by cjxpadmin | May 1, 2012 | Job Search, May 2012 Magazine, This Issue's FEATURE, Uncategorized
INITIATIVE
What is the definition of initiative? Well, when you’re talking about a personal nature such as social settings, it would be an introductory act or step, leading action, such as it would take initiative to make friends. In other settings, it could mean readiness and ability in initiating action, something enterprising or adventurous. Now when you are talking about your own personal self, 
you would take responsibility, make a decision or bottom line, to act on one’s own initiative. Well, that’s what Webster says.
Take the Initiative. In life, you will never feel the exhilaration of doing something fun or adventurous or maybe even a little dangerous. Do you dare? Sometimes, you have to take the initiative to go beyond what you feel is safe. Why do we do this? Because it’s life guys, okay? There are many things out there that maybe haven’t touched your life yet, but you will never know this if you don’t take the initiative.
Initiative at Work. The same holds true in your work and your career. If you are working somewhere in an entry level position and a position comes up that could help you move up the ladder, so to speak, would you apply for it? Well, who wouldn’t, right? 
Sure, but you need to take the initiative to make that happen. I will tell you a story about a good friend of mine who was in this very same situation. He has been working at the same entry level position at this big corporation for over a year. He is a very hard worker and a very conscientious person, but yet, he is still in that entry level position. So what did he do? He took the initiative. He saw his chance to do something different in his everyday process of working, so he spoke up about how something could be done differently. His supervisor took notice and has now asked him to apply for an upcoming position with the company, not as a temporary worker which he currently is, but as a permanent employee — with benefits! YAY! That’s a good feeling. And this all came about because he took the initiative.
So, when on your job, taking the initiative simply means that you will go beyond your job title or duties to get something done. On any job, as you grow in the job and as you gain more experience and know-how, higher-ups expect you to show initiative. They want you to be able to be more flexible, have answers to
problems or even initiate a new procedure to save time or money, like my friend did on his job.
Here are a few tips for you to show initiative:
- Always keep yourself busy. When you have completed your duties, find something else to do to make the job situation better. Take on extra duties if you can.
- Establish a good rapport with your supervisor and with his superiors.
- Think up ways to improve your work environment.
- If you see something that is being done wrong or inefficiently, bring a suggestion forward.
- Volunteer to help with work-related committees or company fundraisers.
- Always, always keep your mind open to change.
So, look around you. What change can you make? In anything? Home, school, work, personal, anything? Just set your mind to something you want to change and make it happen. It’s in your control.
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by cjxpadmin | May 1, 2012 | Job Readiness, May 2012 Magazine, This Issue's FEATURE, Uncategorized
ILLEGAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Have you ever been to an interview and you were asked certain questions and in your mind, you wondered, “Was that question legal?” “Should I answer that or object?” Well, it happens to a lot of people. There are various situations where you may be asked questions that could go either way. There are, however, some questions that are illegal and we are getting ready to cover that right now. Pay attention to the Example Tables because they will show you some good examples of some of those illegal questions and then it will give you possible alternatives, legally speaking.
AGE? DATE OF BIRTH?
Age-based inquiries should be avoided because state law prohibits discrimination against persons age 40 and older. An age inquiry may be made to ensure a person is “old enough” to work for the job being filled, or if the job is among the few where age discrimination is permitted such as physically dangerous or hazardous work or driving a school bus.
| Example of Illegal Questions |
Possible Legal Alternatives |
| How old are you? |
Are you over the age of 18? |
| When is your birthday? |
Can you, after employment, provide proof of age? |
| In what year were you born? |
|
| In what year did you graduate from college/high school? |
|
MARITAL/FAMILY STATUS
(often alludes to sexual orientation)
The purpose of these “family” inquiries is to explore what some employers believe is a common source of absenteeism and tardiness. Typically, these questions are asked only of women making the inquiry clearly unlawful. However, even if such inquiries are made of both men and women, the questions may still be suspect. Such information has been used to discriminate against women because of society’s general presumption that they are the primary care givers. If the employer’s concern is regular work attendance, a better question would be, “Is there anything that would interfere with regular attendance at work?”
| Example of Illegal Questions |
Possible Legal Alternatives |
Are you married?  |
Would you be willing to re-locate, if necessary? |
| Do you have a permanent partner? |
Travel is an important part of the job. Do you have any restrictions on your ability to travel? |
| With whom do you live? |
Do you have responsibilities or commitments that will prevent you from meeting specified work schedules? |
| How many children do you have? |
 |
Are you pregnant? |
Do you anticipate any absences from work on a regular basis? If so, please explain the circumstances? |
| Do you expect to have a family? When? How many children will you have? |
|
| What are your child care arrangements? |
|
PERSONAL
Minimum height and weight requirements are unlawful if they screen out a disproportionate number of women or minorities. Unless the employer can show that a height or weight requirement is essential for job performance, such inquiries should be avoided.
Questions about height and weight are always illegal unless it can be proven that there are minimum requirements to do the job.
| Example of Illegal Questions |
Possible Legal Alternatives |
| How tall are you? |
|
| How much do you weigh? |
Are you able to lift a 50-pound weight and carry it 100 yards, as that is part of the job? |
|
 |
DISABILITIES
Inquiries about a person’s disability, health or worker’s compensation histories are unlawful if they imply or express a limitation based on disability. Under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, any inquiry at the pre-employment stage, which would likely require an applicant to disclose a disability, is unlawful. Employers must avoid such inquiries or medical examinations before making a bona fide job offer.
However, an employer may inquire about an applicant’s ability to perform certain job functions and, within certain limits, may conduct tests of all applicants to determine if they can perform essential job functions, with or without an accommodation.
| Example of Illegal Questions |
Possible Legal Alternatives |
| Do you have any disabilities? |
Are you able to perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodations? (This is a legalquestion if the interviewer thoroughly described the job.) |
| Have you had any recent illness or operations |
Will you be able to carry out in a safe manner all job assignments necessary for this position? |
| Please complete the medical questionnaire. |
Are you able to lift a 50-pound weight and carry it 100 yards, as that is part of the job? |
| What was the date of your last physical exam? |
NB: Medical exams are legal AFTER an offer has been extended; results should be held strictly confidential except for reasons of safety. |
| How’s your family’s health? |
|
| When did you lose your eyesight/leg/hearing/etc? |
|
NATIONAL ORIGIN/CITIZENSHIP
Inquiries about a person’s citizenship or country of birth are unlawful and imply discrimination on the basis of national origin. A lawfully immigrated alien may not be discriminated against on the basis of citizenship. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 require employers to verify the legal status and right to work of all new hires. Employers should not ask applicants to state their national origin, but should ask if they have a legal right to work in America, and explain that verification of that right must be submitted after the decision to hire has been made. To satisfy verification requirements, employers should ask all new hires for documents establishing both identity and work authorization.
| Example of Illegal Questions |
Possible Legal Alternatives |
| Where were you/your parents born? |
Do you have any language abilities that would be helpful in doing this job? (Legal, if language ability is directly relevant to job performance.) |
| What is your native language? |
Are you authorized to work in the United States? |
| What is your country of citizenship? |
 |
| Are you a U.S. citizen? |
|
ARREST RECORD
There are laws that prohibits inquiries about past arrest records but permits consideration of a current arrest. If an applicant is under arrest for an offense that is substantially related to the job, an employer may suspend judgment until the case is resolved, advises the applicant to reapply when the charge is resolved, or refuse to employ the applicant. A current employee who is arrested may be suspended if the charge is substantially related to the job.
An employer may not refuse to employ or discharge a person with a conviction record unless the circumstances of the conviction substantially relate to the circumstances of the job. If an inquiry about convictions is made, the employer should add a clarifier, “A conviction will not necessarily disqualify you from employment. It will be considered only as it may relate to the job you are seeking”. Anyone who evaluates conviction record information should be knowledgeable about how such data may be used.
| Example of Illegal Questions |
Possible Legal Alternatives |
| Have you ever been arrested? |
Have you ever been convicted of ____ crime? (Legal, if the crime is reasonably relevant to the job; e.g. embezzlement for a banking job.) |
|
 |
|
|
AFFILIATIONS
| Example of Illegal Questions |
Possible Legal Alternatives |
| What clubs or social organizations do you belong to? |
List any professional or trade groups or other organizations that you belong to that you consider relevant to your ability to perform this job. |
RACE/COLOR/RELIGION
This question may discourage an applicant whose religion prohibits Saturday or Sunday work. If a question about weekend work is asked, the employer should indicate that a reasonable effort is made to accommodate religious beliefs or practices. An employer is not required to make an accommodation if doing so would create an undue hardship on the business.
| Example of Illegal Questions |
Possible Legal Alternatives |
| All questions are illegal. |
Are you available for work on Saturday and Sunday? |
by cjxpadmin | Apr 30, 2012 | May 2012 Magazine, Uncategorized
Food Substitutes
So you spent the entire winter on hibernation from exercise, huh? Put on a few pounds, or maybe you just want to get fit for the summer! The only problem is diets are restrictive, weight loss food tastes like cardboard, and all the good stuff has tons of calories. Well I’m here to tell you that by making little changes in your diet, you can slowly whittle your waist line and still eat the foods you love! By substituting certain things or not doing some things you can cut some of the calories in the foods you adore, thereby, still enjoying that mocha double fudge brownie that you snuck out from the kitchen in the middle of the night!
Everyday Calorie Savers. Rocco DiSpirito, author of the book “Now Eat This” says that little changes impact your weight in a big way! Instead of using butter use real fruit jam. Have a baked potato instead of the fries, or instead of drinking sugar laden orange juice, just eat the orange instead. Removing the skin from chicken breast or dabbing your pizza with a napkin before you bite into it can save you at least 100 calories at a time! WOW!
It’s In the Drinks. Of course you hear how alcohol and soda have fattening qualities, but what about the harmless things such as tea? Unsweetened tea has zero calories, sweet tea, however, has a ton of them! Most people don’t realize how often they are drinking their calories. They have these elaborate healthy meals, but trade off with soda or sugary fruit juice. It’s not your entire fault. David Zinczenko 
and Matt Goulding, co-authors of “Eat This, Not That” state that advertising plays a large role in what we think is healthy. Think that Vitamin Water is good for you? It’s not the worst you can do, but the minor amount of vitamins in one of those drinks is completely obliterated by the sugar that keeps you from tasting those vitamins. They aren’t saying not to have your favorite drink, but don’t make it your main source of liquid throughout the day. Water is your best bet… unless it’s from a radioactive fountain and that’s a whole other set of problems… WAH!
Meat Eaters. Are you a meat eater who’s tired of chicken every day? You too can expand on your meat selections at dinner time! You just have to be smart about what you pick up at the grocery store. Instead of fattier cuts of meat like prime rib, choose beef round, sirloin tips, or tenderloin. Instead of pork chops from the shoulder, try the ones that are lean pork loin. Instead of regular bacon, look for Canadian or Turkey Bacon. By studying the cuts of meat you get at the store, you can shrink the amount of calories at the base of your recipe! STUDY!
Sauces, Gravies and Condiments. Who doesn’t love barbecue sauce? You don’t have to lie about wanting the cook to ladle extra gravy on your mashed potatoes. Waiter, you forgot the cream gravy for my chicken fried steak. Ketchup anyone? Realistically, you aren’t going to omit these things from your meal. Ideally by doing that, you could slash up to 150 calories per meal, but realistically, that sauce isn’t going anywhere. We are here to tell you that you don’t have to suffer without them! Use skim milk when making the cream gravy. Buy ketchup that’s organic, and not all barbeque sauce has to have its own weight in brown sugar. Don’t skip these things, cause you’ll feel deprived, just modify them or just use half the amount you normally would. Even by using less, you’ve cut calories and still gotten the taste of things you love. YES LESS!
Pasta. Once upon a time, whole wheat pasta used to be more expensive then regular pasta. That is no longer true. Large chain stores like Walmart are doing their best to make healthier food options more affordable for everyday people. Try pastas made from whole grain or maybe a lower carb version of your favorite linguine. Not only will they taste just as fantastic, they will add color to your table. They have pastas made from brown rice, vegetables, corn, you name it! There are literally hundreds of things that you can do with pasta and no limit to the things you can add to them to make a healthy meal! YUMMY!
Veggies. It can be hard to get your full servings of fruit and veggies for the day. We are here to tell you that you just have to be sneaky about how you do it. Grab an apple for a snack instead of that candy bar. Keep a banana in your bag instead of that commercial granola bar. Cut up celery, carrots, or any other vegetable and munch on that while watching your movies. And the number 1# sneaky way of getting your leafy greens…. Use less meat. I know it sounds like a pain, but by using more vegetables in your meals, you cannot only cut some of the calories, but you can also slice the price of the meal. Making chili? Throw in some corn! Why not add broccoli to that wheat pasta dish you just made. Throw some more carrots into that stew! By adding vegetables into your normal dinner fare, you’re sneaking nutrition into your day without even trying! GREAT!
No one is telling you that you can’t have the things you love. If you really feel a craving for that item, then don’t hesitate; don’t have any regrets, but if you are noshing on something just because you love the taste of it, a little substituting can make that favorite food not only taste good, but good for you! GOOD LUCK!
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by cjxpadmin | Apr 30, 2012 | Job Readiness, May 2012 Magazine, Uncategorized
You Are Your Own Worst Critic
“You are your own worst critic.” Truer words have never been spoken. This especially applies when you’re sitting in front of an employer at an interview shaking in your Doc Martins when they ask you to describe yourself. What do you tell them? How do you find the words to say that will make you more appealing? Well, I can’t tell you what those are, but I can tell you how you can find out what to say.
Always Smile. I can’t stress this enough! You can say almost anything as long as you say it with a smile! When you’re upbeat, employers pick up on that. They know when you’re unhappy and if you come off as an unhappy person, it could affect how they look at your resume. Yes, you may have fantastic credentials, but if you’re not going to get along with the rest of his staff, it’s like inviting a problem in through the front doors. So always remember to show those pearly whites when you first meet someone.
Make a Personal Resume. This is not to be confused with your work resume. Just like you make a grocery list, you should always make a list of your personal strengths (See The Resume Wiz’s article as well as ___ featured in this month’s issue). That is your personal resume! By knowing what you do and do really well, it will make it five times easier to speak about it to others. Do you parasail and shark hunt? Then put that on your personal resume! Do you macramé and stitch goat hair into purses? Throw that on the list too! Why? Cause not only are you an adventurous go getter who has creative solutions to every problem… you’re also prepared for any and all occasions. Making a list about your good points allows you to be prepared for any questions an employer throws at you about yourself.
Get Rid of Negative People. That little voice in the back of your head that tells you that you can’t do something sounds an
awful lot like Aunt Theodora, doesn’t it? Or, maybe your anti-Jimminy Cricket sounds likes your friend Travis. Sometimes the negative things that we feel about ourselves come from other people. When you allow other people to criticize you, you leave
yourself open to internalizing the negative energy that they are projecting on to you. Don’t do that. You are grown, you know what you need to fix about yourself. Don’t let Betty and Veronica over there tell you something that may not even be true.
Spoil Yourself. I don’t mean go to the spa or buy yourself a new toy every weekend. Just do little nice things for yourself that remind you that you are worth it. Maybe a street vendor is selling flowers on the side of the road, so pick up one for yourself. Is that a new SD card for your camera that’s on sale? Grab it! When you do little things for yourself, you remind yourself that you’re worth it. If you think you are worth it, then you are less likely to criticize yourself.
Accept Yourself. Do you know your shortcomings? Do you know what your weak points are? Can you name them by rote? Excellent, now stop it. You know what you don’t like about yourself. You’re either going to fix it or you’re going to accept it. There are things that we can change about ourselves through practice and dedication. Then, there are those things that are inherent to our personalities that aren’t going anywhere. Change the things you can and accept the rest. You cannot keep beating yourself up over things that make you who you are.
At the end of the day, that need to criticize yourself is really just a bad habit. It is one that is inside everyone and re-surfaces just when you think you’ve got it beat. Or it shows up at bad times like before a job interview or a test you have to take. With practice and a little diligence, you may not be able to get rid of that voice of doubt in your head, but you can at least muzzle it so that it doesn’t keep you from doing the things that you truly want to do!
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by cjxpadmin | Apr 1, 2012 | Job Search, Resume, Spring 2016 Magazine, This Issue's FEATURE
Few can deny the benefits of helping others. It gives you that warm special feeling that lets your heart grow 3 sizes every year. There is nothing like helping someone and seeing the smile and hearing the “thank you” that comes when you have made a difference in someone’s life. One cannot explain the satisfied feeling you get when you hand a child a toy that he/she wanted and how their faces light up like a Christmas tree. And if that’s not enough to get you to your nearest soup kitchen and roll up your sleeves, here’s another reason. Do you know how good volunteer work looks on your resume? Not only will volunteering catch the interest of your employer, it will also give you experience that you don’t have to pay for — does not cost you a cent! You can build your portfolio and do something for someone else! It’s the season of giving and sharing and there are a lot of opportunities to get out and give back to the community. Although if you’re industrious and don’t feel like waiting on a particular time of year to get involved, we have some tips on how to find the right place and ways for you to get out and help out!
Homeless Shelters.
These are everywhere and they always need help. You can help at meal times directly at the shelter. They might need help in the office area.
A lot of paper work comes with running this type of organization and most of the staff are volunteers — just like you. They are getting paid little or no money for their free time and they would welcome the help.
Food Collection.
This is one of the easiest ways to help. You virtually don’t have to do anything, but put a box in a place where you know people will put canned goods. All you need is a place to collect the food, something to put the food in, and a place to drop it off. There are food banks in most cities that would love to have the help and are practically operated through the donations of others. Not really feeling donating to homeless shelters? Pet shelters need the same help. Feeding all of those animals is a job-and-a-half. They are spending so much money trying to keep up with and pay for the bills that any food contribution you could make would be very welcome. Just call your local humane or animal shelters and find out what the requirements are and you’re off and running!
Spare Time Volunteering.
Some of us are super busy. We may not have the hour to devote to whatever charity is knocking on our door. But most hobbies have a charity that will accept your donations. Do you crochet? Maybe there is a child program that needs blankets. Wood working is your choice? Great! You can enter your item in a charity auction. Not only does this allow you to take time for yourself, but you can donate your project to a worthy cause! And if you’re going into business for yourself, it’s a free way to get your name out there. It is a win-win situation for everyone!
Working with Children and the Elderly.
Not only does this show you’re a team player, you can have a lot of fun! Children’s hospitals need assistance from people to help them run story hours. You can be a 
candy striper and get your foot in the door at a medical facility. Go to old age facilities and visit with the patients. You’ll get to hear stories of their lives. Learn some new things. Did you know anything about cars? They might. Also, you don’t know who someone knows. And that little old lady you’re feeding apple sauce to may have a son who is a manager at that very office where you were hoping to get an internship. It can happen.
Public Organizations.
Libraries, political campaigns, hospitals, and environmental groups all need volunteers. You think these places run themselves? Each of these places offers the chance for you to make contacts in all types of industries. It gives you the chance to not only help others, but it will give you the chance to network. You never know where your first or new job is coming from and this may be your chance to find one!
Call Centers.
If you have ever watched television and seen someone call a suicide hotline, then you know how desperate these places are to get help. These places need people to answer calls and help people find their way through whatever problem they are having.
Good with advice and easy to talk to? This might be your thing. You are making a difference in the life of someone that needs help immediately. This gives you experience in answering telephones and other office work as they are always looking for help in all areas.
Click Page Charities.
This one is the easiest one to do. All you need is an internet connection and computer. If you’re surfing the net often, just pull up a site of click charities. These are sites that get money when you click on their link. Just Google Charity Click sites and it will pull up literally hundreds of sites that you don’t have to do anything, except click on them for them to get help. By driving traffic to those sites, you are helping them pay for their administrative fees and donating to whatever charity you’re supporting. Pretty sweet deal for just a few seconds of your time!
Hope this helps! If you want more ways to help, head to your local library or google your town and charities. There are literally hundreds of ways to find projects to help and get your name out there. Everyone’s life is like a piece of paper. Don’t you want the make you make to be a good one?
