Audie McCarthy and Lucy McGreal were part of the panel 'Employment in 2009 - The Experts View' at OPTIONS; they have graciously allowed us to post their speeches on our site.

Questions for
Expert Panel in 2009

1. In one interview I knew more about the company that the interviewer. I don't remember if I got the job or not. Could this be significant when an employer is selecting the right person?

This is not a common situation; however, if you find yourself in this position it is best to handle it in a professional manner. There are times when you may be interviewed by a Human Resources Professional who may not be overly famliar with the technical aspects of the position that you are interviewing for (especially in larger organizations). Many employers hire for "fit" and are looking for candidates that have a positive attitude. My advice would be to display respect, avoid condescending statements and present your knowledge in a manner that is positive and does not compare your intelligence to that of the Interviewer. If you handle this situation in a positive way it will not have a negative impact on your chances of being selected for the position.

2. At the end of an interview when you're asked if there is anything that would cause the employer to not hire you, how should you address the question in a positive way?

When answering this question, be honest and let the employer know if you have any concerns about your ability to perform the full duties of the position. In most cases, the employer will appreciate your honesty and look for ways to address your concerns or for ways to accommodate any barriers you may have identified. If the employer does not listen or is not sympathetic to your concerns this will help you determine, in advance, if this is truly a place that you would like to work. This may help to avoid an unsuccessful placement prior to both you and the employer investing much time and energy. At this time in the interview you also have the opportunity to let the employer know what makes you stand out from the rest of the applicants and why you feel that you are the best candidate for the position!

3. Is using a hotmail email address look unprofessional on a resume?
The most important consideration when choosing an email address is the username that you select; your username is a reflection of yourself and should convey a professional image. It is fine to use any of the free email service providers (hotmail, yahoo, gmail, etc.) as long as you provide an appropriate username. It is reccomended to provide a username that consists of a combination of your first and last name; for example: jsmith@hotmail.com.

4. Is there a list somewhere of potential interview questions?

Employment Ontario has listed some great resources on their website that will help you prepare for your next job interview: www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/career/intervie.html

Your local library has many books with sample interview questions and answers; some of these titles are listed on the Hamilton Public Library's website:
www.myhamilton.ca/myhamilton/LibraryServices/ServicesFor/
JobSeekers/interview.html

5. Does it look negative to have a list of employers that are relevant to the position you're applying for on your resume if these are positions that were short-term due to being contract positions? Even if you list them as contract positions with a termination date?

Based on today's labour market it is not uncommon to see more short term placements on a resume. Employers are aware of this trend and are more sympathetic to this situation then they may have been in the past. However, it is good to have an explanation of how this position contributed to your overall career development. If you can identify how the position gave you experience in a certain area or in using a specific software program, etc. then the employer will see the value of the short-term position. Always emphasize the positive!

6. Are there any recruitment sites that you would recommend?

The trend for most employers is to use their company website in conjuction with niche sites that are industry specific (for example, HR Professionals in Ontario should look at Human Resources Professional Association of Ontario). Sites like www.indeed.ca are popular among job seekers as Indeed acts as a search engine that allows the job seeker to find jobs posted on thousands of company career sites and job boards. In addition www.workpolis.com and www.monster.com are sites that many employers use to post their positions.

7. How can you tell if an online job posting is a scam?

There are some cases when you may be asked to pay a registration fee when applying for jobs; this is most common when you are applying for positions that require a written assessment, medical exam or practical examination. Examples of a few positions in the Hamilton labour market that often require a registration fee are: Police Officers, Firefighters and Transit Operators. Keeping all of this in mind, I would be weary of any posting that required you to pay a fee in order for your application to be considered. It is best to do your research; examine things like how long the company has been in business, take notice if they seem to be overly secretive about the details of the position and find out if they have a physical office space that you can visit. If it seems to good to be true then it probably is!

8. Who are the "older worker friendly" employers?

It would be very difficult to provide a list of "older worker friendly" employers. However, keep in mind that many employers value the positive attritubutes that a mature worker brings. Many employers identify mature workers as being highly skilled, bringing valuable experience that cannot be taught, being loyal and demonstrating leadership and mentorship qualities. Emphasize some of these positive advantages the next time you are invited to a job interview.

9. When it comes to references what do you do when all of your co-workers and managers were all laid off?

If you have their personal contact info you can still use them (with their permission). You can also use people from volunteer or community associations you may be involved in.

10. Is there such a thing as being or sounding too confident or sure of yourself during an interview?

You can never be too confident however you can be too cocky. Your mannerisms and tone of voice make the difference between coming off as professional and skilled vs a know it all. Check out the online workshop "Communicating with Confidence" on this website for more information.

11. You say that the health care field is growing , but from my experience most jobs are casual or part-time so that the employer doesn't have to pay benefits. How do you find full-time jobs in health care ?

The P/T reality or contract work is a given in today' s economy. As far as F/T, let the employees reputation carry them into a F/T position when one comes available.

12. You referred to a webite - what was it?

You can search for labour market information on either of these websites: You can search for labour market information on either of these sites:

Service Canada
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca

City of Hamilton Economic Development
www.investinhamilton.ca