Though you may not notice it until you reach your mind-60s, your memory starts a gradual decline around the ripe old age of 25, according to University of Michigan psychologist Denise Park.

Wondering how to find your dream career? You’re not alone.Surveys of U.S. households have found that fewer than half of Americans are even satisfied with their jobs, let alone are living out their dream career. In fact, up to 75 percent of workers are still searching for a job they love, according to the job search Web site Career Builder.

Perhaps you already know what your dream career is and are in the process of choosing whether or not to take the leap (if this applies to you, you may want to read 12 Signs it is REALLY Time to Leave Your Job). However, and more likely, a large part of the problem may be that you have yet to discover what your dream career should be. (more…)

Sooner or later, everyone has to do it. Still, speaking in front of an audience is regularly ranked against the greatest fears plaguing mankind. For many, it’s right up there with sharks, spiders, heights and being attacked by a vicious dog. Public speaking is simply not something that most people look forward to.

Public speaking is a skill — one that takes practice and perseverance to master.

Public speaking’s bad reputation stems from most people’s fear of looking foolish in front of others. What if they don’t like what you have to say? What if you forget your thoughts, offend somebody or, worse, bore them? This fear can be greatly relieved, however, simply by learning a few tricks of the trade. When you are empowered with the insider tips to give a great speech in front of any audience, your fears may just subside.

Even for those who adore public speaking (after all, you get to share your opinions with a captive audience), honing up on the following tips can add some pizzazz to your speaking style so that every speech truly impacts the audience. (more…)

According to Gartner, the percentage of women in IT is low and shrinking, dropping from 42 percent in 1996 to 32.4 percent in 2004 worldwide. In some countries, including in the United States, it’s below 30 percent.

But those figures tell only part of the story: Fewer women than men choose IT-related majors in college. Of those who do, a larger percentage of them drop out or change their major. Women who enter the IT profession are more likely than men to quit or change careers. In the top IT management positions, women are extraordinarily rare. The higher up the IT food chain you go, the fewer women you’ll find.

This conspicuous gender imbalance is caused by a long list of problems, according to advocates of women in IT, including a lack of female role models, a pervasive stereotype of IT professionals as unfashionable “nerdy men,” and workplace sexism.

Millions of dollars are being spent by non-profit organizations and universities to understand what causes low numbers of women in IT and campaigners are working hard to address it. I applaud their efforts, but some of these initiatives may be doing more harm than good.

By Mike Elgan

http://itmanagement.earthweb.com

THE INTERVIEW WARDROBE-TOOLS TO SUCCESS

When you meet your interviewer for the time, what impression do you want to give? If you want to say, I’m pretty, wear your favorite frilly blouse. If you want to say, I’m laid-back wear the V-neck sweater you loved in college. If you want to say, I’m more competent, reliable, and professional than any candidate you will interview for this position-in other words, if you want the job-step one is: Invest in suit.
Sharp lines and authoritative stance-a suit says power, reliability, independence. And it can make you feel as confident as you look. Your interview suit-and everything that goes with-is the first tool on your prepare you to buy an interview suit and the business gear to go with it.

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Wanna see more?
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In a Ukrainian city, soon after the USSR became history, I happened to visit a post-office that was stuffed into a 2-bedroom apartment. That is, the “bedrooms” were actually turned into office premises, crowded 9-to-6 by the locals. The tiny living room, kitchen and bathrooms were secured by locks and reserved for the family use of the postmaster, her husband and daughter.
I remember two thoughts I had, looking at the dirty tiled floor in the hallway: “How does that lady feel, literally living at work?” and “I’d not like to know that at first-hand!”

Nowadays I see more and more women working from home even here, in Eastern Europe, to say nothing of the more computerized West. Their customers, co-workers and bosses do not come crowding into homes – a reliable internet connection is enough for a successful translator/designer/programmer/journalist etc. to become part of the process. No rush hour traffic, no dress code, more flexibility in the schedule…

On the other hand, some researches show that socializing at work is a vital part of the fulfillment. Moreover, they say that for us not to get fed up with work and home, ideally there should be at least a small distance between the two.

So, if you have the choice to work from home or in an office, you are the one to make it– and you are welcome to share your perspective here, in the comments. Chances are, your opinion will help a busy professional to add more balance to her life…

Loremaster