4 ways to hold peoples attention at networking events

4 ways to hold peoples attention at networking events4 ways to hold peoples attention at networking eventsNetworking events - as social as a dinner party or as buttoned-up as an industry conference - are the ultimate opportunitiesto put the best version of yourself out there in an effort to form meaningful connections with other people.Heres how to keep people inside or outside of your industry interested in what you have to say when you meet for the very first time.Really listen to the other personIts easy to tell when someone isnt focused on getting to know you or your story - their eyes dart, and it often feels like theyre looking right through you.Dont be that person.Instead, try empathetic listening, writes Christina DesMarais in an Inc. articlethat includes networking advice for introverts, extroverts, and the socially awkward. She describes it as trying to see things from the perspective of whom youre talking to with the zweck of gaining information about them.She also feat ures advice from Jacqueline Whitmora, etiquette expert and author of Poised for Success Mastering the Four Qualities That Distinguish Outstanding Professionals.When you ask the person a question, listenwith the intent to understand and also to establish a connection with that person, because people tend to remember people they have a connection with.Dont be a card dealer . . .In other words, dont move too quickly. Moving from person to person in a hurry probably wont help you earn their respect or keep their attention.Ivan Misner identifies types of desperate networkers in an Entrepreneur article. The Card Dealer is among them.After saying that this type is likely the most common form of desperation hes encountered, he mentions that this networker quickly gives out business cards like hes at a poker table and does not really connect with people unless he thinks theres something in it for him. Misner continuesTo the Card Dealer, networking is mostly a numbers game.The more people he can pass his cards to,the better hes doing (or so he thinks). Card Dealers tend to have a network that is a mile wide but an inch deep because they dont spend time building relationships. It never works in the long run and they just look inexperienced, frazzledand yes - desperate.. . . but do hold the cards yourselfInaHarvard Business Review article, Dorie Clark, who says shes hosted more than two dozen dinner parties to expand her network and meet interesting people, writes that you should seek to become the center of the network.She cites the example of Jon Levy, who began throwing Influencers dinner gatherings at his apartment in New York City with luminaries in different fields, and offers a strategy.Clark says to start by inviting the most interesting professionals you know and request that they suggest the most interesting connections they have.Over time you can build a substantial network, she writes. At a certain point youll gain enough momentum that professionals who have heard about the dinners will even reach out to ask for an invitation.Be a resource for othersProviding someone else with what they need is a good way to prove the value of your new connection.A Monster article mentions that you should respond to others challenges. Theres no better way to establish a business networking relationship than by helping them with a pressing issue, the articles states.If someone states a challenge that theyre facing, respond- no later than the next morning- with something of value that addresses their issue, says John Felkins, president of Accelerant Consulting Group, an organizational development consultancy in Bartlett, Tennessee.And who knows? Although you shouldnt purely give help to get it back, the person you assist may be able to vouch for you in the future or support your career in other ways.Being good at networking starts with recognizing that youre having a conversation with another human being who may be able to teach you something new if you r eally engage with them.

Open season for the CIA!

Open season for the CIAOpen season for the CIASo, all you aspiring secret agents with an interest in international affairs This is your chance. Visit the CIA site for further details.Posted by Todd Obolsky, Vault News & Commentary

How to Hide Your Job Search From Your Boss

How to Hide Your Job Search From Your BossHow to Hide Your Job Search From Your BossThe security of your job is paramount until you guarantee a new job offer.Youve decided to look for greener pastures, but until you find those you want to stay in your current position.That reality requires job seekers who are employed to walk a tight line between publicizing their desire for new employment and hiding their intentions. There is also the basic fact that job search takes time and compels changes in your behavior that might signal your departure to your current boss.Should you be worried enough to conduct a clandestine search? Absolutely, said recruiters and career coaches who spoke to Ladders. The security of your current employment is paramount until you guarantee new employment. If your boss hasnt explicitly given you his blessing, then he shouldnt know youre even looking until the new contract is signed and youre handing in your two weeks notice.Discretion must be foremost in your mi nd when looking for a job. Keep your search concealed, and do not let any aspect of it spill into your current job. Several rules of thumb should guide your search and hide your intentions.Leave no clues as to your search in the amtsstube. An overheard phone call, a resume left in the printer, a suit jacket conspicuously hanging on your chair when you regularly wear jeans to work, all are clear signs that youre trying to find a new position.Wearing a suit to work on the day you had a dentist appointment was a aya tipoff, said Marilyn Santiesteban, Director of Career Services at management consulting firm King Bishop. So is using your work e-mail address or phone number on your resume. Stories abound about a cover letter inadvertently left on the office copier or the person who posted interview details on Facebook or tweeted that they hate their job and are actively looking to get out.Dont advertiseLinda Duffy, President of Leadership Habitude, notes that the Web can indeed be a pot ential minefield for exposing your job search. With so many social-networking sites, including career-minded networks like LinkedIn, there are many ways your superior could discover your search.If they tweet or post on Facebook or LinkedIn that theyre looking, its fairly easy for a company to find out about it, Duffy says. Even if retaliation is illegal, a company can still find mora subtle ways to make that persons work life miserable until they finally quit.I would also remind employees that many employers subscribe to resume databases on Monster.com, CareerBuilder, and other online job-search sites so they can source candidates for their openings. Although employees can make their posting confidential, most dont or dont do it well enough to prohibit current employers from finding it. When I was recruiting at various companies, I would always look to see who in my organization had their resume posted so I knew who might be thinking about leaving.Not at your deskElizabeth Lions, au thor of Recession Proof Yourself, advises against using your work computer or even the wireless network at work to browse career sites.Dont get caught at your desk looking for your next job, Lions says. Many people make this critical error because they had a bad day and decide to look at Monster.com on the work computer over their lunch. Most companies have filters and ways of watching where you go and what you are doing online. If you get caught, the cat is out of the bag.The best advice, said these experts, is to keep the logistics of your search limited to your personal time and your personal equipment (phone, computer, e-mail). Youll have better luck keeping the status quo intact until youre ready to change it.Mind your computer, mind your phone, and always mind the office printer.

How to Get Employment References

How to Get Employment ReferencesHow to Get Employment ReferencesAt some point during your job search, a potentialemployer will request references and conduct a reference check. Typically, it will be when the company is seriously interested in you as a potential hire. Its important to be prepared to provide alist of employment referenceswho can attest to the skills and qualifications that you have for the job you are applying for. You might even want to have a few letters of reference on hand as well. Its a good idea to plan and get your references in order before you need them. It will save time scrambling to put together a list at the last minute. Keep in mind that a positive endorsement can help you clincha job offer, and a negative reference can hurt your chances. Therefore, be koranvers to have a strong list of references who know all about your strengths, and about the jobs you are applying for. Tips for Getting the Best References It takes a bit of time and preparation to g ather a list of strong references. Here are some steps you can take to make sure you select references who will give you glowing reviews Ask the Right People - Former bosses, co-workers, customers, vendors, and colleagues all make goodprofessional references. College professors also make good references. If you are just starting out in the workforce or if you havent worked in a while, you can usea character or personal referencefrom people who know your skills and attributes. These might include friends, neighbors, people youve volunteered with, and more. Most importantly, only ask people who you know will give you a positive reference. Also, try to ask people who are reliable. You want to know your references will respond to employers on time. Be Aware of Company Referral Policies - Some employers will notlage provide references. Due to concerns about litigation, they might only provide your job title, dates of employment, andsalary history. If thats the case, be creative and try t o find alternative reference writers who are willing to speak to your qualifications.Ask Ahead of Time - Its important to ask someone ahead of time if they are willing to be a reference. Try to ask as soon as you begin your job search (if not earlier). This way, you can have a list of references ready for an employer. If you need a letter of reference, ask the person as soon as possible, so he or she does not feel rushed. The best way to ask for a reference is to say, Do you feel you know my work well enough to serve as a reference? or Do you feel comfortable providing me with a good reference? This will ensure that the only people who say yes to you will be those who will write you a positive reference. Provide the Necessary Information - When someone agrees to be a reference, give him or her all the information they might need to give you a positive reference. Provide them with an updated resume. Tell them what kinds of jobs you are looking at, so they know what skills and experie nces of yours they should highlight. If you know a particular employer is going to contact your references, provide your references with information about the job and the employer. If you need a letter of reference for a particular job, tell your reference all the necessary information about where to submit the letter, and when the deadline is. Make Your Reference List - Once you have your references, create a document listing those references. The list of references shouldnot be included in your resume. Rather, create a separatereference list. Have it ready to give to employers when you interview. Include three or four references, along with theirjob titles, employers, and contact information. Once youve made your reference list, check it twice. Have Some Recommendation Letters Available - Many employers wont be interested in written reference letters. They will either want to speak to your references on the phone or via email. However, it is still a good idea to have some letters of reference available for the employers that do want them. If you are graduating from school or leaving a job (as long as you are leaving on a positive note), you can ask your employer for a letter of reference. This way, he or she can write the letter while your work is still fresh in his or her mind. Request a Reference When You Change Jobs - Even if you dont ask for a written letter, you should ask for a reference every time you change employment. Before you leave, ask your supervisor (and perhaps one or two coworkers) if he or she will serve as a reference for you in the future. That way, you can create a list of references from people you may not necessarily be able to track down years later.Maintain Your Reference Network - Maintain your reference network with periodic phone calls, emails, or notes to get and give updates. This is an important way to keep them updated on your life (and your job search). If you are fresh in their minds, they will be more likely to give you mor e specific, and more positive, recommendations. Its Okay to Say No - A prospective employer should ask your permission before contacting your references, although not all do. Its perfectly acceptable to say that you are not comfortable with your current employer being contacted at present. This is especially important when you are currently employed because you dont want your interviewer to surprise your current employer with a phone call checking your references. However, do have a list of alternative references available.Keep Your References up to Date (And Thank Them) - Let your references know where your job search stands. Tell them who might be calling them for a reference. When you get a new job, dont forget to send athank you letter to those who provided you with a reference. Even if you dont get hired right away, take the time tofollow up with your references. Theyll appreciate being informed of your status.

How to Pump Up Your Summer Job Search

How to Pump Up Your Summer Job SearchHow to Pump Up Your Summer Job SearchHow to Pump Up Your Summer Job SearchDont take a summer vacation from your job search. Learn how to capitalize on the season to land your dream job. TWEETOver the summer, most job seekers take a vacation from their job search. Thats exactly why its the perfect time for you to heat up your job-search efforts youll have less competition.I recently spoke with KTVUs Ken Wayne about how to capitalize on the summertime to advance your job search. Click on the image below to watch a recording of the interview.Give these five simple tips a try to ensure youre set up for success by September.Get resume-ready.Studies have shown the average recruiter only spends six seconds looking at your resume to decide if youre a fit for the job. Youre 40% mora likely to land the job you want with a professionally written resume. You can start with a free resume evaluation from companies like TopResume.Perfect your personal brand.Mak e a list of all the social media channels on which youve created a profile. If you plan to use it for personal purposes, increase the security settings so no recruiter will find it. If its for professional use, make sure its current and in alignment with your resume. For more help, click on the following link to download my free personal branding checklist.Party with a purpose.Summer is all about BBQs, baseball games, and beach parties every single one of these events is an opportunity to network. Keep your business cards on you at all times, and practice your elevator pitch with everyone you meet.Take it to-go.The job search is a full-time job. Luckily, we live in a time when its possible to work from practically everywhere, including the beach, if were armed with our smartphones. Download apps that will help you manage your network, access your resume, and review potential job opportunities while on-the-go.Quench their thirst.A lot of people take time off during the summer. But, for those who are in the office, their workloads tend to be lighter. If you know someone who works at a company or in an industry thats of interest to you, this is the perfect time to treat them for a cup of iced coffee and pick their brain. For a couple of bucks, you can gain invaluable information for your job search. Just dont forget to send a thank-you afterwardsUse these five tips now so you can truly enjoy the lazy days of summer next year.Want to see how your resume stacks up? Try out our free critique today

How to Build Resume Ideas

How to Build Resume Ideas The 5-Minute Rule for How to Build Resume By way of example, working on the newspaper, something that will be quite valuable to your resume, may require a particular GPA. Take a look at our article on the way to use your job references strategically in the event you need more info. Bear in mind, that theres no harm if your accomplishments are over by the conclusion of the very first page. When it has to do with your work history, begin with the latest job you had. The very last thing you desire is for your resume to let you down when youre actually the best suited pick for the job. Make a list of absolutely all youve done that may be useful on a resume. While there can at times be a small amount of truth to that statement, it is a horrible way to check at college. The response is yes in case you wish to. A History of How to Build Resume Refuted The Free Resume Builder helps prepare resumes even when you dont possess the slightest idea on how best to do so employing a seven step procedure. Resumizer free resume creator allows you to preview your resume at any location in the creation practice. Utilizing color in your resume can allow you to stick out in work application. If you dont have a summary, then, by default, youre positioned by the previous job you held. What Everybody Dislikes About How to Build Resume and Why Zetys resume templates are made with the aid of recruiters and stick to the best practices in HR. One of the main explanation is the shortage of probable resources. If you have a look at resume building as a step-by-step procedure, it is going to be a lot easier to do and not as overwhelming. You only need to pass a very simple procedure of authorization, click buy research papers, fill an effortless purchase form and thats it How to Find How to Build Resume Online To save a whole lot of heartache later on, ensure you use our resume builder to create a document that may be easily transferred to severa l job applications. Our resume builder is the quickest approach to create a resume that can help you get your fantasy job. ConnectCV is another exact efficient online resume building tool at no cost. Download the www Casino software today and you may play our completely free casino online, and be on your way to the fun and excitement of Vegas style internet casino gaming How to Build Resume the Ultimate Convenience The sections are simple to skim for the most relevant details. Also, be certain that there is enough white space on the page to allow it to be simple to scan. Use up-to-date contact info, and an e-mail address that you really check often. You may enter your social networking profile address for an extra point of contact. Lies Youve Been Told About How to Build Resume There are lots of professional resume template that can be found on the internet from which youll be able to make out some idea about how to construct a professional curriculum vitae using best resum e builder websites. The website provides an array of premium resume templates and designs that you are able to download to MS Word. Include your complete name, contact number, email and personal branding website if youve got one. Employers admire those who have worked hard in a range of positions. Odds are, when youre volunteering in work, its because youre interested in pursuing it professionally. Volunteering allows you accessibility to a completely different group of fresh contacts in an industry that you wish to construct your career in. An internship is the perfect means to construct real-world knowledge in your intended field before graduation. The Appeal of How to Build Resume Pitch the thought of you being an intern to a company that you want to learn from. Explain why you would like to intern there, what you need to offer, and what exactly you can do to help the business. Actually, you ought to be aware that a great deal of companies these days are using Applican t Tracking Systems to help them screen resumes and get the best candidates. Our company knows the way to give essay help for company and academia because weve been doing it for several years. No matter how often youve created a CV and applied for work, a CV builder, together with our top-quality tips can guarantee your CV can help you to land you the job you truly want. The point is to not only emphasize the skills you have that are related to the job which youre applying to, but in addition provide your prospective employer with a chronological record of the jobs youve held before. Appealing to every individual employers wants and job requirements is the very best strategy for getting your application noticed. Also remember your basic information is still the exact same but you may must make modifications to cater to distinct employers or unique businesses.

Underqualified and Hired The Case for Growing Talent

Underqualified and Hired The Case for Growing TalentWith 8.2 percent unemployment, more job applicants are flooding into the talent pool than ever before. Not all of these applicants will be invited to video bewerbungsinterviews, or even make it past the resume stage. This is because most hiring managers will automatically weed out candidates who dont have the best qualifications for the position.Is this practice wise? Are underqualified candidates really hidden gems waiting for an invitation to a live video interview to blow you away? Here are some reasons you might want to reconsider before you move an underqualified video resume into your trash binNurturing TalentA major reason to consider underqualified but passionate candidates is that these job seekers are talent which your company can nurture. Sure, they might need a little training, but in the long run youve developed a top-tier employee who will be a return on your training investment. Better yet, youve instilled your compan ys practices and values on a clean slate.No Giant EgosJust think of it this way, there will be no bad habits your fresh blood hire needs to break. Since they dont have as much experience in your industry, theyll be completely receptive to the way your company does things. This means you dont have to deal with the outsized egos which can sometimes come as parte of the package when hiring superstar employees. Instead, you can nurture your own superstar who has the added bonus of being humble and easy to work with.They Want to LearnUnlike employees stuck in their ways, underqualified employees are psyched to learn and grow professionally. Theyre looking at your position as a learning opportunity, and if you give them a chance to gain new knowledge they will take it. No more grumbling about attending a training session or keeping up-to-date on the newest technology. These fresh hires will be learning sponges, soaking up all the knowledge they can and then sharing it with your organizati on.Theyll Be LoyalRehiring can be costly, with some companies losing as much as $50,000 on employee turnover. Taking a chance on an underqualified hire and training them means this candidate will be more likely to stick around. Theyll be grateful you took a chance on them when other companies passed over their video resume, and theyll continue giving back value to your company. No rehiring necessaryNot every underqualified hire will be a true hidden gem. But if a less qualified candidate really wows you in the video interview with their passion, dedication and thirst for learning, these candidates can be worth their weight in gold to your company.Do you think underqualified candidates can help your company? Share in the commentsIMAGE Courtesy of TalentSeed.

Robotic Walking Papers

Robotic Walking Papers Robotic Walking Papers Robotic Walking PapersFor an inanimate object, a piece of paper can pack a big punch. Over its 2,000-year monopoly as a medium for published thought, paper has provided the static catalyst for countless scholarly, social, religious, and political movements. But today, paper is propelling a different kind of movement its own. Engineers are rediscovering the timeless practicality of paper in the fabrication of smart, low-cost robots that walk, scoot, and grasp all by themselves. Experimental paper devices capable of unattended motion are under development in a number of labs, and may someday have legs in commercial applications.As generations of origami artists and paper-plane designers can attest, a sheet of paper can become almost anything the creator wants it to be. Its light, flexible, and cheap. It can be cut, folded, stacked, or rolled into useful 3-D shapes. It can be engineered for extra rigidity, reflectivity, tensile strength, or other desirable properties, in combination with newer 2-D materials such as grapheme.Paper TrailOne such approach by professors Yong-Lai Zhang and Hong-Bo Sun of Jilin University, Changchun, China, could lead to a new category of fully autonomous, solar-powered paper sensors and MEMS devices. Their work exploits single-atom-thick graphene sheets to create paper devices that spring to artificial life in response to humidity changes in the air around them.Graphene has exhibited a series of enticing physical/chemical properties such as high electrical conductivity, transparency, biocompatibility, mechanical flexibility, strength, and good stability, Sun said, distinguishing graphene and related materials as good choices for the development of smart, paper-based machines, for instance, smart actuators.Sun, the director of JUs Center for Ultrafast Optoelectronic Technologies, said his teams bots begin with graphene oxide (GO) paper exposed to UV radiation from sunlight. We recently found that focused sunlight can reduce GO paper to some extent. Therefore, one side of the GO paper can be fully reduced due to the UV radiation-induced photochemical reactions, and the other side can survive as pristine GO. This effect significantly alters the reduced graphene oxide (RGO) surfaces water-repelling capacity. Bilayers of RGO and GO react differently when approached with moisture, for example, an engineers sweaty finger, he said. In response to moisture, the anisotropic water adsorption causes it to curl in seconds. The team has adapted the technology into robots that instantly morph from flat paper strips into inchworm-like crawlers that scoot across a surface, as into mora complex autonomous claws that grasp and release tiny objects.Smart GO/RGO paper may find broad applications in intelligent devices, Sun said. For example, sensors, MEMS, smart textiles, tissue engineering, and even robotics.The laser-cut parts of the robot fold when uniformly heated. Image Harvards Wyss InstituteWhat could be a more natural addition to the paper robotics fold than a device that actually folds itself up? Such a device developed at Harvards Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering captured national headlines last year. The origami-inspired automaton is a useful byproduct of the institutes long-standing effort to develop robotic insects, but it could have a life of its own in applications where robots are sent into environments where people cant go other planets, for instance. Space-confined craft could hold several flattened robots that self-deploy and go about their duties without human aid. To demonstrate that concept, graduate student Samuel Felton used the mathematics of origami to calculate a paper-folding pattern that would produce a self-propelled droid. His device begins as a perfectly flat planar surface with a few protruding electronics on top to provide power and programming. But flipping the switch sends the device into a tightly choreograph ed four-minute metamorphosis of folding that culminates with a colorful, crab-walking quadruped.The self-folding action is courtesy of the substrates unusual composition a sandwich of ordinary paper, a flexible circuit board, and a sheet of contractile pre-stretched polystyrene (PSPS) better known to generations of crafty kids as Shrinky Dinks. Together, the materials form a shape-memory composite multilayer cut to the appropriate shape to facilitate folding. Embedded, heat-responsive hinges placed along the fold lines enable the PSPS layer to bend into the desired position when heated to 100 degrees Celsius, creating rigid folds once cooled. The microprocessor controls the precise heating/folding sequence based on preprogrammed steps determined through computational origami. The result is sturdy 3-D object that scurries into action without any operator intervention. By choosing different shape-memory materials and more elaborate programming, the team said self-folding robots could be engineered for almost any purpose.Paper Viewsunterstellung paper bots are the vanguard of a coming wave of useful devices, microfluidics, and medical diagnostics. Paper meets a number of key engineering and economic criteria for devices that may help developing nations address problems in health care, environmental monitoring, and energy storage. But communication across this multidisciplinary community can be difficult. It doesnt help matters that researchers trying to search the scientific literature using keywords like paper typically end up with a long list of irrelevant citations in which the word appears as a synonym for article.Andrew J. Steckls Nanoelectronics Laboratory (NanoLab) at the University of Cincinnati is working to elevate awareness of paper-based technologies and to help codify the literature of this embryonic field. A graduate-level electrical and computer engineering course dubbed the Paper Laboratory takes advantage of papers versatility and low cost to ex pose students to translational engineering. Students must conceive, design, and build a novel working paper-based machine in one term. Steckl grants them unlimited creative license but strictly enforces his end-of-term deadline and a $50 development budget per project. The 2014 Paper Laboratory cohort developed paper-based technologies ranging from a flexible audio speaker to an oil detector to a smart diaper for biometric diagnostics.One Paper Laboratory student took a different, and much-needed, approach to the problem of literature searching. That project, the Digital Paper Library, produced an extensive database of published work in all facets of paper-based electronics, which Steckl envisions as the basis of a public Web resource available to other groups in the field.As cost becomes an increasingly important factor in device production and distribution, low-cost recyclable materials such as paper are bound to play a key role, according to Jason P. Rolland, senior director of r esearch for technology non-profit Diagnostics for All and Hewlett-Packard RD engineer Devin A. Mourey. Co-editing an entire special issue of the MRS Bulletin focused on paper-based technologies, they describe a field rapidly moving from proof-of-concept to real-world impact. Despite the prevalence of paper, this field is arguably still in its infancy. If devices are designed using low cost as a first principle, a tremendous global impact is possible leading simultaneously to both larger market potential for product and higher quality of life in developing nations.Michael MacRae is an independent writer. For Further Discussion These paper bots are the vanguard of a coming wave of useful devices, microfluidics, and medical diagnostics.

Living On or Off Base for Single US Military Members

Living On or Off Base for Single US Military MembersLiving On or Off Base for Single US Military MembersSingle military members will most likely be spending the first few years of their military career living in the barracks, dormitories, or onboard ship depending on your branch of service. Living off cousine at military expense (receiving housing allowance) may not occur until you make E-4,E-5, or even E-6 in some branches and military bases. This all depends on the occupancy rate of that particular base. Here is the service branch breakdown of the basic policy of living on or off base while single Army policy allows E-6 (some bases E-5) and above who are still single to live off base at government expense.Air Force policy allows E-4s and above who are single with 3 years of service to reside off-base at government expense.Navy policy allows E-5 and above and E-4s with more than four years of service who are still single to reside off base and receive a housing allowance.Marine Corp s allow E-6s and above who are single to live off base at government expense. Depending on the base, E-4s and E-5s will be allowed to live off base at government expense. In the Army and Marine Corps single lower ranking members will live in the barracks. In the Air Force they live in the dormitories, and in the Navy - depending upon the command will either live in the barracks or on ship. However, the rent (and utilities, etc.) will have to come out of their base pay. In these type of situations, lower enlisted wont receive a housing allowance, nor, in such cases, will you receive a food allowance (you will still get free meals, in the chow nachhall, however). The choices are not easy. Living in the barracks/dormitories means that you (depending on base and service branch), will have to share your room (about the size of a large bedroom in a family home), with one, two, or even three roommates - sometimes in an open bay of many people depending upon the berthing situation. Sometim es the bathroom is a for large groups located down the hall, not in your room. Many young troops decide to trade new car payments to live off base with roommates in their own apartment. For a young military member off-base is the place to be, even if they have to pay for it. Other than training bases (such as basic training and job training), and deployment locations, such as Iraq and Afghanistan (where you are not allowed to move off-base anyway), all of the services (except the Marine Corps) are striving to give all juniorchef enlisted members a room to themselves (Note The Marine Corps goal is to give all junior enlisted Marines a room with just one roommate, and all NCOs a room to themselves). Today, all Air Force junior enlisted enjoy a single room at most bases, and the Army is just a little behind the Air Force. The Navy can pretty much guarantee a single room for junior enlisted assigned to shore duty, and they are working hard to give rooms to junior enlisted assigned to s hips (when the ship is in port). Theyre not quite there yet, but they are working hard on it. Many bases (in all the branches) are converting to more modern dormitories, which include two to four bedrooms (one service member assigned to each bedroom with a private bath), with a shared living room and kitchen. Some locations even allow enlisted members to move into on-base family housing, if there are spare houses available, after offering them to all the members living with dependents. For example, two single members would live in one two-bedroom on-base house. As you make more rank, you can usually choose to move out of the dormitories and off-base at government expense. In this case, you would then receive the above-mentioned housing allowance and monthly food allowance (however, you can no longer eat for free in the chow hall youll have to pay for any meals consumed there). It varies from service-to-service and base-to-base, but in general, you can expect to be allowed to move o ff base and get paid for it, when you make the pay grade of E-4 (over 4 years of service), or E-5. Typical housing allowances will cover all or a majority of the rent for members qualified for it. At most bases, junior officers are given a choice of living on-base, or off-base at government expense. Some bases dont even have on-base single junior officer quarters. At a few bases, they may be required to live on-base. Generally, on-base single officer quarters are pretty nice (sometimes they are like small apartments), and officers dont generally have to have a roommate. If a single member is authorized to live off-base at government expense, they retain that authority, even if they deploy to a combat zone, such as Iraq or Afghanistan. However, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act allows a military member to break a lease, without penalty, if they deploy for 90 days or more. Many single members terminate their leases in such cases, put their property in a storage shed, and pocket the ir housing allowance during a deployment (this is completely legal). The disadvantage is that youre going to have to run around and find another place to rent when you return from deployment.

The Responsible Job Search

The Responsible Job SearchThe Responsible Job SearchWith the privileges of working come responsibilities that start even before you are hired.Working can be a real privilege. For one thing, its a great adventure.Every employee from the top to the bottom of a corporations org chart gets to be a part of the adventure - the daily challenge to create value, let people know about the value created and attempt to sell that value for a fair reimbursement. Its also a privilege to make a living, especially if its doing something you enjoy and about which you feel passionate.Like any privilege, work carries responsibilities that start even before you are hired. You are accountable for your statements and actions on the job search. Practice a responsible job search, and you are more like to be rewarded in your work.Responsibility No. 1 Be HonestNothing ruins the adventure faster for everyone than when business people lie about their actual results. From Madoffian lies about billions of dollars to lying about an expense report, every act of dishonesty hurts the adventure. If we are notlage honest about the actual costs and profits of creating, marketing and selling value to customers and employers, the adventure has no integrity. Its just a game of make-believe. After a while, its no longer an adventure. Its more like a game of deception. Theres no privilege in being a part of that. (Its also illegal.)Responsibility No. 2 Be CompetentIf you say you can do a job, actually be capable of fulfilling that role. Lying about your skills and passions just to secure a paycheck hurts the organization and your long-term career. If you cant do a certain role and dont want to do the role, be willing to walk away from a great salary and keep searching for the role you can perform well.This doesnt mean you must be fully prepared on Day One. It does mean you require the capacity to do the job and the desire to develop the necessary skills to do it well.Make a list of your strengths (what you do well) and your passions (what energizes you). Look at the job opening, and ask yourself if you have the necessary skills and passions to eventually do the job at a very high level. This goes back to being honest.Responsibility No. 3 Be RealisticSetting unrealistic expectations almost became the status quo over the past decade. Companies would brag about expecting to achieve 20 percent annual growth in sales and profits every year. Didnt quite work out that way, did it?I would love for a business manager to say honestly, ur intent is to create the best value for customers that we possibly can with the hope that they will invest in that value for a good return on our investment. Same goes for the job seeker making promises to a hiring manager. Who really knows what that return on investment will be before it happens? Making wild predictions as though they were guaranteed to happen has done a lot more harm than good.Responsibility No. 4 Be PracticalYou know that whole deal abou t pie in the sky thinking. It became famous because there are no pies in the sky. From the dot-com explosion of 1999 to the supposedly infinite and never-ending growth of the stock market in 2006, we kept thinking that we could get something for nothing. It doesnt work that way, at least not for very long.Every day in your business career, stay practical. Keep going back to the basic questionsWho is my customer (employer)?What value can I create for that customer that will help him to achieve what he wants to achieve?How can I demonstrate the value that I can deliver to him?How can I convince him to invest in the value I have to offer?How can I deliver that value with exceptional quality?What is the right price for me to request for the value that I have to offer?Responsibility No. 5 Strive for ExcellenceThis is the mother of all business responsibilities. My definition of excellence is to do an activity as well as you can do it right now and keep searching for ways to do it better in the future. This is the ultimate responsibility that you have in your business career. There is no, Ive reached the mountaintop and can coast from here. The day to coast is the day after you retire. Of course, by then the great performers have such an engrained striving for excellence that they never really stop.Being a part of the Big Adventure of Business is extraordinarily exciting and rewarding in so many ways. However, the cost of playing is living up to your responsibilities.