When Impatience Is Good for Your Career - The Muse

When Impatience Is Good for Yur Career - The MuseWhen Impatience Is Good for Your Career Throughout our lives, were told to be a little more patient. From our parents when we complained while waiting in line for a rollercoaster, from our friends when theyre taking forever to get dressed (seriously Sarah, you dont need to spend two hours getting dolled up for the movies), and even from our managers when we think were ready for a promotion or to take on new responsibilities.But how often are we really in the wrong? And how often is our impatience, well, acceptable?The thing is, like some bad qualities, impatience can be a good thing in the right setting. Its a driving force for some of the worlds most successful entrepreneurs, and one could argue nothing would get done if we never questioned how fast something should take.Here are three times your eagerness can be bad for your career, and three times its actually beneficialIts Hurting it If You Expect Big Results Right AwayYou know thi s, but the higher your expectations, the more disappointed youll ultimately be when they arent met. So, when were impatient that somethings taking too long to get off the ground, or our careers are moving too slow, we never fully appreciate the small strides we make along the way.Achieving some of your biggest goals will take time- and often, theyll take multiple tries and consist of many failures. Rather than twiddle your thumbs expecting everything good to happen right now, be patient that things will happen at the right moment, when youve put in the right amount of effort.Read More 4 Ridiculously Smart Reasons to Slow Down at WorkIts Helping it if You Know Things Should Happen SoonerThat said, some things go on longer than you know they should- maybe youve done this before in past jobs or know from experience that somethings off. Let your impatience question systems that are outdated, inefficient, or slow- even if you cant directly change them, you can often start productive conv ersations on ways to do things better.Related 3 Useful Phrases to Say Instead of My Old Company Did This BetterIts Hurting it If Youre Too Quick to ReactYou sent someone an email yesterday, and they havent gotten back to you yet, so you send them a follow-up email. Then another one two days later. Then you ping them on Slack to see if they got your message. In the day to day, being impatient in how you communicate will only lead people to ignore you or dislike working with you. No one likes a nag.Give people the respectable amount of time to do something, and trust theyll get it done (and when they dont meet your deadlines, then you can follow up).Read MoreHow to Get People to Take Your Deadlines Seriously (Without Being Rude)Its Helping it If Youre ProactiveHowever, if your impatience just means that youre eager to get involved and help out, thats OK.The people who spin their impatience into a positive thing do so by focusing on what they can do rather than what they need from othe rs. Otherwise, when you find yourself getting antsy over someone elses delay, ask yourself What systems can I create to encourage people to work faster? What pieces can I do without them? What can I get started now to make it easier for them to schliff later?Read More How to Stealthily Motivate Your Lazy Co-workers to Pull Their WeightIts Hurting it If You Want to Move Up Before Youre ReadyIf youre six months into your job, you probably wont get promoted. If youre 23, youre probably not qualified for a C-level position. If youre three weeks into a new role, you probably wont get to represent that next big account.These are unfortunately the realities of your career. Sure, there are exceptions to the rule (we all know a friend of a friend who got promoted after only three months), but for the most part, you shouldnt expect a raise or promotion or some other big career opportunity before youre truly ready for- and youve earned- it.Read More3 Questions to Ask Yourself if You Keep Getti ng Passed Over for PromotionsIts Helping it If You Find Ways to Challenge YourselfThat said, some of that impatience might just be a form of ambition. Maybe youre not qualified for a position bump, but youve mastered your job and are ready for more responsibility, so you talk to your boss about taking on new projects. Or, you zupflmmel up a side gig. Or, you decide to learn to code so you can fix your sites problems on your own.Impatience can be an amazing thing when its converted into drive. It forces you to think of new and different places to take your career, push yourself a bit further, and ultimately achieve your goals.Read More How to Know if Youre Being Ambitious- or Just Plain Old ImpatientImpatience gets a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. However, when you choose to turn it into something productive and motivating, it can have a huge, positive effect on your career.The key is knowing when its acceptable to push forward, and when its better to wait it out.

How to Pitch Yourself as an Expert to the Media

How to Pitch Yourself as an Expert to the MediaHow to Pitch Yourself as an Expert to the MediaA friend of mine recently called and said she was about to draft a pitch promoting herself as a food expert to several broadcast outlets. She asked if I would take a look once she was done. Several days later, her email popped up. The subject? This feels so weird.You dont need to be a PR expert to know that its much easier to tout a product than it is to tout yourself. But if youre just getting your company, business, or blog up and running, you likely dont have the resources to recruit a full-time PR person or agency support. Which leaves the PRing (along with most other things) to you.As a PR professional who has happily pitched clients products and uncomfortably pitched my own brain, I can tell you It doesnt ever stop feeling weird. But it does get easier. If youre struggling with how to promote yourself, keep these tips in mind.1.Be ProfessionalPitching yourself will likely evoke a whole spectrum of emotions, but when it comes to the actual pitch, keep it business-appropriate. Most importantly Dont be overly casual (or no one will take you seriously), dont be too verbose (or no one will read your email), and dont be rude, arrogant, or obnoxiously self-promotional.This may sound obvious, but theres an important differentiation between pitching yourself and pitching a product When youre pitching yourself, the booking producer not only needs to like what you have to say. He also needs to like you.2.Back it UpIf youre new on the speaking circuit or just looking to book your first interview, youre going to need to really convince the booking producer or journalist that youve got the smarts theyre looking for. So beyond introducing yourself and your expertise, include relevant stats, articles, and anecdotes to support your narrative. Explain what differentiates your expertise from other people talking about a similar subject- maybe its the research youve recently conduct ed or the access you have to key influencers in the industry- as well as why your expertise is especially relevant to the outlet youre pitching.Each pitch differs, but heres a general framework to consider In 2 -3 sentences, introduce who you are, your expertise and what youre pitching (e.g., to be considered for future food segments on the Today Show). Add 2-5 bullet points about why your narrative is relevant, compelling, and timely. Add 1-2 sentences about why youre perfectly positioned to be talking about this subject to this specific outlet. Add a brief bio with your high-level accomplishments, your availability, and ways for people to reach you.3.Be ConfidentNo matter what your expertise, there are likely topics or themes within that industry that youre not as well-versed on as others. If youre a food expert, like my friend, you may not be as knowledgeable about French cuisine as you are about Italian. Maybe your vegetarian recipes are lacking. But heres the deal No one needs to know that but you.When pitching yourself as an expert, you need to convince whomever youre pitching that you are, actually, an expert. So tell your various and wide-ranging insecurities to shush, and put forward your smartest, most confident self.4.But Dont OversellRemember that confirming an interview is not the end game- successfully promoting your brand is. So while you want to come across as confident and knowledgeable, you dont want to B.S. your whole pitch. If you do, youre only going to end up hurting your reputation- and future opportunities- by sounding silly on-air or getting blacklisted by the booking department. Instead, give yourself a bit more time to get up to speed on your industry.5. Be PreparedOnce you send that pitch out, consider yourself on-call- especially when pitching yourself to broadcast outlets. One way to not make friends with the booking department? Pitch yourself as an expert on a story, like the government shutdown, and then not make yourself availa ble for interviews while the government is actually shut down.Also, make aya youre 110% comfortable and ready to speak to whatever information you include in your pitch. If there are stats you cite, make sure theyre legitimate. If youre offering up exclusive information to one outlet, dont talk to any other reporters about it. You want people to be impressed by what youre offering, and then more impressed once they meet you- not less so.Promoting yourself as an expert is a really effective way to raise your own profile and that of your brand. But theres no getting around it Its tricky, awkward, and, as my friend pointed out, totally weird. But dont let the icky feelings deter you You are uniquely positioned to share what you know. As long as you dont creep people out in the process, well be seeing you on the Today Show (or in the New York Times) soon enough.Photo of woman on phone courtesy of Shutterstock.

14 Tips For Anyone Thinking of Freelancing

14 Tips For Anyone Thinking of Freelancing14 Tips For Anyone Thinking of FreelancingIn 2008 I quit my job as research director at a technology company. I was burned out after four years of non-stop high-pressure work and didnt know what I was going to do next. I decided to take a month off and not look for a job. What emerged in the six years since then was a solid career as a freelance writer, a completed masters degree in writing and a life in which I have a lot more freedom than I ever envisioned as a full-time employee. But it wasnt easy, and I made a lot of mistakes.If youre considering working for yourself as a contractor or freelancer and working from home, here are some things you should consider based on what Ive learned.1. Be Clear on Why You Want to FreelanceMy original goal when I started freelancing was to write a book. The book turned into a graduate degree and a completed 230-page thesis. About a year after graduation my personal writing turned into drawing. Freelancin g is a great way to have the freedom you want to pursue other things, whether thats family, travel, a side project, or an artistic project. The more clear you are on what you want to do with your non-paid time, the easier it will be to focus on your paid work.2. Use your Network and LinkedInI wouldnt have been able to have a freelance career had I not put effort into building my network before I left the corporate world. When I was employed full-time I connected on LinkedIn with everyone I was connected to in real life, both inside and outside my job. If you work for a company of 150 people, thats at least 100 connections. After every event I attended I diligently went through the cards I had collected and made connections on LinkedIn. I also wrote a few recommendations and was recommended in turn.I wrote a summary on my LinkedIn page, used keywords and provided the saatkorn detail as on my resume under each of my positions. If youre in any business remotely related to technology, L inkedIn is your lifeline. Complete your profile, upload a photo, and use keywords. While some clients I already knew, others were friends of friends and some came through blind searches for a specific skill set.3. Schedule Work Time and Be FlexibleIm the sort of person who can be entertained by herself all day, whether thats making things, learning about new things, and yes, wasting time on the Internet. Many books on creativity will tell you to schedule your creative time. I found scheduling my work time to be a more effective strategy than scheduling my non-paid time. For someone like me who wants to be doing creative stuff 24/7, its better schedule my left-brain paid time so my right brain knows when it can come out to play. Ive made the mistake of leaving art supplies on my desk and losing an entire afternoon to a drawing.Every day is different. Based on my deadlines I wake up every day with a guesstimate of how many hours I will need to work. This allows me to gauge how much ti me I have to fit in other things, which could include making art, updating my website, working out, networking events or other appointments.For big projects I gather information over time and then spend one or two days working non-stop, clearing my schedule of other appointments ahead of time. I would rather work till midnight a few days a month and have whole afternoons to devote to things that I find fun. When you are not bound to the world of 9-5, you are free to find out how YOU like to work, however eccentric that may be. Its probably not 9-5.4. Show Current Work Samples on Your WebsiteIf LinkedIn is your ad, your website is your full brochure. Add samples or links and update your client list as soon as a project is completed. Ive seen many freelancer websites that dont show anything the person has done since 2010. Would you want to hire someone who doesnt look like theyve been working in the brde 4 years? On the other hand, dont be afraid to share samples of old work. One rece nt client hired me because they liked a report I wrote in 2009.5. Set Boundaries with Your FriendsYou may have friends and family members who want to hang out or call you to chat during the day, and its up to you to teach them how to contact you and not drop by without notice. If you let people push your boundaries on easy days, it will be hard to make them go away when youre on a tight deadline.I made a habit of scheduling lunches, knowing that I have to eat anyway and I get tired of making lunches at home.6. Pushing Back on Timing is OKYou are in charge of your schedule. Often clients want projects done immediately, and its your jobset boundaries. I managed two new projects plus ongoing work for Simply Hired during a cross-country move. Both new clients were willing to work with me knowing that there was one week in which I would be unavailable. Be honest about your deadlines on other projects. Just as doctors have other patients in their schedule, potential clients know that you have other clients. If they want your services, they will work within your availability.7. Know What You are WorthIf setting prices makes you uncomfortable, do some research. Talk to other freelancers and people who hire freelancers. I avoid giving quotes in writing. Discussing pricing in person or over the phone gives you the opportunity to negotiate. You will sense immediately if your price is too high. I prefer to bill by the project rather than the hour, since I dont like keeping track of hours. Find out what works in your industry.I dont believe in working for free or below market rate. Therefore, I have never worked for free or below market rate. Ive had plenty of people try to lowball me with hourly rates more appropriate for a new college graduate with little experience. In those cases, I politely point to my 20 years experience and graduate degree. Working for less than you are worth will only make you feel resentment toward the people you are working for.8. Job Ads Are an Important Source of InformationEven though I have not looked seriously for a full-time job since starting freelancing, I still read job ads. Why? To keep abreast of changes in my industry and to find out which companies are hiring and might need freelance help. In the six years since I left my belastung office job a whole newfield called content marketing has emerged. I read job descriptions on Simply Hired for positions of people that might end up hiring me, such as a director of content. It helps me get a sense of all the things they have on their plate and how I can add value as well as informing me of the latest buzzwords in the field.9. Get Regular ClientsFreelancing doesnt mean you have to leave the security of a regular paycheck. I wrote a report every quarter for one of my first clients. This covered my expenses for over a year. Now I have a regular client that covers most of my expenses. Regular clients provide consistency in your work and give you peace of mind from having to chase the next client win while you are working on a big project.10. Save Money for TaxesIn the first few years I made the mistake of treating my income as I would a paycheck that already had taxes taken out. You will dread the month of April if you do this. I recommend hiring an accountant and making quarterly tax payments if you can. You will need to learn about what you can and cant deduct, how to account for your home office space and how to account for your car and computer equipment. If you plan on hiring others, you may want to consider forming an LLC or other tax entity. I file as a sole proprietor.11. Let Technology Help YouThere are technology solutions to help you with just about every problem you can imagine scheduling, project management, expenses and invoicing. Some of them are free. If not, they will give you a free trial. Research the ones that address your problems and pick one.I use Mint to track my spending. It makes preparing taxes much simpler by allowing me to categorize tax deductible expenses, label checks and split transactions (e.g., buying both office supplies and personal items at Target) into tax deductible portions. I useHarvestfor time tracking and invoicing. I use Evernote to take notes on client phone calls, clip articles related to a project and keep track of my published work. One of my clients uses Wrike to manage projects for its freelance and in-house writers.12. Read ContractsAfter you submit a verbal or written proposal for a project, the client will send you a contract. You will submit a W-9 and most likely need to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). Most of the companies I have worked with have a standard contract that includes a non-compete agreement, with an Exhibit or Statement of Work on the last page with information about the project and the payment terms. Read everything, and dont be afraid to ask questions. There are sometimes mistakes, and its your right to ask for the payment terms you want. For work b ased on a project fee, I usually ask for 50 percent upfront and 50 percent upon completion. Ongoing clients may ask that you submit your monthly invoice by a certain date each month.13. Get a Contact in AccountingDuring the contracting process you will likely be given an email address to accounts payable like, APcompanyname.com. I recommend sending an email to that address after getting started with a new client and making a personal connection to the person in accounting who answers it. There are a many things that can get in the way of you getting your money on time, and about all of them have happened to me.During the contracting process, ask your client how they would like to be billed, how often they pay, and if they pay bills on time. I have a friend who works at a company for which vendors have shut off services due to non-payment of bills more than six months past due. Needless to say, it is hard for him to find contractors.14. Plan to Receive Money in 30 Days by MailWhile I have heard of immediate payment terms and received it at times, this rarely happens. It seems no company likes to pay their bills early, and most want Net 30 terms. My one dream client pays invoices by direct deposit in about 10 days. Mostly though, I am obsessed with the mailbox.ConclusionFreelancing is possible for me because of the expertise and network I built up while working in the corporate world. The freedom I have now is the direct result of having paid my dues by working hard for many years. Depending on what you want to do, freelancing at an early stage in your career may not be the best choice. What I thought I wanted to at age 25 is different from what I was doing at age 35, and different from what I am now doing. The possibilities evolve as your assignments evolve, whether thats at a full-time job or a unique freelance project.The joy in a freelance life is the ability to set your own hours, work on a variety of projects and have the free time pursue your other intere sts. If you approach it with the attitude that you are better able to provide value to clients by having the freedom to work the way you want, you can have a successful freelance business.

3 ways to create a safe and open work environment

3 ways to create a safe and open work environment3 ways to create a safe and open work environmentHow important is it to have awork environment that encouragesemployees to voice their concerns?Consider the following examples.David is an associate at a professional services firm.He is part of a project team for an important client led by one of the fruchtwein well-known partners in the firm. In the morning meeting, the team makesa quick but consequential decision for the client. David isa bit surprised because he thinksthe data suggests another route, but hes hesitant to state his opinion. After reviewingthe data, he still thinks the team may have missed something, but he is worried that if he speaks up, hemight not get invited onto another project. He decides tostay quiet.Meanwhile, Kevin is a technician in a hospital operating room. During the close of a routine operation with a high-status surgeon, Kevin counts the sponges and notices that one seems to be missing. He is not entirel y sure, but he immediately notifies the lead surgeon of the possibility that there may be a sponge remaining in the abdominal cavity of the patient. The surgeon is tired and eager to complete this final surgery of the day, but immediately checks the patient cavity in search of the sponge.Why does Kevin voice his concern while David hesitates?David spendshis time fearing negative consequences of voicing his concern and questioning the validity of his point. This sense of perceiving or fearing negative consequences based on taking interpersonal risk is what organizational scholars call a lack of psychological safety. Studies have shown that a teams level ofpsychological safety can affectteamwork and the overall health of an organization.Building on a concept originated in research in the 1960s, a Harvard psychologist named Amy Edmondson conducted astudyin the mid-1990s to understand the factors that affect errors in administering drugs to hospitalized patients. She interviewed a range of health care providers - nurses, physicians, and pharmacists - across eight teams from two urban teaching hospitals. Contrary to her hypotheses, teams where members felt safe to examine and report their behavior hadmoraerrors.At first, she scratched her headhow can these findings make sense?Thenshe discovered thatthe best teams wereadmittingto errors and discussing them more often than other groups did. These teams didnt want to make mistakes, of course. But they werent afraid to say aloud that they had. The best performing teams felt psychologically safe with one another. They werent afraid of the negative interpersonal consequences of speaking up, so they spoke up when they noticed an error. They werent as daunted by the worrying about the negative consequences of stating their opinion, be it a decrease in their self-image, status, or career trajectory.Two decades of research since then have shown that if people perceive a safe harbor, they are more likely to work well with one another by sharing information and ideas, suggesting improvements, and exploring new avenues for the enterprise. Employees need to know that their well-intentioned actions will not lead to punishment or rejection by their organization and their team.Work environments that are psychologically safe not only produce strong organizational performance, but they are also often described as more satisfying places within which to work.It turns out that leaders are particularly important in thepresence or absence of psychological safety. There are three main waysthat leaders can facilitate psychological safety on the job.1. Frame work as an environment for growthIdeally, not only are good leadersable to hire and retain capable people, but those people become even more skilled and capable at their work over time. The organization and the individual have a shared interest in promoting skill and capacity development. As each employee becomes individually more capable of handling complex work w ith less supervision, the company needs to devote fewer resources to supporting and overseeing the work of that person.Over time, that person may come to supervise the work of others, thereby moving from being an individual producer into the role of management and leadership of the work of others. In a workplace that encourages growth and development, employees can take the long view, looking to increase skills over time, rather than just looking to check the pckchen of task performance.2. Model openness and fallibilityNo one is perfect. Why should anyone pretend that they are?Having anexpectation of perfectionismonly makesothers look at you as unrealistic, unattainable, or inhumane. Showing that leadersmake mistakes, can take responsibility for them, and make adjustments in theirway of thinking and behaving iscrucial for others to understand that learning from failure is part of the process of excellence.Part of getting better means risking errors, learning how to avoid those types of errors in the future and learning from the experience. Too often, is it difficult to see how leaders have learned along the way. In an organization that wishes to promote an employee who takes initiative and learns from experience, it is important for that employeeto see the process in action.3. Embrace inclusivity and curiosityLeaders can do this byasking questions, and inviting and appreciating others contributions. Leaders can showthat people are not kicked off the teams for making a mistake based on a risk worth taking.On the contrary, an effective leader invites people to bring up problems and tough issues and to take the rick to innovate. They encourage thinking differently or outside of the box. They value and utilize unique skills and talent.All of uscantake a page from the psychological safety playbook and try to create cultures of openness. If we stick our necks out there (maybe a little each time), if we show willingness to contribute of our ideas and actions, if we a sk for input and help, and if we give others the benefit of the doubt, we might not only model for others that they should try the same but we will also likely be more engaged at work.

Research Assistant Resume: No Longer a Mystery

Research Assistant Resume No Longer a Mystery Whether youre an undergraduate or a person who wants to break into an area of interest, you may always locate job openings for a Research Assistant. There are various kinds of jobs offered for people interested in research. There are many ways for you to turn into a legal research assistant. Employed as a research assistant may be the beginning of an assortment of careers. Normally, such experiments are performed in hospitals. Most research assistants are graduate students, but in addition, there are cases when undergraduate students might have the chance to become involved with research assistant work. Think of molecular biology research assistant resume as a tool, which you may logically generates to be able to goal a specific work and to obtain the heart of the business. With this kind of a very small window of opportunity, you should have your most recent experience front and center so the prospective employer can immediately see what you can do to help the organization and if its related to their existing needs. When applying for a position as a graduate research assistant, it is essential for applicants to be in a position to inform their professor which they have a superior grasp of the appropriate area of study. Legal assistants must go through various confidential which, aside from the customer and supervising lawyer, nobody knows. Legal assistants at smaller firms might have more responsibility. Since you can understand versatility is the essential skill for a medical assistant. Writing a professional resume an employer will discover irresistible will boost your odds of landing your dream clinical research assistance job. To be able to have the very best possibility of attracting your upcoming employer, its crucial that the qualifications on your resume match the work description. If you rent an employee from a business, you can find the perfect candidate much faster and so much simpler. Wh at You Must Know About Research Assistant Resume You might be asking yourself how to arrange the skills you would like to include on your resume. Perhaps, you learned skills as a consequence of volunteer activities. Show recruiting professors your abilities and experiences are awarded and appreciated by other people. Several abilities and abilities are required to work as a research assistant. Secondly, because you dont have the advantage of knowledge or work-related accomplishments, it may be somewhat difficult to generate an impactful impression. The many skills related to the market must be exhibited in consultant resumes. You only need to make certain that it is clear how your experience is applicable. You may not have much work experience to include, so concentrate on personal and professional skills along with your educational background. The early success or failure of your initial research experiments would likewise determine the last time that it would take for you to schliff your PhD requirements. Furthermore, you must have understanding of testing procedure. The procedure is simple, but it require an extremely comprehensive eye to make sure the appropriate data will be added. As you progress in the application process itll be essential for you to showcase your capacity to devise solutions to complex issues. Since you would like your CV to present you as a severe professional, you will need to prioritize substance over style. To compose reports, its important to get a strong comprehension of grammar rules and structure. You wish to capture the interest of the resume reviewer quickly. You should combine the research info about the organization and the work description in developing a convincing resume. Research Assistant Resume Explained Research assistants review print and internet resources to collect information. You just are not able to slacken off when it has to do with research. Research plays an extremely important function i n many fields. Be Organized Effective research is one thats simple to comprehend and navigate through.

Why Everyone Is Mistaken Regarding C.v and Resume

Why Everyone Is Mistaken Regarding C.v and Resume Needless to say, becoming an expert resume writer is a process which requires a lot of patience and dedication. Resume helps you to receive the desired job prospect. Resume skills and abilities play a substantial part in boosting the standard of your resume. When writing the resume for any coach, it is very important to include all of the coaching related skills in the resume that could force you to stick out from different coaches. Stunning Resume matters a lot when youre trying to find a wonderful job. You might need to translate your CV. Your CV may include everything which youve done so far. Developing a professional CV isnt really as difficult as you think if you understand how to get through it. C.v and Resume Resume journalists that have a place with resume-guaranteeing associations have a tendency toward remain exceptional in resume viability. Resumes may be used for a number of reasons, but most often theyre util ized to secure new employment. Definitions of C.v and Resume The main aim of your resume must be to impress the reader with the particular qualifications and experiences that force you to fit to get hired for a desired position. The objective, just enjoy the remainder of your resume, is about you. There are many statements one can utilize to make an effective resume. Once you have written a work description, start looking for techniques to produce your explanation mora concise. C.v and Resume and C.v and Resume - The Perfect Combination When applying for certain positions in the usa, along with jobs internationally, you might be asked to submit a curriculum vitae in the place of a resume. You should know what things to have in your curriculum vitae and what things to avoid. Possessing an executive level curriculum vitae samples readily available, you find it possible to construct an application for this dream job that you desire. Basically, resume writing is an art and just a number of the applicants can pull it off.

The Best Engineering Stories of 2018

The Best Engineering Stories of 2018 The Best Engineering Stories of 2018 The Best Engineering Stories of 2018Socially and politically, 2018 was a year of volatility. Technologically, engineers and scientists kept a lower profile, while mothering a host of advancements across a number of disciplines, from biomedical to energy to robots. All were aided by the growing momentum in 3D printing and advanced manufacturing, tools that are seeping into almost every industry.In 2018, engineers mothered a host of advancements in various disciplines. Almost all were aided by advancements in 3D printing and artificial intelligence.Technology is advancing at a rapid speed and engineers need to do the saatkorn to compete and advance. These changes require greater collaboration between engineering disciplines and non-engineering professionals. Soft skills are critical. Effective communication among team members and outside stakeholders is essential. But training is needed even more to master techno logy and ensure business success, for both newly hired engineers and those with experience.These themes were explored throughout 2018 on ASME.org. Here are some of the articles that touched on those themes and were widely read by viewers.At the core of the research, industrial and technological breakthroughs we wrote about are skills engineers need to practice and grow personally and in business. Today, those skills need to be nurtured and developed from the start of a career to the end. Engineers excel at solving problems, but developing soft skills to enhance their careers isnt always a top priority, as discussed in 12 Skills You Need to Advance an Engineering Career. Scoring an interview means you have the technical chops. After that, its all about marketing yourself, asking the right questions, making good connections, and choosing the paths that lead toward career goals. Without those, youre just another number in a large crowd of engineers.For You The Moral Beauty of a Disobed ient RobotEngineers familiar with multiple disciplines will be better prepared to work with todays product development teams, according to a survey by research firm Tech Clarity. But nearly 40 percent of manufacturers polled said the evolving and changing engineering skillsets needed for systems-driven product development is one of the biggest workforce challenges. We covered many of those trends during 2018.New Skills for the World of Engineering, for example, explored the challenges companies face while developing new skills for engineers and engineers who may lack support in learning them. Surveys and articles dot the Internet about the need for continued training, but examples of companies that put that into place are rare, the report stated. One industry executive posed the question What happens if I train my employees and then they leave because they get a better offer? I answer, What happens if you dont train them and they stay?Increasingly, training involves design and 3D pr inting. It captures most industries but is perhaps best manifested in How Industry 4.0 Impacts Engineering Design. Industry 4.0 is a combination of digital processes such as the Internet of Things, automation, robotics, and additive manufacturing and how they have a disruptive impact on mechanical engineering design. Not only do engineers need to redesign processes and operations to accommodate these new advances, Industry 4.0 impacts how they design products for increasingly smart manufacturing facilities.4D printing is one of the next major technologies on the horizon. Georgia Tech researchers, showcased in the story 4D Printing Advances Additive Manufacturing, built a powerful 4D printer that quickly and efficiently creates self-assembling 4D structures. It combines four different printing technologies aerosol, inkjet, direct ink write, and fused deposition modeling. It can also make products from a variety of materials, including hydrogels, conductive inks, elastomers, and shape memory polymers, which can be programmed to remember a shape and then transform into it when heated to a certain temperature.Artificial intelligence is another combination of technologies quickly being integrated into a variety of systems, bringing the reality of radical change to many industries. As we reported in Artificial Intelligence Transforms Manufacturing, Stanford researcher Andrew Ng says AI will perform manufacturing, quality control, shorten design time, reduce materials waste, improve production reuse, and perform predictive maintenance. Going beyond that, the story describes a two-armed robot that can manufacture products without having to be programed.Robotic development is also taking many forms to perform many different tasks. From bees to snakes to cockroaches, engineers are incorporating biomimetics into robots that run, crawl, and slither. Snakebots, in Snake Robots Crawl to the Rescue, may be used in natural disaster rescue situations. Early bots used snakelike motions such as sidewinding and lateral undulation. Advances in actuators, motion planning algorithms, force feedback, and modularity are now taking snake robots to a higher level of complexity and functionality.As robots develop, our attitudes and perceptions of and toward them seem to reflect personal biases and prejudices. The human tendency to identify and stereotype along racial lines seems to be expanding to robots. Racism Runs Deep, Even Among Robots discusses a New Zealand study that looks at the role a robots skin color plays in how humans interact and respond to them. Not surprisingly, the researchers found that people project their own biases on robots. Perhaps more surprisingly, robots are learning negative biases toward humans through the use of artificial intelligence, algorithms, and data input.Bioengineers in 2018 had an even larger impact on healthcare than previous years. Tufts University researchers developed smart bandages that actively monitor and deliver preci sely targeted treatment to chronic wounds. You can read in Smart Bandage Does It All how they track markers such as pH, temperature, oxygenation, and electronically deliver drugs to treat the wound. The bandages rely on a combination of sensors, micro-heaters, and wireless electronics, further underscoring the need for cross-disciplinary engineering skills to make an idea into reality.We highlight how sensors were put to another unique use in Mini Sensor Detects and Measures What We Eat. The story describes sensors that mount on a tooth and track what a person eats in real time. The data is transmitted to a digital device to help healthcare practitioners find links between what people eat and their health.The saatkorn technology found its way into energy. As an example, industry is now using artificial intelligence to develop a smart, autonomous grid. The Grid Resilience and Intelligence Project is a $6-million U.S. Department of Energy effort and one of seven projects affecting gri d resiliency. Using AI to Manage the Grid talks about the first federal effort to use artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve grid resiliency. The first step is creating algorithms and tools to gather and digest data from satellite imagery and other sources to build a body of knowledge on how distribution systems work and where they are vulnerable.Renewable energy sources continue to grow, and their effect on the grid has utility executives looking to storage options as a tool for managing the load. Batteries are beginning to be incorporated into systems in California, Texas, and elsewhere. In Germany, a more traditional energy storage project opened with a twist.You can read about it in Energy Storage Moves to New Heights, which describes an innovative pumped storage project in Germany that incorporates the worlds tallest wind turbine. It and three other wind machines are built on concrete foundations that double as water storage reservoirs for a connected 16-MW hyd ropower project. Height matters because annual energy yield increases one-half to one percent for each meter of height.A wide variety of other developments and projects that became reality in 2018 can be found in ASME.org. Their successors are poised for 2019.Read More Why Shenzhen Is Important for Engineering Students An Engineering Education Should Never End Creative Approach to Engineering Improves Grades For Further Discussion

Will A Second Job Put Your Career at Risk or in Overdrive

Will A Second Job Put Your Career at Risk or in Overdrive Will A Second Job Put Your Career at Risk or in Overdrive So with substantial pay rises out of the question, many economically squeezed workers are looking at alternative sources of income such as a second job with studies showing that around 5 percent of the workforce may be moonlighting (or performing second jobs). But, there has in the past been a negative association with moonlighting with it being seen as a little illicit and being born out of economic desperation. But, it doesnt always have to be this way, as if done well, moonlighting can not only boost your income but be a stepping stone to a better life and career. And so how can you moonlight in an effective and career enhancing way?Call me boring, but to start with you need to check your employee handbook and make sure you comply with any company procedures around taking a second job so you dont put your main job at risk. If your employer has reservations on you taking a second job you could use this as an opportunity to open negotiations for a pay rise, promotion or additional hours within your current place of work.You should be aware that you will most likely experience a 50 percent decline in productivity after you have worked 40 hours in a week and there will be a general decline in productivity after you have overworked for four weeks in succession. Youll also be at greater risk of niedergeschlagenheit. This burnout risk can be reduced if your second job is materially different to your main job. Lets say you work at a desk with figures all day, then your second job might involve you working outside doing something more manual. Working in a different field is a good political play too, as there is much less chance of a conflict of interest occurring with your current employer.So, there is no doubt that doing a second job can boost your income and help you reach your financial goals in the short term, but its not a sustainable long-term strategy to work 50-60 hours a week, as you are likely to burnout and damage your health. This is why I believe that there should be a wider plan to your moonlighting, e.g. you are doing it for a few years to achieve a known goal, which should be that you dont have to hold down a second job. This means that you could be acquiring experience or training in a new job area where you can eventually earn more money you are getting more money to fund an entrepreneurial business venture to buy a home, etc.The point is that working a second job is really only a temporary strategy and should not be considered a long-term approach. It should ideally be a tactical tool to enable you to reach a short/medium term goal or to get into a position where you dont need to work in a second job.

Forget about your Youtube channel. Heres how to actually make money as a creative in the side hustle economy

Forget about your Youtube channel. Heres how to actually make money as a creative in the side hustle economyForget about your Youtube channel. Heres how to actually make money as a creative in the side hustle economyAsk any vlogger, artist, or musician- its really, really difficult to make money as acreative.People often think that if they just post decent content occasionally, or sign up for the right platforms, theyll blow up just like Alessia Cara or Bo Burnham. But thats really hard to do.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreThere are more social media platforms today than ever, but each platform only does one or two things well. For example, Instagram is good for pictures, but less so for videos. Twitter is good for writers, but not great for photos.And even if you do everything right on the platforms youre using, algorithms can bury visibility by limiting reach- meaning youll o nly make it so far.In other words, the digital side hustle economy just isnt working the way it should.My company,Collide, was designed to fix it. Specifically, we handle the infrastructure, logistics, and administration so creatives can better monetize their connections, interactions, and expertise.But platforms aside,there are a few basic, tried-and-true steps creatives can take to maximize their reach and keep their fans interested.Heres howMake sure youre in it for the long haulA side hustle is more than just a side gig.Picking up a few extra hours at the coffee shop is not a side hustle. Jumping on TaskRabbit or Uber when you feel like it isnt a side hustle, either. A yard sale isnt a side hustle. A side hustle is neither a hobby nor something youre just doing to earn some extra cash- its a living.You dont work for your side hustle your side hustle works for you. No one can pull the plug on your side hustle either. You control what you create, how you share it, and when you pos t. And it takes care of you.To make this work, you have to believe that youre in it to win it.Be strategic about how you market your side hustleTo make a side hustle profitable, you basically need two essential elements.First, you have to let people know what your side hustle is. In other words, you need to market it.There are a number of ways to go about getting the word out- some more useful than others. You can use email lists. You can use Instagram or Snapchat. You can reach out to your friends and extended family, or network. You can buy ads. Whatever you do, youve got to find a way to tell a lot of people youre doing something.Second, you need a platform.This is where I think the current digital side hustle economy is broken. The only people who can really make money right now are the top .1%. And while there are a ton of apps out through which you can market your art, music, or photos, most of them deliver poor value for your time and effort.If youre going to makerealmoney fr om your side hustle, you need a distribution policy to do commerce- much like a brick-and-mortar store. You need a place where you can bring people to what you do. If youre on a bunch of digital platforms and making no money, youre no different from The Gap- which is closing down storefronts all over for lack of sales. If you have multiple storefronts but are gleaning no value, you have to consolidate.And in the digital world, your storefront is whatever platform- or platforms- youre most active on. But to really get the most value for the least effort, narrow your digital side hustle to just a few.The point is no matter what your digital side hustle, treat it like a brick-and-mortar store. If your multiple storefronts arent generating business- consolidate.Show up andbe consistent.You cant just show up to an office job whenever you feel like it, and thats true of side hustles as well.Say theres a guy on Collide who creates homemade candle holders. To make a living, he has to consis tently post for his fan group. He also has to set up reliable expectations for them, perhaps by telling them Hey, Im going to post new candlestick designs every Monday or Tuesday. Consistency and managing expectations are a must if he wants people to come back regularly. If his fans show up at his page and theres nothing new, theyll lose interest. Even brands wont come back to established influencers who arent consistent.To make your side hustle into a money-maker, you have to be consistent and to let your fans know what to expect. Its essential to build trust.Give your fans a glimpse into your lifeRemember that your followers arent just interested in your craft- they also want to know whats behind the curtain.In other words, they want to get to know you.Whats an average day like for you? What are your habits? Who are your friends? Hows your love life? What motivated the latest piece of content you created? If youre a fashion-related account, they want to know where you shop. If you re a wellness brand, they want to know what toothpaste you use. If you make perfume, they want to know where your scents come from.Everyones craft is repetitive to some degree. Audiences want to know aboutyou, and how it translates into those pieces of content or advice they really like. Thats why tabloids and paparazzi exist- so people feel like they have access to the person behind the veil.Be willing to evolve, but dont alienate your core supporters in the processA lot of creators dont understand how to evolve with their fans taste.You cant capture fans for the long-haul if your content becomes tedious. You need to branch out to other avenues and avoid just sticking with whats worked in the past. Take risks. If you mostly share photos, experiment with video.But you also dont want to alienate your core group. Keep your original point of view, but branch out with the surface stuff. If you make candle holders, for example, start recommending candles to put in them. If youre recommen ding great products, experiences, art, food, and blogs, people wont leave.Dont be afraid to showcase whats inspiring you.Your fans are more interested in a multi-faceted approach than in seeing the same kind of content over and over again. If you do a good job and do it regularly, your fans will stay with you because they love your point of view.If youre strategic about it, manage expectations, show yourself, are dedicated to putting in long hours- you can make your side hustle work for you.This article first appeared on Minutes.