Post on 29-Dec-2021
Employer
Expectations
& the Canadian
Workplace
Career Services and Cooperative
Education
June 2020
Learning Outcomes
▪Employers expectations
▪Canadian workplace culture and norms
▪Appropriate communication and workplace
behavior
▪ Tips for working remotely
Employer Expectations
1. Interpersonal or people skills (51%)
2. Problem-solving skills (45%)
3. Teamwork (41%)
4. Oral communication (40%)
5. Creative thinking (38%)
6. Written communication (35%)
Source: Career Builder
Top 6 Skills New Grads Are LACKING
**Employers want 60% soft skills
and 40% technical skills**
Benefits of Your International Experience
Unique soft skills you offer:
• Cross-cultural sensitivity
• Adaptability
• Bilingualism / multilingualism
• Creative thinking
• Willingness to be challenged in a new environment
What is Workplace Culture?
▪ The character and personality of an organization:
• beliefs, values, traditions, behaviours, attitudes, interactions, rules, policies, common practices
▪ “The unwritten rules of the workplace.”
▪ Workplace culture = Employers’ expectations
▪ Dress Code
▪ Meetings
▪ Equality
▪ Correspondence
▪ Manners
Workplace Culture = Employer Expectations
• Internet Use
• Confidentiality Policies
• Communication Style
• Personal Phone Use
• Social Interactions
Canadian Workplace Norms
▪ Be clean, well groomed
▪ Good manners and positive attitude
▪ All people are treated as equals and with respect
▪ No special status given to those of a certain class, age, gender, or position
▪ Acceptable to ask an employer for special considerations (i.e., disability, religion)
▪ Use of first names vs. ‘Sir/Madam’ or ‘Mr./Ms.’, understand the hierarchy within the company
Tips to Meet Employer Expectations
1. Have a dependable means of transportation (and a backup plan)
2. Maintain a calendar or planner
3. Ask questions (but not the same ones over again)
4. Reach out to other staff and be friendly
5. Keep busy and take initiative
6. Don’t be a clock watcher
7. Get to know your supervisor/coach, manager, and co-workers. Learn their work style and performance expectations.
8. Learn what behaviour is expected in your work environment.
How would you learn what is expected of you?
The Canadian
Workplace
Appropriate Attire
▪Personal hygiene
▪ Interview attire vs. on the job
▪ Formal business attire vs. business casual
▪Cultural/religious attire
Source: Cultivated Culture, What to Wear to a Job Interview
Good Phone Etiquette
DO DO NOT
Be prepared when making a call or
receiving a call
Come across as distracted or complete
other tasks when on a call
Speak clearly at all times Mumble, whisper or shout
Leave detailed voicemail messages
(name, phone #, purpose of call)
Leave vague messages that require
your contact to guess
Keep your voicemail up to date,
professional and clear
Make a joke on your voicemail, or let the
inbox fill up
Answer voicemail messages promptly
- within a day
Leave contacts waiting without a
response
Save personal calls for break times Leave your phone on during a work shift
Good E-mail Etiquette
✓DO’s
▪ Use professional font
▪ Check spelling, grammar – review
before sending
▪ Salutation / closing
▪ Be clear, concise
▪ Use the Subject line
▪ Use same words / tone as you would
when speaking face-to-face
× DON’T’S
▪ Don’t use ALL CAPITALS
▪ Don’t use emoticons, images
▪ Don’t use texting language
Remember: once it’s
out there, it’s out there
forever!
Bad E-mail Examples
Good Email Sample
DO √√ DO NOT XX
Know the policies and procedures in advance
Be left in an emergency situation and not
know who to contactStore contact information for your supervisor
OR human resources in your phone
Request time off in a DETAILED e-mail Approach your employer at a busy time
Have a plan set in place to cover your
workload during the time off
Assume your work will be covered
without making prior arrangements
Call/e-mail your employer IMMEDIATELY
when you are sick Wait until your shift has started to notify
your employer of your lateness/absenceCall your employer IMMEDIATELY when you
suspect you will be late
Ask in advanced and in writing if you know
you will need time off
Stop your Manager in the hall to ask
about time off
Requesting Time Off & Reporting Absences
Good Email Sample
What is Small Talk?
▪What is small talk?
▪ “Talk at work is not confined to talk about work.”
- Is this true for every culture?
▪Why is small talk important in the workplace?
Source: TRIEC
Breaking the Ice at Work
Some good conversation starters:
• “Hi there, I don’t think we’ve met before. My name is…”
• “I’m so sorry, I’ve met so many people lately. Can you remind me your name?”
• “Hi, I heard you are the expert in [computer systems]! Can you tell me how you…?”
• “Hi! How are things going? Is it a busy day for you?”
• “Wow, it looks so cold out there! Do you like winter?”
Source: George Brown College, Career Services – Communication in the Workplace
Summarizing Small Talk
▪ Use common ‘icebreakers’ to connect with co-workers
▪ Be open to conversation with others
▪ Join your co-workers for coffee or lunch
▪ Participate in discussions and meetings (listen attentively)
▪ Shows that you ‘fit in’ with the organizational
culture
▪ Do it in moderation: Don’t spend too much time chatting with co-
workers and not completing your work
Conversations @ Work
▪ Gossip/office grapevine – pros and cons
▪ Topics to avoid (religion, politics, sex, family problems,
your health, your career aspirations)
Workplace Conflict
Workplace conflict can arise due to poor communication,
personality clashes, poor performance:
• Be calm, respectful
• Separate people from problems
• Focus on the facts
• Listen first, talk second
• Explore options together
Source: www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_81.htm
Sources: www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_81.htm
http://www.crmlearning.com/blog/index.php/2016/11/4-essential-conflict-resolution-steps/
4 Steps to Conflict Resolution
Get Clarity
Reflect on what
caused the
conflict?
Discussion –
Actively
Listen
Understand their
point of view
Discussion
- Respond
Help them
understand your
point of view
Reach a Solution
Discuss solutions to reach a
*COMPROMISE*
1. Set a schedule – treat it like the
workplace!
2. Designate a workspace – find space
to focus!
3. Communication – stay in touch!
4. Take initiative – don’t disengage!
5. Self care – find a balance!
Tips to Work from Home
Career Services
• Job postings
• Sample resumes /
cover letters
• Job search resources
• Job search tips
• Mock interviews
• LinkedIn profiles
• Employer
events
• Job fairs
Advising Resources Events
Appointments
available in-
person and via
phone or video
Use Career
Services now &
beyond
graduation!
Create your HireCentennial account today
Step 1: Go to hire.centennialcollege.ca
Step 2: Click on Students/Alumni tab to login
Step 3: Use MyCentennial login information
Use Career Services now and beyond graduation!
PROG C-210 | MORN 324 | ASH L-104 | SAC 102
hire.centennialcollege.ca | 416-289-5233
careerservices@centennialcollege.ca
www.centennialcollege.ca/career-services
@HireCentennial
@CentennialCareerServices
@Launchyourcareer
Centennial Career Services
& Co-operative Education
Source: https://cultivatedculture.com/covid19-job-market-insights/
▪ For post-secondary students and recent graduates who are ineligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit or for EI, but who are unable to find full-time employment or are unable to work due to COVID-19
▪ CESB would provide $1,250 per month for eligible students from May through August 2020, and $1,750 for students with dependents and those with permanent disabilities
▪ https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2020/04/support-for-students-and-recent-graduates-impacted-by-covid-19.html
Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB)
▪ How is the company preventing Covid-19 in the workplace?
• Is cleaning and disinfection being done for workplaces, especially public
facing?
• How is the company practicing physical distancing?
• Is the company moving towards teleworking, staggering start times,
using email/teleconferencing to conduct meetings, etc.?
▪ What are personal precautions you can take at home and in the
workplace?
• Frequently washing your hands, using hand sanitizer if soap / water not
available
• Avoiding touching your face
• Cleaning and disinfecting your home / workspace often
• Keeping your distance of at least 2 metres from others
• Staying home if sick and self-isolating if returning from international
travel or in close contact with someone with Covid-19
• Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/preventing-covid-
19-workplace-employers-employees-essential-service-workers.html#_For_all_employees
Safety Precautions During Covid-19 Pandemic
Additional Resources
How to Handle a Job Search During a Pandemic
Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan: Support for Canadians and
Businesses
COVID-19: Your Professional Life and Staying Grounded
Insulating for isolation: a mental health checklist for getting through
quarantine
5 ways to learn new career skills for free during the COVID-19 crisis
How Hourly Workers Can Make a Living During The Corona Crisis
Coronavirus: How to work from home the right way