Top trends in Registered Nurse Hiring

Top trends in Registered Nurse HiringTop trends in Registered Nurse HiringTop trends in Registered Nurse HiringIntelligence dug into whos hiring registered nurses these days. If youre recruiting nurses, youll want to know what we found.As one of the top 10 occupations with the largest projected job growth into 2024 Registered Nurses are among the highest volume of jobs in demand across the nation. About 439,000 new Registered Nurse jobs are expected by 2024 according to the 2012-2024 employment projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2015, the annual average unemployment rate for Registered Nurses was 1.5% which is 3.2 percentage points below the national rate of 4.7% for all US workers 16 years and over.More than 3 million Registered Nurses are employed in the US today, and Registered Nurse jobs account for more than 75% of all nursing jobs posted on Monster. To give you some insight into what your recruiting competitors are up to, our Intelligence team analyzed data fro m the CEB TalentNeuron tool to identify which companies are posting the most jobs and where jobs are harder to fill.Registered Nurses, RNs employed 3.1 millionAnnual wage $71,000Nursing Jobs40% of available Healthcare jobs are for NursesOf all open nursing positions, 76% of those jobs are for Registered NursesWho is hiring registered nurses?The majority of registered nurses are employed in the healthcare sector and nearly 20% are employed in non-clinical healthcare jobs. Those employed in a clinical drumherum are primarily employed in hospitals small shares of registered nurses are employed in ambulatory healthcare services, and nursing and residential care facilities.Most Common Companies Seeking Registered Nurses1HCA Healthcare *ProfileCommunity Health Systems *ProfileMSN Travel NursingDepartment of Veterans AffairsGuard.me International InsuranceTravel Health InsuranceCatholic Health Initiatives *ProfileTrinity Health *ProfileDaVitaKindred HealthcareHow difficult is it to recruit a Registered Nurse?Registered Nurse positions are harder than the average to recruit when compared to all other positions posted online.Which high demand job markets are harder to fill?Here are the top 10 hardest to fill job markets most in demand, some of which may surprise you.No. 1 Atlanta GAAvailable zugnglich Jobs 36,600Hiring Difficulty 82Median Ad Salary $91,250No. 2 Seattle WAAvailable Online Jobs 33,200Hiring Difficulty 82Median Ad Salary $82,550No. 3 Phoenix AZAvailable Online Jobs 30,000Hiring Difficulty 78Median Ad Salary $76,400No. 4 Houston TXAvailable Online Jobs 34,900Hiring Difficulty 77Median Ad Salary $87,250No. 5 Dallas TXAvailable Online Jobs 39,200Hiring Difficulty 71Median Ad Salary $83,200No. 6 Washington DCAvailable Online Jobs 30,300Hiring Difficulty 71Median Ad Salary $109,050No. 7 Los Angeles CAAvailable Online Jobs 48,400Hiring Difficulty 54Median Ad Salary $88,200No. 8 Boston MAAvailable Online Jobs 33,000Hiring Difficulty 53Median Ad Salary $90,950No. 9 New York NYAvailable Online Jobs 65,200Hiring Difficulty 46Median Ad Salary $96,700No. 10 Chicago ILAvailable Online Jobs 39,200Hiring Difficulty 44Median Ad Salary $86,850Want to know more about the top trends in hiring registered nurses? Check out the Registered Nurse Market Overview from Intelligence.Data finding are based on analysis of all available online jobs reported by the TalentNeuron tool and job seeking activity from more than 22 million unique visitors2.1CEB TalentNeuron, JAN-JUN 20162comScore Media Metrix, 1Q 2016, 3-month average, (includes all US Mobile + PC traffic)*FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT COMPANY PROFILES, CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVEOR 1-800-X6333 TODAY.

In a Cool Economy, Where Are the Tech Hot Spots

In a Cool Economy, Where Are the Tech Hot SpotsIn a Cool Economy, Where Are the Tech Hot SpotsRecruiters report that there are still IT jobs out there but you need to demonstrate the right qualifications in the right locations and industries.This economy is no picnic for tech talent but recruiters told Ladders there are still seats at the table for candidates with the right skills who are in the right location and the right industries.For best results, be or become a qualified network architect, manager or administrator, telecommunications or database specialist all of which are in demand, especially in companies working on VoIP and Web enhancement projects, said Dave Willmer, executive director of RH Technology, the Menlo Park, Calif.-based IT division of recruitment giant Robert Half International. Virtualization, project management and data-center skills are also hot, especially for candidates who can realize cost savings from data-center consolidation projects.Look in industri es that are moving comparatively quickly on the IT front healthcare, professional services, business services. Be willing to relocate to take a job or look in areas where IT jobs are particularly common right now, according to Willmer.Raleigh-Durham, N.C., is unusually hot right now, and is underappreciated as a technology center, Willmer said. Texas (especially the Dallas/Ft. Worth area) and some parts of New England (mainly Boston) are also stronger than most.Get up to speed not just on social networking but the technology behind it. Knowing how to build and maintain a good community site and support social-networking marketing efforts and Web 2.0 projects can land you a job, said Lindsay Olson, partner and recruiter at Paradigm Staffing, a New York company that specializes in technology and marketing/sales/PR.Be careful to verify whether companies are approaching you for full-time positions or contract gigs, Willmer said. Many companies are relying on contract hires during these lean times.Thats not necessarily a bad thing a lot of people are getting through a period of unemployment with a string of temporary contract jobs. By working with former employers, current colleagues or recruiters, skilled IT professionals can find contract work that could last anywhere from a few days to several months, Willmer said.

Important Job Skills for Interior Designers

Important Job Skills for Interior DesignersImportant Job Skills for Interior DesignersIf you love design, decor, and creating cohesive color schemes,interior designcould be an excellent career choice for you. A designer is hired by individuals, companies, andreal estate agentsto decosatz spaces, such as offices, living rooms, or bedrooms. They take into account a clients taste, budget, and the space itself to come up with a look that matches the customers needs. As of 2018, interior designers earned a median salary of about $53,470 per year, according to theU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics(BLS). Job growth for the decade ending in 2026 is projected at 4%, which is one of the largest growth margins of all the artistic professions. For those willing to steer their interior design efforts toward commercial healthcare facilities, the projected growth is significantly higher. According to BLS, about 20% of interior designers are self-employed, and more than half worked for specialized desi gn firms or for architectural or engineering firms. What Kind of Skills Do You Need to be an Interior Designer? Interior designers typically handle cosmetic changes that may, or may not, be part of a more extensive renovation. For instance, rather than installing new granite countertops or knocking down walls, an interior designer chooses paint colors for the walls, selects the styles of furniture, and coordinates the colors for drapes, curtains, and accent pieces. If more construction work or other extensive renovations are part of the project, the designer also may coordinate with the contractor. As a general rule, interiordesignis more comprehensive than interiordecorating. While design involves decorating, interior decorators have serious limitations in their ability to advise clients on overall design. More often than not, an interior designer helps clients with possible major cosmetic changes, including the kind of cosmetic changes to merit contractor work. Some interior d esigners actually partner with architectural firms, depending on the experience and credentials of the designer. Types of Interior Design Skills Communication As a designer, you will meet with clients to discuss their ideas, so its essential that youcommunicate effectivelyand listen attentively. In addition to working well with clients, you need to be able to communicate with contractors that might be overseeing the broader project and with vendors that might be supplying artwork, furniture, and more. Active ListeningProblem SensitivityOral CommunicationWritten CommunicationPresentationNegotiation Vision Part of being successful as an interior designer is being able to see what spacecouldbe. This can be looking at an empty room or office and envisioning what can work in that space, or it might be looking at a decorated space and imagining something significantly different. Unlike looking at a blank canvas, this requires the ability to see potential in natural lighting, t he angles of walls and ceilings, and more. Spatial AwarenessSpace PlanningRoom FunctionFurniture ArrangementsAppliance ArrangementsAmbiance Creativity Keeping up to date on current styles and trends is an important part of the job, as is a knowledge of complementary colors. Its also necessary to be able to translate your artistic eye to a sketch that conveys ideas to clients. A design degree or other certification is helpful, but equivalent experience can be gained through internships or apprenticeships with other designers. Either way,creativityis a must. ColorStyles and TrendsInnovationOpen-mindedBrainstormingCollaboration Flexibility Interior design is not always a 9-to-5 job. While it can be if most of your clients are businesses, youll likely have to meet with residential clients in the evening or on weekends on occasion. If working with both business and residential clients, its obviously necessary that you have enoughflexibilityto meet at any time. SchedulingCalendar ManagementDelegationSetting and Managing ExpectationsGoal-orientedTrustworthyDiligence Problem-solving Projects rarely go as smoothly as planned, and you will have to regularlyproblem solve. Unexpected delays can lead to unexpected expenses. Artwork, furniture, or another item a client wants might suddenly become unavailable, or renovation plans might change for a variety of reasons, leading to necessary changes in the interior design. On top of all of that, clients might prove to be fickle, changing their minds and requiring you to adapt on the fly. Process ManagementOngoing ImprovementTroubleshootingProject PlanningPrioritizingBenchmarkingFollow-through Budgeting Strongbudgetingskills are necessary, especially since many clients will be looking to do as much as possible for as little money as possible. Succeeding in this regard sometimes requires financial creativity as much as it requires design expertise. In addition to being good with numbers, this also is a matter of b eing good with vendors. For example, if a particular fabric or color is popular at a given time, you likely can buy a higher volume at a lower rate with confidence that youll be able to use it all. NegotiationForecastingTransparencyRecordkeepingIdentifying Hidden Costs Computer-aided design (CAD) Technology is a bigger part of interior design than its ever been in the past. Software programs allow designers to show clients what spaces will look like by creating them digitally. Its important to gain experience with such software to be successful in the field. ArchicadAutodesk Revit 3D MaxVectorworksLive Home 3DAutoCADChief ArchitectSketchUp3D Homeplanner More Interior Design Skills Email ManagementContractsMobile DevicesReal EstateConsignmentStagingAppraisalInspectionsProperty Safety CodesNetworkingComparablesStructural DesignStress TolerancePositivityBearingProactivityComplianceLayoutAccountability to Design PlansTrimble SketchUp ProCustomer ServiceCritical ThinkingConstruc tionMemoryOriginalitySketching PlansZoning Regulations How to Make Your Skills Stand Out Add Relevant Skills to Your ResumePay attention to the job description, and use the skills listed above to update yourresume. If you are a freelance designer, you may be presenting your resume while also making a bid for a project.Highlight Skills in Your Cover LetterYourcover letterwill often be the first page of a proposal in the bid process. You may also be asked to provide a portfolio of your past projects.Use Skill Words in Your Job einstellungsgesprchWhen meeting with potential clients or employers, engage in active listening. Ask probing questions. Repeat back to the prospective client/employer what theyre asking of you. You want them to know that you know what they want and need.

The Best Six Figure Jobs (and How to Get Them)

The Best Six Figure Jobs (and How to Get Them)The Best Six Figure Jobs (and How to Get Them)Want to earn a six-figure salary? Choose your next career path carefully, and get ready to make a serious investment in education. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, only 55 out of 818 listed occupations offer median salaries of $100,000 per year or mora- and 53 of them typically require at least a bachelors degree. For others, you need a masters or professional degree. The exceptions- Air Traffic Controller and Commercial Pilot- are both projected to grow slower than the average for all occupations over the next decade. So, if youre looking for a job that pays extremely well and offers some security in the years to come, youll need to continue your education beyond high school. A few other things stand out high-paying occupations tend to concentrate in industries that value technical expertise and training, such as healthcare and computer/IT. Beyond that, being a manager pays off- 13 of the 55 top-paying occupations had the exakt manager in their title. Of course, a six-figure salary isnt much use if you cant get a job. To create our list of the very best six-figure jobs, we selected only occupations with a much-faster-than-average projected growth rate. These are some of the jobs that are most likely to net you a high salary and good job opportunities. Top 10 Six-Figure Jobs 1. Actuary Actuaries use mathematics and statistics to assess risk and minimize cost, typically for insurance companies. While this might sound like a dry occupation, actuaries are known for being extremely satisfied with their jobs. Median Salary $100,610 per year Occupational Outlook 2016-2026 22 percentprojected growth 5,300 jobs added Current No. of Jobs 23,600 How to Get This Job Actuaries must have a bachelors degree in a concentration like mathematics, actuarial science, or statistics. In addition, they may want to take coursework in programming languages, databases, and writing. Actuaries are certified by two professional societies Casualty Actuarial Society, which certifies professionals who work in property and casualty, and The Society of Actuaries, which certifies professionals who work in life and health insurance, as well as retirement and finance. 2. Anesthesiologist Anesthesiologists administer local and general anesthesia during medical procedures, as well as monitoring patient vital signs. Median Salary $276,751 per year Occupational Outlook 2016-2026* 15 percentprojected growth 106,500 jobs added Current No. of Jobs 713,800 How to Get This Job The American Society of Anesthesiologists recommends beginning preparations for your career as early as high school, by taking advanced classes in biology and chemistry and volunteering in hospital settings. Anesthesiologists must complete four years of college, four years of medical school, one year of internship, and three to four years of residency. Many opt for an additional fellowship year to train in a subspecialty like pain management, cardiac anesthesiology, or critical care medicine. 3. Computer and Information Research Scientist These scientists solve complex problems using computer software. They create and refine tools and methods, as well as overseeing research projects in fields like medicine and business. Specialties in this field include data science and robotics. Median Salary $111,840 per year Occupational Outlook 2016-2026 19 percentprojected growth 5,400 jobs added Current No. of Jobs 27,900 How to Get This Job Most private-sector employers want candidates to have a masters degree in the public sector, a bachelors in computer science is sometimes sufficient. 4. Dentist Dentists help their patients keep their smiles looking great, as well as preventing and addressing serious health problems related to teeth and gums. Median Salary $159,770 per year Occupational Outlook 2016-2026 17 percentprojected growth 26 ,400 jobs added Current No. of Jobs 153,500 How to Get This Job Dentists must have a bachelors degree and attend an accredited dental school, as well as passing the required exams for licensure in their state. 5. Financial Manager Financial managers work for a variety of organizations, including banks and insurance companies. Their primary role is to develop strategies to ensure the long-term financial health of their employer. Median Salary $121,750 per year Occupational Outlook 2016-2026 19 percentprojected growth 108,400 jobs added Current No. of Jobs 580,400 How to Get This Job A bachelors degree in finance, accounting, or a related subject is generally required some employers give preference to candidates with an MBA. 6. Internist, General Whats the difference between internists and family practice physicians? Were all primary care physicians, but the biggest difference is internal medicine doctors are like adult pediatricians, said Saju Mathew, M.D., a primary care phy sician at Piedmont Physicians Group, on the groups website. Median Salary $182,370 per year Occupational Outlook 2016-2026* 15 percentprojected growth 106,500 jobs added Current No. of Jobs 713,800 How to Get This Job Doctors must have bachelors degrees and graduate from medical school. They then embark on three to seven years of internship and residency. 7. Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners are known as advanced practice registered nurses. Respectively, they administer anesthesia, provide gynecological care and deliver babies, and perform many of the same functions as a primary care doctor (with or without physician supervision, depending on their state. Median Salary $107,460 per year Occupational Outlook 2016-2026 31 percentprojected growth 64,000 jobs added Current No. of Jobs 203,800 How to Get This Job Nurse anesthetists must have at least a masters degree and be accredited by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists.Certified Nurse Midwives must have a masters degree in nursing, be licensed to practice in their state, and be certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board.NPs must have a masters degree and meet their states licensure requirements. 8. Obstetrician/Gynecologist Gynecologists provide counseling and treatment for their female patients reproductive health. Obstetricians care for women before and during pregnancy, and deliver babies. Median Salary $230,186 per year Occupational Outlook 2016-2026* 15 percentprojected growth 106,500 jobs added Current No. of Jobs 713,800 How to Get This Job OBs and gynecologists must attain a bachelors degree, graduate from medical school, and participate in at least four years of internship and residency, as well as being licensed in their specialty. 9. Petroleum Engineer Petroleum engineers typically work for oil companies, designing and perfecting methods of extracting oil and gas from the e arth. Median Salary $128,230 per year Occupational Outlook 2016-2026 15 percentprojected growth 4,900 jobs added Current No. of Jobs 33,700 How to Get This Job Petroleum engineers typically have a bachelors degree in petroleum, mechanical, civil, or chemical engineering. Some students may opt for five-year programs leading to directly to a masters degree. 10. Software Developer, Applications App developers create, perfect and debug web-based software applications. Median Salary $102,280 per year Occupational Outlook 2016-2026 24 percentprojected growth 299,500 jobs added Current No. of Jobs 1,256,200 How to Get This Job Software developers typically have a bachelors degree in computer science although some employers will give a chance to a skilled candidate without a degree. Dont Want to Go to School Forever? Develop Sought-After Skills If youre looking at the educational requirements for these jobs and despairing dont. While its true that the clearest path to a high-payin g job may be to acquire advanced education, its not the only possible route to take. Employers pay top dollar for candidates with in-demand skills. The harder those skills are to find, the more likely an employer will be to overlook the lack of formal schooling. This is especially true in tech jobs, where what you can do is more important than owning a piece of paper stating that you can do it. Web developers, software engineers, and systems administrators, among other occupations, may find high-paying opportunities that pay top dollar. With experience, some of these jobs can approach or surpass six figures. To get started, you have to upskill yourself. Coding academies and bootcamps can provide a grounding in the required concepts- or you can save yourself the tuition and teach yourself, using free online courses. * Physicians and surgeons are grouped together in the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Statistics are for the occupational group as a whole.

The Basics of Writea

The Basics of Writea Before you begin, it can be of help to review some cover letter samples, just so youve got a visual of how everything fits on the webpage. The letter should give a synopsis of your qualifications that fulfill the goal the resume specifies. Your cover letter needs to be formatted like an expert small business letter. Find out more regarding the differences between a resume and a cover letter to make sure that you get started writing your cover letter with the right strategy. Your thesis sentence should provide your particular assertion and convey a very clear standpoint. Read your essay to see whether it flows well. Needless to say, essays play a major role in the college application procedure, too. Know how your essay is going to be evaluated. With more opportunities than ever to develop into an author, the difficult part is the true writing. Writing the college application essay can be among the fruchtwein daunting pieces of applying to college. Writing in college often requires the shape of persuasionconvincing others that youve got an interesting, logical viewpoint on the subject youre studying. Writing your thoughts on paper is the start of the procedure. Using Writea What you decide to highlight may perform a part in others deciding to follow you, call you in for an interview, or encourage you to take part in an occasion. The way you receive the work done is bedrngnis complicated. To assist you write from an audience viewpoint, identify either a true person or the sort of person who is probably to be listening to you. As soon as you get a very first draft, you are going to want to produce a very first editing pass through yourself to tighten things up. The Unusual Secret of Writea Since a month-to-month report is a report that delivers full information regarding the undertaking and missing it is going to be the cause of a heavy downfall of an undertaking. The letter offers detailed info on why youre qualified for the j ob that you are applying for. It is crucial your cover letter be tailored to every position youre applying to. A covering letter is the one which accompanies your CV when youre applying for employment. Both the argument and your thesis are most likely to want adjustment on the way. A vital evaluation does not just highlight negative impressions. Its also wise to explain the problem that the study addresses and provide a succinct account of the history of the issue mentioning whether its been addressed in any form before. Theres no need to share any personal details about yourself or your family within it. At times, its possible to compose the introduction first. Needless to say, there are quite a few explanations for why a letter of support can be quite so persuasive in the very first place. When youre asking for a job which has been posted by a business thats hiring, you will use the application letter style. New Ideas Into Writea Never Before Revealed Learning how to compo se a speech is straight forward once you learn how to write out loud. Explain the context where the work was made. Try to remember that changing components of your work in the practice of writing and reviewing is normal. You should know what youre attempting to accomplish before you begin any undertaking. Graduate schools care about both content and fashion, but during the writing process, it is reasonable concentrate first on content and after that consider style more closely once you understand what you need to say. You will have the ability to use a huge fraction of the fabric of the thesis proposal in your final senior thesis. A thesis is the consequence of a prolonged thinking practice. Nowadays you have a working thesis How to Get Started with Writea? In English there are a lot of conventions that needs to be used when formatting a formal or company letter. The fundamental speech format is straightforward. There are many formatting styles typically utilized. Make your writing location a particular space, so that if you enter it, youre prepared to get the job done. In case the check is over 3 digits you may use commas too. Make certain to use the proper name so the individual or business youre writing the check to can deposit or cash it. Be certain your opening sentences are attention-grabbing (in a great way) The most important intention of a session title is to receive the reader to read the very first sentence of the session description. The main aim of the very first sentence is to receive the second sentence read.

The Indeed Resume Login Game

The Indeed Resume Login Game To save a good deal of heartache down the road, be certain you use our resume builder to create a document that may be easily transferred to several job applications. However, assuming youve created a Indeed profile, to conserve work, simply click the star near the job you wish to save. Ill now speak about a few strategies to bear in mind when framing it that would suit your work profile. I worked in internet marketing for assorted multi-million dollar products and some key brands. Were keen to fulfill the requirements of our clientele. Youre able to incorporate these precise details in your CV for making better effect on the hiring managers. You may also search and view resumes of different candidates who have the sort of job that youre searching for to obtain insight into the experience and skills employers value. When teachers will need to submit an application for a new job, they have to highlight their very best attributes as a teacher. We re centered on the future, and that has the future of our teams. With a Indeed Resume you are able to make your abilities and experience visible to employers and provide them an effortless way to get in touch with you about relevant jobs. Weve virtualized Call Centers all around the nation, wherever your talents and adaptability can help you accomplish your whole career potential. And if they do, theyll have the ability to see your latest accomplishments. When youve finished putting in information into the aforementioned window, click the blue FIND JOBS button. Front and center, you will see a choice to start a new job search, which can be achieved by pressing the large, blue New Job Search button. Simply click the Options button close to the windows top corner. 1 means to do this would be to incorporate a summary that truly captures all your very best attributes as a work candidate. This is the sort of information where, if you leave it off, you might be passed by for a dif ferent candidate who has made a decision to include it. The mixture of our templates and your input is likely to make your resume fly to the peak of any pile. But remember the manner in which you format your resume is extremely important based on how much experience youve got, or in case you have any job gaps. The Tried and True Method for Indeed Resume Login in Step by Step Detail Were certain that your school years ought to be the best years of your life. It is possible to search by job title to acquire an awareness of what other men and women in your field include in their resumes. Its well-known that internships are the very best way for students to get work experience before graduation. When it has to do with your work history, begin with the latest job you had. The reply is yes in case you need to. Then it may be time to bring some style to your resume If its so, then you might be having some challenging time for a student in addition to being a writer. There isnt an y time for procrastination once it comes to getting your perfect job. At our essay support, essays are always delivered in a brief moment. They can be found in many designs and formats. You may have a look at our post on the best resume formats here in order to see which one is proper for you. It may feel impossible to understand how to word your text. Also, examine some of the public Indeed resumes. A good resume would assist with that. Think about your resume from the view of HR. The Basic Facts of Indeed Resume Login Whenever you make your resume private, employers cannot locate your resume, so they cannot contact you if they think you may be perfect for employment. Your contact information is only going to be shared when you decide to respond to an employer. saatkorn so as to register in Indeed as an employer or consultant he must demonstrate licence ought to be the rule. You will be able to edit it online once youve uploaded it. Building a resume isnt a task you ma y leave up to chance. Simply inform us of your college major and preferred location and you are able to connect with thousands of organizations which are hiring interns now. On top of that, searching for internships is wholly free. Indeed has a broad number of applicants and job postings.

3 Tips to Help You Re-Enter the Workforce After an Extended Leave of Absence

3 Tips to Help You Re-Enter the Workforce After an Extended Leave of Absence Anyone who has taken an extended period of time off from work for any reason understands just how terrifying it is to jump back into theprofessional world. Taking time away from your role also means taking a break from developing your skills. As a result, it can be easy to lose confidence in yourself.Given that54 percent of employees surveyed by Pew Research Centersaid training and skills developmentwere essential throughout their work lives, its no wonder we put so much pressure on ourselves when returning to work after an extended absence.The good news is youre not doomed to an unsuccessful career. Here are a few tips to help you rise up and return to the workforce successfully1. Rediscover Your PassionsWhether youve taken time off for three months or three years, your passions have likely changed. This could necessitate a drastic career change, or just a new focus in the s aatkorn field. Before making a choice either way, you should reflect on who you were, who you are now, and who you want to become. Start by asking yourself these questions- What activities did I enjoy doing?- What did I miss about my job while away?- Did I feel relieved about not going to work? If so, why?- Did I read anything that sparked my interest?Use the answers to these questions to evaluate your passions anddetermine whether a major career change is in order. Search for jobs with descriptions andorganizations with missions that align with your values and inspirations.Let what you missed about your job and what you dreadedabout it guide your job search. These factors will help narrow down your options and give you a bit of confidence in moving forward.2. Regain Your ConfidenceThe job search is hard enough under normal circumstances trying to rejoin the workforce after a long time away makes it all the more daunting. This is especially true when youre competing against new gra ds and job seekers with advanced experience.It doesnt help that we put a lot of pressure on ourselves. In the Pew survey cited earlier, 72 percent of respondents said a lot of responsibility falls on individuals to make sure they have the right skills and education to be successful in todays economy.Remember You were hired once before because ofthe skills and qualifications you have, and you will be hired again. Dont lose sight of your previous achievements. Think back to each time you hit a goal, accomplished a difficult project, or were acknowledged for your hard work.Because insecurity feeds off stress, its important to talk about youraccomplishments out loud.Sit down with a friend or former coworker to chat it out. Have your peer shut down any insecurities along the way. Most importantly, let them help you shift your focusto your qualifications and positive attributes.3. Dive Back InThe next job offer you consider accepting will feel like a big step. After being out of the game for a while, its natural tobelieve everything needs to be perfect when you make your next move. Sometimes, though, you have to just dive into the water.You can only rediscover so much of yourself outside of the workforce. Getting back into a job even if its not your long-term career choice will help build your confidence. It may even lead to some new skills as well.Once your feet are wet, revisit your list of passions. Note what you like about this new job, what you dread doing, and any new passions youve discovered. This will help you decide if youre on the right track, or if this job is just a stop along the way to rediscovering yourself.Val Matta is the vice president of business development atCareerShift.Connect with Val and CareerShift onLinkedIn.

Being a Code Enforcement Officer

Being a Code Enforcement OfficerBeing a Code Enforcement OfficerCities and counties adopt building codes and to keep people safe and to keep their jurisdictions appealing places to live. Building codes set the minimum standards for construction and renovation of buildings. Land use ordinances set forth regulations on what sorts of buildings can be on pieces of land and the standards for maintaining the land and structures. Code enforcement officers make koranvers building codes and land use ordinances are obeyed. When a citizen takes out a permit, chances are a code enforcement officer will look into the project a time or two while the project is in progress and again once it is done. The code enforcement officer ensures the project meets building codes. It gives the property owner a good degree of confidence the contractor has done the project correctly and safely. In addition to construction projects, code enforcement officers make sure property owners follow land use ordinances. F or instance, code enforcement officers investigate when someone makes a complaint about a lawn or vacant lot that hasnt been mowed for several weeks. Many cities have ordinances about how tall grass can be before it becomes an eyesore to the community. A career as a code enforcement officer requires the abilities to learn ordinances, to apply those ordinances to real-life situations, to explain decisions and to communicate tactfully in difficult situations. With unterstellung abilities, code enforcement officers can handle just about any work problem thrown their way. The Selection Process Code enforcement officers are hired using the normal government hiring process. Many jurisdictions require code enforcement officers to have some sort of certification or license related to building inspection. It makes sense because they often check the work of licensed tradesmen like plumbers and electricians. A license or certification gives a code enforcement officer de facto credibility w ith the workers whose work they verify is done up to standards. The Education and Experience Youll Need To be considered for a code enforcement job, most organizations require a high school education and some experience in the construction industry. Some require a college degree in a field related to the position. Again, code enforcement officers inspect and approve the work of licensed tradesmen, so they need to be able to communicate with these experts in a professional setting. As has been mentioned before, many organizations require some sort of licensure. What Youll Do Code enforcement officers are important local government professionals who play a vital role in keeping a community safe and appealing. They keep it safe by ensuring buildings are built and remodeled so the structures will stay standing and will function properly. Not only will the roof stay up, but also the electricity wont cause a fire, the plumbing wont leak, the walls will be appropriately insulated, and mold wont accumulate in hidden nooks and crannies. Code enforcement officers help retain the communitys appeal by enforcing land use ordinances. They make sure zoning laws are followed, graffiti is quickly abated, and unkempt properties are maintained by their owners. Doing this job well requires several abilities. First, code enforcement officers must learn and apply the building codes and ordinances they are charged with enforcing. They need a strong working knowledge of these rules and must be able to tell the difference when these rules are followed and when they are not. Second, code enforcement officers must be able to explain their decisions. When they say something isnt up to snuff, the people who are supposed to bring the project or property into compliance need to understand what is deficient and how that deficiency should be remedied. It isnt enough to point out errors. Officers help people come into compliance. Third, code enforcement officers must be able to communi cate tactfully in difficult situations. Many times, citizens are not going to be happy with a code enforcement officers decision. An officers decision could delay a construction project which will cost the contractor or the property owner money - perhaps lots of money. When money is involved, things can get heated quickly. It is vital that code enforcement officers retain their cool in these situations. As a government agent, the officer must retain a professional demeanor, de-escalate situations when possible and know when to walk away from someone who wont have a reasonable interaction. What Youll Earn The US Bureau of Labor Statistics does not keep data specifically on code enforcement officers however, it does keep data on construction and building inspectors and compliance officers. A code enforcement officer position is a hybrid of these two jobs. In 2014, the average salary for construction and building inspectors was $58,430. At the same time, the average salary for comp liance officers was $68,000. As with any government job, experience plays a large role in determining an employees salary. New code enforcement officers can expect to make below average salaries whereas those with a bit of tenure can get closer to the mean. Those nearing retirement tend to make the most money.

5 Ways to Have a Better Relationship With Your Boss - The Muse

5 Ways to Have a Better Relationship With Yur babo - The Muse5 Ways to Have a Better Relationship With Your BossProductive, respectful relationships between a babo and his or her employees is key to any companys success. While the boss top priority is likely to have hardworking employees who fulfill his vision for the company, its a safe bet that hed also like to have mora than superficial relationships with the people he works with every day. After all, he probably spends more time with his staff than he does with anyone else.Of course, theres something in it for employees, too The boss plays a key role in advancement opportunities, so the more he knows you, your work, and your work ethic, the more likely you are to be rewarded. A healthy, respectful relationship with your manager can improve your morale and productivity, and ultimately, it can boost your career. If you want a relationship that goes beyond we get along fine, here are five suggestions for building a stronger alliance with your boss. 1. Take the Initiative to Set Up Monthly MeetingsWhen I first started my business, it was easy to meet with each employee almost daily, because I only had five employees. Now, with 19, it is more difficult to check in with every employee every day and keep tabs on all the tasks that each person is working on. So its important that my employees take the aktion to set up individual meetings with me throughout the month. This helps me know whats going on in the business- and shows me that they care about their jobs and are keeping my goals and expectations in mind.Your boss may be busy, but as an employee, you can and should take the initiative to meet with your boss one on one at least once a month. Use that time as an opportunity to discuss the status of your current projects, to present your ideas for the future, and to check in to make sure youre on track with your boss goals and strategies. 2. Demonstrate Your Innovation and InitiativeEvery CEO or manager wants a company full of motivated and productive employees. Showing that youre excited to take on on new projects will help both you and your boss be more successful. If you work in an office where people are constantly pitching ideas for new products, services, projects, or process improvements, dont be afraid to raise your hand and volunteer to take the initiative on something. If suggestions arent free flowing, keep a running list of your own ideas and offer them up at your monthly meetings with your boss. Being innovative and taking initiative shows your manager that youre invested in growing with the company, and that is bound to lead to a better relationship between the two of you.3. Strive for Open CommunicationHow many times have you told your boss that one of his or her ideas isnt so great? Its a scary conversation for any employee, but its an important one. There have been a number of times that Ive shared ideas with employees, and theyve come back and suggested- politely of cours e- that my idea may not be the best route. The reason I dont get upset is because, along with the rejection of my idea, they present a suggestion for something else. Or, better still, they consider how they can adapt my idea and make it work more effectively. The key is to remember that you were hired because you have a specific set of skills that the company values and, often, can offer a different perspective than your boss can. Feeling comfortable enough to disagree with your boss and have an open line of communication will build a strong relationship- one in which you know the best ideas will always rise to the top.4. Remember Your Boss Is Human, TooMost leaders come to work with their professional game face on, armed with a to-do list a mile long. They spend their days focused on moving the company closer to its goals. However, even leaders appreciate when their employees see them as something more than the guy or gal who signs their paychecks. In a previous article where I dis cussed the questions you should ask your employees to keep them happy and loyal, I suggested that leaders ask their team, How was your weekend? However, I think it goes both ways Employees should take the time to ask their boss questions like, How are you? or Did you do anything fun this weekend? This isnt about being best buddies or feeling like you need to hang out together outside of work- its about communicating on a more personal level. 5. Be YourselfYouve probably heard some of your co-workers refer to their work wives or work husbands. Its usually said in jest, but theres some truth to the sentiment- many of us spend more time with our colleagues than we do with our actual families. And sometimes that commitment can cause friction at home or resentment at work. But unless your boss is famous psychic Theresa Caputo, he or she will have no idea that theres an issue brewing in your personal life. I would always rather have employees tell me when something at work or at home is a ffecting the rest of their lives than to wonder why their productivity has suddenly dipped or why theyve developed a bad attitude. So, if youre a parent whose office hours are taking a toll on your family, propose a schedule that allows you to work from home part-time. Or, if youre a part-time college student who needs some extra time off during finals week, see if there is a way to make up the time elsewhere in your schedule. Ask for what you need and be willing to compromise, and your relationship with your manager will be better for it.Keep in mind, your goal shouldnt be to become best friends with your boss. Instead, focus on establishing good communication skills and building trust- and the rewards will follow. Photo of boss laughing courtesy of Shutterstock.com.

How to Select and Contact Your References Find Your Dream Job

How to Select and Contact Your References â€" Find Your Dream Job How to Select and Contact Your References - Find Your Dream Job Before even applying to any jobs, it is important to have a list of references ready. Today, you will make a list of employment references, which you will readily be able to hand to a hiring manager when he or she asks for it. Typically employers ask for the list of references after an initial interview, although some will ask for references along with all the other initial job application materials. Get References Ready Before You Need Them The advantage of asking now is that you do not have to scramble to get references when an employer asks for them. Asking someone to be a reference (especially asking for a written reference letter) at the last minute is not only stressful for you, but can put a lot of pressure on the person you are asking. Getting your list ready ahead of time will save everyone a lot of stress later on. Think of Who to Ask You should have 3 - 5 names on your reference list. Make a list of former bosses, co-workers, colleagues, vendors, or customers who know your skills and attributes. If you are in college or graduate school (or if you are a recent graduate), include professors with whom you have worked closely. If you are new to the workforce, or have not worked in a few years, you can also ask someone for a character or personal reference. This can be written by a neighbor or acquaintance who may not have worked with you professionally, but who can attest to your skills and attributes. From this list, select 3 - 5 people who fit the following criteria: You believe they know enough about your work ethic to give you a recommendationYou think they will give you a positive reference. If you had negative interactions with this person in the past, or if you think they have any reservations about you, do not list them as a reference.You should feel comfortable that they will be professional in their comments to any potential employers. If someone thinks very highly of you, but often comes across as unprofessional or rude, you might want to consider another reference. They are easy to get in touch with. It is a definite put-off when a hiring manager cannot reach one of your references. Consider skipping over potential references who are currently traveling, or who are not good at responding promptly to emails and phone calls. How to Ask Before listing these 3 - 5 people as references, you need to get their permission. Send them a letter or email (or a LinkedIn message) giving them a little bit of information on your job search.   Here’s how to ask for a reference. Let them know what type of positions you will be applying for, so they can tailor their resumes to fit your industry. Then ask, “Do you feel you know my work well enough to write me a good recommendation letter?” or “Do you feel you could give me a good reference?” Phrasing the question in this way gives your contact an easy out if he or she does not feel comfortable writing you a glowing recommendation. Also be sure to offer each potential reference an updated copy of your resume and any other information about your skills, so he or she can be kept up to date with your experiences. Create Your List Once you have heard a positive response from 3 - 5 potential references, you can create your reference list. Dont list references on your resume or cover letter. Instead, have your references on a separate page that you can give to employers when they ask for them. Make sure to include each reference’s name, job title, company, and full contact information (including work address, phone number and email). Make sure the information you include is up to date. Ask the contact to confirm his or her contact information if you are uncertain. Say Thank You! Keep your references updated on your job search. Let them know who might be calling for a reference. When you get that dream job, be sure to send each reference a thank you note for their help in the job search process.

11 Unique Jobs to Apply to Today

11 Unique Jobs to Apply to Today 11 Unique Jobs to Apply to Today Are you looking for a new job, but aren’t exactly sure what you want to do? Sometimes it takes reading through job descriptions you’ve never heard of to help you understand your skills sets - and to find a job you would actually be perfect for! Whether you’re looking for a career change or a new gig that’s more interesting than your current one, these unique jobs might be the new position you’re searching for. Plus, these opportunities are available now! What they do: Home caretaker for sick or disabled persons. Companies hiring: 1 st Choice Home Health Care, Family Support Resources, Valleyview of Owatonna Assisted Living, Above & Beyond HomeCare, Inc., Alegria Community Living, Visiting Angels & more What they do: Legally hacks an organization’s computer and network systems in order to identify security vulnerabilities. Companies hiring: Lenovo, The Bonadio group, Dark Wolf Solutions, Fortego, Frontier Technology Inc., PwC, CME Group, MidPoint Group LLC., Kingfisher Systems, ACI Worldwide, Red Ventures, Accudata Systems Inc.  & more What they do: Recruits applicants and hires candidates for companies. Companies hiring: Neat Capital, Stillwater Human Capital, MBS Associates, R&R Employment, Safire Partners, Fircroft, OnDeck, Corvias Group, Forge, Wish  & more What they do: Uses art to therapeutically assist patients. Companies hiring: Veritas Collaborative, Recovery Centers of America, Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Strategic Behavioral Health, Hartford Healthcare, Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, American Health Companies  & more What they do: Manage daily farm operations. Companies hiring: Fishkill Farms, AGJobs LLc, Shenandoah Seasonal, State of Colorado, The Greenhorizons Group of Farms Ltd., Bluff Creek Farms & Indian Hills Farm, Martin Farms, Willmar Poultry Farms, AHRC Nassau, PGIM  & more What they do: Identify and manage vegetation for pruning and removal. Companies hiring: UPE Resources, EQUS, City of Forth Worth, Texas, Brandt, DeKalb County, Eversource Energy, North Carolina State University, The Tree Doctor, Inc., Hill International, The Greener Side, Inc.  & more What they do: Test games or software for bugs, issues and to gauge how difficult it is to understand. Companies hiring: Reality Break Escapes, Publishers Clearing House, 22 nd Century Staffing, High 5 Games, DXC, GameChanger, Nexon  America Inc., Big Huge Games, IGT  & more What they do: Tastes, produces and molds chocolate - the perfect job for a chocolate lover! Companies hiring: Schakolad Chocolate Factory, Pavilions, Chanson, Ethereal Confections, 1-800-Flowers.com, Ghirardelli, Godiva, The Cosmopolitan  & more What they do: Collects, organizes and archives historical information. Companies hiring: Premier Exhibitions, Kramlich Group, Galesburg Public Library, DAR, Goucher College, Gagosian Gallery, Hudson Library, Virginia Department of Health, Smithsonian, Norfolk State  & more What they do: Reads and reports data on energy meters. Companies hiring: AES Corporation, Utility Resource Group, LLC, Consumers Energy, Page Utility Enterprises, Olameter Corporation, AMS, Alliant Energy, American Water, Consumers Energy, HKA Enterprises, ACRY Inc.  & more What they do: Transport goods and materials from place to place. Companies hiring: Averitt Express, Larlham Enterprises, Dominant Express, Southern Shred, AAA City Plumbing, Earth Solutions, Whitfield Transport Inc., M & L Food Co., Upper Valley Produce  & more

Travis Kalanick resigns as Uber CEO - heres his resume

Travis Kalanick resigns as Uber CEO - heres his resume Travis Kalanick resigns as Uber CEO - heres his resume Love him or hate him, Travis Kalanick, the now former CEO of Uber, is a leading name in the entrepreneurship field. The ride-sharing company  changed every single market rule businesses  thought they knew, disrupted a  leading industry and became the poster child of the sharing economy. Just think  how many times youve heard the quote Uber, the world’s largest taxi company, owns no vehicles. But now Kalanick has resigned and he will be needing a resume to land his next gig we imagine what this could look like.Travis Kalanick Resigns as CEOLate on June 20 news spread that Travis Kalanick is stepping down from the position of CEO. According to The New York Times pressure for this change came from several large investors in Uber who demanded a change in leadership. All of this comes after a long period of scandals and public scrutiny.To his credit, Kalanick issued a very level statement, saying “I love Uber more than anything in the world and at this difficult moment in my personal life I have accepted the investors request to step aside so that Uber can go back to building rather than be distracted with another fight. The investors in the company, although initiating the CEO break-up, have kind words to say, as well:There will be many pages in the history books devoted to @travisk very few entrepreneurs have had such a lasting impact on the world.- Bill Gurley (@bgurley) June 21, 2017A week earlier,  the entrepreneur  decided to take a leave of absence for an indefinite period of time. His letter stated  his need to work on Travis 2.0:Breaking: Uber CEO Travis Kalanick memo to employees on his leave of absence. Full text. @NPR pic.twitter.com/tCE4bZ2C0u- Aarti Shahani (@aarti411) June 13, 2017Kalanick is the bad boy of entrepreneurs. He is ready to bend laws, find loopholes or outright break rules in order to get ahead of competitors. Hes been known for spearheading a lot of crazy ideas, including identifying individual iPhone users, and geofencing Apples headquarters to hide the prohibited practice.  These morally dubious moves  are a major factor in establishing Ubers dominant position on the market. Still, a companys CEO is the leading model employees follow and that has left a mark on Uber. After all, when you know something about Kalanick, its not surprising that Ubers official values include Meritocracy and Toe-Stepping and Principled Confrontation.Kalanicks ResumeWe decided to look beyond the  controversies  Uber faces  and focus on Travis Kalanick himself. So heres what we imagine his resume would look like:You can argue that his behavior leaves a lot to be desired. But his experience as an entrepreneur shows true  business savvy. His entrepreneurial experience started off early he dropped out of UCLA to found Scour, a search engine and file sharing service. The company saw major success, but got sued by 30 companies for copyright infringement the sum amounted to $250bn, which Kalanick aptly compared to the gross domestic product of Sweden. To protect the companys assets, he filed for bankruptcy a trademark bending all rules move which we see in his career time and time again.Related articles:Creating an effective personal resume: the complete guideFrom uninspired to proud. My self discovery with How I got an internship at TeslaWhen there is a great idea,  Kalanick is ready to do what it takes after founding his second company Red Swoosh, he  received no salary as CEO for the first 3 years, before securing a  $1.7m investment from Mark Cuban, and eventually selling the company for $18.7m.Then came Uber and, as they say, everything else is history. Fast Forward  to 2017 and the company is present in more than 450  cities, has a valuation of nearly $70bn and is a leading tech disruptor. However, PR crises arise and weve seen them handled less than ideally. Recently the company lost 200,000 users so many that it had to automate its account deletion process for the first time ever!Still, Kalanick leav ing the Presidents advisory council  and Ubers internal policy  struggles  are good first signs of major changes both for Kalanick The Person and Kalanik The CEO. So even if this leave of absence is just a prelude to a more permanent change in his responsibilities, with a resume like that, who wouldnt seriously consider hiring you?As a form of closing, let me leave you with the best explanation of Kalanick we found during the research for this piece. Mark Cuban said to the New York Times:Travis’s biggest strength is that he will run through a wall to accomplish his goals. Travis’s biggest weakness is that he will run through a wall to accomplish his goals. ?? Reply Austin on June 23rd, 2017 - 4:29am Love the resume template. Did you design it? Reply Vassilena Valchanova on June 23rd, 2017 - 6:35am Sure did, Austin ?? You can check all template and section options by signing up at .com Reply Hussain Ullah on June 21st, 2017 - 12:57pm Yes nice Reply Luis Lanz on June 21st , 2017 - 1:40pm Which template is that, seems to be powerful ! Reply Vassilena Valchanova on June 22nd, 2017 - 6:31am Hi Luis! The resume is using our compact template that works well when you want to add a lot of content on one page. Reply Lauren Foley on June 21st, 2017 - 3:47pm I am very disappointed in . I regularly use the service and am always very impressed with the friendliness of all the staff that work there but this article and the fact that it was delivered straight to my inbox leave a bad taste in my mouth. The fact that you consistently look beyond his behaviour to focus on how great a business man he is is deplorable. He was/is the CEO and his behaviour and leadership is directly reflected in how Uber conducts business. Sexual harassment scandal after sexual harassment scandal says a lot about how Kalanick leads that company and culture and the fact that we are here celebrating his amazing business acumen is shocking and insulting to all the women who had to leave the company as a result of harassment. Very disappointed with this article. Reply Vassilena Valchanova on June 23rd, 2017 - 6:54am Hi Lauren,I think youre raising some nice points and its true Kalanick is a very controversial person. Without a doubt his strive for success at all costs and disregard for the rules has had an impact on the culture of Uber. Come on, they have “Meritocracy and Toe-Stepping” as an official company value!BUT what we do at is to help people put their best foot forward while also showcasing their personality. And this is why we deemed a resume of the bad boy of the startup world to be a nice exercise in this. I imagine if Kalanick does his own resume, hed put forward his entrepreneurship experience and past successes, while also featuring the somewhat dubious hacks Uber has done under his rule to move in front of the competition.That said, were not aiming for this resume to present the full picture the media articles weve cited are doing a much bett er job at that.Who would you like to see us make a resume of? Wed be happy to hear suggestions you deem worthy. Reply Doncho on June 26th, 2017 - 8:30am Come on, they have “Meritocracy and Toe-Stepping” as an official company value!Well, maybe theyre truly honest about their company and how they do business internally and externally?Therere many companies, which embrace Meritocracy and Toe-Stepping as values, but hide behind great company values and principles? At least at Uber, they are brutally honest ?? ?Otherwise, I dont think Id work for them. At least not today. Reply Ru-g on June 27th, 2017 - 8:47am Yeah n admiration from here. I think the concept is from Airbnb and all credit for innovating Airbnbs idea other than that not much to praise him that much Reply Cae Silva on June 26th, 2017 - 10:52pm Just for the sake of comparing, how about Lyfts CEO Logan Green? There seem to be quite a contrast between both, right? Reply Bailey on June 25th, 2017 - 7:58pm Thank you Laura. Not using ever. Reply Dr. Blondie on July 3rd, 2017 - 8:07pm You are simply overcomplicating. just simply took the opportunity and made a CV of a man who has been one of the most influential business leaders in the world. I did not think for a second that the authors of this article wanted to praise him. Reply Monirom on June 26th, 2017 - 2:17pm Lauren Foley is correct. Your users are disappointed. The move made here smacks less of trying to put the candidates best foot forward and more of opportunism. Youre trying to benefit from someone elses circumstances. Be it the Kalanick, who Im sure didnt authorize nor condone the blog post nor the women who were harassed by the culture at Uber.It seems as if you skirted the legal use of his likeness by wrapping up this effort in a blog post, therefore qualifying as editorial use. Also citing articles that show youre aware of Kalanicks run ins with crossing the line, as a way of distancing yourself from his controversies, is ak in to saying, I cant be racist, some of my best friends are black.It shows a lack of sensitivity and it shows that youre out of step with your users.COMPLETELY TONE DEAF.To answer the question posited earlier in this blog post, with a resume like that, who wouldnt consider hiring you? Any company that wants to steer clear of any controversies or liabilities dealing with sexual harassment, any company that respects their female employees, any business that has scruples.Maybe aligning your brand with a controversial disruptor would be more forward thinking if the rules were bent versus broken. In case you need a refresher, Business Insider just recapped the Uber 2017 year thus far, it is not flattering.businessinsider.com/uber-scandal-crisis-complete-timeline-2017-6 Reply Ankush Gambhir on July 2nd, 2017 - 12:14am Nice read, thanks for posting Vassilena. How did you manage to gather so much on Travis book of life captured in resume snapshot. Interesting to know however. Reply Vassi lena Valchanova on July 3rd, 2017 - 12:15pm Hi Ankush!Its actually a team effort of the whole marketing team here. We always try to do rigorous research when were preparing that kind of popular resume examples. We read up on the person quite a lot so that we not only get the facts right, but also feel the style of the person and try to imagine how theyd write up their own resume. ReplyLeave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *CommentName * Email * Website Subscribe now for moreSee more great content and inspiring examples of resumes done right each month!. Subscribe You're subscribed! Latest posts See all posts by Eric D. Halsey The Resumes of Chernobyl by Eric D. Halsey 4 Ways Creativity Can Improve Your Resume by Katherine (Tori) Lutz How to Create a First Year Elementary School Teacher Resume

7 Job Interview Mistakes to Avoid

7 Job Interview Mistakes to Avoid 7 Job Interview Mistakes to Avoid 22Congratulations! You’ve been asked to interview for the job. You’ve followed directions, made a great first impression, and the company is interested in seeing if you are as good a fit for the position as they think you are. Let’s be clear about something- they do think you are a good fit. There isn’t an employer out there that has the time to interview candidates that haven’t been up to snuff. The flip side of this is that the competition can be fierce at this stage and it won’t take much to take yourself out of the running. Here are seven job interview mistakes to avoid: Don’t be late. Know the route for getting to your interview and how long it will take. Don’t forget to factor in parking and getting to the actual office you are meeting at. Allow extra time in case something unforeseen happens to cause a delay. Finally, make sure you have a good phone number for the interviewer handy in case something completely out of your control occurs. Don’t dress inappropriately. It’s not a night out with your friends, it’s a job interview. Be sure your clothes are professional, clean, and neat. Plan your outfit in advance- don’t cause unnecessary stress by waiting to pull that suit out of the closet only to find a missing button or a stain you forgot about. Always have a plan B, just in case. Knowing what to wear on a job interview shows a professional commitment to your career. Don’t wait to be “on.” Assume that the interview is starting the moment you hit the door of the building. Be professional and polite. Treat everyone you encounter with respect and a smile. You never know who is around and watching. Don’t bring distractions. Resist the urge to bring in a bottle of water or a cup of coffee. The last thing you need is the risk of a spill, not to mention anything that takes your attention away from the conversation. And please, for the love of all that is a good job, silence your cell phone. Speaking of your phone, the distraction issue is a particularly important consideration for acing a phone interview. Be sure all background noise is turned off and that you are in a space where you can completely focus. Don’t talk too much (or too little). I know. This seems like a no-win, but really its simple. Answer the questions you are asked fully, but be careful to not repeat yourself or go on and on. One of the risks of talking too much is that you will say something you didn’t intend to say. That being said, it is just as important to not be too brief in your responses. This will be perceived as a lack of interest or enthusiasm for the job. Don’t be negative. Was the commute to the interview brutal? Did it feel like the world was working against you this morning? Keep it to yourself. Even joking about how bad your day is going is not a good way to start an interview. On that same note, don’t badmouth previous jobs, bosses, or coworkers. Regardless of how much truth there might be in your complaints, it will not impress the interviewer. Don’t be unprepared. Research the company and be prepared to talk about it and ask questions. Know your resume and come armed with specific examples that show you possess the skills that are on it. Come to the interview knowing your career goals and be able to discuss your plan. When you are truly prepared to talk to an employer about the company, the job, and the fact that you are a great fit for the role, it helps an interviewer feel confident about making an offer. Most of these tips basically come down to taking the interview seriously and putting in the effort to execute it successfully. Be on the lookout for resources that will help improve your interview skills.  Be professional and meaningful in each step of the process and you are sure to land a great job! Readers, have you ever left a job interview feeling like you made a mistake? Share your job interview mistakes in the comments below!

How to Make Your Employee Benefit Presentations Fun

How to Make Your Employee Benefit Presentations Fun How to Make Your Employee Benefit Presentations Fun Even though Employee Benefits is a great business area to work in, the related topics can seem very dry to people who are forced to sit through onboarding or open enrollment presentations. Why? The majority of benefits presentations deal with statistics, facts, and other figures, which can be too complex for the average employee. This is no fault of the presenter, but when material like this is presented, the whole meeting can quickly become boring, causing people to check out.   Live presentations are a critical aspect of regular benefits communication; so you might as well learn how to rock them the right way! By doing so, you will ensure that employees have a better understanding of the overall benefits package your company is offering and take advantage of as many group benefit options as possible. You want your audience excited about participating in the benefits program.   Ready to transform your employee benefit presentations from dull to brilliant? Here are some tips for making benefit informational events much more enjoyable. #1 - Use Stellar Visuals You should always have some great visuals ready for your employee benefits presentation. Use PowerPoint or another professional presentation software to create these visuals, which should include high-definition videos and images. Try to limit the use of graphs, pie charts, and flowcharts. These will only bore and maybe even confuse your employees if too much is thrown at them at once. Include plenty of fun stock imagery, and limit the words that appear on the slides. Remember, you want your audience to listen to your voice and not become overly concerned about whats on the slide.   #2 - Make Materials Interactive To keep your audience engaged, be sure to make the presentation interactive. Provide hand-outs so everyone can follow along. The hand-outs can also be used to take notes or write down questions. If you only use digital media for the presentation, offer a poll or survey to the audience to keep them interested and involved.  Refer employees to a copy of the company policy handbook if they seek more information after the presentation.   #3 - Avoid Reading Directly from the Slides If you created the presentation via PowerPoint, it is likely that you have text on those slides. Whatever you do, avoid reading from the slides while presenting. When you read directly from the slides, you will quickly become monotone, which puts people to sleep. Prepare by taking good notes. Speak freely during the presentation, injecting emphasis and excitement into your voice.  Make eye contact with the audience, utilize good body language, and don’t stand in one spot for the entire presentation. Walk around, engage with your audience, and be attentive to their mood. Keep your conversation natural and show that you are an expert in this area.   #4 - Use Appropriate Work Humor There is nothing wrong with using appropriate workplace humor during a benefits presentation. Just make sure it is clean and fun. The humor must be relevant to what you are discussing. You can share a favorite story from your personal work experience that relates to the topic - one that your audience might enjoy or could learn from. For example, recall a humbling event that you later laughed about. Avoid using humor that could potentially offend or that is racially, gender, politically, or religiously biased. Use visuals on your slides to emphasize the humor.   #5 - Collaborate with Peers on the Presentation It is sometimes beneficial to collaborate with others (with a peer or another member of your human resources team) on the presentation. Instead of being the lone wolf at the front of the room, ask a colleague to make the presentation with you. Some possible ideas are that you could ask the corporate wellness representative to help you talk about an added perk or include someone from your companys retirement fund administrator. This will add a second voice, keeping the audience interested as you take turns presenting information. Prepare extra time when there are two presenters, and be sure to introduce your guest presenter at the start of the meeting.   #6 - Provide Short Snippets of Information You need to avoid offering too much or too little information during an employee benefits presentation. You should provide useful information in short snippets as much as possible. When you hit a topic that requires 10 discussion points, try to whittle them down to about 5 points if you can without sacrificing important information. In any benefits communications effort, this will help you get your main points across without overwhelming the listeners. Remember, you can always supplement your presentation with a personal meeting with any of the attendees, email follow-up, or hold a second session that goes into greater detail about a specific benefit.   #7 - Always Welcome Questions at the End At the end of the presentation, welcome questions from the audience.  They will likely participate, especially when interested in the topic.  Should no one ask a question, have some prepared that you can present and discuss. Limit the question and answer session to between 15 and 20 minutes. Then, provide your contact information, including an email address, so that employees can follow up with more questions or concerns. The tips outlined above should provide guidance. Keep your presentation interesting, fun, and to the point for the biggest impact.

5 ways to deal with being fired and move on and succeed

5 ways to deal with being fired and move on and succeed 5 ways to deal with being fired and move on and succeed History is filled with trailblazers who were fired - often publicly - before finding success in their chosen field.Steve Jobs  was a wealthy, global celebrity when he was forced out of the billion-dollar company he had sacrificed everything to build.  Oprah  was fired from a reporter role early in her career, which led her to a more junior role.  Walt Disney  had a similar story, being fired from the Kansas City star for “lack of imagination and no good ideas.”We read these stories, and  so many more like them, and hope the best is likely yet to come. But finding out you are being forced out of your job is difficult, no matter how many inspirational stories you hear.How to Process Losing Your JobHearing the words, “You’re fired,” or “We have to let you go,” can be devastating.It’s not easy, but as you walk down the hallway with a cardboard box containing your never-used stapler and mug full of pens you’re entitled to, keep your chin literally and figuratively high .It’s natural to feel a sense of loss, lack of control, anger, fear, and devastation. Take the time and space to process these complicated emotions so that they don’t come back to haunt you. Feel sorry for yourself; let it out. Your routine has been interrupted, your relationship with former colleagues changed. It’s a lot to take in, give yourself a break.But, once you’ve taken time to process your emotions, focus on what you are going to do next and how you are going to find your next job. Continuing to sulk, remain angry, or dwell on the unfortunate situation won’t help you change what has happened.Ways to Bounce Back When You Get FiredHere are a few ways you can move forward and get your career back on track:1. Try to figure out what went wrongIt’s likely you weren’t made privy to the precise reasons your employment was terminated, but try to evaluate and understand as much as you can.Think about the  performance discussions  you had while in your role - what were your shortcomings? What were you praised for doing well? How can you improve? If you have trustworthy former colleagues, ask them for their input.Now’s the time to gather as much candid feedback as possible to improve your performance moving forward.2. Think about what you want your next move to beYou’ll likely be in a hurry to secure another job and get back to a normal routine, but you shouldn’t blindly commit to your next position. It’s important you first consider everything you want and need out of your  career.Perhaps the path you were on wasn’t the right one; it’s OK to use this detour to take a different direction.3. Make a plan of actionOnce you’ve decided what you want your next move to be, it’s time to get back in the  job search.Before getting in touch with anyone or sending anything their way, make sure your resume, social media profiles, and other personal branding pieces - your portfolio website, for example - are up-to-date.Start by letting people i n your network know you’re looking for a new job, and work on broadening that network. Ask your connections to put you in touch with anyone that can help, go to networking events, or join alumni associations.4. Create a list of referencesBefore you start applying for any new positions, contact your former managers and colleagues and ask if they would be willing to talk with potential employers about some of what you accomplished while working with them. Depending on the circumstances, you can reach out to the employer you were forced to leave.What’s most important is that you choose references who can vouch for your  positive performance.5. Spend your time outside of the office wiselyIt might take a little while for you to fully be back in the driver’s seat, so make sure you spend that gap period wisely.Freelancing, volunteering, continuing education, new certifications, or taking time to build your skills show a potential new employer you didn’t let this time go to waste.He lp is available if you need to talk through the job lossGetting fired isn’t easy. Even if you were struggling in the position or not satisfied, losing your job can feel like a personal failure. After all, so much of your identity is tied to what you do for a living.If you feel a storm of emotions after being involuntarily forced out of your job, consider talking to a therapist. A licensed professional can assist in processing the loss and help you approach your job search in a healthy way: working through issues you might have had at your last job and ensuring those issues don’t arise in the future.This article was originally published on Talkspace.

9 ideas that summarize the future of work (and how you can prepare for it)

9 ideas that summarize the future of work (and how you can prepare for it) 9 ideas that summarize the future of work (and how you can prepare for it) Work as we know it has changed.Human progress is inevitable. And progress is impossible without change.The industrial revolution required routine skills. Most of them are no longer sufficient to thrive and do better in the current evolution of work.William Gibson once said, “The future is already here - it’s just not very evenly distributed.”Today, any field including, legal, finance, biotech, infotech, nanotech, energy, healthcare, education etc. is wide open to revolutionary transformational developments.Automation may put a third of a million retail employees out of work in the next eight years, according to the British Retail Consortium.There’s a major shift happening in the skill sets people need to stay relevant.Highly skilled expertise are becoming mundane, thanks to automation.So far, humans are vastly superior at any work that relies on creativity, entrepreneurialism, interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence.The future is uncertain.It’s even a lot more frig htening when you think about everything machines can take away from you.One of the most important ingredients to success in life and business is the ability to adapt as technology changes and new trends emerge in a fast-paced digital world.Global connectivity, intelligent machines, and new media are some of the most important drivers that are reshaping how we think about work, what constitutes work, and the skills we will need to be productive contributors to the world in the near future.Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning., said Benjamin Franklin.The rise of smart machines and apps, our computational world, super structured organizations and the globally connected world are driving change like never before.People are afraid of losing their jobs. There is always the risk of getting fired.But you can change that.You can start preparing yourself for the future of work by investing in yourself and what matters to yo u. Building a reputation as an expert in your field is the ultimate form of career insurance.1. The rise of the obsolete class“Status quo, you know, is Latin for, ‘The mess we’re in.” - Ronald ReaganA lot of people who are concerned about the future of work have no idea what skills to study or master.Nobody wants to waste time and money acquiring skills that won’t be of use in the future.We will gradually reach a period where some human skills will not be needed. Competing against robots is already a lost battle for humans.Better and cheaper robots will be able to do most of our routine tasks that require little or no creativity.Some specific sectors will be affected more than others.We have almost reached a point in history where AI is suitable for doing almost all administrative tasks.If the key requirements of your job are repetition and repeatability, you are probably not safe.Driverless cars are forecast to make up 75% of all traffic by 2040.Imagine how many people w ill be unemployed in just the transportation industry(transformation of all the infrastructure around the job, from training to petrol stations).At some point in the future, it will be unsafe and illegal for humans to drive. That’s crazy and scary, but yes, we will get there.You can’t fight innovation or disruption.But you can change with time to be relevant when the future is here.You can be superior at what you do.You should be mastering the right skills.2. A certificate is no longer sufficient to be indispensable at workWhy are some people easily outsourced, downsized, or freelanced into obscurity, while others have their pick of opportunities?It’s now more essential than ever to become indispensable.Your employer expect you to know a lot more than just what you studied at school. A degree is no longer sufficient to be indispensable at work.Most people are replaceable at their jobs. But they can do something about it.Amy Hoover, president of Talent Zoo explains: “As they say, everyone can be replaced. But to be indispensable means that you are so good and efficient at your job, that your boss and co-workers don’t want to imagine replacing you,” she says. “You are the go-to person they count on; the one who simply gets things done.”What you know now may not be the only skills required to occupy your current position.Each generation, and even within a single decade, we see some jobs largely disappear, while other new ones pop up.According to one unpublished study, the coming wave of technological breakthroughs endangers up to 47% of total employment in the US.When you think about your career path or your life’s work, you need to consider both your skills and your personality traits.Don’t aim to fit in but be different.If you left your current job today, how easy can your employer replace you?3. Machines have no empathyArtificial intelligence robots will have no sentimental affection for us. Emotional intelligence (EI) plays a role in every thing.Highly emotionally intelligent people rank high on responsiveness, empathy, listening, and self-awareness.And they excel at interpersonal interaction.The reason emotional intelligence is so widely valued is pretty simple: “It plays a role in everything,” A.J. Marsden, a professor of psychology at Beacon College, tells Fast Company, like “task performance, contextual performance, interactions with customers and peers” - the list goes on.People skills are so important now and will continue to be in high demand in the future.EI allows us to create relationships with others, provides insights into people’s motives and allows us to predict responses.Any discipline that benefits from the emotional intelligence that only humans can provide will be in high demand.If you are not a people’s person, it’s not too late. You can still learn how to better relate with others.You will need soft skills to thrive in the future.4. Why critical thinking crucial to your success“Cri tical thinking is a desire to seek, patience to doubt, fondness to meditate, slowness to assert, readiness to consider, carefulness to dispose and set in order; and hatred for every kind of imposture.” - Francis Bacon (1605)The ability to actively and skillfully conceptualize, apply, analyse, synthesise, and/or evaluate information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, is of immense importance to work.It will continue to be a huge asset to your employer.They are desirable skills you should develop. Decision making and problem-solving require gathering reliable information, evaluating the information for a variety of solutions and selecting the most appropriate option based on the criteria and situation.People who can look at problems from a different angle often end up solving them in completely unexpected, often elegant ways.At the same time, they expose how narrowly the majority had viewed the problem, or whether it ev en was a problem.Creative thinkers are innovative and inventive and are more likely to devise new ways of doing things that add value to the work environment, making systems and procedures more efficient.Creative thinkers can offer new perspectives about the job and the company. And they will be indispensable in the near future.5. Improve your virtual collaboration skillsFor many employees, spending every day in an office is no longer a necessity. A lot more companies are now embracing virtual collaboration.The ability to use tools and resources to communication with teams from different locations more important than ever.The need to communicate with and lead remote teams is creating a new management style, not necessarily difficult to learn, however, teamwork may need to unlearn and re-learn new ways to interact better for higher productivity.Many larger companies have been embracing remote workers, at least partially, including powerhouses like Apple, Amazon, Dell, Intuit and IBM. This full list of the 100 top companies with remote jobs in 2015, by FlexJobs.The ability to work with on site and remote teams will even become more crucial in the years ahead.You can start learning how virtual tools work now to be prepared and ready when management starts to embrace the idea of remote work.By 2020, an Intuit study estimates that more than 40% of the American workforce, or 60 million people, will be independent workers - freelancers, contractors, and temporary employees.The report further states that, working in the cloud is increasingly shifting work lives away from corporate offices altogether and toward an in-my-own-place, on-my-own-time work regimen.The possibility that your company will work with a lot more freelancers is very high.6. Adaptable is probably more important than talentIt is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change. - Charles DarwinWe live in ever- changing world which is unlikely to ever slow down. So, what mattered yesterday (e.g. skill, knowledge, social circle, etc.) very much so might not be worth a dime tomorrow.Change used to be slow and incremental: now it is rapid, radical and unpredictable.Adaptability enables us to dwell on new circumstances and stay on top of the situation.Of course, this skill is best when combined with insight, giving us fresh perspective before the change itself.Growth depends on how adaptable you are.To stay relevant, most companies will need people who can change with time.7. Digital and media literacy will be paramountEveryday life is now abuzz with varying new media types and platforms.And they keep changing.The ability to make connections and engage audiences across vast, differing networks is paramount. Can you connect the dots in your industry when it comes to interpreting social data?Customer demands will always change.How soon can you identify a shift in consumer trends?Can you predict and follow trends in your industry and most importantly take advantage of them?Whereas it used to be sufficient to sell a product and receive revenues, customers now seek to connect with other like-minded individuals to get the most value in the long run.Can you think ahead of them?Business communications have gradually shifted to mobile devices.New and emerging communications tools like slack are making it a lot more easy to work and stay in touch with colleagues and team members.Businesses are now embracing text, chat, video, file sharing, and screen sharing in addition to email and phone communications at the workplace.How much of these tools do you know and most importantly, can you use them without a struggle?Not sure what skills you should be developing? Start asking questions, attend conferences and take relevant online courses to upgrade yourself and prepare for the future.8. Boost your creative intelligence skillsThe innate human ability to create cannot be toppled by machi nes. With time AI will eventually develop creative ideas but humans will still be in charge of most creative industries.Anyone can drop a complaint into the suggestion box, but the mark of a truly great employee is coming up with solutions to pressing problems.Shows that you care - not only about your own career, but about the long-term health of the business as well. Think about something relevant or moving or the best way to get your company closer to its goals.9. How humans can work with machinesIs it time to rethink your career?You need to start spending time preparing for the future even when there are more important things to do in the present and even when there is no immediately apparent return to your efforts.In my recent book, Working in the Gig Economy: How to Thrive and Succeed When You Choose to Work for Yourself, I reveal how to successfully navigate the new flexible and changing world of work, and pitch yourself as an indispensable expert in your industry.If you find yourself trapped for the foreseeable future because you are stuck in a soul-crushing job, remember, you always have two obvious options: settle or plan for a career change.Don’t be afraid of the unknown if you decide to pursue your life’s work, because everything is unknown.And if you decide to do work that matters to you, don’t stop because nobody’s buying it, sponsoring it or sharing it yet.Show up every day and work on your most important life work. It matters that you show up.Whether the outcome is magnificent or eternal, whether it changes people’s lives, changes the world, changes you or groundbreaking, it matters that you show up.If you pursue your dreams long enough, compounding takes effect. Momentum will surge.Most people can’t show their most amazing work to the rest of us because they fear criticisms. They feel inadequate.They are scared people will think it’s not good enough. Others are living in their comfort zones because of fear.But remember everything great happens outside your safe zone.Choose to reinvent your career and make the most of the exciting, and promising future of work.If you’re not sure what you want to do next, yet you know you want a change, you should go ahead and get started, with a focus on strengthening your core skills.In research-backed Working in the Gig Economy: How to Thrive and Succeed When You Choose to Work for Yourself, I share practical ideas for starting a career you deeply care about. It contains true stories of successful freelancers who have reinvented themselves by choice.Praise for “working in the gig economy”“The global economy is changing and the very definition of “job” is changing right along with it. Thomas Oppong provides a step-by-step playbook to help you make a great living doing what you love.” Todd Henry, author, The Accidental Creative“Work is changing. It’s a great opportunity to realize your creative destiny. But only if you adapt. Working in the Gig Economy is t he roadmap to get you there.” David Kadavy, bestselling author of The Heart to Start“Technology is advancing at an exponential rate enabling solo entrepreneurs increasing power to thrive in this growing gig economy. Working In The Gig Economy provides a powerful guide to help you thrive now and in the future, buy it today!” Daniel Burrus, author and leading futurist on global trends and innovation.Dig deeperIf you enjoyed this post, you will love Postanly Weekly, my free weekly digest of the best posts about behavior change that affect health, wealth, and productivity. Join over 49,000 people on a mission to build a better life.This article first appeared on Medium.

6 Biggest Advertising Failures of All Time

6 Biggest Advertising Failures of All Time 6 Biggest Advertising Failures of All Time Advertising isnt a science. You can have all the data in the world at your disposal, and you can employ the brightest minds in the industry, but you cant predict how well a campaign will do. Agencies put work in front of focus groups and adjust their campaigns accordingly, but its still a rare ad that hits it out of the park. And some are spectacular failures. A few disastrous campaigns stand head and shoulders above the rest for one reason or another. These bad ads actually boosted sales in some bizarre cases, but there was no getting around the negative press and horrendous feedback they brought on the brands. 1.  DiGiorno’s Pizza: #WhyIStayed Sometimes a quick tweet on a trending hashtag can be brand gold. The famous Oreo tweet “You Can Still Dunk in the Dark” was published during the 2013 Super Bowl blackout and it cost almost nothing, yet it garnered more publicity than the multi-million-dollar spots that aired that year- or didn’t air, depending on the time. But social media trends are here one minute and gone the next, and that can sometimes present a problem. The trick is to react to something quickly enough to ride the wave, but carefully enough to get the tone and the meaning right. Sadly, DiGiorno’s pizza jumped on the trending #WhyIStayed hashtag without understanding what it implied. #WhyIStayed was, and still is, a campaign to raise awareness of domestic abuse. Victims have used two different tags- #WhyIStayed, and #WhyILeft- to highlight the many reasons they remained trapped in a horrible situation for years. DiGiorno’s misread the hashtag entirely and wrote “You had pizza.” The condemnation was swift and brutal. The community manager responsible started personally replying to every tweet to apologize, using the official DiGiorno’s account. It was a real mess that could have been easily avoided if someone had just spent 60 seconds on research. 2.  Bud Light: #UpForWhatever Another hashtag, another marketing disaster. This time the brand in question didn’t jump on a trending hashtag but instead created its own. In theory, it’s an interesting idea- quite a few people would admit to being “up for whatever” after a few beers. And the campaign itself made good on that idea, with a Super Bowl ad that gave one Bud Light drinker the night of his life: a limo ride with Reggie Watts, professional styling by Minka Kelly, going to a party with Don Cheadle, and playing ping-pong with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Awesome! But things took a nasty turn when the advertising campaign spilled over into other tactics, such as the label on the bottle. The phrase “the perfect beer for removing ‘no’ from your vocabulary for the night” went into the territory of date rape. Budweiser apologized and the offending bottles were removed from circulation, but the damage had been done. 3.  Coca-Cola: New Coke The cola wars were in their prime in 1985, and Pepsi and Coke were sparring it out with full blown ad campaigns. The Pepsi Challenge seemed to prove that people actually preferred the taste of Pepsi to Coke in a blind taste test. That worried the people at Coca-Cola. In fact, it worried them so much that they decided to change the product’s 100-year-old formula...again, before doing their research. They launched New Coke to the world in April 1985 before they realized that the data was wrong. Yes, people initially liked the Pepsi flavor over Coke- that first taste in a sip test. But overall, more people preferred the slightly less sweet Coke formula when drinking a whole can. Coke’s decision to up the sweetness of its product failed miserably. Millions of dollars were spent on the reformulation, new packaging, and ad campaigns, but the efforts actually tarnished the company’s image. Pepsi got a big bump from the New Coke disaster. Coca Cola announced in July, just a few months later, in July, that it had made a huge mistake and that the old Coke was returning. Some people think it was a cunning move to get people loving Coke again, but thats probably not the case considering the amount of money that was wasted and the stain on the company’s image. 4.  Starbucks: Race Together Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is a polarizing figure, to say the least. Hes involved his company in some rather controversial topics over the years, including same-sex marriage and gun control, so it didn’t seem like a big leap for him to dive into the race relations pool. The campaign was kicked off in the New York Times with an unmissable all black full-page ad containing the phrases, “Shall We Overcome?” and “RaceTogether,” along with the company logo. It soon became evident to customers that the chain wanted to talk to them about race relations in the U.S. Schultz had been working with employees for months on the subject, encouraging them to talk about racial issues with those who stopped in for a cup of joe. Big mistake. You want a coffee jolt and maybe a snack when you go to Starbucks. You do not want to be confronted by a barista who asks you how you feel about affirmative action or the disproportionate number of African Americans in prison. This is a topic that can cause extreme tension, to say the least, and even physical reactions. Luckily, Schultz realized what a mistake he had made after just six days, and he pulled the Race Together campaign. 5.  Ford: Edsel Ford released a new car to the American public on September 5, 1957. It was going to be the big one, designed to provide a premium experience for the middle class, a car with style and refinement. It oozed sophistication. Ford was so confident in its creation that it sunk over $250 million into the project, roughly $2.1 billion in today’s dollars. The car was the infamous Edsel. It was a perfect storm of hubris, expectation, and ignorance. It all started with focus groups and endless polls designed to find out just what the American people wanted, but then the research was ignored in favor of designs that were already in the early stages of production. The “please all of the people all of the time” mentality resulted in 18 different variations of the Edsel being presented at launch. The data collected was also ignored when it came time to sell the cars, with scientifically formulated methods being dumped in favor of some very sketchy tactics. The first models pushed on the general public werent ready. They had oil leaks, sticking trunks and hoods, and a variety of buttons that would have confounded Einstein. To add insult to injury, the company kept trying to push different versions of the Edsel over the next few years. But no one wanted the car. It was considered a horrible piece of machinery, and Ford lost $350 million on it at the end of the day- $2.9 billion when adjusted for inflation. 6.  Hoover: Free Flights It’s not often that a marketing campaign self-destructs so badly that it brings the company to its knees, but this classic goof did just that in 1992. Hoover is a name synonymous with vacuuming, particularly in the U.K. That kind of brand name recognition is gold, so youd think it could withstand a marketing campaign that was a little off in the financial calculations. But Hoovers gaffe went way beyond some crummy math. The company had a massive backlog of ageing stock that it wanted to shift, and shift quickly. Someone thought the best way to do this would be to offer the customers a deal they couldnt refuse- two free plane tickets to the U.S. when they purchased more than £100 ($135) in Hoover products. It was an insane deal, virtually unaffordable. Updated for inflation, that would the equivalent of spending just $236 to receive about $1,500 in airfare. Hoover was basically giving every customer over $1,250. Of course, the general public flocked to get the Hoovers, and the demand was too much for the company to handle. Over 222,000 people managed to get their round-trip tickets, and Hoover was over £50 million- $68 million- in the hole. That would equate to around $120 million today. The company couldn’t handle that kind of loss, and the British division of Hoover was sold off to the Italian manufacturer Candy. The lesson: Run your marketing idea past a few of your company’s accountants before committing to a project. Hoover has never fully recovered from the debacle.