1 . Working from home has become common, during the course of the pandemic(疫情), leaving many with a newfound appreciation of the freedom and flexibility of working remotely. However, while the traditional idea of an office—a place away from home, typically owned or rented by the business—may have changed, the need for specific office space hasn’t.

In fact, this period of working from home has highlighted just how important it is to have a place of work, which is separate from daily family life. Without that, many have noted concerns over a worsened work-life balance.

Perhaps the most distinctive characteristic of the office of the future will be its hybrid solution. It should marry the beneficial parts of a physical company-owned workspace with the benefits of working from home.

As teams have proven their ability to efficiently get their jobs done remotely, employers will be much more open to the flexible approach moving forward. The positive impacts of a physical office on things like company culture, communication, team spirit and shared knowledge should not be ignored, which is why tangible space is still very much a necessity.

The solution for the future will enable employees to come into the company’s workplace in order not to miss out on these valuable office benefits, but also work from home when required for a better work-life balance. Both large and smaller companies have already started to adopt this new approach, allowing teams to create schedules for when they will be working from home, or even use an online booking system to secure a desk space in the shared facility. This way, the company can manage the number of people in the office at one time, meaning spaces can be downsized to save costs, and social distancing and thorough cleaning procedures can be maintained.

2 . Want a part-time job? Here are some options.

We are seeking fun and energetic individuals for Court Monitors. You must be a good communicator, able to work under pressure and enjoy a fast-paced environment. Applicants must have reliable transportation, be available to work weekends and have a proven background in the field.

Dickerson Landscaping is looking to add experienced members to our landscaping team. If you enjoy working outdoors and are genuinely interested in crafting, planting, and digging, then we’re interested in you! You should be capable of doing physical work and lifting objects over50 lbs. We work on weekdays.

An outstanding Sandwich Make is wanted! The ideal person for this position has relevant work experience in the restaurant industry. A responsibility is to safely prepare sandwiches to our customers’ specifications, work cooperatively with other food service staff and help to maintain organization and cleanliness in the kitchen.

If you are into organic farm practices and take interest in local and sustainably produced food, join us! Previous experience is a plus, but not required. Have the ability to lift and carry 50 lbs and perform tasks that require bending or kneeling for several hours. Schedule can be flexible with priority given to applicants with Monday-Thursday availability.

4 . Get Help Finding a Youth or Student Job

If you’re a student looking for a job, you can get help through these programs—regardless of your background or circumstances.

Youth Job Connection

You get at least 60 hours of paid training to prepare you for the workplace, a job for up to 6 months, job-coaching and help with the transition from school to work, or to ongoing employment once the program ends.

Who is eligible (具备条件的): between 16 and 29 years old; not attending full-time school or training.

Youth Job Connection Summer

You get at least 20 hours of paid training to prepare you for the workplace, summer jobs that last for up to 8 weeks (part-time and after-school jobs are available if they don’t conflict with school), job-coaching and help returning to school after the program ends.

Who is eligible: between 18 and 20 years old; a high school student planning to stay in or return to school, or to move on to postsecondary education.

MARS Studio

You are guided to learn critical skills you need to solve complex 21st century challenges, build networks with peers, coaches, and leaders, and pursue your innovative ideas for bold change in society.

Who is eligible: 8-month fellowship for young people aged 18-29.

Starter Company Program

You get guidance business knowledge and funding to start, grow, or buy a small business. To qualify for funding of up to $5,000, you need to be able to contribute at least 25% of the grant amount.

Who is eligible: between 18 and 29 years old; applicants must not be attending school full time.

6 . When Ryad Alsous arrived in England, he knew one thing: he wanted to keep bees. The insects had been a major part of his life in Syria, and fleeing his war-torn homeland. It was a precious certainty amid so much chaos.

As a lecturer at the University of Damascus, Ryad had built a respected reputation for his research on Syrian bees. With over 500 hives, he produced over ten tons of honey every year. Fleeing his country in 2013, he lost everything.

Yet even with all his knowledge and experience, Ryad didn’t know if his dream would be possible in the UK. “I found that there is a lot of rain and the temperature isn’t very high. All the time I was thinking ‘How can I set up another project here?’”

The wet weather wasn’t Ryad’s only challenge. The language barrier and a vastly overqualified CV made it difficult to find work. Eventually, Ryad volunteered at the Huddersfield Beekeepers’ Association, but he was still without a colony of his own. Finally, Facebook brought him into contact with a woman in Manchester who was willing to donate an entire colony of rare British black bees.

“In one year, I was able to split the colony she gave me into seven. I realised that the beekeeping project could become very profitable and successful in the UK.”

Soon, Ryad found himself with 17 hives, but he wasn’t finished yet. His inner teacher was itching to get out. Through City of Sanctuary, a British refugee charity, Ryad began to run beekeeping workshops for refugees and job seekers. The Buzz Project was born.

Today, the Buzz Project houses 14 hives, where Ryad shares his expertise. It has started to bear fruit. Last year, they produced-half ton of honey (around 1,000 jars). But for Ryad, the most important thing is bringing people together.

“We have local people, job seekers and volunteers, in addition to refugees. All of them work together doing the same job. The exchange between the groups, the information and skills, helps them integrate very well and improve their language skills” he says.

As you walk into the Shandong Arts and Crafts Exhibition Center, you are greeted by a magnificent sight: a larger-than-life rabbit. Its face     1    (decorate) with an artistically painted Chinese character, quan, and the cloud beneath it features the landscape of Baotu Spring, one of the most famous scenic     2    (spot) in Jinan.

The     3     (create) of the rabbit figure is 52-year-old Yang Feng, a local craftsman.     4    (lie) on the second floor of the exhibition center is his studio,     5     he displays his works, in different designs and sizes.

In 2004, Yang noticed a competition was being held     6    (develop) a souvenir (纪念品) for Jinan which needed to represent local culture. Yang thought that the rabbit god fit all the requirements and it took     7    (he) a whole month to make one.

His winning top prize at the competition encouraged him to quit his job     8     a designer and devote himself to making statues of the rabbit god. Yang said, “For me, crafting the rabbit is not just a job,     9     a lifelong career that I will stick with. I hope my creations can remind tourists of the old and happy times. What is even     10    (important), they can get to know Jinan’s history and culture and fall in love with the city.”