Tips on Writing your First Resume

The typical fresh out of college guy or gal is highly enthusiastic. They are optimistic and very much eager to experience the “real world”. They want to start working right away, to prove to themselves that they can do it and to prove to the world that they have arrived. One of the first dilemmas that they usually face is producing their first ever CVs. A Curriculum Vitae or Resume is an overview of a person’s experience and requirements qualifying him for a desired position. It is usually the first thing that employers look into to screen potential applicants.

As a newcomer in the world of employment, these fresh graduates are a bit at a loss to what they should do. Trying to fit their resume to their desired position is a challenging task. What should they write? I don’t have experience yet! What would make my resume stand out from the rest? Here are some pieces of advise.

1. Aim for a realistic position. You just graduated from college, don’t aspire to be a CEO right away. Everyone starts from the bottom of the pyramid, its not something we should be ashamed about. Choose a position that would best put into practice the knowledge that you have accumulated over the years. In some cases, people find out too late that they want another career other than that of their major. Go ahead, don’t be afraid to take the leap. As long as you know that it is something you want to do and that you can do it well, apply.

2. Focus on your strengths rather than experience. The employer understands that you are a fresh graduate and this will probably be your first job experience. Instead, wow and dazzle them with your strengths. Don’t just say eager, say that you are open for new things, loves learning new things everyday and are highly trainable. Elaborate your strengths and use them to your advantage. Make the employer interested to meet you.

3. Never lie. Your resume should be a reflection of you and not of someone else. Write only true facts about yourself. Yes, it would be very impressive if you say that you are a magna cum laude, but never say you are if you are not. Never exaggerate on your skills as well, because you might pass the interview and be hired, but it will haunt you in the workplace. You won’t be able to perform like you said you could on your resume and your employer will know you just lied. Getting fired after your first week on your first job isn’t a good way to start your career life. Only write down what is true.

Indeed, writing your first resume will be a challenging yet interesting phase. Ten years from now when you are on top of the corporate ladder, it would be fun to look back on your starting years and smile.

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How not to manage job stress effectively

Really now, you want to know how not to properly manage job stress? Are you sure? I can tell you – it won’t be a pretty sight. But seeing that knowing – and understanding – the negative aspects of a certain thing can lead to better awareness, we might as well know what’s in store for you with not dealing with this kind of stress. So let’s just do that. Let’s check out the consequences of not dealing with job stress properly:

What do you mean there’s a deadline?!?!?
Do you do things on a whim? Feel like making that report – only when you want to? Or ever felt cramming work in a hour’s time, just because you forgot that you had to attend this meeting? Sure, we all have and had our days. But by not setting a schedule, you’re technically setting and psyching yourself up for a major fail. By not sticking to deadlines, you don’t only lose your credibility and standing in your career, you’re also giving yourself unnecessary stress to deal with.

I really don’t care
So you’re stressed. And instead of going straight home to rest, you decide to drown your sorrows in alcohol. Good move there – forget everything! Alcohol, and other vices, for that matter, have their uses, but there may be other things that you may want to consider taking up. Like sports or other hobbies! Using vices to counter job stress may work at times, but their underlying health-concern issues far outweigh their benefits. You really wouldn’t want to have a hangover every time you report to work, right?

What am I doing here!?!?!
Are you proud with what you’re doing? Do you see your job as something more than a meaningless routine of numbers, paper and activity? Or, to tell it bluntly – do you even love your work? Job stress usually begins in the mind. By not enjoying what you’re doing, you’re building a vicious hole in your psyche. This negative hole then burns out everything you’ve once thought of as fun. It tears down the image of you accomplishing things.

So if you’d want to not manage job stress properly, simply do the tips above. Again, it isn’t pretty – it isn’t even right! But by knowing how bad things can turn out to be, you can always chose otherwise. Hope you do have a stress-free day, and try to turn that frown into a smile!

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Ways to Teach English in Russia

Getting a long-term job in Russia can be quite difficult especially if you have no plans of working in a construction company or a legal and accounting firm. But if you still want to stay and find work here, then the best— and actually the in-demand way is to teach English.

Most people in Russia are finally giving more importance in learning English as an important part of their education. Adults who were once in the workforce are now deciding to study English better and at the same time are recognizing the importance of inculcating the language into their children. The foremost requirement in teaching English is for you to be a native speaker of the language or have a TEFL certificate. There are several ways in which you can teach English in Russia, depending on what you think will suit you better.

You can choose to teach at language schools as this is the most popular and perhaps the easiest to have access to. You get to teach a wide variety of students, from children to adults or anyone who is willing to pay to learn the English language. If you are in for a full-time position, you get to teach for around 30 hours weekly and compensations vary according to your experiences and qualifications.

Another way to teach English in the country is to teach them for business clients, more commonly referred to as “in-company” teaching. At present, more and more companies in Russia are becoming aware of the value of having English-speaking staff in reaching the international economy. In this type of teaching, your qualifications are very much important and it’s quite necessary for you to have the ability to relate to your clients’ business activities. Teaching is usually done inside the client’s office and usually runs at 24 hours per week schedule.

If you plan to teach children, then you can choose to teach English at school. Unlike language schools, you only get to interact with children. If you decide to teach at school, it will be of utmost importance for you to have a recognized teaching qualification, not just in the English language and schools usually require at least one year experience in teaching and working with children.

Teaching English in Russia could prove to be an effective way of earning money especially if you plan to settle at the country for a long time. You just have to carefully consider the things that you need to do and the requirements that you would need to teach the language there.

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Teach English in Germany – reasons that make it more than just a job

Olivia, an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher based in Germany, found herself in an awkward situation.

One of her students, Heinrich, invited her to watch a football game at the Allianz Arena, just north of Munich. Heinrich, the problematic, yet thoughtful student of hers, was ecstatic as he smiles at his beautiful teacher, while taking the Autobahn over to the football stadium.

“He’s been staring at me the whole time,” Olivia wondered. It was awkward for her, since she’s had trouble teaching Heinrich to speak up. Classes with her would often end up in laughter, as Heinrich’s classmates would often tease the quiet boy of fumbling his English words.

As they exit the intricate German subway system, and head into the towering entrance of the state-of-the-art sports facility, student and teacher clumsily leaned onto each other as they made their way inside the dome. With the hundreds of football fans crowding towards the seats, Heinrich swiftly pulled Olivia over to a quiet corner of the dome.

Feeling like time stopped – even with the hundreds of fans cheering for their favorite teams – Olivia started to sweat. “Uhm, Heinrich, I think we need to get to our seats,” she said to her still smiling student.

“I just wanted to say thanks for being with me. And thanks for not giving up on me,” the student answered.

Olivia was dead silent. Surprised of how Heinrich was fluent with his English, she let her hand into his as they went back to the hundreds of fans waving, waiting for the start of the game.

And so goes a life of an ESL teacher in Germany. Exciting, isn’t it? Who would have thought that teaching English in Germany can not only be a profitable career, but culturally and emotionally satisfying as well?

Teaching English in Germany can be a very rewarding experience. You’ll get to know a unique culture, where Football seems to be worshiped as something more than just a game, to appreciating massive architectural works of art. Even interaction with the Germans is great, with locals being warm, friendly and receptive on learning a new language.

Even better, teaching English in foreign countries such as Germany has even greater applications than leisure or casual conversations. Teaching Germans to speak English can open up doors to better and more opportunities. This is particularly true for the international market, wherein German ingenuity and precision technology is always in demand.

Olivia must be pretty proud of her student by now. And she must be pretty happy that she’s doing something that feels nothing like work. Teach English in Germany, and explore and contribute to a great cultural wonder!

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How teaching English in China can help bridge a cultural gap

We’re in China, sometime in the 1960s. Su Li-zhen, a quiet, yet beautiful, secretary for a shipping firm is in love with an American journalist. Tony, the sharp, handsome writer for an overseas English paper, seems oblivious to Su’s feelings. From time to time, they would bump into each other – when Tony gets his daily lunch at a stall just outside the shipping company, or when Su walks home in the dark, wet streets of Shanghai. Tony would just nod at the quiet lady; Su would just flicker an eyelash and quickly walk away.

Such was the strange love affair that when Tony finally found a story to write in Hong Kong, Su was on the verge of tears. She knew that this day would come, she just wouldn’t accept – believe – it’ll really happen. Running out of the office, hoping to meet her lover (as she would have hoped to believe) before he disappears, the silent, elegant lady shouted the only English phrase she knew. “I love you!”

Su watched the tall writer tip his hat. And that’s the end of our story. But don’t you think that it’d be more interesting – not to mention, a longer story – if Su learned to speak more than just “I love you”?

Such is the power of words – rather, the power of learning new words, a new language. Emotions can be explained, thoughts shared, problems solved by having a single language that can be understood by two or more parties. Communication, coupled with education, has the power of bridging cultural gaps. And in the case of this story, teaching English in China can actually help bring a closure between the writer and the secretary.

China, even for its diverse and successful business ventures, has always been considered a sleeping giant. Mainly because of the English communication gap, most Chinese – especially entrepreneurs – have problems making and landing deals in the international market.

The English proficiency problem doesn’t stop there. Chinese tourism is also greatly affected, with having to deal a sudden increase of tourists over the years. Petty and even grave misunderstandings can stem from this communication wall.

However, you as a proficient English speaker can help. Not only can you turn one-sided romance stories into full-blown love epics, but you can also learn much from being immersed in the Chinese community. Aside from the cultural benefits gained from teaching English in China, you can also earn a hefty amount of profit in this progressive country.

So, help Su tell Tony just how much she needs him, that life won’t be complete without him. Make a difference – teach English in China, and help bridge the cultural gap.

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5 Criteria You Need To Know in Choosing a Graduate Program

If you are planning to step up your career, be an expert and master your chosen field or you just want to acquire more knowledge for yourself, then enrolling for a post graduate program would be the best thing to do. But choosing a graduate course to take can be really difficult and confusing, right? That is why it is important for you to be able to know the following five criteria that could really help you in choosing the exact graduate program for you.

DEGREES OFFERED
The most important criterion that you should consider in choosing the right program for you is the different degrees that a program offers. Knowing this is necessary mainly because the graduate school that you would enrol in must offer the particular degree program that you seek. Never try to compromise for a lesser degree just because the one that you are looking for is not being offered in the school where you’re planning to have your graduate study.

COST/ FINANCIAL AID
Another important thing that you should look into when choosing the right graduate program is the possible cost that you would have to spend should you choose to enroll there. You could do this by examining all related costs like books, tuition as well as the miscellaneous fees that you would have to pay. After doing that, you could then try to review the types of financial assistance that the graduate program offers like grants, loans and scholarships. Try to negotiate with your school regarding the cost as well the financial assistance that you can avail to be able to help you with your graduate studies.

ADMISSION STANDARDS
You also need to check the admission standards of the graduate program that you are interested to enroll in. Try to compare the number of applicants with the actual number of the people who gets accepted. This is so that you’d be able to have an idea as to the standard and policies that a particular program has. You could also look at the base requirements for admission such as the grade-point average as well as standardized test scores. Keep in mind that you should not try to lower the quality of your graduate education just because you have overlooked this one important criterion.

ACCREDITATION
You could also try to consider the graduate program’s accreditation. It is only important for you to be able to determine the proper accreditation required by your chosen degree program. You should be aware that a program which does not have accreditation could pose negative consequences on your study.

FACULTY
Lastly, you should be assured that the faculty of your chosen program is good and really competent in the field. One thing you can to measure the faculty’s competency is by looking at the percentage of classes taught by full-time, terminally qualified faculty. You could also try to look into the number of scholarly publication or professional experiences of faculty members to know if they are really good. Remember that these faculty members are the ones who will be teaching you should you be accepted in the program that’s why it is only necessary for you to know if they are good enough.

Although choosing the right graduate degree program can be challenging, it doesn’t necessarily have to be difficult. By knowing the particular degrees being offered in your chosen school, the cost that you would have to pay during your study, the admission standards and school accreditation, as well as the competency of the faculty can help you a lot in getting the most suitable option that best fit your preferences. Take these five criteria into careful consideration and you will surely be able to choose the best graduate program for you.

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Tips in Applying for a Restaurant or Fastfood Chain Job

If you are looking for a job that is fun and rewarding at the same time, then you could apply for a waiter in a restaurant or a fastfood chain. Most part-time students are applying for this job because of the flexibility of working hours as well as tips that are in cash. As a matter of fact, some people even find this job as able to provide much more money than what they make during their full-time job. But how you actually apply for this job? Although restaurants are always in need of people to work for them, most restaurant managers prefer to hire people who already have experience in working in the same environment.

But if you really want to work as a waiter but you don’t have experience, there is no need to be discouraged. Your lack of experience doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t be able to get hired as a waiter. Indeed, you will have a difficult time getting hired at a fine-dining restaurant because waiters are expected to have years of experience to be able to live up to the establishment’s standards. However, there are different types of restaurants that accept servers without prior experience like franchise, family-style establishments. Here are some of the things that you need to look into for you to get a job in one of these restaurants.

The first thing that you need to consider is the timing of your application. The ideal time to apply for jobs at restaurants is at the beginning of the busy season. There are times, however, when you can get a position even at the end of the busy season because many servers tend to leave to apply for more worthwhile jobs.

You should also keep in mind that your whole application process is also an important factor for you to actually get hired. If you have known somebody who has worked in the same restaurant before, you might as well mention that during your interview. But if you don’t know anyone at the restaurant, you can still make a good impression during your application. Do not forget to mention all the possible jobs that you might have done in the past that can somehow be related to customer service. Managers give importance to quality service in this kind of industry and he looks for applicants that can work well with people.

Never leave your application at the restaurant and just let the bartender or another host to forward it to the manager because most of the time, you will never receive a call. The best thing to do is to make an appointment with the manager and introduce yourself to him. If in case he is not available, then just come back for another time. Smile and be at your best when you face the manager. Remember that often times, managers will hire applicants solely because of how they look and behave to see if they fit the restaurant’s image. If you are able to present yourself well, your lack of experience will only mean little.

So, it a good option to look for a job at mid-range, family restaurants and other franchise establishments because you’ll have more chances of getting hired. With just proper grooming, proper application timing, and impressive application then there’s no reason for you not to get hired. Gain experience from your work there and who knows you might be able to make your way through working in high-end restaurants in the future.

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4 Benefits you can get from teaching English in China

So, you’re pretty much in love with the Chinese culture. You love their movies – you actually have an encyclopedic knowledge of wuxia and martial arts films – their food, and most especially, the warm hospitality that Chinese people seem to naturally have. You’ve always watched travel documentaries of tourists visiting the Great Wall of China. You’ve always read up on the various experiences of individuals who have felt that unique and diverse feeling of being in a Chinese community. You’ve always wished you have the chance to visit and possibly live in China.

Well, what’s stopping you? You can get to explore and know more about China by being an English teacher. By teaching English in China, you not only get paid to teach and share your language with Chinese students, you get to have an up-close and personal look and experience with their culture as well.

Don’t let your dreams of going to China be in vain. Here are a few benefits that you can get by teaching English in China:

Easy Training
Scared that you need to have a certain degree to teach English? Don’t be, because a TESL (Teaching English as a second language) certificate can be attained in just a mere 100 hours, with some schools even offering night or weekend classes.

Insured for your Health
China takes its ESL teachers seriously. They’re an investment for Chinese people nationwide. Depending on the institution you’ll be working at, you will be covered accordingly for your medical and health needs. This comes pretty handy and efficient as well, since Chinese medicine is relatively cheap, you may not need to dish out any cash during your teaching stint.

Housing
Depending on the level of English you’ll be teaching, a teaching institution will provide lodging in sufficiently equipped homes or apartments. Other cases, for the better, would involve you staying with a student in his or her home. This will not only give you a more practical approach in teaching, it’ll give you a more intimate and personal Chinese cultural experience.

Bridging the Gap
The best benefit that you can get out of teaching English in China is that you get to help people communicate in a global level. As English is known as a global language, you’re helping your students create better and new opportunities for their future. They’ll be able to understand and effectively communicate business deals. They’ll be able to offer their services in a much better way to other countries in the future. They’ll be able to share their thoughts and insights to virtually everyone.

Teaching English in China, isn’t just a job, nor is it a vacation in your favorite pop-culture laden country. It’s more of a vocation, a responsibility that will ultimately lead to much better things. Check online for more options on getting this great opportunity.

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Improve Your Graphic Design Skills in Five Easy Steps

Who else wants to be not just a typical graphic designer but rather a great graphic designer? If you are one of those who long to create awesome graphic designs, then you should know that practice and more practice is the key into mastering your craft. So, try to improve your graphic design skills by following these five easy steps.

Make Your Own Project
The first thing that you can do to improve your graphic design skills is by actually trying to make your own project. Your projects don’t have to be made for a client and can therefore be just about anything. By doing this you would be able to come up with a lot of project ideas that you can also use in the future to present to your prospective clients. Just keep on doing this especially when you have your free time because remember that practice makes perfect. When you make your own project, you can be assured that your graphic design skills will definitely improve.

Collect Designs for Inspiration
Another thing that you can do is to collect various designs for inspiration. These designs can be taken from anywhere like pictures from magazines and books. The collection that you’d be able to make will help you a lot in the future as it can be a good source of ideas that you can get from. All you have to do is to just look at it whenever you are running out of inspiration for your graphic design projects. Collecting designs can be of great help in honing  your skills in graphic design.

Connect with other designers
You could also try to connect with other graphic designers like you. You could join forums or
talk to friends who have the same passion as you. This can help you a lot in gaining insights and techniques when it comes to graphic design. You could be able to have a knowledge of various designing skills when you ask for advice for those who have more experience than you. You could also be able to share new ideas with other new designers like you. Talking and connecting with fellow designers is another step towards improving your graphic design skills.

Attend Seminars and Conventions
Other than that, you could also attend seminars and conventions on graphic designing. When
you attend these social functions, you’d surely be able to get new ideas regarding various designs. Aside from that, you’d also be able to meet new people and thus extend your network that could help you in pursuing a career in graphic design. One good thing about attending seminars and conventions is that it could also be considered as an additional certificate to your portfolio.

Enroll in a Design Class
And the most common thing that you can do to improve your graphic design skills is by actually enrolling in a design class. Enrolling in a design class is a formal way of learning the basic things that you need to know about graphic designing. You could also learn new things when you attend design classes that otherwise you won’t be able to easily learn outside. Aside from that, having been taught in a formal design class can also prove to be an edge with other designers when you look for a job. Attending a design class is one sure way of being able to expand your knowledge and improve your graphic design skills.

Improving your graphic design skills is really easy especially if you put your heart into it. Make your own projects whenever you have a free time and try to collect different designs that you could use for inspiration. Connect with people who share the same passion with you and take time to attend seminars and conventions to add up to your knowledge. And try to enrol in a design class yourself to learn designing techniques the formal way. When you follow these five simple steps, in time you will be able to master your craft and eventually be a great graphic designer you never thought you’d be.

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The World’s Most Dangerous High Paying Jobs

Accidents in the workplace are just what they are, accidents. Everyone tries to avoid them and no one really wants them. However, there are instances wherein no matter how carefully you observe the safety precautions, accidents can and will still happen. This is especially true in workplaces that are dangerous. Several factors interfere in determining something dangerous, it may be the nature of the job itself or environmental factors. Combination of both seem to be the perfect recipe for disaster. Regardless however, there always seem to be people who are ready to do that kind of job. The reason? Simple. It is the most dangerous job that pays rather well.

Here are the top three of the World’s Most Dangerous High Paying Jobs:

Coal Mining
The purpose of this work is to remove coal from below the ground. Coal is a combustible rock that is harvested for its energy content. It has been the major source of electricity until the dawn of renewable energy. Much of the coals in the earth is located deep underground, paving way to underground mining. Underground mining is responsible for more than 50 percent of the world’s production. Due to this hazardous environment of heat, chemical use and constant explosions, coal mining has caused numerous health conditions and even fatal injuries. China in particular has the highest number of fatalities due to this industry. In 2004, death tolls reached 6,027. No wonder salary as a coal miner is up to $4,000 a month.

Oil and Gas Extraction Workers
Oil and gas extraction means removing oil and other natural gas from the ground. Both oil and gas provide essential energy for homes and industries. Rough working conditions and relatively long hours result to serious and fatal accidents. In 2005, there has been a 15% increase in fatalities in the United States. This is the downside to having a $60,000 – $100,000 salary.

King Crab Fishing
King crabs or stone crabs are huge crustaceans that are mostly found in cold seas like off the coast of Alaska. Harvesting is commonly done in very short seasons, each taking about 4 – 5 days. The freezing temperature, temperamental mood of the sea and changing weather make this occupation 90 times more dangerous than the average job. On average, it is noted that at least one fisherman dies in a season. It is because of these risks and the fact that king crabs are really expensive that a fishing boat averages at $868,000. (Do the math and divide it among the boat crew.)

If you are looking for means to earn big money, then you have definitely found them. Try to remember though that they are paid big for a reason.

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