How to Explain Gaps in Your Resume

How to Explain Gaps in Your ResumeHow to Explain Gaps in Your Resume32A reader wrote Dear Alex, I have two year-long gaps on my resume that reflect unemployment time. One of those gaps was voluntary- I took a year off when I had a baby. The other one, though, was involuntary. My company eliminated my position and I was laid off. I have been out of school for 12 years. How should I address these? Here are some tips for how to explain gaps in your resume.How to Explain Gaps in Your ResumeOn the resume itself, dont address them at all. Deflect from the actual chronology of your employment history by using a functional resume format (i.e., listing your experience by skill area and putting your positions and their dates last).Also, some gaps are not difficult to hide if you remember that its completely acceptable to list the years for a position rather than the months. For instance, suppose you worked at X Company from March 2012 to November 2012. You had your baby in December 2012 and di d not resume working (at new Y Company) until December 2013. Your resume would look like thisX Company 2012Y Company 2013-14Formatting your resume this way means prospective employers will likely miss the gap entirely. If they do ask about your chronological history in the interview, its best to explain gaps in your resume honestly.How to Explain Maternity LeaveIn the case of the baby, simply state that you left your job because you wanted more maternity leave than the company was willing to provide.How to Explain a LayoffAs for the termination, carefully explain the circumstances associated with the layoff. Showcase your sternfrmig results at your former organization, and if possible, offer a reference who can attest to those achievements.Demonstrate Continuous LearningA year-long gap is not a particularly large one, but it still cant hurt to demonstrate that you were doing something work-related and keeping your skills fresh while you werent fully employed. For example, perhaps du ring your maternity leave you took an online IT course, or while you were searching for a job after your layoff, you held a leadership role in an active volunteer organization.Remember that tone also goes a long way in an interview. If you appear upbeat about your career trajectory andexplain gaps in your resume in a positive way,prospective employers will be much more confident in your ability to excel in the duties of the new position.Find Freelance Jobs

Sample Resume for Consulting Engineer Job Position

Sample Resume for Consulting Engineer Job PositionSample Resume for Consulting Engineer Job PositionA consulting engineer needs to have a diverse background, with a lot of in with Objective, Technical Skills, Duties, Education and Certification to write your own Consulting Engineer Resume.Jason White3972 Tea Berry LaneStevens Point, WI 54481(333)-860-7549j.whitesampleresume.netJob Objective To be able to work as Consulting Engineer in one of the top and formidable consulting agencies in the world where my extensive working experience in failure analysis procedures and finite element analysis will be greatly developed and utilized in providing sound and wise engineering advice and solutions. Skills Wide knowledge in failure analysis procedures Excellent analytical skills and communication skills Substantial knowledge in MS Office and Abaqus programming skills Excellent mathematical skills including finite element analysis Strong ability to think creatively Ability to supervise, organi ze and leadProfessional ExperienceSr. Consulting Engineer, January 2009 PresentRussell Inc, Inger, MNResponsibilities Cooperated in planning for future business projects. Trained personnel in developing strategic methods of the business. Determined opportunities for structural integrity. Conducted client-visits to promote products. Identified the steps to be prioritized in conducting failure analysis.Jr. Consulting Engineer, March 2006 December 2008NRM, Inger, MNResponsibilities Modified existing methodologies to cater to the needs of the changing environment and requirements. Evaluated projects to ensure product quality. Supervised prompt delivery of projects. Participated in the proposal of technical structural projects to universities. Determined sources of problems and proposed solutions.EducationM.S. in Civil Engineering, 2006Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OHB.S. in Civil Engineering, 2002Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OHCertifications and Affiliatio ns Certificate in CNC Application National Council for Consulting Engineers, co-chair Customize ResumeMore Sample Engineer ResumesComputer imagination Software Engineer Resume Construction Project Engineer Resume Consulting Engineer Resume Consulting Systems Engineer Resume

Researchers 3D Print on Skin for Breakthrough Applications

Researchers 3D Print on Skin for Breakthrough Applications Researchers 3D Print on Skin for Breakthrough Applications Researchers 3D Print on Skin for Breakthrough ApplicationsSoldiers are commonly thrust into situations where the danger is the unknown Where is the enemy, how many are there, what weaponry is being used? The military already uses a mix of technology to help answer those questions quickly, and another may be on its way. Researchers at the University of Minnesota have developed a low-cost 3D printer that prints sensors and electronics directly on skin. The development could allow soldiers to directly print temporary, disposable sensors on their hands to detect such things as chemical or biological agents in the field.The technology also could be used in medicine. The Minnesota researchers successfully used bioink with the device to print cells directly on the wounds of a mouse. Researchers believe it could eventually provide new methods of faster and more efficient trea tment, or direct printing of grafts for skin wounds or conditions. Researchers conduct a sensor test. Image McAlpine Research GroupThe concept was to go beyond smart materials, to integrate them directly on to skin, says Michael McAlpine, professor of mechanical engineering whose research group focuses on 3D printing functional materials and devices. It is a biological merger with electronics. We wanted to push the limits of what a 3D printer can do.McAlpine calls it a very simple idea, One of those ideas so simple, it turns out no one has done it.Others have used 3D printers to print electronics and biological cells. But printing on skin presented a few challenges. No matter how hard a rolle tries to remain mucksmuschenstill, there always will be some movement during the printing process. If you put a hand under the printer, it is going to move, he says.To adjust for that, the printer the Minnesota team developed uses a machine vision algorithm written by Ph.D. stude nt Zhijie Zhu to track the motion of the hand in real time while printing. Temporary markers are placed on the skin, which then is scanned. The printer tracks the hand using the markers and adjusts in real time to any movement. That allows the printed electronics to maintain a circuit shape. The printed device can be peeled off the skin when it is no longer needed.The team also needed to develop a special ink that could not only be conductive but print and cure at room temperature. Standard 3D printing inks cure at high temperatures of 212 F and would burn skin.In a paper recently published in Advanced Materals, the team identified three criteria for conductive inks The viscosity of the ink should be tunable while maintaining self-supporting structures the ink solvent should evaporate quickly so the device becomes functional on the saatkorn timescale as the printing process and the printed electrodes should become highly conductive under ambient conditions.The solution was an ink us ing silver flakes to provide conductivity rather than particles more commonly used in other applications. Fibers were found to be too large, and cure at high temperatures. The flakes are aligned by their shear forces during printing, and the addition of ethanol to the mix increases speed of evaporation, allowing the ink to cure quickly at room temperature.Printing electronics directly on skin would have been a breakthrough in itself, but when you add all of these other components, this is big, McAlpine says.For you 3D Printing Better Root Canals The advantage of our approach is that you dont have to start with electronic wafers made in a clean room. This is a completely new paradigm for printing electronics using 3D printing.Prof. Michael McAlpine, University of MinnesotaThe printer is portable, lightweight and cost less than $400. It consists of a delta robot, monitor cameras for long-distance observation of printing states and tracking cameras mounted for precise localization of t he surface. The team added a syringe-type nozzle to squeeze and deliver the inkFurthering the printers versatility, McAlpines team worked with staff from the universitys medical school and hospital to print skin cells directly on a skin wound of a mouse. The mouse was anesthetized, but still moved slightly during the procedure, he says. The initial success makes the team optimistic that it could open up a new method of treating skin diseases.Think about what the applications could be, McAlpine says. A soldier in the field could take the printer out of a pack and print a solar panel. On the cellular side, you could bring a printer to the site of an accident and print cells directly on wounds, speeding the treatment. Eventually, you may be able to print biomedical devices within the body.In its paper, the team suggests that devices can be autonomously fabricated without the need for microfabrication facilities in freeform geometries that are actively adaptive to target surfaces in rea l time, driven by advances in multifunctional 3D printing technologies.Besides the ability to print directly on skin, McAlpine says the work may offer advantages over other skin electronic devices. For example, soft, thin, stretchable patches that stick to the skin have been fitted with off-the-shelf chip-based electronics for monitoring a patients health. They stick to skin like a temporary tattoo and send updates wirelessly to a computer.The advantage of our approach is that you dont have to start with electronic wafers made in a clean room, McAlpine says. This is a completely new paradigm for printing electronics using 3D printing.Read more3D Painting Structures in Space3D Printing Technologies Rise to New LevelsNew 3D Printer Extruder Takes Manufacturing to the Next Level For Further Discussion

How to Follow Up on the Status of a Job Application

How to Follow Up on the Status of a Job ApplicationHow to Follow Up on the Status of a Job ApplicationAfter you have submitted an application for a job, you will understandably be eager to find out where you stand. However, its important to realize that thehiring processcan take some time and you may leid hear back right away. Unfortunately, its also possible that you may never get a response, not even a boilerplate note to let you know that you arent hired (or wont be called in for an interview). Often, companies receive hundreds (or even thousands) of applications, and simply do not have the time to follow-up. Others may not have a system in place for handling rejections. Here is some advice on when and how to follow up on the status of a job application. Before You FollowUp There are a few thingsto do before you follow up.First, check the job listing, as well as any emails or other contacts youve had with the hiring manager or employer. See if any of that correspondence includ es information on when you can expect to hear back from the company. If they give you a date, be sure to wait until after that date to follow up. Even before submitting the job application, you can plan a time to follow up on your cover letter. For example, you might include at the end of thecover letterthat you will call the companys office in a week to follow up. However, if the job listing specifically says that applicants should not call or email, then do not include this in your cover letter, and do not follow up. How to Long to Wait to Follow Up It is usually best to wait a week or two before making an inquiry. Its important to give the employer enough time to review job applications and to get ready to schedule interviews. If you follow up any sooner, you might come across as pushy or impatient to the employer. Follow Up Email or LinkedIn If you have an email address for a contact, then you might send anemail to follow up messagereaffirming your strong interest in thejob and mentioning that you would welcome the opportunity to meet for an interview. Review an example of a follow-up letter you can tailor to fit your circumstances. ALinkedIn messageis another option for following up, especially if you do not have an email address for the employer or hiring manager, but you have their name. If you know someone employed at the company, reach out to let him or her know you applied for a role - potentially, your connection can reach out to the hiring manager and nudge your application along. Phone CallFollow Up If you have a phone number for the hiring manager, you can call. Mention a few key reasons why you are so interested and point out why the job is agreat fit. Learn what to say when you call. In-Person Follow Up It is also acceptable to stop by an employer in partiewhen you have previously dropped off an application in person. You can mention that you are following up on your application and wondering if they might consider granting you an intervie w. You should be ready to briefly mention the basis for your interest and why you would be qualified. Make sure that you give offpositive energy, are dressed appropriately, and engage any employees or employers in a thermisch and friendly manner. Never, ever reach out to a company in person if your application was submitted through an online portal, email, or sent in through snail mail. Tips for Following Up Always be polite and professional in your actions. Whether you are communicating via email, on the phone, or in person, make sure you speak (or write) clearly and professionally. If you are writing, be sure to thoroughly edit your message. If you are speaking to someone, be warm and friendly. Again, these messages and conversations are still your attempt to make a strong first impression. Restate your interest in the position but do so briefly. Quickly and concisely restate why you think you would be a good fit for the job. This will help your application stand out even mor a. If the company is not ready to make decisions or interview people, ask when they plan to begininterview processor when they plan to make hiring decisions, so you will know when to follow up again. Keep your message, phone conversation, or in-person visit brief. You want to make a strong impression, but you also do not want to overstay your welcome. Whento Give Up Following up on an application in the right way can draw attention to your candidacy and make it more likely that you wont be overlooked. However, it is important not to pester an employer since you might alienate staff. In general, dont contact an employer more than three times, and leave a couple of weeks in between messages, unless the employer has suggested otherwise. If you do not hear back after several follow up attempts, move on, and turn your focus to other job applications. 119 Watch Now Some Tricks for Staying Positive During the Job Search

4 things to keep in mind if the company youre leaving tries to get you to stay

4 things to keep in mind if the company youre leaving tries to get you to stay4 things to keep in mind if the company youre leaving tries to get you to staySo youve finally decided to jump ship at workafter getting an attractive job offer, but your employer springs an offer on you to sweeten the deal and keep you from leaving. Welcome to the world of counteroffers.Heres what to keep in mind when the company tries to win your heart upon your exit.Take a deep breath before you respond to your managerMetaphorically, of course.Before making any rash decisions - like freaking out, or dramatically shoving the offer back in your supervisors face - get ready to respond rationally.Look at both options - think about what you want, and what could happen if you staySimilar to when youre deciding between two job offers at places youve never worked, you have a big decision to make.Heather R. Huhman, author and founder of digital PR consultancy Come Recommended, writes about counteroffers in a L inkedIn post.She includes many points on the negative aspects of accepting one, thinking about what you truly want, and illustrates how you could be treated if you say yes to a counteroffer.If you do decide to stay, dont be naive. Youre going to have to remain constantly alert, and youll have to prove your loyalty and value that much more to be considered for future opportunities, Huhman writes. It will be an uphill battle, but getting back in your bosss and coworkers good graces is possible itll just take patience and time.Remember that the urgency could wear off quicklyAlison Green, author of the Ask a Manager blog, writes in U.S. News World Report about why you shouldnt accept a counteroffer, includingwhy using a potential employers job offer to get your current company to counter and pay you more money is a bad idea.One of her points is that employers may rush to give an employee one, which can have consequences once the dust settles.Employers often make counteroffers in a momen t of panic. (We cant have Joe leave right now We have that big conference next month.) But after the initial relief passes, you may find your relationship with your employer - and your standing with the company - has fundamentally changed. Youre now the one who was looking to leave. Youre no longer part of the inner circle, and you might be at the top of the list if your company needs to make cutbacks in the future, Green writes.Green later writes that accepting a counteroffer could be the right move in some cases, but that its a bad idea frequently enough that you should be very, very cautious before doing so.Think Are you acting too fast?A Robert Half blog post explores reasons why resigning IT professionals either should or shouldnt take a counteroffer (although the author says they think these employees shouldnt accept them in general).Heres one of the circumstances in the post illustrating when accepting one could be a good idea.Its a short-term situation thats not ideal. Its easy to get caught up in a period on the job where things feel stale or stressful. Try to evaluate your employer and career over the long term, and dont overreact based on what may be temporary circumstances. You could regret making a career-defining decision based on a challenging but short-term period of time at your firm, the post says.

The Undisputed Truth About Resume Skills for Retail That the Experts Dont Want You to Hear

The Undisputed Truth About Resume Skills for Retail That the Experts Dont Want You to Hear Dont forget that employers will also have a look at your LinkedIn profile. Customer service is the care a customer receives prior to, during and following a buy. Most receive on-the-job training, which often lasts a couple of days to a month or two. All fantastic resumes start with the right contact info. When you are coping with medicines and the wellness of the pharmacys customers and patrons, you need to be absolutely devoted to your job as a Pharmacy Technician. Only if you prefer the finest retail jobs. By using our Pharmacy Technician resume sample, you are certainly going to improve your odds of landing the job that you want. To begin with, search the work description. If you have little work experience, add in any volunteer work which may be relevant in case you have a great deal of experience in a particular area, you will want your experience to include ONLY what is both re cent and relevant. 7 decades of experience is simply the cherry on top. You dont need to devote months, or perhaps a complete week. Resilience Even in the event that you love your work, you know each day is stuffed with small and big challenges. Regardless of what your job, IT will probably play a significant function. The second you get the exact first pile of resumes, then you should begin hunting for motives to reduce people with the consideration. Remember your urge to accomplish fantastic things or your belief in the organization, to keep yourself motivated. The bullet point reveals that the candidate isnt just intelligent, but in addition hardworking. Conclusion In short, working in the retail sector will give you with life experiences and skills that you may not get anywhere else. Before you compose an objective for your retail industry resume, make certain you really need to include it. To make an eye-catching retail sales associate resume, you will need to incorpo rate a few vital components. Because the retail business is transactional nature, it is easy to include things like numerical quantification to project competence. Our resume builder will provide you with tips and examples on the best way to compose your resume summary. Retail work involves interacting with a huge selection of people with diverse personalities in fast-paced settings. Written and Verbal Communication At the heart of the retail business is communication. Retail workers have to really understand the company they work for, the products they sell, and the kinds of consumers who purchase their goods. On the flip side, working in the retail sector allows you to get experience and thoroughly transferable skills you can utilize as you move between industries. If youre interested in a permanent retail career or only searching for short-term employment, a job in the retail industry will give you many critical skills that will endure for a lifetime. You may not think of them as skills, but they might be learned, and should you highlight them in the hiring procedure, youll be more inclined to find the job. Hard skills have a tendency to be more technical, and each business or kind of job will often have its personal necessary set. Dont forget, the web is a wonderful resource for recruiters and if you dont need to devote huge amounts of grant on meaningless job boards, at this point you have the skills it requires to find pardon Resume Samples Skills. Item Knowledge You wont ever be in a position to answer customer questions or offer accurate information without fully understanding the products that youre selling. Selling Skills needless to say, to be a fantastic retailer, you want to have the ability to sell products. Networking and building your private brand are vital elements of a successful sales career, and youll be able to apply those principles to your resume also. It matters not whether youre a retail manager or shift supervisor, you ne ed to have leadership abilities. If youve only worked at 1 company for a vast majority of your career you may want to break up your resume first by the organization you worked for and then by different roles you might have had in the business. Think about the absolute most challenging situations you have faced in your retail career and the way you prevailed over those conditions. If you would like to showcase your organization skills, acquiring a tightly structured resume certainly helps.

Kurt Fearnley wins gold

Kurt Fearnley wins gold Kurt Fearnley wins goldPosted October 13, 2011, by Sue Stevens Kurt Fearnley, who was recently interviewed on the Career FAQs site, has won the Gold medal in a close finish in the wheelchair marathon. After a week of drama and mixed results, Kurt adds this Gold to his medal count of two Silvers for the 800 metres and 5000 metres and a Bronze in the 1500 metres. After being clipped by a fellow competitor in the 1500 metres, Kurt came from last to take the Bronze. Winning Gold in the wheelchair marathon by a couple of seconds from his nearest rival after racing for one hour 23 minutes and 17 seconds indicates the determination of this young athlete who held in a close finish to to make the Gold medal his. Australia salutes you, Kurt Fearnley, along with the other paralympians who have made us all proud. ResourcesMy first resumeCover letter for my first jobCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInterested in becoming a?Human Resources OfficerGeneral ManagerBusiness ManagerAccountantOffice AdministratorPopular Career Searchescareer in travelcareers in tourism and traveloccupational therapy careermy new career coursesnew career for 2018 CoursesBachelor of Social WorkEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Health AdministrationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Criminal JusticeEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Allied Health AssistanceEnquire Online Enquire OnlineSue StevensRelated ArticlesBrowse moreHow being the underdog will get you over the lineTheres a lot to be learnt from the competitors of the Winter Olympic Games. We look at why being the underdog shouldnt be underrated.Career progressionHigh schoolYoung (over)achievers who make you feel crap about yourselfNothing can be more infuriating than someone younger than you achieving a lot more than you have. To get you in a good mood, Andrea lists seven youngsters who will make you question whether youre reaching your full potential.Hum an ResourcesWHS5 Reasons To Consider A Career In HRIf a business is a machine, then human resources (HR) is the grease that keeps it well oiled. Read on for five excellent reasons to consider making HR your vocation.

Top 4 questions I get asked as a resume writer

Top 4 questions I get asked as a resume writerTop 4 questions I get asked as a resume writerAs a professional resume writer, I aim to be a resource for clients and readers, so I answer a lot of questions relating to job search and resume writing. There are a lot of questions that get asked repeatedly, but these four questions are among the fruchtwein common questions I get.How long should my resume be?This is a hard question to answer because there is no one size fits all for a resume, but there are some guidelines you should follow when youre figuring out the perfect length for your resume.Keep in mind that you dont want your document to be too long because no one will read it, but you want it to be long enough toinclude your achievements and qualifications. My general rule of thumb is that if you can fit everything on one page in a clear and reader-friendly manner, try to do that, but if you would have to leave out pertinent information or reformat the document so it is barely legi ble, (i.e. size 9 font with .5 inch margins) its best to expand your resume over a page.One important thing to note is that if your document is only 1/3 of a page or less onto the second page, youll either want to condense it to fit within one page or spread things out to span a full (or close to) two pages. Having a document with just a few lines on another page appears unfinished and as if you didnt want to spend the time to either condense it or add more.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreIs there a specific font I should use?Believe it or not, font does matter. A lot. The font of a resume determines the aesthetic of the document, gives off the correct feel, and greatly determines how people view your document. Think of font like clothing. Even if you are showered and have your hair done, your clothing largely affects your overall appearance. You might have great information an d formatting on your resume, but if you pick a font thats hard to read, youre not going to have a great document.Stick with a simple and easy to read font. Garamond is my go-to serif font (serif fonts have the extra little lines on the outer edges of the letter, and are often considered to be more traditional). Arial is a solid sans serif font choice that almost everyone has on their computer. For more of my favorite fonts,check out this article.What information should I include?Think about your resume as a snapshot of your career. You know how they always show the best parts of the movie in its trailer? Your resume is just like that You want to make sure that your resume shows the most valuable and noteworthy aspects of you and your career so that potential employers can see the value you bring to the table.Youll want to include contact information, skills, job titles and dates of employment, along with metrics and achievements that make you stand out. Think abouthow youve gone abo ve and beyond the scope of your responsibility thats the kind of information you want to include. If your resume just shows job responsibilities that someone could pull off of Google, your document wont be super effective. Additionally, make sure to include your education along with any certifications or specialized training you have. Want more details?This articlegoes more in depth about what kind of information you need on your resumeWhat is an applicant tracking system (ATS) and how will that change/affect my resume?People often ask me if I am familiar with ATS as if ATS is a program like Microsoft Office. An applicant tracking system is a type of program, and there are hundreds of different applicant tracking programs out there. There is no way to know exactly how each applicant tracking system will work and what it will and will not catch in your resume.An applicant tracking system is a system used by many hiring managers and recruiters to sift through resumes and find qualifie d candidates. It basically lets the user type in keywords to find candidates who have those words or qualifications listed in their resume. This is an easy way to separate seemingly qualified candidates from unqualified candidates. The most important way it affects your resume is thatif your resume doesnt include the right keywords, it may not get you past the weed out phase of a job application. Just be sure that you scan the job description youre applying for and note any recurring verbiage that is used. If a word appears in the job description multiple times, it will likely be keyword searched in your resume.At the end of the day, you want to make sure that your resume includes the right keywords, but it also has to be appealing to an actual person when they read it. If you cater your resume completely to a computer, it wont be effective when an actual person reads it and vise-versa. Its all about balance.This article originally appeared on Write Style.Michele Lando is a certifie d professional resume writer, personal branding expert, and founder of Write Styles. She has a passion for helping others present the best version of themselves both on paper and in person and works to polish individuals application package and personal style. Aiming to help create a perfect personal branding package, Write Styles provides resources to enhance your resume, professional appearance, and boost your confidence.

How to Find the Best Boss

How to Find the Best BossHow to Find the Best BossWorking for the right anfhrer (or the wrong one) can make a huge difference in how you feel about your job and the company youre working for. One of the keys to job satisfaction is the quality of the relationship between employees and their supervisors, and one of the fruchtwein important career decisions that youll ever make is selecting your next anfhrer. So, how can you find the best boss to work for? The boss is the person whos typically making the hiring decision, but you dont have to accept a job offer if you feel the chemistry between you and the person you would be working for doesnt feel right. Even though you are the one getting hired, youre also interviewing the company and your potential boss. Its important to make sure that youll be working for someone with the right skills to enable you to be successful on the job. Its also important to be sure that your personality meshes, not clashes, with your prospective managers per sonality. Tips for Checking Out a Prospective Boss Candidates are often not thorough enough in the assessment of their prospective supervisor since they are preoccupied with making a strong case for being hired during the interview process. By taking the following steps prior to accepting an offer, you can increase your due diligence and improve the odds that your next boss will be a good one. Make a Criteria List In advance of your interviews, reflect on your work history. Identify the type of supervisors under whom you have thrived, and those who have made life difficult for you. Develop a list of specific qualities that you would like to see (and avoid) in your next boss. Review the list before interviews so that you can keep these criteria in mind as you go through the interview process. How Does Your Future Boss Measure Up? Most individuals look for a boss who is approachable, provides feedback in a constructive manner, recognizes accomplishments and gives credit to employees, provides direction, but doesnt micromanage, is open to eingabe from staff and supports the career advancement and professional development of their employees. Keep your eyes and ears open during the interview process for any and all indicators regarding whetherbei your prospective boss can measure up in these areas. Meet With Employees if Possible Many prospective employers will provide an opportunity during the interview process to meet with employees who either report to your prospective boss or are familiar with their style. If opportunities to meet with other staff arent offered during the interview process, you might ask to meet with other potential colleagues after you receive a job offer. During these lunches or interviews, you should prepare and ask questions that can help you gain some insight regarding how your boss is perceived. Questions to Ask You can learn a great deal about your prospective supervisor by asking questions likeHow would you describe her management style?What are some of his strong qualities as a leader?What is it like to work for him?How frequently do you meet with her?What opportunities are there for professional development? Check With Your LinkedIn Connections Look through your LinkedIn contacts to determine if any of your immediate or second level contacts may have worked in your target organization. If so, you might ask them some discrete questions about your prospective supervisor and his or her style. This should be done in the spirit of due diligence without revealing any misgivings or concerns you may have about your potential supervisor unless the contact is a well-trusted friend. You dont want anything remotely construed as negative getting back to the person who may become your new manager. Ask for One MoreMeeting Do you have still have concerns? Once ajob offerhas been tendered it is appropriate to ask for an additional meeting with your prospective supervisor if you havent had sufficient oppor tunity to interact with her during the interview process. During the meeting, you can inquire about expectations for performance and how it would be measured, frequency of meetings, resources for professional development, your new employers posture on supporting career advancement over time, and any other concerns which have may have emerged during the process of interviewing for the position. Taking the time to carefully evaluate your new boss prior to accepting a job offer can help you avoid any unpleasant surprises once you are on the job. Remember, you dont have to accept a job offer immediately. You can ask for more time to consider the offer before you accept or decline.

5 Steps to Transform a Job you Loathe into One you Love

5 Steps to Transform a Job you Loathe into One you Love 5 Steps to Transform a Job you Loathe into One you Love 1. Before simply going gently into that good night (of temporary unemployment), approach your boss and ask about finding ways to alter the kind of work you do. Depending on the cause of your discontent- be it overwork or lack of challenge- your boss will probably see that you will be mora productive doing something different and is mora likely to choose to work with your needs than simply see your talent moved elsewhere.2. If your routine simply needs a refresh ask to be partnered with different people, even if you personally like your current coworkers. By adding a new set of ideas and experiences to your regular assignments you may see your job from a fresh perspective that allows you to reevaluate your relationship with those parts of your job that you may hate and renew your enthusiasm for your work daily routine.3. Change up your surroundings so that your workspace f eels more homey and relaxing. You dont want to feel like youre in prison for 40-plus hours per week staring at the same humdrum desk and wall space. Spruce up your area with as much personality as your employer allows. Bring in sentimental photos, decorations, or pleasant smelling plants. If the setup of your chair or desk makes you physically uncomfortable, ask your manager about changing your furniture or receiving assistance with properly adjusting your office necessities.4. One of the most demoralizing aspects of any office job is seeing your inbox full of unread emails and your desk covered with unexamined documents. Plan at least one session during your week dedicated solely to sorting through your backlog, organize your workspace, and investigate ways to use your workspace in a more systematic, efficient way.5. One way to improve your outlook at work is to live a fuller life at home. Many times, you may end up resenting your work time because it impedes your ability to do the things that you want to do. Make sure you are spending your off time with people you care about and doing things that invigorate your life. Scheduling times of calm can also help you unwind so that you can stay more relaxed at home and at work.