4 Critical Lessons Your Grandparents Taught You

4 Critical Lessons Your Grandparents Taught You 78 Lessons as good today as the day they were first learnt. This is a guest post by Kate Baggott. If you’d also like to guest post here on JobMob, follow these guest post guidelines. There is a quote from Charles Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities that everyone knows: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times….” It is a quote that my teacher-mother never tires of explaining. “It was just like now,” she says. As a freelancing single-mother, that quote is always on my mind because I am always looking for work or, more accurately, I am always looking for more work. The financial worries and pressures never abate, but the pleasure of doing work I love never fades.eval There have never been more people like me in the workforce than there are now. There has never been more competition for work and there have never been such low prices for work. It is easy to despair that it is the “worst” of times. Or is it?eval In general, people are living longer than they ever have before and we all benefit. I was one of many lucky people who had grandparents who lived until I was well into adulthood. My maternal grandmother came to my wedding (luckily for her, she did not live to see the break-up) and it was a normal event. Most people born just one generation earlier than mine tended only to know their grandparents from photographs. We have benefited hugely by having our very own witnesses to history. Nothing has prepared me for living through these best and worst of times more than the lessons I learned from my grandparents. Lessons Learned From Grandparents My maternal grandparents did not speak of the war they lived through, but they spoke of their own childhoods during the 1930s in Canada. Both of them were from large immigrant families of 9 children, but they each experienced one event very differently. The Great Depression came to have many nicknames. The most accurate one was probably “the dirty thirties.” The Thirties certainly were dirty. And by dirty I mean corrupt. Anti-Semitism, for example, was rife and non-Jews did not just resent the Rothschilds and other members of the Jewish aristocracy for their wealth, but also the working class men and women of the labor-movement, the Bolsheviks who were all, according to lore, Jews. One local doctor my grandfather knew took an Irish name to cover his ethnicity. Since there were still signs at job sites that read “No Blacks, No Dogs, No Irish,” that tells you just how bad Anti-Semitism was. “But,” my Irish grandfather joked, “it was the only way we had of getting a doctor into the family.” The dirty Thirties also saw gangsters become folk heroes. Al Capone was a notorious murderer and psychopath, but he also opened soup kitchens to feed the hungry and lobbied for expiration dates on milk bottles so school children would not be served spoiled milk and become ill. Drinking bacteria-laden milk was actually killing children in major cities around North America, mostly during the hot summer months. And, on a daily basis, employers were squeezing their employees for unpaid over time. Millionaire industrialists were cut their workers’ salaries and blamed “the economic situation” while they built bigger mansions for themselves. At the same time, independent businesspeople were doing everything they could to keep their employees working while making deals with their customers to make the struggle a little easier. How did people survive these times of terrible corruption and great kindness all mixed together? What attitudes did they have that gave them the fortitude to survive times that were very much like their own? This is what I learned from my grandparents: 1. Don’t try to keep up appearances My grandfather’s mother was very proud. None of her children would ever step foot outside the house looking less than respectable. The family never took a welfare payment because she refused to give up the family house. Where she cut corners was on food and family togetherness. Her daughters went to live as babysitters and household help with wealthy families during the summer months. Her sons tended the back garden and did agricultural work when they could get it. But, at every meal, each portion was carefully shared out and there can be no peace in a house that must hold six hungry boys. Even when they were grown and my grandmother was cooking for them, my grandmother said she often feared my grandfather and his brothers might come to blows over the last potato. My grandmother’s family lost their farm during the Depression, but they don’t describe it as a tragedy. They moved into a small rental house, took Relief when they could get it and work when they could find it. They had holes in their shoes and the girls shared the “good” clothes when one of them had to go out to work and the others stayed home. But every cent they made, they spent making sure everyone was well-fed. As they aged, my grandmother and her siblings were good friends whose eyes shone with love when they talked about growing up together. 2. When the going gets tough, the tough stick together By the time he was 18, my grandfather and his siblings were orphans. He and the other three “adult” siblings, the oldest would have been about 22, took care of their five younger brothers and sister, the youngest of whom was no more than 7. That was it. It did not mean the older siblings gave up opportunities to build their own families, to pursue their careers or to create their own lives. Education was sacrificed, but literacy itself brought huge opportunities in those days and because they valued education so highly, they got as much out of school as they could for as long as it was possible. Taking care of their family and each other was the organizing feature of their lives. It remains mine too. 3. Get organized It seems that my grandfather moved quickly into management after he started working at the local car factory when he was 16. He could read and write perfectly and, while he was a member, he was not prominent in union activities. And yet, he only got where he did because of the union. Negotiated collective agreements gave hiring preference to the children of current employees and, during the worst of the Depression, put a system of job-sharing in place so everyone could keep the wolf from the door rather than institute lay-offs for half the employees. It was better to have a job for 6 months of the year rather than to be unemployed for 12 months of the year. It was subsistence for everyone rather than hunger for many and fat for few. As a freelancer, I have none of the rights or entitlements a unionized worker has, but I want those rights too. People who are in positions like mine will never gain better conditions if we undermine those who seek them. I will not cross a picket line. I will not provide scab labor in a strike situation. It is a choice one makes. 4. Choose kindness over corruption My grandfather once talked about a job he had picking strawberries during the Depression. For some reason he didn’t have any of his brothers with him and, working the next row, was an entire family. The berries picked at each row, were gathered up at the end and the farmer picked them up, measured the amount, and kept a total of each row’s tally. The family working the other row had more people and one of them would always be near the end where the picked fruit waited for the farmer. While my grandfather’s back was turned, one of them would steal one of his picked baskets and add it to their own. At the end of the day, my grandfather earned less than half the amount of money he had expected. He never forgot that cruelty. My grandmother remembered gifts. She remembered her teacher at the one-roomed elementary school bringing her a dress the teacher’s niece had outgrown. She remembered being asked to babysit a neighbor's children and then being served cake and lemonade with the rest of the family. And, when she remembered these small events, she named the people who performed these small kindnesses, she talked about which house they had lived in and about seeing them again years later. She never forgot those acts of kindnesses or the people who performed them. The conditions of work and unemployment take us to lots of material and moral places. The choice between cruelty and kindness will come up and the legacy of our choices will survive. And that is a true in 2013 as it was in the dirty 30s. About the Author Kate Baggott is a Canadian writer who just returned to her homeland after living in Germany for more than a decade. She is the author of the short story collection Love From Planet Wine Cooler. Links to recently published pieces can be found at http://www.katebaggott.com This article is part of the The $10000 7th Annual JobMob Guest Blogging Contest. WebHostingBuzz is a reliable web hosting company with the servers hosted at multiple US and Europe locations and over 30,000 happy customers worldwide. If you want Kate Baggott to win, share this article with your friends. If you liked this article, you'll also enjoy What It’s Like To Job Search Under Rocket Fire.

The Art of Writing a Technical Writer Resume

The Art of Writing a Technical Writer ResumeIf you have never had the opportunity to work with a technical writer, then you should definitely take advantage of it. Working with a qualified person in this field can help you get the job you want. Find out what these people can do for you.A technical writer is an individual who writes resumes and work documents for different businesses and industries. They are usually hired by companies who need to develop and maintain their technology. When it comes to work, they are responsible for the company's internal applications such as email systems, computer networks, software and other types of online software. Technical writers often write these types of applications on their own, but they may also be part of a team that works in tandem with the company in order to create, edit and design the applications.When writing a professional resume, you will want to ensure that it is carefully researched and accurate. It should also include informatio n that will help the hiring manager or employer find you when they are searching for applicants. While it may not be necessary to write the resume yourself, it is still important to put in the necessary effort so that you can get your own foot in the door. There are many different types of technical writing skills that you can learn. Below are some of the most common:Knowing the history of technology is important when learning how to write a technical writer resume. You should know when certain technologies were first developed and what impact they had on your industry. This knowledge can give you ideas as to what will be best to talk about when creating a resume.Many technical writers have a passion for the things they write about. The degree to which you are passionate about technology and its effects can speak volumes. If you feel that you know a lot about the technology in your industry, then it shows that you can also write professionally.It is also important that you are willi ng to do research to be able to become a professional technical writers. Be sure to check out a number of websites in order to find the most reliable information. Additionally, you will want to ask questions to the organizations to get an understanding of what they are looking for in a candidate. Once you are able to answer these questions, you can find out what they are looking for.When working with a professional, it is also important that you understand their format. You want to be able to be clear and concise when describing yourself. Being precise in your description will help the company choose you over other candidates.These are just a few tips when it comes to learning how to write a technical writer resume. If you are unsure about whether or not you can write one on your own, it is always helpful to look at examples. Finding someone to help you write one can save you from a lot of mistakes can lead to missing out on a great job.

Mind Your Manners Real Career Girls Dont Burp in the Boardroom

Mind Your Manners Real Career Girls Dont Burp in the Boardroom If you’re reading this, you’re probably a young professional. And as a young professional, everyone’s probably got an opinion on what you should be focused on. Your advice queue probably looks something like this: mentor  telling you to establish goals, mom  telling you to go to grad school and friends  telling you to find a boyfriend (or maybe even a husband). Author and etiquette expert Rosalinda Randall has another nugget of wisdom for you: don’t burp in the boardroom. Courtesy. Manners. Tact. We rarely acknowledge these oh-so-important elements of character that is until we’ve made an unforgivable workplace faux-pas. One of the biggest mistakes an emerging professional can make is being oblivious to the rules of business etiquette. Easy-to-read, humorous and conversational, Randall’s book “Don’t Burp in the Board Room” is a must-read, as it could mean the difference between getting your foot in the door….and having the door slammed in your face. Consider this book your Business Interaction Bible as it provides the best practices for addressing “uncommonly common” scenarios we’ll all inevitably run into at one point or another in our careers. Success is rooted in the basics, and applying lessons from Dont Burp in the Boardroom will help emerging professionals develop the personal brand equity thats essential to thrive in their career. I had the opportunity to chat with Ms. Randall about her career and book! How did you go about pursuing a career in etiquette consulting?   Fit and flexibility.     Fit: I lived it! It was a natural course to take. I thank my parents for demonstrating and instilling, how to be polite, respectful, considerate, humble…I had that down, all I needed was to learn about the nuances, like the uses for the multitudes of forks, which was my bread plate, how to use a finger bowl and such.     Flexibility: It was important to me to be spend time with our two sons, attend their school activities, and most importantly, to have freshly baked cookies in the house. It also allowed me to be in control of my schedule and have the best of both worlds. Building my business at a pace that was convenient for me.     What inspired you to write “Don’t Burp in the Board Room?”   I had a lot to say. I didn’t realize it until I began writing. It was also an impactful way to spread the word about civility. I was also encouraged by mentors; not only as a way to get noticed, but to build credibility and to distinguish myself. Writing the book did more than that. I knew that it wasn’t going to be a “this is how you do it” style because I don’t believe there is only one way of handling a situation. It gave me the opportunity to believe in and become even more confident that I had to be true to my style; this allowed the words to flow.     I especially love the portion that touches on dealing with multi-generational differences in the workplace. How can one create harmony when they feel that their older or younger colleague just doesn’t “get it?”     Creating harmony between generations can happen if they drop preconceptions they may have about each other. “They’re old, they won’t get it.” Or, “Why bother, that generation can’t focus for more than thirty seconds.” Conversation and/or collaboration is shut down.   I typically refrain from using “should” and “must”, but in this case, both sides “must” make a few allowances and compromises. For example, older and younger coworkers are working together on a project. Younger is aware that older (generally speaking) is not a fan of constant phone checks; Younger can consider checking their phone less frequently or excusing themselves to check their phone. Similarly, Older can overlook the frequent phone checks or suggest a break now and then, allowing time for phone checks.     Older can avoid saying things like, “It’s always been done this way.”; “That won’t work.”; “No one is going to understand that.” = all negative.     Younger can avoid saying things like, “That’s outdated.”; “You sound just like my mom.”; “I’ve never heard of that, so it won’t work.” = all negative.     Listen. Clarify. Consider.     What’s the biggest change you’ve seen in business etiquette in recent years?     There are a few workplace annoyances that I hear most often, the top two are lack of response. Be it to an invitation, a phone call or an email inquiry. The second is lack of awareness. Examples are, cell phone use while in conversation with someone, interrupting conversations, and the disappearance of using “please” and “thank you.”     Can you recall the most impactful display of workplace etiquette you’ve witnessed?   Insight to a colleague’s quirk. Upon entering “Agatha’s” cubicle for a meeting we had scheduled, I was greeted by a peek-a-boo thigh due to her foot being positioned upon her desk for an afternoon toe nail clipping. Her remark to me was, “Hi, I’m almost done…haven’t had time for a pedi.” I hoped that she wouldn’t want to shake hands; she didn’t.   Is there anything else that you’d like the Ms. Career Girl audience to know?   When you whole heartedly believe in what you are doing, what you stand for, who you are, the road is clearer, as is the decision-making process. This is not to say that it will always be the right decision or that you won’t have to humbly apologize now and then.     In fact, I am by nature stubborn; terrible quality for those around you, but I find it to be a positive quality when you are representing yourself and your company.     Listening to successful people is essential, however, you are not them, they are not you. Common sense dictates that not everything that worked for them or the steps they took are necessarily right for you; perhaps not at this time.     Doing things “your way” could delay you from getting from point a to point b, but you can learn so much about yourself along the way. Because of this, I have no regrets in doing it my way, always tactfully of course.     Lastly, you may have to distance yourself from certain relationships, or even end them. Doubters, condescending comments or attitudes of indifference does not mesh well with positivity, motivation and joy. I ended two long-term relationships. As difficult and sad as it was, it proved to have a huge impact in my life. Rosalinda Randall is an etiquette consultant and author. “Don’t Burp in the Board Room” can be purchased on Amazon or at Barnes and Nobles. Follow her on Twitter at @rosalindatweets!

Developing A New Model of Helping Job Seekers. Launching A Careers Marketplace

Developing A New Model of Helping Job Seekers. Launching A Careers Marketplace At Career Geek, we like helping students, graduates and young job seekers. Providing them with information is fine and we do it well, evidenced by the variety of content about employment, education and enterprise we publish on the blog. But we are starting something new that we call a Careers Marketplace. Career Geek Ltd., the owner of Career Geek, is now offering students, graduates and job seekers a chance to buy career-related  products and services  instantly. You no longer have to be stuck at 10pm at night thinking that you dont have a good enough resume. The idea behind the careers marketplace is to allow you to download the resources you require for your job search instantly. Why do we need a careers marketplace? We need a careers marketplace because the graduate careers industry is not moving away from the age-old recruitment traditions. Today you can order a pizza with a guarantee of it reaching within 30mins. Then why does a job seeker have to wait a day or two to get help with writing his/her first CV? Currently we are offering Organic and External products/services on the marketplace. Organic  are those items that have been created by the team behind Career Geek. External  are those which have been marketed by third parties. Visit Careers Marketplace to see the full list of items. BENEFITS OF CAREERS MARKETPLACE TO JOBSEEKERS Over the next few weeks we will be adding further services like CV reviews and help with online job application forms. This is still in the works, but once ready we will deliver this via our Google Helpouts account. Can I submit a product/service to your careers marketplace? Career Geek has always appreciated help from experts and even fellow graduates in bringing some of the best and most up-to-date advice to students and graduates. And it is the same philosophy that will apply to our careers marketplace. If you have a product, e-book or a service that youd like to add to the careers marketplace, please visit the Careers Marketplace How To Sell resource. Our criteria for the products we showcase are simple: we want the best and most trustworthy providers to associate ourselves with. We will only accept products and services that we believe will benefit job seekers. Each product or service will be reviewed thoroughly before being advertised on the marketplace. Visit our  Careers Marketplace. Do you think you will use this service? Comment below or catch us on  twitter or facebook  with your feedback. 5

Why People Like To Get Groupons From Online Resume Writing Services

Why People Like To Get Groupons From Online Resume Writing ServicesWhen you get to the bottom of the story about why you are getting a group, you may discover that it is part of an advertising campaign on behalf of an online professional resume writing services group. The reason you are being targeted is because you have something that is unique and possibly even 'uniquely valuable.'No one wants to admit that they are going to be part of an online marketing company marketing their services with a promotional campaign or tool that's considered 'selling out.' But this is something that often happens in online marketing and the truth is that at the bottom of the page or description on their website, you will find something like 'We accept only members who are legal residents of the United States. Memberships are available in all 50 states, so contact us if you live outside the U.S.'If you are contacted by someone who appears to be offering you a deal that includes the opportunity to buy an online professional resume writing services group, the way to tell them you aren't interested is by not responding to any further calls or emails. You need to tell them that you don't want to participate in something that seems like a scam. If they continue to send you emails and you're not interested in anything related to what they are trying to sell you, take that as a 'no thanks' and move on.When you find yourself having been contacted by someone who is not from an online marketing service or site that offers a professional resume writing services group, the first thing you need to do is call them up and ask if they have a groupon and what their offer is. Most likely they will ask you if you are familiar with how a group works or if you know what a 'gilt' is and what it is used for.When you see a group like this, you have to look it over very carefully. This is the perfect chance to ask the question, 'Is this a legitimate offer?' You may ask, 'Is this group actually worth an y more than $100?'Of course, no one can say whether or not a person can really 'get their resume written' or if they can actually do so using the online professional resume writing services group. The fact is that there may be something out there that you can't live without or something that your family needs. It is possible that a particular online marketing company has a group that is only available to a select few.For example, you may see a group that is only available to a few thousand people and yet, the cost of this group is only a few dollars. Perhaps, a group that is only available to one person and that person has lost everything else they may need to survive. That is the type of situation you will have to consider.As you can see, getting an online marketing site that offers a professional resume writing services group can be a real pain. If you're truly looking for a way to get a professionally written job resume, then there are certainly other options out there. But if yo u happen to be interested in the career of your dreams, then working with a professional resume writing service that offers a professional resume writing services group is probably the best option for you.

How to Write a Great Resume Using a Resume-Now.com Site

How to Write a Great Resume Using a Resume-Now.com SiteResume-Now.com is another resume writing site, similar to a lot of others out there. It offers different options for resumes. It also offers tips and advice on how to write a great resume.The main section is where you can list your skills or qualifications as a potential candidate for the job. You can also put in personal details about yourself, your employer, and your goals for the future if you wish.When I first came across this resume website, I was a little apprehensive because I really didn't know what I would be able to put in my resume. The first step is to figure out what areas you want to cover in your resume. You need to be sure to list everything that is appropriate for your job position.Some job requirements require you to be working under specific hours. Other ones don't. This is something you will need to be careful with. So, when deciding what to put in your resume, look at what the job requirements are and then co nsider which ones apply to you and then decide which can be added to the resume.Some other things to take into consideration when choosing your skills to include are the requirements of the company. As well, some companies might prefer you to have certain certifications that might not be listed on the requirements section of the resume. For example, if you are a certified electrician but the requirements state you must have a certain number of years of experience, you might find that you will not be listed as a certified electrician. But, if the job is for a construction company, they will probably not care about your credentials as long as you have the right experience.Another section, you might want to consider is the career section. I suggest putting any hobbies you might have, or any volunteer work you may have done. A career section would be a good idea if you have worked in certain industries. For example, I think it would be useful to have a career section on my resume to put anything that I did while working at Apple.If you are looking for a job, it is a good idea to give potential employers a list of all your skills. On the resume-now.com website, you can find a link to fill out a profile page. From there, it will help you find jobs matching your skills.Resume-Now.com offers an easy and simple way to submit your resume to hundreds of employers right from your computer. No matter if you are a newbie, or just starting, this site can be a valuable resource in finding your first job.

You only have ONE SHOT at making a great first impression

You only have ONE SHOT at making a great first impression You only have ONE SHOT at making a great first impression You only have ONE SHOT at making a great first impression November 10, 2009 by Career Coach Sherri Thomas 10 Comments Interviewing is intimidating, nerve wracking, and can make you feel like you’re two heartbeats away from having a heart attack. You only have ONE SHOT at making a great first impression so what can you say that will push you up to the TOP SPOT and get you the job offer? Preparing your answers for an interview is so much simpler when you know what the interviewer really wants to know about you. There are key questions going through your interviewer’s mind and once you understand those questions, you can be more prepared, more confident and feel less anxiety during the interview process. So let’s take a look at what your Interviewer REALLY wants to know about you: * Can you do the job? Do you have the skills, knowledge, and training to successfully perform the job? These questions are usually very black and white. Either you have what it takes to succeed in the position or not. Have you analyzed the job description and fully understand the job requirements? Do you really have what it takes to succeed in this position? If yes, then be prepared to answer specific questions about your qualifications. And if you don’t, then wouldn’t you rather know now in the interview than have the stress of being stuck in a new job where you can’t meet the expectations? You should have pre-selected “personal career stories” that highlight your professional successes. Practice saying out loud what your skills, strengths and areas of expertise are. Your answers should be specific and focus on results and accomplishments. * What extras do you bring? For most job openings, about 90% of the work has been defined. In other words, a hiring manager knows about 90% of the work that the new employee will be responsible for, but not the remaining 10%. That is because they want to know, “What can you (the new employee) ADD to the position?” What specialized skills or areas of expertise do you have that can ADD VALUE to the company? For example, if you’re going for a job as a Public Relations manager, you may have some experience in marketing or desktop publishing that is not required for the job, but might be valuable to the company. This “extra” skill may position you as the TOP candidate for the job. Before you go into a job interview, think about the additional skills and talents that you can bring to the position. Be sure to work these skills into the conversation, but only after you have discussed those skills and qualifications that are REQUIRED for the job. Interview coaching can help hone your interview skills.

How to Build a Blog You Truly Love

How to Build a Blog You Truly Love Geez Louise Louise, I cant believe I waited til the very last day to tell you guys about the new round of How to Build a Blog You Truly Love, a butt-and-blog-kicking e-course headed by the amazeballs Liv Lane. In 6 weeks, youll get advice/wisdom/tidbits from 20 contributors like SARK, Christine Kane, Jess Swift, Kelly Rae Roberts, Amanda Oaks, Aimee Dolich, Alexandra Franzen and lil ole me. Cutting to the chase: 6 weeks. A 300 page PDF of the class content. A personalized blogging blueprint. Your blogs purpose. A community of other creative (wannabe) bloggers. Audio. Video. Exercises. Essentially: crazy-good stuff. So if you have a lil baby blogging seed in the back of your mind that youve been scared to act on, or if you have a living-breathing blog thats collecting some interweb dust, or if you wanna take your active blog and give it a shot in wherever your computers arm is.then click here to check out How to Build a Blog You Truly Love. (Links here are affiliate links, but seriously, have you known me to partake in something or hooplah something up just to have it be a big stinkball? No. No, you havent. I promise all sorts of goodness here and with everything else I give my time/effort/attention to. Pinky swear promise. Thats the serious kind.)