Back by popular demand, CAIA Canada hosted its Networking and Career Night at the Cambridge Club in downtown Toronto on February 10th. We had the dining room over-looking Metro Hall and the skating rink to ourselves to mix and mingle and hear five recruiters from three distinguished firms speak on their business and trend therein.

Bill Vlaad represented his eponymous company along with Amy Wilson, one of his growing staff of search individuals. Vlaad and Company works in all areas of capital markets, including alternatives, and has a Friday email newsletter highlighting a particular search and detailing some of the personnel moves in the industry.

Ian Kay, of Robert Half and a repeat participant from our event last July, liked it so much he brought Mike Gooley, manager of the Toronto office to show that his budget was well-spent (Mike agreed it was a bargain). Ian, head of RHI's financial services practice, specializes in contract positions that not only get a job seeker some lucre but also can lead to a 'perm' posting.

Jordan Beallor, from Thorek/Scott and Associates works with many candidates with incredible credentials: (multiple) PhDs, Wharton and Harvard grads and the like and is amazed sometimes at the talent out there.

The jist of their messages could be disheartening, if not for the silver lining. The expat flow from the U.S. has slowed (it was a torrent about a year ago) but many Canadians are now repatriating from the U.K., for a variety of reasons: kids' childhood/schooling, wholesale sackings in The City or the just miss hockey and Tim Horton's. This, of course, is not a great thing for Canucks who stayed put and have been let go; the talent pool just got deeper. However, even if one is extremely qualified and skilled, hiring officers are still apt to turn them away for two shortcomings: fit and passion. With so many to choose from, companies need not take on those just there for a paycheck or who don't suit the culture.

Job seekers have to ask themselves: do I really want this job? Or am I just along for the ride? And if they are passionate about it and think they fit, then they need to get that across succinctly to clear through the resume and interview fog that many HR persons are in. Companies cut deep last year and are hiring back, but (to belabor the point) they are picky and can afford to be so.

As Chris Holt, global ambassador for CAIA, noted further that CAIA sets people apart from the crowd. It's not like people are ordered to take it...those that have it generally seek it out to better understand alternatives (and, of course, better their lot as well).

CAIA Canada's next event in Toronto will be the 2010 Infrastructure Panel Lunch on March 24th at the Albany Club. Sponsorship opportunities still exist and members should have an Evite in their in-box already.

James Burron, CAIA