Over the last few years, the frequency and sophistication of targeted cyber attacks have increased dramatically.  The rise of cyber espionage and cybercrime is causing businesses to lose hundreds of billions of dollars each year, and the total expense to prevent attacks is increasing exponentially. . . . [http://pivotalplaysblog.com/2012/09/18/pivotal-player-northrop-grumman-and-university-of-maryland-bring-real-cyber-security-solutions-to-market-with-cync-program/]

The captains have decided that everyone who is signed up now will be allowed to attend the Patriot Games tournament this weekend.

Playing Time

Please understand that playing time will not be equal for all players due to the high number of players attending and the effort to select offensive and defensive lines that are balanced in experience and ability on each point. Each line called onto the field will be selected to provide each line with adequate playing experience to score and to provide opportunity for less experienced players to grow.

If at any point during any tournament or game you feel that you should be allowed more or less playing time, please don't hesitate to notify the captains or coaches.

Transportation

Arrangements for transportation will be organized. Drivers will be notified.

Drivers, as always, please fill up on fuel before leaving, fill up after returning, and please give Dan your receipts. Unless otherwise announced, each car will be responsible for coming to an agreement for paying for gas.

Passengers, bring money for your driver! For a car of four, each passenger can expect to contribute about $4 of fuel per day this weekend.

Hebrews 12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Reflection

These few verses describe a race that has been marked out for us. It doesn’t matter how good of a runner we think we are, but what matters is that we run without holding on to things that could weigh us or slow us down. We are to run with purpose and perseverance, not giving up, but instead fixing our eyes upon Jesus. Only then will we not get tired and discouraged. We can look to Jesus, because He ran this race before us. It was a race that would lead to His life laid down but He endured it for the joy set before Him. And this joy was us, the Church! How great is the love of Christ! As we run the race set before us, we do not lose heart but we are being filled with joy as we fix our eyes on Jesus.

Response

Let’s ask that we would be servants of our Lord, following in His footsteps as He went before us on this path of love and sacrifice. May we know and receive this same joy as we lay down our lives for ministry - in loving God and loving others.

Recruiters ARE Using Social Media (But Not Like You Think)

By now, you know recruiters and hiring managers are checking you out on social media.

However, most job seekers seem to think we’re only looking for keg-stand pics or some other arbitrary reason not to hire you; bad-mouthing your old boss, for example.

And they would be wrong.

When recruiters – some of whom have these social media reference checks down to a science – look into your social media, they are looking at much more than just your character (and some of it is just downright scary)…

Culture Fit

After the requisite search for the underwear-on-your-head pics, the next step for the recruiter is determining your fit within their company – and the position.

Do you use a high-percentage of swear words? Are you overly confrontational? Are you hyper-adamant in your political beliefs? Are you sensitive when it comes to diversity issues like race, religion and sexual orientation? Even the slightest miscue, like innocently calling a best friend a name considered insensitive in some circles, puts your candidacy at risk.

On the other hand, do you display a sense of humor? How do you handle negative comments from others? Are you happy for others as they achieve? However they define it personally, recruiters like to hire those they like and/or respect… because it sure helps if team members like and respect each other.

Are you likeable?

Personal Branding Inconsistencies

The next step in the social media scan: a look at your character and  integrity. Are you who you say you are?

The warning signs during this critical stage are 99.9% self-inflicted. For instance, and in the most obvious case, you list “work ethic” as a marketable soft skill – yet consistently tweet, “Gawd, will this day ever end!!!” Or, in one very real case, talk about how you passionately support Special Olympics, yet refer to your friends in casual posts as “retards”.

Being consistent in your online branding and social media isn’t difficult – for the honest and genuine.

Are you authentic?

Written Communication Skills

Here’s what recruiters know (even though most job seekers fail in this area): you have all the time in the world, and almost anyone can get the right kind of help, to write a good cover letter, resume and LinkedIn profile.

Social media, however, is often spontaneous. You don’t always take the to time to spell-check, enter full words and sentences or engage the filters required to keep you from posting something stupid, or poorly written. In other words, what you write in social media is the “real” you – the version who will be representing their company – often in spontaneous, pressure filled situations.

Are you a communicator?

Trending Health Issues

This may be the least known factor of a recruiter’s check of your social media…

Do you often complain that you aren’t feeling well? Does the whole world know when you have a bad headache? How often do you call in sick? If, through your social media interactions, the recruiter gets the idea that you’re a whiner, a hypochondriac or dependent on the sympathy of others… they’ll assume that is how you’ll be in the workplace. And on Facebook, they can go back months and months to spot trends.

For a creepy look at how far this aspect of tracking your social media could go, take a look at this post from HR Capitalist.

Are you dependable?

Lifestyle Changes

A recruiter hires for today’s version of the long-term. They want to know that for at least two to three years, you will remain the person they hired you for – and that you’ll be able make this job your highest priority.

They do that by looking for red flags in your social media. For instance, you may talk about how you can’t wait to move back home (and the physical location of this job is not in the same city as home). You may have a post about your impeding marriage next spring, and how you can’t wait to start a family. They might even see how upset you are that your parents are getting a divorce, or that you need to spend a great deal of time with your ailing grandmother with Alzheimer’s.

Any indication that your focus will be elsewhere – as seen through your posts on social media sites – may cost you an interview.

Are you focused?

Yes, recruiters do use social media – for a lot more than you think, at a deeper level than most imagine. This screening occurs well before their first conversation with you; very seldom are you given the opportunity to explain, clarify or retract. In most cases, you won’t even know they, at one time, considered you a strong candidate.

With the recruiter’s perspective in mind, take a look at your online presence. Now determine: what do your social media accounts tell recruiters, about you?