By Jeremiah McWilliams, Cox Newspapers
In Print: Tuesday, June 28, 2011
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In one of the roughest job markets in memory, fast-food positions are proving attractive for job seekers of all ages. • Once a workplace ceded largely to teens and part-time workers, fast food is attracting older people with experience, education and marketable skills.
K’wan Banks, 35, went through three rounds of interviews to land a job at a metro Atlanta McDonald’s. The Everest College graduate has a commercial driver’s license and work experience with Avis car rentals. Getting a job at McDonald’s, where she is now in training to be a manager, was tougher than she expected.
“I didn’t think McDonald’s was that serious,” she said.
Restaurant owners can afford to be picky as the competition for every opening gets tougher.
Keith Lollis, who operates three McDonald’s restaurants around Atlanta, said his establishments were begging for workers not long ago. Job applicants used to arrive dressed in jeans; he now sees more men in suits and ties or khaki pants and oxford shirts. Women come in dresses. Perhaps one in 10 applicants has a college education, up from one in 30 or 40 less than a year ago.
The restaurant industry is the country’s second-largest private employer, behind health care. Of the industry’s workers, 42 percent are age 24 or younger, and upward mobility is a big draw. More than 90 percent of salaried employees started out hourly, according to industry statistics.
Before the recession, Aziz Hashim’s restaurants had trouble finding enough workers. A lot of young people weren’t interested in fast-food jobs. They are interested now, said Hashim, chief executive of National Restaurant Development
“If we open up even a very modest job opening, it would not be unusual for us to get 50 or 100 applications,” said Hashim, who has restaurants in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Jacksonville and Orlando.
“There are lots of people who want these jobs, need them and would love to have them,” said John Challenger, chief executive of Chicago-based Challenger Gray Christmas, an outplacement consulting firm.
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By Jeremiah McWilliams, Cox Newspapers
In Print: Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Story Tools
Comments
Contact the editor
Email Newsletters
In one of the roughest job markets in memory, fast-food positions are proving attractive for job seekers of all ages. • Once a workplace ceded largely to teens and part-time workers, fast food is attracting older people with experience, education and marketable skills.
K’wan Banks, 35, went through three rounds of interviews to land a job at a metro Atlanta McDonald’s. The Everest College graduate has a commercial driver’s license and work experience with Avis car rentals. Getting a job at McDonald’s, where she is now in training to be a manager, was tougher than she expected.
“I didn’t think McDonald’s was that serious,” she said.
Restaurant owners can afford to be picky as the competition for every opening gets tougher.
Keith Lollis, who operates three McDonald’s restaurants around Atlanta, said his establishments were begging for workers not long ago. Job applicants used to arrive dressed in jeans; he now sees more men in suits and ties or khaki pants and oxford shirts. Women come in dresses. Perhaps one in 10 applicants has a college education, up from one in 30 or 40 less than a year ago.
The restaurant industry is the country’s second-largest private employer, behind health care. Of the industry’s workers, 42 percent are age 24 or younger, and upward mobility is a big draw. More than 90 percent of salaried employees started out hourly, according to industry statistics.
Before the recession, Aziz Hashim’s restaurants had trouble finding enough workers. A lot of young people weren’t interested in fast-food jobs. They are interested now, said Hashim, chief executive of National Restaurant Development
“If we open up even a very modest job opening, it would not be unusual for us to get 50 or 100 applications,” said Hashim, who has restaurants in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Jacksonville and Orlando.
“There are lots of people who want these jobs, need them and would love to have them,” said John Challenger, chief executive of Chicago-based Challenger Gray Christmas, an outplacement consulting firm.
[Last modified: Jun 27, 2011 05:33 PM]
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By Jeremiah McWilliams, Cox Newspapers
In Print: Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Story Tools
Comments
Contact the editor
Email Newsletters
In one of the roughest job markets in memory, fast-food positions are proving attractive for job seekers of all ages. • Once a workplace ceded largely to teens and part-time workers, fast food is attracting older people with experience, education and marketable skills.
K’wan Banks, 35, went through three rounds of interviews to land a job at a metro Atlanta McDonald’s. The Everest College graduate has a commercial driver’s license and work experience with Avis car rentals. Getting a job at McDonald’s, where she is now in training to be a manager, was tougher than she expected.
“I didn’t think McDonald’s was that serious,” she said.
Restaurant owners can afford to be picky as the competition for every opening gets tougher.
Keith Lollis, who operates three McDonald’s restaurants around Atlanta, said his establishments were begging for workers not long ago. Job applicants used to arrive dressed in jeans; he now sees more men in suits and ties or khaki pants and oxford shirts. Women come in dresses. Perhaps one in 10 applicants has a college education, up from one in 30 or 40 less than a year ago.
The restaurant industry is the country’s second-largest private employer, behind health care. Of the industry’s workers, 42 percent are age 24 or younger, and upward mobility is a big draw. More than 90 percent of salaried employees started out hourly, according to industry statistics.
Before the recession, Aziz Hashim’s restaurants had trouble finding enough workers. A lot of young people weren’t interested in fast-food jobs. They are interested now, said Hashim, chief executive of National Restaurant Development
“If we open up even a very modest job opening, it would not be unusual for us to get 50 or 100 applications,” said Hashim, who has restaurants in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Jacksonville and Orlando.
“There are lots of people who want these jobs, need them and would love to have them,” said John Challenger, chief executive of Chicago-based Challenger Gray Christmas, an outplacement consulting firm.
[Last modified: Jun 27, 2011 05:33 PM]
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At one time, Jenna Keigley of Serena had five part-time jobs — none of them her dream job teaching full-time.
Keigley graduated from Aurora University in 2009 with a degree in elementary education with an endorsement in science.
“Jobs were far between and few,” she said. “It was very discouraging that first summer but Iknew a lot of other people were in the same boat.”
Keigley worked as a substitute teacher until a reading aide position opened at Harding Elementary School. She also took coaching positions with the school and worked as a tutor, in addition to working Saturdays at the YMCA and taking some shifts as a cashier at Handy Foods.
She continued to search, though, for full-time work in her field, even considering moving out of state to do so. But come this fall, Keigley will finally get her chance at the head of the class. Harding hired her as the full-time middle school science teacher in April.
At one time, Jenna Keigley of Serena had five part-time jobs — none of them her dream job teaching full-time.
Keigley graduated from Aurora University in 2009 with a degree in elementary education with an endorsement in science.
“Jobs were far between and few,” she said. “It was very discouraging that first summer but Iknew a lot of other people were in the same boat.”
Keigley worked as a substitute teacher until a reading aide position opened at Harding Elementary School. She also took coaching positions with the school and worked as a tutor, in addition to working Saturdays at the YMCA and taking some shifts as a cashier at Handy Foods.
She continued to search, though, for full-time work in her field, even considering moving out of state to do so. But come this fall, Keigley will finally get her chance at the head of the class. Harding hired her as the full-time middle school science teacher in April.
At one time, Jenna Keigley of Serena had five part-time jobs — none of them her dream job teaching full-time.
Keigley graduated from Aurora University in 2009 with a degree in elementary education with an endorsement in science.
“Jobs were far between and few,” she said. “It was very discouraging that first summer but Iknew a lot of other people were in the same boat.”
Keigley worked as a substitute teacher until a reading aide position opened at Harding Elementary School. She also took coaching positions with the school and worked as a tutor, in addition to working Saturdays at the YMCA and taking some shifts as a cashier at Handy Foods.
She continued to search, though, for full-time work in her field, even considering moving out of state to do so. But come this fall, Keigley will finally get her chance at the head of the class. Harding hired her as the full-time middle school science teacher in April.
Networking is an important and very fun, part of the job search. If you can communicate, you can network — and the opportunities for networking are unlimited.
When you are searching for a job, let everyone know. Job seekers are successful when they share and obtain information about jobs. Learning to be more assertive about your search can be a great way to enhance your marketable skills.
If the skill of networking is not your forte, it can be learned, nurtured and cultivated into a working tool for a successful job search. Networking can be defined as any opportunity to sell yourself, your abilities or your products.
Using your computer to compile a networking data base with notes is great, but not always available to everyone. You can start networking with some basic supplies and resources to get yourself organized:
–Index card box with alphabetized dividers
–Phone book
–Address book
–Holiday card or birthday lists
–Company directories
–Local newspapers
–Chamber of Commerce or library
If you are searching for work, you are no doubt already plugged into the local unemployment offices, online advertisements, reading newspaper help-wanted ads and driving around filling out applications. But, did you know that there are dozens of other ways to seek work? You can make contact with people daily about your desire to work. When you need to find a job — this should be your priority with all conversations. Start conversations with “have you heard of any companies accepting applications? I’m looking for work and am available any shift, any day, dependable and have reliable transportation, please share this information with anyone.”
There have been some great “job search clubs” in the local area. The Chamber of Commerce has sponsored some group meetings that have promoted lots of networking and chatting about jobs. People are able to meet other people that know of available jobs. Everyone is not looking for the same work, so what a great opportunity to pool your resources and search together.
The Job Seekers Club in Danville will start a new session on July 19. The meetings start weekly at 8:30 a.m. and the presentation and networking opportunities will be from 9-10:30 a.m. This session will be meeting at the RCATT. Get connected with others that are searching. You can pick up free tips about searching and learn about job openings in the area. For more information call (434) 791-2933.
Most people today are plugged into the world of Facebook. Let all of your “friends” know that you are unemployed and available for work. If you have clearly communicated information on your social networking wall, someone will easily be able to see if the jobs they know about may be a match for you and worth mentioning. Beware — employers also may check your Facebook page.
Check out the “JOBS: Danville/Pittsylvania County Surrounding Area” Facebook page for local opportunities.
Networking is about advertising what you have to offer in a professional and respectful manner. You are able to network at church, civic organizations, sports clubs, local colleges, schools and all local agencies and non-profits with community bulletin boards. You never know when someone you contact will offer their own contact for exactly what you have to offer.
Volunteering your time is such a great way to gain experience, references and “network” with others that are employed. Again, those people may very well know of other people that have heard about employment opportunities.
Networking does come with a level of responsibility and realistic expectations. You need to have a professional demeanor and demonstrate you are ready to work. You need people to recommend you to others. Sometimes, the individual with absolutely no work history will need to consider volunteer opportunities or will need to consider a job with an employer that targets those with no employment history (fast food restaurants, retailers, etc.).
Everyone has to start somewhere — and starting at an entry-level position will prove to be a great opportunity to gain experience. All jobs are part of our lifelong learning. Be creative, think outside of the box, talk about yourself and your job search to everyone you encounter. Be prepared for something great to happen!
- SUZANNE CRAWFORD, Part 6: Lafayette nonprofit settles into new home
- BRADFORD HEAP, Part 6: Restaurateur expands his enterprise
- DONNIE MINETTE, Part 6: Longmont family finds stability amid unstable times
- ECONOMIC OUTLOOK, Part 6: Slowdown in economy continues to weigh on Colorado residents
- DAVE COLLINS, Part 5: Lafayette man takes multi-faceted approach to fill financial gaps
- SUZANNE CRAWFORD, Part 5: Mild recovery’s effect not yet visible at Lafayette nonprofit
- DONNIE MINETTE, Part 5: Family, the bright side important for Longmont welder
- BRADFORD HEAP, Part 5: Reinvestment key for local restaurateur
- ECONOMIC OUTLOOK, Part 5: Modest gains as uncertainty reigns
- SUZANNE CRAWFORD, Part 4: Giving what one can
- DONNIE MINETTE, Part 4: The ‘gray middle area’
- DAVE COLLINS, Part 4: Finding light in dark times
- BRADFORD HEAP, Part 4: Feeding the need for others
- ECONOMIC OUTLOOK, Part 4: Some stability to finish out the year
- BRADFORD HEAP, Part 3: Restaurateur strives for efficiency, strength amid downturn
- DONNIE MINETTE, Part 3: Longmont man’s hours unsteady in uncertain times
- DAVE COLLINS, Part 3: Sales manager broadens scope, job hopes
- SUZANNE CRAWFORD, Part 3: Generosity fueling nonprofit’s ‘necessity’
- ECONOMIC OUTLOOK, Part 3: Colorado lagging U.S. in recovery
- DONNIE MINETTE, Part 2: Longmont man finally finds work
- SUZANNE CRAWFORD, Part 2: Need for Sister Carmen’s services stays high
- ECONOMIC OUTLOOK, Part 2: Nation, state plodding out of recession
- DAVE COLLINS, Part 2: Louisville man’s hopes higher on job hunt
- BRADFORD HEAP, Part 2: Restaurateur dishes out more business
- ECONOMIC OUTLOOK, Part 1: ‘Still ugly,’ but turning around
- SUZANNE CRAWFORD, Part 1: Sister Carmen food bank sees donations drop, needs rise
- DONNIE MINETTE, Part 1: After three layoffs, Longmont man still searching for work
- Economy’s wallop hasn’t let up for many Boulder County residents
- BRADFORD HEAP, Part 1: Economy tanks as chef’s restaurant ‘dream’ begins
- DAVE COLLINS, Part 1: Former sales manager looking for work, helping others find jobs
Dave Collins
Age: 45
Location: Lafayette
Occupation: Sales manager at Lafayette-based Rush Management Inc.
From Parts 1-5: Collins spent much of the past four years searching for a full-time job similar to the sales manager executive position he lost in April 2007. He filled the financial gaps through a number of jobs including independent consultant; hotel concierge and independent distributor for Isagenix International.
April 2007 marked the beginning of years of hardship for Dave Collins as the Boulder County resident was given a pink slip from his lucrative sales manager position.
He spent the following years cobbling together various jobs as he continued on the seemingly fruitless search for similar full-time employment.
April 2011 marked a bit of retribution for the Lafayette man.
Just like Collins didn’t expect a part-time bellman position at the Millennium Harvest House to turn into a base of employment for two and a half years, he didn’t expect the elusive, long-term full-time job he’s sought for four years would come from a “Tonka Truck-like” gig driving snowplows.
Collins was hired as the sales manager for Rush Management Inc., the Lafayette-based commercial maintenance firm for which he drove snowplows during the past three winters.
“I’m really excited and I’m really grateful,” Collins said. “During that time I was out of traditional full-time work, I did do some consulting and different things … but really was looking at what was gonna be good for me or the best opportunity.
“Like a lot of people I talk to, it’s not what they expected.”
After his springtime hire, Collins quickly was promoted to a role that combined sales, management and operations and involved him overseeing a six-man crew specializing in projects such as paving, striping, sweeping and landscaping.
The position allows him to bring the suit-and-tie skills from his Corporate America past to a polo-shirt-and-jeans job at a family-owned company.
The promotion also afforded him enough security to give his two-week notice at the Millennium.
Leaving the Boulder hotel was a
bittersweet decision, he said, but the two months of working seven days a week at two full-time jobs was wearing quite thin.
“Two months of it, it’s just killing me,” he said. “I think you get a lot more done if you focus on one or two things instead of the multitudes of tasks.”
The Rush Management job is starting out at less than what he needs financially, but Collins is confident he’ll get there.
Already, it’s provided some confidence and reassurances that he can help provide for his two teenage children’s college futures.
Already, it’s made a significant effect on an emotional state rocked by both career instability and a recent divorce.
The position also helped fuel the fire on crossing off some items — including learning the piano — on his newly drawn-up bucket list.
“(The bucket list resulted from) getting back into work and looking at and saying what it is I want to accomplish or do,” he said.
The motivational factor is high for Collins, whose planner is chock full of inspirational quotes, CDs and lists that include a 10-year-plan and job-seeking goals.
Collins swears by the goal-oriented lists, adding that people — especially those on the job hunt — should draft them for themselves, read those lists every day and accomplish what they want to in life.
“Life is short,” he said. “What are you waiting for? It’s not going to be as difficult as your mind is making it out to be.
“Just go do it.”
DONNELLE BELANGER-TAYLOR
Sorry for disappearing on you last week; I’ve just started a new job and my first two weeks took a little adjusting. I’m fortunate, though, to have snared the dream job of any stay-at-home parent: part-time, working from home, flexible hours, preferably in small chunks through the day. I feel blessed to be able to bring in some money doing something I enjoy (community manager for Flutter, a rainforest exploration game produced by Dunedin-based Runaway), without having to put the kids into childcare and watching most of my wages disappear in fees.
Picture is unrelated
I fully realise how lucky I am to have this position. It can be difficult to find a job that works with the needs of your family. You may remember that I went back to work when the twins were around four months old. The daily slog – 13 hours away from home each day, with the commute – was just too much. I was working myself into exhaustion for barely $200 a week after childcare and transport costs. It was unworkable, and I had to quit after three months.
It can be difficult to balance income and the costs associated with working. A friend of mine is job-hunting. She is having to juggle the waiting lists for childcare with not yet having the income to pay for a place if her child gets in. The 90-day trial period is something else to worry about; if you get unexpectedly booted, you still have to pay two or three weeks’ notice.
I’ve offered to help her out, in the event she finds a job but can’t organise childcare in time. We may end up going the other way, with her doing some childcare for me. I’ll soon be starting another part-time, work-from-home contract, but there’s a limit to how much work I can do in a day without leaving Finn and Vieve to their own devices too much.
I’m fortunate to have skills and contacts that let me pick up work I can do from home. I’ve spent the last 10 days dealing with yet another round of colds and ear infections; obviously this would make me exactly the sort of unreliable, unworthy female (ick) employee that Alasdair Thompson so despises, if I was tied to an office.
Nonsense. I’m still perfectly capable of working. I am lucky to have employers who aren’t so close-minded and inflexible, who are willing to make it work for both of us.
If you work and have children, how do you balance those conflicting needs? Do they have to be conflicting?
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Being a working parent is hard. I had planned when I would have my child and saved up to cover the time off but wow kids are expensive!! So I had to go back to work earlier than expected simply for that small amount of money that comes in after I have paid the nanny. For me a one on one carer was important so while me going back to work hasn’t given us luxuries (just enought to pay the bills), I am happy in the knowledge my child is being cared for – and she is thriving so much by having someone who is 100% committed to her. If I were home I am sure I would be letting the TV babysit while I tried to do other things. So it absolutely has its benefits. It does gut me something chronic that I can’t be there with her during the day, but that’s how it has to be for us sadly.
Great blog – Vieve is going to be horrified at all the pictures you shared when she’s older!!!
I am lucky too – I managed to find an evening job that is different hours from husband so no childcare needed. They have been pretty good about my Hyperemesis (though I had to fight for it)
Interestingly, though my sick days may be higher I still out perform most of my colleagues, have been nominated for a national ward and have been asked to take part in a mentor program.
Despite all of this I have not had a reasonable pay increase for 2 years. This is mostly due to the fact that I am in the union – which I consider discrimination – but that’s another story! Doesn’t help that 1/3 of our employees earn 100,000 or more and just gave themselves a payrise.
Alasdair Thompson has proven what I and many other mothers always knew – that the great majority of companies and managers pay mere lip service to flexi hours, work-life balance and family friendly employment policies. Their business comes first – your family and wellbeing come second.
I returned to work fulltime when my son was 5 months old – finance dictated the need as it does with so many women – and I too lasted a mere three months. A non-sleeping baby and work demands and hours away from home added up to one large mess. I was then very sceptical about going back to work and I finally did when he started school last year but – only with companies and managers I could truly trust to stand by their word. Needless to say – it made it very very hard to find a job!
Now I am presently working fulltime but from home thanks to the Feb quake. However we are heading back to an office environment in about a month, in a part of town that is difficult to get too – and I am dreading it. The current situation is perfect – I can do the school dropoff/pickup without hassle, organise play dates etc yet still do a 40 hr week split between daytime and evening. If he is sick – it is no hassle. School holidays whilst not a breeze are certainly easier to organise. As a result – I am happy to work whatever hours are required including weekends. I am happy to juggle childcare when required – provided I have a little notice. Because they (the employers) are flexible with me – I am deeply loyal to them. I am happy, my son is happy, my household is happy – and I am very productive.
So many business owners/employers just miss that bit. What you give out you get back in spades. Silly silly people.
I had a recruitment agent tell me once to keep my child quiet – i.e. “Do not tell an employer in an interview that you have a child”…. Crazy. I quit that agency.
Your blog perfectly encapsulates how difficult it is to ease back into work with small children. Juggling finding childcare (esp. part time) with finding work, co-ordinating start dates for both, working out whether you do actually end up with money in your hand after paying the extra costs, etc, etc. Plus, once you do start working, you find out how little time you have with the kids and, last of all, for yourself and your partner.
For me, going back to work part time was a sanity saver (I’m not the full-time stay at home mum type) but it was a challenge to co-ordinate it all.
Best of luck with your new roles – I look forward to hearing how it all goes!
I went back to work full-time when both my kids were 4 months (eldest is now 3 and youngest is 8 months). I am extremely fortunate to have a manager that allows me to pick my hours. So I start at about 5am and work til 1pm. Gives me the benefit of working full-time hours and getting a full-time wage but I get the spend every afternoon with my kids. This cuts down child-care costs because they’re only in for half-a-day. My mum also has them one day a week too which can also really helps. There are jobs out there where you can have flexible hours and fit it around your family life. Most businesses are reasonable when it comes to kids and I believe as long as you don’t abuse it then there’s no reason you can’t have the best of both worlds. Working mums ROCK!
When I became a mother I was working in an area (tutor in Adult Education)where I could change from working daytime sessions to evening sessions. This was in the UK, so when September came and my son was 5 months old, his dad came home from work and an hour later I went out. Our son got used to his dad providing primary care which was good for them both, I earned some money without have to use/pay outside help, and I got to use my professional skills and be part of a different world that recognised me in a different way and helped me to keep perspective when parenting was so all encompassing and, sometimes, overwhelmingly difficult. I’d come home tired after a long day, 3 nights a week, but on a buzz and we, as parents, would make sure to relax together as a couple/small family at weekends.
In those years we didn’t take big/fancy holidays (we took our son camping, only 30 miles from home, for the first time when he was about 18 months old); and we went down to being a one rather than two car family, so if it proved too difficult for us to manage or we had problems, we could still meet our basic financial commitments even if I had to give up some or all my work. Unfortunately, I’ve never been able to earn as much working in education as my husband does in computer programming so his job could not be put ‘on the line’. We also had no family nearby whom we could ask to help out with childcare, and didn’t want our child to be in a nursery in those early years.
I’ve been very lucky – after having Mr 14mths, I took 6 months off, then came back to work – working 9-2.30, and once a month working 9-5. So I get back home in time to collect Mr 8 from school. But money-wise, it is tough, very tough.
“Because they (the employers) are flexible with me – I am deeply loyal to them. I am happy, my son is happy, my household is happy – and I am very productive.
So many business owners/employers just miss that bit. What you give out you get back in spades. Silly silly people.”
EXACTLY.
I found another part-time job. Since I haven’t been able to track down a full-time job, a bunch of part-time gigs is what I’m left with. But that’s OK; this particular job is actually fun.
I am now – brace yourself – an astrologer. Or astrologist? Astrologian? Since it’s turning a paycheck, I should probably at least research the topic enough that I know what I’m called.
Other than “fraud,” I mean.
Now, if you’re one of those folks who can’t get out of bed in the morning without first checking your horoscope, don’t panic; you’re never going to read my dubious astrological predictions. Not unless you go to Moscow, as in Russia. That’s where my horoscope column is running.
That’s right, I can’t find a writing gig in the United States, but I’m about to become the Next Big Thing in the former Soviet Union. And to think I was once worried these folks were going to drop atomic bombs on me!
I got the job online, by sending in a writing sample to a Russian guy with the cool name of Vladmir Aleksander. In addition to sharing a name with the infamous Balkan ruler credited with starting the Dracula myth, Vlad also publishes an English language newspaper in Moscow. And he’s decided to add an astrological forecast to the paper’s lineup.
I explained to Vlad up front that I know diddly about astrology. I don’t know if Pisces is compatible with Leo or whether either does well when paired off with Taurus. The little I do know about astrology I learned from that Fifth Dimension song “Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In,” and they don’t really go into too much detail there.
Vlad said he didn’t care.
“But comrade,” I responded, trying to get into the spirit of international relations but coming off like an extra in an old James Bond movie. “How will I be able to write horoscope predictions when I know nothing about astrology?”
“Make something up,” Vlad said. “Pretend you’re writing for Pravda.” (Pravda was the “official” newspaper of the Soviet Union and according to Vladmir, was almost wholly fictional during that time.)
So I made something up. I warned Sagittarians to avoid fried foods, told Capricorns that romance was in store for the evening, admonished Leos to stop being selfish and manipulative (my ex-girlfriend is a Leo and I’m still bitter!), and suggested to Cancers that this might be a good time to quit smoking. (I mean, just consider the name of their astrological sign! Duh!)
Oh, I plan to bone up on astrology, if for no other reason than that my columns will seem more plausible to people who buy into this hooey. But at best, it’s like hiring an atheist to write for the Southern Baptist Journal of Theology.
Still, a paycheck is a paycheck. And if my Russian brethren are willing to fork over the rubles, I’ll don a turban once a week and predict the future.
Don’t blame me. As a Sagittarian, my sense of ethics is somewhat underdeveloped.