Students are now winding up their high school and post-secondary education and getting ready to hit the pavement looking for job opportunities.

With almost half of Canadians employers (51 per cent) anticipating on hiring students or recent grads this year, it's good to know just what they are looking for in a candidate.

According to a survey by BMO Bank of Montreal, the candidate's personality trait came out on top with 30 per cent of business owners ranking this characteristic as the one of the most important qualities when selecting a new employee.

Thinking of volunteering or seeking new employment?

Well, if you have a previous criminal record you may want to double check that record before your prospective employer does.

According to Pardon Applications of Canada, those Canadians who received an absolute or conditional discharge prior to July 24, 1992 may find they still have a criminal record attached to their name.

It's beginning to feel a lot like summer.

And with the Victoria Day long weekend upon us many Canadians have turned their thoughts to adventure and warmer climates.

Even though there's a lot of excitement about upcoming fun in the sun trips, travellers have three top worries while away: the weather, losing something important and requiring medical attention.

According to a study by BMO Insurance, 83 per cent of Canadians are planning on taking a vacation this summer however, only half actually purchase travel insurance.

Life happens.

And with it, so do unforeseen hardships.

That's why it is always good to be proactive and have a plan.

A new report by BMO Wealth Institute reveals that while many Canadians have a financial plan in place, very few have considered what would happen if unexpected life events arose that could cause financial hardships.

Young money.

According to a new report from BMO Economics, Canada's youth will have more spending power than their parents over their lifetime.

Years ago, it seemed the younger you were, the worse off you were.

But now it seems the kids will be all right.

When it comes to buying a new home, the majority of Canadians are sold on safe neighburhoods.

There's a lot to consider when looking for a new home besides the price and the features it has to offer.

In fact, a safe neighbourhood is the big sell for homebuyers, according to a survey by BMO Bank of Montreal.

Shopping, reading, gaming, working, researching, banking. 

Today we do just about everything from the convenience of our computers.

As a matter of fact, Canadians spend an average of 30 hours per week connecting to the online world.

So it's no wonder that more and more Canadians are investing online too.

Canadians will be spending a little more on gifts for mom this Mother's Day.

As a matter of fact, they'll be spending an average of $107 to shower mom with love on May 12. That's up 27 per cent over 2012, according to BMO Bank of Montreal's 2013 Mother's Day survey.

And, men are planning on spending a little more than their female counterparts ($119 versus $96).

The Boy Scouts motto says it all: Be Prepared.

It's Emergency Preparedness Week May 5-11 and what better time to make sure you're ready for any emergency to protect your family, your home and your business.

Just think of the devastation from hurricane Katrina. Not only did it cause billions of dollars in property damage but it also resulted in the tragic loss of human lives, as well as years of rebuilding lives and communities.

Can there really be a price tag attached to the role of being a mother?

Well, according to a recent survey conducted by Leger Marketing for Wal-Mart Canada, the job of mom is worth about $161,287.

That translates into about $3101.67 a week or $441.88 per day.