A job search is serious business. One that need not be more complicated by confusing or unclear messages in a help wanted ad. Wouldn’t it be so much easier if every company ran ads that stated plainly what they’re looking for in a new employee? Could it hurt to reveal the name of the company running an ad for what appears to be the career of your dreams? Why do all the job postings I hunt down read like advertising copy?
The truth is, whether it’s a classified ad in the newspaper or a glamorous posting on a job search engine, the goal of every company is to attract the most qualified candidates for their open position. So in many respects, the best and brightest of those candidates are the target audience of those carefully worded presentations.
In a perfect world, a translation guide wouldn’t be a necessary tool to navigate a successful job search. Unfortunately, brutal honesty doesn’t exist in advertising and that requires us to read between the lines. Veteran job hunters will recognize most of these terms. But there could still be a few surprises, especially for those just beginning a career. Allowing for exceptions to every rule, here are some candid interpretations from an industry insider:
NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE
What it could really mean: This is a classic with possible multiple meanings, however, it usually means the company can’t or chooses not to be inundated with phone calls. It may also indicate a small office without enough staff to cover those anticipated calls. It might also be sign of impending changes at the company; that the person likely to answer those calls is the one being unknowingly replaced.
APPLICANTS OR PRINCIPALS ONLY
What it could really mean: It means this company is only interested in dealing directly with a job candidate. An employment agency or headhunter will often comb classified ads and make contact with a hiring company to offer their placement services. These companies prefer to do it themselves and avoid finder’s fees or commissions.
REPLY TO P.O. BOX 4321
What it really means: Here’s another example of a term that could have multiple meanings. The hiring company may not want its employees or competitors to know they are hiring. A reply to a post office box is considered a blind ad or one where the company doesn’t identify itself. Their secretiveness could be part of a plan to replace staff members or to test the job market. They may be looking for the availability of a particular skill set and there’s no job at all. Sometimes a company may only want to see what kind of response they’ll draw- just in case the need for certain skills should arise in the future.
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE REQUIRED
What it really means: It could mean a schedule that changes regularly or that overtime is often required. There are still organizations that operate best with a swing shift. In some company’s it a nice way to say you’re expected to be available whenever you’re needed.
STATE YOUR SALARY REQUIREMENTS
What it really means: Once you reveal this information, a company can then determine whether they even want to contact you based on your response. It also says they want to know how much you make so they’ll know how much they can offer you.
ASK FOR MR. SWIFTY
What it really means: This is an old screening technique. No one really calls himself “Mr. Swifty”. When calls come in asking to speak to this man with the silly name, he can immediately connect it to his job advertisement. He can then accept or refuse the call. It also allows him to track the number of calls his ad generated. It may be worth noting that this technique is not generally used by the more highly reputable firms. They usually employ savvy gatekeepers for that task.
TEAM PLAYERS ONLY
What it really means: This means the last person to hold the job did not play well with others or it could be the sign of an office staff that may be a challenge to get along with and the person who vacated the position didn’t need an attitude adjustment after all. The thing to note here is that if a company makes a point of including an obvious statement like this in their ad, there could be a problem.
ABILITY TO MULTI-TASKER A MUST
What it really means: It means you could be juggling a variety of duties or covering more than one position. This company is probably looking for a candidate flexible enough to take on responsibilities not necessarily written into their job description.
NEEDED IMMEDIATELY
What it really means: It means someone quit, was fired or left unexpectedly. An established company is rarely surprised with last minute hiring needs. On the positive side, however, if they’ve acquired a huge account overnight, additional sudden hiring could be a sign of positive growth.
01 OctEmployment Ads – Reading Between the Lines
28 AprHow to Make A Wedding Veil
Article by Frances Robinson
If you’re trying to keep the cost of your wedding manageable consider making your own wedding veil. It’s not as hard as you think if you have instructions to follow. In addition to saving money your wedding veil will be more personal than one bought at the store. Making your own wedding veil only requires a few steps listed here.
Decide the Length of your Wedding VeilIf you want it to touch your shoulders you need to purchase 24 inches of fabric. A waist length veil will require about 32 inches. A veil that reaches the tips of your fingers requires 40 inches. If you want it to reach the floor then the length will depend on your height. If you want it to trail behind you as you walk then measure the length accordingly. The beauty of making your own wedding veil is it can be any length you want.Buy the FabricTulle is the name of a lightweight, fine netting used to make veils. It is often starched to keep it somewhat still and can be made of various fibers. You should be able to purchase from a Fabric Store. Look for the type of tulle you like best. There is more than one shade and color so match it as close as possible to your wedding dress. Although tulle may be starched choose one that is somewhat soft and not too scratchy or stiff. Tulle is usually very affordable and only cost a few dollars a yard. The width should be a standard 108 inches wide.Prepare the Fabric for AssemblySpread the tulle out on a large work area. Fold tulle in half and put a clean, heavy object on it to keep it flat. Slightly round the edges (not the folded end) into an evenly curved shape. Use a pattern if you need a guide. Unfold the fabric and sew a stitch along the straight edge. Approximately 3 inches inside the edge use a needle and heavy duty white thread to sew all the way across the veil. When done hold thread on one end and gather tulle together.Attach Fabric onto a 4-inch Bridal CombYou can either glue or sew the Tulle fabric onto the comb. Don’t glue it if the weather is going to be too hot. Extreme temperatures could cause the glue to warm and loosen the Tulle from the comb. Sew it by bringing stitches through the material and between the teeth of the comb. That’s it.
Now you don’t have to wonder how to make a wedding veil. You just did. When your veil is complete you will have one that is more meaningful plus saved by doing so. If you’re looking for other ways to cut cost go here for more: WEDDING SAVINGS
22 FebRed Clutch Bag – The Attention Grabber
A Clutch bag is a case or bag used by women to fill personal items. It comes in various colors and sizes. And it is a must-have item for a woman as it increases her charm and attractiveness.
Red Clutch Bag – Why is it special?
Red is a color that brings attention. It symbolizes confidence, passion, and love. Having a red clutch bag will surely bring you in the center of attention in any occasions. If you do not want to sink in the background in your upcoming party or celebration, selecting a red bag would be a recommendation.
Apart from that, the sex appeal associated with the color red is undeniable, and red clutches serve to amplify that to a great degree. Besides, red clutches can look very sexy and undoubtedly famine with matching accessories.
Materials and Prices
These bags can be made from various materials ranging from PVC to high-end leather. A PVC type will cost you less and it will cost you more if you choose to buy a red leather clutch. The better the quality of the material, the higher the price of the clutch. Besides, the other determinant factor of price is the brand.
Usage
The storage capacity of a clutch is actually surprisingly adequate for keeping your regular items. You can fit your personal items like your lipstick, comb, face powder, car key and your cell phone inside your red clutch bag. However if you want to fit in large items like a book or something similar, then a clutch will fail you.
Where to get them?
You can get a red clutch bag at your local direct selling stores or a branded bag store. However the mark up price is usually higher than the one you found in the online marketplace. My recommendation is to check out the local stores first to a get a feel on your selected clutch bag. Once you have decided, you can simply make your order online. You must always compare your the price of the clutches in different online retail outlets before committing to purchasing it. Shopping online will give you the edge of having vast variety of choices and extremely low price.
25 JanWhy Should You Choose a Black Clutch Bag?
Women use clutch bags all the time to keep personal items like car keys, cell phone, lipsticks and other small items. For evening occasions, it is a perfect accessory to bring with. If chosen carefully, a clutch bag can greatly amplify the charm of women.
Why should you choose a Black Clutch Bag?
Black clutch bags are the choice of many fashion-conscious women and one of the obvious reasons behind this is it matches well with many types of apparels. In addition to that, carrying a black clutch can make you look classy and elegant. The sex appeal associated with the color black is undeniable and black clutch bags serve to intensify this to a greater degree.
Types and Variation
You can get many kinds of black clutches in the marketplace. A black leather clutch will usually cost you more due to its quality. The variation in the quality of leather will also affect the price of your bag. In addition to black leather clutches, you can also get black clutches that are made of PVC. PVC clutch bags in general are more affordable.
Storage and A Special Gift
You will be surprise about the storage space available for such a small bag. In fact, these bags allow you to fit in your daily personal items like cell phone, lipstick, comb, mirrors and car keys. Aside on storage capacity, it is a great accessory for a woman in any occasions and hence it will be an awesome gift for a woman on her birthday or wedding anniversary.
Where to get black clutch bags?
You can get them in your local specialty store or a departmental store. Another great option is to get one online. You can often get branded clutches for a discounted price in online stores. In addition to low price, shopping online will give you more choices and variation. However, the downside of online shopping is that sometimes, it is hard to estimate the size of the bag. It will take you some time to figure out the right size.
One suggestion is to find the same bag in your local store just to get a feel of it before committing to purchase it online. By doing so, you can feel your bag and at the same time save some money. Although it takes time and afford to research and find the right bag for you, but it is well worth the time and effort.
16 MayPropecia keeps your hair thick and plentiful
When you are young, it’s easy to walk around as if nothing can ever go wrong in your life. Although you had acne for a few months as a teen, you got through that. Now the rest of your life is going to be smooth sailing. So what if there are a few extra hairs in your comb or caught in the drain after you finish your shower. This is nothing to worry about. Except the sad reality is that anyone, no matter what their age or gender, can lose their hair. It can be heredity, caused by some underlying medical condition, a side effect of a drug you are taking. The list goes on. Unless you are taking preventative measures to reduce the risk of hair loss, you need guidance on when to seek a formal diagnosis. Too early and you wasted your money because your doctor could find nothing wrong. Too late and there’s little chance of any treatment helping the hair to regrow. For the record, male pattern baldness can begin during your teens and this is permanent hair loss. Why permanent? Because the growth cycle shortens and every time you shed your hair, it grows back thinner and more likely to fall out. As this speeds up, your hair stops regrowing and there’s no cure.
This is what to think about. At some point, you will notice more hair than usual is falling out. Make a note of the date. If possible, get someone in the family or a friend to take pictures of your head so you can monitor any changes to the shape of the hair. Then watch what happens. Is the loss only occasional or is it continuous? If you have good days and bad days, think about what you eat and what you did. Is there a cause and effect at work? In particular, look for anything that might make the loss worse. Now look around the family. If you are cut off from most of your relatives, ask if there is any history of hair loss on either side of the family.
This gives you enough information about the emerging physical pattern and the rate of loss to share with your doctor. There will be a physical examination of your scalp to judge the appearance of your hair, e.g. whether any hairs are broken off. There is usually a pull test to see how many come out, and skin samples taken to eliminate the possibility of an infection. There will also be a review of your medical history and general wellness to identify any underlying problems such as thyroid disease that may be causing the loss. If this is simple male pattern baldness, the standard treatment is generic propecia. This is taken once-daily and, over time, slows loss and encourages some regrowth. The benefits are lost and hair loss will resume if you stop taking propecia. Some commitment to continuing treatment is necessary. More generally, there are preventative measures in changing the way you handle your hair and modifying your diet. Your doctor or dermatologist will advise on how to minimize the effects of hair loss.