Career Advice: Tension's Brewing Over Internet Use; Know The Rules

There's tension building between employers and their staffs over use of the Internet at work for both personal and business uses.

Younger staffers, who are usually more tech-savvy than their bosses, are pushing for more access to social networking and others sites, both for work purposes and for when they'd like to take a break from their jobs.

At the same time, many are finding that the sites they are expected to use for researching and communicating for work are blocked; and they are unable to take a break to read a news story on line or check their personal e-mail or social network accounts.

Meanwhile, employers want the advantage of Internet technology, but are concerned about security for confidential competitive information, time being wasted and legal exposure. The result is that many lean toward blocking all or most access.

Career Tip: The Boss Is Always Watching

According to a study by the American Management Association, 76% of the companies surveyed monitor Internet usage; 55% store and review e-mail; 51% use video surveillance; 50% store and review computer usage;

22% record telephone calls

"Wide-open Internet access is the risky approach," says Chris King, Palo Alto Network. "But to close off all access is "increasingly untenable for cultural and business reasons."

The wise careerist makes sure he understands his employer's policy before blogging, tweeting, sending personal e-mails, to say nothing of watching sports and downloading movies. (Nearly half of U.S. employers have policies against visiting personal networking or video sharing sites during work hours.) If there's not a policy in place, he ask for guidance. He can be sure that his employer is probably looking over his shoulder, stated policy or not.

Career Guidelines

The Associated Press offers career guidelines for using the web and other electronic devices at work:

• Remember that anything you do on a company-issued computer or cell phone--in or out of the office--could be tracked by a boss, the courts or a regulator. Many employers monitor web site use, keystrokes, instant messages and e-mail. Some even archive text messages on work cell phones.

• Avoid mentioning your company, boss or co-workers in outline postings unless you have permission to do so.

• Avoid using any device to take or transmit any company-related photos, videos or other recordings without permission from management. This rule includes any images of company buildings or logos and embarrassing or unprofessional photos of co-workers or clients.

• Know your company's policy on social networking, video web sites, e-mail and other tech-related activities.

• Regularly delete personal e-mail from your work account.

• Remember when searching for a job that many employers check social networking sites, blogs and other online activity.

The wise careerist follows two pieces of common sense career advice:

1. Know the rules your employer is enforcing for use of electronic devices.

2. Never post anything on a company-owned electronic device that you wouldn't want to appear on the bulletin boards where you work.

Top Work from Home Jobs

Not everyone likes to go office everyday and follow the instructions of boss at every step. Some others are there, especially the stay home moms, who can not go to office due to their responsibilities towards some other high priority in their lives at that certain point of time. That doesn't, at all mean that these people cannot earn a decent amount of money and be satisfied with the feeling of being self dependent. They can, of course, get 'work at home jobs.' Just go through the Checklist For Home Based Worker and then read about the following hot choices for work at home jobs that give both- flexibility to adjust your time and a decent earning for you.

Freelance Writing

If you are good with words, you have many options to explore related to freelance writing. Here, you work for a while and build up some or the other subject matter expertise. Web sites are looking for new bloggers every day. Many sites offer free blog space to anyone interested in writing. Blogging can, in fact, be a good way to earn extra income for all types of home-based workers. Freelance writers should remain flexible about taking on a variety of different assignments but should also specialize in an area, such as public policy, technology, or education. They can both, be a generalist and a specialist at the same time.

Mystery Shopping

Many reputable companies pay for reports and reviews of retail establishments and products. You have to just act as an average customer and then analyze a store or service. Doing surveys or participating in focus groups can be even more lucrative in terms of money paid for the job. Research companies search for reliable, articulate, detail-oriented people and pay well to those who consistently perform well. You love shopping or not, you have to anyway go to the shops for buying this or that. Avail this opportunity and be a mystery shopper or survey taker. Internet has made finding these jobs easier.

Online-Auction

If you know some craft and create them sitting at home, you can go for an online-auction career. Leave alone the crafts, if you want to sell some household items that you would otherwise put in a garage sale then also it is a good option. You can even look for bargains at local retailers and then auction them off for a profit on the site. Most of the auction sites have "how to" sections to teach beginners with the selling process. A little research further can help you know the best way to market your offerings.

Transcription Jobs

Transcription is converting voice-recorded reports, as dictated by professionals, into text format. This is more common in health profession (medical transcription) but not very uncommon in other general and legal fields. However, these jobs require a specific set of skills or experience. If you have such experience, you can very well opt for transcription job- it is one of the most sought after jobs today. If you don't have any such skill, you can even go for short duration training courses which have become very common these days. The institutes offering such courses also help in finding the initial home based transcription job and once you get experienced, you can move forward on your own.

Finding home based job has been made easier by Internet as never before but there is always a possibility of your being a victim of Work at Home Scams. Just be sure to avoid these scams and work happily at your own terms.

Web Freelancing - 3 Things to Be Cautious of Before Becoming Self-Employed

Freelancing is one of the simplest and quickest ways to become self-employed. It can be a great opportunity for a web developer to strike out on his or her own. Often, the income is even better than having to work for someone else. However, there are many things to be weary of before taking the plunge.

Income is not steady - Typically, your income will not be steady. Your paychecks will come from various sources and at different times throughout the month. You will even come across the occassional client who refuses to pay you on time or at all. This can be a cause of stress for someone who likes a study income. Keep this in mind and always have a back-up plan, extra savings, and multiple streams of income for a rainy day.

Picky clients - Unless you are lucky to have easy going clients, you are most likely going to deal with clients who want quick turn-arounds or want numerous revisions on your projects. If you are not already exprienced with nit-picky clients from your current or previous job, you are in for a surprise. Keeping clients happy is a job in itself and the constant revisions can become irritating very quickly.

Boredom - I'm sure that there are many web developers who absolutely love what they do. Yet, for many, doing the same type of work you were doing at a 9 to 5 can be just as boring. While you have more freedom than before, it doesn't create much more satisfaction in terms of work.

Being a freelance web developer does have its perks. You can set your own schedule, you can choose your clients, and you can set your own rates. However, the above are definitely things to keep in mind before taking the leap into self-employment.

I also recommend having multiple streams of income and I feel network marketing makes a great part-time option that can be fun and lucrative. As a web developer, you already have the skills to market another business on the side. It is something to keep in mind.

Using Internet for Career Growth- Beyond Job Search Sites

You have done this many a times- browsing through the popular job categories on a job search website!However, you might not be knowing that some employers post positions on such websites just to give the impression of being transparent in their hiring procedure. Some jobs are not removed from these listings even when employees have been hired. All facts kept together, job search sites are still important, in fact, very crucial for getting jobs. However, you have to use them “intelligently.” You can't depend solely on them. So its time to move on, to adopt new online techniques for job search. These job search sites have to be used as a valuable resource in this process. Here I tell you how?

Use Job Search Sites to Enrich Your Resume

Most of the employers use applicant tracking softwares where you rank high when you fill in the proper keywords in your resume. Figure out these keywords by researching about the job postings on the job search sites, particularly of those employers who are actually hiring people. When your application is screened, you will have high chances to get a call for interview if your resume contains the right keywords.

Expand Network

The present trend of hiring scenario prefers the references from the known sources. Candidates who have been referred by the people already working in the company get preference over others. A newspaper report stated that seventy percent of aspiring candidates find jobs through someone they know. It means you have to expand your network so that you know some or the other person in the offices you wish to join. Use social and professional networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace- the list is almost endless viewing at todays web possibilities. Just research and get popular on web.

Online networking doesn't stop you from getting into real networking. Develop friendship with online friends in real terms too. Meet people wherever you can- networking events, classes, parties, anywhere. Also discover how to use the internet in your job search.

Protect Your Home and Business With Surveillance Cameras

Using surveillance cameras for protection is no longer limited to convenience stores, other banks, gated communities or other establishments that have been using it quite commonly. It is now much easier to avail and with that, you can choose from a lot of setups no whether you would go for the simple or the more elaborate ones. Considering the many benefits of having a surveillance camera for you to be aware of what is going on around you, perhaps you could think about having a system installed now?

Why Get Protected By A Surveillance System?

You may be wondering why you would need a video surveillance camera. Everyone with a house or a business would of course; want the best protection there is possible. So if you do not have a surveillance camera, what would be a better alternative? Video surveillance is very reliable because it is the only home security option that would stay on whenever you need it and can record what it has seen allowing you to view it later on.

The even better part of this is that you can choose from a whole lot of them. Whether you would only need a simple camera for you to just be able to see what is going on outside or if you would want to go for the more elaborate types which has the best features some of which would allow you to zoom in or out in good detail, could record sound very clearly and do so much more.

The Surveillance Camera You Need

With so much option to consider, the next thing you might be wondering about is what camera you need exactly. Some good criteria for judging are how much you are willing to spend and what you really need.

A camera that wouldn't move on its neck is called a fixed camera but if you prefer something that would move, that would be called a PTZ. PTZs cost much more expensive than fixed cameras do but are able to do so much. You can also choose whether you surveillance camera would shoot its videos in either full color, infrared and thermal. Of all these, the color is the most basic while the thermal is the most expensive.

When it comes to clarity of picture, you can choose between megapixel and standard definition with megapixel as the clearer and the more expensive option. This is more important to choose if you want to pay attention to small details.

While analog cameras are more common, a large trend for surveillance cameras is shifting from analog to IP cameras. Only IP cameras are able to digitize just by the camera itself while the others would have to have the video downloaded into the computer to have it digitized. IP cameras only come in megapixel cameras.

With the many benefits of a surveillance camera as well as excellent video surveillance solutions every home or business owner is sure to be more secure about what is going on around.

>>A Professional Website Will Increase Your Online Sales

...Have you ever thought of putting up a website to boost your business? If you haven't, then, it's time you did. It might be the thin line between making it big and flopping!

Every professional business knows that a professional website increases sales. A website is a symbol of your business and is a direct representation of your business standards. A poorly created or disorganized site will only cause visitors to shop somewhere else on the internet. Once published, your website becomes your business image. It reflects your values, product, quality of service, and your dedication to your clients. It is your most important means of marketing your company. Designing a professional website that will market your products or services can take time and effort, but the result will be increased sales and customer satisfaction.

The following outlines general considerations for creating a professional website:

Register a Domain Name: Choosing a professional domain name is critical to making sure visitors can locate your site. When choosing a domain name, consider your business strategy and your product or service. Make sure your name is easy to spell and remember. '.com' is the most common ending for a business. '.biz' is also an ending that can be used.

Register for Web Hosting: Web hosting allows you to store your website on a server that is accessible 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week. Make sure you acquire a web hosting package that meets all your needs.

Design the Website. You can either hire a professional to design the site, buy a template, or do-it-yourself. Hiring a professional to design your site will mean that your website will be of high quality. Purchasing a professional website template may lead to a product that does not complement your business image. Doing it yourself can take a lot of time and be very frustrating.

Display Testimonials. By displaying customer testimonials, you are showing potential customers that you can be trusted and your product and service is of high quality.

Privacy and Security: One of your major tasks of proving your credibility is your ability to show your clients that their financial information and personal information are safe. Customers will not give you their credit card details if they have doubts about the security of your website. You should consider a well known payment system with a good record of protection. Make sure visitors can easily find your privacy and proof of security pages.

Website Load Time: The recommended size of a web page should be about 40-60 K. This size is suggested so that visitors do not have to wait for the website to load. In many cases, if they have to wait more than 20 seconds, they will move on to another site. To maintain a low load time, use a minimal number of graphics.

Keep Your Website Fresh: In order to create and maintain repeat customers, give your visitors a reason to visit and continue to visit in the future. Provide fresh content on a frequent basis. New content can come from such sources as news clips, articles, tips...etc. Your content should be relevant to your site and updated regularly.

Sloppy websites do not translate into sales. When looking at your own website, ask yourself: Would I purchase a product or service from the company? Your website is the most important sales tool you have. Your visitor's first impression will almost instantly determine whether or not you are going to make a sale.

Professionalism is a key component of business success. When properly designed, professionalism will be seen in your website. Because the virtual world has become such a highly competitive environment, you need to make sure your professionalism and credibility are clear to visitors. Your website is a key component of online business success

Communicate Positively

Ever wondered why some people simply appear more positive than others? Being positive is not at all in the state of mind. It also translates to how well you communicate -- your choice of words, your tone of voice and your non-verbal cues. What types of words should you use to make yourself a more confident and positive when getting one of the job opportunities in NZ and you as a person?

Adecco New Zealand – the leading human resource service provider in NZ which offers thousands of available Dunedin jobs, Wellington jobs, Christchurch jobs and Auckland jobs gives few tips to help you be more positive when getting a job in New Zealand and in the workplace;

At job interviews...

At job New Zealand interviews, speak clearly and confidently. Do not speak too fast as this could indicate that you are nervous. When describing your job scope and duties, use active words to demonstrate your capabilities, e.g. "initiated” or "conceptualized" etc. Speak enthusiastically and ask relevant questions about the job - this will demonstrate your interest in the position. Avoid any negativity such as complaining about your current employer or boss and putting down your ex-colleagues.

While on the job...

A positive worker is a morale booster to the company. Everyone likes being around with pleasant people at the workplace. When it comes to job New Zealand promotions and rewards, bosses notice people who communicate effectively and confidently. Make these tips your workplace habits from now on!

• Be tactful when presenting bad news. For example, if there is a problem at work, remember to provide your bosses with possible solutions. Convey the problem to them calmly by stating the facts, then present your possible solutions and seek their advice on which solution would be best.

• Always use positive words. Instead of negative word like "problems", use "challenges". Instead of using the word "complaints" use the word "feedback". Use confident words, like “I believe" or "I'm confident that this will work". Your words should demonstrate conviction and your commitment to the task on hand.

• Practice good manners. Always say "thank you" and "please". It is simple manners but many people forget them at the workplace.

In written communication...

The same rules apply when communicating via email or memos. In fact, be extra careful with written communication, as the risk of it being misinterpreted is higher. There are no non-verbal cues to support the message; therefore, always choose your words carefully - a misunderstood message may cost you your job.

>>Getting the Job You Desire: Preparing For Various Interview Types

If you've been on multiple job interviews then you know that you might encounter a different environment depending on the company you interview with. This is pretty common because every company has its own culture. And more importantly, each company - and even department - instills its own interviewing strategy.

Sometimes you know what type of interview you're going to walk into and sometimes you don't. So to be prepared for anything, let's take a brief look at varying interview types.

The Screening Interview

Often times, when you apply for a job, the company will look over your resume and cover letter as a sort of filtering process to determine whether you're generally qualified for the job. However, on occasion, a company might go one step further by conducting what is known as a screening interview. In this interview - which might be conducted in person or over the phone - a representative will ask you some questions to determine your interest in the job and basic qualifications.

Structured Interview

Another interview type that you might be prepared for - and that is quite common - is the structured interview. In this type of interview, the interviewer will ask specific, predetermined questions meant to explore experience, skills and personality traits. The goal of this type of interview is to find the ideal candidate. Very often, this interview is the determining factor in whether you will be hired for a position.

Stress Interview

This type of interview style is rarer than others because it is a bit unorthodox. During this interview, the interviewer will try to intentionally upset you to see how you might react under pressure. You might be asked questions designed to make you feel uncomfortable. Or the interviewer may interrupt you while you're speaking.

Group Interview

The group interview is pretty much just what you think it is. It is a number of representatives from the company opting to interview you at the same time. Often times, each member of the group is designated a style of questions to ask (ex. stress). However, other times, the interviewers may be allowed to start a sort of "free for all" as long as they don't step on the toes of other interviewers.

Multiple Interviews

If you have been moving up the corporate ladder over the past few years then you may have noticed that you first started with structured interviews only. However, as you're moving higher up the chain, you may be participating in multiple interviews.

Multiple interviews are usually a combination of several types of interviews you're already familiar with. For instance, you may first undergo a screening interview so they can determine whether you're qualified to move on to the next step. Then you may attend a group interview where multiple representatives will have an opportunity to determine your qualifications. Finally, you might go to an informal interview - possibly at a lunch - where you meet with one or more interviewers to talk casually about the job.

There are other interview types out there to consider, including targeted and situational. By knowing what's out there, you can more easily prepare for any interviewing scenario you find yourself in.

>>Instant Unemployed Loans: Unemployed Financial Guide

There are different types of loans to meet the financial needs of borrowers especially the unemployed, and these loans are auto loans, education loans, mortgages and home loan. There are times when you need the cash necessary to meet the demand of the situation. But there is no need to worry because there are instant loans for unemployed, which are specially designed to cover emergency situations and constraints of cash for the unemployed. These loans are the best option to choose if you need small sums of money in a short period of time. In an emergency, it is very important to obtain finance without any delay.

The borrower may qualify for these loans easily and conveniently without hassle. Your budget is crumbled with unforeseen expenses during the month. Since the money is unpredictable, it could lead to a crisis any time. Funding is, in fact, the recent form of lending and it is therefore quite different from other traditional loans, as it swept the traditional and laborious process to get loans approved and used.

These loans are approved within a short time and have the ability to resolve financial constraints. It only takes a few minutes to obtain the loan is approved and the loan is transferred to your bank account the same day or the next business day. The transfer of the loan amount is not affected by weekends and holidays. Therefore, you can have the money before the arrival of pay. There is no provision for credit checks, which is specific to the service for those who do not have good credit history.

The loan amount varies from £ 100 to £ 1500 and the repayment of these loans varies from 14-18 days. You can repay the loan through a check which the lender holds until the due date. On the other hand, the amount of your bank account is deducted by the instant online loan companies and you will be informed about this later.

>>Work Accidents: What to do if You Have an Accident at Work

There are a number of steps you should take following an accident at work. Below is a basic, 5-step checklist to help you to make sure that you gain any assistance you are entitled to following a work accident, and to reduce the likelihood of another similar accident happening in your workplace.

1) Record your injury in the accident book

All employers, other than very small companies, are required to keep an accident book. As an employee, it is in your interest to record any work injury in this book, as it can serve as evidence if you need to make a work accident claim at a later date. The accident book also enables your employer to keep track of problems and to make any changes necessary to prevent future incidents.

2) Make sure serious accidents are reported to the HSE

If an employee suffers a serious injury at work, their employer is required to report it to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The type of incidents that should be reported include major injuries like broken arms and ribs, as well as any other injury which prevents an employee from doing their normal work for over three days.

The responsibility for reporting the injury rests with your employer, but if you have suffered a serious injury it is best to make sure this has been done.

3) Find out about your rights to accident pay

Your contract or written statement of employment will contain information about sick pay or accident pay. Usually, employees are entitled to statutory sick pay for any time off work due to an accident or sickness. However, your employer may have a scheme for paying extra, or may decide to pay more, according to the nature of the injury you have sustained.

4) Address any health and safety issues

If there is a persistent health and safety issue at work which led to your accident, it is important to make sure it is rectified so that the same thing will not happen to somebody else. Point out any health and safety issues to your employer, or to your employee safety representative. If problems are still not dealt with, you should call the HSE Infoline.

5) Consider making a work accident claim

If you have been injured at work and it wasn't your fault, it is a good idea to initiate a work accident claim as soon as possible, and it must be within three years of the incident (there are some exceptions to this, such as asbestos poisoning).

You will need a personal injury lawyer to represent you. Personal injury claims can be made through specialist solicitors on a 'no win, no fee' basis, meaning that if you lose the case, you will not have to pay any money.

Your employer will be insured against compensation claims, meaning that, if they lose, it is their insurer who will pay out your compensation. It is against the law for your employer to sack you because of a personal injury claim.