Obama to Spend Billions on Health Care

by Ethan Kalvin

According to a Washington Post report, President Obama is slated to earmark $500 billion for health care and health insurance reform in next year’s stimulus package. There are a few specific programs which have been mentioned as being included:

SCHIP The State Children’s Health Insurance Program is expected to be prominent in the new stimulus package. Though it is regarded as a costly program to get children the health care they need, it has been very successful. It is expected that the Obama budget will help get the program expanded, since Congress has already supported its expansion.

COBRA U.S. Representative Pete Stark from California is calling for an expansion of COBRA, which allows unemployed people to continue their previous employer’s group health insurance coverage. But because COBRA coverage is expensive, Congressman Stark proposes providing subsidies to help the unemployed pay for the plan.

MEDICAID The Federal health coverage program for low income Americans is scheduled to receive up to $40 billion in the next two years as part of the Obama stimulus plan.

One of Obama’s campaign goals was to streamline medical recordkeeping process by automating it into computers. The stimulus package is likely to include at least $10 billion as assistance to health care providers and facilities to implement the plan. When the bill comes before Congress, there is certain to be plenty of debate over its final content.

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How To Improve Your Freelance Proofreading Career

by katie George

Did you know that one of the best ways to get the knowledge you need to be an effective proof reader is to take a training course? It will be the best move you ever make. Courses are not mandatory, but it can be very challenging to find work that is available to those who do not have a proofreading training certification.

If you are trying to build your freelance business, it can be difficult to find the time to take a training course. Who has the time to travel back and forth from college to get this degree or certification? We won’t even mention the costs of enrolling into the college either. But proofreading training courses can be done online. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can use a mail based proof reading course as well if you like.

Take classes when you have time. The cost is much less than that of a traditional college. The best part is that if you take the time to find it, you can take the proof reading courses through an accredited college meaning that you are actually getting a college education.

To become a professional proofreader, you must have many skills. It is not a simple job that anyone can do. It does take training and it does take skill and dedication. A proofreading course is a simple step on the way to ensuring a great freelance career. Because they are readily available, it is easy to find them, easy to get in, and well worth it in the cost department.

Establishing yourself as a professional is hard work. It is much easier to get into the field and gain the trust of someone who can later open many more doors for you when you have a certification behind you. It just makes sense to make the time to take the courses and to learn from them so you can excel in your freelance business.

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Writing a Killer Resume to Attract Prospective Employers

by Mary Bush

Resume is a document containing a summary highlighting the experiences and credentials and education usually written for the purpose of gaining an interview while seeking an employment. Since resume is the first thing that a potential employer encounters regarding the applicant, it carries a great significance.

A resume may be limited to one or two pages and can be organized in several ways. A chronological resume highlights a candidate’s job experience in reverse chronological order, that is, the main body of the document shows the professional experience beginning from the most recent experience going chronologically backwards through a succession of previous experience. The main aim of a chronological resume is to give an impact of credibility through experience gained. This type of resume is the most common resume in use.

A functional resume highlights work experience and skills classified by skill area or job function. The objective of a functional resume is to focus on the skills particular to the kind of position being sought which directly gives weightage to professional capabilities and experiences as a backup. In contrast to chronological resume, functional resume will highlight these competencies and is most suited for jobs that require a particular skill or clearly defined personality traits.

A combination resume balances both the chronological and functional resumes, which typically leads with a functional list of job skills and then the chronological list of employers.

A resume is quite short and therefore contains experience directly relevant to the position and many resumes use precise keywords and action words that the employer is seeking for. Increasing number of job seekers and employers are using Internet based jobs and therefore an ideal resume should be long enough to provide a concise, adequate and accurate description of an applicant’s employment history and capabilities. Job seekers are now able to reach the employers through direct e-mail contact and resume blasting which is the mass distribution of resumes to increase personal visibility within the job market. The simplicity and complexity of the resume formats produce results varying from person to person, industry and occupation.

Since many employers find candidates through search engines, it is important to use appropriate keywords while writing a resume. And they must choose a file format to maintain their resume. Unlike regular two page resumes, which highlight only the recent work experience and education, Internet resumes highlight the candidate’s skill development over his or her career.

While writing a resume, emphasis should be placed on accomplishments, effective organization and more importantly the appearance of the resume. To achieve this, proper care should be taken to see to it that the font is plain and easy to read written on a resume quality paper, formatting the resume with simple bullets, highlighting the accomplishments and not taking away the attention.

While organizing a resume it is very important to start with an active descriptive action word, include numbers and percentages and restrict the resume to one page. The resume is nothing but an advertisement with the main purpose of winning an interview and to be an effective resume, it should stand out from the crowd.

How to Get a New Career in This Economy!

by katie George

Hello, first off let me thank you for reading my article! Now lets get straight to the point. I know that there are a lot of you that are considering a career change, and most people are probably telling you to reconsider, because of the current economy! We all know that everyday companies in the U.S., are freezing their hiring departments.

That can make the career change even more of a challenge. Not to mention that fact that just about every job post on the net, gets an average of over 100 resumes! This is one of the bigger challenges right now. Also, you have A LOT of people constantly getting laid off, so they too are looking for a new job. It is just a bad time right now in the U.S. and tough to get a job.

With all that said, there is still hope out there! First, thing I want you to know is that your resume is very important! This is the only thing that employers will have to judge you and your skill set by! With this in mind, remember that you basically are trying to sell yourself! You want to take your skills to the limit. Make sure to “beef” up your resume, but don’t lie! Many employers these days, do check your resources and contact them, so you don’t want to get caught in a lie, or you will most certainly lose all chances of getting that job! Probably one of the best tips I can give you, when it comes to your resume, is to remember that these days people are using software to check resumes.

Knowing this, you won’t to try to include the keywords you think that an employer looking for your skills would want. Normally, the resumes with the highest matching keywords are the ones that get the interviews!

I also wanted to talk to you about where you are looking for a job. Consider looking in the newspaper and other local sources, that won’t have quite as many applicants! Like I said, the local newspaper, can sometimes be your best bet. Craigslist.org, can also be one helpful place, because I don’t think as many people know to go there looking for a job, and the jobs are constantly updated. There are many resources out there like this, just keep searching and you will find them!

Jobs in Biotechnology

by Mary Bush

Biotechnology is a science that utilises living organisms to produce therapeutic drugs, diagnostics products and many other other products that greatly benefit society. Analysts have predicted that biotechnology will become one of the most important applied sciences in the 21st century

Health

Biotechnology has many applications in health. Many therapeutics proteins are too complex to synthesize and so need to be manufactured in living cells such as bacterial, yeast and mammalian cells. These cells are often genetically manipulated to produce useful medicines.

Biotechnology has led to the development of numerous antibiotics for the treatment of different infections and also to the development of a number of vaccines for the prevention of many diseases.

Another important health application is in genetic testing. An individuals DNA may be screened to determine the presence of any mutated sequences that could indicate a risk of certain cancers or the on-set of certain adult diseases. Genetic testing is widely used in pre-natal screening and is also used in the forensic science industry.

Agriculture

Biotechnology is used in agriculture to improve crop yield and to make crops more robust to environmental stress making them resistant to insects that damage and lower crop yield. Crops are engineered to make them naturally resistant to environmental pests which in turn benefits the environment with the use of less pesticides and herbicides.

Biotechnology can also improve the nutritional value of food and improve it’s appearance and taste.

Environment

Biotechnology uses microorganisms to clear up many contaminated environments such as oil spillages at sea and is widely used in the treatment of sewage. The microorganisms metabolize contaminants to produce harmless by-products.

Industrial

An example is the designing of an organism to produce useful chemicals. Another example is the use of enzymes in industrial applications i.e. biological washing powders or to produce valuable chemicals or destroy hazardous/polluting chemicals.

Biotechnology is important in the production of biodegradable plastics and in the production of bio-fuels.

The biotechnology sector provides a great variety of career opportunities to qualified scientists. Most graduates enter the sector after completing a relevant life science degree.

Secrets To Searching For The Career You Really Wanted

by katie George

Career search is a very stressful and difficult process. This is even made more intense today because so many companies are reducing their workforce. Thus increasing the number of applicants for a shrinking number of jobs.

The competition for available jobs is fierce. Yet, you can beat the competition and actually search and get hired in the career you really want.

Consider these secrets

1. Discover what you really want out of your work and life

Discover your true passions, desires, beliefs, and talents so that you can paint a picture of your true work and life goals from your own perspective.

2. Develop and define the job you really want

Design and define the career that will allow you to fulfill your passions, desires, beliefs and maximize your talents.

What you are doing is building your ideal job around what you want as opposed to looking at job opportunities that come along to evaluate. Believe it or not, the career you are searching for actually exists in more than one way and within the personal parameters you set.

3. Find out what companies have positions that meet your ideal position requirements. Look and research all of the possible companies within the geographical area you designated to discover what positions within these companies you would want. Do not worry about whether they have job vacancies or are currently in a hiring mode.

4. Evaluate the companies that have your desired careers

Make sure you would want to work for the companies that have your ideal jobs. They need to have integrity and treat their employees and customers in the manner you would want to be treated.

Determine whether they operate in an industry that you want to work in

Research about the career you selected. Do not be put off or discouraged if the companies are not hiring. Why? Because companies are always looking for the right employees and will have to eventually hire new employees to survive.

Determine who actually makes hiring decisions, and what is important to them. Many companies disguise this information through HR departments or hiring committees. If possible, try to find out how you can contact hiring decision-makers directly. Get their e-mail addresses, direct telephone numbers, or find someone in the company who can do that for you.

5. Contact the decision-makers and tell them you want to work for them in the specific career you are searching for. Express your enthusiasm for that specific job or jobs. The fewer jobs you designate the better.

You want them to know you can be trusted by truthfully exposing your commitment to seeking your dream job, even though they may not have an opening.

Let them know that you will be very productive because you will excel at the job. That you will be a very grateful and energetic employee because you are doing what you love. You are not just asking for a job so they will pay you, but you have targeted a specific job at that company, and you are committed to contributing in that position.

Employers constantly face the problem of finding and surrounding themselves with the right employees who want to work for them, whom they can trust, and who will be very productive with the least amount of supervision.

You are not the only one searching for the perfect career to come. There are many others who are still on the process of a career search.

Find the Job You Want With ASC Connections

by katie George

ASC Connections is a highly regarded recruitment firm located in the United Kingdom that has been in business since 1991. It’s well qualified and motivated staff has helped thousands of job seekers find the right jobs. If you are looking for an entry level position or to make a move to enhance your existing career you can rely on us at ASC Connections. Among the positions that we can locate are Accountancy jobs, IT jobs, Customer Service jobs, and Warehouse and Engineering jobs. We can also help you find the right sales jobs and administration jobs.

If you visit our website you can take a look at some of the positions we are seeking to fill and you can check back frequently. You can also register your CV with us and one of our recruitment experts will contact you to find out exactly what you are looking for. For example, if you are qualified to fill IT jobs we will discuss your specific needs including where you want to work in the UK and the type of salary and benefits you want. We will then launch a proactive search on your behalf. Our reach is nationwide and we work with many companies who rely on us to find the most qualified individuals to work for their firms.

Our recruitment specialists are constantly monitoring the markets for IT jobs, Accountancy jobs, and Warehouse and Engineering jobs, among others. They know when and where the best jobs are opening up and can help you be among the first to apply for the jobs. We can look for Customer Service jobs and other positions in the area where you currently live and work or we can search in any area where you would like to relocate.

You are constantly kept informed of our progress and we will not submit your CV to anyone without your prior approval. When we find positions that we think will meet your needs you will be notified immediately. We will even provide you with assistance in areas like preparing for a job interview to make sure you land one of the Accountancy jobs or other positions you are looking at.

You can try to find good Warehouse and Engineering jobs or other positions on your own but you may find the search both time consuming and frustrating. On the other hand our recruitment experts will do all of the hard work for you. You don’t have to stay in a job that you find unrewarding when there are good jobs available all over the UK. Our solid reputation in the recruitment field is something that you can rely on to make a good career change or start an entirely new career.

We have offices to serve you in Birmingham, Redditch, and Walsall, Midlands and they are all staffed by some of the best recruitment professionals in the business.

How to Be a Successful Telecommuter

by katie George

It can be challenging to find a good telecommuting job, but more and more companies are jumping on board and establishing telecommute programs – which means increased opportunities for aspiring telecommuters. This article will share some helpful tips for creating and maintaining a successful telecommuting career.

1. Professionalism

The most important quality you can demonstrate to potential telecommute employers (and even once you have the job) is professionalism. It’s not just about behaving well during the interview, either. In every interaction you need to portray yourself as mature, responsible, and business-like. The employer needs to feel confident that you can be trusted. Avoid filling your correspondence with smilies or weird fonts, and try to minimize background noise as much as possible during telephone interviews or meetings.

2. Dependability

Also important is to show that you are dependable. You can do this by making sure to be on time for interviews, responding to email or phone calls quickly, and of course once you have the job, “showing up” for work on time every day. Telecommute employers really have to take a leap of faith when they hire you to work at home because they can’t stand over you to be sure your work gets done each day. It’s up to you to put them at ease by demonstrating your commitment and dependability in every interaction.

3. Resourcefulness

Working at home also requires you to be resourceful, much more than regular jobs. You need to be able to think on your feet and handle any challenges that come your way. Your manager may not always be available at the moment you need him or her, so you will be expected to do your best independently. During the interview process your manager may even test your resourcefulness by asking pointed questions like, “How would you handle an irate customer if no one was available to help?” Your answer will reveal a lot about your ability to handle the job.

4. Communication

Since you will be isolated from your manager and co-workers every day, it’s also important to stay in contact frequently. This includes answering email and returning phone calls quickly, but also being proactive by asking questions and otherwise making it known that you are involved and committed to your work.

5. Teamwork

Most telecommuters work independently, but sometimes you may be required to interact with others in a team environment (even if it’s done by telephone or internet). Demonstrate your ability to work well with others by behaving maturely and professionally. If you have a disagreement with your boss or a co-worker, handle it calmly rather than flying off the handle.

Serious Affiliate Mistakes – You Should Never Make Them

by Anson Hall

There are a lot of people who try to make money with affiliate marketing. There are also a lot of them who cannot really make money because they have made some serious affiliate mistakes.

Only a small portion of affiliate marketers can make money in this field of business. According to some studies, only 5% of the marketers can make money online. From this, you may probably be able to understand that you will not be making money if you make some serious affiliate mistakes.

You need to ensure that you do not make this very serious affiliate mistake. There are marketers who will never think of creating an affiliate site. They tend to think that they can make money by forum posting and blog commenting.

Yet, you need to understand that you cannot make the business a long term business if you do not have your own sites. The importance of the affiliate website is that you can make it become a money generating machine if you can run it well.

There are some marketers who will make serious affiliate mistakes about the website even if they have built it. They will just put all the affiliate links and banners on it. However, you will need to add some real contents to it and make the site informative.

In the long run, organic search results will help you to make more money with affiliate marketing. To this end you will need to build your site with SEO in mind. However, some affiliate marketers will not really do that.

Although SEO is extremely important, you should also bear in mind that your site is created for the web surfers. There are marketers who will create articles which do not make sense to the visitors. Again, you will not make money even if you rank very well on search engines.

It is very common for marketers to create product review sites. This is because product review websites are very effective in order to pre-sell. However, these marketers may try to promote hundreds of products in the site. Yet, you will not make money if you also do that.

On the contrary, there are also some affiliate marketers who try to promote one and only one product only on the website. This is of course a serious affiliate mistake. Your aim is to pre-sell and present the advantages and disadvantages of using various products. You cannot per-sell effectively if you only promote one product.

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A Guide to the Life of a Broadcast Technician

by Mary Bush

A career in broadcast technology can be a rather rewarding one with plenty of room for growth potential and career advancement. This guide will explore the specifics of this position, what the qualifications are, what to expect as far as earnings are concerned, and what will be expected of you, the experienced broadcast technician.

Training and Qualifications

In order to obtain a viable position in this field, one must receive some type of formal training, either at a technical school that offers courses specializing in broadcasting, or at a community college or larger school or university where students may study broadcast technology and engineering. Upon the successful completion of training and a thorough exam, a certificate will be issued by the Society of Broadcast Engineers, something that employers will look upon rather favorably.

While some companies may accept an associate’s degree, others will require a bachelor’s degree, or, anywhere from two to four years of hands-on experience before they will hire an applicant. Young students intending on pursuing a career in this growing field should prepare themselves by taking courses such as physics and advanced math, as well as electronics while still in high school.

A natural aptitude for working with electronic equipment, along with an inbred sense of manual dexterity, including excellent hand-eye coordination, are necessary to succeed in this particular field of broadcasting. Because technology is ever changing and always improving, as is testament by the nationwide switch to all digital broadcasting with most programs and movies being filmed in high-definition, technicians must stay on top of the current trends and be familiar with the complex equipment used.

Duties

While employed as a broadcast technician, some of the duties performed may include directing other personnel regarding operations via hand signals or using special headsets, and operating equipment that control important parts of the entire broadcast. One may also be responsible for handling film productions as well as live programming, including both local and network broadcasts.

Broadcasting technicians also install new electronic equipment, make necessary repairs and use equipment such as television cameras, antennae, transmitters, recorders, sound mixers, microphones, and those regulating the lighting effects. Back in the control room of either a television or radio studio, the technician, also often referred to as an operator engineer, will be in control of electronics responsible for the strength of the broadcast’s signal, the clarity of that signal, and how the production looks in term of visual and sound appeal.

Similar Occupations

Occupations that are similar to this type of broadcasting technician include sound engineering technicians, who in conjunction with the former, produce the soundtracks to movies and television programs, as well as other types of engineers, drafters, and science related technicians.

Interestingly enough, laboratory specialists and clinicians along with radiologic technicians, positions in the field of respiratory therapy, surveyors and air traffic controllers are also positions with similar training and qualifications.

Earnings and Advancement Possibilities

The average salary of a technician in the field of broadcasting will vary greatly depending on several variables, including their physical location, whether they’re employed by a local or national company, and of course, their credentials and how much experience they possess.

On average, this position pays anywhere from approximately $35,000 to $60,000 per year with the median salary being just under $46,000. Although, skill, reputation, and references will also dictate the actual salary that can be earned with a job in broadcasting technology.

Most recently, this particular profession occupied nearly 40,000 positions in just the United States alone, and as the entertainment industry shows no sign of slowing or disappearing, the possibilities are great for a long-standing career in the exciting field of broadcasting. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, this position is expected to grow slightly faster than average, as opposed to all other types of occupations at least through the year 2016.

Working Conditions

The daily working life of a broadcast technician is most usually a pleasant one, working indoors in air-conditioned quarters directing and operating the equipment to successfully transmit a broadcast. In smaller, local televisions stations, these technicians will rarely need to work more than 40 hours per week, however, weekend and evening hours may be the norm, at least initially, as news and local programming are on every hour of the day, every day of the week, every month of the year.

At larger stations or movie studios, technicians also usually work a 40 hour week, but overtime isn’t unusual especially if the studio is under a contractual obligation to finish a production and meet their deadline. These larger studios also often hire freelance technicians, employing them on a broadcast-by-broadcast basis.