Qualifications requested rise inproportional to the Understanding and Appreciation shown

In quite a few ways the jobmarket of America and Germany are equally,..well, "special". Both have a lot of young people in extremely low paid jobs - graduates trying to get into jobs to pay for the daily bread, roof and student loans which asked to be paid back. NBCNews' Article from Mon 15th April shows just that. Yet it always lays open how the grade and value of education will rise, but the chances to make something good out of it as in getting a well paid job are little within the first three years after graduating. In good ol'Germany as well as Uncle Sams' Land.

The High School degree, here called Abitur, once available and possible for the good ones is now available and (fairly) possible for most German teens. In order to even get a job be silent a place at a university such degree is manditory. Regarding a colleague of mine who has two completed apprenticeships featured on her résumé sure is not helping her to get a more fulfilling and better paid job. Actually it is still tainted with misunderstand and non-appreciation which I find personally very pity. Or another person I know having her diploma and getting no job as academic at all.

But there we are, us Human Resourcer, recruiting only university and college students not allowed to pay attention to other applicants who may be just as qualified for the vacancy as one in his end-twenties who just earned his diploma or master. Even in Germany the Bologna-Reforma sure didnt bring its highly praised success (yet).

The raising level of qualification-request is understandable considering the development of technology and co. Nevertheless it upsets me how applicants with the courage to having worked several jobs, studying what one is passionate about and even pays attention to work related matters while free time are offered the status as interns only. Once again. Even after six years of studies, three internships and urge to have a stable income one can live from without financial support from mommy and daddy. However, appreciation only comes when accompanying understanding. For most Human Resourcersand straight-ahead-career-makers with the responsibilty of interviewing applicants ignorance is bliss indeed too often.

With hope for more understanding and appreciation,

aloha

"ARRRRRRRRRRRGH" - yup, me too

So NBCNews.com posted this article today. Read it? Good. Me too. Stress is truely the black plague.
Even in Germany Burn-Out Syndrome has overtaken most companies. Causing costs of about 6.3 Billion in Germany  in Healthcare, 3.3 Billion in Production follwing with the falling out of the employée. Costs after ill-health add up even more (Study from 2009). Now those people who hang onto their jobs are the ones being put under stress easier. Depending on how they deal with things Burn-Out / Stress occurs with harsh results.

Now, the demand for work-life balance has been exploded. Especially since the so called Generation Y is on the job market which is more eager to get family, freetime AND job under one roof. But let me rephrase what I heard the other day and had me cracking up, "Let's face it. Work Life Balance, we all don't have such thing. And everybody knows it."

Before I get all too philosophical about life and todays society, check this for the remedies to keep the stress in check, shown on the TODAY show.

BTW, personally, since my body always faints when being under huge stress, I do squats at work. It helps to wake up and let go of inner screams you saved for coworkers, spouses, family and what or whomsoever.

Aloha