As the title says.
I’m a Content Writer with on-page SEO expertise. I partner regularly with a Technical SEO expert so together we can truly customize solutions for our client needs.
CHALLENGE: I had a potential client call this morning. I promised her a proposal by Friday. She has a budget and is very knowledgable and engaged. She’s currently looking to replace the over seas firm she’s using not delivering satisfactory service (my words).
I called my Technical SEO partner and his MIL passed this morning. He’s unsure when he’ll be back to his desk.
NEED: I like to meet my deadlines, which may mean I need a different Technical SEO partner. A few things about the role I’m able to identify:

• Knowledge of enhancing GMB
• Ability to assess reasons for recent drops in traffic
• Willingness to run reports with a brief verbal or written explanation. Willing to customize those reports or summaries with the data the client wants to see the most.
• Other factors such as ADA Compliance, Site Speed, Incorrect Google Listing Info
• Willingness to do a high-level technical assessment and write a brief summary and bullet list of what your assessment reveals and what work should be prioritized so her GMB is higher than the competition. This final item would essentially act as the interview as it is needed before I can write the proposal.

DETAILS: If client accepts proposed plan, we’d begin with a minimum 3-6 month arrangement. There will be work for you each month. You’ll be paid hourly with an hourly cap. (ie $50/hr, max 4 hours this month) I tend to ask for retainer payments so my hope would be to offer advance payment.
Please only DM out if you contractofreelancer experience understand I’m looking for a teammate / partner in SEO with TECHNICAL SEO. I will manage the client relationship though you may need to present data/reports to the client on occasion. Right now I can’t estimate more the 1x per month. If it were to be more it would mean you’d be making more.
PLEASE SEND YOUR RESUME AND 2-3 LINKS TO RELEVANT WORK SAMPLES IF AVAILABLE

Reflecting on 2021, truly marked the zenith of my young career. The pandemic was coming to an end, I was fresh from the hallowed halls of a prestigious but unheralded college, thrust into the corporate labyrinth where, as a mere sidekick to the big shots, I contributed to a deal of record-breaking magnitude. My modest corporate minion life was exaggerated into legend by my professors during an alumni reunion, leading to a rather embarrassing episode where I was paraded around as the poster child of their education career’s success. My parents, not ones to shy away from a bit of pomp, lauded my achievements to anyone within earshot.
But as 2022 unfurled its chaos with the epidemic, my professional life spiralled downwards as swiftly as it had risen. I was laid off, and replaced by a nepotistic hire—my boss's new mistress's nephew. During my dismal final days, my colleagues, once comrades became corporate sharks, whispers of them scheming to claim my last efforts as their own filled the empty office spaces.
Compelled by financial duress to abandon my central city dwelling, I relocated to the outskirts with two college mates, Jaz and Kath, who had similarly found themselves victims of the economic downturn. We settled into apartment 606, a unit with dubious charm, suspiciously affordable on the 13th floor of a dreary building, its corridor haunted by a flickering sensor light that was only designed to function on rare occasions. Yet, the apartment itself was surprisingly very well furnished, almost like something that jumped out from a design mag, out beating sample rooms in Ikea, boasting a spacious balcony, a living room ready for an impromptu soirée, a dining table that’s good enough to hold a banquet(became our co-working space) and a kitchen isle that became our sanctuary and curse.
When we first settled into our new abode, we discovered a trove of fine kitchen utensils, perfect for whipping up sophisticated cuisine and crafting cocktails worthy of a swanky soirée. Tucked away in the fridge, among the remnants of the previous tenants' life, was a quaint note: “The three of us really enjoyed our stay here, especially our meals and nights spent by the kitchen island. We hope you find as much joy in it as we did. Use it well.” With a casual flick of my wrist, I dismissed the note into the garbage can, oblivious to the depth of its seemingly innocuous message. Little did I know, that piece of paper was more a passing of the torch than a simple goodbye.
Our initial days in apartment 606 brimmed with camaraderie and impromptu celebrations: movie nights sprawled on the living room sofas, barbeque dinners under the stars on our balcony, and co-working sessions at the dining table, peppered with resume tweaks and contemplative conversations over cocktails. We even scored a second-hand karaoke machine, allowing me to channel my inner diva—a throwback to my musical theatre days in college and my stint as the voice of corporate presentations and negotiations at my previous job, where I was known for my resonant yet finely tuned voice.
Yet, as the months wore on and the job market remained unyielding, our early merriment slowly surrendered to a creeping anxiety. The kitchen island, once the heart of our home where laughter and shared meals flowed freely, gradually morphed into the epicenter of our collective unease, bearing silent witness to the quiet desperation settling over us.
One evening, in the suspiciously affordable yet stylish apartment, I sank into the sofa, my spirits dampened by my favorite team's disheartening loss. The mood was grim, mirroring my fears of my beloved player's potential retirement at season's end. Later, as we congregated around the kitchen island for dinner, I transformed into an impromptu sports commentator, passionately preaching about the game’s disappointing details that led to failure and my favorite player’s fine qualities. Meanwhile, Jaz updated us on a friend's melodramatic breakup, with guesses that something ugly must have happened behind the scenes. Kath, ever the culinary enthusiast, not only served up her delicious pasta but also dished out the latest celebrity gossip, each tidbit as spicy as her sauce.
The next day, during a late breakfast at the same kitchen island—our unwitting oracle—we were hit by a triple whammy of reality checks. The news of my favorite player's retirement broke, echoing my gloomy predictions from the night before. Jaz chimed in with an update that our friend had uncovered a cheating scandal worthy of its own reality TV special. And Kath, never one to be left out of the drama: her favorite celebrity was now the star of a scandal.
By the third morning, as we sipped our coffee, the newspaper slapped me with another bizarre twist. I was going through the devastating economics and politics sections, then I saw the sports section——featured an irate coach, hell-bent on convincing my favorite player to dismiss retirement plans and keep his jersey on a little longer. Meanwhile, Jaz had good news for a change: it turned out our friend's love story might have a second act after all, as misunderstandings were being cleared up. Amidst these revelations, Kath, who had been grumbling about the nearby supermarket’s inability to stock anything remotely gourmet, and hadn’t had a taste of her favorite Blue Mountain coffee since the beginning of that year, triumphantly found a can of Blue Mountain coffee, and it was on sale and therefore affordable—proof that miracles happen, and sometimes they even go on discount.
As I sat there, absorbing the serendipity of our discussions manifesting into real-world events, I couldn't help but marvel at the mysterious knack of our kitchen island. Was it merely a coincidence, or had this stylish piece of decor become the unlikely conductor of our lives symphony? One thing was certain: life in apartment 606 was never dull, and our kitchen island seemed to be more than just a place to eat—it was a place where, apparently, you could stir the pot of fate.
I decided to conduct a whimsical experiment with our now seemingly magical kitchen island. Clearing my throat theatrically, I declared, "I should be interviewed for a director position." To my sheer astonishment, the next day a headhunter rang me up, claiming I was the ideal candidate for a directorial role at a prestigious corporation in my field. Despite the other candidates possessing decades more experience which defeated me with no effort, and my own lingering self-doubt from months of unemployment, I sailed to the final interview round with the company's executives.
Upon returning to our apartment, I found Kath flaunting a chic dress from a designer brand brand she’d snagged on clearance—a little luxury courtesy of our wish-granting island. Inspired, I approached the island and cheekily requested, "Get us jobs. Something fun." Lo and behold, the following day was spent lounging and binge-watching Netflix, only to be interrupted by a call from a former bigwig at my old job. He was venturing into a more illustrious company and wanted me onboard. The informal chat that followed was a breeze, and just like that, I was back in the game with a fancier title and a fatter paycheck.
The subsequent week was a flurry of celebrations. Jaz secured a senior-level position, and Kath landed her dream job at an influencer management agency. Feeling triumphant, we decided to indulge in a night of fine dining—our first in months. That Friday evening when I went from office to restaurant, on a whim, stopped at a convenience store to grab snacks and cigarettes for our post-dinner revelry. Outside, I encountered a homeless person. After offering him a sandwich (which he traded for a cigarette instead), he took a drag, peered into my eyes, and ominously muttered, “Look, young lady, this isn’t my business, but be wary of what you wish for; everything comes with a price. Good luck and god bless you.”
His words barely registered until later that evening when a mishap occurred that seemed to underline his warning. As we enjoyed syphon coffee post-dinner, a barista accidentally tripped over Kath’s flowing dress. The resulting spill left her with first-degree burns, abruptly ending our night as we rushed to the emergency room. Though it was "just" a first-degree burn, the pain was significant enough to require several days off for Kath’s recovery. Amid the drama, I couldn't help but wonder about the cryptic caution from the man outside the store—had our fortunate streak come with a hidden cost?
We chalked up the coffee calamity to bad luck. The next month flowed smoothly: Kath's fingers healed, she returned to work, and I quickly found my groove at the new job. With all of us gainfully employed, our communal meals at the kitchen island became rare. My mornings were a whirlwind of grabbing breakfast and coffee on the go, followed by an hour's commute to a job that had me scarfing down instant noodles by nightfall, just in time for a quick shower.
As the busy season kicked in, my workload ballooned—not just from the seasonal uptick, but because I was hell-bent on proving my mettle. I quickly outshone most of my peers, and my employer, recognizing a budding overachiever, piled on major tasks, which I eagerly accepted. What started as the occasional hour of overtime soon devoured my weekends. Unpaid overtime, as the fine print in my contract gleefully noted, became my new norm. Driven by a mix of ambition and expectation, I had become the go-to young hotshot, the erstwhile record-breaker now expected to continually outdo myself.
Mentally, I was too swamped to entertain thoughts of anything beyond work, which, in a twisted way, felt like a break. Physically, however, the strain began to show. A bout of flu caught on a business trip escalated into a fever. Sick as I was, deadlines waited for no one, and I soldiered on medicated and miserable. By the time I made it home, my voice had abandoned me. Unable to utter a word the next morning, I resorted to emailing my manager about my sorry state.
That week, robbed of my voice, I mused that it was perhaps a well-deserved hiatus for my overworked vocal cords—a silent retreat if you will. But when my voice did return, it was as a raspy whisper, a shadow of its former crisp and melodious timbre. My doctor offered a grim prognosis: slight improvement might come, but the golden tones were gone for good—scarred by the relentless grind. Ah, the price of ambition—a scratchy throat as a permanent reminder of my corporate conquests.
It seemed I had unwittingly exchanged the clarity of my voice for the tumult of career success. In the midst of our domestic enchantment with the possibly mystical kitchen island, Kath unearthed the contact of a reputed psychic, hailed as the finest in the land. However, the consultation fee was nothing short of princely, and with Jaz vehemently dismissing anything that couldn't be explained by cold, hard science, she promptly opted out of splitting the bill. Kath and I, unwilling to drain our wallets on what could be mere phantasmagoria, reluctantly let the opportunity pass.
Meanwhile, I couldn’t help but notice a curious change in Jaz’s routine. She had ceased dining at the kitchen island, avoiding it as if it were cursed—or perhaps, in her view, simply out of style. The Saturday morning brought a particularly harsh twist: a murder of crows took to spiralling above our balcony, their cries as sharp as the plot of a Poe novel. We found ourselves drawn to the infamous kitchen island, lined up like the cast of a macabre play, silently praying for the birds to disperse. Kath, ever trying to restore some semblance of normalcy, offered up cups of Blue Mountain coffee. She absentmindedly inquired if I wanted cream or sugar in mine—a blunder that made me realize just how long it had been since our last coffee klatch at this very spot. My inner monologue couldn't resist a dark wish for the crows to scatter, perhaps too dark, for they began to dive bomb our balcony in a feathery kamikaze. The spectacle was enough to knock Jaz off her feet—literally—as her mug met its end on the floor. Kath, meanwhile, made a hasty retreat to worship the porcelain god, and I sat frozen, my brain offline, pondering the twisted power of our kitchen island's apparent wish-granting.
After the unnerving spectacle of crows turning our balcony into a scene straight out of a Hitchcock film, our first rational step—post-collective fainting, of course—was to summon cleaners to manage the feathery carnage. Then, still rattled but increasingly curious, we visited a psychic, who, contrary to the crystal-ball-gazer image, operated out of a posh boutique in a high-end mall and dressed more like she was headed to a fashion show than a séance. We laid bare our saga of the seemingly cursed kitchen island, complete with photographic evidence of where domestic bliss meets eerie phenomena.
The psychic introduced a term that chilled the air around us: “limbo,” the threshold between our world and the otherworldly, and she dubbed our kitchen island the "Devil’s Bargain Counter." According to her, our wishes came with a heavy and unpredictable price, because we have accidentally started trades with beings from the netherworld. Her advice was disarmingly simple: cease all trades on the island. To address the repercussions of past wishes, she advised us the first line of defence, which was an eclectic mix of offerings laid out on our cursed countertop: raw meat(rooster works the best), a cocktail of spices(coca and cinnamon preferably), liberal splashes of spirits(whiskey and rum ideally), and an eerie bouquet of black flowers(luckily I found some black roses at a flower shop of the mall). In a grander gesture of appeasement, Kath relinquished her shiny new diamond bracelet, Jaz her absurdly expensive headphones, and I parted with cash—— a hefty slice of my bonus in hopes of placating whatever capricious spirits we'd angered.
Our return to normalcy was brief but sweet, prompting us to plan a getaway, eager to forget about our nefarious kitchen island. Yet, the respite was merely a tease. Jaz, in a stroke of spectacular misfortune, narrowly dodged disaster twice in one day—first nearly becoming subway track fodder on her way back after work, and then almost getting knocked out by a rogue plant at our apartment building’s doorstep. Clearly, our previous offerings were mere appetizers to whatever forces we'd stirred. The psychic, summoned once again to our now-dubious sanctuary, decreed that the spirits had developed rather expensive tastes, unsatisfied by our initial gestures.
In a desperate bid for closure, we had the psychic over for a nighttime ritual, timed perfectly with Earth's closest approach to the netherworld, according to her. Our living room turned into a ritual chamber, with windows blacked out for days, to keep the otherworldly dealings strictly nocturnal. That night, we arranged ourselves around the island, now less a kitchen fixture and more an altar of last resort.
The psychic, amidst a chorus of Latin incantations, directed us through a chilling séance that included a mirror that reflected nothing but darkness and a burning black candle, the three of us sat in a row, joined hands, eyes closed. When the black candle was flickering at its last, the first eerie scratches heard prompted our eyes to open prematurely, we saw a command appear on the island, written by invisible hand and pen, in blood-red script, urging us to find the next "succeeder" before our lease on otherworldly disturbances could be terminated.
With bated breath, we agreed, and as if by magic, our signatures materialized on the countertop, then faded as the candle sputtered out. We tore off the black cardboard taped on the windows at dawn, the sunrise revealed a final message etched into the surface: "Debt cleared." As the daylight grew, the ominous inscription dissolved into nothingness, signalling the end of our spectral saga.
The ordeal, now officially behind us, left us enjoying a semblance of normalcy: life in 606 returned to its mundane rhythm, with dinners and movie nights back on our social calendar. Though not without its scars—literal and figurative.
It’s been two years since then, Jaz, in the throes of romantic bliss, is now gearing up for a new chapter waiting to be written alongside her soon-to-be spouse; Kath, her career finally taking a lucrative turn, was poised to upgrade her living situation, she secured a lease on a lavish serviced apartment in the city center—a place that matched her newfound financial swagger.
I’m not without my own leaps forward. With a modest boost from my parents, I took the plunge into homeownership, snagging a property within the city’s vibrant confines. The process was a whirlwind of paperwork and decorating decisions, culminating in a space I could truly call my own.
As we are packing up now, my last act is to type out our story, at the infamous island, and of course, I left a note in the fridge for the next tenants:
"Welcome to 606. We had a wonderful time here, especially at the kitchen island, filled with joy and unforgettable moments. We hope you find as much happiness as we did. Use the isle well. Warm wishes, the previous tenants."

Hello all,
This is something I literally cannot stop thinking about and I feel like a horrible person right now so any advice is helpful.
I got accepted into a PhD program in a STEM field and after a lot of contemplation, I accepted it a month ago. I have still been majorly struggling with the life changes and if I am up to it (pretty much imposter syndrome). But I sent in all my material at the end of last year.
However, I recently needed to send an updated resume/CV for my job due to a QA walkthrough (I work at a diagnostics lab currently) and I noticed under my description of this job, I described my work as “analytical testing of specimens”.
I do work with patient samples but it is just a diagnostic process. I’m not running specific tests on specific samples, in reality I’m pushing them through the lab using liquid handlers. So I feel that saying I am doing any sort of “analytical testing” is a gross lie. I really don’t know what I was thinking when writing that. If anything, it should be “diagnostic processing” and then I could really explain what I do. I have other bullets under this section to back up other things I do (reagent handling, instrument troubleshooting, training, etc.)
I feel so incredibly guilty because of this and what’s worse is that I did not even get a formal interview by the school or my PI. Like I wish I did so then this could have been found out and then I could explain the mistake but now it’s obviously too late. It makes my work experience sound so much more grandiose but in reality it’s very simple.
I mean I do have the other qualifications (bachelors, some research experience, letters of recommendation) but I feel that this job also means a lot in the decision and I feel incredibly sick to my stomach thinking that I have experience in any sort of analytical testing when I don’t. I have a theoretical grasp of some of the methods but no actual work experience (maybe some undergrad lab experience).
Should I email my PI and ask him about this? Or send in an updated CV? I know the running joke is “fake it till you make it” but I genuinely feel that I am a fake now and don’t want to live like that.
TLDR: Got into grad school but realized a pretty massive error on my CV regarding my job description and I am freaking out about it.

this was never the case for me 2+ years ago, now every company I talk to and casually ask about the interview and onboarding process, they say they do 7 years of employment verification
Im debating leaving all companies off my resume. I tried putting "consultant" as my J1 company name, and it hasnt gotten any hits, although it has been a small sample size.

Perpetual Protocol is a top derivatives exchange handling over $38B in trades. They are at the forefront of cryptocurrency and Decentralized Finance (DeFi). They are looking for a skilled individual to join their team as a Software Engineer. The role involves developing and integrating backend services, frontend interfaces, and smart contracts for their Web3 exchange platform.
The ideal candidate should have at least 2 years of experience in software engineering. Strong collaboration and communication skills are essential. Additional expertise in blockchain development, frontend, or backend systems is a plus. While proficiency in all areas is not required, a passion for pushing decentralized technologies forward is crucial.
This full-time remote position is eligible for a team token distribution. If you are enthusiastic about blockchain technology, DeFi, and the future of finance, apply via Perpetual Protocol's Jobs page. Remember to include relevant writing samples in your resume.
Please Apply here: https://cryptojobslist.com/jobs/software-engineer-perpetual-protocol-fully-remote

Perpetual Protocol is a top derivatives exchange handling over $38B in trades. They are at the forefront of cryptocurrency and Decentralized Finance (DeFi). They are looking for a skilled individual to join their team as a Software Engineer. The role involves developing and integrating backend services, frontend interfaces, and smart contracts for their Web3 exchange platform.
The ideal candidate should have at least 2 years of experience in software engineering. Strong collaboration and communication skills are essential. Additional expertise in blockchain development, frontend, or backend systems is a plus. While proficiency in all areas is not required, a passion for pushing decentralized technologies forward is crucial.
This full-time remote position is eligible for a team token distribution. If you are enthusiastic about blockchain technology, DeFi, and the future of finance, apply via Perpetual Protocol's Jobs page. Remember to include relevant writing samples in your resume.
If you are interested, Apply here: https://cryptojobslist.com/jobs/software-engineer-perpetual-protocol-fully-remote

So I'm in the interview process with a finance company and will eventually need to pass a background check including employment. I have no criminal records but I worried about the employment part. I lied on my resume to get the interview because I was an exotic dancer for the last several years, and I didn't think saying that would get me an interview. I put on my resume that I was a waitress at the club but I used the legal name/parent company not club name. This got me to my initial interview and I am moving on to the next one. They already mentioned the extensive background check that will be done once I get an offer. I realize why they are so thorough in this part and this job is licensed. Looking back, I wish I had put independent contractor which is true, I was never an employee for the club. I was a 1099 worker. The job is entry level customer service so I thought putting waitress would help me get hired as it is customer service heavy. Dancing is still heavily stigmatized but the skills are similar to service industry.
What exactly happens when they do an employment background check? Will I have an opportunity to explain myself or will the fact that I lied automatically disqualify me? I'm trying to obtain a record of my employment but having no luck figuring out how to do so online. I tried the work number site from Equifax and they could not verify me.

So far sales had been steady but not spectacular. Jenna hoped they would pick up after the school let out. She chatted and sampled with customers, pitching her spiel about supporting their troop's efforts to earn badges. It was fun work even if tiring on her feet.
Gazing up at the cloudless sky, Jenna wondered idly if it might rain later. The forecast hadn't mentioned anything, but you never knew. A tiny speck in the distance caught her eye. She squinted, trying to make it out. It grew rapidly in size—and shape. Whatever it was, it wasn't a bird.
"Hey Jamie, do you see that?" Jenna nudged her friend, pointing. Now the other girls had turned to look as well. What had been a speck was now clearly some large, cylindrical object descending from the heavens. It shone silvery-grey in the sunlight.
"Is that...a rocket ship?" breathed Tammy.
As it neared the treetops, its design became evident. Definitely not any spacecraft Jenna had seen on the news or in movies. It was smoothly rounded on all ends, with no visible engines or fins. Eerily silent, it drifted toward an open field and settled softly on four tapering legs.
The girls stared open-mouthed, cookies momentarily forgotten. A hatch appeared in the side of the ship. Light spilled out, glowing an ethereal blue. Then towering figures emerged, moving with an inhuman grace.
Jenna caught her breath. Peering closer, she could just make out bipedal forms wrapped in loose, silvery garments. Their limbs seemed overly long and jointed in odd places. As they turned in her direction, two dark eyes set wide in hairless faces met hers. No nose or mouth was visible beneath.
"Aliens," Jamie whispered. "Actual aliens. I don't believe it."
Tammy squeaked and clung to Jenna's arm. But Jenna's mind was racing. This was an incredible opportunity, too good to pass up. She flashed the others a mischievous smile. "Come on, girls. Let's go make some sales!"
The troop fell into step behind her as she marched into the field. The creatures had paused, gazing around at their surroundings with a palpable air of curiosity and caution. As Jenna neared, they angled their expressive eyes down at the little band approaching. Up close, their skin shimmered in shades of aqua and moss green, veined with silvery networks.
The tallest one shifted its gaze between the girls, as if taking their measure. It spoke, but the sound was like rushing wind and dripping water blended into an eerie melody. Its friends chattered in response, their voices blending into a dissonant choir.
Undeterred, Jenna beamed and proudly presented her box of Thin Mints. "Cookies!" she enunciated clearly. "Would you like to buy some cookies?" To her astonishment, a glowing rectangle like a computer screen lit up on the tall one's torso. Words scrolled across it in crisp English letters.
WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND. WHAT ARE COOKIES? IT SEEMS YOU ARE SELLING SOMETHING, BUT WE HAVE NO CURRENCY OF YOUR WORLD.
Jamie leaned in to whisper, eyes shining, "They can understand us! This is so cool."
Jenna gathered her thoughts, focusing on her sales pitch despite everything unusual about the situation. "Cookies are a sweet treat made of chocolate and biscuits. They're very popular here on Earth. And all the money we earn from selling them goes towards fun trips and learning new skills as Girl Scouts. Please, won't you buy a box to help support our troop? I'm sure you'll love them!"
The aliens conferred amongst themselves, still in untranslatablespeech. Finally, the glowing display lit up again. I APOLOGIZE, BUT WE HAVE NO MEANS OF TRANSACTION. WE ARE EXPLORERS HERE IN PEACE TO STUDY YOUR WORLD. PERHAPS ANOTHER TIME WE CAN BARTER. FOR NOW, WE ONLY WISH TO LEARN.
Jenna tried to hide her disappointment. This wasn't how she'd envisioned the interaction going at all. But she had come this far, so she wasn't giving up yet. An idea bloomed in her mind. "Well, since you want to learn about us, how about a trade? We'll give you a box of cookies to try in exchange for letting our whole troop come aboard your ship for a little while. What do you say?"
The girls held their breath. This was assuredly against every safety rule. But an opportunity for an out of this world experience was too enticing to pass up. The aliens conversed quietly before responding.
VERY WELL, HUMAN CHILDREN. FOR THE SAKE OF CULTURAL EXCHANGE, WE AGREE TO YOUR TRADE. COME, WE SHALL GIVE YOU A TOUR OF OUR VESSEL.
Screeches of delight arose from the Scout troop. Jenna tried to shush them, not wanting the aliens to change their minds. But she couldn't contain her own grin of excitement and triumph. This was going to be one very memorable cookie sale!
Jenna stepped forward nervously, holding out the box of Thin Mints for the aliens to see. She did her best salesperson smile while gesturing to the colorful packaging. "Cookies!" she said again loudly and clearly.
The tallest alien leaned down, its large dark eyes fixing on the box in Jenna's hands. A long, nimble finger reached out to poke gently at the box, then drew back just as swiftly. Its companions murmured again in their strange tongue.
Frustrated not being able to communicate properly, Jenna popped open the lid so the sweet scent could waft up. She took one mint and mimed taking a bite, sighing happily and rubbing her belly. The aliens copied the sign for stomach, looking quizzical.
An idea sparked in Jenna's mind. Rummaging in her bag, she pulled out her phone and found the notepad app. Typing awkwardly with her thumbs, she showed them the words "Will you trade for this?" Arrows pointed to the cookies and to their ship.
A spark of understanding lit in the aliens' eyes as they studied the makeshift message. Their glowing display lit up in response. I APOLOGIZE, SMALL HUMAN, BUT WE HAVE NOTHING OF VALUE FROM OUR WORLD TO OFFER IN RETURN. OUR MISSION HERE IS ONE OF DISCOVERY ONLY.
"Please?" Jenna typed, giving her best pleading look. The girls clustered behind her, joining in the silent begging. But the aliens only seemed perplexed by this behavior.
Suddenly Tammy piped up, "What if we clean your ship for you? We'll dust and sweep and take out the garbage." The others stared at her, surprised by this inventive offer.
The display considered this. THAT IS A GENEROUS OFFER. HOWEVER, OUR CRAFT UTILIZES TECHNOLOGY FAR BEYOND YOUR WORLD'S CURRENT STAGE. I DOUBT YOU COULD PERFORM MAINTENANCE TO OUR STANDARDS.
At this rejection, the girls deflated with twin sounds of disappointment. But Jenna wasn't giving up yet. She furiously texted another message. "How about you give us a little tour then? We promise to be very careful and not touch anything."
The aliens conferred quietly amongst themselves for several moments. The girls held their breath, hoping their persistence was finally paying off. Then the glowing display lit up once more.
VERY WELL, SMALL HUMANS. FOR THE SAKE OF CULTURAL EXCHANGE, WE WILL ALLOW YOU A BRIEF LOOK INSIDE OUR VESSEL. BUT YOU MUST FOLLOW OUR INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. OUR TECHNOLOGY COULD PROVE DANGEROUS IF MISUSED.
The Girl Scouts whooped and cheered, doing a little victory dance. Jenna grinned, popping another Thin Mint in her mouth triumphantly. "Deal! Thank you so much for this."
The tallest alien gestured gracefully with one long arm. "THIS WAY, YOUNG ONES. WE SHALL BEGIN OUR TOUR."
Clutching their cookie boxes eagerly, the girls fell into line behind the extraterrestrials. They followed them up a floating gangway into the belly of the ship.
Inside, the walls glowed with an otherworldly luminescence. Strange symbols and interfaces winked all around, totally indecipherable. The floors felt bouncy underfoot, as if made of gelatin.
"Wow," breathed Jamie. "It's so beautiful in here."
The aliens guided them through sleek corridors and compartments full of glowing tech. They pointed out living quarters, a laboratory, hydroponic gardens, and an observation deck showing the curve of the Earth.
In the cockpit, countless viewscreens displayed alien constellations and scans of their small town below. Control panels rippled like liquid mercury beneath touch.
"This is where we navigated our journey to your solar system," explained their guides. "Truly a marvel, the distances stars can be bridged.
Tammy peered out the main viewing portal. "Your ship is so fast! How did you get here from wherever you came from?"
As the explorers launched into an explanation involving hyperdrives and folded spacetime, Jenna began to lose the thread. Space travel clearly worked very differently where these beings hailed from.
Their tour lasted nearly an hour, the aliens answering every barrage of questions patiently. All too soon, it was over, and they found themselves back outside in the late afternoon sun
"Thank you so much for the amazing tour!" Jenna gushed, hugging her now-empty cookie box. "Learning about aliens is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The tallest being dipped its head graciously. "IT WAS OUR PLEASURE, SMALL HUMANS. YOU HAVE PROVIDED US AN INSIGHT INTO YOUR YOUNG ONES AS WELL."
Its fellows chattered in their musical language, some holding half-eaten cookies and gesturing appreciatively. Jenna beamed, glad they seemed to have enjoyed the treats.
"Will you come back to see us again?" asked Jamie hopefully.
"PERHAPS, IF OUR EXPLORATIONS BRING US BACK THIS WAY," was the reply. "BUT FOR NOW, WE MUST RESUME OUR JOURNEY AMONG THE STARS. FAREWELL, AND THANK YOU ONCE MORE FOR YOUR HOSPITALITY.
The aliens turned as one and glided back up the gangway. The rockets flared, rising gracefully into the sky until they vanished into the dusk.
The girls stood watching long after, buzzing with excited chatter about this unforgettable day. In the end, it had been the best cookie sale ever. Maybe even worth breaking a few rules...

So far sales had been steady but not spectacular. Jenna hoped they would pick up after the school let out. She chatted and sampled with customers, pitching her spiel about supporting their troop's efforts to earn badges. It was fun work even if tiring on her feet.
Gazing up at the cloudless sky, Jenna wondered idly if it might rain later. The forecast hadn't mentioned anything, but you never knew. A tiny speck in the distance caught her eye. She squinted, trying to make it out. It grew rapidly in size—and shape. Whatever it was, it wasn't a bird.
"Hey Jamie, do you see that?" Jenna nudged her friend, pointing. Now the other girls had turned to look as well. What had been a speck was now clearly some large, cylindrical object descending from the heavens. It shone silvery-grey in the sunlight.
"Is that...a rocket ship?" breathed Tammy.
As it neared the treetops, its design became evident. Definitely not any spacecraft Jenna had seen on the news or in movies. It was smoothly rounded on all ends, with no visible engines or fins. Eerily silent, it drifted toward an open field and settled softly on four tapering legs.
The girls stared open-mouthed, cookies momentarily forgotten. A hatch appeared in the side of the ship. Light spilled out, glowing an ethereal blue. Then towering figures emerged, moving with an inhuman grace.
Jenna caught her breath. Peering closer, she could just make out bipedal forms wrapped in loose, silvery garments. Their limbs seemed overly long and jointed in odd places. As they turned in her direction, two dark eyes set wide in hairless faces met hers. No nose or mouth was visible beneath.
"Aliens," Jamie whispered. "Actual aliens. I don't believe it."
Tammy squeaked and clung to Jenna's arm. But Jenna's mind was racing. This was an incredible opportunity, too good to pass up. She flashed the others a mischievous smile. "Come on, girls. Let's go make some sales!"
The troop fell into step behind her as she marched into the field. The creatures had paused, gazing around at their surroundings with a palpable air of curiosity and caution. As Jenna neared, they angled their expressive eyes down at the little band approaching. Up close, their skin shimmered in shades of aqua and moss green, veined with silvery networks.
The tallest one shifted its gaze between the girls, as if taking their measure. It spoke, but the sound was like rushing wind and dripping water blended into an eerie melody. Its friends chattered in response, their voices blending into a dissonant choir.
Undeterred, Jenna beamed and proudly presented her box of Thin Mints. "Cookies!" she enunciated clearly. "Would you like to buy some cookies?" To her astonishment, a glowing rectangle like a computer screen lit up on the tall one's torso. Words scrolled across it in crisp English letters.
WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND. WHAT ARE COOKIES? IT SEEMS YOU ARE SELLING SOMETHING, BUT WE HAVE NO CURRENCY OF YOUR WORLD.
Jamie leaned in to whisper, eyes shining, "They can understand us! This is so cool."
Jenna gathered her thoughts, focusing on her sales pitch despite everything unusual about the situation. "Cookies are a sweet treat made of chocolate and biscuits. They're very popular here on Earth. And all the money we earn from selling them goes towards fun trips and learning new skills as Girl Scouts. Please, won't you buy a box to help support our troop? I'm sure you'll love them!"
The aliens conferred amongst themselves, still in untranslatablespeech. Finally, the glowing display lit up again. I APOLOGIZE, BUT WE HAVE NO MEANS OF TRANSACTION. WE ARE EXPLORERS HERE IN PEACE TO STUDY YOUR WORLD. PERHAPS ANOTHER TIME WE CAN BARTER. FOR NOW, WE ONLY WISH TO LEARN.
Jenna tried to hide her disappointment. This wasn't how she'd envisioned the interaction going at all. But she had come this far, so she wasn't giving up yet. An idea bloomed in her mind. "Well, since you want to learn about us, how about a trade? We'll give you a box of cookies to try in exchange for letting our whole troop come aboard your ship for a little while. What do you say?"
The girls held their breath. This was assuredly against every safety rule. But an opportunity for an out of this world experience was too enticing to pass up. The aliens conversed quietly before responding.
VERY WELL, HUMAN CHILDREN. FOR THE SAKE OF CULTURAL EXCHANGE, WE AGREE TO YOUR TRADE. COME, WE SHALL GIVE YOU A TOUR OF OUR VESSEL.
Screeches of delight arose from the Scout troop. Jenna tried to shush them, not wanting the aliens to change their minds. But she couldn't contain her own grin of excitement and triumph. This was going to be one very memorable cookie sale!
Jenna stepped forward nervously, holding out the box of Thin Mints for the aliens to see. She did her best salesperson smile while gesturing to the colorful packaging. "Cookies!" she said again loudly and clearly.
The tallest alien leaned down, its large dark eyes fixing on the box in Jenna's hands. A long, nimble finger reached out to poke gently at the box, then drew back just as swiftly. Its companions murmured again in their strange tongue.
Frustrated not being able to communicate properly, Jenna popped open the lid so the sweet scent could waft up. She took one mint and mimed taking a bite, sighing happily and rubbing her belly. The aliens copied the sign for stomach, looking quizzical.
An idea sparked in Jenna's mind. Rummaging in her bag, she pulled out her phone and found the notepad app. Typing awkwardly with her thumbs, she showed them the words "Will you trade for this?" Arrows pointed to the cookies and to their ship.
A spark of understanding lit in the aliens' eyes as they studied the makeshift message. Their glowing display lit up in response. I APOLOGIZE, SMALL HUMAN, BUT WE HAVE NOTHING OF VALUE FROM OUR WORLD TO OFFER IN RETURN. OUR MISSION HERE IS ONE OF DISCOVERY ONLY.
"Please?" Jenna typed, giving her best pleading look. The girls clustered behind her, joining in the silent begging. But the aliens only seemed perplexed by this behavior.
Suddenly Tammy piped up, "What if we clean your ship for you? We'll dust and sweep and take out the garbage." The others stared at her, surprised by this inventive offer.
The display considered this. THAT IS A GENEROUS OFFER. HOWEVER, OUR CRAFT UTILIZES TECHNOLOGY FAR BEYOND YOUR WORLD'S CURRENT STAGE. I DOUBT YOU COULD PERFORM MAINTENANCE TO OUR STANDARDS.
At this rejection, the girls deflated with twin sounds of disappointment. But Jenna wasn't giving up yet. She furiously texted another message. "How about you give us a little tour then? We promise to be very careful and not touch anything."
The aliens conferred quietly amongst themselves for several moments. The girls held their breath, hoping their persistence was finally paying off. Then the glowing display lit up once more.
VERY WELL, SMALL HUMANS. FOR THE SAKE OF CULTURAL EXCHANGE, WE WILL ALLOW YOU A BRIEF LOOK INSIDE OUR VESSEL. BUT YOU MUST FOLLOW OUR INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. OUR TECHNOLOGY COULD PROVE DANGEROUS IF MISUSED.
The Girl Scouts whooped and cheered, doing a little victory dance. Jenna grinned, popping another Thin Mint in her mouth triumphantly. "Deal! Thank you so much for this."
The tallest alien gestured gracefully with one long arm. "THIS WAY, YOUNG ONES. WE SHALL BEGIN OUR TOUR."
Clutching their cookie boxes eagerly, the girls fell into line behind the extraterrestrials. They followed them up a floating gangway into the belly of the ship.
Inside, the walls glowed with an otherworldly luminescence. Strange symbols and interfaces winked all around, totally indecipherable. The floors felt bouncy underfoot, as if made of gelatin.
"Wow," breathed Jamie. "It's so beautiful in here."
The aliens guided them through sleek corridors and compartments full of glowing tech. They pointed out living quarters, a laboratory, hydroponic gardens, and an observation deck showing the curve of the Earth.
In the cockpit, countless viewscreens displayed alien constellations and scans of their small town below. Control panels rippled like liquid mercury beneath touch.
"This is where we navigated our journey to your solar system," explained their guides. "Truly a marvel, the distances stars can be bridged.
Tammy peered out the main viewing portal. "Your ship is so fast! How did you get here from wherever you came from?"
As the explorers launched into an explanation involving hyperdrives and folded spacetime, Jenna began to lose the thread. Space travel clearly worked very differently where these beings hailed from.
Their tour lasted nearly an hour, the aliens answering every barrage of questions patiently. All too soon, it was over, and they found themselves back outside in the late afternoon sun
"Thank you so much for the amazing tour!" Jenna gushed, hugging her now-empty cookie box. "Learning about aliens is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The tallest being dipped its head graciously. "IT WAS OUR PLEASURE, SMALL HUMANS. YOU HAVE PROVIDED US AN INSIGHT INTO YOUR YOUNG ONES AS WELL."
Its fellows chattered in their musical language, some holding half-eaten cookies and gesturing appreciatively. Jenna beamed, glad they seemed to have enjoyed the treats.
"Will you come back to see us again?" asked Jamie hopefully.
"PERHAPS, IF OUR EXPLORATIONS BRING US BACK THIS WAY," was the reply. "BUT FOR NOW, WE MUST RESUME OUR JOURNEY AMONG THE STARS. FAREWELL, AND THANK YOU ONCE MORE FOR YOUR HOSPITALITY.
The aliens turned as one and glided back up the gangway. The rockets flared, rising gracefully into the sky until they vanished into the dusk.
The girls stood watching long after, buzzing with excited chatter about this unforgettable day. In the end, it had been the best cookie sale ever. Maybe even worth breaking a few rules...

Hi everyone, i plan on applying to clinical PhD programs in the cycle of 2025 to be admitted in 2026. I wanted to get people’s input on whether it is necessary that I go get some clinical experience given that I virtually have none. Just a bit about my CV: I volunteered as an undergrad research assistant for 2.5 years in a lab studying BD (did an honors thesis using data from a healthy sample). I had zero interaction with the BD participants and data collection was put to a halt due to the pandemic. I’ve been working post bacc for the past year in a lab that, while they promote themselves as a clinical lab interested in psychiatric disorders, it is actually an affective and developmental lab working with a community sample. I do administer SCID as part of my job and have been trained with how to deal with situations like suicidal endorsement. But outside of that, I don’t have any “clinical” experience as far as that is possible at this stage in my career. I surely will have extensive research experience and skills by the time I apply, including operating an MRI scanner (don’t know if this will be relevant in my applications yet), administering SCID, proficient with coding, running statistical analyses, both in R and fMRI data processing and analysis, with maybe a couple of publications (not first author, impossible in my lab, most likely mid-authors) and some posters (maybe 2 first authors and a few mid-authors). I also will have two really strong letters of rec from two distinguished professors in my field. No idea who will be my third at the moment. So should I go volunteer at some suicide hotline or outpatient/inpatient hospital to get clinical experience? How much will not being exposed to clinical populations hurt my resume? What type of “clinical experience” do you think would be best?
EDIT: seems like there’s a general consensus among the comments. Thank you all for your response! 🙏🏼

Good day guys. Its just as the title says. I am a software engineer with 1 year of experience, I graduated in 2022 with a bachelor in software engineering. I lived in Africa all my life but i recently moved to the US a month ago. Job searching has been terrible so i decided to join a bootcamp to increase my skills while working part-time at a store of some kind. Ive been applying for a week to Walmart, Target, Aldi...etc but i keep getting rejected. My mum told me yesterday to maybe remove my degree and only add my high school education, and also remove my software engineering experience since this is my first retail job.
How do i go about this? I left high school in 2017, does it still make sense to still leave it there? wouldn't they question the gap? should i leave out my education altogether? When applying on most of their websites, they require you to add education and experience so i am really not sure how to go about this. Should i just go to the stores in person? Does anyone have a sample retail job resume for someone without retail experience. Getting rejected from software engineering jobs were bad enough but I'm not sure how much more rejections i can take from jobs paying 15$/hr. Any help would be appreciated.

I'm a highly qualified virtual assistant looking for work. I have experience in

1. Research-focused tasks
2. Writing
3. Graphic Design
4. Social Media Management
5. Video Editing
6. Organization

And more...
Here is a link to some of my previous works.
Work Samples (Resume, Research & Writing Experience, Logos, and Social Media Posters)
Video Editing Experience (My YouTube Channel)
Let me know if you need my services. You can reach me at:
Discord: .ToxicChief
Telegram: @ chifusumu
Email: [m.arkgatuati@gmail.com](mailto:m.arkgatuati@gmail.com)
I charge a fair price of 4 USD/hr. Looking forward to hearing from you :)

So let me first state that I have very little faith I'll ever hear back from this recruiter, if thats what they really are. I'
I applied to a position friday morning and got one of those oh so popular cold calls at noon. On the phone was an indain recruiter with a very thick accent. I figured I had nothing better to do so I went along with it.
So she asks me questions regarding my resume and (this is not a personal attack but more so a question of why are you doing this if you don't have the requisite skills to actually handle recruiting?) I notice that she can barely speak or understand english.
The position I applied for was a simple sample processing job at quest diagnostics. Despite all the clear experiences on my resume, she could not comprehend why I was a good candidate because my resume never specifically mentioned the word "sample." (Goes back to the barely can understand english let alone explain the position to me as she just kept saying the word 'sample' no matter how many times I explained that I have literally been doing everything on the job description for the past 6 years.) So we went in circles for 5 minutes.
The point that makes me wonder if this is real or not is that she wanted me to edit my resume to explain all the "sample work" I did at my positions. Now at this point i had gathered that she meant things such as preparing reagents and media for cell cultures and growth, something that shouldn't even be a question to someone who understands english and basic laboratory procedures. She didn't want me to lie, but to instead add a little excerpt after each position to say the specific medias and cultures Ihad done. I did it in 3 minutes and sent it to her.
She then called me back a few minutes later to make me edit it again because apparently I hadn't done so to her specifications.
A point against this being a real recruiter is that I got a call not 10 minutes later from another indian woman for the same position and I just told her I already talked to a recruiter and hung up.
What are the odds, if any, that this is a position and they are real recruiters? If they are, is it just a company outsourcing recruiting to the lowest possible bidder at the expense of having recruiters who even speak the language?
If a scam/not real why put so much effort into it? Why call me back 3-4 times to get me to edit my resume specifically for the position? Usually the fake ones just say some bullshit about the job in a 3 minute call that eauates to "do you want yhe job?" and then ghost.
What the fuck is happening?

I'm a highly qualified virtual assistant looking for work. I have experience in

1. Research-focused tasks
2. Writing
3. Graphic Design
4. Social Media Management
5. Video Editing
6. Organization

And more...
Here is a link to some of my previous works.
Work Samples (Resume, Research & Writing Experience, Logos, and Social Media Posters)
Video Editing Experience (My YouTube Channel)
Let me know if you need my services. You can reach me at:
Discord: .ToxicChief
Telegram: @ chifusumu
Email: [m.arkgatuati@gmail.com](mailto:m.arkgatuati@gmail.com)
I charge a fair price of 4 USD/hr. Looking forward to hearing from you :)

A fanfiction of The Nature of Predators by SpacePaladin15 https://www.reddit.com/HFY/comments/u19xpa/the_nature_of_predators/
~~~~~~
I’d like to give a HUGE thanks to u/aMANTEIGAdo for drawing this absolutely amazing fanart!!! Tibi and Toripa just look so cute!
~~~~~~
Previous First Next
Memory Transcription Subject: Seloq, Aspiring Farsul Botanist
Date [Standardized Human Time]: November 5, 2136
The Yotul closes the doors behind him as he leaves, his partially concealed tail giving a friendly sway one last time. For a moment, I stand silently, my gaze still firmly locked onto the doors that he had just disappeared through. Tibi… I commit his name to memory. After a while, I realise that my tail had also been slightly swaying. I can scarcely believe it.
A Yotul had been nice to me.
A Yotul had been nice to me.
Repeating the words in my head does little to help them make sense, so I turn to my greatest confidante; My holopad. I sit down on the floor, and pull the device into my lap before opening up my list of audio logs. I take a breath to calm myself, and press record.
“Hello future me… I need to talk. I need to put this into words, so that I can understand it. It is currently about, uh… three quarters? Yes, three quarters of the way through my first day at the new job and uh… something happened. I had another breakdown. The second time since the Harchen’s broadcast. Even worse, it was in front of someone this time, and even worse, it was in front of a Yotul. Though… this Yotul was… strange. He said his name was Tibi, and he was… nice to me… even after…
Not too long ago, I was walking through the hallways of the facility trying to find my way to room 7-1. I-I was kinda lost and w-wasn’t paying attention, like an idiot. I bumped into him. I knocked s-something out of his paws, I don't know what. I knew what was coming a-and so I ran. I simply hoped that I d-didn’t see him again, o-or if I ever did, only after enough time had passed that he’d forget about me, b-but of course that’s not what happened.
N-not even [Half and hour] later I finally f-find room 7-1 and guess what? He’s there. I-I was freaking out. I knew that he’d b-be furious. After I r-ran into h-him, after the b-broadcast. The Yotul are all already m-mad enough ab-bout the uplift and everyone is h-horified by the whole 'Cure' thing, and I-I gave him another r-reason to h-hate me. I-I knew that h-he’d w-want to y-yell, to s-scream, m-maybe even h-hurt meandIcouldn’tdoanythingsoIjustsatandwai-”
I force myself to stop. I forced myself to focus on breathing. Just like… just like he had said. There was no anger. There was no hatred. There was no malice.
“…I broke down in front of him and he helped me. He talked to me. He tried to calm me down. I… I’ve never met a Yotul like that before. He didn’t even mention that I was a Farsul. He didn’t even hint at mentioning the broadcast, or the uplift. He- he apologized for starling me!"
I pull my gaze back up to the doors he had disappeared through.
“He had something draped over his back too. A big piece of fabric that covered everything from his shoulders to just past the base of his tail. Maybe he got the idea from the Humans? If he did… then that only makes it worse. After what happened to the Humans, with how close the Yotul are to them… Why didn’t he hate me?
I don’t know what to think, future me.”
I tap the button on my holopad, ending the recording. I type up the name of the new log; ‘Tibi the Yotul’. The file joins the long list of audio logs I have saved. I let out a long sigh, the last words of the recording ringing true. I’ve been hard-pressed my whole life to find a Yotul that doesn’t obviously, at the very least, dislike Farsul. After all this time, why now? Why, just a few days after the broadcast?
I decide that I need to stop for a moment. Since it’s my first day… and maybe because she doesn’t fully trust me yet, the manager of the facility didn’t give me much work to do. I’ve done pretty much all of it. I just need to upload all the notes I've taken from today's inspections, and I have plenty of time to do so. I can afford to just… let my thoughts stew for a bit. Both my present thoughts, and my past. I scroll on my holopad to the logs recorded a couple days ago, and press play of one titled ‘Delayed work’.
“Hello future me. The past few days have been… horrible, to put it bluntly. I haven’t gone outside the house much since the broadcast, but when I have it’s been… less than pleasant. I’m sure you can find evidence for that in a couple of my most recent recordings…”
My voice comes out sounding heavy. The melancholy isn’t difficult to recall.
“Today is the day I'm supposed to start my new job at the facility, but that hasn’t exactly gone to plan. I’m not really surprised. Vata sent me a message last night, basically saying that because of the broadcast it’d be best if I waited a few more days until starting. It was impossible to tell her tone from the text, but I’m not kidding myself here. Every Yotul hates me now. The rare few have been amicable before, like Vata, but after the broadcast? Forget it. I’d be lucky if I can walk down the street tomorrow without being harassed. Dad’s not right often, but in this case I think he is. It’s dangerous for a Farsul to-”
I pause the log as the beginnings of frustration leak into my voice. I don’t need to hear the rest. I scroll a little further, wanting to find something a little happier. I’ve already replayed this one a couple times since recording it, and for good reason. I open the log titled ‘Best day of my life!!!’
“HELLLOOOOO FUTURE ME! It happened! It actually happened! Okay okay, sorry if this recording is a little incomprehensible, I’m just too excited right now to really care. I GOT THE JOB! ‘Everbloom Botanical Research Facility’, just saying the name is making me giddy! You can probably hear my tail right now, given that it’s wagging at borderline FTL speeds.”
Just hearing the sheer joy in my voice was enough to lighten the atmosphere ever so slightly.
“Anyway, so it’s felt like it’s been forever since I actually finished my degree and started looking for a job. I’m not going to lie, it’s been kind of stressful looking for a place willing to hire me, but all of that was worth it. I managed to get in contact with this older Yotul named Vata, who runs the facility, and oh my stars she actually gave me a chance!
I swear I was about a hair’s width away from passing out during the interview, but I pulled through. Waiting the past couple days for the results has been mortifying, but that’s all over now! I’ve actually done it. I have a job. I get to study all sorts of plants from across the galaxy! Isn’t that awesome?!
I’m a little nervous, given that I’ll be working near Yotul all day. Though, Vata did mention that they have a couple other non-Yotul working there, so maybe I’ll be able to make some friends anyway. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see for when Vata gives me my first shift. I can’t wait!
My life is finally mine, future me!”
As the audio log ends, I turn off my holopad and sigh. That helped, a little. It still feels a bit bittersweet, given the past week, but nonetheless it’s almost comforting. I stand back up and dust myself off, walking over to the Aloe Vera plant I was checking in on before. I can’t let my first day at the facility end on a sour note, and so after double checking the Aloe Vera’s growing conditions one last time, I tick it off the mini list I had on my holopad, and set my focus on my last task for today, which would be to transfer my notes over to the facility’s database.
For some reason, we can’t just upload them from wherever we want, we have to actually use a wired connection in the staffroom to do so. Supposedly it’s for security reasons, which I guess sort of makes sense… though dad probably wouldn’t hesitate to use it as more evidence that the Yotul are… that word.
Shaking that thought loose from my mind, I take a deep breath in preparation, before pushing open the room’s doors and heading out into the hallway… after checking that I won’t bump into someone again. On my way to the staffroom, I pass a Yotul leaving one of the storage rooms, holding a bushy green sample in a transport pot. I tense slightly as we pass one another, but she doesn’t say anything. In fact, she seemed to purposefully ignore my existence, not even acknowledging me. All in all, a good interaction.
After taking a few wrong turns, I eventually find my way to the staffroom with a sigh of relief. I open the door to find that there are already a couple people inside. A Yotul and a Venlil stand by the fridge, focusing on their conversation too much to pay attention to me. Good, that means I can upload the notes in peace. I find the interface I’m looking for set up on the wall in the corner of the room, and waste no time in plugging in my holopad and beginning the upload. It shouldn't take all that long, although I do need to awkwardly hold up my holopad next to the machine due to the cord being rather short. While waiting for the process to complete, I catch a bit of the conversation happening on the other side of the room, with the Venlil seemingly quite agitated.
“Look, all I’m saying is that the footage could’ve easily been faked. You can’t just take something like that at face value, especially something as insane and nonsensical as this.”
The Yotul retorts with a huff.
“Please, nothing is too ‘nonsensical’ for the Feds. Isn’t that the whole reason you guys ditched them as soon as the Humans showed themselves?”
“Hey, what the Governor decides has nothing to do with me. Let’s just say that if I was back on Venlil Prime, I wouldn’t vote for her when the next election comes around.”
The Yotul lets out a tired sounding chuckle.
“Are you saying that breaking away from the Feds was a bad thing? You know, the ones that genetically tampered with countless species?”
The Venlil gives an exasperated groan.
“Again, that broadcast was probably faked. Like, why in the stars would Chief Nikonus just blather about the Federation’s darkest secrets to some nobody journalist? You know what, you’re just not going to believe me anyway.”
The upload is finishing up, and the screen flashes briefly to say that it’s safe to disconnect. Glad to be able to leave the staffroom behind me, I unplug the cord from my holopad and turn around to-
“Hey, Farsul!”
The Venlil’s raised voice makes me jump slightly, and I turn an eye to face her. Oh no…
“You think the clip’s real or not?”
For a moment, I simply stand frozen in place, under the scrutinizing gazes of both strangers.
“Uh- I-I uh-”
The Yotul huffs again in frustration, his eyes narrowing as he fixes me with an oh so familiar glare.
“Of course she’s going to say no, you moron. It’s her species that did it.”
My grip of my holopad tightens slightly as the Venlil round back on her companion.
“Exactly, she’d probably know better than anyone.”
I gulp nervously before finally finding my voice.
“Um, actually I d-don’t. I was just as surprised b-by the news as you.”
The Venlil gives a dismissive wave of her paw as if disappointed by my answer and no longer interested in me. The Yotul though, his glare just hardens, bordering on predatory.
“Oh, I wasn’t surprised by the news all that much. Just a whole ‘nother shit storm courtesy of the Feds. You guys torched half the forests on Leirn, genetic tampering doesn’t seem that far outside your resume.”
The use of ‘you’ was not lost on me. No matter how many times I’ve responded to such claims to no avail, I couldn’t help myself.
“I-I didn’t do any of that… I’ve lived on Leirn for almost my whole li-”
“Uh huh, sure yah did. Probably can’t wait to hightail it back to Talsk, right? Go right ahead, do us all a favour.”
As he spoke, I felt the small sparks of confidence I have left fade away, my posture sagging a little under the weight of his words. I should be used to it by now, I really should… but I don’t think I’ll ever be. I do notice however, that the Venlil seems to grow slightly uncomfortable as the Yotul continues, and soon reaches out to rest a paw on his shoulder.
“Hey, don’t you think that’s a little uncalled for?”
He shrugs her paw off and begins walking over to the staffroom door.
“So was everything that’s happened to me since you all showed up, so I really couldn’t care less.”
He slams the door shut behind him, leaving just myself and the Venlil in the room. After a moment, she simply scoffs and follows his lead.
“Asshole.”
Left completely alone, I focus on my breathing. I shudder a couple times trying to ground myself, and even blink rapidly to fight back the beginning of tears. Just another day, like any other. At least this time there wasn’t any yelling. He didn’t even threaten me. That’s a positive. I open up my holopad once more, ready to clock out for the day, only for it to open onto my list of audio logs. I pause as I see the most recent one’s title; ‘Tibi the Yotul’.
I... hope I see him again.
Previous First Next

Resume Section Order

In general,

• Once you've graduated from school and have started a full-time job:
  • Work Experience > Skills > Education, or
  • Skills > Work Experience > Education
• If you're a student/new grad without much work experience:
  • Education > Work Experience > Skills, or
  • Education > Work Experience > Projects (if you don't have sufficient work experience) > Skills
• If you don't have any technical work experience:
  • Education > Projects > Work Experience > Skills
• If you don't have any work experience at all:
  • Education > Projects > Volunteer Experience/Extracurriculars > Skills
• Do not include a summary/profile unless you're a seniostaff engineer or above, making a career change, or addressing an unemployment gap/returning to the workforce
• Do not include a references section

Things to remember while writing resume

Use a modern, easy-to-read font like Calibri, Charter, Arial, Lato, or Helvetica.

• Don't use grey-colored fonts since they're hard to read. Stick to black. Make sure to use a color that is printable in grey-scale. Be careful about using fonts that are too thin. Verify there is sufficient contrast with a white background.
• Don't justify text since it causes inconsistent spacing between words. https://imgur.com/6eKsENw
• Don't italicize text since it can decrease the readability of your resume.
• Don't bold keywords within your bullet points, it's distracting.
• Italicization and bolding are only to be used if used sparingly. Excessive italicization and bolding decrease readability and ultimately contradict their purpose: emphasis.
• Italicization, ALL-CAPS, and bolding, if used, should be used independently of each other.
• Don't indent sections and bullet points. There's already indentation since the bullets themselves create an indent.
• Separate your sections clearly for optimal readability and visual clarity
  • Ensure there is sufficient and consistent white space between sections/subsections
  • Ensure there is sufficient and consistent white space between each job/project
  • Ensure there are sufficient vertical and horizontal margins (minimum 0.5 inches) https://imgur.com/LC6AS8r

Free Tools to add cherry on top

• Free Resume templates (it also has latex resume builder if you know how to use latex)
• Free resume builder (simple resume builder if don't know latex)
• Resume-judge (Checking ATS resume review and score)
• Linkedin.com/ twitter.com - to get refferals for job
• Resume Selection Predictor (check how good your resume is for the job you are applying)
• Resume Points rewriter (shorten bullet points and make them sound impactful)

About Us

We are a North American couple in our late twenties - we love nature, food, and sightseeing. We are not a fan of partying or relaxing (haha), and we have limited vacation time so this trip was perfect for us. However we know that most people will find this trip too hectic/busy with too much travel time - different strokes for different folks! Hopefully this is still helpful.
We travelled for 14 days from late April to early May 2024.

Krabi

Day 0: Flight from Bangkok to Krabi at night, so just hit Ao Nang Landmark beach and the night market. Night market is nice but quite small. The Ao Nang Landmark beach was the most gorgeous 360 view of the sunset I’ve ever seen. Don’t be confused with the proper Ao Nang beach (10 min walk), which imo isn’t anywhere as nice for sunset views. But the proper Ao Nang Beach has free nighttime fire shows, which was fun to see.
Beware the multiple jellyfish at Ao Nang beach and in general while snorkelling in the Andaman coast. I wish I had brought a travel container filled with vinegar as a precaution.
Day 1: Day trip to Phi Phi Islands (highly recommend) with the One Asia corporation - they were excellent, well-organized with lots of free water bottles, juice and fruits. They also offered snorkels that had disposable personal mouthpieces (which I didn’t even consider). They said they were the only company that offered the disposable mouth pieces, which I can’t verify but I believe it.
In the evening, we did a hike up to Tiger Cave temple for the most gorgeous sunset. New rule is last entry is 5:30 pm so plan accordingly. It is 1260 steps and very hot/difficult but ACTUALLY WORTH IT, especially for sunset. You’ll also see monkeys! Take breaks and drink water. We took 40 minutes to go up, around 20 to go down. Modest clothes recommended but knee length is okay.
Day 2: Day trip to Hong Island, including kayaking through mangroves. Kayaking was definitely worth it but there are limited tours that offer this. Be careful swimming at Hong Island - we had small jellyfish stings that were very very mild, and we didn’t even see the small jellyfish although lots of big ones were visible while kayaking. Kayaking felt more safe. Snorkeling at Chewang Beach was pretty meh, quite cloudy.
In terms of longtail versus speedboat, I personally preferred speedboat because the journeys can be quite long otherwise. It’s just as scenic and also less noisy than the old motor of the longtail. Only benefit of longtail is nicer photos at the bow.
If we had more time, we would have gone to Railay Beach (but not interested in rock climbing so less cool). Other options are James Bond Island or Four Islands but to be honest, reviews weren’t as great.
We then took an InDrive to Khao Sok national park. Grab was not reliable as drivers could not see location first and then kept cancelling because far away. This was fine but kind of felt sketchy bc 2 hour drive. Maybe book with official company instead.
Food recommendations (best ones listed first) 1. Family Thaifood & Seafood (tied with Kodam Kitchen): try the fried crab with curry powder (best crab we have ever had at a restaurant), morning glory (excellent vegetable dish, necessary because limited vegetables in diet) and the coconut milkshake in a coconut. 2. Kodam Kitchen. Try the Massaman curry (with roti, which our waitress insisted we try and actually was an amazing combo) and the dried curry dish (Southern specialty) 3. Red Chilli Thai Cuisine - try the green curry (normally don’t like green curry bc less flavorful but this was delicious), blended mango drink, and steamed fish with lime/chilli.

Khao Sok

Day 0: Stayed legit just for sleep at the Khao Sok Green Valley Resort. Clean with no issues, very basic but just needed for sleeping
Day 1: Early morning pickup with Smiley Lakehouse Tour for a 2 day 1 night overnight tour at Chewong Lake on a lakehouse bungalow in the Khao Sok national park. The boat ride there is incredibly scenic and enjoyable.
We spent the afternoon kayaking and swimming in front of our lake house. It was really really ridiculously hot, just felt terrible because no AC anywhere. Thankfully cooled down at nighttime for sleeping - only fan-cooled room but still was okay once sun came down. The afternoon was absolutely brutal though. In evening, went on a boat safari that was fun.
Day 2: Early morning boat safari followed by a jungle trek + Nam Taloo cave tour, only available in dry season. The jungle trek was meh for views tbh, but the cave was spectacular with lots of bats and flowing water. Completely unique experience. You do have to swim around 5 m in flowing water that is over your head, so beware if you cannot swim.
Overall, Smiley was an excellent operation - just super super hot. Better food than other tours, clean rooms (we paid for upgrade). I’d still overall recommend it because overall the cave trek was great, but otherwise I think a day trip suffices if you’re in the middle of hot season. I also didn’t like how they don’t count off where you are/keep track of you, even in the cave portion, so you needed to be more aware and alert yourself.
We then took a van to Donsak Pier and headed to Koh Samui.

Koh Samui

Day 1: Relaxing day, just explored the area and beaches. Choengmon Beach is quiet, clean and nice for swimming. Then we explored the mall/outdoor market area of Central Samui - nice respite for AC and walkable to the Chewang Beach, which is more party vibes but also fun (worse for swimming but still ok). In the evening, went to the Four Seasons restaurant Koh Thai for a sunset view and dinner (see below) and then Fisherman Village night market for exploring.
Day 2: Day trip to Angthong National Marine Park. We did the big boat which was cheaper but less time at the park, which we were fine with. Then CocoTam for one of their nightly fire shows on the beach, and explored Fisherman Village for dinner.
If we had more time, we might have considered Koh Phanghan or Koh Tao for snorkelling. We also debated Koh Matsum (pig island) but didn’t seem worth it for a full tour + hard to self-arrange affordable transport.
Food recommendations: 1. Ban Thai - cute place where a grandma makes all the food. Recommend the Tom Yum soup and chicken pad gra prow. Pad Thai was mid but shrimp quality was excellent 2. Coconut Beach Bowls - if you’re a smoothie bowl aficionado, otherwise pass 3. Vegan Khunnay: really cute AYCE vegan buffet for only 120 bhat ($3 USD), right next to Chaweng Beach. Very authentic Thai food cooked by one grandma, cute experience for a snack even. 4. CocoNam: moreso for the vibe for their nightly fire shows on the beach. Go early to avoid lines and make sure you get a seat. The pad Thai here was surprisingly the best pad Thai I had in the south, delicious and most flavorful. 5. Koh Thai - fancy fancy fancy, located in the Four Seasons resort. It’s featured by Michelin Bib and is a location for White Lotus S3. Book for sunset for gorgeous views, it’s a bit of an experience to get there because you take a buggy up the hillside. Very luxurious feeling. Food was ACTUALLY excellent and tasted like a chef made it, if that makes sense. Delicious ingredients. We recommend the laab tuna, paad kapi goong moo sub, and coconut duo. The boneless lime fish was also good but didn’t taste too different than a normal restaurant. Go to BOTH bathrooms, including the one that is “al fresco” haha for the full experience. Rooms at the Four Seasons go over $1200 USD a night - our meal with two bottles of fancy water (unavoidable), one starter, two mains and a dessert was $100 USD including tax and service charge.

Overnight Trip to Pai

Day 0.5: Flight to Chiang Mai then private taxi ($45 CAD) to Pai for 2.5 h because bus ran out of tickets. Pai Canyon for sunset (gorgeous) and explored Pai Walking Street and night market.
Day 1: Relaxing brunch then Nam Lod Cave - so freaking cool, huge cave that you float in a bamboo raft through. Then took back to Chiang Mai! We took the bus - it’s around 5 bucks PP, 4 hours.
If we had more time (and the weather was less hot), we would have done Sai Ngam Hotsprings. We weren’t too interested in the White Buddha, Bamboo bridge, or strawberry cafe etc - although we did see them from afar during our tour. Mostly just here for vibes, it’s cute.
There are NO GRABS or taxis here, it’s quite remote. But you don’t need to ride a motorbike - you just show up and do tours (don’t need to book in advance, does not show up online but easy to find).
Food recommendations: 1. Nam’s Kitchen 2. Charlie & Iek 3. Lemon Thyme Cafe for drinks 4. Nice Mangos - try the ice cream/mango sticky rice combo, legit best dessert

Chiang Mai

Day 0: Got rained out so ate dinner and slept!
Day 1: Group tour to Don Inthanon Park with a hike and visit to an indigenous Thai village - really recommend. Great way to beat the heat because the summit is 15 degrees cooler than the city, plus informative to learn about local culture.
At night, we did the 6ixcret drag show - THE BEST NIGHT ACTIVITY WE DID IN THAILAND. SOOOO fun creative, and professionally done, not sketchy at all. Insane SFX and choreography. It’s free but need to buy two drinks PP (normal prices), definitely worth. Don’t need to book in advance, just show up right before 9:30 pm. The drag show is also next to Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, so very convenient for exploring. Unfortunately the main night markets are only open Sat/Sunday but Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is open every night.
Day 2: Day trip to Elephant Nature Park! Sells out, so need to book weeks in advance. It’s the most legit and largest OG elephant sanctuary, highly ethical and professional. The Walking with Elephants tour was incredible. Then we visited Wat Chedi Luang (lovely temple in city centre but tbh can skip, only visited bc we had free time) before taking a Grab to Monk trail/Doi Suthep temple for nighttime temple and city views. It is absolutely gorgeous and unique to do at night. We ended the night by exploring more street food and night market.
Day 3: Half Day cooking class at Grandma’s Kitchen, included market and farm tour. Very interesting and enjoyable activity, we learned a lot. We tried durian at the market because it was in season, I was personally a huge fan. For the cooking class, you should request the air conditioned room in advance because there is only one. We then did a trip to Sticky Waterfalls - we negotiated a trip again on InDrive. This was one of the most unique nature experiences we have ever done and super fun. We ended our evening by exploring One Nimman shopping area/neighborhood, which was lovely and romantic. Then flew to BKK!
Food recommendations: 1. Roti Pa Day: delicious Michelin guide street food 2. Maadae Slow Fish Kitchen: SO GOOD. Also Michelin guide. Try Hor Mok, sardine jerky (trust me, it was the number one dish we tried + it’s deliciously warm), and pomelo fish salad plus their homemade sodas. 3. Chum North Kitchen: different Northern-style dishes 4. Khao Soi Masee: Michelin guide again, best Khao Soi ever in a very simple cute place. Very flavourful. 5. Jia Tong Heng: Dim sum located conveniently in One Nimman area, previously Michelin guide then demoted. Went for just snacks. Can skip but tbh the salted egg custard bun was celestial. Go just for that if you want.

Bangkok

Day 1: Temple hopping of Wat Arun, Wat Pho then Grand Palace. Your enjoyability of this depends on how much you like temples. Pro tip is to bring socks for when the sun scorches the titles and you can’t wear shoes. Initially we wanted to skip Wat Pho but I’m glad we went because the Reclining Buddha is excellent in person, surpassed our expectations and better than photographs. In the evening, we visited Jodds Fair (very cute vibe for a market) and closed our night with dinner at a Michelin star restaurant.
Day 2: Chatuchat Weekend Market then lunch at Kua Kling for delicious Sourhern food. ICONSiam afterwards - such a fancy yet chaotic “Disneyworld” of a mall, complete with huge market and street food scene. Then ended with exploring Yaowarat Road then Khao San Road for lots of street food and vibes. Ended our night at the Big C for souvenirs.
Day 3: Breakfast then flew out! Sad to leave :)
Food recommendations: 1. Kor Panich - best mango sticky rice hands down, deserving of its Michelin recommendation, and near temples 2. Natthapon Ice Cream (right next to Kor Panich) - cute cozy spot, recommend black sesame and coconut. The peanuts were very polarizing. 3. Nawa: newly awarded 1 Michelin star, very fun experience even for people who aren’t very highbrow like us. Interesting to learn about Thai ingredients and unique delicious dishes. <5k bhat per person. 4. Kua Kling Pad Sod - try the Kua kling and stink bean 5. Guay Jub Ouan Pochana in Yaowarat
Overrated/meh but glad we tried it: 1. Thipsamai pad thai 2. Yaowarat toasted buns 3. Pa Tong Go Savoey

General Tips:

Be careful of the carry-on luggage weights with domestic flights - they only allow 7 kg which is abnormally minuscule.
The weather played a massive role in picking our itinerary. Beware of burning season in Chiang Mai (we went for the tail end) and rainy seasons. Not every hotel has AC so make sure you prioritize that.
One downside of the tours is that the food is meh on them, just FYI. Even if a tour advertises “water bottles provided”, it can be just ONE for a whole day so bring your own emergency water.
Grab was surprisingly annoying to find in Bangkok, FYI.

Random things to pack:

• We brought mini personal fans that you wear around your neck and it was actually so clutch for the hikes.
• Coral-safe sunscreen
• Loperamide/gravol/ginger lozenges/tylenol
• Small container of vinegar for jellyfish stings
• Mini alcohol swabs to disinfect snorkel gear
• I brought an inflatable life “belt” and it was very nice as peace of mind, especially in the cave.
• For my high maintenance girlies, mini hair masks and oil samples because I was washing my hair legit every day
• Long pants and t shirt for temples
• Mini beach towels were NOT necessary because it was so hot, so we dried off instantly with the sun. Every tour said to bring them but did not use a single time.

Keys to a ridiculously packed trip:

• Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize. Many places can have overlapping themes like a night market, kayaking, temples, gorgeous hikes that lead to a temple, etc so pick and choose based on location. You can’t see every “highlight” of each city so instead think that you’re trying to see “overall highlights”. To avoid temple fatigue, pick your favourites + try to do them at different times like daytime, sunset, and nighttime for varied experiences.
• Whenever our accommodation was walkable from the night market, it made evenings more enjoyable and smooth. We did this in the south but not in CM/Bangkok and wish we did!
• Schedule a relaxing day - the tours can be exhausting so we scheduled a relaxing day after a string of island tours
• Try to book long transportation hours either: at night when you won’t be doing anything OR after a busy sweaty tour where you’re exhausted and want to relax during peak hotness (11 am to 2 pm) in somewhere air conditioned. Consider transportation as a relaxing break for phone time/reading with a great view.
• Something WILL go wrong - embrace it! Key is to stick and move :)

Feel free to ask any questions!

Are you a student in Germany looking for work opportunities to support your studies? Part-time jobs and internships can be excellent avenues for gaining experience, earning extra income, and expanding your professional network. In this article, we'll explore the various work opportunities available to students in GermanyAre you a student in Germany looking for work opportunities to support your studies? Part-time jobs and internships can be excellent avenues for gaining experience, earning extra income, and expanding your professional network. In this article, we'll explore the various work opportunities available to students in Germany, including part-time job options and internships, along with essential tips for finding and excelling in these roles.

Part-time Jobs for Students in Germany

1. Retail and Hospitality

One of the most common part-time job sectors for students in Germany is retail and hospitality. Positions like sales associates, baristas, waiters/waitresses, and receptionists are often available in retail stores, cafes, restaurants, and hotels. These roles offer flexible hours, allowing students to balance work with their studies.

2. Tutoring and Language Teaching

If you excel in certain subjects or are proficient in languages, tutoring can be a lucrative part-time job option. Many students seek tutors for subjects like math, science, languages, and test preparation. Additionally, teaching your native language to non-native speakers can be another rewarding opportunity.

3. Administrative and Office Support

Students with strong organizational and administrative skills can find part-time roles in offices and administrative departments. Tasks may include data entry, filing, answering phones, scheduling appointments, and assisting with basic office operations.

4. Freelancing and Online Work

With the rise of remote work opportunities, students can explore freelancing and online jobs in various fields. From content writing and graphic design to virtual assistance and digital marketing, freelancing offers flexibility and the chance to work on projects that align with your skills and interests.

5. Research and Academic Assistants

Universities and research institutions often hire students as research assistants or academic support staff. These roles involve tasks such as literature reviews, data collection and analysis, assisting professors with research projects, and supporting academic departments with administrative tasks.

Internship Opportunities in Germany

Apart from part-time jobs, internships are valuable for gaining hands-on experience in your field of study and building professional connections. Here are some internship options for students in Germany:

1. Company Internships

Many companies in Germany offer internships to students, providing them with practical insights into their industry. Internship durations can vary from a few weeks to several months, and some companies may offer stipends or allowances to cover expenses.

2. Research Internships

For students interested in research and academia, research internships at universities or research institutions can be highly beneficial. You'll work alongside experienced researchers, contribute to ongoing projects, and gain valuable research skills.

3. Non-profit and NGO Internships

Interning with non-profit organizations and NGOs allows students to engage in meaningful work related to social causes, environmental issues, humanitarian efforts, and community development. These internships can provide a sense of purpose while enhancing your resume.

4. Startup Internships

Germany has a thriving startup ecosystem, offering opportunities for students to intern at innovative startups. These internships often involve diverse responsibilities, exposure to entrepreneurship, and the chance to work in dynamic and creative environments.

Tips for Finding and Excelling in Work Opportunities

1. Networking: Attend career fairs, networking events, and workshops to connect with potential employers and professionals in your field.
2. Online Platforms: Utilize online job portals, university career services, and professional networking platforms like LinkedIn to search for part-time jobs and internships.
3. Tailored Applications: Customize your resume and cover letter for each job or internship application, highlighting relevant skills and experiences.
4. Professional Development: Seek opportunities for skill development, such as online courses, workshops, and certifications, to enhance your employability.
5. Time Management: Prioritize your academic commitments while effectively managing your work schedule to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
6. Seek Feedback: Request feedback from supervisors and mentors to continuously improve your performance and professional growth.

Conclusion

Work opportunities for students in Germany encompass a wide range of options, from part-time jobs in retail and tutoring to internships in companies, research institutions, non-profits, and startups. By leveraging networking, online resources, and professional development, students can find rewarding work experiences that complement their studies and future career goals. Stay proactive, persistent, and adaptable in your job search, and make the most out of these valuable opportunities for personal and professional growth.
, including part-time job options and internships, along with essential tips for finding and excelling in these roles.

Part-time Jobs for Students in Germany

1. Retail and Hospitality

One of the most common part-time job sectors for students in Germany is retail and hospitality. Positions like sales associates, baristas, waiters/waitresses, and receptionists are often available in retail stores, cafes, restaurants, and hotels. These roles offer flexible hours, allowing students to balance work with their studies.

2. Tutoring and Language Teaching

If you excel in certain subjects or are proficient in languages, tutoring can be a lucrative part-time job option. Many students seek tutors for subjects like math, science, languages, and test preparation. Additionally, teaching your native language to non-native speakers can be another rewarding opportunity.

3. Administrative and Office Support

Students with strong organizational and administrative skills can find part-time roles in offices and administrative departments. Tasks may include data entry, filing, answering phones, scheduling appointments, and assisting with basic office operations.

4. Freelancing and Online Work

With the rise of remote work opportunities, students can explore freelancing and online jobs in various fields. From content writing and graphic design to virtual assistance and digital marketing, freelancing offers flexibility and the chance to work on projects that align with your skills and interests.

5. Research and Academic Assistants

Universities and research institutions often hire students as research assistants or academic support staff. These roles involve tasks such as literature reviews, data collection and analysis, assisting professors with research projects, and supporting academic departments with administrative tasks.

Internship Opportunities in Germany

Apart from part-time jobs, internships are valuable for gaining hands-on experience in your field of study and building professional connections. Here are some internship options for students in Germany:

1. Company Internships

Many companies in Germany offer internships to students, providing them with practical insights into their industry. Internship durations can vary from a few weeks to several months, and some companies may offer stipends or allowances to cover expenses.

2. Research Internships

For students interested in research and academia, research internships at universities or research institutions can be highly beneficial. You'll work alongside experienced researchers, contribute to ongoing projects, and gain valuable research skills.

3. Non-profit and NGO Internships

Interning with non-profit organizations and NGOs allows students to engage in meaningful work related to social causes, environmental issues, humanitarian efforts, and community development. These internships can provide a sense of purpose while enhancing your resume.

4. Startup Internships

Germany has a thriving startup ecosystem, offering opportunities for students to intern at innovative startups. These internships often involve diverse responsibilities, exposure to entrepreneurship, and the chance to work in dynamic and creative environments.

Tips for Finding and Excelling in Work Opportunities

1. Networking: Attend career fairs, networking events, and workshops to connect with potential employers and professionals in your field.
2. Online Platforms: Utilize online job portals, university career services, and professional networking platforms like LinkedIn to search for part-time jobs and internships.
3. Tailored Applications: Customize your resume and cover letter for each job or internship application, highlighting relevant skills and experiences.
4. Professional Development: Seek opportunities for skill development, such as online courses, workshops, and certifications, to enhance your employability.
5. Time Management: Prioritize your academic commitments while effectively managing your work schedule to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
6. Seek Feedback: Request feedback from supervisors and mentors to continuously improve your performance and professional growth.

Conclusion

Work opportunities for students in Germany encompass a wide range of options, from part-time jobs in retail and tutoring to internships in companies, research institutions, non-profits, and startups. By leveraging networking, online resources, and professional development, students can find rewarding work experiences that complement their studies and future career goals. Stay proactive, persistent, and adaptable in your job search, and make the most out of these valuable opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Rate: $15-17/hr, or $ 110 for every 3000-word
With deep expertise in medical terminology, I am well-versed in the medical field as I have fluent background in it. If you are interested and want to know more about my background and expertise, feel free to dm me here or at hailiexzx@gmail.com. I will send you my resume and a few of my writing samples. I will also send you different transcripts as proof of my background.
I am really looking to assist in different medical blogs and articles where I can contribute and add to the medical body of knowledge. If you or you know someone, don't hesitate to contact me.

ABOUT ME
I wrote a money diary in October 2022. Since then, my boyfriend P. has been upgraded to fiance (we are getting married in July!) and my beloved Trash Cat has had enucleation surgery (we now call the vet “The Eye Snatcher”). I still work as a technology specialist in higher education. In December 2023, I discovered HR input my salary wrong when I first started my current job—the contract I signed stated my salary as $65,000, but they input it as $60,000. I got a hefty portion of back pay. I am currently making about $67,000/year.
P. and I still split expenses 50/50 (somewhat imperfectly) and do not have any combined accounts. We input shared expenses into this spreadsheet and then settle the difference once a month. His salary is about $75,000. He recently cashed out about $15,000 from a 529 plan he never used (he didn’t go to college) and will be creating a CD ladder with this money to save for a down payment.
ASSETS & DEBT
Retirement balance: $6,542.66 in my 403(b) and $2,688.03 in my Roth IRA. In my last money diary, I felt guilty about my retirement balance because I didn’t really start until the age of 25 and for a year my contributions went uninvested. I feel much better about it now. This summer, I’ll qualify for employer-matched contributions to my 403(b), which will improve my progress even more.
Equity: maybe one day????
Savings account balance: $1,291.23 in an emergency fund, $160.32 in a recently-started down payment fund.
Checking account balance: $3,052.37
Credit card debt: $4,651 on credit card 1, $0 on credit card 2. Unfortunately, I’ve had 3 major setbacks in recent months: Trash Cat’s surgery ($2,200), new tires/maintenance on my car ($2,300), and an unexpected hotel stay when P.’s nephew passed away just before Christmas ($1,000). P. and I split Trash Cat’s surgery and the hotel stay, so the total I’ve put on my card in recent months is $3,900. I was down to about $800 in debt prior to all this fun stuff.
Student loan debt: $75,000 in public loans for a bachelor’s degree in Education and a master’s degree in English. This was technically a “bad choice” because I did use my loans for living expenses during grad school, but I honestly do not regret it. I LOVED grad school, even though most of it happened online due to the pandemic, and I sincerely believe it made me a better, more thoughtful, and empathetic person. Since the university I work for now is a certified non-profit organization, I will eventually qualify for PSLF if I stay here or within the field of accredited higher education.
Car debt: I owe $2,754 on my Toyota.
INCOME
Income progression: I have worked steadily at part-time jobs since age 16. I’ve been in educational tech for 3 years; my starting salary was $18/hour as a customer service associate, which was around $42,000 annually with overtime. When I started my current job almost 2 years ago, my salary jumped to $65,000 (which ended up being funky, see ABOUT ME above). My current salary, after it was adjusted and I received a 3% raise, is now $67,000.
Monthly take-home pay: $3,355.90 after deductions
Side gig income: None. I quit tutoring because I started taking night classes back in the fall.
Parental Support: As I mentioned in my money diary last year, my parents contributed about $22,000 to rent/car expenses during my “adult” (college) life. My dad is also paying for our wedding “reception,” which is a private dinner at a restaurant for 15 people (estimated cost $5,000). I hinted heavily at Financial Trauma in my last diary, an issue I’ve mostly overcome thanks to my incredible therapist. I might write a more detailed post on healing Financial Trauma and my experience with it…let me know if you’d be interested in reading something like that :)
EXPENSES
Rent: $787.50 (P. and I split rent 50/50; our total rent is $1,575)
Renter’s & car insurance: $1,321/year, which averages out to $110.83/month (not split).
Health insurance: $394.46/month before tax for health and dental. Once P. and I get married, I am hopping on his insurance.
Retirement contribution: $257.50/month pre-tax into my 403(b). I also transfer $50/month into a Roth IRA.
Savings contribution: $200/month to emergency fund, $50/month to down payment fund
Debt payments: $260/month for my car payment, $60/month for my student loan payment (this is wildly low because I am on an income-driven repayment plan. Due to the ongoing Federal Battles, I have not had to recertify my income, so this payment is based on my 2019 income. I also pay at least $500/month towards my credit card debt. Since this is a three paycheck month (and my third paycheck will be a “deduction holiday”), I am paying $1,000 towards it this month. P. does not contribute towards my debt.
Utilities: P. and I split internet, water, electricity, and trash evenly: usually about $175/month for my half, $350 total.
Cellphone: $65/month (we each pay for our own phones).
Subscriptions: Spotify for $10.99/month, Hulu for $7.99/month, Monarch (web budgeting app) for $50/year (this is a discounted price; it will jump to $80/year next year). None of these expenses are split.
Gym membership: $36/monthly for gym membership; $500/quarter for personal training (not split).
Pet expenses: P. and I split this expense; generally $100/month for my half, $200/month total.
Therapy: $25/week (not split).
MONEY DIARY
DAY 1: FRIDAY
😴 7 AM: P. shakes me awake. I reluctantly get up, go to the bathroom, and change into leggings and a sweater dress. After I give Trash Cat his morning medicine, I kiss P. goodbye and I’m out the door. I listen to the Sinisterhood podcast on my drive to work and try to stop for coffee, but the drive-thru line is backed up into the street and causing traffic, so I skip it.
💄8 AM: I put on my makeup in the bathroom at work; this has become my new routine since I was diagnosed with sleep apnea because the extra few minutes of sleep are now a medical necessity. I use Covergirl skinmilk foundation, elf lash and roll mascara, and elf instant brow pencil. Sometimes I use elf lip stain (big elf fan over here) but don’t bother today.
😈 9 AM: I meet with the university’s academic technology team to help them set up a feedback survey for a new grading tool they piloted this semester. We also bitch a little about some difficulties we’ve had this week with faculty. An important thing to know about me is that I am a hater to my innermost core.
🥪12 PM: After spending most of the morning replying to emails, updating tickets, and watching budgeting videos on YouTube, I realize I forgot my lunch at home. Since digging myself back into credit card debt, I’ve made a conscious effort to bring my lunch to work and spend less on convenience food, so I’m pretty annoyed with myself. A quick trip to the library cafe yields a turkey sub, a green smoothie, and a giant cookie ($14.47). I eat at my desk while making some money moves (it’s payday!). $200 goes to my credit card to cover my therapy copay and the pair of Hokas I bought my mom for her birthday earlier this week. I also transfer $500 to my savings account. $214.47
👣5 PM: I pack up and make the short drive over to my friend’s apartment. It was a spectacularly unproductive day; if I’m being honest, I’ve been feeling burnt out and need a break, but I’m trying to save my vacation days for our wedding. My friend and I walk around one of my favorite neighborhoods in the city and catch up. We also go to Whole Foods before she heads to the gym. I grab some specialty canned beans, tofu, tortilla chips, Chomps, and some Poppi sodas ($35.23).
🐱8 PM: I eat one of my favorite lazy meals for dinner—refried beans mixed with quinoa, salsa verde, and shredded cheese with tortilla chips—and watch a few episodes of Home Economics on Hulu. I get sucked into TikTok for a little while before brushing my teeth and taking my meds. I go to bed around 10:30 PM while snuggling Trash Cat.
Daily Total: $249.70
DAY 2: SATURDAY
🚿 8:30 AM: Quick shower before changing into a blue sundress and a white button up. I do my makeup and feed Trash Cat. I’m out the door a little past 9 AM to head to book club.
📚10 AM: This month, we’re having book club at an adorable little tea room. We read Romancing Mr. Bridgerton and obviously love a ✨theme✨ so the four of us spend an hour talking about the book, eating tiny finger sandwiches, and drinking approximately 5 gallons of tea. One of my good friends from grad school, R., started this book club a few months ago and it has been such a joy to get together with awesome women on a regular basis. We also commiserate over family problems—R does a dramatic reading of an outrageous text from my dad before we go our separate ways ($38.10).
💍12 PM: I received an email yesterday from our jeweler that my wedding ring is done and realize I’m much closer to the jewelry shop than I am to home. I call P. to ask if he’d be okay with me picking it up. He is. I swing by the shop and try on my ring; it is so beautiful and fits perfectly! I wear it on my drive home and can’t stop admiring it. P. put down $400 when we met with the jeweler a few months ago, so I pay $821.88 to take it home. P. sends me that exact amount on Venmo. (technically, I pay nothing).
😵2 PM: I eat more of my refried bean lazy meal and watch some episodes of The Rookie on Hulu. The rest of the day is spent fielding calls and texts from my sister, brother, and sister-in-law about my mother’s birthday dinner tomorrow. It is bringing up ✨trauma✨ for all of us.
😴9 PM: A very lazy night routine of brushing my teeth, taking off my makeup with a wipe, take my meds, and drinking water while listening to a podcast as I fall asleep.
Daily Total: $38.10
DAY 3: SUNDAY
🎁10:30 AM: Roll out of bed, make some Kodiak protein waffles, and call my youngest brother, who is 22. He and I are very close, but I still carry a lot of guilt about how much I couldn’t—and can’t—protect him from. I offer to pick out a gift for Mom “from him” since he has to head to the airport to retrieve our parents and he agrees.
🧀12 PM: I go to a gift shop in the next town over and pick out a pair of gold vermeil earrings. They’re $225. I buy them and tell my brother to Venmo me $175 (so technically I spend $50). After, I pop over to Wegmans, which is in the same shopping plaza, and pick up quesadillas, seltzers, fried rice, and spicy chicken for lunch ($41.55 total, $20.77 for my half). $70.77.
🧼1 PM: P. and I eat lunch on the couch while watching YouTube. Afterwards, I channel my irritation into cleaning the apartment. I vacuum, swiffer, put away dishes, and wipe down the bathroom. P. takes out the trash and recycling and starts some laundry.
🍾4 PM: We meet my other brother (I have two—this one is also younger but closer in age to me, 27) and my sister-in-law at a bar to pregame for Mom's birthday dinner. Is this healthy? Probably not. Does it work? Yes. I pay for all our drinks ($112.02)
🙄5 PM: Dinner time. A bunch of my aunts and uncles are there, too, so we sit at the “kid’s table” with my siblings and one of my cousins. I order Jameson and ginger and a fancy cheeseburger. Maybe it’s the liquid courage, or the fact I went into this with extraordinarily low expectations, but I have a surprisingly good time…until my dad starts to fight with the waitress about separate checks for the separate tables. He didn’t mention it at the beginning of the meal, and considering we have 17 people at three different tables, the waitress understandably says no. It gets to the point where my brother just hands her his credit card to put an end to it. He doesn’t tell me how much the total bill is; P. and I venmo him $100 each ($100).
🍋7 PM: The fun isn’t over! We head back to my parents’ house for cake and presents. I eat lemon cake with ice cream and give my mom the Hokas I bought her earlier in the week. She loves the earrings from my brother, and he thanks me for helping him.
💤11 PM: We finally leave. I fall asleep on the way home. I thank P. for being such a supportive partner, take my meds, and promptly fall asleep again.
Daily total: $282.79
DAY 4: MONDAY
🤕8 AM: I make it out of bed and over to the computer. I respond to emails, update a few tickets, and purchase a knee brace from Amazon ($24.01). I LOVE going to the gym and I’m trying to lose weight for health reasons, but the past few days my left knee has been stiff and achy to the point that it hurts to go up and down the stairs. I have a doctor’s appointment this week so I can tell my primary care physician then, but I want to go for a walk to clear my head. I drink a Liquid IV.
🍜11 AM: P. picks up brunch from one of our favorite local restaurants. Their biscuits and gravy bowl is incredible. ($27.58 total, $*13.79 *for my half).
🥟4 PM: I jump in the car and run to Petsmart to pick up pill pockets and food for Trash Cat. Even though he came from a dumpster, he has decided he’ll only eat the fancy cat food. ($64.78 total, $32.39 **for my half). Then I go to Wegmans for some more groceries: tomatoes, cucumbers, frozen dumplings, lettuce, seltzer, onions, brussel sprouts, and turkey burgers. ($68.22 total, $34.11 **for my half).
🍅6 PM: P. and I eat dinner while watching the John Oliver episode on libraries (stop banning books, losers!!!!). It’s one of our other favorite lazy meals: quinoa with fancy canned beans with chopped up peppers, onions, and tomatoes. I drink a seltzer with dinner and then do some chores and take a shower.
🦷10 PM: Stayed up later than I meant to scrolling TikTok and Reddit. Whoops! I brush my teeth and turn off the lights.
Daily total: $104.30
DAY 5: TUESDAY
🧇8 AM: Roll out of bed and walk 5 steps to my computer. After checking email and signing in, I make protein waffles for breakfast and put on my new knee brace that was delivered last night.
💩10 AM: I take a quick break from writing technical documentation to fold some laundry and tidy up the kitchen. I give Trash Cat some treats and clean out the litterbox. He is a stinky boy.
👨‍💻1:30 PM: I run a meeting with my boss and grandboss about the documentation project I’m currently spearheading. We are migrating into a new (and easier) documentation system, which means I need to export, update, and organize all our current documentation. They’re both pleased with my progress and the next goals I’ve outlined. Maybe I am good at my job? Afterwards, I eat some refried beans with tortilla chips and a seltzer.
🤬4:30 PM: I get a very rude email from a faculty member saying he cannot access a file a student shared with him (and grades are due tonight). He sends me a screenshot and it turns out…he’s clicking the wrong button. I explain the correct steps and attach the student’s file, but I’m so agitated that I sign out early and go for a walk. The weather is beautiful, and I try not to think about the email, but I keep stewing over it. The worst part of working in higher ed is the entitlement - I am often treated like “the help” by the Impossibly Busy Big Brained Professors Who Don’t Have Time For Glitches (FYI, glitches do not care whether you have time for them or not).
📱6 PM: P. and I eat leftovers of our fancy canned bean bowls for dinner and feed Trash Cat. I numb out by scrolling for about 3 hours.
🙄9 PM: I go to bed, but keep thinking about that damn email and then beat myself up for being so sensitive and giving that professor so much of my mental energy off the clock.
Daily total: $0
DAY 6: WEDNESDAY
🥯7 AM: Get out of bed, throw some clothes into my gym bag, get dressed, and run out the door. I stop at Dunkin on the way to work to get an iced coffee and some stuffed bagel minis ($5.45).
🧘‍♀️10 AM: I log into my virtual therapy appointment from my office and talk for 40 minutes straight about everything I am struggling with: my routine is out of whack thanks to my mom’s dinner; I’m mad at my parents, my sister, and my job; my knee is killing me so I can’t work out; I have been a shitty partner and cat mom this week; I am scrolling to numb out instead of reading or relaxing in a meaningful way. My therapist helps me come up with an action plan. I put my phone on bedtime mode to turn it to black and white, make plans with P. for a cozy date night at home this weekend, and bookmark a few jobs to apply for. She reminds me I am a supportive sister and partner and relationships are not 50/50 every single day. We end with a meditation about releasing anger.
☁️11 AM: I meet with a staff member in admissions over Zoom to discuss file back-up in preparation for his new computer. He is actually already synced to our cloud system, meaning that all files are backed up, so the meeting is easy. He asks a few questions about the cloud system and how it works and also provides feedback on some of the tools he feels need guidelines or best practices for usage.
📽️12 PM: Lunch is the last of the fancy bean bowl leftovers and a seltzer (I am a creature of habit). While I eat, I watch budgeting videos on YouTube. I get an email that my credit card has been charged for my therapy copay ($25).
🙃3 PM: I meet virtually with a professor who is, technologically speaking, extremely high-need. I watch her rename and organize files for about an hour. Inevitably, she moves them to the wrong place, accidentally deletes the entire file name, etc. On the bright side, she is very sweet and appreciative of my guidance.
💪4:45 PM: I duck out early to drive to the gym. I let my trainer know what is going on with my knee, so we decide to hit upper today. I only started weightlifting in November and I’ve found I love it so much I am willing to shell out for personal training. After doing my best not to side-eye the men with terrible form (if you need to use your knees to complete a bicep curl, the weight is too heavy), I stretch out and grab dinner from Qdoba: a chicken bowl for me and a steak burrito for P ($24.66 total, $*12.33 *for my half).
🤙7 PM: I call my youngest brother while eating dinner. He is the only one living at home with my parents and needs to vent about what’s going on. I do my best to validate his feelings and remind him he can stop by our apartment whenever he needs to. I wish I could do more.
🚿8 PM: I pack my Qdoba leftovers for lunch, take a shower, and crawl into bed with some sleepy tea and a book.
Daily total: $42.78
DAY 7: THURSDAY
🦶5:30 AM: P. wakes me up by tickling my feet. It is not enjoyable, but it is highly effective. I grab my leftovers and head to the gym.
🚲7 AM: I finish up my cardio workout on the bike, take a quick shower, and change into my work clothes. It’s a little unfair that exercise actually does make you feel better. On the way to work, I stop at Dunkin for iced coffee again but resist getting a snack ($3.31).
🥤9 AM: My morning work consists of emails, tickets, and updating some website pages. I also find a job listing on LinkedIn at another university which is a step up from my current position. A quick look at Glassdoor shows it has a higher employee satisfaction rating than the institution where I work now, and the salary range for this position is at least $10k higher than my current salary. I spend a bit of time fine-tuning my resume and drafting a cover letter while researching the university. It has a much nicer fitness center and a smoothie bar? I know, I know, the grass is always greener…
📚10 AM: Quick walk over to the library for an appointment with the archival specialist. We discuss how to back up her files in preparation for her new computer. She gives me a tour of the rare book collection - first editions of Jane Eyre and David Copperfield, plus a copy of the Nuremberg Chronicle from the fifteenth century. Very cool. For about five minutes, I consider going back to school to get a master’s degree in library science.
🌶️11 AM: Early lunch of my Qdoba leftovers, tortilla chips, and seltzer since I didn’t have breakfast.
🖥️2 PM: I meet with my manager to discuss the documentation project and a new hire initiative in collaboration with HR. The spring semester is officially over, so we have more time on our hands to do some maintenance, clean-up, and proactive support.
🧀5 PM: Work is over! I stop at the grocery store to buy brie, crackers, oat milk, toilet paper, paper towels, and a cup of macaroni. My period is coming and I always crave cheese ($49.55 total, $*24.77 *for my half).
🍴6 PM: P. and I eat a dinner of brie, crackers, and brussel sprouts while watching a few cooking videos on YouTube. We talk about how “emotionally charged” I’ve been for the past few days (P. uses the phrase—he never, ever calls me crazy, irritable, moody, etc.). Eating cheese makes me feel better. Trash Cat and I watch a few episodes of Brooklyn 99.
💊8 PM: Quick shower, meds, and podcasts. I start to doze off.
📞9:30 PM: My brother calls me. I’m confused and groggy, so I miss the call but text him immediately asking if everything is okay. He lets me know he will be fine and I promise to call him tomorrow. It takes me a little while longer to fall asleep; P. comes to bed around 10 PM for cuddles.
Daily total: $28.08
WEEKLY TOTALS (edited)
Total Spent: $745.45
Food + Drink: $375.95
Fun / Entertainment: $38.10
Home + Health: $49.01
Clothes + Beauty: $0
Transport: $0
Credit card: $200
Gift: $50
Pets: $32.39
REFLECTION
This was an above-average spending week for me with my mom’s birthday. Emotionally, it was also not a great week for me, and I often tend to spend more money when I’m upset, although I’ve apparently channeled that compulsion into grocery shopping. I am also trying to test out if smaller, more frequent grocery trips are better for us, since weekly shopping often means we throw out produce or meat.
I’m working on a) digging myself out of credit card debt and b) regulating my emotions, especially when it comes to my family. This particular stressor, and its effects on my finances, waxes and wanes throughout the year - birthdays and holidays tend to bring out the worst in both. However, even with the debt, I still feel like I am pretty financially stable (definitely more so in comparison to where I was as a kid, teen, and younger adult).
Thanks for reading 😼 Let me know if you have any questions!