How to Get a Job (the practical way)

Most of you have (at one point or another) applied for a job and had an interview to determine if you are a good candidate. Regardless of your current position, you may feel the need to find new employment. So I have come up with a little how-to to assist you in finding a job. The aim of this blog (as you all know) is about health and wellness; and your wellness is profoundly impacted by your career (or even a career-less temporary job).

I will not be playing this the fair way per se... as I said in an earlier post, the job market is a dog-eat-dog situation and I want to arm you with the tools you need to fend off the dogs and become the dog-catcher.  I want you to become "above" the rabble and be aware of your options, what the hiring party is thinking, and how you can separate yourself from the background.

With a good career, you will be happy, healthy, and possibly wealthy (although money does not bring you happiness, it DOES give you comfort in your lifestyle; and until we live in a completely communal society, it is a sad necessity)

The following is a bullet point system for the whole process.  A great deal of this information is available in various sources online and in books. I simply aim to reiterate it and pass it along.

1. Before you even apply:
1. Know yourself, what you want, and who you want to help. This could mean that you take a career aptitude/satisfaction test; or maybe a talk to a career counselor. All in all, make sure you know the kind of job you will be happy with. One that is rewarding and also provides you with the future experience and upward movement you need. For example, if you enjoy reading and mostly solitary activities; it might not be advisable to apply for jobs that require you to interact with the public on a regular basis (like a sales job). Instead focus on jobs that are more self-monitored, like library work or book-keeping etc
2. Tailor a couple resumes and have people look over them. Make sure you put only pertinent and your most current jobs on the resume. If you are applying for a job in the human resources field,  for example, list skills that you have applying to this (5 years of counseling experience, HR Certificate, Great communication skills). Then leave out information that is not as critical, like "I am interested in how radio-isotopes interact and have written a thesis on said subject". 
3. Get some professional new clothes. I do not want you to go spend thousands of dollars and a made-to-measure suit. Simply make sure that your clothes fit, they aren't stained, and they are up-to-date with current business-wear trends. This will save you from rushing to the store the day before an interview trying to find a shirt that fits and is under $5 because you didn't budget for a last minute expense like that.
4. Write a couple cover letters.  Test out different formats for your cover letters, have friends and family read them and give constructive criticism. There are many great online resources for cover letters and resumes; just do a Google search and surf away! Lastly, make sure you tailor, like your resume, a cover letter to each application; highlighting your strengths in the field you are applying for.
2. Looking for Jobs:
1. Like I said earlier, look for your interests! Make sure you check out many different avenues for advetisment as well. Your local online job-bank, newspapers, monster.com, etc etc. Don't limit yourself to advertised jobs either; take your resume around to different companies you are interested in, they will keep your resume on file and call you when a job opens up that they believe you would be suited for. This also shows you are interested in their company beyond the simple "I need a job".
3. The Interview:
1. Dress Appropriately. Do I even need to say this? really?
2. Have a copy of your resume, references contact sheet, and cover letter. This is for your convenience and theirs (sometimes the interviewers are not very organized and won't have a copy of your resume, it's best that they have something to look at).
3. Don't be afraid to bring a portfolio of your work to show off
4. Figure out what the company wants. If you are applying for a sales position, make sure you have a couple SPECIFIC examples of good sales experiences, times when you gave great customer service etc... They want to hear what job, when, what happened, and how you resolved it. The don't want to hear: "in this situation I would..." they want to hear: "During my time at Sears, I had an experience where .... and we both came to an agreement and left on good terms".  Check a Google search for more information about behavioral interview questions.
5. Have your lies rehearsed and backed up. I know it's bad to lie, but sometimes you have to. A good example of where to lie would be if you are planning on attending Graduate school in the next year, and you are applying for a full time job. Employers want someone they can have for as long as possible (because it's expensive to train a noob). Therefore, instead of saying "I plan on attending a graduate school in the next couple years" say: "My long term plan is to attend graduate school after 5 or 6 years of practical work experience, I would like to take a little break from school and get some hands-on experience"  That whole thing might be bullshit, but once you're hired they can't fire you for changing your mind. Essentially, don't give them any pause for thought (any reason do doubt hiring you).
6. Ask a couple questions: A good one to ask is "how long should it be before an answer is given on the job offer" That way you aren't waiting by the phone day after day for a call that isn't going to come. Ask about the company (but don't sound too dumb) and ask how the interviewers enjoy working at the company.
7. Always leave with a handshake. Also, leave with a smile, a "pleasure to meet you", and a "I look forward to hearing from you". 
4. Follow-up:
1. Send a friendly e-mail or phone call to check on the competition status. Don't be pushy, but word a nice e-mail expressing your curiosity on the status of the job offer.
2. If you don't get the job: Don't sweat it, move on. If you want to analyze your techniques, this is the best time to do it. See where you may have gone wrong and correct for the next time.

I hope this helps all of you! if you have anything to add, please put them in the comments section below

Time to Cut The Sweet Stuff

It's surprising how much sugar we consume..

We all know that sugar isn't that great for us..... but we binge on it anyway, especially around Halloween. It's part of our tradition that we walk around town and gather sweet goodies and then consume as many as possible in one night. It's also part of our culture (through our choices of food) that we eat sugar. Sugar has this nasty habit of ruining our bodies, not only is it hard on our liver, kidneys, and pancreas; it also contributes to our excess fat stores. Lets think back for a minute, do you remember when the "Fat Free" and "Low Fat" revolution came into play? Since then obesity has actually increased; despite increase consumption of "low fat" foods. What is going on?!!  It's simple really... when you cut fat out of a food product, it tastes bland and not very appetizing at all. So what do you do (as a food product specialist) ?   You add sugar to make it taste better.  It's no wonder everyone is getting so overweight! They are eating low fat products and thinking it's helping, when in actuality it is causing them to get bigger.

I would like all of you to take a look at the video I will post at the end of this article. It details all the scientific facts about sugar that everyone should know. But to make things faster for you readers out there, I'll make a list of things to avoid and things to do instead

• Tips:
• Don't eat foods that have "high fructose corn syrup"
• Don't eat foods that are high in carbohydrates just before going to bed
• Start using a natural sweetener (like honey) instead of sugar (or artificial sweeteners; they aren't that great for you either) in your coffee and tea
• Eat fruit when you get a craving for something sweet. Berries are a good choice as they are rich in good sugars and have a very sweet flavor.
• Using apple sauce in recipes instead of granulated sugar
• If you like chocolate: the darker the better (as it has less sugar)
• Stick to a plan of "no sugar"  you have to treat it like an addiction

It's not feasible to completely cut out bad sugars in a modern society, but you can reduce it. There have been rumors in the scientific community that sugar can contribute to a wide variety of diseases.... including cancer. These studies are ongoing, and I look forward to more results.  Thanks for listening, and please take this message to heart. You will feel like a new person once you've trampled your addiction to sugar.  (and as promised, here's the video) Sugar: The Bitter Truth

The Golden Rule

Is it true? Are successful people rich jerks?

If you went to grade school during the years between 1900 and 1980 you were taught about the "Golden Rule".  If you were unfortunate enough to go to school later than that, it is likely you missed the boat on how to act in a society. 

The simple truth is that we rarely follow the golden rule anymore. Its message is simple "do unto others, as you would have them do unto you"  Essentially, if you don't want to be treated like a piece of lint then don't treat other people like pieces of lint!  It really isn't hard to understand, but it is ever so hard to actually practice.

Most Psychologists, religious officials, world leaders all agree that if everyone followed this rule, we would be the most happy and cohesive species in the whole galaxy. What gets in the way of this happening? selfishness! Our world is set up so that bad people are the most successful. If you are willing to step all over people in order to get your way, then you are rewarded by having lots of money and a comfortable lifestyle. If you are always nice to people and rarely force your will.... you're likely to not go very far.   So it's true, nice people finish last in Western society. Lets say, for example, that you want to have a house on the ocean in Nova Scotia; and lets say the property you want will cost you more than you can afford, so you put your dream of home ownership on the shelf with the other dreams you can't accomplish and move on. Then suddenly a new position opens up in your office, and you have the qualifications, but Bill across the hall has more years at the company and will likely get the job. BUT, you know for a fact that Bill is homosexual, and that the boss is very homophobic.... Maybe if you mentioned this to him casually, he will reconsider your application over Bills... (Realizing there are laws against discrimination, it still happens, and in this situation they would be bogged down in court for years deliberating the outcome) What would you do?  most people would SAY that they wouldn't do anything, but studies have been done that say otherwise. People will say things that are socially more acceptable, then DO what is better for themselves.

Now, don't expect a big change in the world anytime soon. Big changes happen very slowly; and I think that we are headed in the wrong direction when it comes to morality and treating each other with respect. So here's what you can do, and it's my little word of advise for the day. Follow the Golden Rule as closely as you can, without being taken advantage of yourself. In other words, be successful, assertive, but also be wise and kind. When you find the right balance, the world will be at your fingertips.

Parrot Phrases

Hello everyone.

Are our words superficial social norms?

Last night, as I lay down to sleep, I said "goodnight" to my partner. This morning at work I said "Thank You" when a co-worker held the door for me. Also this morning, I said "good morning" to countless people. Where is all this going?..... it's about common phrases that we use everyday, but lose the meaning of.

Let me elaborate a little bit on that point. When you say good morning to someone, are you actually hoping that they have a pleasant morning? or do you say it out of social obligation? As humans we have a set of these "parrot phrases" that make our interactions with people easier. In psychology, they are called heuristics ... (a.k.a. shortcuts) and they essentially make it easier for our brains to function. It's like a keyboard shortcut on your computer, whereby you simply hit the right combo for the situation and you don't even really have to think about it. Psychologists use it to explain shortcuts in our judgments and behavior. For example, "I had an experience were a cat bit me, therefore, I hate all cats". The same works for "Thank you" and the other parrot phrases (e.g. "A woman walked into my workplace, I smiled and said 'good morning'") The character in the last example did not say "good morning" because he wished the woman had a nice day.... he said it because it is the social norm for that situation.

Because of these shortcuts in our interactions, I believe we are losing meaning behind our conversations.  So from now on, I charge all of you to think about what you say to someone, change it up. That way, they know and YOU know you mean what you are saying. "Get a good rest" "

How to Reorganize Your Sleep Life

Nobody sleeps like a cat...

Think of the last time you went to bed when you STARTED feeling tired... hard to find a time correct?  We've all been there. It's 7pm and you want to go to bed... but NO, you must stay up! there's a 4 hour marathon of Dr. Who that you must watch. Well... people in the know about sleep say otherwise. It is important to let your body tell you when it's time to sleep and wake up. Normally, your body will put you to sleep and wake you up naturally and without an alarm clock. But the days of living in caves are over, now we have bosses that expect we will be at work by 7am regardless of what our body needs for rest and recovery.

So, we must take the time to understand when our bodies' want to sleep. I challenge you to take a couple of days (most likely weekends) where you don't have to be awake at a specific time and you don't have to go to sleep at a specific time  and track your sleep pattern. All you have to do is get into your bed and go to sleep when you feel tired, take note of the time, then let your body wake up naturally in the morning, and take note of the time. You should notice that the amount of time you sleep each night is almost the same! Roughly 7 to 10 hours per night, depending on your age and activity level. Once you know what your body needs, start scheduling your life accordingly. If Dr. Who is on, tape it; with the advent of DVR and PVR, and computers, we don't need to be slaves to the idiot-box's timetable. This could mean that you go to bed at 10 and wake up at 7. To some people a 10pm bedtime is way too early... but are you tired when you wake up the next day? The answer is mostly yes, because your body didn't get enough sleep! Once you know the amount of time you need to sleep, force yourself to go to bed at the correct time and see how you feel at work the next few days (after you get accustomed to going to bed earlier)

Now I know there are some of you out there who have trouble sleeping at night. For you I have a few solutions to cure the bedtime blues...

Things to do:

• Read before bed (puts me right to sleep)
• Listen to come calming music as you sleep (Maybe put it on a timer so it switches off)
• Regular exercise (Is extraordinarily important to getting restful sleep)
• Vitamin D & Melatonin (Get out into the sun!)
• Keep your room clean and neat (so you aren't bothered about being in there!)
• Proper nutrition (Have your 5 fruits and veggies every day!)
• Have a ritual that puts you in the bedtime mood (Brush teeth, read book, go to sleep etc...)

Things not to do:

• Don't have the television on (it distracts and stimulates your brain, hindering proper sleep)
• Don't eat big meals after 6pm (Stick to cereal and easily digested foods as snacks)
• Don't do schoolwork in bed (keep your bed a work-free zone)
• Don't drink caffeine after 12pm (Hard to do, but caffeine has long-lasting effects than can hinder sleep up to 10 hours after your last cup!)
• Don't think that a 3 hour afternoon nap will make up for lost sleep the night before. This nap isn't nearly as affective as a full night, and it will take your body hours to wake back up from your nap, ruining your next night's sleep.

Lets all take the time to have a good night's rest. You'll find that you will be healthier, and sharper (in the head) than ever before!

Space, The Final Frontier

Conceptual Space Habitat - Stanford Torus, by Don Davis (1976)

I've been doing a lot of mulling about space travel lately. This sort of thing happens when I go on a sci-fi kick on the telly. If humans can go to the moon and return, then it would only stand to reason that we, as a united human race, can accomplish anything we can imagine. Because, if you think about it, everything we have ever created, started as a thought and developed into a physical object or process through experimentation and reasoning. So what is standing in our way with regard to complete human-space integration? Lack of what I mentioned earlier: a "united human race".  As of right now, most of the world is at odds with itself. People have their own selfish agendas, countries have their own selfish policies, and all-in-all we lack a unified designation as fellow earth-dwellers. If every country in the world stopped thinking entirely for itself and worked together with other countries... there would be no hunger, very little disease, and we would be focusing our efforts into the space beyond our world.

That is easier said than done. It would take a second coming of some religious prophet to reunite the world in this way. The only other way I could imagine this happening would be if extra-terrestrial beings were to make contact with earth. This would give everyone on earth a sense of belonging to a group .... Earthlings. And if you remember from your into psychology courses, if your group (earth) is threatened or at least made to realize that it isn't the only civilization out there, then there will be a much stronger self-interest amongst the group and an extremely heightened sense of resolve.

Sounds a little far-fetched, no? Well, maybe, but in the next 60 years, I predict that many of the world's internal issues will be at least under control (if not eradicated)  and we will be able to enjoy a margarita on mars.

So while our scientists work on a means to escape the speed of light and travel around the solar system at will, lets focus on getting the ground work ready for our jump into space. Get our diseases in check, be healthy, and no one going hungry. Not a small task, but I think we are up to it. Get out there and make a difference! keep aiming for those stars...

Cigars, Beaches, & Cancer Vaccines

Bone-marrow cancer vaccine molecule

As I sat at my computer, sipping coffee, and reading the day's headlines this morning, I stumbled across a nifty little tidbit that says Cuban scientists have found a type of vaccine to treat lung cancer. My first reaction was astonished excitement! so I delved further into the myriad of information about cancer research and how far we've come. It turns out that this vaccine is essentially used to stop the spread of cancer. It does not stop it from occurring, and will not get rid of cancerous growths that are already present. What this vaccine does is stop the proliferation of a particular protein that allows cancer cells to multiply.  Similar vaccines are being tested in the United States. "Provenge" was the first cancer vaccine to be approved by the FDA. However, this treatment is extraordinarily expensive and only prolongs survival by a few months. This is where the difference lies; the Cuban vaccine turns the cancer into a more manageable chronic illness that can be treated with more conventional and less invasive means. Basically it's not just a promise of a few more months of life, it's a promise of years!

I will say that there still needs to be testing, and it's unlikely that the drug will become available in the United States and Canada for a while as there will be very stringent investigations on the validity and safety of the drug. It's no secret that people from the US are likely to distrust the country of origin because of the indoctrination of anti-communist thought since the 1950s.

This could, however, bring the two nations closer together and open up better dialogue for ... well... not being so damn uptight to one another!  One can only hope