New Millennium Moms

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. The first Labor Day holiday was actually celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City. The character of the Labor Day celebration has undergone a change over the years, especially in large industrial centers where mass displays and huge parades have taken place.

The concept of women and labor has also changed over the years. There is a new generation of mothers who are not abandoning their children to return to work like we did in the 1980s. Moreover, we are also not adhering to the "soccer mom" stereotype of the 1990s. Mothers today are more likely to negotiate flexible schedules at work while demanding proactive participation from their male counterparts as it relates to child rearing.

According to the article written by U.S. News and World Report on the New Mommy Track, some of these women referred to as "mompreneurs," even start their own businesses. Nearly 26 percent of working women with children under 18 work flexible schedules, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, compared to only 14 percent in 1991. "Fifteen to 20 years ago, women in suits and sneakers...were playing by the traditional rules of the game, trying to live in a man's world. " Today women are saying, "let's do things our way."

From inside She-Tech, a round of applause goes out to the Mothers of the new millennium. It's only a man's world for now. Play by your own rules and stay connected!

Back To School

The back to school frenzy is here and many of us are scrambling around looking for backpacks, notebooks and the latest back-to-school fashions. This time of year has caused me to reflect on the anticipation I used to feel as a child about beginning a new school year. How exciting!

Well, children aren’t the only ones that are going back to school. Many stay-at-home moms as well as seasoned professional women decide to seek higher education during the more mature stages of life. This can be a very daunting experience; however, being older than your fellow students can offer some advantages.

A bit of advice…unfortunately, college courses don't have sick days and parental leave, so if you have a lot of personal and job responsibilities, cut back on your course load or take an online course. For some more helpful information, visit Women to College, the working woman's online guide to education. This site offers helpful career news, tools and the latest information on degree programs from some of the country's top universities. In addition, there are resources to help you select and apply to the school that is right for you.

It’s never too late to earn a college degree or pursue continuing education. Learning is a lifelong process. Live, laugh, love, learn and stay connected!

Digital Planet

Traditional images of an avid internet user are the stereotypical "geek" who spends hours of his free time on his PC and rarely engages with the real world. In reality; however, the internet enthusiast is a fervent reader of books and spends more time engaged in social activities than the non-user. As a result, television viewing is down as much as five hours per week in the United States. In fact, the use of the Internet is reducing television viewing around the world.

When you look at Internet Usage Statistics across the globe, North America weighs in as the region with the third highest number of users at 233 million. Asia weighs in as the region with the most users, 437 million; with Europe to follow at 322 million. What’s even more exciting is that the world total internet usage is a whopping 1.7 billion!

The beauty of the World Wide Web is that it can take you across the globe and connect you with your next door neighbor or even a tech-savvy fashionista from Morocco. Inside She-Tech we believe that style is universal and our laptop bags and accessories appeal to global preferences. We live on a huge planet, but technology can take us wherever we want to go.

To all the tech-savvy women across the seas…stay connected!

Interview Intelligence

It has been a few years since I have interviewed for a job; however, I often recall the stressful experience. You want to make the best impression, but at the same time you are puzzled about exactly what to do. I have heard recruiters and human resource professionals say that they can tell within the first 10 minutes of the interview if the applicant is a good fit.

According to DiversityInc. Magazine there are sure fire ways that will knock you out of the running. Below are the five biggest mistakes job applicants make.

No. 1: Not researching the company before the interview
Researching the company's web site, its statements on diversity management, benefits and the requirements of the job for which you are applying are all advisable. But Joseph Hammill, manager of talent acquisition for corporate human resources at Xerox Corp., adds that applicants should be more comprehensive in their research. Network with people already working at the company; call professional organizations the company is associated with, and ask any fellow college alumni who work at the company about their experience.

No. 2: Inability to articulate needs and desires
"Too many people don't spend time upfront understanding what they bring to the party and they might undersell their particular skills," says Bean. "People need to take time to say, 'Here's what's important to me by rank order.' That can be geography, level of pay, benefits, work/life balance, the type of work you get to do, or even what does the daily grind look like."

No. 3: Being unprofessional in the interview
Of course, be early to all interviews and don't bring food unless asked to do so. At Verizon, one of Tiernan's recruiters told him about an applicant who walked into the interview with a sandwich in hand. Upon reaching the recruiter's office, the applicant placed the sandwich on top of the recruiter's desk. When the recruiter asked the applicant what he planned to do with the sandwich, the applicant said he planned to eat the sandwich and asked if that would be a problem. Think he got the job?

No. 4: Demonstrating poor communication skills
"It's about being able to talk with confidence and expertise about who you are and why you're the best fit," says Kuranty. "That's communication skills." Practice the basics of communication before going to the interview, listening and responding and not talking over the other person. Too many applicants over-talk and don't listen to the questions being asked of them.

No. 5: Not keeping the personal to yourself
With the proliferation of MySpace and other social-network web sites, people often think it harmless to include their social-network identification in their résumés or in an interview. But it is not harmless—too often what is posted on those sites does not demonstrate corporate professionalism. Kuranty adds that applicants should make sure their voicemails reflect a professional attitude as well. When searching for a job, keep the outgoing message simple, such as who they've reached and that you'll return the call soon.

To all the tech-savvy job seekers out there, remain optimistic. Keep the aforementioned tips in mind and cease the opportunity. Nail your next interview, get the job and stay connected!