The Daily Roundup: We Can Work it Out

By Zack on January 28, 2009

Welcome to the Daily Roundup. Each day at the ThinkTalk Blog we will post some links that we find informative, interesting, or just plain funny. The goal is to let you know what else is going on out there, and ultimately help you with the development of your career.

I came across an article today at the Inside Higher Ed Blog that discusses a major shift in the anti-sweat shop movement. I'm sure most students are familiar with how a sweat shop works, and I would think most are familiar with the concept of a living wage. A burgeoning deal looks like it may do its part to reconcile some of the problems with sweat shops and a living wage:

A major supplier of college apparel has brokered a unique deal, promising to pay more for garments produced by a factory in the Dominican Republic if workers there are paid a living wage. While not publicly announced by the company, the plan proposed by Knights Apparel is already drawing support in higher education. Officials at Duke and Pennsylvania State Universities have confirmed that their bookstores will be buying from the Knights Apparel factory, and a committee at the University of Connecticut is considering participation as well.

The article mentions that this is by no means concrete. Neither Knight Apparel nor the participating universities have confirmed the deal. If this were to go down, however, it would signal a new direction. Inside Higher Ed does report that it obtained an email from Scott Nova, the president of Workers Rights Consortium, who would oversee and monitor the factory involved.

“We are not suggesting that this represents an answer to systemic problems that continue to impede labor rights progress in university logo apparel supply chains (and the industry in general),” Nova wrote. “However, we do believe this project represents genuine, indeed unprecedented labor rights progress – not just in the realm of university logo apparel, but for the garment industry as a whole. In terms of the labor standards (living wage and an open attitude toward collective worker representation) and in terms of the supply chain reforms involved (a fair price and commitment to buy all of a factory’s products) this project represents a step toward central goals of the ant-sweatshop movement that many have previously viewed as unreachable.

Nova is clearly right that this is a step in the right direction. I'm sure many students do not even give a thought to where their apparel comes from. At the very least, this move could elevate the discourse on this topic at colleges across the country. What are your thoughts? Do you know who makes your apparel, or where it comes from?

While we ponder labor relations, take a look at The Links . . .

Mashable Looks At: CBS' new personal finance site: Moneywatch. OK, so this hasn't launched yet. And you can read Stan Schroeder's rant on how frustrating that is over at Mashable. But I just want to point out (from personal experience) how important it is to come out of school with a sense of personal finance. So keep tabs on this, watch the vid at Mashable and get your money in line.

gradspot Reminds: Visit your college career center! "This is a free resource, provided by an institution that, at least theoretically, has your best interest in mind. Not only will the office hook you up with other alums on similar career paths, but it will also furnish you with openings from companies who are specifically targeting your school." Just go. Now. Don't even finish reading this.

Jibber Jobber Explains: How to make and get the most out of networking contacts. Jason Alba was prompted to write this easy to follow template for how to make a virtual introduction and ask for help by the large number of (I'll say it) stupid people who send short, vague missives asking for help. So read this, and next time you are soliciting advice from someone you do not know, think first, and ask yourself "how can I clearly present myself so that this person will want to help me?" "Yo whaddup up, I need a job, gimme help, yaDIGG. - Zack" does not answer that question.

Career Alley Suggests: Having several versions of your resume, "each of which is targeted to specific job functions (but all of which should be accurate representations of your experience). While it is unusual to have resumes with completely different skill sets (it’s doubtful that you will have a Doctor’s resume and a Chef’s resume), it is not unusual to have resumes that highlight different skill sets." There are also some links to resume resources in the post as well.

The Wall Street Journal Reveals: A disturbing trend in which parents are paying companies to give their children internships. I asked for a car, I got an internship at Lehman Brothers. How's that for being born under a bad sign?

The Chronicle of Higher Ed Contemplates: How the expected overturning of Ledbetter v. Goodyear will impact gender biased pay scales at the University level. "The bill, named for the case’s plaintiff, Lilly Ledbetter, gives employees 180 days from the time that they discover that they have been paid differently from their peers," to file a lawsuit. Essentially, this will make it easier for wronged employees to win a lawsuit against their employers for gender discrimination.