Military Family Separation Allowance (FSA)

Military Family Separation Allowance (FSA)Military Family Separation Allowance (FSA)Family Separation Allowance (FSA) is payable when a military member is separated due to military buchens from their dependents for mora than 30 days. In order to be payable, the staffelung must be involuntary, i.e., the dependent is not allowed to accompany the member at government expense. The rationale for FSA entitlement is that forced family separation results in added household expenses when the member is absent for a period greater than 30 days. Family separation allowance rates have not changed for several years. Types of FSA There are three types of Family Separation Allowance FSA-R - This type of family separation allowance is payable when a member is assigned to a permanent duty station (either overseas or in the states), where the members dependents are not allowed to travel at government expense. Payment begins once the member has been separated from their dependent(s) for mora than 30 days.FSA-S - This type of FSA is payable when a military member is stationed on a ship, and the ship is away from the homeport continuously for more than 30 days. Prior to February 9, 1996, dependents were required to live in the vicinity of the homeport in order for the member to continue to receive this type of FSA. Effective February 10, 1996, the dependents were no longer required to reside in the vicinity of the homeport. FSA-T - This type of FSA is payable when the member is on temporary duty (TDY) (or temporary additional duty) away from the permanent station continuously for more than 30 days, and the members dependents are not residing at or near the TDY station. Prior to February 9, 1996, dependents were required to live in the vicinity of the permanent duty station in order for the member to continue to receive this type of FSA. Effective February 10, 1996, the dependents were no longer required to reside in the vicinity of the permanent duty station. A member can only be paid for one type of FSA at a time. For example, if a member is receiving FSA-R because he/she is stationed at a dependent-restricted base, and the member then performs temporary duty (TDY) away from their home station for more than 30 days (FSA-T), then the member cannot receive double payment. FSA is payable for temporary duty/training even before proceeding to the initial duty assignment. This means that new recruits who attend basic training and/or job training when they first join the military, receive FSA, once they have been separated from their dependent(s) for more than 30 days. Amount Payable Separation Requirements FSA is payable at the amount of $250 per month. FSA is not subject to federal income tax. FSA is not authorized unless the separation is involuntary due to military orders. In other words, the dependent(s) must not be entitled to travel to the new duty station at government expense. For example, if a military member receives an overseas assignment to Ge rmany, and is given the option of serving an accompanied tour, but elects to take a shorter, unaccompanied tour instead, FSA is not payable because the member had the option of being accompanied by dependents, but voluntarily elected to be unaccompanied. There is one exception to this rule if transportation of dependents is authorized at government expense, but member elects an unaccompanied tour of duty because a dependent cannot accompany the member to or at that homeport/permanent station due to certified medical reasons, FSA is payable. FSA cannot be paid when a military member is legally separated from his/her spouseunless there are other qualifying dependents. FSA can also not be paid for separation from dependent childrenif the children are in the legal custody of another. The lone exception occurs when the member has joint physical and legal custody of the child(ren) and the child(ren) otherwise would reside with the member but for the current assignment. Family separation a llowance does not accrue to a member if all of the dependents reside at or near the duty station. If some (but not all) of the dependents voluntarily reside near the duty station, FSA may accrue on behalf of those dependents who do not reside at or near the duty station. The military considers dependents as residing near a duty station if the member actually commutes daily, regardless of distance. Dependents are also considered as residing near a duty station if they live within a reasonable commuting distance of that station, whether or not the member commutes daily. A distance of 50 miles, one way, is normally considered to be within reasonable commuting distance of a station, but the 50-mile rule is not inflexible. Commanders make the decision, based on the individual circumstances. Military Couples Not many years ago, a military member who was separated from their military spouse due to military orders was not entitled to FSA unless he/she was also separated from his/her min or dependents. This has now changed, but not more than one monthly allowance may be paid with respect to a married military couple for any month. Each member may be entitled to FSA within the same month, but only one can receive payment. Payment is usually made to the member whose orders resulted in the separation. If both members receive orders requiring departure on the same day, then payment goes to the senior member. Temporary Social Visits For FSA-R, a member can continue to receive FSA if the dependents visit him/her for no longer than three months. Facts clearly must show that the dependents merely are visiting (not changing residence) and that the visit is temporary and not intended to exceed 3 months. For FSA-S (when the ship is in a port), and FSA-T, social visits cannot exceed 30 daysor entitlement to FSA is lost.

Toxic workplaces How to spot on e and what to do about it

Toxic workplaces How to spot on e and what to do about itToxic workplaces How to spot on e and what to do about itIssues with the cultures of big companies, including Uber and Google, have recently been in the news, turning the spotlight onto the subject of toxic workplaces. But few are talking about the causes.What are the indicators that a companys culture or workplace could quickly turn toxic?The roots of a company culture include rules, expectations, and policies. If these are subjective - left open to interpretation - the company invites differing opinions, which causes conflict, which results in toxicity. Subjective work processes and systems are the sources of most toxic company cultures.How you can spot a potential problemIf you are on the outside of a company looking in, there are some indicators that should encourage you to explore further. Using whatever access you have to people in the company and/or company materials such as job descriptions, policies, and procedures, look for subjectivity.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreFor example, if a job description consists of vague phrases such as must be a team player, have strong communication skills, or be a power user of authorware, how are you going to be evaluated on your performance in that job? Someone will be making subjective decisions about your performance.When you ask people in the company, even if you are asking during an interview, how to qualify for pay raises or promotions and the responses are subjective descriptions such as excel in your job, go the extra mile, stay out of trouble, or keep your quality scores up, you will probably face that same subjectivity when it comes pay raise and promotion time.The more objective the job descriptions, policies, procedures, and processes in a company, the less chance there is for conflict and the workplace turning toxic.What to do if you are al ready in a toxic situationIf you realize that your workplace, like most workplaces, is already toxic, you may be able to do some damage control - even if you arent the boss. You can make the attempt to bring objectivity to at least your realm of the workplace.Start with your job description. The ideal, objective job description defines thePrimary tasks you accomplish in your jobConditions under which you perform those tasksObjective standards by which your performance on each task is evaluatedTake whichever parts of that formula are lacking to your boss with the humble, sincere intent to turn the subjectivity into objectivity. You do this by taking the fuzzy language out of the job description.Fuzzies can be squeezed out of job descriptions, policies, and processes through a relatively simple process taught by human performance guru, Dr. Robert Mager. He calls it Goal Analysis, but he describes it as defuzzifying fuzzies.Once a fuzzy is discovered, it must be translated to observab le performances. If done in conversation it sounds something like thisbabo You have to be a team playerEmployee Well said, Boss. When you observe me being a team player, (or whatever the fuzzy is) what actions are you observing?Boss Well, first of all you show up to team meetings on time.Employee Fair enough. What else?Boss You should be volunteering for assignments on the team.Employee Got it. What else?The what else questions continue until the boss decides the list of observable performances describes a team player.Calling this a simple process does leid mean this conversation or the efforts to review and revise work processes to rid them of subjectivity are easy. It takes a lot of effort, but the process is not complex.In addition to the job description, some of the processes that you want to be objective, includeYour performance evaluation processHow your pay raises are determinedHow promotion opportunities are evaluatedHow your work is scheduled and assignedHow you are recogni zed for the work you do and the innovations you introduceIf any of these are open to interpretation, they are open to the possibility that the interpretation may not be in your favor.The problem with having fuzzies in these processes is that it puts bosses in the tenuous position of being the judge. Yes, you want bosses to have good judgment, but you dont want work processes to cause them to interpret subjective guidance on what should be done, how it should be done, and how it should be evaluated. That opens each situation to conflict, which is a tremendous obstacle to performance in the workplace.When you drill down to the root of most workplace conflict, you will find the disagreement is over a work process that is subjective. Even a good boss will find it difficult to be good when they are trying to defend subjective work processes and systems. As W. Edwards Deming, the acknowledged Father of the Quality Movement, put it, A bad process will beat a good person every time.Rex Conn er is the lead freund and owner of Mager Consortium and the author of What if Common Sense Was Common Practice in Business?You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

FBI instructor on how you can help prevent workplace violence

FBI instructor on how you can help prevent workplace violenceFBI instructor on how you can help prevent workplace violenceFor the past 30 years, Laurence Barton, the highest-rated instructor at the Federal Bureau of Investigation Academy and a consultant for Fortune 500 companies, has studied what turns our co-workers into threats. Unfortunately, his knowledge is in increasing demand. There have already beenseven workplace shootingsin the U.S. in the last 28 months. To save lives, preparation needs to start before a disgruntled employee enters your building with a gun.Barton talked with Ladders about how employees can identify and stop unstable, at-risk employees before its too lateWatch out for grievance collectorsWe first need to understand that unhappy employees are bedrngnis necessarily at-risk employees. Many grievances - whether they are about race, pay scale, or whatever - are legitimate, Barton told Ladders. But when co-workers cannot stop talking about their grievance, and they keep blowing it out of proportion to the actual grievance, they become grievance collectors, and this personality type is the kind of employee on the path to self-harm or harm to others.Grievance collectors track minor slights against them obsessively. They call CEOs out in alarming social media posts. Barton said they are likely to keep a timeline of who did them wrong when in a diary or journal. Complaints leave the everyday world of schwimmbad bosses and terrible coworkers and into the nefarious world of conspiracy. They become convinced that their company is out to get them. They become dangerously determined to settle the score without a lawyer.Anyone can have a bad day, but when they become repeated bad days, we need to get them counseling or separate them from the firm, Barton said.Address the grievance seriouslyYou are an employee, not a cop or a psychiatrist, but you can still help people by treating grievance collectors with the dignity and respect you would want to receive if you were in distress.Building your situational awareness means not looking the other way when people are clearly troubled.When people send up a signal that somethings wrong, we need to be listening, Barton said. Instead of bypassing the co-worker who is crying uncontrollably or making wild claims, address them.Im a big believer in just asking, are you okay? he added. Most people can be talked off the ledge.Of course, use your judgment to see if you are the right person to be having this conversation. If the employee is volatile and argumentative, extricate yourself from the situation and escalate conversations to human resources.Barton said he has asked his clients, Have you thought about the employees tried giving them a week off with pay, and explaining that their comments are inaccurate, irresponsible, that they are causing alarm for other people?Words matter. Barton suggests using the word separate over fire. Instead of playing into the grievance and saying, I agree, tell your aggrieved colleague that you understand. ansicht words may not matter to you, but they may make all the difference to an at-risk employee feeling isolated.The person needs to be validated that you, at least, are listening to them, Barton said. He advises not taking notes in these conversations, particularly if you are HR. They make the conversation seem more like an interrogation. If you want me to tell you how I feel inside, and youre sitting there like a transcriber, it feels like a setup.Dont humiliate employees during their exitBe careful when and how you terminate someones employment if the situation escalates to that point.Humiliation is often the tripwire for when the person who has risk factors may act on those grievances, Barton said, citing incidents where an embarrassing exit was the final trigger.In 2010, for example, Omar Thornton fatally shot eight of his coworkers after being confronted with video of him stealing beer. After being told he could resign or be fired, he chose the former and let himself be escorted from the building. Then he returned back toHartford Distributors with a gun.Firing does not even mean you are freed from the persons endangering influence.You may exhale more easily, but having the person out of sight does not necessarily mean the company is no longer on aggrieved persons mind. Sometimes firing is the worst thing people can do, Barton said. Once you separate a person, you lose the ability to have accurate surveillance.Once the aggrieved person is physically gone, you do not know what he or she is doing.Ultimately, safety comes with building your instincts and thinking through how you would react to volatile situations. Pay attention to your intuition, Barton cautioned. At work, we turn it way down. Im not saying be paranoid, but be situationally aware.

5 Tips for Explaining Why Youre Looking for a New Job

5 Tips for Explaining Why Youre Looking for a New Job5 Tips for Explaining Why Youre Looking for a New Job0Job interviews can be awkward enough, but havingto explain why youre looking for a new jobwhen youre still employed can take it to a whole other level. After all, you dont want to bad-mouth your boss or make any disparaging comments about your current ort as a reason why you want to leave (even if its true).Of course you should always be honest during a job interview, but sitting there complaining about your boss or coworkers the whole time will not paint a great picture of who you are. Instead, you should focus on one or mora of the followingso long as theyre real reasonsHere are five tips for explaining why youre looking for a new job while youre employed, without sounding like a whiner1. Explain that youve outgrown the position. In todays day and age where people are rarely reaching retirement having worked at one company for over 30 years, its highly probable that the job yo u started off with is going to get old and stale after awhile. And unless the company you currently work for has made an effort for the position to grow and change with you, theres a good chance that youre going to get bored and look for something more challenging as time goes on.So its perfectly acceptable to state that while youve loved working for the company and have learned so much in your job, you feel that youve learned everything that you can and are looking for a job with new challenges where you can better utilize your skills and experience.2. Discuss your desire orneed for flexible working options. Lets say that the company youre interviewing with has an open flexible work policy. Heck, they might be 100 percent remote and not even have a brick-and-mortar headquarters. And to be totally honest, thats one of the main reasons why youre attracted to working for them.But no matter what the reason is why you need workplace flexibility (e.g., you have small children, youre a ca regiver, youre disabled and need to work remotely, youre a military spouse, you hate commuting, etc.), its never a good idea to explain why youre looking for a new job by stating that you need flex- now. Sure, it might be a given that virtually every worker wants flexible work options, but in a job interview scenario, it shouldnt be the main reason you tout as why you want to work for the company.Instead, mention all the reasons why you would like to work for the company, and if youre asked about the companys flexible work policy, then you can mention how the flex can be a fit for your life without making it too personal.3. Discuss how youfeel this new job is a better fit. Heres the thing about job interviews- its not about you. Ultimately, every job is a companys problem that needs a solution, and you, job seeker, are that answer. During your job interview with a new company, its a good idea to point out potential pain points that the organization might be facing, and then explain how you plan to solve them with your fresh ideas, experience, and knowledge.Then you can focus the interview on why this new job aligns better with your career goals and where you want your career path headed in the future.4. Say youre looking to change careersand give a good reason why.One of the easiest ways to explain why you want to leave your current position in favor of a new job is that youve simply changed career interests, if thats actually the case. Being a career changer isnt necessarily a red flag to a potential employer but rather a sign that you know what works for you and what isnt- literally.So if you are applying for a new job that is different from your former field, let your interviewer know that you are changing career paths and that working for this company would be in line with your current career goals. Then explain all of your transferable skills and experience to show that you are qualified for the job.5.Tell them this is your dream job or companyEmployers a rent just looking for seat warmers to fill open job positions. They want job seekers who ardently want to work for their organizations. During your job interview, make it less about the company youre leaving and more about why the company youre interviewing with is the perfect fit for you. Explain how you believe in their mission statement, support their humanitarian efforts, and love their company culture.All of these factors can show a potential employer that youve not only done your research about the company pre-interview (which is always a smart move), but that you will fit in well with the company and not leave after six months or so.Explaining why youre looking for a new job when you already have one can trip up even the most seasoned job seeker. Be sure to focus your answers on what you can offer the company and youll hopefully be offered the position.

6 Tips for a Perfect LinkedIn Profile Photo

6 Tips for a Perfect LinkedIn Profile Photo6 Tips for a Perfect LinkedIn Profile PhotoHaving a LinkedIn profile pictureis by far one of the most important elements in having an attractive LinkedIn.From personal experience, I can tell you that your LinkedIn profile is about 10 times mora likely to receive a clickif you have a LinkedIn profile picturewhencompared to the person without one.Dont worry.This shouldnt cost you a penny.You can either browse through your existing photos with the below recommendations in mind or take a new picture.A friend or family member can take the perfect LinkedIn photofor you in just a couple minutes.Before you go find your cameraman/woman, there are a few things that you need to know.1. Sanity within your smilePlease do not have a frown or angry expression.No recruiter will call you if you look like scary or mean person to talk toin your LinkedIn profile picture.This is also true for overly happy people or someone who is laughing in their LinkedIn photo .Studies have proven that people with too large of a smile either come off as fake or deranged.Please dont look like the Joker.No one wants to hire someone who looks angry, insane, or dishonest.Take way deep breath and relax.An upward slanting, moderately happy smile will do.2. Dress for the jobFind out what the average person in your industry wears to workand dress accordingly.If you know that you will need to wear a suit to work, then dont wear a t-shirt in your LinkedIn profile photo.Remember, it is better to overdress than underdress.To put it another way, it is better to show a lot of effort than none at all.Even if you are in a startup environment with casual dress attire, it cant hurt to throw on a button-up for your LinkedIn photo.Its good to rememberthatthis is a professional network and you never know what opportunities might find you.3. Shoulders upMen and women,respect yourselves and crop your LinkedIn profile photoappropriately.The photo should focus on your face, above the chest line but wedefinitely recommended to include the shoulders.A straight shot of your face can be a little bit overwhelming.You want to have the camera positioned far enough where there is some space to see the background.I would recommend your face taking up about 60-70% of the entire frame.Speaking of background...4. Subtle backgroundYour background should either have a reallybasic surface or be unfocused.If too much is going on behind you, it could cause adistraction to the viewers.Why would you let your profile picture background steal your thunder, anyways?Recruiters and hiring managers are going to be looking at your LinkedIn profile for more about youThe focus should be on your face5. Let there be lightYou can have the right posture, the right clothes, the right angle, but bad lighting can ruin it all.Different lighting can present different problemsNot enough light and no one can see your face.Using a flash in a dark room will make your face look plain strange.Too mu ch light and all of the color is washed out from the picture all together.Our suggestion?If at all possible, use natural lighting.Some advantages to natural lighting includeNo unnecessary shadows.Will add natural color to your skin.Unlike artificial lighting, natural light requires no adjusting.6. Choose a recent photoMake sure to platzdeckchen realistic expectations for whoever is viewing your profile.If you are looking for a job and you are in your mid forties, dontadd a photo of yourself from your twenties.Youcan guarantee that you will losetrust with the interviewer and you will not get the job.Be honest andupfront.Find a recent picture or take a new one.Some things to rememberYou act differently with your friends and at home than you do at work, right?(Well,we hope you do.)This isnt any different.Remeber, your LinkedIn profile isnt the saatkorn as your Facebook profile or most other social media for that matter.Your LinkedIn profile picture isnt the space to how yourself partyi ng, swimming, or your usual wacky personality.This is where you show recruiters and hiring managers your best professional self.Its as easy as having good lighting, good posture, the right clothes, and a nice smile.Keep these tips in mind, and theres no reason you cant set your best foot forward.Now that you know the sixmost important tips for a great LinkedIn photo, grab your camera or go through your pictures and get started.You are going to notice an immediate increase in profile views once you do this.Good luckBonus keep improving your LinkedIn profileA well-shot LinkedIn profile picturewill definietly leave anyone who views your LinkedIn profile with a good first impression.However, a good profile picture can only get you so far.The content on your profile also needs to do some heavy lifting.For more ways to improve your LinkedIn profile, check out the19 Essential LinkedIn Profile Tips for Job Seekers.6 Tips for a Perfect LinkedIn Profile PhotoHaving a LinkedIn profile picturei s by far one of the most important elements in having an attractive LinkedIn.From personal experience, I can tell you that your LinkedIn profile is about 10 times more likely to receive a clickif you have a LinkedIn profile picturewhencompared to the person without one.Dont worry.This shouldnt cost you a penny.You can either browse through your existing photos with the below recommendations in mind or take a new picture.A friend or family member can take the perfect LinkedIn photofor you in just a couple minutes.Before you go find your cameraman/woman, there are a few things that you need to know.1. Sanity within your smilePlease do not have a frown or angry expression.No recruiter will call you if you look like scary or mean person to talk toin your LinkedIn profile picture.This is also true for overly happy people or someone who is laughing in their LinkedIn photo.Studies have proven that people with too large of a smile either come off as fake or deranged.Please dont look like th e Joker.No one wants to hire someone who looks angry, insane, or dishonest.Take way deep breath and relax.An upward slanting, moderately happy smile will do.2. Dress for the jobFind out what the average person in your industry wears to workand dress accordingly.If you know that you will need to wear a suit to work, then dont wear a t-shirt in your LinkedIn profile photo.Remember, it is better to overdress than underdress.To put it another way, it is better to show a lot of effort than none at all.Even if you are in a startup environment with casual dress attire, it cant hurt to throw on a button-up for your LinkedIn photo.Its good to rememberthatthis is a professional network and you never know what opportunities might find you.3. Shoulders upMen and women,respect yourselves and crop your LinkedIn profile photoappropriately.The photo should focus on your face, above the chest line but wedefinitely recommended to include the shoulders.A straight shot of your face can be a little bit overwhelming.You want to have the camera positioned far enough where there is some space to see the background.I would recommend your face taking up about 60-70% of the entire frame.Speaking of background...4. Subtle backgroundYour background should either have a reallybasic surface or be unfocused.If too much is going on behind you, it could cause adistraction to the viewers.Why would you let your profile picture background steal your thunder, anyways?Recruiters and hiring managers are going to be looking at your LinkedIn profile for more about youThe focus should be on your face5. Let there be lightYou can have the right posture, the right clothes, the right angle, but bad lighting can ruin it all.Different lighting can present different problemsNot enough light and no one can see your face.Using a flash in a dark room will make your face look plain strange.Too much light and all of the color is washed out from the picture all together.Our suggestion?If at all possible, use natura l lighting.Some advantages to natural lighting includeNo unnecessary shadows.Will add natural color to your skin.Unlike artificial lighting, natural light requires no adjusting.6. Choose a recent photoMake sure to set realistic expectations for whoever is viewing your profile.If you are looking for a job and you are in your mid forties, dontadd a photo of yourself from your twenties.Youcan guarantee that you will losetrust with the interviewer and you will not get the job.Be honest andupfront.Find a recent picture or take a new one.Some things to rememberYou act differently with your friends and at home than you do at work, right?(Well,we hope you do.)This isnt any different.Remeber, your LinkedIn profile isnt the same as your Facebook profile or most other social media for that matter.Your LinkedIn profile picture isnt the space to how yourself partying, swimming, or your usual wacky personality.This is where you show recruiters and hiring managers your best professional self.Its a s easy as having good lighting, good posture, the right clothes, and a nice smile.Keep these tips in mind, and theres no reason you cant set your best foot forward.Now that you know the sixmost important tips for a great LinkedIn photo, grab your camera or go through your pictures and get started.You are going to notice an immediate increase in profile views once you do this.Good luckBonus keep improving your LinkedIn profileA well-shot LinkedIn profile picturewill definietly leave anyone who views your LinkedIn profile with a good first impression.However, a good profile picture can only get you so far.The content on your profile also needs to do some heavy lifting.For more ways to improve your LinkedIn profile, check out the19 Essential LinkedIn Profile Tips for Job Seekers.

Top Tips of Areas of Expertise Resume

Top Tips of Areas of Expertise Resume Just upload your resume in their system then paste the full job description to begin the comparison. Be certain that your resume is catching the recruiters attention for all of the ideal factors. You may need to customize your resume for each kind of job that youre applying to. Possessing a current resume will arrive in handy should you end up in a position in which you need or want a new job without delay. Despite the fact that its not a strict requirement to incorporate a resume objective in your resume, a well-written objective is able to help you catch the interest of the recruiter. An objective is similar to a two-part sentence, 1 part expressing your interest in the particular field, business or position and the other part stating what youve got to offer in the capacity. Before beginning describing your expertise, you should guarantee they are related to the position youre applying for. Planning and executing a successful job campa ign isnt any different than every other successful marketing and advertising campaign. You are able to create a profile by answering a set of questions that may be referred to by boards seeking new directors. Generally speaking, an objective on your resume can be useful if it concisely describes your immediate employment goal, but its not an important part of a successful resume. As an experienced project practitioner it is likely that you have plenty of project management abilities and experience. You may also pick up many of the essential skills by yourself, through on-the-job training or even volunteer work. With some research its possible to learn to appropriately utilize them. First up, youll need to visit the Crowdfire program. It is essential for special education teachers to stay up-to-date on current trends and teaching procedures. Up in Arms About Areas of Expertise Resume? There are some quite specific requirements for formatting your resume when itll be reviewed by means of an ATS. Each description ought to be presented in a bulleted format. Believe me, youll locate quite a few of faults and inconsistencies on the net Even if your information is in bullet format, it may mucksmuschenstill be tough to quickly recognize the pertinent abilities and accomplishments which are important to the prospective employer. When theres one particular fact about the health care business, its that it is dependent on nurses. It is in a state of flux in the United States. After you determine the skills you need to concentrate on, do a bit of research and see whether they line up with job requirements listed for the positions youre seeking. When approaching employers and recruiters, its critical to keep in mind your expertise is your primary selling point. Although each resume should be tailored to the requirements of the open role, there are a number of crucial skills that employers are searching for. If youre fighting to think of any, you can attempt utilizing the job descriptions of ads in your industry, in addition to looking at LinkedIn profiles of folks working in similar roles. Discover all you should know about selecting the best people to offer decent job references for you. Submitting a resume to reveal youre a valuable education leader is critical to securing interviews. You can take advantage of the planner to turn your budget in addition to to keep tabs on that is donating what. When it has to do with your resume, its intelligent to periodically revisit and refresh that, even when you arent searching for a new job at that moment. If you need assistance writing your resume, its going to be our pleasure to help you. The best resumes are a reflection of an individual, leid only a group of words on a sheet of paper. Areas of Expertise Resume Features If youre not certain which skills you wish to share, consider your prior experiences. Hard skills arent skills that are tricky to learn. In most instances, your sof t skills can boost your hard skills. On the flip side, soft abilities, also called interpersonal or social abilities, are those which you have as personal qualities or you get through professional experiences. You ought to be networking. Youre a detail-oriented go-getter with an established history of success searching for a rewarding opportunity in a developing organization that values its people. An incredible time monitoring computer software will have the ability to aid you out.

The Revolution of Artificial Intelligence

The Revolution of Artificial Intelligence The Revolution of Artificial IntelligencePosted March 28, 2019, by JennyArtificial intelligence - is it a good or bad thing? What does the rise of AI mean for our career? Are our machines going to plot against us as they get more intelligent? If you listen to the likes of Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking, then, yes, its something that we need to be concerned about. Gary Kasparov, the former world chess champion has a somewhat different view.That might come as something of a surprise since Kasparov felt the power of AI first hand when he schwefellost against Deep Blue in 1997. It was the end of an era and something that chess enthusiasts all over the world found completely shocking.It makes it even more surprising that Kasparov gives us the advice to take a more practical view on the subject of AI. In an article that he penned for the magazine Interesting in 2018, Kasparov said that we should instead focus on the practical advantages that AI affo rds us. He says that we need to forget about the AI that makes all the headlines cars without drivers, robots, and so on. What we need to consider are all those algorithms make our lives better each day.For example, the algorithms that make banking easier or those that could help doctors to diagnose disease more accurately. You can learn more about the potential applications for AI in the infographic below.As youll see, theres a whole lot more to AI than just a self-driven car. How do you like the idea of being able to control a game using your mind? Or having the console be able to read your facial features?Imagine going up against an opponent that can interpret facial gestures. Okay, in all honesty, that idea doesnt really appeal to me. I like the idea of thought-controlled games, but playing poker with a computer that can read micro-expressions? My poker face is already bad enough I dont need that kind of competition.Overall, though, if you consider the potential benefits of AI , you cant reallyargue with Kasparov on this one. Sure, we could, at some stage in the hopefully distant future be facing a situation where computers decide to wipe us out. But we could just as easily see a future where they see the value of working with us. In the meantime, its too late to go back anyway, so why not take the advantage?IT ResourcesSystems analyst sample resumeSystems analyst sample cover letterCareer Insider StoriesBrett Raven - RedBalloon Chief Technology OfficerInterested in becoming a?Management ConsultantMarketing OfficerProject ManagerSystems AdministratorHelp Desk OfficerPopular Career Searchesnew york resume templatenursing interview questions and answers new gradnew york cover letternew grad rn cover letter templatescover letter examples nursing new gradIT CoursesBachelor of Cyber SecurityEnquire Online Enquire OnlineGraduate Diploma of Data ScienceEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Applied Information TechnologyEnquire Online Enquire OnlineAssociate D egree of Applied Information TechnologyEnquire Online Enquire OnlineJennyRelated ArticlesBrowse moreITWhere you can take your IT careerHave you tried turning it off and on again? If you think this phrase sums up what a career in IT means, then think again. Heres the lowdown on the many directions you can take your IT career.Employment trendsFuture trendsWhats the Difference Between a CX, UX and UI Designer?What are the differences between CX, UX and UI Designers? The who does what of these design roles can become a little blurred and overlap at times but each has a distinct skill set. Find out the differences and why these roles are in-demand in 2019.ITThe IT crowdIts a ridiculous understatement to say that IT industries have blossomed in recent years theyve exploded. Information technology is now the cornerstone of modern economies the world over. IT is big. And its only getting bigger.

Career Changers - Creating a Resume for a New Career

Career Changers - Creating a Resume for a New CareerCareer Changers - Creating a Resume for a New CareerEven when you are a seasoned professional, securing a job with an impressive resume is tough in a competitive job market.Its a bigger concern when you are changing directions in your career.One way to start your new journey is with a remarkable resume.Your resume shouldExhibit the passion for your new chosen pathRevealyour abundant potentialShowcase current skills that you already possessThe following five recommendations should help you get started.It begins with the titelblatt letterAs you begin your journey to start your new career, your first task is convincing hiring managers of your newfound passion.The purpose of a cover letter is not only persuading the hiring manager to read your resume but explaining to them why you want to change careers.A great cover letter willConvince the hiring manager about your desire to pursue this new fieldExplain how your interest and skills can be beneficial to the companyYou do this by explaining how your transferable skills and accomplishments will support the position and organization you are applying for.Your cover letter should be convincing enough for them to review your resume and contact you for an interview.(For more, seeHow To Write An Amazing Cover Letter With Examples.)Use the right resume formatMost individuals use the traditional chronological resume.However, a functional resume has proven to be more useful for career changers.This resume format draws more attention to your transferable skills and accomplishments than your work history.Always start your resume with a professional summaryInclude your career goals and a synopsis of your qualificationsAfter the career summary, list accomplishments and transferable skillsThese will give hiring managers a look at the most relevant experience to keep them interested.(For more on how to format your resume, readProfessional Resume Style - Headers, Fonts, Themes.)Id entify your transferable skillsTransferable skills are skills youve obtained in previous work history that can also have an impact on your new career.These skills can be valuable to any profession or organization.Taking inventory of your skills can be used to your advantage in a resumeList transferable skillssuch asManage multiple projects simultaneouslyThis shows that you have the ability to multitask and can take on more than one project at a time.Communicate effectively with clients/customersThis highlights your relationship-building skills and how well you communicate with individuals at various levels.It is important to remember that all new positions will have a learning curve.However, these transferable skills show hiring managers what you have to offer despite your lack of professional experience.Quantify your accomplishmentsAccomplishments can prove to be a tremendous asset to your resume.Thisespecially comes into play if you are changing professions.Quantifiable achievemen ts show that you know how to make effective changes within an organization.Achievements should be very specific and include details such as theseDid you improve any current processes by increasing productivity?How did you help save the organization money on a project?Did you lead any projects or task force?Positive accomplishments show your ability to lead, manage, and solve problems.It is also good to add numbers to your achievements... especially if it includes employees, budgets, and money.Showing percentages and dollar amounts help the hiring manager visually see your efforts.Reinvent yourselfAs you begin to reinvent yourself in your new profession, look into finding ways to gain more experience in your desired field.This experience shows hiring managers that you have a real passion for your new field and have a vested interest in developing new skills.For example, if your new career is in accounting, you may want to ...Join a professional accounting associationTake additional c lasses at a local community collegeVolunteer your time bookkeeping for a non-profit organizationThese are great ways to expand your knowledge and gain reliable references.Regardless of where you gain the experience, it still counts as experience.Therefore, it adds to your value in the eyes of prospective employers.(You will also want to include this information in the professional summary of your resume.)Closing thoughts on creating a resume for a new careerChanging directions in your career is possible in the current job market.Most individuals who change careers take advantage of industry changes that have resulted in the lack of employment in some areas.As you embark on your career-change journey, the most important thing is to focusFocus on your passionFocus on skills you already possessFocusing on your skills, desire, and potential will showcase your enthusiasm, which will lead you to an interview.(For more on resumesdont miss theTop 5 Resume Sections You Cant Go Without.)

The Challenges of Bringing Your Whole Self to WorkAnd Why You Should Overcome Them

The Challenges of Bringing Your Whole Self to WorkAnd Why You Should Overcome ThemThe Challenges of Bringing Your Whole Self to Work- And Why You Should Overcome ThemIt can be challenging to be authentic in the workplace, whether dealing with bosses, colleagues, or clients. But if you learn to overcome your fear, bringing your whole self to work or a job search can bring benefits to employees, candidates, and organizations alike.Authenticity Enables EffectivenessLorraine Martin knows this firsthand. A former executive vice president at Lockheed Martins Rotary and Mission Systems, Martin struggled with owning her authenticity early in her career. She explains how when she welches first starting out as a program manager, she was among the youngest in her group- and being five feet tall exacerbated how young she looked and how vulnerable she felt compared to more veteran kollektiv members. But over time, Martin realized the benefits of deciding to contribute fully by bringing more of he r whole self to the tableIt was, perhaps, my experience leading the F-35 program where I saw most clearly the necessity of having to have my full self available to me at work, recalls Martin. It was a very challenging job with new challenges every week, sometimes daily. I was leading and needing to motivate a large, global team to take on the challenges. I needed to bring the pieces that enabled me to be effective in very diverse situations- to do that I had to have all the pieces of me at my disposal. Being authentic made all the difference.A Double-Edged SwordSelf-disclosure in a work context is something of a double-edged sword, since theres always the possibility (and risk) of both positive and negative outcomes from prioritizing authenticity in your professional life. As Lisa Rosh and Lynn Offermann suggest in Harvard Business Review Despite its potential benefits, self-disclosure can backfire if its hastily conceived, poorly timed, or inconsistent with cultural or organization al norms. But there are many potential payoffs as well, as Martin explainsFor myself and others who I have had the honor to work alongside, I have no question that bringing your whole self to work is the best answer, Martin says. When we bring our whole selves to a problem, we enable the richest opportunity for success. Nothing has to stop at the door.She adds that a variety of thought, experience, and communication styles all bring richer results, which allow for more innovative solutions to challenges that might be missed without differing perspectives. We each have a rich kaleidoscope of experiences, perspectives, and styles that makes each of us whole, says Martin. And each of us has many things that make up our authentic selves. Did we grow up in an urban environment, or maybe in another country or culture? Did we serve in the military, or maybe do humanitarian work? Were we adopted? From a large family? A single-parent family? All of ansicht things, and many others, help form who we are- our authenticity.When Work Doesnt Accept All of YouWhat about when your work environment doesnt feel inclusive and thus makes it even more challenging to be your authentic self? Martin is clear about her advice here If some part of you is not welcome where you are working, then it is the wrong place to be.When you sit in your office and know that there is a piece of you that you had to leave at the door, you are not whole. It is the missing piece of you that causes stress, resentment, and pain. She adds that being the best partner in any work situation also means understanding what is needed from you to be most effective with a given platzset of people. Having all of yourself to choose from in a given situation is the key.How to Bring Your Full Self to the OfficeHere are five tips from Martin about ways to get more comfortable bringing your full self to the officeFind an ally. If you feel like theres a specific piece of yourself and your personal life that youre keeping underground at work but that feels important to surface, Martin recommends first practicing the piece that you are leaving out of work with a trusted ally in the office. Pick someone who has shown that they enjoy sharing such information, says Martin. It has to be the right context for you and for them.Begin sharing more about yourself. As you work on finding allies, focus on sharing to build trust that assists in the challenges at hand. Bring yourself closer to others in order to better work as a team- to accomplish challenging work activities, says Martin.Practice being the coworker needed for specific situations. Once you have all of you on board at work, Martin suggests channeling those additional assets directly into situations that you are currently dealing with Dont sacrifice who you are. Instead, focus on the parts of you that will be most helpful to the challenge before you with the team at hand.Be an ally. Once youve mastered finding an ally and become more comfortable bei ng yourself in a work setting, its time to pay it forward. Martin, for example, became an LGBTQ ally in a large organization and found the experience meaningful and empowering Most all large organizations have been on a journey to more broadly support diversity and inclusion. The support for the LGBTQ community has been profound over the past years, said Martin. As an LGBTQ Ally, I was able to see the joy and fulfillment that happen when a person can be his or her full self. With this comes greater fulfillment at work, promotions, and overall satisfaction.Enable individuality. Martin suggests using the following tactic at the end of meetings to ensure all voices are being heard go around to each attendee and request their response to one of the following questions or statements, which she notes will yield amazing and sometimes critical input that would have been gelbkreuzgas if everyone was not in the game, contributing their unique insightsWhat are you still thinking about as we cl ose the session?Share something we should have addressed and did not during the meeting.Express appreciation for a contribution of another team member.Its a personal decision, but a smart approach is to blend an awareness of who you are and your career goals with a sense of the companys culture. If you sense that you cant comfortably be who you are with a particular organization, would you really want to work there day-in and day-out under false pretenses? Your answer to this question can guide your choices around how you present yourself in interviews as well as the office. As you determine what you want to share, keep in mind these words from Martin The ability to bring your full self is empowering and freeing. You will be at your best and get the best from the teams you are leading.Find a job that fits your lifestyle Browse Open Flexible Jobs

What to Do if You Made a Lot of Mistakes at Work - The Muse

What to Do if You Made a Lot of Mistakes at Work - The MuseWhat to Do if You Made a Lot of Mistakes at Work When things go wrong at work, its hard to keep them from spiraling out of control. And when one thing after anotlageher seems to break, you cant help but wonder if all youre good for anymore is messing up. But even though youve had a tough go of it lately, there are a few things you can do to set yourself up to have more successful days at the office- even as soon as next week. Here are a few things I found helpful in a recent rough patch1. Own Up to All of the MistakesFor me, one of the most difficult things about being a professional is acknowlumineszenzdiodeging that I missed a deadline or didnt follow all the instructions I was given. It sucks knowing that you let people down- and it feels even worse when you know what impact your mistakes had. But the first step I find helps me begin the comeback process is simply fessing up to everything I know I did (or didnt do). Someti mes its an informal conversation with your boss. Other times it requires a sit-down meeting in which you lay it all out. (And if youre not sure what to do, check out the just right reaction for when you mess up.) This is a productive activity because not only do you get a option to review everything that went wrong, but you also show your manager and your team that youre not the type of person to hide behind your shortcomings. Plus, being this transparent will tip those people off to the fact that you probably need a little help.2. Identify the Things You Couldve Done DifferentlyUnless youre actively trying to get fired, Im willing to bet that youre not going out of your way to do a bad job. Sometimes work is overwhelming and you cant focus on anything for too long before you start distracting yourself with cat memes on the internet .Take the work youve done in the first step a little further by walking back all the circumstances that led to you dropping the ball. Was a project inco mplete because you werent careful enough about the execution? Were you overwhelmed by all the things you said yes to? Did you actually not understand the project as well as you thought you did? Think about what happened to lead up to your rough week, because the chances are that it wasnt just one thing that led to the ultimate result. 3. Create an Action Plan for Correcting Your MistakesNow that you know what you did and why those things happened, you can start to think about how to prevent them from occurring in the future. Of course, youll make more mistakes at work down the road- and you shouldnt expect anything more of yourself. But this activity will help you grow in a few areas in which you know that you havent been awesome at lately.If you werent careful enough about your project, make yourself a checklist to refer to in the future so that all of the details are addressed. If you were overwhelmed by everything you volunteered for, make a note of how long your to-do list was t his time- then when it gets to that point again, dont be afraid to ask for help. And if you didnt understand the instructions as well as you thought, get clarity from the stakeholders you need it from to ensure that its crystal clear next time. If youre down on yourself after dropping the ball for the past week, dont worry- most (if not all) of us have been there. Theres nothing you can do to erase those rough days from the record books, but you can bounce back faster than you might think. It will take a little work- and a big dose of honesty with yourself- but youre talented and resilient enough to get back on track. And trust me, if I can do it, you can pull it off, too.