Morning ritual that will make you happy 4 secrets from stoicism

Morning ritual that will make you happy 4 secrets from stoicismMorning ritual that will make you happy 4 secrets from stoicismSometimes life sucks. Bad. Really bad. And you feel like you want a refund.But, of course, we need to accept that Life Avenue is going to have its share of potholes. Albert Ellis, one of the most influential psychologists ever, knew that acceptance is key to coping with the curve balls life throws at us.Many other titans of wisdom agree. Like, for instance, Homer SimpsonIt makes sense. Walking around constantly expecting life to give us everything we want is bedrngnis only comically entitled and ridiculous, but would make existence a hell of perpetual frustration.But heres the thing some of the wisest people who ever lived take it further than acceptance. A lot furtherMany of the greats embraced the concept of Amor Fati. To not only accept everything that life brings you, good or bad, but to love it. To embrace it. To revel in it. Every single bit of your life . Yes, even the truly horrible, awful, regrettable, dont-ever-want-to-think-about-it-again moments.Ladders is now on SmartNewsDownload the SmartNews app and add the Ladders channel to read the latest career news and advice wherever you go.To which I initially responded with a big honking Huh? Seriously?The Stoic philosopher Epictetus saidDont landseek for everything to happen as you wish it would, but rather wish that everything happens as it actually will then your life will be serene.And Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius agreedAll that is in accord with you is in accord with me, O World Nothing which occurs at the right time for you comes too soon or too late for me. All that your seasons produce, O Nature, is fruit for me. It is from you that all things come all things are within you, and all things move toward you.And this seemingly loony idea persisted. In the 19th century Nietzsche wroteMy formula for greatness in a human being is amor fati that one wants nothing to be different, not forward, not backward, not in all eternity. Not merely bear what is necessary, still less conceal it- all idealism is mendacity in the face of what is necessary- but love it.So we should wake up and think Amor Fati? We should wake up and think a lot of life is going to be awful - and then love that? And this is the key to a joyous life filled with great achievement?I repeat Huh? Seriously?Were gonna need a little help to fully unpack this one. So I gave somebody a call who knows this stuff Ryan Holiday is the bestselling author of The Daily Stoic and The Obstacle is the Way. His latest book is Conspiracy. Hes going to help us get to the bottom of how loving everything in your life - including the truly awful stuff - is one of the most powerful ideas around. And a great way to start your day.Lets get to it How to Amor your FatiThe Stoics never said Amor Fati. It welches Nietzsche who coined the phrase. But Ryan feels those two words best encapsulate the entire philosophy of S toicism. He credits author Robert Greene with turning him on to the idea. Heres how Ryan defines the termAmor Fati is a mindset that you take on for making the best out of anything that happens. Treating each and every moment no matter how challenging as something to be embraced, not avoided. To not only be okay with it, but love it and be better for it. So that like oxygen to a fire, obstacles and adversity become fuel for your potential.Thats profound and it also sounds really damn hard. (Im not sure I have it in me to love life when theres a paper jam and I want to throw my printer out the window.)But a better understanding of Stoicism helps here. The Stoics were big on the dichotomy of control. So much of your life is not under your control. You cant control the world or other people. Often you cant control whats going on in your head. The only thing you can control is your deliberate thoughts and actions.So to let our happiness and self-worth zusammenge on what we cannot con trol is futile. Ridiculous. We often unconsciously default to thinking that we have control over everything - and then were angry, sad or frustrated when the universe quickly reminds us that we dont.We cannot control most things. But we can control how we feel about them by changing the expectation that were entitled to have everything go our way all the time. We can treat life less like a capricious opponent, and approach it with a curiosity and a respect for its challenges. Heres RyanWe dont control most of what happens in life. That seems like a weakness. But we do control what our reaction is to those events. What we tell ourselves they mean to us and how we will integrate them into our lives. On the one hand, were powerless, but on the other hand were deeply empowered. To the Stoics, most of what happens is outside of our control, but we have this superpower of being able to love, embrace, accept, and make the most of what does happen. Thats this idea of Amor Fati. If you thin k about it, its fate. Fate is implying a lack of control, and love is, in regard to your reaction, implies an intense agency that you choose to love that fate.Life is not gonna give you what you want all the time. Youd agree with that, right? Then why are we so frustrated when we dont get what we want? We take pleasures for granted and are frustrated by the difficulties. Yet we readily admit difficulties are inevitable and pleasures must be worked for. Its totally inconsistent - and the source of most of our bad feelings.So try taking the difficulties for granted instead of the pleasures. Accept them. Love them as challenges that can help you grow. Robert Greene said, With (Amor Fati), you feel that everything happens for a purpose, and that it is up to you to make this purpose something positive and active.Youre on a journey. Your unique journey. Accepting fate sounds like youre about to be executed or something - but it shouldnt. Think about concepts like patriotism or parenthoo d. With these, we know and accept there will be pain and there will be sacrifice but it all serves the greater journey. And we welcome the problems.Everything is not and should not be easy. You can get where you are going, but you need to start here, with your life and its circumstances, whatever they may be. Its not a perfect life, but there is no perfect life. There is only your life. Love it. And rise to the challenges it offers you.(To learn more about the science of a successful life, check out my bestselling book here.)So this all sounds great but next time the printer jams, whats to stop all this fancy philosophy from going right out the window along with your patience?What do we do in the moment when life reminds you you arent in charge and wont be getting everything on your existential Christmas list?Denial and complaining are the enemyAs the old saying goes, If you find yourself in a hole, first, stop digging. Denial of reality is rarely recommended by professionals but o ften employed by most of us. And complaining wastes energy on resistance that could be used toward an effective solution.Our first response to anything bad is usually some version of This should not be happening You can shake your fists in anger and mope around like a surly teenager - or you can speedwalk to acceptance, and get to work fixing things. Heres RyanLamenting, crying, complaining not only do they not make you feel better, they actively make the situation worse. Theyre diverting critical resources. First step is Do No Harm. Im just not going to let my attitude make this worse, by feeling singled out or hurt or whatever. I dont want to trivialize anyones experience, but I would say most of the things that fate deals us are first world problems.Some will complain, But if I just accept everything, Ill be passive and never accomplish anythingAccepting you have a broken leg doesnt mean you dont go to the doctor. It means you dont waste time complaining and dont kid yourself th at youre going jogging tomorrow. And maybe you embrace your reduced mobility by saying this is the perfect time to catch up on reading your favorite blog. (Ahem.) Heres RyanYoure going to come around to some version of acceptance and pragmatism at some point. Theres not really another option. If I throw you in jail, you can deny that youre in jail. For a while. But, the truth is youre in jail. Eventually, youre going to have to come around to the idea of All right, Im in jail. What am I going to do with it?(To learn the secret to never being frustrated again, click here.)Resisting denial and not complaining make sense - but theyre very difficult to do. So what can help?Flash forward to the futureIn the moment, even small frustrations can feel like the end of the world. But if you take a second and realistically think about the future, you know that things are never that bad.Its the worst thing ever and then its not even worth thinking about. Until the next problem, which is the wor st thing ever and then not worth thinking about. Its a silly pattern we repeat endlessly.So think about the future when this disaster will (very likely) be trivial. And get some perspective. Heres RyanPractice the exercise of flashing forward to the future. How will I feel about this with the passage of time? Usually the answer is I wont feel whatever it is so acutely. The loss of a loved one, a breakup, some public embarrassment In five years, are you still going to be mortified, or are you still going to be wracked with grief? Probably not. Thats not saying that you wont feel bad, but youre not going to feel as terrible as you do now. So, why are you punishing yourself?This thing that is the end of the world right now is probably going to end up as a self-deprecating joke you happily tell others. Or maybe it will be an epic story of triumph you brag about. Either way, put it into perspective so you can embrace it and love it for what it will likely become rather than being overwhe lmed by transient unproductive emotions. Heres RyanWe fight desperately against the things that are happening to us as theyre happening. But, then with the benefit of time and hindsight we understand that was nave or foolish. Theres the Churchill line, he says, When tragedy strikes, we never think that it might be saving us from something worse. But, its true. It can always be worse. I think the idea of Amor Fati is stepping back and viewing your own life objectively. Amor Fati is the advice that you would give your friends.The challenges make the story exciting. Your journey cannot be epic without them. So love them not for how you gesangsknstler them now, but for how they will fit into the bigger picture.(To learn the 6 rituals ancient wisdom says will make you happy, click here.)So youre feeling a little better about the gross, horrific injustice that has so unfairly fallen upon you. Now that your head is on straight, how do we resist passivity and move forward toward earthshakin g epic greatness?Treat life as a gameNobody ever started a game saying, I hope there is nothing here that challenges me. And nobody ever reached the second level of a video game saying, I hope the challenges dont increase. Youd be disappointed if they didnt.Welcome the challenges of life instead of clinging to results outside your control that you must have to be happy. Its whack-a-mole but the moles are fati and your whacker is amor. Heres RyanIts like in a game, right? Lets say I throw you into a football game. If you stop and spend all your time arguing over the rules, youre never going play. Maybe it doesnt make sense that the overtime rules are this way or that quarterbacks get special protection, or this or that, right? Theres all these different rules that make no sense that are arbitrarily how the game has developed since its inception. The Stoics are asking you in some ways to accept the arbitrary rules. Then theyre saying you play the game with everything youve got.When I spoke to a Navy SEAL, an Army Ranger and a Special Forces instructor, they all said that reappraising their arduous training as a game - rather than something that would make or break them - was key to getting through it.Life is a game. We can try and fail and try again. Games are fun. Frustrating, at times, but still fun. Life can be the saatkorn way if we welcome its obstacles.(To learn how to be more productive - from the ancient Stoics - click here.)Youre not in denial and youre not complaining. Youre accepting the tough times and treating life like a game. Now how do we bridge that final gap and get to truly loving our fate?Feel gratitude. For the good and the bad.Its not hard to make a case for acceptance and striving. But maybe truly loving the bad moments still feels like a hard sellAnd thats because when bad stuff happens, youre so darn sure youre right. That you have all the answers. That your fuspur of the moment interpretation of this awful situation is objective tru th.But we cant be objective in the moment. We dont yet have the benefit of history. We dont know what this difficulty will mean in the big picture.Missing your flight is enormously frustrating but what if the plane ends up crashing? Frustrating thing not so frustrating anymore, huh? We cant predict the future. So we cant pass final judgment on anything that happens. So welcome the challenge. Be grateful for it. Heres RyanEpictetus says part of the reason youre not grateful is that you see this problem in an unobjective way. You see it as unfair. You see it as impossible to overcome. You see it as any number of these subjective interpretations. No wonder you have trouble feeling grateful.With this attitude, a gratefulness for everything, youre not trapped in the moment. Youre focused on the journey. Your journey. And that perspective not only lightens the burdens of life, it makes you ready to take them on, and happy to do it. Heres RyanAmor Fati translates to a love of fate. Instead of wishing for things to be different, to be better, Robert Greene says, You not only accept them but you love them, you embrace them fully for what they are. And that is the ultimate source of power and strength. A weaker person needs things to be a certain way. The truly unstoppable person loves it all because they can make the most of it.And research consistently shows gratitude is one of the most powerful ways to make yourself happier. So love the hard times. Be grateful for everything in life, instead of being disappointed with the toxikum youve been given.(To learn the 5 questions that will make you emotionally strong, click here.)Okay, weve learned a lot. Lets round it all up and find out how to get started with Amor Fati - even if you dont feel like youre up to itSum upHeres how Amor Fati can make you happyAmor Fati Merely accepting life is not enough. You need the Platinum Pro package. Love every bit of life, good, bad, and ugly. (Yes, that includes traffic.)Denial And Co mplaining Are The Enemy Whatever it is, you will accept it eventually. So sooner is better. And whining is wasted energy. The universe doesnt check its Complaint Box.Flash Forward To The Future Will this still bother you in a month? A year? Then dont let it bother you now.Treat Life As A Game Its no fun if its easy. If your personal story has no conflict, please do me a favor dont tell me your story. Its boring. Do you want a boring life?Feel Gratitude. For The Good And The Bad You dont know what, in the end, will be good or bad. So be grateful for it all. And then work to make the short term bad turn into long term good.Amor Fati is a truly epic concept . But sometimes you dont feel all that epic. I hear you. Again, take the big picture perspective. You truly are stronger than you think. Heres RyanYou come from a long line of people who have beaten the odds. You come from people who survived the plague, who by definition survived World War II and World War I and the Middle Ages and the Dark Ages and the Inquisition and the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. You come from people who crawled out of caves and created civilization. We come from an incredible lineage. But, we often adjudicate that legacy. We think, Oh, Im just this kid from the suburbs. Maybe you literally are, but youre also a child of the frontier or immigration or a survivor of war. Everyone alive right now survived the greatest economic collapse in modern history, which was only a few years ago. I guess my point would be youre stronger than you know.You dont get to make the rules in life but, have no doubt, this is your journey. Your game. There are power-ups if you can find them. And even some cheat codes. But there is no god mode. And Amor Fati teaches us that you wouldnt want to play that way anyway. Really, what fun is that?So when you wake up tomorrow, you may be tired. You may not feel ready for the challenges ahead. But remind yourself Amor Fati. Dont complain. Flash forward to the f uture. Embrace the game. Feel gratitude for it all.That song says, Love the one youre with. Its good advice. But were not talking about romance todayLove the life youre with. Every little bit of it.Join over 320,000 readers. Get a free weekly update via email here.Thisarticleoriginally appeared atBarking Up the Wrong Tree.

Oath of Enlistment for Military Service

Oath of Enlistment for Military ServiceOath of Enlistment for Military ServiceFederal law requires everyone who enlists or re-enlists in the Armed Forces of the United States to take the enlistment oath. The oath of enlistment is administered by any commissioned officer to any person enlisting or re-enlisting for a term of service into any branch of the military. The oath is traditionally performed in front of the United States Flag, and other flags, such as the state flag, military branch flag, and unit guidon may be present as well. Armed Forces Except for the National Guard The military oath of enlistment (re-enlistment) is fairly straightforward for most military personnel. Its administered by a superior officer, and carried out like most traditional oaths, with the officer reading the oath and the person being sworn repeating it. I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and dome stic that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God. Army or Air National Guard The National Guard Oath of service is slightly different since Guard members also have to adhere to the Constitution of the state where theyll perform their duties. I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the State of (STATE NAME) against all enemies, foreign and domestic that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the Governor of (STATE NAME) and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to law and regulations. So help me God. History of the Oath of Enlistment During the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress estab lished different oaths for the enlisted men of the Continental Army. The first oath, voted on 14 June 1775, was part of the act creating the Continental Army. It read I (NAME)have, this day, voluntarily enlisted myself, as a soldier, in the American continental army, for one year, unless sooner discharged And I do bind myself to conform, in all instances, to such rules and regulations, as are, or shall be, established for the government of the said Army. The original wording was effectively replaced by Section 3, Article 1, of the Articles of War approved by Congress on 20 September 1776, which specified that the oath of enlistment read I (NAME) swear (or affirm) to be trueto the United States of America, and to serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies opposers whatsoever and to observe and obey the orders of the Continental Congress, and the orders of the Generals and officers set over me by them. The first oath under the Constitution was approved by Act of Cong ress 29 September 1789 (Sec. 3, Ch. 25, 1st Congress). It applied to all commissioned officers, noncommissioned officers, and privates in the service of the United States. It came in two parts, the first of which read I, A.B., do solemnly swear or affirm (as the case may be) that I will support the constitution of the United States. The second part read I, A.B., do solemnly swear or affirm (as the case may be) to bear true allegiance to the United States of America, and to serve them honestly and faithfully, against all their enemies or opposers whatsoever, and to observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States of America, and the orders of the officers appointed over me. The next section of that chapter specified that the said troops shall be governed by the rules and articles of war, which have been established by the United States in Congress assembled, or by such rules and articles of war as may hereafter by law be established. The 1789 enlistment oath was chan ged in 1960 by amendment to Title 10, with the amendment (and current wording) becoming effective in 1962.

How To Create a Personal Website That Will Help You Find a Job

How To Create a Personal Website That Will Help You Find a JobHow To Create a Personal Website That Will Help You Find a JobSo you decided to apply for that job of your dreams. You know you need to stand out. After all, the competition is going to be fierce.Surely, you could use casual language in your emaille, attach a special video, or send a cake (true story). However, hiring managers rarely welcome such approaches, as they often come across as forced.If youre thinking Oh no, the cake was my best idea Just tell me what to do already.Create a personal website. Why? Because its versatile, useful, mora engaging and evenmore fun.Why is the website a better alternative?56% of all hiring managers are more impressed by a candidates personal website than by any other personal branding tool- however, only 7% of job seekers actually have a personal website. (Forbes)What does that tell you? If you need to sell your brand as an employee, creating a personal website might be the best way to do it.Your name, your story, your experience, your skills, your personality as well as your voice, its all your brand. The time has changed and today, you need to be the marketer of your own story.The thing is, most companies dont look for mediocre employees. They want high achievers, especially in the tech and startup world. These are the people who will help the company grow while also forming its culture. Nobody wants to employ a drifter who would just sit there at their meetings.Yup, brutal, but true, and there is almost nothing you can do about it, only adjust.The best way to let them know youre such a unicorn (or narwhal, or whichever you want) is to give your future employer a proof. You need to demonstrate that youre willing to invest time and effort into everything important you do (such as getting a new job). This way you can prove you approach things differently from other applicants.Okay, now to the really important part. How to achieve that?Have you honigwein AIDA?If you ever had a perspektive to wet your fingers in the marketing waters, youve definitely met AIDA. Im not talking about the opera but about the acronym Attention, Interest, Desire, Action.Marketers tend to see this formula as their holy grail, which may be a bit too much. But it works. So why not use it when creating your personal website? All in all, its purpose is to help you attract the hiring manager enough to invite you over for an interview.Actually, let us talk about this in detail. What is the ultimate goal of a personal website in job search? Though counterintuitive, its not landing on the job itself. Theres just a small chance youll get the job right after the hiring manager lands on your website. Unless they are looking for a freelancer, of course.Your personal websites ultimate goal is to make them invite you to a job interview. Then, and only then, the website has fulfilled its purposeWhen thinking about your personal website, use the marketing AIDA as a guideline. In the e nd, you are becoming the marketing and sales department of YOUR NAME, INC. You have to promote and sell your skills, experience, knowledge, as well as your desire for a new challenge.Now, the AIDA steps seem confusing or not sufficiently self-explanatory. And thats ok. Heres a snapshot of whats behind them in terms of your personal website.Attention Make them listenEven if youre the best of the best for the job, as long as the company doesnt know about you, it means nothing.Therefore your first goal is to attract the attention of the hiring managers. How?You spot a job posting. It says you should send them your CV and cover letter. Do it, even though you have a website to which you can point them. You dont want your potential employer to see how slack you are when you cant meet such a basic requirement as attaching your resume.However, the email, that first contact, is precisely your chance to impress.Your goal is to point out that you have a personal website. That fact alone says a lot. It means the company is worth it, it proves youre fully committed to getting that job and youve put time and effort into the process. It will let them know youre willing to go one step further than most.With a well-written copy, your goal is to direct the recruiter to your website. Once they click it, your chances of getting a job skyrocket. Still, its just the first step.Interest Make them want to know moreOnce the recruiter lands on your website, you need to have a great introduction, clear structure and give the best first impression. You want to hook them up and not let go. Even more, you want them to want to know more about you. Try to inspire genuine interest. To achieve that, have a powerful landing page konzept. Powerful does not mean complicated, oversaturated with pictures, lines, objects, and so on. Simple can still be powerful.Not really a design person? No worries. Your websites content matters more than its looks, in most cases. If you have excellent skills and e xperience to show, it goes a much longer way than just sexy aesthetics.Short introduction or bio is the most important part of the landing page. Make sure you dont overdo it, a few short paragraphs will suffice. Who are you? What do you know? What is your current role? What value can you provide? What are you looking for? Whats your life philosophy and maybe what hobbies do you have?This is more than enough to help the recruiter decide whether your application is worth pursuing or not.As a student who doesnt have enough experience, you might also mention what are you career aspirations for the future. Are you a Finance student? Say youre an aspiring investment banker.On the other hand, say only so much that the hiring manager would want to know more about you and your experience. Be it several words or two to three paragraphs, introduction needs to make them interested.Desire Make them want you in their teaOnce you get them hooked, recruiters are going to want to see a proof of your claims and specific results. Thats an excellent opportunity for you to showcase your strongest qualities.One of the crucial features of your personal website is personal tone. Show your personality. In the end, you want to become their colleague. They want to know who you are. Of course, you still want to maintain a certain level professionalism.You also want to describe specific challenges you faced and how you tackled them. Dont forget to also mention any successful side-projects you initiated to support your community. Dont state your love for design. Explain how you used design thinking in solving a particular problem.Results Give them resultsBe prepared to back each of your claims by specific examples. Did you manage to increase sales by 50%? Great Mention it and dont forget to explain how. Did you manage to invite any big names to a conference you organized? Provide a brief explanation.List all of your relevant jobs, internships, workshops, certificates, courses, even your ow n hobby projects. Yup, they can also help you land on the job. Dont forget to use any keywords that fit the job description. But if youve read our guide on how to tailor your resume to a specific job description, you already know this.Action Dont let them stay coldHaving passed each of the previous stages, youre on your best way to get invited to the interview. Youve managed to attract the hiring managers attention and proved youd be a great fit for their company.Now you need give them time to think about it. This is a simple, yet crucial step. The chances theyll come back are very high. Keep your contact information on the screen at all times.If not the email address itself, at the very least have a link to the contact subpage visible at all times. That way youll let them take action in an instant, as soon as the idea of contacting you crosses their mind.Actually, the sole purpose of your website should be this last stage of getting in touch with you. Ready to unleash the power of a personal website? But first, lets cover some of the most frequent questions that ran through your mind while reading the piece.Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat URL should I choose?Heres the deal. Youre promoting yourself, so use FirstNameSecondName.com (or the domain name of your country). That is, unless you really want to showcase a specific skill, experience, or a niche. Or unless your name is taken by someone else. An investment banker? Okey, might be good to go with YourFutureInvestmentBanker.com. A journalist focused on tech? TechWriter.io can work too.Be careful, though, about search engines and SEO. Better to do some research in advance.One page vs multiple pages?Depends. Single-pagers are more fluid and user-friendly. The visitor can simply scroll down and get the whole picture in one go. If you want to have a simple portfolio or resume website, this might be the way to go. Also, theyre more mobile-friendly.As opposed to that, multi-page websites are usually more trusted an d can accommodate a lot more information. Are you a designer who wants to showcase your full portfolio as well as his story and client testimonials? Multi-pager is your weapon of choice. What if I am not a designer/copywriter?Sure youre not. A vast majority of population works in other professions. Does it mean you have less chance to shine before your next employer? Come on, certainly not. You just need to put more work into it (research and study, if you have time) or pay someone to do that (freelancer portals, if you have money).Yet, even if you dont write the copy yourself, keep in mind you need to make sure it has your voice and the structure youd like hiring managers to see.Shall I mention failed projects?This a hard one. It varies from job description to job description. Generally its better to showcase only your successes and good results. In case the company is looking for entrepreneurial-oriented person with experience or sales guy, it might come in handy to mention you ha d your own company, which raised money from investors even though you had to close it eventually. What proves entrepreneurial spirit better than a failed business (not talking about scam companies, but you know that already, right?).Can I just copy my CV onto the website?No. Noo. Nooooo. No way. No. Not at all. Nada. Never. (Asking why? Read the part about showing your future employer you can put effort into things.)What are some of the best platforms to use for creating a simple personal website?If you dont feel like building a standalone website with hosting and WordPress, you can use template-based platform. One of them is truly yours Kickersumes personal website builder, which you definitely want to check out.Shall I use a professional photo?Yes. Yet it doesnt mean it has to be photographed by a professional photographer, nor you having to be neutral or boring.. Go with the flow of the website and your profession. If a creative professional, go more leisure. A banker or lawyer? A shirt or suit might go a long way.What if my job is not that attractive to be presented on a website?Each and every job is attractive to be presented online. It just depends on your approach. Even planetary scientists can have jaw-dropping websites. Get it?The ultimate Dont-Forget-About-This-Before-Launching-Your-Personal-Website ChecklistDo I want to set up a website on my own or use a personal website creator?What URL do I want to use?Is the URL free? If not, how can I adjust it?Did I buy the hosting with the domain?Can I set up the website from a technical point of view or do I need help?What do I want to tell about myself?What tone do I want to have?How the design should look like?Do I want to have a scrolling one-pager or several pages?What should be the first information and picture on my homepage?How do I want to present myself? Text-only, graphics, infographics, video, combined, etc.?What graphics do I want to use? Illustrations, stock photos, personal photos, etc.Can I an d do I want to create the design by myself? If not, who can help?Can I and do I want to write the copy myself? If not, who can help?Do I want to have a blog page?Do I really want to have a blog page? Am I aware it needs to be updated regularly?When did I last update my website? Did I update it (eg with the right keywords) before sending out my application email?Share Your Feedback or Ideas in the Comments

The 4 principles for overcoming the biggest challenge of your life

The 4 principles for overcoming the biggest challenge of your lifeThe 4 principles for overcoming the biggest challenge of your lifeWithin each day, each moment of life, each challenge, adversity and mistake, theres something to be won. Everything we categorize or think of as a loss can be converted into a win. The magic of life is about self-discovery Its our job to find the wins, to recognize the opportunities for personal growth and to move forward wiser, more self-aware and better prepared for the next battle.If we focus and concentrate, using the power of our minds, well begin the process of overcoming the things that hold us back. Well start to embrace the battles and view them as part of a longer journeyone that will take us to highs, lows and everything in between. Everything Ive learned in my business career and personal life has taught me that equanimity is the fruchtwein important unspoken truth of life.The moment that we allow life to drag us down, thinking that theres so me indefinite time period before we can recover, is the moment that we surrender our free will. Successful businesswomen like Sheryl Sandberg have used adversity to their advantage repeatedly and have moved forward with brilliance and grace.Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran overcame a major stuttering problem as a child to become one of the most successful recording artists on the planet. Remarkable that someone who struggled with stuttering could wow so many people with the power of his voice. Sheeran refused to give up.Basketball star LeBron James never gets too high after a big game, and never believes anything is too challenging. In the 16th year of his long, storied career, he has been pressed to his physical limits and yet again, finds himself competing as the best player in the world. Hes lost six times in the NBA Finals. But he keeps coming back for more.Its why hes a champion and one of the greatest players to ever live.The battles that count arent the ones for gold medals. The struggles within yourself, the invisible, inevitable battles inside all of us, thats where its at. JesseOwensWinning the battle takes extra effort and more than we thought possible. But its there if we want it. We must accept the challenge and we must do so with a spirit of courage that embraces risk. If youre not willing to risk, if you just want to play things conservatively and hope for the best, youll be sorely disappointed. The conservative route is a losers strategy, and yet so many people think minimizing risk in ventures is the right way to play.The battle within is triggered by external stimuli. We either react to what comes at us or take up the gauntlet and start attacking life proactively with a winners mindset. If you sit there and wait all the time, life begins to consume you. The struggle to be successful in your career starts to feel overwhelming every time you let up and think you can coast by.Your relationships begin to flounder when you stop working for them and th ink that everyone should come to you and things will work out all right. Life is a contact sport and you must be willing to compete and battle for what completes you. This means mastering your emotional and mental abilities through a mindset geared toward continuous improvement.To be at peace mentally and emotionally, we often need to be at peace spiritually. This meanswe have to accept life for what it is, to acknowledge things at face value, then do our best to influence and impact how we want to change things so they will align with our truthour imagination and purpose. It is this vision and purpose that must guide us to win the battle within.4 Ways to Win Your BattleWithin1. Build in time for self-reflectionSuccessful people who live boldly and joyfully are great thinkers. They dont suffer from paralysis by analysis, but rather they spend time in deep thought about how they want to design their lives. They think of traps to avoid, they have an excellent memory which steels them against repeating future mistakes. They overcome negative thinking with optimism and hope.I recommend dedicating a minimum of 15-minutes daily to thinking of all that youre facing right now in your life. You wont be able to solve all your problems in 15 minutes, but you will know what youre up against. Youll be able to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for each part of your day and youll become more resilient for approaching new and old obstacles.2. Find the environment that will enable you to clear yourmindWhat distributionspolitik works for you? Does it help you to meditate or find time in solitude in the confines of your own home? Is it in a public space like the library? Is it a church or house of worship? Maybe you need to get out in nature, disengage, unplug and find your inner-voice. We all need peace if were going to be great warriors against the things that threaten to derail us.I encourage you to find a place where you can think clearly and passionately.There is an amazing power getting to know your inner self and learning how to use it and not fight with the world. If you know what makes you happy, your personality, interests and capabilities, just use them, and everything else flows beautifully.JuhiChawla3. Bucket your worries and anxious thoughts into categoriesWhen you struggle long enough with anxious thoughts and fears, you come to a fork in the road. You either do something about it, or you become complacent. Remember thisaction is always better than inaction. Compose a list of all your worries and anxious thoughts. Once you have these in one place, begin bucketing them out and categorizing them.This simple act of shining a light on what affects us mentally and emotionally is vital in helping us develop a winners mindset. What do I mean? When youre able to isolate and highlight the things that threaten you, youre better able to analyze and target ways to overcome them. You can dismiss some thoughts as unfitting of your time and move on .Some of our biggest worries or concerns seem very trivial when we open them up to the light.4. GamePlanUltimately, you have to do the work. Better organization leads to better results. Become skilled at planning and executing off the plan you set for yourself. To win the battle you must know your enemies. And you must learn how to defeat them. Kindness, perseverance, gratitude, humility and hard work are all great values that will help you.Having a plan is a tremendous safeguard against down times and bad thoughts. This game plan will lift your spirits and keep you pointed in the direction to keep fighting on for a new day.This article first appeared on Medium.

Goldman Sachs Announces New CEO

Goldman Sachs Announces New CEOGoldman Sachs Announces New CEOToday, after the column went live, Goldman Sachs board of directors called a double-secret emergency meeting on a bare beam thirty-four floors above ground inside the firms still-in-construction new Manhattan headquarters (hardhats required) and deliberated for just four minutes and forty-four seconds, deciding to replace current chief Lloyd Not Doing So Blankfein with a man named Sidney Fincher, a relatively unknown financier with a penchant for wearing yak-fur hats and just a single wing tip.*In other news, Bank of America is boosting headcount overseas, particularly in emerging markets, hoping to expand operations outside the U.S. and create a world banking power. Bobby McCann, the new head of UBS Wealth Management Americas, has given great green hope to his brokers by shaving support staff, forming a leaner and meaner money-making machine. And brde but definitely not least, hedge fund manger$ killed it last year.*For m ore fiction, check out these five credit-crunch-related novels, reviewed in the Times Online.

The Top Secret Truth About Resume Cheat Sheet Revealed

The Top Secret Truth About Resume Cheat Sheet Revealed The Honest to Goodness Truth on Resume Cheat Sheet Resume is a kind of document employed by individuals that are seeking for employment. You must invest time into each application and be sure that your resume is tailored to every employer and the job which youre applying to. Resume objectives can be somewhat controversial. Resume objectives are from time to time thought to be the old schooltype of resume. Featuring only the experience and techniques that mirror the job demands of the position youre seeking can continue to keep the length in check. Domestic inventory markets prolonged positive variables to a 2nd straight session amid optimistic foreign cues. Try to remember, once you are job seeking, take a look at your actions in an objective method. If youre attempting to obtain work in accounting or finance you require averystrong resume. Whats Really Happening with Resume Cheat Sheet If youre searching for a deeper dive into the intricacies of developing a great resume, have a look at our other resume tips and resources. The above mentioned tips should provide help. This comprehensive guide will offer advanced strategies and take you step by step on the best way to land an internship even if you dont have an idea on where to get started The templates are supposed to be a guide to begin, but it must be expanded on to make it your own. If you need assistance figuring out the way to do so, have a look at our office worker resume samples and expert writing tips. For more ideas about how to strengthen your program, take a look at our education and teaching resumes. Whether youre searching for your very first job or your next one, you will need a resume that shows employers that youre a skilled professional. Unique kinds of work in the food service industry require resumes with a number of the exact skills. Write down everything you can think about, even if it appears small or insignificant. Its a lot easier to do stuff once you slept enough. fruchtwein folks look at writing a resume as just something youve got to do to have a job. Do the exact same stuff in the identical purchase. In case you have, make certain its mentioned. Again, although the information might seem repetitive, go right ahead and attach the resume. Speaking of unique, the main purpose of your resume is to make you stick out from the remainder of the folks applying for equal job and another means to create that happen is to use action verbs and power words (also called resume verbs). Thus it is crucial for any candidate gearing up for his dream job to experience a number of content that are already offered. Theres no greater opportunity to demonstrate your creativity than by employing a different word or phrasing. Approaching work search with a terrible attitude will just lead to poor excellent work on your part. The Resume Cheat Sheet Chronicles Take a look at our information technology res ume samples for some tips about how to present yourself as the ideal candidate. A new field of business was resume, which coo require new, higher speed coo so as to get the financial result in plus-rechnen to meet customer expectations of deliverables. Maybe you will even be providing services to the folks who make the goods. Adhering to this cheat sheets tips wont only clarify which type of information to include in the numerous pieces of your resume, but in addition tell why you must include it and how. Whatever They Told You About Resume Cheat Sheet Is Dead Wrong...And Heres Why Creative While its important to get a professional resume, sometimes just a little creativity and innovation is acceptable. Include numbers when you are able to. Meta descriptions enable you to influence the way your web pages are described and displayed in search success. If youre interested in an infographic format, below are some infographic samples to check out. To find some formatting sugge stions for your resume, take a look at our samples. Below, you will discover a list of resume examples that could aid you with your work search. Correct word selection can be far more important than you believe. There was a time every time a proper Resume meant a review of the academic achievements. Writing a resume for employment in the art industry can be difficult. Resume Cheat Sheet at a Glance Take a look at our samples to get a better idea about what makes a good customer service resume and discover out what it requires to land your dream job. The very best part was I landed a new job in only a month or two This infographic consists of all you need to understand about producing an impressive resume. Locate a different means to express your skill collection.

Infographic Quiz Are Your Candidates Naughty or Nice

Infographic Quiz Are Your Candidates Naughty or NiceIts the holiday season again, which means gathering with friends and family to make spirits bright. Before you start eating your candy canes or hang your garland, remember the holidays can be a great time to find the right person to fill your open positions. But with the tough economy and so many resumes, both traditional and video, flying into your inbox it can be hard to discover the top talent.When recruiting during the holidays, it can sometimes be difficult to tell if the candidate sitting across from you in the video einstellungsgesprch is the perfect person for the position. Will your candidate be a great helper or a lump of coal in your companys stocking? Using the helpful quiz in this infographic, you can easily see if your candidate belongs on the naughty or nice list. The holidays come but once a year, but if you hire a bad candidate youll be stuck with them 365. So make sure your candidate is a great gift for your compan y, not a curse.Check out the infographic on these great outletsThe Undercover RecruiterRecruiter.comThe Recruiters LoungeCome RecommendedInfographic JournalTribeHRSmallBizDailyNerd GraphDoes your candidate belong on the naughty or nice list? Share in the comments

How to Impress Employers With Online Courses

How to Impress Employers With Online CoursesHow to Impress Employers With Online CoursesThe world of work is changing faster than ever before, whether because of technology, automation or globalization. So, people need to keep up, says Dennis Yang, CEO of Udemy. Hes right.In todays economy, virtually nothing is done the way it was 20, 10 or even five years ago. And that applies to the way we learn as well. If you are unemployed, taking online courses and gaining certifications can be an inexpensive way to demonstrate that you possess the initiative to keep yourself up-to-date. Companies, such as Udemy, Coursera and LinkedIns Lynda, are among the major players in the diverse, growing and still-being-defined territory of online learning. Each has a different payment model and platform type. But they offer viable ways for you to learn a new skill, konzept or master a piece of software, figure out how to begin a business and more. Yang calls Udemy a platform, but it serves as a marketpla ce where whoever desires to create a course can sell it to anyone with interest. Consequently, its offerings are huge, with more than 35,000 courses taught in more than 80 languages. Up to 2,000 courses are added every month for its 9 million customers all over the world.https//blog.coursera.org/post/129636349192/coursera-study-shows-positive-career-and? With virtually no barriers for instructors or standardized levels of teaching professionalism, presentation style and instructor quality naturally varies. But on the positive side, people are quick to pick up on emerging technologies and create cutting-edge courses that keep pace with todays ever-changing needs. Chances are that youll find the new and the next on Udemy before anywhere else. Coursera partners with the best universities in 26 countries to help them create online courses for the public, says Daphne Koller, CEO of Coursera. Anyone can take a course for free, but if you want to document that youve mastered the content, y ou will pay a small fee for participating in the certificate track. She says that the company offers well over 1,000 courses with high content value.Lynda, which creates and curates its own courses, was recently purchased by LinkedIn. You can find Lynda and its more than 4,200 courses on LinkedIns Interests menu under Online Learning. Currently, you can get a trial subscription for free, but then youll have to select one of its paid getier memberships to gain access to courses covering technical skills, creative techniques, business strategies, and more.lynda.com/? These various online platforms offer a plethora of knowledge and skill enhancement that can make you better at the job you have or help you obtain the job you want. For example, on the subject of spreadsheets, youll find courses on everything from an introduction to Excel to extremely technical lessons for legal and Wall Street pros dealing with complex mergers and acquisitions and real estate transactions. Typically, onc e you purchase a course for a relatively small amount of money, you can either download it or have online access for life. Many have additional sample files that are utilized by the instructor throughout the course, or which will be valuable afterward. How do we know the value of online learning? Coursera surveyed 52,000 people who completed its courses and found that, among learners who identified career advancement as a primary motivation, 87 percent reported career benefits and 33 percent reported substantial benefits, such as receiving a pay raise, earning a promotion, starting a new job or launching a new business.https//blog.coursera.org/post/129636349192/coursera-study-shows-positive-career-and?With such a diversity of platforms, offering wide-ranging skill and knowledge-building courses, its clear that online learning should be one of the arrows job hunters have in their quivers when targeting their next career move. Happy hunting

How to Conduct a Long Distance Job Search

How to Conduct a Long Distance Job Search How to Conduct a Long Distance Job Search The world has seen an increasing shift towards globalization. The market for job seekers however, appears to have been left behind during this shift. The time when a college graduate would find a company and settle in for 20+ years is gone. With the shift towards globalization, it comes as no surprise that employees want to change jobs- and locations- frequently. Despite how increasingly common it is for job seekers to be in search of a role in a location different than their current one, the process is often very frustrating and complicated.If youre looking to re-locate and hoping to find a job in your new location before you arrive, consider unterstellung helpful tips on how to conduct your long distance job search.Before You Begin Your Job SearchLearn about the city nothing is worse than launching a full scale job search in the city of your dreams, only to realize your dreams were not founded in re ality. Take the time to research the area that you are interested in relocating to you may discover that youre not a fan of the weather, culture, vibe, traffic or any number of other geographically dependent factors.Develop a relocation budget its important to know how much your move will cost, both so that you can prepare and to determine whether or not youll need to negotiate a relocation budget. Many employers do not offer relocation packages to candidates so putting together a rough estimate of how much youll need to cover the cost of moving your furniture, transporting your family, any lease termination fees you may occur if youre breaking a contract early, future move-in costs (including the deposit and the first months rent), and the qualifikation cost of vacancy if you plan to rent out your current home.Create a timeline having a clear understanding of your timeline for moving can help you determine when to begin job searching and scheduling visits. If your move is pre-deter mined by a spouse or partners job, youll likely have a firm date by which you have to move. Plan to begin job searching at least 3 months before that date. If your move is contingent upon finding a job, begin searching as soon as youve tied up any loose ends that would prevent you from moving if you landed a job within the new couple of weeks.Determine job opportunities certain locations lend themselves better to jobs in a specific field or industry. If youre looking for a tech job, youre more likely to have success in Seattle or San Francisco than you are in Memphis. Do a couple of quick searches to see the volume of positions that match your skill set in your desired location. If the volume is thin, you may have to expand your search to nearby areas or reconsider your location choice.Make a list of target employers another way to approach a job search, especially early on in your career when youre not locked into a niche, is to target companies youd like to work for, rather than s eek out specific roles. If youre just looking for roles within a broad category, such as absatzwirtschaft or Legal, begin compiling a list of the major companies and employers located in your future city. This way you can check all the company websites frequently and scan for any open roles within your desired department(s).During Your Job SearchGet creative with your address one of the major hurdles to job searching long distance is the lack of a local address. Employers will usually prioritize a local candidate over a relocation candidate if their skill sets and experience are similar. Most will even use their applicant tracking system (ATS) to automatically screen out candidates with non-local zip codes. Luckily there are several ways to address thisLeave your address off your resume altogether. If youre submitting resumes electronically or posting them on job boards, you can usually get away with only listing a phone number and email address. Your resume is more likely to slip t hrough the ATS filters without a zip code at all than one from a different state.Borrow a local friend or relatives address to list on your resume. While its a little dishonest to list an address where you dont actually reside, listing a local address can often get you in the door and begin a conversation. In the initial phone screen, the recruiter or hiring manager may confirm that you live in the area or ask if youve recently relocated (since most people include the location of their previous jobs on their resume). In these cases, honesty is usually the best policy. The hope is that once the employer is interested in hiring you, discovering youre a relocation candidate will not deter them from continuing the interview process.Put a statement at the top of your resume that states your intent to relocate to City, State. The appearance of the city and state name may help you appear in ATS searches run by the recruiter or hiring manager, and will help make your intention to move clear . If youre moving because your partner needs to relocate for a job to that area, it can be helpful to clearly state in your intention statement that your family will be moving to City, State on Date and youre looking for positions in that area.Look at career pages on local colleges/universities while these resources are usually designed for graduating students, they can be a great starting point. Even if the jobs listed are not a good fit for your skill set or are too junior, you can get an idea of which companies exist in the area and launch your search on those company websites. You may even be able to get a name and phone number for a contact person within the company and use it to get your resume in front of a recruiter or hiring manager.Network, network, network as with any job search, networking is critical. While networking is harder from afar, technology makes it possible. Use Linkedin to research and find individuals within your network that currently live and work in the a rea where you want to move. Use individuals in your existing network to get an introduction to 2nd and 3rd degree connections that dont already know but want to connect with. If you will be in the area where youre looking to move, set up coffee meetings in advance of your trip with any individuals who are willing to speak with you about the local job scene.If youre able to connect with any hiring managers within companies that you are interested in, ask for an informal interview the next time youre in town. Use it as an opportunity to introduce yourself and learn more the company. In the event that a future opportunity opens up within the company, youll be one step ahead of your competition before you even submit your resume.Put your resume online put your address on job boards and indicate clearly on your profile that youre looking for jobs in the City, State where you are moving. Recruiters often use job boards to source candidates having your resume up on job boards allows recrui ters to contact you if youre a good fit for a position.Long distance job searching can be tiring and stressful, however, the end result is often an exciting new job opportunity. Taking the time to research and conduct a through job search, even from afar, can help minimize the stress and increase your odds of success.

Cut these Filler Phrases from your Resume

Cut these Filler Phrases from your Resume Cut these Filler Phrases from your Resume The Filler: “References Available Upon Request” This stock phrase contributes nothing to your resume. The human resources department already knows that you have references; more often than not, you’ll be asked to include their names and contact information on your application. Even if you don’t have to supply your references up front, you’ll certainly be asked for them if you make it past the initial interview. The Fix: All this tired phrase does is occupy valuable space, so cut it. Remember, you’ve only got one page to “wow” a hiring manager. Every line counts. The Filler: A Redundant Objective Job search experts are already divided on the usefulness of the objective statement. It can be a good way to introduce yourself and emphasize the statements you made in your cover letter, or it can be a colossal waste of time and space. The worst thing you can do when crafting an objective is to start with the phrase, “I am seeking a job/career/position….” The hiring manager has already figured this out because you applied for the job. Like the stock phrase above, a redundant objective wastes prime resume real estate. The Fix: Replace the standard objective with an executive summary. An executive summary shows why you’re the best candidate for the job by highlighting your professional experience and accomplishments. Be specific and use dynamic language. The Filler: Vague Descriptors Online dating profiles- resumes for singles- are rife with claims that the person is “laid back” with “a good sense of humor.” Resumes are often stuffed full of similar filler. Vague phrases like “team player,” “strong work ethic,” and “detail oriented,” don’t add any value to your resume. Hiring managers have seen them so many times that they have become clichéd. Statements like “I have more than [X] years of experience” or “I assisted with” do nothing to demonstrate your talents. The Fix: Creative writers are often told “Show, don’t tell.” The same maxim applies to writing a winning resume. Replace vague descriptions with active statements. Instead of saying that you’re a team player, describe a situation where you lead a team to meet a specific goal. Swap out “strong work ethic” for examples of your productivity. Use quantifiable, real-world illustrations of your work. The Filler: Trendy Buzzwords The flipside of vague phrases are the overly specific buzzwords that sound impressive but mean nothing. While some managers might respond favorably to “proactive” or “benchmark,” others will be unconvinced by your jargon. Describing yourself as a “results-driven professional with bottom-line orientation and demonstrated throughput” is just dressing up “I have a good work ethic” in fancier clothes. Overuse of buzzwords can be a red flag for hiring managers that you may be concealing a lack of real experience with a smokescreen of corporate-speak. In this tough job market, you have to immediately prove your worth. The Fix: Replace generic buzzwords with specific keywords from the vacancy notice. Whether your resume is being reviewed by an overworked hiring manager or a computer program, these keywords can help your resume get through the initial screening process. If you think of yourself as a secretary but the job posting is for an executive assistant, tweak your resume accordingly. The more closely the wording of your resume mirrors the vacancy notice, the more likely you are to get called for an interview.Master the art of closing deals and making placements. Take our Recruiter Certification Program today. We're SHRM certified. Learn at your own pace during this 12-week program. Access over 20 courses. Great for those who want to break into recruiting, or recruiters who want to further their career.

Sales Resume Template 2018s Top Format

Sales Resume Template â€" 2018’s Top Format Sales Resume Template - 2018’s Top Format Create ResumeAshton Ryder100 Main Street, Cityplace, CA, 91019Home: (555) 322-7337Cell: (555) 322-7337example-email@example.comAreas of ExpertiseInside salesOutside salesVast tire knowledgeSales trainingAuto repairTire service techPeople skillsWork ExperienceKauffman Tire July 2012 to July 2013 Outside sales repLockbourne, OhioIn charge of all of the accounts in my name and had all the duties of taking care of their every need, finding and earning new accounts and always looking for ways to increase sales/profit. Due to my skills, experience, and versatility I was also able to help the inside sales reps do their job, along with the delivery drivers and warehouse associates when needed.Kauffman Tire September 2011 to July 2012 Inside sales repLockbourne, OhioTook phone calls and orders, took care of inputing all transfers of product, and made out bound phone calls to sell product. Also took care of any inbound accounting issues not sent to our support center/home office. I also wo rked along side the outside sales reps to give them new ideas and help them get new business and make more sales. When ever we had a contest or my boss asked us to hit a certain number I always seemed to come out ahead.Kauffman Tire February 2011 to September 2011 warehouse associate / Delivery driverLockbourne, OhioLoaded and unloaded trucks, consolidated product to make room for new product and did the routine in a schedule style manor to make the warehouse run more efficient and smoothly. Also I took on some of the roles of the manager and assistant manager like shipping and receiving, opening and doing call backs on applications for employment when either manager needed help or was gone. When a morning delivery driver would call off I was the one that covered for them. Starting May 2011 along side the warehouse duties I was an afternoon delivery driver where I came to know all the customers that when I became an outside sales rep I became their sales rep.NTB July 2010 to Febr uary 2011 Tire techLockbourne, Ohioduties included tire repairs oil changes and tire mounting and balancing. I also did other basic repairs like batteries, wipers, and bulbs.Mr Tire May 2009 to July 2010 General service techPickerington, OhioStarted out doing tire repairs, mounting and balancing, oil changes, bulbs, and batteries. By the end of employment I was doing all that plus disc brake jobs, alignments, tie rod ends, and wheel bearings. This is the job where it all started and I learned a lot of repair knowledge to take with me to other jobs.EducationPickerington high school north 2008 High School Diploma: Architecture and Engineering Pickerington , Ohio, USA4 years experience with many tools and 1.5 years of auto cad in Architecture.Customize ResumeMore Sales Resume Templates

Behavioral Interviewing Reinvented

Behavioral Interviewing Reinvented Behavioral Interviewing Reinvented Behavioral Interviewing Reinvented Kennedy Can a successful but static business practice gradually lose its effectiveness? In the case of behavioral interviewing a technique that predicts on-the-job performance far more accurately than other interview methods the answer is yes. Behavioral interviewing is based on the premise that how a job candidate behaved in the past is the best predictor of how he will behave in the future. To elicit such information, a behavioral interviewer first identifies the skills or competencies necessary for a particular position (for example, decision making, persuasion skills, and problem-solving ability) and then uses a series of probing questions to reveal whether candidates actually possess those qualities. Rather than simply asking transparent interview questions about what candidatesdid in their jobs, behavioral interviewers ask candidates how and why they did it. This approach is extremely effective at identifying unqualified applicants or those who tend to exaggerate in interviews and on their resumes. The result is that more of the most competent and best-qualified candidates get hired. Unfortunately, the behavioral interview has become a victim both of its own success and the fact that hiring practices have changed since the technique was developed 30 years ago. Traditional behavioral interview questions are predictable and often overly structured, and a virtual industry now exists solely to coach prospective candidates on how to prepare for them. In fact, many candidates routinely invent examples of behavior before their interviews, or spin out prepared examples in real time in response to predictable questions. That means that behavioral interview questions are no longer as effective or useful as they once were. But the behavioral interview can regain its effectiveness. Here are just a few of the suggestions we offer: Use a Process of Discover: Rather than resorting to predictable, structured questions, use interview questions that are especially geared to each candidate when you hear answers that need follow-up. Clarify what you hear until you feel satisfied that youre seeing the real person. Take Time to Get the Complete Picture: Its important to know the combination of a candidates strengths and limitations. The competencies youre looking for dont stand alone; they need to be considered in relation to all of a candidates qualities. For example, someone who has strong analytical skills can lose much of that advantage if he is not also decisive. Dont Just Rely on Questions That Prompt for Specific Examples: This makes it more likely your interview questions will inadvertently telegraph or reveal the response youre looking for and makes it easier for candidates to respond with prepared answers. Competencies that emerge naturally from the interview are more powerful and believable than requested or prompted examples of competencies. Seek Repeated Evidence That Shows a Pattern of Behavior: This is far stronger than a single example and requires you to cover multiple jobs or time periods. Drill Down for Specific Details with Every Story You Hear: Dont focus the interview process on just on the candidates version; also ask how knowledgeable coworkers would describe the same event. When candidates claim results from what they did, ask for specific metrics and probe for further details. Ask What the Candidate Learned from Past Experiences: This reveals the capacity to grow in a job and helps confirm the authenticity of claimed accomplishments. Going beyond the original behavioral interviewing techniques isnt necessarily complicated or difficult. But it does require a different way of thinking about each interview and a recognition that business practices must keep pace with a changing marketplace. Users of behavioral interview techniques need to stay ahead of sophisticated and well-coached candidates, today and in the future. Author Bio Jim Kennedy, founder and President of Management Team Consultants, is a recognized authority on selection interviewing. Management Team Consultants offers leading edge competency-based interviewing seminars which address current issues such as interviewing todays diverse workforce.For over twenty-five years, his company has helped hundreds of organizations make better hiring decisions, build retention and reduce costly hiring mistakes. Kennedy is the author of Getting Behind the Resume Interviewing Todays Candidates.

Job Search Social Media Tricks You Need to Know

Job Search Social Media Tricks You Need to Know Job Search Social Media Tricks You Need to Know 6When it comes to social media and job searching, there are now some well-established ground rules: Job seekers need to have professional social media profiles. Job seekers should have a profile on LinkedIn for networking. Those are the bare necessities. But there are some more  interesting tips and social media tricks to make your job search social media efforts truly worthwhile. And that’s what we’re covering here today. If, like many job seekers, you’ve cleaned up your Facebook account, created a basic LinkedIn profile, and maybe dabbled a little in tweeting, it’s enticing to take the passive approach. Sit back and wait to see what happens. But this approach almost guarantees that nothing will happen, and the lack of results makes people swear that job searching with social media just doesn’t work for them. Here’s where our tips come in. The following five  job search social media tricks will take your efforts from passive to active. And you’ll actually start to see results- engaging more with recruiters and employers, finding more job leaders, and keeping in better contact with your professional network. 5  Job Search Social Media Tricks You Need to Know 1. Start engaging with people and companies. Terri Rutter writes on Northeastern University’s alumni blog that it’s not enough to quietly read social media posts from the people and companies you admire. If you want to work for them, you’ve got to interact with them, too! “Social media is the new cocktail party- everyone is there, and anyone can talk to almost anyone,” Rutter writes. “Follow or like organizations and individuals you’re interested in, and engage with their posts: like what they post, respond and ask thoughtful questions, share and repost.” I’ve been doing this more in my own professional social media pursuits, specifically on Twitter, and I’m amazed at who’s responded to my tweets. So put yourself out there- tweet a smart message to a recruiter at one of your top company choices, or congratulate a company on a new achievement. Ask a thoughtful question of a company’s manager, and see what happens. And yes, if you tweet at me, I will respond! 2. Showcase work projects and accomplishments with LinkedIn bling. LinkedIn has a lot of newer, flashier features for your profile. Hannah Morgan at Career Sherpa calls these options bling because they make your LinkedIn profile richer. Morgan writes, “Your LinkedIn profile can support embedded files and media. This means that you can upload PowerPoint, Excel, and Word files under a job in your ‘Experience’ section.” And with documents like that, your experience section gets a whole lot more interactive and visual. It’s more likely to leave an impression in an employer’s mind. Heres what to look for if you want to add media to your LinkedIn profile: Morgan suggests, “One idea is to show samples of your work to prove you have the necessary skills for future jobs. Better yet, add video or pictures to your summary to highlight your career successes.” 3. Ask for and offer recommendations. Another great feature LinkedIn offers is the recommendations section of your profile. People you’ve worked with (peers and superiors) can leave quick blurbs that sing your praises, and you can do the same for them. If you’re currently working, you might suggest a “recommendation swap” with your coworkers, where you each write positive recommendations for each other. Choose your recommenders wisely, so that you’re sure they will write positive things about you. But more so because you need to be able to write something positive about them! Another way to ask for recommendations is to write a recommendation for someone on LinkedIn first. Choose someone you’re connected to and  worked with closely enough to merit a recommendation. When viewing their profile, scroll down to the recommendation section where a button asks you, “Would you like to recommend this person?” When they receive notice of your recommendation, they’ll be asked if they’d like to return the favor, and hopefully your kind words have encouraged them to do just that! 4. Use information from social media to show companies you’re paying attention. Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn are particularly well-suited to help you keep up with industry and company happenings. At the very least, follow all of the companies to which you’ve applied for jobs. This way, you’ll see messages and receive notifications when they post something new. Whenever you see a bit of news or information to celebrate with that company, use it as an excuse to reach back out to them. Email the hiring manager or recruiting contact to let them know you’re still interested in the position and that you saw the company received an award, launched a new product, or did something else newsworthy. This shows that you’re paying attention, and that your application  is worth a second look. 5. Find recruiters names and contact info through social media. One of the most common job search tips is: Always try to find a real person to contact when submitting an application, rather than just sending it “to whom it may concern and into an online applicant tracking system. But it can be really difficult to find the right person’s contact information. Try these steps for using social media to do just that: On LinkedIn, use the search box to search for “recruiter,” “human resources manager,” and similar job titles, along with the company’s name. The results will show you anyone who holds that title and works for the company. Then, on LinkedIn, find out which of your connections works for the company, or knows the people you found from your initial search, and ask them for the name and email address of the hiring manager or to introduce you. On Twitter, look for recruiters of those companies, many of whom are now using Twitter to advertise their open jobs and source for applicants. On Google, the Muse recommends doing a variety of searches to find the right email address. “Let’s use Joe Schmo who works at Starbucks as an example. Try Googling: Joe Schmo email and Joe Schmo @Starbucks.com,” suggests Alexis Grant. If you want to move from passive to active job seeker, try incorporating some or all of these job search social media tricks into your efforts. Start Your Job Search Readers, what job search social media tricks do you use with success? Which of these options will you try? Leave a comment and let us know!

Navy Enlisted Ratings (Job Descriptions)

Navy Enlisted Ratings (Job Descriptions) Navy Enlisted Ratings (Job Descriptions) The Navy calls its enlisted jobs ratings. Similar ratings are placed into groups known as communities. For example, ratings that are administrative in nature, are placed in the Administration Community. Ratings that deal with aircraft are placed in the Aviation Community. The Navy Ratings are what other services call Military Occupational Specialties (MOS). Heres an overview of the Navy job communities and some of the ratings contained within each. Navy Administration Ratings The Administration Community is the engine behind the machine of the Navy.  Without the specialties of the Admin Community, the Navy would not function the way it does today. Here are a few of the jobs in this rating: LN  - Legalmen (Paralegals) provide legal assistance to fellow sailors in a variety of areas, and prepare records for such proceedings as courts-martial and courts of inquiry, and assist personnel in filing claims, and conducting their investigations.MC  - Mass Communications Specialists are the public relations representatives of the Navy. They write, edit and produce news articles, shoot and edit video, layout and design content online and in print, manage and conduct interviews, and act as public affairs offers NC  - Navy Counselor is a position not open to entry-level enlisted personnel since it requires a thorough understanding of the Navy and how it works. In this rating, among other duties, sailors will interview personnel,  prepare and deliver talks,  establish and maintain liaison with local media and recruit civilian personnel into the Navy.PS  - Personnel Specialists are like the human resources coordinators for the Navy, providing  enlisted personnel with information and counseling about Navy occupations, education and job training, requirements for promotion, and rights and benefits. YN  - Yeomen (Administration)  are responsible for a variety of personnel administration tasks, such as maintaining records and official publications, and performing administrative functions for legal proceedings, such as preparing briefs and other documentation. Navy's Aviation Community It takes many specialties to make the Aviation Community in the Navy operate smoothly.  These ratings cover a wide variety of responsibilities and include aviation mechanics, supply and logistics and air traffic control.   AC  - Air Traffic Controllers, like their civilian counterparts, are responsible for directing and controlling the movement of Navy aircraft and instruct pilots via radio communications.  AD  - Aviation Machinists Mates are aircraft mechanics, who perform necessary maintenance, repairs, and updates to Navy aircraft.                            AE  - Aviation Electricians Mates have tech and electronics expertise and provide repairs and updates to aircraft as well as performing in-flight duties such as operating radar and weapons systems.   AG  - Trained in meteorology and oceanography, an Aerographers Mate (Weather and Oceanography) measure and monitor conditions such as air pressure, humidity and wind speed, and then distribute the information to aircraft, ships, and shore facilities.AO  - Aviation Ordnancemen  handle and service weapons and ammunition carried on Navy aircraft.              AT  - Aviation Electronics Technicians repair and maintain navigation, infrared detection, radar, and other complex electronics systems.   Navy Cryptology Ratings(Information Warfare) These sailors are responsible for receiving, decoding, and analyzing intelligence from foreign nations electronic communications (radio, internet, written, spoken, email and other varieties).  Most of the CT ratings are Cryptologic Technicians, with specializations for interpretation, maintenance, networks (maintaining and monitoring the Navys tech infrastructure), collection and technical.   IT  - Information System Technicians have duties similar to a civilian IT person, operating and maintaining the Navys satellite telecommunications systems,  mainframe computers, local and wide area networks, and micro-computer systems. Navy Intelligence Ratings The Office of Naval Intelligence  is responsible for the collection, analysis, and production of scientific, technical, geopolitical, military and maritime intelligence.  The Intelligence Community is made up of more than 3,000 military, civilian, reservists and contractor personnel at locations around the world. This rating includes  IS  - Intelligence Specialists, who analyze intelligence data, prepare and present intelligence briefings, use maps and charts to produce image data and maintain intelligence databases. Naval Medical and Dental Personnel The Medical and Dental Communities of the Navy are part of the big medical care machine known as the Navy Bureau of Medicine.  All the specialties of the medical and dental communities branch off from the Hospital Corpsman rating.  You can pursue dental, neurology, cardiology, surgical, combat or special operations medics to name a few specialties available to the Navy Hospital Corpsman (HM). NuclearRatings in the Navy Ratings in the nuclear field are highly competitive. Applicants need to be well-qualified in math and science  since theyll basically be operating nuclear reactors. The submarine force and aircraft carriers run solely on nuclear power and propulsion.   There are three ratings in the Nuclear Field (NF): Machinist’s Mate (MM), Electrician’s Mate (EM), and Electronics Technician (ET). The rating in which an NF candidate is trained is determined at boot camp. Nuclear-trained MMs, EMs, and ETs perform duties in nuclear propulsion plants operating reactor control, propulsion and power generation systems. The NF will work closely with specialists in the nuclear, technology, and engineering fields. Navy Builders: TheSEABEE Community In addition to being the builders (the name SEABEE comes from the abbreviation CB for Construction Brigade) of the Navy, construction workers and engineers are trained in combat tactics, maneuvering and defense of their positions.   BU  - Builders work as  carpenters, plasterers, roofers, concrete finishers, masons, painters, bricklayers and cabinet makers.  CE  - Construction Electricians build, maintain and operate power production facilities and electrical distribution systems at Navy installations.CM  - Construction Mechanics repair and maintain a variety of heavy construction and automotive equipment including buses, dump trucks, bulldozers, and tactical vehicles.EA  - Engineering Aides are like the foremen of the Navy, conducting land surveys, preparing maps and sketches for construction sites, and estimating costs for building projects.   NavySecurity(Military Police) Military Police and the Naval Master at Arms rates keep the bases and forward operating bases safe from harm by setting up security procedures, controlling access, enforcing existing laws, and deploying defensive tactics when needed.   Duties of the  MA  -  Master at Arms range from conducting security patrols and law enforcement operations to operating brigs and providing protection for high-ranking dignitaries and government officials. Special Warfare/Special Operations Community Navy Special Warfare and Special Operations Community operate in small teams performing intricate missions, from salvage operations, IED (improvised explosive device) disposal, hostage rescue, and small boat operations. EOD  - Explosives and Ordnance Disposal  Technicians do just what the ratings name suggests, and dispose of all types of explosives and ordnance. Theyre often called upon to assist civilian law enforcement with disposal efforts.?ND  - Navy Divers spend a lot of time underwater, doing underwater salvage, repair and maintenance on ships, submarine rescue and in support of explosive ordnance disposal.  SO  - Special Warfare Operator (Navy SEALs)  are an elite fighting team in the Navy, organized, trained and equipped to conduct special operations and missions. Navy Submarine Community Nuclear-powered submarines have some of the most highly skilled workers in the Navy.  There is a wide range of ratings specific to the submarine community, including Culinary Specialists CS(SS) who make the meals, to Storekeepers SK(SS)  who maintain an inventory of repair parts and other supplies. Other ratings aboard a submarine include: FT  - Fire Control Technicians, who  are responsible for the submarines computer and control mechanisms used in weapons systems and other programs  STS  (Submarine)- Sonar Technicians, who  operate the submarines sonar and oceanographic equipment, and maintain sonar and related equipmentAnd  YN(SS)  - Yeoman (Submarine), who handle clerical and other related work aboard the submarine.                                       Surface Combat Systems Ratings in the Navy There are a wide variety of ratings within the surface combat community.   BM  - Boatswains Mates direct and supervise ships maintenance duties in the upkeep of ships external structure, rigging, deck equipment, and boats. This all-purpose position is tasked with a lot of varied duties, including standing as helmsmen and lookouts or as security watches. They may also serve as part of a damage control, emergency or security alert team.  GM  - Gunners Mates, the oldest rating in the Navy,  are responsible for guided missile launching systems, gun mounts and other ordnance equipment, including small arms and magazines. MN  - At sea, Minemen  work aboard minesweeping ships to find and neutralize underwater mines. If theyre ashore, theyre technicians who test, assemble and maintain underwater explosive devices.        QM  - Quartermasters are navigation experts, standing  watch as assistants to officers of the deck and the navigator. They also serve as helmsman and perform ship control, navigation and bridge watch duties. NavySurface Engineering Community The engines that run the boats of Navys surface fleet are only as good as the technicians and mechanics behind them. The ratings in this community include   EM  - Electricians Mates  are responsible for the operation of a ships electrical power generation systems, lighting systems, electrical equipment, and electrical appliances.                                        EN  - Enginemen    operate, service and repair internal combustion engines used to power ships and most of the Navys small craftHT  - Hull Maintenance Technicians are responsible for the upkeep and repair of ships structures. They  maintain shipboard plumbing and marine sanitation systems and repair  small boats, among other duties.

Learn About Right-to-Work States and Laws

Learn About Right-to-Work States and Laws Learn About Right-to-Work States and Laws In the U.S., state  right-to-work  laws pertain to labor unions and workers at a company. Specifically, the right-to-work means that employees are entitled to work in unionized workplaces without actually joining the union or paying regular union dues. They may also cancel their union membership at any time, without losing their jobs.  But they are still entitled to fair and equal union representation if they are part of a bargaining unit at the company- that is,  a group of employees who have similar work duties, share a workplace, and presumably have similar interests when it comes to  wages, hours, and working conditions. In other words, right-to-work laws essentially require unionized workplaces to become open shops, where union membership is optional, in contrast to the traditional closed shop, in which union membership is mandatory. While regular dues are not taken out of their paychecks, the right-to-work (nonunion) employees are still covered by the union; however, they might have to pay for the  cost of the union representing them in specific ways, such as pursuing grievances on their behalf. Although it sounds similar, the right-to-work principle is not the same as  employment at  will, which means  an employee can be terminated at any time without any reason, explanation, or warning; nor is it a guarantee of work or ruling that an employee is entitled to work.   Right-to-Work History and Controversy Currently, no federal right-to-work law exists. A bill establishing one, the National Right-to-Work Act, was introduced in the House of Representatives on February 1, 2017, by two Republican congressmen, Steve King of Iowa and Joe Wilson of South Carolina; it would repeal provisions in all other federal  labor laws  that allow unionized workplaces to fire employees for failing to pay union dues. Instead, right-to-work laws exist on the individual state level. The  Labor Management Relations Act of 1947, nicknamed the Taft-Hartley  Act, allowed states to enact right-to-work laws. Taft-Hartley did not allow local jurisdictions (e.g., cities and counties) within a state to enact their own right-to-work legislation. However,  in  2016, the  Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals  upheld the right of local governments to enact local right-to-work laws in Kentucky, Ohio,  and the other states of its jurisdiction. As the number of states passing right-to-work laws has grown in the 21st century, the issue has grown increasingly controversial. Right-to-work proponents argue that it expands workers rights â€" specifically, the right to decide to join a union â€" and keeps unions accountable because they must prove the advantages of membership. Opponents argue that right-to-work encourages freeloading â€" because a worker can enjoy union representation without paying dues â€" and is essentially a roundabout way to undermine unions in a workplace, depriving them of revenue, membership numbers, and, ultimately, their bargaining power with management. Advocates say right-to-work preserves individual freedoms; critics call it the right to work â€" for less. Right-to-Work States As of 2018, 27 states have adopted right-to-work laws. They are:   AlabamaArizonaArkansasFloridaGeorgiaIdahoIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMichiganMississippiNebraskaNevadaNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOklahomaSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVirginiaWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming Other states have similar legislation on their books. For example, New Hampshires labor laws have a provision that prohibits any person from forcing another to join a union as a condition of employment. Additional Rulings  and  Rights   The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that  collective bargaining agreements  may not require workers to join unions. Collective bargaining agreements may only require nonmembers to pay the proven proportion of dues that unions spend to represent them. Nonmembers dont have to pay such costs until they are explained  and they may first challenge them. To find out more about your states right-to-work law or a similar provision, or your similar rights at the federal level, start by contacting your  states labor office. If you think that your employer or union has violated a right-to-work law, the  National Right-to-Work Legal Defense Foundation  might advise or represent you for free. Otherwise, you might consider consulting a private attorney. Note: The information in this article generally applies to private-sector employees. Different laws and court rulings might apply to government, education, railway, airline, and other workers.   Right to Work  offers general information only and is not intended as legal advice. Neither the author nor publisher are engaged in rendering legal services. Please see an attorney for legal advice. Because laws vary by state and are subject to change at both the state and federal levels, neither the author nor publisher guarantees the accuracy of this article. Should you act based on this information, you do so at your sole risk. Neither the author nor publisher shall have any liability arising from your decision to act on this information.

The best LeBron James NBA Finals memes related to work

The best LeBron James NBA Finals memes related to work The best LeBron James NBA Finals memes related to work This past week, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors faced off in Game 1 and Game 2 of 2018 NBA Finals. As basketball fans, we may not be playing on the court ourselves, but we can relate to our heroes’ failures and victories, repurposing them for meme mortality. On Thursday, the Warriors’ overtime victory gave us one relatable moment that will be remembered long after the score settled.During Game 1, Cleveland’s LeBron James had been having one of the greatest games of his career, scoring 49 points in regulation, tying the game and giving his team of underdogs a fighting chance. Until that momentum was squandered in a late-game mental blunder by Cleveland’s J.R. Smith. In the closing seconds of Game 1, Smith got an offensive rebound and inexplicably chose to dribble the ball out, appearing to be unaware that the game was tied and that he had an opportunity for a game-winning shot. James was photographed yelling at Smith, frantically motioning him to move tow ards the basket.Cleveland ended up losing the game, 124-114, and James’ visible frustration at Smith became our frustration to repurpose for anyone who has dealt with disappointment at work.About that meeting that should never have happenedAbout redundant job application formsAbout that 30-minute commute that becomes a 3-hour journeyAbout students who ask questions you already answeredhttps://twitter.com/AdamWeinstein/status/1002738244356853761About someone in your group who fails to produceAbout someone undermining your work

5 Signs You Need to Earn More, Not Spend Less

5 Signs You Need to Earn More, Not Spend Less 5 Signs You Need to Earn More, Not Spend Less “Spend less than you earn” - that’s a timeless and essential piece of financial advice. However, even among money experts, there’s disagreement about which side of the equation to focus on:   earning more money  or spending less of it. Unfortunately, the income side of the equation often is neglected. If you don’t earn enough, you might be cutting costs and micromanaging your budget, but you still might not see the desired results. Here are five telltale signs that it’s time to put away the budget spreadsheet and focus instead on growing your paychecks. Cutting costs  can be a smart way to start managing money wisely. Too many people tend to overspend on things they don’t need and might not even want. But every budget has a point at which it can’t be cut anymore before you hit your bare minimum of expenses.   Living costs eat up huge portions of your budget , but expenses such as rent or mortgage, food, and childcare often aren’t negotiable. If you’ve already nonessential expenses and still are struggling to scrape by, it’s a sign you’re not earning enough money in relation to your costs of living. If you’ve come close to missing one or more debt payments in recent months because you couldn’t afford them, that’s a big problem.   Missing a payment  can have some harsh consequences beyond the initial late fees and or a penalty APR. A missed payment also can put a   derogatory mark on your credit report   and cause your score to drop. It usually can take more than a year for a credit score to recover from making a late payment. You can try to manage debt through options such as   refinancing your student loans  or consolidating credit card debt, but it can be tricky. If you’re in danger of missing your payments, you might not have the income or debt-to-income ratio needed to qualify for refinancing. Instead, it might be more effective to focus your efforts on raising your income. Are you being paid what you’re worth? It’s an important question to consider, but one that can be tricky to answer. You’ll likely need to review your compensation and research   average salaries by industry  to be sure. First, you might want to review your income growth in recent years. If your income has been stagnant or hasn’t risen recently, it’s likely that your wage isn’t keeping up with market increases in pay. You also can use income-tracking sites such as   PayScale  to see if you’re being paid fairly for your area, job title, and level of experience. Or you can use job-hunting sites such as   Glassdoor  to compare salaries in your company to make sure you’re not making less than what your coworkers do. Money has long been a major source of worry for Americans, with 62% of people surveyed selecting it as a top stressor in the  American Psychological Association’s   2017 Stress in America survey . There are plenty of   causes of financial stress , from too much debt to high living expenses. Most money worries, however, can be resolved if you have more resources available and manage them responsibly. If your debt is stressful, for example, you can pay off a loan balance to get rid of a monthly payment. If your budget stresses you out, earning more could mean you won’t have to agonize over every expense. In these cases, increasing your income can be an effective solution to the problems that are stressing you out the most. Even if you’re doing well with your budget and income, you might be interested in growing your income. After all, having more money at your disposal will help you   work on reaching financial goals faster . Whether you want to get out of debt, start saving for retirement, or invest money, you’ll need to have the funds available. Earning more now will mean you’ll reach those financial goals sooner. Increasing your income is easier said than done. Unlike being able to cut expenses, you don’t always have direct control over your income or see immediate results from your efforts. But there are steps you can take to boost your earning potential and bring home bigger paychecks: It can take a while to see the results of focusing on growing your income, but the payoffs can be huge. While there’s a limit on how much you can cut costs, there’s no limit on how much you can earn. The key is to get started. Consider the above steps on how to increase income, choose one that’s a good fit for your skills and needs, and take action. This article was originally published by Student Loan Hero . Reprinted with permission.

My Engineers Notebook Twishansh Mehta

My Engineer’s Notebook Twishansh Mehta My Engineer’s Notebook Twishansh Mehta My Engineer’s Notebook: Twishansh Mehta Twishansh Mehta, an ASME member from Markham, Ontario, Canada, is a manager for supermarket refrigeration at the Canadian food retailer Loblaw Companies Ltd., where he is responsible for most aspects of refrigeration design, engineering, procurement, installation, maintenance, and process standards for the entire retail organization. His duties include supporting construction projects in verifying engineering schedules and drawings; ensuring that refrigeration systems and display cases are specified, ordered and manufactured correctly; verifying that installation practices are in accordance with specifications; and addressing equipment and installation flaws. An active volunteer since he joined ASME 11 years ago, Mehta is currently a member of the Nominating Committee, the Volunteer Orientation and Leadership Training (VOLT) Academy Executive Committee and the ASME E-Fest Steering Team. He previously served the Society in a number of other capacities, including chair and secretary of the Ontario Section; vice president, Leadership and Recognition; and District B Student Sections Committee representative. Mehta was the winner of the Old Guard Early Career Award in 2015. He received a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Toronto in 2009. He is currently pursuing a masters degree in engineering management and leadership at Purdue University and a Certificate of Business Administration at Indiana University. Whats inside your engineers notebook? My engineers notebook has different items, depending on what Im working on or where I am at any given day. Some pages have action items from a meeting or call. Some pages have lists of tasks or projects. Other pages might have scratch calculations that only I can understand. Twishansh Mehta Whose notebook would you most like to peek into? Why? I would love to take a peek into the notebook of my colleagues who support the companys retail business. A notebook shows how you think, whats important to you, and how you get from problem to solution. We engineers tend to be similar in our thought processes, but to see how someone from a completely different discipline looks at a problem and establishes their frame could really benefit this interdisciplinary collaboration. How and when did you know you wanted to become an engineer? Probably sometime in high school. I really enjoyed math and science class, but more so, I enjoyed and excelled at my computer science and engineering classes. I knew that if I excelled at something, I could make a career out of it, and to combine all of those subject areas into one made engineering the ideal choice. Whats the most exciting project youve ever worked on? At work, I think the most exciting project was the launch of our flagship supermarket in a historical building where the local NHL team used to play since 1931. From new designs of fixtures, including refrigerated cases, to a first-of-its-kind refrigeration plant for our company, the challenges were numerous, but the result was a store that still remains a tourist attraction five years later and the adopted technologies still being cutting-edge. Outside of work, my most exciting project was the management of a student leadership development conference in ASME in 2010. I worked with some amazing volunteer peers and had a ton of support from senior volunteers and staff partners that made the conference an experience of a (short) lifetime for the participants who attended. What do you think youd be doing if you hadnt become an engineer? If I was answering this in high school, I think I would have become a scientist or software developer. At the end of college, I would have said I would have gone into business strategy or business development. However, now, I think I would have found my way into teaching somehow. My ASME experiences since I was in school have transformed me into a mentor in numerous ways, and my passion for developing leadership skills in young engineers has only grown. I already do it informally, so teaching would probably be my most natural fit had I not gone into engineering. Twishansh Mehta (right) with Nathan Taylor, chair of the ASME Human Powered Vehicle Challenge Committee, at ASMEs E-Fest Asia Pacific, which took place in early March 2017 in Jaipur, India. Whats your favorite activity when youre not working? I really enjoy traveling, whether it be a part of a work or ASME trip, or a family or personal vacation. From every trip, theres always something I wish I did or did more, and so whenever I have down time, Im always planning my next trip. When Im not traveling, I enjoy following my adopted Purdue Boilermakers and Indiana Hoosiers during college football and basketball seasons, and following other major sports events. Was there a book or a movie that piqued your interest in science or inspired you to become an engineer? Between the end of high school and the start of university, I participated in a one-month residency program for STEM and entrepreneurship at the University of New Brunswick called Shad Valley. That was the first time I was in the presence of high achieving students interested in the same things that I was interested in, and had a significant impact on me being proud of who I am and the career path I chose. One of the first activities we participated was a movie night where we saw October Sky, a movie about a boy who grew up in a blue collar family who was inspired to build rockets and eventually make it to NASA as an engineer. While engineering was already my path when I saw that film, whenever someone asks me this question, I always recall the impact that movie had on me. Who are your heroes, either within the engineering profession or in the rest of your life? I always have a challenge answering this question. Numerous people, books, television shows and movies have shaped me into who I am and what I believe to be right and wrong. No one signal connection has entirely impacted me either. I have taken some of the lessons, values and characteristics from each and tried to emulate the ones I aligned with the best to live my life. Whats the most meaningful or rewarding aspect of being connected to engineering? For me, its all about being able to think. The world is filled with opinions these days, and strong communicators and strong presences can shape the direction of public policy, economic decisions, and social interactions. Being connected to engineering allows me to think for myself and be accepted for my ability to develop my own thoughts, using logic and relationships to develop conclusions. What does ASME mean to you? To me, ASME is a community of colleagues, but more so, friends. Being a part of the ASME community means that I can instantly strike up a conversation with my peers, sharing common interests and values, and being able to share experiences with some amazing people. Being connected to engineering allows me to think for myself and be accepted for my ability to develop my own thoughts, using logic and relationships to develop conclusions. Twishansh Mehta