Friday, December 27, 2019

5 money questions you should be able to answer by 35

5 money questions you should be able to answer by 355 money questions you should be able to answer by 35Keeping on top of personal finances is hard, perhaps especially in the first decade of your career. However, by the time youre 35, a long-term plan for saving, investing, purchasing, and retirement should be starting to come into focus.Here are a few questions you should be able to answer by the time youre 351. How much money will I have when I retire?By the time youre 35, you should have a solid retirement plan with at least a few years worth of investing and saving under your belt. Because compound interest is your friend when it comes to investing, each year you wait to get started can have huge long-term effects on the nest egg youll have when you retire.How much youll have really depends on how youve tischset up your investment portfolio. Using a combination of investment types, such as a company 401(k) and a Roth IRA, can help enkoranvers youre shuffling the mix between high- risk and low-risk investment. However, until around 40, you should aim toward more high-risk, high-return investments and slowly shift as you get older.No matter how your portfolio is set up, you should be aiming to invest in your retirement plan every year. Timothy G. Wideman, D.B.A. PHR Emeritus, and a retired Associate Professor of Management Human Resources at Doane University, gives the following advice In order to fund an early retirement, folks should strive to invest 20% of their incomes in their combined retirement accounts. That may sound daunting, but sticking to that 20% can have big payoffs in the long run.2. Am I prepared for a major emergency?Theres no way to predict what life has in store for us (although that would be nice). With this in mind, its important to have some emergency funds in case something unexpected happens. According to investment group Vanguard, fruchtwein experts believe you should have enough money in your emergency fund to cover at least 3 to 6 months worth of living expenses. Although that probably sounds like a lot of money, and hopefully you never need it, if you ever do youll be glad you have it.3. Am I paying more for anything than I need to be?Most of us have recurring expenses we dont think about often. Because theyre not actively on our radar most of the time, it can be easy to forget that these expenses can really add up over time. In your mid-30s (and all ages, really), you should be aware of everything that drains a little from each months budget. If you arent sure exactly what youre paying for, or if you cant specify the exact amount your subscriptions and services are costing you, run a quick audit of your monthly bills. Some expenses may be unnecessary (for example, you may find you want to unsubscribe from magazines you dont read often), and some may be necessary but available for a lower price (for example, many cable bills can be negotiated down). Either way, trimming down on any extra recurring costs can really add up over time.4. What big expenses are on my horizon?At 35, many people are at different places in their lives. Some may be parents or looking to become parents, while others may be looking to move abroad or take a big career step. However, no matter what your situation, there are probably some big expenses just ahead. Trying to buy a house? Looking to add a baby to the mix? Both of these are huge financial commitments. Will you be ready for them? Only you can answer that, but preparing in advance for your big upcoming expenses can help you make sure youre ready when the right time comes.5. Is money preventing me from reaching one or more of my goals?Money can be many things a safety net, an enabler, a status symbol. But perhaps its most important use is as a tool to achieve the things we want to achieve - and avoid falling into situations we dont want out of necessity. Beth Haiken, an EVP at Method Communications, says, Money isnt stuff - money is autonomyIts what enabl es you to make your own decisions and follow your own goals, whether thats a trip you want to take or a job you DONT want to take.If you keep track of how much youre spending and maximize your savings, youll be prepared to use money however you need to when that need arises. Whether its the flexibility to quit a toxic job or the freedom to take the trip of a lifetime, the possibilities provided by keeping on top of your financial situation are well worth the work.A version of this post previously appeared onFairygodboss, the largest career community that helps women get the inside scoop on pay, corporate culture, benefits, and work flexibility. Founded in 2015, Fairygodboss offers company ratings, job listings, discussion boards, and career advice.

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Put Your Best Face Forward With Our Model Resume Template for Word

Put Your Best Face Forward With Our Model Resume Template for exaktPut Your Best Face Forward With Our Model Resume Template for WordIntroductionBecoming a model often involves getting discovered be it in person, from photographs, or through a great resume. Our model resume template for Word includes a sample document tailored to the unique qualifications for this career as well as explanations of standard resume sections with helpful writing tips. Modeling is a highly visual career, but you may still need to be able to present your experience in writing. Refer to our template and tips for guidance on preparing a summary statement and lists of skills, work experience, and education.Model Resume Template for Word Miranda MitchellNew York, NY 11111E mirandamitchellanymail.com P 555Model with three years of experienceAppeared in four department store print adsWalked two runways during fashion week Perfect Your Skills SectionModeling involves more than just posing. Aspiring models shou ld describe key traits or points of their experience in the skills section. This section can be a great place to mention the types of modeling in which you specialize, vital soft skills like interpersonal communication or time management, and other useful skills for a modeling agency or gig.Describe your skills in short, skimmable phrases without periods at the end and organize this section using bullet points. Be koranvers to prioritize the most relevant skills for the job to which you are applying. The skills section can also be the place to point out important characteristics that qualify you for a particular agency or gig. Refer to our model resume template for Word for an example of a skills section in context. Some of the most useful skills for a model includeTime managementOrganizationListening skillsDisciplinePolish Your Work History SectionModels often work many gigs. If you have only worked a few gigs or are not yet represented by an agency, you may want to list individual jobs under work experience. Start with your most recent appearances and continue backward in reverse chronological order, ending with your earliest work. If you are currently represented by an agency or have a history of representation, you might prefer to list your agency affiliations and describe the type of work you obtained through each agency. In a broader sense, the work history or experience section should include the dates of employment. Once you have listed your role or position, the employer, the location of the job, and the dates, create a bulletGraduate, Barbizon Modeling School, 2016 Specialized in live runway modeling

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Five Meetings Your Employees Will Thank You for Killing or Fixing

Five Meetings Your Employees Will Thank You for Killing or FixingFive Meetings Your Employees Will Thank You for Killing or FixingThe balance of this article offers up some additional meeting types that spread stress and strife. As the manager or leader responsible for pulling people together to communicate, share and generate ideas, you are well served by eliminating these meeting types from your routine. 800 a.m. Monday Morning Staff Meetings The problem with this meeting is that no one is ever ready for it. After all, its 800 a.m. on Monday morning- nothing has happened yet and whatever happened last week is mostly ancient history. The second problem with this meeting is that for anyone to be prepared, they have to work Sunday night which is fine on occasion but guaranteed to earn you some serious votes for jerk of the year from employees and the family members of employees. The solution If you must run a team meeting on Monday, push it to later in the morning or early in the afternoon. Better yet, push it to Tuesday morning. Round-the-Table Status Meetings You know this meeting. Its the one where people move around the room sharing their latest updates, sagas, fantasies, and dreams. Sit in the wrong place and you end up as the 22nd person to offer an update to a group whose bladders are over-strained and brains numb from the politically oriented updates emanating from the mouths of colleagues in far-away functions. The solution Meet if you must, but set some rules on the updates. Ask people to focus on important news that impacts everyone or to identify challenges that require help from across functions. Do anything to limit the painful march of gratuitous and self-serving status updates that undisciplined round-the-table meetings generate. Recurring Meetings that Have Lost Their Purpose Any recurring meeting where no one can remember why this meeting still takes place is a candidate for immediate elimination. The laws of physics transfer to mee tings and a meeting on the schedule tends to remain on the schedule long after it has used up its usefulness in the workplace. One new manager reviewed the recurring list of meetings on his teams schedule and canceled two of them because he could not uncover a reason for these meetings to exist. He received mora than a few thank-you notes and a few comments from people wondering how he managed to kill this meeting that they had been trying to get rid of for the past year. The solution Review all of the recurring meetings that you subject your team to or that you are a participant in, and eliminate them from your life and the lives of your team members. If you are not the host of the meeting, inform the host of your intention and of your perspective on the utility of the meeting. If you are the host/sponsor, poll team members and give them a voice and a vote. A bit of draconian slicing of recurring meetings opens up valuable time for other more important activities. Group Word-Smi thing Meetings This is any meeting where you pull together a group of people to work on the wording for something a vision, a mission, a strategy statement, a scope statement in project management. The output of these sessions is typically a series of awkwardly constructed sentences reflecting compromises on the part of the person-in-charge. No one in the room agrees with the final product, but everyone nods their heads in assent as soon as the wording moves beyond ridiculous to just awful in an attempt to make the pain go away. The solution Never relegate rough wording of anything to a committee. Take a stab at the element in question yourself, bounce it off a few colleagues and when you approach something that is beginning to work for you, very carefully ask for input from a group. Ask clarifying questions, take great notes and then disappear and redraft the statement(s), repeating the process as necessary. Template Strategy Meetings There is no magical process or template or even simple series of steps that help strategic clarity emerge. Conducting a S.W.O.T. (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis is not always on the critical path to arriving at an accurate assessment of conditions, and opportunities. And numbers and targets and growth are not strategies. Beware of anyone suggesting they have a simple process for this complex topic. The solution Invest in a highly qualified and experienced strategy facilitator or advisor who understands how to guide, sometimes lead and sometimes follow in pursuit of developing an actionable, meaningful strategy. The right professional will hold the group accountable to finding answers to the right (difficult) questions that must be answered on the road to strategic clarity. The Bottom Line Meetings are priceless opportunities to connect, communicate, build relationships, and stimulate creative problem-solving. They are also opportunities ripe for overuse and even abuse. Strive to be the manag er that respects the power and importance of meetings. Use these forums for the right reasons by architecting them to focus on key issues, solicit ideas and importantly, respect the time that everyone puts into the sessions. Your team members will appreciate your positive approach more than you may ever know.

Friday, December 13, 2019

The 4 Kinds of Managers - How to Handle Work with Them

The 4 Kinds of Managers - How to Handle Work with ThemThe 4 Kinds of Managers - How to Handle Work with Them4 Kinds of Managers and How to Handle ThemIn any workplace, there will always be a boss. That boss might be you it might bedrngnis. When youre in production, a manager will always be behind your back, looking and observing how well you do, giving you responsibilities and feedback, and being the person you report to.But its not a one-sided relationship. Your boss will always have something to say to you the good managers will ask for positive or negative feedback on how they are as a leader and co-worker. However, there are badeanstalt managers, too. Lets face it Managers are also human beings with dreams, hopes, ambitions, problems, and challenges. Along with those, however, are the same subjective matters, perspectives, and observations on how they are as leaders and what their strengths and weaknesses are. Should it be up to you, the employee, to know if your manager is good or bad? Should it be up to you to know how to deal with different kinds of managers?Yes, to both. This not only facilitates good office dynamics but also makes your job slightly more tolerable. Here are four (of many) types of managers and how you can deal with them.1. The MicromanagerHow They Are Micromanagers always want their instructions followed- to the letter. They are the do it the way I tell you type. Dont be surprised if theyre constantly behind your back, watching every moment you work, waiting for you to make a mistake, and nitpicking any liberty you take with your task. This not only puts you in an uncomfortable position, in more ways than one, but also disrupts the natural flow of work, making the whole process take longer than it should be.How to Deal with Them A micromanager is often needy with control because of insecurity. Otherwise, they would be more open to new things. You will, fruchtwein likely, wont have the necessary training to address that psychological iss ue, but one way to please them is by easing them into the transition that you are capable without their constant presence and demands. Dont be too in your face when showing that your process is more efficient. Suggest that there are different ways. Let them come to their senses.2. The Consultative ManagerHow They Are They are typically the ones who, like their type name, consult before making decisions. This could be in the form of a team meeting, asking for input on better procedures, or a one-on-one meeting, looking for feedback on their style. While this is good (and even admirable) in its own right, it does have some cons. If the consultation turns democratic, then the whole decision-making process may double since explaining plans, consequences, and counting of votes take time. But this type of manager will always be on the good side of their people because they respect the individual and collective voices of the team.How to Deal with Them Of the four in this list, Consultative Managers are probably the most open to suggestions. Take that opportunity to exercise your freedom their openness is an avenue for growth. It may look like a lazy attempt to cherry-pick good ideas, ones they may never have thought of, but having those thoughts undermines the freedom your manager wants you to fully appreciate. Instead, be involved. The chance is already there. Why not take it?3. The Leader ManagerHow They Are This type of manager takes pride in how they do their work. They always strive to set an example. The pro if they are good workers, then they are the model managers, always aiming for excellence. The con if they are less than desirable, then no matter how much you want to make them change, they wont. On one hand, you have a manager you can emulate, even after you resign from work. On the other, youve got someone no one wants to work with because they think theyre right even when theyre wrong.How to Deal with Them The good kind is easy to deal with. They are wor th imitating, so you are free to do so. If theyve got good work ethics, then their habits will rub off on you. If they reward good work and effort, then you will be more than happy to give your 100 percent- and eventually land that manager position yourself. If they always foster a welcoming atmosphere, then you will be keen on that too. Seeing their people being shaped into someone better is their reward.The bad part, however, is dealing with the opposite. If you see how bad they are, then its not worth picking up their habits- it will be bad for you in the long run as well. While making them change for the better is almost impossible, staying away from their habits is advisable. The best you can do is to make an example of yourself. Be the good guy. Hopefully, they will start acting their position too.4. The Perfect ManagerHow They Are These are the managers you paradoxically have lots and nothing to say about. They are extremely competent in any service. They are very open when i t comes to anything that can be beneficial to the team. They are understanding of the different problems that can arise in work and life, and will actually do their best to help you in any way they can. In short, not only are they the perfect managers they are also the perfect friends.How to Deal with Them At this point, you probably trust your manager to know enough (even more) details about your job, your team, and you personally. The best thing you can do is to be honest with them, especially about your weaknesses and how you are standing as a part of your work group. Knowing their personalities- in that they will always provide each member with an opportunity, support, and initiative to grow (because come on, theyre the ultimate managers)- they will appreciate your openness about your own shortcomings, your drive to succeed, and your consideration for your team.Those are only four of the managers you may have, or may have had. They can even be a cocktail of two. No matter the ca se, there are good managers, and there are bad ones. While it may be puzzling to figure out how the bad ones became managers themselves, confronting them about it may worsen things for you and your teammates.Like it or not, you will be going to the office for most days of the week. You will see your teammates, work with them, and report to your manager. If you cant handle him, you will only harbor those kinds of negative thoughts until you quit- maybe even long after. Keep these tips in mind. It may help you in the long run the same asthis professional service, especially when youre already at the top and handling managers yourself.ResourcesCardinal, Rosalind. 6 Managements Styles and When to Use Them. Huffington Post. March 15, 2015. www.huffingtonpost.com/rosalind-cardinal/6-management-styles-and-when-to-use-them_b_6446960.htmlJackson, Erick. The Different Types of Management Styles. Measure Management. n.d. www.measuringmanagement.com/the-different-types-of-management-stylesJacob s, Deborah L. How to Manage a Micromanager. Forbes. May 7, 2012. www.forbes.com/sites/deborahljacobs/2012/05/07/how-to-manage-a-micromanager/277e535934f2Laws, Steve. THE SEVEN TYPES OF MANAGER Where do you stand? LinkedIn Pulse. February 8, 2015. www.linkedin.com/pulse/seven-types-manager-where-do-you-stand-steve-lawsShannon, Eric. The six different types of managers and how to work with them. Latpro. December 12, 2004. learn.latpro.com/the-six-different-types-of-managersAuthor BioRick Enrico is the CEO and Founder of SlideGenius, Inc. He regularly publishes expert presentation tips on the SlideGenius blog. You can connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Sunday, December 8, 2019

The Hidden Facts About Rusume

The Hidden Facts About Rusume Your resume can continue to be riveting. Once youve reviewed resumes in your field, peruse resumes across fields to learn how to vary the usage of action verbs and receive a feel for what makes a potent accomplishment statement. If youd like to do two or three unique things, then build a few specific resumes. Infographic-style resumes have gotten popular, and they may be effective when done well. Attempting to resolve a crisis situation isnt a job for just a single person. The objective statement is a brief paragraph composed of 2-3 sentences. Should you do any one of these things above, you will stick out and find the recruiters interest. Know the purpose of your resume Some folks write a resume as though the function of the document was supposed to land work. Most Noticeable Rusume In many instances, your resume is the very first document a hiring manager will take a look at when reviewing your program, and therefore is an actual first imp ression. You will have to compose a resume which is a small different for each work application. As the database administrator, your task is to organize massive data in a manner that produces life and work easily for the firm. Federal jobs often need you to have experience in a special schriftart of work for some period of time. Luckily, all it requires is some creative thinking and a couple of on-line resources. Creative While its important to get a professional resume, sometimes just a little creativity and innovation is acceptable. In addition, you need plenty of creativity to address complex difficulties. Therefore, our purpose is to offer you the very best tools you have to succeed. Finally, you wish to attempt to strike a balance between including experience thats both timely and relevant. Finally, equating your military experience to civilian terms are sometimes a challenging endeavor. All they need to do is search certain abilities or keywords together with a locat ion. So as to not be taken lightly, you must tailor your FB page all around your work versus your private life. Below is a good example of the way to place a minor on your resume. Below, you will locate a list of resume examples that could aid you with your work search. You are able to post your resume online by making a completely free account in addition to a work alert. Our resume builder is the quickest approach to create a resume that will allow you to get your fantasy job. Its also important to think about the sort of work you genuinely are interested in being hired to do. There are a few things that dont belong on a resume for work. A great verstndigung im strafverfahren of that happens on social networking. The New Angle On Rusume Just Released Choosing and preparing the right kind of resume can help you stand out to employers. Possessing a strong resume will permit you find several great jobs. Transportation jobs involve a great deal of responsibility and your resume will want to reflect you can deal with that. Distinct kinds of work in the food service industry require resumes with lots of the exact same skills. Concentrate on these sections to understand whether you meet the requirements for the position. Many times, the application instructions for a specific position will state if its the CV or resume is requested. The peak of your resume should includecritical search phrases and a fast snapshot of your core strengths, Leavy-Detrick states. Our resume examples can ensure youre prepared in the event you receive a referral. Your resume or CV may be among the most important projects you ever design. A traditional style resume vorlage is also simple to customize. Each one of our creative style templates offer you a perfectly balanced mixture of personality, professionalism and a little style. Sometimes all you will need is a timeless style template thats clean, clear and right to the point. The Tried and True Method for Rusume in Step by Step Detail By carefully targeting resumes for certain jobs and situations, youre able to greatly enhance your odds of getting noticed in the work industry. Job seekers deserve to discover decent content quickly. Simply enter your military job and youll get a synopsis of skills learned at work. You can also make hashtags with keywords that recruiters might look for so you can be readily found. Recruitment consultants often utilize ATS too. You should organize your resume to assist agencies evaluate your experience. If you dont supply the info necessary for the hiring agency to learn your qualifications, you may not be considered for the job. Hiring agencies will try to find particular terms in your resume to make certain you have the experience theyre seeking.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

How Anyone Can Create a Great Employer Branding Video

How Anyone Can Create a Great Employer Branding VideoEvery day, video becomes more ingrained in our lives. You use video chats to catch up with friends and family. You watch videos online for entertainment. You learn new skills by watching how-to videos. Yet many hiring professionals are still leidlage including videos in their employer branding efforts. This is unfortunate considering how much video can improve your employer brand. Watching a variety of videos gives job seekers a deep understanding of what your organization is like and how it can be a perfect fit for them. Moreover, great branding videos are easy to make even if youre not a filmography expert.If youre wary about recording employer branding videos, weve put together a guide that will help you create great content. By using this checklist, youll know what to do each step of the way so you get videos that recruit top talent.Heres what you need to knowKnow your equipmentThese days, anyone with a cell phone can record a nd share videos instantly. But there are other options. Its important to know what each type of recording device has to offer and whats the right choice for your employer branding strategy.Phones and tabletsOne of the biggest advantages of using your mobile device to record video is the convenience. Theres no extra equipment or costs and you can take them anywhere. This makes unterstellung devices particularly handy when recording the following types of employer branding videosFootage from company eventsVirtual tours of the officeShort, behind-the-scenes peeks at what employees are working onBecause youre holding the phone, these videos can be shakey, so its recommended you buy a phone tripod. Consider sharing these videos on social media to give job seekers a casual, but authentic view of the company culture by uploading videos of whats going on in the workplace. WebcamsThe camera on your laptop or computer is a great option for longer employer branding videos. Since the computer i s on a stable surface, the footage is steadier. Plus, in most recording programs, the person in front of the camera can see what they look like on the computer screen. This makes them ideal forEmployee testimonialsVideo messages from leadershipIntro and outro videos from you or other important people in video interviewsVideo camerasVideo cameras are great options because they are portable but can also be stabilized on a tripod. If youre creating a video that uses a mix of mobile and stationary footage, a video camera might be your best option. This will ensure all the footage is of the same quality because youre not mixing different types of devices or video files. Consider using a video camera whenYoure planning to edit together different scenes or video filesYou have a professional videographer that knows how to operate itYou need the highest quality videoIf you only plan to create a few employer branding videos, its probably not worth buying a new camera with all the bells and wh istles. There is a wide range of quality and costs when it comes to video cameras. Weigh whether the purchase is worth it for your organization or if your format of each video can easily be adjusted to fit the equipment you already possess. Of course, you can also hire a freelancer to record with their own video equipment.Planning the videoCandid videos can be a great part of your employer branding process. But in most cases, you need a game plan before recording a video. This ensures whats said makes an impact and no one rambles off topic. What job seekers can learnA great employer branding video is succinct and memorable. After watching, the job seeker should know something new about your organization and what it means to be an employee there. Just be sure not to overwhelm the viewer with all the positive aspects of your workplace in one video. Create individual videos to showcase things such asCompany cultureMission and valuesEmployee benefitsA day in the life for specific positi onsWho will be in the videoThis might seem obvious, but often people dont consider all the factors when casting an employer branding video. Anyone who is in the video does more than just represent the organization. They also need to be someone who will speak in a way that resonates with prospective talent. Look for employees whoShowcase the companys diversityHave an appropriate online presenceAre articulate and can speak about the organization in their own wordsHave a great employee story to shareWhere to recordOne of the biggest mistakes novice video creators make is not scouting out the recording location first. While a space might seem great in real life, there could be variables that will ruin an employer branding video. Be conscious ofAmbient noise that might be amplified on videoInconsistent lighting from the sun or through windowsIncreased chance of interruptions from the daily goings-on in the officeAre you a rapidly growing organization? See how video can improve your hirin g process here

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Things to Avoid at a New Job - The Muse

Things to Avoid at a New Job - The MuseThings to Avoid at a New Job Sometimes, at a new job, things just click. In no time at all, you feel like part of the kollektiv. Youre joking around with your co-workers, chatting casually with your boss, and, overall, feeling pretty comfortable with the way your new office works.But a word to the wise No matter how comfortable you feel or how awesome your new job is, there are certain precautions that all new employees should take- for the sake of your reputation, career advancement, and overall job success. Sure, theyre things you may easily be able to get away with a few months into the role, but for now, its best to play it safe. For the good of your job, dont try to get away with these five things- at least, not yet.1. Griping About Your Previous Job or BossAs you get to know your new colleagues, youll likely end up in conversations about your background- which can easily end up with you telling stories about your terrible previous job and the awful co-workers and boss you had there. Sure, those stories may generate a few laughs- but as a brand new addition to the team, they can also put you in a negative light. Hearing you gripe about your prior colleagues can make your new co-workers see you as a complainer, someone who doesnt value teamwork, and someone who will probably end up talking about your new co-workers behind their backs. In a few months, when people know you, the quality of your work, and your loyalties, you may be able to get away with telling those stories without any repercussions. But for now- when the ink on your offer letter has barely dried- its better to keep things positive. 2. Taking Advantage of a Flexible ScheduleMost reasonable bosses are flexible, and theyll understand if you have to come in late because of an early morning dentist appointment, leave early to take your dog to the vet, or take a long lunch just because. But even if you have the most flexible boss in the world, to some extent, those privileges have to be earned. For your first few weeks on the job, its important to establish a reputation of being a hard worker- which means that unless a conflict is absolutely unavoidable, its best to show up on time (or early), stick around until the rest of the team leaves, and take a reasonable lunch break. After a few weeks, youll have a better idea of how often its OK to take advantage of the flexibility- and since your reputation will have already been established, no one will be left questioning if youre really leaving for a doctors appointment or skipping out early to catch happy hour.3. Using Excess SarcasmYou want your co-workers to get to know the real you, of course. And maybe the real you uses sarcasm or not-so-politically-correct humor to get some laughs.While I certainly advocate being genuine in your interactions with your new team, crude humor and sarcasm can often come across as a bit harsh or even disrespectful. And that wont set a great tone for your c ontributions to the team.My advice? Tone it down for a bit until you have a better grasp on the rest of your teams personalities and senses of humor- and they have a better idea of yours. Then, you can slowly (and appropriately) start working in your real sense of humor. 4. Judging Your Co-workersWhen youre new to the job, you may be tempted to form some judgements right away about certain colleagues- that theyre annoying, disorganized, disloyal, or sloppy. But, while its somewhat unavoidable to make first impressions, those assumptions arent always accurate. After a few months of getting to know your colleagues, youll likely find out that underneath the seemingly sloppy work is a brilliantly creative mind, or that the incessantly chatty co-worker is actually a whiz at presentations. So as difficult as it may be, withhold judgment when youre brand new. Once you have a mora firm grasp on your co-workers strengths and personalities, youll be able to make much more firm and accurate de terminations about who you want to work with on certain projects, knowing exactly what to expect from each person. 5. Questioning LeadershipWe often give the advice that you should come into a new job environment armed with suggestions and ready to solve problems- and thats great. The trouble comes when new employees immediately start questioning their bosses or executive leadership decisions without a true understanding of the problem, a valid suggestion for how to make a change, or an understanding of the boss temperament and how he or she will take the suggestion. In other words, theyre simply complaining. To make the most effective suggestions- and eventually, changes- it can be beneficial to really dig into your departments challenges, striving to understand what needs changing, whats been attempted already, and why a change hasnt happened yet. Its also helpful to understand your boss personality and communication preferences, so that you can present suggestions in a way thats most likely to be accepted. Once thats been determined, by all means, question anything and everything. But until then, keep digging.Taking these extra precautions can feel like walking on eggshells. But tread carefully for just a little while, and youll have a much higher chance for success in the future.Photo of people walking courtesy of Shutterstock.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Your Invitation to the Honors Assembly

Your Invitation to the Honors Assembly Your Invitation to the Honors Assembly Your Invitation to the Honors AssemblyOct. 20, 2017On Monday, Nov. 6, at 630 p.m., ASME will present its 2017 Honors Assembly held in conjunction with the Societys International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE) in Tampa, Fla. This impressive and dramatic audiovisual experience will be one IMECE event you wont want to miss.I am pleased to announce the following recipients to be recognized for their accomplishments at this years Assembly the Melvin R. Green Codes and Standards Medal to Paul D. Edwards the Gustus L. Larson Memorial Award to Evelyn N. Wang the Ralph Coats Roe Medal to Adrian Bejan Honorary Membership to Ramesh K. Agarwal, John Cipolla, and Michael F. Modest the ASME Medal to Zdenek P. Baant and the Hoover Medal to John Staehlin.The Honors Assembly is a free Congress event and everyone is invited to attend.A reception for all the Honors Assembly attendees will be held at 53 0 p.m. preceding the Honors Assembly. During this time, you will have the opportunity to personally meet and congratulate the award recipients, network with colleagues, meet old friends and make new acquaintances.On behalf of the ASME Committee on Honors, I hope you will join us for this special evening.Sincerely,Yildiz BayazitogluChair, ASME Committee on HonorsH.S. Cameron Chair Professor of Mechanical EngineeringProfessor of Materials Science and NanoengineeringRice UniversityHouston, Texas

Thursday, November 21, 2019

What to Do When a New Job Isnt What You Expected - The Muse

What to Do When a New Job Isnt What You Expected - The MuseWhat to Do When a New Job Isnt What You Expected Youve accepted a great new ort at a fantastic company and cant wait to get started. But, when you arrive for your first day, you discover that the amazing job youd interviewed for is elendhing like what youre facing now that youve actually been hired. Youve been catfished.For anyone who hasnt watched Nev Schulmans riveting documentary or subsequent TV spin-off, catfishing refers to the act of purposefully presenting false or misleading information or creating a fake identity to fool another person. Full disclosure I was catfished by my first full-time job. Shortly after graduating college, I accepted an admissions counselor position with a private university. I was so excited to find such a great job so shortly after graduating I couldnt wait to work with eager students as I guided them through the admissions process. I envisioned myself reassuring nervous parents, decorating m y first-ever cubicle, and building brdeing relationships with my co-workers. Sure, I was a little idealistic, but this was also what the hiring manager told me I would be doing. When I arrived for my first day of work, I was leuchtdiode to a storage room and handed a phone, a sales script, and a long list of phone numbers and told to start making calls. I didnt even have a working computer. Turns out, I had inadvertently accepted a job as a cold caller.When your new job pulls the old bait-and-switch, it can be frustrating, disheartening, and embarrassing. Navigating this situation can be tricky, so lets take a look at six things to do when your new job catfishes you- from someone whos been there. 1. Remain CalmIf your first couple of days on the job are a little turbulent, that doesnt necessarily mean that your new role wont work out in the long run. Your new boss could be having an off week, or the HR department mightve dropped the ball on coordinating your orientation. While a tem porarily distracted manager or a disorganized recruiter arent ideal, these challenges are surmountable. Remind yourself that youre going to need some time to get used to being in an unfamiliar environment, working with people you dont know, and juggling new responsibilities. Changing jobs is incredibly stressful, so do your best to stay calm throughout this transition. 2. Give it a ChanceFew things in life turn out exactly as we expected, and jobs are no exception. Youre going to need a little time to reconcile the idea of what you thought this position would be like with reality. In the meantime, give your new role a chance. Try getting to know your new co-workers by asking them to join you for coffee, impress your boss by volunteering for an upcoming project, and make yourself feel at home by organizing your new workspace. It can take up to a year to feel totally settled at a new company, but you can typically tell whether or not youll be happy after the first few weeks. If each w eek is a little better than the last, youre on the right track. But, if you find yourself dreading work every morning for days (or weeks) on end, this may not be the job for you. 3. Talk to Your BossIf youve given yourself enough time to get a feel for what this job is going to entail, and its vastly different from the role you thought you were interviewing for, its probably time to have a conversation with your manager. Start by sending her a message to request a meeting at her earliest convenience and follow-up with a calendar invitation. Once youve confirmed a time, youll want to prepare your talking points. Pull up the job posting you applied for (if available), track down the description for your role, or draft an overview of what was discussed during your interviews. Then, make a list of what youre actually doing on a daily basis so that you can specifically and confidently address discrepancies. The purpose of this meeting is to get you and your manager on the same page- not to accuse her of catfishing you. There is a chance that youll decide to stick it out in this position, and you wont want to damage your relationship with a hostile confrontation. Start off by letting your boss know that your intention is to gain a better understanding of what this role will actually entail, as you were under the impression that your job would look different. For example, When we first met, we spent a lot of time discussing social media strategy, and I was under the impression that I would be managing the companys Twitter and Facebook accounts. When will I be taking this on? or During my interview, we agreed that I would be responsible for sourcing and prospecting new sales opportunities, but not for closing new geschftsleben. But since coming onboard, Ive been asked to focus on closing new business and managing existing accounts. Did something change?If your manager is receptive to what you have to say and seems to be invested in your happiness, you might be able to salvage this job. But, if shes defensive or dismissive and shows no interest in aligning your actual position with the role you thought you signed on for, its probably time to explore your options.4. Explore Your OptionsOnce youve determined that youve officially been catfished, its time to start preparing to move on. If youre only a few weeks into your new position, you can probably build up your job search momentum pretty quickly. The great news is that you already know how to successfully apply, interview, and secure an offer. If you turned down another offer to accept this job, you might be able to salvage that opportunity. Try reaching out to the hiring manager you were working with to ask if the position is still available. Say something like, I wanted to reach out to you to ask if the insert title was still open. If it is, I would love to be reconsidered for this position. Since we were last in touch, Ive given this opportunity a lot of thought. While I initially said that I was most interested in joining a larger company, I now realize that I am most effective when I get to work with a dynamic, tight-knit team like the one at insert company name. I know Id make a great addition to your department, and would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further. Would it be possible for us to connect on insert date around insert time?Once you start interviewing, you may run into some tricky questions about why youre looking to leave your new job so soon. A simple, concise response like this should do the trick Unfortunately, I didnt take as much time as I should have to learn everything I could about the company and culture before accepting my current position. Ive since realized that this role isnt a good fit for me, and am now seeking opportunities with organizations that value employee engagement and collaboration. Thats why Im so excited to be interviewing with insert company name. As you start interviewing and considering new opportunities, keep in mind that youll want to be extra diligent about learning everything you can about the companies youre interviewing with. Be sure to ask specific questions about turnover and company culture during your interview, get your offer and job description in writing, and check out sites like Glassdoor for reviews from real-life employees. NEW JOB DIFFERENT THAN YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD BE?Ugh, thats the worst. The good news is we have a lot of openings to show you. 5. Jump ShipIts perfectly fine to leave a new job after just a few weeks. Sometimes, things just dont work out. Whether you decide to walk away before youve found a new position or youve accepted a great offer with an honest and transparent organization, jumping ship as soon as possible is totally justified. While its a best practice to give at least two weeks notice whenever you quit your job, if the environment is too toxic or youre absolutely miserable, you should be able to leave without giving any advance notice (just be sure to rea d up on your states at-will employment laws first).Regardless of how much notice you decide to give, do your best to keep things professional and cordial. Let your manager know that you appreciate the opportunity, but since its not at all in line with what you thought you were signing on for, its best for everyone if you part ways now. Keep in mind You could easily be burning bridges in this situation, so dont quit that day and walk out the door just for the sake of doing it. Most catfishing incidents can probably be chalked up to poor communication and misunderstandings, but if you feel that an employer intentionally pulled a fast one on you, committed fraud, or breached your contract, seeking legal guidance may be a logical choice. If anything, consider writing a Glassdoor review to help others avoid a similar experience in the future. 6. Move OnIf you were only at a fishy company for a few weeks (or even a couple of months), you probably dont even need to include that employer on your resume. Recruiters and hiring managers are much mora likely to gloss over brief gaps in employment these days- just be prepared to explain if youre ever asked about it. Most importantly, dont beat yourself up. Every experience- good or bad- is an opportunity to learn and grow. Youll now be even more diligent about finding the right role for you moving forwardAfter a couple of weeks at my admissions counselor job, a tense discussion with my manager, and more than a few tears, I decided to move on. I left without giving any notice (which is a story for another time) and dedicated my time to finding a job with an honest, transparent organization. Within a couple of weeks, a family friend reached out to me about an entry-level recruiter opportunity at her company. Feeling a little wary, I asked her tons of questions about the culture and work environment before deciding to apply. Getting to talk to someone that I trusted, who could vouch for the company was a huge relief, and it g ave me enough confidence to ultimately accept an offer for a job I ended up loving. Looking back, recruiting was a much better fit for me than a career in higher education would have been, and Im genuinely thankful that getting catfished helped to push me in the right direction. Theres always something to be learned if you look hard enough for it. Theres no question that discovering the job you were thrilled to start is not at all what you expected is a major letdown, but know that you can walk away if things dont work out, and youll be just fine.