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Best Canadian Tech Podcasts

With the gloomy winter months right around the corner, now is the perfect time to curl up and find your new favorite podcast. Canada’s tech scene is growing rapidly, and we’ve found the best Canadian podcasts for tech professionals, or anyone with an interest in business and technology. Check out our picks for some of the best industry-specific podcasts (including some local ones!) and tune in to learn more about corporate life, software development, small business ownership, virtual reality, and everything in between.

 

SyrupCast

Brought to you by MobileSyrup, SyrupCast highlights the tech stories that matter most to Canadians, including topics like smartphones, video games, telecom news, and more. If you’re interested in tuning into a perfectly curated, purely Canadian podcast, SyrupCast is for you.

Latest episode: iPhone 13/iPad mini reviews and Microsoft’s big Surface event

 

The BetaKit Podcast Channel

This channel touches on Canadian tech and innovation and discusses global tech from a Canadian perspective.

Latest episode: What a marriage proposal at a Vance Joy show taught Dan Mangan about scaling Side Door

 

GetConnected

GetConnected with Mike Agerbo features interviews with innovators, executives, and other industry pros, to explore how everything from tech gadgets to internet culture is changing the world. This podcast is a great jumping off point for anyone interested in simplifying their tech news and connecting to the industry in new ways.

Latest episode: Amazon’s Fall Device Launch Event Was Overwhelming — Here’s What You Need to Know

 

AT Banter

This Assistive Technology podcast provides a look into assistive technology, accessibility, and the importance of technology in people’s lives worldwide.

Latest episode: AT Banter Podcast Episode 259 – Community Recreational Initiatives Society

 

What the Tech?

Perfect for tech junkies to stay updated on technology news, this podcast discusses new technologies in the workplace. From controversial debates to software reviews, this podcast will keep you on your toes and ready to learn about this industry from the inside out.

Latest episode: What The Tech Ep. 494 – Integration Is The Future

Canadian Tech Podcast

Each episode of Canadian Tech Podcast breaks down the biggest stories in Canadian technology news and discusses how they affect Canadians in their daily lives. Featuring interviews, special segments, and more.

Latest episode: CTP Ep. 149 – Erich Ko and Boyd Reid

 

Full Stack Radio

Full Stack Radio is for developers interested in building great software products. Every episode, you’ll hear a guest discuss everything from product design and user experience to unit testing and system administration.

Latest episode:152: Ben Orenstein – How to Stand Out When Applying for a Job at a Small Company

Bathtime 2 Boardroom

Bathtime 2 Boardroom is the perfect podcast for working parents. You’ll hear discussions about balancing work and life, and the challenges that come with it, along with stories from workers from all walks of life.

Latest episode:S5: E6 ”Dads Takeover” with Rockstar Realtor & Dad Andy Wong

 

 

Posted by Emily Couves in Media Recommendations

Best Websites for Job Hunters (And Who Should Use Them)

There’s no shortage of websites that claim to help job seekers in their search for employment. From local career pages to multinational job boards, you can spend a lot of time preparing resumes, messaging hiring managers, and taking skills assessment tests in the pursuit of a new work opportunity. But are all of these sites really worth the time? Keep reading to learn about our favorite online job boards, and how you can utilize them to their fullest potential in your job search.

1. LinkedIn

BEST FOR: Networking and working with recruiters

Launched in 2003, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform. This multifunctional site is host to an entire suite of tools that can be helpful at any stage of your career, and virtually every user will benefit from creating a profile, setting up notifications for relevant opportunities, and interacting with like-minded people in their networks. However, LinkedIn is truly second-to-none for established, specialized professionals actively looking to advance their career in their respective industries.

There are a huge variety of open roles on LinkedIn, but the ones you’ll see most often are mid-to-senior level positions in marketing, information technology, HR, engineering, and administration. You can certainly benefit from applying to jobs on LinkedIn through open opportunities, but another great way to learn everything this site has to offer is by flexing your networking skills. Making connections (similar to sending a friend request on Facebook), posting updates on your page, and interacting with local recruiters and hiring managers can be extremely beneficial for advancing your career and learning about new opportunities. Another huge benefit that LinkedIn provides is how popular it is for recruiters – simply having an active profile with your resume information is a great way to attract recruiters to your profile and receive info about active jobs directly to your inbox.

No matter how you use it, utilizing LinkedIn and its features to the fullest potential will reward you with consistent opportunities for growth, plenty of new career prospects, and an amazing network of industry professionals.

 

2. Indeed

BEST FOR: Active job seekers with specific job requirements

With LinkedIn coming in at the top as the world’ largest professional networking platform, Indeed is in close competition as the world’s largest job website. Featuring 250 million monthly users and 10 new jobs being added per second, it’s no question that this site is a job seeker’s paradise.

Indeed features opportunities in every sector and industry, and works best for active job seekers with a great resume and employable skills. From part-time service industry jobs to opportunities for high-level corporate executives and everything in between, Indeed truly offers the greatest overall experience for those looking to make their job search faster and easier than ever. It’s intuitive interface allows for a streamlined process that will get you hired, and using this platform, you’ll be able to compare salaries, learn about different benefits, and tailor your job search to fit the exact opportunity you’re looking for.

 

4. Monster

BEST FOR: Active job seekers looking for an easy application process

Monster is the job site that started it all in 1994, and functions similarly to Indeed in that its services are free, easy to navigate, and offer many of the same functionalities. If you’re already using Indeed, it’s worth it to give Monster a try, too – it’s a great overall service that features a huge range of jobs in a variety of industries.

 

4. Company Career Pages

BEST FOR: Passive job seekers, or anyone hoping to work for a specific company

Company career pages tend to be looked at as the underdog in many a job search – but this doesn’t have to be the case.

You can find career pages on nearly every company site, and while this process can take slightly longer than uploading your resume to sites like Monster and Indeed, the payoff can be huge. One helpful hint is to double check the posting date that many sites will feature – this way, you’ll be able to tell how active the posting is and if it’s worth your time to apply. However, even if a posting is getting dated, you can be assured that your profile will likely be added ton a database that can provide opportunities for months and years to come. Check out Stellar Recruitment’s job board here.

 

5. Craigslist

BEST FOR: Contract or gig work, opportunities with local companies

Craigslist is an incredible tool for job seekers, and functions the most like a traditional job advertisement. Featuring gig work, full time opportunities, freelance work for those in a creative field, contract work, and manual labour, Craigslist allows job seekers to send emails directly to the poster, and offers such a huge variety of opportunities that it’s worth it for anyone in the midst of a job search to check out.

 

Posted by Emily Couves in Career Advice, 0 comments

Top Tips for Crafting the Perfect IT Resume

When you’re in the midst of a job hunt, it can be easy to overlook one of the simplest elements of your profile – your resume. Read on to discover our top tips to make your IT resume stand out to any employer.

1. Strategize the Structure

Structure and format are two of the most important elements to consider when creating a resume that’s eye-catching and easy to read. Although the content will make your resume shine, structuring your information properly will help your qualifications stand out to any hiring manager. A brief summary of your career history is always great to include at the top, and organizing the rest of your resume for relevance is a simple next step. For example, if your career history is more significant than your education level, you should highlight your work-related accomplishments before getting into detail about your schooling, and vice versa.

2. Pay Attention to Length

IT and other highly technical resumes can sometimes go over the standard 2-page limit, which is okay in most cases – just don’t go overboard. When your work history is extensive, it’s best to be brief when describing employment that doesn’t directly relate to your new desired position, or if it was long enough ago that it’s no longer relevant, omit it entirely. Try to be brief in your descriptors and edit out unnecessary anecdotes. Stick to the basics – a summary, your skillset, your education, and relevant accomplishments and achievements.

3. Highlight Accomplishments Over Tasks

While we’re on the topic of accomplishments and achievements, it’s important to note that this information will be of more value to a hiring manager than simply listing off your day-to-day tasks and responsibilities. As with most technical positions, you’ll be working with a suite of tools and technologies that should be detailed elsewhere in your resume, and as long as your future employer knows that you’re well-versed in the requirements for the role you’ve applied for, the mundanities of your daily tasks aren’t necessary. Focus instead on highlighting the large-scale achievements you made that were of tangible value to your former workplace. This shows that you can go above and beyond and really demonstrates what you’re capable of.

4. Emphasize Skills

As when highlighting your accomplishments, your skills and abilities should be another focus of your resume that you really take the time to flesh out and describe in detail. You could feature these in a list form, or include a description of the skills and tools required by each of your former positions. No matter how you choose to incorporate this element, it can be one of the most important aspects of your resume, so it’s worth an extra look to make sure you’re showing off what sets you apart.

5. Remove Unnecessary Information

An eye for detail is crucial when determining what to leave out of your resume, and these decisions can affect how successful your resume reads to a hiring manager. Consider removing elements that may not be relevant or necessary, such as personal interests, or a photo of yourself. These elements can be distracting and aren’t always needed. However, it’s good to remember the types of roles you’re applying for – if the position calls for someone personable who will be a great culture fit for the organization, it may be beneficial to describe some of your interests outside of work.

6. Avoid Abbreviations

It can be tempting to speak in highly technical jargon or abbreviate technical terms, but try to minimize this when putting together your information. It’s better to write clearly, using layman’s terms and avoiding abbreviation when you can. This will improve the flow of your resume for readers, and will make hiring decisions easier for managers who may not have all the same technical knowledge as you.

7. Keep it Up to Date

Lots of IT professionals have a considerable history in their field. This is obviously a big benefit, but it can also lead to pages and pages of unnecessary information. If your work history dates back prior to 2000, or you have lists of odd jobs that aren’t relevant to the opportunities you currently seek, it’s worth considering either condensing them into a brief section or eliminating them all together. You may also want to remove or shorten any sections detailing technologies that are no longer relevant. A lengthy work history sounds great, but when it’s no longer applicable to the current technology market, it can add unnecessary bulk to an otherwise successful resume.

8. Edit, Edit, Edit

A final edit for grammar, flow, punctuation, and other easily overlooked elements can be one of the most important things you do before sending in your profile. Basic, easy-to-fix errors show a lack of care and attention to detail, and those will read as big negative indicators to a potential employer. Make sure to go over your resume, or have a friend read it, to ensure that there aren’t any simple mistakes. You can also use spelling and grammar checking tools such as Grammerly to optimize your writing style.

Posted by Emily Couves in Career Advice