In terms of hiring, I have this, admittedly somewhat idealistic, holistic view: STEP 1: Candidates apply to a job opening. STEP 2: Candidates who applied according to the employer’s application instructions and based on their resume, appear qualified are selected for further assessment. STEP 3: The selected candidate’s LinkedIn activity and digital footprint are reviewed to assess their… Read More »
Exhale. Repeat a few times. A relaxed mind is the best tool against your challenges. While I don’t have a crystal ball to predict what the 2026 job market will look like, I do have insights from numerous conversations with recruiters and hiring managers, coupled with a strong gut feeling that leads me to believe the following factors… Read More »
Strategically appearing as a low-risk candidate is one of the most effective ways to stand out from your competition. Many job seekers love to spend their time and energy criticizing how employers eliminate and hire candidates, which is easy to do when you’re not the one bearing the many risks that come with hiring. When I hear or… Read More »
Regular readers of The Art of Finding Work are familiar with my stance that self-proclaimed career coaches and resume writers, especially those claiming they can bypass an employer’s ATS, are nothing more than hustlers selling recycled common-sense job search advice to desperate job seekers. My critical perspective on the career coaching industry arises from the following: To state… Read More »
2025 has been, to put it mildly, chaotic. The year has been a continuation of technological disruption and its social consequences, alongside the ongoing effects of climate change and global instability, which impact us all. Furthermore, economic instability has been ever-present, with persistent talk of a looming recession, hyperinflation, and a job market marked by waves of layoffs… Read More »
Where’s the discussion that challenges the prevailing narrative that employers are solely responsible for the dumpster fire the current job market has become? Job seekers are failing—or not wanting to—recognize their influence on the many nuances of the job market, including how employers hire. Employers have no choice but to constantly modify their hiring processes in response to… Read More »
Social media is driven by announcements that resemble those made in airports. “All passengers travelling on Air Canada flight 785 to Los Angeles, please proceed to Gate 28 to start boarding.” Constant broadcasting has made social media a stage for announcing new jobs, relationship updates, house or automobile purchases, degrees obtained, restaurants visited, and ‘Where I’m on vacation.’… Read More »
Stating that social manners and etiquette are regressing would be stating the obvious. While I blame social media for being the main culprit in shaping today’s society (read: culture), where individualism is promoted over community, other contributing factors to our disharmonization include a lack of education on politeness, COVID isolation having hampered social skills development in youth, exposure to rudeness and… Read More »
The job market is crowded with applicants claiming to be “talented.” What’s lacking are job seekers who provide concrete evidence of their skills and how their supposed “talent” has benefited their previous employers, rather than just making grandiose statements. Claiming you’re talented is egotistical boasting, as if you’re a God-given prodigy. The word “talent” used to be reserved… Read More »
At a time when the Canadian economy is facing unprecedented challenges, one would expect Doug Ford’s priority to be making Ontario a business-friendly place, attracting startups and expansions to generate much-needed jobs, boost economic growth, and overall prosperity. However, Doug Ford, ignoring the fact that Ontario is surrounded by other provinces and shares a border with the world’s… Read More »