This is why employees should write their own recommendation letters

This is why employees should write their own recommendation lettersThis is why employees should write their own recommendation lettersHave you ever gotten a recommendation request from a current or past employee whose work you dont feel comfortable fully endorsing?As a CEO, Ive found such requests can put me in an awkward position. I always struggle with the question of how to respond. Should I say yes and write something lukewarm, or should I try to duck the obligation entirely?Recommendations are tougheven when you want to endorse a person. Sometimes the employee worked with you many years ago or on a team with a number of others, and you dont remember his or her specific accomplishments. And more often than not, the requestcomes with a tight deadline. Do you say yes to that request? Do you say no? Or, do you ask the person to write the recommendation for you?Recently, I got to talking about this problem with another CEO, Josh Sample of Drive Social Media. Joshs company has a great culture and a philosophy aboutopenly transitioning employeesto their next jobs thats very similar to the one at my company, Acceleration Partners. When the topic of helping employees find new roles came up, we spoke about how to handle recommendations.I told Josh that I have sometimes asked people to give me some talking points for recommendations rather than write them out in full, but Ive learned that the strategy can backfire. Some employees have real blind spots, and I can end up with material Im uncomfortable using.Josh shared how he handles recommendation requests from both current and past employees, and I think his strategy is brilliant.He asks each employee to send him the recommendation as he or she would write it. Once Josh reads it, he makes the decision to sign and send it or to delete it. There is no middle ground each person only gets one shotand knows it from the get-go.Heres why this is such genius.It demands objectivityJoshs strategy is very similar to baseball ar bitration, where a player and a team each submits a suggested salary for the year, and the arbiter can only choose one of the two numbers. By doing this, each side has an incentive to be reasonable. If one side is unreasonable, the other side will get its number. This process discourages people from embellishing their performance, making the outcome fairer for everyone.It encourages reflection and self-awarenessOne of the things that has come out of this process for Josh and his company is that people who have taken the time to reflect on their performance sometimes withdraw their recommendation requests. They simply realize on their own that their performance didnt merit praise. This process has led to productive conversations about strengths and weaknesses and to employees thinking more carefully about their next move and where/how they would work best.It helps employees move on or transitionIf an employee wants to make a change, an endorsement from her current employer can be a h uge boost to her chances of getting hired elsewhere. This is one of the real benefits of an open transition policy. Most people looking for new roles cant provide references from their current employer because they dont want anyone in the company to know they are planning to leave.As a CEO, its always better to have an open-door policy that encourages people to share their concerns about their happiness. Ive found its best for the company and for the employee if I even help them find something that is a better fit. The challenge has been how to move someone along in this process in a way that is efficient and appropriate to the circumstances.Now, thanks to Josh, when it comes time to have the recommendation discussion, I have an approach to use that will save me time while being fair and transparent. And so do you.This article was originally published on Quora.

10 Tips Will Help You Increase Your Job Satisfaction

10 Tips Will Help You Increase Your Job Satisfaction10 Tips Will Help You Increase Your Job SatisfactionAre you weary? No matter how much you love your job, love your employer, and love your life, sometimes you just feel weary. In recent years, work has expanded as fewer employees work harder and longer.Employer expectations have escalated as competition increased. The pace of change is relentless and growing. You struggle to maintain awork-life balance while increasing your job satisfaction and efficacy. These ten tips will help you combat weariness. 01Do Something That You Love Every Day GlobalStock/E/GettyImagesNothing picks up weary like a feeling of accomplishment. Break your big departmental and personal goals down into manageable pieces that you can accomplish in a day.Checking the accomplishments off on your daily list will put a spring in your feet and joy in your heart. You deserve to feel as if you accomplished and contributed every day.

Optical Tweezers Move Matter at Cellular Level

Optical Tweezers Move Matter at Cellular Level Optical Tweezers Move Matter at Cellular Level Optical Tweezers Move Matter at Cellular LevelOptical tweezers are used by researchers to move micro or nanoscale particles and measure nanometer-scale displacements. This is especially useful in biological and physical research, for example, measuring the motion of individual motor proteins or the mechanical properties of polymers. Optical tweezers rely on a highly focused laser beam to manipulate these tiny objects.But there are some limitations to optical tweezers. For starters, they require high numerical aperture objective lenses, which are bulky and expensive. Their limited working distances and the need for substrate transparency make them less effective in emerging biophysical research areas, such cellular mechanics in a 3D space. An example of that would be measuring the cellular forces associated with proliferation and differentiation. Another way to measure these forces is throug h atomic force microscopy (AFM). Drawbacks with AFM, however, include that it only measures cellular responses on 2D substrates and must actually touch the cells it is measuring.Determined to improve on this situation, Yuxiang Liu, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, used light emitted from optical fibers to mechanically trap and interrogate biological particles, such as cells.These optical tweezers are different from traditional optical tweezers in that they only require two optical fibers and can detect nanometer displacement without needing objective lenses. This also makes the ordnungsprinzip more compact and cost-effective.Conventional OTs (a) Single Fiber OTs (b) and Counter-propagating DFOTs (c). Image Worcester Polytechnic InstituteHow It WorksLius team developed inclined dual fiber optical tweezers (DFOT)a fiber-based optical trapping system that can simultaneously apply and measure forces on particles both in water and in a 3D polyacrylamide gel matrix, without touching the particles. DFOT is not constrained by the substrate and can reach particles anywhere within the liquid solution, or encapsulated within a solid 3D compartment.Conventional optical tweezers are typically set up on an inverted microscope platform about a meter in length. They are expensive, require a vibration-free table, and are difficult to use outside the lab environment. In comparison, Lius DFOT are about 100 times shorter in length (1 million times smaller in volume), less expensive, and more portable. Also, since the light is guided through optical fibers, DFOT can work readily outside the lab and in the field.Not only does DFOT create the optical trap, it detects the trapped particle positions at a spatial resolution of 2 nm and a temporal resolution of 100 MHz, without the assistance of an objective lens. As a result, the fiber optical tweezers can calibrate trapping stiffness and measure forces, using a standalone, compact set-u p.One of the most interesting aspects of fiber-based optical tweezers is their ability to apply forces on small particles such as biological cells, without any physical contact, says Liu. All you need is to direct the light emitted from the tip of an optical fiber, and you can grasp the cell and put it elsewhere, just like the tractor beam in Star Trek.The researchers calibrated the optical trapping spring constant on microscale silica beads in water and silica beads encapsulated in polyacrylamide gel matrices. The gel stiffness measured in situ using the optical trapping system agreed well with AFM measurements.Since optical trapping measurements do not require the polyacrylamide gel to be mechanically homogeneous, ur results imply that inclined DFOT can characterize local mechanical properties of a 3D inhomogeneous, nonlinear medium, says Liu. In addition, by varying optical forces, we successfully changed the effective spring constant on the particles embedded in the gel matrix. This suggests the inclined DFOT provide a powerful tool to apply forces to cells and measure cellular responses simultaneously in a 3D inhomogeneous environment.As a practical matter, compared with conventional optical tweezers, the fiber optical tweezers are more accessible, affordable, and portable. This will allow more people to use this tool for various fields, including education, scientific research, as well as practical applications, says Liu.Future PossibilitiesThe ability to apply forces in a 3D compartment and measure them in real time makes DFOT an attractive tool for biomechanics studies. For example, DFOT can be used with nonlinear optical microscopy and traction force microscopy for cellular mechanics studies. DFOT can be integrated in microfluidic chips for on-chip cytometry and disease diagnosis. Fiber optical tweezers can also be used for environmental applications, such as water safety measurements and air quality monitoring.What surprises Liu the most about his re search is that, with all the capabilities they provide, fiber optical tweezers are not being aggressively studied and developed.The more I work on them, the more unique applications I visualize, he says.Currently Liu and Qi Wen, his collaborator and associate professor in physics at WPI, are converting the fiber optical tweezers into a module-like system, so that everyone can use them, just like calipers. He hopes DFOT will be commercially available within a few years. If this happens, fiber optical tweezers should have a positive impact on education, adds Liu. If our tool becomes widely available in K-12 classrooms, this tiny tractor beam will likely motivate more students to study STEM areas and, hopefully, use the tool in their careers.Mark Crawford is an independent writer. Gain access to exclusive offers and tools addressing the needs of the biomedical engineering community on AABME.org. For Further Discussion All you need is to direct the light emitted from the tip of an optic al fiber, and you can grasp the cell and put it elsewhere, just like the tractor beam in Star Trek. Prof. Yuxiang Liu, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

3 Great Reasons to Attend Conferences as a New Grad

3 Great Reasons to Attend Conferences as a New Grad3 Great Reasons to Attend Conferences as a New GradAs a new grad, it can be easy to think that the years of lectures and classrooms are behind you- but leid so fast Even though youre out of your structured schooling years, its important to keep learning. Attending relevant conferences, webinars, lectures, and seminars will not only keep you on top of your professional game, but it will also help you broaden your horizons, make new connections, and be seen as an expert in your field.Many workplaces will provide you with a budget to attend these types of events, but even if yours doesnt, make it a priority to attend a handful each year. Here are just a few of the ways that continuing your education through workshops and trainings can be helpful.1. To Keep LearningObviously, the main reason you attend professional learning events is to increase your knowledge about your field. Whether you attend local professional group events, large an nual conferences, or classes on specific subjects, you can learn everything from emerging trends in your industry to specific professional skills that can help you do your job better. Decide what to focus on by considering skills that would be most helpful for your job or department (public speaking, tech skills, social media?) or that you need to get ahead in your career (management training).That said, while youre bound to take a lot from the official program or class, dont forget to learn from those around you, too The speakers always have great insight to share, but some of the best things Ive learned have come from those sitting next to me. Hearing what others have done right, what theyve learned, and what theyre currently working on not only makes for great stories, but also gives me advice I can apply to what Im doing now.2. To Get Ideas FeedbackAnother great thing about professional learning events is that you can share what youre working on and get feedback from others who know the ins and outs of your field. The best moment for me in all the events Ive attended in the past year was during a breakout session during a social media conference, where each participant got the chance to share how we use social media for our company. Not only was I able to get an outside perspective on what I was doing for my nonprofit, I also got other helpful ideas from hearing about what everyone else is doing.You can also use this opportunity to ask questions you wouldnt be comfortable asking some of the higher-ups in your department or gauge how something new youre implementing has worked for other professionals.As an added benefit, sharing a little bit about what your company does and what youre working on is a great marketing tool and can raise awareness about your brand or company as a thought leader in your industry. Now, Im not talking about sharing company secrets- definitely keep in mind whats shareable and whats not. For example, you can (and should) share the common industry tactics youre implementing, but you dont have to divulge the stuff youve cooked up to set you apart from your closest competitors.3. To Network Like CrazyNetworking is a big portion of professional events, and most will have time before, during, or after the event specifically for networking purposes. And as a new grad, the connections you make at conferences and seminars can benefit your career or brand in big ways. Its an easy way tobuild your professional network- in fact, many of the people Ive connected with have become business connections, mentors, and even donors for my organization.So, go to the event with tons of business cards and be ready to meet people. The best piece ofnetworking adviceIve learned so far is to stand up. It can be easy to immediately stake out where you want to sit at a conference or seminar and then stay there, but resist this urge. Youll have loads of time to sit later, but its much easier to approach people and be approached while yo ure on your feet.Attending industry-related conferences and seminars is a great way that you can demonstrate your commitment to your position and industry to your current employers- and get ahead in your career while youre at it. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there, and get learning.Photo courtesy of Sebastiaan ter Burg.

Investment Sales Brokers

Investment Sales BrokersInvestment Sales BrokersThis type of broker represents a real estate investor who is looking to buy, sell or finance a real estate asset. It applies to all real estate asset classes apartments, office buildings, industrial, hotel and others. Investors hire these brokers to provide strategic advice, market knowledge and access to capital. Note that many owners, such as REITs, have their own acquisition and planung groups and often handle this function in house rather than hire a third party. Investment sales brokers deal with more complicated issues than residential or commercial brokers. The clients are very sophisticated and the finance involved can be complex. Over the past twenty years, theres been an influx of foreign capital into the real estate market so brokers now have a healthy roster of international clients. Most of the people in this business have a balance of analytical and people skills, therefore, good investment brokers are personable a nd understand how financing issues will impact investors. On the JobMarketing makes up a large part of this business. Brokers are always pitching real estate investors for assignment. They identify opportunities by networking with investors and anyone else that may provide leads. They arent making as many cold calls as tenant reps, but definitely have to be aggressive. Once a broker identifies the opportunities he must still convince the investor that hes worthy of the assignment. This job involves doing (a lot of) presentations, entertaining, correspondence and endless number crunching. Typically, an owner interviews multiple brokers for an assignment. Like other brokers, these separate themselves with their market knowledge and are generally chosen for it, as well as their track record. Once a broker gets an assignment, he needs to execute the sale, purchase or financing. The sale of an asset involves putting together detailed property information that will help an investor make an educated decision. The marketing material includes pictures, financial analyses and information about the local market. In a property purchase, the broker helps the investor digest the marketing information and provides a frame of reference for similar transactions. The broker may have to determine which financial structure meets the investors goals when the deal involves financing an asset. Investment sales brokers tend to work in teams. Those new to the field come in as associates. This person is the junior on the team and is responsible for marketing material, creating the financial analyses, and any other paperwork linked to the deal. Above the associate is a vice president, who is expected to bring in business, supervises the transactions and has the majority of client contact. Hes versant in all aspects of financing and market dynamics. The managing director heads the office and is the ultimate decision maker, responsible for managing all of the transactions as well as the office. CompensationInvestment sales brokers are very high profile operators in the real estate industry and usually make attractive salaries. Although some do get paid salary, fruchtwein earn the bulk of their salary from commissions. In todays market, the total commission is roughly two percent of the total sales price (e.g. a $100,000,000 sale has a gross commission of $2,000,000). Unlike residential real estate, the commission is not paid entirely by the seller. For example in the sale of a large industrial park the seller and the buyer may each pay their respective brokers one percent. Commissions are split among the team and the company.

Using Resume Creator

Using Resume Creator Sometimes a little assistance, guidance and motivation may be the excess push necessary to connect to a job. Writing a resume for an internship can be challenging, particularly if youre just starting to enter the professional world. Everyone appreciates leadership abilities. By abiding By the procedure, youre learning a skill you will use for the remainder of your career. So what are the fundamental requirements or requirements and ways to get it down. The Federal hiring procedure is tedious, not not possible. It is possible to also ask what sorts of information that they give during the employment verification procedure. You have all of the info You want to clearly articulate why youre the best candidate. The Battle Over Resume Creator and How to Win It It is possible to create all the documents offered in addition to make future edits and updates on any or them all. You can discover the list of file extensions connected with the Easy Resume Creator Pro here. Its very easy to locate a generic resume template on the netz that you may use. No single resume format is ideal for everybody. Share your work when youre completely satisfied with your design and work, you can share it to the world via your social networking accounts, personal site, or a number of different channels you might utilize. A chronological resume works best when youve got an extensive work history thats in the exact line of work as the job for which youre applying. While you could have a good deal of work experience, its likely in a different industry. My experience with the program is that its not hard to use, though, a fantastic quality customized resume isnt automatically created after you input your basic details. Getting the Best Resume Creator General claims make it hard for employers to rate the value you provided to previous employers. Many announcements incorporate an on-line questionnaire you have to submit. Resumes have to be perfect mere ly to survive. A lot of people are out there searching for the work they love. Based on the essence of the job, it may be any variety of words or word combinations that indicate you might have the abilities and experience required for the job. You know precisely what you have to give, more so than every other person does. Every individuals resume looks a bit different. If youre able to strategically distributionspolitik an appropriate keyword in place of a current word choice great Today you can start the procedure for writing an effective combination resume. After that, take a look at what is provided by the program in conditions of the benefits it provides you and judge for yourself. If you get a great resume, then hopefully you ought to be able to have a chance to find a promising contractor employment position. An example may be a niche skill necessary for work, which you might happen to get, but may not be relevant to include for fruchtwein jobs. At least know the kind of job youd love to have. Even in case youve never held an official job, its totenstill true that you have life experience thats applicable to the work search. Or you may be unexpectedly laid off, and must begin work search. As soon as you spot a job which you like, go straight to the work opening on LinkedIn to find out more regarding the chance and apply. Think about the job or kind of job youd love to have. The most suitable job for you is closer than you might imagine. The computer software may also offer you tips on networking, utilizing the web to locate jobs and a lot more. Trial software is typically a program you may download and use for a certain length of time. The trial software may consist of full or limited capabilities. There are several infected and malicious software on the web. Now, take a look at best free online resume builder websites. As the name implies, Free Resume Creator is still another absolutely free online resume or CV builder website. W hile the site isnt particularly the very best, there are a lot of testimonials from individual who have used the software successfully. Unlike the majority of the online resume builder sites that need the user to register, it does not need registration. Easy Resume Creator Pro allows you to make simple resumes and cover letters efficiently. Youve chosen to make an infographic resume because you wish to stand out. Fun and simple that you personalize and customize each amazing resume in only a couple of minutes each. Things You Wont Like About Resume Creator and Things You Will If your name is tough to pronounce, make it simpler for employers to get in touch with you by including a nickname, so long as the nickname sounds professional. You can also select a broader title. Therefore, if youre actively on the lookout for employment, its probably worth signing up for the completely free month. In the event the job has many similar titles, utilize the most frequent names.

Meet th?e Women Tech Leaders at Driverless Car Company Cruise

Meet th?e Women Tech Leaders at Driverless Car Company Cruise Cruise believes in improving peoples lives by making transportation safer, mora accessible, and more convenient. Theyre building the worlds most advanced self-driving vehicles to safely connect people with the places, things, and experiences they care about.This unique event will include a tech talk, panel discussion, and plenty of time to network with Cruises women tech leaders and male allies over complimentary food and refreshments. Dont miss it Agenda (subject to change)530pm - Check-In and Networking over food refreshments630pm - Event Kickoff with PowerToFly635pm - Welcome Address by Cruise645pm - Tech Talk / Product Demo with QA700pm - Panel Discussion featuring leaders from CruiseHorus Wu - Software EngineerIlana Arbisser - Associate Data ScientistKatie Fotion - Software Engineer715pm - Audience QA735 - Networking continues over food refreshmentsIf youre considering new opportunities, Cruise is hiring, and theyre looking for curious, intelligent, and driven individuals to join their team. Their benefits include a matching 401K, health wellness reimbursement, and flexible vacation. That said, you dont need to be looking for a job to attend the event - youre welcome to attend just to network with your peers and learn more about Cruise.The event will take place on Thursday, August 8th from 530pm to 830pm at 1201 Bryant Street, San Francisco. Although this programming is geared toward womens experiences, we welcome all genders at our events.About our Events All RSVPd attendees are welcome, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, or age. If you require accommodation to fully participate in this event, please email hipowertofly.com, and we will contact you to discuss your specific needs. rblms.require(jquery, function($)