From B-Roll to VO SOTDefinitions of Broadcasting Terms

From B-Roll to VO SOTDefinitions of Broadcasting TermsFrom B-Roll to VO SOT- Definitions of Broadcasting TermsIf youre new to the television news broadcasting production, then the acronyms VO, Nat SOT or VO/SOT can seem like a foreign language. The truth of the matter is that it really is a different language, and if you are going to be involved in any aspect of the production of TV or video broadcasts, then its key to get to know some of the most commonly used terms and phrases. B-Roll to VO SOTDefinitions of Common Television Broadcasting Terms Its important to note that the glossary of terms used in broadcast journalism is vast. Below is just a short list of the TV broadcasting terms (which may not be used in radio). Definitions appear in alphabetical order B-Roll.This refers to video that is used to visualize the script that a reporter or news anchor has written. Itis solely shot for a TV news story. EZ News. This isa newsroom computer software that allows you to Create rundo wns of the newsWrite newscasts and scriptsPrint scriptsHave a teleprompterIntegrate Wire Feed Data, RSS Feeds from Services, Networks, etc. Search, Sort, Retrieve Natural Sound (Nat Sound, Nat S-O-T)or Ambient Sound.This refers to create a sound bed for a recorded or live reportwithmusic, background voices, vehicles and machinery, nature sounds and other environmental sounds recorded on-scene. These sounds are most often used to tischset the mood or provide atmosphere for a specific news report. Nielsen. This is an audience measurement system used todetermine the audience size and composition oftelevisionprogramming in the United States.Nielsen ratingsare used to determine television ratings. Live Shot or Live Report. This is a font of newscast wherea newsanchor or reporter is live at a remote location. This type of report can also include a SOT, VO/SOT or PKG (see acronyms below.) On-Set Appearance.This is an appearance on set by a reporter who is introduced by a news anchor. The r eporter then introduces her news package or reports her story from there. Package (PKG).A package is a report from a correspondent that contains a sound bite that is usually inserted after the reporters second or third sentence. Sound bite (SOT)- A sound bite or SOT is an edited slice of speech from a newsmaker.In television broadcasts, the person can be seen and often different SOTcan be spliced together and edited to cover the video. Stand-Up. When areporter is seen reading or presenting informationon screen,aspart of package, it is known as a Stand-Up. Voiceover (VO).This refers to playing a video of aTV news storywhile a news anchor or reporter reads a script live. Voiceover-to-sound(VO/SOT).A VOSOT can be called by many different names. Sometimes called a v.o. bite, v.o.b, vob, vobite or vobyte, it is a script read live by the news anchor. While the anchor reads, video is shown. The anchor will stop reading at a certain point so that an interview clip can be played.Usually, vos ots are 30 seconds to 45 seconds in length. Youll find this type of storytelling on stories that can be told quicklybut need a soundbite from an authority figure or eyewitness. The soundbite portion of the story usually runs 10 seconds to 15 seconds.

15 Quick Tips That Will Help You Get Hired Fast

15 Quick Tips That Will Help You Get Hired Fast15 Quick Tips That Will Help You Get Hired FastAre you in a hurry to get a job? Are you having a hard time finding a job, and starting to feel discouraged? There are some things that dont take a lot of time that can help you get hired quickly. Here are 15 things you should know about job hunting that will help you find a new job fast. Some of the things on the list are little things that make a difference. Others are significant enough that they can make or break your job search. Review the list to see if theres anything that youre not doing and give it a try. 143 Watch Now Quick Tips to Get Hired Fast 15 Quick Tips That Will Help You Get Hired Fast You Can Save Time Job Searching by Using Advanced Search Options on Job Boards All the major job boards, such as Indeed.com, SimplyHired.com, CareerBuilder, and Monster, have an Advanced Search option where you can search by keyword, location, a radius of a location, job title, company, schriftart of job, date posted and other options. Heres a list of thetop 10 best job sites, andtips for using Advanced Job Search options. Applying for Every Job You Find Isnt Always a Good Idea Focus your search on jobs that youre qualified for. Youll have a better chance of getting selected for an bewerberinterview. Sending out random resumes and cover letters is just going to be a waste of time. Before you start job hunting, take the time to decide what type of job youre seeking. Even better, come up with a targetlist of companiesyoud like to work for and do your best to get noticed by them. Heres how toget noticed by your dream company. ?Dont Stop Applying for Jobs While You Are Waiting to Hear Back From an Employer Most job seekers are rejected by over 15 employers before landing a job.Learn from your mistakes and keep applying until you get the right offer.Worst case scenario, youll be juggling multiplejob offers. Thats a good thing. You Need a Specific Cover Letter, or Your Resume May Not Get NoticedYou only have a few seconds to impress ahiring managerenough to select you for an interview. Hiring managers want to see what you can do for the company written in the first paragraph of your cover letter. Hereshow to match your qualifications to a job, and tips forhow to write a cover letter. You Should Also Target Your Resume to the Job Its not just your cover letter. Your resume should be edited and tweaked, so its as close a match to the job as possible. Otherwise, it may not get picked up by theapplicant tracking systemscompanies use to screen resumes or the recruiter who reviews it. You Dont Need to Include All Your Experience on Your Resume Some job seekers put decades of work experience on their resumes. Unfortunately, thats not going to impress anyone. It dates you, its too much information, and it may be too much experience for most job openings. You Can Include More Than Full-Time Employment on Your Resume If youve been out of work, you dont want your resume to look like you havent done anything since you were laid-off. There are other things besides youremployment historyyou can use to bolster your resume. Dress Like a Manager or a Successful Person in Your ProfessionMaybe appearances shouldnt matter so much, but they do. The first few minutes of an interview are when you get to make that critical first impression. Be koranvers thatyoure dressed appropriately for the type of job and company youre applying to. Heresappropriate interview attirefor a variety of different jobs and work environments. Be Yourself at the Interview Rehearsed answers, fake smiles, and saying what you think the interview wants to hear instead of what you actually believe, mislead the employer. Employers want to know who theyre hiring and thats the person they expect to show up for the first day of work. Storytelling During a Job Interview Is an Excellent Way to Share Your Experience and SkillsOne way to show the employer what youre actually like is to tell a story. When youre asked questions during a job interview, relay thespecific skillsand experience you have, as well as how you handled the situations youre asked about. The more concrete information you provide, the more the hiring manager will know how qualified you are. Never Say Anything Bad About a Previous EmployerOne of the mostcommon interview mistakesisbadmouthing your boss or co-workers. The first thing the interviewer is going to think about is what you will say about their company when youre moving on. You Should Send a Thank-You Note After a Job InterviewIts important to follow-up after a job interview. Its a way to show your appreciation for being considered for the job. Its also a way to reiterate your interest and share anything you neglected during the interview. Networking Is an Essential Component of Successful Job HuntingMost jobs are found throughnetworking, whether its online or in-person. You never know who can help you find your next job unless you te ll your connections that youre looking for a job. References Can Make a Big Difference in Getting Hired References are important, and employers check them.Get recommendationsfrom bosses, co-workers, clients, subordinates, and suppliers. Store them on sites like LinkedIn and share them whenever possible.If youre worried about getting a lousy reference from your supervisor, work on getting somepersonal referencesyou can add to your credentials. Its Acceptable to Apply for the Same Job More Than Once You applied for yourdream job, and you didnt hear anything back from the company. Then later you see the job posted again. A do over is fine but be sure that youve carefully matched your qualifications tothe job requirementsin your resumes and cover letters. Also, check LinkedIn to see who you know. You might be able to get a referral the second time around. Heres how tofind contacts at a company. Bonus Tips Polish Your Shoes Prior to Your InterviewThis ones an extra, but, yes, hiring managers do look at your shoes. If you dont have shoe polish, a leather or multipurpose cleaning wipe will work. Its important to look your best from head to toe Pay Attention to the DetailsJob hunting can feel like youre playing a multitasking game to try to keep up. Theres so much you need to pay attention to when you want to impress a prospective employer.

The Role of a Litigation Support Professional

The Role of a Litigation Support ProfessionalThe Role of a Litigation Support ProfessionalWhat is a litigation support professional? Is this the career for you? Litigation support professionals assist attorneys in managing large-scale litigation. They entwurf and implement databases for managing, sorting, indexing,abstracting and coordinating the large volumes of data produced in major litigationparticularly in preparation for trial. Litigation support professionals might also develop data management strategies, assist with technology in the courtroom, provide user support and training on both off-the-shelf and proprietary software, and coordinate with technology vendors. Some litigation support professionals are paralegal/IT hybrids who perform traditional paralegal tasks while assuming information technology roles. Educational Requirements Litigation support professionals typically possess a four-year bachelors degreein a related field, as well as advanced technical skills and training on database and litigation support applications. Some litigation support professionals possess advanced degrees, and some have even earned law degrees. Its not unheard of for a practicing attorney to shift his efforts to this side of a practice. An understanding of the discovery process is critical, so anyone with previous experience in this area, such as a paralegal, would have a leg up. In many law firms, educational requirements may be less important than acquired skills. Related legal experience in the range of four to seven years is preferable. Necessary Skills Solid IT knowledge and a familiarity with document management systems and trial presentation software, hardware, and graphics applications are important. Litigation support professionals must have strong communication skills because the position involves a great deal of interaction with attorneys, staff and vendors. It also requires exceptional organizational abilities, critical thinking skills and keen atte ntion to detail. Practice Environments Litigation support professionals are largely employed in law firms, corporations, and legal consulting firms. Salary Ranges The median annual salary for litigation support professionals is just shy of $84,000 as of June 2017. This is somewhere in the middle of national salary levels for this position ranging from a low of about $69,000 to a high of approximately $95,000 a year. This can vary by firm and the area of law in which the firm predominantly practices, as well as by location. Salaries are typically higher with large firms in metropolitan areas. Litigation support professionals often work in management roles, supervising IT staff, vendors, litigation support staff, paralegals, junior attorneys and teams of document coders, abstractors, and data entry personnel. Some litigation support directors and managers earn salaries in the six figures. Job Outlook With recent changes in federal laws prompting a proliferation of electron ically-stored information, litigation support professionals are in high demand. As the industry evolves and litigation support technology becomes increasingly complex, the need for professionals with specialized legal and technological skills is expected to continually grow. Additional Resources This new industry has recently established the Association of Litigation Support Professionals (ALSP), dedicated to advancing the profession and to contribute to the career development of practitioners around the world.Litigation Support Today is a magazine dedicated to the litigation support industry.

Guess How Many Workers Dont Understand Their Workplace Benefits

Guess How Many Workers Dont Understand Their Workplace BenefitsGuess How Many Workers Dont Understand Their Workplace Benefits With open enrollment season at work about to kick into full swing, nows the time for most employees to put some serious thought into their benefits. Unfortunately, its a process that proves harrowing for a surprising number of people. Thats because nearly 50% of U.S. employees dont understand their benefits materials, or so reports the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, and thus are ill-equipped to make smart decisions during open enrollment.But if you think that sounds like a problematic statistic, wait - it gets worse. In a 2017 Aflac study , 74% of workers revealed that there are at least some components of their benefits they dont understand. Furthermora, 92% of workers say they simply choose the same benefit year after year rather than attempt to navigate their options. If the idea of selecting your benefits this season is enough to make you sweat, here are some tips for getting through open enrollment and making the best choices.Its hard to choose the right health insurance plan if you dont understand its terms. Before you attempt to select your coverage (or, worse yet, resign yourself to your current plan, even if its not serving your needs), read up on what all that lingo actually means. Your premium , for example, is the amount you pay for the privilege of having health insurance, kind of the same way you pay a monthly membership for access to your gym. Your deductible , meanwhile, is the amount youll need to pay out of pocket before your insurance company starts paying for your services. Then theres your copay , which is the amount youll be responsible for paying each time you receive medical treatment or fill a prescription once your deductible has been met.Understanding these terms is important, because they can help you make a critical financial decision. Its often the case that insurance p lans with lower premiums come with higher deductibles, and vice versa. So while you might think youre saving money by signing up for a low-cost plan, you could end up spending more out of pocket if you wind up using that insurance a lot during the year. And thats certainly not ideal.Many people pass up benefits like flexible spending accounts (FSAs) simply because they dont understand how they work. But if you typically spend money on medical expenses or child care, it pays to sign up for one of these accounts. Thats because the money you fund your account with goes in on a pretax basis, thus allowing you to use tax-free dollars to pay for the things you know you need.FSAs come in two varieties healthcare and dependent care. For the former, you can contribute up to $2,600 a year. For the latter, the limit is $5,000. Now lets say you typically rack up precisely $2,600 in healthcare costs and $5,000 in daycare charge s. Lets also assume your effective tax rate is 25% (meaning, you lo se 25% of your income to taxes). Without an FSA, youd pay $7,600 in after-tax dollars. But by covering those costs with pretax dollars, youll automatically save yourself $1,900.Now the only catch with FSAs is that once you decide how much to contribute to your account, you cant go back and change that allocation unless you experience a qualifying life event during your plan year, such as getting married or having a child. This means that youll need to carefully estimate your spending needs, because if you overfund your account, youll forfeit whatever amount is left in it by the time your plan year comes to a close. But if you allocate just the right amount to your account, youll end up benefiting tremendously.Open enrollment can be a daunting process, so why go it alone? If the information your company provides doesnt suffice in helping you make an informed decision, ask for further clarity. This might mean sitting down with an HR person or petitioning your employer to bring in an o utside expert who can walk you and your colleagues through your options. In the above-referenced Aflac survey, 48% of workers say theyd like the option to speak with an expert about their benefits, so if that choice isnt immediately made available to you, request it.Selecting your workplace benefits shouldnt be a stressful process. If youre dreading open enrollment, read up on how health insurance works, learn more about your potential tax benefits, and speak up if your employer isnt providing adequate information. This way, youll be in the best position to make the right choices.The $16,122 Social Security bonus you could be missingIf youre like most Americans, youre a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known Social Security secrets could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example one easy trick could pay you as much as $16,122 more each year Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind were all after. Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies.Originally published by The Motley Fool . Reprinted with permission.

Top Secret Facts About Resume Exaamples

Top Secret Facts About Resume Exaamples What the In-Crowd Wont Tell You About Resume Exaamples For instance, you might attempt to send out a specific number of resumes weekly. The recruiter shouldnt be confused and wonder about the data in the resume. You may also opt to design high-quality resumes for business purposes. Savvy resumes are anchored by a comprehensive summary that enables the reader to rapidly find salient details about the applicant. You will have to be somewhat proactive. Federal jobs often need you to have experience in a special type of work for some period of time. The Resume Exaamples Pitfall Studying career-specific resume samples is among the best strategies to comprehend exactly how exactly to format and concentration on your talents and abilities. Almost as critical as the experience you have is the way you present it. Our next valuable suggestion is to concentrate on your skills, qualifications and licenses. While resume formats can change among industries and individuals, there are a few features that are constant. You should be helpful in communicating with the patient together with their family members. You need to use skills in caring and implement different techniques to help the individual improve from present health condition. While nurses arent typically accountable for diagnosis, the health care provider may not be present when the change happens, or whenever the patient shares the info. If you would like to be a thriving nurse, you might have to to win the trust of patients. The Nuiances of Resume Exaamples Applicants whove been in the business for quite a while and have tons of experience should use a resume summary. Its critical to be selective in what you share about the work youve done. In only a couple of minutes, youll have your resume ready for job applications Whether you departe your job because you do not like it since you have to, you will want to start making new resumes and send them over t o the companies in demand of people the very same as you. Practicums and internships may also be considered experience. Dont neglect to highlight certain skills you have which are linked to the work description, along with accomplishments youve achieved and tasks youve managed. Writing a perfect resume is among the hottest topics today. Needless to say, each job will call for unique abilities and experiences, so make certain you read the job description with care and concentrate on the skills listed by the employer. You should pick a nursing resume template depending on your experience and knowledge. Mentioning everything which you have learnt as part of the nursing course will unnecessarily elongate the resume. There are a lot of different varieties of nursing and youll want to show your nursing resume fits the bill. You should understand the caring process for unique diseases. Keep reading to understand how to write a nursing resume for work. Furthermore, your nursing r esume will want to be specifically tailored to the work advertisement. Well, keep reading and see the way you can write a productive nursing resume with no experience. Any good nursing resume needs a very clear presentation of vital skills. How to Get Started with Resume Exaamples? Perfecting your resume is fantastic, but having the best resume does not intend that you receive the job. You are able to still prove that youre excellent for the job. The job isnt uncomplicated but its extremely gratifying. Youre therefore ready for the very first job for a phelbotomist Use the graduate nurse resume thats offered in PDF format to design your physicians resumes. You might not land every job which you apply for but a well written resume can enable you to discover the occupation thats a tailored fit for you. The best way to locate an RN job is to search online for an appropriate position. Its crucial to tell the hiring manager what degree youve got, and where youre licensed to pr actice in your Career Objective. Therefore, if youre asking for a Head Nurse profile and right now youre at Supervisor-Nurse level. Your objective statement ought to be able to show employers that youve got the skills, expertise, and experience they are searching for in the nurse they attempt to hire. Once your resume is prepared to go, you will wish to be sure to receive it in front of as many employers as possible. Ok, I Think I Understand Resume Exaamples, Now Tell Me About Resume Exaamples The description needs to be short and concise, however in the vorstellung the graduate should fill space on the webpage, creating many lines of experience descriptors could be wise. Some objective statements might be as long as a brief paragraph. The incorrect formatting may also undermine your resume. To begin with, lets start off by showing you a few examples of well-written resumes, and later, well reverse-engineer them and go over each section how it ought to be written and what y ou need to pay attention to. Your new grad Nursing resume objective may most likely be the most important quality of your application since it will set the tone for the remainder of your content especially in the way its been formatted. Nurses have to have a good deal of health understanding, and will need in order to carry out certain procedures (for example, giving vaccinations and drawing blood).

The Indisputable Truth About Teller Resume That No One Is Telling You

The Indisputable Truth About Teller Resume That No One Is Telling You Choosing Teller Resume When a business is seeking to hire, they want a person who will seek out problems until they become urgent and your job on an interview is to express that youve got exceptional problem-solving skills. Resume stories do not have to be long. Be careful of applicants that are trying too tough to please you, cant name an actual reason, or offer shallow answers. In addition to supplying excellent customer assistance, there are lots of other bank teller objectives and objectives. When customers have a couple of transactions that have to be processed, a teller ought to be capable of multitasking to competently look after the customers needs. Since tellers have plenty of interaction with customers, its important they are friendly and ready to supply customers with information regarding their bank accounts clearly and effectively. Many tellers might also have to offer customer service over the telephone and respond to emails. Tellers must understand how to manage simple customer difficulties. They must be prepared to refer a customer to a schlussverkauf associate or a manager to see if they can help the customer with a product or service. They are required to handle a variety of financial services and must have strong customer service skills. The Upside to Teller Resume To find out more on what it requires to be a Bank Teller, take a look at our complete Bank Teller Job Description. Employed as a bank teller includes lots of responsibility. Sample Bank Teller Resume Objectives Be certain to customize each resume to incorporate the name of the organization. Basic Accounting Bank tellers handle money and for that reason must have the ability to keep an eye on numbers. Below is a comprehensive collection of duties a bank teller will want to perform daily. Furthermore, you can look for bank teller jobs on Monster. Tellers will need to deal with massive sums regu larly. Being a real bank teller may be the ideal ort for you The True Meaning of Teller Resume If you are in possession of a whole lot of experience, employing a resume profile or an overview of qualifications to kick off your resume is superb. By highlighting accomplishments using action verbs, you make an established track record to get rid of all doubt. While the functional resume format may be an attractive solution for job seekers with minimal experience, most employers would rather have a chronological or hybrid resume format. On account of the focus on experience and abilities, a functional format is not suggested. Your summary section gives an intriguing hint and high-level overview of whats to come in the remainder of the resume. Use the bank teller resumes found on the internet to create your resume so as to find a notion of the right format. The Pain of Teller Resume You should bank on more than just your abilities and experience to have a wonderful job. An en try level teller will want to convince the hiring manager through the resume which he or she is the very best on the market. Possessing a job for a bank teller is a great job to have for several factors. Ensure teller station is suitably supplied. Youve got to keep them interested. One of the absolute most important bank teller targets and objectives is to help the customer. The Definitive Strategy for Teller Resume Cash flow is extremely vital for the prosperity of a provider. The bank doesnt wish to take any unnecessary losses and eliminate credibility with the general public. While bank teller jobs can act as a great way to enter the subject of finance, its important that you show that you have the essential skills to serve as the surface of the branch. You, for example let them know of different chances in the bank that they could not know of. A Secret Weapon for Teller Resume Since you can imagine, the bank goes to a great deal of trouble and expense to make sure t heir employees can be trusted with large quantities of money. Particularly for teller resumes, its wise to provide some dollar figures to show that you are able to be trusted with accurately balancing large quantities money. Bank tellers will handle more cash in 1 day than most people today touch in months, therefore its vital to employ trustworthy individuals. Academic or volunteer experiences before are both amazing regions to draw from in case you havent worked much in your life. You have to have that little additional something that is likely to make your resume stand out. As a manager, youre likely to be accountable for training sales associates in addition to inspiring them to increase their sales numbers. To begin with, it gives me work experience in a financial institution, which will be beneficial for my career targets. For instance, a normal customer who comes into the bank might have a kid in high school whos getting ready for college. Our resume builder gives you tips and examples on the best way to compose your resume summary. Just like any job, there are daily, routine tasks that must also be accomplished. Click any place in the blue box, the cursor will be put at the most suitable position automatically.

How to Collaborate with Busy Clients - Spark Hire

How to Collaborate with Busy Clients - Spark HireToday, hiring managers seem to be busier than ever. Getting in touch with managers regarding their needs and submitting candidates can become quite the challenge, even for experienced recruiters.Its time that recruiters take advantage of newer technology in order to better collaborate with busy clients with ease, which can help tomaintain strong relationships.TextWhile not always the ideal form of communication, texting can offer the speed and simplicity of getting the answers you need when you need them.Consider texting your hiring manager when you are unable to quickly reach him via phone or email. If he is in a long business meeting, it may be easier for him to quickly reply to a text versus returning a phone call.Texting is not my preferred method of contact with clients because I miss out on their tone of voice. Tone is important when determining how passionate a client is about a certain candidate or situation.However, there have been times when I have been able to quickly confirm an interview with a client via text when I have been unable to reach him via phone or email in a timely manner.Video ChatScheduling face-to-face time with a busy client can be challenging. When your client is juggling multiple accounts, hiring needs, and HR issues, he may have little time to meet in person with a recruiter.In these instances, video chat has been a huge life saver With services such as FaceTime, I have been able to schedule video calls around my clients schedule. Whether I am in his local area or not, with FaceTime I am able to talk with my clients while also maintaining some semblance of face-to-face interaction.Video InterviewsVideo technology has made it so much easier for a recruiter to be more flexible. Even when it comes to scheduling candidate interviews, we are no longer restricted to in-person interviews. When I have a stellar candidate for my client to interview, we dont have to go back and forth on sched ules and meeting availability. With video interviews, I am able to easily schedule a time that works best for my client and candidate without wasting any time.Video interviews allow my clients and candidates the flexibility to conduct interviews in the early morning or late evening, before or after work. When you are able to offer your clients the ease of live video interviewing they will appreciate and benefit from your flexible recruiting solutions.How do you collaborate with your busy clients? Please leave your tips in the comments below.Images Nyul/BigStock.com

4 Signs You Are Ready to Add Author to Your Resume

4 Signs You Are Ready to Add Author to Your Resume4 Signs You Are Ready to Add Author to Your Resume These days its easier than ever to publish a book. With the advent of self-publishing, almost anyone with the dedication to commit fifty-thousand words to paper can add Published Author to their list of credentials, and theres no denying the impact that a book can have on your career. When was the last time you saw an expert interviewed on TV whose name wasnt listed alongside their book title?The book is often one of the final steps in establishing your position as an expert in your field , as a place where youve compiled your knowledge and research into one package that will hopefully help others. But with mora books in the market than ever before, its important to make sure that youre not writing the book for the sake of writing a book.A clear understanding of your goals for writing the book, as well as a strong author platform, will increase your chances of the b ook positively impacting your career. Think youre ready to take the leap? Read on to be sure.1. Youre already contributing content. If you arent already speaking regularly or writing articles on a given topic, its going to be an uphill battle to find the content to fill an entire book. More importantly, the demand for your content remains untested. Whether youre recording a podcast, writing blog posts, or building a social media following, its important to pay attention to the kind of content that your followers respond positively to before putting pen to paper. Which topics get the most shares, the most listens, the most downloads, etc.? Without that knowledge, youre taking a bigger gamble on your book than you need to.2. You understand your audience. Knowing your audience goes hand-in-hand with the testing of your content. Take advantage of whatever analytics you have access to. Pull demographic information from your social media accounts or through Google Analytics on your websit e to get a general idea of who is consuming your content.Take it a step further by surveying attendees at speaking events, responding to comments, or A/B testing content. What are the pain points your audience is experiencing? How are you helping them?A book is a large investment of time, and without really understanding what makes your audience tick, you cant guarantee theyll make the jump from short-form posts to buying and reading your book.3. You can answer 3 critical questions. Before you start writing, take some time to reflect. Thoughtful answers to these questions will not only motivate you to schliff the book but will also make the outlining and writing process much easier, as you can always refer back to them.4. You have a clear goal for the book. With all of these building blocks in place, the last step is to objectively identify your goal for writing a book. Yes, its nice to have a book on your resume, but how specifically will you leverage it?Are you hoping to charge mo re for speaking engagements? Do you want to get those coveted television interviews? Are you an entrepreneur, hoping the book will grow your business? Do you want to make an impact on peoples lives?Writing the book is only half the battle. Publishing and promoting your book well require time, dedication, and research. Clearly identifying your goal for the book should inform all your choices going forward, and there are going to be a lot of them. From which publisher to work with to your launch strategy, keep this goal front of mind to ensure everything ties back to supporting it.As CEO of Greenleaf Book Group, Tanya Hall drives the companys growth efforts and fosters a culture built around serving authors. Learn more about Greenleaf Book Group at www.greenleafbookgroup.com and connect on Twitter ( GreenleafBookGr & TanyaHall ) and facebook inc .

The comma that paid workers $10 million

The comma that paid workers $10 millionThe comma that paid workers $10 millionIn a world of texting, email and casual sign-offs, good language still counts. Observe this high-stakes grammar lesson A U.S. appellate court decisionbetween a Maine dairy company and its delivery drivers came down to a punctuation mark. One missing Oxford comma in Maines state law could cost Oakhurst Dairy about $10 million in overtime pay.For those who arent familiar, the Oxford or serial comma is one of the most controversial punctuation marks among language lovers. Its the last comma in a series, but some people think it shouldnt exist. As language blog Grammarly notes, its the difference between, I love my parents, Lady Gaga, and Humpty Dumpty, and I love my parents, Lady Gaga and Humpty Dumpty. Those two sentences mean very different things.In 2014, three truck drivers filed a class-action lawsuit againstOakhurst Dairy for missing overtime pay. In its decision on March 13, the court reversed a lower c ourt decision and sided with the truck drivers, arguingthat Maines overtime rules were written too ambiguously. Maines state law says that overtime does not apply in the following situationsThe canning, processing, preserving,freezing, drying, marketing, storing,packing for shipment or distribution of(1) Agricultural produce(2) Meat and fish products and(3) Perishable foods.Grammar warsThe entire case hinged on the missing Oxford comma in the law between for shipping and distribution. The Associated Press, which is widely used in many newsrooms, argues against using the Oxford comma in its guidelines.Proponents say it adds clarity. Between saying myfriend, a clown and a congresswoman, or my friend, a clown, and a congresswoman, some, like these drivers, would say that the former situation means that my friend is a congresswoman.Without an Oxford comma, the drivers contended that packing for shipment of distribution of was defining the single activity of packing- ergo, not them. Deli very drivers distributed food but they didnt pack them.They argued that they were exempt from the overtime exemption.Oakhurst Dairy argued that distribution was written to be a separate activity, so it did include the scope of the drivers work.Maines own legal style guide says not to use Oxford commas. But these guidelines also emphasized clarity above all commas are the most misused and misunderstood punctuation marks in legal drafting and, perhaps, the English language. The style guide says commas should be used thoughtfully and sparingly.In the end,the judges sided with clarity and agreed that there was enough ambiguity in the drivers favor. The Oxford comma, we can now safely say, has been vindicated.

Choosing a Career Path

Choosing a Career Path Choosing a Career Path For others choosing a career path is a much mora difficult and time consuming process that can feel overwhelming or even downright frightening. There could be a number of people offering what might seem like good advice about which career is best for you, but when you are finding the right career path, youve got to consider personal attributes and values even more than the advice of friends and relatives.To choose the right career for you, take a long look at your individual skill set and how each of those skills might better prepare you for a specific type of career. Truly following your natural abilities and ensuring that you focus on careers that involve elements that you enjoy and that you are good at makes finding the right career path a much easier process.Students who excel in mathematics and thoroughly enjoy working with numbers may find a career in accounting or engineering to be both exciting and rewarding. Those who are more adept in one on one communication or that enjoy focusing on and solving problems may be more suited to a career in human resources or marketing.Once youve clearly defined what you feel are your strongest attributes, consider consulting with a career advisor to discuss different career paths. Career advisors or counselors have the ability to help you examine your personal skill set even further in order to provide more or better options for you when it comes to selecting the most suitable career.A career advisor can also set up an aptitude test or career path testthat could help to match your individual personality with a particular career path. For people who are truly unsure about the next step to take in their hunt for a satisfying career, a career path test may be the perfect option. The right test could possibly even direct you toward a career that you may not have even considered on your own, but that your skill set and personality would make you a very strong fit for. Choosing a career path can be a daunting task, but focusing on finding the right career for your strengths can ensure that youll have the best chance of success on all fronts.Choosing a Career Path That said, the first thing to do when choosing a career path is figure out what things in life are important to you. Meaning, ask yourself some questions that will help lead you to the right career path. Some questions to ask might be what hobbies do I enjoy doing? or what goals do I have for the future? Dont forget to include thoughts of financial goals like retirement goals or goals toward purchasing a home.Knowing such things like what you enjoy doing will help you pick a job that you love doing, (or at the very least one that you can stand) because, lets face it, no one likes showing up day after day to a job that they hate. In addition, knowing what you like to do with your time helps identify which skills that you possess and knowing this is important because most jobs require applicants t o retain certain skills specific to that job.As for knowing future goals, they are important to think about when embarking on a new career path because future goals often depend upon finances and just as certain goals require more money, certain jobs pay more money. Obviously, the amount of salary that your chosen career provides directly effects the kind of lifestyle you can live.However, it is important not to get blinded by the potential amount of money any given career path might provide because choosing a career path is more than the money you can make. After all, if you do not enjoy what you are doing, at least on some level, you will not give it your all and giving it your best is the kind of attitude that will lead to promotions that subsequently lead to more money through promotions. Therefore, when choosing your career, first consider the things you like to do then consider how much money a particular career path might provide.