Vacationing somewhere new has surprising mental benefits

Vacationing somewhere new has surprising mental benefitsVacationing somewhere new has surprising mental benefitsDo you vacation in the same quaint town in Maine every year? Love that Florida timeshare? Try going someplace different next year, suggests psychologist Todd B. Kashdan in the Harvard Business Review.There are significant mental benefits to changing the scenery, he writes, especially considering far too many geschftsleben and personal trips are designed to maximize comfort and minimize uncertainty.Kashdans insights about exploring which he says leads to greater emotional agility, increased empathy, and creativity were sparked by a trip to Sri Lanka and Thailand, but theyre also all backed up by research.Heres what can happen when you trade your yearly ski trip for Fiesole.Emotional agilityhis refers to the ability not to react immediately, but instead observe your thoughts and rationally plan the best course of action. By spending time in unfamiliar towns, cities, or coun tries, you become tolerant and even accepting of your own discomfort and more confident in your ability to navigate ambiguous situations, Kashdan writes.Increased empathyIn a study of 485 Americans cited by the article, those who had traveled to other countries demonstrated a greater ability to hold off on judging a person until theyd learned more information about them beyond basic surface data like age, gender, or race.CreativitySeveral studies confirmed that international travel leads to higher creativity. Researchers in Singapore found that unusual herausforderung solving was linked to exposure to other cultures and not just travel. Studying languages, eating food and listening to music from other countries, and having international buddies also counted.You dont have to go to Thailand to experience the growth of inhabiting a new place for a while either, writes Kashdan. Different cities and towns also count as long as its a new place where the people there arent just like you. The locale need only to be exotic to yourself. The place outside your comfort zone may be much closer than you think.

6 lessons to learn from negative feedback on your blog

6 lessons to learn from negative feedback on your blog6 lessons to learn from negative feedback on your blogDont let a couple of negative comments bring you down. Use behauptung tips to deal with the internet trolls.A little blood, sweat, and tears go into each article you write whether its for your job, as a guest contributor, or for a personal blog. So its easy to take it personally when these pieces you worked so hard on get overrun with comments by people critiquing your two cents, the way you delivered it, and even who you are as a person.At first, the influx of criticism may make you feel helpless, but dont be discouraged - any feedback, even hateful comments, is a sign that your article intrigued readers and perhaps even ruffled a few feathers, which is every writers goal. So the next time this happens to you, take a deep breath, and remember these six tips to help you cope with criticism on your beloved blog.Fight the urge to fight backIts no secret that people are more com fortable being outspoken when their identity is hidden behind their computer screen. I can guarantee that alfruchtwein every person who leaves a rude comment on your blog post would never dream of saying something so nasty to your face, despite the mistakes you may or may notlage have made in your article.Whatever you do, it is crucial that you do not respond to rude, superficial comments only written to dishearten you. If readers comment with relevant questions about your article, feel free to answer them, but never address an insult. If more than one reader asks (politely) about a point you perhaps didnt explain clearly enough, feel free to clear up any misconceptions that might change the content or purpose of your article.Know that you might see more hate than loveThe people who feel most compelled to comment are usually the ones who didnt appreciate your work. The ones who enjoyed it probably dont feel the urge to share their thoughts. Unfortunately, your dissatisfied customers are the most outspoken its a fact of life. But you were confident enough in your piece to put your name on it and publish it. You know its good, most of your readers know its good, but you unfortunately might miss out on some much-needed compliments.Try not to focus on the negativity - I promise that for every reader who bashes your post, there are multiple people who loved it but didnt share their opinion with you. A very wise career coach once told me that in a popular blog, negative comments are virtually inevitable - if people put in the effort to be mean to you or rationalize why you messed up, youve made it.Dont delete it just because it bothers youIf you wish to delete comments written by others, thats up to you. Youre definitely free to delete anything slanderous or not pertaining to the articles subject, but if you delete every criticism, youre discouraging all feedback (even helpful feedback).It may be tempting to say goodbye to that slightly condescending, nit-picky pa ragraph forever, but how else will you learn from your mistakes ?Consider that they might be rightEhhh sorry Charlie, but your readers might have a point. While you shouldnt obsess over rude responses, try not to totally tune out criticism - most people dont have the creativity or wont put in the effort to make something up completely out of thin air. Its likely that if multiple people mention the same flaw in your article, you probably didnt present the point you were trying to make properly.Dont be intimidated by your mistake. Just correct yourself by responding to those who respectfully inquired about the mix-up or inaccuracy. Be sure you thank them for their interest in your work.Dont dwell on the negativesIn addition to attacking your writing, some people will personally attack you using any information provided - including your photo or byline. These people are exceptionally cruel, and deserve an eternal bad hair day for being so rude to you when you were just trying to help or entertain them.Try not to let these people phase you. Remember that some people are practically pros at spamming blog posts with derogatory content. Its possible to find a reason to bring down anyone - and some are experts at detecting a weakness just by looking at a headshot or reading a short author bio. Please dont be deterred by such unoriginal, hastily-crafted put-downs.Never stop writingAt the risk of sounding cheesy, dont let a few rain clouds block your sunshine. Most likely, youll have some good Samaritans come to your rescue and defend your writing honor in the comments - those are the readers you know youve really influenced Thats difficult to do, so take immense pride when this happens. It proves that, just how you liked what you wrote and thought it contained valuable information, others agree with you.One last thing, bloggersAs a final note, keep in mind that most things boil down to a matter of opinion A topic youre interested in, a song you love, another articl e you think is brilliant - someone else will detest all those things.If readers comment with conflicting opinions on your topic in an appropriate manner, pat yourself on the back Debate on your post is a sign that its thought-provoking and worth discussing further. Just make sure youre not responding to readers who posted a comment with foul language or mentioned anything about you (not just your content or fantastic writing style).Remember that the people writing negative comments are not your enemies, but internet surfers who might be bored, in a bad mood or just unpleasant people in general. If people are commenting, theyre reading. Do you know what would be way, way worse? If no one read what you wrote. So start brainstorming your next idea, and give everyone even more to talk about

Customize this Outstanding Contract Manager Resume Template

Customize this Outstanding Contract Manager Resume TemplateCustomize this Outstanding Contract Manager Resume TemplateContract Manager Resume Template WritingCreate Resume An effective resume is one that answers the question whats in it for me for the hiring manager or employer who happens to be reading it. Ideally, your resume content should be presented in a way that allows for the quick absorption of key facts and unique reasons to consider you for the job. If youre not sure where to start, use the following Contract Manager resume template as a basis for your own eye-catching resume.Resume Template for Contract ManagerSergio HarringtonProfessional SummaryOutcome-based Contract Manager with a natural talent for assessing the needs of all involved parties to facilitate contract negotiations and compliance. Strong emphasis on scheduling milestones, resolving disputes, adhering to contractual time frames and deadlines and addressing related permitting and regulatory issues. Build po sitive relationships and drive mutually beneficial interactions through strong leadership and productive communications.Core QualificationsBid evaluationsContract negotiationsIndustry standards and regulationsProject feasibility analysisCost evaluationStatistical data analysisExperienceContract Manager, March 2015 PresentA.J. Styles Construction Services, New Cityland, CAHelp clients visualize the entire project to better assess needs before finalizing contracts.Coordinate with all involved parties to ensure that contract terms and adhered to as specified.Provide practical solutions to unexpected delays or scheduling issues possible interfering with contractual obligations.Project Manager, January 2012 February 2015Giles Construction, New Cityland, CAManaged multiple construction projects by efficiently delegating responsibility and implementing effective communication policies.Supervised, coordinated and directed field work while quickly resolving problems with deliveries and reg ulatory compliance.Developed a respectable track record for consistently staying within allocated project budgets.Education2011 Bachelor of Science, Business ManagementUniversity of California, New Cityland, CACustomize Resume

Poster Entries Being Accepted for the Next ASME Society-Wide Micro Nano Technology Forum

Poster Entries Being Accepted for the Next ASME Society-Wide Micro Nano Technology Forum Poster Entries Being Accepted for the Next ASME Society-Wide Micro Nano Technology Forum The ASME Nanoengineering Council is now accepting poster submissions for the next ASME Society-Wide Micro Nano Technology Forum, to be held during the Societys 2013 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition from Nov. 15â€"21 in San Diego, Calif. The Society-Wide Micro Nano Technology Forum, which has been a highlight of the Congress for the past 11 years, is designed to bring together ASME members and others from different disciplines and divisions with a focus on micro and nanotechnology. Last years Forum featured more than 200 posters and drew more than 500 attendees, according to Stuart Williams, assistant professor at the University of Louisville and chair of the Forum. Students and post-docs are invited to submit abstracts for their posters in the categories of Materials, Bioengineering, Applied Mechanics, Fluids, Micro-electromechanical Systems (MEMS), Electronic and Photonic Packaging (EPPD), and Heat Transfer. These submissions will compete for best poster awards - honors that come with cash prizes - as well as a certificate signed by the ASME president. This event is a great opportunity for applicants to have their work seen by an award selection panel comprising leaders from academia, industry, and government funding agencies. For this years Forum, two Divisions - EPPD and MEMS - have pledged to provide cash prizes for top posters. Attendees this year will see a variety of innovative work across many disciplines - including biology, nanomaterials, micro-fluid dynamics, and energy systems, Williams said. The Forum provides an opportunity for presenters to showcase their work, help maximize its exposure, and network with top colleagues in the field. Williams is organizing the forum along with Ronggui Yang of the University of Colorado at Boulder and Vikas Prakash of Case Western Reserve University. If youre interested in participating in the Society-Wide Micro Nano Technology Forum, submit a one-page abstract of your poster - including title, authors and affiliations - to the Congress website, Track 16-16 between April 29 and June 10. For more information, contact Christine Reilley, ASME Emerging Technologies, at reilleyc@asme.org.

Verb Thats Whats Happening!

Verb That’s What’s Happening! Verb That’s What’s Happening! Catch recruiters’ eyes with superhero action verbs that describe your career accomplishments.Readers roughly my age will probably remember this installment in the “Schoolhouse Rock” series of musical animations about grammar rules.In the “Verb” sequence, a superhero uses action words to describe amazing feats. By the same token, resume writers can harness the power of grammar to convey memorably a job seeker’s career accomplishments.To score you an interview, the modern resume must be tuned to survive challenges from multiple sources. As we’ve described elsewhere, it needs to present the right keywords in the right context to satisfy basic screening requirements (often checked by software, not people). At the same time, it needs to catch human eyes already strained by dozens of other, competing resumes.As professional resume writers told Lisa Vaas, verbs can make it happen on the human side of the equation.Get your thing in action!

Everything You Need to Know About References for Your Job Search

Everything You Need to Know About References for Your Job Search Everything You Need to Know About References for Your Job Search Everything You Need to Know About References for Your Job Search Nervous about compiling a list of professional references? Don't be. Reference checks are an expected part of the hiring process. In practice, they range from cursory check-the-box exercises to an in-depth set of interviews with people who are not on your reference list. Under the best of circumstances, it can be difficult to know what to expect. Even if you have enjoyed good working relationships with your references, you can never be completely certain they won't say something that might damage your chances of getting a job. A glowing recommendation can make the hiring decision; a non-enthusiastic one hurt your candidacy. Would you like some strategies around professional references? Here are 10 ideas to keep in mind. Related:Free Job-Search Tools Every Job Seeker Needs 1. The answer to Can we contact your former manager? is always Yes. Regardless of how well you worked together, saying that you don't want your former manager contacted is a red flag to your potential employer. In their eyes, it implies that the employmentreference won't be positive, or that you had lied about your position. Don't say No because you don't want to bother a busy professional. Whether or not your former manager chooses to take the call is up to them, but don't hurt your chances by making this decision for them. To be clear, the situation is completely different if the hiring manager wants to speak with your current boss. In that case, it is appropriate to hold off until you have an offer (the hiring manager can make it contingent upon references). 2. Should you be concerned if the company policy is to only confirm dates of employment? I hear this question frequently. Limiting disclosed information to dates of employment is a stated policy in many companies, put in place to protect managers from libel lawsuits. In theory, the policy allows the hiring manager to verify that you were truthful about having worked at that companybut tells him nothing about your performance. If a past manager cannot sing your praises because of a company-wide ban on discussing performance with a third party, does that hurt your candidacy? 3. Your manager is a stronger professional reference than your peers. You have your choices when it comes to the names you list as references. Keep in mind that your direct manager makes a stronger reference than your peers. Because they supervised your work, they can speak to your ability to take feedback, and to your overall performance in the categories that matter most to your job description. Your peers cannot do that, as they only interact with you in a lateral way. 4. The right time to offer references is when you're asked for them. Don't volunteer this information on the first interview, or any time before you are asked. Think of your professional references as a valuable limited resource. You want to be able to give them specific notice of an upcoming call (ideally, with a general description of the company and the position you are interviewing for). That way, they can be prepared to offer specific examples that would be most relevant and impactful to showcase you in the best light. Holding back the professional reference list until it is requested also allows you to be respectful of the time your past managers and colleagues will have to spend fielding calls. Some recruiters make reference check calls before you even become a serious candidate, or use the names to expand their own marketing list both practices can hurt your professional relationships. 5. Should you warn your references? Yes, absolutely. Send a quick email or make a call to let them know that you have given their name as an employment reference. 6. Isn't a job offer that is contingent on a reference check with your current manager risky? Yes. It is possible that a poor or even a lukewarm reference can lead your prospective employer to reconsider the offer. What can you do to minimize the risk? First of all, push back if there is not an actual offer on the table. A thumbs-up, a double wink or an I have a good feeling about this statement from your recruiter does not count. If the prospective employer insists on a professional reference check before the offer, you can volunteer other references first, but keep your current manager off-limits until the offer is firm. Make sure the negotiations are complete and the details of the offer are ironed out. In a perfect world, all that should be left is the reference check and your acceptance. At that point, give your current manager advance warning. Be professional and honest, but don't resign until you have accepted the offer. There is good news in this for you. In my experience, an offer contingent on employment reference checks means that the checks are likely to be cursory. The prospective employer typically wants to be sure you have not misrepresented major facts. 7. What do you do when you need personal references? Don't use your family or relatives. Consider listing your landlord, someone at the organization where you are volunteering, a fellow player in a local sports league, a professor (if your graduation is fairly recent) or a fellow student. The goal of a personal reference is to demonstrate that you are a decent human being. 8. Is there a guarantee that the prospective employer will limit the calls to your reference list? No. They can call anyone. In fact, savvy recruiters will check on companies that you have obviously omitted from your vetted list. They may have their own networks in your old company, so don't expect that they will just call the two people you have listed. A big takeaway from this is, don't burn bridges. Even if you don't think you will ever use that particular manager as a professional reference, don't get cavalier about it. 9. What questions can the hiring manager ask your reference? Anything, as long as it's not protected information such as race, disability, religion, national origin, and age. They can ask about your strengths and weaknesses, the details of why you left, how well you received feedback, and whether they would hire you back if they could. 10. What do you do when a reference you thought would be positive turns negative? This is a difficult one. You thought you had a great working relationship, the performance reviews had been good, but for some reason, the former manager gives you a less than enthusiastic endorsement (or an outright negative one). What do you do? The most constructive strategy is to let it go unless your former manager had misrepresented your performance. He is entitled to his opinion, even if you disagree with it. You may be feeling hurt and blindsided, and those feelings are completely valid. There just isn't a lot you can do once the reference has been given. Even if it has cost you a great opportunity, be gracious and professional with the prospective employer. If you had a good relationship and want to attempt to change the outcome of future reference conversations, you may consider speaking with your former manager. Let them know that their reference is hurting your ability to get an offer, and see if there is a middle ground you might reach. There is no guarantee that they will agree, but it may be worth the try in certain circumstances. In the end, making the most of your employment references is about being an asset to the company you are with, and making smart decisions about timing while you are going through the interview process for your new opportunity. Be professional, say thank you, and do your best to leave your position better than you had found it. If you are going to quit, do so with integrity. Malicious and sociopathic managers aside, doing those things consistently will assure you a good reference: She is fantastic! We wish we could keep her, but since we cannot, you should definitely hire her. Click on the following link for more job-search advice. Recommended Reading: Positive Professional References Are a Powerful Tool How to Choose the Best References for Your Job Search How to Keep a Bad Reference From Ruining Your Career Related Articles:

Hired! Steering Away from the Auto Industry Crisis

Hired! Steering Away from the Auto Industry Crisis Hired! Steering Away from the Auto Industry Crisis Platform manager leaves Detroit’s auto industry and lands director of quality job in Missouri.With the auto industry going through drastic changes, Will Scruggs knew it was time to start thinking about how his skills as a manager at an auto components company would transfer to a new industry. He also knew that he might have to take those skills outside the Detroit area.While he enjoyed his job as a platform manager at International Automotive Component near Detroit, the OpsLadder member said his wife and he had already talked about relocating for a job if the right opportunity came along. “That way it wouldn’t be such a deep soul search for us. We would have already talked about it,” he said. “I think when you are looking for a job, you need to think about relocation as part of the process.”“My wife is a pharmacist, so her job is portable,” Scruggs said. “Knowing that helped us feel good about moving to a different part of the country.”The decision to leave the au tomotive industry was based on “a lot of little things happening that, taken together, pushed me to start looking around,” he said. “Last September, I was directly tied with Chrysler, and there was a lot of downsizing there. Car sales were getting worse and worse. I needed to do something different; not go back to school, but look at other industries and other companies where there would be opportunities,” he said.Scruggs’ search was twofold: One, he was looking at other regions of the country to which his family would be willing to relocate, and two, he was looking at jobs based on his skill set, not his industry. “It wasn’t easy to go about,” he said. “I looked at several hundred job postings before I found jobs that I was interested in, that were located in areas of the country we felt we could move to. I saw a lot of postings that were related to the automotive field, and I did not want to go back to that.”Scruggs was sure of one other thing: He needed help r e-writing his resume, so he had a professional service do it. “I went to a technical school, so I didn’t have to write,” he joked. “The way they described me to me, they used adjectives that I haven’t used since I was studying for the SATs. It was updated, concise, professional, and I immediately said, ‘That’s money well-spent.’ ”Switching industries By mid-October, armed with a new resume and a better idea of the job landscape, Scruggs was ready to go into full job-search mode. Still, he was very selective. If he saw a posting he liked, he would do a search on the company and decide if it was worth sending a resume to. “I was using all the tools that were available to find out more about these companies,” he said. “There were a lot of postings that I thought I was qualified for, but after researching the companies, decided not to apply. A lot of them were tied to the automotive industry, and I didn’t want to stay with it.“I did enjoy my job,” he said, and if it weren’t for what he sees happening in the auto industry, he wouldn’t be looking to leave. Ironically, he said, about the time he started posting resumes he was moved to another program at his company, where there was a growth path. “But it was limited,” he said. “It was not enough in this economy.”So Scruggs continued posting resumes, and in the en d applied for five jobs at companies located in Colorado, Michigan, Massachusetts and Missouri. By late December, his membership at Ladders had resulted in a phone interview with DTMP, a heavy-equipment manufacturing company in Lebanon, Mo. In mid-February, he was flown to its headquarters for an in-person interview, and by early March, he was hired.In his new position, as director of quality and engineering, he’ll be performing many of the same tasks he did in his previous position, while adding some aspects of manufacturing quality. “It’s a significantly smaller company,” he said. “But it has good growth potential, more potential for experience. It’s what I like to do: planning and management. I think it will be an easy transition. We will be designing parts and making parts, and instead of going on a car, they will go on a tractor or a combine.”It’s personal There was a bonus to taking this job, Scruggs said; In Missouri, he will be moving closer to his parents. “It was a factor in choosing this job,” he said. It was something that had been on his mind, he said; he thought about his parents getting older and more support from family. Scruggs said he knows of other people that have had to move because of a medical emergency, and he’s glad that with this move, he’s now close enough that he won’t be put in that position. “We’re moving on our own terms, not because of a situation that would force us to scramble,” he said.Being proactive about his work and personal life has put him in a place where he said he feels comfortable in an uneasy economy. “People outside of southeast Michigan cannot even imagine how bad it is [in the Detroit area],” he said. “It’s a difficult atmosphere here; unemployment is at 11 percent, and it’s personal. You go to a Cub Scout meeting, and two of the 12 dads don’t have jobs. Some peopl e are tied to the area. I’m glad I am able to leave on my own terms.”