Step by Step: Credit Cards and You

Plastic? Fantastic! But Buyer Beware...

By Susan Biagi

Jobseekers will often lament, “If I only had a job, my life would be perfect.”  

A new job, however, can’t solve old problems.

Consider credit-card debt: a new job will sometimes eliminate that debt—for awhile. Too often, however, the debt starts creeping back. This is usually because the problem is not the lack of funds, but the underlying behavior. People with high incomes find themselves riddled with debt just as often—or more often—than people with low incomes.

Credit is easy to obtain in our society: university students and others with no income frequently receive multiple offers for credit cards. Unless they’re very careful, students can become enslaved to credit card debt early in their lives and remain that way for decades.

Unfortunately, many cardholders remain totally unaware of how credit cards work. The following are a few basic facts to help people conquer their debt issues:   

1. Fact #1: The interest rate offered to cardholders varies widely, depending on the following:

a)      The cardholder’s credit history: someone with a poor credit history, or none at all, will usually be offered the highest interest rate, often around 19%; someone with a good and lengthy credit history will pay as low as 9.99%.

b)      The type of card chosen: cards that offer rewards will often charge a high interest rate as well.

Variations in interest rates hardly matter to cardholders who pay off their bill in full every month. But when trouble hits, in the form of a job loss or injury, that interest rate will make a huge difference. Compare for example, the following scenarios. Two cardholders have each racked up $5000 in credit card debt. Cardholder #1 will pay 19% interest on that $5000, while cardholder #2 will only pay 9.99% interest.

Solution: People with no credit history, or a poor history, may have to accept a credit card at a higher rate of interest. This is a situation that should be remedied as quickly as possible. Once cardholders establish a good credit rating with their current credit-card company (by always paying the balance in full, for example), they can then request a lower rate of interest. In fact, once a credit history improves, other companies will step in to offer lower rates. Cardholders can simply inform their existing company of these offers and threaten to switch companies if the current rate is not lowered.

 

2. Fact #2: Cash advances are a dangerous use of credit cards—perhaps the most dangerous of all. When credit cards are used to purchase goods, there is usually a grace period of at least 21 days, during which no interest is charged on that purchase. Unfortunately, there is no grace period on cash advances, which start accruing interest immediately. This interest accrues daily, often at a higher interest rate than the rate charged on purchases. In addition to the interest, some credit-card companies charge a fee to process cash advances, while ATMs may charge still another fee, depending on the bank.

Solution: Avoid cash advances. It makes better financial sense to purchase groceries or pay utility bills as straight credit-card purchases, rather than using cash advances to cover such items. This lets the cardholder take advantage of the interest-free grace period.

3. Fact #3: Unless the bill is paid in full each month, interest will be charged on all purchases. Imagine that a cardholder charges $500 in purchases in a given month. That same cardholder manages to pay the company $475 before the grace period ends. It makes sense to believe the cardholder will only be charged interest on the remaining $25, right? Wrong! Interest will be charged on the entire $500. Furthermore, if the balance is not reduced to zero before the next billing period, the grace period is lost on any additional purchases.

Solution: Bring the full balance down to zero before the grace period ends. If a cardholder is unable to bring the balance to zero, that person should avoid making additional purchases, to avoid accruing even more interest.

 

Jobseekers who could benefit from additional information on credit-card use are invited to attend Career Link’s “Credit Cards and You” workshop. To register, call us at 604.485.7958. It’s easy and it’s free! Visit our site at http://careerlinkbc.com

 

 

Newsflash! Powell River on board for Marine Training Program

Good news for Powell River’s Marine Industry! Local Marine Operator Training Program to launch February 9th at VIU Powell River.  Fully funded by the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation’s Employment Skills Access (ESA) Program, successful students will gain skills and earn certificates that meet Transport Canada’s standards to work on and operate a commercial vessel.

A three-week program for marine industry job seekers and workers that are:

a) unemployed with no attachment to EI in the last three years for a regular claim or past five years for a Maternity/Parental claim; or

b) under-employed but with no post-secondary education towards a degree or recognized certification (upgrading or a few courses is not considered post-secondary)

Not sure if you or your employee qualifies? When in doubt apply, apply, apply! But don’t delay, the application deadline is this Friday, January 13.  Pick up and drop off your application at Career Link or VIU Powell River.

Career Link is keen to partner with VIU to promote this program because it’s local, there’s free tuition and books, and the certificates serve both new job seekers as a first step to employment and seasoned workers as a means to meet updated industry standards.

Marine Industry Owners and Operators: what are your current and future hiring needs? Could this program’s graduates and/or Career Link’s free services for employers assist? Please do let us know.

For more information contact Laura at 604.485.7958  or laura@careerlinkbc.com.

Funding provided through the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Agreement

Step by Step: 20 Quick and Easy Job Search Tips

Time to Make a Change!

With the new year upon us, it’s time to think about making changes. Susan Biagi guest blogs for us this week with a timely post featuring 20 Quick and Easy Job Search Tips.

We at Career Link wish you much success in 2012, and hope you will take advantage of our many services, including free workshops and career counselling to help make your employment dreams a reality. Drop by for the scoop on what’s new for 2012 – training programs and funding, new workshops and computer classes are starting soon!

20 Quick and Easy Job Search Tips

By Susan Biagi

The following are some things you can do right now to jumpstart your job search.

1. Make sure your résumé is targeted to the job you’re seeking. If you’re looking for a job as a Caregiver, avoid emphasizing your previous career in cooking.
2. Ask friends in your field to provide feedback on your résumé. Ask a friend who has good spelling and grammar skills to proofread it for you.
3. Don’t limit your job hunting to the classified ads. People who go through the phone book and systematically call or visit employers will usually find work.
4. When telephoning, get dressed to the shoes, smile when you speak, and stand up straight. Enthusiasm and energy come across over the phone.
5. Don’t limit your search to large, visible companies. Small, out-of-the way companies also have openings.
6. When visiting employers, leave friends, children, or parents at home. A badly behaved child can scuttle a job search.
7. Compile a list of 25 target employers. Study each company’s website or google the employer’s name. Use this information to help build a better résumé or cover letter.
8. Make sure you get a good night’s sleep before embarking on a job hunt. If you have a cold or are feeling unwell, leave it for another day. Employers are leery about hiring people who aren’t in good health.
9. Learn to shake hands properly. Many employers are turned off by “cold fish” handshakes.
10. Practise making eye contact. If this is difficult for you, look at the spot just above the eyes, in the middle of the forehead. The employer can’t tell you’re not looking directly into the eyes.
11. Employers prefer to hire people who look as though they fit in. Study what the employees are wearing and dress the way they do.
12. Make sure that your hands and shoes are neat and clean. Employers will often focus on small details such as these.
13. Prepare a short “commercial” you can use when telephoning or visiting. For example, “I’m an Office Manager with 12 years experience in the field. I’m fully skilled in the use of Microsoft Office and various accounting programs. I’d like to send you my résumé and speak with you about my background and experience. When would be a good time?”
14. If you’re having trouble contacting the employer directly, try leaving your “commercial” after hours on the employer’s voice mail. Immediately follow up with an email, with your résumé attached.
15. Have your early morning coffee at cafés that are popular with local employers. This is especially important for construction workers. Dress in work clothes, and try to make a good impression. Tell people you’re looking for work.
16. Learn to use Internet job banks, as more and more employers are advertising this way. Our Career Link workshops will help you master this skill.
17. Shop at stores or eat in restaurants where you hope to work. Get to know the staff. Analyze the employer’s needs.
18. Volunteer for short-term projects. You’ll meet a lot of important contacts and acquire needed skills. Volunteer Powell River (http://www.volunteerpowellriver.com/ops.htm) has plenty of short-term opportunities you can apply for online.
19. Avoid posting compromising pictures or comments on a Facebook page or other social media. Employers consult these sites when researching  job candidates.
20. Never give up. There’s a job out there for you.

Jobseekers who require help putting these tips into practice are invited to book some one-on-one time with a Career Link employment consultant, or attend a workshop. Call us at 604.485.7958. It’s easy and it’s free!

October Labour Market Snapshot of Powell River

Career Link’s October job market report indicates the number of job postings remained virtually steady in October with 42 jobs as compared to September’s 41 jobs posted.  Taking a closer look at the September and October job postings we noted that:

• In both months, the top 3 sectors were: Food Services, Retail Trade and Health Care.
• Rounding out October’s top 5 sectors were postings in Construction (6) and Social Assistance (3).
• There was a decrease in Education sector job postings after their rise in September.
• Two employers hiring for administrative positions in the Construction and Transportation sectors reported receiving a staggering number of applicants: 40 and 60 resumes each!

And how do the year-to-date (January to October) job posting numbers compare?

• Jan 1 2010 to Oct 31 2010 = 358 job postings
• Jan 1 2011 to Oct 31 2011 = 477 job postings

What about those 42 clients who found jobs in October? Where are they finding work? In a variety of areas through targeted, diligent job search techniques supported by their employment counsellor.  They are telling us they are working in/at:

• Food services – both in town and in remote camp settings as cooks
• They also found work in our large and small grocery stores both serving food at deli counters and in customer service at the tills
• Catalyst Paper - both in the trades (electrician and power engineer) and at the entry level
• Maintenance jobs in both industrial and commercial settings
• Some clients are starting out with part-time or casual hours in a local real estate firm and at one of the local banks
• In the Forestry sector – both logging and silviculture work was reported

Regionally, the Vancouver Island/Coast unemployment rate for October was 6.9%  just above the BC average of 6.6% (source: BC Stats Labour Force Statistics October 2011).

Looking ahead to jobs in November and December – we suggest looking in Retail and Food Services.  You could broaden your search beyond ”main street” to include businesses that offer catering and personal services such as cleaning and caregiving at this busy time of year.  And if the job market is tight in your chosen area consider this a good time for volunteering and networking – think of all those holiday events as a chance to spread goodwill and keep your spirits up.

For the latest Powell River job news, keep in touch with us.  Read our tweets, follow us on Facebook, comment on this blog, send us an email, give us a call, visit our website, and of course stop by our office (#103, 4511 Marine Ave. Powell River, BC).

BC’s Shipbuilding Industry: Plenty of Jobs on Deck

Shipbuilding Revival

The Shipbuilding and Repair industry and their training institutions are preparing for increased activity on BC’s Coast.  North Vancouver’s Seaspan Marine, owner of Victoria and Vancouver Shipyards, was recently awarded an $8 billion shipbuilding contract for approximately 50 non-combat vessels for the Department of National Defence and the Coast Guard over the next thirty years… read more.

A few highlights to get you up to speed.  Note the dates; there’s time to complete training for work in this exciting new era of shipbuilding….read more.

• The first ship built will likely be a fisheries research ship, with work beginning late in 2012 or early 2013.
• The first seven large ships will be built over eight years with materials and equipment purchased from suppliers across the country.
• 80% of construction work will be performed in Vancouver; the remainder in Esquimalt at Victoria Shipyards.
• Before construction starts on ships, Seaspan will spend about $160 million on their infrastructure at its Vancouver facilities and another $30 million at its Victoria Shipyards in Esquimalt.
• Seaspan’s contract is expected to create 4,000 direct and indirect jobs.
• Closer to home, we could see some jobs at Nanaimo Shipyard Group
  and Port Alberni at Alberni Engineering Ltd.

Inexperienced but want to catch the wave in Shipbuilding? Good news! The industry has prioritized entry-level training programs in this field and the government has obliged with financial support.  Start exploring career options and researching the key employers in the industry at the “Resource Trades Rock” website here .

A number of players from industry, education and government are working together to make sure the right people with the right skills are ready to work and sustain this long-term period of activity.  Career Link is going to keep our eye on the following for job and training news in Shipbuilding and Repair:

• The Resource Training Organization (RTO)  –  oversees Apprenticeship training specifically for the resource sector; watch for their links to shipbuilding news.
• Industrial Marine Training and Applied Research Centre (IMTARC) - new training centre opening soon in Esquimalt for entry-level skills. Curriculum still under development but training could start in early or mid 2012.
• Industrial Training Authority (ITA) – there are two new shipbuilding-specific trades programs soon to be approved by the ITA: Marine Fitter and Shipwright. Training will start in 2012.
• Unions such as the Marine Workers and Boilermakers Union.
• News from Training Schools in BC - look for revamped courses in 2012.
• The BC Government –  Ministry of Jobs Tourism and Innovation.
• New Shipbuilding Workforce Table - details in this press release; look for future announcements from this table of industry leaders.
• Seaspan’s website – check out their Careers section.

To explore your fit with this industry and how to jump in, meet with a Career Link employment counsellor.  It’s easy to book an appointment online or call us at 604.485.7958

The 411 on BC’s Minimum Wage Increase

Dollars and Cents

We’re thinking BC workers may have started their November a little brighter with the knowledge that our general minimum wage increased on November 1st to $9.50 per hour.  The wage will increase again on May 1, 2012 to $10.25 per hour, just in time for the spring jumpstart of seasonal jobs.

BC’s minimum wage now beats Alberta’s $9.40 and Yukon’s $9 an hour. The raise matches BC with Saskatchewan and New Brunswick.  Newfoundland, Northwest Territories and Nova Scotia currently pay a minimum wage of $10 an hour, while Nunavut pays $11.

We will tie with Ontario for the second highest minimum wage in the country at $10.25, when it jumps another 75 cents in May 2012.

So, how much more money does November’s extra 75 cents put into minimum wage earners’ pockets? Based on working a total of 40 hours per week the following calculation applies to the increase in gross earnings:

$0 .75 x 40 hrs. = $30.00/wk. = $129.00/mo. = $1548.00/yr. more

The non-hourly rates paid to camp leaders, live-in home support workers and resident caretakers will be adjusted at the same time in proportion to the increase in minimum wage. The minimum wage amount therefore depends on the type of position you hold.

Liquor servers:
November 1, 2011 – $8.75 per hour
May 1, 2012 – $9.00 per hour

Live-in home support workers:
November 1, 2011 – $95.00 per day or part day worked
May 1, 2012 – $102.50 per day or part day worked

Live-in camp leaders:
November 1, 2011 – $76 for each day or part day worked
May 1, 2012 – $82 for each day or part day worked

Resident Caretakers
November 1, 2011 – for an apartment building containing 9 to 60 suites, $570 per month plus $22.85 for each suite; and for an apartment building containing more than 60 suites, $1941.56 per month
May 1, 2012 – for an apartment building containing 9 to 60 suites, $615 per month plus $24.65 for each suite; and for an apartment building containing more than 60 suites, $2,094.84 per month.

How did the minimum wage increase affect you? Let us know by commenting on this post!  At Career Link we have more information on current wages in BC and Canada for specific industries or regions.  Drop by and inquire or make an appointment to further explore, we would be pleased to see you.

Facing The Fear Of Cold Calling

Let Your Fingers Do The Talking

By Susan Biagi

It used to be that people’s greatest fear was public speaking. It’s even been said their fear of public speaking was greater than their fear of death!

But the times, they are a’changing. According to a new survey published by Sandler Training Inc., people are now more afraid of cold-calling than they are of public speaking. In fact, people would rather give up sex for a month than call a stranger to sell a product, or ask for a job. Only a root canal was considered more painful.

At Career Link, we have observed that of all the job-search strategies, cold-calling is the least preferred by jobseekers. And yet, it remains one of the most effective. One-on-one contact with an employer—either by phoning a place of business or dropping by to hand-deliver a resume—is  still one of the best ways to get a job. (Cold-calling is also one of the very few ways to access the hidden job market, in which unposted positions are said to comprise between 80 and 85% of all job vacancies.)

Instead, people prefer strategies that are relatively anonymous: faxing off resumes, for example, or applying online. While it is true that some employers ask that people apply only by fax or email, there are many who prefer to meet the candidate in person. Jobseekers who muster their courage to do so may be pleasantly surprised at their reception.

Fear of rejection probably lies behind the fear of cold-calling. Rejection seems somehow easier to take when it comes in the form of a letter or email. Being told, in person, that one does not qualify for a position is a bigger blow.

Some jobseekers will even encounter a very busy employer who rudely berates them for interrupting. To cut down on this possibility, jobseekers should do a little research into that workplace, to make sure they don’t call or arrive at a busy time. At Career Link, our advice to jobseekers is not to be deterred from cold calling by a rude employer or two: as the most effective job-search strategy, it is still worth the risk.

Perhaps the very term “cold calling” puts people off. For this reason, some job-search experts prefer to think of it as “warm calling.” They suggest that jobseekers adopt a “warm and helpful attitude” when speaking to employers for the first time.

The attitude with which jobseekers approach a call will go far towards ensuring their comfort with the process. First of all, jobseekers must be prepared to hear the word “no.” Employers may simply not have an unfilled position to offer. The chances are actually quite remote that a jobseeker will happen upon a place of business at the exact moment the employer is looking to hire. When dropping off a resume, jobseekers should keep in mind that their goal is to inform the employer of their availability, when a position does become available.

Although it may not ever be necessary, jobseekers should also have a back-up plan in the event an employer speaks rudely. A simple apology for interrupting at a busy time goes far toward easing the tension. It shouldn’t end there, however! The jobseeker can follow up with “What would be a better time to contact you? Or, perhaps you would prefer if I emailed my resume.” Maintaining a warm and helpful tone will also help ease the situation.

As a final note, jobseekers should remember that a single contact is rarely enough to remain “top of mind” with a potential employer. Follow-up is a necessary second step. An easy way to do this is to call the employer after a week or so, with the following question: “Good morning, Mr. Boss. My name is Jilly Jobseeker and I dropped off my resume last week. I was wondering if you had any questions about my skills and experience.”

Jobseekers who require help facing their fear of “warm calling” are invited to book online some one-on-one time with a Career Link employment consultant, or attend a workshop. You can call us at 604.485.7958. It’s easy and it’s free!