Sunday Business, New York Times

The Sunday Business section of the New York Times includes columns that could be useful for job seekers: Openers, "Corner Office" and "Preoccupations" ; Jobs, "The Boss" and "The Search." Except for "Corner Office" and "The Boss," the other columns appear in rotation.

My favorite column, along with "The Search,"  is "Corner Office" by Adam Bryant who, in his interviews always ask the chief executive about the company's culture and his or her hiring practices. For example, in his May 1 interview, Bryant asked Lars Bjork, chief excutive of QlikTech, a software data company, what qualities he looks for in hiring. This is one of the qualities he looks for: "Have they prepared questions for me? I find it peculiar when people come into an interview and have no questions for me. You're going to make a big bet on your future and you have no questions about where you're going?" Given that this is a key component of the interview, it's hard for me to believe someone  would not have questions. But this happerns even, according to Bjork, with senior executives.

My tip: If, as you prepare for your interview and can't think of substantive questions to ask, peruse the company's web site for additional information you may have overlooked in your initial research about the company.

Our elusive, yet all-sustaining Friend

Loving God, our elusive yet all-sustaining Friend:
  We give thanks for the accumulated sanity of the Holy Scriptures
   through which you speak to us even when our hearts feel cold.
We give thanks for the caring communities of your holy church
   where you are present with encouragement and profound healing.
We give thanks for those special, holy times
   when for a few seconds or hours this world's shrouds split open and we glimpse your glory.
Most of  all we give thanks for the gift of Christ Jesus
   who makes himself known in the breaking of the bread to all who keep the trust.
Loving Lord, elusive but faithful Friend,
    in spite of our scrappy faith and love, we dare to celebrate your glorious Presence!
    Hallelujah!

BD Prewer, Jesus Our Future: Prayers for the 21st Century (Open Book Publishers), 50.


My thanks to Vicky Garvey for sharing this resource.

That's What Friends Are For

A few days ago a friend and I were talking about losing our professional jobs. Along with job loss, my friend has also experienced other life transitions, including marriage,  moving away from close friends, and looking for a job in her profession. As she looked for a new job, she became depressed as her search went on for a long time without any positive results. Who wouldn't be depressed? When I asked her how she got through this trying time she said a job support group, exploring a career change and, most of all, her friends. She talked to her old friends, miles away, on a regular basis. They were supportive and encouraging.

As I reflected on her story, I thought of  "That's What Friends Are For,"  sung by Burt Bacarach and Dionne Warwick:

Keep smiling, keep shining,
Knowing you can always count on me, for sure
That's what friends are for
In good times, in bad times,
I'll be on your side forevermore, that's
What friends are for.

Writers: Burt Bacharach and Carol Bayer Sanger. Lyrics@Warner/Chappell
My favorite performance is by Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, Elton John, and Stevie Wonder.
You can find it on http://www.youtube.com/ , search That's What Friends Are For.

Assoc. of Women Professionals Networking Event

The Association of Women Professionals is hosting a networking Thursday, May 12, 2011.

Time: 5:30-7:30 P.M.

Cost: Free for AWP members, $10 for non-members.

Location: American Continental University
                130 S. Franklin St. (on Franklin between Adams and Monroe)
                 Chicago, IL

Reservations and prepayment required. No money will be accepted at the door.

Light refreshments will be served.

Association's web site: http://www.awoman.org/networkingevent.html