also necessary. Desired experience and skills include time management skills and knowledge of the local geography, attractions and history. A second language is also an asset." As a tour guide you might not only accompany groups on sightseeing trips but also may be in charge of developing tours. At $12 per hour it's not a high-paying job. You won't get rich riding around in a hippo. But, if it's something you’d like to do on the side (or maybe in preparation for your own business) your duties may involve the following:

Providing general knowledge of an attraction site
Developing and maintaining an information file (maps, guides, etc.)
Preparing and delivering commentary
Answering and being able to research questions (hello, iPhone!)
Completing tour reports
Assisting special needs clients
Responding to emergencies (consider taking a course in first aid)

In order to work as a tour guide you need to have at least a secondary school diploma (college or university education with a specialization in tourism and/or history is an asset). Another important asset is certification as a tour guide via emerit, one of the most recognized tourism training and certification boards in Canada.

Cruise Ship Director
If you're one of those fun-loving types who really enjoys working with people and traveling at the same time, one of the best ways to combine this could be to become a recreation/activity director on a cruise ship. According to Discover Tourism, "They organize activities and ensure that passengers enjoy themselves. In this exciting position, recreation/activity directors are on call 24 hours a day while cruising. When they are away from home, they have opportunities to explore new destinations and see new sites." And as far as money is concerned, the news is better than with travel agent and tour guide: "Their average annual salary is $54,891."

The A Cruise Director's Calling article talks about the perils and the joys of the job. The author, Joyce Gleeson-Adamidis, writes, "It can be quite fun, mind you, but there are tremendous responsibilities. First: Cruise directors are officers of their ships." Some of the duties, Gleeson-Adamidis identifies in her article are:

Rotating between various itineraries and ships with distinct differences in operating procedures and personnel (and management styles)
Directing passenger services -- from activity programs and public announcements to "welcome onboard" and disembarking information
Serving as a conduit to those with problems, either finding a way to fix them or sending them on to the appropriate department
Managing staff and keeping an eye on their performance
Having knowledge of the safety procedures issued by International Safety Management (PDF)
Organizing activities for staff as well for the guests -- this may involve booking and organizing special performers, lecturers, speakers and other entertainers

Gleeson-Adamis writes too, "And after all this, it needs to be noted that each cruise line has its own particular list of criteria that is expected of their cruise directors so the nature of the responsibilities can easily grow longer or shorter depending on the size of the ship, number of passengers and number of crew onboard."

Other duties, according to Discover Tourism involve:

Meeting and greeting passengers
Conducting tours of ship, introducing passengers to the captain and crew
Caring for special needs passengers
Keeping records and logs

As you can see, with that many duties (and there are more -- this is just an overview) this is a job for someone really dedicated and open to new challenges. Discover Tourism reminds that knowledge of ships, navigation, destinations and attractions is also an asset when considering such a position. "Also useful are organizational and record keeping skills and time management skills. A second language can often be helpful."

To work as a cruise ship director, you need a secondary school diploma minimum; "courses in hospitality, tourism or recreation administration are desirable, as is training in first aid and customer service." Certification and knowledge of the Events Coordinator National Occupational Standards is also an asset.

Work-At-Home Jobs

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:02:51 -0500

Question

I really need some extra money but I have a two-year-old at home and don't want to put her in a daycare. Can you guide me to websites that offer work-at-home call centre positions that are not scams?

Answer

I did some online searching and found one site I thought might meet your needs. ContractExchange.com connects at-home agents with companies, hiring and training them for a specific assignment as an independent contractor. To do this work you need a recent model computer, high speed Internet, a dedicated phone line, a head set, a web cam and, in some cases, a biometric personal ID system. In addition, contractors have to pay training fees. A ContractExchange agent told me that contractors are considered self-employed and are thus responsible for the training fees, which range from between $150 and $300 for each client they take on (you can work for more than one client). She also noted that training and equipment costs are tax deductible.

I also read some forum discussions about working for ContractExchange such as this one from Scam.com and this one from Working at Home Moms (WAHM). As well, I took a look at findingworkathome.com, which has this to say about ContractExchange: "If you've visited other pages on my site, you may have seen my dire warnings that, with few exceptions, you should not have to pay to work for home-based jobs. This company is one of those rare exceptions."

It took quite a while for me to research this company, but in the world of online work (and offline, for that matter) you really have to do your research before applying anywhere.

It's also helpful to be aware of the signs that can alert you to a potential employment scam, such as:

Ads that offer large earnings for little effort
Ads that ask you to send money for start-up kits, information packages, or administrative fees
Correspondence containing poor English or unprofessional language

Check out WAHM's The Seven Rules That Weed Out Scams for more info on how to avoid getting conned, and read WorkAtHomeTruth's "not recommended" section to find out specific sites to avoid.

Best of luck,

Katherine O'Brien

Six Employment Specialists Speak to Poss.ca

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:20:00 -0500

KATHERINE O'BRIEN, Staff Writer

If you're in a job search rut, stop what you're doing and devour these pointers from employment specialists across Toronto. You might just find out what you have to do to shake things up on the job seeking scene.

1. What is the most important advice you could give to a job seeker?

Joanna Samuels, team lead of employer services and job developers at JVS Toronto and a columnist for the JVS blog Career Voice: Don't look for work by yourself! Try to find an employment counsellor/job developer who understands your profession, sector and the labour market. Understand, learn and/or improve your soft skills, which are far more important in the Canadian workplace than technical skills. Research which companies would be able to use your skills, experience and education. Do not be afraid to keep revising, revisiting, fixing, adjusting, adapting and changing your resumé/cover letter. Prepare, prepare and prepare for the interview. Get advice, tips, ideas and suggestions from as many people as possible in your field. Consider volunteering in your field or at an association if you need concrete and relevant experience or new and relevant references.

Shabnum Budhwani, Manager, Programs and Services at Skills for Change: Job searching is a full-time job that requires effort, time, research, focus and a strategic approach. Realize the importance of networking and self-marketing. There are a whole lot of jobs out there that are not advertised through formal channels -- go out and mingle, make personal and face-to-face contact with different people, get referrals, leads, ideas and tips, and then follow up on those. If you are a subject matter expert in your field participate in online discussions, webinars etc. to increase your outreach. Attitude is another thing: having a positive and pleasant disposition, being open to learning and communication, being flexible in your approach, taking leadership and demonstrating your enthusiasm and drive, your passion for your work, these are all things that will get you noticed.

Meheret Negash, career counsellor at Youth Employment Services: One of the most important things is networking, online and offline. It's become very easy to network with Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. People have heard about it [networking] a lot but for some reason they just don't do it and I see that it really disadvantages them. Other methods are to access your employment services agencies and to go to job fairs.

Cynthia Meshorer, employment counsellor at Times Change Women's Employment Service: Consider arranging an informational interview, joining professional associations or groups and asking people for their personal network.

Akanni Frederick, employment specialist at Dixon Hall Employment Services: Don't give up and make sure to find a source of motivation. Many people feel disappointed or defeated if they keep applying but don't get a call back or, worse yet, go to interviews and don't get the job. Often after job seekers get an interview they stop job searching, and if it does not pan out they feel depressed and have to start all over again. The key is to continue to job search even when an interview is granted and understand that the process of finding employment can take up to eight weeks.

Steve Chau, employer services consultant at The Career Foundation: Have a job search strategy in place before job searching. Follow through with your strategy and analyze your findings, eliminating job search techniques that are not effective.

2. What is the biggest mistake job seekers make?

Chau: Not using job-specific resumés.

Budhwani: There is no merit in sending out 200 resumés if none of them can demonstrate to the employer why you would be a close fit for the job. You need to make the effort to go through the job posting, highlighting things in your qualifications and experience that match what the employer is seeking, and then make a concentrated effort to present it so that it jumps right in the face of the person who is looking at your resumé. It is better to send out a few resumés with close matches then to send out hundreds that don't fit. I have seen cases where people have sent out seven resumés and received calls backs from four of the employers.

Frederick: A common problem is getting caught up with one way of job searching. I also recommend that job seekers simultaneously conduct multiple job searches, one for the ideal job, i.e., teacher, as well as a parallel job search, i.e., facilitator.

Negash: One of the biggest mistakes I see is failing to diversify their job search. [Applying to jobs online] is a good method but it shouldn't be the only method. As a prudent investor would, I would really encourage job seekers to diversify -- to hit the pavement and to network and to do informational interviews and to go to events to network.

Meshorer: Submitting resumés online as the main method of searching for work.

Samuels: Staying at home all day applying for jobs only on the Internet -- all the high profile websites like Monster, Workopolis, Job Bank -- and thinking that they have done all they can do to apply for jobs and then getting frustrated that they can't get work.

3. Which field(s) do you think have the best employment prospects in the Toronto area?

Frederick: Highly skilled positions or skilled trades, retail. Sometimes it's all timing and having the right skills the employer is looking for at the time.

Samuels:I have noticed a real need for the skilled trades: car/auto mechanics, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) technicians [also known as refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics], welders, [people trained in] CNC (computer numerical control), and more. Also, there's a need for those with the latest IT technical skills: web designers and people who know PHP or .net.

Budhwani: Finance and accounting, administration, IT and customer service are the fields where most of our clients are getting jobs.

Meshorer: Jobs working with the aging population.

Chau: Food services, sales and customer services.

Negash: Food services, cashiers and customer service reps.

Staying at Home to Relax

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:04:02 -0500

I have a lot of friends who love their jobs. Some of those friends love the jobs so much that they become married to them. There's no actual wedding, nor do they get presents. They don't even get a partner to get married to -- unless work-husband or work-wife counts, a term defined by Wikipedia as "a co-worker, usually of the opposite sex, with whom one shares a special relationship, having bonds similar to those of a marriage; such as, confidences, loyalties, shared experiences, and a degree of honesty or openness. The work spouse is a potentially key relationship when one's actual spouse or boy/girlfriend is not able to be there."

I never had a work spouse but I've had close relationships with co-workers that seemed as important as my personal ones; in fact, I've remained good friends with some of those people, specifically one girl, Dani, who is an executive for a company that seems to employ her beyond her regular work tasks. This girl works hard, travels for work, is sent on trips as bonus (not for work, but if there's some little extra work to be brought along who should really complain -- it's a free trip!). She attends fantastic events, meets celebrities, samples the most luxurious spas and products, goes shopping with her boss, exchanges gifts… in other words, she has a blast. But, once during a friendly chat with her boss, Dani brought up that she was starting to burn out from how hard she's been working, even with the perks of all the trips and the occasional gifts that she wouldn't be able to afford to buy for herself. Her boss didn't get upset but was more surprised than anything. She said, But you don't have a partner, you're not dating seriously and there are no children at home, what else would you do?

With all this free time, right? (Well, she used to be a painter, and a writer and designed clothes, but never mind.) My friend Dani probably laughed as if the boss had said the best joke and they never talked about it again. Dani still works there and I still get her texts "we need to see each other soon as soon as I'm back from LA!," and I know that soon may mean a month from now, if that, and when it does we won't even talk about how hard she's working because she'll be too tired to talk about it. I hope she reads our Last Workplace Taboos article about burnout and takes a hint.

Jowita

P.S. By the way, I asked if she'd like to be interviewed for this blog. She said yes but I simply couldn't get hold of her.

What do you do for fun?

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:10:42 -0500

When interviewers ask you about hobbies it's because they want to know that you've got a life outside of work and are a person not a robot. Think of a bunch of interesting things that make you you and don't worry if you're not into more traditional hobbying like knitting or fly-fishing (though those are awesome, too!). Most employers look for well-rounded employees and nothing kills enthusiasm faster than finding out that a candidate has the personality of a slug.