How to Deal with Tricky Issues on your Resume.. - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / How to Deal with Tricky Issues on your Resume.. - Introvert Whisperer How to Deal with Tricky Issues on your Resume..?? It would be so great if our work experience were to be a glistening straight line of continuous work, punctuated by promotions and superior accomplishments.   The truth is that for most of us, life happened causing numerous career zigzags, sputters and interruptions. In today’s economy, there is little tolerance for less than perfectly aligned skills and experience.   That leaves many of us pondering how to develop a resume that doesn’t get trashed instantly. Let’s review some of the resume challenges and discuss what you should do: Worked for the same company more than once. This does happen more than you realize. You get laid off, rehired, laid off and so on.   There are two ways to address this: Lay out your resume in chronological order by dates you worked. Treat each entry as if it were a separate company. If the work for the same company had no interruptions by working for other businesses, simply group it into one entry, but be clear with your work dates. Work Gaps.The only way to avoid a gap in your work timeline is to fill it with volunteer work or temp work. Both experiences are “resume worthy” and will show you really don’t have a gap, because you were working. Volunteer experience.Some people think that non-salaried work should not be displayed on a resume, like it doesn’t count as “real work”. It is real work, unless what you did had no bearing on your previous career or the one you’re pursuing.   If you’re a marketing professional and volunteered to do marketing, wear it proudly and put it on your resume.   The fact that you weren’t paid is not as relevant as your accomplishments.   Besides, non-profits would pay for that work to be done if they had the budget to do so. Temp work. Temp work is a great job-search method. The concern is that when you have multiple job assignments working for a variety of companies, how to put all of that down so it makes sense to the reader.   The first thing you must realize is that you are working for the temp agency, even though your work is being done at a different business.   Your business entry is made by using the temp agency and the type of work and work period.   You can also outline the various companies you worked for, as well as your accomplishments under the temp agency as the business.   Don’t try to create an entry for each job assignment as it will get too busy and complicated to follow. Self-employment. For the business owner reentering the work force, this always feels intimidating; but it shouldn’t be. You make an entry for your place of business as you would with any position you held for another company. List your company by name, dates and put down your work responsibility as “owner”.   As a business owner you usually wear many hats, giving you even more accomplishments and skills.   Hone in on those that are most relevant to the position you are pursuing.   A concern that some people have with hiring a business owner is their desire to work independently.   You want to show that you can work collaboratively with others and successfully with a team.   Indicating that information proactively will be to your benefit. Worked for a controversial person or cause. Whether this work is paid or unpaid, sometimes disclosing the information can create strong negative reactions. Especially in this political season, you never know where unfavorable judgment might exist.   Depending on the specifics of the situation, you may want to leave the experience off your resume all together, especially if it doesn’t create a massive gap.   If it does create too big of an unexplainable gap, then consider toning down the details, like using initials instead of names or using a high level description such as: Political Campaign group.   You will need to give this some thought to ensure you don’t knock yourself out of the race by giving too much information. The best approach to your resume is to think through what the hiring manager is going to see and if it tells your work story effectively.   We all too often get caught up in the details of our issues.   Try to think at a higher level about what you’ve done and how to lay it out as so that it makes sense to the reader and effectively sells your assets. Do you know what your next career step is?   Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable.   Get your copy now and start your action plan today: CLICK HERE Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.

7 Easy Electric Guitar Songs for Rock Metal Beginners

7 Easy Electric Guitar Songs for Rock Metal Beginners James W. Looking for easy electric guitar songs? If youre ready to start laying down some heavy riffs, keep reading. In this article well share seven easy metal songs on guitar that even beginners can learn to play. You may not be a Randy Rhoads or a Zak Wylde yet, but if you have something to say then there’s plenty of room on the Ozzfest stage! Let’s start with the top seven easy rock guitar songs. Easy Electric Guitar Songs for Rock Metal Fans 1. Iron Man Black Sabbath This may very well be the coolest, heaviest guitar song ever, yet its also just about the easiest one to play. With this simple song, Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath virtually invented this style of guitar! Have fun trying out this fun song to play that goes at a tempo anyone can master. 2. Whole Lotta Love Led Zeppelin This is one of our favorite easy rock guitar songs with its timeless, catchy riff that doubles as the hook of the song. It is estimated this riff made a million 14 year olds pick up the guitar for the first time in 1970, and it made believers out of 38 million fans. It made Page a force to be reckoned with and it can do the same for you at band practice. It doesn’t even matter if you can play fast lead guitar like Jimmy, because you can learn this opening riff in just a few minutes. SEE ALSO: 10 Easy Guitar Chords for Beginners 3. Back In Black AC/DC From the epic opening power chords of this song to the distinctive climbing riff played by Angus Young of AC/DC, this song has it all: simplicity, power, driving beat, and Gollum-like vocals by lead singer Brian Johnson. The A major, D major, and E major chords comprise the foundation, and it is instantly recognizable. 4. You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’ Judas Priest Back in the day when albums ruled radio, most folks were strumming their acoustic guitars to the country rock sounds of Laurel Canyon Blvd and Newport Beach. Then came the aggressive stance of English rockers Judas Priest and their incredible power chords played on Les Paul’s and Stratocasters, and Marshall Amps turned up as loud as possible. When Rob Halford sang about fighting to get out of poverty in the UK Midlands you knew he meant every word. It was a battle cry for youth worldwide. 5. Master of Puppets Metallica With its simple walk down style power chords, this song is reminiscent of AC/DC chord choices. And even if you dislike James Hetfield’s wild vocals, you will love his rhythm guitar playing. This song begs for no mercy. Bonus: Another one of the best easy rock guitar songs is Kill’ Em All, which is on the same album. Its brutal relentless attack is a fan favorite. 6. Lonely Day System of a Down System, or SOAD as they used to be called, play Lonely Day in a cool Db tuning, one and a half steps below standard tuning. The song sounds heavier and darker as a result, even though it is a metal ballad. Anyone can play this one by using fingerpicking on the simple intro parts and letting loose on the power chords. It evokes the utter sadness of men traveling by themselves on tour and watching the world fall apart. RELATED: How to Read Guitar Tabs for Beginners 7. This Means War Avenged Sevenfold Avenged Sevenfolds song This Means War includes a slow-paced riff with a fun audience singalong so it is almost an anthem. You could play this easy rock guitar song in your sleep. A plodding guitar part played on the Sinister Gates model Schecter electric guitar evokes all the angst a metal guitarist can unleash. Ready to master all of these easy electric guitar songs? If you need help, you can always try working  with a private guitar teacher. Search for a guitar teacher  today, or get started with some free online guitar classes. Post Author: James W. teaches guitar lessons in Jacksonville, FL. He specializes in teaching pop, rock, and modern country styles. James has been teaching for 10 years.  Learn more about James  here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by Ted Van Pelt

Dont Quit Now! How to Keep Kids Interested in Music Lessons

Dont Quit Now! How to Keep Kids Interested in Music Lessons Megan L. Few things are more frustrating than investing your time and money in an instrument and lessons for your child only to hear weeks later that theyve changed their mind and dont want to continue. Although youre frustrated and you want your kid to get the many advantages that music lessons have to offer, you also dont want to turn your home into a battleground. Whats a parent to do? If your child tells you that they dont want to continue with music lessons or if you sense that their motivation is slipping, you can take action. Read on to find out what you can do to keep your kid committed to learning music! Ask Why, and Really Listen The most important thing you can do is really listen to whats happening in your childs life that is making them want to quit. Do they feel shy or insecure about learning something new? Are they frustrated because learning music is more work than they thought?  Let your child know that its totally normal to feel nervous about trying a new activity and learning takes time. Share with them a time when you felt nervous or frustrated with something but you persevered and eventually succeeded. Put it on the Calendar Sit down with a calendar and write down all of your childs activities. If the calendar starts to look more like it belongs to a busy executive than a third grader, your kid is probably feeling overwhelmed and over-scheduled! If music is important to your child but stress is making them want to quit to get some free time, look at other activities and see if there is anything else that can be cut out. Talk to their Teacher   Everybody has different inherent strengths that come into play when learning music. Maybe your child is frustrated with the piano because theyre a natural drummer or a shy singer who would love to pick up a guitar. Talk with your childs teacher to see what their honest feedback is about your childs musical strengths and weaknesses. Switching instruments or going from an instrument to vocal lessons (or vice versa!) can help keep your kid involved in music in a way that is better suited to their learning style and personality. Try a Different Method   If your child is having a hard time with the pacing of group music lessons, get him or her involved in private, one-on-one music lessons. Ask your child how they feel about their teacher. If their teachers approach or personality isnt the best fit for helping your child succeed, dont feel bad about trying out lessons with a different instructor! Set a Goal Whether its learning a favorite song or preparing for a performance, help your child pick a goal and show them how continuing lessons will help them reach it. When kids see that their hard work and practice is going toward a tangible achievement, they usually feel more excited and determined to continue. Parents, how do you keep your kids interested in music lessons? Share your stories and advice in the comments! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by CProppe

A Last-Minute Checklist Before Submitting Your College Application

A Last-Minute Checklist Before Submitting Your College Application Congratulationsyou are nearly finished with your college applications! Although most schools provide applicants with a list of items to submit, it is still possible to overlook a detail or two. These are 4 tips to manage the college application process. Here is a last-minute checklist before submitting your college application to help you ensure that you have dotted every i and crossed every t. 1. Review what forms are requiredand when In addition to your personal information, high school records, and standardized test scores, prospective colleges require a variety of supplementary documents. For instance, if you plan to attend a state school, you will likely need to provide proof of residency. Know your deadlines. Though you should already be familiar with your due dates, it does not hurt to check each colleges website once again. The deadline for transfer students may also be different, so make sure you apply at the appropriate time. Here are 5 must-do steps before submitting your college application. 2. Verify that your ACT/SAT scores were sent This is especially important if you are applying to several schools. Since there can be a large period of time between registering for your test, studying for your test, completing your test, and receiving your scores, it is easy to forget which colleges have already received your scores and which have not. 3. Remember that honesty is the best policy If your college requires a resume, submit an updated copy. If you automatically upload your resume from last summer, you may neglect to highlight that important internship from the fall. While you do not want to omit details, you should also take care to avoid overstating any information. Wording a resume can be difficult, especially when you wish to make a good impression. Nevertheless, admissions officers can quickly spot exaggerations and inconsistencies. 4. Read and revise Edit your essays not once, buttwice. Make sure your content and voice come across as you intended them. If you are uncertain, ask a trusted teacher ortutor to proofread them for you. These are 6 application essay mistakesto avoid. 5. Pay special attention to special programs Applicants to special programs in music, dance, or art may be required to provide an audition DVD or portfolio. Consequently, you not only want to ensure your work is top quality, but that the presentation is, as well. Revise your videos as you would an essay. Check for fuzzy transitions and edit out unnecessary background noise. Ensure only your talent is in the spotlight. 6. Confirm everything The benefit of submitting your college application by mail is that it allows you to visualize what you are sending by manually collating it in a folder. However, now that most college applications are online, it is possible that partsor allof your application will be electronic. Confirm that your transcripts, test scores, and other supplementary materials have been received, and when you click submit on your application, look for a confirmation email in your inbox. If you are opting for traditional mail, confirm that the mailing address is correct. Even though this is a last-minute checklist, do not wait until the midnight hour to apply. If your application is due on a Friday, send it the Monday before. Part of making a good impression is being prompt. And do not worryif you have done all you can, you are sure to do well. Here are some additional top tips for completing your college applications.

Songs to Practise Singing

Songs to Practise Singing The Best Music for Learning How to Sing ChaptersThe Best Songs to Practise SingingThe Most Popular HymnsThe Best Patriotic Songs for Learning How to SingChristmas Songs for Learning how to SingTo learn how to sing, you need to improve your vocal technique by using something that we all have, a voice. Singers use their vocal cords and breathing to produce pleasing sounds for a huge variety of different musical styles.To learn how to sing, they often need to attend singing lessons - private lessons or group lessons - with an experienced singing teacher. Nevertheless, you can still learn to sing on your own by practising without taking lessons.In this article, Superprof has a list of great songs you can use to exercise your voice, try new vocal techniques, and learn how to sing. We’ve got popular songs, hymns, Christmas songs, and even some patriotic songs.Whether you're learning to sing in pitch, establishing your vocal range, or just need some singing tips, here's a great selection of songs you can use in your voice lesso ns or just to improve your singing when you're practising on your own! TraceySinging Teacher 4.92 (13) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PortiaSinging Teacher 4.91 (11) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolaSinging Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JazzSinging Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PerrineSinging Teacher 5.00 (3) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TiemSinging Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TomSinging Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MiriamSinging Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Best Songs to Practise SingingThere are plenty of great modern and classic songs to help you to learn how to sing some songs are known by just about everyone. Here are some of the best songs for learning how to sing. There are plenty of great popular songs you can use to practise your singing. (Source: Pexels)Learning to sing is much easier when you love the song you're singing. You just need to find songs you like with the singing techniques you're working on in them. If you have a voice teacher, they can often find some good ones for you, but if you don't, here are a few great popular songs you can sing along to with or without a music teacher.Coldplay â€" Fix You: This song is a great one to sing along to if you want to get better at hitting a high note. There's a lot of switching between your chest voice and head voice. There are quite a few long vowels where you'll need to hold the notes or do a short run of notes.Christina Perri â€" A Thousand Years:  This is a great song if you want to learn how to sing. There's a good variation in rhythm between the choruses and verses and you won't need to use your head voice a lot as there isn't any call for falsetto.Sam Smith â€" Stay With Me: This one is quite fun vocally. This is another song where you need to sing high notes with your head voice and go back down to your chest voice. That said, there are some points in the song where Sam Smith doesn't make use of his head voice to hit some of the notes.The Most Popular HymnsWhether you’re religious or not, the music used in hymns is great for beginners as they’re often designed to be sung by those with little or no experience in singing. Here are some of the most popular hymns to get you started with singing. You'd be surprised at how good hymns are for learning how to sing. (Source: ddzphoto)Oh Happy DayOh Happy Day is a gospel arrangement that was created in 1967 by The Edwin Hawkins Singers who had success in the United States and around the world. Here are the lyrics:Oh happy day (oh happy day)Oh happy day (oh happy day)When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)He washed my sins away (oh happy day)Oh happy day (oh happy day)He taught me how to watch, fight and pray, fight and prayAnd live rejoicing every, every dayOh happy dayHe taught me howOh happy day (oh happy day)Oh happy day (oh happy day)Oh happy day (oh happy day)There’s a great version of this song in Sister Act.The Lord’s PrayerThe Lord’s Prayer is a religious hymn that takes the namesake prayer (also known as “Our Father...”) and adds music to it. The advantage is that any practising Christian will already know all the words. You can use it to pr actise your singing voice while adding a melody.The Best Patriotic Songs for Learning How to SingIf you’ve ever watched “Last Night of the Proms”, you’ll know that there’s plenty of great rousing patriotic music that you can sing along with.If you want to improve your voice, there are some great songs written about the UK that will have you trying to hit high notes, using vibrato, and working your diaphragm.Here are some of the most rousing patriotic songs for learning how to sing! Rousing patriotic songs are good for practising your singing. (Source: skeeze)Land of Hope and GloryThis British patriotic song was written by Edward Elgar with lyrics by A.C. Benson and is part of the Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1. King Edward had suggested to Elgar that the melody would make a great song.The most famous part is the chorus, which is as follows:Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free, How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee? Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set; God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet, God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.The song is at a reasonable tempo and requires a fairly narrow vocal range so it shouldn't pose too much of a challenge to aspiring singers.Rule BritanniaThis patriotic song is great for testing your singing ability. Whether you use it as a vocal warm-up or the core of a singing lesson, this can do wonders for your vocal training.God Save the QueenThe good thing about the national anthem of the UK is that it's quite slow and simple and almost anyone can sing it. Of course, great singers can turn it into something more than the kind of droning chorus is becomes in sporting events, but as a national anthem, it's meant to be sung by everyone so it's good that you don't need to be a professional singer to get it right.There are no runs, very few notes that are held for a long time, and it's one of the better songs to perform in a choir or a group since the more people singing it, the better it sounds.Christmas Songs for Learning how to SingIf there’s a time of the year when everyone wants to sing, it’s Christmas.What better way to learn how to sing than with Christmas songs and Christmas carols?Here are some of the best Christmas songs for learning how to sing. A jolly Christmas song is great for practising your singing during the holiday season. (Source: Pexels)Jingle BellsThe song “Jingle Bells” is one of the most popular Christmas carols and has versions all over the world. Here are the opening lyrics:Jingle bells, jingle bells,Jingle all the way.Oh! what fun it is to rideIn a one-horse open sleigh.Jingle bells, jingle bells,Jingle all the way.Oh! what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh.Not only will this song help you learn how to sing but it may even bring back memories of Christmases gone. Furthermore, the whole family can sing along with you.O Christmas TreeO Christmas Tree is a Christmas carol that originated in Germany and is regularly heard during the holiday season. The joyful melody makes it an ideal song for practising singing over the Christmas period.Petit Papa NoëlPetit Papa Noël (literally Little Father Christmas) is a 1944 French song from Tino Rossi. While very popular in France, it’s a useful song for l earning how to sing.There are many famous artists who’ve covered it and even a few English-speaking artists that you may have heard of:Chantal GoyaDorothéeDalidaMireille MathieuClaude FrançoisMichèle TorrCéline DionRoch VoisineJosh GrobanMary J. BligeIf you’re looking to become a singer over the holiday period, these songs should be helpful.Now you have a few songs to get you started without any help from a singing teacher. To learn more, check out our other articles in this series. Once you’ve exhausted our list, you can always look for a private singing tutor on Superprof!If you're singing off-key, straining your voice in your singing exercises, or just struggling to sing high, getting voice training from a professional singer is probably the way to go!On Superprof, there are plenty of talented and experienced singing tutors who can help you. There are three main types of tutorials offered: face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials. Each type of tutor ial has its pros and cons so think carefully about which type would work best for you, your learning style, and your budget.

How to Become an English Tutor

How to Become an English Tutor Step-by-Step Guide to Become an English Teacher Find Tutoring Jobs ChaptersWhat are the Duties of a Reputable English Teacher?Your Guide to English Teaching According to the National CurriculumHow to Officially Qualify to Teach English to KS1/2 in a School?Guide to Teaching Key Stages 1/2Private TutoringOnce you decide to become a teacher/tutor, you realize that it is a demanding job as much as it is a rewarding job. Before you decide to take up a teaching job, it is prudent to do your research and take note of what's involved.You could become a maths tutor, chemistry tutor, a French tutor, algebra tutor or biology tutor but becoming an English tutor  has some privileges.English skills are crucial for succeeding in English class as well as other classes which students take. Due to this fact, English teachers are provided with a plethora of teaching opportunities. They can teach an amalgam of literary genres ranging from classic, fiction, film, web-based media, non-fiction etc.A good quality English education enables students to be able to speak and write fluently in English. Their communication skills improve and they are able to convey their ideas and emotions in a much better way. They also develop necessary listening and reading skills which help them understand others better.Students grow socially, spiritually, intellectually, emotionally and culturally once they refine their English reading skills. In order to fully participate in the society, they have to acquire all the skills of the English Language.51.6% of the internet is in English, which means that to get the maximum benefit out of the knowledge available online, one has to be proficient in English, the sentence structure, verbs, tenses, vocabulary etc.earn more from tutoring!Learn to to manage teaching students with dyslexia here.

The University of Michigan College Experience

The University of Michigan College Experience The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Fun received his bachelors degree in engineering and his masters degree in accounting at the University of Michigan. He is currently a tutor in New York City specializing in accounting, finance, and economics, among other subjects. See what he had to say about his experience at the University of Michigan: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. How urban or rural is the campus? Did you feel safe on campus? Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Fun: The University of Michigan campus is very safe. It is located in a suburban setting in the beautiful small town of Ann Arbor, located roughly 45 minutes from Detroit Metro Airport. The Ann Arbor and campus bus systems cover all of your transportation needs from commuting between North and South campus, and trips to the mall or grocery store. You do not need a car on this campus. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Fun:The professors are busy, but the teaching assistants will provide time during office hours and post-class time. It is wise to use the study sessions prior to exams. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Fun:The University of Michigan requires that freshmen live in the dorms during their first year, which is a remarkable experience, in my opinion. To be so close to such a diverse background of intelligent, social, energetic kids is an amazing experience. I still keep in touch with the network built during that first year at the dorms. The rooms were small and fit only two beds and two desks. There was a common bathroom area for all of the males on the floor. You can also meet other students in the cafeterias, gyms, and communal study areas of the various dorms. There are tons of restaurants in Ann Arbor with many types of ethnic cuisine such as Chinese, Thai, Indian, Mongolian, Middle Eastern, and Ethiopian. There are also tons of coffee shops. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Fun:I studied engineering and business, so my experience surrounds the accounting, finance, and industrial engineering departments. The University of Michigan has top-notch computer labs and research facilities. The university gave me a very strong academic foundation and work ethic that I still take with me. Because it is such a big school, one has to be a self-starter and find the right people to help you along the way. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Fun:The school is huge and the student body is even larger. I strongly suggest joining as many organizations and student groups to network and meet people. The school has a large out-of-state population, and Greek life is huge on campus. Football also carries a lot of weight, so go out, watch some games, and make friends. You can also make friends in specializedstudent groups and academic societies. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Fun:From my perspective as a business student, the Career Center provided me with the tools to connect with employers and helped me develop a resume. Many large companies such as Ernst and Young, Deloitte, and PriceWaterhouse recruit at the University of Michigan. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Fun:The Media Union on North campus was my favorite place to study, with its high ceilings, top-notch computers, and accessible printers. The Shapiro Undergraduate Library on central campus is where many students go for more casual studying. The graduate and law libraries have very quiet study areas. It gets busy during exam time, so some students study in the student union for a more bustling scene. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Fun:College sports are huge at the University of Michigan. We usually have the largest football attendance in the country, with over 100k capacity. Basketball and hockey games are also fun to attend. The campus and downtown are very close to each other, so students go to both on weekends. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Fun:It is a large student body at roughly 50,000 students. The introductory classes at the University of Michigan are large, mostly set up in large lecture halls with more than 400 students. When you are specialized in your program, you are in a typical class size of around 30 students. I enjoy the small group size. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Fun:My most memorable class experience was a group trip to the hospital to examine their patient data and analyze trends using statistical tools. It was real-world experience that gave the class life. Check out Funs tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Critical Reasoning Question 22 Manufacturing - Private Tutoring

Critical Reasoning Question 22 Manufacturing BobbiM Mar 25, 2014 Smith Products fabricates machine tools that are essentially identical to those produced by Jackson Manufacturing.   For both companies, raw materials represent about two-thirds of the cost of manufacturing the machine tools.   To gain an edge over Jackson Manufacturing, Smith Products should purchase its raw materials from a new supplier advertising much lower prices. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument above? A.           Smith Products spends more on employees’ wages than Jackson Manufacturing does. B.           Smith’s current supplier provides raw materials of exceeding high quality. C.           The market for machine tools has been declining for several years. D.           The new supplier’s materials are of low quality and would reduce the lifespan of Smith machine tools by half, causing sales to decline. E.             The plant manager for Smith Products is planning to increase the plant’s efficiency. Think you know the answer? The correct answer is D. The conclusion that Smith Products could gain an advantage by purchasing lower-cost raw materials is based on the evidence that raw materials represent the largest proportion of costs for both Smith and Jackson.   For the conclusion to hold, Smith must assume the new raw materials will not have any other negative effects on its business.   So, to weaken the argument, look for a choice that casts doubt on this assumption.   (D) does so by stating that the low quality of the new materials will cause a drop in sales.   If that occurs, using the new supplier will not create an advantage for Smith Products, and so (D) is the answer.   (A) and (E) indicate other ways that Smith might gain an advantage, but they don’t have any bearing on whether changing suppliers would create an advantage.   (B) is similarly irrelevant; even if true, it doesn’t provide any reason Smith should not use the new supplier.   (C) is out of the scope of the argument.