Blogging vs. Social Status You will lose you forever

Blogging vs. Social Status You will lose you forever Yesterday someone asked me how to find all of the status updates from one person over a period of time.  I did a quick search and found there was really no hope (link 1, link 2). Let me put this into perspective a little.  I remember when Twitter was becoming very popular, and people were calling it micro-blogging.  The idea is that you dont have to write a long blog post, you could just write approximately one sentence and you would be good!  Writing concisely even meant that you got right to the point, and you became a better communicator, some (like me) would argue. The bigger problem I saw, though, was how hard it was to refer back to a past tweet (or post).  If you asked me a question, and I had already blogged about it, I shoot you the link to my blog post.  Finding a past tweet was really quite difficult.  They were actually simply gone, after a period of time. History.  Unreferenceable. As a blogger and business owner (who deals with customer service), it was clear that there was value in being able to reference a past post.  And going to the trouble to post something, and then have it lost, would be horrible. This is exactly what is happening on LinkedIn.  Finding something on Facebook isnt that much easier.  Yesterday my wife asked me to look through the history to see a really cool quote that a friend put up last Fall.  We looked and looked, and gave up.  It was too hard.  The quote was there, Im sure, but finding it was a pain. As you communicate your brand, knowledge, passion, epiphanies, etc., I encourage you to consider how youll reference those things in the future.  How will others find what you have said? Having a blog gives you more control over what you get on the social networks.  I can go back to my very first blog post, or find all the posts about depression, or JibberJobber How-Tos, etc. pretty easily.  I can even use Google to help me go through blog posts. My blog posts are not fleeting, like my tweets and status updates are.  Maybe thats a good thing (that those are fleeting) but you should consider THE TOOL, and the purpose of the tool, before you invest time. Blogging vs. Social Status You will lose you forever Yesterday someone asked me how to find all of the status updates from one person over a period of time.  I did a quick search and found there was really no hope (link 1, link 2). Let me put this into perspective a little.  I remember when Twitter was becoming very popular, and people were calling it micro-blogging.  The idea is that you dont have to write a long blog post, you could just write approximately one sentence and you would be good!  Writing concisely even meant that you got right to the point, and you became a better communicator, some (like me) would argue. The bigger problem I saw, though, was how hard it was to refer back to a past tweet (or post).  If you asked me a question, and I had already blogged about it, I shoot you the link to my blog post.  Finding a past tweet was really quite difficult.  They were actually simply gone, after a period of time. History.  Unreferenceable. As a blogger and business owner (who deals with customer service), it was clear that there was value in being able to reference a past post.  And going to the trouble to post something, and then have it lost, would be horrible. This is exactly what is happening on LinkedIn.  Finding something on Facebook isnt that much easier.  Yesterday my wife asked me to look through the history to see a really cool quote that a friend put up last Fall.  We looked and looked, and gave up.  It was too hard.  The quote was there, Im sure, but finding it was a pain. As you communicate your brand, knowledge, passion, epiphanies, etc., I encourage you to consider how youll reference those things in the future.  How will others find what you have said? Having a blog gives you more control over what you get on the social networks.  I can go back to my very first blog post, or find all the posts about depression, or JibberJobber How-Tos, etc. pretty easily.  I can even use Google to help me go through blog posts. My blog posts are not fleeting, like my tweets and status updates are.  Maybe thats a good thing (that those are fleeting) but you should consider THE TOOL, and the purpose of the tool, before you invest time. Blogging vs. Social Status You will lose you forever Yesterday someone asked me how to find all of the status updates from one person over a period of time.  I did a quick search and found there was really no hope (link 1, link 2). Let me put this into perspective a little.  I remember when Twitter was becoming very popular, and people were calling it micro-blogging.  The idea is that you dont have to write a long blog post, you could just write approximately one sentence and you would be good!  Writing concisely even meant that you got right to the point, and you became a better communicator, some (like me) would argue. The bigger problem I saw, though, was how hard it was to refer back to a past tweet (or post).  If you asked me a question, and I had already blogged about it, I shoot you the link to my blog post.  Finding a past tweet was really quite difficult.  They were actually simply gone, after a period of time. History.  Unreferenceable. As a blogger and business owner (who deals with customer service), it was clear that there was value in being able to reference a past post.  And going to the trouble to post something, and then have it lost, would be horrible. This is exactly what is happening on LinkedIn.  Finding something on Facebook isnt that much easier.  Yesterday my wife asked me to look through the history to see a really cool quote that a friend put up last Fall.  We looked and looked, and gave up.  It was too hard.  The quote was there, Im sure, but finding it was a pain. As you communicate your brand, knowledge, passion, epiphanies, etc., I encourage you to consider how youll reference those things in the future.  How will others find what you have said? Having a blog gives you more control over what you get on the social networks.  I can go back to my very first blog post, or find all the posts about depression, or JibberJobber How-Tos, etc. pretty easily.  I can even use Google to help me go through blog posts. My blog posts are not fleeting, like my tweets and status updates are.  Maybe thats a good thing (that those are fleeting) but you should consider THE TOOL, and the purpose of the tool, before you invest time.

Resume Writing For Immigrants

Resume Writing For ImmigrantsJob seekers are now facing the hurdle of applying for college grants which require resumes to be submitted. This is because, in order to apply for a grant, you have to prepare your resume in such a way that it will be accepted by the organizations who run these grants. There are various online resources that offer comprehensive guidebooks to help job seekers create a compelling resume for an immigrant.Focus on different aspects of your resume. Besides the skills section, it would be good to include your personal goals and ambitions in a more detailed format. A well-structured essay can make you stand out among other applicants.Focus on additional experience related to your field. This is most helpful if you have already worked in another country and have an exceptional knowledge in that field. You will need to prove this to the organization which runs the grant to get a loan.Volunteer work and community service are also beneficial for immigrants. In order to do this, you will need to state in your resume that you have done such activities. Another great thing about volunteering is that it makes you a person of influence.Focus on your skills and achievements. If you have performed your jobs well and have performed them for the right reasons, there will be little doubt about your eligibility for the grant. When your resume is convincing, you will be able to convince the organizations who run the grants that you are worthy of the grant money.Make sure that you emphasize the points that you don't need or want. Always highlight the accomplishments that are positive. It will make your case stronger as the organizations who run the grants will surely see you as someone who is not in need of the grant money.Write down everything in a systematic way and make sure that your resume is legible. To make sure that you have all the information about your chosen career path, have it in front of you when you write. It will help you avoid errors that may be caused by the confusion of writing the resume.Resume writing for immigrants is not difficult to do. The reason why immigrants tend to apply for grants is that they believe that it will lead to better opportunities for them. Through proper guidance, they can impress the grant-givers.

Six Business Travel Hacks to Save Money

Six Business Travel Hacks to Save Money Do you travel regularly for business? If you’re on the road more often than not, you probably have a business travel routine all your own. It’s no one’s place to mess with that â€" whatever you do, it works, and that’s great for all involved. You don’t have to radically alter your travel rhythm to reduce your travel out-of-pocket costs, though. A few minor tweaks here and there â€" call them “hacks,” if you must â€" can significantly reduce your expenditures without getting in the way of whatever it is you need to do out there. Let’s take a closer look at six of the easiest to implement. Opt for Extended Stay Hotels Whenever Possible If you’re spending more than a night or two on the road, price out extended stay hotels in your destination. Some start long-term pricing at seven days, but others have intermediate tiers for stays longer than two or three nights. That’s plenty long for a midweek business trip. Plus, lower-rung extended stay hotels are cheap by any standards â€" if you’re willing to sacrifice a free hot breakfast each morning, you could make out well. Get an Airline Rewards Credit Card Is your territory too big to cover by car? Get a credit card that pays you back every time you take to the skies. Seek out the best airline credit card for your spending patterns â€" whether it’s an unbranded travel card that earns rewards on all air travel or a brand-specific product. Earn enough and you can redeem your rewards for award travel (cheap getaways!) or fare upgrades (more legroom!) Set Price Alerts Use online booking platforms like Kayak, Booking.com, Hotwire, Trivago, Google Flights â€" whatever seems to give you the best results on a consistent basis. Reduce the amount of time you need to invest in actually searching for flights, hotels, and car rentals, and cut your final out-of-pocket expense, by setting price alerts for upcoming (or recurring) itineraries. When the algos tell you to buy, or your travel hacker spidey sense starts to tingle, jump on those deals. Negotiate Bulk Pricing If you’re not the only road warrior on your team, negotiate bulk pricing with your company’s preferred travel vendors. This tactic is particularly effective with occupancy-obsessed hotels. Guaranteeing 20 or 30 room-nights a month is a great way to drive down per-person costs. Check the Short-Term Rental Scene Hotels not doing it for you? Check short-term rental platforms like Airbnb and HomeAway. Depending on your destination, you may well find more generous digs for less â€" and you’ll probably have a kitchen well-stocked enough to obviate takeout or restaurant dinners. Eat Cheap Speaking of eating cheap: if you don’t have a kitchen at your disposal, hit the prepared foods section at the nearest grocery store or patronize health fast-casual eateries. Unless you’re wooing a client, there’s no reason to sit down for a fancy meal on the road. Stay Cheap on the Road As a savvy career professional â€" or business owner all your own â€" you know just how important it is to keep business costs under control. Fortunately, frugality is a muscle: the more you exercise it, the stronger the impulse gets. Work on these six money-saving travel tips and you’ll find yourself going farther on the same dime than you ever thought possible.

Starting University Again, Here Is My Experience

Starting University Again, Here Is My Experience So for all those freshers and those who have completed university, you know what I’m talking about going into a new environment, to start a new course, with new friends; and if you’re an international student…you’re leaving a whole world behind you to move forward! You are starting university again. It can be very intimidating and I know from personal experience that even when you are the most outgoing person, sometimes around a new group of people you can feel as timid as a mouse. Feeling awkward about forcing a conversation with someone you don’t know, feeling lonely because maybe you don’t make friends as rapidly as some people around you. If you are a commuter, maybe you feel isolated away from a lot of the freshers activities designed for socialising. [ALSO READ:  Fresher’s Week Tips for Students Living at Home] Believe me when I tell you I understand the anxiety you are facing as a new student. My first experience as a fresher was extremely daunting for me, but as I progressed through university I became more of a social person and less self-conscious about talking to strangers in the same situation as me. But now I find myself in the same position I was in 3 years ago pursuing a further degree. As nervous as I am, I can’t but feel more prepared than I did 3 years ago both mentally and emotionally. These are the things that I wish I could have told the 18-year old me: Everybody else is in exactly the same situation as you Even when people live in halls, they may not be completely alone, but having the wrong friends can be just as detrimental as having no friends at all. So just be aware everyone really is in the same boat, so don’t feel weird randomly saying hi to someone you don’t know. Trust me, I’m a part-time cashier, so saying hi to random people is actually my job! The awkwardness will pass It’s only a matter of a few weeks or even a month until you have a good group of friends. Everyone is different in the time they take to make friends. Some people make friends fairly easily; others may take longer but form more long-lasting friendships. The truth is that everyone does make friends eventually. However different you may be from the crowd, there is always someone that will share the same interests and values as you, so don’t be afraid to show them what you’re made of! [ALSO READ:  The Student Guide to Surviving First Year] You ARE a great friend to have Just because other people haven’t noticed you yet does not make you any less friend-worthy. If you are an international student, remember there are people that are from the country you came from and that understand what it is like to leave home to make your future.   That ambition in itself is admirable and don’t let a little bit of loneliness take that away from you! Being unique is what makes you worth having as a friend and what will eventually make you an employable individual. Make sure you make friends on your course There will be many opportunities to do this and it is so important because there is nothing that will make you feel lonelier than having no partner for group work. It should happen automatically during assignment and lecture time, but in case it doesn’t, make sure you put in some extra effort to do this. As intelligent as you may be, your course friends will know things that you do not and understand the workload you have, as well as share the same pain as you during exam time. They may randomly mention a coursework you forgot about or even a change in timetabling you weren’t aware of. These little things can have an impact on your degree. Mistakes can happen; after all, we are all human, but we can at least try to avoid making them, right? 1

Resume Writing After Family Leave

Resume Writing After Family LeaveAfter family leave, you will have to write a resume. A good resume is something that not only should contain your qualifications but also should include information about what interests you, as well as what you've done in the past. Knowing what to put on your resume is something that can make a big difference when applying for jobs.One great advice is to use keywords in your resume, or to take advantage of different ways of formatting. The fact is that you will have to go through a lot of resumes, and the last thing you want to do is make it hard for a hiring manager to read.The other important thing is to be able to communicate what you want, in the job you are looking for. Your resume is an effective way of informing potential employers what you would like them to know about you.If you already know about some jobs but are not sure where to begin searching, you may want to consider joining one of the many networking websites that are being used by so me of the newest companies in your area. There are also free resume sites available online, if you are looking for one that is not so cost effective.Do some research on the type of positions you would like to apply for. It is also a good idea to check with your personal reference checker to see what they think of the type of position you are applying for. Remember, no matter what type of professional position you are looking for, this is a good chance to share what you have to offer and attract the attention of hiring managers.Consider including a summary of your qualifications and accomplishments in your resume. This will help the hiring manager to determine whether or not you are a match for the position. It is also a good idea to include any education you have completed, as well as any awards or recognitions you may have received in the past.After family leave is going to be tough, especially for people who have been very busy with work. Many people find that they are unsure of w hat to include on their resume. Sometimes the best thing to do is to simply take a look at what you have written and change it until you get the sort of skills you need.Resume writing after family leave is definitely something that you should take up. Some people may find it easier to put together their own resume, or they may find that going back to the drawing board is the right move. Whichever route you decide to take, remember that you can make it easier for a hiring manager to read your resume by including keywords in it.

Before You Send Your Next Email...

Before You Send Your Next Email... When you send email messages during your job search- to submit your resume, arrange a networking meeting or to say a thank you, you dont want to make any of these email mistakes. Every email message you send forms an impression. And you want one of those to be that you have strong communication skills. Your messages demonstrate your communication skills. Take immediate steps to eliminate common but preventable email mistakes. 8 Email Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Job Search 1. Use a professional font within your email messages. When you use an unusual or colored font, you may be sending the wrong message. Your outgoing messages should represent your professional image; therefore, consider using a standard font style such as Arial and black font. Individuality is important, however, be selective and aware of how the recipient of your email may interpret your style. What do you think this font style and color convey? 2. Use an email address that is clearly and professionally you The email address you choose to use should not be confusing, too personal or your family account email. Your email address should contain your name, such as johndoe@xmail.com or if you have a common name, consider using your middle initial or some variation of your full name johnathanjdoe@xmail.com or johnathan_j_doe@xmail. Avoid using your birth date, numbers or information that would make your email difficult to recognize. 3. Dont use humor It is difficult to convey humor or sarcasm in writing, therefore, the safest bet is to avoid it. The same is true for LOL or other modern acronyms or abbreviations frequently used in texting. These may get lost in translation and cross the line into “too personal” or familiar. 4. Dont use emoticons in emails Email is not the same as texting. Smiley faces or any other type of symbol used to convey emotion or feelings could be perceived as unprofessional and therefore, avoid using them in all of your job search correspondence. 5. Copy in the appropriate people Be selective when copying other people into your messages. If youre following up on a job posting submitted to human resources, dont copy the companys CEO or others of high rank. Nor should you copy in your mom, dad, career counselor, or others as a way of keeping them up-to-date. The receiver of the email will see these and may wonder why or may even feel threatened in some cases. 6. Wait to send an email if youre angry or frustrated It is best to wait until youre less emotional before sending a message. You may think your tone is neutral or you may even feel it is within your right to be angry, but do not ever send an email that is emotionally charged. 7. Use a professional email signature A professional email signature leaves a lasting and invaluable impression, and setting up one to appear in every message saves you time. Your signature should include your name, primary phone number, and job title, or work youre seeking. Adding your LinkedIn profile URL is certainly a valuable addition as well. Consider how you reference messages sent from your mobile devices too. You may want a slightly different and shorter signature to indicate it is being sent on-the-go. Dont miss out on this opportunity to separate yourself from the pack. You can get instructions on how to set up your email signature block here. 8. Always check spelling and grammar Every study ever published says that spelling and grammar mistakes are a huge turnoff to recruiters. Double and even triple check your emails to prevent careless errors from slipping through. Build a process for reviewing your work before you send it. Even one simple typo can convey you lack attention to detail. Check all your email messages using Grammarly! Read this for more help proofreading your email messages. Be aware and alert of the impression your email messages make. And most importantly, know that first impressions are lasting impressions. Portions of this post appeared on    US News World Report On Careers

Best Places To Work For 2015 - CareerEnlightenment.com

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