A Conference for MBA Veterans

A Conference for MBA Veterans A Conference for MBA Veterans The potential employers of the corporate world show no hesitation in recruiting eligible veterans with a MBA degree, as they normally have excellent leadership skills. They also excel in motivating a team and have sound technical knowledge. The keynote speakers of this years event are Alex Gorsky and Russ Laraway, former veterans themselves. They serve as senior level executives now. The event has attracted 24 world-class companies in just three years of its commencement. Google and Johnson and Johnson are the key sponsors of the 2011 MBA Veterans Career Conference.mora than 200 veterans with MBA degrees from various prestigious institutions like MIT and UCLA are expected to attend the conference this year. 66% of last years participants reported getting at least one eligible interview call from this event. The number is expected to rise this year. Watch the Live webcast of the 2011 MBA Veterans Career Conference from 8am CST to 1pm CST on Friday, October 28th at mbaveterans.com.

Top nine executive resume mistakes

Top nine executive resume mistakesTop nine executive resume mistakesHR managers see behauptung resume mistakes over and over again. Follow this checklist to make sure your resume isnt one of the clunkers.Professional resume writers see hundreds of do-it-yourself resumes. Ask some of these pros, and theyll tell you theyre so used to seeing the same missteps made over and over, they can spot them a mile away.We talked to some of the certified professional resume writers who work with Ladders to find out which resume glitches they see most often and how to fix them. Before you send your resume out, check it against this list once youve jumped over these potholes, youll be ahead of the pack in this competitive job market.1. Resume formatSteve Burdan, a CPRW who works with Ladders, said his clients often slip up by using a pure chronological or pure functional resume.The aufgabe The chronological format by itself doesnt work because youre making the reader work hard to figure out what yo u have to offer, Burdan said.In other words, youre not highlighting your skill sets and areas of expertise. Hiring managers must read between the lines of the chronological format to fish out this information.Similarly, a purely functional resume doesnt work because youre not giving the reader any chronological context for any of your achievements, Burdan said. With this type of format, candidates typically have a section listing 10 to 15 bullet points that contain all their accomplishments stacked up.You dont know whether it was achieved 10 or 20 years ago, or the accomplishments have no explanation or context, he said. Typically, the functional resumes Burdan sees are two pages, 90 percent of which comprise bullet points, he said.The fix Use a hybrid resume format that utilizes the best of both formats. The top part of this format is functional, with lists of skills and accomplishments. The following part places those accomplishments into context in a chronological section of job descriptions.The hybrid is what works for my clients, Burdan said. When I get a client who says, ?What other versions do you have? Ill say, ?I have no other models this is the only one. (For mora on crafting a hybrid resume, read here.)2. No titleThe herausforderung Many people neglect to give themselves a title at the top of their resumes, which will prevent the reader from understanding at a glance what position the person is looking for, said Mary Schumacher, another CPRW who works with Ladders.The fix Establish a descriptive, compelling title. One example of a title switch that packs more information Change Accounting, which is too vague, to Management of A/R and A/P and Recordkeeping, which carries far more information and impact. (For more on crafting attention-grabbing titles, read here.)3. LengthThe problem Amateur resume writers often go too short or too long. At some point, someone convinced them that every resume should be one page, so they try to stuff every thing into one page. Thats not going to work, Burdan said, because in choosing what to leave in and leave off, youre cutting muscle. Executive resumes can be as long as three pages.Likewise, if your resume is too long, youre just filling out space for the sake of fluffing it up.Writing a resume that is four pages long is simply useless no one wants to read that much, and nobody really cares what you did in 1973, Schumacher said.The fix Burdan said that 90 percent of the time, its appropriate to keep a resume to two pages. (For more on cutting your resume to the right size, read here.)4. One-size-fits-all resumes.The problem Resume customization for a specific position is crucial these days, as the competition for jobs is fierce.The fix Use the same keywords as the position described in the job post, Schumacher advised.When you write a resume for posting on a job board or for a recruiter, scan a number of position announcements for your career goal and make sure your resume reflects most of th eir keywords, she said. (For more on how to customize your resume for the right job, read here.)5. Lack of quantifiables The problem Job seekers often omit quantifiables that would substantiate claims about their skills and accomplishments. Instead, they take refuge in murky language like improved performance and lumineszenzdiode a winning team. Everybodys got quantifiables, Burdan believes you just have to figure out how to translate them. Otherwise, your resume suffers from a bad case of so what?The fix Quantifiables are translated in different ways for different job roles. A sales function is easy to quantify, Burdan said, because you can use numbers or percentages to reflect your increased sales or increased domination of a given market. Likewise, with marketing, a resume can list specific product launches.CPAs can point to specific processes made more efficient and to specific amounts of money saved, Burdan suggested. IT professionals can list expertise with specific software packages and applications, as well as successful deployments and business-cost savings due to technology enhancements. Operations professionals can talk about cost controls and productivity increases.6. Weak verbs and no verbs The problem Schumacher all too often sees weak verbs on do-it-yourselfers resumes. She cites such lackluster verb constructions as was responsible for, provided or assisted with.Even worse than weak verbs, some people dont use verbs at all when they write resumes, Schumacher said.Their bullet points start off with verb-implying nouns, saying something like ?Project management and process improvement or ?Implementation of process controls and standardization procedures, she said.The fix Use verbs instead of sentence fragments that omit them. Your resume will be more action-oriented and dynamic. And avoid weak verbs by using action-oriented verbs such as spearheaded, steered or influenced. (For more on how to use verbs in your job search, read here.)7. Overusin g words The problem Another word-choice problem is that people will use a perfectly good word, like develop, but then use it over and over again.The fix Mix up your verbs. Some verbs Schumacher likes include enrich, fortify, forge, transform and galvanize.These words are really powerful, she said.8. Font faux pasThe problem People often split hairs over the least important things, such as mulling over what the most effective font is, Burdan said. They also mix up fonts, particularly when cutting and pasting material from Web sites, and then neglect to make the pasted-in material the same font as the rest of the resume.The fix When it comes to fonts, Burdan advises clients not to go crazy. Stick with the tried and true Times Roman, Garamond and Tacoma are all safe choices. Proofread to make sure fonts are consistent throughout. (For more on how to format your resume, read here.)9. Graphic crimesThe problem Photos on resumes. Theyre a bad idea, Burdan said, since resumes inspire enoug h snap decisions without having your picture on them.Resumes by nature are polarizing Readers will either be attracted or repulsed by your resume. Its business, not personal Every reader is looking for something different, he said.He tells his clients to remember that resume readers are making go or no-go decisions all the time, so its safest not to give them a reason to pass over your resume by having a superficial reaction to your photo.On top of that is the technical reason for keeping photos off a resume Namely, graphics files tend to choke applicant tracking system software.Finally, legal issues lead many human-resources departments to reject all resumes containing photos to avoid accusations of discrimination.The fix Keep photos or graphics off your resume. (For more on how to make your resume easy to download, read here.)

Learn About Employer Paid Sick Days

Learn About Employer Paid Sick DaysLearn About Employer Paid Sick DaysPaid sick days allow employees to take time off from work while they are ill without losing pay. Employees accrue sick days based on their employers policies. Some base the number on years of service and the level of their position within the company, and some allocate the same number to everybody. Some employers allow sick days to roll over from one year to the next, often capping at a certain number of days or hours, while others do not allow them to accumulate. Historically, sick days have been a common perk employers voluntarily provided. There is no federal law requiring employers to offer paid sick leave, but as of 2018, 10 states and the District of Columbia require employers to provide some form of paid time off for employees who are sick. A Standard Benefit Paid sick leave is part of the benefits package for 85 percent of full-time workers and 74 percent of all U.S. workers, according to a March 2018 s urvey by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Full-time workers in state and local government had access to paid sick days in 99 percent of jobs. Among all jobs, union employees received paid sick leave 90 percent of the time, while the number was 71 percent for nonunion employees. Part-time employees receive paid sick leave in only 40 percent of jobs, and service industry employees, at 56 percent, are the least likely to receive paid sick leave. In most full-time positions, employees simply expect that some form of paid sick leave will be part of the benefits package. While paid sick days generally are viewed as an employee benefit, they are beneficial to employers as well. Paying an employee to stay home sick may not seem like its good for the bottom line, but if that employee is contagious and comes into work, there is a risk that numerous employees could become sick, hurting the bottom line even more. With paid sick leave, employees can be more comfortable with the prospect of s taying home when sick, knowing they arent losing a days pay. Hopefully, this helps limit the number of contagious employees in the workplace, reducing the total number of work days lost to illness. Legislative Requirements There are no federal laws in the United States that require an employer to offer paid sick days as a benefit, but states and other local municipalities can enact such ordinances and laws. In 2006, San Francisco became the first city in the U.S. to mandate employers to provide paid sick days, and Connecticut became the first state to do so in 2011. Californias law, enacted in 2015, requires employeesto earn at least one hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked. Accrual began on the first day of employment or July 1, 2015. As of 2018, other states to require paid sick leave include Arizona, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. Allocation Most organizations use a formula that assigns a certain number of sick day hours accrued during each pay period. Other employers make the paid sick days available at the beginning of a calendar year- although that is an option that may increase therisk for employers. For example, if an employee uses all of his paid sick days in the first couple of months of the year, then quits, the employer has paid a years worth of sick time to an employee who worked only a couple of months. Some employers opt for a paid time off (PTO) policy that folds sick days, vacation days, and personal days into one bank of days that employees can use at their discretion. However, when employees have a bank of days, there is the risk that they will view all of the days as vacation time, failing to keep sick employees out of the workplace.

9 Tips for Getting Settled at Your New Job

9 Tips for Getting Settled at Your New Job9 Tips for Getting Settled at Your New JobYou spent months searching for a new job, and now the dream finally came true You landed an awesome gig. But now comes phase two of landing the job Getting settled into your new role. The first couple months working somewhere new can be exciting, terrifying, and confusing- and they can really make or break your time at a particular company.If youre looking for an extra push to really get settled into your new role, weve searched the web for the best resources on how to totally wow your new boss and colleagues and feel way more comfortable in your surroundings.If you have a little room (even a couple of days) between leaving your old job and starting a new one, take some time to mentally prepare yourself for your new role. Youll feel refreshed and excited for whats to come (instead of totally burned out). (Lifehacker)If you just started a job, make sure you do these nine things during the first week. ( Business Insider)Not sure how to get situated during your first three months on the job? Luckily, this 90-day roadmap will keep you focused. (99U)Trust us You really dont want to make the mistake of not listening when youre settling into a new position. (TIME)If youre trying to feel comfortable at a new office, change can be one of the hardest adjustments. By improving how well you form new habits, youll get used to your new environment faster. (James Clear)Uh oh Hate your new job so much that you want to go back to your old one? Not so fast (Forbes)Another tip for your first couple of weeks and months in the office Dont try to be someone youre not. (LinkedIn)These 10 nuggets of wisdom will make you feel a whole lot more comfortable in the office. We promise. (Fast Company)And for a little boost of confidence as you adjust to all the new things around you? Weve got just the tricks. (The Daily Muse)Photo of notebook on desk courtesy of Shutterstock.

A Easy Tip About Resume Builder for Free Uncovered

A Easy Tip About Resume Builder for Free Uncovered With the improvement of technology, building a birthday greeting online has come to be quite straightforward and quick. Locate a greeting maker site that is user-friendly and user friendly. Now earning a birthday card on the internet is hassle-free. Make certain you use a trusted and beneficial format to earn a stunning birthday card online. The Basic Principles of Resume Builder for Free That You Can Learn From Beginning Right Away With your schablone ready to go, it needs to be a snap to gather your application the next time you find a job listing thats related to your skillset. There are a number of ways to earn a birthday card but that doesnt signify you will need to spend plenty of time. The iverstndigung im strafverfahren way to do so is to create a resume that specifically targets the requirements of a specific job posting but rewriting it from scratch may be time-consuming procedure. As soon as youve submitted your application, you are going to receive an email in a day or two letting you know whether youre approved. The info ought to be sufficient to grab the interest of whoever is reading it, which means that your color and design choices ought to be relatively subdued by comparison. 1 additional benefit of Monster is that, being international, you can use it in bestellung to discover decent quality resume advice on destinations beyond the USA. So far as features are involved, it is significantly more versatile. There are different options to take into consideration when it has to do with putting together an online resume. Then take into consideration where you are interested in being. Double check to be certain that everything on the last version of the resume is about you. Resumizer free resume creator allows you to preview your resume at any location in the creation approach. Our purpose is to produce the creation process simple for you. Online resume builder grows more afford able and quite effective solution for creating the resume. This childcare resume examples will allow you to pack in your nature and select the qualities which best represent you. To save a good deal of heartache later on, make certain you use our resume builder to create a document that could be easily transferred to different job applications. A well written can help you receive a dream job so that it must contain all the points that ought to be included. When it has to do with your work history, begin with the latest job you had. The good thing is an online resume maker gets you a professionally formatted resume in virtually no time, which means that you can take the very first step toward a better paycheck faster. Usually providing assistance by means of a wizard, youre asked questions about your career and background that will help you create a resume specific to your area. If you would like to make your summary even better you should speak about your interpersonal abiliti es, your professional attitude, and capacity to manage projects by yourself or as a member of a larger team. The ideal method is to select the aid of Resume builder for writing a resume so you may not loose the work prospect. Our advanced technology can help you build your resume from one of our exquisite templates in order to truly feel confident youre putting your very best foot forward as you step in the work marketplace. The Basic Facts of Resume Builder for Free Utilizing a template can lower the quantity of time youve got to spend formatting your document, which enables you to concentrate on adding content and polishing your resume. Employing a resume template is now an acceptable and smart practice for several reasons. If youre overwhelmed by all the choices, you can also just use one of several excellent templates. Resume builder includes an immediate preview, and therefore you dont will need to save and refresh the page to see the way that it appears like. What Resu me Builder for Free Is - and What it Is Not Show employers that youre updated and produce an excellent first impression by selecting the proper template. Tailoring your resume to suit a prospective employer is the same. Your cover letter ought to be specific to your own experience together with closely targeting the necessities of the job that you are applying for. Below is a good example of a cover letter for employment in public relations. Just sign up there, complete the details and your Resume is about to download. My Resume Builder can help you create a fantastic resume with the assistance of its tools. So, it is very useful in creating an amazing ready-to-go resume. The Free Resume Builder helps prepare resumes even when you dont possess the slightest idea on how best to do so employing a seven step procedure.

Vital Pieces of Best Resume Writing Service 2016

Vital Pieces of Best Resume Writing Service 2016 Recommended vita writing company have to make certain that they step up their game when it has to do with communicating well with their clients so they can comprehend the personality of the individual, and even incorporate the appealing characteristics in the vita, without excluding even the littlest detail. Resume writing is the most essential step in presenting your abilities and receiving the job that you desire. Lies Youve Been Told About Best Resume Writing Service 2016 If it comes to resumes, different types ought to be available. So you can depend on the tailored resumes for various businesses. The Pain of Best Resume Writing Service 2016 Professional resume writers comprehend the importance of their work, so they are always accountable for the ideal result. Resumes are made by experienced writers who create concise and simple to read documents. The writer is likely to make contact and start to work with you straight a way Employing a Professional Resume Writer is a superb idea for the majority of professionals since resume writing is a distinctive skill. The website should explain fees and supply you with a fantastic idea of the way the tafelgeschirr works. One particular special feature offered by Resume Writers Service is that if youre a returning customer, you can find any services for half off the normal price. If you see a service we havent evaluated, dont hesitate to drop us a message and we are going to look it over whenever possible. There are times that you proceed through the site of a certain writing service and it seems just perfect. All About Best Resume Writing Service 2016 An amazing professional resume writing service is the best selection for everybody who needs help with applications. Many services offer you affordable rates and discounts, which means you get great value for the money there. Its important to understand what youre paying for before you commit, as you wi ll need to make sure youre receiving the best service possible for the cost youre paying. Its safe to say you are receiving an executive resume writer that has a history of receiving their clients results. A summer job with your grandfather isnt really necessary to list. You can rest assured that opting for professional resume writing service, would make sure that you make a favorable spot in the work industry. To boost the probability of getting an appropriate job, you must seek the help of professional resume writers. Whatever They Told You About Best Resume Writing Service 2016 Is Dead Wrong...And Heres Why There are a lot of unique trends in writing nursing resumes that you might want to look at incorporating into your own. As a consequence, you can select among the best services at a price thats realistic to you and get invited to all the interviews you wished to enter. By checking out all features and services a provider offers, were getting sufficient info to generat e a conclusion on which are the best resume services that can enable you to get the job that you are applying for. It uses an individual approach to every client and customizes every resume.

How to turn negative qualities into positives during an interview

How to turn negative qualities into positives during an interviewHow to turn negative qualities into positives during an interviewIts the interview question everyone dreads What are yur weaknesses? Its a tough one to answer well. You dont want to point out flaws that could prevent you from getting the job, but you dont want to give a generic response. You also cant avoid answering the question altogether, as much as youd like to.Instead, you should prepare ahead of time so youcan answer this question well. With the right response, you can reframe your negatives into positives and show that youre willing to improve yourself in order to succeed. What employer wouldnt want a kollektiv member like that? Now, thats an easy question to answer.Here some common weakness cited in interviews - and how to reframe them in the most favorable light possible.Time managementMany professionals struggle with time management. If you find it challenging to complete your to-do list within the eight-hour workday, you can tell your potential employer this. Just make sure you follow that up by sharing the ways in which youre working to improve things.Of course, this response is dependent upon the fact that youre taking those positive strides. There are plenty ofmethods to overcome your poor time-management skills. Pinpointing the most critical tasks of the day and tackling those first or keeping your workspace organized to avoid delays are two ways to do it. Implement a tactic and let your potential employer know - theyll be impressed by your efforts to change.ShynessAnother con to point to - as long as your job doesnt depend on your charisma - your inherent shyness. Its not your fault youre timid, since everyones personalities are programmed differently. However, in your line of work, it might be a flaw to be a bit shy, especially if your colleagues are all outspoken and confident.Its easy to turn this one into a positive, though. Simply tell your interviewer that youve been taking strides to boost your self-esteem, which has made you more confident to speak up and step out of your shell. You canmake friends as an introvert, of course, so long as you take things slow and bond with one person at a time. Learning how to do that will make you less shy and therefore more prepared for the job ahead.PerfectionismAnother workplace weakness you might experience is the fact that youre never happy with the work you finish. Instead, youre incredibly critical of yourself and strive for perfection, although you never feel like you reach it. This is a routine answer to the question, and some interviewees might think theyre good to stop with that answer. However, Im a perfectionist doesnt entirely cut it.Avoid the clich by pointing to a specific obstacle that stems from your perfectionism rather than using it as a way to show off your attention to detail.Let the interviewer know youre working on accepting the accomplishments and accolades you receive. Perfectionism might aff ect your self-esteem now, but you should note that youre improving it so you can be satisfied when you work hard on something and turn it in. Youre good at what you do, after all, so you should be confident in it.ProcrastinationProcrastination varies slightly from time management. While the latter has to do with ordering your tasks so you complete whats important first, the former will have you putting off all your to-dos because youre not mentally prepared to begin. Although this seems like an insurmountable negative, there are ways to frame your response that will put you in a positive light.Note that your greatest weakness is to procrastinate before springing into the explanation of how youre working to fix that.One way to break the habitis to divide a goal into actionable tasks so the entire project doesnt seem so daunting. Find the tools you need to overcome procrastination before the interview and point to how much theyre helping you when this question rolls around.StressIts n atural to feel stress in the workplace. However, the feeling might be so strong within you that its a weakness. This is especially true if your job is deadline-focused - date-related stress is something that can affect the work you do, as well as the way you interact with your coworkers. Dont let stress hold you back from attaining your goals. Instead, find ways for it to make you a better worker.You can tell your boss how much stress you have experienced in the past and how youve come up with ways to battle the feeling. Do you exercise now? Do you give yourself breaks in your workday? Have you improved your time-management skills or lowered your perfectionist bar so you can easily turn things in? These are important to note, because they show that you stress because you care - but you also realize youre at your best when youre cool, calm and collected.Answer the question wellIn reframing behauptung negatives as positives, youre sure to answer this tough interview question well. You ll avoid common mistakes, too - some people try to spin positive traits as negative ones, while others refuse to answer or dont have a response at the ready. Coming into your interview with a thoughtful, honest and smart answer will only improve your standing - and boost the chance that youll be offered the job.Subscribe to thePunched Clocks newsletterfor more career advice from Sarah.How to turn negative qualities into positives during an interviewPerhaps youve been applying for jobs for weeks or months (or even years) or maybe youd just been passively browsing and came across that one job that looked like destiny staring you in the eye and went ahead and threw your name into the hat.When stars align, you get what you were hoping for you land an in-person interview.Now the ball is in your court. What are some key things you should be doing to prepare?Heres our perspective talking about the things youre great at and all the things youve accomplished is easy. Talking about your deve lopment opportunities and mistakes youve made in the past is hard. So, while preparing for the interview in its entirety is important, preparing to turn negatives into positives should be at the top of your pre-interview to-do list.The good news is that it is possible. You can do it. Heres a step by step guide to turning negatives into positives during a job interview settingStep 1 Anticipate the negativesFirst, consider the negatives that might likely come up during your interview. Everybody should anticipate being asked something along the lines of What are your weaknesses? or What are the areas you need most improvement? And then beyond that, if any of these less-than-ideal things apply to you and are easy to uncover, you should anticipate questions from your interviewer around why youleft a job on unfavorable termswere involuntary terminatedhave a short average duration of employment in many or several consecutive positionshave problems with your credit report or background scre enhave unfinished degree programsYou can use online employer review platforms like kununu to research the employer in advance this might give you a heads up ontheir favorite interview questions.Consider which of these may apply in your situation and then move on to step 2.Step 2 ReframeNow, start considering how your negatives can be reframed in a positive light. Remember, the only failures are those that dont result in learning and growth. Focus on how your past mistakes have shaped and molded you as an employee. Here are some examplesWhat is your greatest weakness?I tend to be easily distracted, so I have had to develop systems and habits that promote focus and follow-through. Ive found that this attribute contributes to my success in rapidly changing environments because I enjoy the shifts.Can you explain why were you terminated from the position you held at Company 4?I was irresponsible in that role. I wish I could say that I regret my actions, but I think those circumstances we re such a necessary part of my growth and learning. That negative experience served as a turning point for me and youll see that Ive been promoted twice in my current company because of what I learned.Youve only been at each job for 1-2 years. Why the short duration?Every transition has been made in an effort to best contribute my talents and experiences in meaningful roles. I first transitioned into non-profit to follow my heart and stay true to my core values. Then I was recruited by an animal rescue, which brought me even closer to my career goals. And then I saw this position and it was everything Ive wanted to do in my career so I dove in head first.The most important rules to remember and make no excuses and place no blame. Blaming prior employers or your childhood and making excuses for your choices can give the interview team the impression that you wont take accountability for your actions in this role, either.Step 3 RehearseOnce youve considered the negatives that might ar ise and planned out a response to each which reframes it in a positive way, rehearse your answers over and over again. This will improve your confidence and make it easy to answer each question in a natural, empowered way impressing the interview team and hopefully landing the right role at the right time.Happy interviewingThis article was originally published on Kununu.com.

Unhappy After Six Months How to Troubleshoot Chronic Job Hopping

Unhappy After Six Months How to Troubleshoot Chronic Job HoppingUnhappy After Six Months How to Troubleshoot Chronic Job HoppingFor most people, the job hunt itself is stressful. Its hard to get your resume just right. Its hard to get the interview.The offer is even harder.For others, though, the process is a little too easy. They blast through the job hunt process and accept the new offer, only to find themselves unhappy and looking within six months.We all make mistakes, so realizing a job isnt a good fit early on isnt a bad thing. However, if you find yourself falling into a pattern of accepting jobs and becoming quickly dissatisfied, it may signal a mismatch of expectations and goals.If that sounds like you, here are four questions you should ask yourself during your job hunt to help you zero in on an opportunity you will actually enjoy1. Where do I fit in?Finding the right culture fit can be very difficult. And that often contributes to high turnover and job-hopping as you figur e out what you like and dont like. It makes sense that this would be difficult because its hard to get a true feel for a companys culture from an hour-long interview.For this task, you have two tools at your disposal. First, use your computer to investigate each companys employer brand. This will give you a sense of how the company approaches its culture and how you would fit in before you take the tour. You can also set an expectation for the environment itself and see how it measures up to your in-rolle interview.Second, Simply Hireds recent partnership with eHarmony offers a tool to track down job opportunities based on culture fit rather than location or openings. Check it out.2. Who do I enjoy working with?You need to find your people whom can help you enjoy a working day and de-stress when the day is done. Take a piece of paper and consider all of your former coworkers. Who did you connect with right away? Who did you have trouble connecting with? Try to see beyond roles and p ositions and into character and personality. Write down the traits that come to you and use that list to help you identify the right work environment for you.For example, perhaps you felt very closely connected to several people in different offices because of a random shared hobby of bike racing. Why not connect with a local bike racing group and see where the happiest people work? You dont need to follow their lead and apply to their company, but you may discover some actionable trends that you can apply to your own job hunt, such as everyone working at small companies, large companies or startups. Thats the kind of hint that can help you pursue a job you can enjoy beyond a few months.3. Who do I want to serve?Every job is a service job. Whether youre on the executive team or in the warehouse, the ultimate purpose of your job is to help the companys customer do something better. Who do you actually want to help? Which industries and causes speak to you? You may not end up in a non profit because of this desire, but it can help you identify groups of people you want to serve that will help you connect with the job youre doing.For example, if you love pets and animals, consider looking for work in an industry related to them. Look at corporate positions at companies such as Petco or Care.com, or use Simply Hireds custom search for dog-friendly companies. Working a job like accounting or account executive will be easier if your values align with the companys overall mission.What is this company really offering?If you follow these steps and identify a great opportunity, dont jump on it just yet. If all of these values align, it still might not be the right opportunity for you. Be careful about assessing the opportunity and the responsibilities accurately to make sure that the reality will align with your expectations of the position.To better align your expectations with the day-to-day, ask every question that comes to mind. Ask about the jobs responsibilities, d aily schedule and biggest frustrations. Ask why the last person moved on or what this role is typically like five years from now.Give the interviewer every opportunity to paint a detailed picture of the position so that you are well-informed about the downsides as well as the upsides. You may hesitate to cause a fuss in an interview, but this works both ways. HR managers want to connect with thoughtful, confident employees who want to work for them. Asking questions in a professional and respectful manner will establish your transparent and detailed work ethic.Have you taken a new job only to find out its not a good fit a few months in? Leave a note in the comments to share how you plan to avoid this scenario the next time around.

Donald N Zwiep

Donald N Zwiep Donald N Zwiep Donald N. ZwiepYou know the saying, Those who can, do, and those who cant, teach. If you think it rings true, then you clearly know leidhing about the life of mechanical engineering educator Donald N. Zwiep, whose life offers substantial proof that when it comes to doing and teaching, you shouldnt have one without the other.Donald N. Zwiep was born in Hull, IA, in 1924 to Daniel and Nellie Zwiep, who immigrated from the Netherlands in 1905 and 1907, respectively. He was the youngest of six children, and after completing his secondary school education, he served in WWII as a B-24 pilot and crew commander, completing 59 missions in India and China by the wars end.Upon his return to the U.S., Zwiep received his B.S. (1948) and M.S. (1951) from Iowa State College in mechanical engineering. While in school, he married Marcia Hubers of Orange City, IA, (they went on to have four children), and after completing his Masters he moved with his wife and children to Colorado AM College to take up a post as a professor of metallurgy. Zwiep taught in the mechanical engineering department there until he joined the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester, MA, in 1957, as a professor and chair of the mechanical engineering department.Zwiep was awarded an honorary doctorate in 1965 from WPI, an acknowledgment of the leading role he had begun to play in revitalizing its engineering program. Zwiep helped found WPIs management engineering department as a way to reinvigorate an educational environment he and his coauthor William W. Durgin of Educating Engineering Students in Entrepreneurship characterized as one in which each student was essentially an isolated learner and thus did not develop the personal interaction skills, shared learning experiences, or the oral and written communication skills associated with effective professional practice. Chafing against the rigidity of the WPI engineering curriculum, Zwiep and others sought reforms t hat would produce a new breed of engineer, who knew not only engineering but was also conversant enough with business, finance, and government to pursue engineering objectives that easily fit within a real world context.In 1970, Zwiep helped WPI continue its evolution with the establishment of the WPI Plan, which significantly changed the degree requirements. An integral part of the effort to return WPI to its original entrepreneurial roots, the plan moved WPIs undergraduate curriculum toward a project-based approach that required students to complete a project in their field of study as well as another related to science and technology that addressed specific societal concern and human needs. Zwiep and Durgin cited the increased numbers of WPI graduate start-ups ranging from garment companies servicing the aerospace industry to biotech firms as proof that their effort to foster a new breed of entrepreneur had been a success.Over the next 20 years, Zwiep further advanced this cause in his role as the advisor to the WPI Project Center, which opened in Washington, D.C., and then in 1982, when he was appointed director and chairman of WPIs Manufacturing Engineering Applications Center. Subsequently, he also served as acting provost and vice president for academic affairs.Thanks to Zwieps energy and industry his reputation grew beyond WPI. From 1987 to 1990, he was former Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakiss appointee to the Board of Directors for the Center of Applied Technology for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. And upon his retirement in 1990, Zwiep maintained his investment in the educational ideals that shaped his WPI career via his involvement in student projects in London, at the Technical University at Delft, The Netherlands, and at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD, and Johnson Space Center in Houston. He was also hired by the Taiwan, Chinese government to review the state of Taiwan, Chinas technical educational system and was an in vited visitor to the Swedish Royal Institute of Technology.An ASME member since 1947 as well as its president during its centennial year (1979-80), Zwiep, directed some of his reformist fervor to reshaping the Societys rules of governance and worked to strengthen its international ties by forming groundbreaking affiliations with mechanical engineering societies in Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines.In 2004, Zwiep received his Honorary Member award, which is conferred on those who have made distinctive contributions to engineering, science, industry, research, public service, or other pursuits allied with and beneficial to the engineering profession in 2004. He was the first person from WPI thus honored. In recognition of his friend and colleagues achievement Durgin saidOne of Dons greatest strengths is that of planting a seed and then letting events take their course. This ability stems, of course, from his fantastic ability to see opportunities and his unfailing belief in people , especially mechanical engineers. There is no one who exemplifies mechanical engineering education more than Don Zwiep.Zwiep died on April 14, 2012, in Naples, FL, at the age of 88.Marion Hart is an independent writer.An ASME member since 1947 as well as its president during its centennial year (1979 80), Zwiep, directed some of his reformist fervor to reshaping the Societys rules of governance and worked to strengthen its international ties.