There’s something gratifying about full-time employment. If it comes with a decent salary, it can provide purpose to one’s life and the means to be self-sufficient. In many cases, it can be enjoyable and hold promise for a satisfying career with opportunities to advance.
Whenever I managed to secure a new job, one I thought I could grow in, it always made me feel as though I had found my place in the world. Unfortunately, I’ve had more experience with short-term employment than in long-term jobs in Ottawa, and although the in-between times were devastating, I believe I gained important insights from being on the outside looking in.
The short-lived postings may have made me question my self-worth, and my ability to deliver quality work in the areas of communications, media and information services, but the experience I reaped from each setback proved invaluable to the writing projects I completed over the years.
In short, those times made me the resilient person I am today, and they also taught me that creating my own work could be as rewarding.
Employment in Ontario
According to recent data from Statistics Canada, Ottawa experienced the largest employment loss of any economic region in Ontario between February 2025 and February 2026. With 30,500 jobs lost, the unemployment rate is currently 6.8%, slightly above the national rate.
The picture is as grim for other regions, including Toronto, where the unemployment rate is 7.6%. London’s rate is equally dismal at 8.4%, and the Hamilton-Niagara Peninsula region fares no better with its rate of 7.1% as of February 2026.
In January, The Ottawa Citizen reported that 10,000 public servants might be at risk of losing their jobs as the government aims to trim its workforce through a comprehensive expenditure review. It’s likely that cuts as drastic as those planned for the public service will have an impact on other sectors like retail, real estate, tourism, food services, culture and recreation.
Gender inequality
In the early 80s, following my return to the workforce after a pause of nearly four years to care for my young children, I often wondered if my gender was working against me. In the positions I held, I noticed how disadvantaged I was in terms of advancement compared to my male counterparts. I could produce good quality work (I thought), and my qualifications, training and education were up to par, but I was continually overlooked, especially in competitions within the public service.
The 2023 to 2025 employment data from Statistics Canada shows that inequality persists for female workers. For instance, ‘women hold nearly half of all Canadian jobs (47.4%), but only 36.4% of managerial positions and less than 29% of senior management and legislative positions.’
Another interesting fact is that while women are better educated than men, they face a 13% to 21% wage gap. In Canada, they continue to be overrepresented in part-time work (23.8% versus 12.8% for men), and so it’s not surprising that women remain at a higher risk of poverty, and more likely to be living in either unaffordable housing or housing of poor standards.
In the media industry, women face significantly higher obstacles. Research suggests that gender inequality continues to be an issue in that sector, where pay gaps and rates of workplace harassment are high. A 2020 study conducted by the Centre for International Media Assistance revealed that women continue to be underrepresented in this industry, and they remain locked out of top roles in media and entertainment. They also face a glass ceiling preventing them from reaching upper managerial positions.
In spite of that, award-winning journalist Lisa Laflamme defeated the odds, and she enjoyed an outstanding career in the media. Working for CTV National News from 2003 to 2022, when her contract was terminated, she covered many international stories and conflicts, and interviewed a great number of important people. Her numerous awards in recognition of her work are well-deserved, including her appointment to the Order of Canada.
Whatever the circumstances of her dismissal, it was poorly executed. But I knew from her subsequent interview with the CBC’s Adrienne Arsenault that the world had not heard the last of Lisa Laflamme. She had plans and opportunities in the works; in 2023, she covered the coronation of Charles III and Camilla, and last year, she launched her podcast, Carry the Fire, to interview cancer patients and survivors about their experiences and perseverance.
Lisa co-hosted Canada AM from 2001 and 2003. It was during her first year in that role that my book Misinformed Consent was published in Canada, and she interviewed me for the program. I was nervous, naturally, but she made me feel at ease from the moment we met. Dr. Alvin Pettle, a gynecologist from Toronto, had graciously agreed to accompany me, and it was a wonderful experience for us to be interviewed by a media specialist we both admired.
Following Lisa’s swift departure from her job as anchor for CTV National News, she managed to show strength and determination in her ability to move forward, and with the same level of grace and professionalism she showed me all those years ago. Her experience is proof that there can be ample opportunities beyond job loss.
Finding work is not always easy
I could relate to the Toronto woman featured in a March 14 CTV News report. Zahra Bakhsh was previously employed as an administrative assistant for a real estate agent, and since her job ended, her search to find another has been extremely difficult. But even though she is currently sleeping on a couch in a friend’s basement, she said she feels optimistic, and I believe that it’s this positive attitude that will help her get the job she needs. Going public with her plight was another good move because employers looking to hire also watch the news.
The entire process of job seeking doesn’t have to be demoralizing, even though it was for me, at times. Zahra’s story made me recall an interview before a panel of three individuals. Certainly, I found it more intimidating to be interviewed by more than one person, but I was thrilled to be contacted for a second interview that went as well as the first.
Days later when I was called for a third interview, I could not contain my excitement thinking I’d soon be among the ranks of the employed with fewer worries about making ends meet for my family. Imagine my disappointment sitting in front of the same panel only to be told, within minutes of my arrival, that another candidate had been selected.
Though I don’t remember much about the first two interviews, except that I was satisfied with the outcome for both, the third meeting felt rather humiliating to me. My qualifications must have appealed to the panel if I was interviewed twice, and I think it was cruel to ask me to come in for a third time, only to be rejected in person. An email or phone call would have been more considerate.
In a recent interview about his role in The Count of Monte Cristo, Jeremy Irons said that the new series resonates well with many because ‘there still remains inequality of people messed around by people in power’. ‘It’s human nature’, he added.
Irons’ comment probably rings true for anyone who has experienced a negative treatment as part of an interview or hiring process. Nonetheless, I want to believe there are still many good and compassionate people in this world, among them recruiters with the expertise to conduct interviews in ways that shouldn’t devastate applicants. Kindness at making them feel welcome and worthy is also an important element of human nature.
Résumé-writing does not have to be complicated
Hope and determination are essential tools. It doesn’t matter where you live, finding work is not always easy, and there is definitely an art to job seeking. It starts with a résumé that can open doors in a hiring environment that is primarily electronic, and as a result, ideal for potential employers to ghost applicants.
Not only is the lack of email etiquette a serious problem today, job seekers are often rerouted to websites advertising services for résumé-writing, a scenario that can be disheartening, to say the least. It can also be discouraging if job seekers are subjected to annoying scams.
You don’t need to pay a service to put together a résumé that will work well for you. Keeping it simple is the best approach. The cover email should be brief and to the point, but with enough information to pique interest. Two pages, three at the most, is ideal for a résumé. By featuring your contact information on the first page, followed by a few short paragraphs on the highlights of your qualifications, chances are your application will warrant a closer look.
Visual presentation is everything these days. Without going overboard with design, use of soft colours, indentations or boxed information can appeal. Reserve the second page for a short list of any previous jobs you held that are relevant to the one you are applying for, and include your education certifications, credentials when applicable, volunteer experience and any achievements or awards.
Persistence works, so be relentless with your job applications. If you aim to apply for a few jobs on a daily basis, it will keep you on target, and you will improve your presentation with each inquiry. Practice makes perfect, as they say.
Lastly, but most importantly, be sure to avoid any typographical or grammatical errors in your submissions. Your cover letter and résumé should be pristine. You shouldn’t rely solely on spell-check or AI either. What still works best is the old-fashioned Editorial 101 method of proofreading out loud, with a ruler under each line.
Interviews
Walk into an interview with confidence. If it doesn’t work out as well as hoped, it’s likely that you will still gain from the experience.
I remember applying for a job that involved coordinating and editing a book to be written by twelve medical experts. While waiting in a seating area outside an office where a candidate was being interviewed for the same job I’d applied for, I could hear every word, and it made me feel like an intruder on that conversation. If earbuds had been invented at the time, I could have made good use of them on that day!
As the previous applicant was leaving, the woman conducting the interviews waved me in her small office, without any introduction or words of greeting. She collapsed into her chair and said: “My brain is fried. I’ve been interviewing all day, so what do you wanna know?” Out of all the interviews I’ve been to, I’ve never forgotten the details about this one.
I was tempted to walk out before our meeting got started, thinking the woman might have been too tired to keep going. But as I had done my pre-interview research on this medical organization and its programs and publications, I managed to ask as many questions as I could of the prospective boss, and by the time ‘the interview’ was over, I had all the information I needed about the available position.
Two weeks later, and much to my surprise, the woman called me to ask if I wanted the job. I had to turn it down knowing I wouldn’t have been able to deliver a book within the six months she expected me to complete the project. I can work at a good pace if I’m on my own, but when working around the schedules of several contributors, projects can take longer to get to print.
Trust your instincts. There were times when I sat through an interview, and I knew that I was not ideally suited for the job. If the language used in job postings is vague, it can be difficult to understand what the work actually entails, but it can become crystal clear, and very quickly, when meeting a potential employer in person.
One last tip, if an employer asks you to explain any gaps in your résumé, focus instead on the present and the future. Keep your answers positive, and explain that even if there were times when you were not part of the workforce, you kept current by freelancing, attending courses and workshops or by contributing as a volunteer with organizations you support. Most employers would understand a woman’s decision to step back from work to be a primary caregiver to young children or senior parents.
Create your own job
I opted to start working from home in 1996 and I have never looked back. A friend told me recently that I am exactly where I was meant to be, and I know this to be true.
Whether I am writing for other people or working on my own projects, it is fulfilling work. Developing promotional materials, and networking for media opportunities are challenges I also enjoy. But my best reward has always been the privilege of working with wonderful people who are as passionate as I am about various issues, including women’s health and long-term care in Ontario.
To this day, I appreciate working without rushing, in the peace and quiet of my home office. No disruptions except from my dog when he needs a cuddle. In the early years, I missed having co-workers around me, but I never missed the daily commute between home and office. Turns out, I like my own company, and the freedom to pick and choose the projects I prefer to work on. And, I don’t plan on retiring any time soon.
Making the leap
Tracy Berka is a nurse from Hamilton, Ontario, with decades of experience in health care. Over the past few months, she has worked tirelessly at starting her own business to help seniors and families navigate our health care system with confidence. By capitalizing on her expertise to provide a personalized service in the health care sector, where there is a shortage of qualified assistance, she is bound to become the gift that keeps on giving to her clients. It took courage for Tracy to make this career change, but now that her marketing materials have been printed and her website (www.insidescoop.ca) is up and running, she is well on her way to success.
If finding work is no easy task for Ontarians, newcomers are even more likely to be overlooked and underpaid. As Canadian employers tend to undervalue international experience and education, many immigrants can find themselves in positions below their skill level, which leads to significant wage gaps.
In recent years, I have befriended and supported newcomer families as they adjusted to Canadian culture. I found their determination to succeed as great as their resourcefulness, and for some, creating their own work opportunities became a good option.
For example, a young mother of three children who spent years in refugee camps in Malawi is a skilled hairdresser with plans to start a home-based business to style black women’s hair. Given the current three-year wait list for subsidized daycare, working from home might be ideal for her. One of my best friends has been very successful with her home-based salon for nearly 30 years!
Another family my husband and I have been supporting lately is from Haiti. The parents of three young children are both doctors who are actively looking for full-time work while waiting for adequate housing. As there are more than 2.5 million people in Ontario without a family doctor, their training and qualifications could be of great benefit to any clinic. Hopefully, they will soon find temporary employment in a health care setting while they go through the process of recertification.
Yesterday, we stopped at a new Vietnamese restaurant, Mama Mai in Bells Corners, to bring home a delightful dinner I didn’t have to prepare. The owner is a dog-walker friend of my husband’s, and since his family immigrated to Canada, they have had great success with owning and operating three restaurants. They are proud of their achievements, as they should be, and we consider ourselves lucky to be able to reap the benefits from their culinary talents.
Help with employment prospects
For those at the start of a job-finding journey, Employment Ontario offices throughout the province provide free job search support and coaching. Their services include assistance with career planning, business plans, as well as guidance on how to write an effective résumé and prepare for interviews. At these provincial centres, job seekers can also access numerous other free resources.
Finally, building a network of contacts who can provide personal referrals can be most helpful to anyone looking for work, but unwavering support from family and friends is even better.
Lise Cloutier-Steele is an Ottawa writer and the author of the 2025 Edition of There’s No Place Like Home: A guide to help caregivers manage the long-term care experience, available from www.ottawacaregiver.com.
