Feeling Underpaid? Let’s Fix That

📰 Highlights

🥸 Ontario held a snap provincial election, trying to ride the hype of tariff threats. Ford and the Progressive Conservative party secured a third-consecutive majority win. Expect no change in how the province is doing for another 4 years.

Personal note: if you’d like to better udnerstand how the political system functions, make sure to check out this breakdown..

🧑‍🔧 Canadian Military is facing shortages of over 13,000 staff; to battle shortages, they are lowering health requirements needed to qualify to join

💰️ Trump is not backing down on imposing Tariffs on Canada. His latest claims include tariffs on semiconductors, cars, sugar and medicine. Perfect time to save money and shop local! Want to know which products are Canadian? There’s an app for that!

🛬 These companies are at the biggest risk of US tariffs - and these companies can pivot and adjust quickly.

🇨🇦 Immigration updates:

• Express Entry draws were announced for 2025. Preferences are for:

  • French language

  • Healthcare

  • Trades

  • Education(NEW)

• Temporary measures for Ukrainians were extended until March 2026, allowing Ukrainians to extend their work permit

💵 Feeling underpaid?

Let’s talk about how to get the raise you deserve.

Let’s face it: we’ve all had that moment where we wonder, “Am I being paid what I’m worth?” If you’re nodding along, it might be time to take charge and advocate for yourself. But don’t worry—we’ve got your back with a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the raise conversation like a pro. Let’s dive in.

1. Do your research 🕵️‍♀️

Before you even think about having that conversation, let’s do our homework. Research industry standards for your role using platforms like Glassdoor or LinkedIn Salary Insights. Keep in mind, that according to research, people tend to report lower salaries than they actually have, so make sure to consult various sources, and don’t be afraid to add at least 10% on top.

2. Build your case 📂

Think of this as your bragging momen. Write down your wins, big and small, especially those that have made a tangible impact on the company. Did you get praised by your team members, clients or your boss? Take note of all the times when you felt like you were irreplaceable. What did you do? Write it all down!

Pro tip: Quantify your achievements whenever possible (e.g., “Increased sales by 20%” or “Reduced costs by $10K”). Numbers, especially in terms of dollars, always speak louder than words. 💪

3. Choose the right moment ⏰

Timing is everything. You probably don’t want to talk to your manager when they’re swamped, or when they’re hungry, or when they’ve received bad news.

Aim to bring up the raise conversation during performance reviews or right after you’ve crushed a major project or received countless praise from your colleagues. Why? Because your value is fresh in everyone’s mind, and the timing feels natural. Avoid busy or stressful periods—like right before a big deadline—when your manager might be too distracted to give your request the attention it deserves.

4. Prepare and practice 🎤

You’ve done your research, but it still isn’t the time to wing it. Draft your talking points and rehearse them until you feel confident. Practice with a friend or mentor to get feedback and polish your delivery. In these days, ChatGPT can be a great practice partner too. Remember, this is about presenting your case clearly and professionally; it’s not just asking for more money, but negotiating a deal that everybody will benefit from. You’ve got this!

5. Be ready for any outcome 🤔

Not every raise request will end with a “yes,” and that’s okay. Sometimes, it will be a “no for now”. If the answer is “no,” don’t take it personally. Instead, ask for specific feedback or directions on what you can do to position yourself for a raise in the future. And don’t forget to explore alternative benefits—like additional vacation days, professional development opportunities, or flexible work arrangements. Sometimes, the company may not have the budget, but is willing to explore other rewards.

Final thought: You deserve this!

Advocating for yourself can feel intimidating, but remember: you’re not just asking for more money—you’re demonstrating your value and commitment to your career. And above all - you’re demonstrating that you know your own worth and will not settle for less. Your future self will thank you. 💼💖

Got a raise success story? Or tips we missed? Hit reply and share your thoughts—we’d love to hear from you! Let’s keep the conversation going. 💬✨

P.S. Know someone who’s feeling underpaid? Forward this their way—it might be the nudge they need! 💌

🍰 Timbits

☕️ If you’re filing your income tax soon, make sure to watch this

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🥑 Breakfast recipes that will keep you healthy and your belly happy

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Thinking about planning to buy your first home in Canada? Don’t miss this seminar!

💼 Jobs Highlights

Got a job posting you’d like to promote? Fill out this form

📌Wajax, a Canadian company providing industrial products and services across various industries (mining, construction, forestry, oil and gas, transportation, manufacturing), is looking for technicians, sales reps and admin assistants in Calgary and Edmonton

📌 Empire Life, a Canadian life insurance and financial services company headquartered in Kingston, Ontario has 35 job openings across Ontario, Quebec, and offering remote positions from Graphic Designer to Software Developer to Cloud Operator

📌 PwC Canada are always looking for talent across Canada in various fields, like Accounting, Consulting, HR, IT and Operations

📌 First Capital REIT, Toronto based real estate agency with branches and projects across Canada have job openings in Property Operations, Legal, Leasing, Development and Administration

📌 Danone, a French consumer goods company with offices in Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec has 36 roles open across Canada in marketing, operations, logistics and HR.

📌Proto, a Canadian Generative AI consumer company, has 7 roles open across sales, development, design, and QA

📌Twilio, an American cloud communications company based in San Francisco, provides programmable communication tools for phone calls, text messages, and performing other communication functions using its web service APIs. They have openings for engineering positions in British Columbia and Alberta

📌Thumbtack is an online home services marketplace that connects users with local service providers for personal projects like home improvement, legal services, IT repair, and event planning. They have a variety of remote work opportunities across Ontario for Data Scientists, Operations and Analysts