Victoria wanted a job that would enable her to use her creativity. After assessing personal traits and exploring compatible options, Victoria decided to establish her own boutique. When Murray lost his job, he started searching immediately for a similar position. Although there are individual differences, these stories underscore some of the traditional differences between how men and women tend to manage career transitions...

Do you make great first impressions at job interviews or business meetings? Do you present yourself professionally when making phone, fax, e-mail or videoconference contacts? First impressions are critical. Research suggests that people evaluate others within the first minute. Decisions are usually based on appearance, posture, speech, and demeanor. Many business transactions are won or lost in the first few minutes.Do you...

"A colleague is not attending to safety details…" As a professional, how would you handle this issue? What does professionalism mean to you? The American Heritage Dictionary and the Oxford Dictionary define a professional as a person having a high degree of knowledge, skill, judgment, and continuing practice in a particular activity.Typically, professionals provide a service in exchange for payment or salary in accordance w...

QUESTERS Take Charge of Your Career Are you a Quester? Would you like to become one? What are Questers, anyway? Questers have been around for centuries. Many have made significant contributions to humankind. Galilei Galilio, the Italian physicist, proved the earth revolved around the sun; and Dame Margaret Thatcher fought for the right of individuals to run their own lives. My research on occupational change, describ...

Do you feel moody, apprehensive, unhappy? Are you wondering what to do with your life? You know that something’s missing, but you can’t put your finger on it.My research on occupational change, described in "Questers Dare to Change Your Job and Life," suggest that growing adults experience cycles of discontent every five to ten years with the average cycle occurring every 7.5 years.These periods of dissatisfaction may cause...

What do enjoy doing on Labor Day? What does Labor Day mean to you?Labor Day is so much a part of our culture that we rarely pause to consider its purpose and meaning. Labor Day is often more associated with fairs and a long weekend, than its original meaning – affirmation of the dignity and worth of workers. Labor Day began in Canada in 1872, when the Toronto Trades Assembly organised the first significant workers' demonstr...

Mike has emailed 500 resumes over the past few months, but still has no responses. Is your search coming up empty? Are you knowledgeable about appropriate job-hunting strategies? Answer True or False:1. Responding to want ads is a waste of time.2. Effective job hunters devote many hours to research.3. You need to sell yourself to get the right job.4. Executive Recruiter is another name for employment agency.5. Networking is...

"I quit my job by email since that's how I normally communicated with my boss. But a company's firing by email got me thinking that quitting by email may not be appropriate ..." Have you had enough? Is quitting the right option? If so, resign with class. But first, know why you're leaving. Do you have patience with customers or co-workers? Are company policies and ethics congruent with your values? Do you have...

Charles, 32, a biologist, has two great job offers. One is with an older, established public corporation, and the second with a fast growing four-year old private firm. Charles does not know which one to accept. What type of company would you prefer? What criteria should Charles use when making this decision?Most important, evaluate the job in terms of its compatibility with your personal qualities and desired career goals...