Toronto Mompreneur Leigh Meadows and her Smart Hangers

The much anticipated CBC Dragons Den Greenvention Contest finally aired on June 7, 2010 with the announcement of the three finalists.

Leigh Meadows, a UK immigrant who came to Canada in 1995 wowed the CBC Dragons with her concept of a cost-effective advertising platform using recyclable cardboard hangers won second place. The Smart Hanger is functionally superior and aesthetically more pleasing than wire or plastic hangers. It is completely recyclable through major city’s blue bin recycling program, whereas plastic and other paperboard hangers do not meet recycling standards, and along with more than 90% of wire hangers about 300 million a year end up in landfills across Canada.

It’s really cute that the sample Leigh Meadows handed to the Dragons bear the CBC Dragons Den advertising. The Dragons were visibly impressed with the her powerful concept to the extent that they struggled over the decision as to who should win the greenvention grand prize of $100,000. The Smart Hangers have a big potential to send the “Save the earth” message because of its very practical application.

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Apply for Unemployment

Unemployment. A very sad word indeed.

It is time to get past the sadness and get back to work.

You need to apply for unemployment benefits. Each state is different so, to determine your eligebility visit your states unemployment site. Some of them are listed here.

If you are one of the lucky few who receives a severance package it is likely that you will have to wait for the severance to run out before applying. Either way, check with your states requirements before proceeding.

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Job Interview Tips

An interview gives you the opportunity to showcase your qualifications to an employer, so it pays to be well prepared. The following information provides some helpful hints.
Preparation:

Learn about the organization.
Have a specific job or jobs in mind.
Review your qualifications for the job.
Be ready to briefly describe your experience, showing how it relates it the job.
Be ready to answer broad questions, such as "Why should I hire you?" "Why do you want this job?" "What are your strengths and weaknesses?"
Practice an interview with a friend or relative.
Personal appearance:

Be well groomed.
Dress appropriately.
Do not chew gum or smoke.
The interview:

Be early.
Learn the name of your interviewer and greet him or her with a firm handshake.
Use good manners with everyone you meet.
Relax and answer each question concisely.
Use proper English—avoid slang.
Be cooperative and enthusiastic.
Use body language to show interest—use eye contact and don’t slouch.
Ask questions about the position and the organization, but avoid questions whose answers can easily be found on the company Web site.
Also avoid asking questions about salary and benefits unless a job offer is made.
Thank the interviewer when you leave and shake hands.
Send a short thank you note following the interview.
Information to bring to an interview:

Social Security card.
Government-issued identification (driver’s license).
Resume or application. Although not all employers require a resume, you should be able to furnish the interviewer information about your education, training, and previous employment.
References. Employers typically require three references. Get permission before using anyone as a reference. Make sure that they will give you a good reference. Try to avoid using relatives as references.
Transcripts. Employers may require an official copy of transcripts to verify grades, coursework, dates of attendance, and highest grade completed or degree awarded.

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Success in Work and Life

Your Tip of the Week for Success in Work and Life
Looking for an immediate positive thought or an idea to pick your spirits up? Want good ideas, thoughtful quotations, self-motivation ideas, managing and working well with people tips, newsletter fillers, news about trends affecting workplaces and more? You've discovered the right newsletter. Once a week, Your Tip of the Week for Success in Work and Life will uplift your spirit, make you smile, touch your heart and provide useful information.

Currently, forty-one weeks of tips provide you with topic relevant quotations, a meaty tip about the week's topic and links to two articles if you want to explore the topic further. You will benefit from the newsletter's content even if you never click through to an article.

All tips in the newsletter - but NOT the articles the newsletter links - are reproducible for your company publications, your speeches, classes and Intranet as long as this source citation is provided.

Suggested Citation: Source: About Human Resources. Your Tip of the Week for Success in Work and Life. Copyright 2005 Susan M. Heathfield and About.com: http://humanresources.about.com/c/ec/4.htm

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