After a year and a half of looking for the right career for myself I’ve decided to finally put some of my tips and hints about job searching into an article.

1.Build a good resume

The most important part of the entire job searching process is having a solid resume. Work on having a good structure to it and keep it tidy. Also think of a good career objective that summarises what you want out of the position you’re applying for. Don’t be afraid to list all your great activities which don’t necessarily have anything to do with your career of choice, such as volunteer work and community based activities. Plus let your family and friends look over your resume to see if they think you’ve missed anything. Sometimes it takes someone on the outside to see the best qualities in yourself and those qualities are what employers are looking for.

2. Be Persistent to the point of obnoxiousness

Hand in your resumes everywhere! Face to face contact is an excellent way to let the management see that you’re eager. When handing in your resumes to places be presentable. You wouldn’t want someone coming into your workplace looking like they just climbed out of a horror movie would you?

If you’re faxing your resume or even emailing it, you should call to make sure it was received on the other end. This is another good way to let the employer know that you’re a real person and serious about the position.

3. Cover letters make you fancy

Before I started going to job agencies I had no idea what a cover letter was. I quickly learned that they are the piece de la resistance of your application to a potential employer. A cover letter is pretty much just a summary of what you have in your resume already but it gives you a good chance to boast about how great you are. Talk about all the skills you’ve learnt and how they would work great in the position you’re applying for. A cover letter is usually optional, however, if the employer has asked you supply one make sure you do.

4. Don’t be scared if you’ve never worked before

If you’re looking for your first job try not to feel too intimidated by people with more experience than you. Employers usually think of you as a clean slate so they can train you to their standards. Plus they don’t have to worry about any nasty history with any of your other jobs.

5.  Try not to turn down offers

If you’re given the opportunity to work somewhere you don’t really think is right for you there is no harm giving it a try. Most places have a probation period of 3-5 months that allows employers to assess its employees. This gives you plenty of time to decide if the job is right for you. Don’t forget everyone has some issues with their jobs so unless there are some serious dodgy things going on try to look on the bright side of things.

Good luck!

Why should I be vegetarian? What are the benefits?

Now, I’m not going to quote statistics, because the studies on vegetarian living are numerous, so if you want details, hit the net. What I will tell you is that these studies have shown that overall, vegetarians have lower rates of death from heart disease, they have lower blood cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, lower rates of hypertension and are less likely to develop diabetes and cancer. They are also less likely to be obese. It has also been shown that vegetarians eating a balanced vegetarian diet have stronger immune systems and they live, on average, six to ten years longer than their meat-eating counterparts. I could go on, but you might get bored, so I’m just going to answer your next question.

I think I want to be a vegetarian…

Good for you. People need change sometimes. It’s what characterises us as an adaptable species. If you’re sick of the steak and salad life, and you want to try something new, vegetarianism might be for you. But be warned, it’s not as easy as cutting the meat out of your diet; you must also replace it. Speaking from personal experience, if all you do is stop eating meat, you will notice; I mean big time. Symptoms for me included frequently passing out, fatigue, explosive blood noses, constant sugar cravings… I think that is everything, no wait, I also had the flu, 10 times in six months. Not exactly a walk in the park, but that’s because I was stubborn, and I didn’t think. But, you can think, and you can plan, so here’s some tips for moving into a vegetarian lifestyle:

• Read, read, read… I mean books, cookbooks, web pages, blogs, whatever you need to be in the know about vegetarianism.
• Decide where you stand. Not everyone is a total vegetarian. There are fancy names for the different types, lacto-ovo etc. Personally, I call myself a vege-quarian, because I still eat fish as well as eggs.
• Go slow. Start by swapping one meal a week from meat to vegetarian. Then two, then three. If you think that you don’t want to go all the way, then don’t. Even on a half-vegetarian diet you will see the health effects.
• Tofu is your friend. So are nuts and lentils. If you do not like them, you will probably have some problems.
• Be aware of your surroundings. Make sure people know you’re vegetarian. That way, in a social situation, you will be considered. Don’t sit by the sidelines, you’ll just be left hungry.

In the end, what you eat is entirely up to you. What I hope to provide in this article is a little look into the sometimes misunderstood world of vegetarians. We’re not all meat hating individuals, hell bent on converting you. We are just making a choice.

Further reading…

http://www.goveg.com/healthconcerns.asp

http://www.faqs.org/nutrition/Smi-Z/Vegetarianism.html

http://www.annecollins.com/vegetarian-diet-health-benefits.htm

So, what’s your situation?

Possibility #1

You haven’t slept in a week because you are spending all of your time revising topics you don’t remember.

First, sleep. There is nothing better for you then a good night’s sleep. It will refresh you more then 10 cups of coffee. Speaking of coffee: if you are drinking more than about 2 cups a day, lay off it. Coffee makes everything seem worse because you’re moving faster. Good for studying yes, but no good if you crash, which everyone does eventually. Replace the coffee with tea (if you like the relaxing warm drink) or swap it for more water and some apples.

Second, don’t be afraid to take a break. Go outside, remember what it is like to see the sun. Spend a day, or half a day doing anything except work. Then get back to it.

Third, try different revision techniques. If you are copying out all of your notes again to get them in your head, try reading them instead, and vice versa. Another possibility is to record the main points in to a sound file on your computer. Make it into an mp3, put it on your i-pod. Have some fun by putting really important things in a funny voice, the changes in your studying habits will help you remember them. Listen to it when you’re exercising, or doing something simple like watering the garden, or hanging the washing.

Possibility #2

You can’t concentrate on your studying because your house it too noisy, or your room is too messy, or you can’t stop yourself from checking your email 50 times a day.

Stop making excuses. Start doing something to remedy the problems your having. Talk to your parents, brothers, sisters and anyone else living or visiting your house. Tell them how it is, say that you’re studying and you really can’t be disturbed. Be firm, you’ll thank yourself later.

If your room is distracting, clean it. Make a little corner for yourself that is a study area only. If you don’t need a computer, move it. If you can’t move it, turn the internet off and focus on your notes only.

Possibility #3

Your own company is driving you insane. You need to be around people.

Get a study buddy. Choose someone who is as focused and takes the same classes as you. Organise a study date. Sit somewhere quiet and really get a move on with your work. Quiz each other. Make a set of flash cards by yourself, or a few sets, and have your study buddy run through them with you. Have them do the same. It needs to be a symbiotic relationship. You can even do this with your family. Make up a system of rewards and play with a group of friends, having someone neutral as the referee. Create a trivial pursuit version of your study topics. You can trick yourself into thinking that you enjoy studying this way.

Possibility #4

You can’t do this anymore. Every time you sit down you feel like the world is ending. You think you’re going to fail.

When you can’t think about long term goals, and you can’t sit still for long enough to get through a sentence, it’s time for the 10 and 2 method. Here’s how it works:

1. Work really hard on your study for 10 minutes. Don’t let your mind wander. In those 10 minutes your whole world is in your study.
2. Rest for 2 minutes. Bounce a ball against the wall. Challenge yourself to a quick game of bin basketball. Time it, NO MORE THAN 2 MINUTES!!!!
3. Get back to work for 10 minutes.

Continue like this for as long as you need to. As you progress you may be able to extend it. Work for 15 minutes, rest for 3. Work for 20 minutes, rest for 4. Try not to get any more short term then that. Working for 5 minutes will get you nowhere.

Remember to think positive throughout your study experience. Get a real feel for your topic so you aren’t caught by surprise when the test comes around.

Good luck!

To Write Love On Her Arms or TWLOHA is a non-profit organisation and creates awareness and gives hope to young people struggling with depression, drug-addiction, self-injury and suicide. Suicide is the second most leading cause of death in today’s youth. 
The inspiration to create the organisation was Renee Yohe. Renee battled with self-injury and drug addiction. What helped her gain the strength to get help were her friends. 
The five days before Renee was admitted into rehab are told as “The Story” on the TWLOHA website. Prior to rehab t-shirts were made and sold in Orlando to help fund Renee’s drug treatment. Well known bands such as Anberlin and Switchfoot showed their support by wearing the TWLOHA shirts. Soon after youths with the same problems started to message TWLOHA on MySpace. This project, beginning just to help one person, started to spread and help thousands! 
Through the power of MySpace young people from all around the world from countries like Canada, United Kingdom and here in Australia, started to show their support by buying the TWLOHA shirt.

The exposure of TWLOHA is mainly from bands that are associated with TWLOHA that show their support by wearing t-shirts to their gigs and photo shoots. 
Bands from our own soil that show support to the organisation are Sick Puppies who crazed the world with their song for the ‘Free Hugs’ campaign. Other bands include Avalon Drive, Repeat Offender, Dextors Conscience, Dave Poweys and Goodnight Combat Fighter. I recently had a chat with Michael Beatson the guitarist for Ellington. I had asked him what TWLOHA meant to him.
“Well firstly TWLOHA to me just opens doors to what I think is the most important issue in society and most importantly in the youth of the world. The next generation. Everyone’s different and deals with problems differently and a lot of people these days never know where to turn. Besides the Christian way of turning to Jesus, and the ‘old’ way of turning to your elders for support and encouragement. They now just take the ‘easy way out’ or just harm themselves for a rush of adrenalin, or to see they’re still alive and feel pain. 
With depression most struggle to feel everyday feelings like happiness and excitement, even guilt. They just feel so tight and empty with no drive to live.

This is just what I’ve seen and/or experienced with talking to many friends and strangers about issues in their life … 
There is so much more involved that I don’t know. Even the professionals don’t know … But one thing people need to know is that they’re not alone. There is hope. There is a future, rescue is possible” I was told a very scary statistic that there are 21 million attempted suicides in the world every year. That’s pretty much the population of Australia every year trying to take their own lives. It’s not only depression, it’s abuse, substance abuse, addictions, with many things all leading towards it. “On top of all that, the percentage of depression is rising each and every year. I believe it’s something like one in five people have depression and one in three never get treated. But don’t quote me on that.” Michael says creating a smile emoticon.
“So to me with music and the following I receive, if I can change one person’s life that means the world to me. To everyone, it’s someone’s loved one. No one likes to see them hurt. Its just trying to create some hope!” Michael finishes with a quote from Tworkowski himself “Hope is not a myth”.
 TWLOHA website on: http://TWLOHA.com. 
You can also show your support by ‘friending’ TWLOHA MySpace: http://myspace.com/towriteloveonherarms.
 Want to talk to someone? Lifeline is a 24/7 phone counseling service. Phone 13 11 14.