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Summertime is arriving and parents are frantically looking to get their children out of the house and occupied with things to do. Why not just send them back to school?
There are currently programs available to be registered in at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR). Courses are available in the areas of “chemical reactions, engineering, physics, [and] nanoscience.” Students between the entering grades of 3-9 are eligible to participate.
Danville is in the process of growing and expanding “one of the most sophisticated fiber optic networks in the U.S.” While the network was initially set up in 2004 “to city buildings, schools, and government facilities…[it is now] reaching industrial parks and businesses.”
I am always happy to see an area get a better network. I can remember back home when cable and DSL were just getting started, and I couldn’t get either where I lived. I had to wait for the longest time with a 56k modem, while my friends would have much better Internet connections than I did. My friend would have to use an old computer so we could play Starcraft by dialing in the other person’s modem. (more…)
With tax season behind us and the summer vacation season approaching, you may be feeling the financial anxiety of falling behind on your bills - especially when creditors get involved. But what happens when the creditor comes calling and you can’t cough up the money?
In a Q&A by Jeff Sturgeon of The Roanoke Times, Tony Mardian of Cornerstone Financial Counseling offers up his advice to staying on top of bill payments and how to cope when creditors apply pressure. His coping strategies range from staying organized to knowing your rights with a debt collector.
When asked whether it is required to answer the phone when a creditor calls, Mardian urges readers to notify creditors promptly of any disruption in payments and to stay in touch. Whether you can pay off the money or not, it’s always best to be upfront and honest. And what if you don’t have the minimum payment? Pay what you can! (more…)
Despite the hope of a new administration, we can’t ignore the downward-spiraling recession and glaring unemployment rates that splash the headlines each morning. For the currently employed, this evokes fear of layoffs and downsizing. But what does the economy mean for job seekers?
All hope is not lost. There are plenty of opportunities out there – it’s just a matter of where to look, and how to sell yourself to an employer. Throughout the next few weeks I will be providing advice to job seekers interested in opportunities in Southwest Virginia, including resume and interview tips, dressing for success, etc. (more…)
Destination Downtown South Boston, Inc. (DDSB) and the Town of South Boston were recognized in Richmond last month with a Virginia Main Street Milestone Achievement Award for their efforts in restoring and revitalizing the Historic Downtown Business District. According to The Gazette-Virginian, the two business associations have helped create a climate for more than $15 million in private investment in downtown South Boston during the past five years.
Now more than ever our communities in Southern Virginia need job opportunities, and the efforts of DDSB, Inc. have resulted in this much needed job creation. Since 2004, volunteers from this organization have dedicated a whopping 100,000 hours of community service, for which they also received an award. When translated from hours to dollars, the volunteer work amounts to over $180,000 towards the vitality of South Boston.
If you’re reading this, you know what a blog is. But do you know the rules for social networking when it comes to trying to land a job? An article in the April issue of Valley Business FRONT spelled out what you need to know about using social media sites in a professional and informative manner.
The article brings up the common cliché, “It’s not what you know, but who you know that will help you succeed.” This is often true in the sense of traditional networking such as at career fairs and luncheons, but social media sites take the idea of networking to a whole new level. Some of the article’s tips include: provide information that is relevant to your job search, update your postings regularly, and express your interest in a company or field. (more…)
When it comes to applying for a job, nothing will make you stand out more than your resume. Typically your resume is the first thing that employers see after you’ve applied for a job, and therefore it’s also your first impression. As they say, first impressions always last, so it is imperative that your resume sells what you have to offer.
According to the Virginia Tech Career Site, a resume is “a brief, concise document that presents and effectively sells your most relevant and positive credentials for employment.” Stressing the brief/concise element, an employer may only look at your resume for 15-20 seconds, at which point they will not decide if you get the job, but if you get the opportunity to interview.
So now that you know what a resume is, where do you start? In the typical chronological format, there are five basic sections to include on your resume, as well as some additional sections depending on your field, level of experience, etc. The five basic sections are listed as follows:
Welcome to the Return to Roots Southern Virginia Blog. Here, three times a week, we will be posting blogs on topics specific to Southern Virginia. The blog topics range from Entertainment and Southern Virginia Lifestyle and News to Information about New Jobs, Job Hunting Tips and How to Dress for Success. You are welcome to read and comment on blog topics and most importantly see what Southern Virginia has to offer!
You are currently browsing the RTR SoVA blog archives for May, 2009.