domingo, abril 18, 2010

Palabras en mi cabeza: ingenuas, idealistas, soñadoras

En días pasados tuve una conversación con un amigo muy querido, sobre el relajo en que se ha convertido el tema del narcotrafico en nuestro país, de las respuestas de las autoridades y la población a ese problema; fue entonces, cuando una vez mas me sorprendí a mi misma expresando esa idea que he tenido desde siempre.

Hablabamos de las muchas veces que decimos que las autoridades juegan con nosotros, que nos quieren cojer de p... estúpidos y que las cosas no van a cambiar y fue entonces cuando dije lo que me llena de orgullo, y lo que me hace ver en mi una ingenuidad que no muchos perciben. Yo pienso que no son los demas los que juegan con nosotros, ni nos quieren hacer parecer mas estupidos de lo que ya somos, somos nosotros mismos los que para no hacer frente a nuestra realidad y tomar accion, permitimos que los demas piensen que no entendemos, nos hacemos de la vista gorda a la espera de que alguien mas tome la iniciativa.

Quien dijo que el narcotrafico es nuevo? no lo se, pero si se quienes lo creen, y esos somos nosotros mismos. Lo que si podría considerar nuevo es la exposición que se le esta dando al tema y a los involucrados, pero eso significa que la solución es abandonar el país y tirar la toalla? renunciar a lo que yo considero mi país, mi casa, el lugar mas bonito sobre la tierra, donde he sido mas feliz? No. Yo me niego a pensar que mi contribucion a la "solucion" sea permitir que todo siga igual, que yo tenga que creer que todo siempre ha sido y sera igual.  Para mi que es lo necesario? educarnos, fomentar una visión de largo plazo, una cultura de trabajo honesto y con propósitos, trazarnos metas alcanzables e informarnos sobre la influencia de nuestros propios actos sobre los demas, sobre nuestros ninos y adolescentes. 

Y sobre aquello de que el esfuerzo de uno solo no es suficiente, debo decir que una roca sedimentaria no siempre lo fue; tuvieron que pasar muchos años y acumularse mucho sedimento para que pudiéramos conocerla como tal. Nosotros tenemos el poder de cambiar, solo hay querer hacerlo.


Si yo creyera que no es posible el cambio, estaria renunciando a mi pasado y mi presente, estaria perdiendo el tiempo estudiando el área del saber que me apasiona y que se basa en la modificación de comportamiento, de pensamientos. Si yo creyera que no es posible el cambio, seria una indigente porque al final del cuento seria mas comodo y requeriria menos esfuerzo. 

jueves, abril 08, 2010

Warning: Social Networking Can Be Hazardous to Your Job Search

Warning: Social Networking Can Be Hazardous to Your Job Search


Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com Editor


That cute, affable guy who brags of his drunken exploits on FaceBook.com may be meeting a lot of other partiers online, but he's probably not getting added to the "friends" lists of many corporate recruiters. A recent study by the executive search firm ExecuNet found that 77 percent of recruiters run searches of candidates on the Web to screen applicants; 35 percent of these same recruiters say they've eliminated a candidate based on the information they uncovered.

"You'd be surprised at what I've seen when researching candidates," says Gail, a recruiter at a Fortune 500 company who recently began looking up potential hires on the Web. "We were having a tough time deciding between two candidates until I found the profile of one of them on MySpace. It boasted a photo of her lounging on a hammock in a bikini, listed her interests as 'having a good time' and her sex as 'yes, please.' Not quite what we were looking for." "Another time I went to a candidate's site and found racial slurs and jokes," Gail continues. "And there was yet another instance where a candidate told me he was currently working for a company, yet he left a comment on a friend's profile about how it 'sucked' to be laid off, and how much fun it was to be unemployed!"

As the amount of personal information available online grows, first impressions are being formed long before the interview process begins, warns David Opton, ExecuNet CEO and founder. "Given the implications and the shelf-life of Internet content, managing your online image is something everyone should address -- regardless of whether or not you're in a job search," he says. Because the risks don't stop once you're hired. Twenty-three-year old Kara recently took a job as a management consultant at a high-profile practice in the Los Angeles area. An Ohio native, with no friends or family on the West Coast, Kara put up a profile on MySpace in the hopes of meeting new people. Kara was judicious in how she set up her site: "I didn't fill out that cheesy questionnaire many people post, where you describe your best feature and say whether or not you shower every day." she says. "I used a photo that was flattering but not at all provocative and was even careful what music I chose." Within a few months, Kara met many others online who shared her interest in biking and water sports. One Friday morning, Kara decided to call in sick and go surfing with a few of her new pals. That weekend, unbeknownst to Kara, her friend posted some of the day's pictures on her profile and sent Kara a message saying, "We should call in sick more often." Unfortunately for Kara, her boss happened to be patrolling MySpace to check up on her college-age daughter and came across Kara's site and the dated photos! Mortified, Kara says she learned an important lesson -- not only about honesty, but about how small the world of online social networking can be and how little control you have over any information put out there.

Not all employers search candidates and employees online, but the trend is growing. Don't let online social networking deep-six your career opportunities. Protect your image by following these simple tips:

1. Be careful. Nothing is private. Don't post anything on your site or your "friends" sites you wouldn't want a prospective employer to see. Derogatory comments, revealing or risqué photos, foul language and lewd jokes all will be viewed as a reflection of your character.

2. Be discreet. If your network offers the option, consider setting your profile to "private," so that it is viewable only by friends of your choosing. And since you can't control what other people say on your site, you may want to use the "block comments" feature. Remember, everything on the Internet is archived, and there is no eraser!
3. Be prepared. Check your profile regularly to see what comments have been posted. Use a search engine to look for online records of yourself to see what is out there about you. If you find information you feel could be detrimental to your candidacy or career, see about getting it removed -- and make sure you have an answer ready to counter or explain "digital dirt."

Kate Lorenz is the article and advice editor for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

domingo, abril 04, 2010

Otro pensamiento fugaz.

La gente suele repetir, que en las malas es que se conoce a los amigos y a quienes nos aman. Yo, pienso que en las malas, los amigos y amantes tienen la oportunidad de estar ahi, para dejar su huella, y que cuando nos hayamos recuperado podamos recordar su entonces insoportable presencia. Si, porque cuando estamos mal, casi siempre somos incapaces de reconocer la ayuda. Pero esa incapacidad nos da derecho de menospreciar a esos que se arriesgan a sabiendas de que pueden ser maltratados? ... yo creo que no.

Aunque estoy convencida de que no, se que hasta yo, y especialmente yo, cuando estoy mal, no se como decirle a la gente que agradezco su presencia, sobre todo silente. Porque cuando escucho ruido, interferencias, no puedo pensar. Y cuando no puedo pensar es como si no viviera. 

En algun momento dije aqui, que no se puede ayudar a quien no quiere que lo ayuden. Y ahora digo, que a veces, la mejor ayuda es, dejarnos caer y estar cerca para cuando sea preciso levantarnos.