Calgary Public Library is thrilled to be hosting our second annual Taste of Coaching event on May 22–23^rd. Along with learning more about what coaching has to offer, Library customers will have the chance to sit down with a coach to get a taste of the coaching experience.

I had the pleasure of working with a coach in the past year and know personally how the coaching process can create focus on personal and professional issues, provide insights into dilemmas, and encourage a commitment to personal goals. Each one of us has something we want to work on and improve in life, and sometimes there is great value in having a skilled coach meet us where we are in life and help guide and support us.

To help give you a sense of how coaching works, we talked with local coaches Gary Armstrong and Nancy Love:

What attracted you to the profession of coaching?

Nancy: I was a classroom teacher for many years. What I noticed was that when I ASKED students about things they remembered. When I TOLD, them they forgot. So I spent a lot of time finding the right question to ask to get them to think about things differently. I love coaching because it does the same thing. It provokes learning, self knowledge, and self confidence. I love to watch the lightbulbs go on and to see people believing in themselves and their goals.

Gary: I had a coach. The experience was significant in moving me forward and inspired me to learn to do the same for others. Coaching is a strong fit with the skills that I picked up in my career as a police officer and educator. Both professions required that I listen intently to what was being said and ask thoughtful probing questions, two hallmarks of great coaching. I was amazed how asking questions which reflected intent listening could uncover thoughts I had never articulated before—thoughts that were the catalyst to new and sometimes very personal discoveries about how I was being perceived by others.

Coaching can be a transformative and profound process. How does it affect your clients?

Gary: What I notice most is the impact being heard has on people. Consistently people will delve deeper within themselves to find the answer to their own toughest questions when they believe someone else is their willing to hear them through. I am awed by the progress people make in their careers when they explore their own thoughts and devise strategies they know are right for them. It is extremely rewarding to help people move forward in such a significant way.

Do you believe that many of your clients have the answers to their questions hidden inside them?

Nancy: Everyone knows what they need to do to change a situation. Most just need a nudge in that direction. I like to use time-lining. I ask the person to consider a future point or a point in the past and look at the present situation from that perspective and describe it in detail. It removes the emotional response or adds a different emotion to the understanding of the situation.

Gary: I believe we all know our best path. Early in life we develop a set of values which guide our conduct and help us chart a direction in a career, or for that matter life. Understandably we all differ and from time to time we face situations which collide with our values. In those moments we may make small sacrifices to our values for the sake of harmony. For me coaching, in part , is an opportunity to affirm my values and return to a course of action I know is right for me.

Have there been any books or articles you have read that really explained or spoke to the power of coaching?

Gary: Mary Beth O'Neil's book Coaching with Backbone and Heart stands out for me. My opinion is that for most friends the heart piece of being there for someone comes naturally. It is the backbone that can be harder to call on. However there are also friends who have more backbone than heart. They are the ones who sometimes are too willing to tell it like it is. O'Neil does a great job of showing how both are needed in a balanced coaching relationship. Moving between backbone and heart is quite similar to teaching someone a new skill or task following the old adage two steps forward one step back. Being challenged to take two steps forward at times can be quite daunting. Being able to judge when to take a step back is heart. Balancing both is an acquired skill that a coach brings that a friend may not always be able to.

Gary Armstrong is an Executive Coach and President of Empowered Employee Education. Gary’s services appeal to enterprises developing current and next generation leaders. Those who wish to positively implement and navigate change with a collaborative, communicative, strategically thoughtful leadership team that possesses the skills required to focus others on a clear mission and vision, centered on confirmed values. gary@empoweredee.com

Dr. Nancy Love, PhD, M.Ed. works in many cities across North America to present the PULSE programs to government agencies and private industry. She is the author of PULSE Conversations for Change. Her continued interest in how people use conversation and language lead to the formation of the PULSE Institute which studies People Using Language Skills Effectively. http://www.pulseinstitute.com/

Would you like to know that the work you do daily has a positive impact on the lives of Canadians? For the first time, Calgary Public Library is welcoming staff from the Public Service sector to take part in our Career Conversations event on April 20^th as part of our Accelerate Your Career event, where they will answer questions about working for both the federal and provincial government. Representatives will discuss the wide variety of jobs available, so we asked them a few questions to get the conversation started:

Jackie, the Government of Alberta features several of the benefits of working for the federal government, but we’re wondering what you see as the top “selling features?”

To start, there are such a wide variety of jobs available. So although it’s one employer, there are many opportunities. For example, someone like me moved from a front line position, then pursued further education and switched to a support position in Human Resources , and then progressed into a management role. Employees also have the ability to make a huge difference to clients through the services they provide. We also know the importance of the work we do and are in it for the long term. Lastly, we get to work in a fast paced environment with the support of having good benefits and job security.

Are there any occupations or fields that are experiencing high demand?

Currently, we have a need for Social Workers in the Child Protection areas, Occupational Health and Safety Officers, and careers in our policy areas.

Jackie, what are some of the common questions that are asked by job seekers at career events, and what advice can you offer?

Questions are usually about the hiring process, specific jobs availability, training opportunities, and locations where new hires could work. As for advice, I would recommend that individuals interested in public sector careers should:

• Look at all levels of government (e.g. www.govjobs.ca)
• Given that opportunities are vast and varied, explore areas that you are passionate about. For example, environment, education, health care
• Explore what type of work you are interested in, such as policy, direct-service delivery (aka front line), technical, etc.

Does the Public Service ever use social media to scout for talent or recruit?

Governments are looking at innovative ways (e.g. Web 2.0) to recruit individuals to the public service including:

• Facebook
• Twitter (e.g. @jobs_gc)
• Second Life (Public Service Commission did a trial run and provided information booths and interacted with potential candidates)
• LinkedIn (frequent posts from various government agencies are often posted on LinkedIn)

Would you like to learn more about the various types of legal careers? Come from 11:30 to 2:00 p.m. during our Law Connect event on Wednesday, October 17th at the Central Library.

Sign up on event day to speak with people who work in the following professions to learn more what they do in their jobs:

• Correctional Services Officer/Parole Officer
• Animal and Bylaw Services Peace Officer
• RCMP Recruiting Officer
• Law Librarian
• Judicial Clerk
• Lawyer
• Legal Assistant
• Paralegal
• Legal Marketing Specialist

As well as Career Conversations with people in the legal profession, you can sign up in advance to meet with a lawyer in Law Connect: Legal Grounds Summary Advice Clinic (offered in partnership with Pro Bono Law Alberta) and learn more about local legal services during the Law Connect: Legal Resources Fair.

Come chat with legal professionals to get a better idea of what they do and whether a legal career might be the right career choice for you.

Career Conversations: Law and Legal Related Services
11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m
Wednesday, October 17th, 2012
Central Library

Contact us at 403-260-2782 or cis@calgarypubliclibrary.com with any questions.

Say you are from Brazil and you need to know the equivalent degree in Canada for your geology degree back home. How do you go about getting your education assessed so Canadian employers have a better understanding of your qualifications? This is a common question at the Calgary Public Library, so we talked with Simran, a career practitioner with Bow Valley’s College’s Career Connection’s downtown office.

Who will benefit from an IQAS assessment?

This assessment tool analyzes international educational credentials and compares them to educational credentials in Canada. An IQAS assessment can help New Canadians with educational and employment goals, as it provides colleges and employers with an education summary in Canadian terms and uses the language needed for a Canadian resume. For example, an industrial designer from another country might be called a project design engineer in Canada. IQAS issues three types of assessments, listed here.

There is a $100 fee for the basic IQAS assessment. Is it true that clients of Bow Valley College Career Connection can have this fee waived?

Yes. Eligible Calgarians may register with Career Connections and request that their IQAS application fee be waived. Click here for a list of Career Connections offices in Calgary.

What if a new Canadian needs to know what courses they need to take to complete a Canadian high school diploma? Does IQAS provide this type of assessment?

Yes and IQAS can send a copy the assessment directly to colleges. But be aware that this assessment application requires planning and takes time, and that processing can take anywhere from two to three months. Click here for a list of the educational institutions using IQAS

Do universities also accept IQAS assessments?

As a rule, most universities have their own assessment departments. They ask that applicants submit their credentials for more detailed assessments that are often required for advanced degrees. Professional and industry association organizations, such as APEGGA, conduct their own assessments. Click here for more information on this subject.

What about professional designations?

Yes, IQAS can facilitate licensure for professions such as Certified General Accountants, along with some other professions in Canada. It’s important to call your professional association or check the IQAS site for more details.

What advice do you have for Calgarians considering an IQAS assessment?

First, IQAS only accepts information in English and French. If transcripts need to be translated, there are several organizations that can help, such as those listed here. Also, be aware that IQAS is only an assessment service and does not provide guidance or advice. Agencies such as Career Connection or Alberta Human Resources can provide further support and answer questions.

Note: The IQAS website has a list of frequently asked questions, along with an excellent video tutorial.

Alberta Human Resources also has a list of other organizations that can offer help with international education assessments. Click here for more information.

For those looking to work in Alberta’s energy industry, industry forecasts from organizations such as the Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (CAODC) and The Petroleum Human Resources Council of Canada show that there will be a shortage of skilled oil and rig workers in 2012.

The Petroleum HR Council created an excellent website devoted to helping those who want to find information on or a job in the industry: Careers in Oil + Gas.

Careers in Oil + Gas has sections listing job boards in the Petroleum Industry, tips and tools for job seekers and a Day in the Life section that features interviews and videos of people working in the industry.

The Petroleum HR Council has also worked with the industry to create the Petroleum Competency Program to help address industry HR issues. The following video clip from their site talks about how the program works with entry level workers:

Petroleum Competency Program
INFORMATION FOR ENTRY LEVEL WORKERS

http://www.petrohrsc.ca/council-projects/project-list/petroleum-competency-program/videos.aspx

For more information about the forecasted shortage of oil workers:

Oil worker shortage forecast to hamper 2012 drilling (CBC website)

Canadian Rig Worker Shortage Prevails, Despite Innovative Training (Rigzone)

Both Rigzone and the new CAODC Service Rig Website have information and job postings for oil and rig workers.

For more information about jobs and careers in the Energy Industry, the Alberta Learning Information Services (ALIS) Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction Industry ALIS Occupational Profiles and the Petroleum HR Council Occupational Profiles are a good place to start.

Please contact the Third Floor, Central Library at 403-260-2782 or busn@calgarypubliclibrary.com if you would like more information about jobs in the Oil and Gas Industry in Calgary or Alberta.