My two preceptors happened to both be on the same day and I got to hear them discuss with each other how they think I am doing in my orientation.  I am slowly catching on to the flow of the department.  I can take care of two to three patients at a time by myself as long as there is nothing to unusual going on.  I can usually get an IV in on the first try but not always, I know the codes to get in the med room and the psych unit.  When someone needs me to get something for them not only do I know what the thing is and what it looks like, I can usually find it.  I am still rather slow and methodical, I still take longer to chart as I ponder the wording of my nurses notes.  But for the most part they think I am doing fine.  One preceptor said to the other, “you know she is going to be fine because she has the maturity to not freak out about what happens, and she is a mom so you know she can multitask!”  The one thing they both remind  me about is the fact that in the ER we can’t fix all of peoples problems.  Many of our patients have chronic issues and psych social problems that are not solved quickly if at all.  I had a patient in for back pain needing a refill of her RX however she had several other issues that we could have helped her with but didn’t. She was a diabetic and her finger stick glucose machine was not working properly, she needed a new one, she had a nasty contact dermatitis on her abdomen that could have used some barrier cream and perhaps steroid cream, and she had a decubitus ulcer developing on her hand where it was contracted due to a stroke 3 years earlier.  She was feeling overwhelmed and frustrated with staying on top of her own care, and I felt like we could have taken an extra 15-30 min to just help her out and get her back on track. However the ER doc insisted that she follow up with her primary care doc for those things and just refilled her pain med RX, even when I asked him about it.  We had a homeless guy found under the overpass in a drunken stupor, we rehydrated him, got him a spot in a detox center because he said he wanted to go and heard that the next day he was thrown out. Then there was the mom and her two kids, she told triage that she was having asthma problems, but when I interviewed her she told me she needed a document from our ER for her employer excusing her from work for a car accident that happened 4 months ago! oh, and also her daughter had a cough and a slight fever.  She was going to lose her job if she didn’t produce this note, but we couldn’t help her, it was 4 months ago and she didn’t seek treatment!  Lots and lots of smokers and alcoholics who are coming in with health issues that are either due to the habits or made worse by those habits.  I can’t fix them, I can just help them with their problem of the moment.  I can be compassionate, and listen to them, and try not to make them feel like they are just another chart to be checked off and pushed through.  The motto for the ER is “treat ‘em and street ‘em”  and sometimes “admit ‘em”.  I just need to learn how far to go with each of them, where does the ER care end and another resource pick up and can I make sure they get connected with that other resource to help them with those chronic issues that take longer to remedy.  It is a fine line, and I seem to run right over it resulting in my precepter stepping in to say “you need to ask the doc what the plan is for your pt, we have done what we can” That line always comes sooner than I want it. I have so much to learn.

Here is my shot at getting everything that is changing in my life out to someone who could relate. Here is my story.

I am a 26 year old girl. I say girl because I have just entered the “adult world” and still don’t know where I am. I graduated in June of this year with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Eight years after I graduated from High School. I am so totally proud of myself, and have absolutely no regrets. The hardest part is having all of the people around me judge me. I come from a very smart family to say the least, so my long path to even get to where I am now, is a shortcoming in my family’s eyes. I think.

I am who I am though, and this is the path that I have chosen for myself.

I started my new job on Wednesday of this week. I was so proud wearing my brand new RN badge around the hospital. I have to say it makes me so proud to represent nursing.

I was in a patient’s room yesterday with my preceptor and a couple surgeons, listening to the plan for the patient. Exploratory surgery. That is never a good sign. It is the doctor’s way of saying: “I don’t know what the hell is wrong with you, I have to cut you open and check it out before I can tell you.” Yikes. The guy looked nervous. When the doc’s left the room, I sat on his bed and held his hand so he knew it would be ok. I could tell he appreciated it, he held my hand back pretty tight. I thought to myself, this is why I am who I am.

I know that there will be days in the upcoming weeks and months that I will leave the hospital feeling like a worthless nurse, but if I can have a moment like I did yesterday often, I will know that I have met the needs of someone.

This is going to be an amazing adventure!

Each week of orientation we are supposed to work towards some goals.  They start out pretty basic such as find various supplies in the unit, identify where the medication resources are, care for one patient from arrival to discharge.  I have two preceptors that I am working with, both wonderful nurses but with very different styles.  This is a good thing for me as it gives me the perspective that there is more than one way to do things.  One of my preceptors is also a nursing instructor at one of the local colleges so she is very much into writing out my goals and how well I accomplish them each shift.  At the end of the shifts though, the last thing I want to do is organize what happened into a list of goals fulfilled!  But I try.  I am getting to the end of week four in my training and my goals are a little harder to reach. This week I am supposed to care for respiratory and cardiac patients, take two patients with increasing complexity, and improve my assessment skills.  I did get a baby with croup this week and if you have never heard the cough that these little one produce when they have croup it will scare you to death! It is a loud dry bark, and it sounds like they are not going to be able to get their next breath in.  I settled mom and dad in the room with this baby and tried to listen to his lungs and he started screaming.  A good sign that plenty of air was getting in, he was pink and warm too. So I rushed off to get some Albuterol and set up a blow by nebulizer, and pretty soon he was sounding better and playing with his dad.  Then I had to get some IV Decadron in him by mouth. This stuff tastes terrible, I am told, but I did manage to get it in (kind of like getting a cat to swallow a pill) and rewarded him with some nice cold apple juice.  We treated him with some humidified air for an hour or so and sent him home with instructions for his parents to use a humidifier or a shower to help him breathe.

I never got a cardiac patient, but I did get quite a bit of experience tracking down the responsible MD for my two admitted patients that were staying with us while we waited for beds to open up. They ended up staying the entire shift and I spent a lot of time paging MD’s to come see them and write some orders so I alleviate their pain while they waited. I learned about tracking down surgeons and advocating for my patients.

Then last night I had a dream that I totally screwed up the computer charting by departing my patients in the computer while they were still here! I was getting yelled at by the clerk and the MD’s to not ever depart patients and  I woke up woke up trying to figure out how I was supposed to get them off the tracking board without departing them?  And feeling frustrated that I don’t have a good grip on all the logistics of using the patient tracker.  Ahhh!  Just got a call from the nurse educator that is running our orientation and we are being pulled from the floor to do some more training on the computer tomorrow.  I hope to get a better grip by the end of tomorrow.  Whew!

I’m not gonna lie: I’m stuck in a rut.

But I know I can get out. That’s why I’m writing this. I’m a firm believer in writing’s therapeutic benefits  (as well as its ability to frustrate!). Hopefully, writing this post will help me and other recent grads stuck in a rut get out of a rut (i.e. GET A REAL CAREER JOB!).

It’s been eight months since I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in journalism, with an emphasis in public relations, and I still do not have a full-time job in my field. I work part-time (20-35 hours) as an assistant manager at a women’s clothing store called maurices. I love that I’ve been able to apply my PR skills at my job (through a fashion show and donation drive), but that is just not enough. I can’t stay stuck in this rut much longer, or I won’t be living to my full potential.

Here’s a list of things I know I need to do to get myself out of this rut. Hopefully this list will be helpful for others in a situation similar to mine.

• Get a routine going again. Most of my college days were spent waking up at 6 a.m. to get myself to the gym by 6:30. Sounds crazy, right? I guess I sort of was… I forced myself to work out in the morning because I knew I wouldn’t do it after class (especially since the Rec Center got more crowded than a frat party by 4 p.m.).  Working out in the morning– every morning– kick-started my day. Having a routine in place helped balance my health and my studies. Although I am still working out regularly, I do not have a consistent work and exercise schedule at all.  I need to work harder on getting this back into place.
• Schedule computer time. I know this one is important for me because it falls into re-establishing my routine. As a a college student, I spent much more time on the computer than I do now (however, I now have an iPhone). Always being on the computer made keeping up with social media much more convenient. I still try my best to keep up, but one area I’m slacking in is reading blogs and job-searching/job-preparing online. Incorporating computer time is very important to me and my future as I re-establish my daily routine.
• Volunteer or do an…. (gasp!)…. unpaid internship. I thought my days of unpaid internships were over. Well, they are as of right now, and I’d like to keep it that way. However, if making it in my career means getting more experience at (just about) any cost, I’ll do it. Just a few hours a week of volunteering my time and skills to nonprofit or other organization will not only benefit my community, but also help keep my skills updated and my portfolio padded.
• Update the portfolio. During my senior year, I made it a good habit to consistantly add to my portfolio. Although I have created numerous PR work samples since I’ve graduated, I’ve slacked on physically adding them to my portfolio. I’ll admit that this is most likely because I don’t have several interviews lined up like I used to back in the spring. I need to just sit down and get to work. I also may just need more outlets to show off my work. Scheduling informational interviews and attending networking events will motivate me to update my portfolio.
• Set a Get-Outta-Here Goal. Goal-setting is a PR basic. If I’m truly a young PR pro, I should be setting more goals! (Shame on me). It’s tempting to just say, “My goal is to live and work in Portland by January 2010,” but it’s not a very realistic goal. Moreover, in order for it to be a goal, I must treat it like a goal and work on achieving it every day.
• The obvious: Keep at it. Yes, job hunting is very frustrating these days. At times, it even seems pointless. The main thing I need to keep in mind is that if one strategy isn’t working, such as applying to jobs only via the Internet, then stop wasting time and try a different strategy. I must also never give up. And I need to get a move-on before I start competing with the graduating class of 2010. Now that’s a scary thought.

The shift started out calm enough, my preceptor and I were taking report on a patient that had been there all night and was being admitted. We were just waiting for a bed.  Then at 0755 they rushed him in from triage.  He had come in with his mom because he had started vomiting the night before, had acute abdominal pain, was short of breath and he was losing his vision.  With that chief complaint and a history of diabetes and pancreatitis, the triage nurse recognized  this 30 year old patient was in DKA crisis.  The lack of insulin (he wasn’t controlling his diabetes) causes hyperglycemia which leads to osmotic diuresis, dehydration and electrolyte depletion. The free fatty acids are converted to ketone bodies which  release hydrogen ions leading to metabolic acidosis. This drop in pH causes increased respirations to try to compensate and the breath smells fruity.  This was the case with this patient.  His vitals were BP 88/62, HR 146, R28. The teamwork began. The MD was asking him questions while several nurses started working, inserting 2 large bore IV’s , drawing labs and pouring fluids in. I got his finger stick blood glucose level and it was critical high, which means over 500! He was shaky, weak and still vomiting. We got a urine sample, a portable chest xray, and drew some arterial blood for blood gases.  He admitted he had been drinking a lot (1-2 pints/day) and his last drink was 9am the previous day. We gave him zofran and 10 units of insulin, someone got an EKG and soon his heart rate shot up to the 180’s and the rhythm started looking whacky, widening and looking like SVT. The MD decided to cardiovert.  In a flurry of motion we moved him into the trauma bay got him hooked up to the crash cart administered some versed (5mg, wow) and shocked him with 150 joules. He cried out and jerked on the gurney, and his heart rate dropped to 120. Whew! At this point I was designated as the recorder, my preceptor gave the medications, and a couple of other nurses were managing the IV fluids, and all the other tasks.  By this time we had gotten 4 liters of fluid into him, squeezing the bags or hooking them up with the pressure bags used in  hemodynamic monitoring. The doc ordered some metoprolol to bring his heart rate down since it was starting to creep up to 145.  She ordered 5mg, and asked that only 2.5mg be pushed first as we all watched the monitor to see his heart rate drop.  It would be risky to use too much because his blood pressure was so low 104/57 and we didn’t want him to bottom out.  His heart rate dropped to 87 in about a minute, it amazed me how fast these medications took effect. We were starting to take a breath here, it was about 0840 and his lab results were in.  Blood gases showed pH 7.02, pCO2 <15, pO2 150, HCO3 3, base excess -25.6  Whoah! this guy is really sick. Tox screen came back positive for benzos and opiates, electrolytes were completely out of whack with potassium at 8.3, CO2 at 6, and anion gap at 33. Glucose came in at 966.  He was complaining of belly pain so we gave him 4mg of morphine, and his heart rate was creeping up again, so we pushed another 1mg of metoprolol and gave him an albuterol breathing treatment.  Usually in DKA the patient has hypokalemia however this patient had hyperkalemia, K level was 8! The MD ordered 1gm of calcium gluconate which quickly overcomes the cardiac toxicity of hyperkalemia, it increases the cardiac muscle tone and force of contractions.  More zofran for the nausea  and a banana bag to replace electrolytes and vitamins.  We had him chew a 325mg aspirin with a few sips of water, I think the doc was worried about a clot forming in his heart through all that fibrillation before the cardioversion.  An amp of sodium bicarb (50mEq) IV push slowly, 20mg of kayexalate by mouth, trying desperately to drop his potassium level and raise the pH of his blood.  By now it was about 0910 and nurses were all working together to get these meds in him, through the right IV lines avoiding any incompatibilities.  Everyone was thinking out loud and checking what they were doing withe each other, the teamwork was amazing to me. I was still busily recording everything with the time that it was happening. Normal saline bag #6 went up, a triple dose of albuterol was given with a nebulizing mask, D5W was hung with 2 more ampules of sodium bicarb.  An insulin drip was started at 10 units/ hr, at the same time RT started continuous albuterol 10mg/hr.   After all this fluid was poured into him, he needed a catheter to drain his bladder and this was something that struck true fear in this young man.  He had just been at death’s door and had his heart shocked back into beating properly, yet he was freaking out about having a catheter put in.  Well, my preceptor calmed him, in the midst of the chaos and using lots of lidocaine got the foley in and drained about 200ml of urine.  Lab took a sample, and got more blood. Another IV was started in the hand with insulin going in one IV and bicarb in another we needed a third for the banana bag and other meds.  His blood pressure was beginning normalize at 122/66 and heart rate at 98.  He was needing more pain control so we gave more morphine slowly, titrating to his blood pressure.  Then some lasix to get his kidneys to flush through that fluid and RT to draw more ABG’s .  Results came back and his pH was up to 7.22, pCO2 22, HCO3  was now 9, and base excess -17.  Glucose had dropped to 666, K to 7.1, CO2 to 8 and anion gap to 23. We were going in the right direction. The MD decided to stop the wide open fluids and halt the bicarb drip, now just keeping the banana bag and insulin drip.  It was 1030 and we were liking his vitals of BP 137/64, hr 107, R18, O2 sat of 100% and pain 8/10. We started to talk about admission to the ICU.  Our patient was beginning to come around and the MD was talking to him about what had just happened.  She had a very serious and forceful talk about how close he had come to dying and that he absolutely had to get control of his diabetes and stop drinking. The young man’s mother had been hovering around the outskirts of the activity the whole time quiet tears dropping and looking very frightened. The doctor pointed at her and said to the pt, “you have someone here who loves you and wants you to live, can you at least try to stop drinking and take care of yourself for her?”  He started stammering about all the stresses in his life and my preceptor looked at me with a look of “you know he’s not going to change.”  We sat down to chart everything from the notes I had been taking. while the other nurses worked on getting him a bed in the ICU.  He was not out of the woods yet, for the next couple of days his glucose, insulin, electrolytes would have to be carefully monitored and balanced while monitoring his heart and respiratory function. He was an extremely lucky young man to have been brought in to us when he was and that triage nurse and ED team acted so quickly. As we wheeled him up to the ICU he was beginning to realize what had happened and was thanking us for helping him and saving his life…… I responded with a hand on his arm and looking straight into his eyes “you are welcome, it is our job to save your life, now it is your job to take over.”

The first awkward moment was in the med room, with my preceptor needing her H1N1 shot and not wanting me to give it to her. ouch.  Nothing personal, ya sure.

My goal for the first week in ER was to take care of one patient from start to finish. Today I managed four! No, not at once, one after the other, never more than one at a time. I was working the blue side, less critical patients, mostly things like abdominal pain, fever/ flu, alcohol intoxication, UTI and the like. I managed to get an IV in an intoxicated patient on the first try, even thought the guy had some pretty tough leathery skin from spending many a night sleeping under bridges. I learned how to mix a banana bag, saline with vitamins and minerals added that rehydrates and replenishes the nutrients a chronic alcoholic desperately needs. All the while our fabulous social worker was trying to find a place for him to go to detox, I was trying to convince him to stay long enough to get rehydrated and stable.

I greeted my 15 month old patient in the lobby and she was all smiles in her mom’s arms until we walked into the exam room then she grabbed her mama’s neck and screamed. No way was she going to let me listen to her lungs and take her temperature. I was actually glad to see her respond appropriately to a stranger, and thankful I didn’t have to give her an injection.

I stood by observing a patient brought in by ambulance having a seizure. The patient was having trouble breathing, swelling in her eyes and face, and her skin was quite red.  The MD looked at me and started firing questions as if I were her med student

MD: what do these symptoms indicate?

Me: anaphylactic shock?

MD: good, how do we treat it?

Me: uh, give epinepherine

MD: perfect, how much and how do we give it?

Me: (in my head, aaaah I have NO idea how much, why is my mind blank?) um, 1mg I think? IV?

MD: no! that is for ACLS, the dose for anaphylaxis is 0.3 mg and we give it IM, where?

Me: in the thigh ( suddenly remembering EPIpens that you stab into the thigh)

MD: yes! go get it, you are an RN aren’t you?!

Me: I am!  (rushing off to the med room feeling like, wow, I AM an RN, I CAN go get this med and help this patient ) I felt like I was really on the spot and really I was just observing why did the MD turn to me?  I guess, I did okay. And the patient came out of the situation and in a couple of hours was sitting up and ready to be discharged with her very own EPIpen in case this ever happened again.

I was starting to gain some confidence, learning the routine, knowing where to find supplies I need, even helping another nurse put a foley in.  Then came another awkward moment one of the MD’s made a comment that she could tell I was new to the unit because I had the chart ready in the slot for her to take in to see the patient to write her orders. And another nurse quipped “yea, and she doesn’t have a bad attitude yet.”

And I hope I don’t, it is not in my nature.

Shouldn't there be a cornfield here?

Hello, hello.

Wow, it’s been a while. I created this site thinking I would chronicle my adventures and at some point became too busy to type out what I was living. Let’s start with a quick recap of the summer.

I moved in the first week of June. Man, that feels like a lifetime ago now. My very loving dad drove 17 hrs with me, all the way to the heart of Texas. The temperature transition alone was shocking. I went from mild, spring weather to 100 degree temps. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the very first night I got to town. My move had been this big idea I had been carrying around for four years, and there I stood in some guy’s empty blue room that I had rented for the summer, with my little cardboard boxes strewn around me, the amount of stuff I could fit in my little Grande Prix. My dad & I chatted up my two roommates, Kris and Mark, and then in an exhausted, confused haze after our long journey, stumbled out to find food. We didn’t go far. We got to the end of my street, a block away, and found cute, great little restaurants. Hyde Park Bar & Grill, let it be known that you were my first.

We got back to the house and found that the guys had planned a party for that night, not realizing I’d be getting to town. It’s here, in hindsight, that I feel I cheated the system. I was introduced to 20 some people my very first night in town. Some of which would become friends. That party remains in my memory as a blur: the many handshakes, the endless names, the multitude of advice given to the new girl. I smiled and nodded and tried to somehow understand that I was here. I was in Austin. I went to bed that night, overwhelmed and asking the only question anyone can ask when they move completely out of their comfort zone,

What the hell have I gotten myself into?

San Antonio Riverwalk Boat Tour

From that point on, I was in exploration mode. Thank God that my dad came with me for that first week. He’s the perfect partner in crime—up for anything and always brings a sense of mischief. We went one by one, and checked out every “To-Do” I had created while compulsively Googling ATX from Illinois. We saw the bats, shopped SoCo, ate Amy’s, went to Hamilton Pool, met my friend Lois at Lake LBJ, drove to Lake Travis, dined at the Oasis, checked out Zilker Park & the botanical gardens, tasted BBQ, you name it, we tried it. I even hit up a job fair that first week. He gave me a friend for my first week, and left me more confident that I could handle my new territory. I was sad to see him go. Step 1: Settle was done. It was on to the job hunt.

Dear Reader, I have a favor to ask. Please pray for a new grad.

Oh, the life of a new grad. Especially now. We paraded out our collegiate comfort to the tune of Pomp & Circumstance only to sashay into the real world to the chorus of, “This is a horrible economy… no one is finding jobs…”  I won’t put you through the agony of what it was like to be without a job and to have a pressing deadline to find one.

Could get used to this

The abbreviated version is this: there were sleepless nights, panic attacks, a depression where only

library-rented DVDs of Desperate Housewives seemed to fill the void. I was determined though, and went to any job fair I could, networked any possibility open, and met people left and right, handing out my business cards and praying that they knew someone hiring. I will say, to the people who helped a hapless new kid in town, your kindness meant the world. And I absolutely, positively promise to pay it forward.

All of the countless resumes, portfolios, coffee dates, and cover letters led to one blessed day of dancing around my room and shouting into the phone, “Mom, Dad, I GOT A JOB!!!!!”
I’m now a literary publicist at Phenix & Phenix, who I will, of course, talk about in more detail later.

The summer was an absolute whirlwind. New job, new friends, new city, new drama, new fun. I have so many stories to tell. I promise, I’ll start sharing them.

Signing off from the first blog post,
Kelly

Batty for ATX

Skyline from South Congress

After what seemed like an eternity of preparatory training I am finally in the ER. This has been my dream since I started nursing school and here I am on the job in a busy county ER. I am  working with a preceptor that is very experienced but not that happy about having someone to train.  Luckily I don’t need much hand holding and I don’t take her reluctance personally, she is just overworked.   We worked on the “blue” side which is the less acute side, seeing patients that are triaged as level 3 or 4.   Two patients stood out for me because we weren’t really able to help them.  One was a woman with chronic back pain who had suffered a fall, she had used up all her pain meds and was not able to refill her scripts  before the first of the month. She got some new RX’s but could not fill them due to lack of money.  She came in looking for some pain relief.  We were able to give her some pain relief, and take an x-ray,  but could not give her medication samples to carry her over till the first of November when her scripts would be available through her basic medical insurance. We provided her with a new cane and a cab ride home, she was not happy.  The other patient broke my heart.  A young woman doubled over in pain came in with her husband.  The history looked like this could be a chronic bowel issue, or a kidney stone. She was nearly hysterical in fear of what was wrong with her and not being find relief from this pain.  The MD immediately pegged her for a meth user and ordered a urine tox screen and pregnancy test which came back negative for everything. We gave her Ativan to calm her and some dilaudid to ease the pain and 3 liters of fluids. She went for an abdominal CT which was negative and she was discharged with a script for go-lytely and donnatal and instructions to come back if she did not get relief.  She was not a happy camper, she felt we were ignoring her needs and not listening.  She wanted to get to the bottom of what was causing her pain and I have to say I agree with her. In the end she left without signing the discharge papers, without taking her prescriptions or instructions, and telling us she was going to go to another hospital for help.  I felt like we didn’t listen well, I don’t know if the MDs and other nurses misjudged her, I am too wet behind the ears to see what they see. but my gut feeling is that we missed something, and it broke my heart that she left feeling frustrated with her care.  Both the charge nurse and my preceptor talked about how you have to be firm with these kinds of patients and not be caught up in their drama, I just don’t see the category of “these kinds of patients” yet and I am not sure I want to.

This afternoon I start on a med/surg floor with a preceptor.  For two weeks I will work with her to learn the basics before I go to the ER.  The plan is to learn in a less chaotic environment so we have time to absorb what we are learning. Seems like a good idea, I hope it goes smoothly. The last three weeks have been spent in classrooms and in the ancillary departments. It has been useful, but I am anxious to start working with patients. Stay tuned.

Here are some semi-random thoughts about returning to school which may prove to be beneficial. From all of us at My Career, we wish you the very best in your future endeavour.

School advice from My Career:

• Make this school year special.

• Respect those who teach you. Respect those who serve you.

• Being well results in thinking well.

• Always lock your dorm room door.

• Make peace with every individual you meet, until he/she gives you a reason to break that peace.

• In the real world, you won’t be measured by how many parties you attend or number of classes you sleep through.

• Make a positive difference in a student’s life every day.

• Don’t measure scholastic success by how much of the textbook you memorized.

• Ask questions if you have questions.

• ‘Cool’ and ‘Hot’ change

• Don’t say the answers, even if you have them, unless they’re well thought out and they intrigue the receiver.

• Keep your pants on.

• Ensure you’re encircled with positive influences at all times.

• Don’t be better at school. Be unique and challenge the norm.

• Consider the consequences of every action you take.

• When problems appear (and believe us, they will) remember that they’re yours to solve.

• Support your natural environment. Support your emotional environment.

• Find the Fountain of Youth…every day.

• Benefits rarely outweigh harms. Think before you act.

• Bake at least once every month and give the results to close classmates.

• Reply to emails/messages from acquaintances.

• Drink water and milk.

• Eat fruits and vegetables.

• Alcohol is never more important than rent. (I’m sure to get some backlash for this one.)

• Don’t be afraid to tell idiots why you think they’re idiotic.

• Support competence in a way unique to yourself.

• Berate incompetence in a way unique to yourself.

• Fashion is created to become unfashionable.

• Debate everything.

• Set aside one day every week to chill.

• Don’t you dare.

• Find the meaning of life before life loses its meaning.

• Improve yourself daily.

• Make this school year special.

From Recruitment and Selection to Education, Zihan Kassam has spent the last few years in Toronto guiding her clients in to the next phase of their careers. “I’m from Kenya and I’ve seen how difficult it is for a lot of internationals to have both their credentials and past work experience recognized here. It shouldn’t be that way and the circumstances can be challenging but it feels great for the both of us when that first stage of integration happens. I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to connect with newcomers ready to take their first steps. We’re always laughing as we relate to the intricacies of converting to a new mode of life. Having a sense of humour and someone to support you can make a big difference.”

Believing in human potential and the ability to continually design and redesign our lives, Zihan will encourage and admire you as you take that leap of faith and recognize that your dreams are possible. “Working for a Career College, I’ve transitioned from helping you get the job to assisting you in selecting a new career path by enrolling in the right program. Everest College has over 100 campuses in North America. We offer prospective students advice on their financial options and once they enroll, they have the opportunity to connect with a network of employers within their industry of interest. Achieving an over 90% placement rate, we have Career Services advisors on board who work hard to help you with interview tips, resume writing and liaising with potential employers on your behalf. Working that career you’ve always wanted can be a reality. Come in and find out what your options are.”

Believing that the student experience is a privileged one, Zihan loves the idea of education and imparting knowledge. It’s what brought her to Education. “I look up to those teachers that inspired me. Whether it was Sociology, Psychology or Literature, my professors harboured a wealth of knowledge which, when combined with their passion, kept my attention, satisfied my desire to learn and brought a smile to my face. I was reminded of that feeling when I sat in an Addictions and Community Services class at our campus last week. We learned about autonomy and individuation, which delved into the details of the separation from one’s nuclear family during adulthood. I was so engrossed in the whole ordeal that it was hard to walk away mid-class and attend to other responsibilities. I’m reminded of an old Buddhist proverb – When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. I really believe that.”

Zihan believes that your career path is constantly evolving. She says that some people stay in one path feeling a strong sense of purpose while others may satisfy latent skill sets by changing industries and doing new things. Both approaches are commendable. If you are looking for a new track or perhaps the opportunity advance the one you’ve already started, contact Zihan at the Admissions Department at Everest College. Explore what your options are and what funding is available. You can email her at ZKassam@cci.edu or call her at (416)480-2164. She’ll be happy to help and you’ll be glad you called.

Zihan can be found at the Toronto Central Campus at Yonge & Eglinton.

Looks like no one cares to see Britney Spears perform anymore.

We want berry lips like Megan Fox.

Green jobs are best for recent grads.

Is Miley Cyrus single?

14 tips to look better in the buff.

Oh no. Kristen Stewart is so gonna ruin Dakota Fanning.

You have spent the last four (or more) years in post-secondary waiting for this day.  You have handed in your last paper, written your last exam, and went to your last university party.  Now what?  While leaving school has been your goal for four years, now that it is here, do you have a plan?  Do you have a job, or are you going to start looking?  Are you going to go back to school?  Are you going to travel before you settle down?  While these are all options, the majority of graduates want to get out into the “real world” and start making money.  While making your “plan”, here are some things that you need to take into consideration (at the very least).

• Where will you live? This may or may not be an easy decision.  If your lease is up in May, or you were in residence, you may need to move home  with mom and dad while you decide your next steps.  Or, you may chose to stick around where you are now and try to find something in the area. Your third choice is to move to a new city altogether.  Whatever your choice, make sure you do your research and prepare yourself for the consequences.
• Start saving up. Even though you may have to work another summer serving in a restaurant or lifeguarding at the pool, these kinds of jobs still make money, which will help you save up enough money to move out, or move away.
• Allow yourself time for a thorough job search. Although you may be making good money at the pool or the bar, remember that you still need to give yourself time to search for a job.  You spent four years in school (not to mention thousands of dollars) to earn your degree, so you probably want to be doing more with your life.
• Make sure your resume is up to date. You need to have an updated, error free resume.  Also remember that you need to update it and change it for EVERY job you apply for.
• Have an interview outfit (or two). You need to have at least one interview outfit.  It needs to be something you are comfortable in, that fits you and you feel confident wearing.  Always have a back-up in mind in case something happens to the first (spills, rips, etc), or you get called in for a second interview.
• Practice your interview skills. You need to be ready at all times for an interview.  You need to know what to do before, during and after.  Your career centre will have lots of great information for you.  However, if you are no longer in the same city as your school, check out their website.
• Build your network. Join your alumni association, join professional organizations and attend networking events.  The more people you know, the easier it will be to find a job!

There was a time when having a degree was enough to get you a job with a decent salary.  This is no longer the case.  I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but seems that an undergraduate degree has become a dime a dozen.  You need to have a little extra something to stand out from the thousands of others who are applying for the same jobs you are.

Almost every student has worked before, whether it was a part time job while in school (university or even high school), a summer job, a co-op/internship or even volunteer work.  Use these past experiences to your advantage!  Almost every sector looks for job skills that transfer over from one job to another, including jobs in fields such as accounting and IT.  Traditionally these kinds of positions did not require skills such as communication or people skills, but employers are now looking for more than just technical knowledge, and it is becoming more important to have the whole package.

No matter what kinds of positions you are applying for, sit down and think about all of the jobs you have ever had.  Even if you are not including them on your resume, think abut the tasks you completed and what you did day to day. Also, remember what school taught you…research, writing, editing, presentations, group work, etc, etc.  These are GREAT skills that many employers look for.  You are probable more qualified than you think you are!

Here are just some of the skills that hiring managers look for in candidate for almost any position:

• communication skills (actually probably one of THE most important skills to have!)
• customer service/working with others
• presentation skills
• problem solving
• leadership
• writing skills (again, very important in many fields)
• computer applications
• time management
• multi-tasking
• organization

The traditional job search as we knew it no longer exists.  With the internet changing the way we do just about everything — banking, shopping, dating, interacting with others, etc, etc — it should come as no surprise that finding a job has moved this way as well.  While there are MANY different social networking sites available, such as Facebook and Linked In, Twitter has taken over as the new and exciting kid on the block.  Job searching has even moved to Twitter.    Check out www.twitterjobsearch.com for a “tweeted” list of jobs.

Here are a few reasons why you should start using Twitter for your job search:

• Networking. A great place to meet new people and expand your network.
  
• Follow industry leaders.  This gives you a chance to “talk” to the leaders in your field.  Chances are you wouldn’t have this opportunity at any other time, so take advantage of it!
• Meet recruiters. Almost everyone is on Twitter, including recruiters and head hunters.
• Link to Facebook, Linked In or your personal blog. You can link your tweets to other forms of social media to further build your brand.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind before you begin:

• Remain professional. If you are using Twitter for your job search, be sure that you remain professional AT ALL TIMES!  Consider starting a personal Twitter account as well if you feel that your tweets may be unprofessional.
• Remember it is about building relationships. Don’t overtly ask someone for a job.  You are simply putting yourself out there to expand your network and connect with those in your field.
• Be respectful. Remember to “retweet” any posts that you find interesting, and eventually others will do the same.

My Career is now on Twitter.  Check us out!

Recently, while at the National Job Fair in Toronto, I was asked by numerous job seekers what kinds of advice I could give them.  After finding out a little bit about them (education level, what kind of jobs they were looking for, etc), my next question was whether or not they were willing to relocate.  The majority of them said that moving was not an option.  I was extremely surprised by this.  Don’t get me wrong, Toronto is a great city, but when Ontario has an unemployment rate of 8.7% (one of the highest in Canada), and layoffs happening daily, maybe it is time to consider moving.

Here are three places in Canada that you should consider moving to and why.

• Saskatchewan (I feel like I am this province’s #1 cheerleader, and I have never even been there, haha)
  • Unemployment rate of 4.7% (lowest in Canada)
  • Lower cost of living
  • Tuition rebate program (maximum of $20,000 over 7 years)
  • Jobs in every sector
• Manitoba
  • Unemployment rate of 5.1% (second lowest in Canada)
  • Tuition rebate program (to a maximum of $25,000 over six years)
  • Lower cost of living
• New Brunswick
  • Lower taxes
  • Lower cost of living
  • Employment available in many different sectors

To me, it’s simple…you have to go where the jobs are.  A few years ago, many people made the move to Alberta, now this has shifted to Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick.  I am not saying that moving is the only option, and of course it isn’t for everyone, but if I was faced with unemployment, I think that it would be one of the options I would seriously consider.  For some tips on moving for that new job, see “Relocating for a job” or “Moving for that new job“.

There are hundreds of thousands of people currently out of work.  This means that competition for those few positions available is pretty fierce.  You want to make sure you are given a fair shot at every position you apply for, but how do you make sure your resume is even read?  Here are some tips to help you get ahead of the game and get your foot in the door.

• Customize. EVERY resume you send out needs to be specific to the position you are applying for.  A generic resume will get you nowhere.  Look at the job posting and try to match as many skills and qualifications as you can (while remaining honest and truthful).
• Include a summary.  Gone are the days of having a simple objective on the top of your resume.  A career summary outlines what your major competencies are.  Outline your skills and accomplishments in a bulleted list, making it easy for the hiring manager to see why you should be considered for the position.
• KEYWORDS! Pull keywords from the job posting.  If you possess these skills or qualifications, include them.
• Be functional. If you are a recent grad or are applying for jobs in a different field, you should seriously consider a functional resume.  This style puts your transferable skills up front rather than your experience (as you may not have any in the specific field).
• Transferable skills. Don’t forget about your transferable skills.  These are things that hiring managers are looking for in every sector — people skills, communication skills, leadership, working under pressure, etc.
• Results rather than actions. When writing your resume, remember to focus on results rather than simple actions.  You could say “Updated website daily” or you could say “Maintained website, increasing daily traffic by 10%.”  Which statement do you think is going to impress a hiring manager?
• Perfection! I can’t stress this enough…your resume needs to be free of spelling and grammatical errors.  You may be one of the best candidates for the position, but if you misspell a few words, your resume will most likely be tossed into the bin.

If you are a soon-to-be or recent grad, you are probably weighing your different options — travelling, getting into the workforce, or going back to school.  One thing you may not think about is starting your own business.   Why work for someone else when you can work for yourself?  All businesses have to start somewhere, and who’s to say your great idea couldn’t end up making you millions?

Here are some great reasons to consider starting your own business:

• Government grants. Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently announced a $10 million grant to the Canadian Youth Business Foundation as part of Canada’s stimulus package.  It is estimated that by 2010, this money will help more than 900 new businesses get off the ground.
• Baby-boomers retiring. As many as 70% of small business owners are planning to retire in the next 5-10 years.  This means that there are plenty of opportunities available.
• Be your own boss. Who doesn’t want to set their own hours, answer to themselves and have the title of CEO?
• Unemployment is on the rise. You can not only create work for yourself, but a number of others as well.  Those 900 new businesses are estimated to create 5,000 new jobs!
• You’ve got the skills. As a college/university grad in 2009, you have many skills that your predecessors may not have had.  You know all about the internet and social networking, which is a HUGE benefit in today’s digital age.

While starting your own business isn’t for everyone, it is estimated that 20,000 young people have an unrealized business idea!  Do your research, see what is out there, and if you have a great idea, run with it!

With the unemployment rate rising by the day, there are hundreds of thousands of people looking for work as we speak.  It is becoming harder and harder for soon-to-be and recent grads to find work, with many resorting to continuing their eduction (even though they really may not want to).  One thing new grads (and all job seekers for that matter) should seriously consider is looking for a contract position, rather than just a full time gig.  Here are some pros and cons for taking on a contract position.

PROS:

• Great way to get your foot in the door. Many contracts don’t generally last for more than a year.  This is a great way to get that oh so important work experience on your resume.
• An opportunity to work for many different companies. Contract positions are a great way to test out different kinds of companies, different work environments and even types of positions.  After working at a few different contract positions, you should have a better idea of the type of environment you want to work in, as well as  what kind of company and position you ultimately strive for.
• Expanding your network. This is a great way to start expanding your network, as you are getting to know people in your industry.
• Could just be a testing period. Some times employers put new employees on a short-term contract, and once they prove themselves, they are offered a full time permanent position.

CONS:

• Office politics. Since co-workers are aware that you are only there for a short period, they may be less likely to warm up to you.
• Benefits, vacation time. Often companies do not offer these kinds of perks to contract workers.  If it is not part of the initial offer, try to work at least some kind of vacation time into your contract.
• Job hopping doesn’t look good on your resume. Having a number of positions in a short period of time may help you gain important skills, but doesn’t always look good on your resume.  Be sure to explain your large quantity of positions on your cover letter.
• Starting the job search again after only a few months. Contracts can last anywhere from three months to one year.  This means that shortly after you start, you could be looking for a new position.

I, like many others, am sick of hearing about the problems with the economy.  We all know it sucks and that there are layoffs and closures announced daily.  Maybe for once, we should focus on the positive, and instead of complaining that you are out of work, why not get off your butt and do something about it!  While there may be a lack of jobs in your area, there are places that have more jobs available than people to fill them. Of course it will be hard to move to a new place, but it is going to get harder and harder to collect EI benefits, and it is getting harder to find work.  The solution?  Saskatchewan, the new land of opportunities!

For years, Alberta has been the place to be in Canada.  There was constantly work available in the oil sands, and many recent grads flocked here to start their lives after graduation.  However, these kinds of projects have slowed down (although not closed down completely), and there are no longer the same number of jobs available.  Saskatchewan, believe it or not,  has the same oil sands, and is also rich in potash and uranium.  While these are the primary sectors that are looking for employees, the boom in industry has created a need for employees in almost every sector.

If you are a recent grad, the breadbasket of Canada has something else to offer you.  If you stay in Saskatchewan for at least seven years after graduation, they will pay you up to $20,000!  Twenty grand just for moving to a place where you can get a job!?!?  I know that if I were graduating this year, this is something that I would seriously take into consideration.

I know what you are thinking…Saskatchewan, seriously??  Well, I am not saying that this often forgotten province is for everyone, but do your research, and you may be surprised what you find out.  Check out “Saskatchewan, no longer just the breadbasket of Canada” for more information and some links to help you with your decision.  Also, if you are going to be in the Toronto area next week (March 31 & April 1), check out the National Job Fair.  There is a whole area dedicated to Saskatchewan jobs and recruitment.

What else do you have to lose?

If you are one of the many soon-to-be grads of 2009, you need to know that there are other options besides getting right into the workforce.  We all know it is going to be tough, and since the majority of you have little to no experience, it is going to be harder than ever to secure one of those few positions available after graduation.  However, who says that you have to get a job right after school?  There are many different options available to you, including, but not limited to:

• Travel. How many people wish they had gone backpacking around Europe before starting life in the “Real World?”  I am certainly one of those people!  This is a fairly inexpensive way to see the world before starting work.  Make sure your passport is up to date, and if you are not picky where you begin your trip, you can get a great deal on a flight.  Also, remember that hostels are inexpensive alternatives to hotels and a Euro-pass will allow you to travel between countries.
• Work Abroad. Look into organizations such as SWAP, who help obtain important documents, such as work visas.  You may not know it, but if you are a Canadian citizen, you are able to work up to a year in a number of different countries around the world.  Check out www.international.gc.ca/experience to see how the Government of Canada can help you get out and see the world, while making some money!
• Teach English. There are many great opportunities to teach English abroad.  Many recent grads head over to Asia to teach English in countries like China, Japan and Korea.  There are many different organizations that help set you up with training and even job opportunities.  Do your research, talk to people who have gone, and keep an open mind!
• Continue your education. If you feel that going back to school is going to help your chances of getting a job, then by all means continue your education.  However, don’t just go back to school for the sake of going back.  Far too many students stay in school because they are afraid of the real world, and take up the spaces of those who truly want to be in school.
• Take an internship or volunteer. I know that it may be hard, but in order to get the experience you need, you may need to work for free for a little bit.  If you are unable to work daily at an internship, consider volunteering a few hours a week, while working part time elsewhere.

Above all, you need to be proactive in whatever you do.  Don’t just sit idle because of what you are seeing and hearing in the media.  If you are searching for a job, continually search for job postings and send out your (perfected) resume.  We all need to remember that the media tends to blow things out of proportion, and although things are tough, there are options (and jobs) out there!

Everywhere we turn, there seems to be layoffs announced, company closures and overall bad news for the economy.  There are hundreds of thousands of people who have lost their jobs in Canada alone!  The unemployment rate, while not as high as it has been in the past 2 recessions, is climbing faster and quicker than ever before.  February saw an unemployment rate of 7.7%…and it appears that it’s only going to get worse.  When it is getter harder and harder to get unemployment cheques, and the job possibilities are few and far between, what is a job seeker to do?  THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!!

While I can admit, it would not be the first place I would look for work, my eyes have recently been opened to the Canadian Forces.  There are many different positions available from doctors and nurses to communications officers to mechanics.  All you have to do is pass basic training, and you are on your way to a guaranteed pay cheque.

Another great place to look is the RCMP.  While the organization has come under some fire lately, it seems like if you have what it takes to be a cop, the RCMP would be a great place to work.  They accept applications from every discipline, and though the testing and training is rigorous, there is always going to be a need for police officers.

While these two organizations may not be for you, I just wanted to illustrate that during these tough times, you need to think outside of the box and look for employment with organizations that are always going to be hiring!

The media has a way of blowing things way out of proportion, thus causing a panic among the masses.  The recent recession is no different. The doom and gloom that is featured daily in almost every medium is enough to make even the most optimistic job seeker start to rethink things.  However, stop and take a look for yourself…there are jobs out there.  Workopolis.com currently has over 500 jobs posted for the GTA alone, and these range from entry-level to senior executive. Sure, there is going to be stiffer competition for the jobs available, but that means that you need to have a perfectly written cover letter, a flawless resume that is keyword rich and a stellar interview.

If you are a soon-to-be grad, you may feel even more helpless, thinking that it is going to be impossible to find a job upon graduation, and give up before you start.  You may think that going back to school is your only option.  However, you need to do some research and put some serious thought into what you really want to do.  School isn’t always the answer for everyone.

I am not saying that every company out there is hiring in mass numbers, and some have in fact cut back the number of recent grads they are hiring, and/or cut back their recruitment budgets.  However, there are companies are are hiring students.  You need to learn to be more diligent, and know that there is no room for error.  You also need to be more flexible in the ways you search and the types of jobs you are looking for. Eventually your hard work WILL pay off…and we won’t be in a recession forever.

Now, more than ever, you need to enlist help.  If you are still in school, visit you career centre.  If you are out of school, see a recruiter or employment action centre.  They will be able to help you out with your resume and cover letter, as well as give you tips for successful interviews and more!

I have been studying for 15 years of my life. And just look at me now! I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and Advertising.  All I can honestly think,  is how obviously aware I have become of the thoughts and feelings the whale in “Free Willy” must have gone through when it was finally “freed”.  Holy crap! I am scared shitless.

So… Where is the “What Women Want” company at?

Oh yes. Hello, sir. How are you? I would like to apply for “Mel Gibson”? Oh… You only have available positions for Senior Marketeers with over 300 years of experience and Cleaning Executives? Ok then… Have a nice day, Mr. Established.

With increasing unemployment rates and mass layoffs making the news all around the world, job seekers may need to think outside the box when searching for their next job.  While many of us are accustomed to working one full time job Monday to Friday, 9 to 5, another option is working more than one part time job or seeking temp work.  I know that for many people, this is less than ideal, but at this point, beggars can’t afford to be choosers.  And remember…having a couple jobs means money in your pocket!  Here are some great places to find these kinds of jobs.

• Recruitment and temp agencies. Be sure to register with all of the agencies in your area.  The more your name is out there, the better chances you have of finding work.  Who knows, you could even find a full time gig this way.
• Ask around. Talk to everyone in your network.  You never know who may need someone to fill in for a vacationing secretary or a website upgrade.  Talk to your previous employers, let them know your situation and they may be able to help you out.
• Seasonal work. Look for seasonal work, such as construction or landscaping.  These kinds of jobs are going to be readily available in the next few months.
• Pick up the phone. Look into call centres.  While not the most glamorous positions, they often pay decent and have flexible schedules.
• Baby-sitter/Nanny. This may seem like a job for a teenager, but in this economy, why not?  Babysitters can make up to $10/hour (if not more), and it gives you a chance to act like a kid again.
• Product demonstrators. If you have ever gone to Costco or Wal-Mart on a weekend, you have probably had your fair share of samples.  These demonstrators usually only work for a couple hours, and the hourly pay is generally pretty good.
• Freelance. If you have a skill such as graphic design, writing or web design, consider freelancing.  It is a great way to gain resume experience!

With this economy, you definitely need to keep your options open.  Temp work is a great way to make money while continuing the search for your perfect job!