August 4, 2010
|
| Moving Around And Lessons In Business |
Today, there are two articles I want to share that has to do with choices and lessons.
Joe Light from the Wall Street Journal writes about that as the economy is slowing getting off the ground, many workers who did not lose their jobs due to the economy are making the choice right now to quit and pursue new interests. This has now created a backlog of workers waiting for better times to make a move to better jobs.
Midwestern social media guru Albert Maruggi (@AlbertMaruggi on Twitter) passes along this article from the Harvard Business Review by Adi Ingatius about the passing of his brother-in-law, John Tarbell. Before his death, Tarbell spent as much time as he could to teach his only child the life lessons that he wanted to pass on to her. With the blessing of Tarbell's wife, Ignatius lists the 8 career lessons that Tarbell learned for himself.
A few of these lessons we have learned in the past, and there are a few that we never had the chance to learn. For me, lesson #1 was "seeking a mentor." It's a lot harder than it's expected to find a mentor who is accessible, willing to take time out to talk and teach you valuable things, and for you to follow as an example. I became convinced that I am my own mentor because it's hard to get a Barry Griswell, Suku Radia, David Hurd, or a Teresa Wahlert to be a mentor. Everyone is in line, clamoring for these VIP's to mentor them.
Is it important to find a mentor or should you learn from your own life as a textbook on how to be a mentor to yourself? |
|
July 1, 2010
|
| Unemployed And Homeless - In A New Light |
What is the one, or few, things you can't afford to part with? That worn out comfy couch? That brand-spanking new CD/DVD burner?
What about your home, furniture, bed, everything? Being unemployed forces you to sit down and figure out what can you sacrifice and prioritize your needs and wants.
U.S. News and World Report, in conjunction with Yahoo Finance, tells the story of one such person in Brianna Karp. After losing her job, she sold her belongings and moved home. After an incident with her bipolar mother, she was forced to move out and ended up with a truck and a trailer hitched to it and called it a home. With no electricity, water, or the basic necessities, she was homeless.
With the one thing she couldn't live without, a laptop, she frequented Starbucks as she was searching online for jobs, sending out resumes, and started a blog titled "The Girl's Guide to Homelessness." Karp's blog garnered so much attention, she landed an part-time magazine internship and an upcoming book deal in 2011.
While U.S. News focused on the 10 things that we can't afford to live without, Brianna's story stood out because she wrote about being homeless. Homelessness cuts across the socioeconomic fabric of our world. The homeless isn't always the drunk, the drug abuser, the poor, or the one with constant bad luck and making bad decisions in life. Brianna, through her blog, showed that even the most successful people, college graduates, those who work hard, can end up homeless through situations that are beyond our control, such as being laid-off.
Parents desperately taking low-paying jobs to ensure their children have a home to go to after school, the single person who tackles three part-time jobs and lives out of their car, or the person who searches and interview jobs, after using a restroom in a Wal-Mart, Perkins, or any other public places to wash up and brush their teeth.
We like to call the homeless "bums", but should we be quick to call them "bums" when they are college-educated, smart, and are doing everything they can to land a job and earn income once again? The shame of telling anyone that they are homeless, or even telling friends that they need help is challenging, as Karp explained in this excerpt in her first blog entry in February 2009.
Could I ask friends for help? Possibly. However, my closest friends have so many problems of their own right now – many of them are out of work, or live in small apartments, or have various other personal problems and I am certain that I would be a burden and an imposition on them. There is also the problem of my (very large) mastiff, who I would not dream of selfishly dragging with me into someone else’s home.
So, here I am.
-Brianna Karp, "Initiation" from "the Girl's Guide to Homelessness," February 23, 2009
As much as we want to ask friends, they are too busy with their lives and problems to help out. We don't want to bother them. In the case with family, as painful as it sounds, some will be empathetic and some will look down with disdain. It's like a badge of shame and failure.
It shouldn't be, as Brianna wrote in her subtitle: "You are homeless. You are not a bum". Unfortunate things happen, by our decisions or by something we can't control. It should be temporary, but if there is no support, no direction, and no place to go, sadly it becomes permanent. Some choose to give up because they are hopeless. Other choose to keep finding a way, no matter how low life can be. |
|
Apprenticeships and Internships
|
| Iowa Apprenticeships – Iowa Workforce Development |
| Apprenticeship is a training program where you earn wages while you learn a skilled profession in a specific field, such as construction, health care, or culinary arts. Apprenticeship combines classroom studies with on-the-job training supervised by a trade professional. Much like a college education, it takes several years to become fully trained in the occupation you choose. Unlike college, as an apprentice you’ll earn while you learn. At first, you’ll make less money than skilled workers, but as you progress, you’ll get regular raises. Once you have mastered the craft, you will receive the same wages as a professional. |
|
|
| Missouri Valley Line Constructors Apprenticeships And Training Programs |
| As a journeyman lineman you’ll build, maintain and repair the power lines that carry electricity to homes and businesses. When you apply for the Missouri Valley Line Constructors Apprenticeship and Training Program you’ll be taking the first step to a career that not only has a tremendous impact on the people you serve, but one that will have a positive impact on your future as well. |
|
|
| Internships – Iowaintern.com |
| A comprehensive list of internships in Iowa in connection with the Iowa Department of Economic Development. |
|
|
| Internships - Iowa Department Of Economic Development |
The Student Internship Program is designed to link college students from Iowa schools to internship opportunities in small and medium sized firms in the biosciences, advanced manufacturing and information technology industries with the goal of transitioning the interns to full-time employment within the state upon graduation. An eligible student must be within two years of graduation and enrolled at one of Iowa’s community colleges, private colleges or regent institutions. These internships pay at least twice the minimum wage.
|
|
Statewide Job Banks
|
| Smartcareer Move - Iowa Careers Consortium |
| Sponsored by the Iowa Careers Consortium and the Iowa Department of Economic Development, this Web site allows users to search for skilled Iowa jobs that pay $30,000 a year or more in career fields like information technology, engineering, manufacturing, research/scientific, financial/insurance, and professional/managerial. The Web site also provides links to corporate, community and state Web sites that post jobs statewide in all career fields. |
|
|
| Iowa Jobs - Iowa Workforce Development |
| IowaJobs has thousands of jobs posted each business day, and gives you 24-hour access to all of the job listings in Iowa Workforce Development’s statewide system. IowaJobs provides links to job listings in other states through America’s Job Bank, and additional local, state and federal jobs. There is also a current listing of job fairs in Iowa to provide information for the nearest job fair in your locale. |
|
|
| Iowajobs.net |
| Search for jobs in the entire state, review career resources, and post your resume. |
|
|
| Manpower Jobs In Iowa |
| In 78 countries and territories around the world, Manpower helps both companies and individuals navigate the ever-changing world of work. No other company has more experience or expertise. Nearly 60 years of experience providing recruitment, training, assessment and selection, outsourcing and consulting services means we can help you make sense of the forces shaping tomorrow's workplace. |
|
|
| State Of Iowa Government Jobs |
| Check out job openings in Iowa’s state government. |
|
Community Job Banks
|
| Accessdubuquejobs.com |
| Search many job openings in Dubuque. |
|
|
| Corridor Careers |
| Job postings for the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City region. |
|
|
| Des Moines Business Record |
| View jobs in the Des Moines metro. |
|
|
| Des Moines Register Career Builder |
| Search for career opportunities in Des Moines and the entire state. Set up job alerts to receive openings of jobs in your field in your e-mail box. |
|
|
| Iowa City Press Citizen Career Builder |
| Find numerous job openings in Iowa City. |
|
|
| Mason City Globe Gazette Jobs |
| Search for local jobs in Mason City. |
|
|
| Quad City Times Job Search |
| Browse job openings and post your resume in the Quad Cities region. |
|
|
| Sioux City Journal Job Search |
| Search for jobs in Sioux City and get advice on finding a job. |
|
|
| Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier |
| Find jobs in the Cedar Valley. |
|
Career Tools
|
| About.com Internships |
| Frequently updated Web site with articles on everything you ever wanted to know about interning. |
|
|
| Career Overview |
| For nearly 5 years CareerOverview.com has been helping aspiring career professionals, job seekers and students make better, more informed career choices by providing them with relevant, reliable and up-to-date career and job information. With many thousands of daily visitors CareerOverview.com is now one of the premier career Web sites on the Internet. |
|
|
| Career Builder Advice And Resources |
| From resumes techniques and a nationwide listing of job fairs to how to set and reach career goals, CareerBuilder.com™ is the ideal resource for aggressive job hunters. |
|
|
| Monster Trak Career Guide |
| This Web site is for college students and young professionals. Get advice on internships, careers, searching for a job, and more. Use the internship evaluation checklist, salary wizard, and learn about the best books on careers. |
|
|
| The Riley Guide |
| One of the most comprehensive Web sites on a wide variety of career information. |
|
|
| The Big Time |
| This career blog is all about capturing real-world career insight and advice that will prep you for The Big Time™. |
|
|
| Vault.com |
| Get insider information on career information. Research companies, search job boards, and get job or internship advice. Fortune magazine called Vault “the best place on the Web to prepare for a job search.” |
|
|
| Wall Street Journal Career Journal |
| Learn the latest techniques from the professionals on job hunting, managing your career, networking, resumes, negotiation tips, and much more. |
|
|
| Wet Feet |
| Insider guides on industries and career topics for young professionals. |
|
Get Connected
|
| Featured Companies And Communities |
| What’s it like to work at Wells Fargo, AEGON, Pella® Windows and Doors or other Iowa companies? Ask folks who have been there before. These featured companies and communities are members of the Iowa Careers Consortium and are a great representation of what Iowa has to offer. From here, you can find career opportunities within a variety of industries and discover the great quality of life available right here in Iowa. |
|
|
| Young Professionals Groups |
| There are a number of young professional groups throughout Iowa whose purpose is to provide career networking, support and social interaction among young professionals. YP groups are civic-minded in scope and seek to promote all that’s rewarding and attractive about living and working in Iowa. |
|
