Canadian Diaspora

A Somalian arrives in Vancouver as a new immigrant to Canada. He stops the first person he sees walking down the street and says, ”Thank you Mr. Canadian for letting me in this country, giving me housing, money for food, free medical care, free education and no taxes!”

The passerby says, ” You are mistaken, I am Mexican.”

The man goes on and encounters another passerby. ”Thank you for having such a beautiful country here in Canada!”

The person says, ”I not Canadian, I am Vietnamese.”

The new arrival walks further, and the next person he sees he stops, shakes his hand and says, ”Thank you for the wonderful Canada!”

That person puts up his hand and says, ”I am from Middle East, I am not Canadian!”

He finally sees a nice lady and asks, ”Are you a Canadian?”

She says, ”No, I am from Africa!”

Puzzled, he asks her, ”Where are all the Canadians?”

The African lady checks her watch and says …”Probably at work!”

Check "Panacea" - dr. Suneel Sethi's Blog for more humorous and interesting posts.

News You Can Use - How Recruiters Read Resumes In 10 Seconds or Less

With 30 years experience as a recruiter, Brad Remillard is summarizing in the below article the resume's "must haves" or you're out!


Check it here.


Download a sample cover letter proven to work with recruiters and get your resume noticed. CLICK HERE to download yours. Over 2,000 people have done this.


Check also these FREE Resources

9 Seconds or Less ... to fascinate

In today's world of 9-second attention spans, our introductions mean more-than-ever before. Sally Hogshead reveals the seven triggers of fascination and how to get others to fall in love with your ideas, instantly.

Check it out: Radical Careering.

News You Can Use - Engineering job outlook through to 2018

Ottawa, ON. -- Engineers Canada has released a labour market study that shows the current and future market conditions in engineering. The study tracked current national labour supply and demand and includes a projection from 2010 to 2018, providing engineering students, universities, employers and governments with insight into labour market forecasts. 

Included in the study is information on qualifications and attribute requirements, along with career opportunities for those considering immigrating to Canada. For instance, while levels of immigration and Canadian graduation established in 2008-2009 are likely sufficient to balance markets across the coming decade, issues such as replacement demands related to retirements in many occupations will add to current challenges in recruiting experienced engineers.

The Engineering Labour Market Conditions 2009-2018 report is available online as a pdf document here. [http://www.engineerscanada.ca/files/engineering_labour_market_conditions_report_2010.pdf]

For additional information, visit www.engineerscanada.ca or www.randstadengineering.ca.

News You Can Use - Keep a tidy desk!

Canadian HR Reporter - Article - Messy desk affects professional reputation: Survey

How to make work-life balance work by Nigel Marsh

Work-life balance, says Nigel Marsh, is too important to be left in the hands of your employer. At TEDxSydney, Marsh lays out an ideal day balanced between family time, personal time and productivity -- and offers some stirring encouragement to make it happen.




Nigel Marsh is the author of "Fat, Forty and Fired" and "Overworked and Underlaid." Full bio and more links

News You Can Use - New Canadians must self-promote more

Hello again,

I just read the below article and the topic is my preferred one. In my experience, networking success has never been based on who you know but, rather, who knows you. 

Because, NETWORK is surrounding yourself with people who support you! What propels your career success whether you are self-employed or working for others? "Networking with as many as possible." 

A commonly known phrase says: "What you know is important; who you know is even more important."

Furthermore, a more appropriate phrase would be: "It isn't who you know, but who knows you and knows what you know."

As noted above, your relationships matter - your professional network of trusted contacts gives you an advantage in your career, and is one of your most valuable assets. Who you know and more importantly who knows you can help your credibility. 

In this article you will find a road-map to become a master networker:

Getting Connected: IN SOME CULTURES TALKING ABOUT YOUR SKILLS IS CONSIDERED INAPPROPRIATE BUT IN THE JOB MARKET, IT'S A MUST

By ALLISON GRAHAM, SPECIAL TO QMI AGENCY

Internationally trained professionals come to Canada with the intention of building a full and prosperous life. Unfortunately, many find themselves underemployed and struggling to get connected to industry leaders and find worthwhile job opportunities.

At a recent conference dedicated to sharing strategies with new Canadians on how to connect in the job market, the overwhelming theme was encouraging them to "network." The question is "how?"

Successful networking is the same regardless of where you were born. There are four pillars -- the concept, the strategy, the Business of YOU and the fundamentals -- to become a master networker:

• The concept: In Canada, the networking approach that works best is more subtle than in other parts of the world. A person who has just met you is not likely to open up his or her network to you to help you find a job until the relationship has had time to develop. It could take meeting someone six to eight times at networking functions before you start to click. Showing up once or twice is not enough. Asking a person at the time of introduction to give you a job or introduce you to someone who could won't likely happen.
• The strategy: You'll need to figure out where you should go to network that will give you the best opportunity to connect with people in your industry. Research online can help you pinpoint the movers and shakers in your field. It requires stepping out of your comfort zone, but if you only network within current circles, you won't meet people who can lead to the job you desire.
• The Business of YOU: This is the networking pillar that addresses your image and employability. Your personal brand or reputation will have a huge effect on your ability to get and keep a job. The question for a potential employer is not only if you can do the work, it's whether you can function and get along in the workplace. For people to hire or recommend you, they need to like you, trust you and believe you are competent so every time you go to a networking event you want to keep these goals in mind. Ask yourself "What would it be like to meet me?" The answer may tell you a lot about how well you connect with people. One barrier for internationally trained professionals can be language. Even if you are fluent in English, a thick accent can make it difficult to connect at loud networking events. Practise and perfect your English or French. Knowing a second language can benefit you in your work, but getting connected to the right people will require conversations most often in English.
• The fundamentals: Knowing the how-tos of networking in Canada is essential to landing a job in the professional realm.

Allison Graham is a business networking expert, conference speaker and the author of Business Cards to Business Relationships: How to Build the Ultimate Network. To submit a question, comment on this article or contact Allison, visit her blog at http://blogs.canoe.ca/gettingconnected or her website, http://blogs.canoe.ca/gettingconnected

As well, check these Free Networking Tips.

"It isn't who you know, but who knows you and knows what you know." ~ Anonymus

How to Apply an Engineering Method to Solve Ethical Problems (3)

An Engineering Strategy for Solving Complex Ethical Problems

Everyday life ethical issues are clear and simple and solved by intuitive use of ethical theories. Complex ethical problems can be more challenging.

Various types of professionals, including engineers, often express significant differences of opinion when faced with cases requiring an ethical solution. Engineers should have an advantage in resolving ethical dilemmas, since problem-solving and decision making techniques are a routine part of engineering.

Being an engineer, I’d like to provide a framework for reconciling differences of opinion as we address the question, “what is the right thing to do?” in circumstances involving ethical issues in the engineering profession.

The problem solving method developed here is from the book What Every Engineer Should Know About Ethics, by Kenneth K. Humphreys (4)

The problem solving model developed here involves five steps. It is a systematic approach to moral deliberation that is designed for groups of individuals, but can be used by individuals with some minor adjustments. This figure illustrates the steps of this model.

1. State the Problem 

• Clearly define exact nature of ethical problem or dilemma. 
• Need to be clear so that we can anticipate the kind of solution that is required. 
• Want to provide an answer that is relevant to the interests at stake. 

2. Get the Facts 

• Want to make an informed decision. 
• Must possess and understand the relevant facts. 
• Must make clear any interpretations of factual matters or the values than underlie conflicting moral viewpoints.

3. Identify & Defend Competing Moral Viewpoints

• Critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of competing moral viewpoints. 
• Begin by identifying what we believe to be the most compelling reason for the course of action. 
• We must be able to justify the course of action. 

4. Formulate Opinions

• As engineers we do not have the luxury of postponing questions or leaving a question unresolved. 
• Decide which of the compelling viewpoints is the most compelling. 
• The committee approach (voting) is advantageous because the decision is representative of the general public. 

5. Qualify Recommendations

• Committees must qualify the recommendations they make by describing the level of consensus that was received. 
• Should include the voting distribution and any dissenting opinions. 

The strategy described above is rather a formal process that would be followed in detail only for very complex cases. However, this strategy may be useful when a professional is stuck for a solution to a simpler problem.

In these circumstances, it is reassuring to know that many of the well-known methods of engineering – problem solving, generation of creative ideas, and decision making – can be applied to solve ethical problems as well.


References:
(1) “Complete Guide to Ethics Management: An Ethics Toolkit for Managers” - Written by Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD, Authenticity Consulting, LLC. Copyright 1997-2008.
(2) http://www.ethicsweb.ca/
(3) Moral Leadership
(4) “What Every Engineer Should Know About Ethics” Witten by Kenneth K. Humphreys
(5) http://www.ethicscasediscussions.org/

How to Apply an Engineering Method to Solve Ethical Problems (2)

What is ethics?

Some people will say "Ethics is simply to do what's right" or saying just “do good”. This myth was explained to me by one of the founder members of the Association of Romanian Engineers in Canada and during the last years I had to discuss and exemplify it with many newcomer engineers from Romania.

Ethics involves learning what is right or wrong, and then doing the right thing -- but "the right thing" is not nearly as straightforward as conveyed.

Some times many engineers may believe ethics is irrelevant because in business we cannot talk of ethics and training in ethics may avoid the real-to-life complexities in leading organizations.

We may consider ethics to be the "Science of Conduct.” Ethics includes the fundamental ground rules by which we live our lives. Philosophers such as Socrates and Plato have given guidelines for ethical behaviour.

Definition of Ethics

Ethics – the study of right and wrong, good and evil, obligations and rights, justice, and social and political ideas – is one of the four branches of philosophy, according to The Canadian Encyclopedia Plus.

The concept has come to mean various things to various people, but generally in the context of organizations coming to know what is right or wrong in the workplace and doing what's right -- this is in regard to effects of products/services and in relationships with stakeholders.

Leaders help to set the tone, develop the vision, and shape the behaviour of all those involved in organizational life.

“The critical point to understand here is that, like it or not, business and politics serve as the metronome for our society. And the meter and behavior established by leaders set the patterns and establish the models for our behavior as individuals and as a group. Although the terms "business ethics" and "moral leadership" are technically distinguishable, in fact, they are inseparable components in the life of every organization.” (1)

As a student of business ethics, I am convinced that without the continuous commitment, enforcement, and modeling of leadership, standards of business ethics cannot be achieved in any organization.

How to Apply an Engineering Method to Solve Ethical Problems (1)

If you've read this blog for a while, you already know that I like to use my engineering background to point your attention to general concepts. Even if you're not an engineer, i am confident you will benefit from it.

Today, I will start a series of postings demonstrating the use of one of the well-known methods of engineering, which can be applied to solve ethical problems as well.

Introduction

Coming to Canada as an immigrant engineer educated and trained in another country, I was faced to many career choices. I could choose to join a small firm or a multinational organization, to be an entrepreneur or even to change the path of my career for another domain. Each of these opportunities operates in business environment that is totally different from the place I was coming from.

However, first of most I had to understand the new culture and the ethics of the business. Soon I understood that organizations have no more stable environment, and I had to answer many dilemmas.

A simple example is should I leave present employer and go for better salary and benefits. If I stay here, what is the guarantee that I will be offered continued employment?  The course on ethics in faculty didn't provide any yes or no answers to these questions. It helped me to understand my inside compass on guiding me to take appropriate decisions.

If we examine the current literature on ethics, the focus is on guidelines given by philosophers, academics and social critics. However, leaders, managers and engineers require more practical information about managing ethics.

"Managing ethics in the workplace holds tremendous benefit to all including engineers, managers, organization and society. This is particularly true today when it is critical to understand and manage highly diverse groups, with different values in the workplace and operating in globalized economic conditions." (1)

What is ethics?
(will follow)

References:
(1) "Complete Guide to Ethics Management: An Ethics Toolkit for Managers" - written by Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD, Authenticity Consulting, LLC., Copyright 1997-2008.