Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Milwaukee Ranks 13th Best Place for Working Moms

Moms take note:

According to a new list from ForbesWoman, Milwaukee ranked 13th for "Best Cities for Working Mothers."

The magazine took into consideration the cost of living, health care, school systems, crime rates, and  unemployment rates, amongst others.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

How to Avoid the Summer Job Search Meltdown

It's very easy to get distracted by the sun, hot weather and seemly endless summer events. Smart job seekers know that finding employment is a full-time job, and while you can give yourself a "mini-vacation" for a day or two, you need to remain dedicated. Here are a few tips to keep your search strong in the summer months:


Network, network, network: You don't have to be at an organized networking event to meet new people. Take advantage of the different festivals and events around town to expand your contacts and volunteer to beef up your resume. You never know who you could meet that can help your job hunt in the future.

Use job board alerts: Most online jobs boards allow you to use an RSS feed or another method of notifying you when new positions are posted. Take advantage of this tool to give you a leg up on other job seekers who might not be searching daily.

Practice makes perfect: You can never have too much practice when it comes to interviews. Have a friend prepare a few questions and do a mock interview. Don't review the questions ahead of time and answer as if you were in an actual interview. This will help ease your nerves the next time you interview with a hiring manager.

Keep a job hunt journal: Keep a written list of positions you've applied for that you can monitor, following up on open positions and updating your list when positions have been filled. You can also use this list to target companies that are in similar industries and would have similar positions.

Be proactive: If you find a company that you admire but they are not hiring, send them your resume and a cover letter detailing what attracted you to the company. Ask that they keep your information on file for the next open position they have. Connect with the hiring manager on LinkedIn and keep tabs on any company news.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Love Your Job Enough to Get A Logo Tattoo?

Talk about a loyal employee!

A receptionist from a Chicago business recently had the company logo tattooed on her chest. Danyel Triplett (who already had five other tattoos) says that she would feel no regret if she was to be laid off.

You can view the full article from Crain's Chicago Business here.

Would you ever put a work logo on your body?

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Pittsburgh Pirates fire mascot over Facebook posting

Another day, another example of how NOT to use Facebook.

According to a Yahoo story, a 24 year old Pittsburgh man who was employed as a racing pierogi (Milwaukee Brewer fans, think racing sausages) was fired after he posted a sarcastic status update about the contract extensions of the team's general manager and manager.

I've said it before; do not say negative things about your work on social media channels! These comments can come back to bite you, and can even cost you your job!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

MLB's Latest Controversy- from a work standpoint

It's human nature to make mistakes. Since we spend much of our daily lives at work, it's only natural that we will make mistakes there too. When I'm at work and I make a mistake, not many people find out about it. The same can't be said for Jim Joyce, a Major League Baseball umpire, whose split-second decision has possibly cost him his work reputation for life.

Armando Galarraga, a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, was trying to get his last out during what had been a perfect game, when Joyce mistakenly called the runner safe at first base when he was clearly out. After the game was over, the 21 year MLB umpire apologized to Galarraga, acknowledging that he "had cost the kid a perfect game."

The moral of this story is that Jim Joyce has done what many of us do when we make a mistake at work; we apologize to those we've hurt, and we have to go on working every day. It's hard to make mistakes in the public eye and hopefully MLB fans can keep that in mind.

As a side note, Bud Selig, if you're reading this, you can still reverse the call and give Armando Galarraga his rightful place in baseball history. And while you're at it, consider more replays during games. It would make the people involved sleep a lot better at night.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Millennials in the workplace

Articles about millennials always peak my interest (mostly because I am one). I recently read this on Ragan.com and wanted to share this with you.

Most of the articles about my age group say that we are ungrateful, not loyal, quick to demand and quick to leave if our wishes aren't heard. This article doesn't attack, but points out the pros and cons of working with the younger generation. You can view it here.

My favorite part of the article? Where the author, Dave Fleet,  says that "Millennials should also be aware that there are two types of meetings to which they’ll be invited. In one type of meeting, they will be expected to remain quiet and learn. In the other, they will be expected to take an active part in the discussion. New employees should make sure that they know which type of meeting they are attending."

This struck me the most as I couldn't have said it better myself. Over the past 4 years in the professional workplace, I have learned to bit my tongue in certain situations and voice my opinions in others.

What hit home with you?

Thursday, May 13, 2010

WKLH's Miracle Marathon Benefiting Children's Hospital

Hi Friends!

I'd like to take a minute to talk to you about a cause that's important to me- Dave & Carole's Miracle Marathon. The fundraiser benefits Children's Hospital and this is the 13th year that WKLH's Dave and Carole have held this event. To make a donation or to learn more about this cause, please visit the WKLH Miracle Marathon page here!

Listen to 96.5 WKLH on May 26-28 to hear stories from families who have had experiences at Children's Hospital. Call in to donate on May 27th-- I'll be answering the phone banks from 6-9:30am with some fellow QPS'ers. :)