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Career Edge Blog

Apr 18
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self storage company

What it’s Like Working at a Self Storage Company

By Jobseeker

This post is written by Nikola Asambelevski 

Most people pass by dozens of self storage facilities daily without noticing them. You might need to pay more attention to self-storage facilities because the self-storage industry is booming. Self-storage is a multi-faceted industry that features job opportunities from a wide array of different disciplines. Jobs at a self-storage company include facility managers, sales representatives, maintenance technicians, software developers, marketing specialists, and many more. We will explore the recent trends in the self-storage industry, the career opportunities available in this exciting field, and how you can start your career in self-storage. 

Self-storage industry trends

Did you know that there are approximately 59,500 self-storage facilities across the globe? The United States alone boasts a jaw-dropping 2.3 billion square feet of rentable storage space, which is more than triple the size of Manhattan Island! Can you imagine that?

Meanwhile, our neighbours up north in Canada are catching up with the self-storage wave, with development surging, especially in the bustling Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Vancouver. Ontario’s self-storage industry has been on a roll, experiencing an impressive average annual growth rate of 7.2% over the past five years, according to the Canadian Self-Storage Association.

But what’s fueling this growth, you ask? Well, a couple of factors come into play. First, the ever-increasing population density in urban areas has created a pressing need for storage solutions. As more people flock to cities, the demand for storage space only continues to rise. Second, the explosion of e-commerce has businesses scrambling for storage space to keep up with their growing inventory. So, the self-storage industry is here to stay, and it’s not showing any signs of slowing down!

Advancements in the self-storage industry

The self-storage industry in Ontario and across Canada has evolved over the years with the introduction of new technologies and services. For example, some self-storage facilities now offer climate-controlled units, which can help protect sensitive items from damage caused by temperature and humidity changes. Many self-storage facilities also offer online reservations and payments, making it easier for customers to rent and pay for their units. 

As the self-storage industry evolves to incorporate more and more technology into its facilities, new job opportunities are created to handle these changes. Self-storage facilities hire software developers to configure their websites to provide a better customer experience. Technical advisors and engineers are brought in to help self-storage facilities upgrade their systems to create a more secure storage environment for their tenants. The self-storage industry is quickly becoming one of the most popular sectors for employees with a tech background.

What does a day look like working in the self-storage industry?

One of the most surprising things people realize when they start working in the self-storage industry is how busy it can get. All types of people going through life-changing experiences need storage. Death, divorce, and moving are some of the most popular reasons why people come in to visit a self-storage facility and inquire about sizes, prices, climate-controlled units, drive-up storage units, and even vehicle parking. Working in a self-storage facility, you will interact with a wide variety of people from all walks of life. Working in a client-facing position at a self-storage company, like a leasing administrator or customer service representative, requires a great deal of patience, empathy, and advanced communication skills. 

Working at a self-storage facility also requires knowing the laws that apply to the storage facility, including renters’ rights and the laws about delinquent units. Some laws protect self-storage customers and give facility operators the right to enforce a lien and hold a public auction of outstanding units. Storage companies will do everything in their power to ensure that storage auctions do not happen at their facilities. However, auctions are a natural part of the self-storage industry. To keep units available, they must happen from time to time. It is never fun when a facility manager has to cut the lock of a unit that has become delinquent. 

The types of jobs available in the self-storage industry 

There is a common misconception that the kinds of career opportunities available in the self-storage industry are limited to general labour jobs- this could not be further from the truth. Self-storage jobs attract candidates from all kinds of different disciplines. Here are some of the most popular job positions in the self-storage industry  

  • Facility Managers- Facility managers are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the storage facility, which includes managing staff, maintaining the facility, and ensuring customer satisfaction. Facility managers also handle customer inquiries and concerns, set rental rates, and manage the marketing of the facility.
  • Customer Service Representative- Customer service representatives provide excellent customer service, handle customer inquiries and concerns, and process rentals and payments. Customer service representatives must have excellent communication and problem-solving skills and be able to work in a fast-paced environment.
  • Maintenance Technician- Maintenance technicians are responsible for maintaining the facility and performing necessary repairs. Maintenance technicians must know plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems and be able to troubleshoot problems and make repairs. As self-storage facilities incorporate more and more advanced technologies into their designs, the role of maintenance technicians has become crucial. 
  • Marketing Specialist- Marketing specialists are responsible for developing and implementing marketing strategies to promote the storage facility. Marketing specialists must have excellent communication and marketing skills and the ability to work in a team environment.
  • Security Officer- Security officers ensure the storage facility’s and its customers’ safety and security. Security officers must know security procedures and protocols and the ability to handle emergencies.

The self-storage industry offers numerous career opportunities for individuals with different skill sets and backgrounds. Whether you’re interested in customer service, sales, marketing, or maintenance, the self-storage industry has something for everyone. As the industry continues to grow and expand across Canada, there will be more and more job openings in this field. 

Apr 05
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black man working remote from home

7 Practical Ways to Evaluate Remote Employees

By Employer

As remote work becomes more commonplace, it is becoming essential for managers to evaluate their remote employees’ performance effectively. While assessing remote employees may be different from evaluating in-office employees, there are still many practical ways leaders can do to get the same results, if not better. However, with the right strategies, you can boost positive company culture and increase revenue. Here are some practical tips to help you evaluate your remote employees.

1. Set Clear Goals 

The first step to effectively evaluating your remote employees is to set clear and specific goals and objectives for each individual and for the team as a whole to accomplish and communicate these expectations effectively. This can provide a measurable framework for tracking progress and ensuring everyone is on the same page. Regular check-ins and performance reviews can also provide feedback and identify areas for improvement.

2. Use Performance Metrics

As an employer, you can use performance metrics to track the work of employees who are working from home. This can include sale numbers, project completion times, task completion rates, and error rates. This helps employers see how productive their team is, how well they meet targets, and where they may need additional training or support.

3. Utilize the Right Tools

Another way to assess your remote team’s progress is to use project management or monitoring tools. These tools can track time spent on specific assignments and the tasks each person is working on, and they can also provide metrics and insight for the use of resources. Using these tools can help streamline a system for your peace of mind and boost your team’s productivity.

4. Cultivate Trust in Remote Teams

Plenty of studies indicate that micromanaging your employees is your recipe for a toxic culture, leading to a toxic work environment. Trust, however, is the glue that holds remote teams together.

To build trust, start by setting clear goals that are easy to measure and communicate these to your team. But building trust in a remote environment isn’t easy – it takes effort and creativity. You need to create a culture that fosters relationships and connections among your team members, even if they’re scattered across the globe. Remember, trust isn’t just a feel-good factor – it’s a vital ingredient for boosting engagement and achieving extraordinary outcomes. In a remote setting, results matter, and employees need the tools, support, and freedom to make decisions, solve problems, and make mistakes.

Building a culture of trust makes a meaningful difference in both employee engagement and company outcomes by enabling higher productivity, better-quality products, and increased profitability.

5. Encourage Open Communication

Communication is essential for evaluating remote employees. Leadership should encourage remote employees to communicate frequently with colleagues and supervisors, fostering the culture and building trust within your company.

Regular and effective communication is critical for ensuring everyone is on the same page and that all team members can contribute to the project’s success. This can include frequent virtual meetings with clear and concise communication about expectations and deadlines. Regular check-ins can also help you stay on top of the employee’s progress and help catch any issues that may arise.

6. Provide Feedback for Remote Employees

Regular feedback to your remote employees keeps them engaged and motivated. Be sure to praise employees for a job well done and provide constructive feedback when necessary. This will help employees to improve their performance and stay motivated to reach their goals.

7. Offer Training and Development

Investing in training and development for your remote employees can help them stay updated with the latest skills and knowledge needed to excel in their jobs. This can be done through online training courses or webinars. Providing training and development opportunities benefits your team and helps your company stay competitive. For example, managers can provide opportunities for remote employees to learn new skills and take on new challenges, which can help to demonstrate their capabilities and adaptability. Additionally, managers can encourage remote employees to take on leadership roles within the team, which can provide valuable experience and help to build their confidence and expertise.

Overall, there are many practical ways managers can evaluate their remote employees’ performance. By setting clear goals and objectives, using tracking and monitoring tools, fostering effective communication, and providing opportunities for learning and leadership, managers can effectively assess the productivity and effectiveness of their remote teams. With these tips, you can create a positive work culture, improve employee retention rates, and increase revenue.

Mar 07
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diverse candidate to hire

Find Your Perfect Candidate Match with Career Edge’s Talent Solution

By Employer

Finding candidates to hire is no easy feat. You hired recruiters and worked with tons of recruitment agencies who brought the same candidates over and over again. It makes sense; using the same techniques and the same network can only get you the same results.

If you’re looking for fresh faces and a partner who truly cares about your business and its unique needs, Look no further than Career Edge! We are a team of dedicated professionals who pride ourselves on providing exceptional talents to the job market.

How is Career Edge different?

We help newcomers to Canada, recent graduates and people with disabilities kick-start their careers by connecting them with the right opportunities. We have an incredible database of candidates who are extremely well-educated and have extensive and international backgrounds. We are also working with an extended network of partners from all backgrounds to source the best candidates to hire.

At Career Edge, we understand the challenges employers face when trying to find the perfect candidate. That’s why we go above and beyond to identify the best and most diverse candidates for your business. We especially help underrepresented groups launch their careers in Canada through our novel internship model. Want to learn more about our internship model, contact us today!

Why work with Career Edge

We work closely with you to understand your business and its specific needs to ensure that we fully understand the skills, experience, and qualities that are most important to your organization. This approach allows us to tailor our search to find candidates who not only meet your requirements but also align with your company’s culture and values.

At Career Edge, we believe in providing a positive candidate experience. We understand that hiring can be stressful, which is why we make every effort to ensure a smooth and efficient process. We keep candidates informed and engaged throughout the process, providing feedback and support along the way.

How to make an impact

We are proud to support newcomers to Canada, recent graduates, and people with disabilities in launching and developing their careers. By working with Career Edge, you are not only finding the best candidates for your business but also contributing to creating more diverse and inclusive workplaces while helping underrepresented groups.

What other employers are saying about Career Edge

“A very positive experience – I’ve had recruiters make promises in the past but never deliver. Career Edge has always delivered.”

– Nicole Bell
Talent Acquisition Specialist at Ricoh

“Career Edge makes the recruitment process painless. They provide high-quality applicants, and they are always available for support.”

– Shirley Abi-Ad
Human Resources Manager at Dr. Oetker

We invite you to join our community and experience the difference that Career Edge can make for your organization. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you find the talent you need to succeed. Together, let’s build a brighter future for our businesses and our communities.

Jan 26
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maintain mental health at the workplace

6 Ways You Can Maintain Mental Health In The Workplace & Why It’s Important

By Employer

Maintaining mental health in the workplace is an essential component of business success. Employees with sound mental health tend to be more productive, focused, and engaged in their work.

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, one in five adults experiences a mental health diagnosis each year. A variety of factors, including trauma, stress and anxiety, can cause this.

While mental health is a topic often overlooked in the workplace, businesses need to understand how to recognize signs of mental health problems in their employees and provide support when needed. By doing so, companies can ensure that their employees remain healthy and productive while contributing to a positive work environment.

Benefits Of A Mentally Healthy Workforce

Employees with poor mental health often have difficulty completing tasks in the workplace. They may be less productive and exhibit diminished interest in their work. Workplace injuries and accidents caused by the inability to focus due to stress can also grow in numbers because of stress and mental health issues. 

Promoting mental health in the workplace can be beneficial for both employers and employees. It makes economic sense because it can result in the following:

  1. Increased productivity rates
  2. Lower rates of absenteeism
  3. higher-quality work and creativity
  4. Improved employee engagement
  5. Better relationships between employees and leadership
  6. Improved relationships with the clients 
  7. Increased inclusiveness

How To Promote Mental Health In The Workplace

A healthy work environment should give employees the resources they need to feel supported, such as access to mental health professionals, flexible hours, and clear communication channels. It should also promote an open dialogue between employers and employees, allowing them to discuss issues openly without fear of retribution or judgment. 

By implementing these activities, companies can help employees manage stress, build resilience, and create a workplace culture of support and understanding. This will enable employees to be more productive and engaged while improving overall job satisfaction.

1. Create Health and Safety Workplace Guidelines 

Developing a healthy workplace environment is a multi-step process that begins with establishing and enforcing policies and practices that prevent, identify, support and rehabilitate employees who experience distress, burnout, substance abuse or other mental health concerns.

 2. Make Mental Health Services Accessible

The World Health Organization has found that every dollar invested in mental health treatment returns $4 in improved health and productivity. That means that investing in your employees’ mental health can have a significant return on investment.

You are responsible for your employees’ mental health as a business owner.

It’s about more than just providing access to the proper care and support—it’s also about making sure that they know how important it is to take care of themselves.

Your team will be more productive if they feel healthy and well-rested, so it makes sense that investing in their mental health can help you make more money!

3. Encourage Employees to Take Time Off

Taking days off can be more difficult for some jobs/organizations than others. Encouraging employees to take days off and making the process easier will prevent burnout.

For example, consider adding mental health days or letting employees know that sick time can be used when they are “sick.” If your policies demand a doctor’s note for an absence. For example, that could create additional challenges for employees who may be fearful of the stigma surrounding mental health issues.

4. Build a Positive Work Environment

Creating a positive work environment is a great way to improve mental health in the workplace. Here are ways you can implement to improve the workplace environment.

  • Conducting regular check-ins
  • Prioritizing onboarding new hires
  • Developing a solid workplace culture
  • Understanding that every employee has different accommodations and needs. For example, some employees would require a different work environment to focus
  • Encouraging team collaboration and team-building activities
  • Normalizing conversations about mental health within the workplace
  • Creating a work environment that encourages open and honest communication
  • Understanding how to identify and prevent potential workplace-related emotional triggers
  • Promoting work-life balance by implementing flexible schedules and work-from-home opportunities

5. Take Steps to Support Diverse Employee Groups

People from minority or diverse groups are statistically shown to experience mental health symptoms at higher rates and face more barriers when seeking mental health. 

Taking steps to acknowledge diverse groups and support them in the workplace is essential to achieve mental health equity for the overall mental health of the workplace.

6. Offer Flexibility

Rigidity can have a negative impact on mental health at work by increasing stress on your team. Finding ways to make employment more flexible can significantly improve workplace mental health. Some opportunities to make working for your organization more flexible include:

  • Offering virtual or hybrid is the new normal
  • Making project deadlines more flexible
  • Adopting the right to disconnect policy
  • Instituting days with no meetings
  • Checking in with employees about their preferred working style and accommodating positions to suit them

Employers should make sure that they are providing resources and support for their employees when it comes to mental health. Some ways to promote it include giving access to counselling services, offering flexible working hours, or simply creating an open dialogue where employees feel comfortable discussing their struggles. Taking these steps will benefit not only the individual but also the organization as a whole.

This is a part of #BellLetsTalkDay, an initiative launched by BELL, one of Career Edge’s partners. For more mental health resources, visit this website.

Jan 11
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Why Career Edge is so important to me? By Saradha Swaminathan

By Success Story

Read Saradha’s story – an immigrant coming to Canada with her family!

Saradha Swaminathan

Talent Specialist


I hail from a small city in the southern part of India. I completed my bachelor’s in computer technology and master’s in Human Resources. I began my career as a management trainee with one of the largest IT conglomerates in India and was working there for 8 years in different roles like talent acquisition, onboarding, resource management & workforce planning, talent management, talent engagement, academic interface program, etc. I took a break for two years for childcare from 2019 to 2021. In 2021, I moved to Canada. I started searching for jobs. I came to know about Career Edge from one of my HR friends in a WhatsApp group.  I applied for a couple of job postings on Career Edge website. Within a week, I noticed that there was a Talent Specialist opening in Career Edge itself. This grabbed my attention. I have already tried the corporate route, and this time I want to make a move in a more fulfilling direction. I made an online application and received a call in two weeks. I had two rounds of interviews – the first round of panel interviews with a team of IT, Marketing, and Talent specialists from Career Edge, followed by an interview with our Executive Director and Vice President, Finance & Operations. The entire process was so smooth, and I thoroughly enjoyed my interviews. It was truly inspiring to hear from Jeff & Kyle about Career Edge’s vision and future plans. Our conversation made me even more excited to join Career Edge. What interested me, in particular, was how sharply our efforts are focused on creating a positive difference in someone else’s life. Being a new immigrant myself, I was more than happy to join Career Edge family.

 

Every day is a happy day for me as I have an opportunity to help someone launch their career in Canada, and this makes my own career more meaningful and joyful.

I can proudly say that Career Edge is certainly a special place to work. I am blessed to work with such an amazing, hardworking, and passionate team of individuals who are part of a transformational journey.

Over the coming months, hear stories right from our very own staff about why Career Edge and the work that they do is so important to them.

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