4 energy management techniques that will help increase your productivity.

I am excited to share a post by guest writer Patrick Del Rosario. He is a freelance photographer and business blogger. He currently works at outsourcely.com, an online platform where employers and remote workers meet to find jobs and hire people online.

When we talk about productivity, the first thing that would surely come to mind would be time management. However, a lot of experts have found a new way on how you can more efficiently achieve increased productivity - energy management.

What is the difference between time and energy management? Well, all of us have a fixed time for the day - 24 hours. However, the capacity for energy that we have is not a fixed quantity. It is true that time management is important but it is through your ability to manage your energy that you can make a difference.

So, how can you be able to manage your energy to improve your productivity at work? Here are some of the ways:

Set periodic goals.

We all have lots of things in our to-do list. In order to efficiently and to better manage your time, it is recommended that you establish daily and weekly goals. With the help of this list, you can be able to plan the amount of work that you will have to do each day. Additionally, this technique is useful in switching between lighter and harder work days.

Try out different ways.

Of course, you do not have to just simply follow your energy levels. You can be your energy's own boss. The best way to control and manage your energy is to try out different ways on how you can boost your energy. Some techniques include exercising, eating, drinking or sleeping. Try these different techniques so that you will be able to know what works best for you. In this way, you can increase your energy levels whenever you need to.

Monitor your energy levels.

Never ever expect that your natural energy rhythms will be the same with other people. Each and every one of us have different internal rhythms . This is why it is a must that you take time to determine what part of the day that your energy levels are at its peak. You can do this by setting your alarm to beat after every hour. Once it beeps, list down what you are doing and what your energy level is like. At the end of the day or the week, it is best that you go over your notes and evaluate the patterns of your energy,

Know how to recover your energy in a smart way.

We are all focused on finding the best way on how we can use energy. However, there is also one important thing that you have to know-- what is the best way to recover your energy. In order to be productive, you also have to know what it is that best replenishes your energy. In this way, you will be able to recover your energy in the best and most efficient way possible.

With these energy management techniques, you can easily and efficiently manage your energy and increase your work productivity in the long run.

climbing the international career ladder and seeing the world

Today's post is written by first-time wannabe/employee guest writer Eileen Archer. Working abroad is such a current topic - thanks for charing Eileen!

Oftentimes, it’s difficult to see anyone other than an English teacher living abroad and doing what they love. It doesn’t necessarily have to be this profession. You just have to be well-prepared for the move. After a good few years of teaching in private academies abroad (yes I fit the stereotypical English Teacher) I changed my life around. I became a Writer for magazine articles and online publications, and have more ambitions aside, that involve more travelling. 

I used my experience in teaching English and new-found grammar ability to hone other skills, and gradually made a parallel move - a successful one at that. So for all of you in the same boat as me a few years ago, or even just with the thought of moving abroad and changing or developing your profession to change you and your life in some way, it’s much easier than you think. Remember, that first step on the ladder is your pathway to other greatness, and a way to see the world while you achieve that.

Widen your scope

You really need to take on more work, not just to make yourself invincible in the workplace but to increase your skillset. This is where you will become THE person the company will want to send abroad.

I was a Teacher of certain levels and certain classes. I soon changed that. I didn’t want to stay teaching the same bunch of kids for what felt like forever. So I taught adults and exam classes the following year. The year after that, I was able to get an even better job in a better academy.

Qualifications

Skills and practical ability and knowledge are all great. However, in this day and age, only a piece of paper, along with the ability of course, will make potential employers sit up and take notice. So whenever your boss offers you the chance to do some official training, jump on the idea. For example, if you really want to go international then learning a language might be a good idea.

I became an examiner as well as a teacher. My boss at the time gave me the opportunity to do this and other than adding to my skillset, it also brings me in some very good money on the side.

Looking up

It’s easy to get stuck in the same boring job for years, we all do it or have done it to some extent. The key is to remember your passion at all times: moving abroad and developing your career. Make sure that when your boss asks who would like to take on a project that involves travelling, that your hand is up first. Even if your future career plans don’t involve this current company, always make sure you have the travel experience that prospective employers will be looking for.

CV Sending

Before you send that top notch CV and covering letter, you have to remember that if you’re applying to live abroad, that you follow their rules when doing so. You’ll also need to remember to show your knowledge of other cultures and experience of living abroad. Employers will be impressed by this.

The way I first applied for jobs abroad was different to the way I do it now. The country I was working for required a photo attached to the CV. I had never heard of that before. My covering letter is now also dramatically different: I now know that a successful application includes your awareness of cultures and adaptability to living in another country.  I wish I knew all of this back then!

Do you have anything to add about having a career abroad?

Bio: Eileen Archer is currently a resident blogger and a chief writer at EssayPlanet.org. After obtaining a Masters in English language she decided to dedicate her time to creative writing as well as providing assistance to students. She spends her free time reading, writing poetry and studying for a PhD in an art-related field. 

breathe new life into your career

Today I am very excited to feature as guest writer in the Feb 2013 issue of CareerSeek e-Magazine. It has been a fun article to write and I hope that you all enjoy it!

It's so easy to get stuck in our careers, and very important that we make some adjsutments along the way to keep things fresh and interesting. So without further adue, please head on over to their cool e-mag and let me know your thoughts about this post - over here...

improving your career prospects while travelling

I'm very excited to feature a new guest writer, Ruth Hinds, all the way from the UK. More and more young professionals trade full-time positions for freelance agreements, allowing them to travel and juggle multiple roles at a time. Let's have a look at Ruth's top tips for travelling while keeping your career on track.

Travelling is something that many people aspire to do, and for a few lucky ones, it can become a reality. While you’re away though, how will you ensure that you continue to improve your career prospects? It can be a serious concern, and it’s certainly something that you should consider before you pack your suitcase and fly off to sunnier climes.

Take a look at these tips to point you in the right direction.

Seek out temporary jobs that will build your skills

Unless you’ve had a recent lottery win or you’ve done some very savvy saving, you probably need to work while you’re on the road. Traditional jobs for travellers include bar work and low-level roles, but lots of other opportunities are available if you’re willing to seek them out. If you think you’ll be looking for IT jobs in Cambridge when you return home, there’s no reason why you can’t search for similar temporary positions during your time away.

Write a blog about your experiences

Having a blog is a brilliant way to boost your career prospects. It shows off your writing skills, and it also shows dedication and initiative. No one is forcing you to write a blog, and as all bloggers know, it can be a difficult task to come up with fresh and exciting ideas for new posts. While you’re away, make a point of updating your blog each and every week. It’s a great way to document your memories, as well as having something to show off to future potential employers.

Consider freelancing on the move

Freelancing has become really popular in recent years, and the good news is that it’s remarkably easy to do while you’re travelling. Consider your skillset and think about what services you could offer on a flexible basis. It could be copywriting, admin, graphic design, and anything else in between. If you manage to secure some regular work that you can do on the move with just an internet connection, you can build a reliable income stream to fund your adventures, while also keeping your foot in the door of employment.

Learn some language skills

In the global business world, language skills are always valuable. Though you can learn a lot from books and tapes, there is nothing quite like immersing yourself in another country and picking up the language as you go along. It gives you the opportunity to practice every day, and it’s a fantastic addition to any CV.

With some forward planning and a bit of ambition, you could find that travelling actually improves your chances of finding work once you return home. How do you improve your CV while you’re exploring the world?

This article was brought to you by Ruth Hinds on behalf of AllTheTopBananas. ATTB allows you to search for and browse through UK jobs in one place, from engineer jobs to IT jobs. You can also upload your CV to increase your chances of being headhunted.

how to lose a job offer in one day

Welcome back to the office everyone! Hope you had a wonderful weekend and that you're ready to take charge of the week ahead. I am excited to share a new guest post that I've written for CareerJunction today, thanks so much for everyone's great feedback on the previous post I wrote for them.

With Valentine's Day coming up, I thought it might be fun to approach interview advice from a different angle. It may take ten days to lose a guy (or girl for that matter), but one day is all it takes to lose a potential job offer - so let's have a look at a few pointers over here...

making the most out of your career choice

Please join me in welcoming our guest writer for today, Paul Taylor. I think this article is very relevant for modern-day professionals, seeing as you really need to put as much into your online presence and professional branding than what you put into your CV. Thanks for sharing Paul!

Although the market for your specific skills may be lacking, there are still plenty of ways to make the most out of your chosen career. You don't have to bind yourself to a specific commitment if you are able to expand in other areas. While you may have a degree under your belt, you shouldn't let it go to your head. There are millions of people out there who have degrees but are doing menial jobs in order to pay the bills. This doesn't make them any less of a person. The problem with most of them is the lack of motivation to keep putting as much effort as they can into what they want to do.

1. Locations - If the opportunities involving your specific career choice is limited in your locale, maybe it is time to move on. The world is larger than you may realize, and moving to a new location in order to practice your specific skills may be lucrative beyond your imagining. A fresh start in a new location could be the best thing for you in nearly every aspect of your life. It is a way to erase the proverbial slate and try things in a new way.

2. Freelance - While working those menial jobs in order to keep your lights on, offering your skills to those who need immediate help without hiring a full-time employee could have great benefits. Freelancing for businesses could give you the needed experience in your field to help your resume rise above others. In today's world, it's not enough to have a degree if you don't have experience to back it up in most cases. The more work experience you receive, the more your resume will shine.

Many people will offer their skills online using freelance assistance programs such as oDesk.com. This will connect you to a client who is in dire need of your specific education and skills to accomplish a task he or she may have. As this doesn't intrude in your regular full-time job, you can further your abilities by offering them online as a freelancer.

3. The Internet - For less than $140 per year, you can build your own website surrounding your chosen career path. From this website, you can offer a wide range of valuable information and promote yourself as a freelancer. It is a way to market yourself as a professional in your field and could also look good on a resume. This is completely aside from how you can monetize your website if it's built well enough.

You don't have to become a website designer in order to market yourself online, however. If you have a web designer build the site with Joomla or Wordpress, you could add your own content very easily. Even becoming a guest blogger on sites tailored to your specific career choice could emphasize your professionalism in your field. Tools like Google+ Authorship could open a variety of opportunities as others see you as a reliable source of information. Regardless of your method, it is all about proper marketing of yourself in order to make the most out of your career.

The market for your specific talents may be quite competitive. You may not get your foot in the door of your career choice until later in life. You shouldn't be discouraged by being held to a job that is of lower quality than what your goal is. As long as you keep vigilant about doing the best you can and keep an eye out for opportunities that better fit your choice career, you will eventually become what you are meant to be.

Paul Taylor started www.babysittingjobs.com which offers an aggregated look at those sites to help families find sitters and to help sitters find families easier than ever. He loves writing, with the help of his wife. He has contributed quality articles for different blogs & websites.

things you really don't need to mention on your CV

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you've had a super productive work week so far, and that you have wonderful plans for the weekend. But before you go, a quick career boost to end your work week on the right note.

For today's post I'll be sending you over to Junction.co.za, where I have contributed as guest writer for the first time. Most South Africans know that CareerJunction is the place where some of the country's most reputable employers advertise their vacancies, and the site also has a platform where you can find useful career related tips and articles on a daily basis. I was so stoked when they invited me to write an article for them.

I really enjoyed writing this post, and I'm sure these tips will be helpful if you would like to ensure that your CV is modern, relevant and to-the-point - have a look over here!

ways to boost your CV while looking for work

Today's guest post is written by Marie Warren and reminded me that we should never be passive in our career planning. Whether you are actively looking for a new position or not, it's always a good idea to keep your professional development alive and consider other ways of broadening your skill set and experience. Thanks for these great ideas Marie!

Recent economic instability has driven unemployment up, forcing a large number of workers to reconsider their prerogatives and qualifications as they look to maintain a strong profile even amid high unemployment statistics. This is a crucial way to remain active and involved during periods of unemployment and, if done right, boosting a CV while looking for work can actually lead to much better employment prospects and outcomes as economic conditions improve. There are a few crucial ways that a standard resumé can be made over, improved, and turned into something far more marketable for a wide range of employers.

Consider Volunteer Work

While it's true that volunteer work won't pay the bills, it will pay dividends for workers who are looking to polish their skills and network with like-minded professions. Whether it's volunteering as a party planner, as a musician, or even as the manager of a local organisation, these experiences make for great resumé boosters. Their volunteer nature will only elevate their stature, and the networking opportunities they afford could be the difference between landing a job or continuing as an unemployed worker.

Pursue Professional Development -- or a Career Change -- via Higher Education

Education is one of the key ways to stem the tide of rising unemployment numbers. Workers who are driven to head back to a university can pursue either a more advanced degree in their current field, making themselves a more desirable hire, or they can pursue an entirely new career via a different degree program entirely. Given the rise of things like high-tech jobs and so-called "green collar" jobs in eco-friendly industries, this is a great way to learn new skills, train for a changing workforce, and end a period of unemployment with a rewarding new career.

Turn a Hobby into a Profitable Position

The digital economy of the 21st century has made it possible for the entire workforce to be revolutionised in terms of where it's centred, who drives it, and which skills are most marketable. With wide proliferation of the Internet and an increasingly all-online marketplace, it's actually possible for unemployed professionals to turn one of their favourite hobbies into a marketable business. Whether that means writing for profit, producing and selling craft items, or even turning a love of fitness into a personal training enterprise, it's possible to defeat unemployment with personal interests.

Best of all, these opportunities are self-managed, leaving behind corporate structures and office settings. They can later boost a resumé and lead to a great position with companies who value self-starters, entrepreneurs, and proven managers of both time and resources.

Leverage the Power of Social Networking to Boost Marketability

Just over a decade ago, a resumé was largely a static, printed document, and nothing more. In the present decade, that could not be less true. The proliferation of social media websites like Twitter, Facebook, and especially LinkedIn, have digitised the resumé and taken applicant profiles firmly into the Internet age. If an unemployed professional is looking for nearby employment opportunities, one of the first things they should do is turn their resumé into a digital profile on a site like LinkedIn. Their skills will immediately be offered up to those in related industries, and networking will become a breeze.

That ability to network will introduce the unemployed worker to volunteer opportunities, local social groups, and even potential employers. As they build these relationships and compile new experiences, both their online and offline resumés will become more marketable and notable among those doing all of the hiring in today's rough economy. That means more potential positions and an easier time at interviews for connected professionals.

Seek an Apprenticeship to Boost Skills

One of the worst things an unemployed professional can do is to simply sit at home and let their skills "stagnate." Even as full-time positions become harder to find, there are plenty of apprenticeships available that can help teach new skills, keep existing ones fresh, and show employers that merely accepting the fate of unemployment was never an option. These positions give workers an added boost for their CVs upon seeking new employment and, perhaps best of all, they keep workers busy when they might otherwise find themselves stuck at home, searching endlessly for positions, and becoming quite miserable with their situation.

Lots of Great Ways to Keep a CV Competitive During Unemployment

A large number of unemployed workers view unemployment as a major setback, and something they'll find extremely difficult to recover from. That simply does not need to be the case. Instead of merely accepting unemployment as a setback, workers should remain proactive and view it as an opportunity: An opportunity to pursue additional education or a career change, to volunteer for local organisations, or to start their own business and boost their own skills. With the right attitude, and the right pursuit of CV-boosting opportunities, workers can enjoy only a brief period of unemployment before a new, and more rewarding, professional career.

Marie is a avid careers adviser and keen blogger who works for an online recruitment agency - recruitmentrevolution.com 

are you leaving the nest after graduation?

The academic year (in South Africa at least) has just ended and many graduates are excited about their career plans for the new year. But we all know that getting a job straight out of college/university isn't always that easy. If you just graduated, have you already lined up your first post-grad position? For those of us who have been in the work force for a while, can you remember how easy/hard it was to find that first job after graduating?

Here are some very interesting stats presented by CollegeAtHome.com  on recent grads considering the option to stay at home for a while after college:

career enhancement tactics: work smarter

Welcome back to Zach Buckley who will be sharing some more of his career tips for young professionals today. Thanks Zach for your cool and relevant articles!

 

 

Many new-to-the-market job hunters naively assume that all they have to do dazzle recruiters is complete and submit an application. They think that, with these gleaming and well-filled-out applications, the hiring committees will immediately see their appropriateness for the positions. Anyone who has navigated the choppy waters of the job search market for a period of time knows just how wrong this assumption is. In truth, to really stand out you must apply yourself to building skills and honing your appropriateness for the position. In doing so, you can improve your chances of standing out to the hiring committee and increase the likelihood of outshining the competition.

Evaluate Your Expectations

Before you narrow your focus to only one job and target all your efforts toward obtaining a specific position, think critically about what you want to accomplish through the course of your business life. Make sure the career you want is directly aligned with these goals. Once you've decided what you'd like to be doing, delve deeper into what that job entails to ensure a sense of satisfaction once you obtain the position.

Get the Education

Regardless of how ideally suited you feel you may be for the career you've chosen, if you don’t have the education to recommend you for the position, you'll likely struggle to even get a foot in the door. Research the job you want to determine what education is required. Pick up additional certification, or consider working toward a master's degree. By doing this before you start actively seeking employment in the field, you can improve the chances of your application ending up on a hiring manager’s desk–not getting filed away in the trashcan.

Network

Sometimes job prospects have a lot to do with who you know, particularly if you seek employment in a hard-to-crack industry. As you work at networking, make a point of traveling to conferences and business gatherings where industry bigwigs will be in attendance. Dress the part when you go to these conferences to ensure your appearance as a consummate professional worthy of hiring. Follow up on these connections you build, using them to your advantage to improve career prospects.

Work Your Way Up

Particularly if the position you've set your sights on is an exceptionally prestigious one, walking into it off the street may be an entirely unrealistic expectation. Instead of setting yourself up for failure by turning down smaller jobs within the same industry and holding out for a higher-caliber one, be willing to start small and advance. By doing so, you can allow yourself to actively work toward the position you seek instead of cooling your heels and waiting for an opportunity that may well never come.

Obtaining your career goals won't be easy. To improve your chances, you'll need to do much more than simply fill out applications and hope for the best. Play a proactive role in your job search by actively pursuing appropriate tactics for career advancement.

 

Zach Buckley is a freelance writer based in the Midwest. He enjoys exploring developing trends in education, technology and culture.  When he isn’t reading or writing blogs, he enjoys sampling good music and good food. Follow him on Twitter! @Zach_buckley

 

5 key characteristics of successful professionals

Please join me in welcoming guest writer Karen Smith today. Because we all wannabe successful businessmen and -women throughout our careers, I'm sure you'll enjoy her article. Who wants to learn these 5 characteristics with me??

There are a host of wildly successful people in this world. Even though no two individuals are designed exactly the same, many of the most successful business minds share a handful of personality traits. In the modern business world, in fact, there are a number of required characteristics it takes to become successful, accomplished businessmen and businesswomen. For years, I've seen many people attempt to move up the ranks in business only to fail because they haven't cultivated the traits it takes to climb up the ladder. For those of you who are trying to succeed and grow in business, here are five key characteristics you should try to nurture and embrace in your career.

1. Start the day early

Waking up early in the day increases your production tremendously. The most successful businessmen and women rise early not only to get work done and arrive at the office early, but also to check off an agenda list of items, such as exercising, eating breakfast, writing out to-do lists, reading the newspaper, etc. By getting these menial tasks out of the way, individuals are better able to focus their attention on the work day ahead of them. If you're at work and thinking about getting to the gym, picking up the dry cleaning, or reading the news online, you're not going to be able to devote your full attention to the work that needs to be done in the moment.

2. Do things now, not later

A little procrastination from time to time never hurt anyone. Yet when it becomes a common, habitual behavior, procrastination can ruin your ability to produce consistent, stellar work. For the sake of producing the best work possible, go ahead and get your work done now and not later. In the moment, it may seem tempting to push something a day back, but doing so will inevitably come back to haunt you and your productivity. Not only are you delaying other projects, you'll be more likely to rush your work, which leaves room for low-quality, sloppy work. Therefore, if an agenda item needs to get done, go ahead and do it right away.

3. Avoid distractions

Distractions present themselves in various forms throughout the work day. Early in the morning, you may have a desire to read the news online as opposed to responding to work emails. Later in the day, your colleague may want to pull you aside to chat about the latest office gossip. The most successful businessmen and women avoid distractions at all costs. Distractions are something we all must face, and even though they are hard to avoid, the only way to reach your highest productivity potential is to do away with any distractions. A fifteen-minute break to grab a cup of coffee or go for a walk outside can't hurt, but if it gets in the way of your productivity or daily goals, your work is inevitably going to be affected.

4. Make friends with colleagues
Team players are some of the most respected individuals in the office. Let's face it: everybody can appreciate someone who works hard and plays well with others. I've seen one too many people try to pit themselves against fellow employees for promotions and raises, only to find that they are doing more harm than good to their office reputation. If you want to be respected by your bosses and colleagues, make an effort to get to know each of them on a personal, friendly basis. You don't have to invite them over to your home for family affairs, just try to get to know a little more about each and every one of them, such as their personal hobbies, favorite sports teams, the names of their intermediate family members, etc.

5. Have a vision

If all you can stomach about your job is putting in the bare minimum amount of work required, it's not likely you'll climb your way up the career ladder. In order to be successful, you have to love the work you're doing in your career. Alas, it's not always easy to love your work, especially when there is so much pressure and expectation encompassed in it. Yet as long as you have a passion for the work you're doing, you should be able to find some fulfillment and pride in your career. If you haven't done so already, go ahead and think about where you see your career five to ten years down the road and cultivate an ambitious vision. If you want to get that big promotion, start planning out what you'll have to do to achieve it. As long as you have a strong vision, you should be on your way to a number of successes.

No two successful people are the same, but many of them share a number of key traits and personal habits. If you wish to become a successful businessman or businesswoman, try adapting these five habits into your endeavors.

Karen Smith, a former newspaper reporter and globe trotter, now freelances for various publications and websites. She hopes to bring her readers the latest in business education at onlinebusinessdegree.org, as well as up-to-date, informed advice on everything from careers to parenting to health and more. Karen welcomes your comments below!

preparing for a pre-employment background check

Today's post is written by guest writer Jane Smith (I wonder if she is related to Mr and Mrs Smith ☺). Many employers do background checks before offering a job to their favorite candidate, it may be a good idea to anticipate them and ensure that there isn't any dirt your potential employer will uncover in the process! Let's hear what Jane has to say about it all:

 

 

There are numerous aspects of the job search that invite worry and stress for a candidate. From writing up an embarrassingly shining review of yourself in cover letters to selling yourself unabashedly in interviews, there are plenty of things to stress over during your search.

 

Unemployment is a stressful time as it is, not to mention the increasing difficulty job-seekers are facing in today's economy. With so many things to worry about as it is, concern over background screenings shouldn't add to the equation. Pre-employment background screenings are typically used by employers in the final stages of their employment process. While the actual nature of the screening and check varies from one employer to the next, most include criminal background checks, a credit check, resume verification, and at times drug testing.

 

Failing a pre-employment background check can be extremely costly for a job candidate, potentially costing you the job. The best way to prepare for a pre-employment background screening is to educate yourself on the process and follow these few steps beforehand.

 

Double Check Your Resume

The first step to ensuring a successful background check from a potential employer is to check all the information carefully on your resume. You want to make sure that everything on your resume is absolutely accurate. Firstly, make sure your employment and education information is up-to-date. Double check dates, test scores, and grade point averages. It can be easy to accidentally put the wrong numbers or dates on your resume. While this may be an honest mistake, some employers may see it as you trying to lie about graduation dates or grades. Be sure to make sure all of your job reference information is updated and accurate. This allows your potential employer to easily get a hold of your references. Be up-front about things. Don't try to stretch dates or test scores to try to look better. Show yourself honestly on your resume.

 

Obtain a Credit Report

Obtaining a credit report for yourself is a fairly easy process. It's usually wise to obtain a credit report before going through the job process. Be sure to go to the official websites of all three of the major credit bureaus. It's pretty easy to find websites that will allow you to access a credit report online fairly easily. Look through your credit reports and search for any inaccurate items. Try to find anything that looks inaccurate before you go through the job search and employment process, so that you can have things taken care of before a pre-employment background check. Disputing any incorrect entries on your credit report is annoying, but is entirely doable. Include your reason for the dispute and any supporting proof you have concerning the matter.

 

Check Your Criminal and Auto Record

While this may seem scary and unnecessary at times, it's better to be aware of what employers might find rather than being caught off guard. Go to your local police station and ask for the procedures on obtaining a criminal history check. You can follow the instruction they give you (they may vary from city to city) and review the report. Take note of any items that you want to dispute, such as charges that were dropped, and ask an officer for the dispute methods. It's also smart to review your motor vehicle record is complete and accurate. Ask for a copy of your driving record from your state Department of Motor Vehicles. This item of a background check may not come up for every employment opportunity, but is something some employers look too. If you are seeking a job that involves driving of any sort, this is definitely an item employers will look in to.

 

 

Jane Smith is a freelance blogger and writer for www.backgroundcheck.org. She specializes in various types of information screenings, such as pre-employment background checks, criminal records, and much more. Email her your questions and comments at janesmith161@gmail.com.