Dont Go It Alone in Your Job Search

Dont Go It Alone in Your Job SearchDont Go It Alone in Your Job SearchDont Go It Alone in Your Job SearchBrian Ray (pictured) is founder of Crossroads Career Network, a national, non-profit membership of churches that provides online job search/ career resources and access to career groups. He is also author of the 2010 Crossroads Career Workbook, owner of Primus Consulting executive search, and former vice president for human resources and administration for Chick-fil-A restaurants.Recently, I saw the movie Up in the Air for a second time.While the movie focuses on Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) and his unencumbered lifestyle as a frequent-flying corporate downsizer, the backdrop of the film is the more than 15 million laid-off workers. It reveals the shock and emotional hit of being jobless, up in the air, and all alone.No, wait It doesnt have to be that way.One morning last month, I went to North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, GA, and saw 200-plus people meeting and greeting one another at a career group event. The volunteer leader, Peter Bourke, invited people to sit at one of 30 round tables.Most jobs that get filled are not posted publicly, Peter began. Most are filled through networking. Networking, however, is really hard without relationships. That is why we are here today. Here you can meet people, make friends, start relationships, and help one another.As he continued, he outlined three rules to help you succeed at networkingThe 3-Foot Rule If you get within three feet of anyone, you are obligated to share your career transition experience with them.The Help-Others-First Rule If youre wondering who can help you find leads, turn your thinking around and adopt a new mindset Who can I help?The Have-a-Weekly-Plan Rule Each week, be prepared to talk about the job and the employers you seek, including a list of the top five organizations you want to network with. Know (and ask for) the help you needwhether its contacts, intelligence about an employer , or encouragement to keep going.We quickly moved on to a facilitated conversation around each table. Each person had 10 minutes to describe the opportunity they wanted and the help they needed. Others offered suggestions, and shared phone numbers and email addresses. A few days later, I sent an email introducing an HR director from our group looking for a contact in a specific company to a friend of mine who is a VP in that company. Thats the power of career groups, contacts, relationships, and personal referralsBack to the movie Up in the Air ended with video clips of people who were unemployed, talking about their career transitions and the power of relationships.The moral of the story? Career transition is NOT a journey you should make alone. Take the trip with others. Consider it a team effort in which we help one another with contacts, counsel, encouragement, and accountability. Find career groups near you. Be prepared, reach out, and help others through their crossroads.Have you joined a career group recently? Has the experience helped you? Tell us about it in a comment below.

Engineering Spotlight Hanan Altabbakh

Engineering Spotlight Hanan Altabbakh Engineering Spotlight Hanan Altabbakh Engineering Spotlight Hanan AltabbakhHanan Altabbakh is an engineering graduate student at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, MO working on zu sich Ph.D. in Engineering Management with an emphasis on risk assessment. She holds a B.S. degree in Industrial and Management Systems Engineering from Kuwait University and a M.S. in Engineering Management from Missouri ST.I chose industrial engineering and engineering management since both fields combine technical as well as managerial aspects of running an organization. It also prepares young engineers to be motivating leaders and successful decision makers as they are capable of managing various disciplines due to their acquired skills and knowledge during their education.Prior to starting her graduate academic journey, she worked for the Ministry of Education in Kuwait as a Safety Engineer.Hanans current research is focused on applying various risk assessment tools and accident causation models to analyze accidents in sociotechnical systems. She credits Dr. Susan Murray, her advisor, for providing continuous guidance and support for all of her research and academic progress.In her latest research paper with contributing authors Dr. Murray and Dr. Katie Grantham, she won first place in the 2012 ASME SERAD competition. Towards Quantifying the Safety Cognition in the Undergraduate, examines safety training exposure and knowledge within young engineers involved in engineering competition teams and potential causes that prevent young engineers from making appropriate decision from a safety prospective. The research showed that young engineers have been receiving informal safety training, which is often ineffective, and do notlage always assure positive safety attitude or safety performance, which reflected in their attitude in schools workshops or labs.When asked, about why engineers should care about safety/risk analysis, Ha nan said, Considering both safety and risk assessment in different stages of any research or project it is essential to prevent accidents by designing for safer systems/products. In addition, identifying hazards and assessing risk at early stages, such as the conceptual stages, will definitely reduce, if not eliminate, undesired cost of adding safety controls as the system/product progress. In her experience, Hanan has discovered that every task and activity has a safety and risk analysis component and she strongly advocates that young engineers be exposed more to formal safety training and education within their undergraduate education. I hope that safety education and training will be parte of college education since these young engineers will be future managers and decision makers who will play a major role in establishing a safety climate within their organization. Hence, it will positively influence the employees safety performance. Hanans ultimate goals as an engineer over the next few years will be to explore more risk assessment tools that can both analyze accidents causation and prevent them from happening in complex system that involve human, machines and environment.Her advice for other early career engineers and students, Dont stop seeking knowledge after graduating from college do more research and read what others have contributed to different fields. Try to participate in conferences and forums that enhance your skills. Try to keep yourself up to date with new ideas or technologies concerned with safety and risk assessment. Once you are part of an organization, always be prepared for a good change to achieve quality and dont be an Anchor dragger. Safety is an essential part of the ultimate quality.

Busyness and the lack of margin in our lives

Busyness and the lack of margin in ur livesBusyness and the lack of margin in ur livesOne of the most common maladies in the 21st century is living lives that feel stressed and chronically overwhelmed. We are busy, tired, and we feel stretched there always landseems to be mora to do than we have time or energy.When demands appear to be greater than ur resources, the result in our lives is stress. We feel stressed in different areas of life time, physical and emotional energy, relational demands and finances. Stress then displays itself in our lives in a variety of ways irritability, anxiety, not eating well, poor sleep habits, not exercising regularly, making hasty (and usually, poor) decisions.A number of years ago, Dr. Richard Swenson wrote a wonderful book entitled, Margin Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives where he convincingly demonstrates how not leaving extra space in our lives (with our time, energy and finances) creates significa nt, but predictable stress for us.The concept of margin is based on the premise that it is wise to leave space in our lives to deal with the unexpected or unplanned events that may arise. This is in contrast with our tendency to pack our schedule full, or (as some people frame it) to make the most of our time.Just in case you need an example, in daily life, let me cite a coupleWorking full days, plus filling the evenings with meetings or activities (kids sports, etc.), and then having a full schedule of activities for the weekend. Repeat this pattern over several weeks until you either become exhausted or sick.Stretching the budget to buy a little nicer house, in a neighborhood with good schools stretching things a bit further to have the kids in private school or in numerous sports and lessons and then splurging a bit to spring for that nice vacation that you really cant afford but the kids are only young once.The problem is life is interrupted by the unexpected. If we plan and sc hedule our days, weeks and lives with no room for the unexpected, then the stress in our lives dramatically escalates when the unexpected occurs.So what types of things often occur in daily life that we havent learned to expect?traffic jam on the way to an important appointmentthe printer breaks down before a critical presentationone of your children gets sicka major client calls with a problem.Other common needs for margin (but less daily and more seasonal)getting sick, having an auto accident, or the car breaks downfamily events illness, death, accidentstechnology breakdowns computer/pad, phone, websiteweather travel delays, flooding, blizzards, tornadoes, hurricanesglobal national events terrorism, war, economic meltdowns.The likelihood of one or more of these events happening in the near future is actually fairly high (although we cannot predict which ones specifically). Interestingly, there are also positive events in our lives that place demands on our resources and suck up our margin weddings, births, graduations, moving, professional opportunities. So it is not always negative events that create stress in our lives.The Results of Living Without MarginWhat happens when we continue to live in a manner that doesnt leave room for the unexpected? Pretty obvious results, actually increased stress, irritability, tension, poor communication, relational conflict, being chronically late, missing important events, not being adequately prepared for meetings, poor quality work, frustration and anger, guilt, loss of sleep, depression.Why Do We Do It?If we have a fairly good idea that there will be unexpected events in our lives that will take additional time, energy and money to deal with, why dont we allow for them? I think there are different reasons for different people (or at different times in our lives). The following isnt an exhaustive list, but is a startUnrealistic expectations about life. Believing that life will continue to go on as it has, without dis ruption.Being fearful and anxious about the future, which drives a frenetic pace to do as much as you can today (the you can never save enough syndrome).A pleasure and stimulation seeking approach to life some people live for excitement and adrenaline. They also often have an inability to enjoy inactivity, peace, or just to rest.Survival. Although this is not true for most of us, there are people who have to work long hours (both for money and at home) just to provide for themselves and their families.Other negative driving factors in our lives workaholism, greed, excessive desire for achievement.How Do We Start to Change (and Live a More Sane Life?)Change starts with awareness and acceptance of a problem. If we dont think how we are living creates problems for us, our family or our business, then we wont change. So it might be wise to start with an honest appraisal. Take a look at your life and see if the occurrence of unexpected events are fairly common in your life and create s tress because you dont allow space in your life to deal with them.Next, pull out your calendar for the next week and month. Are there any unscheduled blocks of time (during the workday, evenings, weekends) or is your calendar already packed? In what arenas of your life do you tend to live close to the edge? With your time? Finances? Physical and emotional energy? Take stock of the beliefs that push you to live without margin. Develop a plan to explore and correct the distortions you have.Remember, we were not designed to live life under constant, unrelenting pressure. Take a deep breath. Look around you and identify something that is beautiful. Take a walk and enjoy the outdoors. Pause and give thanks for the good things in your life. And put some time in your schedule to do nothingRecently, in the closing session of the Recognition Professionals International conference, I talked aboutbusynessand how it is one of the major threats to healthy workplaces today. For more information a bout reducing busyness in the workplace, see my bookThe Vibrant Workplace, where I devote a whole chapter to the issue.This article was originally published on Appreciation at Work.

AZ Human Resources and Management Acronyms

AZ menschlich Resources and Management AcronymsAZ Human Resources and Management AcronymsHave you ever spoken to a Human Resources practitioner and had trouble understanding various portions of the conversation? Learning and understanding Human Resources and management acronyms and abbreviations is a challenge. As in any other occupation, people familiar with the field start talking in abbreviations because its easy and familiar- they do it out of habit, unaware the other rolle doesnt know what theyre saying. It can sound as if theyre speaking in a foreign language. If you work in manufacturing, you know what I mean. Youll toss about the term QC (Quality Control) as though its in the dictionary. With this in mind, the following acronyms are common HR and management lingo. A AAP Affirmative Action PlanAARP American Association of Retired PersonsABM Activities Based ManagementADA The Americans With Disabilities ActADD Accidental Death DismembermentADEA Age Discrimination in Employ ment ActADL Activities of Daily LivingAE Account ExecutiveAFL-CIOAmerican Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial OrganizationsAFSCMEAmerican Federation of State, County, and Municipal EmployeesAJB Americas Job BankANSIAmerican National Standards InstituteAP Accounts Payable APR Annual Percentage RateAR Accounts ReceivableATD Association for Talent Development (formerly ASTD American Society for Training and Development)AWOL Absent Without Leave B B2B Business to BusinessB2C Business to ConsumerBA Bachelor of ArtsBBBBetter Business BureauBCPBusiness Continuity PlanBS Bachelor of ScienceBC/R Benefits Cost/RatioBLS Bureau of Labor StatisticsBOD Board of DirectorsBU Bargaining Unit C CCLCenter for Creative LeadershipCCPCertified Compensation ProfessionalCEBSCertified Employee Benefits SpecialistCEO Chief Executive OfficerCFOChief Financial OfficerCHROChief Human Resources OfficerCIO Chief Investment Officer, Chief Information OfficerCMOChief Marketing OfficerCOOChief Ope rating OfficerCSOChief Security OfficerCOBClose of BusinessCEUContinuing Education UnitCAI Computer Assisted InstructionCBT Computer-Based TestingCOBRA Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act CTOCompensatory Time OffCPEContinuing Professional EducationCOLACost of Living AdjustmentCVstudienplan Vitae D DOB Date of BirthDOIDate of InjuryDO Directors and OfficersDB Defined BenefitDBPP Defined Benefit Pension PlanDCPPDefined Contribution Pension PlanDOL Department of LaborDOJ Department of JusticeDOT Dictionary of Occupational Titles, Department of TransportationDWDislocated WorkerDBA Doing Business AsDINKSDual Income No KidsDRPDisaster Recovery Plan E EBT Earnings Before TaxesEAP Employee Assistance ProgramEBSA Employee Benefits Security AdministrationEBOEmployee BuyoutEDT Electronic Data Processing, Employee Development PlanEE EmployeeEIN Employer Identification NumberEI Employee InvolvementEI Emotional IntelligenceEPLIEmployment Practices Liability InsuranceERISAEmploy ee Retirement Income Security ActESOEmployee Stock OptionESOPEmployee Stock Option PlanEOD End of DayEOY End of YearEEO Equal Employment OpportunityEEOC Equal Employment Opportunity Commission EPA Equal Pay Act, Environmental Protection Agency F FCRAFair Credit Reporting ActFEPFair Employment PracticeFLSA Fair Labor Standards ActFMLA Family Medical Leave ActFEIN Federal Employment Identification NumberFUTAFederal Unemployment Tax ActFSA Flexible Spending Account (Healthcare)FAQFrequently Asked QuestionsFTFull TimeFTEFull-Time Equivalent G GATBGeneral Aptitude Test BatteryGEDGeneral Equivalency DiplomaGPHR Global Professional in Human ResourcesGTLGroup Term Life Insurance H HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996HMO Health Maintenance OrganizationHCE Highly Compensated EmployeeHCM Human Capital ManagementHPT Human Performance TechnologyHR Human Resources, Human ResourceHRCI HR Certification InstituteHRD Human Resources Development, Human Resource DevelopmentHRIS Human Resources Information SystemHRM Human Resources Management, Human Resource ManagementHRMS Human Resources Management SystemHSA Health Savings Account I IRCA Immigration Reform and Control ActIRS Internal Revenue Service J JD Job Description, Juris DoctorateJTPAJob Training Partnership Act (Now theWorkforce Investment Act of 1998.)OAJoint Operating AgreementJSSAJury Selection and Service Act K KPI Key Performance IndicatorKPM Key Performance MeasuresKSA Knowledge, Skills, or Abilities L LOA Leave of AbsenceLOS Length of ServiceLMS Learning Management SystemLR Labor RelationsLTC Long-Term CareLTD Long-Term DisabilityLWOP Leave Without PayLWP Leave with Pay M MA Merger AcquisitionMBO Management by ObjectivesMBTI Myers-Briggs Type IndicatorMHPA Mental Health Parity ActMOP Measure of PerformanceMQ Minimum Qualifications N NE Non-ExemptNLRB National Labor Relations BoardNEO New Employee Orientation O OSHAOccupational Safety and Health Ad ministrationOOH Occupational Outlook HandbookOPM Office of Personnel ManagementOMBOffice of Management and BudgetOJTOn-The-Job-TrainingOE Open Enrollment for BenefitsOCFOperating Cash FlowOEOperating ExpenseOIOperating IncomeOD Organization DevelopmentOT Overtime P PA Performance AssessmentPERT Project Evaluation and Review TechniquePT Part TimePIP Performance Improvement PlanPM Performance Management, Project ManagementPPO Preferred Provider OrganizationPHR Professional in Human ResourcesPL Profit and Loss Q QR Quarterly ReviewQWI Quarterly Workforce Indicators R RIF Reduction in ForceRPA Retirement Plan AlternativeRTW Return to Work S SBA Small Business AdministrationSE Salaried ExemptSNE Salaried Non-exemptSME Subject Matter ExpertSHRM Society for Human Resources ManagementSPHR Senior Professional in Human ResourcesSSA Social Security AdministrationSSN or SS Social Security NumberSTD Short Term DisabilitySWOT Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats T TM Talent ManagementTDTraining and DevelopmentTBDTo Be DeterminedTDATax Deferred AnnuityTDBTemporary Disability BenefitsTESSATax-Exempt Special Savings AccountTEUCTemporary Extended Unemployment CompensationTLTime and LaborTPAThird Party AdministratorTPDTemporary Partial DisabilityTTDTemporary Total DisabilityTSATax-sheltered Annuity U UAW United Auto WorkersUCIUnemployment compensation insuranceUFWUnited Farm WorkersUGMAUniform Gifts to Minors ActUICUnemployment Insurance CommissionUN United NationsUSCUnited States CodeUSCISU.S. Citizenship and Immigration ServicesU. S. DOJUnited States Department of JusticeU.S. DOLUnited States Department of LaborUSERRAUniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act V VA Veterans Administration/AffairsVETS Veterans Employment and Training ServiceVP Vice PresidentVPNVirtual Private NetworkVOC-REHABVocational Rehabilitation W WARN Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification ActWC Workers CompensationWIA Workforce Investment ActWIP Wor k in ProgressWTO World Trade OrganizationWTW Welfare to WorkW-2 Income tax form issued by employersW-4 Federal income tax withholding formWPS Work Performance Standards X XRA Expected Retirement AgeXML Extensible Markup Language (Code) Y YTD Year to Date Z ZBB Zero Based Budgeting

The Foolproof Examples of Professional Resumes Strategy

The Foolproof Examples of Professional Resumes Strategy It is essential to let your possible employer know where youre good at. If you are awarded and rewarded on your previous companies, it only suggests that youre not only a terrific employee that does her or his work well, but also has work ethics and fantastic character. There are times that you understand what you need to write in resume but simply dont understand how to write in a professional method to produce decent impression on employer. Be certain to spend the right number of tie developing resume formats to make sure your resume makes the votum you would like it to. Introducing Examples of Professional Resumes If you want to find a few examples of professional resumes, go to LiveCareer. You may also download completely free templates from our Resume Library to get going on your best resume. Its crucial that you dont simply apply these resumes verbatim. Youre able to come across Professional Resumes etc.. The Tr ied and True Method for Examples of Professional Resumes in Step by Step Detail A brilliant resume is indispensable together with the guidance of experts, especially if youre a fresher. Below, you will locate a list of resume examples that may aid you with your work search. While all resumes should offer information on your work and education experience, along with your abilities and accomplishments, there are various ways to present this info. A professional resume is not difficult to draw ones interest. Be certain to highlight people skills and that you understand how to close a deal. Being a professional means that you must learn from those who already have mora experiences and expertise on the field which youre working at. For someone with an eye to advancement, it gives a glimpse of the company as a whole in addition to all its parts. The 30-Second Trick for Examples of Professional Resumes Dont utilize various sorts of listings as it makes your cover letter unprofess ional. If you dont already have a professional looking email address a totally free one may be gotten at Yahoo or Gmail. You should master the art of selling without looking just like youre attempting to sell. Read your revamped resume with an important eye to make certain it reflects you. The War Against Examples of Professional Resumes Most professionals already know that resumes are utilized to showcase your very best assets to the company which you wished to be used at. When deciding what to include, you ought to begin by thinking about the nature of your prospective employers, your degree of experience, and the abilities and certifications desired. Maybe you would like a growth opportunity in your present field. Not everybody is good at managing others, so in the event that you can offer hard evidence of your people skills by quantifying the impact youve made through exceptional customer support, you are going to be irresistible to possible employers. The Basics of E xamples of Professional Resumes The things which are included in your resume needs to be straight to the point. There are lots of ways to approach these sorts of resumes and the examples should assist you in finding a direction thats suitable for you. Understanding how to tailor your resume will obviously provide you an advantage. Having a look at how others wrote their resumes can provide you some great ideas. For someone in the building and labor field, obtaining an abundance of skills and experience is crucial. You also ought to chat about past experience. The creation of resume varies on the degree of its usage. Make certain your resume is not difficult to understand and read. The Examples of Professional Resumes Game Building a professional resume can look to be an intimidating task when youre applying for employment. A health assistant reference letter is a letter thats written by somebody to refer a person for the work position of a health assistant at a health cen ter or hospital. When youre searching for a job your resume IS your very first impression. Applying with the task targeted resume for each job is a superb practice rather than sending same resume for every single job. The Examples of Professional Resumes Game Youre able to discover a sample cv for use in the industry world academic settings or one that lets you concentrate on your specific abilities and abilities. Writing a resume for employment in the art industry can be difficult. Resume templates may vary based on the employment niche. For more ideas on the best way to strengthen your program, have a look at our education and teaching resumes. Discover how to compose a professional resume. Sales is much like customer service as salespeople can be effective in an assortment of industries. Possessing a strong resume will permit you find numerous great jobs. Introducing Examples of Professional Resumes For instance, it includes a skills page at which you can use icons to demonstrate your proficiency in several categories. Writing a strong application is a challenging procedure and we would like to make it simpler. Although there are lots of examples you dont will need to cover. Follow our professional profile examples to make your own. Examples of Professional Resumes Fundamentals Explained You simply need to know how to create effective use of resume templates. Its possible for you to observe different resume formats on the web. Standard format and fonts ought to be applied if you would like it to be professional. The sorts of resume formats that are commonly used are Chronological Functional Combinational With the aid of resume writing guides you can pick the format of a resume.

A History of Procedure Writing on Resume Refuted

A History of Procedure Writing on Resume Refuted Prior to starting, ask yourself if people really need or wish to learn about something. The info in your resume should paint a photo of the kind of employee you are and show employers what youre capable of accomplishing. If your people know what things to do, when to do it, the way to do it, and how not to receive it wrong, you can cut back frustration and save a tremendous quantity of time and energy. The Ultimate Procedure Writing on Resume Trick Your CV has to be catching and partalized. To compose the CV for nurse isnt a bit of cake along with the job itself. Moreover with perfectly written CV you is going to be the person who make a choice as youll be in a position to submit an application for a few job positions at once as a way to discover the most advantageous alternative. For instance, if you are asking for work in sports marketing, mentioning the simple fact that youre a tri-athlete would benefit your candidacy. N ew Step by Step Roadmap for Procedure Writing on Resume If your work involves social media, you can incorporate the links to other social networking accounts like Twitter, Instagram, and so on. A great resume format is simple to scan. Successful marketers understand how to use various bit of software to make content, manage social media, and analyze customer data so as to create top quality, targeted campaigns at potential clients. Consider your demands and binnensee the explanations below to pick the best resume format for you. The New Fuss About Procedure Writing on Resume Let us have a close appearance to the process of ordering nursing resume writing. So make certain each procedure is undeniably necessary before you spend time creating it. Its also important to think about the type of work you genuinely wish to be hired to do. Keep in mind, your resume is only an enticer, a means to acquire your foot in the door. You want a procedure when an approach. Where necessary, ensure that your procedures deal with technical issues along with subjective elements. A written procedure is essential only in the event the matter is important or if there is going to be a substantial benefit from clarifying a procedure. A typical operating procedure is an established procedure which can be followed on a normal basis so as to create a particular result for a business or organization. Scripts can be particularly useful when more than 1 person is involved in a procedure. Writing a resume can be an intimidating task. If you take a look at resume building as a step-by-step procedure, it is going to be simpler to do and not as overwhelming. Analyzed GUI procedure flows to boost navigability and usability. If you are searching for Cover Letter Civil Engineering Graduate youve come to the proper location. Language skills are sometimes an excellent selling point on your resume. Procedure Writing on Resume Explained Pick a Word Processor Before you begin to wo rk on your resume, you will need a word processor. Tip You may not have sufficient room on a one-page resume to include info about a normal operating procedure. Because you cant incorporate the full procedure, you will need to summarize it for use on your resume. Be certain that the layout of the typical operating procedure included on your resume is well organized and simple to follow along with.

How to Avoid Job Applicant Credit Report Scams

How to Avoid Job Applicant Credit Report ScamsHow to Avoid Job Applicant Credit Report ScamsThere are many scams out there on the internet, but some of the cruelest are job scams. Job seekers are presumably looking for work in part because they need money, and along comes a scammer to build up their hopes and steal their resources. Among the most common job scams are leistungspunkt report scams. Youll find these on Craiglist and other job sites and boards. To avoid falling for them, learn to recognize the signs of credit report scams, as well as of job scams generally. (And just in case, well also teach you how to report job applicant credit report scams, so that you can protect your identity.) How Job Applicant Credit Report Scams Work Typically, the scammer poses as an employer asking to see your credit report as part of the hiring process. The employer requests that you use a specific free service that ends up costing you money. In addition, the scammer can collect your person al information and steal your identity. Credit Report Scam Examples To avoid being tricked, it helps to know what these scams look like. Here are some examples of credit report scams from Craiglist. These were sent by emaille to job applicants who responded to job postings on Craiglist. We would like to take this moment to thank you for your response to our Craigslist job posting, as well as inform you that, after reading through your resume, we are interested in discussing this job opportunity with you in person. In order to proceed to the next step of the hiring process, you will need to get your credit score checked.We have arranged a FREE service for you to obtain your score. Once you have completed this process, please email me the confirmation ASAP, so we can move forward. More Credit Scams Other scammers will ask you to send personal items such as your license, a utility bill, or your Social Security Number along with an application, or even before sending an applic ation. All of these items are forms of identification and can, therefore, be used by scammers to either open new accounts or access your current account. Never give these items to an employer before you have honigwein in person and/or thoroughly checked into the companys background. What to Do If You Have Been Scammed If you have already sent personal information to an employer, and believe it was a scam, get a copy of your credit report immediately and review your bills and payments. To get a free credit report, go to www.annualcreditreport.com or call 877-322-8228 to select your free reports. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), youre entitled to a free report every year. Note this is the only way to get your free annual credit report. Other sites or services generally require you to pay a charge, either up front or over time even if the word free is in their name. In addition to monitoring your credit, you should report the scam. File a report with the web Crime Compl aint Center, the Federal Trade Commission, and/or the Better Business Bureau. You can also report the scammers to the site on which you found the ad. Job sites and boards have contact pages, and many have dropdowns on their contact form specifically for reporting fraudulent listings. Warning Signs of Job Scams While classic scams will pop up again and again, there will also always be new frauds and fakes out there waiting to take you in. To protect yourself against job scams, learn to recognize the warning signs, including Its too good to be true. Your mom was right if it seems too good to be true, it generally is. Any job listing that promises high pay for easy work is almost certainly a scam. Examples include envelope stuffing, data entry, etc., for thousands per week. You have to pay to get started. While some niche job search sites may require a fee, legitimate employers never charge money to apply for a job. This includes any job that requires you to purchase a kit or leads before you start earning. The employer asks for personal information right up front. Companies dont need your social security number, banking informatin, etc., before they even offer you a job. If youre asked for any of this personal information early in the process, youre likely dealing with a job scam, not a real opportunity.

Workplace Drug and Alcohol Abuse Laws and Regulations

Workplace Drug and Alcohol Abuse Laws and RegulationsWorkplace Drug and Alcohol Abuse Laws and RegulationsThere are federal laws which provide guidelines on the policies employers can set regarding drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace. Employers can prohibit the use of drugs and alcohol,test for drug use, and fire employees who are engaging in illegal drug use. The regulations are typically listed in the organizations drug and alcohol abuse and prevention policy. The guidelines may include ingestaltation on when the company tests for drugs and alcohol, as well as on the consequences of failing a test.The law also provides protection for employees with substance abuse problems and outlines the accommodations that the employer must provide for workers. In addition to federal law, there may be state laws which regulate employment drug and alcohol testing, and how employers can handle substance abuse problems. Workplace Substance Abuse Laws and Regulations TheAmericans With Disabi lities Act(ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 both affectdrug and alcohol policies. The following outlines aspects of the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and some state statutes that relate to employees with drug and alcohol issues Employers can prohibit the illegal use of drugs and the use of alcohol in the workplace.Testing for illegal use of drugs does leid violate the ADA (but must meet state requirements).Pre-employment testingis often restricted by states to candidates who have already been offered a job. Typically, all candidates need to be treated equally and no individual can be singled out for testing.Many states require employers to verify a cause for testing currently employed workers for substances. Employers in those states must have a reasonable suspicion that the employee in question is abusing drugs and that safety or performance has been compromised. Some states can randomly test workers without a reasonable suspicion. This practice is usually restricte d to situations where safety issues are a concern. Employers may discharge or deny employment to those who currently engage in the illegal use of drugs.Employers cannot discriminate against drug addicts who have a history of drug addiction or who are not currently using drugs and have been rehabilitated (or who are currently in a rehabilitation program).Reasonable accommodation efforts, such as permitting time off for medical care, self-help programs, etc., must be extended to drug addicts who have been rehabilitated or who are undergoing rehabilitation. An alcoholic may be determined as an individual with a disability under the ADA.Employers may discharge, discipline, or deny employment to alcoholics whose use of alcohol hinders job performance or behavior to the same extent that such actions would result in similar disciplinary action for other employees. Employees using drugs and alcohol must meet the same standards of performance and behavior as other employees.The ADA does not protect casual drug users. However, those with a record of addiction, or who are falsely deemed to be being addicts, are covered by the Act. Discrimination Issues TheAmericans with Disabilities Act(ADA) prohibits employment discrimination against employees and applicants with disabilities in organizations that employ 15 or mora employees. Similarly, section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 makes it unlawful for contractors and subcontractors with the Federal government to discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities. Health Care Plan Requirements The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA) and later the Affordable Care Act mandated that non-grandfathered health care plans include mental health and substance abuse disorder services, including behavioral health treatment. These stipulations still govern most employer-sponsored plans. However, an executive order under the Trump administration has give n states more authority to designate what constitutes essential services within the exchange based plans for individuals in their jurisdiction. The executive order encouraged the creation of short-term plans with more limited costs and coverages. The Henry J. Kaiser Foundation has researched 24 distinct short-term insurance products currently marketed in 45 states. They determined that 43% of the plans did not cover mental health services, and 62% did not cover substance abuse treatment. Many states still have some statutes in place regarding the requirement of mental health services to be included in individual healthcare plans.Some states require parity between mental health services and benefits that plans provide for physical ailments. Substance abuse is often covered under the umbrella of mental health in these states. In those parity states, health care plans must provide coverage for substance abuse that is comparable to coverage for physically based medical problems. Accord ing to theNational Conference of State Legislatures(NCSL)Many state laws require that some level of coverage be provided for mental illness, serious mental illness, substance abuse, or a combination thereof. These states are not considered full parity states because they allow discrepancies in the level of benefits provided between mental illnesses and physical illnesses. These discrepancies can be in the form of different visit limits, co-payments, deductibles, and annual and lifetime limits. Other states mandate that an option must be provided for mental health coverage but do not dictate that there be minimum coverage or parity.Employers in these states can offer plans that charge applicants an extra premium for mental health coverage if employees decide to elect that optional coverage. The NCSL indicates that Laws in at least 38 states include coverage for substance abuse, alcohol or drug abuse. For questions about health insurance regulations in your state consult an agency on this list.

How to Answer the Tell Me About Yourself Question

How to Answer the Tell Me About Yourself Question How to Answer the Tell Me About Yourself Question So. Tell me about yourself.Its the interview question we all dread. And we dread it for good reason. Its way too broad and we have no idea what the interviewer wants us to say.Just be honest is the advice given by many careers experts. So hows this?Well, Im 29. Im scared of heights. I sometimes take a teddy bear with me when I go travelling. I love Coldplay. I still smoke even though I told everyone I quit. I cry when I go into an animal shelter because I want to adopt all the pets. I have a rash on my left foot thats leid responding to treatment. Oh and I have a hard time with commitment.Thats honest, but its probably not what theyre looking for.My honest opinion is that tell me about yourself is a lazy interview question. It tells the interviewer nothing meaningful and it unfairly discriminates against those who dont have a talent for pithy, perfectly pitched answers to pointless que stions. But regardless of what I think, you will find yourself sitting across a room from a stranger who rustles papers for a minute or two before looking up and saying so tell me about yourself.So what do you say?I dont believe theres one answer to this question because I think your answer should always be tailored to the needs of your employer. (Im not a big fan of the elevator pitch for this reason. If youve prepared it and learned it in advance, how relevant can it be to this particular employer at this particular time?)I think there are 3 steps to preparing a good answer to this most dreaded of questions and you must do them all in advance of each interview. That way youll be prepared when those papers starts to rustle. Step One Assess whats important to the company No matter how smart and succinct your answer is, it wont resonate unless it relates to the needs of the job. So if youre applying for a marketing manager job in the music industry, consider whats important in thi s type of role and within this industry. If you dont know, researchSo our marketing manager knows that its very important to do more with less in the music industry. Declining music sales mean declining budgets. He also knows that an understanding of the industry will be important.Step Two Make a list of things that make you a good fit for the role You wont use all of these in your answer, but thats OK. Just making the list will increase your confidence for the interview. And whats more, some of the items on your list will help you answer additional questions later in the interview.Our marketing manager is experienced at viral and street marketing, hes accustomed to working within tight budgets, and he has always delivered good results. His past experience has been in a related field (he marketed movies previously) so he understands entertainment. Step Three Plan your answer Remember, the recruiter doesnt really want to know all about you. She just thinks this is a good way to asses s your ability to perform under pressure, or your talent for speaking off the cuff, or some other character trait she feels is important.The most common mistake people make (Ive done it myself) is to start rambling about ancient history, literally trying to tell your whole story. This is a mistake and will cause the interviewers eyes to glaze over while she plans her next moves on Candy Crush Saga.Instead, choose one of these 3 approaches to ensure that you pass the test with flying colors.1) The story response. With this answer, you simply tell a short story (and do keep it short) that demonstrates your ability to meet their requirements. Stories are memorable, which is why this approach works so well.For example, our marketing manager could sayI have 8 years of experience in entertainment marketing and during this time Ive learned to work within tight budgets. For example, I recently had to promote a documentary with almost no budget. I created a video that welches designed to go viral and then promoted it across all social media channels. Within one week, the video had indeed gone viral and the documentary performed much better than expected as a result. These are the situations I genuinely enjoy.2) The others say responseWith this approach, you frame your answer in terms of the things other people have said about you. This allows you to boast about your skills without sounding as if you are boasting at all. So our manager could sayIve had 3 managers so far in my career, and they have all praised my ability to do more with less to create buzz and excitement even with the tiniest marketing budget. Ive been in entertainment marketing for 10 years now, and I think this is the thread that runs through my entire career. See how this answer shows what a great match he is without ever actually coming out and saying it?Another way to use this approach is to start with The 3 words people most often use to describe me are 3) The I believe approachWith this approach, you answer the tell me about yourself question by explaining your philosophy on work (or marketing or sales or people management choose whatever is most relevant to your employer). This answer works particularly well for management or leadership roles, although I think it can be effective for anyone. The reason its so effective is that it shows you have really thought about your approach to your work. It conveys a seriousness and dedication that you couldnt convey any other way.So here our manager could sayI believe that effective marketing is all about connecting. I think too many companies throw money at a problem and then wonder why sales dont increase. Ive always believed that when you truly connect with your audience, results naturally follow. As an example, I recently had to promote a documentary film with almost no budget. I felt the best way to get results was to connect with the potential audience via social media, so I created a video that was designed to go viral (etc. etc.)Tell me about yourself is actually an opportunityWhile I may think its a lazy question, and you may find it intimidating, the truth is that tell me about yourself is actually a wonderful opportunity to take control of the interview. With some planning, you can forget about feeling tongue-tied and instead turn those first few minutes into a chance to make a perfectly targeted pitch. Good luckPhoto credit Gatto Mimmo via photopin cc