Monday, December 30, 2019

Casualty Statistics From the War on Terrorism

Casualty Statistics From the War on TerrorismCasualty Statistics From the War on TerrorismWhat is the real cost of war? On just one day in September 2001, 2,996people lost their lives at the Pentagon, in New York when the twin towers fell, and on the each of the three hijacked planes.When the leader of al-Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden, was killed by U.S. special forces, the war on terror did not subside. In fact, the monetary costs continued each year since then at a steady rate in defense and homeland security spending.In all, the U.S. government has spent mora than $7.6 trillion on defense and homeland security since the 9/11 attacks. But the true cost of war lies in lives lost. According to the Department of DefenseCasualty Report, here are casualties from the various campaigns in the subsequentWar on Terrorism. einzelschritt Enduring Freedom(OEF) This campaign includes casualties that occurred between October 7, 2001,and December 31, 2014. The DoD reports 2,347military deaths and four c ivilian deaths, with a total of 20,096 injured in and around Afghanistan. There are other locations in the world that are classified within the OEF spectrum.These includedeaths and injuries in Guantanamo Bay (Cuba), Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Philippines, Seychelles, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Yemen. Operation Freedom Sentinel(OFS) This campaign includes casualties that occurred in Afghanistan immediately after OEF concluded on December 31, 2014. OFS beganon January 1, 2015.As of June 2019, there are71 U.S. deaths and 397wounded in this militaryoperation.Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)This campaign includes casualties that occurred in Iraq starting March 19, 2003.On August 31, 2010, President Obama announced that the American combat mission in Iraq had ended.There were 4,423U.S. deaths and31,957 wounded in that militaryoperation. These casualties occurred in Iraq as well as in the Arabian Sea, Bahrain, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Kuwait, Oman, Persian Gulf, Qatar, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, and ?the United Arab Emirates. Prior to March 19, 2003, casualties in these countries were considered OEF.? Operation New Dawn(OND) This campaign includes casualties that occurred between September 1, 2010, and December 31, 2011. There were 73 U.S. deaths and 295 wounded in this operation. These deaths occur in the areas ofthe Arabian Sea, Bahrain, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Persian Gulf, Qatar, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates during the dates above.Operation Inherent Resolve(OIR) Effective October 15, 2014, OIR was created to wage war against the terrorist group the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, another name for the Islamic State) along the Syrian-Iraqi border. To date, there are79U.S. deaths and 81 wounded in OIR. OIR campaign includes casualties that occurred in Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Ar ab Emirates, the Mediterranean Sea east of 25 Longitude, the Persian Gulf, and the Red Sea. War on Terrorism Casualties by Military Branch The Army (including the Army National Guard and Reserves) comprises 49 percent of the total DoD forcebut sustained more than 70 percentof the combat deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Marine Corps (including the Reserves) makes up only 10 percentof the total DoD force but experienced 23 percent of the combat-related deaths. The Navy (including Reserves) makes up 19 percent of the total DoD force and sustained over 2 percent of the total combat casualties. The Air Force (including Air National Guard and Reserves) comprises 21 percent of the total DoD forceand experienced just over 1 percentof the total casualties. The active duty forces comprise 55 percentof the total DoD force and have experienced more than 80 percentof the total deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Reserve forces (Reserves and National Guard) comprise 45 percent of the forc eand received nearly 19 percent of the total casualties. Just under 3 percentof the total fatalities were women, who make up 16 percent of the total DOD force. Men, who make up 84 percent of the total force experienced 97 percent of the deaths in the two theaters of operation. Previous War Casualties In contrast, during the firstGulf War (1990-1991), 382 American service members died in-theater 147 (38 percent) of those a result of direct combat. During the Vietnam War (1964 to 1975), there were 47,413 U.S. military battle-related deaths, and 10,785 service members died from other causes. In the five years of World War II (1940-1945), 291,557 American troops lost their lives in combat, and 671,846 were wounded.

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Didnt get the job Heres how to get feedback and learn why.

Didnt get the job Heres how to get feedback and learn why.Didnt get the job Heres how to get feedback and learn why.There are no further steps for you.That statement, in its many forms, is the last thing many professionals hear during theeinstellungsgesprch process. There is only one job opening and the company has seen many candidates. But actually, there is one more step for you - gettingfeedback.The first nugget of advice for getting that coveted feedback?Dont start at the end of the process.Gary Bender, Founder CEO ofThe CFO Solution, a peer-to-peer networking and best practices repository for private company finance leaders, believes that laying the groundwork for powerful guidance begins with your behavior.Good cover letters, good resumes andproper follow-upwill lead to better behavior by the employer, especially if you can establish expectations in early in the interview process.During your interviews, you should always ask for thecompanys next steps, their decision and thei r communications process. Reminded Bender, when you promptly follow-up with each interviewer, confirm your interest or if there are open issues bring them up. Be sure to highlight your transferable successes and remind them of the timeline they provided and confirm that you look forward to their follow-up by that date.Impeccable behavior and follow-up lay the ground work, but you will still have to ask forfeedback. Kyle Boze, a former recruiter turned teacher, suggests that youframe your ask as a quest for mentorship or guidance from the hiring manager. Bozes template starts with gratitude, follows-up with respect, flattery and shared empathyFirst, I wanted to thank you for taking the time to interview me for your titleposition. I appreciated the time, and after hearing about the role, I believe its one of the best out there.I completely respect your decision to go in another direction and wish you the absolute best in your search. I would ask (if possible), would you mind sharing w ith me any feedback (good and bad) about my resume, interview, etc? I would love feedback from an industry veteran like yourself and believe your guidance would be incredibly beneficial to me landing a position like this with another company.If the company is unwilling, it is important to remember thatbusinesses do not have to justify a no decision. That said, there is an incentive for organizations to provide meaningful assistance- bottom line results. By treating candidates well, our reputation welches stellar, which saves money on recruiting, improves the quality of hires, and increases retention, recalled Bender. I have a very simple mantra if you took the time toresearchand apply to me, I should have the courtesy to acknowledge and reply. Email response takes less than one minute.The CFO Solutions process for declining a candidate is to promptly provide a status update, close out the file and provide feedback if appropriate. Bender has gone further, like providing referrals to candidates that werent right for his needs but were a good fit for other companies hes connected to. Bender advised, You always have to be sensitive to lawyers desire to sue, but feedback can be given and maybe even a suggestion or two.For more than 30 years, Hollis Gonerka Bart, principal of her eponymouslaw firm, has advised, counseled and represented international brands, family offices and private companies on best practices for identifying and hiring employees. Feedback can be a positive catalyst for a debunked candidate and can be relatively risk-free for companies, if it focuses on things the person can change, such as resume typos, personal presentation, and experiential gaps, she said. These are all legitimate business reasons for deciding to take a pass on a candidate. Clearly, no decision should ever be based on a persons protected characteristics, such as gender, age, race, etc., becausediscrimination lawsapply with equal force to the interview process.Finally, its impor tant toremember its just one persons opinionWhen my colleagues share some unexpected or negative hiring news, I always ask if they respected the person, the business and the process. If the answer is an honest no, then why care? If its coming from thoughtful leaders like Bender, Boze or Bart, then it makes sense to care. Correct what you can and consider paying it forward when it is your turn.- This article originally appeared on FairygodbossAt Fairygodboss, our mission is to help you create the best career for your life. Weve helped over a million women do this by crowdsourcing hard-to-ask information about job flexibility, salaries, work-life balance, maternity leave policies and whether women are promoted fairly in their companies and departments. Come see our free job reviews and career advice

Friday, December 20, 2019

The best friend you can ever have

The best friend you can ever haveThe best friend you can ever haveLove is blind friendship closes its eyes. Friedrich NietzscheA mouse was in constant distress because of its fear of a cat. A magician took pity on it and turned it into a cat. But then it became afraid of the dog. So, the magician turned it into a dog. Then it began to fear the panther. Thus, the magician turned it into a panther. Finally, it became full of fear for the hunter.

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Go to the Movies for Free (or Almost-Free)

Go to the Movies for Free (or Almost-Free)Go to the Movies for Free (or Almost-Free)Buy Many At A Time.Regal Entertainment Group offers Super Saver tickets for as low as $6.50 each. These tickets carry some restrictions, but you can get a ticket valid for all movies and show times, for just a dollar more per ticket. We recommend going in with friends If you and four friends bought a pack of 50 tickets together, you could each see ten movies at about 40% off. If you dont want to buy quite as many at a time, there are options for you, too. Read MorePosted by LearnVest, RecessionWire.com Downturnaround Deals Modcloth, Finish Line, Martin Osa, Radio Shack, Esprit Screwed 350 at Textron Recession Briefing Less Spending on Love

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

The Only Way Recruiters Will Find You on LinkedIn

The Only Way Recruiters Will Find You on LinkedIn The Only Way Recruiters Will Find You on LinkedIn LinkedIn is where motivated professionals come together andrecruiters know it.87% of recruiters use the platform to find or vet job candidates, more than all other major social media networks combined. If youre serious about your job search, simply having a LinkedIn profile is not enough.To get found by recruiters on LinkedIn, you must cut through the noise of half a billion LinkedIn users.Recruiters use search terms and filters to find the right candidates. Landing in a recruiters search results doesnt have to be a matter of happenstance. By crafting a search optimized LinkedIn profile, you can rank more highly for the types of jobs youre fruchtwein interested in.How LinkedIn Recruiter Search WorksRanking highly in a LinkedIn search requires optimizing for both LinkedIns tech and the menschengerecht tendencies of recruiters. LinkedIns search algorithms consider a variety of profile se ctions and user activity to rank their results, while recruiters have their own preferences and tricks to compile lists of top candidates.There is no standard for how different recruiters utilize LinkedIn search, particularly for sourcing candidates. A small business hiring manager might use LinkedIns advanced search filters to find job candidates within their network. An agency recruiter might pay for LinkedIn Recruiter to expand their networking and search capabilities.While sourcing techniques vary, virtually everyone uses LinkedIn during the hiring process. In any of these scenarios, you can improve your search ranking by optimizing key sections of your LinkedIn profile.Jobscans LinkedIn Optimization tool helps automate this process by analyzing your profile against relevant job descriptions and industry data. Try it now.Optimize Your LinkedIn ProfileHeadline and Job TitlesThe profile headline and recent job title are weighted heavily in LinkedIns search algorithms as well as re cruiter behavior. A recruiter is likely to begin their search with specific job titles, and candidates with a matching job title in their headline and experience headings will appear higher in results.The headline is the first major piece of information seen in search results alongside the name and profile photo. You have 120 characters to use in your LinkedIn headline, plenty of space to communicate exactly what you do, your specializations, and/or what role youre pursuing.The next most prominent piece of information shown in search results is current and past job titles, which might be weighted more heavily in LinkedIns search algorithm than the headline.I would argue that the job title is your most important field, and would strongly recommend that you use the 100 characters to its full potential, wrote Levi Lewis, a search engine expert who researched LinkedIns search functions during his own job search. Instead of project manager I might say Project Manager, ecommerce customer experience for checkout, cart, and post-order.LinkedIn Recruiter top results for a Data Scientist keyword search in Seattle, WA. Top candidates have the job title/keyword in their headline, current job title, and at least one past job title.Beyond adding additional information into your job title fields, the specific wording of your job titles can also be important. It is acceptable to tweak your job title to incorporate common terminology used in your industry.With title, theres not necessarily a standardization, Jonathan White, a senior recruiter with both agency and in-house experience, told Jobscan. You can be a front end engineer, but maybe at your company they call you front end developers, software developers, or web developers. Theres a lot of different titles for any given skillset.KeywordsPast experience can give recruiters and hiring managers a good idea of a candidates capabilities, but they are highly likely to search for specific skills or keywords as well, either by u sing LinkedIn Recruiters built-in skills filtering or by plugging all relevant terms into the search bar.I go into a keyword search and put in different buzzwords that I pull from the specific job description, says White. If I was looking for a front end developer, I would put in Javascript, CSS, HTML, HTML5Skills filtering in LinkedIn Recruiter (Data Scientist).Keywords make the biggest impact on LinkedIn search ranking when they appear in a profile headline or job title, but can also be placed in job descriptions and the LinkedIn profile summary. Skills and keywords listed in your Skills Endorsements section are searchable but not weighted as highly as keywords in other sections.Jobscan LinkedIn Optimization scans your LinkedIn profile and analyzes it against three or more job descriptions you provide, adding a level of keyword personalization missing from general advice and best practices.LocationWhen I searched for candidates in LinkedIn Recruiter, Id typically begin with the s chauplatz, said White. Id keep it under a 20 mile radius. Sometimes I would even search within five miles.Recruiters arent only looking for the right skills, theyre looking for candidates who are likely to accept the job offer. Because of this, some recruiters are more likely to target local candidates at the beginning of their search.You cant qualify for localized searches without adding your location on your LinkedIn profile. Similarly, listing your current location rather than the city in which youd like to work can have the same effect. Explaining to a recruiter that you are willing to commute or relocate is more effective than hoping they search broadly enough to find you.You should also specify which cities youre willing to relocate to in your Career interests settings. When logged into LinkedIn, click Jobs in the top navigation bar, then Career interests under the search bar to update your location preferences and other settings.Profile URLLinkedIn profile default URLs are ti dier now than they were in the past, but users are still wise to customize.Creating a custom URL has benefits beyond the minimal effect it might have on a users ranking in LinkedIn search results. It looks better when included on a resume and helps your LinkedIn profile carry more weight in external search results . If a recruiter or hiring manager googles your name and position, a custom URL can help improve your profiles rank. For example, change the default /john-doe-08b73111b/ to /john-doe-san-francisco or /john-doe-project-manager.What else is keeping recruiters from finding you?Thousands of job seekers have already optimized their LinkedIn profiles using Jobscan. The Jobscan LinkedIn profile report also checks forMeasurable resultsWhite Bullet points are good, but knowing what you really did and accomplished is even better.Job hopping and temp gigs that should be explainedWhite If they have changed jobs every year for the last five or six years, whats gonna keep them here?Comp lete education infoAs with location, forgetting to include your complete educational information (including grad date) could cause you to be filtered out of search results right off the bat.Number of connectionsLewis The more common connections you have with a searcher (recruiter or hiring manager), the higher your profile will be in the results when they search words relevant to your profile. Recruiters can also specify degrees of connection in their searches. The more connections you have on LinkedIn, the more likely youll be a 2nd degree connection to a recruiter.Ranking highly in a LinkedIn search is about knowing what information to spotlight for both the LinkedIn search algorithms and the recruiters themselves. LinkedIn users can improve their profiles performance by strategically including key information in all the right places.Check out Jobscan LinkedIn optimization to receive tips tailored to your profile and job search.

Friday, December 6, 2019

The New Angle On Ejemplos De Resume Just Released

The New Angle On Ejemplos De Resume Just Released The 30-Second Trick for Ejemplos De Resume On the flip side, if youre in demand of work, and you only need to obtain any job working for a certain company, you might earn a custom-made objective for each and every job which you apply for. The exact last thing you want to do is certainly receive a job which you just cant do. The interview is just one of the main sections of the work hunt, so its only fitting that you prepare for yours. Youve come to the correct distribution policy. Ejemplos De Resume Features Its possible you can comprehend the goal of each format and choose the appropriate the one which will pay attention to your details efficiently. The sorts of job application formats which are commonly applied are Chronological Useful Combinational With the help of resume writing guides you may pick the format of the continue. So in order to place the right data in an efficient way, an individual must stick to a particu lar format of a resume. You will also need to hope that its set up using the right format. The Ejemplos De Resume Pitfall Our continue builder is certainly the quickest approach to create work application that permits you to acquire your fantasy job. Every candidate whos on the lookout for a job want to make a specialist resume for their interview. Even when you succeeded in choosing the job, you ought to continue to continue to continue to keep your resume current. Read the task announcement to establish whats vital for the job which youre applying for. Writing a strong resume is just a single part in the procedure for job seeking. Examples of resumes are among the absolute most productive approaches to be certain that youre writing one which is good and thats correct for the specific job youre applying for. Objective is once a man isnt influenced by personal views. Objectives are time-related to attain a specific job. If it isnt associated with the work which you want t o learn more on the topic of, skip it. Youre the only one in charge of your search and the pace at which you start looking for work. The work search may be a protracted process only look at the statistics below Double check to make certain that every thing on the previous version from the work application is about you. You may decide your goal is to get comforting chamomile tea. Resume objectives could be a bit controversial. The same as the condition formulation, the overall objective has to be framed in 1 sentence. The absolute most efficient objective is the one which is tailored to the job which youre applying for. An investment objective may also be accomplished by an individual managing his own profile. Inside this instance, the applicant has a lot of years of knowledge and includes a resume profile to highlight his distinct qualifications for the position. Review specific country or region expectations if you would like to fill out an application for positions abroad . There isnt any evidence of producing resumes through manual plan of action. Resume builders are an excellent system to help you organize your application. You might not have written one to start with and we can aid you with it. The range of meetings that you are going to be ordered to attend will be decided by your officers test. Other classes cooperate in several ways. The sections are simple to skim for the most relevant details. Dont be concerned about the resume appearing brief so long as it takes up most a page, its OK. The elements that you include will be dependent on what it is that youre applying for, so make sure to incorporate the most relevant info to back up your candidacy in your CV. Alas, several resumes contain overused or inefficient words which normally do not incorporate value. Ejemplos De Resume Options In the future, stating a target is optional, but it may help convince employers that you understand what you would like and know the company enterp rise. Bookkeepers play an important part in any variety of businesses and organizations. If you are searching for jobs as a bookkeeper or in any other region of expertise, your success will be dependent on your willingness to take the ideal actions. Considering all the extreme growth in competition, it may be difficult to encounter a project that you truly want. When applying for certain positions in the usa, and jobs internationally, you could possibly be asked to submit a curriculum vitae as opposed to a resume. New jobs arent simple to land and frequently you are going to be competing against many others meant for the positions that youre concentrating on. Separate resumes are available for assorted disciplines. A complete selection for academics and candidates trying to find jobs in traditional sectors.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

4 Ways to Deal With Work Overload

4 Ways to Deal With Work Overload Ata time when work-life balance is all the rage, many unfortunate workers are still locked indepressing, overburdened grinds. The average work week today is 47 hours, and 21 percent of Americans work between 50 and 59 hours a week. A further 18 percent of Americans work 60+ hours a week.As if that werent bad enough, increasing numbers of workers are not taking their paid time off precisely because they are sooverloaded at work that they fear the crushing pileup that will ensue when they return. And so, overloaded workers dont get any rest because they are too overloaded to rest, which means, of course, that they continue being overloaded.The good news, however, is that this cycle can be broken. To do so, youll need to adopt a smart strategy. Here are four tips to help you1.Stop Wasting TimeSorry, theres no way to sugar coat this.Studies show that 89 percent of workers waste time at work every day, and you might be sur prised by how much time theyre wasting 61 percent of workers wastearound 30 minutes a day, which adds up to2.5 hours a week. A small percentage of workerswasteup to half a day.Chief among the time-wasting activities were non-work-related Google searches, Facebook use, and Twitter use. So, if you cut these activities out of your workday, you might begin to feel your burden lighten. Heck, you may even find you werent as overloaded as you thought you were.2. Cut Out UnnecessaryMeetingsThis is a big one. Multiple surveyssuggest that 25-50 percent of the time executives spend in meetings is wasted time. One studyeven suggeststhat people could be spending as much as 1.5 days of a their five-day workweeks in unproductive meetings.If you lead and organize meetings, consider doing everything you can to shorten those meetings. Get to the point, stick to the agenda, and dont hesitate to cancel meetings that seem unnecessary.If youre but a humble employee with no power over meetings, consider t rying to say No to unnecessary meetings more often. One way to do this is to tischset yourself a weekly or monthly budget of hours you can spend on meetings. Then, you can prioritize and attend only the most important, relevant, and productive meetings.You might worry about selling your superiors on this idea, but if you give them a commercial rationale for your budget i.e., that youd rather spend time on things that push the company forward youll have a better chance at getting your managers on board. Of course, youll want to negotiate this with caution and tact especially if your managers are the ones running the meetings3. Take a BreakResearch saysthat more than a quarter of American workers dont take any breaks at work aside from their lunch breaks. You may think this gives you more time to get work done during the day, but its actually counterproductive If you dont take regular breaks, youll become more tired, which will lead to more mistakes and reduced efficiency, which me ans youll need to work longer to do the same amount of work. Its a vicious cycle.Research shows that taking a break can increase productivity, refocus your attention, solidify memories, and boost creativity. So, if you want toavoid long, unproductive days, then stop grinding it our at your desk with no breaks. Try to take at least a 10-15 minute break each morning and each afternoon.4. Learn to Say NoThe easiestway to get overloaded at work isto take on too many tasks. You may find it hard to say No when a colleague or supervisor asks you to do something, but honestly, sometimes you need to say it.However, you dont want to appear aggressivewhen you decline to do something just assertive. Explain that you currently have too much on your plate, and that there is simply no time for this new task. If you want to do the task, make it clear to the person giving you the task that they will have to wait by saying something like, Yes, I can do this, but I wont be able to get to it until afte r I have completed projects X, Y, and Z.Many workers today are overloaded, but the cycle of working without rest must be broken for your own sake. Find a window of time to sit down and review your workload. Then, identifies the ways in which you can implement the tips in this article to regain a sense of work-life balance.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

#5 Bored at Work Check Out the Best Mobile Games

5 Bored at Work Check Out the Best Mobile Games5 Bored at Work Check Out the Best Mobile GamesDisco ZooThis zoo simulator with its old school feel wont let you stop. Basically you are a manager of a virtual zoo. You start with a little collection of farm animal, and must rescue more animals to increase their habitats. This game is available for iOS and Android.LyneIf you like games with remarkable visuals and addictive gameplay, you should check Lyne out. This minimalist puzzle game will knot your brain as it calms your soul. Available for Windows, Mac, Linux and Android.Ridiculous FishingAs the title suggests, it is a mobile fishing game. Your job is to catch as many fishes as you can. You use motion and touch controls to do so. Available for both Android and iOS.Monument ValleyHelp princess Ida go through mazes of optical illusions and impossible objects. This beautiful puzzle game is created by indie studio Ustwo available for iOS, Android and Windows Phone.FramedLoveshack studio got several entwurf awards for this game. Framed is a hybrid of puzzle game and comic book. Your actions will change the story as you go through. Available only for iOS.Legend of GrimrockLoG is a fantasy action game. Gameplay consists of puzzle solving and combat. It is heavily inspired by 90s dungeon games. You should definitely take a look at this one. Available for Windows, Linux, Mac and iOS.Planet QuestPlanet QUEST is a brand new rhythm game youll never want to put down. Weird scenes combined with fun gameplay is what makes Planet Quest one of the hottest mobile games out there.Does Not CommuteStrategic driving game with an interesting style. Controls are well optimised and are easy to pick up on topped with a remarkable graphics. Available for iOS and Android.source PCmagDo you like this story? Share it with your friends.Share Your Feedback or Ideas in the Comments

Thursday, November 21, 2019

3 Steps to Prepare for a Potential Layoff

3 Steps to Prepare for a Potential Layoff3 Steps to Prepare for a Potential LayoffAre you in danger of losing your job? Whether rumors are circulating or you have reliable information that your team or company is restructuring, the time to prepare is now. This is true even if you imagine that your job is safe.When a company is undergoing a merger, acquisition or internal reorganization, things can move at a rapid pace. Frequent and unexpected changes may occur. The best thing you can do is to get ready in case you are told to move on. Its a good idea to take these actions, even if you end up keeping your job, because they will help you no matter what comes to pass.1. Reach out for professional and personal reasons. The worst thing you can do is sit around and feel sorry for yourself. Acknowledge that it could end up being a difficult or badeanstalt situation, then decide that you will take positive steps forward to reduce the impact of the professional and financial repercussions. Get back in touch with former colleagues and tell them what you can about what you may be facing soon. Dont be afraid to pick up the phone for a quick call instead of writing emails, as this is likely to make a bigger impact. Ask for their advice, and if they can keep their ears open for any possible opportunities in your field. The wider you cast your professional net, the better.You should also let friends in on the situation. They can be helpful professionally and support you when you need it most. While you may not be comfortable alerting family to a possible job change that is completely out of your control, it may help you deal with it better emotionally. Sharing this information will likely help you to confront the situation and encourage you to take active steps to deal with it.2. Develop your story. Everyone worries about how a layoff or gap in employment looks to employers. You need to be ready to answer the question, so youll feel mora confident when it arises. Realize th at you cannot be faulted for losing your job after a merger, acquisition or internal change. It happens to a lot of people and is out of your control. What you can control is how you present it to employers and, more importantly, how you present yourself.Be transparent. Tell an employer in a cover letter, email or phone conversation why you lost your job and then go further. Explain briefly what makes you unique as an employee and how you can help them. This demonstrates that you havent let it get you down and still believe in your value.3. Update your branding materials. One things for sure When you start networking with people and applying to jobs, theyre going to ask for your resume. Its likely that they will check to see if you have a LinkedIn profile as well. Maybe youll need to submit a cover letter for a job. If youre in a creative field, you should make sure your online or hard-copy portfolio is updated with your latest work. Dont wait. Get it all ready now because the belas tung thing you want to do is scramble when you run into someone who asks you to send them your resume. That usually results in a poor product because you dont have time to do it well when you feel pressured to send it out.When you update your resume, dont throw your latest job or work on there. Take time to look over your entire document. After all, this is exactly why you are planning now for what may come later. As you read, think about it critically, as if youre looking at a co-workers work rather than your own. Ask yourself Is it readable? Can I easily figure out what this persons expertise is? Does it include a career summary, bullets that show the impact of my work, education, technical skills and honors and awards, if applicable? Are there grammatical errors or formatting mistakes?Your LinkedIn profile adds more to your professional story. Think about the following Does my summary discuss the value I bring to a company? Does it share something personal about why I love wha t I do or how I got into the field? Have I used keywords from my industry that apply to my professional history throughout the profile, including in the summary, job descriptions and the skills section? In addition to the sections above that I typically see in a resume, did I include volunteer work and interests? Did I include links to presentations, writing or other media Ive developed?

Trends That Are Reshaping the Legal Industry

Trends That Are Reshaping the Legal Industry Trends That Are Reshaping the Legal Industry As legal professionals position themselves to survive the peaks and troughs of an ailing economy, a number of distinct trends have emerged in the legal industry. Most of these trends help law firms and organizations become more efficient, productive and competitive in a global market.  Other trends result from changing demographics, attitudes and work styles.     01 Electronic Discovery Recent amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure make electronically stored information such as e-mails, instant messages, voicemails, e-calendars, graphics and data on handheld devices discoverable in litigation. The discovery of electronically stored information (ESI) is known as electronic discovery.      The explosive growth of ESI has increased the cost and complexity of the e-discovery process and forever changed the face of large-scale, complex litigation. New roles in litigation support, e-discovery, and ??trial technology  have emerged to address the electronic realities of a digital age. 02 The Multi-Generational Workforce For the first time in the nationĂ¢€™s history, four generations are working side by side in the workplace:  Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y. As attorneys, paralegals and other legal professionals work beyond retirement age, many law firms and legal departments are trying to balance a generation gap of more than 50 years between the oldest and youngest employees.   Four generations working together in the same work environment present new workforce dynamics and challenges.   Moreover, the pending exodus of nearly 80 million retiring Baby Boomers and the entry of Generation Z (born between 1991 and 2012) will continue to change workplace dynamics. 03 Social Networking Social networking has the potential to transform the business and practice of law in the coming years.  Legal professionals have a growing number of social media tools at their disposal to accomplish a variety of legal tasks and career objectives.  Social networking is changing how legal professionals recruit, job hunt, network, locate and discredit witnesses, manage their careers and interact with clients.   Social media tools such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are also key marketing tools, helping lawyers and legal professionals reach a broad audience and accomplish branding, advertising, and client development goals. 04 Legal Process Outsourcing In recent years, the legal industry has experienced a global paradigm shift in the delivery model for legal services. This new model, known as legal process outsourcing (LPO), transfers the work of attorneys, paralegals and other legal professionals to external vendors located domestically and overseas. Legal outsourcing, both onshore and offshore, is transforming law practice as law firms and corporate legal departments seek to minimize costs, increase flexibility and expand their in-house capabilities. 05 Work-Life Balance An ailing economy, billable hour quotas and a competitive global market for legal services have driven many law firms into overdrive.   The pressure to do more with less has forced a growing number of employees to sacrifice their personal life in order to work harder and longer.   As recession-related layoffs pile greater workloads upon legal professionals, workers are demanding a better work-life balance. New workplace policies such as flex-time, telecommuting, part-time work, phased retirement, temporary leave, compressed schedules, and other alternative work arrangements are transforming the law firm environment from sweatshop to one of flexibility. 06 Globalization Domestic law firms are expanding across borders, collaborating with foreign counsel and forming intercontinental mergers, erasing traditional boundaries on the geographic scope of law practice. Although globalization is not new, it is gaining momentum due to the growth of the Internet, the automation of legal processes, developments in data security and emerging technology tools.   As law firms continue to expand their footprint worldwide, globalization will continue to reshape the landscape of the legal industry in the coming years. 07 Eco-Consciousness As going green becomes a global priority, green law initiatives are impacting the business and practice of law.  In response to global warming, economic pressure and eco-conscious clients, law firms and legal professionals across the globe are establishing green initiatives that cut expenses, reduce their carbon footprint and promote social responsibility.   Environmental law or green law is a growing practice area and many firms are establishing niche sub-practices in fair trade, organics, renewable energy, green building,  and climate change. 08 Virtual Law Firms Powerful mobile devices, software-as-a-service, and secure, web-based technology allow legal professionals to work from virtually anywhere.   As a result, more legal professionals are working remotely from home or a virtual law office.   Virtual law offices provide an alternative method of practicing law that permits flexible work hours and fosters a better work/life balance for legal professionals. Virtual work is not just for lawyers;  a growing number of legal professionals are working remotely.   Working virtually allows legal professionals to serve their employers and clients while maintaining a better work/life balance and modifying their schedule to fit personal and family needs. 09 Alternative Legal Service Delivery Models Lawyers no longer have a monopoly on the law.  The legal marketplace is changing, and clients can seek legal assistance from a growing number of non-lawyer professionals including paralegal technicians, legal document preparers, legal self-help sites, virtual assistants and offshore legal vendors. These new options enable bringing affordable legal services to disadvantaged populations and empower citizens to address their own legal matters.   As the cost of legal services continues to rise, new legal delivery models will continue to emerge and gain momentum in the coming years. 10 Alternative Billing Models Pressure to reign in legal costs has forced law firms to diverge from the traditional billable-hours modela century-old staple of the legal industry that has been criticized for rewarding inefficiencyin favor of new alternative billing models such as fixed, flat, blended or capped fees. In fact, a new law department metrics survey reports that 72.8 percent of fees paid to outside counsel in 2009 were based on billing arrangements other than standard hourly rates or the billable hour.  In order to foster long-term relationships and maximize value, more law firms are embracing alternative billing as a way to meet the needs of cost-conscious clients.