Expand Your Job Reach by Going Green or Bilingual

Expand Your Job Reach by Going Green or Bilingual Going Green or Bilingual Expand Your Job Reach by Going Green or Bilingual To quote Jerry Lee Lewis, Theres a whole lotta shakin goin on in the global economy. The financial services industry is being turned inside out, stock markets are taking investors on bungee-cord rides, and the U.S. government is turning itself into a money machine to help loosen up credit to prevent a wider calamity. Its all unnerving, thinking about how it might affect your job, your industry, or even your dreams of retiring as the value of your nest egg erodes. So, youve probably heard it before but it bears repeating: Dont bank on your employer to take charge of your career. You need to do that! Here are two emerging areas you may want to consider in taking charge of your career: the rise of green jobs and foreign-language fluency. The Rise of Green Jobs Hardly anyone would disagree that global climate change is a phenomenon that requires urgent action throughout the world. Plus, the run-up in oil prices earlier this year unleashed a renewed call for alternative energy. In the U.S., expect the next president to lead efforts for alternative energy sources and more conservation. Any action may open the door to more businesses and jobs that will lessen dependence on fossil fuels, especially if they come from abroad. On the web, youll find several sites dedicated to so-called green collar jobs, many of which look for people with engineering, project management, and back-office skills that you may have from other industries. Two notable sites are Greenjobs and Green Jobs Network. Foreign-Language Fluency Like it or not, were working in a global economy, and some businesses look for talent with fluency in a second language, notably Spanish in the U.S., given the growing Hispanic population. But with many U.S. businesses outsourcing or opening operations in China, theres a growing need for people who know Mandarin Chinese. Its booming in British schools, and making inroads into U.S. classrooms. For instance, my local public school system launched a Mandarin Chinese program at the middle-school level three years ago. You dont need to think too long or hard to come up with businesses and industries that can benefit from staffers with knowledge of foreign languages. Think about customer service departments, global purchasing organizations, and outsourcing relationship management functions, to name a few. Globalization and going green show no signs of slowing down. If either of these up-and-coming areas strikes a chord with you, now's the time to brush up your skills, take a course, or join a group that's involved in these initiatives. Have you or anyone you know landed a green job or something in which knowledge of a second language helped? Please share with us.

5 Signs Your Boss Is Trying to Drive You Out

5 Signs Your Boss Is Trying to Drive You Out 5 Signs Your Boss Is Trying to Drive You Out In the course of any job, it’s natural to get a little paranoid once in a while. Maybe you weren’t included in an   email  you should’ve been on, or maybe a project was discussed on the fly, and you were left out as a result. But there comes a point when paranoia gives way to reality, especially if it’s your boss who’s causing you to raise an eye. Here are a few indications your boss might be trying to push you out - and what to do about it. Most of us only have so much patience for   meetings , so if your boss stops inviting you to key sit-downs, you might initially be happy to have that time back in your schedule. But being excluded from meetings is a key sign that your boss doesn’t intend for you to stick around. This especially holds true if your manager stops inviting you to participate but also doesn’t offer an explanation as to why. A healthy career progression is usually one in which you gain responsibilities along the way. So if your boss starts taking certain tasks   off  your plate instead, and doesn’t replace them with others, it could mean that your manager is secretly (or not so secretly) planning your departure. Not every company has a formal introduction process when new folks are brought on board. But if you find that your colleagues have all been introduced to a string of recent hires , and you were never included, it could be because your boss wants you out. Managers tend to be busy people, so it’s not unusual for them to communicate with their direct reports via email. But if your boss   never  seems to have the time to talk to you in person, or declines your requests for one-on-one sit-downs, that inability to look you in the eye could spell trouble. It’s your manager’s job to offer feedback on your performance. But there’s a right way and a wrong way to provide criticism, and a   public forum  falls under the latter category. If your boss consistently calls you out in front of your peers, it could be a sign that your manager is trying to embarrass you in the hopes of having you up and quit. Once it becomes obvious that your boss blatantly wants you gone, you’ll have to decide whether you want to stay on board or take your career elsewhere . Assuming the former, your first move should be to document all instances of your manager’s behavior. Not inviting you to meetings and shifting responsibilities aren’t necessarily egregious offenses on your boss’s behalf, but if your manager refuses to give you the time of day, bashes your performance in public and makes a point to treat you differently than the other people on your team, that’s something you can take to your human resources department. Before you run to HR, though, it’s worth pushing your manager for a conversation to try to sort things out. Maybe you said or did something to rub your boss the wrong way that you need to apologize for. Or maybe your performance just hasn’t been all that great, and your boss wants you out for what are actually some pretty valid reasons. If you’re able to get to the bottom of things and pledge to improve, your boss might soften up and give you another chance. If that tactic fails, though, meet with HR, present the data you’ve collected and discuss your options. Affirm your commitment to the company and ask to be transferred to another team. If that’s not possible, and you must keep working with your manager, insist that HR intervene. Otherwise, your boss will likely continue to make your life miserable. Finally, accept the fact that despite your best efforts to keep your job, your boss might end up emerging victorious and ousting you nonetheless. It’s an unfortunate situation to be in, but you can prepare for the worst by updating your resume in advance and doing a little pre-emptive   networking  to see what’s out there. You may come to find that there’s a better position for you at another company, one that comes with a manager who doesn’t seem to have it in for you. This article was originally published on The Motley Fool . It is reprinted with permission.

How to Choose Novel Genres for a Book

How to Choose Novel Genres for a Book How to Choose Novel Genres for a Book The choice of genre is a pretty straightforward process for some writers. They love writing one kind of thing, and thats what they focus on. For the rest of us, this can be a difficult decision to make. Making a Choice is All About Marketing By choosing to stay open to writing in any genre you are free to pursue any idea that grabs you. You could write a gothic horror novel, followed by a techno-thriller. So why choose if, by choosing, you limit your options? It all comes down to marketability. When a publisher buys your novel what they are really buying is you, the author. They want to know that they can build a platform, a brand, around you and your writing. They need to believe that there will be more books, similar to the first, on the way. That means sticking to one genre. Imagine pitching a fantasy novel to a publisher. They ask if you have other novels either finished or in-progress. You tell them that you also have a romance, a western, and a collection of hard-boiled crime stories. Does this help you sell your fantasy novel? Not at all. If all your other books, stories, and works-in-progress were in the fantasy genre, then youd be that much closer to a sale. It might sound shallow, but it does make sense. Other Benefits Genre Choice Sticking to one genre has a few other advantages as well: Constraints breed creativity. Sometimes having some rules to write by actually makes you more creative. When you can write about anything it can be difficult to know where to start.You look more professional. Its important for publishers to see that you understand the need to build a platform and that youve started on your own. The more confidence they have in your willingness to market yourself, the better.You become known as an expert. The more you write in one genre the more people see you as an authority in that area. Its one less choice to make. As a writer building a career your life is filled with endless choices. Now you have one less! How to Choose The most obvious way to pick a genre is to write what you like to read. If you mostly read romance, then write romance. Most of us read in several genres, and that can make it tricky though. Do you choose the one that seems the most marketable? The one you think is the most fun? Flip a coin? This is ultimately a personal choice, but there are a few techniques that can help you choose: Make a pros and cons list. The classic decision-making tool. Write down the good and bad reasons to write in each genre and see how it shakes out.Go with your gut. After thinking about your options for a while, sit quietly for a while and listen to your intuition. Forget about marketing, or what your friends will think, what does your heart tell you to write?Pick the most marketable genre. This is tricky since its almost impossible to guess where the market is going. That said, you may be choosing between writing in a super-niche, micro-market, and something more mainstream. If you truly feel that they are equally-weighted in every other way, then maybe go with the one you think you can sell. As you examine potential genres pay attention to the ones that attract you but scare you at the same time. If youre excited to write in a certain area but afraid that you wont be able to do it, then seriously consider choosing that genre. Often what you fear to do is what you need most to grow as an artist.? When to Choose Do you really need to choose right away? It probably wont hurt. If you are writing in several genres, you will have to pick one once a publisher agrees to publish one of your novels. And since your off-genre novels wont do much to help you sign a deal, you might as well choose as soon as you can. Changing Your Mind Once youre established you can start to work in a new genre if you like. Many successful authors write in multiple genres. They didnt start out that way, though. They mastered one genre at a time, building a fan-base and a catalog before moving on to something new. Of course if youre prolific enough to be shopping multiple books in multiple genres you can always use a pseudonym to brand each genre separately. Its certainly not an easy way to start out though! The Bottom Line As critical a decision as this is, its important not to let it paralyze you. The worst thing you can do is use your indecision about the genre as an excuse not to write. If you really need to write something off-genre, then go ahead. Just make the choice as soon as you can, and keep the words flowing in the meantime.

6 ways to prepare for a networking event when youre a bit rusty

6 ways to prepare for a networking event when you’re a bit rusty 6 ways to prepare for a networking event when you’re a bit rusty It really pays to go to major networking events - they can help you stay relevant and meet new people. But it can be difficult to get all your ducks in a row  if it’s been a  while. Here are six things to keep in mind.Make three key updates: your resume, website and LinkedIn profileWe get it, we get it: You probably don’t use these everyday  â€¦ which is exactly why you should spend a good amount of time updating them before your event.It can be tough to update and fit your resume on one page, add to your website and round out your LinkedIn profile with all your new accomplishments, so give yourself all the time you need.Wrangle together your business cardsYou could argue that no one uses these anymore, but hey, it’s up to you!If your job provides business cards, you’re going to want to pass a few out to the valuable new connections you make (or you could find them on LinkedIn on the spot).But if your business cards are gathering dust in your desk drawer, you should dust the m off or get new ones.Pick your event wardrobe wiselyYou know how you want to feel at the networking event, so if you often wear the same business clothes to gatherings like this, buy a few new pieces or accessories that will give you a fresh dose of confidence. Also be sure to get all your dry cleaning done before your departure date.When you like what you’re wearing, it definitely shows.Take a look at the event overviewThe agenda and/or event website will tell you everything you need to know - including which panels you know you won’t want to miss.Plus, checking this out in advance can be useful for figuring out  just how early you need to get to each session. You can also start writing down any burning questions you have for the featured guests.Reach out to panelists beforehandThis has worked for me before.So take a look at the featured speakers, and consider sending them a  professional message via email or social media. Talk about how you’re looking forward to hearing th em speak.  If they reply, you might just be able to use this to  strike up a conversation with them after their panel.Sometimes, reaching out beforehand can help you get your foot in the door early.Make your travel arrangementsIf you have to hop on a plane or a train to get to the event, you’ll want to book your round-trip tickets as early as you can.We all know that the longer you wait, the higher the price will be, and no one needs that - especially when there are other convention fees to  pay for. So get to it, and see if your organization provides any travel discount codes for you to use.

Youre Leaving and They Want to Know Why

You're Leaving and They Want to Know Why Why You're Leaving You're Leaving and They Want to Know Why After What salary are you looking for? the interview question job seekers most often agonize over is Why did you leave your job? For most of us, it's tough to try to explain to an outsider why we left (or are looking to leave) our most recent positions. Whether it was a matter of clashing opinions, suffering from a too-long commute, not being challenged, or having been laid off, the best method you can use to answer this frequently asked question is to be honest. Here are some ideas for responding when the interviewer asks about your reasons for leaving: Tell the truth: Focus only on the facts behind what happened and what you did. Describe the reason for your departure directly and succinctly. Resist the urge to speculate on the motives or feelings of the other people involved in the events affecting your departure. Demonstrate a confident willingness to provide references to support your reasons for leaving. If your leaving was a result of a personality clash or you were released for a performance- or competence-related reason, describe what you learned from the incident to demonstrate that you learn from experience and remain optimistic in spite of it. Look the interviewer in the eye when responding. This will convey your confidence, communicate that what you're saying is honest, and show you have nothing to hide. Here's an example to get you on the right train of thought: Q: So Mr. Job Seeker, what led you to start searching for a new job? A: My working style and my department leader's management style never aligned well, and we concluded that both of us would be better served if I took my talents elsewhere. As difficult as it was, I've come to appreciate that experience because it reminded me how important it is to communicate openly and to find a good workplace fit in order to contribute my best work. Employers don't expect you to be perfect, but they do expect you to be honest. You're human, after all, and so are they. They, too, have left or been released from jobs. So the best rule of thumb when you answer this or any complicated interview question is to be honest, succinct, state only the facts, and be positive. The interviewers will appreciate it.

Communications and Penn State

Communications and Penn State Communications and Penn State Communications and Penn State By Alaina G. Levine Communication, whether formal, informal, verbal, non-verbal, internal or external, is vital for ensuring the realization of any plan. By contributing to their Diversity Action Grant (DAG) project, members of the Pennsylvania State University ASME Student Section had the remarkable opportunity to sharpen an entire suite of communications skills early in their career. They gained experience in public speaking and writing as well as complementary talents in persuasion, negotiation, marketing, and advocacy, all of which will serve them well throughout their careers. Penn States project, Its All About M.E., aims to diversify the mechanical engineering major and encourage more women to enroll in classes. It is a year-long affair, and includes many events and touchpoints, such as a kick-off orientation, lab tours, a lunch and learn with the mechanical engineering department head, and a study session. Peer mentoring also takes place, in which freshmen and sophomore ME majors are assigned to mentors who are upperclassmen. From fostering interaction between the mentors and protégés, to conducting more efficient brainstorming sessions, the DAG project organizers have greatly enhanced their oratory abilities. In particular, it takes courage to speak in front of a group of people, says Lola Buonomo, immediate past chair of the ASME Student Section. Ive seen myself grow as a speaker, and I can now speak freely with ease rather than depending on pre-written notes. She observed the same improvement in both the upperclassmen mentors and the underclassmen p rotégés: We see the ladies we mentor quiet at first, and then very soon, they are asking the mentors how they can help advance the program. Keeping a team focused can be challenging, especially as group dynamics change as students graduate and new members migrate in. A well thought out communications strategy, in which team members feel safe in presenting innovative notions, is the solution. Its important to give the opportunity to provide feedback, says Buonomo. As members suggest new event ideas for the project, such as a tour of a new lab, the team openly caucuses and carefully reflects on its capacity to add the event to the schedule. The individual contributions are honored and respected, even if the team decides to go in a different direction. Buonomo also encourages her team members to identify the value of each others unique proposition and leverage it for the teams success. Its All About M.E. has been in existence for several years, and the ASME Student Section has implemented numerous feedback mechanisms to measure its success and look for avenues to improve. We have experimented with different events and have been collecting data on their success, describes Buonomo. The team designed surveys, which also tested their communications abilities. In examining what has and hasnt worked the students, changed the product depending on the needs of the protégés, she says. For example, we realized it was better to have more events in the spring rather than fall, when it is a busier time. As the Student Section looks to plan another year of events, it is also looking for new ways to articulate its goals, and effectively market and promote the events to everyone involved. Sharing information with your team is job number one. Make the team a part of the mission, advises Buonomo. You have to get their buy-in and once you have that youre really unstoppable. Of course, theres also one additional secret of effective team management which involves creative communication: free food doesnt hurt! Got a Project Idea Your Student Section Can Apply for a Diversity Action Grant This project was supported by the ASME Diversity Action Grant (DAG) program that offers ASME student sections the opportunity to conduct mechanical engineering focused events/projects that promote STEM education and the inclusion of under-served communities and women. Diversity Action Grant Applicationsmay be submitted from the Beginning of the Fall Semester until the Deadline of November 1st.

A Matter of Degree

A Matter of Degree A Matter of Degree A Matter of Degree Engineers thrive on data and analysis, but are often stumped by whether to pursue an advanced degree. While a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) or a Masters in Science in Engineering (MSE) can lead to career advancement, graduate study isnt for everyone. It requires a lengthy commitment of time, money, and serious effort. Engineering careers used to be straightforward. After four years of college, you took a job as a junior engineer, eventually became a senior engineer, and might move up to engineering management. Everything you needed to know came through undergraduate training, on-the-job experience, and a few hard knocks. People with MBAs were off in the business office, decoding the mysteries of taking the company to the next level. Today, engineers must keep up with emerging technologies and understand the financial and strategic impact of their decisions. When designing parts or systems, you may face questions from marketing, accounting, and other departments. An advanced degree can put you on more equal footing with them provided you choose the right degree and apply your additional knowledge deftly. If youre considering graduate school, its important to consider the two paths. The MBA This popular degree program attracts people from diverse areas. MBA programs with liberal admissions policies may not even require previous business courses. Some evaluate work experience, academic transcripts, references, and personal interviews. The Graduate Management Assessment Test, which assesses quantitative reasoning and verbal skills, is a standard requirement. Most full-time MBA programs last two years, offering classes conducted on an undergraduate-type schedule. Part-time MBA programs, geared toward working adults, usually hold classes on weeknights. Part-time students carry a lighter course load, generally over three or more years. Executive MBA programs, for managers and executives (many with a decade or more of work experience), allow students to earn a degree in two years while working full-time. Classes often combine weekend and on-line coursework. A wide-ranging MBA curriculum includes economics, organizational behavior, marketing, accounting, finance, strategy, operations, and information technology management. Some students opt to specialize in a particular area, like international business or project management. MBA studies will familiarize you with business language, and provide a clear appreciation of how your actions affect an organizations bottom line. Your expanded skill set will be applicable in many different employment situations. The downside: many professionals hold MBA degrees. Youll need to emphasize the advantages of your specific knowledge, among other MBA-holders. The MSE A MS in Engineering builds on your undergraduate education, which provided the vocabulary, analytical reasoning, concepts, and principles essential for success in engineering. The MS program increases depth and breadth of analytic skills, enabling you to better understand and predict the performance of engineered systems or components, and solve complex engineering problems. Youll learn more sophisticated ways to understand and utilize research on engineered systems and their performance, through deeper knowledge of a specific engineering discipline. These studies help develop new perspective on emerging engineering trends. MS applicants usually need a bachelors degree and engineering background appropriate for the selected study area. Program structure is similar to undergraduate studies, with lectures, lab work, classes, exams, and often, a substantial project in the final year. Unlike MBA offerings, youll find few accelerated MS programs; theyll take several years to complete if you attend part-time. While an MBA program may require engineers to take prerequisite business classes, MSE programs typically allow students to take masters level classes immediately, without prerequisites. Choosing a Degree Either graduate path can advance a career. Each degree affords a valuable network of contacts in your own field, and across a broader spectrum. Decision-makers in any sector understand the skills and functions an MBA affords. A MSE is a valuable credential, but often, non-engineers may not realize its potential value to their organization. Youll have to let any potential employer know how your advanced degree can benefit their business. Identifying your career aspirations is the crucial step for deciding which degree better matches your goals. Investing in yourself can yield a high dividend: the right degree truly expands your career prospects. [Adapted from To a Higher Degree by Kevin Kuznia, for Mechanical Engineering, March 2008.]