8 features April 13, 2011 + Over the Edge Ways to Keep Busy This Summer in PG Don’t worry, school will be here when you get back DARCIE SMITH ARTS EDITOR The dreaded end of the semester has finally arrived. .. Right? Wrong! The one thing that post-secondary institutions got right was making the semester end in April. Now that the weather has taken a turn for the better (excluding our old friend Snow, who made a surprise visit last week) everyone is starting to get antsy. The last day of class was a welcome relief - that is if you hadn’t already stopped showing up. However, for some people who thrive in an academic environment, and the thought of having loads of free time frightens them into taking useless summer courses. If you’re in that boat (or if you’re just plain bored and lazy) this summer, here are some great ways to contribute to the community and have fun over the break. promotions and events happening throughout the summer. Learn how to knit! Join the local Stitch ‘n Bitch in Prince George. Make new friends and new knitted goods while having a stimulating conversation. Travel! Pet alpacas in Burns Lake, swim at Hixon Falls, get Swimmer’s Itch at West Lake. Head out with a tent and spend a few nights away from the pulp mill and the consumerism. While Prince George may be small, and sometimes boring, its best feature is the beautiful natural surroundings. Bike! Trade in your car insurance for two wheels. Biking is one of the best ways to get outside in the fresh air and keep you healthy. It’s easy to see the summer as an opportunity to drink way too much beer, so maybe hop on a bicycle before you head out to the liquor store. It’s also a great way to stay green, if you’re into that. o Read! The Public Library always has great new material (books, CDs, DVDs, Garden! Not all of us have this option due to living situations, but if you are one of magazines, graphic novels) that will keep your brain stimulated in a healthy way the fortunate who have access to a yard, sign out some books from the library and while it takes a rest from studying. If you can’t find something for yourself, consider start up your own garden. It’s a great way to learn about which plants thrive in our volunteering as a reading buddy for the wee ones. Northern climate and save some cash on groceries. o Volunteer! Head downtown to the 3% Ave Collective and lend some hours to Cook! Or, learn how to. Not enough people these days are aware of much healthier, growing a conscious community. Participate once a week in Food Not Bombs, chat with some locals over coffee, express yourself artistically, and share ideas for positive change. If people aren’t your thing, head over to the SPCA and lend your compassion to the animals. easier, and cheaper it is to nourish yourself with something home-made rather than pre-packaged. Cooking doesn’t come naturally to everyone, but that’s what cookbooks are for. Invaluable knowledge is gained when you venture out a little. These are just a few tips to have a successful and thriving summer break. The list of possibilities is endless. o Check out local bands! There are always bands playing downtown on Third, and great acts from across the country. Join the Facebook group to keep updated on Recruiters Dig Digital Dirt on Job Seekers Who is looking at your Facebook profile? HAFSA MULLA RYERSON FREE PRESS Most job applicants have a standard checklist before a job interview: Prim business attire, luminously thorough resume and a stellar combination of zest and intelligence. However, if tweaking your Facebook profile for a potential faux pas hasn’t made the cut, maybe it should. While you settle comfortably into the digital age, it’s safe to say that your online presence has now become a virtual imprint that shadows you to an interview. It is your subliminal curriculum vitae. As online social networking grows increasingly pervasive, many employers are utilizing these websites to screen potential job seekers. So, if your status update reveals you had a solid Saturday night coupled with gory comments, it could be potential grounds for your rejection letter. According to a study conducted by Harris Interactive for CareerBuilder.com, 45 per cent of employers use leading social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to screen job candidates. The study also found that 35 per cent of employers disregarded candidates based on racy content uncovered on leading social networking sites. “While resumes and interviews do give you a bit of an insight to a person, they can also be a fagade,” said ANOKHI magazine fashion editor Jacqueline Parrish. “People’s unguarded social media profiles, however, provide you with a raw look at the job seeker as people rarely censor their social media sites. Their profiles tend to be a direct reflection of them.” Provocative photos and references to drinking and drug use are the key contributing factors in the hiring process after online-screening. However, many of us are oblivious to the fact that poor online communication skills are also a stumbling block. A hyper-articulate Twitter timeline can polish one’s virtual persona, and in the same light, it can cause damage through inappropriate Twitter feeds. “A quick Google search of a candidate — whom | had pegged as a potential intern — revealed tweets that looked ‘lyk ths’ via Twitter,” said Parrish. “Suffice to say, | wasn’t impressed and decided to disqualify her.” This is another rationale for dismissal: The discrepancies that appear between qualifications posted online and the candidate’s actual resume. A virtual fib is more than just a social blunder; it is impermissible. While most of these issues are primary hindrances that keep us from landing our dream job, what many of us need to realize is that these drawbacks are easily avoidable. Tweak your privacy settings with just a scroll and a click and tailor them according to what is considered tasteful. “If you know that there is inappropriate content that could potentially harm your chances of employment, change your privacy settings and searchability,” said Parrish. “These options are provided for a reason.” In contrast, you can leverage the social media explosion to your advantage. Why not treat these outlets as self- selling-tools to project a positive image to your prospective employers that will encourage them to hire you? Facebook allows you to advertise your professional qualifications and personal interests, a feature that can help convey a dynamic image. Create a field-centric group that can help you establish relationships with recruiters, leaders and so forth. Be selective about accepting friends and frequently scan comments made by others. Set a default picture in good taste and police your profile. It is after all, a branding power of sorts. Twitter allows you to follow anyone under the sun. Why not follow inspirational leaders and the head honchos in your field? Concoct your tweets in a profound manner that generate targeted following while documenting refined and thought-provoking ideas. LinkedIn is specifically tailored for job seekers, companies and recruiters. “Keep it reserved and utilize it as a tool for employment,” said Parrish, “and don’t forget to be honest, there’s no need to overstate your qualifications.” And lastly, check the gist of your online reputation and discover what a simple Google search reveals about you. We live in a digital age that has made information easily accessible. With a simple click of a button an individual’s social life can be completely exposed, for better or worse. The unfortunate truth for every job seeker is that it doesn’t just boil down to conventional tactics anymore — i.e. sugar coating your résumé and putting your best foot forward. After all, there are thousands of applicants competing for a single coveted position and your employer is merely testing the waters to see if you are able to represent the company in a dignified manner. You're effectively left with an unavoidable choice between two alternatives — to eliminate your digital faux pas entirely or create your professional image via various networking sites. But one thing is for sure: Technological and social networking advancements offering up-to-the-minute information are fast growing, leading to increased concerns about privacy issues. Your job, as an applicant, is to ensure you sweep those digital dust bunnies to the best of your ability. Ml AT&T 3G danyork Gg Good suggestions RT @stevegartield: Five Video Projects You Can Do in 25 Minutes or Less http://bit.ly/7OelQI by @repcor “"§R marylynn3 47 mir @stevegarfield | want to start doing more video, thanks! RT: Five Video Projects You Can Do in 25 Minutes or Less http://bit.ly/7OelQI davechensky 49 mir How To Say Stupid Things A/b Social Media by @doctorow http://bit.ly/8O4Fv2 STINGING diatribe! Must-Read! via @jayrosen_nyu @stevegarfield Talmadge RT @stev Si ONLINE SOURCE Your Facebook isn't that secret.