Top 10 Free Software To Install On Your New Windows PC

 

Top Free Software To Install On Windows PC

1. EASEUS Partition Master

EASEUS partition manager is a nifty tool to create and manage disk partitions on Windows systems. Even if you created partitions during the setup process, and know how to use the disk management console to create partitions, I’d recommend you download and keep this tool. That’s because it offers some amazing features like resize, merge or split partitions, convert FAT to NTFS, convert primary partition to logical and vice versa, and much more.
The personal edition of the tool is free. It has professional and business editions too.

2. PC Decrapifier

Most of the branded laptops and desktops come bloated with proprietary (and useless) software which you should get rid of if you want your computer to function properly in the long run. Hence the old and trusted PC Decrapifier becomes a must-install software for new Windows computer owners to weed out junk software and make space for better stuff. Here’s our guide on cleaning up a new PC with PC Decrapifier.

3. Macrium Reflect or Windows Backup and Restore

We have previously talked about the importance of creating a system image and how to create it using the built-in Windows backup and restore center (you should also create a system repair disc). Now, this might not be available in all editions of Windows so I’d suggest a worthy, and more powerful alternative called Macrium Reflect. Use it to create an initial system image, and for other such tasks as you start using the computer.

4. Ninite

Ninite will cover the “how to install” part when installing new stuff on your PC. This all-in-one installer lets you pick software and install them at one go. And the choices of course are very diverse. Check out our previous guide on batch installing programs with Ninite.

5. Revo Uninstaller

Revo Uninstaller remains my tool of choice to clean uninstall applications and programs from my Windows PC. It’s far better than the default Add/Remove programs tool. A must-have software for sure. Check out our guide on using Revo Uninstaller to uninstall programs.

6. CCleaner

You didn’t think I’d give a miss to CCleaner in this list, did you? I am yet to find a better tool to perform a routine PC maintenance and get rid of temporary files and data. The tool is as amazing as it ever was. In fact, better, as it continues to be regularly updated. And as you’d have guessed, we wrote a guide on using CCleaner too.

7. Microsoft Security Essentials

Microsoft Security Essentials might go down in history as one of the best free software released by this tech giant. This tool has given a number of antivirus vendors, especially those who provide full-fledged free versions, a run for their money. It can protect your PC from viruses, spyware and malware.

8. Dropbox or Syncback SE

The thing about data backup is that people tend to procrastinate on it, which ultimately ends up in a crisis situation when they have lost important data, and had no backup whatsoever. Hence an online backup tool like Dropbox, and an offline sync and backup tool like Syncback SE is included in this list of immediate installations for a new PC. Get either, or both of them. I use both – Dropbox for online backup and Syncback to keep my data synchronized with an external hard drive.

9. Recuva

Recuva is an excellent (and free) software to recover deleted files. But why do we need it now? That’s because there’s a lot of deleting and uninstalling happening with CCleaner, Revo Uninstaller, PC Decrapifier and all. If you suddenly delete something that you shouldn’t, and then want to recover it, you would have this tool to fall back on. Our tutorial on using Recuva will provide more information on using this tool.

10. VLC and Chrome / Firefox

Lastly, but by no means the leastly (or least, whatever), we have our usual suspects – VLC media player and Chrome and / or Firefox, which I am clubbing together in the same point. Oh, and you don’t need to install these separately because Ninite will take care of that. Just make sure that you tick their names in Ninite before you start off with the installation

 

Posted By Rickson P Antony8:07 AM

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7" Epad Android 2.2 WiFi 3G Tablet Touch MID PC Camera

            7  Epad Android 2.2 WiFi 3G Tablet 

                 Touch MID PC     Camera

@ an unbelievable price of Rs.4599/- + USB Cable Worth Rs399/- + MS Word & Excel (Editor & Viewer),  PDF Reader Softwares worth Rs.1500 Free Android 2.2 Version If it does not support Flash 10.1"  it is not worth it! MS Word & Excel (Editor & Viewer), PDF  Reader Softwares worth Rs.1500 Free Uses the Latest Via 8650 Processor !

Description: Best Selling Model NEW DESIGN, COOL & SLIM HOT SPOT: 7" WIFI Touch Screen Table PC w WEBCAM, Android 2.2 800mhz CPU: Fast and high cost CPU in the market,  Flash 10.1 support! G - Sensor,Multi media, Flash 10.1, Youtube, 2D/3D Games in android market, Photo Taking, Viewing, Editing & Sharing Cool user Interface, Music, Video, eBook. Support external USB Mouse and Keyboard, You can treat it as your mini PC! ALL IN ONE, PERFECT DESIGN! The ePad 7 is a Android 2.2 based tablet that uses VIA's new low-cost WM8650 processor, which like the Rockchip processor is both CPU and DSP. This 7-inch tablet is best suited for people looking for a low cost Android tablet for web surfing and casual gaming which are not graphic intensive, this tablet is not recommend for viewing of Flash  content even though it can support Flash. Flash content tends to work quite poorly, however the device is quite  well suited for web browsing of non-Flash sites. The ViaPad 7 comes with a nice custom UI which is simple to use and is nicer than the standard layout that normally is seen on Android. Features: VIA8650 800MHz CPU. Android 2.2 operating system. RAM 256MB, 2GB flash memory. 7 inches high sensitive two-point resistive touch  screen, 800 x 480 Four direction g-sensor. WiFi: IEEE 802.11b/g. External 3G function. Webcam: 1.3 MP Built-in Battery: 7.4V/2600mAh

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download windows 8 ISO file ( 32 bit & 64 bit)

download windows 8 ISO file ( 32 bit & 64 bit)

                                           Windows 8 is the codename for the next version of the Microsoft Windows computer operating system following Windows 7.^[3] It has many changes from previous versions. In particular it adds support for ARM microprocessors in addition to the previously supported x86 microprocessors from Intel and AMD. A new Start Screen interface has been added that was designed for touchscreen input in addition to mouse, keyboard, and pen input. It is said to be released sometime around 2012^{[citation needed]}. Microsoft has yet to announce the release date.

iso file download please click below

   32 bit iso   (2.8gb)

ilestone leaks

A 32-bit Milestone 1 build, build 7850, with a build date of September 22, 2010, was leaked to BetaArchive, an online beta community, which was soon leaked to P2P/torrent sharing networks on April 12, 2011.^[6] Milestone 1 includes a ribbon interface for Windows Explorer,^[7] a PDF reader called Modern Reader, an updated task manager called Modern Task Manager,^[8] and native ISO image mounting.^[9]
A 32-bit Milestone 2 build, build 7927, was leaked to The Pirate Bay on August 29, 2011^[10] right after many pictures leaked on BetaArchive the day before.^[11] Features of this build are mostly the same as build 7955.^[12]
A 32-bit Milestone 2 build, build 7955, was leaked to BetaArchive on April 25, 2011.^[13] Features of this build included a new pattern login and a new file system known as Protogon.^[14]
A 64-bit Milestone 3 build, build 7959, was leaked to BetaArchive on May 1, 2011.^[15] This build is notable for being the first publicly leaked Windows Server 8 build, as well as the first leaked 64-bit build.
A Milestone 3 build, build 7971, was released to close partners of Microsoft on March 29, 2011^[16] but was kept under heavy security. However, a few screenshots were leaked. The "Windows 7 Basic" theme now uses similar metrics to the Aero style, but maintains its non-hardware accelerated design, and also supports taskbar thumbnails. The boxes that encase the "close, maximize, and minimize" buttons have been removed, leaving just the signs.^[17]
A 64-bit Milestone 3 build, build 7989, leaked to BetaArchive on June 18, 2011 after screenshots were revealed the previous day. An SMS feature, a new virtual keyboard, a new bootscreen, transparency in the basic theme, geo-location services, Hyper-V 3.0, and PowerShell 3.0 were revealed in this build.^[18]

Official announcements

At the Microsoft Developer Forum in Tokyo on May 23, 2011, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced that the next version of Windows would be released the following year.^[19]

"And yet, as we look forward to the next generation of Windows systems, which will come out next year, there's a whole lot more coming. As we progress through the year, you ought to expect to hear a lot about Windows 8. Windows 8 slates, tablets, PCs, a variety of different form factors."^[19]

However, Microsoft quickly amended Ballmer's words in a statement issued that afternoon:

"It appears there was a misstatement. We are eagerly awaiting the next generation of Windows 7 hardware that will be available in the coming fiscal year. To date, we have yet to formally announce any timing or naming for the next version of Windows."^[20]

On June 1, 2011, Microsoft officially unveiled Windows 8 and some of its new features at the Taipei Computex 2011 in Taipei (Taiwan) by Mike Angiulo and at the D9 conference in California (United States) by Julie Larson-Green and Microsoft's Windows President Steven Sinofsky.^[21][22] The main feature that was shown was the new user interface.

On August 15, 2011, Microsoft opened a new blog called "Building Windows 8" for users and developers.^[23]

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Operating systems

 Operating systems

Operating system ABCs
An operating system, or OS, is a software program that enables the computer hardware to communicate and operate with the computer software. Without a computer operating system, a computer would be useless.

Operating system types

As computers have progressed and developed so have the operating systems. Below is a basic list of the different operating systems and a few examples of operating systems that fall into each of the categories. Many computer operating systems will fall into more than one of the below categories.
GUI - Short for Graphical User Interface, a GUI Operating System contains graphics and icons and is commonly navigated by using a computer mouse. See the GUI definition for a complete definition. Below are some examples of GUI Operating Systems.

System 7.x
Windows 98
Windows CE

Multi-user - A multi-user operating system allows for multiple users to use the same computer at the same time and different times. See the multi-user definition for a complete definition for a complete definition. Below are some examples of multi-user operating systems.

Linux
Unix
Windows 2000

Multiprocessing - An operating system capable of supporting and utilizing more than one computer processor. Below are some examples of multiprocessing operating systems.

Linux
Unix
Windows 2000

Multitasking - An operating system that is capable of allowing multiple software processes to run at the same time. Below are some examples of multitasking operating systems.

Unix
Windows 2000

Multithreading - Operating systems that allow different parts of a software program to run concurrently. Operating systems that would fall into this category are:

Linux
Unix
Windows 2000

Operating system listing

Below is a listing of many of the different operating systems available today, the dates they were released, the platforms they have been developed for and who developed them.

Operating system	Date first released	Platform	Developer
AIX / AIXL	Unix / Linux history.	Various	IBM
AmigaOS	Currently no AmigaOS history.	Amiga	Commodore
BSD	Unix / Linux history.	Various	BSD
Caldera Linux	Unix / Linux history.	Various	SCO
Corel Linux	Unix / Linux history.	Various	Corel
Debian Linux	Unix / Linux history.	Various	GNU
DUnix	Unix / Linux history.	Various	Digital
DYNIX/ptx	Unix / Linux history.	Various	IBM
HP-UX	Unix / Linux history.	Various	Hewlett Packard
IRIX	Unix / Linux history.	Various	SGI
Kondara Linux	Unix / Linux history.	Various	Kondara
Linux	Unix / Linux history.	Various	Linus Torvalds
MAC OS 8	Apple operating system history.	Apple Macintosh	Apple
MAC OS 9	Apple operating system history.	Apple Macintosh	Apple
MAC OS 10	Apple operating system history.	Apple Macintosh	Apple
MAC OS X	Apple operating system history.	Apple Macintosh	Apple
Mandrake Linux	Unix / Linux history.	Various	Mandrake
MINIX	Unix / Linux history.	Various	MINIX
MS-DOS 1.x	MS-DOS history.	IBM / PC	Microsoft
MS-DOS 2.x	MS-DOS history.	IBM / PC	Microsoft
MS-DOS 3.x	MS-DOS history.	IBM / PC	Microsoft
MS-DOS 4.x	MS-DOS history.	IBM / PC	Microsoft
MS-DOS 5.x	MS-DOS history.	IBM / PC	Microsoft
MS-DOS 6.x	MS-DOS history.	IBM / PC	Microsoft
NEXTSTEP	Apple operating system history.	Various	Apple
OSF/1	Unix / Linux history.	Various	OSF
QNX	Unix / Linux history.	Various	QNX
Red Hat Linux	Unix / Linux history.	Various	Red Hat
SCO	Unix / Linux history.	Various	SCO
Slackware Linux	Unix / Linux history.	Various	Slackware
Sun Solaris	Unix / Linux history.	Various	Sun
SuSE Linux	Unix / Linux history.	Various	SuSE
System 1	Apple operating system history.	Apple Macintosh	Apple
System 2	Apple operating system history.	Apple Macintosh	Apple
System 3	Apple operating system history.	Apple Macintosh	Apple
System 4	Apple operating system history.	Apple Macintosh	Apple
System 6	Apple operating system history.	Apple Macintosh	Apple
System 7	Apple operating system history.	Apple Macintosh	Apple
System V	Unix / Linux history.	Various	System V
Tru64 Unix	Unix / Linux history.	Various	Digital
Turbolinux	Unix / Linux history.	Various	Turbolinux
Ultrix	Unix / Linux history.	Various	Ultrix
Unisys	Unix / Linux history.	Various	Unisys
Unix	Unix / Linux history.	Various	Bell labs
UnixWare	Unix / Linux history.	Various	UnixWare
VectorLinux	Unix / Linux history.	Various	VectorLinux
Windows 2000	Microsoft Windows history.	IBM / PC	Microsoft
Windows 2003	Microsoft Windows history.	IBM / PC	Microsoft
Windows 3.X	Microsoft Windows history.	IBM / PC	Microsoft
Windows 7	Microsoft Windows history.	IBM / PC	Microsoft
Windows 95	Microsoft Windows history.	IBM / PC	Microsoft
Windows 98	Microsoft Windows history.	IBM / PC	Microsoft
Windows CE	Microsoft Windows history.	PDA	Microsoft
Windows ME	Microsoft Windows history.	IBM / PC	Microsoft
Windows NT	Microsoft Windows history.	IBM / PC	Microsoft
Windows Vista	Microsoft Windows history.	IBM / PC	Microsoft
Windows XP	Microsoft Windows history.	IBM / PC	Microsoft
Xenix	Unix / Linux history.	Various	Microsoft

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Merry Christmas Virus

The Merry Christmas virus is an email worm that started to emerge before Christmas of 2004. The worm spread via electronic mail as a small, executable file with a variety of names and extensions. The worm propagated by copying itself onto local and networked drives, as well as emailing itself as an attachment to any addresses it could harvest from the address book and files stored on the infected machine.
When executed, an infected file copies itself into the Windows system directory and registry disguised with the name “NortonUpdate.exe.” The registry entry ensures that a copy of the worm is launched each time the infected machine is booted. It also creates files in the system directory that are used to store the email addresses harvested from the Windows address book, text documents, web pages, emails and mailboxes stored on the machine.

Infected email messages are sent in a variety of languages depending on the geographical location of the recipient’s domain name. The messages arrive with the subject “Merry Christmas!” and body “Happy Holidays!” in the corresponding language. The attachment has the name “postcard” in the particular language, followed by a long string of random characters that obscure an executable extension.
The seemingly harmless text lures victims into downloading the attached file that is disguised as a holiday postcard.
Besides replicating furiously, the worm also opens a backdoor on infected systems that provides unauthorized remote access by malicious parties. This allows attackers full access to any stored personal information, along with the ability to download and launch files remotely on a victim’s machine. Furthermore, the worm bypasses installed security measures such as firewall or antivirus programs by overwriting their application files with an infected executable. Thus, while an email message may appear harmless, even one execution of an infected attachment can cause significant damage that is difficult to reverse.

 

Posted By R7:01 AM

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HTC loses the smartphone patent battle to Apple

Taiwanese mobile-phone maker HTC has lost the US patent battle with Apple. The International Trade Commission claimed that HTC has infringed one of the four patents held by Apple.
All HTC phones that use the technology covered by the patent will be banned from sale in the US from 19 April, 2012.
Apple had initially claimed that HTC was ignoring 10 patents. HTC, therefore, called the ruling “a win” as it impacted only one patent, rather than the 10.
“We see a very minimal impact of this as there could be a workaround for the same technology that HTC can implement in the next four months. It’s a sigh of relief for HTC because they had to give in to only one feature,” says Jayesh Easwaramony from Frost & Sullivan.
The patent over which the ban is being imposed is related to a small user-interface feature called “data tapping”, that allows users to grab embedded information, such as a phone number, and do something with it, like make a call.
The company stated that it would completely remove the feature from all of its phones. The removal, according to analysts, should allow HTC to avoid any further disruption to its business in the US.
HTC is the world’s fourth-largest smartphone maker. HTC devices run on Google’s Android operating system. Although Apple is the market leader for smartphones in the US, Android devices are gaining huge popularity worldwide.

 

Posted By R9:23 AM

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new-job-trends

 new-job-trends

There are quite a few new job titles pertaining specifically to the green energy sector and you don’t need a complete career reinvention to be a part of this growing industry. If you research in-depth you’ll find that a large part of your present skills might be applicable/transferable to suit the requirements of the green energy market.
As you’ll see from some of the brief job descriptions below which outlines the general responsibilities for the open positions in green energy job market – many new job titles are sprouting in the green field. But what you need to look in-depth is that it is not necessary that you would have to completely and extensively retrain, or get a LEED  certification  or other “green” MBA to qualify for such positions. Then how to set the foot through the door or initiate a career change toward the green jobs of today and tomorrow, here are some tips:

• If you have a desire to change careers and apply for the green jobs what you need to do initially is to research well to identify which skills and how much experience is  expected for this career move. Study the job descriptions that you find most relevant to your ideal job or career and find out exactly what the employers are looking for the best match for this position.
• Some retraining might be required, but note that these are usually not lengthy or tough, most likely with some retraining or even some tweaking of your resume to highlight these specific skills you’ll be ready to conquer the green energy jobs – the jobs of today and future!

Recent Green Energy Open Positions

Some of the positions that are coming up on job search boards these days pertaining to green energy sector are:
Green Engineering Manager

Brief Job description:

• Retro-commissioning of existing buildings
• Energy Audits
• Peer review of “green” building mechanical and electrical design documents

Green Mechanical Engineer

Brief Job description:

• Design mechanical components of solid state lighting lamps and luminaires with a constant focus on manufacturability of design under the considerations of high volume manufacturing
• Thermally analyze heat transfer from LED source to ambient for optimal Identify soft and hard tooling suppliers, conduct tooling feasibility study and cost analysis

Smart Grid Hardware Engineer

Brief Job description:

• Act as a Digital Hardware Engineer for the company’s various wireless infrastructure products.
• Develop hardware for new products as well as support sustaining engineering tasks on existing released products.
• Manage the release of hardware products from R&D to production readiness.

Renewable Energy Policy & Planning Manager

Brief Job description:

• Policy Development and Implementation
• Reporting and Research
• Build Teams:  Lead and manage talented and motivated team of analysts working in high profile business area

Now let’s have a look at some of the different industry sectors which are helping sprout up new green energy jobs which are here to stay and help us in the longer run.

Smart Grid – Electric Power Generation

The Dummies series has good information on the Smart Grid jobs, the book titled: Green Jobs in Smart Grid Infrastructure offers good general and in-depth information on the current buzz word “Smart Grid”:
If you’re interested in a career in smart grid infrastructure, here are a few jobs that could be key to its creation and adaptation:

Systems:
Smart grid standards leader, smart grid chief technology officer, smart grid partner director, smart grid solutions architect, smart grid director, smart grid electrical engineer, smart grid engineer, transmission systems engineer, project manager, smart grid solutions architect/engagement manager, transmission systems engineer, test engineer, renewable systems engineer, systems project manager, distribution systems engineer, smart grid systems project manager, critical infrastructure consultant
Standards:
Smart grid standards leader, smart grid systems interoperability validation manager, grid security director
Software:
Smart grid software engineer, smart grid manager infrastructure development, software infrastructure subsystem leader, lead software engineer, software infrastructure quality assurance leader, software infrastructure test engineer, senior software systems engineer, advanced metering engineer
Marketing and sales:
Smart grid marketing, smart grid sales, director business development, strategic commercial manage

The dummies green job series offers a wide range of info on the green energy jobs and could well be your starting point to browse and find out which of these areas sounds more appealing to you or matches your current or desired skills.

Biofuels

“Biofuels” are transportation fuels like ethanol and biodiesel that are made from biomass materials. Biodiesel is a fuel made from vegetable oils, fats, or greases — such as recycled restaurant grease. Biodiesel fuel can be used in diesel engines without changing them. It is the fastest growing alternative fuel in the United States.  (Source US Energy Information Administration). And the good news is that this renewable source of energy for the automobiles and more offers a lot of jobs. Many positions are open for the engineering, technical, chemical and biology professionals; go to the job boards to find job descriptions for the following to see which could best meet your current skills and future career aspirations:

• Biofuels Operations Advisor
• Senior Scientist Field Testing (Biofuel)
• Molecular Biologist – Biofuels
• Biofuels Process Engineer – Corn Ethanol Specialist
• Technical Business Manager – Biofuels

Solar energy

You might hear fluctuating news on the growth and projection of the solar energy industry but sure enough the jobs are on the rise and there is a tremendous opportunity to retrain and get into this field now when the non-renewable energy is surely burning up faster than what meets our needs. And of course it the green way – if we really start sourcing green energy the green way – well that’s another discussion then. But the insight comes from the millions of dollars from the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration and other funds being allocated in the recent years to the green energy growth – obviously it is to train employees and get their skills updated to populate the growing demands from this industry in the coming years. Follow such news and see how you can benefit from the trainings and skills development to be ready when the demand unfolds.
BLS.gov recently came up with a detailed report on Solar Energy jobs, worth a read for those who are interested in knowing more about this industry and planning for a green energy career path. Read it here – Careers in Solar Power.

>> Note that in these green industries there are “general employment” opportunities such as interns, administrative assistants, and technical IT support staff since the regular operations of an office and an organization requires the staff to run their operations. You need not reinvent your career around or retrain to enter the now hot green energy sector all you need to know what the hiring trends are and which companies are on a hiring spree.

Salaries for Green Jobs

Yes of course, there’s always this question on how well the green job s are paying these days, a CNBC report says:

A recent report by the Brookings Institution and research group Battelle counted 2.7 million jobs in the United States’ “clean economy,” paying an average salary of $44,000 — a premium of nearly $6,000 over the average salary of all U.S. jobs.

Fair enough – let there be more ‘green’ and more green jobs, the best way to boost our economy and to do good to the human race!

Filed Under: Job Search, New Job Trends Tagged With: Future of Jobs in Green Energy, job descriptions and titles in green energy, job growth projection in green energy, Job Titles and Descriptions in Green Energy Employment, jobs in green energy, salaries for green energy jobs, where to find jobs in green sector

4 Tips for Transitioning from an Office Job to a Freelance Career

By Shweta 4 Comments

This guest post is contributed by Alisa Gilbert.
As pointed out on this blog and others, freelancing is increasingly becoming the employment way of the future. Since more and more work in various industries is being completed online, the prospect of working remotely from anywhere the comfort of your home or your favorite cafe is a viable and tempting option for a greater diversity of people. If you’ve taken the leap from a full-time office job to a freelancing career, but you aren’t quite sure what to expect in terms of your daily routine, here are a few tips all of which were gleaned from my personal freelancing experiences.
1. Keep some semblance of routine.
The most exciting part of launching into a freelancing career is that you become your own boss. You can decide when, where, and how you want to work. While this new reality is certainly a liberating one, you still want to keep some sort of routine. Many freelancers get so excited about their enhanced flexibility that they wake up and go to sleep at odd hours, wear their pajamas all day, and say yes to every friend who wants to go for lunch or coffee. The fact of the matter is that you have to set yourself rules if you want to maintain productivity and a steady cash flow. Of course, it doesn’t have to be as rigid as your old office job, but do remember to sleep regularly and write a schedule. Even if you don’t have the same schedule every day, having some parameters will keep you focused and disciplined.
2. Work around others at least half of your work week.
Whenever I’ve gotten together with freelancers, the biggest complaint that many have is feelings of loneliness. Even if your former office mates irritated you, you’d be surprised by how instrumental human interaction is in keeping you healthy and happy. Instead of working from home the entire time, be sure to get out of the house and work in different locations where you can be among people, whether it’s at a cafe, a co-working space, or the local library.
3. Saving money is much more important as a freelancer.
The biggest adjustment in transitioning from full-time to freelance for me personally was the loss of a steady paycheck. Even though during the course of a year, you can earn just as much, potentially even more, than your old office job, the income comes in spurts and streams. You have to anticipate these periods of little available work by saving money when you’re getting lots of assignments. This is the single most important thing to keep in mind as a freelancer. Don’t find yourself in an unfortunate position in which you can’t pay bills! Be sure to save aggressively.
4. Enjoy the perks!
What surprises me about many freelancers is that they take everything so seriously such that they forget why they jumped in to freelancing in the first place. It reminds of a time in grade school when, after months of having seating arrangements, our teacher told us students we could sit where we pleased. Almost everyone chose their original seat. It’s the same with some freelancers they’ve become so conditioned to working in an office that they don’t know how to enjoy their newfound freedom. If you’re feeling stressed, take a few days off. If you want a change of scenery, book a cheap trip to other side of the country and work from there. Enjoy playing with your kids more. Take the dog for a walk during the middle of the day. Take advantage of the positive things that go with freelancing. As long as you have the self-discipline to put you back on track, there’s no harm in enjoying the flexible life of the freelancer.

About the Author:
This guest post is contributed by Alisa Gilbert, who writes on the topics of bachelors degree. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: alisagilbert599[at]gmail.com.

Filed Under: New Job Trends Tagged With: 4 Tips for Transitioning from an Office Job to a Freelance Career, Alisa Gilbert, freelancing, freelancing career, Managing your Newfound Flexibility, transitioning from full-time to freelance

Thinking Green Business? Now is the Time

By Shweta 2 Comments

If you have the entrepreneurial inclination and insight, now is the best time to invest or seek investment in a green or clean-tech business. There are many other small businesses that are getting the blessings from the VCs and yes despite the word recession looming large in every economy there is lots of money to be invested in the companies of the future.
Recently SolarCycle was the Social Venture Award winner with a low cost solution to solar cooking that can help many in Africa, well maybe everywhere in the world.
CNNMoney reports:

SolarCycle’s solution: Urban trash. The company’s co-founders have created a solar cooker and a water pasteurizer out of the aluminized interior of chip bags. Both products work by concentrating solar energy into cooking pots or water troughs. The products are low-cost: The solar cooker, which has a life expectancy of five years, can be manufactured for $3 and sold in Africa for $5.
Timeline: SolarCycle will take several dozen prototypes to Tanzania this summer, aiming to serve 80 people through a pilot project. They plan to open their first factory there later this year.

Another example from the same source is Green Oil:
Concept: Rural India is poised for explosive economic growth, but much of the country lacks access to electricity and affordable fuel.
Two students at a top business school in India have developed a plan to decentralize energy sources. Green Oil plans to establish local “bio-fuel centres” to grow plants, collect seeds and extract oil. The oil byproducts would be sold to local residents, helping the remote villages access electricity and become more energy independent.
The bottom line is if you can do something green, clean and low cost funding might not be far behind. It is time to reset your thinking caps and if you have a viable idea hidden somewhere in the back of your brain time to shake it out and get a good marketing plan around it. The rest of the decade could very well be focused towards a greener career and business solution, the time to reinvent and to recreate is now. Do good and good will come to you; find simple practical solutions to save the earth and the earthlings and there is every reason that your business will flourish.
Some resources:
Amazon.com carries these relevant books; it is always worth a good research and reading before you step into any new or greener grounds:

• Green Business: A Five-part Model for Creating an Environmentally Responsible Company by Amy K., Ph.D. Townsend
• Green to Gold: How Smart Companies Use Environmental Strategy to Innovate, Create Value, and Build Competitive Advantage by Daniel Esty
• Harvard Business Review on Green Business Strategy (Harvard Business Review Paperback Series) by Hbsp

Filed Under: New Job Trends Tagged With: clean and low cost funding, earth day, green, Green business, green technology, SolarCycle, Thinking Green Business, Towards a Greener Career and Business

Give and you shall get

By Shweta 1 Comment

Our true wealth is the good we do in this world. None of us has faith unless we desire for our neighbors what we desire for ourselves.
- Muhammad

I am inspired today and also deeply appreciate Arianna Huffington’s recent post on why we must be more giving in our contributions towards charities and volunteering in the tough times of recession and economic downturn. True, it is affecting the lives of most of us around the nation and the world but those who are on the lower rungs of the society are suffering more than we are, and giving in these times will also help us feel better.
According to an article in the San Jose Mercury News, the charity organizations in the Silicon valley are feeling the crunch in this downturn. “More than half of Silicon Valley charities plan to lay off employees and scale back services this year after a substantial drop in major donations. Of 100 nonprofi t health and human service agencies surveyed by the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofi ts, only 7 percent reported they are “ financially strong and experiencing no impact from the recession.” Fifty-one percent of agencies anticipate layoffs “ in the near future” and 47 percent report that foundation funding is down from last year. ”
Here are some of the stats (from Arianna’s article) which certainly make us feel much worse as compared to just reading about the layoffs and foreclosures day in and out:
The United Way saw a 68-percent increase during the past year in the number of calls for basic needs such as food, shelter, and warm clothes.

31.1 million people received

food stamps in November, an increase of 13 percent from a year earlier.

In Arizona, there’s been a 100-percent increase

in the number of people seeking social services from the state.

In Contra Costa, California, 40,000 families applied

for 350 available affordable-housing vouchers.

In San Francisco, food banks report a 30-percent rise in demand for emergency food assistance. In Lehigh Acres, Florida demand is up 75 percent.

And the news is bleaker on the nationwide cuts of around Total: $80 billion on these eliminations:
Head Start, Education for the Disadvantaged, School improvement, Child Nutrition, Firefighters, Transportation Security Administration, Coast Guard, Prisons, COPS Hiring, Violence Against Women, NASA, NSF, Western Area Power Administration, CDC, Food Stamps
It makes the future bleaker for those who need it. Well, some cuts need to be done and also might be done even if the general population is against it, so the best way to contribute towards the betterment of those affected by these decisions is for those who have now to give to the have nots. Not only on the monetary front but also by contributing time volunteering for charity organizations and showing support at your local food banks and homeless food shelters.
Our earnings might be low and savings even worse; but even a small contribution to those in dire needs might mean a lot to them.
As a solution to such an issue, here is my contribution: our local cultural group plans to organize a fundraiser for a local non-profit environmental (tree planting) group which has already seen a major cut in government aid this year.

What are the other ways that we can be supportive of the non-profits and other organizations which will see funds cut from the government this year? Have your say, please comment.

Filed Under: Career Self-Help, New Job Trends Tagged With: Arianna Huffington's post, Give and you shall get, nationwide cuts of around Total: $80 billio

2009 Graduates – Tips on getting Hired this year

By Shweta 2 Comments

The economy has been predicted to be at a low point this year; recovery in the job market is always slow after a recession; most definitely this is the time for the new graduates of 2009 to be prepared for the slow hiring this year.
An article in CCN Money forecasts grim prospects for the 2009 graduates, it says after graduating next May, college seniors are likely to face the worst job market in 15 years.

As suggested in this article and by other career experts be prepared to look for jobs in areas other than your expertise or majors. Also know that your current majors can be applicable in different fields and industry.
Here are some tips that can guide you through the tough hiring that 2009 presents:
Consider Internship First
With thousands of resumes being submitted to any open position, the chances of being hired are tougher than ever before. Increase your chances of being hired by first considering internship and gaining the experience which is often desirable by companies. If an organization had a choice between a fresh graduate and one with year of intern experience, they would most definitely go for the one with experience.
Be prepared now to avoid the frustrations of not getting any calls or offers later in the year.
Tap your Parents Network
Networking is still the number one method which will introduce new hires to a company. Tap in your parents and their friends’ network to find the suitable open positions. Prepare an impressive resume and ask your parents or those they know in the relevant industry to go through your resume before sending to the HR or the hiring managers.
Be Ready to Relocate
There is a higher chance than ever before that you might not land a good job or for that matter any job in your resident city (depending on where you are); it is a good idea to apply nationwide and look for good opportunities that match your skills and offer you the best platform to launch your career.
Going Beyond College University Career Centers
Although the college /university career centers should be your first stop when looking for open positions and seeking guidance on your career path, it is advised to look beyond the offered help. You may go for career counselors and coaches for guiding you to a well chosen career. Career counselors and coaches offer you one-on-one services and answer questions / offer assistance to your specific needs, something that could work in your favor in the slow job market. Think about it, a little time and energy invested now in finding the career that you would be truly happy is immensely advantageous than tracing your steps back a few years from now on not being satisfied with the career choice or compromise that you had made hastily in the past.
Research and Resources
There are numerous books on the racks these days guiding you to a perfect career or the best career match. And since the students of the 21st century are exceptionally well conversant to the internet use, it is also advisable to search online for the best available positions and careers that inspire you the most. One of the very well defined web pages on linking the majors to the respective careers that I found online was on the Kansas State University website. A must see for sure if you are still confused or just need more insight on connecting the careers to your major.
Another good one and relevant to this topic is the Minnesota Careers website.
If you are reading this post from other countries, do explore such similar websites that your government or some private organizations offer. They present a wealth of information and it is a good idea to spend good time researching and asking questions on the path before beginning in any direction without a clue where it leads to. As always – BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND.

Filed Under: Job Search, New Job Trends Tagged With: 2009 Graduates Will you get Hired this year, Career counselors and coaches one-on-one services, internship experience, Tap your Parents Network, tips for graduates on jobs, university career centers

Alternatives to a Permanent Full Time Job

By Shweta 1 Comment

The New Year might see more layoffs and less employers hiring, which sure equates to more people out of job and permanent positions would be hard to come by for sometime at least. The alternatives to a permanent full time job include part-time work, contract jobs and all, but there are other options too which you could explore and see what suits best to you.
New work arrangements might be the call of the times for many in the US and around the world as the world braces for some tough times as a result of recession and widespread job losses.
Some of the ‘non full-time jobs’ options that you could consider are:
Employment as apprentices or trainees
If you have been in a layoff and for some reason do not intend to go back to the industry you have worked with, and can sustain financially for some time at least; then considering a career change could be one fabulous (forced) opportunity for you now. And since it is difficult to (successfully) change careers without having the right skill set, seeking employment or voluntary work as apprentice or trainee could be an option now. Seek training in the area of specialization where the jobs would be in future. The US department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has some good information on its website http://www.doleta.gov/OA/ . (For the readers not in the US, check out your government website for related information, there are also many career centers in various cities which can provide in information on vocational training institutes etc.).
Freelance
Freelance – Use your skills and talents and work on your own from where you want. Many website provide the tools and advertising you need to be visible to those who might need your skills, but you must first know how to market yourself and if at all it would be worth spending the time freelancing either in the short-term or long-run. You must build a reputation and credibility before you see yourself ‘thriving’ as a freelancer. There are better resources out there to research on freelancing if you are attracted to the idea, some of these are:
http://www.gofreelance.com/
http://www.ifreelance.com/
http://www.getafreelancer.com/
Small business opportunities
Start your own business – it is not the time to sit and think that nothing would work out if you started your business now in a bad economy. The world is always on the move and people need solutions to their problems. So if you present an answer to someone’s need be it as a product or a service, you might fare better as an entrepreneur than in any permanent job. Often we do what we have been doing or what are skills or education were, only when a major change happens for example a layoff and finding another job in the same field is extremely difficult it is time to reinvent your career and being your own boss (if you have the aptitude of course) cold be one of the most lucrative careers and opportunity of a lifetime.
Franchise options
It might be a good time to get into franchise business; there are reports of quite a few of the systems are cutting down on the fees to attract more franchisees in the economic downturn. Research well and assess your financial situation well before getting into the franchise market. Although most of those selling you on franchise options will try their best to convince that it is easy to get loans and start the business right away; it is always wiser to research on your own and calculate running costs and your capability to commitment to a business in the long-run.
However, be aware that running a franchise means a lot of work, do not expect the profits to come by any easier just because you bought a franchise of an already established business. Also there is a of of legal work involved so things could be slow to start-up initially. It is best to consult someone already in the business to get some first-hand analysis.

Filed Under: Career Self-Help, Job Search, New Job Trends Tagged With: Alternatives to a Permanent Full Time Job, Employment as apprentices or trainees, Franchise options, Freelance, Small business opportunities

How is the Job Outlook for 2009?

By Shweta 1 Comment

According to CNNMoney.com,
“the prediction that this recession may end around the middle of 2009 is not unreasonable, but even if accurate it disguises the critical question: What kind of a recovery is likely to follow? The answer is: probably a gradual one, unlike the more typical (but not universal) pattern of the economy coming out of most past recessions roaring ahead, propelled by pent-up consumer demand.
The healing process of a deeply wounded banking system, that has already led to nearly $1 trillion of write-downs, will act as a weight around the neck of any economic recovery in the latter part of 2009. Banks will likely continue the slow process of recapitalization and cleaning up the mountains of toxic assets on their balance sheets for a period longer than just the next few quarters.
That task will become even more challenging in the months ahead, as the recession itself will tend to generate an additional amount of toxic assets in their portfolios, impairing their ability to resume a more normal pace of lending. So, even though the economy may technically emerge from the recession in the second half of 2009, the recovery may initially become more of an issue of semantics rather than a robust turnaround in economic activity.”

With such a prediction around, it is more likely that the job market would be pretty much under freeze most of the next year. The nations’ unemployment rate is on the rise and some of the states are more affected than others (those predominantly relying on manufacturing and other areas which are seeing major job cuts); there would be only few regions which would not be affected by this major recession which leaves a deeper mark because of the fall of the major financial institutions. Already many companies have gone through major layoffs and cut back in their spending for the year, it would not be a shock to see many more coming in the year 2009.
With a sluggish economy, hiring freeze and forecast of more job losses, what should you do if you are someone looking for a job (you could be a fresh graduate, someone reentering the workforce, or someone who has recently been in a layoff)?
It is right that there are many layoffs around and hiring is tougher than ever before, but many government plans would soon be underway to ensure employment increases to boost economy, it would be wise to research and analyze where the funds are being invested – renewable energy sector, solar energy, green-tech, bio-medical or research and development – the world is not going to stop for this recession. If jobs are being slashed in some areas there are others which will be thriving, so be ready for change and the first step is to be well-informed.

If you are searching for a job in the US, I would strongly suggest that you read The Occupational Outlook Handbook, developed by the US department of Labor. It is a nationally recognized source of career information, designed to provide valuable assistance to individuals making decisions about their future work lives.
If you are not in the US, it is well worth some time spent on research to find out if your country has a similar publication on careers and jobs informing you on the training and education needed to get a job, earnings estimate, expected job prospects, what workers do on the job and the working conditions for a particular job sector.

Job fairs are still going, although you will see longer lines and less smiling faces but at least you will get some first hand info of the scenario in your region.Once you have done the ground work and research on the present situation it is time to act and some more tips on how to go on further are at How to Find a Job when there are none around.
Please also share your tips by adding them in the comments to this post on how to find a job during a recession.

Filed Under: Employment News, Job Search, New Job Trends Tagged With: How to Find a Job, Job Outlook for 2009, jobs in recession

How to Find a Job when there are none around

By Shweta 7 Comments

If you cannot see something it does not mean it is not there; it only means that you have to try harder and perhaps with a different vision to find the unseen.
If you are in a layoff as a result of the economic downturn; then you will benefit from these tips on how to find a job when there is a hiring freeze everywhere and the companies are getting our of business left and right.Network to Penetrate the Unpublished Job Market
Where all to look for jobs, when there are none being advertised? The answer is: Do your research and the answer shall come to you.

• Read newspapers, trade magazines, journals, BLS website (this is the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and would be different statistics if you are not in US). What are the current industry trends? Where all is the funding money being channeled? These could towards the new solar development companies or other green-tech; there might be many unadvertised jobs here and all you have to do is first find out which ones could be the ones to apply for and how.
• Research and find out which companies are showing good profits and sales increase in the tough economy; they could be the ones looking for hiring new employees since money is not a constraint with them.
• Research to find which companies are launching new products and there is a possibility that the project teams could be expanding.
• There could be some jobs that are recession proof, perhaps there could be the right job for you where you can channel or re-package your skills. (Read more at: Best Jobs to have during Recession )

Once you are ready with your research the next action step is finding the right contact to approach the position internally. Do not be put off if you do not see any advertised jobs on their online job boards. Some internal positions are not advertised and you can very well approach these jobs by smart networking.
Vocational Training for a new Job and Skill
May non-profit vocational training center and job placement centers offer training sessions for jobs like JobTrain which serves hundreds of youth (ages 14-21) each year in both in-school and out of school programs. Trainees also learn to improve their communication skills, to understand the importance of punctuality and working hard, and to build self-respect and self-sufficiency. JobTrain youth can spend summers working and gaining real-world experience, or can earn high school credit in non-traditional courses. This is very important for the youth especially since just out of college you may not land a job immediately during an economic downturn.
Use your Current Skills to Freelance
It won’t bring in the same money that you might be getting as a full-time job but when paying your bills and taking care of a family are the priorities then any additional income is welcome. Also make sure that you spend say about 40 percent of your “work” time in freelancing and rest of the time in networking with friends and ex-colleagues on any possible job openings leads and enhancing your skills.
Find Work that you can do during Weekends
You or your spouse can work a few hours during the weekend to make some extra dough – not a bad idea in a recession. Well, it could be as simple as helping in advertising for a local pizza place to showing your web savvies online by either learning a new skill (there is tons of information online and self help courses that you can learn from) or teaching others and charging them for it – Ok that means have your website or blog (Note: you may not monetize this option in a short time, it needs time and careful nurturing and advertising.. but yet again, it is good to begin something that and then evaluate the options on the returns and your interest in taking it to different heights).
Be Ready to Relocate
Many good corporate jobs are moving overseas, there have been many reports during the last few months where companies in India and China have offered good positions to those laid off from Lehman and others affected from the Wall Street roller coaster debacles. Asian economies are growing and many companies are eager to absorb these globally experienced professionals.
An international experience would only enhance your portfolio and there is always a possibility to return to your native land when the going gets good.

Related Posts:
Recreate and Diversify in a Recession
What to do after a Layoff
Accepting and Dealing with a Layoff
Best Jobs to have during Recession
How to be Optimistic during the Job Search Process
Who all to Contact when Looking for a Job
How to be Optimistic during the Job Search Process
Learning from a Layoff – is it the Right Time to Innovate and be Independent?
7 Tips to help you Work effectively from Home

Careerbright – Career Article and Information for Professionals and Working Women

Filed Under: Job Search, Layoff, New Job Trends Tagged With: Accepting and Dealing with a Layoff, How to Find a Job when there are none around, jobs in recession, layoff as a result of the economic downturn, Unpublished Job Market

Your First Interview Fresh out of College – How to Volley the Behavioral Questions

By Shweta Leave a Comment

During their face to face interviews or even before in the screening interviews the Millennials can expect a volley of behavioral questions. Asked mainly to assess how you act in a particular situation, it is best to be prepared for the many that can be asked and often are the ones that are difficult to answer on the fly.
These questions are an attempt to estimate your problem solving abilities, how well you work in a team, and most importantly how well you can contribute towards the company’s culture. Most of these questions would be directly related to what the company values are and these assessments help the interviewers to judge if you would be the right fit for the position. Apart from the technical skills you have prepare well for the soft skills that are the focus and can make or break your chances for the job.
Some examples of behavioral questions are listed on the QuintCareers website.
When answering the behavioral questions try to be honest, or as believable as possible.

Sylvia Landy in her new book Ditch the Flip-Flops – Ace your job interview Fresh Out of College says; Formulate your answers as follows:

• Describe briefly a specific situation or event
• Explain the action you took
• Define the results in terms of outcomes and what you learned

She says that you must share experiences that involve both positive and negative circumstances. However be sure that the negative instances demonstrate satisfactory resolution o proactive lessons learned. But one of the best strategies is to review your employer and market research to ascertain which characteristics are most valuable to this type of organization, culture, industry and so on.

Filed Under: Job Search, New Job Trends Tagged With: Ace your job interview Fresh Out of College, behavioral questions, ditch the flip flops, interview tips fresh out of college

In a Tough Economy will Freelance Thrive

By Shweta 3 Comments

Freedom is that instant between when someone tells you to do something and when you decide how to respond.
~Jeffrey Borenstein

 And that to me is what freelancing is all about.A freelancer, freelance worker, or freelance is a person who pursues a profession without a long-term commitment to any one employer. (Source: WiKi)
Is there a Freelancer in You

To begin on the freelancing career first specify what you are good at. Are you an expert at something a product expert or a service expert or with proficient knowledge at least? Try to get in the customers shoes to answer this question: Why should I hire this person?
If you can give a few solid reasons why the person on the other side should hire you, then go ahead and market yourself. Freelancing could be for you.
However not only doing what you are good at makes a good freelancer, you have to be equally good at managing your time and working on your own.
An advantage for a freelancer during the tough recession times is a somewhat cash-flow security even if you are in a layoff from a full-time job. And also even if you are working part-time on your present job you can still find time to some freelance work (to make that extra dough for the rainy days). That also makes the framework of starting your own business somewhere down the road.
The Writer Freelancer
A large chunk of the freelancing work offered and searched for is on writing projects. One of the good internet resources around if you are looking for a freelancing job is at WRITERS MARKET (writersmarket.com). This website offers you ‘instant access to the most comprehensive database of verified writing-market listings — anywhere’.
Another good resource is Mediabistro (http://www.mediabistro.com/) it offers good advice and guidance to break into web journalism, list of all relevant professional resources and has an impressive resource of talented writers on it’s ‘marketplace’. However this website does not offer free articles and you have to pay for membership and access to other resources they offer; but the jobs listed are free for browsing. Even though some websites have an upfront membership fees, but if they are worth it and you are serious in getting into this business, then some good advice would go a long way.
Tips and Advice before you begin Freelancing

• If you are a new contributor, make sure that you offer something unique and have a portfolio that stands out. There is a tough competition in many freelancing projects.
• Know your limits and do not over commit on a project or several of them. The internet can be nasty at getting back at you, it is very easy for clients to post negative statements about you and that hurts the reputation and hinders the possibility of landing more projects.
• Some good tips on how not to make some mistakes on freelancing are on the FreelanceSwitch website at 10 Biggest Mistakes Freelancers Make, and How to Avoid Them.

Freelancer’s Resources
All ready to begin freelancing? You can access some freelance jobs online through these various freelance specific job boards:

• Freelance Switch
• iFreelance
• GoFreelance

And here are some books that advice you well on the road to freelancing, it is always a good idea to read from the experts before venturing out on unknown grounds. Test yourself well before committing and that eliminates disappointment and under performance.

• Six-Figure Freelancing by Kelly James-Enger
• Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer: How to Win Top Writing Assignments by Jenna Glatzer
• The ASJA Guide to Freelance Writing: A Professional Guide to the Business, for Nonfiction Writers of All Experience Levels by Samuel G. Freedman
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• http://careerbright.com/category/job-search-tips/new-job-trends 

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