As I’ve mentioned here before, I frequently get around via public transportation. This past weekend was no different. Heading out to see some free, live music, my sojourn required two busses to my destination and two for the return. The ride to my destination is usually the better timed. On this return trip, however, the…
Whether we’re talking about local, state, or national elections, candidates or referendums, there is little in our discourse as polarizing as our political opinions. Discussions about religion can be equally contentious. In our country, we (supposedly) have the right of free speech, to express our views and make our opinions known. Thanks to the growth…
For reasons beyond reason, the current administration has decided that Nursing is no longer to be classified as a Profession. And, unfortunately, they are serious! Removing this “professional” designation for nursing is an insane, totally unwarranted and misguided slap in the face to the millions of women and men in the United States who…
Since the late 19th Century, when our forebearers began the transition from animal and human-powered transportation (think oxen or horse-drawn carriages and bicycles) to the earliest cars, the automotive industry has seen a tremendous amount of change. Nearly every aspect of the way cars are designed and manufactured has undergone near continuous transformation. Through all…
Since the recent U.S. presidential election, there’s been a fair amount of speculation about what the employment picture will look like under the incoming administration. As of this writing, there are no guarantees about how jobs will be affected. And the speculation will likely continue for the immediate future only because any actions taken by…
Frequently in this space you have been encouraged to be brief in your responses to interview questions, on resumes, etc. The encouragement continues! It is important to be clear and concise in your written and verbal communication with potential employers. You want to retain their interest, not whack them over the head with too much…
Many of today’s employees will never know the attachment of working for the same company for 20 + years. That kind of longevity with one firm is not as attractive to the younger generations who have demonstrated a proclivity for job hopping in hopes of improving their stature, salary, benefits, work challenges, and myriad other…
On a commuter bus recently, a father and his teenage son sat in the seats immediately in front of me. Unavoidably able to hear their discussion about college applications and homework, it was easy to determine the father had a loving interest in his son’s scholastic achievements. The father began talking about his son’s grades…
Do you have any idea how much the world of work has changed over the last few generations? It really is a bit mind-boggling when you think about it. It really wasn’t until around the Second World War where the idea of a career started to take hold. Before then, yet well into the first…
First of all, I hope you & yours had a safe and healthy 4th of July! The holiday is frequently fraught with a lot of anxiety for many people and animals whose nerves get frayed because of the noise generally associated with the day’s celebrations. It’s one thing to attend a formal fireworks display, where…
How many people do you know who have gotten every job for which they applied? Very few, I would imagine. I’m not sure I know anyone who has received an offer of employment for every application they have submitted. For the most part, job search is a numbers game that necessitates applying for far more…
No matter how you feel about working with people from different cultural backgrounds, it’s important to remember although their customs and communication styles might be different from your own, they have the right to work and be respected, the same as you. Workers who seek employment in the U.S. from other countries should be allowed…
Around the country, cities of all sizes have found it necessary to find new ways to house their growing populations. If you live anywhere near a major transportation corridor and are within 50 miles of any major metropolitan area, you’ve been hearing about it and/or witnessing it. Already, about one third of the U.S. population…
What gets your juices flowing? What inspires you? What triggers your desire to try something different? When you’re motivated, particularly by inspiration, you will go the extra mile to try new and different things and take your efforts as far as you possibly can. If you are uninspired and bored by your daily routine it…
One of the eternal questions that all job seekers, and frequently the population in general, ask themselves is: Am I good enough? Questioning the value and quality of one’s skills and life are important because doing so encourages us to think about what we can do to be better people; how we can improve…
No Contract, No Service! One of the things that has been bothering me of late is the number of service providers who believe they are too important or too good to speak with prospective customers before a contract is signed. In other words, no contract, no service! “No, I can’t give you an estimate…
There are a lot of positive signs that we will soon see the light of day and the other side of the pandemic. This is good news no matter who you are and what you do for work or play. And while the future is starting to look like life post Covid will be similar…
A year ago, if you had asked almost any employer if their company had plans for the majority of its staff to work from home, you would have received strange looks and a rather firm “no” to you query. Certainly telecommuting has grown tremendously over the last few years, and the technologies that enable workers…
Recently I attended a number of events populated mostly with people substantially younger than myself. Among the many things I gleaned from these experiences is that there is hope for tomorrow. The energy, exuberance and enthusiasm of today’s young people is intoxicating and I always find being around them a great learning experience. They are…
Let’s look at both sides of the job seeker – employer equation. When you think about where you want to take your career, one of the first considerations is the kind of work you want to do, and the industry in which you want to grow. But an equally important consideration should be your understanding…
