Archive for November, 2009
Jobs For Communications Majors
Monday, November 30th, 2009 | Uncategorized | Comments Off
Earning a degree in communications offers many different fields of possible employment. When you do a preliminary job search, it can look like there aren’t very many jobs for communications majors. After all, it is not like most areas of specialty where all the jobs are in the same thing. For example, if you major in business, you can find all the opportunities you like on a business jobs website. You have to be a little more clever if you choose communications as your major.
Jobs for communication majors depend heavily on your other skills and interests. Many communications majors, understandably, like to go in to advertising. If you have an advertising degree in addition to your communication major, there are a lot of doors open for you. You’ll be able to work in both traditional advertising and more novel types such as viral marketing. Getting the contacts you need for success is vital and having a background in communications opens this door.
Public relations type jobs are very common for communication majors. Being a communications major almost guarantees you an interview with a public relations firm. After all, even fresh out of college they can assume that you are skilled at representing clients and spin doctoring whenever the situation calls for it. To be a shoe in for a good job, make that first impression count.
Of course, there are also jobs for communications majors in nonprofit industries. If you really want to use your communication skills to make the world a better place, this can be one of the most promising career fields for you. National and international non profit organizations need communications personnel just as much as regular businesses. Communication majors taking these types of jobs get to be involved with their own pet projects and help out causes they believe in. What could be better than that?
Not all of these career choices may appeal to everyone. The trick is to find a way to use your degree to your advantage. A major in communications is a respected liberal arts degree that will open up many other venues for you. You could be a traffic coordinator, A retailer shipping manager, or really anything else you put your mind to. Majoring in communications opens up many doors, but it doesn’t close very many. With a little bit of imagination and a lot of hard work, the world is wide open to you.
Bikes, Bikes, and More Bikes
Sunday, November 29th, 2009 | Uncategorized | Comments Off
Other than spending a small fortune on a hybrid car or electric car, commuting by bicycle is probably the best way to save gas and improve the environment. When selecting your next (or first) bicycle, it’s important to understand the different bike types. These tips will help you understand the basic categories..
Road bikes, also known as touring bikes, are commonly built for speed and riding on smooth surfaces like asphalt. Because of this they may include very narrow tires, drop handlebars (to put the rider in the most aerodynamic position), and multiple speeds (12-24 gear positions is common). Racing bikes follow the same basic layout, but with a very lightweight frame. Although road bikes and racers can be used for commuting, most casual riders opt for comfort rather than speed.
Mountain bikes are built less for speed and more for durability and control. These bikes have much larger tires, raised handlebars that put the rider in a more upright position, and are generally (but not always) heavier. Since mountain bikes are intended to be used on trails and steep inclines, the gear ratios are generally lower than that of road bikes. Some mountain bikes have up to 36 gears, advanced suspension systems to handle bumpy and rough terrain, and it is now common to find disc brakes on one or both wheels. These bikes are great for commuting, especially if any of that commute is over rough or gravel roads.
Hybrid bikes try to combine the best of road and mountain bikes, and are intended to handle most commuting situations. These bikes have larger/narrower than mountain bikes, shock absorption systems for the occasional bumpy road, comfortable seats and handlebars, and often come with pre-fitted fenders and luggage racks for bicycle saddle bags. Many hybrids are geared much like road bikes, while others limit the number of gears to a minimum (5-7 speeds) or have the gears “sealed” in the rear hub (3-5 speeds). Hybrids are generally the best bike to choose for most commuting situations, and are a great bike to choose for casual riders.
Many other specialized types exist, from single speed cruisers to very specialized off-road “rock riders” and BMX racers. However, most cyclists will do okay to start from the list above. Use this guide as a starting point, try out a few models of each type to see what’s ideal for you, and then start riding. You won’t regret it.