jobpostings magazine (summer 2011)

| summer 2011 | careers. education. ideas. all of it.

What happens if you don’t find

a job for months and months

after you’ve graduated? Is

it your resume? Is it your

interviewing skills? Is it your

lack of experience? Do you

need to go back to school

to take a more “practical”

program? It certainly doesn’t

help that the longer you are

unemployed, the harder it

becomes to get employed.

We tell you how to manage

yourself during this time, and

where to go for help.

Triumphs and TragediesA day in the life of a police officer

evoluTion of The Claims adjusTerSpot the fraud, save everyone money&

BUSINESS DEGREES

business.humber.ca

BUSINESS DEGREES IN:

Accounting e-Business Marketing Fashion Management Human Resources Management International Business Tourism Management

1jobpostings.ca | summer 2011

3 Canon 7 College Pro 11 The Home Depot 11 GP Car and Home 15 Match Marketing Group 15 The Iron Ore Company 15 Investors Group 24 Ottawa Police Service 24 The Dominion 27 RBC Insurance

who’shiring

stuff to buy

yay! more school

Hey. Did you know that these companies have lots of entry level positions? Visit their websites to see a full list of positions available.

who else?

IFC Humber, The Business School (Undergrad) 9 Centennial College 27 Humber, School of Social and Community Services 27 Hult International Business School 29 Seneca College 29 Toronto Institute of Pharmaceuticals 30 Humber, School of Media Studies and Information Technology 30 Queen’s University 31 Brock University 31 Canada’s Automotive School of Business, Georgian College 31 Centennial College 31 Conestoga College 31 Fanshawe College 31 Ithaca College 31 Queen’s University 31 Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry 31 Sheridan College 31 Trent University OBC Algonquin College

6 Insurance Institute of Canada 21 Insurance Institute of Canada

5 Rogers Wireless IBC Excel

Global youth unemployment has hovered at historic highs since the economic collapse of 2008,

and jobless rates among 20-somethings are stuck firm at twice those of older demographics.

That's some dark stuff, especially when you consider the disturbing and very real links

between depression and joblessness. Here’s how to get off the couch, and stay positive.

16

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ndCa

roly

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8interviewsmarts — Erin Marsden from Enterprise

Rent-a-Car helps us out with a

real tough interview question.

10careercupid —

Tips for avoiding a square peg,

round career.

12softskills — Perception is

reality, and those awkward first

few days at work can have your

co-workers thinking you’re a

weirdo (When really you are the

coolest cat ever!).

14startup — Mike Wahl, co-

owner of Definitions Wellness

Safety Services, talks about health,

oil rigs, and old Scottish sayings.

4Success Story — James Carney

of Investors Group assures us that

a rocky start does not have to de-

fine your future success. Brought

to you by Rogers Wireless.

6From our blogs — Your eat, sleep, survive guide

to exams.

30Edu-ma-cation — Go Planet! Degrees in Sustain-

abilty pick up where the Captain

and team left off.

32JobLife — The Art and Science

of Taking a Vacation.

22Triumphs and Tragedies — A day in the life of a police officer

in one of Canada’s busiest and

largest police forces.

25The Rule of Law — Crown

counsels are our front-line de-

fence against criminal and civil

threats to our society. Inside this

underappreciated, but highly im-

portant career.

28Evolution of The Claims Adjuster — The ongoing

learning and specialized detec-

tive work of an insurance claims

adjuster.

when youdon't

get the job

2 summer 2011 | jobpostings.ca

noteNot everyone starts a career the day after graduation. In fact, it usually takes a several months for the majority of new grads to find jobs— several, long, frustrating, suck-filled months. Unless, of course, you are one of the lucky few who studied something that is in high demand; one of those pro-grams that literally guarantees you a career. (Arts grads, this editor's note is mandatory reading. (Also, congratulations on making it into your career centre. Better late than never.))

The real kick-in-the-teeth about being unemployed after graduation is the fact that since, well, ever, we’ve been told that having a degree is the proverbial key to the lock on our dream career. As Dana Bryce tells us in this month’s feature story, “That sucks.” Nothing stings worse than the feeling you’ve been lied to your whole life. But wait: it gets worse. The longer you are unemployed, the more unemployable you become. As the weeks and months slowly stack up, it will become increasingly difficult to re-write your cover let-ter, attach your resume, and compose a passionate email. Wait till month ten when a very special type of existential de-spair moves in, and you begin re-examining your life and the choices you made, like how you almost took Math but opted instead to read poetry for four years. Plus, many of the job search strategies that are advertised as the sure-way to em-ployment heaven don’t easily apply. How can you network at industry events when you aren’t actually working in the industry? And if you do get into a networking event, what do you say when someone asks “Where do you work?”

Our feature story answers many of those questions, and will hopefully provide you with some markers for navigating

Jason Rhyno

through any long-term period of unemployment. One of the most helpful points it makes is the importance of keeping your friends and family close to your chest, something that cannot be stressed enough. It’s also important to be a good friend, especially if you are the one that lands the job first.

This can be difficult. You’ll be starting a new job, which means a new schedule and new friends. Your unemployed friends may be working different hours than you, say evenings and weekends, or perhaps not working at all. Your new, shiny life will want to drag you away from your rusted, old school life, and this can put a strain on friendships. Your friend won’t be able to go out as frequently as you; they won’t be able to af-ford those dinners and drinks and movies and weekend trips to NYC. You will have to work harder to make time for them. You will have to be sensitive of the fact that you have a great job and they do not. You’re going to have to curb vocalizing your new job enthusiasm too, uh, enthusiastically. “This is so awesome! I got this wicked assignment today that, if it goes over well, could have me promoted within a year!” Tell it to your mom, not your unemployed friend. Even if your friend isn’t the type to be hurt by this, do it out of respect. However, be sure to share inside information if they are trying to get into the same industry as you, and, if you can help them get a foot in the door, do it. Why wouldn’t you? Help them with their re-sume and cover letter, go with them to career fairs, send them job postings — basically, be a good a friend.

As always, best of luck, and stay positive.

P.S. Ross, Glen and Thom: thanks.

editor’s

our favourite quote this month:

"Asked to picture themselves at work, working, almost everyone hesitates. And if you don't know either, well, it's time to get out there and find out."

From Packing Up the Pity Party, (page 16)

publisher Nathan Laurie

[email protected]

associate publisher Mark Laurie

[email protected]

editor Jason Rhyno

[email protected]

graphic designer Sonya van Heyningen

[email protected]

web editor Simone Castello

[email protected]

contributors Christine Fader, Ross

Harrhy, Erin Marsden, Emily

Minthorn, Allison Mitchell,

Kevin Nelson, Jeff Sebanc

editorial intern Andrew Williams

national account managers Sarah-Lyn Amaral,

Lori Blanchard,

Mary Vanderpas

jobpostings

Published by Passion Inc. 25 Imperial Street, Suite 100 Toronto, ON M5P 1B9

jobpostings.ca 1-877-900-5627 ext. 221

jobpostings is published eight times in the school year. Issue dates are September, October, November, January, February, March, April, and May. Copies of jobpostings are distributed to over 105 universities and colleges across Canada. Contents of this publication are protected by copyright and may not be reprinted in whole or part without permission of the publishers. Hey, it's summer! Work on your cover letter and your tan. Multitasking!

on the cover: © iStockphoto.com/WendellandCarolyn

Because You Count

Why work for a Fortune 500 global

leader employing more than 166,000

people with offices across Canada?

Why experience first class training,

compensation, rewards and benefits?

Why grow with an organization as

diverse as its employees?

Why explore opportunities in imaging

including Business Solutions, Office

Equipment, Consumer, Medical and

Broadcast products?

Why enjoy a career with a

technological leader invested in social

responsibility and the environment?

View career opportunities:www.canon.ca/careers

Apply now:[email protected]

rogers.com/careers/campuslife

Where did you go to School? What program did you attend? I went to York University. I was somewhat un-sure what I wanted to do, so I took a variety of courses over the four years I spent in under-grad but I chose to specialize in Geography. While I was at university, I played hockey for the York Lions which was an integral part of my school experience and helped nurture my work ethic, discipline and perseverance.

How did you find your current position?I was introduced to Investors Group by an In-vestors Group Consultant. When I first began, I was hired as a financial advisor. After dem-onstrating an ability to coach and lead others, combined with individual success in building my practice as a financial planner, I was pro-moted to the role of Division Director, where along with my own financial practice, I also lead a team of consultants.

Tell us a bit about your responsibilities:I manage an existing client base as well as continue to grow the number of clients I serve. The new responsibilities that I took on when I was named a Division Director revolve around the hiring, training and mentoring of new consultants. Today, I currently lead a team of more than ten financial advisors. And those financial advisors have a client base that they serve as well.

What is the most challenging aspect of your position?Managing the time and focus it takes to run my practice and coach my team of financial advisors successfully.

What is the most rewarding part of your job? One of the most rewarding parts is develop-ing lasting relationships with clients and cre-ating a personalized financial plan that allow each client to reach their financial goals and dreams. And a lot of those clients have become close associates and friends of mine. But what I really like is the flexibility and independence

of the career, because while I am with In-

vestors Group, I’m really the one accountable for my own success and career advancement, and I’m not limited by people ahead of me with more seniority.

What skills have you learned through your work experience? For me, I actually started down the path of be-ing a teacher and decided early on that it just wasn’t right for me. Tenacity and perseverance are crucial when you first embark on your ca-reer path. A rocky start does not have to define your future success, and having a challenging start in the beginning allows you to discover what strategies create the biggest successes.

What do you think it takes to be suc-cessful in this career? To be successful in this business, you need to be a driven self starter; personable — some-one who is able to develop a rapport easily; innovative so that you’re able to build a client base through creative marketing strategies. An individual who exhibits a commitment to hard work, dedication, persistence and integ-rity. These qualities are crucial in the path to success in this field.

Is there one accomplishment you are most proud of to date? Earning the 2009 and 2010 Presidents Club Award which recognized me as one of the top consultants with Investors Group in Can-ada based on new business. But what really brings me personal satisfaction is that people I met as clients have now become some of my closest friends.

What advice do you have for students looking to land their first job?Pursue a career in the field that you’re pas-sionate about and one that will be both chal-lenging and rewarding.

Company Investors Group Financial Services Inc.

Position Division Director & Executive Financial Consultant

Length of employment 4 years

Degree Honors BA specialization in Geography. CFP, CLU

Sponsored by

suCCesssToriesJames Carney

androidseverywhere.ca

THE XPERIATM PLAY

The Android robot is modifi ed from work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License. TM ©2011 Rogers Communications.

THE WORLD’S FIRSTPLAYSTATION®

CERTIFIED


eaT, sleep, survivefrom our blogs | 04/11/2011

Looks like it's that time of year again. Time to

put away the party hats and hours spent sleep-

ing in, and break out the lecture notes and un-

ending stream of caffeine (bad habit). Exam

season is upon us. This is the point where daily

habits go flying out the window, only to be re-

placed by survival mode for the next few weeks.

No worries! We've got you covered. We've

come up with a handy survival 'care-package'

of sorts, to help you cope with whatever stress

might come your way. Welcome to Your Eat,

Sleep, Survive Guide to Exam Season! We'll be

providing you with useful information when

it comes to dealing with your food, sleep and

stress habits. Broken up into three parts (Eat,

Sleep, Survive), you'll find tips and advice to

help you cope, as you tackle exams.

It's a known fact that when things get tough,

we turn to comfort food. Whether it's that pint

of chocolate chip ice-cream in the freezer, or

that questionable week-old fried chicken, it

all starts to look like one yummy buffet when

we're stressed.

So here's a handy tip: Before you set off on your

exam adventure, be sure to go grocery shop-

ping, and stock up your shelves and fridge with

healthy options, because let's face it — you

know you're going to snack/stress eat. Here are

9 foods you should consider.

Yogurt: You can eat it plain, or mix in your

favourite fruits or granola.

Oatmeal and other whole grain cereals:

These are awesome sources of fibre.

Eggs: Boil 'em, poach 'em, scramble 'em, eat

'em. They're good for you.

Nuts: Pick up a medley of almonds, pea

nuts and walnuts... but try to keep away

from the salted options.

Fish: Choose options such as salmon and

sardines, which are rich in Omega-3s.

Veggies and salads: Buy veggies you can

pick at easily, like baby carrots and peppers.

Make friends with salads, because leafy

greens will always be good to you.

Fruits: Again choose options you can pick

at, like grapes and berries.

Dark chocolate: Chocoholics, listen up:

If you're like me, you'll run to your regular

chocolate bar at the first signs of stress.

Consider rich, dark alternatives. Dark

chocolate is packed with antioxidants,

which are good for the body.

Water: You're not getting enough H2O. Trust

me on this one. Even when you think you're

packing away the recommended suggestion

of eight glasses a day, you're probably max

ing out at about four. It's easy to lose sight of

this one. Keep yourself hydrated. It's a good

idea to purchase a trendy, clear water bottle,

so you can see how much you're drinking,

and you'll also know when it's time to fill up.

On that note… try to limit your caffeine intake.

Seriously. I know you think coffee is essential at

this time, but if you overdose on caffeine and limit

your water intake, you'll become dehydrated. And

that will cause a whole whack of other problems

you probably won't want to deal with right now.

by Simone Castello

find more @ jobpostings.ca/blogs

your

guide to exam seasonparteat

You’ve got potential.We’ve got jobs.

Find out now about summer jobs available in your area!

It’s time to unplug, get outside and do something. With College Pro, you’ll

get to spend a physically active summer working outside with your peers.

Yes, it’s work. And it’s also fun.

1-877-277-9787collegepro.com

Qa

Tell me about a time where you’ve had to sell someone on a product or an idea?

So you screwed up in the

interview, huh? They asked

the ol’ “What’s your greatest

weakness” question and you

responded with “cupcakes,”

hoping to get a laugh.

Awkward.

Lucky for you we have friends

on the inside – recruiting

friends (the people who’ll be

interviewing you). It cost us a

few favours, but they finally

agreed to explain why they

ask what they ask, and what

the best answers are.

It’s a cheatsheet for

interviews. Good luck!

smarts* interview

by Erin Marsden

Talent Acquisition Manager, Human Resources

@ Enterprise Rent-a-Car

I ask this behavioral question because it tells me how you would respond to a similar experience you’ve already encountered. Many candidates struggle with this question if they are either unprepared or they have not had the experience of selling. What I am looking for is the specific situation, the task, the action and the result of the sale.

To prepare your answer, read through the job posting with a highlighter. Take note of key phrases or words, and anticipate questions that your interviewer may ask. For example, you’re applying for a sales position and you’ve never worked in sales. What next? Try to think of any volunteer or school experience that will demonstrate your ability to be persuasive. You may also think of the time where you had to convince your classmates at school that your idea was the best! How did you convince them? Be specific, with as many details as possible, and come prepared with more than one example.

Many candidates sail through one behavioral sales question but trip over others, like “Tell me about another time where you had to overcome a customers’ objections to generate the sale?” The last thing you want is to look dazed and confused in front of the hiring manager. Be prepared! It is very important to clearly explain the task and what action you took in order to close the sale. Too many candidates explain how their manager dealt with the situation. I’m interested in how you would handle any objections, think on your feet, multi-task and exhibit leadership qualities.

Finally, what happened? Did you make the sale? What was the result? If you had the situation to do over, would you do anything differently? You should always anticipate follow up questions. Remember, it’s okay to think before you speak. Take your time, frame your answer using the STAR principle: Situation, Task, Action, Result … and speak with confidence!

summer 2011 | jobpostings.ca

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• Financial Fraud Investigation• Financial Planning• Global Business Management • Human Resources Management• International Business Management• Logistics Management • Marketing: Research and Analytics • Marketing: Sales and Account Management• Paralegal• Payroll Management• Pensions & Benefits Management• Project Management• Strategic Management• Strategic Management – Accounting

what do you to bewant

The Future of Learningcentennialcollege.ca

To discover more about these programs:• email: [email protected]• phone: 416-289-5000 ext. 2297

new!

new!new!

new!

Career Cupid

to find a fit for yourself.

Yes, this is work, not a

pajama party or the Jersey

Shore but we also need to

remember a crucial part of

presenting our profession-

al selves: the “selves” part.

If you completely morph

into some sort of weird job

search version of yourself,

you’re creating a fake

impression with the people

you meet. Do you want to

have to fake it every day at

work for months or years

on end?

Bringing bits of ourselves

to work can start from the

very early interactions. For

example, I recently talked

to a group of students

about re-thinking their

cookie-cutter cover letters.

If a cover letter is your first

conversation with a poten-

tial employer (and hopeful-

ly, most of the time, it isn’t),

this is your first chance to

introduce yourself, make

a connection and test out

a fit. It’s similar to the first

email or text you send to

the person your friend set

you up with before you go

on a blind date.

Unfortunately, most

cover letters sound almost

exactly the same. There’s

a list of skills and qualities

you bring to the table

(parroted back to them

from their job ad, if there

was one). There’s the

requisite “I found your ad

on greatgigs.com”. But,

you’re NOT the same as

the other people trying to

connect with this work, are

you? Yes, you might come

from the same program

and be roughly the same

age. Maybe you even have

similar experience but

YOU, the part of you that

Christine Fader works

as a career counsellor at

Queen’s University and

is the author of, “Career

Cupid: Your Guide to

Landing and Loving Your

Dream Job.” Visit her

website at careercupid.com

I admit that we stared and

sometimes, there was gig-

gling. But there was also an

undertone of admiration for

him. Some days, he would

show up in the cafeteria

wearing lime green from

head to toe. Other days,

it was pastel pink. There

was always an outrageous

(and colour-coordinated)

hat. This professor was

definitely expressing his

personality at work.

If you haven’t already been

coached or infused with

ideas about “appropriate”

work behavior and attire,

you soon will be. It is,

naturally, important to un-

derstand that the potential

impressions you’re making

with how you dress and

what you say (or write,

tweet or blog) can affect

your chances of getting

hired and promoted. But, it

can also help to know that

in addition to conveying

to employers how you can

add value to and positively

represent their organiza-

tion, you’re also trying

tips for avoiding a square

peg, round career

by Christine Fader

helps people recognize you

in the street and want to

work with you or introduce

you to their hot, available

friends, is different from all

the other applicants.

So how much of that “voice”

is in your current cover

letter? If your parents wrote

your current resume and

cover letter (a very common

situation for students), the

answer might be: not so

much. In fact, you might be

sounding like a 47-year-old

plumber or teacher — with

excellent “leadership” and

“teamwork skills” of course

— on paper.

When I revealed to some

students that I write about

my 1973 Volkswagen

Beetle in the first para-

graph of many cover let-

ters, they were astounded.

The Beetle is a relevant

metaphor for the kind of

work I do so it’s not just

an off-the-wall gimmick to

grab the reader (although

it works). The real reason

for the Beetle is that I’m

a bit goofy, and over the

years I’ve learned that I

am happiest and most suc-

cessful in places and with

people where that is an as-

set, rather than a flaw. As

a result, part of the way I

start to test my fit with an

organizational culture is

to reveal a tiny bit of goofy

in my cover letter. Y’know

– professional, relevant

goofiness and bearing

these… ahem…“goofy

guidelines” in mind:

Understand your

audience (are they

likely to be receptive?)

Choose what you

reveal wisely (is it

relevant?)

Decide how much risk

you’re willing to take

(are you narrowing

your audience

too much?)

Learn from the

response and adjust

accordingly (does it

make sense to keep

doing this?)

Whether you have green-

hair or are merely a fan

of Green Day, you have

uniqueness that may not

be immediately obvious but

is still a key ingredient to

your fit with a type of work

and an organization. Many

times, you will need to

make some compromises

with your appearance and

communication in order

to connect with a wider

range of opportunities.

You may also want to ask

yourself: “Will I (and my 37

hidden tattoos) be happy in

an organization that’s the

epitome of the black suit

and briefcase brigade?”

Maybe you will be. Yet

wouldn’t it be great if you

could connect with orga-

nizations that embrace

the uniquely-authentic

YOU, like that professor at

my school?

88

8

8



Oh, by the way, the plant is a Lily of the Valley, and it thrives in shade. See, you’ve already learned something.

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Oh, bybyb

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Apply online at homedepotjobs.ca/8637

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Many of our employees started their career with us as Insurance Brokers. That is where they learned about the insurance business and were given the opportunity to get to know our customers. They then earned promotions to Team Leaders, Trainers, Managers and Directors, based on their performance.

Unleash your potential…Share your passion…

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Discover Your Future!

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by Allison Mitchell

softskills

Throughout my career in Human Resources, I have met with hundreds of new employees on their first day. Some are excited, but many are nervous, and nervousness tends to change a per-son’s personality. At the extremes, shy people can become more withdrawn and outgoing people can become more gregarious; of course. You obvi-ously made a great first impression with some-one at the company because you got the job. You’ve jumped that hurdle, but now you have to integrate into your new work environment.

In the first few weeks you will meet a lot of new people, and how those people assess you during the introduction and subsequent interactions will shape their perception of you. Starting a new job can be nerve-wracking but try not to let that affect your personality. You could be assessed by a number of factors including how you carry yourself, whether you smile and make eye contact, or whether you are quiet or loud. The perception that people have about you can affect you in the workplace, so you need to be aware of how you are presenting yourself.

Imagine you are working at a company and you meet a new employee who doesn’t smile when they meet you, and their face is devoid of any emo-tion, positive or negative. You crack a couple of jokes and still can’t get a smile. What would your first impression of this person be? You see this per-son in the hall several times over the next couple of weeks — still no smile and no eye contact. Your first impression of this person is being re-affirmed on a daily basis, shaping and soildifying your perception of them. Based on your interactions and observa-tions, you may conclude that this new employee is unapproachable, grumpy, unfriendly, hard to relate to, and no fun at all. You will carry that perception with you and it becomes your reality.

Now, think about the situation from the new em-ployee’s perspective. They are starting at a new company and they are really nervous. This person is naturally shy and has difficulty meeting new people anyway; when you put them into an un-comfortable situation like starting a new job, they become more introverted. In reality, this person is very friendly and approachable, knows how to have fun and would welcome conversation but their true personality is not being conveyed to their new co-workers. In fact, their co-workers perceive them as being the exact opposite of who they really are simply because of how they present themselves.

Scary, isn’t it? How someone perceives you is their reality — even if it’s not true. It’s even scarier that a person’s perception of you can affect how they communicate with you, what they tell others about you, and possibly determine the responsibilities that you are given. What if one of those people that you don’t smile at or look in the eye is a decision-maker in the company? The way that you are pre-senting yourself could negatively impact your work life if the wrong people get the wrong impression about you. Perhaps there is a project that requires a person with excellent customer service skills and the ability to effectively interact with others. Do you think that the new employee who is perceived as being unapproachable and unfriendly would be the manager’s first pick to take on this role?

The other end of the spectrum is a confident and out-going person who magically gains more confidence and gets louder as they walk through the front door on their first day (perhaps due to nervousness or per-haps not). They have no problem talking to others, but some may perceive this person as overbearing. Again, the wrong person could get the wrong im-pression about you. Imagine that a manager needs a person with diplomacy to handle a delicate task or project. Do you think that the person perceived to be domineering will be selected for the role?

It is possible to change how someone perceives you but it is extremely difficult to do. The first im-pression you make will shape people’s perceptions of you. Have you ever heard a person say some-thing like “He’s a great person but I remember when I first met him I thought he was arrogant and overbearing!”? Even if you are able to change someone’s mind about you they will always come back to that first impression. You can see how a person’s perception of you may have an effect on your work. Perceptions start forming with the first impression, but that’s not where they end. People assess and draw conclusions about others with ev-ery interaction or observation. Make sure that the way you are presenting yourself matches the per-ception that you want people to have about you.

Mik

e

Wa

hl

Interviewed bySimone Castello

The stats: 32 years old;

co-owner of Definitions

Wellness Safety Services.

Has a background in

kinesiology, and is currently

completing a PhD at

Memorial University. 2011

ACE Student Entrepreneur

Regional Champion -

Atlantic Canada.

Please tell us about Defi-nitions Wellness Safety Services. How did the com-pany start, and how has it evolved over time?

I co-own the company with a friend, which began as a small personal training gym in St. John’s. This stemmed from my kinesiology back-ground. Then over time, we started training a lot of peo-ple who worked in the oil sector, for companies such as Exxon Mobile. When they started noticing positive re-sults, they asked us to come in and work with people in their office. This was some-thing we hadn’t done be-fore, but we said, ‘why not?’

We started going into cor-porate offices, but noticed that the motivation for fit-ness wasn’t there, unlike with the people who were already coming to the gym.

We realized our product was good, but we needed a different approach. So we began catering our services for the corporate side, and we had some great success with that. Then one day, we were asked to go offshore and work with people on an actual oil rig. That was a huge step forward for us.

If you’ve got different cli-ents, at different levels of interest when it comes to health and fitness, how do you engage them?

The reason why typical well-ness programs don’t usually work is because they’re one dimensional. Not everyone feels comfortable talking about fitness. So we find different entry points. We’re an outsourced consultant company working within the organization. We try to keep it light. We play health and safety videos during meet-ings that everyone sees. We put newsletters in every room, so people can read the literature on their own time.

startup

…And what about the cli-ents on the oil rigs?

This is different because we go out and live in their environment. So a lot of our counselling can be done on a coffee break, informally. It’s casual… no white coats, suits or intimidation. We’re part of the crew.

There’s an old Scottish say-ing, ‘You have to get your feet under the table’ [before you make any big changes]. So when you get to know people in their environ-ment, and respect them for what they do, they in turn start to respect you. There’s an element of trust built.

What are some of the hard-est lessons you’ve had to learn as a boss?

As an owner, you’re an own-er. And the people working for you probably aren’t com-ing in to work for the same passion that you might have for the business. This took me a while to understand. But at the end of the day, our workers teach us more than we do. So many of them have different insights and views on situations. We have an open form of com-munication, and that works

really well. This award with ACE is our staff’s achieve-ment, and we’re really proud of it as a team.

Any advice for budding en-trepreneurs?

Nothing comes easy. It takes hard work, time and dedi-cation. If you’re an entre-preneur, you probably have a technical skill, but there might be areas where you need help. Hire the people around you and build a team, so everyone can do things they’re good at. That way, everyone is doing something they love, and your company succeeds. If you’re struggling through something you’re not good at, it will end up costing you. Other than that, have a specific goal and a work plan in place. At least that way, you’re heading in the right direction.

summer 2011 | jobpostings.ca14


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by Emily Minthorn

It is a truth universally acknowledged that unemployment — especially of the long-term, no end in sight, move back in with mom and dad variety — sucks. “You know what’s worse?” asks Dana Bryce, a 21-year old with a history degree from a school she prefers to keep to herself: “Still being unemployed six months after you’ve graduated, when your whole life you’ve been told that having your degree will mean having a job no matter what. That sucks.”

Bryce is just one of a worldwide chorus of new grads singing the no-job blues. Global youth unemployment has hovered at historic highs since the economic collapse of 2008, and jobless rates among 20-somethings are stuck firm at twice those of

packingup the

pity partySo you didn’t get the job. Now what?


older demographics. That’s some dark stuff, especially when you consider the disturbing and very real links between depres-sion and joblessness. But let’s not be too quick to throw a pity party for ourselves, class of 2011. Sure the market is tough, but upper year students getting ready to graduate are in a uniquely decent position to take this bull by the horns, says Sonny Wong, a career counsellor at Ryerson University in Toronto.

“Student time is prime time,” he explains. “Everyone will give students a chance to build their skills. Even if that means re-evaluating and choosing to do a four year degree in five years — if that gives you time to work, do it.” If you’re still in school, or even just getting ready to leave, you’re already poised to take advantage of opportunities that full-time working adults can’t — think unpaid internships, volunteering, or even ex-change and work-study programs through your school.

“I don’t know why students are in such a rush to get out when they are often just not prepared,” Wong adds. For him, career planning starts at year one of your post-secondary journey. “At first year, if you have an idea of the sector you’d like to work in, find a summer job in that sector,” he advises, clarify-ing that while you probably won’t snag the job title of your dreams right away — or even for a long time —any industry experience at all is extremely valuable.

But after two, four, or more years of school, sticking around for a victory lap is probably the last thing you want to do. And it’s difficult not to slip into feelings of resentment about those freshly minted credentials now going to waste in a drawer somewhere while you schlep around at the bottom of the career totem pole. “Many new grads, especially from the very practical programs, feel that if they have their degree, they should just get a job,” says Wong. But it’s exactly that sense of entitlement that leads to depression, anxiety, and long nights spent awake in the dark wondering whether you wasted your youth on your education.

“Your education is never a waste,” reassures Wong. “But if you can’t remember why you wanted to get it in the first place, it’s time to talk to someone.”

We’ll trust that you were smart and visited your campus ca-reer centre early and often while you were at school. And even if you’re graduating this spring, Wong says that most schools’ career centres are at their grads’ disposal for up to a year after you’ve gotten your degree or diploma.

If that bird has flown and you’re no longer eligible for on-cam-pus assistance, you can likely still find professional guidance in your community. “There are employment resource centres right across Canada,” offers Tim Blake, a coordinator and com-munity liaison at one such place, the Cave Employment Re-source Centre in Burnaby, BC.

On campus or off, centres like these will help you with every-thing job-search related, getting back to basics with work-shops on writing your cover letter, crafting the perfect re-sume, and practicing your interview skills. They can also help with the more abstract aspects of your career dilemma, adds Blake. “A lot of times, people who are unemployed need career inspiration,” he explains, suggesting young job-seekers find a case worker to help them start off strong. “A case manager can address specific concerns on a person to person basis. They’re also familiar with industry trends and who’s hiring. It’s their job to know.”

Even after visiting with the professionals, all that white space on your resume may freak you out. But Wong explains that employers aren’t as worried about your lack of experience as you think they are. “New grads are not competing in the same market or for the same jobs as someone with experience,” he says. That’s encouraging news, right?

It’s also a reality check. Though there are certainly fewer jobs for a growing number of highly educated people in this economy, there are a lot of steps between leaving school and entering the corner office — steps that new grads seem de-termined to skip over. Many of us are way too quick to forget that, in terms of seniority, experience, salary, and so on, we are firmly at the bottom rung of the career ladder, and your first job just isn’t going to come with a benefits package and a company car. “That $60,000 job is not for you, no — but it never was,” Wong sums up. In other words, while there are some exceptional cases — investment banking and finance, or tech bubbles, for example — where new grads have made it big straight out of school, most of the time a young job seek-er will always start on the low end of their industry’s salary range. Self-evident? Perhaps, but it bears repeating.

“This is the reality of our economy, and this is the reality of the roller-coaster of unemployment,” Blake agrees. “Things go up, things go down. The situation always changes, and we need to change with it. And instead of focusing on the negative, we can choose to be proactive.”

But the doubt and depression that stem from unemployment aren’t logical animals, and sometimes there’s nothing anyone can tell you, no matter how true, that will make it easier to keep forging on. In this case, Blake stresses the importance of both a personal and professional support structure: a cast of family, friends, and colleagues that will help keep you apply-ing to jobs, rather than throwing in the towel. Persistence, he says, is a hugely important part of a successful job hunt. “If you stop looking, of course you’ll fall into a rut. It all comes down to knowing you can’t stop,” Blake emphasizes. “No mat-ter what happens, keep moving forward. Be the Terminator.”

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the overall unemployment rate?

“You have to get out there and make your own luck,” says Wong. “If you’re sitting at home on the couch feel-ing sad, opportunities will not just come knocking.”Like any big project, landing your first real job is best accom-

plished by setting small, realistic, measurable goals that break the beast up into manageable pieces. “Have daily targets,” Blake says. “Promise yourself that on a given day, you will send out ten new cover letters, or follow up with five leads, or re-contact your hit list of employers.” That way, he says, you will have accomplished something every day, even if you don’t get a job for weeks or months at a time.

Wong stresses that looking for a job is a full-time job. “If you want to find meaningful work, it takes six to eight months to find it,” he says. And that doesn’t mean spending all day every day sending virtual resumes into online databases, never to be seen again. “You have to get out there and make your own luck,” says Wong. “If you’re sitting at home on the couch feeling sad, opportunities will not just come knocking. The internet will not introduce you to a real place, or show employers how charming you are.” And that means the N word. Yep: networking.

“There’s an opportunity to network in almost any situation,” Blake advises. Consider it reverse-engineered nepotism: since your future boss is way more likely to hire someone they al-ready know, make sure you know all kinds of people in your sector. Even spending an empty afternoon refreshing your Facebook newsfeed could be fruitful if done properly, Blake says, pointing out social media’s expanding role in the modern job search. “LinkedIn is an excellent resource, if you use it well,” he adds. “It gives you access to business professionals. And certainly check out LinkedIn’s ‘Groups’ feature. Look for organi-zations and associations that are related to the type of career you’re interested in.” And don’t forget the real world, Neo: you can and should join clubs and groups offline too, priming you to meet the movers and shakers of your sector face to face.

But at this stage in your career — or lack thereof — what ex-actly can networking possibly entail? And if you’ve been out of school and work for a long time, how do you even begin? “Just go out and enjoy the things that you do,” says Wong simply. “Get to know the people around you. Smile! The idea is to be uncomfortable with the unknowns, the who-knows aspect of the job search, and to keep exploring. Refine your idea of the term ‘networking’.” But beware of seeming needy, he warns. “If you’re just there because you want something, a job or whatever, people can smell that a mile away.” You need to bring something to the table, he stresses — “it is so important to understand you need to give to get.”

Dana Bryce knows all this in theory, but it’s getting harder and harder to apply it to herself and her own job search. “I actually don’t know what to do any more. And I’m going to have to start paying back my student loans next month,” she says ominously.

Wong has some tough love for Bryce and others like her. “There are always survival jobs available, and just because you went and got a degree doesn’t mean you’re above them,” he says. “But you can walk in to a call centre or a retail position and work a night shift, and leave the day to go on interviews, to volunteer, to do whatever it is you need to do to get out there.” Because getting out there, agrees Blake, is the key to finding that hidden job market made up of all the people you interact with every day.

For now, Bryce remains in a bit of a rut, but she’s trying to see it another way. “Yes, I’m over-educated and unemployed. But that does kind of mean I can do whatever, and not have it im-pact my non-existent career.” For her, that means looking at returning to school and enrolling in a practical program at a college, or possibly working overseas “just to get some travel in, you know? I mean, if I did have a career, I wouldn’t have the luxury of being able to consider going somewhere totally new for a few months and just figuring it out.”

Wong recalls his days as a new grad at the bumpy start of his own career path. “I graduated into a recession as well,” he of-fers. “I was always able to find a job, but none of them were jobs I wanted to keep. Then I realized: I was doing it wrong.” He maintains that a willingness to explore his options, his goals, and ultimately his self was crucial to finding meaning-ful work. “We have to explore the self before we can self-mar-ket,” he explains. “Narrow down your career identity.”

He shares a helpful exercise he often practices with the ca-reerless students who come in to his office looking for guid-ance. Picture yourself at your dream job. What are you wear-ing? Where are you? Up to this point, most people have a very clear image of themselves. “Then I ask them, ‘What are you actually working on? What are you doing?’” Asked to picture themselves at work, working, almost everyone hesitates.

And if you don’t know either, well, it’s time to get out there and find out.

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summer 2011 | jobpostings.ca20

Where do you want youreducation to take you?

Here’s a career path withunlimited potential.

Your interests and your experience may add up to a great career in insurance.

Michelle SnowdonUnderwriter

Sara RunnallsBroker

Gavin MascarenhasLoss Adjuster

UnderwriterYou’re a relationship developer and decision-maker

Underwriters accept or reject risk on behalf of insurance companies. They assess the kind of insurance required by organizations as diverse as a shopping mall, a professional sports team, a manufacturer, a city government or a construction company. Underwriters examine every facet of the organization’s operation and its request for insurance, then decide what the insurance company should cover and how much it should charge.

Broker / AgentYou’re a people person and a great communicator

Insurance brokers and agents help consumers find the right coverage to protect their cars, homes, businesses, boats and belongings against loss through accident, fire or theft. While brokers usually represent several insurance companies, agents are more likely to sell policies for just one. These are the entrepreneurs of the insurance industry with many of them working for themselves or for small independent firms.

“The best advice is to specialize in law or business-relatedcourses.”

Loss AdjusterYou’re part private investigator and part therapist

The loss adjuster is responsible for ensuring that those who have suffered a loss receive thecompensation and assistance they are eligible to receive. Whether employed by the insurance company or working as an independent contractor, the loss adjuster investigates the accident, arranges medical treatment if necessary and negotiates the final settlement to restore policy holders to where they were, as closely as possible, before their loss.

What are you looking for in a career? Earning potential? Security?

Whatever you've learned in school and in life, you’ll have the chance to use it in the insurance industry.

It’s hard to imagine a career choice where you’ll have the opportunity to use more of your skills than insurance. Why? Because insurance is already a part of everything you do. It protects homes, jobs, cars, property and the continuity of lives. And because insurance is all around us, the industry has a wide variety of careers to match your education and amazing flexibility to change directions along the way.

There are more than 110,000 Canadians working in the property & casualty insurance sector. It’s an industry that reflects the face and the values of Canadian society and has a constant need for talented, creative, motivated people.

Are you a people person? Brokers work with clients to create a strategy to protect their assets.

Gifted at math? You could thrive as an actuary.

Good at listening? As a claims professional, you’ll help people who are coping with an accident, fire or theft.

Strategic thinker? You could work as an underwriter and develop the products that keep people protected from unforeseen loss.

As your career in insurance progresses, every day can present interesting new opportunities, new challenges, and the flexibility to pursue new goals.

To find out more about where you might fit in with your post-secondary education, please visit our Web site at www.career-connections.info. You may be surprised to find that insurance isn’t what you think. It’s a whole lot more. “For a greater advantage

and the highest placement value, I would recommend courses in law as well as successful completion of a business or insurance program.”

“A college diploma or university degree in any subject is helpful for entry into the profession, although those who have studied

mathematics or businesswould have an advantage.”

industryinsiders

Cooksville: Wednesday, 14:30 hoursOn a grassy area by an overpass, a German Shepherd

sniffs around, its handler close behind with leash in hand.

A stabbing had occurred here earlier. Within minutes the

canine discovers a blue bandana. Was it gang related? I’m

with Inspector Anthony Roselli of Peel Regional Police, the

second largest police force in Ontario, and the third larg-

est in Canada. As a duty inspector, he’s responsible for all

the major incidents and field personal in the region, he

deals with these sorts of things all the time.

mississauga: earlier that day, 10:02 hoursInspector Manuel Rodrigues, a recruiter with Peel Regional,

disagrees with the idea that you should have a criminol-

ogy degree, or a police foundations or a law degree to join

the force. Although those are certainly helpful in showing

a personal commitment to policing, what recruiters really

look for are those who can communicate well with others,

educational background being an additional asset.

“We look for what every other employer looks for,” says Ro-

drigues. “We want someone who’s hardworking, intelligent,

has integrity — someone who we can trust to go out and

do the job for all the right reasons.” What puts you on the by Andrew Williams

&triumphstragedies

andrew Williams spent a day shadowing two police officers. here’s what he learned on the inside.

23

map is a passion for, and

involvement within your

community. A well-stand-

ing school record is also im-

portant, but “It’s not a det-

rimental factor in your file

that discounts you,” he con-

tinues. “It’s really how you

compare to other people.”

Rodrigues notes how there

are all kinds of opportu-

nities available within

policing.“In this depart-

ment, every three or four

years you have a new ca-

reer,” says Rodrigues. “It’s

still policing but its suf-

ficiently different in that

it feels like a brand new

career […] the very dif-

ferent segments within

the organization that feel

like different careers, and

I feel that attracts a lot of

people to this job.”

mississauga: That afternoonThe first call Roselli re-

ceives is about a warrant

for someone’s arrest, but

that situation is promptly

dealt with. As we patrol

parts of Brampton and

much of Mississauga, we

keep our eyes out for a

shoplifter who recently

fled the mall, and a sui-

cidal patient who disap-

peared from a hospital, a

taste of the things an offi-

cer might come across on

a typical twelve hour shift.

Roselli describes being

vigilant of hot areas with

high crime trends: break-

ins, loitering kids who

should be in school, van-

dalism, and trying to solve

any crime that comes

down the pipe. While the

daytime is busy, nights can

get pretty hectic, as distur-

bances tend to correlate

with the flow of alcohol.

“I have the best job in the

world,” says P.C. Daryn

Flameling. “Obviously I

have sergeants and staff

sergeants who look over me,

but essentially I’m my own

boss. I get in my car, I do my

own thing, I go at my pace.

It helps if you’re the type

of person who wants to get

out there and do things. The

main thing for me is that

I’m not in a building all day.

I can’t sit in an office, I need

to get outside.”

Each officer I spoke with

stressed the importance

of communication skills in

this line of work. “Interper-

sonal skills are the most

vital component to being a

police officer,” says Roselli.

“Treating people with re-

spect and decency on a

daily basis is extremely

vital.” Streets smarts are

a must have — being per-

ceptive and savvy enough

to know the threat cues —

and knowing how to pre-

vent an altercation.

Sure, you’re given a gun

and expected to be a good

shot, but “your words are

the best strategy you can

use,” says Flameling. He

explains how being able

to pacify someone is much

more effective than being

able to fight them. “Some

might think that to be a

cop you have to be 6’5”,

300 lbs — jacked. No, you

need to be able to talk.”

Policing is about engag-

ing people to understand

their problems and miti-

gate any hostile situation.

“A lot of people call the

police because they want

someone to listen to them.

And sometimes that’s all

it takes, someone to listen

to their problems and give

them advice. Interpersonal

dynamics are essential to

this job.” Flameling adds

that when people ask him

what they should do to

make their resume stron-

ger, he suggests that they

get a job where they talk

to people. Being a security

guard for ten years is all

well and good, but having

a sales or customer service

background is much better.

Of course, working in a field

that deals with people’s

problems and frequent

high risk situations would

naturally go hand in hand

with stress. “It’s hard not to

take things personal some-

times,” says Flameling. “It’s

very easy to become jaded

if that’s all you see.” Even

so, stress isn’t necessarily

from high risk calls; much

of it is work load. Flameling

emphasizes the importance

of having a life outside of

policing. “You got to have

friends who aren’t police of-

ficers, and hobbies.”

There is also the Member

Assistance Program that

helps troubled officers cope

with any issue. Roselli also

recommends that opening

up to others is always help-

ful. “Talk to your peers, talk

to your supervisors. No one

is going to criticize you for

letting feelings be known.

If something is bothering

you, let someone know.”

In police college, recruits

are taught the basics of

adhering to outlined pro-

cedures. Nevertheless, real

life often hurls situations

at officers that don’t neatly

fit inside a text book. “Situ-

ations are dynamic,” says

Flameling, “what might

work in one might not

work in another [...] You

have to know your powers

of arrest, and they’re very

cut and dry. When you ar-

rest somebody, you need

to read them their rights.

Those things are black and

white, but the majority is

grey area.”

Roselli adds, “Every officer

has the power of discretion

in their hands. I think that

as officers garner more ex-

perience, they can see hu-

man nature, build on that,

and use their discretion

when it comes to minor

things. The biggest thing is

that we’re here to protect

the public, and if someone

may be harmed, then our

officers wouldn’t have dis-

cretion, they’d have to take

the action to prevent any

harm to the public.”

Cooksville: 14:40 hoursMinutes into the investi-

gation, three plain clothes

detectives along with ad-

ditional officers including

Roselli, have pieced to-

gether what transpired: A

drug deal gone bad. But be-

ing a police officer isn’t as

it’s depicted on television

— chasing down shirtless

drug addicts while the song

Bad Boys plays in the back-

ground. It’s serious work

with serious triumphs and

tragedies. Roselli hopes

to let everyone know that

police aren’t only here to

help, but are normal peo-

ple as well. “When we take

the uniform off we’re just

like them.”

Inspector Anthony Roselli of Peel Regional Police prepares to start his shift.

jobpostings.ca | summer 2011


evolu-tion of the Claims adjust-er

How do I work for the police?

I challenge myself to be the best

ottawapolice.ca

Our community, our inspiration

Michelle LacroixIronman triathlete Ski instructorBig sisterGirl Guide leaderConstable

O P P O R T U N I T Y E X P E R I E N C E R E W A R D S R E C O G N I T I O N T R U S T

Career Opportunities in Underwriting & Claims The insurance industry is already part of your everyday life, why not find your career with us?

The Dominion – Canada’s Trusted Insurance Company since 1887, is one of the country’s largest property and casualty insurers. Long-term relationships are part of our success, and we work to earn and maintain the trust and loyalty of policyholders, employees, and brokers.

We are searching for top quality candidates to join our team who are:

With offices across Canada, The Dominion offers a diverse range of internal career paths, competitive wages, a company matched pension plan, and customizable benefits.

For a complete listing of our offices and to learn more about The Dominion please visit thedominion.ca To apply for a position please forward your cover letter & resume to Nancy Kemp at [email protected] | Job Number: JPM-041

Underwriting Trainee: Once fully trained, your goal will be to support regional objectives of profitable growth. You will underwrite new and existing commercial or personal business. Through regular broker visits, of an assigned field of independent brokers, you will build positive and successful relationships.

innovators, who seek to make a difference and have a lasting impact on the company business;self-motivators, who embrace the opportunity to be involved in a variety of projects; and team players, who are engaged and take responsibility for their work.

Claims Trainee: Once fully trained, you will investigate and evaluate claims and determine the coverage available to policyholders and claimants. Our knowledgeable claims team delivers timely and efficient assistance to all customers and we pride ourselves on our outstanding claims service.

industryinsiders

evolu-tion of the Claims adjust-er

by Jeff Sebanc

jobpostings.ca | summer 2011


In some careers, the educating never stops. For

many, a job that offers a constantly evolving

learning process in which it’s necessary to keep up

with the ever-changing industry is exactly what’s

needed to keep both the job and the mind fresh.

To someone unfamiliar with the industry, an in-

surance claims adjuster might appear a seem-

ingly unlikely candidate for the above state-

ments to ring true. However, this multifaceted

field has a lot to offer those dedicated to rising

above and beyond the work required of them.

The job is comparable to that of a detective: in-

vestigating cases and deciding whether or not

they’re covered under the claimant’s policy.

“You’ve got to have a willingness to learn... a de-

sire to learn,” stresses Derrick Alcock, a claims

representative with the Special Investigative Unit

(SIU) at State Farm. “You’ve got to be adaptable to

change.” While a specific degree or diploma isn’t

necessary to get into the field, if you don’t stay

competitive, and therefore marketable, you’re go-

ing to fall behind. Alcock’s resume is astounding:

over 40 courses and seminars completed, as well

as multiple memberships to different insurance

adjusters associations. Willingness to learn indeed.

Alcock specifically mentions the Chartered In-

surance Professionals (CIP) and Fellow Chartered

Insurance Professionals (FCIP) programs, which

are offered through the Insurance Institute of

Canada. According to the Institute’s website, CIP

and FCIP are the industry’s standard of excel-

lence and professionalism. Their mission state-

ment says it all: “The CIP Society’s mission is to

foster and promote the education, experience

and ethics of our members.”

As to how Alcock came to work in the SIU at State

Farm, he credits his strong interpersonal com-

munication skills, and his analytical, detailed

way of looking at things. After graduating with

a B.A in Administrative and Commercial Studies

from the University of Western Ontario, he no-

ticed a job advertisement for a claims adjusting

position with State Farm. “I honestly didn’t know

what a claims adjuster was,” he readily admits.

After a year and a half as an auto claim repre-

sentative, Alcock realized his ability to recognize

questionable claims. When a position in the SIU

opened, he jumped on it. Currently, he works

primarily in both auto and fire related investiga-

tions, handling everything from staged accidents

to suspicious thefts and fires.

“Desperate people do desperate things,” he says.

“People will burn their cars for various reasons...

vehicles will mysteriously disappear.” What

these people may not realize is that by lying

about or exaggerating one detail, a claim can be

completely denied. “Sometimes you get claims

where they start out legitimate but they exag-

gerate and end up getting caught.” Unfortunate-

ly, phony claims are directly responsible for the

increase of premiums.

Alcock states an example in which a woman re-

ported a vehicle stolen from the Windsor area.

After providing the date and time the vehicle

went missing, he worked with customs officials to

determine that the vehicle had crossed into De-

troit three days before it had been reported stolen.

Added to that, a lock expert was consulted and de-

termined that the car could not have been moved

without the keys.”We took her in for a statement...

she quickly walked away from the claim.”

Samantha Leclair, a claims representative in the

Casualty and Litigation Unit with The Economical

Insurance Group, seconds the sentiment that the

industry is in a state of constant change. “There are

always new things to learn,” she explains. “As case

law is continuously evolving, and legislation and

rules of civil procedure change from time to time,

being able to adapt is very important.” Because she

liaises with medical and legal professionals, law

enforcement agencies and customers in her day-

to-day work, she stresses the importance of good

communication skills. Speaking with people who

have been in the field for 30 years, she says, they

always say they’re in a state of constant learning.

As a casualty and litigation adjuster, Leclair

investigates, negotiates and settles potential

claims for negligence against policy holders for

which they may be liable in civil law. She will

occasionally request assistance from the SIU

department for the investigation portion of the

claim handling. “The results of their investiga-

tions give us the ability to make the correct cov-

erage determination, thereby reducing the cost

of insurance for all policy holders.”

In an age where seemingly everything we own

needs to be insured, from the obvious cars and

homes, to electronics and jewelry, it’s reassuring

to know that those working to protect our prop-

erty stay up to date, ensuring we get what’s owed

to us after a claim is opened. They keep with the

times, and are constantly evolving. It might just

be the perfect career for you would-be Sherlock’s

out there.

“Desperate people do desperate things”

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: iSt

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industryinsiders

We’ve all seen those movies based on John Grisham novels, with the lawyer

fighting the good fight, making clever arguments and ultimately laying the

judicial smackdown on some richly deserving criminal-types. The reality of

the Canadian Justice System might not be as dramatic, but there’s a lot to

be said about being a crown counsel. As our representatives in provincial

and federal courts, they are our front-line defence against criminal and civil

threats to our society.

What’s in a name? When talking about the legal system in our country,

there can be a lot of denominational discrepancy. “Across Canada, the pros-

ecutor’s offices have different names, and the lawyers that work there can

be known as Crown Counsel, though in Ontario they’re known as Crown

Attorneys,” says Samiran Lakshman, a Crown Counsel himself, for the Min-

istry of the Attorney General of BC, and president of the BC Crown Counsel

Association. “In BC, ‘crown counsel’ is also the title given to civil lawyers

who work within the government, giving advice to and representing the

government, but who have nothing to do with the criminal justice system.”

There’s also a lot of variation in what tasks a crown counsel is responsible

for, from position to position. Lawyers such as Lakshman spend the bulk of

their time in court. “For most crown counsel, a typical day involves going to

court,” he says. “If you’re dealing with trials as a crown counsel, you may have

anywhere from two to five trials per day.” Dealing with police, witnesses and

judges requires a lot of people skills, as well as a discerning mind. “We take

files from police and decide if charges should be laid, based on our criteria of

whether there is a substantial likelihood of conviction, and if there’s a public

interest in going ahead,” he explains. “Prior to the trial starting, you would

interview witnesses in the morning — often that would be your first time

speaking to them — and then tell the judge what case you’re running first.”

While prosecution lawyers are often in court, there’s also a lot of paperwork

to do, and a lot of statements, police reports and notes to sift through. “De-

pending on the charge, you have to know what to prove, and be aware of all

recent decisions relevant to the law and the case you’re dealing with.”

For some, a career in law might be seen as a stepping stone on the way to

a political career. Prominent Nova Scotia MP and current Cabinet Minister

Peter MacKay did time as a crown counsel. While Lakshman concedes a

correlation between politics and the justice system, he notes that these are

special cases. “A more typical career path is for a crown counsel to make

applications to be a judge,” he points out. “It’s also possible for someone to

step over to the other side and become a defence attorney.”

Of course, as a crown counsel, there’s also the matter of wearing a uniform.

“Oh, the robes?” laughs Lakshman. “They’re pretty hot — especially in Van-

couver law courts. It’s like a greenhouse in there. The robes are only worn in

supreme court,” he reassures. “The rest of the time you wear a suit.”

There are a variety of different paths to follow as a legal professional, each

with their own pros and cons. To Lakshman’s mind, the benefit of being a

crown counsel is not directly representing or taking instructions from a cli-

ent. “That’s very different from any other job as a lawyer,” he explains. “As

crown attorneys, we have everyone in society as our client.”

We don’t have everyone on speed-dial, so we make decisions of what is in

the public interest.” That’s not to say that freedom in the job is absolute,

with so many checks and balances in place. “We’re accountable to the po-

lice, the public, the judge, the accused, etc,” he agrees, “but there’s a tremen-

dous amount of freedom in how you do your job.”

The pay can differ from province to province, and from the provincial to feder-

al levels. “Certainly there are jobs in the legal world that pay more, but crown

counsel work allows you to advocate in a way that’s principled,” continues

Lakshman. “It’s not like politics where it’s about compromise. It’s about doing

the right thing at every stage and at every decision. We’re in charge of our

own files, we get to do the right thing and earn a paycheque.” There’s also the

benefit of every day being unlike the last. “It’s always interesting stuff. How

many Law and Order versions do we have now? It’s like that, but in real life.”

RULE OF LAW=

by Kevin Nelson


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xIn terms of careers, there are many areas avail-able. For engineering, Mazzi explains how students aren’t only looking into energy management for schools and government institutions, but are also consulting positions with industrial operations, and various enterprises in alternative energy. Co-op programs may have students work in consulting firms, pulp mills, energy technology companies, in-cluding software, and government agencies.

By its nature, sustainability is interdisciplinary. Along with required core courses, students may be encouraged to take electives in architecture, policy, and economics. “Some students take commerce courses for electives,” says Mazzi describing the UBC program. “It’s not just the technical aspects of engineering, it’s the cost aspects.”

These programs aim to provide students with enough in-depth knowledge and fundamental training so they can enter the real world and find solutions to environmental issues themselves, even the complex ones that have different view points. “People have different attitudes and differ-ent priorities,” says Mazzi, “so we strive to help stu-dents appreciate the full spectrum of the challenge before us and give practical tools to get started.”

Nevertheless, all the sustainability programs or miracle technologies wouldn’t be enough to make a significant difference. Real change begins with how we live. “It’s a multifaceted thing,” says Mazzi. “Keep the options open and keep promoting new-er technology; but at the same time, it’s important to make better use of the resources we have.”

At the moment, our species seems to be outgrowing this world at tremendous costs. The villainous Agent Smith from The Matrix films put it best by distinguish-ing humans from other mammals, ar-guing that we don’t live in equilibrium

with the environment. We are a cancer, he says. Sus-tainability as a practice, seeks to prove him wrong by finding ways to restore harmony between planet Earth and human civilization.

Sustainability blends environmentalism, economics, and sociology to confront issues concerning con-servation, industry, and prosperity. As land and re-sources begin to deplete, there’s increasing pressure for corporations, governments, and people to find ways to cope with these changes. This alone opens various career paths that you can take, and some schools have taken that extra step to offer complete studies focusing on this field. Peterborough’s Trent University, for instance, offers a Master’s of Arts in sustainability studies. Their curriculum looks at in-novation in technology and policy, but also places emphasis on economic and social implications that may affect businesses and other institutions. Lon-don’s University of Western Ontario (UWO) also has a Master’s in Environment and Sustainability degree. Within this program are courses involving engineering, consulting projects, and examining the relationship between the health of a population (in-cluding humans) and its ecosystem.

The University of British Columbia (UBC) has a number of graduate programs that deal with the different aspects of sustainability from forestry to mining. From a technological and energy perspec-tive, their Master’s of Engineering and Clean Energy program aims to reduce environmental impacts. At the same time, the university provides an MBA for sustainability and business. This program ex-amines responsibilities that business leaders have towards both the economy and the environment.

According to Dr. Eric Mazzi, an instructor at UBC’s Clean Energy Research Centre (CERC), the Master’s of Engineering and Clean Energy program takes in about 24 students each year. “We focus on the energy aspects of sustainability,” says Mazzi. “Sus-tainability is important because our use of energy and other resources extracted from our planet is at a rate that’s not considered to be something we can continue indefinitely.” He explains that sustainability is also important because even if we don’t exhaust our resources, the impact of such prolonged use on the environment can still have unpleasant results, such as the atmosphere loos-ing its capacity to assimilate chemicals.

Mazzi stresses that students should have respect for all disciplines and all fields of study, whether it’s engineering or the social sciences. Although it’s nice for professionals to specialize in one discipline, it’s also important to appreciate and be willing to work with those in other fields, since sustainability encompasses so many areas. “[Politics] is certainly a critical area,” he points out. “The policies have a big role to play, perhaps a bigger role than spe-cific technologies. A healthy respect for politics and public policy making is essential.” by Andrew Williams

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Located in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of New York, halfway between Toronto and New York City, IC offers 20 graduate degrees, many of which can be completed in 1 year or less, leading to professional certification.

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Queen’s UniversityQueen’s 50+ graduate programs provide students with world-class research opportunities and strong support to enrich your educational experience and advance your academic career. Expect an ideal environment to set your ideas in motion.

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Fanshawe CollegeIf you want to hit the job market with advanced skills and stand out from the competition, check out Fanshawe’s Graduate Studies. In less than one year you could have the training you need. Theseprograms complement your post-secondary edu-cation – so you land not just a job but a career!

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Centennial CollegeCentennial College is committed to successful career education. The college offers more than 120 diploma, post-diploma and certificate programs in business, communication and media arts, community and consumer services, engineering technology, health, hospitality and transportation.

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The Canadian Automotive Institute at Georgian College has proudly boasted over 90% grad placement rate for the last 25 years! If you are passionate about business and love cars consider our Bachelor of Business - Automotive Management degree or our Automotive Business diploma program.

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Conestoga CollegeConestoga has been the number one rated college in Ontario for nine of the last twelve years. Our graduates get jobs with a job placement rate of well over 90%! We have campuses in Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph, Stratford, Ingersoll and Cambridge.

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Sheridan CollegeOur one-year graduate certificate programs enhance your diploma or degree with a blend of theoretical knowledge and work experience that fully prepare you to launch your career. Choose from more than 20 programs in the arts, business, technology and community service fields.

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Trent UniversityTrent’s commitment to research excellence, innovation, and collaboration has earned us a reputation as a progressive leader in graduate education. Whether we are talking about disciplinary or interdisciplinary programs, Trent is known for nurturing a vibrant intellectual community and scholars who are engaged, critical thinkers.

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with Ross Harrhy

joblifeThe Long Weekender

This person likes short trips, and extra time on the weekend, and typically can’t afford to be out of the office for too long because of their responsi-bilities. By using a day here and a day there, they aren’t gone too long and they feel they get more out of their vacation time because they can go on mini-vacations year-round. They do trips up to the ski hill in the winter, and short camping trips in the summer. They take a Monday off when Friday is a statutory holiday so that they get four days for the price of one. Vacation companies are starting to offer more and more weekend getaway packages for these types of travelers because they can af-ford short trips to not-so-far-away spots. Plus, es-pecially here in Ontario, a lot of families have cot-tages where they can quickly escape for a cheap, quiet weekend away from the city. Many of these vacationers are also the type who don’t like to go anywhere, but need to take the time. They don’t particularly plan a big getaway and mostly just like to have an extra few weekends through the year where they don’t have to get up early and can stay in their housecoat all day on a weekday.

How to take your vacation

The Week Here/There

These vacationers know they need time off at dif-ferent times of the year in order to make it all year or they can’t afford to take too much time off in one shot. Maximizing their time away includes waiting for a statutory holiday on a Friday and then taking the next Monday to Friday out of the office so they get a combined ten days away. Doing so twice a year (based on the average two weeks allotted holi-day a year) gives them the opportunity to take two big trips and two separate times in the year to get a break. They can get enough time to travel abroad and really experience a big city, or just sit on the beach at a resort — and they could do it twice in one year. For workaholics, there is a little prep in order to be missing for a week but the extra tasks that your co-workers will have to cover are minimal.

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You slaved all winter, and made the trek to work each and every week, through snowstorms and bad traffic, and you’ve got two or more weeks of vacation saved for the sun. So let’s get the most out of it! From what I’ve noticed among my friends and colleagues, there are three definable types of vacationers. There are those that take long weekends, several through the year, those that take a week here and a week there, and there are those who do it all in one go. Each way has it’s benefits and each has it hurdles…

All-in-One-Goers

These people try to make it something memorable. They don’t typically stay in the city, in fact, they rarely stay in the same country. These vacationers end up somewhere abroad, whether on a multi-city/country cruise, backpacking through Europe, or traveling South America. Two weeks is too long to sit on a beach; it requires more action and a little adventure. They take the kids, they spend a lot of money, but they are out and seeing things and defi-nitely leaving their jobs behind. In a lot of private businesses and fast-paced offices, this type of va-cationer can rarely get the opportunity to take one big holiday because the workload is too big or being away for too long will put them behind. And if they can get the two weeks, they usually need to give their employers months of advance notice. Because the time away is so long and the shifted task-load a little more onerous, they can’t take this time dur-ing the height of vacation season (May-September), but will usually escape in late Fall or early Spring, depending on the type of office/industry.

Whatever type of vacationer you are, and whatever type your colleagues are, make sure you get the most out of your time away. No matter how much money you make or how much you love your job, it’s always important to get away and experience something new or just break the cycle for a little bit — we all need a break and a chance to refresh to be better at what we do and how we do it.

ZAP AWAY BAD BREATH

jobpostings magazine (summer 2011)

Documents

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