Author : Amy NuttWhether landing a job that is permanent or temporary, you must have a resume that fits the position so that you can land the job If you are one of those individuals who seeks out just temporary positions, then using the same resume for each job is not going to suffice Some very important points can be missed in that resume, so it is important that you know how to write resumes for temporary positions

Here is how you are going to construct your resume:

Use a high quality paper Office supply stores and department stores carry resume paper, which is of a higher stock and very professional

Make sure you understand the job description You need to point out the areas in the job description that you are qualified to do So study it well so that you can apply what you read to your resume

Go ahead and lay out your resume, starting with your objectives, your past job experience, your educational background, skills, volunteer experience, any licenses or publications, and references

Now you’re going to fill in the gaps Your objective is what you hope to accomplish by acquiring the position Your skills are about any skills that you have acquired, such as computer skills and customer service skills If you have ever volunteered for anything, make sure you include that because it shows how diverse you are Adding references is also a great way to add to your credibility

When it comes to the work experience section, this is where you need to be careful This is where you are to take what you evaluated in the job description and highlight what you have done in past jobs that apply to the job description You want to emphasize that you are able to do the job that you are wishing to acquire

In the education section, you want to record your education If you were in clubs or involved in certain activities, make sure you list those things to add to your qualifications You’ll be surprised how much this can help

When you package up the resume, make sure you don’t staple it or paper clip it together It is very important that the resume remain in perfect condition If you must mail the resume, make sure you put it in a manila envelope and remove the closure prongs because the postal service will make you remove them anyway

The goal of creating such a resume is to show the employer that you are the best candidate for the job Imagine submitting the same resume to every possible employer and how you could be missing some very valuable points on your resume Unfortunately, this is a mistake that nearly everyone makes They simply put everything they possibly can on the resume in hopes that something will stand out to the potential employer

It is important to realize that employers scan resumes before they fully read them They are looking for something that stands out to them and it’s not so much fancy fonts and pretty borders They are looking at the text of the resume to see if there is a skill or qualification that you have that will really get the job done for them

Although this seems like a lot of work, make sure you put in that time That is how you are going to be able to land your temporary jobs almost every single time In the end, the time you put in is worth it You’ll be doing a great temporary job in no time and you’ll have a lot of fun doing it Temp Agency offering staff solutions and HR Consulting company that will help to reach your business’ objective.

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Author : Amy NuttHave you ever had a job interview where you wondered why in the world the prospective employer was asking certain questions that you thought were strange? If you thought they were strange, then you were probably right There are certain questions that shouldn’t be asked during a job interview As a matter of fact, federal law prohibits an employer from asking questions that are not relevant to the job All questions should be related to the job and not used to gather personal information

Here are some of the questions that you should not be asked during an interview, but employers tend to do it anyway:

What is your ethnicity?
What is your sexual orientation?
What is your religion?
Do you attend church services regularly?
Where were you born?
How old are you?
Do you have any disabilities?
Are you married?
Do you have children?

All of these questions have nothing to do with the job The employer may ask if you have adequate transportation to get back and forth to work, but that is relevant to the job It is relevant because your job depends on you being able to be there The employer wants to make sure you can fulfill your obligation each day

As for whether or not you have children or you are married, those questions are not relevant to the job Most adults do have children and most adults do have a significant other There are also many adults who don’t have these things Employers are not allowed to discriminate against you because you do have children

Actually, an employer is not allowed to discriminate against you for anything at all Many good candidates could be passed up due to discrimination Everyone is to have an equal chance at getting the job regardless of their personal circumstances

Unfortunately, there are still employers asking these questions and they are getting by with it They have been known to ask questions such as, “Will your children get in the way of your job responsibilities?” They may even ask, “Do you have adequate childcare so that you can carry out your job duties?” These questions are not needed Now, an employer may ask a question, such as “Are you physically capable to carry out the job duties?” This is a viable question for the fact that some jobs require heavy lifting or have other physical demands If a person is not able to carry out those physical demands, then they may find that performing their job is very difficult If someone says they are able to fulfill the physical demands, but they don’t, then they could lose their job This question cannot be considered a “disability” question

If you find that you are being asked illegal questions in a job interview, it may be in your best interest to turn down a job offer If they want to know why, there is nothing wrong with telling them that their questions were too personal If they are going to ask you such questions during a job interview, then it is hard to tell how personal things would get when actually doing the job You could be treading on shallow water and find yourself in a job that you would not like

When you call an employer out on their illegal questions, you may be opening their eyes to what it is they are doing Then again, you may not be Just know that an employer that asks illegal questions is not exactly the type of employer you want to dedicate your time to English School offering to free English Lessons to help the students to improve their communication skills. Also visit our resume format section.

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Author : Hannah HopkinsIt’s no secret that we are in the middle of a recession Here in Austin we are faring better than many, but recession or not, business large and small are looking for ways to cut costs VOIP technology is one way business can achieve this
You can’t turn on the TV, open a newspaper, or surf the web these days without more bad news about the economy It’s no secret that we are in the middle of a recession Here in Austin we are faring better than many, but recession or not, businesses large and small are looking for ways to cut costs VOIP technology is one way business can achieve this Advances in technology tend to make our lives easier, and these efficiencies also save us money Voice over internet protocol, or VOIP, is one such technology If you aren’t familiar, VOIP is the technology that allows us to make a phone call over the internet Instead of an analog audio signal traveling over a phone line, the sound is translated into a digital data so it can travel over a broadband connection You can make calls with your computer or VOIP-enabled phone to another PC, VOIP phone, or land line You may have heard of Skype, a service that uses this technology for personal use, or here in Austin, NEC’s Aspire is an VOIP solution for businesses The benefits of this type of business phone system are many and it’s easy to see where it can save you money
- Because data is transmitted through the internet, this means you do not have to pay for an additional phone line for each individual employee Multiple users can share a single connection An entire customer service division, for example, can work off a single "line " - VOIP capabilities allow for employees to work from home This option saves the employee money on their commute, but can save you in real estate expenses Knowledge workers that don’t require much supervision, like engineers or programmers, can set up shop at home and only travel to the office for status updates or reviews - If you have mobile employees, VOIP can save you money Software like NEC’s Aspire turns any laptop into a VOIP telephone No more long distance charges, or costly cell phone bills - If you have the resources to expand your business during these tough times, the reward could be great VOIP allows you to set up small branch offices quickly with minimum hardware purchase, and there would be no need for a remote PBX Employees on the go, or those in a branch office, can connect to the business phone system via their laptop
One benefit of Aspire in particular is that that if you are not ready to switch over to VOIP all together, you can still take advantage of the technology With Aspire you can use VOIP as you see fit, when and where you need it At any point you can switch from regular circuit technology to VOIP Austin businesses find this ideal because the software eases what could be a difficult transition if attempted cold turkey Your business may be lucky enough not to be feeling the effects of the recession Regardless, voice over internet protocol is one technology that can not only make your life easier, but help your business save some money this year One solution to consider is NEC Aspire Austin businesses can benefit from the ability to transition easily and take advantage of the cost benefits of VOIP In a media swarm of negativity, this is one piece of good news you can bank on
Helen Walker. Since 2000, Telco-Data.com has provided VOIP Austin business phone systems Austin.

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Author : Richard AllenbyAs the Internet matures and worldwide audiences access the Internet, companies and webmasters alike face challenging decisions when considering the translation of their Web resources into foreign languages This is no longer a future challenge because it is estimated that more than 50% of Internet users are now non-English speakers

Translating content in two other languages represents a large investment because language translation is expensive

Some believe that translating content using computer translation software is economical and adequate to reach non-English speakers This might be true for noncritical and non-formal communications, but it is certainly not an alternative for companies that are trying to reach global audiences to sell their products and services

Technology can certainly play a part in improving translation efficiency and reducing the cost of translations The question then is, what is the best way to use technology to assist in the translation of a Web content

First, it is important to understand the complexity of large translation projects when dealing with multiple languages Imagine, for instance, that you need to translate 1000 pages into 10 different languages

You might also need to regularly update and modify parts of those pages or whole sections Every time you ad content or make a change, an order needs to be issued to 10 different translators in 10 different proofreaders

Once the transitions come back the text needs to be placed in the proper text string If you make 10 changes this involves a hundred steps to implement the change in 10 languages

The good news is that a class of software called Multilingual Website Management Systems (MWMS) available These tools are designed to ease workloads, reduce translation costs and provide greater efficiencies in the long run

These systems are sometimes integrated with translation database software to increase consistency, speed, and to reduce redundant translations and they an important competitive edge to companies that use this technology

MWMS software usually is designed to detect changes in the source language, in most cases English It then identifies the changes and initiates the appropriate workflow process and it might even estimate your transition costs up front

Selecting the right tool is perhaps the most important single step in the translation of the Web resources We have identified the 10 critical items that you must evaluate when selecting the right tool

1 Make sure that the MWMS software uses file extensions that are compatible with your current content management system

2 If you’re planning to translate your text into non-Latin script languages, make sure that the tool supports a shame in middle eastern scripts

3 Tools that have translation management database software will save you time and money They help you identify sentences in sections that have been previously translated

4 Verify that the tool has powerful image file handling capabilities

5 Tools that offer versatile text formatting options will let you customize the look of your content

6 Some of these tools have workflows that are predetermined and hard to customize Look for options that let you change and customize your workflow

7 Ask for translation process monitoring features

8 As with any other piece of software, the tool should comply with your firm’s security requirements

9 Understand the training time and costs involved for implementation in your organization

10 Tools that include a billing module will enable you to estimate transition costs before incurred Richard Alenby is the partner in Languagetran.com, a company that offers splendid language translation services for individuals and corporations. To communicate in Spanish, French and many other languages, visit his site at http://www.language-translation-service.net

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Author : Richard AllenbyProfessional translation of texts into foreign languages in an expensive proposition and buying translation services can be a frustrating experience

We have summarized tips to procure translation services from a translator or a translation agency These tips are based on suggestions from the Institute of Translation and Interpreting in London

1 Does it really need to be translated?

Many times clients request large document translations but often only a portion of a large document needs translation You may be able to trim hundreds of pages and thousands of dollars from your budget if you translate only relevant sections of the source

2 A picture is worth a thousand words

Sometimes maps, drawings, and diagrams are far more effective than verbosity so use text only when you must

3 Think “international” from the start

Avoid cultural cliches within your text and imagery that might be relevant to only one culture These only yield lengthy translated wordplays to keep the local flavor but check with your international team

4 Should you use a translation company or a freelance translator?

Both a freelance translator and a translation company can be appropriate Companies will generally charge more because of the added value of project management, quality control, file conversions, and standardized presentations for multilingual projects This price, however can ultimately save you hours of work and countless headaches

5 Translations “for information” purposes
They generally can be produced faster and more cheaply than “for publication translations ” Some translators and translation companies routinely supply “for information” translation as standard work rather than a “for publication” job

To avoid confusion, clarify what you prefer with your translation services

6 Resist the temptation to do it yourself

Speaking is not the same as writing Oral fluency does not make for smooth, stylish writing Further, in many cultures, the incorrect use of the local language is not amusing; it is insulting

7 Finalize your document before translating it

Writing a document and translating it simultaneously is not a wise idea The time spent editing and revising the translation work greatly increases your translation cost

8 Tell your translator the purpose of the translation He or she then will be able to prepare the document for maximum impact with your intended audience

9 Professional translators will work into their native language Make sure you are speaking your readers’ language No one is more qualified to ensure this than a native speaker

10 The more technical your subject, the more important your translator must know it inside out Technical translations require translator knowledge of the subject matter, the source language, and good writing skills in the target language as well as good understanding of the source language

11 Have your translation company or vendor proofread the typeset copy Typesetters are not responsible for accurate and proper text Good translation practices include a final proof from the translator

12 Take into account that typographical conventions vary from one language to another

Countries have different typographical conventions, even when they speak the same language If you need to localize text for a specific country, make sure you are following that country’s conventions

For example, numbers can be divided into thousands by a comma or by a period, depending on the country Richard Alenby is the partner in Languagetran.com, a company that offers splendid language translation services for individuals and corporations. For German translations and many other languages, visit his site at http://www.language-translation-service.net.
http://www.language-translation-service.net

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Author : David PoulosSenior management at most successful businesses have realized that their brand, and the characteristics it represents, is one of the most valuable assets they own If used properly, a powerful brand can propel a business’s profitability for years to come, guide product development, enhance revenue in a variety of ways, and drive their business’s growth But how do you know if your brand is strong, if it is being diluted or damaged, or is entirely corrupt and even damaging?

Through our work with a host of national companies and a wide variety of brands, we have developed some tools we use to assess the strength of a brand, highlight potential weak spots, and reveal opportunities based on the results of some test questions These were developed and vetted through one-to-one, lengthy interview research conducted over years, with customers of service, product, consumer and b-to-b purveyors Each was refined and adjusted to meet the specific type of business, and then the data aligned along four quadrants using a multi-variant matrix to correct for industry and business model differences

If answered honestly, these questions are structured to inform brand managers, marketing VPs, and senior management where things can be strengthened and where they can be capitalized upon for great effect You can apply this same test (except for some proprietary differences) to your brand and do your own quick assessment The more times you perform the test within your group of stakeholders, the more accurate it becomes, as more data points will tend to bring out strong linkages and commonalities within your organization It can be segmented by department, to give you a read on how your brand info filters through various lenses internally based on job function Or you can split it by job responsibility or title strata to determine whether your brand ideals have filtered down from the top or originate at the bottom

Now the real question is, if you score below 40, what can you do to increase your score and strengthen your brand At least some answers can be found in an analysis of the data from these questions as well A follow-up article to this one coming next time will provide some insights as to how to use the data to get the job done quickly and cost-effectively For now, on to the test:

Answer all 25 of the following questions in the following way
- Assign a 1 if the answer is “Never”
- Assign a 2 if the answer is “Sometimes”
- Assign a 3 if the answer is “Almost Always”
- Assign a 4 if the answer is “Absolutely Always”

Total the responses and score your brand’s power, integration and saturation based on these ranges:

25 - 40 - Brand is not well integrated and is vulnerable to pirating or may be damaged easily
41 - 55 - Brand needs support both internally and externally, not doing you as much good as it could be
56 - 75 - Brand is solid, but could use some polishing Review with staff, add weight to priority scale
76 - 100 - Brand is strong Lower end of scale (below 85) needs additional buffing; above 90, you could see through this company the brand is so well represented and transparent

TEST QUESTIONS
1 We actively investigate what is important to our customers, using research,
face-to-face interviews, questionnaires, suggestion boxes, etc

2 We understand how our customers feel about our products and services

3 We judge the effectiveness of our brand in terms of how it looks and feels to our customers - not how it seems to us

4 We understand the attitudes of our customers and their changing views and needs

5 We don’t have to discount prices in order to attract and keep our customers

6 Our customers can state quite clearly and simply what is important about our brand to them, and why they think it is different

7 Our communication plan includes all the various places and ways in which we interact with our customers

8 We have aligned our organizational structure, operations and culture with our brand values

9 We understand what differentiates our brand from our competitors

10 Everyone in our organization knows what our brand stands for and can articulate that idea simply and clearly

11 Everyone in our organization knows what they have to do to deliver on our brand promise

12 Our communications, marketing, service delivery, finance and HR functions are all aligned with our brand objectives

13 Branding is championed throughout our organization, from the CEO down

14 Strengthening and protecting the company’s brand is a fundamental driver behind our organization’s long-term goals

15 We have a brand management program in place that is continually looking for new and more effective ways to protect and enhance our brand throughout the organization

16 Accounts quantifying the value of our brand to our business are included in our financial systems

17 Details of our brand and the strategy that drives it are well documented and that information is available to those who need and desire it

18 All key stakeholders are involved in our brand creation process

19 Our company has systems in place for carefully monitoring the appropriateness, timeliness, integration and consistency of our branded communications

20 We view brand as applying to far more than just our visual identity and our marketing communications

21 Our brand includes not just our core organization but also our partners and key third party suppliers

22 We regard our brand agency(ies) as our strategic partner(s) and actively involve them in organizational and communications planning and review sessions

23 Our marketing and communications team have an integrated understanding of our brand and are in constant communication over brand-related activities and issues

24 The consistency of our brand is paramount It reaches way beyond just tactical brand campaigns and it is deeper than even key personnel changes

25 If our brand did not exist, the vast majority of our customers would notice our absence and really miss having us in their lives David Poulos, Chief Consultant at Granite Partners has been offering marketing guidance to firms for over 25 years. Specialties include non-profit marketing and full-scale strategic marketing campaigns. He can be reached at http://www.granite-part.com, or 410-472-4570.

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