Heres how to look impressive in video calls, according to Hollywood experts

Heres how to look impressive in video calls, according to Hollywood expertsHeres how to look impressive in video calls, according to Hollywood expertsWhile a resume once consisted of a sheet of paper with your name, information, and experience, these days its a bit more complicated. Being a job hunter or professional at work means that in addition to the barest basics on paper, you likely have several additional versions of yourself you present to the world- most of them online.What does your LinkedIn profile pic or Twitter avatar say to the world? And while were on the subject, how do you look when youre Skyping or on a G-Chat? Are you perfectly poised and polished, or is your hair (and monitor) constantly askew?As video calls are becoming more popular for everything from interviews to conferences to daily catch-ups with remote teams, you have to step up your video game. It takes a lot of vigilance.Just ask BBC dad, Professor Robert E. Kelly, who had perfectly arranged a room in his house for video interviews and spiffed himself up in a suit. Even so, an open door dashed his plans. While he benefitted from an adorable viral moment that he said was incredibly cute, it may not be so charming for you.We asked some experts to weigh in on tips for presenting your best visual self online.Elevate your angleLos Angeles-based photographer and Nikon Ambassador Joey Terrill, whose A-List portfolio includes Justin Bieber and Rihanna among others, says theres one major thing you can do to look better on video.If you use Skype or video chat, Terrill says The most important thing is to raise the camera lens on the laptop or phone to the level of your eyes- or even higher.He says you can use books or anything handy to raise the lens and avoid that dreaded view from below. Colleagues or fhigkeit interviewers dont want to look up your nose.A higher camera angle is much more flattering, and prevents you from appearing intimidating on the other persons screen. Placing the camera at eye level will make you appear more natural, friendly, and conversational.Elevate your environment and attitudeBefore you even start the interview, make sure youve set yourself up as a professional. Your background should convey you mean business- or at least, neatness. Organize those bookshelves, straighten pictures, and make sure the lighting isnt depressing.Self-described success strategistCarlota Zimmerman, JD, runs workshops on using social media to excel in the job market. Its hard to be taken seriously if the cat is walking across the keyboard, Zimmerman says.Three good ways to manage your video image Dress to impress in nice clothes you would wear to work anyway invest in noise-cancelling headphones to hear better write out your talking points so you remember what to say when the camera is on.Most of all, practice using the technology beforehand.There are few things worse than having to reschedule your video call because you cant get Skype or Google Hangouts to work, and it can make you look flaky.Light it upTerrill advises paying attention to the way youre illuminated during a video chat.Instead of using the overhead lighting in an office or bedroom. try turning in the direction of a north-facing window, or one that isnt receiving direct sunlight. This type of open shade will deliver flattering frontal light to your face and surroundings.Another tip If the interview is at night, turn the room lights on and try placing a lamp with a shade directly behind your laptop screen. This will make the room appear naturally lighted, while the table lamp will add flattering light to your face and a catch light in your eye.Who knew?Look for tone and contrastTerrill, the photographer, told Ladders that dressing for your skin tone is one thing to consider. Different colors can transform skin tones experiment with what makes you look best.In general, Terrell said, people with lighter skin and hair colors tend to look more authoritative in darker clothing shades b ecause of the contrast in tonalities - while darker hair or skin tones have the same result when combined lighter colors.Get comfortable with the cameraWhether its on video or for a professional photo or headshot, the hardest parte of being on camera is how nerve-wracking it can be for those of us not used to being photographed all the time.That anxiety even happens among professionals, Terrill said. Finding a level of comfort in front of the camera can sometimes be the biggest challenge in getting a great portrait of yourself. Being photographed is intimidating for nearly everyone- even people who are photographed for a living.He suggests finding a good pose - anything from resting your hands on a table during a video call or leaning against a doorway for a photo - which allows you to feel empowered and in control of your shot and adds to your comfort.Keep your online pictures up to dateA promotion or job change is probably the best time for an update to your online pictures on Li nkedIn and other networks. Zimmerman told Ladders, your head-shot should be current, professional and relevant to your industry. If you change your hair, or your look, if you get a big promotion, or make a career transition, these are excellent reasons to keep updating your online branding.Zimmerman strongly advised paying attention to your audience for each of the pictures on your social media accounts Your colleagues in a bank are going to have a different impression of you than your college or high school friends.She reminded us that We all share the same internet. If all your social media is open to the public, your boss could at any time, seek you out on any platform.She also suggests keeping ensuring youre only tagged in professional photos. Leave the drunken escapades for more private networks, if at all, and make sure your privacy settings are set to thwart curiosity seekers.A key way to judge a good picture look as authentic as possible. WendyLewis, president of WendyLewis Co., says some of the biggest mistakes we see all the time are to recycle photos from a decade ago. Having a current headshot taken by a professional photographer is a good investment.Lewis also advises having both a high and low resolution version to keep on file as needed. Go for a warm, friendly, natural pose so when people meet you for the first time, they say, I recognized you from your photo. You want to look like yourself but polished and approachable.Fight the shineCameras and video cameras are notoriously unforgiving, highlighting oily areas and blemishes. Men and women both can take tips from makeup artist Hillary Kline, although, naturally, women are the vast majority of makeup consumers.Use a setting powder or oil blotting sheets to make sure you dont look shiny its all heightened on camera because the light reflects off those areas.Concealer is your friend. Nothing is worse than waking up with dark under eyecircles or having a blemish on a big day such as an interview v ia Skype, etc. Invest in a quality concealer and apply under your eye area with a concealer brush. If you have a blemish, distributions-mix concealer on the blemish and blend.Define your features. Mascara will emphasize your eyes. Blush and contour will make sure your face keeps its shape on camera. Strong brows frame the face, so make sure theyre neatly groomed and filled in with a pencil, if necessary.Armed with the perspective of experts, you can make your next video call your most polished and professional one yet.

How to Increase Your Senior Java Developer Salary

How to Increase Your Senior Java Developer SalaryHow to Increase Your Senior Java Developer SalaryJava has been a major player in mobile and enterprise development for some time now, and compensation for skilled Java developers continues to rise thanks to increasing demand in those areas. This strong demand comes from enterprises continuing to expand their use of technology and the robust Android ecosystem.Now that youve reached the status of senior Java developer, what can you do to increase your salary even mora? Here are four ways to boost your senior Java developer salary.1. Consider your locationLocation can play a significant role in salary. For example, if you work in cities such as New York, San Francisco, San Jose, Boston or Washington, D.C., you may earn a senior Java developer salary that is 33 to 40 percent higher than the national average, according to theRobert Half Technology Salary Guide.On the other side of the coin, the guide reports that salaries for the senior Jav a developer role in places such as El Paso, Texas Youngstown, Ohio Pueblo, Colorado, Duluth, Minn., and Rockford, Ill., are 17 to 28 percent below the national average.However, keep in mind that many areas that offer higher earning potential for senior Java developers also have elevated costs of living.2. Specialize strategicallyThe Salary Guide lists the current Java developer starting salary as ranging between $87,200 and $149,330 per year* - a 6.8 percent bump compared to 2015. Specialized developers can do even better, for exampleMobile application developers working in Java can earn $125,623 to $191,568 per year, an 8.2 percent increase over 2015.CRM technical developers with Java knowledge can receive starting compensation between $107,365 and $150,148 per year - 6.1 percent above 2015 figures.Skilled senior web developers are likely to earn between $121,263 and $167,860 in 2016, which is 6.6 percent more than 2015.As you can see, specializing in a particular area of develop ment can significantly impact your senior Java developer salary.3. Boost your skillsThe Salary Guide lists a number of skills that can increase your senior Java developer salary. In addition to Java expertise, the following abilities can help you to earn a certain percentage more in starting compensationWeb services development 8 percentC development skills 7 percentSharePoint skills 9 percent4. Earn certificationsCertifications can help you demonstrate advanced levels of knowledge and justify a higher senior Java developer salary. How big of an impact do certain credentials have? Research by Oracle shows that their certifications can add more than 7 percent to IT salaries in the United States.Oracles certification program has a number of different training tracks around Java such as mobile development and web development these tracks have different levels within them. Oracle also offers a wide range of learning materials to assist students in pursuing their certifications. Keep in mind that some certifications require annual recertification to maintain an active status.Making educated decisions about where you work and the career path you follow can boost your pay quite a bit when you factor in all of the possibilities. If you want a higher Java developer salary, a location change, specializations, skills upgrades and certifications can all help to get you there.Looking for a Java developer job? Take a look at our current job listingsSEARCH TECHNOLOGY JOBS

Beatmakers and Their Representation

Beatmakers and Their RepresentationHip Hop Producers/Beatmakers and Their RepresentationRepresentation, such as a manager or a lawyer, is an essential asset to any recording artist trying to succeed in the music industry.But for the hip-hop beatmaker/producer, whose role is different than that of a typical recording artist, theirrepresentation can look different than the traditional performer. A Different Type of Representation Hip hop-rap beatmakers/producers provide beats for other recording artists to write and perform to. Unlike other recording artists, who sell their persona and image to the public just as much as their music, beatmakers/producers sell their music to other recording artists, and they usually do leid worry about their persona or image being in the public eye. Instead, their primary concern is pairing their beats with recording artists who need new music. This precarious music-matching process is one reason why beatmakers/producers need to have special represe ntation. They must have someone who can flush out opportunities for music placements they need someone who can find recording artists and other comparable parties who are seeking new beats. The other reason why a beatmaker/producer needs a representative, especially early on in their career, deals with the compositional method of hip hop/rap beat-making/production itself. hiphop beat-making/production is a very meticulous and often arduous craft that is usually orchestrated in a solitary environment. It is this solitary dimension to beatmaking/production that prompts the need for representation. Beatmakers/producers need a representative, someone to pitch and/or broker the sale of their beats. So just as with the music-matching process of the best-selling world, here, its easy to see why a representative - or better yet, a beat broker - is critical to the chances of beatmaker/producer landing the much sought after placement on a commercial release. Representation is varied, but th ere are three kinds of representatives that hip hop-rap beatmakers/producers should look for. Beat Brokers A beat broker is someone who promotes the beats of a beatmaker/producer. A beat broker can be a friend, a music insider, or anyone that has access to a network of recording artists, in particular, recording artists who are likely to be in the market for new music material. A beat brokers only responsibility is to shop the beats of the beatmaker/producer that they represent. They need not be skilled in negotiating the terms and sale of the beats that theyre shopping. Because of this limited (but critical) scope, an agreement between a beat broker and beatmaker/producer can be rather simple, straightforward, and short in duration. A beat broker can be commissioned for a 10-percent finders fee, worked out over a per beat or per situation agreement. Producer-Managers A producer manager is perhaps the fruchtwein ubiquitous (and undefined) kind of representative that a beatm aker/producer can have. Normally, a manager is someone who manages the entire career of a client. For a beatmaker, a producer managers responsibilities can fall anywhere from simply shopping beats to negotiating the terms of beat sales, to arranging pivotal meetings with prospective beat buyers, to setting upbeat showcase meetings with key decision makers at record labels. But because of the scope of a managers role, it is likely that a beatmaker/producer will have to enter into a more lengthy and more detailed agreement than they would with a beat broker. Entertainment Lawyers Shopping the beats of a beatmaker/producer is not the primary role of a lawyer though in some limited cases, lawyers do indeed pass on the music of their clients. Lawyers are mostly responsible for drafting or reviewing the legal agreements that their clients enter. It is in this capacity that lawyers can ultimately be more important than beat brokers and managers. What Kind of Representation Is Right for You? Though the kind of representation that you choose depends on your individual situation, most beatmakers/producers only need a lawyer, and at times a beat broker, but not a producer manager. Beatmakers/producers are already self-contained and usually very organized their careers depend primarily on servicing the musical needs of other recording artists rather than performing themselves. Furthermore, given the nature of the general openness of the beat shopping process itself, its not terribly important who gets the beats into the hands of decision makers. In fact, increasingly, recording artists are accepting beat/instrumental submissions through other outlets, namely email, social networking sites, and national contests. The Pros and Cons of Producer-Managers Moreover, its important to keep in mind that once you sign with a producer manager, they are entitled to a 20-percent cut of all the music-related revenue you earn. Typically, the representation period will last t wo years or more. As your career grows, however, and as you become a more sizeable figure in the recording industry, then it may indeed be not only advantageous but necessary for you to get a manager, mainly because you will be eligible for opportunities outside of selling beats to other recording artists. Do You Need a Producer-Manager? Its important to point out that hip hop-rapbeat-making/production is a relatively new and rather unique phenomenon in the recording industry. As a result, many recording artists are still trying to navigate their way through the current model. Though a producer manager can help a beatmaker/producer gain exposure early on, its important to remember that once a beatmaker/producer is established on any significant level, the task of successfully shopping their beats themselves actually becomes rather easy. In fact, should you reach a point of acclaim, people interested in your brand of beats will often reach out toyou. If youre a beatmaker/produce r just starting out, the question of whether or not to go with a producer-manager is really a question of exposure. If you feel that the exposure a producer managercan get you is above and beyond what a beat broker can provide, then a producer-manager might be the way to go. Just make sure that the producer managers responsibilities and obligations are well-definedin writing. Its also a good idea to include benchmarks (set goals) within the language of any agreement that you enter into with a producer-manager. But before you commit to an agreement with a producer manager, remember this savvy beat brokers are more likely to go to better industry parties than producer-managers.