Problems of the Planet (pages 2, 3)

Problems of the Planet

Exercise 3, page 86

"My name’s Leah and I’m sixteen. I want to become an environmentalist. I’m worried about some environmental issues. Water, for example, is a valuable natural resource. Current water shortages in the south-east of the country underline the fact that the UK, with its densely-settled population, has less water for each person than Spain and Portugal. We are facing shortage in some areas because demand has increased, while supply has not. The growth is the result of our higher standard of living, which has many watery links: personal health and hygiene, enjoyment of gardens and nicer cityscapes. We could be more efficient, of course.

Experts say that that to be kinder to the planet, it might help if we all reduce the amount of time we spend in the shower. Trying to do this has been pretty hard for me because I'm a fan of singing in the shower, even though it doesn't sound too good. But I've got a timer on my phone to remind me when I need to jump out.

 I’ve also persuaded Mum to wait till we get a full load for our washing machine and the dishwasher. My next step will be to persuade Dad to use buckets of water, not the hosepipe for washing the car. I’m afraid he’s not ready for that yet.

Now I fill a cup with water to clean my teeth. This was something I picked up from the questionnaire on saving water we did at school. If only I’d started much earlier. If I’d started a couple of years ago, I would’ve saved tons of water.

Fortunately, none of our taps are dripping and Mum always uses rainwater for watering the plants in the garden, so we’re not wasting too much water. 

I've found that I am thinking more about the decisions I make when it comes to washing vegetables or fruit. You’d say it’s just a drop in the ocean. I’d say it’s a small thing that can make a difference. It's also been great fun." 

It's in Our Nature

Exercise 2, page 78

A. It may be a global issue, but when scientists across the world are asked what the effects of climate change will look like, they quickly point to our country. Of all the wealthy countries, we’re probably in greatest danger.

Due to past carbon emissions the temperatures have risen, but what we do between now and 2050 is crucial for the climate change later this century and beyond. While government assessments predict over 250,000 homes may be at risk from rising sea levels, Greenpeace says climate change will affect us beyond our front doors. Despite knowing the problems faced by one of our best-loved tourist attractions, we’re still not doing enough to protect the Great Barrier Reef. Though chemicals are damaging the reef, climate change and global warming are the greatest dangers to it. A temperature rise between 2 and 3 degrees Celsius would result in 97% of the Great Barrier Reef being destroyed. Reducing greenhouse gases emissions must be of high priority, even if the full consequences of this are not yet understood.

We’re the biggest coal exporter in the world. We might like to think that our own global carbon emissions are small (2% of the global emissions), but they’re much, much greater than that due to our coal exports to the countries of our region like Japan, South Korea, China and even to the Netherlands. If we had developed alternative, renewable energy sources, we’d have fewer problems now. We should be replacing fossil fuels with renewable power. We can become world leaders in solar, wind, marine and geothermal energies.   

B. With so many land-based species endangered, ‘the extinction crisis’ is agreed upon as a serious environmental challenge. We have already seen a fairly disturbing loss of our biodiversity. A number of introduced species have been added to the country’s native flora and fauna. The biodiversity of this large Pacific archipelago is one of the most unusual on Earth. The arrival of humans has presented a challenge for the native species, causing extinction of several. Over 50% of the local bird species are extinct, along with a species of bat and several frogs and a freshwater fish. This place is second only to Hawaii in terms of proportions of species lost. The animals are also in danger because of deforestation and – as a result – destruction of animal habitats.   

C. In 2010 there was an oil spill which is considered the worst in the country’s history. It is estimated that over 205 million gallons (gallon = 3,79 l) of oil were released into the Gulf. If the spill had been stopped earlier, the damage wouldn’t have been so great. Many species could be lost as a result. The beaches of Florida were contaminated. The harmful chemicals caused health problems in people – especially those with heart and lung problems. The real impact on the seafood industry will have long-term consequences. BP (British Petroleum) has been suffering long-term damage as they have been known as the oil company with the most environmentally friendly image. 
D. It is estimated that more than 1 million tonnes of textiles only are thrown away every year in this country alone. The country consumes natural resources at a terrible rate and contributes unnecessarily to climate change. Each year the population generates approximately 280 million tonnes of waste, which causes environmental damage and costs businesses and consumers a lot of money. The government and the people are doing a lot to reduce the waste some of which is reused or recycled. According to RecycleNow, the country’s recycling policy saves more than 18 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year – equivalent to taking 5 million cars off the road! If more waste was reduced, greenhouse emissions from landfills (places where rubbish is buried) could be reduced too. Moreover, landfills are a danger to local ground water supplies. Every time it rains, water drains through the rubbish, and picks up chemicals and hazardous materials. The water collects at the bottom of the landfill, often in large amounts and can become very toxic.

E. Polar bears may only be around for another 100 years because global warming is destroying their habitat. As the Earth gets hotter, sea ice melts, and this sea ice is a huge part of the polar bears' lives. They use it as a platform to stand on when they catch seals to eat, and also walk on sea ice to get to their homes - dens. Already some polar bears, in places like Hudson Bay, are beginning to struggle because of the effects of global warming.

The sea ice is melting at a speed of 9% a year, and when it's all gone the polar bears will have to find new ways of living before they become extinct. Other bears have learnt to change their habits, but polar bears need the fat from seals to get through the winter. Arctic animals like polar bears could be completely killed off because they are also eating poisonous chemicals made by humans. Scientists have found dangerous chemicals we make have reached the food chain of animals in the Arctic circle. Poisons from plastics and electrical goods can take years to break down and disappear. But they are carried along in water for hundreds of kilometres. Eventually they get into food and water eaten by smaller animals and fish. Inuit Eskimo communities are eating the food too, which could seriously damage them. Most countries have now banned the use of these chemicals in their plastics. But some - like Russia and the US - still use some dangerous chemicals.

F. On 26 April 1986 one of four reactors exploded after an experiment at the nuclear power plant northwest of the Ukrainian city of Chernobyl. As a result, a fire burnt for nine days and at least 100 times more radiation than the atom bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima was released into the air. 25 years later, we still don’t know the real effects of the disaster. From 2006 to 2009 a group of scientists from different countries counted and examined wildlife including insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. The scientists say radioactive contamination in the Chernobyl exclusion zone has a serious impact on biodiversity in Ukraine and the neighbouring Belarus. According to their research, the number of mammals has decreased. Scientists in Ukraine criticized these conclusions. They say that because of the low level of human influence the biodiversity has increased. Many scientists recommend that the governments should turn this place into a wildlife haven – a natural laboratory where they can study the long-term consequences of this kind of accident. One of the scientists said, ”If people were more careful in general, the accident would never have happened. Let’s try and be more careful at least now and not jump to conclusions.”    

Earth Song - Lyrics

What about sunrise

 What about rain

 What about all the things

 That you said we were to gain

 What about killing fields

 Is there a time

 What about all the things

 That you said was yours and mine

 Did you ever stop to notice

 All the blood we've shared before

 Did you ever stop to notice

 The crying Earth the weeping shores?

 Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh

 Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh

 What have we done to the world

 Look what we've done

 What about all the peace

 That you pledge your only son

 What about flowering fields

 Is there a time

 What about all the dreams

 That you said was yours and mine

 Did you ever stop to notice

 All the children dead from war

 Did you ever stop to notice

 The crying Earth the weeping shores

 Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh

 Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh

 I used to dream

 I used to glance beyond the stars

 Now I don't know where we are

 Although I know we've drifted far

 Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh

 Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh

 Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh

 Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh

 Hey, what about yesterday

 (What about us)

 What about the seas

 (What about us)

 The heavens are falling down

 (What about us)

 I can't even breathe

 (What about us)

 What about everthing

 (What about us)

 I have given you

 (What about us)

 What about nature's worth

 (ooo, ooo)

 It's our planet's womb

 (What about us)

 What about animals

 (What about it)

 We've turned kingdoms to dust

 (What about us)

 What about elephants

 (What about us)

 Have we lost their trust

 (What about us)

 What about crying whales

 (What about us)

 We're ravaging the seas

 (What about us)

 What about forest trails

 (ooo, ooo)

 Burnt despite our pleas

 (What about us)

 What about the holy land

 (What about it)

 Torn apart by creed

 (What about us)

 What about the common man

 (What about us)

 Can't we set him free

 (What about us)

 What about children dying

 (What about us)

 Can't you hear them cry

 (What about us)

 Where did we go wrong

 (ooo, ooo)

 Someone tell me why

 (What about us)

 What about baby boy

 (What about it)

 What about the days

 (What about us)

 What about all their joy

 (What about us)

 What about the men

 (What about us)

 What about the crying man

 (What about us)

 What about Abraham

 (What was us)

 What about death again

 (ooo, ooo)

 Do we give a damn

 Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh

 Aaaaaaaaah, Oooooooooh...

Earth Song

Deforestation

Lesson 3, Ex.2

Interviewer: There is no doubt that the Amazon rainforest is very important for the environment. But it is thought that an area bigger than France has been cut down since the 1970s, and recently trees are being cut down at an even more worrying rate.

Rosa Lemos de Sa: The Amazon rainforest is being given extra protection now, because the Brazilian government is worried about how quickly it is being destroyed. Politicians have decided they’ve got to do more to stop people illegally cutting down trees in the forest.  

I: The Amazon forest is known as ‘the lungs of the world’. Why?

R: This is because the trees breathe in gases like carbon dioxide – which are harmful to us – and breathe out oxygen, cleaning the air for us. Deforestation in this area is likely to increase the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 

I: Some experts say that forests depletion is also increasing ozone in the atmosphere and making people short of breath.

R: Fortunately, it’s a myth. Ozone depletion is happening due to chemicals (CFCs) released into the atmosphere by people. And deforestation is not making people short of breath as there is enough oxygen in the air to breathe.

I: 7.5 million hectares of rainforest are being cut down each year to make space for growing cattle and crops and for sale – that makes 20 football pitches every minute.

R: Human activities have made a terrible impact on the environment in the region. If people hadn’t cut down the trees to develop agriculture, the soil wouldn’t have become unable to produce good crops. Together with the trees, a huge number of species of plants and animals have disappeared, that could be useful to people in the future. If the habitat for wildlife hadn’t been lost, hunting wouldn’t have become more difficult for the local people and their cultures wouldn’t have been lost.

I: What can be done to protect rainforests?

R: You may think that it is just necessary to stop people cutting down trees. However, it’s not as simple as that. Most of the countries that have rainforests are poor and have high rates of population growth. They’re just trying to make some money.

I: So what do you think should have been done by the local authorities?

R: If a mixture of different crops and trees had been planted together, the soils would have stayed fertile.  And if wildlife reserves had been set up, more money could have been made through tourism. It’s never too late to start making changes, though. The prices for rainforest products should be increased, sales of hard wood should be banned, damage caused by machinery should be reduced and traditions of the local people must be respected. 

Protection of the Environment

The protection of the environment is now the question of life or death on the Earth. Life on our planet needs special conditions such as tempera­ture, the composition of the ground, air and water, the level of radiation and so on. If these conditions are broken, there will be no life in a few decades. The problem of pollution started being discussed in our country some twenty years ago. Then a wonderful film called "Per Aspera ad Astram" ("Through Thorns to Stars") was shot. This film represents a planet whose ecological balance was broken. It is a terrible sight. There peo­ple could not walk without special masks and had to buy air to breathe. The food was poisonous and most of children were born with mental or physical defects. The nation was on the brink of extinction. If the mankind does not want to cease existing, it should pay more attention to the problems of the environment.

Polluted air and water now causes poor health of babies and children, many people have bad teeth and weak bones, they are weak and often fall ill. So we can say that to hurt the Earth is to hurt ourselves.

The problems of the environment are now deeply studied all over the world and in Russia as well. Pollution is mainly caused by the human activities. People dig the ground to get ores, oil, gas, coal and other mineral resources. But the ores contain a small percent of the needed metals which are ex­tracted with the help of many machines and complex technological processes.

When the metal is extracted, other substances are left on the ground and can get into the soil, water and air. If oil gets into the water, it makes the water poisonous for both people and animals. The feathers of birds and the hair of sea-animals get glued and birds cannot fly, animals cannot breathe and so they die. During many processes poisonous gases (carbon dioxide, for example) are thrown out in the air. These gases and substances not only make the air dirty and unsuitable for breathing but also destroy the ozone layer of the atmosphere. It is very dangerous, because this ozone layer protects the Earth against the space radiation which can be harmful to both people and wild nature.

The atmosphere pollution also causes the greenhouse effect. If there is much dirt in the air, it becomes thicker and does not let out the sunrays which have come through it down on the Earth. It means that the climate becomes warmer and warmer every year. It can be measured by the growth of the average summer and winter temperatures. The danger is that a warmer climate causes the melting of the Arctic ice and the rise in the level of the World Ocean. So, water will cover some land and probably most fertile land. In its turn, it will cause great hunger because the rest of the land won't be good enough to feed the hungry. Another factor of risk is that polluted air is dangerous not only for the humans and animals but also for the trees and other plants which produce oxygen.

Water pollution is another great problem. Factories and plants produce water polluted with poisons or oils and let that water into rivers and seas. That is dangerous for the wildlife and for people, who need clean water to drink. There are also acid rains harming forests which produce oxygen necessary for the life on the Earth. Only few organisms (some bacteria) can live without oxygen. Many species of flora and fauna have died out because of wasteful use and pollution, many are dying out now. Dirty waters and fertilizers cause land pollution. Plants cannot grow on the polluted land.

The problem is people cannot stop most of technological processes and procedures because we cannot live without the products produced. On the other hand, if the pollution is not stopped we'll die out anyway. The only reasonable decision is to invent new, waste-free and nature-friendly technologies. People now do a lot of things. They develop and pro­duce special water and air purifiers and filters. They organize National parks and Wildlife reservations. People organize new technologies of forest usage - they cut old, the so-called "ripe" trees and at the same time plant young trees which in forty or fifty years become ready for usage. People breed wild animals (sables, marsh-otters, hares, European bisons, crocodiles, ostriches, many kinds of fish and others) on special farms so there is no need for hunting. It is interesting to know that polar foxes from farms are more beautiful than the wild ones because they are cared after, cured and well-fed. There is an international organization called Green Peace which fights against pollution and protects Nature. Its ship the Rainbow Warrior helps control air and water pollution.

It seems that to stop pollution is very difficult and all countries must work together to solve this problem. But there every one can help nature. I believe there should be an environmental programme at Russian school. This programme should include lessons about pollution and how chil­dren can help the Earth.

There are alternatives to cleaners, pesticides and other substances which we can use, soda, for example. We should not cut trees and other plants, we should help animals. We must collect waste properly so it does not get into water or soil. There is a good formula of RRR. It is Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

We can reduce the usage of electricity and drinking water. For example, when you clean your teeth and let the water run, you lose two or three liters of water. Now multiply 3 liters by the number of people in our city and you will see that it is a lot. But we can stop it if we switch off the water. We can reduce the usage of packing and buying things in plastic packs. It is important, because it is very difficult to recycle plastic.

We should reuse everything we can. For example, we can reuse plastic bags. If people reuse plastic bags, the factories will produce less of them and will harm Nature less.

We also should recycle what we can. We can recycle paper, aluminium cans, glass and plastic bottles and fabrics. I think throwing away and not recycling is a crime against our Nature. These things are very easy and every man can help a lot.

Pollution

http://www.greenstudentu.com/encyclopedia/pollution

Types of Pollution

In the post-industrial world that we reside in, pollution is one of the ill effects of the rapid progress made by mankind. Pollution is nothing but the contamination of the environment around us. Mainly caused due to human activities, it can also result due to natural disasters. It has a severe form of detrimental effect on any living organism, making it virtually impossible to sustain. Without pollution control, the waste products, emitted due to human activities, tend to accumulate or disperse and degrade the environment. As such, control of emissions and effluents into the air, water or soil is required, along with other methods of pollution prevention and waste minimization. In order to curb the growing menace of pollution of various forms, many nations all across the globe have enacted legislation of pollution control. This article entails the different kinds of pollution which affect us. 

Different Kinds of Pollution

Air Pollution

A disturbance in the composition of the compounds which make up the atmosphere is called air pollution. The imbalance can occur due to the excessive emission of gases or vapors into the atmosphere, saturation of the chemical compounds or particulate matters or atmospheric chemical reactions of various reactive and non-biodegradable compounds. Few commonly seen effects of air pollution are global warming, acid rain, smog and ozone depletion. Major activities which lead to contamination of atmospheric air include motor vehicle exhausts, fertilizer plants, industrial processes, automobile manufacturing, demolition of buildings, construction of roadways, disposal of solid waste, volcanic eruption, manufacturing of electrical components, extraction of metals, forest fires and numerous other activities.

Water Pollution

When the original quality of water deteriorates due to the contamination by foreign matter, it is called water pollution. This form of pollution can occur due to release of toxic substances, pathogenic germs, substances which require a large quantity of oxygen to decompose, or radioactive substances which tend to accumulate and interfere with the aquatic ecosystem. For instance, when a water body is enriched with nutrients, it leads to an excessive growth of algae, which, in turn, leads to lack of oxygen in the water body. This condition is called eutrophication. The major sources which lead to water pollution are petroleum products, synthetic agricultural chemicals, heavy metals, hazardous wastes, excess organic matter, sediment and infectious organisms. Even, air, thermal and soil pollution lead to water pollution as well.

Soil Pollution

Any form of alteration in the soil chemical composition leads to soil pollution. This form of pollution occurs due to deposition of solid waste in the soil, accumulation of non-biodegradable substances or toxification of chemicals into poisons. Not following proper soil management methods, excessive tillage of soil resulting in the deterioration of soil structure, improper irrigation practices, no proper supply of organic matter in the soil or poorly drained soil can lead to soil pollution. Few major sources of this category of pollution include agriculture, mining and quarrying, demolitions and construction activities, sewage sludge and industrial wastes.

Noise Pollution

The amount of noise pollution is synonymous to the standard of living of a particular country. This form of pollution is caused when a particular sound reaches an unfavorably high intensity and in turn causes adverse effects on our daily mechanisms. The intensity of noise is measured in decibels and the scale by which it is measured is logarithmic. This implies that a 10 decibel increase in noise results in the doubling of loudness. While noises above 45 decibels can disturb a person’s sleep, noises above 120 decibels can cause hearing impairment.  

Radioactive Pollution

Although nuclear energy is said to be a clean form of energy because it does not release pollutants such as carbon dioxide, the waste resulted from a nuclear reaction leads to a form of pollution known as radioactive pollution. When a radioactive element becomes unstable and begins to decay in order to regain molecular stability, the process is known as radioactivity. There are three types of radiation: alpha rays, beta rays and gamma rays. While alpha radiation can be blocked by a piece of paper as well as human skin, beta particles can penetrate through the skin but can be blocked by a piece of glass or metal. Gamma rays, in turn, penetrate through the human skin and damage cells on its way. They can be only blocked by a massive piece of concrete. Major sources which can cause radioactive pollution are nuclear power plants, nuclear weapons, improper disposal of nuclear waste and uranium mining.

Russian Scientist Warns of Global Cooling

Western scientists may be discussing the influence of green-house gases all the way to the White House, but a Russian expert has a different idea: global cooling.

Get ready, because six years from now temperatures are going down. The problem, according to Habibullo Abdusamatov, is in the Sun's radiation, which will start decreasing considerably in 2012. "We have already seen a cooling of the kind in Europe, in North America and Greenland in 1645-1705, with canals freezing in Holland, and people leaving their settlements because of nearing glaciers in Greenland," Abdusamatov told RIA Novosti. "This is what we are expecting again in some decades."

Abdusamatov said that the planet has reached its peak in terms of global warming. It simply can't get any warmer, so it's going to get colder.

"The most significant event of the 20th century in terms of the Sun was the gradual increase in the radiation it gave off. As a result, we see the global warming, which is an expected development, since both global warming and global cooling have been noted in the past."

The planet is due for a cold period around 2050. Temperatures will start falling globally around 2012-2013, and then the Sun's energy emissions are expected to reach a minimum between 2035 and 2045. The Earth will plunge into a micro Ice Age that will last 15 to 20 years.

The Moscow News, 5’2006

Environmental Issues

-      So, Mr. McKibben, you’re an environmentalist. What do you actually do?

-     Our environment is our planet. Human activities have a big impact on the environment. People are becoming more aware that their activities can seriously damage the planet and the animals and plants on it. Environmentalists assess this damage and give advice on what can be done to help clean up and protect our planet.

-      What environmental issues are most important today?

-    There are many of them and they’re all interdependent. The most dramatic of them is, probably, climate change. It is the biggest environmental challenge facing the world today. Climate change refers to changes in the Earth’s temperature over the last 100 years. In Europe, for example, climate change results in hotter and drier summers; warmer and wetter winters; more storms and rainfall; other extreme weather conditions and rising sea-levels.

-      That sounds really threatening. But is it only climate change that worries scientists?

-   Not only, of course. There are different types of pollution: air pollution, water pollution, even noise pollution. Radioactive contamination is a form of pollution, too. So, nuclear plants are very hazardous. Take Chernobyl or Fucusima, for example.

-      Nuclear waste is also a huge issue, isn’t it?

-    All types of waste, actually. However, it is widely recognized that waste materials are a valuable resource, too. An English proverb says "One man's trash is another man's treasure." But let’s get back to the treasures of our planet. There’s the issue of resource depletion, as well. In the last decades people have been cutting down lots of trees, especially in tropical areas. Forests are being destroyed at the rate of 40 hectares a minute! Deforestation destroys the environmental balance and reduces biodiversity.  

-    Talking about biodiversity. More and more animals and plant species are becoming extinct.

-   Biodiversity is a term which describes how rich the Earth is in the amount of species. So here we’re dealing with another environmental issue: conservation. Environmentalists and conservationists are trying to save the endangered species. But as an American astronaut said, “If you want to see an endangered species, get up and look in the mirror."

Ecology

http://library.thinkquest.org/26026/Environmental_Problems/environmental_problems_article.html

Applying for a Job

How to Apply for a Job

In order to get a job, you have to know how to navigate the application process. To apply for a job, follow these instructions.

Steps

1. Write a resume.

Even if the particular job you're looking for has an application process where a resume isn't necessary, the process of writing a resume can help sort your thoughts and prepare you for an interview. Having a written record of your work history makes filling out an application much easier, too. Tailor the resume to the type of job for which you are applying, emphasizing related skills and coursework.

If you’re submitting a resume electronically, be sure to include keywords from the job listing so that your resume doesn’t get skipped over by a computer. One discrete way to do this is to include a “Summary of Qualifications” near the top of the resume that hits a few of these keywords (which might be skills, personal achievements, known software programs, etc.). However, do not repeat anything verbatim or it you won’t look like a trustworthy candidate. (http://oxforddictionaries.com/words/writing-job-applications)

2. Call the employer.

Ask about the application process: "Good morning. My name is John Doe. I was wondering if you had any positions open and, if so, how I might apply." You will usually have your call routed to the hiring or human resources manager. If they have any openings, they'll either ask you to come in and fill out an application or they'll ask you to send a resume and cover letter by mail or e-mail, in which case you should inquire, "To whom should the letter be addressed?" They will give you a full name, which you should write it down (asking for help with the spelling if necessary).

3. Write a cover letter if necessary.

Make sure it is specific to the job, with the company name and address and, if possible, the name of the person who will be receiving it. (Including a real person’s name in your application is not only professional, but also shows that you bothered to track that information down and are not simply mass-emailing every employer you can find.)

4. Get a second (or third) opinion.

Ask friends or family members to read over your resume and cover letter for typos, as it's often difficult to see our own mistakes. If possible, get advice from someone in the same field as your potential employer or who has experience recruiting or hiring.

5. Apply.

Visit the employer to fill out your application form. It's usually best to go during the mid-morning lull (when they're not too busy, but before the day has worn them out). Ask to speak to the hiring manager and try to hand the form to them personally: "Hi, we spoke on the phone yesterday about the (job title) position. Here's my application. Let me know if you need anything else!" This will give the employer a chance to see you (so dress professionally and present yourself well) and put a face to a name.

Send your cover letter and resume as instructed.

6. Follow up.

If you filled out an application but the hiring manager wasn't there at the time, call three days later, ask to speak to the manager, and confirm that the application was received: "Hello, this is (your name). I filled out an application on (day you came in) and I just wanted to confirm that it was received."

If you sent a cover letter and resume by mail, call a week later to confirm their receipt. If you sent them by e-mail, call the day after.

Tips

Ø  Always thank the employer for their time and consideration.

Ø  Always be honest when filling out a job application online.

Ø  If you get an interview, follow up with a thank-you letter.

Warnings

Ø  If you try to be someone who you are not, most likely, they will decline.

Ø  If you have not been accepted for the job then you might as well start the application process again (if they will allow you) or consider trying to obtain another job with a different employer.

Ø  Note that refusing to contact a previous employer, refusing to take criminal background or drug tests, having unusual gaps in previous places of employment, not having proof of legality to work, having blank spaces in an application, and lacking non-relative references are usually red flags to employers.

http://www.wikihow.com/Image:Apply-for-a-Job-Step-1.jpg

How to Be a Success

Everyone searches for success in whatever they choose to do. This article is all about the difference between the people who find it and the people who fail.ke personal responsibility 1.Take personal responsibility for your life

Nobody else can choose your life for you. Nobody else knows what's going to make you happy. Nobody else is going to be able to take the time and effort required to make your dreams a reality. And even if they do, you won't feel like a success because you didn't do it yourself. 

It all starts with you.

There is one common thread that goes throughout everything I've learned. In order to be a success at anything in your life you must first take personal responsibility. What this means is that you need to stop blaming everyone and everything else for circumstances in your life. After all what is easier and more likely to change - you or the rest of the world? 

Taking personal responsibility means continually asking the following three questions every day of your life:

1.                   What did I do wrong to cause this situation?

2.                   What can I do to improve this situation?

3.                   What do I need to change about myself to make this situation better?e - what does success mean to me?

2. Decide - what does success mean to me?

For most of us being a success means fulfilling some inner desire. Don't be afraid to desire things in life! Even the monk desires inner peace. Even the priest desires to be closer to god. Everyone wants something, most people want lots of things. To desire and to dream and to pursue what you dream about is what it means to live and to be human. 

I'm not going to tell you what to want... but I will give you some tips that may help you decide. 

1.                   Don't go for material stuff. There are tons of studies on happiness and life satisfaction that say going after material possessions won't make you any happier or more satisfied with life. Instead of buying a 4,000 square foot McMansion in the suburbs you can barely afford, go for the small house in the quaint neighborhood with the friendly neighbors. Spend the rest of your money on going places and doing things you love.

2.                   Do it for yourself. Don't waste your life trying to impress someone else, whether it's by buying the big house or by working a career someone else picked for you. If others aren't happy with your decision, just refer them to my website.

3.                   Society has got it wrong. Society itself imposes on us a very narrow view of what it means to be a success. Define success for yourself and you'll be much happier with the results.

4.                   Go for experiences. It's ok to want that house on the beach. But buy it because you love to surf and take late night strolls not because you want to show other people your cool beach house. Experiences - memories & new learning - are the substance of life.

5.                   Go for personal growth. Challenge yourself, do what you're afraid to do. One day you'll be able to look back on your life and say "look where I came from and look where I am now" and be proud. Pride in who you are is priceless.

3. Act on your decision

Act, take action... do something! Do anything! Just do it! Every step you take is a step towards the life you desire. Many people get to step 2, they decide what they want and then they never do what's necessary to get what it is they desire. They are frozen by fear. 

This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes: 

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.
   - Ambrose Redmoon

What he's saying is that we are all afraid. Every time I try something new I'm afraid. The same goes for professional athletes, entertainers, and anyone who’s ever accomplished anything in life. What separates them from the rest of humanity is that they have a conviction to act that overrides their fear. In order to get what you truly want in life and be a success, you'll have to face and defeat your fears. 

4.Embrace Failure

Be aware that on your way to becoming a success the first thing you do will most likely be the wrong approach. You will probably fail miserably. You may even fail many times. All of the positive thinking in the world won't be able to rescue you from your self-doubts. Congratulations - you're on the right track! 

Failure is simply part of the process. Everyone who as ever succeeded at anything has first failed, maybe a few times, maybe hundreds of times. 

I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.
   - Thomas Edison

Instead of thinking of it as a failure - like (one of the most successful people of all time) Thomas Edison said - think of it as a learning experience. Every new piece of information you learn will move you closer to your goals and dreams and to having a successful life.

5.Become a student of life

Have you ever met someone who thinks they never make a mistake and that they're always right about everything? Come to think if it when was the last time you were wrong about something? 

Think of it this way, every time you have an argument or disagreement with another person or even with something you read or watch there is a 50% chance that you're the one who's wrong. The larger your ego is the harder it will be for you to see this. A closed mind will never learn, will never evolve, and will never attain true success - which is success in all areas of life. 

6. Enjoy the ride

Life will teach you something new every day, but only if you let it. This is perhaps the most advice I can give you. After all, what is a life if you don't enjoy it? So laugh at your failures, and celebrate your successes. Enjoy the challenge of it all. 

Take moments out of every day to look around you and marvel at what you've accomplished so far. Think about the person you used to be and the person you've become. If you can be happy about that then you're already a success. 

Even if you don't achieve a single goal, you will have lived a better life than the billionaire that never took the time to appreciate what he already had. 

The truth is that it is not the result but it’s in the individual the moments of our life are where true happiness manifests itself and where true success can be found.