Tips Before You Start a New Job

Tips Before You Start A New Job

Whether you are starting an internship, looking for a summer position or embarking on your dream job it will often come with new adventures, new relationships, opportunities and challenges. The new position may also bring on waves of confusion, nerves and mistakes. With this in mind I set out to do a bit of research for us and have come up with the best combined tips I could find for beginning a new job. 

1. Be friendly, Build relationships

Say good morning & good evening to the people you encounter when you come into the office and when you leave, introduce yourself, and remember the names of the people you meet (take notes if necessary). Eat lunch with your co-workers it will help you to get to know those you may not be working with directly. Making the effort to get to know your co-workers even when you're nervous allows you to establish yourself as the friendly and outgoing person you are (or are trying to be). 

2. Know When to Ask Questions... and When to Google it 

There is nothing wrong with asking questions when you are new. The key is to try to distinguish between those that have to do with company policy or procedures and things you can look up yourself. Keeping a notepad by your desk is a great idea. Write down your questions, see if you come to the solutions on your own or if you can look them up online and if that is unsuccessful, approach your manager with an organized list - then take down their answers so you're not asking the same thing twice.  

3. Stay Organized (Click here for 10 ways to get organized)

Go above and beyond to start organized and stay organized. Clearly label your email inbox, desktop folders and paperwork. Take notes, keep them and organize them according to topic. This seems obvious, but in the excitement of starting a new job it is easy to forget instructions, comments made by co-workers or clients or even how to log into your staff email account. 

4. Master the Art of Casual Professionalism 

This means striking the balance between mastering the fundamentals: show up on time for absolutely everything, be respectful to everyone, practice patience and be accountable for your work. You are an authentic and unique person and how you present yourself is all a part of your brand, let people know a bit about you and your passions but keep it casual and professional.  

5. Expect That You Will Make Mistakes - Never Try to Hide Them 

The best advice I have been given was to expect to make mistakes. They will happen and some will be a big deal - others won't be. Do not overdramatize the little things, and do not underplay the big ones. The key is to acknowledge mistakes when they happen, own them and let your manager know ASAP. No one is perfect, and expecting perfection from yourself will only lead to disappointment.

I hope you found some of this helpful & I wish you all the very best of luck on your new adventures.

Talk Soon,

Alexis

Toronto with a Dog

City Living with your Furry Friend  

I love Toronto and the excitement of the city, but I am also pretty dog obsessed. In this blog I am bringing those two passions together to discuss owning a dog in Toronto.

The apple of my eye is a quirky little English Setter named Oliver. With the help of Cause4Paws Toronto I adopted him as a stray from Greece. Oliver is a medium sized dog with high energy and he loves adventures. We are lucky because Oliver likes exploring in the city and he isn't thrown off by loud noises, elevators or busy sidewalks. That being said there are a few things worth taking note of if you ever find yourself with your furry sidekick in the Toronto area. 

There are some great boutique pet shops: 

Oliver trying on his new collar at Fetch 

In the West End of the city we love Fetch which offers really unique dog toys, leashes and collars we also like Kennel Cafe, both are in Roncesvalles. In Bloor West Village we visit Digsville and Global Pet Foods. They are right across the street from one another and within walking distance to High Park. 

On Queen Street there is the Dog Market and on Young Street we visit the Dogfather and Co.

I could go on and on about all the great little shops in Toronto because there are so many. But I recommend you check out this blog: Toronto Pet Shops which lists the top 11 pet stores in the city and that you take your pup with you to test out the tasty treats they offer.

Dog parks and green spaces:

There are a lot of parks in Toronto and I have not been to all of them. 

These are a few of the parks we visit regularly within the GTA and have really enjoyed:

Sir Winston Churchill 

Cherry Beach

High Park

• Indie 88 posted a good blog listing Toronto's best dog parks last year: http://indie88.com/torontos-top-dog-parks

• And Dogs of Leisure has a great website that lists most of the parks and allows for reviews: http://toronto.dogsofleisure.com

Walking the streets:

Ok so there are a few key rules... 

1) Prevent Confrontation

If your dog is uncomfortable with the chaos of the city stay safe and do your absolute best to prevent confrontation. There are tons of dogs in the city and YOU WILL bump into them along with people who aren't dog lovers. Oliver is great with this sort of thing but we have seen more than a few dogs snap at others on our walks and it's always unnerving. 

2) Shoes are a must in the winter. 

The salt and slush does a lot of damage to your pups paws, not to mention any other unsightly debris they may be tracking through. Oliver wears his boots every time we leave the condo to protect him and our carpets. 

3) Pick up after your pet. ALWAYS.

This seems pretty basic but bring a few bags... there are people everywhere and leaving dog droppings at the corner of King and Spadina isn't a good look for anyone.  

So to all of you dog lovers out there - good luck!

Talk Soon,

Alexis & Oliver

Olie enjoying his cookie he picked out at Fetch 

Toronto Neighbourhoods

Finding YOUR Neighborhood in Toronto

  

Thinking about moving to Toronto? 
It is such a diverse city with so much to offer that figuring out which part of the city best suits your lifestyle can be a pretty challenging task. I have spent the past few months exploring different neighbourhoods within Toronto, weighing positives against negatives and coming to terms with what I value most in my own life during the process (ex. walking our dog safely).  I am excited to say that my partner and I have finally narrowed down the search to three unique and engaging corners of Toronto. We have a cottage near Parry Sound and family in Niagara, so there was no question that based on accessibility Central down town or the West end would be the way for us to go (my sympathies go out to those of you who battle the Don Valley Parkway). Although if we were looking in the East end the Danforth or the Beaches would have been at the top of that list. These are our top three locations and why we love them. 
Next step, get a realitor! 

Bloor West Village 

We love Bloor West Village. We find ourselves in the area almost every weekend because it's out of the down town core, and it's so close to High Park that we can bring Oliver (our dog) grab a coffee and spend the afternoon exploring. This community is on the Subway line so getting to work won't be a TTC battle like it is on King West (too many people, not enough street cars). Plus the shops and restaurants in the area are wonderful and add small town charm to this community within a big city. 

Yorkville 

This area is upscale, on the Subway line, and close to lots of shopping. I love shopping so this could be a positive or a negative depending on who you're talking to haha. It is close to work (we are both right down town) and central to most events happening in Toronto making getting around the city a breeze. 

The Distillery District

Who does't love the look of the Distillery District? Also... lofts. We love lofts, and this area is known for them. It is a bit quieter than where we are now (Think Spadina) and there are some great coffee shops and pubs in the area - plus the events that go on in the Distillery District (like the Christmas Market) are always a blast. 

I will let you know what we decide!
And to all of you looking to move within the city, happy hunting!

Talk soon,    

Alexis