Always Wanted to be a Police Officer?

By Canadajobs.com Staff

By Sara Parent

job, jobs, career

You've decided this is the path you want to take. You've watched enough NYPD Blue and COPS to know this is the life for you. What do you do now?

Dig In:

Call your local police force or your local RCMP detachment. Ask to go on a ride-along. This will give you a better understanding of the job. What you don't see on NYPD Blue you might get to experience on your ride-along.

Talk To Those on the Job:

Get to know your local police officers. Make some contacts at the station by telling them you're interested in the job and in pursuing a career in it. Ask them what they like about, what they dislike, what skills they needed, how they got into it, what skills they think you should have, and anything else you can come up with.

Decide on Which Force to Join:

If you are interested in local police in your town or municipality, check their websites or give them a call to see what qualifications you need to work as a police officer for your town or city. Ask them how many officers they have hired lately and how they see their needs in the future. Education requirements differ from city to city. Some will require you to have a policing course completed. Some hire you first and send you to a police college. As well, many colleges and universities offer preparatory courses to help you get into policing. Ask the force what they are looking for as this could save you a lot of time and money.

If you are interested in joining the RCMP, they have a detailed requirement of what they need. First, you must attend a training session. They are held throughout the country. Contact your local detachment for information on the next available training session. Then you must write the RCMP Police Aptitude Test, do the Physical Abilities Requirement Evaluation (called PARE, which is used by most police agencies in Canada), then a series of tests, investigations, and evaluations are performed. If you are successful, you will be selected to enroll in the cadet training program at RCMP Depot in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Get Ready:

The process to join a police force can be intense. You've got to be prepared to deal with physical fitness testing, personality and aptitude testing, background checks, and lots of paperwork.

Policing can be a satifying and rewarding career. A little research now will help you prepare yourself and get you closer to fulfilling your goal.

Working At Home? Five Things You Can't Be Without

By Canadajobs.com Staff

job, jobs, career

You've decided to make your home your new home base. Whether you've decided to launch a new business or your job allows you to telecommute from home, there are some basic things you should keep in mind when working from home.

A Designated Space:

You need space to work from home. A desk in the living room is not going to do it. You need to be able to shut the door and be in a separate area that will allow you to be free from distractions. This also helps for the times when you are not working. Since you will be at home most of your life, you need to be able to shut the door and get away when you are not working. Have a separate space allows you to do that.

Investment:

It doesn't need to be a huge amount, but working from home will cost you. You will need your office to be set up with internet access, a separate phone line, and basic office necessities like a filing area, a workstation, a computer, and a quality chair. If you aren't comfortable, and you don't have the tools you need to work, you will likely be frustrated and have trouble concentrating on your work.

Discipline:

Working from home takes strong discipline and concentration. There are many distractions tempting and luring you away from your office. There's television, the fridge, kids, housework, pets and many more. You must make a work schedule, just as you would with any other job. Take breaks, but stick to your schedule. You must remember that when you work unsupervised, only you are responsible for the work you do. If you are the type of person that needs constant supervision and reminders to focus and work, this arrangement may not be for you.

Support:

When you are working in your office, your family and friends need to respect and understand that you are as unavailable as you would be if you were working from an office downtown. Of course, you have added flexibility and you can certainly allow for more family time than if you were working at another location, but they must understand that when you are in your office, you are working. Make sure family members know not to barge in unannouced, not to make loud noises in other parts of the house, and not cause other distractions that will prevent you from working. Keep pets in another part of the house if you know they will be a distraction.

Commitment:

With all the effort it takes to set up a home office, you need to be sure it's exactly what you want. If you can, try it out a few times a month with your employer before committing to full-time telecommuting. It's easy to forget about social interaction, and for some people, it's a critical part of the workday. You might feel alienated from your work environment and have difficulty in keeping a team outlook. If you are going to be working for yourself, you will not have any office-type support when problems arise or you need questions answered. Make sure you have a good support system and consider joining an association of self-employed work-at-home people.

Working from home can be a satifying way of redefining your worklife. With some careful planning and investment, it may be the best move you'll make.

Want to Run Away and Join the Circus?

By Canadajobs.com Staff

job, jobs, career

Are you artistic, creative, and driven to entertain others? Never thought you could make a living as a performer? Think again.

You really can make a career out of whatever your heart is set on. Take the example of Cirque Du Soleil. With shows touring around the world, Cirque Du Soleil hires artists of every type imaginable. A quick tour of their website reveals they are looking for singers, actors, musicians, circus artists like contortionists and strongmen, and various athletes skilled in gymnastic sports like trampoline, tumbling, and synchronize swimming.

Not so limber? Cirque also hires "offstage" staff to support their artists. Everything from physiotherapists to talent scouts to immigration specialists and technical personnel. So even if you aren't an entertainer, you can still join the circus!

Ever considered working at an amusement park? Theme parks such as Paramount Canada's Wonderland hire performers, technicians, and artists to entertain their visitors every summer. Because most of these jobs are seasonal, they're perfect for students or those wanting to try out a career in entertainment.

If you love travelling or living abroad and you're artistic, why not consider working at a resort like Club Med? They hire artists like choreographers, set designers, dance instructors, and DJs to entertain their visitors. Many of their jobs are posted here on Canadajobs.com.

If you have the dedication, drive, and enthusiasm, you can find a career doing something you love. You can fulfill the artist in you by finding a job that's different and exciting. It just takes creativity, self-confidence, and the ability to look beyond traditional work environments.

Do You Have What It Takes to Work in Farming or Agriculture?

By Canadajobs.com Staff

job, jobs, career

Have you been considering a career in farming? Whether you are looking at traditional types of farming such as dairy, cattle, or chicken, or whether you are considering organic vegetables or a vineyard, farming takes a special kind of person.

Up With The Chickens:

Let's face it, agriculture is a lot of hard work. And that work starts early. If you prefer to roll out of bed later than earlier, this might not be the job for you. There is no sleeping in on the weekends either. Depending on the type of farm you operate, you could be working 14-16 hour days.

Able to Handle Stress?:

Working in agriculture can be stressful because there are a lot of things that are beyond your control.

Animals get sick, the weather can damage crops, and prices for your product can fluctuate. You must be able to handle stresses and have the determination to forge ahead. If frost comes early and you have to remove your product from the ground as soon as possible, you must be able to work under pressure and have the ability to remain calm.

Determination:

When the price for your crop or product is on the decline, you have to be able to rationally determine if your business can take it. You have to be the type of person who can see ahead and decide if the risks are worth it. In agriculture, you are at the mercy of the elements, product price fluctuations, and public opinion. You must have a strong belief in your ability to produce a safe and valuable product. Farming is about creating and continuing the food supply in some form or another and with everything that can get in your path, you will need determination.

Energy:

Working at a farm takes energy. Along with the early mornings, there are rarely any vacations. Cows must be milked usually twice a day and you can't skip any milkings. Animals must be taken care of if they become sick, whether it's Friday night or not. The life of a farmer is 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. And if you are doing it because you love it, you don't mind.

Knowledge:

You have to know your stuff. Whether it's animals you are raising or fruits and vegetables you're growing, you need to be on top of your game. Specialized universities and colleges offer programs in agriculture and they should be seriously investigated. Running a farm is a business. You will need business knowledge to go along with your farm knowledge and experience. On the farm, you will have to be able to do a little bit of everything, so it pays to make sure you know what's involved.

A career in agriculture and farming can be very rewarding. Knowing you are playing a role in getting food and products to people makes it all worthwhile. If you have what it takes and the strong desire to do what needs to be done, farming is a career worth investigating.

Do You Have What it Takes To Work in a Call Centre?

By Canadajobs.com Staff

job, jobs, career

Working in a call centre might seem like an easy job at first glance. It's just about answering phones, right? Wrong. There are many different jobs in call centres. There are Customer Service Reps (CSRs), Technical Service Reps (TSRs), Supervisors, Managers, and Human Resources staff, and many others who work to ensure a call centre, the customer's first line of contact with a company, works as a well-oiled machine.

So what does it take to work in a call centre? Though for this article we'll focus on CSRs, many of these skills are critical in other call centre jobs too.

Ability To Work in a Fast-Paced Environment:

In a call centre, it's all about speed. If you are working in an inbound call centre (meaning call come in to your call centre, as opposed to CSRs making calls) the main focus is how fast can a rep answer a phone. How quickly can they solve a customer's issue? Call times and wait times are how a centre calculates its efficiency, and therefore, it's costs and profits. But call times and wait times aren't just important for the company, they are also important to the customer. That's why it's critical to be able to work under pressure.

Accuracy and Attention to Detail:

The customer is calling you because they have a problem. You must be able to answer their inquiry quickly and correctly so their faith and trust in your company is upheld. It's important to the company you work for that their customers aren't frustrated. These customers are the backbone of your company, and they need to have faith that their call is being handled professionally and correctly and that they will get the same correct answer if they call next time. Accurate consistency is critical. And for that, you need to be the type of person who can learn and retain information.

Ability to Learn New Skills:

Products and services change constantly. And though the basics will remain the same, you need to be on top of new things. The last thing a customer wants to do is be calling you for answers and you don't know what they're talking about. You also have to be willing to learn computer programs or software unique to your call centre. Call centres have a lot of processes and you must be able to learn how those work so you can work more efficiently, and better serve customers.

Learning new skills such as another language can also help your job prospects in a call centre. Many list the ability to speak a second language as an asset.

Ability to Deal with Difficult People:

More often than not, customers will call because they have a problem and they want you to fix it right away. If you cannot show empathy, and support them in their frustrations, they will get increasingly upset. You must be able to deal with difficult people and know how to handle and diffuse them. Consider taking a course on the subject. You'll learn how to improve your listening skills, and learn little tricks as simple as repeating back what you hear from your customer. This helps them feel listened to, understood, and in the end, it helps them feel better. The more ability you have in dealing with difficult people, the better you will feel also.

Flexibility:

Though a call centre can be a great 9-5 job, most of them require you to work some shift work. And this or may not fit your schedule. When you decide to apply for a job at a call centre, make sure you know what you are able to do in terms of shift work. If you have dependents, you will need to make alternate care arrangements. Remember too that changing shifts can affect your sleep patterns and your activities outside work hours.

The nature of call centres can also mean that you can be called in at the last minute. You might also be sent home if there is not enough work. If this is a concern for you, ask how often this happens when you are considering a job in a call centre.

Working in a call centre as a CSR can be a satifying job. Often, opportunities to move up to a team leader or scheduler can be had with the work experience you gain starting at the bottom. If you have the right skills and the desire to improve them, a career as a CSR might well be worth investigating.

Do You Have What it Takes To Be a Nurse?

By Canadajobs.com Staff

job, jobs, career

With the demand for nurses growing, nursing and healthcare services is likely to become one of the most sought after professions in the future.

Are you considering nursing as a career? Nurses work in a variety of locations and capacities. Besides hospitals, nurses can work at clinics, seniors' homes, kids' summer camps, and for private companies. There are emergency room nurses, intensive care nurses, palliative care nurses, pediatric care nurses, and many more.

If you are considering the field of nursing, here are a few things you should consider.

It's Hard Work:

Most nurses work shift work. And many work long hours. If you are looking for a job that is 9-5 with no weekends, this is probably not it. Working shift work requires a flexible lifestyle and a lot of support from your family.

Nursing also requires physical strength. You'll be doing things like moving and turning patients and carrying equipment. You must also be able to stand on your feet for a long time and be energetic.

Desire to Learn:

Before you can practice as a nurse, you need an education. Many colleges and universities offer these programs. Requirements vary so make sure you have what it takes. You must also pass a licensing test called the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam administered by the Canadian Nurses Association. If you are in Quebec, you must pass a test administered by l'Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec.

Nursing is a life-long learning experience. You must be committed to participating in professional development, of learning new ways of doing procedures, processes, and technologies. Healthcare is a field that is always changing.

Ability to Deal With Stress:

Hospitals and other health care facilities can be stressful environments. From dealing with emergency situations to palliative care (taking care of dying patients) it takes a special person able to handle the wide range of emotions. Critical situations require fast responses and the ability to think on your feet, while providing care to seriously ill or dying patients can be an emotional challenge.

Communication:

Perhaps one of the most important skills you should have if you are considering nursing as a career is the ability to communicate effectively. Many aspects of nursing work count on communication, such as listening to and understanding a patient, working in a team environment with other nurses, and effectively addressing concerns of patients' family members. People skills are critical to doing your job properly. No one wants to have a nurse who treats them rudely or without empathy.

Caring for Others:

As with any other profession, you should really love what you do in order to be successful at it. If you have a genuine interest in caring for people, in supporting them in their health, and in encouraging their recovery, nursing might just be the ticket. You must have empathy and a desire to help in patient comfort. You may have tasks to do that are unpleasant, but if you have genuine care for the work you are doing, you will see it as a way of helping and increasing a patient's comfort.

Nurses work in a variety of environments so there are always a variety of challenges and possibilities. Many countries around the world are actively looking for nurses either in a volunteer environment or paid position so you can really work almost anywhere you want.

If you have the skills and you are willing to invest the time and effort into a lifelong career, nursing could provide you with a fulfilling challenging profession.

Interested in Becoming a Chef?

By Canadajobs.com Staff

job, jobs, career

Have you got a flair for the artistic and enjoy cooking for others?

If the thought of becoming a chef is appealing to you, you should consider these tips and find out what it takes to be a chef.

Try it Out:

Before you invest in training, spend a day with a chef. Contact a local culinary school and express your interest in this as a future career. Tell them you'd like to observe someone for a day. They will likely be able to contact someone who would be open to showing you their job. Keep in mind that most restaurants are busy, stressful, fast-paced environments, so it's probably better to go the route of the culinary school, as opposed to contacting restaurants directly. Of course, you can certainly try contacting restaurants directly, especially if you know the owner or staff.

Prepare to Learn:

Working your way up is a combination of training, apprenticeships, and certification. And whether you are interested in becoming an executive chef, a chef de partie, or a sous-chef, it will take years of on-the- job training and the ability to take in and retain a lot of information. Executive chefs, as well as other types of chefs will also need the ability to be managers and supervisors as they direct the kitchen staff and are responsible for assigning tasks in the kitchen.

Critical Skills:

Being a chef is not just about preparing sumptuous foods. You should have above average communication skills, the ability to remain calm under pressure, be detail-oriented, and creative. Working in a kitchen environment can be fast-paced, stressful, and requires the ability to work quickly and accurately. As you learn the skills, if you want to move up the chef ladder, you will also need managerial skills, computer skills, and food cost control and financial skills.

Wait! There's More:

You'll also need to be physically able to work on your feet for long periods of time. Chef work is physical work, from carrying heavy pots to chopping, kneading, mixing, and more.

You need to be aware of food safety and be conscientious in your work environment. You need to know how to properly handle your tools safely like knives, mixers, and chopping tools.

You'll also need to be willing to learn about various types of cuisines, and depending on your specialty, different types of foods. You also need to be able to adapt your skills to the various work environments that exist. If you want to work in a five-star restaurant, you need to be willing to go out and get five-star restaurant experience.

Flexibility:

There are opportunities for chefs to work in exotic locations. From out-of-the-way resorts and spas to cruise ships, being a chef can be exciting and challenging. If you want to work in different environments, you must be flexible. Often, these locations will provide housing for their chefs and you must be able to live in the accomodations supplied. It takes an open mind and the ability to adapt in order to get the best experience possible.

Becoming a chef can be extremely rewarding and satisfying. There are career opportunities in restaurants and in institutions like hospitals, schools, and seniors' homes. You can also be an entrepreneur and become a personal chef, a television personality, or a restaurant owner. Being prepared and knowing what to expect will help you decide if this career is for you.