National Edition - March 30, 2008  What type of employee are you? Find out with our personality tests. Jobboom visitors are now eligible for discount rates on e-Career Fit evaluations via our website. Check out the three tests below - they're bound to pique your interest: - eCF Personal Styles Assessment : Discover your strengths, limitations and personal style. - eCF Work Values Assessment : Identify which values are important to you, then capitalize on them to land the perfect job. - eCF Entrepreneur Index : Find out if you've got what it takes to be your own boss. Professional Development The casual look can be tuned to your advantage The author of a new book titled Drop Dead Brilliant tackles the daily confusion of casual dress codes in the workplace. And make no mistakes, because the labour force is already a fashion minefield. Her message to readers: dress casually while remaining appropriate. While most have the first bit down pat, the last part's the real kicker. With office fashion up for individual interpretation, she suggests dressing to exude credibility and personal authority and to earn respect. (Source: The Times Online) Making Connections Meet up after work? No thanks While the revolving door of the North American workforce has successfully prevented employees from forming ties and conspiring to unionize, employees now have fewer workplace confidants and less company for after work drinks. While many say "No thanks" due to family obligations and other commitments, other workers decline for the simple reason that they prefer to keep business separate from pleasure. (Source: Christian Science Monitor) Personal Advancement Job-hoppers damaging their financial futures The natural trade-off of reduced job security is increased mobility, and some employees with mercenary souls have capitalized so excessively on this new dynamic that they seem to be forever in flight. Whenever a new opportunity arises, they simply jump ship. However, new research by a professor at the University of British Columbia suggests that in the long run these enterprising employees actually earn less than their more loyal colleagues who stay put. (Source: Management Issues) The mentoring game The value of a good mentor is priceless and mentor-mentee working relationships are becoming a hot commodity as companies scramble to pass on the wealth of knowledge acquired by seasoned employees after many years on the job. Having someone recognize your potential, take you under their wing and pass on industry secrets is an incredible leg up in this dog-eat-dog world. However, some give-and-take is required - as the mentee, you have to be willing to uphold your side of the deal by following your mentor's advice. (Source:Jobboom, Career Zone) Do you have a mentor? To answer, click here. Career Planning Class clowns If you haven't yet found your calling in life or felt complete since hamming it up for classmates with sophomoric pranks aimed at unwitting substitute teachers, then perhaps you should consider a career in comedy. But don't be fooled, comedy is no laughing matter. It's serious business and, no joke, the toughest profession in the world. A new, two-year college program with intensive auditions is providing aspiring comedians with a testing ground for their material. Competition is fierce, the one-upmanship in classes exhausting, and graduates still face a long road ahead in the fame game. (Source: Jobboom, Career Zone) Do you... have a wide-screen monitor? An increasing number of employers are giving their employees giant monitors in an effort to increase their productivity. • Driven by research that suggests a bigger screen can increase productivity, companies are replacing standard 17- and 19-inch monitors. • Researchers conclude that a company can save several thousand dollars per employee, even after factoring in the cost of the new monitor and increased electricity use. • However, many companies are not prepared to give everyone a shot at the big screen all at once. • The result is that runway thin, highway-wide monitors have become office status symbols. (Source: Globe and Mail) April 8 - 9 The National Job Fair and Training Expo Toronto, ON April 8 - 13 TESOL Foundations Course Ottawa, ON April 14 - 16 Cannexus 2008 Montreal, QC April 28 Baristas Program Vancouver, BC May 20 - 22 Futurallia Québec 2008 Quebec City, QC May 25 - 28 Canadian Skills Competition Calgary, AB May 25 - 28 Rendezvous Canada Vancouver, BC May 28 Self Employment Discovery Workshop Toronto, On May 28 Conquering the Behavioural Interview Oakville, ON May 31 Calgary Education Fair 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#