10 Companies With Perks That Save You Money

10 Companies With Perks That Save You Money10 Companies With Perks That Save You Money Sure, perks like in-office video game systems and ping pong tables are fun - but at the end of the day, are they really going to help you put mora money in the bank? Unless you spend a fortune in quarters at the arcade each month, probably bedrngnis. If your goal is to save up, you should probably focus on things like retirement plans, employee discounts, medical coverage and more. The good news? There are a handful of companies that offer benefits like these in spades.The ten companies below offera wide variety of incredibly generous and beneficial perks, and best of all, theyre hiring now. So not only will your resume thank you - your wallet will as well. Check out their open jobs and apply todayWhere Hiring Salt Lake City, UT Clive, IA Gainesville, GA Fairbanks, AK and many moreBenefits Details As a financial services company, its perhaps no surprise that Wells Fargo offers e mployees benefits that can save them some serious cash. In addition to a generous 401(k) program and medical coverage, Wells Fargo offers eligible employees unique perks like a $2,500 adoption reimbursement, scholarships varying from $1,000 to $3,000 for dependent children of employees and tuition reimbursement of up to $5,000 a year.Where Hiring San Mateo, CA Portland, ORBenefits Details The average American spends about $6,759 a year on food - even more if they live in areas with a high cost of living. SurveyMonkey is doing their part to help employees lower that cost by offering two meals per day plus snacks , which employees rank in their top five most meaningful perks. Besides that, SurveyMonkey provides unlimited PTO, a great health plan and a 401(k) match.Where Hiring Plymouth Meeting, PA Okemos, MI Memphis, TN Nashua, NH and many moreBenefits Details Eligible full-time employees receive medical insurance , a matching 401(k), an FSA and more, but even part-time ass ociates benefit from their generous employee discount of 20 percent off at not only Bed Bath & Beyond, but also sister companies like buybuy BABY and Cost Plus World Market. That will save you serious cash on everything from home decor to groceries to baby supplies and moreWhere Hiring Pensacola, FL Merrifield, VA Charleston, SC Kapolei, HI and moreBenefits Details Due to its nearly unheard of 100 percent match up to seven percent on 401(k) contributions, Navy Federal Credit Union is sometimes said to have one of the best retirement programs in the country . If that werent enough, they also offer financial education classes so employees can fully take advantage of their great perks.Where Hiring Menlo Park, CA Papillion, NE aufi Lunas, NM Austin, TX and moreBenefits Details Really, it might be easier to say which benefits Facebook doesnt offer - but well try to highlight some of their most notable ones nonetheless a wellness allowance, four months paid parental leave, a fre e laundromat and barbershop in their Menlo Park HQ, a $4,000 stipend for new parents the list goes on.Where Hiring Fort Worth, TX Washington, DC Los Angeles, CA Chicago, IL and moreBenefits Details Airplane tickets are pricey enough on their own - often costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars - but if youre a frequent jet-setter they become all the more expensive. Luckily, American Airlines employees and their immediate family members fly free. On top of that, they can also get serious discounts on associated travel costs like hotels and car rentals. So if you have a serious case of wanderlust, this might be the perfect employer for you.Where Hiring San Francisco, CA Helena, MT Healdsburg, CA Claymont, DE and moreBenefits Details As one of the OG student loan refinancing tech companies, student loan debt is an issue near and dear to SoFis heart. Because of this, they offer employees a generous $200 per month to help them repay student loan debt, with no yearly cap, and an additional $5,250 to cover tuition assistance on approved programs, among many other perks.Where Hiring New Brunswick, NJ Warsaw, IN Raynham, MA Fargo, ND and many moreBenefits Details Johnson & Johnson is one of the few companies nowadays that boasts a pension - a retirement plan in which a substantial amount of contributions comes from the employer itself. Not your thing? They also offer a 401(k). Besides retirement plans, Johnson & Johnson also provides pet insurance , fertility assistance and onsite child care centers, to name just a few.Where Hiring Santa Monica, CA Charlotte, NC Bentonville, AR Portland, ME and moreBenefits Details Without a subsidy, healthcare premiums average about $321 per month for an individual. But if you work at Activision Blizzard, the company covers 100 percent of the premium for eligible employees, and 80 percent for dependents. In addition, the company provides up to $7,500 in tuition reimbursement, 25 days PTO after one year and 40 da ys of fully-paid maternity leave.Where Hiring South San Francisco, CA Hillsboro, OR Oceanside, CA Washington, DC and moreBenefits Details Biotech company Genentech certainly cares about the physical health of their employees, as evidenced by their onsite fitness center, health center and comprehensive medical coverage - but they also care about employees financial health. Need proof? Just look to their generous allocation of stock , financial counseling sessions and free shuttle service to their South San Francisco HQ.Dont see any companies hiring in your area? Create a job alert to stay on top of the latest job openings wherever you are.

How to fool people and look more confident

How to fool people and look more confidentHow to fool people and look more confidentOne of the first things I learned as an FBI agent was that the public had expectations when I walked through the door. They expected a confident, polished, and competent agent to listen to their concerns. Their first impression was the critical metric by which they judged me.I learned early in my career its not what you do, its how you look doing it.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and morePerception becomes reality. Often, the difference between average people and successful ones is how they project the right image.If youre a loser or a wimp, you dont have to worry about how others perceive you because news like that travels fast, no matter the crowd. If, however, you want to pull away from the pack and get noticed for all the right reasons, you need to look confident even if you dont feel that way.Espec iallyif you dont feel that way.Fur months at the FBI Academy as a new agent taught me to be confident, no matter the situation or time of day. There were many ways the instructors boosted my confidence, and all of them required hard work, self-awareness, andmental toughness.Unfortunately, confidence can be transitory. We have it one minute and the next- poof, its gone We still need to meet with ur boss, defend a decision, or persuade a new client we can deliver on our promises.Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy- Dale CarnegieSo get busy- learn how to fool people and look more confident1. Watch Body LanguageForget those Amy Cuddyposes intended to make you feel like Superman. Fellow psychologists debunked her research and with good reason- she missed the point. Its not that we arechanged instead, we can use body language to influence the way we areperceivedby our aud ience.We convey important information to others through our body language. When we get the gestures right, we send the message were confident and in control.A good stance and posture reflect a proper state of mind- Morihei UeshibaHow To Make It Work For You Torso movements are great power poses because they are governed by our emotional limbic brain system and are indicative of our comfort level. Turn your torso toward a person to signal confidence and trust. Notice when you turn your torso away from a person so youre in a bladed stance. It signals that youd rather be somewhere else and hints of a discomfort level on your part.2. Employ The Snap Judgment AdvantageWe make snap judgments and base important decisions on small amounts of information. One of the easiest ways to fool people and look more confident is to put on the right face.Research by psychologist Alex Todorovsuggests that when our brain sees a new face, it forms an opinion about that person within a tenth of a second. The research confirms that we respond to faces so rapidly that our reasoning mind may not have time to influence our reaction.Most of us assume we take a more sophisticated response when we see a new face and filter our opinion through our thinking brain, but this is not the case. Our snap judgments about attraction, competence and demeanor are among the first we form.We trust our subconscious gut response because first impressions can be very accurate. When were asked to think about why we trust our gut, we become less accurate. So much for thinkingHow To Make It Work For You The easiest and most effective way to fool people and look more confident is to smile. When you smile, you tell others that youre confident and in control. As simple as that sounds, it needs to be the right smile.Dump the botox and live with creases around the eyes- those lines are essential if you want to give a real smile and signal to others you are genuine.You give away power with tight-lipped smiles that dont reveal teeth. They send the message youre hiding something. Its a common way for women to signal rejection.Make eye contact because it lets people know that youve focused your attention on them. When you make solid eye contact, it makes you seem more confident, friendly, and empathetic. It will also help you relax and show others youre on top of it.3. Adjust Your AttitudeConfidence is a state of mind. Its not a feeling you can turn on and off depending upon the circumstances. Confidence is a perception in your mind that you can handle whatever comes your way.Confidence in yourself doesnt mean that life is perfect. You can wish your heart away and still be overweight, in debt, and without a loving partner.No, delusion is not the answer. The solution is not to feel as though you lack nothing the solution is to be grateful for what you have and comfortable with what you lack in life. Because guess what? People who are rich, famous, and attractive can still lack confidence in thems elves.People fool others and look more confident all the time. The charade is all around us but if you want to feel comfortable in your own skin, you will need to be satisfied with 1) what youve achieved right alongside with 2) what youve not achieved in life.We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars- Oscar WildeHow To Make It Work For YouPerfect lives exist only in self-help books and Hallmark movies. The rest of us poor slobs need to make do with reality. Only wimps cry defeat when met with failure, rejection, and hurt. This means we need to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and accept the fact that the road to success is paved with lots of failed experiments along the way.4. Maintain PerspectiveWe can all be hit with a fear of the unknown that leaves us paralyzed. Our imagination takes over and uncertainty rears its ugly head. Often were blindsided by a sudden lack of confidence that erupts and leaves us stalled and hesitant to move forward.When this happen s, bring those fears back down to size. Ask yourself if you will remember this the next day? Next year? Ten years from now?At this point its important to distinguish between lack of confidence and lack of information. If you need to learn more about the situation in front of you before you make a decision, ask for clarity. Take the time to identify which emotion is driving your behavior. Is it fear, anger, frustration, shame?If you maintain perspective on your situation, you can find ways to move ahead in the midst of uncertainty. If you wait until you feel confident before you take action, youll always be a victim of your weakest emotion.Every morning in Africa, a Gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a Lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest Gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesnt matter whether you are a Lion or a Gazelle when the sun comes up, youd better be running- African Proverb.How To Make It Work For You Channel memories of confidence and recall a time when you successfully navigated a difficult problem in the past. Identify what makes you less confident now, in this situation? Use it as an opportunity to teach yourself an important lesson so lack of confidence doesnt show its sorry ass again.5. Be ConsistentYou will never fool people if you show confidence in one situation and then regress to a sad sack attitude about yourself in another one.There are many easy ways you can fake confidence, but since confidence is an attitude you have about yourself, start with the basics. Be consistent in how you present yourself in every situation, not just the one in front of you.We become who we want to be by consistently being that person. If you dont believe in yourself, how do you expect anybody else to?How To Make It Work For You As trivial and trite as it sounds, dress well. Take advantage of those vacuous reality TV shows and watch what they wear. You will never find a more self-absorbed culture in the world and they judge everything by the way a person dresses and presents themselves. Take a tip from them. When you speak, be consistent and make certain that your tone is strong and that you speak with clarity.Ive never had a loud voice, but Ive always had a strong one- LaRae QuyThis article first appeared on Laraequy.com.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

Career Advice from Job Experts

Career Advice from Job Experts Career Advice from Job Experts With that being said, weve launched a new service on Recruiter.com for career advice. Resume writers, bloggers, executive coaches, and outplacement experts will find it a good way to contribute to their field, help job seekers, and get known in the business. However, Im hoping that those people most directly involved with hiring (corporate and agency recruiters) will also give writing a try. Ive always felt that that recruiters have a lot to teach professionals about finding jobs, managing their careers, interviewing, and getting ahead. Real job experts are made in the trenches of reading thousands of resumes, hiring, interviewing, and filling reqs. We want to hear from you and we know job seekers do as well.Well be updating and adding features to the new career advice section in the coming weeks but let us know if you have any suggestions. We get a lot of interest from job seekers and candidates looking for recruiters and advice about getting jobs this is one way you can offer assistance to those professionals while getting your name out there. Recruiter.com is of course a site about recruiting for recruiters but we hope it can also serve as a platform to showcase your expertise to job seekers and professionals as well.You can check out the new career advice section- its brand spanking new, so if you spot anything funky, we would appreciate a note Thanks and hope you enjoy.

How to Network With Your Friends for Professional Reasons - The Muse

How to Network With Your Friends for Professional Reasons - The MuseHow to Network With Your Friends for Professional Reasons Friends are an important part of anyones professional network They generally have connections in different industries than you, and because they know you so well, theyre often able to come up with valuable ways to help you advance your career. But Ive found that it can feel weird to network with your social circle, whether youre asking for an introduction or conducting an informational interview. Blurring personal and professional lines with a close acquaintance puts the relationship in a new context- and that can sometimes feel uncomfortable. To me, it feels like there is more at stake when I involve someone I spend my free time with in my professional life, because I often care about a friends opinion of me more than that of a networking contact. I also dont want them to feel like Im taking advantage of them by asking for favors or introductions. To successf ully network with the people closest to you, start with these four strategies that made it easier for me to reach out to my friends with professional questions.1. Be Direct About Your IntentionsIf you want to connect with a friend to talk about his or her professional network, make sure to be straightforward about your intentions. Theres nothing worse than meeting up with someone for a drink because you thought he wanted to simply hang out- and then realizing what he actually wanted was to talk about all the people you might be able to connect him with. Ive found its best to simply send an email making it abundantly clear what Id like to talk about. If I want to get some insight into a friends industry, for example, I might write, Id love to chat with you about your work experience. This approach can seem formal, but in my experience, situation expectations upfront makes the actual conversation go much more smoothly. 2. Pick and ChooseYou can only ask your friends for so many favors before they may start to think youre taking advantage of the relationship- so make sure to use your favors wisely Before you ask someone to help you out with a professional question, think about how long its been since you asked him or her for a networking favor. If it was recently (i.e., within the past couple weeks), you may want to hold off or ask someone else in your social group for help. If you cant get around reaching out to a particular person a few times in a row (if, for instance, he or she is the only person you know in a particular industry), it can help to acknowledge the frequency of your requests I know Ive been emailing you a lot about my job search lately- its been a really difficult search for me and I really appreciate all of your help. 3. Do the Dirty WorkWhen you network with your friends, its important to make the process as easy for them as possible by taking on some of the harder or more time-consuming parts of the networking tasks. For example, if I ever as k a friend to introduce me to one of her professional contacts, I like to type up a short paragraph about myself that she can copy and paste into her email introduction. I also try to prepare for a networking conversation with a friend the same way I would for an informational interview with a stranger- by coming up with specific, targeted questions- so no one feels like Im wasting his or her time. 4. Dont Cross the LineWhile you may feel more comfortable with your friends than networking contacts, its important to make sure your requests dont cross the line. For example, never ask a friend to stretch the truth for you. This includes asking him or her to deutsche post ag a recommendation on LinkedIn or write a job reference for you if youve never worked together professionally. You should also never ask a friend to do something for you that makes him or her feel uncomfortable. This may seem like a no-brainer (no one wants to make friends feel uncomfortable), but can actually be a li ttle tricky. For example, I wouldnt have an issue with passing along a referral to a VP at my company, but a friend of mine may work at an organization where thats considered unacceptable. To address this issue, I usually give friends an easy out when I ask for a professional favor, so they dont feel trapped by my request I know its a very busy time of year for you right now, so I completely understand if you dont have time to get to this.With the right strategies, you gain valuable professional advice from your friends. However, remember that its not a one-way street- as you network with your friends, you should look for ways to help them, too. After all, thats what being friends is all about.Photo of friends networking courtesy of Shutterstock.

Secret Answers to Resume Strengths Exposed

Secret Answers to Resume Strengths Exposed Top Resume Strengths Choices For the third criterion, in some instances, the difference at the bottom of the neck isnt hollowing between male and female. There are some distinct forms of skill sections and formatting options which you need to consider when crafting your resume. Its subscription fee is just somewhat higher LiveCareer, and youll be able to create attractive and good-looking resumes, in spite of its completely free edition. Twenty-year veteran in restaurant sales prepared to help a developing company make it in the big leagues. It is very important to be aware that if you are job hunting that you look at what theyre asking for as far as qualification so that youre able to be somebody with the skills that the business is on the lookout for. Again, you have to have a notion of your job goal and what you could bring to the organization. The chance to initiate a company is right before your face Highlighting your key stre ngths is the best way to demonstrate an organization youre worth the opportunity to interview. If you dont have the correct computer skills that theyre asking for then your resume wont be appropriate. If youre interviewing for work in social networking, for example, never say that technology or communication is your weakness. Before you jump into writing down all of the amazing talents youve got, lets learn somewhat more about what skills employers typically departure looking for on a resume and see whether you may incorporate any in your skills section. You are able to look back at the work listing to find a feeling of the job requirements. In the majority of cases, the work description for the position youre seeking will be clear in regards to duties. For example, if you try to apply for a Chinese-English interpreting job, you have to be fluent in both languages otherwise you would not really qualify for the position. While you would like to emphasize strengths that are ess ential for the job, you wish to mention weaknesses that arent pertinent to the position.A resume is the very first impression of you to a prospective employer when applying for employment. If youre able to do that, an employer will certainly notice. Employers are continuously changing atmosphere. Place a checkmark near the strengths which correspond most highly to the needs of the job that you want to land. Assessing personal strengths ought to be approached methodically. In company, efficiency is crucial. The certifications and qualifications must be included here. So make certain to list the correct certifications for the job that you want The resume summary is only a bridge to have the hiring manager in your experience. When deciding what to include, you need to start by thinking about the nature of your prospective employers, your degree of experience, in plus-rechnen to the abilities and certifications desired. Working in food service may be a priceless experience. Pay attention when you subscribe, however, because most services offer you many different plans and a few plans limit the characteristics or number of resumes you are able to create. Classes at night in numerous cities offers classes that may help find a great job alternative for you. If you are in possession of a wide selection of technical abilities, however, your abilities might end up being precisely what gets you hired. At work, an ability to work nicely with others is an indicator of succeeding. To have the ability to list your strengths and skills you have to return to your experience and list all the ones you have. So, when you submit an application for the job, mention that youre a team player, a crucial element or the component.

What You Can Do About Best Resume Writing Services in Atlanta Ga Kill Beginning in the Next 7 Minutes

What You Can Do About Best Resume Writing Services in Atlanta Ga Kill Beginning in the Next 7 Minutes The Fight Against Best Resume Writing Services in Atlanta Ga Kill The cost is dependent upon the size and urgency. The vital feature is its extra absolutely free chips and credits added to the starting balance at no cost. The review is going to teach you whatever you want to understand and then you are able to place your purchase confidently. Our reviews contain details such as the score of the clients, our rating, starting prices, Discounts, and grade of the papers. Choosing Best Resume Writing Services in Atlanta Ga Kill Is Simple This writing company makes sure their papers are all the good quality and all the customers are pleased. If you wish to get high excellent research and thesis papers punctually and for a sensible price, you should probably try out using EssaySupply.com. An expert author with experience features expertise to develop interview-winning resume pack ages. An individual approach allows you to increase your properly-written package. 1 day it can be the very same in the US but as of now there is actually no indication of change coming soon. Of course new players have plenty of questions regarding how to find the proper place to gamble safely. However, everything changes and we attempt to stay informed about the times. Youve got to compose several academic papers over the span of a year. Lets say you should purchase essay for college. The aim of the business alone makes this one of the best essay services. If its so, then youll be having some difficult time for a student in addition to being a writer. Since you may see, students are sure to face a number of challenges should they wish to turn into a member of the buy essay club. The Battle Over Best Resume Writing Services in Atlanta Ga Kill and How to Win It For some of them you will require help, while others youll be able to write all on your own. Youre a personal s ervices business. Robins Resumes provides the proper experience to develop work promoting package that fulfills your requirements to uncover employment. Robins Resumes can assist you What all you will need is getting the assistance from a specialist and EssaysChief is going to be the expert that you seek out. A specialist writer with several years of experience provides expertise to come up with interview-winning resume packages. Its surprising how quickly comp points can accumulate It may seem like an excellent choice to guarantee high quality of our work, but it is not always appropriate. We can assist you with these statements. At our essay assistance, essays are always delivered in a brief moment. In addition, we control various forms of academic essay.

Ideas, Formulas and Shortcuts for Free Resume Maker Online

Ideas, Formulas and Shortcuts for Free Resume Maker Online You are able to enter your social networking profile address for an extra point of contact. Also, ensure youve got a professional-sounding email address. Even then youre not able to discover the informative and accurate info. Presenting your information visually will help you distinguish yourself from the crowd. You may begin highlighting the things that you desire on the template window and pick the fonts and colours. So far as features are involved, it is a lot more versatile. As soon as you have modified the standard resume template that you found on the internet, make it simple on your upcoming self and save several versions of your resume. From that point you will select your template styles, colours and fonts. Our resume builder is the quickest approach to create a resume that will allow you to get your fantasy job. Theres no doubt that a resume which is both cohesive and professional will have a much bette r probability of standing from the crowd even supposing its made utilizing a template. Depending on the essence of the job, it might be any variety of words or word combinations that indicate you might have the abilities and experience necessary for the job. You may find several great resume templates, but youll have to decide if theyre likely to help or hurt your likelihood of landing an interview. If an organization demands an entry form filled out in a particular way, be sure to follow their instructions The practice of producing a resume is quite straightforward and straight-forward. Leave comfortable margins on the webpage and ensure that everything is neatly aligned. Which means you have to find out the way to create the ideal page as possible deliver to the organization and provide great first effect about yourself. Lies Youve Been Told About Free Resume Maker Online Resumizer free resume creator allows you to preview your resume at any stage in the creation practice. ConnectCV is another exact efficient online resume building tool at no cost. The tool provides a detailed guide to resume building which provides you total control over it and youre able to manage it in any manner you enjoy. It is quick and easy to use and requires no special skills. Below are the advantages and disadvantages of each file format to help you select the best resume format for each and every circumstance. Please note that theres no ideal resume format. The website provides a gamut of formats to select from. The website provides many distinct formats of resumes to pick from. Where to Find Free Resume Maker Online An enterprise letter is an expert item of correspondence. So long as you use the appropriate info, youre wind up with a professional document that will impress any hiring manager. Be careful of what you write and make sure that you show the way the business may benefit from your request rather than you personally. Often as the business receives lo ads of letters, then they may use computer software to look at the letter. Whether you set a graduation date or not is your choice. Get in touch with us today and begin your successful career with job-winning resume. Therefore, if youre actively on the lookout for employment, its probably worth signing up for the completely free month. You may register for a completely free month. Be very cautious when employing all types of image, unless youre an expert designer. The resume creator will ask you to put in your information into the blanks offering a detailed strategy to writing. The majority of the templates are offered by named, resume writing specialists and thus the quality is extremely good. You may believe that there are already dozens of free resume building services offered in the internet world. The Appeal of Free Resume Maker Online Moreover, resumes are occasionally examined very intensely. Your resume ought to be focused, concise and emphasize achievements and tech niques that fit the job that youre applying for. Your resumes have to be simple to read. They must be concise. A number of formats and designs to pick from, Resume Now-Resume builder is the ideal spot to earn job winning resumes. Written resumes are normally extremely professional, even a little stuffy. Chronological resumes arent the very best fit for fresh graduates since they dont have a lot of knowledge in the very first spot. The Fundamentals of Free Resume Maker Online Revealed If you think your private information is used fraudulently, please contact your regional authorities. When it has to do with your resume, you truly cant be too perfect. Now, take a look at best free online resume builder websites. When youve learned a word, the website stops rewording it, so the website grows with you while you learn The website is absolutely free and child-safe. Unlike a lot of the online resume builder sites that need the user to register, it doesnt require registration.

Learn About Being an Animal Groomer

Learn About Being an Animal GroomerLearn About Being an Animal GroomerJob Description Groomers maintain pets appearances. They usually work with dogs and cats. Groomers work in pet shops, animal shelters, veterinary clinics, and grooming services. Many own their own businesses and some operate mobile grooming services that make house calls. Employment Facts Nonfarm animal caretakers, a job category that includes groomers as well as other workers, held about 191,000 jobs in 2012. Groomers work in shops, kennels, pet stores and veterinary clinics. Those who are employed by or who own mobile grooming services travel to their clients homes. People who work as groomers or in related occupations can be injured by the animals in their care. Frightened animals may bite or scratch their caretakers. Educational Requirements While fruchtwein newcomers to this field get their training from experienced groomers, others attend programs at state-licensed schools. Other Requirements Gro omers can receive certification from the National Dog Groomers Association of America. Those interested in becoming certified can take an exam that has both a written and a practical component. In addition to training and certification, one should have certain soft skills, or personal qualities, to work in this occupation. A groomer must, obviously, like being around animals. He or she must be compassionate since the animals in their care are often anxious. Because a groomers livelihood depends on keeping his or her human customers happy, goodcustomer service skills are necessary. In order to understand pet owners instructions and in turn convey information to them, they must be good listeners and have strong speaking skills. Physical stamina is another requirement, as groomers spend many hours on their feet, as well as kneeling and bending. One must be strong enough to lift pets onto grooming tables. Advancement Opportunities Entry-level groomers usually have one task, for exa mple, bathing or drying pets. As one becomes more experienced he or she will take on all grooming tasks. Job Outlook Those working as animal care and service workers, including groomers, should landsee much faster than average job growth through 2022 due to an increase in the companion pet population. Earnings Nonfarm animal caretakers, including groomers, earned a median annual salary of $20,340 andmedian hourly wages of $9.78 in 2014. A Day in a Groomers Life These are some typical job duties taken from online ads for groomer jobs found on Indeed.com? Bathe and professionally groom multiple dogs with varied temperaments.Clip or hand scissor animals coat to match breed standards/owners wishes.Provide full-service grooming from bath through the cut to drying.Lift animals in and out of the tub.Thoroughly clean stations and disinfect entire grooming area at days close. Occupations With Related Activities and Tasks DescriptionAnnual Salary 2014Education/Training RequirementsFar mworkerFeeds, waters, herds and otherwise cares for live animals$22,930Short-term on-the-job training a hs diploma is generally not requiredAnimal TrainerUses a variety of techniques to teach animals to behave a certain way$25,770HS or equivalency diploma or, for certain jobs, a bachelors degree on-the-job trainingVeterinary AssistantCares for animals in animal hospitals, clinics and laboratories$23,790HS or equivalency diploma on-the-job trainingBarberCut, trims or styles hair$25,410Completion of a program at a state-licensed barber school Source Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Animal Care and Service Workers, on the web at bls.gov/ooh/personal-care-and-service/animal-care-and-service-workers.htm (visited July 29, 2015).Employment and Training Administration, US Department of Labor, O*NET Online, Nonfarm Animal Caretakers, on the Internet at onetonline.org/link/details/39-2021.00 (visited July 29, 2015).

Disrupting the Grid

Disrupting the Grid Disrupting the Grid Disrupting the GridWhen its famous marble quarries closed in the 1980s, Rutland, Vermont, lost hundreds of jobs and its once-thriving economy fell into decline. Foreclosures, unemployment, population loss, herbeioin addiction, and other ills plagued the town of about 16,500 residents.But Rutlanders dreamed of a brighter futureliterally.In this far northeast corner of the country, which is known more for its environmental consciousness than its sun, many Rutland residents developed a keen interest in solar energy. They soon found a strong supporter in Mary Powell, the CEO of Green Mountain Power, the local electrical utility.Powell, a refugee from the world of banking, is an unconventional executive who earned her degree in arts and music, works behind a standing desk, founded a company selling reflective wear for pets, and has a pet pig named Oddball.She has long been obsessed with meeting her customers needs and desires, and since what the cus tomers wanted in Rutland was solar power, Powell was determined to deliver it. Her quest to do so has put Green Mountainand Rutlandon the front lines of a fundamental shift in the countrys electrical grid and power generation system.Under CEO Mary Powell, Green Mountain Power built the biggest solar farm in Vermont.Over the belastung decade solar panels have spread across the landscape, thanks to rapid technological advances, renewable-friendly policies, new regulations to combat climate change, and a booming global market. Solar power now supplies clean electricity to millions of homes, schools and businesses nationwide.But as rooftop solar and other forms of distributed electricity generation spread further, it poses critical new challenges for utilities and grid managers.The electrical grid was designed and built in the last century to manage one-way, high-speed electricity flow from big power plants. But in a few short years it could contend with large volumes of excess electric ity sent back to the grid from homegrown solar power and small wind turbines.Whats more, when the sun ducks behind a cloud or when a stiff breeze dies, solar or wind energy drops off rapidly. As rooftop solar and wind power proliferate, this intermittency could make it harder for utilities to ensure a reliable supply of electricity. Today they do that by quickly firing up, speeding, or slowing a spinning turbine at a central power plant. Controlling countless dispersed solar panels and wind turbines is elend so easy.For these reasonsand to improve the electrical systems performanceefforts are underway to modernize the grid. The federal government, states, utilities, and transmission system operators have all launched major efforts to transform the grid, with distributed solar as a central component. In 2015 the Obama administration called for Congress to invest an unprecedented $3.5 billion over ten years to modernize the grid and prepare it for higher levels of renewable energy, in cluding an influx of distributed solar. New York States ambitious Renewing the Energy Vision (REV) offers incentives for companies to come up with innovative business models that profit from the spread of rooftop solar and other forms of distributed renewable generation.And while some utilities around the country have tried to curtail the growth of rooftop solar because they view the growth of distributed generation as a threat to their business, other utilities have supported it. But few have worked harder at phasing in distributed solar than Green Mountain Power, and it uses the town of Rutland, Vermont, to prove it works.There, the utility launched an ambitious plan to scale up solar generation and pilot the responsive, interconnected grid technologies needed to create a leaner and cleaner electricity system. This meant installing solar panels to provide a massive amount of the communitys power. It also meant building a self-contained solar-powered microgrida section of the grid that can disconnect from the larger grid to keep electricity flowing even when storms cause regional blackouts.Ironically, Rutlands microgrid and distributed solar generation harken back to the past, when massive transmission systems were leid yet possible, and electricity was generated and delivered locally.Its a bit of back to the future, Powell said. Back to the future, new and improved.custompagebreakHere comes the sunPeople have used solar power for centuries, constructing dwellings to take advantage of the suns warmth and using glass to concentrate sunlight to start fires. Early solar cells were developed in the late 1800s, and in 1954 Bell Labs produced the first photovoltaic (PV) panel that could produce electricity from sunlight.After decades of development, solar PV began reaching a mass market in the 1990s as technological advances made solar panels more efficient, and policy changes and market forces spurred the young industry to grow. In 1991, Germany implemented a poli cy that paid rooftop solar panel owners retail rates for the electricity they supplied to the grid. Rooftop solar exploded in that country. Chinese manufacturers stepped up their efforts to meet the new demand, becoming the worlds leading solar panel manufacturer.Today solar PV provides about 7 percent of Germanys electricity consumption, and up to 50 percent on sunny weekend days. And technological advances and economies of scale helped drive prices down worldwide. In the United States, for example, the cost of installing residential solar plummeted from more than $9 a watt in 2007 to $4 in 2014, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. This is inexpensive enough that in about 20 statesespecially states like Hawaii and California with sunny weather and high energy costssolar energy has achieved grid parity, meaning that solar costs no more than other forms of energy. Barring major changes in rate structure or incentives, grid parity is expected to spread nationwide by 2020, acco rding to a February report from GTM Research. This could persuade even more Americans to go solar.Some energy analysts and utilities worry that cheaper solar PV and other distributed generation could trigger a death spiral for utilities, in which customers draw less electricity from the grid, reducing revenues, and forcing utilities to raise rates. This could push more customers into the arms of competing retail energy suppliers, and motivate more people to generate their own energy, reducing utility revenues further.Some utilities are making preemptive strikes to preserve their revenue under their traditional business model, including proposing surcharges on customers who install solar panels. But a few, including Green Mountain, have embraced the changes.The revolution is coming, Powell said. Do you want to resist it, do you want to follow it, do you want to be part of it, or do you want to accelerate it? Were accelerating it.Solar plus storageGreen Mountains first foray into sola r occurred in 2007, when it built a 200-kilowatt solar farm on a brownfield in Berlin, Vermont, a village just outside the state capital, Montpelier. It was the biggest solar farm in Vermont.A few years later, it shattered that record. In partnership with the solar developer groSolar and using state and federal funding, Green Mountain built a massive solar installation called Stafford Hill on a landfill in Rutland. It went online last summer with 7,700 solar panels that can generate 2.5 megawatts of electricity15 times more than the utilitys first solar farm, and enough to power about 3,000 homes, or more than a third of Rutlands total.Stafford Hill was more than a solar farmit was part of the countrys first microgrid powered entirely by solar. A microgrid is a small networked section of the grid that can generate its own electricity from distributed generationsolar panels, wind turbines, combined heat and power, geothermal installations, or biodigestersand can be disconnected from the larger grid to operate autonomously.Microgrids can benefit utilities by feeding excess electricity they generate into the larger grid for the utility to use. And unlike the old-fashioned grid, which typically stores relatively little energy, they can use that excess energy to charge banks of batteries to draw on later.To help Rutlands microgrid function autonomously, for example, Green Mountain stocked it with enough lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries to store up to 3.5 megawatt-hours worth of electricity from Stafford Hills solar panels and release it at night or on cloudy days.Microgrids can also boost a towns disaster resilience. Rutlands microgrid includes a section of town with the local high school, which serves as an emergency shelter in a region thats frequently buffeted by severe storms and suffered massive outages in 2011 during Hurricane Irene.Not your fathers gridWhen too much electricity flows onto a traditional grid from rooftops all over town, solars natural vari ability can trigger voltage fluctuations. These flickers in the electricity delivered to customers can interfere with the functioning of electronics, appliances, and industrial equipment.Whats more, distributed solar causes sharp bursts or drops in electricity when its working normally, but those large fluctuations can cause problems on a traditional grid, causing sections of the grid to be automatically disconnected as a safety measure. If a grid depends on solar generation to meet its overall energy demands, such tripping could cause unnecessary electricity shortfalls.The grid is like a wave pool, explained Benjamin Gaddy, director of technology development at the Clean Energy Trust, a Chicago business accelerator. The question is how do you verify that the new wave of power youre adding to the existing wave doesnt knock that wave out of balance.custompagebreakThe answer is the smart grid.The traditional grid involves wires and analog equipment delivering electricity to objects th at consume it. The smart grid uses Internet of Things technology to add a layer of intelligence. It enables equipment on the gridsmart meters, smart appliances, sensors, batteries, solar panels, smart invertersto continually collect data on electricity flow, supply and demand, and equipment performance to communicate with each other, often wirelessly and to analyze data and coordinate their actions based on their shared virtual intelligence.The term smart basically refers to data, said Mohammad Shahidehpour, director of the Robert W. Galvin Center for Electricity Innovation at the Illinois Institute of Technology. When we say smart, theres no smartness physically in the grid. What makes it smart is that you provide data to the participants to make smart decisions.That may sound simple, but the amount of data is staggering. Theres terabytes of data coming in, some people even say petabytes, said Jacob Pereira, a senior analyst with the firm IHS Technology who focuses on the electrica l grid and smart meters. Its really hard to analyze, hard to collate. It adds an incredible amount of complexity to the grid.Networked nodesMuch of the new data in the electrical system is crunched by countless microprocessors located in pieces of equipment, or nodes, all over the grid. A 5-megawatt feeder circuit on a section of the grid with 50 percent solar penetration could have 500 active nodes providing data, the Department of Energy noted. Nodes include sensors, controllers, capacitors, frequency and voltage regulators attached to the wires smart appliances like dishwashers, thermostats, batteries, electric vehicles, and smart meters in homes and smart inverters attached to solar panels.Sophisticated computer programs in these nodes almost instantaneously process that data. This allows the equipment at these nodes to act autonomously on signals that they get from the utility or from other nodes on the smart grid.The nodes can also send data through wires or wirelessly to the distribution system operator, which is a central nerve center, usually run by a utility, where staff monitors automated functions. This helps the utility keep tabs in real time on system demand, and know exactly how much energy must be fed onto the distribution grid from the high-voltage transmission lines.When overall system demand is high, the system operator can reduce electricity demand by reaching into smart homesa key component of the smart gridand remotely turning appliances off or ratcheting them down. It can also tap batteries to contribute electricity to the grid. And when overall system demand is low, smart-home components soak up electricity by charging batteries or electric vehicles or by heating water, for example.The smart grid offers another key benefit fewer power plants being built, which cuts pollution and saves ratepayers money. The electrical system is tremendously overbuilt and most of that capacity is underutilized, explained Erik Birkerts, CEO of the Clean En ergy Trust, which helps many smart-grid-related startups. Cutting energy use at peak demand times, such as hot summer afternoons, reduces the need to build expensive peaker plantsnatural-gas-fired power plants that are fired up only occasionally to meet peak demand.Although the technology and products that make up the smart grid have been developing at a rapid clip over the past decade, the smart grid as a whole is still very much a work in progress. Utilities around the country are still providing their customers smart meters, a crucial piece of the smart grid. Start-up companies are developing new software to manage the smart grids components or help consumers change their behavior based on smart-meter data. Software developers and grid managers are still working to develop algorithms and programs to wrangle all the data.But cutting-edge smart-grid technologies alone will not be enough to facilitate a big influx of distributed solar and other renewables and forge a clean, smart el ectrical system. That will also require new policies.A sunny outlookAs Green Mountain Power built out the Stafford Hill solar plant and the nearby microgrid, it also took its clean-energy commitment into territory that utilities often avoid It crafted a policy that encouraged customers to generate their own power. Individuals and companies who installed solar panels on their homes or businesses, as well as some farmers who used biodigesters to turn cow manure into electricity, were all paid retail rates for power they generated and sent back to the grid.Green Mountain, like many utilities around the country, has also crafted policies to smarten up the grid, and it has gone farther than most. Its subsidizing the installation of energy storage and smart appliances at customers homes. And this year it became the first utility in the country to offer its customers Tesla Powerwall batteries to lease or buy. Customers receive reduced rates if they allow the utility to draw energy from the battery when the grid needs it. Such batteries have given distributed solar a boost by letting homeowners store up to 6 kWh of solar-generated electricity. Thats enough to power a home through an evening, so it draws less electricity from the grid and cuts the homeowners energy bill.custompagebreakFederal investments in solar energy and microgrids could ultimately make distributed solar cheaper, which might convince other utilities to follow Green Mountains lead. The Department of Energys SunShot program aims to slash the per-watt price of solar installations by 75 percent from about $4 right now down to $1 by 2020, in large part by improving solar PV technology and mass production. For example, a $1.1 million DOE Sunshot grant to the University of Illinois at Chicago and partner institutions will fund development of kadmium telluride PV cells that could be twice as efficient as conventional PV at turning sunlight into electricity.States and cities are investing as well. New York S tate is running a $40 million competition to spur the development of community microgrids, and in 2015 the state awarded $100,000 each to 83 applicants around the state for feasibility studies. Winners of the next round will collectively receive $8 million in awards to develop engineering designs and business plans.And utilities nationwide, including in larger cities, have undertaken solar and microgrid efforts of their own. In Texas, Austin Energy is leveraging $4.3 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to phase in energy storage technology to reserve excess electricity until its needed. Its also developing new software that aggregates rooftop solar power into a virtual power plant that reduces the need to build a real one. In Chicago, ComEd, Chicagos local utility, is planning a microgrid in Bronzeville, a historic, mostly low-income neighborhood on the citys South Side.But not everyone is on board and supporting the phase-in of solar and a smarter grid. Regulators in Wiscons in, Nevada, and other states have let utilities pay those with rooftop solar wholesale rather than retail rates for the electricity they feed into the grid, and charge high monthly fees for grid upkeep. Experts say this could chill solar.But overall the momentum is in the other direction. The Obama Administrations Clean Power Plan, if it survives court challenges, would mandate a 32 percent reduction in U.S. carbon emissions below 2005 levels by 2030. Along with other federal air-pollution rules that mandate expensive pollution controls on power plants, it would drive up the cost of fossil-fuel-fired power and make renewables more competitive.And many major cities, including New York, Chicago, Milwaukee and San Diego are promoting solar, microgrids and other energy innovations as a way to lure employers who value clean, reliable electricity.That is what has happened in Rutland, Vermont. The citys new grid provides clean, reliable energyand it has helped boost the towns economy and a ttract 20 new businesses, Powell and local officials said. These include the solar companies groSolar, Next Sun, and SunCommon an independent book-seller and a regional chain of electronics stores.Rutlands Downtown Merchants Row also hosts Green Mountains Energy Innovation Center, an interactive museum of sorts with displays about energy and regular talks by energy experts. Since becoming a clean energy hub, We were able to do things we otherwise would not be able to do to better the quality of life, to better the jobs market, to really transform the community, Rutland mayor Chris Louras has said.And even though the energy issues of a small Vermont town may differ from those in most cities, the lessons learned in Rutland can translate nationwide, Powell said. Utilities everywhere should appreciate the business case Green Mountain has made for embracing a new energy model, and people anywhere are likely to welcome immediate, concrete impacts on a local level, including reliable clean power, an economic boost, and cutting-edge technology.In fact, it may be those impacts, more than anything else, that drive an energy revolution.Kari Lydersen is a Chicago-based reporter and author who writes about science, energy, and the environment.

Why imperfect is more beautiful than perfect

Why imperfect is more beautiful than perfect Why imperfect is more beautiful than perfect I’m a recovering perfectionist.It’s a battle I’ve waged for years. I’d often catch myself spending a few futile hours moving paragraphs around on the same page for the sixteenth time. I’d become obsessed with every crevice and corner, every comma and semicolon, just to get the article or the book chapter perfect - as Sisyphus rolled his eyes at me.Of course, I knew about the usual vices of perfectionism - that it’s a futile quest to hit a moving target, that it can be crippling, and that it gets in the way of actually doing the work.But I still couldn’t turn it off because I thought that perfect meant beautiful. I told myself that, if I aimed for anything less than perfect, my writing would suck.Now, I think the opposite. Perfect and beautiful aren’t the same thing. Perfect often degrades the work product. It’s the flaws, the imperfections, the roughness around the edges that generate the beauty.Let me explain.Perfectionism is primarily fueled by a desire for exte rnal approval. It’s an indulgence. We’re afraid that if we expose our flaws, we’ll stop getting our daily dose of approvals. So we puff ourselves up and create curated positive portrayals of our imperfect and flawed lives. We round off the edges, airbrush the negatives, and present a perfect image to the public that we carefully nurture and maintain.Here’s an example. YouTube is filled with videos filmed by personal trainers who move seamlessly from one intense exercise to the next without so much as taking a breath. I huff, puff, and disappear into a puddle of sweat while trying to follow what I’m convinced is a robot performing impossible reps and sets.Yes, that’s the word: Robot. Perfection is for robots. Human beings come with flaws.When we cover up these flaws, we also conceal what makes us human. About a year ago, I gave my weekly newsletter a facelift by adding a fancy headshot, photos, and graphics. My open rates - which track how many of my subscribers open my emails - plummeted. The open rates recovered only after I went back to a simple text format that looks more like a rough email from a friend.It turns out that people want the pig without the lipstick.It’s like Rocky and Apollo boxing after hours in the gym when everyone leaves. That’s the real, raw stuff. Everything else is a show.Many Navajo rugs have  mistakes in them - distortions in the patterns, lines, and shapes. Some say that these mistakes are intentionally crafted as a reminder of human imperfection. But others suggest that the mistakes aren’t intentional. What’s intentional is “the desire not to go back and fix them.” These mistakes, woven into the fabric, are left to stand.These rugmakers know what’s obvious: An imperfect, hand-crafted rug with a story is far more beautiful than one manufactured to perfection in a factory.The Japanese call this concept “wabi-sabi.” It’s one of those beautiful foreign words that has no equivalent in English. As Richar d Powell explains, wabi-sabi acknowledges three realities: “nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect.”I’m not talking about the type of fake imperfection that makes blue jeans look weathered or a Crate Barrel chair look antique. Manufactured imperfections are easy to spot. You know them when you see them. It’s the authentic imperfection - like this  video of a personal trainer  who openly exposes her exhaustion during exercise - that makes you want to tell the world about her.On  a podcast, the writer and musician Derek Sivers tells a terrific story on point. He once received a sampler CD of unknown artists. As he listened to the CD in the background, one song stopped him in his tracks.It was a woman singing  Leaving Las Vegas. As she reached a pitch, her voice audibly cracked. Like the Navajo rugmakers, she left in that little fault in the finished CD. “There were 15 other artists in that CD that I’ll never remember,” says Sivers. “But I remembe r that.” Remember he did, as that unknown artist later made waves across the globe as Sheryl Crow.In a world obsessed with perfection, the imperfect stands out. The visible exhaustion in a trainer, the typo in a writer’s article, the crack in a singer’s voice all expose a creator’s humanity for all to see.In that moment, they become relatable.Yes, they’re not perfect. But they’re beautiful.Ozan Varol is a rocket scientist turned law professor and bestselling author.  Click here  to download a free copy of his e-book, The Contrarian Handbook: 8 Principles for Innovating Your Thinking. Along with your free e-book, you’ll get the Weekly Contrarian - a newsletter that challenges conventional wisdom and changes the way we look at the world (plus access to exclusive content for subscribers only).This  article  first appeared on  OzanVarol.com.

The Tone It Up cofounders on why collaboration is key in community building

The Tone It Up cofounders on why collaboration is key in community building The Tone It Up cofounders on why collaboration is key in community building Karena Dawn and Katrina Scott built a female fitness empire from that has also turned into a flourishing community of health-focused women. The Tone It Up community started very similarly to the way that the Karena and Katrina duo was born: through shared aspirations to stay (or get) fit and the desire to have a partner in that journey. The future  cofounders and CEOs met in the gym, of course, when they were both working out on a Friday night. While their own collaboration led to a blossoming community, they quickly realized that they needed to be in touch with that community in order to keep the brand growing.Follow Ladders on Flipboard!Follow Ladders’ magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more!Tone It Up on collaboration in the officeThe co-founders started the company as a two-women team and remain that way in their brand.“Our work is very collaborative,” Dawn wrote to Ladders. “Katrina and I are in constant communica tion to dream up what’s next for our community.”To this day, they both act as CEOs of the company, although they’ve added a few members since 2009.“We have an incredible team at our HQ that helps bring these visions to life, and we work closely with everyone on our team,” Dawn wrote.Tone It Up on collaboration with the communityWhile the cofounders rely heavily on each other and their employees, the largest source of inspiration actually comes from outside the office.“We also look to the Tone It Up community for inspiration, so we ask them what they want and need to succeed and then we deliver it,” Dawn wrote.“We survey to see what they’re looking for, their favorite flavors, and what types of workouts work for them, and we’re always listening to their feedback,” the co-founders wrote. “We’re also constantly learning, researching the latest science and trends, and innovating, so we can provide women with all the insight and tools they need to succeed. Every decision comes down to this: will it help women live their healthiest, happiest, and most confident lives?”Tone It Up’s goal is to provide everything that a woman needs to live a healthy lifestyle: from workout videos to nutrition plans to exercise equipment. Tone It Up even makes updates and adjustments on their apps based on community suggestions.Dawn and Scott’s partnership began as a friendship between people with similar interests, interacting with the community allows them to meet even more women with passions for fitness and health. Tone It Up participates in events like POPSUGAR Play/Ground on June 22 and 23 as a way to meet more members of their community.“The women of the TIU community lift each other up and cheer each other on,” Dawn said. “They are brilliant, beautiful, strong, and inspiring! We are so excited to bring our community to POPSUGAR Play/Ground so we can all connect with even more like-minded women.”

25 Awesome Companies Hiring Like Crazy in December

25 Awesome Companies Hiring Like Crazy in December 25 Awesome Companies Hiring Like Crazy in December December is one of the best months to search for a new job. Sure the temps may be cool, but the job market is hot, hot, hot. With approximately 6 million open jobs on Glassdoor right now from healthcare to construction to tech, there’s a little something for everyone. Companies are working overtime to attract top talent, and will do whatever they can to lock you in before 2018. Whether you’re on a winter vacation or counting down the days until you can put up your out of office message, consider looking for your next big gig. Here are 25 awesome companies hiring like crazy as the clock ticks towards 2018! American Red Cross Where Hiring:  Columbia, Philadelphia, Fort Wayne, Lexington, and more. What Roles:  Clinical Lab Scientist, Medical Lab Technician, Senior Technologist, Medical Technician, Health & Safety Instructor, Nurse Aid Training Instructor, and more. What Employees Say:  â€œThere is nothing quite like knowing your work has the potential to impact countless lives. Having a caring and fair-minded CEO makes a difference in an organization such as this one.”   -   Former Employee Veteran’s Administration (The VA)   Where Hiring:  New Orleans, LA; San Francisco, CA; Charleston, SC; Fort Wayne, IN; Houston, TX; Martinsburg, WV; Tomah, WI; Billings, MT; Rome, NY; Pittsburgh, PA; Muskogee, OK & more. What Roles:  Physician, Physician Assistant, Radiologist, Registered Nurse, Gastroenterologist, Mental Health Physician Assistant, Psychiatrist, Hospitalist & more. What Employees Say:  â€œI came from the private sector where it is all about fattening someone’s pockets while you work work work. I’ll never go back to that. This job is fulfilling because you get to help our nation’s heroes Nothing can compete with this vacation policy, I have more time off than I’ll ever use. If you enjoy helping others and not helping your CEO get his 4th vacation home, you’ll like this place. Oh and the insurance and retirement are outstanding.” - Current Logistics Employee Hubspot Where Hiring:  Cambridge, MA; Boston, MA; New York, NY; Portsmouth, NH & more. What Roles:  Software Engineer of Sales Content, Software Engineer of Reporting Tools, Customer Success Manager, User Success Coach, Implementation Specialist, Global Director of Marketing Operations & more. What Employees Say:  â€œIt allows people to be autonomous and get their work done and still make personal time off decisions.” - Current Employee Honeywell Where Hiring:  Phoenix, AZ; Golden Valley, MN; Minneapolis, MN; San Bruno, CA; Atlanta, GA; Nebraska City, NE; Greer, SC What Roles:  Software Engineer, Scientist, Sales Manager, Field Service Leader, Product Marketing Manager, Fire Alarm Install Specialist, Assembler, Experienced Mechanical Engineer & more. What Employees Say:  â€œVacation is ‘unlimited’ which is to say, ‘take as much as you dare.’ There does not seem to be any problem with arranging vacation time however, I think I would prefer earned vacation days such that the employee ‘owned’ those days.” - Current Senior Optical Engineer Dropbox Where Hiring:  San Francisco, CA; Austin, TX; Seattle, WA; New York, NY & more. What Roles:  Lead Talent Moderator, Data Scientist Manager, Executive Assistant to General Counsel, Sales Operations Project Manager, Product Analyst, Growth Manager, Head of Diversity & more. What Employees Say:  â€œThe unlimited paid vacation policy is amazing! The company trusts employees to be reasonable and responsible, which is really empowering.”   - Current Employee Grant Thornton Where Hiring:  Alexandria, VA; Philadelphia, PA; San Francisco, CA; Washington DC; Boston, MA; Charlotte, NC; Dallas, TX & more. What Roles:  Customer & Growth Strategy Manager, Business Analyst, Financial Manager, Tax Accounting, Risk Advisory Services Associate, Internal Controls Senior Associate & more. What Employees Say:  â€œGrant Thornton has transitioned to FTO. There have been mixed reviews among the employees. Most dislike it and miss their defined days. However, it is a big advantage if your contract permits you to burn at a higher rate and take time off during lulls.” - Current Associate Glassdoor Where Hiring:  Mill Valley, CA; San Francisco, CA; Chicago, IL What Roles:  Lead Data Analyst, Director of Product Design, Financial Analyst, Associate of Business Operations, Director of User Experience Research, Lead Full-Stack Engineer, Senior Software Engineer & more. What Employees Say:  â€œHaving paid time off is just a really nice extra bonus to have so I could go on some type of family vacation or visit my parents every year or so.” - Current Senior Account Manager St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Where Hiring:  Memphis, TN What Roles  Operational Analytics Director, Industrial Hygiene Technician, Medical Technologist, Research Lab Specialist, Data Scientist, and more. What Employees Say: “I love working at St. Jude, It is the best job I have ever had. The employees are some of the most caring people you will ever meet. Great benefits and a great CEO. And they show how much they appreciate their employees. It’s a great feeling to know that you are helping patients and their families.”   - Current Employee Student Loan Hero Where Hiring:  Remote; Austin, TX & New York, NY What Roles:  VP of Marketing, Digital Optimization Analyst, Email Marketing Specialist & more. What Employees Say:  â€œI love that you can take as much time off as you need. Plus, there is a health stipend and other benefits. I would like to see a health insurance plan, but even without it, the benefits are great.” - Current Senior Writer Booz Allen Hamilton Where Hiring:  Dublin, CA; Oklahoma, OK; North Charleston, SC; Chantilly, VA; California, MD; Tampa, FL; Jericho, VT; Saint Louis, MO & more. What Roles:  Compliance Project Manager, Technical Product Manager, Communications Specialist, Database Engineer, Recruiting Specialist, Data Scientist, Performance and Cloud Engineer & more. What Employees Say:  â€œEncourages you to learn new things. The company is investing greatly in data science and wants all their employees to gain those skills. The pay is pretty good and there is a good culture and work-life balance.” - Current Employee TTI Floor Care Where Hiring: Charlotte, NC; Cookeville, TN; Glenwillow, OH & more. What Roles: Assembly Operator, Customer Care Representative, Product Marketing Intern, Human Resource Coordinator, Senior Industrial Designer & more. What Employees Say: “Great atmosphere and work environment. Everyone works as a team. Management and the company cares about their employees. Love it!” - Current Customer Account Representative Alcon Where Hiring: Fort Worth, TX; Lake Forest, CA; Huntington, WV; Johns Creek, GA; Bentonville, AR & more. What Roles: Engineer, Category Manager, Account Manager, Co-Op, Facilities Engineer, HR Business Partner, Operator, Labeling Specialist & more. What Employees Say: “Produce medical devices the contribute to humanity in a positive way. Onsite gym and cafeteria.” - Former Employee IKEA   Where Hiring: Denver, CO; Emeryville, CA; Seattle, WA; American Canyon, CA & more. What Roles: Preparation and Flow Coworker, Merchandising Basics Coworker, Risk and Compliance Coworker, Furniture Quality Assurance Coworker, General Selling Coworker, Customer Service Coworker & more. What Employees Say: “Freedom to move between teams. Want to work on your career growth? No problem, talk to your manager and do an internal interview and boom. “One Team One Stor” - Former Sales Associate Roku   Where Hiring: Los Gatos, CA; New York, NY; Santa Monica, CA; San Jose, CA & more. What Roles: Web Designer, Sales Marketing Manager, Senior Software Engineer, Director of Content Acquisition, Director of Business & Legal Affairs, Web Interaction Designer & more. What Employees Say: “Pool of talented people. You can learn a lot. Visionary CEO knows what’s the best for the company. The Roku TV is next big thing. Customer-centric products.” - Current Employee Uber   Where Hiring: San Francisco, CA; Phoenix, AZ; Pittsburgh, PA; New York, NY; Chicago, IL & more. What Roles: Head of Driver Lifecycle, Senior Marketing Operations Manager, Data Scientist, Product Designer, Lead Lease Analyst, Software Engineer, Director of UberEats Marketing, Senior Salesforce Administrator & more. What Employees Say: “I love being able to work around truly passionate people who are ready to change the world. The culture is great, free snacks and food is big plus. I had the opportunity to take ownership of projects within my first month.” - Current Operations and Logistics Manager TBI   Where Hiring: Chicago, IL; Houston, TX & more. What Roles: Support Specialists, Enterprise Account Manager, Data Analyst, Sales Trainer, Technology Solutions Consultant & more. What Employees Say: “TBI has sustained continuous growth in my time here, and with that growth comes great opportunities to advance in your career. The potential for individual advancement and professional growth is unparalleled. The atmosphere and culture throughout the company makes coming to work a great experience everyday. Management is accessible to entry-level employees and routinely recognizes stand out employees. Simply an excellent place to work.” - Current Employee 3M   Where Hiring: Maplewood, MN; Charlotte, NC; Hutchinson, MN; Springfield, MO; Atlanta, GA; Austin, TX; Columbia, SC & more. What Roles: Corporate Engineering, Project Engineering Intern, Process Electrical Engineer, Warehouse Operator, Safety Engineer, Security Manager, Application Engineering Supervisor & more. What Employees Say: “Great exposure to many different industries. Wonderful co-workers. Excellent focus on product development.” - Current Employee Home Depot   Where Hiring: Seattle, WA; Phoenix, AZ; Atlanta, GA; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Dallas, TX; Austin, TX; Bluefield, WV; Portland, OR & more. What Roles: Outside Sales Representative, Department Supervisor, Installation Assistant Manager, Backup Driver, Delivery Driver, Director of Home Services Sourcing, Manager Graphic Design & more What Employees Say: “Tools for good customer service are available. Associates have some authority to make important decisions on the spot. Individual store culture can be about as good as retail can be, co-operative, consistent good customer service, good mix of formal and informal behavior.” - Current Employee GEICO   Where Hiring: San Rafael, CA; Honolulu, HI; Las Vegas, NV; Dallas, TX; Tucson, AZ; Virginia Beach, VA; Washington, DC & more. What Roles: UX/UI Designer, Actuarial Intern, Management Development Program, Summer Technology Internship, Legal Secretary, Sales Representative, Liability Claims Representative, Senior Modeling Analyst, Senior Data Scientist & more. What Employees Say: “Great training program, mentors are unbelievable. They will work to help you to succeed.” - Former Management Development Program Employee Power Home Remodeling   Where Hiring: Philadelphia, PA; Hunt Valley, MD: Valley Stream, NY & more. What Roles: Entry Level Sales Representatives, Special Events Coordinator, Project Manager, Sales Events Intern, Benefits and Leave Manager, Staff Accountant & more. What Employees Say: “Leadership development at its core. This company is all about developing individuals from entry level on up in a professional and personal manner. I had zero experience prior to getting hired and am now considered a leader in my office.” - Current Remodeling Consultant Pocket Gems   Where Hiring: San Francisco, CA What Roles: Product Manager, Senior Software Engineer, Tools Engineer, Senior Data Engineer, Associate Product Manager, Director of Accounting, Lead 3D Artist, Director of UI/UX & more. What Employees Say: “Nice people! Company skews toward the younger side, but the people are still super nice and very enthusiastic about games. Lots of opportunities and challenges. You will learn a lot and have a ton of responsibilities. Great perks. No strict hours and face time isn’t valued as highly as many places. Very tolerant of different personality types. Tolerant of mistakes as long as you learn from them.” - Former Employee Delta Air Lines   Where Hiring: Atlanta, GA; Fort Myers, FL; San Francisco, CA; Madison, WI & more. What Roles: Senior Developer, Customer Service Agent, Flight Attendant, Cargo Customer Service Agent, Baggage Handler, Operations Support Engineering Intern, Aviation Maintenance Technician & more. What Employees Say:   “I’ve been at Delta for more than 10 years and our culture is alive and well - working at Delta is unlike my previous employers. People are proud to work for Delta, enjoy the airline industry, enjoy the travel benefits, and feel they are contributing to the company’s success. I’d say there’s a great amount of respect for our senior leaders and while the company isn’t perfect, everybody understands it will do what   needs to be done to make things right.” â€"   Current Human Resources Manager Northrop Grumman Where Hiring: Annapolis Junction, MD; San Diego, CA; Chantilly, VA; Suffolk, VA; Oklahoma, OK; Madison, AL; Albuquerque, NM & more. What Roles: Computer Systems Analyst, Entry-Level Financial Analyst, Manager Program Control, Engineer Software Quality 3, Cyber Architect, Electronics Test Technicians, Web Developer & more. What Employees Say: “Work on some of the largest and most advanced defense contracts the DoD has awarded. Very flexible work schedule. 9/80 schedule, i.e. every other Friday off is usually the “norm”. Expect to work some off-Fridays though. Vacation accrual, i.e. rollover hours between calendar years up to generous maximums. One of the most demographically diverse environments I’ve ever worked, especially considering the engineering industry.” - Current Systems Engineer Nvidia   Where Hiring: Santa Clara, CA What Roles: ASIC Design Engineer, University Recruiter, Finance Director, Sales Execution Program Manager, System Level Test Engineer, Metal and OpenGL Software Engineer, Director of Channel Programs and Incentives, Contract Software Recruiter & more. What Employees Say: “Culture of openness to risk and asking questions, collective problem solving, no blame games. Many smart people, people willing to share knowledge and support the common goals. Remote locations well integrated into the company.” - Current Computer Architecture Manager Autodesk   Where Hiring: Denver, CO; San Francisco, CA; Boston, MA; Remote & more. What Roles: Learning & Development Consultant, Executive Assistant, Senior Privacy Engineer, Senior Cloud Software Engineer, Principal Backend Engineer, Group Project Manager & more. What Employees Say: “I’m very blessed to be a part of this organization! The pay is wonderful. There is actual work/life balance at a tech company â€" but you don’t mind putting forth the extra effort/work when you know it’s appreciated. We don’t need a pat on the back everyday, but Autodesk understands the importance of showing they value each associate. Phenomenal place to work.” - Current Customer Success Manager

How to Handle the Co-worker Who Just Doesnt Get It

How to Handle the Co-worker Who Just Doesnt Get It How to Handle the Co-worker Who Just Doesnt Get It We’ve all had to work with that person: The clueless colleague who keeps putting her foot in her mouth because she can’t read the tension in the conference room. Or that strange boss who latches onto an idea as “the next best thing” when everyone else agrees it’s a walking disaster. If your day at work regularly plays out like a scene from The Office, you’re not alone. A whopping 94% of managers surveyed by the authors of Toxic Workplace! Managing Toxic Personalities and Their Systems of Power said that they worked with a “toxic” person. And the behaviors that drove them crazy weren’t necessarily as obvious as bullying or harassment; acts like passive hostility or team sabotage were among the causes for stress. It’s possible that the executive who constantly gives you backhanded compliments isn’t just being Ms. Insensitivity. She may lack emotional intelligence, or EQ, defined as the ability to read the social signals around you and react appropriately. Those with a high EQ have greater self awareness, better control over their emotions, and the ability to motivate themselves, as well as show greater empathy toward others, which is useful in areas like conflict resolution and team building. Remember, however, that a high EQ doesn’t necessarily mean you are virtuous (as Fast Company’s Drake Baer points out, both Martin Luther King, Jr. and Adolf Hitler had high EQs)- it’s more about whether you can read your environment and react accordingly. Still, those with high EQs are more likely to be successful in their jobs. And those with low EQs can make others feel like they are talking to a brick wall. So how can you get across to your emotionally unintelligent bosses and co-workers who can’t seem to get a clue? Follow these tips to improve communications. Don’t Condemn Them Most people want to vilify low-EQ co-workers, but don’t fault them for skills they don’t have. “Emotions are information,” organizational psychologist Sigal Barsade tells Fast Company. “In essence, people who are low in [emotional intelligence] are lacking the ability to take in, understand, or process a really critical part of the way that we communicate in the world. If they can’t read your emotions, they won’t be getting all the info you’re naturally sending them.” Be as Clear as Possible This means saying what you mean, without the frills. In other words, don’t use sarcasm; the co-workers you’re trying to reach aren’t going to pick up on that. And always tell the whole story; Barsade explains that emotionally unintelligent people need to know what data or information they are missing. Give Constructive Criticism As awkward as it may be, people with low EQs need feedback, and even in real-time, if possible. And you should always give it with a calm demeanor, because they are more likely to mirror that behavior back. If you need to schedule a time with your manager for a more sensitive conversation, read author and consultant Judith Glaser’s seven tips for how to prepare for the talk on Fast Company. Now about that co-worker who won’t stop clipping his nails in the office… More from LearnVest 10 Secrets You Need to Know About Your Boss 6 Signs You May Be an Insensitive Boss 8 Get-Ahead Questions to Ask Your Boss This article is from our friends at LearnVest, a leading site for personal finance.

Leonardo Da Vinci

Leonardo Da Vinci Leonardo Da Vinci Leonardo Da Vinci Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519) is best known as the artist who created the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, but he was also a self-taught engineer. This open-minded, inquisitive, boundless, practical dreamer was driven to learn and had a restless mind. Da Vinci lived in Italy for 67 years during the mid-1400s. In a time far before electricity, when water was used as power, and 100 years before Galileo had worked out measuring time, Da Vinci was an engineer and proficient inventor of both working and theoretical inventions. His artistic talents enabled him to record his mechanical ideas with enough clarity that blueprints for working models could be created, allowing humankind to continue celebrating his achievements in modern days. Da Vinci wanted to create new machines for a new world. He wanted to create better conditions for people as well as animals. He applied his drawing and perspective skills to a career that earned him higher pay than an artist, working as an engineer for many years. There was a need for engineers in Milan in the 1480s to design military fortifications because the region was at war, so Da Vinci wrote a proposal to Duke Sforza which could now safely be deemed the worlds best cover letter, detailing his capabilities and applying for an engineering position. In case of a siege, I know how to dry up the water of the moats and how to construct an infinite number of bridges, covered ways, scaling ladders, and other machines for this type of enterprise, he wrote some 600 years ago. Engineering sketch by Leonardo Da Vinci. He got the job. At age 30, he first explored his engineering talents and went on to work as a military engineer for 17 years in Milan. He studied and designed war instruments such as tanks, catapults, submarines, machine guns, and other weapons. He also focused on mechanics of levers, gears, cranes, hydraulics, ball bearings, bicycles, and flying machines. He displayed civil engineering talents as well, with geometry studies and architectural designs of domed churches, fortresses, and canals. Among many other designs, in 1495, he detailed plans for a three-wheeled, wind-up, self-moving auto-mobile that has also been considered the first robot. Da Vinci was the first systems engineer, creating a new attitude about understanding how machines worked. According to curators at the Boston Museum of Science, He reasoned that by understanding how each separate machine part worked, he could modify them and combine them in different ways to improve existing machines or create inventions no one had ever seen before. He wrote the first systematic explanations of how machines work and how the elements of machines can be combined. He wrote daily in his notebooks in Italian, using mercantile script mirror writing, from right to left, not intended for others. He didnt write linearly, in complete thoughts, or with logical progressions, but observationally. His journals contain drawings and words that describe concepts, ideas, functions, connections. He wrote thousands of pages comprising 30 scientific journals. The most important is now called the Codex Leicester, his only known continuous and completed writing covering the nature of water, its movement, laws of currents, and how they relate to air, motion, and the stars. The Codex Leicester is also the last publicly owned Da Vinci notebook, currently held by Bill Gates, who purchased it for $30 million. It has been digitized for the world to see, and the actual notebook is exhibited in the Seattle Art Museum with computer programs that display the reverse mirror writing and explain how the text on the pages connect. All other notebooks are owned and on display by libraries or museums throughout the world. The smallest of all the notebooks, with three sheets of notes on geometry, weights, mechanics, and hydraulic machines, is Codex Forester, which dates from 1490-1493 and is now on display in London at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Two books from 1491-1505 contain almost 200 pages about mechanics and a manual for a foundry system for creating an immense horse. Most of his designs were never published, financed, or built. Some of his futuristic ideas couldnt have been built at the time and took hundreds of years to be re-invented. Even though he did not greatly affect the technology at the time, his theoretical treatments and complete documentation were significant, greatly impacting the future. Da Vinci remains the quintessential example of the utmost in human capability. Debbie Sniderman is CEO of VI Ventures LLC, a technical consulting company. He wrote daily in his notebooks in Italian, using “mercantile script” mirror writing, from right to left, not intended for others.

How to Turbocharge Your Hiring Process

How to Turbocharge Your Hiring Process How to Turbocharge Your Hiring Process Current market dynamics aren’t favorable to employers. The fact remains that skilled candidates are in high demand and short supply. But there’s also a chance you may be partly contributing to the recruiting challenges your firm is facing. Answering these three questions can help you determine if that’s the case. 1. Am I looking for a job candidate who doesn’t exist?   Don’t set the bar to unreasonable heights when laying out your candidate requirements. This is a key reason I see the hiring process drag on. Many employers ask for everything but the kitchen sink in the job posting - years of relevant experience, multiple professional certifications, knowledge of the industry, familiarity with several specialized software platforms, and maybe a degree from an Ivy League school to boot. Few, if any, candidates are likely to meet these prerequisites. Ask yourself this: “Have I ever encountered a professional who has all the skills, experience and credentials I’m looking for?” If not, you’ll want to be more flexible with your hiring criteria. Decide on four or five must-have skills or attributes that a professional needs in order to perform the job well. Use these qualities as the basis for your candidate evaluations. If you come across an applicant who fits that bill, and also has the right personality and interpersonal abilities to thrive at your firm, you’ll want to consider extending a job offer. HIRING? WE CAN HELP! 2. Am I making hiring a top priority? Just thinking about the fact that you need to hire more people isn’t enough to actually staff your open positions. Of course you’re busy. Reviewing resumes and interviewing potential hires may seem impossible to squeeze into your already overpacked schedule. But you must make the time. There are no two ways around it. Hiring will simply not happen otherwise. Delegating the task to HR isn’t the answer. As a business leader, you need to be actively involved in the hiring process because no one knows the position and requirements better than you do. An HR representative doesn’t understand the day-to-day workings of the role. Only you can read between the lines of the resume and accurately size up a candidate during the interview.   I suggest you reserve time on your calendar specifically for hiring activities - asking your network (and staff) for leads, creating a solid job description, meeting with specialized recruiters, reviewing resumes, interviewing, checking references, and more. I assure you, it will be time well spent. You will see your hiring process speed up as a result.   3. Am I leaning too hard on my staff? You have great people on your team. Have you thought about what you would do without them - especially now, when you’re understaffed, and workloads aren’t easing up? With that in mind, think about this: Is there a chance your team is doing such a good job at juggling right now that you don’t feel the pressure to accelerate your hiring process?   If you don’t provide them with some relief soon - by stepping up hiring and, perhaps, engaging temporary and project professionals to ease the burden while you search - you may not need to imagine what the office will be like without them. They’ll be gone. The time to turbocharge your hiring process is now Unemployment is low and has been for a while. I’m not an economist, but if the past is any indication, you can be sure of one thing: Skilled talent will always be in demand. So it’s time to take hiring off the back burner and turn up the gas. If you invest the time and effort in the hiring process and hire right, you’ll reap benefits for your firm immediately and over the long run. Learn why Robert Half is the right choice for you. Paul McDonald Paul McDonald is senior executive director at Robert Half. He writes and speaks frequently on hiring, workplace and career management topics. Over the course of more than 30 years in the recruiting field, McDonald has advised thousands of company leaders and job seekers on how to hire and get hired. McDonald joined Robert Half in 1984 as a recruiter for financial and accounting professionals in Boston, following a public accounting career with Price Waterhouse. In the 1990s, he became president of the Western United States overseeing all of the company’s operations in the region. McDonald become senior executive director of Robert Half Management Resources in 2000, and assumed his current role in 2012. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting from St. Bonaventure University in New York.

In The Arena

In The Arena In The Arena Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! It’s the 4th of July and while the whole nation is sleeping, why don’t we get cracking on a week full of great jobs?Check out the almost 5,000 new jobs in this week’s issue and then come back to read the words of this great American:“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.”That was Teddy Roosevelt, folks, speaking at the Sorbonne in 1910. But he could have ju st as easily been speaking to you.Readers, the critics, those professional naysayers and doom-and-gloomers, will tell you: “No. It can’t be done. Don’t try. Give up. Why do you have to stand out? Give up.”But don’t mistake their words for truth, my friends. Don’t buy into their message of settle-settle and underachievement.Because you’ve been blessed with talent, because you’ve had the fortunate happenstance to be born in this great country (or emigrate, or visit!), because you’re one of the leading professionals in this land, you have a higher calling this Fourth of July, Readers.You need to use the great powers you’ve been given, you need to find the forum where your talents will shine, you need to be in that place where your spirits soar and the work seems like… victory to you.So enjoy this 4th, and then find your new arena. I’ll be there with you all the way.A LISTING IS NOT A LISTING IN YOUR $100K+ JOB HUNTA job listing is a job listing, right?Nope.A job listing is only as good as the attention paid to it.And a recruiter pays better attention to the candidates from the best sources.Let me explain.Say you’re a recruiter looking to find more VP candidates. Where would you most expect to find her?:a) Business School Alumni Club b) A Yankees-Red Sox game c) Roller-blading on the beachWell, b) and c) would be a heck of a lot of fun, but a) is the answer you’d get from recruiters.Why? A higher percentage of attendees are going to be VP-level.Similarly, where would you go to find VP-level job-seekers?a) Ladders.com b) Monster c) CraigslistA recruiter really wants to spend his time interviewing great candidates and placing them in jobs, not scrounging around the internet. That’s why they come to Ladders.com.And that, dear Readers, is where your $25 / month goes.We’re at the trade shows… for you.We’re burning up the phone lines coast to coast… for you.We’re marketing and selling and shouting to the roof of the world the praises of our fantastic 430,000 subscribers… for you.Your five dozen $100K+-job-loving fanatics here at Ladders.com are doing it day-in and day-out, with almost 5,000 new jobs this week, and we do it all… for you!

Heres How to Be a Product Superhero, From a Top Executive - The Muse

Heres How to Be a Product Superhero, From a Top Executive - The Muse Heres How to Be a Product Superhero, From a Top Executive Product management is all about innovation: driving the creation of new products that make people's lives better. But what does it take to be a successful product manager, and how does a top product executive get to where they are? To learn more, we talked with Stefano Sassu, SVP of Product at The Muse. Sassu is responsible for the development of all products within The Muse portfolio. Here, he talks about problem solving, what excites him most about his work, and the qualities he looks for when he's hiring someone for his team. Get inspired by his story and then check out open jobs at The Muse. Our Office See Their Open Jobs At The Muse First, tell us something not everyone in the office knows about you. I love to travel, read, and cook. But what I love even more is to eat! One day I want to live the simple life on an island. But, there has to be coffee. I love coffee and cannot live without it. Tell us about your background. I am a product executive with 20 years of experience leading profitable growth in the direct to consumer and business to business sectors. I help accelerate startups’ growth, and build and expand new businesses. I’ve held senior positions in general management, product development, and strategy. I’ve been successful in these roles because I’m passionate about consumer satisfaction, and I’m driven and willing to make strategic decisions and execute on those quickly. Here at The Muse, I’m responsible for product strategy, design, and development of all products within The Muse portfolio. My primary objective is to identify growth opportunities, drive innovation, and increase profit level. What drew you to The Muse? How did you know it was going to be a good fit? Millions of job-seekers are overwhelmed and frustrated with the job search process, and I’ve been there at different points in my career. I was frustrated by the lack of communication from employers, difficulty getting in touch with people making hiring decisions, and especially finding the right fit. Joining The Muse was a great opportunity for me to help solve this problem for all the job-seekers out there. What are you working on right now that excites or inspires you? We have plenty of new products and features in the making that really excite me. The one I am the most passionate about is a project geared toward improving the candidate experience and enabling job seekers to easily assess whether a company would be a good fit for them. To make it happen I’m working very closely with both employers and job-seekers to understand what the pain points are in the process and identify great opportunities to make the job search and hiring experience much more streamlined and exciting for both parties. How do you tackle problems or potential hurdles when they arise? I am very passionate about solving problems that people face on a daily basis. I typically tackle a problem by engaging directly with our users and clients. I look at the entire user experience, identify challenges, and break problems down into smaller pieces. Through qualitative and quantitative data, I then try to figure out how our products and features can make people’s lives easier. I come up with a hypothesis and test it with real users before launching any new product into the market. It’s always fascinating to see how people interact with your products. What qualities do you look for when deciding to bring a new person onto your team? There are a few. This is a quick summary of the questions I ask myself and the applicant to assess if they are a product superhero or not: Values: How do they make decisions in their everyday life? Do they care about others? Attitude: Are they open to learning from those around them and willing to explore new paths, views, and opportunities? Drive: Are they able to think big and dream a product up to a ridiculous scale, then multiply it by 100, and work backwards to determine how to make it happen? Analytical: Are they interested in digging into the numbers while understanding how people are interacting with the product they are managing? Ambition: When they don’t have an answer for something, do they seek different ways to get that answer? Communication: Most importantly, do they listen to their customers? What is your ultimate career goal? How will you get there? My goal is to continue to bring great products and services to consumers, and to share future successes with great teams. I am excited about the future and, as a product executive, I will continue to try my best to bring innovative ideas to life that will change people’s lives and behaviors. Stay tuned! Find a great gig of your own with these open roles at The Muse