Want to be likable 7 universal secrets to help you

Want to be likable 7 universal secrets to help youWant to be likable 7 universal secrets to help youIf you want to be mora likable then you must remember one thing You cannot be liked by everyone.You cannot make everyone like youAny time you cultivate a trait, adopt a mindset, think, act, or feel a certain way, it will be well received by some and it will repulse others.So before we can go any further you need to accept this fact.No matter what you do, how you act, or how kind and genuine you might be, some people will love you and others will hate you.Some people will become jealous of your likability and envy your social success. Some people will be annoyed by you. Some people will simply distrust you.You cant please everyone and thats okHowever, there are a few universal secrets to likability that can make you more liked by just about everyone (everyone worth being liked by anyways).Here are 7 of my favorites.1. Smile oftenThis one is simple but underrated. People frown too often and allow pessimism and negativity to keep them down.Smile more often, laugh more deeply, and exude positivity and love to everyone around you.Its hard not to like someone who makes you feel happy.2. Ask genuine and deep questionsPeople dont care about you they care about themselves. If you want to be likable, the simplest way is to get more people talking about their favorite subject Themselves.I know you might not believe it, but 100% of the people that you encounter in everyday life have something about them that is fascinating Even if its simply how bat crap crazy they are.Find ways to cut through the small talk and ask deep questions that get people talking about themselves, their goals, dreams, and feelings.They will think youre the most interesting and likable person in the world and all you need to do is say three words.Tell me more.3. Cut the b.s.I hate small talk. Almost everyone hates small talk.No one cares about the weather or the ambiance of the coffee shop. Cut throu gh the B.S. and get real with people.Dont patronize them with silly questions that you arent actually interested in. Get to the heart of things with something as simple as Whats your story?The weather is boring. Someone with the intestinal fortitude to ask deep questions during the first interaction is memorable.4. Make eye contactThey say that the eyes are the windows to the soul. If those windows arent clearly visible and sparkling, people will distrust you.Anytime someone is speaking, make eye contact. You dont have to stare, but hold your gaze and make them feel heard and important.5. Speak slowly and listen intentlyIt sucks to get cut off in the middle of a conversation. No one likes it. And no one will like you if you think that youre so important that everyone else needs to shut up and hear you opinion.When others speak, listen. Wait until they are done speaking, pause, reflect, and then share your thoughts.In a world filled with people who have no attention span and only wan t to talk about themselves, this will make you more likable than you can imagine.6. Express gratitude and eradicate negativityNo one likes a whiner. People who regularly complain and moan about things make others feel uncomfortable and sad.Dont be that guy/girl.Constantly express gratitude. Be thankful and happy for what you have. Talk about the positive things happening in your life and the world.Focus on the good and others will feel it.Focus on the bad and they will feel that too.7. Learn how to tell a story and have stories worth tellingLikable people know how to tell a story. They know how to hook people and keep them on the edge of their seats the entire time.And more importantly, they have stories worth telling.Eventually, the time will come in any interaction where you will need to talk about yourself and give the other person a peep into your world.When you have the ability to tell interesting and captivating stories that make people feel excited and inspired, you will beco me far more likable than the person who cannot talk about themselves in an interesting way.This article first appeared on Quora.

Why Michael Henderson is Not Your Average CTO

Why Michael Henderson is Not Your Average CTOWhy Michael Henderson is Not Your Average CTOWhy Michael Henderson is Not Your Average CTO When it comes to hiring for his team, Michael Henderson is elend your typical CTO.When Michael Henderson is looking for new software engineers to join his team, he keeps one idea in mind perspective diversity.Theres mora than one way to solve a problem, explains Michael, the Chief Technology Officer of Talent Inc., TopResumes parent company. The more tools you have in your toolbox, the more ways you have for encoding problems, and the better you will be at arriving at the best-possible solution.Perspective diversity centers around the idea that the best teams are comprised of people with different educational backgrounds, belief systems, and experiences. For Michael, his team isnt full of standard, cookie-cutter engineers. Rather, he looks for software engineers with non-traditional backgrounds, opting for those with non-technology degrees (history, performing arts, finance, etc.), mirroring his own experience.With a degree in finance from The University of Texas at Austin, the Houston native didnt start on the typical software-engineer career path, at least not initially. Yet, he was always interested in computers. When the opportunity arose at his first post-grad job to help in the IT department, Michael didnt hesitate taking on the new opportunity. With a career that spans the pre-dot-com and dot-com eras, Michael gained exposure to the inner workings of software engineering and design, working in cross-functional teams for large corporations, consulting, freelancing, and eventually managing teams of his own, on a smaller scale.I like being a manager because I really like seeing people succeed, Michael said. I want to nurture talent and empower a team to achieve really amazing goals.For Michaels team right now, those goals revolve around natural-image processing, machine learning, stream-processing, microtafelgeschirrs archi tecture, and exploring service frameworks to increase operational agility and infrastructure cost-efficiency.I really think we have a lot of interesting things going on, Michael commented on his teams objectives. There are just lots of opportunities here for people that are interested in a more structured environment.Yet, while most tech managers worry about hiring team members who are all-versed in a similar coding language in order to progress rapidly through these projects, Michael believes that slight language barriers can be beneficial the work should feel slow in the beginning.If people come from different backgrounds, they might have to build a shared terminology, and its going to take more energy to get stuff done, Michael explained. If you get dissuaded by that, then youre short-changing the benefits you get from diversity. If its about diversity, what makes someone a good fit for Michaels team?As CTO, Michael makes the key hiring decisions that help him build teams of soft ware engineers that are empowered, possess a sense of agency, and constantly strive to learn about new technology. Using recruiters, phone screens, and the traditional interview process, he sorts through hundreds of applicants to find the next additions to his team.So, what characteristics does this ideal applicant have?Effective communicationMichaels perfect candidate is able to successfully communicate their comprehension of core ideas and other basic components, as well as explain how they achieved positive results in their previous projects. Michael, however, doesnt expect candidates to know everything about tech when interviewing them. Instead, hes looking for people who are willing to have a conversation and discuss what they do know as well as what they dont. ansicht applicants are willing to learn and are unafraid to explore the unfamiliar parts of technology.The whole interview process isnt about giving the right answer... its rather about having an engaging conversation.. .The whole interview process isnt about having the right answer, Michael said. Its really about having a conversation. That means you have to engage, listen, and respond. Certainly, the role of technology is so big and so vast that I dont expect anybody to understand everything that is going on.A collaborative mindset team player vs. lone wolfSoftware engineering isnt a solo endeavor lone-wolf candidates are usually not going to be considered for a position on Michaels team.Software development is a team sport, Michael highlighted. You have to work well in a team, avoid dominating the conversation, absorb everybodys perspective, understand the team, show empathy, understand the need to sometimes call other people out, and also ask for help.Software development is a team sport.Those with past experience leading or working on a team, and who can communicate their teams accomplishments, will stand out among the crowd of other eager engineering candidates.Unique perspectivesMichael look s for those with different and varied perspectives, so those candidates showing how they stand out from the others tend to come out on top. Whether its something qualitative, like their previous work experience and education, or something more abstract, such as how they work through problems and process information, Michael wants to hear how its helped them succeed. Knowing what you wantMichael stresses that candidates should know what they want before the interview and possible job offer. The worst mistake a candidate can make is not taking the time to understand if the situation is a good match.We dont want somebody walking through the door and realizing, Oh, wait a minute, this isnt the type of place I thought it was, he explains.For Michael, finding people with the right cultural fit, and then helping them grow by nurturing talent and providing opportunities, is the reason he gets up in the morning. When asked if he had anything to add, Michael summed up his thoughtsI really lik e to have a team of people that feel empowered. Everybody on the team should have a sense of agency, and be able to make suggestions. We listen to ideas, discuss them as a group, and try to come up with the best solution, so everybodys voice is heard. Were a small startup. Were always growing, so theres endless opportunity to shape that direction, which doesnt always exist at other places.Sounds like every boss should strive to be like Michael Henderson.Interested in joining Michael Hendersons team as a senior software engineer? Check out our open positions belowSenior Software Engineer (NYC)Senior Software Engineer, DevOps (NYC)Senior Software Engineer, Front End (NYC)Talent Inc. is dedicated to redefining how job seekers brand themselves to employers. Through our community of career experts, our brands TopResume, TopCV, and TopInterview help professionals tell the best version of their career story, enabling them to stand out from the crowd and land the right job, faster. Learn more.Recommended ReadingSenior Software Engineer Top Needed SkillsInside HQ Bring Your Dog to Work DayTop Reads Our Best Career Advice of 2017

Calculating Your Sales Activities

Calculating Your Sales ActivitiesCalculating Your Sales ActivitiesOne of the toughest aspects of being a abverkaufperson is the uncertainty factor. Its always possible to have a bad month or even several bad months in a row, which can put any salesperson in real financial difficulties. The good news is that you can lessen the odds of a long losing streak by knowing exactly which sales activities to pursue and how often to pursue them. Sales Metrics To know which activities will yield best for you based on your current situation, youll need to keep track of your sales metrics on a regular basis. Keep a cold call tracking sheet and fill it out each time you make calls this will help you to figure out your call percentages. Specifically, you can track the number of dials it takes on average to yield one appointment. This number will change from day to day depending on your mood, your approach, and sheer luck (good or bad). So if you track this number over time, youll have a much mo re accurate idea of your real average. Appointment Percentage Youll also need to keep track of the next important percentage in sales the percentage of appointments that you manage to close. Again, you should look back at your activities over several months to get a reliable average. With unterstellung two percentages, youll have an excellent idea of how to construct a sales pipeline that will keep your sales flowing in smoothly. Before you can use this number, however, you need to consider the result. If you dont have a set goal, youll be just as in the dark as if you hadnt bothered to track your activities at all. Your sales goal should be achievable, and it should be enough to cover your expenses with some money left over. That extra money can go towards covering your costs during the slow months. Past Sales Once youve picked a goal, its time to evaluate your past sales. If you havent been tracking these numbers, your sales manager can probably give you her records from previous months. Specifically, youre looking for how much money you earn in commissions on an average sale. This calculation can get complicated if youre on a sliding commissions scale (e.g. if you get one commissions percentage for meeting your quota and then a higher commissions percentage if you go above your quota). You may need to juggle some numbers based on how many sales you think you can close on an average month. Dont use your exceptionally good months as the standard for comparison you want a number that you can reach at least half the time, and youre safer if you pick a more pessimistic total. For example, lets say you receive a 10% commission on every sale and your average sale is for $4,000. In that case, you make (on average) $400 for every sale you close. If your goal is to take home $3,200 per month in commissions, you need to close eight sales per month consistently. Remember, its better to be pessimistic than optimistic in these calculations, or youre likely to r un out of money in the bank. If eight sales per month is a real stretch for you, youll need to make some significant changes. You can either cut your expenses, or you can start a crash course in selling until youve improved your overall performance to the level you require. Whats the Number? Assuming that eight sales per month are a workable number for you, you can now plug in the two percentages that you figured out earlier. Lets say that it takes you 12 cold calls on average to set one appointment, and you close one out of every four appointments you set. In that case, you need to make 48 cold calls to close one sale. And since your goal is to make eight sales per month, youll need 384 cold calls a month to make your goal. The beauty of having these numbers at your fingertips is that you dont have to wonder if youre doing enough prospecting or if youre going to meet your quota this month. You will always know exactly how close you are to achieving your goals, and knowing that will help boost your confidence thus helping you make even more sales.

5 reasons why we really like people who curse at work

5 reasons why we really like people who curse at work5 reasons why we really like people who curse at workImagine youre in a high-intensity meeting with all of your co-workers, and the CEO is giving an important speech about steps forward. Then he suddenly drops an f-bomb or a word you hear in bars, not in conference calls.If hes Elon Musk, of Tesla Motors, he tells shareholders, our suppliers mostly have their sh-t together.Or Jamie Dimon, of JP Morgan Chase, commenting, I want to try not stepping in dogsh-t, which we do now and then.Cursing shows people are being authenticWhether he did it purposely or accidentally, whats the reaction? Shock? Shame? Neither.Usually, itsas if someone opened a window and a wave of cool air hit everyone in the face finally, someone is being real.Maybe it causes everyone in the room to burst out laughing, or maybe it just inspires a few chuckles and smiles. Whatever the reaction, however, a little cursing seems to make people feel closer to the swearer , regardless of their status. Cursing feels like permission for everyone to drop the masks we wear at work.No wonder cursing increased brde year on corporate earnings calls after a couple of slow years, according to Seeking Alpha. There is one exception when we swear at other people, it increases tension and aggression in the office.This is a fascinating phenomenon, especially when you consider how many people grew up being told swearing, especially in public forums, is uncouth. But perhaps that, in and of itself, is why we as adults seem to gravitate towards people who do it. 1. Breaking the rules creates a sense of solidarityAccording to a 2004 New Zealand study, employees who curse liberally over frustrations at work have a tighter bond. While the study was focused on factory workers who already have a mora relaxed rapport, the beneficial results can be applied to any work setting. Swearing with work colleagues is an effective stress and discomfort reliever, which can in turn lea d to more friendships.Beyond that, because we associate cursing with a more casual setting, when someone higher up on the corporate ladder does it, it encourages levity at work.2. Cursing at work denotes honestyA study that was recently published in Social Psychological and Personality Science found that people who curse regularly tend to be more honest than their less foul-mouthed peers. Scientists explored this relationship of cursing to integrity on three levels - individual surveys, social media behavior, and state level - and came to the same conclusion each time more cursing equaled more sincerity. Needless to say, having an honest person working beside you, above you or below you is always better than the alternative - the too-careful, too-studied colleague who always seems to be holding back and isnt sharing honestly, like Shakespeares Cassius with his lean and hungry look.3. People who curse may be smarterWhile the assumption of someone who swears a lot is often that the yre lacking in the vocabulary department, the opposite may actually be true. A study at Marist College found that people who use more swear words are more likely to have healthier linguistic abilities than the average person. Cursing doesnt come from a lack of vocabulary it comes from a robust need for emphasis.So bosses, take note if you have an employee who cant help peppering a few four-letter words into casual conversations, you might want to consider giving them more responsibility rather than a stern chastisement. 4. Well-timed cursing adds humor to the workdayWhen a friend is telling a story about a frustrating situation, and lets that frustrated feeling out on a curse, it usually makes us laugh. Psychologist Timothy Jay explains the reasons for this in his book Why We Curse, but the simple answer is their impassioned outburst is breaking societal rules, and that sudden freedom is surprising and feels good to hear. Certain comedians (Lewis Black) are particularly good at know ing the most effective time to let a curse fly. Of course everyone likes a funny guy/gal in the office, because its yet another thing that cuts through tension and stress. Occasional cursing can certainly aid in raising your funny guy/gal status. Just be sure to pick your moments, aka not during a formal presentation. 5. Cursing is persuasiveThat being said, if youre giving a presentation or speech, and you let one swear word fly, it could have a great deal of power over your audience. Cursing is often how people express extreme emotions (especially anger) without getting physical. As a result, those words can have a significant amount of potential energy behind them. A 2006 study at Northern Illinois University found that such empowered obscenities can have a positive impact on an audience, and even sway their opinions. That emotional conviction makes one seem more confident and trustworthy - great attributes for any employee, especially if theyre in sales. Does this mean you shou ld go into work tomorrow firing off curses left and right? Probably not. If you pick your moments, however, you may find cursing has the potential to open some unanticipated doors.

A List of the Leading Legal Publications for Lawyers

A List of the Leading Legal Publications for LawyersA List of the Leading Legal Publications for LawyersNo matter what your experience level, specialty, or practice environment, a legal publication exists that caters to your needs and interests, and it can be indispensable. From keeping you up to speed on latest developments and trends to simply offering a sense of camaraderie on really bad days when no one else understands, these leading legal publications in the industry are just the ticket. 15 Legal Publications The American LawyerIn addition to its popular rankings, this publication covers all aspects of law firm management, from litigation, corporate law, and technology, to big deals, major lawsuits, pro bono law, and the Supreme Court.California Lawyer This publication provides current information on both regional and national trends. It profiles leading personalities on the bench and the bar and offers legal news and features.Canadian Lawyer Magazine The magazine provides news and information for the Canadian legal practitioner. Corporate Counsel This publication is ideal for chief legal officers and in-house counsel, offering news and information.The Federal LawyerThe Federal Lawyer offers news of interest to the federal legal community, including feature articles by attorneys and judges, book reviews, Supreme Court rulings, coverage of FBA activities, and information about new products and services.Law Practice MagazineThe magazine reports the latest developments and commentary to assist attorneys in managing their law practices effectively. Law Technology TodayThisone is a webzine. It offers practical tips and tactics on law practice management, including areas of marketing, technology, and finance.Nevada LawyerIt publishes news, articles and how-to features relevant to Nevadas legal community.The Pennsylvania LawyerGeared toward the Pennsylvania legal community, it nonetheless publishes articles of interest to most attorneys.Plaintiff MagazineThi s publication covers various aspects of trial practice of importance to California plaintiffs attorneys. The Professional Negligence Law Reporter This onecovers the latest legal developments concerning negligence by health care providers, accountants, lawyers, securities brokers, and other professionals, as well as case summaries, news stories, and articles.Super Lawyers MagazinesAre you a super lawyer or are you working hard to become one? This publication provides listings and profiles of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. TRIAL MagazineTRIAL offers news of the latest legal trends and developments, articles about civil law practice, and commentary and analysis on emerging legal issues.Virginia Lawyer This is another one geared toward a certain region. It covers news and articles of interest to the Virginia legal community.West Virginia LawyerIf you practice just a bit west, try this one. West Virginia Lawyer features articles of interest to the West Virginia legal community.

A Simple Trick for Resume Websites Exposed

A Simple Trick for Resume Websites Exposed Resume Websites the Ultimate Convenience When you employ a professional writer to assist you with the application documents, the results will differ. Normally, you ought not need to pay to obtain zugnglich exposure on legitimate job websites. Just make sure, whichever format you opt for, which youre targeting it for the job that youre applying to. Anyway, personal sites act as a type of virtual CVs for their owners. Whether youre a fresh graduate or a seasoned executive, you want to document your qualification, skills, and achievements to receive a better job prospect. If youre looking for a job and dont want your present employer to understand, its certainly not the most discreet choice. When youre looking for work, the more information you may give your employer, the better your odds of landing the job. When youre asking for work, youre typically requested to submit a resume and cover letter, or perhaps your LinkedIn profile. The Benefits of Resume Websites If youre overwhelmed by all the choices, you can also just use one of several wonderful vorlages. When you have modified the standard resume template that you found on the internet, make it simple on your upcoming self and save a number of versions of your resume. You also receive the choice to settle on a template from the bunch of beautiful resume templets out there. Unfortunately, there are not any templates to select from, although the built-in template appears clean. The template can be found in PSD format. Bear in mind though, not all website templates are made equal. Employing an HTML template is an amazing means to begin and to find an expert site up quickly. Some Squarespace templates might help you find out how you need your resume to look and where you need your resume featured. Employers wish to observe the individual behind the resume. Ideally your resume website can display your skills while showing that youre the sort of person they might also want lunch with. If youre in a creative profession like design, writing or public speaking and need to showcase your work, a site may be an excellent on-line portfolio. When it is possible to communicate all the crucial information in under a moment, you know that youre doing something right Each page is a chance to tell a story. For most students, the thought of a resume website never even springs to mind. It is possible to add as many details about yourself as you need and still present it in an organized and enjoyable way. You may view modifications to your website in real time with live customize choices. The tool provides a step-by-step guide to resume building which provides you total control over it and you are able to manage it in whatever way you want. The best method to start building your site is to find some inspiration. Vital Pieces of Resume Websites All the sites listed are absolutely free to post your resume. Maybe you want various versions of your resume on various websites. Online resume websites offer you an assortment of professional and contemporary choices. OnlineCV websites contain all the needed spaces provided. Since you can tell, a resume website is exactly like a regular resume. If you decide to click the links on our website, we might get compensation. Theres additionally a prominent link to his email address at the close of the site. There are links to dribble and twitter close to the end and an immediate email connection. Resume Websites Fundamentals Explained Without regard to the business, resume websites want to present the exact same sort of information and need features. Business cards are also included to finish the look. Fortunately, the internet is full of resources that will allow you to comprehend the fundamentals. Personal websites are like online real estate and provide you with total charge of your presence on the internet.

Spark a Conversation Video Interviews and Leaders - Spark Hire

Spark a Conversation Video Interviews and Leaders - Spark HireHere at Spark Hire, we want to help companies utilize the power of online video to find the best candidates. We get a lot of questions from readers about best practices for using online video in the hiring process. These posts will address those questions about how to find your next superstar employee.Question How do you use the video bewerbungsgesprch to find leaders? -Patrick from Nantucket When you are looking for a new employee, you are not always looking for someone specifically with leadership qualities. However, hiring a leader is usually beneficial to you and to the team you are managing. Therefore, whenever you run into a candidate with leadership qualities, you want to be aya you are doing what you can to reel them in. How do you know when you are talking to a leader in your video interview though?Body LanguageThe best thing about video interviews is that you can see a candidate right from the get-go. You can tak e a look at their video resume if they send you one, as well as their one-way video interview answers. While you are screening candidates- and even having two-way live video interviews with them- be aya to take note of their body language. Candidates that were born to be leaders will be strong and confident in their live interviews. They will likely sit straight up, give you great eye contact to show you they are engaged and will be void of the nervous jitters. Not to say that a nervous candidate is never a leader, but body language can tell you a lot about a persons personality and tendencies.Inquire About the PastIf you want to be sure that the candidate you are talking to is a leader, then ask about their past leadership experiences. When have they been in a leadership position before? What was the experience like? When they answer, pay close attention to what they are saying. A true leader will have no problem answering because they have always been a leader and generally try to assume that position any chance they get. Listen to how they handled the responsibility and how they talk about their other team members. Are they a leader but also a team player? Which leads us to our next highlight.Do They Work Well With Others?You can have an awesome leader, but if they dont work well with others then it is likely not going to be the ideal situation you were hoping for. What you want, as mentioned above, is a leader that can also be a team player. Ask your candidates questions about their past team projects and how it worked out for them. Do they prefer to work on a team or by themselves? If you are looking to hire a leader specifically, then you want to be sure you are hiring someone that can deal with multiple personality types. Someone that prefers to work alone may not be the best fit for this. Get them talking about their past team projects and listen to what they are saying with a sharp ear.You may not always need to hire a leader, but when you do you shou ld certainly be looking for these things in your video interviews with candidates.Do you have a question you need answered? Spark a conversation with the Spark Hire team by submitting your question to blog(at)sparkhire.com or in the comments below.

How to Translate Your Military Experience for a Civilian Resume

How to Translate Your Military Experience for a Civilian ResumeHow to Translate Your Military Experience for a Civilian ResumeTranslating Your Military Experience for a Civilian CareerThe transition from military to civilian life doesnt have be rocky. Heres how to take your transferable skill sets and translate them to fit your next career goal. Kudos to you You recently served in the armed forces and are ready to take that next step in transitioning your military career over to the civilian sector. Often, this requires some careful preparation. Below are some steps to help ease the process.Focus less on jargon and more on transferable skills.Much of the military terminology commonly used between you and your fellow colleagues on a daily basis will appear foreign to most recruiters, depending on the field you are choosing to transition into. Take a look at your current resume that youve used to apply for military and government positions, and work to clean up the content in terms of jargon, abbreviations, etc. Find out how to translate your skills and experience in a way that makes sense to your target audience a prospective employer in the civilian sector.Take inventory of your abilities.Its easy to get caught up in the terminology, facts, and figures that, while serving in a military role, meant a great deal to your commanding officers. Those skills and achievements leise mean a lot, but can be translated into core competencies that are strongly desired in almost any civilian career sector. Critical thinking, time management, interpersonal skills, communication, teamwork, project management, strategic planning, and many other qualities are found in job postings across almost all career sectors. Find ways to explain your expertise and showcase your notable accomplishments in civilian-friendly language that speaks to a non-military audience.Create a LinkedIn profile.This social media tool is optimal for networking and sharing ideas. Having a well-crafted profi le not only showcases your skills in a more comprehensive manner than on a standard two-page resume, but it also demonstrates your tech savvy and social media skills, which are strongly desired across various career fields. Plus, you can create a custom URL that can be listed as a form of contact on your resume. Not sure where to start? Check out LinkedIn for Veterans.Simplify all of the training.While it is wonderful to have a litany of education and training that you acquired during your years of military service, the entire list will likely not fit within the confines of a standard, vermodern two-page civilian resume format. Sift through it all and list only the transferable skill sets and remarkable awards. If possible, also create a resume appendix of sorts that, if an employer asks for detailed information, you can provide in an aesthetic format that matches your resume. The PDFs and print transcripts provided by military branches are often unreadable by those not familiar wit h the military, so a more concise list of all completed trainings will highlight your talents without bogging readers down with unnecessary details.Related Changing Careers? 7 Details to Include on Your Resume Consider a professional resume rewrite.There are resume services out there to help you and guide you in developing a brand-new civilian resume and cover letter that youll feel confident using when applying to post-military positions. The benefit of a professional resume writers expertise is invaluable to the many clients they serve, so take some time and research the many products and services offered by a professional resume-writing firm some like TopResume even offer content development services for your LinkedIn profile.Take advantage of the organizations that exist to help you.Its likely that your particular military branch offers transition services for enlisted personnel that are soon to be discharged. These services are free and useful, so take advantage of them if you are still in. There are also other organizations and resources, such as the Wounded Warrior Project, The Real Warriors Campaign, and many more that offer assistance. Many of those professional resume-writing services I previously mentioned hire writers who have specific experience in working with veterans and government personnel, so if you plan to opt for that service, be sure to strongly indicate that you are a military veteran looking to switch into a new and exciting careerWhile the prospect of transitioning to a new chapter can be scary and overwhelming, with the right resources and information at your disposal, it is my hope that your transition to a civilian career will be a smooth process and exciting change. Best of luck and cheersClick on the following link for more resume advice.Need help with your resume? Take advantage of our free resume critique todayRecommended Reading5 Signs You Need a Professional Resume ReviewResume and LinkedIn Profile Writing How Different Should They Be?6 Essential Job-Search Tools for Veterans Looking for Civilian Jobs

Marking the One Year Anniversary of Federal Hiring Reform, Kathryn Troutman, Federal Resume Guru and President of The Resume Place, Addresses the Great KSA Debate

Marking the One Year Anniversary of Federal Hiring neuordnung, Kathryn Troutman, Federal Resume Guru and President of The Resume Place, Addresses the Great KSA DebateMarking the One Year Anniversary of Federal Hiring Reform, Kathryn Troutman, Federal Resume Guru and President of The Resume Place, Addresses the Great KSA DebateMarking the One Year Anniversary of Federal Hiring Reform, Kathryn Troutman, Federal Resume Guru and President of The Resume Place, Addresses the Great KSA DebateREGISTER FOR KATHRYN TROUTMANS HIRING REFORM WEBINAR ON JUNE 3, 2011One year ago, John Berry, Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and President Obama made bold moves to improve the application process for federal jobseekers by eliminating the dreaded Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA) narratives from federal applications. Kathryn Troutman and The Resume Place, the leading experts in Federal Resume Writing and Career Consulting, witness firsthand the effects and confusion that gover nment job applicants face regarding Federal Hiring Reform and the supposed elimination of KSAs in federal applications. Receive advice and tips from Ms. Troutman and The Resume Place on how to handle KSAs in the federal resume with the newly published fifth edition of the Federal Resume Guidebook.Federal Resume Guidebook, 5th Edition by Kathryn TroutmanIts no secret that the federal application process is a daunting task for fruchtwein jobseekers, especially considering that applying for federal jobs is a totally different beast than applying to positions in the private industry. The separate KSA narratives required to apply for government jobs have kept many highly qualified applicants from applying for these positions. The Resume Place provides expert advice regarding federal resume writing and how to deal with KSAs in the applications for federal positions.One year ago, President Obama published an Executive Order mandating human resources specialists eliminate the dreaded Knowle dge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) narratives from the first-time federal application by November, 2011.On Thursday May 19, 2011, Kathryn Troutman addressed the National Press Club to discuss how the lingering effects of the recession combined with the Obama administrations reform of the federal hiring process, has resulted in more Americans than ever applying for federal positions.In his recent speech at a panel discussion in Washington, DC, John Berry declared, We have gotten off of KSA island. Its an amazing leap forward.The OPM Press Release published on Tuesday, May 18, 2011 listed the following hiring improvement statistics Since the launch of the Hiring Reform initiative in May 2010, OPM has supported federal agencies with 351 training sessions in 66 cities for 17,300 people involved in the hiring process. Successful outcomes from this effort have includedHiring based on resumes and cover letters 91 percent of the time96 percent of job opportunity announcements no longer require KSA essaysHiring managers now have more choicesApplicants are now seeing shorter, easy-to-read job announcements86 percent of announcements in plain language66 percent of announcements are five pages or fewer.However, today, a USAJOBS Vacancy Announcement listed KSAs as a requirement to apply for a position. This Department of Health and Human Services advertisement for a GS-343-11/12/13 position, salary $62,467.00 $115,742.00 per year, for a Program Analyst included this information for applicants Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics) 1. Ability to design and conduct studies 2. Ability to monitor grantee performance 3. Ability to communicate orally.The KSA listing in this HHS job announcement statement can be puzzling for federal jobseekers, who have heard that the KSAs are eliminated from requirements. Federal job applicants are trying to follow the directions, but there are no directions in s ome of the USAJOBS announcements regarding the submission of KSAs.KSAs are obviously mucksmuschenmucksmuschenstill important to the human resources specialists when determining the Best Qualified candidates. For savvy federal jobseekers, the KSA listings in the announcement are important clues to writing a Best Qualified application.Since the KSAs are not required as separate written narratives, recommendations for including knowledge, skills and abilities competencies in the federal application are given by Kathryn Troutman, the leading federal career consultant and author of several federal job search publications including the recently released fifth edition of the Federal Resume Guidebook.Kathryn Troutman recommends that the federal jobseeker include KSA accomplishments in the work experience section of their federal resume. The KSAs can also be briefly covered in the cover letter. The job applicant can prove their KSA skill level in the questionnaire multiple-choice selections. Finally, the KSAs could become interview questions in the government job interview.Dont ignore those KSAs, even though they are eliminated, said Kathryn Troutman, whose company, The Resume Place, helps federal job applicants. wrote Joe Davidson in his Washington Post article on May 19th, 2011.2011 Hiring Reform eliminated KSAs maybe. They are 96% eliminated as separate written narratives but KSAs are still listed in most federal job announcements. Kathryn Troutman recommends that the government job applicant include KSA accomplishments in the USAJOBS federal resume, cover letter, best selections in the multiple choice questionnaire, and as preparation for the federal job interview.For tips on how to include KSAs in the federal resume, please read The Resume Places article on how to properly include KSAs in the Federal Resume.

Getting Paid While in Air Force Basic Training

Getting Paid While in Air Force Basic TrainingGetting Paid While in Air Force Basic TrainingAs with any new job, for newly enlisted military personnel, getting that first paycheck is a great validation (and often a huge relief). Military personnel are paid on the 1st and 15th of each month. If those days fall on a non-duty day, you are paid on the duty daypreceding. Your pay is direct-deposited into your bank account. Note that you can also elect to be paid monthly, but it might be difficult to budget that way. How to Prepare for Your First Air ForcePaycheck Ideally, you should set up a bank account (either savings or checking) before you depart for Air Force Basic Military Training. Bring your account information and an ATM/debit card with you. If you dont have an account set up, one of the first things the staff will do is require you to establish an account at the base credit union or base bank. During your in-processing, you will complete paperwork to begin your military pay. Getting Your First Air Force Paycheck When will you receive your first paycheck? It depends on when you complete your paperwork and when its processed. The date you fill out the paperwork during in-processing, and the date the information is input into the Finance Computer System are leid the same dates. It may take as long as 30 days for you to see your first check, so try to budget accordingly. Once it arrives, your first paycheck will contain all the pay youve earned up to that point. For recruits without dependents, that means base pay only. If you enlisted with anadvanced rank, you will be paid the basic pay for that advanced rank, even though you dont get to wear the rank during basic until your graduation. How Much Will I Receive in My First Air Force Paycheck? For those with dependents, it means base pay and housing allowance. If you have dependents, youll also receive a family separation allowance,but that wont start until youve been away from your dependents for 3 0 days. Your first paycheck will be pro-rated to the number of days youve been on active duty. For example, if you receive your first paycheck 30 days after arrival, you will receive the full-rate of the monthly pay and allowances in that paycheck. If, however, you receive your first paycheck two weeks after arrival, it will contain half of the monthly base pay and half of the monthly housing allowance (for those with dependents). Of course, taxes and other deductions (such as the deduction for your basic training debit card account see below) are taken out. Basic Training Debit Card Be aware that while you may receive everything you need at basic training, only actual uniform items are issued for free. Non-uniform items, such as notebooks, pens, flashlights,etc. are not. A couple of days after arrival, youll be issued an official basic training debit card. This card has part of your initial military pay deposited in a special finance account. When you need to purchase somethi ng that is not issued free (such as running shoes, soap, shampoo, haircuts, laundry costs, etc.), youll use this card. Any funds remaining on this card when you finish basic will be added to your next paycheck. Bringing Cash to Air Force Basic Training You are allowed to have cash at basic training. How much you can have at any one time is up to your training instructor, but it probably wont be a large amount. Except when youre using the cash,to buy a soda or candy bar, for instance, all your bills must be locked up in your security drawer, and you must enter and keep track of the serial numbers for each bill in your pocket notebook.