One wiki that offers a broad spectrum of helpful tools is WikiJobs.  Based out of the UK, WikiJobs has a vast supply of in-depth materials to help with job searching and the interview process. There are job postings, forums for jobseekers, and practice tests.  One of the most helpful aspects of this wiki is the job interview questions section, which is organized by profession—such as law or investment banking—and covers the application process of numerous large corporations like Ernst and Young, Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs.

Another way to research the interview process of various corporations is to conduct a simple search on Wikipedia.  One search that yields particularly useful results is the Microsoft interview.  Microsoft’s application and interview model was innovative and has been picked up by other companies, including Google.  The Wikipedia article includes several sample interview questions and a detailed description of Microsoft’s recruitment process.

Wikia.com is a database of hundreds of wikis about a variety of topics that are all located in the same place.  Jobs.wikia.com is the “jobs” section of this website.  The articles cover a variety of topics that can help any jobseeker, such as self-assessment and resume and cover letter assistance.

Another site that offers resume help is ResumeWiki.  Not only is the content of the articles on ResumeWiki edited by the community, but readers are also able to post their own resumes and cover letters to be edited by anyone who wishes to contribute, as well.  For anyone who wished to offer up their documents to be reviewed and edited, all of the changes can be reverted, or the resume can be set so that contributing editors can only make suggestions as “comments” rather than alter the document.  Existing resumes and cover letters that are posted to the site are also available as reference points.

In today’s competitive market, jobseekers need all the assistance that is available.  Wikis provide some of the same resources that other websites and blogs do, but the advantage to wikis is that they can be edited, so the information is constantly being updated and is provided by individuals who are experiencing the job market firsthand.

What is cloud computing?

Odds are that you’re already using clouds: Facebook, Google Docs, Dropbox.  All of these are clouds.  But what happens when photoshop emigrates off of your computer and onto a cloud?  At that point, you’ll want to be prepared to make the switch–to cloud computing hardware.

Cloud computing hardware will be the next big technology platform to hit the market. It would be more accurate to say that it will rearrange the market.  It would be more accurate to say that it will transform the market.  It will cause an upset.  It will change the way that we do business.  It would be more accurate to say that it already is changing everything.  What we do today without Dropbox or Google Docs?  Imagine that level of necessity–the pressure to innovate–enhacing tenfold over the next year or two.

Businesses need to think about the potentials of cloud-computing before they make their next bulk hardware purchase. The primary reason why PMI Online Business thinks it’s time to start talking about cloud-computing is that our present knowledge of the types of hardware coming down the pipeline needs to inform our business hardware purchases over the next two to three years. And the indications that we’re getting about cloud computing are pretty striking. Woe to the business that buys a large inventory of PC’s or MacBooks for their workforce six months before cloud-computing hardware starts taking over the market.

It’s a question of how to control your spending. Should you upgrade your hardware now, or should you wait six months to see whether or not cloud machines will be available at reasonable prices for Christmas 2011?  It’s something to think about before committing yourself to the huge expense of company-0wide hardware upgrades.

While cloud computing has existed as a technology for years but it’s not until recently that its garnered mainstream attention.  Perhaps the catalyst for this shift in attitude has to do with Apple’s introduction of the iPad last year.  It’s hard to say.

Here is the basic concept:

• In the future, there will be no software on your computer. Your hardware will consist, essentially, of a keyboard, a screen, and an extremely powerful, high-speed wireless connection.
• All of your software will be cloudbased. You will access it from your computer, but it will not be on your computer.  No more bugs to deal with personally.  No more memory-sucking programs that slow your computer to a crawl.  No more difficult and complicated installations.
• People will shift more and more to storing all of their files, information, videos, etc., on Dropbox-like storage sites. Again, this will contribute to making cloud-based machines, faster and more agile.  It may cause problems for people who need to file TPS reports while their camping out in the middle of death-valley without access to wireless.

So, basically, cloud-computing uses a minimalist, streamlined computer to access files that are on a main server or super computer somewhere else. With an internet connection, the computer will be able to access all of the files, so—as previously mentioned—your computer won’t need a hard drive, CD drive or costly software programs.

Apple v. Google: oracles about cloud computing seen in shifting brand rankings
Right now, the two front runners developing cloud technology are Apple and Google. Everyone is watching these two companies to see who will create the best, most elegant, most inexpensive product—and who will make the most money doing it. Let’s take a look at the state of the competition.

In a recent study conducted by Brand Z recently Apple’s brand valuation catapulted past Google’s to become number one on the Brand Z’s authoritative list of the 100 Most Valuable Global Brands.

There are three metrics that Brand Z uses to measure brand value: brand earnings, brand contribution, and brand multiple.  Apple’s brand contribution and brand earning grew based primarily upon their development of the iPad.  Their brand multiple—their growth potential— was almost certainly the reason that their brand valuation grew by 84% in a single year.  It seems that Brand Z is assuming that Apple will ‘own’ the cloud-computing revolution—that they will be the number one players in the coming hardware wars.   Supporting this speculation is the record growth of Facebook’s brand valuation, which grew by 246%.  Facebook is another major cloud competitor, and it seems that their real estate in that arena is becoming rapidly more valuable.

Others will argue that Google has just as much, if not more than enough control to outcompete Apple in the cloud computing arena.  For the time being, Brand Z would seem to disagree.   If Google does come out on top—in terms of their development of cloud-computing technology over the next year or two—they will doubtless regain their number one spot as the world’s biggest brand.

Google is already launching cloud applications, and thus far they have been very successful doing it. Google Apps has allow for consumer savings and allow the consumer the flexibility to get data where  and when they need it most. Google’s most popular applications include Gmail, Gtalk, Google Docs, Google Calendar etc.

What remains to be seen is how/if/and if so when Google will start to monetize these services in a way that they would meaningfully effect their company’s total earning. (Let’s hope they don’t, right?)  Google’s apps also streamline connections between consumers, retailers and worldwide shipping.

Consumers have been using these applications with ease for several years now, and may be hesitatnt to switch to applications offered by Apple. It’s Microsoft vs. Apple all over again—only this time, Google is playing the role of Microsoft.

Apple, on the other hand, has been more discrete during the development stage of their cloud technology—although there are hints to how things are taking shape. They’ve just recently purchased a URL named—appropriately—iCloud.com. They’ve also purchased a significantly sized data center in North Carolina, where they completed construction in late 2010.

Aside from these ciphers, our best indication that Apple is pulling ahead on the cloud-computing front is Brand Z’s brand valuation.  Their brand jumped from being worth $25 B to $154B in a single year.

iPad or no iPad—with that kind of growth there must be something cooking.

And with the sums at issue running in the hundreds of billions, we can assume it’s going to hit the market like an asteroid.

How should business respond to these developments?

Cloud computing will change the business processes significantly. Employees can collaborate on projects across the globe much easier by having access to the same file. This will save on travel, shopping costs, and much more. There will also be less software to purchase or download because businesses can focus on higher end software that will allow employees to be much more productive.

We should look forward to the possibilities that cloud computing will open, and adjust our budgets to accommodate adoption sometime next year.

Image by psd

Another earth-shattering study from the world of obvious has told us what we already know:

Social media works best if you’re adding value to the medium.

To be fair, there are some interesting tidbits in that study, and it’s presented in a very colorful and engaging manner – so kudos to them.

But the study’s four-pronged conclusion as to what scares people away – failure to engage, being too self-promotional, unclear message, and breaches of social etiquette – can perhaps be simplified into the realm where common sense overlaps with brand management.

Everybody likely wants different things from their social media experience. And each social media platform will satisfy different wants for various users. While Facebook tends to be more about displaying a brand and pitching promotions, Twitter tends to be about what’s happening right now. Twitter is about the conversation and the interaction, while Facebook is about announcements and informing. On Facebook, people are able to leave their thoughts and insights; on Twitter, people are able to create a dialogue, ask questions, and expect a response.

Then there’s the issue of your blog and/or website. Can people get an RSS feed for your blog? And if so, are they going to follow you on Twitter or like you on Facebook if those social media sites are nothing more than a regurgitation of your RSS feed?

Marketing and brand management through social networking is becoming less and less about self-promotion and more and more about connecting (i.e. the “networking” part of “social networking”).

If you want to lose followers, friends, likes, and retweets, talk about yourself and nothing else. Repeat (or retweet) the same content multiple times. Be repetitive in the types of content you’re sharing (always stuff from your own website; always the same format; always the same link). Don’t answer questions. Don’t interact. Don’t give your friends and your followers what they’re looking for.

In other words, don’t add value.

But if you want to gain friends and followers, and build your online brand, use social media not how you think it should be used but how your customers think it should be used. Don’t be the old guy who thinks he knows what kids want; be the entrepreneur who knows what the kids want.

Imagine a search engine where you don’t have to be bogged down by what “strangers” or “experts” have to say, but can quickly see what all your BFFs and Bros think. Bing searches with “Liked Results” will, through connecting with Facebook, take the social information from your Facebook friends and adjust their search results accordingly.

The first questions that arise from this – as is almost always the case when dealing with Facebook – are those of privacy. Bing states that the only information they will be using is the information that is already public. The reality that nothing on the Internet is really private aside, there has to be some amount of information-trudging for Bing to even know who my Facebook friends are in the first place.

While there are some external solutions to blocking Facebook from connecting with other websites, the best thing – if you’re worried about privacy – is go through all of your Facebook settings, one by one, and make sure all the information you want private is marked accordingly.

But perhaps the biggest overall issue is that a lot of people may actually think this is a really good idea. Not only does this encourage a me-centric perspective, but now I can know what my friends have to say about a restaurant or a recent event or any other topic without actually interacting in any way, shape, or form with that individual.

Gone are the days of having phone or e-mail conversations about the best places to go boating on the weekend or what movies are worth seeing. Now Bing can sneak through the Internet tubes, snag that information from your friends, and return it to you without you ever having to have even the slightest human interaction with anyone else.

Tumblr allows you to quickly and easily post text, photos, quotes, links, chats, audio, or video. There’s no need to be familiar with programming; you simply have to be able to either upload from your computer or copy and paste.

Unlike other social networking platforms that can be tailored to businesses, Tumblr has not evolved in that way. Instead, Tumblrs are people who share personal stories and content. Keep that in mind.

Another major part of Tumblr is how it’s divided into categories. Each the Tumblr directory is divided up into dozens of different topics, which your account (either organically, through recommendations by others, or through paid advertising). This allows you to focus on a specific group as you use your Tumblr account to interact.

You’re also able to customize the design of your Tumblr account. Unlike Facebook where the appearance of your profile is limited, Tumblr allows you to present your brand in a way that best reflects your company and its purpose.

As with any social networking, the key to having effective campaigns is to add value – both through your own posts and through interaction on others’ posts. Don’t just use Tumblr to promote your own ideas and your own company; use it as a way to truly interact with customers and encourage discussion.

Tumblr also encourages users to ask questions, which anyone can then answer. Utilize this tool not only to instigate interaction but also to better learn about your customers and your products.

Tumblr puts its own twist on social networking, blogging, and interaction, but by learning it and utilizing it you can improve your overall online presence.

By Courtney Buell

Business owners sometimes have a hard time with change. Setting up a business takes a ton of work to begin with and changing the way you’ve decided to do business means even more work. Chances are, when you set out to start a business, you didn’t do it because you were interested in making your life as tedious and laborious as possible. On the contrary, you wanted to do something you loved and were good at and make some money from it. Unfortunately, change is the only thing anyone can count on in the future. The good news is that the more open you are to changes, the better your business will ultimately be and the easier it will become both to do business and to keep adapting. Cultivating a love of learning and a willingness to apply it is the single best thing you can do for your business.

Learning new things everyday and staying on the forefront of technological and business trends will help you keep your business relevant and competitive. Learning as much as you can about your industry, business in general, and your customer’s wants may inspire you to make changes in your business, and making these changes might not be fun or easy, but every time you make a change and learn from the outcome, your business becomes sleeker and stronger. Also, many of the technological innovations that appear every day are created to make business easier. So, if you can summon the motivation to make a change now, you can potentially save yourself a lot of time and effort in the long run.

Many of the largest companies in the world are able to remain viable because they are willing to make necessary and sometimes painful changes to their structure and business model. Bill Gates is the CEO of one of the largest and most successful companies in the world and he is a self-proclaimed lifelong learner. He attributes his success to his desire to learn new things all the time and his willingness to make changes based on his learning.

If you stop learning, innovating, and advancing, you fall behind; because the rest of the world is thundering on like a juggernaut and they have no problem leaving you and your silly little company in the dust – more cake for them.

If you can learn to love learning, your responsibility to stay on top of business trends will be met with ease. Then, you need to be humble enough to open your mind to the possibility of changing the way you live and work for the better. Easier said than done, I know, but not only is it helpful to your business to keep learning, it’s absolutely vital.

Success Tip: Never Stop Learning (employees)

We’ve been admonished our entire lives to learn. From the time we enter kindergarten to the time we graduate from college, our main purpose in life is to consume information and regurgitate it on demand. The practice is admittedly beneficial, but exhausting. By the time we reach our early twenties and leave the hallowed halls of education (some of us for good), we are kind of burnt out on learning. A shocking number of college graduates seem to avoid books altogether once they aren’t being graded on their knowledge of them. It seems fair, right? We pay our dues to the educational system for our developmental years and when we finish, we lay that part of our lives aside in order to (hopefully) put our learning to action, make money, and contribute to society.

This system works fine for the average Joe. But you are not this average Joe – this mediocre schmuck willing to skate through life unnoticed and perpetually replaceable. You crave success. Unfortunately, the only way to achieve success is to get back on those books, figuratively speaking. You don’t necessarily have to re-enroll in school for an advanced degree (though it couldn’t hurt) but you do have to cultivate in yourself a passion for learning.

Whether you want to land your dream job, get promoted, or break out and start your own business, your success depends on your willingness to learn. Learn from your mistakes, learn from the people around you, find a mentor, and seek out as much information as you can about your industry, your ideal career, and how to get what you want.

The next step is to use what you learn to change the way you act. We’ve all heard the proverb “Insanity is doing the same thing in the same way and expecting a different outcome”. To change, we have to admit that we don’t have it all figured out and that there may be a better way of doing things. Once you can take the information you learn and apply it to your life effectively, you will be able to adapt well to any new demands your career will put on you, and you will be able to figure out a way to succeed at anything you want to.

Not sure where to start in your new journey of lifelong learning? Start small – set a goal to pick up a new hobby or learn a new job skill. Chances are you’ll catch the learning bug and want to keep going for your own enjoyment. Along the way, make sure you set realistic, quantifiable goals to help you get closer to your dream. Also, take a moment every day to remind yourself of your end goal when the going gets tough and the changes hurt. Making the choice to be a lifelong learner isn’t easy, but it’s definitely worth the trouble.

Courtney Buell is a writer at Professional Marketing International. Prior to joining PMI, Courtney obtained a bachelors degree in Humanities and wrote for various print and online publications in Salt Lake City. Professional Marketing International helps people achieve their dreams.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Courtney_Buell
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1. Redesign: New furniture is nice, but if that isn’t in the budget you can still rearrange the existing furniture with positive results. Try to maximize your space and give your office the freshest feel possible.
2. Stay Organized: A cluttered desktop usually leads to headaches. Take the time to arrange your office paperwork and develop a system that works. If you are dreading work each day, a healthy dose of organizing may be just what the doctor ordered.
3. Decorate: Add a piece of art to your office. This could be as simple as moving a piece from another part of your home. Or you can go shopping specifically for an inspiring piece of art that will define your office. Don’t stop there. Add curtains or drapes and a rug. Make your office a place that you enjoy.

Hopefully these tips have been helpful. The experts at Professional Marketing International have years of experience when it comes to designing and developing your home office. Take a moment today to check out PMI Coaching and see what they can do for you. And here’s to your success!

• Plan each day. Use a planner or online calendar to help you see what appointments you have each day so that you don’t over book yourself. Also consider having a daily to-do list included in your daily planner or calendar. Seeing what needs to be done each day can help focus your energy and keep you on track.
• Prioritize. Many people unknowingly spend a lot of time on things that are not very important. For example, you may spend a large amount of time checking emails or updating your social network profiles (Myspace, Facebook, Linkedin etc.) and checking on friends there when you have much more important tasks to complete. Having a prioritized list can help you stay focused on the things that will help you build your business.
• Say “No”. When non-essential things come up that will take a lot of your time and make it so that you can’t accomplish many of your tasks, simply say no to them. Sure some of those non-essentials will be more fun than your important tasks, but you need to ask yourself if they will help build your business; if they don’t gracefully decline.
• Delegate. This is one of the secrets to some of the most successful people in the world. See, no matter how organized and focused you are, there are still only 24 hours in a day. Sometimes you just can’t do everything on your own; when that is the case, let others who are capable help you out. You’ll find that you can reduce a great amount of stress by delegating to trusted helpers.
• Practice the 10-minute rule. As you build your business, there will be important tasks that need to be done, that you simply despise. However, rather than avoiding them, work on them for 10 minutes every day until you either finish the task, or learn not to hate it so bad.
• Get plenty of sleep, have a healthy diet and exercise regularly. Maintaining good health not only increases your ability to focus, but also reduces “sick days” and “lazy days”; those where you really can’t get much done even if you try.