Navigating Career Reinvention: From Frustration to Transparency

Written By Julie Entwistle MBA, BSc (OT), BSc.

In 2022, I spent six months reinventing my career. It was an unbelievably frustrating experience.

Here are some of my reflections:

  1. I thought people (aka living and breathing humans) would look at my resume. I wrote with passion and zest to connect with the human reader. Whoops. Bots, not humans, screen resumes now. How do you craft a resume for a bot? Martin Buckland showed me the way, but that was after several months of frustration.

  2. I customized every cover letter to the job posting and why I felt I was a fit. I wondered if that mattered, as the responsiveness didn't seem to change with or without that extra effort.

  3. Many companies don't have a process that supports the candidate. In one instance, I had two interviews in August through an industry connection. Then I was told they had to post the position. A month later, two more interviews. A month later the offer was "coming any day." Twelve weeks after the first interview, I told them to rescind my application. They reported being disappointed as the offer was "going to be sent today." Such an unfortunate waste of resources for both of us.

  4. The public-sector and non-profit CEO jobs are grossly underpaying. I was considering a CEO role where I would be making less than I had made 20 years ago, and yet would have a daily commute, be shouldering all the responsibility of the organization, and would have limited available resources to really make a difference.

  5. Some roles sounded fancy and important and great, then there would be the disappointing "whomp, whomp" when they got to the salary discussion.

The new "Working for Workers" legislation in Ontario emphasizes transparency by requiring job postings to include salary information. I like this legislation for improving transparency and preventing the colossal waste of time that businesses and people put into trying to find the right fit. I see that fit as being a combination of culture, role, skills, and yes, pay.

There are many other reasons why this legislation is a great move too - transparency is the future of building trust in leaders and organizations. Inequalities are reduced when people have access to the right information.

Learn more about this important legislation in the following from CTV News. https://beta-ctvnews-ca.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/beta.ctvnews.ca/local/toronto/2023/11/5/1_6632099.amp.html

Julie Entwistle MBA, BSc (OT), BSc.

Julie Entwistle is a Certified FocalPoint Business Coach and works with business owners and professional service providers.

Julie helps her clients by building their business confidence so they can run, grow, and develop legacy practices that are focused and optimally successful. Julie knows that when professional service businesses do better, their clients also benefit. She knows this because she was one! Prior to joining FocalPoint, Julie was an independent owner of her own healthcare business before successfully merging, growing, and selling the practice. As an owner Julie had her own business coach, and this was a key element in her success.

Academically, Julie has degrees in Health Studies and Gerontology and Health Science (Occupational Therapy) from the University of Waterloo and McMaster, respectively, and an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier. She attended Queens University as a part-time Doctorate student prior to discontinuing her studies in 2023. Julie is also a Chartered Director and has Board and governance experience.

Julie grew up in a franchise family, so business is in her DNA. She has raised four daughters who are off writing their own stories as young adults. Julie is active and fit with a black belt in Karate, a competitive golf game, and enjoys many other sports. She believes in authenticity, showing kindness to all living things, and is happiest when helping others to build their own wealth and wellness.

Find Julie on LinkedIn at: linkedin.com/in/julieentwistle

https://www.businessyou.ca
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