Cleavage career guides

I have a weird tag for some of the business/career books that I come across that are written for women, but seem to have more to do with how much cleavage we show (toe or otherwise) than our skills and capabilities. Reading these books make me all nostalgic for the day the the boys discovered bra straps and a new way to bully girls. Next up, slut shaming, in which all participate.

I want to say no one depends on their boobs to get ahead, but Pamela Anderson springs to mind. And not all boobs (or biceps, for that matter) mesmerize equally: there is usually some cunning and social engineering involved on the part of the person attached to the sexy flesh.


Some of these books may have some good advice interspersed with Wonder Bra and cosmetic surgery ads. So, I call them cleavage career guides and let you make up your own mind.

Recently, there was a some chatter about a tip sheet that was supposed distributed within Citibank, adopted from a book called Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office. Jezebel spurned it. Cynical Girl (former Punk Rock HR) wrote a sorta defense of Citibank and the book.

The problem is this: masculine and feminine behaviors are perceptions, which means they exist in our minds, either as we project them or receive them. This doesn't mean that we turn off our biological sex, but people project some of their perceptions on to us and we roleplay back. These behaviors are also dependent on culture. You might think you are a feminine cheesecake in North America, but you may seem pretty beefy beyond these borders.

My hearty handshake and aggressive humor do not make me a male--but some people perceive these behaviors as masculine. If they are really smart, they will skip the category. The brisk handshaking does come with bored hair twirling.

Do we really need rules about how to behave and where to put our eyeballs? Sometimes, because we are creatures that need rules. But they should be applied fairly to individuals, not to categories.

Hiring Outlook Positive (for graduating class) according to NACE

According to NACE the outlook for new college grads is better than last year, based on the data for their 2011 survey. Their numbers of survey respondents are low, but the amount of hiring that these respondents do is impressive, so it is good news, if only a forecast.

Young, childless women make more than men

This came my way via BNET, but that article had a weird analysis with suggesting how to appeal to these young womens' wallets.

The firm that conducted the research, Reach Advisors, provides more of the popular press reaction to their study.

Gallery of Best Resumes for People Without a Four-Year Degree by David F. Noble

Part of a series of Gallery of...resume and cover letter resume writing advice, Gallery of Best Resumes for People Without a Four-Year Degree is written for people who have extensive industry experience, who have an associate or two-year degree, or who are competing for a position where a four-year degree isn't necessary and they may have some other type of certification. Students who are transitioning from high school to college or if they are looking for an internship will also find useful advice in this book. There are plenty of jobs, as Noble rightly points out, where a four-year degree is not necessary (such as paralegal) and the assumption shouldn't be made that everyone who uses this book is a college drop out. Samples include senior and mid- level administrators, law enforcement and emergency services professionals, real estate and construction professionals to name only a few of the industries represented in this book.

The book also includes unusual examples, such as the sample resume for a two-person team that worked as apartment managers. This is the first of this type of resume that I have ever seen, but I am sure that in this industry there are many "teams" of managers that could advertise their services on the same document.

There is also basic resume formatting and grammar advice for cover letters presented in a simple point-by -point style. The resume writers that submitted resumes are all identified in the back of the book so the reader can check them out for additional information or to engage their resume writing services if they wished.

Systems and Digital Resources Librarian

This one is from the American Association of Law Libraries Career Center. It popped up in my Tweetdeck auto search for librarian AND job

Systems and Digital Resources Librarian
Department: Law Library Center (208)
Department Number: 208
Location: Morningside
Summary Description: The Arthur W. Diamond Law Library of Columbia University invites applications and nominations for the position of Systems and Digital Resources Librarian.This position has primary responsibility for leading the selection, migration and implementation of a new, preferably open source, library system while managing the effective use of the library's current electronic resources, services and systems.

Reporting to the Head of Technical Services, the Systems and Digital Resources Librarian will:

• Lead the selection, migration and implementation of a new library system.
• Ensure the effective administration, coordination and provision of support for all aspects of existing library automation and operating technology.
• Continue development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure accurate acquisitions and monitoring of electronic resources.
• Coordinate the continued development and maintenance of a library website that responds to the needs of library patrons for the dynamic delivery of library content and services.
• Educate and assist the Law Library staff in implementing appropriate technology to enhance fulfillment of its mission.

One of the world's leading research universities, Columbia provides outstanding opportunities to work and grow in a unique intellectual community. Set in the Morningside Heights academic village, Columbia also presents the unmatched dynamism, diversity and cultural richness of New York City. The University Libraries, grounded in collections of remarkable depth and breadth, are also building extensive electronic resources and services. The Libraries at Columbia are committed to collegiality, professionalism, innovation and leadership.

We offer a salary commensurate with qualifications and experience and excellent benefits including 100% Columbia tuition exemption for self and family and assistance with University housing. Columbia will also pay 50% tuition for your dependent child who is a candidate for an undergraduate degree at another accredited college or university.
School/Institute/Unit: Libraries
Minimum Degree Required: MLS or PhD or equivalent

Minimum Qualifications:

All applicants MUST meet these minimum qualifications to be considered for the position. The ideal candidate for this position will be an enthusiastic, well-organized librarian with the experience and ability to work in a large, academic law library environment with staff at many different levels of technical capability. In addition, he or she will have an ALA-accredited MLS, or equivalent combination of education & experience; knowledge of electronic legal information sources; the ability to manage an ILS migration and the library's electronic resources services; strong background with technology including experience with scripting languages such as Python, Perl or Ruby; knowledge of library metadata , including harvesting and repurposing of existing data; excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional work experience in an academic law library;
• experience building web applications;
• familiarity with open source content management such as Drupal;
• knowledge of electronic resources management and its integration into workflow;
• JD or equivalent experience with the unique content and research needs of the law school community.

Additional Information:
Posting Date: 09-13-2010
Closing Date: Open Until Filled