20% of female firefighters suffer from these alarming mental health effects

20% of female firefighters suffer from these alarming mental health effects20% of female firefighters suffer from these alarming mental health effectsFirefighters are known for their bravery. But it takes a toll on them especially for women firefighters, according to the findings of a study of a large, big-city fire department by researchers from the University of Houston.Twenty percent of female firefighters were found to show signs of post-traumatic stress disorder more frequently than their male counterparts, as well as have a higher risk of suicidal thoughts than the men in the department.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreThe data was based on 2,639 firefighters, with just 75 of them being women. Approximately 20% of the women firefighters showed signs of PTSD, and 30% of them reported suicidal thoughts. These problems tended to appear mid-career.The studys lead author, Consu elo Arbona, University of Houston prof of counseling psychology, says it was time that women firefighters were looked at more closely .Because women are such a small number of the population in each fire station, they have been somewhat overlooked when they are included in larger studies and their unique issues lost, Arbona said in a release. This study begins to explore work and mental health characteristics of women firefighters who make up a population that needs better understanding.One component that may contribute to declining mental health in women firefighters is that they often take on second jobs to earn enough money.Women who had second jobs tended to show higher levels of stress, possibly due to having children at home, said Arbona.A shocking statistic in 2007 in the United States, 100 firefighters committed suicide, while fewer 93 died in the line of duty.The study was published in the journal Occupational Medicine.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 ritual s that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

The Challenges and Rewards of Recruiting Generation Y

The Challenges and Rewards of Recruiting Generation YThe Challenges and Rewards of Recruiting Generation YThe Challenges and Rewards of Recruiting Generation Y Charney, Social Media Engagement ManagerThe first thing you should know about recruiting Generation Y? According to pioneering generational researchers William Strauss and Neil Howe, workers born between 1982-2000 actually prefer to be called Millennials.That nuance illustrates the essential element to recruiting and attracting the best Millennial talent effective communications that speak to and understand their language and values.Millennials and Social Media UseWhile its no secret that communication is increasingly facilitated by social tools and technologies, social networkingis particularly relevant for Millennials.According to the Pew Internet Foundations 2010 Future of the Internet report, fully 75% of Millennials maintain an active presence on social media sites, compared to only 41% of the total online bevlkerung they are as likely to consume a daily blog as a daily newspaper.The ubiquity of social media recruitingputs the onus on your staffing firm to deliver a clear, compelling message that speaks to this generations expectations about work and life, and how they should be combined.These changing expectations present the staffing industry with a unique opportunity to fill the requisitions of today with the talent of tomorrow.Like any recruiting relationship, however, creating and executing a strategy involves an understanding of the mindset and motivations of the professionals youre looking to place.If those professionals are Millennials, that means rethinking, and reframing, many of the pervasive misperceptions about Generation Y.The End of the Trophy GenerationWhile theyre commonly referred to as The Trophy Generation, the expectation of entitlement for many Millennials stopped at about the same time that they obtained their often inordinately expensive college degrees, entering one of the worst job markets on record.In July 2010, youth unemployment reached 19.1%, the highest rate ever recorded since the statistic started being tracked in 1948 according to FinAid, the average student loan debt among students graduating with a four year degree was $23,186.These factors have forced a shift from career idealism to career pragmatism for many Millennials, any job is a good job.For staffing firms, this means having a highly skilled, highly educated pool of available candidates who are likely to take assignments that more experienced workers might not accept, at salaries that are more competitive and aligned with current market conditions.Thats not to say Gen Y candidates are easily exploited in fact, its key for staffing professionals to add value to the recruiting conversation.Doing so for emerging workers is easy no matter what the outcome or staffing decision, provide them with feedback, coaching and a clear understanding of the hiring process.This will also help make them more informed job seekers and better candidates.The Social Media ConnectionSocial media marketingoffers an efficient and effective way to stay connected with Gen Y candidates and track their career progression while keeping them on your radar, should the right opportunity arise.Sharing job search tips and career content via Facebook or Twitter, whether original or repurposed, gives the candidate the incentive to stay active and engaged with your company brand.Consider providing content thats worth sharing with their wider network of their friends, who are likely to also be Gen Y talentand potential candidates.The key for recruitersis to present opportunities as learning experiences and help Gen Y candidates understand how these roles can translate into a career or at least, the next step on the ladder.Focusing on the big picture is important, but the details are what really matters. Showcase success stories through social networks featuring real Gen Y worker create compellin g evidence about what to expect and how to exceed those expectations.Blogsand short YouTube videos are great ways to extend your message and reach while targeting the mediums that Millennials use (and trust) most.Check out the Infographic Who Is More Entrepreneurial Minded Gen Y, Gen X or Boomers?

The Thrill of Interning at SpaceX

The Thrill of Interning at SpaceX The Thrill of Interning at SpaceX Jonathan Sanders welches a newbie when it came to internships. But the first he landed welches one dreams are made of, and it turned out to be the experience and opportunity of a lifetime.The Missouri University of Science Technology engineering student spent the summer of 2012 interning at SpaceX and reveled in the excitement surrounding the nine-day voyage of its Dragon spacecraft, the first commercial vehicle to attach to the International Space Station.A double major in mechanical engineering and aerospace at Missouri Tech, Sanders likes to say it was his speaking skills that opened the door for him, but it was obviously his engineering skills that made him stand out and has already secured a place for him there again next summer.Because of Sanders experience as a entwurfer on winning teams in the annual ASME philanthropisch Powered Vehicle Challenge (HPVC) college competition, he was assigned to SpaceXs manufac turing and engineering area, a division of the structures department, where knowledge of design is valuable. A double major in aerospace engineering and mechanical engineering, Sanders has been a member of the Missouri Tech HPVC team since he was a freshman and is the teams fairing designer.Designing ToolsAt SpaceX (officially Space Exploration Technologies Corp.), he was assigned a variety of projects, particularly those involving the design of tools needed for the production of the Dragon capsule, such as a tool for the Dragon capsule to sit on during production. The tool needed to improve on the shortcomings of the previous one, which was too tall and not a convenient shape, he says.Sanders, who is starting his senior year at Missouri Tech, also was able to complete a lot of projects for which full-timers just didnt have time. They will be needed in the future but werent urgent, he notes.Jonathan Sanders (second from the right) and his colleagues at SpaceX. Photo courtesy of Jona than Sanders.When asked to describe his overall experience, his responses are peppered with superlatives. It was absolutely the best job I ever had in my life, he says. I loved it there.The excitement at the company in May during the first mission of a privately owned spacecraft that just began delivering cargo to space and perhaps eventually provide transportation for astronauts was hard for him to put into words. During launch and splashdown, everything at the entire company stopped, he says.All at mission control were holding their breath. As soon as the space station grabbed hold of Dragon and at splashdown, youve never heard a louder cheer. People were hugging each other and yelling and congratulating everyone, he adds.He explained that SpaceX hires some 75 interns each year with a goal of filling a demanding pipeline for full-time employees The company is growing so rapidly, Sanders says. When I graduate, I would love to work there, and my choice would be in the propulsion dep artment.As for what he learned, he said he doesnt even know where to begin. This was the first internship Ive ever had so I went in not knowing what to expect. One of the biggest things was about work flow, he says, adding that SpaceX is somewhat atypical compared to other aerospace companies it is much less bureaucratic with much less paperwork and formality.SpaceX works very hard to keep the atmosphere casual and loose, keeping people comfortable but very productive, he says.Sanders also learned many new software skills andprocesses that go on in the aerospace industry, especially related to rockets. It opened up new avenues for production methods that I am applying to my design teams at school that I didnt know existed as well as new materials, he says.Building on Past ExperienceHe notes that his design team experience with human-powered vehicles was something that gave him a leg up at SpaceX, especially what he had learned through working in a team environment and on tight deadl ines. It was very useful, and thats why I was in the manufacturing and engineering environment, he says.He chuckles when asked how he landed the internship, which all started with a speech he was asked to make at a ceremony at the opening of Missouri Techs new design center that honored a major alumni donor. That went over so well, he was chosen to make another presentation at another major event honoring top alumni. There, an attendee impressed with his speech chatted with him, asked what he wanted to do and then asked for his resume. It was networking at its best. Sanders says he never thought anything would come of it, but within a few weeks he was called by a recruiter and within another few weeks, he received an offer.He believes there has never a better time since the Apollo mission to be entering the space industry as an engineer. People are hiring, he observes.Its a space race again its a different kind of space race. But its a space race nonetheless and everybody is trying to get the best people on board that they can.Nancy Giges is an independent writer.All at mission control were holding their breath. As soon as the space station grabbed hold of Dragon and at splashdown, youve never heard a louder cheer.Jonathan Sanders, SpaceX 2012 summer intern