David Sheeks

In 2005, over 99 million TONS of paper and paperboard were used in the United States alone (source:  http://www.epa.gov/ne/green/paperuse.html ).  The amount of junk mail, fliers, books and so on require massive amounts of paper to be generated--and only a fraction of that is ever recycled. But in recent years, many IT departments have begun moving to a "paperless" environment.  ISO standards call for reduction or removal of printed materials from the workplace--all data is stored online and accessed electronically, ensuring that data is always up-to-date.  Even bulk mailers are getting more environmentally friendly, choosing to overload your email inbox instead of your physical mailbox, inadvertently saving paper in the process. But what about books?  Sure, books in digital format have existed for years.  But reading on a bright, backlit monitor can be a pain.  Staring at a computer screen for hours at a time can be exhausting, and the desire to g...

The job market out there is definitely tough.  I've had my share of let-downs on the roller coaster that is the job market.  In times like this people are often tempted to make themselves extremely available and extremely open-minded--even if that open-mindedness means compromising ones values. When there are a handful of job-seekers and a plethora of open positions, it's easy to take a stand for what you believe in.  When the chips are down and there are few guarantees, however, it's a bit harder.  I haven't been in the situation where I had to decide on a company I didn't agree with, but I did have a recent opportunity to take a stand for what I believed in nonetheless. Several years ago, I was certified as the youngest sponsor for a Christian leadership program.  The one-day seminar involved bringing teenagers in from all over Lexington, and was very successful.  Because of the amount of leadership work involved with this (securing finances, organizi...

Unemployment is near 9% and has been for the last couple years. "real" unemployment (unemployment applications plus those no longer eligible) is potentially something closer to 20%.  It is *hard* to find a job these days.  The facts are against you. The statistics are against you.  But there is one thing that should always be on your side, fighting in your corner: YOU. At risk of coming off as some over-the-top inspirational speaker, there are a few things I want every job seeker out there to keep in mind as part of their job search: as long as there is ONE job available in your field, you still have a chance. Take this example: The Tour de France allows a certain number of teams to compete and qualify every year.  Let's say that last year 500 applicants qualified.  News comes out that now, only 300 individuals will be allowed to qualify for next year's tryouts.  If you're someone who is struggling to make the cut in the first place, it is a pretty depr...

This time around in my job search is the first time I've used sites such as Monster, Careerbuilder and Craigslist to search for jobs.  In the time I've been on these websites I have been amazed at the sheer amount of garbage that hits my SPAM email folder on a daily basis. With unemployment currently high and a large number of job seekers out there, it is crucial to know what to look for.  With a few easy tips you can skip over the spam and get to what you really want--the legitimate job offer emails. 1: The Work from Home scam These almost never work.  Why?  Because they tell you that you will work a little bit and make TONS of money.  Most people think, "Well hey, even if they are only half-right, I'll still make more than enough to live on!"  The problem is that the companies offering the get-rich-quick schemes are not just doubly inflating their figures.  While they may show testimonials from "real people" who make $5000 a month, the average...