The Daily Roundup: Madden About Turducken

By Zack on November 26, 2008

Welcome to the Daily Roundup. Each day at the ThinkTalk Blog we will post some links that we find informative, interesting, or just plain funny. The goal is to let you know what else is going on out there, and ultimately help you with the development of your career.

I just have a few quick hits and links for you today. Most of you are probably stuck in your 7th hour of traffic right now anyway. If not, enjoy! On then to the links . . .

CollegeRecruiter Instructs: You to apply for jobs online the Right Way. By following the directions! I agree. I once had a job that urged online applicants, "please no visits." One woman showed up and not only would the boss not meet with her, but he shredded her resume. Follow. Directions.

Alison's Job Searching Blog Has: Resume and Cover Letter Templates. Just make sure you actually put your name in the "your name here" section.

Inside Higher Ed Has: Some grim news for those whose Student Loans are in default or rehabilitation. During the current economic atmosphere less and less agencies are buying up loans that are deemed "ready for rehabilitation." There may be hope on the horizon, but it doesn't look great right now. The lesson as I see it is: keep up with your student loan payments.

The Wall Street Journal reveals: A new trend in the face of economic cost-cutting: Outsourcing legal work to India. Geez, what's left to outsource; adultery? Oh . . . And that does it for the Thanksgiving week edition of The Daily Roundup. The ThinkTalk Blog hopes you all have a wonderful, filling, and safe holiday weekend. I will be back home, sitting on my butt, watching football, and doggin the traditional turkey and fixins (I love me some turkey skin!) I fully expect to come back 300 pounds and with a sever case of gout. See you all next week and Happy Thanksgiving.

Get MILKed: Emile Hirsch & Cleve Jones discuss MILK

By Zack on November 26, 2008

From time to time I moderate Question and Answer sessions at local Universities – Georgetown and Maryland for example. On October 30th I was lucky enough to attend a screening of Gus Van Zandt’s newest film MILK and a subsequent Q&A with star Emile Hirsch and activist Cleve Jones. Along with Hirsch, MILK stars Sean Penn in the title role, James Franco, and Josh Brolin, and tells the story of Harvey Milk – the first openly gay man elected to public office in America.

Harvey Milk rose to prominence as a gay businessman, activist, and community organizer in San Francisco during the mid to late 70s. After numerous failed runs at City Board Supervisor and State Assemblyman, Milk broke through, and finally was elected as San Francisco Board Supervisor in 1977.

Sean Penn gives a stunning and spot-on performance that is guaranteed to garner an Oscar nomination - and will most likely be the heavy favorite. The film is well acted, inspirational, and dramatically engaging. Emile Hirsch, as intern and Milk protégé Cleve Jones, delivers an inspired performance in a role that is outside his traditional comfort zone.

I had the pleasure to meet with both Emile (for a second time) and Cleve during the screening in Washington DC, and moderate a Q & A with some Georgetown students afterward. Both individuals were friendly, candid, and insightful during the Q & A, offering college students a level of access that sums up perfectly what we do here at ThinkTalk.

Emile is a rare talent, with a stunningly frank and matter-of-fact approach to acting. I imagine he is a joy to direct as he appears to have unparalleled instincts and a see-then-do quality. I fully expect a best supporting actor nod, and a consistent presence in the film industry for a long time.

Emile's passion struck me hardest just before the screening ended. I mentioned that the film was going over great with the audience. His eyes lit up “Really, they like it?” he enthused. “It really is great isn’t it?” Emile went on to offer unbridled praise for the skill, talent, and hard-work of his co-star. Of course, Penn directed Hirsch in last year's INTO THE WILD, and Hirsch likened the experience of working first with Penn as a director-to-actor experience and now as co-actors to “playing a game of basketball with your coach. It’s weird.” I found that to be a particularly insightful analogy. Like Mo Cheeks running the floor with Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand. That's just strange.

Cleve Jones, post-Milk-era, served as the historical consultant on MILK, and is still an influential activist and communty organizer. He spearheaded the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, has worked with numerous AIDS organizations, and currently works with Labor Unions in California.

During the Q & A Cleve easily won over the audience with his passion, humor, and wealth of knowledge. He commented on everything from the process of getting this film completed (a goal he has strived for since Milk’s death in 1978), his old-school activist mentality (and subsequent distaste for HRC), and his work with AIDS. He also touched on the unfortunate relevancy of the recent Proposition 8 initiative in California to some of the struggles during Milk's day. This event took place before the voting on November 6th, and subsequent passing of Proposition 8; an unfortunate reminder, as Cleve noted, that as far as the gay rights movement has come, it still has far to go - but he enjoys his work and will continue to fight for the cause he loves.

Before we began the Q & A, as the credits began to roll, I asked Cleve if seeing the film is difficult for him given his close relationship with Harvey. Penn's performance is so good, and the resemblance so uncanny, that I said it must have been hard. He said it indeed is, but that he is also happy and proud that after all this time he will be able to share the life of Harvey Milk with a new generation.

I am grateful for the opportunity to interact with such talented and passionate individuals. I do think the crowd and the students thoroughly enjoyed the access and insight into the inspirational, influential, and unfortunately tragic life of Harvey Milk. MILK - now showing in limited release - is a particularly relevant film during this Holiday season, and I highly recommend you take the chance to see it.

To see our interview with Emile Hirsch for Into the Wild, please go here.

The Daily Roundup: Did I ever tell you about the time I . . .

By Zack on November 25, 2008

Welcome to the Daily Roundup. Each day at the ThinkTalk Blog we will post some links that we find informative, interesting, or just plain funny. The goal is to let you know what else is going on out there, and ultimately help you with the development of your career.

I don’t have a whole lot of links today (quit slackin’ in the short week, bloggers!) so instead, I will relate a quick story.

Money was an issue for me in college. I didn’t have a lot of savings going in, but in order to pay for things like rent, food, and other things, I took a number of odd jobs. Some students will complain, “I don’t have experience because I was too busy paying tuition and rent to get an internship.” Blasphemy!

One job I found was as a sort of dorm room handyman. This was a job sanctioned by the school, within the housing department. I would, essentially, fix dorm room furniture. Except I didn’t fix it. I just replaced it. Mattress has a hole, here’s a new mattress. Desk chipped, here’s a new one. We had storage rooms all over campus full of furniture, and it was always easy to find a new unit. Students are incredibly easy to please when it comes to dorm room furnishings. And as long as I didn’t report the bottle of vodka I found hidden in the ceiling, they were sure to give the new unit the A-OK.

We worked 20 hour weeks, except we didn’t have an office or a base of operation. We simply roamed the dorms in search of students who required maintenance. We also had walky-talkies, so someone would call us in the rare event that there was actually a problem. For the most part, though, we were un-monitored. Are you kidding me? Guess how many hours a week we actually worked? Come on guess. 15 hours? 10 hours? Wrong. 5 hours. Maybe. On a bad week. And this was a legit job offered by the school . . . not work-study!

Instead I slept. Or studied. Or did homework. Or, uh, ya know, other extra curricular activities. Most semesters I actually worked other jobs while I was supposedly on the clock. But I want you to know, I am not a scam artist. I did what was required of the job. Actually, by senior year I was offered the role of supervisor and even got a salary bump. This job was that easy.

Another job I had was in the projection booth of the University Theater. This was college though, not a freaking Lowes. I wasn’t running 35mm projectors. I put a DVD into a DVD player, pressed play, and watched Citizen Kane for 119 minutes. For $8 an hour.

These weren’t jobs, these were felonies. And the best part was, I could work weird hours, whenever I wanted, with plenty of time to attend class, study, and pursue internships.

My point is, if you look in the right places you can find some very simple gigs, to give you a little extra money, with very little sacrifice. These jobs are especially important because you can take a lot of them and still have time for internships and a full class schedule.

Keep this in mind next time you are short on rent, tuition, or just food money and don’t think you have time for a part time job. Trust me when I tell you, there is a job out there for everyone. On then, to the links . . .

Other links of general interest:

Playboy Found: Just the type of job I am talking about! Writing for Playboy? Check. Writing about sports? Check. Writing from the Final Four? Check. I wish I could go back to college.

George’s Employment Blawg Has: A realistic look at how to conduct a search for Federal Jobs. Working for the government may have it’s benefits, but does it beat working for Playboy?

The Wall Street Journal Profiles: Some of the best resources on the Web for conducting a job search. In all seriousness, I don’t know how people did this before the Internet. Did you just wander around and randomly knock on company doors? “Hey, BearingPoint! I know you’re in there. I can hear your breathing! Open this damn door. I want a job!”

JibberJobber Has: Even more resources for Job Seekers. A very good list. I would add one resource to it, however. Can you guess which one. Oh, sure you can. Just think. Got it? There you go.

Alright, alright. Since we will be taking of Thursday for the week, I have a special treat for you all tomorrow. And a whole batch of links. So be sure to check in before you leave for break to see what it is.

Funny Man Frank: Frank Caliendo on ThinkTalk

By Zack on November 25, 2008

TV funnyman Frank Caliendo recently joined ThinkTalk to talk about the second season of his show, Frank TV. We also had a chance to talk about his career, what other comics influenced him, and the source of his ideas for his own 30-minute show. (watch a clip of a Frank TV, right <------- there)

And, of course, as always with Frank Caliendo, we got to spend a little time with George Dubbya, Robin Williams, and John Madden. Frank also treated me to a little personal treat before the interview with his spot on impression of Jim Rome. That one is my personal favorite.

So go watch the interview and enjoy. And remember, if you have any lingering questions, or just want to impart some knowledge or thoughts, come on back to this thread to leave your comments.

Watch Frank Caliendo's interview on ThinkTalk

The Daily Roundup: GPA's, Job Search, Rhodes Scholars; Oh My!

By Zack on November 24, 2008

Welcome to the Daily Roundup. Each day at the ThinkTalk Blog we will post some links that we find informative, interesting, or just plain funny. The goal is to let you know what else is going on out there, and ultimately help you with the development of your career.

There is a lot to cover in today’s Roundup and we’re working with a short week, so I’m just going to dive in to today’s links.

CollegeRecruiter Has: Advice on how to choose a career. If you are an undergrad, and still not sure where to focus your future, CR has one word for you: FUN! Similarly I have one word for you: ThinkTalk (Hooray self-promotion!)

Lindsey Pollack Answers: The question of how to nab that job when you’re working with a low GPA. Her answer: Play up the qualities you do have. My question: Umm, what if I don’t have any other qualities?

The Career Doctor Solves: The opposite problem. What if you have the grades, but no experience? In all seriousness, I think you can work past a low GPA, but no internships or work experience is a tougher road to ho. You may want to consider grad school.

BullsEyeResumes Debunks: The “Holiday Job Search Myth.” Here is some good advice for getting a jump on the job search to stay ahead of the Spring Grad curve.

The Wall Street Journal Reports: On job seekers going undercover to learn more about potential employers. This is a valid approach to the job search. In fact, when I was looking into ThinkTalk, I went undercover as Doug E Fresh.

Secrets of the Job Hunt Takes: A look at a new iPhone app called JobCompass. The JobCompass is a $3.99 app that pulls from a number of search engines and lists jobs relevant to your search in your area.

Inside Higher Ed Reports: On a scary development at a community college in Illinois. The College of DuPage voted last week on planned policy changes that would include a measure similar David Horowitz’s controversial Academic Bill of Rights. This is more a academic (and First Amendment Rights) issue, rather than a career one. But nonetheless, something you should be aware of.

A Florida State Athlete Gets: Honored. Congratulations to Myron Rolle, a member of the FSU football team who was awarded a Rhodes scholarship this weekend. Let the good times Rolle. (I’m sorry, I really am. Did you know at one point, Puns were considered the highest form of comedy. But not anymore, I guess.)

The Wall Street Journal Asks: Dude, where’s my job? A disturbing economic trend where entry-level grads are hired, relocate, and then are told the position is no longer available. This was like that time I interviewed Claire Danes, assumed we were dating, and moved out of my apartment to live with her. Some would say that was presumptuous and overly aggressive. I say it was romantic. The courts disagreed with me.

The Daily Roundup: Of Recessions and Dino-cloning

By Zack on November 21, 2008

Welcome to the Daily Roundup. Each day at the ThinkTalk Blog we will post some links that we find informative, interesting, or just plain funny. The goal is to let you know what else is going on out there, and ultimately help you with the development of your career.

What do Student Loans, Student Media, Dinosaurs, and Franz Kafka have in common? They’re all in today’s Daily Roundup. (But, admittedly, that tangential relationship is about it.)

Leading off today, for those of you who currently rely on student loans, it may behoove you to know that the U.S. government has decided to provide some relief, buying up $6.5 billion in student loans from the 2007-8 academic year. Acording to The New York Times the Education Department will pay 97% of the principal and outstanding interest due for loans, so that borrowing shouldn’t be an issue.

Concern about availability of student loans has grown as the credit crisis has made borrowing more difficult for families. Federal loans this year have so far been available and the Education Department has not had to use its “lender of last resort” program, [Under Secretary of Education Sara Martinez] Tucker said.

What does this all mean for you? Well, in these unsure economic times, this move will allow students to continue to receive the Stafford and PLUS loans (for parents) without a drop off in the rate these loans are distributed. Essentially, keep your grades up and don’t hit the lottery and you should be able to retain all your student loans for the duration of your enrollment. So ya got that goin for ya, which is nice.

Among those receiving not-so-good news are MBA students. I touched on this a bit in the Links section of the Roundup the other day, but you should get used to it, as the effect of the economy on your job search is shaping up to be a consistent theme. And this struck me more than anything in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal piece on Harvard MBA’s:

One baby-faced B-schooler who interviewed with a boutique private equity shop for an entry-level associate position was informed that recently hired associates came from the ranks of middle-aged senior partners at a recently collapsed Wall Street firm. Students who checked their Google news feeds for information on the companies to which they were applying noticed tanking stock prices and deep layoffs only moments before heading into the interview room. One student described following up with an interviewer only to find out that the recruiter had just been laid off herself.

Ouch. If they’re having that type of trouble at Harvard, how bad must it look to other MBA students? Like I said, I think this is a developing theme. But markets are cyclical. Students should prepare for these lean times. Perhaps pursue other certification in the meantime, or as the article suggests, seek out work with non-profits. The market will eventually rebound (hopefully), and when that time comes, just be sure to watch this and read this before your recruitment interview.

If you are still in school and want to avoid the fate of those Harvard MBA student’s, Alison’s Job Searching Blog has a list of the top recession proof jobs. Nursing. Software Design, and Counseling/Social Work make this list. Financial Analyst . . . not so much.

Other links of general interest:

MediaShift Shares: An excellent profile on the growth of College Media. For journalism majors: your professors may be resistant to change and incorporation of new media tactics, but this piece is proof that the resistance is a fading trend. (via Romenesko)

The Washington Post Highlights: Pop artist Makoto Yoshitan whom they call “Kafka of the Cubicle.” His comic book, “Otaryman” (“Salaryman”) is like Dilbert, Ninja Scroll, and The Trial, all rolled into one. But funnier. And more depressing.

The New York times Asks: Did you see Jurassic Park? Do you want to live Jurassic Park? Do you have $10 Million? I’m not going to lie: I am legitimately frightened. But if it leads to more of this [immediate NSFW sound] I will put my fears aside and chip in. (via Kottke)

That does it for the first week of the ThinkTalk Blog and The Daily Roundup. Hope you enjoyed our little show. We’re still figuring things out here and working on some developments, so be sure to keep checking back for more Links, Contests (seriously, next week we have FREE STUFF), Q & A’s, and other jazz. Just come back. Please. Seriously, my job is on the line here.

The Daily Roundup: At the Mercy of the Links

By Zack on November 20, 2008

Welcome to the Daily Roundup. Each day at the ThinkTalk Blog we will post some links that we find informative, interesting, or just plain funny. The goal is to let you know what else is going on out there, and ultimately help you with the development of your career.

Some days The Daily Roundup is going to have a clear, cohesive message. Some day’s it won’t. I am at the mercy of the links here people. Deal with it.

Today is a day of limited themes. So I’m just going to fire away rapid fire, baby.

CollegeRecruiter Shows: How to find a job faster online. Hint: Watching this will not help.

The CareerBright Blog Asks: Will workplace Violence increase as layoffs do? If it means more of this, then I certainly hope so.

The Thin Pink Line Has: Resources for determining the salary you deserve. It pays to know your worth. I must be overpaid, because Steve always tells me I am worth less.

Cheezhead Discovers: A free live interview site. Just remember to change OUT of your pajamas before the interview.

CollegeRecruiter Says: You too can find your dream job . . . and here's how. I am skeptical. I think the ship has sailed on me playing 1B for the Phils.

(While we’re on the subject: Am I a little disappointed that Howard didn’t get the MVP? Yes. Did Pujols deserve it more? Probably. But hey, we’re World Series Champs! I think I can take a little bit of consolation in that.)

On the Job Has: Some pretty tough interview questions care of the Obama administration. Sheesh. It's just the White House. Why so serious?

Deadspin Gets: A bit immature. What can I say; I possess the mental maturity of a High School Freshman.

Ladies and Gentelman, I'll be here all week. Don't forget to tip your bartender.

The Daily Roundup: Begun, the Job Search has

By Zack on November 19, 2008

Welcome to the Daily Roundup. Each day at the ThinkTalk Blog we will post some links that we find informative, interesting, or just plain funny. The goal is to let you know what else is going on out there, and ultimately help you with the development of your career.

Did you take an extra semester to finish up? Maybe you are ahead of the curve and finishing early. Either way, Thanksgiving is almost here, and the semester is winding down. So if you are graduating in Winter, rather than Spring, it’s time to start that job search.

I can tell you from experience (I finished early, not late . . . which amazes me considering how irresponsible I was in college), that the winter job search can certainly give you a leg up on the competition, who won’t finish and start looking until May. So, now is a better time than January to start your search off.

To help you get the leg up, today’s Roundup is all about Job Search tools.

Alison Doyle’s Job Searching Blog recently asked readers for their favorite job site. The results are in and it looks like Indeed and LinkedIn are in the top spots, with SimplyHired a close third.

I tend to agree with this, as all three are excellent resources to kick off your job search. The two search engines, Indeed and SimplyHired have really streamlined the search process while expanding the scope (and as I always say, the more Scope, the better - ZING!). As for LinkedIn, I am certainly a believer. I am atrocious at keeping in touch, and LinkedIn really has helped me keep in touch and re-connect with professional contacts. It also gives prospective employers another resource to check up on you - which, as I've mentioned, they most certainly will.

On the subject of LinkedIn, Jobacle tipped me off to Zolio, calling it the “crossroads between Facebook and LinkedIn." Zolio offers a number of free services. Users upload work samples, manage recommendations, and create resumes – without worrying about the format. But, Jobacle adds, what sets it apart is:

Zolio takes it a step further by offering a personal URL to add to an email signature or a job application. If that isn’t enough, add the “Z” icon to your website or your social networking page for interested employers to click on and link back to your zolio profile. Hiring managers can search Zolio for candidates they are considering bringing on to the team. If they decide to do a name search (gasp!) on you, the URL for your zolio profile should appear and make quite a professional impression. Well at least better than your Facebook profile, which if left searchable for the public, may display the embarrassing picture of you doing a keg stand.

Another interesting site I came across (thanks to Cheezhead) is My Perfect Gig. This site is a self-described “members-only, private career network for engineering professionals.” The site uses a tag cloud to help you narrow down your search to find exactly what you are looking for. Oh, I’ll let them describe it.

Seems like an easy and helpful site for the engineer/computer crowd. The interface is user-friendly and very intuitive. Hopefully someone will take a cue from the ingenuity and expand to other professions/majors as well.

Other links of general interest:

Chief Happiness Officer Thinks: This dude is downright inspirational. In High School I spent my money buying CD’s and late night Wendy’s. Buying Grocery Stores? Uhh, not so much. Note to the reporter in this package: "Hope: it's what's on special today." Come on my man. You're better than that.)

Gradspot shows: How to understand your FICO score. Whats a FICO? Even after reading this I'm not sure. But once you get into the Real World it's pretty important . . . so I recommend checking it out.

TechCrunch Reports: JuicyCampus: Banned . . . XBox: Netflix’d . . . Viral Videos: Debunked

I know, I know, that’s a lot of TechCrunch links. “Why can’t we just visit Techncrunch ourselves,” you ask? Be my guest. But they post, like, 9 million things a day. They’re like Andrew Sullivan. I love the Daily Dish more than anybody, but good god man, if I don’t check my Reader for 15 minutes I have 85 new posts! Wouldn’t you rather I just sorted out the hip hip links, and give them to you here. Thought so. End Rant . . .

. . . and today’s Daily Roundup. Thanks! And yes, the title is a Star Wars ref. I am, in fact, a nerd.

The Daily Roundup: Listen Free Learn Hard

By Zack on November 18, 2008

Welcome to the Daily Roundup. Each day at the ThinkTalk Blog we will post some links that we find informative, interesting, or just plain funny. The goal is to let you know what else is going on out there, and ultimately help you with the development of your career.

All I have to say is: FREE iTUNES!

Ok, ok, it’s not Chinese Democracy, but it is useful and free educational iTunes . . . tip of the cap to Jason Kottke for pointing this out (via Very Short List, apparently.)

Next up, Willy Franzen’s One Day One Job has a great profile of Angie's List – a Web 2.0 site where consumers review local services, like contractors, plumbers, electricians, etc. ODOJ points out that Angie’s List is expanding, adding around 400 new jobs in numerous areas.

The job descriptions on a Angie’s List’s Jobs page are short and not very detailed, but it looks like jobs including Data Verification Specialist, Member Services Representative - Inbound, Member Services Representative - Outbound, Member Services Representative - Written Correspondence, and Receptionist might be worth looking at if you’re interested in going into Customer Service.

I've heard a lot about Angie's List recently - almost all good things. Seems like it might be something worth checking out . . . especially if they are one of the few companies actually hiring right now.

Over at The Career Doctor, Randal Hansen answers a reader’s question regarding probationary periods during the hiring process. This is an important aspect of a new job that you should be aware of when you enter the workforce. Probationary periods can give both parties a good out if things just aren’t working, but it is important that you are aware of the company’s policy regarding this period so that there are no surprises.

Other links of general interest:

MTV Asks: What was the world like the last time Guns N Roses released an album? Well, many of you were in diapers (for reasons other than not being able to control your bowels at keggers) and I had a lot more hair.

The New York Times Says: Lots of talk recently deriding the SAT as a proper indicator of college success. Look again, says former SUNY Provost Peter D Salins.

Lindsey Pollack Says: There are new visa rules between the U.S. and Australia. International experience in both study and work looks great on a resume, and I hear it on good authority that Aussie is a hell of a good time.

The Wall Street Journal reports: The financial crisis has MBA students considering career options outside the traditional large financial institutions. Well, I hear Applebee's is hiring.

Daily Roundup: It's Stupid, the Economy

By Zack on November 17, 2008

Welcome to the Daily Roundup. Each day at the ThinkTalk Blog we will post some links that we find informative, interesting, or just plain funny. The goal is to let you know what else is going on out there, and ultimately help you with the development of your career.

Without further blah blah blah . . .

For obvious reasons the bulk of posts and articles we’ve come across the last few weeks focus primarily on the economy, a declining job market, and tips on how to work around this.

The general theme seems to be “look, it’s a tough economy, and jobs are few and far between. That means that you will see increased competition and thus, increased scrutiny from hiring managers.”

All of our links today warn of potential hazards and obstacles the economy can place in the path of your job search. Just remember, there isn't just One thing you can do to increase your chances. But it appears there is One thing you can do to decrease them.

The Wall Street Journal says this scrutiny includes Resume Fraud

Experts warn that the prevalence of résumé fraud may increase as the economy worsens. As more people search for jobs -- and become increasingly desperate to land them -- hiring managers should be on guard. "Historically, when the employment market tightens, falsifications, elaborations [and] expansions tend to increase," says Peter LeVine, a professional background checker in Delray Beach, Fla.

I think it is clear that resume fraud is something you should avoid on it's face for simple ethical and moral reasons. But with hiring managers alert to the growing trend pouring over your resume, you would have to be a complete bonehead to attempt it now.

But it does happen, and on that note, Anita Bruzzes at On the Job runs a nice little hypothetical transcript of how an interview might be handled when the applicant attempts resume fraud.

"Ms. Smith, I have to tell you we're concerned about some of these discrepancies. Didn't you read our ethics rules when you applied for this job? That we have specific rules about truthfulness and full disclosure?" "Well, sure I did. But I thought they were more like guidelines, rather than actual rules." "Goodbye, Ms. Smith. And good luck -- you're going to need it."

Finally, Alexandra Levit’s Water Cooler Wisdom blog points out the fate of some Virgin Atlantic flight attendants who were canned for criticizing their employer via Facebook. While the subject of an online footprint isn't technically part of your resume, it is something that will be looked at when applying for a job. And something that, clearly, can come back to haunt you.

People, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. You must assume that everything you post on a social networking profile – either your own or someone else’s – will be read by your employer. Even if a site is password protected, there’s no guarantee that the content won’t get into the wrong hands.

So, uh, next time you head to Vegas, you may want to leave the camera phone in your room

Other links of general interest:

The New York Times says: More students than ever are participating in study abroad. Specifically, China has seen an increase of 25% in the number of visiting American students. Where are you going to go? The New York Times also says: Public university presidents see a faster rise in pay those at private universities. This is a pretty comprehensive take on presidents’ pay and rate of increase. Feel free to discuss the pros and cons of presidents’ pay in our comments. Personal Branding Blog thinks: YOU NEED PERSONAL BRANDING CLASSES.
BullsEyeResumes warns: Don’t pay resume writing fees if you are a college student. Not. Worth. It.