Whats your Internet Identity

What's your Internet Identity Photo by jared on flickr.com We are able to control what other people see in our personal lives. If we have a bad day, we have the option to complain about it on Facebook or Twitter or to keep it to ourselves and not let anyone know. Vice Versa, if we have a fantastic day, we have the option to brag about it and let the whole world know. We create an identity and a personality with what we choose to share with the World Wide Web. What we choose to write, share, post, read, and buy  creates an image that we portray on the internet; however, the image we portray on the internet may not be the same as the image we portray in real life. On the internet we can create an image that is happy-go-lucky seemingly every day, but in reality we may not be so happy on a daily basis. The internet has allowed us to create this avatar of ourselves without us even realizing it. Most of us probably do not think about how a simple Facebook post will affect our internet identity, but reality is that everything we do on the internet does exactly that. The internet has become an alternate reality where we are able to portray ourselves in a different light and communicate with others through posts and pictures and what we all now call “Facebook stalking.” Through this alternate reality we are able to access information on a person based on their internet identity, but do we ever really know a person until we spend actual time with them? Today, we live in a world where we are constantly connected and our internet identity is seen as a direct reflection of who we are. But it is not a direct reflection. It is an image that has been carefully created for others to see, either consciously or not. Do we want others to think that we are constantly happy-go-lucky, or do we want others to know how we feel on a day to day basis? I guess that is up to us. We can use our internet identities both to our advantage and to our disadvantage. If we are careful enough we can create an internet identity that will attract future employers, but on the other hand, and this is something we all know, our internet identity can  turn away   future employers. current employers, and more.   Our internet identity is something we have absolute control over and we can choose whether we want to focus our image on friends or work.   Both have their advantages.   Both have their disadvantages. But which one do we create? As college students we are stuck between the two. We are placed in both a social and professional setting.   We want friends to be able to find and communicate with us through the internet, but we also want current and potential employers to do so.   We need to create an internet identity that works for both our friends and employers.   We can post our weekend events, but maybe leave out the incredibly drunk pictures.   We cannot complain about our bosses on Facebook, Twitter, or any other form of social media.   We can create an identity that reflects who we are both socially and professionally, but we have to recognize that we do control our image.

Why teaching abroad is a great career move for any university grad

Why teaching abroad is a great career move for any university grad You’ve been to university and earned a bachelor’s degree, but you aren’t quite ready to commit to a decade of office work in the same city you grew up in. You want to add value to your resume, but can’t afford to dedicate your time to chalking up volunteer hours. You want to see the world, but know that a short-lived sightseeing tour overseas won’t quite cut it.  Whether you’re a professional teacher or a recent graduate with a knack for the English language, teaching abroad is the most practical way to add instant value to your university degree and resume. Here are some reasons why teaching abroad is an awesome idea for a recent university graduate:Gain international experienceYour studies have equipped you with a great set of skills that will be enhanced in a real-world environment. Your education has taught you to think critically about social issues - teaching overseas with Teach Away offers a fun and exciting way to develop your critical thinking and worldview by e xperiencing a whole new culture in the city of your choice. Imagine discussing German politics with local Berliners or learning about the ancient traditions and new-age technology of Tokyo, Japan.Separate yourself from the competitionThe percentage of people with undergraduate university degrees is always increasing. In the United States, nearly 50% of the population between ages 25 and 34 have a bachelor’s degree. In Canada, that number is even higher - about 60%. The percentage of educated people in all age brackets has increased significantly as well.There are plenty of ways to stand out from the competition when applying for jobs at home, but adding employment experience from overseas can be effective - employers look for unique candidates who have challenged themselves in significant ways. Whether or not your long term career goals are in the sphere of education, being able to add that you have taught and lived in a foreign country will go a long way in helping advance your c areer.  Don’t just teach a language, learn a new one yourselfTeaching abroad is also about learning. On top of the cultural knowledge you are sure to accumulate, teaching away offers the perfect opportunity to another language. Mastering a second language creates significant opportunities for young people. These could be future international employment opportunities or an awesome position at home that involves working with foreign clients. Learning a new language is no small task, but ask anyone who has a grip on more than one language and they’ll tell you that the best (and maybe only) way to really become fluent is to submerge yourself in living conditions where the people speak the language you want to learn.Travel and advance your career at the same timeWhen the cap and gown come off and the real world is staring you right in the eye, there is a fairly standard set of options for what to do next: Do you head off to grad school and pursue your next degree? Do you quickly lan d that dream job and get to work? Or do you take some time off of the hard stuff and go travelling? Teach Away offers a wide range of teaching positions at a variety of institutions around the globe and provides the avenue to accomplish all of the above. With Teach Away you can advance your education through cultural submersion in a whole new city, earn a reliable steady income, and have fun travelling the world… all at the same time.If you’re a recent graduate with a desire to travel and to teach, Teach Away might be your door to a wealth of international teaching opportunities. Teaching abroad isn’t for everyone, though -  you’ll have to be willing to adopt a new lifestyle and work a full a schedule in a city where the primary language might not be English.  Up for the challenge? Visit our Check out our job board to see current postings around the world. Or visit our University of Toronto TEFL page for info on how to get TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certi fied.