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Dear Partners and Associates, This holiday season is certainly one of a kind, ending a year like no other. In spite of the current circumstances, we wish you moments of peace and joy with those closest to you, even if from a distance. As we all know, the holidays can be hard for people in…

Recently, I sat down with a client who had started a new role as Vice President, Human Resources and Corporate Services at a large organization in Calgary. Having joined the organization amid the pandemic, her onboarding experience took place entirely from her home office. While many may think that it is difficult or ineffective to…

When I started maternity leave last year, I could not have imagined coming back to a role, business, economy, and world that has been fundamentally transformed by a virus in a matter of months. The thought of a global pandemic seemed possible only in the movies and the term physical distancing was not part of…

At Optimum Talent, we care deeply about our colleagues, clients, and communities. We take the evolving nature of the coronavirus very seriously. While the risks and long-term impacts are difficult to quantify, we will continue to take the appropriate steps to safeguard the businesses and people we serve. One thing that is certain: our collective leadership…

It’s devastating to have an employee suffer a severe health matter, you can feel helpless, and you fear for their recovery.  Unfortunately, long-term disability (LTD) happens often, according to Statistics Canada, 22% of Canadians had at least one disability in 2017. This blog post is the second part of a two-part series about experiencing the reality of…

Wishing you a Bright and Cheerful Holiday Season and all the best in the New Year!

Since the fall of 2015, my personal life and my professional life have collided.  I come from a generation that was taught to keep your personal and professional lives separate. Add in my Irish Catholic heritage that taught me to keep the family secrets locked in the closet, or the confessional, and my exceptional ability…

We did it, thanks to you! On behalf of the entire Optimum Talent Team, thank you to all of our awesome clients for voting us a Top Talent Management Firm for the second consecutive year. We love what we do and look forward to continuing to supporting you. We have some exciting things planned for…

In honour of Canada Day, I wanted to share some quick thoughts on why it is awesome working for a Canadian company. So, in no particular order here they are: We understand Canadian businesses: In Canada, our culture is different. We have our own style of interacting and communicating with one another, an appreciation for…

How do you motivate your team? It’s a complex question because human beings are complicated. Our motivational drivers are influenced by DNA, age, gender, socio-economic status, and culture, just to name a few. So, to presume one motivational strategy will successfully engage each member of your team underestimates the complexity of the human psyche. Three…

Job-seekers who have been job-hunting for a lengthy period of time sometimes make mistakes. When an individual is frustrated with the current state of their career, their bitter emotions and desperation can become apparent to others. However, it is important when you are working with a search professional that you present your best self and…

I recently read an article in the Financial Post entitled “‘We have built our own nightmare’: Why many aren’t ready for the next industrial revolution.” The premise of the article is that the “fourth industrial revolution will proceed at a pace that is much quicker than the previous three and more casualties are expected.” So,…

It is said that the practice of shaking hands originated in ancient times to show that you wished for a peaceful interaction and held no weapons in your hands.  Whatever the basis, the handshake has become one of few acceptable forms of physical contact between strangers, and leaves a lasting impression. As someone who shakes…

“Tell us your story”.  As recruiters, this is often our opening interview question. It gives candidates an open forum to walk us through how they’ve progressed throughout their career. Typically, their resume speaks for itself. Many candidates have experience based on sequential positions and have gradually progressed through a traditional career path. However, in a…

In our most recent e-newsletter Engaging in Leadership, we discuss the importance of organizations harnessing the energy of the new season as they get “back to business” this fall. But what about the individuals? For any professional, this is a great time to check in on your career progression. Whether your organization offers a formal…

Do you have a LinkedIn profile? If so, when was the last time that you updated it or even logged on for that matter? Even if you do log in from time to time are you truly utilizing the site to its fullest? I know that some people out there still challenge the relevance of…

Let’s face it, nobody likes writing resumes, and unless you are in the world of recruitment, you probably don’t like reading them either. However, the truth is resumes are a necessary evil and fall into the category of other necessary, but undesirable tasks of life, such as taxes, insurance, or even the dreaded dentist. Regardless…

As a fourth year university student, I have been fortunate to gain exposure to the search industry by working at Optimum Talent for the past 12 months. As part of my schooling, I had the opportunity to take a course that gave me the freedom to explore an industry that was of interest to me,…

Do you ever wonder how a good or a bad day begins? At what point do you determine if it is going to be a good day or bad day?  Can the people we meet affect our day?  Can a simple smile do the trick? I never realized the impact that I could have on…

How many of you know someone who is unhappy in their job or career? Likely, the majority of you know several people. In fact, you might even be one of these people! Almost five years ago, at 45 years old, I decided to leave the world of accounting to become a recruiter. Why you ask?…

Can you think of a situation in which you would consider taking a step back in compensation? Can it ever be a long-term, strategic career move?  Most people in Talent Acquisition will probably say that it is never a good idea, but I take another view.  In certain circumstances, it can actually be the best…

It is already the last week in January and the new members at the gym are starting to disappear. The annual collapse of New Year’s resolutions has begun and it’s almost back to business as usual. For some, resolutions consist of health or personal goals, whereas for others it may be more related to professional…

So you’ve spent the last several weeks returning calls from the office hallways, conducting early morning Skype interviews from home and sneaking through the back entrance of your competitor’s offices. Finally, the covert conversations with your potential new employer have paid off. You have been presented with an offer and you are delighted. You walk…

Interview rooms everywhere are filled with eager recruiters and hiring managers screening an “ideal candidate” with the perfect amount of experience for their role. You know, the been-there-done-that individual that comes from the same industry and has the identical job title. Recruiters have always put a lot of stock into candidates who come from desirable…

When is the best time to find out what your company can do to keep high-performing employees from leaving? It isn’t during the exit interview – by then, it’s already too late. The new offer has been accepted, resignation notice given and the personal contents box already packed. Now is not the time to start…

Organizations that support and empower their employees’ volunteer efforts generally have lower turnover rates and higher corporate returns.  We know that volunteering makes people feel good and can make the world a better place, but how exactly does this translate into a positive impact for a business? To understand the business impacts, often we need…

The old adage that “People are hired for their skills and fired for their behavior” is not about to be dismissed anytime soon. Poor-behaving executives are being sent packing simply by exhibiting attitudes and behavioral patterns that are toxic to the organization, regardless of their ability to do the job. Seasoned recruiters know this well and spend…

I recently had the opportunity to attend a KidSport charity event with some of my colleagues. During the evening, we watched a few short videos featuring people who benefit from the program here in Saskatchewan.  In one testimonial video, a young girl was asked what she enjoys most about being involved in organized sport.  She…

One of the most common questions that I get asked by candidates is, “What does a successful interview look like?” As a Search Manager, I spend a significant amount of time preparing my candidates for that first interaction with my clients. In order to understand what it takes to have a successful interview and first…

Stakeholder management, consultation and engagement have become increasingly prevalent in the business community as more and more corporations and industries recognize the value of these interactions. Not only is stakeholder consultation a vital component of corporate social responsibility, but businesses that engage with and listen to the needs of their stakeholders consistently out-perform their peers….

Everyone has heard the old adage when it comes to employers making changes in their workforce – last in, first out. Unfortunately, this saying has permeated people’s beliefs leading many to use it as a reason to avoid making a career move. This thought is particularly dominant during an economic downturn, when people frequently put…

9 Reasons Why You Should Consider Hiring a Contractor by Kim Hirsch In today’s unpredictable business world, permanent roles are not always suitable for the needs of an organization.  Increasingly, companies are relying on contract or interim employees to augment their teams during periods of organizational change. Sometimes there is foresight to these changes such as…

Jane Christopherson of The Curzon Partnership Featured in Financial Times article: “Terrifying Oil Skills Shortage Delays Projects and Raises Risks” When Jane Christopherson tries to recruit experienced oil workers, she almost always receives the same reaction. “They say: “I’m getting a bit tired of this. You’re the fourth person I’ve heard from this week,” she…

“Need help?” The man standing in front of me was clean, his most notable feature. Everyone else was caked in mud. Stunned, I said “Pardon me?” He said it again, “Do you need help? I have a really large dolly in my truck too.” It sunk in. He was a perfect stranger, offering to help….

“Some may think one of the strangest things to do is believe in a stranger, but if not one stranger believed in us, once upon a time, where would we all be today? … someone did it for you.”  – Anne Kreamer Kind of makes you think, right? This statement is borrowed from a great blog called…

In all facets of business, success stems from one fluid idea. This idea is lost unless the creator articulates it; and ultimately an idea is useless until it’s shared. As a result, I think conversation is arguably the most important aspect of creating influence in the professional world. Borrowing a phrase from Milton Wright; “To…

The other night, I read a great book on leadership titled “Turn The Ship Around” by L. David Marquet. Captain Marquet commanded a nuclear-powered submarine called the USS Santa Fe. The crew went from being “worst to first.” The Santa Fe earned awards for being the most improved ship in the Pacific, and most combat-effective…

I used to wonder what “Onboarding and Orientation” was all about.  What do you mean I need to board a company ship and orient myself into unchartered waters?  I am sure this is exactly how a lot of new employees feel when they first start their new job and are introduced to the Onboarding and…

A colleague once told me that he thought the internet was a fad.  He had predicted it would go the way of the hoola-hoop, the ant farm, and the pog; and virtually disappear from society altogether after enjoying a massive – but short – “cult following”.  To be fair, at the time of our conversation he…

As I’m thinking about the flavor of the day, nothing strikes me more than the topic of effective leadership. Countless books have been written on how to be a better leader. The proliferation of resources on this topic is mind-boggling. Is it about the latest research?  Or about the science of leadership? Perhaps it’s about…

Ask four different people what succession planning is, and I guarantee that you’ll get four different answers.  AND each one of those people will declare with unmitigated certainty that they are absolutely right!  And most likely, they are! Succession Planning is probably near the top of the list of the most overused business words used…

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?… And as we let our own…

Most days I take the same route home and pass by an Extended Care facility that has a large sign beside the road.  I’m not sure when, but I started to notice that the board had very interesting little sayings or suggestions on a regular basis.  Last month the message was “A goal without a…

This is the question I was left with after attending the leadership symposium yesterday in Calgary with Marshall Goldsmith, the world’s authority on leadership. Marshall left me with a number of powerful yet straightforward thoughts that if applied consistently – should help to improve my leadership capability. Quality x Commitment = Probability of Success How…

Recently I was watching a documentary on nature that featured the Giant Squid, and I came to two conclusions: 1) The giant squid is an unbelievable marvel of evolution; and, 2) There are uncanny parallels between evolution in nature and the development and execution of business strategy. Business people have borrowed language right out of…

I’m one of those lucky people who has a remarkable mentor.  At the end of every single lunch when we get together, I feel buoyed (we always laugh – a lot!), inspired, and that (as quickly as the world changes), there are just some basic fundamentals that never really vary. Bill tells the story of…

Recently I was chatting with a friend of mine from University that had the opportunity to work for a digital marketing firm in Vancouver. Always a marketing major he poked fun at my apparent inability to understand the gravity of search engine optimization and the potential implication of click-through rates driving sales to a company….

The Young Guns (me, my sisters and cousins) took on the Stormin’ Normans (Grandpa and the other +45s) in a family board game this Christmas. While bantering over points, the differences in the generations became apparent. Us Young Guns were trying to gain advantage and argue for our points in a different way than the…

Not long ago a past colleague mailed me (yes, through real snail mail) a newspaper clipping with a yellow Post-It that read “This reminded me of you!”.  The Globe & Mail article “Women, power and the imposter syndrome”, written by Margaret Wente, was a quick and insightful statement about women in the workplace, and our…

Through regular communication with clients, conversations with colleagues, and recently reading a large stack of resumes, it has become wildly apparent to me that we business people communicate in our own unique language. Words like “synergy,” “right-sizing,” “elevator-pitch,” and “post-mortem” form part of our daily vocabulary.  But when it comes right down to it, what…

In the late 90’s I worked on a well-renowned golf course.  I was part of a small food and beverage team that ran the clubhouse – and much like the game of golf, many days were standard.  With the exception of one in particular. Myself and my colleagues walked down the steps to display fruit and…

In my last post, I touched briefly on the Competing Values Framework developed by Robert E. Quinn.  Quinn’s research has led him to the conclusion that leaders must be aware of the paradoxes framed in the Competing Values Framework.  For instance, as leaders we must simultaneously instil organizational values for collaboration and effective teaming while…

In my last blog post (Lessons from the Trenches – Succession Gone Well) I shared the story of the founder who, upon generously offering stock in his highly profitable company to senior managers, was astonished by their utter refusal.  For that business leader, and other owners contemplating exit strategies, the key messages for finding and preparing…

  As individuals and leaders we have beliefs and we make assumptions.  In most circumstances our beliefs and assumptions have served us well, helping us navigate our personal and professional life challenges and capture opportunities.  Increasingly, management thinkers and writers encourage us to focus on our strengths, to shine a light on them and shape…

In my previous post I acknowledged that to simplify this nebulous concept of strategy an organization should ask three simple questions: Why do you exist? What are you going to do? How are you going to do it? Therefore, after you and your leadership team come up with some brilliant and unique answers to the…

Surprisingly, it’s rare that we are invited in to a company, which is going through succession, by the founder. More often, the invitation is via a discreet meeting initiated by a worried senior employee, or a frustrated family member who is anxious about their future and the future of the company. A recent exception was…

I recently received an email from a client in regard to how we might refresh their strategic plan in the fall.  A recent hire with a background in strategic planning had reviewed the organization’s existing strategic plan and provided perspective on how it could be improved. I reviewed the ideas – agreed with some, disagreed…