6 Job Searching Tips Most People Skip

March 22, 2012 9:44:00 PM

6 Crucial Job Searching Steps Most People Skip | Wise Bread

www.wisebread.com

After making the decision to look for a new job, most job seekers put together a resumé and then start networking and marketing themselves to potential employers. Naturally, you hope to attract interest and win a job offer as soon as possible.
Fueled with the desire to take positive action quickly, however, you may skip important aspects of your job search. Even if unhurried, you may not realize that figuring out what you want in a job and an employer helps you increases your chances of getting hired.
Here are crucial steps that people often miss when conducting a job search. (See also:10 Outdated Job Search Techniques to Avoid )

1. Defining Your Ideal Job

You may jump into a search without considering what's best for you because you do not want to limit job possibilities. But even when unemployment stats are high, defining your ideal situation helps to focus your job search. 
Specific areas to consider include:

• Work content and day-to-day responsibilities
• Expertise you hope to contribute
• Duties you'd like to avoid
• Organization size, structure, and style

Using this information, communicate career goals to your network as well as human resources managers and hiring managers.

2. Updating Your LinkedIn Profile

Many job seekers focus on polishing their resumés and cleaning up their Facebook walls, but neglect their LinkedIn profiles. Remember to do the following:

• Upload a recent, professional image of yourself
• Freshen your experience to include projects and accountabilities relevant to your job search
• Build and expand your network 
• Request and offer recommendations 
• List stand-out stuff about yourself to infuse your personality and drive for excellence into your professional online presence

Your LinkedIn listing validates your professional experiences through connections with and recommendations from your bosses, colleagues, customers, vendors, and other relationships.

3. Researching Workplace Culture

Job seekers often fail to investigate the workplace style of potential employers. But having the right cultural fit is a key factor in your appeal as a job candidate.
Research organizational practices and ways of thinking in these and other areas:

• Encouragement of innovation and risk taking
• Expectations for workloads and extended workdays
• Commitment to employee development in terms of training, assignments, and promotions
• Decision-making styles, from empowering independent action to requiring multiple layers of approvals

Talk with friends and acquaintances about their experiences with the company. Read news accounts. Look at job descriptions on your connections' LinkedIn profiles. Check out employee reviews at career sites such as Glassdoor . 
Determine if a potential employer is a good match with your professional values and approach to getting things done. Then, use this information to articulate why you are a great candidate for the company during interviews with human resources staff, hiring managers, and potential colleagues.

4. Learning About Interviewers

In the excitement of winning an interview, job seekers often forget to gather pertinent information about those who are interviewing them. You may be reluctant, but asking questions often places you in a positive light with hiring decision-makers. Plus, you gather valuable information for interviews and follow-up activities.
Find out these tidbits about your interviewers:

• Names and titles
• Contact information, including email and mailing addresses
• Positions (if not clear by title), such as who represents human resources, who is the department head, and who are potential colleagues

Learn about each interviewer's background by looking at her bio on the company's website or reviewing her LinkedIn profile, noting career progression and special interests. This information can help you understand how to frame your responses, shape questions, and manage the flow of conversation during the interview. Plus, you'll have the details you need to send a thank-you note.

5. Uncovering the Difference Between Official and Working Job Titles

Many job seekers do not take the time to truly understand all the terms that companies use to describe openings within their organizations. Even the most discerning person may draw incorrect or incomplete conclusions about a position based on its title and job description. What's crucial is grasping that there is often a gap between your understanding as a job seeker and the intent of the employer, which may have an unusual organizational structure or quirky corporate lingo.
So don't rely on job titles to identify positions for which you are qualified and don't assume that you are ill-suited for a job based solely on the written description. Do your best to vet opportunities by researching a company, its culture, and its representatives with whom you are interviewing. When you meet with hiring decision-makers, ask clarifying questions about work content so that you can be sure you understand the requirements. Then, use this knowledge to reference professional experiences, skills, and accomplishments most relevant to the job opening.

6. Sending Thank-You Notes

Many job seekers forgo sending thank-you notes because they think that this step will not play a significant role in the hiring decision. While it's true that many companies call back candidates before a message can be composed and delivered, proper follow up contributes to success in a job search.
Differentiate yourself from other candidates by thanking your interviewers. Craft a thank-you note that conveys your appreciation and solidifies your position as a strong candidate. In your written communications, reinforce the value of your capabilities and let the hiring manager know that you are truly interested in the opportunity. These messages increase the likelihood that you will receive an offer.

How To: Decipher Keywords in Job Listings

March 3, 2012 9:16:00 PM

What's hiding behind the buzzwords in job ads? - Fortune Management

management.fortune.cnn.com

You've heard the job ad jargon so often, your eyes glaze over: detail-oriented, fast-paced work environment, team player. But these well-worn phrases can expose the dirty little secrets of your potential future employer.

 

FORTUNE — Read enough help-wanted advertisements, and you'll soon realize that they all basically sound the same. Jargon like "detail-oriented" and "self-starter" is so overused that the positions advertised begin to sound unremarkable: part of the expected landscape of hunting for a job.
But if you stop and think about what all of these buzzwords are signaling, you'll realize how much information you just might miss if you fail to read between the lines. First of all, when employers fall back on the same old jargon to advertise positions, it could very well be that they actually have no idea what they are looking for. They just know they have a spot to fill.
"Jargon is our way to grow lazier decision making in corporate cultures," says Kevin Fleming, owner of Grey Matters, a neuroscience-based executive development and coaching firm based in Jackson Hole and Tulsa. "We use these words to cover up something. It could also be a way to hide some ambivalence."
For instance, an employer may ask for two qualities that seem to conflict — such as "entrepreneurial" and "team player" — because the hiring manager and the human resources director have different ideas about what the position requires. Or, the employer may simply have unrealistic expectations of all the qualities that a single individual could possess.
"The hiring managers are thinking about the ideal person. 'If I could get everything I wanted on my Christmas wish list, what would I put on that list?'" says Kathryn Ullrich, a recruiter based in Silicon Valley and author of Getting to the Top: Strategies for Career Success . "They'll take the best attributes of the five best people they have."
Or perhaps, confusing jargon suggests that the company has an ill-defined mission or strategy. "Most people have no idea what the development plans really are; they don't know where they're going," says Fleming.
With that in mind, we've asked Fleming, Ullrich and other career experts to help us decode the most commonly used jargon in job ads, often the same buzzwords that fill up resumes. 
Detail-oriented. "Watch out for control freaks," Fleming warns. Unless the position involves detail at its core — like a forensic accountant or administrative assistant — this phrase hints that your every move will be scrutinized and second-guessed.
Team player. It may sound innocuous, but be wary that this innocuous phrase really means that you'll take whatever the bosses dish out, "for the team." "Team player is code phrase for someone who will allow us to do whatever we want to you," Fleming explains.

MORE:  6 networking mistakes job hunters make

Fast-paced work environment. This means that the employer wants high productivity at all costs and you'll be fielding a steady flow of emergencies. "Fast paced means you're going to work more hours than we're paying you," interprets Ullrich. Some industries, such as journalism or communications, are truly fast paced, but you should already know that going into those fields. "Fast-paced work environment means it's a little bit of a crazy office," says Kate Giannini, senior recruitment manager at Edelman Public Relations in San Francisco.
Multitask. Neuroscience tells us it's actually impossible for the human brain to multitask successfully. By trying simultaneously to complete different tasks, we reduce our performance and effectiveness at each individual job. "Multitasking is an utter violation of reality. What they're trying to say is, 'We may switch up your job description without telling you and we want you to be okay with it,' " Fleming says. You'll need to be able to quickly prioritize initiatives and figure out which competing task is the most important, Ullrich says.
Self-starter. "It's saying, 'When we don't give you any sense of direction, we want you to pull it out of thin air,'" interprets Fleming. "Self starter is a code phrase for, 'Can you make ambivalence and lack of direction work?' "
Results-oriented or self-motivated. "What this really means is that they want someone with incredible drive, often used to opaquely reference sales positions where you will have to work to make commission," says Shawn O'Connor, founder and chief executive officer of Stratus Careers, a career counseling and training firm based in New York.
Early-stage or venture-backed. While these phrases legitimately describe startups backed by venture capitalists, it's important to understand the subtext. "There aren't a lot of resources; you may not get paid a lot; and we hope you're going to work for that Holy Grail of going public or some successful exit," Ullrich translates.
Experience in an entrepreneurial setting. Similarly, any job ad that describes an "entrepreneurial position" will demand a willingness to do whatever task needs to be done from the person who takes the gig. "This job is definitely not the right fit for someone who wants clearly delineated responsibilities or doesn't want to have to take out his own trash from his desk," says O'Connor.

MORE:  The best cities for job hunting

Creativity for "out of the box" solutions. If you relish charting your own course, respond to the job ads that reference creativity, problem solving and "out of the box" thinking. "That's jargon for: we don't have it figured out yet," Ullrich says.
To be sure, any one of these phrases might appear in an ad for a position that you'd happily fill. But when you understand the hidden meaning, you'll be in a better position to decide whether the tradeoffs that come with this job make sense for you. And don't expect the jargon to disappear from help wanted ads any time soon.
"Job ads are full of jargon for the same reason sugar is part of good fattening food: it feels good," Fleming says. "There's a little bit of a high when you say the job you're looking for has impact and has a bandwidth that's powerful."

How To: Resist Rising Food Prices (CPI)

February 21, 2012 4:45:04 PM

How to Resist Increasing Food Prices

www.mint.com

Once your start tracking your spending and living on a budget, unmanaged food and dining expenses often reveal themselves to take a large piece of the pie. Spending money on quality food is part of a healthy life and for many Americans, dining out is a form of leisure and a break from cooking and cleaning.
Did your income increase by 4.8% last year? Food costs did, and according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), you will see an additional 3.5% increase in 2012. The best way to avoid budgeting hiccups from increased food prices (without succumbing to a life of extreme couponing or Ramen noodles) is to plan for food price increases before they become a budgeting issue.

Avoid Trading Down Traps

Eliminating eating out altogether is one way to avoid restaurant food cost increases, but given current diner demand, that shift is not entirely realistic. In its report Demand for Food Away From Home , the USDA estimates that if incomes rise by 1% annually through 2020, spending at full-service restaurants will increase nearly 15 percent by 2020.
While your budgeting instinct may be to choose mass market restaurants that offer "kids eat free" and "buy one, get one free" style offers, remember that "chain" doesn't always mean "cheap."Restaurant expert, Bill Marvin, says chain restaurants are two to three times more profitable than independent operations and Nation's Restaurant News expects that Buffalo Wild Wings, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Longhorn Steakhouse and Texas Roadhouse may all increase menu prices by at least two percent in 2012.
When you're striving to eat out on a budget, identify the number you're willing to spend, including tip, before you ever choose the venue. Check out menus online beforehand and consider the true cost of the meal, including the gas money you'll spend driving there, wait time, food quality, experience and whether portions are large enough to share or take home. Avoid restaurants that require sides to be ordered a la carte and limit dining in steakhouses when you're on a tight budget, as the USDA reports that beef prices are up as much as 10% this year, thanks to droughts.

Don't "Read" the Menu

Just as stores arrange merchandise to entice impulse buys , "menu engineers" configure items and name dishes creatively to draw you to the most profitable dishes. Featured dishes that are placed above the midline and to the right of the page are typically higher-priced items that the restaurant wants you to order. A recent study by San Francisco State University Professor, Sybil Yang, also revealed that diners tend to read the menu like a book, first selecting an entrée and then building a "meal story" around it, complete with appetizers, dessert and drinks. To stick to your budget, identify a single item you would like to order and then put the menu away.

Use Social Media

Restaurants commonly offer Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and FourSquare users opportunities for savings or a free menu item if they participate in a social media exchange or sign up for periodic emails. Connect with your favorite venues online to find savings. If you live in one of its participating cities, Restaurant.com may also offer as much as 50% off on select eateries.

Profit From Buyer Remorse

Daily deals can be a gateway to unnecessary spending but when it comes to dining out, deal reseller sites can be a great way to unearth savings. Sites like CoupRecoup and DealsGoRound allow you to buy someone else's unwanted impulse daily deal buy, often for less than the original deal cost.

Use credit cards strategically.

You probably know that using a rewards credit card is a good way to get a little money back for your spending (only if you pay it off in full, of course) but Odysseas Papadimitriou, CEO at CardHub, also suggests "the island approach" to maximize savings. This strategy involves using a couple of different rewards cards in tandem. For example, if you dine out frequently, use the card that rewards the most for that activity but use it exclusively for dining out. If you've identified a separate card that rewards top dollar for grocery purchases, use it every time you're at the grocery store.

Don't pay for packaging.

Many rising food prices are unavoidable but you still can control exactly what you're putting your money towards. Explore alternative ways of shopping that will ensure you're paying for quality food, versus packaging, marketing and fuel costs. Natural foods chef,Amanda Skrip, suggests buying grains, beans, flours, nuts, seeds and dried fruit in bulk bins. If you need a small amount of a spice you rarely use, buy a pinch from the bulk aisle versus wasting money on a whole jar that will go unused.
Skrip also recommends being flexible with your produce selections; in-season, local items will be more affordable due to higher supply and lower fuel costs. Dairy, meat and produce sold through local, organic co-op and community supported agriculture (CSA ) groups are another alternative to overpaying for a lower quality product at the grocery store. Check out LocalHarvest.com to search for groups near you and find links to online suppliers.

People's Tech Take Over - Infographic

People's Tech Take Over - Infographic

2012's Highest Paying College Majors

February 17, 2012 10:46:40 AM

Best College Majors by Salary

www.mint.com

While some go to college to expand their mind and cultivate themselves, others have a far more mercenary goal in mind: They just want to make money. There's nothing wrong with either choice. However, the reason you choose to go to college will impact what major you decide to take. If you're looking to make a lot of money right out of college, these are majors you should look into. All figures are from PayScale.com.

Engineering

The data is clear: When you want to make a pile of money, you go into engineering. Seven of the ten top-earning majors are engineering majors, with all of the top six being engineering majors. The best-paid engineering majors are petroleum, chemical, electrical, materials, aerospace and computer engineering. Petroleum engineers start at about $97,000 per year and are making $155,000 by mid-career. The lowest-paid engineers in the top ten are nuclear engineers, who start at a paltry $65,000 and only early what entry-level petroleum engineers make by mid-career. Still, engineering isn't for everyone: You'd better be very good at math if you decide to make this your vocation.

Physics

In seventh place overall is physics. Physicists come out of college earning a respectable $49,800 per year, and are making a handsome $101,000 per year by mid-career. This is another place where you're going to have to be good at applied mathematics to even get through college, let alone make a career at. Still, for the person interested in working with their mind and their hands, this can be a a great choice of major. It can also be a good choice for those who want to teach, though graduate study would be required to teach at the college level.

Applied Mathematics

It goes without saying that this is another major where you need to be good at math. Mathematicians work in a variety of fields, including alongside many of the engineers and physicists mentioned above. It's common for mathematicians to work for the federal government at places like the National Institute of Standards and Technology and NASA. Mathematicians start out making about $52,000 per year but are earning around $98,000 by mid-career.

Computer Science

Different from computer engineering which deals with hardware, computer science is the discipline dedicated to computer software. It's probably not too surprising that computer science majors are among the top earning majors in the United States, or that they are highly employable. As the world increasingly becomes plugged in at all times (think mobile technology and the apps boom), computer science majors might not even need employment in many cases — they might be able to get by just by freelancing or by making their own products and selling them directly to the public. Computer science majors start out earning just over $52,000 per year and are earning $98,000 per year by the time they move into mid-career.

Economics

You've probably noticed a pattern by now: Virtually all of the top paying college majors require a lot of math. Economics is no exception to this rule, but it's probably the closest thing to a humanity that we've seen on the list so far. You'll definitely be reading a lot of stuff that isn't math when you pursue an economics degree, but you're also going to be crunching a lot of numbers. Still, it doesn't take an economics major to figure out that making $47,000 a year once you get out of college isn't bad and earning $94,000 annually at mid-career is nothing to sneeze at, either.

Statistics

Statistically speaking, people who are good at math earn more money than people who aren't. Statistics is a fascinating area of study and, like economics, resembles a humanity in some ways, specifically philosophy. In statistics you'll learn not just how to create statistical projects, but also what different types of statistics actually mean. The discipline is about a lot more than math — it's about learning what numbers say about the world we live in. Entry-level statisticians earn $49,000, with mid-career professionals making $93,000.

Picking A Major

No one is suggesting that you do something you hate for the sake of earning money. However, if you have any interest in the above areas, they're worth considering as majors. It will certainly help you pay off your student loans faster.

February 17, 2012 9:49:04 AM

Bruce Schneier's Liars and Outliers: how do you trust in a networked world?

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Bruce Schneier's Liars and Outliers : how do you trust in a networked world?

John Scalzi's Big Idea introduces Bruce Schneier's excellent new book Liars and Outliers , and interviews Schneier on the work that went into it. I read an early draft of the book and supplied a quote: "Brilliantly dissects, classifies, and orders the social dimension of security-a spectacularly palatable tonic against today's incoherent and dangerous flailing in the face of threats from terrorism to financial fraud." Now that the book is out, I heartily recommend it to you.

 

It's all about trust, really. Not the intimate trust we have in our close friends and relatives, but the more impersonal trust we have in the various people and systems we interact with in society. I trust airline pilots, hotel clerks, ATMs, restaurant kitchens, and the company that built the computer I'm writing this short essay on. I trust that they have acted and will act in the ways I expect them to. This type of trust is more a matter of consistency or predictability than of intimacy.
Of course, all of these systems contain parasites. Most people are naturally trustworthy, but some are not. There are hotel clerks who will steal your credit card information. There are ATMs that have been hacked by criminals. Some restaurant kitchens serve tainted food. There was even an airline pilot who deliberately crashed his Boeing 767 into the Atlantic Ocean in 1999.
My central metaphor is the Prisoner's Dilemma, which nicely exposes the tension between group interest and self-interest. And the dilemma even gives us a terminology to use: cooperators act in the group interest, and defectors act in their own selfish interest, to the detriment of the group. Too many defectors, and everyone suffers — often catastrophically.

Liars and Outliers: Enabling the Trust that Society Needs to Thrive

Bank Switch Kit & Checklist - Make the Move to a Credit Union

February 17, 2012 11:10:08 AM

Bank Switch Kit and Checklist

www.consumerismcommentary.com

With Wells Fargo changing their policies to be less consumer-oriented this week, I've received several questions about the logistics switching banks. In previous decades, closing your account at one bank and opening an account at another was a simple process. All that was required was to walk into one branch, ask to close your account, provide some proof of your identity, take your cash or cashier's check to a different location, and open a new account with your deposit.
With automated banking, direct deposits, and pre-authorized electronic withdrawals and online bill payments, taking your business from one bank to another can be a hassle. There is a financial risk involved; if you neglect to change your banking information with a vendor, your payment could bounce, and you could be subject to late fees, insufficient fund fees, and perhaps even cancellation of your services.

If you've taken a modern approach to banking, with automated and electronic payments, you'll need to start planning in advance. Here are the priorities, if you've already chosen your new bank. To compare banks, read through the reviews available here on Consumerism Commentary, but also consider your local community banks and credit unions.
Download the Consumerism Commentary Bank Switch Kit to help you organize the information you'll need. The link is at the bottom of this article.

Step 1. Open the new account with appropriate minimums.

Before you can change the account information stored with companies that bill you, you'll need to have your new bank's routing (ABA) number and your new account number. For a short period of time, both your old bank account and your new bank account will be active. This ensures that all your payments go through and all your deposits are received during the transition period. Determine which types of accounts you need at your new bank, and have the minimum required to open the accounts ready to deposit.
If you had debit cards, ATM cards, check cards, deposit slips, or paper checks with your old account, don't forget to order the same when you open your new account.
Download the Bank Switch Kit for a convenient way to keep track of your new banking information.

Step 2. Change your direct deposit information.

It could take as many as two pay periods for your new direct deposit instructions to take effect. It could take two to four weeks after requesting the change to your direct deposit before you receive a pay check at your new bank. Most employers have their own forms for submitting changes to direct deposit, but I've included a generic form in the Bank Switch Kit that most human resources should be able to accept. Many employers have the ability to accept direct deposit instructions online, so check with your employer as soon as possible.
This is the slowest aspect of moving from one bank to another, so start as soon as you've opened your new accounts.

Step 3. Adjust your automated bill payments.

If you're living in the twenty-first century, you've likely configured many of your monthly financial obligations to withdraw money from your bank accounts. You'll need to change this banking information one vendor at a time without missing any possible automated withdrawals. Review your past three or four banking statements to help your recollection of all the bills that are paid automatically. Here's a list of some of the most common bills that allow automated payments from your bank accounts.

• Your rent or mortgage.
• Your power bills (electricity or gas).
• Your telephone bills (land line and mobile phone).
• Your water and sewer bills.
• Your property taxes.
• Your income taxes, if you have enrolled in the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) or your state's electronic payment system.
• Your car, home, and life insurance.
• Your other insurance payments.
• Your credit card bills.
• Your payments to student loans.
• Your payments to car loans.

The downloadable bank switch kit has a checklist where you can indicate the date you called to have your banking information changed. When you call, email, or complete this change online, make sure you know when the changes will take effect. Most of the time, the change is immediate, but if you have a payment already pending using your old bank account's information, it might not be until the following month that the vendor applies the new banking information.
If you've opened your new bank account with just the minimum required to avoid fees, keep in mind that you may need to transfer more money from your to cover your bills.

Step 4. Update any linked bank accounts or investments.

The ability to begin investing using automated bank transfers has helped many people begin to save for retirement — or the future in general — without having a large sum to devote to the investment immediately. It's easy to forget about these investments and transfers. I have had a weekly $15 transfer from my primary checking account to another bank's savings account for years, and it would be easy to forget this without reviewing my transactions each month. Updating information regarding your linked accounts serves two purposes:

• to ensure your accounts don't try to send money to or withdraw money from the account you intend to close, and
• to ensure you don't miss any saving or investment opportunities as you rearrange your bank accounts.

First, as mentioned above, link the new bank account to your old bank account to ensure you can transfer money to your new account at will. This will ensure you have enough funds in the account to cover all the bills you've transitioned in the previous step. Keep in mind that savings accounts are limited to six on-demand withdrawals per month. If you exceed that number, the bank may charge you fees or close your account before you're ready.
Pay attention to your automated investments to your IRA , transfers to your high-yield savings accounts , and investments to your kids' education funds. Download the Bank Switch Kit for a complete list of possible linked accounts.

Step 5. Wait and close your old bank account.

After you've taken the time to ensure that your old bank account has been inactive and will not expect any new deposits or withdrawals, follow your bank's process for closing your account. In most cases, you can walk into any branch with proper identification for closing your account, but in some cases, banks require you call a telephone number. If that is the case, they might want you to talk to a "retention specialist" who will do his or her best to keep you from closing your account, perhaps by offering you a better deal than you may be receiving. It's best to ignore these offers and stick to your resolution.
If you are required to close your account by phone or by mail, the only way you may be able to receive your deposited money is through a check sent to the address your bank has on file for your account. This is an imperfect process; it would be much better to walk into a branch and walk out with your money. It would frighten me if I had to close a bank account with a significant sum of money and wait for a check for the amount to arrive in the mail.
Once you've received the check, make sure the bank has provided the full balance. Your balance at the end of the statement or online should be zero. Ensure you've received any accrued interest your account would have earned. In some cases, you may need to time the closing of your bank account to ensure you don't miss on any substantial interest that might be due to you if your bank does not accrue interest on a daily basis.
The Consumerism Commentary Bank Switch Kit available for download includes a generic letter you may send to your bank in order to close your account.

Step 6. Destroy old forms.

Shred any debit cards and deposit slips associated with your old account once you receive confirmation that your old bank has closed your account. Get rid of your paper checks and any endorsement stamps that you may have that include your bank number.
With this step, you can celebrate the moment you are now free from a relationship you are better off without. Don't forget to monitor your new account and your bills closely over the next few months to ensure you haven't missed anything. If you find a problem quickly, you may be able to resolve it without needing to pay any penalties (or have penalties reversed if they are charged automatically).

Download the Bank Switch Kit and Checklist Here

Download the Consumerism Commentary Bank Switch Kit(version 1.0α, February 14, 2012). Adobe Reader or another program that displays and prints Portable Document Format (PDF) files is required.
This is a work in progress. Please feel free to share your feedback. I'll continue to revise the Kit to improve it for more consumers who wish to leave one bank behind in favor of another financial institution, whether a national, regional, or community bank or a credit union.

Proposed Law will Force Advertisers to Add a Disclaimer on the Ad

February 16, 2012 10:04:00 AM

Arizona bill takes aim at airbrushed women in ads — www.azcentral.com — Readability

www.readability.com

by Alia Beard Rau - Feb. 14, 2012 10:57 PM

The Republic | azcentral.com

Women have wrinkles, pores and curves. And there's a movement across the world to make sure advertisers can no longer pretend otherwise.
Now, that movement has come to Arizona.
House Bill 2793, proposed by Rep. Katie Hobbs, D-Phoenix, would require advertisers who alter or enhance a photo to put a disclaimer on that ad alerting customers that "Postproduction techniques were made to alter the appearance in this advertisement. When using this product, similar results may not be achieved."
The bill has little to no chance of success. But Hobbs said that's OK.
"We just wanted to bring it to the table and start a discussion," she said. "We need to bring attention to these body-image issues, especially with young girls. Girls need to know that they don't have to look perfect."
Arizona appears to be the first state in the nation to consider such a bill. There are ongoing efforts to get Congress to take up the matter. Several other countries also regulate or are considering regulating such advertising.

Hobbs said YWCA Maricopa County brought the idea to her.
Sam Richard, who serves on the YWCA Maricopa County board of directors, said the bill is modeled after laws in the United Kingdom.
"As an organization, we are all about empowering women and eliminating discrimination," Richard said. "We want to make sure that young women get a better start and better self-image."
He said girls need to understand that these photos aren't all real. Someone has airbrushed out the model's wrinkles and pores, or put a woman's head on top of a computer-generated perfect body.
"You need to disclose that so our young women don't grow up thinking a poreless face is possible," he said. "That's not the way that I think anyone wants to raise their daughters."
But Louie Moses, creative director of the Phoenix-based Moses Anshell advertising agency, said the advertising industry should be allowed to police itself.
"I don't like legislation that tells us what to do and what not to do in marketing," Moses said. "I know what's right."
He agreed that the evolution of photo-manipulation programs has made it nearly impossible for an average consumer to tell if a photo is real or fake. But he said legitimate advertising companies don't abuse that.
"It's one thing to make the sky bluer. It's another thing to make my body look perfect," he said. "And with the companies we represent, we see an advantage to choosing to tell the truth."
Moses also said people often blame advertising agencies for too many of the evils of society.
"People are always screaming about the images out there, but I think they are overlooking the easiest way to dispel those things," he said, suggesting parents strive to be their children's role models. "We don't want our media raising our kids."
The House Commerce Committee will hold a hearing on the bill this morning, but may not actually vote on it. The bill has to have a vote to move forward.
Seth Matlins, co-founder of Los Angeles-based online women's magazine Off Our Chests, supports Hobbs' effort, calling it "extraordinary."
Off Our Chests is behind the push for similar federal legislation it calls the Media and Public Health Act. The National Eating Disorders Association and other groups have joined the push for a federal law, but no member of Congress has yet agreed to carry it.
"I'm thrilled (Hobbs) is doing this. I haven't heard of any other states trying it," Matlins said.
He said manipulated photo ads create unobtainable beauty ideals.
"People are left feeling worse about themselves because they don't look like something that actually nobody looks like," he said. "We're trying to help the makers of culture understand the relationship between what they do and how people feel."

Original URL:

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2012/02/14/20120214arizona-bill-takes-aim-airbrushed-women-ads.html

February 13, 2012 3:04:48 PM

BitTorrent doesn't hurt US box-office, delayed international releases drive downloading

boingboing.net

Economics researchers at Wellesley College and U Missouri have published a study showing that feature films' US box office returns are not correlated to BitTorrent sharing. They also show that shorter delays between the US exhibition and overseas releases result in less file-sharing — that is, people outside the US download movies because they can't buy tickets to them.

The second point is an important one. There's only one Internet, networked culture doesn't respect national boundaries. A particularly effective marketing campaign for a new release in America will stimulate demand in other countries, and if there's no legitimate way to fulfill demand, then some portion of viewers will choose illegitimate routes. For example, the new Muppets movie has only just been released in the UK, some months after the US theatrical release (which was attended by enormous publicity). Presumably, someone at a studio concluded that there were too many UK movies in the pipeline at Christmas and not enough in February, and chose to delay the film's release to now. However, a certain portion of the audience for Muppet movies have been reading reviews, watching viral YouTube clips, and sitting through extended online discussions of the movie without being able to see it and participate. I'm pretty sure that a lot of these people downloaded the movie so that they could be a part of this moment.

Maybe they'll still buy tickets to the cinema, too. I'd guess that a lot of middle-class families with small children will do this. There aren't many kids' movies in cinematic release at the moment, and Muppets is certainly the best bet for a Sunday matinee during the record-breaking cold-snap, when no one wants to take the kids to a park on the weekend. But child-free adults who love the Muppets may well have slaked their thirst, and there are a lot of adults in the Muppet cohort, and adults who like kids' movies often complain about paying a lot of money to attend screenings that are disrupted by crying, talking, squirming children. If you've already seen the movie on your computer, that may be enough. Finally, there are families in the "squeezed middle" who are struggling to pay the bills may want to see the movie in the cinema, but simply lack the funds to do so, and the amount of time that's gone past since the initial release has meant that there are more online copies and that they're easier to download (for example, more BitTorrent seeds) than ever before. For them, the delayed release makes downloading easier and more attractive.

"Anti-piracy" efforts are often painted as life-or-death struggles for the studios. But in the case of international windows, this is about profit maximization, not survival. If the studios can outsource the titanic expense of policing copyrights in delayed-release nations to the countries themselves, they can wring a few more points of profit by delaying release to an otherwise optimum moment. But considered as a societal problem, it makes no sense to spend a million euros on copyright enforcement just so Universal can save a few thousand euros on the cost of making new 35mm prints.

Here's the study: Reel Piracy: The Effect of Online Film Piracy on International Box Office Sales , by Brett Danaher (Wellesley College - Department of Economics) and Joel Waldfogel (University of Minnesota - Twin Cities - Carlson School of Management ; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); University of Minnesota - Twin Cities - Department of Economics).

"Consumers in the US who would choose between the box office and piracy choose the box office (and the remaining US pirates had valuations lower than the ticket price) but that international consumers who would consider both options choose piracy due to a lack of legal availability," wrote the researchers. "If piracy displaced box office sales in the US, we would have expected the slope of the returns profile to shift more significantly as BitTorrent became more widely adopted."
In other words, researchers were unable to discern an irregular drop in returns of domestic box office sales, which could fault BitTorrent as the culprit.
Despite the mounting evidence and studies providing evidence to the needlessness of the movie studios' assault against file-sharing services, their attacks have been intensifying. At the end of the day, these results suggest that, while directing the blame at file-sharing services induces the fear of prosecution among other file-sharing competitors, much of the power to curb piracy remains in the hands of the studios.

Study suggests U.S. box office not affected by BitTorrent (Thanks, Xeni ! )

February 11, 2012 11:26:08 PM

How Do I Switch from My Bank to a Credit Union?

lifehacker.com

How Do I Switch from My Bank to a Credit Union?

Dear Lifehacker, I'm thinking about switching from my bank to a local credit union. What should I be on the lookout for when I make the switch? Is there anything I should know ahead of time, and how do I go about making the change?

Signed,

Fed Up With Big Banks
Photo by Paul Baker .
Dear Fed Up,

We know what you mean. Saturday was Bank Transfer Day , and even though Bank of America backed down on its debit card fees , many people are just sick and tired with their bank for whatever reason, whether it's high fees, poor customer service, or something else. Credit unions do offer a member-supported, smaller alternative that can provide competitive interest rates on savings accounts, loans and mortgages. Credit unions are also well known for great customer service. That said, there are a few things you need to know before you jump ship.

Things to Check Out Before You Switch

Choose the Right Credit Union for Your Needs . Before you pick a credit union, think about what's prompting you to change. We've talked about why you should switch in the past, but consider what's making you do it. If it's lower interest rates on credit cards, car loans, or mortgages, make sure to check out those rates before you sign up. If it's customer service and low fees that you're interested in, make sure to talk to your friends to see where they've had positive experiences. Compare the financial products between the credit union you're looking at and your bank. Make sure you're really avoiding fees, and the credit union's interest rates are actually better for you.
If it's convenience you're after, see if your employer or any local government or public organizations in your community have credit unions with open membership, or membership that you're eligible for. Many credit unions have opened their doors to the public, but there are still plenty that only allow employees of the patron organization and their families to join. Previously mentioned NerdWallet and credit union finder A Smarter Choice can both help you find a credit union based on your preferences.
Photo by NASA Blueshift .
Find a Credit Union That's Convenient . One of the drawbacks to switching to a credit union is that you give up the idea of having a branch on every street corner or an ATM almost anywhere you go. Most credit unions have a handful of branches in select regions, and their customer service lines are often staffed with real people, which means you might be stuck with limited phone support hours. That won't make much of a difference if you do most of your banking online and use your credit or debit card for your purchases, but it can definitely be a pain if you need a cashier's check or need to walk into a branch for services.
If you find yourself stopping by your bank a few times a month, or even once a month, don't choose the credit union with no branches or ATMs within 50 miles of your home or office, even if it comes recommended by friends. Many credit unions participate in ATM networks like the Co-Op Financial Services network and the Alliance Onenetwork so patrons can use any ATM in the network without paying fees to get their money, which can give credit union patrons access to more ATMs than any commercial bank. The same applies for branches—many credit unions share branch locations and allow you to bank with partner credit unions at any partner location. Unfortunately, even though these networks exist, it will be up to you to find them once you're a customer. You'll have to do your homework to find out where you can go to access your money without paying for the privilege.

How to Make The Switch

Ask for a "Switch Kit" to Make the Transfer Easy . Since credit unions thrive on the patronage of their members, and in most cases are more than happy to help you make the switch from a big bank, many of them have pre-made "switch kits" to help. They usually include all of the forms, identification requirements, and other paperwork you'll need to take to your old bank and fill out for the credit union to make the transition as smooth as possible. Even if they don't have a kit, they likely have some kind of package to make setting up a new account and getting your pay deposited and bills charged simple and easy.
Make the Change On the Phone or Online . With the exception of identification requirements, you can sign up for and set up accounts with most credit unions online. You can also call the credit union's customer support line and let a banking rep walk you through the process on the phone. Many credit unions go out of their way to make managing your account online easy, partially as a way to account for limited hours and fewer branches. It works in your favor though: it means you can do ACH transfers, apply for a personal loan, or open a new account at any time of day, whenever you think to do it.
Photo by m.prinke .
Remember Switching Banks is a Process, not a To-Do . As tempting as it may be to stroll into your bank, flip your bank managers desk, demand your money, and give them a piece of your mind, it's a bad idea. Switching banks is a process that can take several days, especially if you have automatic bill payments and automatic deposits set up. Consider taking out just enough money to get your new account set up while you transfer your automatic deposits and payments to your credit union account. This way, if something unexpected happens and a bill you forgot about tries to hit your old account, you won't be hit with an overdraft fee or penalty, and you don't run the risk of the the bill's issuer complaining to you that they haven't been paid.
Once you're confident that all of your automatic payments and deposits are headed to your new account—usually after a month or so of paying attention to your old and new accounts—you can withdraw the last few dollars from your bank and bid them a not-so-fond farewell.

After Switching, Get Involved to Make the Most of Your Experience

Credit Unions are generally not-for-profit, and they're always member-owned, but remember, they're still in this business to make money and stay afloat. They may introduce changes and fees that may not be popular, and it's up to you to speak up when you're unhappy. Thankfully, when you bank with a smaller organization, the decisions that you make matter more and you have more room to negotiate with banks on interest rates, lines of credit, and other changes. If you get a letter in the mail saying your credit card's interest rate is going up, a few phone calls or a well written complaint letter will usually set them straight and get you back on track. Also, because you're a member and a customer, you're just as responsible for the health and well-being of the credit union as you are entitled to stellar service and competitive financial products.
We hope that helps. There are pros and cons to switching to a credit union from a big bank, but speaking as someone who has accounts with both, I'm far more likely to go to my credit union for a car loan or a mortgage than my regular bank. Once you've experienced the difference in personal attention and customer service, you may actually grow to like your bank. If it's the financial products that matter to you, you'll enjoy the competitive rates and low fees that a credit union has to offer. As long as you go into the switch aware of what you're giving up in exchange, you'll be fine. Good luck!
Love,

Lifehacker