1st Rate Blog

What’s up with the University of Phoenix?

I lived in Phoenix 25 years ago when the University of Phoenix was located there, and only there. Then about 10-15 years ago this institution branched out to distance learning and then online learning. In the beginning, it was a good idea, and the school had a decent...

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A Garden of Excuses from LinkedIn Opponents

When I work with clients on their job search, one the first things I ask is, "do you have an up-to-date LinkedIn profile?" I'm amazed at the number of excuses I hear as to why there is only one connection or the profile is literally growing cobwebs on it. And that's a...

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Do your own Background Check

Did you know that you're entitled to a free credit report every year through annualcreditreport.com? It's a good idea to check your credit and background before you interview for a job so you know what's in there. For one, there are a lot of inaccuracies that you can...

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What is a Brand Ambassador?

If you're between jobs or looking to pick up some extra cash, consider signing up to be a "Brand Ambassador" or Field Marketing Representative. These are the folks you see at fairs and major events, or even inside a big box store demonstrating products. Over the past...

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Your Occupation’s Special Needs

Sometimes we get so close to our own occupation that we forget some of those daily tasks that get overlooked on a resume that can make us stand out. For example: today a broadcast engineer friend of mine sent me a 7-minute video on how to climb an antenna tower. I...

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