Saturday, December 28, 2019

How to Gently Tell a Colleague, Youre Overcomplicating ThisLike, a Lot

How to Gently Tell a Colleague, Youre Overcomplicating ThisLike, a LotHow to Gently Tell a Colleague, Youre Overcomplicating This- Like, a LotSo first, you enter the copy here. Then tick these boxes to indicate which hours the promotional message should run. Of course, write down any exceptions here. Then create a PDF. Send that to the program director. Get his approval. Revise the PDF. Send that to the talent for recording, then to the producer for music selection. Follow up with them, and once the spot has been recorded, it goes back to the program director. Give him three days to sign off, and thenI listened, patiently, as my colleague continued to explain the new and improved protocol- for what felt like an eternity. By the end of the explanation, producing a 15-second radio spot had become, apparently, a 45-step process. A process that involved a woefully outdated and clunky computer program that, apparently, we didnt have the resources to update. A process that was making every one on the team feel resentful and stressed out. As the promotional coordinator, it was my job to follow the plan and make it happen. I was young, inexperienced, and under-confident at the time, so I said, Sure Makes sense. Consider it done.What I should have said was, I think we might be overcomplicating this- like, a lot.When a colleague is using a helpful system that has about 40 steps mora than it needs to- or running a project that is mind-twistingly complicated- it can be tricky to say, We could be doing this differently without hurting any feelings.But as a co-worker, thats parte of your job. Co + worker. Working in cooperation. Side by side. Collaboratively. When you see something that could be done better, its your responsibility to speak up.Just choose your words thoughtfully and be respectful.Heres a script that can helpHey name,I was thinking about name of project on my ride / drive / walk into work today.I had a few thoughts on how we could simplify the process / projec t / plan / protocol- and achieve the exact same result, or possibly an even better result, a bit more efficiently.Could I share my thoughts with you, over coffee? I mapped out a simple plan and Im excited to share it. Today at time would be ideal for me, but if that doesnt work, let me know a time that does.ThanksYour nameYou can also try phrases likeHey, I was thinking about name of project and I was wondering about describe a particular step that is super complicated. Is there a reason why weve always done it that way?If I came up with a simpler approach that could save us time and money, would you be open to hearing about it?OrHey, Ive been on a major simplicity kick recently, looking for ways to streamline processes and get more done in less time. Ive got a plan that could help make name of project flow a lot more smoothly. Id love to share it with you and get your input.Youll want to adjust your language to suit your company culture, of course. Some companies are more formal wh en it comes to communicating and proposing ideas- others are laid-back and chillaxed. Do what makes sense for you.But no matter what kind of phrasing you choose, the key is to focus on the positive- a new solution a simpler plan a better approach- rather than dwelling on the negative. You want to get your colleagues excited about your idea, not put them on the defensive or make them feel incompetent.Think Hey, Ive got a proposition that could make this project flow a lot more smoothly. Lets talkNot This process just isnt working and were wasting tons of time. Were you high on cough syrup when you wrote this best practices manual?Even if your colleague says, No, were not changing the plan, you havent lost anything. Youre still exactly where you started. But at least you made an effort and tried to make things better. And- best case scenario?Youll get to hear the 10 magic words youve been waiting forSounds like a great plan. Much simpler. Lets try it.Photo of complicated thinking cour tesy of Shutterstock.

Monday, December 23, 2019

Learn What Sound Engineers Do

Learn What Sound Engineers DoLearn What Sound Engineers DoWhat exactly is a sound engineer? For starters, they play a vitally important role in the music industry.If you have ever been at a concert whereyou were blown away by the clarity and overall quality of the music you heard, chances are that there was a very talented engineer controlling the sound you heard. What a Sound Engineer Does Sound engineers or audio engineers work on the technical aspects of sound and music production by mixing, reproducing and manipulating the equalization and electronic effects of sound. Sound engineers dont have to work strictly in music. Some engineers end up designing and controlling the sound at conferences, in theaters, and in any other venue that requires soundprojectionfor an audience. By controlling microphones, sound levels, and outputs, sound engineers combine their well-trained ears with theirknowledge of acoustics to produce the best quality of sound for a variety of purpose. Some ve nues that hire sound engineers include filmradiotelevisionmusical recordingscomputer gameslive music concertstheatresports gamescorporate events Different Types of Sound Engineers Many people think of the sound engineer as the person who stands behind the big mixing desk at a show and mixes the sound the audience hears. This is also known as mixing the front of house sound. But this is only one aspect of sound engineering. In fact, though, there are 4 distinct steps to commercial production of a recording including recording, editing, mixing, and mastering. As a result,there are other types of sound engineers with particular roles and specializations. Keep in mind, however, that it is common for all of these roles to be taken on by one sound person at smaller events and shows as having a whole gruppe of engineers is a luxury usually reserved for large, well-funded tours. Some of the other roles and titles common to audio engineers include Monitor sound engineers. This type of en gineer takes care of the sound the band hears on their monitors on stage. If youve ever heard a band say, can you turn down my guitar a little bit or something similar, they are talking to the monitor sound engineer.Systems engineers. They take care of setting up amps, complex PA systems, speakers and such for the band and the other sound engineers.Studio sound engineers. They workin a recording studio to make high-quality recordings of music, speech and sound effects. Research and developmentaudio engineers. They work toinvent new technologies, equipment, and techniques, in order to enhance the process and art of audio engineering.Wireless microphone engineers. They are responsible for wireless microphones during a theatre production, a sports event or a corporate event.Game audio designer engineers. They deal with sound for video and computer game development. How to Become an Audio Engineer Sound engineers can come from a wide array of backgrounds and educational experiences. Postsecondary training in the fields of radio television, music, audio, performing arts, broadcasting, or electrical engineering can all be lead-ins to a career in sound engineering. Many colleges and universities offer specific training in audio engineering and sound recording. Often, though, audio engineers may have no formal training, but instead, attain professional experience and skills in audio through extensive on-the-job experience.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

4 steps to a successful personal development plan

4 steps to a successful personal development plan4 steps to a successful personal development planWe tend to think about our careers and personal development as one ongoing process like a river flowing constantly. But if youre swimming in that river, every so often you need to stop to take a breath. Taking a moment to create a personal development plan is like taking a very deep breath.I was reminded this a couple of months ago when I broke my constant work cycle of 10 years. Suddenly, I had no current job and no idea what the next one would be. I was so tired of moving straight on to the next thing without rest. So I decided to take a month off, look around, and actually think hard about the next move. Lo and behold, my personal development plan was born.Why you need a personal development plan?Imagine if you asked a contractor to build your new house and they said we dont need a plan, well figure it out as we go. You wouldnt tolerate that for a second. So why do so many of us go t hrough life that way?Most of the time we harbor aspirations and dream dreams, yet we rarely stop and think about our future in detail. A personal development plan helps you know wherbeie youre headed and how to get there, with specifics. First, this will bring clarity to your thinking and youll know exactly where you want to be. Whats more, it will give you peace of mind that youre going in the right direction on a daily basis. Efforts will feel more deliberate and decisions will be easier, as you will have a clear benchmark.Personal development expert Jim Rohn said When you look at successful people, you will almost always discover a plan behind their success. It is the foundation for success. I couldnt agree more.How to build your personal development plan?The process of building your plan can take considerable time. This is completely normal and you shouldnt rush things. However, its a good idea to set a deadline in your mind. After all, tasks are a kind of fluid they take as mu ch space as you give them.Step 1 Clear out your visionYou have to start with the end in mind. To build your personal development plan, look at whats on the other side. Think about your future life. Choose a timeframe that makes sense for you if you are still in your 20s, a look at 3 or 5 years from now is enough. The older you get, the longer the planning period you can have.Now, imagine your life in, say, 3 years and go through your imaginary dayWhats the first thought that passes your mind in the morning?Whats the reason you get out of bed?Hows your day structured?Whats your workplace? What do you do there?How much time do you spend with friends and family?What makes you feel accomplished at the end of the day?What gives you energy moving forward and what drains your energy?In her book Pivot, author Jenny Blake even suggests you craft a full story heres her template for an Ideal Day Mad Lib.Now take one step back and review. What are the areas that will make you feel successful? This will help you determine your values. Map them out you can use anything, from a note-taking app to a blank sheet of paper, from a simple bullet list to a fancy visual board. The best way this works for me is by using a mind map with several main nodes for each of the areas in your life.Some people prefer to keep that simple, with 2-3 nodes for professional, personal and social fields. Others go in more details the framework blogger Michael Hyatt uses has 10 life domainsIntellectualEmotionalPhysicalSpiritualMaritalParentalSocialFinancialVocational (career-related and professional)Avocational (hobbies and interests)I believe the map works best with 5-6 categories and you can put there everything you want to if you feel like travel is a key field for your development, best to have it there.After you have the key areas as main nodes, complete your mind map by including several sub-nodes that will make the field a success. Heres an example of the end result using the free version of the tool Mind Meister.The end result will give you a broad sense of what areas you should focus on.Step 2 Outline your strengths and areas for improvementYouve put down a pin on where you want to go now lets see what are the means of going forward.First, think about what you already have going for you what are the strengths and the skills that are already relevant to your dream? Maybe you want to move into a new work field then your natural networking skills will help you get to know the industry quicker.Then, make a list of skills you need to develop and projects you can start working on to move you closer to your goals. Think about the people you can contact and who can help you along the way. At this point you dont have to be too specific think of it as a kind of brainstorming. Jenny Blake has a handy template on this, as well.After youve created a long list, look at the different points and group them together to form clusters. You can use a format thats well known by mo st business students the SWOT chart. Although were used to thinking about it as a tool to assess organizations, its just as handy for assessing your personality. You just have to draw a four quadrant map and use each parte for your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. If this sounds too abstract, check out the questions for building a personal SWOT chart here.Step 3 Build your personal development planAfter you have a clear direction, lets go into detail. The key here is to get down to specific actions for the future.You start by setting up specific projects. What do you need to get them done?What resources will you need? Books to read, courses to take, tools to subscribe toWhat people will help you do it? Friends, mentors and so on.What will success look like? Set specific criteria for measuring that.What is the timeframe? Either put in a general deadline or milestones for different parts of the project.Youll end up with a clear idea of what needs to get done and how to do it. Now get doing You can even tie your personal development plan to your annual goals. Read more about setting annual goals here.Step 4 Review and adaptPresident Eisenhower once said Plans are useless, but planning is indispensable. The importance of a personal development plan is in getting the clarity that comes with answering questions about your future. But it is not set in stone. After all, life changes fast and we need to change with it. Thats why its important to review and adapt.Reviews can go on a quarterly basis. Make aya you keep your eye on the prize and remind yourself why youre doing what youre doing. Reread your vision, check out your values mind map. But after that focus just on what needs to be done over the next quarter otherwise, you might feel overwhelmed by the full picture and never get around to doing anything.If some project no longer makes sense, dont hesitate to remove it from your personal development plan. Dont hesitate to adapt the plan according to new interests or a change in circumstances. A good personal development strategy grows as you do. As Tony Robbins put it, Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach.Hand-picked related contentTo share or not to share?You dont have to advertise your new journey to everyone, so dont rent that billboard in front of work just yet. However, its good to validate your personal development plan with several key people. These can be co-workers, family members, close friends. In a best case scenario, they will be diverse enough to cover all of your plans areas.This team of mentors will be able to support you throughout your personal development journey. They will point out ways to achieve your goals, introduce you to new people and resources, or just be there for you when going gets hard. They can also serve as an accountability group when youve shared your goals with others, you feel obliged to see them through.A conclusionTaking a look around and making sure y ou know what youre going after is very important and it can be quite refreshing. When I built my personal development plan, I felt energized and ready to conquer every challenge. I was sure I knew what I was doing and that gave me confidence in pursuing my vision.But if youd like some more inspiration regarding just where an amazing plan can take you, check out our successful resumes page. There, you can see how more than a dozen real people found their own success.Good luck*note, the original version of this article was posted in March of 2017 ?? Reply Rohit Kumar on January 1st, 2019 - 122pm This is a wonderful list indeedThanks for including me among these great personal development bloggers, Im indeed honored. ??I agree that its difficult to rank these bloggers as each one of them is important and special in his or her ways.So, congratulations to everyone who made it to this special list. Ill definitely be visiting and connecting with them.Thanks again and have a great life ah ead ?? 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 Youre subscribed Latest posts See all posts by Eric D. Halsey 4 Ways Creativity Can Improve Your Resume by Katherine (Tori) LutzHow to Create a First Year Elementary School Teacher Resume by Tatiana Rehmova Top 20 resume tips and advice for 2019 with expert insights

Friday, December 13, 2019

Early Retirement From the National Guard and Reserves

Early Retirement From the National Guard and ReservesEarly Retirement From the National Guard and ReservesMembers of the National Guard and Reserve can retire after they have performed 20 or more years of creditable military service.Active duty reduces the retirement age by three months for every 90 days served. For some members of the Guard and Reserves, that could mean starting retired pay as early as age 50, but not sooner. The law does not change eligibility for military medical benefits, however. In order to receive military retiree medical benefits, the member must still wait until age 60. Under the new law, members of the National Guard and Reserves are able to reduce the age at which they are eligible to receive retirement pay by three months for each cumulative period of 90 days served on active duty in any fiscal year. Qualifying Active Duty Service for Early Retirement Most active duty time qualifies. This includes involuntary mobilization, voluntary active duty, train ing, operational support duties and attendance at military schools. It also includesmedical treatment or evaluation for disability or medical studies. However, some periods of active duty do not. Active duty time thatdoes notqualify under the program includes Weekend drillsAnnual two weeks trainingWhile in captive statusAs a member not assigned to, or participating satisfactorily inunitsFull-Time Guard/Reserve programs, such as AGR, or TARFor disciplinary/courts-martialFor muster duty Also included is full-time National Guard duty served under a call to active service by a governor and authorized by the president or the Secretary of Defense, for purposes of responding to either a national emergency declared by the president or a national emergency supported by federal funds. Only active duty time performed as a member of the Guard/Reserves count. In other words, if a member joined active duty for four years, then got out and joined the Guard or Reserves, the active duty time does no t count toward earning early retirement. However, it does count when computing retirement points. The amount ofretirement payreceived is based on a system of points earnedfor Guard/Reserve and active duty service performed during their careers. Example of Early Retirement Active Duty Credits A reservist performed five days of active-duty service on MPA orders in February 2017. He then volunteered for active duty beginning June 1 and ending Nov. 30 (leave, reconstitution and post-deployment/mobilization respite absence included, as applicable). The reservist performed a total of 127 days of active-duty service in fiscal 2017 and 61 days in fiscal 2018. Under this scenario, all of the active-duty time the reservist performed could be credited toward reduced retirement age eligibility because it was active-duty time performed under circumstances permitted under the law. However, because time credited must total 90 days or must be in multiples of 90 days in the aggregate during a fi scal year in order to correspondingly reduce his retirement age by three months, or multiples of three months, the reservist will be able to reduce his retirement age by three months for fiscal 207. Had he performed 53 more days of active-duty service after Jan. 28 and before going on active duty June 1, he would have accumulated 180 total days for fiscal 2017 and thus would be able to reduce his retirement age by six months. Similarly, because the reservist has so far served on active duty 61 days in fiscal 2018, he must perform an additional 29 days of active-duty service sometime during the year in order to reduce his retirement age by an additional three months.

Monday, December 9, 2019

Waitress Resume - a Brief Overview

Waitress Resume - a Brief Overview What Does Waitress Resume Mean? Generally, Waitresses at Dennys must conduct all delegated tasks as instructed by the management and be sure that the entire businesss operational guidelines are upheld. Every employee in a particular company follows a written job description while on the job. The very first key section of your resume is known as the Career Objective. Developing a nursing resume is difficult, notably since there are not any rules. For you to do so, youve got to be familiar with qualifications of the job which youre applying for. Based on your qualification, you can select for a work position that satisfies your private job preferences and the capacity to do the delegated tasks by the management. A work description guarantees that there is not any duplication of tasks or duties. Customized Your Resume There are several unique kinds of jobs that folks are applying for. New Ideas Into Waitress Resume Never Before Revealed There arent any shortcuts to compose a superb, quality resume. Going through the resume samples, you will receive an idea on what are the vital things for a perfect resume and exactly what you may include in your application. There are a lot of good choices available to assist you make a resume that will stick out among the others. If youre inclined to compose a detailed and approximate resume, you definitely require some smart resume suggestions to jot down every detail in an ideal manner. Managers would be most pleased to realize that their people truly care about the organization, and showing your enthusiasm to learn about just what the restaurant is selling is vital. Utilize your waitress resume to highlight your strong suits, whatever you can do in order to demonstrate your strengths will help you land work. Its possible to also give examples of a few of the ways you worked together with the remainder of the staff in the restaurant and supported cooks and others. Furthermore , the restaurant hostess often is the surface of the company and has to typically adhere to a strict dress code. When you learn how to compose a resume, be very cautious when stating the reason you left certain positions. Situation particular resumes generally indicate they are especially formatted to suit people in a special situation, for instance, entry level resumes, inter-company transfer resumes, etc.. Cover Letter The cover letter has become the most important part of a good resume. An excellent cover letter should complement you RESUME. The Waitress Resume Trap Another benefit of utilizing a resume template is the fact that it aids in following a specific standard. If you are looking for a free resume template its probably likely to be in your very best interest to take what you like from a couple of different examples and, create your own customized resume template that youll be in a position to easily merge with your present content. You are likely to locate a lot of different free resume templates to pick from. There are several different kinds of templates for different job titles. The work title for a bartender might vary between businesses. Once you have produced a bartender position description, take some opportunity to examine our bartender interview questions. The waitress job description usually contains the exact same responsibilities from 1 workplace to another. Job descriptions for the exact same position will read differently depending on the sort of job that youre searching for now. Dont be afraid to make our cocktail waitress job description sample your own with the addition of info about your company and the qualities you want to see in your next hire. You will discover a thorough waitress resume that provides you a glimpse of what sort of information you should include, like duties, skills, and accomplishments. Therefore, while one may find a lot of chances to begin their career for a waiter, they have to settle for the mediocre workplaces where there are actual openings. A female attendant is called a waitress. Resumes must be simple for the reader to follow. You dont have to be concerned about figuring out all the formatting functions unless you would like to. Fourth, it must be in Word format. Youll get such ready formats for each and every kind of job that you need to apply. There arent any set rules to writing a resume but theres certain information thats regarded as essential that needs to be included. Theres no need to compose your resume in two or more pages. Then you need to earn a comprehensive description of every part of your work. A clean, clear and appealing template for a resume is appealing, showcases the vital sections of the resume in the right way and catches the interest of the readers in a manner they will read everything that you have in it, instead of reading only two or three lines.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

What How to Showcase Writing Skills in Resume Is - and What it Is Not

What How to Showcase Writing Skills in Resume Is - and What it Is Not Skill mentioned on your resume is the secret to unlock your fantasy job. When youre attempting to compose a winning skills based resume, there are a couple of important elements to remember. Some skills are universal no matter the position youre seeking, while some will be career specific. Technical skills are either something youve got or you dont, but theyre always something which it is possible to learn. New Step by Step Roadmap for How to Showcase Writing Skills in Resume Its also important to think about the type of work you genuinely wish to be hired to do. If youre trying hard to think of any, you can attempt employing the job descriptions of ads in your industry, in addition to looking at LinkedIn profiles of individuals working in similar roles. Double-check if youre utilizing the appropriate abilities and experience keywords. Your resume will likely be scanned to create sure it consists of the ideal keywords before its seen by menschlich eyes. How to Showcase Writing Skills in Resume - the Story Functional resumes are excellent for highlighting transferable skills that are going to be applicable to your new field of work. Listing your skills provides a chance to showcase your abilities and experiences to prime employers for the remainder of your resume. Written language skills are an essential part of many positions in nearly every business. The One Thing to Do for How to Showcase Writing Skills in Resume As you proceed through the list of skills above, make a distinct list with the skills which you already possess. Look out for keywords to spell out your core qualifications, key professional and individual skills. On the 1 hand, you need to showcase as many skills as possible to demonstrate your competence. As soon as youre done Get rid of all of the skills you just have a simple grasp of. Rather than listing every skill you might have, its much better to lis t the skills that are related to the position. There are lots of skills both hard and soft to construct your skills section around. Choosing Good How to Showcase Writing Skills in Resume No matter your industry, your capacity to communicate is critical. Ensure you list a number of skills your potential employers are looking for, like mentioning your skills in creative content strategy, social networking analytics and search engine optimization (search engine optimization) for a position as a social networking manager. There are three kinds of resumes, each with its own benefits and pitfalls. Whenever youre job searching, its imperative you share on your resume your skill set regarding the position youre applying for. You candevelop skills outside your work. Youd be amazed at how important your soft skills are to your upcoming hiring manager. Hard skills are quantifiable and frequently learned from school or at work. What is Actually Going on with How to Showcase Writing S kills in Resume If youre not certain which skills you wish to share, consider your prior experiences. You should do the exact saatkorn for technical skills also. Key skills are work-related skills that you want to do a job. Hard skills arent skills that are tricky to learn.