We’ve all heard about the scruffy looking man that went into a car dealership and, due to his appearance, nobody wanted to help him. The dealership later learned the man was a multi-millionaire that had been hard at work on a project, had some engine trouble with a truck, and went in to pay cash for a fleet of vehicles. You can’t judge a book by it’s cover. Likewise, you should treat all of your customers with the same courtesy and respect you show any other customer.

Where I come from, we call that “burning bridges” and I’ve learned over the years that it’s something one almost always regrets. So, if your provide a product or service and tend to priortize your efforts based on soley the amount of money you expect to make, you’ll have trouble keeping long-term customers. This is true especially if you’re in a business where your efforts or lack of effort can have long-lasting economic, physical or mental effects on a person.

In sales, I remember learning that people are more likely to tell their friends and neighbors, as well as their business partners, when they have a bad interaction with a company. Positive interactions are expected, and only the truly remarkable are passed on to others. But the negative experiences are often passed on to anyone within earshot or the person’s sphere of influence. If they tell 10 people, those 10 people may tell 5 or 10 more and it spreads on and on. Make sure your business is one of the businesses that gets talked about because of your outstanding customer service and sense of urgency. Make your customer feel important, respected and ensure they know you are truly listening to their problem. Then, do your job, solve their problem, or get them the product they bought quickly, in great condition and at a reasonable price.

In the military, lack of a sense of urgency will get you a poor performance report, passed over for promotion and ultimately cut your career short. We also had a saying that has stuck with me for many years: The most important job you’ll ever have is the one you have right now!

Treat your customers right and you’ll reap the rewards you deserve, grow your business, experience less turnover and retain and grow your customer base. Remember, when your customer asks you to do something, provide a service or a product or simply ask a question…they want action NOW! If you don’t have a sense of urgency in the way you conduct your business, as well as your life, you’ll find yourself getting beaten by your competition. Don’t be the person sitting at their desk at 9:00 PM scratching their head wondering to themselves where all of their customers have gone.

Best of luck!

Image via Wikipedia

For those of you who have visited my website or spent any time at all on my blog, you may have noticed an Eagle draped in the colors of our flag along with the words “Donate to a Disabled Service Veteran.”   I had been attempting to help a disabled veteran work through a number of issues.  In the last several months, his quality of life steadily declined, leading to, among other things, divorce and minimal supervised visitation with his child.  This veteran had been injured during the Gulf War and was considered 100% disabled by the Veterans Administration.

Unfortunately, I did not receive any donations, so I was unable to help him financially.  Since his divorce proceedings began, I rarely saw him anymore as I became entrenched in my own personal and business issues.  I guess I had convinced myself that this man would never hurt himself because he had such a sweet little boy that adored him.  However, the divorce and supervised visitation  was more pain than he could stand, and he chose to end his physical and emotional pain by taking his own life.

It’s hard to believe that an injury he sustained 20 years ago ultimately was the primary reason this man took his own life.  Unfortunately, this happens more than most of you are probably aware of.  They suffer in silence because they were conditioned to believe they couldn’t admit they needed help without it harming their career, keeping them from getting promoted, or that they would be considered weak by their peers and supieriors for seeking help.  I saw this over and over again as a Commander in the Air Force.  I was fortunate in that I was able to help implement a new way of thinking…to seek help if you need it and if anything, that shows an inner strength that is to be envied, not punished.  I never once withheld a promotion or an assignment, withdrew a security clearance, or required anyone to involuntarily leave the service because they were talking to Mental Health professionals.  In fact, if someone got into some sort of trouble and they had already sought help for their issues through Mental Health, that was considered heavily in their favor when deciding what actions to take, if any.

I’d like to encourage you to do something that may be awkward or uncomfortable to you.  If you know or meet a veteran, the first thing you should do is thank him or her for serving their country.  If that person seems to be in physical or emotional pain, talk to them if you can and encourage them to seek help, even if it has been years since they were injured or completed their time in the service.  You’ll  know who they are…they may have an unstable work history, problems developing close relationships, problems with drugs or alcohol, may have interacted with your local police department, seem to lose focus every now and then, be depressed or overly anxious or just seem as if they’re a little out of sync with those around them.  You’ll know who they are.  I would rather approach someone and ask them if everything is OK and be told to bug off then to see their face in the Obituaries.  Act…jon’t just think about it.  You may just unknowingly save someone’s life some day.

I recently saw this man’s young son and it breaks my heart.  He won’t be told the real way his father died for probably several years.  Then, he’ll have to go through the grieving process again and will most likely need counseling to process it all.  Children are resilient though, and he has many friends and relatives to love him and take care of him.  Other families aren’t so fortunate…reach out to them too.

Remember…we are at War!  Virtually everyone I know has lost someone in their family or knows someone who has.  And, it doesn’t look like the situation is going to change much in the near future.  I’ll find another veteran that can use a helping hand, and if anyone ever clicks on that button and makes a donation, I’ll see that 100% of that money is used to help the veteran and his or her family.  Hopefully, this time the results will be different and through your donations, make a real impact on a veteran’s life.  Please note: Reminis is not a 501 (c)(3) charity and your donations will not be tax deductible.  I didn’t write this seeking donations, but if you do so, the money will be put to good use.  I simply didn’t want the passing of another brother in arms to go buy without somebody at least knowing it happened, and to encourage you to reach out to those who may be suffering in silence.

Thank you for your time.

Vic Mangino, President

Forbes.com

LinkedIn is taking a page from OkCupid’s book. The free online dating site, which has recently gotten attention for being a place where you can meet the richly controversial and famous, regularly dives into its treasure trove of profiles to offer advice and insights on its OkTrends blog. By analyzing user behavior on the site, it has offered up analyses of how your race plays into romantic responses, the lies we tell potential mates and the best photo to use to attract attention.

While analyzing professional résumés is a little less sexy than analyzing romantic ones, LinkedIn is giving it a spin. The advice may prove to be more useful to you if you’re seeking to land a job instead of a significant other.

LinkedIn has done a word analysis on the profiles of its 85 million users to come up with a list of the most overused words and expressions. Do you like to describe yourself as innovative and motivated? Then you may want to think about some synonyms to employ.

From the LinkedIn blog:

Top 10 overused buzzwords in LinkedIn Profiles in the USA — 2010:

1. Extensive experience

2. Innovative

3. Motivated

4. Results-oriented

5. Dynamic

6. Proven track record

7. Team player

8. Fast-paced

9. Problem solver

10. Entrepreneurial

Time to take a hard look at your resume and LinkedIn profile and try to eliminate these overused words…what we call “fluff” or “filler” in the resume writing/HR world!

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Business Jobs:

–Accountant

–Actuary

–Financial adviser

–Financial analyst

–Logistician

–Meeting planner

–Public relations specialist

–Sales manager

–Training specialist

Creative and Service Jobs:

–Commercial pilot

–Curator

–Film and video editor

–Gaming manager

–Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration technician

–Interpreter/Translator

–Multimedia artist

–Technical writer

Healthcare Jobs:

–Athletic trainer

–Dental hygienist

–Lab technician

–Massage therapist

–Occupational therapist

–Optometrist

–Physician assistant

–Physical therapist

–Physical therapist assistant

–Radiologic technologist

–Registered nurse

–School psychologist

–Veterinarian

Social Service Jobs:

–Clergy

–Court reporter

–Education administrator

–Emergency management specialist

–Firefighter

–Marriage and family therapist

–Mediator

–Medical and public health social worker

–Special-education teacher

–Urban planner

Technology Jobs:

–Biomedical engineer

–Civil engineer

–Computer software engineer

–Computer support specialist

–Computer systems analyst

–Environmental engineering technician

–Environmental science technician

–Hydrologist

–Meteorologist

–Network architect

Reminis Consulting will be taking a break for a bit to complete some unfinished projects, enjoy the holidays, and take care if a few things on the “honey do” list.  I need to take some time to visit some relatives, and I also anticipate getting married in the not too distant future.  I also just had some corrective eye surgery, compliments of the Wounded Warrior Project and LASIK PLUS.  My right eye is going to take a couple months to heal and I’ve learned the hard way not to over do it and rush right back into working long hours. 

I anticipate coming back online in February or March.  I don’t plan on taking on any new clients during this break, but may post here from time to time.  Of course, if an opportunity fell in my lap that I just couldn’t pass up, you may see me back online sooner than later. 

I hope you all have happiness and peace in your lives, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Vic Mangino

Do you work better in a team of one? Do you despise water cooler small-talk? Are you…an introvert?

There are plenty of jobs that are better suited for those who hate to socialize. Here are some careers that let you get the job done while keeping social interaction to a minimum.

Accountant

While just about any job will require some amount of face-time with co-workers and clients, accountants find themselves diving into a spreadsheet more often than reaching for a cell phone. With plenty of financial data and tax information to digest, chit-chat time is at a minimum.

Related Degrees:

Accounting/Finance

Business Administration

MBA

Good News: The U.S Department of Labor predicts a 22 percent increase in job opportunities for accountants and auditors through 2018.

Average Salary for Accountants/Auditors: $59,430

Computer Programmer

It’s not uncommon to see computer programmers listening to music while coding. Telecommuting is also an option at some companies. If you can write the code (which isn’t easy) many tech managers will be happy to leave you alone.

Related Degrees:

Programming & Software

Computer Science

IT & Information Systems

Good News: Job opportunities are expected to soar 22 percent for computer programmers and software engineers through 2018, according to the Department of Labor.

Average Salary for Computer Programmers: $69,620

Writer

Writing is a solitary process. The ability to block out distractions and stay focused is essential in this career. Marketing is one industry where writers and copywriters are in demand.

Related Degrees:

Marketing/Communications

English/Creative Writing

Good News: The Department of Labor expects salaried writing positions to increase as the economy strengthens. Online media outlets are driving many of these writing opportunities.

Average Salary for Writers/Authors: $53,070

Forensic Science Technician

Although crime scene investigators have to deal with people, it’s often just dealing with their hair, tissue, or DNA samples. When not collecting evidence, working in a laboratory setting is most common for forensic scientists.

Related Degrees:

Forensics/Crime Scene

Criminal Justice

Police & Law Enforcement

Good News: Jobs for forensic science technicians are expected to grow 20 percent through 2018, according to the Department of Labor.

Average Pay for Forensic Science Technicians: $23.97/hour

Budget Analyst

Similar to accountants, budget analysts help organizations increase profits by improving efficiency. But the bulk of their time is spent working independently while compiling and crunching numbers.

Related Degrees:

Operations/Six Sigma

Accounting/Finance

E-Business/E-Commerce

Good News: Thanks largely to consulting opportunities, budget analysts will enjoy a 15 percent increase in jobs through 2018, according to the Department of Labor.

Average Salary for Budget Analysts: $65,320

Medical Transcriptionist

Petty office politics and gossip don’t easily reach the ears of medical transcriptionists, who wear headphones while transcribing dictated recordings from doctors and other health care pros. A no-nonsense, buttoned-up approach can help since you’ll be editing reports for grammar and clarity. Many MT’s work at home or off-site from their clients.

Related Degrees:

Medical Transcription

Medical Billing & Coding

Medical Assisting

Good News: Independent contractors are common in this career, with many working from home.

Average Pay for Medical Transcriptionists: $15.41/hour

Actuary

Risk assessment is the name of the game for actuaries, who spend their days analyzing the habits of people and companies. Instead of talking with people, though, their work is based on statistics.

Related Degrees:

Accounting/Finance

MBA

Operations/Six Sigma

Good News: Employment of actuaries is expected to jump 21 percent through 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Average Salary for Actuaries: $84,810

From those of use at Reminis, we wish you the best of luck in your job search and hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving!

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The good news is that while the economy is changing and employment patterns are evolving, there are some bedrock institutions – and jobs – that aren’t going away.

Just take a look around and you’ll see examples of jobs that are here to stay, at least in some capacity. Almost every community, big or small, has a medical office, a law firm, a school, a police department, a drugstore and other "bedrocks" that provide employment.

Check out these seven jobs that will stick around the neighborhood – and how you can qualify…

Career #1 – Police Officer

From patrolling the streets to running security for parades to apprehending criminals, police officers provide a valuable service that no community – big or small – can do without.

Job Forecast: The U.S. Department of Labor anticipates employment of police officers to grow 10 percent from 2008 to 2018 (about as fast as the average for all occupations). And, as the Department of Labor notes, police officers who lose their jobs due to budget cuts usually have very little trouble finding jobs with other agencies.

Training: If you’re thinking about becoming a police officer, look into earning a criminal justice degree to help you on your way.

Pay: Police officers have an average annual salary of $51,410. Differences in salary largely depend on location. The highest ten percent average at more than $79,680.

Career #2 – Paralegal

In this world of contracts and litigation, lawyers are essential to local businesses and individuals – and paralegals, who help lawyers prepare for trials and prepare legal arguments, are essential to lawyers.

Job Forecast: The Department of Labor expects a 28 percent growth rate for these jobs between 2008 and 2018. They also anticipate the need for more paralegals as intellectual property, health care, elder issues, and environmental law become increasingly important to our communities.

Training: If you’re interested in pursuing a paralegal career, check out associate’s degree programs in paralegal studies. If you already have a bachelor’s degree, consider earning a paralegal certificate.

Pay: Paralegal salaries can vary. Working for a large law firm or in a big city, for example, will typically pay more. The average annual salary for paralegals is around $46,120, though the top ten percent can earn more than $73,450. In addition to a salary, many paralegals receive bonuses.

Career #3 – Accountant

Whether you live in a big city or small town, there’s probably an accounting firm that many neighborhood businesses use. And it’s no surprise – accountants do a lot more than just prepare taxes. Local businesses rely on them for everything from bookkeeping to helping plan growth strategies.

Job Forecast: Accountants are important advisors and team members for our local business communities, and as the number of businesses increase, so will the number of jobs for accountants. The Department of Labor estimates employment of accountants will grow by 22 percent between 2008 and 2018.

Training: If you want to become an accountant, consider earning your bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field. You can advance your career by earning your Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification.

Pay: Accountants have an average annual salary of $59,430, with top earners averaging at more than $102,380 per year. Accountants who provide services for private businesses typically earn more than accountants who work for state or local governments.

Career #4 – Health Care Administrator

Health care administrators help improve the quality of health care; control costs; interface with insurance companies; and oversee patient record security. At first glance it might not be clear why these jobs are essential to every community, but as the health care industry expands we will need administrators to help keep hospitals and physician’s offices running smoothly.

Job Forecast: The Department of Labor predicts that employment of medical and health services managers will grow 16 percent from 2008 to 2018.

Training: A bachelor’s degree in health care administration should prepare you for an entry-level position in a smaller facility or department. For larger facilities, consider a master’s degree in health services administration.

Pay: Health care administrators have an average annual salary of $80,240. Higher salaries tend to be found in hospital settings.

Career #5 – Pharmacy Technician

People rely on their local pharmacy for their prescription needs. Pharmacy technicians help ensure that those pharmacies run smoothly and efficiently. With health care changes, more people will have prescription drug coverage, which will put a greater demand on local pharmacies – and as a result, increase the need for pharmacy technicians.

Job Forecast: This is another career with much higher than average employment growth anticipated. The Department of Labor expects employment of pharmacy technicians to grow 25 percent from 2008 to 2018 according to the Department of Labor. That’s 96,300 new jobs!

Training: Pharmacy associate’s degrees or certificate programs are a good way to go if you’re interested in a career as a pharmacy technician.

Pay: Pharmacy technicians earn $13.32 per hour on average, though the highest 10 percent can earn more than $18.98. Keep in mind that certified technicians may earn more than non-certified technicians.

Career #6 – Registered Nurse (RN)

People need to physically visit their health care providers – or have their health care providers come to them – in order to get the care they need, which makes nurses essential to local communities.

Job Forecast: Many employers are currently reporting difficulty in hiring enough RNs to handle their current workload, and more jobs will become available as the numbers of our elderly continue to grow. According to the Department of Labor, employment of registered nurses is expected to grow by 22 percent from 2008 to 2018.

Training: To become a registered nurse, you’ll need a bachelor’s of science degree in nursing (BSN), an associate degree in nursing (ADN), or a diploma from an approved nursing program. You’ll also need to complete a national licensing examination in order to obtain a nursing license.

Pay: Registered nurses have an average annual salary of $62,450. Nurses working in hospitals generally have higher salaries than those employed in nursing care facilities. The top ten percent of registered nurses average at about $92,240 per year.

Career #7 – Teacher

Whether your town’s population is 500 or 5,000, every community needs schools and teachers. Teachers provide an essential service that cannot be outsourced. And while times may be tough in education right now, the kids aren’t going anywhere.

Job Forecast: The Department of Labor expects employment of kindergarten, elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers to grow by 13 percent between 2008 and 2018. There is an even higher demand for teachers who specialize in mathematics, science, and bilingual education.

Training: If you’re ready to start your career as a teacher, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree from a teacher education program. If you want to be a secondary school teacher, major in the subject you plan to teach and take a program of study in teacher preparation.

Pay: The average annual salary of kindergarten, elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers ranges from $47,100 to $51,180. According to the American Federation of Teachers, beginning teachers with a bachelor’s degree earn an average of $33,227. Getting a master’s degree or national certification can also get you a raise in pay.

To look for these and other great jobs go to my website’s job search tool.  At Reminis you’ll find a wide variety of job search tips, resume writing ideas, and other great tools to help you Simplify Your Business. Your Career. Your Life.

Job seekers click here:  http://www.reminis.com/system/index.php?id=92

Recruiters click here: http://www.reminis.com/system/index.php?id=91

Keep checking back for the best tips about finding a job, finding candidates for jobs, and keeping the people you need once you hire them.  Remember….Simplify!

Why should you care? Because Web 2.0 gives every job seeker the opportunity to promote subject matter expertise. It provides multiple formats and platforms and tools to allow job seekers to prove to the world “I’m an expert in …!”. In addition, it can help job seekers get found on Google, Yahoo, and other popular search engines.

Here’s a listing of what many consider to be the best Web 2.0 sites for job seekers and networking:

Linkedin – Social Network, primarily business www.linkedin.com
FaceBook – Social Network, business and personal www.facebook.com                            MySpace – Social network, primarily personal www.myspace.com
Ning – Private Social networks www.ning.com
Plaxo – Contact synchronizer www.plaxo.com
ZoomInfo – Business directory www.zoominfo.com
Spoke – Business Directory & Social network www.spoke.com
Jigsaw – Business Directory & Social Network www.jigsaw.com
YouTube – User generated video www.youtube.com
Twitter – Text-like social network www.twitter.com
Flickr – User Generated Photo sharing www.flickr.com
Zooomr – User generated photo sharing and text for mobile www.zooomr.com
Yahoo Answers – User generated questions and answers www.answers.yahoo.com/
Linkedin Answers – User generated questions and answers www.linkedin.com
FaceBook Groups – Common interest based groups www.facebook.com
Yahoo Groups – Common interest based groups www.groups.yahoo.com
Google Groups – Common interest based groups www.groups.google.com
Groups – Common interest based groups www.groups.com
Blogger – Blog platform www.blogger.com
WordPress – Blog platform www.wordpress.org
Typepad – Blog platform www.typepad.com
Del.icio.us – Social bookmarking www.del.icio.us
Furl – Social Bookmarking www.furl.com
Reddit – Submit, vote on, and rank news www.reddit.com
Digg – User submitted reviews of websites, services, blogs www.digg.com
Technorati – User reviews of what’s happening on the live web www.technorati.com
StumbleUpon – User reviews and web channel surfing www.stumbleupon.com
Pandora – User defined internet radio www.pandora.com
Last.fm – User defined Internet radio www.last.fm
Skype – Social network, IM, and VOIP www.skype.com
Jaxtr – VOIP linked to websites, blogs and social networks www.jaxtr.com
Fon – By, sell, and share wifi connections www.fon.com
Meebo – Web based multi platform IM www.meebo.com
Google Maps – Mashup maps with other data www.maps.google.com
Yahoo Maps – Mashup maps with other data www.maps.yahoo.com
Google Calendar – Shared and mashup calendars www.google.com/calendar
Evite – User generated invitations and events www.evite.com
Meetup – User generated special interest group meeting listings www.meetup.com
Eventful – Create and share events www.eventful.com
Favorville – People helping people www.favorville.com
Prosper – Peer to Peer lending www.prosper.com
Indeed – Job listing aggregator www.indeed.com
SimplyHired – Job listing aggregator www.simplyhired.com
FeedDemon – Manage RSS feeds www.feeddemon.com
Wikipedia – User created encyclopedia www.wikipedia.com
Razume – User submitted resumes, review & Feedback www.Razume.com
Clusty – Cluster Search results in folders www.clusty.com                                                Reminis – Finally, there’s my website, www.reminis.com that provides products and services for job seekers, recruiters, employers, as well as personal and business branding services. 

This is just a list of some of my favorites.  I’ll work on updating the list with other useful websites that will help you…Simplify Your Business. Your Career. Your Life.

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Military members have access to an array of benefits and opportunities earned by their service. Credibility and marketability in the business world just happens to be an added bonus. There are more than 25 million veterans nationwide.

Those who become entrepreneurs and small business owners can use their military service as a springboard to new customers and repeat clients. About 7 in 10 Americans would rather patronize a veteran-owned business than one owned by a civilian, according to the National Veteran-Owned Business Association, or NaVOBA. But scores of veterans fail to capitalize on the power of their stories and service. Part of it may be an unwillingness or uncertainty about touting that record. In other cases, it’s simply an awareness issue. The reality is that veteran-owned business owners who take steps to tout their backgrounds can reap significant rewards, from government contracts to increased industry recognition.

For some, it’s a matter of seeking certification and official declarations. But for thousands of others, the key is a basic shift in the way they present their business to the world. Veteran Contractors Veterans who own small contracting firms should strongly consider registering with the Department of Veterans Affairs. As with having a minority- or woman-owned business, a veteran-owned business has access to a dedicated pool of federal contracts.

The VA coordinates an official registration process that includes verification of a veteran’s military service. The base requirements are that a veteran must own at least 51 percent of the company or its stock and directly control the daily operations. Along with that comes a long, hard look at the business’s finances, management structure, inventory, tax documents and other key data. Now, not every small contractor is in a position to compete for large government contracts. But those that are can boost their chances by obtaining formal certification as a veteran-owned business.

There’s also a special certification class for veterans with service-connected disabilities. Veterans with a documented disability rating have access to their own pool of contracts, which the government is required to set aside. Small contractors must also register with the government’s main contracting clearinghouse, the Central Contractor Registration.

Veterans who qualify for Veteran-Only Business Loans have perhaps the most potent home loan program on the market: the VA Loan Guaranty program. But you can’t use a VA home loan to purchase a commercial building or inject capital into a business. To help cover the gap, the U.S. Small Business Administration created a pilot program that provides funding for veterans seeking to start or expand small businesses. The Patriot Express loan program offers low-interest loans for up to $500,000, which can be used for a host of purposes, including equipment purchases, working capital and real-estate buys.

Veterans outside the construction sector might still want to take the time to register with the VA. Consider it the first step in a marketing makeover designed to broadcast your service record and credibility. But there’s certainly no requirement if you’re more of a mom-and-pop operation. What’s essential, though, is making sure prospective and existing consumers clearly understand they’re dealing with a veteran-owned operation. That might include revamping your suite of marketing materials and signage — both brick-and-mortar and online — to incorporate that "veteran-owned business" tagline. Embrace it in emails, mailers and promotions. Heck, don’t be afraid to mention it when you answer the phone. This isn’t about "cashing in" on a veteran’s proud service. This is about recognizing and celebrating it.

American consumers are clamoring for the chance to support veterans and their families. Why not make it easier for them to do so?

Eight years ago today, I met a lovely woman and went on our first date together.  Today, on our eighth “anniversary” I asked her to marry me (she said “Yes”).  We haven’t set a date yet, but we’ll probably get married before the end of the year. 

This wonderful woman has seen me through some extremely trying times.  She has accepted me as the flawed human being that I am without trying to change me.  She loves my son and I unconditionally, and is the kindest, most loving and caring person I’ve ever known.  I truly am fortunate to have crossed paths with her. 

After all of the hardships I’ve endured, 20 years of service in the Air Force, the loneliness of moving from state to state, country to country, separation from my family, and the blood, sweat and tears that have poured out of me as I’ve struggled to build businesses and help others achieve their dreams, I think finally it’s my turn for some peace and happiness. 

So, if there is anything that anyone reading this might take from my announcement, perhaps it’s that there is such a thing as karma, or that perseverance pays off, to not give up.  I hope all of you find what you may be looking for, whether it is a better job, a new job, a friend, a new business connection, some insight or clarity in your life, or just some degree of peace and happiness. 

Forgive me for deviating a bit from the usual bits of information I post, but I consider all of you to be my friends. I just wanted to share my good news with my friends.  Thanks for indulging me, and have a great day!

Vic 

Though many of us would probably keep using the same resume we used for our first or second job throughout our career, we can’t. Why? For two reasons: first, we have to update our resumes as our skills and experience changes; and second, the rules of resume format and creation are constantly changing, and to be considered in the current job market, we have to keep abreast of these changes. What are these changes, and what is expected of a 2010 resume?

- Do include a professional summary. A professional summary basically highlights the most valuable and notable aspects of your career experience, education, and skills in a concise and easy to reference manner for employers.
- Do make your resume into 2-3 pages when you need to–meaning not because you want to list everything you have ever done in your career, but rather, when you have many achievements and career highlights that should be included and can’t do it in a page.
- Do use bullet points for skills and achievements and anything else that you need to list in a resume. Employers find it easier to read and reference, and would prefer this over paragraph form any day.
- Do customize or target your resume to the position to which you are applying. Companies want to see that you are interested in their specific establishment for employment, and are not just another blind application.
- Do quantify your skills, achievements, and qualifications with as many pertinent details as possible. Employers don’t just want to see that you have communications skills, but how you used them for an achievement at work. This is much more compelling than just listing great communication skills.
- Don’t just list responsibilities.  What did you do?  How did you do it?  How much money or time did it save? What impact did it have? Employers know what duties are required of a certain position. They want to know what value you gave your position through examples of specific achievements and growth.
- Don’t be modest in your resume. Sell your career worth for all its worth.
- Don’t leave out important details in the employment history section, such as dates, employer name, and job title. Employers want to know these details.
- Don’t submit your resume if it isn’t updated to your credentials, qualifications, and education.
- Don’t send in a resume for consideration without a properly addressed and formatted cover letter. It is implicitly always required for any kind of further consideration.

- Do contact us at Reminis if you want a resume that gives you a competitive edge over other applicants!  We can be reached at info@reminis.com. 

Best of luck in your job search!

by Kaboodle.com, on Thu Jul 15, 2010 10:46am PDT

While we can rely on a spell checker to catch glaring errors, a computer can’t pick up on all careless mistakes, especially if the word could be correct in a different context. Often word misuse is our mistake. The English language is full of homonyms, or words that have different meanings but sound and look similar, which makes it easy to confuse proper usage. For instance, verbally, you might not even notice the difference between “your” and “you’re.” But in print, the error can lead the reader to perceive you as less intelligent than you are. For this reason, it’s important to spell check and proofread your documents, especially for the following common misuses, which are so easy to make, you might even have to check your document a couple times to catch them.

Its versus It’s (and all other apostrophes):
According to a copy editing instructor for California-based copy editing service provider Edicetera, confusing “its” and “it’s” is the most common error in the English language. That one minuscule apostrophe (or lack thereof) drastically changes the meaning of the entire sentence. “It’s” is a contraction of “it is,” whereas “its” refers to possession. Also, watch out for “your” versus “you’re.”

Sales versus Sails
Can you imagine writing on your resume that you “increased sails by 20 percent”?! Unless you’re applying to a job for a sail boat manufacturer, this careless mistake will probably get your resume sailing right into the recycling bin.

Affect versus Effect
There is a lot of confusion around this one but here’s the rule: “Affect” is a verb and “effect” is a noun. It’s as simple as that.

Would Have NOT Would of
The subtlety in pronunciation leads to the rampant misuse of this phrase; however “would of” is never correct and may make you appear as if you are not well-read.

Through versus Threw
“He threw the ball through the window.” “Threw” is a verb and “through” is a preposition. And speaking of “through,” be careful to make sure you don’t actually mean “thorough” or vice versa. The slight variation in spelling will not be picked up by a computer, but writing “I am through” when you mean “I am thorough” is quite ironic, don’t you think? The best way to master the subtleties of language? Reading of course!

Then versus Than
Six is more than five; after five then comes six. “Than” refers to a comparison, while “then” refers to a subsequent event.

Supposed To NOT Suppose To
“Suppose” is a verb, meaning to think or to ponder. The correct way to express a duty is to write, “I was supposed to…”

Wonder versus Wander
You can wander around while you wonder why “wander” and “wonder” have such different meanings, yet sound oh so similar.

Their versus There versus They’re
OK, once and for all: “Their” is possessive; “there” refers to distance; and “they’re” is a contraction of “they are.”

Farther versus Further
While both words refer to distance, grammarians distinguish “farther” as physical distance and “further” as metaphorical distance. You can dive further into a project, for instance, or you can dive farther into the ocean.

These are just a few of the many examples of spelling mistakes that your spell checker won’t catch.  Brush up on your spelling and grammar!  If you don’t, at best you may come across as less intelligent than you are. At worse, mistakes like these will impact your ability to find a good job!  

Early Adopters Add Shopping-Cart Apps to Fan Pages to Sell Items, Services

By SARAH E. NEEDLEMAN

After learning how to market themselves through tweets and status updates, some small companies are taking the next step: selling directly to consumers via social-networking sites.

Merchants on Facebook and MySpace are adding e-commerce stores to their fan pages, hoping users will scan lists of for-sale items and services—such as floral bouquets, hand-crafted jewelry and spa treatments—and click a button to add them to online shopping carts. (MySpace is owned by News Corp., publisher of The Wall Street Journal.)

Duane Trower

Scott Burnett, left, and Ralph Perta, are owners of Guitar Syndicate Inc.

The e-commerce trend, also being adopted by large companies such as Hallmark Cards Inc. and Brooks Brothers Inc., so far appears limited to Facebook and MySpace, where applications for selling directly to consumers started cropping up in 2008. Other popular social-networking sites, such as Twitter and LinkedIn, don’t offer a direct-sale platform.

Early adopters say they’ve so far seen only modest results, and generally not until after they’ve established a loyal-fan following.

Scott Burnett last month added an e-commerce option to the Facebook page of Guitar Syndicate Inc., a retail business he co-owns in Kansas City, Mo. Items such as guitars, harmonicas and microphones are listed for sale via an application from CoreCommerce, an e-commerce company in Franklin, Tenn. Consumers who add items to a shopping cart are then taken to the company’s website to make a payment. "It’s another doorway to find our products," he says.

Guitar Syndicate, which was founded last year, has seen its overall online sales grow by 17% since its Facebook store was added in mid-April, according to Mr. Burnett. But he says he isn’t clear how many sales can be attributed to buyers who started their transactions on Facebook.

Mr. Burnett further notes that Guitar Syndicate has invested $5,000 since January to grow its Facebook fan base by giving away that much worth of prizes though a contest it’s promoting on the site. The company now has about 4,400 Facebook fans.

For e-commerce via social media to work, "You’ve got to spend money on advertising to make people aware that [your fan page] exists," says Larry Chiagouris, a marketing professor at Lubin School of Business at Pace University in New York.

Businesses without a significant number of Facebook or MySpace fans may have difficulty swaying buyers, he adds. A fan page that isn’t heavily trafficked could create the impression that it isn’t popular, he says. "And nobody likes to shop at places where no one else shops."

Another potential downside is that disgruntled buyers could also quickly blast their dissatisfaction to their network of friends, adds Michael Trusov, an assistant marketing professor at Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. He says a buyer’s network is right at his fingertips when he feels most annoyed with his experience with a company.

Mr. Trusov says companies "would need to make sure the customer service level is much higher" than that on a website or in a physical store.

Entrepreneurs looking to tap into the trend should also expect to pay a fee for applications that provide shopping carts. For instance, the CoreCommerce application that Mr. Burnett uses charges a fee starting at $24.99 a month, based on the number of products a company wants to list for sale. About 1,150 businesses, mostly small enterprises, are using it, says Matt DeLong, chief executive officer.

Other applications allow multiple social-media users to chip in and collectively buy items, and some let shoppers make payments to merchants without leaving the social-media sites. Many are compatible with both Facebook and MySpace. Neither site charges merchants fees for hosting the stores or a commission on sales, however Facebook recently announced it will take a 30% cut of sales of credits for certain virtual goods.

Whether consumers will embrace shopping on social-media sites remains to be seen. Facebook, approaching 500 million users, recently came under fire over its privacy policies. Some shoppers may feel uncomfortable entering their credit-card information on the site, while others may be wary of making a purchase that could be broadcast on users’ news feeds or profiles.

Houston retailer Sun & Ski Sports added an e-commerce store to its Facebook fan page in 2008 using an application from Volusion Inc., a Simi Valley, Calif., software provider. But Sun & Ski has so far only sold 50 products this way, accounting for barely 1% of the company’s overall online sales, says Scott Blair, director of e-commerce. "It’s not a major source of revenue," he says. "It’s part of our overall strategy with social media."

Peddling certain products or services on a social-media platform may be challenging for businesses, says Yogesh V. Joshi, an assistant professor of marketing at Robert H. Smith School of Business. "You might not want to buy toothpaste on Facebook, but you might want to buy a Coach bag," he says.

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