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shayanyaan · 5 years

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Two Eleven Super

“London is very human-scale,” I am quick to pitch for one of my favorite cities in the world.

Her eyes widen and her face lights up. She nods her head vigorously and points her finger at me, in complete agreement. This is the moment in a conversation when one person articulates perfectly what the other person was thinking but couldn’t quite put into words. B and I have been explaining to each other how both of us are more comfortable living in cities where we can walk or take public transport.

“Oh gosh London, yes! Seeing a London trip on my schedule always fills me with immense warmth. Imagine being able to walk around a city slowly absorbing all that it has to offer, the sights, the sounds, the traditions.”

They say never meet your celebrity heroes because you’ll inevitably find something disappointing. I think the same applies to some of the great cities of the world. But both of us conclude hands down that London does not fall in this category.

“Actually London is not even a celebrity. London is a reliable old friend. A friend that has not lost their sense of culture and tradition. The monuments, the churches ...”

“.....and the bridges across the Thames - each one steeped in history.” We are finishing each other's sentences now. “The railway stations. The tube - a subterranean metropolis beneath a metropolis. The Mind the Gap jokes.”

“And what about the black cabs and then … and then the red double decker buses. Oh the red buses - what an icon! They say tourists take the tube but real Londoners take the bus.”

“Aha! You’re probably right. Flocks of pigeons on Trafalgar square, the shops on Oxford Street.”

“And you can’t forget the ever present murky skies, steady rain, rippled puddles, umbrella bearing pedestrians.”

“Of course you just had to mention the Great British weather!” A disapproving look is thrown. The entire body of humor surrounding the British weather is a road we agree not to go down.

---

I continue to quiz B on some of the other cities that she thought would fit the human-scale bill. New York inevitably comes up as a place she has not only travelled to but lived in. I am glad she brought up New York. Now New York is not an old friend. New York is a person you know you shouldn’t fall for, but you do anyway. There is something about the pace and the madness that sets New York apart from the rest of the US. Something about the people, coming from all corners of the world. To make a living, or even half a living. American dream and all that.

In New York you are acutely aware of the class divide that exists in society. New York is dirty. The subway is full of creaking old trains. New York has JFK and LaGuardia both of which are dismal at best and soul destroying at worst. Oh and Penn Station. Never has there been a more classic case of the mighty having fallen. A complete and utter hell hole out of some post apocalyptic world.

But somehow it all works. Barely. And that is where New York absolutely has you. As you walk around the city, you peel back the layers and beneath all the flaws and scars, you will find a genuinely captivating person. A person that knows how to push your buttons and make you forget the pandemonium, if only for a split second. Through the dollar pizzas on the street corners. Through the sheer magic of Central Park and the museums. Through the Manhattan skyline; hands down the best skyline in the world. Standing next to the Hudson, under the Brooklyn Bridge, with Lady Liberty keeping a quiet watch from a distance, you will be powerless as New York sucks you in. One glittering high rise at a time. Dreamy eyed, you cannot help but stare in wonderment. Hundreds of floors, thousands of windows. What goes on inside? And the lights! Yes so many lights. What could be a better tribute to Tesla, Faraday and the like?

“In general, the east coast of the United States is on a much more human-scale. Relatively small states with trains taking you across borders within a couple of hours at the most.”

“Going west of maybe Illinois, they started drawing great big rectangles for states.”

“And then there’s Texas. Vast open skies in an almost revolting shade of blue. Just as vast are the expanses of highway, further than the eye could see, or care to see. Wide, long and monotonous. Not a single human-scale building in sight”

“And who the hell builds highways passing through the center of a city!? Makes going to get some milk feel like a great expedition to the other side of the world.”

More chuckles.

Then a brief silence, during which I am suddenly reminded of where I am - in a lounge on the upper deck of an A380. A massive ship hurtling through the ether, pushing the speed of sound. A big TV screen near where I am standing silently glares back at me indicating that -50 degrees is but a mere 10 meters from where I am standing. Yet here we are, B and I, chatting like two friends catching up over coffee.

But of course, we are not friends. Not even acquaintances. She is on the Emirates cabin crew. And I am just a passenger.

---

Back at my seat, halfway through an episode of Chernobyl, I pause to stare out of the window. Beyond the wing, which seems to stretch out to eternity, a smudge of orange is forcing its way through the royal blue of the sky. I can hear the muffled yet reassuring boom from the four Rolls Royce engines. It is then that I realize that there is nothing about the A380 that is human-scale. There is nothing about the skies which she inhabits that is human-scale. I've travelled on the beloved Super dozens of times. Yet I continue to be amazed at the size and scale with which she operates. Devouring continents and swallowing oceans. Bringing the other side of the world just a little closer to home.

A friend of mine often describes journeys on the A380 as the closest we can get to the long sea voyages on gigantic ocean liners in the 1930s. And he is right. Two decks with so much space to stretch out. Bars, lounges, showers - no expense spared in ensuring luxury. Imagine peering out of the window from your first class cabin on the Queen Mary and seeing nothing but vast open sea. Right now I am doing exactly the same. Only from 36000 feet above the Earth, and all I can see is the vast open sky. Far below, Moscow and St Petersburg slip behind us. Scandinavia and the Atlantic Ocean lie ahead. As we burn more fuel, over North America, we will eventually settle in the exclusive airspace of flight level 410.

The Boeing 747 is a work of art. Sheer poetry. The Airbus A380 however, is a lesson in outsmarting the laws of Physics. It is an absolute whale of a plane that looks like it should never leave the surface of the Earth in the first place. But somehow it does, through the most languid and sluggish of take offs. Once up at cruising altitude though, it is steady ship all the way to your destination. The ability to punch through the sky without even the faintest of trembles is simply unmatched. I continue to stare wistfully out of the window, thinking about how much I’ll miss the A380 when she’s gone. She’s right up there with the Concorde in that nothing like this will ever be built in my lifetime.

---

Resting my head on one of the fluffiest pillows ever to have taken flight, I gaze at the roof of the cabin - tiny twinkling stars gently coaxing me to drift off into a deep sleep. And frankly, it is not hard to. The bed is completely flat and the mattress is more comfortable than the one I have at home. The blanket is ever so soft. The fake gold and wood around the windows is not something I’d furnish my home with, yet up here in the sky, it somehow adds to the coziness. From my own little cocoon, I can see neither the aisle nor other TV screens. Not a single window shade in the cabin is raised. I don’t remember the last time I fell asleep on a plane without an eye mask. All I can hear are the engines whirling away, and the hushed sound of the air beating against the fuselage - no more than a relaxing white noise.

In the moments between lying down and falling asleep, I am thinking about the countless journeys I’ve made with Emirates over the last two decades. Leaving home as often as I’ve had to, I’ve come to really treasure the sense of familiarity that an Emirates flight brings to me. I’ve never stopped to think about it before but there is a certain warmth and tenderness you feel when you have an old faithful travel companion to share your journeys with. And Emirates has been that companion for me, helping me wipe away the homesickness. Slowly at first, then all at once. The boarding music that says “Hello Tomorrow”. The inflight announcements that say “Tayaran Al Emarat”. The reassuring voice of Sir Tim Clark answering questions on the default podcast channel. The wavy curves on the cabin wallpaper. The cabin crew with their brown blazers and their red hats. When choosing an airline to fly, it is hard to look past this comfort of familiarity resulting from a bond first formed unwittingly, many years ago. And strengthened over numerous journeys from one side of the planet to the other, including this one. Before I can process any more thoughts, I slip into a happy and peaceful sleep. We are probably somewhere over the North Atlantic. But in this moment, it hardly matters.

---

Six hours have passed. B is on hand to wake me for dinner. It seems the crew has saved the best meal till the very end. Three courses this evening, starting with a chick-pea salad that doesn’t make you hate your life with its dreariness. I politely refuse the alcohol but ask for a piece of garlic bread on the side. Which is brought to me, warm, from a basket lined with cloth. The main course is served with the Jeera rice cooked in just the right amount of butter. The ratio of jeera to rice - perfect. The Rajma has the power to rival any dhaba in North India and along with it is a second curry made with melt-in-your-mouth soft paneer. Actual phulkas to go on the side, instead of pita.

And if you're going to go full North Indian with your meal, you need some achaar. Which obviously is on my tray as well. Emirates just knows how to serve Indian food. If I had any doubts about this, they are well and truly shattered when B brings the dessert. Four of the finest pieces of Rasgulla. Sometimes you have a meal so sublime that you are moved to shedding a tear or two. This AVML has been one such.

I call B over one last time to thank her for everything. She passes me a brownie, one very similar to those I’d been wolfing down earlier while talking to her in the lounge. This of course, brings the widest of smiles to my face. Not because I like brownies. But most certainly because of the fact that she had noticed. And remembered. The crew has been absolutely stellar on this flight.

---

Business class. A crew that knows how to pronounce your ridiculously long last name. A crew that has time to engage in conversations with you. Meals served on crisp white table cloths. Meals that come in courses. Flat beds to stretch your legs. Flat beds to rest your weary soul. On a grueling ultra long haul flight across 10 time zones, almost anything that seeks to make you feel more earthly is highly appreciated.

This has been Emirates Two Eleven Super - Dubai to Houston in just under seventeen hours, albeit the best seventeen hours of my life.

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the-fandom-newsletter · 6 years

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Fandom Newsletter #3

Today is Friday, October 12th of 2018 and welcome back to another Fandom Newsletter, you’re provider for all things fandom!

Writers: Atlas, Blackpurrl, Fyne, YoursTruly

Editors: Fyne & YoursTruly

“One person’s craziness is another person’s reality.”

-Tim Burton

Let’s get started-

First to YoursTruly with the: Hannibal, Horror, Tim Burton, Animation, Marvel, Movie fandoms-

Hannibal: The Fannibals are getting excited for the new book by Thomas Harris, even if it won’t include everyone’s favorite cannibal. It’s been released that the book will be a thriller like Harris’s previous novels. The title and cover are still yet to be released.

Horror: Horror fans everywhere are starting to get psyched for the new Halloween movie, which will be released next Friday, the 19th. Many fans are nervous about the movie due to the trailer. The trailer would make it seem that the beloved murderer Michael Myers will be killed in this film. Guess all we can do is wait and see.

Tim Burton: Burtonists are petitioning for The Nightmare Before Christmas to get a Broadway adaptation. The movie is already a musical, but fans want to see it on Broadway.

Animation: Fans if the animated web series Camp Camp from Rooster Teeth are thrilled to see Daniel return for the Halloween special. The beloved cult leader was 'killed off' in season 2, but he has somehow come back from the dead just to seek revenge.

Marvel: Marvel fans are welcoming the Venom movie with open arms! After many of them saw the movie last weekend, many of them can’t stop talking about how incredible it is! One fan even stating, “Going to see Venom is like going to the theater to see The Dark Knight, but seeing Thor:Ragnarok instead.”

Next to Blackpurrl with the Percy Jackson and Harry Potter fandoms and World News-

Harry Potter: COUNTDOWN: 36 days until the new Fantastic Beasts!

Percy Jackson: Rick Riordan has started a new series based on Hindu mythology! It’s called Aru Sha and the End of Time.

World News: Viktoria Marinova: man arrested in Germany over Bulgarian journalist murder.

Now to Fyne with the Supernatural, Sherlock, YouTube, and Sooptober fandoms, as well as your weekly dose of good news-

Supernatural - Before bringing Supernatural to television, creator Eric Kripke had been developing the series for nearly ten years. Having been fascinated with urban legends since he was a child, Kripke got inspiration from some of his favorite urban legends which can be shown by many of the episodes in the first season (the woman in white, wendigo, Bloody Mary, etc.) and when the show expanded from just urban legends to religions and gods outside of not only the norm, but our time period, Kripke became even more excited about the show (even if he did want to end it after the fifth season).

Sherlock - China's ban on the show hasn't stopped it becoming a huge hit on the internet. Despite not appearing on the Chinese Central Television (CCT) network or other major channels, 69 million viewers from China have still seen it on video websites. Initially makers didn't expect it to be quite the hit it has been in the UK, either. Steven Moffat thought it would bring in somewhere in the region of 4 million viewers. It's average is more than double that. Even more than triple that.

YouTube - Fans of YouTube and Halloween have united in a show of many horror games and skits spanning across the youtube platform. Multitudes of youtubers have been playing horror games, participating in inktober, writing horrifying skits and scripts, and overall just getting into the Halloween spirit. As of now there isn’t very much drama going on in the YouTube world (minus that fact that IISuperwomanII just released a diss track on all the men of YouTube and their channels) and it seems that YouTubers have found ways to work around the ad-pocolypse, therefore easing the many worries and anxieties fans had of losing touch with their favorite youtubers.

Spooptober - Did you know that Halloween is more Irish than St. Patrick's Day? Halloween's origins come from a Celtic festival for the dead called Samhain. Celts believed the ghosts of the dead roamed Earth on this holiday, so people would dress in costumes and leave ‘treats’ out on their front doors to appease the roaming spirits. It has since been adapted to our loved and cherished holiday of today.

Positive News - Americans under the age of 45 have found a novel way to rebel against their elders: They’re staying married. New data show younger couples are approaching relationships very differently from baby boomers, who married young, divorced, remarried and so on. Generation X and especially millennials are being pickier about who they marry, tying the knot at older ages when education, careers and finances are on track. The result is a U.S. divorce rate that dropped 18 percent from 2008 to 2016, according to an analysis by University of Maryland sociology professor Philip Cohen. Millennials are causing the US divorce rate to plummet, and it’s not a bad thing.

Lastly to Atlas with the Voltron, British, Musicals, and Bands fandoms-

British: I’m still trying to figure out why Death in Paradise star Sara Martins left the show…*tear*

Musicals: Imagine if Hamilton was modernized…

Voltron: Voltron Season 8 confirmed for DECEMBER 14TH! Fans be sCrEaMiNg. Also, it’s rumored that the Altean that crash landed was sent by Haggar.

Bands: Band All Time Low covered a Harry Styles song… Ha. Ha. hA. Yeah….. what else could go wrong?

Now back to Blackpurrl with the weekly trivia fact and quiz-

Trivia: Uranium is the heaviest element on Earth.

Quiz: What candy are you?

1. Pick your flavor

A. Sweet

B. Salty

C. Fruity

D. Sour

2. Consistency?

A. Solid, but meltable

B. Sticky

C. Solid

D. Chewy

3. How would you be packaged?

A. One per package

B. Wrapped alone in waxy paper

C. Wrapped in decorated paper

D. Packaged in groups

4. Any color?

A. No, plain is fine.

B. A few different light colors would be nice.

C. ALL THE COLORS. RAINBOW SOMETIMES TOO.

D. Like five different colors is fine.

5. Shape?

A. A bar

B. A cube-ish shape. Idk, it’s kind of a blob.

C. All the shapes!

D. Humannnn......

Mostly A’s: Chocolate bars!

Mostly B’s: Saltwater Taffy!

Mostly C’s: Lollipops!

Mostly D’s: Sour Patch Kids!

And now to Fyne with the weekly book review-

Book Review - Serafina and the Black Cloak written by Robert Beatty is a dark thriller that takes place in 1899 North Carolina. Children at the wealthy Biltmore estate are being abducted during the night, and nobody knows what is causing it. The adults are terrified yet clueless and only 12-year-old Serafina, who lives secretly in the basement with her mechanic father, knows that a mysterious man in a black cloak is taking them. She teams up with the owner of the estate’s son, Braeden, to try and solve the mystery and get the children back home. This scary story is not for the faint of heart; the abduction scenes are graphic as children scream out in terror and seemingly vanish into the foul-smelling cloak. Serafina and Braeden are often under attack from the man in the cloak and other supernatural beings, but for those looking for a scare and a book that will grip them from start to finish with many plot twists along the way this book is perfect. Overall for kids a 8/10 and for adults a 6/10 would read.

Lastly, back to Atlas with the weekly movie review-

Movie Review: Truth or Dare is a movie rated PG -13 And was released some time last year. Starring Lucy Hale, this movie centers around a group of teens’ trip to Mexico. During that trip, they get caught in a game of Truth Or Dare. When they learn that the game is cursed, it’s a matter of life and death. Don’t tell the Truth, you die. Don’t do the Dare, you die. So, what would you choose? Truth or Dare?

The comic included at the bottom is once again drawn by our very talented Blackpurrl! YoursTruly’s birthday is coming up on Sunday so wish her a good one! That’s all for this week, we’ll see you next week with another Fandom Newsletter!

Signing off,

Atlas, Blackpurrl, Fyne, and YoursTruly

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maritzaerwin · 4 years

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The 30-Day Job Search Plan: How to Land a New Job in 1 Month

Looking for a new job can seem like a daunting task, to say the very least.

On top of that, the coronavirus crisis has upended job markets all around the world. Unemployment numbers are higher than they’ve been for quite a while, and they’re likely not going to return to 2019 levels anytime soon. Because of this, job seekers today are going to face stiff competition from other candidates.

To make sure you go about your job search in an effective manner and to give you the best chance at landing great interviews as soon as possible, follow our 30-day job search plan.

What is a 30-Day Job Plan?

Most of us don’t have the luxury of letting the job search drag on for 3–6 months as we find that one perfect fit. And, even if you have enough savings to last that long as you look for another job, the employment gap that’ll be seen on your resume will be a weak point when it comes to future career prospects. Not to mention the increasing cabin fever you’ll have to keep at bay the longer you take finding employment.

Our 30-day job plan aims to get you prepared for a new job in just a month, from start to interview. While ambitious, it’s also quite doable if you can stick with the plan with only minor deviations.

Things to Keep in Mind as You Search for Jobs

You can find yourself a job in as little as a day, sure, but it may also take months. In 2014, recruiting software company Jobvite conducted a survey in which they found that the average time it took for a person to get employed was 43 days (just over six weeks).

However, there are also differences in each industry, as you might imagine. In the same survey, hospitality jobs took just 36 days to fill on average, an entire week less than average, while healthcare jobs needed 65 days, or three weeks more than the average.

According to 2020 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 35% of people were able to find a job in five weeks or less, meaning a 30-day job search plan is quite feasible.

One of the most important things to do is to treat your job search as you would an actual job. Spend 30–40 hours on your job search each week and work at it each day without interruptions or side chores to give your hunt for employment the best possible chance to be successful.

Also, remember that everyone’s job search is different, so this plan (or any job plan, for that matter) can’t be a one-size-fits-all deal. Below, for example, you’ll find interview-related tasks in the later weeks, but they’re just as relevant in Week 1 if that’s when your interview is.

One final thing to keep in mind is that the job search can be quite similar to starting a new exercise regime. You’ll have to give it some time before you start seeing results, and it’ll be a lot of hard work at first. But, if you stick with it, you’re sure to have interview opportunities coming through in no time.

The 30-Day Job Search Action Plan, Week by Week

Week 1 (Days 1–7)

The first week of your 30-day job search plan will be a lot more difficult and packed with activities than the subsequent weeks. If I may put two idioms together, as you start pounding the pavement, you need to hit the ground running. However, once you get through the recommended job search tasks for this week, you’ll have an easier time in the weeks ahead as these actions begin to bear fruit.

Fix Up Your LinkedIn Profile — In the professional world, your LinkedIn profile is crucial to have. Be sure your LinkedIn profile is in good shape by updating your profile image, adding your latest work history, achievements, and skills, and redefining your summary statement.

Cleanse Your Online Presence — Most employers will do a quick (if not more thorough) check of each candidate on Google to see what comes up. As a candidate, ensure nothing offensive or controversial appears by searching your name on Google now. Also, clear up any material on your social media accounts which may cause a hiring manager to dismiss your application (e.g., political Twitter rants, photos of drunkenness on Facebook).

Create a “Master” Resume — Update your resume to contain the most recent information. However, this master resume won’t be the one you send, as each resume should be tailored specifically for each and every job you apply for. Use the master resume you create now to make it simpler for you to create a customized resume in the coming days.

Create a “Master” Cover Letter — Similarly, a cover letter can’t be generic if it’s to wow the hiring manager. Create a master cover letter now, and later you’ll tweak it for each individual job you apply for.

Build an Online Portfolio — Resumes shouldn’t be more than one or two pages in length, but, sometimes, this may not be enough. If you have project-type work in your past, such as graphic design or marketing campaigns, consider creating a website to host an online portfolio of your past work. There, you can go in-depth on each project, and the only room it requires on your resume is a simple URL.

Decide on Job Titles — Before you actually begin to apply for various jobs, it’s important to know which you are willing to accept. In the modern age, job titles can vary quite differently and all mean similar things. For example, a customer service representative may be termed a “client happiness officer” at one company or a “support ninja” at another. Also, even without the fancy naming conventions, make sure you include every role you’d accept. For instance, you may be a technical writer or legal writer by trade, but a content marketing specialist position could match your interests, as well.

Set Up Job Notifications — Head to a few of your favorite job boards (e.g., LinkedIn, Indeed), and do a preliminary search for your job titles. As you do so, you’ll have the opportunity to save the search to come back to it at a later date as well as the option to receive email alerts when new jobs appear which match your parameters. Doing this will make you very competitive as you’ll become one of the first candidates to apply.

Create a Spreadsheet — The job search can get messy, especially the longer it takes and with the more jobs you apply for. Create a simple spreadsheet for yourself to stay organized. Have columns with the job title, company name, application status, date, and any other fields you find helpful. A job search spreadsheet will make certain that you don’t forget an important opportunity, or that you don’t double-apply to a particular job.

Take a Weekend Off — As essayist Tim Kreider opined in The New York Times, “The space and quiet that idleness provides is a necessary condition for standing back from life and seeing it whole, for making unexpected connections and waiting for the wild summer lightning strikes of inspiration—it is, paradoxically, necessary to getting any work done.” Since you’re treating your job hunt as full-time employment, it’s important to also have a work-life balance as you pound the pavement. Take a weekend off each week during your job hunt just as you would once you begin working again.

Week 2 (Days 8–14)

You’ll notice that in Week 1, the job search seemed more like an afterthought than the main feature. However, now that all these preliminary tasks are out of the way, you can go full-throttle on the job search in Week 2.

Apply for X Jobs Each Day — Set yourself a goal this week to apply for a certain number of jobs each day. For positions with a heavier focus on training, experience, and education, you might only be able to do 3 or 4 applications each day, while you could do perhaps a dozen or more per day for lower-level positions.

Research Companies — Before applying to a specific job, research the company a bit. When you understand the company culture, you’ll get a better idea of how to write your cover letter, for instance. Also, knowing the company’s goals and values will allow you to speak to those points in your resume, giving you a great advantage over other applicants.

Tailor Resumes & Cover Letters — After finding a job you’d like to apply for, tweak your master resume and cover letter to match each specific company. This is called tailoring, which is important and helps your resume to stand out, as hiring managers and recruiters hate receiving generic documents.

Delve Deeper Into LinkedIn — After fixing up your LinkedIn profile with updated information, go deeper into the platform to get the most out of it. Add current and former colleagues as connections, and ask your closest connections if they’d be able to write you a recommendation or endorse you for the skills you’ve listed. Also, for applicable skills, take the LinkedIn skill quiz to get a badge next to key talents that shows prospective employers you really do have a solid grasp of various abilities.

Network — Keep networking as you are in between jobs, as it’s one of the most important activities for any career. Connect with new people in your industry on LinkedIn, keep in touch with colleagues from your past jobs and schools, and, if you can attend local networking events.

Week 3 (Days 15–21)

In the third week, hopefully, things will be starting to pick up. It’s important to keep your momentum going strong as you head into the second half of your 30-day job search plan.

Apply for X Jobs Each Day — Stick with your goal of how many jobs to apply for each day from the week before. Adjust if necessary, of course.

Earn Quick Certifications — Industry-related certifications could go a long way towards qualifying you for certain job opportunities. For example, if you are applying for food service employment, earn or renew your food handling and safety certificate to show hiring managers you’re ready and serious. All other things being equal between you and another candidate, it could just be what scores you the job offer.

Join Professional Organizations — Likewise, become a member of industry organizations, when it makes sense. As a writer, I’m a member of several professional writing associations, for example, and these trade bodies exist for just about every profession you can think of. It’s a great way of showing recruiters that you’re confident of your career path and dedicated to the work you do.

Decide on an Acceptable Salary Range — As you continue sending out applications, start deciding for yourself what your acceptable salary range would be. What benefits are important for you? While you should finalize this after you get an offer, of course, it’ll help you sort through job opportunities which might be too low-paying, and it will also start preparing you for upcoming interviews.

Week 4+ (Days 22–30)

Hopefully, some of your work from the first and second weeks (and the third, as well) will be paying off around now. Time to prepare for job interviews as you enter what will hopefully be the final obstacle between you and your future employer.

Give Yourself a Makeover — To look professional before an interview, make sure to dress the part. If you can afford it and you feel it’s necessary, shop for an interview-appropriate outfit. Head to the salon or barbershop now, as well, as this might not be possible right before the interview.

Prepare for Interviews — There are quite a few tasks to consider before heading to an interview. Practice how you’ll answer the most common interview questions, ask a friend or relative to give you a mock interview, and plan your interview day in advance.

Research the Company — We mentioned earlier to research the company to help you write a tailored resume and cover letter. However, it’s important before an interview, as well. Dive deeper. Get to know the company culture, their mission statement, values, and organizational objectives, among other things, to give you solid intelligence to take to the interview.

Think Up Questions to Ask — The interviewer will ask you questions during your meeting, for the most part, but it’s important that you also ask them questions. Toward the end of the interview, they’ll usually ask if you have any questions for them, so be prepared with a few of your own. Don’t ask yes/any questions, but rather questions which take some time and thought to answer. Also, don’t ask any questions which have already been answered on the company’s website or in the job description, as these will just show them you weren’t paying attention (which is why researching the company is important).

Print Copies of Your Resume — Even in this age of all things digital, it’s good practice to print out copies of your resume and cover letter to bring to your interview. Printed copies of your resume show them you’re prepared, and it lets them mark it up with handwritten notes if they so choose. I recommend five copies of each, in case you get into a group interview situation.

Follow Up After — According to a Robert Half survey, 81% of employers expect a follow-up email or phone call within two weeks of the interview. A follow-up email will also help to ensure that the company doesn’t forget that you applied.

Ask for Feedback — If you were turned down, whether it’s after an interview or simply after sending in your application, make it a learning experience. Send an email politely asking the hiring manager what made them turn you down. In many cases, it could just be that they filled the position already, which will help you avoid any negative thoughts as you wonder and dwell on why you were rejected. And, if it was something about you personally or professionally, you’ll have free advice from a professional in the industry on what you can do better in the future!

Don’t Give Up

The final advice to follow is to not give up. The job hunt can be slow at first, and it may get discouraging when you don’t receive any positive responses for days or weeks in a row. On top of that, keep in mind that it could take longer than 30 days to locate employment, just as it could very well take less than a month.

However, if you can stay motivated and stick with your 30-day job search plan, you’ll soon get the replies, interviews, and job offers you’ve been waiting for!

The post The 30-Day Job Search Plan: How to Land a New Job in 1 Month appeared first on CareerMetis.com.

The 30-Day Job Search Plan: How to Land a New Job in 1 Month published first on https://skillsireweb.tumblr.com/

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thisdaynews · 5 years

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Ashes 2019: England-Australia second Test set for thrilling conclusion

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/ashes-2019-england-australia-second-test-set-for-thrilling-conclusion/

Ashes 2019: England-Australia second Test set for thrilling conclusion

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Fast bowlers star as second Test evenly poised – day four highlights

Men’s Ashes: Second Specsavers Test, Lord’s (day four of five) England 258 & 96-4:Cummins 2-16, Siddle 2-19 Australia 250:Smith 92, Broad 4-65 England lead by 104 runs Scorecard

The second Ashes Test is poised for a thrilling conclusion after a memorable fourth day in which the fast bowlers of England and Australia illuminated Lord’s.

In a ferocious spell in which he touched 96mph, England debutant Jofra Archer struck Steve Smith on the neck and forced the world’s best batsman to retire hurt on 80.

Smith returned 40 minutes later but, clearly shaken, shouldered arms to be lbw to Chris Woakes for 92 as Australia were bowled out for 250 – eight behind.

Pat Cummins used his own pace to remove Jason Roy and Joe Root in successive balls and, although Rory Burns and Joe Denly steadied England, both fell to Peter Siddle.

At the end of it all, England scraped to 96-4 – a lead of 104 – leaving all four results possible in a Test where the entire first day and most of the third were lost to rain.

To be out of danger, England will probably need to bat beyond lunch on Sunday.

But it may also be that their best chance of winning is to run through an Australia side chasing a low target, potentially without Smith, who, as well as being hit on the neck, required an X-ray on his left arm.

The finale will be played out on a pitch that is showing increasing signs of uneven bounce and in front of a sell-out crowd with the weather set fair.

After England were heavily beaten in the first Test, Sunday could see them back in the series, or the Ashes as good as gone.

Live: England v Australia – highlights & reaction

Smith falls for 92 after retiring hurt from Archer blow

Another classic Lord’s day lights up Ashes

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‘They’re celebrating like they’ve won the Test’ – Joe Root out first ball

Lord’s has witnessed some incredible cricket this summer: the astonishing World Cup final, Ireland bowling England out for 85, and Jack Leach making 92 as a nightwatchman.

This ranks alongside them all and served as a perfect example of how exhilarating Test cricket can be when ferocious bowlers produce pace that rattles even the best batsmen.

The battle between Archer and Smith was sporting theatre, with the sickening blow suffered by the former captain leaving a previously baying crowd in worried silence.

The next act was Smith’s surprising return, with Cummins then bringing his own fire and celebrating as if the Test was on the way to being won.

As England battled to stay afloat, the drama grew through two David Warner dropped catches and two lbw appeals from off-spinner Nathan Lyon that should have been given but were not reviewed.

In gathering gloom that necessitated the use of the floodlights, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler doggedly took the lead past 100 and left the match hanging in the balance.

Quiz: Can you name England’s Ashes debutants since 2000?

Awesome Archer finally rattles Smith

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Smith retires hurt after being struck on the neck by Archer

Until lunch, it seemed inevitable that the prolific Smith would nudge, shuffle and occasionally drive his way to his third century in as many innings and put Australia into the lead.

That was all changed by Archer, who not only provided the pace that England have so badly needed in their previous battles with Smith, but also proved that the anticipation surrounding his entrance into Test cricket was worth the hype.

Archer had been worked over by Cummins when batting on the second day and dished out his revenge here. First he had skipper Tim Paine caught at short leg before striking a blow to Smith’s forearm which required the X-ray but did not cause a fracture.

In the next four balls he faced from Archer, the uncomfortable Smith played three uncontrolled hooks and almost fended to short leg. From the fifth, the horrible impact to the neck forced him from the field.

When Smith was cleared by medical staff to make his return, Archer was out of his attack, but the batsman was clearly not himself. From the second ball he faced, he swiped Woakes into the leg side and, after a classical back-foot drive, edged another four.

Final proof that Smith was rattled came when his usual impeccable judgement failed, leaving him to play no shot to a straight ball from Woakes that would have hit middle stump.

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‘No shot – bizarre dismissal’ – Smith falls for 92

Australia hold upper hand

Even if this day will mainly be remembered for the Archer-Smith battle, it was still one that Australia had the better of, first by moving from 80-4 to virtual first-innings parity, then by taking four wickets in the evening session.

Paine and Cummins made useful contributions of 23 and 20 respectively before Cummins hurtled in after tea.

Roy offered a leading edge which Cummins slid to take and, from the next ball, Root edged to Paine.

Burns and Denly added 55, the former gritty and latter occasionally loose. Denly was dropped on seven by Warner at first slip off Siddle, while Burns should have been given leg before to Lyon on 24.

Whereas Burns added only five more before got a lifter from Siddle that he edged behind, Denly took his score to 26 by the time he tamely patted back to the same bowler.

At 71-4, England were in real danger, but were seen through by Stokes and Buttler. Still, Stokes was dropped at slip on six by Warner and escaped being lbw, both off Lyon.

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Broad strikes as Wade edges to Burns at slip for six

What will happen on the final day?

England’s Chris Woakes on BBC Test Match Special:“We have got 98 overs tomorrow so more time than you think.

“It’s hard to put a number on it but we have got to bat sensibly. We have two guys at the crease who can accelerate quickly so the morning session will be crucial.”

Former England captain Alec Stewart on TMS:“Absolutely even stevens at the moment. England need to be batting at lunch – can they get a 250 lead before bowled out?

“For that to happen Stokes and Buttler need to play like we haven’t seen them bat so far in this series. Stokes was as bad as I have seen him play today but the good thing is both frontline batsmen are still there.”

Ex-England captain Michael Vaughan on TMS:“England can get another 100. But they could lose four wickets inside the first 30 minutes and it could be Australia are chasing 150.”

#conclusion #thrilling

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ncmagroup · 7 years

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Written by Scott Tousley

If a conversation ends after “So what do you do?” … things can get awkward.At this point, we don’t know what else to say. We stink at small talk. We are shy. We are insecure. We’re introverted. Whatever the reasoning or logic, awkward conversations are, well, awkward. It’s uncomfortable for everyone.

But no one wants to feel awkward. We want to be liked. We want to be charming. We want to be charismatic. But that’s a natural instinct, rooted in our psychological desire to belong, as illustrated in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs:

So that brings up the question — what are the psychological habits of the most likable, charismatic, and charming people?

To uncover the trends, we dove deep into research and studies of behavioral psychology. So if you want to transform from awkward and shy, to charming everyone you meet … check out the following tips, validated by countless studies and research.

1. They have positive and negative empathy.

People who possess positive empathy don’t get jealous, they get excited. They are thrilled when:

+ Someone else decides to quit their job and travel in South America for 6 months.

+ Someone else gets their dream promotion (or hired at their dream company).

+ Someone else gets their business acquired for $100 million.

Negative empathy is the ability to comfort others when they’re down. People who possess this trait will:

– Help someone when their family member gets diagnosed with cancer.

– Support someone when they get fired from their dream company.

– Comfort someone when they break up with their significant other of six years.

Positive and negative empathy is the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and genuinely feel what they are feeling — either good or bad.

In fact, we even had a part in our brain dedicated to empathy called the Right Supramarginal Gyrus, that triggers empathetic responses:

We are physiologically and psychologically hardwired to help people (i.e. feel empathetic). The trick is feeling it for both positive and negative events.

Action Step: Take an Emotional Intelligence Quiz.

Emotional intelligence is an incredibly valuable skill, which was found to be the strongest predictor of performance. Research from TalentSmart explains emotional intelligence is responsible for 58% of success in all jobs.

In a nutshell, emotional intelligence is the ability to feel what someone else is feeling. The ability to be empathetic and put yourself in their shoes.

Test your knowledge by taking this free emotional intelligence quiz from the University of Berkeley-California.

2. They are humble.

This quote sums it up perfectly:

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.

– C.S. Lewis

People who are genuinely enjoyable to be around are humble, not arrogant. They don’t wave awards in people’s faces. They don’t name drop for the sake of sounding important. They don’t toot their own horns. They don’t have an aura of I-am-the-coolest-person-in-the-world.

Of course, it’s healthy to be confident and sustain a high self-esteem. But there’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance. And the difference is humility.

It separates those enjoyable to be around versus those you can’t stand:

Think of Kanye West — he’s incredibly successful, yet incredibly obnoxious. Now think of Barack Obama — he’s incredibly successful, yet incredibly humble.

Love or hate Kanye West’s music, there is no denying his supreme confidence and arrogance. Agree or disagree with Obama’s policies, there’s no denying his supreme confidence and humility.

There is a fine line … and people who are enjoyable to be around avoid egocentric, self-centered bragging.

Action Step: Observe the patterns of humble people.

One of the easiest ways to practice humility is to observe the patterns of humility of other people. Take this video of Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela meeting:

You see them smile, stare deep into each other’s eyes, touch each other on the shoulder, and nod in as if they’re bowing. They are showing respect and courtesy.

3. They are vulnerable.

Vulnerability is uncertainty. It’s putting yourself out there to risk embarrassment or judgment. That definition can become foggy, so here are a few examples:

Vulnerability is approaching a stranger in a coffee shop, asking them on a date.

Vulnerability is giving a presentation to 195 people, even when you’re scared shitless of public speaking.

Vulnerability is stating your conflicting opinion when nine out of ten people in a room all believe the same thing.

Brene Brown, a social psychologist with 10 years of experience of studying vulnerability, gave one of the most watched TED Talks of all time at over 20 million views:

Let’s be clear — being vulnerable isn’t easy. It’s one of the most emotionally challenging hurdles one can face, overcoming the fear of being judged or criticized.

Yet incredibly likable people aren’t afraid to open up. They aren’t begging for approval from others, so they have no desire to come off as a perfectionist. Furthermore, they realize that those who do appear as perfect may actually be less likable.

When someone appears perfect, we distance ourselves from them. When they appear flawed, we’re attracted to them. This psychological phenomenon is known as The Pratfall Effect:

The Pratfall Effect

By making a mistake, or admitting to a mistake, we become more likable. Studies prove people connect with those who admit their flaws, versus those who appear as perfect all the time.

By being vulnerable, we prime ourselves for failure. Through failure, we become more likable. Thus, the vulnerability has the power to trigger likability.

Out of your vulnerabilities will come your strength.

– Sigmund Freud

Action Step: Do a Stranger Photo Challenge.

So you’re afraid of feeling awkward or vulnerable? Try out this “failure challenge” by the CEO of SumoMe, Noah Kagan:

1. Find a complete stranger to take a picture with you. 2. Have them hold a sign for proof (see sign here). 3. Upload photo.

See more details on this page.

4. They have a sense of humor.

Watch this 30-second clip:

Now don’t you just like Old Spice a little bit more?

They’re leveraging a psychological effect called the Peripheral Route to Persuasion. Since it’s a low cognition product (i.e. I don’t think of what deodorant to buy for more than a few seconds), they’re leveraging humor as a “liking cue” to create a subconscious inkling to purchase Old Spice as a quick decision amongst competitors.

In layman’s terms, that means when I’m walking through CVS searching for the magical slimy stick of chemicals (what is deodorant made of anyway?) and see Old Spice … I can’t help but grabbing it.

Validating their logic, in a study conducted by the American Psychological Association, people who were exposed to humorous ads for low-cognition products were vastly more likely to purchase the product.

But here’s the crazy part — people HATE ads. So if ads alone can make someone smile … surely so can another human.

Think about it. When is the last time someone you just met cracked a joke and you thought, wow I hate guy/girl. Probably never.

It seems obvious, but people who are enjoyable to be around genuinely have a great sense of humor.

Action Step: Try the 5-5-5-5 email joke experiment.

Think you’re not funny? Sure you are. Schedule to send 5 emails over 5 days at 5pm, BCCing 5 different people.

1. Go to this subreddit called /r/3amjokes. It’s sorted by the best one-liner jokes of all time.

2. Pick your 5 favorite jokes.

3. Write an email with the question in the subject line and the answer in the body:

4. Schedule an email to send at 5pm, BCCing 5 different people. After downloading HubSpot Sales, just click the clock icon by the send button and choose your time:

5. Repeat this to schedule emails for 5 consecutive days at 5pm. It will take less than 5 minutes.

Because who doesn’t want to get a corny joke in their inbox at 5pm after a stressful day of work?

5. They are present.

How frequently does this happen?

Yet, I’m not one to judge. I’m guilty of this from time to time as well. However, I’ve basically ended my smartphone addiction by keeping my phone on Do Not Disturb 24/7:

When our phones vibrate, we are curious. Who texted us? So we check to find out. As a result, we’re distracted from the face-to-face-conversation. This makes it seemingly impossible to have a productive face-to-face conversation.

Similarly, it’s difficult talking to someone who is completely tuned out of a conversation. A wandering mind is far more difficult to fix than clicking a button on your phone. But just because it’s difficult, doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

I’ve had my fair share of mind-wandering problems, thinking about other things going on in my life during a conversation, but one method I’ve found to help is meditation. And I’m not the first (or last) to preach about the powers of meditation. These successful people also practice meditation:

Mark Benioff (CEO of Salesforce)

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Oprah Winfrey

Tim Ferriss (entrepreneur and author)

Martin Scorsese (film director)

Ray Dalio (hedge-fund manager)

If you’re struggling with being present during conversations, I suggest giving meditation a go.

Action Step: Practice meditation for 10 minutes a day.

Download Headspace, an iPhone and Android app that guides you through the basics of meditation, in 10 minutes per day.

I’ve tried plenty of other applications and methods, but I’ve found nothing better than Headspace to learn the basics and get started. All in just 10 minutes per day. Plus, it’s free.

6. They are genuinely interested in EVERYONE.

When you see this, how does it make you feel?

If you’re like 99% of humans, it makes you smile and say “awwwwww, GIMME THAT DOGGY!!!”

Why do dogs make us feel this way? Why are they so lovable?

Perhaps because they are genuinely excited to greet EVERYONE. They don’t pick and choose who they are excited to meet for the first time or see for the second time.

Remember how likable people are humble? Well, they’re also not pretentious.

That means they don’t hold a chip on their shoulder when dealing with someone who is “under” them. They are genuinely interested in what EVERYONE has to say. They want to hear their story.

Charisma is not so much getting people to like you as getting people to like themselves when you’re around.

– Robert Brault

Action Step: Try “The Server Test.”

Ever been to a restaurant and someone is extremely courteous to you, but is impolite to the waitress or waiter?

That’s the server test.

Next time you’re considering a new hire or business partner, take them out to lunch. Then see how they treat the server. It’s a judgment of character outside of the realm of impressing the person above them. It shows they are kind and genuine to all people, not just those who they’re trying to impress.

Hat tip to Jeff Haden for this incredible bit of advice.

7. They avoid social narcissism.

Guess what the favorite topic of conversation is a social narcissist? Themselves.

They want to talk about their stories. Their problems. Their successes. Their complaints. Their family. Their friends.

45 minutes later, it’s time to split ways and they haven’t once asked about the other person’s past, present, or future.

Instead of rambling about how amazing (or terrible) their lives are, likable people, ask questions. They dive deep into the minds of the person they’re talking to.

Not surface-level, small talk questions such as where are you from? Or what do you do? Or how about that weather today?

But they dive deep, asking open-ended questions, uncovering the emotions and motivations of people. They ask questions that will make the other person feel good — or ask themselves questions. They ask open-ended questions. They ask why. They show genuine interest.

Action Step: Ask open-ended questions.

Getting stuck in a conversation? Or it feels like a dead end? Try asking open-ended questions. As soon as you learn a little about someone, ask:

How did you do it?

Why did you do it?

What did you struggle with most?

What was the most valuable lesson you learned from that?

You’ll be surprised how far a conversation can go when the “yes/no” questions are avoided.

8. They are generous and altruistic.

According to Adam Grant, the youngest-tenured and highest-rated professor at Wharton School of Business, there are three types of people:

1. The Taker

2. The Matcher

3. The Giver

The Taker is an egoist. They tend to get more than they give. They believe the world is a competitive, dog-eat-dog world. As a result, they put their needs before everyone else. This strategy works for short-term gain … but it’s nearly impossible to sustain.

The Matcher is someone who seeks a balance between giving and taking. They seek fairness and equality. If they put too much into a relationship, without getting anything in return, they’ll eventually give up. They believe in even exchanges and trading favors.

The Giver is altruistic. It’s a rare breed of human who doesn’t look for anything in return. Whereas Takers are focused on receiving all of time and Matchers are focused on receiving at least some of the time … Givers don’t even think about it.

By giving and giving and giving … you also increase your chances of receiving value in return:

It’s incredible how far you’ll go by being generous and altruistic, putting everyone else’s needs before your own.

Hiten Shah, CEO of KissMetrics, is the epitome of a giver. He even boasts an inspiring Zig Ziglar quote on his Twitter homepage:

From the man who started two wildly incredibly successful software companies (Kissmetrics and Crazy Egg) … I’d take that advice to heart.

Action Step: Be honest with yourself …

Ask yourself the following:

When I’m helping someone, do I expect a favor in return?

If you answered yes, you may be a Taker or a Matcher. If you answered no, you may be a Giver. Honestly, consider the power of giving without expectations. You’ll be surprised how far it will take you.

9. They reciprocate praise (and take blame).

When a likable person is praised for their work, they typically have a response like this:

Thank you so much! However, I’d like to emphasize that this was a team effort. I played only one small role in hitting this goal. Jen, Sam, Mike, and Kelsey … you were all crucial to making this happen. And we wouldn’t have done it without you.

In other words, they give credit where credit is due. When they’re recognized for a success, they shift the praise toward everyone else. They give praise and empower people without expecting anything in return.

Conversely, when the shit hits the fan, they aren’t afraid to take the blame.

A good leader is a person who takes a little more than his share of the blame and a little less than his share of the credit.

– John Maxwell

In fact, that’s what HubSpot Sales growth marketer, Anum Hussain, did when a $500,000 project went downhill very, very quickly.

She immediately took the blame for the mistake. As a result, everyone forgave her, which actually strengthened her relationships. This psychological effect is known as The Pratfall Effect, which we touched on earlier.

Action Step: Adopt The Pratfall Effect.

Was a project screwed up that you had a part in? Or did you directly screw it up? Follow the step-by-step process highlighted in this piece about The Pratfall Effect:

1. Admit your mistakes

2. Fix your mistakes immediately

3. Send a post-mortem analysis on what went wrong … and how to prevent it in the future

Read more about how Anum Hussain admitted the failure of a botched $500K project, which actually strengthened her relationships.

Summary: 9 Habits of Insanely Likable and Charismatic People

As a quick summary, here are the 9 habits of insanely charming and charismatic people:

1. They are empathetic

2. They are humble

3. They are vulnerable

4. They have a sense of humor

5. They are present

6. They are genuinely interested in EVERYONE

7. They avoid social narcissism

8. They are generous and altruistic

9. They reciprocate praise (and take blame)

Go to our website: www.ncmalliance.com

How to Be Charismatic: The 9 Habits of Insanely Likable People Written by Scott Tousley If a conversation ends after “So what do you do?”

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