These are the 25 worst gifts that employees have gotten

These are the 25 worst giftstoffs that employees have gottenThese are the 25 worst gifts that employees have gottenWhen the spirit of generosity infects your boss during the holiday season, the employees of the boss may pay the price. In a new survey from corporate gifting company Snappy, over 1,000 employees weighed in on the worst gifts their bosses have gotten them and revealed awkward gift exchanges that will leave you cringing and wondering Why???25 schwimmbad gifts from bossesTerrible gifts come in many shapes and sizes, but every bad office gift has the same malfunction the gifts cross boundaries from professional into the unwanted and grossly personal. Employees in the survey received intimate items involving urinals and adult entertainment.Here are 25 of the worst ones that employees said they received from their supervisorPuka Shell necklacePotatoUrinal with popcorn in itStale candy in a used mugPlastic wall phoneGas station wineFoot lotionRubber duckLottery ticketsSquatty PottyShampooFart in a glassJumper cablesWhoopee cushionBananasBroomPink slipTurkey/HamPair of scissorsA copy of Magic MikeMultivitaminsBibleBookmarkSocksIf you think you can escape getting a bad gift from the boss, think again. The probability of managers giving their employees gifts is high. More than half of employees in a recent staffing firm survey said that they planned to give out year-end gifts. To avoid the pitfalls of these bad gifts, bosses need to remember their place as the person in charge of their employees livelihoods.You may be collegial, but you are not family. It is possible to be thoughtful and professional if you remember places your employees frequent. And it does not need to cost money. A thoughtful card noting appreciation and respect can go a long way.Ultimately, bosses should recognize that a physical gift is an extra gesture, and is not needed. People dont expect extravagant gifts from their managers, even if the company itself goes a more luxe route, Ask a Managers Alison Green advises. And frankly, managers dontneedto give their staff gifts at all, although its a thoughtful gesture if you choose to.

8 Warning Signs of a Job Scam, and More in the News!

8 Warning Signs of a Job Scam, and More in the berichterstattung8 Warning Signs of a Job Scam, and More in the News18 Warning Signs of a Job Scam on CBS NewsIf you were hoping to get a flexible job or work-from-home position, theres never been a better time. The number of flexible and home-based jobs are soaring partly because companies have found that they can save money and hire better workers by giving them the ability to set their own hours or work remotely. Experts at job search sites report that theyre seeing a massive rise in demand for everything from minimum-wage call center employees to part-time professionals, who can command generous salaries.5 Ways Telecommuting and Flex Time Help You Recruit the Best Workers on Entrepreneur.comEntrepreneurs often hesitate to hire new employees, even when they need to. There are significant costs involved both in time and money for the recruiting and hiring process, not to mention the stress of actually finding the right part with the ri ght skills. And you do want to find the right person According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the current estimated cost of a bad hiring decision can equal 30 percent of the individuals first-year potential earnings. That means a single bad hire with an income of $50,000 can equal a potential $15,000 loss for an employer.New Study Shows Working Mothers Are Still Penalized on ChamberofCommerce.comSlowly but surely, work flexibility is becoming the norm in the workplace. More and more companies are offering flexible schedules to their employees. Still, a bias exists in the workplace that favors working fathers over working mothers, according to a new study.In the new study from Michelle Budig, a sociology professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, working fathers tend to be rewarded for their paternal status, and working mothers are penalized. This is ironic, since 71 percent of mothers with children at home work, and a whopping 40 percent are the primary breadwinner.Are You a Workaholic? Tips for Getting Your Life Back on Business News DailyDo you find yourself spending more and more time in the office? Have you given up on hobbies and leisure activities you once enjoyed because youre constantly doing work? Do you throw yourself into your work to avoid issues in your personal life? If you answered yes to these questions, youve just confirmed what you probably already knew to be true Youre a workaholic.In 2012, researchers from Norways University of Bergen (UiB) and the United Kingdoms Nottingham Trent University developed the Bergen Work Addiction Scale, a simple test to determine an employees level of work addiction. The test asks workers to rate the following seven work habits on a scale of 1 (never) to 5 (always).5 Surprising Facts About Freelance Jobs Today on Huffington PostOver one third of the U.S. workforce are now freelancers, according to a recent survey. Think about that- 34 percent of people working in America right now are freelancing , working contract positions for one or more clients. What we used to think of as typical freelance jobs are still in the mix- writing, graphic design, business consulting- but it turns out there is a huge variety of freelance work to be had. My gruppe recently dug into the data to find some pretty interesting facts about freelance jobs.4 Ways to Get a Recommendation from Your Boss on Salary.comIt may be one of the hardest conversations youll have to have with your boss.Asking for a recommendation can certainly be stressful, awkward, and a bit unpleasant. After all, you never know what your boss reaction might be to the news that youre essentially looking to leave the company. But if youre in the market for a new job, youll inevitably need a referral from your current jefe. Heres how to ask your boss for a recommendation.6 Ways to Earn Extra Income Through Writing on Freelance Writing JobsFrom the time you could hold a crayon in your hand, you knew that you wanted to be a writer. Wr iting is not only your career, but the way you express yourself to the world. Thing is, freelance writing jobs can be sporadic at best, so you need to be creative when it comes to keeping a steady income. Put pen to paper- and get paid- with these six ways to earn extra income through writing.Readers, what are the warning signs of a job scam that make you steer clear? Share your best tips to help one another out

5 Things Your Résumé Is Not

5 Things Your Rsum Is Not5 Things Your Rsum Is NotYou know you need arsumin order to get a job. But have you taken the time to step back from thersum-writing process to ask yourself what arsumis and isnt? Fundamentally, it is important to recognize that yourrsumis your marketing document. Its purpose is to garner enough interest in you to get an employer to think This person may well have the capacity to do the workassociated with the job that needs to be filled. And once an employer has reviewed yourrsumand initiated contact with you for a phone or in-person interview, it has successfully fulfilled its purpose. When you speak with recruiters or others who regularly reviewrsums, youll learn that the vast majority of people have ill-conceived notions of what makes arsumcompelling. To help you evaluate yourrsumin terms of todays best practices, bear in mind all the things that arsumis not1. Yourrsumis not your autobiography. It is not the story of your whole life. It is a business d ocument that should not include a picture of yourself or personal information about your marital status, children, sexual identity or age. Your political leanings and religious beliefs or affiliations should only be included if they are relevant to the particular job for which you seek consideration. You need not include every job you ever had or everything you ever did or were responsible for at those jobs.Typically, you dont need to go back more than 10 to 15 years on arsumand should make a logical cutoff depending on your work history. While everything you claim on yourrsummust be accurate, there isno rule thatsays it has to be all-inclusive.You can simply state under you earliest listed job Details of prior employment history are available upon request.2. Yourrsumis not a list of your job descriptions and responsibilities. Perhaps the most commonrsummistake is making it therecord of the things you were supposed to doin your various roles without including how you went about fu lfilling those responsibilities or what results you achieved.3. Yourrsumis not about your aspirations.Put simply, employers wont be impressed to read that they hold the key to the job of your dreams. On the other hand, they will be impressed when you show them how and why you are the candidate of their dreams. Employers care about what you have to offer and the value you can contribute to the company you seek to join. Thats why objective statements are out and personal branding statements are in at the top of well-craftedrsums.4. Yourrsumis not an employment application. What? Of course, it is you exclaim. Its how I tell an employer that I want to be considered for a job. You wonder why it isnt an application. Many companies will have their own application forms that candidates fill out at or around the time of their first in-person interview. By signing the document, you often consent to background or other checks and attest that all the information you give about prior employme nt and anything else on the form is truthful. You thereby acknowledge that if unfavorable information is revealed, or if the employer discovers that any information you provide is untruthful, you may be immediately excluded from further consideration, or fired if you have already begun to work at the company. Yourrsummay be fairly considered as the grounds for which you seek to be considered. As such, everything you include in it must be entirely accurate. But it doesnt constitute in and of itself a formal job applicationdocument.5. Yourrsumis not a list of your actions. A functionalrsumfocuses on your skills and experience, rather than on your chronological work history, writes Alison Doyle, job search expert for About.com. The problem with this kind of format, however, is that it muddles what you did, where you did it and when you did it. That makes it difficult for decision-makers to determine your overall career development. Moreover, because people who are fighting age discr imination or returning to the workforce after an extended absence often favor this format, it raises a red flag about what you are trying to mask by not giving a simple, straightforward, chronological story. Yourrsumis ultimately your unique story of professional experience including challenges, what you did and what you attained. It tells the story of a discrete set of work activities, the skills youve attained and theeducation and credentials that enable you to perform as a valued employee. When you choose relevant facts to include and weave them together in a way that shows youre the answer to an employers needs, youll stimulate interest in what you have to offer. At that point, youll most likely get that all-important invitation to begin a dialogue. Happy huntingArnie Fertig, MPA, is passionate about helping hisJobhuntercoachclients advance their careers by transforming frantic Ill apply to anything searches into focused hunts for great fit opportunities. He brings to each client the extensive knowledge he gained when working in HR staffing and managing his boutique recruiting firm.

Virtual Solicitors

Virtual SolicitorsVirtual SolicitorsThe UKlegal industry isseeing agrowing trend of solicitors embracing the freelance life, according to The Times (London)This new breed is far removed from old-style locums. They are coming together in virtual law firms models differ but a popular one involves solicitors working on an earn-as-you-work basis, from home or sometimes the clients office, with the practice providing centralised administration, support and marketing.The recession means that the future is encouraging for such firms. Redundancy rounds have led many solicitors to rethink their lives, while in-house lawyers face big pressures to cut costs. This increases the appeal of a firm where you pay for the advice but not the fancy City office. In the US, weve seen a proliferation of new model firms (or firms?) such Axiom, Virtual Law Partners, and the Rimon Law Group. But heres something we havent yet seen an establishedAmerican BigLaw firm that has actively bought intothis concept, l ikeBerwin Leighton Paisner (Vaults 30 UK law firm) has BLP is one traditional City firm to wake up to the opportunity and threat that this method of practice represents. Its Lawyers on Demand service is aimed at clients looking for an in-house secondment or locum-style arrangement. A pool of 28 freelance lawyers (only one of whom is former BLP) work with clients on a contract basis, vetted and supported throughout by the firm. Simon Harper, the partner in charge, explains that Lawyers on Demand aims to handle more kenntnis work that companies cannot resource in-house but for which they do not need a City firm. -posted by brian

New Questions About Download Resume Templates Word Answered and Why You Must Read Every Word of This Report

New Questions About Download Resume Templates Word Answered and Why You Must Read Every Word of This Report A resume objective can explain why youre qualified for the job, even if its the case that you do not own a lot of related experience. Resume objectives can be a little controversial. An objective is a brief statement that clarifies your goals about the form of employment desired and the way in which your skills make you a nice fit. The absolute most efficient objective is one which is tailored to the job youre applying for. An excellent career objective must tell the employer what you can provide them if youre hired rather than that which you expect from them. You must have five objective statements. In the majority of cases, a resume objective is merely a couple of sentences long. What You Need to Do About Download Resume Templates Word You career objective should be quite simple and clear to read. Its possible to refer the resume objective examples to learn how t o present your career objectives and attract mora employers. As soon as its essential for your resume to incorporate a very clear career goal, you dont need to convey it through an Objective section. When you have defined you objective you will discover that it is simpler to state your long and short term career objectives. Most resumes are scanned for just a few seconds. If you want the image on our site, please dont be afraid to visit again and get inspiration from all the houses in the image of our internet image. Resume template are an ideal method to compose your resume the way employers like. Use the search box to find just what you are searching for. You could also see nursing resume template Sample resume objectives can be employed by anybody who is making a resume. Sample resume objectives should be utilised as references, dependent on which you can make your own resumes. Its possible to also Simple Resume Template. The chronological resume template is provided b elow. You need to decide on the sample resume objective which is fit for the kind of job youre applying for. As a very good guideline, should you need to submit a resume to receive your next job, you arent visionary. Resume template saves plenty of your precious time which you would waste in modifying your resume in accordance with the job responsibilities. You need to use a chronological resume whenever you have extensive work history thats about the job youre applying for. Objective means something being unbiased. Entry-level objectives can be particularly hard to write since you likely dont have loads of work experience, but you do want to solidify that you know the kind of career youre searching for. Possessing a very clear career objective reference in the resume will greatly enhance the end result of receiving an interview. Adding your opinion to your resume will cause you to look less credible and dependable in the view of your employer. Do not compose any unclear details here as it can earn a lousy impression. The main aim of a resume would therefore be to select the candidate to the interview stage, in the full procedure for employment. The sample resume objective you should use is dependent on the location where youre applying for the job together with the post youre applying for. For instance, if you wish to both highlight your abilities and include your chronological work history, think about a combination resume. The peak of your resume is prime real estate, which means you dont squander it by employing vague filler material. When you check and download resume templates word you raise your odds of clearing the first rounds. Download Resume Templates Word - the Conspiracy Whenever you wish to emphasize that youre ambitious, that you understand what you want in a career, or you have the skills for the particular job, you could benefit from a resume objective. When youre asking for work, your very first aim is to let employers know your abilities and talents align with the demands of their open position. On the contrary, it focuses on the skills you have developed that fit the needs of the job for which youre applying. A crystal clear statement about how youll utilize your strongest relevant abilities and professional experiences to satisfy the specific role youre applying for 3. A work description tells the particulars of the job and whats expected of the employee whos given the specific post. Many situations the very best job candidate is screened out because of poor resume. You dont need to risk your work simply because of a poorly formatted or written resume. Additionally, there are job seekers that are searching for the ideal job for the short-term. Numerous job seekers incorporate work objective in there resume. You might need to relocate to a better job industry. Dont forget, you can store as many as five resumes on Monster. One of the risks of a resume objective is that you are able to focus too much on what you would like in your career, and not enough on how you are going to add value to the business. All employers are trying to recruit those who are likely to help them to accomplish their company objectives. The objectives should emphasize what you can do in order to benefit the business. Keep it quite easy, be specific.

A Easy Trick for Dietitian Resume Explained

A Easy Trick for Dietitian Resume Explained The 30-Second Trick for Dietitian Resume The goal on your resume should adequately represent that youpossess the abilities and knowledge needed to be good at promoting overall improved wellbeing. Although a significant part their job means rejecting a great deal of people, theyll want to do so with grace and observing a strict practice. To begin with, you can inspect the work posting that the business creating to determine precisely what is essential for the position. Define the company and career that you want to find work in. In the event the employer cant be in a distributionspolitik to comprehend the continue, then you can be sure you wont get the job. Therefore, it truly is unavoidable to compose a program letter in filling out an application for employment. Every applicant whos attempting to find employment want to make a specialist resume for their interview. Always begin with the latest employer to your very first employe r. Dietitian Resume No Longer a Mystery From time to time, a 3-page resume is not sufficient to cover all your abilities and experience. Your work experience may be the fruchtwein significant section of your resume. In the consulting dietitian business, years of experience assist a recruiter know whether you have the background and expertise to match a position. As the lack of experience could be drawback, but nevertheless, it can not need to turn into an insurmountable barrier. Top Dietitian Resume Choices Today, the amount of totally free online resume templates is astounding. Its quite simple to use a resume template. Along with the resume, in addition, it comprises a cover letter template. The minimal template includes a 6-page resume, including pages for a portfolio. Other individuals work with groups of those who have similar needs. Concentrate on your most desirable skills necessary for the specific job youre applying to. Your resumes most important focus ough t to be to emphasize your capacity to do the job by highlighting your abilities and accomplishments in the area of nutrition. It can be inviting to place immense revolve around education, especially if its recent and extensive. My capacity to estimate client needs upon intake is fantastic. The number after every filter type lets you know the range of available jobs. Its possible to also say that youre going to be buying a different job because of ethical facets. Lets talk a little more about main specifics and new resume format 2016 trend. References form an important portion of your job application. You understand just the job that you need and youve got a duplicate of the occupation submitting. You may even be able to locate a resume template constructed for the specific job you are trying to find. A work application builder can be enormously precious for anybody whos feeling confused by the resume process. For the reason, its an excellent notion to take time to reflec t on and celebrate what youve done prior to, during and following the resume-writing procedure. Include that below the acceptable job heading. For starters, its going to make sure your application will get sent to the appropriate specific. The Dietitian Resume Game Highlights the abilities and experience you have that are linked to the task that youre searching for. It is possible to incorporate the work description thats listed for the advertisement and cite some examples which will help you demonstrate them in your traits entry abilities. If youd like to conserve another job, youll need to visit your profile and remove a saved job first. Obviously you might even be searching for an alternate job because of personal explanations. Dietitian Resume Secrets That No One Else Knows About A dietitian is a certified professional whos endowed with the obligation to make sure the best diet for an individual, dependent on their health care condition along with specific needs. You w ill be qualified for licensure in states that require nutrition practitioners to fulfill certain standards. On occasion the clinical dietician must give an outstanding deal of patient contact, counseling, and education to attain that balance. Understanding of nutrition and healthful foods is simply 1 component of what is necessary to successfully work in a nutrition job. Introducing Dietitian Resume Before you create your own application letter, take sometime to ask several your buddies or its going to be potential to browse online. By means of example, in CV, if youre requesting work in education, youre ready to want to place your teaching experience together with the CV. Furthermore, program information might be made available in languages apart from English. If youre still at school your university may likewise be able to supply you with sample medical resumes, from which you may pull different suggestions to use. The letter should start out with a suitable salutation an d ought to be addressed to the proper individual. Nevertheless an excellent letter effective cover letter can acquire essential attention you always desired. Moreover, it also has a cover letter and an experience page also. A nice and well-crafted cover letter can help you to get the essential diet you have earned from the employer. In the event the role for a short-period, dont use sub-bullets, but if it welches for longer than 1 month, I believe its something which should be highlighted. Today is the very first day of the remainder of your Life. Typically do not publish precisely what youd love in work. Voluntary work may also be included here. The Debate Over Dietitian Resume If youre a dietitian and looking to compose an effective resume, you might need one of the next objective examples for a dietician resume. Employed as a nutritionist can be rather rewarding. She is an expert in the field of food and nutrition. A dietitians workflow may include many distinctive r esponsibilities. The Truth About Dietitian Resume If you adore working with patients, employed as a nutritionist in clinics should become your priority. There are lots of settings that need the supervision of a Registered Dietitian. Doctors must be clear about the particular field they work in. So Doctors, Nurses, and Neonatal Dietitians be sure that the infant receives the food he wants to grow. Fast paced environment Work in the warehouse is fast together with the director is to blame for multitasking to track the excellent range of orders which must be finished. Developing your work application to coincide with a prospective company is merely the exact same. Creating a resume can look like a daunting endeavor, but it doesnt need to be Producing your resume is vital. Some applicants make the incorrect selection of design or old fashioned formats which can be injurious to the potential of locating the job. The job involves a whole lot of regular and is a superior choi ce for people that have previous knowledge in food markets, since the jobs are as well, but payment is only a bit higher. Resume builders are a really fantastic means that might help you organize your continue. 1 brilliant means to utilize resume builders is to benefit from the many options in existence. Just name your work search, tell us how frequently you want to obtain an email notification and click Save. Online resume templates are made for particular kinds of tasks and they make certain that no data is left outside. You are able to locate a wide variety of templates which might be used for creating resumes, but you will need to be conscious about with them for Online resumes. There are plenty of resume templates that are publicly on the web.

How Disheartened Staffing Pros Finally Achieve Interview Experience Consistency

How Disheartened Staffing Pros Finally Achieve Interview Experience ConsistencyIts your favorite time of year. The time when you sit down at your desk and review all the feedback youve received from the candidates you bewerbungsgesprched. Hearing all the positive things they have to say about your einstellungsgesprchprocess gives you that bump in confidence you need as a staffing professional.Excited to landsee how youre doing, you open the data file on your computer. The average rating of your vorstellungsgesprch experience is only a three out of five. Having expected better, you delve into the individual responses.The first candidate rated their experience highly. They even included words like helpful, welcoming, and fair in the open responses, which are all qualities you strive for.But the next few were less impressed with their interview experience. They described it as everything from confusing to boring.And thats when the problem becomes clear your process lacks consistency. Yo ur overall average isnt terrible, but thats because the responses are all over the board.Unfortunately, this is common with staffing firms interview experiences. Being involved with it day in and day out, it becomes difficult to clearly see discrepancies that can make a big difference to candidates. Not to mention, inconsistencies can also affect the quality of talent youre providing to your clients.Lets take a look at how an interview process that doesnt run like clockwork can hurt youUnderstanding the dangers of inconsistencyBadreputationWe all have badeanstalt days, but as a staffing professional, being off your game hurts your reputation. A 2016 CareerArc survey found that nearly 60 percent of job seekers have had a bad interview experience. Of those, 72 percent have shared that negative impression with someone else.When other job seekers hear or see that candidates opinion, it can dissuade them from working with your company. Even if it was a one-time mistake, theres an inevita ble impact on your talent pool. And if you cant supply your clients with great talent, they wont be your clients for long.Bad hiresAvoiding bad hires for your client is your main professional objective. Thats why you spend so much time and energy assessing and comparing candidates so you can offer them the best options. However, the interview process is far from foolproof.In fact, a 2015 Brandon Hall Group survey found that 69 percent of companies blame a broken interview process for letting bad hires get through. And the more inconsistencies there are, the more likely the wrong candidate will bepresented to your clients.Asking different questions, for instance, wont revealthe same insights abouteach candidate. Or a less qualified candidate might appear better if youre reading their resume in the morning,when your mind is fresh. On the other hand, a great candidate might seem worse if youre reviewing their qualificationsright before lunch, when youre distracted by hunger.Longer hiri ng timesHaving a quicker recruitingprocess allows you to place more candidates and enablesyour clients organizations to get back to up to speed sooner. Plus, the soonera job offer is made, the higher the chances the candidate will still be available.However, differences at any step of the hiring process can lead to delays. For example, if half of the candidatess video interviews are reviewed by you and the other half by a team member, it can take longer to agree on who to present to the client.An inconsistent hiring process is an inefficient one. staffingtipsClick To TweetNow that you see whats at stake when your recruitingprocess has too much variation, lets look at ways to ensure every candidate has the same interview experience.How to build consistencyUse a scheduling toolHumans are imperfect beings. This is why you should automate simple tasks whenever possible. You could take the time to manually schedule each and every interview, but one missed emaille or one forgotten time zo ne change can ruin an interview experience.Instead, use a scheduling tool so you can concentrate your efforts on more complex aspects of your job. With the right tool, all you have to do is send out an invitation email with a link and candidates can easily pick which time in your schedule works for them.Here are some things to look for when choosing an interview scheduling toolIt integrates with multiple calendars. This is incredibly important if you and other members of your team use different calendars for their personal and professional schedules. A great tool will allow you to sync all of your digital calendars and present openings to candidates in a clear way.It makes communication easy. While you dont want the emails you send candidates to sound formulaic, you do want them to be consistent. You should be able to customize communications so they reflect the position, but still provide everyone with the same essential information, like what to expect in the interview.Its flexibl e. Its never ideal, but sometimes you or a candidate need to reschedule an interview. When that happens, there should be a simple way for everyone to be alerted to the change.It allows you to customize interview lengths. Some scheduling tools force you to choose between 30- and 60-minute interviews. If you know fruchtwein of your interviews take 45 minutes, this can create a problem. Make sure your schedule aligns with your process so you can stay consistent in your interview lengths.Help candidates prepareYou are an interview expert. You know what your clients are looking for and how to make candidates shine. Having to combat pressure and nerves, job seekers often struggle with how they present themselves.By providing each one of your candidateswith the right resources, you make sure they are prepared and put their best foot forward. That way, the best talentcan consistently stand out.Here issome information you should be giving all your candidates so they arent caught off guard by something unexpectedFor video interviewsAn explanation of how these differ from traditional interviewsStep-by-steps for the entire processFAQs for candidatesTips on how respond to the camera in a natural wayGeneral presentation dos and donts (e.g. what to wear)You can find more helpful resources for video interviews here.For in-person interviewsDirections to the interview location(and where to park)The contact information for who they will be meeting withInformation on the structure of the interview(e.g. panel or one-on-one)General interview tips and remindersThe more thorough information you provide candidates, the better and more congruent with their abilities their interview performance will be.Record one-way interviews in the same locationOne-way video interviews can be a great way to introduce talent to your clients. However, you want to make sure the focus is on the candidates and their responses. While one-way video interviews can be recorded anywhere, if your candidates c ome to your office to do theirs, it createsconsistency. All the talent you present to clients will have the same background. This can also helpyou minimize distractions and quickly solveany technical issues that pop up.Having you present as they record also gives you a unique opportunity to coach them through the process. This ensures theyre providing the best possible responses, and makes both you and the candidate look good in the clients eyes.Have a standard set of questionsYou might think customizing your questions for every candidate will create a more unique interview experience. However, it really just adds more variable to the decision process. Two candidates might give fantastic answers, but if theyre two different questions, its impossible to accurately compare.Its a better use of your time to ask the same questions. Still, ensure they give the candidates a chance to provide insightful responses. Here are some things to remember when crafting a standard set of interview qu estionsHave the candidates rank their aptitude with the top five most important skills for the position. This will show you how they perceive the weaknesses and strengths that will affect their performance.Always include culture-based questions. Abstract questions like If you were a color, what color would you be? give candidates the freedom to explain their personality without feeling like theres a right or wrong answer.Have good judgement about follow-up questions. Sometimes a candidate says something that merits immediate clarification. For instance, if theyre describing their former responsibilities at a job and they mention a skill you didnt know they had, its appropriate to dive deeper into that if its important for the role. However, if they casually mention your favorite TV show during their response, dont derail the interview by talking about how much you love the program, too.Use a clear criteriaAlot of people areinvolved in your clientshiring process. While you might be c onfident that each candidate can do the job, your clients hiring team might not be. If everyone is using a different guideline to assess candidates, it can become difficult for them tosee who the best hire is.Createa checklist that objectively rates each candidate so you can show our clients why you chose to present each person to them. Prioritize what traits and experiences are most important for the role. Decide what types of personalities mesh best with the company culture. When its time to make a decision, have everyone compare their score cards to see who the best hire is.Do you and your clients have a set hiring criteria for each position? staffingtipsClick To TweetHaving a consistent interview experience makes your job as a staffer easier. It allows you to better find great talent and to provide candidates with a great hiring process theyre glad to have been a part of.Want more tips on creating a more effective interview experience? Download our eBook

The Importance of Smiling During a Job Interview

The Importance of Smiling During a Job InterviewThe Importance of Smiling During a Job InterviewCrooked smiles. Beautiful smiles. Smiles make the world go round. All you need is smilesSo we may have made the last one up, but smiles and other facial expressions are a critical aspect of human interaction. Even our pets can recognize when were smiling and what it means. For candidates interviewing with prospective employers, this means its time to limber up those cheek muscles and practice getting your toothy grin on. Want to hear how to use your smile to positively affect your job prospects? Read onWhy it MattersHave you ever sat through a meeting or first date, one on one with a straight-faced counterpart? If so, you know just how awkward the scenario can be. Youre asking questions, their answering back, but its like pulling teeth and at the end, you leave feeling like you havent made a connection with the human on the other side of the table. This is much the same in an interview roo m. A light, relaxed smile helps put others at ease and conveys a sense of calm, control and even confidence. Smiling can help diffuse a wrong answer, fill in the gap in a lull in conversation or convey a sense of humor or light sarcasm if the situation calls for it. While its your qualifications and skills that will ultimately land you the position, being the more likable candidate can help sway a hiring managers opinion where there are other applicants with similar backgrounds.Keeping it RealWhen it comes to smiling during your interview, think less amateur beauty pageant or those clown dolls that tormented you as a child. What youre aiming for is a relaxed, natural grin that wont have you come across like a deranged comic book villain with a penchant for green hair. While this advice may sound reasonable, perfecting a natural smile is harder than it looks.First, practice answering questions with a smile and relaxed facial expressions in front of a mirror. Be sure notlage to overdo things either. The smile should be used as an accent and not permanently plastered to your face in a way that comes off as disingenuous. After enough in-person interviews, youll be a smiling pro, but in the meantime, you need to get some non-career impacting practice in. In addition to trying the grin on for size, be sure to relax prior to your interview, arrive with plenty of time to spare and engage in other interview prep activities that will help ease your nerves. All of these activities are designed to help boost your confidence which will allow that to smile come more naturally.Buff Up Those Pearly WhitesWhen you smile during an interview its almost inevitable that your teeth are going to take a starring role. If youve eaten a meal before your interview be sure to take a quick glance in the mirror to ensure no remnant spinach leaves will throw off your grin or create an awkward you have something in your teeth moment. Similarly, if you decide to wear lipstick, take a quick gl ance that nothing has transferred onto those pearly whites. If you smoke or drink red wine, it may be worth a trip to the dentist for a whitening session. Good oral health also helps with personal hygiene and aids in eliminating unpleasant, bad breath, a conversation killer no matter the setting. Finally, if you must chew gum or mints, be sure to ditch them prior to the interview. Chewing down during your interview is not only impolite, it can also distract your interviewer from the words coming out of your mouth or cause your speech to be unclear.Follow our quick words of wisdom and youll be well on your way to impressing your next interviewer with a Madonna-worthy smile, sure to help score you a call-back or job offer.

4 simple ways to deal with a difficult coworker

4 simple ways to deal with a difficult coworker4 simple ways to deal with a difficult coworkerWeve all been there Your supervisor starts delegating responsibilities on a huge team project and all of a sudden, boom Guess who youre working with?

College Counselors Top Tips for Students Applying for Federal Jobs

College Counselors’ Top Tips for Students Applying for Federal Jobs College Counselors’ Top Tips for Students Applying for Federal Jobs College Counselors’ Top Tips for Students Applying for Federal Jobs Baltimore, MD (PRWEB) April 24, 2014 (see article on PRWeb) Many students and new grads are interested in federal employment. About one-fourth of US college students list government as one of their three major targeted employers, according to the 2013 Student Survey. Yet just 8.5% of all federal workers are younger than 30. In a recent Washington Post article, Tom Fox of the Partnership for Public Service wrote that a crucial strategy for bringing more young people in is strengthening their understanding of the fed’s application process. However, as the recent Washington Post article noted, they need to be better informed about how to apply. The Resume Place, publisher of the Student’s Federal Career Guide, 3rd Edition and a certifying trainer on the federal hiring process, recently interviewed career counselors at two colleges. Tamara Golden at the University of California, San Diego and Emily Gomez, MS at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill shared tips for getting the inside edge in the federal job market. The counselors emphasized learning how to write the longer, more detailed federal resume and offered other important tips. Tip #1: Learn how to cast a wider net on www.usajobs.gov (the US government’s official job site) Both Gomez and Golden agree that many students make the mistake of searching for openings on USAJOBS by the limited number of federal agencies they know. “They don’t realize that there are a lot of similar positions and similar agencies,” says Gomez. Instead the counselors recommend searching by “occupational series.” The Student’s Federal Career Guide walks you through determining which occupational series would fit you best. “By searching by occupational series, you can find those hidden gems,” advises Golden. Tip #2: Be sure you’re actually qualified before applying. “The vacancy announcements will literally describe who will be eligible to apply,” observes Golden. And the Student’s Federal Career Guide explains how to understand the complicated announcements, adding that they must be looked at carefully. Golden recommends that you also spend time reviewing the “Occupational Questionnaire” linked to the announcement. If you can’t score yourself at the highest level across most skill areas, then you won’t be qualified, she says. Avoid “status” positions only open to current or recent federal employees. And students interested in “Recent Graduate” positions need to note how close to graduation they need to be to apply. Tip #3: Know that federal resumes are longer, and different, than private industry resumes. You can’t just attach a private industry resume if you want to land a government position. Fed resumes must be longer (3 to 5 pages) and more detailed. “Just this afternoon, one of my students expressed frustration at repeatedly being designated ‘best qualified,’ but never getting an interview,” says Golden. “The student had been using a one-page resume, which is a big no-no.” She told him to change to a multi-page resume at the least and also steered him to using USAJOBS’ online resume builder. Many USAJOBS announcements even require applicants to utilize the resume builder option only. Tip #4: Draw on your student experiences to demonstrate your skills and knowledge. Academic activities can play an important role in showing that you have what fed HR wants. Class projects, presentations, papers and other academic accomplishments can be highlighted on your resume, along with internships and community activities. Golden has her applicants include this info in the work section of the resume builder. The Student’s Federal Career Guide includes 8 sample resumes showing how college classwork and accomplishments can be addressed. Tip #5: Play the card you hold in terms of veteran’s preference. Vets get preferential scoring for their applications for many positions. If that’s you, make sure you supply all the needed paperwork. One exception to vet’s preference is for Scientific and Professional positions at the GS-9 level or higher. The Student’s Guide includes a helpful chart that lists these exempt positions. Golden has found these exemptions to be helpful for her non-vet students’ applications. Tip #6: Start to prepare your federal resume now before you need it. More and more often, fed job announcements only allow a limited amount of time to apply. Gomez says it would be difficult to create an outstanding federal resume if you only have a week before the deadline. “Start to build that fed resume today,” she advises, “and then you’ll just have to make minimal changes based on the specific requirements.” Gomez agrees that many times students have no idea what it entails to apply for a federal position when working on their own. “The federal government is not going to hire you because you’re a college student or new grad,” she points out. “They want to see that you’ve done what’s required as described in the job description. That’s why your resume needs to be so thorough.” The new Student’s Federal Career Guide, 3rd edition, by Kathryn Troutman and Paul Binkley, EdD, was just selected as a finalist in Career for the Book of the Year Awards! This informative 178-page guide is available in paperback, Kindle and PDF, and it’s sold at The Resume Place website and Amazon.com.

Job Search Checklist Where Are You Going Wrong - FlexJobs

Job Search Checklist Where Are You Going Wrong - FlexJobs Job Search Checklist Where Are You Going Wrong 13If you’ve been applying to jobs for a while without receiving any offers, you might be wondering what’s going on. Thoughts like, “Is it something I said? Something I did? Or didn’t say or do? Where am I going wrong?” are very common for almost all job seekers. The trick is being able to answer these questions honestly and change your tactics to improve your chances. Check out his job search checklist to help you determine where you are getting hung-up in your job search: If you can honestly answer “yes” to most (or all!) of the answers below, you’re doing the right things and should keep at it. If most of your answers are “no” or “not really” or “kind of,” it’s time to double-down on your job search, invest more time and energy into the process, and concentrate on any areas where you didn’t answer a resounding “yes!” For many of these check-points, we’ve got articles to help you put right whats wrong. If you see a hyperlink on a point that you haven’t checked, be sure to read the article it links to for tips and tricks to improve that part of your job search. If you’re applying but not getting any callbacks or job interviews: ___ Are you targeting your job search to specific jobs/careers that you are most interested in? ___ Have you made a list of large and small companies for which you’d most like to work? ___ Are you tailoring every resume and cover letter you send out to be specific for each job/company? ___ Have you networked with friends, colleagues, and other professionals to learn more about possible job openings? ___ Do you fill out online applications completely and with information and answers that will “beat” the application system? ___ Have you proofread your application materials for grammar and spelling, and have you asked others to proofread them too? ___ Are you following up on applications to make sure employers have received them (either by email or phone)? And to reiterate your interest? ___ Are you active in professional associations or other networking groups? ___ Have you asked people in your network, if they work for a company you’ve applied to, or know someone at a company you want to work for, to put in a good word for you? ___ Have you had your resume reviewed by a professional? ___ Are you sending a cover letter (or cover email) with every application? ___ Are your application materials free from sounding angry, frustrated, desperate, or otherwise negative? ___ Rather than applying to everything you are qualified for, are you spending time on jobs that you truly want, crafting unique resumes and cover letters for each? ___ Is your phone’s voicemail box able to accept messages and is your voicemail greeting professional? ___ Is your email box able to receive new messages? ___ Is your email address professional and does it contain your name? ___ Are your social media profiles (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) private so employers cannot see them, or have you made them completely professional-looking? ___ Do you have any professional online presence such as a LinkedIn profile or a professional portfolio? ___ Have you used social media in your job search? ___ Are you applying to jobs as soon as they are posted rather than waiting days or weeks to apply? ___ Do you follow job application instructions explicitly? If you’re getting phone (or first-round) interviews, but not second-round invitations: ___ Have you practiced phone interviewing? ___ Do you have a dedicated space where you are free from interruption and background noise to conduct your phone interview? ___ Have you researched the company to learn as much as you can before the interview? ___ Do you practice answering job interview questions out-loud? ___ Are you smiling while speaking over the phone? ___ Are you keeping your answers positive and refraining from speaking ill of past employers, coworkers, companies, or experiences? ___ Are you inquiring about the interview process moving forward, and when you can expect to hear from them again? ___ Are you sending a thank-you email or note right after the interview, no matter how short the interview was? ___ Are you not only talking about what you’ve done, but what you can and will do for the company if awarded the job? ___ If asked about salary, do you give them an appropriate range and let them know that you’re flexible as to the exact number? ___ Is your phone connection strong and do you sound clear on the other end of the phone? ___ Are you giving more than short, one-or-two-word answers? ___ Are you comfortable with silence and able to stop yourself from talking on and on? ___ Do you make it clear what your biggest strengths are and how you’ll be an asset to the company? ___ Do you demonstrate that you’ve researched the company by speaking about what you’ve learned? ___ Are you enthusiastic and upbeat with your responses? If you’re getting final-round interviews, but not getting offers: ___ Do you send a thank-you email or note to everyone who interviewed you immediately after the interview is over? ___ In your thank-you, do you reiterate your qualifications for the position and clear up anything that didn’t come out right during the interview? ___ Do you prepare a few examples of ideas you have for the position and talk about them during the interview? ___ Are you enthusiastic and upbeat with your responses? ___ Do you try to differentiate yourself from other candidates? ___ Do you demonstrate what youve learned by researching the company in your answers? ___ Can you tell the interviewer(s) specifically why you want to work for their company? ___ When answering questions like, Where do you see yourself in five years?, do you give the impression that you want to work for their company? ___ Have you prepared specific examples of how you can contribute? ___ When speaking about your weaknesses, are you choosing a real weakness and telling them how you are already working to correct it? ___ Are you making regular eye contact and smiling during the interview? ___ Have you prepared (and asked) thoughtful questions about the company, your potential coworkers, and your potential responsibilities? ___ Do you ask if there is anything else they’d like to know about you before the interview is over? ___ Do you bring extra copies of your resume to hand out to multiple interviewers? ___ Are you letting your personality come through in your responses, body language, and mannerisms? ___ Are you inquiring about the interview process moving forward, and when you can expect to hear from them again? ___ If possible, are you bringing examples of your work with you to show to interviewers? ___ Do you bring a list of at least three references who can speak well about you as a professional and employee and leave it with the interviewers? ___ Do you ask your references for their help ahead of time, and send them a copy of the job description so they know what you’re applying for? ___ Do you provide your references with a copy of your resume and give them specific ideas of what to talk about should they be called by a potential employer? ___ Have you asked your references if they’ve heard from potential employers yet?

How to List Your Accomplishments on Your Resume

How to List Your Accomplishments on Your Resume How to List Your Accomplishments on Your Resume As you begin to  write your resume for a new position, you should be aware that there is a common mistake job seekers frequently make in formatting their resume text. Oftentimes, people simply list what they have done in previous jobs without pointing to the impact of their accomplishments and contributions.   Your resume should not read like a set of job descriptions that convey only what your responsibilities were in past jobs.  Instead, the focus should be on  how you made a good impression at work and made a difference to your department and organization. It’s important to show what you have accomplished in your resume, rather than simply presenting a list of tasks. Expand Your resume should communicate how you have been an asset to the past organizations with whom you have been affiliated. These details about your specific achievements will help you to stand out from your competition. How to Include Accomplishments on a Resume Here are tips for incorporating accomplishments into your resume. Follow the process for each of the jobs you’ve held so you can highlight what you have achieved in each position on your resume. Define How Success Was Measured Identify the bottom line for each of the departments or functional units where you worked.  Ask yourself how one would measure the success of those units.  This means knowing  how to include numbers on your resume  when possible. For example, a recruiting department might be measured by whether or not it sourced the right talent.  An accounting department might be graded by how clean their audits were.  A purchasing department might be rated by the money it saved.  A restaurant might be measured by the number of repeat customers or the quality of their online reviews. Highlight How You Impacted Success Itemize how your role was connected to the bottom line in each of your experiences. For example, a recruiter might note that she was responsible for selecting the best feeder schools for entry-level candidates.   A purchasing agent might have evaluated the best vendors for computer hardware. A waiter might focus on the quality of service which he provided to restaurant patrons.   Identify and document any baseline indicators related to the bottom lines for your departments at the time you took on your roles.  For example, as an accountant, how many audit findings were there for your area of responsibility prior to your assuming that role?   As a recruiter, what was the average cost per hire prior to your arrival?  As a production manager, what was the average downtime for the assembly line before you took over that role? Quantify Your Accomplishments Estimate the level of change that you helped to engineer in your role and quantify it if possible. For example, you might state that you reduced negative audit findings by 50%. Perhaps you cut travel expenses in your department by 20% or reduced staff turnover by 25%. It’s a smart strategy to highlight these percentages in boldface so that they “pop” on the page.   Qualify Your Accomplishments If the change cant easily be expressed in quantitative terms, use qualitative language that appropriately points to the magnitude of change.  For example, you could say: Significantly enhanced morale.Resolved customer complaints much more quickly.Greatly reduced staff turnover.Increased response time significantly. Include Action Words Utilize  action words on your resume  that imply an accomplishment or some results that you have produced.  For example, begin your statements with words like: increaseddecreasedreducedenhancedupgradedinitiatedcreatedreorganizedeliminatedinstitutedestablishedacceleratedadvancedinitiatedsurpassedpersuaded Accomplishment statements will be more convincing if you include references to how you generated the results.  Point to the skills or strategies you employed to achieve each success. Examples of how this would look on your resume: Improved staff productivity by establishing incentives for reaching volume goals.Increased the percentage of positive customer reviews by installing a system that tracked comments by employee.Evaluated alternatives for payroll vendors and selected a new partner resulting in savings of 15%. How to Add Value to the Accomplishments Listed on Your Resume Accomplishments dont need to be monumental in order to  show an employer how you can add value  on your resume.  Think of how you have made things better, in even a minor way.   For example, a human resources clerk might say, Recommended changes for processing new applications that reduced response time to candidates. A retail salesperson might say, Repositioned product displays to more efficiently move dated merchandise. Another way to validate an accomplishment is to cite recognition by a supervisor, employer, customer, or another stakeholder.     For example, a server might say, Selected as employee of the month based on outstanding customer service.   A Human Resources professional might say, Promoted to Assistant Director of Human Resources based on successful recruitment of graduates for IT jobs.  A supervisor might say, Recognized during performance review for enhancing staff morale.” After you’ve decided upon which of your career accomplishments you should showcase,  review some resume templates and builders  to see what format would best help set them off to their best advantage.

Research reveals How to create happy memories that will last a lifetime

Research reveals How to create happy memories that will last a lifetime Research reveals How to create happy memories that will last a lifetime Your first kiss. Graduation. Your first job. Your wedding day. Birth of your first child.These are the big memories that we all cherish. But there are other  littlememories that stick out because they had such a powerful emotional impact on you. Moments that enriched your life, bonded you with others and helped you define who you are.Well, the latter are just “magic”, right? Serendipity. Can’t engineer that. They just “happen”…*Writer rolls his eyes so hard he gets a migraine.*Yeah, and sometimes they  don’t. More often than not, one day rolls into the next, one month rolls into the next, you blink your eyes and you’re staring down the barrel of another New Year’s Day saying:  where the heck did the time go?Serendipity can be a bus that never arrives.  So why do we leave special moments to chance? And why do we not do more to create those special memories for others - the way we’d like them to make some for us?We get tired. We get lazy. And then boom - suddenly CVS is loaded with Christmas ornaments and it signals the end of another year.  No good. If we want great memories we have to make them.But how do you do that?  What makes some little moments so powerful? And others the epitome of “meh”?Chip and Dan Heath have a new book that lays out the science you need to know -  The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact.Time to learn how to construct more events that will restock your reminiscence reservoir. Boost your nostalgia number. Fill your flashback fund.Let’s get to work…1) Create moments of elevationParties. Competing in sporting events. Taking off on a spontaneous road trip. What do they have in common?From  The Power of Moments:Moments of elevation are experiences that rise above the routine. They make us feel engaged, joyful, amazed, motivated.If you feel the need to pull out a camera, it’s probably a moment of elevation. (Unless you’re taking a selfie. In that case, just put it away, you na rcissist.)So what is it at the core of a moment of elevation that we can add to any event to make it more special? Remember the 3 S’s:  sensory, stakes, and script.Boost sensory appeal:  This is why concerts, museums and great meals stick in your memory and why sitting on the couch is so forgettable. Engaging the senses more intensely makes moments stand out.Raise the stakes:  Competing in a sporting event is more exciting than watching one. In fact, betting on a sporting event makes watching one more entertaining. If there’s something to gain or lose, you’ll be paying attention.Break the script: Don’t do the usual thing. Don’t just get coffee or have dinner. Boring. Take your default and flip it on its head. Defy expectations and strategically surprise people.Southwest Airlines broke the script by tweaking their normal flight safety announcement. One of the lines they added was:If you should get to use the life vest in a real-life situation, the vest is yours to keep.Peop le loved it. In fact, those who heard the new messages actually flew more. And that resulted in an extra $140 million per year for Southwest. Breaking the script produces delightful moments.The Heath brothers write,  â€œThe most memorable periods of our lives are when we break the script.”  Sounds kinda pat and corny â€" but it’s true.Research shows that when older people look back on their lives, a disproportionate number of their big memories happened in a very narrow window: between ages 15 and 30.That’s not even 20% of the average lifespan.  Is this because our memory is sharper then? Or because young adulthood is a “magic” time?  Heck, no…It’s because after 30 life can get pretty darn boring.  After their third decade has passed, most people don’t do anything as novel as falling in love for the first time, leaving home, going to college, or starting their first job.So months and years blur together because nothing new and shiny happens. But neuroscientist David Eagleman says that when you inject novelty into your life, you prevent the blur. Surprise stretches time. So break the script and interrupt the blur with moments of elevation.(To learn more about the science of a successful life, check out my new book  here.)So boosting sensory appeal, raising the stakes and breaking the script can turn little moments into big memories. What else has that power?2) Celebrate moments of prideA graduation party. The ceremony where you received your black belt. Or that special session when the parole board declared you “rehabilitated.”You want to commemorate achievements. When you have your skill noticed by others, you can puff your chest out and take a second to feel really good about yourself.  And this is not a “nice to have.” Research shows we  needthese.From  The Power of Moments:Carolyn Wiley of Roosevelt University reviewed four similar studies of employee motivation conducted in 1946, 1980, 1986 and 1992. In each of the studies, employee s were asked to rank the factors that motivated them. Popular answers included “interesting work,” “job security,” “good wages,” and “feeling of being in on things.” Across the studies, which spanned 46 years, only one factor was cited every time as among the top two motivators: “full appreciation of work done.”According to one survey the Heath brothers found, the #1 reason people leave their jobs is “a lack of praise and recognition.” So take the time to appreciate what you’ve accomplished and to let others celebrate with you.Now I know what some people are thinking:  But I don’t achieve big stuff very often…But you’ve already made big strides that you never took the time to revel in. Surface the milestones that already exist. How long have you and your BFF been friends? Ever celebrated that? Didn’t think so. (No, that does not make you a bad friend. I still like you. You’re cool.)The Heath brothers tell the story of one couple that even looked b ack and actually celebrated  fights  the two of them had during their first year of marriage. Why? Because they got past them. They overcame the obstacles. That’s worth appreciating.And for extra credit, set goals. Build milestones on the road ahead. Why? Because the more finish lines you set, the more moments of pride you’ll be able to celebrate. Not only does that feel good, it will  motivate you.George Wu at the University of Chicago looked at the data on how long it took over nine million runners to complete marathons. Most took about 3.5 to 5 hours. But the results weren’t evenly distributed. There’s this huge spike right before the 4 hour mark. Why? 4 hours is arbitrary, right?Yeah - but it’s a nice round number. And for many it is achievable if they push themselves. People saw that “arbitrary” time limit approaching and kicked in the afterburners so they could say, “I finished in under 4 hours.” And so many did.Celebrate moments of pride. You don’t have t o win a Nobel Prize. In fact, celebrating a silly milestone “breaks the script” and may be even more memorable. Set goals so you have more moments of pride to motivate you to achieve and have more things to celebrate in the future.(To learn the seven-step morning ritual that will make you happy all day, click  here.)So you’ve elevating and celebrating milestones. Great.  But relationships are what brings us the most happiness. (And ice cream. Ice cream brings happiness, too.) So how do we make memories that deepen our relationships with others? (And may involve ice cream?)3) Build moments of connectionVacations. Reunions. Holidays.  The times that bond us with others where we feel all kinds of warm fuzzies.These are the moments when some of the most powerful memories are formed.  What does the research say deepens the connections you feel with others?Struggle. Yeah,  struggle. No, I’m not saying you should get in an argument with Uncle Jack again.Anthropologist Dimitris Xyga latas (say that three times fast) found that groups that went through “high-ordeals” bonded far more than those that went through “low-ordeals.” Struggling together made people closer. This is why fraternities haze. Why soldiers feel like they are kin.So what the heck does this have to do with relaxing vacations and get-togethers with friends?Less watching movies and more playing board games as teams. Less shopping and more touch football. If it ends with high-fives, you’re probably in the ballpark.And even better if it’s a team activity that is connected to  meaning. Yes, that even means helping your friend paint their new kitchen and having beers after. You’re helping them turn “that house” into “their home.”Even if it sounds like a chore beforehand, we often look back fondly on those times…. especially if your friend paints himself into a corner.(To learn the 4 rituals from neuroscience that will make you happy, click  here.)Okay, we’ve learned a lot. Ho pefully it was a memorable moment - but just in case, let’s round it all up and learn how to make the most powerful memories of all…Sum upThis is how to create happy memories that will last a lifetime: Create moments of elevation: Boost sensory appeal (light some fireworks.) Break the script (don’t wait for the 4th of July.) Raise the stakes (hope you don’t get arrested.) Celebrate moments of pride: If your  first book  comes out and someone insists you go someplace special that night,  do it. Otherwise you wouldn’t have a vivid memory. You wouldn’t have photos. All you would have is some random date to remember like in 8th grade history class. Build moments of connection: Struggle. Working together on something, especially something meaningful, bonds us together. So just help Gary move this weekend and stop whining. How do you make the most powerful memories of all?  You don’t have to use just one of the tips above to improve a moment - you can use them  all.Celebrate a friend’s “moment of pride” with the “struggle” of a paintball match and “break the script” by also making it a costume party with everyone getting decked out in full military regalia - from the Revolutionary War.Now  that’s  memorable. And insane. But insane is memorable. And not boring.You now know how to make great memories that can last you the rest of your life. You can make them for friends as well â€" even better,  share  them with friends…But usually we don’t. We do the hum-drum and the days blur together. Life becomes stale and boring and we die a little inside. But you don’t have to.Break the script. Don’t let the script break you.Join more than 320,000 readers.  Get a free weekly update via email  here.Related posts:New Neuroscience Reveals 4 Rituals That Will Make You HappyNew Harvard Resear ch Reveals A Fun Way To Be More SuccessfulHow To Get People To Like You: 7 Ways From An FBI Behavior Expert  This article first appeared at Barking Up the Wrong Tree. Research reveals How to create happy memories that will last a lifetime Your first kiss. Graduation. Your first job. Your wedding day. Birth of your first child.These are the big memories that we all cherish. But there are other  littlememories that stick out because they had such a powerful emotional impact on you. Moments that enriched your life, bonded you with others and helped you define who you are.Well, the latter are just “magic”, right? Serendipity. Can’t engineer that. They just “happen”…*Writer rolls his eyes so hard he gets a migraine.*Yeah, and sometimes they  don’t. More often than not, one day rolls into the next, one month rolls into the next, you blink your eyes and you’re staring down the barrel of another New Year’s Day saying:  where the heck did the time go?Serendipity can be a bus that never arrives.  So why do we leave special moments to chance? And why do we not do more to create those special memories for others - the way we’d like them to make some for us?We get tired. We get lazy. And then boom - suddenly CVS is loaded with Christmas ornaments and it signals the end of another year.  No good. If we want great memories we have to make them.But how do you do that?  What makes some little moments so powerful? And others the epitome of “meh”?Chip and Dan Heath have a new book that lays out the science you need to know -  The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact.Time to learn how to construct more events that will restock your reminiscence reservoir. Boost your nostalgia number. Fill your flashback fund.Let’s get to work…1) Create moments of elevationParties. Competing in sporting events. Taking off on a spontaneous road trip. What do they have in common?From  The Power of Moments:Moments of elevation are experiences that rise above the routine. They make us feel engaged, joyful, amazed, motivated.If you feel the need to pull out a camera, it’s probably a moment of elevation. (Unless you’re taking a selfie. In that case, just put it away, you na rcissist.)So what is it at the core of a moment of elevation that we can add to any event to make it more special? Remember the 3 S’s:  sensory, stakes, and script.Boost sensory appeal:  This is why concerts, museums and great meals stick in your memory and why sitting on the couch is so forgettable. Engaging the senses more intensely makes moments stand out.Raise the stakes:  Competing in a sporting event is more exciting than watching one. In fact, betting on a sporting event makes watching one more entertaining. If there’s something to gain or lose, you’ll be paying attention.Break the script: Don’t do the usual thing. Don’t just get coffee or have dinner. Boring. Take your default and flip it on its head. Defy expectations and strategically surprise people.Southwest Airlines broke the script by tweaking their normal flight safety announcement. One of the lines they added was:If you should get to use the life vest in a real-life situation, the vest is yours to keep.Peop le loved it. In fact, those who heard the new messages actually flew more. And that resulted in an extra $140 million per year for Southwest. Breaking the script produces delightful moments.The Heath brothers write,  â€œThe most memorable periods of our lives are when we break the script.”  Sounds kinda pat and corny â€" but it’s true.Research shows that when older people look back on their lives, a disproportionate number of their big memories happened in a very narrow window: between ages 15 and 30.That’s not even 20% of the average lifespan.  Is this because our memory is sharper then? Or because young adulthood is a “magic” time?  Heck, no…It’s because after 30 life can get pretty darn boring.  After their third decade has passed, most people don’t do anything as novel as falling in love for the first time, leaving home, going to college, or starting their first job.So months and years blur together because nothing new and shiny happens. But neuroscientist David Eagleman says that when you inject novelty into your life, you prevent the blur. Surprise stretches time. So break the script and interrupt the blur with moments of elevation.(To learn more about the science of a successful life, check out my new book  here.)So boosting sensory appeal, raising the stakes and breaking the script can turn little moments into big memories. What else has that power?2) Celebrate moments of prideA graduation party. The ceremony where you received your black belt. Or that special session when the parole board declared you “rehabilitated.”You want to commemorate achievements. When you have your skill noticed by others, you can puff your chest out and take a second to feel really good about yourself.  And this is not a “nice to have.” Research shows we  needthese.From  The Power of Moments:Carolyn Wiley of Roosevelt University reviewed four similar studies of employee motivation conducted in 1946, 1980, 1986 and 1992. In each of the studies, employee s were asked to rank the factors that motivated them. Popular answers included “interesting work,” “job security,” “good wages,” and “feeling of being in on things.” Across the studies, which spanned 46 years, only one factor was cited every time as among the top two motivators: “full appreciation of work done.”According to one survey the Heath brothers found, the #1 reason people leave their jobs is “a lack of praise and recognition.” So take the time to appreciate what you’ve accomplished and to let others celebrate with you.Now I know what some people are thinking:  But I don’t achieve big stuff very often…But you’ve already made big strides that you never took the time to revel in. Surface the milestones that already exist. How long have you and your BFF been friends? Ever celebrated that? Didn’t think so. (No, that does not make you a bad friend. I still like you. You’re cool.)The Heath brothers tell the story of one couple that even looked b ack and actually celebrated  fights  the two of them had during their first year of marriage. Why? Because they got past them. They overcame the obstacles. That’s worth appreciating.And for extra credit, set goals. Build milestones on the road ahead. Why? Because the more finish lines you set, the more moments of pride you’ll be able to celebrate. Not only does that feel good, it will  motivate you.George Wu at the University of Chicago looked at the data on how long it took over nine million runners to complete marathons. Most took about 3.5 to 5 hours. But the results weren’t evenly distributed. There’s this huge spike right before the 4 hour mark. Why? 4 hours is arbitrary, right?Yeah - but it’s a nice round number. And for many it is achievable if they push themselves. People saw that “arbitrary” time limit approaching and kicked in the afterburners so they could say, “I finished in under 4 hours.” And so many did.Celebrate moments of pride. You don’t have t o win a Nobel Prize. In fact, celebrating a silly milestone “breaks the script” and may be even more memorable. Set goals so you have more moments of pride to motivate you to achieve and have more things to celebrate in the future.(To learn the seven-step morning ritual that will make you happy all day, click  here.)So you’ve elevating and celebrating milestones. Great.  But relationships are what brings us the most happiness. (And ice cream. Ice cream brings happiness, too.) So how do we make memories that deepen our relationships with others? (And may involve ice cream?)3) Build moments of connectionVacations. Reunions. Holidays.  The times that bond us with others where we feel all kinds of warm fuzzies.These are the moments when some of the most powerful memories are formed.  What does the research say deepens the connections you feel with others?Struggle. Yeah,  struggle. No, I’m not saying you should get in an argument with Uncle Jack again.Anthropologist Dimitris Xyga latas (say that three times fast) found that groups that went through “high-ordeals” bonded far more than those that went through “low-ordeals.” Struggling together made people closer. This is why fraternities haze. Why soldiers feel like they are kin.So what the heck does this have to do with relaxing vacations and get-togethers with friends?Less watching movies and more playing board games as teams. Less shopping and more touch football. If it ends with high-fives, you’re probably in the ballpark.And even better if it’s a team activity that is connected to  meaning. Yes, that even means helping your friend paint their new kitchen and having beers after. You’re helping them turn “that house” into “their home.”Even if it sounds like a chore beforehand, we often look back fondly on those times…. especially if your friend paints himself into a corner.(To learn the 4 rituals from neuroscience that will make you happy, click  here.)Okay, we’ve learned a lot. Ho pefully it was a memorable moment - but just in case, let’s round it all up and learn how to make the most powerful memories of all…Sum upThis is how to create happy memories that will last a lifetime: Create moments of elevation: Boost sensory appeal (light some fireworks.) Break the script (don’t wait for the 4th of July.) Raise the stakes (hope you don’t get arrested.) Celebrate moments of pride: If your  first book  comes out and someone insists you go someplace special that night,  do it. Otherwise you wouldn’t have a vivid memory. You wouldn’t have photos. All you would have is some random date to remember like in 8th grade history class. Build moments of connection: Struggle. Working together on something, especially something meaningful, bonds us together. So just help Gary move this weekend and stop whining. How do you make the most powerful memories of all?  You don’t have to use just one of the tips above to improve a moment - you can use them  all.Celebrate a friend’s “moment of pride” with the “struggle” of a paintball match and “break the script” by also making it a costume party with everyone getting decked out in full military regalia - from the Revolutionary War.Now  that’s  memorable. And insane. But insane is memorable. And not boring.You now know how to make great memories that can last you the rest of your life. You can make them for friends as well â€" even better,  share  them with friends…But usually we don’t. We do the hum-drum and the days blur together. Life becomes stale and boring and we die a little inside. But you don’t have to.Break the script. Don’t let the script break you.Join more than 320,000 readers.  Get a free weekly update via email  here.Related posts:New Neuroscience Reveals 4 Rituals That Will Make You HappyNew Harvard Resear ch Reveals A Fun Way To Be More SuccessfulHow To Get People To Like You: 7 Ways From An FBI Behavior Expert  This article first appeared at Barking Up the Wrong Tree.

How to Create a Branding Statement for Your Job Search Find Your Dream Job

How to Create a Branding Statement for Your Job Search â€" Find Your Dream Job How to Create a Branding Statement for Your Job Search - Find Your Dream Job Today’s task is about recognizing your strengths, and making sure employers recognize them, too. Today you will create a branding statement â€" a short, catchy sentence (15 words or less) that highlights what makes you an ideal job candidate. Your statement should focus on how you will add value to a company through your skills, experience, and/or achievements. How to Write a Branding Statement To begin writing your branding statement, make a list of your strengths, as related to the job for which you are applying. List your accomplishments in your most relevant previous positions, particularly accomplishments that added value to an organization. List your personal assets that helped you reach those accomplishments â€" these can be personality traits, skills, etc. Look at the requirements of your target job (you can do this by looking at online job postings), and then circle anything on your list of accomplishments and assets that overlap with those job requirements. Your final branding statement should weave together one or two adjectives that describe your key strengths, your desired job title, and one or two of your accomplishments. Branding Statement Example Here is an example of a branding statement: “Detail-oriented development assistant experienced in coordinating extensive fundraising efforts and drafting successful grant proposals.” How to Use Your Branding Statement in Your Job Search You can use your branding statement in a number of ways throughout your job search. You can include it on your resume, listed between your contact information and your professional experience. Write a Resume Profile You can also expand it into a longer resume profile (which is typically a small paragraph), and include that on your resume instead. Your resume profile will also be useful during job interviews: it is a great answer to the common question, “Tell me about yourself.” Having a branding statement also helps you better understand your strengths, which will be important when answering another common interview question, “What are your strengths?”

3 ways to make planning a vacation a little easier for you

3 ways to make planning a vacation a little easier for you 3 ways to make planning a vacation a little easier for you You can follow a pre-vacation checklist one line at a time - including setting up the perfect out-of-office email reply - and still feel frazzled when you’re planning a trip.Here are three ways to take the edge off during the process.Stay ready: do some packing before you actually have toThis could both save time and help you avoid forgetting something on your way out.The Washington Post features information from and about Alice Boyes, PhD, the author of The Anxiety Toolkit and a former psychologist. Here’s some insight on how she stays ready for travel.“Rather than repacking toiletries every time, Boyes keeps duplicates of items she uses frequently, such as her toothbrush and toothpaste. She places one in a suitcase and keeps one at home. She also keeps clothing in her suitcase that she knows she will wear on the road. This allows her to put less time and energy into preparing the night before when she’s usually still working late,” the publication reports.Before leaving : tell your colleagues when you will and won’t be freeElizabeth Grace Saunders, an author, founder of Real Life E Time Coaching Speaking and time management coach, explains this in the Harvard Business Review.“Once you’ve figured out what you will do before leaving on vacation and what can be handled while you’re away, clarify what you will not do until you return. I recommend having a sense of this in your mind early. But wait until three or four days before you leave to make the final call on what’s in or out. By then you should be sure about what you can reasonably accomplish, and you can relay this information to your boss, teammates, and anyone else involved in the work,” she writes.“It can be uncomfortable to have these conversations, but it’s almost always best to be up front about what to expect instead of leaving people hanging who are expecting something from you, and then having to deal with a mid-vacation crisis caused by lack of communication. Update co lleagues on the status of projects and let them know that nothing will move forward until after you get back in the office. Also, give key individuals the heads-up that you won’t be available - or as available - during the time that you’re away,” Saunders continues.On the trip: don’t get flustered too easilyDon’t forget to cut yourself some slack.Social psychologist Susan Newman told the Reader’s Digest that when things go off-track on your trip, you should “think of it as an adventure, because often the mishaps and the things that go wrong actually become either humorous in your memory bank or the best thing that happened on the whole vacation.”

Worried about taking time off Heres what to do.

Worried about taking time off Here's what to do. Worried about taking time off Here's what to do. Paid vacations can be tricky. They give employees a much-needed respite from the grind, yet lately many are hesitant to utilize them to their full extent. According to a recent survey conducted by GfK in conjunction with Project Time Off, while there has been a slight uptick in recent years, 54% of full-time employees still ended 2016 with unused paid time off.Millennials, who job hop more regularly and thus know how easy it can be to be replaced, are even less likely to take vacations. A whopping 43% of “work martyrs”, aka people who sacrifice time off to keep working, are millennials.Imagine you started a job a couple months ago and are finally getting into the groove of things, but you have a vacation coming up that was planned a year ago. You might have told your boss about it when you first came on board, but the idea of abandoning your post so early in your stint there keeps you up at night. What if your associate takes over your responsibilities and does a better job? Will they promote her and get rid of you? How can you prove to them that you’re indispensable?Your worries may be somewhat irrational, but that likely won’t stop them from plaguing you even when you’re supposed to be relaxing and recharging. So what can you do to assuage your fears?  Here are four steps to help you prepare for a vacation so you can actually enjoy it.  1. Start a tally of your work contributionsIf you think you might be replaceable, the best way to show your boss (and yourself) that you’re not is  a list of all the things you’ve done for the company. Whether it’s projects you’ve completed, successes you’ve instigated, or simply great ideas you’ve put out there that made an impact, write them down  and keep them handy. You don’t need to send the list to your boss like a self-evaluation or progress report - they’re just a good reminder that your contributions are unique and worth remembering.  2. Make sure your work is covered in your absenceThis is a pretty simple consideration, but it often seems as if few employees think to do it. While you might not need to find a formal replacement to do your job in your absence, it’s always a good idea to make sure those who work in your department know you’ll be gone, and that they’re comfortable taking on some of your responsibilities in need be. By taking that step, you’ll be helping out your manager and higher-ups who would have had to do that delegating. Not only does it show you’re thinking of other people’s time; it also highlights your care about the company as a whole. It shows you recognize that your role is part of a larger system that wouldn’t run as well without it.3. Create an “in case of” manual for sudden situationsIf something unplanned should occur in your absence that doesn’t fall into your normal, day-to-day tasks, it’s helpful to have a guide for someone who might have to step into your job to solve the problem. Things that could arise might be a nything from a client needing specific information that only you know to finding figures on a past project that aren’t recorded in a commonly known place. While you can’t plan for every out-of-the-blue need, you can try and put all that information together and make sure it’s accessible for when those situations arise.4. Talk to your boss about your concernsIf you’re still feeling anxious even after you’ve done everything you can to prepare to take time off, it might be a good idea to have a matter-of-fact conversation with your manager. Tell your boss what’s making you nervous about leaving, and together the two of you can make sure all your bases are covered. At the very least, if your boss has already approved your vacation, they will likely give you the encouragement you need to feel secure in stepping away. Then, finally, you can take a deep, relaxing breath, put up your “out of office” automatic email reply, and let work go for a while.

Leapforce Work From Home Opportunities

Leapforce Work From Home Opportunities Leapforce Work From Home Opportunities Based in Pleasanton, California, Leapforce hires home-based independent contractors to perform research tasks for clients. The jobs are quality control positions for search engines and other online companies. The types of positions the company offers are similar to jobs that rate the quality of Google ads or internet-assessor positions with Lionbridge.   Like those companies, Leapforce hires for English-only and bilingual jobs. Some of the languages proficiencies they need for their contractors include Spanish, Farsi, Chinese, Portuguese, and Arabic. Some jobs are open only to U.S. residents, but others are offered internationally. Jobs at Leapforce include the following: Search engine evaluators, who assess and improve search engine results for search engine companies, including GoogleSearch quality judges, who review and evaluate web-related search informationMap quality analysts, who improve and evaluate Internet-based mapping data, using familiarity of local geography and analytical research skillsSocial media evaluators, who assess the relevance and quality of sponsored ads on social media sites Qualifications According to the website, Leapforce seeks candidates who are self-reliant and self-motivated; the company also places a high value on employees who enjoy online research and have the internet savvy to be efficient at it. Applicants must demonstrate excellent web research skills, analytical abilities, and superior comprehension and written communication skills. For bilingual jobs, fluency in English and another language is required. Leapforce agents must have a personal computer, high-speed internet access (cable modem, DSL, etc.), and up-to-date anti-virus and anti-spyware software. Work must be performed in a private area, where the public does not have access to the same internet connection. U.S. or Canadian residency is required in many positions, but other positions require residency in the country the agent is evaluating. Pay and Benefits at Leapforce Workers are independent contractors, so there are no benefits. According to Indeed.com, pay is about $13.50 per hour, as of summer 2018. Agents invoice for each hour they work and are paid via check every 30 days. In order to remain working at Leapforce, agents must remain active, which means completing a minimum of 200 evaluation tasks every 30 days. Career Advancement Since these are work-from-home independent contractor positions, there likely will be no opportunity for advancement with Leapforce, but the skills and experience gained doing the work can lead to other internet research opportunities. Many firms place a significant emphasis on search engine optimization and social media presence when hiring for public relations, media relations, or marketing positions. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that the growth of social media and the quest to use it effectively to reach target audiences will help boost opportunities in public relations. The number of PR jobs in the U.S. is expected to grow at a rate of 9 percent for the decade ending in 2026, according to the BLS, compared to 7 percent for all industries as a whole. As of 2017, median pay for PR specialists was just short of $60,000 annually. The Gig Economy If working independently is appealing, the skills and experience from a position like one at Leapforce also can lead to running your own home-based business. Instead of looking for work with a PR firm, you can take on your own clients and help them improve their presence on the web through internet searches or social media presence and social media campaigns. This approach to work has been growing in all industries. According to U.S. Census Bureau data for the decade ending in 2013, all industries saw growth in the nonemployer category. These typically are individuals who work for themselves and have no employees. Many small businesses trying to grow their marketing strategies may prefer to hire a small, home-based business to handle its online marketing, as opposed to investing with a larger PR firm. Applying to Leapforce Applications can be submitted online, and Leapforce charges no fees for applications or training. Applicants must pass a three-part exam on search engine evaluation. Agents who fail the exam may  be eligible to retake it one time. Documentation about search engine evaluation is supplied in advance of the test. Additionally, applicants to bilingual Leapforce jobs are required to pass a language test. Similar Companies Appen hires social media evaluators to work from home for up to 20 hours per week, and these positions usually involve research in the communities where the independent contractors live. Pay is similar to Leapforce. Google and Lionbridge are two other companies that often are seeking independent contractors to evaluate search data or internet-based ads. Again, the pay and hours typically are similar to what you will find at Leapforce.

Nominations for More Than 30 Awards are Due Next Month

Nominations for More Than 30 Awards are Due Next Month Nominations for More Than 30 Awards are Due Next Month Nomination packages for 31 ASME awards including the Henry R. Worthington Medal, the James N. Landis Medal and the Nemat-Nasser Early Career Award are due to the ASME Honors and Awards Committee within the month of February. Nominations for Henry R. Worthington Medal, which honors eminent achievement in the field of pumping machinery, systems and concepts, are due Feb. 1. The winner of the award will receive $5,000, a bronze medal, a certificate, and an expense supplement of up to $1,000. Nominations should be e-mailed to J. Bamberger at bambergerj@asme.org. Twenty-five other Society awards also have a nomination deadline of Feb. 1: The James N. Landis Medal, for outstanding performance in nuclear or fossil fuel stations coupled with humanitarian pursuits; $7,000, a bronze medal and a certificate; akgupta@umd.edu. The Nemat-Nasser Early Career Award, for excellence in the areas of experimental, computational and theoretical mechanics and materials; $5,000, a bronze medal and a certificate; voyiadjis@eng.lsu.edu. The Old Guard Early Career Award, for outstanding early career engineers who have advanced quickly in their professional careers, have participated in advancing their education, have shown leadership in ASME activities and have volunteered activity in their communities; first prize: $5,000 and a plaque; second and third prize: $2,000 and a plaque, plus paid membership for life; daa3@msn.com. The Nancy DeLoye Fitzroy and Roland V. Fitzroy Medal, for contributions to engineering leading to breakthroughs in existing tech., leading to new applications or new areas of engineering; $3,000, a bronze medal and a certificate; nancy@nancyfitzroy.org. The Marshall B. Peterson Award, for early-career achievement in research as demonstrated by papers published in scientific journals of ASME and promise for pursuit of research in tribology; $2,500 and a certificate; itzhak.green@me.gatech.edu. The Mayo D. Hersey Award, for distinguished contributions to the advancement of the science and engineering of tribology; $2,000 and a plaque; itzhak.green@me.gatech.edu. The Rufus Oldenburger Medal, for outstanding achievements in automatic control; $2,000, a bronze medal and a certificate; Satish.Narayanan@utc.edu. The James Harry Potter Gold Medal, for eminent achievement in the science of thermodynamics in mechanical engineering; $2,000, a vermeil medal and a certificate; ts.ravi@wichita.edu. The Milton C. Shaw Manufacturing Research Medal, for significant fundamental contributions to the science and technology of manufacturing processes; $1,500, a bronze medal and a certificate; sathaval@ford.com. The George Westinghouse Medal, for eminent achievement in the power field of mechanical engineering; $1,500, a vermeil medal and a certificate; $1,000, a silver medal and a certificate to an honoree under the age of 40; Lilley@okstate.edu. The Barnett-Uzgiris Product Safety Design Award, for significant contributions to the safe design of products through teaching, research and professional accomplishments; $1,000, a bronze medal and a certificate; Jmounta1@norwich.edu. The Blackall Machine Tool and Gage Award, for the design or application of machine tools, gauges or measuring instruments; $1,000 and a plaque; dornfeld@berkeley.edu. The Per Bruel Gold Medal for Noise Control and Acoustics, for eminent achievement and extraordinary merit in the field of noise control and acoustics; $1,000, a vermeil medal and a certificate; mardi.hastings@att.net. The Thomas A. Edison Patent Award, for a patented devise or process which has the potential to enhance some aspect of mechanical engineering; $1,000, a bronze plaque and a certificate; jacorich@isu.edu. The William T. Ennor Manufacturing Technology Award, for an innovative manufacturing technology which results in substantial economic and/or societal benefits; $1,000, a vermeil medal and a certificate; dornfeld@berkeley.edu. The Bernard F. Langer Nuclear Codes and Standards Award, for contributions to the nuclear power plant industry; $1,000, a crystal oracle and a certificate; deublerr@asme.org. The Henry Laurence Gantt Medal, for distinguished achievement in management and for service to the community; $1,000, a bronze medal and a certificate; bozewiczj@asme.org. The Internal Combustion Engine Award, for eminent achievement or distinguished contribution over a substantial period of time in the field of internal combustion engines; $1,000 and a plaque; dan.e.richardson@cummins.com. The Machine Design Award, for eminent achievement in machine design; $1,000, a plaque and a certificate; Jmounta1@norwich.edu. The McDonald Mentoring Award, for outstanding mentoring of other professionals by an engineer in industry, government, education or private practice; $1,000, a bronze medal and a certificate; Stuartw.cameron@doosan.com. The Nadai Medal, for distinguished contributions to the field of engineering materials; $1,000, a medal and a certificate; voyiadjis@eng.lsu.edu. The Burt L. Newkirk Award, for a notable contribution to tribology in research or development by an engineer under 40 who has been an ASME member for at least five years, as established by papers accepted for publication; $1,000 and a certificate; itzhak.green@me.gatech.edu. The Prime Movers Committee Award, for thermal electric station practice or equipment; $1,000 and a certificate; shuff@burnsmcd.com. The Dixy Lee Ray Award, for significant achievements and contributions in environmental protection; $1,000, a bronze medal and a certificate; unikewiczs@asme.org. The Ruth and Joel Spira Outstanding Design Educator Award, for furthering engineering design education; $1,000, a vermeil medal and a certificate; Jmounta1@norwich.edu. Nominations for five ASME awards are due Feb. 15: The Gustus L. Larson Memorial Award, for outstanding achievements in mechanical engineering or related field within 10 to 20 years following graduation; $1,000 and a certificate; akontsos@coe.drexel.edu. The Pi Tau Sigma Gold Medal, for outstanding achievement in mechanical engineering within 10 years following graduation; $1,000, a gold medal and a certificate; akontsos@coe.drexel.edu. The Charles Russ Richards Award, for outstanding achievement in mechanical engineering 20 years or more following graduation; $1,000 and a certificate; akontsos@coe.drexel.edu. The Arthur L. Williston Medal, for best paper or thesis by an undergraduate or junior engineer that fosters a spirit of civic service; first prize: $1,000, a bronze medal and a certificate; second prize: $500 and a certificate; third prize: $250 and a certificate; mckivorf@asme.org. The Robert Henry Thurston Lecture Award, for an outstanding leader in pure or applied science or engineering who will present a Society lecture on a subject of broad technical interest to engineers; $500, a plaque and a certificate; raj@olemiss.edu. For more information on these awards and the others presented by ASME, visit the Honors and Awards website at www.asme.org/about-asme/get-involved/honors-awards, or contact Frank McKivor, ASME Honors and Fellows, at (212) 591-7094 or mckivorf@asme.org.