The month of March 2020 started with calm and familiar words. Expressions such as “career planning”, “employment preparation”, and “resumes and cover letters” were common in all my conversations with job seekers.

As the month of April starts, there are new words and expressions around us including “flattening the curve”, “community spread” and “social distancing”.

When you are unemployed in these times of uncertainty, here are 6 tips to consider:

1. Reset your expectations: there are many jobs available right now however they might not be your dream job. Grocery stores, delivery services, online Call Centres, and replacement machine operators are just a few of the areas that are hiring.

2. Update your resume and LinkedIn: even for a survival job, you will need a current resume. If you are seeking remote work, organizing your LinkedIn profile is essential.

3. Expand your knowledge with online resources: limit the news channel and instead give yourself 3 to 4 hours a day of online learning in a course or webinar.

4. Connect with your network contacts: in-person gatherings might be suspended, yet there are still online groups and people to reach out to. Remember, people, respond better when you focus on them and less on yourself. It is about being interested versus interesting.

5. Keep current with your sector: we are in an unprecedented time in history and changes in the economy are occurring. If your dream target has been hit due to COVID19, consider transferring your expertise to another sector.

6. Reach out to a Career Specialist: if you need assistance with your resume and LinkedIn profile, or want to learn more about online resources or how to reshape your job target, consider contacting ACHĒV to find out if you are eligible for free job search services. During the new frontier ahead of all of us, ACHĒV continues to support job seekers using remote communication.

Keep safe, continue physical distancing and maintain an optimistic mindset!

Achēv offers free weekly events and workshops to help you achieve your employment and career goals. Visit our Events Calendar to see all of our upcoming events.

So, you have booked an appointment at an official Assessment Centre to have your English or French language skills tested and be referred to a government-funded language training program. Now What? You have been given basic information about your appointment, the type of ID you will need to bring, directions to the assessment centre, and told that your appointment might be up to 4 hours in duration. You may now be wondering how to prepare for this assessment and make the best use of the time you have before the date of your test. It is not unusual for people to get nervous or even stressed in the anticipation of a test. It is normal if you are feeling that way, and it usually means that the language assessment is important to you.

There are at least 3 ways in which the Canadian Language Benchmarks Online Self-Assessment (CLB-OSA: www.clb-osa.ca) can help you get better prepared for the official CLB assessment, control your stress levels, and perform well on the test:

1. Get Your Unofficial Results Online:

For your own awareness, take advantage of the CLB-OSA, or its French equivalent, that is available to everyone in Canada and abroad at no cost. Currently, there are 3 versions of the Reading and 2 versions of Listening of online tests available in English. This web-based tool provides an approximate indication of the language ability in Listening and Reading upon successfully completing the online test. Online results are considered unofficial and cannot be used for academic, employment, and immigration/citizenship purposes or placement to most government-funded language training programs. Completing the online tests will help you become familiar with the testing format and some of the types of tasks to expect at the assessment centre.

2. Understand Your CLB Score:

Once you have completed an online self-assessment, your CLB results will be immediately displayed on your screen indicating a range of 2 benchmarks to describe your approximate CLB score. Move your mouse over the CLB results on the screen, and a drop-down menu will show a list of what a person should be able to do in English at that particular CLB Score. You are also encouraged to explore the benchmark section of the CLB-OSA website to look at descriptions of individual language skills (Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing) across the CLB levels to see how each next CLB is more elaborate than the previous one. You can also look at the CLB Charts at-a-glance to look at all four language skills at once at a particular CLB level. Knowing your approximate CLB score can be very helpful when planning your language learning and/or making decisions about it.

3. Explore Additional Web Resources:

In addition to Reading and Listening tests on the CLB-OSA website, and information about CLB as a system of standards used for language assessment and training, you will find useful links to resources designed for newcomers with info about the settlement, job search, credential evaluation and more. You will also find links to websites that will help you study English on your own.

Remember, the CLB assessment is neither a test that you can pass or fail nor it is a test of your memory. So, it probably isn’t a good idea to try to memorize a dictionary or grammar book just before your test. This assessment will simply measure your level of proficiency in a second language and assign a benchmark score based on your performance. The test is based on authentic communication tasks which mean that you will be assessed on how well you can use your English in real-life situations that would normally come up in your daily interactions at home, at work, and/or in the community. You are now well equipped with the tools to better understand the CLB, find out your approximate CLB range prior to taking an official language assessment, and benefit from relevant and useful links to resources listed on CLB-OSA website and feel more confident when you do your official CLB assessment. All the best!

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Achēv offers free weekly events and workshops to help you achieve your employment and career goals. Visit our Events Calendar to see all of our upcoming events.

Fifteen years ago I found a pair of bright blue eyeglass frames before coloured frames were in style. My colleagues started to call me the “Blue Framed Career Specialist”. Suddenly my visual brand was set. I captured the attention and developed my brand simply be seeing blue!

Branding can be visual, or it can be in the words you write in the content of your LinkedIn profile, or it can be in your interview attitude or impression. However, you capture attention, having a brand is essential. Every time you talk with a potential employer you are competing for attention with hundreds of other priorities so learn to tailor your message and use your brand to be remembered.  Your brand is part of your whole job search picture.  What’s your brand?  Is it blue frames too?

Achēv offers free weekly events and workshops to help you achieve your employment and career goals. Visit our Events Calendar to see all of our upcoming events.

As 2018 starts, there is no doubt that the Canadian workplace is now a blend of contract, relief, casual, part-time, temporary and precarious work.

One of the best ways to manage this complication is to consider what I call the “octopus effect” or keeping your arms outstretched toward lots of opportunities. It means to diversify your income streams to create a solution to the current workplace reality. This is not a new idea since successful people often have more than one income or self-esteem source. Yet it is becoming more common for everyone since one secure and steady job can be rare for many occupations.  Even if your second source is a volunteer job, it could be the perfect bridge to eventually getting to where you want to go.

This year give yourself the goal of never rejecting possibilities. Try the octopus effect and diversify your income streams and see how many opportunities you can manage.

Achēv offers free weekly events and workshops to help you achieve your employment and career goals. Visit our Events Calendar to see all of our upcoming events.

Are you job searching and shouting:

“Please help me!  I need a job. Any job.” Then are you wondering why you are still job searching? It might be because of what I call the “not-so-big-secret-to-finding work”.  This big secret is: focus.

The definition of focus in a job search is: set specific goals, know where you are going and choose your targets.  Using the power of focus is switching from the passive approach of only applying to job postings, to the proactive method of targeting companies you want to join.  Even if you are searching for what you consider to be a survival job, having a focus is important.

Try utilizing your people network, use LinkedIn and increase your alliances. Eventually, instead of looking for any job, you could be confidently saying to others: “Could you please help me?  I am looking for work as a front-line customer service rep in a downtown Toronto Call Centre easily accessible on the transit line”.

By knowing exactly where you are going, the not-so-big-secret-to-finding-work might be the right secret for you!

Achēv offers free weekly events and workshops to help you achieve your employment and career goals. Visit our Events Calendar to see all of our upcoming events.

Job interviews can be stressful because of what it is at stake: the means to make a living, a promotion, a new career. I have been through a good amount of interviews, 35 and counting to be exact. In some of those interviews, I have left the room with a big smile on my face and a sense of accomplishment. Others didn’t go as well as I was hoping they would. One thing is for sure: I have learned countless lessons from all of them.  Here are some of the most valuable ones.

Interviews are two-way conversations

The purpose of in-person interviews is twofold:

(1) For the interviewer(s): It gives them the opportunity to gather more detailed information about your skills and experience, to observe your demeanour, and to get a glance at your personality and fit for the organization.

(2) For you: It gives you the opportunity to gather more detailed information about what the position entails, to assess the physical environment where you could potentially work, and hopefully to get a glance at the hiring manager’s working style

Preparedness for the Interview is of paramount importance

Preparedness is one of the golden rules. Always prepare for the interview. Learn about the company’s mission, vision, values, products and services, challenges, competitors, and latest achievements. Make sure you understand the job description of the position you are applying for and why they need someone with your abilities and experience. Last but not least, write down any questions you might have as you go through your company research.

Master the one ever-present interview question: Tell me about yourself

Every candidate gets the “Tell me about yourself” question. It may be rephrased in a couple of ways, but no one escapes the question. Carefully prepare your answer to this question and other frequent ones.

Usually, interviewers use this question as an ice-breaker and to assess some of the following:

1. What information you think is relevant to offer, considering the position you are interviewing for

2. How well you put your thoughts together to provide a structured answer to an unstructured question

3. How well you can sell yourself and, by extension, their products and services

Prepare your answer in advance. Focus on the experience and skills that are essential for the position you are interviewing for and keep your answer short, 60-90 seconds at most.

Before I forget, other versions of these questions can be “Walk me through your career” and “Can you walk me through your resume?”

Pay close attention to the Hiring Manager’s behaviour

Your potential supervisor is usually part of the interview panel. Pay particular attention to his or her behaviour. Ask yourself if you can picture yourself working with him or her. Why?  You are not only looking for a job but also for a safe space where you can grow – a workplace where you feel your contributions are valued, where you can develop and apply your talents, acquire new skills and develop the existing ones. Your supervisor’s behaviour, ideas, and demeanour will significantly shape the climate and effectiveness of your work environment. Pick wisely.

It is alright if you don’t get ahead in the hiring process

The hiring decision involves many factors that are not directly related to your performance. Some of the reasons you might not be the chosen candidate are:

1. Another candidate was rated higher or was referred by an insider

2. The interviewer didn’t perceive you as a good cultural fit

3. During the interview process, the hiring manager realized the job posting wasn’t completely aligned with their current needs

If you don’t make it to the next round, don’t be too hard on yourself: gather lessons learned and move on.

Do your due diligence and assess your performance right after the interview. Make a note of the questions you were not well prepared to answer, the afterthoughts – the classic “I should have answered this or that way”-, and any feedback you got from the interviewer(s).

Job interviews can be a tough process to navigate through. Don’t get discouraged if some of them don’t go well; learn from the experience and move on. If you prepare well and make the most of the interview experience, you will eventually land that job you have been pursuing.

Let’s hear from you know. What are some of the lessons you have learned from your interviews? Send us your nuggets of wisdom at info@achev.ca and they may get published here on the ACHĒV blog!

Achēv offers free weekly events and workshops to help you achieve your employment and career goals. Visit our Events Calendar to see all of our upcoming events.

On September 27, 2017, a group of students currently enrolled in a local college’s TESL training program visited ACHĒV for a morning. The students were invited to participate in a pilot testing of a new component for the Canadian Language Benchmarks Online Self-Assessment tool. The day started with an information session providing an overview of ACHĒV’s core programs and services. Guest speakers from LINC Home Study, Language Assessment Centre, and Language Assessment and Support Services provided useful insights into their areas of work describing their roles and providing useful advice. The goal of the info session was not only to introduce ACHĒV ‘s programs and services but also to get TESL Trainees to start thinking about careers beyond traditional classroom teaching that might be available to TESL trained individuals within ACHĒV’s Language Services.

Following the information session, TESL students learned about a Canadian Language Benchmarks Online Self-Assessment tool and, at the same time, participated in a pilot testing of a newly developed Reading assessment form. The data input provided by the TESL Trainees will inform future development of the Canadian Language Benchmarks Online Self-Assessment.

Testimony from the TESL Training Supervisor:

…

thank you very much for providing this opportunity to our students. This experience has provided them with a better understanding of the assessment tool. The information session was also very good in demonstrating that there are a variety of career paths for TESL Ontario certified teachers than the traditional classroom teaching and as they gain experience over the years. The thank you letter and gift card was a thoughtful and generous token of appreciation at the end which all students and I also greatly appreciate in return.

It was a wonderful and valuable experience.

…

The Canadian Language Benchmarks Online Self-Assessment tool can be found here: https://clb-osa.ca/home

Achēv offers free weekly events and workshops to help you achieve your employment and career goals. Visit our Events Calendar to see all of our upcoming events.

“June 20 is the day the world commemorates the strength, courage, and perseverance of millions of refugees. Held every year, World Refugee Day also marks a key moment for the public to show support for families forced to flee,” The UN Refugee Agency.

Since November 2015, Canada has welcomed over 40,000 refugees in almost 400 communities.

Achēv works every day to provide support for newcomers, delivering employment, settlement and language services across the Greater Toronto Area, in addition to our LINC Home Study online learning system, our Canadian Language Benchmarks- Online Self-Assessment Service and our virtual international services through our Preparing to Work in Canada (PrepCan) pre-arrival services. ACHĒV assists clients in Ontario, Canada and around the world.

Here are a handful of the programs and services that we provide:

Newcomer Information Centres (NIC)

The NICs’ goal is to meet the immediate, short term needs of newcomers and deliver accurate and relevant information to ensure clients can access the services for which they are eligible.

The NICs provide information related to:

1. Employment

2. Language Training

3. Health Care

4. Housing

5. Legal and Social Services

6. Recreation

In 2016, our focus was on assisting Syrian refugees and supporting them with their immediate settlement needs. The clients received customized one-on-one support as well as had an opportunity to participate in a series of group sessions that were delivered in their native languages.

Some of the topics included:

1. Financial Literacy

2. Personal Income Tax

3. Preparing for First Canadian Winter

4. Adapting to Canadian Culture

5. Shopping Tips

6. Consumer Rights

Over 700 Syrian clients were assisted at our onsite and offsite locations. We have 5 locations and provide a number of Itinerant Services at locations across the GTA.

Career Coach

The Career Coach is a mobile Employment and Settlement project. In 2016, ACHĒV reached over 540 newcomers through one-on-one employment counselling, as well as through various workshops within the community. The mobile unit travelled to under-served areas, provided outreach, and encouraged youth and newcomers to “walk-in” for friendly and supportive service. This past year, with the influx of Syrian refugees into the Peel/Halton Region, the Career Coach offered some unique one-to-one and group workshop assistance to help Syrian refugees.

CLARS Language Assessment Centres

Achēv has been assessing in Peel and Halton Regions for over 20 years and in York Region for 6 years. Our assessors provide a friendly welcome; assess English or French skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing; and make referrals to language classes to best meet client needs.

In 2016, we provided 14,920 assessments in Peel and Halton and administered 8,980 assessments in York and Durham for a total of 23,900 assessments.

Language Assessment Centre staff assisted community efforts to support Syrian refugees by providing a warm welcome and timely assessment and referral to enable them to begin learning one of Canada’s official languages. This past year, we expanded itinerant assessment services in Mississauga to include assessments at a local hotel providing temporary housing to refugees from Syria and other countries.

In honour of World Refugee Day, we recognized the strength, courage, and perseverance these new Canadians whom we now consider our friends and family.

If there is any way we can help, or if you have any questions about any of our programs or services, please contact us by phone at (905) 949-0049 or by email at info@achev.ca.

Achēv offers free weekly events and workshops to help you achieve your employment and career goals. Visit our Events Calendar to see all of our upcoming events.

Usually, when I hear the word “blender” I think of protein shakes, nutritious fruit smoothies and pureed vegetables for my favourite cold gazpacho soup.  Yet recently I have heard this word used frequently in terms of the workplace.

According to two recent Forbes and Newsdesk News articles,  “the blended workforce is on the rise”.  What is a blended workforce?  What do companies throw into their Human Resources blender of employees?

The answer is that the new blended workforce is a variety of employees with a range of different contracts.  It includes permanent full-time employees, part-time employees, temporary workers, contract workers, and freelance workers.

This new workplace trend is already impacting companies in several ways.  For example, it has created a new type of diversity.  This diversity is rising and as Newsdesk News states “already 93% of companies identify the blended workforce” and within the next 5 years “at least 40% of the workforce will be freelancers”.

This trend is only a prediction, and not all forecasts become reality, yet it is a development that everyone might want to pay attention to. With trends that become a reality, come rewards and advantages, and challenges and inconveniences.

The challenges and inconveniences include possible friction among teams as blurred lines can prevent the contract worker from truly feeling part of the team. Another potential challenge can be new staff tracking systems as many freelancers work on their own schedules which may or may not correspond to regular business hours. This could cause a Human Resources nightmare if a manager wants the expertise the freelancer can bring to a project.

Yet there are numerous rewards and advantages to the blended workforce. This includes the new definition of diversity and a fresh perspective.  For example, a freelancer can bring a unique and creative point of view to a project since they are usually removed from traditional office politics.  According to Blog Talk Radio, contract workers are usually happier than full-time permanent employees because they are profiting from their control over a better work-life balance.

From a management perspective, a blended workforce provides cost-effective flexibility as it allows organizations to take the time to find the right fit for a full-time candidate which helps to prevent expensive hiring mistakes.  Add in the reduced costs that contract workers bring, and the blended workforce is even more appealing to employers.

If this trend does become a reality, the hope will be that employers will set clear company communication policies and project expectations for both full-time permanent employees, and contract workers, in order for everyone to work toward the same goal.

Don’t be surprised if you get tossed into the workplace blender, and become part of a diverse team that is achieving targets in a totally new way.   Trends don’t always become a reality yet sometimes they do!