Sunday, May 31, 2020
How to Switch To A Completely Different Industry (Management to Video Production)
How to Switch To A Completely Different Industry (Management to Video Production) I got a great email from someone their email is in bold and my response is in not-bold: Ive been in ________ Management for several years and thats whats on my resume, but it would be nice to turn my hobby and first love of video production, editing, and graphic arts into a source of income. Cool big transition! Its good to know what you want to do and pursue it, if it can support your lifestyle. Problem is, NOBODY will simply hire me to do this without a competitive resume with years of experience. I think the video production, editing and graphics arts are specialized enough that I might hire three different people to do each of those. Im not sure a resume is going to get you the gig, because you have to get into the right interview first. Regarding years of experience, above you say this is your passion and first love, so I wonder what other projects youve done. Maybe no commercial projects but if you have done projects that might be all I need to take a gamble on you I wonder if you focus on one or two of the three things you list, instead of all three. For example, bring a graphics artist in to complement you. If you network enough and well with those specialists, maybe they will bring YOU in on video projects? Replacing your last job is hard enough, but changing careers requiring a whole set of skills (which you may have sans the experience part) is nearly impossible. We talked about this on my Dick Bolles Ask The Expert call. It is definitely not easy but you can do it. How do you position yourself? Generally, my simple thoughts are to figure out and talk about your transferable skills. Youll probably have to pull from your off-time for graphics and video products youve done. BUT, what if you pull together some contractors you can tap into and then focus on the product/project management of the project, as well as sales and marketing? Get some great commercial projects under your belt and that should lead to more. Again, watch Dicks interview. I dont remember when we talked about this but his response blew me away. The ONLY option that I can foresee is to go independent and adopt a very aggressive marketing and networking campaign to drum up business. The very aggressive marketing and networking campaign you would do to drum up business is virtually the same you should do in a job search. In my job search, seven years ago, I had to make a decision. Do I spend time working towards a job, which someone might take away again, or do I spend time working towards long-term financial independence, which do I do? I chose to shift gears, work as hard as I was on my job search, and took a gamble. For you, what I would recommend is to build up a portfolio of projects. Make some up for yourself, or beg and convince friends at businesses to do things for them. As your portfolio grows it will be easier to have people know and think about and choose you for their projects. My personal proof was here, in this post from 2006: Substantiate Yourself How to Switch To A Completely Different Industry (Management to Video Production) I got a great email from someone their email is in bold and my response is in not-bold: Ive been in ________ Management for several years and thats whats on my resume, but it would be nice to turn my hobby and first love of video production, editing, and graphic arts into a source of income. Cool big transition! Its good to know what you want to do and pursue it, if it can support your lifestyle. Problem is, NOBODY will simply hire me to do this without a competitive resume with years of experience. I think the video production, editing and graphics arts are specialized enough that I might hire three different people to do each of those. Im not sure a resume is going to get you the gig, because you have to get into the right interview first. Regarding years of experience, above you say this is your passion and first love, so I wonder what other projects youve done. Maybe no commercial projects but if you have done projects that might be all I need to take a gamble on you I wonder if you focus on one or two of the three things you list, instead of all three. For example, bring a graphics artist in to complement you. If you network enough and well with those specialists, maybe they will bring YOU in on video projects? Replacing your last job is hard enough, but changing careers requiring a whole set of skills (which you may have sans the experience part) is nearly impossible. We talked about this on my Dick Bolles Ask The Expert call. It is definitely not easy but you can do it. How do you position yourself? Generally, my simple thoughts are to figure out and talk about your transferable skills. Youll probably have to pull from your off-time for graphics and video products youve done. BUT, what if you pull together some contractors you can tap into and then focus on the product/project management of the project, as well as sales and marketing? Get some great commercial projects under your belt and that should lead to more. Again, watch Dicks interview. I dont remember when we talked about this but his response blew me away. The ONLY option that I can foresee is to go independent and adopt a very aggressive marketing and networking campaign to drum up business. The very aggressive marketing and networking campaign you would do to drum up business is virtually the same you should do in a job search. In my job search, seven years ago, I had to make a decision. Do I spend time working towards a job, which someone might take away again, or do I spend time working towards long-term financial independence, which do I do? I chose to shift gears, work as hard as I was on my job search, and took a gamble. For you, what I would recommend is to build up a portfolio of projects. Make some up for yourself, or beg and convince friends at businesses to do things for them. As your portfolio grows it will be easier to have people know and think about and choose you for their projects. My personal proof was here, in this post from 2006: Substantiate Yourself How to Switch To A Completely Different Industry (Management to Video Production) I got a great email from someone their email is in bold and my response is in not-bold: Ive been in ________ Management for several years and thats whats on my resume, but it would be nice to turn my hobby and first love of video production, editing, and graphic arts into a source of income. Cool big transition! Its good to know what you want to do and pursue it, if it can support your lifestyle. Problem is, NOBODY will simply hire me to do this without a competitive resume with years of experience. I think the video production, editing and graphics arts are specialized enough that I might hire three different people to do each of those. Im not sure a resume is going to get you the gig, because you have to get into the right interview first. Regarding years of experience, above you say this is your passion and first love, so I wonder what other projects youve done. Maybe no commercial projects but if you have done projects that might be all I need to take a gamble on you I wonder if you focus on one or two of the three things you list, instead of all three. For example, bring a graphics artist in to complement you. If you network enough and well with those specialists, maybe they will bring YOU in on video projects? Replacing your last job is hard enough, but changing careers requiring a whole set of skills (which you may have sans the experience part) is nearly impossible. We talked about this on my Dick Bolles Ask The Expert call. It is definitely not easy but you can do it. How do you position yourself? Generally, my simple thoughts are to figure out and talk about your transferable skills. Youll probably have to pull from your off-time for graphics and video products youve done. BUT, what if you pull together some contractors you can tap into and then focus on the product/project management of the project, as well as sales and marketing? Get some great commercial projects under your belt and that should lead to more. Again, watch Dicks interview. I dont remember when we talked about this but his response blew me away. The ONLY option that I can foresee is to go independent and adopt a very aggressive marketing and networking campaign to drum up business. The very aggressive marketing and networking campaign you would do to drum up business is virtually the same you should do in a job search. In my job search, seven years ago, I had to make a decision. Do I spend time working towards a job, which someone might take away again, or do I spend time working towards long-term financial independence, which do I do? I chose to shift gears, work as hard as I was on my job search, and took a gamble. For you, what I would recommend is to build up a portfolio of projects. Make some up for yourself, or beg and convince friends at businesses to do things for them. As your portfolio grows it will be easier to have people know and think about and choose you for their projects. My personal proof was here, in this post from 2006: Substantiate Yourself
Thursday, May 28, 2020
How to Get the Most Out of Your Resume Footprint
How to Get the Most Out of Your Resume FootprintBy now, you've probably heard that a resume footprint is an irreplaceable part of your employment search. Yours is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle in ensuring that your resume and cover letter to make the first page of your potential employer's search. If you're currently building your resume, you know that it's a delicate process that often needs to be completed outside of the office, which makes it important to understand how it works and why it's so important. If you need to know more about the following, read on...Resume Footprint - What Does It Mean? For those of you who are looking for a perfect job and have a hard time finding it, there is an explanation behind the term 'resume footprint.' Essentially, this means that a resume footprint is an important aspect to complete when you want to start building your career.Resume Footprint is a customized document that takes into account a myriad of key factors that can aff ect your resume. This includes your qualifications, the industry you're applying for and the importance of your particular area of expertise. A professionally-written resume footprint can actually have a greater impact on the resume that you send out.As you may be aware, your resume can be the first page or the last page that appears when someone searches for your specific keywords through major search engines. The content of your resume is what draws the attention of recruiters, which will result in your application being read. A well-written, professional resume can help to add some extra sparkle to your application, giving you a better chance of getting hired.Another aspect to keep in mind when you're creating your resume footprint is that you should aim to stay on point with the message you're trying to communicate. If you don't follow this rule, your potential employer might not be as keen on the idea of hiring you. If you do follow this rule, you'll be able to stay focused and get started on the process of making your resume and cover letter stand out.Another key element to remember when you're creating your resume footprint is to use a variety of fonts. You should always find the right combination of colors and size for your resume. You should also keep it consistent in all its applications throughout the world, no matter where you're submitting it. It's also important to use different variations of the same font to ensure the message is transferred.There are a variety of tools online that can help you build a resume that is likely to stand out. Some of these tools include CoverStackExchange, Keynote, Monster Resume Builder and WordPresso. If you're using one of these tools, you should take full advantage of their 'full resume' templates to help you create the most professional resume possible.While a resume footprint can seem like a fussy thing to worry about, remember that it's the best way to make sure your resume gets the job you're looking for, bec ause it gets people's attention. So make sure you're ready to start building your resume footprint and get started today!
Sunday, May 24, 2020
How Recruiters Can Use Google+ Like Guy Kawasaki
How Recruiters Can Use Google+ Like Guy Kawasaki Google Plus has got more and more useful for me personally; great user interface, its dead simple to share stuff and to keep conversations going there. And its useful for sourcing candidates, especially tech talent. Is it a serious contender to Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn? Dont know yet, but its definitely worth testing out. Guy Kawasaki sent me his new Google Plus book called What the Plus! Google Plus for the Rest of Us and here is my review and some of the main takeaways for recruiters and anyone else using the site. Roughly what I had to say: Its a challenge to find right people to follow on Google Plus, I now know that you can simply look at the circles that other users have recommended and add those people to a circle of your own. This of course saves a lot of legwork. Just search for shared a circle with you in the search bar. This will show circles that have been shared recently as well as the most popular ones. I followed a few PR people that Scobleizer recommended. There is a massive Google Doc spreadsheet full of shared circles you are very likely to find good people in your industry here. There are also compilation sites like Find People on Plus, GGLPLS, Plus Friend Finder and Recommended Users. On the search impact, the author produces a number of screenshots where his post and/or profile come up in generic Google searches for venture capital. I did notice that he was himself logged in to Google in the examples, so I tried it as well see none of Guy Kawasakis mentions or even Google Plus. So not sure about the precise impact on search yet. Use of hashtags on Google Plus, I didnt realise this. So instead of searching for bacon posts, try #bacon next time. Very quick read, 138 pages and probably a screenshot or picture of each page. I didnt even attempt to read this ebook on my Kindle, did it on my Mac screen instead. I suppose it will work well on an iPad or Kindle Fire. Some people speculate that Robert Scoble and Chris Brogan were paid to move over to Google Plus. I dont know about that but there is plenty of Google loving in this book, every product from Chrome to Picasa gets a recommendation and link. So wouldnt be surprised if Guy Kawasaki at least gets some better Google search ranking out of this book. What is unclear and not mentioned in this book is if anyone has ever had any marketing or sales success from Google Plus. Unlike the other 3 big networks, I havent seen and case studies yet. A chapter is devoted to how to get more followers. The author writes: There are two kinds of people on social networks: those who want more followers and those who are lying. Ill agree with that. Some of the tips include perfecting your profile, sharing good shiitake, sharing in public, helping people, mentioning others and responding to comments. One final tip I picked up on was the to compile a circle of people in a particular category. Include yourself in the category and then share the circle, people will then add the whole circle to their collection and youll get more followers as a result. And its about time you circle up The Undercover Recruiter on Google Plus as well. Related: How To Use Google+ for Professional Networking [10 Smart Ways].
Thursday, May 21, 2020
How Universities Are Failing Their Graduates, Part 2 - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career
How Universities Are Failing Their Graduates, Part 2 - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Failure to Launch was a 2006 romantic comedy in which Matthew McConaughey was a thirty-something who was perfectly happy living at home with his parents. Unfortunately, the term failure to launch has become more generally associated in the 21st century with college graduates and other twenty-somethings who are living at home out of necessity. Their situations are not nearly as romantic or comedic as the Hollywood movie and are, in many cases, the indirect results of a shortage of certain life skills. In my last post, I proposed that the worst way our universities are failing their graduates is by failing to provide them the skills to make effective career choices, manage their careers, and conduct successful job searches for jobs they desire. I suggested some extra-curricular remedies. In this post, I want to address another way I believe universities are failing: Graduating students without real-world skills and an understanding of how to be productive members of corporate teams. Its not 1971 anymore, Alice When I graduated in 1971 with a degree in engineering, I didnt realize that my alma mater university had provided me lots of theoretical knowledge while missing many real-world skills. I didnt mind that the job I got wasnt a close fit for what I had studied during the preceding four years. I was just happy to be out of school and able to have a decent paying job that would support me and my future family. If I could transport todays graduates back to 1971, I imagine they would feel the same as I did then. I imagine they would be as successful in their careers as I and my Baby Boomer peers were. After all, they are as competitively equipped as I was. And therein lies the problem. Todays graduates are entering an era of decreasing (decent) jobs and ongoing economic/industry/professional turmoil. The skills I lacked didnt deter me, but these skill shortages in todays job market DO deter graduates and other young adults. A recent LinkedIn study of early-career college grads A recent study by LinkedIn regarding early-career college graduates revealed what todays employers are seeking from them. Among its findings were: Fifty-five percent of employers put a premium on the ability to work well with others. 45 percent of employers want to hire people with strong oral communication skills Having a positive attitude also goes a long way for 45 percent of employers Unfortunately, universities dont consider such content as core to their curriculums. And they likely never will. How young people can bridge the educational chasm So, what can be done? Here are a few ideas I have and Id love to hear yours: 1. If practical, seek an internship and/or volunteer for a cause for which you are passionate. These will allow you to experience the real world and gain an understanding of the importance of interpersonal relations. 2. Attend some Toastmasters meetings to gain insights into areas in which you can improve your oral communications skills. 3. Perform an attitude check. I have an exercise at the end of the first chapter of my book. You can download it here. What do you think? What ideas do you have for helping young job seekers gain such skills and a positive attitude?
Sunday, May 17, 2020
Simon Sinek Resume Writing Service
Simon Sinek Resume Writing ServiceMany aspiring Simon Sinek employees are faced with the same problem, having trouble looking for a good Simon Sinek resume writing service. What can they do? What tools do they have to help them make an effective Simon Sinek resume writing service?This is a common problem faced by Simon Sinek Resume writers, and that is to use their content of resumes to produce compelling and well-written resumes that tell the relevant hiring managers what they want to know. The easiest way to make an impact on hiring managers is to find out who they are, and what they expect from you.In recent times, there has been a radical change in the process of resume writing. Instead of taking a Human Resource professional to a particular job and having them read the resume, it is now possible to upload your resume directly onto the HR website. This means that the Simon Sinek resume writing services can use some extra tools and software to achieve more impact, and ensure that the end result will be seen by the hiring manager.So how does one find out which resume writing service is best? Well, it is pretty easy actually. It is possible to search the Internet for different Simon Sinek resume writing services, and see what they offer. For example, some services are going to do things a little differently than others, so it is worth reading testimonials of clients who have used that particular service, to see whether it is a service which will be able to deliver the level of results that you are hoping for.The process of searching for a Simon Sinek resume writing service can be quite difficult at times, so it is very helpful if the individuals in question use the services of a company which offers testimonials and reviews. Using this sort of approach will allow people to find a good service that will really work for them.Not only does this make things easier for the person looking for a Simon Sinek resume writing service, but it can also help save them a lot of time and effort. Some services can be very expensive, so it is not always practical to pay the fees when you find out that the service you have found does not live up to your expectations. The same goes for those who find themselves getting mixed up between Simon Sinek resume writing services and personal resume writing services.It is generally advisable that any person using Simon Sinek resume writing services gets a few samples before committing to use the service. This way, they can see what they will be receiving and can see whether or not the service is worth the money spent on it.Being able to take advantage of a Simon Sinek resume writing service is certainly worth the money invested in it. There are some outstanding ones out there that will really deliver what you need.
Thursday, May 14, 2020
5 Tips to Pivot Your Career Path [Guest Post] - Career Pivot
5 Tips to Pivot Your Career Path [Guest Post] - Career Pivot Pivot Your Career Path Copyright: lightwise / 123RF Stock Photo Itâs no easy thing choosing a career and sticking with it. More often than not, we study and pursue a field we end up disinterested with, only to discover our true affinities along the way. Luckily, in this day and age, we have the resources to make huge pivots in our careers â" not only that, but itâs increasingly more encouraged. Many believe that the days of traditional employment are over. With the new wave of âadultâ millennials, the common newcomer in the workforce often works three or four jobs before settling down to find the one they want to stick with. We now encourage that flexibility. We encourage our youth to find jobs they love, to never settle, that a corporate job with vacation days isnât the end goal anymore. So weâre here to tell you that if youâre feeling stagnant like you need a change or that what youâre doing isnât right for you anymore, worry not; there are ways to pivot your career. Self-awareness Yes, we know. It sounds a bit flowery. Be self-aware and you can change your life! Although itâs not that simple, the core meaning is. Understand your wants and needs. What is your end goal? What do you truly love to do? If youâre currently complacent in your current work environment but have no idea what you want to do otherwise, then the first step of the solution is searching for that something. Alan Watts asks, âwhat would you like to do if money were no object?â Although thereâs an element of being realistic to answering that question, itâs still a great thing to think about to explore what you actually want to spend your time doing. Begin Now Literally, right now. Today. Make a change. Even if itâs as simple as creating a new resume and looking up some places to send it. Explore different outlets. Explore a passion if you have one. Just as well, if you want to find a way to start making better money, look to things that are not unrealistic but have predominantly worked for others throughout recent history (i.e. real estate). For instance, Nick Evans from Frontier Properties says that âreal estate gave me the opportunity to get out of my regular job. I wonder sometimes if I wouldnât have just meandered through my monotonous situation if I hadnât started pursuing another outlet (real estate) the day I realized I wasnât happy.â Create a network This is especially important when it comes to opportunities. Thereâs that saying that goes âwhen opportunity knocksâ¦â but the truth of that is it happens very little if we donât make the effort to create it. By creating a network you allow for exposure to multiple different industries/groups of people which will, in turn, open potential doors. Create social media platforms like a Facebook and a LinkedIn. Market yourself with a website from a site like Branded.me. Be social. Make the effort to meet new people and create introductions. The more people in your network, the larger it has the capability to grow. Create Just do it. Start something. Build a new resume. Design your own website. Even if you donât know why youâre doing it, do it. Reason being is creative-design is stimulating. At the very least itâll be a productive task that could help you discover what it is youâre looking for. Build a brand. Think of a company that you always wanted to start. An application idea. Draw a picture. Just get out and do something. Build Your Own Action Plan/Deadline Youâve been to school. You know what weâre talking about. How much more likely are you to do something when the teacher has made a due date to light the fire under your feet? Do the same thing for your self. Find out what you need to accomplish for said goal (do you need licenses, degrees, certifications, so forth), and then build a plan of action. Give yourself a reasonable but tight deadline. Track your progress on a calendar. Use it as both a reality check and motivation. A coveted workplace makes for a happier and more productive you. With the tools we have today, thereâs no reason any of us should ever feel complacent at our current employment/careers. Best yet, all the tips mentioned before do not require a âquit your job todayâ plan of action. Itâs all things you can manage on the side to start paving a path towards a career you want. Itâs not pivoting careers thatâs hard, itâs building the courage and discipline to do it. This is a sponsored post via Purple Camel Media Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Listen to the most recent episode Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...
Saturday, May 9, 2020
Summary Sunday Be Open To Change
Summary Sunday Be Open To Change Change happens! During your career, you will change jobs, the company will change direction, youll get new managers and many times you will feel these changes are out of your control. Learning how to adapt in an ever-changing environment will help you thrive. When you stay current with how companies fill jobs, youre more likely to land a new job faster. And we even saw our countrys leadership change this week. There have been many campaign promises made, some you may or may not agree with. Some he may or may not be able to achieve. Each of us has an opportunity and obligation to educate ourselves on the facts of the new policies and laws the President-elect plans on implementing. Stay informed. Just like your career, it is easy to dismiss our personal responsibility to manage the things we can manage and stay up-to-date. Keep your head out of the sand. Take accountability and advocate for yourself and the things you believe in. NEW LOOK My site has a new look- finally! With the help of Rebecca Metz, Web Pages That Sell, youll see a more modern look to Career Sherpa. We are still working out some minor kinks. If you have feedback or suggestions, Im all ears! JOB SEARCH Guide to Startup Jobs by Neil Patrick | Job-Hunt.org If you have ever wondered what the difference is in working for a startup, this series of articles will help you understand. Over the past few years, more new jobs were created in small to medium companies, such as startups, so it is worth your time to evaluate whether a startup is a good fit for you. NETWORKING 13 Reasons Why Youâre Terrible At Networking by Derek Lennon | Job Monkey There are right ways and wrong ways to network. If you arent a fan of networking, take the time to make sure you are doing it the right way! FACEBOOK Facebook Threatens LinkedIn with Job Opening Features by Josh Constine | TechCrunch Are you on Facebook? Did you know there are 1.18 billion daily active users on average for September 2016 [Facebook] Thats huge and a reason Facebook job ads threaten LinkedIn. Recruiters who track trends also see Facebooks job ads could take off. You can read these two articles to understand better how job ads on Facebook could play out. Why Job Postings on Facebook Are The Beginning of the End for LinkedIn by Matt Charney | Recruiting Daily Facebook About to Make Move Into Job Listings by Chris Russell | Recruiting Headlines LINKEDIN LinkedIn Features You Need To Know New features such as Open Candidates, Salary Calculator and Career Pages change (for the better) the ways you can use LinkedIn to help with your career and job search.
Friday, May 8, 2020
Why your boss doesnt like you and what you can do -
Why your boss doesnt like you and what you can do - You have that pit in the bottom of your stomach every time you need to talk to your boss. If he or she doesnt seem to like you, what can you do? You have a few choices. 1) throw your hands up and hope you win the lottery soon or 2) try to figure out why youre not a favorite in the office and make changes so you can earn some favor with the boss. Unless a windfall or a new job is in the offing, its time to make changes. Your boss probably doesnt like you if: 1. You â" and your work â" are always late. If youre the employee who never finishes projects on time, or you consistently stroll into your office 30 minutes late, you arent winning any points with the boss or your co-workers. If there is a certain time that you are expected at your desk, its disrespectful to ignore the rules and come in when its convenient for you. If your work is always late, youre probably preventing your colleagues from getting their part done. These are two cardinal sins. The fix: This is an easy one. Be on time and finish your work. Learn from your mistakes. If it takes you longer than expected to finish projects, either ask for help ahead of time, or make extra time in your schedule to get everything done. That may mean skipping those long lunches and extended coffee breaks, which arent winning you any points, either. 2. You take no initiative. Especially if youve been in your job for a year or more, your boss expects you to know how to handle certain issues. If you come running to ask for help every time an unexpected situation arises, its a drain on your boss who always needs to tell you what to do next. The fix: Learn from situations youve handled in the past and take the reins of your job. Instead of panicking and asking for help, make a decision and solve the problem at hand. Of course, theres always the flip side to any issue: If your boss is a micro-manager, he or she probably doesnt like it if you never ask before you act. In that case, take the opposite approach: Contact your boss with the problem and suggest the solution before you take action. 3. You dont communicate. No boss likes an employee who never tells him anything. For example, if you had an unfortunate run-in with a client, and the boss hears about it third-hand, you are not going to be on the nice list. No one likes negative surprises, least of all bosses. The fix: This is easy. Just keep your boss in the loop. Send a quick email update at appropriate intervals. Ask your boss how often hed like a check-in email, and make a point to keep him in the loop if anything comes up that he will want to know in the interim. 4. You blame other people. If youd win the pass the buck contest at your workplace, dont be surprised if youre not a boss favorite. The fix: Start to take some responsibility when things go wrong on your watch. Explain the problem and what youve already done to make sure it doesnt happen again. 5. You are a drama king or queen. Given a choice, most bosses would choose to fire the employee who stirs up the most drama in the office. If that person is you, take note: Your head could be on the chopping block. Are you the first to spread a rumor? Quick to run to one colleague to share some news thats sure to fuel discontent? Are you the first to complain or criticize when there are new policies or procedures? Do you try to rile up your colleagues to gang up against your manager? Are you creating problems where none existed? While personality traits are tough to self-assess, try to objectively evaluate your behavior. Youre probably stirring up drama outside of work, too. If a friend calls you a drama queen, take pause and ask yourself: Am I considered a troublemaker at work? The fix: Once you identify the problem, tone it down. Stop before you share juicy gossip. Dont complain for once. Think about how you can improve morale in your office instead of destroying it. When you make efforts to change, its possible you can alter the impression people have of you, and improve your relationship with the boss. image by aaipodpics
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