Best of friends! Mini-me Verne Troyer cuddles up to a tiny lion cub who almost matches his own height

Best of friends! Mini-me Verne Troyer cuddles up to a tiny lion cub who almost matches his own height - Mini-me Verne Troyer made a new friend over the weekend when he visited an animal sanctuary in South Africa.

The 43-year-old Austin Powers star cuddled up to a tiny lion cub who almost matched his own height.

The diminutive movie star shared the image on Instagram, showing himself getting to grips with an adorable wild animal.

Same size as Mini-me! Verne Troyer posted this image of himself with a lion cub in South Africa on Instagram

The star – who played Mini-me in the hit movies starring Michael Myers - grinned as he posed for the snap, holding the large cat up and stretching its body out.

Dressed casually in khaki trousers and a T-shirt with trainers on his feet, behind him another growler peacefully slept.

Showing off the brilliant photograph, the fearless screen star joked that he had tried to take the zoo animal home to America with him.

He captioned the picture: ‘Tried to adopt a pet in S.Africa, apparently this isn't included in @delta's carry-on policy.’

Getting fruity: Troyer posted a snap of himself with a oversized lemon on Twitter just days before

Just days ago, Troyer compared his head to that of a large lemon.

Verne - who aptly stars in the upcoming Keith Lemon: The Film – posted a snap of the oversized squeezy fruit and wrote: ‘Either that's a big lemon or I have a small head!'

Verne is featuring in the film, which is a spinoff of Leigh Francis' popular Bo' Selecta! character, along with glamour model Kelly Brook

Little big screen star: He stars with Leigh Francis and and Kelly Brook in Keith Lemon the Film ( Dailymail.co.uk )

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Ever Asked a Strange Interview Question?

Three Types of Oddball Job Interview Questions - Ever Asked a Strange Interview Question? - Ever go on an interview only to be asked who would play you in a movie or if you were an animal, which one you'd be? While these oddball job interview questions may have you scratching your head, there's actually a method to the madness.

"Interviewers are trying to get behind the facade and learn who the person really is," says Pamela Skillings, co-founder of New York-based job coaching firm Skillful Communications. "Can this person think on his or her feet?"

There is no right answer to outlandish job interview questions, but career experts say you make more of an impression if your answer is unique. "Everyone says 'I would be a lion because I'm so fierce,' but to be memorable, you've got to come up with something other people haven't said," Skillings says.

That doesn't mean you should make something up. After all, you want the interviewer to see the real you. "If you're not a good fit, you don't want to get the position," says Chuck Fried, president and chief executive of TxMQ Inc., a technology staffing company based in Buffalo, N.Y.

With that in mind, here's a look at three categories oddball job interview questions fall into.

Personality Questions Gauge Creativity

Asking what superhero powers you would want to possess seems strange, but that type of inquiry, known as the personality question, is a regular occurrence on job interviews. "Just as common as what are your strengths and weaknesses is 'What do you think of garden gnomes?'" says Samantha Zupan, a spokeswoman at Sausalito, Calif.-based career community Glassdoor.

The personality questions achieve two things: They put you at ease and gauge your creativity, Zupan says. "They want to see the way you think," she says. "If you say something completely off the wall, that is the reason for it."

Take the garden gnome question, which Zupan says was asked of a person interviewing for a job at Monrovia, Calif.-based grocery store operator Trader Joe's. It's an example of the interviewer trying to determine if the person would fit in with a company that prides itself on its quirkiness.

So how should you handle the personality question? According to Zupan, you want to answer honestly, but give some thought to your answer. If you are looking to land a job on a children's television show, it may not be the ideal time to say you're an avid fan of slasher films.

Logic Questions Probe Problem Solving

Commonly used at financial companies, consulting firms, technology businesses and engineering practices, the logic job interview question is designed to test just that -- your logic. Since many of those types of companies are looking for people who are analytical, problem-solving questions come in handy, Skillings says.

"They want to hear how you think and walk through a process," Skillings says. One example of a logic question is, "How many gas stations are in the U.S.?" Chances are you won't know the answer, but the way you try to come up with the answer is more telling.

"It's more about the thinking process," Skillings says.

Zupan at Glassdoor offers another example of a question asked of a person interviewing with financial giant Goldman Sachs -- if you were shrunk to the size of a pencil and put in a blender, how would you get out?

With that one, the interviewer was interested in seeing how the prospect would handle the question, Zupan says. For instance, a good follow-up question would be, "Is the blender on?"

"With tech companies and business consulting companies, there's a higher percentage of those how-to-solve-a-problem questions," she says.

Are You Resourceful?

If you're asked on an interview how you would survive on a desert island for 30 days or what you would do if you inherited a pizzeria, chances are the potential employer is trying to gauge how you handle being thrown a curveball.

"Is this person resourceful? Can you think of a plan B if plan A is not available?" Skillings says. That's what employers are looking for when asking hypothetical questions, she says.

Sometimes, these job interview questions will be more straightforward, related to the job for which you are interviewing. For instance, an interviewer may ask you how you would handle an increased workload if a co-worker left or what you would do to appease an irate client.

"Employers want to hire bright, sharp people, and one attribute in regard to sharp people is they are usually quick on their feet," says Fried of TxMQ. "They will ask some slippery questions to see if it's hard to knock them off balance."

Handling Oddball Questions

These wacky job interview questions are a small portion of the overall interview process, but they do carry clout, especially in a tight job market. "The problem is, right now it's so competitive that it often comes down to the very small things in terms of deciding who is the best candidate," Skillings says.

Career experts say the best way to handle these questions is to relax and pause before answering. You don't want to give the first answer that comes to mind, but one that is well thought out. Zupan at Glassdoor says it's all right to ask for more information about the question. She says a tactful approach is to say, "That's a really interesting question. Can you tell me a little bit as to why you are asking it?"

Remember, the interview is a two-way street. It's as much to see if you want the job as it is to see if you're the right fit for the company. "If you are getting put off by the oddball questions for whatever reason, that's a good indicator" the job may not be for you, says Fried. ( Bankrate.com )

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Seven IT jobs employers need to fill

Seven IT jobs employers need to fill - With nearly 14 million unemployed workers and about five applicants for every job opening in the U.S., job seekers can't help but feel they're in an employer's market. While the job market is definitely competitive, one industry continues to be the exception to the rule.

You might be surprised to learn that despite the high unemployment rate, many employers are still finding it difficult to recruit skilled workers. According to CareerBuilder's 2011 midyear hiring forecast, 50 percent of employers reported concerns about the shortage of skills at their organizations, up from 48 percent who reported the same in 2010.

The functional area where employers continuously see the largest skills gap is information technology, which is a testament to the field's rapid growth as well as the shortage of workers qualified for these highly specialized positions.

For those who do have the right skills set, though, information technology can provide great career opportunities. Looking at the following data from CareerBuilder's Supply & Demand portal, you can see the IT positions that employers have the most difficulty filling. The portal allows employers to identify which markets have the most relevant job seekers for their industries and where the most competitive markets are.

Here's a look at seven IT jobs that employers need to fill now, starting with the most in-demand positions.

1. Cloud developer:

Like database administrators, the need for cloud developers stems from companies increasing their digital data output.

Active job seekers per opening: 0.29 (meaning there are approximately four jobs for every one active job seeker)*

2. IT workers with security clearance:

On top of the already specialized skillset required for IT workers, those who work on government projects surrounding classified or restricted information must also have federal security clearance. Because it costs government employers time and money to get security clearance for an employee, workers who are already cleared (i.e. military veterans) when they apply for government jobs will be attractive candidates.

Active job seekers per opening: 0.42

3. Infrastructure engineer:

Infrastructure engineers build and operate the technical framework of a company based around its business needs. They design and implement hardware, software, databases and computer networks. As companies continue to rely more heavily on technology, they'll increase reliance on the people who can build it.

Active job seekers per opening: 0.5

4. Database developer:

According to InformationWeek's 2011 "State of Storage" survey, the amount of data companies produce grows by about 20 percent each year, with larger companies seeing annual data growth of up to 50 percent. More data means higher demand for those who know how to build, maintain and back up database systems.

Active job seekers per opening: 0.6

5. Software engineer:

Good software developers are among the most sought-after workers in IT. Companies are willing to shell out for employees who know what they're doing, too. In the past year the average annual salary for software engineers has increased by 6 percent nationwide.

Active job seekers per opening: 0.89

6. Web designer/SEO optimizer:

Most consumers will only scroll through a page or two of search results when looking for a product or service on the Internet, so if a company doesn't appear at the top of the list, it can miss out on potential customers. Web designers who can create sites that are both consumer and search engine friendly will be most desirable to employers.

Active job seekers per opening: 0.97

7. C++ and Linux developer:

This technology serves as the basis for mobile applications, so as mobile adoption continues to surge, workers with C++ and Linux skills will be in high demand.

Active job seekers per opening: 1.35 ( msn.com )

READ MORE - Seven IT jobs employers need to fill

12 Traits of a great boss

12 Traits of a great boss - For many people, a cardinal sin is thinking they're perfect. Job seekers think they're not making any job-search mistakes. Employees "always" do the best they can. And bosses are always great.

Right.

Unfortunately, in real life, nobody's perfect -- not even you, Mr. Boss Man. In fact, many bosses assume they're doing a good job at managing their employees when the opposite is the reality.

"Such situations occur frequently, quite simply because the boss does not have accurate feedback," says Sandra Naiman, author of "The High Achiever's Secret Codebook: The Unwritten Rules for Success at Work." "Often, employees don't tell him or her what they really think."

In reality, being a good boss isn't as easy as it sounds. Just because you're the boss doesn't mean that you can tell people what to do and they'll do it, Naiman says. And even if they do, that doesn't make you a good boss.

"The role is really one of supporting and motivating people to do a good job. This means you have to understand what motivates people, be constantly available to them, be a role model and adjust your style to suit each individual direct report," she says.

Here are 12 things that good bosses do, according to Naiman and Vicki Salemi, author of "Big Career in the Big City."

1. Ask employees how you can best support them in doing their job. "This ensures that you are doing your best job to help your employees do theirs," Naiman says.


2. Make sure that employees have all the information, resources and support they need to do their job. "It also demonstrates that you see yourself as [being] there to support them," Naiman adds.


3. Give continuous feedback, both positive and constructive. "This helps the employee develop [professionally] and avoids surprises during performance reviews," Naiman says.


4. Provide opportunities for professional growth. "This lets employees know that you are in their corner," Naiman says.


5. Don't let employees know of your own job concerns or challenges or problems in your personal life. "This prevents employees from feeling that they have to take care of their boss," Naiman says. "A good boss is perceived as competent and there to support his or her employees."


6. Create trust. "A good boss is a trusted boss. So, keep promises, follow through on commitments [and] never betray a confidence or talk about others in the organization, except in a favorable way," Naiman says.


7. Show compassion. "Treat employees like they're people. Not employees, but people. If one of your direct reports had a death in the family or even a bad day, be human and compassionate," Salemi says.


8. Listen. "One of the best traits of a boss is someone who not only goes to the wall for their employees but who also listens to them," Salemi says. "Sometimes team members just need to vent and get things off their chest. A good boss will listen."


9. Give frequent feedback. "Instead of waiting until an annual performance review to give feedback -- good or bad -- a sign of an excellent boss is proactive behavior," Salemi says. "A fantastic boss will get the most out of his or her employees. Giving positive feedback and acknowledging a job well-done often results in more good work."


10. Understand your employees' jobs. When you don't completely understand what your employees do or how they do it, it's more difficult to help them navigate their job if they need more resources, Salemi says. "Plus, a good boss should go to bat for his or her employees. If they don't understand the magnitude of their direct reports' job responsibilities, this may be harder to do or convince the higher-ups of their worth."


11. Live and breathe by the company rules. If you show up late, take long lunches or are not available at certain periods throughout the day, people notice, Salemi says. "Rules aren't just for direct reports to abide by. A good boss will know that their behavior is to be emulated," she says. "If the rules don't apply to them, who should they apply to? A true leader takes this very seriously."


12. Acknowledge your employees' work. "Recognize their performance. Even as employees go through a busy season or may be inundated with job sharing in this economy, a good manager will keep them motivated by putting wind in their sails and, more importantly, keep turnover low," Salemi says. "If you have a good boss, you're golden, you won't want to leave. When you know your boss is on your side, it makes a difference in your productivity, morale and overall workplace happiness." ( msn.com )

READ MORE - 12 Traits of a great boss

Ten jobs for people who love to talk

Ten jobs for people who love to talk - If you're a talker, picking a job where you spend your days quietly behind a computer can make you absolutely miserable. Just imagine Kelly Ripa or Katie Couric crunching numbers in a cubicle.

Talkers don't need to be constantly engaged in conversation. However, having a social aspect to their roles will make them more successful, because it taps into their natural talents. Choosing the right job is key, and it's important to understand the social attributes of a position before you start. If you love to talk, here are 10 fields to consider:

Marketing

Whether you're an account executive or work for a marketing agency, your people skills are often on display. Most marketers need to convey a convincing pitch -- whether within the company or to outside vendors -- and use their talking skills to cement existing relationships and build new ones.


News anchor or reporter

Great speaking skills are a large part of news anchors' and reporters' jobs, because they need to be able to relate to their audience. Those eager to gather and disseminate the news via television, radio, websites or newspapers can build careers by being successful speakers.


Sales

It's well-known that those in sales love to talk. There's a reason for that: Salespeople must develop trusting relationships with customers before going in for the pitch and getting them to make purchases. Even after a sale, staying upbeat is a huge part of the job, so nontalkers need not apply.


Teaching

No matter how old your students are, your speaking skills are crucial to being a successful mentor and inspiring your students. Teachers are some of the best communicators around and spend a large part of their job talking for the benefit of the class.


Fitness instructor

Pilates instructors, yoga teachers and personal trainers must communicate with their clients. Motivating them through speech is important, so fitness instructors of any kind must have stellar speaking skills. For clients, an upbeat voice is key and helps get them through all those torturous push-ups.


Publicist

Most public relations executives need to spend a great deal of time communicating their clients' messages to media. Pitching journalists is a large part of the job, which is perfect for talkers.


Social worker

Understanding the problems of others and helping them cope requires impressive communication skills. Not only do social workers need to speak with clients, they also need to explain how to deal with troubling relationships, diseases or even psychological issues.


Entrepreneur

While becoming an entrepreneur doesn't necessarily require speaking skills, being able to sell your business to those around you is key. When launching a business, it's important that entrepreneurs can clearly convey their new venture to others.


Actor, producer or director

Most occupations in the drama field use speech to convey ideas and draw out the viewer's emotions, so if you're a talker this could be your dream job. Most great actors, producers and directors understand the effect their speech can have on the production and how to use it to their advantage.


Interior designer

If you love combining your artistic flair with talking, interior design may be a perfect career opportunity. Some designers are hired on a contract basis to bring an aesthetic to a specific indoor space, while others work as part of large corporations or design firms. Designers work on anything from private homes to hotels and offices, so communication skills are a must. ( msn.com )

READ MORE - Ten jobs for people who love to talk

How you can benefit from uncomfortable work conversations

How you can benefit from uncomfortable work conversations - Being called in by a superior to discuss a topic both of you would probably prefer not to touch can be difficult, but if an employee can limit defensiveness and truly listen, the conversation may be enlightening. Meet three people who survived such interactions and came out stronger professionals.

Discussion leads to makeover

"The cocktail party was in full swing when my boss, with whom I was immersed in a conversation, started to lean to the right until his head was level with my waist," recalls Wendy Komac, a workplace consultant from Cleveland. "Then he popped the question, 'Is that a bellybutton ring?' I was wearing a black lace top over a black camisole. Apparently, the light caught the gem on the end of the ring, and it caught his attention. It was an awkward moment, and I really hoped he'd never bring the subject up. By this time, I had a senior vice president title, and there was a bit of a bad-girl personal side to me that I didn't share at the office and didn't want to start now."

But the boss did bring it up again -- as the lead-in to a broader discussion about workplace dress. "I was never going to be a navy blue suit kind of a girl, but if I wanted to advance, it was important that I took his comments to heart," Komac admits. She worked with a style coach to develop an authentic look that also reflected the sophistication required in the executive suite. "That was 12 years ago, and it has worked well for me ever since."


Impetus for change

An uncomfortable conversation that Jim Zamichieli of Philadelphia, had with a boss taught him not to compromise his ethics and ultimately led him to leave the company.

"While working as the chief technology officer at a digital creative agency, the CEO (my boss) told me that a consultant I recently brought in didn't fit the company personality . . . The consultant, a 30-something female, was a stocky woman who dressed professionally, but her attire had a slightly gothic flare."

When Zamichieli pressed the CEO to define the company's "personality," he says she became increasingly agitated. Zamichieli was told to give the consultant a two-day notice. Instead, he came up with valid business reasons why the consultant was needed for at least two more weeks, adding, "The truth was that the consultant, who was an exceptionally talented person, was not only needed indefinitely, but should have been hired as a full-time employee." He used the time to get the consultant more deeply involved in a particular project. Others realized her worth, and though the CEO was livid with Zamichieli, she knew that business would be jeopardized by letting the consultant go.

"I never let the consultant know what was going on, but I did advise her that the company was not a place for growth and was suffering from political issues," Zamichieli says. He himself resigned two months later and started his own digital marketing company.


Developing leadership by example

Jennifer Selby Long of Oakland, Calif., had been hired by a large company to foster leadership within the organization, including building alliances and ensuring that people showed appreciation for their peers. But she was the one who discovered she needed some training.

"I made a big, big mistake when we were under tremendous pressure on a project. I dressed down my team of peers and was very hard on them. My facts were right, and they had performed poorly, but that was no excuse for me to do exactly the opposite of what I was supposed to be teaching."

Her boss privately pulled her aside in the hallway after the meeting and calmly and supportively said, "You have tremendous power, and you completely forgot that in there. You just set the team back, and it's now your job to move them forward again. You are such a strong personality that you can kill the energy in the room or build it up almost instantly. Always remember that."

While she says she felt terrible about what she had done, Selby Long felt confident that she could turn it around because of how her boss handled this awkward and difficult conversation. "I just wish everyone could have a boss like [him] at least once in their career. I attribute so much of my later success to his ability to coach me through any difficult conversation or situation." ( msn.com )

READ MORE - How you can benefit from uncomfortable work conversations

Send stress on holiday

Send stress on holiday - A Substance in medicines used for treating cancer and epilepsy, called histone deacetylase, has the potential to prevent heart attacks.

Heart attacks are caused by blood clots in the heart, which hinder oxygen supply.

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, found that histone deacetylase was effective because it dramatically increased the clot-dissolving process.

IF YOU COULD DO ONE THING FOR YOUR HEALTH

AVOID letting the festive season stress get you down.

Holidays can be physically, emotionally and financially overwhelming and some people might do away with their routines like exercise and a regular schedule of healthy, nutritious meals.

Avoid festive season unhealthiness. Make sure that you get plenty of sleep each night and that your holiday goals are realistic.

Enjoy the season with people who support you.

BIZARRE OF THE WEEK

A 26-YEAR-OLD British woman collapses every time her phone rings, when she bumps into a friend and when letters come through her door.

Caitlin Wallace's condition (cataplexy) causes her to collapse whenever something unexpected happens.

This makes her lose control of all her muscles, which can happen up to 20 times a day.

It has left her with bumps, bruises and scars all over her body, reported the Daily Mail.

NUTRITION BITE

A STUDY conducted by US researchers claims that babies fed salmon and white fish before nine months are less likely to suffer from breathing problems like wheezing later in life.

Researchers from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, believe this revelation will encourage parents to reassess children's eating habits. ( timeslive.co.za )

READ MORE - Send stress on holiday

A little love and attention can keep your vehicle on the road for years to come

A little love and attention can keep your vehicle on the road for years to come -- and save you a bundle - Irv Gordon owns a 1966 Volvo P1800 with more than 2.8 million miles on the odometer. He holds the Guinness world record for the most miles driven by a single owner in a noncommercial vehicle. The car still has the original engine (although it has been preventively rebuilt twice), transmission and radio.

The secret to his car's longevity? Gordon has always changed the oil and fluids -- and performed other maintenance -- according to the recommendations in the owners manual.

Think about how much you'll save by keeping your current car on the road before you surrender to the lure of a new set of wheels. For example, buy a 2011 Ford Fusion SEL ($25,380) and in the first year you'll lay out about $7,450 on the down payment and loan payments -- assuming you put down 10% and get Ford's 2.9% financing for five years -- plus taxes, tags and registration fees. And those loan payments go on for four more years.

But if you have a paid-off Fusion that's a few years old, you skip the monthly payments and new-vehicle taxes, and you'll probably pay less in insurance premiums. Maintenance and repairs will cost more, but they're likely to average only $1,000 a year, according to numbers from Vincentric, an automotive research firm.

So how do you keep your car in the pink? Whether you're aiming for a couple more years or a couple hundred thousand miles, the advice is the same.


1. Read the owners manual

According to CarMD.com, slightly more than half of people who have owned or leased a car follow a regular maintenance program. Stick to the manufacturer's recommendations on oil changes (forget the old 3,000-mile rule and go by your book), as well as other regular maintenance. And getting checkups at regular intervals can help spot problems that could imperil your car's overall health.

But don't be swayed by every service notice from your dealer. Dealerships typically recommend more-frequent maintenance than the manual does, says Phil Reed of Edmunds.com. For example, the book may recommend an automatic-transmission flush, which runs about $120, at 80,000 miles, but a dealer might recommend it as early as 20,000 miles.


2. Use online forums

You want to learn about potential problems before they happen so that you can prevent them -- or fix them immediately. Jeff Cuje of Sag Harbor, N.Y., plans to be buried in his 1986 Mercedes-Benz SL, so he's taking pains to make it last. His best advice is to find an owners forum online and "get on the wavelength of what the problems are as your car gets older," he says.

Sports cars and classic vehicles have enthusiastic online followings, but you'll also find lots of sites that cover daily drivers. For example, we searched the Internet for "Nissan Altima owners forum" and "Ford Taurus owners forum" and got plenty of hits.


3. Become friends with your mechanic

Finding a mechanic you can trust is key to keeping up with repairs you need.

But even then, don't say yes to every fix. Get a second opinion on anything major if you're unsure about the problem or the cost.


4. Don't ignore small problems

Cuje pays close attention not only to his vehicle's noises but also to its warning lights and even cosmetic things, like a piece of rubber trim that's loose. Ignoring a problem allows it to get worse, he says, and parts for aging vehicles get harder to find.

Amazon.com is a good place to look for parts. If you're handy, you may be able to do small repairs yourself. Reed spent $20 for new brake parts and installed them himself -- a repair that would have cost $350 at the dealership.


5. Give your car some love

Wash it, wax it and vacuum it. Treat leather surfaces with Armor All or a similar product, and lubricate plastic and rubber parts. Doing these things protects both the paint and the interior from premature aging. Also consider having your car detailed, which typically includes steam-cleaning the carpet, shampooing the upholstery, buffing out scratches and sometimes even removing small dents. The cost is usually less than $300. The better your car looks, the more you'll want to take care of it. ( moneycentral.msn.com )

READ MORE - A little love and attention can keep your vehicle on the road for years to come

How come schools assign grades of A, B, C, D, and F—but not E?

How come schools assign grades of A, B, C, D, and F—but not E? - The school board in Mount Olive, N.J., will get rid of the D grade starting this fall, in an effort to raise the standards for graduation. From now on, any student whose average grade falls below a 70 will simply fail. How did we end up with an A-B-C-D-F grading system, anyway? Did schools ever assign a grade of E?

Yes. The earliest record of a letter-grade system comes from Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts in 1897. (There is a passing reference in the Harvard archives to a student receiving a B grade in 1883, but no evidence of a complete A-through-F system.) The lowest grade at Mount Holyoke was an E, which represented failure.


The rest of the scale was a bit irregular, with A representing scores between 95 and 100, while B and C each stood for 10-point ranges. Students could get a D only with a score of precisely 75, with anything below that receiving the dreaded E. One year later, administrators changed the failing grade to F and tweaked the other letters.


The new scale offered better symmetry, since each grade represented five points, with scores below 75 resulting in failure. (The E was promoted to cover scores from 75 to 79.) Over the next two decades, variations on the letter-grade system spread across the country and into primary and secondary schools. It's hard to put a date on the end of the E, but it was gone from most colleges by 1930. Apparently, some professors worried that students would think the grade stood for "excellent," since F stood for "failure." That said, there's no evidence of similar concerns over, say, B—which might just as well stand for "brilliant" as "bungled."


Grading of any sort is a relatively modern innovation. Yale may have been the first university in the United States to issue grades, with students in 1785 receiving the Latin equivalents of best, worse, and worst. Prior to that time, U.S. colleges employed the Oxford and Cambridge model, in which students attended regular lectures and engaged in a weekly colloquy with their proctor, in writing and in person.


The students were determined to have completed the course when the proctor, and sometimes a panel of other professors, decided they had demonstrated an adequate mastery of the subject. There was no grade. The only way for a potential employer to compare students' credentials was on the basis of letters of recommendation.


During the 19th century, universities tried all sorts of different systems. Yale moved between four- and nine-point numerical scales. Harvard tinkered with 20- and 100-point scales before the faculty decided the best it could do was divide students into five "classes," with the lowest class failing the course.


William and Mary used four groupings and assigned descriptors to guide faculty in classifying students, using phrases like "orderly, correct, and attentive" for one group and "they have learnt little or nothing" for another. The idea of grading, in some fashion, quickly spread outside of U.S. schools. There is some indication that Herbert Mumford, the Illinois professor who proposed a grading system for beef in 1902, took his inspiration from the educators.


It's no coincidence that a single system was in place by the early 20th century. Schools at the time were bursting at the seams, given the sudden increases in immigration and the rise of compulsory attendance laws. Teachers and administrators needed an efficient, standardized system for testing and evaluating large numbers of students. (Another marvel of school efficiency, the multiple-choice exam, was invented at the beginning of the century, as well./ slate.com )

READ MORE - How come schools assign grades of A, B, C, D, and F—but not E?

Will Your Online Profile Get You Hired or Fired?

Will Your Online Profile Get You Hired or Fired?. By now, most of us have heard a handful of horror stories about how a person's online profile wrecked his or her job search or career. Yet, every day people swarm social networking Web sites making the exact same mistakes. Maintaining an "It-won't-happen-to-me" attitude, many people have no idea that the derogatory statements they just posted or the lewd pictures of themselves online may cost them the job of their dreams.

Fortunately, some job seekers are wising up to how they present themselves in cyberspace. Rather than developing a profile that could quickly get them fired, savvy professionals are increasingly using social networking Web sites to find jobs, develop key contacts and advance their careers.

"Having an online identity is becoming increasingly important as a way to establish your credibility and personal brand and to attract career or business opportunities," say Ellen Sautter and Diane Crompton, co-authors of "Seven Days to Online Networking." To ensure that people create a profile savvy enough to help them land a job, they offer the following tips.

How to get hired

Be consistent from site to site.

Too often recruiters and hiring managers get mixed messages about job candidates based on their online profiles. For example, you might have a LinkedIn profile that portrays you as a driven go-getter with an excellent sales background, but your MySpace profile portrays you as someone who lives the life of an '80s rock star. Make sure that every profile you create portrays the same person -- someone who's respectable, professional and high-achieving.

Master a brief sound bite.

When looking at your profile, hiring managers and recruiters want to learn more about you. The "About You" section of your profile offers the perfect opportunity to briefly describe your work history, strengths and notable achievements. This paragraph should be similar to a thirty-second elevator speech you may have already prepared about yourself.

Develop a network.

Some people prefer massive networks that consist of hundreds of strangers from around the globe. Others prefer a small network that includes only people they've befriended, are related to or have worked with. Crompton and Sautter suggest developing a network of 50 to 150 contacts through each site.

Showcase your skills through links.

You should include links to your blog, webfolio or Web site, if they are relevant to your career. If you don't have any of these things, consider including links to any projects or work you might have been involved in that can be viewed online.

Strategically use keywords in the "Tags" section.

Similar to using keywords in a résumé, this strategy allows you to list words that help other people in your network or search engines find you. These words can include your area of expertise, job titles, industries, hobbies and anything else that defines you as a professional.

Just as there are plenty of things people can do with their profiles to help them stand out in cyberspace, there are dozens of faux pas people commit all too often. The following five mistakes are some of the most common social networking missteps.

How to get fired

Post a scandalous photo.

You know what I'm talking about: It's the photo of you showing off your hot, bronze body in a barely there bikini. It's the portrait of you -- in all your glory -- bonging a beer while sporting a Bears jersey at last week's tailgate. Profile pictures like this may be amusing and help you score a ton of friend requests, but they certainly won't impress your employer.

View or update your profile on company time.

You can't help it. You have to accept a friend request as soon as you receive it. You have to know who has added pictures to their profile in the past hour. And as soon as you realize wakeboarding tops your list of interests, you have to immediately change your profile to reflect this. You jokingly refer to it as your Facebook addiction, but it's no laughing matter to your employer. Instead, it's considered a waste of company time if you're scoping out these Web sites while at work.

Post information that conflicts with your employer's values.

Remember that anything you wouldn't want to share with your supervisor or co-workers is better left off your profile. This information may include how you spend your leisure time, how you feel about sensitive issues or any personal experiences you may have had. Also, be cautious about things your friends post on your profile that may portray you negatively.

Reveal why you're a lousy employee.

Ever taken a sick day to hit the beach, rather than nurse a cold? Or maybe you were supposed to work from home one afternoon, but your profile suggests you slept in and spent the afternoon catching up on your soaps. Believe it or not, some people actually make this information public on their profile! Whether you reveal this kind of information in your profile status or a friend has left a comment ratting you out, be aware that if others can see it so can an employer.

Vent about your employer, boss or job.

Many social networking sites allow people to include their work history. Posting unnecessary, negative information about a particular aspect of the job, such as "Job sucks, but it pays the bills," gives an employer all the reasons he needs to slap you with a pink slip.( msn.com )

READ MORE - Will Your Online Profile Get You Hired or Fired?

Finding Work Abroad is No Easy Job

Finding Work Abroad is No Easy Job. I've opened up my mailbag and there seems to be a theme of two extremes among some job seekers in today's economy -- those who want to leave the country, and those who want to get closer to home.

Some of you have written to me about wanting to land a job overseas until the bad economy here blows over. Others want to find a job working from home, or as close to home as possible, because of escalating gas prices.

My advice: Don't make any rash decisions.

If you're intrigued by the idea of working abroad, there are lots of opportunities. But pulling up your roots in the U.S. and heading off to a foreign land is anything but easy.

"Since international experience is becoming increasingly more important all around, choosing to work abroad for a few years can not only help executives dodge a shaky U.S. economy, but it can also have a long-term career payoff," says Lisa Tromba, vice president at Battalia Winston, an executive search firm.

That is, if you do your research.

"Think carefully about whether you are going to move before securing a position or if you will wait to find a role before taking the plunge," advises Diane Morgan, director of career services at London Business School.

"If you are looking to be a surf instructor in Costa Rica and are comfortable with ambiguity, have some money stashed away. If you are flexible, you could move first and then look for a job," she adds. "However, this strategy is usually limited to students on gap years who are more interested in experience than pay or rewarding work. The more skilled you are, the more you have to carefully investigate the move to and return from a country other than your own."

Sound too good to be true?

And beware of international job offer scams. I know you're all worried about finances and maybe even desperate to find a gig. But don't let common sense fly out the window.

One reader sent me this e-mail recently:

"I'm from a small town in New Mexico. I recently received a job offer from a company by the name of Caltex in London. They offered me what seems to me a handsome salary of 15,200 pounds (a month). Since this would be a huge change of environment for me and my family I just need to know if you've heard of Caltex Oil and Gas in London."

Immediately, I thought this sounded too good to be true, so I asked him how he found out about the job.

"I heard about the position via e-mail from a recruiting company. I then submitted my résumé, and a few days later they e-mailed a contract. I will attach to this e-mail. I have insisted that I get a phone call from them, but they have not done so. In fact, the last e-mail I was sent had instructions of what to do for me to get a work visa. Part of those instructions said that they needed a $2,400 security deposit for the visa."

Warning sign! You should never have to pay anything to get a job, folks. And if they don't call you or ask you for a face-to-face interview, then I'd say run like heck.

I called Caltex, which is a division of Chevron Corp. The spokesman I talked to said he'd heard about scams like this before. He stressed that the company does not solicit job applicants randomly via e-mail and does not ask for money upfront.

So, the rule of thumb is that finding a job overseas is just like finding a job in the good old USA. No one is going to send you an unsolicited e-mail offering you the chance of a lifetime. You have to check out any firm you are considering applying to, and make sure you meet a hiring manager before you pack up your suitcase.

Go to reputable job boards and type in locations you're interested in relocating to, and make sure to do extensive research on the firm. Also, talk to expatriates who are now working for these companies and find out what their transition was like. A reputable firm will be more than happy to share this information with you once you get to the point when they've made a job offer.

Other useful tools, according to Morgan, include "newspapers written in English but published in the area. For example the Bangkok Post can give insights to non-Thais living and working in Thailand." Also, she says, "discussion groups on the Internet as well as your local librarian can all give you insight."

Another good source, she adds, "is your college alumni network, which usually has chapters set up in major international cities. LinkedIn is a good networking tool that can also offer you introductions to professionals working in the area."

Make big bucks from home!

The other major topic I have been hearing about has to do with readers wanting staying closer to home.

I have written extensively about work-at-home scams both in this column and on my blog, CareerDiva.net, but many of you keep sending me e-mails asking me if certain job offers are legit.

Of all the e-mails you all have sent me in recent months, not one of the jobs offers you've received via e-mail sounded real to me.

And readers keep wanting me to recommend companies that offer telecommuting options. Unfortunately, I don't recommend firms because I don't want to be seen as endorsing one company over another. You'll all have to do your research to figure out where these opportunities are. There are lots of sources on the Web, including the major job boards.

Also, don't rule out applying to a company you know and like and asking if telecommuting is an option. More and more employers are considering this options for workers, especially in light of high prices at the pump.

While I won't recommend companies, I will try to offer you advice on certain types of jobs or industries you can look into, and I'll also try to answer any general questions you have on work-at-home offers you come across. So keep the e-mails coming.

Do not pay money up front

Here's one from a woman who lives in Chadwick, Mo.:

"Are there any legitimate work-at-home jobs for health care workers? I am a registered nurse. I have investigated several advertisements. However, most of them want money up front just to tell you where to look for a job. I would be very interested in any information or links that would assist me. I have a background in management, med surge, hospice and acute care. At this time, I drive 80 miles round-trip."

OK, I can't say this enough: Do not pay money up front to get a job. This is not how it works in the real world of employment. Requests for any money or personal information in e-mails or over the phone are scams, 99.9 percent of the time.

As for her options, Tim Schoonover with talent management firm OI Partners in Cincinnati offers some examples.

With a health care background, he says, she could get work answering medical questions from home via health help lines. Some insurance companies and nonprofits have these types of call centers, he says, including Aetna's Informed Health Line, the March of Dimes and the Arthritis Foundation.

In addition, Schoonover adds, she could also look into coordinating home health carerecruitment of nurses for medical facilities, writing training materials and protocols or developing safety compliance protocols. services, managing

The key is paring your expertise and skills with jobs that can be done from a home base, and then actively going out and finding companies that could be a fit. Please don't wait for offers to show up in your e-mail box. ( msn.com )

READ MORE - Finding Work Abroad is No Easy Job

Felony on Your Record ... ???

Felony on Your Record? Ten Job Hunting Tips. If you have a criminal record in your past, are you forever barred from rejoining corporate America and taking advantage of professional opportunities? Not necessarily. It is achievable, but definitely an uphill battle, says Pat Kendall, career coach and author of "Jumpstart Your Online Job Search and eResumes: Everything You Need to Know".

According to Kendall, an estimated 80 percent of companies perform background checks on job applicants. Today's terror-aware atmosphere and litigious society makes employers responsible to a greater degree for checking out the candidates they hire. It can be very difficult for most employers to get past a conviction on an applicant's record, so be prepared for rejection. You also have to realize you are starting over fresh after a conviction and must begin the laborious process of gathering experience and gaining society's trust. Here are some suggestions for getting back to employment:

1. First, consult legal council about the possibility of getting your record expunged, sealed or the conviction reduced. These actions may not be available for every case, but it is definitely worth looking into.

2. Contact local human services organizations in your area to see if they offer programs and support for ex-felons. For example, Metropolitan Family Services in Chicago, www.metrofamily.org, operates the Young Fathers Initiative, a program that helps young dads, many with felony records, re-enter the workforce and reconnect with their children. Quincy Roseborough, case manager for Metropolitan's Young Fathers Initiative, says "There are companies that will hire ex-felons as long as the crimes are not violent crimes."

3. "Take whatever job you can to start rebuilding your experience and credibility," Kendall advises. Now is not the time to be picky. "Many of our clients start with jobs in manufacturing and fast food," Roseborough says. "The pay is mostly minimum wage and often the hours are long. But, some have opportunities to go to warehouse jobs where they can learn to drive a fork lift and gain other skills." Take the job and use it as an opportunity to showcase good job performance and to rebuild your experience and others' trust in you.

4. "Look to personal contacts and friends to help you get a job," Kendall asserts. Someone who knows you will not be as wary to take a chance on you.

5. Seek employment with small and local companies. "We promote looking for jobs with small companies and independent businesses and employers, instead of major chains," Roseborough divulges. Local businesses may have less stringent hiring requirements and are more willing to give you a chance.

6. Consider self-employment. Walt* was convicted at age 19 of drug possession and attempted sale. After serving time in prison, he took odd jobs in various auto shops and car dealerships to learn about car repair. He now works as an independent contractor and operates his own auto repair business. "We encourage the young men we work with to look into entrepreneurship. We suggest taking up a trade that a felony record wouldn't hinder, such as plumbing, construction or janitorial work. You can be your own employer with these skills," Roseborough says.

7. "Don't put the conviction on your resume," Kendall declares. "Consider putting it in your cover letter and enclosing letters of recommendation. Be honest and upfront." Most applications will require you to indicate if you've ever been convicted of a felony. If the question is not on the application, you don't want to let the process go too long without coming clean. You should let them know early on that you have a past record because it will show up in the background check.

8. Be professional and confident. "Many young men we see lack people skills. We tell them that when they go to an employment office or are in an interview if they are dressed appropriately, speak well, and have confidence it will show," Roseborough says. "We explain that their resume is like an ad in the newspaper, but they are the 'product;' and they have to go in and 'sell' themselves. Some employers will take a chance if there is a nice presentation."

9. Don't harbor false hope. "It's going to be hard. Having a felony on your record is a real obstacle, and it is only getting harder," Roseborough warns. You will be rejected. Just don't give up.

10. Seek emotional support. Whether it's family, close friends or a professional counselor, you will need to talk to someone for encouragement. Many ex-convicts experience depression when they meet repeated resistance in trying to once again find employment. Having that support system will help you stay focused and motivated when you feel discouraged. *Name changed to protect his identity ( msn.com )

READ MORE - Felony on Your Record ... ???

Top Ten Online Job Search Tips

Top Ten Online Job Search Tips. While the popularity of online job boards puts millions of jobs at one's fingertips, it has also made the job applicant pool that much bigger. For this reason, national job search sites and the Internet as a whole have gotten a bad rap from some industry professionals as an ineffective job seeker tool; on the contrary, the Internet actually can be a great resource for job seekers -- they just need to know how to use it.

When it comes to a fruitful online job search, successful job seekers follow these 10 guidelines.

1. If you build it, they can come.

Instead of simply posting your résumé on a Web site, take it one step further and design an easily-navigable Web site or online portfolio where recruiters can view your body of work, read about your goals and obtain contact information.

2. Check yourself to make sure you haven't wrecked yourself.

Google yourself to see what comes up -- and what potential employers will see if they do the same. If you don't like what you find, it's time to do damage control.

3. Narrow your options.

Many job boards offer filters to help users refine their search results more quickly. You should have the option to narrow your job search by region, industry and duration, and, oftentimes, you can narrow it even more by keywords, company names, experience needed and salary.

4. Go directly to the source.

Instead of just applying for the posted job opening, one of the best strategies to finding a job is to first figure out where you want to work, target that company or industry and then contact the hiring manager. Also, many employers' career pages invite visitors to fill out candidate profiles, describing their background, jobs of interest, salary requirements and other preferences.

5. Find your niche with industry Web sites.

Refine your search even more by visiting your industry's national or regional Web site, where you can find jobs in your field that might not appear on a national job board. More and more employers are advertising jobs on these sites in hopes of getting a bigger pool of qualified applicants.

6. Try online recruiters.

Recruiters will help match you with jobs that meet your specific skills and needs. Not sure where to start? Sites such as recruiterlink.com, onlinerecruitersdirectory.com, searchfirm.com and i-recruit.com provide links to online headhunters for job seekers.

7. Utilize video résumés.

Video résumés are just one more way to stand out to employers. Intended as supplements to -- not replacements for -- traditional résumés, video résumés allow job seekers to showcase a little bit of their personalities and highlight one or two points of interest on their résumés.

8. Run queries.

You run searches on everything else, from your high school sweetheart to low-fat recipes, so why not jobs? Enter a query that describes the exact kind of job you're seeking and you may find more resources you wouldn't find otherwise (but be prepared to do some sorting).

9. Utilize job alerts.

Most job boards have features that allow you to sign up to receive e-mail alerts about newly available jobs that match your chosen criteria. Or go a step further and arrange an RSS (really simple syndication) feed from one of these job sites to appear on your customized Internet homepage or your PC's news-reader software.

10. Get connected.

How many times have you been told that it's not what you know, but who you know? Thanks to the emergence of professional networking sites like LinkedIn.com, job seekers no longer have to rely on the old standby of exchanging business cards with strangers. These sites are composed of millions of industry professionals and allow you to connect with people you know and the people they know and so forth. ( A word of caution: When you sign up for online social networking sites, you are in a public domain. Unless you are able to put a filter on some of your information, nothing is private, and it can be difficult to erase once it is posted. ) ( msn.com )

READ MORE - Top Ten Online Job Search Tips

Factors to Consider Before Accepting a Job Offer

Factors to Consider Before Accepting a Job Offer. In some cases, a pressing need for a paycheck may outweigh any potential drawbacks to a new role, especially given the uncertain economy and rising prices for gas and food. But if you are in a position to be selective, you must consider every angle before rushing to accept a prospective employer's offer. After all, a new full-time job usually isn't a short-term affair. Following are some guidelines to help you determine whether to accept a job offer or wait for a better opportunity:

Scrutinize the job description

Carefully reviewing the job requirements, key tasks and responsibilities, as well as whom you will report to, may be the single most important step in assessing an offer from a potential employer. Ask yourself these questions:

• Will you enjoy the day-to-day duties of the position?
• Will you be challenged?
• Is the level of responsibility appropriate considering your experience?
• Are you willing to make any required lifestyle changes (e.g., travel, longer commute, rigid work hours) that may affect your quality of life?

If the answer to any of these questions is no, accepting the position might not be in your best interest. While some negative factors can be overlooked -- a slightly lower starting salary than you prefer, for instance -- fundamental problems with the job itself are a definite deal-breaker.

Evaluate the company

The work environment affects how you feel on a daily basis, so make sure it's one you feel comfortable in. If, for example, you strongly prefer a conservative corporate culture with set hours and established processes, you probably won't be happy in an informal atmosphere with a "fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants" business approach.

Also consider the work styles of your future boss and co-workers. If you sense that you and your potential colleagues have conflicting styles or personalities, tread carefully. While differences in character and opinion can result in better group dynamics, frequent disagreements often lead to unproductive and unhappy work teams.

Review the compensation package

How does the salary compare to what you made in your last position or what others in your specialty and with the same skills earn? Take a look at the benefits package, too. How generous are the perks? Keep in mind that attractive benefits can sometimes outweigh sub-par compensation.

Or perhaps you're offered a job that requires you to work long hours but offers the option to telecommute. Being able to work from home several days a week may give you the time you need to attend to personal obligations and compensate for the rigid work schedule. Additionally, if an offer meets most of your requirements but doesn't include a benefit that's important to you -- such as tuition reimbursement for a professional certification you seek -- it doesn't hurt to ask if that perk can be included in your employment agreement.

Ask about opportunities for growth

There's nothing worse for your career than getting stuck in a dead-end job. While a so-so role may be fine in the short term, holding a position that does not allow for advancement for an extended period of time can take a toll on your health and happiness.

Try to get a realistic idea of the growth opportunities available within the company. For example, have people who held the job before you moved up with the firm? Where did your prospective manager start out? If the answers to such questions don't seem to support a policy of promoting from within, you may want to continue your job search.

Careful consideration of the issues discussed above will help you decide whether to accept, reject or negotiate a better offer. If, after evaluating each of these points, you are still unsure which way to swing, go with your gut. If your intuition tells you that something is a little off, conduct some additional research or ask more questions of the hiring manager before making your decision. Moving into a new role is a big step, and you want to enter the arrangement knowing all the facts. With a thoughtful analysis of the pros and cons, you'll be able to make the best decision for your career. ( msn.com )

READ MORE - Factors to Consider Before Accepting a Job Offer