kristina anderson
Career development 22h
I normally don’t post things like this, but I’m honestly really frustrated and disappointed.

I’m currently 2 months postpartum and was recently cleared to return to work, so I applied for a part-time phlebotomist position. A recruiter scheduled me for an interview in Ellicott City and even confirmed beforehand that I would still be attending.

Since the location wasn’t accessible by nearby... public transportation, I had to spend $100 total on Lyft rides just to get there and back. My husband also had to take off work so I could attend the interview, all while I’m already exhausted from sleepless nights with a newborn.

When I arrived, I was told the manager was on vacation. After trying multiple times to contact the recruiter with no response, I finally reached out to the manager directly, only to find out the position had already been filled LAST MONTH and all interviews were supposed to have been canceled.

I understand mistakes happen, but this whole situation was extremely unprofessional and could have been avoided with proper communication. My time, money, and energy were wasted unnecessarily.

Being postpartum and trying to get back into the workforce is already stressful enough without situations like this. So I sent him a email jobs need to stop wasting peoples time.

#ProfessionalismMatters #CommunicationMatters
#InterviewExperience #firsttimemomjourney #phlebotomistlife more
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  • Zaharazah MacCauley

    1h

    I’m sorry this happened to you, but did you take into consideration your regular commute had you passed the interview?

  • J M

    12
    2h

    Life gives us many opportunities to embrace - I would suggest that venting is great but be sure not to burn any bridges doing so - their new hire may... not work out. Calling a day ahead to confirm your appointment would have saved much but cost little. As far as not being interviewed you should have been given some type of notice. Sorry that you have been given this lesson.  more

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Career development

 2d

Biggest Résumé Mistakes and How You Can Avoid Them


Going into my first year of college, I had no clue what a résumé even was. I had experience, but none of my previous jobs required me to submit a résumé when I applied. So, when my on-campus job asked for one, I scrambled to throw it together. I asked everyone I could for their help. With a horrible résumé (and a ton of grace given by my boss), I was hired.

Now, as a student assistant in the... Journalism Dean's Office, I review résumés daily. This is a list of the biggest mistakes I see in the office and how you can fix them to improve your résumé and chances of getting hired.

Contact information

Contact information is located beneath your name at the top of your résumé. This section includes your phone number, email address, LinkedIn, city and state and portfolio (if you have one).

More than one email address

The first mistake I see in the contact information section is including more than one email address. A lot of college students think it's best to list both their student email and personal email address to give the employer more options to choose from. While this is a good idea in theory, it can be confusing for employers to figure out the best way to contact you. Instead, list the email address that you check most frequently, whether that's personal or school. If you're a graduating student, you should list your personal email and make a habit of checking it regularly.

Not including LinkedIn

If you do not have a LinkedIn profile in college, you're doing it wrong. LinkedIn is an extremely important form of social media used for networking with people in your industry. Although it is understandable not to have a LinkedIn profile your first year of college, it is highly recommended that you create one before the beginning of your sophomore year.

The next step is putting the hyperlink to your profile in your contact section. Don't just link it to the word "LinkedIn;" copy and paste the full URL to ensure your profile can still be accessed easily if your resume were to be printed.

Including a picture

In the United States, federal law prohibits discrimination based on race, gender, ethnicity, age, etc. Including a picture on your résumé may trigger unconscious bias from your employer and prevent you from even making it to the interview stage. Some employers will even immediately reject résumés with photos to avoid potential discrimination accusations.

Education

This section is the most important information on your résumé as a college student. It includes your college, major, degree, GPA (if a 3.0 or above), expected graduation and minors or certificates, if applicable.

Getting your degree and major name wrong

This might be surprising to some, but in fact, many students get their degree and major wrong! All colleges have different degrees and major names, so it's important to check your school website for the official name of your degree.

High school information after your first year

As unfortunate as it is, employers don't care what you did in high school if you're a college student. It is much more important what you are doing in college, so high school should be completely omitted.

The exception to this rule is first-year college students. This is because until the end of the first semester of college, first-years do not have a GPA or much experience in their degree. That being said, it is generally recommended to remove your high school information from your education section after the first semester of freshman year, and definitely before the beginning of your sophomore year.

Experience

Your experience is the second most important information on your résumé. This section includes your past and present work experience with two to four detailed bullet points describing the work you did in each position, as well as the location and time frame you worked.

Missing detail

An important thing to remember when writing the bullet points for your experiences is to add detail! Employers don't just want to know what you did; they want to know how you did it. Instead of saying, "Wrote articles for Her Campus." You should say, "Wrote 6+ articles for Her Campus over topics of self-love, entertainment, culture, etc." This way of writing gives your employer a better understanding of your capabilities while quantifying your work and adding credibility.

Not including unpaid experiences

Unpaid experiences make up a large portion of a college student's experience. From internships to organizations, college students gain lots of unpaid experience. And many students think that because they did not earn a paycheck for these experiences, they cannot include them on their resume. That is not true. Employers care much more about the knowledge you have gained and experience you have in the position, rather than the amount of paid work you have.

Skills

Your skills section should always be the last section of your résumé. This section is a simple list of skills that you haven't expressed in your experience sections.

Soft skills

Your skills section should be solely hard skills. Things like teamwork, leadership and other soft skills are good to have, but they can easily be demonstrated in the bullet points of your experience section or in an interview.

Instead, include hard skills relevant to the job you are applying for. If you're a journalism major, your skills section should include things like AP style writing, video editing and photojournalism. You can also include programs that you are familiar with. Think Microsoft 360, Canva or Adobe. These kinds of skills will give your employer more information about the skills you possess.

Formatting

Although not a section, formatting your résumé the correct way is extremely important to the hiring process.

Using templates

As tempting as a super cute Canva or Word template is, do not give in! Most templates are formatted in a two-column style that doesn't scan well with applicant tracking systems (ATS). This means that your résumé could be thrown out before an actual human even takes a look at it. Instead, make your own one-column template that you can use over and over again.

Typos

This might sound like an obvious one, but it is so important to triple-check your résumé for spelling and grammar errors. Even one typo can get your résumé thrown in the trash. Employers tend to see typos as a liability later down the line. If you're not checking your résumé for misspellings, it signals to your employer that you'll make that mistake with important work as well.

More than one page

Résumés are recommended to be only one page in order to not overload your employer with unnecessary information. The average amount of time an employer spends reviewing a résumé is six to seven seconds. A résumé that is short and easy to read will allow your employer to focus less on trying to decipher your résumé and more on the skills you could bring to their team.

The most important thing to remember is that your résumé is a living document. This means that you can (and should) constantly be updating it. You should change your résumé for every application you submit.

Résumés are a hard skill to master, but once you understand the reasoning behind all the factors, it will all click and you'll have no trouble creating and editing your résumé. more
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Anonymous member


Career development 2d
Please i recently interviewed for a big firm , got to final stage interview and later received a rejection . i had previously looked up my interviewers ( 4 people ) on Linkedin and found them. is it a good idea to send them a connection request? i am really disappointed and pained as i had envisioned myself in the role already.
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  • Author

    1d

    Thank you all for your responses. I appreciate!

  • Author

    1d

    I mistakenly deleted a comment I wanted to reply to. How do I recover it? This platform is new to me 😩

    1
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Career development

 4d

How to stay motivated when job search takes longer than expected


Staying connected with people and protecting your mental health through rest, support, and balance can make the job search easier and more productive.

Looking for a job can take longer than planned. Many people expect quick results. But the process can stretch for months. This can feel stressful and tiring.

It is easy to lose hope when you send many applications and get no reply. But this phase... is common. Staying motivated is possible if you take the right steps and keep a clear mind.

Job hunting is not always fast. Many companies take weeks to respond. Some roles attract hundreds of applicants. This means delays are normal.

When you understand this, you reduce pressure on yourself. You stop blaming yourself for things you cannot control. This helps you stay calm and focused.

For example, a graduate in Kampala may apply to ten companies and hear back from only one after a month. This does not mean they are not qualified. It only shows the process is slow.

Big goals can feel heavy. Break them into smaller tasks. Focus on what you can do each day.

You can decide to apply for three jobs daily. Or spend one hour improving your CV. Small wins build confidence over time.

For instance, if you update your CV today and apply to two jobs tomorrow, you are making progress. This keeps your energy up and avoids burnout.

Use the waiting period to grow. Learn something new. This can make you more attractive to employers.

You can take free online courses. You can also learn practical skills like writing, communication, or basic tech skills. These are useful in many jobs.

For example, someone looking for a marketing role can learn social media management. This adds value and increases their chances of getting hired.

Remember to check out Careerhub.pulse.ug to find job and internship opportunities, and also be able get actionable information on career growth

Remember to check out Careerhub.pulse.ug to find job and internship opportunities, and also be able get actionable information on career growth

Do not isolate yourself. Talk to friends, mentors, and former colleagues. They can support you and share opportunities.

Networking is very powerful. Many jobs are filled through referrals. A simple conversation can lead to a job lead.

For example, attending a small event or joining a professional group in Kampala can help you meet people who know about job openings.

Job searching can affect your mood. It is important to rest and take breaks. Do things that make you happy.

You can exercise, watch a film, or spend time with family. This helps you relax and think clearly.

If you feel overwhelmed, talk to someone you trust. Keeping your mind healthy helps you stay motivated for longer. more
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  • CHERYL GLODOWSKI

    1
    8h

    I always looked at a job search as a full-time job. I would never send out one or two resumes a day, but a multitude of them. I would contact... companies I had interviewed with before, and also some I was interested in. I would apply to temp agencies. I would research courses I could take. I would always tailor my résumés to fit the job I wanted, and send with a cover letter. Don't let the grass grow under your feet. Keep on researching, looking, studying, and learning about companies. That job might not be available today, but possibly tomorrow. more

Career development

 3d

Student Interviews For A Job, But Before She Leaves, She Makes Sure The Person Who Interviewed Her Knows How Rude She Thinks He Was


Imagine interviewing for a job you don't necessarily care if you get or not. If the person interviewing you showed up late and seemed pretty rude, would you still be on your best behavior and try to make a good impression, or would you be completely honest about how you feel about their behavior?

In this story, one woman is in this exact situation, and she couldn't seem to stop herself from being... overly dramatic. Now, she's wondering if she really did go too far.

Let's read all about it.

Today, I (F25) assisted to a job interview that I wasn't actually looking for, but I was referred to the position because they needed someone with my abilities.

It's nothing fancy, just imparting classes in an institution that helps students to prepare for the evaluation that will allow them to enter the university.

I am still studying, but of course money and work experience always are welcomed, so I went and I was there at the agreed time.

The man supervising the test really bothered OP.

The man who was supposed to supervise the test for my admission arrived fifteen minutes late and made me wait for him ten minutes more without explanation, just rudely telling me (yelling at me since he was more than six feet apart from me) to wait for him downstairs.

He didn't even say good morning.

I was completely flabbergasted at his lack of manners, because while I understand he doesn't owe me anything, I value kindness and professionalism, and their absence makes me angry, I have to recognize it.

Also it felt like he was purposely humiliating me since he refused to walk up to me, and talked expecting me to come close to him, when he was the one arriving late and not even saying a proper greeting.

The interview actually seemed to go okay.

Well, resuming the story, while waiting for him I tried to calm down. I was literally about to leave the building and just not make the interview, but I didn't want to let my anger get the best of me.

So I patiently waited for him and didn't say anything bad, on the contrary, I tried to be agreeable enough that, despite his distant demeanor, he ended up smiling a couple times during our interactions.

At the end of the interview I had to complete a test about my knowledge so he left me alone in the room, and once I filled the form, I contacted him, but he was busy.

I was told to just leave the form in the room and leave, but I found that frankly awful and dehumanizing, so I decided to wait for him.

OP went a little over the top when it was time to leave.

Once he arrived, he tried to scold me for waiting for him, telling me that he had instructed for me to leave the form and leave.

So I said, slowly and smiling, that I believed that there were correct ways to do things, and one of them was if I was applying for a job, I had to at least give him the filled form in his hands and say goodbye.

He insisted in scolding me, but I said "no, this is totally voluntary, I was the one deciding to wait because I find it the right thing to do, since rituals, such as a goodbye, are the things that give meaning to our existence". And ceremoniously handed him the form.

I thanked him and walked to the door, and then I dramatically turned to him and said, still in a gentle voice, "by the way, greeting someone properly is also a way to give meaning to our existence", and I left...

OP knows that was cringe.

I swear to God sometimes I am just so cringe and extra, but for real, it poured out from my heart.

He said something I couldn't hear well, because I walked "confidently" away, but inside I was feeling mortified for doing something like that.

He could perfectly not submit my application, he could tear it apart if he wanted, but I am just so tired of playing dumb and as if respect didn't matter, basically selling myself and disrespecting what I think to be true just for a job.

OP is pretty sure this was the wrong way of handling the situation.

I am aware I am no one, I have no importance nor power, and yet something inside of me yells every day louder "I won't submit".

Again, I am aware of how dramatic I sound, and honestly I fear a little the pragmatic feedback, but I am totally surrendered to a better judgment than mine.

Sorry if this seems stupid, I am really troubled because of it right now. Should I control myself better? I shouldn't go around trying to teach lessons, right? 🙁

When you're interviewing, you do not correct the person interviewing you or try to put them in their place somehow. OP is definitely not getting that job.

Let's see how Reddit responded to this story.

Interviews work both ways.

Here's a warning for the future.

Here's another warning.

Another person thinks OP really messed up.

Her comments made the whole interview a waste of time.

If you liked that story, check out this post about an oblivious CEO who tells a web developer to "act his wage"... and it results in 30% of the workforce being laid off. more

  • CHERYL GLODOWSKI

    1
    8h

    Normally, I would have said you were in the wrong to say what you said. Not in this case. I am never an advocate for telling someone off who is... interviewing you; however, you did not do that. As someone who is retired now and spent most of my adult life in the workforce, I agree with you. This person was a jerk; however, you will never change someone like him. He thinks he is more important than he is. I think keeping your voice in a civilized, calm manner instead of yelling at him was definitely the way to go. You may or may not get the job. You will most likely get a better job, and in the future, maybe that person's job! more

  • Josephine Grey

    1
    1d

    Basic human dignity and respect is worth defending. Creeps like that get away with abusive behavior because no one checks them. Screw that

Anonymous member


Career development 5d

I have been unemployed for two years. I've been searcing for work the whole time and only got two interviews. Both interviews went badly. I have lost confidence in my self and skills. How can I best keep my mind sharp and improve job seeking results
4   

  • CHERYL GLODOWSKI

    8h

    Some great comments and ideas here! Keep yourself educated in your field. Take courses if you need to. Examine yourself and the interviews, and try... to understand why they went badly. There are interview courses you can take that will help as well. Always go in with a "can do" attitude, a smile, and knowledge about the company and position you are applying for. Be ready to discuss what you can bring to the job and company. I'm not sure what you are looking for, but if you have temp companies in your area, that is a great way to often get your foot in the door, and after a certain time, if you do well, will often get hired. Praying your next interview is for THEE job!
     more

  • NDABAMENYE Joseph

    1d

    Two years without stable work can affect confidence, even for capable people. The fact that you kept applying and still showed up for interviews says... you have persistence — and that matters more than most people realize.

    A practical way forward is to work on two things at the same time:

    rebuilding momentum and confidence
    improving the job search system itself

    Here’s a structure that usually helps people get unstuck:

    Keep your mind sharp

    Treat unemployment like a temporary training season, not “waiting time.”

    Spend 1–2 hours daily learning or practicing something connected to your field.
    Use free platforms like:
    Coursera
    LinkedIn Learning
    freeCodeCamp
    Google Career Certificates
    Read industry news or watch tutorials regularly.
    Build small projects, volunteer work, or freelance samples to keep skills active.

    Even one small completed project can help restore confidence.

    Improve interview performance

    Bad interviews usually improve with repetition and preparation.

    Try this:

    Write      more

    2
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Stuart Harper


Career development 6d
I had a job interview last Wednesday. The HR person said they’d call me back in a few days. I know a week is normal to wait, but how long does it usually take to hear back? If they didn’t call soon, does that mean it’s a no? Thanks
1   

  • CHERYL GLODOWSKI

    9h

    I know things may be different than when I was in the job market 15 years ago, however, I would never wait for a call back. I would do 2 things. ... One, I would always write a thank-you note to the person who interviewed me, thanking them for the interview and letting them know why I would be a great fit for the company. I would do that as soon as the interview was over and get it in the mail. If you haven't heard from whoever interviewed you within 4 or 5 days, I would make that call, and let them know you are very interested in working for XYZ corporation and why. I have been hired many times by taking those steps. Also, I would like to add that prior to the interview, learn about the company, the job, and I love to make a comment about something personal in the office (kids pix, a collection, etc). It goes a long way!! Always dress better than the job, and speak clearly and properly. If you come across as educated over others, it will also help. Just some "helpful hints".
     more

  • Robert Waiswa

    1d

    U could try to seek feedback using the mode of communication that was used to invite you for the interview. If it was by email, then send an email to... findout. If phone, then call back. more

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Anonymous member


Career development 1d

My boss recently reduced my salary. I'm totally very confused because their was no clear reason for doing that. Kindly advice me on the way forward.

  • CHERYL GLODOWSKI

    9h

    Did your boss give you a reason? It happened to me years ago. His reason? He was getting married, buying a new house, and his expenses were going... to increase. He said he needed the money. Well, so did I! I was a single mom, struggling to pay my bills. I ran the office, had built a great rapport with clients, and even came in suffering with a herniated disc in my back. My work was exemplary. I walked out and never returned. I suggest you do the same. It's not worth the financial and psychological impact it will make on you. I would rather make less money than let someone do that to me.
     more

  • Christine Rios

    13h

    Have a sit down with your boss talk then make a decision based on the outcome of that meeting

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Career development

 9h

Study finds women judged more harshly for using AI


Research comparing identical résumés submitted under male and female names found women face 22% higher scrutiny for AI assistance

Women are significantly penalised for using artificial intelligence to create job application materials, while men who use identical AI assistance receive forgiveness and understanding, according to research by Zehra Chatoo, a former Meta strategist and founder of the... think tank Code For Good Now.

Chatoo distributed identical AI-generated résumés under two candidate names: Emily Clarke and James Clarke. Reviewers said the identical names were AI-assisted. The results revealed a stark gender double standard.

Reviewers questioned Emily's trustworthiness 22% more often than James's. Her competence was doubted twice as frequently, with feedback suggesting she "can't even write a CV herself" and questioning whether she possessed job skills.

James was subjected to a completely different approach. "He just needed a bit of help putting it together," the reviewers reported.

This reveals an underlying bias in the workforce. "When men use AI, we question their effort. When women use AI, we question their integrity. That difference changes the perceived risk of using AI," Chatoo explained.

The generational gap was evident. Men from Generation Z, who have grown up around AI, viewed Emily's CV negatively 3.5 times more often than James's. James's identical CV earned a 97% approval rating, while Emily's got a 76% approval rating for the same content.

Harvard Business School Associate Professor Rembrand Koning documented a 25% adoption gap between men and women using AI for work. Women, concerned about perception and potential accusations of cheating, remain more risk-averse.

According to the Caltech survey conducted in January involving 3,000 respondents, women were significantly less confident that the advantages of AI would outweigh the disadvantages, and their belief that AI would help advance their careers was also weaker.

The findings have helped to determine one of the significant obstacles in bridging the AI adoption gap, as Chatoo mentioned, "If people believe they will be judged more harshly for using AI, they are less likely to adopt it, regardless of their capability. Closing the AI adoption gap means addressing not just how people use AI but how that use is evaluated." more

Career development

 10h

AI generated identical resumes for a man and a woman: Hers was more likely to be labeled 'weak,' while his got a 97% approval rating | Fortune


If you're using AI for professional work purposes and are wondering if you're being judged for it, it might depend on who you are.

A new study sought to determine whether women -- particularly young women -- would be treated more harshly than their male counterparts for using artificial intelligence in job applications. Zehra Chatoo, a former Meta strategist and the founder of thinktank Code For... Good Now, used AI to generate identical résumés with just one difference: One was for a candidate called Emily Clarke, another for James Clarke.

The résumés were distributed to two groups, who had been told the documents had been created with the help of artificial intelligence.

Reviewers of Emily's résumé were 22% more likely to question whether the individual could be trusted compared to James. The female candidate's CV was also twice as likely to raise doubts about her competence and ability to do her job.

"She can't even write a CV herself -- not sure she has the skills to carry out the job," read some of the feedback on Emily's CV. James's résumé had a different response, with his use of AI justified: "He just needed a bit of help putting it together," was one response.

"When men use AI, we question their effort. When women use AI, we question their integrity. That difference changes the perceived risk of using AI," Chatoo said.

The latest data point feeds into broader concerns about an AI gender gap. In a working paper published last year, Harvard Business School Associate Professor Rembrand Koning put the adoption rate between men and women at about 25%.

Koning identified the concern Chatoo's study exhibits, saying women are concerned about the perception of their work if they use or rely on AI. Koning, a Professor of Business Administration, explained: "Women face greater penalties in being judged as not having expertise in different fields. They might be worried that someone would think even though they got the answer right, they 'cheated' by using ChatGPT."

It's perhaps no surprise, then, that women are generally more risk-averse when it comes to AI, a trend also seen in behavior like investing. A January study from Caltech, which surveyed 3,000 people, found women were consistently more skeptical than men that AI benefits would outweigh its risks, and were less convinced that their professional lives would gain because of the technology.

Their concern may be justified: A Brookings Institute study this year found that of the roles with high AI exposure, but low capacity to adapt to the technological change, 86% were held by women.

A generational divide is also appearing in Chatoo's study, which surveyed 1,000 British adults: Gen Z men, who have grown up with AI, shared some of the harshest views about Emily's resume.

Of their responses, 3.5 times the number of Gen Z men described Emily's résumé as "weak" compared to James's, whose résumé had a 97% approval rating. By contrast, for the same resume content, Emily's CV was rated strong by 76% of respondents.

"If people believe they will be judged more harshly for using AI, they are less likely to adopt it -- regardless of their capability," Chatoo added. "Closing the AI adoption gap means addressing not just how people use AI, but how that use is evaluated." more

Career development

 19h

Unlocking Opportunities: Exploring the Concept of Occupation in Career Development


The concept of occupation is central to career development and personal growth. It encompasses more than just the job title or the tasks performed; it involves the skills, values, interests, and personal attributes that shape professional identity. Understanding this concept is crucial for individuals seeking to navigate career changes, enhance job satisfaction, or maximize earning... potential.

Understanding the Concept of Occupation

The concept of occupation extends beyond conventional job classifications. It merges elements of personal fulfillment with professional engagement, ensuring alignment between an individual's career path and their broader life goals. Individuals often explore occupations that not only meet their financial needs but also resonate with their lifestyle choices and personal values.

Exploration of occupations can involve identifying underlying interests and strengths, which may guide educational pursuits and skill development. This alignment is often critical to achieving career satisfaction and long-term success.

Key Dimensions of Occupations

When discussing occupations, several key dimensions emerge:

* Job Function: The specific tasks and responsibilities associated with a job.

* Industry: The sector within which the job operates, shaping its culture and context.

* Personal Values: The significance placed on work-life balance, ethical considerations, and meaningful contributions.

* Skills and Competencies: Both hard and soft skills essential for career advancement.

These dimensions serve as a framework for understanding and pursuing career opportunities that align with personal aspirations and growth.

Factors Influencing Occupational Choices

Several factors influence an individual's occupational choices, including economic trends, education and training opportunities, and personal experiences. Continuous learning and adaptability are increasingly critical as the job market evolves in response to technological advances and globalization.

For individuals seeking to change career paths, understanding the multifaceted concept of occupation helps in making informed decisions. Tailored career strategies that incorporate market trends and personal priorities can effectively support such transitions.

Strategies for Career Development

To thrive in a chosen occupation, individuals must engage in proactive career development and planning. This involves:

* Continuous Learning: Keeping skills relevant through advanced education and professional training courses.

* Networking: Building relationships within one's industry to discover new opportunities and foster professional growth.

* Goal Setting: Establishing short-term and long-term career goals that are realistic and aligned with personal passions.

By investing time in these strategies, individuals can enhance self-awareness and career satisfaction.

The Role of Education in Shaping Occupations

Education plays a pivotal role in the development of occupations. It not only provides knowledge but also instills the critical thinking skills necessary for problem-solving and innovation. Formal education, coupled with practical experience, often determines career trajectories and job success.

For those considering a career change later in life, opportunities exist to start afresh and explore new avenues, leveraging education to transition smoothly into different occupational fields.

Adapting to Change in Occupational Landscapes

As technological advancements continuously reshape occupational landscapes, flexibility in learning and career adaptability become imperative. People are encouraged to develop digital literacy and other tech-related competencies as these skills increasingly influence hiring decisions.

Personal development activities, such as attending workshops and conferences, also contribute to staying updated with industry changes. For more information on educational strategies influencing occupations, you might want to explore insights at Education on Wikipedia.

Conclusion: Navigating the Concept of Occupation

In conclusion, the concept occupation is a dynamic framework encompassing various factors such as skills, industry demands, and personal growth. Understanding this concept is instrumental for individuals aiming to align their careers with personal values and life goals. By adopting strategic approaches, focusing on continuous learning, and remaining adaptable, individuals can successfully navigate the complex and evolving career landscapes.

* The concept of occupation integrates job functions, skills, and personal values.

* Understanding occupational dimensions aids in career satisfaction.

* Education and continuous learning are vital for career advancement.

* Adaptability is essential in modern occupational landscapes.

* Strategic planning supports thriving in any chosen occupation.

FAQ

What is the concept of occupation?

The concept of occupation encompasses the roles, tasks, and responsibilities that define one's professional identity, integrating personal values and skills to achieve career satisfaction.

How does education impact occupational choices?

Education provides the foundational knowledge and skills needed for various occupations and is critical in shaping career paths and adapting to market changes.

Why is adaptability important in occupations?

Adaptability allows individuals to remain competitive and navigate changes in technology and industry trends, ensuring long-term career success.

What factors influence occupational decisions?

Decisions are often influenced by economic conditions, personal values, education, and the evolving nature of work environments.

How can individuals enhance career development?

By engaging in continuous learning, networking, and strategic goal setting, individuals can align their careers with personal aspirations and market needs. more

Career development

 1d

Propaganda and the persuadable voter: Facebook's Pixel ad tech in New Zealand


Henry Cooke, writing in The Post on 4 May noted that "The National Party has spent just a few hundred dollars promoting Christopher Luxon videos on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube this year - but thousands on Nicola Willis. But the party is adamant that this doesn't represent any kind of drop off in promoting Luxon, and say he has featured heavily in campaign advertising on other platforms -... including kicking off a Meta campaign in October." Relatedly, Bryce Edwards has published on Twitter an interesting analysis of the annual donation returns filed by all the political parties over 2025, with National clearly in the lead, and by a very large margin.

These are important developments the closer we get to New Zealand's general election in November.

I extensively studied, but didn't openly publish about dark campaigns during the last general election, in 2023, facilitated by Facebook's Pixel ad tech, and related technologies allowing for, inter alia, extremely detailed demographic inclusion, and exclusion through micro-targeting. The differences between party campaign strategies at the time were very interesting, and in 2026 have evolved further.

As the first capture of what I will do more of this year, studied political ads on Facebook over the 30 days (4 April to 3 May) posted by the Labour Party, and National based on detailed targeting metrics[1], available through Meta's Ads Library. Detailed ad targeting wasn't used by ACT, New Zealand First or the Green Party over the same period.

Overall, National used broader and more layered detailed targeting than Labour. National had 44 detailed targeting entries across Interests, Demographics, and Behaviours; Labour had 27 entries, all under Interests.

Labour leans into issue and affordability. Its strongest cluster, accounting for over 80% of spend across four ads, sits squarely on Renting, Bargain Hunters, and Discounts and allowances - the language of household budgets under pressure. A second cluster at 68% across two ads turns to progressive and social-issue signals: Ethical consumerism, Sustainable fashion, Palestine, Renewable energy, Social movement, Social change, Gender, Culture. Smaller clusters across two ads pick up youth, work, and lifestyle markers - Punk rock, Shift work, Part-time, Entry-level job, Job hunting - alongside local, property, and wellness interests. Renters, bargain hunters, the politically engaged left, and precariously employed younger voters. That is the imagined coalition for the main opposition.

National's pattern is broader, and considerably more media, and lifestyle oriented. Its entire spend, and ad set attaches to a single 100% cluster of 20 ads spanning Current events, Podcast, Fishing, Sports TV Channels, Sports radio, Talk radio, Politics, Politics and social issues, News media, Hunting, Local news, Sports, Physical exercise, and Camping. Layered on top, a 75% cluster across 12 ads reaches into green and social-consumer territory - Ethical consumerism, Community issues, Social movement, Sustainability, Veganism, Fair trade, Climate, Small business owners. A further 25% cluster across 8 ads concentrates on housing, construction, property, and investment - Real estate investing, Investment, Government, Construction, House, First-time buyer, Starter home, Real estate development, Apartment, and adjacent categories. National's sustainability framing is broader and noticeably more commercial; its housing targeting reaches investors, developers, and first-time buyers. Labour's sustainability sits inside a progressive-issue bundle, and its housing-adjacent targeting speaks to renters and people priced out.

Each party is telling Meta, in the act of paying it, who it thinks is worth persuading, and on what terms. For any student of electoral integrity in New Zealand, the targeting taxonomy matters at least as much as the ad copy. Who you choose to reach is itself a political claim.

Meta's Detailed targeting fields (in italics below) can be read as each party constructing its imagined voter, less as a formal electorate than as a social type.

Labour is reaching for renters and cost-of-living sensitive voters - Renting, Bargain Hunters, Discounts and allowances. It pursues younger and precarious workers through Shift work, Part-time, Entry-level job, Temporary work, and Job hunting. It signals progressive and social-issue voters via Palestine, Social movement, Social change, Gender, Renewable energy, and Ethical consumerism. It then picks up cultural and lifestyle niches on the left - Punk rock, Hardcore punk, Pop punk, Rock music - alongside local and community-oriented voters through Local food, Local government, Health & wellness, and Well-being. Class pressure, generational precarity, progressive-issue commitment, a community and wellness register. Reasonably coherent, if you squint.

National is reaching wider, and along more axes. It targets politics and news audiences - Current events, Politics, Politics and social issues, News media, Local news, Talk radio, Podcast. It speaks to outdoors and sporting identities through Fishing, Hunting, Camping, Sports, Sports TV Channels, Sports radio, and Physical exercise. It courts environmentally and socially concerned voters via Ethical consumerism, Community issues, Social movement, Sustainability, Climate, Fair trade, and Veganism. It pursues a substantial business, property, and economic constituency through Small business owners, Investment, Construction, Real estate investing, Real estate development, Building, House, First-time buyer, Starter home, and Apartment. Parents and working families appear via Parent and Working parent. Mobile and affluent segments come in through Frequent Travelers, Frequent international travellers, and Luxury goods.

The exact overlaps are narrow: Ethical consumerism, Social movement, and Real estate investing. The thematic overlaps are wider, but the parties are pulling on them from opposite directions. Both touch environmental and social concern, and both touch housing - yet the orientation differs sharply. Labour's housing comes through renters and affordability pressure. National's comes through property, construction, investment, home-buying, and development.

The strategic contrast is revealing. Labour's targeting runs narrower and more class, cost-of-living, and progressive coded. National's runs broader - politically attentive media consumers, outdoors and sporting identities, green and social concern, and a sizeable property and business bloc. Both parties touch the same themes in places, but they are contesting that overlap from different starting points, and almost certainly for different voters within it.

In effect, these are two very different New Zealands: defined by, carved up, valued, and presented to entities like political parties by Facebook.

As part of a broader study on the cancerous role of how naturalised billionaires in New Zealand's impact electoral integrity, campaign strategies, and financing structures, in early March 2025 I studied every ad run by the Centrist media platform on Facebook since its inception. The Centrist is entirely funded by the Canadian born billionaire, Jim Grenon[2].

Centrist ad activity over just the past month is essentially a thinly-veiled political persuasion, and engagement campaign that continues what was studied last year - though now somewhat more refined, and now operating across a wider grievance perimeter. What it is emphatically not is journalism, in any meaningful sense. Ads for posts published on the account boost a recurring worldview: institutions are failing or hiding things; Labour/Ardern-era actors and mainstream media deserve scrutiny; co-governance and Treaty-related policy threaten democratic accountability; immigration/India FTA and public-service decisions require suspicion; and ordinary New Zealanders should "have their say". The most boosted ads are not only article promotions but poll/quiz engagement hooks, suggesting audience-building is central to the strategy.

The period saw 134 ads: five of which were active at the moment of capture, and 129 inactive. Disclosed spend ran between roughly $4.5K and $17.4K, with impressions between 891,000 and 1,120,000. The shape mirrors what I saw last year. Many low-spend posts inciting and sustaining engagement with the existing audience, plus a handful of heavily boosted ones reaching for new ones.

Who Centrist is paying to reach is a politically engaged voter already primed for institutional distrust - sceptical of Labour and the Ardern-era governance memory, anti-co-governance, alert to free speech and media-regulation overreach, attentive to ratepayer and taxpayer pressure, and increasingly drawn into migration and India FTA framings. The engagement-acquisition tactics flagged in March 2025 have not gone away. Polls, quizzes, "Have your say" prompts and $100 Prezzy Card incentives continue, signalling list-building and re-targetable audience growth alongside issue persuasion.

The issue mix is wider than last year. Party and coalition politics dominates, with around 73 ads in the window touching Labour, National, NZ First, the Greens, and coalition tensions involving Peters, Hipkins, Luxon, and Ardern. Treaty, co-governance, and Māori representation accounts for roughly 23 ads, framing iwi appointment, Māori seats, Te Tiriti weighting, Far North council representation, and hīkoi or carkōi mobilisation as democratic-accountability questions. Economy, infrastructure, and household-cost content runs another 23 ads, covering water costs, ratepayers, fuel prices, superannuation, speed cameras, and youth unemployment. A further 23 are poll or quiz formats, some of them among the highest-boosted ads in the set. Security, foreign policy, and geopolitical risk picks up around 20 ads, free speech and law and policing 18, health and science scepticism 16, and media regulation and journalism trust 14.

Ad spend repeats the March 2025 patterns. The largest single spend was an Ardern-Australia poll ad in the $1K-$1.5K range, returning 90K-100K impressions. A "Will National rule out Labour?" item drew 80K-90K impressions on only $100- $199. Graduate-unemployment content reached 60K-70K. TVNZ impartiality criticism sat in the 40K-45K range. A Peters-Rubio-Iran ceasefire poll cleared 30K-35K on $400-$499. India FTA and media-accountability polls each reached 25K-30K on $300-$399.

The register is sceptical and grievance-driven, with accountability talk doing the moral cover. Alarm - "sparking warnings", "overreach", "risks", "supply risks". Suspicion - "questions over transparency", "claims ministers were unaware", "media staying silent". Indignation - "double standards", "unelected appointees", "do voters deserve answers?" The hard-edged claim then arrives wrapped in participatory softening - "share your thoughts", "quick poll", "decide for yourself". The aim of this content is to make the follower feel as if they are weighing in, not being worked on. It is quite insidious, and extremely strategic.

The visual grammar of each of the images used in the ad creatives is highly templated. Current or past politician portraits - Ardern, Luxon, Peters, Hipkins, Shane Jones - pair with critical captions. Institutional imagery, including Parliament, council settings, Treaty parchment, and official-looking documents frame legal and regulatory pieces. Warning iconography sits behind cost-of-living, and supply-chain stories; protest, and hīkoi imagery behind co-governance content. These are essentially political posters that subliminally, if not openly nudge readers/followers toward rejection, antipathy, scepticism or concern before they have read a sentence of the article the ad is linked to, and promotes.

A Marketplace article by Kimberly Adams from late 2023 warned that US campaigns now held dossiers with hundreds or thousands of data points per voter, that AI tools were about to compress the ad-generation cycle, and that microtargeting would mean even friends no longer share an information environment. 2 ½ years later, the question for New Zealand is just how much of it already runs in the open six months out from November, and how much of the rest comes online as polling tightens.

Registered political parties, and hyper-partisan media networks that are forward-presenting as journalism platform are pursuing different theories of the persuadable voter. Meta's powerful ad tech, and resulting targeting fields make those theories somewhat visible, but without meaningful ways to stop the threat to electoral integrity arising from micro-targeting.

Generative AI now sits inside every step of the campaign pipeline. On the targeting side, models can ingest electoral roll fragments, commercial broker data, platform analytics, and engagement histories from the kind of list-building operation Centrist NZ has been running, and produce probabilistic profiles richer than anything Meta's targeting fields expose - religiosity, household composition, fertility intentions, mental-health vulnerabilities, partisan persuadability, and the specific affective triggers most likely to move a given voter on a given issue. This data isn't necessarily declarative, and can be inferred.

Both inclusion, and exclusion metrics can now be automated. Facebook 'lookalike' models extend a campaign's reach into voters demographically adjacent to existing supporters. Suppression models can identify which weak-tie opposition voters are cheapest to demobilise rather than persuade, with stay-home messaging tuned to their grievances.

On the production side, the same models that compress the ad iteration cycle erase cost barriers that once limited the creation of bespoke creative at scale. With AI, image generation produces issue-poster variants by the thousand, video models render politician likenesses speaking tailored copy in te reo Māori, English, Mandarin, Hindi, Tagalog, or Samoan. Language models write the headline, the body, the caption, the call to action, and the rebuttal to the most likely counter-argument simultaneously. Each version can be A/B-tested against micro-segments.

The political, and perceptional asymmetries this combination produces are deliberate, not incidental, and have significant offline implications. A small hyper-partisan operation with a modest budget, and a competent prompt engineer can now generate the volume, velocity, vehemence, and variation that previously required a major party's human, and financial resources. What underlines my own engagement in this area is that it's likely that New Zealand finds out how much of this capability has already been quietly operational, and how little of it the existing transparency infrastructure was ever designed to capture only after the general election concludes this year.

That's a cause for worry.

If policy responses are unthinkable given the incumbents in power, then at the very least, it's a strong case for investigative journalism to interrogate the inner-workings of platform dynamics, algorithmic amplification, and ad tech's role in New Zealand's electoral integrity.

[1] Meta builds its detailed targeting profiles from a combination of signals: ads you've clicked, pages you engage with, device type, network speed, travel habits, and basic demographics like age, gender, and location. When Meta reports how ad spend maps to targeting criteria, the percentages reflect the proportion of total spend that reached each audience segment across all campaigns. If one ad targets electric vehicle enthusiasts and sustainability advocates at $100, and a second targets only sustainability advocates at $100, the combined report shows sustainability at 100% of spend (both ads reached that audience) but electric vehicles at just 50% (only one ad did). The numbers shift not because targeting changed, but because the denominator - i.e., total spend - grew. more

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This Mother's Day, we reached out to a select group of leaders and changemakers across the industry to celebrate the woman who shaped them first. We asked them to move beyond résumés and milestones and share one indelible lesson from their mother -- or a mother figure -- that continues to guide them in work, life, and the way they lead. In this special feature, Kanwalpreet Kaur, Executive Producer... at Boot Polissh Films, offers an intimate glimpse into the quiet wisdom and strength that shaped her. Read on.

My mother is my fiercest advocate. Neither of my parents raised me to fit a traditional domestic mold; I was never taught that a woman's worth should be measured by her "homely" skills or her ability to run a household. Instead, my mother encouraged me to be bold, independent, and unapologetically myself.

She is the ultimate testament to the fact that it is never too late to begin again. After twenty years as a housewife, she reinvented herself as a revered dietician. Because my father was a shippie and spent months at sea, she bore the immense labor of raising two children entirely on her own, all while finding the energy to fight for consumer rights. Her journey is living proof that with enough heart, any obstacle can be dismantled.

Perhaps her greatest gift to me, however, is the virtue of patience. Watching her navigate life's hurdles with grace and kindness taught me that patience isn't passive -- it's the ability to stay calm and poised through anything life hits you with.

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Growing up, I often saw my mother as someone who made everything effortlessly fall into place. What I didn't fully understand then was the depth of thought, planning, and emotional intelligence that went into it. To me, she wasn't just managing a home -- she was seamlessly integrating multiple responsibilities with quiet strength and intention.

That's a lesson that has stayed with me: keeping everything together isn't about perfection, but about balance, presence, and preparation.

Over time, I've realized that the skills I witnessed at home translate directly into how I lead today. Whether it's navigating challenging conversations, managing resources effectively, or knowing when to focus on the details versus the bigger picture, these are all reflections of what I learned from her.

Her ability to hold everything together with grace has deeply influenced how I approach both leadership and life. more

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One of the biggest lessons I've learnt from my mother is the importance of being adaptable and resourceful. She taught me that being too rigid in life can stop you from growing. You can stay rooted in your values and principles, but still learn to adjust, evolve, and move with life. She has always been incredibly dynamic in the way she handles situations and people.

She is a homemaker and has this remarkable ability to figure things out, make things work, and hold everything together with strength. Honestly, she has always been my first "Google." What I've learnt from her is that you don't need a title, a boardroom, or a position of authority to be truly influential. Some of the most powerful lessons in leadership come from the way you live.

To my Mother -- Maa, you are the rock that keeps me grounded and the wind beneath my wings when I need courage to fly. You've taught me empathy, respect, resilience, and the importance of family, values that shape every part of who I am today. Thank you for showing me that strength can be both gentle and unwavering at the same time. more

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My mother is one of the most loving and caring individuals I have ever known, and the lessons she has given me are far more valuable than anything I could have learned from a textbook. One of the earliest and most enduring gifts she gave me was the power of patience -- the ability to pause, breathe, and understand that everything and everyone has its own pace and season. That single lesson has shaped the way I move through both life and work.

She also taught me empathy in the truest sense -- to meet people where they are, without judgment, regardless of where they stand in life. That perspective has been a quiet but powerful force in my professional journey. In business, where we work with all kinds of vendors and clients, approaching every relationship with empathy and humility has helped us build partnerships that go far beyond transactions. People remember how you make them feel, and my mother knew that long before it became a business philosophy.

Perhaps the lesson closest to my heart is the one she lived every single day -- the dignity and strength of a woman who runs the entire household, often without recognition or applause. She taught me to see that contribution, to respect it deeply, and to show up as a partner in the home.

She believed that small acts of help build the strongest foundations -- and she was absolutely right. This Mother's Day, I celebrate her not just for what she taught me, but for who she is -- a woman whose quiet influence continues to guide every step I take. more

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MiQ's Namrata Aswani on her mother's wisdom


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Mother's Day is not just a day - it is a lifetime. A lifetime of unconditional love, utmost care and affection, constant support and guidance that doesn't end when you grow up but gets stronger with each passing day. It is a blessing to have my mom stand by me throughout.

My mom is the epitome of kindness. She has always led by example with grace, and I keep learning from her each day: "Be kind. Keep doing your best; your deeds will always pay off."

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The greatest values I learnt from my mother are integrity and a never-say-die attitude. She taught me that integrity is not just about honesty when things are easy, but about standing by what is right even during difficult situations.

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Lemma's Merlin Coutinho on her mother's wisdom


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My mum has inspired me in countless ways. Though she's been a homemaker, she has always taught me to lead with confidence, be fearless, and believe that the world is just as much run by women. She's been my biggest cheerleader through every milestone, big or small.

The greatest lesson I carry with me is to be independent, trust my own decisions, and stay confident in the choices I make -- lessons that have shaped who I am today and continue to help me grow and stay strong in my leadership role.

A short message to my mom - Dear Mom you've been my support system always. I am blessed to be raised by you and am ever grateful for everything that you've done and continue to do. more