Wednesday, February 20, 2013
E-books and Digital Books, what now?!
E books and digital books are gaining momentum. Universities are “embracing” the digital textbook and the majority of these Universities are upper echelon institutions whose student body can afford to take the risk of using a piece of technology that can possibly fail mechanically or the school can afford to provide the technology to the student body. The majority of higher education enrollment in the U.S. can be found in the Community College sector, the students who attend these institutions are less likely to use the digital media based on the financial reasons alone. The fact is, e-books are just as over priced as textbooks and coupled with the cost of either having to purchase a laptop or a digital reader the Community College student just isn’t going to jump at this technology due to lack of funds.
Save Your Way Through College
by: Guest Post
As tuitions rise and state governments continue to cut budgets for higher education, seeing your way through college is becoming more and more challenging. You can either spend less or make more, preferably both. Here are some suggestions you might want to take a look at.
Spend Less
As tuitions rise and state governments continue to cut budgets for higher education, seeing your way through college is becoming more and more challenging. You can either spend less or make more, preferably both. Here are some suggestions you might want to take a look at.
Spend Less
- Choose the right college and major – Tuition fees take the biggest bite out of a college student’s budget. PayScale 2012 rankings show big differences between private and public schools, as well as learning institutions by state. For instance, a Liberal Arts education at Lewis & Clark College (private) can cost you over $189,000 while one at Northern State University (public) will set you back by only $95,000 even if you’re out-of-state.
- Look for grants and scholarships – Fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid at your school. Many colleges offer grants based on a student’s merit and need. Find out about institutional scholarships available at your university. Surf the web for government scholarships or contact organizations involved in your major field of study for third-party scholarships.
- Stick to federal loans – If you must take out a loan, avail of the lower interest rates of federal loans. They have easier repayment terms and some are interest-free as long as you’re enrolled.
- Rent textbooks or buy used ones – Textbooks and school supplies are another major item in a college budget. For both printed or ebooks, rent instead of buying. If you must buy, look for used books in college bookstores or over the internet. Keep the books you bought in good condition and sell them after you’re finished.
- Be a smart shopper – Food bills can eat up a lot of the budget. Look for bargains and discounts; make use of coupons and choose fresh foods over packaged items. Eat out during “happy hour”.
- Get student discounts from sites such as StudentsAdvantage.com. Save money on food, travel, school supplies and more.
- When you’re in the need for clothes, second hand shops, thrift stores and even yard sales can be a gold mine.
- Live rent free – If you can live at home with your parents or relatives rent free, by all means you should do so. An alternative for rent free accommodation is to find a house sitting job. House sitting is where home owners planning a trip or vacation, engage someone to live in and take care of their property and pets.
- Get paid for freelance writing. Sign up at sites like CollegeCopywriters.com where you can select writing assignments that match your skills.
- If you have special skills like fixing computers, repairing gadgets or even cars, earn extra income by putting your skills to work.
- Be a tutor. If Maths, Science or English is your strength, you can earn money tutoring students who need help.
- Find a part-time job – Use your spare time to work as a waiter, messenger, guitar player or whatever is available. One good way is to get a house sitting job which not only provides rent free accommodation but also pays for maintaining the property.
Resume....Resume....Resume....
You don’t need to be told that the job market is tough for new grads. You probably have friends looking for work or you may be looking yourself. The pressure to obtain full-time employment is powerful and can tempt those struggling to turn to less than savory means to distinguish themselves as job applicants. The phrase “resume padding” might sound harmless, but make no mistake in thinking it means anything other than “lying”. Calling a day of volunteering a semester’s worth of volunteer work? Changing your old job title from “representative” to “supervisor”? Those are lies.
You might think that a resume lie can only hurt you in the short term and that if you can just get your foot in the door and “fake it till you make it” you’ll be able to put the lie behind you. The integrity of your resume, however, has repercussions that extend far beyond any one job application or interview. Your resume is your first “introduction” to a potential employer and so it sets the tone for the impression you make. Ultimately, your resume is the foundation of your employability and as such you can’t afford to have any cracks in it.
Here are five ways resumes lies can hurt you:
1. Lies create more work for you
Lies typically require you to tell more lies to support them. If you fabricate a job title and put down “supervisor” what are you going to tell an employer when they ask about your supervising experience? More lies. With each additional fabrication your deceit becomes more difficult to maintain and it increases the chances you’ll get caught. Just look at the recent case of chemist Annie Dookhan: an initial resume lie about her education spiraled out of control as her web of deceit grew over the years in attempt to support the false identity she had created for herself.
2. There’s a good chance you’ll get caught
Employers can afford to be picky in today’s competitive environment – for every job opening there are hundreds of applicants waiting to fill it. If you make it to the final rounds of an interview you will face a high level of scrutiny. Your references will get called and an employer may even seek to independently verify your work and education history through a company like Virtrue. The Internet has made the world a much smaller place and it’s never been easier for employers to spot applicant lies with a little bit of online research.
3. A single lie can torpedo your career down the road
As the saying goes, trust takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair. A resume lie can instantly break that trust in the workplace, no matter when or where you told the lie. Former Yahoo! CEO Scott Thompson learned this lesson the hard way after the company fired him when they learned that he never received a computer science degree (as he had claimed for years at various companies). Decades of solid, proven job performance and promotions can be instantly undone by the discovery of a single lie in your resume, past or present.
4. Lies create unrealistic employer expectations
Employers hire applicants based on their skills and experiences with the expectation that they will perform at equivalent levels. Claiming skills or proficiencies on your resume that you don’t actually possess sets you up for failure in the workplace. If you’re hired, your overall performance will suffer as you try to learn these skills on the fly, not to mention it will be painfully clear to your new employer that you’re not cut out for the job.
5. Lies can cost you references
Personal references are often one of your biggest assets as a job applicant, especially if they can introduce you to a potential employer. Jeopardizing the trust your personal references have placed in you by lying on your resume is doubly foolish: it can not only cost you the job, but it can cost you your reference as well, making it even more difficult to land that next job.
We know it’s tough out there, but we urge you to steer clear of padding your resume. A lie on your resume can reverberate well beyond any single job application and set you up for professional failure in the long term. Instead of weakening the foundation of your employability with lies, try strengthening it with real experience. If you don’t have a needed skill for a job then take a class or online course or teach yourself. If you don’t have relevant experience then do an internship or volunteer work on the side. Showing initiative and a desire to improve yourself as a job candidate will set you apart as an applicant. Good luck!
You might think that a resume lie can only hurt you in the short term and that if you can just get your foot in the door and “fake it till you make it” you’ll be able to put the lie behind you. The integrity of your resume, however, has repercussions that extend far beyond any one job application or interview. Your resume is your first “introduction” to a potential employer and so it sets the tone for the impression you make. Ultimately, your resume is the foundation of your employability and as such you can’t afford to have any cracks in it.
Here are five ways resumes lies can hurt you:
1. Lies create more work for you
Lies typically require you to tell more lies to support them. If you fabricate a job title and put down “supervisor” what are you going to tell an employer when they ask about your supervising experience? More lies. With each additional fabrication your deceit becomes more difficult to maintain and it increases the chances you’ll get caught. Just look at the recent case of chemist Annie Dookhan: an initial resume lie about her education spiraled out of control as her web of deceit grew over the years in attempt to support the false identity she had created for herself.
2. There’s a good chance you’ll get caught
Employers can afford to be picky in today’s competitive environment – for every job opening there are hundreds of applicants waiting to fill it. If you make it to the final rounds of an interview you will face a high level of scrutiny. Your references will get called and an employer may even seek to independently verify your work and education history through a company like Virtrue. The Internet has made the world a much smaller place and it’s never been easier for employers to spot applicant lies with a little bit of online research.
3. A single lie can torpedo your career down the road
As the saying goes, trust takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair. A resume lie can instantly break that trust in the workplace, no matter when or where you told the lie. Former Yahoo! CEO Scott Thompson learned this lesson the hard way after the company fired him when they learned that he never received a computer science degree (as he had claimed for years at various companies). Decades of solid, proven job performance and promotions can be instantly undone by the discovery of a single lie in your resume, past or present.
4. Lies create unrealistic employer expectations
Employers hire applicants based on their skills and experiences with the expectation that they will perform at equivalent levels. Claiming skills or proficiencies on your resume that you don’t actually possess sets you up for failure in the workplace. If you’re hired, your overall performance will suffer as you try to learn these skills on the fly, not to mention it will be painfully clear to your new employer that you’re not cut out for the job.
5. Lies can cost you references
Personal references are often one of your biggest assets as a job applicant, especially if they can introduce you to a potential employer. Jeopardizing the trust your personal references have placed in you by lying on your resume is doubly foolish: it can not only cost you the job, but it can cost you your reference as well, making it even more difficult to land that next job.
We know it’s tough out there, but we urge you to steer clear of padding your resume. A lie on your resume can reverberate well beyond any single job application and set you up for professional failure in the long term. Instead of weakening the foundation of your employability with lies, try strengthening it with real experience. If you don’t have a needed skill for a job then take a class or online course or teach yourself. If you don’t have relevant experience then do an internship or volunteer work on the side. Showing initiative and a desire to improve yourself as a job candidate will set you apart as an applicant. Good luck!
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Oh, LOVE is in the air!
On Valentine's Day, the town is painted red -- balloons, stickers, cupcakes, you name it. Shops overflow with red dresses, red roses, and red handbags. You see lovers walking hand in hand, basking in new love. Clubs, discos and other favorite hangouts are teeming with young couples, looking for a moment of togetherness. Then again, couples in love need not be young or drop dead gorgeous. Valentine's Day looks beyond differences, and celebrates love in all its avatars. Pablo Picasso declared, "Love is the greatest refreshment in life." This Valentine's Day quote is a splendid argument in favor of the annual day of romance.
Say "I Love You" Before It is Too Late Have you been secretly in love with a cute boy at school? Do you want to say, "I love you" to a special girl at work? Don't bottle your feelings. Make the move on Valentine's Day. Keeping your feelings to yourself will get you nowhere. The secret admirer always loses out to the outspoken lover. If you are too shy to put your infatuation into words, this collection of Valentine's Day quotes will help. Get out of your comfort zone. Use an ultra-romantic quote to woo the person of your dreams. Try this one by Claudia Ghandi, "If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I could walk forever in my garden." Die-hard romantics will adore this one.
Don't Forget to Wish Your Sweetheart Happy Valentine's Day Each year on Valentine's Day, many couples end up in verbal battles because one partner forgets all about Valentine's Day. Naturally, the peeved partner feels upset and hurt. Do you often give Valentine's Day a miss? Do you generally look sheepish when your spouse gifts you something wonderful, and all you have to offer is a grocery bag? Make a promise to remember V-Day this year. Highlight it on your planner. Put a reminder on your phone. Ask a friend to give you a timely nudge.
Shower Your Dearest With Gifts and Sweet Words Better yet, buy Valentine's Day gifts in advance. If you still end up forgetting, make it up to your partner. Muster up your romantic gene. Cook a romantic dinner. Plan an intimate getaway. Bring the guitar out of retirement, and serenade your partner with Aerosmith's "Falling in love is so hard on the knees." Maybe even use some extra-mushy love quotes, or write a love letter.
Appreciate Friends and Family The Valentine's Day story is closely associated with romantic love. However, the day of love is also an opportunity to appreciate friends and family. While you are looking at Valentine's Day messages and cards for your lover, pick up a few for your near and dear ones too. Express your love to the people who are always there for you, ready to share your joys and sorrows. They are always pushing you to greater heights. A quote by German thinker Johann Wolfgang von Goethe deserves special mention here. He said, "Love does not dominate; it cultivates." You will find many more such insightful Valentine's Day quotes for friends in my pages.
Spread the Love Even if Cupid's arrow has not yet struck, spread the message of love. One of my favorite love quotations is, "Love means nothing in tennis, but it's everything in life." Nevertheless, not having a significant other is not the end of the world. Think about all the other wonderful people in your life – friends, family, colleagues, teachers. If geographical distance separates you, send a text message, or take the e-card route. Better yet, pick up the phone and wish your favorite folks, "Happy Valentine's Day." Spread the love by volunteering at an orphanage, old age home or a soup kitchen. Make someone happy.
Valentine's Day for Singles Being single on Valentine's Day is a bummer. However, there are plus points to being unattached on the day of love. If you do not want to mope around at home, gather up your single friends and set out for a night in town. A fun dinner, loads of conversation, and maybe some dancing, could leave you feeling bubbly again. Revel in your single status.
Anti-Valentine's Day Brigade Then again, Valentine's Day is not for everyone. A quick look around you will reveal two types of people – one, that adores Valentine's Day, and the other one that hates it. If you belong to the Anti-Valentine brigade, cock a snook at the love charlatans with these anti-Valentine's Day sayings. As Jay Leno put it, "Today is Valentine's Day. Or, as men like to call it, extortion day."
Show Off Your Sense of Humor If you are looking to impress, use some Valentine's Day humor. Why limit Valentine's Day to sickly sweet and embarrassingly sappy messages? If you cannot think up funny Valentine's Day quotes, borrow from the greats. The ever-funny George Bernard Shaw wrote, "The perfect love affair is one which is conducted entirely by post."
Say "I Love You" Before It is Too Late Have you been secretly in love with a cute boy at school? Do you want to say, "I love you" to a special girl at work? Don't bottle your feelings. Make the move on Valentine's Day. Keeping your feelings to yourself will get you nowhere. The secret admirer always loses out to the outspoken lover. If you are too shy to put your infatuation into words, this collection of Valentine's Day quotes will help. Get out of your comfort zone. Use an ultra-romantic quote to woo the person of your dreams. Try this one by Claudia Ghandi, "If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I could walk forever in my garden." Die-hard romantics will adore this one.
Don't Forget to Wish Your Sweetheart Happy Valentine's Day Each year on Valentine's Day, many couples end up in verbal battles because one partner forgets all about Valentine's Day. Naturally, the peeved partner feels upset and hurt. Do you often give Valentine's Day a miss? Do you generally look sheepish when your spouse gifts you something wonderful, and all you have to offer is a grocery bag? Make a promise to remember V-Day this year. Highlight it on your planner. Put a reminder on your phone. Ask a friend to give you a timely nudge.
Shower Your Dearest With Gifts and Sweet Words Better yet, buy Valentine's Day gifts in advance. If you still end up forgetting, make it up to your partner. Muster up your romantic gene. Cook a romantic dinner. Plan an intimate getaway. Bring the guitar out of retirement, and serenade your partner with Aerosmith's "Falling in love is so hard on the knees." Maybe even use some extra-mushy love quotes, or write a love letter.
Appreciate Friends and Family The Valentine's Day story is closely associated with romantic love. However, the day of love is also an opportunity to appreciate friends and family. While you are looking at Valentine's Day messages and cards for your lover, pick up a few for your near and dear ones too. Express your love to the people who are always there for you, ready to share your joys and sorrows. They are always pushing you to greater heights. A quote by German thinker Johann Wolfgang von Goethe deserves special mention here. He said, "Love does not dominate; it cultivates." You will find many more such insightful Valentine's Day quotes for friends in my pages.
Spread the Love Even if Cupid's arrow has not yet struck, spread the message of love. One of my favorite love quotations is, "Love means nothing in tennis, but it's everything in life." Nevertheless, not having a significant other is not the end of the world. Think about all the other wonderful people in your life – friends, family, colleagues, teachers. If geographical distance separates you, send a text message, or take the e-card route. Better yet, pick up the phone and wish your favorite folks, "Happy Valentine's Day." Spread the love by volunteering at an orphanage, old age home or a soup kitchen. Make someone happy.
Valentine's Day for Singles Being single on Valentine's Day is a bummer. However, there are plus points to being unattached on the day of love. If you do not want to mope around at home, gather up your single friends and set out for a night in town. A fun dinner, loads of conversation, and maybe some dancing, could leave you feeling bubbly again. Revel in your single status.
Anti-Valentine's Day Brigade Then again, Valentine's Day is not for everyone. A quick look around you will reveal two types of people – one, that adores Valentine's Day, and the other one that hates it. If you belong to the Anti-Valentine brigade, cock a snook at the love charlatans with these anti-Valentine's Day sayings. As Jay Leno put it, "Today is Valentine's Day. Or, as men like to call it, extortion day."
Show Off Your Sense of Humor If you are looking to impress, use some Valentine's Day humor. Why limit Valentine's Day to sickly sweet and embarrassingly sappy messages? If you cannot think up funny Valentine's Day quotes, borrow from the greats. The ever-funny George Bernard Shaw wrote, "The perfect love affair is one which is conducted entirely by post."
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