INSPIRING - INFORMING - CONNECTING

CATAPULT LEADERSHIP SOCIETY ISSUE NO. 15 - JUNE 2015

THE ROUND TABLE

Employers  are  looking  for  leaders  ...  so  you  should  have  no  problem  getting  hired!  The  hardest  part  may  be  finding  a  job  opening  and  then  getting  an  interview.  Here’s  our  advice:  

Step  1:      Prepare/review/update  your  RESUME

Employers  see  hundreds  of  resumes  so  make  sure  yours  stands  out!  Even  if  they  ask  you  to  fill  out  a  standard  job  application,  attach  your  resume  anyway  to  increase  your  chance  of  being  noticed.  Your  resume  should  NOT  be  any  longer  than  2  pages.  Check  our  website  for  a  sample.

Now  is  not  the  time  to  be  humble.  Sell  yourself!  Student  resumes  focus  on  school  activities,  volunteer  work,  academics  and  athletics  (since  you  don’t  have  much  employment  experience).  Be  sure  to  say  you  were  nominated  for  Catapult’s  leadership  program!  Ensure  there  are  no  spelling  mistakes.  Send  Lori  a  copy  and  she’ll  review  it  for  you!

Some  good  adjectives  to  use:

Step  2:      Consider  a  Cover  Letter

A  cover  letter  is  a  great  idea,  especially  if  you’re  focused  on  a  specific  employer.  Consisting  of  one  page  only,  it  can  provide  additional  information  like  if  you’re  seeking  full,  part-­‐time  or  summer  employment  and  why  you  think  you  would  make  a  great  addition  to  that  employer’s  team.  Your  cover  letter  will  need  to  be  tailored  to  each  job  you’re  applying  for.  You’ll  find  a  sample  on  our  website.

Step  3:      Hit  the  Pavement

Most  students  hit  the  malls  &  local  shops  and  drop  off  their  resume.  Always  ask  if  you  can  speak  to  the  manager  for  a  few  minutes.  They  may  say  no,  in  which  case  just  indicate  you’re  looking  for  a  job  and  ask  to  leave  your  resume.  Keep  notes  of  the  places  you  dropped  it  off,  and  follow  up  with  a  phone  call  or  revisit  3-­‐5  days  later.  Not  many  students  will  do  this,  so  you’ll  impress  the  employer  and  they’ll  likely  put  your  resume  at  the  top  of  the  pile!

You  can  apply  online  to  chains  like  Sobeys  and  Lawtons.  Speak  to  as  many  adults  as  you  can  (teachers,  neighbours)  to  increase  your  chances  of  hearing  about  job  openings.  In  fact,  many  jobs  are  filled  by  word  of  mouth  before  they  ever  get  posted.

Looking for a Summer Job?Step  4:      Prepare  for  the  Interview

Before  you  go,  it's  important  to  find  out  as  much  as  you  can  about  the  organization.  Remember,  it’s  all  about  impressing  them.  By  demonstrating  that  you  already  know  about  their  company,  you’ll  present  yourself  as  a  great  fit.  Check  their  website,  google  news  stories,  read  their  facebook  and  linked-­‐in  pages.  If  you  have  friends  working  there,  find  out  

what  the  interviewer  asked  them.  Be  as  prepared  as  you  can  be  so  you  have  an  edge  over  other  applicants.  You  can  also  research  common  interview  questions  on-­‐line.  The  key  is  to  prepare  your  answers  in  advance  and  be  ready  to  knock  their  socks  off.

Step  5:      The  Interview

It’s  easy  to  impress!  Be  well  groomed  and  dress  nicely.  Arrive  15  minutes  early  

(prove  you  are  punctual).  Greet  them  with  a  smile  and  a  confidant  handshake  (webby  to  webby  -­‐  no  wimpy  handshakes!).  Look  them  in  the  eye  (show  your  confidence!).  Speak  clearly.  Be  polite  (show  them  how  you’ll  treat  their  customers).  Think  of  some  quality  questions  in  advance  and  ask  at  least  2  (show  them  you’re  keen).  At  the  end  -­‐  stand,  shake  their  hand  again,  ask  when  they  expect  to  make  a  decision,  and  say  thank  you.  It  never  hurts  to  send  a  thank  you  by  email  afterwards  either.

Step  6:          Plan  B  (if  all  else  fails)

If  time  passes  and  you  haven’t  had  any  luck  finding  a  job  you  should  consider  Plan  B.  

Become  an  entrepreneur!  Offer  babysitting  services,  yard-­‐work,  dog-­‐walking,  etc.  Be  creative.  Post  your  ad  on  Kijiji  and  in  public  places  like  the  grocery  store  bulletin  board  and  mailbox  centre.  Being  resourceful  and  creating  your  own  employment  will  be  great  experience  and  will  impress  future  employers.

Volunteer!  Okay,  so  the  pay  may  not  be  great  but  the  rewards  are  still  huge.  (And  it’s  far  better  than  staring  at  a  TV).  You’ll  gain  experience  and  skills  that  can  help  with  future  job  searches,  you’ll  add  to  your  resume,  you’ll  create  contacts  that  can  be  of  future  benefit,  you  can  “try  out”  potential  career  directions,  and  you’ll  be  giving  back  to  your  community  which  will  make  you  feel  wonderful  inside.

For  more  detailed  advice,  check  out  our  website  at  catapultcamp.com/catapulters.  You’ll  also  find  a  sample  resume  and  sample  cover  letter  to  get  you  started.  And  don’t  forget  –  we’re  here  to  help!  We’ll  review/help  you  improve  your  resume  and  we’ll  provide  oral  and  written  referrals.  Just  ask!

confidentpositive  attitude  observant  persistentcommunicate  well  team  player  

self-­‐directed  responsible  problem-­‐  solving  skillspunctual  creative

adaptable  organizedattentive  to  detailproven  leadership        ability!!

Congrats to our 2015 Junior Counselors, all from Catapult’s Class of 2012!! Clockwise from top: Nikki Shahin and Donna Marshall will be joining the staff team at Camp, while Aliah Wilson and Jenna Johnson will join us at the Plus Conference.

Social Media – You are what you Post!

Perception is reality. What you intend when you post comments on social media and what people take away from it can be entirely different things. Catapult is now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Linked In – so we can get involved in the conversations that are important to you. Now that we’re listening, we’ve come across a lot of “interesting” posts out there. Social media is a wonderful form of expression and you should feel free to express yourself - but remember that expression can come at a cost so be mindful of what you’re putting out there. A

misguided post can create tension with friends/family, embarrass yourself or others when shared or cost you a job. Any post can go viral and the world will be watching.

Some people feel it’s an invasion of privacy for employers or potential schools to peek into your social media profile – but if your profile is

for public viewing, you’re inviting anyone and everyone in! Your resume and interview are supposed to be the best version of yourself - it’s smart for a potential employer to look into your profile to see who you are when you think no one is looking. Because that’s who you’re likely going to be when you get comfortable in your job interacting with the world. It may not seem fair, but it’s the reality.

Social media gives a false sense of anonymity so you may feel more liberal to share things you wouldn’t otherwise say. But it’s easy enough to figure out who’s behind @XYZ and what you say is forever in print for the world to see. We all

have opinions and we’re fortunate to live in a country that allows us the freedom to think and speak for ourselves. It’s a privilege we should all take seriously and try to use to inspire, inform or connect with the world. It’s not the place for profanity or angry rants - those are what best buds

are for! So if you’re feeling angry or frustrated when you get online, instead of punching in the characters, start dialing a number and get personal with a friend. If you want to share a laugh, post pictures of

your adventures, or talk about something truly meaningful to you – post away. Just remember that the internet is forever. Deleted materials show up every day. Google has a very long memory.

T - is it True?H - is it Helpful? I - is it Inspiring?N - is it Necessary?K - is it Kind?

Before you post ... THINK!

 You  shouldn’t  post  anything  that  you  do  not  want      your  parents,  CNN  or  your  boss  to  see  –  period.    

   64%  of  hiring  officers  have  rejected  applicants      based  on  their  use  of  social  media.

At the recent NSSSA Conference, a conversation started about SMILE ... and suddenly Tegan Zinck (’10) and Samantha Hartlen (‘12) made the Catapult connection. “It makes for instant bonding!!”, says Samantha (front).

Have you ???

“liked” our new

Facebook page?

followed @catapultcamp on

Twitter?

connected with us on linkedin?

* * * SNAPSHOTS * * *

School: Glace Bay HighCool fact: I know CPR. Future Plans: Cardioloist Fave Camp Memory: mud sliding & rock nightWhat inspires me: People who help others. Fave Quote: “Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.” (Shakespeare)

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School: Northeast Kings Ed. Cool fact: I show horses. Future Plans: BBA/AccountingFave Camp Memory: Photo challenge (Go Dragons!)Fave quote: “When I was 5, my mom told me happiness is the key to life. My teacher asked what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down "happy." They told me I didn't understand the assignment, and I told them they didn't understand life.” - John Lennon

School: North Nova Ed. Ctre.Cool Fact: I can solve a Rubix Cube. Fave Camp Memory: mud sliding What inspires me: My mom!Fave Quote: “The only time you should ever look back is to see how far you’ve come.”

Hats off to Jordan Harris for saving his Uncle’s life! Jordan had been helping plough a field when his uncle suffered a stroke. Jordan Burke is following his acting dreams, and had a part in a NSCC project film that aired at Park Lane. Lal Tawari placed 2nd in the NSSSA Provincial Chess Challenge and helped his school team place 1st! His participation in the BUILD program was recognized by the House of Assembly. Meghan Martin was interviewed by CTV and CBC at the ROV Competition. Craig Cain was also interviewed on TV for Hope Blooms’ new greenhouse opening. Breanna Butts’ badminton team won regionals. Corey McNamara received the Meech Memorial Award at St FX for male freshman of the year. Jessica Durling petitioned to amend the Vital Statistics Act to change gender designation in ID’s .. and won! Kayla Bernard won both an HRM and NS Volunteer Award. Navarre Hebb has been accepted to study aerospace engineering at the Royal military College. Donna Marshall competed for NS at Wrestling Canada and received a Leadership Award from Wrestling NS. Ava Sturm won the Leta Hill Scholarship at Mt Alison and Jessica Balser won the Harrison McCain Scholarship at Dal. Ally Strachan went to

Honduras to build a truck port and soccer field at a children’s home. Aliah Wilson was in the cast of CEC’s Anne of Green Gables musical. Ali Taha held a musical night at Parkview High and raised $1,000 for the IWK. Kassidy Bernard is selling her artwork and photography on Redbubble. Lauren McQuaid attended the National Youth Council, nominated by the Truro Boys & Girls Club. Lauren also went to Winnipeg to facilitate a Youth Forum called Fusion and is holding her own workshop about community outreach! Taylor Bickerton has been selected to attend the RCL Leadership Training Camp this summer. Breton Bartlett and Dan MacNeil were awarded the Lieutenant Governor’s Award. Nicole MacNeil won a ‘highest distinction’ award and Megan Pinder won an ‘academic excellence’ award. Kristof Mercier placed 1st in his district for javelin. Congrats to Cody Hayman for graduating from NSCC’s Aviation Institute. Martha Barrett graduated summa cum laude from SMU with her Certificate in Engineering and is off to Dal. Alyssa Jodrey served on the Board of the Voglers Cove Community Hall’s ‘Aloha Dinner’. Katie Black won an award for public speaking at the Skills Canada/ Nova Scotia competition. Brandon Hannon graduated from LOVE’s Bridges employability program. Colynda Pelley was elected VP Finance of NSCC (Strait)’s student association. Congrats to Ashley Grant (Advocate) and Drew Skidmore (Oxford) on being awarded a NSSAF Sport Award.

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"Someone asked me what beauty was, so instead of describing the word, I drew this picture."

Hailey Veinot

1. catapultcamp.com/catapulters

2. 3. 4. www. teensnowtalk.com

getvolunteering.ca

CONTACT INFO 902.830.5704

lori@catapultcamp.com

THE ROUND TABLE was named with Catapult’s medieval theme in mind. King Arthur insisted on having his faithful knights seated at a round table where everyone was treated equally and had an equal voice. Use your voice and send us your submissions for the next newsletter!

Useful Links

teenmentalhealth.org

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Smiles and best, Julian

A LETTER FROM JULIAN MAYNARD Team Catapult!! I hope you and your family in your particular corner of Nova Scotia are doing well!  Congrats on completing another year, at whatever point you are in your studies.  Your posts and accomplishments read during my rare Facebook moments often amaze me and contribute to me far more than I’ve let on.   Thank you, sorry and I’ll change that soon!  I look forward to seeing many of you at Catapult Plus in August and plan to help Lori and Jane continue to provide even more opportunities for you all.  Stay tuned for my ideas. Meanwhile, have a wonderful, fun, safe and memorable summer.

“Onwards ever! Upwards as much as possible.”

Winners of the 1st “Wear your catapult shirt to

school” photo contest: Gavin Green & Nick

Dowling.

special mention to Shea Desmond who remembered

to wear hers while on a school trip to Paris!

Are you interested in joining a Me to We Mission abroad? 2014 Catapulters Lauren Smith (CEC) and Liam Fisher-Smith (West Kings) are organizing an all-Catapult group to go to the Dominican Republic to help build a ‘Free the Children’ school. You’ll also learn the local culture, learn some Spanish, hear inspiring speakers, play with the kids, and have fun exploring this beautiful tropical region. The date is Summer 2016, so there’s more than a year to fundraise the $2300 cost. Lauren and Liam need at least 10 Catapulters (from any year) to commit to make it a go. 7 already say they are committed with several others interested. Counselor Kevan Henshaw and 2010 catapulter Martha Barrett have expressed interest to be the group’s required Chaperone. What an exciting opportunity!!! As Liam says, “By empowering the community, we will empower ourselves and get a natural high from knowing we helped improve lives.” Catapult has offered to do what we can to help this venture proceed. If you’re interested in joining the group - or helping them fundraise (a potential Catapult Plus pay-forward project?) - message Lauren, Liam, Lori or Jane. KUDO’s to Lauren and Liam for initiating such a wonderful idea!

All graduating Catapulters are encouraged to apply for the 2015 Catapult Leadership Award. Win a $1000 bursary to any secondary school! Call or message Lori for an application. Details will be posted on facebook. Deadline is June 30th.