The ABC’s of Career Consulting

 C       Create an open and trusting environment for the client.

 A       Assist clients in developing an action plan for their work search process.

 R       Review clients documents in a non judgmental, but open-minded approach, and ensure  the documents are scannable, as it takes some employers 10 seconds to determine if a résumé is worth viewing.

 E        Encourage clients to explore and brainstorm potential occupations. Eliminate choices that are not realistic. Not everyone was born to be a rocket scientist.

 E        Extroverted or Introverted, help clients explore where they get their energy from. Extroverted- get energy from being with people. Introverted- get energy from being  alone.

 R       Résumé development with the client, so the client is represented accurately and professionally.

 C       Cover letter assistance, to ensure the client represents their skills and abilities successfully.

 O       Overcome obstacles, help them identify what stands between them and their occupational goal (License? Education? Language Barrier?)

 N       Networks; have the clients clean up their social networks (i.e. Facebook). Did you know in 2010, 55% of employers used social media as a hiring tool!

 S        Skills set; help the client identify their personal, transferable and technical skills.

 U       Understand the clients’ goals, and ensure they are achievable.

 L        Label clients strengths and abilities, and don’t dwell on the negative.

 T        Types of résumés: Chronological, Functional and Combination Style, help client identify which one best represents them.

 A       Aid in identifying the clients’ brand. Brand- is how we represent ourselves. Who are you? What makes you unique?

 N       Next meeting; set up a time, set goals to accomplish for the next meeting.

 T        “The man who has the largest capacity for work and thought, is the man who is bound  to succeed”

 

Tina Styles, pictured, middle, assisting fellow CE Students at the MCACES Job Search Expo

Tina Styles is a Continuing Education Student currently studying within the Career Consultant Certificate Program at Mohawk College. MCACES offers a comprehensive Employment Advisement program for our students. For more information about Employment Advisement, please visit the MCACES website, www.mcaces.ca or contact Lidia Siino, Employment & Communications Specialist at Lidia.siino@mohawkcollege.ca.

 

Being Online: A First Timer’s Perspective

 

I’m so excited to start my first online course experience. I haven’t been in school for over ten years, so this is definitely going to be an interesting experience. I welcome the new challenges I face, I also look forward to actually accomplishing my goal of receiving my Teaching the Adult Learner Certificate one day. Slow but steady, one day at a time, and I will get there.

I am grateful for the encouragement of family and fellow peers. Without them, none of this would be possible. I see every day that the possibilities of “what I want to become when I grow up” are endless!

I logged in my course for the first time, changed my password. At first, I found all the reading material very overwhelming. I surfed slowly through the whole course outline, and really seemed to get a hang of how to change my profile and update my personal information quickly.  I also noticed that they have a Group Assignment, which has me a little uneasy. I’m not sure how this type of assignment will work within an online course environment. I will continue to ask for help, and follow-up on what the instructor for this course is asking.

Wish me luck!

Cristina

Cristina Lord is a Continuing Education Student taking courses within the Teaching the Adult Learner Certificate at Mohawk College. She works part-time as the MCACES Resource Centre Receptionist and is married with two young children. Would you like to speak with Cristina? Contact her through mcaces@mohawkcollege.ca.

Cristina Lord works part-time as the MCACES Resource Centre Receptionist