Author Archive

Contract Checklist

posted by on Jun 19, 2013 Leave a comment

So you ensured your social profiles were squeaky clean, wrote up the best resume you could muster, aced your interview, and landed a great new position. With all the excitement of the job search being over, it’s easy to get excited and sign whatever the new boss puts in front of you. Not so fast – read the fine print, and check for these important clauses that might come back to haunt you later.

Termination clause / notice period – make sure that there is a clause specifying a specific notice period so that you are protected if the contract is brought to an abrupt end.

Your own notice period – how much time do you have to give? Eventually you will leave, ensure that it is fair, and not 3 months (or longer). Ensure that your notice period is not excessively long for your position. You don’t want to miss out on future amazing job opportunities because of an unfair contract.

Non-compete clause – do you have one? How restrictive is it? Making sure you won’t take all the company secrets to a competitor is fair, but ensure that the clause won’t prevent you from working in your field. A former employer should not be able to force you out of the field that you have been working hard to become an expert in.

Exclusivity clause – make sure this won’t prevent you from doing non-competing projects. If you want to start a side business, have a part time position have or be involved in a project with no relevance to this job, you should be free to do so.

In addition to the big questions, make sure that the basic housekeeping issues are clear and correct. Ensure there aren’t any spelling errors in your name on official forms, as that can cause a major headache later, and ensure that how many sick days versus how many vacation days you have is clear (including whether your sick days have any impact on the vacation you are permitted to take).

If you find that the contract is not to your liking, you have a few options. You could tell the recruiter or hiring manager that you are not comfortable with a certain aspect of the contract, or reach out to a lawyer to be advised on your rights. Employment lawyers may not be as expensive as you think. Searching the web is also a great resource. As a Canadian, you have a lot of employment rights (for instance, legally, some details in contracts like requiring 1 month of notice is not binding). Being aware of your rights is always a good idea, especially when at the bargaining table.

Categories: Kijiji Jobs

Father’s Day Search Increases on Kijiji

posted by on Jun 14, 2013 Leave a comment

Here at Kijiji, we are always interested to see which items are hot with Canadians! We took a look at searches on Kijiji to see what searches were on the rise the week before Father’s Day. We compared the search volume of a term to the volume that that same term received the week before. According to our data, Tassimos are likely a very popular gift for dad this year!

Looks like lots of Canadian fathers will be getting a Tassimo!

We predict lots of Canadian fathers will be getting a Tassimo!

Looks like lots of dads are big coffee fans: Tassimo searches rose 1120%, and Keurig was up 41% in the week before Father’s Day.

It seems that lots of sons and daughters across Canada were eager to help dad upgrade some gadgets! Searches for cell phones rose 101% (the only specific model with a major increase was the Samsung S2, at 49%). Either there are lots of gamer fathers, or possibly quite a few people getting sidetracked on their searches (we know we certainly do), as the PS3 slim went up 101%. Other notable increases in tech were digital camera, at 80% increase, flat screen at 76% and Mac pro with a 69% increase.

Some classic choices demonstrated they were still popular; mens watch was up 27%, fishing boats searches went up 12%, massage chair was up 13%, barbeque saw an increase of 17%, tool box was up 13%, and golf driver was up 21% during this past week.

Does anything on this list surprise you?

Categories: Inside Kijiji

Father’s Day

posted by on Jun 14, 2013 Leave a comment

It can be hard to know what to do or buy for Father’s Day. The best gifts are always something personal and thoughtful – but that is easier said than done! If you’re stumped, here are a few ideas for some of the different types of dads out there!

Think about how dad likes to spend his time when choosing a Father's Day gift or celebration!

Think about how dad likes to spend his time when choosing a Father’s Day gift or celebration!

The Foodie – is your dad always thinking about his next delicious meal? Why not look up some recipes and treat him to something delicious? If you aren’t confident in the kitchen or on the BBQ, you can always get him some new BBQ accessories, or, if he isn’t wanting for more stuff, something consumable. Consider something outside of what he would normally buy, but would enjoy! We love bacon marmalade, new varieties of hot sauce, and local microbrewery beer!

The Artist – is your dad always thinking about improving his photography, serenading you with impromptu songs, or making home movies? Why not help showcase his creations? You could frame up his photographs, help him record his music, or set up a family viewing for his favorite home movies he’s made with video cameras over the years (with snacks and refreshments, of course)!

The Mechanic – dad always tinkering in the garage on cars, small engines, electronics and all things mechanical? Consider getting him some new tools – a high quality tool always comes in handy! If he has set up shop in the garage, shed, or a similar space, you could also consider getting him some fun decor for his man cave – preferably, something fun that mom won’t allow in the rest of the house!

The Professor – does your father always have his nose in a book? Some interesting literature would be a great gift, or, consider getting him a functional yet stylish new lamp for his favorite chair to enhance his reading experience.

The Sports Fan – can he usually be found in close proximity to the game, or sports equipment? Consider joining a sports league with him, or getting him tickets to his favorite event! Some new gear to replace some that is getting tired, or, to try an entirely new sport is also a good idea.

What are you planning for this Father’s Day?

Categories: Awesomesauce, Kijiji Tips

We’ve Updated our iPhone App!

posted by on Jun 12, 2013 Leave a comment

We are pleased to announce the launch of Kijiji Local Classifieds iPhone app, version 3.3!
New features in version 3.3:

  • Search for free stuff! Hunt for bargains on the go by browsing the free stuff category.
  • Purchase features! We’ve now added the capability to buy top ads, urgent, and highlight in addition to bumping up via the app. Credit card information can be saved securely, and features can be purchased with just a couple clicks.
Purchase More Features on the Kijiji iPhone app 3.3!

Purchase More Features on the Kijiji iPhone app 3.3!

  • Gallery view! Get a more visual experience of categories by browsing pictures using the new gallery view.
Browse with gallery view, and see ad features in version 3.3!

Browse with gallery view, and see ad features in version 3.3!

 

  • Updated browsing: view featured ads, such as top ads, urgent and highlighted ads.
  • Bug fixes.

We’re excited to introduce all these new features in our iPhone app! What other features are you hoping for in future releases?

Categories: iPhone, Site Updates + Improvements

Resumes: What Type of Picture Should You Use?

posted by on Jun 10, 2013 Leave a comment

The resume section on Kijiji is a great place to get some exposure for your work experience, and get the word out that you are looking for a position! You can upload pictures, write a creative biography, and set yourself apart from the pack by creating a memorable ad for your employment.

Turn that frown upside down - you want to present yourself as a happy professional, not as desperate and unhappy!

Turn that frown upside down – you want to present yourself as a happy professional, not as desperate and unhappy!

The picture feature is a great way to showcase your prior work, or help visualize an aspect of your resume, such as uploading a logo of prior places you’ve worked, or the educational institution that you attended. Many people like to upload a picture of themselves to their resume. If you want to add a picture of yourself, remember, this will be potential employers’ first impression of you! Making a bad impression will likely cost you any chance at an interview that you may have had.

Being perceived as friendly and approachable will help land an interview and wow them in person, so be sure to smile! You want to put forth a professional image, so a party picture or a picture you took yourself in the mirror is not the most suitable image to accompany a resume. Avoid making a “duck face”, as this is unlikely to help further your career goals.

Some pictures might seem perfectly appropriate, but could cause problems. For instance, if seeking work in childcare, it may seem perfectly natural to post an image of you at a prior job interacting with children. However, if you want to use an image featuring a child (or another individual of any age), make sure you have the consent of the parent or guardian, as this can cause upset (and possibly cost you a positive reference).

Try asking a friend to take a picture of you wearing interview appropriate clothing if you don’t have an appropriate picture, but still want to include an image of yourself. Avoid images featuring alcohol (unless you are looking for work as a bartender, and the picture is of you in action on the job), or any other props that suggest partying or that might distract from creating a professional appearance. Showing off all your tattoos and piercings is generally not advisable, unless you are seeking work as a tattoo artist. If you choose to include a picture, the picture should add, not detract or distract, to your image as a professional!

Choosing to upload an image of yourself can give you a competitive advantage if used thoughtfully, but can undermine your efforts if the wrong type of image is selected. If you want to include an image of yourself, you should tailor the image to your work objective, and help those viewing your resume visualize you as a potential colleague.

Categories: Kijiji Jobs, Kijiji Tips