Retweet, WTF! The Concise Oxford English Dictionary now adds sexting. Woot!

The Concise Oxford English Dictionary has added 400 words to its dictionary, including retweet, woot, sexting and cyberbullying. The 12th edition of the dictionary is a recognition that modern technology and social media have greatly impacted the English language. Retweet, the act of resharing a message on Twitter, is our favorite addition, though sexting and woot are a close second and third.

The Concise Oxford English Dictionary — which is celebrating its centennial birthday — now has more than 240,000 words. “Sadly, the new edition has no room for tremendous words like brabble ‘paltry noisy quarrel’ and growlery ‘place to growl in, private room, den’ — what we might call a man cave these days,” Oxford University Press’s Angus Stevenson said in a blog post. “But the preoccupations of today’s Generation Y have opened the door to some equally colourful vocabulary — how about momo, noob, nurdle, and woot?”

Among the other additions to the Oxford English Dictionary are jeggings, mankini (a term popularized by Sacha Baron Cohen’s Borat movie) and domestic goddess. Earlier this year, the Oxford English Dictionary Online added WTF! OMG, LOL, FYI to its list of official English words.

Gorgon Project Job Interviews | London Aug 26/27 | Dublin Aug 28/29/30

Construction and Engineering Jobs in Australia

JobContax in association with our Australian partners are currently recruiting for a number of large civils projects in Australia. We are currently looking for Project Engineers and Construction Supervisors to work on the $43 Billion  Gorgon LNG Project. The Australian contractor is flying over to conduct interviews in London on August 26/27 and in Dublin on August 28-30. Visit our Gorgon Project Jobs page for full job details.

All roles come with excellent packages including relocation costs and employer sponsored family Australian 457 visas. These positions represent a fantastic opportunity to progress your career and gain large project experience. For more information on Australian 457 Visas and the Gorgon Project click the links below:

Gorgon LNG Project information         

 Australian 457 Visa information

To be considered for interview, apply through our website, www.jobcontax.com, for the job or jobs which you feel you are qualified for and one of our consultants will contact you and explain the interview process in detail.

Contact Details

Website: www.jobcontax.com
   E-Mail:  info@jobcontax.com
   Skype:   JobContax
   Phone: 353-1-7978720

        

UCD launches biotech initiative in China's 'Silicon Valley'

University College Dublin (UCD) and Shenzhen University (SZU) have joined forces to establish the Institute of Health Science and Innovation in the heart of China's Silicon Valley. The collaboration integrates education, research and innovation programmes in health sciences, bioengineering and health-related technologies, healthcare management and informatics. The elements of the institute include a Health Sciences Curriculum Development Unit, a Biomedical Engineering Research and Technology Centre and a Centre for Healthcare Leadership and Innovation.

As part of the agreement, the two universities will establish a doctoral programme (MD) for all qualified SZU medical graduates. The first year of the programme will take place in Shenzhen. Following the successful completion of the first year and the state medical licensing examination of China, the students will transfer to Dublin to pursue a further two years of translational research doctoral studies in UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science with joint supervision from academics and clinicians from UCD and SZU. The students will be awarded an MD degree from UCD. “UCD has prioritised internationalisation in its new strategic plan Forming Global Minds and the agreement with Shenzhen University adds to the university’s multi-pronged links with China. Shenzhen is one of the world’s hotbeds of innovation,” said UCD president Dr Hugh Brady. For the past two years, UCD has been advising Shenzhen University on the design of the curriculum for its new medical school.

Opportunities for researchers and entrepreneurs

“Building on the strong collaboration developed recently between our two medical schools, this initiative should provide exciting new opportunities for Irish academic researchers and entrepreneurs to work in partnership with some of China’s most impressive medicine and biotechnology programmes. We also look forward to welcoming Shenzhen students to Dublin where they will be a wonderful addition to the UCD community,” Brady added.

SZU president Prof Zhang Bigong said UCD's quality of teaching, research and facilities impressed him during his visit in 2008. The main reason why UCD has been selected as the partner was the excellent reputation of the UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science, he added. “The UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science is particularly excited by the partnership with Shenzhen University. In our experience, international partnerships such as these compel us to reflect, adjust and develop our teaching programmes with needs of the global citizen in mind.” said Prof William G Powderly, head of the UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science.

Protect Your Online Privacy while Travelling

At the peak of summer, the weather is not all that’s heating up – privacy, it turns out, has never been hotter. From senators to major news outlets, it seems everyone has privacy on the mind these days.

What does this have to do with your upcoming vacation? Well, chances are you’re packing more than a swimsuit and a beach book – what about your smartphone, laptop, tablet and digital camera? These devices are loaded with personal information and pose significant privacy risks if not properly protected during travel. Exercise a little common sense and follow these privacy tips to help protect your personal information and ensure a safe and relaxing vacation.

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1. Use Secure Wi-Fi and “https” Whenever Possible

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If you’re connecting to a wireless network, be it at a café or your hotel lobby, it should be password-protected to prevent unauthorized persons from accessing the network. You can also ask the venue if they have encryption enabled for their wireless router, which provides an extra layer of defense. If you plan to log in to your online accounts or enter sensitive credit card information over Wi-Fi, make sure the website URLs begin with “https,” indicating that they encrypt your data during transmission.

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2. Consider Tracking or “Find Me” Apps for Your Digital Devices

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Computers, tablets and smartphones are popular theft targets due to their high resale value, but you can equip them with 21st century anti-theft protection. Choose from a variety of apps that allow you to track and potentially recover your devices in the event of theft. Some apps take photos of the perpetrator, geo-locate the stolen devices or even allow you to remotely log in to the devices.

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3. Don’t Broadcast Your Absence on Social Media

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Announcing your travel plans on a social media account can clue potential thieves to an opportunity to raid your vacant home. This threat is especially magnified if your social media accounts are public.

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4. Log Out Of Public Computers

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If you check your email at an Apple store or Internet café while on vacation, remember to sign out of your online accounts when you’re done. Simply closing the browser window is not enough – some accounts may keep you logged in. Therefore, the next person who tries to log in to their own email or social networking account will have full access to yours.

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5. Consider Leaving Your Laptop At Home

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If you’re thinking about packing your work computer, remember it may contain sensitive information. Border agents have sweeping search powers upon country reentry, and have the power to search and copy the contents of your smartphone or computer. Depending on the device’s information, maybe it’s best to leave it at home.

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6. Monitor Your Financial Statements In Real Time

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A daily check of your credit card and bank account while traveling can’t hurt. Tourists are often prominent targets for fraud; therefore, daily monitoring can help target suspicious activity (like double-charges) right away. However, remember to only check these sensitive financial accounts using a secure Internet connection.

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7. Password-Protect Your Devices

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Your devices and the data they contain are more vulnerable when you are on the road or visiting an unfamiliar place. If you have sensitive information on your digital devices such as medical records, password-protect or even encrypt sensitive files for further protection. If your devices are stolen, you’ll have peace of mind knowing your data is safe.

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8. Lock Sensitive Documents/Devices In Your Hotel Room Safe

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If the place at which you’re staying doesn’t offer a safe, then securely carry them on your person.

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9. Cameras Are At-Risk Too

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Your smartphone and laptop aren’t the only devices with personal data. Last year I lost my Wi-Fi-equipped camera while traveling abroad. After my return to the U.S., I discovered that the camera had automatically uploaded pictures to my online account. Lo and behold, they were not my photos! The new camera owners had unwittingly uploaded their family vacation photos to my online account via the camera’s Wi-Fi-enabled memory card.

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10. Check Your Privacy Settings Before Sharing Vacation Photos

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When you return from your travels, it may be tempting to immediately upload your vacation photos to your social networking account, but take a minute to review your privacy settings beforehand. That photo of you taking tequila shots at the poolside bar could end up in the network feed of your boss or a future employer.

72% of Irish workers prefer to work for a female boss

72% of Irish workers prefer to work for a female boss. This is according to new research conducted by Peninsula Ireland. The research also revealed how the assumption that male bosses are often preferred by staff, is not necessarily the case. It also found that a further 67% of those surveyed said they feel more comfortable approaching a female boss with a personal problem, compared to a male manager. In addition, 62% of employees said they feel more motivated and productive when working in a female-managed workplace.

Speaking of the findings, Alan Price, managing director of Peninsula Ireland, said: “In a male dominated world, Irish employees prefer female bosses. Their instinctive ability to manage both fairly yet firmly can be an asset to both the employee and the company.”

“Whilst remaining professional, females are generally aware of how to be compassionate and adapt to treat each and every situation. These traits sell themselves to staff that then feel more comfortable with their boss. “Respondents of the survey felt that male bosses can often run the risk of becoming blinkered by chasing the end goal and getting distracted from considering their treatment of employees. This may lead to demotivating their team and affect their productivity.”

Mr Price added: “Despite the fact that the number of females in high powered jobs is fewer than that of males it is not a reflection of their ability to manage or cope with the responsibility associated with being the head of an organisation. “The old-fashioned idea of women’s inability to compete alongside men within the business world in order to lead firms to success is still clear today. “This prejudice towards female employees can often encourage determination to thrive and out-do their male colleagues in order to prove themselves. This enthusiasm to succeed can rub off on to staff and filter through in the form of more productive work.”

Mr Price said the research also revealed how the assumption that male bosses are often preferred by staff, is not necessarily the case. As a result, he said the “common hesitation” towards female management needs to be re-evaluated and their benefit to organisations should be greater appreciated.

Job Interview Research

Preparing for an interview? Need to impress your boss? Want to improve your lot in your career? Here are points to research, know and use accordingly. You don’t need to look far, but taking the time to consider these four points about a company you may want to work for will serve you well.

The Company’s Goal:  What is the company’s stated reason for being?  What do they need to accomplish and when?

1. What problem does the company’s products or services solve? This may have been easier to answer before the Internet and some of the social solutions we see today. But hey, Twitter gets the word out to followers fast and in many instances that can serve a purpose. Knowing this can help compare the company and industry to other opportunities you may consider.

2. What is the value of solving the problem? In other words, what audience is willing to pay for the products and services and if so how much and for how long? It doesn’t take a marketing whiz to Google and find the data or at the very least ask a few knowledgeable people and take your own swag. And, at the end of the day can help quantify the value of the opportunity.

3. What makes the company’s offerings unique? Compare to competitors own words, research analysts in the market and find out if the opportunity stands with the company or if you should set your sites on another.

4. Does the company have a defined culture known and accepted by the employee base? Almost all companies have grand statements describing their culture – great. Now call into the company or hang out at a lunch spot close by and question any employee about the company in question. If you ask three separate employees and get three different answers, you can bet the company is all talk. Or as we say in Texas, all hat and no cattle. Find the company where the culture is known by all and the prouder the employees recite and describe the culture obviously the better.

We all research a company before an interview or a chance at a promotion, and Glassdoor.com, a jobs and career community, is a great place to get opinions and insight from current and past employees. If you want to know more, show that you’ve done some research and have data that can help make the right decision.

Who Uses LinkedIn?

Many businesses are still unconvinced of how useful LinkedIn will be for them, whether employees should be encouraged to use it or whether there is any real business value in the site. I wanted to put together some essential stats that show just how big LinkedIn has become and why you can’t afford to ignore it. In addition to stats that show the reach of the site such as 100 million users, I wanted to delve a bit deeper to find out more about who’s using it and how.

Tech and finance are the leading sectors

Research compiled in July 2011 by Amodiovalerio Verde gives an indepth look at the demographic breakdown of LinkedIn users which is useful for people targeting other individuals or businesses, but most interesting out of this is the breakdown of industry sector. Tech is leading here at 15.3% of users, but interestingly this is followed closely by Finance at 12.9%. This shows that corporate social networking is also making its way into more traditional sectors, while others such as Media are coming in surprisingly low at 3.3%

More than 80% of members are decision makers

This is likely to get a lot of people’s attention, as it shows the potential to generate real business leads and referrals through LinkedIn. In an infographic released by LinkedIn to show the real make-up of LinkedIn members, they revealed that over 80% of members on there are the decision makers in an area of business in their organisation. Focused marketing efforts on LinkedIn can generate real results if you invest time in building relationships, evidenced by the significant amount of key decision makers on the site.

50% of Fortune 100 companies hire through LinkedIn

Showing just how pervasive LinkedIn has become in recruitment, this statistic, released just over 10 months ago, finds that over 50% of Fortune 100 companies now use LinkedIn for their recruitment strategy. It demonstrates the value in really using LinkedIn when jobseeking and the level of companies that use this alongside more traditional recruitment methods. In addition, top execs from all Fortune 500 companies are on LinkedIn, proving that it’s an invaluable business tool across the board at all levels

62% log in from home

This is an interesting stat, pulled together for the UK specifically. The findings released, revealed that the vast majority of time spent accessing LinkedIn is done from home – at 62%, with 38% logging in from work. This is not necessarily how you would expect LinkedIn to be used and it could suggest that there is a large mix of jobseekers and small business owners on the site, who would typically use it from home. I suspect what’s also at play here is people that are covertly looking for a new job without wanting to be caught at work, so they build out their profile and network at home.

Sales jobs lead the pack

As you might expect, sales is the leading job function on LinkedIn in terms of active members, as shown on the image below. There are 6,080,000 members on LinkedIn that work in sales, followed by academics at 5,277,000 and admin at 5,303k. To put it in the context of LinkedIn’s 100 million total members, over 6% of members are working within sales. As a b2b tool it shows there’s a lot of people on there looking for business in a crowded marketplace. If you want LinkedIn to work for you in terms of generating revenue, you’ll need to work hard on your relationships and community to stand out from the crowd :