P R E M I U M E D I T I O N

THE
WORK
ISSUE
SPRING 2016

Tailored to Dress for the

millennials job you want
Employers Expert tips to pick
gear jobs to a an outfit that will
new generation get you hired

SOCIAL MEDIA SAVVY HOT CAREERS COOL COMPANIES

 Massachusetts has Nowadays, Google

THEIR WORDS
a diversified is kind of like your
economy This online resume.
is exactly the type of William DiAntonio,
growth you want to see. president and founder
Reputation 911.
Christopher Geehern,
[Page 7]
executive vice president of
marketing and communications
for Associated Industries of
Massachusetts.
[Page 4]

We make a very strong distinction between social

media like Facebook, versus professional
networking media such as LinkedIn.
Gary Gekow, a recruiter and employment coach who
leads workshops for job seekers.
[Page 10]

We have 900 I think the millennial

positions cohort is looking for
posted right jobs that will
now. excite them.
Steven Taranto,
Theyre looking to be able
Massachusetts General to telecommunicate and
Hospital Director of Human have flexibility on
Resources. their schedule.
[Page 14]
Jon Bryan, a business
and management professor at
Bridgewater State University.
[Page 16]

2 LENS | SPRING 2016

THE TEAM CONTENTS
Sean Burke
PRESIDENT, GROUP PUBLISHER
GateHouse Media New England

Lisa Strattan
THE WORK WE DO 4 On the upswing
Outlook optimistic for
Massachusetts jobs

SVP/EXECUTIVE EDITOR
IN FOCUS

I
& PUBLISHER
love my job. Not a days goes aspects of healthcare careers on Page
Wicked Local by that Im not grateful I 14 and elder care careers on Page 29. 7 Worth the wait
Chuck Goodrich have a job, and even more My job, like most, has changed For vet, it wasnt too late
PUBLISHER to pursue her dream
The MetroWest Daily News
grateful that job offers me over the years. Im part reporter,
The Milford Daily News the opportunity to meet fas- feature writer, photographer, videog- 18 The right look
cinating and inspiring people. rapher, special section and premium How to pick an outfit
Mark Olivieri that will get you hired
PUBLISHER Dr. Corinne Slaughter is edition editor, and social media
The Enterprise
The Herald News one of those people. maven. Social media is not only an 24 The company you keep
The Patriot Ledger Some employers who go the
Taunton Daily Gazette I first met her when I essential for many types of work extra mile for their workers
was writing a feature story these days, its also a necessity for the
Linda Murphy about people whose names job-hunter. Find out how to land a
EDITOR
were at odds with their professions. job through social media on Page 9; AT ISSUE
31 Extra education?
Emely DelSanto Shes a veterinarian who works with how reputation management firms Ponder the cost of a
PAGE DESIGNER
farm animals. In the interview, I reshape your online presence on Page post-secondary degree
Lens is a premium edition of GateHouse Medias found out she started the nine-year 11, and how to create your personal
Massachusetts daily and weekly publications. educational process of becoming a brand on Page 33. TO KNOW
These papers will publish up to 12 Premium veterinarian when she was 41 years If youre pondering a post-grad- 9 The new resume
Editions each year, with a surcharge of up to $2
for each edition. Current subscription term lengths old, after raising four kids as a single uate degree, check out Page 31 to The effect of social media
reflect basic subscription rates without additional
charges for Premium Editions. These papers
mom. see if the investment makes sense for on job searches today
will adjust the length of your subscription, which Read more on Page 7 about how your chosen field. Graduating from 10 To say or not to say
accelerates the expiration of your subscription,
when you receive these special editions. she went from seamstress/waitress/ college this spring? Youre in luck; Words to watch in an interview
2016 GateHouse Media. No reproduction or secretary all the way to the Royal the job market is heating up. Find 12 Labors of love
reuse of material without the express written
consent of GateHouse Media. All rights reserved.
Veterinary College in London, and out more on Page 21, and check out Public sector jobs demand
To request permission to reprint any material from finally realized her dream career. Page 18 to get the right look for the effort, offer security
this publication, please contact Mark Olivieri at
publisher@heraldnews.com. In The Work Issue of Lens, job you want. 21 Into the real world
To order additional copies, call 1-888-MY-PAPER
youll find plenty of information Of course, not everyone is setting Graduating college seniors
(697-2737). about fields with promising pros- out on a new career path. So if you enter a promising market
pects now, and into the future. As want to up your game in the job you 22 Manners matter
expected, the healthcare field is have now, get time management tips Dont underestimate the
value of business etiquette
booming, and not just for doctors on Page 34 and business etiquette
and nurses. Read more about various tips on Page 23. 35 It all adds up
Jobs numbers to know
ON THE
COVER
TO DO
Photo by Greg Derr 11 Reputation management
A closeup of professional attire Shape what the Internet
options at Lord and Taylor in the says about you
South Shore Plaza.
33 Building a personal brand
Story on Page 18. Know what youre known for
Linda Murphy 34 Everyone gets 24 hours
Tips for time management

INNOVATORS
14 Careers in care
Wide spectrum of jobs as
healthcare field expands
16 Make way for millenials
Jobs for the next generation
COMING THIS SUMMER
28 Early education
Whats new in the world of health and fitness? In the next
Child care has evolved into
issue of Lens, well take a look at the latest trends and
highly specialized field
fitness options for the whole family.
29 Age Boom
Whats new in elder care

LENS | SPRING 2016 3

 OUTLOOK
OPTIMISTIC
FOR JOBS IN
MASSACHUSETTS,
ESPECIALLY FOR

ON THE UPSWING
STORY BY GERRY TUOTI | PHOTOS BY MIKE GAY
HIGHLY SKILLED
EMPLOYEES

B
usiness is booming in
Massachusetts, with the
healthcare and high-tech
industries fueling much of
the states economic growth.
I think it absolutely reflects
the strength and diversity of our
economy, said Ron Walker, the
Executive Secretary of Labor
and Workforce Development for
Massachusetts.
In 2015, Massachusetts added
73,800 jobs, the most in 15 years.
Employment in the education
and health services field grew by
3 percent, while the number of
jobs in the professional, scientific
and business services
sector rose by 4.4
percent.
Nurses and software developers
are among the most in-demand
workers in Massachusetts, according
to the Executive Office of Labor
and Workforce Development, fol-
lowed by truck drivers.
Theres also been some growth
in construction, manufacturing
and financial services, said
Christopher Geehern, executive
vice president of marketing and
communications for Associated
Industries of Massachusetts. What
it speaks to is and its almost
a clich to say Massachusetts
has a diversified economy This
is exactly the type of growth you
want to see.
Given those trends,
education is becoming
increasingly important when
it comes to succeeding in the
Massachusetts economy.
Education is key at all levels,
Walker said. Massachusetts does
a great job with four-year degrees.
The labor secretary added that
education comes in other forms
than bachelors degrees. Ten-year
projections predict there will be a
continued demand for the types
of skills learned from vocational
schools, trade schools and commu-
nity colleges.
Last year, Gov. Charlie Baker
signed an order creating the
Workforce Skills Cabinet,
an ini-
tiative designed to better align the
states job-training infrastructure to
meet the needs of the economy.
It brings the Secretary
of Education, Secretary of
Economic Development and
Secretary of Labor and Workforce
Development together to leverage
resources to meet the economic
and workforce demands of the
commonwealth, Walker said.
While he sees many positives in
the job growth figures,

4 LENS | SPRING 2016

economic analyst Michael Goodman
said not everyone is benefiting from the
expanding labor market.
I do think that relatively strong per-
formance masks a number of significant
imbalances in the labor market, said
Goodman, the director of the Public
Policy Center at UMass Dartmouth.
Job creation has not been evenly
spread across the country and is dispro-
portionately favoring those with high
levels of skill and education.
While there have been many lower-
skilled jobs created, the wages and
fringe benefits make it very difficult
for those workers to make ends meet,
Goodman said.
Jobs with livable wages, he said,
typically require a bachelors degree or
high level of skill.
Still, he remains encouraged.
Both the state and the nation are
in the midst of an economic expan-
sion, Goodman said. Both are fully
recovered and are regaining and adding
on top of that the jobs that were lost
in the Great Recession. We havent
seen a period of job growth like this
in Massachusetts since the late 1990s,
with the dot-com bubble.
TWO ECONOMIES?
Home to world-renowned universi-
ties and hospitals, the Boston metro
region is not only the largest population
center in Massachusetts, its a major
driving force in the states economy.
One of the real challenges going
forward is the Boston-Cambridge tech
corridor develops its own gravitational
field, Geehern said. The fact that its
already a center of medical research and
bio-tech research attracts more compa-
nies and qualified workers.
While that trend is positive in
terms of adding jobs and value to the
economy, other regions of the state
arent benefiting in the same way.
Companies farther away from Boston
are more greatly impacted by tradi-
tional factors, such as the cost of health
insurance and regulation, Geehern said.
A danger is that youll develop two
economies: one inside 128 and one
outside 128, he said.
Fueled by a stream of educated
workers coming out of the colleges
and universities in and around Boston
and Cambridge, the states innovation
economy has found a home inside the
Route 128 belt. Research and devel-
opment companies, bio-tech firms, OPPOSITE:
advanced manufacturing centers and Healthcare and
technology fields
tech start-ups continue to thrive there. are booming in
Areas of the state that dont have Massachusetts.
that density or most highly skilled Bottom left and
workforce have continued to lag, center, occupational
Goodman said. therapists and
nursing assistants
Tom Perreira, director of the Bristol help residents at All
Workforce Investment Board, is American Assisted
very familiar with the workforce and Living in Raynham.
employers outside of Route 128. Serving Bottom right,
Fall River, Taunton, Attleboro and 11 job seekers search
for positions with
other communities in Bristol County, the help of the
he has seen the regions economy change Taunton Career
significantly as many factory and textile Center.
jobs have disappeared.
Hospitals, not factories, are now the BELOW: Fox
Rehabilitation exer-
regions largest private-sector employers, cise physiologist
he said. He also sees a demand for Peter Calandra, left,
skilled manufacturing and retail works with Suzanne
workers. Swensen, center,
While the Workforce Investment and Arthur Nato,
right, during an
Board is successfully helping many excercise class at
unemployed people find employment, All American Assited
there are some jobseekers who could Living in Raynham.
benefit from improving their basic
skills, Perreira said. He recommends
that people take advantage of training
opportunities and services at state-
funded career centers.

LENS | SPRING 2016 5

 Employers are indicating
trouble finding individuals who
are job-ready for entry-level posi-
tions and possess teamwork skills,
customer service, communication
skills and common core job skill
sets, he said. They tell us, If you
give us someone with mainstream
skill sets, well do the occupational
training.
LOOKING FORWARD
In 2012, the state released a
study projecting job growth over
the ensuing decade. The pro-
jection forecasted the number
of jobs across the state would
increase by 11.3 percent by
2022, with the number of jobs in
healthcare and social assistance
rising by 21.4 percent.
If those projections hold,
healthcare, which is already expe-
riencing rapid growth, will be the
fastest-growing sector. The field
includes nurses, medical assistants,
home care aides, physical thera-
pists and assisted living staff.
That projection corresponds to
a demographic shift. As members
of the Baby Boom generation
over last year. The office also
become senior citizens, many
will find themselves in need of
medical treatment for age-related
conditions, assisted living or home
healthcare.
It also reflects the kind of
relentless push of Massachusetts
being the center of bioscience
technology and discovery,
Geehern said. As the technology
is pushed into clinical use, it cre-
ates a market for more people in
the medical field.
In state government, officials
are working to improve access to
education and training, as well
as a program to combat chronic
long-term unemployment, Walker
said. While the states 4.7 percent
unemployment rate is fairly low,
people with disabilities, recently
returned veterans and members of
some ethnic minority groups have
historically faced higher unem-
ployment.
There are 32 career centers
across Massachusetts.
Our focus on the workforce
side continues to be working with
career centers to make sure theyre
providing training and resources
to citizens of the commonwealth
not only those who want new
jobs, but also those training to get
better jobs.
In 2016, the Executive
TOP: The Taunton Career Center offers assistance for job seekers, such as this listing of
job search websites.
Office of Labor and Workforce
Development predicts there will
be 33,620 personal care aides in
the state, a 8.37 percent increase
anticipates there will be more than
11,000 healthcare social workers,
a 4 percent increase from 2015.
Elsewhere in the economy,
analysts expect there to be a niche
demand for skilled manufac-
turing workers, such as computer
numeric control machinists. The
Bristol Workforce Investment
Board recently started a program
to bring unemployed adults
to vocational high schools on
the weekends for training in
machining and welding.
Theres been a shift in the
manufacturing workforce,
Perreira said. Its not in what
you traditionally look at in labor-
intensive manufacturing. A lot of
machinists are retiring, and theres
not an existing training pipeline.
The finance, transportation,
education and retail sectors are
also expected to grow in coming
years.
Highly educated and skilled
workers will continue to have a
major advantage in the evolving
Massachusetts economy.
All of these areas are areas that
have had job growth and where
employers are having the most
acute difficulty finding enough
qualified people to run the busi-
ness, Geehern said. Nursing,
computer software, engineering
and the technology fields are clearly
the fields that are growing.
WORTH
FOR VET,
IT WASNT
TOO LATE
THE W A I T TO PURSUE
HER DREAM
STORY BY LINDA MURPHY | PHOTOS BY DAVE SOUZA

A
s Dr. Corrine Slaughter stitched up a hole
in a cats mouth, she attributed the fas-
tidious needlework to a former job as a
seamstress.
Back then, she was a single mother of
four working three jobs to pay the bills. As each
of her four kids graduated from high school,
Slaughter tried to convince them to become vet-
erinarians, but they chose other career paths.
Then it finally dawned on her: I realized I
was the one who wanted to be a veterinarian,
she said.
She was already surrounded by animals: a
bunch of rescued cats, three horses and two
dogs.
By then she was remarried and after
giving her husband, Thomas Slaughter,
101 reasons why I shouldnt do it, she
decided to go for her dream career.
So at age 41, as her youngest son
was joining up with the Marines, she
headed to the University of Massachusetts
Dartmouth for the first step, a bachelors
degree in biology. When I was there filling
out the application, the woman looked at me
and said, Do you know how long this is going
to take you? Slaughter recalled.
Undaunted by the long stretch of study ahead of
her, Slaughter said she replied: I waited 40 years to
pursue my dream ... If UMass doesnt accept me, Ill
apply to URI.
Shed already proven she could handle challenges
and unexpected hurdles. Slaughter, who grew up
in the farmlands of Rochester, worked a series
jobs in Greater New Bedford to help support
herself and her kids throughout a marital separa-
tion and bitter divorce. She delivered newspapers
in the morning and worked an office job during
the day, in addition to juggling a third job as a
seamstress for a bridal shop. She taught herself
to sew to make outfits for her kids and she
learned the intricacies of beading dresses.

LENS | SPRING 2016 7

 Eventually she opened her own and headed off to London for the
custom-designed wedding dress next phase. First two years of study
business out of her house. in London, followed by three years
And then theres the date she of hands-on experience based out
cant forget: Jan. 6, 1996. We had of Hertfordshire, about 25 miles
a fire in our house and lost every- north of London. It was a really
thing. I didnt lose any animals tough course. We lost 25 percent
or children, but I was basically of the students in the first year,
homeless for a while. She added said Slaughter.
another job to her list: waitressing In Hertfordshire, she worked
at the Lebanese Kitchen in New out of a three-generation farm. IT WAS
Bedford. The house she stayed in was VERY
Her luck began to change in 450 years old. Like the English WEIRD.
1998 when a friend introduced country vet James Herriot, who
her to her future husband, wrote about his adventures HERE I
Thomas Slaughter. He in the book All Creatures WAS THIS
was looking for Great and Small, MOM OF
someone to run Slaughter cared
his seafood pro-
[Closeup] for family pets
FOUR (AND
cessing business, Merriam-Webster defines glass and farm ani- A GRAND-
she said. ceiling as an intangible barrier mals. In the MOTHER,
She went to within a hierarchy that prevents spring, she spent
women or minorities from
TOO)
work for him at obtaining upper-level positions. three weeks WALKING
Sea Tide; they lambing, or as
married; and he she described AROUND
was her biggest it, pulling baby CAMPUS
supporter as she headed off UMass sheep and shoveling poop. WITH MY
Dartmouth in 2003. It was very In 2011, she graduated from BACKPACK.
weird. Here I was this mom of the Royal Veterinary College. She
Dr. Corrine
four (and a grandmother, too) turned 50 the same year. Slaughter
walking around campus with my When she returned from
backpack. England, Slaughter worked at vet-
But she embraced it with her erinary offices in Fall River and
typical enthusiasm. She invited Swansea. She also opened her own
the kids to her house for study mobile practice, Hidden Brook
groups, especially needed for Veterinary Services, to provide on-
organic chemistry, one of the site care for animals. A few years
tougher courses. I had a great later, she opened the doors to her
teacher Dr. Toby Dill, he was own office of the Hidden Brook
the head of the chemistry depart- Veterinary Services in Dartmouth.
ment, she said. A member of the Royal College
When she graduated magna of Veterinary Surgeons, Slaughter
cum laude in 2006, Dill was so is the only veterinarian in the
happy for her he picked her up SouthCoast with training in large
and spun her around, she said. animals, those found on the farms TOP: Dr. Corrine
Slaughter plays
Nowadays, Slaughter is vet- where she regularly makes house with her Springer
erinarian to Dills dog, an Old calls in the mobile unit. On this Spaniel, Jimmy.
English Sheepdog named Sally. particular day, after stitching up
She applied to several veterinary the cats mouth, Slaughter got a CENTER: A
programs and out of the blue, call to help a sick chicken, and in special laser that
promotes faster
she got an invite from overseas. the afternoon, she was heading to healing is used
The prestigious Royal Veterinary Middletown, R.I. to vaccinate five on a cat.
College in London sought her out sheep.
and asked if she wanted to apply. When asked what kept her BOTTOM:
Dr. Slaughter
It was meant to be, she said. motivated on her long journey to removes stitches
So at age 45, Slaughter left her attain her goals Slaughter simply from a dogs
husband behind in Dartmouth replied, Im stubborn. stomach.

8 LENS | SPRING 2016

 THE NEW RSUM
Story by Brian Benson Photos by Marshall Wolff

THE EFFECT OF SOCIAL MEDIA

ON JOB SEARCHES TODAY

S
ocial media they search for talent, around the world who
is growing in and such profiles are provide training services
importance for becoming even more to companies.
job seekers, important than a rsum. A decade ago,
and it can help and hurt Andrea Turner, vice recruiters relied on
someones chances at president of operations at information and refer- themselves,
landing their dream posi- The Training Associates ences that job seekers Turner said.
tion, career experts say. in Westborough, said a provided to employers. Gekow said
We make a very LinkedIn profile is a job Now, recruiters can find personal social
strong distinction seekers brand. It shows out much more informa- media accounts can
between social media like publicly the work they tion on their own by pose problems. He said
Facebook, versus profes- have accomplished, rec- perusing professional hes heard about people
sional networking media ommendations and other networking websites, she running into problems
such as LinkedIn, said valuable information. said. because of photos on
Sharon resident Gary Theres really no more Turner said job seekers social media of them
Gekow, a recruiter and selling yourself by a piece should make sure their drinking or being on
employment coach who of paper. It comes down profiles are updated, have vacation when they said
leads workshops for job to building a brand, professional photos and they were sick.
seekers. said Turner, whose com- show lots of connections Gekow said people
Experts say recruiters pany hires employees for and activity in groups. should separate profes-
are increasingly looking its Westborough office Theyre building this sional and personal social
at LinkedIn profiles as as well as contractors online community for media.

Employment
specialist and
career coach
Gary Gekow
says profes-
sionals profiles
on LinkedIn are a
key component of
their resume
becoming even
more important
than the resumes
themselves.

LENS | SPRING 2016 9


Turner said people should keep
social media posts clean, particu-
larly ones made publicly.
Meanwhile, legislation intro-
duced by state Sen. Cynthia Creem,
D-Newton, aims to help ensure pri-
vate social media posts are private.
Creems bill prevents employers
from requesting prospective and
current employees passwords
and user names for personal
social media accounts and pre-
vents employers from requiring
employees to add people to a
personal social media accounts
contact list.
She said she is thrilled to see
the bill, which imposes similar
restrictions on schools and their
relationship with students, pass
the Senate. The measure, which
is currently in the House, helps
distinguish between public and
private social media postings.
Employment
specialist and
career coach
Gary Gekow
runs a website
called resume-
yourcareer.com.
It also includes exceptions
for certain circumstances when
employers or schools need to
ensure compliance with state and
federal rules or are conducting
certain investigations.
Chris Geehern, of the
Associated Industries of
Massachusetts, said his organi-
zation is working to make sure
the appropriate exceptions are
included as the bill works through
the legislative process.
Geehern said employers have to
be careful when they look at social
media because they could face
discrimination accusations based
upon what they learn about a job
seeker they reject.
Employers tread very carefully
in this whole area of social media,
Geehern said.
He said employers generally
search on Google for someone.
They are looking for information
about a candidates professional
accomplishments and suitability
for the job.
Geehern said they are generally
not interested in uncovering old
fraternity photos from a candi-
dates college days.
He said social media can give
job seekers access to reviews of a
company, salary comparisons and
other important information.
Geehern said employers are
trying to learn more about the
role of social media.
Its a new world for most
employers, he said.
TO SAY OR
NOT TO SAY
Those in the know give
their takes on what you
should, and shouldnt,
say in a job interview
What I wouldnt like to hear
would be issues of constraints
to their working. In other words,
Well, I can only work Tuesday
and Friday.
Dudley Darling, general manager of Juniper
Hill Golf Course in Northborough
When one of their first questions
is When will I get my first raise?
Elaine Baci Snow, Human Resources
Manager at Imperial Cars
The one thing I would say to
applicants and its amazing
how many of them dont do this
but, do your homework. Know
the companyTo me the impres-
sion that gives is, are you really
interested in a job at this com-
pany, or are you just interested in
a job?
Joya Casey, HR director, MetroWest YMCA,
Framingham
How much money am I going to
make and what are my benefits?
Dawn Ross, Framingham State Universitys
director of career services
What makes you stand out? Dont
just give the answer you think
they want to hear. Be honest and
accentuate what really makes you
stand out from the competition.
Wendy Caruthers, senior vice president of
human resources for Boston Scientific
A lot of people come in and say
they worked 10 jobs in the last
two years. Thats the worst thing
you can say. The best thing you
can say is youve been with one
company for numerous years.
Alex Voyiatzis, owner of Pizza Chef in Milford
COMPILED BY METROWEST
DAILY NEWS STAFF
REPUTATION MANAGEMENT
COMPANIES SHAPE WHAT THE INTERNET SAYS ABOUT YOU
STORY BY JIM HADDADIN searching for me.
PHOTOS BY JOHN THORNTON Floyd consulted with a team of
PR experts at Reputation 911, a
A
fter she was crowned Mendon company that specializes
Miss Arkansas USA in online reputation management.
2016, Abby Floyd They helped her get the images
faced a modern-day removed and achieve better search
conundrum. rankings for other content that
Floyd wanted to reshape her reinforced her new image.
personal brand. She was preparing William DiAntonio,
to represent her home state in Reputation 911s president and
the Miss USA competition, but founder, said the articles and
when people searched her name websites that appear when people
on Google, her teenage persona search your name on the Internet
flooded the results. are increasingly important not
Floyd, a former teen beauty only for beauty queens, but also
pageant winner, said the most the average job seeker.
prominent hits on Google Nowadays, Google is kind
included photos of her taken a of like your online resume, said
few years earlier. The pictures were DiAntonio, a former private inves-
either outdated or didnt repre- tigator who founded the company
sent her clearly, she said. five years ago.
There was never anything bad With a staff of 10 to 15 people,
or negative out there, Floyd said. DiAntonio helps clients rejigger
Its just not what I wanted people the information that appears in
to see when they first looked me web searches, whether by get-
up or were ting negative content removed,
or pushing more flattering
Reputation 911 employees
Holly Blade, left, and Kim
Mahan work with owner
William DiAntonio at the
Mendon office.
content to the top of the list.
In some cases, that Web history
might include a past arrest, an
embarrassing photo or an offhand
remark on social media. Some
employers might even be turned
off by a bad restaurant review
penned by a potential employee,
DiAntonio said.
In other instances, job seekers
simply dont have enough polished
content available about them
online to impress an employer.
DiAntonios staff creates profes-
sional websites, social media
profiles and other content to help
burnish his clients Google results.
Youre being judged now on
how you look online, he said.
For those with a minimal pres-
ence on the web, brand manage-
ment can be a costly endeavor.
Dave Caputo, owner of
Positronic Design, another reputa-
tion management
company in Holyoke, said his firm
charges around $2,000 per month
for services such as building web-
sites.
In some cases, projects can
stretch on for as long as six
months while Caputos team
works to improve his clients
search rankings, often by building
a series of sites that help move one
positive piece of content to the
top of Googles list.
Youve got to do a lot of work
to convince Google one things
more important than another, he
said.
Caputo agreed search results
are increasingly relevant for people
seeking a new career.
If what people feel about you
is going to affect your money, your
bottom line, then obviously you
need to care about that, Caputo
said, because that is where people
go to look up
information
about other
people
now.
LENS | SPRING 2016 11
 LABORS
Photo by Marc
NUMBERS
TO KNOW
PUBLIC SECTOR Vasconcellos
ABOVE: Brockton
Average annual
income for public
sector workers in
JOBS DEMAND firefighters battle
a blaze during a
house fire.

OF LOVE EFFORT, OFFER

Massachusetts
Police officers Photos by
Greg Derr
$60,000
Firefighters SECURITY BELOW: Quincy
police motorcycle
officers clear the
$55,000 STORY BY JESSICA TRUFANT You wouldnt make an exorbi- But the public sector wasnt way for the start
School teachers tant amount of money, but youd immune from the Great of a parade.
$52,000
W
hen he joined the always have a job, said Machado, Recession, and Machado said OPPOSITE: Third
Fall River Police who also serves as executive tight budgets and limited grade teacher
Median salary
director of the Massachusetts resources hit fire, police and Rachel Mack
statewide Department nearly works with her
$57,000 four decades ago, Sgt. James Police Association. For many school departments in unforeseen students in
Machado said the job provided a years, people would always say ways. Fall River laid off dozens of Rockland.
SOURCE: U.S.
BUREAU OF LABOR sense of security he wouldnt have there will never be layoffs.
STATISTICS found in the private sector.

12 LENS | SPRING 2016

officers and firefighters in 2009,
and other public employees across
the state and nation saw layoffs,
while salaries stayed stagnant or
were slashed.
The economy has greatly
improved in the last five or so
years, and many positions that
communities cut are being
restored. Those who work in the
classroom or for police and fire
departments say public service
is still a secure career choice and
rewarding in other ways.
I think generally its driven
by a desire to help out and make
your community better, if you
see things wrong and you want to
right them, Machado said. You
have some security people dont
have in the private sector, but
more so its a rewarding career.
In 2014, Massachusetts police
officers had an average annual
income of nearly $60,000, while
firefighters made $55,000 on
average and elementary and sec-
ondary school teachers about
$52,000, according to the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics. The
annual median salary statewide
was about $57,000.
Those salaries were slightly
higher in cities such as Boston,
Cambridge and Quincy, where
police officers and
firefighters on average made more that such jobs are truly a labor of from replacement needs.
than $61,000 in 2014. Teachers in love. The number of teaching posi-
those cities made on average nearly While weve worked hard tions will increase about 6 percent
$52,000, with elementary teachers over the years to increase benefits, at the elementary and middle
averaging $70,000 per year. staffing and equipment school level, Considine said, and
Unions provide levels, the reality is more than a half-million positions
public servants that we are still in will open across the country due
a degree of job [Closeup] a very dangerous to retirements.
security not profession and Arlie Woodrum, the dean
Pharmacists are at the
afforded to top of the pay charts in the every call could of the college of education at
employees in retail realm. As of May 2014, be our last, he Framingham State University,
private industry. the median annual wage for said in an email. said a generation of teachers is
According to a pharmacists was $120,950. We take an oath approaching retirement, creating
January report to protect and an opportunity and demand for
from the U.S. serve the people new educators.
Bureau of Labor of our community The number of students
Statistics, public-sector workers and those are our guiding prin- entering Framingham States
had a union membership rate ciples. education program has remained
more than five times higher than Tim Considine of the Bureau steady, but Woodrum said the pro-
the private-sector workers in 2015 of Labor Statistics said projected fession itself has become far more
35.2 percent vs. 6.7 percent. job growth for firefighters and demanding than it used to be.
Median weekly pay of nonunion police officers between 2014 and Massachusetts is ranked
workers was also about 21 per- 2024 is about 5 percent, while number one in the country for
cent less than union workers, or overall employment nationwide education, and part of that is
$776 vs. $980. Public employees will increase by about 6.5 percent. a result of the high demands
also belong to public pension sys- Those projections, however, placed on candidates coming into
tems, which promises all vested only take new positions into schools of education, who must go
employees a fixed, predictable account, Considine said. While through rigorous curriculums, he
pension at retirement age. departments nationwide expect said. Schools are asking for more
Although careers in public to add about 34,000 new officer highly trained teachers, otherwise
service have perks, Edward Kelly, positions, there will be nearly a they dont get licensed, or they
president of the Professional quarter-million openings through dont get a job.
Fire Fighters of Massachusetts 2024 due to retirements. For fire- The demands and expecta-
and a Boston firefighter, echoed fighters, there will be more than tions of other public service jobs
Machados sentiment 110,000 job are also evolving and expanding.
opening While police officers were once
through seen strictly as crime fighters,
2024 Machado, the Fall River police
95,000 sergeant, said they now act as care
of which givers and social workers as
will they grapple with issues
result like homelessness and
addiction.
LENS | SPRING 2016 13

W
ith a staff of
26,000 employees,
Massachusetts
General Hospital is
a city unto itself.
It runs several cafes and caf-
eterias, gift shops, hair salons,
libraries, a museum, a chapel, and
a public safety division that is
14 LENS | SPRING 2016
MEDICAL FACILITIES OFFER
WIDE SPECTRUM OF JOBS AS
HEALTHCARE FIELD EXPANDS
CAREERS
IN
BY DEBORAH
ALLARD CARE
larger than the police departments
in some small towns plus, a
world-class hospital and multi-
million dollar research program.
Its a powerhouse in the health-
care field with a 999-bed med-
ical center and top-notch care
in virtually every medical
and surgical specialty.
Thats a recipe for being
a major employer in the
region.
Students in the Health Sciences programs at Bristol Community College get hands-on experience.
We have 900 positions posted
right now, said Mass General
Director of Human Resources
Steven Taranto.
Jobs in the field of healthcare
are booming and are expected
to have the fastest employment
growth and add the most jobs
through 2024, according to the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Jobs at Mass General run the
gamut from food services and
chaplains to nurse practitioners
Photos Courtesy of Bristol Community College
and cardiovascular perfusionists.
Theyre recruiting dental hygien-
ists, vascular technologists, grant
managers, lab scientists, medical
coders, interpreters and financial
analysts to name a few.
Healthcare is a great industry,
Taranto said. Healthcare at Mass
General truly is all industries.
Its not out of the ordinary for
hospitals, health centers and doc-
tors offices to offer the majority of
jobs in their community
today.
In 2013,
16.9 per-
cent of
the
Massachusetts workforce worked
in healthcare, according to David
Smith, Massachusetts Hospital
Association senior director
of Health Data Analysis and
Research.
Smith said jobs in healthcare
amounted to four times the
number of people who worked
in construction fields, twice the
number of those in education, 2.2
times those employed in manufac-
turing, and 2.7 times more than
those who worked in financial
services.
The MHA keeps close track
of recruitment and employment
in hospitals and health fields
throughout the state.
Opportunities in home health
care are predicted to become even
more bountiful as the population
lives longer.
Thats in line with the basic
tenet of the Affordable Care Act
and preventing people from being
hospitalized, said Pat Noga,
MHA vice president of Clinical
Affairs, and a registered nurse. Its
reinforcing the way we think of
healthcare in the future.
Smith said hot jobs in health-
care today include various types
of home health services, nursing,
medical coding, occupational and
physical therapy, pharmacy, case
management, and nursing speci-
alities.
Advancements in healthcare
mean even more new jobs will be
created in the future.
Many of the fastest growing
occupations are in the healthcare
field. By 2024, jobs for occu-
pational therapy assistants is
expected to grow by 42.7 percent,
according to the U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics.
Physical therapy assistants,
physical therapy aides, and home
health aides were next on the list,
followed by nurse practitioners
and physical therapists. Gains are
also expected for hearing aid spe-
cialists, optometrists, diagnostic
medical sonographers, personal
care aides, emergency medical
technicians, and nurse midwives.
At Bristol Community College
in Fall River, a new $27 mil-
lion Health Sciences Technology
building is set to open by summer.
It will fill the need for additional
healthcare and science curriculum
for a growing number of students
interested in those fields.
BCC offers seven associate
reported 2,437 workers in
affiliations with more than 150
degrees in healthcare and multiple
medical certificate programs to
hundreds of students.
Healthcare is very fast
growing, said Patricia Dent, BCC
dean for Health Sciences.
BCC is offering new degree
programs in biology, biotech-
nology and forensic DNA, and
veterinary healthcare, to its already
popular degree programs in clin-
ical lab science, dental hygiene,
biomedical manufacturing
technology, health information,
nursing, and occupational therapy.
Certificates are offered in medical
coding, electrocardiography
technology, emergency medical
technician, pharmacy technician,
phlebotomy and more.
We really try to meet the
need in the SouthCoast region,
Dent said. We always want to be
responsive.
In the city of Fall River, Saint
Annes Hospital, run by Steward
Health, employs 1,500 and has
about 100 open jobs each week.
Southcoast Health, the entity that
owns Charlton Memorial Hospital
in Fall River, St. Lukes in New
Bedford, and Tobey in Wareham
employs 7,300. Charlton alone
2013, making it the citys largest
employer.
Saint Annes trains more than
500 students each year through
secondary and grad programs,
ranging from clinical fields like
nursing, rehabilitation, phle-
botomy, social work, radiology, to
medical records and interpreter
services.
Many of these students go on
to become hospital employees,
said Kathy Finn, director of
Professional Practice, Research and
Development at Saint Annes.
Saint Annes is currently hiring
physical therapists, registered
nurses, emergency room techni-
cians, surgical technicians, nurse
assistants and ultrasound techni-
cians.
Steward Healths Good
Samaritan Medical Center in
Brockton is consistently looking
for registered nurses and hires new
graduates. They also expect the
demand for trained surgical tech-
nicians, medical technologists and
nursing assistants to continue.
Good Samaritan posts an
average of 50 jobs at any one time,
and employs roughly 1,800.
LENS | SPRING 2016 15
ROLLING OUT JOBS FOR A
EMPLOYERS GEAR OPPORTUNITIES TO MILLENIALS

NEW GENERATION
STORY BY CODY SHEPARD | PHOTOS BY MARC VASCONCELLOS

G
one are the days job descriptions and creating new As the baby boomers retire, there ABOVE: Mike
of employers only positions to cater to a new age range. certainly is going to be a need to Rodrick, from Sign
offering 9-to-5 jobs They are for people roughly ages 18 address the wants and needs of millen- Design, rolls up
during the week to 34 and include birth years ranging nials, said Jon Bryan, a business and a photograph in
with little vacation from the early-to-mid-1980s to the management professor at Bridgewater Brockton. Sign
Design, like many
time. The millennial late 1990s. State University.
companies today,
generation is here and wont be going And, according to several recent Those desires range from flexible offers jobs and
away anytime soon. studies, millennials are expected to hours to competitive benefits and opportunities that
Employers across the country make up more than 50 percent of the wages to the ability to learn while appeal to millenials.
and even the globe are changing global workforce by 2020. working.

16 LENS | SPRING 2016

 [Closeup]
According to the Bureau of Labor
I think Statistics, those with a bachelors degree level or expe- creating wooden shapes, called is for companies to offer unlim-
the millen- or higher spend the most amount of rienced and lasts, similar to a human foot that ited vacation time, games at work
nial cohort time working at home. The BLS they could are used by shoemakers to manu- and free food, but there needs to
is looking American Time Use Survey for the come work facture and repair footwear. be a balance.
for jobs that years 2010-14 found 37 percent either for us right There are only a handful of Sometimes its a get your work
worked out of their home, or added to
will excite their workdays after hours at home. out of high people left in the world who done and everything else doesnt
them, Bryan school or are manufacturing shoe lasts, matter kind of philosophy. Were
said. Theyre trade school, and Jones & Vining is the only not there, the Sign Design owner
looking to be able he said. Most American manufacturer. said. Were more of a production
to telecommunicate and have people are within that age group. Because the designers are baby facility. We need probably 50 per-
flexibility on their schedule. They The company, which has 65 boomers who are nearing retire- cent of employees to be here and
want to engage in work and do a employees, also has designers, fab- ment, the company hopes to producing to be successful.
good job at it. ricators and installers, as well as attract millennials as it expands its But he believes his is a fun
The trend can be seen at several administrative positions. Bridgewater location. business that offers competi-
businesses in the greater Brockton Id say all our designers actu- Model making for footwear tive wages and a bonus program,
region. ally fit within that age range, is slowly becoming a lost art with and one that understands family
Sign Design, which is located Ferrigno said. Probably 50 to most master model developers in comes first.
on Liberty Street in Brockton, 75 percent of our employees are the latter part of their working As for the future, Bryan
provides custom design, produc- within that group. careers, said Charles Liberge, the believes companies might need
tion, installation and service to Other companies with an older companys executive vice presi- to shift what they offer to attract
thousands of businesses. It is a workforce recognize the shift dent. J&V is beginning to work millennials.
manufacturing, sales and service and are looking to hire younger with local trade high schools, The technology is changing,
facility all together in Brockton. workers. colleges and trade associations in he said. Its clear that the mil-
And the company hopes to Among them is Jones & order to recruit, train and estab- lennials who are coming out of
attract millennials, said Ron Vining, a footwear company with lish a new breed of millennium school, college or technical school
Ferrigno, the companys owner administrative offices in Brockton model makers. will have more of the skill sets and
and general manager. and a manufacturing facility in Millennials also want to attributes that these employers are
We have a wide range of jobs Bridgewater. Its one of the few have fun while theyre working. looking for. They have to do any-
technicians that can be entry remaining footwear last companies, Ferrigno said he knows the trend thing necessary.

LENS | SPRING 2016 17

 N
othing is more
HERES
HOW TO
PICK AN
THE unnerving
than walking
into a job
interview. When it comes

OUTFIT
THAT WILL RIGHT to making a solid first and
lasting impression, your
visual resume is as impor-
tant as the one printed on

LOOK
that fancy ivory
GET YOU paper.
HIRED
STORY BY DANA BARBUTO
PHOTOS BY GREG DERR

18 LENS | SPRING 2016

 Pick the right outfit
and walking in you send
an instant signal that
youre serious, says Mary
Lou Andre, who runs
DressingWell.com, a ward-
robe and fashion consulting
firm in Needham.
Andre, author of the
book Ready To Wear: An
Experts Guide to Choosing
and Using Your Wardrobe,
advises to make fashion
choices that amp up confi-
dence something that is
always en vogue.
Style is a very strong
communicator, Andre says.
It lets people know you are
a current thinker.
To differentiate yourself
so you actually get hired,
Andre tells clients to follow
the Four Good F words:
fit, fabric, function and flair.
A well-functioning
wardrobe can put you at
ease, Andre says.
Her final piece of advice:
Put that hand out. Make
eye contact and own your
power.
Lisa Duncan gets some
fashion help as she
starts the search for a
new career. Fashion
consultant Mary Lou
Andre helps her find
business professional
outfits and accessories
at Lord and Taylor in the
South Shore Plaza.

T H E F O U R G O O D F W O R D S

2
FU N C T I O N
Develop a look to match your
lifestyle, Andre advises. Take
core pieces through the paces
of your typical day. If youre
a commuter, consider a good
tote bag to store pumps for a
quick change. Make sure that
4
FL A I R
cute slit in your skirt doesnt Master the first three F
reveal too much when youre words, then add your own
seated. And dont make out- accoutrements such as
erwear an afterthought. You a pop of color, jewelry or
might ride the elevator with scarf. And remember, a
the person youre interviewing little accessorizing goes a
with. Select protective and long way.
sharp jackets and coats for
each season.

FA B R I C
FI T
Ill-fitting clothing sends a
Stiff and heavy fabrics are
pass, Andre says. Seek tex-
tiles that enhance a polished
appearance. If you sweat
negative message. If clothes when youre nervous, you
are too big, youre literally need fabrics that breathe.
drowning, Andre says. Too Opt for lightweight wool and
tight and youll feel restricted. 100 percent cotton dress
Proper fit is the single most shirts. Avoid fabrics that easily
important factor in wearing wrinkle, like linen.
your clothes well.

1 3 LENS | SPRING 2016 19


I N A J O B
I N T ER V I E W
FASHION DOS
Make sure everything is
wrinkle-free and without
stains or holes.
Never underestimate the
power of the jacket. It
should be fitted and in good
repair. Its a garment that
communicates good busi-
ness.
FASHION DONTS
Dont wear jeans, even if
theyre nice.
Dont wear too much
perfume or cologne.
Dont be afraid of
overdressing. It shows
respect for the process.
20 LENS | SPRING 2016
M U S T - H A V E S
MEN WOMEN
dark suit in black, navy, black jacket
gray or brown pants
a modern blazer skirt
crisp cotton dress shirt dress
tie cardigan
dress shoes shoes you can walk in
Youre not smiling if
youre feet hurt, Andre
says.
Blue is a color that looks
great on every skin tone.
Tone down makeup. A
little lipstick and mascara
freshen the face.
Look organized. Carry a
portfolio binder with pens,
resume, etc.
Dont wear ill-fitting
clothes that wear you.
Dont show too much
skin. Watch necklines and
hemlines.
 GRADUATING SENIORS ENTERING A
PROMISING MARKET AFTER COLLEGE
STORY BRITTNEY McNAMARA | PHOTO BY JACK FOLEY
A
s graduation for have good news for those about
college seniors to enter the real world, how-
approaches, job ever. As the economy grows, the
anxiety grows stock market rebounds and baby
and grows. Who boomers retire, some say the job
will hire a grad market is heating up and will only
with no experi- get hotter.
ence in the field? What happens According to the Bureau of
when you apply and apply but no Labor Statistics, the countrys
one calls you back? unemployment rate sat at 4.9
College career counselors percent as of January 2016, and at
4.7 percent in Massachusetts.
The state has added more
than 75,000 jobs since
Deccember 2015.
Dawn Ross, Framingham
State University director of
Career Services, said students
have a great shot at landing a
job right now.
INTO THE
REAL WORLD
I think from my perspective,
we have a lot of employers that
want to be partners with us, to
come on campus to recruit our
students, and to offer internships
and jobs, Ross said. Its a very
wonderful market right now, defi-
nitely a student market.
Kate Basch, career coach at
MassBay Community College, said
students studying fields like nursing
or STEM are entering a booming
market, ripe for graduates.
Healthcare is growing because
you have an aging population,
Basch said. High tech
is a sector growing
really fast with the
digital revolution.
Ross said
Framingham States computer sci-
ence majors, early childhood edu-
cation graduates and accounting
and finance majors are also seeing
great employment opportunities.
Jobs arent saved for only those
who have a specialized degree,
though. Regis Colleges Susan
Clancy Kennedy, director of the
Center for Internships and Career
Placement, said the key to getting
any job is translating the skills
youve learned into ones
the employer is
seeking.
LENS | SPRING 2016 21
 MANNERS
MATTER
STORY BY LINDA MURPHY
PHOTOS BY EMELY DelSANTO

I
f you think business
meals are all about
enjoying the food,
think again.
In fact, theyre
about everything
I think but satisfying
one of the things your appetite,
that college gradu- said interna-
ates (particularly with tional etiquette expert
liberal arts backgrounds) Sharon Schweitzer.
Clancy
dont really understand (is) its The founder and CEO
Kennedy
all about the marketable skills, of Protocol & Etiquette
runs students
Clancy Kennedy said. If Im an Worldwide, Schweitzer
through an exercise
English major, I could still be a travels the globe sharing
where they take some
pharmaceutical sales representa- her knowledge of busi-
of their experience, say waiting
tive. Look at the job ness protocol and eti-
tables, and get creative
description, look at quette to companies,
as to how that applies
the first couple of individuals and even
ITS A VERY to a job they want.
requirements. Say, universities.
(By waiting tables)
when have I had to WONDERFUL theyve learned cus-
Much of this
do that? When have I MARKET knowledge she picked
tomer services, how
had to take initiative up while practicing
RIGHT NOW, to manage multiple
on something? Match law for 15 years
priorities and think
your experiences with DEFINITELY quickly on their feet,
with a law firm that
what theyre looking A STUDENT worked with tech
she said.
for. companies and as a
MARKET. Those are the skills
Those skills, Ross labor and employ-
Dawn Ross,
a student might put
said, are likely dif- ment lawyer.
Framingham State on a rsum for a job
ferent for each job. As a self-described
University director of in advertising.
Students shouldnt third culture kid,
Career Services With the job
send out one blanket who grew up living in
market going gang-
rsum, she said, but various corners of the
busters as Clancy
rather tailor the documents for world, Schweitzer now
Kennedy put it, Basch said it all
each application. advises clients interna-
comes down to networking.
One rsum doesnt fit all, tionally including those
I say to the students, pre-
Ross said. I tell this to every stu- in Japan, Czechoslovakia
tend youre starting your own
dent. and Canada. Author
business and you need someone to
If youre applying for a creative design your web page. Someone of Access to Asia,
job at a small start up, Ross said Schweitzer was recently in
you really like and respect a lot
your rsum should reflect that. Hong Kong working on a
says, I have the perfect person
It shouldnt look the same as if National Geographic project,
for you, Basch said. Youd be
youre applying for with a large Confucius was a Foodie.
so grateful. That (networking) is
corporation. More important than going to be the thing that pulls In business meetings,
the look, Ross said, is the content. your rsum from the rest. people want to judge you
authentically, especially in Asia.

22 LENS | SPRING 2016


Schweitzer tells employers who are deciding
between equal candidates to take them out to
lunch separately. The lesser candidate will disqualify
themselves through poor or mediocre manners.
Theyre all about building relation-
ships, she said.
Asian cultures have very finely
tuned and sophisticated protocols
that have developed over long periods
of time. Japan in particular is one of
the most formal cultures, she said,
due in part to the close proximity of
the residents of the tiny island. In
the United States, by contrast, vast
stretches of land have made for a more
informal society. I tell people, France
and Japan are two of the most formal
cultures in the world and the United
States and Australia are two of the
least formal.
But in her experience, cultural gaps
are narrowed when each party makes
the effort to learn the others culture.
When they see us make the effort,
they want to make the effort, she
said.
And just how important is having
a strong sense of etiquette and knowl-
edge of business protocol for those
entering the job market?
It could be the tie-breaker in
landing a job over another equally
qualified candidate, said Schweitzer.
Major state universities and private
colleges hire her to hold dining and
etiquette sessions.
Schweitzer said she tells employers
who are deciding between equal can-
didates to take them out to lunch
separately. The lesser candidate will
disqualify themselves through poor or
mediocre dining manners.
Companies cant have someone
like that meeting with clients who
have high expectations right from the
beginning. They need a candidate who
can go to lunch with a client and be
at their best right from the beginning.
Some people dont think manners
matter, but they do.
One tactic professionals use before
a business-related meal is to eat first,
she said. Remember, youre not
invited because people think youre
hungry or thirsty, youre there for an
agenda thats business-related or social.
Have a protein shake or a chicken
breast before you go.
10 TIPS FOR
BUSINESS MEALS
TO NAVIGATE THE BUSINESS MEAL
SUCCESSFULLY, SCHWEITZER
OFFERS THE FOLLOWING TIPS
1 6
BUILD THE
RELATIONSHIP
Business meals
are not scheduled
because the host thinks their
guests are hungry. Make it
about building relationships
and getting to know your host,
client, or guest. Research your
meal companion beforehand.
What is happening in that
persons industry? Ask intel-
ligent questions.
2
SEATING
Wait for the host to
decide where guests
will be seated. If you
unthinkingly sit down wherever
you please, you may be placed
in the awkward position of
being asked to stand up again.
3
DRESS NICELY
Dinner jackets or
suits for gentlemen
are appropriate,
especially when dining with
international clients or col-
leagues from overseas. Ladies
should wear suits, or dresses
and shoes, not sandals.
4
INTERRUPTIONS
Be sure all mobile
devices are silent;
vibrate is not good
enough. Avoid placing a mobile
device on the dining table, as
this indicates that it has more
importance than the conversa-
tion.
5
DONT SEND
FOOD BACK
DURING THE
MEAL
One should never send food
back during a business meal,
because the business meal
isnt about food. Its about
business.
MIXING
BUSINESS
AND DINNER
Never start a busi-
ness conversation before
the conclusion of the entre.
Business should not be dis-
cussed until the meal has been
cleared away.
7
AVOID
COMPLAINING
Never complain about
business colleagues
and work during the meal.
If you have an issue with a
coworker or colleague, its
between you and the other
person, or you can bring it up
to human resources or your
manager.
8
SHARING FOOD
At a business dinner
or overseas, avoid
asking to sample your
companions food, especially
if you dont know the person
well or its a business meal.
U.S. dining is more informal,
and depending on how well
the guests know each other,
one may unobtrusively pass a
bread plate for a sample before
a first bite.
9
AVOID CERTAIN
TOPICS
Remember, this is a
professional setting
to discuss business. Dont mix
business with such topics as
religion and politics.
10
THANK
YOU
A verbal
thank-you
at the end of the meal is very
appropriate. An email thank
you is better than none at all,
but a true professional writes a
handwritten thank-you note on
personalized stationery within
48 hours.
LENS | SPRING 2016 23
 G O IN G THE
COMPANY
TH E
E X TRA MILE
F OR THEIR
E MPLOYEES YOU KEEPMEDITECH BY KEVIN P. OCONNOR
The first thing you see
when you walk into Fall Rivers
Meditech is the South Watuppa
Pond.
Floor-to-ceiling windows on
the back of the building let in
the light and the view miles
of lakeshore glowing gold in the
wintery sun.
On the left, a cast steel
wisteria vine climbs beside the
stairs, from the first floor to the
fourth.
To the right, wooden panels,
six by four feet, offer a series of
abstract still lives featuring col-
lections of organic shapes.
You are only 5 feet into the
building.
Meditech, 101 Martine St.,
offers workers the benefits that
most workers dream of.
The cafeteria serves fresh
fruit, food cooked to order, soup
and a salad bar. Coffee, tea, soda
and bottles of water are free.
There are high chairs available for
workers who bring their children
to the office.
The cafeteria opens to a patio
that is set up with dining tables in
summer months.
The company gym is right
down the hall with free weights,
a few lifting machines and tread-
mills. Behind the building is a
quarter mile walking path that
curves along the pond. There is
original art from local artists on
every wall.
South Watuppa Pond, above, and local artwork, left, offer plenty of
visual interest at Meditechs Fall River office.
24 LENS | SPRING 2016
This cafeteria is wonderful,
said Nicole Lund of Fall River, a
marketing coordinator with the
company. We have a cafeteria in
every building. I havent packed a
lunch in four years.
Meditech was founded
in Boston in 1968 by A. Neil
Pappalardo with the plan to use
computers to file medical infor-
mation and provide doctors with
reference works.
The company now has almost
4,000 employees and 10 sites,
eight of them in Massachusetts.
In each one, the company has
built in food and fun caf-
eterias, coffee stations on every
floor, gyms and art work.
Employees are generally
welcome to chose the site most
convenient to them to lessen their
commute. If they can work from
home, that is allowed. They can
take breaks at will.
The philosophy is, as long
as you get your work done, go
ahead, Lund said.
Programmers, software
designers, marketing profes-
sionals, accountants mix in open
offices. In some buildings there
are seating areas with couches
and easy chairs arranged in cir-
cles and information ports located
nearby for laptops and tablets.
Meditech would rather have
you work where and how it is
convenient for you, Lund said. It
makes it a great place to work.
HARBORONE BANK
GRANITE TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Rob Hale Jr., founder and CEO
of Granite Telecommunications in
Quincy leads by example. Hes up
by 6 a.m. and at the gym, which
conveniently means he is also at
work.
We believe in health and well-
ness at Granite. The gym is on-site
and open 24/7, and we host a
lot of competitive and intramural
sports, Karen Hogle, vice presi-
dent of revenue, insurance and
benefits, said.
BY CODY SHEPARD
their home and needs a temporary
place to live, clothes and food. They
Employees can participate
in football, softball, yoga, mixed
martial arts or CrossFit, thanks to
complimentary gym memberships
provided by Granite, and thats just
the beginning of the benefits.
Granite Telecommunications
handles voice and data intra-
communications for over 5,000
corporate clients. With about $1.1
billion in annual revenue and nearly
1,400 workers, Hogle said Granite
strives to reinvest in its employees.
HarborOne Bank offers com-
petitive wages, tuition reim-
bursement, a new fund to
help employees in financial
emergencies and commu-
nity programs.
With corporate office
is located on Oak Street in
Brockton, HarborOne Bank
prides itself on offering great
benefits, but the administration
says its more than that its
about creating a favorable envi-
ronment to work in.
It is a place where there is
mutual respect, said Patricia
Williams, the senior vice
president of human resources.
People treat each other well.
We have fun, but get the job
done at the same time.
Among the employee ben-
efits is a new emergency care
fund, which has $100,000 avail-
able. Employees who have an
emergency situation can apply
for money.
Somebody just had a fire in
BY LIAM HOFMEISTER
Granite sets financial goals
for itself, and when we hit a goal,
everyone in the company gets
something like a $1,500 bonus,
Hogle said.
Granite also sends over 15
percent of its top performers
to a four-day, all-expense paid
annual conference in Miami. To
help workers rank as top per-
formers, Granite maintains Granite
University, an in-house training
program to help employees earn
Photos by Marc Vasconcellos
ABOVE: State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, left, and community education
trainer Aaron Wilson speak at HarborOne Bank.
LEFT: Aguinaldo Fonseca is seen in the HarborOne Multi-Cultural Banking
Center.
can apply for this fund, Williams presidents council and have lunch
said. We may have somebody who a few times during the year with the
had a tragic accident or something chief executive officer.
happened with a child and need Wellness programs also abound
additional time off or to stay in a at the bank. An online portal encour-
hotel. ages staff to live a healthy lifestyle
The company also offers com- through on-site supports, seminars
munity events where employees may and menu planning. More than 65
volunteer. Staff gave 3,000 hours of percent of employees participate.
community service last year. The CEO and senior manage-
And employees can be rec- ment are incredible. They are all
ognized for going above their job about approachability there is
duties. Employees who are selected no question that cant be asked,
each quarter get to sit on the Williams said.
promotions.
Employees have
this thing called a
Path to Progress,
Hogle said. Well
tell you what you
need to do and what
classes you need to
take, whether it be
in communications,
negotiation or Excel.
Granite wants to see
employees succeed.
ROB HALE JR.
LENS | SPRING 2016 25
 CORNERSTONE
Photos by John Thornton
Executive Director Carolyn Smith,
right, speaks with a resident at
Cornerstone at Milford Senior
Living Residences.
BY CORIN COOK
Cornerstone
at Milford Senior
Living Residences
priority is to serve
its senior resi-
dents, but its staff
also makes a real
effort to involve the
entire community
in its day-to-day
activities.
Cornerstone at
Milford is a senior
living facility that commu-
opened in Milford in nity including
January 2014. its residents, local seniors and
Although it is other community members.
relatively new to In December, for example, the stockings to area seniors with
the Milford commu- company organized Stockings for items including socks, mittens, toi-
nity, said Executive Seniors, not for its own residents, letries, games, notepads, stamps, Its fun and engages the com-
Director Carolyn but for our senior population batteries, band aids and gift cards. munity as well, said Smith.
Smith, since it has within the community. Many of the regular events that Director of Community
opened, Cornerstone Cornerstone associates got the Cornerstone hosts for its residents Relations Beth Patras said that the
has been an active community involved by reaching out are also open to the public, Smith work atmosphere at Cornerstone is
part of our com- to local Council on Aging represen- said. incredibly upbeat.
munity, which she tatives to get an idea of what area The facility regularly hosts an I love my job. It is a great
said makes it a great seniors may want or need, and then event called Grab your Passport, place to work, she said.
place to work for its solicited over 20 local business to for residents and community mem- Patras said she is thankful to
90 or so staff members. collect some of these items. bers to gather and learn about a be part of a place with a lot of
Smith said the company orga- Cornerstone associates then country and its music, food and value that the company puts into
nizes events to serve the entire stuffed and distributed over 70 culture. their associates.

SIGNATURE HEALTHCARE BROCKTON HOSPITAL BY CODY SHEPARD

Theyve dressed in pink and
danced to support breast cancer
research and they pick each
other up on a daily basis through
notes and recognition.
Signature Healthcare Brockton
Hospital, which is located on the
citys East Side, provides
its employees with a
wide range of activi-
ties, events and programs that as they make, sell and buy the
make it an attractive place to work. crafts, said Lorraine McGrath, the
Each winter, the walls inside hospitals director of marketing.
the hospitals cafeteria In December, the hospital
are lined with tables holds a catered holiday lun-
featuring crafts and cheon for employees at all
food. Its an event for 17 sites operated by the
the employees and hospital.
by the employees, But what could make
the hospital one of the
citys top employers is
the camaraderie among
staff, McGrath said.
Each day at the
beginning of the
three shifts, every
department
meets for
about 15
minutes
in what
they refer
to as a
huddle.
We
discuss
how we
can achieve
our depart-
ment goals,
McGrath said.
We also rec-
ognize other
people who
did some-
thing special
the previous
shift.
Each
month,
employees can
also nominate
other staff
members who
have gone
above and
beyond as Photos by Marc Vasconcellos
vision and action nominees. From Zumba classes to an annual
It then goes to a recognition employee craft fair, Signature
committee and anyone who is Healthcare Brockton Hospital puts
selected to receive the award has its employees first.
their name in the monthly staff
letter and is recognized by the
chief executive officer. healthy, like walking or stair chal-
And the programs dont stop lenges and exercise programs.
there. The hospital has dozens of A lot of the activities are
wellness programs that encourage absolutely designed to build cama-
employees to become or stay raderie, McGrath said.

26 LENS | SPRING 2016


Factories are built around the
needs of machines and production.
The people employed there are
expected to adapt to those needs.
But, examine the notion. Does
it really make sense?
John Matouk & Company in
Fall River concluded the answer to
that question was no.
Matouk, 925 Airport Road,
completed a $10 million expansion
in June, expanding its plant from
JOHN MATOUK
& COMPANY
BY KEVIN P. OCONNOR
47,000 to 87,000 square feet.
But the expansion did more
than increase capacity.
When we did the expansion,
we wanted to redefine the experi-
ence of working at Matouk, said
George Matouk Jr., the president
and CEO of the company. Of
course, we also wanted to expand
our ability to produce bed and bath
linens.
So they started at the back
door to the factory the door that
every employee at Matouk walks
through to go to work.
That door has become the
center of the Matouk plant.
Everything revolves around it,
Matouk said.
The door opens into a new caf-
eteria and lounge with easy chairs
along with the tables and com-
puters available for employee use.
To get to the door, you walk
across a patio with tables set up
during the good weather.
The company also set aside an
acre of land that is planted with
GEORGE MATOUK JR.
grass as well as fruit and flowering the building, where all the different
trees. A quarter mile walking track job functions at Matouk can come
winds around it. together.
Employees working in the pro- Employees are encouraged to
duction area can see into the busi- go outside for a walk during their
ness offices and walk through a breaks.
corridor, with glass walls on either We want to show the world
side, so they can see the design that we can redefine the experience
teams and their works in progress of working in the textile industry in
and look in on company leaders Fall River, Matouk said. We want
meeting in conference rooms. to destroy the concept that attaches
The cafeteria is really impor- to working in a textile factory.
tant here, Matouk said. It was No matter what you do here,
deliberately placed at the center of we want it to be a good job.

THE TRAINING ASSOCIATES BY BOB TREMBLAY

It only seems appropriate that
a company that focuses on training
services knows a thing or two
about employees what makes
them tick and what can make
them more productive.
Before founding The Training
Associates in Westborough
in 1994, Vic Melfa,
now the
companys chairman of the board,
owned a computer distribution
company called Vitronix Corp.
Because clients needed training on
the software and computers they
sold, he decided to add training to
the companys scope of services.
That side of the business took off
and his daughter, Maria Melfa,
joined the company as its opera-
tions manager.
When Vitronix was sold in
1993, the Melfas launched
The Training
Associates
in
Westborough to focus entirely on
training services after seeing the
demand to be very high.
TTA is the now the nations
largest provider of on-demand
learning and talent development. Its
offerings feature more than 30,000
learning and development resources
specializing in adult learning for all
technologies, business/soft skills
and learning modalities.
We have educated more than
1.5 million learners at thousands
of companies of all sizes, including
most Fortune 500 companies,
says Maria Melfa, who is now the
companys president, CEO and
owner.
TTA itself consists
of 75 employees.
What makes
it a great
company to
work for?
It is a
woman-
owned, spend the majority of
family-owned, their waking hours at
privately held work so it is important
company that to have a lot of fun as
supports the long as we all get our
professional work done.
development Adds Lippert,
and individual TTA goes above and
personal beyond to provide a
needs of its MARIA MELFA workplace that is pro-
employees, ductive and energetic
says Keith Lippert, TTAs director at the same time. As we say to
of marketing communications. our clients when consulting about
Examples include flex-time, their learning and development
401k, insurance, holiday parties, needs, they spend a lot of time
seasonal outings, vacation time, and financial resources to bring an
fitness room, mindfulness classes, employee into the company only to
training and development. have them rot on the vine without
Says Melfa, We take great further development or maximizing
pride in taking care of our their talents. With professional
employees and offering as many roadmaps in place and true care
benefits and perks as possible. for the well-being of individuals,
Being in the professional devel- TTA continues to grow and thrive.
opment industry, we know the The Training Associates
importance of having a happy and is at 287 Turnpike Road in
productive team. Most employees Westborough.

LENS | SPRING 2016 27

 Brockton Day Nursery
In years

N
past, a career in

ATIO
childcare may have

DUC
called to mind visions

LY EONGA of a young woman watching

R
BY ED D

EA
However,
as research has yielded
new evidence about the develop-
mental significance of a childs
early years, the field has undergone
seismic shifts with a premium now
placed on education not only for
the children, but for the individ-
uals caring for them as well.
The shift can even be seen
in the words people now use to
describe the profession. What
was once commonly referred to
as childcare is now called early taking anecdotal notes for assess-
childhood education.
Research has demonstrated
that age 0 to 5 is really, really
important for brain development,
Lisa Botelho, the executive director
of Brockton Day Nursery said.
She added that the work early
childhood educators do now
focuses on preparing their students
for kindergarten, such as devel-
oping self-help skills and social-
emotional skills.
For instance, early childhood
educators can teach children tasks
like buttoning their coat or tying
their shoes on their own. Social
skills are also improved as children
learn to play and share with each
other under the supervision of
their teachers.
Teachers are always watching
kids while theyre playing and
witnessed the increased emphasis
ment, Botelho said. The teachers
will use those observations to help
children develop skills specific to
them during small group activities.
As the focus on education
in regards to the children has
increased, teachers are now
expected to attain a higher level
of educational achievement before
over a room of napping infants,
sleeping peacefully under her supervision.
entering the field.
In the past, Botelho said that
individuals used to be enter the
field with a high school diploma,
a course on child care and nine
months experience.
Now, there is a big push to
have an associate degree or a bach-
elors degree, Botelho said.
Louise Marchione, the chair-
woman of the Department of
Child Care Education at Massasoit
Community College, has also
placed on education for those
trying to enter the field.
There is a lot of opportunity
for those people who are well-
trained and have education,
Marchione said.
She added that Massasoit
has partnered with other higher
education facilities such as
Bridgewater State University and
the University of Massachusetts
Boston and it encourages their
students to go on to receive a
bachelors degree after obtaining
their associate.
It tends to be a low paying
field, especially if you dont have a
lot of education, Marchione said.
If students want to make a living
wage, the more education and
training you have the more mar-
ketable you are.
There has also been an
increased demand for early child-
hood education for the public as
people learn how vital it is to their
childrens development and as
more households feature two par-
ents who both work full-time.
I dont see the demand
decreasing for it any time soon. I
really dont, said Botelho.

28 LENS | SPRING 2016

 AGE BOOM
BRINGS MORE CHOICES IN JOB MARKET
STORY BY SUE SCHEIBLE | PHOTOS BY GARY HIGGINS
R
NUMBER ita Evans was a
registered nurse
TO KNOW
in a Boston hos-
10,000
As more people
pital emergency
room with 25
join the senior years of experience when she
population decided on a career change.
10,000 Americans
turn 65 every day
Her chosen field: elder care,
the types of where the Scituate resident
jobs are changing, could blend her passion for
with more choices, helping older people with
from home health good growth prospects for
care to local senior
centers and life-
her business, Senior Care
long learning and Advisors in Braintree.
travel. As a nurse and certified
case manager, Evans advo-
cates for older people and
their families as they arrange
needed services and negotiate
medical and health insurance
choices.
Her business partner,
Thomas Clougherty of
Bridgewater, is a board-certi-
fied elder law attorney. In the
legal profession, elder law is
one of the fastest growing
sectors. Clougherty, also a
financial planner, provides
counsel on a variety of mat-
ters, from wills, estates and
trusts to long-term care plan-
ning.
Every day, 10,000
Americans turn 65 and many
live longer and healthier lives
than past generations. One
result has been an increase in
job opportunities in
elder care and senior
services. The big-
gest growth
area has
been home
health aides, certified nursing Activities abound
assistants and personal care at the Village at
Proprietors Green,
attendants, according to Al
Norman, executive director of
Mass Home Care.
in Marshfield.
The senior living
residence offers
Home heath and personal independent
care aides are projected to living, assisted
living and memory
increase by 70 percent by care. Server Brian
2020 and are among the Kelliher, center,
30 fastest growing careers, greets residents
according to US Bureau of with dessert: From
Labor Statistics. Certified left, Janet Carlson,
Dorothy Kilcoyne,
nursing assistants are also in Maura Rand and
demand. Edith Seacord.
But other types of oppor-
tunities are expanding as
entrepreneurs create new
alternatives. Personal
trainer Lauretta
Jennings, 46, devel-
oped a new
business,
LENS | SPRING 2016 29
Cheeretta Fitness Inc. in
Hingham, by bringing chair exer-
cises and movement to 75 assisted
living residences, nursing homes,
adult day health centers. She is
now training others to work with
her.
Financial services are an
obvious target, but Evans foresees
30 LENS | SPRING 2016
an increasing need for indepen-
dent money managers or trusted
people who can do financial and
bookkeeping tasks, go to the
bank, etc. for frail or homebound
elders who are alone.
Local programs serving seniors
in the community are another
opening. In her 40s, Susan
Curtin of Norwell was laid off human resources and a clinical
after 16 years in the financial director of the nursing unit.
services industry. She ran a busi- Offering a range of posi-
ness with her husband for six tions is becoming a trend. Welch
years, while volunteering at the Healthcare and Retirement Group
Norwell Senior in Norwell, a
Center teaching leader on the South
computer classes. THERE IS A BIG Shore for some 60
She enjoyed the DEMAND FOR years, owns and
people and when an CARE WORKERS operates skilled
office job opened nursing and reha-
up, she took it and BECAUSE OLDER bilitation centers,
returned to college PEOPLE HAVE independent living
for her masters CHOICES AND and assisted living
degree in ger- senior residences,
ontology. IT ISNT JUST IN adult day health
I decided SKILLED NURSING programs and a
this is what HOMES. home care agency.
I wanted There is a big
Richard Welch, president
to do, of Welch Healthcare and
demand for care
she said Retirement Group in Norwell workers because
She is now older people have
program choices and it isnt
coordinator at the center just in skilled nursing homes,
with the goal of eventu- Richard Welch of Braintree, the
ally becoming director of companys president, said.
a council on aging. Im Physical and occupational ther-
keeping my eye on the job apists, their assistants, registered
market, she said. dieticians and pharmacists are also
Joanne Moore, presi- part of the teams. Ive had many
dent of the Massachusetts students in degree programs doing
Association of Councils on their internships at our facilities,
Aging and Senior Centers, is Welch said.
encouraging. As the senior As educational travel and life-
population continues to grow, long learning programs expand,
so will opportunities in elder they look for affiliations with indi-
services, Moore said. Job viduals or companies that can pro-
opportunities are updated vide instructors and group leaders.
weekly and posted on the The nonprofit Road Scholar, once
state associations website. Elder Hostel, now targets baby
Moore is also director of boomers and has programs in 150
Duxburys senior center. countries.
Regional aging agen- Older workers themselves, how-
cies are another prospect. ever, are apt to find other jobs,
Weve grown by leaps and Norman said, ...jobs less stressful
bounds in the last year, said than working as a home care aide,
Nancy Munson, CEO at traveling from client to client,
Bristol Elder Services in Fall doing very physical and unglam-
River. Weve added 50 new orous tasks.
positions and seven or eight are A certified nursing assistant in
open now. a nursing home will have a higher
The jobs range from entry- starting wage than a sales clerk, he
level office positions to meals on said, but it is much more physi-
wheels drivers, case managers, cally challenging.
Pamela Pelligrini, director of fitness, assists Peter Stanley on the
treadmill at the Village at Proprietors Green, in Marshfield.
 W
hen this
semester
is all said
and done
this May,
Bianca de Barcellos, 23, will
be only one course away
from earning her masters
degree in Public Policy.
De Barcellos, a graduate
student at the University of
Massachusetts Dartmouth
THE PURSUIT and a New Bedford native,
said it was never a ques-
tion she would continue her
OF HIGHER studies after earning her bach-
elors degree two years ago.
Ive always wanted to
pursue higher education, she
EDUCATION said while standing behind
the circulation desk at her
campus Claire T. Carney
Library where shes
worked part-time every aca-
demic year since she was an
undergraduate student at the
same campus.
De Barcellos said she
enrolled in a graduate pro-
STORY BY MICHAEL GAGNE gram immediately after
PHOTOS BY DAVE SOUZA her undergraduate studies,
and said initially she had
thought about pursuing a
law degree. But after looking
at what appears to be a tight
labor market for lawyers she
decided, I thought it would
WORTH THE be wise to go into a masters
degree program.
Earlier in the academic
year, the National Center
for Education Statistics
Back to School Statistics
CLIMB?
included a number of stu-
dents expected to enroll in
post-secondary and graduate
degree programs some
17.3 million students in
undergraduate programs and
about 3 million students in
graduate programs. More
than 800,000 students are
expected to receive masters
degrees and more than 1.8
million undergraduate stu-
dents are expected to earn a
bachelors degree this spring,
according to the NCES.
Students are motivated
to pursue masters degrees
for various reasons, whether
its the potential for career
advancement or increased
earning potential.
Andrew Hanson, a senior
analyst at Georgetown
Universitys Center for
Education and The
Workforce, said income
opportunities for those who
hold masters degrees vary by
the fields students choose.
For example, a degree in a
STEM (Science, Technology,
Engineering and Math) or
business field could fetch
twice as much money as
a degree in other fields, like
psychology or humanities.
It matters a lot, he said.
So in choosing whether
to start a masters degree
program students absolutely
have to do their homework,
said Marcus Hanscom,
director of graduate admis-
sions at Roger Williams
University, whose main
campus is in Bristol, Rhode
Island.
It starts with what kind
of job students are seeking,
he said. Hanscom recom-
mends using resources like
the federal Bureau of Labor
Statistics to determine what
demand is for that job, deter-
mine what the needs are for
education.
If people want to become
police officers, a masters
degree is not required. But
were seeing police coming
in for cyber security or
public administration, he
said, adding many jobs in
those fields require a masters
degree right off the bat.
In todays job market, a
bachelors degree is a dime in
a dozen, Hanscom said. A
masters degree can be a dif-
ferentiator, making one more
marketable.
LENS | SPRING 2016 31
 But with that increased market-
ability and income-earning potential
comes increased student loan debt.
This debt is exploding,
Hanson said, explaining, its not
uncommon to see those who hold
graduate degrees finish school with
six-figure debts particularly
those who graduate from law or
medical school. Graduate degree
holders also hold 40 percent of
the total student loan debt in the
United States, Hanson said, even
though they
represent a
signifi-
32 LENS | SPRING 2016
cantly smaller percentage of the
total postsecondary student popu-
lation.
Most often students are spon-
soring studies through student
loans, Hanscom added, noting
unfortunately federal loans for
graduate students are no longer
subsidized.
They are 100 percent unsub-
sidized loans, Hanscom said. But
there is still some aid for students,
including working as teacher assis-
tants on some campuses, and
some schools, like
Roger Williams
have begun to
offer schol-
arships
and
paid
Lisandra Gonzalez
work experiences. up. Were seeing some of those are
To offset growing student debt, rebounding.
some schools now offer 4+1 pro- De Barcellos said she found
grams, in which students complete after researching graduate pro-
a bachelors degree at one school grams UMass has one of the
and then complete a masters at most affordable masters pro-
that same school its an eco- grams around, and one that shes
nomical way to get a masters, financing primarily through schol-
Hanscom said. arships.
On how long De Barcellos,
it takes to com- who currently
plete a masters I KNOW I WILL NEED has an intern-
program at TO GO TO HIGHER ship with the
Roger Williams, EDUCATION FOR ME city of New
Hanscom said, TO GET A GOOD JOB Bedford, said her
One to two years long-term career
is average. But its IN MY FIELD, SO I goal is helping
hard to paint one CAN EARN A LIVING to reform the
brush. WAGE. states foster care
Graduate Lisandra Gonzalez, 23, an system, which
school enrollment undergraduate student at she described as
had typically UMass Dartmouth flawed.
grown during pre- Lisandra
vious economic Gonzalez, 23,
recessions, Hanscom said. When from Roxbury, is in her final
labor markets had been difficult, semester as an undergraduate stu-
people had been inclined to go dent at UMass Dartmouth.
to graduate schools, he explained. Gonzalez, who was studying on
But in the economic downturn the third floor of the library, said
that began in 2008, people she will graduate with a bachelors
didnt have savings or the where- degree in sociology.
withal to enroll. Shes still thinking about
So enrollment had been rela- whether or not to pursue her
tively stagnant, he said, until a masters because I know I will
few years ago, 2013-2014. need to go to higher education for
Now were actually seeing me to get a good job in my field,
growth back in that. Were so I can earn a living wage.
seeing an uptick, even Gonzalez said she currently
though the economy is works at a preschool located in the
better. Were also seeing south end of Boston and will take
reimbursements come time to work before she decides
back, Hanscom said. on further education. Until then,
He was referring Im thinking of doing a program
to tuition reim- with City Year, she said.
bursements offered Nicole Chahwan, a 21-year-
by employers to old nursing student from North
their employees Attleboro, said she is also thinking
as an incentive to education beyond her bachelors
upskill. degree.
A lot of times, Eventually I would like to go
thats part of a back, to become a certified mid-
benefits package wife, Chahwan said.
a lot of employers When asked whether its the
will tout, Hanson potential career or salary thats
added. As the motivating her to eventually
economy took a hit, pursue a masters, Chahwan said,
those benefits dried its a little bit of both.
 But before she does that,
Chahwan plans to work So I
can pay back some student loans,
she said.
For public school teachers
in Massachusetts, a masters
degree is one way to acquire
professional licensure, which is
state-required after five years of
teaching.
Brittany Ferreira, in her fifth
year teaching at Mary Fonseca
Elementary School in Fall River,
completed that requirement to
years ago.
Ferreira said she received her
bachelors degree at Bridgewater
State University, in 2009.
At her school, she said, in
order to earn an education degree,
she had to double major. So her
second bachelors degree is in sci-
NICOLE CHAHWAN
ence. It took me four and a half
years, she said.
Within a year I got a job. I
was shocked, she said.
Ferreira enrolled at American
International College, which is
based in Springfield, but offers
an accelerated satellite program
at Diman Regional Vocational
Technical High School.
So for two years, she took
BIANCA DE BARCELLOS
eight-week courses. They were
held on Thursday evenings, 4 to 9
p.m., she said.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
it was homework, Thursday was
class. I had no life. For two years
there was no life, she said.
I did everything myself. I took
Teach grants out.
Ferreira said she began her
career at Fonseca as a second
grade teacher, but is now a reading
interventionist.
I did like my program. I did
like that I learned a lot about
reading. Its a highly specialized
area, she said.
But now, I have $30,000 in
student loans. I barely make the
minimum payment on those, she
said.
And even though the salary
schedule is typically higher than
those who only have a four-year
degree, You really dont get all
that much money, Ferreira said.
I do like my job. I love the
kids, she said.
But, for the advance education
needed in her field, I really do
think that since it is a require-
ment... there should be help with
that, she said.

BUILDING A BRAND
BY
LINDA
MURPHY

W
hen one thinks of
Apple, its easy to define
the companys brand:
sleek, modern, always
on the cutting edge. Like com-
pany brands, personal brands
make a statement about who
you are, said Susan Peppercorn,
founder of Positive Workplace
Partners.
I think of a personal brand as
someones value proposition, said
Peppercorn, a career coach who
works with individual clients and
corporations.
Employed executives who are
looking to develop their leadership
skills, adults in the middle stages
of their careers who are consid-
ering a transition, and those who
are thinking of making a job tran-
sition are among the clients of the
company based in three locations:
Newton, Cambridge and Boston.
SUSAN PEPPERCORN Peppercorn, who also consults
with clients nationally by phone,
email, or Skype, said her clients
often dont know how to position
themselves either for a job they In addition to LinkedIn,
want, or one they may not be Peppercorn said personal blogs
aware they could attain. Her job is and websites are also a means of
to help clients sort through their conveying ones personal brand to
values and skills and the world. Its a great
help them put that way to share your pas-
information into per- Thinking of your own sion and expertise,
brand? Heres a few
sonally branded mar- questions from the
she added.
keting materials for Positive Workplace The process of
sites such as LinkedIn. Partners website to helping her clients
Quoting Amazon consider. establish their per-
founder Jeff Bezos, sonal brands gener-
who reportedly said, 1 Whats Important
To You? ally involves meeting
Your brand is what with her once a week
people say about you 2 Where Do You
Shine? for a couple weeks.
when youre not in the At the first meeting,
room, Peppercorn
urges her clients to
3 Whats Your
Story? clients will be asked
to fill out a personal
unearth their personal
reputation in creating
4 Whats The Future
of Your Brand? branding question-
naire about who they
For more information,
their personal brand. visit positivework- are, what they do,
Most people have placepartners.com. what they value, what
some understanding of they provide to others,
how theyre perceived, and what proof they
but they should ask co-workers, have to back up their claims.
peers and even their bosses, she By the time were done, they
said, adding, Google yourself to have a really good sense of who
see whats out there about you. they are, added Peppercorn.

LENS | SPRING 2016 33


E
veryone has the same
amount of time in
their day, so why are
some people able to
get so much more
done than others?
The simple answer is
that they make better use of the
time that they have.
Time management is not about
doing more, its about doing the
right things. Here are a few things
to keep in mind in order to be as
productive with your time as pos-
sible.
MAKE A PLAN
PLAN FIRST. Making a plan for
your day should be the first thing
34 LENS | SPRING 2016
24
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR
you
do. If you
start by listening to voicemail
or reading email, you will start
responding before determining if
that is the most important thing
to be doing.
PRIORITIZE. No one I know
gets everything on their to-do list
done in a day. Thats OK as long
as you get the most important
things done, so once you have
made your list, prioritize it. Pick
the two or three things that, if
accomplished, would make it
a productive day, and focus on
those.
CHALLENGE YOURSELF.
Throughout the day ask yourself,
Is this the most important thing
I could be doing right now? If
not, stop doing it. I have a sticky
note with this question on my
computer screen.
HOURS
STORY BY JEREMY DORAN
PHOTO BY JACK FOLEY
ELIMINATE
DISTRACTIONS
When working
on the most
important items
for the day, it is
important to stay
focused. Try to
eliminate distrac-
tions.
CLOSE YOUR
DOOR. Open door
policies are great, but
not when you need to
get something done. Let
people know that you
will keep your door open
as often as possible, but when it
is closed, you are only to be inter-
rupted in the case of something
truly urgent.
DONT HAVE A DOOR?
Headphones are a great option.
Not the sneaky little ear buds,
but actual headphones. They will
drown out conversations people
are having around you. Plus,
people will notice them and be
less likely to attempt to engage
with you.
TURN OFF RINGERS AND
EMAIL NOTIFICATION. Even if you
dont answer your phone or read
the email, just knowing it is there
distracts you from the task at
hand and kills your momentum.
BATCH REPETITIVE TASKS
There is a set-up time to every
task you do. Transitioning from
one thing to another sometimes
takes longer than the task itself.
Think about what you do many
times throughout the day and
minimize the transition time by
batching them.
READ EMAILS AT SET TIMES.
Pick two or three times in the day
when you will read and respond
to emails. You can get through 25
emails in about the same amount
of time as you can get through
five.
DONT ANSWER YOUR PHONE!
Even a one-minute phone call
is going to completely distract
you from what you were doing.
Getting back into the flow of
what you were working on takes
much longer.
WORRIED ABOUT BEING
RESPONSIVE? Think about the
longest meeting you have in a
week. You wouldnt answer the
phone during that meeting, so
you can wait at least that long to
respond to a voicemail or email.
By then, you will probably have
more than one and can respond to
all of them at once.
A few small changes in how
you manage your time can have a
huge impact on your productivity.
Instead of trying to get more
things done, focus on getting the
most important things done and
you will see the results.
JEREMY DORAN IS A CORPORATE INSTRUCTOR
WITH BRISTOL COMMUNITY COLLEGES
WORKFORCE CENTER AND THE OWNER AND
PRESIDENT OF PINNACLE PERFORMANCE, AN EAST
GREENWICH, R.I.-BASED COMPANY THAT HELPS
ORGANIZATIONS MAXIMIZE THEIR PRODUCTIVITY.
 IT
OVER ALL
$100,000 ADDS
UP
The annual wages for experienced workers in the
Science, Technology, Engineering, or
Math (STEM) occupations.

73,800
The number of jobs added in the state
JOBS
NUMBERS
TO KNOW
throughout last year.

(37% )
<3
The percentage of
workers who have
dated a co-worker.
SOURCE: CAREERBUILDER SURVEY

$719 vs.$871
Employment According to the most recent statistics, women who were full-time
in the states wage and salary workers had median weekly earnings of $719,
education and or 82.5% of the $871 median for their male counterparts.
health services SOURCE: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
field grew by 3
percent last year.

3% LENS | SPRING 2016 35