Advice on How to Find Seasonal Work

Advice on How to Find Seasonal WorkAdvice on How to Find Seasonal WorkMost hiring for seasonal work takes place during the summer and the winter holidays. Companies - especially those in retail, transportation, and tourism - often hire workers for the busier months during the summer and around the holidays when business ramps up. Many resorts hire workers for both ski season and the summer, while tax preparation firms sometimes hire additional staff just for tax season. Any industry that has a busy season is likely to hire some seasonal help to manage the extra work. What Is Seasonal Employment? Employment that does not continue year-round butusually recurs is generally referred to as seasonal work. Many positions are only necessary duringcertain timesof the year, so workers will be employed only during that time period. Seasonal jobs are temporary and short-term by definition. Some work is seasonal based on geography. For example, there is a large boating and fishing industry in the Great Lakes region during the warmer months, but it shuts down during the winter. Some professionals in such an industry may work in a northern climate during the summer and shift operations to someplace further south and warmer for the winter. For retail hiring, Christmas is the busiestseason of the year. Employers usually start hiring in the fall for additional staff to ring the cash registers during the holiday shopping rush. In general, if youre looking for seasonal employment, start your job search before the season begins. That is, if youre looking for a summer position, start your search in the springtime. And, if youre interested in working around the winter holidays, apply for jobs beginning in the fall. Types of Seasonal Work What kind of seasonal jobs do employers hire for? There are a variety of terrific seasonal job options to consider if youre looking for a job for a specific time of year, or looking to make a career out of cobbling together different types of seasonal work. Retail Many stores have help wanted signs in their windows. Your best bet if youre interested in a seasonal retail job is to walk around a mall or your town and stop in and fill out applications. Major chains, such asMacys, Target, andWalmart, among others, accept online applications. Also, check out thelocaljob searching resources for your city or state. Many of the employers who hire extra help for the holidays are the saatkorn employers who hire part-time help. So, be sure to check thepart-time job sites. Temporary Temporary agencies often seek additional staff for their clients during the holiday season. Kelly Services,Snelling Snelling, andManpowerall provide searchable databases of temporary positions. Temping is one of the fastest growing employment sectors in the country, and the range of available positions has increased significantly. One of the big pluses of temp work is that you can do it on your schedule. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) an d state tax departments need help in processing tax returns starting in early January, and tax preparation companies need staff to help prepare and file income returns throughout tax season. Delivery Package delivery services add staff, including drivers and handlers, to help them deal with the deluge of holiday boxes.UPS is one of the leading employers of holiday help, and has a variety of options for applying for seasonal work. FedExhas a searchable database of jobs and you can also apply for employment online.DHLalso has employment information available online. Food delivery and food service is another area where more jobs may be available during the holidays. With busy schedules and visiting guests, people order more pizza and other delivered food and often eat out more frequently. Outdoors Does the outdoors sound more attractive? schi areas and resorts hire extra help for the holiday and winter season. Typical positions include ski instructors and patrol, snowmaking, an d hotel and restaurant staff. Some facilities include housing and discounted lift tickets. If youre passionate about skiing and want to share your knowledge with other people, working as a ski instructor can become your regular seasonal job. Many ski resorts bring back the same staff year after year. Youll find summer seasonal employment at beach resorts, amusement parks, and historic and national attractions. Also reviewhospitality,travel, and outdoor job listings, so youre viewing a broad range of options. Youll find that many of the jobs in these career fields are seasonal by nature. Finding Seasonal Jobs Job search enginesare an excellent way to find seasonal job listings. When you use advanced search options, youll be able to search by type of position and narrow the results to include only job listings with seasonal hours. Heres how to search for seasonal jobs on the topjob search engines. Most job sites, such asIndeed.com,LinkUp.com,SimplyHired.com, andCoolWorks.comoffer advanced search features where you can search by keywords likeseasonal, seasonal holiday, seasonal retail, seasonal ski, or seasonal summer, etc. Include your location in the search to find jobs in your area. If you have an employer that youre interested in working for, visit the employment section of the companys website. Most large employers, and some smaller ones, accept online applications directly on the site.

These 2 super successful cofounders say everyone needs a work wife

These 2 super successful cofounders say everyone needs a work wifeThese 2 super successful cofounders say everyone needs a work wifeYou could never put togetzu sich a heist with women. LikeOceans Elevenwith women wouldnt work because two would keep breaking off to talk sh-t about the other nine. John Mulaney famously made this joke pre-Oceans 8 getting the green light. Though he is a brilliant comedian, he underestimates the power of female friendships in the workplace (well just count a heist as a workplace this one time.)In a social setting, his assessment may be right but in this tricky era when two women come together in business as both business partners and friends, they can truly be unstoppable. If you have a great work wife, you dont even need the six other women to pull off the jewelry heist.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreThe concept of the work wife has actually been around for years but it welches reserved for career men who basically needed a wife, but one that did all their office duties. However, over the years as more women entered the workforce both the term and the role began to take on a new meaning.Having a work wife has bedrngnis only become a necessity but has actually been the driving force behind some of the most successful companies to emerge in the last decade. That relationship, which is so core to a successful business, is what Erica Cerulo and Claire Mazur, the founders of fashion e-commerce business Of a Kind, took a deep dive on in their new book appropriately titled Work Wife The Power of Female Friendship to Drive Successful Businesses(Ballantine Books.)There is no one more fitting to write this book as Cerulo and Mazur met in college and after working in respective jobs till they were 26, they decided to take that big risk and abflug their own company in 2010 (which was later acquired by Bed, Bath Beyond.) In the book, ou t today, they wroteIn making the transition from friends to business partners all those years ago, we knew we were signing up for a much more complex relationship than when we met as undergrads at the University of Chicago. We went from seeing each other weekly to spending more time together than we did sleeping. Finances became a constant topic of conversation, and not just in the context of whether one of us was feeling too broke for a dinner date. We spent our nights, weekends, and soon 9-to-5s each making decisions that would affect the other. Our careers and our futures became intertwined.The book not only explores Cerulo and Mazurs multi-layered relationship but also the work-wife stories of other successful female duos (and some trios) including the women behind Lizzie Fortunato, Food52, the Go Fug Yourself blog, Radical Monarchs, and Plum Alley Investments. But unterstellung stories arent just about sweet meet-cutes but rather that there is actually a substantial formula tha t uses the qualities that underlie a strong female friendship and enables women to build super successful businesses.Cerulo told Ladders, We realized five years into the business our producest accomplishment professionally has been the partnership that we have built and nurturedand the special place it holds. It is a business and a professionalpartnership but it is also a friendship andthat is so core to it.But why, specifically, do female friendships translate so well to this work wife/business partnership format? Mazur said, When you think about it the qualities that are endemic to female friendships like vulnerability, emotional transparency, collaboration, etc., they are qualities that are really beneficial to the workplace. If you bring into business relationships that already have these qualities then youre making it so much easier to live up to them. Women have a real sense of accountabilitywith one another. I think in my relationship with Ericathat has improved the quality o f the work.On finding your work wifeBut how does one spot the right work wife in a sea of women? Look for similar work ethics and each others standards. Work and product and all of that. Also a willingness to be really vulnerable with each other. Well, I endorse starting a business with a friend I dont know if I have any other friends other than Erica I would start a business with, Mazur said. We had the right friendship that ticked all the right boxes when it came to our passions and career ambition and the business we were starting. Its really important to look at whats going to be important in your working partnership and understanding how those qualities will mesh in that space.On being viewed by your employeesThe book uses many quotes from fictional work wives including Leslie Knope (Parks Recreation), Christina Yang (Greys Anatomy) and Ilana Wexler (Broad City) to accentuate points but one quote featured from a real person is from actor, producer, and writer Mindy Kaling. She said in an interview in 2013, I love women who are bosses and who dont constantly worry about what their employees think of them. I love women who dont ask, Is that OK? Women put extra pressure on themselves when it comes to being judged by their employees and work wife partners, are no exception. No one wants to be labeled as the mean one. Except, luckily, a work wife provides the ntzlich check you didnt have before.Cerulo told Ladders, You have to realize you arent competing with one another and to actively remind yourself of that, you are in this together, you are collaborating. It is about the we and raising the tide. The flip side in worrying about what employees think is that we can bounce things off each other. That request we made of that employee was totally sane. You get to gut check things which is a huge boost.On balancing the relationshipThough many of these work wife relationships started as friendships, when you start a company it can become all business all the time . So how do you make sure the friendship is still preserved?Were always thinking about it the company. This is our baby. Its actually harder to turn it off and talk about friend stuff. But weve gotten better about that over the years. We both had a lot of personal stuff happen last year. I had a baby, Erica was longdistance with her husband for a little bit because of his job, there was familymedical stuff and I think with having things that cant be ignored, it reminded us of that, Mazur said. We got better at scheduling friend dates. Setting aside time. Theres a difference between scheduling a day at the spa together and scheduling a manicure before a meeting. One is clear that you are gonna be friends, the other is Lets prep for this meeting while we get our nails done. She added, And we also have regular weekday check-ins with each other. Obviously, we sat next to each otherand talked to each otherall day, but unless we have that structure where we flow through an agenda and tick off the saatkorn boxes every week certain things just fall through the cracks.On men being work wivesThough it is called a work wife, men can definitely fill this role too. There are takeaways for both men and women from the book. Friendships should be privileged in the workplace. But there arent built in structures for friend partnerships. We encourage people to create real relationships and work truly as partners, said Mazur.Cerulo added, Men can carry out the same philosophies in their friendships and work relationships that we lay out in the book. I think its just about the same values women have often privileged in their relationships and I think more and more men are because of the way blessedly men are now being socialized and raised. A willingness to be open and emotional and transparent and compassionate and to bring those things into their day to day personal interactions.Featured photo creditKat HarrisThe Refined Woman for Freda SalvadorYou might also enjoyNew neuroscien ce reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Electrical Engineer Sample Job Description

Electrical Engineer Sample Job DescriptionElectrical Engineer Sample Job DescriptionElectrical Engineer Sample Job DescriptionThis electrical engineer sample job description can assist in your creating a job application that will attract job candidates who are qualified for the job. Feel free to revise this job description to meet your specific job duties and job requirements.Electrical Engineer Job ResponsibilitiesDesigns electrical systems by developing and testing components.Electrical Engineer Job DutiesEvaluates electrical systems, products, components, and applications by designing and conducting research programs applying knowledge of electricity and materials.Confirms systems and components capabilities by designing testing methods testing properties.Develops electrical products by studying customer requirements researching and testing manufacturing and assembly methods and materials.Develops manufacturing processes by designing and modifying equipment for building and assemb ling electrical components soliciting observations from operators.Assures product quality by designing electrical testing methods testing finished products and system capabilities.Prepares product reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information and trends.Provides engineering information by answering questions and requests.Maintains product and company reputation by complying with federal and state regulations.Keeps equipment operational by following manufacturers instructions and established procedures requesting repair service.Maintains product data base by writing computer programs entering data.Completes projects by training and guiding technicians.Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops reviewing professional publications establishing personal networks participating in professional societies.Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.Electrical Engineer Skills and QualificationsElectronic Systems , Electronics Troubleshooting, Electronic Testing Design, Project Management, Quality Focus, Database Design, Analyzing Information , Reporting Research Results, Attention to Detail, Emphasizing Excellence, InnovationGet Help Finding the Best Electrical Engineer for your kollektivAre you having a hard time attracting and retaining electrical engineers for your business? We understand what youre up against, and we know how to help. Sign up for exclusive https//www.youtube.com/ adviceand well send you the latest information on engaging top talent, from crafting the job description to posting the job in all the right places. Well even throw in a special job posting offer to get you moving in the right direction. Your next superstar electrical engineer is just around the corner.

Post-graduation depression is a very real mental health issue

Post-graduation flaute is a very real mental health issuePost-graduation depression is a very real mental health issueGraduating from college issupposedto be an exciting, happy time. Your whole future is ahead of you, and final exams are behind. For some grads, though, graduation isnt all tossing caps up in the air accompanied by happiness. In fact, it can be the complete opposite - enter post-graduation depression.What is post-graduate depressionWhile post-graduation depression isnt an official diagnosis or mental illness like clinical depression is, its very much a real phenomenon. And Ive got berichterstattung for you, tis the season for post-graduation depressionAll of a sudden, you kind of realize you dont have anything to do, youve just been laying in bed all day and saying that youre going to look for jobs. I realized something was wrong when I waslooking for jobsbut elend really trying hard, college grad, Gina*, now 24, recalls of her experience with post-college depression. I got into this mindset where I was thinking,What makes me think that Ill get this job over the million other creatives in New York City?I didnt have any routine. Every day I was less and less motivated until I was watching full seasons of Netflix all day long. I was sleeping until 5 pm and up until 4 amhaving panic attacks.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraSadly, Christinas experience is far from uncommon.Graduating is a huge life changeLife transitions can be stressfuland triggering for anyone - even people who dont have a pre-existing mental illness. Graduating from college and entering the real world is perhaps one of the fruchtwein jarring life transitions a young adult can face.Rachel ONeill, Ph.D., explains, Change, in general, can bring about feelings of sadness. College graduation represents a major life transition and with that transition can come feelings of sadness or concern about the future. For many, graduating college can mean that multiple aspects of their life change relatively quickly (i.e., finding a new place to live, starting a new job, meeting new people). In essence, this becomes a bit of change-overload and it can be overwhelming for many individuals to navigate these additional stressors.Graduating can also bring rejectionAnother unfortunate stressor?Rejection. While a lucky bunch easily finds jobs soon after graduation, a lot of grads have to deal with rejection - and a lot of it. Getting rejected from job applications and interviews can take a serious toll on ones self-esteem - and rejection is even more common in some industries than others (to the graduates who are fellow writershang in there)Signs and Symptoms of Post-Graduate DepressionWhether a recent grad is coping with rejection and trying to get a job or navigating the struggles of their first real job that theyve already landed, post-college depression has a few diff erent ways it can manifest.Individuals who are experiencing post-college sadness might notice that they feel sad or disconnected from their previous lifestyle as a college student however, often they will be able to find joy in other areas of their life (for example, spending time with family or friends), ONeill says. If an individual feels pretty sad and depressed and isnt finding joy in other areas of their life, then it could be agood opportunity to talk with a mental health professional.Not finding enjoyment in things that used to bring you enjoyment is one of the many telltale signs of depression, and could be a sign that what youre experiencing is more than just the blues. Talkspace therapist Cynthia Catchings, LCSW-S, warns, Addiction or substance abuse is a common sign. Graduating college creates a void in our life. Therefore, we might turn to things or activities so to fill this void. It can be alcohol, cigarettes, or any other type of drug or activity.Looking for another i ndicator to determine if your post-college blues could be headed towardsclinical depression? Clinical depression is characterized by feelings of despondency and dejection that prevent us from completing our daily activities and interfere with work or relationships. The latter usually lasts longer and is more notorious, Catchings says. So if you feel like you are really struggling day-to-day and having trouble doing even the most basic of things, its time to seek help from a mental health professional.How to Address Post-Graduate DepressionNo matter what level of sadness youre experiencing, its important to really check in and take care of yourself. Give yourself space to feel the emotions.Mindfulness practices can be really helpful in identifying emotions withoutjudging them. Emotions are natural reactions to things that are going on in life, ONeill advises. Instead of trying to escape the emotion, allow yourself to experience it while also thinking about how you can commit to focus ing on your future. I also like incorporating extra self-care during times of heightened stress and sadness - things like daily affirmations or gratitude practices can be super helpful.Catchings has some advice, too. One of the tips that I recommend to recent graduates is to add structure to their lives. Try to go to bed or wake up around the same time every day and create a schedule that not only works for you but that also allows you to work on and reach your professional goals. Another tip is to make sure that you eat at least three meals a day around the same time. That helps us to stay healthy but also to prevent emotional eating oreating disorders due to depression or anxiety. If you want to be even more proactive, she suggests, Create a dream board or a timeline. This will allow you to set daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals.If youve recently graduated and started to feel this way - its okay. I promise you that youre not alone. I bet if you open up to some of your clos e friends who are fellow graduates, youll learn that some of them feel the same way. Give yourself a big pat on the back for finishing college - its a huge accomplishment As the pros said, allow yourself to feel all of the emotions and dont forget to practice extra self care. Now, go out there and face adulthood, youve got this.This article originally appeared on Talkspace.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Indeed vs CareerBuilder for Job Hunting Supremacy

Indeed vs CareerBuilder for Job Hunting SupremacyIndeed vs CareerBuilder for Job Hunting SupremacyRemember the old days when looking for a job meant heating up your morning oatmeal, pouring yourself a cup of coffee and getting your fingers stained with newsprint while you flipped through the classifieds of your local paper? While we miss those Sunday morning cartoon strips, we certainly love the ease of job searching in modern times provided by the host of digital resources. From social networking sites jam packed with recruiters to job listing boards that connect potential employees with would be employers, technology has indeed helped bring the modern workforce together. When it comes to these resources, however, theres often debate over which platform is the best use of limited time and resources. Two of the biggest and most well-known names, Indeed and CareerBuilder, often vie for both dollars and applicants. Just who reigns supreme, though, in providing the best bang for your vi rtual buck? We delve into the digital details to find out.Compare and Contrasting the FeaturesWhen it comes to modern internet websites and tools, sophisticated users know its all about the extra features. For searching job listings, job-seekers will find a wealth of features that increase accessibility on both platforms. Both Careerbuilder.com and Indeed.com allow users to either browse active jobs or schriftart in job titles with the use of broad keywords. Likewise, each site allows users to sort their results by state, city or region, as well as search popular companies and narrow down larger keyword lists with popular suggested job roles. So far, so good.If youre looking for next level insights to help you get the job of your dreams, however, Indeed has CareerBuilder beat on sheer numerical data. Indeed goes steps further than the competition, allowing users to sort jobs by employment status, expected salary range, education and experience levels. In addition, independent analys is tools such as the salary calculator, let users research their chosen field before settling on a specific title or position.Who Has the Bigger Reach?Tools, data, and numerics are all fine and dandy, but when youre on the job hunt you want to know that youre finding the most comprehensive list of relevant results. This is another category where Indeed beats out Careerbuilder for job-seeking glory. Indeed.com is the single largest platform for active job listings on the market. Part of the reason for the supremacy comes from the major difference in sourcing on the platforms. Both Careerbuilder.com and Indeed.com allow employers to post open listings directly to the website, acting as a virtual job board for those in need of quality talent. Indeed, however, takes this concept one step further searching the internet for open positions and adding these as links that appear in the exact saatkorn lists as internally listed positions. As a job aggregator, Indeed has greater resources at i ts disposal for connecting the best candidates with the best available jobs.Bottom Line ResultsAll of these stats equal up to one thing when it comes to results and real-world job fulfillment Indeed tops Careerbuilder in most categories. In 2016, 58% of U.S. companies external hires came from the Indeed platform. This impressive number is made even more so when compared to Careerbuilders much smaller piece of the pie at just 10%.From job search features to the number of listings to real-world results, Indeed.com beats out Careerbuilder.com as the site to go if youre searching for a new position job or career.

The Good, the Bad and Ax Resume Now

The Good, the Bad and Ax Resume Now If you wish to create a swanky new cv thats stylish and attractive then have a look at the present time If you dont get an alert, yet your beginning balance sgeschiebemergel doesnt match, check to be sure youre reconciling the correct account for the ideal month. To commence this section start with your years of knowledge and the key duties you filled in this time. Dont use first rolle pronouns within this part. There, you can check the data, and carry out any cleanup or conversion which is required. The illustration will help make certain that you compose a resume of your own that will unquestionably be correct and in the proper format. You will also need to hope it is set up using the right format. To download resumes from free Maintains, youll need to discover the plan template you would like. This banking CV samples can help you create the ideal job application. HR will be quite so impressed with your resume they might even ask ho w you built it. You should bank on more than just your abilities and experience to have an excellent job. Among the most trusted officials in the bank, an operations officer ought to have an impressive history of expertise and success in the area. A great deal of really prefer to begin with the newest job or employment experience and you just work your way back again. When it has to do with your work history, begin with the latest job you had. As a consequence, in the event that you genuinely wish to get the task you want, here are some helpful pointers that could make it possible for you to gratify your dream. Download your resume so you can unleash it to the world. One of the greatest means by which you can be certain that you compose an impressive resume is to use resume examples. This isnt the opportunity to try to compose your bestselling autobiography. The very belastung thing you would like is for your resume to let you down when youre actually the most suitable pick for the job. But this doesnt signify that things arent moving forward in different areas at the moment. It may feel impossible to understand how to word your text. I was happy because I managed to continue and send out a bunch the following day. Nevertheless, its even far more advisable to take note of any processes which you managed to enhance. Youre able to use a current entity or create a custom made entity. You will find that no ledger transactions are made. The second option produces a flat file for those data. Rumors, Deception and Ax Resume Now Interest is automatically deposited into a financial institution account after a definite period of time. Especially in case you have multiple accounts with the exact same bank. Particularly for teller resumes, its advisable to provide some dollar figures to show that youre able to be trusted with accurately balancing large quantities money. All deposits and withdrawals that were posted to the account has to be on hand to r eady the reconciliation statement. A number of cashiers who share the exact same register share the identical shift. Furthermore, you can look for bank teller jobs on Monster. When one cashier is about to take a rest, that cashier suspends their shift and removes the till from the money drawer. Many times, each cashier works at just one register. This will supply an effortless view in the event the employer should have a look at the resume at a glance. The mixture of our templates and your input is likely to make your resume fly to the peak of any pile. This CV examples ought to be applied as inspiration for your next job application. Some work application templates are also just easily available for people who have bought to the site.

Recruiting in 2014 Look Out for These Changes (Part 2) - Spark Hire

Recruiting in 2014 Look Out for These Changes (Part 2) - Spark HireIn yesterdays article, we referenced two trends that ere.net suggested recruiters be on the lookout for in 2014. These two predicted trends were that recruiting in 2014 would look mora like marketing the company brand and big data would play a larger role in helping companies make new hires.But ere.net didnt stop there. According to them, there are two other big trends to watch out for.Get PersonalIn the age of online recruiting, it seems counterintuitive to get personal in the recruitment process. However, thats what job candidates will be looking for, according to ere.net. In an age when nearly all of the application and some of the interview process take place online, job seekers long for a little personal interaction. Engaging with both candidates and clients beyond technology will not only give you a better sense of what each needs and has to offer, but it will also go a long way toward building a company brand f or your own firm.Rather than emailing clients and candidates, pick up the phone every once in a while to provide an update. Suggest meeting for coffee with clients so that they can get to know you better, which will lead to a more trusting relationship. When it comes to job candidates, attend career fairs and networking events to get an idea of the top talent in the various industries you represent. This kind of personal exposure, though a bit more time-consuming, will enable you to do a better job.Go MobileFinally, as we move into 2014, youll see and hear that most companies are putting a lot of effort into making their websites mobile-friendly. Ere.net states that most job seekers next year will be searching and applying for positions via smartphone or tablet. Websites that lack this functionality will most certainly prevent job seekers from applying to positions within their company just because of this minor inconvenience.If you dont have plans for a mobile site in 2014, its ti me to reassess. Get a research team on the project immediately, and discuss options for actually building the mobile version. While its great if you have the talent and the resources to create your mobile site, youll also find with a bit of research that this a project that can be outsourced too. Keep in mind, also, that creating a mobile site doesnt necessarily mean you need to build an app as well that can probably wait, depending on the product or service you provide.With that, weve covered the four major recruiting trends that companies can expect to see in 2014, as reported by ere.net. Do your company a favor, and work to accommodate ansicht trends as soon as the new year begins. Good luckWhat other trends to you anticipate in recruiting in the New Year? Share now in our comments

7 Skills Software Testers Need to Master

7 Skills Software Testers Need to Master7 Skills Software Testers Need to MasterSoftware testers detect and eliminate bugs in mobile apps and computer programs. One of the biggest challenges facing testers is the rapid development of technology and constant programming changes that cause more and more new bugs. Since software testing is one of the most rapidly changing (and fast-growing) industries, its crucial that you keep up in order to succeed. Below youll find seven skills (not all of them technical) that all software testers need to master.1. Social NetworkingSocial networking has become vital for all industries- and software testing is not an exception. Social networking is a great tool that can simplify your collaboration with other testers, make communication with clients more convenient, and, most important, give you an access to numerous resources.2. ProgrammingThis may sound obvious, but a good tester has to have at least some understanding of how the product she is testi ng works from inside. Only knowing how everything should function can you find the bugs and fix them.3. Using Different Techniques and ToolsThis is one of the most significant skills since being aware of the most efficient testing tools and techniques is not only your key to success but also a great opportunity to make your workflow simpler and more enjoyable.4. Software Lifecycle ManagingGaining knowledge of SDLC and mastering software lifecycle management skills should help you understand and manage your tasks easily and more efficiently. It will help you to handle tasks of different complexities and take the necessary measures as early as possible to avoid many mistakes.5. DevOps and Agile MethodologyThe main benefits you get from mastering DevOps and Agile methodology are simplified and convenient models of interactive and collaborative working. DevOps gives an opportunity for cross-functional teamwork, while Agile makes the testing process much faster, which is why this methodo logy should come in handy for all testers.6. ReportingApart of possessing vital technical skills, a good specialist should also master a few additional skills that include reporting, documentation, and planning. These are important for organizing the workflow wisely, planning the main steps, keeping track of the work that has been already done, and reporting about the current position of the project.7. AutomatingWhile this skill may not be essential for many beginners, it does come in handy when the complexity of your projects increases with some complex and serious projects, you should not rely only on manual testing. Automation will help you get the work done efficiently and quickly.Joshua Robinson is a blogger and expert writer at Custom Writing. He has many years of experience as a specialist in the field of software testing.

Heres One Way to Disclose a Layoff to a Hiring Manager

Heres One Way to Disclose a Layoff to a Hiring ManagerHeres One Way to Disclose a Layoff to a Hiring Manager2I recently received a LinkedIn message from a professional named Susan who had been studying the Lynda.com course, Recovering from a Layoff. She welches in a tricky professional situation and needed some guidance on how to disclose a layoff to a hiring manager whod just offered zu sich a position with a new company.What follows is her question and my response, printed with her permission. If you find yourself in a similar situation, perhaps this method of disclosing your layoff to potential employers will work for you, tooThe Dilemma How to Disclose a LayoffBrie,I started watching your videos regarding being laid off and I need some guidance on how to handle a potentially sticky situation. I was given notice that I would be laid off in April of this year. Id already started searching for a new job due to huge changes happening to the company such as my hiring manager moving ou t of the country, our team leader leaving the company, the company president retiring, and the company laying off people throughout the year. I had only been with the company for a year and a half.I met with a hiring manager at a different company and we hit it off instantly. He asked me why I wanted to leave my current company. Instead of saying, Im going to be laid off in 30 days, I said my decision was because of all the management changes. Now Ive been offered the job and accepted.My question is this How do I share this information? There is a 30-day gemeinsame agrarpolitik between my final day of work at the last company, and my start date for the new company. They will be doing a background check so I feel it might be prudent to mention it to the hiring manager prior to HR discovering the gap. This is the best offer and opportunity Ive had in a while. HelpBest Regards,SusanOne Way to Open Up About Being Laid OffFor a bit of background on the advice below, heres some great insi ght from career expert Alison Doyle, whowrote about what employers can say about former employees for The BalanceBecause of defamation laws (defamation is slander or libel), companies are usually careful about what information they provide to hiring managers confirming employment or checking references. What they say has to be the truth or the company can be subject to a lawsuit from the former employee. Concern about lawsuits is why many employers will only confirm dates of employment, your position, and salary.Hi Susan,Congratulations on the job It sounds like youve done all the right things in your search so far, and I think you handled the initial question about your decision to leave your old company wonderfully. Ultimately, it was because of massive changes happening within the company and was 100% outside of your control or your professional abilities.The human resources department at the company you were laid off from may choose not to tell your new company why you left. Typ ically, they are instructed to only give employment dates and to verify that you did, indeed, worked for the company.If you totenstill feel like you need to tell your new manager, you might say something like, After I made my decision to find a new job, I found out that the company was going to start laying off workers so I was glad Id already decided it was time to go. Its not untrue, and I think it covers your bases.Let me know how it goesBrieA Successful Conclusion for SusanSeveral weeks after we initially interacted, Susan wrote to let me know how the situation was resolved, and why the details of a job search truly matter.Hi Brie,Things worked out well when I decided to not disclose to my prospective employer that I was being laid off. Only when I wanted to move my start date up, did I share with my new boss that I opted to take a package and thus the reason for the start date change. Thank you for your response and guidance.It was your article initially that gave me insight an d confidence that I had made the right decision Thank you for all that you do, because finding a job at times can be extremely challenging and every word and decision matters.Regards,Susan

Making Obsolescence Obsolete

Making Obsolescence Obsolete Making Obsolescence Obsolete Making Obsolescence ObsoleteIf the long rinse cycle on your dishwasher fills you with angst about the Earths dwindling resources, rest assured, youll soon be able to pour in the Cascade with a little less guilt. Thanks to the Department of Energys new energy standards, by May of 2013, every new dishwasher will use no more than 307 kilowatt hours of energy a year and less than five gallons of water each cycle. In addition to feeling good about your shrinking carbon footprint, you just might save a little on your electric and water bills.That is, if youre still using the same dishwasher in 12 years.Unfortunately, a new dishwashers lifespan is roughly what you get out of a dogabout nine years. Whether the vita breve can be blamed on the use of cheaper parts for competitive pricing, new electronic controls that fail after prolonged proximity to heat, or plain old planned obsolescence, theres a good option youll be sending your lat est purchase off as landfill before the decades out. The energy and environmental costs of manufacture, of mining materials, of production, of shipping, and finally, of disposal, are not factored into the new efficiency standards and are left largely unregulated.Reliability StandardsYes, there are some things we can make that will last an incredibly long time, but theres not a business incentive to do that, says Fred Schenkelberg, a reliability engineering and management consultant. Washing machines are classic for that. Cast iron machines from the 1950s, they still work. They were way over designed, they had one switch. Today, washing machine manufacturers know that if their products last ten years, the customers will be happy enough to buy the same brand as a redistribution policyment. So they make it lighter and cheaper and itll fail before the eleventh year. Theyre optimizing how much it costs to deliver the product versus the perceived value the customer gets.Life expectancy of different home appliances.Source Appliance MagazineWhats good for business is not necessarily good for the customer, or for the world. So why not regulate the waste in the first place? Is there some way to pass standards for reliability and durability? Could planned obsolescence itself be legally controlled?Durability regulations are not entirely unheard of they just tend to address smaller scale issues. In 2012, for instance, the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued new durability standards for cribs after two infant deaths. In Europe, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive forces companies to responsibly recycle electronics. Cutting down the satz of product replacement could be as important for the safety of children as the construction of their beds.There are ways to slide this into a DOE spec, says Chris Carpenter, director of sales at ReliaSoft, reliability software and consulting company. If there was a sticker that said Life data analysis indicates this product has a reliability of 99 percent with 80 percent confidence boundaries over a period of five years, that would be awesome. Id love to get a washing machine and see that.In essence, this would be the Consumer Reports model. They ask what kind of repairs consumers have, they do tear down, product testing, and so on. Its a bit of science and a bit of art, says Schenkelberg. I dont think it would be difficult to do. The challenge is, can we standardize it enough? Another challenge is the cost to manufacturers, and the government, of coming up with, and testing standards for, the wild variety of products available to todays human.Warranty WoesA simpler solution might be the government-mandated warranty. For the auto industry, the federal government already dictates how long seatbelts should last (five years or 50,000 miles) as well as any part having to do with emissions (two years or 24,000 miles). In Italy, consumers are guaranteed two years of service for any newly purchased c omputer.This would benefit not only the world and the consumer, but, at least in some cases, business as well.In the 1990s, HP was losing billions of dollars thanks to warranty returns. Those losses were dramatically reduced with a simple solution extend the warranty. When you increase the warranty, it increases the uncertainty of the product. You have to make more estimates, so designers tend to buy more robust parts, and the products have a larger safety margin for durability, says Schenkelberg. It works.For those that balk at more government intrusion, the simplest answer may be enforced transparency letting the consumer know what is to be expected from a product. The DoE is saying that the efficiency regulations will cause the industry to lose 13 percent of its value, 85 million dollars, says Sofie Miller, a policy analyst at George Washington Universitys Regulatory Studies Center whos been critical of the supposed savings to the customer that are said to come with the new dishw asher regulations. Its interesting that those choices dont fall to consumersyoud think they would say, Hey, Ill be saving money.Many manufacturers already routinely test their products for reliability, and they have a good idea how long theyre going to last. But forget trying to pry that information out of them. You can ask anyone you want how long its going to last, they wont tell you, says Schenkelberg. The actual failure rate of a product is still a trade secret.With the manufacturing and technology industries practically dependent on the expiration dates attached to their products, its hard to imagine a truly sustainable world without some kind of authoritative intervention. Yet there is no one pushing for such a change. If the true cost to society was reflected in the price, it would make the purchase prohibitively expensive, says Schenkelberg. Somewhere theres a balance. Im not a policy maker, but I can conceive of it happening.Michael Abrams is an independent writer.Yes, ther e are some things we can make that will last an incredibly long time, but theres not a business incentive to do that.Fred Schenkelberg, reliability engineering and management consultant