How to Make A Great First Impression

How to Make A Great First Impression How to Make A Great First Impression The Relationship between Image and How You Are PerceivedSince light travels faster than sound, you are seen before you are heard. This is why, before uttering a word your visual image will say a multitude about you as an individual (your perceived level of intelligence, competence, affability, self-esteem, confidence, power, beliefs and success) and about the organization you represent (its philosophy, culture, and standard of service).The National Research Council of Canadas Caroline Dunn and Lucette Charette found that, People are affected by your appearance, whether or bedrngnis they realize it, and whether or not they think appearance is important.I work in a field that is devoted to assessing people, states Kathryn Ricker, 30, Statistician, Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey. One of the concepts we talk about is known as the halo effect. That means that if we know certain positive things about a person, we tend to havea generally positive impression of that person, sometimes even in spite of evidence to the contrary. What Im realizing is that the halo effect also extends to a persons appearance. I think that is why a positive first visualimpression is so important. If someone is nicely dressed and looks well put-together, we have greater confidence in his or her abilities even before he or she has said a word. If that is the case, why not always have your halo looking its shiniest?The Relationship between Appearance and Interview SuccessA recent study, conducted by an employment law firm, Peninsula, asked businesses in the United Kingdom what interview habit they found most annoying and found that over a quarter were upset by unsuitable clothing or appearance.Pamela Monticelli, 50, Senior Recruiter for Sovereign Bank in Toms River, New Jersey, believes, Especially in the financial industry, which tends to be a mora conservative environment, a lot of young people don t understand that we are looking for someone to represent the company. Your appearance is not just representative of you you will also be representing the company the way we want it to be represented. She adds, I have raised four teenagers and every one of them has, at some point, gotten a piercing or tattoo and said, If I am are going to work for XYZ Company they need to accept me for who I am. My children need to understand that at some point they might have to modify their appearance to fit into a professional environment.Adds Meghan Meyer, 31, Human Resources Manager for The Mercadien Group in Princeton, New Jersey, A comprehensive and well designed resume will get you to the phone screening process. An articulate person, who speaks confidently about his or her skill sets, will land an interview. But it is how you are perceived during the interview that will leave the lasting impression.The Relationship between Clothing and How You Perceive YourselfClothing is an inner cue affec ting your self-image. Feeling good about how you look can make you feel good about yourself, thus increasing your personal presence.Karen Dixon, 42, Supervisor, The Mercadien Group, Princeton, New Jersey, indicates, Dressing in a professional yet stylish manner can give you a tremendous feeling of confidence that is exhibited to others through your attitude and actions.The opposite is true when we just dont feel right about how were dressed.The Relationship between Clothing and BehaviorWhen you wear more powerful looking clothing (e.g. professional business attire, a suit, darker colors, etc.) and clothing that is appropriate for your profession, it changes your mindset switching from relaxed mode to professional mode. This positive change in attitude is reflected in body language and behavior (e.g. better posture, firmer handshake, maintaining eye contact, sticking to business, etc.), giving you greater visual power.The converse is true for more insignificant or inappropriate clot hing choices, such as washed out colors or informal ensembles where more traditional clothing choices are the order of the day. Without you even knowing it, people will take the liberty of interpreting what you are saying via your body language and will judge and respond toward you accordingly.Jackson Lewis, a law firm that specializes in personnel issues, polled more than 1000 human resource executives who implemented a dress down policy. They reported a thirty percent increase in flirtatious behavior, contributing to an increase in sexual harassment lawsuits.The Relationship between How You Dress and Your Professional GoalsAn indifferent professional image can adversely affect your professional goals and your organizations bottom line. However, a well-defined and consistent professional image can improve the perception of your professional abilities.Emily Oswald, 22, Account Manager, TrailGraphix, Washington, D.C., in her first job out of college, states, After three months with m y company, I was promoted. Out of 300 people in my company, and 35 who hold the same job, I am the youngest. When I meet with clients, typically fifty-year-old attorneys, I dress professionally. There is nothing comfortable about wearing a suit and heels but it does affect how you carry yourself and how you are perceived. Dressing professionally has definitely helped me move up quickly in my company. The first impression, and the second and the third, are important.The Relationship between Dress and Success for Working WomenWhile appearance for both men and women can be a key to success, a survey by Women Work found that seventy-five percent of respondents believe that appearance affects how women are perceived at work more than their male counterparts. Nearly eighty percent of respondents said that clothes, hairstyle and makeup make a significant difference in ones perception and confidence that a woman has the skills and knowledge to perform her job.The Relationship between Local Corporate Culture and in aller welt Corporate CultureMarkets differ from country to country, state to state and town to town. Where on paper the same dress code policy applies, employees often find that when they travel within their company, they face dress culture shock. This leads to confusion and awkwardness. However, global, cutting-edge organizations understand that employees are an extension of their corporate brand and that, irrespective of where they set up offices, it is vital that the corporate brand is expressed uniformly.10 Thing Employees Can DoDress Appropriately. In a more conservative environment (banking, accounting, law, etc.) dressing alluringly can be perceived as provocative, sabotaging your chances of attracting the kind of attention that wins you credibility. Likewise, in a more artistic industry, dressing in a dark colored, boxy suit will cause people to doubt your creativity.Dress Consistently. Dressing appropriately one day and inappropriately the next send s mixed messages causing confusion for you and the observer.Dress with Special Attention to Color. Research shows that color is a powerful communicator that has emotional and physiological affects on the wearer and observer. Determine what your best colors are and use this information when putting together your professional wardrobe.Dress for Your Body Type. Find out your body type and the best fit for your shape. Clothes that are cut for somebody elses silhouette can make you look disheveled.Dress in the Best Quality You Can Afford. For the discerning wearer, cheap chic can be felt, making you uncomfortable (itchy fabric, poor fit) for the discerning viewer, it can be spotted a mile off. Aim to build a core wardrobe with quality rather than quantity.Dress with Finesse. Never neglect to cultivate and maintain impeccable grooming habits. Little is more off-putting than body and food odors, greasy hair, overdone makeup, torn pantyhose or socks etc. Your attention to detail will show t hat you care about all the components that make up the big picture. Dress It up a Notch. The more client-oriented your role, the more professional your appearance needs to be. No one wants their banker to look like they just got out of high school or as if theyre heading out for a day at the beach.Dress into the 21st Century. Throw away neon colored clothes, platforms and loud prints. You dont have to look like you just stepped off the pages of Vogue or GQ, but keeping your wardrobe up-to-date shows that youre current rather than old fashioned.Dress for The Part You Want to Play. If you look content with the position you are at, thats exactly where youll stay. Jeanine Rhonstein, Co-Chair, Princeton Community Works, indicates, Often opportunities present themselves to you, not the other way around. If you dress according to where you want others to see you heading, you may find more doors opening.And David Watson, 39, Vice President, TrainRight Solutions in Louisville, Kentucky, seco nds by saying, I live by this motto when it comes to professional dress. You dress for where you want to be, not where you are. This means if you are a manager and you want to move to the executive suite, then you better dress like an executive.If Youre Fresh Out of School Get Help. Transitioning from a school wardrobe and environment to your first job can be a daunting task. Find out from your organization if they offer professional dress training. If not, hire a specialist.6 Things Employers Can DoDecide if Casual Dress Is Right for Your Company. The departure of causal dress days began on the West Coast to encourage creativity. However, based on a survey of 500 companies, Dr. Jeffrey L. Magee, a consulting psychologist, found that continually relaxed dress leads to relaxed manners, relaxed morals, relaxed productivity and an increase in complaints to Human Resources. Make an informed decision about casual dress based on your culture and business goals.Have Policies. Employees ar e often confused about dress expectations at work. On the one hand, they may receive compliments from their colleagues, and on the other hand, they are reprimanded for not being professionally dressed. Provide clear dress guidelines and follow through if employees do not follow the policy.Provide Professional Appearance and Etiquette Training. Offer employees a professional image seminar if they lack basic know-how in this area and provide dress code guidelines during new employee orientation.Provide Sexual Harassment Training. Dressing provocatively can lead to flirtatious behavior and increased sexual harassment complaints. Failure to adopt a proactive and aggressive stance on sexual harassment in the workplace can result in costly lawsuits, loss of employee morale, decline in productivity, and an erosion of a companys public image. It is less expensive to implement sexual harassment policies and training than to be involved in one sexual harassment lawsuit. Provide employees with clear examples of inappropriate behavior and dress and train supervisors to deal with complaints.Provide Global Training Programs. Other than marketing materials, your employees are the first point of contact for customers and clients. Ensure that, irrespective of geographical location, employees are on the same page in terms of expected behaviors and company image.Hold Leaders Accountable toModel Your Company Image. When leaders fail to live up to your company image, employees become de-motivated and angry. Provide ongoing training, coaching and review of company leaders.The work world demands making a great first impression and keeping it. To communicate more effectively, start by understanding appearance psychology. Doing so can lead to greater professional and personal success. If you dont believe us, then perhaps you will believe Mark Twain, who said, Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.

Tips on Providing Courtroom Testimony

Tips on Providing Courtroom TestimonyTips on Providing Courtroom TestimonyTheres an often quoted but rarely credited statistic which claims that the number one fear for Americans is public speaking. Supposedly, people are terrified of having to stand in front of other people and give a speech even more than theyre afraid of dying. Whether true or not, it might explain why so many criminology and criminal justice career professionals get so nervous when it comes to giving courtroom testimony. Whether its a deposition, a suppression hearing, a traffic court case or a full-blown trial, many assekuranzbrief officers, crime scene investigators, and other professionals dread having to testify. The good news is, theres really nothing to fear so long as you prepare yourself and listen to advice on how to testify in court. When Testifying in Court, All Eyes Are on You No matter how much work was done on a case, no matter how airtight the evidence against the defendant may bewhen it gets t o a jury, almost everything depends on your performance on the stand. In many cases, such as DUIs and minor misdemeanor cases, the officer may be the only witness. That means the entire case may rest on you. No pressure, right? To make matters worse, you might feel like youre under attack when attorneys pepper you with questions about every detail, no matter how insignificant it may seem. Its uncomfortable and frightening. The gravity of the responsibility can be overwhelming. Finding Success on the Witness Stand With so much riding on your testimony, its easy to see how someone could get flustered on the stand. How can you combat those nerves and make sure you seal the deal with the judge or jury? First of all, you need to relax, stay calm, and above all else, tell the truth. Good Courtroom Testimony Starts With a Strong Case The first step toward finding success on the stand is making a good case, to begin with. This is where your detective skills come in. Every detail sho uld be documented, evidence should be properly collected and stored, and the chain of custody should be properly maintained. Do not underestimate the importance of perfecting your writing skills. Your police reports should clearly articulate facts in a coordinated, orderly and coherent manner, and all of your Ts should be dotted and Is crossed. Before You Testify, Get Familiar With Your Case Ideally, youll have time to look at all of the relevant information well in advance of the trial or hearing. Read all of the reports and witness statements associated with the case not just your own. Be familiar with every aspect of the case so that you can not only answer any question askedbut so you can anticipate where a line a questioning may be taking you. Identify and Address Mistakes Before Taking the Witness Stand No matter how thorough and detailed you were during your investigation and when you wrote your report, you may find you made a mistake somewhere. It may be a missed si gnature or a detail you thought insignificant at the time. It could be a misspelled name or a missed fact. Whatever it may be, make sure to scour your reports so that you can find and address those mistakes before the opposing attorney does. Speaking of identifying mistakes, dont let their presence discourage you or frighten you. They happen. The worst thing you can do when you find a mistake is to try to hide it or cover it up. That shows dishonesty, and dishonesty losses cases and gets officers fired. Instead, confront them, explain them and let the chips fall where they may. Pre-Trial Conference Before the hearing or trial, make sure to speak to the assistant state attorney or ADA, if only for a few minutes. Go over your case with him or her and try to identify any weaknesses. By knowing where the case may be vulnerable, you may be able to compensate. In any instance, you wont be caught off guard when the opposing council presses those issues. Keep the Noise Down as You Ta ke the Witness Stand Remove any loose change, keys and other items that may make a lot of noise from your pockets. This may seem like a small thing, but it can be a long walk from the rear of the courtroom to the witness stand. The room is often so quiet you can hear a pin drop, and jingling keys or change can make you very self-conscious as you walk to the stand with so many eyes on you. Dont Slouch When Testifying When you take the stand, dont slouch. Sit up straight, raise your right greifhand as youre sworn in, and clearly and confidently state I do when asked if you swear to tell the truth. Your posture is important you want to convey confidence and attentiveness, not aloofness and a lack of caring. Make eye contact with everyone you speak to, whether its the judge, the clerk or the attorneys, to help convey that confidence. Talk to the Jury When You Testify in Court When answering questions, look at the jury, not the attorney. This feels unnaturalbecause its the attor ney who is asking you the questions. Remember, though its the jury who youre answering the questions for. They are the people you are telling the story too, and they are the people who will ultimately decide the case. Make eye contact with them as you answer questions. Smile when appropriate, and make it a point to be polite, respectful and attentive.? Keep Calm and Carry on in Court No matter how hard it may be, no matter how off base you may think the defense counsel is, keep calm. Answer the questions calmly, clearly and slowly, one at a time. Answer nothing more than the question that is asked dont offer anything more. Avoid the temptation to get upset or angry. Just answer the questions, and dont worry about anything else the attorney says or does to distract you or upset you. Honesty Is Always the Best Policy Be honest. This is perhaps the most important aspect of testifying in court. First and foremost, if you always tell the truth, youll never have to remember what y ou said. As far as your case goes, if the jury senses that you are being less than truthful, they wont believe anything you have to say. Because law enforcement officers and other criminology professionals are held to a high ethical standard, there is no tolerance for dishonesty. If your word is no good, then neither will your testimony be. Testifying in Court Is Really Just Another Day on the Job Courtroom testimony can be extremely nerve-wracking, but it doesnt have to be. In fact, with the proper preparation, it can even be fun. Testifying in court is a vital component of any criminal case. As unnerving as it can be, it is one of the most important parts of any job in criminal justice or criminology.

6 Ways to Celebrate National Aviation Day

6 Ways to Celebrate National Aviation Day6 Ways to Celebrate National Aviation DayNational Aviation Day is an American holiday celebrated on August 19th each year, which happens to be Orville Wrights birthday. Former president Franklin D. Roosevelt was the creator of National Aviation Day, deciding for the first time in 1939 that the nation should celebrate the growth and advancements being made in aviation. And today, we couldnt agree more.On this day, United States citizens and aviation enthusiasts are encouraged to celebrate the history of aviation, remember how far weve come as a nation, and support the future of aviation. National Aviation Day is often celebrated with special events at airports and aviation museums. Schools and educational organizations might focus on aviation-related material, and those involved in aviation do what they can to promote their trade and foster new opportunities for the aviation industry.Wondering how you can observe this holiday? Here are six ways you can share National Aviation Day with others and spread your love for our aviation industry. 01Learn About the History of AviationGhislain Marie David de Lossy/Getty ImagesNational Aviation Day is a great day to sit down and build a model airplane just for fun. Or, at the very least, show some spirit around the schreibstube with a paper airplane.

An inquiry letter is similar to a cover letter. The big difference is you send it uninvited (or as a cold contact) to an employer.

An inquiry letter is similar to a cover letter. The big difference is you send it uninvited (or as a cold contact) to an employer.An inquiry letter is similar to a cover letter. The big difference is you send it uninvited (or as a cold contact) to an employer.An inquiry letter is similar to a cover letter. The big difference is you send it uninvited (or as a cold contact) to an employer. Use an inquiry letter to ask about working for an employer who has not advertised a job opening. In the letter, match your qualifications to their needs and show your interest in, and knowledge of the employer. To find out the needs of an employer, use employment advertisements, position descriptions, phone conversations, and informational interviews. This format can be effective to show how well you fit Your Needs My Qualifications Detail-oriented, experienced Administrative Assistant Four years Administrative Assistant experience with responsibility for numerous detailed reports Assist Customer Relations Manager Assisted Customer Relations Manager for two years Corporate experience with major clients a must Regularly served purchasing agents at Fortune 500 companies PC knowledge a plus Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel In addition, an inquiry letter should include A specific contact name and title at the company An introduction with why you are writing A polite request for a follow-up meeting or phone call A thank you to the reader for his or her time Your signature - blue ink is best to show the letter is an original Your resume as an attachment View a sample inquiry letter for layout and format suggestions. Source Creative Job Search, a publication of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Resume Design Templates - Is it a Scam?

Resume plan Templates - Is it a Scam? Resume Design Templates - the Story In addition, you can find out more about IT careers on Monster. You may have gotten a promotion or two at your very first job and are now seeking to test your possibility in the work market with some true experience under your belt. If you own a college education, omit details about high school. People today utilize a variety of resume templates which use different sort of design approaches, but ultimately its always likely to come to the simple fact that your resume should convey a very clear message above your skills, your experience, and also why youd be the ideal candidate for the position. Every expert field has its own standards in regards to resumes. For instance, it includes a skills page at which you can use icons to clearly show your proficiency in many categories. As there are lots of technical processes that are involved with the daily work functions of an Accountant or some other positions involved with the business of accounting, it is extremely vital for your accountant resume to provide focus on your abilities. The most suitable format presents your work history and abilities in the very best possible light. A basic resume is also less difficult to read. The Resume Station also painstakingly monitors the quantity of clients to guarantee expedient and personalized support. Resume Design Templates Ideas Have a peek at these examples to select which format is most appropriate for you. A template is simply for structure and fashion. It has a variety of color schemes that enhance every individual photo or you can choose certain colors and graphics that pull together the entire page. Employing a resume template has turned into an acceptable and smart practice for quite a few explanations.A resume maker can assist you by offering tips on the professional resume structure in addition to provide a variety of resume examples to select from. The form of resume you choose is also important and ought to be customizable to your requirements. This sample CFO resume is only an example to demonstrate the high quality and fashion of our professional resume writing services. No matter which sort of work youre searching for, the Gabriella professional resume template is a very good option. New Step by Step Roadmap for Resume Design Templates Envato Elements is a tremendous all-you-can-download alternative, but if you recognize just what youre searching for, also think about the GraphicRiver marketplace to select your resume template. Now you have the template, you may use it over and over. Once downloaded, the template is readily customizable with Excel, which permits you to create a distinctive photo book every moment. It is easy to follow, and you can begin immediately. The upcoming free resume template was made in the shape of a brochure. Another benefit of our website is the quickness. Our creative templates enable you to stick out from t he crowd. Resume builder includes an instantaneous preview, and therefore you dont will need to save and refresh the page to see the way that it appears like. A traditional style resume template is also simple to customize. If you go for a template, be sure that it follows all the guidelines given below. After you have modified the standard resume template that you found on the internet, make it simple on your upcoming self and save numerous versions of your resume. The template provides individual slides illustrating different facets of a good resume. If youre a work seeker, applying for a job can be a difficult approach. Many times, its much better to condense every one of your experiences into a brief format so the hiring manager can quickly review your credentials. Whether you want to submit an application for a designers job in a creative agency, or desire to submit an application for a hot job in a top bank, professional resumes are going to have you covered. Attempt to keep the resume no longer than 1 page, especially if youre asking for an entry-level job. Career Perfect is a wonderful supply of resume advice and seems to have a superb reputation online too. When you have added your details and work experience, its possible to also save your resume as PDF if you want. The very first key is to realize how resumes are organized. Employing Word, you may make your own templates for just about any application, including resumes. What Resume Design Templates Is - and What it Is Not You are going to receive unique texts, which will be finished in time. The second page may be used to discuss things about yourself, while the third one may be used for anything you prefer, like a preview project youd love to do over at the new business youre applying for employment for. If your resume format is disorganized and unclear, a prospective employer has possibly hundreds of resumes from different candidates to check through therefore they is not going t o waste time attempting to make sense of it and youll miss your opportunity for an interview. Double check to be sure that everything on the last version of the resume is about you.

The Tried and True Method for Service Writing Nurses Resume in Step by Step Detail

The Tried and True Method for Service Writing Nurses Resume in Step by Step Detail The Dirty Truth About Service Writing Nurses Resume A professional LinkedIn resume writer will grant you access to several job opportunities that is able to help you construct your career. Nursing is a distinctive field wherever your professional and individual skills can save a persons life. The skilled writers make certain that the resume communicates strengths that employers try to find in nursing resumes. With an excellent work experience and obtained professional abilities, it appears quite simple to obtain a new job position. The Characteristics of Service Writing Nurses Resume Detail Your Nursing Experience Hiring managers wish to comprehend the range of your experience in order that they can see if youre a superb match for the work opening. To compose the CV for nurse isnt a bit of cake together with the job itself. Content youre looking for nurse resume is essential. Utilizing the r esume examples weve developed, its simple to produce your RN resume much better. Nursing you need to do is to nurse the perfect CV builder to submit the greatest and fruchtwein professionally written resume. Marc Grandmaison Operations Director Marc is an extremely experienced, skilled, and talented hospitality professional that has been in the business for over 20 years. Finding jobs as a registered nurse requires a combo of the proper mindset and a particular set of job seeking skills. Hiring managers will need to learn your precise abilities and abilities. You are likely to get a professionally written CV that could enhance your career chances. For instance, you might attempt to send out a particular number of resumes each week. Formatting your resume correctly means more than where to set the bullet points and what margins you ought to have, it also entails making sure the most important information is on top of the webpage. In spite of the healthcare business is just o ne of the quickest evolving one judging from the previous 20 years its still a competitive job industry. Serving the probability of wonderful result, a short-list of the health care sector is. Youve got to convince your potential employers which you are the best selection for the job they supply. If youre an ICU nurse or NICU nurse, then you most likely have a great verstndigung im strafverfahren of experience. What the In-Crowd Wont Tell You About Service Writing Nurses Resume Though the nursing field demands specific technical abilities, employers start looking for different abilities, called soft skills-the type of skills that make you a superb employee. Pay attention it is an academic doc aimed to assist you get a desired place at the medical school. If our advice didnt offer you enough confidence that you are able to cope with writing the ideal nursing resume, wed be happy to supply our assistance. There are various sorts of health nurse and youll have to demonstrate yo ur abilities and knowledge fit the bill.

Dont Let the Holidays Derail Your Job Search

Dont Let the Holidays Derail Your Job SearchDont Let the Holidays Derail Your Job SearchStop us if you know this oneOh the weather outside is frightfulbut my job prospects are sofrightful also.Okay, so we may have butchered a holiday classic just a touch, but if youre one of the many of those looking for a job this holiday season, we feel your pain. The holidays fall during the typically busy end of year season. For most employers, this means their days are often filled with number crunching, mad dash order fulfillment, or painful customer service experiences, all of which means there is little time to focus on hiring activities.Even if you do manage to come across a long-term, career-making, employer hiring in December, their schedules are often filled with vacations, holiday geschftszimmer parties, and other end-of-year activities. And dont even get us started on those obligatory extended family visits listening to uncle Ralph regale you with stories of trudging 10 miles in the sno w each way to the liquor store last week. All of this making merry can make reviewing applications, much less replying to qualified candidates or scheduling interviews, a near impossible task for most hiring managers. This adds up to a potentially non-merrymaking holiday season for anyone looking to move forward in their job search. Just because things are slow during this magical time of the year, however, doesnt mean that those in the market to make a career switch should lose all hope. Dont let the holidays derail your job search but instead take some inspiration from our festive advice for keeping positive and productive as you wait it out until the New Years hiring spree.Maintain Your Holiday CheerNobody wants to hang with the party pooper at the annual white elephant Christmas party. This universal truth can also be applied to your holiday season job search. A poor attitude will notlage only leave you down in the dumps, but it will also show through any potential applications, interviews, or networking opportunities you may happen across.There are plenty of organic opportunities that may arise as a result of holiday shenanigans. Take the opportunity to reach out to friends, former colleagues, and others in your professional field. Instead of staying home watching Grinch on repeat, show up to social events and use the option to remind those in your circle that youre in the job market. While youre at it, enjoy a couple glass of that loaded eggnog for a winning time all round.Keep a Consistent ScheduleWhether its the holiday season or any other regular old time of the year, making and maintaining a schedule for job seeking is an integral part of any career switch. Since traditional business tends to slow between Thanksgiving and Christmas, it can be easy for us to sit back and hibernate by not continuing to actively search out opportunities.Instead of binging Hallmark holiday specials, be sure to set yourself weekly and monthly goals for furthering your car eer prospects. Carve out one to two hours a day for perusing the most recent job listings on Simply Hired. Schedule some time for updating certifications or obtaining new ones that may be useful once the job market picks back up in the new year. Falling off the horse when it comes to your daily routine during the holidays will make it that much harder to pick your good habits back up in January.Dont OverindulgeLets be realistic here for a moment. If someone asks you if youd like another piece of cousin Mables world famous peanut butter fudge, its going to be awfully hard to turn that bad boy down. And we wouldnt have it any other way. The holiday season is a time for celebrating, after all, and individual moments and experiences should be enjoyed with gusto.Much like overeating can cause us to gain a few (or more) inches on our waistline during November and December, too much partying, gifting and general merrymaking can lead to monetary strains on our budget. This type of overindul gence when youre in the job market often has negative effects on your credit and your willingness to take the first position that comes along after New Years. Instead of gorging yourself, make a plan and stick to it. Find the room for that one extra piece of fudge by exercising a few more minutes a day and allow yourself that fancy holiday outfit by cutting back on your take out orders for the month. This will keep you both physically and financially fit and better able to make clear and rational career choices once a great opportunity comes along.Take a Break (and Enjoy It)Last but not least on our tips for preventing the holidays from derailing your job search is a piece of advice that may seem counterintuitive. While you may be overly stressed from the pressure to find a job this time of year, dont forget to take time to breathe, relax and focus on your own and your familys mental and emotional health.There is plenty going on in our daily lives from mid-November through December. Instead of berating yourself over a lack of job movement, take a few moments to reflect on your many accomplishments over the past year. Spend some time relaxing with friends and family and recharge your emotional and mental state so that you approach the post-holiday hiring season with renewed energy. Just stay away from Aunt Ednas fruitcake. Were pretty sure its the same loaf that shes been bringing to the last five or so Christmas dinners.

Chernobyl 25 Years Later

Chernobyl 25 Years Later Chernobyl 25 Years Later Chernobyl 25 Years LaterIts an ironic coincidence that as events unfold at the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan, this month (April 2011) marks the 25th anniversary of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in what welches then the Soviet Union.Unlike Fukushima Daiichi, whose problems were caused by a loss of all power resulting from a tsunami induced by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake, Chernobyl welches a result of both konzeption deficiencies and human factors.The Chernobyl power-generating station is located in Pripyat, Ukraine, 110 km (68 miles) north of Kiev. There were four reactors at the plant, which began operation between 1978 and 1984. They were all RBMK-type reactors (in Russian, RBMK stands for heterogeneous water-graphic channel type reactor), a light, water-cooled, graphite-moderated design. Plants of this design are still in use today in Russia.On April 26, 1986, during a system test that wa s conducted outside of the parameters called for, Unit 4 suffered an explosion and fire. Large quantities of radioactive contamination were released into the atmosphere, which spread over much of western Russia and Europe. Some Chernobyl radiation was detectable thousands of miles away.Nearly all re-entry remains forbidden to the Chernobyl plant, though the Ukrainian government allows escorted tours of the area.A contaminated zone with a 30-kilometer (19-mile) radius around the Chernobyl plant was established. News reports at the time estimated some 350,000 people were evacuated. Nearly all re-entry remains forbidden to this day, though the Ukrainian government allows escorted tours of the area.Cleanup efforts will go on for several more years. The New Safe Confinement (NSC) is a steel-arch structure 92.5 m high and 150 m long and with an internal span of 245 m. It will be placed over the sarcophagus that covers Unit 4, built in the months after the explosion and fire (and which is now deteriorating). The NSC is designed to contain the radioactive remains of Chernobyl Unit 4 to prevent leakage of radioactive material into the environment. Work on the NSC has experienced several delays and it is expected to be completed in 2013.The statistics and information that follow are from the American Nuclear Society (ANS) in La Grange, Ill. and reports of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR).The FactsThe accident began with a rupture in Unit 4s cooling-system pipes, according to ANS. The breaks let the reactor overheat and caused chemical reactions between steam and graphite. The reactor then ran out of control, triggering a hydrogen explosion and fire. The 1,660 square miles of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone has now become one of Europes largest wildfleischlife preserves.The reactor vessel lid weighing about 1,000 metric tons was blown aside a hole was blown in the roof, and pieces of core and fuel material were blown on to the roof, ANS reported. With its core exposed to the atmosphere, the reactor was burning down and melting down at the same time, ANS added. Control and containment efforts killed more than 50 people from direct radiation exposure. The accident released a cloud of radioactive particles and gases, ANS bedrngnised. The lack of clear information and differing national standards on acceptable radiation exposure limits created panic in Europe.Nevertheless, even where radiation doses to the surrounding population were highest, in the nearby parts of Ukraine, Belarus, and the Russian Federation, the doses were far below anything immediately harmful, ANS said.Chernobyl No. 4 had no steel-reinforced-concrete primary containment structure, which would have contained the explosion. The RBMK design was known to be inherently unstable at low power, ANS noted.ANS notes that RBMKs were moderated with flammable graphite, cooled with water, and produced weapons-grade plutonium along with electricity . Such a reactor would not be licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission nor by any of its western counterparts.By all accounts, Chernobyl is still radioactive and still very dangerous. The cement containment sarcophagus, built amid deadly radiation by squads of liquidators in 1986, is weakening, and a collapse could turn into a second catastrophe.Numerous reports note that cleanups are still under way on 25,000 spent-fuel assemblies, 35,000 cubic meters of low- and medium-level liquid wastes, and about 180 metric tons of now-solidified lava like fuel that was in Reactor No. 4 when it blew.Cleanup work will go on for many years, much of it funded internationally. Chernobyl still has several thousand employees. To minimize radiation exposure, they work two weeks on, two weeks off, and are paid triple the normal wage. Thousands more Ukrainians guard the exclusion zone. Chernobyl no longer generates electricity (or plutonium), and the last of its four reactors was shut down in 2000.Chernobyls Legacy A Final WordThe ANS observed that health effects and fallout distribution have been studied continuously since the accident, as they have been for atomic bomb survivors, and others who have received large radiation doses. The latest results show that the most important effect has been psychological, while physical effects are much less severe than originally estimated.ANS continued, This is to be expected, since calculations and judgments about radiation and nuclear matters always have large safety factors, to make sure any error is in the direction of safety. Ultra conservative studies project large numbers of early fatalities, but these are only after decades, if they occur at all.A landmark 2005 study by the Chernobyl forum, comprised of eight specialized UN agencies and the (post-Soviet) governments of Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine found that poverty, mental health problems, alcoholism, and tobacco pose far greater threats to human beings than radiation exp osure. Relocation proved deeply traumatic for many.In a poetic twist, the 1,660 square miles of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone has become one of Europes largest wildlife preserves. Local residents report lynx, wild boar, wolves, elk, deer, brown bears, bison, badgers, foxes, eagle-owls, and even Przewalskis horse, a species supposedly extinct in the wild for some time. Given that the area is now heavily wooded and free of human predators, such a flourishing of wildlife should continue. Scientists, however, are studying the areas plants and animals for long-term effects of radiation.Jack Thornton is president of MINDFEED, Marcomm.In a poetic twist, the 1,660 square miles of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone has now become one of Europes largest wildlife preserves.

Keeping Your Network Active After Landing a Job

Keeping Your Network Active After Landing a JobKeeping Your Network Active After Landing a JobThis post originally appeared onFEI Daily.Many people think of networking largely as a job search tool. They fail to recognize its role in enhancing their long-term job security, professional stature and companys growth.Individuals with strong networks are often seen as more valuable by their organizations because theyre professionally active and well connected, and networking can be a valuable business development tool. In aRobert Half Management Resources survey, 60 percent of chief financial officers (CFOs) interviewed said business growth was the primary purpose of their professional networking activities (compared to 10 percent whose top goal was looking for a job).Still, the reality is after landing a coveted position and putting in long hours trying to make a mark in a new workdistributionspolitik, networking can suddenly seem like a low priority. Before you relegate it to the bottom of your to-do list, consider these suggestions for easy ways to keep your networking efforts active, even as you work on establishing yourself in your new position.Maximize online networking.The Robert Half Management Resources survey also found CFOs prefer to network online. Because virtual networking can be done at any time, theres no good reason not to maintain an active presence, with active being the key word.Go beyond simply having a LinkedIn profile. Stay engaged with your network by posting an occasional book review, contributing to a conversation on a hot topic and commenting on others updates. In the process of staying in contact with your connections, youll build your professional visibility and show yourself as an expert in finance and your industry.When you see that someone in your network has gotten a promotion or changed jobs, take a minute to send a congratulatory note. Taking the time to acknowledge someone elses achievement will be remembered.Stay active in profess ional organizations.Although you may have been a regular at your local chapter meetings when you were job hunting, you may think thats one activity you could now safely drop from your busy schedule. Unfortunately, that would mean breaking one of the cardinal rules of networking Dont just do it when you need to. Its essential to maintain your network by staying involved with professional groups, such asFinancial Executives International. Doing so also helps you keep abreast of whats happening in your field, enhancing your professional value.If you cant be as active as you were in the past perhaps you need to give up chairing a committee, for example continue to make an effort to attend meetings and networking events. Also look for other ways to contribute, such as delivering a presentation or writing an article for the chapter website or newsletter.Start your own networking group.Another way to keep in touch with influential contacts is to plan your own recurring networking activit y maybe a once-a-month meeting for coffee, lunch or happy hour. Consider making these meetings a same time, same place arrangement by meeting at a mutually convenient place on the first Friday of each month, for instance. Even if all members of your group cant attend every time, having a standing engagement will help ensure you dont let valued relationships go dormant.Pass it on.Now that youve landed a sought-after position, dont forget to try to help those whove helped you. Use your new post to become an even more valuable contact to those in your network. You can be their eyes and ears in your industry or company and pass on job leads, referrals or meaningful business developments, as long as youre not violating any confidentiality expectations, of course.Also, if you continue to receive job leads or queries from recruiters after settling in your new role, you may want to pass that information on as well. Recruiters, in particular, are almost always interested in receiving referr als to other talented professionals. In addition, your acquaintances will likely be flattered you thought to recommend them.Its difficult to predict what twists and turns your career might take, and you never know when youll need the help of a strong network. So think twice before easing off your networking efforts. Its much easier to nurture a thriving network than to have to cobble one together when you suddenly find yourself in a situation where you have to seek others assistance.