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By Wendy Carter Even if you are not a political science major, to be successful in graduate school you must also major in your departments politics if you want to finish your degree. Not paying attention to your departments culture can hinder your progress despite your intellectual ability. A departments culture is the traditional patterns, norms, values, beliefs and behaviors that are passed down to new faculty and students alike. Ideally these unwritten and hidden rules are transmitted through the apprenticeship/mentoring relationship that exists between you and your advisor. Although students are indoctrinated into some of the departments culture by the written rules found in the Graduate Student Handbook, graduate students are often left to figure out the unwritten rules on their own. Below are 10 rules that you wont find in any handbook. 1. Keep Up With Your Cohort: Some students suffer from trying to be perfect. Taking too long to complete your degree is frowned upon in Academia. If you tend to pile up a number of incompletes because you are a workaholic and are never satisfied with the quality of work you are able to produce within a given timeframe, you need to be aware that it is better to get a grade of B than an Incomplete. The facultys confidence in a students ability to complete a thesis/dissertation is diminished by this need for perfection and lack of completion. Piling up a number of incompletes signals to professors that you cannot finish what you start. If you cannot complete your assignments within a semester, professors become leery that you will not be able to finish your degree within a reasonable amount of time given that you have to set your own deadline. 2. Participation, Networking, and Visibility, are Critical: Because of time restrictions, you cannot participate in all department activities. You must be selective in terms of which activities and how long or often you participate. Make no mistake, some participation is required. Your attendance and participation in national conferences, campus workshops, and brown bag presentations are important components of your success in graduate school. Therefore, choose carefully the number and kinds of activities that you can be involved with. Networking is a skill that is learned with time, practice and patience. I have known some professors whose presentation skills in the classroom have been lack luster and dry. These same professors display a totally different personality during office hours, at department functions, or at a conference. Attending department functions allows you and your professor to get to know each other on a more personal level. You should take advantage of these opportunities because as a professor you will be asked to represent your department in this type of social setting, especially when you serve on hiring committees. Your visibility in national, campus, and department events helps you to become better known by your advisor, committee, and other individuals in your field. Your ability to network with faculty will help when it comes to securing fellowships, assistantships, opportunities to work in a lab, and recommendations for the future. 3. Dont Leave Before You Are Done: When you are ABD, time is not your friend. If you leave the university before you finish with your degree, you run the risk of not finishing at all. If you leave the comfort and support of your academic department your enthusiasm to write your thesis/dissertation will inevitably diminish. You will be faced with many competing events that will take priority over writing your thesis/dissertation. When I got my first job offer they wanted to make sure I was finished with my dissertation before I showed up on campus to begin my new role as assistant professor. They said take another semester if you have to, but finish your dissertation. They had learned from experience that once you begin your new job it is difficult to find the necessary time to work on your thesis/dissertation. Much of your time as a new professor will be stressful. Your time will be spent learning how to be a professor, meeting with your students, grading papers, making up assignments, and serving on campus and department committees. Much of the stress will be the result of the new job, new location, new friends, and new responsibilities. 4. Prepare For Your Defense By Attending Another Students Defense: Your advisor will not let you defend your document until he/she thinks it is sufficiently polished and if he/she is relatively sure that you will pass. Hence, when your advisor agrees to a defense date he/she believes that you are ready. Nothing really prepares you for a thesis, proposal, or thesis/dissertation defense other than seeing the process unfold for yourself. These hearings are sometimes open to the public. Your attendance at a defense hearing should be based on the tradition in your department. Even if it says in the graduate student handbook that the defense hearing is open to the public but no one in your department ever attends another students defense it is wise not to break this tradition. The repercussions will not be pretty. If you cant attend another students defense ask fellow graduate students about their hazing process. You should focus on questions such as these: How did it start? How did the advisor facilitate the process? How difficult were the questions? How did you know it was over? Did anyone else other than committee members attend the hearing? 5. For PhDs Teaching Is Not The Primary Task: Even if you get top scores on your teaching evaluations as a teaching assistant, understand that the PhD is a research degree. Many professors believe that teaching is a task that can be learned over time with practice. As a professor your tenure and promotion will be based primarily on your publishing record. To prepare you for the “publish-or-perish” academic environment, the faculty focuses primarily on developing your research skills. Hence, the faculty values research and the apprenticeship model above everything else. They believe that the majority of your time in graduate school should be spent conducting research. As such, securing a fellowship or traineeship/research assistantship is better than a teaching assistantship. However, securing a teaching assistantship is better than not securing any funding at all. As a PhD student in a research program, participation in campus luncheon seminars is required. Presenting your research findings at a brown bag seminar gives you a chance to practice your presentation skills in a relaxed atmosphere before you ever have to teach a class, give a job talk, present at a national conference, or defend your proposal, Masters thesis, or dissertation. Honing your presentation skills will help to increase your self-confidence in public speaking. Presenting your research findings on and off campus establishes your expertise and enhances your professional reputation. 6. Bridging The Generation Gap:Dont Complain, Dont Try To Understand, Just Do: In graduate school there is often a generation gap between students, faculty, and professional staff. The faculty and staff established the culture in the department with the expectation that when students are admitted they will adjust their behaviors accordingly. Often the faculty and staff provide a graduate student orientation in hopes of answering many questions before they become issues later on. They do not expect to debate the rules and traditions of the department. Some of us are use to debating with our parents, friends, or colleagues to win them over to our way of thinking. While some individuals can appreciate and support this type of interaction, understand that others do not. You are expected to adhere to not change, the strict deadlines, rules and regulations of graduate school even if you do not agree with them. Spending an exorbitant amount of time trying to understand the hoops and hurdles is time that can be better spent jumping over them. Your task from the first day of graduate school is to figure out how many hoops” and “hurdles there are and start jumping. The sooner you learn this unwritten rule the better. 7. Treat The Professional Administrative Staff Well: Dont underestimate or undervalue the role of the administrative staff in your department. These professionals like your advisor and committee members can either hinder or propel your educational progress. They are responsible for managing students records, paperwork and information. They provide timely information on all department deadlines, rules, regulations and eligibility requirements with respect to course requirements, course scheduling, qualifying/preliminary exams, funding opportunities, and the necessary signatures. They can or cannot remind you of upcoming deadlines. It is in your best interest to manage these relationships in a positive way. For example, when my advisor was leaving for a year long absence, I made sure that I checked with the graduate secretary to see if there were any documents that needed his signature before he left. Be sure to find creative ways to say thank you to the administrative staff for all that they do. 8. Securing Funding For Historically Disadvantaged And Underrepresented Groups: I was financially able to attend graduate school because a senior researcher at my institution had a $5 million NIH research grant. More importantly, he was willing as the principal investigator to apply for a NIH Research Supplement For Underrepresented Minorities to support me for six years. The addition of a minority student to his project did not cost him any funds from the original grant. Instead he gained additional funds. These additional funds were part of monies set aside by funding institutions such as NIH to support researchers who are members of underrepresented minority groups. Supplements are also available for the following groups: persons with disabilities, persons seeking research careers or re-entering research, and minorities. According to the website Research Assistant.com, the best first step to obtaining independent research funding often is to receive training and supervision from an experienced senior researcher. They suggest that NIH Research Supplements for Underrepresented Minorities offer an excellent opportunity to receive grant funds to work on an existing NIH grant with a senior researcher in a particular area of interest. In other words, if you are looking to obtain research funding and have no idea where to start, start with the above website and a faculty member who has a federal grant. 9. Visibility and the Competition for Scarce Resources: Unlike the undergraduate experience, graduate school involves competition for scarce resources such as: (a) research funds; (b) office space; (c) fellowships; (d) co-authorships; (e) time with faculty members; and (f) information. Lack of information and visibility are two of the key issues that put many students at a disadvantage. When the faculty are making decisions about these scarce resources they need to know who you are. If you have not been on campus and have not participated in any department events your name will not be familiar to the people who are parceling out these resources. To stay informed about these decisions and to put your name at the top of the list, visibility is necessary to be considered an active member of the departments academic community. 10.Your Lack of Class Participation is Interpreted as Lack of Knowledge: In graduate school expect your workload to be substantially more than any one person could complete. The reading requirements can be sometimes overwhelming and burdensome. In addition to the required readings, in the syllabus you might find supplemental (recommended) readings as well. Dont waste time complaining to the professor who assigned the reading; he/she fully expects you to come to class prepared to discuss the readings. Find creative ways to cover the reading materials for the course. For example, in graduate school I was able to familiarize myself with all the readings by forming and participating in a class study group. We would divide the readings amongst ourselves and provide a summary for each reading. The summary included the abstract, the research question, the methodology, limitations, and the findings. Using this method allowed all of us to participate in the class discussion. In class, it is always better to make any contribution on something than not to participate at all. Sometimes class participation involves making a preemptive strike; raise your hand and volunteer an answer on something that you are prepared for before you are called upon to answer a question you don’t know the correct answer to. About the Author: As a single mother, professor Wendy Y. Carter, Ph.D., completed three masters’ degrees and a PhD. Her motto is a Good Thesis/Dissertation is a Done Thesis/Dissertation. She is the creator of a new innovative interactive resource tool on CDTADA! Thesis and Accomplished. To learn more contact the author at drcarter@tadafinallyfinished.com. Or visit http://www.tadafinallyfinished.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wendy_Carter http://EzineArticles.com/?Understanding-the-Unwritten-Rules-of-Graduate-School&id=145746 payday loans with no faxing and tele checking payday lending in arkansas personal unsecure loan hialeah bad credit car loan

By Ugur Akinci I did not make up the annual income figure in the headline. That is the mean annual salary earned by technical communicators across the United States in 2005 according to the 2005 Technical Communicator Salary Survey conducted by Society for Technical Communication of which I’m a proud Senior Member. The lowest paid entry-level tech writers made $40,730 and those writers in the supervisory senior-levels made as much as $111,100 in 2005. Not bad considering the image of a starving artist that the word writer conjures up in popular imagination — and sometimes with good reason as well. Just because you like writing does not mean you need to live a life of want and destitute. If you are sick and tired of not making the ends meet as a writer you owe it to yourself to check out technical writing. Not only the average tech writer made over $67K last year but those working within a corporate environment enjoyed a rich benefits package as well. Just like the engineers and the managers they work with, most tech writers enjoy medical insurance for themselves and their families, paid leaves and vacations, 401K and sometimes even retirement plans, dental and vision coverage, reimbursement of college-credit classes, etc. Keep in mind that the demand for technical writers is very strong across all industries and geographic regions in the United States and Canada. Here is a short and random list of companies that regularly look for technical writers: Software, hardware, networking companies, security access equipment manufacturers, medical manufacturers, hospitals, all government agencies, publishers and advertisement agencies, military installations and agencies, all Fortune 500 corporations, all non-profits, Internet and web companies, all international organizations like the United Nations or NATO, any company that manufactures anything, all real estate and mortgage companies, financial institutions and brokerage houses, etc. etc. Why? Because every business or non-profit organization needs someone to explain to their clients and consumers in a plain language how to use the product or service they are providing. We usually think installation guides and user manuals are a nuisance but think how frustrated we would be if the products we bought came without any manuals? Think about the expensive lawsuits that would be filed for lack of user manuals and the consequences that might follow. Or, would you like to buy a software product that does not have a help file? Of course not. Technical writers write those help files as well. Thats why, as long as people manufacture things and offer services, therell be technical writers explaining them to the consumers. In cities and regions with vibrant economies like Seattle, Boston, Northern Virginia, Research Triangle in NC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Miami, Houston, Austin, Dallas, New York, and Chicago there are always good jobs for technical writers. Just check any employment listing for these cities or at where you live and the chances are youll be convinced. And you really do not need to be a creative genius to become a technical writer either. Forget about plot, dialog, character, original concept, etc. Actually someone quipped if it aint boring then it aint tech writing. The truth is, technical writing is not about flowery descriptions, emotional rhetoric and linguistic pyrotechnics at all. If you like explaining hard-to-understand processes and concepts in a plain language and with a consistent vocabulary, if you like simplifying complex processes and make them easily accessible, then youll enjoy technical writing while saying goodbye to your financial worries. Its the kind of writing job that you can retire from with a secure nest egg, at an age when some of your writer friends who insisted on trying their luck with poems or screenplays might still be waiting tables. There are two downsides (if one can call them that) that I can think of to tech writing: 1) Youll never get any bylines. So if you are counting on making your name a household item or win an Oscar, youll be very frustrated in tech writing. This is not a job for ego aggrandizement and flashy personality trips. 2) A great majority of technical writing jobs require you to be present on the premises due to the need for constant interaction with the engineers, managers and other corporate departments. A tech writer always writes as a part of a team, in close consultation with other project members. Thus there are almost no telecommuting technical writing assignments that you can perform from your home office. Yet in this day and age of global outsourcing, the local character of tech writing also translates to relative job security. Many North American companies have seen their engineering positions exported overseas due to outsourcing but not the technical documentation positions. Not yet anyway. Besides knowing how to write well, having a good command over MS Office Suite is usually a sufficient qualification to confidently apply for an entry-level technical writing position. You can learn the rest as you go along. Depending on where you live and the local economic conditions, youd be surprised at the number of employers who would be willing to give a novice tech writer with no track record a head start in technical writing. Writing is not starving. Ask any technical writer and he or she will probably wonder why the idea even occurred to you in the first place. Ugur Akinci, Ph.D. is a Creative Copywriter, Editor, an experienced and award-winning Technical Communicator specializing in fundraising packages, direct sales copy, web content, press releases. movie reviews and hi-tech documentation. He has worked as a Technical Writer for Fortune 100 companies for the last 7 years. 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By Marcelade Vivo The average person may not even know how to begin looking for a good lawyer. There are many source of information with daunting names like the attorney public records or certified lawyer referral service, but once you get the break down of how everything words together it’s pretty simply. Referrals from business associated and / or family It sounds like the simplest place to start, but many people may be embarrassed about asking what legal professional a fellow work associate or family member users, but you don’t have to be. With so many lawyers out there it’s likely you can get a personal referral to someone who can help you without even having to do much a search. Attorney public records Once you’ve found a lawyer or attorney you’re thinking about suing, you can checked their official bar membership record which will include their address, phone number, discipline history and other marks on their professional reputation. It’s easier now then ever on the Stat Bar’s website. If you see anything that doesnt check out, you may want to reconsider your choice. Certified Lawyer referral services Do a quick search online or in the Yellow Pages and you’ll be sure to find a State Bar certified lawyer referral service. They can steer you in the right direction if you don’t know where else to look. Certified Legal Specialists State Bars maintain lists of attorney who are certified specialists in particular areas of law. For example the California state bar certified specialists in appellate law, workers’ comp, tax law, family law, immigration, estate planning, bankruptcy, and criminal law. They may even have this list directly on the state bar’s website. Free Legal Aid Agencies Depending on your financial and personal situation there may be an entire number of agencies devoted to giving you free legal advice and basic legal resources. Many law schools also have free clinics available. Advertisements and Professional Websites Take a Google search and you’ll see tons of PPC and professional advertisements for lawyers of all types. Just be sure to thoroughly check them out, but you can shop for a lawyer the same way you would a car. All in all there are many different viable options for you to begin your search. Just be sure not to settle for the first lawyer you find and be sure you get along with the person. Depending on your needs you may be entering into a long term business relationship with them so be sure you get along and can work together. MyAbogado.com is a popular legal directory that helps users locate legal professionals across the country while providing the legal community and litigation support providers with a low cost method to market their services to other professionals and members of the public across the country. To find out more, please visit http://www.myabogado.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marcelade_Vivo http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Find-A-Lawyer?&id=382941 loan for rv with poor credit personal loan hard money lenders a child is not a paycheck cash advance payments

By Dr. Leslie Van Romer Theres no questionI love cheese. I could handle life without sweets and meats, chips and dips, butter and oil, eggs and bacon, biscuits and gravy, and even milk and ice cream. But life without cheese? I dont think so. That would mean life without Canadian sharp, pizza, enchiladas, lasagna, macaroni and cheese, fettuccini Alfredo, crackers and cheese, bleu cheese dressing, and my best college buddycheese and mayo on rye. Nopethat was not going to happen. Until it did. It didnt happen in a daymore like a thousand days. No jokeI was that hooked on cheeseuntil something magical happened. The sniff disappeared. The what? You knowthe sniff. That thing that happens when your nose runs away with youthe sniff. The sniff and I had been good buds since birth. He loved me and followed me around constantly. He was with me when I first woke upsniff, sniff, sniff; after mealssniff, sniff, sniff; and on and off during the daysniff, sniff, sniff. I was cluelessthe sniff and I had been together so long that I had no idea that we could live without each other. Not only that, I had no idea that I could live without earaches, sinus headaches, and those stomachaches that bugged me after almost every dinner in high schoolthe ones that I had to lie down to get rid of but never got me out of the dishes. After tearing myself away from my true love, cheese, and all its kin, one day I noticed that something was distinctly differentI was sniff-less. The sniff was gone. So were my earaches, headaches, and stomachaches. My energy had kicked up a notch or two. And my head was clear. Ohhhh, my goodness, I get it nowthats what noses are forto breathe air throughsomething I had never been able to do before. I just thought they were built like broken faucetsdrip, drip, drip. How could I have been so dense? Amazingwhat I ate actually had something to do with how well I felt every day and how well my nose worked, and the rest of my body. Its funny how sometimes it takes feeling, not just seeing to believe. Sure, I had read that dairy products, those very foods that our mothers taught us to eat and love, were sneaky little devils that cause little problems, like fatigue, colds, sinus infections, allergies, asthma, bronchitis, psoriasis, eczema, bedwetting, pneumonia, mood swings, PMS, andget thisheadaches, earaches, stomachaches, and drippy noses. Sure, I had read that dairy products cause big problemslike diabetes type 1, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation in the arteries and kidneys, and heart disease. Sure, I had even read about the dairy-cancer connectionlike breast, prostate, ovarian, and pancreatic cancer. Whew, scary, huh? Those sneak up on us without a sign or a symptom. But it wasnt until I actually felt the differencelife with cheese and life without cheesethat I finally got it, a sense for the old saying, You really are what you eat. As much as I loved (and still do) cheese, I finally figured out that cheese, milk, and yogurt were not only unnecessary for my strong bones, teeth and body (how do elephants and milking cows get enough calcium for their strong bones, teeth and all that milk?), but dairy was actually harmful to me. The choice had become as clear as my sinuses: To sniff or not to sniff? I say, Good riddance, sniff, youve been hanging around far too long, and hello body I was born to be. Okay, Im not going to try to kid you. Im still hooked on cheese. I stay away from it by following my motto: I trust myself, but I dont tempt myself. I keep a safe distance (miles and miles) between me and cheese. I just never know when that hunk of extra sharp cheddar cheese might get a mind of its own and fly directly into my open-like-a-baby-bird mouth, and always when I least expect it. Sometimes perceived sacrifices are not sacrifices at all, but bearers of giftslike the gifts of comfort, activity, energy, joy, and purpose. So, my friend, I continue to applaud you and your life and all your efforts to make better and better choices on your journey called, Your Life. Above all else, remember that you and Your Life countto me and to all those whose lives you touch. Dr. Leslie Van Romer is a health motivational speaker, writer, and lifestyle coach. Visit http://www.DrLeslieVanRomer.com for more inspiration. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Leslie_Van_Romer http://EzineArticles.com/?Pleeease,-I-Want-My-Cheese&id=298183 figure withholdings on paycheck pay day loan lenders procedure to obtain a sba loan online paycheck calculator

By Terence Traut In todays competitive environment, hiring has increasingly become a key link in establishing and maintaining your companys edge. By attracting and hiring the best people, your company can move quickly and grow steadily. On the flip side, however, poor hires cost you precious time, money, and opportunity. Poor hiring could cost you your company. Unfortunately, hiring candidates who can do what they say they can do is getting tougher. A whole industry has sprung up in the past ten years helping job seekers land a job sometimes at all costs. You cant afford to hire someone who cant do the job, do it with minimal direction, or do it quickly. Fortunately, there are techniques that you can use to ensure that the candidate you select can do the job. We will examine four techniques here demonstrations, simulations, problem solving, and testing and introduce a powerful interviewing technique High Performance Interviewing that we will cover in more detail in the next issue of Performance News. Demonstrations Ideally, the best way to see if a candidate is able to do the job is to have them actually do the job. To have them, in other words, demonstrate their ability to do the work. Sales representatives can sell something; software engineers can code something; machine operators can operate a machine; secretaries can answer phones or type a memo; etc. Simulation Sometimes demonstrations are not possible or appropriate. The next best thing to a demonstration is a simulation. A simulation is like a demonstration except that the situation is not real. In sales or customer service, for example, you can role play an angry customer and have the candidate respond to your anger. Another example of a simulation is having a telesales representative call you (the customer) to sell you something. Or, if youre interviewing for a training position, you could have the candidate teach you something. Problem Solving Sometimes demonstrations and simulations are not feasible. Then problem solving might provide you with confidence in the persons ability. Problem solving is a technique many interviewers use to see how adept the candidate is in addressing real or hypothetical problems and challenges. It is one step removed from simulation because in problem solving the candidate describes what s/he would do rather than simulating what s/he would do. A cautionary note: problem solving by itself may only indicate what a person SAYS s/he will do in a given situation, not how they actually will or did behave. Still, problem solving is a good way to check a critical skill. Test Tests are also sometimes helpful as part of the hiring process. Psychological tests provide a way for some companies to identify key characteristics in an individual. Other ways of testing include asking specific knowledge questions such as What commands might you use to initiate a subroutine? or What are the advantages and disadvantages of common network protocols? Interview However, sometimes demonstrations, simulations, problem solving, or testing might not be feasible; at the very least they — by themselves — are inadequate. Interviewing is required. Effective interviewing requires that you have sharp probing and listening skills to get the candidate to describe or explain relevant experiences from which you can draw highly predictive information. We call this type of interviewing High Performance Interviewing. Can we maximize the traditional method of hiring candidates the interview to hire more effectively? The answer is, YES! Many interviews result in a mutual exchange of meaningless information and a gut feeling. The process we call High Performance Interviewing (HPI) helps you gather meaningful, predictive information and substantiates your gut feeling. HPI is based on the premise that past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior. HPI is designed to extract highly predictive, accurate target data from candidates. Target data is: Behavioral: The data must be about what the candidate did, said, thought, or felt. We do not consider what the person was responsible for as target data since it doesnt tell what the person actually did. The data must be about the candidate. We do not consider we data target data since we dont know what the candidate did. Volunteered by the candidate: Target data comes from the candidates memory, not the interviewers suggestions or prompting. About a specific past situation: Focused on what actually happened, not on what might have happened, or what generally happens. Having the candidate state what they would do in specific scenarios may point out problem solving and quick thinking but may not predict what the person actually has done in similar situations. Only data based on past situations is considered target data. Step 1: General Opening Statement or Question Begin gathering target data with general opening questions or statements. The purpose of this step is to get the candidate to talk about what we want them to talk about. Here are examples of general openings. (The phrases in parentheses are examples of specific skills I might be looking for in a candidate.): Im looking for (examples of when you managed multiple priorities). Id like to hear more about (your experiences in delegating). Id like to find out how (you respond to autonomy and little direction). Can you think of a time when (you had a difficult deadline to meet)? Do you recall an instance where (you were aware that another member of the team was not pulling his or her own weight)? Is there an example of (a challenge you faced in coding a new module)? Step 2: Get Deeper The next step in gathering target data is to get deeper in those areas important to the job. Questions that help you get deeper include: How did it start? What were the key points in the situation? What were the results? What happened first/then/next? What did you do/say/feel/think? How did you prepare/follow-up? What do you believe was the most important event/decision/activity during that time? Here are several guidelines for getting deeper: Ask what the candidate did, said, felt, thought. Separate the candidates actions from others actions. Ask who, what, when, where, and how. What is your role throughout this questioning? Take notes to help you guide the conversation. Listen. Ask for clarity when necessary. Remember, we cannot assess a candidates qualifications if WE do all the talking! What You Dont Do It is important that you as interviewer dont: Ask leading questions: Leading questions give you exactly what you want to hear. And they typically result in inaccurate data. Accept generalizations: Generalizations dont tell you what the candidate did. Target data must be specific. Accept collectivisms: Collectivisms are the use of we, the group, my team, etc. They dont tell us what this individual — the candidate — did. Again, target data must be specific. Assess the candidate before hearing all: Prejudging a candidate before the data is heard is a serious mistake. The brain can easily find data to support its prejudgment. Therefore, stick to the script; write down what you hear as the interviewer. The time for assessment comes later. How To Get Back On Track Because HPI is a dialogue, it is sometimes easy for the candidate to digress. It is your responsibility as interviewer to pull the candidates discussion into more relevant and appropriate direction. Here are some pithy phrases that will rein in or focus the digresser: If I was there, what would I see? You said there were meetings. Could you tell me about one? Can you give me the details? Lets backtrack a bit. Who do you mean by we? When youve gathered an appropriate amount of data for a particular skill, repeat the HPI technique until you are satisfied with the results. Then close the interview. Terence R. Traut is the president of Entelechy, Inc., a company that helps organizations unlock the potential of their people through customized training programs in the areas of sales, management, customer service, and training. Terence can be reached at 603-424-1237 or ttraut@unlockit.com. Check out Entelechy’s website at www.unlockit.com. Terence R. Traut is the president of Entelechy, Inc., a company that helps organizations unlock the potential of their people through customized training programs in the areas of sales, management, customer service, and training. Terence can be reached at 603-424-1237 or ttraut@unlockit.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terence_Traut http://EzineArticles.com/?Hiring-the-Best—Interviewing-Strategies-that-WORK!&id=184516 where can i make a paycheck stub for free paycheck loans jacksonville no credit check car loan paycheck stub samples

By Philip S. Ok, so you want to know where you can find out about your family tree, well, the answer is actually different for each individual person because obviously nobody is the same person or has the same past, what works for one person may not necessarily work for the next person, however, this article will hopefully open your eyes to a few of the possibilities that you can use to trace your family tree. Where Can I Find Out About My Family Tree Here’s something to think about - The average phone number book has most of the phone numbers in it for the entire town, city or even entire country, this means that it is very easy for you to simply pick up a phone book and look for someone’s phone number and home address, now, if it is possible to find someone as easily as just looking in a phone book that nearly everyone has access to, then what do you think the chances are of you being able to locate someone you are looking for altogether? Pretty good, right? This is the power that we have today, it is actually quite easy to locate people from all over the world using the different technologies and records that are available to us, for one, the internet is one of the most powerful things in existence, I mean, you can talk and communicate with people over one thousand miles away from you. The first thing you would want to do is simply ask your known family members, ask your mother, ask your father, ask anyone you think might be able to help you find out more about your family tree, these are the people that are most likely going to be able to help you, however, you may not be in the position to do this but don’t worry, there are other methods you can use. Another way is to do as I mentioned above and look up the phone book, you can locate peopel from all voer the country just by doing this and for all you know there could be the very thing you are looking just a few pages away, so give ti a try. The next is the internet and this is the most powerful one of all, there are services available that allow you to research and locate people from all over the world and of course, more importantly people who are in your family tree, I definitely suggest you look into this and see how powerful it actually is. Discover how to quickly and easily find out about your family tree at: ==> http://the-internet-marketer.com/TraceYourFamilyTree You have the power of the internet at your hands! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Philip_S. http://EzineArticles.com/?Where-Can-I-Find-Out-About-My-Family-Tree&id=390295 forumand testimonials about project payday how long are sba loans amortized for second chance checking with no credit check small unsecured non pay day loans

By Gerry Fung A garden pond is a great focal point for any backyard or garden. Unfortunately, the installation of a professional garden pond can be extremely expensive and require significant labor. For those of us on a budget and for those of us who dont have unlimited time to spend on our backyards, there is an alternative: a preformed pond kit. Preformed pond kits can make for quick, affordable, and easy-to-install garden ponds. Unlike liner ponds, which require significant effort to design and implement, preformed ponds come with a default shape. Because of this, you do not have to worry about shaping the pond properly, or ensuring that your liner fits. You only have to dig a hole thats larger than your preformed shell, insert your pond, and backfill around the edges! Preformed pond kits will not only save you money if you purchase them online, but they will also save you from costly mistakes. For instance, once you cut liner, it is difficult to seam it back together again. You also do not have to worry about purchasing the wrong materials because many preformed pond kits include everything that you might possible need in a preformed pond kit, including: a preformed pond shell, a watercourse, a pond pump, pump filtration, fountain heads, and all tubing and clamps required! Preformed ponds can come in various colours and textures, some variants which include black, granite, and sandstone. There are two main types of preformed ponds: rigid, or folding. Folding ponds are similar to rigid preformed ponds in that they still retain a shape. However, the advantages of folding ponds are that they are made out of a liner-like material that allows them to be easily unfolded before installation. Folding ponds are more forgiving and adhere better to freshly-dug holes because they are not as rigid as fixed preformed ponds. However, the main disadvantage of a folding pond is that it cannot be installed indoors. One particular example of a folding preformed kit is Algreens 180 gallon folding preformed kit. Algreens folding preformed pond kit is fish-safe, UV-resistant, and offers exceptional value because not only does their GardenSM.com kit come with all necessary materials, but it also includes a free pond accent: a 3-piece underwater light with a transformer! The 3-piece light comes in handy when youre landscaping your pond after your initial installation. At night, the water feature can be lit up in multi-colored light to create a fascinating light display. After youve installed your preformed pond, there are always other improvements that you can seek. For instance, with proper filtration, you can raise fish in your pond. You can also add various other pond accents to your water garden including pond spitters, a stone retaining wall, and various plants and flowers. For more information about both preformed ponds, preformed pond kits and professional liner pond kits… Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gerry_Fung http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Preformed-Pond-is-a-Great-Garden-Centerpiece&id=480049 purchases cash advance yulee bad credit car loan easy payday loans no income personal loans

By Paul Totoritis The best place to start collecting would be with pennies, we will focus on the Lincoln Cent for the years 1909 through 1958, which are the Wheat Cents. There are still a number of “wheat cents” showing up in circulation, so it is possible to start a coin collection without spending a great deal of money. While you are searching your pocket change for “wheat cents”, be sure to check for silver coinage and of course check those quarters. Then new 50 State Commemorative Quarters are a very good place to start since you can find five new states each year plus the different mint marks. Getting back to pennies, which is where we want to start our new collection. The first Lincoln Cent was minted in 1909 and was made of copper. The mint continued to make pennies from copper until 1943, when for this year only, they were made of steel and zinc plated to prevent them from rusting. These coins appear to be silver or gray in color because of the plating. The pennies were made of steel because of a copper shortage brought on by the war, but they resumed using copper in 1944. Between 1909 and 1958 the penny featured Lincoln on the obverse (front of the coin) and the words “ONE CENT” over “United States of America” framed by bundles of wheat on each side of the words, there by getting the descriptive name of “Wheat Cents”. This is how the penny is called for the years 1909-1958. Other than a minor change in the composition of the metal which was 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc until 1943 when they were zinc plated steel, and then 1944 until 1958 when they were 95% copper, 5% zinc and no tin. The Penny remained the same for 50 years. It was designed by Victor David Brenner, whose initials appeared on the reverse, of some, of the coins minted that first year. There are two varieties of the 1909, some have the VDB on the reverse, (back of coin) at the bottom of the coin at the 6 oclock position, and others do not. The pennies were minted at Philadelphia, Pa. and San Francisco, Ca. The pennies from San Francisco have a small “s” under the date while the Philadelphia coins have no mintmark. The coins to watch for are the ones with mintmarks; this applies to all coins not just pennies. The value of coins is greatly based on rarity and with the Philadelphia mint being the largest of the mints; it was natural for them to produce the greatest number of coins. There is also a mint in Denver, Co. and a mint, which had been closed by this time in Carson City. The Denver mint put a small “d” under the date and on older coinage of other types you will find the letters “CC” for Carson City. Mint Marks are Important, learn to watch for them. Back to pennies, in 1909 when the first Lincoln (wheat cent) penny was made, they minted 72,702,618 in Philadelphia without the designers, Victor David Brenner, initials. They produced 27,995,000 with the VDB on the reverse of the penny. This same year, 1909, San Francisco minted 1,825,000 without the designers initials and 484,000 with the initials VDB on the reverse at the bottom of the coin. So now for the economics lesson of supply and demand and how it affects price. If you had a 1909-penny in “good” condition it would be worth about 75 cents, in “mint” condition it would be valued at about $14.00. If you had a 1909 with VDB on the reverse in “good” condition, it would be worth about $1.80, in “mint” condition ( I cant explain this ) the value is about $9.00 ( the only apparent reason for the penny with the lower mintage being worth less in mint condition then the plain 1909 in mint condition, would be that in numismatic records kept by the grading services, there are probably more 1909 VDBs on record than plain 1909s) If you had a 1909s in “good” condition it is worth $37.00, in “mint” condition about $120.00. Now if you were lucky enough to find a 1909s with the initials VDB on the reverse in “good” condition it is worth $350.00 and in “mint” condition it is worth $680.00 or more. Not bad for a penny. In all coin types and series there exists what are known as “key dates”, for now lets just say they are important because of a number of factors (another big subject), but that they are important in collecting coins of all types, not just pennies. The “key dates” for the Lincoln penny 1909-1958 are: 1909s 1909s VDB 1914d 1922 1931s The semi-key dates, also valuable, but not as significant as the “key dates” are: 1910s, 1911d, 1911s, 1912s, 1913d, 1913s, 1914s, 1915, 1921s, 1922d, 1923s, 1924d, 1926s, 1931d, and 1933d. This takes you through the “wheat cents” 1909-1958, along with keys and semi-keys each series of coin has Error varieties, Die varieties, and double die varieties which are also worth more than the common date coins. These again are subjects in themselves but a brief description is needed to make you aware of what to look for in collecting coins. Error varieties are any condition, which may have existed resulting in a coin being struck and getting into circulation in a condition of appearance to be other than what was intended by the U.S. Mint. Simply said if it looks different than all the other s as a result of a mint mistake and not tampering or defacing by an individual, than it is an error, and they tend to be worth more. Double Die varieties are actually errors because the coin after being stamped does not exit the die but remains in the die and is struck again causing parts of the design to be duplicated. Sometimes the duplicate is very noticeable other double die varieties require a powerful magnifying glass or microscope to see them. Die varieties are the result of many dies being used to mint any particular series of coin. They could never produce this many pennies with only one die. Each die has its own characteristics, small differences between dies, which are noticeable enough that you can distinguish pennies or other coins being minted by a particular die. As you may become educated at this point into the many details of coin collecting, let me say this now. Coin Collecting should be no more involved, difficult, or time consuming than you want it to be. The main objective of coin collecting is enjoyment, if you are interested in investing, find a Stock Broker. Lastly, I borrow this comment from another person whose name I dont remember, but who deserves the credit none the less. “As a coin collector, you are not a coin owner, but a coin keeper. Although you have the actual coins in your possession and legally they are yours to hold, buy, sell or trade, while they are in your possession you should do everything possible to maintain the condition and appearance of the coins.”(To who ever said this, I apologize for not being able to quote you verbatim or give you your due credit) “As keepers of coins, we enjoy our collection, than pass them to the next generation of keepers.” This was significant to me personally, as it links, you, others, and me in a great chain from past through present and into the future as we are the keeper of coins, coin collectors and Numismatists. Enough now of history, economics and philosophy, lets collect coins. To start, get yourself a magnifying glass, the bigger the better. Search your coins in a well-lighted area to be better able to spot errors, mintmarks, and to read dates on some of your more worn coins. Determine what coins you will collect and purchase a bookshelf folder for that denomination or series. Whitman, Dansco, Harris & Co. and a few others put out these folders. The Whitman folders are probably the most familiar; they are blue folders about 8 inches high, 6 inches wide and about inch thick. They retail for about $3.75 each and are available at most bookstores all coin stores and many web sites including my own. Try to purchase a book called, “A Guide Book of United States Coins” by R.S. Yeoman. This is commonly called the red book and it is a red book which retails for about $11.00 in the hard cover edition at most book stores and coin shops. The Red Book is published every year, it gives you a good over view of the history of U.S. coins, basic grading information, average retail value for all U.S. coins, descriptions of the different coins past and present and a listing of the errors, with pictures, of some errors found in the minting process. Purchase one of the monthly publications on coin collecting. My two favorites are “Coins” and “COINage”. Krausse Publishing who also publishes more than half of all coin related books and periodicals publishes coins magazine. COINage is published by Miller Magazines, Inc. and is always packed with great stories and information as well as advertisers for coin related material. You do not need a subscription, but try to buy at least one copy of either magazine. It will give you some great insight into prices of coins, coins other than pennies that you may want to collect also some great pictures of coins and good articles to educate yourself in coin collecting. Both magazines sell for about $4.00 each, if that is within your budget, then you should buy a copy to get an idea of what is out there. Coin World and Numismatic News are two weekly newspapers with many great articles, current news and classified sections for buyers, sellers and traders all relating to coins. They retail for about $1.95 and are also available at bookstores. The newspaper may not interest you until you get more involved in the hobby and want to stay more in tune with what is happening currently in the Numismatic world. Numismatic News is again published by Krausse publishing and Coin World is published by Ames Press. A second book you should try to purchase is “Official A.N.A. Grading Standards for United States Coins”, put out by the American Numismatic Association. The book is an excellent guide to grading coins, a skill you will need to develop if you continue in coin collecting. It is a well-used and respected guide for grading coins. Visit the A.N.A. at http://www.money.org, and if you can, consider joining, they have a Junior and Adult Membership. The Junior is only $20.00 for the year and the adult is $36.00, but the benefits are worth the cost of membership. Another coin club is Coin Masters, which is free and also has a Junior Membership as well as Adult. The group is not as large as A.N.A. but it is a great group with some very helpful members. Visit their web site to join at http://www.coinmasters.org/ Some supplies should be purchased when you start collecting coins. You should have something to put your coins in for storage, until you are ready to place them in an album, or for you duplicate coins. You can purchase coin tubes, clear plastic tubes preferably with screw on tops, in the various coin denominations, penny tubes, nickel tubes, etc. Tubes cost about 20 to 50 cents each and usually come in packages of 4 or more, but can also be purchased in bulk for a cheaper price per tube. IMPORTANT POINT: When storing coins, be careful of the material used in the storage device, many plastics react with the surface of coins causing them to discolor or develop black spots. The paper used is also important as many papers and cardboard contain sulfur, which will cause a silver coin to turn black. The very best and most expensive are air tight holders. These provide the best storage and the expense is of little concern for your more valuable coins. A common and popular method to store coins is in 2″X 2″ white cardboard folders which have Mylar/Polyester windows. These are very good and affordable holders for your more common coins and they retail for about $3.75 to $5.00 for a box of 100. They are available in bulk packs of 1000 at lower prices, but I prefer the boxes since they make an excellent way to store the folders once you have inserted and labeled your coins. You simply insert your coin into the round window; fold the other side over and staple shut. NOTE: Try to use stainless steel staples, as they will not rust like ordinary staples. There are a number of other methods and devices for storage, be sure they are made of material that is safe for your coins. A quick note on copper coins: try to store your coins in an area that is dry. This is particularly important if you happen to have some mint state or proof coins. A nice choice red coin when exposed to moisture, even for a brief period could suddenly begin to change color and end up being brown, dull and less valuable. Cleaning Coins: Read about it, learn it and leave it to the experts. I recommend no cleaning except under the following condition. If a coin has been exposed to something that will further deteriorate the coin, then cleaning may be needed. Never use an abrasive substance to clean a coin, at most use a mild soap, such as Ivory soap, and water. Gently dab the solution onto the coin, do not rub, and then rinse very well in clean water and pat dry with a soft cloth. De-natured alcohol is also used to remove harmful oils from a coins surface, remember to hold the coin by the rim or edges and not on the face of the coin. The acid and oils present in your skin will leave finger prints on the clean shiny surface of a mint state or proof coin that can be seen from five feet away. Finally, as long as this article may appear, it just scratches the surface of the many aspects of coin collecting. As your collection and interest grows, so will your knowledge. Take the time to listen, to read, ask questions and learn. This is a process that will continue the rest of your coin collecting days. Your education can save you money now and make money for you in the future, but most of all remember have fun. Enjoy the “Hobby of Kings” which has grown to become the “King of Hobbies”; you are a numismatist, a coin collector and a keeper of coins. Basic essentials needed to start a coin collection. 1.Coins, pocket change is a good way and inexpensive way to start. 2.A good magnifying glass, or a cheaper one at least. 3.Coin albums for whatever denomination and series of coins you intend to collect. 4.Storage devices to protect your coins, tubes are nice but the coins must be removed from them to admire or search through your collection. The 2X2 cardboard holders or flips work best for this reason. 5.Most if not all books and periodicals can be found at your public library, take advantage of that to save money for purchasing coins. 6.Try to join a local coin club. You can probably find one through your Chamber of Commerce or telephone book. There are also some clubs listed on the Internet and clubs such as Coin Masters, which is only available on the web. 7.You will at some time need to purchase coins. It would be near impossible to complete a folder with coins from circulation. Wheat cents are available by the pound at very reasonable rates, but you should shop around. 8.Subscribe to the news group rec.collecting.coins Visit us at Http://www.Vportweb.net or Http://www.vportweb.com - our other hobby. By Paul Tumble Weed No formal writing skills, terible with grammar, but like a “Tumble Weed”, I ramble on. Enjoy writing, philosophy, web site building, coin collecting, home remodeling, Tea Cup Pommeranians, and much more. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Totoritis http://EzineArticles.com/?Starting-A-Coin-Collection&id=39342 low rate personal loans approved personal loans paycheck loans fast cash business plan

By Anne Clarke Teak furniture seems to be an increasingly popular style of outdoor decor. There are teak garden benches of many other sorts, of course, but teak garden benches can add a touch of elegance that will impress you and your guests. Make your garden beautiful this season, and buy teak garden benches that will last so long you can pass them on to your children, and that are virtually maintenance free! Let a teak bench dress up your yard or garden. Choose the right style for you and enjoy the look you are going for, with garden decor that will last you a lifetime. In the flower garden: Some teak garden benches are made just for sitting down and admiring the flowers. In the yard: Under the shade of your maple tree, far enough away from the pool or the volley ball net to just sit back and watch and relax, your teak bench might just be perfect for sitting the next one out or resting in the shade of your garden as you watch the children play. Teatime teak garden benches: Many teak garden benches are designed especially for sitting in your yard or garden or on that patio or porch and eating and drinking. These teak garden benches often come in sets, using extra chairs and teak tables as well. These teak garden benches are perfect for a get together, a card game, teatime, or just for relaxing at home. Multi purposed: There are teak benches made for watching the birds and the flowers in your garden, which can also double as seating for dining outdoors. With more than a dozen teak wood bench styles to choose from, create an outdoor focal point for your yard or garden. Complement your existing indoor or outdoor teak furniture by choosing the perfect style. There are teak garden benches with full backs and armrests for just sitting back and relaxing in, sometimes these come in sets with tables. Some of them come in straight designs, and some come in more arched or elegant designs. The typical backless teak benches are a beautiful touch to any garden or yard. Some are more stylish but a little more plain, and others have a unique, luxurious design just by adding a few extra decorative touches. When you choose a more streamlined look, if that is the look you are going for, by purchasing a backless teak garden bench you can sit facing any direction for the perfect view. Watch the sunrise and watch the sunset all from the same picturesque backless teak garden bench. Some of these teak garden benches are offered with curling armrests on either side, and some have no armrests at all. And believe it or not, the garden benches you choose will be among the most essential parts of your yard or garden. Your teak garden benches will definitely be a big part of what gives your yard or garden that picturesque overall look to it. Teak garden benches will even add a graceful touch to the view of your garden from the kitchen, living room, bedroom, dining room, or whatever window that faces it. Teak furniture will never require finishing or maintenance, and will weather to a lovely shade of soft gray. Good teak garden benches will remain splinter free and smooth for decades. Such benches are so long lasting you can pass them on to the next generation of your family. Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on garden furniture please visit Garden Furniture. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anne_Clarke http://EzineArticles.com/?Teak-Furniture-for-Your-Garden:-Add-a-Touch-of-Something-Spectacular&id=195084 no credit check mortgages apartment private money lender christmas guaranteed no fax payday loan instructions for payday by parker brothers