Overlooked Words That We Should Use More Often

I am a firm believer in the power of words. The things we say can hurt people, make them feel worthless, raise their spirits, motivate them and even help them see the world differently. I spend a good amount of time reading articles online and I am constantly amazed at the things people say. When they read an article about something they find offensive, some people have no problem commenting that the particular person or author should be “taken out and crucified on the street.”.

Although I realize that they can't possibly be serious, those words are still out there. These words could have a great impact on the writer or the person in the article but they also have a huge influence on the person who said them. Words have much more power to influence both ourselves and the people around us than we want to give them credit for. So, it stands to reason that if negative words can have a negative affect, positive words can have a positive affect as well. So, if you want to make a change in your life, land a new job, improve your relationships or be an effective manager, take a moment to think about the words you chose.

Sometimes it is the smallest of words that can make all of the difference. They have the ability to encourage, lead, make people feel important, make them feel good and they set a great example of positivity.

Here are some overlooked words that we could all stand to use a bit more often:

• Thank you – We learned it as children, but often forget it as adults. Openly expressing gratitude for the people and the tasks we take for granted can change our outlook and make others feel appreciated.
  
  
• I forgive you – When people say they are sorry, it is easy to say “Don't do it again.”, but try giving them verbal affirmation that you forgive them. Apologizing is hard, and accepting an apology gracefully is just as difficult.
  
  
• You can do it – I have a friend that I call each week when I am feeling the pressure of my deadline just so that she can say “You can do it” in a mock-Rob Schneider voice. A little encouragement can go a long way.
  
  
• I was wrong – These words are so powerful. In your personal relationships as well as your professional ones, being able to stop defending yourself and just say that you were wrong is hard. But, when you admit it, it frees up energy that can be devoted to repairing the damage.
  
  
• I admire you – If there is someone you look up to, let them know that you admire them. They may be trudging along just like you, and it might not ever occur to them that someone respects what they do.
  
  
• Good job – Everyone likes a pat on the back. Unfortunately, they are easy to forget about.
  
  
• I'm sorry – There is nothing like a heartfelt apology.
  
  
• I understand – If you are being given complicated directions from your boss or your partner is telling you how they feel, let them know verbally that you understand what they are saying. You will be giving them the gift of being heard.
  
  
• You're important – Everyone wants and needs to feel valued. Let the people who are important to you know how you feel.

Try using these words more often for a week and see if you start to notice a change in the people you interact with and in yourself. Keep in mind that other people aren't mind readers, so even if this list seems like things that should go without saying, they won't know unless you actually say it.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for PhillyJobsBlog, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

New Job, New Schedule: Prepare Your Pet - Part 2

If you’re returning to work after a period of un or underemployment, it’s best to prepare a plan in advance for your puppy’s personal time. Otherwise, when you come home from your first day back to work you might realize the couch is a casualty of your precocious pooch’s unchecked curiosity.

Most dogs don’t do well being left unattended with free reign for long amounts of time. Experts recommend using a crate to create a den for your dog that keeps them safe, secure and comfortable while you’re away but there are other options to avoid leaving your dog alone.

Telecommuting might not be available but if you’re fortunate enough to find a job in Philadelphia close to home you could pop in on your lunch break to make sure nothing has gone awry. If your hours are too long or dog is too scared to be left for that period during the day then the next thing to consider is someone to watch them for you while you’re at work.

Doggie Daycare and pet sitters are alternatives if you can’t slip home in the middle of the day. Treat your search for an animal care provider as seriously as you would in finding a sitter for your child. If you opt for a pet sitter this person will be responsible for your pet and will likely be in your home when you are not. Make sure you find out if they are bonded and insured for liability.

Like children’s centers, daycares for dogs offer lots of activities and socialization for your pet. After all, a day at one of these facilities will feel like a day at the office for your dog. He won’t be chomping at the bit to drag you around the block since he’s been running with the pack all day. The down side is the same as having a child in a large class, being that they are exposed to every illness that goes around.

There are a lot of factors to consider but the internet offers a wealth of information on the subject, from tutorials to support groups. Being a responsible and informed pet owner will ensure happiness for you and your pet.


By Heather Fairchild - Heather is a multimedia developer with experience in web, film, photography and animation as well as traditional fine arts like painting and sculpting. In addition to writing for PhillyJobsBlog, she is co-founder of design and promotion company, Creative Kazoowith fellow Beyond.com blogger, Staci Dennis. Heather’s spare time consists of making puppets, teaching Sunday School, building Legos and doing science experiments with her children.

Heavy Casualty Rate for Heavy Car Crash Victims

by Alex A. Kecskes

Heavy drivers suffer heavier injuries in car crashes. So concluded a recent study by the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Moderately obese drivers had a 21 percent greater risk of dying, while survival rates for morbidly obese were less than half. Both male and female drivers were included in the study,

Drivers were separated into groups based on body mass index (BMI), which is weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Categories included underweight, normal, overweight, slightly obese, moderately obese and morbidly obese.

Crash injuries depend on a variety of factors—things like a person's velocity at impact, seat belt and air bag use, type of vehicle and impact scenario.

While crash test dummies have provided significant data on crash injury dynamics, they represent normal-weight individuals. Most Americans are overweight, so improvements in vehicle design that take this into account could reduce injuries and possibly save lives. One possible design improvement for overweight drivers would be to extend the range of adjustable seats to allow more space between the seat and steering column.

Also suggested in the study were recommendations that manufacturers design and test vehicle interiors with obese crash test dummies. This might improve safety for the one-third of the U.S. population that is overweight.

For an added perspective, check out this video:

For more information on health careers, visit http://www.healthcarejobsite.com/

Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients.

Year-end regional employment trends: Clouds and silver linings

The latest figures on employment from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show the region's employment climate as mostly cloudy and cool, but there is a silver lining in those clouds.

First, the cloudy and cool part. Total nonfarm employment in the 10-county Philadelphia metropolitan region, which spans parts of four states, continued to fall in November 2010, marking the 29th straight month of declining employment in the region. However, the year-to-year decline in employment in November was a mere 0.1% - the smallest drop recorded during this period.

Now for the silver lining: Employment rose in November in Philadelphia and its Pennsylvania suburbs. Employment in the city rose by 3,500 to 656,800, an 0.5% increase from last November, and the five-county Southeastern Pennsylvania region picked up 5,200 jobs to reach 1,865,700, an 0.3% rise.

In the city, the sectors that posted the strongest job growth were:

Education and health services. The "eds and meds" employed 215,700 in November, an increase of 5,200 jobs, or 2.5% over 2009.

Mining, logging and construction. Although this sector added only 200 jobs in November to bring total employment to 10,000, that's good enough for a 2.0% increase over 2009 levels.

The eds and meds also led the pack in job growth in the five counties, adding 8,900 jobs in November to employ 436,800, 2.1% more than last year. Coming in second were other services, which employed 82,500 in November, 1,000 (1.2%) more than last year.

Regionwide, three sectors posted job gains of 1% or more: Education and health services (total employment: 573,500, up 10,500 [1.9%]), leisure and hospitality (total employment: 216,500, up 3,000 [1.4%]), and other services (total employment: 119,600, up 1,500 [1.3%]).

While big government may still be a bane to many, in this region, it's getting smaller: government employment fell by 2.4% from 2009 to 2010, a percentage loss equaled only in the manufacturing sector. In terms of body count, that's 8,700, the largest loss in numbers of any sector. But with 355,500 people employed regionwide, government remains the fourth-largest sector of the reigional economy, behind "eds and meds," trade, transportation and utilities, and professional services. Those first three sectors all added jobs in this region from November 2009 to November 2010, as did leisure and hospitality, the fifth-biggest employment source in the region.

Even though total employment in the region fell in November from year-ago levels, it has been slowly but steadily growing from month to month this past fall, to the point where there are 2,712,300 jobs in the 10-county region. That's not quite one job for every other adult Philadelphian, however, so job-seekers still need to keep their skills finely honed. The resources available on PhillyJobs.com can help.

By Sandy Smith

Sandy Smith has been blogging for PhillyJobs.com since 2010. In addition to launching award-winning newspapers and newsletters at the University of Pennsylvania and Widener University, Sandy is a veteran writer whose articles and essays have appeared in several local and regional media outlets, including The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia CityPaper, and PGN, and on several Web sites. He is also an active participant on several discussion boards, including PhiladelphiaSpeaks.com, where he posts as “MarketStEl.” He has been supporting himself through a combination of freelance and part-time work and unemployment compensation since early 2009 and is himself an active job-seeker. Read more of his posts on PhillyJobsBlog.com and follow him to Beyond.com for more job opportunities.

Like to Travel? Become a Cruise Ship Nurse

by Alex A. Kecskes

If you like to travel and help people at the same time, you might consider working on a cruise ship as a Cruise Ship Nurse (CSN).

Like most nurses, you'll need to be experienced in ER and ICU procedures because there may be little time to consult with medical specialists, as there would be if you worked in a hospital. You'll also need the experience to handle the wide-ranging medical care needs of roughly 2,500 passengers and 1,000 crew. And you'll need strong interpersonal skills to adapt quickly to the needs of passengers and crew from dozens of different nationalities and cultures.

If you work for Carnival Cruise Lines, you'll need a valid registration in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Ireland, or European Union country with a minimum of three recent years of emergency or critical care nursing experience and competency in emergency/critical care nursing care. You'll also need a current BLS certification, and most likely an ACLS certification (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) or its equivalent. You'll be expected to learn simple laboratory/x-ray procedures and be proficient with IV cannulation and venipuncture.

Holland America hires nurses with similar backgrounds. To work for them, you'll need to be licensed in the U.S. or Canada with at least four years of ER, ICU or CCU experience.

In general, you'll be expected to respond quickly to emergency situations and work independently with good triage and assessment skills. You'll function as respiratory therapist, X-ray tech, lab tech and critical care nurse. You'll also be doing all your own paperwork since ship nurses don't have the backup support of clerical staff.

Cruise ship nursing does have its perks. In addition to free travel to exotic locales, you'll typically work six months at sea, then take two months off. Holland America lets its nurses rest for two months after every four months at sea. There's also the chance to network and make friends with people of all cultures, nationalities and backgrounds. Many nurses develop lasting friendships that allow them to stay rent-free in foreign cities around the world.

For an added perspective, check out this video:

For more information on health careers, visit http://www.healthcarejobsite.com/

Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients.

Have a Budget-Friendly Valentine’s Day

Well ... it is almost that time of year again ... Valentine’s Day. As you most likely may be searching for a job, funds at this time of year may be a little tight. That said, you will be very happy to know that you can still send “classy” Valentine’s Day gifts without breaking the bank. All you have to do is display a bit of ingenuity and creativity, and you surely will impress the Valentine’s Day gift recipient with your thoughtfulness.

Give the Gift of Flowers for Valentine’s Day

If you insist on being somewhat traditional on Valentine’s Day, there are ways to lower the costs associated with buying flowers for someone on this holiday. For instance, instead of the traditional roses for Valentine’s Day, you can purchase a bouquet of different – but equally stunning flowers. Of course, you can also purchase flowers from a local market or grocer for a significant price reduction - just ensure that the flowers are in great condition of course.

Appeal to their Sweet Tooth

Another more traditional Valentine’s Day gift that will surely be appreciated by the recipient – depending on their particular likes – is the gift of candy or chocolate. Fortunately, the Valentine’s Day holiday specifically caters to individuals who appreciate this type of treat. From Cadbury to Godiva to Hershey, all major chocolate manufacturers create chocolates for this holiday and many of these concoctions cost less than $20. Combine the chocolates or candy with a personal Valentine’s note or card, and you have a very special Valentine’s Day gift in your hands.

Make a Meal

Think about it – who would not appreciate a meal that is specifically cooked for him or her? Even if you are not culinary-inclined, there are a number of relatively simple recipes that are available online. All you have to do is find these recipes on the internet, and follow the step-by-step directions. Not only will this idea “wow” the gift recipient, this Valentine’s Day gift idea is definitely easy on the pocketbook.

Search Daily Deal Websites

Looking for something a bit different? You are in luck as there are a plethora of Daily Deal websites on the internet today. From Groupon to Dealticker to Kijijiji, there are a number of sites available that offer services to businesses at discounted prices. Depending on your location, Daily Deal websites offer a wide net of goods and services in both your local community and online. For instance, you can buy discounted concert and play tickets, spa packages, clothing store gift certificates ... the list continues. Better still, these Daily Deal website discounts are delivered to you electronically almost instantly so that you can make your purchases with ease.

All in all, remember that you do not have to spend a fortune to give a memorable Valentine’s Day gift.

Larisa Redins is a full time writer and editor with degrees in both Arts and Biological Science. She writes about career issues for PhillyJobsBlog.com and other topics for a variety of international websites and magazines. Please visit her other blogs at PhillyJobsBlog.com and view job posting at PhillyJobs.com.

A Flu Vaccine to Kill All Strains

A team of scientists at Oxford University have been working on a universal flu vaccine that could potentially kill off every strain of flu illness known to man. It goes without saying that this would be one of the most (if not the most) significant breakthrough in my lifetime.

Even more amazing is that this new treatment technique works with a part of the flu virus that is common throughout all strains which means that there would be no costly reformulation period every year to match the most prevalent viruses as there is with today's vaccines.

This new technique could prevent pandemics like we have seen with bird flu and swine flu most recently.

"The problem with flu is that you've got lots of different strains and they keep changing," said Adrian Hill, director of the Jenner Institute. "Occasionally one comes out of wildfowl or pigs and we're not immune to it. We need new vaccines and we can't make them fast enough."

Mark Fielder, a medical microbiologist at Kingston University, said:

"This study represents some potentially very exciting findings with positive implications not only for influenza but possibly for infectious disease in a wider context. The findings are extremely encouraging in terms of the apparent efficacy of the virus and the that it appears to be a safe formulation. However, I think that a larger trial will be able to confirm these findings and let this technology be taken forward."

Bambi Blue is a freelance writer, editor, and social butterfly living in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. When she's not blogging her little heart out for HealthCareJobsite.com, she moonlights as a jazz musician and most apparently a weisenheimer. Loves to cook, hates to clean, and can easily be found on Twitter. To read more of Bambi's posts, head to HealthCareJobsite.com and see additional job postings at Beyond.com.