Picture yourself walking out a revolving door then walking back in with a new attitude and a new take on life
Older workers must first understand the realities of the career world as it exists today before they are ready to pitch themselves to employers. Your goal is to convince employers you're not a vestige of a bygone work era but a high-energy chameleon who quickly adapts to any environment. Picture yourself walking out a revolving door then…
Newly minted college grads make the mistake of jumping at any company dangling a high salary and attractive benefits package
Don't be seduced by a high-paying job offer. Newly minted college grads make the mistake of jumping at any company dangling a high salary and attractive benefits package. Compared with a decade ago, colleges are more diligent about preparing grads for the real world, but they still fall short when it comes to teaching them…
Just being good at what you do and working hard is not enough
One of the best ways, if not the best, to move ahead in your company is by increasing how valuable you are to your employer. Nothing says you are material for a promotion like coming in day after day and demonstrating your value. But just being good at what you do and working hard might…
All the myths about being washed up at age 60 are hogwash
Planning for life past 65 is more important now than ever before. What with longer life spans, people are not only working longer, they're also changing the way they live. We're in a longevity revolution of a kind that's never been seen before. A hundred years ago, the average life expectancy was 47; today it's…
If you accurately decode body language cues, you'll be well on your way to gaining the nonverbal advantage!
Human beings are genetically programmed to look for facial and behavioural cues and to quickly understand their meaning. We see someone gesture and automatically make a judgment about the intention of that gesture. And we've been doing this for a long, long time. As a species we knew how to win friends and influence people…
For your communication to have any emotional charge, face to face is the best choice
As we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic Zoom burnout, one universal truth is becoming even clearer: Face-to-face is still the most preferred, productive and powerful communication medium. In fact, the more business professionals communicate electronically, the more pressing becomes the need for more personal interaction. Here's why ... In face-to-face meetings, our brains process the…
Most people tend to predict that others will do better than they will on difficult tasks
A lack of confidence in our abilities on a given task or activity seems to stem from overestimating the abilities of others, according to a University of Alberta study. The finding could offer leaders insights into how to counter self-doubt in the face of a difficult task. Previous research has shown that most people tend to…
We need to view challenges and solutions in ways that validate our emotions and influence the way we feel about our jobs, and ourselves
Preparing for a speech to the leadership of an organization facing major restructuring pre-pandemic, I asked the meeting planner for background on the audience. "We've presented all the facts," she replied. "But it would be much easier if everyone weren't so emotional!" In the business world, it seems, people are supposed to think logically and act…
Immigrant wages in oil and gas extraction in Canada are 71 per cent higher than in manufacturing and are rising faster than in other sectors
By Mark Milke and Ven Venkatachalam Canadian Energy Centre A few years ago, one of us took an early morning taxi ride in Vancouver. The driver, originally from Latin America, began to complain – without prompting – about how crazy it was that local anti-oil-and-gas protesters were trying to block the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.…
Businesses are looking for skilled workers as they quickly shift to the digital landscape
The University of Alberta is offering three new continuing education programs to meet a fast-growing need for digital job skills, opening the door for people with little or no technological experience to build new careers. The trio of programs, delivered through the Faculty of Extension beginning in July, will provide the skills needed to fill some of the…
When someone asks what you do, they might really be asking: Who are you?
Norm was a faller. For three years, Norm fell big trees in the wilds of British Columbia. He was so good at his job that he could drop a tree exactly where he wanted and taught others to do the same. Norm could have let his job define who he was and lived the hard-working,…
As an occupational therapist and researcher, Chelsea Jones helps military members and veterans improve their physical and mental health
Chelsea Jones knew little about the military before becoming an occupational therapist, helping ease people out of their pain and back into their day-to-day lives. But when she realized there was a gap in the kind of treatment soldiers needed beyond physical therapy, she knew where she belonged. As she graduates this week with a…
Joseph El-Hamchaoui is the first grad of a new U of A master’s program that marries business and physical therapy
Coming from a business-oriented family, Joseph El-Hamchaoui has the entrepreneurial spirit in his DNA – but also a desire to help people. So when it came time to start his undergraduate education at the University of Alberta, he broke with tradition to study health care. A decade later, as he becomes the first graduate of…
Damion Barnes wants to help patients from all backgrounds improve their health, one achievable goal at a time
Damion Barnes is known for his empathetic way of dealing with his pharmacy patients – but make no mistake, he’s all about setting goals and meeting them. His approach is to help people identify small, achievable steps so they can work toward the bigger target of improving their health. “The guidelines say, for example, 150…
A grad of U of A’s fashion business management program, Frances Heaton gained a deep understanding of the industry and a strong network
Frances Heaton has always loved dabbling in fashion design, even creating her own figure skating outfits as a kid. “It’s like art, but with human bodies, which has always intrigued me.” Fast-forward to spring of 2021, as she becomes one of the first graduates of the University of Alberta’s bachelor of science in fashion business…