OKAY, so this has little to do with job search, but I stumbled upon something today that I thought I should share. I found two websites that look to be very helpful should your TV develop problems.
Rather than fumble around looking for a TV repair person to come to your house, or head off to some unknown repair center, I'll pass along something that could save you a good bit of agony and perhaps a few hard earned dollars.
There is a website, that from the comments I've read, is monitored by several very informed technicians. Their response is most often immediate and to the point. Just Answer dot com http://www.justanswer.com/
Is a very easy site to use. You simply type in the problem that you are experiencing with your TV and a response will come back to you. The site also tells you how many technicians are online and ready to answer your question.
Then for repair, there is a website that will provide a NASDA certified repair facility closest to your zip code. This may only be good for certain areas though. On the TV Repair Pros dot com http://www.tvrepairpros.com/ website, you simple tyoe in your zip code and the closest repair locations will appear. Once you select a repair center, a simple form will appear where you type in identifying information, your set name and model number, in addition to the issue that you are experiencing. Some may even make house calls.
You do not currently have TV issues? Great! There is a tab labeled "MORE CATEGORIES" where you will find five major categories and a couple hundred sub categories.
The major categories are:
~LEGAL & TAXES
~CARS & VEHICLES
~HEALTH & MEDICAL
~PETS & VETERINARY
~HOME & APPLIANCES
~COMPUTER & EDUCATION
~LIFE & PERSONAL
Justanswer.com has been in the News at the following:
~CNN.COM
~NBC.COM
~The New York Times
~The Washington Post
~Good Morning America
~TODAY
I certainly hope this helps you to avoid a bit of frustration. Better yet, I really hope that it saves you a few George Washington's here and there.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Sunday, June 3, 2012
15 Must-Have Software Programs for Your PC
15 Must-Have Free Software Programs for Your PC
Posted by: "Brandy Nagel" benagel@bellsouth.net benagel930
Sat Dec 5, 2009 10:59 am (PST)
>>NOTE: This article may be a little outdated, but I currently use many of these. ~ Ron<<
Over the last 3 years, the writers at MakeUseOf have profiled thousands of
software apps on the website. With all these thousands being presented toyou, it's hard to decide which apps to use and which ones to discard. To
make it easier for you, we have managed to compile a list of the top 15
absolute must-have tools for everyday tasks.
These are the essential programs that we recommend you install and keep on
your arsenal.
* 1. Firefox / Chrome (Web Browser)
* 2. AVG Anti-Virus (Anti-virus Software)
* 3. Auslogics Disk Defrag (Disk Defragmenter)
* 4. Glary Utilities (System Maintenance)
* 5. Malwarebytes (Spyware Removal)
* 6. IZArc (Universal Archiver / Extractor)
* 7. Google Picasa Software (Photo Management)
* 8. doPDF (PDF Printer)
* 9. Memento (Post-It Notes)
* 10. xVideoServiceThief (YouTube Video Downloader)
* 11. Mozy (Backup)
* 12. Digsby (Multi-protocol Instant Messenger)
* 13. VLC Media Player (Video Player)
* 14. Foobar2000 (Music Player)
* 15. ImgBurn (CD / DVD Image Burner)
* 16-20. Plus 5 Bonus Programs
1. Firefox / Chrome (Web Browser)
Both Firefox <http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/
Google Chrome <http://www.google.com/chrome> are excellent browsers. They
are both fast, user-friendly and known to be secure. So, which one do you
choose? The rule of thumb here is that you should use Firefox if you're
looking to add additional features (i.e. ad blocker, password manager, video
downloader, page translator etc.) to your browser.
You can see all add-ons for Firefox at https://addons.mozilla.org/
<https://addons.mozilla.org/en
Google Chrome as well, but the choice is rather limited. See, 10
<http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/
a-download/> Cool Extensions for Google Chrome.
2. AVG Anti-Virus (Anti-virus Software)
AVG Free Anti-Virus is the most popular free anti-virus software in the
world. It's also the most downloaded software program according to
Download.com.
Most of the MakeUseOf authors use AVG and we highly recommend it to others.
It's easy to use, consumes a relatively small amount of system resources and
auto-updates itself with virus definitions on a daily basis. Install it once
and it will keep your system secure without your intervention.
For those of you who frequently shop online and do regular online banking,
AVG recommends AVG Internet Security. While it's not free, it does offer
complete Internet Protection that will keep you safe even from advanced
online threats.
Download AVG Free: http://free.avg.com/gb-en/
<http://makeuseof.com/short/co
Download AVG Internet Security (Free Trial): www.avg.com/gb-en/download
<http://makeuseof.com/short/co
(Platform: Windows only)
3. Auslogics Disk Defrag (Disk Defragmenter)
Auslogics Disk Defrag is a must-have free PC maintenance tool that was
designed to cure system sluggishness and prevent crashes caused by disk
fragmentation. Windows already comes with its own disk-defragmenter but
Auslogics Disk Defrag is considerably faster and much more efficient.
It's extremely simple to use, does not require any analysis phase and is
faster than most of the other disk defragmentation software.
While there are several other free disk defragmenters, Auslogics seems to be
the defragmenter of choice according to the poll results on MakeUseOf,
Lifehacker and mega tech sites like CNET.
Download Auslogics Disc Defrag:
www.auslogics.com/en/software/
(Platform: Windows only)
4. Glary Utilites (System Maintenance)
Glary Utilities is a free system maintenance tool for protecting, cleaning,
repairing, and speeding up your PC. It comes with one-click maintenance
option that automatically runs all optimizations and repair jobs with a
click of a button.
But the best thing about Glary Utilities is that it integrates over 15 other
useful tools that nearly every computer user likely to make use of. These
are:
- Uninstall Manager
- Startup Manager
- Memory Optimizer
- Context Menu Manager
- Registry Defrag Tool
- Track Eraser
- File Shredder
- File Undelete
- File Encrypt/Decrypt Tool
- Disk Space Usage Analysis
- Duplicate File Finder
- Empty Folder Finder
- File Splitter and Joiner
Highly recommended!
Please note, it's highly recommended that you create a System Restore point
when using system maintenance tools like Glary Utilities. This is a
precaution to ensure that you can always revert your PC to an earlier state
in case something goes wrong unexpectedly.
Note: During the installation process make sure to uncheck the Ask Search
toolbar.
Download Glary Utilities: www.glaryutilities.com/gu.
(Platform: Windows only)
5. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (Spyware Removal)
[update: In the original list we recommended the Spyware 360 as a primary
tool for fighting spyware. But then we found out that Security 360 was
actually using the definition library of Malwarebytes.]
Malwarebytes currently ranks among top 10 most downloaded software on
Download.com. It's a very simple tool that does an important job, that is
protecting your computer from spyware, hijackers, keyloggers and other kind
of malicious craplets.
What makes Malwarebytes standout from the pack is its huge library of
threats to protect against. That's exactly what it makes so effective when
it comes to detecting spyware that other spyware scanners miss. This same
library made the earlier recommended Security 360 a powerful tool.
Malwarebytes may not be as feature-laden as say Spybot Search and Destroy
(another good spyware removal tool), which has a ridiculous number of tools,
but it is a very lightweight alternative with good spyware coverage.
There are both free and premium versions. The only difference between two is
real time protection. With real-time protection Mawarebytes will alert you
about the spyware before even it's able to install itself on your system.
Download MalwareBytes (Free): www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php
<http://makeuseof.com/short/co
Download MalwareBytes (Premium): https://store.malwarebytes.org
<http://makeuseof.com/short/co
(Platform: Windows only)
6. IZArc (Universal Archiver / Extractor)
One archive utility to rule them all. You no longer need a separate program
for ZIP, RAR, ACE, 7-ZIP, TAR files and so on, IZArc can handle ALL of them.
Basically this unpacker/archiver gives you everything you get with other
popular archivers (ex. Winzip, Winrar etc.) but with additional features and
support for a huge number of archive formats. It can decompress archived
folders in over 40 formats. It supports pretty much every format you're
likely to come across.
There is something else, you can also use the IZArc utility to open CD image
files like ISO, BIN, CDI and NRG. Do you know of any other free archiver
that can do that?
Note: When installing IZArc make sure to uncheck the "recommended" option to
install PalTalk.
Download IZArc: http://www.izarc.org/download.
(Platform: Windows only)
7. Google Picasa Software (Photo Management)
Picasa automatically finds all the photos on your PC, wherever they are, and
organizes them in seconds. It's an excellent photo manager, editor and
viewer for your computer.
With Picasa not only you can nicely organize your photos but also fix common
problems (i.e. red eyes), add cool effects and even browse photos by people
in them. Yes, it includes face recognition!
Plus one really cool thing about it is that regardless of changes you make
to your photos on Picasa the original version of each photo always
preserved.
Features include: - create video slideshows and photo collages from your
photos.
- organize photos based on the people in them.
- browse photos by folders, albums, people.
- geotag your photos on Google Maps.
- one-click fixes for common problems like red-eye, color, and lighting.
- 12 cool effects to make your best photos look even better.
You can find out more about Picasa by watching this Youtube video
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?
getting started guide
<http://picasa.google.com/supp
yq&src=cb&lev=answer> for Picasa. Highly recommended for new users.
Download Picasa Software: http://picasa.google.com/
(Platform: Windows / Mac / Linux)
8. doPDF (PDF Printer)
Almost everyone once in a while needs to convert documents to PDF. The doPDF
is the easiest tool that does exactly that. It installs a virtual printer on
your computer that you can select using the print option from any program on
Windows.
Whenever you need to convert a web page, Word document, Excel spreadsheet,
photo or pretty much anything else to a PDF file just go to the print option
in your program and select doPDF from the 'Printer' drop-down menu.
You can set the resolution to anything from 72 dpi to 2400 dpi, and the
"printed" files are text searchable.
Download doPDF: www.dopdf.com <http://www.dopdf.com/>
(Platform: Windows only)
9. Memento (Post-It Notes)
Chances are you have never heard about this program before. Memento is a
simple bare-bones post-it notes program for your desktop. It's better than
anything else out there because it's extremely simple and yet a very
effective tool.
Whether you want a program to keep track of your tasks or quick note taking,
Memento can help. It's very intuitive to use and consumes very few system
resources. Highly recommended!
It's an excellent program - and I've compared many other free ones! I have
been using this for the last 5 years and recommend it to everyone. The very
first MakeUseOf article was about this app :-).
It's also easily transferable from one PC to another, it saves all your
notes in Memento.notes file that is stored in the My Documents folder.
Features:
- double click memento icon on the taskbar to create a note
- show/hide notes on the desktop
- keep notes expanded or closed
- notes always remain on top of other windows
- position notes anywhere you like
- instant autosave
- notes are resizable
- randomly makes each note a new color
- make notes transparent
Download Memento: http://www.guyswithtowels.com/
(Platform: Windows only)
10. xVideoServiceThief (YouTube Video Downloader)
Almost everyone is on Youtube these days. And the fact that Youtube has more
searches than Yahoo is good indication of this. The only issue with Youtube
is that there is no option to download videos so that you can watch them on
your computer, PSP, iPhone, mobile phone, iPod etc.
Fortunately there are lots of free software for that, and my favorite is
xVideoServiceThief. Apart from downloading videos, it can automatically
convert the downloaded video file to another format.
xVideoServiceThief can convert videos to several formats, including AVI,
MOV, MPEG, DIVX, MP4 and several others.
Moreover, xVideoServiceThief works with other sites as well, not only
Youtube. It can also download videos from Yahoo Video, Google Videos,
Metacafe, Dailymotion, CollegeHumor etc.
Download: http://xviservicethief.
(Platform: Windows / Mac / Linux)
11. Mozy (Backup)
Backups are very important! Here on MakeUseOf we have published dozens of
articles explaining why you should always keep a fresh backup of important
data. And Mozy is the perfect program for that. It's an online backup and
recovery service that allows you to select files and folders on your
computer and safely back them up online.
It's fully automated, just set it once and it will do the backups without
bothering you again. What's even better, whenever you make changes to
individual documents or files within selected folders, your changes will be
replicated on your backup copy as well. So your backup always stays
up-to-date.
In the case of file corruption, accidental deletion or hardware failure, you
may easily restore your backed up files from the web to the original
computer or any another computer, be it a Windows or Mac.
Mozy offers both free <http://makeuseof.com/short/co
premium accounts <http://makeuseof.com/short/co
$4.95/month). The only difference between those two is that free account
comes only with 2GBs of storage space. It should be more than enough for
backing up important files and documents. On the other hand, if you want to
backup your music library, photos, videos or maybe an entire drive then we
recommend signing up for a premium account.
(Discount: When signing up for premium account use 'MAKEUSEOF' (all caps)
promo code to get 10% off.)
Download Mozy (Free): https://mozy.com/registration/
<http://makeuseof.com/short/co
Download Mozy (Unlimited): https://mozy.com/registration/
<http://makeuseof.com/short/co
(Platform: Windows / Mac)
12. Digsby (Multi-protocol Instant Messenger)
If you chat on a regular basis and are active on social networks then this
is a must-have program for you. There is so much this app does that it's
hard to explain it all in a few lines. Firstly, it's a universal instant
messenger that allows you to chat with your friends on MSN, Yahoo, AIM,
Google Talk, Facebook, Myspace, ICQ and Jabber, all from a single messenger.
Secondly, it allows you to read and reply to your emails. That's right
folks, whether you have a Gmail, Yahoo or Hotmail account you can receive
and reply to emails all from Digsby's slick interface. Currently Disgby
works with Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Hotmail, AOL/AIM Mail, POP Email, IMAP Mail
accounts.
And that's not all, you may also monitor alerts and set status message
notifications for Facebook, Twitter, Myspace and LinkedIN accounts. Pretty
cool, huh!
Other less important but still noteworthy features include:
- chat history (with search option)
- file transfer history to keep a log of sent/received files
- a widget for site owners to chat with visitors
(Note: Pay close attention when installing Digsby on your computer and make
sure to deselect (selected on default) the additional components you don't
need. Plus, once the app is installed go to the preferences window and
disable Digsby research.)
Download Digsby: www.digsby.com <http://makeuseof.com/short/co
(Platform: Windows / Mac / Linux)
13. VLC Media Player (Video Player)
With over 67 million downloads so far and roughly 7 downloads per second
it's one of the most popular video players around.
VLC is a highly portable multimedia player supporting most audio and video
formats and can play pretty much any video files you throw at it, including
physical media like DVDs. Plus it doesn't need any external codec, program
or codec pack to work.
The VLC can be used both by beginners as well as expert users for working
with video files.
The player can also play Youtube videos, convert video files, play
subtitles, etc.
Download VLC: www.videolan.org/vlc/
14. Foobar2000 (Music Player)
The foobar2000 is an advanced audio player for Windows and supports pretty
much all popular audio formats. This is an audio player of choice for many
audiophiles (the reader polls on MakeUseOf and Lifehacker confirm that). But
what's in it for you? Well, leaving aside its rich feature set, there are
two things that make it stand out from the crowd.
First, when it comes to the appearance of the player, it's HIGHLY
customizable. There is NO OTHER audio player out there that can be
customized as much. The Foobar2000 lets you change everything starting from
buttons, layout, background colors, menus to visualization details.
But the best thing about this gem, it needs very little of your system
resources when compared to Windows Media Player, iTunes or Winamp.
The Foobar2000 has also plug-ins for iPod support and things like lyrics and
album art. There is also a portable version if you prefer to carry it on
your thumbdrive.
Download Foobar2000: www.foobar2000.org/download
(Platform: Windows only)
15. ImgBurn (CD / DVD Image Burner)
There are many reasons we need a simple, fast way to burn disks. ImgBurn is
a CD/DVD/HD-DVD/Blu-ray burning application that is fast, lightweight, and
completely free.
With ImgBurn you can:
- backup your data or media files to DVD.
- backup your DVD movies to your PC.
- create Audio CDs from any music files such as MP3, WAV.
- create a duplicate copy of any DVD or music CD
- create video discs (DVD / HD DVD / Blu-ray) playable in your DVD player
ImgBurn supports a variety of image formats and almost all types of discs,
so you don't need to look any further for your disc burning needs. There is
also a portable version that you can carry with you on your USB drive. For
additional details see the MakeUseOf ImgBurn review here
<http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/
(Platform: Windows / Linux)
Download ImgBurn: www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=
BONUS (+ 5 programs)
16. Revo <http://www.revouninstaller.
Windows. It can uninstall programs that you are not able to remove using
Windows' default program manager.
17. OpenOffice <http://www.openoffice.org/> - Free alternative to Microsoft
Office. Though requires some adjustments to program settings before it can
fully replace the Microsoft Office.
18. Foxit <http://www.foxitsoftware.com/
basically a lightweight replacement to Adobe PDF reader. With Foxit you may
launch PDF documents as fast as notepad files.
19. Spyware <http://www.spywareterminator.
to the above mentioned Malwarebytes. It's not as comprehensive but comes
with real-time malware detection and fast daily scans.
20. Portable Apps <http://portableapps.com/> - A huge collection of free
programs that you can carry on your USB thumbdrive. The suite includes
several of the above apps, plus many more. Carry your favorite computer
programs along with all of your bookmarks, settings, email and more with you
where ever you go. Use them on any Windows computer without leaving any
personal data behind.
So there you go, the top 15 that you should have on your system and use on a
frequent basis. Since everyone is different with different needs, you will
probably disagree with us on some of these choices.
If you like this article, please spread it around and share it with your
friends. It took us us a while to get it done and test all the apps
thoroughly.
friends. It took us us a while to get it done and test all the apps
thoroughly.
Job Boards
BEST JOB BOARDS
by JacksonLifeCoaching.com
Careerbuilder
is among the top job sites with thousands of job
postings and resumes. CareerBuilder has partnered with Gannett, Knight
Ridder, Tribune, and other newspapers to provide local as well as
national job listings. CareerBuilder.com powers the online job search centers for more than 1,000 partners, including 150 newspapers, America Online, and MSN
Cool Works
If you're interested in a seasonal job,
start your search with CoolWorks. CoolWorks lists thousands of summer
and seasonal jobs. There's a free weekly email newsletter and the
opportunity to sign-up for a free email account to use for your job search.
Jobfox
Jobfox matches job seekers with employers,
provides a professional web page for personal branding, and has a
selection of tools, including text messaging, resume tracking, and
Instant Messaging (IM) to manage your job search.
Indeed.com
Indeed includes millions of job listings from thousands of web sites, including company career pages, job boards, newspaper classifieds, associations, and blogs. Any job search can be saved as an email alert, so new jobs are delivered daily. Job seekers may also search job
trends and salaries, read and participate in discussion forums,
research companies and even find people working for companies of
interest through their online social networks.
LinkedIn
LinkedIn is the top career networking site and an excellent way to connect with people who can help with your job
search and/or who work at a company you're interested in. In addition,
LinkedIn has a Jobs section where you can search for positions by
keyword and location, or use the Advanced Search option to search for
listings by even more specific criteria.
LinkUp
LinkUp is a job search engine that uncovers
unadvertised jobs listed on company web sites. LinkUp monitors
thousands of small, mid-sized, and large company career sections in
order to connect applicants with unadvertised jobs by listing the jobs
on company web sites.
Monster
From a numbers perspective, Monster continues to be the top job board site. Positions range from hourly local jobs to professional positions in just about every career field.
Realmatch
Realmatch works a little like an online dating service, but with
jobs. The system matches you with employers and presents the results
according to how good the match is.
SimplyHire
SimplyHired searches thousands of job boards, classifieds, and company sites. Advanced search options include type of job, type of company, keyword, location, and the date the job was posted.
USAJobsUSAJobs (USAJobs.gov) is the Federal Government's official source for Federal government job listings, job application, and employment information.
Yahoo! Hot JobsIn addition to job
postings, registered HotJobs users can get search results automatically
delivered by email, block employers from seeing their resume, create
and save cover letters, and save job search results.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Restaurant.Com 80% off: $25 Gift Certificates $2 to $4, $10 Gift Certificates $.80
That's right, eighty cents for a ten dollar restaurant certificate. I successfully did this yesterday.
Restaurant.com has a new 80% off code "COOK" available. The $25 gift certificates are normally $10 or $15 depending on the restaurant, but are $2, $3 or $4 with the code. They also sell $10 certificates for $4 making them 80 cents each with the code.
Please read the small print before purchasing. They usually limit the application of the certificate to food only (not alcohol, taxes or tips). Only one certificates per table or group per visit, per night. But, it's still a great deal.
This is said to work all over the continental US.
Note that some of the restaurants limit the number of certificates per month. They start out with new offerings each month on a firs come, first served basis. Once they are gone, a message goes up by their restaurant name and you can not purchase from them until the following month.
They code will expire and a new one used, but I do not know the frequency of change. If the code does not work, you can click on Slickdeals.net. This is where I find the code to this site and many others.
They will bill through VISA, Master Card, or my most favorite way of online billing; PayPal.
I hope that this works to your advantage and either allows you to save a few bucks and/or eat a little better using your same budgeted money.
Restaurant.com has a new 80% off code "COOK" available. The $25 gift certificates are normally $10 or $15 depending on the restaurant, but are $2, $3 or $4 with the code. They also sell $10 certificates for $4 making them 80 cents each with the code.
Please read the small print before purchasing. They usually limit the application of the certificate to food only (not alcohol, taxes or tips). Only one certificates per table or group per visit, per night. But, it's still a great deal.
This is said to work all over the continental US.
Note that some of the restaurants limit the number of certificates per month. They start out with new offerings each month on a firs come, first served basis. Once they are gone, a message goes up by their restaurant name and you can not purchase from them until the following month.
They code will expire and a new one used, but I do not know the frequency of change. If the code does not work, you can click on Slickdeals.net. This is where I find the code to this site and many others.
They will bill through VISA, Master Card, or my most favorite way of online billing; PayPal.
I hope that this works to your advantage and either allows you to save a few bucks and/or eat a little better using your same budgeted money.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Coupons Gain Popularity On The Internet
In this economy, coupons are reported as gaining in popularity. To capture the, once frequent, now occasional diner, restaurants continue to struggle for ways to entice folks to spend their hard earned bucks. Grocery stores and food manufacturers are vying for those bucks as well. Coupons are meant to lure the user in the restaurant or store so they spend more than what they intended.
However, with a disciplined and planned visit, one can use the coupons to defray the cost of a monthly food budget.
Look for two for one deals; "Buy one, get one" (commonly called BOGO) at both restaurants and grocers. these are generally the best deals. Look for coupons where the product is at or near free. Then look for items that you normally buy that would be a good discount. Then, the real discipline is; buy only what you normally buy. Do not buy a product just because you have a coupon. This will only take away the from the saved bucks. An exception, of course, is to purchase the product if it is at or near zero cost. Then, it becomes a "freebie".
Signing up for a frequent shopper card at your grocer generally offers an additional discount on many products and in my opinion, are certainly worth taking a few minutes to obtain. However, frequent diner cards at restaurants are not generally a good idea and unless you develop a habit of dining there anyway, are generally a waste of time and either wallet or purse space. I end up carrying one around for a year, sometimes longer. I generally end up sending them to the circular file when I receive a new wallet as a Christmas gift every other year or so.
An additional note about shopping for your groceries: If two grocery stores are in close proximity, as often they are, it might pay to use certain coupons at one location and others at the second.
For restaurant coupons, go to the website of your favorite dining choices and sign up for their clubs, or newsletter. Great offerings come to your e-mail box and often free or deeply discounted choices. Some offer free birthday dinners. NOTE: You may want to set up a special email address just for coupons and specials.
As reported in a recent copy of the "Website Magazine", the following are some of the most popular Coupon Sites:
Coupons.com
Far and away the most visited coupon web site.
RetailMeNot.com
CouponCabin.com
This one offers an iphone app.
FatWallet.com
An Industry pioneer and includes more than 800 merchants.
DealCatcher.com
Although I haven't personally used these sites, they all seem to offer something for most folks.
Sites that I currently use are:
RedPlum.com
SmartSource.com
Couponmom.com
Select state, & grocery stores, then pull up the deals. You'll love this one. You can print out and use as your shopping list.
AFullCup.com
Sometimes, this one offers coupons from pharmacies.
My hope is for this to help you with your food budget. Happy clipping.
However, with a disciplined and planned visit, one can use the coupons to defray the cost of a monthly food budget.
Look for two for one deals; "Buy one, get one" (commonly called BOGO) at both restaurants and grocers. these are generally the best deals. Look for coupons where the product is at or near free. Then look for items that you normally buy that would be a good discount. Then, the real discipline is; buy only what you normally buy. Do not buy a product just because you have a coupon. This will only take away the from the saved bucks. An exception, of course, is to purchase the product if it is at or near zero cost. Then, it becomes a "freebie".
Signing up for a frequent shopper card at your grocer generally offers an additional discount on many products and in my opinion, are certainly worth taking a few minutes to obtain. However, frequent diner cards at restaurants are not generally a good idea and unless you develop a habit of dining there anyway, are generally a waste of time and either wallet or purse space. I end up carrying one around for a year, sometimes longer. I generally end up sending them to the circular file when I receive a new wallet as a Christmas gift every other year or so.
An additional note about shopping for your groceries: If two grocery stores are in close proximity, as often they are, it might pay to use certain coupons at one location and others at the second.
For restaurant coupons, go to the website of your favorite dining choices and sign up for their clubs, or newsletter. Great offerings come to your e-mail box and often free or deeply discounted choices. Some offer free birthday dinners. NOTE: You may want to set up a special email address just for coupons and specials.
As reported in a recent copy of the "Website Magazine", the following are some of the most popular Coupon Sites:
Coupons.com
Far and away the most visited coupon web site.
RetailMeNot.com
CouponCabin.com
This one offers an iphone app.
FatWallet.com
An Industry pioneer and includes more than 800 merchants.
DealCatcher.com
Although I haven't personally used these sites, they all seem to offer something for most folks.
Sites that I currently use are:
RedPlum.com
SmartSource.com
Couponmom.com
Select state, & grocery stores, then pull up the deals. You'll love this one. You can print out and use as your shopping list.
AFullCup.com
Sometimes, this one offers coupons from pharmacies.
My hope is for this to help you with your food budget. Happy clipping.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Why Should I Concern Myself With Your Problem?
A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package.
What food might this contain?' the mouse wondered - - - he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.
Retreating to the farmyard,the mouse proclaimed the warning :
'There is a mousetrap in the house!
There is a mousetrap in the house!'
The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said,
'Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it.'
The mouse turned to the pig and told him,
'There is a mousetrap in the house!
There is a mousetrap in the house!'
The pig sympathized, but said, 'I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers.'
The mouse turned to the cow and said,
'There is a mousetrap in the house!
There is a mousetrap in the house!'
The cow said, 'Wow, Mr.. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose.'
So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap . . . alone.
That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey.
The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught.
In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught.
The snake bit the farmer's wife.
The farmer rushed her to the hospital, and she returned home with a fever.
Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.
But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock.
To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.
The farmer's wife did not get well; she died.
So many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.
The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.
So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember ----when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk.
We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.
~Author Unknown~
What food might this contain?' the mouse wondered - - - he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.
Retreating to the farmyard,the mouse proclaimed the warning :
'There is a mousetrap in the house!
There is a mousetrap in the house!'
The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said,
'Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it.'
The mouse turned to the pig and told him,
'There is a mousetrap in the house!
There is a mousetrap in the house!'
The pig sympathized, but said, 'I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers.'
The mouse turned to the cow and said,
'There is a mousetrap in the house!
There is a mousetrap in the house!'
The cow said, 'Wow, Mr.. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose.'
So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap . . . alone.
That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey.
The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught.
In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught.
The snake bit the farmer's wife.
The farmer rushed her to the hospital, and she returned home with a fever.
Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.
But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock.
To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.
The farmer's wife did not get well; she died.
So many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.
The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.
So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember ----when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk.
We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.
~Author Unknown~
Monday, November 16, 2009
Dicipline and Six Steps to Living Debt Free
Once you return to work after that long career search, you realize that in the process, you have cut back your spending and have done away with things that once thought to be necessary. Things that you now realize that you can actually do without.
The positive cash flow has now returned and you can go back to increasing your spending dollars, right? Well, if you want to work towards living debt free, then increasing your cash spending is not entirely true. Yes, you can buy a few more groceries and yes, you deserve a night or two dining out (moderately).
It's all about discipline. Before you go back to all the things you learned to do without and discovered that you really don't need, Develop your game plan, working toward living debt free. After all, haven't you realized that's it's all about people and relationships, not material things?
The first decision that you need to make is to pay cash for things or do without them. DO NOT go back to putting everything on those plastic credit cards. I'm not telling you not to use them, but if you do, use a card with a zero balance and only charge what you intend to pay off when the bill comes due. Set a spending budget, and if after a period of time, you've built up extra, sock it into savings.
Then, start working down the list that I mentioned, the SIX STEPS to Living Debt Free.
1. $1,000 Savings Get $1,000 into a savings account as soon as you can. This will establish your survival cash flow. If you use money from it, get it back in there right away.
2. PAY OFF ALL DEBT EXCEPT HOUSE MORTGAGE After you have your cash reserve in savings, work off all of those credit cards and other outstanding debts like car loans. Start with the higher interest rates and work your way down, paying off as much as you can afford to pay each month and meeting the minimum payments on the others. Once the credit cards are paid off, DON'T use them again other than what we discussed earlier.
3. SIX MONTHS SALARY IN SAVINGS Now that you have paid off all outstanding credit except your mortgage, you can start socking the bucks away. Set up a separate savings account if you need to, but save up enough money to cover at least six months of your salary. This will help ease the pain, should you find yourself in career search once again.
4. 15% INVESTMENT - RETIREMENT Once you can help yourself during a career search period, you need to set yourself up for retirement. Fifteen percent of your income should help you toward that goal.
5. CHILD'S COLLEGE Your next investment should be in your child's (grandchild's) education.
6. PAY OFF HOUSE MORTGAGE After all of the previous steps are taken, pay off the house. Then, you can start tucking the majority of your earnings into savings, CD's, annuities, inheritances or other investments that will provide a return that will satisfy your needs. Plus, you can give to and help others.
Depending upon the amount of your outstanding debt, I realize that it can seem overwhelming. There are folks that can help you if need be. But, like I said earlier, it's all about discipline. If you don't have the money for it, don't buy it. Again, NEVER buy it with credit unless you intend to pay it off when the bill arrives in the mail.
All that said, I make one exception, provided that it works within your budget. If interest free credit is being offered for something that you've budgeted for, use it. But, make regular payments each month and schedule to pay if off at least two weeks before the final payment is due. That way, the entire credit amount will be paid off well before the terms of the loan and remove yourself from the possibility of owing the entire interest amount for the length of the loan. Again, it's all about discipline.
Good luck with this and I wish you financial peace and debt free living in your near future.
These steps were notes taken from Dave Ramsey. I've actually added his seventh step into my sixth step.
The positive cash flow has now returned and you can go back to increasing your spending dollars, right? Well, if you want to work towards living debt free, then increasing your cash spending is not entirely true. Yes, you can buy a few more groceries and yes, you deserve a night or two dining out (moderately).
It's all about discipline. Before you go back to all the things you learned to do without and discovered that you really don't need, Develop your game plan, working toward living debt free. After all, haven't you realized that's it's all about people and relationships, not material things?
The first decision that you need to make is to pay cash for things or do without them. DO NOT go back to putting everything on those plastic credit cards. I'm not telling you not to use them, but if you do, use a card with a zero balance and only charge what you intend to pay off when the bill comes due. Set a spending budget, and if after a period of time, you've built up extra, sock it into savings.
Then, start working down the list that I mentioned, the SIX STEPS to Living Debt Free.
1. $1,000 Savings Get $1,000 into a savings account as soon as you can. This will establish your survival cash flow. If you use money from it, get it back in there right away.
2. PAY OFF ALL DEBT EXCEPT HOUSE MORTGAGE After you have your cash reserve in savings, work off all of those credit cards and other outstanding debts like car loans. Start with the higher interest rates and work your way down, paying off as much as you can afford to pay each month and meeting the minimum payments on the others. Once the credit cards are paid off, DON'T use them again other than what we discussed earlier.
3. SIX MONTHS SALARY IN SAVINGS Now that you have paid off all outstanding credit except your mortgage, you can start socking the bucks away. Set up a separate savings account if you need to, but save up enough money to cover at least six months of your salary. This will help ease the pain, should you find yourself in career search once again.
4. 15% INVESTMENT - RETIREMENT Once you can help yourself during a career search period, you need to set yourself up for retirement. Fifteen percent of your income should help you toward that goal.
5. CHILD'S COLLEGE Your next investment should be in your child's (grandchild's) education.
6. PAY OFF HOUSE MORTGAGE After all of the previous steps are taken, pay off the house. Then, you can start tucking the majority of your earnings into savings, CD's, annuities, inheritances or other investments that will provide a return that will satisfy your needs. Plus, you can give to and help others.
Depending upon the amount of your outstanding debt, I realize that it can seem overwhelming. There are folks that can help you if need be. But, like I said earlier, it's all about discipline. If you don't have the money for it, don't buy it. Again, NEVER buy it with credit unless you intend to pay it off when the bill arrives in the mail.
All that said, I make one exception, provided that it works within your budget. If interest free credit is being offered for something that you've budgeted for, use it. But, make regular payments each month and schedule to pay if off at least two weeks before the final payment is due. That way, the entire credit amount will be paid off well before the terms of the loan and remove yourself from the possibility of owing the entire interest amount for the length of the loan. Again, it's all about discipline.
Good luck with this and I wish you financial peace and debt free living in your near future.
These steps were notes taken from Dave Ramsey. I've actually added his seventh step into my sixth step.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Sell Yourself Into That New Position With a PowerPoint Presentation
Once you define your market plan, you need to take that professionally formatted resume and turn it into a flashy PowerPoint.
Craft a presentation that makes a "WOW" statement about you, your accomplishments and your goals. It has to be a presentation that, as the individual views it, will gain and keep their interest. But it must be short enough and to the point so interest is not lost, but in depth enough for them to see the value you can bring to the team.
Don't forget to include a few pages, allowing a tweak to a specific company. A little something that ties you directly to them, the industry and the job that you are targeting.
Upon completion, there are several ways to use your presentation. The greatest thing to remember, is that it can be used as an attachment to e-mail. Target the companies that you want to work for, tweak the company info segment in your presentation and send it to the email address of company executives and known hiring managers.
In many cases, you can send it along with your resume when applying for a position, but to be perfectly honest, I doubt that it will be viewed much this way. More often than not, your resume is printed out and anything other than possibly a cover letter, or T-chart, will remain unprinted. But, it can't hurt. It just might gain enough curiosity to be viewed and shown to many key people in the company.
Another use for the PowerPoint is to post it within Your LinkedIn profile utilizing the SlideShare presentations tool. (slide presentations also help your LinkedIn climb to top billing by Google, after you have your rating @ 100%)
I've also heard about an individual that loaded his PowerPoint presentation onto a laptop and used it during his interview. A salesperson is comfortable with doing this, but you should be as well. After all, as you search for your next career move, you have to sell yourself. The sooner that you are at rest with this concept, the sooner you will land that next position with confidence.
You can also post the PowerPoint on your career search website. You can either Google and get a free one (be careful that one like this doesn't add a lot of sexual or dating advertisement, which certainly wouldn't help you land that job). The safer way is to invest a small amount, like ten bucks for a year from someone like "GODADDY.COM" Then get someone as you network, to help you with setting it up. You can usually buy a domain with your name as the domain. Then, this info can be included in your resume header and in your LinkedIn.
One more thing to think about would be a resume video. This also can be e-mailed and included in your career search website.
Invest a little time, even if you need to get a few folks to help you. Maybe suggest a network group workshop to get this project under way.
I hope this helps. It just may be that one thing that stands you out above the other applicants, to land your next career position.
Craft a presentation that makes a "WOW" statement about you, your accomplishments and your goals. It has to be a presentation that, as the individual views it, will gain and keep their interest. But it must be short enough and to the point so interest is not lost, but in depth enough for them to see the value you can bring to the team.
Don't forget to include a few pages, allowing a tweak to a specific company. A little something that ties you directly to them, the industry and the job that you are targeting.
Upon completion, there are several ways to use your presentation. The greatest thing to remember, is that it can be used as an attachment to e-mail. Target the companies that you want to work for, tweak the company info segment in your presentation and send it to the email address of company executives and known hiring managers.
In many cases, you can send it along with your resume when applying for a position, but to be perfectly honest, I doubt that it will be viewed much this way. More often than not, your resume is printed out and anything other than possibly a cover letter, or T-chart, will remain unprinted. But, it can't hurt. It just might gain enough curiosity to be viewed and shown to many key people in the company.
Another use for the PowerPoint is to post it within Your LinkedIn profile utilizing the SlideShare presentations tool. (slide presentations also help your LinkedIn climb to top billing by Google, after you have your rating @ 100%)
I've also heard about an individual that loaded his PowerPoint presentation onto a laptop and used it during his interview. A salesperson is comfortable with doing this, but you should be as well. After all, as you search for your next career move, you have to sell yourself. The sooner that you are at rest with this concept, the sooner you will land that next position with confidence.
You can also post the PowerPoint on your career search website. You can either Google and get a free one (be careful that one like this doesn't add a lot of sexual or dating advertisement, which certainly wouldn't help you land that job). The safer way is to invest a small amount, like ten bucks for a year from someone like "GODADDY.COM" Then get someone as you network, to help you with setting it up. You can usually buy a domain with your name as the domain. Then, this info can be included in your resume header and in your LinkedIn.
One more thing to think about would be a resume video. This also can be e-mailed and included in your career search website.
Invest a little time, even if you need to get a few folks to help you. Maybe suggest a network group workshop to get this project under way.
I hope this helps. It just may be that one thing that stands you out above the other applicants, to land your next career position.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Okay, I Got the Interview That I Wanted, Now What?
Yes, I recently landed a job. That's why I hadn't posted anything for a few weeks. I was out of town, then got called to an interview, had to quickly prepare, interview, got called with a job offer, and within a quick week, was walking through the door of my new employer.
Many things have been posted about the interview and the process. I won't go into deep discussion about telling you to practice, practice, practice.
Nor will I cover common things about what questions that you will be asked or how to sharply dress (by the way, err to the formal side. I was told to show up in business casual, even a golf shirt would do. I wore a jacket and tie).
Other things that are covered in depth are things like, provide bright and professional copies of resumes in special folders along with your business card, putting the resumes and everything else needed for the interview in the car the night before so it's not left behind, making a dry run to find the interview location, studying traffic patterns so you arrive about ten minutes before the interview. Don't arrive sooner and for heavens sake, don't be late. You will be watched from the time you drive onto the company property, until you leave. Be courteous to everyone that you meet. These brief encounters may help to determine your fate.
TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONE! BETTER YET, LEAVE IT IN THE CAR!
Take your time during the interview, think about the response that you are about to make. Be professional. Be as brief but as thorough in your responses as possible. Make the interviewer interested enough to ask you more. Don't ramble with your response and don't do all the talking.
Do your home work. Know the company. Search the internet for recent news articles about the company where you are interviewing. Study their web site. You don't have to memorize everything there, but know what's there. Also, if you are changing industries, know a s much as you can about the industry.
One thing that I've learned from one interview to the next is that you should always have ten to twelve good questions prepared to show those that are interviewing you, that you have a deep interest in becoming a team member in their company. You should not ask them all at once, one after the next, but rather, work them in at appropriate times during the interview.
During my Career Search process, I've refined my list of questions. I'll share those with you. They may not work for you as I have them listed, nor the order in which I listed them. But this may provide you a little guidance, should you need a little help.
1.) How do I excel at this position?
2.) What are the position major responsibilities?
3.) Beyond the job description, and what you've already told me,what are your expectations?
4.) How would you describe the candidate that is a great fit for the company?
5.) How long has this position existed? Why is it vacant? How long has it been vacant?
6.) What situations, with respect to this position, need immediate attention?
7.) What are the growth areas and/or what is the career progression from this position?
8.) What are the company goals? What is the company vision for the next 5-10 years? What about long term goals?
9.) How has this economy affected this business, the company?
10.) How do you see my candidacy for this position?
11.) What skills, experiences am I lacking to perform this job successfully?
12.) What is the next step in the hiring process?
BONUS QUESTION: Do you have a business card (this way you'll more than likely have their e-mail address so you can send a "Thank You" e-mail)?
Be energetic, this shows an interest in the position.
IMPORTANT NOTE: ASK FOR THE JOB! Don't ask directly, but you can say something like this; It looks as if my skill set and experience are a match for this position. I'm definitely interested in this opportunity. I think that I would be a great fit and look forward to the next step in the hiring process.
Also, hand the interviewer a copy of your business card (and tri-fold, if you have one)while you are asking for the job.
Don't forget to send a "Thank You" e-mail and a handwritten "Thank You" note as soon as you can physically get it done. I can't tell you how many stories that I've heard over the past few months where the folks interviewed, were selected above a tie, because they sent a simple "Thank You".
Well, I'm certain that I forgot something. Practice, practice, practice your interview!
I hope that this blog article helps you land that next job and soon!
Many things have been posted about the interview and the process. I won't go into deep discussion about telling you to practice, practice, practice.
Nor will I cover common things about what questions that you will be asked or how to sharply dress (by the way, err to the formal side. I was told to show up in business casual, even a golf shirt would do. I wore a jacket and tie).
Other things that are covered in depth are things like, provide bright and professional copies of resumes in special folders along with your business card, putting the resumes and everything else needed for the interview in the car the night before so it's not left behind, making a dry run to find the interview location, studying traffic patterns so you arrive about ten minutes before the interview. Don't arrive sooner and for heavens sake, don't be late. You will be watched from the time you drive onto the company property, until you leave. Be courteous to everyone that you meet. These brief encounters may help to determine your fate.
TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONE! BETTER YET, LEAVE IT IN THE CAR!
Take your time during the interview, think about the response that you are about to make. Be professional. Be as brief but as thorough in your responses as possible. Make the interviewer interested enough to ask you more. Don't ramble with your response and don't do all the talking.
Do your home work. Know the company. Search the internet for recent news articles about the company where you are interviewing. Study their web site. You don't have to memorize everything there, but know what's there. Also, if you are changing industries, know a s much as you can about the industry.
One thing that I've learned from one interview to the next is that you should always have ten to twelve good questions prepared to show those that are interviewing you, that you have a deep interest in becoming a team member in their company. You should not ask them all at once, one after the next, but rather, work them in at appropriate times during the interview.
During my Career Search process, I've refined my list of questions. I'll share those with you. They may not work for you as I have them listed, nor the order in which I listed them. But this may provide you a little guidance, should you need a little help.
1.) How do I excel at this position?
2.) What are the position major responsibilities?
3.) Beyond the job description, and what you've already told me,what are your expectations?
4.) How would you describe the candidate that is a great fit for the company?
5.) How long has this position existed? Why is it vacant? How long has it been vacant?
6.) What situations, with respect to this position, need immediate attention?
7.) What are the growth areas and/or what is the career progression from this position?
8.) What are the company goals? What is the company vision for the next 5-10 years? What about long term goals?
9.) How has this economy affected this business, the company?
10.) How do you see my candidacy for this position?
11.) What skills, experiences am I lacking to perform this job successfully?
12.) What is the next step in the hiring process?
BONUS QUESTION: Do you have a business card (this way you'll more than likely have their e-mail address so you can send a "Thank You" e-mail)?
Be energetic, this shows an interest in the position.
IMPORTANT NOTE: ASK FOR THE JOB! Don't ask directly, but you can say something like this; It looks as if my skill set and experience are a match for this position. I'm definitely interested in this opportunity. I think that I would be a great fit and look forward to the next step in the hiring process.
Also, hand the interviewer a copy of your business card (and tri-fold, if you have one)while you are asking for the job.
Don't forget to send a "Thank You" e-mail and a handwritten "Thank You" note as soon as you can physically get it done. I can't tell you how many stories that I've heard over the past few months where the folks interviewed, were selected above a tie, because they sent a simple "Thank You".
Well, I'm certain that I forgot something. Practice, practice, practice your interview!
I hope that this blog article helps you land that next job and soon!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
My Faith Is Deep, So Why Is My Job Search Taking So Long?
The pains taking process of job search drags on. You're networking, submitting resumes, improving your writing skills with all those crafty cover letters, attending seminars & webinars, and you're visiting every conceivable body or organization that offers a potentially helpful program. Elevator speeches are rehearsed, changed and put to test. You keep gathering every "out of the box" tool that you can find, in hopes that one of them will give you that very edge that will allow you to stand out from the hundreds that are applying for the same job. Phone interviews and face to face interviews take place,to no avail.
The road is long, the times are difficult, and perhaps ones patience, at times, is put to test. So, why does our Maker, allow our search to drag on so long?
Stop, for a moment, to reflect about what you have done since you first began your search. First out, be thankful for what you do have. Then, give some thought to the following questions;
What have you learned?
Have you taken the opportunity to pursue your passion?
How many new people have you met?
How many of the folks that you've met, have you been able to help?
You'll never know for certain, but how many lives have you touched?
(Always keep in mind that, when interacting with people, sometimes a smile or an uplifting gesture at the right time to someone in need will be remembered for life. Often without you knowing it.)
What is really important in life?
Has your faith strengthened?
I could go on, but I think you understand that you have probably changed for the better through the job search process. I hope that you will take the time to reflect on these questions and others that may come to mind.
As I close, I leave today's blog with this thought;
SOMETIMES THE JOURNEY IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE DESTINATION.
A simple letter of gratitude that we should all write for this experience in life, should go something like this:
Dear GOD, Thank You!
The road is long, the times are difficult, and perhaps ones patience, at times, is put to test. So, why does our Maker, allow our search to drag on so long?
Stop, for a moment, to reflect about what you have done since you first began your search. First out, be thankful for what you do have. Then, give some thought to the following questions;
What have you learned?
Have you taken the opportunity to pursue your passion?
How many new people have you met?
How many of the folks that you've met, have you been able to help?
You'll never know for certain, but how many lives have you touched?
(Always keep in mind that, when interacting with people, sometimes a smile or an uplifting gesture at the right time to someone in need will be remembered for life. Often without you knowing it.)
What is really important in life?
Has your faith strengthened?
I could go on, but I think you understand that you have probably changed for the better through the job search process. I hope that you will take the time to reflect on these questions and others that may come to mind.
As I close, I leave today's blog with this thought;
SOMETIMES THE JOURNEY IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE DESTINATION.
A simple letter of gratitude that we should all write for this experience in life, should go something like this:
Dear GOD, Thank You!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Increasing Interview Odds From a Digitally Read Resume
Many companies scan resumes with word scan programs. HR types use them to scan for key words that they have used in their job posting descriptions.
I've recently read a few articles about folks that have tried the following method, who claim that the number of call backs have increased significantly. I'm not certain if this approaches an integrity issue, an honor issue, or neither. But then, I'm uncertain about the same questionable issues by the HR folks that use the word scan method of singling out qualified candidates.
After you have written your resume to about one and a half to two and a half pages (I know, most say two pages, max), copy the text used by the company for the job description. Then, paste the text that you've just copied onto the blank area of your resume. Change the copied text to the smallest font, less than three if possible. Next, convert the text to white in color. You will not be able to see the text, but the scanner should pick it up.
For those using the scanner method, your resume should appear near the top of the heap because the program has picked up the programmed key words. Your odds of receiving a call for an interview are increased. Then, it's entirely up to you.
Good luck with your interview!
CAUTION: It is recommended that you only use this method if you have a great match between your resume and the job description. DON'T do this if you know that you don't qualify for the job anyway. You'll certainly look like a complete idiot!
FINALLY; LET YOUR CONSCIENCE BE YOUR GUIDE
I've recently read a few articles about folks that have tried the following method, who claim that the number of call backs have increased significantly. I'm not certain if this approaches an integrity issue, an honor issue, or neither. But then, I'm uncertain about the same questionable issues by the HR folks that use the word scan method of singling out qualified candidates.
After you have written your resume to about one and a half to two and a half pages (I know, most say two pages, max), copy the text used by the company for the job description. Then, paste the text that you've just copied onto the blank area of your resume. Change the copied text to the smallest font, less than three if possible. Next, convert the text to white in color. You will not be able to see the text, but the scanner should pick it up.
For those using the scanner method, your resume should appear near the top of the heap because the program has picked up the programmed key words. Your odds of receiving a call for an interview are increased. Then, it's entirely up to you.
Good luck with your interview!
CAUTION: It is recommended that you only use this method if you have a great match between your resume and the job description. DON'T do this if you know that you don't qualify for the job anyway. You'll certainly look like a complete idiot!
FINALLY; LET YOUR CONSCIENCE BE YOUR GUIDE
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Six Figures Tip of the Week
I found the Six Figures web site a while back and subscribed to their weekly e-mail. They are from the land down under and provide a good piece of info or tip from time to time. They provide a little insight to the global economy as well.
For job seekers, self reflection is a valuable career tool that is often overlooked. If you have a clear idea of your values, key skills and personal characteristics you are ahead of the pack. Being able to articulate these areas in interviews assists in answering that inevitable interview question "What are your strengths?" or "Why should we hire you?" Visit the Six Figures Career Assessment area to run through these brief yet effective exercises.
For job seekers, self reflection is a valuable career tool that is often overlooked. If you have a clear idea of your values, key skills and personal characteristics you are ahead of the pack. Being able to articulate these areas in interviews assists in answering that inevitable interview question "What are your strengths?" or "Why should we hire you?" Visit the Six Figures Career Assessment area to run through these brief yet effective exercises.
Friday, September 4, 2009
LinkedIn Top 10 HOT Business Generation Tips - New for September
Once you land that job, continue your networking through LinkedIn. There are many ways that you can use your contacts to generate new business. Remember, people like to do business with people that they know.
I attended a webinar earlier this week, put on by Dean DeLisle. I'm sharing his presentation with you. I hope this provides a little insight to additional uses for LinkedIn, well after job search is over and you are successful in that next position.
CONTINUE BUILDING YOUR LINKEDIN NETWORK. IT CAN BE YOUR NEXT GOLDEN KEY IN OPENING THE DOORS TO NEW BUSINESS & CULTIVATING SUSTAINED BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS.
I attended a webinar earlier this week, put on by Dean DeLisle. I'm sharing his presentation with you. I hope this provides a little insight to additional uses for LinkedIn, well after job search is over and you are successful in that next position.
CONTINUE BUILDING YOUR LINKEDIN NETWORK. IT CAN BE YOUR NEXT GOLDEN KEY IN OPENING THE DOORS TO NEW BUSINESS & CULTIVATING SUSTAINED BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Word! Uh, I Mean, Wordle
How about a good tool for matching the words in your resume to that of the job description that you are applying for?
It's a tool that, reportedly, is gaining popularity in the Human Resource and Recruiter circuit, to match up candidates with their job descriptions.
It's a web site tool named "Wordle." You can find it at: www.wordle.net
Their web site says; "Wordle is a toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. You can tweak your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes. The images you create with Wordle are yours to use however you like. You can print them out, or save them to the Wordle gallery to share with your friends."
Once you copy and paste either your resume or the job description that you are applying for, you can click on "Language" at the top of the page. This will give you a pull down menu. Go all the way to the bottom and select "Word Count". This will give you a pop-up list of words used in the selected text. Click on the word "Frequency" twice. This will show you the most common used words first, and show you how frequently they are used. The more frequently the words are used, the larger the words appear in the "word cloud".
Then you can play with the layout, font type, colors and "word cloud" shape.
It's actually fun to play with. Enjoy and discover other uses for Wordle.
The "Word Cloud" at the top of this blog article, is a cloud created with the words in the blog.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Inspiration
The Job Seekers reading this blog have certainly experienced the ride on the emotional roller coaster that job search provides. You're up when you finally talk to someone on the phone about the applied or interested position, you set up an interview and are pumped afterward, feeling that it went real well. Then after the fist, second or up to the fifth interview, you learn that you didn't get that position. You then are at the low of lows and have to drag yourself back up, getting back with networking, researching and trying to get that next interview.
There are plenty of roller coaster ups and down in between. There are even a few cork screws and upside down moves. But, somehow, we manage to press forward. Persistence and pride! We all know that we have a good bit to offer. So, we trudge on, looking for inspiration a perhaps a friendly face along the way.
As I seek prayerful guidance in my search, I've gathered a few inspirational blurbs along the way, and have them posted at my work desk. I was asked to post them here to share, by an individual that I met through networking.
POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT
"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - That's why we recommend it daily." author unknown
DAILY UPS & DOWNS
"Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors." African proverb
COURAGE TO DRIVE ON
"I'm not afraid of storms, for I am learning to sail my ship." Louisa May Alcott
STRENGTH TO STRIVE FOR SUCCESS
"Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength." author unknown
ADVERSITY & REJECTION
"I have not failed, I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Thomas A. Edison
There are plenty of roller coaster ups and down in between. There are even a few cork screws and upside down moves. But, somehow, we manage to press forward. Persistence and pride! We all know that we have a good bit to offer. So, we trudge on, looking for inspiration a perhaps a friendly face along the way.
As I seek prayerful guidance in my search, I've gathered a few inspirational blurbs along the way, and have them posted at my work desk. I was asked to post them here to share, by an individual that I met through networking.
POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT
"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - That's why we recommend it daily." author unknown
DAILY UPS & DOWNS
"Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors." African proverb
COURAGE TO DRIVE ON
"I'm not afraid of storms, for I am learning to sail my ship." Louisa May Alcott
STRENGTH TO STRIVE FOR SUCCESS
"Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength." author unknown
ADVERSITY & REJECTION
"I have not failed, I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Thomas A. Edison
Sunday, August 23, 2009
That's Not My Job (poem)
by Author Unknown
This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody,
There was an important job to be done.
Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody's job.
Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
A Reel Resume Tweet
So, you want to keep paced with today's world of job search? Do you want recruiters to find you quickly?
Well then, it's time to tweet.
Go to Tweetmyjob.com and create a profile. You should then be able to upload your resume.
You can retweet every 24 hours to stay at the top.
Oh, you want to know when that ideal targeted job, in that area you want to relocate is first posted? Create a Job Channel. Once that job is posted, it will be sent to your cell phone immediately. (text charges with your carrier apply)
How tweet it is!
Well then, it's time to tweet.
Go to Tweetmyjob.com and create a profile. You should then be able to upload your resume.
You can retweet every 24 hours to stay at the top.
Oh, you want to know when that ideal targeted job, in that area you want to relocate is first posted? Create a Job Channel. Once that job is posted, it will be sent to your cell phone immediately. (text charges with your carrier apply)
How tweet it is!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Five Interview Types and How To Ace Them
I found this on a blog by a Carol, but looks like she posted it from
Tania Khadder @ AllHealthcare.
I found this to be written fairly well. I hope you find it as helpful information.
1. The Traditional Interview
What Is It?
You know this interview. I know this interview. We’ve done it a million times. So why are we still so afraid of it?
Interviews — no matter their style — are always tough. With traditional interviews, you need to be able to answer broad-based questions in a very specific, personalized way. And to sound sincere while doing so.
You’ll face questions like, “Why do you want to work here?” and “Tell us about yourself.” The interviewer’s goal is to identify your skills, experience and enthusiasm for the job.
The interviewer will closely follow your resume structure. He or she will probe you about the experience, education and achievements listed.
How to Ace It:
Practice, practice, practice!
Take a look at some of the most common questions from traditional interviews, and write down your answers. And keep in mind that if ever you’re faced with a question that is too broad, ask for clarification. For example, if the question is “Tell us about yourself,” it’s perfectly fair for you to reply with “What about me do you want to know?”
Often, it’s helpful to practice your answers out loud. Find a friend who’s willing to play “interviewer” and go through a mock interview from beginning to end.
Know your resume inside out. Think hard about the accomplishments you list, and be prepared to express what you learned through each.
And as with all interviews, prepare a handful of examples to back up every skill or quality your claim to possess. Real life examples make the difference between a vague, fluffy, might-as-well-be-made-up answer, and the winning response that gets you the job.
2. The Behavioral Interview
What Is It?
The behavioral interview assumes that the most accurate indicator of future success is past performance in a similar situation. The interviewer will have in mind a set of skills they’re looking for in a candidate, and will assess whether or not you have said skills based on how you’ve demonstrated them in the past.
So instead of asking more general questions, like “Why do you want to work in this industry?”, someone conducting a behavioral interview will say “Give an example of when you faced XYZ situation.” Once you’ve answered the initial question, they’ll probe further, asking you how you felt, what you said, what you did and what the final outcome was.
How to Ace It
The behavioral interview is growing more and more common, so it’s essential you learn how to prepare for it.
At first, it may seem an impossible task. After all, there’s no telling what specific scenarios an interviewer might ask you to describe. But don’t fret. By preparing – in detail – a few stories from your professional experience, you can likely adapt one of them to any question they throw at you. Think of instances where you overcame a challenge, performed memorably, and motivated yourself and others.
For each story, be prepared to address the following points:
• The situation
• What actions you took
• How it made you feel
• What you learned
And the more familiar you are with the job description, the better your chances for success. By looking at what qualities they’re looking for in a candidate, you may be able to predict what type of questions they’ll ask.
Whatever you do, don’t lie or give an overly vague response. Behavioral interviews are especially useful at exposing made-up answers – which is one reason employers like them. Make sure you know what you’re talking about and that you’re ready to provide more detail if necessary.
3. The Case Interview
What Is It?
Just because you’ve never heard of it doesn’t mean you never will.
In a case interview, the interviewer will present a real or hypothetical business problem, and ask you to analyze the situation and present how you might go about solving it. These types of interviews are typically used when applying for investment banking or management consulting posts.
The interviewer is usually trying to assess your critical thinking skills and general business knowledge. Normally, you’re not given enough information in the outset to identify the problem and come up with a solution. In fact, you are expected to ask smart questions to get to the desired outcome.
How to Ace It
In a case interview, there really is no perfect answer. You’re going to be judged more on how you approach the problem than on the specific solutions you come up with.
Start by fully understanding the situation, based on the information you’ve been given. Remember, this type of interview is a two-way conversation, and the interviewer will likely deliberately leave key information out to make sure you ask the right questions. If at any point, you are unsure what is being asked, make sure to ask for clarification before proceeding.
Once you are sure you understand the problem at hand, take time to organize your thoughts and present a possible solution. If you need to ask more questions, go ahead and do so.
One way to prepare in advance for this type of interview is to practice with case examples you can get for free online.
4. The Stress Interview
What is it?
It’s just as it sounds: an interview designed to stress you out. The point? To see how you cope. The interviewer will try to intimidate by asking off-the-wall questions (like, “if you were an animal, which would you be?”). Or perhaps a panel of interviewers will greet you, firing questions at you in quick succession. They might make you wait for an hour before seeing you, give you the silent treatment, or respond to your answers with rudeness and/or mockery. If you’re really unlucky, they’ll use a combination of the aforementioned techniques.
It’s all part of a game to see just how much abuse you can withstand before you crack.
Although these types of interviews tend to be frowned upon by the experts, who claim they are not useful or fair, they continue to be used from time to time.
How to Ace It
Stress interviews may be unfair, unrealistic or downright cruel. Unfortunately, they’re here to stay. And while you’re unlikely to experience the whole sadistic shebang, you may, at the very least, endure a few isolated stress questions.
The key to surviving this nightmare is to stay calm. And the first step to doing so is to recognize that you are in the midst of a stress interview. Instead of taking their ill-treatment personally, learn the rules of the game and play it well. Be firm about your main message is so that if you are asked a stress question, you’ll be less flustered and can quickly adapt an appropriate answer.
One way to prepare is to ask for an agenda beforehand. They can tell you how many people you’re going to meet on the day. They may even tell you what type of interview you’re going to experience.
And whatever you do, don’t get aggressive or argumentative. Be courteous and polite, even if no one else is. Don’t, as one Lehman Brothers interviewee allegedly did, throw a chair through the window in a fit of rage.
5. The Phone Interview
What Is It?
For some, there is nothing more terrifying than an over-the-phone job interview.
Unfortunately, they’re used more and more as a way to screen a large pool of candidates before deciding who to invite for an in-person meeting. Phone interviews can be set up in advance, but they can also be completely spontaneous. At any point while you are job searching, a recruiter can call you up for a quick chat. But be forewarned – this quick chat is anything but. It may feel informal, but it’s still an interview.
How to Ace It
First thing’s first — always be prepared! Since the phone interview can come at any time, have your desk set up accordingly. Tape up your resume and some bullet points of your accomplishments for quick reference. Have a pen and paper handy at all times. And if, as it turns out, the timing is bad or your location less than ideal, don’t be afraid to say so and reschedule. The last thing you want is to try and talk over a crying baby or while navigating through traffic.If you’re lucky enough to have fair warning, it’s a good idea to get dressed for the interview– nothing will make you feel less professional than taking questions in your Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pajamas.
And remember, unlike an in-person interview, you can’t rely on body language to help carry your message or express enthusiasm. One way to overcome this is to stand up while you’re on the phone. Everyone speaks more confidently and clearly when they are standing. And smile. It sounds crazy, but people on the other end can hear you smiling.
Finally, don’t let a pause or awkward silence throw you off. They’re a natural part of conversation, albeit more noticeable over the phone. Your interviewer is probably just taking notes or preparing their next question. Don’t feel the need to fill the silence with a nervous giggle or pointless comment. If you are finished with your answer, wait patiently for the interviewer to pick up the conversation.
Tania Khadder | AllHealthcare
Tania Khadder @ AllHealthcare.
I found this to be written fairly well. I hope you find it as helpful information.
1. The Traditional Interview
What Is It?
You know this interview. I know this interview. We’ve done it a million times. So why are we still so afraid of it?
Interviews — no matter their style — are always tough. With traditional interviews, you need to be able to answer broad-based questions in a very specific, personalized way. And to sound sincere while doing so.
You’ll face questions like, “Why do you want to work here?” and “Tell us about yourself.” The interviewer’s goal is to identify your skills, experience and enthusiasm for the job.
The interviewer will closely follow your resume structure. He or she will probe you about the experience, education and achievements listed.
How to Ace It:
Practice, practice, practice!
Take a look at some of the most common questions from traditional interviews, and write down your answers. And keep in mind that if ever you’re faced with a question that is too broad, ask for clarification. For example, if the question is “Tell us about yourself,” it’s perfectly fair for you to reply with “What about me do you want to know?”
Often, it’s helpful to practice your answers out loud. Find a friend who’s willing to play “interviewer” and go through a mock interview from beginning to end.
Know your resume inside out. Think hard about the accomplishments you list, and be prepared to express what you learned through each.
And as with all interviews, prepare a handful of examples to back up every skill or quality your claim to possess. Real life examples make the difference between a vague, fluffy, might-as-well-be-made-up answer, and the winning response that gets you the job.
2. The Behavioral Interview
What Is It?
The behavioral interview assumes that the most accurate indicator of future success is past performance in a similar situation. The interviewer will have in mind a set of skills they’re looking for in a candidate, and will assess whether or not you have said skills based on how you’ve demonstrated them in the past.
So instead of asking more general questions, like “Why do you want to work in this industry?”, someone conducting a behavioral interview will say “Give an example of when you faced XYZ situation.” Once you’ve answered the initial question, they’ll probe further, asking you how you felt, what you said, what you did and what the final outcome was.
How to Ace It
The behavioral interview is growing more and more common, so it’s essential you learn how to prepare for it.
At first, it may seem an impossible task. After all, there’s no telling what specific scenarios an interviewer might ask you to describe. But don’t fret. By preparing – in detail – a few stories from your professional experience, you can likely adapt one of them to any question they throw at you. Think of instances where you overcame a challenge, performed memorably, and motivated yourself and others.
For each story, be prepared to address the following points:
• The situation
• What actions you took
• How it made you feel
• What you learned
And the more familiar you are with the job description, the better your chances for success. By looking at what qualities they’re looking for in a candidate, you may be able to predict what type of questions they’ll ask.
Whatever you do, don’t lie or give an overly vague response. Behavioral interviews are especially useful at exposing made-up answers – which is one reason employers like them. Make sure you know what you’re talking about and that you’re ready to provide more detail if necessary.
3. The Case Interview
What Is It?
Just because you’ve never heard of it doesn’t mean you never will.
In a case interview, the interviewer will present a real or hypothetical business problem, and ask you to analyze the situation and present how you might go about solving it. These types of interviews are typically used when applying for investment banking or management consulting posts.
The interviewer is usually trying to assess your critical thinking skills and general business knowledge. Normally, you’re not given enough information in the outset to identify the problem and come up with a solution. In fact, you are expected to ask smart questions to get to the desired outcome.
How to Ace It
In a case interview, there really is no perfect answer. You’re going to be judged more on how you approach the problem than on the specific solutions you come up with.
Start by fully understanding the situation, based on the information you’ve been given. Remember, this type of interview is a two-way conversation, and the interviewer will likely deliberately leave key information out to make sure you ask the right questions. If at any point, you are unsure what is being asked, make sure to ask for clarification before proceeding.
Once you are sure you understand the problem at hand, take time to organize your thoughts and present a possible solution. If you need to ask more questions, go ahead and do so.
One way to prepare in advance for this type of interview is to practice with case examples you can get for free online.
4. The Stress Interview
What is it?
It’s just as it sounds: an interview designed to stress you out. The point? To see how you cope. The interviewer will try to intimidate by asking off-the-wall questions (like, “if you were an animal, which would you be?”). Or perhaps a panel of interviewers will greet you, firing questions at you in quick succession. They might make you wait for an hour before seeing you, give you the silent treatment, or respond to your answers with rudeness and/or mockery. If you’re really unlucky, they’ll use a combination of the aforementioned techniques.
It’s all part of a game to see just how much abuse you can withstand before you crack.
Although these types of interviews tend to be frowned upon by the experts, who claim they are not useful or fair, they continue to be used from time to time.
How to Ace It
Stress interviews may be unfair, unrealistic or downright cruel. Unfortunately, they’re here to stay. And while you’re unlikely to experience the whole sadistic shebang, you may, at the very least, endure a few isolated stress questions.
The key to surviving this nightmare is to stay calm. And the first step to doing so is to recognize that you are in the midst of a stress interview. Instead of taking their ill-treatment personally, learn the rules of the game and play it well. Be firm about your main message is so that if you are asked a stress question, you’ll be less flustered and can quickly adapt an appropriate answer.
One way to prepare is to ask for an agenda beforehand. They can tell you how many people you’re going to meet on the day. They may even tell you what type of interview you’re going to experience.
And whatever you do, don’t get aggressive or argumentative. Be courteous and polite, even if no one else is. Don’t, as one Lehman Brothers interviewee allegedly did, throw a chair through the window in a fit of rage.
5. The Phone Interview
What Is It?
For some, there is nothing more terrifying than an over-the-phone job interview.
Unfortunately, they’re used more and more as a way to screen a large pool of candidates before deciding who to invite for an in-person meeting. Phone interviews can be set up in advance, but they can also be completely spontaneous. At any point while you are job searching, a recruiter can call you up for a quick chat. But be forewarned – this quick chat is anything but. It may feel informal, but it’s still an interview.
How to Ace It
First thing’s first — always be prepared! Since the phone interview can come at any time, have your desk set up accordingly. Tape up your resume and some bullet points of your accomplishments for quick reference. Have a pen and paper handy at all times. And if, as it turns out, the timing is bad or your location less than ideal, don’t be afraid to say so and reschedule. The last thing you want is to try and talk over a crying baby or while navigating through traffic.If you’re lucky enough to have fair warning, it’s a good idea to get dressed for the interview– nothing will make you feel less professional than taking questions in your Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pajamas.
And remember, unlike an in-person interview, you can’t rely on body language to help carry your message or express enthusiasm. One way to overcome this is to stand up while you’re on the phone. Everyone speaks more confidently and clearly when they are standing. And smile. It sounds crazy, but people on the other end can hear you smiling.
Finally, don’t let a pause or awkward silence throw you off. They’re a natural part of conversation, albeit more noticeable over the phone. Your interviewer is probably just taking notes or preparing their next question. Don’t feel the need to fill the silence with a nervous giggle or pointless comment. If you are finished with your answer, wait patiently for the interviewer to pick up the conversation.
Tania Khadder | AllHealthcare
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