Blogs

In short... YES! Why you ask? What better way to network, build connections and drive collaboration than to genuinely connect with individuals. Coffee chats can be with those internal and external to your organization, with those you already know to deepen a connection as well as those you hope to know better.  You never know when those coffee chats may turn into an idea to help solve a problem you are facing or even your next job. Some of the best ideas or paths forward for me have come from what other organizations are currently doing or learning from someone who is completely unbiased towards your current workplace dynamics. By having these coffee ...

Nobody gets to where they are by themselves. We all have folks along the way that have helped us in some way - making an introduction, inspiring some confidence, even just holding space to talk out loud. If you’re at the point in your career where you’re able to be that for someone, here are some points to consider in order to be a good (or even great) mentor! Listen, listen, listen - it’s easy to rush into problem solving mode and try to fix things, but it’s so important to ask “Do you want advice or do you want to vent?” In that moment what they might need the most is to get it out to someone who understands. Be honest - you’re not doing them a favour ...

Hi everyone and happy March! 🌻 Here in Toronto we had a giant thundersnow storm ⚡️❄️ to kick off March, but hoping for better weather this month. As always, here’s your monthly Forum round-up of updates and things to look out for! Forum Updates Women+ in Finance In light of International Women’s Day on March 8th, the Women+ in Finance community was launched in the Forum. This community was built to create a safe, informative, fun, and inspiring space for women+ in finance to share their stories, network with one another, and grow. If you’re interested in joining this community, head on over to this link and join today! Be sure ...

One of the big mistakes folks make during their job search is overlooking their LinkedIn profile as a tool. Optimizing your profile is a great way to help you stand out and have something working for you in the background while you apply! The Basics Your headline should follow something similar to this format: Current Title @ Current Company | pronouns (optional) | key words relevant to your experience (for example, mine are: People and Culture | Human Resources | Talent | Public Speaker) to maximize what recruiters see first Turn on the Open To Work  feature and fill out roles you’d be interested in to prioritize your search ranking (note that LinkedIn ...

Virtual interviewing is now a norm in today's society, especially after the last three years all thanks to the global pandemic. Since more and more companies are adopting a remote workforce, virtual interviews are here to stay. Now this isn't a bad thing - interviewing virtually allows you to be in the comfort of your own home, and who wouldn't want that?  Well, virtual interviews are just as important as face-to-face interviews and the goal is to leave a memorable and positive impression on the interviewers. The tips below will help you best prepare to nail the virtual interview!  Look professional  Yes, you should still dress as if you are ...

Hi everyone! As the first month of 2023 has wrapped up, I’m hoping all of you are still maintaining your new years’ resolutions! I didn’t make any resolutions, but did make some fitness goals I want to achieve before the year ends 💪. But anyway, I’m here to round up some awesome updates in the Forum community for you to look forward to this month! Forum Updates Career Community 🌱 Did you hear? There are weekly blog posts in the Career Community from Vena’s very own People Team sharing career tips, exclusively for the Vena Forum! If you’re looking for your next career move, or just want to brush up on your professional growth, be sure to ...

Phone interviews are often the first stage in an interviewing process and allow you to start the conversation around your interest and suitability for the role, as well as culture, compensation, and overall fit. In order to make a strong first impression, it's crucial you show up to the phone interview feeling prepared and confident about what you bring to the table! The tips below can help you prepare for the 3 stages of a phone interview and nail the first round of the interview process. Stages of a Phone Interview: Preparation : Ensure you go into the phone interview with an idea of who you will be speaking to, what department they are representing ...

Cover letters are like the cilantro of the hiring world - some recruiters love them, some don’t want to go near them. They’re polarizing and it leads to a ton of mixed messages to folks looking for advice. Do you include one? When? The short answer is it depends! Use a cover letter if: if your resume doesn’t very obviously align to the job or you have something to explain - maybe you’re switching careers, re-entering the workforce, or you’re a newcomer to the country. Cover letters are a chance to tell your story and get ahead of any questions or concerns the hiring committee might have about your experience. it’s required - have something prepared ...

Let’s be real. Resume writing can feel like a daunting task😒 , especially for those who have not had to update or create on in quite some time.  💡Remember, the GOAL of the resume is to land an interview. (It won’t be the reason you land the job.)💡 You have 6-7 seconds to grab the reader's attention.⌚ In addition to that, an average job posting receives approximately 250 applications, and only 2-3% of those candidates who apply will be invited to an interview. 📉 With that in mind, here are some tips on how to get your resume noticed:  Focus on the quality of your content Customize resume to the role  ...

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday season / end of year / time off, and are excited and ready to start a new year together. With this new year and first post of the season, I’ll share a few updates with you all! Forum Updates You might have noticed the All Discussions page updated with a blog tab. Now it’s easier than ever to navigate to the blog posts to view these monthly updates as well as future blog posts. Career Community New to the Forum! We’ve launched the Career Community and you’ve been automatically added. Be sure to check it out (especially every Tuesday 😉) and read up on all the details here ! Tune in ...

Hi everyone! Can you believe we're already nearing the end of the year? What a rollercoaster of a ride this year has been, and I’m so glad to have you as part of this community! 📌 Forum Reminders In case you missed it 👀 - there is a new library entry for new (and seasoned) members that outlines all the how to’s from setting up your account to earning engagement points on the Forum.  ➡️ Check out the Forum Guide 📖 if you need a little refresher in the Forum Library! 🎁 The #12DaysofVena We’ve kicked off the holiday season this month on December 1 with the #12DaysofVena! To check out a list of all the gifts given so ...

Hi everyone! Hope everyone had an amazing October and are getting over any sugar-induced hangovers from Halloween! We’re back again with another monthly roundup for the community. Hopefully this will give you a good insight as to what’s going on in Plan To Grow - but please feel free to share any feedback! Forum Reminders A friendly reminder to turn ON notifications! There’s great conversations happening in the Forum, and you don’t want to miss out on them! But, if daily emails are just too much (I get it, inboxes fill up so quickly!), there are weekly digest emails that you can opt into so you have a recap of the week!  To ...