Just figured out how to connect Flickr to WordPress, so I thought I’d share some of my favourite photos I’ve taken at home (Nova Scotia).

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Needless to say, I’m enjoying my new mountain home and new job. Just a little.

The excitement of the new is great – but any time you start something new, whether it’s a job or a project at work, it’s good to ground yourself for a moment and keep a few things in mind for successful results.

Forbes writer Jacquelyn Smith (who always seems to have something insightful to say about career), recommends if you’ve just joined an organization, communicating, being innovative, challenging yourself and separating work and home are key. “From day one, confirm that you bring something new to the table. … Most young professionals in a new job take the back seat the first few days, but Haefner [HR expert] suggests jumping right in.”

Smith also suggests your research on a company shouldn’t stop once you’ve gotten a job offer. “Look back at old projects, and find out what has worked for the company or your team in the past.” This will help inform your own goals.

One final piece of insight from this article that really stood out to me is this: “A lot of people look at getting the job offer as the finish line, but really it’s the start of another run.” I can honestly say I’d never thought about it this way. Most new graduates are so happy to find work, they’re left glossy-eyed and drooling after the offer has been extended. Or – all exaggerations aside – jumping up and down, screaming, but only for a few minutes, of course.

The take-away here is to remember, as hard as you worked to highlight your skills to an employer during your job search is at least as hard as you should continue to work once you’re in your new role. The more you can motivate yourself, the more you’ll learn and the more you’ll enjoy what you’re doing.

In the spirit of embracing the new, in the coming weeks, I’ll be adding to the career-related posts on here with posts about mountain life and culture. Looking forward to experiencing all this place has to offer.

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My experience ended on a very positive note. And in the end, it got resolved because of senior leadership. Yes, groundwork was done first, and I can appreciate when large companies get complaints, they want their customers to go through the appropriate channels to deal with those complaints. But what happens when those channels don’t function as effectively as they should? Things can be smoothed over if senior leadership have their eyes on the big picture.

I haven’t spent a ton of time thinking about issues like this, because I’m in the early stages of my career, and my posts on here are usually geared toward topics relevant to others in the early stages of their careers (or students), but it really resonates with me now. I was getting frustrated in my situation with Canada Post (shipping nine boxes of personal belongings across the country), and the channels in place to resolve my issue weren’t helping me.

So I wrote to a senior VP. I figured the chances of him having the time to read my email (it was basically a novel) were about 50/50. But I got a response in about 36 hours. And even though the situation started out negatively, getting that response and getting his help meant I couldn’t accuse Canada Post of not caring about customer service. He completely changed my opinion.

It’s extremely important to take note of the behaviour of senior leadership in organizations, because when they exemplify brand values as well as in this case, that’s an impressive feather in an organization’s cap. (I know it’s technically always “supposed” to work this way, but in reality it doesn’t, and when people come through for their customers, they deserve to be recognized for it. So often, we only make noise about the negative).

So, a BIG thank you to this senior VP for his absolutely fantastic customer service. Soon I’ll be able to really settle in and make Canmore home.

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But it doesn’t come without an adjustment period. Even though I’ve done this before, I know I need to be prepared for that part. Here are a few ways you can make the most of it.

From blogger Clementine Knits, on getting to know her new city, Chicago:

“Convenience is important. Support your neighborhood. Put your money in the bank next door to your weird house across from a Shell station and (now) vacant Christmas tree lot. Get your hair cut at the salon down the street. Volunteer at the cool, indie writing center for kids on Milwaukee. Buy your furniture from that Polish thrift store. It’s a great feeling to run errands on foot… within a 5 block radius. ”

I couldn’t agree with this more. The best way to learn to love your neighbourhood is to make it yours.

From Lifehacker, on meeting people:

“You won’t meet anybody just sitting at home alone, so when you have the opportunity to get out of the house, take it. Instead of getting takeout and heading home, eat out by yourself. Work in coffee shops. It may feel awkward at first, but there isn’t anything wrong with grabbing a book (or your favorite read-it-later service) and enjoying the sunshine a little.”

This can be an awkward/difficult one, and everyone’s comfort level is different. Give it time.

From Forbes, on networking:

“If you’re working full-time, volunteer for an organization that does something you’re passionate about. If you’re not working full-time, make it a priority to get an internship, whether it’s paid or not, in a field you’re interested in. Both will lead you to like-minded people, new connections, and potential job opportunities, too.”

Obviously, if you’re not working, an unpaid internship could be problematic. But that’s a whole other blog post. Just get involved in your industry somehow, whether or not you’re actually working in it yet.

Moving somewhere where you don’t know many people, especially if you don’t have a job lined up, either sounds like self-inflicted punishment or a great adventure (both equally valid perspectives), depending on who you are. And even if, like me, you’re of the latter mindset, you will ultimately second-guess yourself at times. But if it’s something you’re even just considering, it’s worth trying.

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Last week, I attended a PD session delivered by a fellow IABC member and the president of a research firm in Halifax. He gave the audience five reasons why researchers and communicators should work together, and why our communications need research to be effective. Here are some highlights.

Communicators sometimes underestimate literacy and numeracy challenges, and the industry buzzwords we’ve become so familiar with often don’t resonate with our audiences. The more we can inform ourselves about our audiences and their needs, the better.

Data is gaining increasing importance in communications. We’re asked to measure things more often nowadays, and we have more tools to do so, whether we choose to use surveys, focus groups, social media monitoring or online analytics.

The final message: think analytically about how you can make your communications more tangible.

And my two cents: don’t underestimate how much research can help you tell a story. I’m going to use a rather lazy stereotype here – it’s okay if I know I’m doing it, right? We millennials love our smartphones (I know, it’s not just us). We get our information in an instant. But we shouldn’t expect to engage with our audiences in an instant.

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What does that have to do with maximizing your professional development?

Well, being a junior comms person and being on a board (IABC Maritime Canada) has been a great experience, and it’s one of the things I’m going to miss. If, like I was, you’re not sure what getting involved with a professional association is all about, it might not seem like it’s for you at first.

I’d encourage any gen-Y worker, job-seeker or student to take a closer look. If you’re not interested in a board commitment, you can still get involved as a member. Professional associations provide a great opportunity for millennials to get to know more experienced workers, and to make a contribution of their own to their field.

For example, if you enjoy getting involved with events, volunteer to help out with logistics or promotion. Professional associations often need volunteers and are happy to engage with them. As I mentioned before in this post, in my experience, many seasoned communicators you’ll come across through these associations are both friendly and helpful.

Why not try something new, and learn something new in the process?

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Normally I post on Saturdays, but I wanted to recap my first Podcamp Halifax experience, which took place yesterday. Podcamp is a free, informal conference (or an “unconference”) all about the web, social media, blogs, mobile and other related stuff. This year’s topics included insights on social media strategy, branding, buzzwords, web content management, women in the tech world, advice for small businesses and the power of buying local, to name a few.

One session I particularly enjoyed as someone working in post-secondary was a talk given by Lindsay Cross and Bill Murray of Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax. It was all about addressing the top social media questions asked in many organizations: Why do we do social media? What am I supposed to say?, etc. The session was engaging, not without some cheeky humour, and encouraged audience members to foster relationships online and not just push content out.

Murray reinforced social media isn’t always about a sell message, but an engagement message. He used a tweet by Halifax restaurant Boneheads BBQ as an example. It was a picture of their pulled pork sandwich with the line “We think of you when we pull our pork.” Murray pointed out Boneheads wasn’t talking about prices or hours of operation, but communicating in the brand voice and going for a human, rather than a corporate tone.

But how do I know what to post? Listen to your audience, Cross suggested, referencing a tweet from a student saying she loved seeing pictures of the university on social media. And finally, what if I screw up? Cross shared a few examples, got a lot of laughs, and wrapped up by reassuring the audience how you respond is more important than the fact that it happened. Social media is all about the human element.

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Don’t get me wrong – I don’t like conflict. I’m talking more about those differences of opinion that leave you shaking your head and not quite able to reach an understanding. For example, this quote: “Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray” – Rumi. Brilliant or BS?

I’ve been lucky, because from the minute I learned how to spell (spelling and grammar: big part of my life), I loved writing stories. Short stories that I tortured my parents with as I read them in the car, although I’m sure they would kindly deny it and say they enjoyed listening.

Whether you’ve always known or you’ve just figured out or you’re nowhere near figuring out what you want to do when you grow up, think about this: “People do best what comes naturally.” That’s what Gretchen Rubin, author of the Happiness Project (which I haven’t read yet but plan to soon) wrote in her most recent blog post.

I think there’s a lot of truth in that. Loving what you do serves not only you, but the people impacted by your work. But I think you have to interpret it in a way that pushes you to think a little more creatively about it, and doesn’t let you off the hook at, “Well, what comes naturally to me is sleeping in all day and drinking all night.”

I’m going to be leaving my hometown of Halifax soon, where I’m currently working on contract at a great organization, to join my partner in Alberta where I also used to live and work. And I’m so excited for the career and life-in-general possibilities it will bring. Maybe that’s because we’re only a few days into 2013 and everything is still bright and shiny uncharted territory. But I feel great about this year and I’m going to spend it doing what I love.

Looking forward to new collaborations!

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I’m on holidays from work for 10 days (one of the added bonuses of working at a university) and I want to take some time to start planning for an upcoming move in March, but I also don’t want January to roll around and be left feeling like I need a vacation from my vacation.

If that sounds all too familiar, I suggest you do this this holiday season:

Right now will probably be the last time I won’t be busy for a few months, so I’m going to enjoy the present and the people in it and make some great memories to leave Nova Scotia with (starting in true Maritime fashion with a lobster dinner at my parents’ tonight). See you in 2013!

In the meantime, I’ll leave you with some articles recapping 2012:

• Hello Giggles: Kick ass things from 2012
• The Globe and Mail: Where the jobs were in 2012
• The Huffington Post: Canada’s top 5 news winners of the year

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When we set a goal or make a plan, whether it’s related to career or life in general, it can become all-consuming (if you’re anything like me). For us type-A personalities who’d rather not let the chips fall, but instead place them in a pretty design on the floor, our intentions may be good, but our approach, not effective.

So, here are some things to keep in mind to curb that type-A anxiety:

• Always compartmentalize, and remember worrying about or trying to plan for B or C, when A hasn’t even happened yet, takes your energy away from the present task.
• Anticipate and accept your goal or plan looks different in real life than it does in your head. Make room in your life for uncertainty, because it’s going to work its way in, invited or not.
• Go for it. At some point, this becomes necessary. Even if you don’t feel as prepared as you’d like. If you want different results, you need to do something differently. And putting yourself out there is a good place to start.

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