Do you spend over 100,000 minutes a year feeling miserable?

If you work a full year at 35 hours / week with four weeks off, it amounts to over one thousand six hundred hours (or over one hundred thousand minutes). That is an insanely high number – probably higher than the time you spend with your family or friends, and definitely higher than the time you spend pursuing your hobbies. Naturally, it would make sense to spend it feeling happy, valued, respected and energized.

As a recruiter I come into contact with dozens of applicants and potential candidates on a daily basis, and it often shocks me to see how long one can put up with being miserable at work. After having interviewed over a thousand people throughout my career, I must have heard it all – unacceptable work conditions, insane bosses, unstable co-workers... I have heard and continue listening to crazy stories and wonder again and again what makes one put up with all the misery. Is it because you are wondering if the grass is really greener on the other side?

It is!

It really is possible to wake up in the morning eager to go to the office, excited to see your colleagues, inspired to speak with your boss and pumped to accomplish everything the day has in store for you. Not only is this possible, you really shouldn’t put up with anything less! If you love your job but hate the work environment and shut your door as soon as you walk in to block everyone else out, why not find another firm where you can do the same thing but be happy with your surroundings? If you have a crazy boss who micromanages your every move, talks down to you, spreads gossip and goes through emotional ups and downs on a daily (or perhaps hourly) basis, why don’t you find a boss who will inspire you and teach you new things? If you are surrounded by uncultured coworkers whom you would be embarrassed to introduce to friends and family, why don’t you find a team you will be proud to associate yourself with?

I can honestly tell you that I am the happiest at proNexia than I have ever been in any job. I almost run to the office on Monday morning instead of dragging my feet lamenting that the week-end is over. I am inspired by the people in the office and feel that I am constantly learning from them. I know that if I am ever unwell, my teammates will step in for me and take on my tasks, as opposed to stepping on my toes in my absence. And I come across a great many people who are equally happy in their jobs! No offers of higher pay or promotion would ever make them consider another job (and trust me, I try!).

So, come on now! Let 2011 be the year you spend over 100,000 minutes feeling perfectly happy, content and thoroughly productive. Open the door you had closed shut this morning, walk through it and find a happier place.

Happy Holidays to our Loyal Clients and Candidates!

Holidays are just around the corner and everyone is hosting corporate holiday parties! We had the choice of hosting a party for our staff of six, but instead decided to share the holiday spirit and open the doors to our corporate clients. Our Holiday Networking Event took place at our Westmount office last night and we had a fantastic time. Wine tasting, delicious hors d'œuvres, a tour of the office and a presentation on social media & its impact on HR were part of the evening.

We are endlessly grateful to all of our clients who joined us in the celebration. proNexia’s first year has been a tremendous success and we have many fascinating projects in store for 2011. We are eager to embark on all of the new endeavours with you!

Thank you once again and we truly hope that you have a safe and joyous holiday season and a prosperous 2011!

Interview as a Networking Opportunity for Jobseekers

We are always baffled when candidates refuse an interview for a job opportunity in their field. It clearly demonstrates one’s shortsightedness and lack of understanding of the power of networking. Unless the job description is completely unrelated to what you do or the client’s industry is in direct conflict with your personal values (e.g.: meat packing company if you are a vegan or an arms manufacturer if you are a peace activist), why refuse an opportunity to meet with other professionals in your field?

An interview is an opportunity to make powerful connections in your area of specialty, regardless of whether you are offered the position or if you end up accepting it. We live in a world where networking and connections lie at the heart of most opportunities. If the job opening in question is not a fit, who is to say that the Vice President you meet (and potentially impress) cannot recommend you for another opening, perhaps even at a different firm?

At the same time, you cannot discount the importance a company’s “cultural fit” plays in deciding whether or not a job opportunity is one for you to consider. I have had candidates read a job description and be beyond enthusiastic about meeting the client, only to call me back after the interview to say that there was no chemistry whatsoever. On the other hand, I have had candidates who were lackluster about meeting with a client, only to call me after the interview raving how much they loved everything about the company and how much they now want the job. So, unless you are thoroughly familiar with the company interested in meeting with you, you simply do not know if the opportunity presented to you will be a fit until you go for the meeting.

Interestingly enough, I am yet to come across a senior-level candidate who would refuse an interview opportunity. When I am filling a high-level mandate, potential contenders for the position rarely even care about the job description prior to confirming the meeting. Of course, they read it to prepare for the interview, but it is hardly the determining factor in their desire to meet with the client. They understand that any opportunity for a one-on-one meeting is golden, and seize it.

So, what does it mean when someone refuses an interview? Is it a lack of maturity and business savvy? Is it really surprising shortsightedness and a simply passive attitude? Considering that we strive to represent the best of the best, to us it means that we would rather focus our efforts on candidates who are proactive, eager and determined. If you are looking for a job, yet are unwilling to go on interviews, we cannot help you, but do wish you the best of luck in your search. You will need it.

Do you need a cover letter?

There seems to be no consensus among job seekers regarding the use of a cover letter. We sometimes receive attachments that are multiple pages-long, whereas some applicants send their resumes without even as much as a sentence in either the body of the email or the subject line.

First of all, let me point out that different fields may have different requirements. In academia, for example, you are expected to attach a cover letter, including very specific points. However, we cater to the corporate world and my advice focuses on it.

It may seem obvious that when you are emailing your resume to a hiring manager, it makes sense to at least specify the position for which you would like to be considered. Nonetheless, I receive countless applications that contain no cover letter and not even one sentence in the email. To be quite honest with you, I do not even open the resumes of such candidates.

My recommendation would be to paste your cover letter in the actual body of your email. If it is well written and includes relevant buzz words, your application will automatically catch the attention of the person reading it. Instead of using general descriptors that could apply to anyone (eg: read our post on “strengths and weaknesses”), be specific and write why you are interested in this particular position and what skills you have that match the requirements in the advertisement. Candidates often take the easy route of writing such commonalities as “I would be proud to join your reputable organization” or “I would be a great asset to your team”. Instead, I suggest researching the company by going to the “About Us” section of the web site and picking up some interesting facts.

If you are applying to an ad posted by a recruitment firm, you can focus on the requirements listed in the posting and outline how your skills could fulfill the client’s expectations.

As you know, first impressions count! With just a bit of research and by putting some thought into your cover letter, you can make a truly positive one.