Book review: “10-10-10: A Life Transforming Idea” by Suzy Welch

"“10-10-10: A Life Transforming Idea” by Suzy Welch", August 28 2009

Some of Gen Y has not grown up enough to realize that the decisions we make now can have a major impact on our lives in the present, as well as the distant future. Many of us haven’t got to that point when it comes to thinking about our future in a serious manner. Part of the reason is that we don’t know how: our parents have been and in many cases still are incredibly involved in our decision-making processes.

I was watching The Hour recently and there was a segment on this book called 10-10-10: A Life-Transforming Idea. I’m known as being somewhat indecisive (from my future, to what I’m going to wear or eat for breakfast each day), so I decided to get a copy of the book and hope it would help me out.

Suzy Welch, the author of 10-10-10 and the person who coined the term, promises to help you make decisions in a clear, transparent and straightforward manner by following the book’s philosophy. Whenever you face a dilemma, she says, you need to ask yourself three questions: How will this choice impact me in 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years? But she also says it’s not as simple as asking yourself those three questions.

It is important to note that the 10-10-10 philosophy isn’t exactly literal: the first 10 is supposed to represent the present, the second 10 the not-so-distant future, and the final 10 several years down the road. 10-10-10 was just a means for Welch to conceptualize the idea in a way that could be easily remembered.

The book outlines how you can use the 10-10-10 philosophy to help you make major decisions in your life in regards to work, friendship, love, parenting and your career. Each chapter goes though a couple of examples of how Welch’s friends and family, colleagues at the Harvard Business Review, readers of O: The Oprah Magazine, as well as others she has come to know through various speaking engagements, have used the philosophy to solve their problems.

In nearly all of the examples she provides, the system seems to wrap up everyone’s issues very nicely. Interestingly enough, Welch claims that she doesn’t have everything tied up with a nice bow.

Perhaps the best piece of advice I took from the book was related to how we choose our professions. Welch states that people tend to gravitate toward certain professions because they’re good at them. She gives the example of English majors going into publishing, and math majors going to Wall Street. This is indeed true, and I’m sure you know lots of people who fit similar descriptions.

However, Welch states that “aptitude doesn’t always equal passion,” meaning just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean you should pursue it as a career. That is definitely something we should consider as a generation when we are looking for work. Welch also provides an example of how a young business grad named Kristin used 10-10-10 to choose between working in a small start-up company with an unstable future and a large company with a great reputation and many opportunities for promotion. I’m not going to tell you what the factors were for Kristin making her decision or what she eventually chose, though. You’ll have to read the book.

If you feel that you need some help when it comes to making decisions that can really affect you in the future, this may be a good book for you to pick up. It goes through a framework that can help you evaluate your choices in a way that makes you consider yourself, and those who also may be impacted by your decision.

How to make extra money by “moonlighting”

"How to make extra money by “moonlighting”", August 27 2009

As students, we’d all like to have a bit more money. Some of us work in the summer months and/or during the school year and this is still not always enough.

What do you do if you need a little more cash to get you through the month?

If you’ve already cut all your unnecessary expenses, it might be time to try moonlighting: taking a second (or third) job that is often paid “under the table” – meaning the employer pays you in cash and, more often than not, the income is not submitted at tax time.

Catering staff

Catering companies work primarily on evenings and weekends, which is optimal for most students. If you are involved in food prep, it’s a good way for you to get more familiar with cooking. If you’re serving, you’ll get some customer service experience. The pay is usually pretty good too.

Teaching or tutoring

High school students, as well as students in your school, may not be as proficient as you are in your studies. If you have an aptitude for certain subjects, why not tutor other students for a fee? This is a great way for you to gain some teaching experience if you are considering teacher’s college for the future. You can also edit people’s essays and papers for a fee, either a flat rate per piece or on a per word/per page basis.

Cleaning

Nobody likes to clean up after themselves and, in many cases, people will pay good money to have their homes cleaned for them. This often include cleaning houses or doing maintenance outdoors. All you need are some cleaning supplies and transportation, and you’re set.

Trials and experiments

I’m not necessarily advocating participating in drug trials, but there are several different ways you can participate in trials and earn some extra money. Many campuses pay students for participating in kinesiology and psychology studies. Marketing focus groups often pay good money for helping them get customer feedback on their products as well – sometimes $50 or $100 for a few minutes of eating chocolate bars or drinking beer. Watch out for advertisements on poster boards around campus to see what you can find.

Food Deliveries

Many restaurants will deliver to customers for a fee. As a driver, you will usually get paid an hourly wage as well as make money from tips. As long as you have a car, this is a way to make some easy cash.

Pets

Just like people don’t like cleaning up after themselves, they also don’t particularly enjoy cleaning up after their animals. Busy pet owners will pay for a “professional” pooper-scooper to come clean up after their dogs. You may want to offer your dog-walking services for people who can’t let their animals out during the middle of the day. You can also give pet sitting a try for people who go away on business for the weekend or on a vacation.

Paper delivery

This may have been a job you had when you were a kid, but there are always ads for these positions in the paper. This is a good way for you to get some exercise as you can complete your route through riding a bike or rollerblading. However, you need to be able to wake up pretty early in the morning if you are delivering a large daily paper!

Of course there are tons of other possibilities out there for you if you are looking to make a little bit of extra money on the side. Regardless of what skills you are advertising for hire, remember to use the resources around you to put yourself out there and to get hired. Even if you’re not making a huge amount of money, take what you learn from these jobs with you the next time you are looking for work. You never know what skills and connections this experience can give you!

Don’t turn away “artsy” students at career fairs

"Don’t turn away “artsy” students at career fairs", August 24, 2009

In high school, I was told that going to university would open a window of opportunities for my future and ultimately help me get a good job. I applied to university in a social sciences discipline since I did not have the mathematical aptitude to handle the sciences or engineering.

During frosh week, social sciences and humanities students were taunted by the engineers, who called out, “Spatula!” Meaning: we didn’t have any career options after university and were destined to work a low-wage fast food job.

Humanities students were specifically targeted with “A-B-C-D-E-F-G. H-I-J-K. L-M-N-O-P. Q-R-S. TU-V. W-X-Y-Z. Now I know my ABCs, so I can pass the humanities,” implying humanities courses are easy.

At the time, I just assumed this was a way for the engineering reps to promote faculty pride in their first year students, and this attitude wasn’t present throughout the rest of the institution.

However, it appears that was only wishful thinking: in the last few years, the humanities and social sciences have faced many budget cuts in instructors, number of classes offered and resources available, and I know that this is not unique to my school.

Once I completed a few years of school, I thought going to a career fair would be a good way for me to decide what I could do with my degree in the future. Not being in health sciences, engineering or business, meant few employers were interested in my degree.

I attempted to talk to a few different companies and was turned away when I told them I was in a combined humanities/social science program. I didn’t approach other groups because they had no information for students in more than one faculty. Quite frankly, the whole thing was a complete waste of my time, and I felt very frustrated and disappointed.

Does it mean those engineers were right, or do career fairs need to be re-worked in order to support the diversity of educational options out there?

I’m hoping for the latter. I was told to never to judge a book by its cover and, as an English major, that advice seems almost too fitting.

If your company is attending a career fair at a university or college, remember there will be students from all kinds of academic programs there and, as a result, students with a variety of different experiences, both in terms of education as well as employment.

Just because a student isn’t in a certain degree program does not mean they aren’t qualified for a job in your company. For example, I have experience in HR, public relations, marketing and management, which is something you wouldn’t know if you only look at what program I’m in.

Sure, if you’re part of an architecture firm you’re primarily going to want to hire architects or engineers. But if someone from another program comes to your table, you do not have to turn them away. Every company has multiple departments that need a variety of employees with different kinds of work and education experience, and your company should be no exception to this.

You attend career fairs to entice students, not to deter them. And just because your company doesn’t have anything to offer one student, it doesn’t mean the same student can’t pass on information about your company to a friend or two.

Why you should start saving for retirement in your 20s

"Why you should start saving for retirement in your 20s", August 17 2009

There have been countless reports which state that the Baby Boomers will need to work longer in order to save enough money to retire. Although retirement is supposed to start at 55, many people now work into their mid-60s or later out of necessity.

University students typically graduate at 21 or 22 and start pursuing their first real job. I will be graduating (for the second time) at 25, which is due to being part of the double cohort in Ontario and also choosing to complete a second degree. In terms of planning for my future, I’m a bit nervous about the fact that I will be reaching retirement age in 30 years and I have no definitive direction, nor do I have a stable, full-time job which allows me to save for retirement.

The truth is we don’t need to start with a ton of money to build a nest egg. Although the more you can save the better it ends up for you in the long run, you do not need to start out with a large lump sum.

If saving is tough for you, start small. Start putting aside 1% of your gross pay (what you earn “on paper” before deductions). Once you get used to the amount, move up to 2%, and once you’re comfortable with that move up to 3% and so on.

If you’re already working in an entry-level position with retirement benefits, you should find what the company’s retirement plan, also known as a Group Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), is all about. RRSPs allow you to save for your retirement while simultaneously deferring the income tax on earnings and savings until the money is withdrawn.

Up to 18% of your wages (to a maximum of $22,000) can be put into the company’s RRSP in a given year. They are designed to allow a flexible retirement date up until December 31 of the year you turn 71. From there, the RRSP’s must be converted into an annuity or a Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF), and you must start withdrawing money.

Of course, not all companies have a Group RRSP, so you should be saving on your own. If you start saving early, you have the power of interest on your side (as opposed to it being against you when you need to repay student loans or credit card debt). The money you put aside will grow because of this interest, so you should always have some put aside in either a high-interest savings account or one made specifically for retirement.

If you’re more interested in market-related investments, set up an informal meeting with a financial advisor at your bank to get some more information and advice.

Regardless of the ways and amount you choose to invest, the most important thing you should be doing at this point in your life is starting to save. Every little bit counts for the future.

Doctor or musician, which career would you choose?

"Doctor or musician, which career would you choose?" August 20 2009

A stereotypical doctor doesn’t have piercings or a tattoo, and a stereotypical drummer doesn’t wear scrubs. Bourke Tillmann, however, is a fourth-year medical student and is the drummer of the successful indie band Holding.Sky.

Holding.Sky has played with a variety of popular and independent artists in their three-and-a-half year reign on the indie scene. The band recently recorded their third EP, From the Throne to the Lions – produced by Dan Achen, who has worked with Feist and City and Colour. It’s available for free download, with proceeds going to charity.

Between Bourke’s busy schedule as an ER doctor, general surgery assistant and drummer, he and I recently chatted about his dual persona.

(Photography by Jeff Jewiss)

Q. What came first: wanting to become a doctor or a musician?

A. Wanting to play music came first. I wasn’t one of those kids who grew up wanting to be a doctor – I wrote the MCATs after first year [of university] just to prove to a friend I could.

Q. What are some of the reasons why you wanted to become a doctor?

A. This is actually a pretty personal question. During my teenage years, I was unfortunately near a lot of death and from then on have seen the after effects this trauma has had on my friends (depression, suicide, drugs, homelessness). I never wanted to be helpless in a situation like that again.

Why else? It’s something I love and am good at. And when I think about it, I know I would give anything to save a person’s life. So now I get to go to work every day and do just that. Not only do I get to do that, but I can call it a career.

Q. Why did you want to become a musician?

A. The joy in writing music and creating something new, when you sit down with a few friends and put together a few notes and a rhythm there’s just magic. Then getting to perform, to show others what you have made – it’s incredible. You’re terrified because you’re showing your deepest emotions and they might be rejected, but you’re thrilled because you have an excuse to be completely yourself.

So why did I start playing an instrument? I thought drums were cool. I always wanted to play them so I decided to. Why do I want to become a musician? Because I want to have the challenge of creating something new every day, and the thrill and fear of showing my soul to strangers every night.

"I practice two hours away every weekend and spend half my nights planning shows and tours. It reminds me there’s more in my life than just medicine." —Bourke Tillmann

Q. How do you think being in a band helped you get into med school?

A. When you’re getting ready to play a concert in front of a couple thousand people, a med school interview really isn’t that intimidating. So instead of being paralyzed with fear when I interviewed, I was relaxed.

The second way I think it helped is the system’s desire to show how accepting it is. Medical schools want to show the world that they accept everyone, that they’re not an elitist system, nor perpetuating a social hierarchy. So I had already slid by their mental benchmark and made a nice example to show the world how accepting medical schools are. Do I think they are as accepting as they’re trying to portray? I’m a white, middle-income male, so you guess.

Q. How has being in a band helped you since getting into med school?

A. It has helped me keep perspective. So many people allow medical school to consume their lives. Instead, I practice two hours away every weekend and spend half my nights planning shows and tours. It reminds me there’s more in my life than just medicine.

It has also helped me keep in touch with my patients. As an independent band, we tend to play the shadier areas of cities, and . . . more of my patients are in a lower social economic range (to be politically correct). I spend a fair amount of my time hanging out with my patient population, while a lot of people in medical school spend their free time in bars with $15 covers and $8 drinks.

. . .

When you remove the social barrier that the physician-patient relationship creates, sometimes you can learn a lot more. Of course, you can sometimes learn too much. But in our music we broach some common but difficult subjects, and when you start the conversation people aren’t nearly as afraid to continue it.

Q. Do you ever regret the choice you made to go through medical school to become a doctor?

A. I wish I could say no, but it’s a hard process. When I’m spending hours studying instead of learning how to play a guitar, or reading about an esoteric disease I’ll probably never see in my life, I ask [myself] if it’s really worth it. But the patient interaction . . . working up their problem, figuring out how to make them feel better (not necessarily how to cure their disease) makes up for it ten-fold.

Oh, and the paper work sucks.

Q. How has your training in medical school helped you within the band?

A. Well, it’s made me more of an asshole, so I feel less bad when yelling at them to get something on the business side of the band done.

But seriously . . . Working in a hospital really teaches you what’s important in life and has made me appreciate the band even more, which makes me work harder. Also, I have learned how to manage and delegate tasks, and this really does help the business side of the band. As far as writing music, I’m usually at my most creative when I’m in a poor mood, so it has helped me write some new songs.

Q. What advice do you have for people who feel like they need to make a decision between an ideal career choice and an important part of their personal life?

"Working in a hospital really teaches you what’s important in life and has made me appreciate the band even more . . ." —Bourke Tillmann

A. I tell them to do what makes them happy. Is that ideal career going to make you happy, or is it just impressive? Trust me, it doesn’t take a lot of money to make it in this world – I’ve lived off a bag of chocolate covered raisins and table scraps for a month.

I’ve also been homeless for four months (although not in a row). You can make due on very little and still be happy. But doing what makes you happiest doesn’t always come easy. If you truly want it, you won’t give it up, but you’ll have to sacrifice.

I rarely ever watch TV. I sleep less than six hours most nights. I’ve lost girlfriends. I’ve been in car crashes. I’ve been on the other side in hospitals and I’m not the best in either of my two passions (music and medicine). But I love them both so I make the sacrifices I make.

So I say again, do what makes you happy. If you want to ski for three months a year, find the job that allows you to do that. Don’t find a job that demands you work ridiculous hours so that when you’re 60 you can start skiing. If family is your passion, find the easiest, shortest job you can so you can spend as much time with your family, while still helping support them. Money only has value when it’s spent, so don’t spend your life chasing it.

Q. Do you think you can serve as a role model to others? What about others in the band?

A. I would like to see myself as a role model – [it] would be pretty awesome to think that I’ve done enough in my life that it’s worth people looking up to. As for the rest of the band, Holding.Sky is about dedication and breaking limits. We all challenge each other.

Ben [Tillman, bass] finished working on Tim Burton’s 9 and is now working on another major motion picture; Mikey [Hill, guitar] is in med school; Tim [Laidman, vocals] has degrees from both Sheridan and Mohawk; and Kohji [Nagata, guitar and backup vocals] will always challenge you to be a better person.

Q. How has all of your education and/or work impacted the bands progress, if at all? Do you think any of you would quit the band?

A. I think it’s more how is the band impacting [our] education and work. But truthfully, the fact that some of our jobs have locked in contracts means we can’t do extended tours unless we know they’re going to be very beneficial for the band. Which means we have to use other methods to get our name out there.

As for anyone quitting the band, unless Thursday, Moneen, Attack in Black or the Deftones offered them a spot in their band. I don’t think anyone is going anywhere.

Faculty and Program Series Part Two: The Indigenous Studies Program

"Faculty and Program Series Part Two: The Indigenous Studies Program", August 16 2006.

BY DANIELLE LORENZ, MACINSIDERS

The Indigenous Studies Program (ISP) at McMaster is one of the smallest degree programs on campus with approximately 250-300 (about 100 Native and 150-200 non-Native) students taking courses each year. It was established in 1991 as a response to the desires of Indigenous representatives, Native and non-Native students as well as educators from the region for increased accessibility and support from the University for Indigenous cultures and education. One of the goals of the program is to preserve and promote Indigenous Knowledge to students and researchers that are interested in learning more about Indigenous cultures and perspectives as well as enhance and support Native, Métis and Inuit students at McMaster.

This interdisciplinary program features perspectives from Indigenous Theory, Cultural Studies, Anthropology, Sociology, Political Science, English and Social Work among others. ISP classes are beneficial to McMaster students of any academic discipline and in any desired career path. Presently, students may take a combined major in Indigenous Studies or have a minor in Indigenous Studies. They may also take ISP classes as electives.

Faculty Awards:

• Professors Hayden King and Rick Monture were nominated for MSU Teaching Awards in 08/09
• Director Dr. Dawn Martin-Hill was at President Obama’s Inauguration

Important Contacts:

Student Inquiries: indig@mcmaster.ca or call (905) 525-9140 ext 27426

Tips for Success:

1. Always attend your lectures and tutorials, and take good notes.
2. Finish your readings to the best of your ability. If you can’t complete them all in one week read them for the next because they are part of discussion all term.
3. You will be writing essays in these courses. If there is something you do not understand or feel you are struggling with talk to your professor. But don’t wait until the last minute to get help!
4. Participation is a large portion of these classes. Make sure to participate and ask questions.
5. When in doubt, ask.
6. Pay attention to what is happening to Indigenous people in the news. Sometimes this ends up being part of class discussion.

Professors:
Program Director: Dr. Dawn Martin-Hill - on leave 2009-2010
(Acting) Program Director: Rick Monture
Full-Time Lecturer: Hayden King
Mohawk Instructor: Tom Deer
Anishnaabe Instructor: Ali Darnay
Elders in Residence: Bertha Skye & Norma General

Social Events/Opportunities:

McMaster First Nations Student Association (MFNSA) hosts a variety of events throughout the year. These include but are not limited to cultural awareness events and conferences on campus, toy drives during the holidays, and an annual Unity Ride. Additionally, MFNSA students are involved reaching out to local Indigenous communities as well as co-planning the Indigenous Lecture Series, and promoting post-secondary education in Native communities and more.

Native and non-Native students are encouraged to join and participate actively in MFNSA. You can contact them via email at mac.first.nations@gmail.com. You can also visit them in the MFNSA student lounge in Hamilton Hall 103D.

Looking Forward – Future Paths and Occupations:

Taking Indigenous Studies classes gives the student knowledge on the issues that face Native people and their communities. This knowledge can be transferred to a wide variety of professions and careers. It should be noted that some of these occupations may require additional education aside from a bachelors degree. Below are some suggestions.

• Graduate Studies
• Law
• Communications/Journalism
• Policing
• Department of Culture
• Non-profit Organizations
• Environmental Groups
• Policy Advisors
• Museums
  
• Business
• Social Work
• Government (municipal, provincial, federal)
• Correctional Facilities
• Teaching
• Financial Planning
• Medicine

Entry-level living: New grads need a new budget

"Entry-level living: New grads need a new budget", July 23 2009

Your first new grad job will be a completely new experience for you: new responsibilities, wardrobe, hours and expectations. You will also be getting your first (or one of your first) series of substantial pay cheques that will help you into the next stage in your life.

Many recent graduates don’t know how to set a proper budget when they start their first job and this can be a problem for a couple of reasons. First, it can contribute to frivolous spending habits later in life, and second, it can prevent you from getting a good jump on saving for the rest of your life. Since you have a fresh start, this is when you should be utilizing your pay to the best of your ability.

To create a budget, make a series of lists:

• list the money you owe from student loans and/or credit card debt
• list your expenses for one month (including rent, clothing, transportation, food, utilities, entertainment and gifts)
• list the income you expect in a month

From these three lists you are going to make your monthly budget.

Don’t forget that a portion of your pay cheque will be deducted for taxes and employment insurance (unemployment), but it’s possible there will also be deductions for health benefits, retirement plan contributions and union dues depending on your employer. Your budget should take those deductions into account and only include your net pay, not your gross pay.

For entry-level employees, a suggested spending guideline based as a percentage of your pay is as follows:

• 30% housing
• 10% utilities
• 10% food (both takeout and restaurant and well as groceries)
• 15% transportation (car loan, and/or public transit passes)
• 10% repaying debt (student loans and credit cards)
• 10% savings
• 5% clothing
• 5% entertainment
• 5% for car insurance and miscellaneous other expenses

These expenses can be variable, however. For example, if you’re living at home and paying nominal rent you don’t need to put all 30% toward housing – you can put more of that toward debt repayment or savings. At the same time, if you’ve recently bought an expensive car you may need to re-configure how much money is in your budget since a large portion will be paying for your new vehicle.

Ideally, you should have some of your budgeted money left over each month, and you should try to save as much of that as you can. This money can either be used for emergency purposes, to start a nest egg for retirement, or for a rainy day, which will put you in the habit for saving for your future.

The key to saving money (although this seems really obvious) is for you to spend less money than you earn, and in order to do so you really need to keep track of what you are spending, when and why.

Once you have consolidated a budget, make sure you are keeping track of it properly. This should be done either via computer program (there are many you can purchase), online budgeting software such as Mint.com, Wesabe or moneyStrands (formerly Expensr), a self-created spreadsheet or in a notebook.

Although you may think you have a mind like a steel trap, you are likely to forget and it also helps you find out exactly how much you are spending – sometimes you won’t realize how often you really buy convenience food unless you are tracking it.

Hopefully if you keep these tactics in mind you will be able to start saving for the more expensive things than come across in adult life – like a house, a car or your retirement fund.

Could a tattoo or piercing cost you your job?

"Could a tattoo or piercing cost you your job?", July 22 2009

Before the 19th century, the only people in Western society who had tattoos were prostitutes and criminals. However, as time went on and the colonial powers spread to other nations, tattoos became slightly more acceptable in popular culture after becoming a part of military culture.

My grandfather got two tattoos in Panama in 1947 while he was enlisted in the Navy. I always thought his were really cool, and at 10 years old I decided I wanted to get a tattoo when I got older. This decision may have been pre-empted in part because an older cousin got her tattoo that year as well. At 19, I got my first tattoo and I want to get more in the future.

Gen Y has grown up with various idols that have tattoos and piercings including musicians, actors, writers and artists. In recent years there has also been an influx of television programs that focus on the lives of tattoo artists and their shops including Inked, Miami Ink, LA Ink and Tattoo Highway.

I have also come to recognize that I am not an anomaly among my friends. I know many Gen Yers that have tattoos; some have only small images while others have large pieces that cover a lot of their body. Regardless of the size of the image, most of these tattoos can be hidden by clothing.

But this got me thinking: if I was to get a much larger tattoo or one in a more visible place, could that possibly cost me a job?

Even though many of the negative stereotypes toward tattoos have become less prevalent, they may still remain depending on your company’s culture. Unless you want to be a rock star, artist or tattooist, you’re probably not able to have tattoos that cover most of your body because you will not be seen as professional. Having large tattoos or having them in visible areas could cost you a job.

Although this can be seen as discriminatory, technically it is not.

Most workplaces have a dress code, which is a standard for what employees should wear to represents the employer’s brand. Some places of work have a ban on visible tattoos, and depending on the industry this can be appropriate.

For example, you wouldn’t want a kindergarten teacher with two nautical-themed sleeves featuring 1940’s pinup girls and skeletons on his forearms. At the same time, there would be less of a concern if the same teacher had a single tattoo of a scorpion on the bicep because it would remain mostly covered.

Body and facial piercings carry the same workplace issues as tattoos. Once again, depending on their placement on the body and the corporate culture of the workplace a piercing may or may not be considered acceptable.

If you are planning to get a new tattoo or piercing and you are already employed, talk to your current employer to find out what the rules are about piercings and tattoos. If you are looking for work, be wary of the fact that if your new tattoo or piercing is clearly visible it could prevent you from being hired by certain employers.

Gen Y thinks tattoos, piercings and corporate culture mesh, do you?

"Gen Y thinks tattoos, piercings and corporate culture mesh, do you?", July 10 2009

Tattoos and piercings are typically a strike against most applicants when they look for work because it goes against the traditional corporate culture. However, many members of Gen Y have tattoos and some have piercings other than in their earlobes. With the work force changing to include more members of this generation, each workplace must have clearly defined rules and guidelines regarding tattoos and piercings. And some of these policies may need to change.

I have a tattoo and would like to get more eventually. I also have a few non-traditional piercings in my ears. I do not want to be a tattoo artist, musician, actor or artist (some of the few areas of work where tattoos and piercings are considered acceptable, or even desired). Like many of my peers, I wonder if a visible tattoo or piercing will affect my ability to obtain a job, and if opinions of tattoos and piercings vary in different industries.

I understand that a tattoo may be inappropriate in some places of work. For example, you may not want to see a kindergarten teacher with tattoos of pinup girls or guns on their arms. You would also not want to be served by a bank teller who had skull and crossbones on his hand and a teardrop tattoo under his eye. Here, the corporate culture dictates that visible tattoos such as these are inappropriate, and if an individual was to get one after being hired there is grounds for dismissal.

Most individuals who are heavily tattooed know their choice of body adornment may close the door to certain possibilities of employment. However, there is a large difference between one or two small tattoos that are hidden or can be covered by clothing and/or jewelery to an entire tattoo sleeve paired with tattoos on the neck.

Many employers have a rule against visible tattoos and this is due in part to stereotypes against tattoos from past decades. If a policy is exists or is developed about tattoos, it should not be judgmental towards tattoos or those who get them. The number of individuals who have tattoo and have them covered during working hours would surprise many employers and would also disprove any negative assumptions about tattoos that exist.

Tattoos and piercings are becoming a more common part of Western culture and, as a result, they’re becoming part of the workplace as well. Corporate culture needs to adapt and change with more members of Gen Y becoming employed and moving up the ranks in every organization.

E-mail etiquette for students and recent grads

"E-mail etiquette for students and recent grads", July 2 2009

An employer's first impression of you often comes through e-mail when you apply for a job at their company and it's not uncommon for students and recent grads to alienate current and future employers with their spelling, grammar and other e-mail behaviour.

While the suggestions below may be obvious to some, when I was working as a co-ordinator in a university department and as a manager of a student service on campus at McMaster University, I received countless e-mails from students and recent graduates that made me cringe. Students and recent grads are used to writing to family and friends, and many don't easily make the switch from personal to professional e-mail etiquette.

Check out my tips for avoiding the most common mistakes:

What's in a name?

Using an e-mail address without some variation of your name in it can come across as unprofessional. If you're adamant about keeping the e-mail address you've had since you were a teen, set up a secondary account to e-mail employers from, such as firstnamelastname@email.com.

Regardless of the content in the e-mail you send, a message from lil_cutie_baby_69@email.com won't be taken seriously by employers.

Spelling and grammar

Good spelling and grammar are imperative to any e-mail. Many e-mail servers and some web browsers, such as Firefox, have a spell check function built in. However, the computer will not be able to discern between alternative spellings (but different meanings) of the same word. For example: there, their and they're; or to, two and too.

It's important to proofread an e-mail before you send it, and if you're not confident about your spelling and grammar skills, get someone else to read over your e-mails before you send them.

What's your point?

For the most part, e-mails should be brief. Give the reader your point as soon as you can, but at the same time remember to include the necessary details. If your e-mail is going to be long, consider apologizing for your wordiness in the first line of your message.

Also, each separate idea in an e-mail should be a separate paragraph. It makes the e-mail easier to read than one large chunk of text and also allows the reader to find important points at a later time.

Don't abbrvt plz

Never use text messaging abbreviations in e-mails. Getting your messages across with a limited number of words can be challenging, but e-mails do not have the same restrictions as texts. Unless you are sending a personal e-mail, you should be avoiding abbreviations, with the exception of words such as FYI, Mr. and Mrs., etc.

Are you tone deaf?

Come across as friendly, respectful and approachable in your e-mails: you don't want to appear demanding or curt. Sometimes this can be remedied by re-arranging your sentences or paragraphs. For instance, instead of "I need a copy of those forms. I hope your week is going well," try "I hope your week is going well. When you have a moment, may I have a copy of those forms?"

You also don't want to seem too casual in professional e-mails, especially to a potential employer. Unless you have already communicated with the person and have a more personal relationship with them, always avoid using emoticons and slang.

The type case of your messages is also important. Don't use all capital letters and, although many of us have gotten into the bad habit of not capitalizing anything thanks to instant messaging, capitalize letters where appropriate, just as you would in a formal letter or essay.

Mind your manners

There are three simple words you should never forget when sending e-mails: "please" and "thank you." Forgetting to use those words makes you look ungrateful and rude.

Kind regards, dear

If you don't know the person you're writing to, you should include their title or, at the very least, use Mr. or Ms. (try to avoid using Miss or Mrs. - never assume a woman is married). Once they respond, follow their direction by addressing them by what they sign their e-mail with.

When concluding the e-mail, use a transitional word or phrase such as Sincerely, With kind regards, or Cheers if you are able to be less formal.

Take your time sending, but be prompt when replying

Take your time when e-mailing a prospective employer; re-read the e-mail at least once before you send it. In terms of response time, reply to e-mails as quickly as you can because making the other party wait several hours or days is quite rude - especially if the e-mail is an urgent one.

Remember, if you make a mistake and do not realize it until after you hit "Send," there's no option to undo or take it back. A poorly-written e-mail reflects on your potential as an employee and it will often result in your e-mail being deleted.

Gen Y Perspective: Why you should offer a wardrobe bonus upon hiring

"Gen-Y Perspective: Why you should offer a wardrobe bonus upon hiring"

Many companies have enough stability to offer new employees a substantial signing bonus. Gen Yers are not the only ones who wish they could get an extra financial incentive for starting at a new company, especially with the state of the current economy. Some people might blow this money on something frivolous, but what they should really be thinking about is their wardrobe.

I know this sounds a bit strange, but hear me out. Most new graduates do not spend the money they make working during the school year or the summer months building up a wardrobe for an office environment – most of them are just trying to scrape by.

Offering a wardrobe bonus is a good incentive when trying to entice recent grads to work for your company, and is something that you should talk about in the discussion period that occurs after the interview. If no one else is going to take care of them in the same way your company will, the new grad is more likely to come work for you. Think of it as an investment not only in your human resources, but also in your company’s brand.

Many so-called “blue collar” industries provide a clothing allowance to their staff when they are first hired, as well as periodically throughout their careers. This is something that the corporate world should try to implement as well, not only when employees are first hired but later on down the road.

I’m not saying new grads shouldn’t buy clothes which can transition into the office, but most do not think about doing so until they actually have a job. So, once the end of the academic year rolls around and these former students are starting work, many of them do not have anything appropriate to wear.

Especially in the summer, new grads often leave the house in jeans, skirts that are a little bit too short, shoes that are meant for the beach, and “nice t-shirts.” After all, it’s what they’ve been wearing for the past four years or so.

Herein lies the problem: students do not buy the items they need for a professional environment during school because it’s not practical to wear to school on a daily basis, and once they start a job they don’t have enough money to pay for appropriate clothing until they receive their first pay cheque. Or, if they buy appropriate attire, it may come at the expense of not paying off their credit card balance or not having food to eat.

This is where a company can help alleviate some of the stress newly-graduated employees have when they first enter the work force. Once the individual has finished their first day on the job, I suggest giving the employee a gift card from a clothing retailer that sells clothing the company feels is appropriate to that workplace.

There is also no way for the employee to use the amount on the gift card for something unrelated to the workplace, as they are bound to that specific store, and stores do not give refunds in cash for purchases put on a gift card. Thus, the company is not giving the employee “free money” to use elsewhere, which can be a concern.

Even if the amount is small (around $100) it can still buy a few key items the employee may not be able to afford at that time. And, not having to spend a great deal of money to start an appropriate work wardrobe is something a new employee will be very grateful for.

Entry-Level Living: Travel Close to Home, Its Patriotic

" Entry-Level Living: Travel Close to Home, Its Patriotic", July 6 2009

You’ve probably heard of the 100 Mile Diet, but what about a 100 Mile Vacation? In trying economic times, being able to go on vacation has become increasingly difficult, especially for those of us who are still in school or who have recently graduated and are just starting in the workforce. To go on a 100 Mile Vacation, plan a vacation no more than 100 miles from your home (or 160.9344 km, since we use the metric system here in Canada).

Cape Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia

Travelling closer to home (in Canada, if not within your own province/territory) has a lot of benefits. As with the 100 Mile Diet, you’ll have a lesser impact on the environment and you’ll spend less money. Also, you’ll never have to worry about changing your money to another currency!

Throughout the year, each province and territory has a slew of large-scale events that occur. To name just a few, Alberta has the Calgary Stampede; Ontario has Caribana, Pride and the Canadian National Exhibition; while Quebec has Carnivale. These events have a lot to do with our national identity and are something everyone should see at least once in their lifetime.

There is a lot to see and do within Canada, and most of us take it for granted. Although our nation is a relatively new one in comparison to our neighbours in the Eastern Hemisphere, there is plenty of history to see and learn about. They say history repeats itself, so why not get a better understanding of our current affairs by learning about Canada’s past?

There are currently 15 UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) heritage sites in Canada, all of which can teach you something about how and why Canada is functioning as it is today.

There is also the large variety of climate and geography within Canada: you can see mountains, deserts, tundra, dense urban areas, lakes, oceans, forests, prairies, etc. In no other country do you see the kind of variance that you do in Canada in terms of landforms and temperature.

Travelling within Canada may also be helpful if you are looking for a job or a post-secondary institution. If you’ve found there is nothing available for you in your home province/territory, maybe it’s time to start looking at employers in other parts of the country and consider relocating. Sometimes getting a fresh start somewhere else can be very beneficial to your future.

Similarly, if you think your education isn’t getting you anywhere, maybe you should see what educational options are available in other parts of the country, as schools in different parts of the country can offer location-specific programs and specialties.

If you’re traveling in Vancouver for example, why not check out the forestry department at UBC or the School for International Studies at Simon Fraser? Sometimes trying something new or visiting a new place is the best way for you to find out what you really want to do with the rest of your life. Why not experience it in Canada?