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  • MBTI Preferences

    MBTI Preferences

    When embarking on the journey to self-discovery in relation to your ideal career, it can be useful to get tested on your MBTI Preferences. MBTI stands for Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and is a test created for identifying four dimensions to your personality. These four dimensions, if understood and integrated into your sense of self, can help you to make more sound decisions in relation to your career path. When we can answer the question “why” about career choice, we feel more certain and rooted in our choice. The four dimensions are:

    1) Where do you get your energy? a) Extroversion, or b) Introversion

    2) How do you prefer to take in information? a) Sensing, or b) Intuition

    3) How do you make decisions? a) Thinking, or b) Feeling

    4) How do you deal with the outer world? a) Judging, or b) Perceiving

    The first dimension, relating to where you get your energy, involves questioning if you tend to reach outwards (extroversion) or reach inwards (introversion) to replenish yourself. A good way to pose this question to yourself is to ask: “Do I prefer interacting with people and taking action or do I prefer reflecting on thoughts, memories and experiences?”  You may find that this is a tricky question to answer for lack of context and that your behavior varies in different situations, so it is hard to come to one conclusion. If so, it is useful to look at a list of characteristics of extroverts and introverts and identify which category you relate with more. Once you’ve identified your type, you will be able to understand yourself and your social relationships better and eventually identify which career would provide you with the best opportunity to work with your strengths.

    The second dimension of the MBTI preferences tool relates to how you prefer to take in information in your environment. “Sensing” is the term used to identify people who think in terms of facts, with a tendency towards learn theory through practical application. “Intuition” is the term used to identify people who think in imaginative terms, with a tendency towards learning through understanding of ideas and theories before practical application. Knowing which side of this dimension you fall on would be highly useful to those deciding on whether to attend college or university, as “sensing” types would definitely prefer college, and “intuition” types would prefer university.

    The third dimension of the MBTI preferences tool helps you identify how you make decisions. People who tend to be “thinking” types are people who are guided by logic and standard operating procedures; they are oriented around the “typical case” and are they are analytical in situations. These people can be tough-minded and are always reasonable. The “feeling” types, oppositely, are people who are guided by personal values and assessing impacts of decisions on people, treating people as individuals and being empathetic in situations. This MBTI dimension would be extremely useful to help with identifying what type of work environment you would thrive in and what types of managers/coworkers you would collaborate with best.

    The final dimension of the MBTI preferences tool helps you to understand how you deal with the outer world. People who use “judging” to understand the outer world prefer to live in a planned, orderly way with a schedule and everything organized. This category of people tend to prefer to have things decided; to use methodical and systematic procedures in their work and personal lives. People who prefer “perceiving” to understand the outer world prefer to live in a spontaneous, flexible way, with an open-ended schedule and everything open to change. Knowing which side of this dichotomy you fall to will help you to nail down the type of environment where you will thrive. If you are someone who prefers rigid structure, you may do well in an office environment. If you are someone who prefers flexibility and spontaneity, you may prefer a job working in the field such as a police officer or an on-call doctor.

  • Put Your English to Work – Write for Money

    Put Your English to Work – Write for Money

    As a student it can be difficult to find work. Whether you are in high school, university, taking a year off or somewhere else altogether, finding a job can sometimes be difficult, let alone one that allows you to practice (and show off) the skills that you have been developing as a student.

    What about writing part-time? With the recent explosion of digital media, countless writing jobs have begun to appear as professional blogs, magazines, news agencies and webpages are craving more and more content to satisfy their growing traffic and audiences.

    Blogging, whether for personal or professional purposes, can be a good way to get your foot in the door. You can write about a specific topic, whether it be music, fashion or
    movies and start building a following and portfolio to help get those paying jobs in the future. Do you have audio-visual skills? Even better! Make a photo-blog; you can look at it as a chance to showcase your skills and prowess as a writer or photographer.

    With a bit of searching and maybe a little luck you’ll be able to find work with professional blogs that will pay for you to write on a variety of topics, often of your choice. Or maybe you want to give freelancing a try? There are a number of websites dedicated to aggregating freelance opportunities for young professionals. Ever want to write product descriptions for a furniture website? Now might be your chance.

    Regardless, writing part-time provides you with the opportunity to build your portfolio, network with other writing professionals and showcase your different skills, all the while making some spare cash on the side. It will also give you the opportunity to work with and write on topics that you never would have thought possible. Comparing different kinds of peppers? Check.

    It isn’t always the most prosperous work, but the experience and flexibility will prove to be invaluable. With a little patience you’ll slowly start to find yourself getting those higher profile and better paying positions that look oh-so-good on a resume or portfolio. It is hard enough finding work that puts your skills to work and accommodates a busy schedule, but give writing a try. The ability to choose – or at least shape – your own topics and your own hours will ensure a fun, constructive and unique work experience.

    So try writing part-time. You’ll enjoy it!

  • Love Is In the Air

    Love Is In the Air

    February is here and that usually means one thing – love is in the air! Valentine’s Day is something many of us have been celebrating since we were young, handing out Valentine’s cards to our classmates for fun. Love in high school and junior high can be confusing and exhilarating, causing many of us to experience our first heartbreak. Remember that Valentine’s Day is just supposed to be fun – don’t take it too seriously. You don’t even have to celebrate it at all!

    Besides being the month of love, February is also the month of the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The Olympics encourage us all to come together and celebrate the beauty of sport and to cheer for our respective countries. With Russian politics and policies dominating many of the headlines surrounding these Olympics, it will be a very interesting to watch the games unfold. Will you be watching or will you boycott the Olympics to protest Russia’s laws? Let us know – we want to hear your opinions!

    You’re now one month into your latest semester of school. If you need advice and tips on how to be a better note-taker, where you can go to get your required 40 hours of volunteering or simply how to de-stress, JobsPeopleDo.com has got you covered. Our latest articles and our extensive archives cover anything and everything you need to know to succeed in school and plan your future.

    If things get too stressful this month, just remember – March Break is only a few short weeks away!

    Jasmin Bollman

    Content Editor

    Don’t Forget – Be a Mentor. Someone Needs You!

  • A Job in Nature: Deep Sea Diver

    A Job in Nature: Deep Sea Diver

    For thousands of years, people have wanted to dive deep under the water, either for fun or for a special purpose. Over two thousand years ago, during the time of Alexander the Great, people were already inventing ways to help them breathe underwater. By 1538, Greek divers were able to sink all the way to the bottom of the ocean and come back to the surface without getting wet. However, the diving bells that they had were heavy and difficult to use. People could spend only a fairly short time under the water, and they found it hard to move around.

    That all changed in 1949. A diver named Jacques-Yves Cousteau and an engineer named Emile Gagnan designed a device called the Aqua-Lung. It had two hoses attached to a tank of air and allowed divers to breathe for long periods of time underwater. Later, this kind of equipment for breathing underwater became known as scuba gear. This equipment has made it possible for people to work as deep sea divers, working under the water.

    The most famous deep sea diver was Jacques Cousteau. Besides inventing the Aqua-Lung, Cousteau worked as a deep sea diver for the military during the Second World War. After the war, he became a scientist. He explored the bottom of the world’s seas and oceans to find out about the fish and other animals living there and to record the information for the future. Throughout his life, he tried to help people understand the oceans better and to try to protect the animals living in them.

    Scientific research is a big part of what many deep sea divers do. Other divers work for the military, taking care of equipment or cleaning the bottoms of boats. Still other divers do similar kinds of work in cleaning and maintenance, but for commercial businesses such as shipping companies. Almost any job that involves going under the water can be part of a deep sea diver’s work.

    How can you have a career as a deep sea diver? Training requirements depend on the specific job that the diver has to do. A scientific researcher, for example, normally has to study in areas like biology or oceanography. However, basic requirements for work as a deep sea diver are a high school diploma and diving training. The diver’s safety can depend on this type of training, and it is normally very thorough.

    The work that deep sea divers do is very important. Salaries can vary, depending on where people work and what they do.  Generally, however, they make over $50,000, and they might even make more. Diving can be very tiring work, and it is also difficult or even impossible in bad weather. Because of these factors, divers generally work underwater for less than half of the year. They might spend the rest of the year writing or teaching about what they discovered underwater or getting themselves in shape for the next round of dives. Does this sound like a good job for you?

  • What Is Technical Writing?

    What Is Technical Writing?

    Imagine getting a new phone or computer device for your birthday. Would you already know how to use it or would you need to look at the instructions? When you were younger, did you ever have toys that needed to be put together before you could play with them? If so, you or your parents probably read a technical document—the instructions. Compiling instructions for toys or electronics is only one of the many jobs available to people known as technical writers. People working in this field can write instruction manuals, research papers, advertisements, catalogues, and anything else that requires their special skills.

    Basically, technical writing is about explaining something to another person, but the work can take different forms. One kind of technical writing is about explaining products to the people who buy and use them. It could be the instructions that come with toys, electronics, or kitchen appliances like mixers or dishwashers. It could even be the instructions on packages of instant soup or microwave dinners.

    A second kind of technical writing is about explaining and recording procedures for people working in many different areas, such as engineering and manufacturing. It could include research papers, repair manuals, or procedures for completing certain tasks, such as engineering instructions on what measurements to use for certain types of building projects. This type of technical writing could also include detailed job descriptions for people working in all kinds of areas such as librarianship or accounting. The name for this writing style is technical documentation.

    A third type of technical writing is in the area of marketing or selling things. Technical writers work with advertisements, catalogues, brochures, and other documents that companies use to tell customers about their products and to convince them to buy something. A lot of the advertising you see might come from the work of technical writers.

    Becoming a technical writer involves more than just knowing how to put sentences and paragraphs together. Technical writers need to be able to gather information quickly and to be able to explain it clearly. They have to know the audience (the people who will read the finished documents) and know what kinds of information readers will need. An instruction manual for using a computer game, for example, is very different from a guide to drilling oil wells. Technical writers have to be flexible workers and quick learners, comfortable with working in print or online.

    Almost everyone works as a technical writer at some point. The best way to become a professional technical writer, however, is to get a diploma or certificate in technical communications at a community college. The demand for good writers is increasing, although it can be hard to find a full-time job. Most technical writers work on projects and then move on to other jobs when they are finished. The pay, however, is usually quite good, which helps to make up for times when there is no work. If you love to write, why not become a technical writer?

  • Apprenticeships Develop Enthusiasm Among Young People

    Apprenticeships Develop Enthusiasm Among Young People

    The literal meaning of the term Apprenticeships is the work which is done under some master craftsman while completing theory studies at an accredited trade college. To explain it better, we can say that there are many courses which are offered by colleges that are different from degree programs. These courses are termed as trade courses as they are related to trades such as plumbers, electricians, hairdressers, carpenters, cooks and more.

    While completing these courses, you start working in a professional environment and gain work experience in a job referred to as trade job. In the concept of trade jobs the employer would hire you for a particular job and in return they teach you the practical aspects of the trade. This can be viewed like a barter system in which both the parties gain benefit. Training for trade jobs is conducted on site and for a particular time period (it can start from few months and last up to few years). Students gain a lot while doing these jobs. When we work under a qualified person who has extensive experience in that trade, it becomes easy for us to gain more knowledge than we could have acquired if we read only from textbooks.

    These apprenticeships provide the basic training for future tradespeople. These courses are offered by many colleges that have well qualified staff – the staff members have a lot of knowledge about the trade they are teaching. They provide all the information which is required for each type of trade. Once the course is over, students would be provided with a certificate to indicate that their apprenticeship and training has been completed and they are now qualified to work in their designated field.

    Apprenticeships help you in building a secure future.

  • The Value of Volunteering

    The Value of Volunteering

    Volunteering has almost become a dirty word in some circles, and it’s not hard to see why: when you’re looking for a job, giving away your labour for free can seem counter-productive at first. In spite of this, statistics show that some 12 million Canadians take part in volunteer activities each year—that’s nearly half the population . Let’s take a closer look at what you gain when you decide to volunteer.

    First and foremost, volunteering is a great opportunity to learn about yourself and what you enjoy doing. No matter where your interests lie, chances are there is a volunteer opportunity out there for you. Do you love animals? Volunteer at your local animal shelter. Are you passionate about the arts? Volunteer at a music festival. Think you might want to become a doctor? Volunteer at a hospital. You might love it and decide you want to pursue a career in that field—or you might discover that a particular job just isn’t for you.  Either way, you’re gaining valuable self-learning and awareness. Volunteering is the ultimate tool for exploring your interests and experimenting with different kinds of work.

    Not only can volunteering give you a chance to indulge your hobbies and find your passion, it looks great on a resume. Whether you spend a year doing it or just a weekend, volunteer experience can signal to employers that you’re the kind of person who has varied interests, takes initiative and isn’t afraid to try new thing. Given the number of resumes most employers go through, it never hurts to have something that sets you apart from the crowd.

    Another area where volunteering can be invaluable is networking. If you’re having a hard time finding work in a particular field, volunteering is a great way to break into the industry and get your name known. The contacts you meet through volunteering could serve you as references in the future, or they might be able to let you in on trade secrets or even job opportunities that aren’t available to the general public. Most organizations are extremely grateful for the work volunteers do and are more than willing to help you out if they can, so don’t be afraid to ask.

    The final reason to try out volunteering is the simplest: it feels good to give back. Volunteers are the lifeblood of many charitable organizations; without them, the good work these places do would never be possible. Keep in mind that volunteering is best experienced when it’s something that you find personally meaningful. Luckily, given the wealth of volunteer opportunities out there, finding one that matches your passion (and fits your schedule) shouldn’t be too difficult.

    This article has covered a few of the main benefits of volunteering, but don’t take our word for it. Get out there and discover the value of volunteering for yourself!

  • Get Outside and Exercise!

    Get Outside and Exercise!

    We’ve all been there – you wake up to start your day and immediately start thinking of how you can’t wait to get home to go back to bed later. You feel run down and yawn throughout your classes. Your head feels foggy and you have trouble concentrating. All of these signs point to a lack of energy and balance, which can be easily rectified by exercising regularly.

    Maybe you have a full schedule of classes, you work a part-time job and still need time to study on top of that. Don’t worry – you can fit in exercise each day in simple ways! Try walking to and from school each day, if possible. Speed up your normal walking pace slightly to get your heart pumping. You can also jog/run home from school each day to increase the cardiovascular benefits.

    If you have a little more time on your hands, even on weekends, try going to a community centre in your area. Community centres often have exercise equipment you can use for a much lower fee than a regular gym would. Treadmills and elliptical machines are great ways to get in a cardio workout without having to worry about poor weather.

    Many of us feel uncomfortable working out in front of others, so you can even do exercises at home while watching TV or a movie. Try some simple yoga moves, sit-ups or even jumping jacks. There are many great (and free!) websites that offer tips on different at-home workouts you can do that do not require any equipment. You may also want to purchase a workout DVD that combines your interests with exercise. For example, there are DVD’s that involve dance, ballet and even Bollywood moves.

    Another easy option is to play Wii or X-Box Kinect. Many of us own these systems already, so playing a game that involves movement instead of sitting will add up. Many Wii systems come with sports games inside the box, so there is no extra expense incurred. These games will even track your progress and tell you your “exercise age”, which are great motivators.

    Exercising regularly will ensure that you have energy when you need it most. Exercise has also been proven to lower stress and help with anxiety and depression. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins which essentially help you to feel better and calmer. You should aim to exercise for 30 consecutive minutes each day for the maximum benefits. It is also important to not exercise just before you go to bed, as the increased endorphins can prevent you from falling asleep right away. However, exercising regularly does help you to get a deeper sleep more often.

    So make time for yourself each day and get in some exercise. Motivating yourself can be difficult sometimes, so be sure to tell a friend or family member about your goals and they can help to get you moving. Remember – short term pain, long term gain!

  • Studying Actually Works!

    Studying Actually Works!

    It seems like a no-brainer, but when I was in high school I never took the time to actually study effectively. As I got older, I knew I had to take things a lot more seriously and I was going to have to study.

    As you prepare to enter junior high or high school, you might be wondering about tests and exams. How exactly are you supposed to plan for them, especially if you’ve heard horror stories from your older siblings about exam time?

    To be truly honest, studying really is not difficult – and it works! The first time I got back a test in high school with a 100%  grade after I took the time to study effectively, I knew that I had been overreacting about the stress of studying. All that it really takes is time management, good notes and planning.  The following are some tips for effective studying – from an ex-procrastinator:

    1. Take Notes: Though this may seem like an obvious point, a lot of students do not take effective notes. Make sure to pay attention and link back certain class discussions or topics to pages in your text for further reference. That way you can get a full picture of the subject at hand. I also write my notes as if I am trying to explain that day’s class to someone else.
    2. Read Over Your Notes: I never understood the concept of this in high school, put it really does help sink in all the information you learned. It’s good to either go over the previous day’s notes before class starts, or to go over notes right after the class ends.
    3. Ask Questions and Make Note of the Answers: Don’t be afraid to approach the teacher during or after class to get more insight on your lesson of the day.

    Don’t worry – you’ll be a pro in no time!

  • Strange Jobs: Escape Artist

    Strange Jobs: Escape Artist

    Try to think of a job where you get handcuffed, locked in a box, and thrown in a river. Can you imagine anything like that? Most people work in offices, hospitals, factories, or schools. Escape artists, however, work in coffins, burning buildings, steel boxes, and many other unusual places. People such as Dean Gunnarson of Winnipeg use their skills with chains and locks to entertain people in circuses and private performances.

    Escape artists are part of a profession called escapology. The practice of trying to escape from restraints like handcuffs or chains has been around for a long time. In the 1800’s, people began to perform escapes as part of circus acts. The most famous escapologist was Harry Houdini, who could escape from locked boxes while wearing handcuffs and perform all kinds of other amazing feats. He earned a living by doing his escapes in front of people as part of circus acts or on his own.

    A Canadian escapologist is now becoming almost as famous as Harry Houdini. Dean Gunnarson grew up in Winnipeg and began practicing to become an escapologist while he was still a teenager. His success really began after he took part in a television program in which he performed one of Harry Houdini’s old tricks by escaping from a large can that was filled with water. That program made him famous, and soon the hosts of other television programs were talking about him. Soon, he was doing stunts that even Houdini had never done. He has received several awards and world records, including the “World’s Most Daring Escape Artist” from Ripley’s Believe it or Not in 2013.

    Dean Gunnarson earns money from his work as an escapologist, but he also gives a lot of performances for charity. Instead of taking the money for himself, he often performs at events for groups like the Cancer Society or the Variety Club. He has performed in many different countries, including China, Italy, and Venezuela, and his escapes have been shown on television around the world.

    Working as an escape artist can take people to many different places and types of work. Some escape artists work in circuses, where their basic living costs are covered, but they frequently have to move from one city to another. Others manage to get regular performances in places like concert halls and theatres. Some escape artists work at other jobs, such as teaching or library work, while they prepare for a few months per year of travelling around the world with their acts. Working in a circus provides the most reliable income for escape artists, but skilled escapologists can often earn a good living on their own.

    There is no specialized education for becoming an escape artist, but practicing and studying the methods of famous escapologists can help to improve anyone’s skills. Having a flexible body, being physically healthy, and being unafraid of small, dark spaces are some of the main things an escape artist needs. For the right person, escapology can be an exciting and rewarding career.