Scared of public speaking? Build in-demand career skills at Toastmasters

Toastmasters helps build personal communcations kills businesses value.
Toastmasters International helps you build personal communications skills businesses value. Photo: Toastmasters International

My experience as a member of Toastmasters International helped me pass a teaching test to successfully earn my first contract as a business communications instructor at Conestoga College in 2020.

In every semester I have instructed since then, in person or online, I mention my membership in the Cambridge Toastmasters Club. I, particular, I suggest my international students investigate Toastmasters to build communication and leadership skills in a new culture.

Effective communication is the top skill employers look for in 2024, according to LinkedIn.

Toastmasters International was founded in 1924 at YCMA in Santa Clara, California. Today, it has more than 270,000 members, in 150 countries, in more than 14,000 local clubs around the world.

Cambridge Toastmasters was founded 50 years ago and meets Thursdays at 7 p.m. Members range from senior business leaders to entrepreneurs to recent college graduates practicing their communications skills and receiving feedback in a supportive environment.

Toastmasters offers members opportunities to build personal confidence and leadership skills through practicing public speaking. This link shares information about Toastmasters programs.

There’s also a Toastmasters International YouTube channel with self-help videos you can learn from and share at no charge.

If you’re scared of public speaking or worried your communication skills aren’t as strong as you like, I encourage you to visit a Toastmasters Club to see what they offer.

Find a club near you with this online tool.

There are dues to join a local Toastmasters club, which vary depending on factors such as meeting frequency and location meeting costs.

Paper Business Cards Remain in My Networking Tool Kit

I’m a fan of business cards as networking and job search tools.

And I know that sounds weird in a digital world, where people might just say: “Look me up on LinkedIn!”

I always try to remember to carry business cards with me so that I may efficiently share my contact information with someone – if they ask for it. 

(Here’s my LinkedIn profile, in case you’re not interested in my business card: www.linkedin.com/in/kevinswayze)

Again this week in class at Conestoga College, I told my 20-something-year-old students about the value I give to simple paper business cards in a digital world. They’re graduating at the end of this semester and will be looking for work. I encourage them to add business cards to their job-search tool kit.

And since the class was about Starting a Consulting Practice, talking about business cards was even more appropriate in a world of personal business branding. In mind, it’s showing you’re ready to connect with potential clients.

I adopt the outlook that you never know who you might meet today, who might be the connection to the job you are looking for. My ritual of placing business cards in my pocket at the start of the day primes me to be ready and open to opportunities.

You can order 100 business cards for $5 at Walmart, I tell my students. That’s about the price of two basic coffees at Starbucks, after you add the HST.

I suggest students pick a simple design that’s easy to read. And put their name and essential information on one side. That way, if someone wants to take a photo of your contact info, it’s easier.

In a digital world, I think paper business cards remain a good addition to anyone’s job-hunting and networking kit.

What do you think?

2 job fairs for my international students at Conestoga College, February 2024

Help Wanted sign in window

I often hear about the desire for part-time work from the International students I teach at Conestoga College, in downtown Kitchener.

Here’s what I shared with my Technical Communication classes this week, as I do whenever I hear of job leads:

Thursday, February 1, 2024 – Multi-Employer Hiring Event hosted by Lutherwood, at Cambridge City Hall, 50 Dickson Street, Cambridge, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mostly full-time positions on offer, but some part-time opportunities are promised. Organizers suggest arriving with resumes in hand.

February 7, 2024 – P4E Career and Job Fair is an online event, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s a collaborative effort among the University of Guelph, the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University and Conestoga College.  Employers generally offer full-time, co-op, and summer roles.

And I’ve heard of another on-campus job fair at Conestoga’s main campus:

March 13, 2024 – 2024 Conestoga Job Fair, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the recreation centre at the Doon Campus. It’s also focused on full-time, co-op, and summer seasonal positions for students and alumni. 

The Conestoga Talent Hub at the Downtown Kitchener Campus is a resource for students in their job search and career planning.

And I always encourage students to use employment guidance from Student Support Services at the college.

I can’t find jobs for students, but I’m always ready to pass along suggestions and point them toward whatever good news I hear about.

Where to search for jobs in Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo, Ontario

When are you finished your career search? Photo by Photo by Magnet.me on Unsplash

I always wonder what path students take after leaving my Business Communications classes at Conestoga College in Kitchener.

Most are international students pursuing the dream of studying, living and working in Canada. In class, I shared tips to help them manage their culture shock. I tell them I an ready to help them after arriving in a place with cold weather, funny food and people who talk funny — like me.

They shared recipes, movie recommendations and gritty enthusiasm that inspires me. I learn more than I teach, as I continue my own a second career as a communications teacher.  

Sometimes, later on, I hear from them after they connect with me on my LinkedIn profile. I like the birthday greetings! I more usuallly receive messages looking for jobs or tips to polish their LinkedIn profile. They remembered how I repeated “put your LinkedIn profile to work for you” in class!

Now is the time to put all the persuasion skills we talked about in class to work. It’s time to tell relatable stories that leads to a job interview. It’s time to engage in storytelling with a personal purpose.

Use career support services

After graduation, my essential employment advice is the same as I offered in class. Use every support service and assistance available to you from Conestoga. You paid for it in your tuition.

I urge students to book a career support session at this link: https://mycareer.conestogac.on.ca/students-alumni/studentLogin.htm

If you’re not a Conestoga graduate and looking for a job, I urge you to investigate alumni support services at the school you attended. Or, contact Conestoga to access their government-supported free career services: https://www.conestogac.on.ca/career-centre

I also share job postings in my social media feeds and job search links for the Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo area.

The Ontario Employment Standards Act spells out the rules and regulations for employers and employees in the Province of Ontario.

Waterloo Region, Wellington and Dufferin counties

Government of Canada online Job Bank

https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/home

Lutherwood community support services

https://www.lutherwood.ca/employment/job-board

Facebook job boards

Cambridge, Ontario Jobs (Lutherwood)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/160444858234267

Opportunity jobs Kitchener-Waterloo

https://www.facebook.com/groups/160444858234267

Jobs Available in Kitchener/Waterloo/Cambridge

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1065977336782657

Kitchener-Waterloo Jobs (Lutherwood)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/627211920948240

Jobs in Kitchener Waterloo Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/458359828081233

What other job supports do you recommend in Cambridge, Kitchener or Waterloo? Please share information in the comments below.

Student job search tips for Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo in Ontario, Canada

Jobs searching is not easy.

Updated November 15, 2023

I always wonder what path students take after leaving the Business Communications classes I teach at Conestoga College in Kitchener.

They are international students pursuing a dream of living and working in Canada. I share tips to help them manage their culture shock after arriving in a place with cold weather, strange foods and people who talk funny — like me.

They share cooking recipes, movie recommendations, and a career enthusiasm that inspires me. I learn more than I teach.

Most of my classes are online, which puts our communications skills to the test.

Sometimes, I hear from them after they connect with me on my LinkedIn profile. I like the birthday greetings! I often get messages looking for jobs or tips to polish their LinkedIn profile. They remembered how I repeated “Put your LinkedIn profile to work for you” in class!

Here’s a couple of videos to help you search for jobs on LinkedIn.

After graduation, my essential employment advice is the same as I offered in class: use every support service and assistance Conestoga College offers. Students paid for the services in their tuition. I was consistently impressed with career counselors’ advice when I invited them to host in-class workshops, so I urge students to book a career support session at this link.

And if you’re looking for career advice and you’re not a Conestoga graduate, I urge you to investigate alumni support services at the school you attended. Or, contact Conestoga to access their government-funded, free career services offered to the general public.

Ontario employment rules

The Ontario Employment Standards Act spells out the rules and regulations for employers and employees in the Province of Ontario, related to hiring, workplace environment and dismissal.

I also share job postings in my social media feeds and job search links for the Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo area.

Communitech in Waterloo Region

Technology and high-tech companies work together in Waterloo Region to grow the local tech economy, through the Communitech association.

There’s also a job listings portal under the “Resources” Tab on the Communitech home page. 

While the job listings are from around the world, there is a “search by location” option.

Government of Canada online Job Bank

https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/home

Lutherwood community support services

https://www.lutherwood.ca/employment/job-board

Facebook job boards

Cambridge, Ontario Jobs (Lutherwood)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/160444858234267

Opportunity jobs Kitchener-Waterloo

https://www.facebook.com/groups/160444858234267

Jobs Available in Kitchener/Waterloo/Cambridge

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1065977336782657

Kitchener-Waterloo Jobs (Lutherwood)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/627211920948240

Jobs in Kitchener Waterloo Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/458359828081233

Technology jobs board from Communitech – local and worldwide

https://www1.communitech.ca/jobs

Do you have any job search tips to share? Please share in the comments below.