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So you’re looking for a job. You could look in the newspaper, get out there and network, or search online. Searching online is a good method because it allows you to search near and far, locate other resources related to a particular job, and also do a little online networking.

1. Before you start searching there are a few things you need to do. The first thing you want to do is make sure your resume is up to date by paying attention to details. Is your current email address included? Is the email address appropriate? If not, sign up for a free email account with Gmail, Yahoo, or Hotmail.  Have you listed all of your pertinent work history?  Is your education information updated? Did you take the time to proofread and make necessary changes? What about your contact information. Do you have a current and working phone number listed?

2. Now that your resume is ready, you want to set aside some dedicated time to search. I always say that looking for a job can turn into a full time job! Set aside at least 1-2 hours of your day to thoroughly search and apply for jobs.

3. Decide what key words you will use to search and be specific. For example, if you are searching for a teaching position use more than “teacher” to conduct your search. If you want to be a high school biology teacher you should use “high school biology  teacher” as a key phrase.  Start searching Employment Websites. I have 3 personal favorites:

• Indeed.com pulls job postings from other major sites, newspapers, and company web pages. In other words, it compiles all the listings that you may find on other job board sites.
• CareerBuilder.com is also a good place to look.
• Don’t count out Craigslist.com when looking for a job. Many jobs are listed here that aren’t listed on other sites.

4. Once you find a position you’re interested in, thoroughly read the application process. Most of the time you can just upload your resume and hit submit but some sites may ask you to create a profile before submitting or request that you also upload a cover letter. Some jobs may not have a place to submit a resume and instead ask you to fill out an application and send it in or mail in a copy of your resume. Before you submit or send anything make sure you spell check and proof read your materials. It’s a good idea to get a friend to read over it as well; two sets of eyes are better than 1!

Now all you need to do is wait for the phone call or email inviting you in for an interview. If you don’t hear back a week after submitting your resume it’s ok to call the employer to see if they received your materials and to let them know that you are interested in the position, unless an employer explicitly says…no phone calls please. If you don’t hear back at all or the employer says they are not interested in hiring you, don’t give up! Keep searching until you find the right job for you.

I  hope this helps in your search for a job. For more information on resume writing, interview tips, job applications, and more check out our Career Development and Everyday Life sections!

1. Join local or national groups-If you are interested in literacy, there are literacy groups you can become a part of. If you are a working mom you can join a local working moms group.
2. View and post photos and videos- If you want everyone to see the latest photos of your family pet or your recent trip you can upload photos and videos to your page. You can change the settings so that only certain people are allowed to view these photos and videos.
3. Browse and post events- Use the Events application to browse local or national events posted on Facebook like your upcoming class reunion or create an event and invite people to your next party!
4. Send virtual gifts- Gifts are icons that you can send to people on Facebook using the Gifts application. You can send birthday gifts, food,  flowers, and the list goes on.

Picasa is another Free Google App you can download and start using today. So let me tell you a little about Picasa and how it works. Picasa is a photo management application that allows you to organize and edit your photos . Once your pictures have been uploaded there are several things you can do.

Email your pics to friends and family with the push of a few buttons!

Choose what size photos you want to print from the Print Layout option.

Blogging is pretty popular these days. With Picasa you can upload your photos straight to your Blog.

Create a collage by creating picture piles using several photos. This happens to be my favorite feature!

Put together a gift CD to send to your family and friends or use this feature to create a photo CD for your wedding guests.

The web is about sharing. You can choose to share your photos with people you know by selecting Sync to Web which uploads your albums to your Google Apps account.

Other Picasa features

• Retouch photos by removing red eye, blemishes and more
• Use the videos, photos, and music on your computer to make a movie using Picasa.
• Use text or watermarks to protect or personalize your photos
• If you like to scrapbook or organize your photos in a photo box outside of the computer, you can print your photos with a caption on the picture or the border.

Download Picasa!

What do you do when you’re a film giant and you’re in financial trouble? You make a deal with the most watched spot online, a.k.a YouTube to show your full length TV shows and films! That’s exactly what MGM Studios decided to do. The initial lineup of shows and movies will include Legally Blonde, The Magnificent Seven, and American Gladiators. YouTube also recently shook hands with Lionsgate Studio and CBS to post episodes of Star Trek and Beverly Hills 90210 on the popular site. I must say I’m not too excited about the lineup but I trust that there are more exciting shows and movies to come since YouTube has around 81 million visitors to please! And by the way, they really need to put a rush on it because there’s a new site online that’s creating quite a buzz.

If I want to see more of my favorite TV shows and movies I can just go to Hulu which started carrying authorized copies of TV shows and movies long before YouTube made this deal. Hulu is an online service that carries your favorite TV shows and movies from over 100 providers like Fox, Universal Pictures, and Warner Brothers just to name a few. The buzz is that Hollywood executives find Hulu less cluttered than YouTube and they like the absence of amateur videos. I took a look at Hulu and I agree with the execs! The site is organized well. I can choose between a TV tab or a Movies tab and from there I can choose a channel (Drama, Horror, Comedy, etc.), look at movie trailers, or just browse to find what I’m looking for. Hulu has a large versatile selection of shows and movies and the quality is superb! It felt like I was just watching a regular DVD on my computer or television. Hulu is all about TV shows and movies so if you’re looking for funny home made videos or tutorials head back to YouTube where you’ll find plenty to choose from.

Only time will tell if YouTube can catch up to Hulu’s success when it comes to TV shows and movies. Right now YouTube is waiting to see what happens with the 1 billion dollar lawsuit Viacom threw their way for copyright infringement.  Viacom claims that there are over 160,000 unauthorized clips of their programming on the site that YouTube benefits from without payment to Viacom or licensing from the entertainment giant. Could this be the end of YouTube? Doubt it. The deals they made will probably put more money in YouTube’s pocket and the hands of the studio execs that jump on board. Let’s face it, Hulu is great but YouTube has been going strong for years and is widely viewed each and every day. Why wouldn’t you want your shows on the number one video sharing site in the world! Right now YouTube needs to stay out of copyright trouble and on Hollywood’s good side.  They’ve added Video ID to the site which lets companies remove unauthorized clips of their material. This is a good start to cleaning up unauthorized material and making room for the authorized stuff! Stay tuned, the battle of these two online theaters may get very interesting!

Did you know….As an Adult Educator, you are free to use any GCFLearnFree.org activity in your classroom, provided you meet our terms of use.  Let our activities help you teach your students!

We offer a variety of activities, including:

• Scanning Food Labels and Grocery Shelves.
• Reading Bus Maps, Subway Maps, and a Fire Plan.
• Filling out Deposit slips and Job Applications.
• Counting Change and giving correct Cash Back.

Check out all of the activities in our Everyday Life Project.  We’d love to hear from you about how you use, or think you could use, our activities.  Leave your comments here!  We may use your feedback to craft additional activities.