The Story Behind the "M"

The "M" is 620 feet above the Missoula Valley floor. It is 125' feet long and 100' feet wide. University of Montana forestry students cut the switchbacks into the side of the hill in the early 1900's. The first "M" was assembled out of whitewashed rocks in 1909, and given a fresh coat of paint by freshmen every year, until 1968, when all those rocks were cemented together with concrete.

Photo by Nelson Kenter, kenterphotography.com

Archive for the ‘Employment’ Category

Dear Graduates (and Undergrads, too):

By JENNIFER SHRYOCK. At commencement last weekend, the esteemed Tom Brokaw gave excellent advice: "It's a lot tougher now to make a buck, but making a difference has its own rich reward."... more

Work Wisdom from Age Old Mom-isms

By JENNIFER SHRYOCK. Remember those words of wisdom your mother always said? In honor of Mother’s Day, I’ve compiled some of the quotes I’ve heard over the years from Moms—not only are they great advic... more

After Your Job Interview–Now What?

By JENNIFER SHRYOCK - Congratulations! You survived your job interview. Can you do more to impress your target employer? What if you could guarantee a second interview?... more

Seth Godin’s Poke the Box: A Review

By JENNIFER SHRYOCK. Seth Godin’s latest book is called Poke the Box. It is a quick and worthy read that will infuse innovation and energy to your job search.... more

The Resume Objective? I Object!

By JENNIFER SHRYOCK. Opening argument: People of the court, I intend to demonstrate that the Resume Objective is outdated, irrelevant, and self-serving. Rather than waste prime resume real estate with an Objec... more

2,500 New Missoula Jobs!

By JENNIFER SHRYOCK. To ensure the economic vitality of our best place, Mayor Engen launched the five-year Best Place Project in February 2010. The Project is a public-private partnership focused on “smart, ... more

Q & A: Tips for Teens’ First Resume

By JENNIFER SHRYOCK. I was recently asked "Do have any helpful tips for teens with no previous work experience who are writing their first resume?" My #1 piece of advice is: Focus on the skills you bring to th... more

Queen of Anything — Teen Career Talk

By JENNIFER SHRYOCK. What do you get when you mix 200 high school young ladies, 30 area business women, and magic wands galore in the UC ballroom for a day? The answer is: Queen of Anything!... more

3 Simple Steps to an Effective Introduction

By JENNIFER SHRYOCK. Job seekers are often shy. Or scared. They might be skilled in many social situations, but when it comes to networking and their job search, many become verklempt.... more

Congratulations to the 2011 Employers of Choice

By JENNIFER SHYROCK. Last week the Missoula Job Service Employers' Council honored the Missoula Federal Credit Union and Mismo Gymnastics as the winners of the 2011 Employer of Choice Awards. This annual award ... more

4 Job Search Mistakes to Avoid

By JENNIFER SHRYOCK. Every day, I see job seekers make mistakes in their job hunt. Many of them are basic proofreading resume bloopers. In order to help you avoid them, I’ve compiled a short list of four av... more

Q & A: Job Search – New to Missoula

By JENNIFER SHRYOCK. So you’re ready to contribute to Missoula’s improving economy, but where is an industrious job seeker to start? In addition to online job lists, we’ve included links to help you sta... more

Missoula Job Service – Workforce Matchmakers

In our very first Work It Video, I told you I planned to interview employers and employment experts in order to share with you Missoula Job Seekers some of the resources available to help make your job hunt a s... more

The Job Interview: It’s Not Coffee Talk

Video Blog By JENNIFER SHRYOCK. Allow me to share a secret about the job interview: It’s not coffee talk. Every question an interviewers asks is to determine two things: can you do the job and can you work w... more

JFK and Your Job Search – Video Blog

By JENNIFER SHRYOCK. When John F Kennedy famously said: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,” he asked us to shift our thinking in a big way.... more

Jen’s Video Blog – Job Tips

By JENNIFER SHRYOCK. Work It Video Blog - Episode 1... more

Holiday Networking – All I Want for Christmas is a Job!

By JENNIFER SHRYOCK. As the holiday season skates along, it might be tempting to steer your sleigh away from your job hunt, with good intentions of re-starting in the New Year. ... more

The Interview: Simple Steps to Success

"Work It" Blog by Jennifer Shryock. It’s the big day! I hope you were able to get a good night’s sleep, but if not, don’t fret.... more

How to be Happy at Work

By JENNIFER SHRYOCK. Studies on what makes people happy reveal that it doesn't have much to do with material goods or even high achievement; it seems to whittle down to your outlook on life and the quality of y... more

Before Your Job Interview—For Your Best Performance, Prepare

11/15 "Work It" blog by JENNIFER SHRYOCK. Congratulations, you've scheduled your job interview! Now get right to work preparing for it. The most successful job candidate shows up for the interview already worki... more

Having it All

Blog by Elke Govertsen of Mamalode. It is gone. There used to be this lingering itch, like one in an unreachable spot on my back. It drove me nuts. It kept me from sleeping. It was completely out of reach. It w... more

Ten Spoon Winery

Blog by Andy Sponseller and Connie Poten. Soon after we planted our first grape vines, launching the dream of a green vineyard and winery in Montana’s Rockies, excellent friend and author Deirdre McNamer g... more

Governor Schweitzer says “Welcome”

Greetings, I am pleased to welcome you to Missoula, one of Big Sky Country’s most dynamic cities.  Tremendous recreational opportunities available year-round and a vibrant downtown social scene make Misso... more

Pleasing Your Palate in Missoula

Hungry? You'll be able to satisfy just about any craving in Missoula! Whether it's a casual meal for the family, a fine dining experience, or dessert after a concert or play, Missoula offers a wealth of opt... more

Missoula History

The first inhabitants of the Missoula area were Native Americans from the Salish tribe.  They called the area “Nemissoolatakoo,” which translates roughly to “river of ambush," and eventually gave rise to... more

Commercial Airlines

Missoula’s continuous growth during recent years has lead to increased demand for air service in and out of town. The Missoula International Airport has made great strides to increase capacity by offering inc... more

Volunteer Opportunities

Missoula is known for its giving spirit. On a per capita basis, Missoula is home to more non-profit organizations than any other city in the nation. That means volunteer opportunities abound. ... more

Missoula in Motion

Missoulians embrace green living and you'll find sustainable transportation options readily available in the city. Missoula in Motion aims to promote the city’s popular sustainable transportation system and i... more