Know What We Do Around Here All Day

Know What We Do Around Here All Day Well were not quite sure! But one thing we have as a top priority is making things better for you. Thats why you see improvements in JibberJobber on a regular basis. A couple of days ago we slipped some new features in and we wanted to make sure you knew about it. They may seem trivial (we have a huge HUGE enhancement coming out in April/May) but they are nice finishing touches for you. Thing 1 better navigation when you add a new record When you add a job or a network contact or target company there are some new checkboxes under the save button. Its self-explanatory but allows you more options when you save a record (Ive used all three for various reasons). Notice if you leave them unchecked then it will go to the list panel (like it has been up to now). Thing 2 better option when you use Anagram One guy e-mailed me and said I just added 120 contacts in an hour using Anagram! But one thing that bugged me was that I wanted to double-check the data from the big Anagram box on the right and make sure that it all went in the right form fields on the left. We had defaulted it so that once you clicked the Fill Out Form button all the data would disappear. Now we have a new box that says keep data in this box so you can decide what to do. Personally I check that box every time. Thing 3 plays nice with TinyURL At the bottom of the Add Network Contact page we have services this is where you can say someones instant messenger is MSN (or IM), and their handle is hounddog@hotmail.com. Or their Skype ID is hounddog. Or their Yahoo handle for chatting is hounddog@yahoo.com. Big thanks to John Reinke (who has a really, really good blog) for suggesting we add the ability to put in a TinyURL. Now you can add JUST the last part of the TinyURL or the entire URL, like these two images (the key is to make sure that you put tinyurl in the name of service box): And the result will be this (notice that either way it makes it a link that goes to the right place): Thing 4 plays nice with all URLs While we were at it we threw in a bonus. If you put an http or https (so its a website) then that will turn into a link also. In this example I say its the contacts LinkedIn profile (the box isnt very long so you cant see the entire link): and the result is this (a clickable link): Notice that you can put in someones Jobster profile, their Emurse profile, blogs, other URLs, etc. Sometimes I put in extra phone numbers I treat this like an extra field (or, a user-defined field). So there you go enjoy the added features! And if you have any requests please send them our way! What do you think? Know What We Do Around Here All Day Well were not quite sure! But one thing we have as a top priority is making things better for you. Thats why you see improvements in JibberJobber on a regular basis. A couple of days ago we slipped some new features in and we wanted to make sure you knew about it. They may seem trivial (we have a huge HUGE enhancement coming out in April/May) but they are nice finishing touches for you. Thing 1 better navigation when you add a new record When you add a job or a network contact or target company there are some new checkboxes under the save button. Its self-explanatory but allows you more options when you save a record (Ive used all three for various reasons). Notice if you leave them unchecked then it will go to the list panel (like it has been up to now). Thing 2 better option when you use Anagram One guy e-mailed me and said I just added 120 contacts in an hour using Anagram! But one thing that bugged me was that I wanted to double-check the data from the big Anagram box on the right and make sure that it all went in the right form fields on the left. We had defaulted it so that once you clicked the Fill Out Form button all the data would disappear. Now we have a new box that says keep data in this box so you can decide what to do. Personally I check that box every time. Thing 3 plays nice with TinyURL At the bottom of the Add Network Contact page we have services this is where you can say someones instant messenger is MSN (or IM), and their handle is hounddog@hotmail.com. Or their Skype ID is hounddog. Or their Yahoo handle for chatting is hounddog@yahoo.com. Big thanks to John Reinke (who has a really, really good blog) for suggesting we add the ability to put in a TinyURL. Now you can add JUST the last part of the TinyURL or the entire URL, like these two images (the key is to make sure that you put tinyurl in the name of service box): And the result will be this (notice that either way it makes it a link that goes to the right place): Thing 4 plays nice with all URLs While we were at it we threw in a bonus. If you put an http or https (so its a website) then that will turn into a link also. In this example I say its the contacts LinkedIn profile (the box isnt very long so you cant see the entire link): and the result is this (a clickable link): Notice that you can put in someones Jobster profile, their Emurse profile, blogs, other URLs, etc. Sometimes I put in extra phone numbers I treat this like an extra field (or, a user-defined field). So there you go enjoy the added features! And if you have any requests please send them our way! What do you think?

Chronological and Functional Resume Formats

Chronological and Functional Resume Formats The chronological resume is the gold standard of formats; it gives your job history in an easy to read format, and it’s the choice of recruiters everywhere.   This recession has made many workers rethink their careers and retrain for new ones, and that means that they need a new format to market their skills.   Enter the Functional Resume â€" a way to talk more about what you can do, and less about what you’ve done in the past. Previously, employers viewed functional resumes with resignation.   They knew that the functional format indicated a career changer â€" someone who knew in their heart of hearts that she wasn’t qualified for the position at hand.   Now, the functional resume format may also alert them that the candidate is a motivated jobseeker who may bring extra value to the position. The combination chronological and functional format is one that gives you the best of both worlds.   You can use the top of the resume to highlight skills for the position, and demonstrate your experience in the chronology below.   This format can give quick assurance that you meet educational requirements use other headings that emphasize qualifications. For instance, you might emphasize your management, administrative, budgeting or purchasing skills in any combination or order.   If you use this format to highlight skills, be sure to emphasize your accomplishments.   Instead of this: “Responsible for managing a team of sales reps in large territory” Try this: “Managed a high-performing team of sales reps in four state territory; increased annual sales by over 30%.” The career site http://www.artofcareersurvival.com offers this advice on action verbs in a transitional resume: “Drove, taught, and worked are all acceptable action verbs. But know that not all action verbs are equal. Some action verbs have more punch. And the good news is that they can be easily substituted for the less powerful verbs. Rather than driving a delivery truck, why not operate the delivery truck? The word operate implies more than the word drive. It implies a level of professionalism, a more than casual interest in propelling a vehicle from point A to point B. Operate is a more sophisticated way of saying that you drove a truck and, like it or not, reviewers will lean toward sophistication.” About.com offers a series of articles on the merits of different resume styles with examples of chrono-functional resumes and the rest.   Find the information here.

Laid Off Meaning, Tips, Moving Ahead

Laid Off Meaning, Tips, Moving Ahead If you are reading this article, you are either fearing a layoff or you have already been laid off.In both cases, first, you must know that it is far from being the end of the world. Every adversity has an opportunity hidden in it.You just have to move on!In this article, we have included all the information and advice that you may need to go through the difficult situation of a layoff.What Does It Mean to Be Laid Off?Essentially, a layoff can mean a difficult road ahead. But technically, it means temporary or permanent termination of your job despite you doing nothing wrong.Yes, being laid off means you do not have your job anymore. However, you should know that you were not fired.Your job has been terminated, but there's an essential difference between being laid off and being fired.Difference Between Laid Off and FiredThere is widespread confusion between these two scenarios.Although many consider them to be the same, they are in fact, far from being similar.Let’s put it in simp le terms.Layoffs occur due to reasons relating to the financial or organization scenarios the company you are working for is facing right now. Firing occurs due to reasons directly related to you and the job that you do in the company. You may be laid off as part of a downsizing process or a managerial change within your company. A layoff can also occur in masses where a lot of your colleagues are laid off at once. Firing may occur due to your inefficiency, mistakes, or general mismatch with the position you were holding within the organization.So, essentially, a layoff happens for reasons beyond your control, whereas firing usually occurs due to situations related to you.We've summarized themain differences between being laidodd and fired in the graphic below:Difference Between Laid Off and TerminationHere’s yet another confusion that many often face. So, let’s clarify.The legal definitions of these terms may vary by state due to different labor codes, but the general perceptio n remains the same.“Termination” is the umbrella term which includes all other concepts like separation, getting fired, and resignation. A termination can be initiated by both the parties involved. The layoff process is always initiated by the organization. A layoff can be temporary, but termination is usually permanent. So, pragmatically speaking, permanent layoffs are also a type of termination.All this information is quite enough to get you covered on the basics of layoff. It’s all you need to know about the definition and technicalities surrounding a layoff.Laid Off or Layed Off?Wait! This is another tiny bit of confusion that might need a bit of attention.We briefly wanted to clarify that the correct spelling is… “laid off”.While “layed” is a very common spelling of the past tense of “lay”, it is not the proper spelling.Possible Reasons for LayoffsThere is a multitude of reasons why a company may decide to layoff employees.Here are the most common ones:1. La ck of funding or cost-cutting: The organization you are working in may suddenly be facing a monetary challenge and can not afford to pay you anymore. Hence, you are laid off.Cost-cutting is one of the major challenges of almost every organization. And often, the employees have to bear the brunt of being laid off.2. Lack of work: The unit or department you were working for may no longer be needed in the company. Or, the specific kind of work may no longer be feasible for the organization.3. Mergers: Mergers can mean major organizational changes within a company. So, it is natural that some employees may become irrelevant after mergers.4. Outsourcing or offshoring: With the rise of the gig economy, outsourcing jobs has become a major reason for employee layoffs nowadays.5. Other changes: Some other major changes like new management orrelocation can also result in some employees being laid off.However, it should be mentioned that every organization is unique with its own unique set of issuesSo, a layoff can happen for many other reasons not mentioned above.What is a Voluntary Layoff?Amidst all these details about layoffs, one of the most tricky terms is perhaps voluntary layoff.How on earth can a layoff be voluntary?They can be when your employer requests you to voluntarily resign or retire in exchange for a retirement or severance pay package.Voluntary layoffs are often organized by companies who do not have any specific group of employees to be laid off and also do not want the burden to specifically choose and inform employees about the bad news.In this case, the company provides the employees with an open offer to resign in lieu of a costly severance deal.It is most suitable for companies who are looking to cut costs with layoffs because it is often the senior employees with higher salaries who opt for early retirement.Available Financial Compensation During LayoffsThe first thing that comes to mind after hearing the word layoff is probably financial stabilit y.What will happen to your bills now that you are not going to get your monthly salary?Well, no worries! You are probably not going to become homeless. There are plenty of options to tap into until you get your next opportunity.1. Money That Is Rightfully YoursThis is the amount of money that you have already earned while working for the organization but have not been paid yet.Your final paycheck(s) Unused vacation, sick time or leaves according to company policies Retirement funds Any expense reimbursements Others funds and expenses that you may be entitled toMake sure you have a detailed review of all these monetary issues with your HR before you leave the office.2. Severance PayIt is likely that your company will offer you a severance package that may include severance pay, continuation of insurance, and assistance for career counseling to find your next job.You may also have the option to negotiate your severance package and solicit the help of an employment lawyer if you want.3 . Unemployment BenefitsAnother potential financial option for you would be to file for unemployment.Each state has its own unemployment program with different sets of rules, guidelines, benefit amounts, and benefit durations.So, contact your state labor department as soon as you are laid off.If you face any problems during the course of calculating and collecting your finances, you should consider seeking the help of an employment lawyer or a person who is familiar with these situations.How to Prepare for a LayoffWhen a company is going to lay off employees, there are often some signs of it beforehand.That’s exactly when you have to start preparing for the worst. Even if you are not on the list to be laid off, a little preparedness wouldn’t hurt anyone.This graphic gives you a summary of how to prepare for a layoff:Here are the detailed steps you should take in the event of a possible layoff.1. Be Mentally PreparedThe shock of a sudden layoff can drain you mentally and make you take inappropriate steps.So, it is always a good idea to prepare yourself mentally for a possible layoff.Remind yourself once again that it is not at all your fault. It is just one of the curveballs that life throws at us and we have to rise to the challenge.You just have to be brave and believe that better opportunities are waiting around the corner.Get more tips toMake it Through The Job Search Unscathed.2. Start Financial PlanningIt is the thing that you should always do - plan your finances right.But when faced with a layoff, finances become even more of a crucial aspect to think about.Start by assessing all of your wealth and prepare a financial plan of at least three months.Include all the financial options described above into your plan and things will start to feel better.3. Start Searching for Better OpportunitiesIt is another great idea when you face a potential layoff scenario.You should start networking and be on the lookout for new and better job opportunities.Even if y ou are not laid off, you may find an even better job offer from this endeavor of yours. You never know.However, never search or apply for jobs via your office network while you are still working there.Your employer may have access to your browsing history and you wouldn’t want them to know what you are up to.You can start your search with the12 Best Job Search Sites (Pros and Cons).Check out our other articleon what to do if you think you may belaid off,Ways to Prepare For A Lay Off.What to Do Immediately After a LayoffOkay, so the moment of truth has arrived and you will be laid off. It is not the time to lose your cool.Stay calm. You have a lot of things to take care of.We have providedan overviewof what to do immediately after you are laid off.Read on for detailed information about your first steps after a layoff.1. Check That You Were Properly CompensatedIt is time to have a talk with an HR representative.Ask for the details of your severance package and any other compensation that you will receive.Ask for the details of all of your final paycheck(s) and double-check them carefully.Calculate your final paychecks, paid vacations, earned leaves, any other expense reimbursement, and other amounts due carefully.Solicit assistance from your state’s labor department or an employment lawyer if you face any difficulty.2. Get Proper Documentation From HRAnother thing that you have to do is to get the proper documents from your HR department.Make sure that you are given a letter stating you were laid off and not a firing letter. Also, request a proper letter of recommendation from your former employer.It is always better to end your relationship in an amicable way so that you retain your employer as a reference for your future job search.3. Claim UnemploymentAs you have lost your job due to no fault of your own, you are likely to qualify for your state unemployment benefits.Unemployment benefits are provided by the state unemployment program for a specific perio d.Eligibility criteria vary from state to state but a few common rules may mandate that you were employed for a certain amount of time, you were not an independent contractor, and you lost your job through no fault of your own.If you receive a severance package, check to see how itaffects your eligibility for unemployment benefits.To learn more and apply for the benefits, you may start the process by visiting the website of your state’s labor department. Just google “(state name) unemployment” and you will find it.Many states have a waiting period before you can start receiving benefits, so it is better to deal with the formalities as early as possible.4. Secure Health Insurance (COBRA)The next thing to do is to ensure that you are covered by health insurance until you find your next job.Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) ensures that you retain your employer-sponsored health insurance benefits for a period of time, usually 18 months, after losing your job. Although it entails that you have to pay the portion of the coverage that your employer was paying, it can be better than an individual health insurance plan or having no insurance at all.For more information about what to do after you are laid off, check out our other articles,What to Do After Being Laid Off From WorkandYou Got Laid Off...Time To Work!How to Recover From a LayoffNow that your official ties with your former employer are over, it is time to regroup and mobilize your resources, skills, and connections for a prompt recovery.Use this checklist for actions to take to recover from a layoff:Below is more information about your next course of action.1. Know That It Is Not Your FaultAfter being laid off, it is easy to fall into the trap of a negative feedback cycle that can drain your confidence and mental vivacity, which you will need a lot of in the coming days of job hunting.Hence, keeping yourself away from all the negative thoughts and emotions is of paramount importanc e.Never judge yourself because of a layoff and always remember that it was in no way your fault.Keep your head high and senses sharp to be ready for the next opportunity when it shows up!2. Assess Your Financial SituationHaving a careful reevaluation of your financial affairs is a wise thing to do after any major reshuffle of your income sources.After getting all the compensation from the layoff in your account, assess your financial resources. How much do you have? How long can you last?Then, have a plan of spending for at least the next three months according to your available resources.It is always better to be a bit tight while planning your expenditure during these times, as the more you save, the longer you can stay without more earnings.So, stick to spending only on the essentials and stay away from any major buying and investments.You may also consider avoiding eating out at restaurants and other “nonnecessities.” Check for entertainment subscriptions or other services t hat you can pause for some time or cancel, check the possibility of pausing or reducing your mortgage payments, and any other options that may help in cutting down your spending.3. Make Decisions on Retirement FundsAs you are leaving your current employer, it is a suitable time to check the status of your retirement plan.How much your money has grown? What are you invested in? What to do with it now?Usual options include rolling over to your next employer or an individual retirement account (IRA), keeping it where it is right now, or cashing it out. Cashing out your retirement fund early means paying taxes and early withdrawal penalties.Give a proper amount of consideration to this before making your decision.Once you have taken care of all the immediate concerns after a layoff, it is time to embark on a journey to recovery.4. Search for Part-Time or Freelance WorkAfter the assessment of your financial standing, if you think you will need additional assistance to keep yourself and f amily afloat, you can always opt for part-time or freelance gigs.There are plenty of freelance sites where you can easily create a profile and get a job in only a few days. Look into platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer, and others. Yet another easy but a bit less rewarding way of getting some extra bucks can be doing some micro-work on Amazon Mechanical Turk.Finding part-time jobs is also relatively easier and faster than securing a full-time opportunity.However, if you are not so shaky in terms of finances, it is better to remain a full-time job-seeker as long as you can manage.Full-time job-seeking will enable you to be fully focused on the search and invest more time on professional development. You are likely to get a job faster that way.5. Rethink Your Career PlansTake a deep breath, relax, and look back at your career.Who are you? Are you happy with what you have been doing?If you are happy, then it is an opportunity to take a greater leap ahead. If not, then this is an even better opportunity to re-evaluate your career path.Now, you are free to change tracks.So, have a deep assessment of your skills and expertise and create a shortlist of possible options for you.Identifying all of your preferred job positions and industries will make your search for a new job much easier.Find some great options for new jobs in our article,Best Jobs For a Career Change.6. Update Your ResumeDust off your old resume. It is time for a revamp and a new beginning!Create separate resumes for all the job positions that you plan to apply for.The days of a single resume for all jobs are long gone. If you fail to fully customize your resume for each of the roles you apply to, it will not be effective.Moreover, it is better to be prepared, as you may not get enough time to customize your resume when someone asks for it.You may create and customize your resumes with online resume builders using templates. You can easily review and customize your resume via online resume revie w services.Consider a professional resume writing service if want your resume to truly have an impact.Find thebest professional resume writing services near you.7. Keep Searching for Your Next JobOkay, so you might have sent out your resume to a few people and didn’t get any reply.So, what? Will this get you down or will you try even harder?Applying to a lot of jobs but not getting a reply is pretty common in today’s world of disruptive tech-based recruitment.But getting no replies from recruiters can be painful and make you doubt yourself. It is yet another quicksand of a downward spiral that you must avoid.Just keep trying as if searching for a job is your job now. A better career is waiting for you!Find out how to keep awinning mindset during your job search.8. Online and Offline NetworkingNetworking can be very helpful in your search for a new job.It has been estimated by Business Insider that over 85% of open positions are filled through networking and around 70% of jobs ne ver get listed.The stats are simply staggering and show that without networking you can miss out on some great opportunities.Be on the lookout for any networking events where your industry folks are likely to be. Go, talk, and meet with them with an open mind.Moreover, never underestimate online networking platforms like LinkedIn and other social media channels when it comes to building easy and fast connections.Get some job search advice in this article,Career Expert Tips for Finding a Job on LinkedIn.9. Keep an Eye on Your Routine and LifestyleBeing laid off means a huge change in your routine and overall lifestyle.It can easily make you unfocused if you do not stay alert.But being grounded on routine and organization is crucial for your mental and physical health in challenging times like these.Try to follow the same routine. Job search when you used to be at the office, keep going to the gym, the art class, or whatever you were doing, eat your meals around the same time, and be mindful of getting the proper amount of rest.Learn moreTime Management Tips For the Unemployed.What Not to Do After You Are Laid OffWe have discussed a lot about what to do after a layoff. Now, let’s have a look at what you should not do after being laid off.Here is a synopsis of what no to do after you are laid offin order tostay on the right track.Read on as we explain thepitfalls you may encounter after you are laid off.1. Avoid Negative ThinkingNo matter how many times we mention it, the importance of this aspect just can’t be stressed enough.It is very much essential to remind yourself time and again of staying away from any negative thoughts.Remember three things about bad times:Everybody faces them. It never lasts. Worrying won't help you in any way possible.Learn how to stay positive with7 Ways to Eliminate Job Search Stress.2. Do Not Keep YourLayoff a SecretAnother silly mistake that we often end up doing is that we tend to hide the fact that we were laid off from our f riends and family.But doing this will only increase the pressure on your lonely shoulders.It is in no way advisable to hide this important development from the people around you.The best thing to do is to share it with others and being open to their advice, help, and support.3. Don’t Blame Your Employer PubliclyYou are probably wise enough to not do it. Still, a word of caution for those vengeful angry thoughts you might be having right now.It is normal to feel anger, but you should not express it publicly.Always remember that your future employer may contact your former employer before giving you a job. So, you don’t want to hamper your relationship with them.4. Don’t Shy Away From Your Support NetworkBack to basics.We are social beings and we need each other to survive. So, when in distress, we should not shy away from asking for help from our friends and family.You may also reach out to your extended network of other personal and professional connections, i.e., former colle agues, mentors, and teachers.Apart from getting possible referrals to jobs, your social network will get bolstered from this anyway.Should You Take Legal Action After a Layoff?In most situations, probably not. But there may be situations when you may need some legal help.Wrongful TerminationsLayoffs are not wrongful termination.However, if you think that your employer is terminating you violating rules and terming it as a layoff, you should probably seek legal help.These are the common scenarios of wrongful termination:The termination violates public policy, company policy, or employment agreement. Terminated for complaining about workplace issues. Terminated for whistleblowing. Discriminatory termination due to race, nationality, religion, gender, or age.Have you been the victim of any of these violations or discrimination? We strongly advise considering legal help.Withheld CompensationAnother situation, although rare, that demands legal action is when an employer is unable to or r efuses to pay you the due money and compensation that you are entitled to after being laid off.If you are denied any of the payments, i.e. final paycheck, severance pay, or others, you can file a complaint with your state labor department or sue your employer.Where to Find Help After Being Laid Off?Finally, let’s have a quick look at the legal and professional help available to you at this stage.State and Federal Enforcement AgenciesWhen faced with such an unwanted situation, it is always a better idea to look for help that you can get from the state and federal enforcement agencies.The more help you can get from the state agencies, the more money you will be able to save for employment lawyers if you end up needing them.Start your search from the state labor department or a nearby Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) office. The officials there will guide you on the next course of action needed.Employment AttorneysIf you feel that the state or federal agencies are not a ble to help you to the extent you want or need, you may consider filing a lawsuit or having one or two employment lawyers to back you up.The most important word of caution is that you must have an extensive discussion about all the aspects involved especially the money they are going to charge you and other expectations.Then, only you can decide if the time and investment will be worth the possible outcome of your case.Additional ResourcesIf you have been laid off or need any kind of help with professional growth, job searching, or any other career-related issues, you can always reach out to Find My Profession for assistance.Here you will get professional and experienced career experts to coach you to your next big job.

7 Ways to Boost Your Resume While Youre Still in College

7 Ways to Boost Your Resume While Youre Still in College There are a lot of ways to do all the things you have to do (and love to do) in college, while also polishing up that resume that has been gathering dust over the past 4-6 years. However, were not talking about the stuff everyone knows about â€" internships, student leadership and getting good grades. We’re talking about some very little-known ways to make your resume stand out from the crowd once your last class is finally in the bag: 1)  Start  a unique, off-campus project: By participating in unique projects that relate to your major, you can show future employers that you have a creative mind, an interest in trend-setting and the motivation to get things done. For example, if you are a marketing major, you might offer to set up or manage the social media website for a local radio station. Or, if you are a business major, you might hook up with a few friends and start a Beer-Pong tournament business where you sell team t-shirts and collect entrance fees. These outside projects show future employers that you are not all academic, and they allow you to connect with people who might be able to further your career after graduation. 2) Rewrite  your resume for action: With only an hour of investment, you can turn a boring resume into one that is super-charged. Instead of treating your resume like an information dump, think of it more like a life list: What have you done? What actions did you have to take at previous jobs? What skills do you know how to do that will set you apart from the crowd? Instead of saying, “I worked at Bob’s Burger Joint,” focus on what you did: “At Bob’s Burger Joint, I managed customer complaints, organized team meetings, maintained the safety of serving areas and balanced daily financial accounts.” Basically, you dealt with cranky customers, cleaned the store and worked with money, but all those action words make you sound great, don’t they? 3) Go to the  cool parties: Although I probably don’t need to tell you this, post-graduation employment is much less about what you know than about who you know. Even the most educated person in your college is going to need some good references to make their resume shine. So, go places where you’ll find the leaders of your particular field. If that means being a busboy or cigarette girl at the annual hospital Casino Night so that you can get a reference to enroll in your nursing program, make it happen! You can’t get references and referrals from people who don’t know you. READ MORE: 3 Smart Networking Strategies To Use at Your Next Event 4) Choose  high-interest and unique classes: A great way to become more attractive to future employers is by choosing courses now that will set you apart later. For example, if you are a biology student with an interest in going into medicine after college, consider a specialty course like Medical Ethics or Genetics. These classes are interesting, fun and give future employers the impression that you are serious about making the most of your education experiences. In addition, unique specialization courses can make you incredibly attractive to employers if you choose ones that target new technologies, ideologies or practices. For example, if you are a computer science major, taking courses in Computer Forensics or E-Discovery may open career opportunities just by virtue of their novelty in the field. 5) Start a blog: When you eventually take your degree and resume to a potential employer, you will probably be doing it via an online job application, video conference or phone call. A great way to make yourself look even more attractive in these virtual job interviews is to already have an established online presence that makes you an authority in your field. If you’re a designer, start a fashion blog with tips, articles and interviews with new design artists. If you’re a programmer, start a blog about key language problems across platforms. It will blow your future employer away when you can add a web URL to your resume with examples of your work and a list of followers that prove you have something valuable to contribute. MORE: How Blogging will Boost your Career 6) Associate  with the associations: Every field of study has at least one major association that is led by key players in the industry. These are usually professors, researchers or professionals that are producing cutting-edge publications, research and ideas about the future of their area of expertise. You should know them. So, a great way to boost your resume is by getting involved in these professional associations. And, if they require you to be a current working professional, find out ways to volunteer with them. This will look great on your resume and also connect you with the groundbreakers of your potential career field. 7. Use Classwork to Apply for Awards, Scholarships and Grants If you were to submit one article, essay or idea each week for publication or award, by the time you graduated from college, the odds are good that you will have won or published at least one. Think about it: You’re already writing research papers, editing essays and producing projects every week in your daily classes. Why not do double duty, and just submit those same items for peer-reviewed journals, online magazines or even competitions? For example, if you are a graphic design student, there are hundreds of awards that you can submit your school projects to. It only takes about an hour a week to submit, and you have a good chance of getting something that will really make your resume shine. Author: Steve Aedy is a freelance writer and content manager at freshessays.com. Hes passionate about writing for students and about students. Steve is great in giving helpful advice about education, career, college life and writing.

9 surefire ways to get yourself out of bed in the morning - Debut

9 surefire ways to get yourself out of bed in the morning - Debut Okay, look. All this getting out of bed for work while its still dark outside is starting to get old. I think I speak for everyone when I say Im fed up of initially thinking the Sun has been extinguished by the Rapture rather than Ive just woken up before sunrise. (Just me?) Add the fact that its pure frosty winter hell outside, and suddenly its quite hard to get out of bed. But its okay. If this sounds like your everyday struggle, struggle no more. Here are some pro-tips to help you get around it. Plan ahead Get ahead of the game. Fix that breakfast, set that coffee machine or make that healthy lunch the night before. Its too tempting to be a last minute merchant, or to just skip a morning routine all together. Crucially though, doing the hard stuff while youre still (reasonably) awake will make all the difference. Set a goal Every negative situation has an upside, even if that doesnt seem immediately obvious when youre getting out of bed. Face it, once youre actually out, it isnt so bad now, is it? Find something you like about the morning and use it to motivate you. Hint: hot showers are flippin amazing. The inverted snooze Shout out Daily Burn for this cool trick I hadnt heard before. Im a habitual snooze button basher. I even set my alarm to go off earlier so I can press it more. Im a fiend, basically. Heres a challenge for you like-minded folk. If you wanna snooze your alarm for 9 minutes, thats cool, but heres the kicker. You have to spend those nine minutes out of your bed. After youve done that, you might find you dont need those extra few minutes sleep anyway. Find the right sound How your alarm sounds when it goes off is a big part of how it affects your routine. Are you someone who needs to be shocked awake with something loud? Try a range of sounds and think about the answer to that carefully. A heart attack is not one of those things conducive to getting out of bed. Chug, chug, chug Were reliably informed that having a glass of water by your bedside helps wake up that metabolism in the morning. Down that like fresher and youll be set for the day. The actual act of doing it will help get that blood pumping too. Screen out your screens There are plenty of fixes you can do on the other side of bedtime to ensure you dont struggle in the morning.The easiest if these is too refrain from using electronic devices right as you go to sleep. That screen light can wire your brain and make it that much harder to relax. So no more Arrested Development after 9pm, guys. Were serious. Let there be light Now to a more productive use of light. One of these light up alarm clocks is great if you need to wake up naturally when its dark out. Other silent alarms, like vibrating wristwear, work a treat too. Get appy If you need drastic measures to help you get out of bed, there are plenty of apps out there that will shame you into it. All of them are pretty unique, from the alarm you can only turn off if you shake to the one that posts to your Facebook every time you press snooze. In fact, heres one endorsed by Dwayne The Rock Johnson. Fix your day Sometimes, the reason we dont wanna get out of bed is because we dont like whats facing us when we do. Make sure your uni/work situation is inviting enough to make you love it. Whether that means staying on top off things or taking care of that big problem youre facing, lifes too short to not be happy. Lets rise and grind together, guys! Download the Debut app and  get Talent-Spotted by amazing graduate employers! Connect with Debut on Facebook and Twitter

The First Checks You Should Make In Any New Property Investment

The First Checks You Should Make In Any New Property Investment If you’re looking to start a career or business in investing in property, whether as a landlord or as a flipper of houses, then you know how to spot a good investment. It’s not all about how well you can market and manage your properties, but also about finding those that cost less to get ready for market than they’re likely to get you. As such, you need to keep an eye out for some of the pesky issues that can end up costing you dearly. Here, we’re going to look at a few crucial checks you need to make before any property investment. The plumbing If there are any issues with the plumbing, even if they’re still lurking beneath the surface, there’s a good chance that you’re likely to end up having to pay for them, if you don’t end up paying for the water damage that they cause instead. Hiring a good property inspector should help you spot any issues in the plumbing, but if you’re taking a DIY approach to inspections, there are a few key areas you should look at in particular. Check the water heater’s age, the toilets for leaks in the base, water supply pipes for signs of corrosion, the inside water lines for signs of discoloration, and don’t forget to check all the taps and the overall water pressure. The electrics The other utility is naturally just as important. Faulty electrics will lead not only to the lights suddenly going, but to a serious risk of injury, which you could be held liable for if you’re looking to host tenants in your new property investment. When it comes to the electrics, there is no other option than a professional electrical inspection. Not only are you not likely to be fully qualified to carry out such an inspection yourself, but it could be potentially dangerous. We’re trying to avoid not only shocking costs after purchasing a property, but actual electric shocks to your person, as well. Play it safe, hire a professional when you need one. The efficiency While it’s not quite as important as the plumbing or the electrics, the energy efficiency of a home is becoming a more important factor in its marketability. Potential buyers and tenants are very likely to request that you take the necessary steps to make a home energy efficient before they move in. You might be able to be some financial assistance through schemes that provide free insulation or energy efficient boiler and air conditioning replacements. It’s not wise to make that assumption, so take an energy audit. From there, calculate what you would need to invest in to make the home more efficient, then consider if that investment is worth making. Sometimes, it’s better to give up on a property investment idea than to simply continue to sink money into it. Signs of water woes Some kinds of damage can be repaired easily and cheaply enough, while others may become the costliest part of the entire project. Being aware of that is crucial when you catch the first signs of water damage. It’s an easy enough problem to notice, with damp musty smells being particularly hard to ignore. If water damage has spread through things like dry wall or the ceiling, patching them up and replacing them is easy enough. However, if it has seeped deeper into the home, such as spreading throughout the roof and the insulation in the attic, then that could be a much more costly problem. If you catch a sign of water damage, make sure you arrange a thorough inspection so you can be fully aware of just how much it might cost to fix it. Avoid those structural problems When it comes to structural problems in the home, like cracks in the foundation, then that aforementioned water damage is likely to play a role. There are plenty of signs of structural damage you should pay attention to, if you don’t have an inspector who is likely to notice them. This includes tiny holes in drywall and wood, dry mud tubes on the foundation, problems with shutting or opening doors in the home with no clear mechanical reason, and noticeably sloping floors. In general, structural problems cost way more to fix than they’re worth, so you should avoid them when possible. Make sure you don’t have any uninvited guests Pests, little and large, are a problem is just about every kind of location. Even apartments high above the ground floor can be haunted by infestations. There are a lot of different kinds of pests, each of which can leave their own distinct warning signs, from hair, scratches, and scattered nesting material to droppings left around and the ammonia smell of urine in the home. Rather than trying to learn about all the pests your potential property may be vulnerable to and looking for any of their signs, it may be more effective to enlist a pest control team. Depending on the type of pest and where they’re found in the home, it may be easy enough to eliminate or at least get them out of the property. What about the neighbors? When it comes to renting out or selling a property, you’re marketing more than the home itself, you’re marketing the experience of living there. Which means that who they’re living beside is likely to play a factor in the decision that they make. Take a look at the neighbors’ yards when you’re looking at the home. If they’re incredibly disheveled, full of trash, or otherwise unsightly, it’s likely to bother any potential buyers or tenants even if your property is immaculate. You can try and talk to the neighbors or find other ways to deal with their eyesores, but it can still be a problem regardless. Is the market moving there? One of the key tips when it comes to building your property portfolio is to look at the trends of the market. The value of homes and increase and decrease of property prices in a given area is only one factor you should look at. There are also plenty of statistics on where people are moving to, both from city to city and from state to state, you can familiarize yourself with. See which towns, neighborhoods, cities, and ZIP codes are attracting more people, and which places tend to see a lot more emigration, instead. Finding the chance to capitalize on a popular new spot before other investors learn about it is the surest way to profit in the business. Check the area Don’t forget to make at least a cursory check of the data regarding the town, city, or neighborhood you’re considering buying in. Census and crime data are widely available for most locations and you can be sure that any potential buyers are going to be looking at it. Don’t forget to look at what features and amenities are nearby, such as schools and retail centers. These can help drive up the value of a property, as well as highlighting which market they’re best suited for. For instance, families are a lot more likely to look for homes that are closer to schools since they have kids that need to attend them. Areas that are high on crime are likely to be worth less, too. If you want to get into property investment, then always being aware of your level of risk for each investment is essential. Hopefully, the tips above help you develop the habits you need to manage it.

Creating a Perfect Teacher Resumes Objective

Creating a Perfect Teacher Resumes ObjectiveA teacher resume objective is the first thing that most potential employers will look at when they read your CV. Your objective should be precise and to the point so that it doesn't detract from your student or teacher credentials. When a prospective employer reads a resume which has an unclear objective, they will generally turn away from it.The teacher resume objective should also be brief and direct. It should be easily read and not at all confusing to the reader. When your CV example contains a confusing objective, it will simply lead the reader away from your resume or CV example and onto the next one.When creating your teacher resume objective, you need to consider the discipline or subject you are teaching. Do you teach English? If so, your objective should be about your experience as an English teacher. If you teach art or drama, your objective might be different.When you write your objective, you should write it in such a way that is clear and concise. The objective should include any relevant information about you as a teacher, your academic achievements and your professional background.Before you begin writing your teacher resume objective, you should get some guidance on what exactly you should include in your resume example. Check the requirements for this type of document by checking your CV example or CV examples published by professional organizations. Be sure to follow these guidelines to ensure you get the most appropriate teachers CV example.Teacher resume objectives are usually one page long. The objective must be written using the MLA format. An example of the MLA format is provided in the outline of a resume in chapter 6 of the standard manual. You can use the sample in this guide to help you get started with your teacher resume objective.Once you have started writing your teacher resume objective, you should stick to the format provided by the MLA. This means you should use your name at the begi nning of the document, followed by the term 'Education'. The full term 'education' should then be followed by the discipline or subject you are teaching. The objective will conclude with your professional details.Remember, a teacher resume objective is the first thing that potential employers will look at when they read your CV. Your objective should be precise and to the point so that it doesn't detract from your student or teacher credentials.