Recently, I was organizing some of my old files and I found an assignment I submitted in my Leadership course of my MBA in 2003. The premise of the assignment was,

“Imagine you’re 90 years old, sitting in a comfortable armchair. When you look back at the fulfilling life you’ve lived, you remember…”

By visualizing life from a future vantage point, we’re able to think about what we really want to do, establish ‘big picture’ goals, and plan how to achieve them. My essay at the time was rather vague, so I didn’t get the full marks. …

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” ~ African Proverb

From January 2018 to December 2020, I volunteered as the President of a nonprofit organization called Unstoppableme.rocks, based in Toronto, Canada. My volunteer work with this organization started in October 2016, when I put together a Group Mentoring Program for immigrant professionals in collaboration with JVS Toronto.

My role evolved greatly in 2017 as I got involved in multiple activities with other volunteers to expand the organization. At the end of 2017, the Founder asked me if I wanted to be…

As a Certified Human Resources Professional with global experience in talent management, I’ve had the chance to interview multiple people from a wide variety of backgrounds throughout my career. I also interviewed with many companies when I was searching for a job in Toronto.

I leverage this knowledge and experience to deliver live workshops about the topic and coach job seekers one-on-one on how to excel in their job interviews.

In this article, I’ll share three big secrets that you can use to stand out in your next interview.

1. Link your past examples to the company’s needs

Too many people take time to reflect on their skills, capabilities, and value proposition before the interview, but forget to link those to the role, the company, or the industry.

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I thought of writing this article after I made a comment on Elaine Mead’s article, 5 Ridiculous ‘Requirements’ I Wish Employers Would Drop From Job Ads. This brief comment garnered over 200 claps, meaning it resonated with many frustrated job seekers out there:

I absolutely agree with everything you wrote! I studied Human Resources in Canada and have been working in the profession for 8 years now. Prior to living here, I used to live and work in Japan, where the hiring & selection are done very differently.

In North America, I find that the recruitment process is tremendously restrictive…

Crisis moments create opportunity. Problems and crises ignite our greatest creativity and thought leadership as it forces us to focus on things outside the norm. ~ Sam Cawthorn

I’ve been hearing from many people in my network about their layoffs and discouraging experiences when applying to jobs. That’s when I decided to look for original (and professional) ways to stand out and find job leads, temporary work, and new connections.

If you are primarily applying to online ads, you’re doing the same as thousands of other job seekers out there. …

Don’t think of introversion as something that needs to be cured… Spend your free time the way you like, not the way you think you’re supposed to.” ~ Susan Cain

My entire life, I’ve heard advice to speak up more. I was often mistaken as a shy, insecure person because I take time to process information and would not give an opinion unless I’m certain it makes sense for others.

Extroverted people would say that I should come out of my head and stop over-analyzing. …

“Instead of better glasses, your network gives you better eyes.” — Ronald Burt

I truly believe in the power of networking to find opportunities, acquire knowledge, and have a better vision for my career. In particular, informational interviews are an important form of business networking that should be part of every professional’s long-term strategy.

One thing I should note here is that I’m writing from the perspective of a professional in North America. If you’re located in other parts of the world, you may not have even heard about informational interviews. …

Aside from the enormous number of victims that COVID-19 has unfortunately produced over the past months, we are witnessing a significant impact on people’s careers all around the globe. In almost all imaginable sectors, employees have been furloughed or laid off, and companies have put hiring on hold. The “survivors” are anxious about keeping the jobs they still have.

Before the disruption, perhaps many people had believed, consciously or unconsciously, that their jobs were safe and stable. Nobody had imagined that things will change so drastically in a matter of weeks. …