The Next Best Thing: 2017

Opinions

Some Useful Applications to Download This Ramadan.

2:00:00 AM

Book Reviews

Red Queen Series.

4:55:00 PM

Music and Album Reviews

Male Versions of 5 of Our Favorite Songs That Are Slightly Better.

1:50:00 AM

Opinions

05 Skills All Graduates Must Have.

7:14:00 PM

It can be a difficult thing; trying to find a job after graduation. It is for some. But not for all. In today's world of skill-based employment, those with even the most in-demand and well-spoken-of degrees find it hard to impress their interviewers and secure a job.

For today's employers are not fools. No matter how fancy your degree is and no matter how you got it, if you don't have the skills needed for employment nowadays, you don't get hired.

01. Computer and IT Literacy.

This one is an absolute must. Graduates, especially those who don't get to interact with computers that much in their degree program, must know their way around them anyway. Technology has had an undeniable influence on everything. Job descriptions, too.

Knowing how to operate applications like word and powerpoint, making spreadsheets. A little bit of coding doesn't hurt either! Students majoring in finance are now expected to have good command over SQL and implementable software to handle their databases.

Similarly, employees seek leadership qualities and managerial skill sets in the people they wish to hire.

Online learning websites offer free-of-cost courses for digital and IT literacy. A good place to start, these sites.

02. Public Speaking and Marketing.

If you think you'll be secluded in a corner and expected to work on a machine, you're only half right. It also depends on what your job is, though.

A graduate should have excellent public speaking skills. If asked to represent their firm, they must be able to articulate their thoughts in professional, verbal conduct. Initially, you must be able to sell yourself to even get a job. People who are adept at addressing others and have the knowledge their degree vouches for are considered over the ones who have only technical skills.

Marketing is another thing that's a plus. This isn't only for business students; marketing is far too important to be appointed to only a relevant department within an enterprise. Some organizations include employees from other unrelated departments as well to strategize their marketing approaches. Fresh input from commoners—non-marketers—can help turn tables.

03. Finance Handling.

Not something math-haters would want to get tangled up in, but something in-demand, indeed. Even if you're not an accountant or a business student majoring in finance, you have to have at least some usable information as to how effective finance handling is practiced. This knowledge can be used if you ever wish to start a business of your own; entrepreneurial drive is in the air nowadays.

A must for graduates who wish to apply for vacancies in banks and even when they want to pursue a master's degree and for use in daily life.

04. Working Under Pressure and Strict Deadlines.

Ah. This one is not everyone's cup of tea. I think it's a skill that takes a considerable amount of time to hone and develop. Software developers and content writers can relate to this; just a little bit of distraction can turn into an all-nighter of not-doing and not-caring.

Courses for project and time management are available, too. Once gained, this skill can mean the difference between everything.

05. Content Writing.

Finally, content writing.

This little gem is what many don't have. People of well-established organizations rely on their content writers to help market their products, to promote their services, and to run their social media accounts and keep them abuzz.

You can also freelance for cash. Blogging is another way of earning money: you write about what you know best, and then through Ad Sense, you make money. Some people resort to off-site positions, and this is one of those—you don't necessarily have to get up and go to work, but rather stick to getting up and working.

Convenient, don't you think?

The takeaway: do a personal analysis and figure out whether you've got these skills or not. It's the survival of the fittest in today's job market. Make sure you're fit enough to work where you want to with the payment you deserve.

Happy job hunting.

Opinions

What Writers Need to Know about Modern Publishing.

9:20:00 PM

Well, it's quite easy—if you don't already know.

Modern publishing seems to have defied all the norms set for literature. Social media has had a transformational effect on publishing. Writers now opt for self-publishing platforms like CreateSpace. Even WattPad has millions of people writing their untold stories. This saves time and a lot of money. Not all of it, but it's cheaper than how things are done traditionally.

Poetry has evolved a great deal. Most successful poets can be found on Instagram and another well-known poets' community called AllPoetry. You get to learn some graphic design skills, those of the most basic level when making images for Instagram. Or you could put your poems on display on another platform called Mirakee.

There also are magazines that accept poetry and literature of all kind to publish in their issues. These magazines practically run on the contributions they receive. However, not everybody gets published. If you want to be nominated for those awards solely for poets, you need to start a reputation from getting published in these magazines. When you've enough experience and have been published in several places, you can mount the next step in your career as a poet and have a go at those awards. I know of Poetry Magazine and Rattle. There are thousands! While the only award I know of is the Pulitzer.

Put your search engine skills to good use and browse some more of both.

If you're an opinionist, you must know about Medium. You'll find professionals here who don't fret about not getting published in newspapers. Instead, the best enjoy a loyal, everlasting readership. People don't buy newspapers anymore; they read their news online. It's fast to start writing and expressing your views online than to wait for newspapers and other agencies to respond to you.

You can start your blog, too. It can a little difficult, getting people to find your blog. If you have a good know-how of SEO and algorithms, then you can be very successful as a blogger.

When it comes to blogging, there are too many variations and so much of depth. You get to write about whatever you know best. It can either be a travel blog, one about fashion, whatever you please. You can read other blogs, too, and go through a great learning experience. I recommend using WordPress. There are other platforms like Blogger. WordPress is the king of all the blogging platforms, though.

Writing and journalism have become easy. Anybody who's got the knack can do it.

Why stick to the system of getting your manuscripts approved while you have the internet to help you and you can pursue your affinity for literature in new, and modern ways? Even though the old ways have evolved, too, and publishing houses still exist, giving us some really great authors. You might want to reconsider this if you have studies and a job. Or worse, a family.

The takeaway, modern publishing is for those who don't have the time needed to have things done the original way. It may be technology-and-internet-dependent, but has advantages of its own.

Opinions

Careers of Today versus Hopes and Dreams.

10:21:00 PM

It is an endless battle for some when it is time to choose between what you want and what is best for you. The pressure inflicted upon by society and parents alike renders those some vulnerable to becoming mentally morose and withdrawn. Their insides that shout on their behalf are silenced into submission and what prevails is anything that is socially understandable and acceptable.

From the start of our academic journey, thoughts of becoming either a doctor or an engineer are poured endlessly into our minds. As we grow up, we discover what we're capable of and want to pursue our interests solely. It is quite easy to quell our determination for everybody. They mean well, but as we grow more, we find out that what put a stop to our hopes and dreams was nothing but hearsay. In some case, vindictiveness and watching you fail.

Living in a society as conservative as ours does not help. Even if we are brave enough not to fall for what people think is right for us—or want us to think so—the fire that brings us forward soon dies, leaving nothing but an empty being who'll do whatever is necessary to survive.

A career that is in direct relation to what we aspire to be is the right career for us. If we are not good at calculations and mathematics, we must not allow ourselves to become tangled up with disciplines such as engineering and computer science just because they have mass appeal and there's an aura of recognition about them.

Similarly, stressful career choices like becoming a doctor—or worse, something else—are ill-suited to those who want to pursue careers in writing and arts.

It can be difficult at first, convincing your parents to let you choose a major of your liking for your undergrad years. Some parents never give in. Some do. If you do not want to spend four years of your life, possibly more in other cases, do not choose something that you will later regret and then will feel the need of transferring to another program. This will waste your time and your money.

The takeaway, I guess, would be to always be bold and brave and go after the things you like. Create a whole vision for what you want your future to be like. Set your priorities and your goals and work relentlessly to bring them to fruition.