Articles : HR Feature: Monika Monga, B.Com, MHRM, HR/Career Consultant, M&M Consulting

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About Monika
Monika Monga has experience working in both the public and private sector. She coaches professionals with the job process by reviewing and suggesting improvements to enhance résumés and cover letters, providing interview preparation, including performing mock interviews; and providing information on networking best practices both online.
She has a real passion for giving back to the community where she has volunteered at the YMCA helping newcomers with their resumes and provide mock interviews. She has also volunteered at the new immigrant career fair helping international students with their resumes.
Monika holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Ryerson University and Masters in Human Resources Degree from York University.
 
About M&M Consulting
Coaching professionals with the job process by reviewing and suggesting improvements to enhance résumés and cover letters, providing interview preparation, including performing mock interviews; and providing information on networking best practices both online.
 
What advice would you give job seekers searching for a job during this tough time?
COVID-19 has been a challenging time for many organizations and job seekers. Some advice that I can offer at this time is to:

• Connect with your networks to let them know you are looking for new opportunities. The connections can be through social media or if you already have developed a professional relationship with them, contact them through e-mail.
• I encourage job seekers to have informational interviews with potential employers and learn about the industry. The information interview allows the candidate to lead a more casual conversation where the industry professional does most of the talking.
• This is also a great opportunity to update your skills by taking online courses. Also to become comfortable with using technology.
• It is also important to stay positive and patient during these times. Focus on the positive in your life at this time.

What would you say are the most important things candidates should include on their resume?
The quality of your resume makes a first impression and can determine whether or not a potential employer will consider you for an interview.
It is the first piece of written work that is being presented to a potential employer so the quality of your work is really important, so ensure it is polished and free of grammatical or spelling errors.

• It is important that the resume is customized for each of the position you're applying to.
• The skill section of a resume tends to become a laundry list. Instead, include the skills you have used under a particular job, as it gives a point of reference for when you actually used it.
• Keep your resume at a maximum of two pages and format it according to your industry (each has a preferred resume format). Research industry standards online by speaking to experts in the sector.
• Volunteer and extracurricular activities are really important for individuals with limited work experience and it demonstrates an ability to give back to the community.

What are the key characteristics you look for when hiring someone in your organization?
The key characteristics that potential employers look for in candidates are:

• A positive attitude. This can demonstrate you ability to adapt with the organization's culture.
• A candidate who has knowledge of the company.
• The ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and written.

Can you provide us with some tips on how a job seeker can present themselves online professionally?
While the lockdown has made in-person meetings less likely, our online presence may now be the first impression someone makes. Tools such as LinkedIn is a great tool to build your professional presence. It allows to make connection with others in your industry.

It's important to post articles that you are interested in personally and professional.

Always be professional – promote your personal brand consistency through all your different social media profiles.

Showcase your skills – for example, illustrate your communication skills. If you can summarize and get the message across concisely, this shows a level of articulation.

Try to avoid controversial topics such as politics and religion. Keep language professional and avoiding profanity and negative remarks about past / current employers or colleagues. The best advise I would say is post things that “grandparents or parents” would be proud to see about you.

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