How To Write a Cover Letter

What is a cover letter? Obviously, it is a letter. This letter gives your employer a background of its proceeding documents (resumes, bio data, etc) for possible employment. It gives the reader (in this case, the employer) an introduction on what to expect in the proceeding documents.

Since it is an introduction (that’s why it is called a cover letter) of your job application documents, it must be written as professionally as possible. This is because you want to impress your employer from the start so that you will be his choice for the job you seek. The following are points to ponder in writing a professional cover letter.

General Directives:

A cover letter is written in a one whole page. Thus you may want to include important information about yourself. Avoid irrelevant information, for they will fill valuable space (which is intended for the most important ones) in your one-page cover letter. Be general in your cover letter. Reserve the specifics in the resume.

In writing a professional cover letter, it is obvious to write it with correct spelling and grammar. Come to think of this: do you expect a professional to be wrong, especially in the most basic terms? Consider proper spelling of words, word association (like subject-verb agreement), etc. Also please use simple words that can be easily understood. Don’t use highfaluting words that cause “nosebleeds” to readers. Thus using such terms will bring you to nothing.

Unlike resumes, cover letters are written in a first person perspective. Thus the use of the terms “I”, “my”, and the like are to be maximized. A cover letter is a personal introduction about you. Thus you must personalize its form.

Specific Directives:

Generally, a cover letter is composed of three paragraphs. Each paragraph contains specific information about you.

An introduction of the self must be contained in the first paragraph. It tells about you as yourself. It also tells about your desire to work with the company you are applying to and why the company wants your services. It must be short, but not hurried.

The second paragraph includes your professional career history and educational background. It must be included in this paragraph the skill, experiences, educational background, and job history acquired prior to the job you are applying for.

The third and last paragraph must include the opportunities that the company has in having you. You must also include a sentence which expresses an appointment time with the company.

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How To Find The Best Place To Get a Job

When it comes to finding a job there are plenty of possibilities in which you can pursue to find the ultimate occupation. Looking for a job can be one of the most stressful times of your life, especially if you have monthly bills to pay for. This can eat up your hard earned savings or potentially take every cent you have. If you don’t have any money saved up it can force you to take out loans and credit cards which will incur interest and other fee’s making you build up unwanted debt.

A simple mistake of loosing your job or quitting before you have found an alternative method of revenue can bring more trouble then its worth. This is why it’s important to use every method available to get you back into work as soon as possible.

The first place you can look for a job is in your local job center, many of the newer job centers have computers with all the available jobs in your area so you log in with your details such as address, age and any other vital information. You then pick a selection of job categories which you are interested in and the computer searches through the database of jobs bringing up any that match your criteria. You can then print them off and contact them directly with your application, you should always apply for as many jobs as possible in order to increase your chances of getting one. It’s always best to apply for many jobs and turn them down, then to apply for one at a time and wait for a response before applying for your next one, this would make the process very time consuming and you could be waiting several months and still no have a job to show for it.

Another method which is becoming more popular in today’s world is finding jobs online, this give you the advantage of being able to search through available jobs in the comfort of your own home at your own leisure. Another benefit of this is that you can upload your CV and information based on your interests and hobbies to certain job sites and employers can search through people that match their criteria. Consider using a CV builder to fine-tune your CV to each job listing. The amount of exposure you get can be immense compared to any other method because there are many existing sites of such sort with new ones being published all the time.

You can search in your local paper and stores to find work as many people advertise just about everywhere if they require more staff. By checking papers everyday might give you another method of receiving a job. By asking around the bars and shops near to you has also gave many people a career, simply print a few copies of your CV off and hand it in to various shops you would be willing to work in.

If you have been trying to find a job and have had no luck then there are still options available for you, there are many agencies in which you can find locally or online in which you give them all your details and they find jobs you may be interested in based on the details they receive. They will take you right up to the interview stage and then it’s up to you to go the rest of the way. These agencies will take the payment from the company you’re working for and then pay you either weekly or monthly after they have deducted a fee.

In the end it’s always best to take advantage of as many different methods as possible, the worst that can happen is that you have to apply for more jobs. Finding a job can be a time consuming job in itself and you have to stick to it and maybe lower your expectations just to find a job which will allow you to have some free cash to play with. On the other hand you may get interviews from a few places, take them and then pick the best job or the one with the most promising prospects in the future. It all depends if you’re looking for a job to help time go by or if you’re looking for a new career.

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How To Learn a Foreign Language

You can enjoy greater personal power in a foreign country when you speak the language. Without leaving your own home town, you can enter into the literature and culture of another country when you can read a foreign language. You will feel greatly empowered asking for directions, inquiring about places to visit, and making new friends and acquaintances in the language of your host country. You will also expand your business and employment opportunities.

Anyone Can Learn a New Language

Like many complex skills, learning a foreign language is much more a matter of daily effort than ability. In fact, scientists that study the human brain have discovered that parts of it are specialized for learning and using language. Except for a few people in special circumstances, virtually every adult human speaks at least one language.

Learning a New Language: Basic Principles

The most important principle to learning a new language is regular use. It is much easier to learn a spoken, living language than a "dead" language. You can study a foreign language in many ways and the more the better, but the best way is by immersion. Practice with native speakers as often as possible. If you can’t find native speakers, then find others who are trying to learn like you. Your local university or college may have a language house, such as a Spanish House, a French House, or a Russian House. If you attend the school, you can ask about living there. If you don’t, you may still be allowed to visit and practice the language with the residents. The internet also provides access to groups for people who want to practice a foreign language. Check newsgroups, Yahoo Groups, or MSN groups. You can practice listening to the language by watching a film or DVD in that language. Foreign films are also a great way to learn more about the culture that speaks your chosen language.

Foreign Language Study Material

In addition to practice, you need to have a source of study material.  The source can be a textbook or one of many language-learning books sold in bookstores and online.  If you take a course at a school, the textbook will be designated by the instructor.  You may also choose to hire a native speaker who will teach you one on one.  It is also possible to find language courses taught online, although these may not be able to replace hearing a native or proficient speaker live in person.  Your local library has many language learning books that you can use for free.  The great importance of study material is a progressive guide that leads you from most basic concepts to more advanced skills in a language.

Speaking a Foreign Language

A French instructor once said about participation in her class: “It’s okay to lie, as long as you’re grammatically correct.”  This is probably not a good idea in most situations, but it works great as practice in the right setting.  Whenever possible, learn about words and sayings that have to do with your own interests.  If you like sports, learn the words for ‘team,’ ‘ball,’ ‘player,’ ‘score’ and so forth.  If you like cooking, learn the words for cooking.  This is also a good idea for any field of business you would like to undertake in the chosen language.  Practice conversing in the language about the subject that interests you.

Read a Foreign Language

In addition to spoken language, you can practice reading the language.  Beginning books can be found that will allow you to cut your teeth on the new language.  As you become more advanced, you should try more difficult reading materials.  Many bookstores and larger libraries offer newspapers and magazines in foreign languages.  If your chosen language is written with a non-Roman alphabet, like Greek, Russian, Arabic, or Chinese (characters), you will need to devote a good deal of effort to learn the writing system which will include a good deal of writing it.  It is possible, however, to learn to speak a language without learning the writing system.  For example, many people learn to speak Chinese and write it in pinyin which simply adopts the same alphabet as the English language (Roman Alphabet) to spell Chinese words.

FEEDBACK:

Feedback enables you measure your progress and correct any errors in pronunciation or grammar that you make.  Formal instruction in a class or a private tutor will provide you with feedback.  You can also examine your own progress by quizzing yourself with tests in books.  If you wish to improve your pronunciation, you can even record your own voice and play it back to yourself.  Listening to a recording of your voice allows you to focus on what you hear more than when you hear yourself as you speak.

VERBAL and WRITTEN:

Verbal
Speaking, understanding, and otherwise conversing in the language are all skills that pertain to the verbal area.  Most people find the passive ability to understand a language easier than speaking it, although this is not always so.  Typically, your passive vocabulary is much broader than your active vocabulary in any given language.  In other words, you understand far more words than you actually use to express yourself.

Written
Reading and writing the language are both skills involving the writing system.  Reading is the passive aspect, while writing is the active aspect.  Again, reading is easier than writing the language.  A good way to practice spelling and your ability to hear the language along with writing is to do a ‘dictation.’  For this activity, you write down what you hear in the appropriate language.  High School and college courses often use this technique.

BASIC PARTS OF A LANGUAGE:
This is very simplified and applies to all languages.  Of course, some languages do not have a writing system.

• Pronunciation (Phonology):
• Words (Vocabulary)
• Word Forms (Morphology)
• Grammar (Syntax)
• Spelling (Writing System)

Pronunciation is the way you use your mouth to speak the language.  Hearing is an important component with pronunciation.  A foreign language will have some sounds that are familiar to you and quite few that are unfamiliar.  German has rounded vowels made in the front of the mouth that don’t sound anything like English.  Arabic has different forms of ‘s,’ ‘d,’ and ‘th’ that require learning a new pronunciation skill.  Chinese has tones. Remember, the distance between two languages is the same in both directions.  The English ‘th’ sound is a breeze for most Arabic speakers but challenging for speakers of German.  Become familiar with all the sounds of the given language and realize that some will take ongoing practice to say correctly.

Words are the building blocks of a sentence.  Most people find learning lists of words boring.  There are words basic to any language that you need to learn.  For example, it is impossible to speak standard English without words such as ‘I,’ ‘and,’ ‘to,’ ‘the,’ and ‘a.’

Word Forms are the ways in which words are made in the language.   This is how pieces of words are put together. 

Grammar is rules for putting words together to express the language.  Many people find grammar a challenge.  Like arithmetic, grammar builds upon basic skills.  Speaking a language is a particularly good way to help learn proper grammar. 

Spelling or more properly, the writing system, is the way the language is written or printed.  Some languages do not have a writing system at all.  These languages are generally not spoken by a large group of people. 

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How To Choose a Preschool

For many parents a preschool is just as or more important than the school their child will be attending for kindergarten on up. There are many factors to consider when selecting the best preschool for your child, and doing your research is essential to making the best selection. The following are points to consider:

Public or Private:

In some areas, public schools offer a preschool to residents. Most are on a limited basis or are offered to families with special needs. Others are open to all interested residents. Most preschools are private, however. This means they are outside of the public school system and will require tuition payments.

Full-time or Part-time:

Preschools operate on different schedules. Some replace childcare and use the entire school day for learning time. Others offer preschool classes for shorter times, for example from nine to two or eight to noon. The hours offered by a school can be significant in your selection.

If you work full-time, a full-time program makes the most sense, but if you are interested in keeping your child at home for most of the day, a part-time program might be ideal. It should be noted that almost all childcare facilities offer some sort of preschool. These programs might be only part-time with the rest of the workday comprised of regular childcare with little or no emphasis on learning. It is worthwhile to fully understand the programs offered at various day cares.

Location:

The location of a school may matter a great deal or it might not matter at all. Most parents prefer to have the preschool located conveniently, whether that is by their home or place of employment. Some parents find the local school within walking distance is ideal for the sake of simplicity, and others are willing to drive to a program they feel is ideally suited for their needs.

Special Focus:

Many preschools offer a special focus. Some offer music or Spanish classes. Others are religiously based. Still others are well-rounded in academics or heavily based in artistic expression. Parents must consider the interests of their children and family when enrolling in a school with a special focus.

Cost:

Preschools range in price as much as they range in other factors. Cost may be a large determining factor or your budget may be able to accommodate any program. More expensive programs are not necessarily better, but your money might be going to pay for extracurricular activities or more experienced teachers. What drives the cost of a program is definitely worth fully investigating and comparing features made available by the various tuition at different programs might be eye-opening as well.

Method of Instruction:

A final consideration that many parents may not be aware of is the overall method of instruction. Is the school promoting formal direct instruction where a teacher is showing and telling a student important facts and lesson? Or is the program more Montessori based where the student is discovering things aided and encouraged by the teacher? There are merits to both styles of instruction, and you should be aware of what each school you’re considering offers and what that method means to you and your child.

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How To Get Health Insurance As An Expatriate

When you’re an expatriate, you have special limitations. You also have tremendous freedom, but with that freedom comes responsibly. By moving to another country or losing your citizenship, it’s entirely possible you lost your health insurance as well. There are a few ways to find coverage if you are an expatriate.

Marriage

One easy way to get insurance as an expatriate in many countries is through marriage. Of course you shouldn’t get married simply to take advantage of your spouse’s insurance, but it does make things easier. In some cases, even marriage won’t allow you medical coverage, but it all depends on the laws of the country you are living in, the citizenship of your spouse and the time you’re spent in the new country.

Employment

If you can obtain a visa or permit for employment with a company that offers group insurance of some kind, it is likely that you would qualify for insurance through employment. Of course, many expats head to distant corners of the globe to escape exactly these kinds of jobs, so this might not be the ideal solution.

Expatriate Insurance

Another option would be to apply for and obtain a specialized type of insurance called expatriate or international health insurance. Choosing expatriate insurance is an obvious solution, but can be tricky – especially if you are unfamiliar with the types of insurance plans available.

Choosing Expatriate Insurance

To make a choice in expat insurance, begin by thinking through the coverage you need. While it can be simple to assume you won’t be getting sick or need something like major dental surgery, it might be only your ego or misinformed nature speaking. After all, insurance is most often used in emergencies, and those happen everywhere. In many cases, letting your insurance lapse for more than a month or two might keep you from getting insurance later, even when you return to your own country, so be liberal in your selection – this is your health you’re protecting after all.

Types of expat insurance include: general medical, inpatient (admitted to the hospital) outpatient (doctor’s office only), dental, vision, maternity, chronic conditions, and evacuation. The industry is constantly releasing new packages as we become a more global society, so it important to understand your specific needs when comparing plans.

For example, if you are a woman, you will most likely need general medical insurance with both inpatient and outpatient components. If maternity is not covered in that plan, which it often is not, you will need a separate maternity plan – even if you don’t plan on becoming pregnant; you might not be able to qualify for one if an “accident” should occur. You’ll also need to consider dental and possibly evacuation assuming you have no chronic or preexisting conditions.

Research what various companies offer and compare plans side by side. Don’t necessarily go with the cheapest or the most expensive until you know exactly what your money is buying. Read reviews by others on various companies and plans, and speak with a person about your unique situation. Your insurance can mean the difference between a successful time abroad or one of poverty and misery – be sure you are adequately prepared.

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How to Apply for Social Security Benefits

The easiest way to apply for Social Security benefits including Social Security disability benefits is to use the Social Security Administration’s website. You can also apply over the phone, but why bother when the internet is so much more convenient? The only exception would be if you’re applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. SSI benefits can’t be done over the internet, so you’d do best to call 1-800-772-1213 and speak with someone who can help with your specific situation.

To Apply for Social Security Benefits Online

Almost all Social Security Benefits can be applied for through the Social Security Benefits Application.

To apply for benefits, first be sure you’re applying for Retirement, Disability, or Spouse’s Benefits. You can’t apply for just Medicare if you’re still working and you can’t apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Once you’ve determined you’re in the right place for your needs, navigate to the application form.

Gather Your Documents and Information

Before actually beginning the application, be sure you have all of the necessary documentation on hand.

You may need:

• Birth certificate or other proof of birth
• Naturalization papers;
• U.S. military discharge paper(s)
• W-2 forms(s) and/or self-employment tax returns for last year.

And you will be asked to complete items such as the following:

• Your name, birth name, gender and social security number
• Your date of birth and place of birth including any records there may be
• When you became unable to work if disabled
• Military service information
• You employment history in any government entities
• Your marriage status and spousal information (current and former)
• Dates and situations for all marriages
• The names of any unmarried children under 18, 18 -19 and in secondary school or disabled before age 22
• Employment and earnings information
• Any outstanding legal issues
• The month you want your benefits to begin and enrollment decisions about Medicare B.

Apply Online

Complete the online form once all of your information is assembled. If you can’t locate certain items, complete the form anyway, but expect to work with someone over the phone or in person to finalize the application. Starting it online can save time and effort.

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