5 Seemingly Harmless Beliefs About Your Co-Workers That Are Actually Toxic

5 Seemingly Harmless Beliefs About Your Co-Workers That Are Actually Toxic5 Seemingly Harmless Beliefs About Your Co-Workers That Are Actually ToxicFor a lot of people, relationships with your co-workers are what get you through the workday. Theyre the people you talk to, vent to, and collaborate with. Youre on the same team, and, ideally, youre all on the same page.But if you approach your relationship with your team the wrong way, you can seriously hinder the success of your individual career. Just take these five common beliefs for example- while these thoughts seem completely understandable on the surface, they can actually hurt you in the long run. Belief 1 I Have to Do Things the Way They DoEspecially when youre new in a role, you look to your co-workers for an example of how to complete your responsibilities. If they use a certain program to complete a report, youll probably start using that program. If they consult a few go-to clients as sources for your marketing materials, youll probably start leaning on those clients, too. And you know what? Thats a perfectly fine way to learn the ropes. The problem comes in when you assume that youre solely bound to your co-workers particular methods and ideas, instead of branching out to try new things, pitching unique ideas, and taking some risks. Thats the only way youre going to produce anything above and beyond the rest of your team- and, ultimately, thatll be how you demonstrate your worth to your boss and team.Belief 2 I Have to Stay on Their Good SideFor a long time, when it came to my interactions with my co-workers, I never wanted to rock the boat. You work with these people every hour of every workday wouldnt a disagreement make it pretty hard to work together effectively? And so, when someone would pitch an idea or want to attack a project a certain way, Id always nod along- even if I didnt think it was the right approach.But constantly keeping mum only stifles the creativity and innovation of your entir e team. You need disagreement to spark better ideas. Plus, it gives you a chance to show your team and your boss that you offer real value to the department- rather than just a desire to appease everyone. And the good news is, done the right way, you can disagree without ruining your work relationships. Belief 3 I Can Confide in Them About AnythingIts easy to become close with the person who sits two feet away from you for eight hours a day, 40+ hours a week. Over inside jokes and venting sessions, you really begin to trust the people you work with every day. But no matter how close you are, there are certain subjects you shouldnt broach with your co-workers. For example, if youre thinking about leaving your current company, it may be tempting to ask your co-worker if she knows of any job openings or if she can glance at your resume to get it job-search ready. But youre not going to be quite so pleased when she accidentally lets it slip to your boss that the dentist appointment your e at is really a job interview. You can probably trust your co-workers with a lot of things- but for the sake of your job and the future of your career, some things shouldnt be shared. Belief 4 My Workday Should Mirror TheirsWhen you work in close proximity with your team, its easy to adopt their habits. That means if they work through lunch, youll probably be mora inclined to work through lunch. Youll aim to get into the office around the same time they do and leave when they finally pack up their things and head out. In general, its not farfetched that you and your teammates will work similar hours. On the other hand, if you can finish your work more productively (read in less time) than your team- or in a more productive way- you shouldnt feel pressured to work just like your co-workers. If you need to take a lunch break to be your most productive self, take it If you get the bulk of your work done in the morning, talk to your boss about shifting your workday a little earlier. Or , if youre just want to be a productivity machine, follow these tips to always leave the office on time. But you shouldnt base your entire workday on theirs just because.Belief 5 They Only Get the Best Opportunities BecauseAllison got the promotion because shes the boss favorite? Mark got to go the national conference because hes friends with the manager outside of the office? Kathy was chosen to give the presentation just because shes been in the department the longest?Sure, those things may be true- but more often, these assumptions stem from jealousy, and theres actually a valid reason why your co-worker got a certain opportunity. By making excuses or assumptions about why everyone else is getting the best opportunities, you may make yourself feel better temporarily- but its not helping you get any closer to deserving those opportunities yourself. To stay on track for success, you should assume that to get the promotion, raise, or special opportunity, you need to work hard, perfo rm well, and be the best- rather than worry about rumors or favoritism that may or may not be true. While co-worker relationships are necessary and beneficial, you have to make sure youre approaching them the right way- in a way that encourages success for both your team and your individual career. Photo of person peeking through blinds courtesy of Shutterstock.

3 Ways To Break Through The Career Center Walls

3 Ways To Break Through The Career Center Walls 3 Ways To Break Through The Career Center Walls Takeaways from the Career Leadership Collective Spring ForumJobscan attended its first event with the Career Leadership Collective as a sponsor last month. The Career Leadership Collective, founded by Jeremy Podany, who has 20 years of experience in the higher education career development field, created the organization to focus on the practical and inspirational aspects of leadership and innovation in college and university career services arena. The theme of the conference was Breaking Through The Career Center Walls. This means bringing career resources to students wherever they are whether thats in the dorm room, the classroom, at home for spring break or in the library doing homework. We heard from several speakers about the innovative ways they are taking career everywhere at their campuses and beyond. Here are three key takeaways 1. Create a Career Ambassador NetworkDid you know th at, on average, faculty members of a university spend 200x more time with students than career center staff do? Saskia Clay-Rooks, the Executive Director George Mason University, has developed an innovative strategy in order to take advantage of all of that valuable facetime that faculty gets with students.In order to become a member of George Masons Career Influencer Network, faculty members must attend a series of three 90-minute modules focused on how to Work effectively with students seeking career adviceBecome more familiar with the career development processAlign their curriculum to the National Association for Colleges and Employers (NACE) standards for career readiness, and learn about the digital career resources that George Mason has available to students (like Handshake)When faculty have completed all three modules, they receive a career readiness toolkit, which includes templates for how to facilitate connections between students academic experiences and their career goa ls, and they are invited to participate in ongoing professional development.George Mason already has 160+ faculty members signed up for the Career Influencer Network, and the team is on their way to reaching their goal of creating 100,000 career-ready graduates by 2024. 2. Rethink On-Campus Student Employment Marianna Savoca, AVP of Experiential Learning at Stony Brook University, shared ways theyve implemented new practices to reinvigorate student employment on campus. Traditionally, the majority of students who have jobs on campus enroll in something called a work-study, which enables needs-based students to work part-time in order to support themselves financially as they attend college. However, work-study can be more than just a means to an end.At Stony Brook, theyre shifting the perception of work-study to a more meaningful and engaging professional development experience for students. Savoca recommends ditching the phrase work-study entirely and renaming on-campus jobs to int ernship or apprenticeship, while aligning the outcomes and skills developed through these employment opportunities to the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU)s High Impact Educational Practices (which are also strikingly similar to NACEs standards for career readiness). Savoca reminded the group that the context and needs of each school is different. In order to have a successful and engaging student employment program at your school, she recommends getting support for all who are involved. She also suggests piloting, tracking, assessing and adjusting the program as necessary.If you want to dive deeper into rethinking student employment on your campus, you can also read Savocas book A Good Job Campus Employment as a High Impact Practice.3. Leverage Technology to Create a Legacy In his opening keynote, Jeremy Podany encouraged career centers to think about creating their legacy. Podany stressed that in order to make the greatest impact on the careers of students a nd alumni, career coaches and counselors will need to scale their expertise.There are tools on the market across the spectrum of what career services has historically offered, from reviewing resumes (we do that here at Jobscan), preparing for interviews (InterviewStream), and getting organized with your job search (CareerShift, which also sponsored the Spring Forum). By adopting tools like these that can help free up time and reach students where they are, career centers can move away from being known for the services they offer and start focusing on being the convener for the campus-wide commitment to develop career-ready students.Amanda Ostrove brings Jobscans resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn optimization tools to universities to help their students beat the resume black hole. You can contact her at emailprotected or learn more about Jobscans tools for universities here.

6 ways to be an all-star in every meeting

6 ways to be an all-star in every meeting6 ways to be an all-star in every meetingCan you believe that this meeting has been dragging on for an hour and a half, and we still have so much ground to cover? Why is he talking over me again? If I ask this question, am I going to sound like I dont belong here?If unterstellung questions have ever flooded your mind during a meeting,youre surely not alone. At one time or another, we have all doubted the course of human progress while being forced to watch one more Power Point presentation. So heres how to be a team player and conduct successful meetings- whether youre leading or sitting in on one.Respect your colleagues timePeople dont have a lot of time to waste- especially at work. Meetings should have hard time limits.Neal Hartman writes about this in a Forbes article.If you have responsibility for running regular meetings and you have a reputation for being someone who starts and ends promptly, you will be amazed how many of your colleag ues will make every effort to attend your meetings. People appreciate it when you understand that their time is valuable. Another note on time Do not schedule any meeting to last longer than an hour. Sixty minutes is generally the longest time workers can remain truly engaged, Hartman writes.Fix the hidden power dynamic in your seatingVivian Giang features advice from Barbara Pachter, career coach and author of the book The Essentials of Business Etiquette How to Greet, Eat, and Tweet Your Way to Success, in a Business Insider article.If its a sit-down meeting, you need to adjust your chair so that youre at equal height with everyone else at the table. Some people dont adjust their chairs, so they end up being the little kid in the meeting, says Pachter, Giang writes.Dont let that chatty coworker dominate the discussionMeetings are everyones time to shine, but inevitably one or two people will try to derail any gathering of people to focus on themselves.Les McKeown provides strategi es to change the behaviors of employees who talk too much during meetings in an Inc. article.Once theyve run out of steam, its essential not to respond to everything your cant-stop-talking colleague has said. No matter how contentious, annoying or downright wrong much of what they said may be, restrict yourself only to any comments that were (a) relevant to them topic under discussion, and (b) helpful in moving the discussion forward. If there were no such comments (not uncommon experience with blowhards), then simply thank them for their comments and move on- again, with a neutral emotive expression, McKeown writes.If you suspect you might be that chatty coworker, try to understand that every word you say comes at the expense of several other peoples time. Before you bring up a point, determine whether your point helps the decision-making process in the room. If it doesnt, save it until afterwards.Minimize distractionsYes, it would be so much more fun to scroll through Facebook or Twitter right now- or even those incoming texts- but try to give your undivided attention to who is leading the meeting and to what your colleagues are saying. If theyre listening to you, theyll expect you to listen to them. Paying attention to people can be a powerful signal that you actually care what they think, and theyll remember it.It will be also be easier to participate if you know what your colleagues are talking about.Another thing to watch out for if you want to look engaged and impressive in a meeting, dont face a window or other fascinating visual aspect of the room, like a mesmerizing painting. Your eye will be drawn there, which will make it look youre spacing out.In addition, we hate to tell you this, but everyone can see you doodling. Use paper only for your notes, not to show people that stick figures are more interesting than their ideas.Prepare and dont be afraid to speak up earlyIntroverts should know their stuff and share it at the beginning of the meeting.Da na Rousmaniere features advice from Susan Cain, author of Quiet The Power of Introverts in a World That Cant Stop Talking and co-founder of The Quiet Leadership Institute, in a Harvard Business Review article.For this interview question, Rousmaniere asked Cain how introverts can avoid coming across as disengaged or even apathetic during a meeting, when theyre actually very deeply in thought.One thing I often tell introverts is to do a lot of prep work before a meeting begins, whether or not youve been formally asked to do so, because its probably what you need to personally do. Preparing your thoughts ahead of time can also help give you a push to be one of the first people to speak up, which is probably not your prototyp style. In general, its best to advance your ideas early. On a psychological level, it helps you feel a part of the meeting earlier, and people will often in turn direct their comments to you, whereas if you wait awhile to speak, the opposite usually happens, Cain t old the publication.Be sure to balance your input with others and share valuable contributions, and bask in the new respect youll have.

Things I wish Id known about money in my 20s

Things I wish Id known about money in my 20sThings I wish Id known about money in my 20sThe saying goes, If you knew better, you would do better. That applies to your personal finance decisions, too, right?Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreMoneyGeek asked around the office and on social media for lessons people wish someone wouldve taught them about money in their 20s. Heres what they came up withPay off yourleistungspunkt cards dont run a balance. Plus, the power of saving versus investing when you dont have much money. If I invest $50 today and it doubles over 12 months thats a great return, but I only have $100 total. However, if I save $10/month at the end of the year I have $120. Pretty simple stuff really.- Doug M.Its so important to start some kind ofretirement accountbecause of return rates on the money invested. Lets say we put away some money starting early (in our 20 s), by the time folks are in their 30s or later, the rate of return would be compounding, and we will see the money way faster than if we start in our 30s. When in our 20s, we think retirement is so far away but we forget and/or ignore the compounding factor.- SaiI wish I had taken 401(k)s more seriously when I was in my 20s. I also wish I had a better understanding of different investment options (IRAs, mutual funds, money funds, etc.). In fact, I mucksmuschenstill wish I had a stronger understanding of those things. Basically, anything about saving. I definitely didnt think much about long-term savings in my 20s and now wish I had made more of an effort to do that.- Heidi1) What refinancing means more generally not just for a mortgage but also things like student loans. This is the idea that a loan is something you can restructure and negotiate, but there are reasons why a lender would do that or not (basically market conditions).2) When should you buyinsuranceor when should yo u not the economic concept that you should only get insurance if the potential loss is so great that you would face significant financial harm. (This is the rationale for generally declining things like product warranties usually absorbing the cost of a new phone is not going to bankrupt you, or you can live with the cost of paying to have it fixed.) Or if its illegal not to have it, like for car insurance (but even then, there are different types, not all of which are required).- LydiaThe age of your credit history is an important factor on yourcredit score The older your credit history, the better. One of the easiest ways to start your credit history is to open a credit card account.- KarimInvest, invest, invest- NathanHere are a few questions I had How can youstart savingwhen you get your first REAL job and arent living paycheck to paycheck anymore?Rent vs. buy Which makes more sense? Am I throwing away money by renting a house or condo rather than buying?Car buying How can I negotiate, be confident, find a good deal and find what I need?- DianaStart anemergency fundas soon as you land that job out of college. You never know what will happen.- KimSaving and investing Alsobudgeting Im just now picking that life skill up, admittedly waaaaay too late.- LorynThis article first appeared on Money Geek.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

What You Should Know About Letter of Interest for Job Within Current Company and Why

What You Should Know About Letter of Interest for Job Within Current Company and Why Briefly list relevant education or special training, especially in the event the employer is searching for candidates that have a specific degree or skill collection. Youd use a letter of interest if you want to work in a particular company or inside a particular role but youre not certain about the job opportunities out there. A letter of interest is a useful tool for your career. Furthermore, make sure that your letter of interest focuses on your abilities and professional accomplishments and what you could bring to the provider. On the 1 hand, youre probably a great cultural fit as youre already with the organization and possess valuable understanding of the company. You wish to align the geschftlicher umgangs values with your own values and provide an insight into what about the business is interesting you. At precisely the same time, you wish to emphasize the skills that would cause you to be a valuable add-on to that individuals teamjust as you would in a resume for an outside business. Instead of attempting to sell yourself to a particular job position, youre objective is to speak about your overall abilities and qualities in relation to the organization. Using Letter of Interest for Job Within Current Company Therefore, concentrate on finding out about the organization culture and the talent the provider is on the lookout for. Lets say youre searching to join the advertising team in some capacity and you may notice the method by which the providers marketing is largely driven by social networking. For instance, if youre doing work in a multinational business. Meanwhile, you ought to search for jobs beyond your existing company. The Supreme Approach for Letter of Interest for Job Within Current Company Tell your boss youre submitting the letter, and in doing this, express your appreciation for the chance to work in your present position. Just take the o pportunity to be certain youre in an ideal distribution policy to create the best impression on the job and to find that promotion youre seeking. You have to speak in a way that nobody can reject you. After youve worked for a number of months or years in an organization, you might feel prepared to take on a greater position. Letter of Interest for Job Within Current Company - the Conspiracy A titelbild letter is utilized to react to a job posting whenever the employer is actively seeking to fill a position. Unlike with a cover letter, you wont have a certain job description to aid you in relation to the skills to concentrate on. When it might seem easier to apply and interview for an internal job that you totenstill have to take care of the procedure seriously. Use the work description and company profile supplied in the posting or by the man who informed you of the opportunity. Youre in a special position to fulfill the ideal manager. It ought to prove youll conserve the man agers life. You will produce the hiring managers job a great deal easier by supplying the examples of your work they require. You dont need to upset your present hiring manager by going behind their back particularly if youre not successful and still must work with them. If there are not any rules against turning in an application for work in another department (or within the department), the best method to do it is to compose a letter of interest. You dont understand how to compose a letter of interest till you nail the CTA. Use this sample letter if youre interested in submitting an application for an internal job. Dont assume just as you already do the job there, that youre get an advantage in obtaining the job. Researched Share why youre interested in the position and drop in a couple of details to demonstrate that you did your homework. The topic of your cover letter is to chat about the particular job opening. You are going to be able to concentrate on the correct t hings in your letter and to receive your message across in style. On the flip side, a cover letter is tailored to the particular position. Also, highlight in the letter how you will add to the job and the firm. Youre able to specify as to how you plan to add to the corporation. Mention your present position and the name of the business you work for. Express your appreciation for the chance to work for your business in the very first paragraph of your letter. The letter format is completely editable. Its not sufficient to send a letter. Your letter is directed to the ideal individual. It should have a professional tone It is important for you to maintain a professional tone in your letter of interest.

So You Want to Hire an Intern - Spark Hire

So You Want to Hire an Intern - Spark HireIf you havent already, its time to start thinking about whether or not you want to hire an intern for some summer help. Interns can provide great extra help around the office, and can also be a great source of fresh, creative ideas. Interns can also usually be hired for little-to-no money (well discuss later whether thats a good idea or not) and can be a great way to find young talent who might become great full-timers down the line.Job postings for interns are similar to job postings for other positions in your company, and so it is important to give them the consideration that they deserve. Begin your search for an intern by developing a clear job description for the position. Many unfortunate interns get stuck doing random office tasks, or doing nothing, without a definite job description. This wastes the potential of summer help.Design a list of daily tasks that an intern can accomplish with relatively little training. Choose things that will be educational for the intern and helpful for your office. Also consider how the interns work might progress over the course of the summer. Perhaps develop a project that the intern can accomplish over the course of the summer, or help the intern curate a portfolio of all they do as summer help. As your internship program develops, you could also create collaborative projects for all of the summer help.After developing a job description, it is important to decide how much you can pay your intern. Well talk about this next week. Collaborating with local colleges to offer class credit is another great option. Contact local colleges with information about your internship program, and binnensee if you offer this valuable form of compensation to your summer help.Once the job description and compensation are set, it is time for a job posting. Job postings can go up in the usual places that you advertise your jobs. Although many interns are college students, recent graduates and other job seekers are increasingly considering internships for the valuable experience. With the traditional job postings taken care of, also consider advertising your internship directly through local colleges. Many colleges have a career center that encourages students to take internships for college credit. They may even have the opportunity for your company to attend a career fair, and meet potential summer help in person.How do your internship job postings differ from your regular job postings? Give us your tips for finding summer help below

On Becoming a U.S. Marshal

On Becoming a U.S. MarshalOn Becoming a U.S. MarshalThe United States Marshals Service lays claim to being the oldest law enforcement agency within the federal government, and boasts some of the most famous lawmen in the history of policing, such as the brothers Wyatt and Virgil Earp, to name just two. Popularized in television and movies, especially The Fugitive and U.S. Marshals, not to mention Tombstone and countless other classic westerns, thousands of aspiring police officers and special werber hopefuls year after year find themselves wondering just how to become a U.S. Marshal. Like most federal jobs, and law enforcement and special agent jobs, in particular, U.S. marshal careers are highly sought after. Of course, that also means theyre highly competitive. If your goal is to become a marshal, youre going to have to work hard, both mentally and physically, to be competitive and land the job you want. Minimum Requirements for U.S. Marshals Like nearly any other law enforcem ent job, the U.S. Marshals Service has certain minimum requirements for applicants. These are the absolute, bare minimum qualifications youll need for your application to be considered. Also, keep in mind that meeting these requirements does not guarantee youll get hired. Youll still have to demonstrate other knowledge and skills, and undergo a physical assessment before you make it the training academy and into a great career. To be considered for a job as deputy U.S. marshal you must, at a minimum Be a U.S. citizenBe between 21 and 36 years old (current federal law enforcement agents and military veterans may be exempt from the maximum age requirement)Hold a valid driver licenseHave at least a bachelors degree, one year of specialized work experience, or a combination of work experience and post-secondary educationBe ready and willing to be assigned anywhere in the United States where the Marshals Service has field offices Be aya to determine whether or not you meet the education and experience qualifications Specialized work experience can include other law enforcement jobs, such as working as a detective or investigator, especially in work that involved conducting investigations and preparing search and arrest warrants.Education requirements include either at least one year of graduate school coursework or a demonstration of superior academic achievement in a four-year degree, which means youll need to have earned at least a 3.0 on your college coursework. If you meet the minimum requirements, youll move on to a lengthy and rigorous hiring process that will involve a written test, physical assessments, and medical screening. Be prepared to demonstrate your mental and physical acumen at every step of the process to maximize your chances of success. As youre filling out the application, make sure all of the required sections are complete and accurate. It would be terrible to find out that you missed out on a great career opportunity because of a careless mis take on the job application. U.S. Marshals Competitive Examination The U.S. Marshals Service requires job candidates to reisepass a competitive examination, broken up into two parts. The test is administered by the federal governments Office of Personnel Management. The first part of the test measures candidates situational judgment. This part of the exam will measure your ability to use sound judgment and make good decisions, based on a series of multiple-choice questions. The second part of the test assesses your writing ability. In this part, you can expect to read sentences and identify errors or choose the sentence that is grammatically correct. Again, these will be multiple choice questions, but you will need to have strong reading and writing skills to be successful. Structured Interview Part of the assessment process for potential U.S. Marshals includes a structured interview. If you successfully pass the written exam, youll move on to this next step. The interview t akes place at regional offices around the country before a two-person panel. The interview is designed to allow you to demonstrate skills and traits, such as teamwork, self-management, interpersonal skills, integrity and honesty, oral communication, and problem-solving. The interview questions will likely be experience-based and ask you to discuss the times youve utilized the traits listed or solved a difficult problem. Be detailed in your answer and be sure to identify the problem, why it was a problem, what you did, what the outcome would be, and what you learned from the experience. Physical Fitness Requirements for U.S. Marshals The next step in the hiring process for U.S. marshals will be the physical assessment. Youll want to be in top physical shape to pass this part of the process. Physical requirements for U.S. marshals include a 1.5-mile run, one-minute push-ups and sit-ups, a sit-and-reach, and a body-fat percentage test. The physical fitness requirements vary by age and gender. The minimum physical requirements are 1-minute sit-ups - MenAge 21-29 40Age 30-39 36Age 40 31-minute sit-ups - WomenAge 21-29 35Age 30-39 27Age 40 221-minute push-ups - MenAge 21-29 33Age 30-39 27Age 40 211-minute push-ups - WomenAge 21-29 16Age 30-39 14Age 40 111.5-mile run - MenAge 21-29 1218Age 30-39 1251Age 40 13531.5-mile run - WomenAge 21-29 1455Age 30-39 1526Age 40 1627?Sit-and-Reach - MenAge 21-2917.5Age 30-39 16.5Age 40 15.3Sit-and-Reach - WomenAge 21-29 20Age 30-39 19Age 40 18 Percent Body Fat - MenAge 21-29 15.9Age 30-39 19Age 40 21Percent Body Fat - WomenAge 21-29 22.1Age 30-39 23.1Age 40 26.4 Start an exercise program to get into the best physical condition possible. The requirements listed are the minimum physical standards youll want to be able to consistently exceed these requirements to remain competitive. Check with your doctor to make sure youre healthy enough to begin exercising, and start a fitness program to get into the proper condition. Background Investigation Once youve successfully made it through the various assessments, you will need to pass a very thorough hintergrund check. Naturally, the Marshals Service wants to hire the most ethical applicants, and job candidates need to be above reproach. Expect your past to be rigorously scrutinized. Your previous employers will be contacted, as well as any ex-spouses. Youll also face a criminal history and credit check. Medical Testing The next step will be a thorough medical evaluation, which will include vision and hearing screening. Applicants vision must be corrected to 20/20 in each eye and may not be worse than 20/200 uncorrected in either eye. Hearing loss cannot be more than 30 decibels. Youll also need to be able to distinguish colors and demonstrate accurate depth perception. Due to the rigors of the job, some medical disqualifiers may include hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and heart disease. The U.S. Marshals Academy If youre at the top of your game and have a clean background, you may find yourself among the fortunate few to get hired and invited to attend the U.S. Marshals basic training program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia. This 17.5-week training program is both mentally and physically demanding. Seven exams are given throughout the length of the academy, and you are required to maintain your level of fitness for the duration of your training. Training topics range from first aid and defensive tactics to law and officer safety, all subjects vital to a successful law enforcement career. Becoming a Deputy U.S. Marshal Not everyone can make it as a U.S. Marshal. It takes very dedicated and motivated people to make their way through the hiring process and pass the rigorous training academy. The salary and benefits are well worth the hard work, though, as are the rewards of knowing youll be working in a challenging and important career. If you think you have what it takes, you may j ust find that working as a U.S. Marshal is the perfect criminology career for you.

Learn How to Ask for Vacation When Starting a New Job

Learn How to Ask for Vacation When Starting a New JobLearn How to Ask for Vacation When Starting a New JobStarting a new job can be exciting, but no matter how skilled you are in your profession, any new job comes with a learning curve. It takes most workers three to six months to settle into a new job and master their new duties with complete understanding and proficiency. During this learning curve phase, you dont just learn how to do your job, but you also learn how to get along with co-workers, and develop a good feel for how the office ticks. This includes understanding what is acceptable and what could be career suicide, which includes asking too early for perks such as vacations. Generally speaking, its elend a good idea to ask for time off until you have mastered your job and completed any training necessary to perform your job. This is especially important if someone else will have to fill in for you when you take time off. If there is a probationary period for new hires at your company, it is better not to ask for any time off unless it is an emergency or you are too sick to work. Pre-Planned Vacations If you are considering taking a new job, and already have a vacation planned in the near future and cannot change the dates, be sure to let your potential employer know before hiring you that you will need time off as a condition of your accepting the position. You may have to take your vacation without pay if the dates come before you have accrued enough paid vacation time. Keep in mind, though, that many employers do not allow time off even without pay because they want to avoid setting a precedent that employees can simply take time off whenever they want if willing to do so without pay. Vacation Time Is A Perk, Not a Legal Right When starting a new job, you are given an opportunity to prove yourself, while your employer takes all the financial risk when it comes to investing in your ability to perform and contribute. Your employer covers the costs of your training, any employment perks such as a company car, and will most likely be paying you at your full rate even before you are fully up to speed with your work. Before asking for the reward of taking time off for a week-long vacation, take a minute to appreciate your employers investment in you, and avoid considering your vacation time an entitlement. There is no U.S. law that requires an employer to give you paid vacation time, or even time off to take a vacation without pay. Employers offer such benefits to remain competitive in the job applicant pool when hiring. The Employers Perspective On New Hires The average time people stay at one job is approximately two years before changing jobs either by being promoted internally or moved laterally, or leaving to work for another company. For these reasons, most companies have policies that require employees to accrue their vacation and sick leave over time rather than offer them an advance of time benefits. Individua l company policies vary widely, but generally, the allotted time for vacation is earned on a pro-rated basis, or, based on the length of employment. For example, an employee might earn one day per month of employment up to a certain amount each year. Some employers (especially in companies where employee turnover is high) may not allow employees to begin to accrue until after six months probationary period of employment. It is important to establish yourself as a dedicated employee right from the start. For this reason, it is usually in your best career interest not to take a lengthy vacation (more than two days off) for at least six months even better- wait until you have completed your first year at your new job before taking vacation time. Planning in Advance If your company requires you to schedule a vacation in advance, even new employees should feel free to do so in order to block out time. It is fine, even for new hires, to ask their employer to schedule their vacation in advance. Just as you may need time to plan for a vacation, your boss also needs and would probably appreciate an advance notice in case they must find someone to fill in for you, or, to avoid having too many staff out at one time. Vacations are great, but your first priority should always be to your new employers schedule during your first year of employment. The sacrifices you make will pay off down the road and may also increase your chances of getting better raises and opportunities for promotion- something that might even enable you to afford a longer, more exotic vacation the next year.

An Exoskeleton Assists the Road to Recovery

An Exoskeleton Assists the Road to Recovery An Exoskeleton Assists the Road to Recovery An Exoskeleton Assists the Road to RecoveryIts easy to take for granted how amazing the human body is. And the complexity of simple motion may be the thing we take most for granted. So what if you were to wake up one day and it was an effort just to make your limbs move? Many daily movements would quickly become impossible tasks. This is partly why so many find that coming back from a stroke can be a very physically and emotionally draining experience.The stroke patient has been through a devastating event and now may have to relearn basic movements from scratch.A new stroke device created at Texas AM University has the goal of helping to shorten the leaning curve, attempting to help victims relearn tasks such as combing their hair and putting on their coat more quickly. These are things many people take for granted but for stroke victims, unterstellung are the milestones on the way to recovery.Sa ys Rana Soltani-Zarrin, a Ph.D. student in the department of mechanical engineering at the schoolI have long been interested in the effects of stroke on society and how it affects other peoples lives. Robotics is another area Ive been passionate about. Robotics can offer a tremendous number of benefits to society and, in my opinion, can make a humans life even more complete.In speaking with therapists, they mentioned ergonomics and wanting to limit the time learning how to use this device as being at the top of their list, she says.Using this feedback, a lightweight, compact exoskeleton that is configured to the upper limbs of the body is developed. The device we have built has nine degrees of freedom, some are actuated, some are passive, and there are five degrees of freedom in the shoulder to address the ergonomic aspects, she says.The patient can grab a gripper and it goes from the hand to the shoulder. It has different points of connection to the body, she says.The team also wan ted to address the functional recovery of patients. We want it like what occupational therapists do during training, trying to make our device as intelligent as we can, she says. Instead of forcing the patient to do something, its being activated by the intention of the patient. In the current format, it is designed to be used in clinics and hospitals by stroke patients but we have the goal that the next generations of the device will be used in their homes.They are also working with virtual reality, developing a training environment that includes engaging patients in games. When youre fully focusing on a game, theres no telling what you can do, she says.For Soltani-Zarrin, she hopes that in time, this device will give comfort to those having to start over, sometimes a seemingly impossible task in many ways. Accepting that a stroke has happened and what can be a long road to recovery can be very scary, she says. You hear about a stroke and, then it happens to you or someone you know . You need hope at a time like that. You can be comforted by a plan. Soltani-Zarrin and Amin Zeiaee are the two PhD students working on this project at the Laboratory for Control, Robotics and Automation under the supervision of Dr. Reza Langari, the lead principal investigator of this research project.Eric Butterman is an independent writer.Instead of forcing the patient to do something, its being activated by the intention of the patient.Rana Soltani-Zarrin, Texas AM