Smartphone: A Great Job Search Manager

There are just a few things you never notice, but are always on you. Your smart phone; a day never goes without looking at it! So here are a number of tips that can help you use your smart phones to find jobs.

Tips You Must Consider Using:

1. Only if you find it important to get notifications because you are outside mostly. Try to get in reach of your phone or consider getting one. Also, avoid using any phone from current job especially for job related things.

2. Try understanding your needs in the best possible way. Choose yourself a correct plan. You are probably going to need more minutes and internet service if you don’t have one. Also, the same goes with your phone. May be your current phone won’t support and allow all features.

3. Make your phone mark to the level of your own personal brand image. For say, if you are going for an interview and you are dressed well; do not ruin your overall impression with an old scratched phone.

4. Do keep your phone updated and fully- charged. May be you need to carry an extra battery or power- house if you really are a heavy- user. Make it a point to follow the details and guidelines by manufacturers.

5. Try saving time during conversations by saying your name along with hello at first place! Also try filtering calls if you do not find it comfortable to reply at first place.

6. If you are a person who forgets to call back then try setting a reminder so that you do not have to meet a situation of phone ringing in front of your boss.

7. Never complain for the rude tone of your interviewee. Be prepared of such situations in advance. Otherwise, you are going to end-up putting yourself in frustration.

Grip These Features For Your Job Search:

Keeping your phone updated with the applications that may benefit your search is really important. There are hundreds of apps available now-a-days that can help you in searching jobs. They are really important to guide you anytime. Some of these applications you must have are reminders, calendars, memos, to-do list, e-mail or messaging apps.

You must carry your important files such as CV in digital format so that you may share it whenever required. Keeping a good browser, using voicemail services are among the few must have things in your mobile phone. All these things come in handy and can help you in job search.

DiversityWorking Welcomes New Company Member: NeighborWorks America

DiversityWorking.com, a career opportunity resource and job search engine for the cultural diversity marketplace, is pleased to welcome its new member, NeighborWorks America, to its prestigious roster of diversity companies.

NeighborWorks America is an organization involved in helping build strong, resilient communities by providing people with opportunities to live in safe, healthy and affordable housing, whether they own or rent. It supports a network of nonprofit organizations with technical assistance, grants and training for professionals in the affordable housing and community development field every year.

At Neighborworks America, diverse, stimulating, challenging and results-oriented work environment thrives; the Company also values teamwork, ingenuity, collaboration, mutual respect, and personal and professional development.

It its search for qualified, talented people who want to make a difference, NeighborWorks America has partnered with DiversityWorking.com, whose mission is to help companies promote their jobs, build their brand and send targeted and qualified diversity candidates directly to the best jobs possible.

To find out more about NeighborWorks America and its job opportunities, click this link.

Hobby Lobby May Be Forced to Close; Is This Diversity Working?

Hobby Lobby, America's leading retailer in the arts, crafts and hobby industry, has always run its business in accordance with Biblical teachings. It has stood firm on its religious principles, as it did last year in its moral fight – in which the SC ruled in its favor - against the requirement in the Affordable Care Act for employers to provide coverage for abortifacent drugs.

Now that the same-sex marriage has been ruled as a constitutional right, Hobby Lobby is once more under a moral attack. Its religious principles are to be tested again in these trying times, especially when the freedom of expression is at stake.

Hobby Lobby is a committed supporter of workplace diversity and inclusion, and an equal opportunity employer, yet it also upholds its right to religious freedom which is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. 

The Supreme Court ruling (Obergefell_v._Hodges) on same-sex marriage holds that gay and lesbian couples share the same fundamental right to marry as anyone else, which is guaranteed “by both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.”

 

As it was last year when LGBT advocates were of the general opinion that the SC ruling on the Hobby Lobby case could pave the way for individuals, groups, businesses, faith groups and religious institutions to “discriminate” based on one's religious beliefs, the same concern still exists with regards to the new ruling on same-sex marriage.

 

This is just one article among others that express this particular concern.

The Obergefell decision is on a collision course with the Hobby Lobby decision of last year. In that case, the Supreme Court extended the illogic of Citizens United to hold that a for-profit, closely held corporation could raise (and succeed on) a religious liberty defense to the insurance contraceptive coverage mandate of the Affordable Care Act. Although the court majority asserted the holding was limited to that issue, it has opened the door for businesses to refuse to serve customers, based on a religious objection to the customer's sexual orientation. - Read more here:

The problem with such view is it overlooks the right of businesses, like Hobby Lobby, to religious freedom of expression, and puts them in a bind giving them not much of a choice, but to go against their deeply held religious beliefs, or risk having to be punished by law, or even closing down for good so as not to compromise their religious principles. One may even risk losing one's home.

A case in point would be that of the bakers who refused to make a wedding cake for a lesbian couple. Two Christian bakers who refused to bake a cake for a lesbian wedding have been ordered to pay $135,000 in damages by July 13 or else the state of Oregon could place a lien on their home. The story goes the bakers can "ask for a stay of enforcement while they pursue their appeal,” the spokesman said. But there’s a catch. The person who will determine whether or not to stay the order — is BOLI Commissioner Brad Avakian — a vocal supporter of the LGBTQIA movement. - Read more here:

 

A similar story unfolds for another bakery – in the state of Colorado. A Colorado judge today determined that a Lakewood bakery unlawfully discriminated against a gay couple by refusing to sell them a wedding cake. - Read more here:

 

Jim Daly, the president of Focus on the Family, a prominent conservative Christian group based in Colorado Springs, said he was worried that Christians would be subjected to “prejudice and persecution” if they stood against same-sex marriage. He suggested that a variety of issues were likely to be litigated, including whether the ruling would force Christian universities to house same-sex couples in dorms for married students and whether cake makers and florists would have to work same-sex weddings. - Read more here:

Thus, the question is if Christian-run businesses such as Hobby Lobby are forced to close down on account of the SC ruling on same-sex marriage, is this diversity working in American society? Let us know what you think.

  

DiversityWorking.com, the largest diversity job board online, is a career opportunity resource and job search engine for the cultural diversity marketplace. Through DiversityWorking.com, you can optimize your veteran job search for your diversity and equal opportunity employment needs. Visit DiversityWorking.com now.

New Diversity Reports of Tech Companies Show Little Change

So far, diversity is still wanting in the tech industry, as the second round of diversity reports coming from these tech companies show little change from the diversity data they reported last year.

Yesterday Yahoo became the most recent tech company to tell us how painfully similar its diversity numbers are to those it reported last year, according to this article by Tech Crunch. As shown by the workforcediversity data released by Yahoo, it is still predominantly men (62%) with women making up 37% of its workforce. As to ethnicity diversity, the company remains predominantly white (47%) and Asian (43 %); Other data includes:

Tech positions are dominated by 84% men; 16% women;

Non-tech positions are dominated by 54% women; 45% men, and 1% undisclosed;

Leadership positions are 76% men and 24% women.

The aforementioned article suggests that companies should instead disclose their more short-term diversity hiring goals. Each company has, or should have, internal goals for how many women and minorities it plans to hire in a given year. This brings about better accountability, and stcokholders and consumers alike can easily monitor whether the companies follow through their promises of improving diversity in their organization.

Google released last month an updated report of its workforce demograhics, Fortune reported. That data highlighted a big gender gap and a shortage of African-Americans and Hispanics. In the latest report, Google showed that it’s staff is largely the same. In the past year, the company has made only a tiny bit of progress.[...]But for a company of this size — it employs almost 56,000 people worldwide — even this incremental change is good news, according Nancy Lee, Google’s vice president of human resources, told USA Today. “I think we are getting better and we are hoping that ultimately we are able to accelerate the improvement,” she said. - Read more here:

A similar diversity report goes for Facebook, which remains predominantly white and Asian men. The biggest area of progress was that Facebook’s non-tech employee percentage of women grew from 47% to 52%. Any other gains were limited to a 1% increase in the female or hispanic demographic’s share of employees. - Read more here:

DiversityWorking.com, the largest diversity job board online, is a career opportunity resource and job search engine for the cultural diversity marketplace. Through DiversityWorking.com, you can post jobs for veterans who can readily fill your diversity and equal employment opportunity requirements. Visit DiversityWorking.com now.

Dealing with White Guilt and Racism

This is a follow-up article on a series about the Dixon White's Racial Healing Challenge, and it will deal with the issue of “white guilt” - what is it; to what extent is it beneficial or not in efforts to end racism?

See Dixon White' and His “Racial-HealingVideo-Selfie Challenge”

 

Dixon White's purpose for his well-received selfie-video racial healing movement is – to fight against racism...for racial healing and trying to get people, especially white people, to address that, as he said in an interview earlier in April. 

However, many critics lash back by saying Dixon White's (not his real name) videos are promoting “white guilt,” something that White denied in a later interview with ABC News' “Nightline.”

“A whole bunch of them, and that’s the problem is that white guilt is a defense mechanism,” White said. “I’m not asking anybody to be guilty or feel guilty. I’ve never told anybody to be guilty. What I’ve asked people to do is to take on one of the most immoral things in our society, which is racial and social injustice.” - Read more here:

 

To understand this unease towards “white guilt” - here are a few definitions.

Racism – One guest article on the Huffington Post explains the difficulty of talking to white people about racism, defined as:

Social scientists understand racism as a multidimensional and highly adaptive system -- a system that ensures an unequal distribution of resources between racial groups. Because whites built and dominate all significant institutions, (often at the expense of and on the uncompensated labor of other groups), their interests are embedded in the foundation of U.S. society. While individual whites may be against racism, they still benefit from the distribution of resources controlled by their group. - Read more here:

White guilt is the individual or collective guilt felt by some white people for harm resulting from racist treatment of people of color by whites both historically and currently.

An academic, sociological definition of white guilt is presented in, “An Analysis of “White Privilege and White Guilt” by Simone Kirwan, from the faculty of Education, University of Manitoba, in which the author defines “white privilege” as:

“an innate collection of favoured benefits or circumstances which are not earned, that have been granted to white people, who are often considered to be ‘the mainstream’ in Canada and the U.S. Thus, one is born into white privilege based on the colour of one’s skin and for no other apparent reason.”

In contrast, “white guilt” - as quoted by the paper's author from Shelby Steele (2006) – is:

“the vacuum of moral authority that comes from simply knowing that one’s race is associated with racism. Whites (and American institutions [and Canadian institutions, too]) must acknowledge historical racism to show themselves redeemed of it (p. 24).”

The paper continues: 

some white people who are apprised of their experiences of white privilege may feel badly about the intrinsic benefits they perceive that they obtain simply because they are ‘white’, and, to compensate for this, they are overly sensitive, extremely aware, or excessively tolerant toward non-whites.

Thus, the author does not see 'white guilt' an effective means to counterbalance the historical effects of racism perpetuated by the mainstream against those deemed to be 'coloured.' - See more here:

One commentary suggests the same idea - that white guilt is not effective in helping end “systemic racism,” for it can lead to avoidance of the primary issues altogether, as well as the manifestation of defense mechanisms, including denial, projection, intellectualization, and rationalization.

"[...]The point of identifying and exposing inconsistencies within the social systems and cultural norms of the United States isn’t to make whites feel guilty, but to garner greater empathy that will inspire change. The main problem with white guilt is that it attempts to diminish the spotlight aimed at issues germane to marginalized groups and redirects the focus to a wasteful plane of apologetics and ineffective assessment." - Read more here:

One article, though, has a different idea about how to white people can help combat racism, and it is not about making them feel guilty:

I think a far more effective method would be to challenge people to recognize their own racist behaviors—assuming they have them. That’s really the only way change can come about because racism is built on ideals and truly it’s not enough to just think, am I suspicious of black people or do I think they should be followed around in stores, it’s why do I think that way and how do I implement practices that reinforce my own privilege, like not hiring black people or voting for legislation that disadvantages them. - Read more here:

Questions for the readers: Share with us your thoughts.

What do you think of Dixon White's Racial Healing Challenge and its impact on the fight against racism?

What makes people wary of talking about racism?

To what extent is white guilt influential or not in efforts to end racism?

DiversityWorking.com, the largest diversity job board online, is a career opportunity resource and job search engine for the cultural diversity marketplace. Through DiversityWorking.com, you can post jobs for veterans who can readily fill your diversity and equal employment opportunity requirements. Visit DiversityWorking.com now.

Gay Marriage Ruling: Negative Implications

This last segment of a 3-part series presents some negative implications of the SC ruling on gay marriage from the perspectives of the Church and the faithful; children of same-sex couples, and economy experts.

The Church: Catholic and other Christian sects

The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a union between one man and one woman; it is both a natural and divine law. The Church also sees marriage as a sacrament instituted for the purpose of procreation – the begetting of children. Taking a position of “tolerant resistance,” it opposes same-sex marriage and here is why:

We are not opposed to same-sex “marriage” because we hate homosexuals. We don’t “hate fags”; nor do we believe that God does. We don’t judge a person’s heart simply because he or she is attracted to persons of the same sex. The official teaching of the Catholic Church says homosexual persons “must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided” (Catechism, 2358). ...However, when it comes to same-sex “marriage,” we are dealing not only with the question of homosexuality per se, but also of the Catholic sacraments. - Read more here:

 

Catholic Church leaders in the US believe the SC ruling will create problems and conflicts.

 

A very critical question – one which came about even before the SC ruling – is the so-called “Estridge Dilemmna:” what course of action should U.S. Catholic institutions chart when an employee publicly contradicts Church teaching by being a party to such a union? [...]with a report circulating this week that the Obama administration already has decided to make acceptance of LBGT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered) job applicants a condition for all federal grants made to faith-based groups, the “Estridge Dilemma” soon could be a problem that virtually every Catholic institution will face as they seek to live out their mission while keeping their religious identity intact. - Read more here:

 

Among the American Catholic faithful themselves, opinions vary, with some favoring the ruling and other standing firm on the Church's teachings and on biblical teachings on marriage.

The disparate opinions on the court's historic decision are indicative of how the issue has polarized people of faith across the nation.[...]Although the Catholic Church officially condemns same-sex marriage, Pope Francis has offered a more lenient view on gender identity, responding “Who am I to judge?” when asked about his views on homosexuality — a move that caused a stir not only among Catholics but worldwide. - Read more:

The NCR (National Catholic Reporter) has published an article which shares two differing op-eds – from among the several it has received, 

each of which calls for respect towards LGBT people, even if one is opposed to same sex marriage: "...magnanimity in defeat. But even more so: Draw a sharp distinction between the issue of gay marriage and whether or not gay people should be treated equitably in the marketplace, legal system or in society at large." (Patrick C. Beeman)

"...If the church hierarchy wants to witness the Spirit alive in LGBT people, it needs to listen to our stories of finding new life -- and deeper relationship with God -- as we strive to integrate our faith and sexuality." (Arthur Fitzmaurice) – Read more here:

 

Other Christian denominations likewise differ in opinions, with some suporting same-sex marriage, while others oppose. A new study recently made by the Barna Group has found that practicing Christians (28%) are far less likely than self-identified Christians (43%) to favor the Supreme Court ruling. […] Nearly all theologically defined evangelicals say they are not in favor of the Court’s decision (94%)—more than twice the proportion among the general population (43%) and even significantly more than the practicing Christians segment (66%). - Read more here:

The American Family: Children of Same-Sex Couples

Perhaps the main impact of the SC ruling on same sex marriage will be on the structure of the American family. Based on last year's Pew Research Center analysis of American Community Survey (ACS) and Decennial Census data, the traditional family structure in America has changed.

One of the largest shifts in family structure is this: 34% of children today are living with an unmarried parent—up from just 9% in 1960, and 19% in 1980. In most cases, these unmarried parents are single. However, a small share of all children—4%–are living with two cohabiting parents – or in a same-sex marriage. - Read more here:

However, what is also equally relevant to know is how children of same-sex couples feel about their family set-up.

In this article, 4 adult children exlain why they do not favor same-sex marriage. B.N. Klein, Robert Oscar Lopez, Dawn Stefanowicz, and Katy Faust all grew up with homosexual parents. All four argued that redefining marriage to include same-sex couples would harm children by depriving them of a mother or father. 

 

Here is another adult person who grew up in a same-sex household sharing her view: Growing up, and even into my 20s, I supported and advocated for gay marriage. It’s only with some time and distance from my childhood that I’m able to reflect on my experiences and recognize the long-term consequences that same-sex parenting had on me. And it’s only now, as I watch my children loving and being loved by their father each day, that I can see the beauty and wisdom in traditional marriage and parenting. - See more here:

From a gay person writing under a pseudonym, here is his view against same-sex marriage: “...I realized that the argument in support of gay marriage is predicated on one audaciously bald-faced lie: the lie that same-sex relationships are inherently equal to heterosexual relationships. It only takes a moment of objective thought to realize that the union of two men or two women is a drastically different arrangement than the union of a man and a woman. It’s about time we realize this very basic truth and stop pretending that all relationships are created equal.” - Read more here:

He also writes in the same article that many gays and lesbians are opposed to same-sex marriage, an even larger number are ambivalent, yet they are afraid to speak out because gay rights activists (most of whom are straight) have a history of viciously stamping out any trace of individualism within the gay community.

For opponents of same-sex marriage who fear the destruction of the traditional family structure, here can be another bothering issue. According to an article by the Christian Science Monitor, last week’s ruling for the legalization of same-sex marriage has spurred another marriage debate. Is America ready for legalized polygamy? - Read more: 

The Economy

It is generally recognized that the economy suffers when there is inequality and discrimination, thus diversity companies and businesses promote diversity and inclusion. Doing so helps companies attract, hire and retain the best talents, improve their bottom line, as well as contribute to economic progress of the nation. In light of the recently passed law on same-sex marriage, it is suggested that employers keep in mind important matters regarding the legal and tax treatment of same-sex unions, according to an article on the Wall Street Journal, or they may face discrimination lawsuits.

Freedom of Speech

Based on personal accounts - such as in one  of the accounts above, as well as comments on social media, there is a general fear of speaking out for one 's honest personal opinion, lest it would be construed as hate – from both sides of the fence, either in favor or against the new ruling. 

One such example wherein freedom of speech may be impaired is this story of a judge in Oregon [who] has issued a gag order denying two Christian bakery owners from speaking out against same sex marriage. - Read more here:

Caitlyn Jenner and the SC Ruling

Caitlyn Jenner's social popularity has soared even higher with her recent transitioning as a woman. Thus when she joined the annual Gay Pride March after the US Supreme Court’s landmark ruling to legalise gay marriage...she dazzled crowds. - See more here:

  

However, it was also noted that she still remained a Republican at heart – as this report says: Caitlyn may very well be “happy” with the changes the country is making, but she’s still playing the old boys’ political game. We’re told Cait is true to her Republican party and doesn’t want to come off sounding too Pro-Obama.

With all these diversity of views, opinions, stance concerning the legalization of same-sex marriage, it seems the Supreme Court decision has divided the nation; as to what extent, that remains to be seen.  It can be assumed that radical changes are afoot in the American society.

Let us know what you think about the SC ruling on same-sex marriage. How will this impact American society? What changes do you foresee?

What role can a social celebrity like Caitlyn Jenner have to steer a meaningful conversation on a divisive issue such as same-sex marriage?
  

DiversityWorking.com, the largest diversity job board online, is a career opportunity resource and job search engine for the cultural diversity marketplace. Through DiversityWorking.com, you can post jobs for veterans who can readily fill your diversity and equal employment opportunity requirements. Visit DiversityWorking.com now.

Impact of Gay Marriage Ruling on Religious Institutions and the Economy

This article is the 2^nd part of a three-part series on the Supreme Court ruling on same sex-marriage, and to give a clear understanding of the different aspects of the said ruling, here are some curated thoughts on how this will impact religious institutions and their religious freedom, whether or not it will lead to more legal battles. The article will also present what good the decision will bear on the economy. Diversity companies, who stand firm in their commitment to diversity and inclusion, are positive the decision will spur economic growth in the country.

Impact on Religious Freedom and Religious Institutions

A critical aspect of the new law is on how it will affect religious freedom, a point discussed by 4 SC justices in their dissenting opinion. The Atlantic noted in its article that as more and more states have legalized same-sex marriage, religious conservatives have expressed anxiety about attacks on religious freedom...But as Alito, Roberts, Scalia, and Thomas point out, this decision will almost certainly kick off a series of legal challenges related to religious liberty. The justices focus on three issues in particular, some of which have already created legal and political tussles: gay adoption; the tax-exempt status of religious organizations that wish to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation; and the obligation of private churches and individuals to recognize and perform same-sex marriages. - Read more here:

As expected, many religious leaders, including the Catholic Church and other Christian churches have expressed their discontent. Yet a smaller but equally impassioned group of evangelicals celebrated the fact that marriage equality is no longer just a dream for LGBT couples across America. And it's these leaders who may be pointing to the future of the movement. - Read more here:  See also:

 

In an article, the Pew Research Center presented crucial questions on how the ruling could affect religious institutions. Virtually everyone agrees that the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution offers some protections for religious groups.[...]But what about a church basement or retreat center, which is rented out for opposite-sex weddings? And what about a religiously affiliated institution, like a university, that offers married heterosexual students housing but refuses such accommodation for married gay and lesbian students? These questions have real-world implications, since virtually all American religious groups have affiliated nonprofits (such as schools, hospitals and charities).

This same article likewise presents some differing opinions from authorities. There are those who think the SC decision will not lead to widespread acrimony and legal battles; but University of Illinois law professor Robin Fretwell Wilson think institutions will be pressured to give ground on gay marriage by federal authorities (such as the Internal Revenue Service, which could take away an institution’s tax-exempt status), state civil rights commissions or private lawsuits. - Read more here:

Impact On the Economy 

Support for the SC ruling on gay marriage from the business sector is overwhelming, news from different sources show.

An article on the Wall Street Journal reads: Ahead of the Supreme Court hearing arguments on the case, 379 companies, including Apple Inc., Hilton Hotels and Walt Disney Co. filed an amicus brief in support of legalizing same-sex marriage. As news spread of the Supreme Court’s decision many of the companies that were part of the brief took to social media. As of Friday afternoon, there were more than 1.8 million tweets mentioning #lovewins, the top trending hashtag about the Supreme Court decision, according to Topsy, a social analytics company. - See more here:

In this video by USA Today, Janice Cowhey, a partner at Marcum, says there are financial implications for individuals and businesses. While generally positive about how the ruling is going to impact the economy, such as in terms of how the marriage industry is going to boom, she says businesses and individuals are going to start to think about a lot of things now.

A report by Fortune also notes a potential economic boon brought about by the SC decision on same-sex marriage: In an article last year, the Washington Post estimated that the decision could prove to be a $2.6 billion economic windfall in the next three years when passed across the U.S. That figure, which was calculated by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, sees the majority of its money coming from states including California, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Washington, the publication reported at the time. - Read more here   

In sum, on one hand, legal battles regarding religious freedom of religious institutions that are against same-sex marriage may ensue. On the other hand, while it is a period of adjustments for companies that are in support of the ruling, as well as for LGBT couples, the economy is seen to benefit from it.

DiversityWorking.com, the largest job board online, is a career opportunity resource and job search engine for the cultural diversity marketplace. Through DiversityWorking.com, you can post jobs for veterans who can readily fill your diversity and equal employment opportunity requirements. Visit DiversityWorking.com now.