Employer

Expectations

& the Canadian

Workplace

Career Services and Cooperative

Education

June 2020

Learning Outcomes

▪Employers expectations

▪Canadian workplace culture and norms

▪Appropriate communication and workplace

behavior

▪ Tips for working remotely

Employer Expectations

1. Interpersonal or people skills (51%)

2. Problem-solving skills (45%)

3. Teamwork (41%)

4. Oral communication (40%)

5. Creative thinking (38%)

6. Written communication (35%)

Source: Career Builder

Top 6 Skills New Grads Are LACKING

**Employers want 60% soft skills

and 40% technical skills**

Benefits of Your International Experience

Unique soft skills you offer:

• Cross-cultural sensitivity

• Adaptability

• Bilingualism / multilingualism

• Creative thinking

• Willingness to be challenged in a new environment

What is Workplace Culture?

▪ The character and personality of an organization:

• beliefs, values, traditions, behaviours, attitudes, interactions, rules, policies, common practices

▪ “The unwritten rules of the workplace.”

▪ Workplace culture = Employers’ expectations

Expectations in the Canadian Workplace

▪ Dress Code

▪ Meetings

▪ Equality

▪ Correspondence

▪ Manners

Workplace Culture = Employer Expectations

• Internet Use

• Confidentiality Policies

• Communication Style

• Personal Phone Use

• Social Interactions

Canadian Workplace Norms

▪ Be clean, well groomed

▪ Good manners and positive attitude

▪ All people are treated as equals and with respect

▪ No special status given to those of a certain class, age, gender, or position

▪ Acceptable to ask an employer for special considerations (i.e., disability, religion)

▪ Use of first names vs. ‘Sir/Madam’ or ‘Mr./Ms.’, understand the hierarchy within the company

Tips to Meet Employer Expectations

1. Have a dependable means of transportation (and a backup plan)

2. Maintain a calendar or planner

3. Ask questions (but not the same ones over again)

4. Reach out to other staff and be friendly

5. Keep busy and take initiative

6. Don’t be a clock watcher

7. Get to know your supervisor/coach, manager, and co-workers. Learn their work style and performance expectations.

8. Learn what behaviour is expected in your work environment.

How would you learn what is expected of you?

The Canadian

Workplace

Appropriate Attire

▪Personal hygiene

▪ Interview attire vs. on the job

▪ Formal business attire vs. business casual

▪Cultural/religious attire

Source: Cultivated Culture, What to Wear to a Job Interview

Good Phone Etiquette

DO DO NOT

Be prepared when making a call or

receiving a call

Come across as distracted or complete

other tasks when on a call

Speak clearly at all times Mumble, whisper or shout

Leave detailed voicemail messages

(name, phone #, purpose of call)

Leave vague messages that require

your contact to guess

Keep your voicemail up to date,

professional and clear

Make a joke on your voicemail, or let the

inbox fill up

Answer voicemail messages promptly

- within a day

Leave contacts waiting without a

response

Save personal calls for break times Leave your phone on during a work shift

Good E-mail Etiquette

✓DO’s

▪ Use professional font

▪ Check spelling, grammar – review

before sending

▪ Salutation / closing

▪ Be clear, concise

▪ Use the Subject line

▪ Use same words / tone as you would

when speaking face-to-face

× DON’T’S

▪ Don’t use ALL CAPITALS

▪ Don’t use emoticons, images

▪ Don’t use texting language

Remember: once it’s

out there, it’s out there

forever!

Bad E-mail Examples

Good Email Sample

DO √√ DO NOT XX

Know the policies and procedures in advance

Be left in an emergency situation and not

know who to contactStore contact information for your supervisor

OR human resources in your phone

Request time off in a DETAILED e-mail Approach your employer at a busy time

Have a plan set in place to cover your

workload during the time off

Assume your work will be covered

without making prior arrangements

Call/e-mail your employer IMMEDIATELY

when you are sick Wait until your shift has started to notify

your employer of your lateness/absenceCall your employer IMMEDIATELY when you

suspect you will be late

Ask in advanced and in writing if you know

you will need time off

Stop your Manager in the hall to ask

about time off

Requesting Time Off & Reporting Absences

Good Email Sample

What is Small Talk?

▪What is small talk?

▪ “Talk at work is not confined to talk about work.”

- Is this true for every culture?

▪Why is small talk important in the workplace?

Source: TRIEC

Breaking the Ice at Work

Some good conversation starters:

• “Hi there, I don’t think we’ve met before. My name is…”

• “I’m so sorry, I’ve met so many people lately. Can you remind me your name?”

• “Hi, I heard you are the expert in [computer systems]! Can you tell me how you…?”

• “Hi! How are things going? Is it a busy day for you?”

• “Wow, it looks so cold out there! Do you like winter?”

Source: George Brown College, Career Services – Communication in the Workplace

Summarizing Small Talk

▪ Use common ‘icebreakers’ to connect with co-workers

▪ Be open to conversation with others

▪ Join your co-workers for coffee or lunch

▪ Participate in discussions and meetings (listen attentively)

▪ Shows that you ‘fit in’ with the organizational

culture

▪ Do it in moderation: Don’t spend too much time chatting with co-

workers and not completing your work

Conversations @ Work

▪ Gossip/office grapevine – pros and cons

▪ Topics to avoid (religion, politics, sex, family problems,

your health, your career aspirations)

The Importance of Body Language

Workplace Conflict

Workplace conflict can arise due to poor communication,

personality clashes, poor performance:

• Be calm, respectful

• Separate people from problems

• Focus on the facts

• Listen first, talk second

• Explore options together

Source: www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_81.htm

Sources: www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_81.htm

http://www.crmlearning.com/blog/index.php/2016/11/4-essential-conflict-resolution-steps/

4 Steps to Conflict Resolution

Get Clarity

Reflect on what

caused the

conflict?

Discussion –

Actively

Listen

Understand their

point of view

Discussion

- Respond

Help them

understand your

point of view

Reach a Solution

Discuss solutions to reach a

*COMPROMISE*

1. Set a schedule – treat it like the

workplace!

2. Designate a workspace – find space

to focus!

3. Communication – stay in touch!

4. Take initiative – don’t disengage!

5. Self care – find a balance!

Tips to Work from Home

Career Services

• Job postings

• Sample resumes /

cover letters

• Job search resources

• Job search tips

• Mock interviews

• LinkedIn profiles

• Employer

events

• Job fairs

Advising Resources Events

Appointments

available in-

person and via

phone or video

Use Career

Services now &

beyond

graduation!

Create your HireCentennial account today

Step 1: Go to hire.centennialcollege.ca

Step 2: Click on Students/Alumni tab to login

Step 3: Use MyCentennial login information

Use Career Services now and beyond graduation!

PROG C-210 | MORN 324 | ASH L-104 | SAC 102

hire.centennialcollege.ca | 416-289-5233

careerservices@centennialcollege.ca

www.centennialcollege.ca/career-services

@HireCentennial

@CentennialCareerServices

@Launchyourcareer

Centennial Career Services

& Co-operative Education

Source: https://cultivatedculture.com/covid19-job-market-insights/

▪ For post-secondary students and recent graduates who are ineligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit or for EI, but who are unable to find full-time employment or are unable to work due to COVID-19

▪ CESB would provide $1,250 per month for eligible students from May through August 2020, and $1,750 for students with dependents and those with permanent disabilities

▪ https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2020/04/support-for-students-and-recent-graduates-impacted-by-covid-19.html

Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB)

▪ How is the company preventing Covid-19 in the workplace?

• Is cleaning and disinfection being done for workplaces, especially public

facing?

• How is the company practicing physical distancing?

• Is the company moving towards teleworking, staggering start times,

using email/teleconferencing to conduct meetings, etc.?

▪ What are personal precautions you can take at home and in the

workplace?

• Frequently washing your hands, using hand sanitizer if soap / water not

available

• Avoiding touching your face

• Cleaning and disinfecting your home / workspace often

• Keeping your distance of at least 2 metres from others

• Staying home if sick and self-isolating if returning from international

travel or in close contact with someone with Covid-19

• Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/preventing-covid-

19-workplace-employers-employees-essential-service-workers.html#_For_all_employees

Safety Precautions During Covid-19 Pandemic

Additional Resources

How to Handle a Job Search During a Pandemic

Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan: Support for Canadians and

Businesses

COVID-19: Your Professional Life and Staying Grounded

Insulating for isolation: a mental health checklist for getting through

quarantine

5 ways to learn new career skills for free during the COVID-19 crisis

How Hourly Workers Can Make a Living During The Corona Crisis

Coronavirus: How to work from home the right way