10 Story Starter sites to get your students writing

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><em>Submitted by Fiona Beal</em><br /><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Have you ever wondered how to get the reluctant writers in your class enthusiastic about writing? Nowadays with all the wonderful free applications available on the web a teacher doesn’t have to stress about this any more. (Please note that there is a link to a follow up post with more story starter sites under point 11 below.)<br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>1. Wallwisher</strong></span><br /><br />This is an idea I tried last year. Open a wallwisher page (<a href="http://wallwisher.com/">http://wallwisher.com</a>)  and ask the class to think of a good start to story. There are always those students who rise to the occasion and add their bit. Of course there are those who just sit and think during the whole exercise. Then, when everyone has added their ideas, let everyone choose one of the ideas and start writing!  This usually works well.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmAaQNlEA50CfVSW6LdrL5wEcznJWMlbswoD7Y0rl7UUqdx9_KgpjsZeMZk_lHdL7SwrFt0tDDaBZ7_cU23fpnIfF4d-skpmsyq1wlgbCeHpnK49OS37WtVLxlJuJa8Fk_GBs2kabqnA/s1600-h/wallwisher%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="wallwisher" border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICbi7nzZci49LYXfOBmrwP9WimyKLNMsgC9K_BJQrzbMqQxG-LA_b05VxlAkpY1UgghoUUvbcWfWI_CVfeAS-0kqq1Ijf91HtL617m1jL6dQeqohcF9D3wRmw2qEk8sZjtAs2lUaW1oE/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="wallwisher" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>2. The Story Starter Junior</strong></span> (<a href="http://www.thestorystarter.com/jr.htm" title="http://www.thestorystarter.com/jr.htm">http://www.thestorystarter.com/jr.htm</a>)<br /><br />This site provides 729 story starters for kids and won an award in 2008. Every time you click on the story starter button a new idea appears. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaa5ch_UTO38nl1XNzIhI8JGCW9cwLyq3eEZXP2PB1DXh7fHLUOc1OjI4tjE9SF4LIIPfFxHoghHIOM6ifStTIe2Rgk2Lx7qqtvPF89kvnbs6BX9FQAUkg9Z2a454x2zdnPryi0s_M3E/s1600-h/storyStarterJr%25255B2%25255D.png"><img alt="storyStarterJr" border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizT4Yoo69dzK5worrCDpTCKU0CwvD2VJ3sDuSQS6620l9SH9XvAOd3Kxzx0Gur6KA53PHedPuRGPzUZvN4lIzWcWXmvZnhDsRby3nCBAk6uTdkdTFKN9uvKXk18aU2BIfB4BZOBrltpIw/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="storyStarterJr" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>3. The Story Starter</strong></span> (<a href="http://www.thestorystarter.com/" title="http://www.thestorystarter.com/">http://www.thestorystarter.com/</a>)<br /><br />Here is it’s companion site which is for older students and adults. This one has over a milllion story starters. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqGn-zIU6YsonX1lOE5fjmw4re3aD-Hsb6mDTms1KA1gPQtJVyy9jra2egB2-A_BJf15Rb39Zzsgv0l_MZ7Fo41M_DcP2u_YPA16WtkisNGjqv33kctoXRcMvOy6vbi672bP93LPXuG4/s1600-h/st-st2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="st-st2" border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6yXXl3mI2AMltWoFOJwK0M2nGUZJxhbZeGF7ADuRh02M1AsOGjAZea3HxkkTwqcGnDBNrGcXo9zoUnq18Wzp90coIIC-42_Jk5h19SivsWU6920I3PdZqnw87a3YTXPp9n2hEu7EBQI/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="st-st2" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>4. Creative Writing prompts</strong></span> (<a href="http://www.creativewritingprompts.com/" title="http://www.creativewritingprompts.com/">http://www.creativewritingprompts.com/</a>)<br /><br />This is another site that has won an award. All you do is point to one of the 346 numbers and a box appears with a prompt. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4YU5UHgE6URru7dFp8U96vuYkQ_RDPAzt6eY1bA5vdqskDzv5fhPGyOokNJQ2xkl7mZvhjfhyphenhyphenVeicgovPwJImlbYXYRuuuabeOtse0us4lTKA0HvtVQlBDTVsudM2aCVN3pHyfytDbA/s1600-h/cr-wr-prompts%25255B2%25255D.png"><img alt="cr-wr-prompts" border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1j2-j0wAYMeG1qI6OnmZFxFdnQ3tjevLfyWcFGuO8OpeHx19KQsO0r3u_RJiswf13mUK5jmYl9XdsAmYi0oV8NgQvlW4tAwDpnmOHinQNTY4MCXI5nNX1RejqCT2hs4M-0znlcYfDcQY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="cr-wr-prompts" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>5. The Storyboard Generator</strong></span> (<a href="http://generator.acmi.net.au/storyboard/interactive" title="http://generator.acmi.net.au/storyboard/interactive">http://generator.acmi.net.au/storyboard/interactive</a>)<br /><br />This site allows you to generate a play script. You choose your avator and a script idea, and then…who knows! All sorts of possibilities emerge. Try it and see.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLN79NmtIHVmMCR8Fizoh7fYQJnrhw89VWzt9Y3WRO5ZodTknlrR8DveBUv15lB2suDB2INa8Q4DUZTQNGXMcoa2LXSEeA2a7H_4b2qTbWveA7SXVvF-WKkeY-fom3bcLSPmjKfUx-Rac/s1600-h/storyboard%252520generator%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="storyboard generator" border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckR1cXyIHCkoqUWbfcn3yglhfWjb14LrUYLsghdvdLaZJd-0NKMkHqMdK7572xs5BikcMx34xTgM25tsIk-3VKVjL5a3ovJYUSG4IaDC-H6SsI3zc1wSaDv3dzurJC7oHPnuCMb-92sw/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="storyboard generator" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>6.  Fun Fairytale generator</strong></span>  (<a href="http://www.sistersgrimm.com/newsite/game.html" title="http://www.sistersgrimm.com/newsite/game.html">http://www.sistersgrimm.com/newsite/game.html</a>)<br /><br />This is a fun fairy-tale generator site that will capture the imagine of the daring younger learners. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUf6rMCqzvy51EX-W-ws2BCu1ASS_2nZ3_HEWt_8r23sl9wVuc2XZde6TeZ0rFOn-kOHGMHa0K8pJTnq7_-tJ_m916bSwMPO9TAjelAVtAgZ6tUDwOYHQx5h7VJdXtYNDbf0VO96HMZsk/s1600-h/Fairytale%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Fairytale" border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Zuv7Yon7OQaedsowmJP-KDuv-JBD5NL-0h8osQrua21KmOgef1NE2us_QUx5L4SSsXHcevjbNNydMS8jzEKQkw1AB_S6-gV7At_f3Pk98jgnmr8dtl0QIR7I0VCS56yKDA6f3ZhaErM/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Fairytale" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>7. A character generator</strong></span> (<a href="http://bit.ly/dnHLt" title="http://bit.ly/dnHLt">http://bit.ly/dnHLt</a>)<br /><br />This site supports Key Stage 1. You choose the type of clothes, hair and skin colour that you want your character to have.  Then you type on the notepad a sentence about your character. You can then click on the Print button at the top of the screen and your character and the sentence will be printed. The idea is to show it to the teacher and talk about who you have created. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYP3orfJKWJ4iw2Cn7bSdu-XE0CAYpMH0gmTJc89wjPnVuyXKpv2wUSztEsYvZ_2XJ2tesPfWPakT8F9hyphenhyphenmA37uL5UcjsBM7l0kkCE3IfYipWMTIwktGTVhiStYfOwGUu0iFOWh0Ykqig/s1600-h/characters%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="characters" border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRL6HyMm1ZTKcVIm2LFxd5vAGZm1szG8qgV0-wHTMG7Cs-8AYAsOGIVMACi9z2iP2PEZn2Qq0M2PLRAqyLP0_CLIVgliiAkTpcgAXS4nCRfyrO1acVtyFKgKu7cK4lXgafL8HueRdmPFY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="characters" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>8. Storyplant from the BBC</strong></span><br /><br />This will really appeal to the younger learner. A story guide takes one on a fascinating journey and helps the student to develop their story. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkYRCg9IDrAc4fRooVcOeXKUxEHIodOrQaix7vLJbdgabCY9vpDF1XJ7zCgeqDjU1PamjIEItD3E9sr4v90Ccgx6VB8Lu8k5euEQJcmoWN9SbZIaS6ZZm7Am4xE56FxsstJFPVsa5-fg/s1600-h/storyplant%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="storyplant" border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FQdHInSMPlwmhtl4bBmVd5XiNDNIm7Elp3YM4Dutgba-oRVo6s6DeVGmGQx6MrQKc0nKmROWAju6NUUyLYX-4bF-fDJ-07jR8T3twNSloFzUXdl9prWz-xCbAauApya5HP6ax44IYGY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="storyplant" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_yg7-ZBP_tnI07owocLS5wF8FuRa6OmWuvuq7wKh9d59iWRu7Crk9nTxg3iOLUOlat2dark8UYPBBBov45as2rhXPFBw6tehW6A-b6ZfDMuUbiHmB9zkFqWiywH_0BperO4GYn3JCKU/s1600-h/storyplant2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="storyplant2" border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbc2C8KyfeMcUj-BwheiMmYWyZnAmZMOlaeq5iALh6E98n-Pw-VsalXJWqgZvIrQ5zYGIJnP7FvwRy1yzg14SSTeajzGC46Y97zinrJipqZBCH4T1Ug3qE-NaDYpH3E08BpkTbg31ZlAY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="storyplant2" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">9.  Boomwriters</span></strong> (<a href="http://www.boomwriter.com/home/Schools">http://www.boomwriter.com/home/Schools</a>)<br /><br />This seems to be a site that you join – free to schools – and it takes you on a writing journey. It could be worth investigating!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mMLS0SBCkb0gnymdMuN-iIrzrgvMywKG00VmNP7HTAq0cXl2Q8dfutUhLlnL1PdUFlaAi1IEhe3G_mS0xa1nLyUTBGSHDUskFkp0mgCLGC-2g6fjGqtxxEhmGxjGBbWZVcefdZZeeYM/s1600-h/bbomwriters%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="bbomwriters" border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0oTfLVCRvIEO1HVKd2AMUyf_m2f2TgVd0Jd7_HZTX7XbcBrfwC3KllyM8O8afWHmjX8Pje8St4ebsSuwgkC0Z-Zg-me2bp455haJfHXA9zmCJbgS-0kIQI3tspaKw0i-P90dKdLbg3Q/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="bbomwriters" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>10. Inspiring ideas</strong></span> (<a href="http://www.ideastoinspire.co.uk/inspiringwriting.htm">http://www.ideastoinspire.co.uk/inspiringwriting.htm</a>)<br /><br />Just to finish off this looks worth exploring – 34 more ideas in a Google doc. <br />Click on the picture to be taken to the actual Google doc so that you can view all 34 ideas.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=ddf8kn4m_59zqzbv9gs&pli=1"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1n1dJ1YCidI732gVL6MdiAyjBsENDnHMYqpUQYkCodEIpO-6fKVLWoHwFGJqcgrutM5T77IoafQnX6CGq-ZI-1omt-Y8M4h2Wnn2yJp5P5l9QL46ZFjtL2VItWTGdG3VScOOZKLTAn4/s320/inspire.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>11. Even more..</b></span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This post is continued with another group of story starter sites. Visit <a href="http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2013/01/more-story-starter-sites-to-inspire.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">More story starter sites to inspire your students to write</span></a></span><br />  </div></div>

Creative writing 10 Story Starter sites to get your students writing

Submitted by Fiona BealHave you ever wondered how to get the reluctant writers in your class enthusiastic about writing? Nowadays with all the wonderful free applications available on the web a teacher doesn’t have to stress about this any more. (Ple…

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What about joining up with a project on Children’s Rights?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />We have all heard of the UNICEF Children's Rights. This is such a topical subject and it is worth getting your class to learn more about children's rights around the world. This is one of the IEARN projects that Omashani Naidoo, the Operations Manager at SchoolNet South Africa has brought to my attention. <br />Omashani says, "My friend Annie Flore is a coordinator of this project. This would really be a wonderful opportunity for SA learners to give their point of view and let other countries learn first-hand about our vast experiences in SA." <br /><ul><li><strong>Facilitator(s):</strong> <a href="http://media.iearn.org/user/12041">annie_flore_vergne_morgand</a><br /></li><li><strong>Country:</strong> France<br /></li><li><strong>Languages:</strong> English<br /></li><li><strong>Student Age Level:</strong> 12-14, 15-18<br /></li><li><strong>Dates:</strong> September 2011 to April 2012<br /></li><li><strong>Summary:</strong> Students will help to identify what they believe are the key rights of children while also exploring the rights defined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child<strong>. </strong></li>Here is a picture of the project details. Click on the picture to be taken to its location. </ul><div align="center"><a href="http://media.iearn.org/projects/childrens-rights"><img alt="project - children's rights" border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lwv5wo1c0k_CBYyN9mi3T1s59_-j41PsxPj6mXWz9Rx6qt0V0CM0WHkUkVhMHC3Taq2JeI8OvOGa5KE5K9Dri2aSKvivywxLgO8m4prhHrMBxB43zECgHeJ4lY1qNcVHR-2LZX0Dpm8/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="project - children's rights" width="320" /></a></div></div>

Collaboration Project-based learning What about joining up with a project on Children’s Rights?

We have all heard of the UNICEF Children's Rights. This is such a topical subject and it is worth getting your class to learn more about children's rights around the world. This is one of the IEARN projects that Omashani Naidoo, the Operations Manage…

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16 job search errors you're probably making

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></i></b></span><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal arial, helvetica;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="tblContent"><tbody><tr id="trContent"><td align="center" class="cb_style tcContent" id="tcContent" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><div class="cbArticleWrapper" style="background-color: white; text-align: left; width: 750px;"><div class="cbArticleContentWrapper" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 15px; margin-top: 15px; width: 750px;"><div class="cbArticleRight" style="width: 560px;"><div class="RXart" style="padding-right: 20px;"><div class="ArticleHeadline" style="margin-top: -30px;"><div class="hdr_org_bld" style="color: #ff6600; font: normal normal bold 18px/normal arial, helvetica;"><h1 id="articleHeadline" style="color: #ff7700; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></h1></div><b><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine">Rachel Farrell, special to CareerBuilder.com</span></b><br /></div><br /><div class="ArticleContent"><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Over the years, hiring managers have born witness to every hiring, interviewing, résumé, cover letter and negotiation mistake there is.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">You know what these blunders are. We've told you several times. Yet you (and hundreds of other job seekers) continue to make common job search mistakes.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">From those who see your mistakes over and over, here are 16 common job search mistakes to avoid -- and some of them may surprise you.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>1. You don't keep your options open</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Candidates tend to think that if they interview for a job they will get an offer, so they do not apply and interview for multiple positions," says Joanie Spain, director of public relations and career services, School of Advertising Art, a graphic design college.<i> </i>"They wait until one plays out completely, putting their job search on hold until knowing for sure they didn't get the offer."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"By having many more irons in the fire, you diversify the risk and disappointment that is inevitable when any single opportunity disappears," adds Roy Cohen, author of "The Wall Street Professional's Survival Guide: Success Secrets of a Career Coach."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"You also present yourself as a more passionate and energetic candidate. You're in the 'zone' -- a point where you're in the flow of information and ideas -- and that makes you more valuable."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>2. You turn up your nose at job descriptions</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Entry-level candidates are reluctant to apply for a position unless the job sounds like their 'dream job' or they have all qualifications listed," Spain says. "Rather than going on an interview to get more information, they base decisions about applying on the job description alone. They fail to see that all interview experience is good experience, or that, until there is an offer on the table, there is no decision to make."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>3. You haven't perfected the thank-you note</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Don't be too verbose with a thank-you note after an interview. Sending out a version of "War and Peace" can come across as desperate and needy for a job. However, sending a one or two sentence thank-you note comes across as flippant, not well thought-out and potentially shows indifference regarding the job to the employer," says Mike Barefoot, senior account manager at Red Zone Resources, a recruitment firm. "We encourage candidates to keep them to four to eight sentences."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>4. You don't check your references</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Always give out references that you've pre-screened. We sometimes see candidates give out references that were never checked with and the references feedback isn't always kind," Barefoot says. "Also, make sure they're predominantly managers. An occasional colleague is okay, but contemporaries and friends really don't carry that much weight in helping you land a position."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>5. You've got poor business acumen</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Managers are becoming more savvy and are taking candidates out to lunch for interviews. They want to see how you treat a restaurant staff and see the 'real' you. If you're rude to them or don't seem appreciative for their hard work to make your meal pleasurable, managers wonder how you'll treat contemporaries you work with," Barefoot says.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>6. You have a messy briefcase</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"A messy briefcase can imply the person is unorganized, messy and unprepared, and that their work will be less than optimal," says Ronald Kaufman, author of "Anatomy of Success." "Someone who is neat, clean, organized and prepared in all areas conveys they're serious about getting a job and working."<b><br />7. You discount temporary positions</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Many employers coming out of a recession want to hire on a temporary or temp- to perm- basis. We have already seen several contractors be offered permanent positions after they have proven themselves," says Jeffrey Weinstock, Esq. president, Rhodes & Weinstock, a recruiting firm. "Not only will the temporary position pay some bills, think of it as an audition for a potential perm position, or at least a way to get a good reference for another position."<br /><b>8. You have a bad attitude</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Poor attitudes come through in telephone calls and in interviews. If you are not positive, why would a potential employer want to hire you?" asks Weinstock. "It may take some time, but by being positive, by doing all the right things, by seeing each position as an opportunity, it will happen."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>9. You include too much work history</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Many job seekers over 40 think that they have to take their work history back to their first job out of college," says Cheryl E. Palmer, career coach and résumé writer. " All that is needed is the last 10-15 years of your work history."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>10. You use your work email address on your résumé</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Some people do not regularly check their personal email, so they use their employers' email instead," Palmer says. "This sends a negative message to potential employers that the job seekers will not hesitate to use their equipment for personal use."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>11. You take "no" as a final answer</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"No" usually only means "no" for that position, says Bruce Hurwitz, president and CEO, Hurwitz Strategic Staffing, LTD.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"If you are rejected for a job you should send a thank-you note, thank the employer for the opportunity, and wish them well. No one does that. When the next opening comes around, he'll remember you," says Hurwitz.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>12. You lack tact</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Be determined without being pushy. Calling or emailing to ask about the status of your résumé or interview can be a double-edged sword," says Rod Hughes, director of communications, Oxford Communications. "A tactful follow up can place you top of mind with the hiring manager, while incessant calling or emailing can push your résumé right off the table."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>13. You don't search for yourself on the Internet</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Your would-be employer is probably going to look you up online, so you should know what is out there," says Amanda O'Brien, vice president of marketing, Hall Web Services. "Clean up what you can, check your privacy settings on social networks and if it is something you can't get down off the internet, you may want to consider talking to the company about it."  <b><br />14. You have a 'death by bullets' résumé</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Bullets are great but they need context. Keep them to one line, focused on a result and include a figure like a fact, percentage or number," says Adriana Llames, author of "Career Sudoku: 9 Ways to Win the Job Search Game." "Or, put the information in a short summary of the position."<b><br />15. You've got a scattered strategy</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Looking for a job in any industry and with two or three résumés is going to get the same result as the strategy: scattered," Llames says. "Job seekers with a clearly defined, focused and organized strategic approach to their job search end up with clear results -- and a new job."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>16. You think it's about you</b></div>It is not about you and your need for a job -- it is about the prospective employer and their need to run a successful business and make money, says Lori B. Rassas, employment attorney and author of "Employment Law: A Guide to Hiring, Managing and Firing for Employers and Employees."<br />"Many applicants mistakenly believe they will be an appealing candidate if they explain they will accept any type of job offer at any because they have been laid off, unemployed for an extended period of time, have children in college, or are having difficulty making the mortgage payments," she says. "Even if all of those circumstances are true, candidates need to craft a different message, focusing on how they can benefit the employer by saving them money, streamlining processes, creating additional sources of revenue and bringing overall value to the company."<br /><i>Rachel Farrell researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder. Follow @Careerbuilder on Twitter.</i> </div></div></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>

16 job search errors you're probably making

Rachel Farrell, special to CareerBuilder.comOver the years, hiring managers have born witness to every hiring, interviewing, résumé, cover letter and negotiation mistake there is.You know what these blunders are. We've told you several times. Yet you…

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Struggling... Part 1

After I reached my <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/09/my-first-10-pound-goal-has-been-met.html">first 10 lbs goal</a>, I felt unstoppable.  Finally, FINALLY, I was making progress past 255.<br /><br />Then the following week <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/09/welcome-to-oa-meeting.html">I bombed with a lot of cookies and beer</a>, and the scale showed that failure very precisely the following Friday.<br /><br />Then I became extremely discouraged, and even though I wanted badly to come back strong from that week (and granted, my "week" isn't over yet until this Friday), I have yet to do that.<br /><br />Here is how my week has progressed so far:<br /><br /><b>Day 1:</b><br />Friday I traveled 2 hours to Joel's grandparents where I was to "enjoy" a home-cooked meal.  I dreaded this meal because I knew it was going to be his grandmother's famous mac 'n cheese.  I wanted to flat out say "No, I'll eat at home" so that I could ensure I started the weekend off right.  But in the past that has hurt his feelings by me not partaking in his family's meals, which has been due to me being on WW and the lack of food are both Points+ friendly and I actually like.  So, I tried to skimp on eating all day to save up for this meal.  My strategy would be to load up on the vegetables and have only a tiny amount of her famous dish, because afterall, I do not know the exact Points+ value and would have to estimate.<br /><br />Turns out the "meal" only consisted of the mac 'n cheese - nothing else.  Of course, I was aching for dinner by the time we ate it (close to 7:30 PM and I hadn't eaten since noon).   I had a lot of the mac 'n cheese people.. probably several cups worth.<br /><br />Great.  Good job Hilary.  Way to start that weekend off on the right foot!  So I told myself, "It's fine Hilary.  The carbs will do a body good come tomorrow [Saturday] for the <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/09/first-annual-st-marys-county.html">septathalon</a>."  Ok fine.  Accept it and move on.<br /><br /><b>Day 2</b><br />Saturday we woke up and I had breakfast at the hotel: about a cup of corn flakes with skim milk and some seasoned potatoes.  I also had a fat free French vanilla cappuccino (from <a href="http://www.sheetz.com/">Sheetz</a> - yay!).  Not a <i>terrible </i>start to the day.<br /><br />I made it all the way through the 11 miles on the bike not feeling the least bit hungry.  But as we were driving back to the starting line for the run, I realized that it was well after noon and I should eat before doing what was supposed to be 6 miles.  So I had a <a href="http://www.larabar.com/products/chocolate-chip-cookie-dough">cookie dough Larabar</a>. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKsVDiG9sMr66RfwdmlIvTq15_yHCASCGsDf1JPBVdNbzoy2v0f0GTesvlws3fbJog-Kvxakxp65_gwhzrGSXYi7MnUEcKKUkhRDpjwjtQwBG-rSgecs-fdz1nJtyQHLBGZ6SOTqCdJM/s1600/larabar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKsVDiG9sMr66RfwdmlIvTq15_yHCASCGsDf1JPBVdNbzoy2v0f0GTesvlws3fbJog-Kvxakxp65_gwhzrGSXYi7MnUEcKKUkhRDpjwjtQwBG-rSgecs-fdz1nJtyQHLBGZ6SOTqCdJM/s200/larabar.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />I did the 4 mile run/walk and returned extremely hungry.  I immediately ate a banana which didn't sit quite well with me.  So then I had another Larabar - it was either that or a muffin.  Turns out those Larabar's are very high in Points+: a whopping 6 Points+ for one!  So right then and there I had 12 Points+ invested, not to mention all that I ate for breakfast.  Still, in hindsight, it was not enough that I had screwed myself for the day, but that's exactly what I thought at the time.<br /><br />And so when we went to the post-race bbq, I was so hungry I was actually nauseous and I went to TOWN when we got there.  I ate a bunch of <a href="http://www.beanaturalchips.com/">bean chips</a>, several carrots with hummus, too many slices of gouda and cheddar cheese, a hamburger (with cheese), and a pumpkin cupcake.<br /><br />Great. Good job Hilary.  Way to undo all of that physical activity from today.

Weight Loss Challenges Struggling... Part 1

After I reached my first 10 lbs goal, I felt unstoppable.  Finally, FINALLY, I was making progress past 255.Then the following week I bombed with a lot of cookies and beer, and the scale showed that failure very precisely the following Friday.Then I …

Read more »