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Author: Susan Huebert

  • Career Profile: Community Radio News Manager

    Career Profile: Community Radio News Manager

    Many people dream of someday being on the radio or television. They imagine how exciting life could be if they could be like the stars they see in movies, or at least the people they hear talking on the radio every week. Sometimes, the managers of community radio stations can give them that chance.

    Most radio stations have staff members who look after the technical aspects of the broadcasts, as well as the people who actually interview guests, play music, and give weather and news reports. They also have production managers who make sure that everything is working well, and who deal with hiring and firing people.

    A community radio station is a bit different. Most of the people working at these stations are volunteers who have ideas about what they would like to broadcast but who might have little or no formal training. They might stay for years, or they might try being on radio for a few months and then move on to something else.

    Managers in community radio stations have to make sure that they have enough people to cover all of the timeslots, or they have to find helpers who can do that work. Volunteers tend to come and go, but managers can help ease the process by finding one or two good employees who can help.

    Besides working with the day-to-day running of radio stations, managers have to make sure that the financial and business aspects are in place. In Canada, all radio stations need approval from the CRTC (Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission), which also sets guidelines for aspects of broadcasting such as the amount of Canadian content. Managers need to make sure that volunteers know and meet these standards.

    Another task is fundraising. Many community radio stations, especially in colleges and universities, have some funding from sources like student fees, but these fees normally cover only part of the money necessary to keep the station going. Many other people help with finding donations, but managers need to take responsibility for ensuring that enough fundraising happens to keep the station alive.

    Managers for commercial radio stations normally need at least a Bachelor’s degree, and they might earn close to $100,000 per year. At community radio stations, the pay is likely to be much lower, and the educational requirements might not be very high. However, getting a bachelor’s degree is still a good idea for learning about the various topics that hosts and guests might discuss and for working with people in the community.

    Because community radio stations normally run with only a few paid staff, managers might need to work in several different areas, such as hosting shows or conducting training. They need to be flexible and be willing to work at whatever needs to be done.

    Being a community radio station manager can be a lot of fun when the volunteers and staff work well together and find a good way to connect with their audience. However, you must be a well- rounded person that adapts well to change and real time problem solving. If you enjoy working with people and expressing your ideas on the radio, this job might be the one for you!

     Bibliography:

    Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission. “Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-499.”

    http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2010/2010-499.htm.

    Community Radio Toolkit. “Staff Roles and Responsibilities.” http://www.communityradiotoolkit.net/the-toolkit-handbook/toolkit-chapter-five/staff-roles-and-responsibilities/.

    Power, Max. “How to Start a Radio Station in Canada.” http://www.ehow.com/how_7918278_start-radio-station-canada.html.

    Study.com. “Radio Station Manager Job Description, Duties and Salary.”

    http://study.com/articles/Radio_Station_Manager_Job_Description_Duties_and_Salary.html.

  • Career Profile: Linguist

    Career Profile: Linguist

    People work with all kinds of materials. Sometimes they build bridges or put casts on broken bones. Sometimes they sew clothes or paint pictures, and sometimes they work with words. Linguists are people who study what words mean and how people use them. They use this knowledge in many different areas of life, including crime detection, language teaching, psychology, and in other professions where words are important.

    You might think that linguists are people who speak a lot of languages. It can be true, and these types of linguists often work as translators or find jobs in different countries. However, the main point of linguistics is not learning languages but analyzing them. Linguists might learn other languages in the process, but that is not normally the focus of their work.

    Analyzing a language involves working in areas like phonetics (the sounds of words), grammar, word origins, and the relationship between culture and language. Linguists try to find out why people use words the way they do and how the structure or vocabulary of a language reflects what people think.

    How does a linguist’s field of study relate to everyday life and work? Linguists can become English as a Second Language teachers or professors in fields like language, history, or anthropology (the study of human cultures). They can work as speech therapists to help people speak more clearly. They can even become crime fighters, becoming forensic linguists. This field is still quite new, but it has already helped solve many crimes.

    Forensic linguists analyze many different aspects of the language used in crimes. Sometimes, they look at the words used in ransom notes or other documents. Each person has a slightly different way of using words, and linguists can help find these differences. At other times, forensic linguists try to identify people’s accents or find out where they’re from based on their word usage. They might be able to help people who have lost their memory to find their way home again or discover the origin of a criminal’s accent. Anything that relates to language can be part of a forensic linguist’s work.

    Working as a linguist can involve a lot of hard work and study. Developing an interest in language is probably the most important way to start. If you don’t enjoy looking in dictionaries or playing word games, linguistics might not be the right field for you.

    If you decide that you enjoy language enough to work with it all day long, you’ll probably need to get an education. A general Bachelor’s degree with some courses in linguistics is probably a good start, but you might want to continue your education further. Because requirements vary, it might be a good idea to talk to an adviser at the university before you get very far in your studies. Choosing to study linguistics might not give you a clear career path, but it can be a rewarding field.

     

    Bibliography:

    Freeman, Jan. “What Do Linguists Do?” Boston.com. http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2006/06/18/what_do_linguists_do/.

    International Association of Forensic Linguistics. “Forensic Linguistics.” http://www.iafl.org/.

    Jitt, Jack. “Words on Trial: Can Linguists Solve Crimes That Stump the Police?” New Yorker. http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/07/23/120723fa_fact_hitt

    Language Translation, Inc. “What Do Linguists Do for a Living? http://blog.languagetranslation.com/public/blog/136455

    Memorial University, Department of Linguistics. “Careers in Linguistics.” http://www.mun.ca/linguistics/home/career.php.

    World Wide Learn. “Guide to College Majors in Linguistics.” http://www.worldwidelearn.com/online-education-guide/social-science/linguistics-major.htm.

  • L’importance du jeu

    Lorsque nous étions enfants, chaque jour à l’école, nous avons joui d’une période de récréation durant laquelle nous avons joué à des sports, au jeu de tag, et grimpé le jeu d’escalade. Nous avons tous passé des moments inoubliables entre amis, que nous chérissons encore à ce jour. Toutefois, au fur et à mesure que nous vieillissons, un côté plus sérieux commence à s’installer en nous et nous oublions les simples plaisirs du jeu. Ceci est encore plus vrai lorsqu’on commence l’université ou tout autre niveau d’études supérieures. Les pressions associées aux résultats scolaires, aux examens, aux tests en laboratoire et à planifier pour son avenir peuvent créer un environnement qui n’est pas propice pour le jeu. Aux yeux de nombreuses personnes, une fois rendu à l’université ou au collège, la notion de passer son temps libre à jouer peut sembler frivole. Bien que cela puisse paraître vrai à première vue, les chercheurs et psychologues, par contre, soulignent les avantages du jeu à l’âge adulte.

    Il est juste de dire que le jeu libre est aussi important pour notre bien-être en tant qu’adulte, qu’il l’était quand nous étions plus jeunes. Des études menées par des chercheurs révèlent que les bénéfices associés au jeu incluent la réduction du stress, la stimulation du cerveau, le développent de meilleurs amitiés et des niveaux d’énergies plus élevés.[1] Ceux-ci ne sont que quelques-uns des exemples illustrant pourquoi un jeune étudiant au baccalauréat devrait consacrer du temps au jeu et encourager ses amis à faire pareil. Ne perdez jamais votre goût pour l’aventure. Pour les enfants d’aujourd’hui, le stress fait son apparition plus tôt qu’auparavant. Avec tout ce qui se passe à l’école, à la maison et après l’école, votre cerveau commence à s’épuiser et à se sentir vidé.

    Participez à des activités de jeu libre peut aider les étudiants de niveau universitaire à détourner leur attention des rigueurs des études scolaires. Si vous êtes plus jeune, le jeu libre joue un rôle très important puisque vos compétences nécessaires à la vie quotidienne sont encore en développement. Ces moments de jeu libre donneront à votre cerveau une pause bien nécessaire de votre routine quotidienne. Alors, pourquoi pas prendre une pause et passez le football, jouez au basket ou faites des ricochets sur l’eau avec des amis. Cela vous rappellera votre enfance, et pourrait même vous aider à obtenir la bonne note pour laquelle vous avez travaillé si fort.

    [1]

    Robinson, L., & Smith, M. (n.d.). The Benefits of Play for Adults. Retrieved May 14, 2015, from http://www.helpguide.org/articles/emotional-health/benefits-of-play-for-adults.htm

     

  • The Importance of Play

    The Importance of Play

    As children, all of us had recess in school where we played sports, tag and bounced around the jungle gym. There were some great moments with friends that we still cherish to this day. However, as we grow older a sense of seriousness starts to settle in and we forget the joys of just playing around. This is even truer when entering University or any higher level of studies. The pressures of grades, tests, labs and planning for the future can create an environment not beneficial to play. The notion of spending free time in University or College playing around may appear frivolous to many. It does come across that way upon initial observation, but researchers and psychologist stress the benefits of play in adult life.

    It can be said that engaging in play as an adult is as important to our well-being today, as it was when we were younger. Studies by researchers show advantages to play including stress reduction, brain stimulation, the improvement of friendships and higher energy levels. [1] These are just some of the many reasons why a young undergrad student should take up play and encourage their friends to join in as well. You should never lose your sense of adventure. As a kid today, stress creeps in a lot earlier than usual. With so much going on at school, home and after school, your brain starts to wear out and get run down.

    Involving yourself in play can help students in University take their mind of the rigors of class work. If you are younger than that, play is very important. You are still developing those essential life skills. Those moments give the brain a much needed break from the daily routine of life. So why not take a break and throw the pigskin around, shoot some hoops or skip rocks with friends. It will make you feel young again, and may also help get the A you were looking for in class.

    [1]

    Robinson, L., & Smith, M. (n.d.). The Benefits of Play for Adults. Retrieved May 14, 2015, from http://www.helpguide.org/articles/emotional-health/benefits-of-play-for-adults.htm

     

  • Comment rester en bonne santé avec un budget d’étudiant

    En tant qu’étudiant, vous dépensez probablement tellement d’énergie (et d’argent!) sur votre éducation que vous avez à peine le temps de penser à votre santé. Par contre, les habitudes malsaines s’additionnent—que ce soit manger des nouilles ramen pour souper pour la cinquième soirée d’affilée ou les boissons énergisantes que vous buvez afin de rester réveiller après une nuit blanche, votre corps commencera à ressentir les effets assez vite. Mais que faites-vous lorsque vous êtes à court d’argent après vos achats de manuels scolaires? Si vous n’avez pas l’argent pour vous permettre un abonnement à un gymnase ou faire votre épicerie à un magasin d’aliments naturels, la possibilité de mener un mode de vie sain peut sembler inatteignable pour un étudiant au début.

    Votre santé devrait être l’une de vos tops priorités, même lorsque votre horaire ou portefeuille suggère autre chose. Outre les bénéfices physiques évidents qu’apporte un mode de vie sain, pratiquer régulièrement des habitudes saines vous aidera effectivement à vous concentrer, à mémoriser des informations, et avoir l’énergie pour passer à travers ces longues journées. Commencez doucement: il existe des moyens peu coûteux mais efficaces de prendre soin de votre santé en tant qu’étudiant.

    Voici quelques manières de rester en bonne santé avec un budget d’étudiant:

    Emportez avec vous des aliments santé. Il y a assez de place dans votre sac à dos pour y mettre plus que vos manuels scolaires. Gardez une bouteille d’eau sur vous afin de rester hydraté, et amenez des collations santés pour vos sessions d’étude (des fruits ou des barres granola sont d’excellents choix). Considérez également emporter avec vous un dîner santé si vous prévoyez rester sur le campus pour la plupart de la journée—cela vous dissuadera de dépenser votre argent durement gagné sur de la nourriture graisseuse de chez le camion-restaurant stationné devant la librairie. (Je sais que c’est bien tentant …)

    Faites votre recherche. Même si vous êtes vraiment à court d’argent, il y a de bonnes chances qu’il existe plusieurs activités santés peu couteuses auxquelles vous pouvez participer et dont vous n’étiez même pas au courant. Par exemple, il y a-t-il des coupons disponibles chez certains magasins d’aliments naturels afin d’obtenir des rabais? Il y a-t-il des studios de yoga ou des centres de conditionnement physique qui offrent des rabais spéciaux aux étudiants certains jours de la semaine? Soyez bien informé sur vos options avant d’abandonner vos efforts pour mener une vie santé juste à cause que votre portefeuille laisse à désirer.

    Profitez des services offerts aux étudiants sur le campus. Au début de l’année scolaire, un grand nombre de collèges et d’universités chargent des grands frais de cotisations étudiantes en plus de leurs frais de scolarité (des frais dont la plupart des étudiants n’apprécient pas du tout). Au lieu de leur donner votre argent sans y réfléchir, renseignez-vous sur les services qui sont offerts aux membres de votre établissement d’enseignement postsecondaire. Par exemple, les frais d’accès aux centres de conditionnement physique, aux centres de consultation psychologique, et aux cliniques pourraient être couverts par vos cotisations étudiantes.

    Faites des compromis. Peut-être que n’avez pas l’argent pour vous permettre d’acheter des aliments 100% biologique ou un abonnement à un gymnase luxueux, mais il existe certainement des alternatives qui vous permettront de créer vos propres habitudes saines. Vous n’arrivez pas à trouver un tapis roulant ou un entraîneur personnel qui est disponible? Essayez plutôt de de faire du jogging dans le parc près de chez vous (et téléchargez une des nombreuses applications mobiles pour l’exercice physique disponibles en ligne). En fin de compte, votre santé c’est votre choix —si vous désirez véritablement rester en bonne santé, vous arriverez à trouver un moyen de le faire, qui n’implique pas vider son compte bancaire.

  • Staying Healthy on a Student Budget

    Staying Healthy on a Student Budget

    As a student, you’re probably spending so much energy (and money!) on your education that you hardly have time to think about your health. However, unhealthy habits add up—whether it’s eating ramen for dinner for the fifth night in a row or the energy drinks you chug to keep you up after an all-nighter, your body will start to feel the effects soon enough. But what do you do when you’re strapped for cash from your latest textbook purchases? If you can’t afford a gym membership or buying your groceries at a health food store, the prospects of a healthy lifestyle may seem dismal to a student at first.

    Your health should be one of your top priorities, even when your schedule or your wallet may not suggest that. Besides the obvious physical benefits of a healthy routine, sticking to healthy habits will actually help you concentrate, remember information, and have the energy to keep going through those long days. Start small: there are inexpensive but effective ways you can watch out for your health as a student.

    Here are a few ways to stay healthy on a student budget:

    Pack smart. There’s room enough in your backpack for stuff besides your books. Carry a water bottle with you to stay hydrated, and pack some healthy snacks for study sessions (fruit or granola are great choices). You should also consider packing a healthy lunch if you’re spending all day on campus—that will deter you from spending your hard-earned money on those greasy food trucks parked in front of the library. (I know it is tempting…)

    Do your research. Even if you’re really strapped for cash, chances are there are opportunities for you to engage in healthy activities that you aren’t even aware you can afford. For example, are there coupons you could be using to get discounts at health food stores? Do yoga studios or gyms offer student discounts on certain days of the week? Know your options before you give up on your health just because your wallet leaves more to be desired.

    Take advantage of on-campus services. Many colleges and universities charge hefty student fees along with their tuition at the beginning of the year (which most students are less than ecstatic about). Instead of doling out your money without a second thought, take a look at the services that are offered to members of your post-secondary institution. Services like gym facilities, counseling, and clinics may be covered under your student fees.

    Compromise. Maybe you can’t afford all-organic goods or a luxury gym, but there are certainly ways to construct your own, alternate healthy patterns. Can’t find a treadmill or a personal trainer? Try running in the park instead (and download one of many exercise mobile apps available online). When it comes down to it, your health is your choice—if you really want to stay healthy, you’re going to find a way to do it that doesn’t involve breaking the bank.

  • Career Profile: Archivist

    Career Profile: Archivist

    For some people, an old letter is just a piece of paper which is ready for the garbage. For others, the same letter is a piece of history, showing what life was like, long ago. It could show where people worked, what they ate, and what they read. The letter could be a window into the past, showing us what life was like for previous generations and also for the more recent past. Old letters, concert programs, financial statements, and other documents are all part of an archivist’s job of preserving history in documents.

    If you write a message to your friends using an online program like e-mail, your message will probably not last long. In other formats like paper, however, documents can last a long time. Archivists collect these documents and then organize them so that people can find them again. Exactly what they collect depends on the focus of the archives. Collections can be small, with documents that tell the story of a village or a special group of people. They can also be very large, with information on an entire country. Archivists receive donations from people and sort through the documents to see what fits with the collection. Some collections also include objects, such as candlesticks and old lace. Books and music can also be part of many collections. Media archiving is a very common area of archiving that includes the sorting of video, film and audio recordings.

    Working with archival collections requires experience in working with old documents and knowledge of the subject matter. Paper tends to fall apart when it gets old, and other materials can also be damaged as they age. Knowing how to preserve old documents and objects is an important part of what archivists learn. Many archives have climate-controlled rooms where they can keep the most fragile items at the best possible temperature to preserve them. Organizing the materials so that people can find them is also important. Archivists label the collections using combinations of numbers and letters and then compile finding aids which tell people where to look for what they need.

    What kind of training do archivists need? It depends on the collection and the community that supports the archives. A master’s degree in librarianship or archival studies, or an Arts subject such as history or English literature, is often the best preparation. People who are still completing their studies can also sometimes get a good job if they have experience. Good organizational skills are essential.

    Many archivists also work with volunteers who come into the archives help sort through documents, label photographs, or do other small jobs. If an archival career sounds interesting to you, volunteering is a good place to start. Archivists generally earn between about $36,000 and $71,000 per year. Although the number of jobs is limited, a career in archival work can be very rewarding. It can also be a good second career for people who have worked in something else related to information, restoration or history.

    Do you enjoy learning about the past? Do old documents interest you? Maybe a job as an archivist is right for you.

     

    Bibliography:

    Association of Canadian Archivists. “Archivist Assistant/Technician.” http://archivists.ca/jobs/archivist-assistanttechnician.

    Consador, Kat. “A Job Description for an Archivist.” http://www.ehow.com/about_6502171_job-description-archivist.html.

    InfoNation. “Assistant Archivist.” http://www.cla.ca/infonation/jobsamp3.htm.

    Payscalecom. “Archivist Average Salary.” http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Archivist/Salary.

  • À la recherche de votre campus idéal

    Aller à l’université est une des décisions les plus importantes de votre vie, alors il va sans dire que vous voulez faire le bon choix. Il est très important de faire des recherches sur les différents campus universitaires et d’évaluer tous les facteurs pertinents avant de vous enregistrer et payer vos frais de scolarité. Bien sûr, la réputation académique d’une école devrait être l’une de vos tops priorités lorsque vous envisagez entreprendre des études postsecondaires—après tout, vous êtes à la recherche d’une bonne éducation! Toutefois, il y d’autres facteurs qui peuvent s’avérer tout aussi cruciaux lorsque vous être à la recherche de votre école idéale.

    Parlant d’expérience personnelle, ce qui apparaît à la surface d’une institution universitaire peut être trompeur. Je suis présentement étudiante au baccalauréat à l’Université de Toronto, et avant de choisir l’école où j’allais entreprendre mes études postsecondaires, j’ai parlé à des étudiants de l’Université et fais des recherches sur des forums en ligne. Si j’avais assumé que les stéréotypes à propos de l’Université de Toronto étaient vrais — qu’elle a une réputation académique extraordinaire, mais que les étudiants sont isolés, maltraités, et généralement misérables—je n’aurai probablement pas été trop intéressée d’y aller. Par contre, mon expérience universitaire personnelle s’est révélée être beaucoup plus positive. Quoique l’Université de Toronto ait des lacunes dans certains domaines, les facteurs qui étaient important pour moi étaient la grande sélection de cours et d’activités parascolaires offerts, et la diversité et la communauté culturelle au sein de l’Université, et de Toronto en général. Ceux-ci étaient tous des facteurs que j’ai considérés lors de mes recherches. Vous n’allez pas simplement à l’école à tous les jours, vous y vivez.

    Dans l’ensemble, lorsque vous faites des recherches pour votre campus idéal, il est important de consulter une grande variété de sources. Parlez aux étudiants, actuels et passés, de l’université ou du collège qui vous intéresse (surtout ceux dans le programme d’étude auquel vous voulez vous enregistrer), lisez les forums en ligne, envoyez des courriels aux différents départements et bureaux de l’école, ou allez simplement visiter le campus en personne. Vous devriez vous sentir confiant en votre décision d’aller à l’université, et cela ne sera possible que si vous trouvez l’école qui répond le mieux à vos besoins.

    À part la qualité académique, voici quelques autres facteurs que vous devriez prendre en considération:
    Emplacement. Désirez-vous être plus près ou plus loin de chez vous? Préférez-vous être dans une grande ville métropolitaine ou dans une petite ville universitaire? Pensez à où vous habiterez (une résidence universitaire? Allez-vous louer un logement? Ou encore, ferez-vous le trajet de chez vos parents?), de plus qu’aux activités et services qui sont disponibles à l’extérieur du campus universitaire. Aussi, n’ayez pas peur de changer votre routine quotidienne et d’essayer quelque chose de nouveau – vous pouvez vous surprendre, d’une bonne façon.

    Taille. Certaines personnes s’épanouissent dans les environnements à grande échelle et débordant d’activité, tandis que d’autres préfèrent les communautés tricotées serrées. (Notez aussi qu’en général, le plus grand le campus, le plus varié sont les cours et clubs offerts.)

    Scène sociale. Considérez non seulement quels clubs, équipes ou autres activités parascolaires pourraient vous intéresser, mais également le profil démographique de l’école (tandis que les clubs sont souvent formés à partir des intérêts de ses étudiants). Le campus répond-il à vos intérêts? Si tel n’est pas le cas, est-ce que le campus est situé dans un endroit où d’autres activités sociales vous seront accessibles?

    Coûts. Entreprendre des études universitaires est un véritable investissement, surtout si vous ne planifiez pas habiter chez votre résidence familial. Il faut prendre en compte les frais de scolarité de plus que le coût des manuels scolaires, les frais étudiants, nourriture, si nécessaire le loyer/frais de logements universitaire, etc. Si vous avez besoin d’assistance financière, investiguez également quelles bourses d’études ou bourses d’entretiens sont offerts à cette école.

  • Researching a University Campus

    Researching a University Campus

    Going to university is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make, so it goes without saying that you want to make the right choice. It’s very important to research different university campuses and weigh all relevant factors before signing off your tuition. Of course, a school’s academic reputation should be one of your top priorities when thinking about post-secondary—you are looking for an education, after all! However, there are other factors that can be just as crucial when you’re searching for your dream school.

    Speaking from personal experience, what’s on the surface of a university can be misleading. I am an undergraduate at the University of Toronto, and before choosing my school, I spoke to current students and did research on forums online. If I had assumed the stereotypes about U of T to be true—that it has a stellar academic reputation, but its students are isolated, mistreated, and overall miserable—I probably wouldn’t have been too keen to attend. However, my actual university experience has turned out to be much more positive. Though the institution lacks in other areas, the factors that were important to me were the vast selection of courses and extra-curriculars and the diversity and cultural community, within the university and Toronto in general. These were all things I considered in my research. You are not just going to school every day, you are living a life there.

    Overall, when researching a campus, it’s important to consult a wide variety of sources. Talk to current and former students (especially those in the program you are applying for), read forums, email departments and offices at the school, or simply go and check out the campus yourself. You should feel confident in your decision to go to university, and that will only happen if you find the school that best fits your needs.

    Aside from academic quality, here are some other things to look out for:

    Location. Do you want to be closer or further away from home? Do you want to be in a big city or a small “college town”? Consider where you will be living (in residence, renting, or commuting from home), as well as the activities and services that are available to you beyond the campus. Also, don’t be afraid to bend yourself a bit and try something new- you may surprise yourself in good way.

    Size. Some people thrive in large and busy environments, while others prefer more tightly knit communities. (Note as well that in general, the larger the campus, the more diverse the offerings of courses and clubs.)

    Social scene. Consider not only what clubs, teams, or other extra-curriculars might interest you, but also what the demographics of the school are (because clubs are often formed out of the interests of the student body). Does the campus suit your interests? If not, is the location of the campus going to make other social opportunities available?

    Cost. University is definitely an investment, especially if you’ll be living away from home. Factor in tuition as well as textbook costs, student fees, food, rent/residence fees if necessary, etc. Also look into scholarships or bursaries available at the school if you are in need of a financial boost.

  • Career Profile: Window Washer

    Career Profile: Window Washer

    When you look out a window, you see many different things. You might see trees and flowers or maybe tall buildings. Your windows at home might face a soccer field or tennis courts, where you can see people playing together. You might have a wonderful view from your window, but what you can see depends on the glass being clean or not. In many offices and other tall buildings, window washers help to keep windows clean so that people can look out and see the world around them.

    Windows get dirty for many reasons. People sometimes touch them and get fingerprints on them, but often, it happens just because of the weather. Windows become dusty after the wind blows through or they get spattered in the rain. Many windows are difficult to wash because they are too large or too high off the ground for people to reach without special equipment, and they would never be clean without help.

    Cleaning large or hard-to reach windows is what window washers do. Have you ever seen people standing on small platforms on the sides of tall buildings? Window washers clean the windows of buildings that can include anything from small houses to huge skyscrapers with hundreds of floors. They have to be able to get windows clean and streak-free while hanging from ropes and harnesses hundreds of metres in the air. Anyone who is clumsy or afraid of heights should never apply for work as a window washer.

    Getting up to the top floors of buildings requires special equipment, and window washers need to be able to work with ropes, pulleys, and anything else that they need to use. The work can be dangerous at such great heights, and accidents can often be very serious. Knowledge and practice can help window washers increase their safety.

    Even with the best preparation, however, working as a window washer has its difficulties and dangers. Birds sometimes attack the workers, and sudden gusts of wind can blow platforms over or set the window washer off balance. Quick reflexes are important for avoiding danger, and window washers should also be aware of weather forecasts and changing conditions throughout the day.

    Becoming a window washer normally doesn’t require any special education, but training in how to use ropes and tie knots is very useful. Some employers might also have other requirements for their employees, and it is important to check with them before applying for jobs. Salaries can vary, depending on the location and other factors, but the average is about $28,000 per year. You could work fulltime or part-time.

    Careful work is an important part of the job because no one likes to look through a window with streaks or lines of dust on it. Even if the clean windows last only a day before they become spattered by rain or covered by dust, window washers should make sure that they do the best job they can