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      Crafting a Catchy Cover Letter

      March 14, 2011 /

      RESUME_COVER LETTER

      One of the worst things you can do during your job search is send a generic cover letter to a potential employer. And by generic, we mean using openers such as, “In response to your advertisement for the position, I am sending my resume for your review.” The problem with this is, everyone uses “stock” openers such as this, so it will rarely (if ever) help you stand out from the crowd. Instead, use a branding statement as your opener such as, “With more than 10 years of forensic accounting experience…” See the difference? The second opener addresses the company’s need for a forensic accountant and it let’s them know right away that the applicant is well seasoned.

      Once you’ve made it past the opener, it’s important to include facts that support the requirements. The International Business Times offers this example:

      “I see you are interested in hiring someone with strategic-change management experience.” (Or whatever the key requirement of the position is-highlight it here). Then tell-or even better, SHOW-the reader why you have that experience: “In my present role with ABC Distributors, I did XYZ, which resulted in JKL.” Showing the potential employer-right off the bat-you possess a desired attribute or requirement for the position will prompt the hiring manager to invest more time in reading your resume.

      If your cover letter states-in so many words-“I am the perfect match for your opening, and I can meet/exceed your needs…” then you immediately get my attention, and I’m more likely to invest time in reviewing your resume.

      Here’s a tip: do not use bullet points or material word-for-word from your resume; provide the hiring manager with fresh information on your cover letter.

      Details are important too, so make sure:

      • -The formatting for your resume and cover letter match
      • -The headings match
      • -There are no typos or spelling and grammatical errors
      • -Your contact information is current, including your main email address

      And finally, at the end of your cover letter, always offer to follow up by phone or email within one to two weeks, then mark your calendar.

      Your Career, Your Workplace

      Are Credit Counseling Agencies Legit?

      March 11, 2011 /

      CREDIT COUNSELING

      Credit counseling is a service provided by organizations that offer professional counseling for consumers in need of assistance with debt repayment, debt management, and money management. Also called “debt counseling,” credit counseling is also required before filing chapter 7 or chapter 13.

      A credit counseling agency will assist you with managing credit card debt and loans such as personal, mortgage, student, and auto. The agency also assists with utility bills and tax debt. A major benefit to credit counseling is that the credit counselor will handle all lenders, collection agencies, and credit card companies for you. This helps to eliminate the stress associated with phone calls from collection agencies and creditors. Your credit counselor will negotiate a repayment plan with your creditors that will significantly lower your monthly payments and interest rates.

      You will have the option to send monthly payments to the credit counseling agency or authorize a monthly electronic funds transfer from your bank account. Depending on the credit counseling agency, they may offer an option called “debt management system.” This means you will pay the agency a lump sum. Out of that lump sum, payments will be made on your behalf. This system can protect you against skipped or late payments, which can save money on interest, fees, and any penalties associated with the debt. An additional benefit to credit counseling is that it can educate you on how to better manage your finances and eventually help minimize or prevent future debt.

      While there are many advantages to credit counseling, there are also disadvantages. Credit counseling could have a negative effect on your credit. In some cases lenders, specifically mortgage lenders, may not want to extend credit to an individual that may be in the process of completing a credit counseling program. Fortunately, credit counseling notations are dropped from your credit report one month after the counseling program is complete.

      Another disadvantage to credit counseling is the potential for fraud. Most credit counseling agencies are legit, but some are nothing more than a scam. The following signs will let you know that the credit counseling agency you’re dealing with is really a scam:

      • -Big upfront fees (legitimate agencies typically charge $10-$15 U.S.)
      • -Delayed or missing payments
      • -No accreditation
      • -Unrealistic promises (“settle for pennies,” or “this won’t affect your credit report”)

      To protect yourself against fraudulent credit counseling agencies, make sure the agency is approved by the U.S. Trustee Program of the United States Department of Justice. Locating an approved agency is simple. Just log onto www.usdoj.gov and follow these simple steps:

      • -Under “Resources” click “DOJ Agencies”
      • -Scroll down to “U.S. Trustees Program”
      • -Under “Bankruptcy Reform” click “Credit Counseling & Debtor Education”
      • -Under “Credit Counseling for Consumers” click “Approved Credit Counseling Agencies”

      The search function allows the user to browse through approved agencies by state. You can also follow this link, which will take you directly to the search page.

      Uncategorized

      AOL Cuts Nearly 1,000 Jobs

      March 10, 2011 /

      AOL BUILDING

      AOL cut 20 percent of its workforce today, eliminating 950 jobs in the U.S. and India. Last year, the company cut 2,300 employees during its first round of layoffs. This year’s round of layoffs was aimed at trimming the budget, getting rid of positions that no longer serve a purpose, and eliminating jobs that overlapped with the Huffington Post website, which AOL acquired just days ago. None of the 250 Huffington Post employees that joined AOL lost their jobs. Instead, 200 employees who work for AOL’s media and technology groups lost their jobs, and 750 employees in India.

      In the U.S., AOL laid off reporters and editors who worked for its travel site and business, personal finance sites Daily Finance and Wallet Pop. It also cut across its news and politics sites, including Politics Daily, according to people familiar with the matter. Employees who were laid off started packing up their belongings on Thursday, a person familiar with the matter said.

      The operations in India are in part a vestige of AOL’s old business as an Internet service provider, starting with call center outsourcing into 2002 and later changing into a business operations center. Recently, the group focused more on tech and financial support as well as functions such as advertising operations.

      Although AOL acquired the Huffington Post for $315 million, the company is still on shaky ground. According to WSJ, AOL shares are trading at their lowest levels since the company split off from Time Warner Inc. in December 2009. Shares of AOL were off 34 cents, or 1.8 percent, to $19 in Thursday 4 p.m. composite trading on the New York Stock Exchange. And according to research firm eMarketer Inc., AOL’s ad revenues dropped 26 percent in 2010, while the overall online ad market grew around 14 percent. AOL has steadily lost market share to rivals Google Inc. and Facebook Inc.

      AOL CEO Tim Armstrong said he expects AOL’s online advertising business to start growing again during the second half of the year.

      “AOL remains in the middle of the disruption that the Internet is causing and we are starting to move from being a disrupted brand to a brand that is leading the disruption,” Mr. Armstrong said in his memo. “The changes we are making are not easy, but they are the right changes for the long-term health of the company, the brand, and for our employees.”

      After all is said and done, AOL will employ about 4,000 people. This figure does not include staff that currently work for AOL’s local Patch news sites, which recently hired 1,200 new employees.

      Your Business, Your Workplace

      Benefits of an Engineering Degree

      March 9, 2011 /

      Engineer

      Everyone wants to get paid what they’re worth, right? Well, engineering graduates have the opportunity to do just that, and then some. Engineering graduates have the potential to earn $72,490-$108,020 per year and they also have a wide variety of specialty areas to choose from including:

      -Aerospace, Agricultural, Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Computer Hardware
      -Electrical, Electronics, Environmental, Health and Safety, Industrial, Marine
      -Materials, Mechanical, Mining and Geological, Mining Safety, Nuclear
      -Petroleum

      Earnings could be even more depending on specialty. For example, at a median annual wage of $108,020, petroleum engineers earn the highest salaries in the industry, followed by computer hardware engineers at $97,400, and nuclear engineers at $97,080 annually. 

      Salary is only one advantage to pursuing a career in engineering. The industry is stable and growing. Although job growth is expected in all specialty areas, except chemical engineering, job growth for biomedical engineering is projected at 72 percent for the 2008-2018 decade. For environmental engineering, employment growth is 31 percent, civil engineering is 24 percent, and petroleum engineering is around 18 percent. 

      Although stressful at times, particularly when a deadline must be met, overall, the work environment for engineers is pleasant and well suited for the tasks at hand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,

      Most engineers work in office buildings, laboratories, or industrial plants. Others may spend time outdoors at construction sites and oil and gas exploration and production sites, where they monitor or direct operations or solve onsite problems. Some engineers travel extensively to plants or worksites here and abroad. Many engineers work a standard 40-hour week.

      If you would like to earn an engineering degree, you should enroll in an engineering program at an accredited college, university, or technical school. Some of the top accrediting agencies are:

      -The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
      -The Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
      -Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
      -Accrediting Commission for Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT)
      -Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS)
      -Distance Education Training Council (DETC)
      -Council on Occupational Education (COE)

      The top regional accrediting agencies include:

      -Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
      -New England Association of Schools and Colleges
      -North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
      -Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
      -Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
      -Western Association of Schools and Colleges

      Before enrolling in any engineering degree program, whether traditional or online, make sure the accrediting agency is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

      IT ENGINEER

      If you’re curious about what it takes to earn an engineering degree, below is a partial list of required courses for most engineering programs. 

      -Analysis Tools for Engineers
      -Applied Chemistry for Biomedical Engineering
      -Biological Foundations
      -Calculus
      -Cell and Molecular Biology
      -Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
      -Electrical Circuits
      -Engineering Design
      -Engineering Mechanics
      -General Chemistry
      -General Physics
      -Linear Algebra and Vector Analysis for Engineers
      -Mechanics of Materials
      -Methods of Differential Equations
      -Physiological Processes
      -Transport Phenomena

      For more information about engineering careers, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics at Bls.gov. For information about top engineering programs in the U.S. and abroad, visit The Princeton Review at Princetonreview.com.

      Uncategorized

      Game Technology and Career Night at Google

      March 8, 2011 /

      Computer Gaming

      The Silicon Valley Chapter of the International Game Developers Association (SV IGDA) will host a night of career talks, new technology demonstrations, and match-ups with potential employers at Google. According to Mercury News, the event is for game industry professionals and technology professionals (web clients/server and mobile and console developers). So,

      If you are interested in looking at new technologies, platforms and talking directly to companies developing and in some cases looking for new team members, then this event is crafted for you.

      Speakers, presenters, and sponsors include:

      A Bit Lucky
      Arrival Games 
      Be-Rad Entertainment
      Bioroid Studios  
      D2SGames
      Dragon Age Legends 
      Electronic Arts will be presenting
      Fancy Pants Adventures
      Gamebuilder Studio 
      Google Game Developer Liason Ian Ni-Lewis
      Great Big Enterprise
      Huggy Hearts
      Idle Games 
      Jump Core Productions 
      Kabam
      Lolapps
      Mary-Margaret Walker: Career Visionary and CEO, Mary-Margaret Network
      Misfits AtticsOpen Feint
      Paypal
      Radium One
      YoXi123 founder Shirly Lin

      The event is free and will take place on Wednesday March 16, 2011 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. PST at Google, 1400 Crittenden Lane, Mountain View, CA, 94043. You have to register online in order to attend. The fastest way to register is through Eventbrite.com. For email inquiries, try caughtthinking@gmail.com.

      Your Career

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