The Best Books and Resources to Learn Business English

The Best Books and Resources to Learn Business English The Books and Resources to Help You Improve Your Business English ChaptersThe Best Books to Help Your Business EnglishThe Best Websites to Improve Develop Your Business English SkillsOther Places for Business English InspirationSo, you want to improve your English language for business purposes? Great! It’s a great way to improve your chances of employment, promotion, and business success in the English-speaking world.But how do you go about doing it? Whilst it can feel like the right step in life â€" and whilst it certainly can be â€" it can also feel like something of an intimidating challenge.That’s okay. In fact, that’s totally normal. Because it is hard enough to start learning English as a second language â€" but business English can almost feel like a third! With its specific idioms and new vocabulary, business English is a particular linguistic niche all of its own.Whilst there are business English courses in the UK â€" and all over the world â€" that will prepare you with some language skills for the business world, it is possible to learn it on your own. In fact, you want to really get proficient at business English, you will really train both in English classes and independently.And how do you do this on your own? Luckily, the world is full of resources to help you learn business English. From those old school things called books to more modern websites, you’ll find plenty of materials around to help you speak English for business fluently.And we’re here to point you in the right direction. Here are some of the best resources for learning business English around. Welcome to the world of business English. JulianESOL (English) Teacher 4.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EugeneESOL (English) Teacher 4.90 (58) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HelenESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (20) £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SuzanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (2) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (8) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelESOL (English) Teacher 4.83 (41) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (43) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Best Books to Help Your Business EnglishAs you will know if you have read our article on business English examinations, there are a number of different business language courses â€" and course providers â€" that you can enrol with.As is still the norm with these provid ers, they supply language course material, in the form of books, for test-takers and students to practise with and benefit from.These make up the majority of books on business English â€" but not all of them. There are also books that teach business as part of English as a foreign language as self-contained coursebooks â€" without the need for an exam.Pick Up a Copy of the DK English for Everyone Course BookThe English for Everyone: Business English coursebooks are part of the latter category. They are self-contained coursebooks through which you can work independently â€" and they don’t teach to any exam, although they will help for them.They are aimed at adults learning English as a foreign language and they focus on writing skills, listening skills, speaking skills and writing skills in the context of business. You’ll be talking about finance and learning how to apply for jobs.Of course, this range of books cover English grammar and English pronunciation too. Outside of the classroom, keep on learning!Check Out Collins’s Business Speaking Study GuidesCollins have done a similar sort of book, Business Speaking, aimed at English learners who want to learn English for business purposes.In these books, you’ll cover everything from networking to small talk, from presentations to interviews, whilst dipping into important words and phrases and grammatical issues too.Like the DK guide, it comes with a CD for you to practise your listening comprehension.Delve into Pearson’s Business English SeriesThe respected publisher, Pearson, has teamed up with the Financial Times’s own publishing imprint to provide a series of coursebooks called Business Partner. These are primarily aimed at teachers of business English, but often precisely these are the best resources: they give you extra insights and exercises to help you make the most out of your learning.Pearson do their own qualification, by the way, alongside the London Chamber of Commerce and I ndustry â€" and these books match well with those.The Best Websites to Improve Develop Your Business English SkillsIf books feel a little passé to you â€" although they are becoming ever more engaging as learning tools, by the way â€" there are plenty of websites hosting resources that can boost your fluency and your business English vocabulary.You’re probably savvy enough to find your own way around the internet. However, we have put together a list of some of the best places online for learning a new language like business English.Let’s take a little look.Check Out Business English ResourcesBusiness English Resources are a website that host a formidable array of different materials for students and teachers of business English.From reading and writing exercises to grammar rules and core business vocabulary, you’ll find heaps of stuff to keep you occupied here.Luckily enough, it’s also free â€" so don’t miss out! This will be you - as soon as you have mastered business EnglishHead to the Cambridge Assessment Website for Official Materials for Exam PreparationCambridge English â€" or Cambridge Assessment â€" are the undisputed masters of English language training in the UK. This applies to business English too.Given that Cambridge run most of the examinations for English as a foreign language â€" including the IELTS and the BEC, the Business English Certificate â€" it’s good that they have a massive selection of learning resources from which you can learn too.Head to the ‘business English resources’ page on their website and you’ll find them.Try FluentU for Business English Learning MaterialsFluentU is a site and app that provides training materials, exercises, and information on learning pretty much any language you can think of.Whether you want just standard English or you want to venture into business English â€" or learn some other language as well â€" it can help you out.There is a small fee to pay. However, if you are reluctant, check out their free content â€" because a lot of it is well worth knowing.Explore the British Council’s Learn English Site for Business Language LearningAlongside Cambridge English, the British Council is known around the world for the place to go if you need to sit the IELTS. They operate in over a hundred countries and they have the reputation for providing excellent â€" if slightly pricey â€" English language training.Their website hosts lots of resources for those specifically interested in developing their business English skills. They are mainly video â€" which can help hugely your comprehension of spoken English.Try One Stop English for Business Vocabulary, Games, and TestsOne Stop English claims to be the best place on the internet for teachers of English as a second language. We don’t know about that â€" but they do have an impressive array of business English resources.You can navigate the resources by topic, by skill s, or by language features â€" which makes for a very usable and informative bank of resources.Download the IELTS Word Power AppWhilst not directly relevant to business English, the IELTS â€" the International English Language Testing System â€" is the gold standard for testing the proficiency level of learners of English as a foreign language.And the IELTS Word Power app is a great way to learn English for learners of all priorities and desires. It’s primarily geared towards the IELTS test, yet its vocabulary banks are indispensable for all.Other Places for Business English InspirationLearning English doesn’t just happen in those places designed specifically for the purpose. Rather, one of the best ways to learn is through authentic language situations â€" namely, where native English speakers do their speaking, reading and listening.Reading widely will help you become comfortable with English in natural contexts, where you are not being tested and won’t have the help that te achers can offer. It will show the contexts in which you will need the language once you are out in the world using it for real.Follow the Financial Times’s Business NewsFor business news, there is no better place to go than the Financial Times. Native English speaking businesspeople rely on it â€" and so you should too.You’ll find updates on the economy, on finance, and on all the biggest deals and developments. If you really want to read about business where it happens for real, this is your best option.Read Business BlogsThe trouble with the FT is that you do have to pay. So, if you are not interested in forking out for its quality content, then its best to look elsewhere.The internet is littered with business news â€" from insider blogs to magazines. Check out the Business Insider or Forbes.Keep Speaking to Native SpeakersNative speakers are your secret weapon in your search for fluency. And as you are interested in business English, a native speaker that does business might be your best bet.Having conversations and continually practising is the most important part of your language learning process. So, an English speaker â€" or a native tutor â€" is probably your best resource.

How Do You Know If You Need A Career Change - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / How Do You Know If You Need A Career Change - Introvert Whisperer How Do You Know If You Need A Career Change? A lot of professionals often dread the term “career change” because of the many things it implies. This doesn’t just mean “changing work,” but rather changing everything there is to change with regards to your pursuit. This can range from transitioning into similar industries, such as moving from Marketing to Advertising, or going into a completely different industry, such as shifting careers from Writing to Acting. Regardless of what industries get “shifted,” a career change means adjusting almost everything you know about work and your pursuit â€" ranging from knowledge and lessons, to practical applications, working lifestyles, and even your network. And considering how this decision can have massive implications, just how exactly would we know if we need a career change? You should probably consider the following points: How does your current work make you feel? One of the most important questions you should ask when considering a career change is how you “feel” about your current work. If you have an opinion on your industry at large, then all the better. The point of asking this question is for you to determine where you stand in your work and your field. If you’re just there for the sake of stability but you’re not necessarily happy, then that’s almost a surefire sign of needing a career change. Are you slowly losing passion for your work? When you lose passion for what you’re doing, tasks seem a bit overbearing or difficult for you. And while you may have enjoyed your tasks at first, job burnout is an actual thing you should consider. When you start lacking motivation when you start becoming late, miss deadlines, or lose interest then you might need a career change soon. Do you feel trapped at work? It’s one thing to work in a cubicle, but another to feel as though you’re in an “endless cycle.” When you feel trapped or stuck or stunted, especially in terms of growth, then you might want to change jobs. How do you want work to affect your growth? Another element you should put into consideration in terms of career change would be looking at your overall growth. Ideally, your career should constantly help you learn more about yourself, the people around you, and at the same time help hone your skills. If work has gotten to a point of being stagnant, and if you’re not seeing yourself grow with your company or team, then now might be the time to consider changing careers for the sake of your growth. Are you receiving proper and fair compensation? When you keep on delivering quality work for what seems to be unfair compensation, consider raising this concern to HR. And if work keeps on piling up without just compensation, you might be in the wrong field. Is there a lack of challenge in your current work? Most, if not all, work can stress us especially when we deal with difficult tasks. However, when work doesn’t give us a “drive” anymore, then we might not be in the right career. Remember, challenges help us grow when we find ways to overcome them. Are you experiencing constant depletion, exhaustion, and being worn out? When you constantly feel stressed about work and your body keeps on giving up on you, then this might be your body telling you this work isn’t for you. How do you see yourself in the future? Another important question when considering a career change would be asking yourself about your future plans. Where do you see yourself in your current work after a few years? Where do you see yourself in the next decade or so? One way of determining the need for a career change is to pinpoint whether you see yourself spending the next decade doing the same work you’re doing. If you have a passion you want to pursue, or if you’ve always wanted to try doing something else aside from your usual work, then now might be a safe time to pursue other interests or career. What kind of outcome do you want to have in your career? Sometimes, we tend to make “the right” choices, especially when people expect things from us. However, when we still feel empty and lacking despite these choices, then we may be choosing from the wrong perspective. Do you feel as though your talents should be used in different ways aside from your current work? If you feel this is the case, then you should probably be shifting into a career in a new field. Try to be precise with what you want for yourself in the future. You might want to have remote work, or work from your phone through mobile internet from providers like Metro by T-Mobile. While you might still need to pay metropcs bill, and encounter other stresses of work like finances, maybe encountering these in work you’re more confident with might be a sign that you need a career change. How is your current relationship with your family and friends? Lastly, you should partly base your decision on pursuing a career change depending on how your current work affects your personal life. Try answering how your current relationships with your family and friends are. If you’ve come to a point where you’re missing out on family occasions and friendly gatherings because of needing to do overtime at work, or if you’re jeopardizing your relationships with other people because of work, then you might need a career change. Is your workplace still a place you want to work in? Consider the kind of environment you’re getting into, especially with fellow employees. If your work environment is hostile and everyday feels like “going into battle,” then this might not be for you. Are you beginning to miss out on things in life? Lacking work-life balance can decrease your quality of life. If you end up taking calls or doing work even during your vacation, you might want to consider switching careers. What are your thoughts on taking risks? Perhaps one of the most important considerations when changing careers would be your willingness on taking on risks. Remember, a career change has a lot to do with “switching up” your status quo. This means, regardless of whether you’ve read about career change or not, that switching careers won’t guarantee any form of “victory” on your end. As such, it’s essential to assess the level of risk you’re willing to take before switching careers, as there’s no turning back when you do. Are you confident in trying out a completely different field? When you feel an “itch” to try something new, and you really need a “push” to do it, then you probably should do it. However, if there’s a hint of hesitation out of fear of failure, then you should probably still plan your career shift. What are your plans after the shift? When thinking about a career shift, you should always consider having a plan regardless of whether your plan fails or not. The last of your worries should be missing out not just on work, but on bills as well. Shifting Careers: Less About Work, More About Passion With the above tips in mind, it helps to remember that oftentimes we have to change careers when we don’t “feel” where we currently stand anymore. Sure, we can settle for a “stable” job â€" but when we know that we’re not happy with what we’re doing, we’re likely going to suffer a lot of consequences. Staying in a career we don’t appreciate can be detrimental to our overall well-being, and it can lead to complications regarding work performance and our growth. With the tips above, you’ll hopefully be able to “detect” whether you might need to reconsider where you currently stand as a professional and see if you might need to change industries to thrive. Jeff Spencer Jeff Spencer is a content marketer with a keen interest in all things business and finance. Hes also very into science and technology topics, with a bit of health on the side. When he has free time, he loves jogging with his Pomeranian Zoomie. He loves writing about tech stuff, especially guides such as how to pay your metro pcs bill, how to play the best games in your phone, among others. Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?   Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

GCSE Poem analysis Loves Philosophy by Percy Bysshe Shelley

GCSE Poem analysis Love's Philosophy by Percy Bysshe Shelley What is it about? Love's Philosophy poem is a romantic lover's playful argument, putting forward his case for the union of love. Natural imagery and strong rhyme appeal to the reader's senses, presenting this relationship as something innocent, simple and inevitable.'Philosophy' here means an argument or a way-of-thinking. Love's Philosophy by Percy Bysshe Shelley The fountains mingle with the river And the rivers with the ocean, The winds of heaven mix forever With a sweet emotion; Nothing in the world is single, All things by a law divine In another's being mingle - Why not I with thine? See the mountains kiss high heaven, And the waves clasp one another; No sister-flower would be forgiven If it disdained its brother: And the sunlight clasps the earth, And the moonbeams kiss the sea - What is all this sweet work worth, If thou kiss not me? Overview The first stanza begins with descriptions of the natural world 'mixing' with itself and pushes this as a good example for the poet and their beloved. This is addressed by the tender and slightly archaic 'thee'. What is then painted is a  picture of an airy, nature-loving poet describing the scene in front of him and his fellow walker. He then  draws a lesson from it, turning to speak to his silent beloved. In the second stanza of Love's Philosophy this address is intensified. The poet instructs the reader, in the position of the beloved, to look around and 'see the mountains kiss high heaven'.The genial, playful invitation of a 'kiss' is an easier finish that the hope to 'mingle' in each other's being.A rhetorical question at the end of each stanza begs a response of some sort - surely, the poet hopes, a wordless one! 'Romantic' and Romantic poetry Our modern use of the word 'romantic' relates to an idealised sort of love. More specifically, to the state of 'being in love', characterised by powerful, irresistible emotions, gift-giving, the idealisation of a beloved and the prioritisation of the relationship above everything else. However, the poetry of the Romantic poets was not just restricted to describing love. William Wordsworth defined poetry as the 'spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings' in his preface to the Lyrical Ballads. One common theme is that experiences were understood by Romantic poets through their effects on personal emotions. This is partly where our modern 'romantic' love idea comes from. However, poetry by Wordsworth, Shelley and Coleridge often shared other hallmark characteristics. For example, the use of natural imagery and simple verse forms. As this poem by Shelley includes all of these, it is a good example of a Romantic romantic poem. Form and structure Love's Philosophy has a trochaic metre - a pattern of stressed, then unstressed syllables, with four beats in the first three lines of each quatrain and three in the fourth. The two stanzas are each a pair of alternately-rhymed quatrains, rhyming ababcdcd. There is a strong relationship with the archetypal ballad metre used by many romantic poets. The trochaic metre also gives the poem a slightly heavy, dreamy feel when read aloud, particularly since ten of the sixteen lines are full trochaic, disyllabic rhymes (like ocean/emotion or heaven/forgiven). Several lines begin with an extra 'upbeat' (properly called an 'analectic' syllable as it extends the normal length of a line). This slight irregularity helps the poem feel spontaneous, despite the cleverness of its composition. Language The natural imagery in this poem is relatively simplistic and uncomplicated: 'fountains', 'rivers' and 'oceans' are all unmodified and free from descriptive clutter. The 'winds of heaven' and 'high heaven' can scarcely be called richly descriptive. 'moonbeams', 'mountains' and the 'sea' are also unmodified. I think there is an innocence about this sort of language, fitting the scene of two lovers on a hilltop. He needn't describe what we can see with our own eyes, after all. This innocence continues in the description of a 'sister-flower' and its 'brother'. The relationship the poet imagines between flowers is fraternal and childish, so the word 'disdain' feels out of place as the idea of aloofness between siblings. Perhaps the use of 'thine' and 'thou' rather than 'your' and 'you' also reinforces this. In Shelley's day, thee and thou were still in use, but less so among people of higher status. Repetitive uses of 'clasp' describing how the waves hold one another, and how the immaterial light of the sun seems to touch the earth, bring this very physical world to the fore. It certainly has a sensual, if not sexual, connotation, but its effect is rather more repetition to persuade, rather than shock. After all, if everything in nature 'clasps' freely, and if the elements around 'mix' with one another so readily, even obeying the command of God (if, unlike Shelley, his reader still believes in God's command to procreate), then turning down the poet's request for a kiss is like disagreeing with the laws of nature and God, isn't it? For extra support with poetry analysis, why not book a lesson with one of our experienced  GCSE English tutor? With  Tutorfair   you can browse through a selection of great tutors, to find the right one for you. For More GCSE poem analyses similar to Love's Philosophy:  The Farmer's Bride, Neutral Tones,  Nettles, The Yellow Palm, My Last Duchess, and Medusa, Praise Song for My Mother

Want to Do Better in School Develop Plans, Set Specific Goals, and Monitor Progress

Want to Do Better in School Develop Plans, Set Specific Goals, and Monitor Progress Improving Academic Performance It is natural to believe that most successful students either have an above average IQ or work very hard, or both. This is an almost universally accepted perspective. But I think it misses the mark by quite a bit. Students often succeed because of the choices they make and the actions they take. In other words, they succeed because of the strategies they employ. To learn more about the notion of success coming from “what you do” and not “who you are” check out this Harvard Business Review article by Heidi Grant Halvorson. In this article, we’ll describe three basic strategies for improving performance in school. Set specific goals Build a plan Monitor progress and adjust Set Specific Goals The more specific the goal, the better. Why? Because the more specific the goal, the clearer idea you’ll have in your head about what it means to reach it, and thus the better positioned you’ll be to plan out the steps required to achieve it. In other words, the more specific the goal, the more likely it is that you can develop a good plan of attack. Let’s use a simple example. You worked reasonably hard but got a C in your math class first semester, and your goal is to do better in the next semester. If you leave it at that, a C+ might represent meeting your goal, because that’s better than the “C.” The plan required to get a C+ vs. an A will be very different. That might seem obviously, but many people set the goal of “doing better in class” but really do wish they could get an A. They might be afraid to set a goal of getting an A, because they are worried they might fail. However, once you set that specific goal, you are ready acknowledge the steps you’ll have to take to get there. You are ready to develop a plan. Develop Plans When people are planning evenings out with their friends or events like birthday parties, etc. they find it natural to plan. They’ll make reservations, get feedback on restaurants, etc. and develop an outline of how the night will go. But for whatever reason, this is not the natural way that many people approach school. Perhaps it’s because teachers assign homework and announce timing for quizzes and tests, so the whole experience of going to school feels very structured and planned out for you. Although some specific classes are structured such that everything is planned out for you, it is a mistake to think that school in general doesn’t require a lot of planning on the part of a student who wants to be particularly successful. Success in school is about much more than working hard. So, what does it really mean to develop a plan in the context of performing well in school? Well, you can and should plan on multiple levels and these plans should be tied to your goals (see the previous section). You should have a high-level plan for how you approach high school or college (what types of classes will you take, what activities will you pursue, etc.), plans for each year, plans for each course (when will you study for the course, how will you get help, etc.), plans for upcoming tests (i.e., what material will you review, how long will you study, when will you study, etc.) and even plans for how you’ll complete your homework on any given night. Here’s an example of how to think about developing a college admissions plan. Monitor progress and adjust Once you’ve set a goal and mapped out a plan for achieving it, you need to develop a way to measure your progress. In the context of school, that should not need to be a difficult task. If you are in high school, many classes have many homework assignments, quizzes, and tests. So, a simple strategy is to just schedule the time to prepare for and complete all of these to the best of your ability, and then be honest about whether you are on track to meet your goal or not. If your goal is to get an A, you need to, obviously, get an A on a clear majority of these assignments. If you are missing half of the problems on your homework, you are not on track to get 95% of them correct on the next test. So, if you missed a day of class, and are sitting down to do your homework and are finding it particularly difficult, this probably means you are starting to fall behind. Don’t ignore this feedback. Similarly, if you bomb a relatively inconsequential quiz, don’t just tell yourself that it wasn’t worth too many points and doesn’t matter. If you are not understanding certain material in the class, this could start compounding into a situation where you are very far behind, and in danger of doing poorly on an important test, midterm, or final. Summary One common term you may have heard about as it relates to goals is that they should be SMART. Or, Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, and Timebound. In this article, we’ve covered what it means to be specific, and of course to monitor progress, a goal must be “measurable,” which we also covered. A good goal is also actionable, meaning you can envision what to do to go after it. If you think about it, if a goal isn’t actionable, you’d have a hard time developing a plan of attack for achieving it. So, that ties in to our section on developing plans. A good goal is also realistic, meaning it’s something you really could achieve if you work at it. Finally, it needs to be timebound, meaning that you set a specific time by when you plan to have reached the goal. Here’s a good article on SMART goals. If you follow the simple three step process of setting specific goals, developing plans, and monitoring your progress, you’ll be on your way to better performance in school.

5 Reasons Why Students Should Take Art Or Music Lessons

5 Reasons Why Students Should Take Art Or Music Lessons 5 reasons to take art or music lessons after school The classroom offers students a great environment to learn about core subjects, learn to work in a group, and develop time management skills. Some schools offer extracurricular activities in the sciences, art, and music but most childrens creative experiences are limited to afterschool opportunities. One of the best things for young children to try includes music and art lessons. Creative subjects do all sorts of great things for young minds including the development of great problem-solving skills, thinking outside of the box, working as a team, and learning excellent social skills. Here are five reasons why students should take art or music lessons after school. 1.   promote creativity The most obvious reason to take part in art or music lessons is to promote creativity. Creativity helps keep kids happy and curious and can even help them improve their concentration for when they need to work on English and math. Many children are creative by nature but often lose this creativity as many other demanding assignments take up their time. Afterschool art and music lessons allow kids to discover paint, color, clay, melody, and rhythm and also make them feel happy and excited about learning. 2.   Diversified interests Another great reason for students to do an afterschool creative project is to diversify their interests. Many schools focus well on reading comprehension, writing, and math skills but todays student doesnt have as much of a chance to diversify their personal interests and explore what theyre really good at. Some students have an innate ability in the arts and music while others might learn a new skill or just enjoy their time in a hands-on environment. It’s not essential that kids develop a specific talent but just that they explore new activities and learn to share their new found creativity with others (READ: Los Angeles Tutoring Tips: 5 Study Habits That Help Every Student). 3.   Problem-solving Students who participate in creative extracurricular activities such as art or music can also learn great problem-solving skills. For instance, perhaps a student is trying to create a certain shade of green to paint with, but they only have yellow, blue, and red paint. There is a relatively simple solution to this particular problem but, a young kid will have to think about what they should do next. Once students learn these simple problem-solving skills, they can apply them to other creative projects as well as their academic activities within the classroom. A student who can problem solve can find a solution to any academic or career issue down the road our private San Diego academic tutors are here to help your child with his/her problem-solving skills. 4.   Socialization Students who participate in kinesthetic activities such as art also have the opportunity to socialize in a semi-structured environment. Students might play different parts in an orchestra or be involved in a group art project within their community. They might share materials and a workspace while creating their masterpiece. Kids wont have the same restrictions on behavior as they do in the classroom, but there will be some adult supervision so students can learn how to share, deal with different personality types, and have fun in this type of social situation. 5.   Reduce stress Reducing stress is a real issue for students of all ages these days. Art and music have been known to soothe anxiety and help stressed out students from K through 12 learn how to cope with difficult times. Whether a student is studying for an exam, applying to college, or trying to get through a challenging passage in a chapter book in the second grade, creative outlets help keep kids happy, calm and focused on the big picture. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write

Who Let the Sluts Out

Who Let the Sluts Out photo via filipinofreethinkers.org Stay within your range of comfort. You want to make sure youre still breathing, or at least your skin is. Because if youre not physically comfortable, you might get emotionally uncomfortable. You always want to avoid this or else youll feel vulnerable to the criticism of passersby. So if you are feeling unsure of yourself and get spooked about how people are looking at you, just think about how the outfit should make you feel: hot, sexy, and oozing with confidence and feminine glory. So, is it wrong to encourage looking like a slut? Putting it that way, perhaps. But in actuality, wearing what we desire is an expression of how we want to view ourselves, even if it looks totally different in someone else perspective. If we want to dress sexy to feel sexy, then whos to stop us? The Canadian cop blaming our sluttish tendencies for getting raped? Not even that guy could, in fact he ignited the SlutWalk protests which defends a womans choice to wear what she wants. Its a sensitive issue, where on one side we have freedom of expression and then on the other, slut-shaming. The catchphrase has hurt us all in some way or another and usually by the same people that was victimized by it. Could the growing trend of slinky styles be helping to dismantle the vicious cycle or is it making it worse? Food for thought: what do you think classifies as a slut?

My Resume Sucks. Now What

My Resume Sucks. Now What Photo by onebuckresume via Flickr Now what? It can get discouraging, scanning through the extensive experience sections of your peers LinkedIn profiles while finding it hard to even complete whole sections of your own, but you are not alone (at least, thats what I tell myself). Actually, even though it may not seem like you’re in the same boat as everyone else, the majority of the student population do not have much to put on their resumes at first. Everyone needed a first internship at one point and it is not an uncommon occurrence for kids our age to apply with minimal job experience. Once soaked with a cold hard drowning of reality, I knew I had to jazz up my resume, but for real. I didn’t want to lie or exaggerate jobs that I’d done. I knew I needed to do something to boost my marketability if I was going to even be considered for any of the internships I wanted. If you’re worried that you’ll be left in the dust because of a weak resume, here are some tips on how to improve it and how to make yourself a better applicant for the job you want. 1. Get Involved.  This may sound awful, but I found myself writing a little white lie here a little white lie there to have something to put on my resume because I had zero to write that was true.  If youre nervous that you don’t have enough experience to apply at some of the places you want, then get experience.   I joined two school organizations this semester and I couldn’t be happier.   The extra responsibility makes me feel more accomplished at the end of the week, and if I can’t make it to a meeting once a week, what am I good for honestly? A commitment and effort towards a project that you weren’t obligated to do shows a possible employer you have responsibility and a passion for something other than just going through life motions.   I’ve met new people, people whom I might not never have crossed paths with if I had not joined these clubs and it turns out I’ve made some pretty great connections for possible internships this summer. 2. Weed Out the Fibs.    If you do end up getting a job or internship that is a little over your head because of a lie, your real skill level will come out within the first week most likely.   If you put under skills that youre an expert at photoshop, it’ll seem a little fishy when a project takes you ten times longer than its suppose to.   Employers will quickly see your real experience and you will come off as extremely unprofessional. Rather than lie, think about the skills you have, not the skills you need to be considered qualified. You may not have an ‘in-depth’ knowledge of Microsoft Office, but can you use it?   That’s a skill. 3. Do Something. Learn a Skill. From starting to sew to learning a new language, the more skills you have, the more versatile, marketable, and interesting you are. Not to mention, it makes you feel good.   Learning something new helps people to relieve stress and express themselves. Pick up a hobby, something that can help you pass time and learn about yourself. Start to paint or draw, learn  to cook Asian food, dabble into authentic Mexican cuisine.   Even if it doesn’t fit on your resume, chances are it’ll come up in conversation during an interview and employers like to hear that their potential employees are interesting and creative in other areas of their lives. Its never too late to add on to your resume. You have all the tools you need to succeed, but the extra effort is what makes all the difference.