Valuable Skills

There are some skills that you can acquire while you're young that will save you tonnes of money as you live out your middle-class lifestyle. What are they? They're trades: electrical, plumbing, carpentry, and mechanics. If you ever get a chance to learn some basics in any or all of these things, take that opportunity.

Further down the road, you will eventually have your own place to live. It requires maintenance. You will also likely have your own vehicle. That requires maintenance too. Every hour of these handy things you can do for yourself will be an hour you won't have to pay a trades person to do. How much can you save? Ask around... trades persons for hire are expensive.

Booze, Smokes, and Dope

There's one thing in common between booze, smokes and dope - rehabilitation services. It's obvious, these things are addictive, not to mention expensive and unhealthy. My recommendation for youth... just steer clear of using these things, if at all possible.

If you're already hooked... hmm... not sure what you can do. Anyone have any experience with this that they can offer?

Preparing for Job Interviews

If you're job-hunting right now and are not sure about what to expect on interview day, here are some tips on how you can prepare yourself. There are at least 3 things to prepare:

Objectives/Career Aspirations
Be prepared to say something about your short-term to mid-term goals and career aspirations. What kind of job are you looking for now? Why? What do you want to be in 3 to 5 years time? The short-term goals also intended to identify if the posting is a good fit for you. The mid-term to goals are intended to identify if you're stagnant in your career or still moving.

Strengths/Opportunities for Growth
Think of at least 3 strengths that you want to highlight that you think will be valuable for the job you're interviewing for. Think of how those strengths are an advantage in that particular job. Use every opportunity to stress on these strengths. Also think of 1 weakness (opportunity for growth), but do so strategically. Only pick a weakness that you're already working on to improve. Then stress about your improvement rather than the weakness. Ultimately, you want the interviewer to remember you as a candidate with a bunch of very pertinent strengths and no real weakness.

Execution
If you want to know how you look/sound as you present the above things you have prepared, stand in front of a mirror and talk about yourself. Interview yourself. Polish your execution as you deliver your messages.