National Edition - September 23, 2007  Mega Job Fair in Toronto Nearly 10,000 job seekers will be in Toronto this Tuesday and Wednesday (Sept 25-26) for the National Job Fair. This annual event, now in its 11th year, will include the top 150 Canadian employers, speaker presentations, career services (including free resumé sessions) and access to hundreds of Canadian job postings, including prospects for re-locating to Alberta. Jobboom will be present at the event, offering access to thousands of current job opportunities and comprehensive career advice. NEWSWORTHY Lifestyle diseases threaten India's high-tech The Western world is a missionary of sorts, spreading freedom, democracy, Hollywood block-busters and pop sensations throughout the rest of the globe. However, the lifestyle, largely shaped by the 40-hour work week, also comes with its fair share of disadvantages-including disease. India is experiencing an unexpected backlash to their boom in out-sourcing. A new study reveals a rise in heart problems, strokes, diabetes, work-related stress and other lifestyle diseases caused by the subcontinent's rapid economic boom over the last two decades. (Source: Canada East) YOUR RIGHTS Bullying in the workplace Latent competitive attitudes are responsible for many forms of bullying in the workplace. One of the experts of a new study suggests that much of it is insidious, hard to detect and not illegal. Bullying can include verbal abuse, job sabotage or destroying professional relationships. For now, company stakeholders remain indifferent about this issue that saps morale and causes high employee turnover rates. Also, the top-down nature of the bullying phenomenon is in part responsible for the status quo. (Source: Reuters) What form of workplace bullying do you think is most prevalent in your workplace? To answer, visit Career zone, and check out the Your opinion matters section. JOB INTERVIEWS Preparing for a job interview Preparing for a job interview is more involved that merely ironing a shirt or blouse and looking spiffy. To be at all relevant, candidates must try to explicitly connect their past professional experiences with the position that is in the offing. Preparing for this moment is akin to the elementary school game puzzle book. Make two columns and draw lines between your accomplishments in past jobs that reflect the desired qualities for the new one. (Source: Jobboom, Career Zone) NEGOTIATION TIPS How to get a raise Negotiating a raise is a like a job in itself. Or it is at least as consuming as preparing for a major presentation. It requires research, preparation and poise. Impulsive individuals who waltz into their boss' office to pop the big question or railroad them at the water cooler often end up slinking away empty-handed. Rejection can be awkward. Preparation is the best way for keen employees to hedge their bets. This includes doing the necessary work to come up with a one-pager of their accomplishments which will serve as concrete proof in the meeting. (Source: Jobboom, Career Zone) WORKPLACE CHALLENGES Secrets to retaining employees Retention, retention, retention are the three most important things in human resources management given the looming, nay, fast approaching, retirement crisis in the North American workforce. It's an infuriating situation, indeed: while one employee retires, competitors poach another. A third has checked out mentally and spends the workday on the Internet. The key to retention is an elusive quality called "engagement," getting employees to care. (Source: The Chronicle Herald) Do you... add fuel to the workplace gossip wildfire? - Office gossip, though rarely talked about or researched, has taken on new dimensions in this high-tech age. - Instant messaging, Internet blogs and e-mail means rumors in the workplace spread faster and farther, and can do more lasting damage. Nearly two-thirds of employees say that people in their workplace gossip about company news, according to a study done in August. (Source: USA Today) September 23 - 24 InVivo Life Sciences Career Fair Montreal, QC September 23 - 26 Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference Calgary, AB September 25 PROFIT 100 online summit Canada-wide September 25 - 26 The National Job Fair Toronto, ON September 27 - 28 Transforming The Built Environment Toronto, ON September 28 York Career Expo & Job Fair Newmarket, ON October 2 Winning Solutions: Expanding Beyond the US Canada-wide October 10 - 13 Montreal Education Fair Montreal, QC October 17 - 19 Interpersonal Mediation Toronto, ON October 18 - 19 Making Sense of Biotechnology Edmonton, AB November 12 - 14 BioNorth Ottawa, ON November 7 - 9 National Supported Employment Conference Calgary, AB NOTICE: Jobboom and its sponsors do not necessarily endorse the opinions conveyed in the articles selected for this e-zine and do not assume any legal liability in consequence thereof. Comments: info@jobboom.com Research and editing: Austin Macdonald #noDossier#