Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with professional

Music for a good mourning

b33j — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:18:53 -0800

Copyright issues with memorial DVDs? I recently produced a DVD of photographs and music for a friend of a friend's funeral. None of the photographs were professional, but the music was from my personal collection of mp3s. As I was not paid for this, I didn't give it a second thought. Now, however, the funeral director has contacted me asking whether I can provide this service to his clients. What issues are there with scanning professional photos (there's bound to be a couple in every set) and buying music to use as a soundtrack? Where do I start to look for this information? If the client provides me with the mp3s to embed, is that okay?

I'm in Australia and I have read the 31 music + copyright questions

Professional Troll shirt?

pinky — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:51:50 -0800

This evening, I saw a man with a slate blue t-shirt on that said "Professional Troll" on the back. There was a pandalike creature on the sleeve. What was on the front?

What are some good things to consider when starting out as a professional photographer?

ghostpony — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:36:31 -0800

What are some good things to consider when starting out as a professional photographer? This can include equipment (lenses, bodies, flashes, strobes, computers), software, sites, marketing, rates.

I have lots of experience with photography but don't know exactly how to break in as a freelance professional photographer. I have a portfolio better than most and expansive enough to cover pretty much any need (from jewelry, to wild life, to children, to wedding and traditional portraiture). One of the things I have most difficulty doing is finding and setting appropriate rates.

Any help would be appreciated.

Can't I have my cake...?

Anonymous — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:17:15 -0800

Would it even be possible to pursue a friendship, or a good idea, for that matter? So my dog had to go to a specialist, so I took her to the hospital at the university where I am a student (grad). The resident that took care of my dog was amazing, and he really intrigues me as a person. He is 37, and I am 35. Here's my dilemma. I am in a relationship, and very happy with my partner. But I can't deny that I am attracted to this guy. I would very much like to be friends, but I don't know 1) if he is interested in that and 2) if guys at that age are interesting in even having female friends (who knows if it would be something else down the road a piece...).

I am completely clueless as to when guys are hitting on me, and there were a couple of instances that make me think that he was, but they are also fairly ambiguous. The first was when I was leaving after the consultation. I shook his hand, and he said that where he is from, it is rude to shake hands goodbye, and better to hug and give a kiss on each cheek. Culturally true, but I wasn't sure if he did that with all of his clients. So...maybe, maybe not.

The second was when I was visiting my dog. He was taking her back to her kennel, and he apologized for not being able to hug or shake my hand. In general, he is really touchy and flirty with me, which may just be his personality.

The other thing (and again, I realize that I may be totally overthinking, so please be kind), was that when he called me to update me on my dog, he called from his personal cell phone. Usually these calls are made on a hospital phone, and the number is scrambled.

So is there a way I can suggest friendship? Is it a bad idea? Guys, are you ok with your SO having male friends? Is it better to let sleeping dogs lie? Should I friend him on Facebook or something? Or am I just overthinking the whole thing? Again, I realize that this may be totally one sided. Any thoughts? Throwaway if needed is anonanswer@gmail.com. Thanks!

I would like to subscribe to your newsletter, and give you my card!

cgomez — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:21:59 -0800

Help me network like a professional. What are common mistakes that soon-to-be graduates make at network events? What is proper etiquette for name exchanges, gracefully making one's way into a group conversation, and how one does one make an impression without coming off too strong? Particulars after the break. This is a large networking event for accounting students put together by the campus and about twenty accounting firms. If anyone has experience in this job field specifically, that would be great. The purpose is mainly for students to get to know the different firms by briefly meeting representatives and staff from each and asking questions. What is the best way to ask thoughtful questions, but how do I incorporate myself into it or somehow make it more memorable?

Also, I'd greatly appreciate just any general advice for dealing with situations I may not be thinking of.

How do I talk to doctors?

bananaskin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:47:08 -0800

How do I talk to doctors in a professional manner? I work in nursing homes as a speech-language pathologist. This is a professional job which includes a master's degree and 1 year internship. I often have to talk with doctors in order to discuss a patient's progress, especially in the area of swallowing.

I often feel extremely nervous when talking to the doctors. This is partially because they act somewhat short, impatient. Sometimes, it seems that the doctors act downright arrogant and rude, accusatory without allowing for me to talk. I am also worried that I will look foolish, so this increases my nervousness. I often get tongue-tied and choose the wrong words because of my nervousness. (Yes, strange coming from a speech-language pathologist?!?! Hey, I can see my problem, it doesn't mean I can fix it! LOL).

Has anyone else been in this position? How do you handle talking with doctors in a way which allows them to continue to feel "in charge" and doesn't make it sound like you are talking down to them, although you may know more about a particular aspect than they do....and allows them to consider your valuable information?

Maybe I just need to hear stories from others who experience this as well. thank you......

Gallant Above the Ankle, Goofus Below

DU — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:53:37 -0800

Fashion Don't? Long story short: I am reluctantly dressing up a little at work, at least temporarily. Basic non-denim pants (khaki? chino? I don't really know the diff) and white and/or blue buttoned, tucked-in shirt. Belt, no tie.

AND: Sneakers. White cotton sweat socks and sneakers. And not dressy sneakers. Plain, grass-stained, everyday, used-to-wear-them-with-jeans-and-a-T-shirt sneakers.

My wife gasped with shock that I would even consider it and mocked me. However, the first couple of days I was stuck since my nice shoes are too big now and were giving me a blister. During that time, I noticed there's a fair number of people here dressed similarly. I saw a guy yesterday who could've been my clone. Without paying too much attention, I counted something like 4 people wearing some form of sneakers along with a buttoned shirt tucked into non-jeans.

Additional fact: I am a NERD and also work among them. Oh and if it matters I also fit in with everyone else in terms of haircuts (short) and visible tattoos (none).

One hypothesis is that these other sneakerers are a fashion vanguard. Another hypothesis is that we are all equally deluded. I am somewhat interested in that question. But mainly: Do they provide me with enough cover to get away with continuing to wear the shoes I prefer?

How to apply for ajob, the American way?

Tarumba — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 18:51:53 -0800

How to apply for a job in the US? Please, help! Mu husband's first time applying for a job in the US, in our countries it's enough to just drop off a CV, and wait until we get called, but reading a bit on line i find things like Cover letter, which I have no clue what it is. He is applying for a City job, and he's perfectly qualified for it (he is an American citizen and has American experience, only he didn't really apply for his first job, he sort of jumped that stage). My questions are...

1. How is an application structured? (Cover letter, resume, what else?)
2. What is a cover letter, anyway? Can you please give me some guidelines on how to write one?
3. How many pages should a resume have? What sort of references would you use?
4. Do you have any other advice on etiquette we should follow? Like whether it's better to mail the stuff, showing up, or whether we should do follow-up calls, etc?

Thank you!

I love you, fresh egg

chalbe — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 08:34:01 -0800

What cooking secrets take your food to the almost-pro level? I love food; making it, reading about it, eating it. I already do a few basics, like shopping the NYC Union Square farmers' market, using fresh leafy herbs and garlic, squeezing lemon juice, cooking meat the right temperature, adding enough salt + pepper, grating Parmigiano-Reggiano, etc. Even so, my cooking still tastes a little flat and two-dimensional.

What practices or ingredients do you use to elevate your cooking? Spice mixes? Marinades? I prefer answers that skew towards the complex-but-tasty and avoid processed goods. Bonus points if you are a professional cook or culinary school student.

To get us started, here are some ideas I've been wanting to try:
- Making brown veal stock and remoullage, for braising and sauces
- Making yogurt from scratch milk + starter
- Making herbed butter and herb-infused oils

How Do I Get Paid For My Podcast?

HostBryan — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:02:25 -0800

How should I go about monetizing my podcast in a legitimate and professional manner? I've been operating my podcast for over three years now. In that three years, I've made a lot of new friends, met and interviewed some of my personal heroes, and just generally had a good time. We've since gone from just one main podcast to a soft launch of a network of podcasts on various topics, which I am pretty excited about.

Unfortunately, I've never really gotten anything in terms of financial compensation, which means I've been running it at a loss for three years. Now, it is not a gigantic expense and I am otherwise employed, but I'd like to make the podcast make at least a little money. I'm not looking to get rich, but if I could cover server and domain costs, give my co-hosts a little something, and maybe cover a few other bills I'd be ecstatic.

I've got some experience with radio sales but podcasts are a whole different beast, especially because it seems like I pretty much have to set up my own operation. I don't mind going hat-in-hand to potential sponsors but I also don't want to look like some shady character who's just going to take the money and run.

I plan on offering recorded ad messages and on-air mentions of the product/website/whatever, as well as banner and link space on the front page of the actual website. I'm mostly looking for cash, but trades of products or services for giveaways/reviews/whatever are also welcome.

So I guess I have a couple questions.

1. How do I go about making everything nice and legal and official? I want to make sure there's a paper trail and documents for sponsors to follow, also I want to be sure how to file taxes for this sort of thing. Plus, I don't want to look schlubby.

2. What would be a fair ballpark rate to charge for podcast advertising? We aren't a huge podcast but we get a large number of downloads for each episode, and we've been having a lot of luck with landing relatively big-name guests lately. I'm thinking of offering a tiered structure - sort of a Bronze/Silver/Gold/Platinum-type thing.

3. Would I instead be better off just accepting donations?

Thanks for your help, hive mind.

Are there professional organizers?

rahnefan — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:02:01 -0800

Is there such a thing as a professional organizer? What about for the common man? By which I mean someone who can come to your (average) home, assess your living space and the crap stacked up in it, and the people and animals living in it, and give affordable suggestions that will make your (average) home more functional and less stressful? I am talking logistics, shelving, wiring, storage, throwing things out, even feng-freaking-shui. Even knocking down walls, whatever, my mind is open. I used to think I had a handle on it but there's too much on my mind.

The stuff now owns us. To me, it can be stifling (word chosen carefully). It can ruin a weekend; I feel pulled in umpteen directions but often don't getting much of anything done, maintenance-wise or recreational.

Preferably there's someone far more persuasive than I am when it comes to suggesting we get rid of things or place them more usably. Or make that conceptual garage sale become a reality. I give away as much as I can, when I can. There are breaks when, for a short season, things stay neater and cleaner, and therefore at least a little more productive and enjoyable; but no enduring solutions. And I think the underlying problem is greater than the amount of stuff or the lay of the house...it's not just about "stuff" and I'm open to practical and theoretical suggestions. Unfortunately the SO functions consistently in any situation, no difference, and therefore does not or cannot sympathize.

There has got to be people who do this for a living and are good at it. Aren't there?

How to Submit Query to Magazine?

goalyeehah — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:44:21 -0800

How does one submit a professional query to a national magazine? I am a yoga teacher looking to submit some pieces to Yoga Journal for possible publication. I have never submitted a query before. What does this consist of and what is the best way to approach it?

PMP A-OK?

parmanparman — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 19:54:44 -0800

Do you have a Project Management Professional Certificate? If so, how has it improved your earnings and/or employment opportunities and how do employers see the qualification?

Buy a house: Yes or No?

CPAGirl — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:14:17 -0800

Do I buy a house? I understand this may be an annoying question, but it's a big one, so I'm hoping to hear from people who've gone through this situation as well.

Situation: I'm early 20s, young professional (solid job), living in a great place I can see myself settling into, and certainly someplace I can see myself in for at least 5 years.

But I love to travel and definitely want to see some of the world, live in other cities, before I settle down.

With the tax credit for first-time homebuyers, this would be a great opportunity to build some equity. Costs would be about the same as renting an apartment and I have enough budget wiggle room to cover a minor catastrophe.

You never can tell what the future holds, so I'm not sure how long I'll stay or go for (if I just leave for a couple years, it can be rented or such (I have siblings in the area)), so I'm just not sure to pull the trigger or rent. Spending 40,000 renting for the next five years seems like a waste when 25% of the could be equity. I know it's risky to depend on real estate for future prosperity, so that's not even a given. I just don't want to miss out on a great opportunity.

Again, I know this question isn't exactly Mefi material, but any advice would be much appreciated.

help me create a portfolio website that doesn't scream "student work"!

MagicalHypotenuse — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:20:31 -0800

I'm an independent graphic artist looking to create a simple but not amatuerish-looking portfolio website to showcase my work. And because of my limited budget, I pretty much have to do it myself. However, I'm having trouble getting started because there's so much information out there, a lot of it conflicting, out-of-date, too specific, or too general. Please help me do this right! Plenty Basically, what I want is a simple main page leading to a few different galleries of my work, a blog, and a contact page. Nothing outrageously fancy; just crisp, professional, and clean. (Flash is not for me.) Anyway, at this point I can't really afford something like liveBooks so I have to do it myself. I've done a very basic portfolio website for a class, so I'm not entirely clueless, but I'm definitely hoping for something more polished than my student work.

Obviously, there's a lot of information out there (and i n h e r e), but I'm finding myself confused and hung up on all the particulars.

Examples of the kind of stuff that makes me nervous: domain registration, how hosting works, making sure a site is visible in different browsers and on different screen sizes, structuring a website, updating, adding site navigation & text to Photoshop-created galleries, making sure my site doesn't get hacked, etc.

I know this is a vast subject and I'm not expecting anyone to spell out every little detail here on MeFi. What I'm hoping is that some kind and clever people can point me in the right direction, perhaps by recommending specific books or detailed online tutorials that deal with creating online portfolios that are a) readily intelligible by (relative) web design newbies; b) current; c) not tacky or gimmicky. Any other resources or general words of advice would be helpful.

Thanks!

Book Learnin

tinatiga — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:27:27 -0800

What are some great professional development books? Specifically: Excel, Visual Basic, Powerpoint, financial analysis & forecasting. Even better if I can put them on my kindle!

Thanks!

When to apply to graduate school and what skills are considered valuable?

cranberrymonger — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:13:28 -0800

How do I decide when the time is right to go back to school? I graduated in 2007 from a small Canadian university with an Honours BA in Psychology and Sociology. My average was a B and I did not enjoy my Psych courses, particularly in later years. I was extremely interested in my Soc courses; especially those that involved social inequality, feminism, class conflict, forms of oppression, etc.

I performed poorly due to anxiety, burnout, depression, disorganization, lack of focus (all of which is highly correlated with a really negative personal situation that I have since escaped and every student's favourite crutch: large amounts of marijuana).

If I can possibly say this without sounding unbearably conceited, I am intelligent and never had any difficulties understanding the material or comprehending the theories and concepts. Some professors approached me throughout my undergrad and asked if I had considered applying to graduate school. (I applied to four schools and was rejected for low grades). I do not believe that I had the work ethic necessary during my undergrad and at the time could be roundly classified as a smart slacker.

I took a year off and am gainfully employed in finance (unrelated to my interests but the company treats employees very well). I'm also taking a professional certificate for nonprofit management at a local university; I'll be done in 5 semesters of part-time study. I'm doing well so far and getting my work done on time, completing all my readings, getting good grades... so I know that my lack of success with school was due to the factors detailed above and not a lack of competence or ability.

My questions: When and if should I go back to school? Is it ever more valuable to go back to do graduate school after years of working? How successful are mature applicants? Will this professional certificate reflect well on me, should I apply again? Should I also take additional upper-level undergraduate courses to aid my application? What other qualities/experiences are considered valuable? Should I wait until I feel mature and focused enough or should I take a loan and push through the pain now?

Thank-you very much for your time, everyone; I do appreciate any thoughts and wisdom you may have on these issues.

How does one make the transition between "college student" and business professional" without being wasteful?

DonSlice — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:22:31 -0800

How does one make the transition between "college student" and business professional" without being wasteful? My cousin recently took a nice job out west- something that is career-worthy. She's still living like a college student (ie: computing while sitting on the floor, instinctively buying cheaper things because they're cheap, etc).

How can she move from that "college student" mindset without being wasteful with her money?

Where can I find a list of the sales rank of NFL jerseys?

ChasFile — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:05:17 -0800

How would you find a ranked list of professional sportsmens' jersey sales for a particular league during a particular season? For instance, where could you find a ranked list of the sales of NFL players' jerseys for 2007? I've Googled around and found various articles that list the top 20 or 25 in a particular year. That's a start, but really what I'd like is the source that those articles are based on, so I could get all the rankings, not just the top few. I'm as much interested in seeing the worst selling jerseys (spoiler: I know that the worst seller is New Orleans Saints nickelback Randall Gay) as I am in the best. Also, I'm most interested right now in the NFL — given its seasonal relevance — but I'd also be interested in seeing good data for any professional sports league.

They must be pulling that data from a list somewhere, and really what I'm interested in is seeing that list. Is it available anywhere online? Some of those articles list NFLShop.com as the source, but they don't get any more specific than that. I've looked around quite a bit on NFLShop.com but haven't found anything like this data.

I realize that it is proprietary sales data and therefore might not be available, but I feel like enough of those "This Year's Top Selling Jerseys" stories get published each year that the information must be out there, somewhere.

At worst, would it be possible to do this somehow based on, for instance, Amazon.com sales rankings? Is it possible to do a search on Amazon in such a way that it returns all the products in a category (like NFL jerseys, for instance) listed by sales rank?

Are there any other ways to get this kind of data or at least an approximation of it?

Bonus points if that list contains the actual sales figures, in addition to simply the rankings. Again, I realize that since this is proprietary sales data the chances are slim, but you never know. Again, since so many of those "This Year's Top Selling Jerseys" stories get published each year, I thought perhaps the data might be out there.

How can we get great newborn photographs?

k8t — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:35:52 -0800

What are the tricks/tip to getting great newborn photographs? There is a photographer in town that does lovely newborn photos but she charges $650 and you get a book and a few 3X5s!

How could we with our Nikon D40x take photos like this? Or, perhaps a better choice, could we try to hire a student from the local photography school to take photos like this?

If we go with the photography student, what is a fair rate to pay him/her?

EIT/PE ten years out of school?

notsnot — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:54:10 -0800

How to pass a PE license exam after ten years? I earned a BSME in 1998. Professional engineering licensure was mentioned in one class, as an afterthought - most of the graduates went on to be consultants, where a PE doesn't do you any good. I never took the EIT (engineer in training) test. I worked for a railcar company for 4+ years out of college, then did construction and teaching, when I couldn't find an engineering job, for another four years. I"m now at a company that strongly encourages me to get my PE license so the old PE can fully retire.

I've looked online, but I have no sense of how hard the EIT test is, firstly, and how likely the license board is to let me take the PE test without four years' time after the EIT test.

I'm not dumb, but looking at the reference materials, I barely remember any of this stuff. When I taught math, even high-level calculus and DiffEQ came back like it was yesterday, but I'm pretty sure I didn't learn a lot of the engineering stuff. My recollection of college, the engineering part, was that of a lot of professors' egos, criminal levels of apathy (one professor didn't let me turn in an assignment an hour late because I was at a classmate's funeral!), professors who didn't speak intelligibly, and ridiculous workloads on material that didn't actually teach us anything. Tests were either a joke (everyone had scores of 80% or better) or ridiculous (one person got a 90, the rest got under 40%). I don't seem to have learned a lot of the material. How hard are the tests?

How do young professionals successfully negotiate a starting salary?

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:12:25 -0800

Do young professionals stand a change when negotiating a starting salary after a three-month probationary period? I started my current job a little while ago and it is now time for my three-month review. At the time I accepted this job, I was told that the salary I would be receiving ($35k) is non-negotiable during the probationary period, and could be reviewed at the three month mark. Although I found this somewhat suspiciously, I felt that this job was the best fit for me and was excited to start.

I’m feeling a bit more realistic and familiar with how things work at the land planning and design firm I work for, however still not 100% comfortable or confident in my skills. I am trained as a landscape architect, and have spent the majority of my time doing graphic design, editing and formatting using InDesign.

However, friends of mine in the same profession are receiving an annual salary of almost $10,000 more. I get the same types of benefits they do, and two weeks holiday time. At this point, there has been no discussion about perks, bonuses, or any incentives. I don’t drive, so cars/mileage isn’t factored in.

During my interview, I specifically asked if there would be a considerable amount of overtime. They answered no, as long as you finish what you need to do. However, in one two-week pay period, I worked double the time I was supposed to, twelve days in a row, and spent the entire weekend at the office. I received one day off in lieu for this time.

It is a 9:00am-5:00pm job, however everybody knows you come in at 8:00 and you leave at 6:00pm at the very least. Nobody gets up from their desk at lunch time, and in the summer we are supposed to have half-day Fridays… but nobody ever takes their half days. The idea is that you come in to work earlier and stay later to take a half day off, but really… you just end up working more.

The office is severely understaffed and during the time that I’ve been here (3 months) I’ve attended three good-bye parties. Prior to my arrival, one of the partners quit and took two employees with him to a different firm. Am I wrong to see this as a red flag? This is a small firm, with about ten people.

I believe that I’m worth more than my current salary, and assume that they would expect some negotiation during my hour-long review tomorrow. However, if I ask for an increase, I don’t want to slave away and feel obligated to stay late at night and come in on weekends. They’re severely short-staffed and I believe that some of the project managers lack proper organization skills – but how does a Junior Designer bring this up?

My ideal salary would be $41,500 – given my education and overseas work experience. I’m trying to gauge what other young professionals make in Toronto, but everybody is pretty tight-lipped. I highly doubt they will give me this. I do enjoy my work, and money isn’t everything, but I’d like it to be fair.

How do I politely ask for at least what I feel I’m worth? How can a young professional argue that they’re worth it, they’re willing to work hard but not sell their soul?

Welcome to our office, we're technologically advanced.

Talia Devane — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:13:15 -0800

I need an electronic welcome sign for my office. Currently we are using printed signs in a frame to welcome clients and prospects to our financial services office. We would like to change that to a large digital frame that can also show some photos from client events. The large part seems to be giving me trouble. Preferably, I need wireless acess, the ability to use a picture frame, and scheduled changes rather than random. The display must be at least 14" diag, (8 1/2 x 11").

I have looked at the offerings from Digital Spectrum and I don't think the quality is up to the price on that brand from the sparse reviews I have found. I have considered using a lcd monitor or television, but don't know what software might be appropriate.

Acrobat-profilter: subscript

kjl291 — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:35:34 -0800

I am using adobe acrobat pro 8. I have a basic text field in a simple form. How in the hell do I get a subscript character in there (I want put in the text "H2M DEVELOPMENT CO." with the "2" as subscript)? Is this something boneheadedly simple I am missing? I can do it in two seconds in any word processor...your help will be mos appreciated - thanks in advance!!!

Photography blogs

pmaxwell — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 07:05:13 -0800

Professional photographers: What blogs, resources, sites do you use/recommend for keeping up to date, trends, reviews, techniques, experiences with vendors, etc?