Journeys and Adventures

A recent article on MSN Encarta about The New Global Skill Set caught my attention.  In it, several college programs in the United States at both the undergraduate and graduate level reveal that they recognize the importance of working in a global market in today’s society and are reminding students that exposure to other cultures is extremely important.

   With a struggling economy, workers need every advantage they can get and the ability to work with others from other countries has become a big benefit for companies attempting to succeed on a global scale.

   How do you get the skills companies are looking for?  The article suggests you consider:

•  a minimum of two years study in a foreign language (English, Spanish, Chinese, French, Arabic, and Japanese are specifically mentioned as desired languages)

• study abroad program for a full semester (showing that you have spent significant time in a different culture)

• internship abroad (proving that you can work in a foreign culture).

   You don’t have to be a college student to gain the global experience companies are currently looking for.  Take a foreign language class at your local community college or teach yourself through the library, mention the time you spent in France at your interview, put the classes you taught while on your volunteer vacation on your resume.  If you can afford it, sign up for an internship abroad.

   I know that travel can have a great positive impact on your personal life, but now it can also help you in your professional life.  Follow this job advice and you may give yourself the edge you need.

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Scared of staying in hostels?  Think they’re going to be full of young hippie backpackers?  Think you’re going to have to share a room with 30 other travelers in bunk beds full of dirty sheets and bugs sharing only two cold showers?  Think again.  While some hostels (and hotels) still probably are like that, hostels have come a long way and travelers who do their research can find exceptional values.

     Start by looking at the recently announced HOSCAR winners for 2008.  (Yes, they’re really called HOSCAR’s—it stands for HOStelworld’s Customer Annual Ratings).  By looking at customer ratings in six areas–character, security, location, staff, fun and cleanliness—for more than 20,000 properties, Hostelworld recognizes outstanding hostels in several categories including “Cleanest Hostel,” “Best Staff,” and “Best Hostel Chain,” in addition to the top hostels in the world by region.

The US Airways plane emergency landing into the Hudson River two weeks ago called attention to aviation safety—the pilot, crew, and air traffic controllers were all credited for remaining calm, thinking ahead, and keeping all 155 passengers safe.

The emergency landing made me think about the airline safety briefing that starts every flight.  Most of us know the “emergency exits are here” with the double-finger-point (we all learn that in the hospitality industry—it’s considered unprofessional to point), but how often do you really pay attention?  I always try to at least pretend to focus, because I feel it’s rude and I feel bad for the flight attendants, but I, too, often tune them out.  An emergency landing on the water, however, is a good reminder that we really should pay attention once in awhile.

Even if you’re not interested in staying safe, you should listen just in case you get one of the funny safety briefings like those mentioned by Aviation Etc. (“”We do feature a smoking section on this flight; if you must smoke, contact a member of the flight crew and we will escort you to the wing of the airplane” is one of my favorites).

Or check out this funny (and real!) safety briefing from Southwest Airlines…

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