Digg it UP - Business

Are the Yellow Pages a Dinosaur?
As I write my 64th article about the Yellow Pages, it reminds me of how the best things continue to stick around. For example, the YP were started as a pamphlet in Wyoming over 100 years ago. It became an easy way to keep track of a small number of local businesses. Today, they are a household name. They are still the book picked up when someone has a need. There are few service businesses that don’t have an ad in the good ole YP.With the advent of the Internet, most nay-sayers have doomed the YP to the way of the dinosaur. They claim that people prefer the speed of the digital age. They point to more surfers

to go with a school without finding out the proper information, don't blame the school when the position turns out not to be what you expected or wanted. Weighing the advantages and disadvantages of the job will help you make a more informed decision, rather than deciding on impulse.

To help you find that perfect (or near perfect) job, you should ask these questions to all prospective employers:

What is the salary?
How many months is the contract?
Do/Can you sponsor me for all paperwork, including teacher's license, work permit, and visa extension?
How soon can you get this paperwork processed?
How many hours will I be teaching?
What kind of insurance is on offer?
When are the starting and ending times for work?

The Importance of Personal Background Checks
The purpose of personal background checks is to get a feel for the applicant’s character. Personal and professional references are a good starting point, however, experts in the investigative field caution employers on using this method solely. Prospective employees are obviously going to give references of people whom they trust will provide a good character reference for them. Those references may not necessarily be fabricating information regarding the applicant; they simply may not know pertinent information about him or her.Another method employer’s use is obtaining a credit report on the prospective emp

There are many factors a teacher considers which will affect whether they accept a position. The most obvious factor would be the content of the position. What is the school asking of you as a teacher? You must ask yourself if the job is interesting and fits into your career plans as a teacher. The person you will be working for is also an important consideration so you must take the time to talk to them either via email or phone. It would also be beneficial to ask to speak to other teachers from the school to find out their impressions. Knowing what the job is and whom you will be working with are the first step in deciding whether to pursue it further.

Some may say that the most important consideration would be salary and benefits but these should be a secondary consideration to what you want to do and who you will be working with. Regardless of the salary paid, most people will not stay at a position where they feel unsatisfied or have no growth. In addition, the people you work with or for have an enormous impact on your job satisfaction. However, when considering salary and benefits, do not focus as much on the starting salary but rather on the potential for growth and increases. Does the school have growth potential for you as a professional? Do they spell out cost-of-living increases and meritorious raises? Benefits are other areas that can supplement a position where the starting salary is not as good as you would have wished. Get a list of benefits from the company and formulate any questions you may have regarding them so that you can better discuss the position with management and other teachers at the school.

Another factor that may come into play with many teachers when evaluating a position is the resources provided by the school. Teachers spend a large majority of their time preparing for upcoming lessons. This requires readily available resources such as teacher books, computer, printer, internet access, and preferably a reference library. In addition, there should be a work area set aside for teachers to plan and prepare. You should also look at whether the school already has a set curriculum/syllabus and student books because you may be asked to help to create these resources for your school year if they are not provided. I have known many teachers that have felt the need to move on because of the demands of planning for a school year without adequate resources.

Searching for a position is difficult. After spending many hours on a search, making a careful decision regarding a job offer is important. Getting an offer does not necessarily mean you should take the job. Most employers will not expect you to make a decision on the spot. You will probably be given a few days to a week to make up your mind. If they are unable to provide you with the time to make a decision then you should not consider this as a viable position. On the other hand, if you decide to go with a school without finding out the proper information, don't blame the school when the position turns out not to be what you expected or wanted. Weighing the advantages and disadvantages of the job will help you make a more informed decision, rather than deciding on impulse.

To help you find that perfect (or near perfect) job, you should ask these questions to all prospective employers:

What is the salary?
How many months is the contract?
Do/Can you sponsor me for all paperwork, including teacher's license, work permit, and visa extension?
How soon can you get this paperwork processed?
How many hours will I be teaching?
What kind of insurance is on offer?
When are the starting and ending times for work?

Unemployment Blues: Become Your Own Support Group
There are several national groups that provide support for unemployed workers. They have been quite successful in mitigating the emotional toll of layoff as well as having beneficial effects on job search. Forty Plus and local VA groups are among the best.If there is a chapter in your area, by all means give them a try. It can be very satisfying to unburden your fears to someone who is going through a similar experience. Just the knowledge that others are struggling with the same obstacles can reduce the sense of isolation and alienation that being out of work often fosters.If there is nothing locally,

To help you find that perfect (or near perfect) job, you should ask these questions to all prospective employers:

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Digg it UP - Evaluating Job Offers for Teaching Abroad

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