#5 Bored at Work Check Out the Best Mobile Games

5 Bored at Work Check Out the Best Mobile Games5 Bored at Work Check Out the Best Mobile GamesDisco ZooThis zoo simulator with its old school feel wont let you stop. Basically you are a manager of a virtual zoo. You start with a little collection of farm animal, and must rescue more animals to increase their habitats. This game is available for iOS and Android.LyneIf you like games with remarkable visuals and addictive gameplay, you should check Lyne out. This minimalist puzzle game will knot your brain as it calms your soul. Available for Windows, Mac, Linux and Android.Ridiculous FishingAs the title suggests, it is a mobile fishing game. Your job is to catch as many fishes as you can. You use motion and touch controls to do so. Available for both Android and iOS.Monument ValleyHelp princess Ida go through mazes of optical illusions and impossible objects. This beautiful puzzle game is created by indie studio Ustwo available for iOS, Android and Windows Phone.FramedLoveshack studio got several entwurf awards for this game. Framed is a hybrid of puzzle game and comic book. Your actions will change the story as you go through. Available only for iOS.Legend of GrimrockLoG is a fantasy action game. Gameplay consists of puzzle solving and combat. It is heavily inspired by 90s dungeon games. You should definitely take a look at this one. Available for Windows, Linux, Mac and iOS.Planet QuestPlanet QUEST is a brand new rhythm game youll never want to put down. Weird scenes combined with fun gameplay is what makes Planet Quest one of the hottest mobile games out there.Does Not CommuteStrategic driving game with an interesting style. Controls are well optimised and are easy to pick up on topped with a remarkable graphics. Available for iOS and Android.source PCmagDo you like this story? Share it with your friends.Share Your Feedback or Ideas in the Comments

3 Steps to Prepare for a Potential Layoff

3 Steps to Prepare for a Potential Layoff3 Steps to Prepare for a Potential LayoffAre you in danger of losing your job? Whether rumors are circulating or you have reliable information that your team or company is restructuring, the time to prepare is now. This is true even if you imagine that your job is safe.When a company is undergoing a merger, acquisition or internal reorganization, things can move at a rapid pace. Frequent and unexpected changes may occur. The best thing you can do is to get ready in case you are told to move on. Its a good idea to take these actions, even if you end up keeping your job, because they will help you no matter what comes to pass.1. Reach out for professional and personal reasons. The worst thing you can do is sit around and feel sorry for yourself. Acknowledge that it could end up being a difficult or badeanstalt situation, then decide that you will take positive steps forward to reduce the impact of the professional and financial repercussions. Get back in touch with former colleagues and tell them what you can about what you may be facing soon. Dont be afraid to pick up the phone for a quick call instead of writing emails, as this is likely to make a bigger impact. Ask for their advice, and if they can keep their ears open for any possible opportunities in your field. The wider you cast your professional net, the better.You should also let friends in on the situation. They can be helpful professionally and support you when you need it most. While you may not be comfortable alerting family to a possible job change that is completely out of your control, it may help you deal with it better emotionally. Sharing this information will likely help you to confront the situation and encourage you to take active steps to deal with it.2. Develop your story. Everyone worries about how a layoff or gap in employment looks to employers. You need to be ready to answer the question, so youll feel mora confident when it arises. Realize th at you cannot be faulted for losing your job after a merger, acquisition or internal change. It happens to a lot of people and is out of your control. What you can control is how you present it to employers and, more importantly, how you present yourself.Be transparent. Tell an employer in a cover letter, email or phone conversation why you lost your job and then go further. Explain briefly what makes you unique as an employee and how you can help them. This demonstrates that you havent let it get you down and still believe in your value.3. Update your branding materials. One things for sure When you start networking with people and applying to jobs, theyre going to ask for your resume. Its likely that they will check to see if you have a LinkedIn profile as well. Maybe youll need to submit a cover letter for a job. If youre in a creative field, you should make sure your online or hard-copy portfolio is updated with your latest work. Dont wait. Get it all ready now because the belas tung thing you want to do is scramble when you run into someone who asks you to send them your resume. That usually results in a poor product because you dont have time to do it well when you feel pressured to send it out.When you update your resume, dont throw your latest job or work on there. Take time to look over your entire document. After all, this is exactly why you are planning now for what may come later. As you read, think about it critically, as if youre looking at a co-workers work rather than your own. Ask yourself Is it readable? Can I easily figure out what this persons expertise is? Does it include a career summary, bullets that show the impact of my work, education, technical skills and honors and awards, if applicable? Are there grammatical errors or formatting mistakes?Your LinkedIn profile adds more to your professional story. Think about the following Does my summary discuss the value I bring to a company? Does it share something personal about why I love wha t I do or how I got into the field? Have I used keywords from my industry that apply to my professional history throughout the profile, including in the summary, job descriptions and the skills section? In addition to the sections above that I typically see in a resume, did I include volunteer work and interests? Did I include links to presentations, writing or other media Ive developed?

Trends That Are Reshaping the Legal Industry

Trends That Are Reshaping the Legal Industry Trends That Are Reshaping the Legal Industry As legal professionals position themselves to survive the peaks and troughs of an ailing economy, a number of distinct trends have emerged in the legal industry. Most of these trends help law firms and organizations become more efficient, productive and competitive in a global market.  Other trends result from changing demographics, attitudes and work styles.     01 Electronic Discovery Recent amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure make electronically stored information such as e-mails, instant messages, voicemails, e-calendars, graphics and data on handheld devices discoverable in litigation. The discovery of electronically stored information (ESI) is known as electronic discovery.      The explosive growth of ESI has increased the cost and complexity of the e-discovery process and forever changed the face of large-scale, complex litigation. New roles in litigation support, e-discovery, and ??trial technology  have emerged to address the electronic realities of a digital age. 02 The Multi-Generational Workforce For the first time in the nation’s history, four generations are working side by side in the workplace:  Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y. As attorneys, paralegals and other legal professionals work beyond retirement age, many law firms and legal departments are trying to balance a generation gap of more than 50 years between the oldest and youngest employees.   Four generations working together in the same work environment present new workforce dynamics and challenges.   Moreover, the pending exodus of nearly 80 million retiring Baby Boomers and the entry of Generation Z (born between 1991 and 2012) will continue to change workplace dynamics. 03 Social Networking Social networking has the potential to transform the business and practice of law in the coming years.  Legal professionals have a growing number of social media tools at their disposal to accomplish a variety of legal tasks and career objectives.  Social networking is changing how legal professionals recruit, job hunt, network, locate and discredit witnesses, manage their careers and interact with clients.   Social media tools such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are also key marketing tools, helping lawyers and legal professionals reach a broad audience and accomplish branding, advertising, and client development goals. 04 Legal Process Outsourcing In recent years, the legal industry has experienced a global paradigm shift in the delivery model for legal services. This new model, known as legal process outsourcing (LPO), transfers the work of attorneys, paralegals and other legal professionals to external vendors located domestically and overseas. Legal outsourcing, both onshore and offshore, is transforming law practice as law firms and corporate legal departments seek to minimize costs, increase flexibility and expand their in-house capabilities. 05 Work-Life Balance An ailing economy, billable hour quotas and a competitive global market for legal services have driven many law firms into overdrive.   The pressure to do more with less has forced a growing number of employees to sacrifice their personal life in order to work harder and longer.   As recession-related layoffs pile greater workloads upon legal professionals, workers are demanding a better work-life balance. New workplace policies such as flex-time, telecommuting, part-time work, phased retirement, temporary leave, compressed schedules, and other alternative work arrangements are transforming the law firm environment from sweatshop to one of flexibility. 06 Globalization Domestic law firms are expanding across borders, collaborating with foreign counsel and forming intercontinental mergers, erasing traditional boundaries on the geographic scope of law practice. Although globalization is not new, it is gaining momentum due to the growth of the Internet, the automation of legal processes, developments in data security and emerging technology tools.   As law firms continue to expand their footprint worldwide, globalization will continue to reshape the landscape of the legal industry in the coming years. 07 Eco-Consciousness As going green becomes a global priority, green law initiatives are impacting the business and practice of law.  In response to global warming, economic pressure and eco-conscious clients, law firms and legal professionals across the globe are establishing green initiatives that cut expenses, reduce their carbon footprint and promote social responsibility.   Environmental law or green law is a growing practice area and many firms are establishing niche sub-practices in fair trade, organics, renewable energy, green building,  and climate change. 08 Virtual Law Firms Powerful mobile devices, software-as-a-service, and secure, web-based technology allow legal professionals to work from virtually anywhere.   As a result, more legal professionals are working remotely from home or a virtual law office.   Virtual law offices provide an alternative method of practicing law that permits flexible work hours and fosters a better work/life balance for legal professionals. Virtual work is not just for lawyers;  a growing number of legal professionals are working remotely.   Working virtually allows legal professionals to serve their employers and clients while maintaining a better work/life balance and modifying their schedule to fit personal and family needs. 09 Alternative Legal Service Delivery Models Lawyers no longer have a monopoly on the law.  The legal marketplace is changing, and clients can seek legal assistance from a growing number of non-lawyer professionals including paralegal technicians, legal document preparers, legal self-help sites, virtual assistants and offshore legal vendors. These new options enable bringing affordable legal services to disadvantaged populations and empower citizens to address their own legal matters.   As the cost of legal services continues to rise, new legal delivery models will continue to emerge and gain momentum in the coming years. 10 Alternative Billing Models Pressure to reign in legal costs has forced law firms to diverge from the traditional billable-hours modela century-old staple of the legal industry that has been criticized for rewarding inefficiencyin favor of new alternative billing models such as fixed, flat, blended or capped fees. In fact, a new law department metrics survey reports that 72.8 percent of fees paid to outside counsel in 2009 were based on billing arrangements other than standard hourly rates or the billable hour.  In order to foster long-term relationships and maximize value, more law firms are embracing alternative billing as a way to meet the needs of cost-conscious clients.