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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 …

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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 …

What to wear to a remote job interview

Natasha JeshaniNews

When going to a job interview, first impressions really count.  Now that a lot of interviews are going remote, many are forgetting that you are still about to make a first impression, and your appearance counts. Dress with confidence and style; be polished and professional. Here are some tips for you: Find out what the dress code is Ask what the dress code is when setting up the job interview.  This will give you a hint on what they are expecting, and also give you a glimpse of their culture too! Be conservative with what you choose If the job interview is at a formal office, dress the way you would on your first day, unless told otherwise. If it is a casual office, and jeans and t-shirts are worn, you should still do a more business variation of this to look put together and like you put in effort for the interview. Wear clothes that fit Don’t wear clothes that are too tight or too loose to the job interview. Both are inappropriate and will make you look less put together. Wear clean clothes Even over zoom, we can tell when your clothes are dirty, and it gives off …

How to feel “unstuck” while feeling “stuck” at home

Natasha JeshaniNews

Most of us are currently following the stay at home orders that have been instituted all over the world. I have been hearing a lot of people saying things like “I just feel stuck” or “I feel like this is wasted time”. The fact is, most of the world is in the same situation, so feeling like you are getting left behind as the world is moving forward simply isn’t the case, we are all in the same boat. Mindset is key in this situation. It’s important that you are choosing to see the silver lining of this extra time as the chance to use it however you feel works best for you. For some, that will mean some much needed down time, for others, it might be getting in that quality time with the kids that you have been missing. For others, it can be a time to grow your skills and knowledge to set you apart when the world returns to normal. Here are some ideas of great ways to keep that stagnant feeling at bay! Take an online class Utilize some of the wonderful online learning platforms to deepen your software skills, learn about how other people …

How to Answer the “What is Your Weakness” Question Effectively?

Natasha JeshaniNews

Interviews are stressful – you want to be organized and appear to be fully qualified for each job you apply to.  When getting ready and prepared for a job interview, it is important to think of the questions you may be asked and be ready with great responses. One of the most common questions that still gets asked is some variation of “tell me about your weaknesses”. Let’s get ready for this one together! First, let’s consider why interviewers ask questions about your weaknesses. They ask about weaknesses to see how and if candidates will fit into their organization when it comes to taking ownership.  They also want to see if a candidate has the ability to recognize their imperfections and then be able to implement strategies to learn and grow to overcome them. Employers care about the process of coming back from errors, more so than the mistake itself. Do not reply with “I am a perfectionist” or “I work too hard”. It can be tricky to identify weaknesses. One way to communicate positively about a weakness is to identify a skill or a trait that you are learning or have learned to overcome and that has now become …