Negotiate

How to Effectively Negotiate at Work

Natasha JeshaniExecutive Leadership, Human Resources Tips, Job Search, Recruitment

Asking for more of anything at work is generally a daunting task. As much as we hope that our work will speak for itself, it is not always the case. The best way to get what you want, is to ask for it; but how? When it comes to negotiating what you deserve, Natasha Jeshani, President & CEO of Career Contacts, has some tried and true tips on how to prepare, execute and successfully ask for what you deserve. Here are a few key ways to find your voice and use it! UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR The easiest way to stall a negotiation is to not exactly know what it is that you are asking for. If you are wanting a raise: understand how much you want, and by when. If you want a promotion: know what title you want, what team you want to be a part of, the new work you want to take on, and when you want to start. Looking for some added flexibility with your schedule? Know exactly what you need and be prepared to show them how you plan to continue to deliver and execute your role without interruption. Pro Tip: if …

People-First Recruitment & HR – Our 4 C’s

Natasha JeshaniExecutive Leadership, Human Resources Tips, Job Search, Recruitment

Focused on being people first, our team cares about what we do and how we do it. We put our people first, and to us that means our 4 C’s: Colleagues, Candidates, Clients, and Communities! “People-first” is a term that has been seen increasingly often in organizations and work spaces in recent years. In fact, it has become a buzzword that many business have begun using regularly in their job descriptions and mission statements. But what exactly is a people-first culture? At Career Contacts, we believe that centering our people at the core of everything we do has been the catalyst to our growth and success. We’ve built our business and work philosophy around what we call our 4 C’s: Colleagues, Candidates, Clients, and Communities. “Putting people first is a philosophy backed up by a set of actions which prioritizes the people of an organization above all else including shareholder value and profits, even if it means that leaders must make personal sacrifices.“ -Jacob Morgan, Author of The Future of Work Colleagues: It’s important to consider that in order for us to do our best work for our candidates, clients, and communities, we have to start at the core of our company: our colleagues. It’s been said …

recruitment firm

What to Look for in a Recruitment Firm

Natasha JeshaniJob Search, Recruitment

Need help finding outstanding talent for your business or some assistance in taking the next step in your career journey? Here is what to look for in a recruitment firm With over 40,000 new recruiter roles being posted according to Indeed alone (and recruiters know there are many more avenues for open roles), we wanted to think about why someone would choose Career Contacts. We truly believe that until you know your values, strengths and differentiators, you won’t be able to attract your ideal candidates or clients. Although we aren’t technically hiring for our own office at the moment, we are a recruitment company, so attracting proactive talent is kind of our thing. Because of this, we decided to share some of the core foundations that we have built our company on and the qualities that we strongly believe matter when looking for a recruitment firm that you can trust. Flexibility, Accessibility, & Diversity  At CC, we are headquartered in Downtown Vancouver. While currently we are predominantly remote or hybrid, we have a space to connect, collaborate and call “home”. Having this space has allowed us to not only interact with our teammates, but also with the people of Vancouver. Over the years, …

5 tips for finding success in your job search

5 Tips for Finding Success in Your Job Search

Natasha JeshaniJob Search

Job searching can be daunting, especially if you have been on the hunt for a while. From networking, to researching on numerous platforms for available positions, working through different application procedures, all the way through to preparing for multiple interviews, the entire process can be exhausting. If you’ve been feeling as though you could use some assistance in looking for the role that’s meant for you, Career Contacts has compiled these 5 tips for finding success in your job search: Know your career goals – prioritize them while searching Transitioning to a new role, though it can seem overwhelming, is the perfect time to consider what elements of a job description are most important to you. What are your ultimate career goals? Perhaps salary is not as important to you as finding a role with an excellent title, or perhaps you want to prioritize finding a role within a company that offers great training opportunities or somewhere that will allow for growth within your career. Beginning your job search by asking yourself these kind of questions is a good way to start off your search journey with your ideals in mind. Not only will this help you to weed out …

5 Questions to Ask in an Interview

5 Questions To Ask in an Interview

Natasha JeshaniJob Search

If you’ve been to a formal interview or if you’ve been researching how to prepare for one, you are most likely familiar with the famous last question that interviewers and hiring managers are known to present at the end of their line of questioning. It typically sounds something like, “do you have any questions for us”? Though it is common, this question is frequently one of the last that interviewees think to prepare for, and often when it’s presented it can feel like you’ve been put on the spot. If you are in the midst of your job search and would like some assistance in your prep, Career Contacts is here to provide some context around this question and why it’s important, as well as examples of 5 questions to ask an interviewer that will show you’ve come prepared. Why have at least one question prepared? While it might seem that interviews are designed for an employer to get to know you and decide whether or not you would be the right fit for the role and for their company, what many interviewees often forget to consider is that it is also a chance for you to get to know …

WFH vs WFO

WFH vs WFO* – How to Decide Which is Best For You

Natasha JeshaniCOVID-19 Support, Human Resources Tips, Job Search

*Work from home (WFH) vs Work from office (WFO) As the world begins to transition into our new reality in the aftermath of the pandemic, employers and employees alike are being faced with the question – should we go back to the office? Many companies have begun allowing room for dialogue to open up the possibility of letting staff decide for themselves which they prefer. If your workplace has started hashing out this discussion, then you know that this debate is fraught with pros and cons. So how do you decide? Career Contacts is here to help! We’ve compiled some key factors to consider as you weigh your options, and we’ve provided an interactive checklist to help you make the best call for your current lifestyle. WFH vs WFO – How to decide which is best for you Here are some aspects to think about: Commute Commuting is perhaps one of the most widely deliberated topics when discussing the pros and cons of WFH vs WFO. Depending on how far you live from your workplace, and how strenuous the drive or transit is, commuting may be one of the biggest factors that you consider when deciding where you want to …

How your team feels matters

How Your Team Feels Matters – Here’s Why

Natasha JeshaniExecutive Leadership, Human Resources Tips, Job Search

How often do you consider the feelings of your team when you make a company-wide decision? How your team feels matters. Here’s why. As organizations begin their back to work programs, many have provided surveys to get a sense of where their teams are at. While we are huge advocates of listening your people, it can do more damage if you hear them, but don’t actually do anything about what they ask for.  Let’s start with a little story.  Company A and Company B both want return to office programs in place. In both cases, the following is true:  Ideally, they’d prefer if everyone comes back 5 days a week  The staff have been working remotely since March 2020 with little disruption to revenue streams  Both have conducted surveys in which most of their staff want to remain 80-100% remote  Both are aware that not maintaining WFH options has consequences  Company A sends employees back to the office and continues business as usual with little to no support or consideration of their team’s feelings. Company B, however, considers all of the following, starting with these simple steps that we believe are vital to a strong employee experience, strategic for higher …

moeny talks blog

Dealing with Money: The Recruiter’s Guide to Talking about Money During your Job Search and Interviews

Natasha JeshaniJob Search

It’s the reason why we work, isn’t it? Money is one of the most important drivers in our day-to-day life. This is why the conversation with your current or potential employer is so daunting. Everyone struggles with finding the sweet spot when it comes to money. An informed approach to ‘money talk’ is best because asking for too little, you are undervaluing yourself and asking for too much may be a real turn off. What happens when you sell yourself short in a role you’re qualified for? You’ll likely resent the decision and be on the lookout for a new job in close to no time. On the contrary, if you ask for the moon right off the bat, you risk coming off as purely money-driven in a global HR climate where company values culture fit, professional growth, and intrinsic motivators. So, should you avoid the topic altogether? Definitely not!   Let’s look at what Career Contacts President & CEO, Natasha Jeshani had to say back in 2018. In her blog post, Natasha mentioned three key stages in which money comes up during a job search. 1.     During the Initial Interview Stage 2.     During the Offer Stage and; 3.     At the …

Lamya blog pic

My Journey to Recruitment

Natasha JeshaniJob Search

The moment I landed at Career Contacts, I was excited that this was a place where I was free to share my story, my journey, and hopefully help others who are still searching for their “dream job’ or looking for their own career path. Having studied Real Estate, I thought that I knew from a young age what direction I envisioned my career going in. I had worked for my mom’s real estate company since I was 16, and so I thought it seemed like a smart fit to follow the road she had gone down. I mean, it seemed like such a great idea – we both loved people, sales, marketing, and hard work. And I really liked being my mom’s administrative assistant. Many of the valuable work skills I have now were built on the solid training that she gave me. However, after finishing the course and working more closely in the Real Estate industry I realized that this was not going to be a long-term fit for me. Sure, I enjoyed meeting new people, hearing their stories, and wanting to help them in a monumental decision like buying their next home. However, there was less focus on …

Career Contacts Human Resources Recruitment Agency British Columbia Vancouver Sea To Sky Blog thumbail 01 1

Mentorship during your job search

Natasha JeshaniJob Search

As someone that has been on the giving and receiving end of mentorship, I think that when done right, the results can be incredibly rewarding for both participants. If you are a job seeker that is looking to transition in your career, grow in your current role, or just unsure of what is next for you, mentorship is a great path to clarity. Since every organization with a formal mentorship program operates in their own unique way, I think it is so important to really think about who you want as your mentor, what you want out of the experience and what level of support you really need. In the last few years, I have supported and number of organizations including FEW, YWiB and most recently, have partnered with Locelle and Mentor Moments. Each of these organizations offer a different take on mentorship, so I encourage you to learn more about each if you are looking for a mentor (or to become one). I believe strongly that a values driven process is paramount. Today, I want to share with you 5 reasons why you should consider becoming a mentee: 1. Learn from the experiences of other This is where you’ll …