Forrester Validates Simply Hireds Online Recruitment Solution

Forrester Validates Simply Hireds Online Recruitment SolutionForrester Validates Simply Hireds Online Recruitment SolutionMeasuring the value of recruiting activities is often difficult for companies. The most successful organizations have measurement tools in place to track the impact of decisions ranging from budget allocation to vendor selection.Its vital to know how effectively your recruiting dollars are being spent. Ask yourself whether you are seeing a reduction in costs and a faster time to hire as opposed to spending with no incremental improvement in efficiency.A large organization that has worked withSimply Hiredfor more than six years volunteered their data for a Forrester Total Economic Impact Study. The results are in, and were happy to report the findings. They prove that Simply Hired is an essential part of a cost-conscious recruiting strategy, providing value to job seekers and employers alike. Some highlights from the studyLowest Cost Simply Hired delivered candidat es at the lowest cost of all vendors studied less than 1/2 the cost of the leading job boards.Faster Time-to-fillWith Simply Hired faster time-to-fill is estimated to play a positive role in nearly 100% of hiring campaigns.Low Risk Only pay for job postings when theyre clicked, compared with paying to post jobs at the outset.While were proud of our ability to drive cost savings, Simply Hired ultimately provides a service to job seekers and employers. By matching the right candidates to the right job, we help job seekers find jobs they loveandwe help employers find productive employees.Forresters study also validates that the service we provide- and the technology weve developed- benefits employers and job seekers alike by saving clients money and filling positions faster. The recruiting organization in the study estimated that Simply Hired Client Services, at no incremental fee, helped the client save additional expense in an estimated 10 percent of their hiring campaigns.Whether y our recruiting budget is in the millions or in the thousands,Simply Hired can help you save money.To download the full report,click here.We at Simply Hired would love to help you find great hires faster and at a better value than traditional job boards. Contact usand lets get started. Were ready when you areRead Related ArticlesIs Your Job Posting Budget Optimized?

I Resolve To...Manage Expectations of Myself and Others

I Resolve To...Manage Expectations of Myself and OthersI Resolve To...Manage Expectations of Myself and OthersHave you ever had one of those days when you just couldnt seem to get anything done, despite your best intentions? Unless youre a superhuman with impeccable initiative and an inability to be distracted by cute cate videos, you probably know what were talking about. Whether its the myriad of work piling up on your desk, a host of small problems that seem to pull you away from larger tasks, or simply a lack of a good nights sleep that leaves you unable to focus, weve all had moments in the workplace where we feel less than satisfied with our accomplishments.Sure, we can sit and beat ourselves up for not punching out that report fast enough or for not getting that extra invoice sent out for the day, but repeated studies show that criticizing ourselves, and others, for perceived failures can often be counterproductive. Dont get us wrong, from time to time there will be a bad appl e in the workforce who turns out to be lazy or uncoachable, but the majority of us simply need a little help in prioritization. This is why true leaders should resolve to manage expectations, both of themselves, and others, in order to improve performance rather than simply asking for more or harder work. Sound impossible? Lets dig into a few simple ways to make big changes with this approach.Evaluate the Current SituationWhether its a single project or an entire system or way of conducting business before goals can be set or deadlines established leaders need to evaluate the current state of affairs. What are your main pain points or problem areas in your industry and specific place of business? What are short, medium, and long term projects that need to be accomplished? Finally, what are your current staffing capabilities both in number and talent? Evaluating each of these with a critical eye is a crucial first step to undertake before you can move on to planning and implementatio n.Establish Realistic GoalsWhether its yourself or your employees, if you are unclear on what can realistically be accomplished in a given timeframe, it will be nearly impossible to set clear, realistic timelines. Can you really roll out that systemwide software upgrade in three months? Perhaps theres a project that other companies could accomplish in a few weeks but with your current staffing levels, it will take a gruppe more than double the time. In short, be honest with your assessment of the situation and dont be afraid to ask for extra resources, additional time, or to push back altogether if a goal just isnt doable. Not only will this save you face with management and your team, but youll also be less likely to discourage your own efforts due to feelings of failure or hopelessness from trying to meet an unrealistic endgame.Expectations of SelfWhen it comes to managing expectations, leadership starts at the top. Be an example to your team by identifying, establishing, and then following up on clear goals for your own performance. While these dont always need to be communicated directly to those you work with, do take the opportunity to mention during regular check-ins or team meetings. This will help keep you accountable and will also signal to others that you take promises seriously when it comes to your work performance.Expectations of Your TeamLeading by example is great and all, but if you arent clear in communicating your expectations to those who answer to you, itll be difficult to try and introduce a culture of accountability. Many managers get hung up when it comes to being afraid to ask too much of their team members. This can create hedging in your directions and confusion when it comes to what was supposed to get done and by whom. To avoid these hiccups, sit your team down and establish clear protocols and procedures for asking for help and taking direction.When assigning an individual project, be clear about the final due date and any nuanced guidance you may have to delivery or roll out. Lastly, if a deadline is dropped or less than the optimal product is turned in, be aya to debrief your individual team members as to what went wrong. This can make a big difference in weeding out poor performers from those who simply need additional guidance and can also identify flaws in your own ability to clearly communicate expectations.Expectations of Your CompanyWhile the individual cogs are the day to day performers, the company you answer to also needs to live up to its promises in order for the individual employees to be effective in their roles. If you are being asked to implement a plan that is simply unfeasible with your current staffing levels or resources, be sure to speak up. Asking for the tools and support you need to do your job wont be considered rude or demanding but instead will demonstrate that you are a leader who wants to get things done and isnt afraid to speak up when necessary in order to execute a vision.Its Not a One Time FixWhile the above basic guidelines are a great place to start to develop a method for managing expectations, its important to know these steps arent a one time practice. Each new initiative, project, or major sales goal will need some version of the above, even in an abbreviated format. Its also useful to schedule regular check-ins both for yourself and your team to ensure that there hasnt been any material change in assumptions that may necessitate a shift in expectations. Remember that accountability is a key skill for any great leader and that execution of this trait goes both up and down the corporate ladder. Keep good housekeeping of your ability to manage expectations of self and others and youll be well on your way to getting more accomplished and to feeling less overwhelmed in the process.

How to Handle Problematic Statements at Work - The Muse

How to Handle Problematic Statements at Work - The MuseHow to Handle Problematic Statements at Work Dealing with co-workers who say something offensive can be really messy. In most cases, your gut might be telling you to respond in a completely different way than the career-minded part of your brain. Its a seriously iffy position to get out of without what feels like compromising some of your values somehow, yet it happens so often.So, what do you do? Should you ignore the comments that make you uncomfortable- that you might, if a grandparent or cousin said them over Thanksgiving, otherwise confront? What are the potential professional consequences of overstepping or even being seen as criticizing your colleagues?Its a complicated issue to deal with, and thats why I brought in the big guns Adrian Hopkins and Jenny Foss, two Muse Career Coaches, and Shannon Fitzgerald, the Director of HR at The Muse. They all offered their advice on how to best navigate behauptung sticky situations.Wh en it comes to reacting to a problematic comment, no matter what sort of approach you plan to take, just remember to go into it with an open mind. The first and most important thing to do is to separate the person from the problem, says Hopkins. Your co-worker saying something problematic is different from him or herbeingproblematic. Making this distinction will allow you to think rationally about how to address the issue. From there, you have two options speak with him or her one-on-one, or talk to a supervisor or someone from HR about it.Option 1 Speak With Him or HerSo, say you and your colleagues are having a light-hearted conversation at lunch. Suddenly, someone cracks a joke that sounds mean-spirited, and you can tell youre not the only one who was rubbed the wrong way by it. The neutral thing to do in the moment is to clarify, right then and there, what that person just said. According to Foss, this is a non-threatening option that guides the person into realizing that they s aid something dumb, offensive, or out of line and prompt an apology. Even if a comment makes you uncomfortable, its important to give your co-worker the benefit of the doubt- after all, youd hope as much for yourself in the situations where you undoubtedly slip up, too. A simple You just said insert statement. Could you explain more specifically what you meant? should do the trick.If that doesnt work out, asking to talk outside the office is another option for confronting her without putting her on the spot. Although it might be uncomfortable, ask for time with yourco-worker outside of the office (for coffee, lunch, or a walk) and talk about what made the comment seem problematic, shares Hopkins. Because youre outside of the office, the conversation between the two of you will befrank and you may be able to reach an understanding about the issue. You can (almost) guarantee a yes to this brief meeting request by saying, I wanted to discuss a comment you made at lunch. Do you have fiv e minutes to grab a coffee? This way he or she knows this isnt a casual chat that he can say no to- and also wont be thrown off-guard when you suddenly dive into something more serious. Option 2 Bring the Issue to a Supervisor or HRIf speaking with your co-worker directly isnt an option, consider speaking to someone in menschlich resources, your manager, or even that persons supervisor. Keep in mind When you bring higher-ups into the situation, there may be more logistical procedures to follow up with. According to Hopkins, there may be next steps that you should prepare for, such as your co-worker facing discipline or you being called in for a mediated discussion about the issue. Of course, every company has a different way of handling internal relationships, which is why Fitzgerald says a good start would be to reference the employee handbook. If you decide to bring up the issue to someone with professional experience in handling it, one easy way to have an honest conversation abo ut it and your concerns would be to bring it outside the office. If employees ever want to talk to me about a sensitive topic they usually ask if we can grab coffee or schedule a meeting with me, she adds. One way to initiate this discussion is to simply say, Hey, can I put some time on your calendar for later today? Theres something I wanted to talk to you about. And while its perfectly OK to keep the interaction that short and stop there before your later conversation, you also can bring up the context for the meeting if it feels right. Giving a heads up about what you want to talk about will only make it easier for the other person to come better prepared to assist you.HR can usually help mediate or offer suggestions on confronting the co-worker, says Fitzgerald. Its helpful when the employee comes prepared with objective examples and wants to see some sort of entschlieung (rather than just a venue to complain). Was it a one-time scenario or repeated occurrence? Did others witnes s the interaction? Knowing the circumstances can be helpful in coming to a conclusion about next steps.How you should go about this option certainly depends on how approachable your HR department is, since that varies from company to company. But at the end of the day, even if this seems like a serious or even scary approach to settling the issue, keep in mind that HR leaders truly know the protocol in these challenging situations. Employees should never feel afraid to bring sensitive topics to HR or their immediate manager, explains Fitzgerald. Regardless of which option you decide to go with, Hopkins leaves us with this key piece of advice You should be prepared to see and work with this colleague again, so remain professional at all times. So, before you go burning bridges over Jimmy from Finances super uncool statement (as much as you may like to), try your best to sort it out first. Your ultimate goal should be to shape your office environment to be the safe, healthy, and commu nicative one youd like to work in- and that means resolving the situation to everyones satisfaction.After all, no one has ever learned from his mistakes by being unaware of them.Photo of conversation courtesy of Dave and Les Jacobs/Getty Images.

Study This morning ritual is linked to cancer and decreased fertility

Study This morning ritual is linked to cancer and decreased fertilityStudy This morning ritual is linked to cancer and decreased fertilityDoes your dentist tell you to floss every time you visit? Well now, you can have a rebuttal at the ready.Flossing is one of those daily chores thats just gross. Very few people enjoy removing the gunk from between their teeth. The visual is cringe-worthy, and life would be much better if it was something we didnt have to do at all.And now, this New research suggests that flossing is more than just nasty. It can lead to decreased fertility, kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, low birth weight and effects on the immune system, all because youre following your dentists orders.Why, you may ask?Oral-B Glide dental floss - likely that green-colored tube you picked up when you decided to try adulting - is one of the products that contribute to elevated levels in the body of toxic PFAS chemicals, according to a press release from the Silent Spring Institute. PFAS can often be found in waterproof clothing or stain-proof carpeting - its a substance thats water- and grease-repellent.According to a study of178 middle-aged women, published in theJournal of Exposure Science Environmental Epidemiology, flossing withOral-B Glide is associated with higher levels of the PFAS called PFHxS in your blood. Researchers went a step further to test 18 different flosses for fluorine, a PFAS marker. All three Glide products that were tested came back positive for fluorine, as did some of the competitor flosses.The safety of the people who use our products is our top priority, a representative for Oral-B Glides manufacturer told Elite Daily. We have confirmed none of the substances in the report are used in our dental floss. Our dental floss undergoes thorough safety testing and we stand behind the safety of all our products.Whether you believe the scientists or the big corporation, sadly it doesnt matter - you do still have to floss. Illness-inducing substances arent always a cop-out. All you have to do is find a brand that doesnt have harmful chemicals in it, and you should be good to go. Just remember your dentist will be so proud.

Turbine Fuel Efficiency Fitting Pitch

Turbine Fuel Efficiency Fitting Pitch Turbine Fuel Efficiency Fitting Pitch Turbine Fuel Efficiency Fitting a PitchA new variable pitched turbofan design that could consume as much as 14% less fuel relative to todays fans is generating excitement in the airline industry, where a few percentage points of increase in fuel efficiency can be the difference between profit and bankruptcy for an airline. Rotating Composite Technologies has come out with a unique patented design and is now working with jet engine companies to develop and test it.Designing and building machines that can change the orientation of their rapidly rotating parts is a challenge, but the concept of adjusting the pitch angle of tubomachinery blades is key to efficient and successful operation.Active Pitch Control Common but Not Optimal at All SpeedsAn axial flow gas turbine consists of many rows of rotating blades, interspersed with rows of stationary airfoils, called vanes or stators. The hundreds of blades and vane s in a gas turbine are fixed, at pitch angles determined by the designer. Performance could be enhanced by active pitch control, but how does one do this for a rotating machine as complex and as compact as a gas turbine?In the variable pitch fan for a turbofan engine, the timing reif (red) rotates to change blade pitch.A couple of approaches have been tried. General Electrics variable pitch compressor stator invented in the 1950s changes compressor stator or vane pitch angles by ten to thirty degrees during a flight cycle. These variable stator mechanisms are still used today in most axial flow gas turbines.Most modern commercial jet engines are turbofans, with a front mounted fan whose size is indicated by the beipass ratio. Designers would like to increase the fans bypass ratio to affect the thrust and pressure ratio to reduce fuel consumption, but it is difficult to optimize the fan blade pitch for both low and high flight speeds.During the 1990s jet engine companies developed an d tested variable pitch turbofans, with cycle studies showing between 6 % and 14% fuel savings. Unfortunately these early designs had variable pitch mechanisms that were too heavy and bulky. They also required hundreds of horsepower to change the fan blade pitches.Fuel Saving Design ElementsRCTs variable pitch fan promises to overcome the deficiencies of those tested in the 1990s.The variable pitch design features a composite fan blade and two flexible carbon fiber composite straps, an integral part for betreuunging the blades that make it strong enough to safely support the centrifugal load and remain flexible in torsion.The straps are angled so that the blade centrifugal load is aligned along each strap, thus balancing high centrifugal twisting moments at a neutral position. This greatly reduces the force required to hold or change fan blade pitch.The two flexible straps allow the blades to be nested close together, so the hub can be sized to current fixed pitch fans. Because the loads are balanced, the force required to change pitch is much less than in previous designs. Thus, the pitch actuator can be smaller and of lighter weight.A cradle is added to the base of each blade, which provides a center pivot, and also ties each blade torsionally to the pitch change system. The top portion of the cradle forms the flow path between the blades. The lower part protrudes forward, and has a slot that attaches to a timing ring. The pitch change system then rotates this ring, and all blades move synchronously to the desired pitch.As a safety feature, either of the two straps is capable of supporting the full blade centrifugal load, providing protection from blade loss. If pitch control is lost, the centrifugal twisting forces and the strap torsional/bending forces will balance with the blades moving to a prescribed neutral position, similar to the angle at which fixed pitch fans are built today.One to WatchEngine cycle analysis performed with RCTs design indicates tha t successful implementation of their variable pitch fan in turbofan engines could result in a 12 to 14 percent reduction in fuel consumption relative to todays turbofans. Importantly, this result accounts for aircraft installation effects during a typical commercial flight cycle.If these fuel savings could spread through the airline industry, changing the pitch could lead to air carriers singing a happier tune.Adapted from Fitting a Pitch, by Lee S. Langston, ASME Fellow, for Mechanical Engineering, December 2009.Because the loads are balanced, the force required to change pitch is much less than in previous designs. Thus, the pitch actuator can be smaller and of lighter weight.

Untold Stories About Computer Skills to Put on Resume That You Need to Read or Be Left Out

Untold Stories About Computer Skills to Put on Resume That You Need to Read or Be Left Out Job Specific Skills There are lots of skills which are job dependent. Try to remember, the majority of the distinctive skills that you place on your resume ought to be job-related skills taken from the work description and your best transferable skills. There are the hard, industry-specific abilities, along with the soft skills that each and every job demands. That means you should specify telephonic skills as one of the important skill set you need to acquire administrative assistant job in any provider. Hard skills are the abilities and qualifications needed to do a specific job. They are not skills that are hard to learn. They are quantifiable and often learned from school or on the job. As a consequence, employers are ever looking for people who may analyze data, states Isaacs. Analytical skills are the ability to assemble information, visualize and solve complex along with simpl e difficulties with the information available. Definitions of Computer Skills to Put on Resume 1 other means to describe hard skills is that theyre quantifiable or measurable. When youre done Get rid of all of the skills you simply have a simple grasp of. Some skills could be relevant while others arent. Assess how good youre at every one of your abilities and talents. If you are in possession of a wide variety of technical abilities, however, your abilities might end up being precisely what gets you hired. In addition, you may want to include your capability to read blueprints etc.. Perhaps your skill set is totally different. Its ideal to be ready Should you need additional aid in determining what your finest skills are, look at registering for FlexJobs career coaching. Read through it a couple of occasions and youll probably spot three or four essential skills mentioned repeatedly throughout the document. Review their About Us page and see whether your soft abilities o r attributes are aligned with the businesss core values. Also, you will likely need to prevent any jobs that need you to devote a whole lot of time using your burn out skills. Today, just about any job demands a fundamental comprehension of computers, and numerous jobs involve intermediate to advanced computer abilities. Today, almost nobody asks about basic computer abilities. In the modern fast-paced economy, skills which were essential a couple of years back might already be obsolete. The Fundamentals of Computer Skills to Put on Resume Revealed This computer skills are astoundingly valuable at the moment across a wide assortment of industrieswhich means having them on your resume will cause you to be a more attractive job candidate. Problem-Solving No matter what the job is, eventually something will fail and employers wish to know that youre capable of finding a speedy and efficient solution. You dont wish to waste the exact time of the hiring manager going through an extensive collection of skills that are not likely to be helpful to the job. Just be certain to double-check whether adding social media to your particular resume is right for the job New Step by Step Roadmap for Computer Skills to Put on Resume The ability to control your task flow and total assignments in time a part of project administration. Your very best strategy is to tailor your resume to every particular job which youre applying to. Accounting computer software skills are important if youre applying for positions in the finance or company sectors. The ideal approach would be to figure out the essence of the job. The placement of your skills section is also a rather important point to take into account. In truth, it could be appropriate to incorporate a more prominent core competencies section at the peak of your resume with comprehensive descriptions of certain skills if theyre absolutely central to success in the desired position. Youll find more details on var ious sorts of skills for a resume in the previous section. In reality, there are particular jobs in which its important to place a skill section at or close to the top of the resume. New Step by Step Roadmap for Computer Skills to Put on Resume There are plenty of programs you may utilize to create presentations, including PowerPoint, thats the most frequently used software across industries. For instance, if you designed a computer system that made it a lot easier to network with different departments at your business, list that experience. Some say it is the hard skills that needs to be included, since theyre those which are less difficult to quantify and measure, which means performance evaluation is more objective. Alongside basic understanding of spreadsheets, having data visualization skills might also be useful in a data-heavy function. The Basics of Computer Skills to Put on Resume There are a couple of diverse kinds of skill sections and formatting alternatives tha t you should think about when crafting your resume. Each word on your resume can be a trigger for a question via an interviewer, and youll frequently be requested to provide examples of the skills that youve referenced. One means to do that is by adding keyword abilities. Double-check if youre utilizing the ideal abilities and experience keywords. Leadership can genuinely help you to increase in ranks in the business. Some of your advertising skills will inevitably appear in the resume itself. Strong planning abilities and organization are traits which are highly desired in an employee, particularly in the plan world. The Foolproof Computer Skills to Put on Resume Strategy Make certain you have the majority of the suitable qualifications before you apply to a work ad Below, you are going to discover more info about the sort of computer skills employers commonly start looking for in job applicants. If youre asking for a specialized accounting job, you are going to want to show what, if any, related experience youve got in the area. Your skills are an overview of what you could do for the prospective employer if you were offered the work at this time.

Classic Symptoms of Job Addiction Do You Fit the Profile

Classic Symptoms of Job Addiction Do You Fit the Profile As technology has changed over the past couple of decades, so too has the nature of our relationship with our work. Not only has technology changed the way we do business, but it has changed the way we interact with our jobs. Not long ago, it welches the norm in professional fields to leave the job in the workplace and out of the home. Before cell phones, texting, social media, email, and vast wirelessly connected networks, it was unlikely youd receive calls from your boss or additional work drop-offs while off the clock. But now, with the explosion in social technology, our jobs are just a mouse click, button press, or finger swipe away. In some ways, it can be argued, 24/7 access to work has made many of us mora productive and vital members of our workplace teams. But for many others, it has worsened a condition already present, in some ge stalt or another, which can ruin relationships, negatively affect physical and mental health, and otherwise lead to a miserable existencework addiction.When it comes to identifying the general traits of the classic workaholic, the folks at Workaholics-anonymous.org have created an extensive list of questions designed to help you reflect on yourself and the relationship you have with your work relative to competing aspects of your life (e.g. family, friends, and recreational time). The list can work as an aid in developing a more even work/life balance by identifying how your work is interfering with the other important relationships in your life. A general rule of thumb is that if you answer affirmatively to three or more of the following 20 questions, it is likely you have some degree of work addiction, in which case you can receive useful resources from Workaholics Anonymous or from a host of other digital and physical treatment aids to help you live a more balanced, healthy, and enjoyable life.So, without further adieu, you might be a workaholic if you answer yes to the following1. Do you get more excited about your work than about family or anything else?2. Are there times when you can charge through your work and other times when you cant?3. Do you take work with you to bed? Work on weekends? On vacation?4. Is work the activity you like to do best and talk about most?5. Do you work more than 40 hours a week?6. Do you turn your hobbies into money-making ventures?7. Do you take complete responsibility for the outcome of your work efforts?8. Have your family or friends give up expecting you on time?9. Do you take on extra work because you are concerned that it wont otherwise get done?10. Do you underestimate how long a project will take and then rush to complete it?11. Do you believe that it is OK to work long hours if you love what youre doing?12. Do you get impatient with people who have other priorities besides work?13. Are you afraid that if you dont wor k hard you will lose your job or be a failure?14. Is the future a constant worry for you even when things are going very well?15. Do you do things energetically and competitively, including play?16. Do you get irritated when people ask you to stop doing your work in order to do something else?17. Have your long hours hurt your family or other relationships?18. Do you think about your work while driving, falling asleep or when others are talking?19. Do you work or read during meals?20. Do you believe that more money will solve the other problems in your life?

Tweet Like an Executive with (maybe) the Twitter business mo

Tweet Like an Executive with (maybe) the Twitter geschftliches miteinander moTweet Like an Executive with (maybe) the Twitter business moOf potential interest to those obsessed with Twitters business model, or perhaps evenmoreso to Vaults very own CEO (who wonders whether to tweet or not to tweet in a recent blog post), the buzz lately has been all about the launch of ExecTweets, a site that aggregates Tweets from business executives. The site, launched by the advertising networkFederated Media andsponsored by Microsoft, is the latest third-party to experiment with a Twitter business model. However, unlike other online publishers and ad agencies like Glam Media and Mashable, Federated is the first to have Twitters support. Wouldnt have anything to do with the fact that FM volunteered to give Twitter a cut of the profits, now would it?Regardless of the inevitability of Twitter stealing whatever monetization idea works best and using it themself when they finallylaunch their own fee-ba sed servicethis year, ExecTweet provides a great business tool for both executives and their followers. For executives, Twitter allows them to interact with shareholders, users and customers in a less time-consuming fashion than traditional blogging. ExecTweets pulls the voices of the bigwigs(already including Amazon.coms Werner Vogels, Virgins Richard Branson and Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg) out of the mashup that is the Twitterverse and places theminone central, easy to find location, giving them extra exposure. For people trying to interact withexecutives, simply finding them on Twittercan bea bit of a hassle (or at least sorting the wheat from the executive chaff can be), so an aggregated site of the top business execs on Twitter and the best business-related tweets will make it simpler for them to find out what is on the minds of todays top businessmen.Readers will be invited to vote on the top tweets, recommend executives, view Top Links that show whatweb sites execs are referri ng to, and check outa Hot Topics sectionthat shows the most popular keywords being tweeted by executives.Mr. Sorenson, I believe youve found your answer.Posted by Steven Schiff, Vault News & Commentary

10 tips for making your next salary negotiation more productive

10 tips for making your next salary negotiation mora productive10 tips for making your next salary negotiation mora productiveNegotiations the worst part about an otherwise exciting moment- that is, receiving a job offer.It feels like playing professional mind games, with the nerve-wracking reality that your salary and work satisfaction depend on the outcomes. But done well, negotiating can double, triple, orevenquintupleyour income.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreUnfortunately, theres probably no way to make the process enjoyable, but you can at least work on making negotiations andrang more smoothly. Here are 10 tips for negotiating your salary during a job offer.1. Dont feel guilty about negotiatingFresh graduates and young professionals just entering the workforce may feel uneasy about negotiating for a higher compensation when they have little experience. It can feel awkwar d and uncomfortable, especially when you feel like youre coming across as greedy.However, you should know thatnegotiation is a natural and even expected part of the hiring process. Recruiters and hiring managers wont think less of you for negotiating, and they are by all means prepared for the process- its part of their jobsAnd, as Jorge Mata fromMoney Luchadorsays, At the very worst, employers will say no, but at least you still have a job. At best, youll get what you requested. Theres nothing to lose and everything to gain.2. Ask for time to consider an offerUnfortunately, the first (or even second) offer presented to you after a companys application and interview process may not live up to your expectations.While you may feel pressure to provide an immediate response, know that its okay toask for time to consider it further.Accepting a new full-time role is no small matter- and hiring managers know this. Its not at all unreasonable to request a few more days in order to reflect o n an offer and determine whether a new job is a good fit.Justbe sure not to disrespect the hiring manager or lead them on. If you know youd like to mull over the offer more thoroughly, let them know in advance rather than going radio silent.3. Do your researchTheres no way to better prepare yourself for negotiation than by doing research on the job market. You canleverage this information to make a more logical argumentas to why you deserve the amount you propose.Heres how to go about the research processLook at similar job postings for your role, which tend to list a baseline salary. How do these compare?Or, consult resources likeSalary,Payscale, andGlassdoorfor an idea of the average salary for your role and industry.Calculate the cost of living for the city in which the job is located.Will rent be higher?Is public transportation an option?Consider your current financial standing, including your debt and current income. What can you afford to accept?Remember that more effective co unteroffers come with well-based reasoning and support- thats why research is critical to the negotiation process.4. Beware of the anchoring biasHave you heard of the anchoring bias? Its the human tendency to rely a little too much on the first piece of information we get about something- what we consider the anchor.Applied to salary negotiations, this bias has very real consequences for the final number you receive.For instance, its common for recruiters and hiring managers to ask what your current salary is. This number functions as an anchor in that subsequent figures offered will tend to be quite close to it. If you reveal that you currently earn $54,000 a year, an employer might offer $58,000 even though they have room to pay you $65,000.With that in mind, you shouldavoid dropping the first numberduring salary negotiations- that includes sharing the details of your compensation elsewhere. This anchor often serves as the basis for how a company determines your value, and it acts as a reference point for the final number they offer.But how do you get out of saying a number?If an employer asks you for a number first, say you care about the entire benefits package and ask them what the salary band is for the role, Dillon fromDollar Revolutionadvises. If they ask you what you previously/currently make, say the role isnt apples to apples soits not a fair comparison to compare salaries,and youd be more comfortable if they told you a range and the factors that determine where you fall.Speaking from personal experience, Dillon shares, I was asked about my current salary and what I wanted over 15 times. But I kept repeating the same line backand ended up getting over 40% more than my previous job.5. Show what youre worthProspective employers wont be inclined to go along with your ask if they dont recognize your worth.Thats whyyou need to demonstrate your value as an employee.According toauthor and entrepreneurSandy Yong, you can do this by showing your accomplishme nts and quantifying how you helped your previous employer save money or generate more revenue.Try one or several of the following tactics to make your caseCompile a detailed list of your major work projects and professional contributions.Include quantified results and outcomes for more punch.Provide samples of your work. Just be sure not to include any private information about your current/former employers and clients.Emphasize your personal initiative and willingness to learnby describing any relevant certifications or professional development youve invested in and/or plan on pursuing.Avoid general statements that cant easily be substantiated, e.g., Ill be the best employee youve ever had or Ill work harder than anyone else in this role.6. Dont lie about your current salarySometimes theres just no easy way out of revealing how much you currently make.If this is the case for you,be honest.Lying about your current compensation as leverage for a higher salary offer may seem practical , but its dangerous territory. Employers can easily find out the truth through your W-2. Some companies even require filling out a job history form before you can even get to the interview stage.And if youre caught lying, employers wont look at you so favorably. In fact, although its generally rare foremployers to rescind job offers, a fib warrants such a move. Why?If youre willing to lie about your salary, theres no telling what youd lie about as a potential employee. Besides being unethical, lying reflects poorly on your character.7. Use the 10% rule of thumbStumped by how much more you should ask for?Keri Danielski, consumer finance expert and spokesperson forIntuits money management tools Turbo and Mint, advises asking for 10% more than what you are currently making, or what you are offered as a rule of thumb.According to Danielski, This will ensure that you dont come across as too greedy, but are confident in knowing what your work is worth.That said,its okay to ask for more th an 10%- but be prepared to back up your counteroffer with a clear argument for why you deserve it. That might be an outline of your research of similar roles or even a competing offer youve received elsewhere.8. Avoid bringing up personal issuesThe negotiation process is not the time or place to bring up issues like medical bills, debt, or relationship drama.Although your personal circumstances may be less than ideal, mentioning them reads negatively as asking for sympathy or pity. Its alsoviewed as unprofessional and may influence how hiring managers see you.Rather than bring up personal issues, focus instead on the value of your professional contributions as a bargaining tool.9. Negotiate on other things besides salaryAlthough we typically think of job negotiations as being salary-specific, the negotiation process encompasses more than your pay alone. In fact, your salarymakes up 70% of your total compensation, with the remaining 30% going towards other benefits.Some ofthe benefit s you can include in the negotiation processincludePaid time offGym/wellness reimbursementSigning bonusRelocation bonus or incentiveThe ability to work remotely for a few days a week or monthTuition reimbursementParental leave and childcare costsStock optionsMatching contributions to your retirement planEven if you cant get a signing bonus,negotiating for other perks can still pay off financially. For instance, if your employer agrees to let you work from home twice a week, you can reduce your commuting costs by more than 30% a monthIn my last corporate job, I negotiated my salary. They offered a number, I countered, and they said no to my offer,personal finance expertJon Dulin shares.I could have given up, but I decided to try again. This time, I asked for them to pay for my last two graduate degree courses ($5,000)- and they agreed It would have been nice to be earning more money every year, but having those last two classes paid for and not having to deal with a payment plan was great.10. Frame negotiation in positive, cooperative termsIn the story of your life, youre the protagonist, but you should know that the HR manager or recruiter youre negotiating with isnotthe antagonist.In other words, be nice. An adversarial outlook during negotiation will bring you unnecessary stress and may even reflect on you poorly.How can you help make the negotiation process as smooth and civil as possible?Be polite and receptive.Choose phrases that deliver your message clearly but not in a hostile manner.My concern is thatI would be more comfortable withOffer acknowledgment,particularly when disagreeing with something.I understand that its not possible to, but I feelExpress gratitude when appropriate.Thank you for taking the time to discuss my concerns further.I appreciate your patience inBesides easing the actual negotiation process, playing nice also helps to build your rapport with your future employer. If its a member of HR youre in talks with, you can get a positive st art with a colleague you may need assistance from in the future.ConclusionPersonal finance guides tend to emphasize spending less and saving more to improve your finances- but dont forget that earning more is also a big part of the equation. Thats why you should almost never settle for the first dollar amount handed to you with a job offer.Negotiating for a better paycheck may not be pleasant, but its crucial to living up to your maximum earning potential.Do you have any success stories for salary negotiations? What tips have worked best for you?This article first appeared on Financial Impulse.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

Pros and Cons of Enlisting in the Coast Guard

Pros and Cons of Enlisting in the Coast GuardPros and Cons of Enlisting in the Coast GuardThe Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the U.S. military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission (with jurisdiction in both domestic and international waters) and a federal regulatory agency mission as part of its mission set. Currently, the Coast Guard operates under theDepartment of Homeland Securityduring peacetime but can be transferred to the Department of the Navy by the president at any time, or by Congress during the time of war. The Coast Guards enduring roles are maritime safety, security, and stewardship. The Coast Guard motto is Semper Paratus, Always Ready. History of the Coast Guard Formerly, the Coast Guard welches part of the Department of Transportation, but soon after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Coast Guard roles were upgraded to a mora anti-terrorism and port protection as well as other lifesaving, sh ipping security, and drug interdiction duties. As one of the nations five armed services, the Coast Guard has been involved in every war from 1790 to Iraq and Afghanistan.It was officially established as the Revenue Marine by the Continental Congress at the request ofAlexander Hamilton. Its firstpurpose was to collect customs duties in the nations seaports. By the 1860s, the service was known as the United States Revenue Cutter tafelgeschirr. The Coast Guard was formed from the merger of the Revenue Cutter tafelgeschirr and the United States Life-Saving Service in 1915. Recruiting Environment for the Coast Guard The Coast Guard is one of the more difficult branches to join because it accepts far fewer new recruits than the other branches of the military. The Coast Guard requires a minimum of 54 points on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test, but you should do better in order to be competitive with fellow recruits. You will need a high school diploma or college deg ree.If you have a GED, it will probably be difficult to be accepted into the Coast Guard. You will have to undergo a credit check and pass a security clearance check.The Coast Guard generally approves the lowest rate ofcriminal history waiversandmedical waivers(in fact, it is the only branch for whicha shellfishallergy is a non-waiver-able condition). They inviteprior service applicantswith some rules and restrictions. Coast Guard Enlistment Incentives The Coast Guard offers a small variety of enlistment incentives to entice qualified applicants to join. They recommend discussing current incentives with a recruiting officer. The Coast Guard participates in the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which provides up to 36 months of education benefits for 15 years after your release from active duty. Like the other services, the Coast Guard offersadvanced enlistment rankup to E-3, for such things as college credits or JROTC. Coast Guard Job Opportunities The Coast Guard has 20enlisted jobs(calle d ratings) divided into 4 categories Deck Ordnance- Maritime Enforcement Specialists (ME), Boatswains Mate (BM), Gunners Mate (GM), Operations Specialist (OS), and Intelligence Specialist (IS).Hull and Engineering Damage Controlman (DC), Electricians Mate (EM), Electronics Technician (ET), Information System Technician (IT) and Machinery Technician (MK)Aviation Avionics Electrical Technician (AET), Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) and Aviation Survival Technician (AST)Administrative Scientific Food Service Specialist (FS), Health Services Technician (HS), Marine Science Technician (MST), Musician (MU),Public Affairs Specialist (PA), Storekeeper (SK) and Yeoman (YN) Coast Guard Basic Training The Coast Guard only has one location for enlistedbasic trainingCoast Guard Training Center Cape May in Cape May, New Jersey. You should know how to swim prior to joining the Coast Guard. All Coast Guard personnel must be able to jump off a 5-foot platform into a pool, swim 100 meter s, and tread water for five minutes. Specialized Training Units Helicopter Rescue Specialist (Search and Rescue Swimmer) that has a much more grueling test and training program to qualify with the additional exercises of pullups, underwater swims, buddy tows, and 500m swims. Maritime Security Response Team (MSRT) - The MSRT is the SWAT Team of the Coast Guard and the only unit within the Coast Guard that has counterterrorism capabilities. The MSRT is trained in direct action missions and to be the to be the first response to potential or actual terrorist threats. A similar test with higher standards is required for the MSRT recruits (12-minute swim, 1 1/2 mile run, pushups, situps). Coast Guard Assignments The Coast Guard has Installations, Bases, and Air Stations throughout the continental United States East Coast, Gulf Coast, Great Lakes and Pacific. Depending upon what type of ship a Coast Guardsman is assigned to, he/she could live on that ship, or on the base, if the ship i s not big enough to accompany the crew full time. Coast Guard personnel work with Assignment Officers to arrange assignments these individuals are in charge of all assignments for a particular job community and rank (rate) range. Typically, the factors that involve priority of assignments are the following Has the individual previously been assigned to a sea duty ort as a rated individualHas the individual been in the same geographic areaWhat is the individuals rank However, some ratings have a sea time requirement for advancement (your recruiter should have a list of which ratings require sea time).As well, like the rest of the branches, the Coast Guard has overseas assignments and special assignments (such as recruiting). Coast Guard Deployments The vast majority of Coast Guard deployments are at sea onCoast Guard ships. Just as with the Navy, if you dont want to deploy on ships or submarines, dont join the Coast Guard.Like the Navy, the larger ships are small cities and can deploy overseas. As with members of the other Reserve Components, Coast Guard men and women are subject to involuntary mobilization under Title 10 for national security contingencies. However, unlike members of the other Reserve Components, Coast Guard Reservists can also be involuntarily mobilized for up to 60 days at a time for domestic contingencies, including natural disasters and terrorist attacks. Promotions in the Coast Guard Individuals enlisting in the Coast Guard can receiveadvanced promotion, up to therank(rate) of Seaman (E-3), for such things as college credits, JROTC, Eagle Scout, Civil Air Patrol, etc. Coast Guard Enlisted are promoted to E-2 after the completion of boot camp, and while advancement to E-3 is virtually automatic, an E-2 is has certain performance qualifications and nonresident exams required before a recruit is eligible. In addition, members must have their commanding officers approval and 6 months time-in-grade (TIG) or have completed technical tr aining to qualify for E-3. (in some cases you may also be eligible to advance to E-3 upon graduation from boot camp based on either enlisting for 6 years, or prior military experience.) In addition, some ratings have a sea time requirement for advancement. Enlisted Commissioning Programs in the Coast Guard Like the other services, the Coast Guard offers a chance for qualified enlisted sailors to finish college and earn a commission as a Coast Guard Officer. The advancement programs can change over time as they need more or fewer of different officer specialties.