College, Career, Life » online

How to Stand Out Online with a Common Name

collegecareerlife — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:23:49 +0000

It was Shakespeare who wrote “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet”; but perhaps the great bard failed to foresee a future in which the uniqueness of your name determined if you stood out in a crowded space or just blended into the vast ocean of anonymity. Today, with the sheer numbers of people who are online, it would take a unique name to stand out on search engine lists. But then, it’s not just your name that determines who you are, as anyone who has achieved fame (or notoriety) on the web will tell you; it’s also what you do and how well you do it that get you noticed.

There’s no such thing as bad publicity as any PR person would tell you – if you have it, flaunt it even if it’s not your most positive asset; all you need to do is get tongues wagging for people to remember you. Just look at all the scandals that travel like lightning through the Internet grapevine – they’re the fastest and most definite ways to make the news. However, if you’re looking to make a name for yourself on a positive note, then you have to work on achieving this through a different angle.

It’s not easy to stand out in a crowded place like the Internet unless you’re already a celebrity or well-established with your own domain name. If you’re a late starter, here are a few tips to help you stand out online even though you share your name with a million others:

Piggyback on controversy: You don’t have to create controversy, but you can learn how to use it to your advantage. For example, if the net is all agog with a scandal, use this news to boost your blog or social network profile. Don’t just say the same things that others are saying; instead, find a new angle to work on and focus on making your copy as interesting and unique as possible.
Provide information: Everybody loves freebies, so if you can use your online space to promote deals and bargains, provide relevant and timely information, and generally give people something in return (tangible or intangible) for visiting your site, you could make a name for yourself in the online world.
Keep it fresh: And finally, no one likes stale content, so keep your online space as fresh as possible with regular updates that are both interesting and entertaining. The success of this strategy depends to a large extent on the niche your blog is in and in how knowledgeable you are in the subject.

Admittedly, it’s a pretty uphill task to make a mark for yourself among the millions of people online, especially if you’re burdened (or blessed) with a name that’s as common as a weed in a garden; however, with just a little planning and application, you can ensure that your voice is heard even above the regular online din.

This guest post is contributed by Evelyn Dugan, who writes on the site earn a degree online. Contact Evelyn at her email id: evelyn.dugan83[at]gmail[.]com.

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Post tags: name, networking, online

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You CAN Find a Job Online – Here's How

collegecareerlife — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 01:33:04 +0000

Although many jobs are obtained through networking, not everyone has the necessary connections to secure a job this way. It may seem as if your resume falls into a black hole when you respond to online job listings. However, with patience, persistence, and a little luck, you can find a job online. As you search, keep the following tips in mind:

Tailor your resume to the position

Every position requires a different combination of skills and qualifications. Hiring managers can usually tell the difference between a generic resume and one that fits the specific position they’re trying to fill. You may need several versions of your resume in order to demonstrate the right skills and experience for each position.

Learn to spot the real jobs

A lot of job listings are actually advertisements for training programs in disguise. Other listings are scams meant to steal your money or your identity. A legitimate job listing will have detailed qualifications and responsibilities, and it won’t require you to send any money. Read Five Job Scam Red Flags to learn the common signs of a scam.

Apply early

A lot of job advertisements are left up long after the position is filled, so you have a much greater chance of getting your application seen if you apply soon after an ad is posted. One way to keep up with the latest job listings is to sign up for daily emails or RSS feeds from your favorite job boards.

Go to the company site

It’s fine to use the job boards to find out who’s hiring and to post your resume, but go directly to the company website to apply for specific jobs. Hiring managers like to know you were interested enough in the company to visit the it’s job page, and you might miss a step in the application process if you simply submit a resume through a job board.

Use keywords

Keywords can include job titles, software programs, acronyms, certifications, skills, and industry buzzwords. Hiring managers (or computer programs) scan resumes looking for keywords. What keywords are used in the job listing? What are some common keywords used in your industry? Those are the words that should appear in your resume.

Your search shouldn’t be limited to the Internet, but online job boards provide efficient methods of viewing and applying to openings. Finding a job online requires as much effort as any other job search method. Tailoring your resume, using keywords, avoiding scams, and applying early are a few techniques that will help you land your new job online.

For more job search tips, read Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0: 1,001 Unconventional Tips, Tricks and Tactics for Landing Your Dream Job

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Seek Learning Offers Variety of Online Learning Options

collegecareerlife — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 10:54:11 +0000

The global economy combined with rapidly changing technologies require workers to constantly update their skills in order to remain competitive. Online courses offer convenient and flexible options for professionals looking to obtain additional education and training.

TAFE Courses

Whether you have a degree or not, certification serves as proof of your expertise in a specific area. A certificate or diploma can give you an edge over other candidates in the job search or increase your chances of promotion at your current job. TAFE Courses offer convenient diploma and certification programs for a variety of fields, including:

Accounting - Accountants work in government, healthcare, non-profit, and a variety of other industries. A certificate in Financial Services III (Accounts Clerical) or Financial Services IV (Accounting) will give you the educational foundation necessary to succeed in a high-demand field. Diploma and advanced diploma options are also available.

Design and Digital Media - A certificate or diploma in commercial arts will qualify you for jobs such as illustrator, graphic designer, animator, and art director. Concentrations offered include graphic design and desktop publishing; graphic design and advertising; photoimaging; electronic design and interactive media; and interior decoration

Health and Community Services - An aging population means increased demand for health care workers. If you’d like a secure job that allows you to directly help others, consider a certificate or diploma in health care services. Aged care, mental health, case management and occupational health/safety are some areas of concentration available.

Project Management - The field of information technology is growing rapidly and skilled workers are in high demand. A Diploma of Information Technology (Project Management) will provide you with the skills required for project management positions in information technology.

Other TAFE course areas include Natural Therapies; Education and Childcare; HR & Recruitment; Marketing and Media; Banking and Finance; Psychology and Counseling; Travel and Tourism; Sports and Fitness; Real Estate; Government and Legal; Building and Construction; and Management. With so many options, you can definitely find a course to suit your interest and career goals.

With an online education, you can gain skills and knowledge necessary to remain competitive in the workforce without the inconveniences of a traditional college or university. Before starting an online course, be sure to do your research. Talk to a school representative about your options, inquire about accreditation, and research financial aid availability.

This post was sponsored by Seek Learning of Australia.

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Post tags: education, online, skills

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College, Career, Life Named Top Job Hunting Blog!

collegecareerlife — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 01:23:35 +0000

College, Career, Life has been named a top job hunting blog by OnlineSchools.org! You can read the full list of top job hunting blogs here. Thank you, Online Schools, for including College, Career, Life in your list!

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Post tags: jobs, list, online, schools

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Remington College Online Accounting Degree Program

collegecareerlife — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:20:44 +0000

Today’s most in-demand, well-paying jobs require a college education. But if you work full-time or don’t live near a college campus, a college degree may seem out of reach. Fortunately, there are reputable online schools that can provide you with the skills you need to advance in your career.

The online accounting degree program at Remington College will prepare you for a career in banking, international accounting, taxation, and many other business fields. The accounting program at Remington College includes courses in leadership, business ethics, marketing, entrepreneurship, principles of taxation, managerial accounting, cost accounting, and advanced accounting. In as little as 36 months, you can complete your degree and be qualified for a career in a variety of business specialties.

Remington College Online offers accessibility, flexibility and support for non-traditional students. Your courses, including lectures, will be available 24/7 through the Moodle user platform. You’ll be able to communicate with your instructors and other students through a discussion forum and user community links.

As an online student at Remington College, you’ll also be able to choose ebooks over paper-based textbooks for some of your courses. Using the eBrary learning resource, you can create a personal bookshelf and add research tools. The InfoTrac learning resource will give you access to an article database of over 75 million articles from a variety of publications. You can highlight, bookmark, and download the articles whenever you need them.

If you want to try out online learning before making a full commitment, Remington College Online offers a free orientation session where you can familiarize yourself with the online learning environment. Your orientation will include a welcome session, policies and procedures, a section on research and writing, strategies for success, and information on getting help.

For more information about the online accounting degree program at Remington College, visit the Remington College website to request more information or to talk to an admissions representative.

This post is sponsored by Remington College Online.

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Post tags: business, college, degree, education, online, Remington College

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Meet Sara Lopez, New Media Star

collegecareerlife — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:31:17 +0000

Do you love social media? If so, Sara Lopez may have your dream job. I asked Sara some questions about her job as 8th Continent Soymilk’s new media spokesperson.

How did you get your job as a new media spokesperson?

My passion with social media and online marketing started when I was hosting and organizing art/ poetry events around town and I had to utilize the internet to increase attendance. From there, I knew that was what I wanted to do.

In my senior year of college I interned at an amazing marketing firm in Toledo, Ohio. After interning, I was an Account Coordinator and also was a Business Development Associate, but that never really allowed me to fully invest myself in my passion. One day I got a call from the CEO of the marketing firm that I had interned at and he said he had the perfect job for me- a social media job where I would be the brand ambassador for 8^th Continent Soymilk. Being a vegetarian and lactose intolerant, I knew 8^th Continent Soymilk because it was, and still is, my favorite soymilk. I made a 7-minute video that had everything from me speaking Spanish to dancing on desks, to one of my favorite Rock n’ Roll songs. The tattoos, the red faux-hawk, everything that would normally make a corporation hesitant to commit to me were the same things that made the people at 8^th Continent fall in love with me. I was chosen out of about 11 different submissions and from there I used my online skills, my video editing experience and my ridiculously outgoing personality to become successful at my job.

What are your primary responsibilities?

My primary responsibility is to listen to and engage with soy fans. I also raise awareness about the benefits of soymilk and in particular, 8^th Continent soymilk. The social interaction aspect of my job has got to be one of the most important attributes. Marketing and social media is now a two-way communication experience. If one of my readers/ friends online, tell me that they have feedback or that they want to try 8^th Continent for the first time, I send them a special link for a coupon. I also have the ability to take their feedback and share it directly with the people at 8^th Continent so they can get their voice heard.

Which social media outlets do you use?

I try to use the inclusive social media networks as opposed to the exclusive ones. I have a fan page on Facebook, a Twitter account, an account on Brightkite, Youtube, Flickr, Foursquare, Gowalla, Whrrl, Dailybooth. Pretty much if you name it, I am probably on it at least once a day.

What do you enjoy most about the job?

The relationships I have built online. I have always been the person that loves to meet new people and experience new things. And, through this job I have been able to meet all types of personalities from all over the US. Although it is my job to promote online, I still build a very tight-knit relationship with the other people I interact with. For example, I was on a three-month road trip that was called the 8^th Continent Soymilk Taste of Life Tour. I went around to the coolest events and places in the US – like Burning Man and The House On the Rock. In the middle of my road trip my fiancé and I split up. You can imagine how devastating this can be alone and in the middle of a three-month trip. My online friends really helped me through that time in my life with “You deserve better”s and “His loss”s . Since I developed these relationships online we have helped each other through heartache and congratulate each other on accomplishments. We have truly become friends.

Are there any downsides to the position?

Sometimes I get calluses from typing so much, which is something lotion can tackle. Besides that, I am hard-pressed to pinpoint any downsides. Of course there are always the average challenges of finding enough time in the day to accomplish all that you would want to get done. But when you love your job, filling your hours with work feels more like fun activities instead of “work”.

What personality traits make a successful social media spokesperson?

The biggest thing I have learned from working as a social media spokesperson is that you just can’t take yourself too seriously. You really do have to have a sense of humor about things because you are not writing for a newspaper nor are you a journalist. You have been hired as a spokesperson to endorse a brand because of your personality and your belief in the product.

Any advice for aspiring new media stars?

You must be true to yourself. Do not present yourself as anyone except for the true you because you are linking your name to a personality the entire world could potentially witness. Also, I cannot stress the importance of networking! A “re-tweet” from the right person could open an entire new world of audiences.

Online Profile Links:

http://twitter.com/8thlopez

http://facebook.com/8clopez

http://brightkite.com/people/Lopez

Blog:

http://8cpassport.com

© Andrea for College, Career, Life, 2010. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: networking, online, profile, Sara Lopez, social media

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The Best Online Career Tests

collegecareerlife — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:12:26 +0000

You can find plenty of career tests online, some more accurate than others. The best career tests are written by psychologists and take more than one factor into account. Generally, you’ll have to pay for the better career tests. And although a test may be accurate for some, it may not be for you. Therefore, you should take several career tests and look for a pattern among the results. Below, I’ve compiled a list of online career tests that I have found to be most accurate.

MyPlan

MyPlan.com has four separate career tests available (personality, interests, values, and skills). The values assessment is free, while the other tests cost 7.95-$9.95 each. You can purchase a complete test package for $19.95. I found the values test to be most accurate and the skills assessment to be the least accurate. You can view the results for each test separately or the composite report. Unlike many other online career tests, you can take the assessments as many times as you like once you are licensed. The MyPlan website also has career and college profiles, salary information, and many other resources.

MAPP Assessment

When taking the MAPP assessment, you will choose your most and least preferred activities from a group of three. After completing the 71-question assessment, you can match a list of 900 O*NET careers with your results for free. In order to view a list of your top career areas, you’ll need to purchase a package. Packages range from $19.95 for a narrative special to $129.95 for an executive package. I found the results to be quite accurate. The narrative report contained a very accurate interpretation of results that explained my motivations, interests, and temperament.

LiveCareer

Like many other career tests, the LiveCareer test requires you to choose the most and least desirable activities from among a group of three. The test consists of 100 questions and you can view a 15-page report for free. The report includes occupational interest scores and work styles. It also includes your top career areas based on Holland’s theory. You can purchase a premium report for $24.95 or a deluxe report for $39.95.

The Career Key

The Career Key test is written by Dr. Lawrence Jones and is based on John Holland’s theory of career choice. According to Holland’s theory, there are six types of work environments: realistic, artistic, investigative, social, conventional, and enterprising. By choosing the work environment that best suits your personality, you will increase your chances of career satisfaction and success. The Career Key test determines which environment is best for you. The online test costs $9.95 and you must pay before you can take the test.

Using Your Career Test Results

After taking several career tests, you should be able to identify two or three career areas that would be best for you. Conducting informational interviews and researching employment projections may help you narrow your options down. Don’t feel pressured to find one perfect career. There are probably several careers that would suit your personality, interests, skills and values.

© Andrea for College, Career, Life, 2010. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: assessment, career planning, online, test

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Free Online Education Resources

collegecareerlife — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:44:29 +0000

Whether you’re a college student, recent graduate, or a professional that just wants to stay current, online classes are a great way to learn important skills needed in your chosen field. Or you may just want to learn about a topic you never had a chance to study. For free online learning resources, try the following sites:

The Comprehensive List of Free Online Courses found at GuidetoOnlineSchools.com lists all free courses available through the Open CourseWare Consortium. Classes range from the basics (Introduction to Biology) to the obscure (Physics of Rock Climbing). Participating universities include MIT, UC Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, and Harvard.

w3schools Online Web Tutorials – W3Schools offers tutorials for beginning and advanced web developers. HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP and SQL are some of the tutorials on the site. Users can also obtain certification online.

GCFLearnFree – Goodwill Community Foundation’s website has numerous tutorials and online classes to help you develop financial, career, and computer skills. Time management, setting goals, business etiquette, and coping with stress are a few of the sections in the Workplace Development Tutorial. You can also learn how to write a resume and fill out a job application. Other tutorials teach you how to manage money, search for a job, plan for retirement and buy a house. Classes in Excel, Access, Word, PowerPoint, and Math Basics are offered free online.

BBC Languages – Learn Spanish, French, German, and many other languages at BBC’s language site. Each language section contains an in-depth tutorial for beginners along with vocabulary lists and grammar tips. You can also watch videos and find essential phrases to use in specific settings.

Despite the rising costs of college tuition, knowledge doesn’t have to be expensive. With these resources you can gain access to lectures and course materials from top universities, learn to build a website, or add a software proficiency to your resume – without spending a penny.

© Andrea for College, Career, Life, 2009. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: classes, continuing ecucation, free, online, resocures, websites

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College, Career, Life » online

How to Stand Out Online with a Common Name

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You CAN Find a Job Online – Here's How

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Seek Learning Offers Variety of Online Learning Options

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College, Career, Life Named Top Job Hunting Blog!

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Remington College Online Accounting Degree Program

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Meet Sara Lopez, New Media Star

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The Best Online Career Tests

MyPlan

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