Access To The Internet

The Internet offers huge opportunities for a job hunter, but also presents several potential challenges. It also adds some complexities, and a lot more things to think about…and be wary of.

Job hunting needs to be thought of as a personalized, very directed marketing operation where you are the product. Your resume is an ad. Your extended network of contacts is your source for job leads.

So where does the internet fit in? At AA-Careers, we just posted a job on a popular job board and got over 650 responses in a calendar week. For a single opening. That’s increased competition for job openings.

Had a strong candidate called us ahead of our posting that ad, they could have secured the position prior to having all that competition. How? By knowing someone at our office who became aware of the job prior to posting. Everyone was aware of the job for at least 9 days before it was posted. Who in your network might know of a job that’s coming available soon?

Be sure to check your cover letter and resume carefully! When we did an analysis of the 650 resumes, we found a large number of errors. 63% of the applicants were easily eliminated with a fast-paced triage process. How? The same way any HR professional would. By rejecting resumes where the objective didn’t match our position description. By passing over candidates whose cover letters gave us causes not to engage them, like "I know I’m overqualified but I really need a job". By eliminating job hunters whose documents that didn’t open properly. And by rejecting candidates who didn’t bother to spell check their cover letter and/or resume.

So the good news is that job sites give you a feel of who is hiring, and for what kinds of positions. But once those jobs are posted, the competition is intense. You can still try, if you have a well written resume, designed to appeal directly and clearly to the recruiter. And if you have practiced interviewing – so you don’t stumble at a critical point.

Another issue to be aware of is how easily you can be investigated on the web. As we Googled several candidates, we ran into some MySpace comments that were in questionable taste. Nothing larcenous, but enough to sway our thinking about who to hire.

AA-Careers provides a extensive set of services for Bay Area job seekers, providing our clients a personal career consultant, a managed job hunting campaign, modern tools like a personal website, video, highly targeted resume, and much more. Let us know if we can help you.

Be careful out there, and good hunting!

When it comes to exercise, people like to walk or run. These are natural activities for us. They can have practical applications, such as getting from one place to another. They require less gear than many other forms of exercise (although you can spend a bundle on shoes, clothes and other accessories if you really wanted). And walking or running are great forms of exercise. They burn calories, work many muscle groups and strengthen cardiovascular components in the body. Walking is one of the best or perhaps the only feasible form of exercise for people with diseases such as osteoporosis, hypertension and chronic back pain. Walking doesn’t require a lot of technical know-how or instruction. We already know how to do it, and a few pointers about heart rate and breathing will at least get us on the road. In general, walking and running are easy and convenient ways to improve health and fitness and a home treadmill adds to this overall appeal.

According to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, over 40 million consumers purchase treadmills each year and the number continues to grow. Treadmills account for over 1/3 of all home exercise equipment sales. So why do so many people choose treadmills and how do they compare to stair machines, stationary bikes and other home fitness equipment?

Ease and Convenience

The number one reason people use a treadmill is convenience. It allows you to exercise even when the weather is bad or the fitness center is closed. You can exercise in the early morning or after dinner or whenever the mood strikes you. You can even use your treadmill in the buff if you don’t feel like washing your workout clothes.

You can read, watch TV, talk with friends, or listen to music or audiotapes while you exercise on a treadmill. You can keep an eye on your kids, wait for files to download, take care of dinner or the laundry and even meditate, think through problems or make grocery lists.

For those who need to stay in the office until five – even when it’s not busy, or who prefer to exercise in the privacy of their own homes, a treadmill is ideal. Also, in some areas and neighborhoods, walking or running exposes one to traffic, muggers or vicious dogs. These hazards are avoided by using a treadmill.

Another reason people like treadmills is because you can just hop on and walk without a great deal of preparation and even if you don’t work terribly hard at it, you still accomplish something. But today’s treadmills make it easy to program in workout routines that simulate hills or vary speeds to enhance the effectiveness of your workout or challenge you to work harder and improve. The control panels are typically user friendly and many machines have built in heart rate monitors.

Clearly a treadmill provides several advantages over walking or running outside. And it is often easier and less expensive than other types of home exercise equipment, but how does it compare in terms of pure cardiovascular workout and calorie burning?

A Better Burn

According to a study done by the Medical College of Wisconsin and the VA Medical Center in Milwaukee, a person using a treadmill for 60 minutes burns an average of 865-705 calories. Check that against other common exercise equipment:

stair machine 746-637 calories burned

rowing machine 739-606 calories burned

stationary cycle 604-5956 calories burned

cross-country ski machine 678-595 calories burned

Treadmill vs Elliptical Machine

What about the new elliptical machines? An elliptical cross trainer with handles to work the upper body provides a workout that compares to that of a treadmill when it comes to muscles used and heart rate issues. The main difference between the two types of home exercise equipment is that and elliptical machine operates more smoothly and creates less of an impact on bones and joints. This might be good for those with recent injuries or chronic conditions, but it is the impact that helps maintain or improve bone density, which in turn strengthens bones and prevents the loss of calcium.

Most experts agree that a healthy person needs the bouncing and jarring associated with walking or running to keep bones, muscles and joints working properly. A treadmill is one of the few home fitness machines that provide this type of exercise. And most come with a cushioned platform to minimize impact or keep it at an acceptable level. As with any form of exercise, it is a good idea to check with your doctor first if you have health conditions that may make it difficult or unwise for you to participate in certain activities.

With a treadmill, the concept is basically simple. If you want to work harder, you increase the incline or the speed. Usually this is done with a push of the button. An elliptical machine can be adjusted to target certain muscle groups, but it requires some knowledge and usually must be done manually. And because elliptical machines are relatively new to the home fitness market, there are fewer models to choose from and they tend to cost a bit more than the average treadmill. Some people have commented that they feel the elliptical machines can be more difficult to use because the motions do not feel as natural as walking or running. It is a good idea to try out any piece of exercise equipment before buying to see how it feels and fits with your needs.

Many people who exercise do so because they know they should, not because they thoroughly enjoy it. Sure you feel good after you complete your workout, but sometimes getting motivated can be difficult. And if you are going to put in the time, you want to know that what you’re doing is actually helping you burn calories and become more fit. Treadmills rank at the top of the list when it comes to home fitness equipment, providing one of the most effective workouts in proportion to the amount of time spent. So make your movements count. Try a treadmill.

C.J. Gustafson is a successful writer for Treadmill-Ratings-n-Reviews.net, providing treadmill ratings and reviews on the best treadmill models.

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