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How to look for scholarships (Modern Vocational Trends career monographs)

How to look for scholarships (Modern Vocational Trends career monographs)

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Tags: Career, look, Modern, monographs, Scholarships, Trends, Vocational

2009 First Half Maid Service Growth Trends

The Present Economic Conditions

As I write this article the U.S. economy is experiencing the worse economic conditions since the great depression of the early 1930’s. The housing market has been on a downward spiral since 2007. The banking industry is on the verge of complete failure. Consumer confidence is at multiple year lows. Tens-of-thousands of jobs have been lost in January on top of over 2 million jobs that were lost in 2008. The auto industry is losing billions of dollars which is increasing the probability of at least one of the big three U.S. auto makers being bankrupted by years end. States such as California are on the threshold of running out of money and the U.S. jobless claims are at the highest levels since record keeping began.

The Economic Possibilities

However, amidst all the gloom and doom we at BidMyCleaning.com are feeling optimistic about the first half growth trends of the U.S. economy and in return the maid service industry because several things are happening. A new U.S. President and White House Administration have been sworn into office. At least a 800-billion-dollar stimulus package is being worked on by the President and Congress. As the stimulus package stands today it will give millions of Americans a tax cut. It will help states stay afloat and provide needed money for unemployment claims. It will help with healthcare improvements, such as computerizing medical records. It will create jobs putting people to work by improving our Country’s infrastructure. A creation of a so called “bad bank” will likely be put into place to help our failing banking system. The housing market will get needed assistance. The auto industry will get bridge loans from the government to stay solvent.

With the outlook of the 800 billion dollar stimulus package and other economic assistance plans you can see why we are feeling optimistic about the first half growth trends of the U.S. economy an in return the first half growth of the maid service industry. We believe that two things must happen within the first quarter of 2009 for the maid service industry to see growth. The stimulus package and the creation of a “bad bank” must be signed into law by February 15th.

The Economic Growth Trend Predictions

If we get the stimulus package and a “bad bank” by mid February we at BidMyCleaning.com believe the U.S. economy will quickly turn in an upward direction. Upward movement will be due to the effects of the stimulus package on most Americans in areas, such as tax cuts. In addition, because banks will be able to freely lend again without worrying about the billions of losses on their balance sheets because the bad debts will be moved over to the created “bad bank.”Consumers having more money in their pockets and banks making loans will in return spark more spending and more spending is exactly what the doctor ordered for this economy.

If the stimulus package and the establishment of the “bad bank” happens’ by mid February then BidMyCleaning.com is predicting that the maid service industry will grow by 3 to 5 percent during the first half of 2009. The BidMyCleaning.com nationwide online marketplace grew by 5% month over month in January and 75% of the companies surveyed in their marketplace experienced at least 2% growth in January.

However, if the stimulus package and the “bad bank” are not in place by mid February then BidMyCleaning.com is predicting that the maid service industry will most likely experience 0 to 2 percent growth during the first half of 2009. Consumers will continue to hold back on spending and banks will continue to hold off on lending for the majority of the first half of 2009, if they don’t receive some economic reassurance by mid February because they understand that it takes time for stimulus to start working.

Bid My Cleaning is the world’s first and leading online marketplace for residential cleaning services. They provide a closed loop transaction marketplace and relationship management system that directly connects buyers and sellers of maid, carpet, and window cleanings services. Buyers and sellers interact with each other in the BidMyCleaning.com marketplace in real-time 24/7 without ever having to speak on the phone. BidMyCleaning.com regularly conducts industry surveys with hundreds of buyers and sellers within their marketplace.

Tags: 2009, First, Growth, Half, Maid, Service, Trends

Recent Trends in College Planning and College Admissions That May Affect Your Student

In recent years, some interesting trends have become apparent in college planning and college admissions. As an educational consultant and college planner, I have made some observations that may affect your student.

1. High school counselors are being cut at many public schools causing the counseling loads to increase. The average high school counselor works with 450 students and spends 28% of his or her time on college planning. More families are turning to educational consultants because of the individual attention they can provide.

2. Public universities have become more expensive due to budget cuts and rising tuition. In addition to rising tuition, many state universities are saving money by limiting classes. Some feel this is why students are taking an average of 6.2 years to graduate. For parents, this means an additional 2 years of college expenses. Many students are including some private schools that are committed to seeing their students graduate in 4 years on their college lists.

3. The Ivy League schools are now accepting less than 10% of their applicants. This means that students who aim for these schools cannot expect to get in with only top grades and test scores. A niche is almost always a necessity. Guiding students in their extracurricular activities can make a difference.

4. International students are being sought after by colleges in the U.S, This is increasing the competition in college admissions for all students. Many colleges are actively recruiting international students who come from wealthy families who can pay the full tuition.

5. Students whose families can pay the full amount are having more success with college admissions than those who require financial aid. Some schools are no longer able to be need-blind in accepting students. Paying for college has become a problem for a much larger segment of the population. Many parents, however, are turning to college planners who are providing some very valuable guidance to help make college more affordable.

6. College applications have continued to rise at almost every school in the U.S. It has become quite common for students to apply to a large number of schools. Applying to as many as 15 or 20 schools is not out of the question for some. Many students feel they need the additional colleges because of the competition.

7. More students are applying Early Decision even though they are not always sure it is the school they want to attend. Since Early Decision is binding, this is a problem for both students and colleges. Early Decision and Early Action continue to be debated as to whom they benefit the most.

8. More students are considering a gap year to give the economy a chance to rebound before they enter college. A gap year can be beneficial to students who may not be quite ready for college. It is also an opportunity for students to participate in a unique experience that they might not have otherwise.

9. Women continue to have a bigger struggle in college admissions than men. Many schools today have a ratio of 60:40 women to men. Therefore, more men seem to be accepted at schools with lower grades and test scores than women.

While these are observations from the 2010 college admissions period, it is important for parents to know about these trends in order to guide their children as they begin to their college planning.

Tags: Admissions, Affect, College, Planning, Recent, Student, Trends

Team Building Trends: Corporate Cookery Classes

One of the most popular current trends in the team building field is corporate cookery classes. At these events, staff are able to work together to prepare a meal from scratch, which they can all then sit down with together and enjoy.

What Does a Corporate Cookery Class Involve?

The emphasis is on fun, relaxation and enjoyment. Rather than mindless amounts of chopping or arm-straining mixing, participants are invited to ‘sip and stir,’ enjoying fine wines as they cook in a state-of-the-art kitchen. At the end of their session, hungry, fully relaxed teams sit down together and are served the gourmet food they have created themselves.

Nothing is prepared in advance so that the pleasure of the cooking process is fully experienced. Different levels of culinary skill are accounted for, with seasoned cooks exposed to trade secrets and beginners able to get stuck in to well structured recipes. A team of chefs are also provided for each client to ensure the creation of the meal is both enjoyable and effortless.

Teams will work together, building on individuals’ strengths and weaknesses and communicating as effectively as possible to work towards making an enjoyable meal.

Why Do Corporate Cookery Classes Work?

There are a number of reasons why cookery team building exercises are so popular and work so well for so many businesses. Here are just a few:

-Food is something that everyone has in common.
-Cooking is something everyone can get involved with, unlike some sports-based events, for example, which make some staff feel uncomfortable.
-Working together on a recipe is a focused way for staff to bond and get to know each other.
-A corporate cookery class is an unusual and fun day out and a treat for staff which makes them feel valued.
-The cookery-based exercises encourage employees to communicate with each other.
-Cooking boosts team morale and gives people a sense of achievement.

Making the Most of a Corporate Cookery Event

Although a corporate cookery event is about creating a delicious meal, there are also the long-term business benefits to bear in mind. There are a few things you could consider doing to capitalize on the day’s activities.

You could, for example, divide employees into teams and introduce a competitive element. The chef could choose the best dish or staff could secretly mark each others’ dishes as they do on the TV show Come Dine with Me.

Judging criteria could also include:

-How well staff planned before they started cooking
-How well they communicated
-Creativity and initiative

Corporate cookery classes are a good way to enjoy a fun day out and a meal as a company, as well as to boost team morale and communication.

Venturi’s Table is London’s first Corporate Cookery Centre, custom-built to provide fun cookery experiences for groups of business professionals. Go to the Venturi’s Table website for more details.

Tags: Building, Classes, Cookery, Corporate, Team, Trends

Working Capital Finance Trends – Small Business Commercial Loans

When reviewing business financing developments that occurred during 2007, there are mixed results when looking at the best and worst trends. Many of the changes for commercial loans that emerged last year have important ramifications for refinancing or seeking new purchase financing for business loans.

Seven Significant Trends for Small Business Financing and Working Capital Management

For business cash advances and credit card processing services, the past 12 months have been characterized by significant changes. There were many providers both entering and exiting these business activities. It is of course good news that some ineffective providers were forced to leave this specialized working capital management service area. But the bad news is that there are still many new and inexperienced companies attempting to operate in this complex field.

A similar trend involving inexperience can be seen in viewing the large number of residential financing brokers now attempting to transition into business financing. By some estimates, well over 100,000 residential financing employees lost their jobs during 2007, and there is a likelihood that many unqualified brokers will be entering the business finance field during 2008.

A major commercial property investment trend has been some increasing activity due to the current decline in viable residential investing options. This seems to be particularly true for business opportunity situations which do not have a real estate component, an aspect of increasing importance to investors who want to avoid property ownership at this time.

A general business loan trend impacting refinancing is the reduction in loan-to-value ratios, especially when borrowers are attempting to get some of their equity out of the business in cash. For purchase situations including special purpose properties such as church financing, slightly larger down payment requirements are increasingly common.

Although the general decrease in interest rates during the past year is a positive development, there will probably be some confusion among commercial borrowers who have adjustable rate terms when they do not see their rates reduced. In all likelihood, this will be due to a common clause applied to most commercial financing contracts that stipulate that the minimum rate for such agreements will never be less than the initial rate. With such a floor rate provision, this means that if a borrower starts with an adjustable rate set at 10% and then rates fall, the effective loan rate will remain at the initial rate.

During 2007 there was noticeable attrition in providers of SBA loans. This is primarily a positive development, since the field has long been overpopulated with inadequate business lenders.

Likewise many regional and local banks visibly reduced or eliminated their commercial finance activities during the past 12 months. If there is a positive aspect to this development it is probably that many borrowers confronted with the need to suddenly find alternative business financing sources have obtained much better terms by dealing with a new lender that specializes in working capital management and commercial real estate financing. The negative issue about this trend is that very few former commercial lenders provided their borrowers with adequate notification of their intent to exit the business. To preclude a similar case of bad timing, business owners should engage in some advance planning to avoid a sudden need to seek new commercial funding at an inopportune time.

Tags: Business, Capital, Commercial, Finance, Loans, Small, Trends, Working

Up And Coming Home D

One of the newest trends might surprise people until they see just how great they look. Wall murals are back in, as far as home décor goes. The new style of wall murals isn’t like you might remember from decades ago. The new trend is much more detailed and crisp looking. Walls covered in this returning style are full of depth and detail and can make a room look like one wall is a picture window overlooking something dazzling like the Las Vegas Strip or a flower filled meadow with a realistic looking running brook. You could do your son’s room with an outer space mural or your daughter’s room could look like a majestic sky. Your den could look stylish and smart with a mural of a library or map of the world. There are gorgeous styles with skylines and beaches, underwater aquatic scenes and color combinations that are modern and chic looking.

This isn’t something just designed for a playroom or a family’s basement recreation room. The wall murals out today are nice enough for your great room or master bedroom. Wallpaper styles left the design books for a while in favor of paint but many new styles and returning old favorites are emerging with a new twist.

Are wall murals difficult to install?

One of the benefits of wallpaper over paint is how easy it can be installed. Not only can you transform a room quickly without worrying about covering your furniture to protect it from paint splatters but wallpaper helps to cover flaws too. There’s virtually almost no prep work required whatsoever and another benefit of wall murals is that there’s not excessive matching required when piecing together a complex pattern.

Most of today’s wall murals come in kit with up to eight pieces and include special wallpaper adhesive. Once you’ve prepared your paste (which usually comes in dry mix form to be mixed with water just prior to use) and put it on your wall, you can either position the group of panels top to bottom or one row at a time. You have a little bit of play before the adhesive dries to match it up just right and then you smooth out the wall with a wallpaper smoother.

Voila, you have just transformed your room in a few easy steps.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wall Mural Installations:

· Can I put a paper mural on my stucco or textured walls? The answer is that it won’t look right if you install it as-is. You need to either sand the wall until it’s smooth, cover the wall to create a smooth surface or choose to put up your mural on a different wall.

· Are murals easy to remove when I want to redecorate? Yes, although the paper is slightly different than typical wallpaper, wall murals are quite easily removable.

· Can I wash the wall that my wall mural is installed on? Yes. Wall murals are durable. While you can not scrub your wall with harsh chemicals, you can sponge off lightly to remove fingerprints and light dirt

Tags: Coming, D, Home, Trends

Up And Coming Home D

One of the newest trends might surprise people until they see just how great they look. Wall murals are back in, as far as home décor goes. The new style of wall murals isn’t like you might remember from decades ago. The new trend is much more detailed and crisp looking. Walls covered in this returning style are full of depth and detail and can make a room look like one wall is a picture window overlooking something dazzling like the Las Vegas Strip or a flower filled meadow with a realistic looking running brook. You could do your son’s room with an outer space mural or your daughter’s room could look like a majestic sky. Your den could look stylish and smart with a mural of a library or map of the world. There are gorgeous styles with skylines and beaches, underwater aquatic scenes and color combinations that are modern and chic looking.

This isn’t something just designed for a playroom or a family’s basement recreation room. The wall murals out today are nice enough for your great room or master bedroom. Wallpaper styles left the design books for a while in favor of paint but many new styles and returning old favorites are emerging with a new twist.

Are wall murals difficult to install?

One of the benefits of wallpaper over paint is how easy it can be installed. Not only can you transform a room quickly without worrying about covering your furniture to protect it from paint splatters but wallpaper helps to cover flaws too. There’s virtually almost no prep work required whatsoever and another benefit of wall murals is that there’s not excessive matching required when piecing together a complex pattern.

Most of today’s wall murals come in kit with up to eight pieces and include special wallpaper adhesive. Once you’ve prepared your paste (which usually comes in dry mix form to be mixed with water just prior to use) and put it on your wall, you can either position the group of panels top to bottom or one row at a time. You have a little bit of play before the adhesive dries to match it up just right and then you smooth out the wall with a wallpaper smoother.

Voila, you have just transformed your room in a few easy steps.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wall Mural Installations:

· Can I put a paper mural on my stucco or textured walls? The answer is that it won’t look right if you install it as-is. You need to either sand the wall until it’s smooth, cover the wall to create a smooth surface or choose to put up your mural on a different wall.

· Are murals easy to remove when I want to redecorate? Yes, although the paper is slightly different than typical wallpaper, wall murals are quite easily removable.

· Can I wash the wall that my wall mural is installed on? Yes. Wall murals are durable. While you can not scrub your wall with harsh chemicals, you can sponge off lightly to remove fingerprints and light dirt

Tags: Coming, D, Home, Trends

Up And Coming Home D

One of the newest trends might surprise people until they see just how great they look. Wall murals are back in, as far as home décor goes. The new style of wall murals isn’t like you might remember from decades ago. The new trend is much more detailed and crisp looking. Walls covered in this returning style are full of depth and detail and can make a room look like one wall is a picture window overlooking something dazzling like the Las Vegas Strip or a flower filled meadow with a realistic looking running brook. You could do your son’s room with an outer space mural or your daughter’s room could look like a majestic sky. Your den could look stylish and smart with a mural of a library or map of the world. There are gorgeous styles with skylines and beaches, underwater aquatic scenes and color combinations that are modern and chic looking.

This isn’t something just designed for a playroom or a family’s basement recreation room. The wall murals out today are nice enough for your great room or master bedroom. Wallpaper styles left the design books for a while in favor of paint but many new styles and returning old favorites are emerging with a new twist.

Are wall murals difficult to install?

One of the benefits of wallpaper over paint is how easy it can be installed. Not only can you transform a room quickly without worrying about covering your furniture to protect it from paint splatters but wallpaper helps to cover flaws too. There’s virtually almost no prep work required whatsoever and another benefit of wall murals is that there’s not excessive matching required when piecing together a complex pattern.

Most of today’s wall murals come in kit with up to eight pieces and include special wallpaper adhesive. Once you’ve prepared your paste (which usually comes in dry mix form to be mixed with water just prior to use) and put it on your wall, you can either position the group of panels top to bottom or one row at a time. You have a little bit of play before the adhesive dries to match it up just right and then you smooth out the wall with a wallpaper smoother.

Voila, you have just transformed your room in a few easy steps.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wall Mural Installations:

· Can I put a paper mural on my stucco or textured walls? The answer is that it won’t look right if you install it as-is. You need to either sand the wall until it’s smooth, cover the wall to create a smooth surface or choose to put up your mural on a different wall.

· Are murals easy to remove when I want to redecorate? Yes, although the paper is slightly different than typical wallpaper, wall murals are quite easily removable.

· Can I wash the wall that my wall mural is installed on? Yes. Wall murals are durable. While you can not scrub your wall with harsh chemicals, you can sponge off lightly to remove fingerprints and light dirt

Tags: Coming, D, Home, Trends

Up And Coming Home D

One of the newest trends might surprise people until they see just how great they look. Wall murals are back in, as far as home décor goes. The new style of wall murals isn’t like you might remember from decades ago. The new trend is much more detailed and crisp looking. Walls covered in this returning style are full of depth and detail and can make a room look like one wall is a picture window overlooking something dazzling like the Las Vegas Strip or a flower filled meadow with a realistic looking running brook. You could do your son’s room with an outer space mural or your daughter’s room could look like a majestic sky. Your den could look stylish and smart with a mural of a library or map of the world. There are gorgeous styles with skylines and beaches, underwater aquatic scenes and color combinations that are modern and chic looking.

This isn’t something just designed for a playroom or a family’s basement recreation room. The wall murals out today are nice enough for your great room or master bedroom. Wallpaper styles left the design books for a while in favor of paint but many new styles and returning old favorites are emerging with a new twist.

Are wall murals difficult to install?

One of the benefits of wallpaper over paint is how easy it can be installed. Not only can you transform a room quickly without worrying about covering your furniture to protect it from paint splatters but wallpaper helps to cover flaws too. There’s virtually almost no prep work required whatsoever and another benefit of wall murals is that there’s not excessive matching required when piecing together a complex pattern.

Most of today’s wall murals come in kit with up to eight pieces and include special wallpaper adhesive. Once you’ve prepared your paste (which usually comes in dry mix form to be mixed with water just prior to use) and put it on your wall, you can either position the group of panels top to bottom or one row at a time. You have a little bit of play before the adhesive dries to match it up just right and then you smooth out the wall with a wallpaper smoother.

Voila, you have just transformed your room in a few easy steps.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wall Mural Installations:

· Can I put a paper mural on my stucco or textured walls? The answer is that it won’t look right if you install it as-is. You need to either sand the wall until it’s smooth, cover the wall to create a smooth surface or choose to put up your mural on a different wall.

· Are murals easy to remove when I want to redecorate? Yes, although the paper is slightly different than typical wallpaper, wall murals are quite easily removable.

· Can I wash the wall that my wall mural is installed on? Yes. Wall murals are durable. While you can not scrub your wall with harsh chemicals, you can sponge off lightly to remove fingerprints and light dirt

Tags: Coming, D, Home, Trends

Up And Coming Home D

One of the newest trends might surprise people until they see just how great they look. Wall murals are back in, as far as home décor goes. The new style of wall murals isn’t like you might remember from decades ago. The new trend is much more detailed and crisp looking. Walls covered in this returning style are full of depth and detail and can make a room look like one wall is a picture window overlooking something dazzling like the Las Vegas Strip or a flower filled meadow with a realistic looking running brook. You could do your son’s room with an outer space mural or your daughter’s room could look like a majestic sky. Your den could look stylish and smart with a mural of a library or map of the world. There are gorgeous styles with skylines and beaches, underwater aquatic scenes and color combinations that are modern and chic looking.

This isn’t something just designed for a playroom or a family’s basement recreation room. The wall murals out today are nice enough for your great room or master bedroom. Wallpaper styles left the design books for a while in favor of paint but many new styles and returning old favorites are emerging with a new twist.

Are wall murals difficult to install?

One of the benefits of wallpaper over paint is how easy it can be installed. Not only can you transform a room quickly without worrying about covering your furniture to protect it from paint splatters but wallpaper helps to cover flaws too. There’s virtually almost no prep work required whatsoever and another benefit of wall murals is that there’s not excessive matching required when piecing together a complex pattern.

Most of today’s wall murals come in kit with up to eight pieces and include special wallpaper adhesive. Once you’ve prepared your paste (which usually comes in dry mix form to be mixed with water just prior to use) and put it on your wall, you can either position the group of panels top to bottom or one row at a time. You have a little bit of play before the adhesive dries to match it up just right and then you smooth out the wall with a wallpaper smoother.

Voila, you have just transformed your room in a few easy steps.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wall Mural Installations:

· Can I put a paper mural on my stucco or textured walls? The answer is that it won’t look right if you install it as-is. You need to either sand the wall until it’s smooth, cover the wall to create a smooth surface or choose to put up your mural on a different wall.

· Are murals easy to remove when I want to redecorate? Yes, although the paper is slightly different than typical wallpaper, wall murals are quite easily removable.

· Can I wash the wall that my wall mural is installed on? Yes. Wall murals are durable. While you can not scrub your wall with harsh chemicals, you can sponge off lightly to remove fingerprints and light dirt

Tags: Coming, D, Home, Trends