Everyday Cheapskate: When Your Job Says Buh-Bye

If you find yourself unemployed, it need not be all doom and gloom. Often a good opportunity comes out of a seemingly bad situation.

First, acknowledge your emotions, and then set them aside so your feelings do not impede your job hunting. Next, gather and activate your benefits. You may have unemployment benefits, a lump sum payout from your ex-employer, a severance package and options regarding health insurance.
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Fourth quarter IT hiring outlook: The helpdesk is hot

Eleven percent of CIOs play to add IT workers in the fourth quarter, 3 percent plan cuts and help desk and technical support are the hot categories as customer and user support trumps projects focused on growth.

Those are a few of the notable takeaways in an IT hiring and skills report from Robert Half Technology, a technology staffing firm. Read More>>>

Volunteer

I thought you might be interested in checking out these volunteer opportunities - You can volunteer your skills to help local nonprofit organizations, network and build your portfolio!

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Our belief that every life has equal value is at the core of our work at the foundation. We follow 15 guiding principles, which help define our approach to our philanthropic work, and employ an outstanding leadership team to direct our strategies and grantmaking. http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Pages/home.aspx

Idealist is a project of Action Without Borders, a nonprofit organization founded in 1995 with offices in the United States and Argentina. Idealist is an interactive site where people and organizations can exchange resources and ideas, locate opportunities and supporters, and take steps toward building a world where all people can lead free and dignified lives. http://www.idealist.org/

Net Impact is an international nonprofit organization whose mission is to make a positive impact on society by growing and strengthening a community of leaders who use business to improve the world. We offer a portfolio of programs to educate, equip, and inspire more than 10,000 members to make a tangible difference in their universities, organizations, and communities. http://www.netimpact.org/index.cfm

Points of Light Institute
Our Vision: One day every person will discover their power to make a difference, creating healthy communities in vibrant democracies around the world. http://www.pointsoflight.org/
The Taproot Foundation is a nonprofit organization that engages Marketing, HR, IT, and design professionals to volunteer on pro bono projects for local nonprofits. TO learn more, visit www.taprootfoundation.org. Do It Pro Bono - Volunteer Your Professional Skills.

United Way is a national network of nearly 1,300 local organizations that work to advance the common good by focusing on education, income and health. These are the building blocks for a good life: a quality education that leads to a stable job, enough income to support a family through retirement, and good health. http://www.liveunited.org/

VolunteerMatch strengthens communities by making it easier for good people and good causes to connect. The organization offers a variety of online services to support a community of nonprofit, volunteer and business leaders committed to civic engagement. http://www.volunteermatch.org/

Best Graphic Design Career and Business Books - Ultimate List of Books for Freelancers & New Designers

Best Graphic Design Career and Business Books - Ultimate List of Books for Freelancers & New Designers I decided to compile a list of the best graphic design career and business books collected from reading people's favorites listed on forum posts and blogs. I came up with the following graphic design career and business books. Read More>>

How to Build a Strong Relationship with Your Customers

A Guide to Customer Relationships for Freelancers & Self Employed

One of the best ways to run a good business as well as keep the clients which you currently have is to build a strong relationship with your clients. Everyone likes to feel appreciated and this is true for those who have a business relationship. The clients want to feel as if they matter to the business owner as they are part of the reason why the business is still in existence. There are a few ways for business owners to build a strong relationship with their customers as doing so will not only maintain their client base but possibly expand it as well through recommendations.
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Become a Graphic Designer - Design Careers & Design Education Advice from Professional Designer

Please welcome our guest writer, Elle Phillips, back to All Graphic Design. Today she wrote an article that is full of wonderful advice to individuals who are looking to become a Graphic Designer. She was inspired to write this wonderful article by a young man who emailed her about his dream of becoming a Designer. Elle realized that she could write an informative article to help many other people who also wish to become a Graphic Designer. We are lucky enough that she decided to reach a larger audience, by publishing her article on All Graphic Design. Elle received a lot of traffic to her site by publishing her previous article - Designing A Catalog From Conception To Completion - A Catalog Design Tutorial - on All Graphic Design. If you also wish to publish your article on All Graphic Design, please visit our Submit a Graphic Design Article page to see how to do so. Read More>>