Recently it was fashion week in Toronto. It's not as big here as it is in other large cities (like New York) but it's slowly becoming bigger and more important. There was a huge white red and pink tent planted right in the middle of the city (for fashion shows) and you could see skinny women with stiff, fierce hair and high heels trotting all around downtown. I went to one fashion show during that time and noticed that three out of five labels were from a duo of designers. In the article Canada Produces Fashion by Buddies and Brothers, the author, Loretta Chin, talks about how the dual set-up is a new trend among Canadian fashion designers. Evidence of this are the popular Canadian siblings, twins Dean and Dan Caten of Dsquared2, who have been conquering the fashion world for years now.

So are two heads better than one when it comes to business? The website Online Business Plans says the big advantage of partnership is that you have a pool of skills of two (or more) individuals as well as a faster way to increase your capital. At the same time, as a business partner you may have to compromise on a lot of things and you are legally liable unless your partnership is limited. Partnerships work best if everyone is exactly on the same page.

In the Canada Produces article, two brothers, Doug and Ben Burkman of the Burkman Bros, explain why partnership was the only solution: "We always wanted to work together, to find something for both of us to do."

ttyl

Jowita

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It's no secret: appearances are important when looking for a job. I have heard it said over and over again. Still, I was surprised by the headline Full Head of Hair Can Help Job Search. We're not talking about buying a new shirt or getting our shoes polished here.

I am a middle-aged woman with grey hair that I have no intention of covering. I'm proud of my age and, yes, I do think that I'm now a little wiser than when I was in my 20s, 30s and even 40s. I also believe that my past work and life experiences make me a better worker. Is this the message that my grey hair is giving prospective employers? Or are they seeing someone who's over the hill and who won't have the stamina for the job? Would I have to live by the same rules if I were a man or would my grey hair simply be perceived as a sign of wisdom and experience?

These are hard-to-answer questions. I do remember a friend telling me that her friend, a lawyer in a downtown Toronto firm, increased the Botox treatments and the number of plastic surgeries as she got older to stay competitive in the marketplace. It's hard to tell how much of this was due to her own perception of the situation, or if her youthful transformation was truly necessary. It's also impossible to know if she would have been more or less successful without the numerous treatments. One thing is for sure though -- she would now be at a very different person.

Josée

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I'm a walker. I walk everywhere and if I don't walk that means I'm riding my bike. Of course, in the sort of weather that we've had in Toronto the past few months, both methods of transportation sometimes proved impossible and I had to rely on local transit, something I try to avoid if I can.

I try to walk everywhere because I have a desk job. I've had a desk job for as long as I can remember and I know very well how easy it is to get used to this comfortable, sedentary way of living. In the article Working Out at Work, the author, Ivana Tavernese, talks about a few simple ways to make your work days more active -- especially if you are, as she says, "chained to your desk." For instance, she mentions getting up for quick, frequent breaks and going for a fast walk during lunch.

I think those simple ways count for something and everyone should be able to come up with a few ideas to make the day more active. For example, at my workplace our printer is at the other end of the office so I print things and get up right away to get them. When I get lazy, I print in bulk. (I am sure it doesn't make a huge difference if I get up a bunch of times or just once, but I try to adhere to the non-lazy way.) I also try to use the washroom that is further away from our office rather than going to the one around the corner. In addition, if the weather permits, I leave for lunch and walk to a little park where I eat and then walk back to work. I save money on buying lunch and get a little exercise and fresh air out of it.

There are many small examples and I am sure you too can think of some that will help you stay energized and exercised despite the evil comforts of your desk job.

ttyl

Jowita

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The other morning I heard the strangest thing on the radio. It seemed -- and I wasn't sure if I should believe my ears at first -- as if some schools in the States were going to offer money to students to stay in school and graduate. The students were to get $25 put into their attendance accounts and would collect $100 at the end of the year if their attendance was spotless. I listened on. Some experts argued that this was similar to students receiving scholarships for good marks. Other ones were opposed to the idea saying that it was bribery and that it undervalues the true reward of education, which is getting knowledge. (MSN Money: Paying Kids to Go to School.)

I'm conflicted about this issue. I wonder what kind of workers the kids who are paid to learn will make. From my limited experience, I know there’s a lot of stuff you seemingly do for "free" in order to get a good job. You volunteer to learn skills; you get internships that pay symbolic sums of money to get the feel of a real job; and, at work, you join groups and committees that show your dedication to the employer but that may require you to stay after hours or do extra work. In my profession, you may have to write for free for quite some time in order to get a portfolio full of clippings so that you can start showing off your craft in interviews and get real jobs. All of the extras we do for "free," like learning, are beneficial in abstract terms. They provide invaluable experience and knowledge, which you cannot put a price on, but that will, hopefully, provide future monetary benefits.

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Jowita

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It used to stress me out to read about top under-20s or under-30s. I'm not sure why but I felt like these sort of things (articles about high achievers) were there to mock "losers" like me who in their mid-20s barely had an idea what to do with their lives, never mind win a prize for something they had done career-wise. I was only in my late 20s when I started to get an idea about where I wanted to go in life.

Currently I am quite comfortable getting to where I've always wanted to be at (I'm 31) and I don't stress out about not making it at a tender, young age any more. Yesterday, I was talking to my sister, a 23-year-old artist, who was panicking because she hadn't yet figured out her own art style and that some of her peers were having art shows already and were getting recognized for what they were doing…

In the article Winemaker Has a Very Good Year, the author, Sharon Aschaiek, talks about Jordan Harris who at 28 has not only been recognized as one of the Ontario Hostelry Institute's "Top 30 Under 30," but has also created international award-winning wines, ranked high at international sommelier events and was given a prestigious 2008 Premier's Award of Excellence.

I read Harris' story with great interest and noticed that he had only changed his educational path once and went straight after what he really wanted to do -- making wines. I love that he had this confidence and courage so early on in life. Although I think those two traits are very important in becoming successful at anything, I also think that not everyone is on the same time schedule. I told my 23-year-old artist sister just that, and then we went out and bought a couple of new canvases for her to paint on and stop worrying.

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Jowita

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There was one place I worked at where more than once we were given three hours for lunch. This is because the company was slowly going under and there wasn't enough work for us to do. So the management would send us out of the office if they saw us just sitting around, something we tried hard not to. Some of my co-workers would actually go to matinees to kill the time. Once we all went out to a Chinese restaurant for an extravagant Dim Sum meal.

We kept getting paid so everything seemed okay on the surface but I know that we were all going slowly crazy from not having enough to do. When not at three-hour lunches, we would polish our work from previous weeks endlessly, organize our desktops, file everything under the sun ... soon we would be running out of things to do. So we just sat there and then they would send us out again. It was a cycle of grand boredom at its best.

In the The New York Times article Working Hard to Keep Busy, the author, Jan Hoffman, talks about many different ways in which employees try to look occupied while doing nothing. They're not doing this to avoid work -- in fact, the main reason for some of the many strange busy-making activities is to drum up work. The article talks about a woman who pretends that her clothing store is a tornado of activity, a businessman who leaves his cell phone ringing on his desk so that his co-workers think that he's got lots of clients, and others who create the illusion of being at work after hours by keeping lights on in their offices, or a fake email exchange in the middle of the night.

Eventually we all were let go from that non-busy job and no one regretted leaving, plus, right away we were all too busy looking for jobs.

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Jowita

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I don't entirely agree with Vicky Smith's column Leave No Ghosts in the Closet When Quitting in which she talks about the art of leaving a toxic workplace.

Smith writes that people who go around and complain about their dissatisfaction to other employees are being toxic. She writes that everybody just wants these disgruntled employees to be quiet and keep all the negativity to themselves. She also says that keeping all the complaining to yourself will get you a good reference, and that if you accept a paycheque, you have to work by certain rules (yes, but what if they change?).

I agree that it's good to stay professional in order to get good references and to keep mum about your job seeking activities while you are still employed. To some extent I even agree that you should keep quiet about your unhappiness. But I really don't think that there's anything wrong with voicing your dissatisfaction if it's done in the proper manner. See if you can talk to your supervisor or someone senior whom you trust about your problems. Some workplaces are unionized; others have human resource systems set up where you can talk about your situation.

The contract between you and your employer goes both ways. Keep it professional, keep it polite -- but don't feel that you have no rights.

ttyl

Jowita

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Many have envied the owner of the pink Cadillac that Mary Kay hands out to its top sellers. I've never been to a tupperware party or lead a Mary Kay lady into my house. Neither was I ever inclined to sell cosmetics or plastic containers from home. (I did buy an Avon iron cleaning stick once from a co-worker who would frequently pass the Avon catalogue around the office to help a friend supplement her income.)

In the article In Tough Times, Folks Turn to Tupperware Nancy White points out that, "In tough times, more people are attracted to direct sales jobs -- be it promoting plasticware, cosmetics, natural health products -- to supplement or replace an income, or as a hedge against a pink slip."

Being out of work can be a lonely business. It's hard to keep your spirits up when you're at home alone with only a pink slip as company. It can feel as if the whole world is at work except you. A direct sales job puts you out there, amongst the working. It can also provide great networking opportunities that may lead to other job opportunities.

Avon makes the claim that becoming one of their representatives is not just about selling but "about taking charge of your life (...) a proven process for financial and personal success." There's something to be said about taking control of your own work situation and coming up with your own job description, work hours and way of doing things.

So, if you've been given the pink slip, you may consider taking a direct sales job. It may not give you direct access to a pink Cadillac but it could keep your piggy bank pink.

Josée

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Laura B., who is 22, just graduated from the University of Guelph with a B.A. in fine arts. She may be going back to school in September but in the meantime, she's started aggressively looking for work in and around Toronto to see what her prospects are. I'm asking her a couple of questions to shed the light on a young person's struggle to find employment in the city.

How do you look for work and how many places have you applied to?
I check job sites every day and try to create a relevant cover letter and resumé for job postings that catch my interest. Usually, I work on that for the day and try to send one off by the following day. I'm not picky but I don't apply to a job unless I know I have the skills for it. Sometimes days go by before I see a job that is actually applicable. Many of the online postings are business-related, few are arts-related postings. I have applied in person to a few jobs but most of these were retail jobs. I've done some applications online and sent a few emails over the Internet.

What kinds of jobs are you looking for?
I'm focusing on jobs that relate to the arts, are in administration [in general], or take place in an academic venue. I'm looking for jobs that will give me some relevant experience working in an office, planning events and acquiring people skills. I want something that will teach me the skills I need in the future to work in a museum. However, working in retail is also good experience. I love the arts, so a video store, a hip bookstore or café would certainly be right up my alley.

Where are you looking/finding most postings?
I look on the Internet, usually Work in Culture, Workopolis, Akimbo, or the University of Guelph alumni job search site.

Next: part 2 -- Laura's success rate, what she's learning and what she really, really wants.

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Jowita

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I was fascinated by a radio interview I heard recently with Charles Wilkins, the author of In the Land of Long Fingernails: A Gravedigger's Memoir. The inspiration for his book came from a job as a grave digger he held in the summer of 1969 while a student at the University of Toronto.

Apart from the peculiarity of the job, I was amazed that his time as a gravedigger had such an impact on his overall outlook on life and who he is as a human being. As Kim Hugues puts it in his review of the book: "Wilkins's worldview was cemented during those long ago hours."

It got me thinking about the various jobs I had over the course of my life and the influence each of them had on me. In fact, I could probably tell my life story from job to job. (Okay, maybe not my whole life story.)

On the list of jobs that have influenced my life, I would include my first job where I worked as a bookkeeper in a chartered accountants office run by men. As far as I could tell, the only numbers that the women (all assistants) were interested in were the ones on their hair dye boxes. Numbers were out for me.

I later worked as a receptionist in an engineering office that had about two visitors a year. I spent most of my working hours with my face in a book. This "work" experience made me realize how much I liked words. I later went back to school to study literature and I now write for poss.ca.

I'm not saying that all jobs should or will change your life or view on life but I think that how we are treated at work, how comfortable we feel at our place of work and who we work with all have a profound influence on our lives. And, if a job contributes to our growth as an individual, all for the better. Hey! Charles Wilkins got a book out of digging graves.

Josée

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Laura is 22 and is freshly out of school. She is currently looking for work in Toronto. This is her experience so far.

Any success so far? Any interviews or phone calls?
I received one phone call and managed to have an interview the following week. The success rate is low.

What is the hardest thing when looking for work?
Waiting, not knowing when to expect that phone call. Also, not finding postings that relate to the field I am interested in. Because I am looking for jobs that are arts-related, it's been hard. I think major cutbacks are occurring in the creative divisions of most institutions and companies, so employment in these areas is waning. It's hard to be reminded every day of the Catch-22 scenario: you need experience to get a job, but a job to get the experience.

Also, coming up with a resumé and cover letter that isn't too vague but offers some insight into quality experience is difficult. Art degrees appear so obscure, and emphasizing their worth seems to be an ongoing task.

What do you think this experience is good for?
I have had to learn to be patient with myself because this process makes me doubt my abilities. I have also learned a lot about writing resumés and cover letters specifically tailored to certain job positions (thanks poss.ca!). Being very particular with your resumé is important, just like when you're filling out school applications -- employers want to know that you are only considering their institution/company.

What kind of job would be ideal right now?
I would love to work at an institution that promotes the arts, like a museum or a gallery. Ideally I would love to work at a culturally iconic centre like a city museum, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), or the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO).

Well, I hope you will find your dream job soon, Laura!

ttyl

Jowita

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Before going off to grad school to do my journalism degree I did a lot of research to see if it would make sense to invest in this career. English is not my first language, so it was a little risky to try to master something that involved such a close relationship with language. Still, I ended up taking this risk because I love writing and the employment prospects looked really good at the time. In fact, a woman who was in the second year of the same program told me she had a newspaper job guaranteed upon graduating. And in my year a couple of students were already interviewing for jobs, long before the last class was over.

Today, I read The Five Most Marketable College Degrees of 2009, Part II -- The Least Marketable Degrees and I am not surprised that journalism is number one on that list. In the past few weeks, I've heard of journalists getting laid off, being offered buyout packages, having their wages cut or simply not getting paid. The last freelance article I wrote for a national newspaper earned me exactly $0 because my editor's budget got cut and she could no longer pay me. Lately, my partner, who is also a journalist, has been making jokes about how (not) profitable our jobs are nowadays. He said being a journalist in these trying times is about as useful as making quill feather pens.

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Jowita

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I know a few published poets and only one of them is actually making money out of his craft. He is, in fact, making good money as he is teaching at a university and his works have been published world-wide (plus that "little" Griffin Poetry Prize didn't hurt).

But according to the article Poetry: An Art to Live By?, writing poetry doesn't really pay off now and, in fact, it never really paid off. As the article points out, "Poets in the past were not writing poetry for a living. Before the late 19th century, poets had benefactors who would support them financially. Others relied on family fortunes."

But there is a way to make money if you are a talented poet (although, as with most writing jobs, this may not be an ideal time to start pursuing this craft). When I worked for an advertising agency we writers were often told that copywriting is much like poetry in that they both rely on similar linguistic tools, such as rhythm, alliteration, rhyme, metaphor and compression. In other words, you can see your poetic talent as a transferable skill.

Here's another article that discusses similarities between the two media: Writing Copy for Advertisements is Much Closer to Writing Poetry than Prose.

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Jowita

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