Every morning I leave the suburbs at an ungodly hour for my daily trek downtown. In the thick of January the streetlights are still on, there is a brushing of snow on the road, and my windshield is foggy.

Along the way, I take major thoroughfares and observe the ordinary folks who appear to me as black knights of the dawn.

I see a jogger with reflective tape on her clothing. Kudos to her for starting her day with an early morning pre-work workout and for wearing clothing that is easily visible.

This jogger is followed by a worker, risking life and limb, running across the road to catch the bus. Walking against the streetlight, this jaywalker appears to have little regard for his safety. His mantra seems to be: Gotta get to work on time.

Then I notice a lone figure in black standing in the middle of the road dodging cars because, I guess, she doesn't want to walk to the corner. She doesn't realize that just because she can see a car coming, the driver of that visible car may not see her.

A while later I glimpse at a father pushing a black baby stroller along the median of a busy street. This man is also dressed in black and his hood is up. The daycare grind can be difficult -- and in this case, dangerous.

Once downtown, I see a cell phone addict standing at the corner engaged in a loud animated conversation. I've learned that people like him are not mentally ill, just self-absorbed.

Finally, I catch sight of a cyclist riding on the sidewalk (perhaps for safety), who zooms through the intersection as she rushes to make the light, not looking for turning cars.

Paying attention to the road when driving doesn't only mean looking up for other cars but also being aware of the movements of pedestrians and cyclists, and double-checking to make sure that each turn is safe. Even using a cell phone with a headset, fiddling with your GPS or adjusting the radio can be distracting -- not to mention jotting notes down, applying makeup or shaving.

We all own the road. The rate of accidents this January is alarming. I think we all need to slow down and learn to appreciate life, even on brisk Canadian mornings.

Be careful out there!

For More Information:

• CBC Metro Morning: Struck but Survived

Susan Stone

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In the recent study published in Academe, Londa Schiebinger and Shannon Gilmartin propose that employers begin offering housekeeping as an employee benefit.

Fellow workers, in response to Schiebinger and Gilmartin's argument, we must unite in the struggle for employee benefits that reflect a desire to balance work with home life.

The Gender Divide: Focusing their research on gender discrepancies amongst academics in the sciences, Schiebinger and Gilmartin are concerned with how women fare on the work front compared to their male counterparts who do less than half the amount of housework as women. If men and women are putting in the same number of work hours per week (60 hours, as per this sample), the authors worry that women's added housework burden could affect their career choices and their professional productivity.

I propose a study that reveals how men fare on the home front. Both men and women should be given shorter work hours so that they can each devote equal time to washing, dusting and cooking.

Work Ethic: I appreciate Schiebinger and Gilmartin's desire to improve women's professional careers and ability to compete with men; however, I question the driving force behind their argument -- namely, that housekeeping benefits should be put in place so that women, who are still doing the lion's share of the housework, can spend more time on the job. Is doing more work and constantly upping the ante what we should be striving for? Will women now be sighing in relief: "Oh, I'm so glad I have a housekeeper because it means I can be chained to my computer/lab bench for even longer hours."

The Value of Living: The authors seem to think that housekeeping benefits will allow women to achieve a better work-life balance. I find this slightly confusing. If these women are already working 60 hours per week, how is working more hours adding to work-life balance? Why not try to create a culture that encourages workers to limit how many hours they work so that they can have time to enjoy the "life" part of the equation?

The Happy Homestead: While I support the idea of professionalizing household labour, including providing proper wages, health-care benefits and the like, I'm irked by the devaluation of home life. Maybe I'm a bit of a weirdo, but I actually enjoy doing my own housework and cooking because I value maintaining my homestead. Cleaning and cooking as a means to creating a home space that is inviting to family and friends should be lauded. (Okay, in truth, I can't iron to save my life and wouldn't be bothered if a magical elf volunteered to take on that one task. But every girl has her limitations!)

All workers, therefore, who agree with the principles set forth shall pick up their dusters, irons and spatulas and join me in saying "no" to occupational overload and "yes" to housework for all.

In solidarity,

Veronica

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I'm not as naive as to think that looks don't matter. Of course, people who are well-groomed and who carry themselves well have a better chance at getting a job. It never occurred to me though, that taller women had a better shot at getting promoted, as stated in the Forbes article Think Looks Don't matter? Think Again. This article reports that according to studies, women who are "more attractive, thinner, taller and have a more youthful appearance" do advance more quickly at work. Well, that certainly got me thinking. Would a similar study with the male population reveal that men with flatter stomachs and more youthful looks have a better chance at promotions? Somehow, I don't think so. Could it be that the standards imposed on women and men in the workplace are different?

In the article Dressing at the Workplace Without Suffering for Your Feminity the designer and store owner Iulia Isbasoiu says, "A woman in the workplace should be presentable, elegant and chic, and [...] has to suffer a little bit to capture that image of a woman." She adds that high heels are "an important accessory" as well as "nice, sheer pantyhose." I felt a little confused by Isabsoiu's take on feminity and looked up feminine, described as "having qualities traditionally ascribed to women, as sensitivity or gentleness." As a woman, I'm not sure how showing off my legs, as Isbasoiu puts it, is a testimony of my sensitive and gentle nature. And, take it from someone who has worn high heel shoes, I'd rather let my feminity suffer a little than endure stiletto heels day in and day out.

In fact, when I gently make my way to the office and perform my duties with sense and sensibility, I'm hoping that I will be recognized for the quality of my work. Is it too naive to wish for promotions according to merit?

Josée

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Like Dr. Michael Kutryk, the on-call St. Michael’s Hospital's cardiologist who was stopped and retained by a police officer for speeding while responding to an emergency call last weekend, I sometimes wish that employees would bend the rules a little.

I was given a beautiful sweater at Christmas that, when pulled out of its wrapping, turned out having a permanent stain. I thought it an open-and-shut case. The sweater was recently purchased. I was given the receipt. It was paid for with hard cash. It was a one of a kind piece that couldn't be exchanged and it had an obvious permanent glaring smear. I would go back to the store and get my money back. It proved to be not so easy.

My first attempt at bringing the flawed item home on Boxing Day failed. An official announcement posted in the store window informed me that no exchanges (I understood that to include refunds) would be accepted on that day. A mega sale was in progress -- no time to deal with the people who paid full price for their goods.

I gave it another shot the following week only to find out that the managers had flown the coop leaving their employees with policies -- including something about no refunds -- but no power of decision. Perhaps a permanent no returns policy sign in the store window would have made this clear-cut.

We debated for a while– me stating my case and the stranded employee repeating the now disclosed store policy. Fortunately, she felt that refunds should be given for defective items and at the risk of losing her job handed me the cash.

I wasn't running to save a life when I entered the store with my faulty sweater but I'm glad that the teller carefully analysed the situation and did the only sensible thing – gave me my money back. I certainly felt that she saved my life.

Josée

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"Hi, is this The Globe and Mail? Hey, so, listen, I was thinking about my subscription, and I'd like to receive the sports and careers sections only. It's annoying to flip through the entire paper every morning, when I'm really just interested in sports and jobs. So, could you just send me those sections from now on?

Come to think of it ... I don't love all of your writers. So instead of sending me just those sections, could you call me, personally, every time my favourite writer has published an article? Yeah. But you know, even then, I still may not be interested, so could you just give me a really brief idea of what the article is about when you call, in say, one sentence?

If I decide I want to read the article, I'll let you know immediately and, by the way, I'll expect you to deliver it within three seconds. Cool? And obviously there won't be any charge for this service, right? Yeah. Okay, thanks."

In reality, this scenario is both delusional and impossible. But in virtual reality (the Internet), it happens everyday. And not just with newspapers, but with countless other websites -- it's Internet customization through RSS, and it's so easy.

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication -- but don't just take my word for it. To find out more, read all about RSS feeds and readers in this month's poss.ca article which explains, step by step, how to set up your own reader. The article will show you how to use this tool in your job search, and of course, how to get The Globe to send you only the good stuff.

SKY

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Forgive me if I exude an air of self-righteousness.

But compared to some employees, I am downright angelic. Not because of what I've done, but because of what I've failed to do at my workplace, such as:

• Operate an online business
• Participate in fantasy football
• Download The Lord of the Rings
• Surf the Net for pornography
• Blog about my co-workers
• Pursue a cyber relationship

Some "workers" spend two hours a day checking personal email, doing online banking or researching consumer products. But not me ... well, at least not for two hours a day, that is.

When I thoroughly look at my own work habits, I do have a few transgressions to confess:

• On more than one occasion I have checked my Yahoo account. (In fact, while writing this post, I've felt compelled to check it more than once.)
• From time to time, I have looked up the latest information on cat food. (I really do think poss.ca could use an exposé on the pet food industry.)
• I have toured both the Facebook and LinkedIn sites. (But solely for professional reasons, of course.)

And, finally, while researching an article on the top seven health care careers, I found myself instead reading about the Seven Best Health Care Tips for 2009 and How to Prevent Colon Cancer. (I do get a wee bit distracted at times.)

But, wait, there's a saviour in the guise of Australian marketing professor, Dr. Brent Coker. According to his University of Melbourne study, workers who engage in "Workplace Internet Leisure Browsing" (WILB) are actually nine percent more productive than workers who don't -- as long as they WILB for less than 20 per cent of their total office time.

"Short and unobtrusive breaks, such as a quick surf of the Internet, enables the mind to rest itself, leading to a higher total net concentration for a days work, and as a result, increased productivity," says Coker.

I don't know about you, but I feel vindicated.

For More Information:

• About.com: Surfing the Net on Your Boss's Time
• Metro News: Employees Must be Mindful About Internet Use at the Office

kathyo

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This summer, my cat and I were driven to the vet by a university professor from Somalia. I'm not sure what Zooey thought (although I suspect she was more concerned about the wind mussing up her silvery fur than she was about the driver's employment prospects). I, however, felt sad and a little angry. How many other highly skilled immigrants are cleaning toilets, waiting on tables or stocking shelves, I asked myself.

Later, Statistics Canada informed me that 42 per cent of immigrant workers in Canada have a higher level of education for their job than what is required. One of the contributing factors, I believe, is the cumbersome and drawn-out process that foreign-trained professionals face when attempting to have their credentials recognized.

I was pleased, then, to read that governments across Canada recently endorsed an agreement to try to improve workforce services for newcomers. This would involve consistent assessments across the country and better pre-arrival services for internationally trained workers. Some $50 million has been committed to address barriers to credential recognition in Canada.

Yet, I wonder ... In two years' time will Dr. Mohamed be teaching at U of T or will he still be driving for Beck? Did the Toronto Star editorialist nail it on the head, when s/he suggested that "much of the framework announced this week is more spin than substance ...."

Once we'd arrived at the clinic, and after my vet had poked, prodded and otherwise examined Zooey, I rather boldly asked him where he'd been trained. "Budapest," he replied.

Maybe there is some justice in the world, I thought. Zooey, on the other hand, gave him a heart-warming hiss. I gather she would have been much happier if he'd worked at the local 7-Eleven where we buy her tasty cat treats.

For More Information:

• CBC.ca: Foreign Workers to Get Credentials Quicker

kathyo

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Are your resumés and cover letters as lifeless as a mouse that's been mangled one too many times by the neighbourhood cat? If so, read on. There are some ways you can breathe life into your resumés and cover letters so that they stand out from the pack.

According to blogger Liz Ryan, resumés that use a human voice pack power. (Mind you, this goes against the common wisdom that exhorts job seekers to never use "I" in their resumé.) Here's one line from an example Ryan uses to show a job seeker speaking directly to the reader: "I've loved untangling thorny people problems and helping groups move past differences to beat their goals."

Untangling is a strong and unusual verb for a resumé. I can actually visualize an image of a person separating the spiky limbs of entwined colleagues.

For another example, take a look at Harry Joiner's blog post where he dissects a cover letter line by line. "I love it when people take chances with their communication," he says, referring to the letter writer's use of the term: "I'm champing at the bit to join an organization and prove my mettle." Again, this is another visual sentence with a strong verb.

In Ryan's post her "typical" example of a resumé summary is much less colourful: "Results-oriented HR professional with a bottom-line orientation and strong attention to detail. Team player with excellent communication and organizational skills and experience leading cross-functional teams." This jargony and cliché-filled example (results-oriented, team player) could have been written by anybody.

WetFeet's article on the use of language says "avoid bloated language at all costs. Don't try to impress recruiters with two-bit words and trendy business jargon."

If you're still feeling a little shaky about your writing, check out this writers resources website. There you can find some more tools to help you perform surgery on your resumé.

For More Information:

• Take An Axe to Buzzwords

kathyo

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