Jobpostings Magazine: March 2013 Vol 15. No. 6

MARCH 2013 | VOL.15 | NO. 6

CAREERS. EDUCATION. IDEAS. ALL OF IT.

JOBPOSTINGS.CA

The Green Issue How to overcome generation gaps in today’s workplace The sky’s the limit for pilots!

Virtual education: the future of learning How to choose the best references

&

Go to new depths as a commercial diver

Working in the wild Study your scrambled eggs as a food scientist

Opportunities abound in the field of agriculture

1 - 3 YEAR DIPLOMA PROGRAMS

CAREER-

LAUNCHING

DIPLOMAS BUSINESS.HUMBER.CA/DIPLOMAS

1

ACCOUNTING

2

ADVERTISING MEDIA SALES

3

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

4

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

5

COSMETIC MANAGEMENT

6

ESTHETICIAN/ SPA MANAGEMENT

7

FASHION

8

FINANCIAL SERVICES

9

LAW CLERK

10 MARKETING 11 PARALEGAL EDUCATION 12 PROFESSIONAL GOLF MANAGEMENT

Follow a career path?

Or blaze your own.

Erin Marsden Talent Acquisition Manager erin.marsden@ehi.com (416) 284-4805

THE CHOICE IS CLEAR. After all, the Enterprise Management Training Program is where you’ll unleash your management potential and hone your sales abilities. You’ll learn how to run a successful business and lead a team of professionals. And, since we have locations across the country, you can build your career where you want to build it. There’s a reason why BusinessWeek magazine has repeatedly named us to their list of “Best Places To Launch A Career.”

YOUR PATH IS WAITING. GO. go.enterprise.com/canada

©2012 Enterprise Rent-A-Car. D02031.10/12

Go with a team that sets a high standard when it comes to employment equity. Go with Enterprise Rent-A-Car. We actively encourage applications from qualified men and women, including Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, and members of visible minorities.

From arbitration to community outreach, this program offers the unique skills you need to launch your career as an arbitrator, conciliator, employee relations officer, mediator and many other exciting career options.

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POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE business.humber.ca/postgrad

30

Workin’ green

Does the idea of sitting behind a desk give you chills?

There are plenty of jobs across the country to give you the adventure you’ve been looking for! From tree planting to search-and-rescue, we take a look at the best careers the Canadian wild has to offer.

TABLE OF CONTENTS JOBPOSTINGS.CA Industry reportS 24 Careers in flight

Fluffy clouds provide an alternative view to looking at a computer screen all day. We ask different pilots what brought them to the blue skies.

25 Will work for food

If you enjoy math, science, and all types of food, you may enjoy solving meal and nutrition issues as a food scientist.

26 Underwater opportunity

Canadian divers are among the best in the world. With a plethora of different kinds of diving, the deep seas could be the perfect workplace for you!

28 Auditing energy

This newer field is growing in popularity! Energy auditors simultaneously help companies save money while helping the environment by focusing on energy use and increasing efficiency.

12 Success Stories Carley Hvasti, revenue manager of JW Marriott in Muskoka, describes what she loves about the industry and how to be a success in hospitality.

Sponsored by Rogers Wireless.

14 INTERVIEW SMARTS Rodney Larmand, president of College Pro Painters, explains the best way to answer the tricky question “tell me about something meaningful you’ve worked toward?”

16 Beyond a diploma mill Getting out of the classroom doesn’t have to be a sacrifice. Virtual and distance learning gives you a new array of opportunities.

22 Choosing references Getting references from employers isn’t usually that difficult, but be sure you’re keeping and choosing them correctly!

37 Bridging the gap

learn about 09 CRUNCHIN’ NUMBERS

The green sector is one of the fastestgrowing industries, (pun intended).

Check out our facts on Canada’s natural sector and hopefully you’ll be inspired to work green.

10 Start-up

Brett Sheffield revitalized agriculture by being the young, innovative business owner of NextGen Farms, fulfilling his entrepreneurial ambitions while contributing to his community.

Jobpostings.ca is Canada’s leading career lifestyle magazine for students and recent grads—but since you’re holding a copy, you probably already knew that. But did you know we’re also Canada’s biggest job board for entry-level, internship, and co-op opportunities? No? Well, now you do.

The average Canadian workplace has four generations of employees working together. Find out what companies are doing to work efficiently as a multigenerational team.

42 Taxes made easier It’s that time of year! Read on to find out why you should be doing your own taxes.

44 Edu-ma-cation Agriculture isn’t just corn. From agricultural economics to animal sciences, there are plenty of opportunities.

JPtv

Know what it takes to get into marketing?

Want to become an accountant? What skills do you need to be a broadcast journalist? Find out at JPtv, Jobpostings’ YouTube channel.

Nutritionists versus dietiTians

If you’re interested in health and wellness, this rapidly growing field is right up your alley. We ask professionals exactly what separates the two careers and how you can begin helping others to help themselves.

Green careers in accounting

Accountants are needed in every industry, so why not use your accounting superpowers for good and develop an environmentally friendly career? We talk to several accountants that have made their accounting jobs green.

Aboriginal inclusivity

Canadian employers are focusing more on inclusion and diversity. Find out how one of Canada’s leading financial institutions is developing programs for aboriginal inclusivity.

Summer job skills pay off

Needing a paycheque between semesters shouldn’t be the only reason you’re considering a summer job. There are plenty of applicable skills and experiences you can take away from temporary work.

MARCH 2013 | JOBPOSTINGS.CA

WHOSHIRING 01

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

04

Bayshore Inn

11

Sun Life Financial

15

College Pro

21

The Home Depot

33

Target

36

Chair-man Mills

36

The New England Center for Children

43

Starbucks

48

College Pro

Masthead publisher

Nathan Laurie nlaurie@jobpostings.ca

associate publisher Mark Laurie mlaurie@jobpostings.ca

COMMUNICATIONS AND PROJECT MANAGER

OBC PwC

David Tal dtal@jobpostings.ca @DavidTalWrites

schoolINDEX IFC

Humber, The Business School (Undergrad)

02

Humber, The Business School, Alternative Dispute Resolution

editor

James Michael McDonald jmcdonald@jobpostings.ca @mcjamdonald

ART DIRECTOR

05 Humber, The Business

School, Global Business Management

Anthony Capano acapano@jobpostings.ca

DEVELOPER

07 Humber, The Business

School, Event Management

Mishraz Ahmad Bhounr mbhounr@jobpostings.ca

contributor

08 Humber, The Business

School, Fashion Management 23

St. George’s University

29

St. George’s University

44

Humber, School of Media Studies and Information Technology

44

Centennial College

45

Brock University

45

Niagara College

45

Queen’s University

45

Ross University

45

American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine

45

Sheridan College

45

University of Lethbridge

47

Humber, The Business School (Undergrad)

IBC

Humber, The Business School (Postgrad)

Erika Jarvis, Samuel Dunsiger

national account manager Mary Vanderpas

WANT A PART-TIME JOB THAT DOESN’T

SUCK? Don’t limit yourself to working at the corner store.

Visit Jobpostings.ca for the latest positions from Canada’s top employers.

EDUCATION ACCOUNT MANAGER Shannon Tracey

interns

Carly Brown, James Ellis, Kim Wolfshout, Patrick Erskine, Rebecca Feigelsohn, Megan Santos, Kate Aenlle, Angelina Attisano

Published by Passion Inc. 25 Imperial Street, Suite 100 Toronto, ON M5P 1B9 jobpostings.ca 1-877-900-5627 ext. 221

BRANDEDCONTENT 20 The Home Depot Career Matchmaker

GENERALADs 13

Rogers Wireless

41 Insurance Institute of Canada 46

Canada’s Luckiest Student

JOBPOSTINGS.CA | MARCH 2013

Jobpostings Magazine 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. “Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better.” - Albert Einstein

From marketing to finance to international trade, this program offers the unique skills you need to launch your career as a brand manager, operations planner, marketing coordinator, media analyst and many other exciting career options.

GLOBAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE business.humber.ca/postgrad

EDITOR’S NOTE

06

James Michael McDonald

A GREEN FUTURE STARTS TODAY From an early age, I understood that our generation had a new responsibility. With varying temperatures, outrageous storms, an increase in pollution, and a decrease in the ozone layer, it became very clear that we all had to be more conscientious of our actions. I started recycling and learned about saving the whales. I became involved with local clean-ups and clean water campaigns.

But, as time went on, I became aware that the problem is much larger than these small initiatives.

Today, our relationship with the environment has evolved. While the source of climate change may remain hotly debated, the phenomenon’s existence isn’t. New catch phrases include “clean energy,” “sustainability,” and “green (insert word here).” These words are important because they don’t focus on the

16 Beyond a diploma mill

symptoms of the problem as much as the steps to cure it. The words are more actionable; they are result-oriented. A person may feel like global warming is beyond their ability to influence, but making decisions to support clean and sustainable energy sources, and purchasing green alternatives for everyday home items—that is something anyone can do, something we can all do together.

That shift in thinking could be why green careers are getting more attention these days; it gives our generation the ability to create positive change. That’s why we’ve decided March is now our first annual green issue!

In the pages that follow, we explore careers that many of our more urban readers may never have considered. We look at various environmental jobs such as an approved energy auditor, and explore agriculture professions

30 working in the wild

4/10 PROVINCES IN CANADA HAVE UNIVERSITIES THAT STRONGLY FOCUS ON DISTANCE EDUCATION AND ONLINE LEARNING.

BC

in food sciences, as well as talking to professional divers. More interestingly, we’re going to explore what it’s like working in remote regions of Canada, especially in the North.

What’s the lifestyle like? What personality do you need to appreciate that kind of work?

What school majors and industries are most likely to require you to work remotely? And what are the day-to-day benefits and challenges of this kind of work?

We’re also going to explore the generation gap in a variety of industries. How are workplaces bridging the gap and bringing people together to work more effectively?

I’m proud that our first green issue is my first issue as editor. I hope the articles within offer some valuable insight into this needed, growing industry.

Happy reading!

37 Building bridges, closing gaps BABY BOOMER MOTTO “EDUCATION + HARD WORK = SUCCESS”

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JOBPOSTINGS.CA | MARCH 2013

FROM GREEN JOBS AND BUSINESSES ANNUALLY.

Sources: docs.google.com, greencollarcareers.ca, firstwork.org

From trade shows to weddings to cultural festivals, this program offers the unique skills you need to launch your career as an event coordinator, account representative, corporate meeting planner or many other exciting career opportunities.

EVENT MANAGEMENT POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE

View all 10 choices at business.humber.ca/postgrad business.humber.ca/postgrad

From retail management to wholesale to logistics, this program offers the unique skills you need to launch your career as a fashion buyer, logistics coordinator, product development manager, visual merchandiser and many other exciting career options.

FASHION MANAGEMENT & PROMOTIONS POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE business.humber.ca/postgrad

crunchin’ numbers

09

CRUNCHIN’

NUMBERS GREEN COLLAR JOBS

The Canadian wild is one of the greatest expanses of undeveloped, natural landscape in the world. Because of this, we dedicate a large amount of manpower and funding to protecting our natural resources. Check out the stats below and maybe you’ll be inspired to find a job in the green sector too!

700,000

ENVIRONMENTAL EMPLOYMENT GROWTH FROM 1992 – 2010

600,000

/ gren käl r jäbz /

Those that work directly with information, technologies, or materials that minimize environmental impact, and also require specialized skills, Knowledge, training, or experience related to these areas.

500,000

680,000

400,000 300,000

17.6%

52.5%

200,000

70,000

100,000

ENVIRONMENTAL EMPLOYMENT IN CANADA (%)

12.6%

ONTARIO B.C. QUEBEC OTHER

0 1990

1995

2000

17.3%

2005

2010

MANUFACTURING AND CONSTRICTION JOBS TAKE UP AT LEAST

50%

THE GENDER DIVIDE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL WORKFORCE

OF THE JOBS FOUND IN GENERATING RENEWABLE ENERGY.

63% CANADA GENERATES

$29 BILLION

37%

FROM GREEN JOBS AND BUSINESSES ANNUALLY.

5 4 3

THE INDUSTRIES THAT EMPLOY THE HIGHEST PROPORTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EMPLOYEES ARE:

WORKFORCE IN EACH REGION MADE UP OF ENVIRONMENTAL EMPLOYEES 3.5%

4.3%

3.4%

3% 2.4%

2.3%

2 1 %

GOVERNMENT

AGRICULTURE

FORESTRY

FISHING

HUNTING

SCIENTIFIC

Sources: docs.google.com, greencollarcareers.ca, ceric.ca, firstwork.org, horttrades.com, eco.ca

ATL.

QC

ON

SK + MB

AB

BC

MARCH 2013 | JOBPOSTINGS.CA

START UP

10

nextgen farms

Winning awards by sowing fields By: James Michael McDonald

“Getting the chance to speak to professors and speak to mentors and realizing that I could make farming interesting and make it my own,” said Brett Sheffield, a business management major at the University of Manitoba, on his inspiration to go independent. “Seeing the different things you’re able to do and using that has really brought out my inner entrepreneurial spirit.”

Despite there being farms all across Canada, many young people are not aiming for agriculture. But where others wavered, Sheffield saw opportunity.

“I honestly think agriculture is booming right now,” he said. “There are businesses that are competing to try to find students that are coming out of agriculture. The jobs, the pay that you’re getting in the agriculture industry is phenomenal right now.”

For Sheffield, farming has been a way of life, including its ups and downs. “My parents were cattle farmers before mad cow disease basically ruined them, so I decided to go the grain route and the past five years have been phenomenal.”

Different than products in technology or other fields, in grain production, clients come to him.

“Customers really come to me and big companies will come and purchase it from me rather than having to go and find it myself.” He says he never has a problem selling his goods. “There’s always a market for it but the price fluctuates depending on the markets.”

Knowing the ins and outs of crops is one thing, but funding an entire farm is another. Sheffield

JOBPOSTINGS.CA | MARCH 2013

Do what you’re passionate about and stick with it.” played it smart when he was starting out. “To start, I just rented a piece of land. I went to the bank and got an operating loan. I got cash advances from the Canadian Wheat Board and the Canadian Canola Growers. That allowed me to put my first crop in. I rent the majority of my land so that allows me to keep my costs down so I can expand through rented land and I can increase my working capital without tying up all my money in purchasing land.”

Like any business owner, Sheffield had to learn and adapt as his business grew. “I learned a lot from increasing in size. Managing and seeing what was going on was easy just because it was a small size.” He reiterates how difficult operating a growing business can be and the importance of management and up-to-date technology.

“I actually missed fertilizing a field because I hadn’t increased my management and my bookkeeping.”

And Sheffield’s innate business savvy doesn’t end on the farm. “I also purchased a 24-hour fitness centre in my small community last year.

It was mostly just to have for the community but

I was also able to get 100 per cent return on investment in the first year.”

Because of his entrepreneurial drive and success, Sheffield recently won the 2012 Student Entrepreneur National Competition, an annual award given out by Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship (ACE). “I think they like to see that I not only have one successful business model, but two,” he said. “The community aspect and my determination to try and help create green practices and increase productivity throughout my farm, I think they found that was interesting.”

When asked what advice he gives to students thinking of starting their own businesses, Sheffield says “go with your passion. Do what you’re passionate about and stick with it and, in time, success will come. I really find it unique that I’m able to do the two things I’m most passionate about everyday, which is agriculture and fitness.

And not only do I get to wake up and do the two things I love most, but I’m also able to make money with it and pay my bills with it and support my family.”

SUCCESS STORIES

12

SUCCESS STORIES Carley Hvasti COMPANY: JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa ___________________________ Position: Revenue Manager ___________________________ Length of Employment: 4.5 years ___________________________ Degree: Bachelor of Commerce, Ryerson University: Hospitality & Tourism Management, minor in Communications

What attracted you to the hospitality industry?

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

It’s in my blood! My family has owned and operated restaurants and motels for over 30 years. I tried to distance myself from this and started on the career path to become a school teacher. This only lasted one year before my true passion for hospitality and entrepreneurship was reignited.

I love knowing that I have helped guide the operations team. It is really about knowing that you are helping the team effectively schedule and respond to the demand you help capture for the resort. Even those periods where you didn’t reach your goals, it is still rewarding to analyze everything from the occupancy to the weather forecast to be proactive in finding solutions for the year to come.

How did you find your current position?

While studying at Ryerson, my family sold our hospitality business. My goal was to relocate home to Muskoka. I was thrilled to hear that the FIRST JW Marriott in Canada was opening just 30 minutes away from my hometown. I was eager to join this reputable brand and my first role with my degree in hand! In 2008, I joined the Marriott family as a Guest Services Agent and was promoted to Lead followed by Guest Services Supervisor over four years. In 2012, I have truly succeeded in finding my “dream job” as Revenue Manager for the resort.

What are you responsible for in your current position?

The goal of my work is to maximize revenue for the resort. I work closely with our sales team to evaluate the profitability of future group business and help set rates, room inventory, and catering strategies with the resort leadership team. I create forecasts and reports based on historical and current data, as well as assist in managing some of the marketing initiatives for the resort.

What is the most challenging aspect of your position?

I think the biggest challenge is fitting together several moving pieces to ensure you have created the most advantageous strategy for the resort. It is a balancing act to ensure you have the right mix of guests along with the right rates, all at the right time. One of Marriott’s core values is to embrace change and in the revenue world, everything is always changing so you need to adapt.

JOBPOSTINGS.CA | MARCH 2013

What do you think it takes to be successful in this career?

It’s all in the details! Check once, check twice, and even a third time for accuracy. I think that it is also essential that you start in hospitality operations—such as a guest service agent or server—to develop a thorough understanding of the ins and outs of how your organization functions. Marriott International has always been a strong advocate for hiring from within for any available position. I am no exception! I am proud and thankful to have gained the knowledge of the property and experience within the industry prior to being promoted.

What advice do you have for students looking to land their first job?

Start small and dream big. Most often, your first job isn’t going to be in senior management and it shouldn’t be. There is so much to be gained and learned from working your way to the top. Anything that you accomplish or learn in your first job adds to your experience and your resume. Many of the skills you acquire through any job are transferrable, so even if your first job seems unrelated to your dream job, stick with it!

If you are always open to learning, bettering yourself, and if you give your very best regardless of the position, the right people will take notice. Save your reputation on being dedicated, passionate, and learn everything you can now. Your dream job is not far away!

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INTERVIEW SMARTS

14

INTERVIEW

SMARTS So you screwed up in the interview, huh?

They asked the ol’ “What’s your greatest weakness” question and you answered 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!

RODNEY LARMAND

president, COLLEGE PRO PAINTERS Tell me about something meaningful you’ve worked toward?

Seems a bit vague, right? This is very intentional; there are a lot of things going on with this question, and it is deliberately worded in this way. It’s a broad question that allows you to start learning what makes a candidate tick, and what they feel has been significant in their life to date.

toward something important). I want a candidate to paint the picture of exactly what they’ve done and why it was meaningful to them. I ask plenty of questions; I want enough detail that I can picture myself there, going through it with them.

I’m looking for how someone has behaved in the past, to predict how they will perform in the future. Yes, people learn and develop as they age and gain experiences, but people all fundamentally have a set of preferences and abilities which they will default to.

To prepare, remember that knowing your resume isn’t enough—spitting out a prepared interview answer will set off a quick BS detector.

Do some real thinking on what you’ve done, why you’ve done it, and what you’ve learned from it. As an interviewer, I want to know about the experiences you’ve had—and it’s your job to articulate them to me.

“Tell me about” is an open, non-leading question to ask—it leads to a story rather than a yes/no answer. “Meaningful” has a different spin on a traditional question of goals. Everyone places value differently and understands the word “goal” differently, so this allows a candidate to think a bit more holistically about their experiences and what has been meaningful, outside of specific marks or athletic medals, per se.

Get skilled at selling yourself in an authentic way; this will never go to waste. Be clear on some significant events you’ve lived through that showcase how you behave at your core. Everyone has successes and failures; if you’ve “never failed,” it serves reason to believe that you’ve never really challenged yourself. By all means, showcase your successes and the things you’re proud of, but don’t be afraid to talk about that major event that didn’t go as planned, and what you learned.

I’m looking to understand a candidate’s attainment (a preference to set and hit goals), tenacity (a preference to see tasks through to the end), and focus (the ability to manage mood and emotions while working

Don’t bother preparing standard interview answers. Reflect about yourself and understand how you might share your different experiences to an interviewer to paint the picture of who you are and what makes you tick.

JOBPOSTINGS.CA | MARCH 2013

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BEYOND A DIPLOMA MILL

17

Beyond a diploma mill The pros of virtual distance learning By: Rebecca Feigelsohn Contrary to popular belief, taking a class or completing a degree online isn’t about lounging on the couch watching The Price is Right in your pajamas. Sure, technically you can be nude while participating in a heated discussion about the economy and you can submit your assignments while lying in bed, but the benefits of virtual distance learning are far greater than the freedom to not leave your house all day.

Distance education allows students to study, learn, and participate on their own schedule, at the place of their choice, and without the limits that face-to-face contact with a professor or peers demands. This type of learning is especially beneficial to students living in remote and sparsely populated regions, students with disabilities or special needs, mature students, and workers undertaking professional development. The ‘distance’ in distance learning can be psychological, social, or geographical; there are many factors that limit a students’ ability to attend a brick-andmortar institution but that doesn’t mean their access to education has to be jeopardized.

BEYOND A DIPLOMA MILL

18

THE BENEFITS Online and distance courses give students flexible alternatives so they can maintain work, family, and personal commitments while earning credits towards their degree. It also allows students to save money on commuting to and from campus, moving or living expenses, as well as the potential costs of day care if they have children.

Jenna Laskin, 28, a student completing a Human Resource Management degree from Humber College, decided to learn online for some of these reasons. “I wanted to be able to work and travel while completing the degree,” she says. “I was actually living in San Diego while taking my first three courses. Humber was the most appealing to me because the program started immediately and was very flexible. As a mature student, the idea of sitting in a classroom again did not appeal to me.”

In addition to the flexibility that distance education provides, there are also environmental benefits. “By not having campus attendance requirements, distance learning reduces the carbon footprint of maintaining classroom spaces and student commutes. The growing use of e-textbooks also saves trees. This makes it a much greener alternative,” says Dr. Nancy Parker, director of Institutional Studies at Athabasca University, a Canadian open university. By having online learning resources and reducing the need to construct new learning spaces, virtual distance learning not only saves students’ time and money, but also helps save the environment.

“The other benefit that you gain by doing a degree [or taking a course] online is that you learn how to communicate the way the world is communicating today,” says George Siemens, who has taught hundreds of courses online since the late 90s and is currently an online professor at Athabasca University. By learning online, you are developing your skills and ability to communicate in an age when being technologically savvy is key to your success.

Siemens also notes how distance learning and discussions online can be particularly useful for students who are more reserved and may have difficulties participating in the classroom. “In some ways, there’s a greater equity of participation online,” he says. “Someone who might be a bit more introverted might need more time to process their thoughts before sharing their thinking. So there’s more equity in that regard: the conversation might not be dominated by a few people as it might have been in class.”

JOBPOSTINGS.CA | MARCH 2013

I would encourage all students...to do at least one course online. It stretches your brain in different ways, you learn in different ways, and I think that’s just great for education in general.”

Dr. Adam Chapnick, an associate professor at Canadian Forces College who has taught online and documented his experience on a blog called Virtually Learning, agrees. “To take a course online allows you to express yourself in online discussions in much greater depth than you often can in a face-to-face limitedtime discussion. It allows you to think through your comments in terms of class participation, edit them, proofread them, and doublecheck them before you post it. It allows you to get a broader sense of an entire dialogue before you add your comment. It leaves you with a record of other students’ comments that you can go back to, you don’t need a tape recorder. I think that a lot of the benefits come in the potential for depth in the students conversations that go on.”

THE MYTHS Because of the aforementioned couch-potato stereotype, virtual distance learning often gets a bad rap. Students interested in online learning might be deterred because they don’t want to be seen as lazy and they want to ensure that their degree will be recognized once they graduate. There is a fear that online learning is perceived as easier and lower quality than campus-based learning and distance learning institutions being equated to diploma mills that simply churn out certificate after certificate. However, “research has consistently demonstrated that the student learning outcomes from reputable providers are equivalent to more traditional delivery,” says Dr. Parker.

Siemens notes, “There was a time when there was a lot of suspicion about the validity of online degrees and just online learning in general. I think definitely over the last five years the perspective has changed quite a bit. Part of the reason is that we now spend most of our day — in our work and personal lives — involved in some sort of technology-mediated communication...I think that part of the reason that some of the negativity around online learning’s validity has changed is due to the fact that we’re living our lives in online networks.”

Dr. Chapnick also notes that commonly held

beliefs about virtual distance learning being easier are untrue. “If you really want to learn from the experience, don’t go in thinking it will be easier than in class, or a lighter workload. Learning requires effort, whether that’s online or in class, it’s the effort that really counts. There are some specific benefits, especially if you are in a remote area, to taking online classes, but none of them have anything to do with an easier or a less rigorous experience if you really want to get something out of the course,” he says.

THE FACTS & FIGURES These commonly held myths are being put to rest as the Internet is becoming more imbedded in our daily lives and distance learning is becoming an increasingly popular option to traditional face-to-face learning. According to Contact North, Ontario’s distance education and training network, no reliable, systemic data exists for the number of students studying online in Canada. However, they estimate using proxy data, that there are “between 875,000 and 950,000 registered online students in Canada (approximately 92,105 to 100,000 full-time students) at college and universities studying a purely online course at any one time.” Dr. Tony Bates, an e-learning and distance education research associate consultant for Contact North and former online professor for over 20 years, notes that “approximately 20 per cent of all course enrolments are online in post-secondary institutions in Canada.”

To add more figures about this growing trend, Athabasca University, Canada’s largest distance education university, awarded a total of 1,788 credentials (full degrees) online in 2012, made up of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, as well as graduate and undergraduate diplomas and certificates. A large number of students also enrol in particular courses at Athabasca to use towards their degree at another institution and a total of 38,000 students register annually. In addition, Canadian Virtual University (CVU), an association of public Canadian universities specializing in online and distance education, had over 100,000 students register last year.

These findings are indicative of the growing popularity of virtual distance learning.

THE STUDENTS According Dr. Parker, 5,000 of the students enrolled at Athabasca were from rural areas, meaning an area with a population of 400 people of less. Dr. Bates notes that the data collected by Contact North indicates that there are 3,000 students in Ontario alone who are from rural areas and are enrolled in online courses. However, since education is not a federal responsibility, no nationwide statistics exist. What can be surmised is that distance learning is quickly growing, especially in smaller communities where the diversity and number of course offerings are minimal.

“The online space has additional benefits, such as the access opportunity: you can take courses that might not be offered at your local university,” says Siemens. “If you are located in a remote or small Southern Ontario community, for example, and your local college or university doesn’t offer a particular course, if you can go online you can take a course from any university around the world.”

The benefits of online learning aren’t inclusive only for those living in rural areas; all students benefit from increased flexibility and access. Jaclyn Tanz, 22, is in her final semester of a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Dalhousie University. In order to have a decreased course load as well as gain credits while she completed several co-op terms, Tanz took online courses from four institutions, including her home university. “I took courses online from Dalhousie, Athabasca, Thompson Rivers, and at the University of New Brunswick. I lightened my course load during the year by taking classes in the summer and gained credits towards my degree while I was completing my placements and earning money,” she says.

As a student who has taken both distance classes as well as face-to-face, Tanz can speak to the different challenges of each learning method. “When you are taking a course online, self-motivation is really important, because once you fall behind it is very challenging to catch up. When you go to class, you have a scheduled time each week that you devote to studying the material, so it is more structured.”

Online professors also emphasize the importance of self-motivation. “I think that self motivation is absolutely critical. Even the most attentive instructors can only do so

much,” Dr. Chapnick says. “A willingness to ask for help when you need it is also absolutely critical.”

Siemens notes the distinction between selfguided courses, which “have little or no interaction with the instructor, and [the student] needs to be a highly-motivated and self-regulated learner,” versus “cohort-based models” which are meant to resemble a traditional classroom as they have assignment dates and set times to participate.

THE ADVICE Tanz, a seasoned online learner, recommends doing as much research as possible before committing to a distance degree or course.

“In my experience, each online class has been unique and each professor has different expectations and uses different tools and resources. Find out whether you will be required to work with your peers and how many hours a week the professor will be available to answer questions. The more you know about the class before you start the better.”

Dr. Bates recommends that students treat their distance classes as they would a classroom course. “Be sure to set aside as much time for the online course as you would for the face-toface course. Make sure you’re well organized and you’re not the kind of student who needs to be chased all the time because it won’t work very well.” Dr. Bates also suggests that when deciding to learn, online students should consider how online education would fit into their existing routine. “I would encourage students if they feel it would fit their lifestyle because it’s more of a lifestyle choice than an academic one. You could learn just as well online as you can in the class. Check the courses out and make sure they’re properly designed,” he says.

Dr. Parker notes that “the most successful distance students will be academically well prepared for the level of study they are undertaking, have clear goals, and support from their family and employers.”

Whether you need to pick up an extra course, pursue an undergraduate degree or complete a graduate program, it is worth considering virtual distance education and seeing how it can fit into your academic lifestyle.

“I would encourage all students—at some point in an academic career if they are going to do at least a four year degree—to do at least one course online. It stretches your brain in different ways, you learn in different ways, and I think that’s just great for education in general,” says Dr. Chapnick.

4/10 PROVINCES IN CANADA HAVE UNIVERSITIES THAT STRONGLY FOCUS ON DISTANCE EDUCATION AND ONLINE LEARNING.

BC

NL

AB QC 45 40 35 30

25 20 15 10

5

0

BC AB SK MB QC ON NS NB

NL PEI

TOTAL SCHOOLS PER PROVINCE SCHOOLS OFFERING ONLINE LEARNING

Source: www.contactnorth.ca

CAREER MATCHMAKER

20

Your personality type: life of the Party You love meeting new people. You’re the one sending out mass texts to your friends on Friday night, pulling everyone together for an evening on the town. Whenever a visitor comes through, you’re happy to recommend the best restaurants, bars, and neighbourhoods—and you’re always looking out for new things to do or see in your city.

These are the reasons why you’re well-loved and why your friends call you for help when they’re stuck on an awkward date. Congrats! You’re the Life of the Party.

The Home Depot Canada edition Depending on your personality, some jobs just look better than others. If you’re a die-hard creative type, you don’t want to spend your life filling out forms.

And if you’re a high-level, abstract-thinking type, you probably wouldn’t want to chop wood for nine hours a day. That’s why we paired up a bunch of personality profiles to jobs available at The Home Depot Canada. Hope you find your fit!

Your personality type: The Charmer Aaawww, look at you! You’re such a gosh-darned sweetypants! Give yourself a hug. You deserve it, because everyone loves you and you love them back. You’re always eager to please, and can stay cheerful even when your bus is late and Tim Hortons is all out of crullers. Some people get energy from coffee; you get your energy from being around other people.

The job for you: Cashier Cashiers are the last people that a customer meets before leaving the store, and they can make all the difference in whether that customer comes back. Cashiers need to resolve problems, build relationships, and satisfy customers all while staying calm, collected, and cheerful. Some people would find that challenging, but for the Charmer, it’s just another day of being you.

Your personality type: The Rock You’re organized and stable. You were probably the only student in your class with colour-coded notes and an agenda filled with dates and assignments instead of doodles of dragons fighting on unicycles. At work, you don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when you’re done. When people ask you what you’re doing next weekend, you already have an hour-by-hour timesheet printed out for them.

The job for you: Merchandising Execution Associate Merchandising Execution Associates are constantly creating shopping environments with strong visual appeal. But how, you ask? By executing merchandising strategies. By sculpting and following directives. And by using their keen eye for visual dynamics. And if you’re successful, you’ll be hitting deliverable benchmarks, which are ever-important to the Rock: You’ll be helping products fly off shelves.

JOBPOSTINGS.CA | MARCH 2013

The job for you: Sales Associate You might not know it yet, Life of the Party, but you’re friendly and customer-service oriented, the key traits of successful sales associates. For The Home Depot Canada, that means being the first line of defense, the person who introduces customers to the store’s many departments, products, and services. And you’ll get to learn more about Home Depot’s ever-evolving array of services, all while meeting boatloads of awesome people.

Your personality type: The Brain You’re someone who can handle information. Whether it’s dialing all your friends’ phone numbers from memory, or recalling the names of all 151 original Pokemon, you have every scrap of data at your command. In short: you’re a pretty smart person and when you have a spare moment, we’d like you to come over and help us program our microwave. Now, your gargantuan brain is impressive enough, but the icing on the cake is that you can use that knowledge to help people make complicated decisions.

The job for you: Kitchen Designer Kitchen designers navigate and simplify the sometimesdaunting worlds of products, labour, and customer satisfaction. Using their in-depth knowledge of products, prices, and sales, they help customers find out what they need and recommend best practises. If you love being relied upon for your expertise, this is the job for you.

Your personality type: The General Ten-hup! Sir, yessir. You’re the leader of this outfit, sir, and your outfit wouldn’t have it any other way. You know how to manage a group, fulfil objectives, and climb the ranks. You’re dedicated, and you’re always ready for action. When things go FUBAR, you’re never MIA. Whiskey tango foxtrot. Over and out.

The job for you: Department Supervisor Department Supervisors provide coaching and training for The Home Depot Canada associates. When they’re not pushing their team to the next level, they make sure everything is running smoothly in their kingdom. Supervisors don’t just lead from afar; they adapt to any position, filling in for any role, any time, and they’re ready to work any time.

Day, night, or weekend, it doesn’t matter to the supervisor.

SPONSORED BY THE HOME DEPOT

Successful projects start with

serious know-how.

And a warm smile.

Because working here is about more than helping customers choose the

right product. It’s about making a difference in our customers’ lives and their homes. We call it “unleashing your inner orange” and

it’s my ability to tap into my inner potential to

help them create a space worth calling home.

The first thing I do when I greet a customer

is smile. It lets them know I’m there to help, and that I’m confident in my ability to make

a difference in their projects—no matter how large or small, I know that my customers

value my product knowledge and that drives me to go above and beyond to help them

complete their projects. Through extensive training, tuition reimbursement and more, The Home Depot gives me the support I need to build a promising future.

– Jordan, Home Depot Associate

A variety of part-time and seasonal opportunities are available for college and university students.

We are committed to diversity as an equal opportunity employer.

Apply online at homedepotjobs.ca/5762 or text HOMEDEPOT to 998899 for information on upcoming career fairs and opportunities in your area.

CHOOSING REFERENCES

22

Choosing the right references What makes or breaks a good recommendation

When you get to the stage of the hiring process when the interviewer is asking for references, you need to make sure you have the best, most appropriate recommendations possible. You may be able to ace an interview but if your references don’t check out, you won’t get the job.

“The best references are past supervisors,” says Bruce Hurwitz, president of Hurwitz Strategic Staffing, Limited. Employers want to hear from the people who gave you direction to find out exactly how you work. Colleagues are good but past bosses are great, so be sure those in higher places keep you in their good books. “Simply call the person, tell them about the job you have interviewed for, and ask if they will provide you with a reference. Nine times out of ten, they will be happy to do so.”

“Prepare your references at the start, not at the finish line,” says Roy Cohen, author of The

JOBPOSTINGS.CA | MARCH 2013

Wall Street Professional’s Survival Guide. “You can assemble a diverse group of recommendations and know in advance how they will represent you.” Keeping references in mind at your current job will help you in the long run. Just be sure pleasing your employer doesn’t distract you from your work, or you may be left with a boss that doesn’t really want to give you a reference.

“Anticipate a bad reference and defuse,” says Cohen. “For example, Betsy was the only boss I’ve had with whom, for some reason, we didn’t see eye-to-eye. Or Betsy and I only worked together for a few months and we never really had the opportunity to get to know each other.” In these instances, use former employers, or supervisors above or below Betsy. Even if she is your most recent employer, if she’s a bad reference, try to provide others that will be as useful.

Be sure to choose people that can speak of your accomplishments as well as your character. Employers like to see both what you can do and how you can do it.

“Select references that not only like you but will speak about you with insight, enthusiasm, and knowledge,” says Cohen. “A reference who is indiscriminate or who rambles, no matter how positive, will not represent you in the very best light possible and may even reflect poorly on

you.” Choosing references shows your judgment, so be sure to choose individuals that know you well and can represent you in a positive light.

It’s also important to keep in touch with your references over time. “A former colleague listed me as a reference,” says Hurwitz. “When I got the call, I had no idea who the caller was phoning about. I had worked with the woman over ten years ago. She married and I didn’t know her by her married name. Needless to say, the conversation didn’t go well.”

With the growth of LinkedIn, many people are using social connections as references. The trick to using the site correctly is by treating these people the same way you treat your other references: keep in touch and be sure they will represent you well. Also, judge the employer to predict whether or not a LinkedIn reference will be seen as creative or silly.

Hurwitz says he receives requests for endorsements on LinkedIn all the time. “It’s always the same thing: if you recommend/endorse me, I’ll do the same for you. I do not know any of these people. It’s a game.”

No matter the method, just be sure you trust the people you list as references. It can be the difference between landing a job or continuing the job hunt. | By: James Michael McDonald

IMAGES: ©ISTOCK.COM

WHERE WE STAND STuDyiNg DivERSE pATiENT populATioNS HElpS STuDENTS pRoDucE Top uSMlE STEp 1 fiRST-TiME pASS RATES TESTiNg WEll AND KNoWiNg THE WoRlD EvEN BETTER Will MAKE you STAND ouT

©2013 St. George’s University

US/Canada: 1 (800) 899-6337 ext. 9 1280 sgu.edu/future-students • sguenrolment@ sgu.edu

Grenada, West Indies

LET YOUR CAREER TAKE FLLIGHT

24

Let your career take

flight

A job in aviation can take you places, including the most remote areas of Canada

The aviation industry has its ups and downs. The hours are irregular, the training is expensive, and you have to put in your time to make good money.

However, the pros outweigh the cons if you’re the adventurous and hardworking type.

The industry is booming—ironically, since the boomers are retiring—and there is high demand for young, professionally trained pilots. If you’re looking for a challenging and rewarding career, and the idea of seeing remote areas of the country (and world) excites you, buckle up. Aviation might be the perfect career for you.

Duncan Cowell got his college diploma and commercial flying licence at 24. Since then, he’s gone from flying charter flights in Northern Ontario to flying a 70-passenger Bombardier Q400. Currently 29, Cowell had to invest some time into moving up the ladder. But for someone who had dreamed about doing this since he was a kid, it was well worth it.

Cowell earned his chops flying in remote areas of the country, which posed different challenges than commercial flights. The ground support and navigation equipment was often fairly limited, the gravel runways were difficult to navigate, and the cold weather made it difficult to perform maintenance on the plane. It was during those flights that Cowell saw some pretty unique sights. “I remember one day we flew over an abandoned radar base that was formerly part of the mid-Canada radar line. It was really neat to see a bunch of structures and equipment that had been abandoned for decades,” says Cowell.

And there are many more perks. “When we have layovers, our company puts us up in nice hotels,” says Cowell, “and it’s great to get out and explore the cities we fly to.” It’s also common for airlines to give substantial discounts to their employees, especially on standby flights.

Attending a school program is one way to get your foot in the door to the industry. Andrew Francis, 22, a recent graduate of the school of aviation at Seneca College in Toronto, landed a job as a flight instructor after earning his bachelor of aviation technology. The four-year degree had Francis taking courses like theory of flight, meteorology, aircraft design, and human

JOBPOSTINGS.CA | MARCH 2013

factors. He now has his commercial pilot licence and plenty of highly specialized training, but only after a lot of study.

Price is one of the biggest barriers students face trying to get into aviation.

According to Francis, the cost of renting an aircraft alone can discourage many people from getting into the industry. It’s likely to pay off in the long run, though. “Many staffing forecasts are predicting that a high rate of retirement will start to occur in the coming years, which in turn will create many job opportunities,” says Francis. “Most large airlines are anticipating a coming shortage and are establishing cadet training programs to help encourage people to start pursuing a career in aviation.”

There are training programs across the country. Aside from essential training, the program at Seneca also features a mandatory co-op program that lets you choose to gain experience in any area of the industry. Even abroad!

The program at Seneca also features the best simulation training you can find. According to Lynne McMullen, chair of the school of aviation and flight technology at Seneca, the program is the “only one in Canada that is accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International, which is quite a rigorous program with stringent requirements to make sure it has high academic strengths and professionalism of delivery on the flight line.”

So you can rest assured that you’re getting top-quality training.

The cost is still getting in the way? Fortunately, Seneca’s program is OSAP eligible. Beyond that, there are always bursaries available for students across the country. But it’s important that you know what you’re getting into. If you’re thinking about getting into aviation, “have a discussion with an actual pilot,” suggests Francis. “The industry is not like the movies. It is important to have a realistic understanding of how the aviation industry operates.”

Like any remote work, it’s definitely a challenge. “Although it’s a great way to earn a paycheque—likely a small one for the first while—some days are extremely challenging, and the schedule may not be ideal for everyone. It is certainly not a 9–5 job with weekends and holidays off,” says Cowell.

But for him, it’s worth it. “At the end of the day, I can’t imagine doing anything else as unique as flying for a living.” | By: Patrick Erskine

WILL WORK FOR FOOD

25

Will Work For F00d Food science is looking for well-rounded food lovers with a knack for math and science When it comes to the betterment of the human race, food scientists make it look like Tesla invented the paper clip. Once upon a time, we dedicated our time to searching for food; today, we’re drowning in the stuff.

We’re even eating pizza in space! (Thanks to anti-gravity pizza dough, astronauts can now enjoy a slice where crumbs don’t float off into the craft.) With food being one of the only industries not to suffer massive layoffs during the global economic downturn, demand for food scientists will remain strong as we search for healthier, more efficient, and ecologically sound ways to feed a growing planet.

Professor Gary Sandberg, the source of that tasty pizza anecdote, spent 17 years in the research and development department of Lipton before becoming the head of the Food Technology Diploma Program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. He spent his days devising foods like chicken soup, making sure they were the right colour, flavour, and consistency for consumers. Sandberg says trends in restaurant culture drive what people look for on the shelves. But research and development is just one aspect of food science— food safety and preservation are equally as important, which ensures we have enough food that’s safe to eat. As Napoleon famously said: “An army marches on its stomach.”

At the diploma level, (Sandberg’s course),

10,000 B.C. IT BEGINS

3,600 B.C. 2,000 B.C.

POPCORN MARSHMALLOWS

you’re going to be getting a taste of everything, and you can enter the field with a diploma or bachelor’s degree. But if you want to get to the top, you need to have a master’s or even a PhD. Depending on the company you work for, you may end up specializing in one of the three areas, or you could do it all.

“For people who are interested in the business side, you have people doing food science degrees and moving into marketing, sales, technical sales, for example,” says Sandberg.

That’s the case for Lynn Pinto, technical manager of foods at Unilever Canada. She’s not just challenged to bring foods to market with “the right sensory profile,” she’s also got big environmental and social issues to manage, with which food production is heavily intertwined.

“Our plan commits us to three significant outcomes by 2020,” she says, “to help more than one billion people take action to improve their health and well-being; to halve the environmental footprint of the making and use of our products; and to source 100 per cent of our agricultural raw materials sustainably.”

Pinto’s love of food came when she was young, as a new Canadian exposed to brandnew foods. “This fostered a love of shopping, cooking, and eating different foods. That, in combination with some skill in math and sciences, had me investigating career choices ... that blended well with my passion for food.”

1,500 B.C. CHOCOLATE

400

PRETZELS

Getting to work with other foodies who love discussing the latest chefs, recipes, and restaurants is also a bonus. Pinto admits, “we eat a lot because we are frequently conducting sensory testing on new product prototypes, production samples, and competitor products.”

Food scientists in the making should know that employment prospects for the role are just as delicious: food manufacturing employed 219,000 people in 2007, according to Statistics Canada. “People always have to eat, so you’re always going to have a job,” says Sandberg. Pinto adds, “As the food supply becomes more global, it’s important to have food science professionals in Canada who understand Canadian consumers, customers, and regulations.”

Reena Mistry, who just graduated with a master’s in food science, had already found a job at a cheese company an entire year-anda-half before graduation. Her advice to those interested in a food science career is to network. “Go out there, meet people, and find out what kinds of opportunities there are, because this industry is very big and diverse in terms of what you can do,” she says.

Pinto advises to think holistically. “To be successful in food science, you need to blend consumer understanding, science, manufacturing, and creativity. It all has to come together.” | By: Erika Jarvis

1400

DOUGHNUTS

1740

CUPCAKES

1901

PB AND JELLY

We’ve been evolving our food for thousands of years. Here’s the first appearance of some of your favourite foods throughout history, (and some of them are older than you’d think).

10,000 B.C. IT BEGINS

3,600 B.C. 2,000 B.C.

1,500 B.C.

POPCORN MARSHMALLOWS CHOCOLATE

Source: www.foodtimeline.org

400

PRETZELS

1400

DOUGHNUTS

1740

CUPCAKES

1901

PB & J

MARCH 2013 | JOBPOSTINGS.CA

A career as a commercial diver In the world of commercial diving, there is no such thing as a standard job description. There are three types of divers: commercial scuba divers, unrestricted surface supply divers, and saturation or closed bell divers—each with different levels of schooling, salaries, and tasks to perform.

As a commercial scuba diver, you could be doing anything from inspecting piers in a harbour, assisting on an underwater film set, salmon fishing, or underwater mortality diving—yep, that’s searching for dead bodies. Cory Beaudry,

JOBPOSTINGS.CA | MARCH 2013

owner of Camcor Dive Services in Vancouver and director of BC College of Diving, has been scuba diving for over 20 years and is an expert in the occupational scuba world, having been recently elected a director for the Diver Certification Board of Canada (DCBC). Beaudry’s company employs 15 full-time divers and certifies between 8 and 18 scuba divers per year. He notes that entry-level scuba divers earn between $175–$350 per day, depending on the type of work they are doing and the skills required for the job.

Unrestricted surface supply divers, who are supplied air and communications from an umbilical cord at the surface of the water, rather than carrying tanks, are a level above scuba divers. These divers can go as deep as 165 feet and are the most common type of commercial divers; DCBC certifies more surface supply divers than any other.

They are certified to work on projects inshore and offshore, and “work on hydroelectric damns, submarine pipelines, bridges, submarine cable, water treatment plants, water intakes, and basically anything that’s under the water that needs to

IMAGES: ©ISTOCK.COM

UNDERWATER OPPORTUNITY

27

The top tier is composed of saturation or closed-bell divers who typically support the exploration and production of offshore oil and gas. According to Parkes, divers can be working at 500 feet, six to eight hours a day, for 21 to 28 days at a time, living in hypobaric chambers in the off-hours. Divers can’t be certified in North America; courses are only offered in Scotland, France, and Tasmania. Although this level of diving is the most intense, it has its rewards. “A 30-day saturation dive offshore in the North Sea would make you around $48,000,” says Parkes.

In short, becoming a commercial diver is not a walk in the park swim in the sea. Living and working in close quarters with other divers, training and working at deep depth, maintaining a physically and mentally fit well-being, and travelling away from home for extended periods of time is not the life for everyone.

But with every challenge, comes an advantage (or two). The pressure to maintain a fit body leads to a healthy lifestyle and being away from home is also an opportunity to travel and explore places in the world you wouldn’t otherwise visit: Hiebert has worked in Thailand, Norway, Denmark, Alaska, Scotland, and Singapore, to name a few. Also, if you have a passion for recreational diving, you get to be doing what you love everyday—exploring the deep blue sea.

The opportunities for Canadian commercial divers are boundless. “Canadian diving schools turn out probably the best divers in the world,” notes Hiebert. “Canadian-trained divers are sought after, and Canadians, being apolitical, are welcomed in more places around the world.”

In addition to finding work outside of Canada, there are opportunities around the Great White North as well. “St. John’s, Newfoundland is gong to be the future for a lot of young people in the diving sectors,” notes Johnston. “There’s immense opportunity there.”

be looked at or worked on,” says Garth Hiebert, president of Dominion Divers in Winnipeg who has been diving all over the world since 1979.

As a surface supply diver, graduates have the opportunity to work across Canada, as well as the international marketplace in the civil market or oil and gas sector. “Whether it is in the oil fields of Mumbai, India; in Singapore; in Hibernia off of our Nova Scotia and Newfoundland coast; or in the historical city of Aberdeen diving offshore in the North Sea, Canadian qualifications are accepted,” says Vern Johnston, the director of operations at Diving Dynamics in Kelowna, BC, who has been diving for over 30 years. “Divers are very much instrumental in the community,” he says. “The work that we

do, most people don’t get to see, but the work is absolutely out there.”

Unrestricted surface supply divers earn anything between $35-$50 an hour, says Johnston. David Parkes, chief executive officer of DCBC, notes that these divers make about $80,000 a year if they have steady work. The pay is great, but Johnston warns against “dollar divers,” a term he uses to describe those only interested in the cash.

“The most important thing for a diver is that they have passion to be there,” he says. Courses cost around $20,000 and can be as long as eight months. Also, in order to become a certified surface supply diver, you need one year of work experience and 50 hours under water, notes Parkes.

“In Canada, there are less than 60 newly certified unrestricted surface supply divers every year, and we, as Canadians, cannot supply enough divers to our own marketplace,” adds Johnston. Beaudry boasts a 100 per cent hiring rate from his school, and says “there is going to be almost a shortfall of divers with the amount of work that is going to be done offshore in Newfoundland. They’re going to need 1,000 divers—there’s that much work.”

Although there is opportunity for divers to be hired, “one of the biggest challenges is actually getting your first job and making a name for yourself,” adds Hiebert. “A guy can come out of school with a card that says he’s a diver, but there’s a lot to be learned.”

If you have a high school diploma, a recreational scuba diving qualification, and are physically fit, exploring the different opportunities commercial diving has to offer could be the right move for you. | By: Rebecca Feigelsohn

MARCH 2013 | JOBPOSTINGS.CA

The perks of auditing energy

28

The perks of auditing energy Energy auditors reduce costs for companies while helping the environment Want to help businesses cut costs while simultaneously serving the environment? Earning your Certified Energy Auditor (CEA) designation can help you do just that. This occupation is growing in popularity; as environmental pressures are increasing, more people are becoming energy auditors.

“It’s one of the key tools in improving the performance of facilities, reducing energy costs, and increasing energy efficiency,” says Doug Tripp, president of the Canadian Institute for Energy Training (CIET) in Rockwood, Ontario.

“The pressures on energy use are not going to go away. Rather, it’s an issue that will become more important because of climate change and increasing energy costs.”

Jon Feldman earned his CEA designation and now works as a chemical engineer with the Ontario Power Authority. “It’s a growing industry,” he says. “Facilities need to get a good grip on energy use. You can’t improve what you don’t know is happening.”

And it’s a broad industry, spanning across the residential sector, commercial sector, and industrial buildings. “The demand is pretty uniform across all sectors,” Tripp says, citing Ontario’s Green Energy Act as a reminder of the need for energy efficiency.

This necessity for CEAs isn’t limited to Ontario. “Building owners and facilities recognize that they’re paying for energy,” says Kate Butler, manager, commercial sector for Efficiency New Brunswick. “They’re looking for ways to reduce those costs. Large industrial companies often hire energy managers to manage energy for their facilities.

There may not be [one] on-site, but third parties. We’re seeing facilities starting to look at energy management plans. It’s not just switching light bulbs.”

“In the past, there would just be an accountant paying the energy bill,” she adds.

JOBPOSTINGS.CA | MARCH 2013

“They wouldn’t be asking why they’re paying so much. Now, there’s this real-time monitoring. You can see the spike in your energy.”

Students have a number of options to break into the industry, including just about any engineering program. “Professionals doing energy audits are mostly in engineering,” Tripp notes. “The kinds of systems they work with are (usually) mechanical or electrical.”

But there are programs, he says, focusing on energy management, which include Durham College’s Energy Management and Sustainable Building Technology program, Humber College’s Sustainability Energy and Building Technology (SEBT) diploma program and Nova Scotia Community College’s Energy Sustainability and Engineering Technology (ESET) program, to name a few.

Cora MacDonald graduated from the ESET program last year and now works as a program coordinator with Efficiency Nova Scotia. “In the ESET program, I learned the principles of energy management, teaching us how to do energy audits, energy systems and assessments, including going out in the field and teaching you how to access a property, and measurement controls,” she says. “I like the fact that I work with small businesses to help decrease their operating costs and increase their bottom line. I’m helping people be aware of their energy costs.”

While a CEA designation may not be necessary, it certainly helps. “The training itself is really useful in the process of how you do energy auditing,” Feldman says.

Feldman notes that one of the benefits of being an energy auditor is the excitement. “You’re doing something different every day,” he says.

“You’re solving real problems.”

Aside from the many benefits, there are also more difficult aspects to the job.

“One of the challenges is really listening to your clients,” Butler says.

“A good energy auditor will talk to the building owner about their expectations. The goal of the energy audit is for the building owner to be aware of how and why their energy is being used. That’s the challenge: getting them to understand their energy. But it’s a good challenge.”

Butler says that in order to face the challenge, energy auditors must be hands-on and have technical skills.

“You’re doing site visits, you’re visiting manufacturing lanes.” She also notes the importance of interpersonal skills to able to communicate with clients and customers to serve their needs.

“There’s great satisfaction (with being a CEA),” she adds. “You’re helping save dollars and helping the environment.

By: Samuel Dunsiger

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WHERE WE STAND HANDS-ON TRAINING AT OUR VET SCHOOL STARTS IN THE FIRST YEAR BRINGING EXTRA EXPERIENCE TO YOUR FIRST DAY ON THE JOB WILL mAkE YOU STAND OUT

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Grenada, West Indies

Satisfy your sense of adventure by working in the most remote areas of the country By: Patrick Erskine Desk jockeys need not apply.

If you like the comfort, safety, and consistency of a 9-to-5 city job, you probably won’t love this line of work. But if you’re an adrenaline junky, prefer mountains to movie theatres, and thrive on challenging yourself physically: read on.

Canada is the second-largest nation in the world, yet has a smaller population than the state of California. Needless to say, there’s no shortage of wildlife and remote areas, which means lots of remote work. Industries are booming in the lonely corners of our country and they pay well. As long as you’re the type for adventure and hard work, there are plenty of jobs to go around.

JOBPOSTINGS.CA | MARCH 2013

IMAGES: © ISTOCK.COM

WORKING IN THE WILD

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“There are places you’ll go that maybe 20 people have ever touched.

You’re just sitting on top of a mountain waiting for a helicopter to pick you up, taking in the view, and getting paid well to do it.”

Trees, mountains, and bears! oh my!

Scott Trew is a self-professed adventurer.

He currently works as a project manager for Geophysics Limited, a company that does airborne geophysics surveys. The road he took to get there was wild. Literally. Graduating from his police foundations course at 20, Trew found that he was too young to be hired.

The average age they hire is 27, so he figured he had a few years to kill. When someone suggested that he head out west to BC to try tree planting, he jumped at the opportunity. It was a bit of a rough start, though.

“You expect to make a goldmine in the first year you do it. That did not work out,” Trew recalls, as the wages didn’t end up meeting his expectations. But after hearing the wild stories about Trew’s experiences, his friends convinced him to give it another shot, and they decided to go. The following summer, they were hired by a company and planted trees for half the season. After a few months, the

JOBPOSTINGS.CA | MARCH 2013

company had run out of trees to plant and told Trew’s crew to come back in a week because there would be a well-paying job waiting for them. They took a mini-vacation to BC and came back to find their boss gone.

Also, no jobs. They were stranded away from home with little money and no work. So they started brainstorming.

“One of our guys went online and heard about this thing called seismic,” Trew says. “So we find this company and give them a call and they said ‘come on down and we’ll see if you get a job.’ ...So we jumped on a Greyhound bus and headed to Calgary for another job we knew nothing about.”

This was when Trew discovered what he had been born to do. Upon arrival, they found out that their job was, in simple terms, “to walk all day in a straight line through the woods and mountains, unpacking equipment and setting it up. You’d walk 30 kilometres a day,

13 hours a day, every day. You would work 35 days straight, and then take four days of paid vacation,” says Trew. “But that’s when the craziest things happened.”

In the time he spent working in the wild, Trew witnessed things most people never see, including the birth of a moose. (Yeah, you read that right.)

“Those are the types of things that just change your view on life... It was a once-in-alifetime precious thing that I’ll never forget,” Trew says. In addition to witnessing the live birthing of a moose, Trew has confronted a bear, scaled the sides of mountains, and traversed summits virtually untouched by anyone. “There are places you’ll go that maybe 20 people have ever touched. You’re just sitting on top of a mountain waiting for a helicopter to pick you up, taking in the view, and getting paid well to do it,” Trew says.

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WORKING IN THE WILD

34

Trew may have had good fortune finding the right jobs at the right time but you don’t necessarily have to risk travelling across the country, hoping to get hired wherever you end up.

If you’re an engineer or are looking to get involved in trades, Cementation might be interested in what you have to offer. As one of Canada’s top 100 employers, you can be sure that they take great care of you when you’re sent on a remote project.

Roy Slack, president of Cementation, says the bunkhouses in which their workers stay look more like hotels and have all the amenities you might be used to enjoying in your own home. “They usually have exercise facilities, internet connection, TV, and quite a range of food to choose from,” says Slack. Of course, this is all paid for as part of the job. It

doesn’t come easy though, so be prepared to work 11- or 12-hour shifts every day.

For all the hard work you’ll be doing and pleasant accommodations you’ll be enjoying, the experience is the most valuable benefit. “The amount of experience you gain in that time is a lot more than you would on a normal placement, and it benefited me in my career,” says Slack. “In my first few years, I got a lot of field experience and I saw a lot of different things, which was very beneficial in helping me move up the ladder.”

They don’t just send anyone to remote areas of the country to do work, though. You’ll need a bit of experience. If you’re skilled in the trades, your chances of making it on a remote project are better. There are always opportunities for mechanics, welders, and elec-

tricians. But that’s the catch-22, isn’t it? You need experience to go, but the best experience you can gain comes from going. Fortunately, Cementation has an engineer-in-training program, where they rotate engineers fresh out of school through different placements.

At the end of the day, your experience can only get you so far. It would be foolish to argue that experience is not important, but a good attitude can take you a long way. According to Slack, getting the attention of some of these companies is “as simple as letting them know you think hands-on experience is important and you would like to get out on a project as soon as possible in your career.” They’re always looking for people who have that inner motivation and love for the job. “It’s a lifestyle choice. We respect experience, but we get excited about potential.”

Plenty of fish in the sea means plenty of jobs Maybe mining isn’t the type of career you’re dying to dig your nails into. You don’t have to be the type to fight bears, scale mountains, or help construct mines in order to make money and explore the country. If you’re a people person and don’t have any aversion to fish, you might find yourself suited to working at a remote fishing lodge.

A remote fishing lodge is essentially a four- or five-star accommodation in the middle of nowhere. Many of them are located in Haida Gwaii, (formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands in BC), and need friendly, hardworking staff to run the place.

Matthew Clive, vice-president of sales and marketing at Great River Fishing, worked at a fishing lodge for nine seasons growing up. He worked his way up from being a dishwasher

JOBPOSTINGS.CA | MARCH 2013

to breakfast chef, then sous chef, until he finally became the head chef of the lodge. He attended school in-between seasons, which he never had a problem paying for because of the money he made at the lodge.

“It was common for me to come back with 12 grand (including tips) after one summer of dishwashing. When I was head chef, I came back with about 20 to 25 thousand,” says Clive.

Of course there are the usual difficulties of working in remote areas for any extended period of time. Long-distance relationships are hard to maintain, and it’s not always easy to get away from the drama that inevitably surfaces. But if you’re able to keep your head on straight, you can end up having a pretty memorable experience.

“The guests who come there are paying ap-

proximately $1,000 per person to experience the Queen Charlotte Islands, hoping to see a black bear or whale. You’re immersed. People plan this as a once in a lifetime opportunity,” says Clive. And there are tonnes of jobs depending on what you’re looking for. Essentially, any job you can do in a hotel you can do at a remote fishing lodge, in addition to all the work found at the dock.

The networking opportunities are another great perk of the job, as the guests are quite diverse. One hundred guests fly in and out every week. “If you’re coming out of school and are not quite sure what you want to do, you can get a lot of ideas from talking to people,” says Clive. Who knows? You might just make some connections that can launch you on a career path you never imagined.

IMAGES: © ISTOCK.COM

Search and rescue Some people love the idea of a challenge, which is exactly what most remote work offers. If you want to pursue a career that is as challenging as it is rewarding, you might want to look into becoming a search and rescue technician (or SAR tech, for short). It’s a long and difficult road to becoming an official SAR tech with the Canadian Forces but, for some, it’s completely worth the journey.

If you’ve already served in the military, you’ll have a head start on the rest of the competition. Being a SAR tech requires that you serve a minimum of 3 years in the military, and become a corporal before you can even apply. Even then, you’re not guaranteed entry. Sergeant Dwayne Guay became a SAR tech back in 2002 when he graduated from the Canadian Forces School of Search and Rescue. Sergeant Guay applied for 3 years before he was accepted into the program, so the selection process is no walk in the park.

“They stress everybody out on purpose because—to face reality—our job at 2 a.m. is stressful,” says Sgt. Guay. “They’re trying to weed out those that are willing to quit or willing to forget about it. At 2 a.m., we only work in teams of two. If I can’t depend on you and you can’t depend on me, what kind of team are we?”

The stress doesn’t end after you’ve been selected. In fact, as a SAR tech you can expect some high-stress scenarios almost consistently.

The majority of the time you’re working in the dark, since that’s when most of the incidents happen. Your circadian rhythm is out

of whack because you’re forced to fight the elements when everyone else is in their beds sleeping. You’re also heading into the unknown, as the information you receive when you’re on call isn’t always so cut and dry.

But the stress isn’t insurmountable, and Sgt. Guay says that a lot of it is self-induced; if you have the tools to deal with it, you can master it. “It’s just being able to recognize it and taking actions to deal with those stressful situations and make a positive out of a negative.”

The stresses are plentiful, but the sense of reward is worth it for Sgt. Guay. When someone is hurt and down but not out, it’s the SAR tech’s job to give them a second chance at life.

“Every profession out there, there are people who want to do it and there’s people who do it. Search and rescue isn’t an easy job, but it’s extremely rewarding when you can take someone and return them to their family. I’ve done that and there’s nothing like it.”

Working in remote areas of Canada is challenging, but with tough work comes great rewards that include once-in-a-lifetime experiences and the satisfaction of accomplishing great things. Our country is beautiful, and getting paid to see it is an offer most wouldn’t refuse. And all it takes is the drive to pursue it and the belief that you can. “There’s no mountain too tall. If you really believe it’s possible, it’s possible,’ says Sgt. Guay.

“There’s going to be naysayers out there who will tell you that you can’t do it. Well, you can do it... If you believe you’ve got it in you, odds are you’re going to be successful.”

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Building bridges, closing gaps

37

Building bridges, closing gaps

Paving the way for millennials to enter a multi-generational workforce By: Rebecca Feigelsohn and Kate Aenlle By now you’ve heard that the current job market is tough, but did you know that once you land a job, your work environment could also be hard to navigate?

The reason for this challenging environment is because for the first time, we have four generations working together, each with such strong defining characteristics, that it’s sometimes creating conflict in the workplace: Generation Y is characterized as self-confident, collaborative, and creative; Generation X is focused on self-development and are independent workers; Baby Boomers are known as driven, team-players; and Traditionalists are seen as disciplined and hard-working.

Each generation holds different values based

on the time period in which they were raised and the different ways they were impacted by societal change. When these four generations intermingle in the workforce, sometimes their values clash and attitudes don’t align.

“Everyone feels like they’re not appreciated, and they’re kind of ticked off,” says Sarah Slade, a generation specialist and CEO of XYZ University, a management consulting firm that provides solutions to enhance an organization’s next-generation intelligence.

“Baby Boomers feel like they’re getting the short end of the stick because they feel like the economy has hit them, they have to prolong retirement, and younger generations are trying to push them out of the way. Gen-

eration X is feeling like the Boomers aren’t getting out of the way, they have been stuck in middle management for a long time, and now they’re getting pressure from Generation Y to be hip and savvy, so they’re being pulled in multiple directions. And Generation Y feels like they are getting the short end of the stick because there aren’t any job opportunities and nobody really likes them because people feel they are entitled and difficult to work with.”

As Slade notes, each generation has their own defining personality and is dealing with their own hardships seemingly caused by one another’s presence.

Building bridges, closing gaps

38

Mind(ing) the gaps “When we talk about the workplace of the future, we’re talking about workplaces that are successful at honing some of the skills of each generation and being open to leadership.

There is less hierarchy and more ‘flat’ organizations...less silos and more team-oriented workplaces,” says Slade.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), one of the world’s leading professional services firms, is taking actions to manage and meet the expectations of a new multi-generational workforce. One of their new initiatives, Personal Brand Week, is targeted at university students preparing to enter the workforce and is focused on helping them understand the key elements of building a brand and the implications it has on a job search. “We’re trying to get [students] to start thinking about this early, so that people can understand that their personal brand, especially in times of social media, really does create an impression about you and that the things that you do online, people can see,” says Debbie Amery, vicepresident of talent & tax national human capital leader. This outreach and resource program recognizes the unique needs of Generation Y as they enter the workplace, and is enabling them to make that transition successfully.

Through their My Life programs, PwC is recognizing the diverse values and needs of their current (and future) workforce by offering employees flexibility, “whether that is flexible time away, work from home, or ‘flexdays’ when people need to use different time or space in order to get stuff done,” says Amery. “It’s a program that allows people to talk about the things that are important to them, which makes them ultimately more productive in the workplace as well.”

As organizations are recognizing the importance of appealing to their diverse workforce, new creative initiatives are being put forward and ways of thinking are being shifted. “The most successful organizations are going to be those that are willing to compromise, and those that will be willing to literally have a multi-generational approach, which is really ‘how do we all feel about this?’ not just the select few in senior management,” notes Slade. This includes “opening up dialogues, having open-book management, and really inviting more communication and input from employees.”

JOBPOSTINGS.CA | MARCH 2013

Building bridges, closing gaps

39

Ottawa-based Halogen Software is another company that is appealing to their future Gen Y employees. This year, they launched an innovative program that is designed to bridge generational gaps through development programs for new graduates at the company. The program gives recent employees exposure to a diverse set of people and the opportunity for collaboration and mentorship from a senior employee. Using the 80/20 rule, new hires spend 80 per cent of their time focused on their functional job, and the other 20 per cent is spent on professional development.

“They’ll have a mentor that they will meet with on a regular basis; they will also have the opportunity to participate in meetings with our CEO and CFO by participating in things such as planning an event,” says Amy Corkum, learning and development specialist at Halogen.

“The idea is to bring in new ideas, new perspectives and ultimately transition Gen Ys/ millennials into leaders down the road,” says John Fleischauer, the talent attraction manager at the company. He notes the importance of Halogen bringing new perspectives and new innovative ideas to their business practices as part of the tech community, and how appealing to Generation Y in a creative way is important to the company’s survival.

Respecting (some) gaps Organizations are altering practices to respect the new workforce made up of multiple generations in order to “create an environment where people feel like their contributions are valued and that they are valued,” says Amery.

As organizations are playing their part to include all ages, the millennials (we’re talking to you guys!) have their role to play too. “I think that Generation Y needs to be aware of certain things,” says Slade. “One of the things I see [them] struggle with, in no fault of their own, are these ideas of hierarchy and authority.”

Slade explains that because those 30 and under were raised as peers in the household, they are used to having an equal voice at home. She recommends trying to adapt to the concept of hierarchy in the workplace and respecting the existing structure. “They need to recognize that if they want a voice at the table, they have to prove themselves,” she says.

Fleischauer suggests that new employees should see the multi-generational workforce as

MARCH 2013 | JOBPOSTINGS.CA

Building bridges, closing gaps

40

an opportunity to learn from different members of each generation. “There’s a lot of great information that the different generations can provide each other and we can all push each other to really learn more on an individual basis. So I think it’s really important to accept all the information that you can and transform that into something of value,” he says.

Monika Lombardi, key account and trade marketing manager at SodaStream, agrees.

“Just be open-minded to the different ideas,” she says. “A lot of people say that ‘the new green is grey,’ so we are trying to not dismiss the wisdom of [older generations] and their experience.” Lombardi, who works with her much younger sister and their mother, has had plenty of first-hand experiences with working in a multigenerational workplace, particularly with the added element of working in a family-business-type setting.

Although she has encountered challenges, Lombardi says she has been very fortunate to be working in a multigenerational workplace with family and peers who work well together,

despite their differences. However, conflict is unavoidable, and when faced with conflict in the workplace due to the differing ideas from multiple generations, Lombardi says that the best thing to do is to relax and approach conflicts with an open mind. “The future and the past sometimes do clash,” she says, “but I find that a lot of people [in business] now are slowing down and going back to the basics. Ultimately, for me, it has just been about taking a deep breath when you do have a disagreement, and just trying to present your case in a different perspective, so that they see things in a different way.”

Corkum, Lombardi, and Fleischauer agree that a good philosophy for millennials to follow is to “have an opinion, but be open to listening to different ideas as well.” Although it may seem obvious that being confrontational when presenting your ideas or being dismissive of others’ ideas is a bad idea, it can happen, particularly when work environments get tense.

Lombardi thinks that it’s important for every generation to remember that when approach-

ing peers with this type of behavior, “you’re not going to get a good reaction. Period.”

Other recommendations include respecting traditional dress codes and specific work hours that are outlined by the organization, as well as balancing the requirement to be both a team player and independent in their work approach. Generation Y should be “aware that there are times for collaboration, but also understand that the workplace wants them to figure things out for themselves sometimes,” suggests Slade.

Lombardi says that it’s important to respect “where [your co-workers] are coming from,” regardless of whether you’re a member of Generation Y or the baby boomers, because valuable ideas and experience can go to waste if they’re never heard or acknowledged.

No matter what approach you decide to use in the workplace, it is important to remember that all generations have value. Even though you think your middle-aged boss is out of touch with modern advancements, he or she might surprise you and teach you something new.

Career motto for each generation Traditionalist Born before 1945 “ALWAYS Seek job security”

JOBPOSTINGS.CA | MARCH 2013

Baby Boomer

1946 – 1964 “Education + Hard work = Success”

Gen X

1964 – 1980 “Invest in portable career skills”

Gen Y

1981 – 1999 “Multi-track or die!”

Source: alis.alberta.ca | Images: © istock.com

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You’re partpart private investigator andand part therapist compensation and assistance they aretherapist eligible You’re private investigator part to receive. Whether employed by the insurance TheThe lossloss adjuster is responsible for ensuring adjuster is responsible for ensuring company or working as an independent thatthat those who have suffered a loss receive thethe those who loss receive contractor, thehave losssuffered adjusterainvestigates compensation andand assistance they areare eligible compensation assistance they eligible the accident, arranges medical treatment to receive.

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Whether employed necessary and negotiates the the finalinsurance settlement company or working as an independent company or working as an independent to restore policy holders to where they were, contractor, the lossloss adjuster investigates contractor, adjuster investigates as closelythe as possible, before their loss. thethe accident, arranges medical treatment accident, arranges medical treatment if necessary andand negotiates thethe final settlement if necessary negotiates final settlement to restore policy holders to where they were, to restore policy holders to where they were, as closely as possible, before their loss. as closely as possible, before their loss.

Michelle Snowdon Underwriter

“For a greater advantage,

and the highest placement Michelle Snowdon Michelle Snowdon value, I would recommend Underwriter Underwriter

courses in law as well as “For“For a greater advantage, a greater advantage, successful completion of a highest placement andand the the highest placement business or insurance value, I would recommend value, I would recommend program.” courses in law as well courses in law as well as as successful completion successful completion of aof a business or insurance business or insurance You’re a relationship developer and decision-maker program.” program.”

Underwriters accept or reject risk on behalf of insurance companies. They assess the kind of You’re a relationship developer decision-maker You’re a relationship developer andand decision-maker insurance required by organizations as diverse as a shopping mall,ora reject professional sports team, Underwriters accept risk on behalf Underwriters accept or reject risk on behalf of of a manufacturer, a city government or a of insurance companies.

They assess kind insurance companies.

They assess thethe kind of construction company.

Underwriters examine insurance required organizations diverse insurance required by by organizations as as diverse every facet ofmall, the aorganization’s operation a shopping professional sports team,and as aasshopping mall, a professional sports team, its request for ainsurance, then decide what the a manufacturer, city government or a a manufacturer, a city government or a insurance company should cover and how construction company.

Underwriters examine construction company.

Underwriters examine much it should charge. every facet of the organization’s operation and every facet of the organization’s operation and its request insurance, then decide what its request for for insurance, then decide what thethe insurance company should cover how insurance company should cover andand how much it should charge. much it should charge.

Underwriter

Underwriter Underwriter

TAXES MADE EASIER

42

Taxes made

easier 3.7 million

people aged 16 and older file their income tax returns online from home.

18% of all returns are filed online.

April is a daunting time for any student: final papers, studying for exams, registering for summer courses, and looking for seasonal work. All of this stress can force students to ignore tax season and its deadlines altogether.

“I think the biggest issue that we run into is that not only do [students] not do it early, they have someone do it for them, so they’re not really involved in their own tax situation,” says Cleo Hamel, national spokesperson at H&R Block Canada. “Once they graduate and take on that task on their own, some of them find they have no idea what’s going on. I think for a lot of people, understanding your tax situation is just a part of your financial literacy.”

And she’s right. Students and young people have a tendency to pass taxes off to their parents or to treat them as unimportant. Tax season is an opportunity for students to learn more about their own financial situation, including money earned and where it was spent.

“It’s an opportunity for the student to get a really good sense of what the year was like, financially,” says Hamel. “Students who work in the hospitality industry, for instance, might turn around and think ‘I work but I feel like I’m not making a lot of money.’ When they do their taxes at the end of the year or are involved with that, they get a better sense of where they’re at.”

JOBPOSTINGS.CA | MARCH 2013

Preparing for and understanding tax season can be daunting, especially for a student that hasn’t attempted doing taxes before.

“The best way a student can prepare for tax season is to keep his or her tax return in mind throughout the year,” says Andrew Schrage, co-owner of Money Crashers, a personal finance site educating its readers about way to save and spend money effectively. “For instance, any receipts or billing statements that may qualify for a tax break, such as charitable contributions or registration renewal fees for automobiles, should be kept in their own file.”

Keeping a simple file with receipts for things like transit passes and tuition will come in handy. By staying organized throughout the year, students can preemptively remove a lot of tax season stress. “That way, the tax filing process is more streamlined and efficient,” he says.

It’s good to know where you can find tax breaks as well. “The newest credit that was added on a few years ago was textbooks,” says Hamel. Because textbooks are quickly becoming a student’s largest expense, it’s good to know you can claim a certain amount of that cost. “If you’re a full-time student, you get $65 per month. If you’re a part-time student, it’s $20 per month.” And you don’t need any receipts, she says. “You don’t even have to buy any books. You automatically qualify for that.”

Although you can do your taxes many ways on your own—old-fashioned paper returns, online filing, using programs like UFile—you may also want to reach out to professionals for guidance, especially if this is your first tax return.

“Seeking out the advice or assistance from a third party is definitely available to you,” says Hamel, which includes accountants, tax professionals, and even the accounting department at most universities for some extra guidance. But she stresses that you need to understand what these experts are doing. “You can’t just walk in and say ‘here’s my stuff. Do my tax return.’ You need to be asking questions, ensuring that at the end of the process, you understand how much money you made in the year, how your tax liability was calculated.” Understanding this process will allow you to do your taxes quicker and with less cost each year.

The predominant motivator for any student to do his or her taxes is that the majority of students get tax refunds due to low incomes and high claims like tuition.

“If a student is in a situation where he or she will be getting a refund—fairly typical for students—it makes sense to do taxes early,” says Schrage. “That way, the funds can be used or put into savings sooner rather than later.”

By: James Michael McDonald

IMAGES: © ISTOCK.COM

Opportunity to be more than a employee.

to be a partner.

MEET A STARBUCKS MANAGER with Sarah Leakey, District Manager of Operations When did your career journey with Starbucks begin?

I was 20 years old when I started – I thought it was just a part time job to help pay bills while I was in University. I had moved to a new city and the environment and people felt like home at Starbucks I enjoyed the feeling I had there. I quickly realized the company offered a lot of opportunity and I was promoted to supervisor in one year.

How did you develop from a part time barista to a senior operator?

I grew into the role of district manager (DM) after many years in different stores and at various management levels – I enjoyed being a Store Manager as I learned so much about the business and I was able to help people grow and develop in their careers. I took part in Starbucks Future Leaders program that offers structured training and job shadowing for Store Managers who want to get to the next level. I travelled to another city to spend 6 months training with a DM – it was very helpful to build connections inside the company and gave me the confidence and reassurance I needed that the DM role was going to be right for me.

Tell us about your day to day as a DM? I spend a lot of time in stores visiting managers and teams to help them grow their business – if

@starbucksjobs @starbuckscanada

Starbucks Canada

I am not in a store then I am on the phone doing sales calls or working from a laptop. The beauty is that I can do this from wherever I need to – I work from a home office, sometimes in my car and most times from our stores. I am here to answer questions managers have and to learn about our opportunities and help problem solve in order to achieve results.

Did you always know a career in retail operations was for you?

No, but I soon discovered that I loved to mentor people and see them grow and develop, I enjoy the variety and changing environment and I was able to make an impact. I find retail operations very rewarding.

Why do you think Starbucks is a great place to work?

I love the people I work with and the opportunities I have had! I have always been encouraged to be a part of the community I work in and I like to be involved – whether it’s helping a local food bank or providing a wall in our store for a new artist to showcase their work. In my 16 years with the company I have never seen them stray from their mission and values – the employees they call partners come first. The leaders at Starbucks empower you to make decisions and encourage you to constantly learn from mistakes – they create

Starbucks Jobs

Starbucks

a safe learning environment. They are truly passionate about coffee, product innovation and our mission, and they have a clear vision for where the business is going.

What is it like working in a new city?

The company moved me to Calgary for the DM role and I love this city – there is so much opportunity here! If you want to grow your career and develop Alberta is THE place; I am seeing so many people promoted into new and exciting positions in the company. It’s also a city for everyone – there is a lot going on for young people and there are great neighborhoods for families.

It seems everyone in Calgary moved here from somewhere so they are all very friendly and welcoming.

What advice would you give to a student considering retail as a career?

Whether you are shy or outgoing many different kinds of people can be successful in retail! Learn about the various companies that interest you and ensure your values align. I believe that is the way to be truly happy at work and to have a rewarding career. Visit our stores and observe the environment and culture – if it looks like something you would enjoy then go for it and apply online, we can’t wait to meet you!

Become a partner. starbucks.ca/careers

EDU-MA-CATION

44

Consider a career in the

agricultural industry If you’re considering a career in the agricultural industry, you’re in luck. There are many areas you can specialize in and there’s a need for graduates.

When the University of Guelph’s Ontario Agricultural College conducted a survey last fall of 100 Ontario agri-food organizations, one third reported difficulty finding qualified candidates at the graduate level.

“The survey suggests that demand in general exceeds supply when it comes to agricultural and food sciences,” says Dr. Rene Van Acker, associate dean of the college. “It’s a fairly invisible sector.”

This need for agriculture professionals isn’t exclusive to Ontario. “The agricultural and food industry is huge in Canada, employing about one in eight people,” says Dr. Brian Amiro, associate dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences at the University of Manitoba.

“In some provinces, such as Manitoba, it is a main driver of the economy. But more importantly, people need to eat, and with an increasing world population, agriculture will continue to be a stable and growing industry as a whole.”

Depending on your interest, you can chose from a variety of post-graduate studies, from general master’s of science programs in agriculture, to more specialized options, such as agricultural economics or agricultural chemistry.

While it is farming, there is much more you can do within agriculture.”

At the University of Manitoba, post-graduate degrees include “agribusiness and agricultural economics, animal science, bio-systems engineering, entomology, food science, plant science, and soil science. Each of these programs allows the student to specialize in the technical aspects of their discipline,” says Dr. Amiro.

But how do you choose from all of these options? “First and foremost, [you] should make a decision based on what [your] interests are and what [your] background is,” says Dr. Richard Donald, associate dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. He adds that students can enter these programs from almost any degree, including business, social science, biology, and genetics.

“It’s a very broad field.”

One misconception that contributes to the low supply of graduates, is the assumption that agriculture is merely farming. “While it is farming, there is much more you can do within agriculture. [Graduates] are working with companies like CropLike and Monsanto. [They’re] working in crop science, food development centres, pharmaceutical industries, on family farms, and in the wine industry. They’ve learned how to grow crops for wine. Grads are also hired by government, banks, and multinational companies that trade grain. And a lot of grads are developing their own companies,” says Dr. Buhr, the dean of the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Agriculture and Bioresources,

There’s also the question of where you want to study. “In the prairie provinces, like Alberta and Saskatchewan, there is more of a focus on large scale agriculture, including wheat and live-stock farming,” Dr. Donald says. “In Quebec, Ontario, the Maritimes, and B.C., it’s

“I would think about what’s exciting to me,” Dr. Buhr advises. “Then check out the colleges to see who’s doing the research in that area. If I’m interested in animals, think about whose got great animal facilities. Follow your interest.” | By: Samuel Dunsiger

Bringing learning to life.

Over 250 programs at CentennialCollege.ca See where experience takes you.

JOBPOSTINGS.CA | MARCH 2013

smaller scale and more diverse. It depends on what your interests are.”

Brock University

Niagara College

Brock is a rapidly growing University, offering 41 dynamic Master’s and PhD program within 6 academic faculties. With our strong sense of community and personal investment in our students, Brock is a great choice for your graduate education.

Visit us at today at Brocku.ca

Top-rated for student satisfaction, Niagara College provides outstanding applied education for a changing world. State-of-theart facilities on two newly redeveloped campuses, and responsive, cutting-edge programming equip students with real-world experience before graduation.

NiagaraCollege.ca

Queen’s University

Ross University

100+ graduate programs with worldclass research opportunities and strong support to enrich your educational experience and advance your career. Set your ideas in motion. Consider graduate studies at Queen’s.queensu.ca/sgs

RUSM is a provider of medical education offering a MD degree program.

Over 9,000 graduates have chosen RUSM because of integrated curriculum, outreach opportunities and well-earned reputation for providing the education that enables our students to pass their US and Canadian licensing exams and obtain excellent residencies RossU.edu

Sheridan College Our 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. sheridaninstitute.ca

American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC) AUC has provided a quality medical education to more than 5,000 graduates and provides a US-model education beginning with two years of medical sciences taught at the St. Maarten campus, followed by clinical education in affiliated hospitals in the US and UK. AUCmed.edu.

DISCOUVER YOUR NEXT GRAD SCHOOL @

Canada’s largest student job board

University of Lethbridge What will you discover? Explore innovative and interdisciplinary areas of research while working alongside worldrenowned faculty members. Graduate studies in over 60 disciplines with many financial resources within your reach. uleth.ca/graduatestudies

NEVER STOP PUSHING YOUR CAREER FORWARD

CONTINUING EDUCATION THE BUSINESS SCHOOL AT HUMBER

business.humber.ca/ce

Advertising – Media Management Alternative Dispute Resolution Event Management Fashion Management & Promotions Financial Planning Global Business Management Human Resources Management International Development Marketing Management Public Administration

1O WAYS TO LAUNCH YOUR CAREER FIND YOUR NICHE WITH A POSTGRAD IN BUSINESS. business.humber.ca/postgrad

www.pwcbrilliantfutures.ca

Brilliant futures We recruit students into: Audit and Assurance Tax Services Consulting & Deals

Discover how the skills, experiences, and relationships you build at PwC are career deďŹ ning. www.pwcbrilliantfutures.ca

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