Very often the struggle if you want to work from home is simply being unsure of the opportunities available that would fit perfectly with you and would enable you to achieve your dream.
If you have solid writing skills, writing CVs online could be the perfect business opportunity and, in the current employment climate, a valuable service as well.
What Is an Online CV Writer?
Rather than meeting with clients face-to-face, operating as an online CV writer involves working with clients via the Internet and email, and can also incorporate fax, phone or regular mail.
Particularly for women working from home with young children, in some areas having clients come to the home can be a safety issue. Working online enables total freedom of hours worked and flexibility around the home-life and children in a secure environment and without the need of council approval.
What Equipment Do You Need?
Start-up costs are also kept to a minimum as it is not essential to have a formal, well-equipped office. It is possible to get the business up and running with:
* A reliable computer, which many already possess, which is running at least Word 2003 or similar, a reliable email program and a first-rate anti virus program.
* A phone with message capability, preferably dedicated to the business but if not the entire family will need to understand how to answer the phone competently or to not answer it at all. It is possible to get different ring tones on the same phone line so there is no doubt if it is a business related call, or many choose to have a dedicated mobile phone for the business.
* A professional looking web site. This does not have to mean taking out a second mortgage as there are free or low-cost web site creation tools through companies such as Word Press or Doodle kit, but look around for your best option.
* Secure payment options, which may include anything from PayPal to Money Orders.
* A work ethos that really cares about your clients success
Approach as a Business, Not a Hobby
As with starting any business, you will need to have some understanding of the fundamentals of operating a business.
Identify home-based or small business resources or assistance which are often available through government or council business development initiatives. Perhaps you will benefit from working with a small business consultant or support group who can give you business planning assistance and guidance in researching, formulating, and writing a business and marketing plan.
Do not ever be afraid to ask for help or even ongoing support. You want to be sure your exciting new venture will be one of the 20 percent small business success stories and not one of the 80 percent that fold within the first few years.
How Do You Operate As an Online CV Writer?
Bottom line, you will need strong computer skills, good spelling and grammar, the ability to lay out a document professionally, attention to detail, the passion to do your best for your clients and a strong knowledge of the latest CV industry trends.
When working online, a detailed questionnaire which draws out the essential information is your most vital tool. The questionnaire must not only extract information on duties performed, it must also dig out actual achievements including facts and figures and the why and how. It is not good enough to state on a CV merely the duties performed, or even that the job candidate had boosted sales by 50 percent. How the job candidate boosted sales and if there were any challenging circumstances in achieving that result must also be included.
Prompt your clients with questions such as these:
1. Tell me about your communication skills and give examples of when and how they made a difference
2. List your achievements in this position considering the problems you have solved, contributions you have made and any awards and recognitions you have received
3. How did your performance compare to others in a similar position?
Working online also has the advantage of prompting clients for information in a situation where they will have the answers, and the time to break and look up the information you need.
And of course there are the added benefits to you:
* Work around your own hours
* Provide better service by maximizing your time on the actual documents
* Perform work for clients anywhere in the world
By seeking out online professional business networks and utilizing the array of resources available online, your work-from-home dream could become a reality as an online CV writer.
About The Author:
Beverley Neil, owner of d'Scriptive Words, carries a passion for teaching others how to write powerful resumes. She has dual international resume writer accreditation, is a multiple award winning resume writer and author of the Online Resume Writer's Course, suitable for both beginners who want to learn professional resume writing and professionals who want to improve their skills. For more information about Beverley, her services and course visit http://www.onlineresumewriterscourse.com.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Criterion Online Writing Evaluation Service Launches
The Criterion Online Writing Evaluation service, distributed by leading educational publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, today announced the launch of version 9.1 of its web-based application. The new version includes an innovative communication feature that enables parents and teachers to collaborate to improve students' writing skills, as well as an extended bilingual writing handbook library that includes Japanese-English and Korean-English editions.
The Criterion service, developed by the Educational Testing Service and distributed by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, helps students plan, write and revise essays and provides instant score reports and diagnostic feedback to students and teachers for holistic instruction.
Criterion version 9.1 includes a parent communication feature that allows teachers to send students' essays and reports, annotated with comments and feedback, to fellow teachers, administrators and parents directly from the Criterion service, providing them with accurate, up-to-date information on student performance. Additionally, version 9.1 includes new Japanese-English and Korean-English Writer's Handbooks complete with essay samples and essential writing tips. The Criterion collection already contains seven Writer's Handbooks, including two additional bilingual editions in Spanish-English and Simplified Chinese-English.
"Our students are writing more, teachers are coaching more effectively and our writing program is experiencing ongoing progress with the use of the online Criterion program," said Kathy Richter, an English teacher at Plymouth High School in Plymouth, Indiana.
To learn more about the Criterion Online Writing Evaluation service, visit www.riversidepublishing.com.
The Criterion service, developed by the Educational Testing Service and distributed by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, helps students plan, write and revise essays and provides instant score reports and diagnostic feedback to students and teachers for holistic instruction.
Criterion version 9.1 includes a parent communication feature that allows teachers to send students' essays and reports, annotated with comments and feedback, to fellow teachers, administrators and parents directly from the Criterion service, providing them with accurate, up-to-date information on student performance. Additionally, version 9.1 includes new Japanese-English and Korean-English Writer's Handbooks complete with essay samples and essential writing tips. The Criterion collection already contains seven Writer's Handbooks, including two additional bilingual editions in Spanish-English and Simplified Chinese-English.
"Our students are writing more, teachers are coaching more effectively and our writing program is experiencing ongoing progress with the use of the online Criterion program," said Kathy Richter, an English teacher at Plymouth High School in Plymouth, Indiana.
To learn more about the Criterion Online Writing Evaluation service, visit www.riversidepublishing.com.
Friday, August 28, 2009
The English Myth by Siddarth Baliga
Good English language skills seem to be a pre-requisite everywhere. And why should it not be? English is after all an international language (and the only one) understood across continents. Even non-English speaking countries have realized the importance of English for faster integration with the global economy. We find thousands of English coaching institutes, mushrooming in every nook and corner, promising impeccable English language skills in a jiffy. All major management entrance examinations test the candidates' ability in various applications of the English language.
People claim to have excellent English language abilities in their resumes. But they fumble when asked to draft a simple business letter. Even top managers, drawing huge pay packets, in leading business conglomerates write shabby English. So where exactly are people going wrong in their approach to better abilities in English?
The English Myth
1. English can be improved in 30 days: Learning is an ongoing process. There is nothing called 100% perfection. However, reaching a certain level of proficiency does take years. Books and coaching classes offering "guarantees" are just filling their coffers.
2. Learn a word list of 3000 words by heart and English is mastered! Learning 3000 words by rote may not be of much use unless you know how to place them in your everyday usage. For example: "Kill" can be used both as a noun as well as a verb.
3. English improves by speaking daily: Unless you improve/correct your fundamentals, you will be repeating the same mistakes daily. Speaking daily may only build your confidence and nothing more.
4. If vocabulary is strong, grammar comes automatically: If you know to change gears in a car, does it imply that you will automatically learn to use the steering wheel? Wrong. Similarly, building one's vocabulary and learning grammar require a complemented approach.
5. Vocabulary is more important than grammar: In a car, is the brake more important than the clutch? A grammatically correct statement requires knowledge of both vocabulary and grammar.
6. Spoken & Written English is different: Although, there are various schools of thought on this issue, English in both forms should be same. However, while speaking there is some amount of flexibility considering the redundancy of punctuation?
7. Using powerful words indicates fluency in English language: Using the right words at the right time is more important rather than using powerful words. Moreover, using strong words in an incorrectly framed sentence does more harm than good. Also, as a principle it is imperative that message is understood by the receiver.
8. Vocabulary should be learnt before grammar: Do you learn to use the accelerator pedal first and then the brakes? Both need to be learnt simultaneously. Similarly, vocabulary and grammar go hand in hand.
9. English is not our national/official language: According to Section 3 of the Official Languages Act 1963 (amended 1967); blanket permission unlimited in point of time has been granted for the use of English.
10. Intra Office Communication by emails etc need not be well drafted: This reason is rooted from childhood days, where children assure their parents good results in the final examination while failing in all class tests. Good writing must become a habit rather than an exception. Use of SMS lingo must be strictly avoided.
11. Perfect English is for Fiction Writers and not for Corporate Employees: As the old adage goes, "The pen is mightier than the sword", a well drafted business letter/report/resume can get your points across more easily as compared to the inferior ones. A well crafted resume may be picked up vis-à-vis a shabby resume (even though the latter may be better qualified).
It is essential to understand that there is a definite structure to master this language. Also, mastery does not come in 30 days (as some books claim).
The Coaching Class Myth
Ever seen the study material provided by most of the English coaching classes? You will find vocabulary lists, lists of plurals, lists of genders, lists of noun/adjective/adverb forms, some introduction to basic grammar followed by loads of exercises.
Their modus operandi is fairly simple. Put a few fancy words into people's mouths and make money. This is nothing but cosmetic English.
Basic Anatomy of English
Grammar is the heart of any language, with the vocabulary built around it. The set of rules used to place the appropriate words in a grammatically correct statement is termed syntax. Grammar can be classified into two types: Prescriptive Grammar and Descriptive Grammar. Prescriptive grammar provides rules for correct usage whereas Descriptive grammar describes how a language is actually used.
Words are divided into different classes based on the role that they perform. Broadly, words are divided into 8 parts of speech: namely noun, pronoun, verb, adverb, adjective, preposition, conjunction and interjection.
The parts of speech concept is supposed to be the backbone of grammar. The usage varies depending on time, gender, quantity, quality, mood and circumstance. The above only gives an introduction to English language and achieving perfection requires study in detail.
Placing words at the right place in a sentence gives a logical meaning to any sentence. Moreover, the correct grammatical form of the word should be used in the appropriate place in the sentence. For example: "I shall drive to Pune tomorrow" uses the word 'drive' in the verb form whereas the sentence "Let us go for a long drive" uses it in the noun form. Using the right spelling at the right place is also essential. The spelling per se may be right but the usage in that particular statement may be incorrect.
Some people mistake English with smooth talk, usage of accents and slang words. English is not about using international accents or slang words. Also, scoring 85% in a descriptive English language paper does not signify a great intellectual ability in English. The ability to comprehend, interpret and explain goes beyond the scope of any rote learning activity!!
People claim to have excellent English language abilities in their resumes. But they fumble when asked to draft a simple business letter. Even top managers, drawing huge pay packets, in leading business conglomerates write shabby English. So where exactly are people going wrong in their approach to better abilities in English?
The English Myth
1. English can be improved in 30 days: Learning is an ongoing process. There is nothing called 100% perfection. However, reaching a certain level of proficiency does take years. Books and coaching classes offering "guarantees" are just filling their coffers.
2. Learn a word list of 3000 words by heart and English is mastered! Learning 3000 words by rote may not be of much use unless you know how to place them in your everyday usage. For example: "Kill" can be used both as a noun as well as a verb.
3. English improves by speaking daily: Unless you improve/correct your fundamentals, you will be repeating the same mistakes daily. Speaking daily may only build your confidence and nothing more.
4. If vocabulary is strong, grammar comes automatically: If you know to change gears in a car, does it imply that you will automatically learn to use the steering wheel? Wrong. Similarly, building one's vocabulary and learning grammar require a complemented approach.
5. Vocabulary is more important than grammar: In a car, is the brake more important than the clutch? A grammatically correct statement requires knowledge of both vocabulary and grammar.
6. Spoken & Written English is different: Although, there are various schools of thought on this issue, English in both forms should be same. However, while speaking there is some amount of flexibility considering the redundancy of punctuation?
7. Using powerful words indicates fluency in English language: Using the right words at the right time is more important rather than using powerful words. Moreover, using strong words in an incorrectly framed sentence does more harm than good. Also, as a principle it is imperative that message is understood by the receiver.
8. Vocabulary should be learnt before grammar: Do you learn to use the accelerator pedal first and then the brakes? Both need to be learnt simultaneously. Similarly, vocabulary and grammar go hand in hand.
9. English is not our national/official language: According to Section 3 of the Official Languages Act 1963 (amended 1967); blanket permission unlimited in point of time has been granted for the use of English.
10. Intra Office Communication by emails etc need not be well drafted: This reason is rooted from childhood days, where children assure their parents good results in the final examination while failing in all class tests. Good writing must become a habit rather than an exception. Use of SMS lingo must be strictly avoided.
11. Perfect English is for Fiction Writers and not for Corporate Employees: As the old adage goes, "The pen is mightier than the sword", a well drafted business letter/report/resume can get your points across more easily as compared to the inferior ones. A well crafted resume may be picked up vis-à-vis a shabby resume (even though the latter may be better qualified).
It is essential to understand that there is a definite structure to master this language. Also, mastery does not come in 30 days (as some books claim).
The Coaching Class Myth
Ever seen the study material provided by most of the English coaching classes? You will find vocabulary lists, lists of plurals, lists of genders, lists of noun/adjective/adverb forms, some introduction to basic grammar followed by loads of exercises.
Their modus operandi is fairly simple. Put a few fancy words into people's mouths and make money. This is nothing but cosmetic English.
Basic Anatomy of English
Grammar is the heart of any language, with the vocabulary built around it. The set of rules used to place the appropriate words in a grammatically correct statement is termed syntax. Grammar can be classified into two types: Prescriptive Grammar and Descriptive Grammar. Prescriptive grammar provides rules for correct usage whereas Descriptive grammar describes how a language is actually used.
Words are divided into different classes based on the role that they perform. Broadly, words are divided into 8 parts of speech: namely noun, pronoun, verb, adverb, adjective, preposition, conjunction and interjection.
The parts of speech concept is supposed to be the backbone of grammar. The usage varies depending on time, gender, quantity, quality, mood and circumstance. The above only gives an introduction to English language and achieving perfection requires study in detail.
Placing words at the right place in a sentence gives a logical meaning to any sentence. Moreover, the correct grammatical form of the word should be used in the appropriate place in the sentence. For example: "I shall drive to Pune tomorrow" uses the word 'drive' in the verb form whereas the sentence "Let us go for a long drive" uses it in the noun form. Using the right spelling at the right place is also essential. The spelling per se may be right but the usage in that particular statement may be incorrect.
Some people mistake English with smooth talk, usage of accents and slang words. English is not about using international accents or slang words. Also, scoring 85% in a descriptive English language paper does not signify a great intellectual ability in English. The ability to comprehend, interpret and explain goes beyond the scope of any rote learning activity!!
Monday, August 24, 2009
SEO Video Blog: 'How To Write A Successful Press Release'
Online content Marketing is a vital tool for any successful SEO campaign, but what does it consist of?
There are many ways to distribute content online, but many methods do not reach the percentage of consumers businesses are trying to attract. One way to successfully market, promote and inform target audiences is going to the Search Engines directly, via Press Releases.
The Content Writing Team at The Creare Group have devised a Video Blog to inform content marketers of how to ‘Write A Successful Press Release'. Included in this video blog on YouTube, Jenny Pilley, Danielle Ingram and Sarah Edwards provide information on the content, structure and the importance of writing a successful press release.
By informing their viewers of how to reach a wider range of consumers, The Creare Group want to be sure people understand the technical side of writing online content. Without a format of any sort, writing for the web can become futile. As with any sort of online marketing, there needs to be a structure and purpose.
"We at The Creare Group have previously used videos to guide people with aspects of Search Engine Optimisation and website design. However, we want to bring other areas of our business live online to inform people of the many ways to help their site list highly with in all major search engines" Nick Rinylo, Chief SEO Consultant.
Press Releases are a vital source of online marketing because of the coverage they generate. From this week forward The Content Writing team will be putting together a series of Press Release video blogs, informing viewers of How To Make A Press Releases SEO friendly, as well as How To Distribute Online For Successful Online Marketing.
With all the information being generated from The Creare Group via their blog, the vast amount of information will allow for anyone to review their own online content marketing strategies. Their main focus is to allow people to look at their site and understand the methods on how they can review their own techniques to help their web site rank higher in the search engines.
There are many ways to distribute content online, but many methods do not reach the percentage of consumers businesses are trying to attract. One way to successfully market, promote and inform target audiences is going to the Search Engines directly, via Press Releases.
The Content Writing Team at The Creare Group have devised a Video Blog to inform content marketers of how to ‘Write A Successful Press Release'. Included in this video blog on YouTube, Jenny Pilley, Danielle Ingram and Sarah Edwards provide information on the content, structure and the importance of writing a successful press release.
By informing their viewers of how to reach a wider range of consumers, The Creare Group want to be sure people understand the technical side of writing online content. Without a format of any sort, writing for the web can become futile. As with any sort of online marketing, there needs to be a structure and purpose.
"We at The Creare Group have previously used videos to guide people with aspects of Search Engine Optimisation and website design. However, we want to bring other areas of our business live online to inform people of the many ways to help their site list highly with in all major search engines" Nick Rinylo, Chief SEO Consultant.
Press Releases are a vital source of online marketing because of the coverage they generate. From this week forward The Content Writing team will be putting together a series of Press Release video blogs, informing viewers of How To Make A Press Releases SEO friendly, as well as How To Distribute Online For Successful Online Marketing.
With all the information being generated from The Creare Group via their blog, the vast amount of information will allow for anyone to review their own online content marketing strategies. Their main focus is to allow people to look at their site and understand the methods on how they can review their own techniques to help their web site rank higher in the search engines.
CorrectMyText.com Brings Schliemann’s Language Learning Method Online
Larnite Ltd has launched CorrectMyText.com, a new collaborative service for language learners with the elements of social networking. Once registered, the user can submit a text and get it corrected for free by someone who speaks the desired language fluently. Besides, members can request a recorded version of the corrected text to practice pronunciation.
CorrectMyText.com (http://www.correctmytext.com)/ is the effort of Dmitry Lopatin, a young scientist and entrepreneur from Russia. As a child, he read a book about the famous 19th century German archeologist Heinrich Schliemann who is famous for finding the gold of Troy and inventing his own method of learning foreign languages. To master a new language, Schliemann would read a book written in a foreign language, comparing the text sentence by sentence with the translation in his mother tongue. Then he would write texts in a foreign language and pay to foreigners to get them corrected, sometimes spending all his money. Within two years, Schliemann taught himself 15 languages, including English, French, Spanish, Dutch, Italian and Portuguese. Inspired by the personality of the scientist and his learning method, Dmitry Lopatin created CorrectMyText.com in April 2009.
To get started, the user needs to register an account on CorrectMyText, which is quick and free. Facebook users can use the site without any registration. The “Facebook Connect” button on top of the homepage enables the user to connect CorrectMyText.com with Facebook in a click. After the registration, the user can submit any kind of text: an essay, resume, letter, or a blog-post and a native speaker or someone who speaks the desired language fluently will proofread the text for grammar and style mistakes. Correcting mistakes for native speakers is easy, so many of them are happy to help with proofreading. Before submitting the text, the user can specify the level of language competence required from the proofreader, the number of checks to be made and request a recorded version of the corrected text. At any time, members can contact each other and discuss language-specific topics using the built-in mailing system. Also, users can comment on texts or corrections, discuss the content, or grammar rules.
CorrectMyText.com offers many unique benefits.
There are thousands of native speakers who can correct the text at no cost and will do it much better than a teacher or private tutor who cannot speak the language as perfectly as the native speaker.
The service can help bloggers or webmasters to brush up the content of a blog or website if the personal language competence leaves much to be desired.
The user can find many new friends from around the world and share valuable cultural knowledge, which is impossible when one attends language courses, or has lessons with a private tutor.
The user can submit a text on any topic: love, relationships, philosophy, world issues, or a text that contains slang, which one would find embarrassing to show to the teacher or private tutor.
Currently, the CorrectMyText community consists of over 1,500 registered members learning one of the ten most commonly used languages, including English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian. The site also supports texts in non-Latin languages, which makes it attractive to learners who want to study Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Russian and want to find a language partner to get advice and assistance in proofreading. For the convenience of the users, the interface is localized to 10 above mentioned languages. In the nearest future, the author plans to localize the site up to 100 languages, including Latin and Esperanto.
CorrectMyText.com is a good complimentary service for people who are serious about learning a foreign language and want to get assistance from people around the world.
CorrectMyText.com (http://www.correctmytext.com)/ is the effort of Dmitry Lopatin, a young scientist and entrepreneur from Russia. As a child, he read a book about the famous 19th century German archeologist Heinrich Schliemann who is famous for finding the gold of Troy and inventing his own method of learning foreign languages. To master a new language, Schliemann would read a book written in a foreign language, comparing the text sentence by sentence with the translation in his mother tongue. Then he would write texts in a foreign language and pay to foreigners to get them corrected, sometimes spending all his money. Within two years, Schliemann taught himself 15 languages, including English, French, Spanish, Dutch, Italian and Portuguese. Inspired by the personality of the scientist and his learning method, Dmitry Lopatin created CorrectMyText.com in April 2009.
To get started, the user needs to register an account on CorrectMyText, which is quick and free. Facebook users can use the site without any registration. The “Facebook Connect” button on top of the homepage enables the user to connect CorrectMyText.com with Facebook in a click. After the registration, the user can submit any kind of text: an essay, resume, letter, or a blog-post and a native speaker or someone who speaks the desired language fluently will proofread the text for grammar and style mistakes. Correcting mistakes for native speakers is easy, so many of them are happy to help with proofreading. Before submitting the text, the user can specify the level of language competence required from the proofreader, the number of checks to be made and request a recorded version of the corrected text. At any time, members can contact each other and discuss language-specific topics using the built-in mailing system. Also, users can comment on texts or corrections, discuss the content, or grammar rules.
CorrectMyText.com offers many unique benefits.
There are thousands of native speakers who can correct the text at no cost and will do it much better than a teacher or private tutor who cannot speak the language as perfectly as the native speaker.
The service can help bloggers or webmasters to brush up the content of a blog or website if the personal language competence leaves much to be desired.
The user can find many new friends from around the world and share valuable cultural knowledge, which is impossible when one attends language courses, or has lessons with a private tutor.
The user can submit a text on any topic: love, relationships, philosophy, world issues, or a text that contains slang, which one would find embarrassing to show to the teacher or private tutor.
Currently, the CorrectMyText community consists of over 1,500 registered members learning one of the ten most commonly used languages, including English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian. The site also supports texts in non-Latin languages, which makes it attractive to learners who want to study Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Russian and want to find a language partner to get advice and assistance in proofreading. For the convenience of the users, the interface is localized to 10 above mentioned languages. In the nearest future, the author plans to localize the site up to 100 languages, including Latin and Esperanto.
CorrectMyText.com is a good complimentary service for people who are serious about learning a foreign language and want to get assistance from people around the world.
Monday, August 17, 2009
How to Write Internal Recruitment Strategy Manuals For a Service Company
Technical writing projects come in all shapes and forms, and every independent consultant technical writer has been asked to write operations manuals for companies. Interestingly enough, every operations manual seems to be a little different.
The most interesting manuals that you can write for a company are the internal manuals that are used by the executives and the middle managers to run the company. Not long ago, someone had asked me to write an internal recruitment strategy manual for their rather large service company.
That didn't sound like it would be very difficult, but what was difficult was trying to get them to come to terms of exactly what they wanted in the recruitment manual, in actuality they didn't even know what type of people they were looking for, to work in their different business units. This makes it extremely tough when the company doesn't even know what it wants you to write in the manual.
They indicated that they had been making mistakes with recruitment, and those mistakes were coming back to bite them, and they figured the best way to solve this problem was to have a standardized manual that everyone followed. As they explained all the mistakes they've made in the past and all the various scenarios, it became apparent to me that this little project was going to be a rather large project and require a lot more thinking and strategizing than merely working as a writer to put together this project for them.
If you ever have a similar situation here is what I recommend you do; find out from each of the top executives exactly the personality type, educational levels, the backgrounds experience that are required for the various jobs. Then you need to have a series of questions in the manual that the recruiters can ask him verify that the individuals meet the criteria.
You also need a chapter on what to look for on the resume. And to keep everyone happy, your manual must be indicative of the thought process of the most senior executives when they choose who will fill the shoes throughout their service organization.
All this is easier said than done, but to do it right you're going to have to spend a lot of time with the senior management so that you can see their business through their eyes. Once you get the hang of that you can put pen to paper, and have a rough outline in about a half a day and have the entire manual written in less than a week. Please consider all this.
Lance Winslow is also Founder of the Car Wash Guys, a cool little Franchise Company; http://www.carwashguys.com/history/founder.html/.
The most interesting manuals that you can write for a company are the internal manuals that are used by the executives and the middle managers to run the company. Not long ago, someone had asked me to write an internal recruitment strategy manual for their rather large service company.
That didn't sound like it would be very difficult, but what was difficult was trying to get them to come to terms of exactly what they wanted in the recruitment manual, in actuality they didn't even know what type of people they were looking for, to work in their different business units. This makes it extremely tough when the company doesn't even know what it wants you to write in the manual.
They indicated that they had been making mistakes with recruitment, and those mistakes were coming back to bite them, and they figured the best way to solve this problem was to have a standardized manual that everyone followed. As they explained all the mistakes they've made in the past and all the various scenarios, it became apparent to me that this little project was going to be a rather large project and require a lot more thinking and strategizing than merely working as a writer to put together this project for them.
If you ever have a similar situation here is what I recommend you do; find out from each of the top executives exactly the personality type, educational levels, the backgrounds experience that are required for the various jobs. Then you need to have a series of questions in the manual that the recruiters can ask him verify that the individuals meet the criteria.
You also need a chapter on what to look for on the resume. And to keep everyone happy, your manual must be indicative of the thought process of the most senior executives when they choose who will fill the shoes throughout their service organization.
All this is easier said than done, but to do it right you're going to have to spend a lot of time with the senior management so that you can see their business through their eyes. Once you get the hang of that you can put pen to paper, and have a rough outline in about a half a day and have the entire manual written in less than a week. Please consider all this.
Lance Winslow is also Founder of the Car Wash Guys, a cool little Franchise Company; http://www.carwashguys.com/history/founder.html/.
Business Writing Training - Importance in Today's Global Market by Pramila M Mathew
In today's global market, why is:
1. Business writing sought after by every organization?
2. Improving writing skills an important aid in one's career development?
3. Business writing training of crucial importance?
Let us look at the answer to these pertinent questions: you will realize how business writing skills training contributes to one's professional development and drives the productivity of an organization.
1. Business Writing is sought after by every organization in today's global village
In today's global market place - whatever be the language and culture - it is vital to communicate in a clear and precise manner. Business writing is, till date, the only method of formal communication that is used by all organizations. All outputs are given in written form. Research has shown that business counterparts have to transact of a piece of information for an average of seven times, before it is completely understood by the intended receiver. When the time spent over an email is calculated over a month, it shows an enormous drain on productivity for all parties involved.
While reading a report, email or other written forms of communication, the impact left on the reader must be such that he/she is able form thoughts out of the words. The appreciation achieved from this builds up over time. It may be intangible, but this will reap returns and increase your organization's dependability and resourcefulness.
2. Improving writing skills an important aid in an individual's career development
In an AC Nielson research project conducted upon employers in 1999, literacy skills and writing skills were rated as very important. This result stands true even today. It has been further found that job applicants - both external and internal - who scored poorly in these areas did not fare well when seeking positions of employment. [Source: AC Nielsen Research Services. (1999). Employer Satisfaction with Graduate Skills]
In today's text messaging world, formal writing may seem an impossible task. But as you can see from the above source, this is exactly what organizations are seeking. If you are not well versed with formal writing, all efforts put into the work and into the report preparation can go to absolute waste.
While knowing how to read, write & speak can lead us to believe that the receiver can understand and comprehend our thoughts and ideas, it is generally not the case.
As opposed to the earlier days when writing lengthy reports that took two hours to read were the norm, today's organizations are looking for people who can write in clear, concise and bulleted forms.
3. Business Writing training is of crucial important in today's global market
The reasons stated above are more than ample evidence to understand the importance of Writing Skills Training in today's scenario. Hence, an increasing number of organizations are now incorporating Writing training for its employees.
The direct beneficial impacts on workforce productivity are:
* Employees become aware of the various intricacies involved in Business Writing. On a personal note, this increases focus and confidence.
* For the organization, this means productivity in terms of time and effort.
Through the facts put forward in this article, you would have realized with strengthened belief, how business writing skills training contributes to one's professional development and drives the productivity of an organization.
At MMM Training Solutions, we understand that adult learners learn better through experiential learning. It especially works best for such topics, which is generally seen as "dull" and "boring", nevertheless important. Our Business Writing Training systematically introduces writing techniques to participants.
For further details, visit http://www.mmmts.com/writing_skills.htm
You can find more articles at http://www.mmmts.com
This article was authored by Pramila Mathew, MEd, MBA, an executive coach who helps individuals, groups, teams and organizations find the right solutions in the workplace.
1. Business writing sought after by every organization?
2. Improving writing skills an important aid in one's career development?
3. Business writing training of crucial importance?
Let us look at the answer to these pertinent questions: you will realize how business writing skills training contributes to one's professional development and drives the productivity of an organization.
1. Business Writing is sought after by every organization in today's global village
In today's global market place - whatever be the language and culture - it is vital to communicate in a clear and precise manner. Business writing is, till date, the only method of formal communication that is used by all organizations. All outputs are given in written form. Research has shown that business counterparts have to transact of a piece of information for an average of seven times, before it is completely understood by the intended receiver. When the time spent over an email is calculated over a month, it shows an enormous drain on productivity for all parties involved.
While reading a report, email or other written forms of communication, the impact left on the reader must be such that he/she is able form thoughts out of the words. The appreciation achieved from this builds up over time. It may be intangible, but this will reap returns and increase your organization's dependability and resourcefulness.
2. Improving writing skills an important aid in an individual's career development
In an AC Nielson research project conducted upon employers in 1999, literacy skills and writing skills were rated as very important. This result stands true even today. It has been further found that job applicants - both external and internal - who scored poorly in these areas did not fare well when seeking positions of employment. [Source: AC Nielsen Research Services. (1999). Employer Satisfaction with Graduate Skills]
In today's text messaging world, formal writing may seem an impossible task. But as you can see from the above source, this is exactly what organizations are seeking. If you are not well versed with formal writing, all efforts put into the work and into the report preparation can go to absolute waste.
While knowing how to read, write & speak can lead us to believe that the receiver can understand and comprehend our thoughts and ideas, it is generally not the case.
As opposed to the earlier days when writing lengthy reports that took two hours to read were the norm, today's organizations are looking for people who can write in clear, concise and bulleted forms.
3. Business Writing training is of crucial important in today's global market
The reasons stated above are more than ample evidence to understand the importance of Writing Skills Training in today's scenario. Hence, an increasing number of organizations are now incorporating Writing training for its employees.
The direct beneficial impacts on workforce productivity are:
* Employees become aware of the various intricacies involved in Business Writing. On a personal note, this increases focus and confidence.
* For the organization, this means productivity in terms of time and effort.
Through the facts put forward in this article, you would have realized with strengthened belief, how business writing skills training contributes to one's professional development and drives the productivity of an organization.
At MMM Training Solutions, we understand that adult learners learn better through experiential learning. It especially works best for such topics, which is generally seen as "dull" and "boring", nevertheless important. Our Business Writing Training systematically introduces writing techniques to participants.
For further details, visit http://www.mmmts.com/writing_skills.htm
You can find more articles at http://www.mmmts.com
This article was authored by Pramila Mathew, MEd, MBA, an executive coach who helps individuals, groups, teams and organizations find the right solutions in the workplace.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Copy Editors, Councilors and Country Singers on The Errant Apostrophe
An apostrophe is what's known as a diacritical mark. For grammarians it has a couple of precise functions; namely, to stand in for what's missing in a contraction and, secondly, to indicate a possessive.
So, for example, instead of writing "does not", we can write '"doesn't" using an apostrophe for the missing letter 'o'. Its other use is with possessives, as in "the teacher's desk", where the desk belongs to the teacher.
For the public at large, however, it seems to be a mysterious sort of floating comma that no one seems quite sure what to do with. Consequently, it appears to have a life of its own, an unpredictable grammatical fly, so to speak, whose behaviour a lot of people find highly irritating.
The most common mistake is to insert an apostrophe with a simple plural where no possession is implied. This is commonly seen in market stalls where the price of fruit and vegetables is displayed, as in "Apple's £1.50 a kg." As greengrocers are the most enthusiastic perpetrators of this solecism, this has come to be known (among the cognoscenti) as the greengrocer's apostrophe.
The well-known journalist Keith Waterhouse, Founder and Life President of the AAAA (Association for the Annihilation of the Aberrant Apostrophe), is in favour of the apostrophe but would like to have it thoroughly swatted wherever it appears erroneously. On the other hand, John Richards, another journalist, is more defensive. Rather than aiming to annihilate its aberrations, his Apostrophe Protection Society aims at preserving its correct usage.
Meanwhile, the Birmingham City Council believes it has solved the problem altogether. It has adopted a zero tolerance policy and has banned the apostrophe entirely. Henceforth, no Birmingham road sign will display an apostrophe. The signs for the city's St Paul's Square, which once looked formal and precise, are now to read as St Pauls Square, in keeping with our more casual and undiscerning expectations.
Happily, however, all is not lost. Across the Atlantic in Nashville, Tennessee, a songwriter /musician team, Bob Beckley and Ronnie Lee Hurst, have come up with a great little number called Apostrophe Apostasy - demonstrating that country and western folk not only have definite standards but also a superior vocabulary. (Apostasy: a total desertion of or departure from one's religion, principles, party, cause, etc.).
Unsure about your apostrophes? If you need proofreading or editorial help with an important document, check out http://www.ReadRightOnline.net. We specialize in getting words right.
So, for example, instead of writing "does not", we can write '"doesn't" using an apostrophe for the missing letter 'o'. Its other use is with possessives, as in "the teacher's desk", where the desk belongs to the teacher.
For the public at large, however, it seems to be a mysterious sort of floating comma that no one seems quite sure what to do with. Consequently, it appears to have a life of its own, an unpredictable grammatical fly, so to speak, whose behaviour a lot of people find highly irritating.
The most common mistake is to insert an apostrophe with a simple plural where no possession is implied. This is commonly seen in market stalls where the price of fruit and vegetables is displayed, as in "Apple's £1.50 a kg." As greengrocers are the most enthusiastic perpetrators of this solecism, this has come to be known (among the cognoscenti) as the greengrocer's apostrophe.
The well-known journalist Keith Waterhouse, Founder and Life President of the AAAA (Association for the Annihilation of the Aberrant Apostrophe), is in favour of the apostrophe but would like to have it thoroughly swatted wherever it appears erroneously. On the other hand, John Richards, another journalist, is more defensive. Rather than aiming to annihilate its aberrations, his Apostrophe Protection Society aims at preserving its correct usage.
Meanwhile, the Birmingham City Council believes it has solved the problem altogether. It has adopted a zero tolerance policy and has banned the apostrophe entirely. Henceforth, no Birmingham road sign will display an apostrophe. The signs for the city's St Paul's Square, which once looked formal and precise, are now to read as St Pauls Square, in keeping with our more casual and undiscerning expectations.
Happily, however, all is not lost. Across the Atlantic in Nashville, Tennessee, a songwriter /musician team, Bob Beckley and Ronnie Lee Hurst, have come up with a great little number called Apostrophe Apostasy - demonstrating that country and western folk not only have definite standards but also a superior vocabulary. (Apostasy: a total desertion of or departure from one's religion, principles, party, cause, etc.).
Unsure about your apostrophes? If you need proofreading or editorial help with an important document, check out http://www.ReadRightOnline.net. We specialize in getting words right.
Englishtutorials.net is Giving Away Free Classes to Students of English
Englishtutorials.net is reportedly teaching English online via videoconferencing service Skype. This helps students learn English without ever having to leave home.
In order to learn English from Englishtutorials.net, all that is required is Skype (News - Alert) and a headset. Students can choose from any of the online courses available. In addition, classes can be scheduled anytime, any day. The different courses available are include Business English, General English, or Kids English.
Englishtutorials.net has customized lessons for students of all ages, level, and profession. The method of teaching is simple and quite effective. In addition, students are allowed to practice speaking at their own pace and time. The class is always conducted one on one with the teacher in order to achieve maximum results. The tutors at Englishtutorials.net are all graduates of a four-year course and have at least two years of teaching experience.
Englishtutorials.net will assess and record a student's needs and performance regularly. The teacher targets the student's weaknesses by giving more practical exercises and immediately correcting grammatical mistakes. The student will also get more exposure to the language through Englishtutorials.net’s Web site.
At Englishtutorials.net, a student can learn how to converse in English, learn how to pass a job interview, learn how to ace English exams, and even find friends who like English. Two different programs available are fast track and full course. The fast track program is ideal for those students who are studying for an upcoming exam or rushing to prepare for an interview. It also works as a refresher course for those who want to improve their English.The full course program also helps students study at their own pace. This intensive program will provide students with enough time to review and master each topic.
Englishtutorials.net is offering discounts and referral programs on its Web site. Students can receive 10 percent off on the price of the course selected with a promotional coupon. In addition, a "refer a friend" program is also available. As per the program, if a student refers a friend, relative, or family member to Englishtutorials.net’s school and he or she enrolls in any of the programs, the student will automatically receive one full hour class for free.
In order to learn English from Englishtutorials.net, all that is required is Skype (News - Alert) and a headset. Students can choose from any of the online courses available. In addition, classes can be scheduled anytime, any day. The different courses available are include Business English, General English, or Kids English.
Englishtutorials.net has customized lessons for students of all ages, level, and profession. The method of teaching is simple and quite effective. In addition, students are allowed to practice speaking at their own pace and time. The class is always conducted one on one with the teacher in order to achieve maximum results. The tutors at Englishtutorials.net are all graduates of a four-year course and have at least two years of teaching experience.
Englishtutorials.net will assess and record a student's needs and performance regularly. The teacher targets the student's weaknesses by giving more practical exercises and immediately correcting grammatical mistakes. The student will also get more exposure to the language through Englishtutorials.net’s Web site.
At Englishtutorials.net, a student can learn how to converse in English, learn how to pass a job interview, learn how to ace English exams, and even find friends who like English. Two different programs available are fast track and full course. The fast track program is ideal for those students who are studying for an upcoming exam or rushing to prepare for an interview. It also works as a refresher course for those who want to improve their English.The full course program also helps students study at their own pace. This intensive program will provide students with enough time to review and master each topic.
Englishtutorials.net is offering discounts and referral programs on its Web site. Students can receive 10 percent off on the price of the course selected with a promotional coupon. In addition, a "refer a friend" program is also available. As per the program, if a student refers a friend, relative, or family member to Englishtutorials.net’s school and he or she enrolls in any of the programs, the student will automatically receive one full hour class for free.
Friday, August 7, 2009
How to Handle Indefinite Subjects in Your Writing by Jane Sumerset
Some forms of writing, depending on the subject, will often require you to use inclusive pronouns and grammar constructs, rather than singular, specific ones. This becomes especially prominent when you end up writing profiles about individuals and organizations.
A few writers don't give it too much thought, using "he" or "she" liberally, allowing the reader to figure out the reference on their own. While that's not a bad way of doing things, it can lead to potential problems down the line.
When an indefinite subject, such as a homogenous group of people, is referred to using a singular personal pronoun, it can cause a varied range of reactions. On the benign end, some amount of confusion will almost always arise, which the writer is counting on can be overcome by the readers on their own. On the harsher extreme, however, you might end up angering certain groups of readers (such as when you refer to an indefinitely-gendered secretary as a "she").
To be on the safe side, always use inclusive pronouns and phrases when referring to indefinite subjects. It's not only politically correct, it also makes more sense. After all, when you're unsure about a fact, do you go ahead stating it as a truism or add a short disclaimer to let the reader know of its uncertain veracity?
Additionally, always use an English writing software with the specific instructions to catch these transgressions. Even when you consciously mean to use an inclusive word, after all, you can still make a mistake.
Watch how innovative English Grammar Software instantly can improve your writing on a daily basis and learn how advanced NLP technology can help you to write perfect emails, essays, letters or reports. Read more
A few writers don't give it too much thought, using "he" or "she" liberally, allowing the reader to figure out the reference on their own. While that's not a bad way of doing things, it can lead to potential problems down the line.
When an indefinite subject, such as a homogenous group of people, is referred to using a singular personal pronoun, it can cause a varied range of reactions. On the benign end, some amount of confusion will almost always arise, which the writer is counting on can be overcome by the readers on their own. On the harsher extreme, however, you might end up angering certain groups of readers (such as when you refer to an indefinitely-gendered secretary as a "she").
To be on the safe side, always use inclusive pronouns and phrases when referring to indefinite subjects. It's not only politically correct, it also makes more sense. After all, when you're unsure about a fact, do you go ahead stating it as a truism or add a short disclaimer to let the reader know of its uncertain veracity?
Additionally, always use an English writing software with the specific instructions to catch these transgressions. Even when you consciously mean to use an inclusive word, after all, you can still make a mistake.
Watch how innovative English Grammar Software instantly can improve your writing on a daily basis and learn how advanced NLP technology can help you to write perfect emails, essays, letters or reports. Read more
Monday, August 3, 2009
Memory, Metaphors, and Meaning: Reading Literary Texts
The role of memory and metaphors in literature is the subject of a new book by Nicolae Babuts, French professor emeritus at Syracuse University. "Memory, Metaphors, and Meaning: Reading Literary Texts" (Transaction Publishers, 2009) is an original study of the human condition through the twin lenses of cognitive science and literature. The book marks the culmination of decades of study, drawing on Babuts's knowledge of 19th-century French language and culture, as well as his familiarity with the English, Italian and Romanian literatures."Memory, Metaphors, and Meaning" is based on the premise that people process texts the same way they explain the physical world-in small segments that Babuts calls dynamic patterns, or metaphors. "Metaphors are not only rhetorical constructs, but also instruments of discovery and paths to knowledge," he explains. The Syracuse resident says that when people read, they integrate stimulus sequences with corresponding patterns in memory to recognize and interpret segments of text. Memory, in turn, produces meaning from these patterns. Central to this process are metaphors, which are words, clauses or sentences transferred from one context to another in the form of figurative echoes. "Meaning is dependent on mnemonic initiatives," he adds. "Without metaphors and, ultimately, memory, the world would be meaningless. Meaning lives through the collision of language and sensory data."
This is not the first time that Babuts, who taught at SU for 30 years, has swum in cognitive waters. His two other books-"The Dynamics of the Metaphoric Field: A Cognitive View of Literature" and "Baudelaire: At the Limits and Beyond," respectively-demonstrate the scientific power of metaphors and narratives. "Literature explores the human condition, the mystery of the world, life and death, as well as our relations with others," he continues. "Like science, it aims for an authentic version of the truth." Babuts thinks that "Memory, Metaphors, and Meaning" will especially intrigue lovers of literature and cognitive science alike.
Website: http://www.transactionpub.com/
Free Printable Business Forms and Templates
Sales forms, blank employee records and accounting templates are among the 67 new free printable business forms recently added to the Web site BusinessFormTemplate.com. The new additions bring the total of forms consumers, business owners and others can instantly download and print to more than 135.
"In the six months BusinessFormTemplate.com has been up, I've gotten many compliments and also great feedback and suggestions from site users," said Kevin Savetz, who launched BusinessFormTemplate.com in December 2008. "These new additions take into account these ideas"
Many of the forms are useful in human resources settings, including an absentee request form, payroll statement and attendance record.
Other new printable forms include: an amortization schedule, appointment book, bill organizer, balance sheet, credit application and truck driver's daily log.
There are also several new forms relevant to the automobiles, including bills of sale, an odometer statement and a vehicle deal jacket.
There are also a helpful blank charts such as a flow chart and an organizational chart.
The new forms join existing popular categories such as expense reports, money-related forms, real estate forms and sign-in sheets.
All of the forms and templates are free to download individually as fully editable .DOC files, which are compatible with Microsoft Word. (The forms can be edited on a computer and used multiple times). Many of the forms are also available as free PDFs.
"In the six months BusinessFormTemplate.com has been up, I've gotten many compliments and also great feedback and suggestions from site users," said Kevin Savetz, who launched BusinessFormTemplate.com in December 2008. "These new additions take into account these ideas"
Many of the forms are useful in human resources settings, including an absentee request form, payroll statement and attendance record.
Other new printable forms include: an amortization schedule, appointment book, bill organizer, balance sheet, credit application and truck driver's daily log.
There are also several new forms relevant to the automobiles, including bills of sale, an odometer statement and a vehicle deal jacket.
There are also a helpful blank charts such as a flow chart and an organizational chart.
The new forms join existing popular categories such as expense reports, money-related forms, real estate forms and sign-in sheets.
All of the forms and templates are free to download individually as fully editable .DOC files, which are compatible with Microsoft Word. (The forms can be edited on a computer and used multiple times). Many of the forms are also available as free PDFs.
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