Avoid the Resume Black Hole With These Tips

Avoid the Resume Black Hole With These Tips Tired of applying and never hearing back? Use these resume tips to ensure your application makes it past the electronic gatekeepers. If you’ve ever looked for a job, you’re probably familiar with the notorious resume black hole. It goes something like this: You find the perfect job online, submit your resume, and then wait, hoping against hopes that you’ll receive a call back. More often than not, no one ever contacts you about your application and you’re left wondering what you could have done differently to change the outcome.Sound familiar? You’re not alone.As a career coach I often hear from job seekers who are frustrated by the lack of response from employers. What many of them don’t realize, however, is that often times, the hiring manager never received their job application.Let me explain. Before your job application is passed along to the hiring manager, it first has to be reviewed by one, if not two, initial gatekeepers: an electron ic screen known as an applicant tracking system (ATS), and a junior-level HR coordinator.In both of these cases, the gatekeeper has been instructed to scan the document for important pieces of information and terms related to the role at hand. If the resume meets this criteria, it will pass through the screen and make its way to the next reviewer, either an experienced recruiter or hiring manager who will have a better understanding of your work and capabilities. If your resume doesn’t make it past these initial gatekeepers, the hiring manager is never made aware of your application.Below are some resume tips to help your application avoid the resume black hole and make it through these initial reviews and to the top of the hiring manager’s pile.Avoid the Headers and FootersDon’t insert your contact information into the actual â€Å"header† portion of the Word document. This can get scrambled by the applicant tracking system and cause confusion for the re cruiter. Instead, decrease your top margin on the document to 0.5 inches and place your name, contact information, and hyperlinks at the top of the page.The same goes for using the â€Å"footer† section of the document.Stick to SimplicityWhile you may want to demonstrate your creativity to the hiring manager, the resume is not the place to do so. In fact, most ATS systems get easily confused by a resume’s extra bells and whistles, such as logos, pictures, embedded charts, symbols, and shading, and could easily reject your application out of confusion.Stick to standard fonts that are ATS-friendly. This includes Calibri, Arial, Tahoma, and Cambria. Click on the following link to view a full list of the best fonts for your resume.Use standard headers for the different sections of your resume, such as Professional Experience or Work History, Education and Professional Development, Technical Skills, and so forth.Lastly, upload your resume as a Word document instead of a PDF to the employer’s career site. ATS systems still have trouble processing PDFs and may miss important information in your resume. Save the PDF version for when you’re emailing your resume to a networking contact and want to ensure the formatting remains intact.Proofread Your Resume CarefullyWhile you may get dinged by a recruiter for misspelling â€Å"definately† when you meant to say â€Å"definitely,† at least they’ll be able to figure out what you’re trying to say. A software system will not. Don’t let your application get tossed into the resume black hole because of a simple typo.Proofread your resume. Then proofread it again. Then hand it over to your friend who majored in English and have them review it. Silly mistakes can be easily avoided if you take the proper precautions with these resume tips.Incorporate Relevant KeywordsEvery profession has its own set of jargon, acronyms, certifications, and skill sets that describe their work and industry. ATS systems are programmed to look for these resume keywords to rank your application and determine if you’re a good fit for the role.In order to make it past these initial reviews, it’s incredibly important to optimize your resume with relevant keywords. Start by reviewing the job descriptions you’re applying to and take note of the terms that routinely pop up on these job listings. If you possess these skills, incorporate these terms throughout your resume in the Core Competencies and Work Experience sections. Be sure to include a Technical Skills section towards the bottom of your resume that lists the systems with which you are proficient. You can also copy and paste a number of job descriptions into JobScan.co to identify the most frequently used resume keywords and see how your application measures up.Before you sit down to write out your role and responsibilities from your previous positions, take a look at the sample job descriptions you’ve gathered that represent your job target. How do they define the position and its responsibilities? What specific language do they use to state the core requirements for the role? If you’ve done that work before or possess those qualifications, describe it on your resume using the exact same wording.In addition, be sure to include the acronym as well as the full name of every job title, certification, degree, or organization that’s associated with your professional experience and qualifications. For instance, you may put â€Å"SSGB† after your name at the top of your resume, but be sure to also spell out â€Å"Six Sigma Green Belt† under your list of certifications. The same applies for common industry terms; while your job title may be â€Å"Director of MARCOM,† it’s important to also include the term â€Å"marketing communications† when describing your role.Don’t fall into the resume black hole. You may not be ab le to control the recruiter’s actions, but these resume tips will ensure your job application makes it past the ATS screen and onto a human being for review.This article was originally published on TopResume.TopResume is a Talent Inc. company, the personal branding destination for all career-driven professionals. Through our extensive network of professional writers, we offer career advice and analyze and write more resumes and LinkedIn profiles than any other service in the world. Ready to get started? Request a free resume critique today.

College Admissions Diversity Essay Sample and Critique

College Admissions Diversity Essay Sample and Critique This example of a college admissions personal essay fits  option #1 of the current Common Application: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it.  If this sounds like you, then please share your story. Carrie focuses on the issue of diversity and how her Goth identity could contribute to the richness of her campus community. Carries Common Application Essay on Diversity Give Goth a Chance When I sat down to write this essay, I tried, as my high school English teacher always instructed, to imagine the audience for my writing. The more I thought about it, the more I pitied the college admissions screeners who would be reading a thousand essays on diversity. Along with the expected takes on race and ethnicity, how many of those essays would present their authors as outcasts, loners, kids who didn’t fit in at his or her school? How could I present myself as someone unique and interesting - strange, even - without falling prey to the clichà © of the self-pitying social misfit? Let me be direct: in some ways, I am the antithesis of what one might picture as a student who contributes to campus diversity. I am white, middle-class, and heterosexual; I have no physical handicaps or mental challenges apart from a tendency towards sarcasm. But when I receive college brochures picturing smiling, clean-cut teens dressed in the latest from Abercrombie Fitch and lounging on a blanket in the sun, I think, those people are not like me. Simply put, I am a Goth. I wear black, lots of it. I have piercings and ear gauges and tattoos. My hair, naturally the same sandy blonde that the rest of my family shares, is dyed jet, sometimes highlighted in streaks of purple or scarlet. I rarely smile, and I don’t do sun. If I were inserted into those brochure photographs of typical college students, I would look like a vampire stalking her wholesome prey. Again, I am imagining my reading audience, and I can almost see my readers’ eyes roll. So you’re a little weird, kid. How does that contribute to campus diversity? Well, I think I contribute plenty. Diversity goes beyond the physical; race or ethnicity might be the first things one thinks of, but really, it is a question of what makes someone the person that he or she is. Diversity might be considered in terms of economic or geographical background, life experiences, religion, sexual orientation, and even personal interests and general outlook. In this respect, my Goth identity contributes a perspective that is far different from the mainstream. Being Goth isn’t just about physical appearance; it’s a way of life that  includes not only individual tastes in music, literature, and popular culture, but also particular beliefs about philosophy, spirituality, and a range of other human issues. To give just one example, I am planning to major in Environmental Studies, and while it might seem odd to picture a ghoulishly-dressed girl who adores the natural world, it was my Goth outlook that led me to this academic interest. I read voraciously, and am drawn to subject matter that is somewhat dark; the more I read about humanity’s impact on the planet and the near-apocalyptic dangers posed by global climate change, pollution, overpopulation, the manipulation of the food supply and other environmental threats, the more interested I became, and the more determined that I should become involved. I, along with other members of my school’s Environmental Club, started a campus recycling program, and lobbied our superintendent to install in all classrooms power strips that are used to easily shut down equipment such as printers and computers at the end of the day, thereby conserving energy and generating significant savings for our school. I was drawn to this dark subjec t matter of environmental crisis, not to wallow in it or savor the Schadenfreude, but to change it and make the world a better place. I know Goths look a little funny, as we wear our ebony trench coats in seventy-degree weather. I know we seem a little odd as we gather in shady nooks to discuss the latest episode of True Blood. I know professors may sigh as we swell the enrollments of poetry and art classes. Yes, we’re different. And we - I - have a lot to contribute. Critique of Carries Essay on Identity or Diversity Writing about identity or diversity for the  Common Application essay presents a writer with specific challenges. In broader terms, however, all college admissions essays must accomplish a specific task: the admissions folks will be looking not just for good writing skills, but also evidence that the writer has the intellectual curiosity, open-mindedness, and strength of character necessary to be a contributing and successful member of the campus community. Carries essay succeeds on this front. Essay Title In general, Carries title works fine. It clearly captures the subject of the essay - approaching Goth with an open mind. Also, the allusion to John Lennons Give Peace a Chance  is appropriate given the songs message about acceptance and understanding. Its not a title that is highly original, and it isnt the best hook for grabbing the readers attention, but it is still a solid title.  The best essay titles  often strive for clarity, not cleverness. Essay Topic Carrie takes a risk in her essay. When you read advice about college admissions interviews, youll often be told to dress somewhat conservatively, get rid of the pink hair and remove all but the most innocuous piercings. The danger of looking too far out of the norm is that you may encounter an admissions officer who isnt open-minded or who feels disturbed or uncomfortable with your appearance. While you dont want to cater to peoples biases, you also dont want to diminish your chances of getting into college. Carrie, however, isnt one to tone down her identity during the admissions process. Her essay blatantly states this is who I am, and she makes it the job of the reader to overcome his or her preconceptions. There is a slight danger that she will get a reader who refuses to accept the Goth culture Carrie describes, but most readers will love the way Carrie approaches her topic as well as her straight-shooting style. The essay has a level of maturity and self-confidence that the reader will find attractive. Also, the reader is likely to be impressed by the way that Carrie imagines her audiences reaction. She has clearly encountered prejudice before, and she preempts it when she imagines the admissions folks reading her essay. Choice of Essay Prompt The current Common Application essay option #1  is a smart choice for Carries topic, for the essay certainly is about a central part of her identity. Carrie clearly shows how she will add an interesting and desirable element to the campus community. The essay demonstrates that she has thought about identity and diversity, that she is open-minded, and that she has a thing or two to teach others about their preconceptions and biases. She weaves in enough details about her passions and accomplishments to debunk any knee-jerk assumptions a reader might make about a Goth. The share your story essay prompt is wonderfully broad, and it can lead to a range of topics. An essay on ones love of crafts to ones non-traditional home situation can all work with Common Application option #1. Essay Tone Carries essay approaches her topic seriously, but it also has a pleasing smattering of humor. Little phrases like I dont do sun, and, a tendency towards sarcasm capture Carries personality in an economical manner that will also get a nice chuckle from her readers. In general, the essay has a great balance of seriousness and playfulness, of quirkiness and intellect. The Quality of the Writing The quality of the writing in this essay is superb, and it is even more impressive because Carrie is going into the sciences, not the humanities where we might expect to see stronger writing. The essay has no grammatical errors, and some of the short, punchy phrases reveal a high level of rhetorical sophistication. If you take apart the essay sentence by sentence, youll notice a huge variety in sentence length and structure. The admissions officers will immediately recognize Carrie as someone who has a mastery of language and is prepared for college-level writing. The length of the essay is right near the 650-word limit, but thats fine. Her essay is neither wordy nor repetitive. The essays by  Lora  and  Sophie  are both strong, but both could use some cutting and revising to get the length down. Carrie writes economically; every word counts. Final Thoughts Think about the impression you have when you finish reading Carries essay. You feel that you  have gotten to know her. She is someone with an offbeat appearance, but she is wonderfully comfortable with who she is. The self-confidence and self-awareness demonstrated in the essay will certainly impress her readers. Carries essay teaches her reader something, and the mastery of language is remarkable. Admissions officers are likely to finish the essay thinking three things: They want to get to know Carrie better.They think Carrie would make a positive contribution to the campus community.Carries reasoning and writing skills are already at the college level. In short, Carrie has written a winning  Common Application essay. Carrie comes across as an intelligent and likable woman who will contribute to the campus community in meaningful ways. Also, her essay gets at the heart of her unique personal story - theres nothing generic about what she has written, so the essay will stand out from the crowd.

The changing role of the human resource Research Paper

The changing role of the human resource - Research Paper Example The manner in which the human resource premise is bolstered time and again is something that brings the entire focus on the subject in entirety. The globalization trends are important to decipher here because human resource makes use of these aspects to make sure that the best possible recruitments are made and that these employees are fitted towards the different realms of an organization. The human resource premise is therefore significant from the globalization drives because these take into consideration the issues which bring the diversity regimes within the equation (Bates, 2004). The varied individuals join the organization through these human resource domains alone and then become an able part of the organization in essence. The human resource angle is always given the cover to derive the best possible value out of the related equations because it is something that means a great deal on to the shoulders of the senior management within the changing dynamics of the organization s in this day and age. Within the technological premise it is important to ascertain the true value of human resource through an understanding that its effects are all the more positive than anything else. It would make things easy and turn the tide its way whenever there is a problem that needs to be tackled. The human resource realms must remain complete with the technological manifestations which at any point in time must be complete and comprehensive from all angles (Boddy, 2005). This is important because it has to solve a number of issues which emanate from the technological aftereffects and the incorporation of the very same. Hence the need to remain one step ahead with the proper frameworks of technology is indeed a significant undertaking that brings a lot of success for one and all within the realms of an organization. Diversity plays a quintessential role at describing how well the human resource terms are being managed. The human resource is dependent on the people getti ng recruited through it within the realms of an organization and it is all the more necessary to make sure that diversity forms an important part of the human resource discussions (Cross, 2000). Diversity is being given preference by companies more and more because they have realized the positives associated with diversity and how it can inculcate a sense of optimism within the organization in this day and age. This is the reason why it is being propagated more and more with the advent of time. When diverse individuals are employed, it adds to the social acceptance premise within an organization and gives it the mileage that it requires. E-business is also a necessity when one concerns the related domains with those of human resource. This is the reason why many discussions result in success with such nuances. The human resource realms receive attention because e-business has been good and adequately planned (Brotherton, 2000). This is one of the most significant undertakings that h ave made the rounds of the human resource circles over the years and it will continue to be the case in the coming times as well (Amit, 2001). It shall pave the way for eventual success in the coming days and times and even years to follow. Ethical considerations make up a great amount of the human res

Hazardous Waste Transportation Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Hazardous Waste Transportation - Term Paper Example In the anticipation of such events, the United States government made the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act in 1976. Today, the act is being implemented under the supervision of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA); and mandates specific rules and regulations regarding the management of these materials. This paper would focus on the hazardous waste transportation as one of the important aspects of the act’s proposed â€Å"cradle-to-grave† program. This would start with knowing what the hazardous wastes are, why there is a need of properly transporting it, what are the specific provisions indicated in the RCRA on transporting these materials, its process and the people, or organizations involved.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are four main things that deem wastes as hazardous. They are hazardous if they are toxic, can catch or readily start a fire, have high reactivity level when combined with other products, or are corrosive (Kovacs 71). The RCRA specifically defined these wastes under solid waste; although it can also include any form of matter. They are â€Å"any garbage, refuse, sludge or other discarded materials, including solid, liquid, or contained gaseous material resulting from industrial, commercial, mining and agricultural operations, and from community activities† (Teets, Reis, and Worrell 21). Any of the materials that contain carcinogenic [can cause cancer], mutagenic [can induce mutation], or teratogenic [can cause malformation or even death to a fetus] elements are considered toxic. Corrosive substances â€Å"include inorganic acid and bases that have the ability to damage or destroy material and living tissue by direct chemical action.† R eactive materials, on the other hand, are those that readily react if combined with other products and â€Å"can cause burns, poisoning, fire or explosion† while flammable materials â€Å"include combustible liquids, flammable solids, flammable gases,

The Belize Barrier Reef Essay Example for Free

The Belize Barrier Reef Essay The Belize Barrier Reef Andrea G. Milbourne SCI 230 June 20, 2010 The Belize Barrier Reef is the second largest barrier reef in the world next to one found in Australia. The reef is Belizes number one tourist attraction. It is home to many different ocean life forms. The reef is in danger of being destroyed. Humans and the rising temperature of the ocean are factors of the reefs danger. There are many conservation groups that are trying to help preserve the reef and its habitants. The barrier reef is 186 miles in length and is 1,000 ft off-shore in the north and 25 iles to the south of the country of Belize. The Belize reef has particularly high species diversity for the region, with about 65 coral species and over 300 fish species. The fish species include sharks, sea turtles, finfish, sponges, tuna, and many more Just to name a few. These species coincide together to produce the reef. Many of the species need one another for food to survive. Larger species tend to feed of smaller ones and the left over materials from the fish are ingested by the smaller species. The Reef is still yet to be fully explored by humans. It is said that there is still ninety percent of the Belize Barrier reef that has yet to be explored by humans. The greatest damage comes from sedimentation, agrochemical run-off, coastal development, tourism and overfishing. Humans destroy the natural habitat of the reef by disturbing it and leaving trash and toxic materials in and around the reef. The reef also sustains damage from overfishing and large commercial fishing boats that try to fish in the shallow parts of the reef. Some large corporations dump oxic chemicals near the reef threatening the wildlife of the reef. There are banana farms near the reef that are quite large. They use fertilizer that helps the bananas to grow. The run off of fertilizer used to grow these bananas is going to the reef and killing the species in it, as well as, the reef itself. The development of hotels and housing affects the reef by cutting into it and disturbing the natural state of the reef. When the country builds developments like this next to the reef it brings more humans to the area to disturb the reef even more. Another reason for the reef being in danger is the fact that the ocean temperature is rising. This causes bleaching of the coral and other parts of the reef. Hurricanes provide damage to the reef every year and it takes time for the reef to naturally repair itself from these damages. While the reef is repairing itself from these natural disasters, the humans cause damage that is irreversible and the reef cannot fully restore itself to normal. The country of Belize does not want to destroy this amazing reef, but it uses the reef for income. The same things that are helping countrys economic system are destroying the reef right before their eyes. The country of Belize tries to educate the visitors and its public as to how to try to help keep the reef clean. There are foundation is a group that is trying to help the Belize government in preserving the Belize Barrier Reef. They have Joined Belize in educating the country and the tourists about the reef and how to protect it. They also educate the businesses around the area to help them take steps in preserving the reef. The UN foundation accepts onations from the public and businesses to give them the resources for the conservation effort. They also help with trying to get legislation passed to protect the reef and the countrys economy. The country of Belize and the conservation groups have already made parts of the reef national parks. Some areas of the reef have also been closed to the public and are considered land preserves so no one is allowed to enter these areas. These steps have helped save portions of the reef from destruction. The reef still needs help to survive. As an individual person you could elp by donating time to the conservation effort. Or by visiting the reef, take care not to disturb the natural habitat of the species living in it. These conservation groups dont want to stop tourism, they Just want educated tourists enjoying one of the worlds amazing places and keep around for many years to come. I think we could all voice our opinion about how we could do our part in the preservation of the reef. If you cant visit the reef or donate to the preservation, you can Join conservation groups and help from you country. There is always the internet. You can give your support to a conservation group of your choice through the internet. There is always something you can do to help the effort. If the barrier reef is not preserved then it will be destroyed. All of the species will not be able to survive and it will affect the area around the reef. The country of Belize will not have the reef for economic purposes. The country may not survive itself without the reef and its species. The fishermen who fish the reef would not have employment. There may be some ocean ife that can only survive in the reef that will be destroyed that we may not even know about. There also will not be a tourist attraction to visit anymore. This would be a big loss to the country and the world around us. I myself have never heard about the Belize Barrier Reef until I received this assignment. I would like to visit the reef one day. I would also like to look for a conservation group that I could Join and do my part to preserve one of the worlds amazing places. References Terracurve (2009) Help protect the Belize Barrier Reef with the support of the United

World Trade Organisation Essay -- essays papers

World Trade Organisation The official World Trade Organisation web site, defines the WTO as â€Å"the only global international organisation dealing with the rules of trade between nations . . . [through] helping producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers (to) conduct their business†1. It was formed in 1995 after growing out of and extending the institution of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. As of the thirtieth of November 2000, the WTO has 140 member-countries, over three-quarters of which are developing or least-developed countries. As the WTO implies, its current role is to serve as the lubrication for the joints in the engine of globalisation; although just how effective and fair this lubrication may be, is still a point of great contention. The WTO preaches that its purpose and effect are to â€Å"improve the welfare of the people of the member countries†2, and it claims that this is achieved by administering trade agreements, and monitoring and handling trade disputes. This essay will test the truth in this statement, of whether or not the actions taken by the WTO have failed to further enhance the welfare of the people of its member countries, and if so, whether the WTO therefore needs to be either reformed or even abolished. The criteria by which I will assess this truth, takes into account the three major arguments that are held against the WTO, with regard to its affect on the welfare of the people of its member countries. One of these arguments is that the international rules the WTO authors, consistently favour multinational corporations at the expense of workers and small farmers. Another argument is that by removing trade barriers as the WTO seeks to achieve, jobs are ‘exported’ to lower labour cost countries where the standards to which the labourers are subjected, are below what is internationally accepted. The final main argument against the WTO’s aims that is raised, is that if countries cannot make their industries globally competitive, they will experience a decline in their people’s standards of living. Judging the results of these arguments, will allow me to decide whether or not the WTO is in need of reform, abolishment, or if it should continue without alt eration. The basic premise of the WTO is to open up trade between nations, and one of its potential disadvantages is that its opera... ...) â€Å"Slow out of the blocs† The Australian February 1 p.28. Mitchell, A. (2001) â€Å"Let community have its say† The Australian Financial Review March 7 p.6. Steketee, M. (2000) â€Å"Unhappy days are here again† The Australian June 17 p.4. The Australian (2000) â€Å"Fabric of the fair go ripped to shreds† June 17 p.4. Internet: Ebeling, R. (2000) Free Trade Versus Protectionism [ON-LINE] http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3950b6be763d.htm S-11 Online (2001) Frequently Asked Questions: FAQ [ON-LINE] http://www.s11.org/s14/s11.html Sirico, R. (2000) Free Trade and Human Rights: The Moral Case For Engagement [ON-LINE] http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a392420130b93.htm Wills, J. (2000) Multinationals and the Poverty Trap [ON-LINE] http://www.unfairtrade.co.uk/pov/articles.shtml WTO Online(1) (1999) 10 Benefits of the WTO Trading System [ON-LINE] http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/10ben_e/10b03_e.htm WTO Online(2) (1999) 10 Benefits of the WTO Trading System [ON-LINE] http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/fact1_e.htm WTO Online(3) (1999) What is the WTO? [ON-LINE] http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/whatis_e.htm

A Happy Campus Essay

General Statement: A happy campus is an interesting place for studying Features: + Good facilities + People + Recreation Body Paragraph 1 Topic sentence:There are a lot of good facilities in a happy campus + Excellent library with many kinds of books and modern technology + ATM machine is on every corner of a happy campus + Public transportation is convenient Body Paragraph 2 Topic sentence:The students in a happy campus study together friendly and studiously + Share ideas and help each others + Play sports and take part in activities together after class + Practising more than studying in theory Body paragraph 3 Topic sentence:A happy campus also has many places for recreation + Green park, large stadium, fitness center + Many clubs opened on weekend such as: English club, cooking club, etc. + Many places to visit: galleries, museum, cultural activities A HAPPY CAMPUS A happy campus is an interesting place for study. Students can both study and practice. A happy campus has a lot of good facilities and people. There are also many places for recreation. There are a lot of good facilities in a happy campus. It has an excellent library with many kinds of books and modern technology. ATM machines are on every corner of a happy campus. In addition, ublic transportation is convenient and cheap. Students in a happy campus study together friendly and studiously. Although they may come from different places, they help each other in studying as well as in their life, and share ideas. They can play sports and take part in activities together after class. They practice much more than studying in theory. A happy city also has many places for recreation. There are green park, large stadium,  and fitness center for studying and relaxing. Many clubs are opened on weekend, such as English club, cooking club, dancing club etc. Moreover, there are many places for s tudents to visit, such as galleries, museum, cultural activities.

College Is Worthwhile Essay

Today in America going to college is more of a necessity than an option; however, college is expensive. Most people cannot afford the upfront cost of tuition and fees along with the additional costs of dorms, meals, textbooks, and other supplies to attend college. Because of this many students resort to taking out student loans that could potentially cost them more in the future. With the cost of attending college constantly rising many people are finding themselves asking the question of rather or not college is really worth the cost. Also, some people feel that going to college is a waste of time. Some feel this way because not all jobs require degrees, so they feel there is no purpose in spending long hours at an institution obtaining one. Others feel that they should not be required to meet the general education requirements of most colleges, but should instead be able to use the time taking classes relevant to their career field. Many people argue that because of these reasons college is not worthwhile. However, despite these facts, going to college has several benefits that make it very valuable. Firstly, college graduates make more money over the course of a lifetime and have more  job opportunities than people without degrees. College graduates on average make about one million dollars more in a lifetime than people with only a high school diploma. This is because college graduates have a better chance of getting and keeping a job, and these jobs pay more. The main reason for this is that there is less competition for jobs that require a degree so there is always a need for employees which means more job security. Secondly, in college people make lifetime connections and broaden their horizons. During college students meet a wide variety of people from different backgrounds than  themselves. The connections that students make with these individuals can prove very beneficial to them especially after they graduate. Many of these people that students meet in college could help them to advance their careers after they graduate. For example, their professors may recommend them for employment to others in their field. Also, they could be meeting future business partners, bosses, or employees. Thirdly, college helps young adults in becoming more responsible. When people go to college, for most, it is the first time most people are practically on their own. It is completely different from being in high school and being dependent on parents and teachers for everything from reminders and help with homework to finances. In college, students face circumstances that they would most likely encounter when completely on their own. College students have to pay bills, manage time efficiently, and be sure to meet deadlines. And if they don’t there may be minor and/or serious consequences that they have to deal with just like in the â€Å"real world. † Many people argue that going to college is not worthwhile because it is too expensive and  is a waste of time, but there are many advantages of going to college that prove how valuable the college experience can be. College students are able to gain stable careers with great pay after graduation, are able to network with the people they meet while in college in order to advance their future careers, and can gain a sense of responsibility to help them mature. So, even though college has its cons, it is challenging and exciting, and can be the best time of a person’s life. It is an experience that can and will set the precedent for the rest of a person’s life if they choose to go.

Consecuencias vencimiento de la greencard y qu hacer

Consecuencias vencimiento de la greencard y qu hacer Como regla general, las tarjetas de residencia en Estados Unidos, tambià ©n conocidas como green card, son vlidas por 10 aà ±os. Si no se renueva a tiempo dentro de plazo y se permite que llegue su fecha de vencimiento, las consecuencias van a depender de si el residente est en ese momento en Estados Unidos o, si por el contrario, est en otro paà ­s. Adems, existen aproximadamente 700 mil tarjetas de residencia sin fecha de expiracià ³n. En este artà ­culo se explica cules son las consecuencias de tener una tarjeta de residencia con fecha vencida, quà © pasa si se tiene una green card sin fecha de vencimiento y cul es la diferencia entre una tarjeta de residencia definitiva y otra temporal o condicional. Green card vencida y el residente en Estados Unidos Puede suceder que un residente permanente no verifique la fecha de expiracià ³n y que su green card està © expirada. La buena noticia es que sigue siendo residente. Nunca se pierde esa condicià ³n por ese motivo,  aunque sà ­ hay otras razones por las que se perderà ­a. Lo que debe hacer es solicitar la renovacià ³n llenando en  el formulario I-90 y pagando una cuota de $455 y otros $85 por los biomà ©tricos. En algunos casos es posible solicitar una exencià ³n del pago de dicha tarifa. Lo ideal es pedir una nueva green card seis meses antes de que la actual expire y destacar que si la green card est vencida o faltan menos de seis meses para su vencimiento no se puede iniciar el trmite para solicitar la ciudadanà ­a por naturalizacià ³n. Green card expirada y residente en otro paà ­s A diferencia de lo que ocurre en el supuesto anterior, aquà ­ sà ­ que puede haber un problema si es que la green card expira mientras el residente est fuera de Estados Unidos y no llenà ³ el I-90 ANTES de salir del paà ­s. Y es que esa planilla no se puede cumplimentar desde el exterior. El primer problema que puede presentarse es que las aerolà ­neas no dejan volar hacia Estados Unidos a personas con tarjetas de residencia que han expirado. En estos casos lo que hay que hacer es solicitar una cita en el consulado estadounidense ms cercano que pueda tramitar una carta de transporte (Transportation Letter). Llevar adems documentacià ³n adicional, como 2 fotografà ­as tipo pasaporte, fotocopia legible del pasaporte, copia de la tarjeta de embarque emitida por la aerolà ­nea para viajar a Estados Unidos y la green card expirada. Adems, al cerrar la cita verificar si es necesario presentar un rà ©cord policial. Una vez que se tiene la carta de transporte en mano se debe viajar a Estados Unidos antes de que llegue la fecha de su vencimiento y, en todo caso, antes de que transcurran 30 dà ­as desde que fue emitida.   El segundo problema que puede plantearse es que una vez que el residente llega a Estados Unidos al control migratorio en un aeropuerto, puerto o puesto fronterizo terrestre, un oficial de la CBP entrevista al residente para asegurarse que sigue conservando su estatus.   Por ejemplo, si ha pasado una cantidad de tiempo considerable fuera de los Estados Unidos puede considerar que ha perdido el estatus de residente y no se le permitir ingresar. Por el contrario, si no hay problemas e ingresa, deber aplicar inmediatamente por la renovacià ³n de la green card mediante el formulario el I-90. Casos de green card sin fecha de expiracià ³n Entre 1977 y 1989, el gobierno de los Estados Unidos emitià ³ miles de green cards sin fecha de expiracià ³n. En la actualidad hay aproximadamente 700 mil tarjetas de residencia de este tipo. Son vlidas si en letra pequeà ±a tienen escrito I-551. Por el contrario, son invlidas si aparece la letra y nà ºmero I-151. Aunque las que llevan la anotacià ³n I-551 son vlidas es recomendable solicitar su cambio por una versià ³n actualizada mediante el formulario I-90. Las razones son que puede ocasionar retraso en el paso migratorio al llegar a Estados Unidos porque la foto ya tiene muchos aà ±os. Adems, con ese tipo de tarjetas no puede utilizarse Global Entry para acelerar el paso por aduanas y, finalmente, algunos empleadores se muestran reacios a contratar a un migrante con un documento con foto tan antigua. Diferencias entre residencia permanente y residencia condicional No confundir el plazo de validad de una tarjeta de residencia ordinaria, que es de 10 aà ±os y el de una residencia condicional, cuya condicionalidad debe levantarse a los 2 aà ±os para convertirla en permanente. Los dos casos en los que se puede dar una tarjeta condicional son en algunas peticiones por matrimonio cuando se obtiene la green card antes de cumplir dos aà ±os de casados y en los de obtencià ³n de la green card por inversià ³n a travà ©s del programa EB-5. A tener en cuenta: naturalizacià ³n, ciudadanà ­a y test Los residentes pueden solicitar la ciudadanà ­a estadounidense por medio del trmite que se conoce como naturalizacià ³n. Los plazos de espera para poder solicitarla dependen de las circunstancias de cada residente.   Es importante valorar que no es lo mismo la residencia que la ciudadanà ­a, ya que con à ©sta se tienen ms derechos y tambià ©n ms protecciones legales. Por lo tanto, es una opcià ³n que se debe realmente estudiar. Por à ºltimo, toma este test de respuestas mà ºltiples sobre la residencia para garantizar que sabes todo lo fundamental sobre la green card: cà ³mo se obtiene y cà ³mo se conserva. Este es un artà ­culo informativo. No es asesorà ­a legal.

The #1 Critical, Fundamental Strategy of ACT Reading

The #1 Critical, Fundamental Strategy of ACT Reading SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips You only need to know one fundamental rule to do well on ACT Reading, and it’s not all that complicated. That rule is this: There’s only one correct answer choice for every question, and the other three answers can be eliminated based on definitively incorrect elements. In other words, the questions on the ACT Reading section are NOT subjective in any way! In this article, I’ll go through the types of incorrect answers you’ll see on the ACT Reading section and how to ruthlessly eliminate them so you’re only left with one solid winning choice. The Reasons Behind the Rule As we all know, the ACT is a standardized test.This means that the more people challenge the answers to the questions, the less validity it has as a measurement of student ability. The answers to all questions, even in areas that are usually more subjective like reading, have to be unambiguous.The only way to accomplish this is to restate something from the passage. Therefore, every answer must be DIRECTLY and CLEARLY supported by the text.If there’s no direct evidence, it’s not the correct answer.Otherwise, the ACT would encounter challenges to its questions, weakening its credibility.Once you get into the realm of literary interpretation, standardization breaks down. There are just too many ways of interpreting texts. This means you shouldn't make any assumptions on the test. What the passage says is what it means; even for inference questions, you can always find concrete evidence in the text for your answers.Now let’s take a look at the types of answers you should learn to eliminate. Types of Incorrect Answer Choices on the ACT Reading Section Incorrect answer choices on the ACT Reading section will fall into one of four categories. Once you do a fewpractice questions, you’ll be able to identify which answers fall into which problem areas. Category 1: Irrelevant This is an answer choice that has no evidence whatsoever in the passage - it’s just stuck in there amongst more realistic answers. Here's a sample question to show you what I mean: According to the passage, Cho would have determined that volunteers had experienced a placebo effect if which of the following procedures had created increased activity in the visual cortex of the brain? A. Flashing a light in front of themB. Stimulating one of their vision-related acupointsC. Having them read an eye-examination chartD. Stimulating a place that was not a visual acupoint In the passage, it states that "To eliminate the possibility of a placebo effect, Cho also stimulated a nonacupoint, in the big toe." The correct answer in this case is clearly D based on the passage. An example of an irrelevant answer choice would be C, "Having them read an eye-examination chart", because nowhere in the passage is the reading of an eye-examination chart mentioned as a part of the experiment. Why is this a dangerous option? Some test-takers are unaware that the passage doesn’t need to directly contradict an answer choice to make the choice wrong.Students might see an irrelevant answer choice and think it could be right because they missed something or the passage didn’t say it WASN'T true. Irrelevant answers are pretty common across the board, but they usually show up more in detail questions where students might think they just missed the part of the passage with evidence for the irrelevant answer. If a choice seems totally random, don’t assume the ACT wouldn’t put an obviously incorrect answer on the test. They would and they do, so don’t get fooled! After you read this article you're gonna have 20/20 vision on the ACT. Figuratively speaking. Category 2: Opposite This is an answer choice that is the exact opposite of what’s stated in the passage. Take this question as an example: Information in the second paragraph reveals that the family's response to the grandfather's error with the crutches is to: A. find a workable remedy for itB. lay the blame on the narratorC. praise him for more successful projectsD. fix what wasn't wrong in the first place In the passage, the narrator uses crutches that were constructed by his grandfather, but his grandfather forgets to put rubber tips on them so he keeps falling. The family's response is to simply "buy the rubber tips and put them on the crutches". The opposite answer out of the choices given is D, "fix what wasn't wrong in the first place", because the actual solution is to fix what WAS wrong. The correct answer is A, "find a workable remedy for it". Why is this a dangerous option? The ACT is counting on people rushing and not reading carefully enough.If the answer choice uses the same words that are in the passage, it’s easy to make a silly mistake and choose it because you missed a â€Å"not† (or, in this case, a "n't") in there. You'll often see opposite answers in detail questions because these questions are the most straigtforward, so most people don't focus too much on them. Read the questions carefully to avoid falling into this trap, and check your answers at the end of the section! Category 3: Concept Jumble This is an answer choice that incorporates concepts from the text but does so in a slightly confused order or relationship so that they don’t actually make sense as an answer to the question. Let's use this question as an example: The word miracle in line 52 refers most specifically to the way in which: A. brain function disorders are cured.B. unique handicaps are compensated for.C. different areas of the brain work together.D. the creative potential of disease is revealed. Here's the sentence from the passage that includes line 52: "The miracle is how they all cooperate, are integrated together, in the creation of a self." In the context of the passage, "they" refers to different areas of the brain; therefore, for this question, C is the correct answer. An example of a concept jumble answer would be D, "the creative potential of disease is revealed". This is because the main point of the passage is the fact that certain diseases reveal the creative potential of the brain to rewire itself. Even though D doesn't make sense as an answer to this specific question, it is still a concept that is discussed in the passage. Why is this a dangerous option? Much like opposite answer choices, concept jumble answer choices count on you rushing and not reading carefully enough. You might remember something being mentioned in the text and go with an answer that contains that same concept but not read closely enough to realize the answer doesn’t actually make sense. These types of answer choices are common on big picture questions that ask about the main points of passages. This is when it's easiest to confuse you because the answer has to cover broader themes or connect complex ideas. Again, read carefully! Don’t make assumptions, and be sure you know exactly what the question is asking before jumping to conclusions about the answer. Brains be crazy. Don't let yours run wild on the ACT. Category 4: Plausible interpretation This is an answer choice that offers a reasonable interpretation of the passage but is not evidenced directly in the text. We'll use this question as an example: The main function of lines 64-66 in terms of the eighth paragraph as a whole is to: A. give a sense of proportion to the numbers provided earlier in the paragraph.B. point out the limitations of the evidence provided by the Iowa scientists.C. supplement the paragraph's description of the comets with additional details about their size and capacity.D. provide readers with a sense of how old the planet really is. These lines read "That may not seem like much, but when talking about a planet billions of years old, it adds up." This refers to a statement earlier in the paragraph that comets bombarding the Earth's atmosphere would produce enough water vapor to add an inch of water to the planet's surface every 10,000 years. The real answer to this question is A because lines 64-66 serve mainly to put the earlier numbers in perspective. An example of a plausible interpretation answer would be D, "provide readers with a sense of how old the planet really is". The sentence does give a sense of how old the planet really is, so that could plausibly be its purpose in the paragraph. However, if you read closely, answer choice A is much more logical as a rationale for the placement of the sentence. Why is this a dangerous option? This is probably the MOST dangerous type of wrong answer choice for students who aren't prepared for the ACT.If you’re looking at a passage on the test the same way you would look at something you’re reading in English class, it's easy to get trapped by an answer that’s plausible but not objectively true. These options are especially problematic (and prevalent) with inference and function questions, because you are being asked to look beyond the literal details of the text. In these cases, remember that you will never have to look so far beyond what's written that there's nothing in the text that directly supports your answer. Again, don’t choose any answer that doesn’t have concrete support in the passage. Even if it could be correct, if you don’t see the evidence you need to eliminate it. The Fundamental Rule in Action Let’s work on identifying and eliminating wrong answer choices for a real ACT Reading question. Here’s the question: When the narrator refers to the cosmonaut as "a man without a country" (lines 83-84), she is most likely directly referring to the: A. cosmonaut's feeling that he is now a citizen of space, not the former Soviet Union.B. cosmonaut's unrealized expectation that he will be treated like a hero.C. political transformation that occurred while the cosmonaut was in space.D. sixteen months that the cosmonaut spent in orbit around Earth. And here’s the section of the passage you’ll need to refer to: I nod or laugh on cue, while I try to read upside-down a story in the would-be journalist’s newspaper that has caught my eye. It is about the Russian space station and the cosmonaut who had been up in orbit during the takeover attempt and ultimate dissolution of the Soviet Union. After sixteen long months, they are bringing the capsule back. While the train carries me back to my current home and away from my former, I keep thinking about that poor cosmonaut coming back to find his whole world changed, to find himself a man without a country - at least without the country he left behind. L8r, h8rs Step 1: Figure Out What the Question Is Asking We know the answer is related to a specific detail in the text based on the phrase "directly referring to" in the question, and we're given the line number, so we can find it pretty easily.The question could be rephrased to read â€Å"What fact from the passage does the phrase ‘a man without a country’ refer to?† Our goal is to find a direct connection in the passage between a fact stated by the narrator and her description of the cosmonaut. Step 2: Read the Lines Referenced in the Question Here's the sentence containing the "man without a country" line: While the train carries me back to my current home and away from my former, I keep thinking about that poor cosmonaut coming back to find his whole world changed, to find himself a man without a country - at least without the country he left behind. Just reading those lines doesn’t quite give us the information we need.We have to read the whole paragraph - there must be something before that sentence that explains why the narrator says what she says about the cosmonaut. Based on the rest of the paragraph, it seems like what triggered the â€Å"man without a country† line was the fact that the cosmonaut’s home country, the Soviet Union, was dissolved while he was in space. The article the narrator reads is about "the Russian space station and the cosmonaut who had been up in orbit during the takeover attempt and ultimate dissolution of the Soviet Union." (bolding added for emphasis) The end of the lines referenced in this question, "at least without the country he left behind," really brings this point home.The phrase referenced in the question ("man without a country") could ONLY be referring to the political changes between the Soviet Union as the cosmonaut knew it before he left and the country he will find when he arrives home. Step 3: Go Through the Answer Choices, and See Which One Sticks! Choice A:cosmonaut's feeling that he is now a citizen of space, not the former Soviet Union This is an example of a plausible interpretation answer choice. It would be reasonable to infer that the cosmonaut could have this feeling after being in space for so long, butnowhere in the passage is this feeling referenced. No matter how tempted you are to pick these types of choices, remind yourself that nothing short of concrete evidence should be enough to sell you on an answer choice. Cross it out! Choice B:cosmonaut's unrealized expectation that he will be treated like a hero This is an example of an irrelevant answer choice. This has nothing to do with anything in referenced in the passage about the cosmonaut.Don’t let answers like this trick you - even if you think this is a possible scenario, you can’t make any assumptions on the ACT. Cross it out! Choice C:political transformation that occurred while the cosmonaut was in space This answer choice looks good. We can find direct evidence in the paragraph above for this answer.We know that the cosmonaut â€Å"had been up in orbit during the takeover attempt and ultimate dissolution of the Soviet Union.† This is what is being referenced in the line cited in the question.The cosmonaut is coming back to â€Å"find his whole world changed† in a political sense. Keep this one! Choice D:sixteen months that the cosmonaut spent in orbit around Earth This is an example of a concept jumble answer choice. Yes, the cosmonaut did spend sixteen months in space. This is directly stated in the passage (which is what makes this answer different from a completely irrelevant choice). However, the fact about him spending sixteen months in space doesn’t answer the question that’s being asked.The concepts of the cosmonaut being â€Å"a man without a country† and the length of his time in space are not meaningfully linked by the author of the passage. Cross it out! Ok, looks like we’re bubbling in C! This process might not take as long on the test, but it’s helpful to walk through it and see the steps so you can understand exactly why all three incorrect answers can be eliminated. Once you accumlate enough practice, eliminating wrong answers will seem second-nature! Summary The fundamental rule of ACT reading is that three out of four answer choices can always be eliminated! The types of wrong answers you’ll see include: Irrelevant answer choices Opposite answer choices Concept jumble answer choices Plausible interpretation answer choices Every question you see on the ACT Reading section can be answered correctly by eliminating these types of answer choices until you are left with the one option that is evidenced directly in the text. Remember that, and you’ll ace this test! What's Next? Need more tips for ACT Reading? Take a look at these articles on how to read passages, how to answer vocabulary in context questions, and how to avoid running out of time. You should also check out this article on what's tested on the ACT Reading section and this one on the four types of passages you'll see. Now that you have all this great insight into the ACT Reading section,take a practice test to hone your skills even more! Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this Reading lesson, you'll love our program.Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands ofpractice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

External Analysis of My Company & PEST Analysis Research Paper

External Analysis of My Company & PEST Analysis - Research Paper Example Economic Factors People’s level of income to choose from cheaper substitutes, prices of raw material Social Factors Taste and demand for chocolates in a particular region Technological factors Introduction of new processes and methods of production The company’s environmental analysis can be undertaken by the help of PEST analysis. Since Hershey operates globally, it is important to emphasize that the local factors affecting the company differ in various regions. However, there are general environmental factors which include political factors. These factors can affect the operations of the company as, for instance, the government of the region where Hershey operates amends its policy relating to export and import strategy or may introduce any other changes ultimately affecting the operations of the company. On the other hand, laws, such as labor or consumer goods laws, in any region can also affect the company. To better illustrate the aforesaid with example, it has to be noted that today Hershey has developed its presence in Canada and Mexico due to NAFTA (Smith 132). Economic factors like any changes in the economy, such as prices of sugar, harvest of cocoa etc., can affect the company as well (Smith 132). The standard of living and the income of the people in the region will also affect the company’s sales; it means that people in less developed countries may consume less chocolate than they used to do before economic changes. Social factors, such as people’s taste (for instance, higher demand for dark chocolate over white chocolate), will affect company’s target in some particular market. Finally, technological factors, such as advancements in technological process and new ways of chocolate manufacturing, can also affect the company (â€Å"Annual Report† 4, 7). Industry Analysis FORCES INTENSITY Threats of new entrants Low Bargaining power of suppliers High Bargaining power of customers Low Pressure from substitute products High Rivalry High Nowadays the chocolate industry seems to be stagnant with insufficient number of powerful players entering the market because of the large capital requirements and strict regulations; however, the existing major players have captured their markets well. There is severe competition among existing giants. High dependency on the suppliers for cocoa beans, which are mostly found in Africa (70%), makes the position of a supplier within the industry stronger. On the other hand, the customers are usually dealt with via retail chains, which doesn’t give them an opportunity to take a strong enough position to control prices (â€Å"Annual Report† 5). Competitor Analysis The competition within the industry is highly intense. In order to win a market share the competitors try to independently expand their markets. In addition to the direct competition from within, the industry has to face indirect competition from outside. Snack foods, cereal, ice cream manufacturers are quite successful in grabbing the same market as well. Some of the competitors of Hershey are Mars, Nestle, General Mills, Hain Celestial Group, and Kraft etc. (Michman and Mazze 205). Market Analysis GLOBAL MARKER SHARE OF DIFFERENT COMPANIES Company Market share Cadbury and Kraft 14.8% Mars 14.6% Nestle 7.8% Hershey 4.6% Ferrero 4.5% Others 4.9% (â€Å"

Hong kong disney land Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Hong kong disney land - Essay Example One of the most essential entry approaches for Disney is to work with foreign governments where they want to open theme parks because the latter can provide various kinds of incentives. France, Japan, and Hong Kong all provided different incentives to attract Disney into opening its theme parks in its countries. France offered $1 billion worth of various incentives (â€Å"Case Study,† n.d.), while Hong Kong paid for more than 80% of the $2.9 billion initial expenditures of the Hong Kong Disney project (Einhorn & Balfour, 2009). Furthermore, it helps Disney that the foreign country is a partner in the venture because the risks are distributed and the country can provide cultural knowledge and skills that Disney may lack. For instance, in Hong Kong, the government holds 57% share in the joint venture (Einhorn & Balfour, 2009). As a business partner, the government reduces risks on the part of Disney, wherein losses were distributed between it and the government (Einhorn & Balfou r, 2009). The government also offers expertise in local market knowledge to Disney, thereby providing real-time, relevant knowledge to Disney, so that it can properly adapt its marketing mix to local markets (â€Å"Case Study,† n.d.). In addition, the government can provide the infrastructures needed for expanding the theme park. Hong Kong Disney wants to expand its park, and right now, it is waiting for the government to finance part of the expansion (Einhorn & Balfour, 2009). Hence, Disney reaps diverse economic, social, and cultural advantages in working with governments as partners. As for Hong Kong Disney, the Chinese apparently had problems understanding and applying international norms of behavior. China is a large market with different dialects and cultural norms. Disneyland imposes universal cultural rules and guidelines, which the Mainland Chinese, for instance, cannot easily follow, such as not spitting and urinating in its areas and not smoking in prohibited locat ions (Ren, 2013, p.42). Some of the Chinese cannot understand these international norms of behavior because they clash with their local cultural norms. In other words, what may seem international might be tremendously conflicting with local habits and practices (i.e. Many Mainland Chinese do not think that spitting anywhere and urinating in public areas are supposed to be unethical or unlawful). In addition, it is critical for Hong Kong Disney to help the Chinese understand international norms of behavior because Disney aims for universal brand equity. Disney seeks to have a strong global brand, where entertainment is attained through an appeal to magic and the international connection of people across cultures (Tuleja, 2009, p.142). Disney wants tourists, whatever Disney theme park they might be in, to feel that Disney is in each location, which means that expectations across theme parks in terms of norms and practices must be standardized to reduce negative surprises and negative brand associations. Disney has a large stake, thus, in standardizing international norms of behavior for the benefit of its brand and its notion of international markets. After discussing international norms, the next points to be discussed are two issues in Hong Kong Disney’s current operation, primarily falling revenues and expansion funding issues. At present, Hong Kong Disney’s revenues are not stellar. Hong Kong Disneyland's numbers have been disappointing. It sold 4.27 million tickets in 2007, which dropped from 5