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Choosing a Career Filled with Traveling AND Making a Difference

1/5/2021

 
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Picking a career can be a difficult endeavor, both for young adults and more experienced professionals who are seeking change. And choosing one that aligns with your passions and ideals makes the situation even more complex. You may even hope to secure a career wherein multiple (seemingly unrelated) passions align, such as service to others and traveling.

Fortunately for those who hope to travel as well as make a difference in the world, our multicultural, interconnected world allows plenty of opportunities to do just that. For example, you could enter the nonprofit world, or pursue a career in teaching or counseling. Keep in mind that to secure a job that fulfills your passions, you may need to beef up your soft skills and being proficient in a second language is a huge asset to your search. 

Here’s what you need to know about finding a fulfilling career that also involves travel and the importance of doing what you love.

The Importance of a Fulfilling Career
Your future career serves as your means of making a comfortable living, but it’s much more than that. Your overall happiness and satisfaction with life as an adult may even hinge on how much you enjoy your job. In fact, research indicates that being unhappy in your career can be detrimental to your health. 

According to Fast Company, when you are dissatisfied with your job, you’re more likely to experience insomnia, anxiety, and depression. As job dissatisfaction takes a toll on your physical and mental wellbeing, seeking a fulfilling career has the power to literally improve your life. And by choosing a career in philanthropy, education, or another type of humanitarian aid, you’re also helping to improve the lives of others. 

Job Opportunities for the Young and Adventurous
If you hope to travel while also working to facilitate meaningful change, the possibilities are virtually endless. To get started on your search for the career path that best suits your passions, consider the environments in which you’re most likely to thrive. Don’t be afraid to ask yourself the big questions, and be honest with yourself. After all, it’s your future at stake. 

For instance: Do you love working with large groups of people or would you be more comfortable in a behind-the-scenes role? Is it your dream to improve the lives of underprivileged children, or do you see yourself working as a registered nurse on the front lines?

You should also consider the nuances of working as an independent contractor versus taking the traditional employment route. Both types of employment come with their own benefits and drawbacks, while also providing ample opportunity for you to travel abroad. Travel-centric humanitarian jobs run the gamut from teaching English as a second language to being an international aid worker. 

Many jobs that let you travel abroad may even cover certain types of expenses, such as lodging and food. As an independent contractor, you’re more likely to be on your own in that regard. In regards to careers filled with traveling and philanthropy, this type of independence may significantly impact your finances and even your personal safety.

Staying Safe While Working Abroad
The myriad benefits of travel abroad are well-known and scientifically proven. NBC News reports that traveling abroad can provide stress relief, enhance your creativity, and help boost your overall happiness. What’s more, some consider travel to be the purest form of education, taking you outside of your comfort zone and opening your mind to cultures and experiences that are vastly different from your own.

Yet that’s only part of the story, as traveling also inevitably comes with inherent risks. For starters, you may experience loneliness and small bouts of culture shock upon arrival in a foreign place. You may be vulnerable to those who make a dishonest living, preying on unsuspecting tourists and novice ex-pats. Inclement weather events are also a distinct possibility, especially in tropical climates and remote work locales.

While you shouldn’t live in constant fear, you should also take steps to protect yourself when working abroad. For starters, never wander into unfamiliar neighborhoods on your own, and always make sure all of your essentials are secure, from your passport and wallet to smartphone and work laptop. Before setting off on your work adventure, consider investing in protective equipment and gear such as a theft-proof laptop backpack, especially one that has water-resistant properties. When traveling for work, it’s best to be prepared for anything.  

Key Takeaways
As we look towards the future, most of us hope to live a happy, secure life, working in a career field that sparks joy in our souls. There’s no reason that you can’t make those dreams come true, even if you hope to make travel a cornerstone of your professional life. In the 21st century, you have more opportunities than ever to make a difference in the world while also immersing yourself in new cultures and experiences.

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Adrian Johansen is a freelance writer in the Pacific Northwest. 

Tips for Using Music to Help You Learn English as a Second Language

12/23/2020

 
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Music is an important part of life. It improves your cognitive, mental, and emotional health. Music can also help you learn languages.

Music can help a person improve their pronunciation and listening skills, which then has the potential to help a person improve their speaking skills. Here are some benefits of using music to learn English as a second language.

Music Can Lead to Improved Pronunciation
One of the hardest things about learning a new language, especially English, is mastering pronunciation. Using songs to learn English can help train a person to speak the language with the proper accent.
The nice thing about songs is that they are catchy. A catchy song is repeated time and time again. If you take music with you and listen to it regularly, such as by using headphones while walking to school, you will gradually begin to repeat and remember the patterns you hear. The learning process becomes instinctive.

Songs Can Improve Grammar and Sentence Structure
It can be difficult to learn or understand English if what you are hearing is not in context. Most songs have a general theme that contextualize the lyrics being sung. This offers a context to learn vocabulary.
The more you hear the lyrics, the better your vocabulary becomes. Comprehension improves with time because you will not only sing the song, but if the song is popular, you will probably discuss it with others. Songs in English benefit from a simple structure. They use conversational language, so it’s easy to understand them. Not only can you understand the grammar in a song, but it’s easy to remember.

It’s Fun Listening to Music
Learning a language can feel boring. It can feel repetitive. Music boosts motivation to learn. Music touches the heart, and emotion is a key part of learning a language.

Music allows you to learn without focusing on learning. If you have a favorite song, you will play it over and over in the background. Without knowing it, you are learning unfamiliar words. If the song has been translated to multiple languages, you could listen to the translations back to back.

Music Is Linked to Memory
When you listen to a song, you are instantly transported to the previous times you heard the song. Music stimulates both sides of the brain. Because of this, it makes learning English and other topics easier.
Using music to learn a language is most effective if you not only listen but also sing-along. You might not know how to correctly pronounce all the lyrics at first, but find a lyric sheet and read along. You will soon watch your vocabulary grow, your pronunciation improve, and your English confidence strengthen.

Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico.

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5 Pro Tips to Making a Multi-linguist Resume

12/3/2020

 
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The need for interpreters and translators will grow at a rate of 19% between 2018 and 2028. So, your language skills in a resume matter a lot in defining your chances of getting hired. 

But it is not limited to translator and interpreter jobs. The requirement of additional languages is expanding in a lot of other jobs as well. In the hospitality industry, the candidates are preferred to be fluent in more than one language. 

In this guide, we will help you showcase your language proficiency in a resume and clear doubts in terms of where you can add these skills. 

Relevance to the target profile 
It is likely that the position you are applying for does not require you to possess skills in more than one language. So, you need to determine the relevance of your language skills to the profile you are targeting and update your resume accordingly. But there are jobs where you need more than one language to get hired. 

To do this, we advise you to go through the job description of your target job and understand the requirements. Based on the insights, you can highlight your language skills accordingly and tailor your resume to a specific job. 

For instance, if the post requires candidates to have expertise in Spanish to assist customers. You can highlight your proficiency in Spanish in the professional experience section. 

For example, you can include a point displaying the skills in a manner highlighted below: 

“Assisted English speaking customers in the hotel and handled reservations from guests of French origin.”

You can follow this approach to highlight your language skills throughout the professional experience section. 

Add it in the summary
As the resume summary is written right below the name, recruiters are inclined to go through this section first. 

For this aspect only, the summary is reserved for skills and achievements that candidates want the recruiters to notice first. 

When you are trying to showcase your linguistic skills, a summary is a great place to include them. In the career summary, you can include pointers about how you utilized these skills in your professional career and why you hold them in such high regard. 

For example, check the example written below: 

“Trilingual hotel manager with 5 years of experience in the hospitality industry and conversing with guests from major European countries. Proficient in Spanish, English, and French to handle customers with ease.“

Make a language skills section
After determining the relevance of your language skills in the target profile, your resume is meant to showcase your linguistic skills.

Apart from adding them to your summary, you can create a separate section to write them for the recruiter’s perusal. 

Having these skills listed in a separate section will enable the recruiter to locate them easily. You can place this section near the “key skills section” that showcases your core competencies. 

Include the proficiency level
The proficiency level of your language skills is highly critical to have recruiters understand your fluency with the language. Hence, you must write the proficiency level as per your understanding of the language. You can think of it in terms of reading, listening, and speaking comprehension. 

Further, you can create a better impact by taking a self-assessment test called ILR (Interagency Language Roundtable). It was established by the U.S. government to assess the language proficiency standards of candidates. This test divides the candidates into 5 categories: 

  • Beginner: This level just covers professionals who have just begun learning a new language. 
  • Intermediate: The intermediate skill level is for professionals who can carry a basic conversation and understand basic grammar rules of the language. 
  • Proficient: Proficient professionals possess the ability to talk, write, and read the language with little difficulty. 
  • Fluent: This level is reserved for professionals who have covered almost all aspects of the language and can hold the conversation without any error. 
  • Native: Native proficiency level is for professionals who have mastered the language and most likely grew up speaking it. 

Add language certifications 
Apart from the ILR assessment test, if you need to showcase the credibility of the mentioned language skills. Add all your language certifications. 

For example, here is how you can write certifications in your resume: 

“English for Professionals | ESL.com | Pasadena, California | Dec ‘19”

Key takeaways
Here are a few key takeaways from the article: 
  • Determine the relevance of your target skills to the target profile and modify your resume accordingly.
  • Add your language skills in the summary to make it a highlight of your resume. 
  • Create a separate language section for the recruiter’s perusal. 
  • Add the proficiency level for each language. 
  • Include all your language certifications to create a better impact. 

Aditya Sharma is a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Hiration — an AI solution to help job-seekers find their way in the treacherous job market across the world.

Getting an Education Despite Financial Insecurity

9/30/2020

 
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Heading off to a different country to continue your education is an exciting yet daunting prospect. The benefits of international travel are myriad. For those learning English as a second language (ESL), studying in the U.S. is a chance to immerse yourself in the culture and boost your working knowledge of the dialect. But studying abroad is not without its challenges.     

There are always a range of logistical hurdles to overcome — from gaining school acceptance to planning for a smooth relocation. Finances have always been high up on that list of issues. Students don’t always have the same economic support systems that they might have at home or don’t have a great deal of savings to begin with. But financial insecurity shouldn’t be a barrier to a rich educational experience.    

We’re going to take a closer look at how you can study in the U.S. with limited access to finances. What sources of funding are in place, and how can you best take advantage of these? Are there lifestyle approaches and tools that can help make your economic situation while getting an education a little more manageable? 

Handling Loans
It’s no secret that studying in the U.S. is one of the most expensive educational experiences in the world. One report determined that annual university fees alone cost on average $24,914. As many of us don’t have ready access to this kind of cash, most ESL students will need to look into their loan options.    

Unfortunately, the federal student loan system that is popular among U.S. citizens and permanent residents is not available to international students. This means that you’ll have to make applications with private institutions. Some specialize in international student loans, but there are some steps to take that can help your application. 

These include: 

  • Use a Co-signer. Many U.S.-based international study loan programs require a guarantor before they’ll authorize funding. In general, this will need to be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident with a good credit history. While not all international student loans require a co-signer, you’ll find that you have more options if you have a friend or family member able to act in this capacity. 
  • Gather Proof of Income. Loans are generally not approved until you have acceptance of your place at a school and obtain the relevant visa. However, to do this you will usually need to demonstrate to your school and consular officer that you can support yourself while you study. Organize materials that clearly show your finances, and your working experience — if you currently work a remote job such as tutoring online, that you can continue while abroad, all the better.
  • Maintain Good Credit. Most lenders will require your credit report. Additionally, you’ll likely have to apply for a new loan each semester. Therefore it is in your best interest to maintain good credit practices, even while you’re studying. If you’ve already defaulted on student loans in the past, its best to repair your credit history before applying for another. Rebuild your profile by making regular payments on credit cards, and consider subscribing to utilities such as Netflix in your name and keeping up with the bills.

Scholarships and Grants
Taking out a loan or series of loans to tackle your student expenses can feel overwhelming. However, you can reduce your reliance upon finances you have to pay back by reviewing your scholarship and grant options. You might be surprised at just how many opportunities there are.   

The Foreign Fulbright scholarship is probably the most well-known funding opportunity for international students. It’s a government-funded program that is largely aimed at graduate students, young professionals, and artists who wish to spend a year or more studying in the U.S. There are also a variety of specialist opportunities under this umbrella, including the English Teaching Assistant program that provides school placement, language improvement, and options for independent study or research. 

It’s also worth your time to investigate several smaller scholarships and grants that could help make a dent in your overall tuition and day-to-day living costs. Many don’t require you to be seeking a degree. The Abbey Road Summer Scholarship program is aimed at high-school-aged language students seeking to spend the summer studying in the U.S. Other programs are aimed toward encouraging cross-cultural relations. The #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship is a good example of this; their application requirements are centered around video or written essays demonstrating your commitment to promoting intercultural learning. If you’re willing to put in some extra work — doing some research and producing some essays — you can lighten your financial load.   

Living Costs
When discussing studying abroad, financial conversations are often focused on tuition costs. However, there are many more expenses that you’ll need funds for during your stay. Books, accommodation, perhaps even the occasional trip back home during the holidays will need to be factored in. Let’s face it, you’ll also want to spend some money on experiencing the fun aspects of U.S. culture and student life. Thankfully, managing your day-to-day student finances can be made less painful.   

While you’ll almost certainly have some student loans, you should do your best to limit the debt you accrue. Create a strict budget to live within your means. Seek on-campus work that not only provides you with income to live on but reduces commuting expenses. This might not seem like the most exciting way to experience life in the U.S., but it keeps your expenses and your debt to the absolute minimum.   

Today’s advanced technological society also brings with it some expenses. See where you can minimize unnecessary utilities such as home broadband by utilizing campus wifi, or cafes. As an international student it’s important to keep in contact with your loved ones back home, but do some research on which phone plans are geared specifically toward international students. See who provides the best mixture of international talk plans to chat with your family and data allowance for when you’re not in the vicinity of free wifi.   

Conclusion
Getting an education in the U.S. when you’re not financially secure can be difficult, but it’s certainly not impossible. Take steps to improve your loan prospects, put work into applying for scholarships, and plan to minimize your living expenses. International study is a unique, enriching experience that you shouldn’t miss out on. 

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Secret Revealed: How Virtual Reality Can Change Learning Process

8/3/2020

 
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Our new era of digital devices has brought important changes with it, along with enhanced technological development. One of which is virtual reality (VR). In this new world of opportunities, the content is delivered through an active engagement of the participant. A virtual world is created — either real or imagined — that allows users to interact with it, and thus, accelerate their learning process. Being immersed into this world, users will quickly acquire whichever skills or content they must engage with. 

Today, students can benefit from high-quality VR. Because technology is expanding at a fast pace, facilitating students’ learning process and making things easier for everybody is a must. VR is changing education as we speak, aiming to be in the classrooms in the near future. With a pandemic hitting hard and schools closing, students must have some type of tangible learning tool to engage with, and VR might be exactly what the educational system needs. 

In the classroom
The first thing we must consider about VR is that it can be easily integrated into the classroom. Here are the top reasons why you would want that and what the benefits would be.

  • Students can virtually travel to all kinds of places and explore new concepts with their own eyes. They can move from theory to practice by implementing VR, exploring actively (and learning faster!) without leaving the classroom.
  • Students can also explore various career fields and see which ones they like the most by taking VR journeys.
  • Students can now develop empathy for communities in need. This would happen if they had the ability to travel to specific places and experiment with what is going on in certain parts of the world (crisis or not).
  • Students can also get creative and share their own worldviews by sharing their own VR content.
  • Anatomy is another important subject that students can more easily learn about with VR.

Making the impossible possible
The coolest thing about VR is that it can turn the impossible into possible. Students are now able to get the real hands-on experience that they need in order to become professionals in their field. Some students may not have access to what truly inspires them; but the possibilities with VR could give them the opportunity to explore careers that might be of interest to them. “If students cannot access or explore their needs and wants, how are they ever going to know what they actually wish for?” asks Aussie essay writer, Jeffrey Watson. VR could be an important tool in making the unknown, known.

Changing the game
While many students will opt for essay writing service uk and other types of online assistance available, others will prefer to learn by doing. But if the school assignment is too boring and the motivation is not high enough, how will that work? The right answer is through games. Playing games is another learning method that VR brings to life.
  
  • Titans of Space: to learn about the Solar System
  • Discovery: the VR option for the Discovery Channel
  • Anatomyou: to learn about the human body
  • King Tut: super cool lessons on Egyptian history
  • InMind 2: to learn about human emotions

These are just five of the multitude of apps that you can find online. There are many options for various topics, so research to see what else is available. 

Creativity and the learning process
The VR industry is progressing at a fast pace, and so is creativity. According to Assignment Help, understanding creative design, interactive promotion, and engaging advertising are just some of the things that can help our students get the gist of the technological world. Oculus Rift has been in place for some time now and it is a wonderful opportunity to get to experiment more than we know, especially when it comes to business (but in other areas of interests too). VR encourages students to engage, enroll, and explore. It can transform how they think and help them develop the skills that they need. 

Conclusion
Virtual reality will change the way in which the world operates and provide the perfect aid for a hands-on learning experience. Students will be able to immerse themselves in a new world of endless possibilities and acquire new skills and content quickly and easily. 

Michael Gorman is a freelance writer and a custom essay service proofreader from the UK who currently works at top essay writing services. Being interested in everyday development, he writes various blog posts and discovers new aspects of human existence everyday while providing dissertation services for his clients.

Why Reading Past Papers Is the Easiest Way to Succeed at University

7/31/2020

 
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Today, students are bombarded by numerous academic tasks required to successfully graduate from university and get a degree. That is why the time has become a valuable resource, which students cannot waste. Many of them believe that studying is either reading the textbook multiple times or reading a chapter and making notes to summarize it in their own note format. Both approaches are probably the most ineffective ways to study since students are only asked about 30% of the subject in their exams. But how to prepare for actual exams if reading textbooks over and over again and making notes is not relevant? To find an answer to this question, you need to understand that studying is not subject practice. Far from that, it is exam practice, where you take all you have done in the classroom and homework and see how this knowledge comes up in your exam.

Studying hard is not an equivalent of studying smart. Students need to make the learning process as efficient and productive as possible to succeed at university. If you want to prepare for your actual exams and pass them successfully, you should make past papers your best friend. There are numerous reasons why reading past papers is the easiest way to success at university. In this article, we have summarized the best benefits of this approach to studying.

1. You can familiarize yourself with the key topic areas
Reading past papers allows you to get a feeling for the main topics and themes that you are likely to encounter in your upcoming exams. The overwhelming majority of all exams are very predictable. With this knowledge in mind, try to sit with past exam papers for an hour or two and you will understand what we are talking about. You will identify certain trends and patterns that will help you get prepared for your exams more effectively. For example, after identifying trends and patterns, you can tell what subject areas you are good at and what themes and topics you know little or nothing about. As a result, you can focus your attention on certain themes to further extend your knowledge and get a proper grasp of certain subject areas. Furthermore, by reviewing past papers, it is possible to refresh your memory with the common phrases and terminology that you are likely to use in the actual exam. This will help you feel more confident and success oriented.

2. Reading past papers can get you a higher exam mark
In accordance with a study conducted by The Super Generation, an education organization that helps students learn more effectively, average students who focus on reading past papers and study smart tend to get above average or even excellent exam results. This is because spending your time practicing old exam papers and example sheets, as well as using them to guide your exam plans, can greatly assist you in developing your answer. Furthermore, reading past papers can help you practice answering exam questions and definitions. Given that fewer marks are allocated in this area, you can spend the majority of your time on the essay-style questions that generally count as a higher portion of the grade.

3. Past papers provide you with a feel of the forthcoming exams
Getting through past papers is also beneficial for your success at university since it enables you to experience the style, variety, and number of exam questions. With this knowledge in mind, you can plan on how to tackle each question in a highly effective manner. Reading past papers also enables you to familiarize yourself with the style of questions used, such as short-answer, multiple-choice, or essays. As a result, you will be able to get a better understanding of how to handle your exam paper in the best way possible and get a high mark.

4. You can further develop your skills
Reading past exam papers is also essential for your ability to further develop your time management and exam answering skills. For example, use these papers in order to practice and see how much time it would take to complete your exam paper. If you fail to deal with the paper within the time specified, analyze your answer and identify how you could improve and enhance it to achieve success in your forthcoming exams.

5. Reading past papers saves your time
Many teachers and students know that the majority of study courses have numerous associated topics, so it is problematic to cover them all in one exam. That is why reading past papers is crucial for your success as a student. When reading these papers, you are able to shift the focus of your mind from the broad subject to the exact, narrow questions. Given that only 4 hours of exam paper reading is worth around 10 hours of reading the textbook and taking notes, you should take this opportunity as early as possible to study effectively and increase your chances to get a high exam mark. Of course, don’t totally skip reading textbooks. While exams cover only a fraction of topics and subject areas, you will still need to give additional detail to your answer and provide the examiner with extra information to demonstrate your knowledge and comprehension.

Studying past papers is an effective strategy when it comes to exam preparation because it helps you focus on important themes and subject areas while also practicing exam-style questions. By following this simple strategy, you can approach the examination day with confidence and succeed at any point of your academic career at university. Just remember to stay positive, calm, and optimistic, and you will do well. Most universities provide their students with access to past exam papers on their website or digital library.

Ellie Richards is an online marketing manager for Original PhD, specializing in Ph.D. research paper help. Her focus is research, content and article writing on various topics, including education, marketing, and technology.

7 Myths About Online Degrees

7/27/2020

 
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When it comes to earning a degree, you want to go to a great school for it. However, if you’re working and or have any other commitments, that can be very discouraging for those who want a degree. So, as a last resort, they may turn to online coursework. In this article, we’ll debunk seven of the common myths people have about the idea of earning an online degree. 

Myth 1: Easier Coursework Online
“The truth is, you have to work just as hard in online coursework, as you would with traditional in-person coursework,” says James Maciel, a tutor at Simple grad and Study demic. “Although you may enjoy more scheduling flexibility by taking classes online, you would still have to attend discussions, study, and complete assignments on time, just like you would in a regular class. In fact, students who take classes online are shown to have high levels of self-discipline because they’re doing schoolwork while having a job or other commitments.”

Myth 2: Lower-Quality Education Online
In truth, online schools strive to offer the best quality education for their students. While academic standards for online courses vary from school to school, you can rest assured that institutions go above and beyond to make sure that all students meet the same academic standard as expected in traditional schooling. And, although this requires teachers to communicate differently online, they have to think about how to make their teaching more effective when it comes to student engagement.

Myth 3: Online Degrees Aren’t Valid Enough
As mentioned above, online schools want to give students the best education possible. In fact, most online programs (especially those from top-ranked universities) offer rigorous curriculum and personalized instruction.

Plus, accreditation (traditional and online) may vary from school to school. So, if students wanted to transfer their credits to another school, then they might be able to do so. But again, it all depends on the school. The Council of Higher Education Accreditation continually publishes a list of recognized accrediting bodies ​that evaluate colleges and universities.

Myth 4: Online Is for Part-Time Students Only
Obtaining online education part-time or full-time depends on individual students. Although it’s true that many students choose online degree programs because of having a job or other commitments, there are still some students that learn online full-time. But still, it depends on how long they want to commit to a school schedule, and how they want to learn and study.

Myth 5: It’s Easy To Cheat In Online Courses
The first thing that may come to mind, when thinking about doing exams at home with no test proctor, is the thought of being able to cheat. However, that’s almost never the case, since studies show that online students don’t cheat any more than traditional students. 

In fact, some online classes require all their students to turn on their webcam during timed tests. Also, professors can and will use software that detects plagiarism (just like traditional professors do). With these extra precautions, schools are able to evaluate the students’ thoughts and writing, so that they can spot any deviations.

Myth 6: Online Students Can’t Use the School’s Auxiliary Services
While on-campus students already have access to their school’s auxiliary services, what about online students? Auxiliary services include:
  • Libraries
  • Career counseling offices
  • Job placement center

The truth is, online students can use the same services as students who attend school in person. For example, online students can access digital books by logging on to their school’s library website. Or, they can drive to the campus and visit the library in person.

Myth 7: Employers Look Down On Online Degrees
“The acceptance of online degrees depends on the individual employer,” says John Bowers, a business writer at Boomessays and Academized. “Some employers may hold true to traditional education and won’t look at current trends and or realities. However, in recent years, other employers are being more lenient to holders of online degrees applying for their open positions. In fact, many companies are beginning to sponsor online students by offering to pay partial tuition expenses for employees that are enrolled in certain online degree programs.”

Conclusion
As online education is becoming commonplace in academia, it’s easy to get caught up in these seven myths. However, as you read about these seven myths and learn the truth about them, you’ll feel more comfortable about online education if you’re still looking to earn a degree at your own convenience. 

Molly Crockett writes for Australian help and Australianreviewer.com. She also blogs for Ukservicesreviews.com. As a marketing writer, she shares marketing tips and personal development advice with readers.

















To What Extent Will Your Place of Study Affect Your Future Employability?

7/24/2020

 
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Choosing a university, you should know that your place of study is still a significant factor that will determine your future employability. Those students who pursue higher education in countries suchas the U.S. and the UK are usually preferred by their domestic countries. Many companies find it easy to recruit candidates from local universities. For example, Amazon started their businesses in Seattle, where they had access to human resources with degrees from the best local universities. Graduates from American and British universities can easily get a job in most developing countries. 

Below are some essential reasons why the place of study will have an impact on your future employability. 

Flexibility in the Programs Offered
Every major university located in the United States offers its own kind of educational experiences to students. American universities are said to be more creative in designing their educational curricula. Their programs are also revised regularly, relying on the latest research findings and developments in each industry. For example, a student who has applied for almost any program can take a basic programming course in his or her first year. A few universities even allow students to take courses ranging from engineering to history as a part of their basic program. This flexibility in the courses that are offered gives students a perfect opportunity to receive a degree that will further meet their employment requirements. 

World-Class Research Facilities
Companies operating in technology-related sectors desperately need candidates with a solid research background in many emerging areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT), and blockchain. As most of the developments related to these technologies are still ongoing, companies search for mature candidates who can undertake independent research and have a sense of direction. PhD students from American universities have access to advanced research labs where contemporary equipment and research approaches are applied. Facilities such as supercomputers and electronic microscopes are highly beneficial for those students who wish to pioneer research and development (R&D). It goes without saying that studying at such a university will surely improve your employment prospects. Regardless of the frightening stereotypes, the degree of competition among applicants to American universities is relatively low because the demand for higher education is getting lower among the younger generation in the U.S. Only 48% of Americans in the 25-34 age group have a college degree.

Bright Entrepreneurial Prospects
The place where you study also makes it possible for you to improve your entrepreneurial prospects. Having participated in entrepreneurial projects or real businesses, many students begin to understand the key challenges associated with running their own business and the overall entrepreneurial career. Some of the most popular entrepreneurs from the U.S. such as Elon Musk started their businesses immediately after graduating from universities. The experiences gained by Elon Musk in his internship programs at college helped him in planning his entrepreneurial future. Nevertheless, another well-known American entrepreneur, Mark Zuckerberg, had to withdraw from his university courses to start an entrepreneurial career. Even though university programs do not necessarily raise entrepreneurs, they do equip them with some basic knowledge and useful social connections.
 

Demand for American Graduates in Other Countries 
Graduates of American universities are welcomed all over the world for their advanced skills and deep knowledge. Many foreign students who finish American universities leave for their home countries and immediately receive their dream jobs. Some graduates prefer working for a few years in the U.S. and then return home. The spectacular growth of many Asian economies over the past few decades is also explained by the inflow of skilled and knowledgeable human resources from developed countries. The number of graduates applying for work permits in the U.S. after finishing their colleges has fallen from 34% in 2016 to 8% percent in 2017. This may be partially explained by the tightening immigration rules issued by the U.S. government, but graduates from developing countries are still interested in finding a well-paid job in their domestic economy after receiving an American university degree.

American universities offer outstanding academic experiences that can be further converted into brilliant careers. Contemporary labs, access to practical knowledge, and a fruitful learning atmosphere will provide you with a holistic understanding of the subject you wish to specialize in. However, it is still your attitude, persistence, and efforts that will determine your success as an employee. 

Ellie Richards is an online marketing manager for Original PhD, specializing in Ph.D. research paper help. Her focus is research, content and article writing on various topics, including education, marketing, and technology.

Resume Tips for ESL Students

7/22/2020

 
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It is not always easy to put together a resume in your own country, but it may be even more difficult to put together a resume as an ESL student. Luckily, there are tips widely available for ESL students who are looking to land their dream job. Use the following tips to put together a resume as an ESL student.

Start with an Objective
An objective section is an optional part of a resume, but it is still a section that is found on many resumes. The purpose of the objective is to briefly state your career goals. If you are posting your resume online for various employers, it is best to add an objective. However, you may not need an objective if you are applying for a specific position.

List Your Work Experience
Your work experience is an important part of your resume, and it should include your paid and unpaid positions. If you have held multiple positions, be sure to list the jobs in reverse-chronological order. You want to include your position, company name, dates employed, and responsibilities.

Include Your Educational Experience
It is also important to include your educational experience, especially as an ESL student who is looking to obtain a specific career. You can use this section to show that you have experience in learning another language. This section should include your school names, relevant courses, majors and certificates or degrees. You can also include activities, clubs, and competitions that are relevant to your career.

List Your Available References
You also want to list your available references. If you are posting your resume online, you can simply add “References available upon request” to keep the personal information of co-workers, teachers, or peers offline. Otherwise, each reference should include their name, company, job title and contact information. Their contact information should include their phone number, email address, and address.

Look Into Professional Resume Writers
If you are still having trouble getting started on your resume, you may want to hire a custom executive level resume builder. They are professional writers who have years of experience in building resumes for their clients. A professional can highlight your strengths, qualifications, and experiences to help you reach your career goals.

Putting together a resume as an ESL student does not have to be an intimidating or stressful task. You are sure to land a job in your preferred career field if you keep the above tips in mind.

Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger who lives in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, find her on facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or on Twitter @BrookeChaplan.

How Career Opportunities Can be Opened Up by Being Multilingual

6/30/2020

 
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Not only is the world smaller than we think, but technology and affordable travel make it possible for businesses and people to come together more than ever before — and it’s all possible due to internet availability and e-commerce. But no matter how advanced technology becomes, understanding language is still required to bridge the gap.

We’re living in the times of global citizens who travel and trade freely with others, and within these times, speaking more than one language is an invaluable tool. Although English may be considered a universal language that brings people together, having more than two or three additional languages under your belt can give you an edge in your future endeavors, whether they be professional or personal. If you are currently studying English as a second language or you’re committed to developing fluency, there are many opportunities available to use your language proficiency to get ahead in a career, no matter the industry. Let’s take a closer look at how language can help you advance your professional goals.

Expanding Employment Opportunities
“Remote work” is the new catchphrase in the employment world, especially as the coronavirus has pushed many companies and their employees to telecommute for safety purposes. For some companies, the global-scale experiment of working from home was a success — and there are even some, such as insurance provider Nationwide, who have decided to continue and expand remote work programs for all employees, even after closures end.

Employers aren’t the only ones seeing the benefits of a team that works from home. Many individuals have realized that working remotely expands their chances of employment. Specifically, telecommuting breaks down the geographical barriers and limitations of having to work for a local employer within a certain distance from your home. All you need is an internet connection and a computer to work for an employer half across the world. And being able to speak a second or third language — especially if it’s English — only improves those opportunities available to you.

For example, a growing number of international firms use English as the main language of communication, even if they’re based in Asia or Europe. It's entirely possible to work for a Japanese firm these days from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It’s also growing more common to join a video conference that includes remote workers of many nationalities, checking in from all parts of the world — and the unifying language is usually English. 

Promoting Better Human Connections 
Using the scenario of a multinational company hosting a company teleconference between the headquarters team and the remote workers worldwide, the ability to communicate in English creates a higher level of understanding and unity between the employees. 

If you aspire to a higher management position in a multinational company, ESL may be especially crucial. Clear communication fosters connection, essential for building trust and loyalty between individuals, and one of the important pillars of emotional and cultural intelligence is the ability to manage relationships. Being able to communicate effectively with others will help you better understand their cultural mindsets, regardless of the career or industry you’re in.

Having multiple language skills can be helpful for more than leadership, too. For example, if you’re in sales or wish to work with the public, being able to speak with someone and connect with them on a personal level before you pitch them with a product or service will likely improve your odds of closing a sale. 

You don't need advanced language skills to personally connect with someone, either. In fact, casual conversations about family, travel, favorite foods, or other friendly, engaging topics that tend to break the ice and build relationships are some of the earliest forms of a language you'll learn. In fact, casual conversation is a great way to improve your English all around. Small talk may not be an advanced language skill, but conversations about a person’s day to day life are essential in the business world, no matter where you’re from. They’ll serve as the stepping stone to improve your interpersonal skills to be a better salesperson, customer service representative, or public-facing employee.

Improved Cultural Awareness
Being able to speak a second language, even if you don't have full mastery of it yet, can open you up to a world you may not have experienced or noticed before. This proves especially true as you travel or go abroad for a study abroad program or business meeting. 

Being able to speak with others in their native language, or connect with someone through a shared language such as English, can provide you insight about the culture or the place you're visiting you wouldn’t have had access to before.
 

ESL and Expanded Career Opportunities 
Nearly every type of industry or business these days could use employees who are multilingual. There isn't one specific career or field that couldn't make use of someone with good language skills. If you’re searching for a job, being able to communicate with others in their language or a shared one, such as English, may set you apart from the competition. Make sure you continue honing your ESL and foreign-language skills and showcase your efforts, so that employers are aware of your dedication to better communication.

Adrian Johansen is a freelance writer in the Pacific Northwest.

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