#they don't advance your own ability to engage with history or your more general understanding of historical trends

[pinktinselmonstrosity]

didn't want to add it in the notes but i was thinking about this post and how often people have the same attitude towards history

i see posts on here SO OFTEN with some random historical fact and then scores of people in the notes saying "why weren't we taught this in school?!?" and it annoys me because that's..... not what school history class is for? high school history classes are not episodes of horrible histories lmao they're not for teaching you fun facts which are sometimes kinda tenuous in actual scholarly circles, they're for giving you a historical framework for understanding why the world is the way it is today, but even more than that they're for teaching you how to deal with historical sources and contemporary attitudes about history so that when you encounter them outside of class you can engage with them in a critical and considered way, but more than THAT they're about teaching you to engage with ALL kinds of sources in a critical way, a skill that you can and should use in all areas of your life

if you're interested in a particular historical period or topic then GREAT! your school history classes have given you the skills to seek out that information on your own! read books! watch documentaries! go to historical sites! ask questions! but don't sit around on the internet and lament about how you weren't taught any interesting things about history at school, because that was never the point

[starkdigital]

Breakthrough & Insights on Upwork Success - Ready to Use Tips!

Ready to take your business to the next level? In this article, you’ll find ideas to help you achieve greater success on Upwork. In this article we will try to find out in detail how client approach this well-known platform to get the work done and hiring long term freelancers to work with. Basically all these portals (Elance, Upwork, Freelancer, Guru) are meant for individual freelancers who want to work from home instead of 9-5 full time job. However, nowadays many IT companies are also using these portals in order to get some good work and establish a long term relationship with clients. It is comparatively easy to get in touch with clients here and also secure the business process and transaction through portals, as they take responsibility of the payment of work you have done for clients. Upwork in the market leader, most famous and well-known among all. At the end of this blog here is what you will learn: - Type of clients on Upwork - Submitting a Winning Proposal - Before taking on a new project - Deliver a successful project - Consistent work of high quality - Reputation is everything A] Type of clients/Jobs on Upwork Fixed price - Fixed priced jobs are just like they sound. They are jobs with a set scope that is arranged at a fixed price. Early on, I recommend that most freelancers start at fixed priced jobs. You have the freedom to work as many or as few hours as needed on these projects in order to get them done. Hourly Projects - For hourly projects, Upwork has an application that you install on your desktop. This application takes random screenshots of your computer every 5-10 minutes and uploads them to a work diary. With hourly work, Upwork guarantees that as longs as you are logged in, using their app and on task, then you will get paid for that time no matter what. Each of these portals have their own terms, rules and guidelines, but the basic motive is the same, which is to provide a common platform to freelancers and employers to come together and get the work done in competitive and cost effective manner. Employers post a job and expect replies from freelancers from worldwide in term of bids. And that what we do, bid on different job posts/projects. So, when we bid for any type of project we have to understand few points like what kind of job/work is required, what are technical capabilities needed for that job, or in that case if we can do that job or not. Let\'s discuss the type of job posts and what should be our approach toward that job while placing a bid on the same. If client wants to develop a complete new website or application: In this kind of jobs, client wants to build/develop a fresh, completely new website/application for his business or for his customer/client. Generally in this kind of job posts you may find a detailed description by client (if he is a technical person and knows technology well) or a very short idea about his/her envisioned project. In both cases we have to understand that we must showcase our capabilities to client in detail. This means, in your bid you have to talk about your company, your vision, passion and mission. Then come technology competency area, where you will talk about the different technologies you are expert in and emphasize on the technology that client has mentioned in job post. Now the important part comes i.e. show samples of your past & relevant work that you have designed and developed. Here, you have a very good chance to impress the client by your portfolio. And now at the end you can request to connect on-line(Skype) to discuss the project in detail to shre the same level of understanding. This approach may help you to gain attention of your potential client. If client wants some changes in existing website/software/code: In this case, most of the time client has already finished major coding/development part. And for some reason he is seeking someone to correct/modify that work according to his revised requirements or expectations in short period of time. This may also have some very minor, cosmetic changes or add some extra functionality or enhance the performance of existing code. To bid on these kinds of jobs, you will remember that the scope and budget is very low in most of the cases. But still we will go for it because if that client likes our ability to work on existing code, it might results into more business for us. Interpret the already developed code and logic behind it, and work on it to enhance the performance, is not an easy task. So if you can do it, then you (your company) will be called good software professional. To approach these kinds of jobs, you have to maintain the balance between technology and past work in your bid. Here, talk more about the technology experience you have and done similar kind of jobs in past. You can cut short the list of your past work samples. By talking more on technology, you will give confidence to the client that you understand the job well and can work on it in short time frame. If client wants to design independent, customise web/desktop application: Such kind of scenarios comes across rarely. This includes CRM, ERP applications, and customer management tools for business/personal purpose, custom software for specific purpose or for a specific user group etc. These types of job posts need to be read carefully and understand what exactly the client looking to develop. Such job post needs a detailed technical approach. Take some time to describe your technology experience and expertise in detail, by doing this you will assure client that you are capable and eligible enough to handle complex tasks as database design, custom software coding and develop functionalities according to client/user requirements. In you bid you will talk about your company performance, consistency in work, ability to handle big projects and then you will describe technology expertise. If client has suggested any technology, you will consult your development team and cross check if that technology is best fit for that project or not. And if not, come up with suggestions or ideas and convey the same to client. B] Submitting a Winning Proposal Your proposal is often your first interaction with a potential client. It’s your opportunity to introduce yourself, highlight your expertise, and show the client why you’re the best candidate for the contract. Take the time to craft and explain how you would complete their project based on what you know from the work they described. Give the client a little extra by sharing your unique approach on tackling and completing this contract. Make sure you answer any screening questions the client asks in their Work Description. Let the client know your availability for an interview and that you’d like to discuss the project further. Interviewing with the client lets you further establish the trust and rapport you both need to get great results on a project. Keep all payments for your projects on the Upwork platform, so you’re sure to get paid for your great work. That’s it! If the client feels your core skills and work history match their needs, they’ll contact you and start an engagement. If not, learn from the experience. Think about your proposal and your interview, and how to improve. Then try again until you find the perfect project for you. C] Before taking on a new project Be selective and focus on the projects you can perform well—and get done on time. Here are few more tips to help you land new projects. - Make sure you understand the scope of project and skills required to accomplish it - Understand the deadlines and ensure you have the time to complete the project - Demonstrate your profile, proposal, skills and show the client why you’re the best fit - Be realistic about your availability and time, only take work that you can deliver D] Deliver a successful project Communication, respect, and responsiveness are necessary to form a successful working relationship with client, and that a long term too. Here are few points to be noted in order to deliver your work and exceed the client expectations: - Be proactive. Communicate with client often and let them know you’re on track to complete their project even if they don\'t ask - Always keep project deadline in your mind and in case if you won’t be able to meet, let them know immediately in advance and make sure to do necessary arrangements - If you have a question, don’t be afraid to reach out to the client. It’s important to ask questions whenever needed - Ask for work feedback time to time, talk to them on feedback in order to improve your craft eventually - Be sure the client is happy E] Consistent work of high quality This is somewhat of a challenge for new freelancers, however, is that you must be able to maintain consistent working quality across all of your jaws and with all of your various clients. Not taking this seriously and beginning to get sloppy with your work can be extremely detrimental to your success as a freelancer. You must be able to grow your business by showing that you are always committed to high quality and always give professional communication and work to your clients. You need to be able to demonstrate that you are a true professional who always delivers for each and every client. F] Reputation is everything In the business world, and on Upwork, your past work experience speaks volumes to future clients. The Job Success score is a measure of your reputation on Upwork. A freelancer’s history of success impacts their ranking in search in the marketplace and may be considered by clients who are deciding whether to engage them. For more details visit us on http://www.starkdigital.net/breakthrough-insights-on-upwork-success-ready-to-use-tips