5 Things To Do If You're Unemployed


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I love the last point :)
1. Take a temporary or contract assignment.
Seventy-nine percent would recommend doing this. Why? "The key is to get people to see your work and to see what you're capable of doing," says Andy Teach, the author of From Graduation to Corporation: The Practical Guide to Climbing the Corporate Ladder One Rung at a Time. "If you do a great job, even if it's for a temporary job, whoever hired you is more likely to recommend you for a permanent position."
2. Take a class.
Sixty-one percent of the hiring managers surveyed recommended taking a class during a period of unemployment. "You never stop learning in your career, so the more technical competence you have, the better," Teach says. "When you take a class in your field, you are also showing that you are serious about your work and that you take initiative." Another advantage to taking a class: It's a great networking opportunity.
3. Volunteer.
Sixty percent of the hiring managers said volunteer work makes you more marketable. "When you volunteer for something, you are telling potential employers something about you as a person," Teach says. It shows that you are passionate about something and care about helping others-and it demonstrates that money isn't the most important thing to you, he adds. "When companies are hiring, they are looking not only for people who can get the job done but also for people with character and integrity."
4. Start your own business.
Twenty-eight percent suggested doing this-but starting a business can be pricy and time consuming. If you have the means to do it, it's a great résumé booster and a wonderful marketing tool.
"The beauty of having your own business is that you can work part-time or full-time depending on whether or not you are able to land a job working for someone else," Teach says. "You are also going to learn skills that are transferrable if you do end up working for someone else again."
5. Start a professional blog.
Eleven percent of the surveyed employers said a professional blog can be a good way to market yourself to employers. Why? You get people to see you as an expert in your field. "You are also conveying your passion, gaining knowledge, and separating yourself from others," Teach says. "Potential employers will see you as having taken the initiative during your job search to blog about something you truly care about: your career."

4 Things You Should Know About Car Thief

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1) Easy targets. Cars parked in dark, isolated, or otherwise concealed areas are excellent choices for the aspiring car thief. But so do vehicles that show obvious signs of neglect: a collection of parking tickets, for example, or just a coat of road dust, anything that suggests the owner hasn't been on the scene in a while. If you're going to park your vehicle for an extended period, leave it somewhere attended--or disable it by removing the battery to make a quick getaway impossible.

2) Popular late-model cars. The list of most-stolen cars is topped by perennial best-sellers like the Toyota CamryHonda AccordChevrolet Impala, and Ford F-150. Some more exotic cars may have higher theft rates, but these mainstream victims of theft arise from a set of factors: the black market for parts, the ease of breaking into them, and the anonymity of driving off in one from the scene of the crime. If you own one, the usual precautions apply, but additional protection might not just be a good idea, it may also reduce your insurance rates.

3) Cars with no visible, activated alarm system. Real-time vehicle tracking systems such as GM's OnStar and aftermarket services like LoJack are the bane of thieves, but most luxury cars and even many mass-market vehicles come with basic anti-theft systems. They don't pose much of an obstacle if they're not activated, though. If you have a vehicle with such a system, make sure it's armed when you walk away.

4) Electronics and their tell-tale cords. Portable music players, laptopstablets, even radar detectors--they're all easily and quickly lifted from exposed vehicles. They can also easily be wiped of identifying information and resold. Even the presence of charging cables may be enough to tell a casual vandal that it's worth getting into your car to go through the glovebox and armrest to see if you've stashed a phone or an iPod there. Do yourself a favor: tuck away the cables, and secure anything you'd rather not lose in the trunk--or carry it with you, rather than leaving it behind for prying eyes with prying tools.

Don't Put This In Your Wallet

1. Receipts
2. Multiple Credit Cards
3. Passport
4. Check/Check book
5. Spare Keys
6. Password Sheet


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