Your First Screen Test

Your First Screen Test

To begin with a positive note, screen tests are not something that is impossible to crack although it might seem tough and nerve wrecking for many. But remember you don't get these opportunities too often so you have to make the best use of it to demonstrate your talent to the talent agents, casting directors and directors. You should not be let down by the outcome of the screen test and always look ahead, you should always take it in a right sense after all the failures are stepping-stones to success. Keep in mind only one fact that you have to work hard towards your goal and having a positive attitude can do that. Apart from the attitude, one should be passionate and ambitious to achieve goals. Also enjoying the work you do makes the quest easier.

Do not forget to take your resume and a headshot most preferably 8"X10" with you to the audition. Some talent agents also need social security number, so take it with you. Sometimes the aspiring actors are called in the number of hundreds, be prepared to stand in line for hours. But most of the times you are called for screen test through an invitation. It is very common that you will get few pages of the script that you may be asked to read during the screen test. Read the script thoroughly and get into the character and ask yourself questions about the character. After getting into the skin of the character you should learn your lines properly using the best way you can.

Some people say to dress according to the type of the character and some say dress lightly so that you feel comfortable during the screening, go with whatever you think is more comfortable for you but you can also combine light dressing with the dressing of the character by complimenting your dressing for instance with a hat for a cowboy role. It's a good idea to do some exercising and rehearsing before the audition and give ample time to relax in between. Also avoid blabbering when you stand in the line after signing up this will ensure that you are focused on the screen test.

Usually the casting directors will take the first call and talk to you and instruct you to begin. It's the time to show what you in you. Be confident and focused on the character and show your talent to the casting director. Important thing to remember is that everyone sitting in the screen test is not your enemy, but they are probably there to get the right person for the role, so remove that fear and perform the scene that you have been given. Also, it is a good idea to re-enact that scene in your own way to show the creative side of yours. Keep in mind to keep safe distance from the casting director; do not try to get too friendly either. Don't be so over enthusiastic that you destroy the settings.

Things should move on life and prepared to take criticism and hear 'no'. You got to take life as it comes and move on and should look forward to what is coming up next. If the screen test goes well you will definitely get a call again for another screen test with select few actors and if you get through this one who knows you might land up getting the role.

The Academy Awards

The Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, are the most prestigious and popular film awards. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science or AMPAS situated in Beverly Hills, California started it in May 1929. PricewaterhouseCoopers since 1935 have managed the balloting process. In 1941 the confidential envelope system started which exists till this date. This was how the phrase "the envelope please" became famous. The members of this academy are invited by the Board of Governors to join. The membership has fifteen branches each based on the different categories of awards.  

The gold plated statuettes are also presented as the Academy Award of Merit. It has a black metal base and weights 8.5 lb and 13.5 inch tall knight holding a crusader's sword standing over a film reel with five spokes, which represent the five main categories of awards. It was created by George Stanley and Alex Smith and since then the Oscars have been manipulated only once. Forty Oscars are made for each annual Academy Awards in Chicago, Illinois. They are presented every year for movies, which have been produced in the last twelve months. The seventeen-month qualifying period was introduced to consider films released in a single calendar year in the year 1932. And since then this time period has been taken into consideration. The minimum length of the movie should be forty minutes and the minimum resolution should be 1280x720 so as to qualify as a feature-length.

The Academy Awards were held on Thursdays until 1954. From 1959 - 1998 they were held on Mondays except for few exceptions. It started to be held on Sundays from 1999. For nearly sixty years the Academy Awards were held in later March or early April. Since 2004 it is being held in late February or early March. The very first awards ceremony was held at the Hotel Roosevelt in Hollywood. The Ambassador Hotel and Biltmore Hotel were the venues till early 1940s. Next venue was Grauman's Chinese Theater, which was followed by the Shrine Auditorium. In 1949 the awards were presented at the Academy Award Theater. For the next ten years the venue was Pantages Theater in Hollywood. Next in line was Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica. Then the ceremony was shifted back to Los Angeles in 1968 at the Los Angeles Music Center and Shrine Auditorium and it was held there until 1988. In 2002 it was finally shifted to Kodak Theater in Hollywood.    

Oscars recognizes talents in field such as acting, screenwriting, production, direction and technician. The awards categories can be broadly described as Best Production award, Best Director award, Best Actor award, Best Actress award, Best Supporting actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Screenplay award. The only three movies that have won awards in all the categories are "It Happened One Night"," One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "The Silence of the Lambs". This achievement is also known as the Big Five or Oscar Grand Slam. Three films hold the record for winning most number of Oscars, which are "Ben-Hur" in 1959, "Titanic" in 1997 and "The Return of the King" in 2003. On the awards night, invitees walk the red carpet in their best dresses, which create a fashion statement. The whole ceremony is broadcasted live on television all over America except Hawaii and Alaska, the first ever broadcast was in 1953 on NBC channel. There are performances by the nominees of the Best Original Song category and countless other performances. The telecast attracts over a billion viewers from all over the world as claimed by the Academy. 

Writing for Television

Writing for Television

People think that writing for television and film is the same but on the contrary both the industries are different. The main elements of the television industry are networks, studios and production companies. Writers are basically hired by a studio to write for a particular network or channel. They even have the rights to sell the material elsewhere. This material is then used by the production companies to bring the script into action.

The writers face two kinds of deals, a development deal and overall deal. Development deal requires the writer to write for only a single project. Only a single story is being developed for which the writer gets paid from $30,000 - $50,000. Overall deal requires the writer to write on a long term basis and the income is more than development deal.
After the initial filtering, about 4-10 writers are selected and they are placed in hierarchy. Showrunner is at the top and is the program creator. They are the ones which have maximum experience in writing and receive an Executive Producer status and earn up to a million. Later in the hierarchy of writing team are co-executive producers, supervising producer, producer, co-producer, and executive story editor and at the end is the staff writer, also known as baby writers as they are the starters.  

Aspirant writers should start by joining classes which are taught by experienced TV writers. The classes help to get the basics right and the same time helps increase the friend circle, which will be of help at some point of time. Beginners can get a break by hiring an agent which has contacts as most of the shows don't hire baby writers and it would take about three years to get the break. But at this level originality of work is what matters. Original material relating to screenplays or even a sketch material will be of good help. One can also work on spec. Specs are trailers which give the outline of the story. This shows the grasping power of the writer. Plays should be carefully chosen when writing a Spec. Do not choose a series just because it is hot or is based on fiction. While choosing a play the writer should keep in mind what he finds interesting and what he wants to work on in future. After preparing the spec, send it to the showrunner of the same show, because the showrunner will be under the assumption that no one knows his show better than himself.  It is advised to send the spec to showrunner of a similar show. Specs reflect the writing ability, the grasping ability, the scene structure sense, story narration style of the writer.

With these entire qualities one can land up as a writer's assistant and if a showrunner hires the starter, it would be a good boost to him. An assistant can also witness the actual proceedings of the show and the basics get brushed up .One must never quit writing. Even if a writer doesn't get anywhere for a short period of time at least he will improve his writing skills which will be of great use in the long run. The writer should meet the deadlines when on job. Sometimes the deadlines can be short too. So constant writing can train in that aspect too.

The writers have the greatest power. He can play with the mind of the viewer. He is responsible for the shaping of dreams of millions of viewers and all this can be achieved by constant practice.

Writing your first Screenplay

Introduction to the story, characters, location and time frame should usually be the start of the screenplay. Setup is an important part as the audiences have knowledge about the movie or the performance. It's better to start with a picture rather than an unknown voice on a blank screen as that will be good to absorb the audience into the story. The image can be of anyone, either that of the actor who plays the central role, or any place like his hometown, whatever conveys the theme? Like in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, a snake is shown crawling which later gets killed by Potter in order to save himself and the students. 

Starting with characters interaction is also a good idea as the audience concentrate on them for a while to decide whether they want to pursue them or not and also keep them wondering about the plot of the story. But it's very important that whatever is portrayed in the first few scenes or the first ten minutes should be directly related to the story. If any irrelevant stuff is being displayed it will simply confuse the audience and can also make them lose interest.

After gaining audience's interest the next ten pages should explain about the unfolding of the story and at the same time holding the suspense of the story. Most of the characters can be introduced, environment can be created, past events can be enacted and the villain can also be introduced but that isn't a must. To build the suspense the villain can be pictured as a good guy but his reality comes to light after a bad incident or when he caught red handed by another character. But this shouldn't take long to test the patience of the viewers.

Next is the catalyst or the inciting incident which creates a twist in the movie. The normal flow of the story should be disrupted. The audience should be kept on their toes so as to retain their interest in the story. Questions like what do the characters want and what is obstructing them should be answered here.  After these questions are answered the next question will be very important, that whether the evil-doer will win in his plan. Until this question isn't answered the audience waits for something to happen, they wait for some action or they wait for the climax of the movie. If the antagonist doesn't win the story will have a happy ending and the characters will live happily ever after. But if he does win, then the story will have a tragic end and sometimes will result in the death of the main character. This is known as the first act of the movie.  

The catalyst or the inciting incident can be depicted as small scenes which when linked creates a mystery or with the receiving of vital information by some character or as a clash between the good and the bad characters. In the movie "Disturbia" the hero watches reports on the television about missing girls and were later found murdered. In another scene, the hero hears a scream of a girl from his neighbor's house, who is also the antagonist of the movie. 

Plot point one is the climax of the movie. It occurs after the first act. They are usually meant to surprise the audience with something unexpected with the occurrence of a pivotal event.  The main lead takes a risk and faces his opponent. And if it's a happy ending kind of a movie, the main lead gains victory over the villain by either killing him or making him learn a lesson. And if the story is supposed to have a sad ending, the villain gets away by causing harm to the good character. The last page should give an idea about what the future will be for all the characters and if it's a sequel, it should keep the audience guessing about the future.

Trying out for American Idol

Trying out for American Idol

As everyone knows American Idol is a television program that has singers competing with each other to win the coveted title of American Idol. The show was conceptualized on the lines of Pop Idol from U.K. Even now American Idol is produce by U.K. producers Ken Warwick and Simon Fuller who also produced Pop Idol. The first ever episode of American Idol debuted on June 11, 2002 with its first season attracting a lot of enthusiasm around the country and record television viewers. The show aims to discover the best young singing talent in the country through a nationwide search for the singers. The search is usually performed in six to seven cities every season. The candidates are filtered into few hundreds from thousands. The contestants are further filtered in Hollywood round and ultimately 24 contestants go to the semifinals of which 12 are males and 12 females. The contestants are further reduced to 12 in the final round. From there on a singer is eliminated from bottom three contestants each week until the last episode when only two singers remain from which the winner and the runner up are selected.

Many youngsters dream about getting a break in American Idol and also try hard to get there. Some fail and some come out with flying colors. But we should realize there can be only winner at the end the day and everyone performing in the program cannot be an American Idol. Apart from the singing talent one also need to have the personality to win the competition. In addition to having a beautiful voice you need to have the rhythm and command over different tunes. Knowing how to dance along with singing is also a huge advantage over others who can't dance.

If you are planning to audition for American Idol do not forget to read and if possible memorize the information provided on fox television's idol website. There are lot of frequently asked questions and answers on this website. You can clear many misconceptions you have by reading the information provided. The eligibility criterion to get into the competition is that you should be a citizen or permanent resident of the country and you should be between the ages of 16 and 29.

Some of the previous winners of the American Idol gives an advise to the aspiring contestants to really put everything you can into the song you are singing. You should feel the lyrics when you are singing a song and the expressions should show on your face. Also they advise rehearse the songs you choose over and over again until you perfect it and sing the same song in front of the judges with full confidence and capture their attention and imagination and leave them wanting to hear more form you. Remember focus you attention on getting though the current round and each time you make it into next round you have an extra chance to show your talent and you are that much closer to the crown.

Also remember you may be asked about your role models. Try to come up with two or three names. And how you describe them? You should fine tune your verbiage and if possible try to come up with some interesting words to describe those personalities but only if you are comfortable, do no use it if you feel that you will end up getting embarrassed. Also be prepared to tell about yourself concisely. Part of the job is to dress well, get fashionable if possible but never under dressed. Also be honest, respectful and truthful to the judges. It is also seen that the judges often like contestants who dedicate songs to their friends or family members. Also taking few voice-training classes greatly increases the chances of making it into American Idol. If one follows the tips discussed above there should be no stopping you in landing on the sets of American Idol and who knows you might be the next American Idol.

Walt Disney: A Short Bio

Born on December 5, 1901 in Chicago, Illinois to parents Elias Disney and mother Flora Call Disney Walter E. Disney was the best thing that happened to show business in the last century. Walt's family moved to Marceline, Missouri after his birth where he was brought up in a farm. Drawing caught his imagination ever since he was seven years old and he sold his sketches to his neighbors. Family moved to Chicago again where Disney concentrated both on Drawing and Photography in his high school. He also attended the Academy of Fine Arts at night. 

Walt was also attracted to the beauty of nature as he grew up and he began to love and appreciate it. Though his father was particularly opposed to his plans her mother and elder brother Roy encouraged him to pursue his dreams. Disney even tried to get into military service but was rejected because he was only 16 years of age and thus was underage to join military. But he joined Red Cross where he was sent to France and he spent a year there driving ambulance. 

After returning from France he pursued a career in commercial art and even started a small company called Laugh-O-Grams which went bankrupt soon. This prompted him to go to Hollywood. It is said he had only one suitcase and $20 with him when he went to Hollywood. His elder brother Roy was living in California, he pooled in $250 and they borrowed another $500 and constructed a camera stand. It didn't take a long wait before they received an order from New York to make the first Alice Comedy and they started producing cartoons in the rear of a real estate office in Hollywood.  After successfully making Alice Comedies Walt became a famous figure in Hollywood. 

Walt married one of his employees Lillian Bounds and they had two daughters. The cartoon film Mickey Mouse was created in 1928 and his talents were exposed to the world in a silent cartoon called Plane Crazy. The year coincided with the introduction of sound in movies just before the release of the cartoon. The cartoon character Mickey made its screen debut in Steamboat Willie which was the world's first fully synchronized sound cartoon. The cartoon premiered at the Colony Theater in New York on Nov. 18, 1928. 

Walt was never content with his work and his quest for excellence made him introduce Technicolor in cartoons in 1932. He used multiplane camera technique in 1937. On December 21, 1937 Walt released the first full length animated musical film called "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" made at a whopping cost of $1.5 million. The animated film is still regarded as one of the rare feats of the motion picture industry.

Walt had a studio in Burbank constructed which was ready in 1940 and the employee count went up to 1,000 which comprised of artists, animators, story men and technicians. Disney used combine live action with the cartoon medium in 1945 in the musical "The Three Caballeros". Walt went to make many award winning cartoon films such as "True Life Adventure" series, "The Living Desert" and many more. Disneyland was launched in 1955 with a capital of $17 million and the investment increased by 10 fold within a few years. Walt turned to social causes in 1965 and directed a film on Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow to improve the quality of urban life in America. But Walt Disney died on December 15, 1966 leaving many achievements and unfulfilled dreams behind him.

Walt Disney envisioned and had directed to purchase about forty three square miles of land, double the size of Manhattan Island in central Florida. It took about fifty months to complete the planning and construction of the Walt Disney World which was eventually opened to public on October 1, 1971. Walk Disney was truly a pioneer and visionary of many modern days' technologies. No wonder why he has received more than 950 honors and 48 Oscar awards and 7 Emmy awards. Truly this man stands out for his outstanding contribution to the improvement of art of cartoon making.

What Does The Law Mean To You?

What Does The Law Mean To You?

Although we all have an understanding of what law is, and generally why it's appropriate that it should be in place to serve and regulate our conduct in society, we seldom think of what law actually means in an everyday context.  What is law for the average Joe in the street?  How does law impact on our lives from day to day?  Indeed, is the law a distant concept with which we find it hard to relate?  In this article we will look at some of the fundamental ways law operates in society, in addition to the nature of the law as we know it.

For some people, they feel as though the law is there merely to protect their interests, and that they have no need for daily interaction.  However, they assume that if the day comes where their behaviour is called into question, the law will operate, the course of justice will be run, and the will of the people will be fulfilled.  This is perhaps a naïve interpretation of the function of law, and indeed the way it operates in our lives throughout the day.  For instance, at the top level we have the constitution, establishing parameters within which the government can and cannot act to protect the citizens of our nation.  That has an overwhelming effect on the way in which our government and indeed our country is run, which has a knock on effect on everything we do throughout the day and how we do it.  Even at a local level, the law interacts with the services we are provided, the jobs we work and pretty much everything to do with the lives we lead.  A distant concept?  I don't think so.

The law does not just operate in criminal spheres, nor is it confined to merely constitutional matters and the distribution of power.  Law is a significantly more sophisticated tool in the orchestration of the day-to-day organisation of society, through regulating not only personal conduct but also the way we act in business situations.  Take for example the everyday task of boarding a train.  The law regulates many aspects of this feat: (1) the criminal law and the constitution permits us to board public transport.  (2) The constitution permits us to make contract with another.  (3) The laws of contract permit us to form a contract for transport with the train company,  and ensure that that contract is fulfilled.  (4) The laws of contract and tort allow us to board without fear of injury, or with remedy should the worst happen.  Finally the law of ownership and currency allows us to hand over money in consideration for this service, which is of value to the other contracting party.  In fact, the law regulates just about everything we do, and is vital in doing so to ensure the smooth running of community and every aspect of our lives.

The law is not some abstract notion that can and will protect us when we need to rely on it.  The law is an integral part of democratic life, and something which regulates our conduct, and in essence allows us to act according to our own desires within reason.  Some may think the law is too restrictive in certain areas, but it works.  The law serves its function as regulating our behaviour very well, and if it doesn't?  We can change it.

The fact is, law has been an important part of society since it began, with implied legal and social orders and boundaries that could not be crossed.  Today, it is a sophisticated network of guidelines and regulations which is adapted to shape the way we live our lives from one day to the next.  There is no doubt that the law is important to the citizen, and plays a profound impact on the lives of the people on a daily basis.

Women's Rights

In previous years, generations ago women were considered property of the husband or father to whom they belonged.  Now as we have progressed into the 21st century women have stepped up to the plate and are an integral part of society and politics, on an entirely equal footing with men.  In the past, women were considered as belonging to their husbands or fathers, now they are the CEO's of major corporations.  Women today are a very important part of society, with women in jobs such as judges, Senators, Congress, and even Governors - a feat that would have been highly surprising even twenty years ago.

These positions were not possible previously, with widespread social reform needed to bring about this change.  In previous years, women were only allowed to work on the family farm, or be a teacher, rather than being afforded experience in practical situations.  Women were expected to be married by the end of their teenage years, and were overlooked in conversations as being unable to contribute anything valid.  When elections were first started, women were not allowed to vote, they were barely allowed the right to run their own homes.  

As society has progressed, we have seen women moving from the back of the line, to the front of the public eye, occupying more and more positions of authority and respect.  More women now than ever are working outside the home, and proving their own worth without a man to hold them up.  Many women are even choosing to not get married, as well as not have children, although experts are suggesting this will have implications for future generations.  

With the push towards women's rights, there has also been pushes towards expanding the rights for the lesbian community.  More women are stepping forward to fight for the rights that they are owed and due, alongside those already afforded to the male homosexual community.  Women have been taxpayers for as long as men have, at the same rates, and there are daily battles and struggles to overcome the problems and oppression that women are faced with, especially within the homosexual community to level this unfairness.  

Even in today's society and the move away from sexism there is still a notable difference in the amount of money a man earns compared to the amount of money a woman earns for the same job.  This is regardless of experience, training, and education, as many employers still feel women lack the competence to work within a competitive environment.  There are always major differences in the way issues are handled and there seems to be new differences appearing each and every day.  

How society adapts is the important part, we are on the brink of the first woman in history winning a democratic party bid for the Presidency and this makes a wonderful time for women.  We are in the days, weeks, months and years following the Clinton presidency, and since then, Hillary Rodham Clinton has set an exception example for women by stepping out from behind her husband's shadow and making a name for herself in the political arena. With her impact on the forthcoming Presidential elections still unknown, it will be interesting to see the effect this has on women's rights both domestically and across the world.

Women are fighting and struggling each and every day to prove their worth, but with each day that passes a small victory for women's rights, we are proving each and every day that we are a force to be dealt with.  Many people are eagerly awaiting the day when men and women are truly treated as equals.  It might be 2 days from now or perhaps 20 years from now, but it is a work in progress and will be accomplished.  By working together with the community as a whole, and avoiding a destructively defensive view point, women can promote their interests, as can men, to create a truly equitable environment.

The UK Constitution: Does it Exist?

The UK Constitution: Does it Exist?

The UK is one of the few developed countries in the world without a written constitution.  Despite this, its economy is prospering as it strengthens its position as one of the richest nations in the world.  On top of that, it is pivotally located within the European federal framework in spite of its comparatively small geographic land mass and population.  This raises an obvious question as to the mechanisms of governance: if there isn't a constitution, how has the UK survived in this form, and how can it continue to prosper in a modern era without any distinct definitively specified legal order?

The United Kingdom is unlike most other nations in the world in that it has not suffered any major constitutional change since the Middle Ages.  Since that time, it has been predominantly governed by a monarch in conjunction with his or her parliament.  That said, it has proven to be of continuing success throughout the ages without the strict written form that many countries have adopted.  From this has sprung an unprecedented flexibility, and the UK has effectively developed its own (non-binding) constitutional conventions to keep the country running smoothly.  Additionally, the bi-cameral (or dual chamber) parliament plus the necessary monarchical ratification serves to provide a comprehensive set of checks and balances which would otherwise be provided through a written constitution.

The statement that the UK is lacking a constitution is misleading.  Of course there is no written document, but the UK has a rich and diverse legal tapestry that works fluidly and has so for centuries.  This fluidity has allowed for adaptation when necessary, and has allowed the UK to flourish and develop where others didn't have the chance.  Behind the scenes is an equally strict and wrought-iron code of conduct, which can partially be derived from codes of practices, Acts of Parliament and other 'bits and pieces'.  Although there may not be a constitution present in the sense of a single definitive document, the UK most certainly operates on the foundation of a constitution that keeps the country running smoothly on a daily basis.

A major aspect of the UK constitution is the thorough legislative process required for legal enactment.  Any bill must firstly be proposed to the House of Commons, an elected body of representatives empowered with the power of legislative initiative.  The first chamber proposes legislation and debates the provisions in depth, before agreeing on a final draft to pass to the second chamber, known as the House of Lords.  The House of Lords are largely un-elected, with 'membership' passed down from generation to generation, or new members proposed by the House of Commons.  They then have the right of veto, and an ability to refer back to the first chamber their proposed changes to any bills.  This ensures no rushed legislation passes, and in theory should cover all eventualities.  After passing both Houses, it is referred to the monarch, who has a personal responsibility to ensure any legislation is in accordance with the will of the people, and is morally justified.  Although the monarch hasn't used her power of veto since the 17th century, it is still an important constitutional safeguard in the UK.

The UK constitution might not seem obvious initially, but there is most certainly an intricate web of governance and practice lying underneath its blank exterior.  It has been described as the most successful constitution in the world, and this is bolstered by its perpetual success and lack of problems since its early evolution.

Washington D.C. in the House

After being told no for the last 200 years, the House of Representatives have okayed a bill that would allow a House of Representatives position to be created for the residents of the District of Columbia.  This is a complete shock to some, who analyze the situation and state that technically the District of Columbia is not a state and has no right to a representative in the house.  

Along with adding a member of the house for the D.C. area, Utah has been given a fourth seat.  Now the bill is passed along to the Senate to have a final approval but with the District of Columbia not being a true state, many are expecting the bill to be squashed.  Some may not have realized but 200 years ago it was determined that the District of Columbia would be banned from a seat in the House since it was not a state.  

Utah was declined an additional seat in the house after falling shy of the required residents to acquire a fourth seat after the last census.  However, since they are in the process of adding additional seats and Utah is so very close to the requirements it is expected that by the next election they should have the required number of residents to justify the additional seat.  

This is a major milestone in the House of Representatives, which has sat at 435 seats since 1960; it has been over 45 years since additional seats were added to the house.  Opponents of the new bill have all been quick to point out that while it's wonderful that the House is looking to grow, the Constitution clearly states that the members of the House are chosen by the people of the states, which since the District of Columbia is not a state, causes a major snafu in the plans of the Democratic majority House.  

The House is slated to keep the 437 seats even after the 2010 census, which is when Utah is slated to be expanding to a 4th district.  While this is the first time this measure has actually passed the House, it is not the first time it has been discussed, nor debated.  Back in 1978, it was mentioned that the District of Columbia should be given a vote in the House of Representatives; however, the amendment was discarded after it was unable to be ratified by a quorum three-fourth majority of the states.  

Once again, the measure was attempted in 1993; however, this attempt was focused around moving the District of Columbia into statehood and transforming the District into a full-fledged state of the United States.  This proposal was also rejected, so this is a major victory that has been attempted several times previously.  Whether it will pass through the Senate, and ultimately receive legal effect, is still left to be determined.

Many have argued that the District should be allowed a seat in the House, since the residents of the District pay taxes and fight in the wars of this country just like residents of any other state.  The debate and battle rages on, and it will be a rather interesting experience to see if the District is able to win their bid to a permanent seat in the House. 

The INS, Role, and Responsibilities

The INS, Role, and Responsibilities

In the days following the 9/11 attacks there have been many changes in the organization and how the government handles the flow of people coming into the country.  The INS was first started as the organization that was responsible for handing the people who were applying for citizenship and residency.  INS stands for Immigration and Naturalization Service, the organization charged with respecting the safety of the USA.

The INS is now responsible for many tasks that it never had before, including inspecting travelers who are entering and exiting the United States gates through more than 300 points of entry nationwide.  Whether you are coming or going from the United States, you are likely to be passing through an INS worker who is responsible for helping make sure anyone who is wanted by the law is not able to gain entry to the country.  Although largely a precaution, it is thought that this will be most helpful in preventing possible threats to national security.

Other tasks of the INS include handling the residence status of all who apply for residence and citizenship.  They also handle and seek to regulate the status of all permanent and temporary immigration requests.  The INS. also handles tourists, and students, as well as those coming for conventions, special classes, visiting family and all other business.

The INS has also been given the tasks of controlling all of the borders into the United States, especially the borders between Mexico and the United States and Canada and the United States.  This is an extremely large task since the United States shares such large land borders with two other countries.  This allows for an almost daily flow of people trying to enter the country illegally.

INS workers are also responsible for handling and removing all people who have no legal rights to be in this country.  They are responsible for removing the parties in accordance with the laws, and by following all of the standards that are set in place for obtaining temporary status, or returning the person to the country where they came from.

In a report the INS released in 2001, there was 31,971 employees on staff.  This resulted in a rate of 24,233 of these employees being classified as enforcement personal were used to enforce the laws, rulings and policies of this country.  The INS today is a function of the Justice Department and serves mostly as an investigative unit, unlike many other departments, which serve as law enforcement units instead.

In recent years, the borders have had more illegal entry than previously, which has resulted in larger amounts of staff being added to help secure the borders and protect our country.  Without being able to know who is entering our country, we are unable to truly protect our citizens and other people.  Border patrol agents is the one largest area where the INS has seen growth in jobs available.  Due to the increase of jobs in the border patrol, we are able to see much fewer illegal entries into the country.

As we progress into a country that is, more accommodating of people from various cultures it will be quite interesting to see how the INS is changed to adapt and become more friendly to the needs of all people, even those entering the country.

The Scope and Nature of the Criminal Law

In our private lives, the area of law we will experience the most, either directly or indirectly would have to be the criminal law.  Not necessarily through contravening its principals, the individual citizen will more commonly encounter its breadth in the course of their everyday lives, considering as a factor the legal ramifications of any desired conduct or decision in the decision making process.  For most of us, we tend to live our lives within these predetermined boundaries with no second thought or question as to the morality of the prohibited option nor the moral authority behind it.  In this article, it is proposed to look at the nature and scope of the criminal law in our society, and to discuss whether as an entity it is too intrusive, or whether it is naturally a required aspect of regulating society.

It is often said academically that the citizen enjoys freedom to act as he wishes in his life, subject to the regulatory provisions of the criminal law and the criminal justice system.  It is thought that as citizens of a particular country, largely at freedom to choose where we live in the world, we impliedly accept the authority of the relevant legal provisions which, for the most part, regulate on a moral level.  Of course there are exceptions, i.e. criminal laws of a regulatory or secondary nature which do not directly bear any moral message, such as speeding limits or parking restrictions.  So, then, to what extent does the criminal law reflect morality, and further from what source is this morality derived?

The criminal law is said to operate in mind of the public good, and the benefit of society.  It could, therefore, be argued to be crossing the boundaries into serious restrictions on liberty when it regulates personal conduct like drug use which may not have any wider impact than on that of the person indulging accordingly.  Why should the criminal law impose restrictions on what a person can do with his or her own body?  Surely our own freewill is a good enough justification for acting outwith the scope of the law in these types of scenario?

Furthermore an interesting area of the criminal law is potential liability for omissions.  In this sense, the citizen can actually be punished without acting at all in a specific way.  This takes the criminal law beyond a regulatory framework for the public good into an actual coercive force to make people positively act in a certain way.  For example, in some jurisdictions there is a legal duty to report a road traffic accident.  This means a citizen who is aware of the occurrence of such will have committed a criminal offence where he does not act in the prescribed manner.  Again, this is surely affording a broad scope to the criminal law, which may be seen by some as intruding on the fundamental freedoms and values upon which most modern nations were built.

It is interesting to consider the real impact of the criminal law, and the sheer breadth of conduct it regulates.  From the objectively morally wrong to the less obvious cases of imposition of liability, the criminal law places severe restrictions on the general principal of absolute liberty, which is clearly the subject of much academic and philosophical debate.

Better Job Search Engines

Better Job Search Engines

Job search engines use state-of-the-art technology to assist people in their job quest.  Here you could enter all the relevant information to reduce the lists of sought after jobs to get more accurate results.

Because new jobs are being added daily or even hours after, the tendency to see the results you had yesterday may be different from what you see today.  This is where job search engines come in handy.

After some trial and error there are a few job search engines that could yield better results.  They allow searchers to see major job sites, companies and even its associations by entering a keyword and location.  Results can be seen in different ways, it could be in a browser list and some sent thru e-mail.

SimplyHired.com, America's Job Bank, Jobster, and Indeed.com are just a few of the search engines that can give you more accurate results.  These sites include over 500 job listings with job boards, prime newspapers, and numerous companies with career pages.

Indeed.com even has an advance search option that could be used to search company names, positions, and even the distance for commuters.

America's Job Bank let's you enter the job category you would like to search, then you can enter either the city or the zip code and state you would like to find the job and it gives the list of job openings.  If you're lucky, you can even get the quoted salary from each of the companies you're eyeing on.

In SimplyHired.com aside from the list of jobs open, applicants are also given a short description of the job you're about to handle including the responsibilities to be met even during application.  It also includes the type of company, location and date when the job was posted.

Jobster provides the latest job postings from today up to the last 7 days wherein you can also choose the distance you prefer.  This site gives you the ability to see the list of the freshly posted jobs from a variety of sources.

How Well Are They?

These sites give listings that are relevant and timely, compared to other search engines that generate results a little longer than the others.  Some would even provide results that are far from the location picked out.

So far the best among the search engines used is the Simplyhired.Com.  It showed the job title, a link was also provided for posting, a summary of the job description, where the exact current location and where it originated.  The produced results are easy to read, non-confusing with bits and pieces more of information plus the getting around is user friendly

“Quo Vadis, New Graduate?”

According to a recent survey by Job Outlook, for the third year now there is a positive increase in hiring fresh college graduates for 2006.  Business owners plan on hiring more from the class of 2005-06 than they did from the 2004-05 class as well as offering higher compensation and benefits for the new hires.

In the annual survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, nine out of ten companies describe the new job market as good, very good, and excellent.  Public accounting and consulting firms narrated the brightest prospect for the future graduates, while engineering and construction firms supported the idea by saying they'll also be hiring.

There is a growing demand for new graduates in the job market as a result of the also growing products and services they offer and to keep up with the retiring HR staff.  

Who are in demand?

• Mechanical engineering 

• Electrical engineering 

• Accounting 

• Business administration/ management 

• Economics/finance 

• Computer science 

• Information sciences and systems 

• Marketing/marketing management 

• Computer engineering 

• Chemical engineering 

Mechanical engineering graduates topped the list and eyeing on them are aerospace, automotive, mechanical equipment manufacturers.  They also plan on hiring graduates with Ph.D.s in science and computer related courses.

Banking, transportation, financial, and insurance services are seeking Economics/Finance graduates.  The food and beverage processing companies, merchandisers, and financial services will need more Business Administration/Management degree holders.  One-third of business owners plan on hiring associate graduates categorized into three: technology, engineering and business related degrees.  Insurance and engineering/surveying companies appear the most in need of 2 year course graduates for they bear a productive kind of technical knowledge which does not require more training.  They belong to the hands-on work force who developed a good work ethic which is sadly observed by employers as missing in previous amateur graduates.

During the survey, only 23.5%, (mainly manufacturers) respondents planned on hiring international graduates in 2006.  

What qualities should a new graduate possess?

• Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Must be honest and has a high regard with integrity

• Can easily relate to others

• Maintain strong work ethic

• Can work well with others –TEAMWORK

• Analytical skills

• Must be self motivated and initiative

• Adaptability to change

• Updated computer skills

• Observant to details

The standards of companies’ ideal candidates are often higher than the last year’s.  It is important that new graduates show good G.P.A.s as full time jobs come with good benefits coming from good revenues.  Salary, should not be the sole consideration when looking for a job, benefits are part of it.

Here are some of the lists of benefits:

• Life and Medical/Dental insurance

• Retirement plans

• Annual and semi-annual increase

• Employee counseling program

• Dress code

• Paid trainings

• Bonus and commissions

• Family benefits

• Flexi-time

• Performance updates

• Vacation and sick leaves

• On-site fitness and recreational facilities

• Day care center

• Company car/service

The best places to seek competitive employers can be on campus job fairs, during on-the-job-trainings, student organizations and clubs, Internet search job search engines, etc.  What’s important is that you target the right employers.  Don’t let an opportunity pass, get in the interview to know more about their career offers and don’t forget to research about the company.  You must be able to discuss your career objectives and compose a list of relevant and creative questions you can ask yourself.

Tips in a Job Interview

Tips in a Job Interview


The second step in getting the job is meeting the potential employer for an interview. The first step that an applicant has successfully completed was sending your application and passing the screening process of the company.

The employer got the resume through a variety of sources that can be from an ad that was posted, a referral from a friend or a headhunter, or by a person who simply submitted an application by logging on the company’s website.

Here are a few tips that will help in having a successful interview;

• Before going to an interview, it is best to do some research about the company one is applying to.

• It is also best to practice with a friend or family member mock up questions that the employer will likely ask so you do not choke during the real interview.

• When you go for an interview, it is best to always arrive 10 to 15 minutes ahead of time. This shows employers that the person is punctual and serves as a good attribute in a potential employee.

• When meeting an employer, you should bring an extra copy of the resume and other documents that are needed if asked certain questions. A good example is architects and photographers who are professionals in the respective fields who have a portfolio of the works done which may impress the interviewer.

• It is always best to dress appropriately. This shows the employer sincerity on the part of the applicant applying for the job. One must have finger-nails and hair well groomed for the interview. The outfit worn should be professional.  This would mean that shoes must be used to match the outfit. If you typically wear a lot of jewelry, it is advisable to remove and tone it down for the interview.

• When you are in front of the employer, smile and greet the interviewer with a firm (but not bone crushing) handshake  which is always a good start to get the interview moving.

• During the course of the interview, listen very well to the questions asked. Each must be answered truthfully and confidently to be able to sell yourself to the potential employer.

• Afterwards, the applicant should thank the recruiter for the time that was given to meet for the interview.

"Facts about Searching Jobs Abroad"

Job hunting abroad can be both an opportunity and an adventure.  There are hurdles to overcome when searching for the right job abroad.  Let's take going to Madrid, Paris, Rome or London for example.  It's not enough to just send resumes, the idea should be "get the luggage and get on the plane." 

Getting a work permit is one obstacle in Europe.  To stay there for an extended time, a residence permit is needed.  This an only be granted once a working permit has been granted.  Companies only provide non-European workers their work permits if they prove that there are no qualified European for the position.  This is tough since the European Employment Services allows different companies to recruit prospects in eighteen European Economic Area countries.  Remember that an ideal candidate is one who is able to speak the native language of a specific city other than English.

If you have your eye on Spain, a typed application letter with a resume must be prepared, including a recent photo and translated qualifications and/or copies of diplomas and other credentials.  The letter must be written in a direct formal style citing the vacancy applying for.  A must have for the closing should be "En espera de sus noticias, les saluda atentamente."

In the United Kingdom, newspapers are good sources of job openings.  Assorted prime papers offer complement of job vacancies like "The Guardian," "The Daily Telegraph," "The Times," or the "The Independent" particularize vacancies daily.  Companies are very particular regarding the reason you are applying.  Research on their product offers, location of branches/offices, etc.  There must be a reason why there is an interest to work for a specific company. 

The application for jobs in Italy should also consist of a typed application letter.  This should be formal and conventional in form.  Using the Italian language is a must when explaining the intriguing reason for application.  Diplomas and other credentials including impressive list of references should be handy during the initial interview.  There are three to four expected follow-up interviews including a psychometric test.  Put emphasis on personal appearance before the interview especially how the dress as this shows the concern in getting the job being applied for.

The average job search abroad ranges between six to twelve months.  Experts consider searching for a job a full time job itself.  Attending career counseling is helpful if unsure on what to do.  There are a lot of great career resources who can give advise that best fits ones interests and passion.

Job Hunting Tips

Job Hunting Tips

Hunting for jobs nowadays is a very competitive and sometimes cut-throat affair. Here are a few tips to help you get the edge in searching out and landing the job of your dreams.

The Curriculum Vitae
The CV is the first, and at most times the most important part of applying for a job. Since potential employers have to whittle down practically hundreds of applications to a few valid ones, they will have to base their narrowing down efforts using the CVs they have collected.

Studies have shown that about half of the employers decide to accept or reject job applications based on the related work experience listed in the CV. A third of the employers decide to reject or accept these job applications based on the layout design of these applications.

1. Make Your CV Stand Out
When preparing your CV, make sure your CV stands out among the rest. It should be the type that is appealing to the eyes, making the evaluating personnel want to read the CV. Step two is for you to make sure your CV lists the related work experience you have had in relation to the job you are applying for.

1. Make Your CV Concise and Relevant
Avoid making your CVs too long. It may make it irrelevant to the evaluator. Remember that the employer is a person to whom time is important. If your CV shows that you value his/her time while showing the most relevant information in the least amount of time, you will have won one important battle.

2. Always tailor your CV to the job.
You may have had previous experience that may not be related to the job you are applying for. Some people keep many different versions of their CV for different job opening purposes. Make sure your CV is appropriate for the job. A one-size-fits-all CV may not be the best way to go since the employer will have the impression that your previous efforts have not been focused enough to produce any specialization on your part.

3. Write about your achievements
You may add your achievements, but make your statements factual and relevant. It does not do harm to advertise yourself, but make your advertisement matter-of-fact and not just hot air. You may want to skip on listing your weak points as the CV is not the avenue for such discussions.

4. Polish Your CV
Your employer will know if you have put enough time producing your CV. If he/she sees that you have put sufficient and thorough effort into your CV, he/she will assume that you will do the same in your work. This is a big plus for you. It is not uncommon for some people to spend days or even weeks polishing and buffing their CVs.

The Job Interview

The second step in getting a job is having an interview with a potential employer. The first step was sending your application and after careful review by the company, you are seen as candidate for the vacant position. 

The employer got this information through an ad that was placed in the paper, referred by someone in the company or a headhunter, or by a person who simply submitted an application via the company’s website.  

The first impression employers always look at is your resume. Given the many that apply, this usually takes about 30 seconds and so with the limited words, one must be sure that the resume is well written and grammatically correct. 

During the interview, most employers want to know more about person since the resume only gives certain information such as the person’s name, age, address, contact number,  social security number, past and current employment. 

The employer will likely ask about the experiences, lessons and accomplishments one has done and learned working for another employer. This will usually include how the person handled a situation in the company, the challenges of the job and the relationship with coworkers.

Another question will be the relationship between the applicant and family members. This shows character with how the person interacts with people who are close and those that know the person for a long time. 

The employer will usually ask why the person applied in the company and where you would like to be in 5 to 10 years. Long term questions such as this will show if there is dedication for the job at hand and if the company can provide something beneficial for both the applicant and the employer. 

Companies follow a certain budget in hiring qualified personnel which is why the interviewer will ask how much one desires to get for the job. If what is being asked is too high, the employer will usually ask if the salary is open to negotiation. 

After the employer asks questions, room is usually given for the applicant to ask questions in return. This is the best time to know a little bit more the company one might be working in and to get a feel of the potential company. 

If there are no more questions, the interviewer will then end the meeting and call the applicant back if the person has passed the initial interview so that the next phase of the application process can begin.

Stress-free Job Hunting Guide

Stress-free Job Hunting Guide


Hunting for the perfect job for an individual requires time, effort and knowledge.

For stress free job-hunting, every individual must first consider the following pointers before starting your job hunting process:

1. Know what type of job you would like to apply for.   Gate crashing job fairs that offer work not related to one's degree or work preference would be a waste of time.

Consider your interests, preference of work location and job shifts (to be especially considered by professionals who have family members to take care of).  If all these fit the category of the job opening available, it would be best to proceed with the application process.

2. Prepare possible needed documents or career portfolio.  Have several copies of your resume, transcript of records and any certifications ready for immediate submission if needed.

3. Know where to look for job postings.  There are various forms that offer listing of jobs.   Below are some of these sites:

3.1 Internet. One of most widely used searching options is the Internet.  Aside from the fact that browsing the Internet for available jobs is less time consuming than personal appearances to inquire at the offices, this can also be the least expensive form of job hunting.

You would not need to buy newspapers to browse through the ads for vacancies nor spend gas money to go to the offices.

Not only local or national vacancies can be browsed through the net, international job openings could likewise be easily accessed by the user, thus, offering one a much wider perspective in choosing the right job.

3.2 Newspapers.  One of the most commonly used searching medium.  Local newspapers advertise jobs that are within an applicant's commuting distance.  Available jobs are usually printed on a regular basis.

3.3 Career or Job Centers.  These usually offer jobs for ages 16-18 and rarely above 21 years of age.  Though fully loaded with vacancies, it caters mostly to the younger applicants.

Job listings are frequently updated; therefore regular visits would ensure the applicants of new job postings.

3.4 Periodicals or magazines.  Professionals are best advised to look for jobs on magazines since employers that would want to hire the same would advertise on such journals.

3.5 Offices.  Most offices have postings of job openings on their Vacancy Boards.  Applicants may directly go to the office to look for vacancies and then directly submit the resume or other pertinent documents to the respective division that receives such documents.

Online Job Hunting

There was a time when a person who wanted to find work had to buy newspaper and look through the classified ads section.  The advent of the internet has changed that by creating opportunities for people to work either in a different state or in another country. 

It has made the world a smaller place rendering it accessible for anyone with a computer to search for a job and apply to it. 

There are many sites that offer such services. All the person has to do is open an account, fill up the necessary fields then submit your resume. 

These sites usually ask for pertinent information such as the person’s name, age, address, contact number and social security number. 

Additional information that will be requested is educational background. Employment history is also another thing that has to be mentioned which includes the job description and highlights that one has experienced during that person’s career.  

A section in the account will also ask the preferred industry of work, if the person is willing to do field work or open to relocation and the expected salary should one be accepted for the job.

With all the information provided, these sites will then match your qualifications with the jobs available.  This service is free and matches can be seen when the person logs on the account or gets a notice via email. 

Some sites offer a service with a fee that will place the resume over other applicants giving that person more priority but even that is a not a guarantee that one will get the job. 

Online job hunting is not just for professionals. It caters to anyone who wants to work either full time, part time or on a per project basis.  

Applying online is not only done through job sites. You can also check the websites of companies that usually have a section on careers to see what openings are available. You simply have to go through the process of giving certain information and uploading your resume. 

There are many jobs available in the market. The internet has made it easier for companies to make people aware that there are vacancies available. It has also made it convenient for applicants to apply online instead of walking to an office and dropping of a resume. With everything that is just a mouse click away, all it takes is a little effort on one’s part to sit down in front of a computer and looking for a job. 

Job Descriptions: Why Effective Job Descriptions Make Good Business Sense

Job Descriptions: Why Effective Job Descriptions Make Good Business Sense

Most neophyte workers or even freshly graduated members of the workforce will jump into jobs without knowing their job descriptions. This practice is understandable. Many of these fresh graduates are just glad to have gotten a job and will try to avoid being to nosy or pushy when it comes to work. They may think that ‘demanding’ a job description will be an added negative to their employer’s impression of them.

This could not be more wrong. Employers, in general, delight in employees that ask about their job description. This shows that the employee has an interest in knowing the specifics of his or her job and would like to know what his or her specific responsibilities are. Here are a few other reasons why job descriptions are truly important to employees and even to those who are searching for jobs.

1. Knowledge of Duties
A job description will furnish you with a list of your responsibilities and duties. This will ensure that you know what jobs you are supposed to do and which jobs you are not supposed to do.  Just “guessing” is not an option. However, you may be trying to do your best doing jobs that are not your duty and responsibility to perform. The result of which, on paper, is that you are not doing your job.

If you end up doing jobs that are not in your job description. You will not be credited with those jobs.

2. Prevent Being Taken Advantage Of
There will be instances when as an employee you will be asked to do specific duties that are not in your job description. It is perfectly legal to point to your job description and say that the particular job does not fall under your job description. You will, of course, have to do this politely.

You may, of course, choose to do these duties. However, make it clear that what you are doing is not within your job description. You and your manager may then choose to talk about whether these duties should be included and the proper remuneration for such.

3. What Matters to Your Employer is Paper
There have been countless employees who have come forth saying, “we did our best, worked over time, and gave our all, but did not receive the proper acknowledgement.” Unfortunately, employers will be too busy to keep track of your performance. You may have to submit reports on your progress and performance. This, of course, should be based on your job description or else it will not make any sense to your employer.

Jobs and over aged applicants

Though some employers would prefer a younger workforce, the older applicants still have a wide variety of career choices to choose from.  

Employers are starting to see the potential of older and much-experienced applicants as can be seen by the statistics below:

q In Australia, Bureau of Statistics showed that between the period of August of 1989 to that of August of 2003, the workforce aged 15-24 lost more than 380,000 jobs to older workers.

Aside from the fact that most of Australia's younger generation became full-time students, employers favored the older applicants.

q In Netherlands on the other hand (by December of 2000), over 500,000 thousand of their employees are 55 years old and above.  This figure had been increasing steadily since 1995.

To have a head start from the younger applicants, one has to take into consideration the following:

1. In writing one's resume, put more weight in highlighting the accomplishments without necessarily bragging about it.

One could have these lists of accomplishments and previous posts held work for one's advantage over younger applicants who may not even have any experience on the same field.

An individual's employment history receives as much scrutiny as the applicant itself.  While employers tend to look for gaps or lapses of time when the applicant has been unemployed, they also tend to focus on the length of service one had rendered for their previous employers.

Frequent change of work (usually within very short time frames) can be alarming for prospective employers.

2. Read and enroll in programs that will refresh your knowledge on certain fields especially if engaged in professional sectors.  This will keep you individual abreast of the latest trend in such fields.

3. Search the Internet for vacancies.  A lot of agencies place ads on the net that advertises help for senior citizens in looking for jobs.  Various search engines made easier and specific (can choose the following categories: career, location and field of interest) are also available.

Jobs that do not usually look into the age of the applicant are the following:

1. Professional work that are into specialization.  For applicants in the medical field (i.e. Doctors) experience is the basic determinant of being hired.

2. Lectures or speaking engagements.  Speakers that are invited to discuss certain topics do not really have an age requirement.  Rather, qualification focuses more on first hand knowledge and experience.

3. Writers.  Writing novels, plays or children's books are one of those professions whose only requirement is good writing skills.  Also, one can do the job at the comfort of their own homes, a plus factor for those in their advanced years.

Free Copywriting PDF

Free Copywriting PDF

Within this article today on free copywriting PDF, we will provide some websites in which you can find free PDF e-books and other informative materials to learn more about copywriting.

To give you a little background on copywriting, this is a field that is in great demand.  If you are interested in this field, you can be sure that you will make good money and the job does offer very good flexibility.  The average worker in the United States earned roughly around $60,000 including bonuses in 2005, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Copywriting involves any written materials often published by companies.  This could include the annual report that a company publishes as well as its advertisements, radio commercials, and website.  There's a great deal of different avenues that copywriters can go down.

That paragraph was meant to give you a little insight into the benefits of being a copywriter. Within this paragraph, we will show you some links towards finding free copywriting in PDF form.  The first website which we would like to profile is: http://www.getitinwriting.biz/ebook_form.php. You are able to get a free e-book that explains how you can use words to bring in more business.  This was an example of just one e-book off of this website but there are many other e-books available once you actually sign up and become a member. A general rule of thumb is that products are able to set themselves apart to a certain degree but advertising can be the difference between a dud and a best-selling product.

The second website which we would like to point you towards is: http://www.pandecta.com/copy.html. This website does not offer free copywriting PDF it does offer a great deal of information on the field of copywriting.  It explains what goes into writing good copy and how it is done.

There is not a great deal of resources that have free copywriting in the form of PDF materials. If you search the Internet on free copywriting, there are a great deal of resources that are available for you.  You can find tutorials to help learn more about the field as well as information and insights into the field and trends.  If you are looking at becoming a copywriter, this could be a great resource for you need to know which particular skills you would want to develop.  Copywriting is such a broad field that you will probably specialize in one or two areas.

Hopefully this article on free copywriting PDF gives you some ideas and insights into the field of copywriting.  If you currently are a writer, this could be a good transition as this field does require a great deal of creativity and does have great benefits such as pay and flexibility.  Read over some of the examples from the websites that were given so you can better understand what is available out there.  The websites that were given were just two of the first results when typing in a search term "free copywriting."

Freelance Copywriting Jobs

You can find that there are numerous freelance copywriting jobs out there.  Within this article today, we'll look at a couple of the different websites and how you can make sure to set yourself apart from all of the other freelancers out there.

Our first task is to identify the different marketplaces where you should have a subscription. The website that will be profiled first is www.elance.com. This particular marketplace has a very strong following as more than 100,000 potential customers come by the website each week.  You are able to sign up to sell your services and the system allows you to upload your best work to sell yourself to potential clients.  There is also a search agents in place so that you can have jobs that meet your criteria e-mailed to you on a daily basis.  Cost for a subscription to this particular website can range from eight dollars per month up to one hundred twenty dollars per month. 

The second website which you should look to register for it is www.guru.com. This is actually the largest online freelance marketplace on the Internet to look for online jobs including freelance copywriting jobs.  The capabilities of this website are similar to the ones that were posted in the paragraph above for that particular website.  It has a service provider base of over 481,000 people.  If you live in Europe, you can use both of these websites as well as a European challenge to these two, which is found at www.getafreelancer.com.  There are many other websites that also offer a freelance online marketplace and one of these is www.directfreelance.com. 

This should get you started in being able to find different websites and which you can bid on projects.  When you are bidding on projects, companies that are looking at the bids will not be looking just at price but also at how their work will be done.  To do this you will want to set yourself apart.  The way that you can set yourself apart in creating a bid is to include copies of your best work but also make sure that you include testimonials along with a sales letter on why you will be the best party bidding on this particular project.  By doing this, you will be tailoring your message to the particular party and you will be showing them examples of your past work along with happy clients.  This will help improve your credibility and firmly anchor you as a potential candidate who can get the job done.  Many copywriters do not have a website today so if you take the opportunity to create a website, you will find that you could have a competitive advantage in the freelance copywriting jobs market.

Hopefully this article on freelance copywriting jobs has helped you.  It is important to know which websites you should use in finding work but it is also important to find ways to set yourself apart.  By creating a website as well as creating an advertising package that shows off your best side, you are setting yourself up to stand apart from other freelancers.  You are selling yourself when you create this package so keep that in mind.

Learning Copywriting

If you are a good writer, you should be able to pick up copywriting.  The key behind copywriting is that you must understand that you're writing in a different style and to a different audience. A good quote that will be used to start this article comes from the book The Copywriter's Handbook, A Step-By-Step Guide to Writing Copy that Sells.  "A copywriter is a sales person behind a typewriter." (p.1 of book mentioned above)

This is the key when you are learning copywriting.  You must learn to communicate with the audience in a way that persuades them to buy the product or service that you are writing about.  There must be an initial connection that is made or else you'll find that you've lost the audience's attention.  In this day and age, people are inundated with the number of advertisements that they see every day and quickly discard any advertisement that does not fit within their perspective immediately. You must realize that your writing cannot be for the entertainment of an audience now but rather to sell a product or service.

As a quick introduction to some of the important points on learning copywriting, the first key is to pay attention to the headline.  The headline is read more often than copy at an exponential rate.  If you cannot catch someone's attention with the headline, you have wasted the rest of your sales copy.  A sales letter essentially only has about five seconds in which you can grab a person's attention and the headline is one the most important factors in being able to pull that attention.  This is just an example of copywriting and what you must look for.  

In learning copywriting, look into the works of Dan Kennedy.  He is one of the foremost experts on the subject and he has said before that he became better by continual development of his skills.  If you would like to learn more about any one of his books, look into the following title: The Ultimate Sales Letter. You will want to make yourself a lifelong student of the subject in learning copywriting because there is always something more to know.

Hopefully this article on learning copywriting has helped you. This field will seem very challenging but at the same point it is one of the more interesting fields that you can find out there.  The key to being successful and copywriting is to learn from what you do.  If you constantly read and continue to develop your skills, you'll find that you will become a great copywriter.  It is hard within a single page to truly give you an idea of what it takes to be a copywriter but go back to the quote at the beginning of the article that a copywriter is a person who sells.  Your goal is to educate an audience in a way that persuades them.  This is the only difference between how you currently write and how you will write as a copywriter.

Copywriting Vancouver

Copywriting Vancouver

If you are looking at copywriting in Vancouver, remember that you have great opportunities in front of you for several different reasons.  With the growth of the Internet and the development of online freelance markets, you are able to work on projects from all over the world.  You are not limited to companies that are located strictly in Vancouver.  This article on copywriting in Vancouver will focus on the different freelance online markets that you can use as well as certain opportunities that you may have with in your local area.

There are several online freelance markets which you will want to look into for possible work.  The first one which you should look into it is: www.elance.com. This website is great because it has an established base of customers as well as new customers looking for work every week.  Within their website, it was listed that more than 100,000 potential customers visit the website every week.  This is a great deal of business which you may not be privy to if you do not join the website.  You can have particular projects e-mailed to you when they're posted and you're also able to post a profile to showcase the best work that you have done.

The second website which you should look into is: www.directfreelance.com. This website does not receive as much traffic as the website profiled in the first paragraph but you'll find that it is also a valuable resource for you.  It has the same capabilities in that you can have jobs that meet your criteria e-mailed to you when they are posted. These two websites should spotlight for you the ease with which you can work in Asia or in Vancouver without having to worry about your particular local market.

Vancouver is also a great place where you can work.  In Vancouver, there are local job boards which you can use to post your particular skills or look for local projects.  The first one is www2.vcn.bc.ca/directory?catid=25. The second one is http://vancouver.craigslist.org/. The beauty of working in Vancouver in looking for Vancouver projects is that if someone feels uncomfortable using the Internet to employ a copywriter, you are able to meet with that particular individual and sell yourself.  If you look on these two websites, use that as a competitive advantage to set yourself apart from your competition which may not be in your direct area.  Copywriting is such a competitive field that you will need to take advantage of whatever resources you have available and the fact that you live where the client lives can be a huge selling point.

Hopefully copywriting in Vancouver has given you a better idea of how you can work around the world as well as within your locale.  Remember that you can bid on projects from any part of world and how you present yourself in the work that you are able to do will often be what sets you apart from the competition.  No matter what type of job you bid on, be sure to find some sort of selling point that will allow you to set yourself apart from the competition.  This could be the local factor if a potential client lives in Vancouver or it could be something else. Good luck in finding jobs within copywriting in Vancouver.

Copywriting

For those of you who are not familiar with the art of copywriting, this article will focus on giving an introduction to the subject and why it is in such high demand today.

The field of copywriting is large and continues to expand every year.  A way to describe copywriting is putting a creative message in front of a consumer. In the book, Copywriting, it is mentioned that copywriting is based upon three fundamental principles.  When you are writing to a customer, there has to be an involvement between the customer and the seller.  You must then make sure that you explain the rewards as far as when the customer is purchasing a product.  The final piece is achievement and that is what you as the writer will be focusing on.  Whenever you write copy, you are looking to have a certain effect upon consumers.  Usually this effect will be for consumers to desire a certain product because they will want to gain certain rewards.  You know that you've achieved your objectives by hitting certain sales goals that have been set for your copywriting.  There are many writers in the world but there is a specific niche for copywriters.  Copywriters are the ones who write messages but mold them in a way that it brings about an interest in a consumer.  With the number of advertisements out there today, consumers will not respond unless it is something that specifically interests them.  This is why it is more important than ever to have a clear focus when you are writing your copy so that you know which particular niche you're trying to hit within the broader population.

There will always be a need for copywriters no matter whether the economy is in a recession or in a boom.  Companies must always put out a message to consumers and as long as this demand is needed, copywriters will be in high demand.  If you are interested in working as a copywriter, you will have many different places to look for work.  You can decide to work for advertising agencies, on the Internet, or be your own boss.  There are many different markets for you in these three that were just listed.

When you are writing copy for a seller of a product, the key is that you must remember to put yourselves in the shoes of the consumer.  This is done through doing extensive research and studying what goes through the mind of that particular consumer.  Each niche or group of people will be different in what will motivate them to do certain things.  By doing this research, you will have a better idea of where you need to go with the message that you are trying to convey to your target audience.

This article on copywriting is meant to give you a broad overview of the field.  The demand for copywriters will always be strong due to the need of companies to send messages to their audiences to buy their products.  If you do not employ someone to promote your product, you will be left behind.  This is why copywriting is such a good field and is in such high demand.

Direct Response Copywriting

There is a great deal of direct response copywriting in the world today.  Direct response copywriting can take several different forms.  It could encompass a direct-mail campaign as well as direct response ads.  Within this article today on direct response copywriting, we will look at what this entails and where you can find more information about direct response copywriting.

To learn more about direct response copywriting, you should look at one of the masters: Dan Kennedy.  He has written many books which you should look into.  Dan has done many different areas of copywriting but direct response copywriting is one of his specialties. 

When you talk about direct response advertising, there is a great deal of competition.  Many companies employ direct response copywriting so you must make sure that you have different ways for your advertising to stand up.  When you are doing direct response copywriting, you should make sure that you are writing to your prospects as you would write to a friend.  This will be slightly formal but informal in the sense that you are writing to the person in a conversational tone.  You do not need to stick to a certain length of space within your writing but rather write until what you need to say has been said.

Direct response copywriting is a complex subject so you should read more about this subject because a formula has been developed that you can use.  There is no reason to reinvent the wheel when you're copywriting because that involves more work on your part and people have taken the time and effort to test the different parts of the letter to maximize the current formula and wring out the most sales possible with a direct response copywriting campaign.  There are three main parts usually to a direct response letter.  These are the headline, the offer, and the postscript.  The headline is the most read part of your sales letter so you must make sure to grab your prospects' attention immediately. If you do not grab their attention, you'll find that your direct response copywriting letter is at the bottom of the trashcan along with many other junk letters.  The second most important part of the letter is the postscript.  This is where you will be giving an incentive for someone to respond immediately to what you have to offer.  With the offer, you want to make sure that this explains in great detail what a person will receive if they take you up on your offer.  The postscript will offer further incentives so that the person will respond immediately.

Hopefully this article on direct response copywriting has benefited you.  The key behind direct response copywriting is that you want the person to immediately respond to the offer that you have presented.  Good copywriting is done by following the formulas that have been established.  By focusing upon the three main parts such as the headline, the offer, and the postscript, you will be setting yourself up to have a high success rate.  Direct response copywriting can be very effective and produce great sales for you or your clients if you do it correctly so be sure to continue to learn more about the subject.

Copywriting Tips

Copywriting Tips

Within this article today on copywriting tips, we'll look at how you can acquire more clients as well as improve your writing skills.

Improving these two skills will allow you to have a meteoric rise in the income that you bring in.  Many copywriters are very strong in their profession but are not very good at procuring clients.  If you are able to sell yourself to potential clients, you'll never find yourself short of work.  The ability to sell yourself is what will set you apart from all the other freelance copywriters out there.  You must make sure that you have a portfolio of your best work.  Within this portfolio, you'll want to have a letter explaining your qualifications along with samples of your writing as well as testimonials from your previous jobs.  If you are able to e-mail this to your potential clients, this will help set you apart.  They can see the professional work you have done in the past as well as the client base that you currently work with.  If you are able to reference Fortune 500 companies  you have worked with, this will continue to improve your credibility. If you are just starting out in the copywriting field, delete the potential references and replace this with more work that you have done in the past. If you have worked for an advertising agency and are beginning to freelance, make sure to include some the work that you have done at the advertising agency.

 Two possible ways that you can acquire clients are to post at different contracting websites such as elance.com or directfreelance.com. You can also research companies who you can potentially see if they need work.  If you spend time reading the business section every day, cut out articles that might be within your particular field and keep them in a centralized location.  This could be a potential source of leads for you depending upon how the companies are doing and if it is in a predicament where your skills may be needed

If you want to learn more about writing great copy, look into learning more about Dan Kennedy.  He is one of the world's foremost experts on direct selling and reading through his book will give you some insights into how to write great copy.  The book that you want to specifically pick up is called "The Ultimate Sales Letter." This book breaks down the Kennedy system of writing great copy.  By taking the time to read through this, you'll be able to see what he has done to be so successful and he takes the time to look through different examples that you can see what works with in many of these advertisements.

Hopefully this article today on copywriting tips has proven to be beneficial to you.  Stephen King was once quoted in Time magazine that writing is similar to working out.  When you work out and lift weights, within a period of time, you'll find yourself becoming much stronger and more muscular.  The same can be applied to copywriting.  If you continue to develop your skills and write habitually every day, you'll find yourself becoming a better writer over the course of time.  The key behind copywriting tips is that you must apply them.

Copywriting Training

Writing is a great field to get into and much of this article today will look at ways that you can focus on copywriting training. There are many different ways that you can learn more about copywriting.  This article will focus on different resources for you to help in your copywriting training.

The first resource that you should look for in copywriting training would be any book by Dan Kennedy.  He is one of the world's foremost experts on copywriting, specifically direct response writing.  Direct response writing is copywriting where people respond immediately to the offer that you present to them.  This is often done in the form of direct mail.  One of the very good books that he wrote is called The Ultimate Sales Letter.

If you would like an introduction into copywriting, visit your local library.  You will find that there should be at least one or two do-it-yourself books on copywriting training.  Another great resource to help you would be the Internet.  There are many different resources out there to help you in your copywriting training.  Here are a couple of good websites which have tutorials on operating which you can use at your own convenience.  The first website which you should visit is: http://www.sherus.com/business/copywriting/. The second website that you should visit is: www.adcopywriting.com/Tutorials_List.htm. Each of these websites has different steps that you should work on so that you do not have to learn everything at once.  You can learn at your own pace and when you have the time available.

The key to copywriting training for your development into a good copywriter is to make sure that you continue to train every day.  When you take the time to work on this subject day after day, you will find that you will have consistent development.  Another key to copywriting training is that you must make sure to continually learn about the field.  There's a great deal of information to learn about copywriting and this is not a field which you can learn overnight.  It will take the development and persistence as well as the education and experience that you get from continually working.

Hopefully this article on copywriting training has helped you out.  You can find books or you can use Internet resources to help you in your copywriting training.  There is such a great source of information out there that you can use the resources that best fit with your particular learning style to ensure that you become the best coverage or you can possibly be.  Good luck in your journey to become a better copywriter.  You will find that this is a very rewarding field and that you can work for a company or you can work for yourself.  There are many different options available to you as a copywriter.  If you develop websites, this may be the most critical skill that you can possibly learn.  Without good web content, your site will not be highly listed and you will not have the ability to sell to people the products or services which you offer.

Copywriting Tutorials and Lessons

Copywriting is a field which you can learn through practice and education.  If you find that you're a good writer, the only nuance is that you must learn is how to write in a way that sells.  Within this article today on copywriting tutorials and lessons, we will look at a couple of different books which you can look into it as well as tutorials and lessons on the Internet.

Copywriting will not be easy to learn and it is a lifelong subject which you will continue to improve at if you work at the subject.  To paraphrase a quotation from Stephen King, he said that copywriting, really writing in general, is a subject that you continue to improve on.  It would be similar to lifting weights for 10 years.  You will develop muscles.  If you write every day for a certain period of time, you will develop writing skills to the point where you become a very good writer.  If you focus on copywriting and write everyday, you will become a very good copywriter.

The first book which would like to point you towards in copywriting tutorials and lessons would be the book The Copywriter's Handbook. This is a great book for you to look at because it will give you an introduction into copywriting as well as learning what it will take to write the different types of advertisements.  Copywriting is a very broad field in that what you write could be anything from direct mail to Web content to public relations materials.

Another book which you should look into is simply called Copywriting. This book is a little different in that it explains both what it takes to the copywriter as well as how you need to develop ideas and structure copy.  This is a more fundamental book that focuses on what you need to do as opposed to explaining the different types of advertising like the first book did.

If you cannot find these books within your local library, take a look at the following websites which can provide copywriting tutorials and lessons.  One website which we would like profile is: http://www.sherus.com/business/copywriting/. Another website which you can look for copywriting tutorials and lessons is: http://www.adcopywriting.com/Tutorials_List.htm. This is a website which has a great deal of information as well and has elicited positive testimonials from different people.  If you look online, you can find a great deal of websites which will offer you free tutorials on how to write good copy.  This is probably the most critical skill when you are looking to start a website because your written words are going to be the engine which drives your online sales.  You can have all the flashy graphics and animation that you want, but if there's no content, people will only spend a certain limited amount of time on your website.  It is the people who write good content who have the greatest success.

Hopefully this article on copywriting tutorials and lessons is something which can help you.  Come rating is a skill which takes persistence and a desire to continue learning due to the sheer volume of information on the subject.  This can make it exciting because you can always learn something new that can help you improve your writing and make more money.