How to make money with a market research job

Have you ever been wandering the shopping mall and had someone stop and ask you if you would like to take part in a market research survey? Market research and advertising is big business today. There are people asking questions in election polls over the phone, stopping viewers outside movie theatres and even giving away free products on commercial TV, if you simply call their 800 number and tell them what you liked or didn't like about their candidate, food product or commericial advertising - and these people will pay some serious money for your responses!

Pinecone research, formerly Acorn, does market research surveys on-line. You can make money and receive free products for doing 10 minute surveys on everything from cereal to furniture polish. I found out about this through Consumer Opinion Services (the market researchers at malls and grocery stores). If you go to Pinecone's home page, you will find a toll free 800 number to call to get started. Your first on-line survey, about you, will pay five dollars in cash. Once you are in the system as a surveyor, they pay you $5 by check for each survey. You also may receive free products, anything from shampoo to cereal to try out at home. These researchers are serious about the questions. Based upon your answers, they will change the product, the packaging, the price, or even the advertising campaign.

Pinecone's web site is specifically formatted to your computer equipment at sign-up even if you are a WEBTV user, so the product displays and questions are easy to read and respond to in a hurry. One note of caution however, you must have a working telephone and email in case of additional follow-up questions, but they almost never call unless a question has been skipped. Also, personal information such as income, race, and ages of family members are asked to determine demographics or target audience of sales.

Sometimes these little surveys will put you on a major list if you are a registered voter for a "focus group" - if you are asked to go to one of these, usually for political candidates and issues, they can pay over $50 and feed you dinner or lunch! So the next time you are stopped at the mall, remember the market researchers are asking you to make a difference in their advertising.

Often a researcher will ask your age or source of income. Anyone who works for a grocery store, advertising or market research are excluded. This is because many of the products have not yet been introduced to the market and they do not want a professional in the field to give away their secrets. This makes many of the surveys fun and adventurous since some of the products are SO new they appear bold or even funny at first presentation to the public.

Radio and TV stations often do "listener" or "viewer" surveys. After an initial phone call, they send you a packet to keep track of what stations you hear or watch often and they also pay a small stipend for your trouble or send demo records/videos for your review. In order to find out more, go to FREE STUFF in your search engine or look for Pinecone Research, Greenfield, or observe closely those 800 numbers on the products that you buy. Even a short letter to a company whose products you appreciate can produce a coupon or free sample from the company.

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How to write a post-interview letter

Upon leaving a successful job interview, you may feel a sense of closure at having done everything possible to clinch an offer of employment. But don't overlook the post-interview letter of thanks. This will be your last opportunity to remind the company's interviewer of your credentials and to bring your name forward one last time as a candidate for the available position.

Use professional-looking, personalized stationery. Off-white twenty-pound bond paper with a matching envelope is your best bet. Check your computer's printer cartridge to be sure the letter will be printed in clear, crisp text. Center the letter on the page, and use the full block or modified block style of letter format. Keep a copy for your file before mailing.

Following the salutation, begin by thanking the interviewer for an opportunity of meeting and touring the company, assuming you were able to walk through the place or were guided from office to office, meeting employees as you went along. In this section, mention one or two company strengths that impressed you, such as the factory’s production capacity or the staff’s communication style. This will tell the reader that you were paying attention during your visit and have noted positive things about the organization rather than focusing exclusively on your own goals for the interview.

In the next paragraph, explain why your credentials and background make you a good fit for the company. For example, mention that your copywriting experience will be helpful in enhancing the department's marketing materials in reaching some of the readers indicated during your interview. In effect, you are using resale value to remind the interviewer that your skills will benefit the company in a specific way. Include a few adjectives like your college background or work experience if you think the reader needs to be reminded of these assets.

Then offer a vision for the future with respect to your possible job within the company. This might be something along the lines of "My newsletter experience may be helpful in developing a client e-zine that will keep your customers aware of our company's evolving product line." Most managers value forward-looking individuals who develop good ideas for helping the company to grow. In effect, you are taking initiative even before your hiring date!

Finally, close your letter with a positive look to the future:

"I look forward to the possibility of working with you to help Benchmark Enterprises reach an all-time sales record."

A team mindset is very important for many administrators, so demonstrating your willingness to come on board and do your part should make a great final impression.

Mail the letter a few days after your interview, preferably within a week. Even if the interviewer decides not to hire you, the letter will close your interaction with the company on a pleasant note, and he or she may keep you in mind for future openings.

A few well-chosen words can convey a powerful final image of the person who may join the company team. So don't forget to write!

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How to change your career

You are unhappy about your job. All the passion is gone. You work long hours everyday and you don't have time for anything else in your life but work. You are tired all the time and you feel restless. Even though this is what you have worked hard for, it's not making you happy anymore. You're at work longer than any other place in your life. You need to feel content about what you are doing everyday and enjoy it. When those feelings are gone, it's time to make a career change. But how do you go about changing your career?

The first thing is to accept you are depressed about your current career. No matter how hard you have worked to get that position all the passion and desire is gone. You need to take some time to find a new career that you can have some passion about and plan out the way to get it. If you don't seek out something that you can be passionate about in your career, you will become unhappy again. Don't just change jobs, but change to something that you really want to do and can be excited about.

We get depressed in our careers when things become monotonous at work and all the joy is gone. This is what make us not want to be there. Decide what you want to do next and plan it out for that change. Research that job field to know all the different aspects of it to see if you will enjoy doing it. Make sure you are not jumping from one job to be doing the same thing in a new one. Talk to someone that might already be in that field to find out what a day to day is like.

If you change careers you might have to start at the bottom to work your way up. Understand this when you change careers and don't expect to walk in in the same position you had. This can be very exciting to grow and work your way up in a company. Do some rearch also on how long it will take a person to reach the level that they want to be in. Find out if you have to work long hours like you did on your last job. That was one of the things that had you depressed about your old job, working all the time and not having time for yourself. Make sure you won't be jumping back into that same situation also. Take your time to discover what you really want to do next and plan out the way to do it. Once you have found the new career you want, spend time researching it carefully.

Changing careers can be scary from walking away from what you have already been doing to doing something you never did before. If you have discovered that your present career has made you unhappy and depressed, it's time to make a change. Study and get a understanding about the new career that you want to venture out into and it can be a very exciting career change instead of a fearful one.

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Facebook Buka Lowongan di Bidang Gaming

 Facebook mengumumkan lowongan pekerjaan yang menunjukkan bahwa pertumbuhan game pada situs jejaring sosial semakin penting. Untuk itu, mereka mencari personil untuk memegang posisi Head of Games Partnerships.

Nantinya, personil tersebut akan menjadi ujung tombak hubungan eksternal Facebook dengan para pengembang game.

Seperti dikutip dari AllFacebook, 9 Agustus 2010, Dan Rose, Vice President of Partnerships and Platform Marketing yang memposting informasi seputar lowongan tersebut.

“Facebook mencari seorang pemimpin untuk tim Strategic Partner Development kami,” kata Rose. “Ia akan membangun dan mengelola tim, mengembangkan dan meningkatkan hubungan kerjasama dan berhubungan dengan partner internal serta eksternal di industri gaming,” ucapnya.

Saat ini terdapat lebih dari 200 juta orang yang memainkan game di Facebook setiap harinya, dan 24 game di jejaring sosial tersebut memiliki lebih dari 10 juta pemain per bulannya.

Gaming juga semakin menjadi sumber pendapatan bagi Facebook berkat banyaknya penggunaan Facebook Credits, mata uang virtual yang bisa digunakan di seluruh game dan aplikasi di situs jejaring sosial tersebut. Setiap transaksi menggunakan Credits, Facebook mendapat jatah 30 persen.

Selain gaming, Facebook juga mencari personil untuk 32 posisi lainnya untuk ditempatkan di Palo Alto, New York, atau London. Sebagai informasi, perusahaan tersebut baru-baru ini mendapat predikat sebagai perusahaan teknologi terfavorit di Amerika Serikat, mengalahkan Google.

Berminat bekerja di situs jejaring sosial tersebut? Berikut ini fasilitas yang disediakan Facebook bagi pekerjanya. (hs0

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Getting that job promotion!

If you have ever been passed over for a promotion that you thought you deserved, it's time to reevaluate your situation to understand why you seem to be stuck on the last rung of the corporate ladder.

The first thing you must ask yourself is, "Did I make it known that I wanted the promotion?" This may seem like common sense, but some people believe that they do not have to be aggressive or even voice their desire that they be placed in the running. Even if you are the ideal candidate for the job, if no one knows you are interested, chances are you will not be considered.

Second, be realistic. Before you get your hopes up on that vice president's job, ask yourself if you are qualified. Working in the mailroom does not merit a leap to a corner office. Know the qualifications of the position and be sure you fit the company's needs. If you are in fact qualified, make it known. Self-confidence and self-assuredness is a must when climbing the corporate ladder. While most of us are taught from a very young age not to brag or show off, our accomplishments do not always speak for themselves.

Getting ahead on the job takes more than merely doing a good job. Drop subtle reminders to your boss of your accomplishments. Detail how the company has benefited from your ideas and suggestions and will only benefit further by giving you greater responsibilities and duties.

Unfortunately, getting a promotion can oftentimes be a competition. You will have to fight for what you want – but fight fair. Loyalty plays an important role in getting a promotion. Contrary to what we see on television and in the movies, back-stabbing tactics will not get you very far in the real corporate world. Being a loyal employee, co-worker or supervisor will only make advancement in the workplace easier. But remember the difference between loyalty and overkill. You do not have to be everyone's best friend. It is more important to be well-respected than well-liked.

When it comes down to the final interview, let your self-confidence and past achievements shine and as the old saying goes, "Never let them see you sweat" – there'll be plenty of time for sweating when you are givien your first assignment in your new position.

www.essortment.com

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How to ask your boss for a raise

Thinking of asking for a raise? You're not alone. Most of today's work force is just waiting for their chance to ask for more money. But be wary-there are many do's and don't surrounding this issue. Use the following tips to find out what to do when the moment is right for your to make your move:

1. Consider Your Position

Look at the position you are currently holding. Are you a college-hire, a seasoned veteran, a part-time employee? Its a fact that employees must climb the work status ladder to get anywhere. If you are a college hire, your chances are slimmer for a raise than those of a seasoned veteran. If you are part-time, employers may not be able to consider you for a raise until you take full-time status. Put simply, position is everything.

2. Consider Time

If you are a new hire, you MUST wait at least six months before approaching your boss for a raise. If you've got a few years under your belt, its still advisable to wait at least three months from your last raise before asking for more money.

3. Consider Experience

How solidly do you know your area? If you are an expert, your chances are great for a raise. If you've got only a seminal knowledge of your area, consider training yourself to become more knowledgeable. If you are a valuable commodity and your boss knows it, they'll do whatever they can to keep you.

4. Feel Around

Try and see what the other employees in your office are earning. Ask them tactfully, or ask the employment office in your building. Chances are, they'll be able to give some good hints at what those around you are worth. Consider your raise question accordingly.

5. Spread Hints

Before asking for a raise, it's always good to exhibit a huge burst of company loyalty. Bustle around for a week or two, and do even more than you normally would. Stay later at the office, and contribute highly to company meetings. Try and showcase the fact that you are of great value to the company.

6. Give Hints

It's nice to spread some hints so that you don't take your boss completely by surprise. Schedule your meeting at least a week in advance, and tell him/her that you'd like to discuss your "position in the company."

7. Make a Case

Compile a list of all the reasons that you feel you should be earning more. Type a paper listing all of your projects and what you did to contribute to them. List your assets, and what you've learned. If your boss seems unconvinced of your worth, give them your compiled list of these projects. Practice expounding on all of topics in front of a mirror.

8. Stand Firm

If you feel that a raise has been long in coming, make sure that you stress how much you need it. Indicate to your boss that your comfort depends on the raise. Avoid speaking directly of issues such as a car or rent. Simply tell your boss that you'd appreciate some extra help in the areas of housing and transportation.

9. Watch for Signals

Read your boss carefully. If he/she appears to be having a bad day at the time of the meeting, switch the topic of the meeting, and schedule another one for the next week. The best time to ask for a raise is just after you've been lauded for a project or assignment. If praise is a rare thing in your office, then at least make sure that your boss appears to be in a jovial mood at the time of your talk.

10. Know When to Give Up

In the area of office politics, your boss always knows best. If they give you a definitive "no" to your question, do not press the issue. Instead, work hard, and watch for your next chance to speak to them on the issue of a raise.

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Organize your work space

Today's workplace environments run a gamut of options. From a multi-level 20-foot work station to a notebook computer perched on your lap, work space needs to be efficiently organized to save time and help you get things done.

Because work spaces are so varied, let's assume for the purposes of this article that you have a traditional desk and a desktop computer. Now let's see what you can add and arrange to make this space more productive.

1. Office chair. Don't even bother with a straight leg chair, a stool, or other unorthodox seating. Buy a regular swivel chair with wheels and a plastic mat so it can roll smoothly from one part of the desk to another. A flexible, mobile chair is better for accommodating the human frame, as well, and can help you avoid back, leg, or posture problems.

2. Lighting. Be sure you have adequate light for illuminating your work space. A wall light, floor lamp, or desk lamp can provide good visibility, as can a nearby window with shades for bright, sunny days. Use adjustable lighting for day and evening work to avoid eye strain.

3. Desk drawers. Store important or frequently used items in your right-hand drawer. Marking pencils, pens, address books, paper clips, or other routine office supplies should be kept in a handy place. You are the best judge of what will be needed most often, so arrange your supplies accordingly. In the left-hand drawer you can place important files (using a Pendaflex or similar system), receipts, or other documents. Or use this space for more office supplies, such as a stapler, storage disks, and reference resources like a dictionary, telephone directory, or a thesaurus.

4. Desk surface. In addition to your computer monitor and keyboard, you may need a place for a printer unless you have an adjoining spot with room for documents to print out without falling to the floor. On the desk, then, you also may want a calendar for marking upcoming events and due dates, a rolodex of frequent contacts, and everyday disks or CDs used in your work. A telephone may need its own space unless, again, you have another nearby area for easy reaching. An inbox or outbox is handy for tasks that need to be done or are completed. You also may want a place for messages, job lists, or needed supplies. Finally, a coffee cup adds a personal and supportive touch.

5. Surrounding space. Depending on the size of your surrounding area, you may want to add a bookshelf for work-related information or reference, and a file cabinet for storage. Consider adding a storage cabinet for paper, envelopes, and manila file folders, along with other office supplies. A cash box will be helpful, with a ledger, for tracking job-related expenses.

If your space is too limited to include all of these items, omit what you feel you can do without for now, until your office expands. Arranging your work area will give you a greater sense of control along with more freedom to get things done. So don't wait--get started today!

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