In the dark ages of the past business attire was a simple matter. Suits for men and women were assumed and there was no room for either deviation or confusion. Gradually the suit gave way to a sport jacket, then to just a tie, and finally to something called "business casual."

Click to go to full size image

The change in dress reflected a more relaxed approach to business that was both a blessing and a curse. No one minds a relaxed, comfortable work environment, but no one is really sure what "business casual" is, either.

The people at Purdue University's Center for Career Opportunity have done a favor for everyone with this excellent graphic helping you decide what to wear, especially to interviews where you are not quite sure how your potential employer defines business casual in his workplace.

This is an invaluable guide to your personal success. Understanding the nuances of today's unstated dress codes will give you a chance to shine when you have the one time to make your first impression in job interviews.

Click on the image to go to a full size version. Download it or save the link to our page, but keep this for future reference, using it will literally mean dollars in your pocket.

If you are working in the wine country this weekend, you need to allow lots of time. The earlier you get past the few alternate routes into wine country, the better. If you have errands to run or shopping to do, maybe you can take care of it in Napa or Sonoma before your reporting time.

CALTRANS will close Highway 37 again this weekend from Vallejo to Highway 121 in Sonoma County. Don't expect the backups to be limited to roads in the vicinity of Hwy 37, either. Practically all North Bay arteries will be clogged making it impossible to make start times based on your regular habits. You must plan for widespread traffic headaches.

Obviously if you are planning to go to the wine country this weekend you must also find an alternate route. You can keep track of traffic on the major routes by using 511.org as well as various media outlets. However, that is no substitute for planning your trip around the inevitable congestion that will clog all alternate routes.

Highway 37 will be closed to all traffic from 10 PM Friday night, September 26 until 5 AM Monday, September 29.

You cannot get into wine county too early this weekend!

The simple economic realities of the 21st century offer employers a brief but extraordinary opportunity. BOLT's

Lisa Scanlon (L) and Joanne Sanders at Brooks' Job Fair

Joanne Sanders and Lisa Scanlon were invited by the Santa Rosa Job Link to participate in a job fair on behalf of Brooks Automation employees.

Brooks is relocating their cryogenic equipment manufacturing operations from Petaluma to Malaysia. As a result, employees with extraordinary reliability and skills will be available to savvy employers who know an opportunity when they see one. 

"We have people whose hire dates go back as far as the early 1980s," says Joanne. Skills range from easily translatable talents like buyers and manufacturing leads, to highly skilled machinists. "The common element that struck us was the loyalty and dedication of these people," she says. "Many are remaining with the company to the very end despite having known for almost two years that the move was coming. When you combine that with the long term nature of their employment with Brooks, we feel as though we were invited to a talent gold mine!"

These nuggets won't last long, but for the astute there is a rare chance to cherry pick the finest talent in the area at a time when recruiting is becoming more challenging. If you're among those who recognize a first class opportunity when you see it, call us now!  These folks won't last.

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