<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title>Recruitment Consulting | Oakdale Consulting</title><link>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/</link><description><![CDATA[Oakdale Consulting RSS]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 26 Jan 2026 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate><managingEditor>info@oakdaleconsulting.ca (Oakdale Consulting)</managingEditor><generator>Oakdale Consulting</generator><language>en</language><docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs><atom:link rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" href="https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/"/><item><title><![CDATA[What High-Performing Teams Look Like in Practice]]></title><link>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/what-high-performing-teams-look-like-in-practice</link><guid>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/post/view/post/128895</guid><description><![CDATA[As we step into a new year, I’ve been reflecting on how easy it is to get swept up in the pace of life and work. Most days, we rush from one task to the next, heads down, eyes on our screens, minds already on the next deadline. In the blur of meetings and to-do lists, it’s easy to drift into our own worlds, barely noticing the people and moments unfolding around us.But beneath the surface, each of us is carrying something, sometimes quietly and unseen. The truth is, we rarely know the ful...]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 26 Jan 2026 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://assets.cdn.thewebconsole.com/S3WEB9923/blogImages/698f6dca33fff.png" type="image/png" length="2456624"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Home for the Holidays: Connection, Rest, and Career Growth]]></title><link>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/home-for-the-holidays--connection--rest--and-career-growth</link><guid>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/post/view/post/126810</guid><description><![CDATA[Finding Rest and Celebration at HomeDecember is full of celebrations, but the holidays don’t have to involve travel or expense to be meaningful. Across communities worldwide, this month brings opportunities to pause, reflect, and connect right where you are.Many people celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Bodhi Day, or the Winter Solstice, while others look forward to local traditions, community gatherings, or simply time with loved ones. Each of these celebrations reminds us that connec...]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 09 Dec 2025 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://assets.cdn.thewebconsole.com/S3WEB9923/blogImages/6941f6c7d2866.png" type="image/png" length="2022940"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Career Mapping for a Future-Ready, Purpose-Driven Career]]></title><link>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/career-mapping-for-a-future-ready--purpose-driven-career</link><guid>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/post/view/post/126809</guid><description><![CDATA[As we continue to see layoffs and the workplace evolve, we often hear stories of people applying to dozens or even hundreds of jobs and hearing nothing back. As the future of work shifts in a new direction, and we reflect on the skills we've honed over the years, it's time to stop working harder at sending out more resumes and start working smarter.Career mapping is a powerful way to do just that. It helps you focus on opportunities that align with your strengths, values, and long-term goals—...]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 11 Nov 2025 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://assets.cdn.thewebconsole.com/S3WEB9923/blogImages/6941de108ffcb.png" type="image/png" length="1692340"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Retaining Top Talent in Ontario’s Shifting Economy]]></title><link>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/retaining-top-talent-in-ontario-s-shifting-economy</link><guid>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/post/view/post/126518</guid><description><![CDATA[As we are now in the final quarter of 2025, Ontario’s economy is growing slowly, and many organizations are hiring cautiously. That being said, retaining your best employees is more critical than ever; turnover is costly, both financially and culturally.&nbsp;At a recent Durham Networking Association meeting, James Dempsey presented "How Group Benefits Drive Growth and "Attract Top Talent." This presentation prompted me to reexamine the measurable benefits that group benefits can bring when di...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 19:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://assets.cdn.thewebconsole.com/S3WEB9923/blogImages/690c1681bd721.png" type="image/png" length="2359263"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Executive Sourcing and Talent Advisory: Oakdale Consulting’s Next Chapter]]></title><link>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/executive-sourcing-and-talent-advisory--oakdale-consulting-s-next-chapter</link><guid>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/post/view/post/126516</guid><description><![CDATA[As summer winds down, September always feels like a reset, a chance to realign, refocus, and begin again.After seven years of leading Oakdale Consulting, it was time to take a step back and do a self-audit of my business. That reflection made it clear: it was time to pivot toward a more purpose-driven approach.I’m excited to share that Oakdale Consulting is evolving! I’ll now be focusing on:Talent sourcing across all roles for consulting engineering and construction firms delivering proje...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 05 Sep 2025 19:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://assets.cdn.thewebconsole.com/S3WEB9923/blogImages/690c0c3b29895.png" type="image/png" length="2540912"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Make Your Career Count: How a Self-Audit Can Guide You Toward Purpose and Impact]]></title><link>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/make-your-career-count--how-a-self-audit-can-guide-you-toward-purpose-and-impact</link><guid>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/post/view/post/125839</guid><description><![CDATA[If you’re job hunting or re-evaluating your next professional move, there’s something you should know: you will spend roughly 80,000 hours of your life working. That’s more time than you’ll likely spend with family or friends, and far more than on any single hobby or pastime.Given this incredible investment of time, your career should be more than just a paycheck. It should align with your skills, your values, and your goals — and ideally, offer the chance to make a positive differe...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 08 Aug 2025 19:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://assets.cdn.thewebconsole.com/S3WEB9923/blogImages/68a7b8bcb8c0f.png" type="image/png" length="2211536"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Employment Law Highlights 2025/2026 and a Quick Summer Check-In]]></title><link>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/employment-law-highlights-2025-2026-and-a-quick-summer-check-in</link><guid>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/post/view/post/126505</guid><description><![CDATA[Summer seems to be flying by; I hope you've had a chance to take a well-deserved break, or at least a few moments to recharge. Whether it's time at the lake, a slower workday pace, or just enjoying longer evenings, it's so important to pause when we can.In a recent blog, I shared some reflections on how summer can be a powerful time to recalibrate our mental wellness. From the benefits of sunlight and movement to the mindfulness of being near water or walking in nature, summer offers more than r...]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 06 Aug 2025 19:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://assets.cdn.thewebconsole.com/S3WEB9923/blogImages/690bf5aaab649.png" type="image/png" length="2289858"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Building Better Talent Pipelines: The Strategic Piece in Talent Attraction]]></title><link>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/building-better-talent-pipelines--the-strategic-piece-in-talent-attraction</link><guid>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/post/view/post/125659</guid><description><![CDATA[In today's rapidly evolving workplace, hiring the right talent quickly is no longer just a competitive advantage; it's a business essential.<br>
Yet many organizations might still treat sourcing as a reactive function, triggered only when a role opens or after weeks of struggling to find the right candidate.Is this because internal talent acquisition teams are busy managing requisitions to build talent pipelines? Or perhaps they're so stretched that they can't proactively engage talent?Having worked</br>...]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 28 Jul 2025 19:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://assets.cdn.thewebconsole.com/S3WEB9923/blogImages/688819f24dae6.png" type="image/png" length="376291"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[From Wonder to Work: How Curiosity and Storytelling Spark Career Innovation]]></title><link>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/from-wonder-to-work--how-curiosity-and-storytelling-spark-career-innovation</link><guid>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/post/view/post/125508</guid><description><![CDATA[Recently, I was clearing out some boxes and came across a textbook I hadn't thought about in years: The Curious Researcher by Bruce Ballenger. It's been 25 years since I took that course, but when I opened the book to page 27, I immediately connected with the chapter title: "The Importance of Getting Curious." Just below it was another: "Learning to Wonder Again."That moment stayed with me. In our fast-paced world of instant answers and rapid innovation, I began to ask myself: Are we still curious?...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 11 Jul 2025 18:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://assets.cdn.thewebconsole.com/S3WEB9923/blogImages/6871564fc9afb.png" type="image/png" length="532218"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Mental Health Boost of Summer Bliss]]></title><link>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/the-mental-health-boost-of-summer-bliss</link><guid>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/post/view/post/125430</guid><description><![CDATA[Summer isn't just a season for sunshine and ice cream; it's the opportunity to slow down and recalibrate our mental wellness. With longer and warmer days, our bodies and minds respond in extraordinary ways, elevating our mood and promoting a sense of calmness. Whether it be solo walks in nature or lakeside gatherings that double as "sea therapy," summer offers a blend of light, movement, and mindfulness that fuels emotional resilience.Through my research, I'm sharing eight ways that summer can sup...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 04 Jul 2025 19:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://assets.cdn.thewebconsole.com/S3WEB9923/blogImages/68681f83a6340.png" type="image/png" length="867058"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mindful Moments: Elevate Your Summer Experience]]></title><link>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/mindful-moments--elevate-your-summer-experience</link><guid>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/post/view/post/126351</guid><description><![CDATA[As the days lengthen and the pace slows, summer provides an excellent opportunity to refresh and strategically realign your career. Let's utilize this season to prepare for what's next.An article published in Harvard Business Review (July 2023) stated, "Taking a vacation provides greater opportunity for rest and better sleep (both quantity and quality), which can help unclutter your mind to create more mental space." Therefore, make time for hikes, beach weekends, or simply turning off notificati...]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 02 Jul 2025 20:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://assets.cdn.thewebconsole.com/S3WEB9923/blogImages/68fbcfc85cdf0.png" type="image/png" length="2941544"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[How to Build a High-Performance Team in Canada: From our Fireside Chat]]></title><link>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/how-to-build-a-high-performance-team-in-canada--from-our-fireside-chat</link><guid>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/post/view/post/125315</guid><description><![CDATA[Ever wondered what makes a team high-performing? On May 23, 2025, I had the privilege of participating in a fireside chat with founders who are immigrating to Canada via the Startup Visa pathway. We explored topics on how to hire, assess, and retain top talent, especially when scaling a startup in Canada. Our discussion focused on the benefits of building a high-performance team and how a startup or small business can achieve this to scale their operations.&nbsp;Below, I will summarize our co...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2025 18:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://assets.cdn.thewebconsole.com/S3WEB9923/blogImages/6855a9ac18755.png" type="image/png" length="628223"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Future-Proofing Your Business: The Strategic Power of Succession Planning]]></title><link>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/future-proofing-your-business--the-strategic-power-of-succession-planning</link><guid>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/post/view/post/124916</guid><description><![CDATA[What happens when your best leader suddenly resigns? No warning. No backup. Just a gaping hole at the top.&nbsp;As I expand my business into strategic sourcing, I've been deep-diving into one topic that keeps surfacing: succession planning. And the more I read, the more convinced I am—it's not just an HR task; it's a leadership imperative.&nbsp;Based on my experience, succession planning is more than a strategy or even a plan; it's about creating real career pathways for employees. When organiz...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 13 Jun 2025 18:20:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://assets.cdn.thewebconsole.com/S3WEB9923/blogImages/684c6a6963ec6.png" type="image/png" length="1322103"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Legacy, Leadership, and Looking Ahead: June Reflections & Updates]]></title><link>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/legacy--leadership--and-looking-ahead--june-reflections---updates</link><guid>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/post/view/post/126350</guid><description><![CDATA[Message from ElaineWelcome to the June edition. Over the past few months, I've been quietly evolving my business—from full-cycle recruitment to a more agile talent sourcing model. I'm also launching a new business stream to help startups and small businesses build high-performing teams. Stay tuned for more!This month, I feel compelled to reflect on something more personal. I want to pay tribute to two remarkable individuals whose lives were defined not by material wealth but by the connection...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 12 Jun 2025 19:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://assets.cdn.thewebconsole.com/S3WEB9923/blogImages/68fbca0f7f769.png" type="image/png" length="1865297"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Future of Work: Embracing Human Skills in the Age of AI and Automation]]></title><link>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/the-future-of-work--embracing-human-skills-in-the-age-of-ai-and-automation</link><guid>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/post/view/post/124955</guid><description><![CDATA[How can we enhance human potential as AI and automation transform the work landscape, and why are skills like creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking vital?]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 16 May 2025 19:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://assets.cdn.thewebconsole.com/S3WEB9923/blogImages/683893f3a8b79.png" type="image/png" length="985510"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Moving forward with Upskilling and Reskilling]]></title><link>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/moving-forward-with-upskilling-and-reskilling</link><guid>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/post/view/post/126349</guid><description><![CDATA[Rahm Emanuel, then-chief of staff to former U.S. President Barack Obama, said, "You never want a serious crisis to go to waste," he told a Wall Street Journal forum in 2008. And what I mean by that is it's an opportunity to do things you think you couldn't do before. As traditional industries evolve due to technological advancements and changing trade dynamics, there is a growing need to address the skills gap by upskilling and reskilling the current workforce.Upskilling and reskilling the workfo...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 03 Apr 2025 19:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://assets.cdn.thewebconsole.com/S3WEB9923/blogImages/68fbc52caba20.png" type="image/png" length="2198213"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Power of Storytelling]]></title><link>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/the-power-of-storytelling</link><guid>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/post/view/post/126346</guid><description><![CDATA[Engaging. Insightful. CuriousWhether you are a candidate or a hiring manager in the engineering field, interviews are critical junctures in your career path. These discussions provide a platform to highlight your technical expertise and share your unique engineering journey. Mastering the art of storytelling is essential for standing out in a competitive job market, attracting top engineering talent, and ensuring high retention levels.The CandidateAt its core, storytelling fosters connection....]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 06 Mar 2025 01:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://assets.cdn.thewebconsole.com/S3WEB9923/blogImages/68fab69d5cc5e.png" type="image/png" length="1959161"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[AI and Automation Revolutionize Recruiting]]></title><link>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/ai-and-automation-revolutionize-recruiting</link><guid>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/post/view/post/126345</guid><description><![CDATA[The recruitment landscape has rapidly changed as organizations increasingly turn to artificial intelligence (AI) to increase team efficiency. While these advancements promise to enhance efficiency and improve candidate experiences, they also raise concerns about the approach to recruitment.One of the largest advantages of using AI and automation in recruitment is how much time it can save. AI algorithms are great at sifting through vast amounts of data, including social media sites, to find t...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 06 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://assets.cdn.thewebconsole.com/S3WEB9923/blogImages/68fab479198a7.png" type="image/png" length="1695681"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Enhance Hiring with a Global Talent Strategy]]></title><link>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/enhance-hiring-with-a-global-talent-strategy</link><guid>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/post/view/post/126344</guid><description><![CDATA[Message from ElaineAccording to a 2024 report from Manpower Group, three out of four employers will struggle to find the needed talent as we navigate an evolving employment landscape. While skill shortages are often highlighted, attracting and retaining top talent, especially passive candidates, is the more significant issue. To appeal to this group, companies should reevaluate job requirements that may deter qualified applicants.While many companies implement various strategies to keep their...]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 06 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://assets.cdn.thewebconsole.com/S3WEB9923/blogImages/68faaa37017e6.png" type="image/png" length="1700298"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Power of Connections]]></title><link>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/the-power-of-connections</link><guid>https://www.oakdaleconsulting.ca/blog/post/view/post/126343</guid><description><![CDATA[Connect | Empower | Innovate&nbsp;The Value of Networking.&nbsp;Building and nurturing relationships is one of your most valuable assets in today's professional landscape. Networking isn’t just about collecting business cards or adding connections on LinkedIn; it's about cultivating trusted relationships that can lead to opportunities and growth. The power of connections lies in the opportunities they can provide and the mutual support, guidance, and inspiration they can offer throughout your...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 13 Dec 2024 23:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://assets.cdn.thewebconsole.com/S3WEB9923/blogImages/68faa4a24b085.png" type="image/png" length="1609927"/></item></channel></rss>
