Four-Pound Robots to Rove in Space

Four-Pound Robots to Rove in Space Four-Pound Robots to Rove in Space Astrobotic Technology has a bold business model to make space travel accessible to every country. The lunar logistics company recently took a big step toward that goal with its work on CubeRovers, small robotic rovers for extraterrestrial exploration and experimentation.Standard space exploration tools are behind the walls of big corporations and theyre expensive to buy or develop, says Andrew Horchler, Astrobotic Technologys principal researcher. Were working to develop rovers that can be used by university communities, companies, teams, and governments to explore space.The company has already developed its Peregrine Lander, to deliver payload to lunar surfaces and lunar orbit. The lander measures about eight feet wide by five feet tall.In May, NASA selected the Pittsburgh company and its partner, Carnegie Mellon University, to develop the new class of small, lightweight rovers. The rovers will weigh in at about 4 .5 pounds and will be produced in sizes that vary from about 10 to 20 centimeters tall and widethe better to navigate lunar and planetary surfaces and communicate their findings, Horchler adds. Theyll also contain solar panels to power their operation.To describe the rover program, Horchler called upon the example of CubeSats, miniaturized, inexpensive satellite platforms contained within 10-centimeter cubes. Developed about 20 years ago, they made low-earth-orbit accessible. Since their inception, the technology has helped standardize satellite parts as well as bring down their cost and availability, he says.The CubeRover. Image Astrobotic TechnologyNow CubeSat components and equipment can be bought online and parts can be interchanged with each other, making satellites much mora accessible, Horchler says.The CubeRovers size and standardization will be key to their affordability, and their ability to access areas of planets and their moons elend reachable by regularly sized rovers, says William Red Whittaker, said William Red Whittaker, professor of robotics at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. He founded Astrobotic.Due to the laws of scaling and the concept of miniaturization, CubeRovers perform with as much computing power as their bigger brethren, Whittaker adds.Teams of small rovers can survey more efficiently than a single, large rover. Mission risks can be reduced by spreading capabilities among multiple, low-cost rovers. CubeRovers acting as scouts, for instance, can identify safe paths into regions that are risky for large, expensive rovers, Whittaker says.A big rover muscles its way over terrain while a small one can go around, not just over. They can finesse the terrain, he adds. They also have greater mobility and agility due to their small size.The light, small robots could even be dropped from spacecraft to carry out their missions and report back, without the need for the craft to land on the lunar or planetary surface, Whittaker says.An d because its small, its economical to launch. Because its standard there are common ways to deploy it. And once youre in space, there are common ways for it to be attached to a craft and to communicate and those type of things, he adds.The small rovers could be launched in pairs or teams and could communicate with each other, Horchler says.You could have one rover on a hill talking with another one in a crater that it could communicate with and send that information back to earth, he says. They can go places a large rover cant risk exploring. Because theyre affordable they can be lost.If we figure out how to power them there, they can even explore the dark side of the moon, Horchler adds.Because they have less surface area, CubeRovers can maintain lower temperatures in atmospheres, like that of the moon, where heat isnt transferred from the robot the way it would be on earth, Horchler says.Heat is radiated out when youre on the moon, but its an extremely slow and not an efficient p rocess, he says.Though the CubeSats are more-or-less cube shaped, the CubeRover design wont necessarily follow suit. A boxlike shape isnt usually the best design for a robotic rover, Horchler says.The university has been developing rover technology for decades, Whittaker says, adding that all rovers carry some CMU DNA. Last year, the university unveiled Andy, a four-wheeled robot designed to scramble up steep slopes and survive the temperature swings and high radiation encountered while exploring the moons pits, caves, and polar ice.Whittakers robotics team came up with CubeRover technology as well as its basic design. Astrobotic will continue development. The company will demonstrate a prototype at the end of the year to win continuing NASA funding for development.If all goes as planned, CubeRovers will be roving the moon, Mars, even other planets, and reporting back their findings in the not-too-distant future.Jean Thilmany is an independent writer. For Further Discussion They can go places a large rover cant risk exploring. Because theyre affordable they can be lost.Andrew Horchler, Astrobotic Technology

How to reset your brain and increase mental clarity in just 10 minutes

How to reset your brain and increase mental clarity in just 10 minutesHow to reset your brain and increase mental clarity in just 10 minutesIf you could watch your brain for just five minutes, you would probably freak about the different things you try to understand, process, analyze, retrieve, and commit to memory.Its a complex process. Hundreds of thoughts cross your mind every day.Most people have a tendency to let things build up and procrastinate until they get overwhelmed.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Success, and moreWhen your brain is restless and stressed, you will begin to fall out of healthy routines and habits.But you can fix that.Organize all things in your brain with a braindumpIf youre serious about becoming a wealthy, powerful, sophisticated, healthy, influential, cultured, and unique individual, keep a journal. Jim RohnEver wondered why historys great minds including Isaac Newton, Abraham Lincoln, Andy Warhol, Leonardo Da Vinci, Marcus Aurelius, Charles Darwin, Winston Churchill, jngste im bunde Franklin, Ernest Hemingway, George Bernard Shaw and Maya Angelou would spend so much of their precious time writing things that will never be seen by another soul?Writing things down helps you prioritize, clarify thinking, and accomplish your fruchtwein important tasks, over urgent busy work.Its the best way to clear your thoughts and organize your ideas.Judy Willis MD, a neurologist, and former classroom teacher explainsThe practice of writing can enhance the brains intake, processing, retaining, and retrieving of information it promotes the brains attentive focus boosts long-term memory, illuminates patterns, gives the brain time for reflection, and when well-guided, is a source of conceptual development and stimulus of the brains highest cognition.Want to unload all of those random thoughts swirling about in your head? You need a brain dump-a repository, as it wer e, for all things YOU.What exactly is a braindump?A brain dump is an act of getting all of your thoughts out of your head so you are able to focus on one idea at a time.Its basically a time to organize everything on your mind your worries, questions, needs, wants, important and urgent tasks, and everything on your mind.Those things get stuck in your mind over time, distracting you regularly from the things you need to do.The point of a brain dump is to capture the full picture of everything you need and want to do.This is one of many ways to declutter your mind, and it can be done in a matter of minutes.Its a powerful tool for that can make you feel in control of your life.If you tend to keep all your thoughts and ideas in your head, your brain will keep bringing them up over and over, making you feel overwhelmed.You dont want that, especially if you want mental clarity to focus on your most important things every day.Remove scattered notions from your mind and get them all down, th en organize and follow up with ease.Take a mental load off-its relaxing.Barnet Bain, producer of the Oscar-winning film What Dreams May Come and author of The Book of Doing and Being Rediscovering Creativity in Life, Love, and Work, says a brain dump is a fertile abfluging point for any creative project.When to do a braindumpIf you can manage it, a daily brain dump at the end of the day can prepare you for the next morning.You can get this done in 10 minutes or less.Its the best way to abflug your day without thinking too much about everything you have to do.At the end of each day, look back at what you accomplished, what you learned, what you want to follow-up on tomorrow, and what you want to pursue tomorrow.Aim for 5 to 10 minutes of uninterrupted time to brain dump, ideally the same time every day.If a daily brain dump is not achievable, you can commit to a weekly schedule.You can do it towards the end of each week, on a Thursday or Friday. Its the best time to review your week and note down everything you were able to accomplish and what need to focus on next week.Here are some other times its a good idea to write your thoughts downWhen you have a busy schedule it helps to prioritize your tasks.When you feel overwhelmed. It pays to take a break and reset.When you dont seem to be making progress.When you have a lot of deadlines for work.When you find a big idea. Its the best time to write down a few details.When youre making plans in life and career.When you start learning something new.How do you successfully draindump?Its a simple process.You can use paper, notecards, a whiteboard, a Word document, an electronic device any medium that will let you get ideas out of your brain as quickly as possible.Now, start writing everything down.Dont hold back and dont limit yourself. Let your brain jump aroundCover everything you need to do, should do, have thought about doing, should think about doing, anything and everything without any sort of priority.What is nec essary, important, or urgent?Write it all down.Now step away after the process, and take a minute break.Shortly after your brain dump session, get back to your list and start organizing the items.Start organizing your list, prioritizing, grouping everything youve written down.You may change these groups over time, so just choose the simplest ones to begin with.Mine include writing, self-development, personal projects, friends/family, and relaxation/hobbies. congratulationsYou just finished a brain dumpIts that easy.If you keep practicing, it will become a habit.This may feel overwhelming at the beginning. But youll also feel accomplished and in control with time.Regular brain dumps will help you advance goals and get things doneThis article was originally published by Medium.How to reset your brain and increase mental clarity in just 10 minutesIf you could watch your brain for just five minutes, you would probably freak about the different things you try to understand, process, anal yze, retrieve, and commit to memory.Its a complex process. Hundreds of thoughts cross your mind every day.Most people have a tendency to let things build up and procrastinate until they get overwhelmed.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Success, and moreWhen your brain is restless and stressed, you will begin to fall out of healthy routines and habits.But you can fix that.Organize all things in your brain with a braindumpIf youre serious about becoming a wealthy, powerful, sophisticated, healthy, influential, cultured, and unique individual, keep a journal. Jim RohnEver wondered why historys great minds including Isaac Newton, Abraham Lincoln, Andy Warhol, Leonardo Da Vinci, Marcus Aurelius, Charles Darwin, Winston Churchill, Benjamin Franklin, Ernest Hemingway, George Bernard Shaw and Maya Angelou would spend so much of their precious time writing things that will never be seen by another soul?Writing things down helps you prioritize, clarify thinking, and accomplish your most important tasks, over urgent busy work.Its the best way to clear your thoughts and organize your ideas.Judy Willis MD, a neurologist, and former classroom teacher explainsThe practice of writing can enhance the brains intake, processing, retaining, and retrieving of information it promotes the brains attentive focus boosts long-term memory, illuminates patterns, gives the brain time for reflection, and when well-guided, is a source of conceptual development and stimulus of the brains highest cognition.Want to unload all of those random thoughts swirling about in your head? You need a brain dump-a repository, as it were, for all things YOU.What exactly is a braindump?A brain dump is an act of getting all of your thoughts out of your head so you are able to focus on one idea at a time.Its basically a time to organize everything on your mind your worries, questions, needs, wants, important and urgent tasks, and everything on your mind.Those things get stuck in your mind over time, distracting you regularly from the things you need to do.The point of a brain dump is to capture the full picture of everything you need and want to do.This is one of many ways to declutter your mind, and it can be done in a matter of minutes.Its a powerful tool for that can make you feel in control of your life.If you tend to keep all your thoughts and ideas in your head, your brain will keep bringing them up over and over, making you feel overwhelmed.You dont want that, especially if you want mental clarity to focus on your most important things every day.Remove scattered notions from your mind and get them all down, then organize and follow up with ease.Take a mental load off-its relaxing.Barnet Bain, producer of the Oscar-winning film What Dreams May Come and author of The Book of Doing and Being Rediscovering Creativity in Life, Love, and Work, says a brain dump is a fertile starting point for any creati ve project.When to do a braindumpIf you can manage it, a daily brain dump at the end of the day can prepare you for the next morning.You can get this done in 10 minutes or less.Its the best way to start your day without thinking too much about everything you have to do.At the end of each day, look back at what you accomplished, what you learned, what you want to follow-up on tomorrow, and what you want to pursue tomorrow.Aim for 5 to 10 minutes of uninterrupted time to brain dump, ideally the same time every day.If a daily brain dump is not achievable, you can commit to a weekly schedule.You can do it towards the end of each week, on a Thursday or Friday. Its the best time to review your week and note down everything you were able to accomplish and what need to focus on next week.Here are some other times its a good idea to write your thoughts downWhen you have a busy schedule it helps to prioritize your tasks.When you feel overwhelmed. It pays to take a break and reset.When you don t seem to be making progress.When you have a lot of deadlines for work.When you find a big idea. Its the best time to write down a few details.When youre making plans in life and career.When you start learning something new.How do you successfully draindump?Its a simple process.You can use paper, notecards, a whiteboard, a Word document, an electronic device any medium that will let you get ideas out of your brain as quickly as possible.Now, start writing everything down.Dont hold back and dont limit yourself. Let your brain jump aroundCover everything you need to do, should do, have thought about doing, should think about doing, anything and everything without any sort of priority.What is necessary, important, or urgent?Write it all down.Now step away after the process, and take a minute break.Shortly after your brain dump session, get back to your list and start organizing the items.Start organizing your list, prioritizing, grouping everything youve written down.You may change the se groups over time, so just choose the simplest ones to begin with.Mine include writing, self-development, personal projects, friends/family, and relaxation/hobbies. congratulationsYou just finished a brain dumpIts that easy.If you keep practicing, it will become a habit.This may feel overwhelming at the beginning. But youll also feel accomplished and in control with time.Regular brain dumps will help you advance goals and get things doneThis article was originally published by Medium.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Do HR and Recruiting Have a Language Problem

Do HR and Recruiting Have a Language Problem Do HR and Recruiting Have a Language Problem Really, the language problem Im talking about isnt one specific problem. Its more of a general trend, comprising a constellation of different linguistic issues, and all of behauptung somewhat separate problems overlap. To start, they all stem from the way we use language when it comes to talking or thinking about talent. More importantly, all of these problems lead to the same result critical misunderstandings between employers and employees.The point of language (for the most part) is to communicate - to transfer some piece of information from one person to aelendher. But there seems to be a general trend in HR and recruiting towards using language to do the exact opposite to obscure valuable information instead of share it.As I said above, there are a few different iterations of the overarching trend, and in this deutsche post ag Ill address the three types of language misuse that Ive seen most recently. That being said, Im sure these arent the only ways we mess up. We is the keyword in that sentence - we all make these mistakes, and youll see that the three examples Im writing about are pretty widespread. Also note that, because the language problem is so pervasive, it affects pretty much everyone who takes part in the hiring process HR, employees, recruiters, candidates, etc.1. Talking About the Big Picture, but Rarely Mentioning the BrushstrokesAs Great Place to Work CEO China Gorman pointed out over at TLNT, the American Psychological Associations (APA) 2014 Work and Well-Being Survey brought the disheartening news that only 52 percent of employees trust their employer - or, to use the surveys exact words, believe their employers are open and upfront with them.And it turns out that trust is tied to employee engagement, the feverishly pursued dream of (nearly) every company. To quote the APA study, Employees experienced higher engagement when they had more positi ve perceptions of their employers involvement, growth and development, and health and safety practices, and you cant have positive perceptions of an organization you dont trust, can you?Gorman rightfully points out that we we should focus on trust before we worry about engagement, and what surprised me most about this suggestion was that it was news to me - and Im sure it was news to a lot of people. But shouldnt I have already known that trust was a building block of engagement? Why did that never occur to me?I think its because, in HR and recruiting, we have this tendency to talk in terms of the big picture while glossing over the brushstrokes - the little components that actually build the picture, without which we cant even have a picture. We talk a lot about engagement, but thats an immense concept. The APA survey operates on the following definition of engagement a positive, fulfilling, work-related state of mind that is characterized by vigor, dedication and absorption. The re are a lot of moving parts in such a comprehensive state of mind, but we rarely take the time to talk about those parts.And, when someone asks, Well, how do I achieve employee engagement? the answer is almost always Culture But thats an even bigger concept than engagement - culture is the sum total of all the people in your office, who are themselves the sum totals of everything in their lives, and so on, and so forth. Thats a lot to deal with, but we arent dealing with it. Were trying to build houses without buying bricks (or whatever material you want to make your metaphorical house out of).If we want to do more than bang our heads against walls, we need to follow Gormans lead in breaking down these bigger pictures into their smaller concepts. Engagement is a massive and intimidating concept trust is something we pretty much all understand. Lets work with the things we know now to build the things we dont know yet.2. Our Specialized Terms Can Be BafflingEvery industry has its j argon, and that jargon can be difficult for outsiders to understand drop me off in a biotech lab, and Ill spend the day slack-jawed and utterly numbed by the sheer weight of specialized language.But the HR and recruiting industries are different from biotech whereas an employee in a biotech setting is going to be dealing with other biotech employees who speak the language, HR professionals and recruiters often work with people who are not part of the industry. Therefore, these people dont quite speak the language.So maybe youre an HR person charged with onboarding the new accountant. Maybe youre a recruiter looking to source a Web developer. Whatever the case, youre regularly interacting with people from outside the profession. Whats more, youre using very different language to talk about the same experiences. What you see as dispositioning, for example, the candidate sees as not getting a job.I understand the draw of jargon - it can be useful to have a shared code - but jargon is nt always necessary, and Im not certain its a good choice when your industrys whole purpose is working with outsiders. Plus, using terminology like disposition moves us away from the menschenwrdig beings we work with and into the realm of corporate abstraction. Not to say that you should tell candidates you are no longer considering them for a job by shooting them a sorry, bro email. But alienating, disorienting corporate speak is little better than the black hole of the ATS.3. Disconnecting Words from the Real WorldMuch has been made about whether or not paper resums are obsolete - Ive made some of the commotion myself, with HireArts help - but Im sure there is one thing we can all agree on resums never tell the whole story. Thats why interviews exist.Despite this being nearly universal knowledge, we still rely on ATSs that filter candidates according to keywords. We make lists of words that hiring managers want to see on resums. Its kind of insane, because its like we have so mu ch faith in the power of language that weve taken it to a terrible extreme privileging language over the actual information it represents.Eventually, the connection between language and fact is totally severed. The Careerealism post I linked to above was based on a survey conducted by the Harris Poll. That survey asked hiring managers and HR professionals to rank the best and worst words for job seekers to use on their resums. Not skills. Not experiences. Words.Will the words someone uses on a resum prove their worth as a potential employee? Absolutely not, but weve gotten to a place where we confuse the words with the skills theyre meant to represent - the old map/territory fallacy. Yes, language is an awesome tool for communication, but its supposed to be just that - a tool. A means, and not an end.So What?Language problems are potent they create misunderstandings they spread misinformation they lead to inaction or actively detrimental actions. As HR and recruiting professionals , we either dont pay enough attention to language, or we pay too much attention to it. We need to strike the right balances. We need to break concepts down into manageable, actionable pieces. Our language needs to be human and humane.Of course, we cant just rewrite the HR/recruiting script and start anew tomorrow. These language problems are ingrained in us. What we can do, however, is take a more careful, considerate, and critical approach to the words we use as well as the words people around us are using.

Why Digital Networking Is the New Business Card

Why Digital Networking Is the New Business CardWhy Digital Networking Is the New Business Card Business cards are a waste of money. There, I said it. I know they can look really cool - metal, gold-leaf, embossed, magnetic, doubles as a bottle opener, etc. However, if youre anything like me, your post-network auffhrung timeline goes something like thisDont get me wrong, contact information is incredibly important - office number, cell phone number and email address - but weve moved beyond the traditional geschftsleben card, especially now that nearly all of us carry around a mini-computer in our pockets. Your cell phone provides an even better opportunity to connect with people beyond a 3.5 X 2 piece of paper.To test this theory, Ive gone all inat my last few events. When the obligatory, Do you have a card? question comes up, I answered with, No, I dont carry them anymora - lets connect on LinkedIn, and we did.Instead of handing out business cards (which inevitab ly head for the recycle bin), take the opportunity to digitally connect with someone at your next event or conference .The easiest way to accomplish this is to connect with them on social media. If youre not into social media - although you should be for the sake of your personal brand - its not impossible. Simply exchange a text message or quick email to share your contact information, keeping your conversation top of mind and top of inbox.If you do go the social media route to digitally connect - which I highly recommend - here are my thoughts for digitally connecting on some of the most popular channels.Pros As a site defined as a business and employment-oriented social networking tafelgeschirr mainly used for professional networking, LinkedIn is a great distribution policy to digitally connect. Odds are, your profile can do more for you than just your business card or even your resume .For one, your picture will accompany your contact information. Remember the old adag e, put a face to a name - done. Once connected, they can contact you directly through LinkedIns messaging service. You can also see what other connections the two of you might have in common.Additionally, your new contacts can view your full professional summary and experience that you might not have been able to cover when you initially met. If youve built out your LinkedIn profile thoroughly , you can include links to your portfolio and examples of your work.Cons Its not as much a con as it is a reality, but not everyone has a profile on LinkedIn. And even if they do, some arent very active on the platform. However, your chances are pretty good to make a meaningful connection given the number of professionals on the platform.Pros Connecting on Twitter is easy - one click and youre a follower. Twitter, known as a micro-blogging platform, is the place where many professionals build their personal brands . The ability to include hyperlinks and hashtags quickly and easily in a tweet is a great place for individuals to promote their content.If your new contacts are blogging or publishing content, theyre most likely using Twitter to amplify that content to a larger audience. You can tell a lot about a person by the way they write, so use this as an opportunity to learn more about someone you may not know that much about.Cons A social media post has the shortest lifetime on Twitter - about 15 minutes by some estimates. Ultimately, this means theres a lot of noise (on average, about 6,000 tweets per second) and content can easily get lost. To prevent missing out, you can choose to be notified when a contact publishes a tweet.Twitter is also the place where many people tout their opinions and reactions to certain events or topics, and some people go overboard. A good rule of thumb for networking (digitally or in-person) keep anything religious or political to yourself.Pros If you really hit it off with a new contact, feel free to connect away on Facebook and/or Instagram, as both platforms have the most personal content published.Weve all heard it before, but its worth repeating People do business with people they know, like and trust. Digitally connecting with your contact on Facebook or Instagram allows you to see a more complete, authentic and well-rounded picture of who they are away from the confines of their career.Im friends with several of my business contacts on Facebook and Instagram. This type of networking can provide incredible value and is indicative of the shift were seeing where the lines between our business and personal lives continue to blur.Cons Profiles on both Facebook and Instagram are typically more private than on any other social media network. If you choose to digitally connect on Facebook and/or Instagram, make sure youre fairly confident that your new contact is (1) active on those platforms, and (2) would likely accept the connection request.As with Twitter, some people choose to share things on Fa cebook and Instagram that you might be better off not seeing, so use caution. When in doubt on whether to add a business acquaintance as a friend or follower, stick to LinkedIn and Twitter.It might feel weird going to your next networking event without business cards, but its worth a try. Connecting digitally is best accomplished on social media, but a simple text or email exchange at the event also works well.When you hand over that business card, who knows where it might end up. By networking digitally, whether it be via social media or email , youll help make yourself more memorable and be able to tell a more complete story about who you are and what you do.Chris Skaggs is the head of talent and brand at TSP , a privately-held IT services company, and co-founder and president of Leightons Gift , a non-profit with a mission of turning a tragedy into something positive. Branding, digital marketing, talent acquisition and HR are all functions Chris has developed building teams, pro cesses and strategies from the ground-up. Passionate about giving back, he also serves on the boards of a variety of different organizations. A natural storyteller, Chris work and experiences have been featured on CNN, Marketing Sherpa, CBS Radio, Recruiter.com and Glassdoor. Get connected online, skaggschrisL.

How to Find a Job You Love by Assessing Company Culture

How to Find a Job You Love by Assessing Company CultureHow to Find a Job You Love by Assessing Company CultureHow to Find a Job You Love by Assessing Company CultureLooking for a job match made it heaven? These company culture research tips will help you find your dream job.In both dating and in the job hunt, its all about finding the one someone who not only shares your values but also brings out the best in you. Thats why compatibility with company culture is so important when searching for a job or making a career change. In fact, a recent survey by TopResume found that cultural fit is one of top three factors professionals consider when making a career change and evaluating a potential position.In turn, employers are looking for the same connection with their prospective employees. A Jobvite study found that 60 percent of recruiters rate culture fit of high importance when making a hiring decision.You can have all the right qualifications for a role, but if you dont mesh well wi th the organization and their team, you ultimately wont be successful. Thats why its so critical to learn as much about a prospective employers company culture before you decide to accept their job offer. Its all about learning how to find a job you love. Use these tips below to discover a companys true corporate culture and find your dream job.Search zugnglichOnce youve taken some time to consider what matters most to you in your next role, the next step in your career change or job search is to actively seek out companies that embody those traits. Maybe the things that are most important to you are work-life balance and a companys interest in its employees professional development. Run an online search to uncover lists of companies that are known for these qualities. Develop a target company list based on this and then make a point to regularly check these companies websites for new opportunities. In addition, use this information to set up saved searches for similar companies on your favorite job boards.Seek out referencesDid you know you are 10 times mora likely to land a job when your application is accompanied by an employee referral? Before you apply for a position, take a look at your professional network to see if you know anyone who currently works or previously worked at the organization. Not only could your connections help you avoid the resume black hole, but they could also provide you with valuable insights into the company culture and the hiring process you wont find anywhere else. Use the information you gain from your contacts to (1) determine if the company is a good fit for you, and (2) help you prepare you for interviews with the organization.Revisit the companys websiteThe internet is full of resources that can help you get a better sense of a companys culture before you even set foot in the interview room. Start by revisiting the companys site, particularly their Careers section. Today, many organizations are investing in what is referre d to as employer branding to provide prospective candidates with a better understanding of what its like to work at the company. Be on the lookout for videos, employee testimonials, information about the companys mission, and any social media accounts that are dedicated to the companys recruiting efforts. In addition, check to see if they have a company profile on The Muse. These will help you gauge the corporate culture and decide if the company work environment and its values are right for you.Related Is This Company Right for You? Run a Social Media Check to Find OutFind out what others are saying about themWhen making a career move, dont forget to check online for company reviews. Im not just talking about the reviews youll find on sites like TrustPilot and the Better Business Bureau, though those are also worth looking at. Find out what former and current employees are saying about their employers, the company culture, and the interview process on sites like Glassdoor, CareerBl iss, and Vault. This is especially useful if you dont know anyone who works at the company who can share their firsthand experiences.Take these reviews with a grain of salt, however. Disgruntled employees are much more likely to post a review than someone whos happy with their job. Also, many companies actively encourage their newest employees to post reviews while theyre still in the honeymoon stage of their employment.Set up Google News AlertsWhether youre interested in learning more about a target company or youre preparing for an upcoming interview, Google News Alerts are a great way to stay in the know about your field and its major players. You can easily create an alert for a specific company to learn how theyre being portrayed in the news and what initiatives theyre currently involved with. While this wont give you deep insights into the company culture, it will help you understand how they are perceived by the media and see any strategic decisions that have been made availa ble to the public.Prepare questions for your interviewIf you want to find your dream job, remember that the interview process should be a two-way street. Just as the company is evaluating you and your skills for their role, its your job to ask questions during the interview process to get a better sense of the position, the hiring managers expectations, and the company culture so you can decide if its the right position for you. Here are some great examples of questions to ask in order to understand what its really like to work at the companyIf you could describe your corporate culture in three words, what would you say and why?Whats one thing thats integral to this companys success that an outsider wouldnt know about?How do I get access to the information I need to be successful in this job?What kinds of people are successful here? What kinds of people have either fizzled out, failed, or left?How does the company recognize employee accomplishments?Take note of your surroundingsWhen youre brought in for an interview, pay close attention to whats going on around you. Ask yourself the following questionsWhat does the waiting room look like?How is the receptionist treated by those who work at the company?How is the arbeitszimmer decorated? How are the workspaces arranged?Do people have pictures and other personal effects on their desks, or are their workspaces pretty sterile?Is there a break room or kitchen in sight? Are people eating at their desks or leaving the office for lunch?All of these little details provide clues into the corporate company culture and what you can expect, should you try to find a job you love and accept an offer from this organization.Related5 Ways to Evaluate Company Culture During a Job InterviewEvaluate the interview processConsider how you were treated during the interview process. Did the recruiter reschedule your interview three times before finally getting you into the office? Did most of the interviewers seem prepared for your me eting, or did they appear to be thrown into the mix at the last minute? When you asked each interviewer specifics about the job and what would be required of the person who accepted it, were their answers somewhat consistent or did they vary greatly?Your treatment during the interview process is often an indication of what you will face at the company if you decide to work there. Click on the following link from Monster for additional questions to ask yourself when evaluating the interview experience.Click on the following link for more job-search advice.Will your resume get you into the interview room? Get a free resume critique to find out.Recommended ReadingWhat Kind of Work Culture Works for You?Positive Personal References Are a Powerful ToolCorporate Culture and How Its Impacted by Leadership StylesRelated Articles

What Is So Fascinating About What to Put in a Resume?

What Is So Fascinating About What to Put in a Resume? It would be terrible to eliminate a chance for an amazing job as you misspelled a couple of words. Make sure you add in anything you think might be helpful to the position. A superb means to determine keywords that are applicable to the circumstance is to highlight the most essential words in the work listing. Your tone of voice will be related to the tone of the organization youre seeking to hire with as well. Your purpose is to prove youre the very best person for the job. Think of what youd say in an objective, and choose whether its well worth losing for only a few added lines of white space. The effort which you put in up front can make all of the difference to whether you really get the job that you want. It is possible to come to be awesomely optimized resumes and youll make your life simpler Most employers dont have the opportunity to read paragraphs about you. As soon as its very important to your resume to inc orporate a very clear career goal, you dont need to convey it through an Objective section. Possessing a crystal clear and professional resume is important in the medical field. You are able to develop your very own professional resume with a couple easy steps by abiding by the templates that are provided for you. What to Put in a Resume for Dummies When choosing a resume it is much simpler to choose one thats offered in Microsoft Word format for you to customize. Last, you can link out to examples of your work, social networking channels, or another website. Speaking of social networking, you also will need to know the basics of a content calendar. Creating several different resume versions will also enable you to put resume headlines and taglines at the peak of your document--increasing your resumes appeal to the perfect audience. What Does What to Put in a Resume Mean? If you have to make an effective human resources resume or cv that could get you an interview with empl oyers then you have to look closely at your objective statement. If youre uncertain how to begin listing achievements for a resume, do just a little brainstorming. Despite the fact that you dont need to duplicate all the info in your resume, you should restate your key qualifications. Its possible to also attend a national on-line webinar. Then you know that you are in need of a great resume. The peak of your resume is prime real estate, and that means you dont squander it by utilizing vague filler material. The images size part of what things to devote a resume was pixels. The photographs size element of what things to devote a resume was pixels. Even when youre pursuing different kinds of jobs, your Profile should have a sensible match for every one of your targets. Transportation jobs involve a great absprache of responsibility and your resume will want to reflect you can deal with that. Why Almost Everything Youve Learned About What to Put in a Resume Is Wrong There are a really good deal of fashions, formats and forms of resumes to choose from. Youll be requested to explain the majority of the points and especially the relevant accomplishments. There are lots of styles, formats and kinds of resumes to pick from. Life After What to Put in a Resume The major advantage is it helps your resume stand out. There are lots of resources available if youre interested in the chance of employment regarding obtaining a job or even opening your own company. If you need to have an objective, make certain its the perfect one. In truth, it might be appropriate to incorporate a mora prominent core competencies section at the peak of your resume with thorough descriptions of certain skills if theyre absolutely central to success in the desired position. What to Put in a Resume - the Story If you have lots of experience, you will need to trim a number of that fat anyway. Yes, theres a good deal of choice but not all them are likely to be fit for your demands. There are other means to use dollar figures too. To begin with, deciding on what skills to put on a resume is far more important and probably a little more complicated than you believe. Top What to Put in a Resume Choices Salesperson the work description like your resume is dependent on it. A resume summary is a short and strong description of your abilities and achievements, usually found at the very top of your resume. Writing a resume for employment in the art industry can be difficult. Beginning work search and locating a new career is a significant undertaking for virtually any work seeker.

Attracting Talent to Job Openings - May 2015 Roundup

Attracting Talent to Job Openings - May 2015 RoundupIn the month of May, our hiring and recruiting roundup theme is how recruiters and hiring professionals attract talent to their job openings. Just as April showers are needed in order to grow May flowers, companies need great talent in order to grow their organization. Attracting general talent can be simple, but attracting the right kind of talent with the skills and cultural fit youre looking for can be tricky.Throughout the month, we collected highly informative and useful blog posts that touch on this topic. We know youre busy and might not have time to read through each and every article in its entirety, so we summed up each article to give you a taste of what was discussed in each one.Try unterstellung Trends to Attract Top TalentWith company competition on the rise, which steps do organizations take in order to stand out from the rest? Is it their vacation policy? In-office benefits like catered lunches or weekly massages? Ac cording to Amelia Wilcox, founder of Incorporate Massage, culture is what attracts top talent. But how can we create an inviting and meaningful culture?This article highlights six trending perks that many companies are including in their benefits packages. Among the trends mentioned include, corporate retreats, fun competitions, volunteering programs, and in-house rock climbing walls.And if you dont have the budget to install a rock wall in your lobby (like most of us), your organization can also opt for weekly outings to the local rock climbing facility. Anything to get your employees more involved, working toward teamwork both inside and outside of the office is key here.With company competition on the rise, which steps do youtake in order to stand out? HiringTrendsClick To Tweet3 Tired and True Ways to Attract Top TalentThis blog post written by Spark Hires CEO, Josh Tolan, explains three innovative ways recruiting professionals go about attracting top talent.Katrina Collier of W inning Impression, suggests using social media to map candidates interests to start a hyper-focused conversation. Connecting to your potential candidates this way is huge when looking at recruiting success, as the candidate will feel their interests matter to you.Amy Rees Anderson of REES Capital, gives out recruiting cards in order to attract the right attitude (rather than skill) needed for positions. These cards are given to employees to distribute to people they find out and about who possess the personality they think will be suitable for their office.Interview coach, Margaret Buj hosts networking events in order to meet candidates who are interested in a new opportunity. These informal events bring out highly qualified, and sometimes passive talent and proved to be incredibly successful.How do you go about attracting top talent? TopTalentClick To TweetHow to Attract Talent to a Small CompanyWhile big geschftslebenes can attract talent by offering brand-name recognition and sou ght out perks, how will small businesses grow without the top talent they need? This article includes some tips on how recruiters can communicate small business benefits to their candidates.Let it be clear that working for a small company can actually be more helpful on a resume than working for a large company. For example, in a smaller company, employees are more likely to work on a range of projects projects they might not have the opportunity to touch while working for a large company with minimal growth.How can recruiters communicate small business benefits to candidates?Click To TweetFollow the Leader How Successful Companies Attract TalentThis article is published in ERE MEDIA TLNT, written by Ian Cameron, Managing Director of The McQuaig Institute. This data-backed article summarizes a survey called The McQuaig Global Talent Recruitment Survey 2015 with insights from more than 450 HR professionals around the world.This report gives some insight on how Winners companies are attracting talent and what Strugglers organizations need help with in regards to sourcing talent. Some key findings conclude both groups are investing in employee training, and consider candidates with potential to develop desired skills. However, the Winners are searching for candidates on social media through social recruiting tools (LinkedIn), while the Strugglers are not.Is your company a Winner or a Struggler? AttractTopTalentClick To TweetOptimize the Recruitment Process, Maximize Hiring SuccessOne of our partners, Greenhouse, posted a blog about how to successfully attract top talent by optimizing the recruitment process. How do we optimize our recruitment process? First, they mention how important tracking a candidates ROI is for a focused recruiting strategy. This will help determine where youre getting more bang for your buck in terms of which sourcing methods you are using.Next, in order to proceed with the best talent, be sure to ask each candidate the saatkorn questions to evaluate skill gaps. Lastly, instead of asking canned interview questions, try opening the conversation by discussing company challenges and goals. This will give more insight on how interested the candidate is in the company and encourages real-world solutions.Great tips from Greenhouse on optimizing your recruitment process for hiring successClick To TweetIf you found this helpful, get your daily dosage of talent acquisition-rich content by subscribing to the Spark Hire newsletter, and be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Feel free to suggest content to be highlighted in the June roundup by commenting below.

5 Big Reasons Why Self-Evaluation Should Be Part of Your Year-End Planning

5 Big Reasons Why Self-Evaluation Should Be Part of Your Year-End Planning5 Big Reasons Why Self-Evaluation Should Be Part of Your Year-End PlanningWhen you think about year-end planning, you might be concentrating on taxes, payroll, or closing the books. But theres another part of your year in review thats equally as important self-evaluation.Now is the perfect time to assess where you are, audit where youve been, and prepare for where youre going next. No matter where you are in your career, taking stock of your accomplishments to date will benefit you in many ways.1. Boost your own morale.Reflecting on what youve done to improve yourself and the quality of your work does wonders to further strengthen your motivation and self-esteem. Make a list of networking and professional development events you attended, self-help books you read, and other efforts you made to get healthy, stay organized or reduce stress.2. Brag a little bit.Outlining your specific accomplishments this year, fro m boosting the bottom line to completing projects and initiating new ideas, will help you build confidence so youre better prepared to articulate your strengths or even re-negotiate your compensation.3. Build your skills.Somewhere along the way, you may have missed a beat. By examining the areas where you struggled with challenges, you can identify opportunities to refine your tactics or learn new techniques to enhance your expertise.4. Bring your resume up to date.Job security can be fleeting, so a thoughtful self-evaluation will give you all the particulars you need to revise your qualifications and ensure your resume and online profiles are always at the ready just in case.5. Be all that you can be.No matter how successful youve been this year with exceeding goals and tackling task lists, you might still be feeling unfulfilled. Dont forget to evaluate what was really exciting about your year and what brought you the most personal reward. Where might you see untapped potential or a new passion to explore?Dont rush your self-evaluation this part of year-end planning doesnt have a hard deadline. Take plenty of time to enjoy the exercise and you might learn something new about yourself. If you wrestled with remembering what you did all year, make that a goal for next year to keep more detailed records and make progress notes for yourself each month.

You need these people in your life

You need these people in yur lifeYou need these people in your lifeIllustrations by John P. Weiss.The flight was turbulent, and I was fairly new to air travel. With each bump and strain of the jet engines, my heart lurched and I felt a sense of dread.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraI was flying to a convention of editorial cartoonists in Minnesota. Excited as I was to piste out with other cartoonists, the rough flight put me in a state of high anxiety.There was a calm looking fellow across from me, who could tell I was a white knuckle flier.Dont fly much? he asked with a smile.No, this is my third flight, ever. I dont like heights, and I hate turbulence I gripped the armrests on my seat tightly.If you like, I might be able to help a little, he said. Give me your right hand.Happy for any distraction, I complied.Im a massage therapist and specialize in pulling out negative energy, he said as he began kneading his thumbs into the palm of my hand. Just try to relax, breathe, and feel the stress work out.Being a fairly pragmatic guy, I was skeptical of anyone claiming mystical abilities, but I went along with it anyway.The guy started to work on my fingers. As he reached each fingertip, he let go and then shook his hand, as if releasing the negative energy he pulled out from each finger.It was strangely relaxing. He finished and then asked for my other hand, repeating the same process.People store so much stress inside themselves, and they dont know how to get rid of it, he said. You have to learn how to breathe better, clear your mind, calm yourself and let the stress work itself out.I think a lot of the stress will disappear when we land, I said with a smile.No, youve got other stress in your hands. I can feel it. You need to work on that, too.When he said that, I thought about some of the relationships and work-related challenges I was working on. Still not traktament on the mystical stuff, I was amazed how much he helped me calm down. And he was right about the other stress in my life.After he finished the hand massage, we talked for a bit about travel and our work. Before I knew it, we were preparing to land, and I thanked him for helping me out.Put on our happyfaceIn this day and age of digital distractions, we tend to disappear into our smartphone screens rather than talk to strangers.Walk into any coffee shop and look around you. Most people waiting in line are busy scrolling on their phones. Some customers may be engaged in conversation, but many are glued to their laptops and tablets.People tend to avoid having conversations with strangers, whether in a coffee shop or commuting on public transportation.Many fear that theyll say something dumb, or worry that the other person will talk their ear off. In reality, there are many benefits in striking up a conversation with a stranger.When we talk with loved ones and friends, we often use a sort of shorthand. Our conversations can be more superficial.Talking with a stranger is different. We tend to behave our best. As anarticlein the New York Times notesThe great thing about strangers is that we tend to put on our happy face when we meet them, reserving our crankier side for the people we know and love. When one of us, Liz, was in graduate school, she noticed that her boyfriend, Benjamin, felt free to act grumpy around her. But if he was forced to interact with a stranger or acquaintance, he would perk right up. Then his own pleasant behavior would often erase his bad moodTalking with strangers can change our perspectives. Meeting people who are not like us is a great way to broaden our views, and shatter some of our biases. And best of all, it enhances our mood.The ethics of strangersAs the world seems to feel more and more insular and hostile, Ive found increasing hope and pleasure in talking to strangers. Ive discovered that people really arent that different from one another.When I visit the grocery store, I always make a point to chat with the cashier. Even the smallest of conversations seem to make both myself, and the cashier, feel a little better.Looks like you guys are pretty busy today, Ill offer.Yeah, it gets like this before the weekend, the cashier replies.Bet it makes the shift go by faster, though.Yeah, it really does, the cashier says with a smile.Well thanks very much, Ill catch you next time, Ill say.What I find is that, on subsequent visits, the cashier and I will remember one another, and often jump right into a new conversation. Theres a sense of familiarity and friendliness, which improves both our moods.My wife once told me about something she called Greyhound therapy. When I looked at her quizzically, she explainedYou know, when youre on a bus and you strike up a conversation with a total stranger. And before long you find yourself sharing feelings and thoughts that you maybe never even shared with your closest frie nds.The beauty of strangers is that they dont know us. Were free from all pretensions and can engage in a more honest, direct conversation. Sometimes its just easier to talk with a stranger, who is not invested in a relationship with you. Also, the feedback you get is likely to be more honest....sometimes one feels freer speaking to a stranger than to people one knows. Why is that?Probably because a stranger sees us the way we are, not as he wishes to think we are.? Carlos Ruiz Zafn, The Shadow of theWindWhen we express simple pleasantries with strangers like hello or how are you we are not really asking for an answer. The purpose of the salutation is to acknowledge their presence and humanity. It builds goodwill and a sense of peace and community.Beautiful interruptionsWe are brought up to be careful, even fearful around strangers. While it is true that we cannot know the intentions of every stranger, most people we meet are not out to harm us.The trick is to read the behavior of o thers more than the categories in our heads. We use categories to simplify how we perceive the world. A guy in a uniform is a cop. The stooped over, wrinkled fellow with a cane is an old man.The problem with these categories is that they can become a pathway to bias. Without talking to these strangers, we dont know what they are really like. And we might just miss out on their wisdom, charm or unique personality.The cop on the corner might be into jazz music as much as you are. That old man with the cane might have some advice for you on how to absprache with loneliness, or losing your spouse.Author Kio Stark gave a helpfulTed talkabout why you should talk to strangers. As she notesWhen you talk to strangers, youre making beautiful interruptions into the expected narrative of your daily life?- ?and theirs. -KioStarkA whole newworldWhen my son was young, he was riding his bike home from school. Somehow, he lost control of his bike and flew over the handlebars.As he lay on the sidewal k, a few strangers came running to his aid. They helped him up, asked if he was okay, and checked to see if his bike was damaged. Luckily, only my sons pride was hurt.I remember, when he told me about the incident, the sense of pride I felt in my community and the good-hearted people who came to help my son.As a police officer, I often came to the aid of accident victims. I could always see it in their eyes, even when they were too scared or injured to speak. The look of gratitude. The relief that someone cared. The renewed sense of hope, that perfect strangers look out for one another.We need strangers in our lives more than we think, but we tend to ignore them. Fear of crime, embarrassment or the unknown keeps us avoiding eye contact. We reach for the distractions of our phone screens.What if we tried a little harder to interact with strangers? What if we struck up a few more friendly conversations? At the market, coffee shop or bus stop?Doing so just might open up a whole new wor ld. Every human being you meet is a walking historian of their lives and experiences. You never know what you might learn, or how your own story might inspire them.Researchindicates that interacting with strangers can uplift your mood and improve your day. So the next time youre at the market or in a line at Starbucks, strike up a conversation with someone you dont know. You might be pleasantly surprised by how good it will make you feel.Before yougoImJohn P. Weiss.I draw cartoons, paint landscapes and write about life. Thanks for readingThis article first appeared on Medium.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Which Phone Number Should I Put on My Resume

Which Phone Number Should I Put on My ResumeWhich Phone Number Should I Put on My Resume?Which Phone Number Should I Put on My ResumeThe first phone call you receive from a potential employer will likely be a phone screen or a brief phone interview. The point of contact you provide them will dictate how prepared you are to answer their calls and talk to them on the spot.I could say that it doesnt matter which phone number you provide as long as youre available to answer, check messages, and return calls the same day. But its not quite that simple. Heres how to decide which phone number is best for you to put on your resumeWork PhonePros NoneCons Besides being a poor representation of your work ethic (would you use company resources to conduct a job search at your new company, too?), colleagues could overhear your private job search conversations. If word gets around that youre looking, you could find yourself dismissed from your current job before youre prepared to move on to the nex t.Home PhoneProsA solid, uninterrupted connection, free of static and dropped calls that are so prevalent with cell phones.You take the call on your time, in your own comfortable environment.ConsIf anyone else has access to the phone, theres no telling what that person might say. When employers call, they expect to talk to you and only you. (This also applies to children or babies answering the phone, which gives away details of your personal life that should be saved until after you abflug the new job).You can only answer calls and review messages when youre home.Your cute/quirky/sarcastic answering machine message catches the employer off guard and makes an unprofessional impression before they get to talk with you for the first time. Tip If you use your home phone, change your answering machine message to play just your name and number for the duration of your job search.Cell PhoneProsYou can answer, return, and screen calls from wherever you are.You control who answers your phon e.Depending on where you are, you can make time to talk to an employer by stepping outside or into a quiet hallway. You could also hop in your (parked) car to conduct a midday phone interview.If you miss the call, you can call the employer back quickly versus missing the call on a home phone and waiting until the next day to return it.Cons Bad service spots, dropped calls, static, and the dreaded constant interruption. Example You think the person has stopped talking, so you begin to respond and they start talking over you at the same time. Result Repeated awkward moments of Im sorry? I missed that or What was that? You go first.Overall, your decision should be based on what youre most comfortable with and how professional you want to appear. But whatever you do, do NOT use your work phone number