Where ambitious young professionals connect and grow

Cassandra Jowett
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Editor, TalentEgg.ca
Marketing
Fans (36)
Groups (22)

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Rebecca Thorman Do you make more money than your parents? I still remember the awe my mother had when I surpassed her salary just out of college. I hope someday I can help take care of her. The trend is that women are making more (unless they're not educated), and men are not (unless they're highly educated). http://bit.ly/d0vhwV

83 weeks ago from Salary - Negotiating & More

Becky Benishek: That's an interesting trend about women making more unless they're not educated. My mom is officially retired but still working 2 days a week for ...MoreThat's an interesting trend about women making more unless they're not educated. My mom is officially retired but still working 2 days a week for pocket change. It's a good thing in more than one way that she's retirement age, because while she has loads of experience, she only has a high school diploma because that's all you used to need. And as we know, higher degrees tend to be favored over loads of experience (and the age that comes with it) these days.
80 weeks ago
Susan: @Becky - It depends on the company and position. Employers do not necessarily need or desire an advanced degree from a candidate. And it would be ...More@Becky - It depends on the company and position. Employers do not necessarily need or desire an advanced degree from a candidate. And it would be unwise and downright illegal to rule out a candidate due to their age (or race or sex or religion). While the younger generations favor a youth oriented environment, the older professionals may indeed desire colleagues with more experience, and those who fit into the culture of the company.
36 weeks ago
Cassandra Jowett: I didn't know I wanted to work for a start-up until I started working for one. I had never given it any thought.

I suppose some people would see ...More
I didn't know I wanted to work for a start-up until I started working for one. I had never given it any thought.

I suppose some people would see some of the things I experienced as negative, but I loved it.

During my first summer as an intern (two years ago now!!), three of us sat in one cubicle, back-to-back. We rented space from an accounting firm for the longest time and felt kind of uncomfortable because we were very start-up-y and Gen Y and they were...well...accountants.

When I came on as a full-time employee after graduating, my salary was small and we didn't have health benefits, but with a little bit of patience, that has changed significantly. As the company grows, so does my own career.

And I'm not a founder, so perhaps I don't have any of the fame or glory, but I know in my heart that I have helped build something amazing and successful and sustainable. And the founder of the company knows it too!

78 weeks ago
Trace Cohen: @Cassandra

You are a great example of the perfect start-up employee. You have passion and determination that while you are not the founder, you ...More
@Cassandra

You are a great example of the perfect start-up employee. You have passion and determination that while you are not the founder, you know that your work is meaningful and take pride in it.

78 weeks ago
 
Rebecca Thorman What do you all think about co-habitation prior to marriage? Everyone I know seems to be moving in together or already living together, although I've always had the romantic notion that I would wait until engagement/marriage. Is that outdated now?

84 weeks ago from Work/Life Blur, I am Gen Y and Ask Penelope Trunk!1 more

Heather Dziczek: @Raquel- It's not a matter of being angry or flustered. I enjoy debate, but in order to have an effective debate, debaters need to listen. I'm ...More@Raquel- It's not a matter of being angry or flustered. I enjoy debate, but in order to have an effective debate, debaters need to listen. I'm not worried about Ty thinking ill of my opinion, but he's reacting without reading and blowing out of proportion things I'm saying. When I replied to try to explain that he'd misconstrued my point, he (ironically) replied saying that I wasn't getting his point. I don't think that re-explaining what I've already explained will somehow seduce Ty into considering other points of view or thinking critically about what is being said, so instead of arguing with a brick wall, I remove myself from the debate. That's all :)
81 weeks ago
Rebecca Thorman: Hi everyone. Wanted to give you a quick update. Thank you again for all your wonderful comments. I did ultimately decide to move in with my ...MoreHi everyone. Wanted to give you a quick update. Thank you again for all your wonderful comments. I did ultimately decide to move in with my boyfriend. I published a post on it this morning - http://bit.ly/9LiSsw - I read each and every one of your comments and took each to heart, and appreciated you taking the time to have such a smart dialogue!
79 weeks ago
 
Rebecca Thorman I took some last-minute time off last week, but I still came in for a meeting last Thursday. Coming in for the meeting made me realize how lucky I was to have such a great job that was flexible and understanding. I was so happy to be working with such great people. Is your workplace and boss/ co-workers understanding? Do they let you have freedom if you get the job done? How can we better encourage workplaces like this?

80 weeks ago from The Boss-Employee Relationship, Working w/ Colleagues and Co-Workers, Inspiring Leadership, Employee Benefits and Company Culture3 more

Cassandra Jowett: My boss and co-workers are extremely understanding and accommodating for the rare occasions that I need to take time off work. However, we've ...MoreMy boss and co-workers are extremely understanding and accommodating for the rare occasions that I need to take time off work. However, we've developed a foundation of trust and teamwork and we know we can count on each other. That also means that if I'm taking time off I should make myself as accessible as possible, whether that's responding to urgent emails and phone calls or trying to squeeze a few hours of work in. We're a very small team so it doesn't go unnoticed when someone is absent.
80 weeks ago
Pamila Harris-Carlini: The comments I've read to this point give me hope that "teamwork" hasn't been totally abandoned. I am not in the workforce at this time and my ...MoreThe comments I've read to this point give me hope that "teamwork" hasn't been totally abandoned. I am not in the workforce at this time and my last position was at a company that believed in maximum face-time (although they preached work/life balance) and I'm looking forward to getting back into a company where employees are valued!
80 weeks ago
 
Ryan Paugh I've always been fascinated by all of the ways we can use Social Media in the classroom. Awhile back (probably 2-3 years now) I had a conversation with a High School teacher about integrating Social Media into their curriculum. I told her that starting a classroom blog might be a cool idea. She had a lot of reservations because School Boards were throwing red tape all over internet use in schools. Are school teachers still facing this much push back? Has any progress been made?

83 weeks ago from Social Media for Education, Education and Education Conversations1 more

Christina: This is the link to the video I mentioned earlier @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WPVWDkF7U8
83 weeks ago
Will Deyamport, III, MSEd: It depends on the school. Some schools are open to using Social Media, while some see no use for it. It is a shame that schools even have to be ...MoreIt depends on the school. Some schools are open to using Social Media, while some see no use for it. It is a shame that schools even have to be shown the benefits of Social Media - especially, since Social Media fits into the philosophy and practices of John Dewey.
80 weeks ago
 
wendy aron When I got my book publishing deal I thought I had been delivered. Delivered to the poor house was more like it. My small, independent publisher went bankrupt one year after my publication date, and I never received any royalties from them. All told, I spent more money on my book than I made. Certainly, being a published author was not like I dreamed it would be. What career did you choose and how has it been different than you dreamed it would be when you were first starting out?

81 weeks ago from What I Wish I Knew Then

Pete Collins: Currently I'm an environmental consultant and I thought this was going to be *IT*. I thought I'd be gathering and analysing data in order to ...MoreCurrently I'm an environmental consultant and I thought this was going to be *IT*. I thought I'd be gathering and analysing data in order to understand and solve environmental problems. I'm not. I'm mainly writing environmental management plans for Network Rail, which isn't really what I envisaged. Still, it has given me a really good insight into how a country keeps itself running, and how a lot of mundane work builds up to create an absolutely critical system. Might be time to move on soon though...
81 weeks ago
wendy aron: Hi Barbie, When I was in elementary school my plan was actually to sell pencils on Wall St. Another dream squashed by technology!
81 weeks ago
 
Ryan Paugh Big city or small city? Where do you prefer to live and work? I've always leaned towards smaller places, but I'm thinking that the next city I live in might end up being larger than I am used to. When it comes to career opportunities I tend to think that big cities have more advantages. There are more opportunities from a social standpoint too. Still, I like the simplicity of living in a smaller city and I'd probably miss that. Which do you prefer?

82 weeks ago from Relocation and JobSTART 101

Leena Chugh: I moved to the Twin cities from a big city and love it here. Though I miss the fast life on some days but most days I am really happy that I live ...MoreI moved to the Twin cities from a big city and love it here. Though I miss the fast life on some days but most days I am really happy that I live in peace and there is no rush, no pushing, no rowdy people or no loud noises and traffic. It's like living in a village to me, with all necessary facilities available. Minneapolis is also lucky to be blessed with several corporates, so job opportunities are good enough.
81 weeks ago
Helen Baxter: I prefer smaller cities having lived in Bristol in the UK, Auckland and now Wellington, New Zealand. It is so much easier to network, have ...MoreI prefer smaller cities having lived in Bristol in the UK, Auckland and now Wellington, New Zealand. It is so much easier to network, have meetings and collaborate.
81 weeks ago
 

81 weeks ago

 
TOP IDEA: Cassandra Jowett I think I was able to somewhat skip the "entry-level track" by starting my career with a start-up. I went from intern to "upper management" or whatever you want to call it -- one level below the boss and managing entry-level employees, interns and volunteers -- within less than a year. I like a lot of responsibility and I love managing people (ahem, control freak), so it's been a great experience. I think I would have floundered in a traditional "entry-level" job.

83 weeks ago from Entry-Level Young Professionals

Dr. Woody: I think it's great that you parlayed an internship into a career opportunity! This is often missed!
82 weeks ago
Nick Messina: Cassandra that is an amazing achievement and you should be proud. As an entry-level candidate languishing in the online job search, I am leaning ...MoreCassandra that is an amazing achievement and you should be proud. As an entry-level candidate languishing in the online job search, I am leaning more towards launching my own business and/or locating a small firm to join.
82 weeks ago
 
Cassandra Jowett Just logged into the #Brazen webinar with @GuyKawasaki (http://ow.ly/29iai) ... waiting for it to start. Still time to join!

82 weeks ago from

 
Cassandra Jowett RT @allisonmcneely: I just joined #Brazen Careerist. Not sure how to leverage it yet/who to follow/what discussions to join. Suggestions?

83 weeks ago from

 
Tyler Durbin We've never done this before in this network so I'd like to make a twitter list of people from this network. Post your twitter handle below if you want to be included!

84 weeks ago from GenYJourney: Tips, Insights, Experiences For Young Professionals

Dave Salamack: @dsalamack
83 weeks ago
Sean Masters: @SeanMMasters
83 weeks ago
 
Ryan Paugh Laurie Ruettimann does an awesome job of explaining what you need to do if you want to land a Community Manager job >> http://bit.ly/9SEsRT She talks about the importance of volunteering as Community Leaders and doing other things for free to build your skills and credibility. How often did you guys do stuff for free when you were getting started? I STILL do a lot of things for free. What about you? What else did Laurie miss? What should Community Manager wannabes put on their resumes?

83 weeks ago from Community Managers

Cassandra Jowett: I definitely think volunteering to do meaningful work in that field is a must. While you can link your education and other work experiences to ...MoreI definitely think volunteering to do meaningful work in that field is a must. While you can link your education and other work experiences to being a community manager, there are probably very few direct connections, so getting some real experience under your belt, paid or unpaid, is super important.

To answer your second question, I don't think a blog is a must-have for a community manager. However, blogging about the industry you want to work in is always a plus. Wannabe community managers could blog about the very issues we're discussing here and be seen as intelligent conversation-starters by potential employers.

83 weeks ago
Adam Chernow: I don't think that a blog is an automatic necessity. A person being considered for a Community Manager needs to have a track record of being able ...MoreI don't think that a blog is an automatic necessity. A person being considered for a Community Manager needs to have a track record of being able to manage, not create. Let's see them be a mod of a forum, or maintainer of a facebook page. That would hold more weight than a blog, in my opinion.
83 weeks ago
 
Elysa Rice what would you say is the most unique part of your company culture?

85 weeks ago from Company Culture

Cassandra Jowett: I think the most unique thing about our company culture is just how flat our management hierarchy is. Things are very democratic and ...MoreI think the most unique thing about our company culture is just how flat our management hierarchy is. Things are very democratic and collaborative, and input from interns is valued just as much as the founder's. Even among other small businesses, I think we're pretty unique.
85 weeks ago
Elysa Rice: Rebecca - I love the animal idea. I wonder where the CEO originally came up with the idea.

Cassandra - I'd say our company is similar in that ...More
Rebecca - I love the animal idea. I wonder where the CEO originally came up with the idea.

Cassandra - I'd say our company is similar in that everyone's vote counts.

85 weeks ago
 
JR Moreau When your work/life blurs, what's the first thing that you let go of? Sleep? Workout? Your relationships? What are the trade-offs for you?

106 weeks ago from Work/Life Blur

Jess Lundie: Another vote for apartment/house. It starts with one or two piles. But then the piles start oozing together and take on a life of their own, ...MoreAnother vote for apartment/house. It starts with one or two piles. But then the piles start oozing together and take on a life of their own, eventually expanding across all flat surfaces until they have taken over everything.
106 weeks ago
Rebecca Thorman: Workout for me, and then relationships, and oftentimes my condo as well. Although it's hard for me to function when my place is messy. With such ...MoreWorkout for me, and then relationships, and oftentimes my condo as well. Although it's hard for me to function when my place is messy. With such limited hours in the day, it's hard for me to fit everyone in my life, even though that's the most important. I guess I'm still learning there!
106 weeks ago
 
Zack Zaban The "Save for Web" option on Photoshop is great for web design. It drastically reduces the time it takes for you photos to load. Also, Adobe Fireworks is a great tool that integrates functionality from Photoshop and Illustrator. It's geared towards people who need to edit image assets (backgrounds, logos, menu buttons) for web sites.

113 weeks ago from Photoshop

Vicki Boykis: Thanks for the tip. I actually just used this yesterday to upload a file to my site since I discovered IE6 doesn't support CMYK, only RGB.
113 weeks ago
Cassandra Jowett: CMYK should really only be used for printing; RGB is the standard on the web.
112 weeks ago
 
Cassandra Jowett In case any Torontonians are interested, Julie Tyios (@JulieTyios), Christine Lu (@lu_christine) and I will be chatting about entrepreneurship, the dreaded job hunt, internships and volunteering this Thurs., Dec. 10 at Scotland Yard on The Esplanade. You can buy your tickets online (http://leagueofkickassunder30beerup.eventbrite.com) or at the door. Hope to see you there!

113 weeks ago from Canada

 
Cassandra Jowett I'm not a guru, but I'm definitely at least a long-term intermediate user. I've been using Photoshop for almost 10 years and I get by. I definitely don't use many of the advanced functions, but I'm comfortable enough with the interface that I can figure it out using tutorials.

113 weeks ago from Photoshop

Vicki Boykis: Hey Cassandra, thanks for joining. How did you learn Photoshop initially? Via book/program or just poking around?
113 weeks ago
Cassandra Jowett: Trial and error, for sure. "Back in the day" there were some tutorials, but they certainly weren't as numerous as they are today. I really started ...MoreTrial and error, for sure. "Back in the day" there were some tutorials, but they certainly weren't as numerous as they are today. I really started just downloading and playing around with funky brush sets to create interesting graphics (clearly I led a very interesting life as a teen).
113 weeks ago
 
Vicki Boykis Here's my question as a beginning Photoshop user: what's the difference between Elements and Photoshop?

113 weeks ago from Photoshop

Cassandra Jowett: If you're a beginner, I'd say the most important difference is the price! If you're not a pro, I'd definitely recommend going with Elements. Most ...MoreIf you're a beginner, I'd say the most important difference is the price! If you're not a pro, I'd definitely recommend going with Elements. Most of the functionalities I use on a day-to-day basis (basic photo editing) with the full version of Photoshop now are comparable with the functionality of the super old copy of Elements I have on my desktop at home.
113 weeks ago
Benjamin Jancewicz: Totally agree. And I would say (odd for this group) that if you want to go even cheaper... download Google's Picasa for free. It has most of the ...MoreTotally agree. And I would say (odd for this group) that if you want to go even cheaper... download Google's Picasa for free. It has most of the functionality of Elements, and organizes photos better.

Kinda works like this:

Picasa - Decaf
Elements - Regular
Photoshop - Expresso
Photoshop Extended - Expresso Triple with extra sugar and shot of Red Bull.

:)

113 weeks ago
 
Chris(tina) Brady How did you get your foot in the paid door? I don't know how many other people are experiencing the kind of problems I am--just graduated and no one wants to hire or even talk to me, plus none of my classes ever talked about HOW to get a job--but I would love to know how you got started.

118 weeks ago from Journalism and Journalists

Caitlin Fitzsimmons: Having said that, I know a lot of editors say they will look favourably on candidates who have their own blogs and are already writing the type of ...MoreHaving said that, I know a lot of editors say they will look favourably on candidates who have their own blogs and are already writing the type of stories they want to write for their own blogs. It gives you an edge, shows off your work, and shows passion for a subject. I hope that helps.
107 weeks ago
Caitlin Fitzsimmons: @Brad If you want to freelance, you should pay for MediaBistro's Avant Guild and read the excellent "how to pitch" and "pitches that worked" articles.
107 weeks ago
 
Meghan Skiff Hey guys! I'm working on something one of Buddy Hobart's upcoming media appearances on Gen Y Now (www.genynow.com). We talk an awful lot about Boomers' prejudices toward us, but do any of you think we exhibit certain prejudices toward boomers? If so, please share! Thanks for your help!

118 weeks ago from I am Gen Y

: How about including GenXers in the process?
118 weeks ago
Jennie White: (Sorry posted that under the wrong reply!) I think Gen Y is constantly blaming Gen X for being too uptight. It creates a huge divide, Gen Y is ...More(Sorry posted that under the wrong reply!) I think Gen Y is constantly blaming Gen X for being too uptight. It creates a huge divide, Gen Y is fun, Gen X is boring. Think about it though, what about that fun uncle you have? The boss who goes out with you for after work drinks? It's just a stereotype.
118 weeks ago
 
JR Moreau According to a few of my uncles I'll become a conservative in exactly 5 years when I turn thirty. Anyone else get this?

124 weeks ago from I am Gen Y

Cassandra Jowett: I can get pretty confrontational about my liberal, non-religious views at family events when members of my family bash everything I stand for. I ...MoreI can get pretty confrontational about my liberal, non-religious views at family events when members of my family bash everything I stand for. I am effectively patted on the head and told that my points of view will change as I get older and pay more taxes and encounter more annoying liberals who are more extreme than me. However, I'm pretty confident in my politics and I sincerely doubt it.
118 weeks ago
: I'm 30 and Conservative.
118 weeks ago
 
Cassandra Jowett What's everyone doing for Canada Day?

136 weeks ago from Canada

Mehnaz Thawer: Probably heading over to ole Canada Place for some daytime festivities :)
136 weeks ago
Interests
blogging, photography, animals, gardening, writing, daydreaming, learning
Goals
  1. Write every day
  2. Be passionate about life
  3. Laugh a lot
  4. Keep growing and learning
Favorite Quote
The artist is the phoenix who burns to emerge. - White Oleander by Janet Fitch
Specialties
journalism, reporting, writing, editing, coaching, social media, Generation Y, student and new grad careers, blogging

Groups (22)

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journalism.jpg
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Fans (36)

Elysa Rice
Monica Carol Evans
Lindsey Donner
JR Moreau
Lance
JenG
Kirk A. Norris
Website Designer
Maria Pontikis
FAITH

Following (12)

Maria Pontikis
Penelope Trunk
TalentEgg Incubator
Olga K
Adam Moffat
Emily Jasper
Ryan Paugh
Ryan Healy
Lauren Friese
Rebecca Thorman