Author Archives: Joanne M. Brathwaite

On the hunt with: Nicky Bruno

Image of young man working on a laptop from Shutterstock.

In our On The Hunt series, we interview potential job-seekers (whether out-of-work or transitioning) and talk to them about what the challenges have been, what their goals are, as well as any advice or tips they may have for other job seekers to stay motivated. This week, FreshGigs’ own Joanne M. Brathwaite talks to job hunter Nicky Bruno.

Are you working right now? If so, what are you doing? (how) Does it align with your ultimate job-hunting goal (if at all)?

Yes, I am currently working as an Executive Assistant at Arthur Murray Dance Studio, but I volunteer at Rogers TV, in a live TV environment. When I made the decision that working in television is what I wanted to do I wasn’t quite sure what to do at first; there were so many questions that I had to ask myself: Do I go back to school? Do I even need to go back to school to work in television? Will I have to start over again?

I decided to reach out to a few friends, as well as employment agencies to get some advice on what my next steps should be. I spoke with people who already worked in the industry and they informed me that post-secondary education was not a necessity. Continue reading →

On the hunt with: Kim Champion

Joanne M. Brathwaite

Image of freelancer on laptop from Shutterstock.

Are you working right now? If so, what are you doing? (how) Does it align with your ultimate job-hunting goal (if at all)

I’ve been actively seeking a new, full-time opportunity for about the last six months. After being laid off from my newspaper job last summer where, for the last 10 years, I served as managing editor of several award-winning Metroland Media Group community newspapers, I took some time to thoughtfully reflect on my career. Continue reading →

Improve your writing, improve your life

Joanne M. Brathwaite

Image of young woman writing at a desk from Shutterstock.

The ability to write well is a talent that most self-professed “excellent communicators” seem to think they possess – yet the reality is something a little further south of the truth. Even if writing isn’t your chosen profession, it can’t hurt to hone your prowess at the keyboard – and I’ve got four solid reasons why you should:

You’ll boost your career

The very act of writing a cover letter and resume requires the ability to sell yourself on paper – and once you get that job, those wicked writing skills can help you earn more. According to a study from Grammarly, people with stronger writing skills are actually better at their jobs and get paid more. So, get yourself acquainted with Messrs. Strunk & White, and get that money, honey! Continue reading →

On the hunt with: Jenesse James

Joanne M. Brathwaite

Image of woman using laptop from Shutterstock

I was introduced to Jenesse earlier this year through a mutual friend who recommended that she try my resume-writing services to help her boost her job-hunting efforts. During our first conversation, I was immediately struck by her big voice – perfectly-suited for a career in radio, and was surprised when she said that she was actually an administrative professional. Jenesse told me she’s been putting out resumes and “getting close” to landing her ideal job. And while she admits that she can find similar attributes in her current line of work, her heart’s desire is a job in admin.

What did you go to school for?

I started my academic career at York, enrolling in their French Studies program Continue reading →

Digital Marketing Confidential with Yelp Vancouver’s Ayla Collins: fun on the job

Joanne M. Brathwaite

Back for another year, the 2016 Canadian Internet Marketing Conference (CIMC) will feature a powerhouse line-up of more than 30 of the world’s top minds and movers of the digital marketing industry. FreshGigs.ca got the awesome opportunity to have a pre-conference brain-picking sesh with each of the keynote speakers and panelists. Today’s Q & A is with Ayla Collins, Community Manager of Yelp Vancouver.

What lessons have your favourite brands taught you about marketing in the hospitality industry?

No matter how many times I see brands pushing hard at their marketing, it’s the ones with the personal touch that impress me. I love what Modo is doing with their blog – getting fun local businesses like Bao Bei and Bestie on board and not focusing simply on the hard sell. The key to good marketing is connection; make me feel like I’m part of your team and I will instantly want to know more about you!

Many local breweries are also great at this: Brassneck, for example, regularly posts pictures of their brewery dogs! It’s not about pushing your product all the time, it’s about providing a relatable human experience. Continue reading →

Digital Marketing Confidential with Walmart Canada’s Drew Cashmore: re-writing the rules of (customer) engagement

Joanne M. Brathwaite

Back for another year, the 2016 Canadian Internet Marketing Conference (CIMC) will feature a powerhouse line-up of more than 30 of the world’s top minds and movers of the digital marketing industry. FreshGigs.ca got the awesome opportunity to have a pre-conference brain-picking sesh with each of the keynote speakers and panelists. Today’s Q & A is with Drew Cashmore, Head of Walmart Media Group at Walmart Canada.

What marketing innovations have your favourite retailers used that you find useful or impressive?

One of the most powerful marketing innovations I have seen recently in retail is from our own company in the U.S. Our @WalmartLabs team in San Bruno is developing tools that allow us to optimize our digital marketing initiatives for both online and in-store conversion across all connected touch points. We then in-turn are offering these solutions back to our suppliers to drive overall efficiency in the marketing ecosystem.

In the world of retail marketing, how can you best use digital marketing to increase the public’s engagement?

The most successful retailers are using digital to tell linear stories across multiple touch points. Think about a soon-to-be-parent and the steps they would take learn about pregnancy, setting up a baby’s room or buying diapers for the first time. Continue reading →

Digital Marketing Confidential with BRANDLIVE’s Katie Schaeffers: telling a story through marketing

Joanne M. Brathwaite

Your social media slogan is “Make more moves and less announcements.” In your industry, how do you think a person can best engage in the art of telling stories without making excessive noise?

Edit. Edit. Edit. If you think you need to use 10 words, use five instead. Spend more time doing the work rather than talking about the work. The judges are always watching, there’s no need to take a bow.

As a yoga enthusiast, what sort of tactics have your practice taught you that you can transfer to your career?

I’ve actually put my yoga practice on the back burner of late for a more active pursuit of cycling. I love getting on my bike at spin class, sweating out the day, and getting lost in the music. I find it almost more meditative than yoga now, because I’m so connected to what my physical body is doing that my brain can just take a breather for an hour. Continue reading →

Digital Marketing Confidential with Jelly Marketing’s Sarah Clark : the digital truth

Joanne M. Brathwaite

Back for another year, the 2016 Canadian Internet Marketing Conference (CIMC) will feature a powerhouse line-up of more than 30 of the world’s top minds and movers of the digital marketing industry. FreshGigs.ca got the awesome opportunity to have a pre-conference brain-picking sesh with each of the keynote speakers and panelists. Today’s Q & A is with Sarah Clark, Project Manager for Jelly Marketing.

What exactly does reporting digital marketing entail? Why should the public be interested in it?

Reporting digital marketing is incredible – it’s broad and measurable, which to me, is what is most exciting. Numbers don’t lie and I think above all, what the attendees at CIMC (and every business owner) should take away from the idea of digital marketing is the fact that unlike other traditional forms of marketing, with the right tools, you’re able to link your marketing dollars to your real time results, and therefore, calculate an accurate ROI.

Gone are the days of the “spray and pray” concept; today, digital marketing is refreshingly accountable. Continue reading →

Digital Marketing Confidential with The Sociable Society’s Emily Fonda: The currency of influence

Joanne M. Brathwaite

How did you come to be a part of The Sociable Society?

As a Public Relations consultant, I’ve worked on a number of campaigns over the years that tapped the power of influencers. Reflecting on this success, a close colleague and I got to talking about how working with influencers brought real results to brand exposure and campaign value. We then started talking with some key influencers and started to realize how archaic the approach is to working with influencers.

Influencers have spent many, MANY years building their audience, devoting their own time and money in developing their niche story Continue reading →

Digital Marketing Confidential with Village & Co’s Justin Young: branding bits and digital bites

Joanne M. Brathwaite

Back for another year, the 2016 Canadian Internet Marketing Conference (CIMC) will feature a powerhouse line-up of more than 30 of the world’s top minds and movers of the digital marketing industry. FreshGigs.ca got the awesome opportunity to have a pre-conference brain-picking sesh with each of the keynote speakers and panelists. Today’s Q & A is with Justin Young, creative director of Village&Co.

Some would say that today’s tech-based marketing needs to be helpful, not invasive. How do you think brands can best achieve this?

Brands can best achieve this through:

Targeting: with paid digital media targeting options, hone in on your target and mitigate wastage.
Relevance: taking into account various targets/profiles, customize creative/messaging to ensure resonance.
Context: consider the customers’ mindset/context and work with it.
Content: add non-branded content to the mix like UGC, relevant articles, etc.

Continue reading →