In an accelerating digital world where business can be conducted from almost anywhere, the e-agreement business is booming. DocuSign (NASDAQ:DOCU) outperformed in its last quarter, and earlier this month, CEO Daniel Springer noted during an industry conference that the company's total addressable market could be as large as $45 billion.

With a protracted shift in business habits in the making, this company is the next cloud-software platform on the rise.

DocuSign has made it a habit of increasing its total revenue every single year, and the latest quarter was as stellar as could be expected. A strong increase in total paying customers brought in 45% more revenue in the fiscal 2021 second quarter than the prior-year period.

Image source: Getty Images.

Part of this could be attributable to the company's 29% year-over-year increase in sales and marketing expenses, but more than a few customers certainly signed up for DocuSign's e-agreement management services as a result of the pandemic. One could argue that smaller customers would potentially shy away from converting to digital contracts, as an average $36 in paper savings per agreement may not entice pandemic-pressed businesses to spend time and money in workflow improvements at the moment. However, the last quarter actually saw a 39% year-over-year increase in total customers and a 55% jump in enterprise and commercial customers.

DocuSign has been focused on increasing its operating leverage, and the most recent influx of business has helped carry the company further toward profitability. While the company's gross margin remained steady at 74%, it did reduce its operating expenses as a percentage of total revenue. Specifically, general and administrative expenses fell two percentage points, and sales and marketing expenses declined seven points.

The company's largest focus was undoubtedly its efforts to build its customer base, and despite years of increasing revenue, DocuSign has not posted a net profit to date. Of course, the company has been reporting positive adjusted earnings for the past two years, with much of the reconciliation coming from stock-based compensation and associated taxes. But combining decreased expenses with increased revenue, the day for GAAP-based profits may not be far off.

Indeed, DocuSign's improving margins have led to decreasing net losses as a percentage of total revenue. Net losses for the past six months declined about $2 million year over year, shrinking from 25% of total revenue for the first six months of 2019 to 18% this year.

Second-quarter free cash flow also jumped significantly, from $12 million to $100 million year over year, allowing the company to continuously reinvest in improving its product to address its evolving customer needs.

Overall, DocuSign spends heavily on self-improvement, billing its product cloud as the one-stop solution for digital contracts management. It recently released a Facebook integration that permits access to DocuSign through a Facebook chatbot, and it just launched a new workflow template that helps businesses quickly configure common contract processes. Additionally, the company acquired Liveoak Technologies to integrate video-conferencing software to digitize the notarization process, thereby speeding up its agreement process even further.

Looking forward, the company has guided for $1.386 billion in total revenue for fiscal 2021 at the midpoint, a 43% increase over the prior year, and analysts expect that double-digit growth to continue for some time. In fact, management has asserted that DocuSign is in a very favorable leadership position within the industry at around six times the size of its nearest competitor in e-signatures and an even market share split with its rival for the rest of the DocuSign Agreement Cloud. With such strong positioning and a market opportunity that is only expanding more quickly thanks to the events of 2020, this tech stock should be on your watch list.

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3 Signs DocuSign Could Be the Future Leader of a $45 Billion Industry - The Motley Fool

Imagine you are Tommy Mottola. Back of a limo, 1988. Going home after a long night of what you call workschmoozing, listening to music, keeping an ear out for the next big thing. A beautiful stranger has handed you an unlabeled cassette. The driver feeds it into the stereo, and out pours the voice of the greatest singer youve never heard of. You tell the driver to go back to the party, but by then, shes gone.

So goes the Cinderella story of Mariah Careys discovery in New York City, before her record-breaking, grand-entrance-making self-titled debut in 1990. We know what happened next: a slew of hits, a launch into the stratosphere of commercial success. Thats one origin story. Another is of the biracial, white-passing girl who grew up on Long Island with an absent father, barely present mother, and two much older, abusive siblings; who came to New York at 17 with one pair of tattered shoes and a dream; who was not just seeking stardom but escaping a bleak childhood.

But those are old stories, old Mariahs. The Mariah of vinyl records and melodies recorded on answering machines. The Mariah we know today is GIF-worthy, telling an interviewer I dont know her with a plastered pageant smile; wearing sunglasses indoors in diamonds and gloves. Perhaps its inevitable that a person of her agethis year she celebrated her 50th anniversarywould have a life comprising so many different phases. She has transformed from mousy girl-next-door (do you even recognize this version of her from 1993?), to triumphantly divorced 20-something, to blond, buxom, slightly out-of-touch glam diva. Modern Mariah is the one of her infamous Cribs episode, who personally tailors her lighting design and doesnt allow pictures of the left side of her face. The Mariah who wore a bedazzled sling when she injured her arm. Gowns on the subway. Heels to bowling. Extra, over-the-top, highest-note-on-the-scale Mariah.

Thirty years inher memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, out Tuesday, marks the occasionshe is such an institution that the details have gotten muddled by both her extra-ness and, counterintuitively, her consistency. Though her popularity has faded since the 90s, shes never fallen completely out of the public eye: She is a standby, a pillar of American pop culture. Her cartoonishly glamorous lifestyle makes her easy to mock, but she is self-aware enough to facilitate it and play along.

But composed, confident, in-on-the-joke icon isnt exactly how she comes across in the media or her music. In a 2018 interview, Andy Cohen asked what the biggest misconception about her was. She demurred, but he ventured that its the assumption that she doesnt write her own songs. In a now-famous montage, which she tweeted in January at the announcement of her belated introduction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, she repeats in a series of interviews filmed over decades, As a songwriter iterating that she, herself, Mariah, is the author of all those hits, but that a lot of people dont know that. To Cohen, she said, What do I know what these people think? But in reality, she does know; shes just tired of saying it.

Watching these clips of Mariah defending herself, decades into multimillion-dollar mega-stardom, you have to wonder: Why does one of the biggest recording artists of all time have such a chip on her shoulder?

Being misunderstood is an inevitable facet of being a celebrity. But theres an element of Mariahs self-defense that reads as a reaction greater than the offense; which is not to say its an overreaction, but rather, an unhealed wound.

As shes carefully revealed more details of her life leading up to the release of her memoir, the woundedness that has always filtrated through her songs has crystallized into an explanationan emotional origin storyfor who she is. Most notably in a recent New York magazine profile, and in several other outlets, she spoke candidly of the specific familial pains she experienced growing up; but also how her illegible Blackness both excluded her from white spaces (or how she was retroactively excluded upon sharing she was Black) and denied her the insulation of Black spaces. Im sure Mariah is familiar with the tragic mulatto trope, but that hasnt stopped her from speaking of her biraciality in dramatic overtones throughout her career. Nowhere is it more clear than on Daydream (1995) and Butterfly (1997), two albums very similar in format throughout, including their closing tracks that address Mariahs feelings of detachment: the gospel-infused Outside on Butterfly; and on Daydream, the morose Looking In. As she sings on the latter:

You look at me and see the girl Who lives inside the golden world It seems as though Ive always been Somebody outside looking in Theyll never know the real me

If she had been born with a different face, perhaps she would have had fewer opportunities, less access to the Columbia Records marketing machine. Maybe she would have even fewer Grammys. (She has five total, from 1990 and 2005.) She might have been pushed into the urban market before she voluntarily flew there, on the wings of Diddy and Jermaine Dupri. But the gift of an unmistakable ethnicity is that you never have to explain what you are. Her race, as common and American as it is, is another source of her shame, a blessing-cum-privilege that felt more like a curse.

Beyond this core issue, the mid-90s girl in the golden world was woefully married to Mottola, 20 years her senior, whom she has called the Warden and portrayed as an Italian mobster in the Honey video. (She also called their palatial upstate New York home Sing Sing as in the prison.) She had become rich, famous, then married Mottola in a fairytale wedding at only 23. But she describes being constantly monitored within the house, by cameras, bodyguards, and an ominous intercom system that Mottola used when she was out of his sight; and that even a simple trip to get french fries with Da Brat devolved into a red-alert security mission to put her back within the gates. In a word, she felt trappedand all the superficial accoutrements of happiness couldnt relieve that.

Her years of alluding to her childhood struggles (I was a wayward child / With the weight of the world that I held deep inside she sings in Close My Eyes), her reminders that she was a songwriter, that her light skin didnt shield her from racism, read as a cry for help. A cry to be truly seen and heard, even as one of the most recognizable figures in music history. A hurt that cant be healed with money, the kind that bears repeating in a song.

Theres also, in her story, a plea to be taken seriously, a challenge for almost any female recording artist. In broad male-female musical dynamics, singing is for girls; playing an instrument, writing, and producingthats mens work. Mariah couldnt have ascended to such heights without being thin, pretty, and fair-skinned; but these qualities are also what invalidate many women artists from being thought of as capable beyond singing. Hardly any of Mariahs contemporaries or successors in the pop music sphere write or produce their own music; but generally speaking, instead of being lauded for their singular vocal techniques, theyre framed as simple, pretty faces (this was always the sexist basis for the anti-Britney-Christina-Jessica movement of the early 2000s). Instead of Mariah receiving bonus points for her songwriting, she was grouped in with the other artists of her genre and gender, celebrated for her once-in-a-lifetime voice, but otherwise shortchanged and underestimated.

Not that we live in an equitable, merit-based society, but if we did, there would be no room to underestimate Mariah. The numbers dont lie: She is the top-selling female artist of the 1990s, and third-best-selling female artist of all time, at 200 million records. She has the most no. 1 songs of any solo artist, and the second most of all time, behind the Beatles (she passed Elvis a few years ago).

And not that they give awards for this, but she has also enjoyed a career virtually free of scandal. Where is Mariahs DUI or painkiller addiction? Her middle-of-the-night mugshot? Accusations of plagiarism or abuse against her staff? The most scandal-tinged event from her career seems to be that time she brought Carson Daly ice cream on Total Request Live then took off her shirt, remaining clothed, in a pre-9/11 New York. If that sentence didnt make it clear enough, this was a long time ago. (That year, she checked herself into a hospital due to exhaustion and was also diagnosed with bipolar disorder.) Personally taxing, yesbut not scandalous.

I dont think that Mariah has remained free from scandal because of luck, but because of an inner resilience, both personal and creative, that is unmatched by her peers. Demons felled Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson and Prince. Madonna, despite her knack for reinvention, has always lacked the vocal talent, and her recent ventures have come off as cringey and tone-deaf. Mariahs voice doesnt have the power or clarity it once did, but she retains a singular ear for a hit. After the great Glitter debacle of 2001, her unprecedented $80 million contract at Virgin Records was terminated, at which point many thought her career was finished. But she returned in 2005 with The Emancipation of Mimi, which produced a handful of songs that reached no. 1 or 2 on the Hot 100 and/or Dance charts: Shake It Off, Say Something, Its Like That, Dont Forget About Us, and her second-biggest no. 1 to date, We Belong Together, with 14 weeks at the top. You could call it a comeback. The Distance from 2018s Caution and the single I Dont about her broken engagement to billionaire James Packer both have the makings of a chart-topper if not the actual performance of one. Its only a matter of time before she beats the Beatles.

And since the season is nearly upon us, lets talk about it: When was the last time someone wrote a contemporary Christmas standard? (Its a rhetorical question, but I think the answer is Donny Hathaways This Christmas in 1970.) All I Want for Christmas Is You, besides being an indelible part of the holiday season, also took a remarkably long time to reach number one: 25 years. Belated success is the mark of a resilient soul: someone who smartly plants seeds now to reap the fruit in its time.

Mariah continues to be the full packagean imperfect angel, to use her own language, but with the solid foundation to continue her career indefinitely.

So is The Meaning of Mariah Carey her victory lap? Its certainly a moment to pause, acknowledge, and celebrate. Mariah has been increasingly open about her trauma and her journey to healing; her twin 9-year-olds, who clearly light up her life, are part of that healing. In the New York article, she says, [My children] have stability. Thats what I didnt have. They understand that they are Black. They have a whole lot of self-esteem and self-worth that I never had. And I probably still dont now. I know that I still dont.

Its hard to hear someone of her stature admit that she lacks self-worth. But its heartening to know that she put herself on a better path; that she believes she is worthy of better than shes received. I work on my emotional recovery daily, she says in the book.

Perhaps music was too indirect of a way to communicate what shes always wanted to say. Or maybe we just werent listening. Hopefully, with this memoir, and her ongoing commitment to self-improvement, we will see a version of Mariah that is healed and whole, who doesnt have to repeat herself, who is heard.

Kyla Marshells poetry and nonfiction have appeared in The Guardian, BuzzFeed, The Believer, Kinfolk, O Magazine, and elsewhere. She is a Spelman College and Sarah Lawrence graduate, and lives in New York.

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Getting to the Meaning of Mariah Carey - The Ringer

Udora Orizu writes that a book on the Foremost Nigerians in the last 60 Years has attracted critical commendation from former Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki and Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, who also lauded the moderating influence of successful businessman, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr.

Former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has espoused Nigerias greatness which he agrees had been tested in several ways, adding that though Nigeria might not have fully fulfilled the aspirations of her citizens and the rest of the world, she has continued to play a major role in stabilizing her region and the continent at large. Thus, he says he welcomes any attempt to give a good account of Nigerias existence as an independent country in the last six decades.

He said this in his Prologue, titled Enriching the History of a Giant. The former two-term governor of Kwara State was commending the book, Nigeria @60: Foremost Nigerians in the Last 60years by former Society Editor of THISDAY Newspapers, Lanre Alfred. Saraki concluded that Nigeria will overcome her challenges and fulfil her manifest destiny because there are several ways of leading Nigeria out of the woods; One way is the one Lanre Alfred has taken with this book; celebrating the nations birthday through a revisit of the role of some of the key players.

This book by Lanre Alfred, a journalist with many years experience, is definitely going to add fresh pages to the body of literature and biographical work on this great country. This unique attempt at recounting our national history also seeks to put on display the roles of the selected players in national development over the years. It also presents a challenge for those key players, who are alive to strive to improve on their roles while also giving the rest of the citizenry the opportunity to honestly and genuinely assess the account and the roles it ascribes to these individuals.

The Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, in the Foreword, writes that Nigeria is an amazing story and an evolving power whose destiny is far beyond the convulsive spasm that often diminishes the narrative of her undeniable glory. This lesson is what has attracted the intellectual lens of Lanre Alfred in this insightful book. He takes us through an undulating labyrinth of the Nigerian story and points our attention to the mesh of our socio-cultural plurality, which ultimately makes ours a complex political experiment.

(Alfred) depicts the nations foundational challenge as that of a sailing mission without a rudder and a flying expedition without a compass. For it was clear that, at independence, there was no consensus around vision, purpose and strategy for the actualisation of the nations dream.

Like Saraki, Governor Fayemi concurs that the irony of the Nigeria story is that while her inadequacies are apparent to all, her progress is difficult to ignore either. And this is the reality, which many critics and commentators have failed to factor into their evaluation of the nations trajectory. One of the ways to appreciate this progress might be to focus on the contribution of many compatriots, who have invested their God-given talent and creativity for the progress of the nation in the different segments of our national life, he says.

Governor Fayemi says he is satisfied with Alfreds optimistic approach to the appreciation of Nigeria because, He has elected to gauge our progress in terms of verifiable and invaluable contributions of some individuals, who have greatly impacted the nation and whose contributions to her development since independence, are of immense significance.

This approach is not only a commendable reward system; it is also an effective story-telling strategy that properly situates the nations milestones around the exploits of her heroes and heroines. To suggest that Nigeria has not made progress is to declare that the works of her heroes and heroines are in vain. It is to assume that, generally, nonentities had led the nation in politics, business, culture, religion and leadership!

He also commends the efforts that went into putting the book together, saying, Alfred has launched his fecund mind into a fertile territory that many people would have ignored. It is another demonstration of his depth, prodigious intellect and mastery of the nations story as a social commentator and chronicler. He has taught us a new lesson that nation-building is a collective responsibility and that a nations prosperity is the aggregation of the industry and prosperity of her citizens.

Alfred said that he was motivated to write the book because, One of the biggest errors of our heritage as a nation is the failure to properly and periodically document in enduring forms, significant events of our national history and the roles of the personages. Such an important document helps to prevent the distortion of the feats and facts of our heroes and leaders.

He added, Whether we want to believe it or not, Nigeria is a nation guilty of not keeping data, which has, over the years, led to the distortion of her history. Many of those who came before us, despite their monumental talents and achievements, refused to pass on to us lessons from their trajectories. Our generation is the poorer for it because many do not have a sense of where they are coming from or where they are headed.

Alfred said he made up his mind long ago that whatever it takes, he would do everything to be on the right side of history by deploying his resources, experience and skills to documenting for posterity and todays youth who are bereft of quality role models the inspiring exploits and attainments of Nigerias foremost citizens of the last six decades whose contributions have been of an immense boost to nation-building.

According to him, This book captures a critical period in our 60-year history as a nation; and fills a long-abandoned vacuum by bringing out of the shadows of history a silent army of men and women especially those that had until now, been unacknowledged and under-represented, despite their contributions to the nation we now proudly call ours. Through the individual stories and exploits of our heroes past and present, were given an insight into the strength and stamina that they evince (d) in the face of a system geared against them.

Endorsed by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Council for Arts and Culture, NCAC, the Director-General, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, said the book is of significant historical and cultural value to this generation especially as Nigeria celebrates her 60th independence anniversary.

This is a trans-generational effort that is in tandem with the Federal Governments appreciation of the need for proper documentation in enduring forms, significant events of our chequered history and the roles of outstanding men and women who created the history. Runsewe further said

Interestingly, however, Alfred announced that the book is especially dedicated to Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr, the man popularly called The Bull as a homage to his humanity and relentless strides at rewriting the African business narrative; for standing tall and wading through odds with the courage of a knight and confidence of a champion.

Hugely successful, yet, affectionately humble, The Bull as he is widely known is one of those risk-taking individuals that struckout on new paths, rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success to prosper themselves and their society. He has proved over time that if sent to Mars, he would still treat it as a stepping stone to Saturn the quality of constant invention and self-improvement that has earned him worldwide acclaim and prosperity.

According to Alfred, Adenuga does not believe in impossibilities. With just tenacity of purpose and a terrier devotion to his dreams, he bestrides, successfully, the gap between creativity and commerce.He started from the scratch, but kept his nose to the grindstone and has turned many seemingly insignificant ideas into behemoth industries.The story of Globacom how it has survived a myriad of odds including a hostile economy, harsh government policies and competition remains his magnum opus.

He added that he is proud to associate with Dr Adenugas success in turning generosity, excellence and humaneness into an art form, adding, In an era beleaguered by the infamy of the human species, Dr Adenugas handiwork unfurls as an undying tribute to mankinds better nature. He challenged resolve with steely grit and exploited the arduous planes of ambition and toil, till he encountered grandeur at the crossroads where wild contemplation and hard work morph into triumph.

Adenjha founded Glo, a proudly Nigerian company with the wellbeing of Nigerians the core of its business principle has positively impacted on the lives of Nigerians; giving many uncut talents a platform to harness their talents through its reality television shows; while gifting hundreds of lucky subscribers life-changing prizes through its promos and providing direct and indirect employments to millions of Nigerians. In the intervening years, Globacom has made home-grown stars from the entertainment industry the faces (ambassadors) of its brand, while making them worth their popularity in affluence and influence.

The all-colour, all-gloss book, which has been widely hailed by many prominent Nigerians as a worthwhile educative and historical work, is published by Alfreds Old English Partners, publishers of the widely popular coffee table books; TitansThe Amazing Exploits of Nigerias Greatest Achievers; and Highlife Lifestyles of Nigerias Rich and Famous; and biographies like Pacemaker Triumphs of IghoSanomi at 40; The Lion of Afia Nsit Triumphs of Scott Tommey at 45; Julius RoneThe Jewel of the Delta; and Dapo AbiodunThe Heart of Prince.

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Like Saraki, Governor Fayemi concurs that the irony of the Nigeria story is that while her inadequacies are apparent to all, her progress is difficult to ignore either. And this is the reality, which many critics and commentators have failed to factor into their evaluation of the nations trajectory. One of the ways to appreciate this progress might be to focus on the contribution of many compatriots, who have invested their God-given talent and creativity for the progress of the nation in the different segments of our national life

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Saraki, Fayemi Commend Adenuga's Influence on Nation Building - THISDAY Newspapers

The original Avengers' reactions to Thanos' snap in Avengers: Endgame revealed each of their biggest weaknesses... And how they'd later use them.

In Avengers:Endgame, every one of the original Avenger's reactions to Thanos' Snap revealed their single biggest weakness. The original Avengers all survived Thanos' decimation of the universe - as well as Rocket Raccoon, War Machine, Okoye, and newcomer Captain Marvel - but each of the six Phase One heroes was, understandably, hugely changed by what happened.

The start of Endgame obviously dealt with survivor's guilt and how the original Avengers coped with the loss not only of their friends and allies but of half of known existence and the unprecedented, unthinkable fallout of such a mass-scale extinction event. Even though the entire MCU had, up to that point, been largely defined by ideas of cause and effect, the sins of the father and accountability, Thanos' use of the Infinity Gauntlet to "rebalance the universe" in his grim image was a step beyond anything yet seen. And one of the most interesting parts of the narrative was watching how each of the heroes used that trauma to inform their actions.

Related:Avengers: Endgame's Ending & Marvel Movie Future Explained In Detail

Crucially, each of them reacted differently, splintering the group. Some retired, some sought self-improvement, others were destroyed or transformed by grief. But in every single case, their reactions in Endgameplayed into weaknesses already explored in previous MCU films. Here's how the reactions of each Avenger were informed by their existing weak points and how they came to define how they came back together to defeat Thanos.

Captain America's biggest weakness was perfectionism or more importantly, his own fallibility. He had been created out of largely nothing, but the one thing that made him the ideal candidate to be a super-soldier test subject was also what would become a weak spot for him. He always wanted to be the one to "make the sacrifice play" to the point that he was blinkered in his reaction to discovering Bucky was The Winter Soldierwhen informing his fellow Avengers would have been far better as an idea. Cap believed that he was the best man for the job, but that he was the only one for it, so it's somewhat natural that his response to being defeated by Thanos was to seek to fix himself.

In actual fact, Steve Rogers looking tobetter himself - which manifests in him attending post-Snap therapy and retiring from active hero duty -is one of the most healthy responses to any hero recognizing their weakness. While it is entirely unfair to level any blame at Cap for the way Infinity Warends, his response seemingly confirms that he needed to change in its wake. And actually, by the end of Endgame, it is his apparent weakness that helps save the day when he stands up to Thanos.

While Thor's downfall in Endgame was wrongly seen as a comedy writing decision, the so-called Fat Thor storyline after Infinity War is a tragic one that reinforces Thor's oldest weakness, his arrogance. Rather than that being a criticism of the God Of Thunder, it's a statement on his drive and his upbringing, which presented him as the prodigal son gifted with singular powers (at least his command over Mjolnir) and God-like status. Even after he was forced to confront his worthiness in his MCU debut,Thor, his opinion of himself remained lofty (as his dynamic with the Guardians Of The Galaxy later proved). And strictly speaking, it's Thor's fear of being considered worthy and living up to his father that drove that arrogance in the first place.

Related:Avengers: Endgame - How Powerful Is Old Captain America At The End?

When Thor becomes "Fat Thor" in Endgame, he is essentially becoming everything he believes is the opposite of what he should be. He is glutinous, unmotivated, and has abandoned his duty to his people and the Nine Realms but everything he puts himself through is punishment for failing to live up to his expectations. That weight is such that when he fails to stop the Snap the first time, his own ideas of infallibility are challenged, hot on the trail of him failing to find the Infinity Stones and then failing to stop Thanos wiping out half of Asgard's surviving population in the Infinity War prologue.

On paper, it would appear that Tony Stark's reaction to the Snap is retirement and settling down with a family, but the reality is that his personal growth is still entirely weighed down by his biggest weakness. Ever since his vision in Avengers: Age of Ultron, Tony was driven by the devastating fear that the world would end, his friends and family would die and he would have no way of stopping it. His reaction to that was always an extreme one, usually culminating in his own heroic demise. Even in Infinity War, he intended to go on a suicide mission to stop Thanos, until Spider-Man's involvement derailed his plan. He was so drawn in by his need to protect that it didn't matter what happened to himself.

That weakness - which would end up being his strength in his final moments - continued in the wake of the Snap in Endgamedespite Tony's retirement and apparent loss of all hope. And the confirmation comes in the form of what he gives to Pepper as a present: the Rescue armor she'd wear in the Endgame final battle. That armor was Tony's most powerful creation, made with skills and knowledge honed over tens of other suits, and strengthened by Tony's fear that he would need to protect Pepper from a threat he could no longer even identify. Tony didn't learn from Infinity War's end, he was just robbed of knowing what apocalypse to expect and the fact that he made Pepper an armor suggested he feared he wouldn't be able to protect her himself. Those old fears and that single, devastating weakness remained.

The most efficiently tuned Avenger in terms of knowing what his weakness was was, of course, Bruce Banner, because he had a habit of transforming into a walking, smashing personification of his internal conflict whenever he was faced with conflict of any source. Banner's weakness, though, was not that he turned into the Hulk, but that his raging conflict with the two sides of his identity were distracting him from the value of finding balance. He may have had to surrender some of what he had been - his "normal" looks, for instance - but the benefits in identifying his own commitment to remaining "puny Banner" were vast, so he became Smart Hulk. Given his intellect, it should come as no surprise that he dealt with his weakness completely and a little too efficiently (given that it all happened off-screen and almost incidentally).

Related:MCU Phase 5: How Kang The Conqueror Is Different To Thanos

Though Black Widow's most interesting sub-plot - the idea that Nat was running an organization looking after orphans in Endgame - was cut in the planning stages, her reaction to the Snap spoke to the same mentality. Endgame finds her essentially still trying to fix what is left of the world, running the Avengers in the absence of her more senior former colleagues and liaising with every other still-active hero. She was, essentially, the leader ofwhat replaced the Avengers, still committed to doing what she could to protect the Earth.

But Natasha's continued commitment to heroism wasn't born from the same obsession as Tony's: her need to continue to help was the same reason she ultimately chose to sacrifice herself on Vormir. She was, after all of those years, still trying to get rid of the red in her ledger. As her Age Of Ultron vision confirmed (and her upcoming prequel will further explore), Black Widow couldn't escape the trauma of her past,both in terms of her origin and what she did in the name of the Red Room. Her only answerwhen the world fell apart in the wake of Infinity War's stunning end was to look for any way to atone for her own past. While that could have been used to torment her further, her weakness actually became her drive.

Hawkeye's situation is slightly different to the rest of the heroes, in that his weakness is not something within himself that he can address. His weakness is the most tragic of all because it's his family. Unlike the rest of the Avengers at the point of the Snap, Clint Barton had a family (Scott Lang doesn't count in the same terms, because of his unique circumstances) and their being killed off in one fell swoop completely broke him. WhenAge of Ultron introduced the idea of Barton as a paternal figure (to the twins as much as to his own kids), it also introduced his vulnerability and Infinity War's devastating end followed through that set-up.

It was inevitable, then, that Hawkeye's reaction would be so emotional. He had lost everything to the point that his otherwise unwavering commitment to his duty was cast aside in the name of a more visceral attack on the injustices of the world. Driven to an extreme version of his training, Hawkeye's murderous rage - as the not-openly-acknowledged Ronin - was Avengers:Endgame's confirmation that he always had a weak spot in allowing himself some form of conventional happiness. That was the cruelest blow of the Snap and while Clint will have to live with his kill count in the future, in his grief, he was entirely justified.

Related:Marvels New Phase 4 Slate: Every MCU Movie Release Date (2020-2022)

Fundamentally, in every case, the Avengers adopted their weaknesses as part of their response to the Snap and into Avengers: Endgameand in every single case, it was what they learned from their weaknesses and also the value of their weaknesses themselves that helped take down Thanos and restore the countless lost souls killed when the Infinity Stones were used the first time. As with the Guardians Of The Galaxy, the supposed weak points of each hero would become their strength.

Next:Its Good That Avengers: Endgame Cut Iron Mans Soulworld Scene

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Stallone Cutting Rocky 4's Robot Is A Money-Saving PR Stunt, Says Creator

Simon is a veteran editor who has been writing online since 2010 - long before anyone wanted to read his work. He loves Clueless. Like, a lot.

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Endgame: Each Avenger's Reaction To The Snap Revealed Their Key Weakness - Screen Rant

(This article was written by Bernhard Schroeder and appeared on forbes.com.) Its very rare that markets and consumers are all shifted in real time together. Normally, trends begin slowly, starting in a few industries and in micro segments of the population and then they grow over time. With the pandemic, there have been wholesale shifts in consumer behavior, which are rapidly driving new trends across multiple industries. Not to make the pandemic sound like a good thing but this is a perfect storm for people who want to start companies or small businesses that can pivot to provide new products and services based on these accelerated trends.

In the 25 years of marketing and entrepreneurship, I have never seen this massive a shift in consumer behavior all at one time. Its unprecedented. However, it does create opportunity for those who want to leverage these rapidly accelerated trends. While all trends are not equal, I believe most of these trends are here to stay. Here are several of them below that you might be able to leverage into a startup company.

Live Streaming eCommerce.Just before the pandemic started, I had a startup team contact me from Asia about advising them on their live streaming ecommerce platform. I knew little about live streaming ecommerce, so I did some research. Live streaming ecommerce in China, for example, is exploding. The Amazon equivalent in China is Alibaba and their live streaming e-commerce platform Taobao generated more than $15 billion in sales in just 2019.The pandemic will fuel the live streaming ecommerce market to grow even bigger and faster than it has over the past few years.

Virtual Companions.This one is fascinating as quite a few companies in the late 90s were funded to provide virtual worlds where people could meet and hangout through their personal avatars. These startups never really took off. But as people today easily move about in social media and dating sites, they have become accustomed to online as an acceptable medium so their expectations have evolved, and some people will start to seek out virtual personalities online. If Peloton can have a virtual real trainer push you faster on your ride, then you are probably open to other online experiences and perhaps even virtual experts, coaches and friends.

Self-Improvement.While quite a few people will argue about the pandemic-related shutdowns affecting colleges, workplaces and a myriad of other venues, people have more rapidly accepted online video for education, meetings, sales calls, etc. The next catalyst in this self-isolation world is self-improvement through online platforms. Whether thats for education, certification, cooking or even mental health issues, there are a variety of opportunities for startups or small businesses.

Virtual Experiences.How do you go to a conference or a trade show event if you, well, cant go? If you cant do Coachella live, or U2 cannot tour, how do you shift your business model?We have probably heard about some employees doing virtual happy hours as a way if staying connected at their company. Thats fine but it will wear thin quickly. The real opportunity is to somehow provide the experience and connectively of former live events to a virtual one that actually can sustain itself over time, even after the end of the pandemic.3D and virtual platforms will probably come to professional sports and events more rapidly but who will provide the business solutions that allow people to meet, converse and do business in a way that does not involve Zoom?

Mental Wellness.The pandemic is not the only thing causing people mental anguish although the effects of isolation are already being felt. Even before it triggered a global public health crisis and raised fears of a deep economic slump, quite a few people were facing other issues that could impact their mental health: always-on social media competition, lack of confidence, not enough affordable housing, climate and energy issues, career concerns and so on. Future platforms and services that can help improve peoples mental wellbeing and overall health will be welcomed with open arms.

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The Pandemic Has Accelerated and Spawned Trends That Startups and Small Businesses Can Leverage - Direct Selling News

Kevin Walters insists he will unite the Broncos and restore the clubs winning culture after being appointed head coach for the next two seasons.

The club officially announced his signing on Wednesday and the five-time Broncos premiership winner said it was the realisation of "a dream" 20 years in the making.

The 52-year-old will relinquish his head coaching duties with the Maroons but will remain involved in the preparation for this years State of Origin series, as revealed by QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher on Tuesday.

The QRL will appoint a new coach in the coming days with Wayne Bennett the hot favourite.

The culture of the Broncos, who claimed their first wooden spoon this year, has been fractured and Bennett said Walters would drive a restoration oftheir culture because he understood what had made the club great.

Walters appointed Broncos coach

"That is my first objective, to get in and unite the club again," Walters told NRL.com.

"That applies to the players, the coaching staff, the administration staff, fans, corporates, members everyone that plays their role in the Broncos success.

"I mean everyone because the Broncos has always been an all-in club, a whole of club, and that is what I want to return the club to be.

"With everyone working in the same direction it is amazing what results you can come up with."

Broncos' top five tries of 2020

The direction Walters has travelled in with his coaching career ever since playing the last of his 241 first-grade games had a definite target.He has now hit the bullseye.

"From the day I hung my boots up at the Broncos my next objective was to be head coach of the Brisbane Broncos and I am very grateful for the opportunity, he said.

"It has been a dream that is for sure, and it has happened 20 years later. We stuck to the task and have lived all around the world - from overseas in France [with Catalans] to down in Melbourne - gathering my skills for the opportunity to one day be the coach of the Broncos.

"My family, I cant thank them enough for their support over the last 20 years. My wife Narelle and all the kids have been brilliant and it is great news for all of us."

Walters was overlooked when Anthony Seibold was appointed to replace Bennett at the end of 2018 but after the initial disappointment he went on a quest for self-improvement.

This time around he edged out Cowboys 2015 premiership winner Paul Green for the post.

His twin brother Kerrod, who won two titles at Brisbane alongside his brother, said Kevin had never given up on the dream.

"Kevvie was devastated when he missed out on the job last time but he accepted the decision," Kerrod said.

"He said to me 'next time I am in that position I will make sure I am a better person and a better coach'. That is the case now and shows a lot about his character.

From the day I hung my boots up at the Broncos my next objective was to be head coach of the Brisbane Broncos.

"He didnt kick stones. He copped it on the chin and got on with it, and now he is a very happy boy.

"I kept asking if he'd heard anything from the Broncos and he said 'no, no but I will let you know when I do', so when he called to say he'd got the job I couldn't be happier for him."

The hard work now begins.Walters will no doubt make some roster tweaks at the Broncos but he is adamant he has the players at his disposal to revive the clubs winning ways.

The likes of Anthony Milford, Corey Oates and Joe Ofahengaue are in need of a second wind in their careers and Walters has coached them at the Maroons and as an assistant to Bennett at Brisbane. He knows what makes them tick.

"It is very exciting and a great opportunity to get in and work with a lot of those players I have worked with, and some that I havent," he said.

"There is unique talent amongst the playing group at the Broncos and it is my job and the staffs job to bring that talent to the fore every week in the game.

"It is up to the players as well to take responsibility for their performances but they cant do it by themselves. We have got to do it together and be united, and we will be."

Walters insists the Broncos can be the big movers of the 2021 season and play finals football at least.

"That is my expectation. When you think about the Broncos you think of a winning culture and that is what we will return the club to," he said.

Walters said he would have news about his coaching team in the near future as he turns his attention as a matter of priority to his staff and playing roster.

He is also ready to assist whoever the QRL appoints as coach for the 2020 Origin series, whether that be Bennett or Mal Meninga.

"Unfortunately one of the things I wont be able to do this year is coach the Maroons in the Origin series and I respect that decision by the Queensland Rugby League board and the Brisbane Broncos board," he said.

"I understand the workload at the Broncos is my priority but I amstill really happy to assist whoever the next coach of the Queensland Origin team is to make the transition into that role as smooth as possibly, and I will be there in any capacity that they need me to be.

"The Queensland Rugby League has two very senior coaches that have been there and done it at Origin level so that makes the decision of me not being able to coach easier, just knowing that we have some good men ready to go."

In the background this week have been the media reports of the Broncos' quest to get Storm coach Craig Bellamy as a coaching director from 2022. Out of respect to his former Canberra teammate, Walters said he would let that play out but added he had a strong bond with Bellamy.

"We played together at the Raiders and he worked on the coaching staff when I was at the Broncos and captain of the club, and then I was fortunate to work with Craig in Melbourne when I was assistant coach for three years," he said.

"We have a great working relationship but out of respect for Craig and the Melbourne Storm he needs to focus on what is in front of them.

"They are a real chance for the premiership, so out of respect we need to leave that one alone."

Kerrod said he wouldnt be surprised to see a tear or two of joy when Walters next spoke publicly of his appointment.

"That is me. I wear my heart on my sleeve," Kevin said.

"I am very passionate. I am all-in. I dont see it as a job, what has been placed in front of me. I am deeply invested in the Broncos, and everyone attached to the Broncos, so I couldnt be happier."

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Walters named coach: I can unite Broncos and return to finals next year - NRL.COM

The great thing about online education is that no matter where you feel you need to shore up your skill sets, there's a package of coursework that can help get you there. You just have to know where to look.

Skillingo assembles those training packages, grouping up series of classes all directed toward some area of self-improvement, from skills training to health and wellness instruction.

Right now, you can train up in several of those potential development spots with these Skillingo Course Packs.

If you're looking to start a new business, the Online Business Mega Course Bundle ($99) is an insightful starting point. Over 28 hours of video instruction and 62 ebooks, you'll master the tactics for setting up and running a successful online business today, including stocking digital products, leveraging platforms like Amazon FBA and Shopify to open storefronts, even productivity and mindset goals to carry off your endeavor without a hitch.

The skills for developing a powerful business persona are under even heavier focus in The Ultimate Entrepreneur Course Pack ($199). From sales and marketing to personal development to your own individual health, both physical and mental, it's all tackled in this 56-hour, 86-course collection with over 140 ebooks of intensive learning.

If your methods for reaching potential customers could use some improvement, The Marketing Master Mega Course Bundle ($49) will turn you into a marketing pro. With 20 video courses and 33 eBooks, this bundle covers all areas of modern online marketing, from mastering Facebook, Instagram, Google, Twitter, and YouTube advertising; to learning about chatbots and AI to drive traffic; to how to market to social media channels like TikTok.

With your professional house in order, The Self Development Mega Bundle ($99) seeks to do the same for you personally. Over 35 video courses and 73 ebooks, you'll examine how to improve your health and fitness, your mental well-being, stress and anxiety management, even yoga and meditation.

Finally, the Healthy and Happy Living Course Bundle ($29) takes that introspection even further, with another 10 hours of video content and almost 40 more ebooks looking to help you unlock your true self and become the healthiest, happiest you possible.

Right now, each of these expansive self-improvement bundles are over 90 percent off their regular price.

Prices are subject to change.

Do you have your stay-at-home essentials? Here are some you may have missed.

"This is increasingly sounding like a Black Mirror episode"Elon Musk, introducing Neuralink. Elon Musk's brain-computer-interface venture today unveiled a prototype that involves a pig with a computer chip implanted inside their brain. The coin-sized device is implanted beneath the creature's skull. "It's like a Fitbit, but in your skull," says Musk, and it's implanted by []

A reported UFO in the Congo turned out to be a Loon Balloon, floated 20km up to provide cellular internet out in the sticks. The operators neglected to tell the relevant authorities what they were doing; two UFO hunters ended up in jail while Loon, a subsidiary of Google holding company Alphabet, smoothed things out. []

Isolation.site does just one thing: it visits URLs that you want to check out but don't trust, and shows you what comes up. It's not just a convenient wrapper around the curl command-line tool, but generates a rendered snapshot of the site to look around. Protect your devices from web-transmitted infections (WTIs). Picked up some []

We all understand the healing powers of music. Putting on your favorite songs, zoning out, and letting the immersive sensation wash over you and carry you away is part of music's universal appeal. And the link between music and feeling good isn't just anecdotal. In four separate research trials, music therapy was found to reduce []

What's on the nightstand by your bed? Probably a lamp, maybe a clock, your phone, a tablet, a pair of glasses, some books you haven't read yet, some tissues, a remote control, and likely at least a few other personal items. Before you realize it, you've stacked up a lot of stuff on that tiny []

In case you haven't tried an electric board before, know this it's not a toy. With 2800 watts of power, the beefy 36V, 4.4 Ah battery propels the Flowdeck X at a respectably speedy 20 mph with real stability. In fact, the motors have so much zip that they can easily shoot a rider []

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Take your career to the next level with this hands-on entrepreneur training - Boing Boing

Berkshire Hathaways CEO Warren Buffett is an icon of simple living and high thinking. Amidst all the mayhem life brings, a simple living and high-thinking lifestyle can set you up for success while fully helping you live your life. Simplicity is the affinity with minimalism, while high thinking is about attaining a deeper understanding of yourself and valuing things that matter in the long run. Pastor Mike Signorelli helps people find a life that works for them, including simple living and a high thinking lifestyle. In a conversation with Insider Monkey, Mike shares that its crucial to improve yourself and your lifestyle using daily habits that make you richer, in its true sense.

Pastor Mike Signorelli

IM: Good to connect with you, Mike! How can people simplify their lives?

Mike: To adapt to a simpler life, I recommend that you must embrace a minimalist approach. Be it your wardrobes, gadgets, luxuries, or people, pen down what you need in life to make minimal choices, reduce chaos, and live a simplified and less stressful life.

IM: Are there any steps one can follow to begin on this path of self-improvement?

Mike: There are three habits that I believe help people improve their lives significantly. To start treading on the path of high thinking, the first habit you can develop is being grateful. This is one of the first things I teach people from all walks of life. Keeping a gratitude journal is a great boost to your mental well-being.

Secondly, one must strive for positivity. Instead of being worried about the future, you can be excited about what's coming for you. It allows you to give less weight to negative thoughts. Faith is one of the best ways to develop a positive outlook on life.

The last tenet of high thinking is probably the most surprising and the most difficult for some people. Im a big advocate of valuing the hardships youve had in your life. Difficult situations help make you who you are today. You might also find that what makes you happiest is also hard work. Easy things arent always the best for us.

IM: People often lose path while chasing other materialistic goals in life; what do you recommend?

Mike: We need to understand that it takes time to make these tiny changes in your life, but it will be worth it in the long run when you reap the benefits and live a happier life. The best way to move forward is one positive habit at a time!

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Mike Signorelli Shares 3 Habits That Develop Simple Living & High Thinking Lifestyle - Yahoo Finance

Self-confidence is crucial in the modern world. Finding success will be very difficult if you dont feel good about yourself, and those with low self-esteem often struggle to do the things that others find easy. Of course, as a big part of this, you have to work hard to make sure that you feel confident about yourself, and the way you look can play a big role in shaping this aspect of your life.

Photo, Caique Silva.

To help you to overcome the issues that surround your appearance, this post will be exploring some of the easiest ways to improve the way you look, making you feel more confident in the process.

Hair Styles: Your hair is fundamental to the way you look, and therefore an important element in the way you feel about your appearance. Many people undervalue their hair, ignoring the impact it can have on their confidence in daily life. Choosing to change your hair for a style that you prefer can be both terrifying and liberating. You have to be brave, trusting that the new style youve chosen will work with your appearance, but will also get to enjoy the confidence boost you get from the whole thing. Of course, you can always talk to your friends and your barber for advice when youre approaching something like this.

Clothing: The clothing you wear is another part of your appearance that can alter the way you feel about yourself. Making small changes to your wardrobe can give you a huge confidence boost, with many people finding themselves feeling a lot better about themselves when they wear an outfit for the first time. You can easily improve your wardrobe by looking on platforms like Instagram for inspiration. There are a lot of trends available in the modern world, providing you with the opportunity to choose clothing that works for your body shape.

The world of fashion has changed quite a bit over the last couple of decades. Gone are the days when all of the models you could find around the web were stick-thin and perfectly sculpted. Instead, people want to see normal bodies wearing the clothing they buy, and this means that there are a lot of popular models that share your body type. This gives you the chance to see what looks good on them, transferring this knowledge to your own outfits when it comes to shopping for them.

Photo, Lesly Juarez.

Teeth: Its hard to feel confident when you dont like your teeth. Underbites and overbites, chipped or broken teeth, and a huge range of other dental issues can leave people feeling unhappy with this part of their body. Thankfully, there are loads of ways to solve problems like this, and it can often be as simple as choosing the right product to help you. Veneers are often a good solution to dental issues, adding a layer to your teeth that will make them look good no matter their condition.

Photo, Carlos Vaz.

Glasses: Glasses are very common in the modern world, providing countless people with improved sight. Of course, though, a lot of people dont like their glasses, and this can make it hard to feel confident when wearing them. Finding a pair of glasses that you like is similar to choosing the right clothing to wear. There are loads of options on the market, and you can use the likes of Instagram to see people with the same face shape as you wearing the glasses you like. Alongside this, many online glasses retailers will happily send you pairs to try on.

While this route will work for some, others will prefer to look for ways to get rid of their glasses entirely. Contact lenses can be good for this, giving you a cheap way to hide your glasses without having to compromise on your vision. Alternatively, you could also think about the idea of laser eye surgery. This sort of option is expensive and often viewed as extreme, but it could improve your vision for decades to come.

Weight: Being under or overweight is very common, with most people finding it hard to strike the right balance with their weight. Thankfully, there are a lot of tools out there that can help with this, and more and more communities are emerging as time goes by that can provide support and make you feel better about this aspect of your life. Losing weight is very difficult, and you need to have the right balance of diet, exercise, and things like sleep in your life to make sure that you can achieve your goals.

Photo, Annie Spratt.

Gaining weight can often be just as hard as losing it, but this side of health is often overlooked. There are a lot of supplements and meal plan options that are designed to help people to reach a healthy weight without having to eat more than they usually would. This can make this process easier, ultimately making you feel a lot more confident about the way your body looks. Of course, though, this sort of improvement will also come with health benefits.

Dating: While it may sound strange, going on dates and talking to new people can be an excellent way to improve your self-confidence. Spending time with people that find you attractive will always make you feel better about this aspect of your life, and its nice and easy to set up this sort of meeting in the modern world. Apps like Tinder are filled with people looking for dates and the chance to meet new people, opening the doors to an endless stream of people that will like the way you look.

With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to take on the challenge of improving your confidence in your appearance. This sort of process can be hard, with a lot of people struggling along the way. If you put the right effort into it, though, you should be able to push your confidence further than ever before.

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Small Changes That Can Improve Your Confidence In Your Appearance - We Heart

There are a multitude of apps and tech innovations out there designed to help people find their dream job. (Shutterstock)

Looking for work can be a stressful experience, and may even end up feeling like a full-time job in itself.

With a global pandemic throwing the nation into a recession, job hunting has become quite a lot harder for many. However, there are a multitude of apps and tech innovations out there designed to help people find not just their next job, but their dream one.

One such innovation is Ready For Business (R4B), a digital platform created by techentrepreneur and ex Silicon Valley executive, Dave Evans, during lockdown.

The platform specifically helps people from deprived backgrounds come together with business experts who can mentor, motivate and guide them in their chosen career.

Whether it's the music industry, life sciences or manufacturing, R4B aims to provide a vital link between aspiring, talented youngsters and accomplished professionals.

R4B was also co-founded by Laura Jordan Bambach, who spearheaded Barclays Life Skills.

Barclays Life Skills is a digital source for all things self improvement, offering three main hubs to choose from, including the educator hub, the young people's hub and the business hub.

It also has a section for adults, under the title changing worklife, which provides articles on skills for the workplace which are aimed to help you find tips and guidance in order to improve your career prospects.

It also features a CV builder to help you ensure you are putting your best self forward in your applications.

LinkedIn offers a sleek all in one job-search, giving you the chance to virtually network with people in your industry, discover industry related news, keep up to date with specific companies job postings through tailored notifications, as well as searching for jobs more generally.

However, the tool is also widely used by recruiters, so they can find you, instead of you doing all the hard work.

After setting up your account, make sure to add your CV history to your profile and change it to open to job opportunities, which will make you visible to recruiters and allow you to be sent news of opportunities straight to your InMail box.

When you are unemployed you can sometimes feel like you are on a tight deadline to get your next role. Hirewire is an app that aims to get you a job in 24 hours.

Hirewire has worked to streamline the job hunting process and make it as efficient as possible.

Instead of asking you to merely upload a CV, it asks you to build an interactive profile to let employers check you out, and gain a fuller picture of who you are. It also has built-in tools for scheduling interviews, and video and text chat with local businesses.

CareerBuilder.com is a digital platform which facilitates the job hunt, and it also has its very own app.

With an easy to use interface, the app gives users instant access to millions of job postings where they can filter searches by a range of needs, such as qualifications and salary expectations.

It is compatible with Android and Apple devices, and can be downloaded from the App store or Google Play store.

Indeed.com is a well known job searching website that also boasts its own app. The app has proved popular among job seekers with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from nearly 1.2 million reviewers in the App store.

Its functions are fairly similar to the website, giving users the ability to search for millions of postings in seconds with the use of a keyword and location, and the ability to apply for a role with the click of a button.

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6 apps and tech innovations that could help you find your dream job - Northumberland Gazette