YOUR NEXT CAREER MOVE – A LEAP OF FAITH

Profile Recruitment Consultants can be a tremendous tool for you, the job-seeker, in navigating the search for your next career move. The bonus is that there is no charge to you.  Our clients pay our fee. Profile has been in business since 1985, conveniently located at Bay and Queen, on the PATH. Our Consultants have over 20 years experience working with Profile, and have an excellent reputation for integrity, efficiency and results. We have worked with our clients for many years, with new clients and referrals joining Profile regularly.  

Our job at Profile is to connect leading organizations with wonderful candidates like you, and manage the process through to the Job Offer.  Our reputation is on the line every time we submit a resume to a client.  Resumes should always be perfect!

Profile is highly experienced in reviewing resumes, and conducting interviews. We communicate with both you and our client regularly.   We need to know exactly what our client is looking for in a candidate and what you, our candidate, is looking for in an employer, to make the perfect match. Honesty and integrity are extremely important to us, and to our clients.

Our work never really ends. We are available to you after hours and weekends if necessary.  Profile will be your ambassador and navigator through the complicated world of your next career move.   It’s a partnership, and we want to provide you with the necessary resources that will benefit you. The more information you provide, the closer that partnership becomes.

Profile aims to find the right position for you and not waste your time with a poor interview. We prepare you for the interview, and give you insight into the position and the company prior to your meeting with our client. We have advice on our website on “how to get the job offer”. Please read this before your interview. We also have advice on our website about dress, and creating a great first impression. A perfect well-written resume is vital.  We can assist you with this, and you can find sample resumes on our website.

After the interview, we ask that you call us immediately to give us your feedback.  The client will be calling us also for your follow-up and interest in the position, so it is important we hear how things went from your perspective.   

It is Profile’s job to fill positions with the most qualified individuals as efficiently as possible. We want you, our candidate, to be in a position that is rewarding for you, just as much as we want our client to be satisfied with your performance, progress and happiness in your new role.  Our reputation is on the line and if we fail to do a perfect job, we risk everyone’s success and our reputation.  

The job hunt can be extremely frustrating and overwhelming. At times it can feel like an eternity of rejections until you finally find your fit. Having the help of Profile Consultants can be extremely beneficial when there is mutual trust; the building of that trust is an essential part of a successful relationship.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE

1. Accept that there is no 'perfect' work-life balance

When you hear "work-life balance," you probably imagine having an extremely productive day at work and leaving early to spend the other half of the day with friends and family. While this may seem ideal, it is not always possible. 

Don't strive for the perfect schedule; strive for a realistic one. Some days, you might focus more on work, while others you might have more time and energy to pursue your hobbies or spend time with your loved ones. Balance is achieved over time, not each day. 

At times your children may need you, and other times, you may need to travel for work, but allowing yourself to remain open to redirecting and assessing your needs on any day is key in finding balance.

2. Find a job that you love

Although work is an expected societal norm, your career shouldn't be restraining. Work isn't just a way to make money; it should serve you both financially and emotionally. If you hate what you do, you aren't going to be happy, plain and simple. You don't need to love every aspect of your job, but it needs to be exciting enough that you don't dread getting out of bed every single morning. 

For the best work-life balance, try to find a job that you are so passionate about you would do it for free. If your job is draining you, and you are finding it difficult to do the things you love outside of work, something is wrong," said Monahan. "You may be working in a toxic environment, for a toxic person, or doing a job that you truly don't love. If this is the case, it is time to find a new job.

3. Prioritize your health

Your overall physical, emotional and mental health should be your main concern. If you struggle with anxiety or depression and think therapy would benefit you, fit those sessions into your schedule, even if you have to leave work early or ditch your evening spin class. Overworking yourself prevents you from getting better, possibly causing you to take more days off in the future. 

Prioritizing your health first and foremost will make you a better employee and person. You will miss less work, and when you are there, you will be happier and more productive." 

Prioritizing your health doesn't have to consist of radical or extreme activities. It can be as simple as daily meditation or exercise.

4. Don't be afraid to unplug

We live in a connected world that never sleeps. Cutting ties with the outside world from time to time allows us to recover from weekly stress and gives us space for other thoughts and ideas to emerge. Unplugging can mean something simple like practicing transit meditation on your daily commute, instead of checking work emails. 

5. Take a vacation

Sometimes, truly unplugging means taking vacation time and shutting work completely off for a while. Whether your vacation consists of a one-day staycation or a two-week trip to Bali, it's important to take time off to physically and mentally recharge. 

Take your well-deserved time away from work; the benefits of taking a day off far outweigh the downsides.   With proper planning, you can take time away without worrying about burdening your colleagues or contending with a huge work load when you return.

6. Make time for yourself and your loved ones

While your job is important, it shouldn't be your entire life. You were an individual before taking this position, and you should prioritize the activities or hobbies that make you happy. Achieving work-life balance requires deliberate action. 

If you do not firmly plan for personal time, you will never have time to do other things outside of work. No matter how hectic your schedule might be, you ultimately have control of your time and life.

When planning time with your loved ones, create a calendar for romantic and family dates. It may seem weird to plan one-on-one time with someone you live with, but it will ensure that you spend quality time with them without interruptions or excuses. Just because work keeps you busy doesn't mean you should neglect personal relationships. 

7. Set boundaries and work hours

Set boundaries for yourself and your colleagues, to avoid overworking and burnout. When you leave the office, avoid thinking about upcoming projects or answering company emails. Consider having a separate computer or phone for work, so you can shut it off when you clock out. If that isn't possible, use separate browsers, emails or filters for your work and personal platforms. Additionally, it is important to set specific work hours. 

Whether you work away from home or at home, it is important to determine when you will work and when you will stop working; otherwise, you might find yourself answering work-related emails late at night, during vacations or on weekends off.

Notifying team members and your manager about boundaries beyond which you cannot be accessible, because you are engaged in personal activities. This will help to ensure that they understand and respect your workplace limits and expectations.

8. Set goals and priorities (and stick to them)  

Set achievable goals that you are passionate about, with respect to your career, health and relationships. Think about what tasks are most important for achieving a healthy work-life balance and prioritize them. Make your workday as productive as possible by implementing time management strategies, analyzing your to-do list and cutting out tasks that have little to no value. 

Pay attention to when you are most productive at work and block that time off for your most important work-related activities. Avoid checking your emails and phone every few minutes, as those are major time-wasting tasks that derail your attention and productivity. Structuring your day can increase productivity at work, which can result in more free time to relax outside of work. Regardless of what your goals and priorities are, make sure that they are conducive to a healthy work-life balance. 

It is important to understand that work-life balance will mean different things to different people because, after all, we all have different life commitments. In our always-on world, balance is a very personal thing and only you can decide the lifestyle that suits you best.