# 1. Worst Job Interview Questions …and the answers we wish we could give.

Series: In a Perfect World

 

Whether you are a corporate tycoon or a teenager getting your first job at the local fast food joint- at some point in time you have been in THAT chair. And for all the able minded/bodied folk who have never been in that position you will be eventually (I say this knowing very well there are people who will never hold a job).

 

It is in that chair that all our pride goes out the window. Away from our family and friends, we are put upon display like fruit at the supermarket to be poked at, squeezed, sniffed and prodded for ‘ripeness’. In that  chair we beg and plead for something that we need but often don’t even want; A job.

 

While in this chair, the people across from you (the powers that be) will utilize their fancy vocabulary to dress up this ‘job’ by referring to it in many different terms such as an ‘opportunity’ (which implies that it will be the beginning of something favourable ), a ‘career’ (which implies growth and longevity) or a ‘position’ (which implies title, class and status). So picture yourself going into an interview, sitting in that chair and being barraged with questions about why you want to be the next receptionist at company ABC.  Questions such as:

 

Why do you want this position?

Does anyone really need to ask this question? This must be the tie breaker because I cannot for the life of me understand why it would be a mystery. I mean is there anyone out there that doesn’t need to get paid? Where do I sign up?

 

All that’s in a girl’s mind… according to Kendra Wilkinson.

All it takes sometimes is that one thing we say. I feel sorry for people who allow their interviews to be published before reading the final edit. This week’s eye opener is from someone who is a complete stranger to me – but as I have learned is an …actress/model whose rise to fame had something to do with being Hugh Hefner’s girlfriend. Hm

So – what brings me to this concise commentary is this particular portion of an interview PR.com conducted with Ms. Wilkinson.

PR.com: Explain to me the appeal of football.

Kendra Wilkinson: I feel like I have the same mind as guys, more so [than girls]. I’m not a fan of getting dressed up. I’m not a fan of shopping. I’m not a fan of putting on makeup or doing my hair. So count me out of talking about all that gossip shit with girls. I’m about gossiping about sports, and when football season is on I’m in a zone, you know?’

That’s right folks. Who knew? Who knew that a 23 year old woman who has never had to pay her own bills (before recently), who earns her living as a model, and whose ex- boyfriend to one of the oldest living sexually active organisms alive – had solved the age old question of nature vs. nurture.

Giving advice to a girlfriend who says, “He’s REALLY good in bed…BUT”.

Giving advice to a girlfriend who says, “He’s REALLY good in bed…BUT”.

But. But. – But he’s a loser. That’s what she’s thinking. What should a friend say to that?

The war was fought – the Degree has been conquered.

Its over

School is over – I did it. We did it. 4 classes in a 6 week span was CRAZY – but it can be done. So whomever you are out there – male or female, single or attached…broke or less broke. If you want to do it– and you work really hard and have support – it can be done.

                   Special thanks to Michy (for all the hours you put in to help me study), Dalia n Nick, Heather, Vanessa, (for watching the little ones when I needed a break) Joy, Melissa, Simone, Ramona, Kamilah and Marsha (you guys are the best cheerleaders ever – always giving me positive reinforcement) Nicole -how could I forget you relieving me of my cooking duties and brightening up our kitchen with your veggie dishes. Mrs Murrell, grandma, the kids, (for their patience) , my brothers ( for allowing me to escape when it was all done), my coworkers who were always cheering me on and trying to help me with tasks they hadn’t tackled in years, and last but NEVER least, Andre – who did everything above and more : ) and a special thanks for supporting my decision to use DaCosta on my degree because as you said oh so eloquently, ‘ That was my name   when ‘I’ was born and therefore – that is who ‘I’ am, and the name which all my accomplishments should bear.’ (okay I paraphrased – but you said something like that..right?)  Love you more than all the stars in the sky.

Oh and if i’m forgetting anyone I apologize – even those who should be here for this occassion but are not whether out of choice or just circumstances.

Auntie Pat, You left us the day before school was done and I was looking forward to spending more time with you. If it were not for you – I may not have been able to finish high school – much less a diploma and now a degree. Your family is my family. We love you. We miss you.

I  know you will find true rest in Our Father’s arms.

 

Denise

Financial Advice for folks who are broke….no …REALLY broke.

Financial Advice for folks who are broke….no …REALLY broke.

I feel sometimes that I dwell on a planet far far away – and simply come here to work, visit and enjoy the international cuisine. I received a newsletter from our financial advisor this week that featured a ‘heartbreaking’ story of a couple (‘just like us’) in their 30’s, who were struggling to keep up with their finances. They had two young children, 20k in student debt, 15k in credit card debt, a 130k mortgage, and get this….100k in savings. However the poor saps had lost 20% of their savings in the recent financial downturn and were now living pay cheque-to-pay cheque. The author then probes, ‘does this remind you of your situation?’.

Journals from the Fourth Wave of Feminism – Part VI

Disorders

I am about to make a fallacious statement in regards to a related topic not yet covered in our course. Health care. The culprit of the ignorance people (male and female) have in regards to our menstrual and sexual disorders can be solely attributed I believe, to health care. My doctors have never discussed sexuality with me and I find their treatment of female related issues to be with a dismissive attitude. For myself, I seldom find that my doctor addresses my concerns with more than a wave of the wrist and a ‘meh’ attitude. I also believe that this lack of social, medical and education support in combination with the dominant images of sexuality (literature, media and particularly pornography) are key factors to the sexual attitudes of females . How connected are female sexual dysfunctions to these factors? There is another side to this domino effect. There may be many women out there who feel that their sexual problem is attributed to internal problems rather than the social contexts as referred to in Naomi Weisstein’s article. It is abhorrent how targeted we are as consumers to the point where we put more effort in medicating our psychological sexual problems than into the research and education of those problems.

Journals from the Fourth Wave of Feminism – Part V

Sexuality

The polarized education of sexuality has always intrigued me. I often wondered as an adolescent the reasons why girls were told to abstain, while boys were educated in contraceptive methods. Parents, in our culture, we noted – often allowed free reign with their sons, to date, entertain, impregnate and discard women. Some mothers had an extensive vocabulary of sexualized insults for young girls. In their eyes, girls were the sexual aggressors attempting to steal their sons away from them. It is quite an interesting dynamic. So where does that fit in with our discussion about sexuality? I suppose I could summarize my opinion from the subjective view of myself and my peers, by saying these conversations about sexuality…never really happened. The only places we heard about sex more than we did in health class was church.

Journals from the Fourth Wave of Feminism – Part IV

Gender typing is an individual preference influenced greatly by culture (and or religion – whichever is more convenient). It is disparaging to know that the female sex is devalued to such an extent that we are being killed. This is the nature of human beings I suppose, whether it’s ethnic cleansing or a common violent incident – we find some reason to hurt and kill one another. Women are no exception. I wonder what does happen to families who decide to keep their female children? For every example I am given for the majority it would be nice to know what happens to those who go against the majority to learn of what that experience is like. While their killing or selling females in other countries, we are trying to convince our females to embrace our ‘womanhood’. I think it was a clear example by the class surveys that perhaps these ideas of femininity are demographic specific. The people in our class will likely not have been raised in households where there are rigid gender roles. Why? Our society does not support it or encourage it. We are afforded many points of view ( that are often conflicting), however we still have that alternative voice.

Journals from the Fourth Wave of Feminism – Part III

Orenstien’s Cinderella article really hit a nerve. I wrote a paper a few years back for a class called ‘Intercultural Theory and Children’s Literature’ and the thesis was based on the evolution of the bookstore and its part in defining gender roles – and childhood. To summarize my observations, there is more of a distinct line between gender roles than there is ‘childhood’. I recall some of the suggestive pre adolescent novels I came across, and the insane number of what I call ‘tv-toys’ wrapped in cardboard as a disguise for actual literature (with a common ‘l’). These are the ‘Bratz’ books and all theother toy cartoon –come-to-life commodities that get the best shelf space. I don’t’ take my children to the bookstore – because it is like taking them to Zellers. The books have nail polish and makeup attached to them. The stories are about going shopping (though they have no jobs), and attracting boys. Quite frankly, I think if anyone is going to teach my child about shopping or boys –it’s going to be me. That’s my job. I can’t imagine what improvement to her vocabulary could come from any of that material.

When it comes to the girl/woman/pageant phenomena I can see where she’s coming from. Seeing little girls dressed up as adults makes me a bit nauseous. I’m not sure why – it just seems … questionable. I don’t judge the parents – but I think as consumers we ought to demand better products. This is an economical issue to me, and I’m not so sure that even if they were to remove every princess-related article from the shelves, that little girls would have a healthy sense of self. Barbie and Disney aside, almost every story book features the picture and voice of a White child. I could complain about that – but it’s a ‘reality’. People tend to tell stories about those who look like them, sound like them etc. (mind you I don’t know how that accounts for the numerous stories of animals monsters and aliens in literature who show up more often than so called minorities) but I digress. If I want a certain type of book for my children to read, I know where to find it.

Journals from the Fourth Wave of Feminism – Part II

Body Image – Cont’d

The point is, image is not as simple as it appears (no pun intended). The esthetics of body is different from the functionality ( smaller breasts = less back pain – feet without bunions = less pain) and we were not given the opportunity to express this. The lack of enthusiasm or response from the class is likely to be a result of the class size, but also the repetition of the subject at hand. I was exposed to media literacy as a student in the 12th grade over a decade ago, and subsequently through feminist college and university classes. I’m not apathetic – I’ve been fighting my own equality battles – but nobody seems interested in assuming that or wants to know how. They’d be satisfied with a simple label to affix to my psychological lapel, ‘ feminist’.