The Health Insurance Beast

The Health Insurance Beast Ive put off this post for years because I didnt want to write something that would preclude me from getting health insurance in the future.   But its time. Yesterday I read a very short article from my local online news source: Report shows number of uninsured Utahns.   I could not believe that a third of Utahns under age 65 had no insurance at some point during the past two years. One out of three of us dont have insurance? I hear a lot of people who say I would like to start my own business but I have to stay at my job because of the health insurance. More important than salary (which they think they can replace (I think they can, too), more important than vacation or sick days or any other benefit, health insurance trumps all. Maybe thats why Obama got voted in, to help give peace of mind to this group of people who are uninsured. When I got laid off I had the option of purchasing COBRA.   COBRA is a brilliant program devised by our elected officials that help ensure we still get health coverage after we lose our jobs.   Oops, did I say brilliant?   I meant, the concept was brilliant.   The reality, however, is that its ridiculous.   My COBRA costs would have been around $700 a month. Help me understand how an unemployed guy with no income is going to come up with $700 a month for crappy coverage?   (The coverage, as far as I understand, is the same that you had at your former employer basically you are allowed to stay on that plan, but you have to pay your part PLUS the employers part and my employer had CRAPPY coverage). Ive heard of people getting quoted around $1,500/month for COBRA.   That is more than most people pay for a mortgage. How could the Washington bureaucrats have thought this would be affordable, even possible? Ah, the bubble they live in. And that is one reason why 1/3 of the people (if I can extend this Utah sample out to the rest of the U.S.) dont have insurance. I am not a fan of Obama, and worried about the socialism he talks about, but I wonder if he could somehow fix the healthcare crisis.   Not necessarily socialized healthcare but there are issues with private healthcare that Ill write about in another post. Health care its a sad state. The Health Insurance Beast Ive put off this post for years because I didnt want to write something that would preclude me from getting health insurance in the future.   But its time. Yesterday I read a very short article from my local online news source: Report shows number of uninsured Utahns.   I could not believe that a third of Utahns under age 65 had no insurance at some point during the past two years. One out of three of us dont have insurance? I hear a lot of people who say I would like to start my own business but I have to stay at my job because of the health insurance. More important than salary (which they think they can replace (I think they can, too), more important than vacation or sick days or any other benefit, health insurance trumps all. Maybe thats why Obama got voted in, to help give peace of mind to this group of people who are uninsured. When I got laid off I had the option of purchasing COBRA.   COBRA is a brilliant program devised by our elected officials that help ensure we still get health coverage after we lose our jobs.   Oops, did I say brilliant?   I meant, the concept was brilliant.   The reality, however, is that its ridiculous.   My COBRA costs would have been around $700 a month. Help me understand how an unemployed guy with no income is going to come up with $700 a month for crappy coverage?   (The coverage, as far as I understand, is the same that you had at your former employer basically you are allowed to stay on that plan, but you have to pay your part PLUS the employers part and my employer had CRAPPY coverage). Ive heard of people getting quoted around $1,500/month for COBRA.   That is more than most people pay for a mortgage. How could the Washington bureaucrats have thought this would be affordable, even possible? Ah, the bubble they live in. And that is one reason why 1/3 of the people (if I can extend this Utah sample out to the rest of the U.S.) dont have insurance. I am not a fan of Obama, and worried about the socialism he talks about, but I wonder if he could somehow fix the healthcare crisis.   Not necessarily socialized healthcare but there are issues with private healthcare that Ill write about in another post. Health care its a sad state. The Health Insurance Beast Ive put off this post for years because I didnt want to write something that would preclude me from getting health insurance in the future.   But its time. Yesterday I read a very short article from my local online news source: Report shows number of uninsured Utahns.   I could not believe that a third of Utahns under age 65 had no insurance at some point during the past two years. One out of three of us dont have insurance? I hear a lot of people who say I would like to start my own business but I have to stay at my job because of the health insurance. More important than salary (which they think they can replace (I think they can, too), more important than vacation or sick days or any other benefit, health insurance trumps all. Maybe thats why Obama got voted in, to help give peace of mind to this group of people who are uninsured. When I got laid off I had the option of purchasing COBRA.   COBRA is a brilliant program devised by our elected officials that help ensure we still get health coverage after we lose our jobs.   Oops, did I say brilliant?   I meant, the concept was brilliant.   The reality, however, is that its ridiculous.   My COBRA costs would have been around $700 a month. Help me understand how an unemployed guy with no income is going to come up with $700 a month for crappy coverage?   (The coverage, as far as I understand, is the same that you had at your former employer basically you are allowed to stay on that plan, but you have to pay your part PLUS the employers part and my employer had CRAPPY coverage). Ive heard of people getting quoted around $1,500/month for COBRA.   That is more than most people pay for a mortgage. How could the Washington bureaucrats have thought this would be affordable, even possible? Ah, the bubble they live in. And that is one reason why 1/3 of the people (if I can extend this Utah sample out to the rest of the U.S.) dont have insurance. I am not a fan of Obama, and worried about the socialism he talks about, but I wonder if he could somehow fix the healthcare crisis.   Not necessarily socialized healthcare but there are issues with private healthcare that Ill write about in another post. Health care its a sad state.

Cost of Resume Writing and Where to Find it

Cost of Resume Writing and Where to Find itCost of resume writing has always been a concern for any job seeker. Resume writing becomes more expensive as you go up the career ladder. For some, the cost is so high that it threatens to eat away at their finances.What exactly is the economic impact of resume writing? This comes in two forms, physical and mental. Many employers are now turning to online resumes to streamline the recruitment process and cut down on costs.Time is money, no doubt about it. Being able to write a resume in just a few minutes is a huge time saver. That's why many companies are now outsourcing the process. The Internet has made it possible for one resume writer to oversee many other resume writers. With hundreds of writers to pick from, many can save on costs and time.Once online resume writers have completed the task of writing resumes, they either e-mail them to the recruiters or forward them to the company for review. If the resume is deemed to be acceptable, the recruiter can either accept it right away or send the resume along with a cover letter and additional information that the job applicant is not required to add on.Not only is the financial cost lower but the time spent is also a lot more valuable than traditional paper-based resume writing. Some have even gone as far as printing their own copies for instant distribution or use in many other places where resumes are required.For job seekers, the cost of resume writing does not just come in the form of a pile of documents in the closet or for the trash. It is now mandatory that you document your qualifications in an objective and keyword-rich format so the resume does not appear to be a sales document.Include the most relevant information about yourself: what you do for a living, educational background, hobbies, and personal information. Don't forget to include in your resume with your contact information, such as cell phone number, email address, and work fax number.In conclusio n, as a career and employment professional, I feel it is vital to prepare your resume. Whether you are looking for a promotion, a new job, or simply a better paying job, all of us want to find a way to save time and money in the process.

5 Ways to Stay Energized When Working Long Hours - Classy Career Girl

5 Ways to Stay Energized When Working Long Hours Today’s fast paced and challenging life has affected many thingsâ€"it has made everyone busy. Working long past the 6 pm off time has become a norm. However, this practice is having a negative impact on health. There are few days when we are energized and feel like we can easily climb up the Everest. While most days, we feel drained and out of energy, letting work stress take over us. Of course, you can always quit working overtime or simply sleep soundly for eight hours each night. They sound like the perfect solutions, but they aren’t always possible. But fret not! There are some tiny lifestyle changes that can keep you energized and stress-free throughout the day! 5 Ways to Stay Energized When Working Long Hours 1. Get Your Basics Right The basics of a healthy lifestyle are healthful eating and keeping your physical and mental health in check. We often compromise our health because of our busy work schedules. Taking the right amount of nutrients throughout the day and adding a quick fitness routine at the right time can keep you energized, thus, ensuring optimum mental and physical health. Coffee can be a lifesaver, but it can also pose a threat to your health  if taken in large quantity. Take coffee at the right time and try to keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of water throughout the day. 2. Make The Most of Your Me Time: Although it can be difficult to take out some me time from your busy schedule, make sure that you do so each day. Use this time to reenergize your mind and relax your body. Meditation is the most effective way to relax your mind. You can practice meditation anytime anywhere, even while commuting to work. Yoga is another option of getting that much-wanted stretch while calming down your thoughts at the same time. Go on a yoga retreat on your vacation days. The knowledge you acquire will last you for a lifetime and come handy in stressful days. Calling a friend or someone from your family for a small phone-chat can also help in lowering down stress levels and cheer you up. Ever thought about taking a power nap? They are known to boost energy levels. 3. Simplify Things When you have long work hours and the daily cycle doesn’t seem to end anytime soon, it is best to save your time and energy by simplifying things. Go for clothes that are iron easy. Plan and prepare your meals in big batches on weekends or when you get the time. You can even go for healthy food delivery options. Use organizational apps that make your work life simpler e.g. use apps for noting down important things. You can also set up alarms and alerts for upcoming events and meetings. Automate repetitive tasks so you can use the saved time and energy for other productive purposes. [RELATED: How to Survive Long Hours at Work] 4. Keep Your Work Environment Lively Working on a project that looks like it might need two lifetimes to complete, whilst surrounded by a dull and boring environment doesn’t sound like a good idea. Since you are spending a major part of your day at your workplace, why not liven up the environment? Play some music. Music is known to relieve stress at work. You do not need loud music on your playlist that would make it difficult to concentrate. A rather soft blend of instruments that would relax your mind, maybe something from Mozart or Bach. Scents play an important role in alerting the mind. If you feel you cannot stay focused, help yourself through a number of strong scents. You can either apply them on your body or fill up your working space with scented candles, which will also look pleasing. Making friends at your office can also make long working hours less painful and more fun. Having someone who shares the same issues as you, someone who can listen and relate to them is a major plus. 5. Focus On The Goal Usually, long, backbreaking work hours are linked to an eventual end time â€" the end of a  project or a seasonal break. Keep that in mind and plan something to reward yourself â€" maybe a trip abroad, or that yoga retreat we talked about. This can help you avoid burnout and keep you motivated. Your job nature might be demanding and you might be required to work for long hours throughout the course of your employment. But don’t get demotivated and quit. Remember why you chose this career and what you have planned for the future. Don’t lose sight of all your commitments. Hard work never goes in vain. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Bear this in mind to keep yourself motivated, focused and sane.

5 Best Data Analyst Internships - Algrim.co

5 Best Data Analyst Internships - Algrim.co Data Analysts are in high demand. And the internships for Data Analysts are bountiful. From working within a software engineering organization to working within a consulting group, you have a lot of options as a Data Analyst professional. Before I talk through the best Data Analyst internships you can get, it’s important to know what type of Data Analyst you are. Do you consider yourself an engineer? Or more of a business analyst? The difference is that a Data Analyst who considers themselves more of an engineer might fit better within the software engineering group at, say, Uber. While non-engineering Data Analysts might be better suited for Bain. Be sure you read through the job description of all Data Analyst internship positions before you apply. You don’t want to waste your time applying to a job that might not suit your background. Top Data Analyst Internships Uber Uber is one of the most popular consumer businesses in the U.S. And one of the most recent startup success stories. Uber has been on the cutting edge in terms of innovation and technology for more than a decade, now. And they are continuing on that path. From learning how to guide vehicle routes for better timing, to deciphering supply and demand. This position would be more fitting for those who have an engineering background. Learn more about Data Analyst internships on the Uber job portal: https://www.uber.com/us/en/careers/ Airbnb Airbnb in another popular consumer business in the U.S. Airbnb is another technology startup that has reached “Unicorn” status. With it’s service also requiring a heavy amount of data computing. This internship would be better suited for those who have an engineering background as well. Learn more about Data Analyst internships at Airbnb via their job portal: https://careers.airbnb.com/ Snapchat Snapchat is recognizable by almost everyone in the U.S. They are one of the largest social media platforms. Their use of a data to make their products better is bountiful. And they offer one of the best internship programs in the nation. Learn more about Data Analyst internships at Snapchat via their job portal: https://careers.snap.com/university Spotify Spotify is one of the most widely used music platforms in the world. Now publicly traded, Spotify needs to comprehend all of the use of its product as well as digital music information into a compilable and reliable source. Data analysis becomes vital in the path to doing so. Learn more about Data Analyst internships at Spotify via their job portal: https://www.spotifyjobs.com/ McKinsey & Company One of the world’s oldest business consulting groups. McKinsey would be a great place for a Data Analyst who feels as though they want to focus their efforts on business analysis. This would mean increasing efficiency or providing competitive market analysis. Learn more about Data Analyst internships at McKinsey via their job portal: https://www.mckinsey.com/careers/students More Internship Resources If you'd like to know more about getting internships at various companies, you can learn more through the internships portion of this website. Inside of each guide is a helpful breakdown of how to apply to certain internships and increase your chances of being selected for the program.

Writing Descriptions For Honors in a Resume

Writing Descriptions For Honors in a ResumeIn a recent graduate job search I was referred to a writer who was learning how to write descriptions for honors in a resume. I have been writing resumes for many years but for some reason it was my first time to be introduced to this new process.For a long time I just used the old writing format that I'd learned in school, in essay format. But something about having a resume as a black and white document meant that it was hard to express information in any other format.The writing resumes are available online that use this style of resume. The resume can be typed and it has spaces in between to write notes and to create subheadings. The format can be very traditional or very modern.Some people get into writer's block. When you get into writer's block, you just can't get it done. Then you throw it away and start over.If you find yourself in this situation you should break your task down into a series of projects and do each one piece by piec e. By breaking your task down you are making it easier for you to focus on what is important. When you start to see what needs to be done you will become excited about the work you have completed.The style that you are using when you are trying to write a description for a resume is based on how long you plan to serve in a job and the type of experience you have. You also need to keep in mind the kind of resume that you want to have. If you are looking for a high placement, you may want to write a more elaborate one than if you just want to get onto the first page of the call list.Keep in mind that you don't want your resume to be too simple. You will want to include any information that is required on the application form, which can include anything that is voluntary such as professional awards, professional affiliations, volunteer experience, letters of recommendation and work history.There are also some examples of sample scenarios that you can use to help with your descriptions. Having these examples will give you an idea of how a resume should be written so that you don't have to worry about being confused about what should be included in your resume.

Creating Your Personal Marketing Plan

Creating Your Personal Marketing Plan The BEST job search tool is your personal marketing plan.   This document lays out and prioritizes your job search.   It enables you to focus your energy and activities in the right areas and to position yourself as someone who is a valuable resource and must hire. This is what a personal marketing plan looks like. Sample Personal Marketing Plan Your personal marketing plan serves two purposes: It helps you zero in on the roles and employers that you want to target in your job search. It helps people you meet with to understand what you are looking for and makes it easier for them to provide the right, meaningful information. The act of creating your personal marketing plan also helps you get clear about what you are looking for and why you believe you are a good fit for the roles you are pursuing. Investing time early in your job search to build a personal marketing plan allows you to create an action plan: Find and talk with people who work for your target companies Stay focused on jobs that align with what you are looking for Uncover new information and jobs that are related to your targets Learn more about how to use your personal marketing plan here. How To Build Your Personal Marketing Plan Unlike the resume, there are no expectations around what your marketing plan should look like or contain. That means you can build it any way you want. But more importantly, build it so it helps you stay organized and helps the people you meet with understand what you are looking for and how they can help. Preferred Job Titles By defining the job titles you are interested in, you learn about the different job titles being used today. Often, companies use different job titles to describe the same role. For example, customer service might be customer support, sales support, or something even more creative. Build a list of all the variations of job titles youve seen on job boards. Keeping them all in one place helps you stay organized and informed. There are some helpful tools to use such as Onet and My Skills My Future you can use to construct your list. Preferred Functions This is optional.   It is a good way for you to list the parts of the job you most enjoy doing and have been successful doing. For example, if you love the client/customer interaction part of your job, list that as a preferred function. This section serves as a way of differentiating you from the other people who do the same job.   No two people have the same set of strengths within the same role. Positioning Statement/Pitch Your positioning statement or pitch conveys the value you provide.   It may be a shortened version of your personal branding statement or your elevator pitch. Whatever you say here is a concise statement summing up the problems you solve, how you solve them and who you solve them for. Summary of Qualifications This is a mini bio referencing the skills, experiences and talents that make you good at what you do and desirable by employers in your industry.   It is not a laundry list of everything you CAN do. Nor is it a generic overview.   This has to be very unique to you. If youve already written your resume, you can use what you wrote there. Competencies What are the skills you want to make sure you highlight? What do you know how to do that is important for someone to know.   Be as specific as possible. This is optional, as any of the sections of this document. Experience A picture is worth a thousand words. Perhaps visually showing your career path will help someone connect the dots. Your job in this section, should you chose to use it, is to show the correlation between the various jobs/positions youve held. It is small and one of the least important parts of your personal marketing plan, in my opinion, of course. Target Market What industry do you want to work in? What size company is the best fit for you? Where would you be willing to work? By answering these questions, you define and fine-tune your options.   This is the criteria you will use to create your target list of employers.   Every company on this list must fit the criteria youve established! This post walks you through how to find target companies.  When you go directly to the source of opportunities, you will hopefully get there ahead of the competition.

The next media economy - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

The next media economy - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Ive been thinking a lot about how we buy and consume media (music, movies, TV, books, news, video games, sports, etc.) and though its a far cry from the regular topics on this blog, and Im pretty sure that none of this is new, heres my take. You see, its a pretty important question. For one thing, the media industry is huge. We spend a LOT of money on entertainment. But even more importantly, media of various kinds is where we get most of our stories. Much of our perception of the world is shaped by the media we access and how we access them. So media matters. The big shift that were seeing right now is of course due to the internet. All media are increasingly being freed from physical constraints. You no longer need the physical CD, DVD, TV antenna or paper book. You can get it all on one device: Your computer. I know, I know, its completely obvious, but bear with me. I cant say exactly what the next media business model will look like, but I still think we can say some things about it. This is kinda like one of those mathematical proofs, where we dont know the actual solution yet, but we can still say some things about it. So I predict that any future media economy will have to live up to the following criteria in order to achieve success: No distinction between streaming and downloading The distinction between streaming media to a computer and downloading it to that computer is essentially spurious and all attempts to enforce that division are non-sensical and doomed to fail. I know that the owners of content feel safer with streaming, because that allows the fo feel that they still own the content, but once the bits have passed through a computer, its the owners choice whether they remain on that computer. Witness the several tools available that can take eg. a realmedia stream and save it to the computer. Easy to share Once I have the media on my computer, they must be easy to share between devices and between people. If I download music, I want to be able to play it in my car, on my pocket mp3 player, on my stereo, in my summer home and on my vacation. I also want to play it when visiting a friend. Or at a party. Sitting at my friends computer, I want to be able to call up the ebook Im currently reading and go over a section of it with her. On the train on my way to work, I want to view the episode of my favourite TV-show that I missed last night. Transcends media brands The succesful system will transcend brands. There wont be a Disney system and a Sony system. There will be just the one system, from which I access and purchase media. Cheaper The succesful system will also be cheaper than whats available today. Priced on consumption not access When I buy a CD today, I take it home and put it on the shelf with the others. I can play it whenever I want, but Im essentially paying to have access to it. Apples iTunes and most current online music sites work in the same way, except that you buy individual songs rather than whole albums. I predict that the succesful system will instead base pricing on consumption. That it will make thousands of CDs available to me, but will bill me according to how much I actually consume. Offers more options than the old model Whatever I can do with physical media I can also do in the new system. This is contrary to many online media offerings where you can actually do less. For instance, if I buy a CD I can take it with me wherever I go and sell it or give it away. The solution for the media industry then, is not of a technological nature. Its not a matter of finding the right unbreakable encryption to enforce current copyrights. Its a matter of finding a new business model, and that business model must live up to whats written above. Why? Well, thats very simple: The next media business model will from its very inception be in competition with a system that is already rather succesful, is constantly growing and which offers all of the above. This is of course the shadow economy. Pirates, Kazaa-users, bit-torrent clients and other downloaders. These systems are used by millions of people, use almost no advertising and still manage to grow like wildfire. I predict that theres a huge pile of money to be made from this new business model. It will have to be made differently from today but its there none the less. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related