As this past summer felt rather autumnal, it seems only apt that fall now eerily resembles winter. But this year, on top of the predictable onset of seasonal sniffles, we have another reason to be cautious of the office sneezer: H1N1. Although in a majority of cases the swine flu is similar to the standard seasonal flu, its pandemic nature and potentially lethal complications demand that we update some commonly held prevention practices and techniques. You may be surprised at how many people get these wrong, including co-workers in the cubes around you.

Wash Your Hands
Method: Using soap and water, wash thoroughly (PDF) between your fingers, scrubbing your fingertips and the back of your hands. Don't neglect your wrists and arms, where bacteria also congregate.
Timing: Often throughout the day. (More than just after you flush.)
Myth: Germs don't survive on public surfaces for long enough to contaminate me. Nope: the H1N1 strain is stronger and survives longer than other viruses, turning potential hosts out of streetcar poles, computer keyboards and all the other surfaces we can't seem to keep our hands off of.

Get Vaccinated
Method: Call your family doctor, or head to one of ten flu clinic locations in Toronto.
Timing: Available Nov. 3rd for every Ontarian under 65. Free for all covered under OHIP. Update: Some vaccination sites will open earlier. See this city schedule for updates.
Myth: The vaccination came out too quickly and is therefore unsafe. Unlikely. The vaccination has been deemed safe by Canada's top health officials, and "remarkably safe" by top U.S. officials, both of who stress that vaccination is the only way to prevent the spread of the disease.

Cover Your Mouth
Method: Cough and sneeze into your bent elbow, also known as the sleeve sneeze.
Timing: Whenever you cough or sneeze. (Fun fact: the speed of your sneeze = 100 miles/hr.)
Myth: I should wear a surgical face mask to work. Not unless you're dressing as a doctor or nurse for Halloween. The Ministry of Health (PDF) warns that "[p]eople often use masks incorrectly, or contaminate the mask when putting them on and taking them off, which could actually increase the risk of infection."

For those of you on the job-hunt, the good news is: you're safer right where you are (at home). Nevertheless, while interviewing and networking, consider these hilarious alternatives to the handshake. (My favourite is the elbow-bump.)

For More Information:

• Ministry of Health's H1N1 website. Call 1-800-476-9708 or TTY 416-327-4282 (hours of operation between 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., recorded information 24/7)

SKY

No comments yet. Start the conversation.

I recently began seeing an osteopath who was a street nurse in her previous career. Although "Diana" liked her previous job, she ultimately wanted a career where she could provide more in-depth solutions to health problems. So sometime in early middle age (I'm guessing), Diana took the plunge.

What an intriguing career transition, I thought to myself. But then I remembered "Frank," a massage therapist I see from time to time, who had an even more drastic career change.

Frank used to be a steelworker. He's a big man with a full beard and at first glance he reminded me of a bear. His gentleness surprised me. Some years ago, Frank started massaging his son, who had been in an accident, and in doing this discovered his calling. Frank hadn't been very happy in his old job and then, as fate would have it, his plant closed down, he took a package and -- in his 50's -- retrained as a massage therapist.

I also marvel at the career path of Kevin Budd, who started teaching English in Shanghai over three years ago. Teaching English in China is not so uncommon these days. But what seems remarkable to me is that Kevin was 43 when he made the transition. (I naively thought only twenty-somethings taught English overseas.)

Prior to teaching, Kevin worked on a drilling rig out West, did cleaning and driving jobs, and, for 13 years, worked in a warehouse. "I wanted a change of pace," says Kevin. "I had been doing a lot of physically demanding work that wasn’t very challenging intellectually. I didn't want to be doing this work in my 50s or 60s." So Kevin learned some basic Chinese, got a couple of TESOL certificates and, lo and behold, completely changed his life.

If you're contemplating a career change and want even more inspiration, take a look at this Chicago Tribune article. It chronicles three people who have made radical career/life changes. I particularly love the opening line: "Some think that changing careers takes deep pockets, but people who have successfully retooled say it's more about having a steely gut, thick skin and, above all, heart." I think that Diana, Frank and Kevin qualify.

kathyo

No comments yet. Start the conversation.

Are friends and family on your case about your incessant touch-pad typing? If you're doing it at the dinner table or in the middle of a conversation -- they've probably got a point. Nevertheless, there are a few iPhone applications out there that can help you with your job search. Mashable: The Social Media Guide has a top ten list, but here are three of my favourites:

iJob (99 cents): According to Apple, this app allows you to search "millions of jobs from thousands of job boards, newspapers, classifieds and company websites all from your iPhone or iPod touch." Using your iPhone's GPS technology, the program automatically determines your location and searches within a specified radius of your position. With iJob you can save favourites and filter job results by category, company, title, industry and employee type.

Job Finder (99 cents): Instead of visiting multiple sites a day, you can rely on Job Finder to aggregate postings from various sites for you. With 73 categories to search through, just specify your location and other preferences, and the app organizes the information for you. You can then go about your search whenever and wherever (even from the dinner table, but you didn't hear that from me).

Interview Pro ($1.99): I like that this app not only supplies you with the 65 most asked interview questions, but it also provides sample answers for them. Interview Pro also lists "focus areas" that the interviewer expects you to touch on under each question (e.g., years of experience, education). You can also tag your favourite questions and easily review them on the go.

So the next time you're being chastised about your iPhone addiction, tell your friends to back off -- this is a business call.

SKY

No comments yet. Start the conversation.

There have been two times in my life where I've scoured job boards daily -- nay, hourly -- and sent out tons of resumés, literally, as if it were my job to do so. It's exhausting, and worse, it feels ridiculously futile. You know how it is -- you spend tons of time on a perfectly crafted resumé and cover letter and when it comes time to hit "send," you think to yourself: Well, I'll never hear from you! Click!

If Einstein was right, and insanity really is "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results," we're all probably a wee bit crazy. Many of us are guilty of having used the resumé-churn-out method, knowing full well that it's pretty useless. Why? It makes us feel productive, and when you're out of work, that’s tempting. But there’s another way to feel fruitful that’s much more likely to yield new results: a people search.

Recently, I saw the "people search" method recommended on Mashable: The Social Media Guide (where it was rightly pointed out that "sometimes the listed jobs aren't available or never existed in the first place." -- grrrr), but it's also something I started to figure out on my own, between my (above) moments of insanity. Think of this as a step between searching and networking. Here's how Mashable's Dan Schawbel suggests you do it:

• Step 1: Identify the top five companies you'd like to work for. Make a list and research those companies.
• Step 2: Use search engines like Google, or even Facebook, to track employees who work at those companies. It's not as creepy as it sounds. Companies use the web to find out about you, so why not do the same?
• Step 3: Connect with employees (managers, ideally) directly, but don't ask for a job outright. (Tip: Use LinkedIn or other social networking sites to see if you know someone who knows the person -- this will increase the chances that your message will get noticed.)

Using these steps will yield a whole new list of contacts, some of who may not be able to offer you anything immediately. Nevertheless, getting your name out there puts you on the radar of managers who may eventually be in a position to hire. And you never know when that might be. So, take a break from the monster.ca-enduced insanity, and get your people search on.

SKY

No comments yet. Start the conversation.

Several years ago, while watching a videotape of myself doing a mock interview, I cringed; I was as stiff and wooden as Pinocchio before he sprung to life.

My awareness of my less-than-stellar oral communication skills was immediately heightened. I vowed to fix this problem and shortly thereafter started attending a Toastmasters public speaking group. My confidence grew as I "took first place" in an informal contest held by my very supportive group. I would have kept on going ... but, of all things, I got a job, where my writing skills mattered more than my public speaking abilities, and ... Toastmasters went by the wayside.

Recently I got reconnected to public speaking when I attended a workshop on communication skills put on by Skills for Change in conjunction with the Ebony Toastmasters.

In case your speaking style is about as dynamic as your average wooden puppet, here's a bit about what I learned.

I found out about the importance of timing. People being interviewed don't always know when to stop, said Rita, a workshop leader. "That can be a killer at an interview." (I''m usually a woman of few words, but I can ramble on with the best of them in a tense social situation such as a job interview.)

I also learned that you should have a smile in your voice. (According to Tips for Improving the Tone of Your Voice [PDF], "When you smile, the vocal cords are pulled differently and the voice automatically sounds friendlier.") Another tip: when faced with a panel interview one way to relax is to look at the person who is smiling.

We also practiced impromptu speaking. I was asked to speak about whether I preferred sunsets over sunrises. (Since I never get up early enough to see the sunrise, the answer was obvious.) But the group wanted more details. Since I didn't take notes the last time I watched the sun melt into the night, I proceeded to somberly babble on about how great sunsets were -- not a great performance, I'm afraid to say.

So, in the end, going to that workshop taught me another lesson. Public speaking is a lot like basketball; if you're not on the court shooting baskets (i.e., on the podium giving speeches) you lose your skills. But the good thing is that these skills can easily be revived -- all it takes is joining a public speaking group.

kathyo

No comments yet. Start the conversation.

The last time I was hunting for jobs I did a lot right: I networked, I tailored my resumé to job postings, I wrote succinct cover letters, and so on. But after chancing upon several job search articles, I now see there was a chink in my armour; namely, I spent too little time preparing questions to ask interviewers. (To be sure, I was equipped with questions, but they were perfunctory, things like, "When does the job begin?")

You may think the aim in a job interview is to come up with good answers to potential questions. True as this is, it's a limited view. As the Interview the Interviewer article points out, asking questions can demonstrate your sophistication and qualifications, and it can help build rapport, something that could give you the nod.

After perusing a few articles, I've come up with a few questions that could give you an edge in a job interview:

A Starter Question
Tell me how the job has been performed in the past and what improvements you'd like to see happen? (According to Questions to Ask During an HR Interview, this is a chance for you to explain why you are an excellent fit.)

If You Stand Out (and of Course You Do)
Is there someone in this organization you think is outstanding? If so, what makes him or her so remarkable? (This is your opportunity to tell the interviewer about how you distinguished yourself.)

For Those With Moxie
"Do you have any reservations about my fit for the position?" (As the What to Ask at Your Interview article points out, this question gives you the chance to deal with any concerns the employer might have. According to the first article mentioned, this is ultra-important as "[u]nstated objections will doom you every time."

Definitely Not For the Faint of Heart
How do my skills compare with those of the other candidates you have interviewed? (If your interviewer doesn't think you measure up, this is the time to show how very wrong s/he is.)

Finally, Something Not to Ask Your Interviewer -- Ever
Courtesy of 43 Weird Things Said in Job Interviews: "If this doesn't work out can I call you to go out."(No explanation needed -- I hope.)

kathyo

No comments yet. Start the conversation.

It is commonly held that an employee returns to work from vacation feeling refreshed and more engaged -- a win-win scenario for employee and employer alike. But as it turns out, nearly a third of Canadians don't take all of their allotted vacation; that amounts to 34 million unused vacation days or $6.03 billion in wages that employees hand back to companies per year.

Toronto-based workplace health consultant Karen Seward, who was recently quoted in the National Post, explained that as times get tougher vacation tends to feel less feasible for employees. "The economy has put people in a position where they don't feel like they can take vacation ... We're spending all this money on health and wellness initiatives, [but] one of the best health and wellness initiatives is encouraging people to take the time," she says.

So here's some encouragement: take a load off! Concern about keeping your job is responsible and important, but before you forgo a holiday, ask yourself how long you can keep up productivity without a break. Vacation isn't just good for your tan or for your kids -- it's also good for your professional success.

If you're worried about post-vacation stresses like coming back to 256 unanswered emails, 49 voice mail messages or 3 jealous colleagues (vacation envy – it's a real thing!), there are tons of tips to help you ease back into the workplace without feeling overwhelmed. Here are just a few:

• Add a buffer day between the end of your holiday and your return date to the office. This will give you some time to unwind, get accustomed to any time changes and prepare for the week ahead.
• Make "must-do" piles with the accumulated papers on your desk: things you must do today, this week, whenever and never (trash).
• Bring something back from your vacation, whether it's a picture or a trinket, to remind you of your break. According to workplace health consultants, this "creates a harmonious work environment and has been shown to relieve work pressure."

So if you've hung around the office this summer and have lots of unused vacation days to show for it, do yourself, your boss and your colleagues all a favour: give us a break, and take a vacation, already!

SKY

No comments yet. Start the conversation.