One of the great things about being a college student is that you’re encouraged to rethink the way the world works. Professors often reward students who are critical of the status quo, the idea being that challenging popular beliefs ultimately leads to a greater understanding. It’s a tradition that dates back to the days of Socrates and it’s by no means a bad thing.

However, when it comes to fundraising for a college club, religious group or other college-affiliated organization, students should remember that the status quo works…don’t over think it!

Let’s focus on the tried-and-true fundraising method of  selling goods and services. While not always glamorous, selling products/services can be effective and easy to manage. Here are five college fundraising rules to live by:

Rule #1: Sweets sell. You would be hard-pressed to find an American who doesn’t enjoy a candy bar or a slice of cheesecake. Yet despite its universal appeal, most people deprive themselves of sweets for fear of becoming overweight. For most of us, there’s a lot of guilt that comes from eating fatty foods (even if they’re really, really good).

However, for reasons that aren’t entirely logical, most people don’t feel guilty at all about eating a candy bar or cheesecake if it’s for a good cause. If your club or I.M. team needs funds, selling sweets is simple and effective. If selling candy bars – or gourmet nuts or fancy coffee – is too “high school” for your group, remember this: it works.

Rule #2: Fundraise at community events. Simple community events like street fairs or arts and crafts shows are a great place to sell food. Rather than lugging a box of candy bars door to door, you can setup a table at community events and let the customers come to you. With nothing more than a couple of school banners on your table and a big smile on your face, people will put two and two together and buy their snacks from you. What’s more, most community event organizers will give college groups a free table or booth…all you have to do is ask.

Rule #3: Parents and alumni will buy anything (well, almost anything). Whatever it is that your group is selling, parents and alumni are a great customer base because:

• They know what it’s like to be in your shoes.
• They like you.
• They want to help.

Therefore, when you need to raise funds, don’t forget to get the word out to parents and alums.

Rule #4: Support your fundraiser online. In the old days of fundraising, you could send letters and drop off flyers to get the word out. Today, all you have to do is create a quick website on Tumblr or WordPress.com, write up a little bit of info about why you’re raising money, slap on a free fundraising thermometer, and then start sharing a link to your new website on Facebook. It’s instant word or mouth advertising that works.

Rule #5: Have fun. Fundraising can be a chore, but it’s much less of a chore if you do it with a smile on your face. A smile is the best fundraising tool in your toolbox. People buy things from people they like, which means that smiling young faces sell more than bored-looking young faces. If you brighten up your attitude and your energy, you’ll be more successful and you can finish your fundraiser ahead of schedule.

Good luck!

Two decades previous, the recruitment process was limited to newspaper advertisements and successful job seeking included frequenting the local job center. This has changed somewhat so that job seekers can find their perfect career at the click of a button. Although this is generally construed as a positive development, employers can often be bombarded by the increased volumes of applicants. This can affect the recruiter at various stages of the recruitment process.

Job Advertisements

Computers and netbooks aren’t the only forms of technology that have had a significant impact on recruitment. Job hunters can now view and apply for job vacancies from almost anywhere. With the explosion of smart phone usage, applicants are able to assign “alerts” onto their mobile phones which notifies them the second the online recruitment website of their choice posts a vacancy. This ease of access, combined with the effects of the recession, has had a huge effect on employers whose numbers of applicants have multiplied. These large applicant numbers have resulted in employers outsourcing recruiting to online and flat fee recruitment specialists to do the main part for them.

Online Applications

The vast increase in online applications has sped up the job seeking process for applicants, but not necessarily employers. Interested candidates can simply send a generic email to the employer or fill in their application form online. This online application process has pros and cons for recruiters and employers. When applications were only received by postal mail some job seekers who weren’t particularly passionate about a role would probably dismiss the application.

The ease in which an application form can be submitted nowadays has increased the sheer volume of applicants, some of whom may have applied for the position on a whim. This faces the employer with a tough predicament of differentiating between the passionate applicants and the lackluster opportunists.

Filtering Potential Candidates

The laborious chore of whittling the applicants down to candidates who actually show interview potential is one of the main factors for an employer to delegate the duty to an online recruitment specialist. Many applications received are from job seekers who haven’t read the advertisement properly and have inadequate qualifications for the position — this can make the filtering process extremely time consuming.

First Impressions of the Potential Interviewee

There is one aspect of technology that employers can certainly reap the benefits of — the increase in social networking sites. The majority of applicants who apply online will be regular Internet users who likely possess a social profile. This allows employers to view the candidate’s true profile which often provides an ample insight into the candidate’s interests, personality and general demeanor. This provides the employer with more information on the applicant, which can ease the decision on whether the candidate is suitable for an interview.

The speed in which technology has evolved over the past 20 years has resulted in radical changes in the methods of recruitment. In some instances it can hinder an employer’s recruitment strategy, but in the majority of circumstances can really speed up the recruitment process for both employer and employee alike.

Author Information

This article was written by Stephanie Staszko on behalf of Blue Octopus Online Recruitment.

Internet Operating System

Just like its predecessor, the iPad 2 runs on the IOS 4.3 (Internet Operating System). This is an operating system that is the primary control program used in its routers and it comes from Cisco. Unlike the original model, the iPad 2 is powered by a dual-core graphics chip A5 which is new and is twice as fast as the previous graphics chip A4 that the first iPad uses. Its graphic speed is also 9 times faster and needs the same amount of power to run than it did for the older A4 processors.

The iPad 2 also features a front VGA video and still images camera and a back 720p HD video with 5X digital zoom camera. It is available in capacities of 16, 32 and 64 GB and has a screen size of 9.7 inches. It is 33% slimmer than the first generation iPad and weighs just 1.3 pounds compared to its predecessor which weighs 1.5 pounds. It is available in two colors which are black and white. It also has a screen resolution of 1024 x 768 and a video output of 1080p via HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface).

Extended Battery Life

The iPad 2 has a 10 hour battery life and a one month standby period. It is 9.5 inches tall, 7.3 inches wide and 0.3 inches thick. AT&T and Verizon are its two U.S carriers, with additional carriers lined up to serve customers locally worldwide.

The Apple iPad2 was introduced to the market on March 2, 2011 and is priced between $499- $829 depending on the one you want; i.e. with Wi-Fi only, Wi-Fi + 3G on AT&T or Wi-Fi + 3G on Verizon.

Apple says that the new second generation iPad will operate with all the normal existing applications with full support. Apple also offers “Smart Covers” which offer full protection to the iPad 2′s screen. When properly folded, these smart covers also work as a stand for this device.

Resources

Apple: iPad 2 Smart Covers

CNET; Apple iPad 2 (16GB, Wi-Fi, black); Donald Bell; March 11, 2011

Top Computer Tablets; Apple iPad 2 Review – Tablet Supremacy Justified?; May 14, 2011

Meet with your adviser — Assume nothing! You may be 12 credits shy from graduating, but there could be one course you must take to graduate on time. Make an appointment with your college adviser now to confirm that your transcripts are in order and that the courses you plan to take next spring satisfies your college’s requirements.

Head over to your career center — Once you confirm that you are on track to graduate, meet with a representative at your college career center to review your resume, job options and to discuss your plan of attack for looking for work. Be prepared to spend some time over winter break sending out resumes, making phone calls and networking.

Get online – Ha, you’re already online! Seriously, head over to Facebook and other social media websites and remove potentially damaging information or stupid photos you have posted. You’re a savvy web user, but so are many companies who have teams of people scouring the web looking for information about you. Google your name too!

Get LinkedIn — Facebook is fun and by far the largest network of its kind on the Internet. However, when it comes to connecting with other business people, LinkedIn rocks. Set up or update your LinkedIn account to explain to the world who you are, what you’re doing and what you’re looking for. Companies may still want a hard copy of your resume, but your LinkedIn account may be what they find first. Build some good connections too!

Go shopping — Ah, shopping! Unless you’re planning to work in a totally casual environment you’ll be expected to arrive for your interview dressed for the part. For men, that means a suit, shirt and tie. For women, a dress or business suit will do. Consider purchasing your “interview suit” and at least one other outfit. You never know: you may be hired on the spot and have little time to shop later. Yes, don’t forget a comfortable pair of matching shoes.

Have some fun — Your final year of college can be stressful, but it should also be fun and memorable. You’ll be graduating soon enough with a whole host of other responsibilities in front of you, so make the best of the next few months and enjoy the ride. Joins clubs, take in some basketball games or do something not academically oriented.

Be flexible — That dream job may not show up, at least right now. But, do not be disheartened: your first job can be a good learning experience, offering a stepping stone to what you really want to do. Treat people you meet kindly, be helpful, show yourself friendly and soak up as much information as possible. Life is a journey — use your humble beginnings to further your career.

Consider some contingencies — What if the market is absolutely the pits when you graduate? Well, you still have some options available to you. If you’re currently working part-time, consider going full-time while still looking for work. Also, an internship can be beneficial especially if it helps you gain some much needed experience. Finally, if you were thinking about going to grad school later on, why not move those plans up? You’ll get the additional schooling you want and delay the job search until things have gotten better.

Make the most of your senior year — you’ll be an alumni before you know it.

Adv. – Are you looking for financial assistance to pay for college? A private student loan from Sallie Mae is an option available to you.

Gadgets are one of the most popular shopping categories that people go for when doing their Christmas shopping. Small gadgets make great stocking stuffers. Bigger gadgets are suitable for people of all ages. However, you can quickly exceed your Christmas spending budget if you’re buying a lot of gadgets. Even small gadgets, like smartphones and iPads, cost in the hundreds of dollars each.

Follow these ten tips to save money on gadgets this summer:

1.     Buy used or refurbished. There is nothing wrong with buying gadgets used. Many people are first adopters, which means that they buy new gadgets as soon as they are available. These people often end up selling their gadgets as soon as something new comes out even though the items are in perfectly good working order. You can spend a lot less by purchasing these gently used items. Of course, use common sense when buying used items to make sure that you don’t get conned.

2.     Buy gadgets that will actually save you money. If you are buying items for someone that you live with then you can make smart purchases on gadgets that actually save money. Efficient new showerheads, for example, are a lovely spa bathroom gift that will also reduce the home’s water bill. Battery chargers, flash drives and even fuel-efficient scooters have money-saving potential and make good Christmas gifts. Energy-saving kitchen gadgets are yet another good example.

3.     Make a list and check it twice. In other words, think carefully about what gadgets you want to buy for the people in your life. Don’t go overboard buying all of the trendiest gadgets. Get one gadget per person on your Christmas list and choose one that really suits him or her.

4.     Get a big gadget as a “family gift”. Consider getting the entire family a shared gift such as a new video game system or other big gadget. Individual family members can get smaller, more affordable low-tech gifts and everyone can enjoy the big gadget.

5.     Take advantage of Cyber Monday sales. Many people do their Christmas shopping on Black Friday. However, online shopping on Cyber Monday (the Monday after Thanksgiving) can be a better choice for people who are seeking great deals on gadgets and consumer electronics. Start early in the day because many sites fail due to high traffic flow and you may need to try the site more than once to get a good deal. Use coupon codes and look for free shipping deals to save the most money.

6.     Buy a gadget from an “open box”. Local stores reduce the cost of items that have been on display or that are in damaged boxes. Many people don’t want to get these at Christmas because they don’t make pretty presents. However, if you open up the damaged box and place the gadget into a pretty Christmas bag then you’ve still got a great gift at a more affordable price.

7.     Get an accessory for an existing gadget. Instead of paying a lot of money for a brand new gadget for someone this Christmas, consider getting them a low-cost add-on for an existing gadget. For example, get them new headphones for their mp3 player or a new game controller for their video game system or new speakers for their computer or an iTunes gift card for their phone.

8.     Go retro. If you get a gadget that has been out for a long time then you can save a lot of money. You want to make sure that it’s not out of date in terms of being functional, of course. Consider favorite old video games, fun kitchen gadgets and other retro gifts.

9.     Skip the gadgets that have an ongoing cost. Many people get tempted to get gadgets for others that require a subscription. Phones and Internet TV are examples of 2010 gadget ideas that are popular. However, type of Christmas gift means that either you or the recipient will have to pay an ongoing cost throughout the year. That can end up being a problem for everyone. Think ahead and get a gadget that will be paid for as soon as you buy it.

10. Gather up your old gadgets. You can offset the costs of this year’s new gadgets by selling off the old gadgets that you aren’t using in your home anymore. This gives you extra spending money for Christmas that you can put towards gifts.

Author Information

Tom Rodgers blogs for savings.com, a leading online coupon site that provides advice and tips for saving money. He is also very passionate about Christmas gift ideas.

More than eating dinner at the dorm cafeteria, more than trying to hoof it 5 miles across campus in the 10 minutes between classes, and more than showing up to find out your roommate is a goth who only speaks in tongues, buying textbooks is the bane of every college student’s existence.

Rip Off

You know it’s a rip off, you’re sure you’ll only use those incredibly-expensive (not to mention heavy) books for one semester, and there’s no guarantee that the profs will even require you to open them. But head to the money-grubbing campus bookstore you will, because you’re more than likely going to be assigned homework and reading the first night. (And everyone knows the chances increase exponentially if you don’t buy the book.)

While the sad reality is that nothing can make the it fun to scan the aisles for the 50-pounder you need, wait in line for hours and fork over more money than you’ve ever seen, there are things you can do to make the whole process cheaper (i.e., less painful). Here’s how.

1. Beg, borrow or steal Why buy a brand new book when you can rent one or get a perfectly good used one (hopefully with entertaining little jokes and doodles in it)? Sites like TextbookRentals.com and Chegg help you get the best deal on every book, and you can even find Chegg coupons and other discounts to make sure you don’t pay out the nose for something you’ll only get through half of.

2. Auction them off Lord knows you don’t need old books hanging out collecting dust on your shelf, and you’re definitely not going to read them again. (Did you even read them the first time?) Practice your urban graffiti and draft love notes to the hottie on row 3 in a notepad instead of in the margins so you can resell your textbooks once class is over. (Hint: Higher-quality books go for more, so try not to drop them in the turtle pond this time.)

3. Take your business elsewhere No matter whether you’re buying new or used, smart students who want to save their cash for more recreational activities broaden the search by shopping for books online. Lots of campus and local stores have the market cornered, which means they can basically charge whatever they want for books because you’re too lazy to do your research. But spending a few minutes using sites like Textbooks.com to look for the lowest price on those study materials can pay off when it’s time to see how much of your financial aid is left for partying.

4. Phone a friend One of the best strategies is to find a friend who’s taking the class you just finished (or someone who’s finishing a class you’re about to start). This kind of symbiotic relationship (you’ll pick that term up in Bio 101) can give you a guaranteed buyer or seller every semester, especially if you plan your schedules together and just swap materials every time a new class starts.

5. Go digital or go home In the modern age of iPads, Kindles and phones have higher IQs than humans, there’s no reason to support deforestation and injure your back dragging around huge piles of bound paper and ink. The time has come for etextbooks, and lots of schools are considering making the switch. Being an early adopter could pay off; these digital editions are sometimes cheaper than the real thing, and you’ll get the exact same content for a fraction of the price.

Save Money

You can’t beat getting something for nothing — or at least getting it for less than everyone else did. Save on books every semester and use that money for more important things (like pizza and video games) with these no-brainer tips.

Author Information

Howard Brady is a representative for Offers.com, the place to go for the best offers online. Check the site for most recent Chegg coupons and other discounts and save!

Photo Credit: billue_the_bear via Creative Commons

Online education has created possibilities that previous generations couldn’t even fathom.

Literally, students can earn their entire degree at home, by working when it’s convenient for them, while wearing their pajamas. This amazing innovation has allowed for greater access to universities and targeted specializations that may not be locally available. It has also been especially beneficial for working adults or stay at home parents who are eager to earn a degree.

So, how did online education programs get started? Here is a brief history of online education.

The history of online education extends back further than you may think, with the very first virtual classroom environments being created in the 1960s. University of Illinois scientists created a classroom system based in linked computer terminals. There, students were able to access informational resources while listening to a professor whose lectures were brought in remotely, via some form of television or audio device.

Certainly not a form of “online learning” that stands up to the web learning of today, but it was the beginning of enhanced distance learning and the utilization of computer resources for educational purposes.

Universities quickly began to take advantage of these new resources by offering distance learning courses, using computer networking for information and resource sharing, and more. By the mid 1980s, college resources frequently included online access to course information and student networking tools.

Online only courses began emerging in the late 1980s, with some moderate success. The concept was further popularized as major corporations began using similar utilities to trim their training budgets. While businesses began with software training programs, the largest corporations started utilizing online tools to minimize software distribution costs.

Another phenomenon that contributed to online learning was the correspondence school. The original correspondence schools worked in a very straightforward way: You registered by mail, received materials by mail, then mailed the course work back for grading upon completion.

As the digital age swept across the nation, the correspondence school became more grounded in the virtual world, and the first online correspondence school, the University of Phoenix, made its way onto the scene in 1989. It was not a fully accredited institution at that time, however, and it wasn’t until 1993 that the first accredited university, the Jones International University, really opened the floodgates.

It was at this same time that a new innovation in the online world made more universities of this kind possible: the Mosaic web interface. This was the first graphic interface that reached out to more common users, allowing for unprecedented access and support. Since that time, hundreds of standard universities have started offering a variety of online courses.

Many institutions, as well as a number of digital correspondence schools, offer full degrees online. As the web continued to open doors, these universities expanded their degree selection. These days, it’s literally possible to graduate with the degree of your choice without ever having to set foot in a classroom.

Last month, we shared news about Diaspora, the under development Facebook alternative platform. As the budding innovation of four New York University students, Team Diaspora had sought $10,000 in private funding to help launch the program this September.

They beat that goal handily, raising $200,641.84 instead.

Thanks to the Kickstarter fundraising tool and their story appearing in The New York Times, Mashable, BBC and elsewhere, Dan Grippi, Max Salzberg, Raphael Sofaer, and Ilya Zhitomirsky are doing their work this summer without financial worry. And that’s good news for people wanting an alternative to the Facebook juggernaut with its near 500 million users.

Facebook Follies

Perhaps the sole reason for Diaspora is anger toward Facebook, which has done everything over the past many months to cause worry for people who value their privacy and want full control over their contributions to the site. Security breaches, a lack of opt-in features when certain sharing tools have been added or changed, and the aloofness of Facebook management in response to user angst has worried some.

Diaspora promises to deliver a different package for users, with each participant possessing their own seed containing videos, photos and articles. That seed will be shared via Diaspora, with users having full control over who sees their information and how it is shared. At any time, Diaspora users will be able to remove their seed with no traces of it left behind. With Facebook, your information (or at least part of it) stays behind permanently.

Project Diaspora

So, where is the project at this moment? It appears to be coming along nicely. On the Diaspora site the team shares, “We already have a rudimentary prototype of Diaspora running on our machines, and are working like mad to make it all we can be. Our current implementations include GPG encryption, scraping Twitter and Flickr, awesome design aesthetics, and the initial stages of connection infrastructure (“friending” other Diaspora instances).”

By September we’ll have access to the first version of Diaspora with an easier to set up very public version emerging soon thereafter.

Zuckerberg Contributes

And what does Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg think about Diaspora? According to a May 28, 2010, report in Wired, he made a personal donation to the Diaspora project, though that amount was not made known. Don’t forget: Zuckerberg wants to change the world, so perhaps he realizes that Facebook won’t be doing that alone. Besides, he thinks Diaspora is a cool idea. Go figure.

Adv. — Visit nBuy Shopping Plaza for cool summer stuff including bathing suits, suntan lotion, beach towels and those massive umbrellas that are shore to please!

Techie Teens

Teen use of the Internet has many parents concerned and rightly so. Lots of young people are wired and globally connected, raised in an environment that demands technological prowess and the thinking that goes with it.

There is some good news parents should know when it comes to Internet usage and teen activity online. According to a new Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions survey of high school students, teens who say that their parents are on Facebook are much more likely to give their parents full profile access–status updates, party photos and all–than no access at all. 56 percent of teens give their parents full access while 34 percent do not, with the remaining 10 percent falling somewhere in between.

Not Involved

Before you sigh in relief, there was one important point noted in the survey: 58 percent of the teens surveyed said that their parents weren’t on Facebook at all. Yes, kids are going online and interacting with strangers, people you may not want them to be in contact with.

“In a Facebook era, the online arena serves as a new channel for parents to keep tabs on what and how their kids are doing, and it’s notable that a sizable percentage of today’s teens seem comfortable with that dynamic,” said Justin Serrano, Senior Vice President, Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions.  “But for the most part, the parent-teen online relationship is still relatively uncharted territory.  What we’re seeing is that parents are increasingly expressing interest in being able to monitor their kids’ progress online, and teens are adjusting to this in different ways.”

Parental Oversight

Parents should know that they have every right to know what their children are up to whether they are given “permission” to view their stuff or not. The survey doesn’t say that children are making these decisions to share on their own or are being told to do so by their parents.  In any case, it is your computer and your Internet connection as well as your home. Enough said.

Adv. – SayMyCareer.com offers sage advice on how you overcome tough economic times, through offering job search links, career information, advanced education tips and ideas at no charge.

Relevant Trends

This can be a good thing for a number of reasons. While general trends can sometimes be useful, oftentimes they include irrelevant topics, at least those things which may not be important to you.

Sure, Lady Gaga may be someone you follow, but a Twitter user in Norway may not even know who the entertainer is much less care. Now, that same person living in Oslo can find out what people are tweeting about in their city, perhaps giving them a chance to take in an impromptu art show or find a deal at the market.

Twitter’s Jenna Dawn, writing on the micro-blogging’s weblog last Wednesday said, “As Twitter evolves, and more people share what’s happening in their own world, we want to provide another way for people to discover topics that may be relevant to them. Last week we began to slowly roll out a new feature called Local Trends to expose what people are talking about on the state and city level, and today we’ve fully launched so everyone can use it.”

Campus Trends

So how does this translate down to the campus level? Well, for starters the local search is limited to just six countries right now – Ireland, Canada, United Kingdom, Mexico, United States, and Brazil. It also only tracks fifteen cities which means yours may not be listed. Don’t fret, because there is a tiny message at the bottom of the sign up section which says, “Don’t see your location? We’re working on it.”

If you happen to live in one of the cities listed and you do sign up then you may find something of interest to you. But on the campus level, a lot of “city noise” may crowd your tweets out unless everyone is tweeting about tonight’s basketball game, Professor Grimwald’s bow tie, or today’s coffee special. Though the local trends feature seems pretty limiting right now, imagine how useful it could come in if there is a campus emergency – your local tweets will most likely help everyone get the world out in mere moments.

Try Trendmaps

Of course there is always Trendmaps which already spots local Twitter trends. But when local trends is fully implemented, your campus happenings will likely find their place in the mix.