Solar Parking

Solar Parking Solar Parking Solar ParkingYou probably havent parked under a heated tensile fabric structureor even heard that phrase beforebut you likely will in the not-too-distant future. One company that produces cloth that incorporates flexible, thin-film photovoltaics into the material is seeing its products increasingly mounted over parking lots and other environments while another company uses a similar material to create tents that can be deployed by humanitarian aid workers.Take the case of business park owner Clearbell Capital LLP of London. A few years ago, the company sought a way to turn the parking lots outside 15 of its business parks into solar structures. The company wanted to continue the low-carbon footprint used within the parks office buildings. But it sought a flexible and attractive parking cover that would blend into surrounding settings that were both industrial and natural, says Natasha Prior, business manager at the Solar Cloth Co.Clearbell Capital eventual ly turned to Priors company of Cambridge, UK, for a solution. The Solar Cloth Co. makes flexible, solar modules bonded to lightweight fabric or plastic that can be rolled and fit onto curved and flexible structures. The modules are comprised of thin film photovoltaics lightweight, flexible, solar panels, Prior says.Perry Carroll, founder of Solar Cloth Company. Image Kate Warner / Wikimedia CommonsThe Solar Cloth Co. calls its technology tensile photovoltaics. The cloth can take solar applications into areas where traditional silicon panels wont work or arent practical, Prior adds.Under the tensile fabric now topping the Clearbell Capital lots, the cars stay warm during the workday.With this background in the yachting industry, Solar Cloth Co. owner Perry Carroll first began work on a solar sail, also traktement by the company and used to power electrical devices on the yacht. The principles behind the yacht sail and solar cloth are the same, Carroll says.The solar cloth does come w ith tradeoffs. While the thin-film photovoltaics weigh much less than conventional solar panels, they produce 15 percent less power than generated by the current generation panels, says Natasha Prior, the companys business manager.The modules within the fabric produce power for around 20 years, she adds.The Solar Cloth covers a car park near Cambridge, England. Photo credit Solar Cloth Co.The company uses a photovoltaic technology called copper indium gallium selenide.This is very different from the silicon solar that people are used to seeing on roofs, Prior says. The CIGS panels are lightweight and flexible, meaning that they can be installed on curved or non-load bearing roofs where other solar would not be suitable.CIGS thin-film solar cells are created by depositing a thin layer of copper, indium, gallium, and selenide on glass or plastic backing along with electrodes on the front and back to collect current. Because they strongly absorb sunlight, the solar cells can be made fr om a thinner film than other types of cells, according to a statement from Solar Frontier Kabushiki, a Tokyo, Japan, photovoltaic company that makes thin film solar films through the CIGS process.The panels absorb light for long periods, so they generate energy from dawn until dusk, and capture light on cloudy days. They also have a higher shading tolerance, meaning they can be installed in tricky locations that may not face south and may be shaded by trees or surrounding buildings, a feature Clearbell Capital sought as many of its lots are partially shaded, Prior adds.The number of flexible solar modules bonded within one foot of the solar cloth depend on the design and the size of the installation, Prior says.The PowerShade The company is not alone in manufacturing flexible, solar fabrics, though the market is relatively open. A tent, the PowerShade, made from a similar-style fabric from PowerFilm Inc. of Ames, Iowa, can generate one kilowatt of energy. In addition to keeping its occupants warm, the material could help power emergency equipment at short notice in remote places during humanitarian or natural disasters, says a PowerFilm Inc. spokesperson.For commercial use, one hindrance to solar panel adoption is that they can be difficult to install and integrate with existing architecture functionally and aesthetically, Prior says.Flexible solar cloth overcomes all of these problems and can add real value to existing and upcoming sites, Prior adds.A ten-square-meter solar cloth weighs around 7.3 pounds, much less than conventionalsolar panels, which, to cover the same space, would weigh between 35 and 48 pounds, Prior says. Clearbell Capital, for example, implemented the tensile technology because it was lighter weight and less expensive than traditional solar cell technology, she says.Solar Cloth recently merged with Base Structures, a fabric manufacturer in Bristol, England. Prior says she anticipates a range of colorful solar cloth with the merger.Its ge tting to be like you dont even know youre looking at a solar installation, she says.Jean Thilmany is an independent writer.Learn about the latest energy solutions at ASMEs Power Energy Conference and Exhibition. For Further DiscussionThis is very different from the silicon solar that people are used to seeing on roofs. The CIGS panels are lightweight and flexible, meaning that they can be installed on curved or nonload-bearing roofs where other solar would not be suitable.Natasha Prior, Solar Cloth Co.

5 Ways You Can Develop Your Career While In College

5 Ways You Can Develop Your Career While In College5 Ways You Can Develop Your Career While In CollegeThe days are getting shorter, and the leaves have begun to change colors and fall. Youve wrapped up that summer job, said goodbye to your family and are heading back to college. Dont let the excitement of seeing your friends and beginning classes distract you from an important task building your resume. While the economy is recovering from the 2008 recession and unemployment rates are improving, for recent graduates (ages 20-24), the situation can still be quite frustrating. The unemployment rate for recent grads is at about 5%, but 45% are underemployed, working in low-skilled and low-paying roles. Follow these five tips for building your career prior to graduation.Get a part time job or internshipAccording to a report in the Chronicle of Higher Education, employers say that internships and employment during college are the two most important factors they consider on a recent colleg e graduates resume. Worried about your class load? Consider working on campus in a library or computer center where you can use downtime to work on your homework or explore the many opportunities to work part-time for only a few hours a week in close proximity to your campus.Build mentor relationships with professorsReferences are invaluable during job search, particularly when you dont have a long and storied work history to lean on. In fact, 69% of employers have said that they have changed their minds about a candidate after speaking with a reference. Do everything that you can to cultivate relationships that could result in positive references of your work ethic, character and interests. A great place to start for such relationships is in the classroom with your professors or teaching assistants.Attend networking events with alumniWhile its important to get your resume up-to-date and to apply to jobs online on sites such as Simply Hired, its also in your best interest to get out and mingle and network with working professionals. More than 70% of people land jobs through such networking. A great place to start is your college or universitys career services center. Many schools post alumni networking events that you can attend or will pair you with a mentor.Get involved on campusGrades are not everything. Academics are important, but your GPA will not get you a job. Make sure youre involved on campus join clubs, organizations and anything that interests you. For students who dont have the opportunity to work throughout college, school clubs and organizations are a great way to build your resume. It can be particularly impressive if you maintain a consistent membership in a select few organizations and take leadership roles when possible. This will not only help you gain useful skills, it will also provide you with a marketable work history of sorts.Volunteer for a worthy causeIn the midst of all of this resume-building, networking and career-focused work, ta ke moment and give back to a cause that resonates with you. Volunteering will simultaneously provide you with an opportunity to do the aforementioned things, introducing you to interesting people with whom you can network, and it will allow you to gain new skills. Not to mention, volunteering will also give you a bit of perspective.Your college years are a great time to learn, grow and discover who you are. However, theyre also an opportunity to ensure your future, so dont lose focus of your goal to love what you do.

The magic potion that will save you from procrastination

The magic potion that will save you from procrastinationThe magic potion that will save you from procrastinationHere is the magic anti-procrastination potion for youAn Ounce of Self-analysisAs much as you cannot base your work habits on motivation alone?- ?its important to examine your deep desires and follow them.Becoming productive for the sake of productivity will not cut the mustardFollow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreWe are social animals. According to Jim Rohn, one of the finest business philosophers of the 20th century, our motivations come down to different groups of people.Some people are motivated by their social status in the eyes of their peers, some want to impress their mentors, others do all they can do for their families. The belastung category of motivation applies to the wellbeing of humanity as a whole.You need also to take an inventory of your talents, strengths, and passions. We are naturally drawn to activities that we excel at. I have many talents, but I welches never attracted to art. I suck at painting and every other artistic activity.Daily habit JournalingEvery morning I write half a page in my calendar ruminating about my ambitions, fears, struggles and hopes. Do it every day and you will quickly create a base for the overarching self-awareness about your purpose and strengths.A Pound ofBasicsEverybody wants to be more productive, butvery fewpeople take care of their wellbeingfirst.You need a healthy body, mind and spirit to function optimally. Instead of focusing on mastering a time management framework, most of us would do better by simply getting enough sleep.The same goes with spiritual practices. Everybody wants to have infinite motivation, but very few try to regularly reach the only infinite Source with their prayers. I am an Energizer Bunny Ive worked insane hours for the last six years, but I draw my motivation from the divi ne, from Someone so much bigger than me.Daily habitsThus, I urge you to focus on basics first. Sleep enough, pray, exercise, read, hydrate yourself properly, train your mind, eat whole foods.Cover the basics, then think about productivity.One Dose ofWhyIts good that whatever you do connects with a bigger picture. Its also good to have a very personal motive for any particular goal you pursue.Part of Jim Rohns goal setting exercise was to ask yourself why you want to achieve this goal and if your answer doesnt sound convincing you shouldneverstart at the first place.I watchedan excellent videowhere comedian Michael Jr. asked a guy from the audience what he does.The man responded that hes a music teacher. Michael Jr. asked him if he could sing. The guy sang a few lines of Amazing Grace pretty well. Then the speaker asked him to sing like his Uncle just got out of jail and he was shot in the back. The guy sang SO much better with this why.Daily habitrefer to your personal mission state mentEvery morning I look at my vision board based on my personal mission statement. I also repeat my mission statement in my mind as soon as I open my eyes.My personal mission statement is my compass for life, something that deeply motivates me. Its not a temporary whim and it deeply connects with who I want to become.Oh, you need towrite your mission statementfirst, of course.A Pinch of SmartnessYou know, all of this time management mumbo-jumbo. It really makes sense, when you focus on your why first and cover the basics.Daily habitsplatzdeckchen only one priority for a given day. Tackle it first, before doing anything else.Keep a detailed time journal for two weeks.Write down all your projects.Break down bigger tasks into smaller chunks and repeat the process until each task is broken into its smallest subtasks.Prioritize and serialize the subtasks, taking note of interdependencies and tasks that have a specific order.Prioritize your to-do items and block time for each task.Take o n the hardest task first each day.Exercise stepping out of your comfort zone.Prepare a list of filler activities in advance dont spend your energy on wondering what to do next when you have a few minutes to spare.Break big tasks into smaller chunks, so you can do them in the meantime.Use the Pomodoro technique.Reward yourself after doing the work.Take often breaks.An ounce of self-analysis, a pound of basics, one dose of why and a pinch of smartness. It works like magic. Procrastination doesnt stand a chance.This article first appeared on Medium.

Well-Paid Careers for People with Performing Arts Degrees

Well-Paid Careers for People with Performing Arts DegreesWell-Paid Careers for People with Performing Arts DegreesIf you went to college and majored in Performing Arts, only to discover theatre, TV, and film is not for you, do not worry. There are plenty of options if you are seeking well-paid careers in which your performing arts degree will help you.Lets face it. The United States is responsible for 84% of the worlds media. So, an understanding of the media is always beneficial in todays world. You can also get some really good paying jobs, too.Lawyer Average Salary $160KBelieve it or not, when I was in college for my Performing Arts Degree, our group of majors was scouted by several law schools. While some students were thinking, This will help me when I get on Law Order, other students were listening to why the law school chose to scout actors.The main reason? Lawyers who know how to sway the emotions of a jury have a better aussicht at winning cases. Lawsuits and trials are dr amatic by nature, and any lawyer who understands performing and drama is better equipped to memorize facts, scripts, and speeches.They are better at presenting facts than someone who is dull, nervous, and unfeeling. Myself, I know several lawyers with well-paid careers who were inspired by the film, To Kill a Mockingbird.Judge Average Salary $175K - $225KJudges often have a great verstndigung im strafverfahren of charisma and understand people better than anyone. The profession of Performing Arts is all about studying the performance of life. And the performance of life is playing out in front of the judge every day. The judge has to maintain control over all of it.Judges have to maintain order in their own courtroom over lawyers, jury, courtroom officers, plaintiffs, and defendants. They are all there to either argue or maintain control. And the judge must be sharp enough to spot certain behaviors and respond justly.Performers are known for charisma, dealing with audiences, confid ence in dramatic situations, and captivating attention. Judges are required to do the same thing. See for yourself the next time you have jury duty.Meteorologist Average salary $100,000There is a difference between a TV Weather Presenter and a Meteorologist. One is a performer, and the other is a scientist.If you are that excited scientist with that desire for drama you can explore being a TV weather presenter. You will actually be paid more because you have a deeper understanding of how to present. You also have a love for the science of Meteorology, so your predictions and explanations may be more exciting to watch and listen.TV weather presenters, on average, make $20K less than scientists in the field of performing weather knowledge to millions. Meteorologists can also have well-paid careers working for the government.Politicians Average salary $150K - $400KPolitics and media go hand-and-hand in the United States. Politicians spend a great deal of time meeting new people, goin g on interviews, and campaigning. They ideally represent the people and have to argue on behalf of them. More so, they have to win elections to stay employed. That means winning people over with charisma, looks, ability to make a point, and overall likeability.Performing Arts Degrees also involve courses on the reality of how people are perceived, based on clothes, looks, age etc. It can be an unforgiving business. And politicians are not exempt from these standards. Knowing how to get a point across in the media has been important since the dawn of radio.The ranges for your well-paid careers in politics can vary from Federal, State, and Local politics. Here are the salaries at the very peak of a politicians career in Federal GovernmentCongress Members (Representatives and Senators) $175KSenate and House Majority/Minority Leaders $195KCabinet Members $200KSpeaker of the House $225KVice President $230KPresident $400KLocal and state politicians salary vary greatly. In the US, the high est paying jobs in state politics goes to the governor, ranging between $150K and $190K.The lowest paid politicians salary known is a state representative from New Hampshire, who makes $100 (dollars) a year. As you can assume, this is a part-time job. And if you are an actor, you are used to getting paid very little.College Professor with Ph.D. Average salary $127KThis requires little explanation. People do have doctorates in dramatic arts. If you prefer teaching performing arts, you can stay in school longer and eventually earn a Ph.D.This will make you valuable to any high paying university with a strong performing arts program. There are many really good paying jobs out there for anyone with a Ph.D.It may not be the well-paid career you had expected, but you totenstill get to stay in performing arts. You give back to others like you and that can be rewarding.What they all have in commonPeople stay in these well-paid careers due to their ability to communicate emotion, creatively express, sway audiences, understand feelings, almost predict behavior, and when called for...entertain a little.

The Best Place and Time to Negotiate Salary

The Best Place and Time to Negotiate SalaryThe Best Place and Time to Negotiate SalaryIf youre in the process of applying for a new job, the concept of negotiating your salary can be daunting, and there are a lot of logistics for consider. For example, is it best to bring up salary first before your interviewer does, or is that considered tacky? Where should you bring up the topic? Is a phone call during a job offer OK, or should it be done in person?For starters, realize that it is entirely professional and reasonable to negotiate salary, but there are probably a few things to consider that will ensure you come off in the best possible manner when doing so.The Best Time to Negotiate SalaryDo your research.Never bring up a salary negotiation before youve done your research. Do you know what other people with similar titles and experience make at your new company or at other companies? Asking for an outlandish number will only make you look unprepared, so be sure to never bring up the subject (or go into a meeting or call where the subject might be brought up by someone else) without doing some digging.Be strategic about when you ask.Its likely a salary (or at least a salary range) may have been posted with the job description, but even if it was, avoid bringing up the subject until your second round of interviews. If youve made it to the second round, that means that youre on the short list for actually getting the job, which puts you in a better position to get what you want.But dont wait too long.If youre not sure a second interview is in your future even if you are up for the job, try not to wait until the job offer comes around to start the negotiating process. Its best for everyone involved if you both know that your expectations arent the same, that way you dont waste any time.Shoot for a Friday, if you can.According to psychologists, the middle of a Friday morning might actually be the best time to ask for more money. The reason? Anticipation over the up coming weekend could put your would-be boss in a better mood. Hey, its worth a tryThe Best Place to Negotiate SalaryNegotiate in person, if possible.Its always best to negotiate your salary face-to-face, when possible. This shows incentive and fortitude on your part, something that your boss may respect and remember when taking your request into consideration.But also put it in writing.Although your negotiations should be done in person, dont forget to always also get it in writing. Even if its just to follow up with an email after your meeting to thank your interviewer again for her time, youll want to make sure you have a paper trail of your conversation.

Whispered Resume Writer Jobs Secrets

Whispered Resume Writer Jobs Secrets You are going to be given information about a fictional job seeker, and you will create a resume dependent on the details given. If selected for additional evaluation, youll be contacted via email. Apart from this, you will also have to have excellent written and verbal English communication abilities. Youll also have to have excellent written and verbal English communication abilities. The New Angle On Resume Writer Jobs Just Released LinkedIn is created for professionals and there are many groups youll be able to join for networking, which might ultimately help you construct your client base. Attempt to make your own resume and sell yourself to prospective customers. Plus there are a lot of groups you may join, which makes it a terrific platform for networking, and for that reason potentially building up your client base. The whole exec group of this company have visited my LinkedIn page, therefore I assume thats where theyve been get ting the info they require. As soon as you set up the preliminary small business framework, you can begin working on the fun parts of your company. You could either go to work for a resume company which uses freelancers to create resumes for their customers, or you might begin your own resume-writing enterprise. Its a business that provides resume writing services. The business states you may complete dozens of tasks per month, so this appears to be a part-time prospect. There are some ways to improve your odds of receiving an erreichbar resume writing job. I would advise registering for an account with Contena if youre looking for more resume writing jobs since they are posted. Its pretty apparent that resume writing is a legitimate home based job. Lots of people dont like their existing job or career. To begin, you will want to sign up and make a freelancer profile. A resume is needed each time you submit an application for a job. It is sometimes a challenging job. Our advice is to discover a job which enables you to do cool and intriguing things. Instead, theres a form you may complete to submit an application for work. You will discover that many businesses state they prefer certified candidates, therefore its definitely something to consider as it might improve your odds of getting hired. Ive looked at many an instance of a resume. So when the hiring company hasnt provided a salary for work, we look at salary data from related businesses and locations to produce a sensible estimate for what it is possible to anticipate. Obviously, at the beginning, making money from your own company will be tougher than making cash with the sites above. When youre starting any form of business, it requires time to develop a client base and start seeing a steady income. Whenever you have your own company, you can place your own prices. The Fundamentals of Resume Writer Jobs Revealed Its incredibly simple to set your own schedule. You just need to fi nd it. You are able to browse the website and decide for yourself whether you believe a paid membership may be worthwhile. Resume Writer Jobs at a Glance The business states the application procedure takes 45 minutes to 1 hours depending upon your experience. You will also have to devote time setting up an on-line presence for your enterprise. Also, should you plan to meet up with clients face-to-face, then you have to establish a little office space. Its also intelligent to consider about landing local customers. The Argument About Resume Writer Jobs Folks are constantly looking for jobs. Odds are great there are people in your town who need your services. They are that there are people in your area who need your services. Just take a look at the best resume writing services to think about. You should have access to a computer and the web, and be an authority in Microsoft Word. To join the website, you are going to want to have at the very least a Bachelors degree, whic h can be in any subject, and superior writing abilities and understanding of the English language. Inexperienced writers will need to acquire creative when preparing clips. Besides traditional writing skills, its also wise to understand how to optimize copy for the internet. A lot of people change jobs regularly and if they do they have a lot of applications, interviews, and red tape to experience. There are two or three routes you may take with resume writing.

All Of The Job Seeker Information You Forget To Share

All Of The Job Seeker Information You Forget To ShareIf youre a professional whos tasked with finding top talent to fill an open position, there are plenty of materials available to you on how to einstellungsgesprch job seekers in a way thats both thorough and efficient. You can sort through hundreds of pages about the kinds of questions you should ask, the candidatered flags you should take note of, and the clich interview questions you should avoid at all costs. And yet, theres not nearly as much information available to you about what the job seeker needs from you, and how you can make the process more pleasant for those in search of new employment opportunities. For hiring managers and recruiters who work directly with potential employees, knowing what ansicht individuals could benefit from hearing during your conversation is invaluable. It allows those doing the hiring to make better choices as they fill open roles, while also enabling them to make the interview process smoother and more transparent for everyone involved. So before you contact an individual about a job opportunity or conduct your next interview, what are the most important pieces of information you can offer to job seekers? Some of them includeThe expectations of the positionTheyve probably read a general job description before they applied for the position, but an interview is the perfect time to add some specifics to the basics the candidate is already aware of. Give this individual a real sense of what this position looks like should they get hired. What kinds of projects will they be working on? What types of clients can they expect to see on a regular basis? Who will they be working with most closely? To whom do they report? These details provide valuable insight about the day-to-day of the position in a way that a bulleted list of duties simply cant.Short and long-term goals associated with the positionEveryone defines job success differently. You want to be very specific about the g oals for this position so that the individual knows whats expected of them. This should include both short- and long-term plans. What should they be achieving a month after they begin? What about six months from now? A year? Being very clear about expectations ensures that the latest addition to the gruppe stays on track. When success is defined in clear, measurable goals, both employee and manager can stay on the same wavelength.What the brand stands forBecause company culture is becoming increasingly important to those seeking out new employment opportunities, you want to make it a point to paint a clear picture of what the brand stands for. What are your core values? What is the vision for the geschftliches miteinanders future? What kinds of people typically succeed within this company? Job seekers want to know theyre going to work for a business that represents something beyond just a profit and loss statement. They also want to be sure the businesss vision aligns with their own personal values in order to verify that this will be a good fit long-term. Potential for growth Ideally, youll find an individual whos looking to join a company for the long haul. This means theyll want to hear about available growth opportunities. Where is there room for advancement within the organization? Is it possible to start in one department and transfer to others? Are there opportunities for professional development through conferences or training seminars? Provide detailed examples about how this growth plays out. You might even want to share real world case studies about how past employees have developed and advanced within the business. Job seekers want to know they wont be pigeonholed into one position throughout the duration of their time with an organization. Work-life balanceMany individuals are concerned about work-life balance as they seek out a new job, particularly as it becomes common to be asked to work longer hours with less time off. Speaking to this point h onestly is important. How does a typical workweek breakdown at the organization? How much weekend or late-night work is required from employees? Does it vary from department to department? Does it change seasonally? How much vacation time do employees enjoy and when can they take advantage of this? Does the business allow flexible work policies, such as telecommuting? Job seekers might be hesitant to come out and directly ask these questions, fearing theyll look lazy, but this information is important as they decide whether the companys policies will work for them.You know jobseekers want to hear about WorkLifeBalance, so just tell them about it.Click To TweetWhat company culture is likeTalking about responsibilities and goals is a valuable discussion, but you also want to get beyond that during your interview. tick on what daily life is like within the office. Is it a collaborative place or do employees typically keep to themselves? Do people tend to stick around for post-work happ y hours and softball games or is it the kind of place where you come in, do a good job, and then head elsewhere to socialize? Theres no right or wrong answer, but honesty is important. If youre painting the company as a tight-knit group bursting with camaraderie and three months in your new hire is wondering why people havent taken the time to learn their name, dont be surprised when they dont end up sticking around.What leadership is likeUltimately, a new hires direct supervisor will have a major impact on their overall experience. Communicating thoroughly about what to expect in terms of company management is an essential part of a successful interview. There are so many management styles at play in offices today, you want that individual to go in knowing what to expect. Is their boss the type who prefers to get updated through each step of a project? Does the manager take a hands-off approach, preferring only to field major questions? Understanding how particular managers operate and how they interact with their team is a highly valuable piece of information that you can provide to job seekers.Salary and benefitsIt seems obvious, but this isnt a topic of discussion to glaze over particularly since it can be one that prospective employees are hesitant to bring up. They may feel uncomfortable discussing money, and they might also be worried that the hiring manager will think theyre only focused on the paycheck should they broach the subject during an interview. During a long interview that covers many other aspects of a job, its important not to forget to cover these basic points, as its job seeker information worth providing.How many other applicants are being interviewedYou may not have this data on hand, but if its possible for you to provide it, job seekers typically like to get a sense of their odds of receiving an offer.The ideal follow-up process and how long they can expect to waitHiring has changed dramatically as technology evolves. Now, with syste ms like video interviewing in place, expanding your team has become much more streamlined for both job seekers and hiring managers. However, this has also shifted the standards of the practice a bit. Providing clarity about whats expected from the individual seeking employment can be beneficial. If theyd like to follow up, whats the best way to do so? Does the hiring manager prefer to be contacted via email or telephone? About how long will they have to wait before they get an answer on whether theyve received an offer or not?The next stepsEven if youre fairly certain that everyone is on the same page, its always beneficial to share this with the job seeker. If theyve been asked to submit samples of their work, for example, reiterate this. If theyll need to submit paperwork to the HR department to review, remind them of the deadline. Job interviews are stressful and can cause even the most polished professional to get overwhelmed. A gentle reminder keeps everyone on track.Jobintervi ew finished? Be sure to tell the job candidate whats next.Click To TweetBesides providing as much information as you can about the open position, there are plenty of other ways those who are involved in the interview process can reduce stress for those seeking new employment opportunities. Whether youre doing pre-screens or are ultimately in charge of deciding who fills the role, use some of these strategies and know that your efforts will be much appreciated by job seekersBe upfront with your questionsYou may feel you have to ask tricky questions like Whats your worst quality? in order to do a thorough interview, but in reality, quite the opposite is true. You can conduct an excellent, informative interview without trying to get the candidate into a gotchya situation. Ask questions that enable them to provide a detailed response about their experience, where their passions lie, and why they think they would be a good fit for the role, but dont go out of your way to try to stump the m.Introduce them to the necessary partiesIf a candidate is coming into the office to chat about an open position, introduce them to essential office personnel, but dont overwhelm them with a never-ending tour filled with names theyll never remember.Do your own researchYoud hope that a candidate comes into an interview armed with thorough responses and insightful questions, but this should go both ways. If your first time glancing at a candidates resume is when theyre sitting across from you to interview, youre not approaching hiring correctly. Take the time to scope out the individuals resume in advance, and ask pointed questions that highlight particularly interesting portions from the document. Anticipate the kinds of inquiries they might have, and do your best to gather as much information as possible so that you can provide them with all of the details they need to make an informed decision about whether this job is a good fit.Dont go overboard with your poker faceYou certainly want to maintain a sense of professionalism during the interview process, but theres no need to take the human element out of the dialogue. You can be thermisch and welcoming and still keep the interview on track. Dont be afraid to show your personality during the discussion.Bring in a familiar faceBefore an interview, the job seeker will have had contact with someone from the company. If possible, make sure that person is present for the candidates first interview. Even if they havent met this contact in person yet, having a pre-established relationship with someone in the room can help to ease nerves. This is especially important if youre doing a panel-style interview, where theyll be facing a number of strangers at once, which can feel daunting.Ease into the discussionNo need to waste time covering information that is easily gathered from a resume, but at the same time you want to get the person comfortable before you dive into more hard-hitting questions that need to be discusse d. A little small talk can make a major difference when it comes to easing a candidates nerves. Yes, youre interviewing them for a job, but you also want to know what this individual is all about. Therefore, chatting about lighter topics isnt a waste of time, but can actually be highly informative.Make them feel welcomeWhile you may be totally comfortable in your office, consider how it would feel to step into the space for the first time, particularly in a job interview setting. It would probably seem intimidating. Make it a point to make the office seem as inviting as possible. Give the interviewee a warm greeting and offer them a beverage. Make sure the room where interviews take place looks friendly, rather than stark and sterile. These small details may seem unimportant, but they contribute to a positive overall experience for candidates.A warm welcome goes a long way in creating a great candidateexperience.Click To TweetWhile conducting a thorough interview is an essential par t of the role for recruiters and hiring managers, these professionals should expand their focus beyond just moving top talent into an open position. Providing valuable information to the candidate and making it a point to create an interview situation thats as comfortable as possible benefits everyone involved. Doing so takes some of the stress out of the process and enables the job seeker to deliver more authentic, polished answers while demonstrating their true personality. What some other job seeker information you need to remember to give during the job interview? Share in the comments below

7 most important soft skills to develop for 2018

7 most important soft skills to develop for 20187 most important soft skills to develop for 2018Oftentimes when youre eying job descriptions, youre haphazardly and unintentionally checking off what requirements you match. Being fluent in programs, applications and languages are your hard skills - the technical aspects that allow you to master your job effectively and efficiently. While a robust set of hard skills is necessary for a flourishing career, its your soft skills that bring your wertzuwachs to life.These often underrated proficiencies make you a team player, a confident and compassionate leader and a dedicated, loyal professional. Much like you would continue your education or take a course to enrich your knowledge bank, continuously improving your communication style, body language, and working style is essential to success, too.As workplace expert Amy Cooper Hakim, Ph.D. explains, An employee can be taught how to use a certain computer program much more quickly than she c an be taught how to establish rapport or trust with a colleague or customer. Bosses look for those with excellent soft skills to lead others, to gain customers and to share and promote ideas in group settings.Here are some of the skills you may want to work on.Make more eye contactThough its likely been quite some time since you consciously minded your manners as your mother taught you, some of her life lessons extend far beyond childhood. One of which is making eye contact. As children, we are instructed that seeing eye-to-eye - literally - is a sign of mutual respect and assurance. But as we continue in our adult lives, facing disappointments and setbacks that may send our confidence down a notch, looking someone square in their baby blues might feel more difficult.Executive coach and entrepreneur Stacey Hanke says this behavior is the only one that builds an all-too-important agreement between two people, in geschftlicher umgang or in life trust. Especially if youre ahem, eying , a raise or a promotion, trying to snag a big deal for your company or give negative feedback to your direct report, if you look around the room instead of them, you wont be taken seriously.If you cant connect and engage with your listeners, you jeopardize building trust with your listeners. If your listeners dont trust you, you will not have influence on them, she says.To improve this skill, start small with your friends and family. Since you know and spend a vast amount of time with these folks, it feels more natural to maintain eye contact with them while youre catching up on the latest gossip, seeking advice or discussing your upcoming travel plans. The more often you engage in this type of behavior, the easier it will become to apply the ritual to your workplace.Speak in sentences, not paragraphsWe all have that pal who means well, but frankly, cant tell a story without it rambling on for ages. You might find it endearing when youre sharing beers on trivia night, but carrying out long-winded monologues doesnt usually go over well in the professional environment.As Hanke explains, speaking in paragraphs instead of sentences can frustrate those listening and make them automatically tune-out when you take the floor.We all live in a fast paced world receiving messages 24/7 every day. Speaking in short bullet point sentences, pausing to allow your listeners to stay with you will help you be heard above the noise, she says.To put this skill into practice, pinch yourself on the wrist each time youre about to chime in. This will serve as your reminder to think before you speak, giving you a minute to summarize your opinion or additional note without stuttering your way to a conclusion.Stand up for your ideas effectivelyWith limited budgets, changing economies and a turbulent political climate, its more important than ever to effectively communicate your ideas and needs with your employer. This is often a task thats easier imagined than executed, according to Hak im, who notes many people struggle with being clear. An example might be when you are trying to make a case for an additional employee, but you come unprepared with stats to prove your case and you back down instantly at the first criticism.Instead of being confident and ready to go up to bat for your ask, you might cower because you fear rejection or youre unable to truly dictate what you mean, what you need and why you need it. Hakim says joining a Toastmasters meeting can be a helpful, judgement-free way to improve your speech skills and put them into action so you can win your case - and stop working overtime.Give your voice an auditSure, you cant change the voice you were born with. But you can audit your rhythms, annunciation, and volume to best serve your career.Not sure how you sound, or cant remember the last time you were recorded? Youre definitely not alone, according to Hanke. She explains that most individuals believe they sound different than what their listeners hear . Especially during virtual conversations your voice is critical because in most cases you cant see your listeners.Hanke suggests recording yourself whenever you can.Audio and video dont lie. These tools give you the opportunity to experience what your listeners experience when youre communicating with them, she says. Until you take this step, there is a strong probability you are basing your level of influence and how others perceive you based on what you believe to be true rather than what your listeners experience.Practice being flexibleTimelines shift forward. Deadlines get missed. Contractors dont always follow through or meet your expectations. Budgets get cut. Sometimes managers are inconsiderate. Its all part of the natural ebb-and-flow of any profession, and your ability to flow with the inevitable is a must-have soft skill, according to Hakim. We need to be able to change direction quickly and embrace new ideas. Make a resolution to practice adapting to change, she says.On e easy way to implement this flexibility is to again, take a pause before saying no to any idea, request, or ask that might feel like its out of your comfort zone. The same goes with any tendency to complain. Take a moment to truly think if your negative mentality will change an outcome or if it will actually make the situation worse by poisoning others.Remember that top leaders - and employees - embrace different ideas and thoughts from those who are flexible and happy, Hakim says.Practice positive facial expressionsNo, this doesnt mean you should smile your way through something that makes you uneasy or pretend like youre ecstatic when youre having a rough day. Rather, this soft skill relates to how you treat others and how you express your opinion. As Hanke notes, if a colleague is articulating their excitement for a new deal, project, or promotion and you dont respond to their joy genuinely, they may doubt your intention.The same goes when youre giving a presentation - if you re not amped up and supportive of your own ideas, its difficult to engage others to hop on board.Prioritize dicke bretter bohren mssen-solving skillsAs a skill that borders between hard and soft, problem solving abilities are clutch for career advancement and team leading. The more actively you demonstrate your way to turn a disappointment into an achievement, the more trusted and valued you will be at your workplace and by management.Instead of merely relying on technology, Hakim says being able to exercise your brain on-the-spot is more impressive.Use your mind to think critically and to determine the most efficient and effective way to get to an end goal. Those who can think for themselves and who can justify proposed ideas are those who make headway in the business world, she says.You dont have to go back to school to double-down on this soft skill, but you can return to your childhood by playing a game There are fun ways to improve your cognitive skills, like playing brain-trai ning games when youre waiting in line at Starbucks.

The best and worst things to put in your cover letter

The best and worst things to put in your titelseite letterThe best and worst things to put in your titelblatt letterIn todays applicant-driven job market, an optional cover letter isnt actually optional.While your resume is meant to summarize why you are qualified for a role, the cover letter is what shows the employer why they should want you at their company. This is where an applicant can showcase their personality beyond a bulleted list of previous job titles. Strong cover letters portray a mix of your character, enthusiasm for the role, and unique background that qualifies you for this job above all others.While you want to stand out, some candidates take the opportunity for self-expression a little too far. Remember, this isnt your Match.com profile or long-awaited memoir. Keep it professional and avoid writing three paragraphs about your dogs favorite chew toy or, like this one infamous NYU student, brag about your ability to do 35 pushups.We asked career experts and hiring ma nagers what cover letters have left lasting impressions on them, and they shared the best and the worst cover letters theyve ever seen.If you want your next job application to stand out from the pile, follow these Dos and Donts of how to write a cover letterDo Include statisticsOne of my biggest pet peeves when reading a cover letter is when an applicant says that hes done something but doesnt provide any data to back it up. You saved your clients money by implementing a new cost saving system? Thats really great, but how much did you save them? This lack of really important information leaves me questioning how impactful the applicants contribution really welches. In order to truly make his cover letter stand out, the applicant should elend only say how he is an asset but actually provide data that proves this.- Jacob Dayan, CEO and Co-founder at Community TaxDont Copy Paste To Every CompanyI understand that applicants are typically blasting out their resumes and cover letters to a large group of companies, and the most efficient way to do that is to use a template to write their cover letter. This is leid a bad practice. However, far too often I see cover letters where the only thing that has been swapped out is the company name. A great cover letter will incorporate information about the specific company and/or specific job role. Even for job roles that are similar, the companies have different cultures and different ideals and traits that they value. With that in mind, an applicant should address those ideals and use his experience to demonstrate how he embodies those ideals- Jacob Dayan, CEO and Co-founder at Community TaxDo Make it PersonalOne of the main things that I look for in a cover letter is personalization and a clear and concise format. While it may be tempting to copy and paste the job title and company name into your letter and send it off, no job is the saatkorn and neither will each cover letter. Doing a little extra research to find the n ame of the hiring manager can make a difference in the cover letter as well as tailoring your previous work achievements to that of the job description. This helps you create a better structure for the cover letter-talk about the business, you, and then circle back to the business plus you.Dana Case, Director of Operations, at My CorporationDont Tell Your Life StoryOnce I was going through candidates for a position and in one of the cover letters I had an applicant talk about her journey through life. Her mission in life and her general outlook on the bad things in her life she wasnt shy about getting specific. A part of me wanted to meet her out of a weird curiosity, the rest of me knew that with a cover letter like that shed never get hired. Her cover letter told me most of all that she was someone who liked to talk a lot, and worse, she thought she had a lot to say. In my experience, the people who have a lot of wisdom dont advertise it, because they dont know that they have a lo t to say and would rather observe lessons they learn from other people.Whether on a cover letter or on a resume. Keep everything short clean and to the point. If people want to know your life story, and or, philosophy dont worry theyll ask, and thats not meant to be sarcastic, some employers will ask. However, its not information you should willingly volunteer it says things about you that you may not want to be associated.- Nate Masterson, Marketing Manager at Maple HolisticsDo Include a Letter Even if Its OptionalIf a cover letter is suggested or required, provide one. Youd be surprised how many people dont provide a cover letter, even when one is requested in my experience 65% 75% of job seekers do this.- Nate Masterson, Marketing Manager at Maple HolisticsDont Forget to Address the Hiring ManagerA bad cover letter has a single, gender specific salutation, i.e. Dear Sir or Dear Sirs or even Dear Sir or Maam. If you dont know who youre writing to, be generic Dear Company Name Tea m, for example.- Greg Szymanski, HR Director at Geonerco Management, LLCDo Research What Youre Applying ForThe worst cover letters are the ones that are mass produced. Addressed to Dear hiring manager shows that the applicant has not done adequate research on who is making the hiring decision. There are too many sources today to not find out.Not addressing how and why you are qualified for the actual job that is being hired for is another major mistake. Its important to illustrate how and why you are suited and deserve an interview. Its important to really read and comprehend the job description so you can address how you can meet those needs. Share examples with measurable results on what you have done, how you did it and how it helped the employer.- Laurie Kahn, Founder/CEO, at Media Staffing NetworkDont Include Your HeadshotIve seen incredibly short cover letters with just an awkward photo attached to them for no reason at all, staring at me silently. Others were written in a sur prisingly terrible English which is why they sometimes revealed quite dark and inappropriate things (I will work you). And some would overshare about why they left their previous jobs or about how incredibly awesome they already are at what they want to do.- Laurie Kahn, Founder/CEO, at Media Staffing NetworkDo Be UniqueWhen it comes to the best details, those that really make you like that person instantly, Ive only seen a few of those over the years.The most recent one came from a runway model who fell through a ceiling onto her head and neck. She survived a traumatic brain injury and had to learn to walk and talk again. And then she used her passion for acting to figure out how to remember again. She was a true survivor and concluded her cover letter with a simple Lets do great things together. I mean, how do you not want to work with someone like that?Personal details like these show determination, willingness to do the hard work and never give up. They put weight behind your cl aims of having certain qualities, whatever they are. And they also make any candidate memorable. I always encourage job seekers to share something interesting about themselves. You just need to be careful not to overshare.- Tomas Ondrejka, Co-founder CMO at KickresumeDont Get Overly WordyThe worst cover letters are long Ive seen 5 page epistles Keep it simple and get to the point or youll quickly lose the attention of the Recruiter. Its also inappropriate to include personal details like a photo, your age, your family situation or your hobbies. You may enjoy zombie role playing games, but if the information isnt relevant to the job, leave it off. The most entertaining cover letter Ive ever seen included a David Letterman-type Top Ten List of reasons he should be hired. 1 was because I have a great sense of style and an even better sense of humor. Unfortunately, the position we needed to fill was an Accounts Payable Manager, not a comedian.- Julie Cox, Talent Acquisition Leader at AECOMDo Provide All Contact InfoInclude contact info phone number, email address and city with state as a minimum. Also, be specific about what position you are applying to and make sure you have changed it from the last cover letter you sent- Linda Ferrante, VP Operations at RFT Search GroupDont Be Overly ArtisticDont get too crazy with graphics and colors If its too busy, people cant read it. Unless youre in a creative position or industry, simple is better.- Linda Ferrante, VP Operations atRFT Search GroupDo Be ConciseToo many job applicants seem to miss the point of a cover letter entirely. Its really just a bite-sized sales pitch that convinces the reader to take a look at your resume. You want some of your personality to come through, but dont be so casual that you cant be taken seriously. I once received a cover letter so pretentious and wordy, I thought the candidate must have accidentally sent me the first draft of their autobiography. Being overly self-aggrandizing is an i mmediate red flag to hiring managers and its a guaranteed way to have your application tossed aside. Additionally, some of the best cover letters Ive seen have been short and to the point. The candidate didnt come across robotic, but they wrote in a polite, professional tone and just mentioned a few examples of their background. That was all it took to get called back for an interview.- Lauren McAdams, Career Adviser Hiring Manager at Resume CompanionThis article was originally published on Kununu.com.

This is the one skill that all great leaders have

This is the one skill that all great leaders haveThis is the one skill that all great leaders haveWhat separates good leaders from great ones?In a recent Inc. video, author and ethnographerSimon Sinekexplains how great leaders keep the learning process going throughout their careers.Leadership is a skill, a learnable, practicable skill, and the best leaders dont consider themselves experts- they consider themselves students, he says.Sinek says good leaders are practicing. They have picked up on leadership skills and are beginning to apply what theyve learned.But a great leader is beyond that point. Sinek says that this person has truly exercised leadership skills and has a real knowledge of prioritizing the needs of the people - sometimes, before our own needs.Great leaders are always learningSinek says that great leaders are those who consider themselves students regardless of their status.Ive met some really, really senior, really, really remarkable people, and all they wanna do is read about leadership, talk about leadership, watch interviews about leadership- they have an insatiable curiosity to continually improve their leadership skills. In other words, they understand its not some rank theyve achieved, but rather, its a skill they need to perfect for the rest of their lives.Heexplains the same concept in another video.Teaching - like anything - is the art of sharing not just what you know, but what you dont know, he says.He also advises against using the term expert because he says theres so much more to learn.Here are three ways you can keep learning throughout your career.1. Embrace the beginners mindIna Harvard Business Review article, Roderick Gilkey and Clint Kilts definethis term, which was reportedly used by Buddhist monks, as a willingness to step back from prior knowledge and existing conventions in order to start over and cultivate new options- a challenge that typically activates right-hemisphere cognitions.They writeIn Zen Mind, Beginner s Mind, author Shunryu Suzuki describes the Zen mind as one that is open, allowing for both doubt and possibility, and one that has the ability to see things as fresh and new. As he observed, In the beginners mind there are many possibilities, but in the experts there are few.No matter how many years of experience you have in your field, be open to the idea that there is always more to learn.2. Explore non-work topicsIts important to challenge yourself to learn something different, Kelsey Meyer writes inForbes.Engaging in presentations, specifically question-and-answer sessions, is my favorite learning practice. One of our investors, adventur.es, hosts education sessions monthly on topics ranging from game theory to why we get fat. As a leader, you should encourage these types of events during the workday to challenge your employees to learn something outside their specific job responsibilities. This will stimulate their brains by making them focus on something unexpected, which wil l undoubtedly enhance their creativity and brainstorming skills at work.Be open to learning new things - doing so canboth challenge you and keep your skill set sharp.3. Use others as a resourceJust as Sinek says he learns from his students, you should be receptive to others so you can learn new things,no matter how far up the corporate ladder you are. Your employees and fellow executives can be immense resources for inspiration and creativity.Dont limit yourself to what you know already - get comfortable with the idea that theres a universe of knowledge youre not yet familiar with, and make an effort to get there by trying new things and learning from others around you in the office.