How to Get a Job at the Zoo

How to Get a Job at the ZooHow to Get a Job at the ZooCareer opportunities at zoological parks can be quite scarceas many animal career seekers are interested in working with exotic wildlife. Zoos usually receive dozens of applications for each standort advertised. It is certainly possible to increase your odds of landing one of these coveted positions by enhancing your resume with hands-on experience and education. Determine an Area of Interest The first step to getting a job at the zoo is determining what career path you would like to pursue. Popular zoo career options include zookeeper, zoo educator, zoologist, wildlife veterinarian, and veterinary assistant, though there are also many roles available in management, administration, and support positions. By defining your area of interest early on, you can select your college courses and internships to strengthen your resume for that career path. Thoroughly research the career that you intend to pursue. You might be able to arr ange an interview with a zoo staff member who holds the type of position you are interested in meeting with someone who works in your field of choice can be invaluable. You can also research zoo careers through the Association of Zoos Aquariums,in career guidebooks, or in animal industry publications. Gain Education The level of education required for a particular position can vary from a two-year degree to a four-year degree, with some positions requiring additional study at the graduate level. Most students seeking zoo careers will major in fields such as biology, zoology, animal behavior, animal science, conservation science, or another related area. Keeper positions may only require an associate degree, though many keepers do have four-year bachelor of science degrees. Positions such as zoologist generally require a B.S. degree at minimum, with M.S. or Ph.D. degrees being preferable. Veterinarians must first complete their undergraduate degree before going on to veterinary school those pursuing board certification in the veterinary field face additional years of training and testing. Gain Hands-On Experience Volunteer internships are a great way to gain hands-on experience at a zoo. Many zoos have programs designed to allow members of the community to work with their animals in some capacity. Tasks may involve assisting with educational programs, helping to prepare daily rations for the animals, assisting with veterinary care, shadowing keepers as they care for animals throughout the day, or helping to maintain animal enclosures. Some zoos also have paid part-time or seasonal positions available. If there is not a zoo located close to you, it is also possible to gain experience by working, volunteering, or pursuing internships with animals at aquariums, museums, animal parks, menschliche societies, rescue groups, stables, wildlife reha facilities, or fish and game offices. Gaining experience as a veterinary assistant is a big plus for a variety of zoo career paths. Assisting a vet who deals with wildlife species is ideal, but working for an equine vet, large animal vet, or small animal vet also provides valuable experience that will enhance your resume. The key factor here is to gain experience by working with a variety of animals in a hands-on capacity. Find an Opportunity Zoo jobs may be advertised in trade publications like the Journal of Zoology, Zoo Biology, the Canadian Journal of Zoology, and other similar industry print offerings. Colleges and universities may get advance notice of impending vacancies, so it is wise to subscribe to any job-related email lists your educational institution may offer. Opportunities may also be found through a search of various industry websites such as the Association of Zoos Aquariums (AZA) job listing, which provides job postings and career opportunities for zoos throughout the country. Individual zoo websites such as Zoo Atlanta, the Bronx Zoo, the San Diego Zoo, the Los Angeles Zoo Botanical Gardens, and other such websites may also post position opportunities as they become available. It never hurts to visit the human resources department at the zoo office to fill out a job application and submit a resume. While you are in the office, check out the volunteer and internship opportunities, which are a great way to get your foot in the door. Your college may also be able to help with placement, so also check with your advisor and professors about any connections they might have.

Madiha El Mehelmy Kotb Takes Office as ASMEs 132nd President

Madiha El Mehelmy Kotb Takes Office as ASMEs 132nd President Madiha El Mehelmy Kotb Takes Office as ASMEs 132nd President During herbei inaugural address at the Presidents Dinner, new ASME President Madiha El Mehelmy Kotb discussed the steps ASME needs to take to remain successful in the future. . During ceremonies held at the ASME Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Madiha El Mehelmy Kotb, Eng., was introduced as ASMEs 132nd president.Kotb used the occasion to share her perspectives on the future of ASME along with citing personal goals during her presidential term. This is such an exciting time to be a part of ASME. The changes weve seen and those that are still in the works are making ASME stronger and more relevant than ever, said Kotb during the opening of her inaugural comments at the Presidents Dinner, held on June 25. President Kotb thanked outgoing president Marc Goldsmith for his year of service and expressed appreciation to all those who have committed themselves to see ing ASME move forward in its strategic initiatives and future success. Opportunities are plentiful and we need to keep working together as volunteers and staff. Immediate Past President Marc Goldsmith (left) presents the Societys new president, Madiha Kotb, with her presidential gavel. Kotb outlined some important ways to ensure that the Society moves successfully into the future. First, we need to continue building international bridges to further increase legitimacy as a leader in the global marketplace, she said. Kotb also stressed the importance of ASMEs geographical growth and diversity to expand our networks growth in the area of energy by expanding ASMEs energy footprint and serving as a global energy resource and also serving as an advocate for a new culture of safety, particularly as it relates to the integration of risk management. Using the illustration of a high-speed Mag-Lev train, Kotb said, ASME is like this well-honed bullet train - boldly functio nal, highly efficient and focused on its destination. In anticipation of the work and contributions of engineers and professional societies like ASME, she concluded by saying Today, we must think differently about our world, just as todays engineer moves beyond probability theory to quantum theorylets be willing to adapt to new ways of working together. As Marc Goldsmith concluded his term as ASME president he thanked the Board of Governors, the many volunteers, ASME Executive Director Tom Loughlin and the ASME staff for their untersttzung and for the great work they have done to carry forward the mission and strategic initiatives of the Society during the past year. Goldsmith expressed well wishes to Kotb and expressed enthusiasm for ASMEs future. I know that incoming president, Madiha Kotb, will have an outstanding year and will continue ASMEs legacy of leadership in engineering respected worldwide, Goldsmith said.Mel Torre, ASME Public Information

Tory Burch on female ambition and motherhood in the age of #MeToo

Tory Burch on female ambition and motherhood in the age of MeTooTory Burch on female ambition and motherhood in the age of MeTooTheres no denying thatTory Burch, Designer and CEO of the Tory Burchempireand Founder of theTory Burch Foundation, is a woman with fiery ambition. belastung week, her Foundation hosted its first ever Embrace Ambition Summit, where female (and a couple of brave male) entrepreneurs, entertainers, and thought leaders spoke about how they embrace ambition and thrive in a world where stereotypes regarding race, gender,and sexuality all too often plague the trajectory of a womans career. Burchspokewith Thrive Global about ambition, motherhood, and self-care.1. Youre known for championing women to embrace their ambition. While the message of follow your dreams is important, whats a piece of advice you wish someone had given you as a young woman starting her career?When I started a company, one of the first things that my parents said to me was thicken your skin, an d also to think of negativity as noise. That idea has really kept me in a frame of mind where Ive been focused on the task at hand and not necessarily on the naysayers. I let my work speak for itself. So, thats the advice Id give to a young woman Let your work speak for itself.2. Youve spoken a time in your past when a journalist asked if you were ambitious, and how that question represented a pivotal moment in your career. Today, what does ambition mean to you?Oh, when that journalist asked me if I was ambitious - I thought it was a very rude question. Ambition had, and still does, have negative connotations when associated with a woman. After the journalists article came out, my friend Jane Rosenthal called and said, nice article, but you shied away from the word ambition. She was right, and it struck me as unfair in many ways. Since then, I knew that I wanted to change the conversation around the word. For me, equal rights for women should not be a favor, it should be a given. Its an issue of humanity.3. In the context of the Tory Burch Foundations mission and as a mother of three young men, what does motherhood mean to you?I mean, its been the joy of my life having three children. I have a lot of children, actually. I have three stepdaughters, three boys, and then my fianc has three boys. I always wanted to have a lot of children, though I dont know if I knew Id have this many Its so important to expose children to different ways of thinking and enlighten them to different cultures and to show them the beauty of diversity and show them that thats what make our country beautiful and its what makes my company beautiful. I also show them that of course, diversity is whats right for humanity, but its also whats right for business. Different perspectives is additive and its just like how we needed men at this conference You can be at a womens conference, in a room full of women, and we all agree. So, I think you have to have those difficult conversations, and certainly Ive tried to teach my boys how to respect women. My dad used to say, being a gentleman is not a part-time job, and I think authenticity is at the core of everything.4. What advice do you have for a young woman who wants to embrace her ambition, but doesnt have access to capital?Be resourceful. Im a big fan of cold calls. Have your thoughts together, keep it short, have a unique idea and then learn how to present yourself. We work with our entrepreneurs very closely on confidence and how to sell their concept, but theres many places that you can look to for capital. For example, at our Foundation, we are giving women access to low-cost capital, affordable loans, mentorship through education, and of course our fellowship program. There are definitely ways to get that access that you need.5. Finally, whats one well-being habit you wont sacrifice?It has to be sports. I love playing tennis and being active - thats why I started our sport line because it was such a natural for me. I grew up outside basically so living in the city is a new experience for me. Im definitely a country girl.This article first appeared on Thrive Global.

Why walking after dinner is good for you

Why walking after dinner is good for youWhy walking after dinner is good for youThis week, I ate a three-course dinner that put me into a carb-induced stupor. The bowl of noodles was delicious, but when I got up from our table, I immediately wanted to take a nap. But instead of following my first impulse to sit down and take a car home, I walked the long way home. When I reached my destination twenty minutes later, I felt noticeably better and lighter.I am not alone in making the case for the post-dinner walk. Science backs me up.How a walk after dinner aids digestionAfter we stuff our bodies with food, our bodys digestion ordnungsprinzip kicks into action mode, converting that food into sugar glucose. Walking helps to speed that process along, because our leg muscles require some of that glucose to get the energy to move. One 2008 study found that even a leisurely walk on a treadmill had the power to accelerate the rate of food passing through the stomach. The participants who finis hed their large meal with an espresso or a brandy digestif did not get this same digestive boost.Walking also helps to regulate our blood sugar levels. After a bread-heavy meal, sugar floods our bloodstream, which can cause blood sugar levels to spike. When your blood sugar levels are too high, you can get a headache, and can feel dizzy, confused or nauseous. People with diabetes lack the insulin to easily clear the glucose from their bloodstream, which means that blood sugar levels can stay elevated for too long. Thats where a walk can help. One 2016 study found that 10 minutes of walking after a meal helped to control the blood sugar levels of people with type-2 diabetes.So, if you are feeling sleepy and bloated after a big meal, get up from the table and get moving. Your body will thank you later.

Software Application Developer Salary

Software Application Developer SalarySoftware Application Developer SalaryIf youre an application developer or planning to become one, its a good idea to take a look at what your peers are making before negotiating your salary. In 2011, the zentralwert salary for software application developers was $89,280. However, your experience, certifications, where you live and the company you are applying to can all play a role in how much you earn. Software application designers create applications like games and word processing programs, which are used on computers and other electronic devices including tablets, cell phones, and Smart TVs. Because applications are so abundant in the consumer market, many people dont realize that there are many other types of applications used by governments, manufacturers and other businesses. For example, a small business wanting a customized accounting software would hire an application developer, as would an oil company that needs an application to monito r flow levels. National Salary Overview The median salary for software application developers in 2011 was $89,280 according to O*NET, which means half of the developers earn mora than this figure and half earn less. The Bureau of Labor Statistics brde calculated the salaries of software developers in 2010. That year, the median salary was $87,800. The top 10 percent of earners in 2010 made over $133,100, while the bottom 10 percent made under $54,000. Requirements Most companies looking for software application designers require that candidates have a bachelors degree in computer science, software engineering or other related disciplines. For some positions, a masters degree is required, or experience in the industry for which the applications are needed. Creating applications for an insurance company, for example, may require familiarity with different platforms than creating applications for an automobile manufacturer. Regional Variations in Salary Application software developer salaries vary from region to region. It appears to be based on industries in each region rather than simply a question of supply and demand. Ohio, for example, had 21,470 application developers in 2008, more than twice as many as Michigan and nearly three times as many as Alabama. However, the median salary in Ohio comes nowhere near salary leaders like Massachusetts (22,300 positions), Washington (25,000 positions) and New York (26,280 positions). Following are 12 examples of regional median salaries as reported by each State in 2010 and compiled by CareerOneStop. The figures in brackets represent the top and bottom 10 percent thresholds corresponding to the national figures. California $100,800 ($62,500 to $145,700)Massachusetts $95,900 ($64,900 to $139,600)New York $91,200 ($55,500 to $140,400)Washington $92,900 ($64,000 to $131,900)Texas $90,700 ($56,300 to $133,100)National $87,800 ($54,000 to $133,100)Arizona $86,500 ($54,500 to $130,200)Alabama $82,800 ($50,500 to $119,900)Ohio $79,700 ($51,400 to $114,200)Michigan $77,600 ($55,000 to $112,900)Florida $76,300 ($43,900 to $117,300)Indiana $67,700 ($44,100 to $104,000)Arkansas $65,400 ($41,600 to $95,900) Salaries Based on Experience First-time employees can expect to earn between $30,000 and $68,000 in their first year. Those with up to five years of experience typically earn between $39,000 and $77,000. Those with up to ten years of experience can earn between $49,000 and $91,000. If you have more than ten years experience your salary will generally range anywhere between $50,000 and $133,000. Salaries Based on Certification Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCP) represent both the lowest and highest paid application developers, with a range between $43,000 and $126,000, according to Payscales survey. Microsoft Certified Technology Specialists (MCTS) typically earn between $50,000 and $72,000. Microsoft Certified Application Developers earn between $64,000 and $93,000. Sun Certified Java Programmers (SCJP) generally earn between $58,000 and $93,000. Oracle Certified Associates (OCA) earn between $68,000 and $76,000. Salaries by Company A Payscale survey of application developers has estimated that J.P. Morgan Chase typically paid between $54,000 and $107,000 in 2012. Oracle Corporation pays between $71,000 and $96,000. The Walt Disney Company pays between $58,000 and $67,000. Some developers working for these firms may make more or less, as the figures are based only on those who volunteered their income. Few small to mid-size companies pay over $100,000. Those making over $100,000 are usually self-employed or work for usually work for companies with more than 5,000 employees. Outlook to 2020 In the United States, there were 520,800 software application developer positions in 2010. This should grow by 28 percent by 2020, with an estimated 664,500 positions. Each year there will be an average 19,790 job openings for software application developers until 2020, due to the creation of new jobs and employ replacement. Applications for mobile technologies like tablets and cell phones should continue to experience a lot of growth according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as should the healthcare industry and security software applications. As more software is made available on the Internet, usually at lower costs than traditional CD or DVD distribution models, there should be more demand for application designers to not only create new software but to help businesses customize the software they have. Many companies are focusing development on cross-platform applications that can be easily migrated from a computer to a tablet or cell phone with a minimum amount of customization. Microsofts transition to Metro Style Apps for its developers is just one example of cross-platform development The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not expect outsourcing to low-wage countries to have much of an impact on domestic jobs.

What Everyone Else Does When It Comes to Executive Assistant Resume Samples and What You Should Be Doing Different

What Everyone Else Does When It Comes to Executive Assistant Resume Samples and What You Should Be Doing Different Getting the Best Executive Assistant Resume Samples The hiring manager might even quit reading right there since there are lots of other candidates who understand how to use the objective statement properly. Any superior executive worth her or his salt would know a great candidate right away by simply browsing through the resume. Therefore its important that you compose a proper resume that highlights your abilities and exemplifies why youre the ideal candidate for the position. Possessing basic office skills to perform administrative duties is imperative. In some industries like law and medicine, employers may also need to see specialized understanding. Many job seekers make the error of simply listing out all their responsibilities. Double-check to be certain youre using the ideal terms for your intended employers and jobs. An Administrative assistant role is quite critical for organizations to guarantee all administrative work is performed professionally and efficiently. Administration occupations like administrative office assistants and secretaries are essential to the business world. Administrative assistants are employed in virtually every sort of large and established companies where the administration function is too large to control. Employed as an administrative assistant is able to help you make a sufficient amount of money and is regarded as a strong career path for anybody that has a passion of working with many files and secretarial work. If it doesnt relate to the job that youre applying for, like a summer job at a pizza parlor, think about leaving it off. An important area of the job includes communication and coordinating with people throughout the business, and sometimes with clients too, based on the kind of business. How to describe administrative experience to receive any job you desire. In case the job requires you to assist in the preparation of presentations, include any wisdom and experience youve got with presentation program. The Executive Assistant Resume Samples deckblatt Up Our senior executive assistant resume sample gives a strong example for your private reference. Ask that person if you may assist with a project or two, at no cost. At length, you may want to have knowledge of communications software like Skype and email clients, along with scheduling computer software. Provided administrative support in regard to research and writing on a short-term basis. Your totally free sample of an administrative assistant resume best admin is just one of the fruchtwein crucial parts of your job application. If you ought to be planning to explain yourself to your pay letter to complete an application for a college or job, make an attempt to devote each of your details line including all the target of somebodys correspondence. Youll discover the critical search phrases in the job po sting or on the organization website. Then custom-fit to every work description. If youre, then you will need to produce your objective statement highly compelling. Some folks may believe that fancy is better, but in the event of a thriving executive resume, easy and professional is the best way to go. If this Executive Assistant resume example was not sufficient for you, youre absolutely free to review several other samples and templates from our website. The executive administrative assistants are a crucial kchengehilfe for virtually any executive. The New Angle On Executive Assistant Resume Samples Just Released The Executive Assistant resume objective is vital because this is where your prospective employer will get an idea if it is possible to work with her or him. In terms of skills, you need to have an extensive scope of skills for an administrative assistant. After the HR manager will see that your resume is highly geared to their organization or industry, they will have a far greater impression of you. The Career Objective is intended to provide the hiring manager a reason to carry on reading your resume. In the exact same way that you could reference resume samples, the next Executive Assistant cover letter example will let you compose a cover letter that most highlights your experience and qualifications. An executive assistant professional summary statement sums it all up in only a few lines, and thats why it is regarded as so important. The second sentence illuminates all the vital skills for being a prosperous senior executive assistant in only a few short words. You have to understand the language, nuances and be acquainted with the the inner workings of the industry to turn into an effective Executive Assistant. Resume objectives are occasionally regarded as the old schooltype of resume. Studying resume samples is among the absolute most effective ways to get ready for developing your own winning document. Without the correct wo rds in the proper places a resume is ignored. Resume writing can be challenging.

Micromanaging and Your Company - Spark Hire

Micromanaging and Your Company - Spark HireHave you ever been in a relationship and felt completely stifled? Like everything you did welches being watched and scrutinized? Perhaps your partner was trying to exert some kind of control over what you were doing and wanted to know where you were and what you were doing at all times. We have established the fact that Spark Hire is notlage a dating site, right? Yes, we have, but the fact of the matter is that although we may not be a dating site, this is exactly what it feels like to be on the receiving end of micromanagement. YikesMicromanaging is a management style that has been picked up by one too many managers the world over. It can be defined by Adams-Hall Publishing as a petty approach to managing every detail of your business- even to the preposterous notion of an inventory control for your paper clips. Sounds ridiculous, right? But the truth is thousands of managers and employers are micromanagers and are failing to realize how ne gatively it is affecting their company.They are not only stifling their employees, but they are holding their own team or company back by stunting progress. Lets take a look at what kind of effect micromanagement has on your employees, and how you can start stepping away from this stifling management style.Employee EngagementRemember not too long ago when Spark Hire discussed what employee engagement is and how important it is to your company? In case you missed the article, the gist was that engaged employees are more productive and loyal employees. As a business owner or department manager, this is certainly what you want. However, when you are micromanaging your employees chances are they are completely disengaged from their work. In the beginning they may put up with your control issues, but after a while your constant hands in the pot will not only stifle their creativity, but force them to be less productive.When you micromanage an employee, (which usually means you constantly check their work, demand frequent check-ins and/or focus on every minute detail of a project) its hard for them to maintain that drive they once had for their work. You are telling them that you do not trust their work, or them. You can see how someone would fully disengage from their work because of this.Employee ProductivityAs a manager, Small Business Chron states that it is your job to provide guidance to your employees and team. It is your job to keep them going on that path to success. It is not your job to constantly check in with them to see how they are faring on that road to success though. If you stop your employees time and time again to force them to listen to how you envision the project and how you see every minute detail, then time is gelbkreuzgas on actually getting to that goal. All of the time you are spending explaining and demonstrating could be spent on actually producing results.In fact, a recent study shows that people who believe they are being watched actu ally perform at a lower level. So just by keeping close tabs on your employees you are stunting their productivity. Rather than micromanage your employees every move, clearly outline what you expect from them and the project and set goals. Step back and let them do their job. If they dont make a certain goal you set, or if the project is going under, then step in but you have to allow your employees to do their job at some point.There can be a number of reasons why you feel you have to micromanage your team. Perhaps you arent sure they can get the job done as well as you can. Maybe you fear that if you are not on top of your employees at all times that they will slack off. Whatever the reason is, you need to understand that from your employees point of view it simply looks like you do not trust them or their skills. That may be true, but thats no fault of your employees. When you are hiring you need to be sure you are hiring the right people. That way, you know that they can get the job done. Better hiring is certainly your first step in getting away from micromanaging. On top of that, you need to know which employees are your good employees and which are your bad employees. Treating them all as if they are bad employees that need constant guidance will stifle your engaged employees.Next, you need to be sure you are making your expectations clear to your employees. Perhaps you are afraid they cannot do a good job because they havent in the past. Are you making it clear to them what you want though? Remember, they are not mind readers, and without clear goals and clear expectations your employees are working towards a fuzzy end. Make sure you are clear and concise with what you want so your employees have something to work towards. Without that, they may misstep and you will feel it necessary to give them hands-on help (or micromanaging).Trust your employees and give them a chance to really shine. With your hands in all of the pots its difficult for you to focu s on the main goal of your company and your own work goals. Hire competent people, but once you do be sure to step back and let them get to work- on their ownHave you worked for a micromanager before? Share with us in the comments section belowIMAGE Courtesy of Flickr by Jeffrey Beall

Why Ive stopped planning my life

Why Ive stopped planning my lifeWhy Ive stopped planning my lifeFun fact I wrote this story on December 31 - the last day of the year. This welches very fortuitous timing because I spent a lot of time that week reflecting on the highs and lows of 2018. When I think of the best moments of the past year (getting engaged, starting my own business, traveling to Sweden) I didnt see any of it coming.On January 1, I wrote my list of resolutions, but the best moments came completely unplanned. I have always been a planner and Ive thrived when Ive had a clear path to follow. Ive also thrived when taking chances, jumping on unexpected opportunities, and veering off my path. Ive made lasting relationships in places Ive least expected them, learned new skills, and changed my career without planning any of it. Why have I stopped planning my life? Lets dive in.Im not living on a timelineLike many young adults, I went through the post-college graduation blues. They hit me hard. One of the main rea sons was because I didnt feel like I was doing the work I wanted to be doing. I knew I had to pay my dues, but industry and role wise,I was worried I was on the wrong path. There was a lot of fretting and brooding that first year. I wish I could go back in time and tell myself to take a deep breath and relax. Within 15 months I moved on to a job that was a way better fit for me and my worries lifted immediately.As could be expected, this new job came with new challenges and as much as I loved it, there were many aspects of my first job that I missed - clocking out by 430pm every day, the friends I made, and how those entry-level tasks came with entry-level responsibility. I learned that with a little hard work and determination, things will work out, so why not enjoy yourself along the way? When I erased the timeline of where I should be, I was able to enjoy where I currently am.Feel Less DisappointedBack when I worried about a timeline (I should have my dream job, husband, house, baby, by X age) I found I was so much more critical of myself. It didnt matter if I was happy not being married or loved the location of my one bedroom apartment, I felt like I wasnt keeping up. My own happiness was overshadowed by trying to check off my life to-do list. Now Im happy ifIm just on the path toward meeting my goals.Some may take longer to reach than others, butusually Im surprised by how quickly my life takes an unexpected (often positive) turn. Ive found I feel so much lighter when Im not sticking to a plan.I dont limit my optionsThere are some aspects of planning my life that are unavoidable - hello,retirement savings plan But for the most part, my plans used to limit me from pursuing really great opportunities. When I was 12 years old, I picked up a copy of Vogue and that was it - I knew I wanted to be a magazine editor. From that point forward every extracurricular, class, and as much of my free time as possible was allcentered aroundhelping me reach that goal.Fa st forward through countless hours studying designers and photographers, taking French classes, and racking up internships, and I was ready to graduate. Unfortunately, around the time I was graduating college, the magazine industry was falling to pieces. Suddenly I needed to find a new path, and I needed to do it fast.I had been so focused on my goals that I hadnt opened myself up to the possibility of another career path.Now that I have less tunnel vision I can see that I would have loved to study other subjects like public health or biological anthropology. Of course, I totenstill have passions and career goals, but I try to keep an open mind by reading, learning, and trying my hand at new subjects. When opportunities come along that arent exactly what I was looking for, I try to imagine how I could grow in them. Ive greatly enjoyed working in marketing, the financial industry, and writing about topics ranging from fashion (the OG goal) to food to health.I try new thingsIve always known what I like - I have particular tastes and interests and have always been happy sticking to them. Or so I thought.When I switched to a vegan dietand was forced to be more adventurous with my culinary choices, I was surprised at how many foods I suddenly liked. Basically overnight I became a veggie, lentil, and tofu lover. Who wouldve thought?This year when my fianc had an opportunity to go to Stockholm for work, I tagged along. Sweden wasnt on either of our travel bucket lists and we almost cut our visit short to stop byParis (our favorite city)for a few days. Im so glad we didnt, because as much as I will always love Paris, I adored Stockholm just as much. We had the best time on our trip and even though Paris sounded more familiar and easier, stepping out of our comfort zone created unforgettable memories and widened our travel horizons forever.Last year I moved across the country for three months,explored the streets of New York City aloneand learned how to paddle board, rock climb, and practice archery - none of which I planned or expected I might even skip writing resolutions this year in favor of waiting to see what 2019 has in store for me.This article was originally published on The Everygirl.

Make this the Year You Learn to Listen Better

Make this the Year You Learn to Listen BetterMake this the Year You Learn to Listen BetterMake this the Year You Learn to Listen Better Poulson, author of The Clarity Compass (Vision Creation Publishing, 2017)Ask any business leader and theyll tell you that listening skills are an essential skillof a good manager.I agree, but I think theyre missing an important element. We need to listen more to the deeper intentions of what is being said. We need to listen carefully to realize the wants and motivations that reside underneath what we and other people are saying. Heres how to improve yur workplace communications.Communication is PersonalThink back to all the meetings youve sat through over your career. Youll likely remember someone speaking up on a topic seemingly unrelated to the discussion at hand. It might even have been you. Why does this happen? The answer is often about much more than a person being off topic.Practice listening for your own intentions first. Then you can apply t hat to understanding the intentions of others. When you speak, theres a reason. Maybe you want to add new information or a different opinion. But when you listen yourself, you might hear deeper desires to be seen as part of the group, to subtly express a frustration, or simply to be heard.Speaking up is an action. What were often not listening to is the intention behind it. The relationship between intentions and action is part of being effective in our professional and personal lives. When these elements are in sync, we make progress. When theyre not, were often stymied. There are four main reason whyAdding complexity Often when we take action, we try to solve too many problems at once. By speaking up at the morning meeting, we may have been trying to address what we felt welches a need for a new policy, a problem with a specific individual and a particular conversation we needed to have with that person. In trying to resolve all of these problems at once, were likely to solve none .Work Tip Focus on the context of the meeting and try to determine the key goals related to the meeting agenda items. If a tangential issue arises for you that needs to be addressed, that might distract everyone from the most important thread. Consider saving your thoughts for later and following up via email or follow-up meetings.By being more selective about when we choose to talk, what we choose to say and how we choose to say it, we are practicing crucial skills that will helpimprove our communications.Misdirected problems The way we experience the world can cause us to look in the wrong place for the answers we seek. We all have blind spots, but we deliberately avoid them to circumvent the discomfort of challenging our worldview. Ignorance is bliss. Unfortunately, when we steer around our blind spots, were only moving further away from a problem that isnt going anywhere. Wed be better off trying to understand them instead.Work Tip Carefully reconsider a difficult project or pro blem situation from someone elses point of view, ideally someone involved who may have a very different take than your own. This can be difficult, but try to stay as open as possible to their perspective. It will help you discern between the objective reality of what is really happening versus your subjective interpretation.You may discover that you have some particular blind spots that are preventing you from seeing the situation clearly.Competing intentions A single meinung in a meeting can carry competing intentions. Our commitments can get in the way of each other, even when they all seem important.I had a client who wanted to be CEO of his company, but at the same time didnt want the overwhelming stress and also wanted to safeguard his time with his family. He engaged in conscious behaviors moving himself toward CEO, but we discovered other behaviors where he was sabotaging himself. He was not listening to his intentions to minimize stress and maintain work life balance.Work Ti p Are you listening to your various intentions for engaging in the activities of your life? Make a list of several important things in your life outside of work (relationship stress, your kids, an extracurricular activity, etc.). Now think about the many reasons why each activity is important to you. What deeper intentions do they serve in your life? These intentions might include social acceptance, acknowledgement by friends and family, stability and security, etc.After listening to your deeper wants around one of the activities, determine if they are competing. If they are, give some attention to how you might resolve their conflict. Can you resolve the internal conflict by approaching an activity differently?Congruent intentions Of course, multiple intentions can move us toward the same goals. We want to do our jobs well and be paid, productive, respected, successful and liked.All of these intentions are congruent and aimed toward the same satisfying result to have the kind of wo rk experience we desire. But because the scope is so broad, we wont be as effective in fulfilling our intentions. With too many arrows drawn at once, some of them will miss the target.Work Tip Listen to the intentions that might drive you to overcommit. Look back at the list you made in the above exercise. Even if your goals are congruent, do you have too much on your plate? Is that causing you to be distracted and less available for people at work? If so, think about how to resolve the situation. How can your multiple intentions serve each other?Once you are more familiar with your own intentions, it becomes easier to understand the motivations of others. So practice observing your intentions. Next time you find yourself speaking, pay attention. When you listen carefully to whats going on inside, you hear the real reasons youre talking.When youre fully aware of your intentions, youll start recognizing the much deeper and profound needs that have little to do with the meeting but ev erything to do with the life you want to create for yourself. When we embrace our intentions, a new world of possibilities emerges.Author BioDr. Brit Poulsonis a Seattle-based psychologist and leadership development expert who works with Fortune 500 companies to address the biggest challenges managers face. His work is based on more than 35 years of extensive research, organizational leadership development consulting, and coaching engagements with executives from some of the worlds leading corporations.In his new book, The Clarity Compass (January 17, 2017), Poulson provides the tools to help professionals overcome roadblocks and settle disputes employing the tools of emotional intelligence and business strategy.Dr. Poulson holds a Ph.D. in psychodynamics, Jungian and group psychology. He can be reached at brit.poulsonclarity-compass.com or at clarity-compass.com, on Facebook at TheClarityCompassand Twitter Clarity_Compass.

get the words core competencies off your resume

get the words core competencies off your resume get the words core competencies off your resume If you have a section on your resume called core competencies, please call it something else. You do not need that horrible piece of jargon on your resume, and its presence there instantly makes hiring managers eyes glaze over.Call it a profile, call it a summary or highlights, I dont care but no one says core competencies in everyday conversation. Use plain language that makes you sound like a normal person, rather than like someone who got trapped in a really boring HR conference and never escaped.