The Monster Blog

How Do You Cope with Tough Times -- Cheaply?

Awhile back, I blogged about recession-proof jobs. But it seems some industries are recession-proof as well. One that comes to mind is the candy industry. Candy makers are reporting boom times, in large part because sugar is a comfort food. And it’s cheap. Not surprisingly, those who make sweet treats did well during the Great Depression as well. The movie industry also famously thrived then, and so far this year, it’s doing well.

 

I know candy chills me out when work is stressful, and it doesn’t cost a lot (except to my waistline). So does the promise of watching a DVD or hitting the multiplex when I’m finally free. But I wonder: What other budget-friendly means are we using to get ourselves through tough times? Leave a comment below. And if you’ve lost your job and chocolate and cinema just aren’t cutting it for you, check out these tips on bouncing back from a layoff.

The Recession’s Been Tough on Working Moms

I came back to work after three months of maternity leave last April 1, and it’s no joke that I felt conflicted. I was coming back on a compressed schedule, so my son would go to day care only two days a week. But it was still difficult leaving him in someone else’s hands, not to mention the end of maternity leave. While those three months of not working were no vacation, I needed the time to bond with my son and learn how to take care of him. Plus, I had a difficult time, so I needed to recover, too.

 

So when I read this article about new moms going back to work early because their partners got laid off, I got mad. Three months sounds like an eternity, but as any mom can tell you, it goes by quickly. And while the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) guarantees you will get your job back if you’re gone for three months, it doesn’t apply if your employer has fewer than 50 workers or if you’ve been employed there less than a year. It also doesn’t guarantee you’ll get paid -- only that you’ll have an equivalent job to return to.

 

It's not just new moms who are feeling the brunt of the recession. Some moms who have stayed home for several years with their kids are now becoming working moms, like it or not, thanks to a laid-off partner and the resulting economic pressures. Even moms who have stayed in the workforce are finding that the work didn’t disappear when their colleagues got laid off -- in fact, it often increases, cutting into family time.

 

So how does a working mom, whether willing or unwilling, find balance between work and family? These articles for working mothers offer important tips. And if you have insights on the eternal struggle -- and juggle -- of being a working mom, share them with your fellow moms (and dads) in the comments below.

It Bears Repeating: Don’t Skip Your Cover Letter

In your haste to apply for jobs, especially online, are you skipping an important part of the process? This New York Times article underscores an important point: You need a cover letter to introduce yourself to the hiring manager, no matter how you’re applying for the position. On Monster, you can manage your cover letters electronically.

 

Still not convinced? Check out our cover letter tips. And if you’re looking for inspiration to craft your letter, these cover letter samples can help.

5 Acclaimed Job-Related Movies for Dark Times

Spring is coming, but the weather hasn’t quite caught up. And you’ve probably seen all of this year’s Oscar-nominated films by now. So what are the winter-and recession-weary to do? Check out these older, acclaimed movies that will give you some much-needed hope in these dark times:

·         Rocky: You’ve probably seen it a million times, but the story of Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa, who starts out as a debt collector and works his way to contending for the heavyweight championship of the world, always gives me hope. This sleeper hit won the Oscar for best picture in 1976.

·         All the President’s Men: You know the story by now: Two journalists, the legendary Woodward and Bernstein (played by Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman) unearth info that ultimately takes down the president. Well, it makes me feel good about my profession, anyway. This movie won several Academy Awards in 1976.

 

·         The Shawshank Redemption: One of my favorite movies, and a completely hopeful experience despite being set almost completely in a prison. Tim Robbins plays a banker wrongly convicted of murdering his wife and her lover and builds a career of sorts in prison --which ultimately sets him free. Shawshank was nominated for best picture in 1994.

 

·         Driving Miss Daisy: This story of an enduring friendship is based on Morgan Freeman’s Hoke becoming the chauffer to Miss Daisy, a Southern widow played by Jessica Tandy. The film tackles racism, class distinctions and stereotypes of the South and won best picture for 1989.

 

·         Dead Poets Society: Robin Williams plays an unorthodox English teacher who helps his students at a boys’ prep school view life in a new way. This movie won the Oscar for best original screenplay in 1990.

 

Don’t see what you like here? Check out this list of seven movies to motivate you. And be sure to let us know some of your favorite work-related films in the comments.