Friday, December 27, 2019

How I Recovered from a Lowball Salary

How I Recovered from a Lowball SalaryHow I Recovered from a Lowball Salary The journalism industry isnt exactly known for having prestigious, high-paying jobs - Anna Wintour, Anderson Cooper, Ta-Nehisi Coates, etc., excluded, of course. Take my first foray into the field for example three weeks out of journalism school, I scored my first interview at a newspaper. The executive editor offered me the job before I left his office- for the astounding salary of $10 an hour . Id worked my way through college, and earned more than that as a waitress. I politely but promptly turned down that offer and held out hope for the next one. It came in at a resounding $19,000 a year. I didnt do the math to find out what that worked out to be per hour. Journalists, in addition to being poorly paid, are notoriously bad at math. Instead, I turned down that job offer and hoped, much against my better judgment, for more money. I welches so disheartened by those first two offers that when a third came in, topping the last one by $8,000, I took it without hesitation. And that platzset the tone for how I would approach my next job offer. I didnt do the research to know whether I welches getting a fair salary . I didnt even check what my industrys pay standards were at the time. I simply asked myself, Is this more money than youre making now? The answer welches yes, and I took my lower-than-I-should-have-accepted salary without negotiation. Id been at my second professional job (also at a newspaper) for a few days when I met my coworker-turned-close friend, Dan. Over a couple of beers and burgers at the local sports bar, we got to talking about my offer. I was so proud of myself. I went from making $27,000 a year at my last job to making $36,000 here, I bragged to him. But I could tell by his face that I should be hanging my head instead of puffing out my chest. Dan,- hired just 11 months earlier with a years less experience in the field than I had- had snagged a salary of $40,000 a year. And to add insult to my injury, hed negotiated three weeks vacation too. Initially, I was embarrassed. Then my emotions turned to frustration. Finally, I got focused. Starting with my next job offer, I stopped asking whether it was more than I was currently making- because of course, it should be- and started doing the work I needed to do to ensure I wouldnt be low-balled ever again. And heres how Long before I started writing for Glassdoor as a freelance writer, I knew about this resources amazing salary tool . You can type in your job title and location, and the tool will populate an average salary for your specific area, plus how it compares to the national average for that same job. My third professional job was as a magazine editor at a regional publication, and by using this simple tool, I discovered editors in my area were making an average of $47,000 a year. That gave me a base on which to judge my own offer. Now Glassdoor has Know Your Worth , a personal salary estimator thatll let you know how much you should be earning in base pay, taking into consideration education, location, current company and experience.I spoke with contacts and coworkers until I found a connection between one of them and a former employee at the magazine. And after a quick introduction, that former employee was happy to dish on what hed earned when hed worked in the exact position I was going to fill. The magic number? It was $42,000. That may sound low, but that average salary Id uncovered included all editors, and this position was pretty low on the masthead. So now I knew I should accept nothing less than $42,000- and I could still negotiate for more. 3. I didnt accept the first offer. If Id followed my previous criteria for accepting job offers, Id have snatched up this one without hesitation. It was $38,000, which was more than the $36,000 Id been making at the newspaper. Old me would have celebrated my raise. But new me was mildly irrit ated. I knew I had been low-balled. I found the courage to counter offer . I asked for $42,000. I didnt name the previous employee, but I stressed to my future boss that I had information proving previous editors in that position had been paid more- and said I couldnt possibly accept less than what theyd earned. He came back with an offer of $40,000 with a $1,000 raise after six months and an extra weeks vacation . I said yes. Sadly, after I took that job, over drinks with my new managing editor, our salaries came up. I told her what I was offered, and she started crying at the table. I was making $6,000 more than the-second-to-top editor at the publication- after shed been there for five years, and earned more than one raise. She also hadnt researched. And she also hadnt negotiated. When it comes to salary, it sounds clich but knowledge really is power. Knowing industry standards , talking to former employees, and being willing to fight for what youre worth not only helps yo u earn more now, but it sets you up for financial success in the future.

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Selling to Decision Makers at Different Levels

Selling to Decision Makers at Different LevelsSelling to Decision Makers at Different LevelsWhen youre selling B2B, you may end up speaking with decision-makers at any of three different levels. In fact, its quite possible that youll be pitching to decision-makers at every level on a single sale because its not uncommon for a decision-maker to kick you up or down a level so that you can pitch to those decision-makers as well. The only problem is, decision-makers at behauptung three different levels have different definitions of value. It is baked in to the fact that that particular decision-maker is at that particular level. In other words, its part of his job. If you dont know how to switch gears when faced with different levels, youll find yourself succeeding brilliantly with one type of decision-maker but crashing and burning when you speak with decision-makers at other levels. Manager and Buyer The first and lowest level of B2B decision-makers is the department manager and pr ofessional buyeror both. Its unlikely youll find someone with buying authority at a lower level than that. Managerial decision-makers are fruchtwein interested in the product itself and how it will work for them. These are the decision-makers who are most likely to speak in technicalese, and they will expect salespeople to be familiar with and comfortable discussing technical aspects of the product. When selling at the managerial level, you need strong product knowledge and a good grasp of the prospects industry. These decision-makers want to hear how the product will make their jobs easier. Benefit statements are a powerful tool to prove value to managerial decision-makers, especially statements related to using the product itself. Managerial decision-makers are also very interested in the easy implementation and strong support from your company because these decision-makers are the people who will be responsible for making the product work. Vice President The second level of B 2B decision-makers is the vice president. Vice presidents dont care about how the product works because thats the department managers problem. What a vice president cares about is reaching his corporate goals. These goals rotate around money, so what these decision-makers want to hear is how your product will either increase revenues or decrease costs. When selling at the vice presidential level, you need to be able to demonstrate Return on Investment (ROI). If a company wants to be profitable, it has to have a strong ROI - in other words, the money it invests has to result in a positive return. So your task for these decision-makers is to show them the financial benefit that buying your product will offer. To do so, youll need to get the background information from the decision-maker about their current situation and where they would like to be in the future. Armed with that information, youll be able to give them specific numbers that prove your products ROI. CEOs and Preside nts The third and highest decision-maker level belongs to top-level executives - CEOs, presidents, and so on. Decision-makers at this level dont care about product details talking about how the product works will get you swiftly sent down to the managerial level. Senior executives are focused on market size. They want to grow the companys control of the market and take customers away from their competitors. When selling at the senior executive level, you need to be able to sell to the big picture. These decision-makers are interested in how your product will help the company increase market share and achieve its long-term goals. One powerful approach for selling to senior executive decision-makers is addressing risk. Because senior executives are often focused on the companys future, they are very interested in products and services that will reduce the risks to their companies.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Why smart people never bring smartphones into meetings

Why smart people never bring smartphones into meetingsWhy smart people never bring smartphones into meetingsYou are annoying your boss and colleagues any time you take your phone out during meetings, says research from USCs Marshall School of Business, and if you work with women and people over forty theyre even mora perturbed by it than everyone else.The researchers conducted a nationwide survey of 554 full-time working professionals earning above $30K and working in companies with at least 50 employees. They asked a variety of questions about smartphone use during meetings and found86% think its inappropriate to answer phone calls during meetings84% think its inappropriate to write texts or emails during meetings66% think its inappropriate to write texts or emails even during lunches offsiteThe more money people make the less they approve of smartphone use.The study also found that Millennials are three times more likely than those over 40 to think that smartphone use during meetin gs is okay, which is ironic considering Millennials are highly dependent upon the opinions of their older colleagues for career advancement.TalentSmarthas tested the emotional intelligence of more than a million people worldwide and found that Millennials have the lowest self-awareness in the workplace, making them unlikely to see that their smartphone use in meetings is harming their careers.Why do so many people - especially successful people - find smartphone use in meetings to be inappropriate? When you take out your phone it shows aLack of respect.You consider the information on your phone to be more important than the conversation at hand, and you view people outside of the meeting to be more important than those sitting right in front of you.Lack of attention.You are unable to stay focused on one thing at a time.Lack of listening.You arent practicingactivelistening, so no one around you feels heard.Lack of power.You are like a modern-day Pavlovian dog who responds to the wh ims of others through the buzz of your phone.Lack of self-awarenessYou dont understand how ridiculous your behavior looks to other people.Lack of social awarenessYou dont understand how your behavior affects those around you.I cant say Im surprised by the USC studys findings. My companycoaches leadersusing360assessmentsthat compare their self-perception to how everyone else sees them. Smartphone use in meetings is one of the most common coworker complaints.Its important to be clear with what you expect of others. If sharing this article with your team doesnt end smartphone use in meetings, take a page out of the Old West and put a basket by the conference room door with an image of a smart phone and the message, Leave your guns at the door.This column first appeared on LinkedIn.

Friday, December 13, 2019

The cities with the highest (and lowest) income inequality

The cities with the highest (and lowest) income inequalityThe cities with the highest (and lowest) income inequalityLife would be a lot different if we were all paid equally.Theres no telling whether we could all get along living by the same means or if we would end up in some pseudo-dystopia universe a laThe Giver.Alas, we dont all make the same. Some of us live the life of luxury. Some of us cringe at the thought of paying an extra $2.39 forshipping.There are areas of the country that are more equal than others, however.We looked at thestates with the highest and lowest income inequalitya few months back.Now, we decided to see what metro areas have the highest and lowest income inequality.These are the 10 cities with the highest income inequalityAtlanta, GANew Orleans, LAMiami, FLCollege Station, TXProvidence, RICincinnati, OHFort Lauderdale FLNew York, NYSandy Springs, GATampa, FLAnd here are the 10 cities with the lowest income inequalityWest Jordan, UTSurprise, AZGilbert, AZWest Valley City, UTThornton, COTemecula, CAPearland, TXHighlands Ranch, COLewisville, TXFontana, CASome big names in there, but also a couple smaller areas, too. What does this all tell us?Summary of findingsAtlanta ranks as the metro with the highest income inequalityNew Orleans and Miami round out the top threeFloridais home to four of the top 20 metros with the highest income inequalityWest Jordan, UT has the lowest income inequalityFive states Utah, Arizona,Colorado, California, andTexas comprise 14 of the 15 metros with the least income inequalityHow we did itFor this analysis, we went to the American Community Survey 2012-2016 dataset.We then analyzed theGini coefficientfor each city with over 100,000 people in America where the higher the coefficient the larger the higher the income inequality.You can read that link for a detailed explanation of the Gini coefficient, but at a high level it is a normalized measure of inequality.Note that we scaled it by 100 for readability. To gi ve you some perspective, here are some Gini coefficients for countries as a whole, according to data from theOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and DevelopmentThe United States ranks as the 7th most unequal country in the world, with a Gini coefficient of 39.1%South Africa is the most unequal country in the world as far as income inequality goes, with a Gini coefficient of 62%Costa Rica was the next most unequal country, with a Gini coefficient of 48%Brazil, Mexico, and Chile round out the five most unequal countriesIceland has the most equal income distribution, with a Gini coefficient of 24.6%Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Finland round out the five most equal countriesJust for kicks and gigs, we thought wed throw in the median cost of rent and median home values in the cities we analyzed, to give you a better of idea of how much it costs to live there.Thisarticlefirst appeared onZippia.

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Keywords Should Never Be Repeated in a Rsum . Tips & Guide

Keywords Should Never Be Repeated in a Rsum . Tips & Guide You might decide to focus blog content on visitors at the very top of the funnel people utilizing informational keyword phrases to learn more about the area you do business in. After all, if youre writing a part of content which you know is for potenzial clients in the early phases of their purchase journey, you are going to want to target early-stage keyword phrases. For instance, some of your keywords will be directly related to your organization, while others are going to be linked to user intent. If you cant immediately recognize the main keywords for your business, its doubtful you may effectively promote your services and products to your intended audience. Its the proportion of how often a keyword appears in a single bit of content. The keyword tool is absolutely free, with a totally free account. Thinking with respect to taxonomies can help you plan and make content in a logical way. This image illustrates how keyword intent is related to the purchasing cycle. Keywords Should Never Be Repeated in a Rsum. That way, all of the unimportant stuff becomes filtered out. Not only would you like to locate keywords which are likely to aid you convert, but in addition, you need to consider which ones which you own a shot at. Unfortunately, keyword density also follows this patternthere isnt a 1 right response to this question. Read and watched a lot of stuff. How to Find Keywords Should Never Be Repeated in a Rsum. Online If youre likely to shell out for a pricy domain, be certain that your site would be worth the price. On the flip side, remember to arent utilizing the keyword so often that it seems like a robot wrote it. Where possible, if youre able to receive a conversational link within content which is going to be great but unlikely. Creating content thats optimized for evergreen keywords will drive the most suitable type of visitors to your website for months or even years to come. You dont need all your keywords to be long-tailed, but there ought to be a great mix. Also, you can begin by using keywords that you already rank for. The saatkorn as in Internet searches, keywords play a considerable part in resume success. While short-tailed keywords are by and large searched more often, theyre more competitive, and its less probable you could actually rank for them. When you get an overall collection of keywords and phrases, take a look at related search conditions. Make sure that the keywords that you select arent too long but additionally not too short. It is possible to also group keywords based on the topics that you want to cover. Local keywords work best once you get a physical location for your enterprise. Since keywords are what people are looking for, if you know your niche, you will have a very good idea of the sort of information people need at every stage of their interaction with you. Keep going around until an increasing number of pe ople pass since they have nothing new to say. After taking in the experiences of lots of people in a row before considering saying something for myself, it will become obvious how my experience is merely a single approach to find things. It doesnt work for folks who dont. I use Answer the People on a standard basis. Keywords are scientific terms that present an ideal summary or key to your study, and it is of extreme importance to present different researchers with a gelegenheit to locate your paper by picking out the appropriate key terms. They make your paper searchable and ensure that you get more citations. For example, if youre writing a paper on a newly-discovered epigenetic regulator, you may not wish to use general keywords like cell biology or genetics. For that reason, its important to incorporate the most relevant key phrases which will help different authors locate your paper. If your research revolves around a vital method or technique, make sure that the term f or its located either in your title or your key terms. As an example, a couple journals want single words rather than phrases. The Most Popular Keywords Should Never Be Repeated in a Rsum. As a guideline, each keyword must make sense to be on the exact same page as your principal keyword. The third step towards a long-term keyword strategy is to make awesome landing pages for all of the keyword phrases you want to get found for. The ideal keyword tool is whichever one which youll use regularly. Whether youre new to SEO or a veteran in the area, keyword density in a sheet of content will remain important. Not only are you able to use those as inspiration for different key phrases, but they may also be employed to secure you some quick rankings. The keywords that you opt to target, which ought to sum up the content on a specific page, is what search engine bots will utilize to figure out where to index your site. Therefore, even though the total search volume is lower, long-ta il phrases attract targeted traffic that you truly want on your site anyway. From that point, you ought to be in a position to unearth a reasonable quantity of long-tail keyword suggestions together with important metrics like the keywords average search volume, bid, and keyword competitiveness.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Rahul Chauhan - Head of Strategy, Publicis Groupe

Rahul Chauhan - Head of Strategy, Publicis Groupe Rahul Chauhan Head of StrategyPosted November 10, 2017, by Jenny Sakr Being the head of strategy for one of the worlds oldest and largest advertising and public relations companies, Publicis Groupe,put Rahul in charge of creating winning media strategies to achieve clients business objectives. Rahul has over 10 years of experience leading media and marketing strategies for huge corporations like Suncorp Group, BMW and Energy Australia (just to name a few). Take a walk in his shoes and see how he came to be where he is today... What did you study and what are the steps you took to be where you are today? Whilst Im currently studying my Executive MBA, I believe the steps taken in my career to get where I am were impacted by the opportunities that I said no to, rather than simply those I said yes to. Being focused and clear about the choices that will create meaningful impact in the long term, are far mora important than simply choosi ng options which provide short-term gain. As our life expectancy increases, our working lives will push into our 70s accordingly, it is crucial to think about the paths which will yield a sustained career from relationships to industries to skill sets. What inspired this career path? The people I have met, in addition to my natural interest in how media influences human behaviour and our relationships with brands. What was your first job? Hospitality clearing tables. Explain a little bit more about what you do and a typical day at work My role involves defining and creating media strategies which directly impact a clients desired business objectives. This broadly encompasses... 1. Understanding the key challenges impacting a clients brand 2. Defining the role that media can play to overcome the challenge 3. Outlining the target consumer that media must reach (who will engage with the brand to positively influence the desired business objective) 4. Leveraging insights to build a communications strategy and ecosystem centred influencing the consumer to take an action(s). A typical day at work can involve anything from sitting with clients to discuss whats keeping them up at night to conducting qualitative and quantitative research to working closely with publishers and media owners on innovation and audience targeting to upskilling staff with auf der ganzen welt insights and findings to leading ideation sessions in for our clients brands. Whats the most interesting thing thats happened to you in your career? Its hard to identify one single interesting thing, however everyday Im fortunate to work with intelligent, interesting and driven people who continue to ask questions, in order to push and challenge each other and themselves. On average, we spend at least 40 hours a week at work which is often more time spent with our colleagues than our families. So if our co-workers arent interesting and one of the reasons were enthusiastic to get out of bed then somet hing is wrong and must be changed. Name the best and worst partes of your job Best part solving problems and understanding the why of how consumers behave. Worst part meetings with no solid agenda or outcome. Whats the most important career tip someone has given you? Tip 1 Money is an outcome of hard work and happiness is an outcome of perspective. Tip 2 If you dont like what youre doing, change it - project to your deathbed and if you were going to regret doing something, then make sure you do it. What do you wish someone had told you before starting going down this career path? Upward management is just as important as managing your own direct reports. Name a career highlight Winning a client in the first week of starting a new role, and retaining a client on the last week of finishing an old role commitment to an outcome is key to a sustained career and a reputation. Whats next for you? Cultivating a pathway which allows me to work in Portugal by December 2019. Tell us a fun fact about yourself... I own a black pug who sits and watches Dirty Dancing on repeat, every single weekday. Connect with Rahul over on LinkedIn Is a career in media and communications calling you? Get the skills to succeed with a course in marketing, business or communications.Bachelor of Business (Marketing)Study modeOnlinePayment optionsHECS-HELPUpfront paymentCourse guide+ FREE eBrochureEnquire Online Enquire OnlineMarketing ResourcesSEM manager sample resumeSEM manager sample titelblatt letterInterested in becoming a?AccountantOffice AdministratorManagement ConsultantMarketing ManagerMarketing OfficerPopular Career Searchesgovernment funded visual merchandising course brisbanetwo year degrees australiahow to become a journalist in australiadiploma of business career pathlist of pr courses in australiaMarketing CoursesBachelor of Applied Business (Marketing)Enquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Digital MediaEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of CommunicationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineMaster of CommunicationEnquire Online Enquire Online Jenny SakrJenny found her way with words while interning during uni, since, shes produced articles on it all from hair and beauty to homewares, travel, career advice and study tips. On a weekend youre most likely to find her lining up for a table at the latest cafe or restaurant.Related ArticlesBrowse moreAdvertisingEmbracing technology key to success in advertising worldThe marketing and advertising industries were amongst the hardest hit during the recent economic downturn but opportunities and openings are still to be found.AdvertisingHow To Break Into Advertising 4 Career PathsTheyre on highway billboards, theyre in your monthly magazines, on your most visited websites and interrupt your TV programs. Advertisements are a part of our daily lives and constitute one of the most competitive and exciting industries around.MarketingMarketing career fact sheetTheres more to being a marketing professional than you thi nk. Check out this fact sheet to find out why a career in this industry might be the right fit for you.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Deadlines Approaching for More than Two Dozen Society Awards

Deadlines Approaching for More than Two Dozen Society Awards Deadlines Approaching for More than Two Dozen Society Awards Deadlines Approaching for More Than Two Dozen Society AwardsThe ASME Honors and Awards Committee will be accepting nominations for 26 Society awards including the Henry R. Worthington Medal and the James N. Landis Medal during the next several weeks.The Henry R. Worthington Medal, which is one of more than 20 ASME awards with a nomination deadline of Feb. 1, is presented for eminent achievement in the field of pumping machinery, systems and concepts, in areas including research, development, design, innovation, management, education or literature. The winner will receive $5,000, a bronze medal and a certificate. Nominations should be emailed to J.A. Bamberger at bambergerjasme.org.Nominations for the James N. Landis Medal, which recognizes outstanding personal performance related to designing, constructing or managing the operation of major steam-powered electri c stations using nuclear or fossil fuels, are also due Feb. 1. Nominees for the award must also have demonstrated personal leadership in humanitarian pursuits, which may include ASME committee activity or section leadership. The winner will receive $7,500, a bronze medal and a certificate. Nominations should be emailed to Jovica Riznic at jovica.rizniccnsc-ccsn.gc.ca.Nineteen additional Society awards also have a nomination deadline of Feb. 1The Barnett-Uzgiris Product Safety plan Award, for significant contributions to the safe design of products through teaching, research and professional accomplishments $1,000, a bronze medal and a certificate mountainuhcl.edu.The Bernard F. Langer Nuclear Codes and Standards Award, for contributions to the nuclear power plant industry $1,000, a crystal oracle and a certificate tomvogan45gmail.com.The Blackall Machine Tool and Gage Award, for contributions to the design or application of machine tools, gages or measuring instruments $1,000 and a plaque Yguoeng.ua.edu.The Burt L. Newkirk Award, for a notable contribution to tribology in research or development by an engineer under 40 who has been an ASME member for at least five years, as established by papers accepted for publication $1,000 and a certificate benyebka.bou-saidinsa-lyon.fr.The Dixy Lee Ray Award, for significant achievements and contributions in environmental protection $1,000, a bronze medal and a certificate unikewiczsasme.org.The George Westinghouse Medals, for eminent achievement in the power field of mechanical engineering $1,500, a vermeil medal and a certificate $1,000, a silver medal and a certificate to an honoree under the age of 45 akguptaumd.edu.The Henry Laurence Gantt Medal, for distinguished achievement in management and for service to the community $1,000, a bronze medal and a certificate Steve.Longsnclavalin.com.The Internal Combustion Engine Award, for eminent achievement or distinguished contributions over a substantial period of time in th e field of internal combustion engines $1,000 and a plaque wagnerrmornl.gov.The Machine Design Award, for eminent achievement in machine design $1,000, a plaque and a certificate mountainuhcl.edu.The Mayo D. Hersey Award, for distinguished contributions to the advancement of the science and engineering of tribology $2,000 and a plaque benyebka.bou-saidinsa-lyon.fr.The Milton C. Shaw Manufacturing Research Medal, for significant fundamental contributions to the science and technology of manufacturing processes $1,500, a bronze medal and a certificate yonghufl.edu.The nanzig DeLoye Fitzroy and Roland V. Fitzroy Medal, for contributions to engineering resulting in breakthroughs in existing technology, leading to new applications or new areas of engineering $3,000, a bronze medal and a certificate mckivorfasme.org.The Old Guard Early Career Award, for outstanding early career engineers who have advanced quickly in their professional careers, have participated in advancing their educatio n, have shown leadership in ASME activities and have volunteered actively in their communities first prize $5,000, paid membership for life and a plaque second and third prize $2,000, paid membership for life and a plaque daa3msn.com.The Per Bruel Gold Medal for Noise Control and Acoustics, for eminent achievement and extraordinary merit in the field of noise control and acoustics $1,000, a vermeil medal and a certificate norrisrutgers.edu.The Prime Movers Committee Award, for outstanding contributions to the literature of thermal electric station practice or equipment $1,000 and a certificate shuffburnsmcd.com.The Rufus Oldenburger Medal, for significant contributions and outstanding achievements in automatic control $2,000, a bronze medal and a certificate tilburyumich.edu.The Ruth and Joel Spira Outstanding Design Educator Award, for furthering engineering design education $1,000, a vermeil medal and a certificate mountainuhcl.edu.The Wilfred C. LaRochelle Conformity Assessment A ward, for distinguished service in the area of Conformity Assessment, including but not limited to, the establishment, advancement and versetzung of ASMEs product and personnel certification and accreditation programs $1,000, a bronze medal and a certificate stevenrrwestinghouse.com.The William T. Ennor Manufacturing Technology Award, for an innovative manufacturing technology that results in substantial benefits for the economy or society $1,000, a vermeil medal and a certificate yguoeng.ua.edu.Nomination packages for five other ASME awards are due Feb. 15The Charles Russ Richards Award, for outstanding achievement in mechanical engineering 20 years or more following graduation $1,000 and a certificate Darryl.Jamesttu.edu.The Gustus L. Larson Memorial Award, for outstanding achievements in mechanical engineering or a related field within 10 to 20 years following graduation $1,000 and a certificate Darryl.Jamesttu.edu.The Nadai Medal, for distinguished contributions to the field of engineering materials $1,000, a bronze medal and a certificate yzhu7ncsu.edu.The Pi Tau Sigma Gold Medal, for outstanding achievement in mechanical engineering within 10 years following graduation $1,000, a gold medal and a certificate Darryl.Jamesttu.edu.The Robert Henry Thurston Lecture Award, for an outstanding leader in pure or applied science or engineering who will present a Society lecture on a subject of broad technical interest to engineers $500, a plaque and a certificate rajolemiss.edu.For more information on these awards and the ASME Honors and Awards Program, visit www.asme.org/about-asme/get-involved/honors-awards, or contact Fran McKivor, ASME Honors and Fellows, at (212) 591-7094 or mckivorfasme.org.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

These are the traits the worst managers have in common

These are the traits the worst managers have in commonThese are the traits the worst managers have in commonWe hear all the time about whatgreat leadersshouldbe like.How theyre empatheticHow theyre humble, yet drivenHow theyre transparent, ethical,inspiringBut what about the traits that make forpoorleaders? Ive worked for a variety of editors andCEOs over my career?- ?for leaders who were inspiring and for leaders who were cancerous?- ?and in reflecting on what sort of leader I want to be, now, I draw from those negative experiences just as often as I do the positive ones.Ultimately, I believe we have to know hownotto operate in order to be the most effective versions of ourselves.Here are the most harmful habits and traits I strive to avoid.1. Operating with a lack of trust and transparencyDishonesty is cancerous and difficult to cloak.Which is to say, it poisons morale and makes your employees dislike you. And poisoned morale, of course, disrupts productivity and hinders your compa nys overall capacity for operating effectively.If you think you can keep your kollektiv inspired while being dishonest to them about whats happening behind closed doors, think again.All of your staff?- ?top to bottom?- ?can tell when youre lying to them.In fact, theres rarely a reason not to be entirely transparent with your team, especially at a young, growing company. No matter the situation, your team deserves to understand what sort of logic or procedural mechanisms drive the decision-making processes at your company.Moreover, employees simply appreciate knowing where the company stands?- ?it inspires them. If you are honest, they will want to help shoulder more of the load.2. Only pushing your own ideasGreat leaders seek creative solutions to thorny problems everywhere they look.Ineffective leaders, on the other hand, approach problem-solving processes much more myopically.They suffer from what I call not-invented-here-syndrome. Ive experienced this first hand with some of the larger companies Ive worked for. The managers refused to listen to folks, like me, who were lower on the proverbial totem pole. They didnt realize how toxic this was for morale until they saw the comments in exit interviews.Ultimately, managers and CEOs who dont identify good ideas when theyre presented to them?- ?even from the lowest employee on the team?- ?stunt morale, potential, and, ultimately, their companys bottom line.3. Playing the blame gameNo matter what company youre running, if youre the one running it, the buckhasto stop with you. Youre the one in charge. Unbreakable accountability is a burden you have to bear.As it happens, a certain unwillingness to hold yourself accountable is a surefire sign of a cowardly CEO. The worst leadersneveraccept responsibility for blunders, churned customers, or badeanstalt quarterly reports. Instead, they expend effort lookingforothersto blame.This, simply put, is unproductive, not to mention damaging. As a practice, it disincentivizes e mployees from taking risks or coming up with creative solutions to problems because they fear being the subject of the bosss scorn. In time, they leave such work environments are inherently unsustainable.4. Not listening to your employeesGreat CEOs understand that inspiration can come from every employee on staff.Failing to understand this?- ?or, worse, willfully ignoring it?- ?is an indicator of a defective leader, and certainly of a leader who will never achieve greatness. Discrediting those who work below you simply because theyre technically subordinates is a sign of ignorance, and makes it impossible to build a loyal, engaged, and faithful team.As it happens, a loyal and inspired team is exactly what leaders are charged with cultivating.5. Focusing on the now and short-changing the futureThis trait, in particular, is difficult for modern CEOs to correct. In todays corporate environment?- ?in which positive quarterly reports that please anxious stockholders take precedence above all other goals?- ?it can be seen as sort of anthemic.But great CEOs prioritize and focus on projects and goals which will most benefit the company and are thus based in reality?- ?not corporate hyperbole.Prioritizing short-term goals risks long-term security.6. InconsistencyThis is something Ive battled myself as the President ofBookBaby I have, in the past, been blamed for changing strategic course too often based on shifting market conditions or new opportunities.Unfortunately, making a habit of that makes it difficult to achieve long-term goals. Strategy shifts must always be coordinated and well-thought out?- ?not to mention transparent. The folks working with you should understand the logic informing the decisions youre making, as well as the manner in which youve made them.Moreover, they have to believe that whatever decisions youre making, youre making for the betterment of the company. Its hard to remain confident in a leader who makes key decisions seemingly on a whim.In fact, that sort of behavior only triggers confusion.The central theme to all of these corporate failings is this they erode trust and respect among your employees, and render you less effective as a leader in the long run.At the end of the day, your employees are your troops theyre looking to be led. They need commanders they can depend on.But in order to be that leader, you need to work consciously on developing the right sort of habits. Often, that starts with understanding hownotto operate.This article was originally published on Quora.com.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

5 Ways to Improve Your Career in Your 20s - The Muse

5 Ways to Improve Your Career in Your 20s - The Muse5 Ways to Improve Your Career in Your 20sThe day has come. I have officially reached that point in my career at which I can reflect back and say, Ah, yes. Im so glad I did that when I was 25. It sure is paying off now. And on the flip side of this very coin, Im also at the Oh, man. Why did I not consider that 15 years ago? stage of life.While there is plenty that one does not need to have all figured out in the early career years, there are a few things that every 20-something professional should get a handle on sooner, not later. Why? Because they may very well lead to big-time dividends by the time you hit your 40s (trussst me.)1. Be Less Afraid to Approach MentorsMost early career professionals Ive worked with are somewhere between pensive and paralyzed when I suggest approaching a later-stage professional about mentorship. Stop that nonsense. Many seasoned (and successful) professionals welcome invitations to share their experti se. Most of the time, theyre flattered to be asked because they remember being in your shoes once upon a time.The best people to approach are those doing what you want to be doing in 10-15 years, and doing it well. You can learn so much from the people who have already trod down the path upon which youre embarking. leid to mention, they may be super helpful when it comes to opening doors.2. Establish Yourself as a Thought Leader, Early OnThink you couldnt possibly be viewed as any kind of authority on that thing you do professionally? Think again. As you build expertise, you will benefit (enormously) if you begin a regular habit of making people aware of your passion for and knowledge of your particular field. Thanks to social media, you have a bunch of relevant platforms (especially LinkedIn) through which you can post articles, pose questions, and share news about what youre doing. Or, consider launching your own personal blog.Staying top of mind is half the battle for all of us a s professionals. Start early, and stay on peoples radar as one who knows your stuff and loves what you do. Why? Because people just might think of you first when great opportunities related to your area of expertise come their way.3. Make Sacrifices and Take Risks While You Have FreedomThis is one of those things people warned me about, and I didnt listen. And now, I wish I had. Often, when youre in your 20s, you have relatively few responsibilities and obligations. Yes, of course. You have rent (or a mortgage) and bills to pay, but many dont have spouses and children (and dogs, and aging parents, and lacrosse games, and track meets, and) to factor in when it comes to taking a big career gamble, or working endless hours, or making other lofty sacrifices. You also have tons of runway left front of you, so if you err in your risk-taking, theres plenty of time for a mulligan.Im not suggesting that you be reckless or ridiculous here. Be thoughtful, for sure. But these are absolutely gre at years to be a risk-taker with your career. It could really pay off by the time you reach your 40s.4. Take Advantage of Company-Paid TrainingThis one is huge. If you work for a company that pays for training or certifications, grab at this opportunity. I mean GRAB at it. Ongoing learning is vital for every professionals growth. So if someone is offering to foot the bill? For heavens sake- run with it. Not sure what training might be beneficial for you down the road? Do this Review a handful of job postings for roles one or two notches up the food chain from where youre at right now. Take a look at the required and preferred skills. If you see any skills, certifications, or credentials called for that you dont have? These are likely the very classes you should consider first.5. Stay in Touch With People Along the WayI cant tell you how many times people from my past jobs have looped around and become my mentors, confidants, clients, and allies over the years. Its literally dozens. I have recruiting clients today who hired me because we worked together 15 years ago. I just did the resume of a former co-workers son. I booked a substantial outplacement project through a former boss, who now works at a firm that was going through a reduction in force. Had you told me 15 years ago how valuable my colleagues from years past would be, I suspect I would not have believed you. Fortunately, I still stayed in reasonable touch with my peers and supervisors (thank you, LinkedIn), and today its paying off handsomely. It just may for you, too.When youre early on in your career, trying to figure out which seeds to plant (and when) can be confusing and overwhelming. For some, it may also feel so far out that these foundational moves couldnt possibly matter. But as both a long-time career strategist and a 40-something professional, Ill tell you straight up Deliberate, strategic moves today can (and very likely will) put you well ahead of the pack in the long run.And the view f rom the front? Its pretty much always nicer than the rear.