Vancouver's Cameron Zinger had a miserable teenage experience. Like so many young gay men and women, he was regularly and viciously bullied by his school peers. He was labeled a homo, *** and a queer, and felt he had no friends to turn to.

He was afraid to go to class. He found the constant taunts personally grueling and confusing, and often became physically ill at the thought of leaving home.

He avoided standing out. His grades slipped. He took any excuse to skip gym class, fearing run-ins with others who sensed something a little bit different about him, and seemed determined to crush whatever it was.

By the time Zinger was in Grade 9 he began to seriously consider suicide as the only way out of his pain.

“I thought it would be better than having to go back to school for another day of being called *** all day and face being beaten up,” he wrote in an email to The Sun.

But things got better.

Today, Zinger embraces his sexuality and enjoys life with the support a loving partner and family, a circle of friends and a job as a senior community investment manager with Telus.

“If I'd committed suicide, I'd have given all of that up,” he said.

It's a message Zinger wants others to hear, and the reason he volunteered to participate in his company's video contribution to the YouTube campaign in support of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and queer youth who may be experiencing similar feelings of despair and hopelessness.

The It Gets Better Project was initiated in September by American syndicated columnist and author Dan Savage. Savage created a YouTube video with his partner Terry as a means to inspire struggling youth following a spate of teen suicides linked to bullying.

Indeed, LGBTQ youth are nearly four times more likely than their straight peers to attempt suicide. Almost 90 per cent have been verbally or physically assaulted.

These days, the project has transformed into a worldwide movement, prompting over 5000 user-created videos and over 15 million views. The project has received submissions from the likes of U.S. President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Adam Lambert, Anne Hathaway, Colin Farrell, Matthew Morrison of "Glee", Joe Jonas, Joel Madden, Ke$ha, Sarah Silverman, Tim Gunn, Ellen DeGeneres, Suze Orman, Google and Facebook.

Telus, which has embedded support for LGBTQ employees in its corporate diversity strategy as well as funding anti-homophia programs in schools, is the first major Canadian company so far to submit a video to the project.

Zinger is joined in the video by Kasey Reese, Telus vice-president of risk management and chief internal auditor in Vancouver, as well as other colleagues from across the country.

“You have to be strong. I know it's not easy and that it's often easier said than done. But I think you can do it,” said a man identified in the video as Francis, a Telus project manager.

“This is who I am and I'm not going to change for anyone,” said Tara, a Telus team manager.

It's a powerful message and definitely worth watching and sharing with anyone you think may be struggling.

It does get better.

Resolved on shedding some pounds this new year? Consider moving to Scandinavia.

A new study in the Economics and Human Biology journal has found that the stress of living in a shaky “free-market” economy may be making people fat.

According to Oxford researchers, obesity is strongly linked to economic insecurity with Americans and Brits more likely to be obese than Norwegians and Swedes.

“Policies to reduce levels of obesity tend to focus on encouraging people to look after themselves, but this study suggests that obesity has larger social causes,” said Avner Offer, a professor of economic history and lead study author, in an article by Reuters.

Offer suggests that the stress of life in a competitive social system without a strong welfare state may cause people to overeat.

Offer's team compared four “market-liberal” English-speaking countries, including the U.S., Britain, Canada and Australia, with seven European nations that traditionally offer stronger social protection. Those countries include Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain and Sweden.

The result? Countries with strong market incentives and relatively weak welfare states experienced a third more obesity on average, while countries with higher levels of job and income security were associated with lower levels of obesity.

The study goes on to suggest that economic influences on a society have more to do with obesity than the availability of fast food and pre-packaged meals.

“Basically, our hypothesis is that market-liberal reforms have stimulated competition in both the work environment and in what we consume, and this has undermined personal stability and security,” Offer says in the article.

Why does this article make me hungry?

Job seekers out there considering a new career might want to check out the website CareerCast before mailing out any resumes.

CareerCast has published its Jobs Rated list of the best and worst jobs of 2011, based on a survey of 200 occupations across a wide variety of industries. According to the website, researchers use five criteria to determine their rankings: work environment, physical demands of the job, employment outlook, income and stress levels. 

"The goal of each Jobs Rated report is to determine how gratifying each job will be for a majority of workers - not just those who are famous or exceptional - so they can be sorted into a list of the 'worst' and 'best' professions," the website states.

And so, after all that, what's the best job in the world? Software engineers - including those who design, develop research or maintain software systems - sweep the title with a virtual certainty of finding a job, an average income of $87,140, and relatively no job stress or physical demands on the job.

On the other side of things, Oil riggers, look out: With the grueling 12-hour work shifts, exposure to the elements in hostile environments, low pay and high risk of injury and isolation from loved one for weeks at a time, you've got yourself the worst job out there for 2011.

"Roustabouts routinely perform backbreaking labor at all hours of the day and night in conditions that can range from arctic winters to desert summers to ocean storms. They even face the threat of attack in unstable parts of the world. Braving these inhospitable surroundings, Roustabouts work on the front lines, getting hands-on with dangerous drilling equipment and risking serious injury or worse – as last year’s explosion at the Deepwater Horizon facility in the Gulf of Mexico illustrates," the website states.

Iron workers, lumberjacks, roofers and taxi drivers round out the top 5 worst jobs of the year, followed by emergency medical technicians, welders, painters, meter readers and construction workers.

Meanwhile, of the top jobs, most require proficiency in math, science or technology, and all require college or university training.

The list includes: mathematicians, actuaries, statisticians, computer systems analysts, meteorologists, biologists, historians, audiologists and dental hygienists.

Guest blog by Tara Padidar of Pereira PR

(Darah Hansen is on holidays)

So you have made it to the final interview stage, jumped through all of the hoops and now at the very last moment, before you achieve that big hire, your prospective employer wants a criminal record check, but what for? What are they looking for? Do you have anything you need to be worried about?

 More and more companies are turning to criminal record checks as a part of their regular hiring process. In fact it is tough to get a job in construction, retail, insurance, accounting or a medical field without one. Most of the time, they are looking for a record of offences that may prevent you from doing your job or threaten safety. But sometimes, they may just screen for anything. In that case (which may come as a surprise), they would undoubtedly come across many cases of people with records.

Employees with criminal records are nothing new. In fact over 3 million Canadians (10% of the population) have a record. Most of these records are for small offences.

 "Whether it was a night where you had one too many and made the poor decision to drive, or shoplifting or a fight that you got into years ago, any recorded activity can end up in the hands of a future employer," said David Litherland of Summit Search Group BC. "A charge like a DUI could greatly affect your chances of employment, especially in a position like sales where a significant amount of time is often spent driving."

Many of those able to land a job when record checks were not routine, are now finding themselves in a hiring environment where criminal record checks are the norm. As a result, Canadians are increasingly turning to pardon services to clear minor offences that may get in the way of their job hunt.

Ainsley Muller, Director of Business Development at Express Pardons said, "Pardons are a method that could be considered by HR managers and candidates as a way to counter the issue of criminal record checks preventing employment, in a manner that is safe, legal and would still uphold safety and business concerns."

The issue of criminal pardons continues to be a hot-button topic, especially with the controversial pardon of Graham James exposed this year, and proposed legislative changes to the Criminal Code of Canada, including Bill C-23B: Eliminating Pardons for Serious Crimes Act. Beyond these headlines, however, many Canadians are unaware of the significant role that pardons play in today's hiring environment.

"Pardons are granted in Canada, through a thorough process of evaluation by which a former offender is deemed 'pardoned' and their record erased," said Muller. "This is ideal for those with minor offences that have gone on to lead productive lives."

So the next time you are asked to go down to the police station to complete a criminal record check, things should not only make a bit more sense, but you should be keenly aware of what to expect and how to deal with it.

 Has a minor offence ever been a barrier for you to find employment?

(Darah Hansen is on vacation)

One in three adults have experienced workplace bullying according to a survey cited in USA Today. And some of the bullying can be quite outrageous - like a Hooters boss who made his staff tie their hands behind their back and eat a plate of beans to determine who would get off work first.

 Check out the USA Today story here and find a link to tips for dealing with a bullying boss and a photo gallery of mean bosses on TV and film.

 Also check out Darah Hansen's story on workplace bullying here.

 Have you suffered from workplace bullying?

Guest blog by Tara Padidar of Pereira PR (Darah Hansen is on holidays)

According to Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, one in 10 injuries that occur at work involve feet. It's no surprise that the most common health problems affecting people are foot-related, as most of us spend multiple hours standing or walking every day. Yet for some reason, the damage that can be done to our feet is one of the most overlooked safety hazards in the workplace.

Many industries require employees to spend several hours if not the whole day standing or walking, particularly the retail, food service, industrial and health care sectors. These workers often experience the pain and discomfort of sore feet, and may not realize that leaving no time for feet to recover day after day causes this physical strain to escalate. Failure to recognize and attend to foot pain can be detrimental not only to feet, but overall health. Back problems, joint compression, pain in neck and shoulders, muscle soreness and fatigue, and varicose veins are just among a few health implications.

 Many of these issues can easily be avoided through education and preventative measures such as proper footwear.

 "A comfortable, supportive shoe with a cushioned sole is extremely important when it comes to foot health, particularly for people who work on their feet," says Graham Archer, Vice President of Pedorthic Services at Kintec: Footwear & Orthotics and the President of the Pedorthic Association of Canada. "If foot strain persists, visit a pedorthist and find out what the cause of the problem is. Get the most accommodating shoe possible so you are supporting your feet day in and day out, as opposed to adding to discomfort and damage."

 Kintec's mobile Fit Lab can be seen around the Lower Mainland, educating people about proper footwear. See photos here.

 Does your job require you to stand or walk on your feet for long hours? Have you been experiencing any foot-related health issues as a result?

(Darah Hansen is on holidays)

Thought you'd finished all your Christmas gift-giving? Well did you include the dog-walker? What about your hairdresser?

 According to BMO Financial Group, three-quarters of Canada's work force - those in the service sector - rely on tips to meet their holiday expenses.

And that means they count on us, the people who use their services, to provide those tips.

To make it easier BMO has surveyed tipping websites and has come up with these tipping guidelines:

 Teacher: A small gift or note from parent as well as a small gift from the child

Dog groomer: up to the cost of one session or a gift

 Newspaper carrier: $10 to $30 or a small gift.

 Newspaper reporter or editor: oddly omitted.

 To see other tip guidelines check out BMO's press release here.

 And for more tips, USA Today has also come out about the appropriateness of tipping, along with a video and its tipping guidelines. Find those here.

Guest blog from Tara Padidar, Pereira PR (Darah Hansen is on holidays)

 The significant growth in mobile devices on the market today means more companies are adding mobile applications to their marketing strategy, yet the supply of mobile developer talent is greatly lagging behind the demand.

 A recent survey reveals that mobile is one of the top three priorities in technology hiring by employers and job openings have increased approximately 35% since 2009, leaving many companies scrambling to fill these new positions.

In particular, Vancouver has emerged as an industry leader and is home to one of the biggest app development firms in North America. Atimi Software has developed apps for brands such as the Vancouver Canucks, ESPN and HBO. Back in April, Vancouver Sun reporter, Gillian Shaw interviewed Atimi's Vice President of Client Services, Scott Michaels, about how the iPad has proven to be lucrative for BC developers. See the full story here.

The surge in demand for mobile applications has led to a constant need for talented app developers, and Michaels offers the following advice for those interested in pursuing a career in the field:  

1. Create your own app - go through the entire process and learn what you can and cannot do, and become familiar with the tools needed to build an app.

2. Always keep in mind the "user experience" - if it does not have public appeal or lacks polish, the app will fail.

3. Specialize in a platform - become an expert of a specific operating system, both at the user level and development level. Choose one that you love, or learn to love the "popular" platform.

4. Obtain a Computer Science degree - tools and platforms change completely every 5 years, so an understanding of all technologies from the past, present and future will be the most beneficial form of education (although not always required).

5. Enthusiasm - genuinely love what you do and the process of developing applications; a sincere interest combined with experience will make you stand out.

 Is your company having trouble finding mobile software designers? Or have you ever considered a career in the field?

(Darah Hansen is on holidays)

When I applied for my first real job (as an articling student) I read articles on how to write the perfect resume. And in law, it was as one would expect - short, sweet and to the point.

But that was a long time ago and over the years resume-writing has developed into an industry, with websites offering resume-writing services and free tips on key words and phrases to use.

Well, according to Linked In, those key phrases -- like 'team player' and 'results-oriented' -- have been used so many times by so many people that it's likely they're now working against job-seekers.

Instead job seekers should highlight what makes them unique, Linked In said in a news release.

Here are Linked In's 10 most over-used words in Linked In profiles:

 1. Extensive experience

2. Innovative

3. Dynamic

4. Motivated

5. Team player

6. Results oriented

7. Fast paced

8. Proven track record

9. Multitasker

10. Entrepreneurial

 I, for one, am happy to go back to short, sweet and to the point.

Guest blog from Tara Padidar, Pereira PR (Darah Hansen is on holidays)

Back in October, The Vancouver Sun reported on the Globe Foundation's finding that BC will face a shortage of skilled workers in the "green" industry over the next decade. Like many other industries such as insurance, healthcare, and education, the green sector faces major talent shortages. With 22 per cent of the green sector's workforce expected to retire within the next 6 years, BC's economy could face shortages of more than 60,000 skilled green workers by 2020.

Beyond the green sector, employment analysts see BC's transition into a green economy as having significant implications for all employers seeking to attract and retain talent across sectors.

 "As more and more industries face the need to fill positions vacated by retiring baby boomers, competition over attracting and retaining talent will mount between and within all industries," said David Litherland, Managing Partner at Summit Search Group BC. "As a result, companies that do not make green programs part of their corporate philosophy will severely hamper their chances of attracting the best people."

 In an interview with Terrence Belford, Litherland further explains how environmental leadership will become a larger part of drawing talent. See the full story here.

 David Litherland has the following tips to offer all employers:

• Walk the talk: It is one thing to say that you are a green company, and another to actually be one. Top candidates will be able to see through any "green-washing" of corporate practices, so having concrete initiatives and examples in place is essential.

• Create active involvement: Have employees play an active role in developing, creating and sustaining environmental projects, set-up a committee, hold monthly meetings and events to keep members enthusiastic and committed.

• Utilize resources: Putting in place green practices in the workplace can be a daunting task, so utilize the resources available to you, including online tool kits, and local seminars.

 Do corporate green philosophies matter in your job hunt?

(Darah Hansen is currently on leave)

USA Today has a list of things NOT to say at the office Christmas party that may seem funny to read but may make you feel horrible if it's the day after and you made one of these gaffes. Saying "I love a free bar" is just one of them.

Telling your boss he or she is not as big as a jerk as you thought isn't a great idea either, nor is gossiping about office coworkers or talking about your bonus, which maybe not everyone got.

Check out USA Today's list of don'ts here.

And enjoy the party!

The danger about writing about worthy charitable projects is that there are always other, equally worthy charitable projects out there that get missed.

I recently profiled two local companies that have jumped on board ambitious Christmas charitable projects. Electronic Arts in Burnaby spent an entire day packing 7,800 bags full of a specially formulated vegan meal in aid of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank and U.S.-based organization Kids Against Hunger. Each bag is enough to feed five people. So that means there will be a lot of happy families in the metro region over the holiday season when household dollars are typically stretched the thinnest.

Adelphia Group, meanwhile, has chosen to support the Under the Christmas Tree program ( www.underthechristmastree.ca) with the goal of raising $30,000, as well as a supply of canned goods, for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.

The story was meant to highlight the workplace benefits of engaging employees in community or volunteer programs, as workers increasingly look to their employers to give them a sense of purpose beyond just a paycheque.

For all those interested in what's going on in the newspaper industry, it's worth a look at CEO John Paton's Dec. 2 address to Journal Register employees: Transforming a newspaper company into a media company. Paton makes reference to U.S. papers, but the changes he talked about  are also happening in Canada, too. The Vancouver Sun, for instance, is now a digital-first newspaper as we work hard to maintain our readers and advertisers. That means we blog, we write, we Twitter, we shoot video and post audio and update webpages regularly. Gone are the days when our focus was exclusively on printing  tomorrow's news.

Why? Here's Paton:

News now breaks Digitally both in its’ origin and creation by the Audience using Social Media and spreads virally. To be in the News business now means you must run your business as Digital First.  And that means Print Last.

Print Last because that is how this new world works.

Print is a SLOW medium and digital is FAST.
Atoms will never beat bits.

You must change the focus and priority of what you do –

If you want to survive.

Changes are always uncomfortable in any industry as many of us know, but the kinds of changes affecting newspapers right now -- combined with the speed of those changes -- is even more unsettling. But Paton does see hope.

And it is just where you might expect it – in our core business of news and on the backs of our reputation – The brands themselves.

The Web is a crowded place for news. Compelling journalism is key to standing out and it is the power of our brands – our reputation – that can spotlight for our audience where they should look for journalism they can trust.

Vint Cerf – called by some the Father of the Internet – and Google’s Chief Evangelist is very direct about this:

“People’s trust in journalism has always been about branding.

You can check out his full speech by clicking here and please tell me what you think of it all.

Can it really be that simple? Self-confidence and a can-do attitude are apparently the main ingredients to an immigrant's success in Canada, according to a new report released Wednesday by UBC psychology professor Norman Amundson and the Vancouver-based immigrant support group SUCCESS.

Researchers interviewed 20 immigrants from Asia over the past year. All of the participants consider themselves to be successful after landing careers in fields they consider worthwhile and well-paid here in Canada.

Amundson, a professor of clinical psychology at UBC, said the study's methodology is a departure from past efforts in that it focuses on the positive -- that is, what leads to a person's sucess, rather than failure.

Amundson already knows a thing or two about the psychological problems of unemployment. He's studied the subject for many years.

No surprise, job -hunting can be an emotional journey. 

Interviews, rejection, pounding the pavement ... Typically, Amundson said it takes only three to six months for a job seeker to start losing his or her self-confidence and energy.

For an immigrant, the problems are often compounded by Canadian rules and regulations that can negate foreign credentials and education, not to mention language and cultural differences that make it harder for newcomers to effectively communicate.

But if the new study shows anything, it's that an internal drive to succeed in spite of the barriers is crucial to a positive outcome, more so even than a person's education, skills or expertise (though these are also key factors).

SUCCESS executives, being in the business of career development for their clients, said the report underscores the need for services like the ones they offer.

If, for instance, you believe you are responsible for creating good things in your life, you are also likely to blame yourself when things go wrong.

That said, they argue the report shows a need for better supports and programs aimed at bolstering a newcomer's spirits during the often-difficult job-search process -- and perhaps even before that person arrives in the country.

Armundson said the study is only the "tip of the iceberg" when it comes to defining the secrets of an immigrant's success. He'd like to see a broader study looking at a much larger group of people, and possibly follow participants on their transition from birth country to Canada to better identify the psychological needs.

I say it's worth a look. Canada is a country built on immigration and it only makes good sense that we make the pathway to success as easy to travel as possible.

What's your opinion?