Digital Job Applications

Digital Job ApplicationsLike many of my clients, you may have found yourself frustratedstaring down the barrel of a digital job application verbundentrying to figure out how youre going to navigate a companys ATS software well enough to get your resume uploaded without taking hours to do it. I advise my clients not to fret over digital applications as they are just one piece of the job exploration puzzle. The following information will fill you in on ATS, why employers use it, and how to more successfully manage its use during your career hunt.The ATS TrendMany employers and recruiting companies have turned to applicant tracking systems to recruit and manage employees. While viewed by businesses and human resource specialists as a great way to centralize a companys recruitment efforts, these systems often lead to frustration among quality candidates applying for jobs.Why Companies Use ATSThere are several benefits of ATS software for companies. elend only does such software collect a nd mine data, it also gives them the ability to fully automate their employee recruitment. Using an ATS, companies may offer opportunities to internal employees before seeking external candidates to fill vacant positions. Some systems even provide off-site encrypted resume and data storage to meet state or federal regulations, providing extra protection for the personal information you provide when applying for a job. In addition, depending on what a company needs, the software may be an affordable means for managing its human capital (what the HR sector calls employees and potential employees).An Employer PerspectiveA study by Capterra, a business software provider, demonstrated that 75 percent of recruiters and talent managers use some form of recruiting or applicant-tracking software for both their internal and external staffing needs. Of those, 94 percent said software has improved their hiring process. The study went on to show that staffing firms utilize such software even mor e than direct employers.The Employee PerspectiveWhile employers may view the digital application as an ideal way to streamline the hiring process, it is often a completely different experience for potential employees. According to a study by recruitment technology company Jibe, 80 percent of job candidates described the online application process as stressful. Three of five job seekers surveyed said digital applications were more difficult to complete than other common online forms such as mortgages and student loans. Of survey respondents, nearly 80 percent said digital job searches were also more time consuming and stressful due to a variety of issues includingTech hurdlesThe inability to upload a resumeThe inability to track their application statusApplications that were not mobile friendlyThe Stress of ATSIn addition to being time consuming and stressful for applicants, 60 percent of respondents in the Jibe study were unable to complete their applications. An online survey by Ca reerBuilder reported 60 percent of applicants have quit in the middle of filling out an online application due to its length or complexity. geschftlicher umgang News Daily published an online article in which Laura Kerekeschief knowledge officer of ThinkHR, a human resource solutions providersaid the cardinal sin of modern recruiting is making the process too slow or difficult for candidates. She encouraged employers to make the process of applying as simple and engaging as possible.ATS RejectionOne of the other problems with ATS is that the systems often reject qualified candidates, something a human being wouldnt do simply because the resume was formatted with dates before employers. An article in Forbes reports that studies show up to 75 percent of qualified applicants are rejected by ATS programs because their resumes cannot be read due to issues such as formatting. This keeps job seekers like you from getting your resumes read. As a result, employers often never find well-quali fied candidatesthe ones who gave up applying due to the stress, time, and difficulty of utilizing such software. It also gives the employer brand a badeanstalt name when it comes to potential employees because I know I wont send a client to apply online if its a nightmare.Tips for Digital SuccessThere are ways to improve the odds that your resume will make it through the ATS and be seen by an actual human being.-Keep your resume to a simple format such as a .doc or .txt. These are easily read by most ATSs, which often mistake .pdfs for large photos and throw them out.-Avoid templates, which often have invisible formatting issues that may cause an ATS to reject it.-List former employers first, followed by the dates you worked there, and upload a copy of your resume instead of typing it into the program.-Just as search engine optimization uses keywords to get sites found, ATS programs use keywords to search for target candidates, so be sure to utilize keywords wisely in your resume an d application.The Bottom LineFilling out job applications online when youre looking for a new career is just one tool in your job search belt, but I advise you not to rely on it exclusively. Online applications are a numbers gamewith only the best resumes receiving less than a 7% positive response rate. This means you would need to apply to 100 online positions to hear back from 7 employers. Although this tech does play a role in your job search, dont worry if an application is too difficult to fill out. If you start to get frustrated, or if its taking too long, just move on. You can always contact the company through its website or simply call to ask if you can email your resume.

How to Celebrate Halloween at the Office And Still Get Stuff Done

How to Celebrate Halloween at the Office And Still Get Stuff Done Break out all the spooky things, because October 31st is just around the corner Halloween falls on a Wednesday this year, which means corporate offices and startups alike will be celebrating the fall holiday at the workplace.Is there a right way to go about doing this spooky celebration? Or should you dive right into setting up an elaborate, in-office haunted house for the whole team?Weve got your answer. Here are a few things each and every kind of workplace can do to get into the Halloween spirit1. tischset out candy and snack bowls.Bite-sized treats are always a good idea. Set out candy and snack bowls in the company break room containing individually wrapped candies and snacks, and encourage coworkers to keep some eats on-hand at their desks, too.Not every Halloween goodie needs to be made out of chocolate, either. You can bring in organic candy corn, popcorn balls, and veggie chips shaped like ghosts and bats. Al so, anything pumpkin spice-flavored is bound to get gobbled up by your team. Just saying.2. Get everyone to participate in a costume contestIf youve been given the all-clear to hold a costume contest, encourage your fellow coworkers to dress up and join the fun.Need a pro-tip to keep costumes from getting too controversial or inappropriate at the workplace? Set an all-ages friendly theme for the contest. From dressing up as your favorite Disney character to the Harry Potter house youd be sorted in at Hogwarts, you can easily find a theme that allows everyone to get creative (without being crass).3. Decorate your desks.Bring a little bit of the crisp fall weather from the outdoors inside Give your desk a Halloween-dcor inspired spin. Fairygodboss has rounded up some of the best items that you can decorate your desk with during autumn, including colorful pencil holders, themed mouse pads, and tiny festive figurines.4. Host a potluck lunch.No, this doesnt mean bringing in mora candy. H ost a potluck lunch for the team featuring Halloween-themed eats for everyone. From trail mix to deviled spider eggs to boo-scotti (its just as cute as it sounds), encourage everyone to bring in a themed dish for the holiday.Be sure to talk your ideas over with your boss first.Before you begin planning a crazy costume contest, its a good idea to run your thoughts past your boss or HR department. They may already have plans in motion for celebrating in the office. There might also be a company policy that determines whether you can actually go through with behauptung ideas or not. Make sure that any of the ideas you present are well thought out, with an understanding of what the pros and cons for each plan may be, and if these plans present any budgetary concerns.Now, go have a happy Halloween--Deborah Sweeney is the CEO of MyCorporation.com which provides online legal filing services for entrepreneurs and businesses, startup bundles that include corporation and LLC formation, regist ered agent services, DBAs, and trademark and copyright filing services. You can find MyCorporation on Twitter at MyCorporation and Deborah at deborahsweeney.

Top Resume Writing Tips for Graduate School Admissions Guide!

Top Resume Writing Tips for Graduate School Admissions Guide Getting the Best Resume Writing Tips for Graduate School Admissions Be certain to have a peer or expert editor check your work to be certain there are no glaring errors or significant room for improvement. The more information youll be able to present to admissions committees to monitor your readiness for graduate-level work will increase your value for a candidate. You need to produce choices where information is simple to find, aesthetically pleasing and leaves the reader knowing precisely what you want them to know. Like many companies, grad programs get a lot of applications, so they desire a fast and very clear approach to observe why youd be a great fit for their program. Graduate admissions faculty members will discover that its much easier to scan. Writing the personal statement isnt a fulling career. Awards and accomplishments are rather important, and thus dont neglect to highlight them as well. Findin g the Best Resume Writing Tips for Graduate School Admissions Great writing skills are always valued so that your language has to be on point. The procedure will enhance your probability of gaining admission in your program and help you better your resume writing skills. You have an extremely excellent prospect of being selected. Finding a recommendation from a well-known professor can boost your odds of getting accepted. The One Thing to Do for Resume Writing Tips for Graduate School Admissions Graduate school resume differs from a professional resume because it doesnt adhere to the normal structure. Its fast and simple to use. The best programs ask you to have experience in your area. For instance, a graduate program in architecture may bedrngnis truly care if youre licensed lifeguard but might care very much if youre CAD certified. The Argument About Resume Writing Tips for Graduate School Admissions Some graduate schools might request your complete work experience, whi le some could recommend that you concentrate on the things closely about the program. Also, compare your resume to the writing instructions (should you have any) to be sure you included everything which is required. You should do more than just list your prior work experience. In truth, it might not even be noticed buried among items like played on the tennis group, enjoy theater, etc.. Along with any research or teaching work youve already completed or are working on, its advisable to go over directions you want to take with your research and instruction once youre admitted to graduate school. Consider the time spent outside of work or school. Submit the same resume for each job. For instance, the very best MBA programs do not admit applicants who dont have many years of work experience.

How to Get Paid What Youre Worth

How to Get Paid What Youre WorthHow to Get Paid What Youre WorthWant to love your job? Make sure youre being paid fairly. While the relationship between actual pay and job satisfaction isnt as strong as you might think, feeling like your pay is appropriate for your skills and abilities is key to feeling appreciated at work. PayScale research shows that 75 percent workers who feel theyre paid at or above the market rate report high job satisfaction, compared to 59 percent of workers who feel that theyre paid below market. The problem is that most people have no idea how much they should be paid. That makes it difficult to negotiate salary when they take a new job or contemplate a promotion at their current employer. And in most cases, it pays to negotiate, especially when taking a new job. Most hiring managers expect candidates to negotiate, once a job offer is on the table. Fail to do so, and you could cost yourself $1 million in lost earnings over the course of your career. 5 Ste ps to a Salary Negotiation That Pays Of course, theres a right way and a wrong way to go about negotiating salary. To get paid what youre worth, make a plan thats based on data, not secondhand information from your braggy coworker. 1. Research Salaries Why shouldnt you base your salary assessment on what you hear from others in your field? Well, for starters, theres no guarantee that theyre being truthful. Buy their fish story, and you could wind up dissatisfied at work for no reason or trying to negotiate a raise based on the wrong information. Beyond that, youll never get the whole picture from a lunchroom conversation about pay. Your colleague might have skills or certifications that boost their salary, or experience in another area that levels up their compensation. The best way to set your personal salary range is by using a salary calculator based on anonymous surveys from thousands of workers with your job title, skillset, education, and geographic location. There are s everal free salary calculators out there that can provide this information. Spend a few minutes entering your information and get a report with a range thats based on data, not hearsay. (Best of all, getting the facts about your pay means that youll have a way to counter any attempts to base your compensation on salary history.) 2. Choose the Right Time When it comes to negotiating salary, patience is a virtue. Dont bring up compensation until the employer makes an offer, and try to avoid getting locked into a range early on in the process. Let the employer make the first move. If you are asked what your salary requirements are, say that they are flexible, based upon the lage and the total compensation package including benefits. An alternative is to tell the employer youd like to know mora about the job responsibilities prior to discussing salary. You can also give the employer a salary range based upon salary research youve just completed and cite the research you have done. K eep in mind that there may not be much flexibility. If the employer has a budget or an established salary structure, the best you might get is the top of the range for that particular position. 3. Have a Backup Plan Dont limit yourself to salary alone. If the employer cant afford to pay more, ask about the possibility of salary reviews sooner rather than later, extra vacation, or even a bonus based on performance. Regardless of where you are in the negotiating process, remember to remain positive and continue to reiterate your interest in the position. Let the employer know that the only issue is the salary and you are really excited about the job and the company. Then, if the position does sound like the perfect job, consider whether the company culture, including the benefits and flexibility, as well as the job itself are worth it regardless of the salary. If they are, it might just be worth accepting the position and taking a chance that the salary increases will follow 4 . Leave Emotion Out of It Never let an employer know you need money. It wont help, and it might make you look desperate and unprofessional. Instead, let your data do the talking. Salary negotiations are about what the market will bear. Your personal life shouldnt come into it. However, always be honest during the job interview process. If youre forced to divulge your salary history, dont fudge the numbers. Be truthful about job titles, experience, and other job offers that are on the table. Lies have a strange way of coming back to haunt the person who didnt tell the truth. 5. Dont Feel Pressured to Accept Right Away Once youve received the offer, plan on taking some time to think about it. There is no need to accept or reject it right away. A simple I need to think it over may get you an increase in the original offer. One candidate, who had decided that they really didnt want the job after all, said no three times only to get three higher offers Be aware that this could al so have the opposite effect the hiring manager could decide that you are asking more than he is willing to pay and accept the no response as final. So, its important to know your bottom line for each position. If the salary isnt enough for you to live on, be prepared to pass on the job.

Successfully Predicting Disasters

Successfully Predicting Disasters Successfully Predicting Disasters Its nice to know when its going to rain. But it would even nicer to predict earthquakes, fires, and hurricanes. Forecasting such disasters, though, proves mora difficult. A disaster is a dynamical system that can, in principle, though not always in practice, be modeled.Certain types of disasters are, predictably, more predicable than others. Earthquake prediction, for instance, is far from satisfactory, but is seriously attempted nevertheless. The accuracy of predicting volcanic eruptions lies somewhere between those of earthquakes and severe weatherdepending on the volcano. Scientists are able to forecast the eruptions of Italys Mount Etna using seismic tomography. The method yields time photographs of the three-dimensional movement of rocks to detect their internal changes. The success of the technique is in no small part due to the fact that Etna, Europes biggest volcano, is equipped with a high-quality monitoring system and seismic network, tools not readily available for most other volcanoes.An earthquake of magnitude 7.6 hit Kashmir in 2005. Success in efforts to predict earthquakes has remained elusive.For disasters that involve fluid transport phenomena, such as severe weather, fire, or the release of a toxic substance, the governing equations can be formulated subject to some assumptionsthe fewer, the better. Modeling is usually done in the form of nonlinear partial differential equations with the appropriate number of initial and boundary conditions. But those field equations are typically impossible to solve analytically, particularly if the fluid flow is turbulent, which unfortunately is the norm for the high Reynolds number flows encountered in the atmosphere and oceans.Initial and boundary conditions are required for both analytical and numerical solutions. Computers have their practical limits, so numerical integration of the instantaneous equations (direct numerical simulations) for high Reynolds number natural flows is prohibitively expensive, if not outright impossible.Modeling to the RescueModeling comes to the rescue, but at a price. Large-eddy simulations, spectral methods, probability density function models, and the more classical Reynolds-stress models are examples of closure schemes that are not as computationally intensive as direct numerical simulations. But they are not as reliable either. This type of second-tier modeling is phenomenological in nature and does not stem from first principles. The more heuristic the modeling is, the less accurate the expected results.Satellite photographs show the same island before and after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and its tsunami. Advance warning might have reduced the death toll.Together with massive ground, sea, and sky data to provide at least in part the initial and boundary conditions, the models are entered into supercomputers that come out with a forecast. It may be a prediction of a severe thu nderstorm that is yet to form, the future path and strength of an existing hurricane, or the impending concentration of a toxic gas that was released in a faraway location some time in the past. For other types of disasters such as earthquakes, the precise laws are not even known, mostly because proper constitutive relations are lacking. Additionally, deep underground data are difficult to gather.The important issue is to precisely state the assumptions needed to write the evolution equations, which are basically statements of the conservation of mass, momentum, and energy, in a certain form. The resulting equations and their eventual analytical or numerical solutions are valid only under those assumptions. This seemingly straightforward fact is often overlooked and wrong answers readily result when the situation we are trying to model is different from the one assumed.The prediction of weather-related disasters has had spectacular successes within the last few decades. The painstak ing advances made in fluid mechanics in general and turbulence research in particular, together with the exponential growth of computer memory and speed, contributed immeasurably to those successes. Imagine what we might do for the world if we could engineer systems as accurate as that to predict earthquakes, hurricanes or wildfires.Adapted from Engineering vs. Disasters by Mohamed Gad-el-Hak, ASME Fellow, for Mechanical Engineering, August 2008.The prediction of weather-related disasters has had spectacular successes within the last few decades.

Guidelines for Giving Gifts to Colleagues at Work

Guidelines for Giving Gifts to Colleagues at WorkGuidelines for Giving Gifts to Colleagues at WorkAlthough workplace gesundheitsgefhrdender stoff-giving should not be considered mandatory, many people and businesses do exchange gesundheitsgefhrdender stoffs, especially during the holidays. That means every December when businesses honor the holiday toxikum-giving custom, people need to navigate the tricky gift-giving waters. Some employees wonder if they need to give a gift to their bosses. The answer is- gifts should flow downward, not upward. Another common dilemma is, how you deal with co-worker presaya to give more than you can afford to a holiday gift collection. Also, a big concern each year is what are appropriate gifts for colleagues. The Pressure of Group Gift-Giving Each office will have its own gift-giving rules- including rules for donating to charities. If your office is taking up a collection for a group gift for a colleague, you may feel uncomfortable about pitchin g in. Perhaps youre new to the office, or youre just financially strapped at the moment. If youre being pressured to chip in for a gift when youd rather not, its okay to say, Sorry, but I need to pass or Sorry, my budget wont allow it this year. Giving Gifts to Colleagues As a general rule, gifts that are intended to be put on the recipients body- such as perfume, lotion, clothes, or jewelry- are too personal to give to work colleagues. Gag gifts should also be avoided because they can be hit or miss, especially if you dont know the recipient that well. Wine and liquor are often appreciated- and have the benefit of being easily re-gifted if theyre not to someones taste. However, be careful about giving alcohol to a recovering alcoholic, a Muslim, or someone else who is known not to drink. Respect Price Limits on Gift Exchanges If youre participating in a gift exchange that includes a price limit- for example, Gifts must be less than $20- dont exceed the set amount. If you sh ow up with an e-reader or a cashmere blanket while everyone else is exchanging socks and funny mugs, youre likely to make other people feel uncomfortable. The reverse is also true. If everyone is exchanging gifts they genuinely hope people will enjoy, youre violating the spirit of the exchange if you show up with a gag gift and may cause someone to go home feeling slighted. Select YourGift Thoughtfully Before selecting a gift, ask yourself what message the gift conveys about you. The right gift should show that you cared enough to give an appropriate and thoughtful gift out of appreciation and respect. It should not be something you picked up last minute at the gift shopdownstairs. Consider How Much Youre Spending Giving extravagant gifts to get something in return or outshine co-workers is never a good idea. It does not make you look good and usually makes the recipient feel uncomfortable. Expensive gifts can seem out of proportion to the occasion, as well as to what other workers are giving. The message sent is not how generous you are but that you are a gift show-off. Likewise, lazy or cheap gifts send the message that you are only offering a gift because you felt that you had to. There are not many meaningful gifts that you can buy these days for $5, and a cheap gift usually appearscheap, insincere, and like a token gift. Every office is different. The best thing to do if youre in doubt is to ask a colleague or two how much theyre spending. Giving Cash or Gift Cards Generally, you should not give cash as a gift in the workplace. Giving cash is not considered acceptable unless it is given by the company as a bonus to employees. However, gift cards and gift certificates work just like cash and are acceptable. Its a good idea to do some research beforehand. You dont want to purchase a gift card to Starbucks if the person doesnt drink caffeine. An iTunes or Amazon gift card is always a sure bet. Business Gifts Etiquette Tip Giving no gift at al l can be better than giving the wrong gift. If youre short on ideas, survey a few people in the company to get an idea of the kinds of gifts people are giving. You can also ask friends and family for ideas, or, search online for office gifts in the price range you want to spend. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself how you would feel about receiving the particular gift youre contemplating giving.

FMLA - Family and Medical Leave Act

FMLA - Family and Medical Leave ActFMLA - Family and Medical Leave ActThe FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act), a U.S. federal law that was signed by President Bill Clinton in 1993, lets workers take time off from their jobs if they are seriously ill or need to care for a newborn or newly adopted child, or a seriously ill parent, child or spouse. Although leave is unpaid, employees are allowed to keep their medical benefits, paid time off, and seniority.Provisions to help military families were added in 2008 and updated in 2013. Who Is Eligible to Take FMLA? To be eligible for the FMLA, you must meet the following requirements Your employer must have employed 50 or more workers for at least 20 weeks of the current or preceding calendar year. These employees must work within 75 miles of your worksite.You must have worked for that employer for at least 12 months, not necessarily consecutive, for a total of at least 1,250 hours during the period immediately preceding your leave. F or What Reasons May You Take Leave Under FMLA? If you are an eligible employee, you may take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave in any 12 month period for the following covered reasons You have an illness that makes you unable to work.You have given birth.You are caring for your newborn, newly adopted child, or a child who has been placed with you for foster care.You must care for your seriously ill spouse, child (under 18 except in certain circumstances), or parent. How Does the FMLA Protect Eligible Employees? If you take leave under FMLA, it protects you in the following ways When you return to work your employer must reinstate you to the same job you had before beginning your leave or an equivalent one.Your employer must continue your group health benefits during your leave.Your employer cant take away your accrued benefits, for example, seniority or paid time off. You wont, however, continue to accrue these benefits while on leave.An employer cant discriminate against you for taking leave under the FMLA. What Do You Have to Do If You Need toTake Unpaid Leave Under FMLA? If you need to exercise your right, under FMLA, to take unpaid leave, you must inform your employer of your desire to do so. If you know in advance that you will need to take time off, referred to as foreseeable leave, you must request it at least 30 days before you want it to begin. If your need is sudden, called unforeseeable leave, you must request it as soon as you can. Follow your employers standard and customary call-in procedures, unless you have unusual circumstances. Let your employer know how you plan to take your leave all at once or intermittently. Or do you need a reduced work schedule?Intermittent leave means you will take time off during different periods. You must get your employers permission to take an intermittent leave or use a reduced-leave schedule to care for a newborn or a newly adopted, or foster child.Provide medical certification, if your employer requires i t, when you need to take leave because of your own illness or to care for a relative.Your direct supervisor may not contact your healthcare provider, due to concerns about privacy andhe or she may only provide information related to the condition for which you are requesting the leave. Continue to pay for your share of group health benefits while on leave under FMLA.Inform your employer when you intend to return to work or if the circumstances of your leave change, for example, if you must take a lengthierleave or will be ready to return to work sooner than anticipated.Provide proof from a physician that you are ready to return to work if your employer asks you for it. State Family and Medical Leave Laws Several states have their own family and medical leave laws. Some even require employers to pay their workers during their absence. If you are covered by both FMLA and a state family and medical leave law, your employer must allow you to take leave under the law that offers grea ter benefits. If you want to find out if your state has a family and medical leave law, contact your states labor office. What To Do If Your Employer Fails to Abide by the FMLA? If your employer denies you the right to use FMLA, you can file a complaint with the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor. Contact yourlocal district office. What is MilitaryFamilyLeave? In 2008, provisions to help military families were added to FMLA. They were updated in 2013. To be eligible for Military Family Leave, the employee must meet the eligibility requirements for FMLA as described earlier.The FMLA-eligible spouse, parent, or child of a currently or about-to-be deployed member of the U.S. Armed Forces may take exigency leave or military caregiver leave.Exigency Leave pertains to circumstances arising from the military members deployment. It may include taking time off from work to deal with financial or legal arrangements attend deployment-related events make childcare ar rangements for the child of the military member (who may or may not be the child of the person taking the leave) attend counseling for yourself, the military member, or his or her child because of a deployment-related issue or spend Rest and Recuperation Leave with the military member. Military Caregiver Leave allows you, as the spouse, parent, child, or next of kin of a currentservice member or military veteran discharged within the belastung five years, to take up to 26 weeks in a single 12 month period to care for him or her in case of a serious injury or illness. Sources Information included here has come from the following sources on the U.S. Department of Labor Website. Please consult them if you would like to learn more about FMLA and Military Family Leave FMLA (Family and Medical Leave)elaws Family and Medical Leave Act AdvisorNeed Time? The Employees Guide to Military Family Leave Under the Family and Medical Leave Act(2013)