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My Side of the Hiring Desk

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2 years ago

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There are two sides to every interview: Yours and the interviewers. Here’s a pleasant truth: You and your interviewer have the same agenda: To determine if the job opportunity is right for you.

Your interviewer isn’t your enemy. They want to hire the right person. Job seekers never consider that their interviewer’s hiring decisions are judged by their boss and their boss’s boss, the team the new hire will join—essentially everyone at the company.

I never want to hear: “Who hired Bob? He always comes in late, is rude, has yet to complete his assignments on time, and has below-average Excel skills for a junior accountant. What was Nick thinking about hiring Bob?”

A hiring manager’s ability to hire-their judgment skills-will be called into question if he or she makes “a few” bad hires. The same holds true if a recruiter presents unsuitable candidates to their client. It’s good to be sympathetic to your interviewer’s need to make a good hire; it’ll help you bond with your interviewer.

This is why there’s a great deal of vetting during the hiring process to minimize the possibility of hiring a liability.

Your interviewer wants to know three things:

  1. Can you do the job?
  2. Will you like the job?
  3. Will you be a good fit with the team and the company?

I’m often asked how I hire. What do I look for in a candidate? I remind people there is no universal hiring process. I evaluate candidates differently than other hiring managers and vice versa. I know of candidates who weren’t hired by me and went on to find a suitable employer.

Truth: Human bias and gut feelings play a critical role in the hiring process, which is why a universal hiring method doesn’t exist.

Although you weren’t hired by ABC employer, that doesn’t mean that XYZ employer won’t hire you. As there isn’t a universal hiring method, there isn’t a universal “must hire” employee either.

Your interviewer doesn’t owe you, a stranger, anything. Hence why networking, which many shy away from, and maintaining an extensive professional network is beneficial to your job search and career development; you become “familiar.” We all gravitate towards what’s familiar.

On the other hand, your interviewer is responsible to their employer, current employees and the business’s customers. If you’re speaking with a recruiter, they’re accountable to their client. Your interviewer’s objective is to judge whether you’ll fit into the team, the culture (READ: Be accepted.) and contribute to the company/department’s goals.

With the above said, here’s a holistic overview of how I evaluate a candidate, bearing in mind that I’m speaking for myself. (Remember, there’s no universal hiring methodology.)

  • Above-average communication skills, both spoken and written, are a non-negotiable requirement.
  • I like—really like—candidates who have confidence in their abilities and are comfortable with themselves.
  • If you come across as having a sense of entitlement, our conversation will be short.
  • The more interest you show in the job and company, the more points you’ll receive. Being interested is a powerful gesture.
  • If you seem burnt out or outdated (past your expiration date), I’ll pass on you. Be relevant!
  • My focus isn’t on your accomplishments or experience. My focus is on what you can do now and in the future for the company.
  • Show me you’re listening. Refer to something I said earlier. “When you mentioned Genom Corporation was launching a new line of granola bars in mid-July to coincide with back-to-school sales, I was impressed with the strategic timing. You mentioned the company wants to capture 25% of Canada’s granola bar market by the end of 2023. How does the second half of 2022 look in terms of being on track to achieve this goal?”
  • Don’t tell me what you want me to think of you. (e.g., “I’m a team player,” “I’m detail-oriented,” “I can sell.”) Show me! Prove it! (e.g., “I’m part of a 20-person Inside Sales team. Daily I handle 60 – 80 calls. Last year I exceeded my quota of $1.5 million by $350,000.”)
  • Your questions should demonstrate that you are evaluating the job opportunity, me, the company, and your fit.

Connecting with their interviewer is a job seeker’s foremost goal. Maya Angelou once said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Before you walk into an interview, ask yourself, What do I want my interviewer to feel about me?

______________________________________________________________

Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers advice on searching for a job. You can send Nick your questions at artoffindingwork@gmail.com.

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Roots sees room for expansion in activewear, reports $5.2M Q2 loss and sales drop

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2 days ago

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September 13, 2024

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TORONTO – Roots Corp. may have built its brand on all things comfy and cosy, but its CEO says activewear is now “really becoming a core part” of the brand.

The category, which at Roots spans leggings, tracksuits, sports bras and bike shorts, has seen such sustained double-digit growth that Meghan Roach plans to make it a key part of the business’ future.

“It’s an area … you will see us continue to expand upon,” she told analysts on a Friday call.

The Toronto-based retailer’s push into activewear has taken shape over many years and included several turns as the official designer and supplier of Team Canada’s Olympic uniform.

But consumers have had plenty of choice when it comes to workout gear and other apparel suited to their sporting needs. On top of the slew of athletic brands like Nike and Adidas, shoppers have also gravitated toward Lululemon Athletica Inc., Alo and Vuori, ramping up competition in the activewear category.

Roach feels Roots’ toehold in the category stems from the fit, feel and following its merchandise has cultivated.

“Our product really resonates with (shoppers) because you can wear it through multiple different use cases and occasions,” she said.

“We’ve been seeing customers come back again and again for some of these core products in our activewear collection.”

Her remarks came the same day as Roots revealed it lost $5.2 million in its latest quarter compared with a loss of $5.3 million in the same quarter last year.

The company said the second-quarter loss amounted to 13 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended Aug. 3, the same as a year earlier.

In presenting the results, Roach reminded analysts that the first half of the year is usually “seasonally small,” representing just 30 per cent of the company’s annual sales.

Sales for the second quarter totalled $47.7 million, down from $49.4 million in the same quarter last year.

The move lower came as direct-to-consumer sales amounted to $36.4 million, down from $37.1 million a year earlier, as comparable sales edged down 0.2 per cent.

The numbers reflect the fact that Roots continued to grapple with inventory challenges in the company’s Cooper fleece line that first cropped up in its previous quarter.

Roots recently began to use artificial intelligence to assist with daily inventory replenishments and said more tools helping with allocation will go live in the next quarter.

Beyond that time period, the company intends to keep exploring AI and renovate more of its stores.

It will also re-evaluate its design ranks.

Roots announced Friday that chief product officer Karuna Scheinfeld has stepped down.

Rather than fill the role, the company plans to hire senior level design talent with international experience in the outdoor and activewear sectors who will take on tasks previously done by the chief product officer.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:ROOT)

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Talks on today over HandyDART strike affecting vulnerable people in Metro Vancouver

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3 days ago

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September 12, 2024

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VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, are set to resume today as a strike that has stopped most services drags into a second week.

No timeline has been set for the length of the negotiations, but Joe McCann, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they are willing to stay there as long as it takes, even if talks drag on all night.

About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people unable to navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last Tuesday, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.

Hundreds of drivers rallied outside TransLink’s head office earlier this week, calling for the transportation provider to intervene in the dispute with Transdev, which was contracted to oversee HandyDART service.

Transdev said earlier this week that it will provide a reply to the union’s latest proposal on Thursday.

A statement from the company said it “strongly believes” that their employees deserve fair wages, and that a fair contract “must balance the needs of their employees, clients and taxpayers.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Transat AT reports $39.9M Q3 loss compared with $57.3M profit a year earlier

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3 days ago

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September 12, 2024

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MONTREAL – Travel company Transat AT Inc. reported a loss in its latest quarter compared with a profit a year earlier as its revenue edged lower.

The parent company of Air Transat says it lost $39.9 million or $1.03 per diluted share in its quarter ended July 31.

The result compared with a profit of $57.3 million or $1.49 per diluted share a year earlier.

Revenue in what was the company’s third quarter totalled $736.2 million, down from $746.3 million in the same quarter last year.

On an adjusted basis, Transat says it lost $1.10 per share in its latest quarter compared with an adjusted profit of $1.10 per share a year earlier.

Transat chief executive Annick Guérard says demand for leisure travel remains healthy, as evidenced by higher traffic, but consumers are increasingly price conscious given the current economic uncertainty.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:TRZ)

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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