The end…..actually the beginning.

School is officially finished. The last exam has been written, final papers submitted, and good-byes have been said.

The last several months have been interesting to say the least. Excitement and mild fear in the beginning, a great happiness and contentment throughout and now relief that it’s finished. I won’t have my final marks for another week or two officially, but from the marks I do have I am certain of several A’s and likely a B+ or two. I am still hopeful that I have made the honour role, but not 100% certain that I did.

A few of my instructors have left an indelible mark on me, and I hope to stay in touch as I feel they will prove to be friends as well as business contacts.

It has been an adventure, going back to school later in life and an experience worth having. As I close the chapter on my second round of post-secondary education, I will begin a new one with my own business. I have, as a direct result of my new education, launched my own web site and will be providing free-lance writing services. www.creativelywired.ca

One door closes, another one opens.

Landing a job is often all about connections.

Networking is always your number one priority when job seeking, but growing and cultivating your network is a lifelong commitment that each graduate needs to make.

I have a networking success story to share with you. For those who don’t know me, let me preface this first by saying that in new situations and among strangers I am painfully shy. That being said, when it’s called for I draw on all the extraversion I have within me to network with strangers.

All students in the corporate communication & public relations program at Fanshawe College were invited to an IABC event last September to meet people in the communications industry. As part of our education we also had a networking assignment, to meet at least two people in the communications field and be able to write a little bit of each of their stories.

I have always taken my school work seriously, and thanks to my own winding career path have a curiosity about other people’s paths. I spoke with several industry professionals that evening, but one connection stood out amongst them. I met Julie Maltby, Communications, Marketing & External Relations Officer at Brescia University College. We talked for about 15 minutes, she may have felt like I was interviewing her since I was peppering her with questions, but her career path was interesting to me.

Twenty minutes later, I was speaking to my program coordinator and she was congratulating me on securing a placement at Brescia University College. Apparently after we spoke, Maltby went to the program coordinator and told her that she wanted me for the placement term starting in January. Those 15 minutes of networking were the best investment of my time I could have made.

You never know who you might meet. Always be prepared, have business cards with you and your 60 second self-info-mercial on the tip of your tongue.

For more on networking read the article in the Globe and Mail. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/work/attention-new-grads-the-recession-is-old-news-its-time-to-score-a-job/article1539809/

Don’t count on being that ‘one’ in a million – be versatile.

As the school year draws to a close, I find myself in search of employment as many of my classmates are. Expectations between the young and the mature students vary greatly, as well as employment strategies.

I find myself being selective in which positions and firms I apply to, while some of my younger counterparts seem to have a mass application theory, and yet others seem unconcerned by the coming end of the school year. Everyone in the class has at least one degree already, some even two. There are still those who will be returning to school yet again in the fall for another degree, I am not one of them.

In the interest of being versatile, I have decided to create my own web site and take on contract work, while still searching for a job with benefits. I feel that my background in sales, marketing and corporate training, will greatly enhance my opportunities in the communication and public relations field. www.creativelywired.ca

When searching for employment, it is important to use all the methods available to you. Job boards online such as Monster or Workopolis, networking with friends and family – let everyone know what you can do, join professional associations such as the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), or the Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC). You can also use social networking sites to your advantage such as; LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube or others.

There is no shortage of ways to communicate in today’s world, when you are about to graduate and are looking for employment I feel it is best to use all of them.

Today’s topic sprouted from a blog post I read by Seth Godin – http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/04/one-in-a-million.html

Margaret Wente, why would you say that?

I read an opinion piece in the Globe and Mail the other day by Margaret Wente, “Why are bloggers male?”. The back-lash Margaret created from this piece was interesting to say the least. While I disagree with Margaret’s overall opinion, afterall I am a female blogger, I think there were some points she hit dead on.

 

“I believe the urge to blog is closely related to the sex-linked compulsion known as male answer syndrome. MAS is the reason why guys shoot up their hands first in math class.”

 In my class of 25, there are 6 male students. When the professors ask a question, it is often one of the six who answer first. Not that the women don’t contribute, but they are not usually the first to put up their hand to answer. Does it have to do with confidence as Margaret suggests?

 ”Opinionizing in public is a form of mental jousting, where the aim is to out-reason, out-argue or out-yell your opponent. Women are just as good at this as men and, in some ways, better. (No man could do it the way New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd does.) Women are simply not as interested in doing it.”

Another good point by Margaret. Opinionizing as a public form of mental jousting, is an equal opportunity event. Although I tend to believe that along with a lack of interest, is a lack of time. For me a blog post is an extension of my thoughts, beliefs and opinions that I am willingly sharing with whomever chooses to read them. For this reason, I am careful and considerate of what I write, self censoring to a point. A blog post for me is not something I dash off in five minutes while drinking my morning coffee, without considering the potential repercussions or backlash. My posts are often mulled over first, sometimes for up to 24 hours prior to being written. All the while being mindful of my digital footprint because once it’s out there, you can’t take it back.

The article link is below, as is the online discussion that followed in the Globe and Mail.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/why-are-bloggers-male/article1503780/

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/female-bloggers-take-on-margaret-wente/article1504975/

Use social media to find employment

Social media sites allow job seekers to take risks, and more often than not those risks are received well by potential employers.

Risks worth taking:

1. Put yourself out there:

The nature of social media is such that you could be conversing with important people in public channels at any given time. It may be intimidating to use Twitter or Facebook to communicate with an individual you don’t know, but taking the initial risk and putting yourself out there is the best way to show you’re serious about the position or opportunity you seek. If you can get past the initial fear of communicating with a complete stranger, you’ll have a much better chance of landing the job you want.

2. Match application style to the position:

It’s definitely risky to take an unconventional approach to the typically staunch application process, but doing so might make you stand out from all the rest.

For book lovers, it’s paradise found | Kate Dubinski | Columnists | News | London Free Press

With March break just around the corner, I will have some spare time on my hands. I am an avid reader and can devour two books a day when I have no other responsibilities. March break is the perfect time to catch up on some leisure reading. It’s too cold outside for me this time of year so curling up with a few good books sounds appealing. I do borrow books from the local library, but I purchase books more often than borrow them. Finding out about the Goodwill Bookstore in the London Free Press will save me a lot of money over March break.

Jenn

Quoted from http://www.lfpress.com/news/columnists/kate_dubinski/2010/02/22/12990616.html:

For book lovers, it’s paradise found | Kate Dubinski | Columnists | News | London Free Press

For book lovers, it’s paradise found

GOODWILL BOOKSTORE: With 60,000 titles, and 500 new titles rolling in daily, the store on Adelaide St. N. is a little known treasure trove for bargain-hunting book lovers

By KATE DUBINSKI, THE LONDON FREE PRESS

Last Updated: February 23, 2010 8:34am

Mary Beechie, manager of the Goodwill Bookstore on Adelaide St., shows off the rows of donated books available at bargain basement prices and arranged alphabetically. (DEREK RUTTAN, The London Free Press)

 

There’s a little slice of heaven for book lovers in London, boasting 60,000 titles and an amazing selection of fiction, non-fiction and friendly staff in a bright building.

Every day, about 500 new titles are rolled out at the Goodwill Bookstore on Adelaide St. N., carefully shelved in alphabetical order by author, in sections that range from history to literature, art to children’s books.

“The layout is based on the library, so it’s all organized by author and in sections as opposed to other used book stores where you have to really dig through stuff to find anything,” says Mary Beechie, who manages the bookstore.

Beechie is a bit of a stickler for precise shelving: She has a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Western Ontario, and she used to work at one of the campus libraries.

Anyone looking for a great bargain on a great selection of used books should take note: the Goodwill Bookstore has just about everything.

“A lot of our customers come in on a daily or weekly basis. There’s something for everyone — children, young adults, people who are interested in history. We get in a lot of antique books, too,” Beechie says.

Opened in October 2008, the Goodwill Bookstore store is a first in Canada. The site, at Adelaide and Victoria streets, also houses a Goodwill donation centre that takes household goods and clothing, an office area that anyone can use, with two computers and a printer, and a Fanshawe Job Connect centre, which is open to the public.

“We want everyone to come here. The idea is that people can buy a bunch of books, and when they are finished with them, they can donate them back,” Beechie says.

“Anyone who is a book reader and book buyer eventually runs out of space. If you have these great books, donate them and let someone else enjoy them.”

People can also drop off other Goodwill donations there, and there’s a loft area that acts as a free space for community groups.

There’s also a drop-in for homework help every Monday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., on any subject and for any grade. A craft day for kids is coming up in March.

Most books cost between $2.59 to $3.59 — a steal, especially for cash-strapped post-secondary students, Beechie says.

“We need students to know that we’re here,” she says.

“A lot of savvy students have found out about us, but not a lot know that we exist. You can really save a lot of money by shopping here, especially if you’re an English student. We don’t sell textbooks, but we have all the novels that you could want.”

For Beechie, the store is a great meeting of cheap books, a great location and helpful staff.

“I love working here. It’s the best job ever,” she says.

“I really like working with books — you never know what’s going to come in the back door. The surprises we find are amazing. Every day, there’s a treasure.”

The building is bright, with large windows and lots of light.

“You can never get bored because there are so many books around and you’re talking to people about what they’re interested in.”

— — —

IF YOU GO

What: Goodwill Bookstore

Where: 1044 Adelaide St. N., London.

When: Open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sundays, noon to 5 p.m.

— — —

Four Lessons From PleaseRobMe.com | davefleet.com

First, I have to put in my two cents on the subject, then the blog post by David Fleet follows.

The idea that social media is going to lead to an increased likely hood of being robbed, is ludicrous. Use common sense. Do not list your home address online. Home burglary is not new. There’s a very easy way to find out if someone is home or not: you phone their fixed phone number. If no one answers, chances are the house is empty. If you really want to make sure, you can simply check if the lights are on.

And yes, robbers actually used these tactics to rob people’s house for ages; this is why, ahead of summer vacations, you’ll see advice in magazines to have a friend periodically visit your house, turn the lights on and generally create the impression the house is not abandoned.

There has been a lot of chatter this week over whether social media is making it easier for burglars to target people’s homes. Below is DaveFleets take on it.

I still stand by common sense.

Jennifer

Quoted from http://davefleet.com/2010/02/lessons-pleaserobmecom/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dfPR+%28davefleet.com%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher:

Four Lessons From PleaseRobMe.com | davefleet.com

Four Lessons From PleaseRobMe.com

10.02.19

The social media scene has been buzzing this week with stories about PleaseRobMe.com, a new site which aggregates publicly shared posts from shiny new location-based serviceFoursquare. The aim of the site is to draw attention to the risks posed by posting your current location publicly.

While the way the site goes about things is deliberately distasteful (it wouldn’t grab many headlines with “Out And About” as a name, after all), there’s a useful message behind the obnoxiousness. As the site points out, “So here we are; on one end we’re leaving lights on when we’re going on a holiday, and on the other we’re telling everybody on the internet we’re not home.”

After chatting with a journalist today who says she’s been seeing more and more reports of people cancelling their Foursquare accounts as they realize the implications of the service, I reflected that it’s a good time to consider a few privacy basics:

1. Think it through. Would you share your home address with a stranger on the street? No? Then don’t do it online. Also, if you check into your home address on Foursquare, you need your head examined. As the makers of PleaseRobMe.com said for an interview with WebProNews, “We think it’s important to realize that something you post on Twitter isn’t necessarily private. Everybody is able to read it, unless you protect your messages.”
2. Choose your friends carefully. More so than on some other sites, “friending” people on location-based services gives them real access to your life. I have a couple of hundred of friend requests on Foursquare which I’ll probably never accept because I don’t know the person requesting the connection. Think before you accept everyone.
3. Find the right service for you. While Foursquare doesn’t have too many privacy settings (though you can turn off the auto-tweet function), only your friends can see your updates. If that’s not enough for you, other services like BrightKite (as RWW points out) offer more rigorous controls.
4. Don’t blow it out of proportion. If you go to work every day; the regular, predictable period when you’re out is probably much more of a target for burglars than your pint at the local pub (especially if you aren’t actually attached at the hip to your partner and they don’t automatically follow you everywhere you go).

What do you think? Are these kinds of stories changing your opinion of location-based services or are these concerns overblown?

Taylor Mali: What teachers make | Video on TED.com

The first time I was shown this video, was in presentations class last semester. Taylor Mali is a poet. In this video he responds to the question, “What do teachers make?” In light of the potential teachers strike at colleges throughout Ontario, I felt it was appropriate content.

I have been on the TED.com site a fair bit the last week as they have just held a conference in California. I have found that the slogan they use at TED is correct.

TED-ideas worth spreading

Quoted from http://www.ted.com/talks/taylor_mali_what_teachers_make.html:

Taylor Mali: What teachers make | Video on TED.com

Taylor Mali: What teachers make

Bowery Poetry Club, Filmed Nov 2005; Posted Jan 2010

Best of the Web

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Aaron Walpole is anything but idle – The Londoner – Ontario, CA

I am currently writing for The Londoner, this is one of my articles.

Quoted from http://www.thelondoner.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2443406:

Aaron Walpole is anything but idle – The Londoner – Ontario, CA

Aaron Walpole is anything but idle

Posted By Jennifer Sproul, Special to The Londoner

Posted 1 day ago

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOAaron Walpole, a former London resident and a 2005 Canadian Idol finalist, is returning to the area for a pair of shows this month.

After spending a lot of his time in western Canada lately, 2005 Canadian Idol finalist Aaron Walpole is happy to be working closer to home.

Mr. Walpole, who moved to St. Thomas from London when he was 10 years old, has just wrapped up the musical One Hit Wonders at Stage West, in Mississauga, where he has been performing since November.

While home for just three weeks, Mr. Walpole is busy putting the finishing touches on a new CD. He will also be playing two shows while home, Feb. 12 at the Princess Avenue Playhouse, and Feb. 19 at the Blackshire Pub.

Of performing back in his hometown area Mr. Walpole says, “This will be the first show in a long time in St. Thomas.”

Mr. Walpole will share the stage in St. Thomas with Chris Eveland and John Milles. At the Blackshire Pub, Chris Eveland will accompany Mr. Walpole, as he shares the stage time with Sarah Smith from the Joys.

Mr. Walpole expects to have his new CD available for the Feb. 19 show at the Blackshire Pub. Mr. Walpole has produced this CD on his own and it will be different from his self-titled debut released in 2006.

Describing the feel of his new CD, Mr. Walpole says, “Acoustic and raw. People seem to love the acoustic, so I am giving them what they want.”

Landing the lead role of Lonny, in the Toronto Mirvish Production of Rock of Ages will keep Mr. Walpole busy for the next year. “I am hopeful that the show will get extended beyond the first year. It’s great to be working closer to home.”

Aaron described the music as 1980′s hair metal. The musical has been nominated for five Tony Awards, including best musical and has taken Broadway by storm since it opened at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in April of 2009.

Toronto’s Mirvish Productions will start preview performances of Rock of Ages on April 20th at the Royal Alexandria Theatre in Toronto.

Advertisement

Jennifer Sproul is a student in the Corporate Communications and Public Relations program at Fanshawe College.

Want to know more?

To know more about Aaron Walpole, visit www.aaronwalpole.com. He will be performing On, Feb. 12, at the Princess Avenue Playhouse, 40 Princess Ave, St. Thomas, 7 p.m. On Feb 19, he will be at the Blackshire Pub, 511 Talbot St., London, 10 p.m.

Article ID# 2443406

Take a bite out of world hunger – The Londoner – Ontario, CA

I am currently writing articles for the following publications: The Londoner, the St. Thomas/Elgin Weekly News, and the Fanshawe student paper – the Interrobang. Below is this weeks article from The Londoner.

Quoted from http://www.thelondoner.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2443396:

Take a bite out of world hunger – The Londoner – Ontario, CA

Take a bite out of world hunger

Enjoy great fusion food, in support of a great cause

Posted By Jennifer Sproul, Special to The Londoner

Posted 1 day ago

Over one billion people worldwide do not have access to enough healthy, nutritious food.

This Feb. 18-28, various restaurants in and around London will spotlight this problem while participating in Food Fusion, a charitable event put together to raise funds and awareness for world hunger.

Restaurants participating in Food Fusion will offer a special three-course fixed price menu ranging from $15-$25 for lunch or $20-$30 for dinner. Proceeds from this inaugural year will go to Heart-Links, hoping to raise $8,000-$10,000 to help fight world hunger.

Since 1994 Heart-Links, a small London non-profit, has been working to reduce world hunger. This non-profit was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph after living for 32 years in Northern Peru sharing in the Peruvian people’s struggle to live, work and grow. Heart-Links is staffed entirely by volunteers, and managed by an active and dedicated board of directors.

Janet Loebach has been with Heart-Links for over three years, and is currently serving on the board of directors.

Ms. Loebach’s most memorable moment working with Heart-Links happened in the office one day.

“We had just written a fundraising letter, highlighting one of the women in Peru who is a family worker that administers the local programs,” Ms. Loebach says. “A letter arrived, from the woman herself – thanking us for our efforts, telling us how much our contributions, even the most modest by Canadian standards, are making incredible difference in the lives of women and children in Peru.”

Approximately 53 percent of the Peruvian population lives below the national poverty line and 25 percent live in extreme poverty. Over 24 percent of children under five are chronically undernourished. In rural areas such as northern Peru, rates can reach up to 70 percent.

Partnering with organizations in Northern Peru who work with the most at risk local people, identifying needs and implementing programs funded by Heart-Links.

The most prominent project is the funding of three commodores (soup kitchens). The commodores serve not only to feed the most at risk children in the community, but they are also a form of empowerment for the mothers who run them.

Mothers receive training in self-esteem, budgeting, nutrition, planning menus and buying food. All of them are involved in decision-making and determining the future of the commodores.

“We are not an aid organization,” Ms. Loebach says. “We believe in a participatory, bottom-up approach to work directly with communities and local grass roots organizations to identify their own needs, priorities and opportunities, supporting their efforts to become self-sufficient and empowered.”

Heart-Links is making a difference, Ms. Loebach says, adding that in one year over 35,000 meals were served, and 50 women were trained in nutrition, enabling them to carry on the vital role of feeding the hungry in their communities.

Heart-Links is also responsible for implementing programs to support the non-violent treatment of women and children.

Jennifer Sproul is a student in the Corporate Communications and Public Relations program at Fanshawe College.

Want to know more?

For the list of participating restaurants and menus go to www.heart-links.org/foodfusion.

Article ID# 2443396