Senior entrepreneurs in Canada need greater access to funding, supports

July 17, 2018By

Nearly four in 10 older entrepreneurs face gaps in the support they need to launch or develop their businesses, according to a new CERIC-funded study on The Status of Senior Entrepreneurship in Canada. The research report from the Sheridan Centre for Elder Research found that 37% of the respondents aged 50+ had challenges in accessing financial or government support and mentors.

The eight-month study used online surveys, in-depth interviews and focus groups to investigate the experiences, needs and interests of 180 senior entrepreneurs around career guidance and support. The study comes at a time when the number of Canadians 50+ represents 37.8% of the total Canadian population as of 2017 and continues to rise. Meanwhile, a 2012 CIBC study found that individuals 50+ make up the fast-growing demographic for start-up founders in Canada, accounting for approximately 30% of the total. Despite these numbers, there has been limited previous research on the “seniorpreneur” trend.

Sheridan’s research explored the differentiated paths that senior entrepreneurs take. The top three reasons entrepreneurs surveyed started a business after 50 were:

  1. Interest in continuing to use their skills,
  2. Needing or wanting to generate a new source of income, and
  3. Wanting greater ownership and control of their work and lifestyle.

The report notes that when asked to rate the importance of the statement “I had to leave my previous employer/career (for any reason),” 48% of respondents identified this as “not applicable,” suggesting that for nearly half of the respondents it wasn’t a push from a previous position that prompted the journey into entrepreneurship but, rather, a pull from a new opportunity.

Sectors and type of business represented by the respondents also varied widely. A quarter of respondents described their business as “consulting,” but other areas represented included technology, social entrepreneurship, communications, arts/design, healthcare, education, community/social services, finance/banking, manufacturing, entertainment, e-commerce, food industry, energy/environment, agriculture, real estate, legal, marketing/branding, pet services, tourism, transportation, fitness and retail. These businesses conducted their operations both online and face-to-face. A key finding was that more than half of respondents (58%) had launched, or actively explored, another business prior to their current business, suggesting the transition to entrepreneur is very much a journey.

The top service providers that senior entrepreneurs engaged with to assist them were small business enterprise centres, banks, chambers of commerce and economic development offices. The study highlights that most individuals reported accessing multiple service providers as part of their search for support. Researchers also flag the respondents who reported that they accessed no services or were completely on their own, speaking to the unique needs of senior entrepreneurs with locating or identifying the best source of assistance.

Respondents, when asked to select which factors most contributed to their success, indicated that what helped them the most was:

  1. Their accumulated work experience and expertise,
  2. Their knowledge of customer needs/service, and
  3. Their perseverance and determination.

Tied for fourth most common response was their willingness to take risks, their reputation and network of contacts, showing that it is a mix of personal characteristics and accumulated skills or resources to which older entrepreneurs credit their success.

Many respondents (40%) reported not facing any age-based discrimination along their entrepreneurial path, instead feeling valued because of their experience. When they did experience discrimination, the two most common scenarios encountered were that services they would have liked to access were only available to youth entrepreneurs, and the process for navigating the “system” as an older entrepreneur was less defined than it was for younger entrepreneurs. When asked how older entrepreneurs could support each other, the top response was that it shouldn’t only be older entrepreneurs supporting each other, but that there should be opportunities for intergenerational mentoring.

Specific recommendations from the report to enhance that state of senior entrepreneurship in Canada include:

  • Standardize programs and services available to support this group and how they are advertised across the country.
  • Design, implement and evaluate innovative models of, and support for, intergenerational mentorship.
  • Consider changing the label “senior entrepreneurs” and, instead, provide supports for all entrepreneurs regardless of age.
  • Enhance communication between various stakeholders who have a vested interest in supporting this group (i.e., policymakers, career development professionals, funders) to ensure consistency of messaging and easier referrals between groups.
  • Advocate for funding and other supports that do not restrict access to resources based on age.
  • Provide career transition services for older workers who are leaving traditional jobs and are considering entrepreneurship as a viable alternative.
  • Design training materials and resources for career development professionals and other service providers to enable them to more effectively support their older clients.
  • Promote the skills, wisdom and experience of older individuals and senior entrepreneurs to all members of our society and work to change the negative perceptions of aging through education.

The immediate goal of the research is to provide career development professionals, financial advisors, life coaches, regional business leaders and others with greater insight to more effectively guide senior entrepreneurs. The researchers hope the broader ramifications of this work on aging and entrepreneurship will help improve current services and supports provided to older entrepreneurs and motivate the creation of new tools that empower older entrepreneurs to achieve success for themselves and contribute to the broader Canadian economy.

CERIC and the Sheridan Centre for Elder Research will host a free one-hour webinar on Tuesday, September 18 to further outline the research findings and their implications. Watch ceric.ca/webinars for further details to be posted.

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Cannexus19 Super Saver registration now open!

July 4, 2018By

Registration for Cannexus19, Canada’s National Career Development Conference is now open with both 3-day ($450) and 1-day ($225) packages available! Take advantage of special rates for members of supporting organizations, students and groups. Super Saver deadline is September 5, 2018.

Cannexus is designed to promote the exchange of information and explore innovative approaches in the areas of career counselling and career development. We expect to welcome 1,000 participants from Canada and internationally to the Shaw Centre in Ottawa, January 28-30, 2019.

Conference delegates can listen to three inspirational keynote speakers and choose from over 130 education sessions. Topics will include effective counselling techniques, labour market information, post-secondary employment, talent management, job search strategies, working with diverse populations and more. An Exhibitor Showcase will also bring together organizations highlighting their valuable career development programs and services.

We are also pleased to announce this year’s optional pre-conference workshops, each providing in-depth professional development. Workshops take place on Sunday, January 27, 2019. Choose among the following:

  • Trina Maher, Chief Creative Spirit, Bridging Concepts – Helping Indigenous Talent Tap into Their Potential
  • Elaine Newman, Founder & CEO, Global Learning – Unconscious Bias: Understand, Define, Mitigate
  • Graham Donald, Brainstorm Strategy Group – Employer Engagement to Increase Hiring on Your Campus
  • Rob Straby, Co-ordinator & Professor, Career Development Professional Program, Conestoga College – Use the Power of Stories to Find Gigs!
  • Kristen Klassen, PhD, Founder, Brickstorming – Building Insights and Confidence for Career Development Professionals Using LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®

The conference is presented by CERIC and supported by The Counselling Foundation of Canada and a broad network of supporting organizations.

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New CERIC literature search examines challenges and promises in the digital economy

July 2, 2018By

Digital technologies are transforming the way we live and work. The potential of our emerging digital economy presents a lot of opportunities as well as challenges. CERIC’s latest literature search Digital Economy and Career Development examines the today’s digital economy and what it means to your future career.

Topics covered in the literature search include:

  • Research, trends, facts and implications of the digital economy
  • Future world of work in the digital economy
  • Information technology and productivity
  • Canadian workforce in the digital economy
  • Digital economy and entrepreneurship

There are 48 literature searches available, including Career Development Theory and Career Management Models, Economic Benefits of Career Guidance, Parental Involvement in Career Development, Labour Market Trends, Mental Health Issues in the Workplace, and more.

Featuring comprehensive listings of key research and articles in career development, literature searches highlight critical points of current knowledge.

As a student, academic or practitioner in the field, literature searches are helpful if you are researching the latest thinking or proven best practices. They are also valuable if you are considering a submission to CERIC for project partnership funding in order to gain an overview of major work already done in your area of interest.

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A Journey of Collaboration: CERIC’S 2017 Annual Report

June 28, 2018By

Along its 13-year journey, CERIC has come to be known as an enabling organization, a convening body, a research hub and a knowledge mobilizer. CERIC’s 2017 Annual Report captures how that journey continued in 2017 with an emphasis on collaboration, whether it was project funding partnerships, co-development of learning opportunities, community building through supporting organizations for the Cannexus conference, or “Knowledge Champions” who contribute to the development and dissemination of our resources.

In the Annual Report, Board Chair Jennifer Browne and Executive Director Riz Ibrahim discuss the many ways that CERIC has been advancing career development in Canada in order to enhance the economic and social well-being of Canadians. Throughout the year, CERIC sought to expand and deepen the knowledge of Canada’s career development professionals as they prepare Canadians of all ages and backgrounds for the future of work and the challenges and opportunities of both today and tomorrow.

Just some of the many highlights for CERIC from the past year include:

The 2017 Annual Report takes you through the full range of key activities from the past year across CERIC’s three strategic priorities: Research & Learning, Community Hub & Collaboration and Advocacy & Profile, as well as provides an overview of financial performance in 2017 and a look ahead to other exciting projects that CERIC is working on. Special thanks is also given to CERIC’s funder The Counselling Foundation of Canada, volunteers, staff and partners.

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Webinar series will explore changing the way we prepare people for the future of work

June 25, 2018By

CERIC and the New Brunswick Career Development Association (NBCDA) have partnered on a new webinar series Looking Beyond Job Titles: How to Prepare People for the Future of Work with SparkPath founder JP Michel, starting this fall.

Economic, technological and societal changes are making the concept of job titles obsolete. To prepare people for the new world of work, career practitioners need to move away from considering only the traditional list of jobs and careers, and direct their attention to the challenges, problems and opportunities that exist in the world. One approach that moves us away from focusing on jobs is the Challenge Method. This approach helps people see the bigger picture: the challenges, problems and opportunities that exist in society and the world of work.

This webinar series will include:

  • Webinar #1: A New Approach to Career Development
    Tuesday, September 25, 2018 | 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm ET
  • Webinar #2: Transforming Your Clients into Challenge Researchers
    Tuesday, October 2, 2018 | 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm ET

A French webinar Au-delà des titres d’emplois : comment préparer les gens pour l’avenir du travail is offered separately. More information at ceric.ca/fr/webinaires.

Michel founded SparkPath to change the way we prepare people for their careers. His work in human resources consulting helped him learn about career success from some the world’s largest organizations. He has an MSc in industrial-organizational psychology from the University of Manchester and is the recipient of the 2017 Outstanding Career Professional award from the Career Professionals of Canada. He developed the Challenge Method to integrate a market-driven, problem-solving approach into career development. It has been used by companies, elementary schools, high schools, colleges and universities, and employment centres across North America.

The cost for the full series is $97. A discount is available for NBCDA members.

CERIC partners with associations and organizations across Canada and beyond to present webinars that offer timely, convenient and affordable professional development. Previously, CERIC has worked with the Career Development Association of Alberta, Ontario Association for Career Management, BC Career Development Association, Canadian Association of Career Educators & Employers, Nova Scotia Career Development Association and the US-based National Career Development Association.

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New Retain and Gain Playbook will help non-profit employers to keep and engage staff

June 19, 2018By

CERIC will publish a non-profit edition of its popular Retain and Gain Playbook that addresses the challenges faced by charities and non-profits in attracting, retaining and engaging staff. Authored by Lisa Taylor of Challenge Factory, the bilingual publication, to be released this fall, will enhance capacity building across the non-profit sector, which employs close to two million Canadians. The project has the support of multiple “Knowledge Champion” partners, including The Counselling Foundation of Canada, The Lawson Foundation, The Muttart Foundation, Imagine Canada and the Ontario Nonprofit Network.

The first edition of the Playbook focused on small business and was released in early 2017. There was immediate interest from the non-profit sector to have a Playbook of its own that addressed the unique environment in which non-profits operate, in terms of funding mechanisms, community stakeholders and reliance on volunteers. At the same time, many non-profits and charities meet the criteria of being a small business, having fewer than 500 employees (and often fewer than 50), with the same limited time, resources and opportunities for “traditional” linear career advancement.

Written in an innovative “travel guide” format, the Retain and Gain: Career Management for Non-Profits and Charities Playbook is intended for executive directors and people managers to use as a practical career management tool with their employees. It will apply to both small grassroots non-profits from arts to health to human services as well as larger federated charities. The publication is being shaped based on interviews with managers across Canada where an emerging theme has been that they have never received training focused on how to manage or motivate teams and, yet, it is a significant part of their job.

The Playbook will feature strategies to engage full-time and part-time staff in ways that advance, develop and support thriving careers within the sector. The concise publication will include 40+ practical, low-cost tips, activities and actions that can be implemented in as little as 10-minutes a day. It will also feature several special sections exploring human resource issues of interest to non-profits, including precarious employment and gender-based career patterns.

Like all CERIC resources, this Playbook will be available for free download and also available for sale in hard copy as well as ebook formats.

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CERIC releases French version of popular quick guide to computing careers

June 14, 2018By

CERIC has now released Disciplines informatiques : guide rapide à l’intention des étudiants et des conseillers en orientation, a French version of its popular free guide that explains the fast-changing field of computing and informs decision-making around related education and career paths. Computing Disciplines: A Quick Guide for Prospective Students and Career Advisors was originally developed in English by an international research team led by Calgary’s Mount Royal University with project funding support from CERIC and released this past November.

The colourful graphic-oriented guide shows that there is no single computing discipline but at least five that have been identified by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM):

  • Computer Engineering (CE):  Is concerned with the design and construction of computers and computer-based systems
  • Computer Science (CS):  Covers the widest range of computing topics from its theoretical foundations to the development of new computing technologies and techniques
  • Information Systems (IS):  Is focused on integrating information technology solutions and business processes
  • Information Technology (IT):  Programs prepare students to meet the computer technology needs of business and other organizations
  • Software Engineering (SE):  Is the discipline of developing and maintaining large software systems

Guide authors Randy Connolly, Janet Miller and Faith-Michael Uzoka provide an overview of each of these disciplines, and related careers, core courses, key tasks and sample jobs. (Note: the new French edition includes college and university programs in Quebec and beyond that align with the five computing disciplines.) The resource is designed to support prospective students, as well as career practitioners and academic advisors who guide students in determining which computing discipline best suits their interests, talents, skills and abilities.

The project identified a need, surveying thousands of computing students (and prospective students) from Canada, the US and Africa, and demonstrating that students do not always understand the difference between computing disciplines. Research also found that existing career resources often treat computing as a single discipline, typically computer science, and do not list all the computing disciplines recognized by the ACM.

The guide notes the complexity of the field, highlighting that not every computing program in a college or university will have one of the five ACM discipline titles. For example, there are now undergraduate degrees in Game Design, Cyber Security and Computer Apps. Many universities also offer mixed majors, such as with Health Sciences. Additionally, job titles in a company might not sound like the post-secondary program. For example, Network Administrators could have backgrounds in Computer Science, Information Systems or Information Technology.

The authors conclude by emphasizing the diversity and opportunity in the computing field, and the message that computing is much more than just programming.

Download the new guide French at: ceric.ca/informatique or English at: ceric.ca/computing.

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Research to identify competencies that settlement services workers need to support newcomers in pursuing meaningful careers

June 12, 2018By

A newly announced CERIC-funded project will map the career pathways and identify competencies of front-line workers in the settlement sector. Led by eCaliber Group and Calience Research and Consulting, the Settlement Services Workers Profile research project aims to better understand what front-line workers do, what steps they have taken to enter the settlement field, and what educational and work experiences have shaped their career paths.

Employment for newcomers is a significant challenge. The unemployment rate for newcomers to Canada hovers around 12%, nearly twice the national average and this does not consider the rate of underemployment. The settlement sector remains under pressure to effectively assist newcomers to actively participate in Canadian society, and to pursue meaningful lives and careers. This pressure will continue to increase in the coming years as the Canadian government works to achieve “the most ambitious immigration levels in recent Canadian history.”

Often, front-line workers in the settlement sector are the first point of contact for immigrants and refugees and play a critical role in the socioeconomic adaptation of newcomers. The research will consist of both primary and secondary research including interviews and focus groups with front-line workers and managers who work in the settlement field in urban and rural centres in Canada. The findings from this research ultimately aim to help settlement agencies respond more effectively to the changing needs of the settlement sector.

Research outcomes are expected by spring of 2019 and will help raise the profile of and generate insights into career pathways for front-line workers in the settlement field. Career counsellors can use these insights to help those who aspire to enter the settlement field make better informed career decisions. In addition, managers working in settlement agencies can draw on the findings to: better identify potential candidates; provide initial and ongoing training with greater effectiveness; ensure capacity is well nurtured; and define clearer, well-organized career pathways that will enable organizations and the individuals that serve them to develop and advance together.

CERIC provides funding and other support to develop innovative career development resources. Individuals and organizations are welcome to submit project proposals for career counselling-related research or learning projects. Project proposals can align with one of CERIC’s five priority funding areas or other identified areas of need.

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The Spring-Summer Issue of Careering looks at diversity and pluralism

June 11, 2018By

More than 20% of Canada’s 35 million people were born outside this country, helping to make it one of the world’s most socially diverse societies, according to the Global Centre for Pluralism. This Spring-Summer 2018 issue of CERIC’s Careering magazine examines the theme of Diversity and Pluralism with some thought-provoking articles on universal design, LGBTQ jobseekers, Canadian Forces and much more.

Plus…

…and much more, including:

Careering magazine is Canada’s Magazine for Career Development Professionals and is the official publication of CERIC. It is published three times a year both in print and as an emagazine, including select content in French. Subscribe to receive your free copy. You can also access past issues for free online.

The theme for the next issue of Careering magazine (Fall 2018) will be “Navigating Mental Health & Disability.” If you are interested in submitting an article, please send a brief outline of your proposed topic. Note that the final version of all articles must be received by August 1, 2018. Please review our submission guidelines and send your article to: lindsay@ceric.ca.

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What the gig economy means for career development: New CERIC literature search

June 6, 2018By

The transformation to a gig economy is well underway with an increasing number of short-term positions and self-employed individuals. Are we prepared for a future of freelance work? CERIC’s latest literature search Gig Economy and Career Development explores what the gig economy means to the future world of work and how career professionals can support their clients in thriving in the gig economy.

Topics covered in the literature search include:

  • The digital workforce in the gig economy
  • Workers rights in the gig economy
  • Research and policy implications for the gig economy
  • Gig economy and millennials
  • The impact of the gig economy on the gender income gap

There are 47 literature searches now available, including Career Development Theory and Career Management Models, Economic Benefits of Career Guidance, Parental Involvement in Career Development, Labour Market Trends, Mental Health Issues in the Workplace, and more.

Featuring comprehensive listings of key research and articles in career development, literature searches highlight critical points of current knowledge.

As a student, academic or practitioner in the field, literature searches are helpful if you are researching the latest thinking or proven best practices. They are also valuable if you are considering a submission to CERIC for project partnership funding in order to gain an overview of major work already done in your area of interest.

READ MORE