So You Need A Resume

Whether you’re just entering the workforce for the first time, are between jobs, or are currently working full time but looking for another position, chances are you may need a resume for a successful job search. It’s surprising how many otherwise savvy job seekers have little understanding of the role a resume plays in job search and of how to prepare an effective one.

It’s important to understand that a resume usually has one, and only one, purpose – to land you an interview. It’s not simply a history of your education and work, and definitely not some kind of artistic or personal statement. The whole idea of a resume is to get through a prospective employer’s first culling and persuade them to call you in for the rest of the selection process. Obviously it’s going to include information about your education and work history, among other things, but it goes much further than that. As it’s often said in marketing “sell the sizzle, not the steak.” Your resume is an opportunity to very quickly convince a prospective employer that they ought to consider hiring you because of the benefits to them of doing so.

There are many downloadable resume templates available on the web, and scores of sites with resume generators where you simply enter the relevant data and the site rolls it into a resume. Although some of these tools will produce an adequate document, in a highly competitive market it might not be enough to make it to the top of the stack.

Many people are turning to professional resume writers to give them an edge. Someone that specializes in the process of packaging information in a way that appeals to employers is often more likely to see strengths and weaknesses in your resume information than you may be, and can help you put together an attractive, professional looking document that makes your best case to that prospective employer.

If you’re going to hire a professional, it’s important to take a look at their background, past work, and track record. Certification by The National Resume Writers’ Association is a plus.

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Dollar Thrifty Adds Diversity to the Fleet

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc has announced that it will be making fewer 2010 car rental purchases from Chrysler in an effort to diversify its fleet. Chrysler had previously made up over three-quarters of Dollar Thrifty’s total U.S. fleet purchases in 2008. It will now constitute about 30 percent of 2010 fleet purchases. Ford Motor Company will become the largest part of the fleet with 34 percent of purchases in 2010.

General Motors vehicles will make up another 20 percent and Nissan 6 percent with the rest coming from Hyundai, Kia and other automakers.

Dollar Thrifty reached a new deal with Chrysler in August agreeing to purchase about 27,000 vehicles from the firm during 2010. In the past, the car rental group had an agreement with Chrysler that required it to buy 75 percent of its fleet from the automaker, which restructured in a government-supported bankruptcy earlier this year. Chrysler is currently under management control of the Italian firm Fiat.

The rental car company, headquartered in Tulsa, entered into a three-year deal with Ford back in February that will allow the Company to source a portion of its annual vehicle purchases through Ford until August of 2012.

According to Dollar Thrifty spokesman Chris Payne, the company eventually sells about 95 percent of its fleet as vehicles are taken out of service, so expanding the number of automakers makes it easier to dispose of vehicles when the time comes. The more diverse lineup also reduces risks from changes in vehicle values and automaker production plans.

Ford vehicles to be offered for rental by Dollar and Thrifty include the Focus, Fusion, Mustang convertible, Ford Escape SUV and the Mercury Grand Marquis. GM models include the Chevy Cobalt, Aveo, and Malibu, and the GMC Acadia. Chrysler will continue to provide Dodge Calibers and Chargers, Dodge Grand Caravans and Chrysler Town and Country minivans, according to Payne. Dollar Thrifty will also buy some Jeep brand vehicles such as the Compass, Liberty Sport and Grand Cherokee.

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Save 10% on your next rental of a quality Ford, Chrysler, GM or other vehicle with our Dollar Rental Car Coupons and Thrifty Car Rental Coupons.

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Car Rental Damage Waivers: Are They Worth It?

So you’re at the check in desk ready to pick up the keys to a shiny new rental car and you’re offered the optional collision or loss damage waivers. Should you accept?

The answer is that it depends. Here are some things you need to know in advance to make a good decision.

First of all, in most cases when you rent a vehicle you are liable for loss or damage, even if someone else caused it or if the cause is unknown. Therefore, it is important to have coverage. If the rental isn’t covered under another policy (we’ll get to that in a moment) the damage waivers (which are not technically insurance) offered by your rental car company are probably a good idea. They’re relatively inexpensive, get the job done and offer you peace of mind while driving.

“But wait,” you say. “Did you mention that my rental might be covered under another policy?” Why, yes. Yes we did.

If you have automobile insurance, chances are that the coverages you bought for your own vehicle will apply to rental vehicles too. If you have collision coverage, it will likely cover damage you cause to any car that you’re driving. Remember that your deductible will also apply. Most policies only pay “in excess” of other coverage, so that means that if you buy waivers from your rental car company or obtain other coverage, they will usually pay first. For fire, vandalism, theft or collisions with animals, your comprehensive coverage (assuming you have it) will also probably apply to the rental. Again, it will be subject to your deductible and pay “in excess” to other coverage. Ditto with your own liability insurance should you cause an accident. It’s a good idea to check with your insurer ahead of time to see what will and will not be covered on the rental.

If you don’t own a vehicle, don’t carry collision or comprehensive coverage on one you do own, or (shudder) don’t insure your own vehicle at all, you might want to take the waivers offered by your rental car company unless you have coverage elsewhere.

We hear you ask. “Elsewhere? Where else might I have coverage?”

In many cases, the credit card you use to purchase the car rental may offer car insurance benefits for free (or cheap). Coverage such as this varies widely from card to card when offered, so be sure to read the fine print that came with your credit card agreement.

In addition to the loss damage and collision damage waivers, many rental car companies offer a wide variety of additional protection plans covering personal effects, accidental death or injury, supplements to your own insurance coverage if you have low limits, etc.

The bottom line is that you’ll want to review all of the coverages and options available to you long before you arrive at the rental car desk. It’s wise to make sure you have adequate coverage from one source or another to cover the costs should you experience an accident in the rental car, but there’s no sense in paying for duplicate coverage. Your own insurance agent is likely your best resource in understanding coverages in force and what your options are.

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Remember to check our Discount Car Rentals offers the next time you need to rent a car for savings of 10% on most rentals from the top brands in the nation!

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All About Ancient Halloween

Today, Halloween is celebrated in the United States with costume parties, trick-or-treating, and spooky movies, but did you know that the holiday traces its roots back over two thousand years to an ancient Celtic festival of the dead?

The Celts lived in what is now northern France, Ireland and parts of Britain. Many scholars believe that the celebration of Samhain (pronounced SAH-wen) marked the end of the Celtic Year. It was observed on what would become the night of October 31st in the modern calendar. The name is Old Irish for “Summer’s End.”

The Celts believed that on this night the boundaries between the physical world and the spirit world were opened and ghosts of the dead returned to cause mischief, destroy crops, and generally make trouble. Their spiritual presence was also thought to make it possible for priests to make prophecies about the coming year. Sacred bonfires were built, crops and animal sacrifices were made, people dressed up in costume (often representing the dead or other spirit creatures) and fortunes were told. The “new fires” were then used to relight hearths extinguished earlier in the evening. This was thought to bring luck and protection for the new year.

By the First Century of the Common Era, the Romans had conquered the Celts, and their harvest festival traditions were eventually incorporated into the Celtic celebrations. Feralia was a day in late October when the Romans commemorated the passing of their dead, and the celebration of Pomona, the Roman Goddess of fruit and trees, also fell in Autumn. Pomona’s symbol, the apple, is still a part of our Halloween festivities today with the tradition of bobbing for apples.

By the 7th Century, the Catholic Church (now the center of life in much of the land of the Celts) designated November 1st as a commemoration of the Saints. By the Year 1000, All Souls Day, a day to honor all of the dead, was added to the calendar on November 2nd. A three day celebration called Hallowmas included All Souls Day, All Saints Day, and the eve of All Saints (All Hallow’s Eve, or “Halloween”). Bonfires were built, parades were held, people dressed up in costume (often as saints, angels, devils, etc.), people bobbed for apples and, yes, predictions for the coming year were made. Any of this sound familiar?

It’s a long way from those ancient Celtic observances to the huge commercial holiday we know today, yet we’ll still see bonfires, and people dressing in costume, and maybe a few ghosts out on the prowl.

However you plan to celebrate Halloween 2009, you’ll find everything you need for the occasion at BuyCostumes.com and you’ll save 12% on your order with our BuyCostumes Coupon Code.

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A Brief History Of Coupons

On May 8th of 1886 pharmacist Dr. John Stith Pemberton sold the very first glass of his new beverage creation. Named “Coca-Cola®” by Pemberton’s partner and bookkeeper Frank Robinson (whose unique script can still be seen in Coke’s familiar logo today), it wasn’t a huge phenomenon at first.

Then in 1887, the Coca-Cola Company was incorporated with a man named Asa Candler as one of the partners. Candler was an innovative marketer, and one of his ideas was to distribute coupons like the one depicted above, offering a free fountain drink to the bearer. Candler supplied free syrup to soda fountain proprietors to cover the cost of the giveaways. Employees of the company and sales representatives helped to distribute the coupons. By 1895 the cola was being served in every state of the Union. Between 1894 and 1913 it is said that one in nine Americans had received a free Coke, over 8.5 million free drinks in all.

The next coupon to gain prominence was that of cereal producer C.W. Post in the early 1900s. It is said that his cents off coupons for Grape Nuts and other products were the first of that sort. During the Great Depression, coupon clipping became prevalent, and thereafter as supermarket chains strove to replace the corner markets, those chain stores used coupons to attract customers.

In 1957, The Nielsen Coupon Clearing House (later renamed the Manufacturers Coupon Control Center) was created to handle coupon redemption, and coupons were becoming a huge part of business. One-half of all American households were clipping coupons by 1965, and in the decade that followed, that number grew to three-quarters.

The method for delivering coupons has changed through the years, with downloadable coupons, email coupons, and even coupons distributed by texting to mobile devices nowadays. Instead of “clip and save” now it’s “click and save.”

Of course, you’ll find some of the best offers, coupons, promotional codes and money savers right here from MEVIO. Check back often as we’re adding valuable new offers for savings on your favorite products and services all the time.

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New GoDaddy Sponsorship Is No Bull

As you probably know, GoDaddy.com has been deeply involved in sponsorship of sports for many years now. Last weekend in Portland, Oregon the world’s largest domain name registrar jumped in to the dangerous and fast-paced world of Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR), with sponsorship of the the GoDaddy.com Invitational, a two-day competition held at Portland’s Rose Garden. Forty of the world’s toughest bull riders battled for a chance to compete in the 2009 World Finals in Las Vegas, Nevada to be held in early November.

Shane Proctor of Mooresville, N.C. emerged victorious, riding all three of his bulls for 261 points. Proctor rode a bull named Juicy Vindication for 87.25 points and a third place finish in round one, followed up with an 86 point ride on Rude Awakening in round two, and rode Okie Dokie in the final round for 87.75 points, locking up the coveted GoDaddy.com Invitational event title.

Professional bull riding is an emerging sport where riders attempt to stay mounted for at least eight seconds on a wildly bucking bull. The sport now has more than 100 million viewers each year.

“Bull riding use to be a niche sport, but it’s quickly growing into a big league event,” according to Bob Parsons, GoDaddy’s CEO. “It’s about as American as any sport there is – and it takes nerve. These professional riders are as tough as any athlete in the world. They’re edgy too, and we like that.”

GoDaddy Girl Erin Kalin performed the National Anthem on both days of the event in Portland.

PBR is the most recent addition to a growing list of professional sports sponsored by GoDaddy including NASCAR, IndyCar, and television advertising in professional hockey, baseball and of course the NFL. It has been noted time and again that GoDaddy recognizes the value of increasing advertising budgets during a time when other companies are cutting back.

If you’re looking for savings on your Website, our GoDaddy Coupon will save you 20% on your hosting plan. Enter code MEVIO20H at checkout. And that’s no bull!

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Safety First When Grooming Your Pet

Although many pet owners wouldn’t attempt actually clipping their animal at home, most of us will at least handle basic bathing, brushing, etc., from time to time. As simple as that may seem, there are several common mistakes that many people make when performing these duties that can lead to discomfort, injury, loss of trust between pet and human, and even death. In attempting the more advanced aspects of grooming at home, the risks can be even greater.

If you’ve ever tried bathing a pet, you probably know that getting shampoo in your pet’s eyes is one of the more common mistakes that can be made. This can result either from carelessness on your part or from your animal’s unexpected movement. Remember that your pet does not fully understand what’s going on here, and eyes stinging from shampoo or other grooming solutions is not only unpleasant, but may cause a loss of trust if not handled properly. Stay calm and sooth your pet with words of sympathy, rinse the soap out with water – or better yet, saline solution – and use a clean cloth to dab at the corners of eye. You might also try to take their focus off of the irritation by having a favorite toy handy to draw their attention. There are tearless shampoos available that will also help reduce the likelihood of serious irritation from errant bubbles.

Another serious (and sometimes even fatal) mistake made during grooming is to leave your pet unrestrained during the task. If your animal has had little experience with baths, or had prior bad experiences, it may try to escape when the opportunity arises. Cats, who notoriously hate baths, are especially prone to this. The last thing you want is for your pet to be exposed to the dangers of running loose, alone and unsupervised, so if you choose to groom outside, it’s important to either leash your pet, or do the grooming in a secure, fenced area. You might also wish to muzzle some pets during grooming for everyone’s protection. Thinking ahead and knowing your own pet’s tendencies and needs will go a long way toward protecting them from the temptation to run.

If you do attempt to actually clip your own pet, extreme care must be taken, since a tiny slip may cause actual injury, not to mention emotional trauma, to the animal. Even less immediately injurious mistakes, like getting too close to the skin while shaving, can lead to problems down the line. Clippers can leave razor burns which sometimes become infected. If you do accidentally scrape or burn your pet while clipping, take the time to apply first aid as soon as it happens. Again, be prepared by keeping some healing salve on hand to treat and sooth your pet. You’ll also want to keep a close eye on such injuries for signs of infection over the coming days, and get ahold of your vet at the first indication of trouble.

It takes years of experience to become a skilled pet groomer, and for a lot of pet owners it’s a task they’d best leave to a professional, but with the right equipment, supplies, some patience, and thought given to safety, it can become an opportunity for bonding time with your pet as well as saving you time and money. Just be sure to think ahead, and do what you can to make it a pleasant and positive experience for both you and your pet.

You’ll find everything you need to groom your pet at PETCO. Save 10% on your next order when you shop online with our PETCO Coupons.

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LifeLock Offers New Generation Of Services

In the wake of claims by one of the big credit reporting firms that fraud alerts being placed on behalf of an individual by identity protection firms are a misuse of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, LifeLock is replacing fraud alerts as one of the company’s primary consumer protection methods, according to a recent press release from the company.

To be deployed in the coming weeks, the new system will provide better and broader protection to current and prospective members. The new system features sophisticated technologies such as scientific modeling and multi-point data mining to help identify fraud and protect LifeLock’s customers.

LifeLock CEO Todd Davis announced “The team at LifeLock will never lose sight of the reason we are in business – to help protect consumers who are vulnerable to identity theft.” Davis also noted that criminals are devising increasingly complex schemes to commit fraud, so protection services must constantly evolve as well so they can remain two steps ahead.

The new identity protection system will use more advanced algorithms to spot identity fraud and will monitor more data sources such as retailers, banks, mortgage lenders, utilities, and auto lenders as well as the major credit bureaus. The company will also examine longitudinal patterns across their entire network to better help predict risks and vulnerabilities to individual members.

In addition to the new identity protection system, LifeLock will continue to provide members with their other array of personal protection services such as WalletLock™. In the case of a stolen or lost purse or wallet one call to LifeLock’s toll-free number is all it takes to handle the tedious task of notifying bank accounts, credit accounts, insurance information, etc., and begin the process of replacing driver’s license, Social Security card and other documents. They will also continue to offer their $1 million total service guarantee.

If you’d like to learn more about what LifeLock has to offer, take advantage of our LifeLock Promo Code for a free one month trial and 10% savings on your subscription.

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Don’t Dye This Halloween

During the run up to Halloween, many people might be considering dyeing their hair as a finishing touch (or perhaps even a necessary component) for their costume. We’ve seen articles on the web about using rinses, shampoos, gels, sprays, foams, even Kool Aid – that’s right Kool Aid – to temporarily dye hair.

If you’re thinking of dyeing your hair for the occasion, we applaud your commitment to the role, but here are some reasons you might want to consider shelving those “temporary” hair color products and saving the Kool Aid for a Halloween punch.

It’s messy. In addition to staining your hands and forehead, you can ruin towels and clothing, even with the milder products. Even the spray on variety made especially for stage or costume use can be incredibly messy, both to apply and to remove. Some guides even suggest applying a layer of petroleum jelly around the hair line before beginning. Sorry, we’ll stick to grape jelly with our Kool Aid, thank you.

It’s hard to get the color right. Dye time varies from product to product and from head to head. Even people with the same or similar hair color to start may experience different dye times based on other hair characteristics. Folks who routinely dye their hair sometimes experiment quite a bit before they find the correct product and application regimen. You’ve little time left before Halloween for the trial and error required to get it right. Not only that, but if your hair is naturally dark, you’ll have limited choices when it comes to colors that will “take.”

A bad dye job, even with temporary products, won’t add much to the festivities. Remember too that those temporary products take awhile to wash out, and you might want to think about how you’ll look going in to work Monday morning with blue or pink or purple hair. Do you really want to look that exotic after Halloween?

It’s expensive. A box of hair dye costs the same or more for one use than a really killer costume wig or hat that you can use on multiple occasions. Especially for children, who may want to play dress up in their costume for more than just Halloween night, you get more bang for your hard-earned buck when you drop the dye in exchange for a cool wig or hat.

You’ll find that a well matched wig or hat will give you that dramatic change from your current hair style that is a knock-out finishing touch to your costume with a lot less trouble and mess than the dyes. Check out the incredibly variety they offer at BuyCostumes.com and save 12% on your purchase with our BuyCostumes Coupon.

Don’t curl up and dye this year. Get on out there and flip your wig!

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Chemistry? Yeah! Chemistry

Remember the scene from the Broadway musical Guys and Dolls where Sky and Sarah first meet? She sings about imagining her love as a solid, upstanding gentleman. She was obviously looking for compatibility. Sky, on the other hand, says he’ll leave it up to chemistry. Of course, both aspects end up playing a role in their eventual relationship.

That’s the idea behind Chemistry.com, the popular sister site to Match.com. Chemistry.com was founded on the belief that meaningful relationships are built on the two equally important foundations of compatibility and chemistry. Other sites may help you find out if you’re compatible, but Chemistry’s site is designed to help you find both of these elements.

Chemistry’s Chief Scientific Advisor is Dr. Helen Fisher, a world-renowned biological anthropologist and author. She has spent the last three decades researching the science of human attraction, and that’s why Chemistry recruited her to develop their personality profile.

After completing the personality profile to determine what ignites your chemistry, they’ll offer you up to 5 potential matches per day, and also notify you when another member is interested in getting to know you. You can then get to know your matches through a step-by-step introduction process called “1-2-3 MEET” where you select the questions and control the pace. Then, when you’re both ready, Chemistry will help you set up your first date.

You’re in control of the process from the very beginning and every step along the way, only revealing photos or other personal information when you feel comfortable doing so.

Find that person you’re made to have lasting chemistry with at Chemistry.com. You’ll save 25% off your membership with our Chemistry.com discount. Why not sign up today?

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