Arizona enacts ban on abortions based on gender, race

Arizona enacts ban on abortions based on gender, race – Arizona Governor Jan Brewer on Tuesday signed into law a controversial bill that makes the state the first in the nation to outlaw abortions performed on the basis of the race or gender of the fetus.

The move comes as anti-abortion groups across the nation try to seize on gains made by political conservatives during the November elections, seeking enactment of new state laws to further restrict abortions.

Under the new Arizona statute, doctors and other medical professionals would face felony charges if they could be shown to have performed abortions for the purposes of helping parents select their offspring on the basis of gender or race.

The women having such abortions would not be penalized.

State legislators have said no such law exists anywhere else in the nation.
Backers of the measure said the ban is needed to put an end to sex- and race-related discrimination that exists in Arizona and throughout the nation. They insist the issue is about bias rather than any broader stance on abortion.

"Governor Brewer believes society has a responsibility to protect its most vulnerable -- the unborn -- and this legislation is consistent with her strong pro-life track record," a spokesman said.

But opponents have maintained that while such abortions may be happening in other countries like China, no clear evidence can found of it occurring in Arizona.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America also said the measure may erode a woman's rights, fearing that doctors for the first time would feel compelled to ask their patients the reasons for seeking an abortion.

A Planned Parenthood official in Arizona condemned the governor's action in a statement to Reuters.

"This law creates a highly unusual requirement that women state publicly their reason for choosing to terminate a pregnancy -- a private decision they already made with their physician, partner and family," said Bryan Howard, the group's chief executive.

The law contains no explicit provision requiring doctors to ask their patients their reasons for seeking an abortion, nor for patients to disclose such reasons. But opponents of the measure feel passage of the new law might make them feel more inclined to do so.

The law would take effect 90 days following the end of the current legislative session.(Reuters )

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Facebook may help identify those with depression

Facebook may help identify those with depression - Can Facebook help identify people who are depressed - and maybe even suicidal? - A new study from the University of Wisconsin suggests that the popular social networking website may be one tool to find those who are suffering from depression.

However, the study's researchers say Facebook should not be used as a substitute for clinical screening and medical treatment for anyone who is depressed or suicidal.

For the study, researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health analyzed the Facebook profiles of 200 college sophomores and juniors. They found that 25 percent of the students showed one or more symptoms of depression — including references to decreased interest or pleasure in activities, change in appetite, sleep problems, loss of energy and feelings of guilt or worthlessness.

None of the students expressed any suicidal thoughts.

One of the most interesting developments was this: Researchers found that when students complained of depression symptoms, others in their social networks reached out to help them.

"People are getting support from other Facebook users when they display these comments, so it may be used as a mini-support group for depression," said Dr. Megan Moreno, a pediatrician at the School of Medicine and Public Health and a lead author of the study. "Given the frequency of depression symptoms displayed, it's possible that depression disclosures on Facebook may actually help to reduce the stigma around mental illness."

Although 25 percent of the students mentioned some sign of depression, only 2.5 percent of the profiles displayed enough information to warrant screening for depression, researchers found.

While Facebook should not be used to formally diagnose depression, Moreno said it may be helpful in identifying students who are thinking about suicide.

"Recent media reports indicated planned suicides that were displayed on Facebook before being carried out," she said. "This highlights the urgent need to understand how often depression is displayed on Facebook and what this may mean. Early identification of depression may be easier now if you see repeated references on Facebook."

The Wisconsin research was released on the same day that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that pediatricians and parents pay more attention to children's use of social networking sites.

The new AAP guidelines include recommendations for pediatricians to help families navigate the social media landscape, including:

• Advise parents to talk to children and adolescents about their online use and the specific issues that today's online kids face, such as cyberbullying, sexting and difficulty managing their time.

• Advise parents to work on their own "participation gap" in their homes by becoming better educated about the many technologies their children are using.

• Discuss with families the need for a family online-use plan, with an emphasis on citizenship and healthy behavior.

• Discuss with parents the importance of supervising online activities via active participation and communication, not just via monitoring software ( latimes.com )

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Why Japan's Tsunami Triggered an Enormous Whirlpool

The tsunami that hit northern Japan today created an enormous whirlpool in a harbor off the east coast of that country. According to researchers, whirlpools aren't unusual after waves of this size.

The tsunami was triggered by an 8.9-magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Japan at 2:46 p.m. Tokyo time. Video footage shows a boat swirling in the massive eddy. It's not known whether anyone was on the vessel.

Based on eye-witness accounts and video in recent years, whirlpools probably occur with some regularity after large tsunamis, said Ruth Ludwin, a retired seismologist at the University of Washington in Seattle.

"Whirlpools have a big impact on the human imagination," Ludwin said. "They're very notable and very frightening. But from the perspective of the geological record, they don't leave any particular sign that has been recognized so far."

Tsunami swirls near a port in Oarai, Ibaraki Prefecture (state) after Japan was struck by a strong earthquake off its northeastern coast Friday, March 11, 2011.

Whirlpools happen because of the interaction between rushing water and the geology of the coastline and seafloor, Ludwin said.

"Obviously there is a lot of water that is being pushed around, and it is interacting with the shape, the bathymetry, near the coastline," she said. [Album: Monster Waves]

The first images and videos of post-tsunami whirlpools came out of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Ludwin said. But eyewitness accounts from previous coastal quakes suggest that tsunami whirlpools are nothing new. One was reported in the great Lisbon earthquake of 1775, Ludwin said. The Haida people of the Queen Charlotte Islands off the coast of British Columbia have myths about a whirling wave of foam.

Apela Colorado, Ludwin's colleague with the Worldwide Indigenous Science Network in Hawaii, has identified a petroglyph in southeastern Alaska that seems to show a whirlpool in the body of a sea monster. In an abstract presented at the 2006 meeting of the Seismological Society of America, Colorado and Ludwin describe the native myths about that monster. According to ancient tales, they wrote, the creature "inundates canoes, makes the salt-water boil, swallows fishermen, pushes fish into a cave, and creates a canoe passage by flopping across a spit." ( LiveScience )

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Digital spying on jobseekers

Digital spying on jobseekers - Recruiters warn applicants to be vigilant with their online profiles if they want employment - International government agencies are doing it. Online advertisers are doing it. Stalker-types are doing it. And that company you just submitted a CV to for a job is probably scouring your MySpace, Facebook or Twitter account at this very moment to figure out who you really are.

Yet young jobseekers and teenagers — the most tech-savvy people of this digital age — are least aware of it. Oblivious to the professional, and to some extent, social consequences, their online profiles hold all kinds of sensitive information and pictures that could affect their employability.

Your CV is not the only source of information that recruiters use to assess job applicants. Students are now cautioned to carefully consider what they post on their social networking profiles that members of the public are able to view

"We have had a situation where a client working in a very conservative industry had interviewed a candidate, prepared a job offer, and after viewing profiles on social networks retracted it," said Jennifer Campori, Charterhouse Partnership's managing director for Europe and the Middle East.

"The client claimed the photos on the site were unacceptable to the calibre of person they wished to hire," added the head of the boutique recruitment agency.

However, as the desire for fame and attention grows, we see more people inviting members of the public to get a glimpse of the most intimate moments of their lives.

Yet, recruitment professionals are warning young graduate jobseekers as well as those in the workforce to become increasingly vigilant about how they build their personal online brand because watchful eyes may be upon them.

The virtual reality

"I think people need to be aware of the power of the internet and realise that their actions can have a longer term impact on their social and professional career," said Campori.

But this has yet to impact these youngsters and become a reality, said Jackie Smith, 19, a first year student at the Rochester Institute of Technology Dubai.

"Everyone has things on Facebook that can't be erased and once my generation starts looking for jobs I think it will hit some people hard," she said. "We don't yet see our posts as a threat because we haven't entered the workforce and it hasn't become a reality," Smith added.

However, it is not only the youth grappling with the realities of their online posts. The concept of somebody monitoring online activities is still somewhat generally hard to fathom psychologically said, Annie Crookes, senior lecturer of Psychology at Middlesex University Dubai.

"It is hard to visualise that there are people out there, like employers, watching what you are doing," said Crookes.

"It is difficult to comprehend what that means because as humans we are used to face to face communication," she added.

Crookes added that a recent study conducted on students' attitudes towards privacy showed no correlation between the amounts of personal information they revealed on SNS.

"These were the same people putting intimate personal details out there on the net and suggesting they still have a level of privacy," she said. "They didn't realise and weren't fully conscious or comprehend how much information about them people can access," Crookes added.

Raising awareness

Yet if the online self-portrait has now become as important as some suggest it is, why are career service departments at universities slow to act on raising awareness, Smith asked.

"During freshman orientation tutors talk to us about how employers will evaluate our GPA, but they don't tell us we will be evaluated on our social networking character which is becoming even more important," she said.

However, some institutions have integrated it into their curriculum. At Murdoch University, Dubai, students in media and public relations courses are exposed to the realities of social networking, said Chris Pilgrim, head of student affairs.

He said the career services department, which Pilgrim oversees, aims to bring all students to a level of understanding that social media can be either friend or foe when it comes to sustainable employability. "We try to make them understand that they shouldn't post online what they wouldn't reveal to a potential employer or put on their CV," said Pilgrim.

He added that postgraduate students are more conscious of portraying themselves as employable professionals through social media compared to their undergraduate counterparts. "I've seen many jaws drop when I start talking to some students about this," he said. "There is probably a lack of understanding of the magnitude of social media and that potential employers are using it to check out potential candidates," added Pilgrim.

Staying safe

However, some students exercise a level of caution when it comes to what they reveal online, for concern over their safety, not because they are mindful of their professional image.

"Some people will stalk Facebook profiles because they can and because people ignore their privacy settings; letting everyone know exactly where they are and what they are doing through applications like foursquare," said Mohammad Obaid, a student at the University of Wollongong in Dubai. "When you join SNS you are asking to be stalked and I've thought about that, which is why I try to keep my settings as private as possible," he added.

Yet, for Khalifa Al Muhairi, a student at the American University in Dubai, signing up to SNS with a fake name was the way to go.

"I don't use my real name because I don't like everyone to know who I am for many reasons which can lead to personal problems," he said.

However, as a photographer, Al Muhairi believes it important to have a professional online profile to gain exposure to help in a job search. "It is important not to combine online personal matters with work because some things need to be kept private, but if it's all out there on the net there is no privacy any more," he added. ( gulfnews.com )

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Ten Habits that Bosses Love

Ten Habits that Bosses Love. Every boss wants employees who do their jobs well. But even among highly competent employees, there are distinctions. Here are 10 tips for making sure you're on the boss's A-list:

1. Communicate, communicate, communicate.

Especially at the beginning of your relationship -- that is, when either you or the boss is new to the job -- err on the side of giving your boss too much information and asking too many questions.

"There's no such thing as a dumb question," says Marianne Adoradio, a Silicon Valley recruiter and career counselor. "Look at it as information gathering."

Don't keep up the constant stream of communication unless your boss likes it, though. It's best to ask directly whether you're giving the boss enough information or too much.

2. Acknowledge what the boss says.

Bosses appreciate "responsive listening," says John Farner, principal of Russell Employee Management Consulting. When your boss asks you to do something or suggests ways for you to improve your work, let her know you heard.

3. Collaborate.

When your boss has a new idea, respond to it in a constructive way instead of throwing up roadblocks.

"Be willing to brainstorm ways to get something done," says Michael Beasley, principal of Career-Crossings and a leadership and career development coach.

4. Build relationships.

You'll make your boss look good if you establish a good rapport with your department's customers, whether they're inside the company or outside. Bring back what you learn -- about ways to offer better customer service, for example -- to your boss. This is also helpful for your own career development.

"Everybody wins in the long run," Adoradio says.

5. Understand how you fit in.

Is your boss detail-oriented, or someone who keeps his head in the clouds?

"The boss's personality is just incredibly important," says Norm Meshriy, a career counselor and principal of Career Insights.

Equally important is understanding what your boss wants in an employee. It may be, for example, that a boss who is detail-oriented will expect his employees to be as well. But a boss who has no time for details may actually appreciate an employee who does.

6. Learn the boss's pet peeves.

If your manager has said repeatedly that she hates being interrupted first thing in the morning, don't run to her office to give her a project update when you first get in.

7. Anticipate the boss's needs.

Once you have worked with your boss for a while, you should be able to guess what information he will want before approving your purchase order, for example.

If you provide it ahead of time, "that's a gold star," Farner adds.

8. Think one level up.

You still need to do your own job, of course. But when managers consider who deserves a promotion, they look for people who understand the issues that their bosses face.

9. Open yourself to new ways of doing things.

When your boss comes to you with a new idea, don't simply dismiss it. If you don't think it will work, offer to discuss it further in "a mature, responsible, adult-like way," Beasley says.

10. Be engaged in your work.

Arguing with your boss over every request is not a good strategy, but neither is simply shrugging your shoulders and agreeing with everything your boss says. "The manager would like to see an engaged individual," Beasley says. That means both showing enthusiasm for your work and speaking up when you see room for improvement. ( Yahoo! HotJobs )

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Causes of stress

Causes of stress. Stress works in mysterious ways. It can strike in any place at any time and can be brought on by a whole range of factors.

Broadly speaking, the causes fall into two categories; external factors - (things over which you have no control) and internal factors (things within your control).

External causes of stress include:

• Environment: noise, bright lights, heat, confined spaces, overcrowding.

• Other people: rudeness, bossiness or aggressiveness, work: rules, regulations, red tape, company take-overs, redundancies, excessively long hours, shift work, harsh deadlines.

• Major life events: death of a partner, relative or close friend, serious illness, being sacked, redundancy, new job, promotion, marriage, divorce, new baby, moving or buying a house.

• Everyday hassles: commuting, misplacing keys, mechanical breakdowns etc.

Internal causes of stress include:

• Lifestyle: excessive caffeine, smoking, drinking, taking drugs, not enough sleep, trying to do too much.

• Negative thoughts: being pessimistic, self-critical.

• Mindset: unrealistic expectations, taking things personally, all-or-nothing attitude, exaggerating, rigid thinking, lack of flexibility.

• Your personality: Type A, perfectionist, workaholic.

( dailymail.co.uk )

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Scouting Your Talents for Employment Potential.

Scouting Your Talents for Employment Potential. A realistic assessment of your aptitudes can help land a new job.You’ve all heard it before. Find what you’re good at and build a career around it.

It’s advice that makes sense, but not always. Not every talent can necessarily translate easily into a career.

Case in point. I got a letter from a reader named Karina from Hong Kong recently and her comments crystallize what I’m talking about:

“I'm very good at guessing a movie's storyline and my husband agrees that any movie that keeps me guessing to the end is one of the best movies we've ever seen. Are there any jobs out there that can utilize this ‘talent’ of mine?”

We all probably have a long list of these types of “talents,” but thinking you can get these abilities off the couch and into a great job might be a bit naive. I’m not saying it’s impossible. I’m just recommending that you keep your reality check meter on high.

When you’re deciding what career path to take, be realistic about how what you’re good at can actually translate into a job that pays the bills and makes you happy. That means taking time to research professions and companies that may be able to utilize your unique abilities and talking to people who are doing what you envision yourself doing.

It’s not always something obvious, and it can even seem absurd on the surface.

Take Irina Patterson. Three years ago, she discovered she was good at making balloon art and left a career as a PR professional to become a balloon-blowing entrepreneur selling her creations on street corners.

This Miami resident is now charging up to $300 an hour for her “balloon art entertainment” and boasts luxury hotels and rich families as her clients.

“I twist balloon art effortlessly, without even looking at my hands. And people see it, admire it, tell their friends. I don't have to think where my next booking will come from. It will come from word of mouth. It always does,” she explains.

Steve Runge, a former construction business owner from Bellingham, Wash., had a knack for languages, especially biblical languages. He decided to go to seminary school part time to study languages while still running his business and after seven years was able to graduate.

Last year, at the age of 40, he landed a job as scholar-in-residence at Logos Bible Software, which makes products to help pastors and consumers study the Bible.

Runge said he spent a lot of time trying to figure out how his talents could segue into a new career and interacting with people in the field at conferences and over the phone. “This was a 13-year process for me, and at times I got impatient,” he admits. “But it was worth it.”

Tory Johnson, the CEO of Women for Hire, says: “It's almost impossible to learn passion, but it's rarely impossible to build a business based on an existing passion.”

She offered a few examples of individuals who turned passions into careers.

“I found a woman who loves to sew — and most people would say you can't make money on that. Wrong. She teaches sewing lessons to kids and adults — group and private — and sells handbags and accessories she makes,” Johnson explains.

And a California woman who was a compulsive organizer, she adds, made “big bucks helping other people to declutter offices, garages and more. “

If you’re not sure what your passion is, Tevis Gale, founder of workplace consulting firm Balance Integrations, offers these five questions to ask yourself:

• What projects have you done in the past year that have absorbed or delighted you?
• What did you love to do as a kid? What was your favorite game? Not sure? Ask people who knew you then.
• If you walk into a bookstore for no reason, what sections attract you?
• If you had three months to live, what would you spend the next three months doing?
• If you had been born someone you truly admire, who would you be and why?

Since Karina from Hong Kong already knows movie sleuth is her thing, I wondered what the heck she could do with a gift that seems to me to be a career non-starter.

I decided to post Karina’s question on my blog, http://www.CareerDiva.net, and asked readers and career experts to offer her some advice and their take on the topic.

Here’s a sampling:

“The woman from Hong Kong has a unique talent, guessing the endings to movies.

• She could go to work for a movie studio and read screenplays to tell whether or not the endings are too obvious.
• She could do the same for television weekly mystery shows. She could enhance their stories by making the ending less obvious. She could work on ‘Desperate Housewives’ for example.
• She could do the same for writers of mystery novels.
• She could be a mystery novel writer.”

— Dan Coughlin, Dan Coughlin’s Daily Acceleration Blog

“Talent agents, creative agencies, and studios screen projects prior to sending them to their clients or affiliated talent to ensure the screenplay is high caliber enough to put in front of an actor or director. Perhaps you could work for an agency or a production house. Production houses option thousands of screenplays that never make it to production, so your knack for exposing weaker plot lines would be a value in the early stages of the film production process.”

— Matt Dornic, 3 Dog Communications

“It is amazing how many people think their ‘talent’ can be a business. First of all, there has to be a demand for the talent. Just ’cause I think my talent is great doesn’t mean anyone else will, or there is a need. People often love their hobbies until they have to do it when they may or may not feel like it, and it becomes w-o-r-k.
To get ‘hired’ in a traditional sense I have to document the value I bring to a prospective employer.

Remember, my ability to do something is different than getting hired to do it.”

— Anthony W. Beshara, Babich & Associates, a recruitment firm

“I love to read so much that in 5th grade I got in trouble for it. The school librarian and the principal of my elementary school called my mother (and me) into the office to say I was ‘mocking’ the librarian by checking out so many books.
I went on to become the senior publicist at HarperCollins Publishers in New York.”

— Judy Safern, literary publicist, LeadingThinkers

( msn.com )

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Give Patience a Pep Talk

Job Hunting? Give Patience a Pep Talk. You created the résumé. You composed the cover letter. You bought the suit to dress for success. You applied for various job openings and now you wait. You wait for the phone to ring inviting you to interview. You wait to learn of job leads. Waiting … it’s a hard place to be in a job search.

The in-between time in a job search can be a lonely, isolating time. Suddenly, it seems like everyone is working except you. The job search can make you feel benched, out of the game and more of a spectator rather than a player. It’s easy to get the job-hunting blues … that place of being in limbo.

Our mindset can be our enemy or ally. It’s a matter of perspective. The negative mindset can start to gnaw at us with belittling comments. We can start to second-guess ourselves with questions regarding our performance, what we could have done differently, how we could have prevented our situation, and so on.

The feelings of leaving or losing a job when nothing better is on the immediate horizon are described in the Kübler-Ross Model on Death and Dying. Kübler-Ross identified the five stages as denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance (not necessarily in order). Likewise, not having income, loss of benefits and losing a sense of belonging and security are part of the grief process. And so is waiting.

While you are in this place, you might feel the sense of the cup as half-full. It’s an important time for self-care. The dark skies will eventually clear, but taking care of you, reaching out to others and accepting a helping hand can make the journey less agonizing.

Here are some tips to help you deal with the job-hunting blues:

Read

- Reading for pleasure, relaxation or escape allows your mind to be engaged. Research companies or educational opportunities. Make a trip to the library. Consider reading to your children as well.

Reflect

- The question is, what’s next? Take time to ponder the question. This time in your life can provide insight into your strengths, values and contributions to the workplace. Maybe it’s time to retool, return to school, relocate or explore a career change. Take time to be with the issues and uneasiness rather than avoid them. Write down your observations. Take time to deepen the learning as you prepare to forward your action.

Exercise

- It’s just what you might not feel like doing, but it is beneficial. This could be a good time to try yoga, lift weights, walk, bike or play with your children. Exercise is good for the heart and the mind. You might also enjoy the benefits of dropping some weight and firming up your body. The extra energy can be a boost to your job search and a healthier body can help you be more confident for future interviews.

Network

- You’re not the only one looking for work. You don’t have to be alone with the process of a job search. Meet a friend for coffee. Attend a job-transition support group. Contact a temporary employment agency or outplacement specialist. Learn more about support opportunities and options in your area.

Volunteer

- There are opportunities all around. What do you enjoy? How could you contribute? Whether you sort food at a food shelter, visit a nursing home or mow the lawn for an elderly neighbor, volunteering for a few hours can make a difference for you and them. Volunteering can be a form of networking as well. ( msn.com )

READ MORE - Give Patience a Pep Talk

Tips for the Over-50 Job Seeker

Tips for the Over-50 Job Seeker. Milton Berle once joked "youth is the first 50 years of your life, and the first 19 of everybody else's!" Whenever youth officially ends is anybody's guess. But, if you're over 50 and searching for a job, you may feel like the rules have changed.

This is the age of downsizing and corporate cost cutting. If you've found yourself out the door in favor of younger and lower-paid employees, you may be asking yourself, "Have I reached my expiration date? Is this the beginning of the end?" While you may not be able to convince the over-50 job seekers who have taken positions well below their competency and former compensation levels, at least one expert in the human relations field doesn't believe age is that big a factor... if you're prepared.

"Age biases do still exist. All kinds of biases exist in the workplace," says an executive at career services company Lee Hecht Harrison. "But the question of age is becoming less of a factor in building a strong workforce."

Patti O'Neal, vice president and general manager of Lee Hecht Harrison's Indianapolis office, says companies are waking up to the fact that younger workers are more apt to jump from company to company in an effort to build a career while the older worker is more likely to stay the course.

"Stocking your workforce with younger employees may not be the best bet in terms of retention strategy," she says. Does that mean you can waltz right up to that 30-something human resources director and expect him or her to worship your experience? Not likely. It will all come down to what a company is looking for at a given time. If they value the immediate cost savings a younger employee can offer, you're still out of luck. But if you can convince them that your skills are more cost effective, suddenly age becomes less of a factor.

To achieve that, first take a good hard inventory of your skills and qualifications. Once you understand what you have that is marketable and makes you different from other job candidates, O'Neal offers these tips:

Conduct market research:

Identify organizations that will view your experience and skills as relevant to their business equation.

Keep your professional skills current:

One of the myths about older workers is that they are not as technologically savvy as the younger generations. If you are proficient with a computer, put that in your resume. List what software packages you can use. Consider taking a computer class to learn new programs or brush up on your skills. Continuing education is vital, no matter how old you are.

Network, network, network:

Positions at upper levels are not as likely to be advertised, so networking is particularly important for the older professional in the job market. Seek out professional organizations, former colleagues and employees at companies you are interested in. Volunteering in your community or joining a board of a local organization can provide the opportunity to meet your peers and showcase your skills and abilities.

Focus on your accomplishments, not your age:

You can turn around perceived hurdles regarding your age by demonstrating your vitality, experience and work ethic. Focus on your strengths. Position yourself as someone who can get the job done and who can bring a great deal to the table with your unique qualifications.

"Don't apologize for your age. Don't ever joke about it or even mention it," cautions psychologist Nancy Irwin. "Don't assume that age is even an issue. If you do, you create that energy and possibly put off the interviewer. Be proud. Allow all your experience, skills and wisdom to shine. That's what they are hiring." "A company either has to buy talent or build talent," O'Neal adds. "You have to be articulate about your skills and demonstrate you are a learner."

For more job search tips for the seasoned worker, visit PrimeCB.com, a job search site focused on connecting experienced and retired workers with potential employers. ( msn.com )

READ MORE - Tips for the Over-50 Job Seeker

Parent-Child Job Searches

Parent-Child Job Searches. In the current economic climate, people are finding themselves in dire situations. Veteran workers find themselves laid off after 20-plus loyal years with the same company. College graduates, with their diplomas hot off the press, can't find a job. Parents, who perhaps have never had to work outside the home before, find themselves desperate for a job.

Sometimes, these parents find themselves job searching in an unusual situation: with their children.

"This scenario is becoming more prevalent with the current job market, leaving new grads sometimes competing head-to-head with baby boomers and seasoned professionals for jobs," say Diane Crompton and Ellen Sautter, co-authors of "Seven Days to Online Networking: Make Connections to Advance Your Career and Business Quickly." "Job search is a stressful situation for most families to go through. It's easy to highlight the negatives of this scenario but there can be some productive aspects of this as well."

Andrea Densley, 54, and her daughter Maria, 26, are both looking for work. Andrea Densley was laid off in February, and Maria Densley is unemployed after teaching English in Japan and working as a substitute teacher. Although the situation isn't ideal, they are helping each other as best they can.

"While I was a young mother, I never would have imagined this situation. I thought I would be successfully operating my own business. I anticipated that when our daughter graduated from college, she would embark on her chosen career," Andrea Densley says. "It has been hard because I just want to 'fix' things for her, make everything smoother for her. I find job ideas or training opportunities that I think would be very helpful for her, things that seem interesting, yet I have to think through what I am offering and remind myself that she is an adult; this is her life and her decisions to make."

The Densleys say they help each other by sending each other job postings, reviewing each other's résumés and cover letters and, most importantly, providing each other with support and encouragement.

"When I am just feeling burdened by the past-due bills, the disconnect notice of the phone, the struggles to hunt for work and crafting the beginnings of my own business, Maria has encouraged me, told me not to give up, that I was doing a good thing," Andrea Densley says. "It has really made a difference to me."

If you're a parent or child looking for work, here eight ways you can help each other in your job search.

Parents can: Offer privacy protection

"Parents can provide some guidance to their children regarding protecting their online presence. Not all parents have a sophisticated comfort level regarding social media and being 'out there,' but they can advise caution when it comes to showing too much personal or unflattering information that may be picked up in an online search," Crompton and Sautter say. "More and more hiring managers and recruiters are going to their keyboards to find and check out viable candidates. It's a good idea to make sure that whatever turns up in an [Internet] search is on target and portrays the job seeker in the best light."

Children can: Look for the right culture and reward

"Gen Xers and Gen Ys need more in a job than a certain income. Equally important can be the ability to get noticed and rewarded and to have a more personal connection to the corporate culture. This can be an important aspect of considering a next job that could also help a parent to make a well-thought-out decision," Crompton and Sautter say.

Parents can: Be realistic

"With years of experience behind them and working themselves up in the ranks, parents can encourage their children to start with realistic expectations about their first job," Crompton and Sautter say. "The reality of starting in an entry-level role that may not be challenging or an ideal job, but could provide excellent training for a 'next' role, can be a scenario that supports longer-term job objectives."

Children can: Share the knowledge of technology tools

"Young professionals grew up learning to use computers and technology tools as part of their daily lives. Sharing their takeaways and providing guidance on leveraging social media, computers and technology could provide some practical and hands-on tips to parents," Crompton and Sautter say. "This is especially important with the popularity of online networking as part of job search and overall career management. Having a presence online is no longer considered a 'maybe' and is a critical part of a successful job search. Children can share their insider tips and guidance on using social media and professional networking tools including Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to the benefit of their parents."

Parents can: Leverage connections

"With years of professional experience and amassing professional and personal connections, parents can be of real benefit to their children, who may have fewer contacts to leverage when it comes to landing a job," Crompton and Sautter say.

Children can: Offer optimism and energy

"Energy, lack of fear and optimism can be wonderful youthful traits to offset possible cynicism of parents," Crompton and Sautter say.

Parents can: Impart wisdom

"More mature professionals who may have been given outplacement services with their companies can share these practical tips and insights with their children to make their job search as effective as possible," Crompton and Sautter say.

Children can: Land a job

"A child could actually land a job earlier than a more seasoned parent, especially with the likelihood of fewer jobs at senior levels," Crompton and Sautter say. "This could be a wonderful way for a child to feel like a contributor to the household, without being made to feel the entire weight of responsibility on his or her shoulders." ( msn.com )

READ MORE - Parent-Child Job Searches

Social Media's Role in the Job Search

Social Media's Role in the Job Search. The Internet has significantly changed how we carry out many everyday tasks. We don't have to receive bills in the mail or go to the bank to check our account balances. Hop online and almost everything we want to do is at our fingertips. Online job hunting has replaced flipping through the newspaper want ads to find that elusive open position.

Another significant addition to the Internet is social media. Social networking sites have suddenly put us in touch with long-lost friends or helped us make new ones. They're like class reunions and dating services rolled into one. And now they've become professional tools, too. You can use your online profile to display your work history and skill set.

As great as these advances are, some people fail to understand that new isn't always better. Sometimes older, more traditional methods are better than the newer, flashier ones. It's something that plenty of job seekers need to realize when they're looking for work and professionals should think about when using their profiles to network.

The job seeker's friend ... and foe

When looking for work, the biggest drawback to social media is the virtual paper trail you might leave. Attorney Robin Bond reminds job seekers that how you interact with friends is probably not how you interact with a boss or even co-workers, so make sure your professional side is what people see.

"Use separate sites for business and personal contacts," Bond advises. "If you were having a party, it's unlikely you'd invite all your party pals to the same event where you were entertaining your boss and work colleagues." For that reason, take advantage of professional networking sites like LinkedIn and BrightFuse for displaying your skills to potential business contacts and employers.

Keep the more irreverent profiles on a separate site and out of the hands of employers. Even then, Bond cautions against posting potentially damaging photographs because it is the Internet and nothing is entirely private.

"If you think your mom would be embarrassed by something you post, then think twice about posting it," he says.

Naturally, the visibility that could ruin your career could also be what gives you one in the first place. David Gammel, author of "Online and On Mission: Practical Web Strategy for Breakthrough Results," sees the value in social media's prominence when used for good.

"If you have posted lots of content under your identity that enhances your qualifications, it will show up high in search results and benefit how you are perceived," Gammel says. "If that content is unprofessional or otherwise at odds with the job you are pursuing, it may stop you in your tracks."

Although social media are an asset, they have yet to become the definitive way to land a position, he says.

"The best way to find a new job is still through a personal referral from someone who trusts you to someone who trusts them," Gammel says. "Social media might be used for communicating, but it won't create that trust. Good old-fashioned relationships will do that."

Remember the 'network' in social network

For professionals who already have a job, and for those who are considering a career move, social media can supplement traditional networking methods. They don't replace them, but they offer new opportunities alongside them.

"I think the biggest problem is that people treat social media and 'the real world' as if they are two separate modes of contact all too often," says Sam Ford, director of customer insights for communications agency Peppercom Inc. "The best answer is to use a combination of the two when searching for jobs, building relationships with potential employers, building out your network, etc. In my own network and in dealing with job prospects, I've found that a combination of the two makes all the difference in the world."

That amalgamation can add another dimension to an otherwise dull online experience.

"I find myself wanting to connect with people on Twitter [and] accepting LinkedIn connections particularly if we've had a strong face-to-face or phone conversation in the past," Ford says. He found that the online component enriches the relationship and wouldn't have occurred had they never interacted in a traditional way first.

Ultimately, what job seekers and professionals interested in networking need to remember is that business doesn't exist only online or face-to-face. Technology is part of everyday business and there are people behind those Tweets and profiles, so you should remember to make both new and traditional methods part of your networking practices. ( msn.com )

READ MORE - Social Media's Role in the Job Search

Try Cold Calling in Your Job Search

Try Cold Calling in Your Job Search. There are few things job seekers dread more than making cold calls. However, if you are serious about finding a job -- and in these tough times, you have to be -- it is pretty much a requirement. You might just land the perfect opportunity as a result of speaking with people you don't know very well (or even at all) who can support you in your job search. At first, cold calling can feel like "picking up a 10,000-pound telephone," but that is something you must overcome.

Fear is probably the No.1 reason people avoid making telephone calls as part of a job search. Fear and faith make poor roommates because one dispels the other. Nobody wants to be rejected. However, like they say in sports -- you miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take, so you might as well give it a go. Employers expect these kinds of calls as part of their job and are usually willing to talk to callers. Good companies and managers are always interested in talented candidates, even if they aren't referred to them by a recruiter or human resources. Here are some tips for when it's time to reach out:

1. Write a script for improved effectiveness.

• Outline what you want to get across on the telephone to give you the advantage of a polished message. The time to rehearse is not when you are talking to your contact.
• Time yourself not to exceed 60 seconds. Practice a 10-20 second version, better known as an elevator pitch.
• Make your first impression a good one. Sound energetic and enthusiastic, even if you're feeling discouraged. Fake it until you make it.

2. Getting past the telephone gatekeeper

The first person to answer the telephone may be a receptionist, or "gatekeeper," and requires diplomacy. You have to find the right balance between being blunt and being dishonest.

Example: "Hello, my name is Susan Jones. Would you please tell me the name of the manager involved in your company's hiring decisions?" When you are ready, call and ask to speak to the manager by name. If the greeter asks you about the nature of your call, simply tell him or her that you want to address a letter to the manager with information that may be of interest. Also, be sure to ask for the correct spelling of that manager's name.

3. Voice message

If you must leave a message after a few unsuccessful attempts at getting in touch with the hiring manager, leave a brief message.

Example: "I would like to talk with you about my qualifications for the program director position and learn whether there might be a mutual interest in my candidacy."

• Use the name of the person who referred you, if possible.
• Avoid phone tag by offering two proposed times. Ask the manager to call to confirm.
• Recite your name and telephone number slowly. Saying this information too quickly may cost you a call back.
• Be prepared for an interview over the phone.
• You may be able to reach the executive before or after regular nine-to-five office hours.
• It is acceptable to leave up to about three or four voice mails; your persistence may pay off. You may lose a job opportunity waiting for an employer to return your call. Someone who is clearly interested will get the job instead.

4. Phone interview

If and when you finally do get the hiring manager on the phone, it is much more impressive if you can connect with him or her on a personal level. Breaking the ice before the call has even begun is a great way to relieve tension for both parties.

• Perform research to reference something unique about the company or the individual. This allows you to differentiate yourself from other applicants.
• Reach out to individuals on LinkedIn and other social networking sites that serve as a bridge to cold-calling and the desired face-to-face conversations. Work up to meeting with people after developing relationships through e-mail and discussions on the Internet. This is a "safe" way to develop relationships.
• Go one step warmer. Find a connection between you and the person you want to reach. Begin with people within organizations who can be helpful, without asking for a job. Request an introduction or advice on your résumé, or ask if you can job shadow to better understand the expectations for the job title.

In summary, engage in these activities to help transform discouragement into hope that you will land another job. Expect some discouraging periods at times, but that is not permission to give in to them and just stop. Feel the fear and pick up the 10,000-pound telephone anyway. Show courage in the midst of feeling fear. Our greatest challenges are usually the means that give way to significant professional growth. You must move forward to reach your goals. Keep a spirit of hope in the present; if you were happy in the past you can create a happy work environment again.( msn.com )

READ MORE - Try Cold Calling in Your Job Search

There are few things job seekers dread more than making cold calls. However, if you are serious about finding a job

There are few things job seekers dread more than making cold calls. However, if you are serious about finding a job -- and in these tough times, you have to be -- it is pretty much a requirement. You might just land the perfect opportunity as a result of speaking with people you don't know very well (or even at all) who can support you in your job search. At first, cold calling can feel like "picking up a 10,000-pound telephone," but that is something you must overcome.

Fear is probably the No.1 reason people avoid making telephone calls as part of a job search. Fear and faith make poor roommates because one dispels the other. Nobody wants to be rejected. However, like they say in sports -- you miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take, so you might as well give it a go. Employers expect these kinds of calls as part of their job and are usually willing to talk to callers. Good companies and managers are always interested in talented candidates, even if they aren't referred to them by a recruiter or human resources. Here are some tips for when it's time to reach out:

1. Write a script for improved effectiveness.

• Outline what you want to get across on the telephone to give you the advantage of a polished message. The time to rehearse is not when you are talking to your contact.
• Time yourself not to exceed 60 seconds. Practice a 10-20 second version, better known as an elevator pitch.
• Make your first impression a good one. Sound energetic and enthusiastic, even if you're feeling discouraged. Fake it until you make it.

2. Getting past the telephone gatekeeper

The first person to answer the telephone may be a receptionist, or "gatekeeper," and requires diplomacy. You have to find the right balance between being blunt and being dishonest.

Example: "Hello, my name is Susan Jones. Would you please tell me the name of the manager involved in your company's hiring decisions?" When you are ready, call and ask to speak to the manager by name. If the greeter asks you about the nature of your call, simply tell him or her that you want to address a letter to the manager with information that may be of interest. Also, be sure to ask for the correct spelling of that manager's name.

3. Voice message

If you must leave a message after a few unsuccessful attempts at getting in touch with the hiring manager, leave a brief message.

Example: "I would like to talk with you about my qualifications for the program director position and learn whether there might be a mutual interest in my candidacy."

• Use the name of the person who referred you, if possible.
• Avoid phone tag by offering two proposed times. Ask the manager to call to confirm.
• Recite your name and telephone number slowly. Saying this information too quickly may cost you a call back.
• Be prepared for an interview over the phone.
• You may be able to reach the executive before or after regular nine-to-five office hours.
• It is acceptable to leave up to about three or four voice mails; your persistence may pay off. You may lose a job opportunity waiting for an employer to return your call. Someone who is clearly interested will get the job instead.

4. Phone interview

If and when you finally do get the hiring manager on the phone, it is much more impressive if you can connect with him or her on a personal level. Breaking the ice before the call has even begun is a great way to relieve tension for both parties.

• Perform research to reference something unique about the company or the individual. This allows you to differentiate yourself from other applicants.
• Reach out to individuals on LinkedIn and other social networking sites that serve as a bridge to cold-calling and the desired face-to-face conversations. Work up to meeting with people after developing relationships through e-mail and discussions on the Internet. This is a "safe" way to develop relationships.
• Go one step warmer. Find a connection between you and the person you want to reach. Begin with people within organizations who can be helpful, without asking for a job. Request an introduction or advice on your résumé, or ask if you can job shadow to better understand the expectations for the job title.

In summary, engage in these activities to help transform discouragement into hope that you will land another job. Expect some discouraging periods at times, but that is not permission to give in to them and just stop. Feel the fear and pick up the 10,000-pound telephone anyway. Show courage in the midst of feeling fear. Our greatest challenges are usually the means that give way to significant professional growth. You must move forward to reach your goals. Keep a spirit of hope in the present; if you were happy in the past you can create a happy work environment again.( msn.com )

READ MORE - There are few things job seekers dread more than making cold calls. However, if you are serious about finding a job

Job Listings: Cracking the Code

Job Listings: Cracking the Code. If you've ever looked at a job listing and thought, "I'd be perfect for this job, if only...," you understand the discouragement a lot of job seekers feel.

When it comes to meeting the qualifications for a job, is there any flexibility? That depends on the employer, but in most cases, the answer is yes. Certainly, it helps to understand how your own experience and needs match up to what the employer wants and is willing to offer, which isn't always an easy task, thanks to the obscure language typical of many job listings.

Here are some common job listing terms and what they really mean for job candidates.

"Preferred skills" and "Required skills"

"When a job listing says 'required,' it's a lot firmer. Employers are trying to narrow the field," says Tom Allen, director of career services at DeVry University in Decatur, Ga. A skill that's listed as "preferred" is not necessarily essential for a candidate to have. In today's competitive world, however, it's unrealistic for employers to expect to get a candidate who meets all of their requirements, and employers may relax some of those requirements for a candidate who meets at least most of the requirements. "If you meet 50 to 60 percent of the qualifications, that's probably not enough," Allen says. "But if you're pushing past 80 percent, you've got a good shot."

"Command of" and "Working knowledge of"

If you have "working knowledge of" a certain program, you know the basics of how to operate that program; if you have "command of" a program, you have enough experience with it to be able to explain how it works and use it for more complex projects or a higher level of work.

"Entry-level" and "Experienced"

If a job posting indicates it's an entry-level position, employers are typically looking for someone who has been out of college up to two years, Allen says. "Experienced" candidates usually have been working for three or more years in the industry or have graduate degrees, which can account for some work experience.

And then there's the little matter of payment...

Confused by the terms like "competitive" or "scale"? When it comes to salary, research is essential. Online search sites like CBsalary.com provide the average salary for one's profession, city and level of experience. By figuring out what the "competitive" salary for that job is, candidates can figure out their worth and put up an asking price that's fair to both themselves and employers.

If an employer asks for salary requirements, Allen says it's preferable to avoid it altogether, because if you name a salary that's too low, you are selling yourself short; but if you give too high a number, you can automatically take yourself out of the running. The best way to avoid providing a requirement is to give a range -- one that you can live with. Again, do your research beforehand.

There's less wiggle room, however, when employers ask job seekers to provide salary histories. Because employers can easily verify a candidate's history, it's best to be up front about that, says Allen, who's known some employers who ask to see copies of W-2's.

If you're still unsure as to whether your skills match a certain job or whether you'd fit in with a company, Allen advises getting an inside opinion. Try to network within the company or the industry in order to meet people who can answer your questions or advise you.

Learning all you can about a company's culture and the job itself is critical to any job search. Do your research and you'll have an edge over others who are competing for the same position, because you'll be prepared and confident come time for the interview, Allen says. "If you play sports, you practice and train to have as sharp an edge as the other athletes," he says. "Competing for a job is no different." ( msn.com )

READ MORE - Job Listings: Cracking the Code

Social Networking Can Be Hazardous to Your Job Search

Social Networking Can Be Hazardous to Your Job Search. That cute, affable guy who brags of his drunken exploits on FaceBook.com may be meeting a lot of other partiers online, but he's probably not getting added to the "friends" lists of many corporate recruiters. A recent study by the executive search firm ExecuNet found that 77 percent of recruiters run searches of candidates on the Web to screen applicants; 35 percent of these same recruiters say they've eliminated a candidate based on the information they uncovered.

"You'd be surprised at what I've seen when researching candidates," says Gail, a recruiter at a Fortune 500 company who recently began looking up potential hires on the Web. "We were having a tough time deciding between two candidates until I found the profile of one of them on MySpace. It boasted a photo of her lounging on a hammock in a bikini, listed her interests as 'having a good time' and her sex as 'yes, please.' Not quite what we were looking for." "Another time I went to a candidate's site and found racial slurs and jokes," Gail continues. "And there was yet another instance where a candidate told me he was currently working for a company, yet he left a comment on a friend's profile about how it 'sucked' to be laid off, and how much fun it was to be unemployed!"

As the amount of personal information available online grows, first impressions are being formed long before the interview process begins, warns David Opton, ExecuNet CEO and founder. "Given the implications and the shelf-life of Internet content, managing your online image is something everyone should address -- regardless of whether or not you're in a job search," he says. Because the risks don't stop once you're hired. Twenty-three-year old Kara recently took a job as a management consultant at a high-profile practice in the Los Angeles area.

An Ohio native, with no friends or family on the West Coast, Kara put up a profile on MySpace in the hopes of meeting new people. Kara was judicious in how she set up her site: "I didn't fill out that cheesy questionnaire many people post, where you describe your best feature and say whether or not you shower every day." she says. "I used a photo that was flattering but not at all provocative and was even careful what music I chose." Within a few months, Kara met many others online who shared her interest in biking and water sports. One Friday morning, Kara decided to call in sick and go surfing with a few of her new pals.

That weekend, unbeknownst to Kara, her friend posted some of the day's pictures on her profile and sent Kara a message saying, "We should call in sick more often." Unfortunately for Kara, her boss happened to be patrolling MySpace to check up on her college-age daughter and came across Kara's site and the dated photos! Mortified, Kara says she learned an important lesson -- not only about honesty, but about how small the world of online social networking can be and how little control you have over any information put out there.

Not all employers search candidates and employees online, but the trend is growing. Don't let online social networking deep-six your career opportunities. Protect your image by following these simple tips:

1. Be careful. Nothing is private.

Don't post anything on your site or your "friends" sites you wouldn't want a prospective employer to see. Derogatory comments, revealing or risqué photos, foul language and lewd jokes all will be viewed as a reflection of your character.

2. Be discreet.

If your network offers the option, consider setting your profile to "private," so that it is viewable only by friends of your choosing. And since you can't control what other people say on your site, you may want to use the "block comments" feature. Remember, everything on the Internet is archived, and there is no eraser!

3. Be prepared.

Check your profile regularly to see what comments have been posted. Use a search engine to look for online records of yourself to see what is out there about you. If you find information you feel could be detrimental to your candidacy or career, see about getting it removed ( msn.com )

READ MORE - Social Networking Can Be Hazardous to Your Job Search