Fractional Ownership of a Light Aircraft

Fractional Ownership of a Light AircraftFractional Ownership of a Light AircraftFractional, or shared ownership of small aircraft has become an ideal method of aircraft ownership for some pilots. Others, however, find shared ownershipto be expensive and inefficient. Lets analyze the shared ownership costs of a popular light aircraft, the Cirrus SR22 in comparison to full ownership, and the less-refined vorkaufsrecht of aircraft rental. Shared ownership of small aircraft came about as a result of a few companies seeking to reduce the ownership costs of small aircraft and expand the pool of buyers. The initial companies modeled their companies after fractional ownership companies in business and corporate aviation. Since then, the business model has been adjusted to more closely fit general aviation customers. In a Flying magazine article, Robert Goyer discusses a few advantages and disadvantages of fractional ownership with a company called AirShares Elite. Though the company shut dow n in 2014, the pros and cons described,remain the same. Advantages Shared ownership, while not for everyone, can be beneficial to the high-end general aviation buyers. Instead of paying full price for a new aircraft, fractional owners can often buy into a 1/8th, 1/6th, or 1/4th share and pay a fraction of the market price, reducing the complete costs of ownership. Take, for example, a Cirrus SR22 at a price of around $600,000. Few people can afford the cost of the aircraft in its entirety however, shared ownership significantly lowers the costs. In one example, a buyer can purchase 1/8th of a Cirrus SR22 for about $40,000, plus a monthly fee of about $900. Additionally, the buyer pays $100 per flight hour in operating costs. Total, the buyer would pay for the aircraft, plus, perhaps, about $25,500 per year. It is a cost saving compared to the purchase, operating and maintenance costs of a brand new Cirrus SR22, which we can estimate at about $600,000 plus at least $20,000/year i n operating and maintenance costs (see AOPA cost calculator). Another benefit of shared ownership includes the no-hassle operations of the plane. The shared ownership company takes care of everything from scheduling to maintenance, leaving the buyer with no worries. It is a worthwhile benefit to many, as maintenance for an aircraft can be costly and time-consuming. Additionally, the opportunity to fly brand new aircraft with state-of-the-art technology is an attractive advantage for some people. Disadvantages Disadvantages of shared ownership include maintaining a lower-than-normal equity in the aircraft. And some shared ownership companies give their buyers no equity in the plane at all. Scheduling can be restrictive, and the hours a buyer is allotted may only add up to about 75 hours per year on average. With aircraft rental between $200-300 per hour, 75 hours per year would cost about $15,000-22,500, a small fraction of the price of either shared or full ownership. Also, the location of these shared aircraft may be an inconvenience, as many of the aircraft are based at certain locations, which may or may not be near the buyer. Summary Shared ownership of a small aircraft can still be quite expensive, but it depends largely on the individual buyers preference. For buyers that have the money and are seriously considering the purchase of an airplane like a Cirrus SR22, shared ownership may be ideal. It certainly is ideal for those that dont want the hassle of maintenance or legal requirements associated with full aircraft ownership. Additionally, for those who place value on status and prefer a new, technologically advanced (TAA) aircraft, shared ownership would work out well, as the option to buy into new aircraft presents itself yearly. For the average buyer, though, the costs may still outweigh the benefits of shared ownership for aircraft in the same category and price range as the Cirrus SR22. Many pilots would find a 3-4-year-old used aircraft to be sufficient for their needs, and most will still find renting to be the most affordable option yet.

How to Be a Successful Sales Manager

How to Be a Successful abverkauf ManagerHow to Be a Successful Sales ManagerA ausverkauf manager is the person responsible for leading and coaching a kollektiv of salespeople. A sales managers tasks often include assigning sales territories, setting quotas, mentoring the members of herbei sales team, assigning sales training, building a sales plan, and hiring and firing salespeople. In large companies, sales quotas and plans are usually set at the executive level, and a managers main responsibility is to see to it that her salespeople meet those quotas and uphold any policies passed down from above. Some sales managers were managers from other departments who transferred to sales, but the majority are top-tier salespeople who were promoted to a management position. Because these former salespeople have little or no management training or experience, their main challenge is allowing their sales team to do the selling and limiting themselves to offering whatever guidance the salespeopl e need. Avoid Micromanagement Because a sales managers compensation is tied to how many sales her team makes, shes highly motivated to get her salespeople producing. It often leads to a scenario where she micromanages her sales team, hanging over their shoulders and constantly asking for updates. Its especially common with former star salespeople, who tend to want to feel in control of every situation particularly where their own salary is involved. Unfortunately, salespeople tend to be independent and self-motivated and dont work well in this kind of environment. As a result, their performance will suffer, leading to a vicious cycle where the sales manager becomes more and more frantic as her team fails to meet their quota. So sales management is a balancing act between providing guidance and direction without taking this to extremes. Learn Human Resources Skills Sales managers who are responsible for hiring and firing members of their sales team must learn some human reso urces skills. If a sales manager doesnt know how to critically review a resume, ask probing questions in the interview, or catch any red flags during the process, she will probably end up hiring salespeople who look good on paper but fail to produce. Firing an employee is never easy, but a sales manager must know when one of her salespeople simply isnt working out either because he isnt a good fit for the company, or because he isnt a good fit for a sales position at all. Knowing how to get her team motivated is a critical part of sales management. A smart sales manager has several tools in her arsenal, ranging from silly prizes like paper crowns to major monetary rewards for big producers. She must also know how to motivate a poor producer into getting back on track. And she must recognize when the problem is not a lack of motivation but something more basic, such as the lack of a specific sales skill. Understand the Big Picture Sales managers must also understand the big pict ure. In all but the smallest companies, sales managers are at the middle management level of responsibility. They supervise a sales team but are supervised themselves by a higher-level manager, often at the executive level. When a sales managers team performs well, her supervisor will often give her credit. But if a sales managers team fails to meet their quota, that executive will expect her to provide a solution. Have Excellent Communication Skills A sales manager must have excellent communication skills to succeed. She must be able to understand the sales plan and explain it clearly to her sales teams. She must also be able to understand her salespeoples needs and communicate those needs to the executive level. If a problem such as an unrealistic quota arises, she must be able to go to bat for her salespeople with upper management and get the situation resolved. When her salespeople do well, she must show them that their hard work is appreciated, and when they falter she must uncover the reason and fix it.

How to Ace an Interview Get a Job as a Nurse

How to Ace an Interview Get a Job as a NurseHow to Ace an Interview Get a Job as a Nurse It was bound to happen. Between an aging Baby Boomer generation and new innovations in medical care, the shift was inevitable.In 2018, healthcare jobs surpassed manufacturing and retail to become the largest surce of jobs in the U.S. And nursing has become one of the most in-demand professions across the country, with employers and hospitals hiring by the thousands and attracting candidates with everything from living stipends to five-figure signing bonuses.According to the American Nurses Association, the U.S. will have to produce over one million new registered nurses by 2022 to fulfill the nations growing healthcare needs. Given this climate, Saint Louis-based provider SSM Health has revolutionized its hiring process and candidate experience to attract top talent and hire nurses faster.We spoke with SSM talent coordinator, Britta Hammond, and talent specialist Sarah Franc is to understand what the modern interview process is like for graduate nurses, what soft and hard skills are essential in this era and how candidates can stand out from the crowd. Whether youre an RN, LPN, Home Health Nurse or any other variety, heres what you should know about the new hiring process .According to SSM, the hiring processes have changed vastly in the last five years. This is not your mothers interview.SSM Health in St. Louis has implemented many changes throughout the past 5 years that allow our candidates to move through our interviewing process at a much quicker pace, says Hammond. We utilize technology such as Montage Video Interviewing and TextRecruit to create an all-around positive candidate experience.By using Montage Interview Software, nursing candidates are able to express interest in a job, discuss their skills and background, plus showcase their personalities in a way that phone interviews didnt allow for. Through on-demand interviewing, candida tes can complete video interviews on their own time. Alternatively, live interviewing allows candidates and hiring team members to have live conversations faster.Recruiters are also using TextRecruit to communicate with candidates and create a convenient experience. Nursing students lives are hectic,to say the least. They have classes, clinical rotation, jobs, families, personal lives, internships, says Francis. Its overwhelming to even think how they are managing their time, and managing to pass classes Its imperative that I am able to communicate in a way that best meets their needs and lifestyles which is not always 9-5 geschftlicher umgang hours.SSM recognizes that video interviewing can be intimidating, however, they offer a variety of FAQs and resources to put candidates at ease and encourage them to put their best foot forward.Once a candidate applies online they are sent a request to Video Interview along with FAQ on what to expect, how the technology works, and friendly r eminders and tips, says Francis of the SSM Health recruiting process. It enables the candidate to complete at their own convenience rather than scheduling a phone interview that works around the recruiters often times hectic calendar during business hours. As soon as the video is completed, we are able to review. Each piece of the process is completed in real time.Technical skills are paramount in healthcare, but they can only be enhanced by soft skills and an approach to treatment that aligns with the hospital or clinic. For SSM Health, hiring nurses who exude compassion, respect, excellence, stewardship and community is key.At SSM Health we are looking for more than just the basic qualifications of a position to be met by a candidate while fulfilling the business need of the role, says Francis. We seek to find talent that is in alignment with the mission and values, and going to continue to grow in culture.Hammond adds that while bedside manner is important, she insists that it is a skill that can be found in nurses from a variety of backgrounds. Experience outside of healthcare can definitely contribute to their future career as a nurse. There are many skills and attributes that they can bring to a clinical setting.When hiring nurses , SSM is just as interested in the 20-something graduate as she is in the 40-year old career transitioner. Often times we see candidates returning to school to pursue nursing after they have already had careers in other industries, says Francis. It is fun to see the different backgrounds, and pathways that have led people into nursing- librarians, lawyers, mothers, social workers, medical techs of various kinds, law enforcement, and military to name a few.These backgrounds and diverse experiences make for better caregivers. Francis adds, As a human, it makes each person more relatable, compassionate, and understanding to the patients and their family members that they will be serving. As a candidate in a competitive job mar ket it is a strong factor of becoming a standout candidate.According to Glassdoor research , it takes about 24 days to complete the job interview process. however, in healthcare, and specifically at SSM Health, recruiters try to get that time to hire to be as efficient and short as possible, while not sacrificing quality.For graduate nurses, Hammond says they try to keep the process to one to three weeks before receiving an offer. This time is filled with the video interview, submitting/receiving references, interviewing and shadowing other nurses in multiple units to find the right fit.Mindful that interviewing can be exhausting for candidates, SSM Health has started to hire for Graduate Nurse Residency positions about 8 months in advance in order to secure new hires and start sessions which align with graduation dates. We are not alone in the industry to hire graduate nurses so far in advance, says Francis. It has quickly become the new normal, especially within the competitive n ursing market.Interviewing for your first or even your fifth job can be nerve-wracking. Whether youre stressed about resume formatting or you are an introvert who worries about panel interviews, there is plenty of support for nurses.Talent specialist Sarah Francis put this into action by talking to applicants one-on-one to help them through the process. Personally, I absolutely talk candidates through it. It can be intimidating, and overwhelming to think that their next big opportunity that they have been working towards for so many years in nursing school is coming down to a video interview. Therefore, there are plenty of resources to walk nursing candidates through the process.Furthermore, Glassdoor is a resource for every applicant to learn about an employer, read reviews from current and former employees, explore the company culture through videos and photos, and even get specific salary information for the role that you are interested in applying to. The goal, says Hammond, is to create an all-around positive candidate experience.If youre a nurse considering a new job, SSM Health may be the perfect place for you to start or expand your career. They re looking for mission-driven healthcare providers who have both the skills and the passion.Keep an open heart, open eyes, positive attitude, and willingness to learn Remember the why behind your reason to become a nurse. It is not just a job, it truly is a calling, insists Francis. In order to provide the patients the most excellent care, and holistic healing you have a choice to make in every interaction, word, and deed. Are you going to just do your job to provide care or are you going to be proactive to see the little needs of the individual in front of you, and provide exceptional care?At the more than 100-year old organization, nurses have a real opportunity to make an impact. In a national nursing shortage, and within the healthcare industry it is not a secret that there is a need, and a competitive na ture, says Francis. Candidates will be qualified to work anywhere upon completion of school. It comes down to where do you want to practice? What do you want your team to look like? What attributes are you looking for in a Team Leader? What specific patient population are you most passionate about? Is it Behavioral Health Medicine with the rising Opioid Epidemic that our country is facing? Is it an open-ended Medical Telemetry unit?Once you as a candidate figure out where your passion lies, SSM Health wants you to be able to fulfill that passion day in and day out.

5 Ways To Encourage Employee Volunteer Programs During the Holidays

5 Ways To Encourage Employee Volunteer Programs During the Holidays5 Ways To Encourage Employee Volunteer Programs During the Holidays5 Ways To Encourage Employee Volunteer Programs During the HolidaysTis the season of giving back and volunteering.Whether youre planning the office holiday party, shopping for that perfect gift, or preparing a long holiday vacation, the season brings opportunities to join colleagues, friends, and loved ones for a little merry-making. Why not extend your festivities to include volunteerism?Many companies offer employee volunteer programs and opportunities in the office. Throughout the year, corporations donate time, money, tangible goods, and other resources to help organizations provide much needed help to the underrepresented. What about the holidays? Most nonprofits center their marketing campaigns around the holidays, when people are more generous and likely to lend a hand.Thanksgiving and the weeks following Black Friday are perfect opportunities f or the office to pitch in and lend a hand. Here are five simple ways you can encourage your colleagues to volunteer in your community and make a difference during the holiday season.1. Give GivingTuesday a try.GivingTuesday sponsors a day of giving every year. The holiday falls on the first Tuesday following Black Friday. While many Americans tend to splurge on Black Friday and neglect the donation jars found in many stores, GivingTuesday offers the chance to redirect spending to a more charitable cause.The organization provides several out-of-the-box ideas for planning a company-wide giving day. One idea provided by GivingTuesday is to choose one non-profit and collect donations at your office and/or store. Companies can even offer to match each contribution, up to a specific dollar amount, and provide a thermometer-style measurement or ruler to track the donations which helps customers and gruppe members feel pride in their accomplishments. Also, consider providing name cards for those who donate, including the amount. Hang those cards in a public area so all can see the impact your campaign has on others.Small businesses shouldnt worry about the engagement or time required to plan GivingTuesday. The organization provides resources to help plan, promote, and continue giving throughout the year. From social media posts to street signs and press releases, GivingTuesday has planned every angle for the holiday season, hoping to stimulate giving and other holiday volunteer opportunities.2. Bring Santa to life.Children are the primary focus during the holidays. However, many parents are unable to provide basic needs, let alone toys and special treats. Why not surprise a young boy or girl this season with a stocking full of toys from Santa? Sponsor a toy or clothing drive during your office party. If you run a retail or hospitality tafelgeschirr, set up containers, and ask customers to drop off items for donation. Include information for monetary donations as well. One good program is Toys for Tots. This organization provides all the marketing and resources needed for a satisfactory drive. Toys for Tots, founded by the U.S. Marine Corps, dedicates its time to helping poverty-stricken families by providing Christmas gifts for children. Click on the following link to contact Toys for Tots to learn about toy drives and ways to volunteer in your community.Related12 Holiday Gift Ideas for Job Seekers3. Help feed the homeless.Nearly a quarter of Americans face hunger and have difficulty providing food for their families daily, let alone providing turkey with all the trimmings at Thanksgiving. One way to help during the season is by serving food at a local homeless shelter or soup kitchen. rtlich food banks frequently seek volunteers to help cook and serve holiday dinners.The Salvation Army also seeks volunteers and donations for its annual holiday meal. This organization provides clothing, food, toys, and other much needed holiday aid to families in America. One of the Salvation Armys more under-promoted services is nursing home and senior care help during the season. Volunteers bring food to the more than one million hungry seniors in America.Click on the following link to contact the Salvation Army for more information about ways to volunteer in your community.4. Give a home for the holidays.Not everyone will sing Ill be home for Christmas this year. Homelessness is a persistent issue in America, but your employee volunteer program can help those without a home this holiday. Plan a paid volunteer day, and send your kollektiv to one of Habitat for Humanitys thousand locations. This is an opportunity to learn about the organizations mission and gain some valuable repair skills.For those who arent handy with a hammer, Habitat has the perfect volunteer solution. The organization sponsors ReStores in many large cities. These stores sell renovated housing items, furniture, tools, etc., at a discounted price. The proceeds go toward s renovating or building new homes.RelatedJobs in Demand During the Holiday Season5. Think about individual commitments.Some companies just cant spare the time or people to dedicate an entire day volunteering. Its understandable Companies, particularly small businesses, must manage their resources and sometimes cannot afford to volunteer. Another problem is coordinating a time slot that fits everyones work and personal schedules, and team members may find it difficult to schedule time outside normal business hours. Dont worry Theres still a solution to engage your team and find ways to volunteer in your community.Consider hosting a volunteer competition. Offer to provide prizes or awards for the person who volunteers the most hours or provides the largest donation. Ask team members if they are willing to donate a few sick days to the pile, and offer it as an incentive to take time off to help. If your supervisor doesnt approve of the sick days, advocate for a few hours each weekend or after hours. Allow team members for choose the nonprofit they want to support and their own volunteer schedule.Another viable solution is volunteer matching, also known as skill-based volunteering (SBV). VolunteerMatch offers a free service that connects charitable organizations to professionals and subject matter experts. Ask your office team members to sign up for a free account and offer their professional advice or services to organizations in need. Not only does this help reduce the cost of expensive professional services, volunteers can list the job or consulting opportunity in their resume.Plan your volunteerism early.Finding volunteering opportunities during the holidays can be more difficult than most people imagine. The demand for volunteer gigs increase during the holidays, but more people feel the generosity bug and wants to help. Its just something about the season that brings out the best in us. Start looking for opportunities as early as possible.Keep in mind, volu nteering isnt a one-time, show-up-and-leave task. Nonprofits have to coordinate training and spend valuable resources to offer these opportunities. Its just not worth the time or effort for one company to send a team for a few hours. Plan your volunteering activity around the needs of the organization. Call ahead and ask about training, time commitment, etc. Nonprofits often suspend volunteer training and recruitment during the week of Christmas up to the week after News Years. Offer to send your team a few weeks before the event for training and orientation.Click on the following link for more advice on getting ahead.Need to help with your resume? Request a free resume review todayRecommended Reading5 Tips for Surviving Your Office Holiday PartyWinter Internships How Students Can Make the Most of Holiday BreakMake Your Holiday Job Search List and Check It Twice

The most important life-changing habit in 2 words START NOW

The most important life-changing habit in 2 words START NOWThe most important life-changing habit in 2 words START NOWMillions of people are convinced that sohonigweinhing must change in their lives to be better, to live life to the fullest or pursue something meaningful.That project, that blog, that podcast, that ebook, that art, that side project is what Im talking about.Many people consistently hold back, and waste precious time.In the past twelve months, Ive written hundreds of posts on Medium (with an average of 250K views a month). Ive written a book (Working in The Gig Economy), commissioned by a reputable publisher in the UK.Ive launched my first zugnglich course. Im working on my second online course. Ive built a sustainable newsletter (with over 50K subscribers, and still growing). Im working on aleidher newsletter for startups.Where on earth did I find the time?Heres the truth. If you lack time to do work that matters to you, youre probably wasting a lot of your free time. If you deeply care about your lifes work, you will make time, even if its just 30 minutes a day building or creating something that doesnt feel like work.Instead of the excitement of experimentation, many people feel self-doubt and fear. They just go through life. Just like that.Passing through. Letting time tick away. Fast.Letting things happen.Letting every day be just like the day before and the day after.Nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing you read about in history books.Nothing unique. Just average.Despite the many inspirational content encouraging us to chase after what we believe, we often fall victim to procrastination and a fear of even just starting.We inadvertently hurt ourselves by focusing on short-term pleasure at the cost of the long-term.An important obstacle to pursuing our best self is what behavioural economists call time inconsistency - the human brains tendency to value immediate rewards more highly than future rewards.Our motivation to start any task depends on us seeing value in it, yet we place more value on what is happening currently over what the future holds and justify this decision by emotionally disconnecting ourselves from our future self, writes Jory Mackay.The good news is, you can overcome your brains sabotage.Just starting is a mental battleSeth Godin once said, Ready is an emotional choice, the decision to put something into the world The paradox is obvious the more important the idea, the less we can be ready. And so we fret that the world, or our market, isnt ready for the leap Everywhere we turn, the doors appear to be closed, not open.You have probably convinced your self that you are not ready.And guess what, you will never be ready to start anything.Your greatest achievement wont happen without starting.The only way to get ahead is to overcome that state of mind.Start. Every single day. Start and then restart.It doesnt matter if you fail.Let go of your fear and reconnect with the future vision you want so badly.Bi anca Bass says Never forget that everyone youve ever met has worried about failing at something. The difference is that some people - the people whose stories you have heard and applauded - chose to start anyway. Were all scared and were all making it up as we go along. So start and start now.So make that connect, buy that domain, start that podcast, write your first post on Medium, write your first page of that ebook, record that video, share that art.Today, you have the opportunity to transcend from a disempowered mindset of existence to an empowered reality of purpose-driven living. Today is a new day that has been handed to you for shaping. You have the tools, now get out there and create a masterpiece. says Steve Maraboli.The stories you tell yourself and the things you believe about yourself can either prevent change from happening or allow new ideas to blossom.Do everything you can to overcome that resistance brain.Once you do, and take a step, youll feel the power of motio n, youll feel the rut moving behind you. That one step - its all it takes to start moving and creating again.Changing course can be challenging, but what makes it exciting is the restoration of hope.When you are a crossroads, Bruce Chant recommends that you ask yourself three important questions to re-calibrate and get moving in the right direction again.Those three questions areWhat do you want? Name it. Define it. Call it out.What is stopping you? A belief or mindset. Fear. An excuse.What do you need to do to obtain it? Now you can work to address the issue, but do so by starting small.Master your mindsetWhen you begin to master your mindset, you will be able to make new healthy choices, embrace a positive outlook in life, commit to your goals and atcually get them done.You will most likely schliff what you start and start leading the awesome life you expect and crave.Its within your reach if you can commit to your dreams, goals and visions.Define your identity and get startedThe one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only you can. - Neil GaimanWho are you?What do you stand for?What do you want to be known for?What standards have you set for yourself?Define your most important role in this world and start shaping your reality based on that.You are YOU.Your challenge in life, in fact your lifes work, is to become the best possible version of you.Not an imperfect approximation of someone else.Purpose fuels your motivation.What do you look forward to achieving tomorrow, next quarter or in the next five years? Imagine waking up every day excited for what youve set out to accomplish. That passion alone will propel you to the next level.Raise the bar, crush your goals, and make a dent. Its not too lateMany people are living their entire lives without ever standing up and stepping out.But its exciting to witness the rare few who dare themselve s and step out of their personal bubbles to work on achieving something worthwhile.Most of use live with the stubborn illusion that we will always have tomorrow to do todays work.We consistently hold onto this belief and keep procrastinating until work becomes a heavy burden.Left unchecked, we always default toward a more comfortable path. Your comfortable zone provides a state of mental security.You can understand why its so hard to kick your brain out of your comfort zone.Malcolm Gladwell once said, Outliers are those who have been given opportunities - and who have had the strength and presence of mind to seize them.Outliers seize opportunities and run with them.People who realize how little time they have and are driven to make the absolute most of it. Those are the ones who really live the awesome and extraordinary lives.Be an outlierFind your boundary, then push itThe biggest competition is myself. I am not looking to follow others or pull them down. Im planning to test my ow n boundaries. - RainKnowing what youre going for is what will align your focus and skill.Pick a target and move towards it no matter the obstacles.Aim to push boundaries. Break your own records.Tackle the fear that has kept you from living your best life. Your mind has a way of rising to the occasion. Challenge it, and it will reward you.Be good at making time for what matters to you - especially when you dont feel like it.The fastest way to stop being average is to recognize the possibilities of living with courage and taking action right now in the direction of your dreams.Give yourself permission to pursue whats important to you.Dont just talk about wanting to do things or try a thousand different things and then abandon them.Make something stick. Become a master at them.Evita Peron once said My biggest fear in life is to be forgotten.No one ever came to this planet to take a back seat, play second fiddle or make it small.Push the impossible.Dont doubt yourself.Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever has.Heres the real truthThe amazing truth is that youre just as good as anyone else who has pursued their best and life workYoure just as good as anyone who is living a fulfilling life.The only difference is the will to just start and keep going even if its not perfect.Because having an amazing life starts with getting started.Taking a step.An all important step that will change everything.The steps you take today will compound over time.Set small goals and get started meeting those goals will help you build momentum.Small wins will compound.Dont wait for your dreams to happen.You must strive toward them.So the real truth is that you have a choice right now.A choice to pursue something you deeply care about.You can choose to do something that brings out the best in you. Or you can take the easy path.Which one will you choose?Give yourself a new and significant challenge today, and keep moving in the direction of your dreams.Ready to start a life-changing ha bit?Im creating a course to help you master the kaizen principles for starting and maintaining healthy habits. Kaizen Habits will teach you how to make any change in life, one small habit at a time. Sign up to be notified when it launches.You can also subscribe to Postanly Weekly (my free weekly digest of the best posts about behaviour change that affect health, wealth, and productivity). Join over 50,000 people on a mission to build a better life.This article first appeared on Medium.

The Best Method You Need to Be Using for How Many Pages Can a Resume Be Revealed

The Best Method You Need to Be Using for How Many Pages Can a Resume Be Revealed Most significantly, the document must be shown in the suitable format. Moreover there are many resume templates Microsoft Word to select from it is really tricky to land on that 1 link which will actually do the job for you. Most resume templates may be used to apply for different kinds of jobs. Word Resume templates are complete with the whole outline structure and the majority of the content that produces way for a powerful resume in an issue of just two or three minutes. The Simple resume formats must be used dependent on the kinds of templates they are. Resume templates are one method to guarantee structure behind your resume. The templates are extremely simple to edit and are totally layered. Word Resume templates are simple to find or spot on the web and can be downloaded for more use. Contrary to what you may have heard, you do not need to squeeze 15 decades of work experience into a one -page resume. Possessing a part-time job is quite critical in helping students learn transferable abilities, states Miner-Rosen. If work experience isnt your key highlight or whether youve got an inconsistent work history, its best advisable to start your resume with your qualifications. If you think some of your previous career experience wont earn any difference to an HR erase it. When you get a superior picture where you applying think why youd be a terrific fit for the organization. Within this format, you may have to create a standalone title page, or you might be requested to include things like the title on the very first page of your text. These architecture template pages are made to be visually attractive to grab the interest of the recruiter and produce your resume stand out. Include links to your private site, blog and societal pages. If youre asked for a title page, be certain to stick to the particular guidelines youre given. The information and elements you in clude will be contingent on the form of document youre creating and other specifics of the undertaking. Be sure that your contact information on top of each page of your resume is accurate. At length, consider if theres any info youve included that is irrelevant or unnecessary. The Appeal of How Many Pages Can a Resume Be To start with, its important to comprehend what the purpose of a CV is. Resume formats ensure that your best achievements are right there on the top, prepared to be noticed. An excellent resume ought to be standard. The very first key is to realize how resumes are organized. Things You Wont Like About How Many Pages Can a Resume Be and Things You Will Read below for more thorough info on the length of time your resume should be, and strategies for making your resume the ideal length. Unless youre a senior executive, the ideal resume length is one or two pages. The larger picture Now youve got a good foundation for your CV. You can choose the template whi ch is suitable for your preference along with requirements. The trump in applications You do have now an amazing CV, but theres another element you may use. By switching your resume over to another font, you might be in a stelle to acquire the additional space you demand. Save yourself from getting nervous and use the readymade resume templates that are obtainable for all types of job-profiles. Permit the content drive the period of your resume. Resume keywords can be immensely important and are an important part of expert quality resume wording. Irrelevant information will often lead to your resume getting rejected. Resumes do not need to be boring. They can be used for a variety of reasons, but most often they are used to secure new employment. They may be organized in different ways. They provide the all important first impressions to an employer that an applicant cannot give during the earliest phase of the application process. Selecting the most suitable words to desc ribe job performance is really important. A well drafted, neat and impressive resume will certainly catch the interest of the possible employer and so boosts the probability of getting the job. Capture the interest of all possible recruiters with the perfect resume. You dont know when the upcoming awesome job opportunity will arise, and you are interested in being all set for it since youve got the very best chance of being considered for a job if you apply within the initial 24 hours. Top Choices of How Many Pages Can a Resume Be Usually, whenever you have approximately seven decades of experience, youre prepared for another page. In the corporate world, the titelbild page design is largely dependent upon the essence of the organization and the kind of document youre producing. Unless youre a graphic designer looking for employment, theres no need to over think the plan of your one-pager. In reality, if you would like to occupy in work in the health care field, youll have t o use different action words than an individual who is aims at work in the sales sector.

How to Sell Older Clients on Newer Recruiting Technology - Spark Hire

How to Sell Older Clients on Newer Recruiting Technology - Spark HireIn todays technologically advanced world, it can seem almost impossible that any recruiter would have clients who are notlage on board with newer recruiting technology, such as video interviews. However, this can be the case with many older clients who seem to think that what has always worked, will still work.Do not be discouraged it is possible to sell ansicht old-school clients on newer recruiting technologyExplain the time it savesWho doesnt want to save time? In todays busy world, your clients highly value their time and being able to efficiently conduct business.When you are talking with your clients about using newer technology in their recruiting process, be sure that you reference the time it will save in the process. Referencing efficiency and the speed with which your clients will be able to identify and hire top talent is something that will be sure to grab their attention.Get down to the dollarWhile ef ficiency is important to your clients, you better believe that cost is just as important Point out that by saving time and recruiting more efficiently, your client will overall save money. Needing to utilize fewer resources in a shorter amount of time, as well as being able to hire top talent before competitors, will all lower your clients recruiting expenses.Once your clients realize that newer recruiting technology will save them money, they will be all over these new recruiting resourcesThe proof is in the numbersAs always, the proof is in the numbers. If you have not been tracking your ROI when it comes to sources of recruiting, you need to start doing so immediately. When you are able to show proof to your clients that the newer recruiting technology actually works by saving time and money, you are better able to make the sell.Keep track of the sources of recruiting that you use for each position. Tracking the time to fill and cost to fill are both important, but also keep trac k of successful hires. The successful hires are the hires that are still with your clients.Being able to pull out a clean chart of metrics when it comes to recruiting sources used is something tangible that your clients will be able to hold and look at it, making it more believable for them.In your metrics, be sure to track not only the data for newer technology, but also include the same data on older technology. This will offer your client a good comparison between the two.How do you sell your clients on newer recruiting technology? Please share your tips in the comments below.Image Goodluz/BigStock.com

These professions attract the highest number of psychopaths

These professions attract the highest number of psychopathsThese professions attract the highest number of psychopathsPsychopaths are difficult to spot most of the time. Theyre not the Jack the Ripper caricatures you see in films or read about in books. Often, psychopaths appear normal, which makes them hard to identify.In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM-5, someone with a psychopathic personality type is defined as having an inflated, grandiose sense of themself, and a knack for manipulating other people. But a diagnosis is rarely simple.One thing psychopaths tend to have in common is the careers they go for. For example, youre likely to find a lot of them in leadership positions because of their ruthlessness, charisma, and fearlessness. Theyre very good at making snap decisions, but not so good at the empathetic professions like nursing or therapy.Kevin Dutton, a British psychologist and writer, specializes in the study of psychopathy. In his book T he Wisdom of Psychopaths What Saints, Spies, and Serial Killers Can Teach Us About Success, he made a list of the types of jobs that attract the most psychopaths.Functional psychopaths, as Dutton calls them, use their detached, unflinching, and charismatic personalities to succeed in mainstream society. In other words, psychopaths often live as normal people with a few traits that make them different.Ladders is now on SmartNewsDownload the SmartNews app and add the Ladders channel to read the latest career news and advice wherever you go.Scroll down to see what the Top 10 career choices for psychopaths are, ranked in ascending order by popularity.10. Civil servantBeing a civil servant is the 10th most popular career choice for psychopaths, according to Dutton. In fact, in 2014, UK Government officials considered recruiting psychopaths specifically to keep order, because they are very good in crises and have no feelings for others, nor moral code, and tend to be very intelligent and logical.9. ChefMost psychopaths have no interest in harming others, so dont worry about the fact chefs have access to open flames and knives during their workday. Psychopaths thrive in chaos where other people may fail, which could be one reason they work so well in a hectic kitchen.8. Clergy personIn a blog post for Psychology Today, FBI veteran Joe Navarro explains some of the reasons psychopathic people may go for a career in the Clergy. Among them are the fact religious organizations may provide a means for people to exploit others, while also giving legitimacy to their actions. Also, it is easy to make alliances, which can give manipulative people the upper hand in gaining access to sensitive information.7. Police officerPsychopaths dont necessarily have ulterior motives. One of their traits is being very cool-headed under stress. Police officers have a highly intense and dangerous job, so its a huge benefit if you are calm in a crisis. This could be a reason law enforcement is a popular career choice for psychopaths.6. JournalistDutton lists some of the traits of psychopaths as charm, focus, mindfulness, ruthlessness, and action - which are all advantageous in journalism, especially when you have strict deadlines and you have to get answers from sources.5. SurgeonOne study, published in the journal The Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, sought to find out whether surgeons really were likely to be psychopaths. Results showed that consultants at teaching hospitals scored higher on a scale of psychopathic personality than district general hospital consultants, who scored higher than the general population. Possible reasons the authors give in their discussion is that stress immunity is the overriding personality trait of doctors, and the fact surgeons have to make quick, difficult decisions every day.4. SalespersonA psychopathic person who works in sales probably shows traits such as shameless self-promotion, stealing other peoples conta cts, a relentless desire to earn the most money, and an inability to be a team player. Depending on how your organization works, this could either be your worst nightmare, or the dream sales candidate.3. Media person in TV or radioSome psychopaths also exhibit narcissism, which is arguably useful in a job that requires a lot of public focus. The popularity of this career choice for psychopaths could also be because being a TV anchor or radio personality also requires you to be calm in the face of pressure.2. LawyerIn Confessions of a Sociopath A Life Spent Hiding In Plain Sight, author M. E. Thomas, a self-proclaimed sociopath, claims being a sociopath helped her be a better attorney. In a blog post for Psychology Today, attorney Ruth Lee Johnson says that although psychopathic traits like self-confidence, cold-heartedness, and deceitful charm may be handy for lawyers, its simplistic to say these traits alone are enough. In the right context, though, they could make someone very for midable.1. CEOPsychopaths have something called a resilience to chaos. This doesnt just mean they keep a cool head under stress - they also sometimes create havoc for everyone else, because it makes them look good when everyone around them is struggling. Some psychopaths may use this method to climb the career ladder all the way to the top. Others arent necessarily as manipulative and reach the top through their skills alone.This article first appeared on Business Insider.

How to Repair a Work Relationship After You Snap - The Muse

How to Repair a Work Relationship After You Snap - The MuseHow to Repair a Work Relationship After You Snap Your value to your team cant be understated- and everyone knows it. But sometimes youre so focused on the task at hand that it leads you to snap at one of your colleagues. And rather than inspiring everyone to make that final push to the finish line, it brings the groups process to a screeching halt. Of course, youre probably smart enough to know that you need to fix the situation. But a half-hearted apology probably wont cut it after you lash out. Instead, here are a few painful (but necessary) steps to repair the relationship. 1. Take a Minute to VentIve lost count of the number of times Ive suggested venting after youve addressed a few other things. Its usually the type of activity thats best to save until after youve given yourself a few minutes to digest whats just happened. But, in the immediate aftermath of yelling at one of your colleagues, Ive found that its a much bet ter idea to get it all out before you approach that part again. Think of this as that email you write to a person whos driving you nuts and making your life miserable. As you probably know if youve done that, once you see it all in writing, you realize its kind of mean and end up leaving it in your draft folder. Take a few moments to write a letter to your colleague (but make sure youre writing it in a distributionspolitik thatll never be seen). When you see everything spelled out, youll likely realize that many of those things dont need to be repeated- and that perhaps you overreacted. And because now have that clarity, youll have a much easier time taking the next steps.2. Own the Mistakes You MadeEven though youre convinced that youre right more often than not, its important to think deeply about how you mightve contributed to what just went down. After all, even if your colleague escalated the situation, it usually takes two to tango. So, before you talk to that person again, jo t down two or three possible ways that you made the sitaution more heated- and then set up a meeting with that person so you can acknowledge those things. Its never fun to admit your mistakes, especially when you know that you were just trying to move a project forward. However, saying that youre sorry (and really meaning it) shows everyone on your team that you have some serious leadership potential. If apologizing isnt your forte, make it easier on yourself by using one of these apology templates. Youll be surprised by how productive a conversation can be when youre the first to say youre sorry.3. Let Your Teammate Tell You How They Feel- and Actually ListenAfter you let your teammate know how you feel you let them down, quickly pivot and stop talking. Even the most sincere apology can fall flat if youre dominating the conversation. It can make the other person feel as if youre trying to end the meeting on your terms, without much of a care about how the experience was for them. Y es, its noble that youve taken the step to say, Sorry for that terrible thing I did to you. But that apology will resonate so much more if you also shut your mouth and listen to that other person tell you how your harsh words made them feel. You might not leave as best friends, but youll both have a better understanding of what you were trying to achieve when you snapped. It would be so much easier if you went about your life and pretended that you never yelled at your teammate. But even as time passes, people dont forget the times you were difficult to work with, especially if you didnt clear the air afterwards. You might be in for some uncomfortable conversations, but ultimately, youll learn a lot about yourself in the process- and youll gain valuable experience in managing the tricky landscape of working closely with other people.

How to make yourself work when youre not in the mood

How to make yourself work when you're not in the mood How to make yourself work when you're not in the mood Procrastination affects everyone. It sneaks up on most people when they’re tired or bored, but for some, procrastination can be a full-fledged addiction. They avoid all day the work that is right in front of them, only to go home and toil late into the night, frantically trying to finish what they could have easily completed before dinner.“Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him.” â€" Charles DickensWith the holidays approaching, the high season for procrastination is upon us. It’s even more difficult to get work done when you’re stuck at the office, wishing you were enjoying time with family and friends.Still, the procrastination cycle can become crippling at any time of the year, which is troubling, because recent studies show that procrastination magnifies stress, reduces performance, and leads to poor health.Psychologists at Case Western Reserve University conducted an interesting experiment where they offered college students a date range instead of a single d ue date for their papers. The researchers tracked the date that students turned in their papers and compared this to their stress levels and overall health. Students who waited until the last minute to turn in their papers had greater stress and more health issues than others did. They also received worse grades on their papers and in the class overall than students who turned their papers in earlier.A study published earlier this year by Bishop’s University explored the link between chronic procrastination and stress-related health issues. The researchers found a strong link between procrastination and hypertension and heart disease, as procrastinators experienced greater amounts of stress and were more likely to delay healthy activities, such as proper diet and exercise.Procrastination is fueled by excuses. We cannot expect to overcome procrastination and improve our health and productivity until we’re able to overcome the negative mental habits that lead us to procrastinate i n the first place.What follows are the most troubling excuses we use to help us procrastinate. They’re troubling because they’re the most difficult excuses to conquer. For each, I offer preventative strategies so you can overcome procrastination and get productive, even when you don’t feel like working.“I don’t know where to begin.”Paradoxically, we often find ourselves frozen like a deer in headlights when confronted with a difficult task. As well, much like deer, the best thing we can do is move in any direction, fast. When a task is particularly difficult, you need all the time you are given to complete it. There’s no sense in wasting valuable time by allowing yourself to be overwhelmed by the complexity of the task.The key here is to not allow fear of the whole to stop you from engaging in the parts. When something looks too difficult, simply break it down. What can you accomplish in 60 minutes that will help you slay the beast? Then, what can you do in 60 more min utes?Breaking your task into shorter periods (where effort is guaranteed) allows you to move out of the “deer in headlights” frame of mind. Before you know it, you’ve accomplished something, and the task goes from way too hard to absolutely doable. When it comes to challenging tasks, inactivity is the enemy.“There are too many distractions.”For most of us, getting started on a large project is a challenge. We stumble over all sorts of smaller, irrelevant tasks that distract us from the real assignment. We answer emails, make calls, check the news online…anything to avoid the elephant in the room.Being busy is not the same as being productive. When you find yourself avoiding a particularly sizeable task, slow down and visualize what will happen if you continue to put off the task. Distractions numb you by shifting your attention away from these consequences (a.k.a., away from reality). Reminding yourself of what will happen if you continue procrastinating is a great way t o make distractions less enchanting so that you can focus on your work.“It’s too easy.”Tasks that are too easy can be surprisingly dangerous, because when you put them off, it’s easy to underestimate how much time they’ll take to complete. Once you finally sit down to work on them, you discover you have not given yourself enough time to complete the task (or at least to complete it well).If a task is too easy, draw connections to the bigger picture, because these connections turn mundane tasks into a fundamental (and  do it now) part of your job. For example, you might hate data entry, but when you think about the role the data plays in the strategic objectives of your department, the task becomes worthwhile. When the smaller, seemingly insignificant things don’t get done or get done poorly, it has a ripple effect that’s felt for miles.“I don’t like it.”Procrastination isn’t always about a task being too easy or too hard. Sometimes, you just don’t want to do it. It can be very hard to get moving on a task in which you’re disinterested, much less despise.Unfortunately, there’s no foolproof way to teach yourself to find something interesting, because certain things will never draw your attention. Rather than pushing these tasks to the back of your plate, make it a rule that you cannot touch any other project or task until you’ve finished the dreaded one. In this way, you are policing yourself by forcing yourself to “eat your vegetables before you can have dessert.”When you do get started, you can always turn the task into a game. How can you achieve your task more efficiently? How can you change the steps of the process and still produce the same result? Bringing mindfulness to a dreaded task gives you a fresh perspective. The task itself might not be fun, but the game can be.“I don’t think I can do it.”You are assigned a new project by your supervisor. In fact, it’s one you’ve wished he or she would give you for a whi le. However, now that it’s in your lap, you simply cannot get started. You cannot get past thoughts of failure.  What’s going to happen if I blow it? How am I going to do this? Could I be fired over this?  It can reach a point where avoiding failure seems like the best possible option. After all, if you never engage in a project, you’ll never fail. Right?Wrong. Procrastination itself is failure  - failure to utilize your innate talents and abilities. When you procrastinate, you’re failing to believe in yourself.Remember when you were learning to drive and you could only look straight ahead, because if you looked at something off the road, you’d unwittingly turn the wheel in that direction? Worrying about everything that might go wrong if you fail has the same effect. It pulls you toward failure.You must shift your mind in a confident direction by focusing on all the positive things that are going to happen when you succeed. When you believe you can do something- and you v isualize the positive things that will come from doing well- you equip yourself to succeed. This thought process gets your mind headed in the right direction. Worrying about everything that could go wrong only binds your hands. Break the chains and get started!Bringing it all togetherFighting procrastination teaches us to fully engage in our work, get more creative with it, and, ultimately, get more done.Travis Bradberry  is the co-author of  Emotional Intelligence 2.0,  and the cofounder of  TalentSmart. This article first appeared at LinkedIn. How to make yourself work when you're not in the mood Procrastination affects everyone. It sneaks up on most people when they’re tired or bored, but for some, procrastination can be a full-fledged addiction. They avoid all day the work that is right in front of them, only to go home and toil late into the night, frantically trying to finish what they could have easily completed before dinner.“Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him.” â€" Charles DickensWith the holidays approaching, the high season for procrastination is upon us. It’s even more difficult to get work done when you’re stuck at the office, wishing you were enjoying time with family and friends.Still, the procrastination cycle can become crippling at any time of the year, which is troubling, because recent studies show that procrastination magnifies stress, reduces performance, and leads to poor health.Psychologists at Case Western Reserve University conducted an interesting experiment where they offered college students a date range instead of a single d ue date for their papers. The researchers tracked the date that students turned in their papers and compared this to their stress levels and overall health. Students who waited until the last minute to turn in their papers had greater stress and more health issues than others did. They also received worse grades on their papers and in the class overall than students who turned their papers in earlier.A study published earlier this year by Bishop’s University explored the link between chronic procrastination and stress-related health issues. The researchers found a strong link between procrastination and hypertension and heart disease, as procrastinators experienced greater amounts of stress and were more likely to delay healthy activities, such as proper diet and exercise.Procrastination is fueled by excuses. We cannot expect to overcome procrastination and improve our health and productivity until we’re able to overcome the negative mental habits that lead us to procrastinate i n the first place.What follows are the most troubling excuses we use to help us procrastinate. They’re troubling because they’re the most difficult excuses to conquer. For each, I offer preventative strategies so you can overcome procrastination and get productive, even when you don’t feel like working.“I don’t know where to begin.”Paradoxically, we often find ourselves frozen like a deer in headlights when confronted with a difficult task. As well, much like deer, the best thing we can do is move in any direction, fast. When a task is particularly difficult, you need all the time you are given to complete it. There’s no sense in wasting valuable time by allowing yourself to be overwhelmed by the complexity of the task.The key here is to not allow fear of the whole to stop you from engaging in the parts. When something looks too difficult, simply break it down. What can you accomplish in 60 minutes that will help you slay the beast? Then, what can you do in 60 more min utes?Breaking your task into shorter periods (where effort is guaranteed) allows you to move out of the “deer in headlights” frame of mind. Before you know it, you’ve accomplished something, and the task goes from way too hard to absolutely doable. When it comes to challenging tasks, inactivity is the enemy.“There are too many distractions.”For most of us, getting started on a large project is a challenge. We stumble over all sorts of smaller, irrelevant tasks that distract us from the real assignment. We answer emails, make calls, check the news online…anything to avoid the elephant in the room.Being busy is not the same as being productive. When you find yourself avoiding a particularly sizeable task, slow down and visualize what will happen if you continue to put off the task. Distractions numb you by shifting your attention away from these consequences (a.k.a., away from reality). Reminding yourself of what will happen if you continue procrastinating is a great way t o make distractions less enchanting so that you can focus on your work.“It’s too easy.”Tasks that are too easy can be surprisingly dangerous, because when you put them off, it’s easy to underestimate how much time they’ll take to complete. Once you finally sit down to work on them, you discover you have not given yourself enough time to complete the task (or at least to complete it well).If a task is too easy, draw connections to the bigger picture, because these connections turn mundane tasks into a fundamental (and  do it now) part of your job. For example, you might hate data entry, but when you think about the role the data plays in the strategic objectives of your department, the task becomes worthwhile. When the smaller, seemingly insignificant things don’t get done or get done poorly, it has a ripple effect that’s felt for miles.“I don’t like it.”Procrastination isn’t always about a task being too easy or too hard. Sometimes, you just don’t want to do it. It can be very hard to get moving on a task in which you’re disinterested, much less despise.Unfortunately, there’s no foolproof way to teach yourself to find something interesting, because certain things will never draw your attention. Rather than pushing these tasks to the back of your plate, make it a rule that you cannot touch any other project or task until you’ve finished the dreaded one. In this way, you are policing yourself by forcing yourself to “eat your vegetables before you can have dessert.”When you do get started, you can always turn the task into a game. How can you achieve your task more efficiently? How can you change the steps of the process and still produce the same result? Bringing mindfulness to a dreaded task gives you a fresh perspective. The task itself might not be fun, but the game can be.“I don’t think I can do it.”You are assigned a new project by your supervisor. In fact, it’s one you’ve wished he or she would give you for a whi le. However, now that it’s in your lap, you simply cannot get started. You cannot get past thoughts of failure.  What’s going to happen if I blow it? How am I going to do this? Could I be fired over this?  It can reach a point where avoiding failure seems like the best possible option. After all, if you never engage in a project, you’ll never fail. Right?Wrong. Procrastination itself is failure  - failure to utilize your innate talents and abilities. When you procrastinate, you’re failing to believe in yourself.Remember when you were learning to drive and you could only look straight ahead, because if you looked at something off the road, you’d unwittingly turn the wheel in that direction? Worrying about everything that might go wrong if you fail has the same effect. It pulls you toward failure.You must shift your mind in a confident direction by focusing on all the positive things that are going to happen when you succeed. When you believe you can do something- and you v isualize the positive things that will come from doing well- you equip yourself to succeed. This thought process gets your mind headed in the right direction. Worrying about everything that could go wrong only binds your hands. Break the chains and get started!Bringing it all togetherFighting procrastination teaches us to fully engage in our work, get more creative with it, and, ultimately, get more done.Travis Bradberry  is the co-author of  Emotional Intelligence 2.0,  and the cofounder of  TalentSmart. This article first appeared at LinkedIn.

Army Criminal History Waiver Information

Army Criminal History Waiver Information Army Criminal History Waiver Information An applicants history plays a large role in whether or not they are eligible to join the United States Army. Its important to note here that federal law requires applicants to divulge all criminal history on recruiting applications, including expunged, sealed, or juvenile records. Additionally, in most states, such records are accessible to military investigators. Review of Applicant History The process begins with an interview by the Army recruiter, asking the applicant about any records of arrest, charges, juvenile court adjudications, traffic violations, probation periods, dismissed or pending charges or convictions, including those which have been expunged or sealed. If the applicant admits to an offense  or the recruiter has reason to believe the applicant is concealing an offense or a record is indicated during the Entrance National Agency Check (ENAC), then the recruiter will request a complete criminal record from local law enforcement agencies. Some offenses can be waived, and others cannot. Recruiters themselves do not have waiver approval/disapproval authority. Some waivers can be approved/disapproved by the Recruiting Battalion Commander, other waivers must be approved/disapproved by the Commanding General of the Army Recruiting Command. Waivers for Previous Offenses Its important to note that applicants who require a waiver are not qualified for enlistment, unless/until a waiver is approved. The burden is on the applicant to prove to waiver authorities that they have overcome the disqualifications for enlistment  and that their acceptance would be in the best interests of the Army. Waiver authorities will consider the whole person concept when considering waiver applications. If a waiver is disapproved, there is no appeal, since the waiver process itself is the appeal. Suitability Review Process Applicants with a criminal history (regardless of disposition) or questionable moral character, but because of dismissed charges, plea bargains, or release without prosecution, must have a suitability review for determination of enlistment. A suitability review will be conducted on the following charges (regardless of disposition) prior to any moral waiver processing on all applicants: Five or more minor nontraffic chargesTwo or more misdemeanor chargesCombination of four or more minor nontraffic or misdemeanor chargesOne serious criminal misconduct charge Offenses which may be waived Include minor traffic violations and misdemeanors. Any conviction or adverse disposition for what the Army considers a felony requires a waiver. Again, the Army has its own list of what it considers to be a serious offense. Convictions A conviction is a finding or a plea of guilty. The following are also considered convictions by the Army: Applicants who have entered a plea of Nolo Contendere that was accepted by the court despite later processing in the same case to permit dismissal, expungement, amnesty, pardon, or clemency based on any of the following are considered to have a conviction: (1) Absence of later violations.(2) Evidence of rehabilitation.(3) Satisfactory completion of a period probation or parole.(4) Any other legal appeal that does not change the original finding on its own merit. An attempted offense will be classified in the same category as a successful attempt. A person arrested, cited, charged, or held for an offense or offenses and allowed to plead guilty to a lesser offense must list the original charges and also, the lesser offense to which a plea of guilty was entered. Even if a waiver is not required, the arrest must be reported. Other Adverse  Disposition This term includes all law violations which are not civil court convictions, but which resulted in an arrest or citation for criminal misconduct, followed by the formal imposition of penalties. Admission into diversionary or similar programs.Admission into an adult first-offender program.Deferred acceptance of guilty plea program sorprobated sentence.Tried as a youthful offender.Enrollment in supervision programs.Orders to pay restitution, pay a fine, serve community service, pay court cost, attend classes, or serve probationary periods which do not constitute civil court convictions.Unconditional suspended sentence and unsupervised unconditional probation. These terms are defined as a court-imposed suspended sentence or probationary status. Expunged Record Some states have procedures for a later expunging of the record, dismissal of charges, or pardon (on evidence of rehabilitation of the offender). Such action removes the initial conviction or other adverse disposition so that, under state law, the applicant has no record of conviction or adverse juvenile adjudication. Despite the legal effect of this action, a waiver of such an applicant may be required and the underlying facts must be revealed. Offenses/Moral Behavior Which Cannot be Waived: If an applicant was intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of application, or at any stage of processing for enlistment, no waiver will be granted. Likewise, if an applicant has criminal or juvenile court charges filed or pending against them by civil authorities, they will not receive a waiver. Other conditions that will not result in waivers: Persons under civil restraint, such as confinement, parole, or probationSubject of initial civil court conviction or adverse disposition for more than one serious offenseCivil conviction of a serious offense with three or more other offenses (other than traffic)Initial civil court conviction or other adverse dispositions for sale, distribution, or trafficking of marijuana, or any other controlled substanceThree or more convictions or other adverse dispositions for driving while intoxicated, drugged, or impaired in the 5 years preceding the application for enlistment. Confirmed positive result for alcohol or drugsPersons with convictions or other adverse dispositions for 5 or more misdemeanors preceding application for enlistment.Waivers cannot be issued for charges pending, or for individuals who are currently undergoing restraint or probation.

Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978

Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 The Pregnancy Discrimination Act prohibits employers from making hiring and other job-related decisions that discriminate against women who are pregnant. It was enacted in 1978. Finding out you are pregnant is a very joyous thing for most women- news you will likely look forward to sharing with all your friends and family- but wait a moment or two before telling your coworkers about it. Once they know, your boss will too, and while yours may be wonderfully receptive of this news, not all will be. Pregnancy discrimination is a real thing. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the federal agency that interprets and enforces federal employment discrimination laws, reports that in fiscal year 2018 it received 2,790 complaints of pregnancy discrimination (Pregnancy Discrimination Charges: FY 2010 - FY 2018. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission). Many women are fired or passed over for a promotion after they announce their pregnancy. Before sharing your good news in the workplace, know your rights under the law and what to do if a potential or current employer doesnt abide by them. How the Pregnancy Discrimination Act Protects Women The Pregnancy Discrimination Act requires employers to treat pregnant women the same way they do all other workers or job applicants. It is an amendment to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964  and is covered under sex discrimination. Employers may not make decisions about hiring applicants or firing or promoting workers based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. All companies that employ 15 or more people are subject to this law.   Here is how the law protects pregnant job seekers and employees: Employers cannot refuse to hire applicants because of their pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions. An employer is not required, however, to hire an unqualified candidate or one who is less qualified than another.Employers cant require pregnant workers to submit to special procedures that determine their ability to perform job duties unless the employer holds all other employees and job applicants to the same requirement.If  a pregnancy-related medical condition keeps a worker from performing job duties, the employer must not treat that individual any differently than other temporarily disabled employees in making accommodations. Employers may not prohibit pregnant employees from working and may not refuse to allow them to return to work after giving birth.Employer-provided health insurance plans must not treat pregnancy-related conditions any differently than they do other medical issues.Employers cant require pregnant workers to pay larger health insurance deductibles than non-pregnant employees. What Should Victims of Pregnancy Discrimination Do? If your employer or prospective employer has discriminated against you, file a claim with the EEOC. It is essential to be able to state what led to your conclusion. Have as much proof as possible to back up your claim including names of witnesses.  Otherwise, it is only your word against your employers.   Employees must file a claim within 180 days of the event. This time limit is extended to 300 days if there is a state or local law that also covers pregnancy discrimination. Job applicants must file a claim within 45 days. Step-by-Step Guide to Filing Charges: Go to the  EEOC Public Portal  to submit an inquiry. Answer the five general questions listed there. Your answers will determine  if the EEOC can help you. Alternatively, you can submit an inquiry  at one of EEOCs 53 field offices located throughout the county or by phone at  1-800-669-4000.If you are using the EEOC Public Portal and are told the agency can help, go ahead and submit your inquiry.  Remember that submitting an inquiry is only the first step and is not the same as submitting a charge of discrimination. It allows you to set up an intake interview with an EEOC staff member  at one of 53 field offices located around the United States or by phone. Enter your contact information when requested. After filing your inquiry and scheduling an intake interview, the EEOC will ask supplemental questions to help begin the process of filing charges. This will occur before your interview.After your intake interview,  decide whether to file a charge. Only after filing one, which can be in person or through the online portal, but not over the phone, will the EEOC notify your employer. Sources: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,  The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 and How to File a Claim of Employment Discrimination

Why Work is Killing You, and How to Fight Back - The Muse

Why Work is Killing You, and How to Fight Back - The Muse Why Work is Killing You, and How to Fight Back If Jeffrey Pfeffer had to sum up his latest book in one sentence, he’d say that “the workplace is killing us and nobody cares.” Take a minute, because that’s quite a summary. You should care, obviously. Employees, employers, governments, and societies all suffer from the effects of toxic work environments. “If I work you to a point where you’re so sick physically or psychologically you can no longer work…you become the public’s problem,” says Pfeffer, a professor at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business whose research has focused on organization theory and human resource management. Companies are squandering money via medical costs, lost productivity, and high turnover, and governments and societies have to deal with the long-term consequences and costs to the public health and welfare systems. In the U.S., 120,000 deaths a year could be attributed to work environments, according to Pfeffer’s book, Dying for a Paycheck: How Modern Management Harms Employee Health and Company Performance- and What We Can Do About It, racking up about $180 billion in health-care costs. He estimates that about half the deaths and a third of the costs could be prevented. So once you know and care, what can you do to fight back? 1. Get Out of There (or at Least Take Your Vacation) Pfeffer believes that “in every single industry, there are better and worse employers.” If your office is toxic, you should follow your instinct and try to leave for something better before you “get so psychologically and physically ill that [you] simply cannot keep going,” as Pfeffer writes. “The way to buffer yourself is to get out. And if you can’t get out permanently, then get out temporarily,” he says. “Many people for obvious reasons don’t take all the vacation to which they’re entitled.” 2. Establish Your Own Support Network Again, it’s not always possible to jump ship as soon as you’ve realized how much the ship’s grinding you down. You’ve got bills to pay and mouths to feed, and it takes time and effort to find a new job- a tall order especially while you’re doing a soul-sucking job. The irony of the situation is that the very things making your job miserable might be preventing you from doing something to make it better, like spending time with people you care about and who care about you. But remember that “friends make you healthier,” Pfeffer says. Find people at work and away from work who can provide the support you need. 3. Surround Yourself With People Who Have More Balance The cliché goes that the first step to fixing a problem is to recognize there is one. But it’s hard to do that in a society where harmful work habits are so common. “Surrounded by people who act as if long hours, an absence of job control, and work-family conflict is normal, people come to accept that definition of the situation,” Pfeffer writes in his book, emphasizing how potent social influence can be. So if you can’t change your company, change who you spend time with. “Find some people who don’t work all the time, who have relationships with their family and friends that extend beyond pictures on screen savers, and who have work that provides a sense of autonomy and control,” Pfeffer writes. 4. Don’t Rationalize What’s Not Rational People know when they’re being overworked. They know when they’re starting to take drugs to stay awake. They know when they’ve taken to self-medicating with alcohol. They know when they’re not eating well. They know, Pfeffer says. But often people stay anyway, “even when know they should get the hell out.” In his book, Pfeffer details some reasons people stay, including the tendency to rationalize decisions we’ve already made. People don’t want to admit they’ve made a mistake by choosing that job or company, so it’s easier to tell themselves “It’s just a crazy few months” or “They’re paying me so well” or “The commute is so easy.” They also don’t want to be seen as “quitters,” by themselves or anyone else. “The ability to survive tough work circumstances has become a badge of honor,” Pfeffer writes, and the decision becomes a binary: “You can either hack it and thrive, or you can leave- and thereby admit to yourself and your family and friends that you can’t take the pressure and that you aren’t good enough to compete with the best.” Remember two things. First, it’s okay to admit you were wrong about the job and to take steps to find a better one. Second, sometimes it’s not you that’s doing something wrong, it’s the company. 6. Ask the Right Questions on Your Way Out Once you’ve decided it’s time to get out, make sure you’re not moving from one toxic office to another. Pfeffer recommends asking questions not only of your potential boss, but also of your potential peers about anything that’s stress-provoking to you. Try some of these: What are the normal hours? How accessible are you supposed to be off hours? How much travel is there? How much notice do you get in advance of work trips? Is this place where you have a fair amount of say about what you do and how and when? Do most people take their vacations? Do people come to work sick? But don’t just take their word for it. Look around if you’re visiting the office for an interview. Does everyone look exhausted and sullen? Probably not a great sign. If the company is big enough, check up on recent press. Have several rounds of layoffs been reported? Might be a red flag. Pfeffer’s summary of his book is pretty depressing. I have a feeling that if you’re reading this (and if you got all the way to the end), a lot of it felt familiar. And that might be scary, but it should also be reassuring. You’re not the first or only person to go through it- and there are real ways to get out. So try not to feel overwhelmed by the toxic situation. Acknowledge it. And then figure out what you’re going to do next to get the happiness and better health you deserve.

Largest Multi-Family Offices and Businesses (U.S)

Largest Multi-Family Offices and Businesses (U.S) Largest Multi-Family Offices and Businesses (U.S) In case you aren’t familiar with family offices, these entities serve as advisory firms to provide private wealth management services to investors that fall in the ultra-high-net-worth category. These firms differ from the traditional wealth management firm because they typically focus on providing financial and investment management for a wealthy individual or family, rather than a long list of clients. What Is a Family Office? These offices typically offer various services, including insurance, tax services, charitable giving, wealth transfer, budgeting and assistance with family-owned businesses. Many of these types of firms have just one office, serving one ultra-affluent client family. Others, however, serve multiple families, and may even have more than one office. Firms of this size start to more closely resemble the traditional type of private wealth management firm. Services Provided These family offices may provide other services for the families, including arrangements for travel, private schooling, and handling of other household appointments or necessities. These firms often bring together a team of professionals to work with the families, including those from insurance, legal, estate, investment, tax, and business disciplines, to provide the level of expertise, advice, and resources necessary. In addition, some of these firms offer lifestyle management services, which includes handling more personal affairs such as managing an aircraft or yacht, providing personal security while traveling or at home, and conducting background checks for business and personal staff. The following list, compiled by Bloomberg, highlights the top 20 Family Offices in terms of the amount of money under management. Most have their offices in the U.S., but the list does include a few global firms among those that are multi-family offices. Each line of the below list shows a numerical rank, the amount of assets managed (in $billions), the firm’s name and location(s), the number of families managed and the rank change from Bloomberg’s previous year’s survey. 2018 Top 20 Richest Family Offices Rank, Assets ($Billions), Firm Name Location - (# of Families / YoY Change) 1)  $137.3  HSBC Private Wealth Solutions, Hong Kong    (340 / 11) 2)  $112.0  Northern Trust, Chicago                    (3,457 / 23) 3)    $77.9  Bessemer Trust, New York                      ( 2,200 / 25) 4)    $76.0  BNY Mellon Wealth Management, New York    (400 / 18) 5)    $57.3  Pictet, Geneva                                              (50 / 0) 6)    $47.5  UBS Global Family Office, Zurich, London, Singapore, Hong Kong, NY    (NA / 27) 7)    $35.0  CTC Consulting/Harris MyCFO (BMO Financial) , Chicago    (312 / 6) 8)    $32.2  Abbot Downing (Wells Fargo), Minneapolis    (594 / 5) 9)    $31.1  U.S. Trust (Bank of America), New York    (162 / 5) 10)  $24.6  Wilmington Trust (MT Bank), Wilmington, Delaware    (436 / -23) 11)  $23.1  Hawthorn (PNC Financial), Philadelphia    (580 / 8) 11) $23.1  (Tie) Rockefeller Co., New York    (259 / 10) 13)  $21.4  Glenmede, Philadelphia    (211 / 7) 14)  $19.5  Atlantic Trust (Invesco), Atlanta    (2,296 / 9) 15)  $15.8  GenSpring Family Offices (Affiliate of Suntrust Banks), Jupiter, FL    (442 / -5) 16)  $11.3  Veritable, Newtown Square, PA    (203 / 10) 17)  $10.6  Silvercrest Asset Management, New York  (365 / 4) 18)  $10.4  Oxford Financial Group, Carmel, IN    (232 / 3) 19)    $8.9 Whittier Trust, South Pasadena, CA    (290 / 16) 20)    $8.8 Commerce Family Office, St. Louis  ( 79 / 35) Where It All Began Family offices, in some form, were most likely in existence even in ancient times. The New York Times has stated that the Rockefeller family pioneered the concept of family offices towards the end of the 19th century. In the 1980s, family offices became more popular, and the industry seems to have enjoyed an international boom recently. After the global financial crisis, wealthier families started to rethink working with traditional investment firms and financial advisors. In search of ways to gain more active control, these families created their own wealth management offices. The United States has lead the charge, with some sources estimating as many as 5,000  single family offices currently in existence in the U.S. Passing On to Future Generations Some of the older firms face challenges from the younger generations of family members, as they start to question the costs involved. As these younger family members take over, some choose to simply close the offices. Others decide to open up their offices to include other families, hoping that they can keep the level of service while sharing overhead costs and reducing the expenses for any one family. Other family offices make the choice to combine with a larger firm that will handle administrative work and reporting while providing dedicated office managers and staff to handle interactions with the family members.

How to Write a Hybrid Resume to Handle Resume Gaps

How to Write a Hybrid Resume to Handle Resume Gaps How to Write a Hybrid Resume to Handle Resume Gaps 78hide the gaps. This is the also wrong approach. A functional resume is not a way in which to hide gaps in work experience. Instead, use a hybrid chrono-functional resume to highlight your qualifications for a role prior to explaining to the reader that you have gaps in your work experience. If you were to submit an entirely “skills-based” resume for a job without listing any employment dates, you most likely wouldn’t receive a callback from the employer because it is evident you are hiding something. Therefore, writing an effective hybrid resume is actually quite difficult- unless of course, you have a great how-to at your fingertips (like this one!) to walk you through it. Heres how to write a functional resume to handle resume gaps. 1. Start with a Headline or Summary of Qualifications Introduce yourself and your experience in a nutshellthe things that make you the best choice for this particular job. Tell the hiring manager things like how many years of experience you offer, your industry expertise, your academic background, and even previous job titles you’ve held. 2. Outline Your Core Strengths Review the job posting for important keywords that align with your technical proficiency and overall work ethic, and add these terms into your core strengths section to strengthen your resume. 3. Create a Selected Achievements Section If this were a chronological resume, this is where you would jump into your work experience. However, this is a hybrid resume, so instead we jump into your most relevant achievements. Job seekers with recent gaps in their experience often have great achievements to put on their resume, but they get lost listed under roles that were over five years ago. By creating a selected achievements section, you can highlight those achievements right at the top of your resume to show the hiring manager that you are qualified for the role. You can also expand the selected achievements section to break up your achievements based on skill sets such as “Project Management,” “Sales Marketing,” or “Customer Service.” You should only focus on skills that are directly related to the role you are targeting, and you should have no more than five bullet points under each skill. It is also important to attribute these skills to a role in your career history, volunteer experience, or even your academics. 4. Disclose Your Timeline Chronologically As mentioned earlier, a hybrid chrono-functional resume is not meant to hide your gaps. It is simply meant to draw attention to your qualifications to intrigue the hiring manager, prior to outlining your gaps. After outlining your achievements, you need to create an experience section. Here you will list your employment experience chronologically. If there are gaps spanning more than one year, you can choose to include a line explaining the gap such as “Maternity Leave” or “Leave of Absence to Attend to Family.” However, including an explanation for a gap is not necessary. Follow up your experience with an education section, unless your education is more recent and/or relevant than your work experience. In that case, you should begin your experience section with your academic information and follow it with your employment history. Honesty is the key- as it is with any resume. If you are turning to a functional format to hide your gaps, the hiring manager will see right through it. However, if you use a hybrid format to effectively handle your timeline gaps while still showcasing your qualifications, the hiring manager will see your value. Readers, have you ever tried to write a hybrid resume? What are your tips for handling gaps on a resume? ResumeTarget.com provides professional resume writing services for clients of all career levels across North America. We are the only resume writing company that offers a professionally written resume coupled with the guidance of recruiters, to guarantee that your resume will get results. Tweet us with any resume questions you have at www.twitter.com/ResumeTarget, we’re here to help!

3 insights from Gisele Bundchen that can help you live your best life

3 insights from Gisele Bundchen that can help you live your best life 3 insights from Gisele Bundchen that can help you live your best life At the center of Gisele Bündchen’s life philosophy, and the core message underlying her newly published best-selling memoir,  Lessons: My Path to a Meaningful Life, is the highest valued human emotion: Love. “The most important thing that I want everyone to take from the book is: Live your life with love. If we’re not loving toward ourselves, we can’t be loving toward others.Everything starts with ourselves,” she says. The supermodel, U.N. Goodwill Ambassador, and environmentalist offers poignant insights to live by in a contemplative exchange with Arianna Huffington on the  Thrive Global Podcast, in partnership with  iHeartRadio  and  Sleep Number. Their conversation included three valuable science-backed takeaways that will improve your life.Make love your creedLove is the engine that fuels every facet of Bündchen’s life â€" and her spiritual practice. “Love is my religion because love is the only thing that [communicates] across the board,” she says. “It is the only truth… the only guiding light in my life.” Adopting Bündchen’s point of view could benefit you immensely.  Studies spearheaded by Kory Floyd, Ph.D., a communications professor at the University of Arizona whose research focuses on how affectionate communication affects human health, demonstrate that expressing our love in word or deed increases immunity and lowers stress hormones, cholesterol, and blood pressure.Don’t be controlled or defined by what others thinkBündchen actively resists being defined by others. “Anytime that you become so defined by a title, or something, you can become enslaved by it,” she tells Huffington. “That can put you in a box… We are not just one thing.” And not only do we “contain multitudes,” as the poet Walt Whitman once wrote, we also can be more fully ourselves if we avoid getting caught up in the trap of worrying about what others think of us.“Most of the time what people think of us has nothing to do with us. It’s m ostly to do with what they feel about themselves,” Bündchen points out. Science proves she’s right about that: A  2004 study  showed that egocentricism muddles our ability to see one another accurately. Keeping that in mind will help liberate you from being preoccupied with other people, and will allow you to focus on your own personal development instead.Get rid of the clutterWhen Huffington asks if Bündchen’s extremely tidy and spare home helps her remain present and productive, she responds, “I think so for sure. I can’t think in a messy or cluttered environment. I like only the necessary.” The reason she likes things to be “very clean and neat and organized” is because she thinks her energy can flow better in those environments, boosting her creativity. Studies buttress her point of view. A  Princeton study found that an accumulation of detritus challenges our ability to concentrate and complete tasks efficiently. To boot, if we think of our homes as healing sa nctuaries, as Bündchen does hers, it can improve our mental wellbeing, according to a  2010 study.To find out more, listen to the full conversation on iHeartRadio,  here. You can also listen to the Thrive Global podcast internationally for free on  iTunes.This article was originally published on Thrive Global.

Setting Team Goals

Setting Team Goals Setting Team Goals Effective teams don't just happen. It's up to the manager or team leader to set the stage for success. That includes guiding work teams toward setting team goals and, ultimately, to a positive outcome. Here are some strategies that can help you along the way. Setting team goals by clarifying team objectives Successful teams are driven by a deeply rooted sense of mission. Make sure everyone understands the mission right from the start. With this approach, shared team goals become more important than individual agendas. And these team objectives help bind a team together and keep it cohesive, even when obstacles or internal disagreements arise. When you establish team goals up front, the payoff is enhanced productivity later on. Define individual responsibilities Setting team goals is one thing, but you also need to achieve them. Get agreement from team members on how the goal will be accomplished, and make sure individual responsibilities are well-defined. If they're not, productivity slows down as team members wait for more guidance. Or more dominant team members simply take charge, and end up stepping on toes. The ideal situation, of course, is for everyone to participate equally. Hiring? We can help: REQUEST TALENT Remember some team meeting do's and don'ts When leading a team meeting, keep the following guidelines in mind during the session: Do: Listen to everyone Play devil's advocate Propose solutions Prepare a meeting agenda and stay on track Ask open-ended questions Don't: Criticize others' ideas Be overly demanding Enforce your ideas Be a dictator Help everyone participate Sometimes, team leaders or managers need to step in to provide the right balance of participation when setting team goals. For example, try to make sure everyone has a chance to contribute by drawing out quieter or less-experienced members. You might ask for their opinions in meetings - or steer particular aspects of a project their way. Make it one of your team goals to ensure that everyone has a voice. It's generally fine for your top performers to take on a bigger role or more responsibility than others. But make sure this doesn't cause your star employees to feel overburdened - or make other team members feel overlooked. As the adage goes, there's strength in numbers.

How to Negotiate Your Way to a Golden Parachute

How to Negotiate Your Way to a Golden Parachute How to Negotiate Your Way to a Golden Parachute We all know that you can negotiate your salary - but can you also negotiate a bigger payout if your company decides to let you go? While an upgraded severance package is far from a sure thing, most experts agree that it’s always worth asking about. “Everything is negotiable,” says Labor & Employment Attorney Alex Granovsky of Granovsky & Sundaresh PLLC . “Your employer is (probably) not offering you a severance [package] to be nice. While there is usually money involved, don’t forget that your employer is getting something from you too. Your employer is paying [you] to shut up, go away, and never sue the company. If you understand what your former employer’s needs are, you can leverage your unique position.” The trick, of course, is knowing how to do it the right way - you can’t exactly march into your HR manager’s office and refuse to leave the building unless your terms are met. As with negotiating your salary, negotiating a severance package requires tact and strategy. If you really want to guarantee a comfortable financial cushion after being ousted from your job , follow these best practices. Before you enter severance package negotiations, it’s important to realize how much sway you actually have - which is largely dependent on the circumstances of your departure. “For example, if the departing employee is leaving because of poor performance they may not have any leverage, but if the employee has a potential legal claim, such as a claim for workplace discrimination or any other type of wrongful termination, this may provide the employee with some leverage,” says Lori Rassas , employment attorney and author of The Perpetual Paycheck: 5 Secrets to Getting a Job, Keeping a Job, and Earning Income for Life in the Loyalty-Free Workplace . “In these types of situations, an employer may be likely to offer an employee with a severance package in exchange for the signing of a release agreement, which means the employee would agree not to file a lawsuit [against] the company related to their departure in exchange for a financial payment or other valuable services.” Other factors that affect your ability to negotiate include “the company’s history for providing severance, your value historically to the company and any meaningful relationships you may have established with key influencers… and your level in the food chain,” says Roy Cohen, career coach and author of The Wall Street Professional’s Survival Guide . And “if you’re particularly good at what you do, your company might consider a better package if you agree not to open your own small business in the same field and locale, as one brief example… There’s also the guilt factor, as many employers feel bad about letting folks go, especially those who have been with them for the long-term,” says David Bakke, Writer/Contributor at Money Crashers . Once you have a good idea of what type of and how much leverage you have, you can use that to formulate your argument for why you deserve a great severance package and what the terms of it should be. “Always have a reason or several for why you are requesting that the severance be modified.   Just because you want more, or something different, is never enough… Make sure you think through what you really want and deserve and what you are willing to give up,” Cohen says. Just as in salary negotiations , it helps to have a specific range of what you’d like to receive in mind. But don’t just throw out a random number - if you do, you could either accidentally lowball yourself or, on the flipside, turn your employer off of the idea of negotiating altogether because of an unreasonably high request. So when determining a target range, make sure to do your research, starting first with the employee handbook. “Many companies have severance policies in their company handbooks which establish a formula that provides a certain number of weeks’ salary for each year of service completed by the impacted employee. For example, an employer may have a policy that provides employees two weeks’ notice of a layoff… along with a severance payment in the amount of two weeks of pay for each year of completed service,” Rassas says. “If [such a policy] does exist and the employee has some leverage, they should view the policy as the floor for the negotiation and be sure to propose a financial payment that is in excess of what they might already be entitled to.” It’s also worth reviewing your offer letter to double check and see if it included a stipulation on severance (often the case for senior executives) or doing some online research to see what those in similar situations have managed to secure. Having a tough time coming up with anything at all? “As a general rule of thumb, two to four weeks of severance per year of service is a good benchmark to go by,” Bakke says, although this can depend on your level of seniority and income bracket. “As someone who sees about ten severance agreements every week, I can say that I generally see about one week per year for lower wage earners, two weeks per year for various managers and executives, and more generous packages for high-level executives,” says Granovsky . Keep in mind, though, that “the total number of weeks or months is usually capped depending on the company’s generosity and its ability to actually pay. Cash-strapped companies, no matter how kind they may be, simply don’t have the financial wherewithal to offer rich packages,” Cohen cautions. Make no mistake: If you’re only thinking about your severance package in terms of dollars and cents, you’re missing out. “Think both immediate and longer term. This is a divorce and your goal is to maximize your take-out. Items could include: More money, your bonus , the ability to exercise stock options or to receive deferred compensation, paid COBRA, access to your voicemail, payment for educational benefits if you are part way through a program, agreed upon references, your laptop, continued payment of a company auto lease. The list goes on,” Cohen says. “I always encourage my clients to be bold and to ask for whatever they can get.” One tip Cohen has for maximizing your success is starting with the big requests first. “If you start out with the easy stuff, like references which cost the company zero dollars, then it will feel like a huge burden by the time you get to a request for a larger payout. They will think that they have already bent over backwards to accommodate you when, in fact, you have just shortchanged yourself by avoiding the more challenging negotiation,” he says. And if an employer offers you an item in your severance package that’s not up your alley, don’t just take it - you can use it as leverage for something you do want, Rassas says. “For example, I worked with a departing employee who was negotiating a severance package from one job and who already had another job lined up. When the employer offered him a financial payment along career placement assistance in the form of a career advisor, the employee declined the additional assistance,” Rassas shares. “A better strategy would have been to ask for the full (or even partial) monetary value of the additional assistance, suggesting that he would be more comfortable using the funds for the precise type of assistance that best suits his needs.” While it’s important to advocate for yourself during severance package negotiations, that doesn’t mean you have to go it alone. In particularly hairy or complex situations, reaching out to an expert may be your best bet. “When you have a complex negotiation make sure to consult an expert, either an employment attorney or a career coach who has a lot of experience helping clients negotiate both severance and job offers,” Cohen advises. Even if you aren’t dealing with a potential lawsuit on your hands, reaching out to an experienced professional can help you think strategically, explore which types of benefits are available, and help you make the most persuasive case possible. “Remember, if an employee negotiates a severance package with someone in their company’s HR Department , it is likely that the representative has negotiated other severance packages and/or has some training about how to manage those types of issues. An employee will likely be at a disadvantage if s/he is negotiating a package for the first time,” Rassas says.