September 2011
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INSIDE Legal professions still proving plentiful 3 Pharmacy techs’, assistants’ roles evolving 10 Do edgy, creative resumés get the job done? 11
expert advice Maggie B. asks: “How can I get a job with no work experience?” 6
Think before you quit 12
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How to handle the toughest, oddest interview questions 15
Future jobs Is it still worth getting a university degree? By Tracy Nesdoly
O
ther than the lucky few who really do become rock stars, the path to the future as a grownup is straight, narrow and predictable: go to school, get into university, land a decent job. But before rushing off to get that degree in English literature, wise high-school students and their parents might want to listen to an influential group of U.S.-based economists who are pushing for alternatives like vocational and career training or corporate apprenticeships. This makes good sense in Canada, too, where the bulk of skilled workers – plumbers or electricians for example – are nearing retirement age. “It is true that we need more nanosurgeons than we did 10 to 15 years ago. But the numbers are still relatively small compared to the numbers of nurses’ aides we’re going to need. We will need hundreds of thousands of them over the next decade,” Richard Vedder, an economist and founder of the Centre for College Affordability and Productivity, a research nonprofit in Washington, D.C., told the New York Times. According to American statis-
tics, of the top 10 growing job categories only two require university degrees: accounting (a bachelor’s degree) and post-secondary teachers (a PhD). But this growth is expected to be tiny compared with the need for registered nurses, home health aides, customer service representatives and store clerks – jobs where a bachelor’s degree is strictly optional.
LEARN MORE ➧ GET THE JOB
While a university education
may still be its own reward, it is no longer the one and only way to a bright shiny future
Further, this coterie of contrarian economists parade evidence such as data showing the high likelihood that no more than half of those who began a four-year bachelor’s degree program in the fall of 2006 will get that degree within six years – that’s a lot of time and money spent with no degree, or job opportunity, to show for it. In this country, about twothirds of all job openings over the next several years will be in occupations that usually require postsee Major, 2
Trading up: about two-thirds of all job openings over the next several years will be in occupations usually requiring postsecondary education, but that can mean college or apprenticeship training
Community Mental Health and Addictions Worker diploma program It is not our purpose to become each other; it is to recognize each other, to learn to see the other and honor him for what he is. – Hermann Hesse In partnership with PHS Community Services Society and the Lookout Emergency Aid Society, this unique curriculum has been prepared to support individuals with mental heath challenges and addictions. Based on the input received from these industry partners, this program has been specifically designed to prepare students – philosophically, mentally/intellectually, emotionally, and experientially – for a successful career with longevity and the potential for advancement.
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Major labour shortage: Health care from Future, 1
S OWN TBART YOUR USINESS !!
secondary education, but that can mean college or apprenticeship training, not just university, according to studies by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC). The two areas facing imminent labour shortages? Management (what with all those baby boomers retiring) and health care. HRSDC suggests shortages will mean an acute need for physicians (obviously this requires a uni-
versity education), therapy and assessment professionals, head nurses and nurse aides (which may not). Other health occupations, such as registered nursing assistants, audiology technicians, physiotherapy technicians and medical radiation technologists, are also facing shortages. Outside of the healthcare system, HRSDC predicts shortages in oil and gas drilling and services,
homebuilders and renovators, contractors and supervisors in trades. So, while a university education may still be its own reward, it is no longer the one and only way to a bright shiny future. In fairness however, for most of us, it remains a better bet than rock stardom. • Originally published on the Workopolis Blog at www. blog.workopolis.com.
6 months course starts
September 12th, 2011
Face the future with a new career! Enroll in the
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Also short BC Employment Programs (BCEP) available in: Canadian Securities Course (CSC) Fraud Examination Course (FEC) Fundamentals of Insurance (CAIB1) Medical Office Assistant (MOA) Care-Aide & Social Service Support Worker Building Service Worker (BSW)
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Become a Personal Trainer Turn your passion for fitness into a lucrative career! In just 40 hours you can become a fully certified personal trainer. On The Edge offers: ➤ One-on-one instruction ➤ Start anytime ➤ Payment plan options ➤ Flexible scheduling On The Edge takes you from certification to paycheck. Call 604.998.3379 or email academyofpersonal.trainers@gmail.com www.edgefit.ca
September 2011
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Getting on the right side of the law Lawyers, paralegals and legal administrative assistants appear to be in high demand in 2011 By Noa Glouberman
A
ccording to research conducted earlier this year by Robert Half International (RHI), hiring in the legal field remained strong in the second quarter of 2011, with 45% of lawyers interviewed planning to add legal staff in the months of May and June. “The majority of lawyers polled are at least somewhat confident in their organizations’ ability to expand,” RHI reported at the time. “Hiring activity is expected to take place predominantly at law firms.” “I think the current job market is pretty good,” agrees Bill Maclagan, office managing partner for Vancouver law firm Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP. “The general business economy … is rebounding. This increases the demand for legal services. “At this time, there is a strong demand in the securities, mergers and acquisitions, finance and commercial litigation areas,” he
adds. “This is simply driven by client demand.” When asked if baby boomer retirement will have an impact on legal hiring, Maclagan says, “More women will take on key senior management roles in law firms and … more and more significant client relationship roles. This change is already taking place.” If you want to be a lawyer, Fa rris, Vaug ha n, Wills & Murphy LLP partner Ludmila Herbst says your first step will be to enter law school after completing an undergraduate degree (or, the first three years of a course of study leading to an undergraduate degree) and writing the law school admission test. At law schools like the University of British Columbia (UBC) and University of Victoria, she adds, a law degree requires a further three years of study. In order to qualify to practise law in B.C., which means having been “called to the B.C. bar,” Herbst says
graduates must complete a one-year Law Society of BC (LSBC) admission program comprised of nine months of articles (practice and training) at a law firm or other legal workplace, a 10-week professional legal training course and two qualification exams. While the steps to becoming a lawyer are numerous, the rewards seem well worth it. “The law is a great career that offers many opportunities,” says Maclagan. “A lawyer gets exposed to many people, many challenges and many exciting opportunities. It also can be a great entry to a business career or public office if one chooses. I cannot think of a more interesting career.” There are other types of legal careers, too. Among the most popular: legal administrative assistants and paralegals. Paralegals assist lawyers by taking care of duties like filing, preparing and writing see Paralegals, 8
Supply Chain Management Professional B R I T I S HC O L U M B I AI N S T I T U T E
P MAC
PURCHASING MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION OF CANADA
Order in the court: legal administrative assistants look after various secretarial duties in a legal office like filing and keeping track of paperwork
The BC Institute PMAC’s 19th Annual Workshop is BC’s key event for networking and knowledge sharing with your professional peers in Supply Chain Management, connecting key people within organizations who are acquiring goods, works, and services, and those involved with setting their organization’s SCM strategies, participating in a variety of keynote and breakout sessions with varied speakers and topics covering supply chain management, business skills and soft skills.
Circle of Excellence September 28th – 30th, 2011 ➧ Victoria, BC
19th
AnnuAl Workshop
Keynotes and breakouts this year are planned to include: ➧ Canada/China Global Trade Professor Paul Evans, Director, Institute of Asian Research, UBC
➧ Corporate Social Responsibility Ian Powell, Managing Director, Inn at Laurel Point
➧ Legal Update CCDC 5A and 5B Construction Services Contracts, and CCDC 17 Trade Contracts Roy Nieuwenburg, Lawyer, Clark Wilson, LLP
➧ The RFX Communication Gap Breakout Panel Discussion
➧ An Innovative look at Problem Solving Skills Brian Thwaits – Brainspeaker ➧ Updates on International Customs and Trade Laurie Turnbull, SCM Consultant, The Cole Group
➧ BOOST! Re-energize Your Team Linda Edgecombe, award winning author and motivation coach ➧ Gala Networking Dinner With Entertainer/political satirist Bob Robertson
REgiStRAtionS ARE noW BEing ACCEptEd! info@bcipmac.ca or visit www.bcipmac.ca
thanks to our Sponsors!
September 2011
CAREER SERVICES
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What not to include on your resumé Social insurance number, photos and spelling mistakes should be omitted from your CV trash. Make sure that you have used spell-check, and then have a friend or colleague review your CV one more time, just to be certain. “REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST” It is assumed that you will provide references when a
potential employer requests them, so this statement isn’t necessary on your resumé. Leave it out. Remember, your resumé is your first impression. Make it count. • Originally published on the Workopolis Blog at www. blog.workopolis.com.
CAREER SERVICES
SPELLING & GRAMMAR MISTAKES Probably another obvious point, but it is truly amazing how many resumés are sent out that clearly have not been spell-checked. A spelling mistake may take your resumé from the top of the pile straight to the
YWCA
FOCUS At Work Free Job Search for Women of All Ages Support Growth Success
Best foot forward: because your resumé is your first impression, you ought to make it count
By Jenna Charlton
I
was recently having coffee with a friend who was in the process of hiring. He was telling me about resumés he had reviewed. It was interesting to hear someone discuss the hiring process from the other side – I have always been on the applying end. This was his first hiring experience and he seemed amazed at the resumés that had piled up on his desk – and not always in a good way.
Your resumé should highlight your achievements, so there is no need to blatantly tell someone you work hard and try to do good work Far from professional protocol, he revealed some amusing and disheartening anecdotes. People with more experience than he has were applying for positions that would report to him – positions that would surely pay less than what the applicant was currently earning. Other applicants were highly educated but had no experience in the field that they were applying for a job in. I have heard this from other friends who have received resumés from, for example, lawyers applying for
a horticulture position because they no longer want to deal with the office grind. A career change is a great idea, but you have to prove you have some knowledge or experience in your new chosen field. Some rather interesting resumés, according to my friend, included attached photos of friends and family, irrelevant information such as sexual preference and declarations that should go without saying, like: “I like to work hard,” or “I like to try to do a good job.” These statements should be evident from your past experience. Your resumé should highlight your achievements, so there is no need to blatantly tell someone you work hard and try to do good work. It’s similarly not necessary to state your sexual orientation in your resumé – this does not have an impact on your abilities to do a job. As for pictures – leave them out unless you are applying for a position where a photo is required. Also leave out religious and political beliefs. Again, there are caveats (for instance, you’re in politics or applying to be a priest). While it’s terrific to switch careers or move to a position that requires less responsibility, be prepared to explain yourself. It might be worth acknowledging this in your cover letter and briefly providing some reasons.
You want people to ask questions for the right reasons. Answer any questions in your cover letter that might be red flags to a prospective employer, and make him or her want to know more about you – in person. The following is a list of a few other items to leave off the resumé. SOCIAL INSURANCE NUMBER (SIN) Perhaps this is an obvious exclusion, but it does happen. Your SIN is the key to all of your personal information. When sending out your resumé, you never know who might receive or pick up a discarded copy. Don’t compromise your privacy when applying for jobs. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS Your resumé isn’t a classified ad. No one reading your CV needs to know what you look like. Your experience should be judged on its own merits. Even if you think you should be a contestant on Canada’s Next Top Model, your physical appearance is not a working highlight. VERY OLD JOBS Jobs that you held a decade ago or that bear no relevance to the position you are applying for should not be listed on your resumé. Very few employers will be motivated to hire you based on reading a description of your highschool paper route.
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September 2011
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ASK AN EMPLOYMENT EXPERT
OZZIE SAUNDS Maggie B. asks: “As a recent graduate, how can I get a job with no work experience?”
Y
our question came up in a discussion I had with Sumayya Randera, who works as an IT recruiter. During our interview, this recent McMaster commerce graduate told me how she successfully secured employment with limited work experience. One of the challenges that recent graduates encounter is a lack of work experience needed to land that first job. How did you overcome this? I knew this was going to be a problem when I graduated. So what I tried to do
during university was extracurricular activities. I also volunteered and was part of a committee for “Canada’s Next Top Ad Executive,” which is a marketing competition. I developed strong relationships with professors and stayed very active within my school. One of my professors ended up introducing me to a lawyer who was looking for a marketing student in my third year and it allowed me to put something on my resumé along with all my volunteering roles and school activities. When I graduated I used all the connections I made to
help me find a job. Did you find it difficult to secure your first job after graduation? No, not really. When I graduated I didn’t know what I wanted to do and I was sending my resumé all over the place. A friend recommended that I send my resumé to a staffing agency and they called me in the next day to meet with me. A week later they had a position available with a hedge fund company and I got the job. After a few months working in investment relations, I got a new job as an IT recruiter.
Warehousing Training Program - An ideal course for people wanting to start a career in the warehousing industry. Course components include: Introduction to Warehousing, Elements of a Warehouse, Warehouse Functions/Activities, Warehouse Documentation, Inventory and Inventory Control, Health and Safety and more.
What is your job like now? I love it! I get to meet people and I find people work. It’s a challenging position because you’re basically working the phone all day and every day. You’re trying to match the right job with the right person. You also work under tight deadlines. It’s a very high-pressure position but the payoff financially is great. As a recruiter, what mistakes do you see people making during job searches? One of the biggest misconceptions I had after gradu-
ation was that a resumé should be no more than two pages. During an interview I had for my current job, I was talking about all my strengths and skills. The interviewer who is now my boss asked me, “Where are these skills you’re telling me about on your resumé?” I told her, “I was advised that my resumé should only be two pages.” She answered, “How am I ever supposed to know what you can do if you don’t have it on your resumé?” I learned that if you can do it, make sure you say it on your resumé. Don’t limit your resumé to just two pages.
What advice do you have for new graduates? Network, because very few jobs are posted for the public. A lot of jobs you will find out about through your network and personal connections. A lot of companies look at referrals given to them from their employees before advertising vacant jobs, so try to find friends that can refer you. • Ozzie Saunds is founder and owner of the InspiredMinds Group. This column was originally published on the Workopolis Blog at www. blog.workopolis.com.
BANK TELLER TRAINING PROGRAM - The Bank Teller Training Program sets the foundation to start acareer in the banking industry in Canada. By learning the basics of being a Teller, you gain the skills and knowledge necessary to enter this exciting field. The course covers customer service, productsales, security, Canadian banking procedures and policies, and application process and employment opportunities with different banks. Next class starts September 10th for 3 Saturday sessions from 9am to 4pm.
Duration: 3 days from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Cost: $300.00 start Date: saturday, august 27th – 3 saturday sessions. For more information or to register for a course please call 604-597-3448.
For more information or to register for a course please call 604-597-3448.
202 – 7380 – 137th street, surrey, BC | www.dcrs.ca
202 – 7380 – 137th Street, Surrey, BC | www.dcrs.ca
Vancouver School Board
Angela Crocker
Program Graduate Owner, Author, Speaker, Social Media Trainer www.beachcombercommunications.com
Building Service Worker Diploma
11-058
A full time program designed for those who wish to enter the building service industry. Training includes all aspects of sanitation and cleaning operation of equipment, correct application of chemicals, WHMIS, operating your own cleaning business and two weeks of on-the-job training with industry professionals. Topics also include: stripping and buffing floors, waxing, wall washing, washroom and window cleaning, fire prevention, carpet cleaning and equipment training.
Your Career: Own it.
Next Program begins Monday, September 26, 2011 Free Information Sessions Available: Education Centre, 1580 W. Broadway 10:00am - 11:00am Tuesday, August 9, 2011 Thursday, August 25, 2011 Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Since 1995, more than 3,250 businesses have been launched through the Douglas College Self Employment Program. Practical training, business advice and group support. Income support available to those who qualify.
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To see if you’re eligible for our FREE program call 604 527 5020 New Westminster Campus 604 777 6012 Coquitlam Campus or visit douglascollege.ca/selfemployment
To obtain information or to pre-register for a FREE INFORMATION SESSION, please call: 604-713-4500 or visit: www.continuinged.ca
September 2011
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All HEALTH CARE ASSISTANT PROGRAM Students Receive an...
Apple iPad The most user-friendly textbook EVER!
And yes...grads KEEP their iPads! Next Class Starts
August 22nd.
Hurry and sign up for the next intake! • A FULL 27 WEEK PROGRAM - A hands-on and clinically focused Program • 8 ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATES including NVCI, Palliative Care, St. John’s First Aid & CPR,WHMIS, Foodsafe, Diabetes, Footcare, and Medication Administration • 3 CLINICAL PRACTICUMS... Prepare you to work in a variety of Healthcare settings • JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE Our Unique Job Club is included and open to to all graduates during and after graduation
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Info Sessions Daily. Reserve Yours!
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September 2011
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Cashier Training & CusTomer serviCe - $275.00 Duration 18 hours. Become confident with operating a cash register & learn customer service, policies, procedures and laws that pertain to working in this field. next classes august 29th to 31st or september 12th to 14th from 9am to 3:30pm For more information or to register for a course please call 604-597-3448.
202 – 7380 – 137th street, surrey, BC | www.dcrs.ca SIMPLY ACCOUNTING LEVEL 1 & 2 Duration: 30 hours per level. Fee: $380 per level or $700 when registering for both levels at the same time. Textbook and Training Software for practiceat home are provided for FREE. After completing level 1 & 2 with us, students receive a course completion certificate, and will also beeligible to write the Certificate in Simply Accounting for FREE. The official Certificate in Simply Accounting will be issued by Sage Software, who developed Simply Accounting. Next Class Starts: Sep 24 for 5 Saturday sessions For more information or to register for a course please call 604-597-3448.
202 – 7380 – 137th Street, Surrey, BC | www.dcrs.ca
ITTI
Immigrant Trades Training Initiativ Initiative Assisting immigrants towards their trade certification in B.C.
Find your Trade Route to a Better Future
Are you: • Permanent Resident of Canada? • Unemployed and ineligible for Employment Insurance? • Currently employed but lacking • Local credentials, or • Full-time hours, or • Essential skills? If your answer is “YES” to any one of these questions, this project might be for you!
Contact: Bruce Ratcliffe Email: bruce.ratcliffe@success.bc.ca Cell: 604.218.5162 Office: 604.517.0884 Fax: 604.517.517.1918 Website: www.success.bc.ca/itti
Funding provided by the Industry Training Authority, through the Labour Market Agreement between the Governments of British Columbia and Canada
Paralegals: May soon take on new tasks from Getting, 3
legal documents, handling correspondence, drafting minutes and reports and doing research. They may also handle simple legal procedures such as files for small claims court, property disputes and disability appeals. And, thanks to recent plans by the LSBC to revisit talks on expanding their roles, paralegals in this province may soon be in greater demand than ever before. “The implementation of such talks may result in a dramatic growth of paralegal practice in B.C.,” confirms Cyril Okoye, president and consultant criminologist at Metropolitan Community College. He quotes the summer issue of LSBC’s Bencher’s Bulletin, which reported that “the law society has a vision that would see paralegals taking on a broader range of legal tasks than are currently permitted. It is exciting, new ground that will be good for … paralegals.” To become a paralegal, a post-secondary education either to a diploma or degree level is essential. While some institutions require previous work experience as a prerequisite for admission to a paralegal program, Okoye says that isn’t the case at Metropolitan “because of its 24-week, paid co-op/internship program, which provides students with work experience before graduation.” Bohdan Bilan, vicepresident of academics for Vancouver Career College, agrees that hands-on training within the Canadian legal system is a key to success. “Our students not only receive their paralegal diploma, but also graduate with Internet and core computing certification and a five-week practicum on their resumé,” he says. “From here, graduates can apply for paralegal positions in the employment field.” Legal administrative assistants, on the other hand, look after various secretarial duties in a legal office like filing and keeping track of the significant amount of paperwork that’s typically gener-
ated by a busy law firm. Vancouver Career College offers a legal administrative assistant diploma that focuses on developing computer application and software skills specific to the legal industry. “Students take courses in civic litigation, family, real estate, corporate, commercial and wills and estates law,” says Bilan. “All of this training, along with a handson, five-week practicum, prepares graduates for their role in maintaining an organized workflow in a legal office.” He adds that the current job market for the Canadian legal sector is “looking up for qualified paralegals and legal administrative assistants.” “Since their work provides support for lawyers and other legal staff, they are valuable assets to well-organized, fastpaced legal work environments,” he explains. “Depending on the diversity of practice, law firms often attract a number of practitioners whose services are complementary to the daily law practice,” Okoye adds. “These include forensic accountants, certified fraud investigators and immigration consultants.” On the immigration front, newcomers to Canada are often in need of legal professionals to help them resolve immigration matters. As such, court interpreters are currently in high demand. “There are many work assignments in the courts but there is a big lack of qualified court interpreters,” confirms Tisha Nixon, director of interpretation and translation services for Aquinas Institute Corp., which specializes in court-judicial-legal interpreting services. A legal interpreter, according to Nixon, is a professional who “conveys in the first person exactly what a speaker says in one language in a different foreign language to another person or people. Generally, the statements are related to legal topics, matters or cases.” As such, legal interpreting requires proficiency in the source language and the tar-
get language as well as a good knowledge of legal terminology. This requires professional training. “B.C. courts require that we send only experienced or trained court interpreters to court trials,” she stresses. “As an interpretation service company, [our] challenge … is recruiting qualified interpreters and how to make those with no experience realize that court interpreter training is necessary.” To be considered an accredited interpreter by the Ministry of Attorney General’s Court Services Branch, you must have one of the following: • a court interpreting cert i f ic ate f rom Va ncouver Community College; • certification as a court interpreter by the Society of Translators and Interpreters of BC (STIBC); or • certification as a court interpreter from a society belonging to the Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council. Aquinas also offers a court-judicial-legal interpreter training seminar to help new, inexperienced interpreters launch their careers by learning more about basic court interpreting duties, ethics, the Canadian court system and legal terminology, and provides practical interpreting exercises, as well. Though only the STIBC can designate a certified court interpreter and only the Ministry of Attorney General can designate an accredited court interpreter, Aquinas’ seminar provides an excellent professional development opportunity to any interpreter or translator. “A UBC student took the seminar … and within three months she sent an email stating that the seminar came in handy as she has been doing a lot of interpreting, especially court interpreting,” says Nixon. “Other seminar attendees are now working in the government sector and with other agencies or have their own interpreting businesses.” • nglouberman@biv.com
Reach a wide variety of adults, students and job seekers interested in further learning and upgrading their skills to advance their career prospects. Business in Vancouver Media Group, publishers of NEXT, offers post-secondary schools, career colleges, service providers a unique advertising vehicle to market full and part-time programs. Visit us at biv.com for more information.
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September 2011
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September 2011
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Newly defined roles raise pharmacy’s allure Job prospects for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and assistants look “very good” in B.C. By Richard Chu, BIV & Noa Glouberman
T
he growing use of medication in B.C. promises to keep pharmacy one of the province’s fastestgrowing professions. Marnie Mitchell, CEO of the BC Pharmacy Association, says that the use of pharmaceuticals continues to grow by about 10% a year, partly because of rising rates of chronic diseases and the increased availability of drugs to treat them. She also notes, however, that while some of the increase might be attributable to conditions associated with an aging population, younger people are facing a growing number of chronic conditions ranging from hypertension and high cholesterol to Type-2 diabetes. “That part is a little concerning, but there are more treatments available, so people are able to manage those conditions fairly effectively on the whole.” The growing need for medication has increased growth in the profession. The number of registered pharmacists in B.C. has risen by 23% over the past five years to 4,800 from 3,900 in 2006. But another pharmacy growth driver is the expanding role of
pharmacists in providing health services to B.C. residents. In early 2009, pharmacists were given the authority to renew prescriptions and, in some cases, to modify prescriptions originally written by a doctor. In the fall of 2009, pharmacists who completed a training and accreditation program were approved to administer drugs by injection. And, earlier this year, pharmacists were given the authority to consult with patients to give them a more comprehensive understanding about all the medications they may be taking and identify any issues that could arise from the use of those drugs. All of these new services will likely add to the demand for pharmacists and could increase the allure of the profession to prospective students, according to Mitchell. “A lot of members are very enthusiastic about it, saying things like, ‘This is why I went into pharmacy,’” she says. “They’re excited about the opportunity. “I know the UBC faculty gets a very substantial number of applicants each year, and when you think about the importance of pharmaceutical products for so many of us for managing our health, there’s no sign that the demand for pharmacy services is easing off.”
Easy pill to swallow: the number of registered pharmacists in B.C. has risen by 23% over the past five years
In fact, the job prospects for other pharmacy team members – including pharmacy technicians and pharmacy assistants – look similarly positive, according to Bev Reid, president and owner of MTI Community College – a private training career college with six campuses throughout the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley offering both pharmacy technician and pharmacy assistant diploma
programs. We sat down with Reid to ask about both professions, how they’re evolving and what the job market looks like now and in the future. What is a pharmacy technician? A pharmacy technician is a healthcare worker who performs pharmacy-related functions, generally working under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist.
What is the difference between a pharmacist and a pharmacy technician? Pharmacists are the experts on drug therapy and are the primary health professionals who optimize medication use to provide patients with positive health outcomes. Pharmacists in Canada attend university and attain a degree to become a pharmacist. Regulated pharmacy see Counter, 13
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September 2011
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Getting edgy with it
Six wickedly creative job applications for the digital age
Songquan Deng / Shutterstock.com
Do candidates risk rejection with experimental job applications?
Ad-ing up: could promoting yourself as the ideal candidate on a billboard – say, in New York City’s Times Square – really result in a job offer?
hat would happen if you took your job application, added some humour and laced it with profanity? It might get tossed in the trash. Or, if you’re one of a lucky few, you may actually get hired. I came across such a job application online and laughed, thinking it was a joke. Not so – the guy
If you’re applying to a conservative law firm, the edgy approach probably won’t fly. But if you’re hoping to get noticed by a trendy social media company, a unique application may get you noticed. “Advertising and job searches have some similar principles,” says Morris. “You need to know who your target market is, capture its attention and differentiate yourself as a product.”
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1. The Google search resumé. On his LinkedIn profile, Eric Gandhi included his CV, mocked up to look like a Google search engine results page. An employee at Google spotted it and recommended Gandhi for a job. 2. If in doubt, rent a billboard. In Ireland, a marketing grad hired out a central billboard to launch his “jobless Paddy” campaign. The billboard included links to his social profiles and his email address. 3. Clever use of Google ads. Alec Brownstein figured directors of ad agencies, where he wanted to work, would likely search their own names on Google from time to time, to see what people were saying about them. Brownstein bought Google ads against the names of these directors with a link to his CV. 4. Interactive video. Graeme Anthony applied for a role at a social media agency by creating an interactive video that encouraged the potential employer to find out more about him. 5. Don’t ask for a job at all. Andrew Horner, an unemployed programmer, created what he calls the reverse job application – a website that would allow employers to apply for him (yes, it actually worked). 6. Create a game. Games developer Tim Schafer wrote and illustrated the storyboard of a gaming scenario that showed him applying – and getting – his dream job at a video game company.
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No matter what approach you take, follow these few tips and you’ll be more likely to get the outcome you want. Do your research. Get a feel for the organization you’re applying to. Does it have a blog you can read to get a sense of the language employees use and the style of the organization? Scour the company’s website and job ads for more hints about the company culture. Make your cover letter and resumé visually appealing. That means simple formatting and not a lot of text. According to Morris, HR professionals are likely to decide if your application is a keeper based on the look of it alone, before they even read what you have to say. Use straightforward, resultsoriented language. HR professionals don’t care what you did at your last job – they want to know what the results were. Write clearly and always do a spelling and grammar check before you send your application in. If you have a good idea of the kind of person the organization is looking for and can show them you’d be a suitable fit, you’ll have a better chance of getting hired. •
Y youtube.com/CDICareerCollege
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was hired by a software company. Wait, what? Does this mean I need to forget all those resuméwriting tips I learned in college and take advice from this guy instead? Maybe, or maybe not, says Iain Morris, a partner at Mercer, a human resources consulting firm. “I think it depends on what organization you’re applying to and what style they have,” Morris says.
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September 2011
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Your quitting checklist Some valuable things to know before you go sources expert Sarah Paul says, “It is never professional to walk out and there will be very few situations that would warrant this type of drastic action.”
“No job is perfect and no boss is a dream. Think of all the reasons you took the job and what you used to love about it” Walking papers: there are a few things you need to check off your list before you bid your boss “bye bye”
By Renee Sylvestre-Williams
W
ho hasn’t sat in their cubicle, stared at their computer screen and daydreamed of quitting their job? If you’ve decided to take the plunge (and it can be terrifying) there are a few things you need to check off before you tell your boss, “See ya!” SHOW YOURSELF THE MONEY The most important thing on this list. Unless you’re quitting your current job to go to another one or are planning on starting your own busi-
ness, then you need to have enough money. Experts used to say three months of living expenses should be enough but with the economy still not quite as vibrant, it might be better to have at least six months of living expenses saved before you quit. Money isn’t the only thing you should do before you quit. We’re not recommending you quit in a haze of rage – after all, you might want a reference later on. ALWAYS HAVE A PLAN Quitting in a haze of glory only works in the movies. As human re-
– Sarah Paul, human resources expert
Paul recommends that if you are leaving, it is always a good idea to have a job lined up: “Gaps on a resumé are very hard to justify to a new employer and if you start getting desperate, recruiters can smell it a mile away. “Once you have determined you are going to quit, start to quietly network and get the word out that you are looking, interview headhunters and find one you connect with. Then let him or her do the legwork.” KEEP YOUR EMOTIONS IN CHECK Paul says, “Take a step back and make sure you are not acting out of emotion. No job is perfect and no boss is a dream. Think of all the rea-
Accelerate
sons you took the job and what you used to love about it. “Instill excitement and challenge by taking on another project, join a task force or committee or asking for additional responsibilities,” she continues. “As with any relationship, being happy in your job takes work. Don’t bail at the first sign of distress.” CONSIDER THE PROS AND CONS Paul calls it a “force field analysis.” She suggests that you make a “pros and cons” list of your job. If the cons on your list outweigh the pros, then she suggests creating your exit strategy. TALK TO A LAWYER OR OTHER PROFESSIONALS We’re not saying anything bad will happen, but talking to a labour lawyer might make the transition easier because you’ll be fully informed about what to expect in terms of remaining salaries, vacation days and benefits. It couldn’t hurt to talk to a human resources professional as well, just not one involved in the same company. KEEP IT QUIET Companies are notorious for gossip. You don’t want to be the latest hot topic; it could affect your relationship with the company, affect your
your
references and make your leaving unpleasant. Don’t tell anyone until you officially resign. After that, remain professional and don’t indulge the curiosity of your soon-to-be ex-colleagues. HAVE A GOOD STORY Paul says, “Always tell people that the reason you are leaving is because you were looking for a job that aligned with your career goals. Do not tell people that you wanted more money or that you hated your boss. “Focus on the positive and spin it in a way that makes you look assertive and in control of your career. Create a list of all of the things you accomplished in your position and what you learned. Make sure you communicate how you can use these skills and accomplishments to add value in the new role.” LEAVE ON GOOD TERMS You never know when you may find yourself working with those former colleagues or when you might need a reference. As Paul says, “No matter how big you think the city or industry is … it’s not.” • Originally published on the Workopolis Blog at www.blog.workopolis. com.
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Counter culture: Pharmacy jobs growing from Newly, 11
technicians have independent authority, responsibility and liability to prepare, process and compound prescriptions. Pharmacists have this same authority to prepare, process and compound prescriptions, but pharmacists also do clinical counselling of patients. What training does a pharmacy technician have? Pharmacy technicians in B.C. must attend a pharmacy technician training program that has been accredited through the Canadian Council for the Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP) and then pass the national and provincial pharmacy technician exams. MTI Community College is one of only a few colleges in the province with an accredited pharmacy technician program. Most pharmacy technician training programs are 10-12 months in length. Where do pharmacy technicians work? Pharmacy technicians work in hospital pharmacy settings and retail (community) pharmacy settings. How does one achieve “registered” status? To become regulated in B.C. as a pharmacy technician you must successfully complete an accredited pharmacy technician training program; successfully complete the structured practical training component through the College of Pharmacists of BC (the regulatory body); pass the jurisprudence exam; pass the PEBC Qualifying Exam; and apply for registration with the College of Pharmacists of BC. How is the role of a pharmacy technician changing in B.C.? Regulated pharmacy technicians have a new role within the pharmacy team. Their role has expanded to include: receiving and transcribing verbal prescriptions from practitioners; ensuring that a prescription is complete and authentic; transferring prescriptions to and receiving prescriptions from other pharmacies; ensuring the accuracy of a prepared prescription; performing the final check of a prepared prescription; and ensuring the accuracy of drug and personal health information in the PharmaNet patient record. Previously the roles listed above were within the scope of practice of a pharmacist. Pharmacists may still perform these duties but over the next few years more and more hospital and community pharmacies will have regulated pharmacy technicians take on these roles to allow for pharmacists to take on more clinical duties with patients. What do the job prospects look like for pharmacy technicians in B.C.? The future job prospects for regulated technicians in B.C. are very good. Prior to 2010 pharmacy technician training programs were not regulated in B.C. and anyone who completed a training program took on the title of pharmacy technician. As of January 1, 2011, the term “pharmacy technician” became a reserved designation in B.C. and, like the title of doctor or nurse, only those that have completed all of the steps for regulation can use the title. Those people who were calling themselves technicians, but were not regulated, are now designated as pharmacy assistants. In order to use the term ‘pharmacy technician,’ they must take a series of upgrading courses and exams to meet the requirements for regulation. There are a lot of currently designated assistants who worked for years as pharmacy
technicians but have decided not to become a regulated technician, and to remain as their new designation of pharmacy assistant. Most of these people have found that the 18 months it takes to do the upgrading courses and the cost associated with the upgrading and the regulations exam – approximately $3,500 – is beyond what they want to do. Using regulated pharmacy technicians in both the community and hospital pharmacies will allow the use of pharmacists in a more clinical role, and will allow for more effective staffing. With limited training programs for pharmacy technicians, there is a limit on the number of technicians that will be able to feed into the workforce each year. Pharmacy technician training programs must provide a hospital practicum component to their program and there are limited hospital practicum options available in the province. This will always be a barrier for increasing the number of trained pharmacy technicians in the province. Hence there will be a large demand for regulated pharmacy technicians, but a limited availability of training spots in the province. What is a pharmacy assistant? Pharmacy assistants will mainly work in community pharmacy settings as their training program does not involve any training in hospital pharmacy. A pharmacy assistant can be supervised by both regulated pharmacy technicians and licensed pharmacists. Assistants usually perform routine tasks to help prepare prescribed medication, such as counting tablets and labelling bottles. They also perform administrative duties, such as answering phones, stocking shelves and operating cash registers. Technicians refer any questions regarding prescriptions, drug information or health matters to a pharmacist. What is the difference between a pharmacy technician and a pharmacy assistant? Assistants are non-regulated members of the pharmacy team and technicians are regulated members of the pharmacy team. Assistants perform routine tasks while technicians have a role with more responsibility and professional liability. Technicians are trained to a much higher level than assistants. What training does a pharmacy assistant have? A pharmacy assistant takes a non-regulated training program that is approximately seven, eight months in length. There is no regulatory body for pharmacy assistants. How is the role of a pharmacy assistant changing in B.C.? A pharmacy assistant provides an essential role on the pharmacy team. By completing the more routine tasks of assisting with prescription dispensing, compounding of prescription drugs and administrative tasks within the pharmacy it allows regulated pharmacy technicians and licensed pharmacists to focus on the safety of the prescription being dispensed and the needs of the patient. What do the job prospects look like for pharmacy assistants in B.C.? Current and future job prospects for assistants remain high. Well-trained assistants are a vital part of the pharmacy team and are required to give the technicians and pharmacists the time to do their jobs effectively. A well-functioning pharmacy will include pharmacy assistants, pharmacy technicians and pharmacists. • nglouberman@biv.com
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September 2011
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TWITTER JOB BOARD The following jobs recently appeared in our Twitter feed. Follow the links for more information; follow us on Twitter @employmentinvan for more local jobs.
discretionary zoning throughout the city. http://tinyurl.com/3rquqwt
ADMINISTRATION Expert Recruiters, on behalf of its
education programs co-ordinator (Vancouver) to assist with the planning and execution of the Institute’s educational outreach, including such things as, student seminars, teacher workshops, conferences, video contests, internships, essay contests and newsletters. http://bit.ly/mOPFTe
client, seeks an executive assistant (Vancouver) to assist in the co-ordination and production of proposals and qualifications. http://bit.ly/nrUwRp
Aparc Systems, on behalf of its client, seeks an administrative assistant (Vancouver) to support the CEO, COO and other members of the leadership team by performing essential administrative tasks. This role is multidimensional and requires an individual who can co-ordinate and balance several activities, is flexible, well organized and willing to take on new challenges as requested. http://bit.ly/qdBbu5 Angus One Professional Recruitment, on behalf of its client, seeks a bookkeeper/administrative assistant (Granville Island) to perform all payroll duties, using ADP and SAP; perform fullcycle bookkeeping; HST filings; WCB filings; and perform various administrative duties, as required. http://ow.ly/60cNd
COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLIC RELATIONS McNeill Nakamoto Recruitment Group, on behalf of its client, seeks a communications advisor for aboriginal affairs (Vancouver) to act as day-today liaison between projects and First Nations issues, activities and interests, among other duties. http://ow.ly/5ZZWT
CONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENT The City of Richmond seeks a
building technologist (Richmond) to provide an effective plan-checking service to ensure that proposed construction projects, alterations and additions to existing buildings and structures meet the general design and life-safety standards of the municipality prior to the issuance of building permits. http://tinyurl. com/3atgrj5 The City of Vancouver seeks a planner II (Vancouver) to perform highly complex professional urban design and development planning work consisting of consultation, negotiation, project review, analysis and development of urban design concepts for major developments subject to
EDUCATION The Fraser Institute seeks an
FINANCE Canadian Western Bank Group
seeks a sales and service representative II (Vancouver) to provide a high level of customer service that consistently exceeds expectations and enhances the relationship with the client.http:// bit.ly/q16IDI
HEALTH & MEDICAL Westminster House seeks a
health-care worker/social worker (Langley) to provide care to clients in a manner that will respect the individuals and maintain their dignity, among other duties. http://bit.ly/oRukaa BC Cancer Agency seeks a recruitment clerk, HPV focal study (Vancouver) to communicate regularly with women participating in a study looking to improve cervical cancer screening for women; performing such duties as determining eligibility, administering study consent forms and questionnaires that contain questions of a personal health and sexual nature; maintaining consistent contact with study participants; collecting data and entering into study database; and utilizing a variety of communication methods to meet study procedures and follow-up, among other duties. http://bit.ly/ pAJ4z5
HOSPITALITY & TOURISM Vancouver Airport Marri-
ott seeks a guest services agent (Richmond) with previous hotel experience, preferably in the front office. http://bit.ly/o2ysos
LEGAL Overwaitea Food Group LP seeks a senior legal assistant (Langley) to provide legal administrative support to legal counsel in the delivery of legal services, including managing and preparing various legal documents, among other duties. http://bit.ly/otKHJY
Bulletin Board
MANAGEMENT SNC-Lavalin seeks a project
team manager (Vancouver) to provide leadership, guidance, control and mentoring to a project management team charged with all aspects of project delivery within the B.C. portfolio, including tenant and base building improvements, among other duties. http://bit.ly/mPxTvy Deloitte seeks a senior manager, employee engagement (Vancouver) to act as an expert for the firm in the development of programs and policies related to an outstanding talent experience at Deloitte. http://bit.ly/pTEyMv
MARKETING & SALES Invesco Trimark seeks a sales coordinator (Vancouver) to provide office/administrative support to a team of wholesalers, regional sales associates and the VP regional sales manager. http:// bit.ly/pqoCHe
R. Johnson Recruitment, on behalf of its client, seeks a junior marketing assistant (Vancouver) to manage a customer relationship database and perform related activities, among other duties. http://bit.ly/q1ZOGQ
retention and satisfaction. http:// bit.ly/mUF7ZE
RETAIL Save-On-Foods seeks a price
change clerk (North Vancouver) to update prices on merchandise throughout the store as well as do administration work in the payroll office. http://bit.ly/qnAXNQ PriceSmart Foods seeks a grocery reline clerk (Vancouver) to assist with the re-organization of the store and to ensure the departments are well stocked and clean. http://bit.ly/pkSRn5 PriceSmart Foods seeks a produce clerk (North Vancouver) to help our customers and ensure the departments are always well stocked and clean. http://bit.ly/ qu6Ry1 PriceSmart Foods seeks a cashier (North Vancouver) to ensure customers always have a great experience shopping at the store. http:// bit.ly/p2Mas6 PriceSmart Foods seeks a grocery clerk (North Vancouver) to help customers and ensure the departments are always well stocked and clean. http://bit.ly/o4feWB
McNeill Nakamoto Recruitment Group, on behalf of its client, seeks an outbound sales representative (Richmond) for outbound calling, solution-based selling, Internetbased product demonstrations and consistent customer follow-up to achieve maximum sales, among other duties. http://ow.ly/6003p
TECHNOLOGY TEKsystems seeks a desktop sup-
Path Marketing seeks an Internet marketing consultant/account manager (Vancouver) to attend quarterly strategy sessions that are run by senior marketing strategy team and work with senior strategists to develop and execute a quarterly plan; work closely with customers and see that we deliver on our promises; and manage multiple deadlines, review creative and copywriting and ensure that the client is in the loop. http:// www.techvibes.com/job/internetmarketing-consultant-accountmanager
TEKsystems seeks a network engineer (Vancouver) to design, implement and administer LAN/ WAN, among other duties. http:// bit.ly/rlcyRp
REAL ESTATE & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Hays Specialist Recruitment
(Canada) Inc., on behalf of its client, seeks a live-in residential maintenance person to support two apartment buildings by maintaining the property in a firstclass operational and maintenance standard to enhance the property’s curb appeal and increase resident
port specialist (Vancouver) to maintain, analyze, troubleshoot and support desktop computer systems, hardware and peripherals, among other duties.http:// bit.ly/nMICQC
WPCG, on behalf of its client, seeks an SSRS developer (Vancouver) to work directly with the end users and create and document report specifications, as well as be proactive and a natural problem solver. http://bit.ly/pK02ex WPCG, on behalf of its client, seeks a senior Java developer (Vancouver) to work with a small team of like-minded developers and play an integral role in the architecture and development of the product, which will involve taking ownership of a business objective and bringing it all the way to the finish line, among other duties. http://bit.ly/olo4bJ WPCG, on behalf of its client, seeks a senior C++ developer (Vancouver) who has an understanding of N-tier development specifically focusing on the middle and front end. http://bit.ly/ neZYEk •
Breakfast, Luncheon, Dinner Meetings Professor Stephen Toope S e p t e m b e r 1 4 , 20 1 1 , 1 1 :4 5 AM : Professor Stephen Toope, President & Vice-Chancellor University of British Columbia. $69 members and guests/$96 future-members (+HST). The Fairmont Waterfront, Waterfront Ballroom, 900 Canada Place Way. Vancouver, BC. reservations@boardoftrade.com. www. boardoftrade.com.
Conferences, Conventions, Tradeshows 20/20 SMART Session: Market Research and Assessment August 18, 2011, 8:00 AM: Effective market research will increase the probability of a successful product launch. This session will introduce tools and techniques for conducting effective market research and assessment in the product development process. $25 members/$35 non-members. Hampton Inn & Suites, 19500 Langley Bypass (Route 10). Surrey. Kimberly Hall: 604713-7809, kimberly.hall@cme-mec.ca. http://bc.cme-mec.ca/.
Courses, Workshops, Seminars SharePoint 2010 as a Records Management and Retention Solution August 19, 2011, 1:30 PM: Attend a free seminar on how SharePoint 2010 can be used for records management and retention. The presenter is Marcel Roy, SharePoint Specialist and Records Manager. Free. BCIT Downtown Campus, RM 281, 555 Seymour Street. Vancouver. pat@tracrecords.ca. www.tracrecords. ca/events. Canadian Securities Course (CSC) September 8, 2011, 8:00 AM: Be qualified to apply for licensing as a mutual funds salesperson. Sign up for the CSC at Ashton College. Contact an Admissions Adviser now. Ashton College. Vancouver. 604-8990803, info@ashtoncollege.com. www. ashtoncollege.com. Foundation in Sustainable Community Development September 15, 2011, 9:00 AM: This course addresses the confusion s u r ro u n d i n g s u s t a i n a b ili t y a n d presents the certificate’s vision of sustainable community development and related principles. $900. 515 W. Hastings St. Vancouver. Joshua Randall, 778-782-5254. http://www.sfu.ca/city/ course1popup.htm.
Datebook is Vancouver's business calendar. It is produced by Business in Vancouver newspaper (www.biv.com). The complete Datebook is available on-line at www.bivdatebook.ca
September 2011
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15
Could you please repeat the question? How to answer tough, weird and behavioural interview queries By Colleen Clarke & Elizabeth Bromstein
Y
ou’re sitting in a job interview when the person that you’d like to call your future employer hits you with a question that you’re just not sure how to answer. Our experts weigh in on how to handle this uneasy situation. THE TOUGH QUESTIONS To outshine other incumbents being interviewed for the same job as you, you must do your homework and be very prepared to stand out as the organized, prepared professional you are. Here are a few of the tougher interview questions that are often flubbed, with the appropriate answers. “Tell me a bit about yourself.” Give no more than a three-minute synopsis of your career to date (interviewers do not want to hear anything personal about you in this three-minute period): “I am a customer service rep with two years of experience. My most recent position was as a call centre rep with Acme Co. My areas of expertise are in sales, customer service and relationship-building, and here are some examples of those areas …” “Where do you want to be in five years from now?” Say something like, “I hope to still be working for this company, with newly acquired skills and ongoing responsibility.” “Why do you want to work for this company?” Don’t say, “Because there is an opening and I really need a job.” This is where you talk about what you gleaned from the research you have conducted on the company and possibly mention a common shared value. Show excitement and passion in your voice and tone: “This job posting so closely matched my qualifications and, as a client, I really like the customer service I get when I call with a problem.” “Why should we hire you?” This is a freeze-up question. Mention the benefits you will bring to the position and to the company. Say that you are going to save them money, increase productivity or free them up to do their job by taking care of everything else using the skills that you have. Do not rehash your skills but, rather, go for the benefits! “What is your greatest accomplishment to date?” Try to use a recent example that is relevant to the position and the company that you are interviewing with (but this is not mandatory). Be sure to describe the situation, your action and the result. Tell the accomplishment with pride, and smile. “What skill do you believe needs development?” No one likes to be asked the weakness question, but when you are prepared for it it’s
easier to address. For example, tell them something you would like to be better at; you can do it now but you would like to excel at it in the near future. Or, your weakness could be something that was a weakness but is now a strength. Whatever you say, be sure to always turn it around to sound positive. “Why did you leave your last job?” This question is to determine fit. If you weren’t fired, then explain exactly what happened. If you quit due to conflict with a manager or colleagues, say that your values were not congruent with those of
The top 10 weirdest questions on Glassdoor.com
“Most of the time it’s your approach and attitude toward the question rather than the actual answer that interviewers
Odd job interview question: “how many ridges are there around a quarter?”
are paying attention to” – Alexandra Levit, author, Success for Hire
the new manager. Everyone can relate to this response because it is the truth. If you were fired you have to craft your explanation to be short, succinct and truthful but not totally disclosing. Stick to a onesentence response. “Is there any skill or knowledge area required in this job that you would not be able to perform?” As long as the answer is no, you are not obliged to share any personal or health issue with the interviewer. If you have a condition that needs special attention or accommodation, as long as it doesn’t prevent you from carrying out the responsibilities as advertised you do not have to mention it until you have signed off on the offer. Whatever you do, be yourself, be honest and don’t feel like you have to over-explain yourself. Remember that people remember stories; they don’t remember words. So, give heartfelt examples and practice, practice, practice. THE BEHAVIOURAL QUESTIONS “Describe a time when you made an unpopular decision and had to stick with it under pressure.” Behavioural questions like this assume the best way to predict your future performance is by listening to you talk specifically about how you’ve worked in the past. The interviewer wants to confirm whether you have the required skill. That sounds reasonable enough. However, there are traps. You may have gone through the intimidating experience of not being able to recall a situation exactly like the one being asked about. Maybe you appeared nervous in an interview
where decisions are made on perception rather than concrete accomplishments. Worse, some candidates have been so frustrated by this experience that it affected the rest of their interview. Often the problem is that one becomes so focused on providing the perfect story that little information of use is actually offered. Remember, an interviewer is asking for the story as a way of working back to your skill. “Conversely, there will be times when the story comes readily, but that’s all the interviewer hears from you. If you just tell good stories, you may be competing against better storytellers,” says Brian Bassett of Toronto’s Bassett Communication Clinics. “Also, if you don’t spell out the point of your story in terms of your ability, the interviewer may not make that connection,” he adds, offering the following tips for answering behavioural questions. 1. Think of what you are good at, or what you find important in the situation you’ve been asked to describe. 2. Provide a story that demonstrates that point. Use strong action verbs to describe what you did in the situation to solve the problem or unravel the challenge. 3. At the end of your answer, spell out what you brought to the situation (the result) and what part you played in the result. Use the word “I,” not “we” (unless it was a team effort and even then, as part of the team, highlight your contribution). We know words are important but in an interview remember to bring your personality along. Make good use of your eyes, hands, pitch and voice modulation to keep the interviewer captivated and you
memorable. Translation: make it easy for the interviewer to want you. THE WEIRD QUESTIONS “If you were shrunk to the size of a pencil and put in a blender, how would you get out?” Impossible, right? It could happen to you. Glassdoor.com, an online “career community where anyone can find and anonymously share an inside look at jobs and companies,” has compiled a list of the most offthe-wall job interview questions. Among them: the above headscratcher from Goldman Sachs, which we could only imagine might be answered with, “Well, if I lived in a world where I can be shrunk to the size of a pencil, then I could just as easily grow right back at will, right? So, I’d just grow back and get out.” It’s a terrible answer, even with hours to think about it and none of the pressure or stress of being in an actual job interview. In truth, our put-on-the-spot answer would most likely sound a little closer to, “Uh, uh, umm, uh … could you please repeat the question?” We probably wouldn’t get that job. But, by asking the question in the first place, we had to wonder: what kind of answer was the Goldman Sachs interviewer looking for? Alexandra Levit, author of They Don’t Teach Corporate in College, How’d You Score that Gig?, Success for Hire and New Job, New You, says he or she may have been looking for a variety of things. “Depending on the specific odd question, employers are trying to assess your creativity, problemsolving ability or analytical ability,” says Levit. “They may also be feeling out
1. “If you were shrunk to the size of a pencil and put in a blender, how would you get out?” Asked at Goldman Sachs. 2. “How many ridges [are there] around a quarter?” Asked at Deloitte. 3. “What is the philosophy of martial arts?” Asked at Aflac. 4. “Explain … what has happened in this country during the last 10 years.” Asked at Boston Consulting. 5. “Rate yourself on a scale of one to 10 how weird you are.” Asked at Capital One. 6. “How many basketball[s] can you fit in this room?” Asked at Google. 7. “Out of 25 horses, pick the fastest three horses. In each race, only five horses can run at the same time. What is the minimum number of races required?” Asked at Bloomberg LP. 8. “If you could be any superhero, who would it be?” Asked at AT&T. 9. “You have a birthday cake and have exactly three slices to cut it into eight equal pieces. How do you do it?” Asked at Blackrock. 10. “Given the numbers 1 to 1,000, what is the minimum number [of] guesses needed to find a specific number if you are given the hint ‘higher’ or ‘lower’ for each guess you make?” Asked at Facebook.
how you behave under pressure by asking questions that cannot be answered easily and that you cannot prepare for. Given that, the best way to cope with them is to anticipate that you may be asked questions of this nature.” Other questions on the Glassdoor list include: “How many ridges [are there] around a quarter?” and “Given the numbers 1 to 1,000, what is the minimum number [of] guesses needed to find a specific number if you are given the hint ‘higher’ or ‘lower’ for each guess you make?” Levit adds that you shouldn’t stress about the answer. “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to answer these questions perfectly, as that will cause you to appear stressed out and flustered,” she advises. “Keep in mind that most of the time it’s your approach and attitude toward the question rather than the actual answer that interviewers are paying attention to.” So, what have we learned? There are no right answers. But, don’t kid yourself – there are probably wrong answers. Just be prepared. • Originally published on the Workopolis Blog at www.blog.workopolis. com.
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September 2011
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