The world of work is changing dramatically. It is becoming increasingly evident that there is a profound mismatch between the Canadian labour market and career opportunities for new entrants. Our youth are encountering seemingly insurmountable challenges in career decision-making, career development, and long-term career growth. We call this the “youth disconnect.”

As a Canadian Career Practitioner, you need to be informed and prepared to provide meaningful support and services to your clients. Career Professionals of Canada’s Experienced Practitioners Mastermind Group has done the research and selected the following resources to help you delve deeper into the topic. Read these resources and think about the possibilities for your current clients and our future generations. Ask yourself these questions:

• What will it take for youth to succeed in today’s labour market?
• How can you help your clients prepare better for the world of work?
• What is your role in bringing awareness and helping resolve the youth disconnect?

Generation Jobless | CBC Doc Zone (45-Minute Video)

A University degree no longer assures a good job, good pay and a comfortable life. The unemployment rate for young people in this country is close to 15% – double that of the general population. But the real crisis is the increasing number of university and college grads who are underemployed. WATCH THE SHOW

Canada lagging behind Australia in youth employment | Canadian Business

Canada and Australia have a great deal in common, from Queen Elizabeth II to commodity exports. Like Canada, Australia is also concerned about youth unemployment. Australia’s record on youth unemployment, however, is far stronger than Canada’s. READ MORE

Your College Major Is a Minor Issue, Employers Say | Wall Street Journal

College students, here’s a tip: Your major doesn’t matter as much as you think. So says a new survey by the Association of American Colleges and Universities, in which 93% of respondent employers cite critical thinking, communication and problem-solving skills as more important than a candidate’s undergraduate major. READ MORE

Skip the MBA: 3 Reasons Why You Should Get Real-World Experience Instead | LinkedIn

The CEO of HootSuite dropped out of business school. He believes that it was one of the best decisions he ever made. It was real-world experience in business that led him every step of the way—not an expensive college degree. READ MORE

An A+ student regrets his grades | The Globe and Mail

The purpose and meaning of education is widely misunderstood and wrongly presented. We have a culture that revolves around textbooks, lectures, GPAs and exams, where failing or not doing well are either unacceptable or wrongly considered a sign of weakness or a lack of intellect.” READ MORE

The Finland Phenomenon: Inside the World’s Most Surprising School System | The Daily Riff

Finnish students rank top of the charts in international studies of standardized testing (PISA). Here is a top ten list via Cooperative Catalyst via Parenting Magazine’s Mom Congress 2012 summarizing the traits of the much admired and controversial Finnish education. READ MORE

Hackschooling Makes Me Happy: Logan LaPlante at TEDxUniversityofNevada | TED Talk (11-Minutes)

What do you want to be when you grow up? When 13-year-old Tahoe native Logan LaPlant takes the stage for his TEDx talk at the University of Nevada, what follows are 11 minutes of eloquent, confident wisdom on his style of education, which he calls “hackschooling.” WATCH THE TED TALK

Millennials and age discrimination: Meet the fresh new face of ageism in the workplace | Canadian Business

The gap between our workforce’s oldest and youngest employees has never been wider. With each generation elbowing the competition for a seat at the table, it’s no wonder that they don’t always see eye-to-eye. READ MORE

Want to learn what you can do to prepare your clients and improve their prospects?

DELVE DEEPER INTO THE YOUTH DISCONNECT

Transitioning Graduates to Work: Improving the Labour Market Success of Poorly Integrated New Entrants (PINEs) in Canada | Canadian Career Development Foundation (CCDF) (PDF)

This research report focuses on a growing group of un- and underemployed youth, Poorly Integrated New Entrants (PINEs). The report examines what the literature says about them and their barriers to labour market attachment from a global and Canadian perspective. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (PDF) | FULL REPORT (163-Page PDF)

Future Work Skills 2020 | Institute for the Future

Global connectivity, smart machines, and new media are just some of the drivers reshaping how we think about work, what constitutes work, and the skills we will need to be productive contributors in the future. This report analyzes key drivers that will reshape the landscape of work and identifies key work skills needed in the next 10 years. SUMMARY MAP (GIF) | FULL REPORT (19-Page PDF) |

Thank you to the Experienced Practitioners Mastermind Group Members for doing the research and providing this list of resources for Career Practitioners:

• Sharon Graham, Facilitator
• Maureen McCann
• Maureen Farmer
• Wayne Pagani
• Kevin Schafer
• Adrienne Tom
• Carrie Wakeford
• Daisy Wright

Learn how to join a Mastermind Mentoring Group facilitated by Career Professionals of Canada and get professional development throughout the year.

Share/Bookmark

The post Are we preparing our youth for today’s real world? You decide. appeared first on Career Professionals of Canada.

BUILD A PROFITABLE CAREER BUSINESS

4-Week Fully Interactive Program – Don’t Miss this Event

Resume writers, career counsellors, employment consultants, career coaches, and other career entrepreneurs. If you are self-employed and are looking for real techniques to attract clients, close the sale, and make real money, then this is the right place for you.

Take advantage of the most comprehensive business-building program available for Canadian Career Entrepreneurs. This highly interactive program consists of four 90-minute sessions, mentoring by Sharon Graham, Canada’s Career Strategist – and much more. Sharon has built two successful career businesses from the ground up, so you can have confidence you are learning from one of the best.

Join Sharon Graham’s updated program, BUILD A PROFITABLE CAREER BUSINESS.  Register NOW and SAVE on this intensive 4-week training program!

Learn all about the program here:

BUILD A PROFITABLE CAREER BUSINESS

…with Sharon Graham, Canada’s Career Strategist

This program is back by popular demand.

New and existing members of Career Professionals of Canada get a deep discount.

The number of spaces are limited. Register right away to reserve your spot!

Share/Bookmark

The post Need to Boost your Career Business? appeared first on Career Professionals of Canada.

Who are Career Professionals of Canada?

CPC is the leading Canadian credentialing, professional development, and networking organization for career practitioners. We connect Canadians to a nationwide network of career development advisors.

As a member-run, volunteer-driven association of professionals, our members work together to achieve their career and business goals by:

• Showcasing their expertise
• Highlighting their professionalism
• Promoting quality services
• Instituting ethics within the Canadian career industry

Visit us online to learn more about Career Professionals of Canada and our broad membership.

Would you like first-hand feedback from a member? Connect with one of our ambassadors!

Share/Bookmark

The post Career Professionals of Canada? appeared first on Career Professionals of Canada.

• Brent Irwin
• Daya Ganeshakumar
• Idil Osman Jama
• Jennifer Miller
• Laura Mitchell
• Lisa Liu
• Margaret Goslin
• Mindy Sperber
• Mona Abdoon
• Yanny Oi-Yan Yeung
• Yenna Hua

Thank you to our renewing PROFESSIONAL Members:

• Adrienne Tom
• Charmaine Johnson
• Hassan Abtidon
• Kathy Weston
• Kevin Schafer
• Lori Rubinger
• Lotte Struwing
• Michael Thompson
• Pat Harper
• Paul Oliveira
• Zahra Hirji

Congratulations to our newly certified PROFESSIONAL Member:

• Adrienne Tom, CRS

Kudos to our CERTIFICATION PROGRAM Assessment Team for their hard work:

• Angelika Trinkwon, CRS
• Carole Marinier, CRS
• Gabrielle LeClair, MCRS, MCIS, MCES, MCCS
• Karen Siwak, CRS
• Kathy Weston, CRS
• Lita Pitruzzello, CRS
• Lynda Margaret, MCRS
• Maureen McCann, MCRS, MCIS, MCES, MCCS
• Skye Berry-Burke, CRS
• Wayne Pagani, MCRS, MCIS, MCES, MCCS

Much gratitude goes to all our other volunteers who work diligently throughout the year!

Share/Bookmark

The post CPC Member Appreciation – April 2013 appeared first on Career Professionals of Canada.

If you are a resume writer, employment consultant or career practitioner, you want to give your clients the best chance for success. Here’s a compilation of Applicant Tracking System (ATS) resources recommended by Career Professionals of Canada’s Resume Strategist Mastermind Group.

There is a lot of discussion and contradiction about ATS systems and how they work. Read each of these resources to get meaningful insight into optimizing resumes for your clients. Make your own informed conclusions and prepare yourself well to support clients effectively.

Applicant Tracking System Market Continues to Grow

This article from recruiter.com gives a recruiter’s perspective to Applicant Tracking Systems. Scroll down for interesting facts from an ATS survey.

How Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) Work

Here is a great infographic from Campus to Career that shows the workings of Applicant Tracking Systems. This visual is a great tool to share with clients.

Tips for Electronic Resumes

Download this outstanding and thorough (.pdf) resource from Sovren if you want to learn how to write an electronic resume.

Electronic Resume Formatting Guidelines

Take advantage of this comprehensive series of tips on resume optimization. Explore the complete Preptel site to learn all the “ins and outs” of resume optimization and Resumeter.

5 Insider Secrets for Beating Applicant Tracking Systems

According to this blog post in CIO Magazine by Meridith Levinson job seekers can take advantage of error-prone applicant tracking systems by optimizing their resumes.

6 Applicant Tracking Secrets You Need to Know

This blog post from Unrabble gives you a recruiter’s look at how applicant tracking systems don’t always work. Use this insider information to create solid ATS resumes for your clients.

List of most popular Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

If you really want to do some in-depth research, you might want to download this spreadsheet on Google Docs. It lists the most common ATS systems (and most of them include trial access).

Thank you to the Resume Strategist Mastermind Group Members for doing the research and selecting this solid list of Resume Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Resources for Career Practitioners:

• Sharon Graham, Facilitator
• Blanche Pilkington
• Cathy Milton
• Howard Earle Halpern
• Ilya Belkin
• Imran M. Ismail
• Marian Bernard
• Pat Shepherd

Find additional Resume Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Resources from Sharon Graham:

• Make your client’s resume technology and human friendly
• Ensure Your Client’s Word Resume Passes the Screen
• Resume Tracking Systems are Flawed
• Online resume submission – don’t get your client blacklisted

Learn how to join a Mastermind Group facilitated by Career Professionals of Canada and get professional development throughout the year.

Share/Bookmark

The post 7 Meaningful Resume Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Resources for Career Practitioners appeared first on Career Professionals of Canada.

Career Connections features leading-edge articles and resources for Canadian career professionals from CPC’s Executive Director,  Sharon Graham – Canada’s Career Strategist.

You receive valuable, up-to-date information about the industry and CPC community and events with your subscription, along with features of our talented and brilliant Professional Members of CPC.

And the best part is – it’s free!

Sign up to Career Connections Now!

View Archived Career Connections Issues

Share/Bookmark

The post Career Connections a great FREE resource for Career Professionals appeared first on Career Professionals of Canada.

A membership with Career Professionals of Canada is an investment in your personal and professional development.

Here are 8 ways you can increase your connections, enhance your expertise, and raise your visibility today:

1. Have your profile listed FREE in the Canadian Career Professionals Directory
2. Attain your Resume, Interview, Employment and Career Credentials
3. Join industry-leading Mastermind Mentoring Groups
4. Get professional development throughout the year with Complimentary TeleClasses
5. Connect with colleagues and get professional advice through the Private Career Club
6. Get featured as an Expert Canadian Career Blog Contributor
7. Advertise your Canadian Career Books on the Bookstore
8. Apply to be nominated and receive an Award of Excellence

CAREER PROFESSIONALS OF CANADA is the leading Canadian association for career practitioners. Members are a diverse group of individuals including employment consultants, career coaches, resume writers, job developers, outplacement consultants, and a wide variety of other career professionals. Working together, we provide quality services, comply with a strict ethical standard, and offer career expertise to assist Canadians with successful career and business moves.

Gain contacts, credentials, and credibility with Career Professionals of Canada!

Share/Bookmark

The post 8 ways you can benefit from CPC today! appeared first on Career Professionals of Canada.

A Canadian career development practitioner recently asked me how I got started in my own career practice. In particular, she wanted to know how my membership with Career Professionals of Canada (CPC) helped. Here was my reply:

“Career Professionals of Canada gave me the confidence to take a leap of faith out of a permanent job and into my own business. Only after linking with CPC, did I realize I have what it takes to build an entrepreneurial career service. With the support of Sharon Graham [CPC’s Executive Director], my family, and my professional network, I embarked on the research and hard work required to start my independent career practice. Along the way, I learned plenty from the phenomenal wisdom offered by many members who participate in CPC’s Career Club, Telenetworking, and other programs. Today, I’m glad to say that my business is well-established and flourishing.”

The greatest thing about the CPC Career Club is its members. Each person has a unique point of view with specific expertise to offer and share. Some have writing, editing, or proofreading expertise; others are savvy in sales and marketing, public relations, and social media.

Wisdom is shared on the Career Club through conversations, questions, and answers organized under each of these headings:

• Career Strategy
• Employment Strategy
• Interview Strategy
• Resume Strategy
• Business Strategy
• Book Club
• Tele-Networking Club
• Cercle de Carrière

Archived conversations listed in the Career Club are a rich resource. Here is just a sample of some of the meaningful discussions you’ll find:

• Ideas for getting prospects.
• Sharing pricing strategies.
• Dealing with barriers such as disabilities.
• Building organizational development competencies.
• Assessing and addressing organizational climate.
• Leveraging network density for performance.
• Addressing learning transfer issues.

Many of these topics, discussions, and conversations are relevant and applicable today.

“Career Professionals of Canada and the wisdom of its membership has helped me start, develop, and grow my business, my professional network, my opportunities, and my expertise. It will certainly do the same for you.”

Join Career Professionals of Canada today!

Share/Bookmark

The post How CPC Helped me Start-up my Career Service appeared first on Career Professionals of Canada.

• Darlene Wilson
• Denise Wedderburn
• Sophie Bizeul
• Terry Thompson

Thank you to our renewing PROFESSIONAL Members:

• Amy Knapp
• Audrey Taylor
• Kellan Beck
• Lisa Cartaginese
• Pat Roberts
• Rala Bekdach
• Rita Pittman
• Suely Anunciacao

Congratulations to our newly certified PROFESSIONAL Members:

• Lise Bryar, CIS
• Simon Lawton, CRS
• Zahra Hirji, CRS

Share/Bookmark

The post CPC Member Appreciation – March 2013 appeared first on Career Professionals of Canada.

Join us on Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM Halifax Time at Trendz Restaurant

This event is available to members and non-members at no charge, and refreshments may be purchased from Trendz Restaurant.

You could win a complimentary 6-month membership to CPC ($90.00 value)

We hope to see you there!

Please ensure you register so we may confirm attendance numbers - follow this link to let us know you’ll be joining us.

…AND YES. This event is free!

Share/Bookmark

The post Join us as we launch the first-ever Atlantic Canada CPC Meet-up. appeared first on Career Professionals of Canada.