​Alexandra Alex Forrestall is a Calgary professional who combines technology with talent acquisition to drive superior results. In addition, Alexandra Forrestall trains and interacts with dogs, understanding their various behaviors.

One behavior that many canines exhibit is digging in blankets, which stems from their survival instincts. Wild dogs dig in the ground to make a shallow depression for sleeping warmly and protected from the elements. Therefore, digging into blankets or a comforter may create more comfortable surfaces. In addition, the behavior is territorial. The bottom of the dog’s paws contains scent glands that secrete pheromones, which alert other dogs that the territory is claimed.

Another common dog habit is turning around several times before sleeping. An inherited behavior, ancestors such as wolves also engage in the behavior. Possibly stemming from survival instincts, turning allows wolves to determine the wind’s position. Then, they can position themselves, remain aware of their surroundings, and ward off an attack. Turning around may also have social roots. It allows canines to bring their pack together at bedtime and account for all members.

​An individual of diverse interests and talents, Alexandra (Alex) Forrestall serves as a talent scout with IT Placements in Markham, Ontario, as well as a bartender and server with Fionn Maccool's Pub in Calgary, Alberta. Alexandra Forrestall is also a trained dog handler who is particularly adept at reading canine body language.

While its vocalizations can communicate a great deal about your dog’s wants, needs, and psychological state, it’s important to note that dogs most often rely on body language to communicate. Some of this body language is quite easy to interpret. For example, even small children know that a happy dog will wag its tail.

However, some forms of canine body language are counterintuitive to humans. While humans smile at one another to show friendliness, dogs that appear to smile may actually be baring their teeth as a warning of aggression. Other important signs of an angry or aggressive dog include an upright, stiffened posture and raised ears and hair. Conversely, a low-slung body position with tucked tail and ears indicates worry, stress, or fear.

​Based in Calgary, Alexandra “Alex” Forrestall has an extensive background in talent placement within competitive technology sectors. Passionate about children, Alexandra Forrestall has experience working with toddlers as part of the early childhood education curriculum.

At the critical age of 2, most children will have honed motor skills such as walking and running and be able to speak in complete sentences. One skill that often takes longer to master is feeding oneself. The benefits of having a child eat a meal on their own with utensils include sharpening fine motor skills and learning lessons in appetite regulation. Naturally, it is important to supervise child interactions, even with safe-for-kids utensils. It is also important to set strict limits. If the child tends to throw food items, make self-feeding a once daily event or practice with dry foods, rather than with wet and sticky items.

Toddlers also need time to play on their own and test their personal limits, rather than constantly waiting on parents for assistance. One strategy is to encourage children to build something using their own blocks. There will be moments of blocks toppling over and frustration expressed through crying, but these are simply part of the growth process. Be there to provide support in a supplementary role, such as sorting block shapes, while fostering a sense of motivation, competence, and independence by enabling the toddler to complete the core task on their own.

​Alexandra "Alex" Forrestall completed her specialization in early childhood education at the two-year program of Seneca College in Toronto. She excelled in her studies and graduated with honors, which led to her becoming a member of the College of Early Childhood Educators. Presently, Alexandra Forrestall works as a talent scout at ITPlacements in Markham, Ontario.

In today's fast-paced digital world, technology is evolving rapidly, and the demand for skilled IT professionals continuously increases. Companies looking to keep up with this demand must have a successful talent-scouting strategy.

To do this, organizations should identify the specific skills and qualities they need in their IT professionals. Once the criteria are identified, companies can create a targeted recruitment plan that includes job postings, social media campaigns, and networking events.

Another critical aspect of a successful talent scouting strategy is building a strong employer brand. An attractive employer brand can help companies stand out in a competitive job market and attract the right candidates for their IT positions.

Lastly, organizations should invest in their existing IT employees by providing training, development opportunities, and career progression paths. This investment helps retain valuable employees and attracts top talent to join the company.

Creating a successful talent scouting strategy for IT placements requires a comprehensive approach considering the company's specific needs, target audience, and brand image. With the right strategy, companies can attract and retain top IT talent to help drive their business forward.

​A talent scout at ITPlacements in Ontario, Alexandra “Alex” Forrestall delivers communication-driven results. With a passion for dogs, Alexandra Forrestall enjoys spending time with her Great Dane and observing its behavior.

Typically mellow and easygoing, the Great Dane maintains status as a gentle giant. At the same time, they were bred for hunting and require space to roam and release energy. To promote an even and stable temperament, Great Danes should be introduced to their environs, more than most other species, from a young age. Providing them with off-leash time in varied terrain is a good idea, and they can be introduced to scent training or detecting various odors.

Keep in mind that Great Danes can be boisterous, particularly during their first three years, and require involvement from the owner to avoid the destruction of furniture and carpets. They are a sensitive breed, so train them through positive reinforcement rather than punitive measures. They often find harshness confusing, which can cause distrust and a tendency toward bossiness and aggression toward smaller animals.

Early childhood is a critical period where children undergo rapid brain development that influences their learning, cognition, and personality. Early childhood education (ECE) plays an important role in assisting children during these formative years, facilitating their acquisition of academic and social skills.

The exact definition of early childhood varies, depending on whom you are talking to. Some use the term to refer to anytime up until age 8, while others apply it to the period between birth and kindergarten.

The United States Department of Education does not mandate ECE, as it does with elementary and secondary education. However, ECE remains a crucial stage of learning for young children. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) emphasizes that ECE extends beyond its traditional role as preparation for school, as it also addresses the needs of children while they’re growing up and builds a solid foundation that impacts their lifelong well-being.

Today, 62 percent of children around the world are enrolled in ECE. Yet this statistic falls to a meager 20 percent in developing, low-income nations. This significant discrepancy demonstrates inequalities in access to ECE related to geography and socioeconomic status.

Fortunately, implementation of ECE programs is on the rise. One of UNESCO’s sustainable development goals is to ensure that all children have access to quality ECE by 2030. To this end, UNESCO collaborates with governments to integrate ECE components into national educational sectors.

In the United States, ECE is gaining popularity, with several states actively developing programs to boost ECE teaching credentials. For example, in June 2022, California and Illinois considered new ECE credentials for teachers. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing announced a potential ECE specialist credential that allows teachers to teach transitional kindergarten. To acquire the credential, teachers need to complete 24 units of ECE courses and pass the Reading Instruction Comprehension Assessment.

Meanwhile, in Illinois, the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development created the Infant-Toddler Credential, a new competency-based curriculum catering to the rising need for an effective ECE workforce credentialing system. According to registry data, 38 percent of the state’s infant-toddler teachers lack an academic degree altogether, and only 29 percent have a bachelor’s degree. The new credential aims to better prepare current and future educators to deliver quality ECE and improve learning outcomes for children.

Requirements vary across states, but many ECE teachers obtain a bachelor’s or associate degree in ECE and then pursue an official teaching credential. A variety of educational institutions offer such credentials.

For instance, the Council for Professional Recognition provides aspiring ECE teachers with a Childhood Development Associate (CDA), which they can tailor to their area of focus through training programs. Training programs can take place in various settings, including family homes, military bases, and preschool centers.

ECE credentials can facilitate employment in preschools, Montessori schools, and kindergartens. Teachers with ECE qualifications can also practice their skills in a wide range of job positions. In addition to working as preschool teachers, they are eligible to apply for early intervention specialist, family service staff, and administrator positions.

​The work of talent scouts is to identify, source, and acquire talented and suitable individuals for companies or organizations. All kinds of industries and groups looking to fill positions rely upon their services. The hiring process is faster for employers when they go through talent scouts, as they receive a shortlist of only the most suitable candidates.

Talent scouts may be office-based or travel to various locations as they search for new talent. Regardless, talent scouts who intend to keep up with a fast, challenging hiring environment must stay abreast of the latest trends and practices driving the recruiting market and process.

Today, many everyday objects and gadgets work through the Internet, making the world more connected than ever before. For recruiters and talent scouts, this means that many in-demand jobs are changing rapidly, as are the candidates needed to fill them. It also means that candidates are increasingly expecting more work to be done online.

As automation and artificial intelligence (AI) become more widely used in many industries, talent scouts too must adapt their sourcing techniques to find suitable candidates who can work in this changing environment. They can, for example, deploy automation and AI to streamline their searches by using algorithms capable of quickly scanning and analyzing large volumes of data.

Talent scouts can use AI to sort through a long list of resumes and narrow it to the top three to five candidates. Some advanced AI programs can use facial recognition and voice analysis technology during phone or video interviews to assess candidates’ truthfulness and emotional intelligence.

Virtual assistants (VAs) like Cortana, Siri, and Alexa have grown popular in the hiring process. During a talent search or recruitment, it’s now possible to use VAs to feed candidate information into the system. Soon, it will be possible to hold interviews between a candidate and a tool like Alexa without even using a phone or attending a live interview. This will free up time for talent scouts and recruiters to concentrate on the late stages of the recruiting process, such as crafting a job offer letter.

Predictive analytics tools can help recruiters gain insight into the future. The technology has greatly impacted customer relationship management, and the potential for further use is huge.

For example, some hospitals use predictive analytics to optimize staffing based on projected patient demand. Talent scouts can also use these tools to analyze and statistically review previously collected information within their data bank to make predictions about the suitability of candidates for specific jobs.

By employing predictive analytics during a search, talent scouts can pass on insights about how a particular candidate is likely to perform in the future. This will be based on previous job performance by looking at factors such as sales numbers, duration of service with a company, or accident-free driving.

Employers in the business world are increasingly recognizing the benefits of having a diverse workforce. This trend has prompted more attention to diversity issues, and companies are asking talent scouts to find suitable candidates from a broader range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. For talent scouts to thrive and succeed in this changing environment, they must include diversity as an important criterion during their searches.