News & Trends
So each Fall, we gather (ok, it's over email, but I like to think it still counts) and talk about what we love about Fall. One of the unanimous items? The return of the students - you guys make our days more lively, and a good bit brighter.
What else do we love about Fall?
We're an office of foodies, so Pumpkin Pie Blizzards, soup nights with friends, taffy and popcorn balls, perfect apples for making the perfect pie, chili and baking seasonal goodies all make the list.
We love our sports! From the MLB postseason (with hopes the M's might be there again someday), to our love of the Hawks, the Huskies and all things college football, you don't have to guess how we spend our weekends. Bring on the Pumpkin Pie Blizzards and some quality time with ESPN.
We love our quiet time. Fires in the fireplace, the beautiful colors of the leaves on trees, reading books on lazy Sundays, taking walks in the park.
We love our entertainment. Whether we're decorating for Halloween or plotting our costume, celebrating the return of our favorite TV show from its Summer hiatus, or shop-shop-shopping for a new warmer wardrobe.
Spend a little time over the next week thinking about what you love about Fall! It's a great way to gear up for what is sure to be a great year. Welcome back!
This summer I created and launched a new blog [ UW Making The Difference: Federal Careers Blog ], all 'bout jobs & internships & careers with the U.S. Federal Government.
UW staff, students, alumni and federal employees and recruiters will post to this shared blog, with the hopes of generating buzz / interest around students and alumni pursuing federal opportunities.
Below is a video you might enjoy, which I added to this new blog:
Bookmark this blog if interested in federal gigs, you'll want to stay in-the-loop with what's happenin' on campus & beyond. Cheers!
You know the song:
When the night has come
And the land is dark,
And the moon is the only light we'll see.
No I won't be afraid, no I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me.
With all that’s going on these days, it feels like the night has come indeed. Between swine flu hysteria, the ailing economy, and Jon and Kate on the fritz, it feels like the moon is the only light we can see at the moment. (And by “the moon” I am of course referring to Twilight: New Moon, which hits theatres in a mere six months.)
If you’re feeling the strain from all the bad news surrounding us, you’re not alone. But I’ve got a little mid-week pick-me-up that will leave you feeling better about the world—guaranteed. From Santa Monica to New Orleans and Amsterdam to The Congo, musicians from all over the world have contributed to this moving cover of Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me.”
Despite the challenges we face, with some compassion and a little humor we can support one another with patience, kindness, and respect. Check out the video for inspiration, and think about who you can stand by today.
Group hug anyone?
Top 5 Ways You Can Tell Today is Earth Day:
5. Google looks gorgeous.
4. You walk past a girl on the quad whose t-shirt reads, "Stop destroying our planet. It's where I keep all my stuff."
3. Your mom emails, reporting that she and the kindergarten class she teaches just spent an hour pulling ivy off trees. (Or is that just me?)
2. Al Gore emails you to join a call to congress to push forth clean energy legislation.
1. You feel SUPER guilty for forgetting to compost your coffee cup yesterday. Bad Earthling.
In all seriousness, it's a shame we dedicate just one day a year to the preservation and protection of our planet. But plenty of employers are dedicated to "greening" our country and the world, and guess what-- they're hiring. Read on...
According to a recent article in the New York Times, concerns over the recession, finances and job prospects are creating increasing stress in peoples' lives. No brainer, right? But even more interesting, the New York Times suggests that people who aren't at risk of losing their job or livelihood are suffering anxiety and panic attacks at high rates as well.
Interesting, isn't it, the ways that fear can replace fact, or distort it to the point where we have trouble recognizing it? But here's the other thing -- fear or fact, fact or fiction, times are stressful right now. And the UW has resources that can help. Read on for details.
This economy has us all on pins and needles. Will we be able to find jobs? Will we keep our jobs, if we already have them? Will our friends, families and loved ones be alright?
If you've watched a friend or family member be laid off, the instinct to help is often strong. What might not be quite as strong is knowing exactly how to reach out. And for that just that purpose, Ron Lieber at the New York Times lays out a compelling list of ways to help a friend or family member who's been laid off, or is seeking employment, in a way that helps them to feel supported rather than the receipient of a hand-out. Who knew that babysitting, sending out a LinkedIn message, whipping up some mac and cheese, or helping clean out a garage could help provide the support a friend needs?
And hey, if you've been laid off or if you're looking for work, when somebody says "hey, is there anything I can do?", toss something out there. Say "you know, could you take (fill in the blank kid's name) for the afternoon on Saturday? I need to work on my resume"; "any interest in helping me clean out the garage? I want to get those collector's Beanie Babies on eBay". And for those of you without a kid or a garage, try out "hey, let's watch the Gonzaga game on Friday at my place instead of going out -- can you bring (fill in the blank junk food here)?"
We're all in this together, Huskies. Let's give each other a helping hand.
Quick! Without thinking about your answer, choose your preference from the options below:
Rain or humidity?
Earthquakes or hurricanes?
Apples or oranges?
Pacific or Atlantic?
Working or unemployed?
Despite your preferences on weather, natural disasters, fruit, and oceans, most of us can probably agree on our answer to #5. And for all of you rain-sloshing, earthquake-surviving, apple-chomping, Pacific-enduring Huskies, I’ve got good news: you’re in the right place. Read on for the national job outlook that's got Washington at the top of the list...
Did you know that a whopping 74% of us UW grads stay in Washington after graduation? And that that's the highest rate NATIONALLY (compare us to Western Virginia University, where 72% of graduates LEAVE the state within five years of graduating)?
So are you thinking of sticking around? If you are, it doesn't mean that you're not unique and wonderful, but it does mean that you're going to want to make use of UW Career Center services. Read on for details....
Last week I posted about optimism & "the power of positive thinking". Then I came across a recent research project which may just point to optimism leading to longer, healthier lives. If you want to learn more about this stuff, check out this Dependable Strengths activity & the Center for Dependable Strengths ... and definitely check out Dr. Martin Seligman's books like this & this & learn more via his work/research with the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania.
Cheers!
Well here we are. It's Friday, it's beautifully sunny outside (admittedly not even 50 degrees, but whatever), my friend and her fiancee are in town from Montana, the Husky baseball team's home opener is next week, my grandparents arrive this afternoon, and I'm feeling hopeful.
That's right, Huskies, amidst all the doom and gloom, I'm daring to feel hopeful. I'm looking forward to the end of winter weather, and the eventual end of our economic winter as well. MSN Money tells us that, just like our sunshiney February afternoon,tiny little signs of spring might be poking through the bleak economic winter as well.
And while we wait for those signs of economic hope to grow, what's the best thing we can do? Just like hitting the gym is the best way to beat away the winter blahs, hitting your job search hard is the best way to beat away a wintery economy. Log into HuskyJobs to score a job or internship; attend an upcoming career fair, workshop or information session; or make use of some of the UW Career Center's other awesome resources.
Open to all
Grad Students
Alumni